5/30/15: GDT - Atlanta Braves @ SF Giants

[Garmel]

Braves
1. Jace Peterson (L) 2B
2. Cameron Maybin (R) CF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Nick Markakis (L) RF
5. Juan Uribe (R) 3B
6. Todd Cunningham (S) LF
7. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS
8. Christian Bethancourt (R) C
9. Williams Perez (R) P

Giants
1. Nori Aoki (L) LF
2. Joe Panik (L) 2B
3. Hunter Pence (R) RF
4. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
5. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
6. Angel Pagan (S) CF
7. Matt Duffy (R) 3B
8. Andrew Susac (R) C
9. Tim Lincecum (L) P

[nsacpi]

Baby Harang gonna be huge tonight

[The Chosen One]

Expecting a Boomkaki on Lincecum.

[Julio3000]

Expecting a Boomkaki on Lincecum.

I can feel it coming in the air tonight.

[The Chosen One]

I can feel it coming in the air tonight.

I've been waiting for Nick's moment, for allllll myyyy lifeeeeee (or since Opening Day)...

[CyYoung31]

I've been waiting for Nick's moment, for allllll myyyy lifeeeeee (or since Opening Day)...

Can you really not bother to sticky threads? Why do I have to do everything around here?

[Julio3000]

I'll wager that rulebook double in LA was a Boomkaki tease.

[Julio3000]

Can you really not bother to sticky threads? Why do I have to do everything around here?

Is that the only way threads get sticky around here?

[Braves1976]

I'll wager that rulebook double in LA was a Boomkaki tease.

Maybe he is just waiting till Baltimore and will hit more than one in that series. Teach those mother****ers for letting him go. :)

[CyYoung31]

Nick Green sighting.

[CyYoung31]

Is that the only way threads get sticky around here?

Nick Green sighting.

[chop2chip]

@DOBrienAJC: #Braves Uribe on who's booed more: “They boo A.J. ‘A.J., booo!’...Every ballpark, they boo A.J. I don’t know why. It’s the same with Puig."

[CyYoung31]

SF bringing back the black alternates.

[CyYoung31]

@DOBrienAJC: #Braves Uribe on who's booed more: “They boo A.J. ‘A.J., booo!’...Every ballpark, they boo A.J. I don’t know why. It’s the same with Puig."

haha

[Julio3000]

Nick Green sighting.

Boosh! and/or kakow!

[CyYoung31]

That was...awful.

[Julio3000]

haha

That is outstanding.

[USMA76]

Hopefully, Lincecum got some bad weed; otherwise it could be a long night.

[Anthony J. Pierzynski]

@DOBrienAJC: #Braves Uribe on who's booed more: “They boo A.J. ‘A.J., booo!’...Every ballpark, they boo A.J. I don’t know why. It’s the same with Puig."

Yeah, that's that old bull****.

[WaitingFor2017]

Those Giant uniforms are pretty sweet.

[Julio3000]

Those Giant uniforms are pretty sweet.

Agreed. Didn't care for the orange tops yesterday, although the "GIANTS" script was pretty tight.

[CyYoung31]

Those Giant uniforms are pretty sweet.

Yeah, glad they brought them back, although they are slightly edited from the ones they wore circa 2001.

[jpx7]

He's still teasing that Boomkaki: it ain't happening unless it's topping off a natural cycle.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Can't get used to the mustache and mullet-less look from Lincecum

[jpx7]

Can't get used to the mustache and mullet-less look from Lincecum

He's just transitioning to an older pot-head demographic.

[jpx7]

Simmons snags that with ease, I'd have to expect.

[Garmel]

Damn it, Bethancourt. I've been defending you.

[USMA76]

Four pitch walk to the #8 hitter with two out...smh.

[jpx7]

Somebody warn me if our illustrious clean-up hitter comes up. I had to switch back to Hawks/Ducks, but I don't want to miss the Boomkaki.

[Braves1976]

Good job Peterson, very good AB and now a steal causing an error to set up Maybin for a sac-fly shot for better.

Base hit scores Peterson. Good job Maybin again too. Now Maybin can steal too.

[nsacpi]

Maybin

[USMA76]

Why can't Freeman just bunt to the left side? Seems he's bat about .500 if he did that.

[Braves1976]

Nice job by Maybin stealing second.

Maybin was about to steal third too when Markakis flew out. He couldn't let Peterson tie him for the Braves lead in steals for long. :)

[Garmel]

Why can't Freeman just bunt to the left side? Seems he's bat about .500 if he did that.

Ego. It's that simple.

[USMA76]

Is Hunter Pence eccentric or is he just a douche?

[jpx7]

Is Hunter Pence eccentric or is he just a douche?

I think Pence is eccentric, and Posey's a douche.

[chop2chip]

I think Pence is eccentric, and Posey's a douche.

I know Posey's economics professor from Florida State and he said that Posey was one of the nicer athletes that he had in class.

[USMA76]

If Posey's a douche, he's a douche with three WS rings who I'd take on our team in a nanosecond.

[Braves1976]

Great job setting up that curveball for that strikeout to Panik by Perez.

Good job by Perez again, 1-2-3 inning.

[nsacpi]

Baby Harang

[jpx7]

I know Posey's economics professor from Florida State and he said that Posey was one of the nicer athletes that he had in class.

If Posey's a douche, he's a douche with three WS rings who I'd take on our team in a nanosecond.

Don't care; don't like him. And Heyward should have won ROY that season.

(Also: I don't like any FSU athletes.)

[Heyward]

I think Pence is eccentric, and Posey's a douche.

How exactly is Posey a douche?

He seems to be a pretty nice, cool dude behind the scenes.

[Braves1976]

Good start by Uribe.

[jpx7]

How exactly is Posey a douche?

I don't like the cut of his jib.

[USMA76]

Don't care; don't like him. And Heyward should have won ROY that season.

(Also: I don't like any FSU athletes.)

In their rookie years, didn't (1) Posey have better numbers than Heyward (2) the Giants beat the Braves in the playoffs (3) the Giants win a WS thanks largely to Posey?

Don't get me wrong, I was rooting for Heyward but any objectivity gives the nod to Posey, I'm afraid.

PS Are you a Gator fan?

[Braves1976]

Good job by Bethancourt, though that wasn't where they wanted that pitch.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Very surprised, and glad, that they pitched to Bethancourt

[Garmel]

Good job, Bethancourt.

[Heyward]

In their rookie years, didn't (1) Posey have better numbers than Heyward (2) the Giants beat the Braves in the playoffs (3) the Giants win a WS thanks largely to Posey?

Don't get me wrong, I was rooting for Heyward but any objectivity gives the nod to Posey, I'm afraid.

PS Are you a Gator fan?

Yes he's a Gator fan.

I also agree Posey winnin ROY wasnt that crazy of a thing either, probably deserved it.

[Julio3000]

I don't like the cut of his jib.

I have the same visceral reaction to Posey. Unfair, admittedly, but undeniable. Maybe it's the name. He should have a grownup's name, like Willams, or Mike, or Chipper.

[Garmel]

Nice offensive performance tonight. However, we need more runs. We have to make this lead bullpen-proof.

[jpx7]

In their rookie years, didn't (1) Posey have better numbers than Heyward (2) the Giants beat the Braves in the playoffs (3) the Giants win a WS thanks largely to Posey?

For ROY voting, only the first point is relevant; and while Posey's offensive numbers were ever-so-slightly better than Heyward's (mostly due to a better slugging), Heyward had the better OBP, accumulated ~200 more PA, and played much better defense. I think Heyward deserved the nob, but the vote should have been closer than it was, regardless.


Don't get me wrong, I was rooting for Heyward but any objectivity gives the nod to Posey, I'm afraid.

Screw Posey. The joy of fandom is screwing one's subjectivity to the sticking-place. Plus: like I said, it wasn't even objectively a slam-dunk for Posey.


PS Are you a Gator fan?

Yes.

[Braves1976]

That almost got ugly at first base.

[Braves1976]

When Perez mixes and locates his pitches like he is now he can dominate.

[cajunrevenge]

Just swam home, still can't believe Perez is this good.

[Braves1976]

Good job Peterson, leadoff double.

[DirkPiggler]

Peterson showing off his raw power.

[Braves1976]

Freeman with an RBI bloop single, he's alive again!

[Garmel]

Freddie finally took something the opposite way and look what happened.

[USMA76]

For ROY voting, only the first is relevant; and while Posey's offensive numbers were ever-so-slightly better than Heyward's (mostly due to a better slugging), Heyward had the better OBP, accumulated ~200 more PA, and played much better defense. I think Heyward deserved the nob, but the vote should have been closer than it was, regardless.



Screw Posey. The joy of fandom is screwing your subjectivity to the sticking-place. Plus: like I said, it wasn't even objectively a slam-dunk for Posey.

Yes.

LOL at least you can admit your bias--and the source of it.

[jpx7]

LOL at least you can admit your bias--and the source of it.

To be honest, I disliked Posey for several seasons before I realized he attended FSU (since I don't really follow collegiate baseball). As I said, the source is even more arbitrary: I simply don't like the cut of his jib.

[CyYoung31]

I, for one, thought that Posey acted like a complete dick in the aftermath of the Logan Morrison incident.

[The Chosen One]

ImPerezive outing by Wilfredo.

[Braves1976]

Good job by Perez again. His numbers in relief stunk (SSS of course) but so far starting he's been impressive.

[nsacpi]

Baby Harang huge tonight

[Braves1976]

Baby Harang with his first MLB hit!

[The Chosen One]

I think we've found our starter for the Wild Card game. Perez fears no team.

[nsacpi]

hitting machine

[Garmel]

Baby Harang running down the line wasn't a pretty sight.

[CrimsonCowboy]

That's not the most graceful hit, but there you go, rook!

[Julio3000]

Bay Area seismologists got nervous for a sec.

[USMA76]

So how large must a lead be to be Braves bullpen proof--five?

[jpx7]

ImPerezive outing by Wilfredo.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MPlY4fnYsk4/U8cgGsiND-I/AAAAAAAACjQ/VfcKA5LU140/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef0134863cde25970c-800wi_medium-710051.gif

[CyYoung31]

From the sounds of it, Perez put the fat part of the bat on the ball.

(My DirecTV box has taken a ****.)

[USMA76]

From the sounds of it, Perez put the fat part of the bat on the ball.

(My DirecTV box has taken a ****.)

For that to have happened, he would've had to have been hit by the pitch.

[The Chosen One]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MPlY4fnYsk4/U8cgGsiND-I/AAAAAAAACjQ/VfcKA5LU140/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef0134863cde25970c-800wi_medium-710051.gif

Stop the H8te.

[nsacpi]

Bay Area seismologists got nervous for a sec.

Will you give the Hayward fault argument a break

[Braves1976]

I hope running the bases doesn't effect Perez, leadoff walk.

[Heyward]

So how large must a lead be to be Braves bullpen proof--five?

After that Nats game this year, 20.

[jpx7]

I love Joe parsing "good" walks. It's about how I imagine Chip parsing "good" withdrawals.

[Braves1976]

Where did they have Peterson playing on that? Looked like a play he usually makes and he was close to getting there.

[The Chosen One]

Perez is a Giant.

[Braves1976]

Great job for that strikeout. Come on Perez, one more!

[USMA76]

After that Nats game this year, 20.

I'd forgotten about that epic meltdown, now I can't erase the memory.

[The Chosen One]

Love that 2-seamer by Perez. Reminds me of Huddy.

[Braves1976]

Perez was really impressive under pressure again.

[Garmel]

Baby Harang loves pressure

[CrimsonCowboy]

I'm liking this pitching depth in the organization

[jpx7]

So far, in his first three starts, Williams Perez has been a revelation; earth-shattering, really.

[nsacpi]

Perez is a Giant.

He's huge

[USMA76]

Nice job by the fat man through six innings. Our starting pitching has been stout in this series so far.

[nsacpi]

So far, in his first three starts, Williams Perez has been a revelation; earth-shattering, really.

Why does everything have to come back to the Hayward fault

[The Chosen One]

He's huge

Such a heavy presence on the mound.

[Braves1976]

Hart says I didn't sign Harang because I wanted Baby Harang in da house. :)

[The Chosen One]

Williams "The Big Metric Unit" Perez.

[Heyward]

I'm liking this pitching depth in the organization

Good to see after the last few years not having much quality depth in the minors.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Chip and Joe are right. Freddie needs a day off

[The Chosen One]

Markakis hits it DEEP to short.

[USMA76]

Pathetic strikeout by Freeman. He swung at a ball that had already hit the dirt and the catcher's glove.

[Heyward]

Chip and Joe are right. Freddie needs a day off

Sunday vs Bumgarner seems logical.

[nsacpi]

Time to flip Baby Harang so we can call up Wisler

[jpx7]

Freddie is right. Chip and Joe need a day off

There you go.

[Braves1976]

Nice jam job with the inside sinker to get that first out.

[jpx7]

Markakis hits it DEEP to short.

http://booktrib.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Hercules.jpg

[CrimsonCowboy]

Best play Donnie Veal has made with Atlanta

[nsacpi]

nice play Donnie Veal

[The Chosen One]

Perez looks like he has the appetite for pitching big when we need him to.

He also looks like the guy we need to eat innings to save the bullpen.

[Braves1976]

Great game by Perez, looked like he was tiring that inning but got through it.

[WaitingFor2017]

Thankfully the front office put an end to the Cahill-Stults experiment quickly. Perez and Folty are young, both have futures here, and are much better.

[USMA76]

Perez' ERA is now 2.66 with seven innings of four hit shutout ball on 105 pitches. Not bad for a guy I'd never heard of two weeks ago.

[The Chosen One]

Perez understood the weight of this game, not wanting this team to go on a losing streak. Huge.

[CyYoung31]

Time to flip Baby Harang so we can call up Wisler

It might take our entire organization to flip Perez.

[CrimsonCowboy]

You guys are bad.:happy0157::happy0157:

[Braves1976]

Perez' ERA is now 2.66 with seven innings of four hit shutout ball on 105 pitches. Not bad for a guy I'd never heard of two weeks ago.

That also includes his one terrible outing out of the bullpen. He came into tonight with a 1.64 ERA in his two starts. He's even improved on that tonight.

[nsacpi]

Uribe's huge too.

We can practice flipping him before trying to flip Baby Harang.

[CyYoung31]

Perez understood the weight of this game, not wanting this team to go on a losing streak. Huge.

He's been eating the Giants' lunch so far.

[CrimsonCowboy]

That hit the dirt, blue.:facepalm:

[Garmel]

Uribe the base stealer?

[The Chosen One]

Uribe looking to make a splash of his own.

[Braves1976]

That was a foul ball, I'd stayed out there and made them throw me out of the game.

Good job by Simmons!

[USMA76]

So a ball in the dirt on a third strike can't be appealed?

[Braves1976]

Uribe the base stealer?

He's no Chris Johnson..

[The Chosen One]

Beth has been swinging the bat well just ri gh t at people.

[Garmel]

Simmons is a good hitter when he plays within himself.

[nsacpi]

9 single offense. Impressive

[WaitingFor2017]

Can't trust Veal in a 5 run game?

[USMA76]

9 single offense. Impressive

Welcome to the 2015 Braves.

[nsacpi]

Can't trust Veal in a 5 run game?

Luis had already warmed up. In that case I'm ok with him coming in.

[nsacpi]

Welcome to the 2015 Braves.

Plus 3 SB, including a Uribe special. Fun

[USMA76]

Plus 3 SB, including a Uribe special. Fun

Hey, it beats watching our guys strikeout 10 times while waiting for a long ball that never materializes.

[Braves1976]

Hopefully they won't blow Perez first win shot this time.

[nsacpi]

Hey, it beats watching our guys strikeout 10 times while waiting for a long ball that never materializes.

Yeah. Zero home runs tonight. A real beaut

[jpx7]

That was a foul ball, I'd stayed out there and made them throw me out of the game.

Dr Fredi only prescribes the meekest stuff.

[jpx7]

Hey, it beats watching our guys strikeout 10 times while waiting for a long ball that never materializes.

Personally, I don't mind watching the strikeouts; it's the long-ball never materializing that's the stinker.

[Braves1976]

For me, I don't mind watching the strikeouts; it's the long-ball never materializing that's the stinker.

Agreed. I've enjoyed watching Houston so far this year and I have watched them a lot since Gattis is still one of my favorite players. But I'd also add that Houston was at last checked either tied or near the lead in the AL in stolen bases too. If you have a team with a lot of strikeouts that live on homeruns a lot it helps to have the speed Houston has too. Good combo of power and speed IMO.

[USMA76]

Personally, I don't mind watching the strikeouts; it's the long-ball never materializing that's the stinker.

I can take strikeouts if they're accompanied by intelligent, competitive at bats. Too often in the past, that didn't happen and it was incredibly frustrating. Melvin was perhaps the worst offender in recent Braves history--at least that I can recall.

[The Chosen One]

Ha! Take that Giants with your babipping.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Well, that works

[jpx7]

Agreed. I've enjoyed watching Houston so far this year and I have watched them a lot since Gattis is still one of my favorite players.

I was thinking along the same lines when I submitted the previous post, as I've been watching a lot of the Astros as well. There are three reasons I surmise that allow it to work better for them than it did for the 2014 Braves: (a) the obvious, which is their home park (both a bandbox and, thanks to realignment, a designated-hitter zone); (b) the somewhat-unrelated, which is their really good shut-down starting pitching; and (c) the sneaky, which their superior deployment of speed on the base-paths, which helps to "make things happen" despite some deficiencies in putting the ball into play.

Edit: Based on your addendum, we're obviously assessing on the same page as far as power supplemented by speed. I think the Braves could have attempted the same thing over the previous two seasons, but it seems to run counter to organizational tendencies or proclivities.

[nsacpi]

Agreed. I've enjoyed watching Houston so far this year and I have watched them a lot since Gattis is still one of my favorite players. But I'd also add that Houston was at last checked either tied or near the lead in the AL in stolen bases too. If you have a team with a lot of strikeouts that live on homeruns a lot it helps to have the speed Houston has too. Good combo of power and speed IMO.

Glad to hear they are using Gattis' speed.

[WaitingFor2017]

Fredi panicking here. Let Avilan face one more batter, and then take him out if he walks him or gives up a 2-run hit.

It worked out this time with Johnson deflecting the ball to Uribe.

[Braves1976]

I can take strikeouts if they're accompanied by intelligent, competitive at bats. Too often in the past, that didn't happen and it was incredibly frustrating. Melvin was perhaps the worst offender in recent Braves history--at least that I can recall.

Yea, plus it killed us having so many blackholes in the line-up last year (including BJ, CJ, Uggla and Simmons) for part of the season. Simmons of course has bounced back a bit so far this year. It was more those other three that were the problem IMO.

[USMA76]

Glad to hear they are using Gattis' speed.

Wait a sec while I look up "sarcasm" in my on-line Websters.

[Braves1976]

Wait a sec while I look up "sarcasm" in my on-line Websters.

Gattis, Altuve, what's the difference? :)

[USMA76]

On an unrelated note, is it wrong for me to be developing a man-crush on Peterson?

[nsacpi]

Gattis, Altuve, what's the difference? :)

Power of Altuve speed of Gattis. A deadly combo

[Braves1976]

Peterson lead off triple, great night kid.

[The Chosen One]

Woooo

[Braves1976]

Peterson-Maybin are a deadly combo. :)

[nsacpi]

Not Grilli time

[Braves1976]

Chip is on some strong drugs tonight.

[jpx7]

Not Grilli time

I'll take Cunny over Hot Cheese most days of the week, anyways.

[jpx7]

Chip is on some strong drugs tonight.

All morning in the Haight, all afternoon in the Tenderloin: that'll do it.

[Braves1976]

It's nice to see Uribe crush one for us instead of against us for a change.

Great night for him too, three hits and a stolen base too.

[nsacpi]

David Carpenter

[USMA76]

Maybe Uribe can give our power-deficient lineup a boost.

We needed this win tonight. The prospect of Teheran vs. Bumgarner tomorrow doesn't look too promising.

[Braves1976]

David Carpenter

He got the save for Gwinnett tonight. Haha, I know you meant the other one now pitching bad for the Yankees. :)

[Braves1976]

Maybe Uribe can give our power-deficient lineup a boost.

We needed this win tonight. The prospect of Teheran vs. Bumgarner tomorrow doesn't look too promising.

Yea, plus Perez deserved this after seeing the bullpen blow his last game. He's been better every start.

Congrats to Perez on his first MLB win!

[Garmel]

Peterson lead off triple, great night kid.

I've never him square up so many hard hits like tonight.

[CrimsonCowboy]

http://i.imgur.com/P6x0U.gif

[Braves1976]

Perez the Giant killer! Good win boys.

[UNCBlue012]

Beautiful night for the offense and a GREAT job by Perez. I really like what he brings to this rotation. His offspeed stuff is great. Lots of movement on his FB as well.

[zbhargrove]

If Perez could cut down on the walks, he could be a real find.

[thethe]

I just can't believe how crazy our pitching depth is at this point. If Teheran can get his **** together we really have a shot at the playoffs this year.

[Heyward]

On an unrelated note, is it wrong for me to be developing a man-crush on Peterson?

Never wrong to have man-crushes in sports, part of being a fan.

[Hawk]

On an unrelated note, is it wrong for me to be developing a man-crush on Peterson?

https://tokenlefty.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/jace-peterson1.jpg

[thewupk]

I really like what I've seen from Perez since he joined the rotation. Good K% and high GB%.

[thethe]

I really like what I've seen from Perez since he joined the rotation. Good K% and high GB%.

If we are going to get this type of production from the back end then all possibilities are open.

[nsacpi]

Best Perez since Pascual.

[emk418]

I like Perez a lot. Definitely seems to profile as a solid #4 type SP. But he won't really have a future here with Wisler, Banuelos etc coming. Would love for him to pitch really really well then spin for a bat.

[nsacpi]

I like Perez a lot. Definitely seems to profile as a solid #4 type SP. But he won't really have a future here with Wisler, Banuelos etc coming. Would love for him to pitch really really well then spin for a bat.

The sad fact is that the attrition rate among pitchers is quite high. We do not have a surplus of pitchers. Consider what we currently have in the pen. With respect to starting pitching, in a typical year the typical major league team has 7-9 different starting pitchers make at least 10 starts. So at the start of each season you need to plan for 8 guys making a significant number of starts at the major league level. You stash one or two in AAA and one or two in the pen, knowing you are going to need them in the rotation later in the season.

[thewupk]

If we are going to get this type of production from the back end then all possibilities are open.

If we get this type of production from Perez he won't be at the back end of the rotation

[WaitingFor2017]

Teheran needs to get his crap together today. A 3-4 road trip at LAD and SF that included games vs. Kershaw, Greinke, Bumgarner, and Lincecum would be amazing for this group of Braves. They could then continue the run and take 2 out of 3 in Arizona to end the toughest road trip of the year at 5-5. Wishful thinking.

[The Chosen One]

I actually like watching Perez pitch more than Shelby or Folty (so far).

Yeah Folty K's a bunch of guys, but I love watching the way Perez attacks hitters. Whether it's attacking his sinker inside to jam a righty, or using the 2-seam to cutback inside the plate to a lefty (you know like Maddux-Hudson-Medlen). Plus you can't help but root for the guy being how big he is.

[nsacpi]

I actually like watching Perez pitch more than Shelby or Folty (so far).

Yeah Folty K's a bunch of guys, but I love watching the way Perez attacks hitters. Whether it's attacking his sinker inside to jam a righty, or using the 2-seam to cutback inside the plate to a lefty (you know like Maddux-Hudson-Medlen). Plus you can't help but root for the guy being how big he is.

He's got the Harang charisma

[The Chosen One]

He's got the Harang charisma

He's been huge in the big moments.

Makeup has been off the charts.

[jpx7]

They could then continue the run and take 2 out of 3 in Arizona to end the toughest road trip of the year at 5-5. Wishful thinking.

I don't know: as thoroughly mediocre as I think this year's edition of the Braves ultimately, they should still probably sweep the Diamondbacks. Arizona throws out some pretty terrible starting pitching, particularly in the scheduled matchups against Atlanta, and they are really receiving any offensive production outside of Pollock, Tomas, and Goldschmidt (who's setting the world on fire, but still only one batter). I know baseball doesn't work like that—and somehow, unlike the Braves (-15), the Diamondbacks have a positive run-differential (+14)—but both on paper and in the games I've watched they do not look like a good team.

[cajunrevenge]

Uribe as a brave so far, .333/.429/.667. I know he is old and people here hate old players but Uribe had is it crazy to think he could still be a good hitter? He's 36 but the best 2 years of his caeer came at at 34 and 35. This could be a really significant upgrade. He hasnt been bad vs lefties but his batting average is higher vs RH pitching the last few years and for his career so a platoon with Chris Johnson should combine to be above average. This deal could end up being very significant.

[nsacpi]

Uribe as a brave so far, .333/.429/.667. I know he is old and people here hate old players but Uribe had is it crazy to think he could still be a good hitter? He's 36 but the best 2 years of his caeer came at at 34 and 35. This could be a really significant upgrade. He hasnt been bad vs lefties but his batting average is higher vs RH pitching the last few years and for his career so a platoon with Chris Johnson should combine to be above average. This deal could end up being very significant.

He should give us an upgrade at third. The trade was mainly about Withrow and Thomas, but it could be one of those deals where the incidental details matter more than the main pieces.

[cajunrevenge]

Its just weird that Uribe seems to be an afterthought when he hit .311 last year. For the WAR people he has been worth 8.6 WAR over the last 2 years. Because of 100 at bats he became a salary dump?

[Garmel]

Its just weird that Uribe seems to be an afterthought when he hit .311 last year. For the WAR people he has been worth 8.6 WAR over the last 2 years. Because of 100 at bats he became a salary dump?

I know, right? The whole trade was dumb on LA's part. Basically, we traded 4 DFA quality players for 2 good players

[nsacpi]

Its just weird that Uribe seems to be an afterthought when he hit .311 last year. For the WAR people he has been worth 8.6 WAR over the last 2 years. Because of 100 at bats he became a salary dump?

The combination of Guerrero doing well and Uribe not doing well is what led them to trade him. Teams like the Dodgers sometimes have these roster issues. They also have Turner. So someone had to go. A couple years ago they designated Van Slyke for assignment. It surprised me that no team made a claim for him.

[Braves1976]

I know, right? The whole trade was dumb on LA's part. Basically, we traded 4 DFA quality players for 2 good players

I disagree, nsacpi's take on the trade is more fair IMO. Thomas has starter potential and was a good starter in AA his first year with us (and missing much of last year due to injury set him back). Plus I am not so sure about Withrow's control after reviewing a lot of his games with the Dodgers since the trade. I noted that he has a lot of full counts even when he doesn't walk too many. For example, check out his 4 K game last year vs the Giants, three of those K's were on full counts and two they chased outside. I guess what I am saying is I still like him assuming he comes back healthy. I just thought he looked more like a 7th inning reliever rather than someone I'd trust in the 8th or 9th on a good team. He'll need to improve his control for me to trust him more.

[Braves1976]

He should give us an upgrade at third. The trade was mainly about Withrow and Thomas, but it could be one of those deals where the incidental details matter more than the main pieces.

Agreed. Uribe should be an upgrade at third. He is a big upgrade defensively already from Chris Johnson. But that is because Uribe has been among the best defensive third basemen the last few years and Chris Johnson is among the worst. Uribe is in a different league defensively than CJ, he actually has range. CJ is a statue you just tell to stand here and don't boot what comes to you, while hoping Simmons gets the rest.

[Garmel]

Uribe's range has always surprised me. I never knew someone with a gut that big could move that fast but he can.

[Braves1976]

Uribe's range has always surprised me. I never knew someone with a gut that big could move that fast but he can.

He does move well for a fat boy, I must admit that I expected him to get worse the last few years with his age. But instead his last two years have been among his best as far as defense goes. So if he can hit like last year again hopefully we can trade him for something good at the deadline. I also wouldn't rule out a one year deal to bring him back for next year depending on how good he does.