Perfect Cell
Lynchburg Prospect
brett boone
Worst Players For Atlanta?
- Thread starter bravesfanforlife88
- Start date
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
Thought a fair amount about this while doing my 10 worst moments. First, I cannot include Uggla because he gave us one great season before falling off the planet. Same with Francoeur. My criteria is suckage from start to finish.
Hence, my list, in no particular order:
Melky Cabrera
Nick Esasky (captain)
Hector Olivera
Garret Anderson
Casey Kotchman
Jordan Schafer
Ryan Doumit
Nick Swisher
Graig Nettles
Melvin Upton Jr.
Honorable mention: Damaso Garcia
Subject to change
Hence, my list, in no particular order:
Melky Cabrera
Nick Esasky (captain)
Hector Olivera
Garret Anderson
Casey Kotchman
Jordan Schafer
Ryan Doumit
Nick Swisher
Graig Nettles
Melvin Upton Jr.
Honorable mention: Damaso Garcia
Subject to change
Thing is about Andres Thomas, like every other Dominican from the same town of the time, is that good glove/no stick was still tolerated (even expected) of SS's during that era.
You have to remove Nettles from that list. Just seeing him in a Braves uniform was totally surreal, after he was one of the general staff of the Padres from the Brawl to End it All. Thus, there was some entertainment value.
P.S. Don't recall Damaso Garcia performing that poorly?
That transaction, combined with all the expectations placed upon Brad Komminsk, was what set the stage for that memorable half decade.
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
It was mostly his .117 batting average. Oh, and there was an attitude problem. It was only 21 games, so I thought he might be under the cutoff...
VirginiaBrave
Well-known member
Gotta take Esasky off that list. He couldn't help the vertigo that ended his career.
bravesfanforlife88
Well-known member
How the hell did no one mention olivera or doumit lmao!
Julio3000
<B>A Chip Off the Old Rock</B>
He was a weird acquisition. I guess it was the Bobby Cox connection that got him to ATL? IIRC he tore up his knee, which mercifully ended his Braves tenure.
Your list is pretty solid.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Except that Thomas wasn't particularly good on defense. He was an improvement over Rafael Ramirez with the glove, but that's a pretty low bar.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
I can remember watching Cubs' games on WGN and Harry Caray would belt out "Jody. Jody Davis. King of Wrigley Field" to the tune of the theme from Davy Crockett.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Just looked at Baseball Reference to see Jody Davis' stats for the Atlanta portion of his career. In his only full season, he managed to put up a lusty .489 OPS. Now that is bad.
Jody Davis was near the end of the trail, and didn't cost anything, pitchers Kevin Coffman & Kevin Blankenship.
The Bruce Sutter signing has to go in the Top 5 of most damaging personnel moves during the 80's. We've dealt with Len Baker and Brad Komminsk already, but this one also had far-reaching repercussions. They had an elite level closer in the making already on the roster, Steve Bedrosian, who would go on to win a Cy Young with the Phillies. (Not going to search, but not many closers won that award over time. Mark Davis did a few years after.) Not only was the loss of Bedrosian painful, but the hole at catcher was filled with Ozzie Virgil.
Most harmful moves:
1.) Len Barker trade (just made me realize that the Horner broken wrists, dealing Brook Jacoby to Indians necessitated trading very useful LH reliever Ken Dayley for Ken Oberkfell)
2.) Brad Komminsk hype
3.) Bruce Sutter FA signing
4.) Steve Bedrosian/Milt Thompson trade for Ozzie Virgil/Pete Smith
That, my friends, is how you build a 100-loss per year team.
Duane Ward for Doyle Alexander. Not so good. Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz. Very good!
From Toronto. He brought a lot of them down. Alexander, Mark Eichhorn, Rick Cerone, Ernie Whitt, etc.
VirginiaBrave
Well-known member
Another point on Nick Esasky. If he comes to Atlanta and does what is expected, then he is the 1B in '91 and '92 and Sid never slides because he is never brought in. How's that for a what if?
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
I'm sorry, but Scot Thorman has immunity on this board and is considered above reproach. Otherwise, knock yourself out.
VirginiaBrave
Well-known member
How in the world anybody thought Adam was expendable is beyond me. Adam should have been the Braves 1B from '04 til Freddie came along.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
Rico has long had Esasky on his list even though he shouldn't for the reason you point out, same was said to him last time he listed Esasky only back then he included a rant against him too. I never understood it personally.