Braves fans.. Will Roger McDowell keep his job?

mstatefan88

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I think he will get suspended a couple of games. This is waaaay out of line for the Braves organization and what they represent, and I hope this is not something we will continue to see under the leadership of Fredi Gonzalez. I would almost guarantee you McDowell would not have said what he did if Bobby was still the manager.I like Roger McDowell as a pitching coach, so I hope he learns from this and stays. As a Braves fan I can't help butbe reminded ofwhen John Rocker exploded on the fans on New York.
 

DawgatAuburn

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Pitching coaches are a dime a dozen. You don't act like that on the field in full view of children. If they keep him, he'll likely embarrass them again at some point.
 

jeremyrbrown

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Sep 4, 2008
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at Shea Stadium on June 15, 1987. Their day was ruined. It changed them in a very deep and profound way from that day forward.
 

boomboommsu

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if this was the offseason or near the end of the season, he'd be gone. but i doubt they want to replace him this early in the season.

the gay slurs weren't even the worst part, IMO. i'm sure worse was said to him from the crowd. but there was no reason to approach fans with a bat and threaten them. the threats to a man there with his kids were nearly criminal.
 

MSUArrowCS

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Dec 19, 2006
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that he hasn't denied any of the allegations. At first glance, it seemed like the kind of story someone could fabricate and hire a decent lawyer. But if this actually happened, I would fire him ASAP and get John Smoltz on the phone. If he doesn't want it, call Maddux. If not him, call Glavine (though the Braves have all of one lefty SP anywhere close to the majors).<div>
</div><div>Why bother with a distraction like this that you can easily get rid of? McDowell is an idiot for doing anything close to what that guy is claiming, and not that it should matter too much, but it's not like he's been anything other than a talent babysitter as a pitching coach.</div>
 

boomboommsu

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Glavine wouldn't want to travel, and i believe Maddux is happy on the west coast. Smoltz is recently divorced and would probably love to get back into MLB life. The thought of Smoltz helping Kimbrel and Hanson withthe slider just gave me chills.

Olberholtzer (or something like that) is looking real good, probably only a year away if needed, but won't be so 2013 is probably the plan. Hanson, Beachy, Minor, Teheran, Olberholtzer in 2013? Last four, plus Kimbrel, still making the minimum, with Hanson, Venters, and Heywardin first year of arb. wow.

Edit to add: you call Maddux first. smartest pitcher ever. would be an outstanding pitching coach. you call Glavine if you want a babysitter andnot a tinkerer.
 

Todd4State

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Mar 3, 2008
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He will get suspended, fined, go through that "sensitivity training" whatever that BS is.

I hate it because Roger McDowell is one of my favorite players of all time. He helped the Jackson Mets win the Texas League back in the 80's. He was also one of the main guys on the MTV rock n' jock softball game.

What I didn't read was what the three guys said to him, which is probably what started it. I mean, I doubt that Roger McDowell just saw three guys sitting in the stands and decided to call them homos. I'm kind of surprised that McDowell hasn't said anything about that- except for the fact that he probably knows that whatever they said didn't warrant what he did back at them. Regardless, players can not react to fans like that.

Man- it's rough being a Giants fan- get beat up by Dodgers fans, have other team's pitching coaches threaten you.
 

Todd4State

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I think he would rather do TV than coach.

I could see the Braves going after Leo Mazzone, or most likely they would promote from within their minor league system.
 

MSUArrowCS

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he was always known as the fiercest competitor of the big three, whether it was postseason or a locker room ping pong tournament. I think there's a good chance he'd be intrigued by the chance to compete again, but of course I have no idea.<div>
</div><div>Bottom line to me, re: McDowell, is this: When an organization has as much history with pitching as the Braves, you don't give them any reason to replace you - especially if you're somewhat of an outsider in the first place.</div><div>
</div><div>Promoting from within would be perfectly fine and maybe the best option. I just think they'd be in a position to hire anyone they want with the mix of young and vet talent in the starting rotation, and a minor league system that's still loaded with pitching talent.</div>
 

MSUArrowCS

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JJ not a free agent until 2014, but he's a Boras client now, so you know his *** is gone when the time comes (he and Hanson both).
 

tenureplan

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Dec 3, 2008
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The Braves know they probably won't be able to re-sign him, so they will try to get some value out of him. They have some other really good prospects other than Minor that they can call up as well.
 

mstatefan88

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Lowe is eating up a ton of money right now. I think he has one more year after this on his contract, but I can see the Braves trying to get rid of him to keep Jurrjens. Also, if Chipper retires after this year, which I think he might, that will open up a ton of room for the Bravesto keep all of those with expiring contracts. Chipper is getting 19 million this year. Take that off the books and we have a lot of room to work with.
 

tenureplan

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They can get alot more for Jurrjens than they can Lowe due to the age and salary differences. Besides, JJ hasn't proved that he can stay healthy. I would love to see us get a true center fielder for him.</p>
 

MSUArrowCS

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JJ is infinitely more valuable than Lowe. He'd probably be the only one teams would be interested in, vs. a 39 year-old Derek Lowe.<div>
</div><div>It would be awesome to be able to deal him for another bat, maybe in the OF. Assuming Prado slides to 3B whenever Chipper retires, inserting a power hitting, hopefully right-handed LF would be very doable.</div>
 

mstatefan88

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He just threw a complete game the other night. We might be able to afford both. Hudson is probably someone we may not keep either once his contract goes out. He has a club buyout option in 2013 for $1 million. That will be Jurrjens 2nd year of arbitration eligibility. I think Derek Lowe runs out after 2012as well. So Derek Lowe and Hudson possibly come off the books after 2012, which is somewhere near 25 million dollars.I think we can have a rotation of Hanson, Jurrjens, Minor, Teheran, and Beachy, and still have plenty for a CF in a couple of years. I'm hoping Jordan Schafer can make his way back and possibly fill the gap in CF.
 

tenureplan

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From a talent perspective, Hanson is definitely the best. Jurrjens like Lowe and Hudson pitches to contact. Sure he pitched a CG but he gave up 10 hits and a couple of walks as well.
 

Todd4State

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are more cerebral players rather than talented players. That's not always the case, but guys like Dave Duncan, John Farrell, Bud Black, and Roger McDowell were average players. But they are all very good coaches.

Ted Williams is the poster child for great player, but not so great manager.

Coaches have to be able to teach and identify problems, and then correct them more than anything. I do think that Maddux would be a good pitching coach, though. He was known for helping and teaching tons of players while he was still playing. Plus, he could get advice from his brother Mike, who is also a pretty good pitching coach as well- and he is with the Rangers, who I think are on the cutting edge of pitching right now as far as new ideas in training and development.
 

boomboommsu

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Medlen isn't considered a viable starter option, fwiw (frame, delivery, etc.). He'll come back in the pen, maybe get a shot and make the most of it as a starter, most likely somewhere else. I imagine they have him slated to take over Christian Martinez' role next year.

I did forget Randall Delgado, however. He's considered as good as Teheran, but a bit behind him in development. He should be ready by 2013 though.

All the current starters are signed for next year, and Teheran will be ready. But they still need a CF. JJ is the most likely to be traded. Lowe won't bring anything, and they have the money to pay him next year McLouth and KK off the books. But maybe they'll eat some of Lowe's salary if it'll bring a CF, and keep JJ, but i doubt it. Maybe if we can get the Red Sox and Yanks into a mini bidding war on him. Anyway, one of them is gone after this year, barring injury. Teheran is just too much of a talent to waste in AAA next year. He's Hanson or Heyward level. Gotta clear a spot for him. SS is a question too, but the way AGonz is playing i'd imagine they'd keep him if he'll take the same salary.
 
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If the Braves trade JJ, maybe they can add David Ross to the mix and go after a good hitting CF. Ross is one of the best backup catchers in the MLB and probably deserves a shot at a full time starting job. I believe his contract is only through 2012, so we now may be the time to deal him if that's an option.
 

MSUArrowCS

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He's not a frontline guy, but he's got three solid pitches. His changeup is one of the best on the entire team, so much so that he taught it to Derek Lowe last offseason. He probably won't make the rotation given how stacked it is, but it's not because he's not considered a viable option. 14 starts last year and he went 6-2. 83 Ks to 21 walks. 1.2 WHIP ... not viable?
 

boomboommsu

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of course, that's what they said about Pedro too.

i think it's not that they won't use him as a starter, it's that they don't want toplan a spot for him because they don't think his arm will hold up. they will pencil him in as the long-relief guy in the pen, but won't hesitate to use him as a replacement for a starter that gets hurt.

plus, he gets service time for his year plus on the DL. he will get expensive quicker than these other guys.

Edit: Cot's says Medlen had 1 year and 137 days of service time at the start of the year, so he should be a Super Two after this year. I don't know if they'll want to pay it. He'll be trade bait at least.
 

boomboommsu

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Ross seems to prefer the backup C job. and the Braves couldn't dream of finding a better backup. what they really need is someone that can be an emergency 3rd catcher, so maybe Fredi will start properly using Ross as the RH bench bat the team desperately needs. Matt Diaz used to fill that role.