Comments on: Salty for Tex

By: Graham Rhodenizer

Graham Rhodenizer — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:30:24 +0000

Solid move for both teams. Texas did a NICE job of selling and getting a nice catching prospect back. And Texy will most definitely help the Braves down the stretch. He is one of the most talented HR hitters in the game.

What I mean by Talented HR Hitters?

Well He’s not just one of those HR’s hitters that drop and drive dead pull or miss the ball and hit it out. This guy has GREAT hand Eye. Middle away middle in down up. He has enough talent to use his hands sit on a pitch or guess. Not many pure HR hitters have that kind of talent.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:32:45 +0000

It’s not much of a gamble at all. They traded a promising catcher who is blocked by a young All-Star catcher who they just signed to a multiyear deal and a bunch of prospects (2 of whom aren’t even 20 years old) that nobody right now knows how good they will be or whether they will ever make the major leagues for one of the top 5 first basemen in the game and several relief pitchers who will help solidify a bullpen that has been quite shaky the last few weeks. The result should give the Braves a great chance of making the playoffs and doing well if they get there.

By: Marc Schneider

Marc Schneider — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:19:36 +0000

It seems like a bit of a gamble but not much. Salty was blocked here. The Braves have lots of middle infielders and, as others have noted, their history of young pitchers developing into actual major leaguers is not good. Moreover, it’s not like the Braves will never draft another pitcher. At some point, you have to try to win, not play for five years down the road. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Braves don’t make the playoffs this year but if they don’t, they have Tex for next year (albeit most likely with no Andruw). Pitching remains a problem but that would have been true even if they didn’t make the trade. Like it or not, the Braves are increasingly becoming a team built around offense rather than pitching, at least for a few years.

And Jason’s assumption that they will lose in the first round is really an argument for never making any moves because you always lose in the first round. If you don’t get there, you can’t win.

By: ChuckO

ChuckO — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:10:02 +0000

I agree with those who say that Schuerholz is taking a now-or-never approach to the team. Bobby Cos has said that he’s retiring after the 2008 season, and I’m sure the organization wants to send him off with a championship. Beyond that the future really is iffy. Schuerholz himself is 65, and everything I’ve read says that Liberty Media will sell the Braves in three years. Who knows how that will turn out? There’s plenty of incentive for taking a win now approach.

By: Brent

Brent — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:51:09 +0000

I can’t help but think of the quote Billy Beane made after the last seemingly even Atlanta trade:

“If Atlanta calls you and wants to discuss pitchers, hang up.”

I am surprised so many are giving up on being able to resign Teixeira. Between Renteria, Wickman, Hampton, and Andruw Jones, Atlanta will be taking $42 million off the payroll by 2009. Other than Frenchy’s arbitration, Hudson’s $6 million raise, and Smoltzie’s $6 million raise, why can’t Atlanta throw some toward a new franchise cornerstone?

By: Mac

Mac — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:01:41 +0000

What did the Braves give up for Teixeira, really? Saltalamacchia is a terrific prospect, but he wasn’t going to catch and as a first baseman he’s pretty ordinary. Harrison didn’t really fit in a rotation that already had Chuck James and (presumably) Jo-Jo Reyes. The other guys are all years away, as in 2010. The chances were that none of the players given up was ever going to be a positive contributor to the Braves.

Davies, of course, is useless. I don’t like the Startup deal.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:50:21 +0000

It appears (to me) that Scheurholz has taken a now or never approach to winning another championship. I don’t know whether to interpret that as a commentary on the team’s future or on Scheurholz’s future. I mean the man won’t be GM forever and he may feel some urgency for his own legacy. Between the three trades for Teixeira, Dotel and Royce Ring, it looks as if the Braves gave away a who’s who list of their top ten (maybe 20) prospects. It actually looks to me like Will Startup is major league ready 49k/18bb in 49+ IP at Richmond and is nearly 4 years younger than Ring (33K/27BB in 38+ IP career in majors). But then as a Cartersville, GA resident I have an emotional attachment to Startup and may be biased in evaluating him.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:02:04 +0000

I know it is a radical idea but I would prefer if the Braves went to a 4 man rotation for the rest of the year, relying on the new relief arms to get the Braves to the post.

By: Pizza Cutter

Pizza Cutter — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:29:55 +0000

Let’s call this deal what it is: A gamble. A gamble where the odds are pretty even up, but a gamble.

By: JB

JB — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:49:40 +0000

The thinking behind this deal is sound. It makes sense to have a high time preference if you’re still in the race; Schuerholz undoubtedly had the Cardinals in mind after watching them win a World Series despite 83 regular season wins.

Trading prospects for stars is usually a winning strategy; for every Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen deal, there are probably dozens more of the Fred McGriff for Melvin Nieves, Donnie Elliott and Vince Moore variety.

The Braves may regret this deal someday but it’s hard to fault the rationale right now.