Braves get left at the alter again

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

First Furcal, now Griffey Jr.

 

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

First Furcal, now Griffey Jr.

 

[MSUArrowCS]

But Griffey reportedly cut off all talks because the AJC ran a headline about him choosing the Braves. Not much Frank and the Braves can do about that. Does that strike anyone else as rather petty/fragile?

 

[mstatefan88]

Well not to bring up old stories, but doesnt that situation sound slightly familiar to our recent football head coaching search? I guess people dont want others spoiling decisions they feel they should be the ones to break themselves. As a Braves fan, I would say not overpriced, and he would put butts in seats that have been getting emptier and emptier through the last 5 years. He made the right move for his future by ending his very accomplished career in the place he started it, but I would have loved to have had him come to Atlanta. I perrsonally think that in his prime he was the best all around baseball player ever. Without injuries he would have easily challenged Hank's HR record. Just a great all around player and my favorite of all time.

 

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

Especially for someone who averaged 20+ homers and 75 RBI the last two years.

 

[mstatefan88]

Got that right. Not to mention that our outfield was the worst producing outfield in all of baseball last year. At 2.5 million, you cant beat that for Griffey Jr. He would have been an instant improvement.

 

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

Actually, he averaged 25 homers and 80 RBI. Also averaged 140 games the last two years. Those kind of numbers will cost the Mariners around $4.5 million. A bargain in MLB.

 

[KurtRambis4]

braves not too happy with ajc beat writer</p>

 

[Dog in the Know]

Braves will give him a shot.

 

[Todd4State]

But Griffey reportedly cut off all talks because the AJC ran a headline about him choosing the Braves. Not much Frank and the Braves can do about that. Does
that strike anyone else as rather petty/fragile?

or how much that really factored into his decision

But I do know that since he is in Seattle, he's going to probably get a chance to play more because he can play LF possibly every day since his main competition is likely going to be Endy Chavez, all 12 RBI's of him and Wladimier Balentin who hit a robust .202. Needless to say, Griffey, Jr. at age 39 is still the better of the three. Plus, since he is up there in age for a baseball player, and he plays in the American League, he can also DH some- or at least a lot more than he could have in Atlanta. And obviously, the Braves stance was pretty much that they were going to platoon him with Diaz.

One thing that I have always heard about Griffey, Jr. is how much he loves to play. I could see where a platoon situation would be less appealing to him than comepting for a full time job in LF or DH.

Not to mention, he is an icon in Seattle.

 

[Todd4State]

for the Bangor Blue Ox in 1996. He might have something left in the can.

 

[KurtRambis4]

that gets me is that this just isn't that smart of a baseball move by a franchise (mariners) that has not been making very smart baseball decisions the past 8 years. i mean they're a long way from being competitive and by bringing in an ageing slugger it just seems as though this is more of a marketing move than anything else. all he's doing is taking away at bats from younger guys that are their future.

 

[mstatefan88]

I think this is more of a move for Seattle to gets fans to come back. Those fans wont forget the days back when they had Randy Johnson and Griffey and had really good teams. They will come back to watch Griffey live out the rest of his MLB days in the city that started him out. They could use a little extra cash from tickets and concessions to maybe get that extra 1 or 2 million a year that Griffey might bring in just by getting fans to come back. And he is also an automatic upgrade as well in left for them. He wont be great, but he will be solid and will create a little more buzz in the Seattle area about baseball again.

 

[KurtRambis4]

mean it's pretty obvious that's why they brought him back, to make more money. however i think once the fans have one or two go rounds they'll see it isn't the same jr and quit coming. also, while he is probably an upgrade from what they have currently, he may be solely responsible for them winning maybe 3 games. why not develop your youth?

 

[patdog]

when his 24 (not 25) HR average was 30 two years ago and 18 last year. He'll be doing good to match the 18 he hit last year this season.

 

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

when his 24 (not 25) HR average was 30 two years ago and 18 last year. He'll be doing good to match the 18 he hit last year this season.

Pardon me, Mr Ernst and Young, for rounding it up a hair. I have seen it all now.

 

[patdog]

The point is when a 39-year old's production declines from 30 to 18, it's probably a little misleading to talk about his average for the past 2 years as an indicator of how he'll do this season.

 

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

The point is when a 39-year old's production declines from 30 to 18, it's probably a little misleading to talk about his average for the past 2 years as an indicator of how he'll do this season.

Since all of the sudden your objective is to stick to the main point, let's say he only puts up 15 and 60. That's still a bargain.

 

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

By the way, while you were conducting your audit of my post, you overlooked a couple of other errors. Griffey Jr actually averaged 82 RBI the last two years - not 80. And he averaged playing in 143.5 games - not 140.
You're fired.

 

[Todd4State]

mean it's pretty obvious that's why they brought him back, to make more money. however i think once the fans have one or two go rounds they'll see
it isn't the same jr and quit coming. also, while he is probably an upgrade from what they have currently, he may be solely responsible for them winning
maybe 3 games. why not develop your youth?

Except the problem for the Mariners is that they don't have much youth to develop. Their farm system is extremely thin, and most of their talent they do have will likely just be starting AA this upcoming year. Actually some of the guys that they brought up last year- Jeff Clement and Balentin struggled mightily.

So, in light of that, I think the Mariners are thinking of buying a little time, and at the same time, he is an upgrade over the two most likely candidates that they have for LF, and the candidates for DH for that matter to.

They're also in a weak division, where the Angels appear to be the team to beat, but if the Halos falter, it really could be up for grabs.

The Mariners have some decent/good players here and there to- Ichiro (OK, he's awesome), Adrian Beltre, Eric Bedard (coming back from an injury, but solid if healthy), Felix Rodriguez, and Jarrod Washburn (OK, he was horrible last year, but he's a veteran who has pitched in pennant races before). Yuniesky Betancourt has a lot of talent as well. Jose Lopez is very underrated at second base as well. Griffey, Jr. really gives their lineup a boost and a veteran prescence.

And I will say this about Mariner fans- they seem to have long memories. I had to stay in Seattle for about three months, and it seemed like once a week someone would talk about how awesome Ken Griffey, Jr. was. That was after they had traded him to the Reds to. They absolutely love the guy there. He's their Babe Ruth.

 

[rebfan04]

We're going to have to commit to the young players that are already in the bigs and to the ones that are in the AA and AAA.

Pitching 43 year old Tom Glavine isn't going to work like we had hoped. Lowe is on the backside of his career as well, although he still has a decent sinker, but he'd be a 3rd or 4th starter at a viable pennant contender in the NL, in my opinion. Thank God we didn't sign Hampton back...he was a waste of money, and Houston will figure it out quickly.

We're going to have to put stock in Jo-Jo Reyes, Jair Jurrjens, Lerew and some other young arms and hope they pan out, with a solid, top-tier veteran to lead the group. The Braves used to be known for our scouting ability and to be able to recognize young talents and Bobby getting them to produce.

McCann, Escobar, Blanco, Jones, Hanson and some others are the future of the organization. We have to hope they pan out.

 

[mstatefan88]

I agree. Thats what it took when we started the division championship run when Glavine,Smoltz, Avery and Maddux were all young. You had a young Chipper, Javy Lopez, and guys like Wohlers, McMichael and Bedrosian that were in their prime. I think the starting pitching pieces are getting there with Jair and Hanson to be our future 1 and 2 with Huddy in 09, Lowe and hopefully a solid Kawakami. Gonzo, Moylan, and hopefully a healthy Soriano could really help out this young pitching staff by being solid in innings 7 thru 9. Gotta hope Schafer or Anderson pan out, along with Kotchman, and with speed in Johnson, Blanco, and Yunel with McCann Chipper and a hopefully improved Frenchy, this team is poised to surprise. We have young starting pitching depth and a team that has alot more speed. I think this team has the beginnings of a very solid team in the future.

 

[Todd4State]

was Brandon Jones. Hepefully he'll get a shot because I'd like to see him do well. I certainly believe that he will get some quality playing time this year, and who knows? Maybe he'll emerge as a solid player.

I'd also love to see Van Pope make it, just because it would add to the urban legend that is Van Pope. Obviously, he's going to have to hit a lot better to make it. He has quite an arm, I must say.

 

[BlindDawg]

The Braves are going through somewhat of a youth movement right now, but they're mixing in enough veterans to compete and not go into complete rebuilding mode. McCann, KJ, Escobar, Schaeffer, Anderson, Blanco, B. Jones, Jurrjiens, Hanson, Charlie Morton, and Franceour are all young guys that could or will play big roles this season. Not to mention there are a slew of minor leaguers who are a year or two away (Jason Heyward, Cole Roborough, Jeff Locke, Gorkys Hernandez, and others). Glavine should be fine in the 5th rotation spot provided he stays healthy, and if he doesn't there are at least 3 guys in Morton, Hanson, and Campillo that should be ready to step in with little to no drop off. It appears that Jo Jo Reyes and Anthony Lerew will likely never put things together to live up to their potential. They have surely had plenty of opportunities. Derek Lowe was a great signing for this team I think because he can anchor what will be a pretty young rotation for a couple years, and by the time he gets to the back end of his contract he won't be expected to be the ace anymore because by that time Hanson, Jurrjiens, Morton, and others should be at the top of the rotation with Hanson being the #1. The Braves minor league system is pretty loaded right now though most of the guys are in AA or A ball. The only big need in the minor league system is infielders right now, specifically at 3B. I worry about the day Chipper has to move to 1B or retires. There doesn't appear to be any clear heir apparent right now.

 

[rebfan04]

I haven't been since the day he entered the majors. He isn't patient enough and has too much of a winding swing. He doesn't use his body or hands properly.

This is another rebuilding year in my opinion. We'll finish 3rd in the division, but we won't even challenge for the division.

 

[BlindDawg]

I agree there is still a lot to be determined about what kind of player Franceour will be. I think the truth is somewhere between what he was last year and what he was his first two years. He's obviously very talented, but I doubt he'll ever be the star everyone proclaimed he would be when he was coming up. I think he'll end up being a solid everday RF who might make an all-star game once or twice in his career, but nothing special. Like I said though, all that is still TBD. Honestly I don't think it matters too much as it pertains to the Braves and him though because I think he'll be gone when he becomes a free agent if he's not traded before that. I really think Jason Heyward is the RF of the future, and its very likely that by 2011 the Braves will have an outfield of Schaeffer, Hernandez, and Heyward.

I disagree about this being a rebuilding year. I really like the rotation they have put together. I think it has quality 1-5 and quality depth to go along. While the Mets and Phillies have better aces, I don't think anyone other than Florida can match what the Braves have in quality and depth. I think the Braves will go with the young guys in LF to start the season, but I really expect them to acquire a big bat around the trade deadline because a lot of teams will be trying to dump salaries due to the economy. I expect the pitching to carry the team until they get a big bat for the middle of the lineup. The lineup isn't terrible as is though. I'm not saying we'll win the division or even the wild card, but I think we'll be in contention all year and have the potential to win the division.

 

[patdog]

nm</p>

 

[rebfan04]

You can't teach someone to run as fast as Gregor, and he has a decent stick.

 

[mstatefan88]

I agree. I think having him bat first and putting Yunel behind him would be perfect. I love Gregor. He has alot of speed and a good glove in center. I think he may find it tough to start on the team with competition from Schafer and Anderson who both seem to be more capable hitters. We have alot of good outfielders. Since Frenchy only signed a 1 year contract and apparently thinks he is worth more then he actually is, we may have an open spot in RF after this season depending on how he does. If he does leave, we would have very capable replacements for him.

 

[TheHorrorTheHorror]

much power, but he fits the mold of a leadoff hitter (above average speed, capable of bunting) much better than yunel did last year. yunel is too much of a free swinger to lead off. plus watching him attempt to lay down a bunt was painful last year. hopefully he'll do better in the 2 or 3 slot.

 

[MSUArrowCS]

which is how the Braves planned to use him, you would see the production continue to fall. Paying 2.5 mil + incentives for an injury-proned, aging platoon player seems steep to me. That's the role the Braves wanted him to fill, and they knew Seattle would be willing to pay more and offer him the opportunity to play more often and DH. There's a reason they didn't offer any more of a guarantee.