Schilling has the braves on his short list of teams that he wants to play for next year

11/2/2007 3:56:09 AM

My guess (until they sign somebody):

SP:
1. Hudson
2. Smoltz
3. Hampton (sometime?)
4. James
5. Jurrjens

1. Escobar SS
2. Johnson 2B
3. Jones 3B
4. Tiexiera 1B
5. Francoeur RF
6. McCann C
7. Diaz/Harris LF
8. Harris/Lillibridge/Schafer/Jones/Hernandez CF
9. P

Even if Harris can't hit, he's fast and plays pretty well defensively for cheap which I guess is the Braves new thing. Or maybe somebody else will jump in there and actually produce. There's enough hitters to not matter if the 8 spot doesn't produce so much, and if Hampton is ready they have a pretty solid 1-4, with your project Jurrjens who showed a lot of potential and could be a very good #5 this year, possibly 2-3 in the future. As long as Escobar doesn't flop at the top I think they'll be in for a very tight race for the NL East.

11/2/2007 4:17:57 AM

^no way schafer or hernandez is a possibility for next season. both belong in single-a/double-a ball. i don't think we should be after a FA centerfielder, and if we can't trade for one, then give the spot to a minor leaguer. out of the possibilities and their relative costs, and minor leaguer would do just as well.

rowand/hunter/cameron - none would be cheap, hunter would be the best, but he's probably going to get upper teens per year. and texas has $texas now that a-rod opted out and they don't have to pick up 2/3 of his contract for the yankees, so i'd expect hunter to be a ranger next season. rowand doesn't really do it for me, plus it's likely he's gonna get an offer for more than he's really worth and we don't need to get in a bidding war over him. cameron is old as shit and a druggie to boot, i'll be pissed if he's a brave in 08. there are really no other options out there on the FA market. unless you consider milton bradley and corey patterson options. i have heard about alexei ramirez over the past couple of days, a cuban defector, but who knows how he could turn out - but i think if he's cheap, give him a shot.

griffey, coco crisp and david dejesus have been mentioned as possibilities, but i have reservation about all of them. griffey for obvious health reasons, but if he could stay healthy, would be incredible, and possibly the best option. but he's 37 and makes over 8 mil. crisp can play D, but his offense isn't all that great. i'd take him as a brave, but i don't know what boston would want for him, which makes me nervous. he makes a hair over 3.8 mil. dejesus is an OK player, and he definitely won't hurt the team, but i think a minor leaguer has a good chance of putting up similar numbers, especially for 2 mil.

11/2/2007 5:57:03 AM

boston would give up crisp for a bag of balls at this point

i still don't want him though

11/2/2007 12:06:51 PM

^^ I guess that wasn't my opening day line-up for the CF part, but I meant sometime during the year one of those guys could step up. I realize most of them won't be there, but hey, ya never know.

I really don't like Cameron either, he'll be overpaid and do what Andruw did with less power and worse D. I'd take Rowand if you can get him cheap, even though I don't expect him to ever play like he did this past year. Hunter is going to be too expensive I would think? But if he's not, the Braves would be a very strong offense (and defense) with him. I don't think I would gamble on Griffey's health and age for the money, and I don't know if Crisp is good enough to give anything up (money, prospects, or balls). DeJesus could certainly put up better numbers in a Braves offense (7th in team BA, 12th in HR) than the Royals (22nd in team BA, 30th in HR) and with another year experience, I really wouldn't mind seeing him as a Brave. I don't know which ones are free agents, but probably wouldn't give up any young talent to get them.

11/2/2007 1:08:58 PM

I thought Franceour was going to potentially play CF next year. Ernie - you mentioned it in the 2007 thread.

Cameron would be a horrible signing, not to mention he is suspended for the first 25 games of the season. Hunter would be nice, but not worth the money he'd command.

The Braves should have just kept Renteria, moved Frenchy to CF, Johnson to RF, and let Escobar play 2B. The OF defense would suck with Diaz and Johnson on the corners, but atleast they could have gotten both Escobar and Renteria in the same lineup.






[Edited on November 2, 2007 at 3:42 PM. Reason : hkj]

11/2/2007 3:40:36 PM

Quote :

"C mccann 1b tex 2b johnson 3b chipper ss escobar lf diaz cf francoeur rf probabaly gregor blanco or brandon jones"

yeah we have plenty of outfield options, no need to go crazy in the free agent market

--

and i kind of like the renteria trade

supposedly the jurjejjejjejens kid might earn a spot in the rotation this year

better than just losing him to free agency i guess

[Edited on November 2, 2007 at 4:19 PM. Reason : ]

11/2/2007 4:17:13 PM

wasn't frenchy brought up as a CF anyway?

11/2/2007 7:56:43 PM

Glavine is officially a target.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/11/07/glavine.braves.ap/index.html

Quote :

"New general manager Frank Wren spoke with the two-time Cy Young Award winner and his agent, Gregg Clifton. Wren said Wednesday he will call again next week, after teams can start making offers to free agents."

[Edited on November 7, 2007 at 4:50 PM. Reason : ^yes]

11/7/2007 4:50:01 PM

yo ernie...should i click that instant replay thread?

i posted in it at like 5:30...

11/7/2007 4:52:26 PM

i have no idea what you're talking about

11/7/2007 4:58:45 PM

ok fair enough i'll click it to see how it went after i double posted

11/7/2007 5:15:06 PM

villarreal traded to houston for josh anderson

some guy i've never hear of, apparently an outfielder

11/16/2007 5:09:23 PM

Assuming Hampton is healthy, Villareal is worthless anyway since Cormier or Jo Jo Reyes would be the main long relief guy. This also assumes we sign Glavine.

Hopefully this Anderson kid is fast and can play defense.

11/16/2007 5:33:58 PM

why would you assume hampton was healtyh

11/16/2007 7:15:37 PM

the offer is out to glavine

11/16/2007 7:30:22 PM

glavine is close to signing, could happen as early tonight

smoltz, hudson, glavine, james, jurrjejejennsnejens?

11/18/2007 9:13:27 PM

Glavine close to agreement on one-year deal with Braves

The Atlanta Braves and pitcher Tom Glavine moved close to agreement on a one-year contract, as the pitcher's agent confirmed that a deal could be in place as early as Sunday night.

"We're as close as you can be without doing a deal," agent Gregg Clifton told ESPN.com. "We're maybe one or two phone calls away."

Sources confirmed reports that Glavine's pending deal with Atlanta will be for one year in the $8 million range. While Glavine was flying home from a memorabilia show in Chicago, Clifton said he expected to be in contact with Braves general manager Frank Wren late Sunday night.

Glavine, 41, became a free agent when he declined a $13 million option with the New York Mets in early October. He went 13-8 with a 4.45 ERA for New York last season and became the 23rd pitcher in history to join the 300-win club. With 303 career victories, Glavine is the fifth winningest left-hander of all-time.

Glavine wants to pitch in Atlanta to be closer to his family. He broke in with the Braves in 1987 and spent his first 16 major league seasons in Atlanta. During that period, he compiled a 242-143 record, won two Cy Young Awards, made eight All-Star teams, was a five-time 20-game winner, and beat Cleveland 1-0 in the climactic Game 6 of the 1995 World Series.

Once Glavine signs with the Braves, he will join John Smoltz and Tim Hudson at the top of the Atlanta rotation. The Braves are also hoping for a return to form by Mike Hampton, who is trying to come back from reconstructive elbow surgery.

Glavine will be the second 41-year-old starter to sign a free-agent deal this offseason. Curt Schilling agreed to terms with Boston on a one-year, guaranteed $8 million contract two weeks ago.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3117971

11/18/2007 11:10:02 PM

deal done

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3118231

1 year, $8 Million, no performance incentives

11/19/2007 1:27:40 AM

welcome home tommy!

don't suck!

11/19/2007 1:29:38 AM

I'll take Hudson, Smoltz, Glavine, James, Jurrjens/Hampton.

Sounds like a 100 game winner to me.

[Edited on November 19, 2007 at 3:03 AM. Reason : also, ^]

11/19/2007 3:02:53 AM

You can watch the Glavine Press Conference at atlantabraves.com.

It should be the lead story, just click the "watch live" link. Should start any minute now.

11/19/2007 2:32:59 PM

Yall can have Glavine.

He couldn't have pitched at Shea again after that last game.

He would've been run out of NY like Anthony Mason.

11/19/2007 2:35:14 PM

its only november but hampton already has a new injury to worry about:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3129556

11/27/2007 3:16:17 PM

well, the only good thing about that is it's not his arm. he's been the biggest waste of space since he got to atlanta.

11/27/2007 3:47:46 PM

wow, hampton's hurt

color me suprised

(is oeuvre abonorio?)

11/27/2007 5:44:29 PM

in a related story, mark prior is on the block

does anyone else get the feeling that our rotation is going to be just as bad in 08 as has been the past two years?

11/28/2007 1:59:20 PM

No. I think it has the potential to be better, but what's really scary is looking ahead about 2 years and probably seeing 80% of our rotation gone (Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton, Hudson; well 60% since Hampton shouldn't even be counted). Right now, I could see Hudson around if we can resign him, but beyond him, right now, we've got Reyes and Jurrjens if they pan out. We have some guys further down the line (Rohrbough, Locke, Hanson, Teheran according to Baseball America), and we all know some moves will be made to beef up the future rotation, but the change will be sudden.

As far as this year is concerned, I think we could have one of the best all around rotations in the league. The pitchers fighting for the back end of our rotation would be much much higher on many teams rotations.

11/28/2007 2:20:24 PM

Quote :

"(is oeuvre abonorio?)"

who wants to know?

11/28/2007 2:24:01 PM

^ (read: yes.)

11/28/2007 3:12:36 PM

^ (read: USERS WITH < 1000 POSTS.)

[Edited on November 28, 2007 at 3:20 PM. Reason : .]

11/28/2007 3:20:42 PM

he's like abonorio but ANGRIER!

11/28/2007 3:24:18 PM

which means I'm better than that little bitch.

11/28/2007 3:24:35 PM

i ran across the greatest quote of all-time again and because there isn't a padres thread i'm posting it here

Quote :

"During a game, Maddux appeared uncomfortable on the mound, leading Grace to think he might have pulled his groin. Upon going to the mound, Grace realized that Maddux was actually noticeably aroused, and remarked: "(laughing) Dude, you love to pitch, don't you?!"

11/28/2007 4:19:26 PM

Quote :

"Braves: They will offer arbitration to Ron Mahay, but don't expect the lefty reliever who finished last season in Atlanta posting a 2.25 ERA in 30 games to accept. The Yankees also have interest, and Mahay is angling for a deal similar to [b]the three-year, $12 million contract J.C. Romero signed with the Phillies on Nov. 10."

!

11/30/2007 7:42:38 PM

I'm creaming myself that tommy is back home. I'll be at every home game fo' sho.

11/30/2007 7:58:12 PM

I might invest in some season tickets next year

11/30/2007 8:02:16 PM

yay. glavine is coming home

11/30/2007 9:00:54 PM

It's cheaper to use a student ID jaybee, if you've got one It's the only reason I don't buy season tickets.

11/30/2007 9:34:32 PM

Quote :

"I'm creaming myself that tommy is back home. I'll be at every home game fo' sho."

Evidently, so is Maddux.

12/1/2007 12:15:38 PM

jose ascanio was aparently traded to the cubs for omar infante and some guy named will ohman

infante is an upgrade over woodward, i guess

ohman looks like a pure LOOGY type -- i hope he sucks hard, just so i can look forward to a summer full of OH, MAN jokes

[Edited on December 6, 2007 at 5:34 AM. Reason : ]

12/6/2007 5:33:15 AM

dodgers continue their past-their-prime lineup by signing andruw

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3143653

12/6/2007 6:39:18 AM

Quote :

"$36.2 million, two-year contract that gives him the fifth-highest average salary in the major leagues."

lol

12/6/2007 8:04:18 AM

it's way too much but still way short of that $100 million boras was shooting for

12/6/2007 8:08:21 AM

cept watch him go nuts these next two years

12/6/2007 8:15:32 AM

c'est la vie

12/6/2007 8:18:19 AM

A little bit of nostalgia though... thinking back over Andruw's Atlanta career...

That world series where he blasted that bomb (or was it two?) as an 18 year old phenom.

I'll miss his nonchalant manner in which he caught fly balls to the outfield.

I won't miss seasons of .222 batting.

12/6/2007 9:12:50 AM

Quote :

"I'll miss his nonchalant manner in which he caught fly balls to the outfield."

I will not miss this....

12/6/2007 9:41:59 AM

I loved it. He made the dives look easy and the routine flyballs look like nothing.

12/6/2007 9:44:24 AM

I'll miss Andruw

Not the .222 batting, but I have a feeling he'll bounce back.

12/6/2007 10:00:37 AM