Starting Lineup:
C: Brian McCann

1B: Adam LaRoche

2B: Marcus Giles

SS: Edgar Renteria

3B: Chipper Jones

LF: Ryan Langerhans

CF: Andruw Jones

RF: Jeff Francoeur


Starting Rotation:
Tim Hudson
John Smoltz
Jorge Sosa
John Thomson
Kyle Davies
Horacio Ramirez

Bullpen:
Chris Reitsma (CL)
Blaine Boyer
Macay McBride
John Foster
Joey Devine
Anthony Lerew
Lance Cormier
Oscar Villarreal

[Edited on March 9, 2006 at 6:22 PM. Reason : yay]

3/9/2006 6:09:14 PM

Apparently Schuerholz is putting a book out and it says that the Braves almost had Bonds in 1992

From the Atlanta Constitutional Journal:

Quote :

"Bonds was a Brave for a day New Schuerholz book contains plenty of insider tidbits By DAVID O'BRIEN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/09/06 St. Petersburg, Fla. — Barry Bonds was a Brave for one night in 1992, Tom Glavine was ready to back out of a free-agent deal with the Mets and stay with the Braves in 2002 and Deion Sanders only used the Braves to demonstrate his athletic prowess. Those are among the revelations in a surprisingly candid book by Braves general manager John Schuerholz. "Built to Win" is due to arrive in stores next week. "It's not like me," said Schuerholz, who wrote the book with former Orlando Sentinel columnist Larry Guest. "But I was convinced by Larry and the publishers that in order for the book to have the attraction we wanted it to have, it had to be real and authentic." He begins the first chapter by revealing that in March 1992, Schuerholz and Pittsburgh GM Ted Simmons negotiated a trade to bring Pirates star Barry Bonds to Atlanta in exchange for pitcher Alejandro Pena, young outfielder Keith Mitchell and a prospect to be named later. "I was euphoric," Schuerholz writes. "Barry Bonds was a Brave! . . . There seemed no limits to what we could achieve over our approaching several seasons." The morning after the GMs agreed to terms, the Braves were setting up a news conference to announce the deal at their West Palm Beach, Fla., spring training home when Schuerholz phoned Simmons, who told him he couldn't do the deal, apparently because Pirates manager Jim Leyland was furious that Bonds was being traded with a year left on his contract. Schuerholz's account of the broken deal: About an hour before the announcement, I decided to call Ted Simmons just to coordinate the timing of the release. "We have a problem," Ted said. "What do you mean, a problem? Don't want to release it just yet? What?" "I can't do the deal," he said. "You can't do the deal? You did the deal! Ted, you agreed over the phone, general manager to general manager. We made the deal!" In baseball, that's about as sacrosanct as anything gets. That had never happened to me, nor has it since, where there was a total reneging of a trade. . . . I guess we can say Barry Bonds was a Brave for 15 hours. At that time of his career, he didn't have the right to approve a deal, so I'm not even sure if he is aware this happened." Of a certain former Braves closer, he writers: "Big John Rocker, from Macon, Georgia. Had an arm like a cannon and a head like a cannonball." Schuerholz covers a wide range of subjects, including the Braves' failed pursuit of free agent Alex Rodriguez; icy negotiations with iconic pitcher Glavine; the Rocker firestorm; Rafael Furcal's DUI charges; and the ill fits that Sanders and Kenny Lofton proved to be with the Braves. "It's meant to take readers behind the closed doors of the general manager's office," Schuerholz said, "to let them see what we have to deal with, the decisions we have to make on a daily basis. It's all my view, my observations based on my perceptions of things that occurred." Schuerholz, 65, was approached by Guest about doing a book following the 1991 worst-to-first season, when the Braves won the first of 14 consecutive division titles. Schuerholz wasn't interested at that time, preferring to wait to consider doing one closer to the end of his career. He never imagined he'd do a book with as many personal details as "Built To Win" contains. "I get into some pretty private and personal matters," said Schuerholz, who describes relationships with manager Bobby Cox, former Braves president Stan Kasten and former owner Ted Turner, among others. "I'm glad it's over. It took a lot more time than I suspected it would. But I'm happy with the way it came out." Glavine revisited Glavine was a career Brave before signing a three-year, $35 million contract with the Mets in December 2002, with a fourth-year option. The Braves offered a three-year, $30 million contract with an option based on innings pitched (Schuerholz didn't include in the book that Glavine was also asked by the Braves to defer $10 million without interest): "They wanted four years [guaranteed] and no [option]," he writes. "Did his agent nudge him into being intractable on that? I don't know for sure, but I do know, from talking to both Tommy and [agent Greg] Clifton much later, that his agent played a large role in Tommy's ultimate choice to leave." Schuerholz wrote that in the interim between telling the Mets on a Thursday that he would take their deal and flying to New York on Sunday to sign the contract, "Tommy went through a purgatory of second thoughts. . . . With all the second thoughts swirling around in his brain, Tommy called Bobby Cox at his farm in Adairsville, Georgia, that Saturday and, as Bobby related to us, said, 'I made a mistake. I don't want to do this.' Bobby called me, concerned about Tommy's well-being. He liked the guy. Tommy was like a son to him. Bobby said: 'John, I think you should call him.' " Schuerholz said he called Glavine and the pitcher invited him to come to his house at the Country Club of the South in Alpharetta. "He and his wife, Chris, and I talked," Schuerholz wrote. "The three of us talked and talked and talked. It was a tough visit. At times, we were all on the verge of tears. Tommy did most of the talking — about what was on his mind, about remaining a Brave. . . . "I said, 'Tommy, we would be happy to have you remain with us if that's what you want." Schuerholz said he and Kasten had decided their initial offer to Glavine was greater than they had hoped to make, and that they would come back to him with a flat two-year offer. "After a lot of soul-searching, Tommy decided he was going to stay," Schuerholz wrote. "Quite obviously, he was relieved. His wife was relieved. And I was bouncing their son on my knee. . . . "Stan alerted TBS that there could be a major news conference the next day. . . ." But when Glavine didn't call him Saturday, Schuerholz called Sunday, and Glavine told him "simply that he had decided to stick with the Mets deal. . . . The issue ended with Clifton, and I suppose the union, persuading Tommy that it would be in everyone's best interest if he did not change his mind about the agreement he made with the Mets." Deion and Lofton Schuerholz writes that almost without exception, players brought to the Braves quickly adapt and abide by team rules and policies, and put the team ahead of themselves. Sanders and Lofton were two notable exceptions. On Deion, he writes: "He always seemed to exert extraordinary effort to narrow the focus of the spotlight on him. It seemed to everyone with the club that it was important to him that the attention was directed his way and that it was all about him." Schuerholz quotes Cox on Sanders: "Deion was for one thing — himself. He couldn't care less about the team. . . . It was all about Deion. And he didn't want to participate in our duties off the field — going to luncheons, fan photo days, things like that, responsibilities that come with being a Braves team member." Ultimately, Schuerholz said of Sanders: "Good player. Good riddance." Of another speedy leadoff man, he wrote: "After the '97 season, we similarly threw in the towel on center fielder Kenny Lofton, who also could never embrace our environment or ideals." "

[Edited on March 10, 2006 at 12:38 PM. Reason : sp]

3/10/2006 12:38:07 PM

I'm thinking I'll be buying this book.

3/10/2006 5:19:23 PM

final roster cuts were made yesterday

no big deal really

salty didn't make it, but i didn't really expect him to

and john thomson is on the block

not sure how i feel about that

i'd rather it be HoRam, but i guess thomson has more trade value

3/24/2006 9:25:26 AM

I'm buying that book. That's some interesting shit.

3/24/2006 11:27:26 AM

^^ Yeah I agree. HoRam is horrible and seems to be getting worse (if that possible). His SO rate is amazingly poor and he just seems to be too inconsistent. I doubt the Braves could get much for him anyway.

I think one of the main reasons Thomson is on the block and not HoRam is because Thomson is making 4.75 million this year. So if they trade him that frees up even more money for AOL to spend on shitty CDs they can mail everyone.

3/24/2006 11:59:45 AM

Quote :

"So if they trade him that frees up even more money for AOL to spend on shitty CDs they can mail everyone."

lmao

speaking of which, has there been any new news about the falcons owner buying the braves?

3/24/2006 12:07:52 PM

ummmm

i remember hearing about it

but seems like it wasn't going to happen

i don't remember why

but i like that dude, he's a good owner

3/24/2006 1:37:45 PM

braves play the nats at 7:05 on FSN tonight

and the indians at 1:05 on FSN tomorrow

3/24/2006 2:33:48 PM

Quote :

"speaking of which, has there been any new news about the falcons owner buying the braves?"

I've read from the AJC (Atl Journal Constitution) blogs that Arthur Blank is a longshot to buy the Braves. There were a couple of other potential buyers mentioned, but that they were group investors where three or four dudes would have equal share. I guess that is normally not a good situation either because the money can get tight quick with multiple investors as opposed to one rich fuck like Ted Turner or Peter Angelos or Dan Snyder or Mark Cuban, etc.

3/24/2006 2:55:56 PM

Braves are lucky they are in the NL East / put them into any AL division and they cant be expected to finish any better than 3rd at best (Yanks/BoSox/Jays - 4th) (ChiSox/Tribe - 3rd) (A's/Angels - 3rd)

They will continue to dissappoint after beating up a shitty division all year and blowing it in the NL playoffs. I hope they make is to the WS so my A's can crush them!

3/24/2006 2:58:34 PM

woah woah woah

you're an A's fan

and you're talking shit

to braves fans

oh geez

3/24/2006 3:00:25 PM

yep, it is 2006 (but we do share similar postseason frustrations)

3/24/2006 3:15:03 PM

^^^ I guess the fact that the Braves played in the most complete division last year isn't worth shit huh? The NL East is deeper divison than the AL West. We may have the Nationals and Marlins, but you've got the Mariners and Rangers and the only good team the As will play in their division is the Angels. The Braves atleast have to play the Mess and Phils.

Sorry we stole Tim Hudson from you...

[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 3:18 PM. Reason : ^]

3/24/2006 3:18:24 PM

Haha seriously. That guy is on crack.

The NL East was far and away the deepest division in baseball last year. All 5 teams finished above .500 IIRC...

3/24/2006 3:19:45 PM

you are correct

the NL East would crush the A's

Quote :

"but we do share similar postseason frustrations"

haha no we don't

the A's have only been consistent playoff contenders for 5 or 6 years now

3/24/2006 3:43:11 PM

Quote :

"I hope they make is to the WS so my A's can crush them! "

you know, i definitely went to see the Braves play the A's last year in interleague play last summer.

The only game you kids had a chance in was the second game of the series and Andruw hit 2 homers to win the game. so sad

3/26/2006 9:05:19 PM

bullpen is still a problem

3/26/2006 9:30:36 PM

i think the pen will be much stronger this year

mcbride, davies, devine, and james are all a year older

one of those guys will be our closer before long

3/26/2006 10:01:28 PM

monday 4:10 @ the dodgers

4/1/2006 12:33:20 PM

Devine ----> AAA

announced today.

4/1/2006 12:35:26 PM

not a total suprise

he'll blasting fastballs by your friends in new york in no time though

4/1/2006 12:36:22 PM

big unit's perfect game on espn classic

4/1/2006 2:40:58 PM

gametime

3 in a row

4/3/2006 3:52:20 PM

atttta boy Andy!!!

seriously the Dodgers look like they forgot to wake up...2 errors in the 1st inning?

4/3/2006 4:16:52 PM

this season rules

4/3/2006 4:18:38 PM

4-0 bitches

4/3/2006 4:19:58 PM

oh World Series bound

no doubt

4/3/2006 4:21:16 PM

DONT GET SUCKED INTO THIS!!!!


GO Braves!

4/3/2006 4:22:34 PM

would someone please turn down eric karros' microphone

my ears are bleeding

and how about nomar, what a joke

4/3/2006 4:23:41 PM

he screwed my fantasy team today by not starting, but i was dumb enough to draft him, so oh well



ah, and there's an andruw jones bomb

4/3/2006 5:29:30 PM

lol Eric's mic is still too close to his grille

and man the Braves' bats at workin'...hope they keep this up throughout the season

BTW, Tim Hudson is a champ

4/3/2006 5:32:52 PM

offense is looking great

hud is looking great

little bit of trouble right now though

4/3/2006 5:35:12 PM

shit, as soon as i turn it on its 8-4

4/3/2006 5:41:23 PM

too close, but we'll take a road win

4/3/2006 7:53:56 PM

well, for the first 4 innings i thought we had a World Series title comin our way but now I see they're the same old Braves

4/3/2006 8:08:16 PM

I'll say this to the end of the season.. Our bullpen will haunt us....

4/3/2006 10:31:54 PM

Just like last year...

and I hate not having Furcal on OUR team

4/3/2006 10:34:01 PM

dont worry... diarrhea is an adequate replacement.. be worried about the BULLPEN.

4/3/2006 10:35:18 PM

Interesting read from JS. I never liked Lofton. Asshat.

I don't think the Braves will have much trouble winning the division this year. Marlins sold out, Nats suck, Phils have regressed, and the Mutts are still the Mutts no matter how much coin they spend.

4/3/2006 10:39:01 PM

vs. dodgers, 1st inning

4/4/2006 10:21:43 PM

game is on Turner South tonight I'm assuming?

just checked the website and saw the rain delay

[Edited on April 4, 2006 at 11:30 PM. Reason : ...answered my own question]

4/4/2006 11:28:51 PM

I thought the Braves totally cut Devine after last year....so they didnt really cut him, just sent him back...right?

4/4/2006 11:30:50 PM

yeah he's in AAA. you don't just cut your first round pick after one bad half season

4/4/2006 11:37:32 PM

yeah thats why it stuck in my head when i heard it...that was wierd.


But you must admit, he did have a REALLY BAD half of a season. 3 grand slams was it?

4/4/2006 11:39:38 PM

^2

4/5/2006 12:09:59 AM

i have a feeling im gonna be up for a while

4/5/2006 12:11:23 AM

same

fucking

braves

4/5/2006 2:20:51 AM

HoRam stinking up the joint in the first

francouer just got his first hit of the season

tbs

4/5/2006 10:38:39 PM

DA BRAVES

4/5/2006 11:10:33 PM