The professor makes some valid points. It is a pragmatic view I believe and the Braves need to deal with realities and not hopes and dreams. This team was deflated the day Tex left and it shows in their play on the field. Kotchman needs to be retained though at least another year or 2. Bench KJ and let Prado play the next 5 weeks. Bench Frenchy and let him reflect. He is late on fastballs because of his swing. It’s not very good and has holes. Carlos Pena asked Manny Ramirez the secret to being a good hitter. Ramirez replied “see the ball”. Pena was upset about that answer but then tried it with another Ramirez attribute, relax. See the ball, relax. Pena has been hitting much better since then. Kotsay should be signed for a 1yr. deal. Leave Glavine off the club even if he generates income. Sign Smoltz if healthy and let him close. Trade Soriano when he proves healthy. Cleveland would be a good place for him. Send Boyer to another planet. His fastball is too straight. Sign 2 FA pitchers and go after a hitter who can help Chipper and Brian but don’t screw up the future by overpaying.. Take the lumps next season with a foundation set up for the future. Then expose the kids in 2010. The Braves will have a losing record in 2009.

Francoeur’s RBI for 2006 and 7 were also heavily driven by a batting average with runners in scoring position significantl better than in other at bats.  Over time, most of the time, a player’s “clutch” ability will average out (or go to sightly below his other stats).  This year, Francoeur is hitting worse with runners on, bases loaded, runners in scoring positoon, etc. 

If you are batting sixth for a team where 3 (Chipper) is a 450 to 500 obp, 4, (Teix) is a 400 to 450 obp, and 5 (McCann) is a 400 obp, and, if you NEVER get or take a day or inning off, then if you have ANY BUSINESS AT ALL in the ML’s you ought to get close to 100 rbi.  If you are a good producer, you ought to be near 125.  

Who would you have the Braves use at 3B, 2B and 1B in 2010? I’ll grant the premise that the Braves are unlikely to contend in 2009, but I don’t see why that means the Braves should look to move a star 3B and decent players at 2B and 1B, all of which would be around for the 2010 season and possibly beyond.

Personally, I think they should work out an extension for Chipper through like 2012 (maybe with vesting options or something; Chipper will give the Braves a better deal than he will anyone else). Kotchman and KJ are expendable and should be moved if a decent deal presents itself. But I don’t think trading them should be priorities; there’s not really anyone to step in for either in 2009 or even 2010, so if you trade them, you’ll just have to go back and trade/sign someone else to play in their stead. Maybe the Prado at 2B idea has merit, but he doesn’t seem like he has much potential as a full-time player.

I see even less reason to deal Infante. I really doubt someone will give the Braves much for him prospect-wise, and at the same time, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get extended rather cheaply to cover a “contending” year or two.

Also, why no Mike Gonzalez? If anything, he seems like the best guy on this team to trade if we’re punting 2009. Not only will he be out of Braves control after next year, but he’s actually something that other teams value:  a shut-down closer.

What I’d like to see the Braves do this offseason basically amounts to “nothing stupid”. A long-term deal to a quality FA would be okay, but please, no Tex-like trades where we give up tons of value from the minor leagues for a year or two of a player who will later leave. Sign some minor FAs that don’t cost draft picks and can patch holes for a year or two. No stupid bullpen contracts, use the draft to build.

I am a “fanatic” Atlanta Braves fan who was born, grew up and live in N.Y.C.  Can you believe that?

Some comments about the current state of the Braves.  I fear the Braves are headed for a 15 – 20 year funk; just like they experienced from 1973 -1991.  It happens.  My only regret as a Braves fan is that we didn’t cash in our chips.  

Winning the Division Title fourteen years in a row and only having one World Series title to show for it is unacceptable.  It leaves a bad taste in my mouth as a Braves fan; a sense of being “unfulfilled”.  We should have won a minimum of two World Series titles during that span at the very least but more likely three.  Then I could better accept the Braves plummeting rock bottom.

As for 2009; I say leave the team as is.  We have nothing to trade.  Last year we were able to trade Edgar Renteria because we had Yunel Escobar waiting in the wings.  

All our players are young and unproven and will not net anything worthwhile in a trade so we might as well keep them.  One exception.  (Maybe we can send Mark Kotsay to a playoff contender since we have Gregor Blanco and Josh Anderson to play center in 2009 and Mark Kotsay does not hit with enough power to be a corner outfielder.)

2009
Casey Kotchmann (1B)
Kelly Johnson (2B – I would consider moving him to left field but he must hit for more power) 
Martin Prado (2B)
Yunel Escobar (ss)
Gregor Blanco or Josh Anderson (CF)
Jeff Francoeur (RF)

And just keep our fingers crossed they continue to develop.  J. C. Bradbury; if we enter the free agent market we are going to get ripped off.  It is a very sparse market and we will be forced to ovepay.

My one regret J.C., is at the trade deadline we were not able to acquire Xavier Nady and stick him in left field.  He was the guy I really wanted.  I can’t believe the Yankees were able to outbid us for Xavier Nady (along with Damaso Marte) with the putrid package they put together.  I think the Pirates were snookered by all the ”hype” surrounding Jose Tabata and think he is the next Roberto Clemente.  

I would have offered a package of Brandon Jones, Brent Lillibridge, Chuck James and one “elite” prospect and one lesser one.  By ”elite” prospect I mean someone like Cole Rohrbaugh or Jeff Locke or Tyler Flowers (not Jason Heyward).   

What do you think, J.C.

My name is Marv Kleeman and you contact me at 
MarvMJK@aol.com

Best Regards
 

But JC, Joe Morgan says that RBIs are a true measure of a player’s worth and he’s in the HoF!

His OPS+ for that year was 103, barely above league average.