9/3 Braves @ Nats; the Olive Era Continues
- Thread starter Julio3000
- Start date
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
Ha, that'll be the day. Maybe if they lose 20 in a row he'll finally get on the hot seat, then again probably not with him being so close to Bobby Cox.
GovClintonTyree
<B>Vencer a Los Doyers</B>
Dude, it wouldn't matter if we had Tony ****ing LaRussa and the ghost of John McGraw as his bench coach managing these turd burglars.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
I never said it would make us a playoff team with this roster, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter how terrible your manager is. It still does.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves are clearly rebuilding.
The guy responsible for their overhaul insisted Thursday they can still be a contender.
Long one of baseball's most consistent franchises, the Braves have dealt away three of their top hitters -- Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis -- and received only one player assured of being in the majors next season, pitcher Shelby Miller.
President of baseball operations John Hart acknowledged that the Braves made all the trades with an eye toward their long-term future. Yet, in a city that has endured only three losing seasons in the last 24 years, the deals have caused major consternation among the fan base, with many complaining that the team has given up on the next two seasons and is more concerned about being competitive when it moves into a new suburban stadium in 2017.
Not so, Hart told The Associated Press.
"We may not be the prettiest girl at the dance," he said in a telephone interview, "but we're going to be a lot of fun to dance with."
On Wednesday, Hart dealt the power-hitting Gattis and a minor-leaguer to the Houston Astros for three prospects. Already this winter, the Braves got four prospects from San Diego Padres in exchange for Upton, while Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden were sent to the St. Louis Cardinals for Miller and another pitching prospect.
Hart, who took over the de factor general manager role after Frank Wren was fired with a week to go in a disappointing 2014 season, said it was imperative that the Braves moved boldly to get something in return for players such as Upton and Heyward, who were entering the final year of their contracts, and bolstered a depleted farm system that ranked among the worst in the game.
Gattis wasn't a contract issue -- he's still got four more years before he's eligible to become a free agent -- but Hart said the Braves determined he wasn't a viable full-time player at either catcher or as Upton's replacement in left field because of defensive limitations.
A Texas native, Gattis said he was glad to be heading to a team that seems to have higher goals than the Braves.
"It seems like they are going into rebuilding mode," he said Thursday. "I'm excited to be on a team that is looking to win -- this next year, immediately. That's a really good situation for me."
Those words must be stinging to a franchise that won a record 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005, and captured the NL East title just two years ago. Under former owner Ted Turner, the team was able to spend freely to fill whatever need it had. The current owner, Liberty Media Corp., has imposed much tougher salary constraints.
It was highly unlikely that either Heyward or Upton would have re-signed with the Braves after the 2015 season, especially with the team still saddled with three more years on B.J. Upton's $75.25 million contract. He has been one of the biggest free-agent busts in baseball history, and there's little hope of team dumping his contract unless he has a major turnaround this season. The team also owes another $13.2 million to second baseman Dan Uggla, who was released by the team last season.
"We realized we couldn't fix everything," Hart said. "That gave us sort of a road map for what we wanted to do this winter."
The team picked up two of Houston's top-ranked prospects, right-handed pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and third baseman Rio Ruiz. The trade with the Padres brought prized left-handed pitcher Max Fried, a former first-round pick coming off Tommy John surgery. The deal with the Cardinals included right-handed pitcher Tyrell Jenkins, who is now listed among the Braves top prospects in the latest rankings by Baseball America.
Hart said there could be some minor tinkering before the start of spring training, but no other major deals are expected. He said it's likely the Braves will do a lot more platooning this season and look to be more creative in scoring runs, rather than relying mainly on the long ball.
Even with Justin Upton, Heyward and Gattis, the Braves still ranked next-to-last in runs scored in 2014. The offensive woes led to a late-season collapse that resulted in a 79-83 record, 17 games behind NL East-winning Washington.
"Look, we weren't going to be favored even if we kept everybody and added two pitchers," Hart said. "But I think the future is significantly brighter because of what we were able to do this winter."
The guy responsible for their overhaul insisted Thursday they can still be a contender.
Long one of baseball's most consistent franchises, the Braves have dealt away three of their top hitters -- Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis -- and received only one player assured of being in the majors next season, pitcher Shelby Miller.
President of baseball operations John Hart acknowledged that the Braves made all the trades with an eye toward their long-term future. Yet, in a city that has endured only three losing seasons in the last 24 years, the deals have caused major consternation among the fan base, with many complaining that the team has given up on the next two seasons and is more concerned about being competitive when it moves into a new suburban stadium in 2017.
Not so, Hart told The Associated Press.
"We may not be the prettiest girl at the dance," he said in a telephone interview, "but we're going to be a lot of fun to dance with."
On Wednesday, Hart dealt the power-hitting Gattis and a minor-leaguer to the Houston Astros for three prospects. Already this winter, the Braves got four prospects from San Diego Padres in exchange for Upton, while Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden were sent to the St. Louis Cardinals for Miller and another pitching prospect.
Hart, who took over the de factor general manager role after Frank Wren was fired with a week to go in a disappointing 2014 season, said it was imperative that the Braves moved boldly to get something in return for players such as Upton and Heyward, who were entering the final year of their contracts, and bolstered a depleted farm system that ranked among the worst in the game.
Gattis wasn't a contract issue -- he's still got four more years before he's eligible to become a free agent -- but Hart said the Braves determined he wasn't a viable full-time player at either catcher or as Upton's replacement in left field because of defensive limitations.
A Texas native, Gattis said he was glad to be heading to a team that seems to have higher goals than the Braves.
"It seems like they are going into rebuilding mode," he said Thursday. "I'm excited to be on a team that is looking to win -- this next year, immediately. That's a really good situation for me."
Those words must be stinging to a franchise that won a record 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005, and captured the NL East title just two years ago. Under former owner Ted Turner, the team was able to spend freely to fill whatever need it had. The current owner, Liberty Media Corp., has imposed much tougher salary constraints.
It was highly unlikely that either Heyward or Upton would have re-signed with the Braves after the 2015 season, especially with the team still saddled with three more years on B.J. Upton's $75.25 million contract. He has been one of the biggest free-agent busts in baseball history, and there's little hope of team dumping his contract unless he has a major turnaround this season. The team also owes another $13.2 million to second baseman Dan Uggla, who was released by the team last season.
"We realized we couldn't fix everything," Hart said. "That gave us sort of a road map for what we wanted to do this winter."
The team picked up two of Houston's top-ranked prospects, right-handed pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and third baseman Rio Ruiz. The trade with the Padres brought prized left-handed pitcher Max Fried, a former first-round pick coming off Tommy John surgery. The deal with the Cardinals included right-handed pitcher Tyrell Jenkins, who is now listed among the Braves top prospects in the latest rankings by Baseball America.
Hart said there could be some minor tinkering before the start of spring training, but no other major deals are expected. He said it's likely the Braves will do a lot more platooning this season and look to be more creative in scoring runs, rather than relying mainly on the long ball.
Even with Justin Upton, Heyward and Gattis, the Braves still ranked next-to-last in runs scored in 2014. The offensive woes led to a late-season collapse that resulted in a 79-83 record, 17 games behind NL East-winning Washington.
"Look, we weren't going to be favored even if we kept everybody and added two pitchers," Hart said. "But I think the future is significantly brighter because of what we were able to do this winter."
Runnin
Well-known member
Bill Clinton was at a baseball game. Before the game began a secret service man came up to him and whispered in his ear.
President Clinton suddenly picked up Hillary and threw her out on the field.
The secret service man said, "Mr. President Sir, I think you misunderstood me; I said throw out the first pitch."
President Clinton suddenly picked up Hillary and threw her out on the field.
The secret service man said, "Mr. President Sir, I think you misunderstood me; I said throw out the first pitch."
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
I guess Hart was correct in one sense, the Nats and everyone else is having a lot of fun dancing with (facing) us. They're kicking our teeth in right now. These are football scores, just by only the teams we're facing.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
I am guessing Gomes is glad we traded him now, he got a double his first AB and first pitch he saw with KC and tonight went 2-4 with another RBI double. He basically went from the worst team in MLB to a first place and soon to be division winner in KC. Plus he has contributed with them right away too.
GovClintonTyree
<B>Vencer a Los Doyers</B>
Let's see. The players play like **** - worse than **** - and it's Fredi's fault. Makes sense.
Jeff? Jeff Loria, is that you?
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
Ha, so it makes no sense to call out a terrible manager during the worst stretch in Atlanta history?!
PS: You're full of **** asking me if I am Jeff Loria.
goldfly
<B>if my thought dreams could be seen</B>
Braves have a .449 winning percentage in September under Fredi. This is compared to a .543 winning percentage in months April-August.
Braves have scored .86 runs per run given up in September under Fredi. This is compared to scoring 1.068 runs per run given up in months April-August.
Braves have scored .86 runs per run given up in September under Fredi. This is compared to scoring 1.068 runs per run given up in months April-August.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
Braves now have a winning percentage of .240 in the last 50 games under Fredi...
I'll never doubt that man's ability to lead us where we need to go again.
Man, there's no reasoning with these Fredi groupies.
GovClintonTyree
<B>Vencer a Los Doyers</B>
Right. It doesn't.
When Matt Wisler is bisecting the plate with 0-2 meatballs and we're playing an International League lineup because they've dealt everybody with a pulse, I'm thinking whoever is managing the club has no shot.
GovClintonTyree
<B>Vencer a Los Doyers</B>
Not a Fredi groupie. Just realistic about what he's got to work with. He doesn't pitch, field, or hit.
Unfortunately, neither do the guys on the roster.
Fredi maximized the most out of what he had the first few months.
The roster he's working with now is pretty lulzworthy.
Rotation is awful right now because of inexperience, not to mention how lulzworthy this bullpen is too.
The roster he's working with now is pretty lulzworthy.
Rotation is awful right now because of inexperience, not to mention how lulzworthy this bullpen is too.