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NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 08 2017 03:02 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 08 2017 04:56 PM

Talk me down from worrying about the Braves, would ya? I know what you're thinking: Having shitcanned pitching coach Roger McDowell, there's no WAY they will compete in 2017 but I'm looking them over and see: -- a 1-2-3-4-5 of Enciarte, Swanson, Freeman, Kemp, Markakis that doesn't really suck. They are not very scary at 2B, 3B and C but FA Sean Rodriguez addresses the first 2 problems better than however they did it last year. -- They had awful starting pitching last year but added three veteran signee starting pitchers who might not all suck and two probably mean trouble for us in particular (Dickey, Colon, Jamie Garcia), and if nothing else add more depth between Teheran, who's really good, and some over-their-head younger guys (Wisler, Blair) who aren't good yet but might be. -- They look like they have a good enough bullpen, nothing outstanding -- We're gonna come out of the gate in April facing Teheran, Colon, Dickey [crossout:20hiol6h]in their brand-new stadium[/crossout:20hiol6h] at Citi Field. Are you worried? Why or why not?

d'Kong76 Jan 08 2017 03:44 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

First six against the Braves are April home games, they don't visit the new place until May. Any team with Uncle Bartolo is worthy of concern!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 08 2017 04:57 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Doh. Saw grey boxes on the schedule but forgot I was looking at Braves site.

Frayed Knot Jan 08 2017 06:10 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

They were certainly a much tougher team in the second half of 2016 as compared to the first and has anyone made, then un-made, then re-made their team on the fly faster than Atlanta over the last three seasons? I mean, yeah, this gear shifting from the days of L-T contracts to Andrelton Simmons, Kimbrel, Upton^2, etc. has resulted in three losing seasons in a row including the last two with 90+ losses, but their dive into the depths certainly wasn't as bad what say the Astros went through (324 losses over three seasons) and they seem to be coming out of it quicker with good and mostly prime-aged (Bart & RA aside) major leaguers at the top plus a bunch of good prospects (a SS + a bunch of pitchers) on the verge with another high draft pick coming up.

Lefty Specialist Jan 08 2017 07:18 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

I'm more worried about the Braves than the Phils or Marlins, quite frankly.

Edgy MD Jan 09 2017 02:42 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Bartolo has made fools out of us all, but I'm not ready to buy the Teheran-Dickey-Colón-Foltynewicz-Garcia rotation. Plus, they're breaking in a new pitching coach.

Centerfield Jan 09 2017 02:11 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

I worry that the NL East is better as a whole, making it more likely that we have to take the division to make the playoffs.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 09 2017 03:15 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves schedule Bartolo Colon bobblehead giveaway for game against Mets. This triggers Noah Syndergaard's inner Liam Neeson. http://tomahawktake.com/2017/01/08/atla ... start-war/

batmagadanleadoff Jan 09 2017 04:27 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

The Braves will pay Bartolo $12.5M for the 2017 season. Has a 44 year old pitcher ever received that much MLB contract money before? I don't know for sure, but I'd say no.

Edgy MD Jan 09 2017 04:35 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

baseball-reference says Rawja Clemens got $17,400,000 at 44 in 2007, but I don't know. That might have just a full-season-equivelancy figure to establish his rate from, and was then pro-rated down for his partial season. Even pro-rated, it might have exceeded the Colón figure.

d'Kong76 Jan 09 2017 04:36 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens on quick lookie? OE: I need to post quicker and type faster in 2017.

MFS62 Jan 10 2017 02:36 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Atlanta Braves schedule Bartolo Colon bobblehead giveaway for game against Mets. This triggers Noah Syndergaard's inner Liam Neeson. http://tomahawktake.com/2017/01/08/atla ... start-war/ The Mets had one of those, but also had a Steven Matz lunchbox giveaway day. Big mistake. The heck with a giveaway, they could have SOLD enough Bartolo Colon lunchboxes to pay him to stay. Later

Edgy MD Jan 21 2017 07:08 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Kurt Suzuki joins the Braves on a one-year deal to share the catching duties with Tyler Flowers. Anthony Recker, coming off his best year ever, has good reason to be very sad.

Frayed Knot Jan 30 2017 11:14 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Some pretty scary shit for new Brave Sean Rodriguez. A Florida man (of course it's Florida) is trying to run from something and so he decides the best way to get away is to steal a police car. But during his getaway he t-bones Rodriguez's car at an intersection causing the cop car to burst into flames killing the perp. Rodriguez himself was unhurt but his wife and two young children are all hospitalized with a variety of serious injuries although all are expected to recover. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/214682878 ... uto-crash/

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 12 2017 04:32 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Close to a deal to acquire Brandon Phillips from Cincy, Internet reports

Frayed Knot Feb 12 2017 01:16 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Yeah it now seems that Sean Rodriguez came out worse from his traffic accident [posted above] than first indicated, that it turns out he's looking at 3 to 5 months of recovery from a shoulder injury as a result. The Braves tried to acquire Phillips late last year but he invoked his no-trade clause to block it just like he had the previous year to a potential deal to Washington. I suppose he still could again and scuttle this deal but I'm not sure what he thinks he can get be threatening to do so, shirley the Braves would walk away from the trade before they'd agree to extend his contract which is what N-T guys usually try to negotiate out of these situations.

Edgy MD Feb 12 2017 01:53 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

That could really clear the runway to allow Dilson Herrera to land, although José Peraza is also looking for a position.

bmfc1 Feb 12 2017 06:17 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

So Brandon Phillips is OK with a trade to Atlanta but not Washington? He vetoed a trade to WSH last year which would have meant that Murphy wouldn't have gone there.

Frayed Knot Feb 12 2017 07:51 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Phillips also vetoed a deal to the Braves just a few months back even though he's an Atlanta area native. Not sure what's different this time but the deal is now official with two minor league pitchers* heading to Cincy and with the Reds picking up "nearly all" of the remaining money on Phillips's contract. * LHP Andrew McKirahan & RHP Carlos Portuondo McKirahan, 27, pitched briefly (27 innings) for the Braves in 2015 but has since been hit with a PED suspension and TJ surgery Portuondo is a 29 y/o Cuban who split 2016 pitching between A+ and AAA ball during his one season of minor league ball in the U.S.

Lefty Specialist Feb 13 2017 03:40 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Braves are going to be not-terrible this year. They're going to cause trouble.

G-Fafif Feb 13 2017 03:51 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Brandon Phillips will have nine chances to go a game in Flushing without a hit this year. It's something he's never done, carrying a 33-game Shea/Citi hitting streak from 2006 forward to his new team.

TransMonk Feb 25 2017 01:13 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Braves catcher Recker: It’s easy to fall in love with ‘Big Sexy’

Edgy MD Apr 10 2017 01:17 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

It's a big, crazy scary world out there, and Otis Nixon has been reported missing. [tweet:boooab6z]https://twitter.com/WoodstockPD/status/851226452632756228[/tweet:boooab6z]

Frayed Knot Apr 10 2017 07:30 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Otis has been found. No word on where he was while he was considered missing, but it looks like we won't have this story to kick around anymore.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 10 2017 07:31 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Maybe he saw his name while on an elevator and thought it was his new home.

Frayed Knot Apr 25 2017 05:28 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

BRAVES KTE -- Apr 25-27 6-12 for the young season; 65 RS / 85 RA Started out by losing 6 of 8 to start the year, then won four straight to open their new stadium (helps that it was against the Padres) but now are on a six game losing streak again (WAS & PHI) even though most of the losses were close games. Kinda like us in other words. Matt Kemp was on the DL between our first series and this one but now is back to kick our butts again. No other major injuries ... kinda NOT like us in other words. Bullpen ERA is 5.19 Freddie [7 HRs w/a 1303 OPS], Tyler Flowers, Brandon Phillips and Kemp are all hitting; Swanson at SS, Garcia at 3B and CF Ender Inciarte not so much Tuesday 7:10 (or at sometime apres le deluge) — Gsellman vs Julio Teheran [4 starts; 1-1; 3.52; 1.43] Most of Teheran’s bad stats are from getting thumped by the Nats in his last start. Been good otherwise including when he shut us out for 6 innings on opening day before we got to the bullpen Wednesday 7:10 - Syndergaard vs RA Dickey [3 starts; 1-2; 3.86; 1.39] Didn't see RA in the earlier series. He was hit hard by the Pirates in first start, two reasonably good starts since Thursday 1:10 — Harvey vs Bartolo Colon [4 starts; 1-2; 4.50; 1.08] Held us to 2 hits over 6 on April 5. One good, one bad, and one mediocre start otherwise.

Frayed Knot Apr 26 2017 12:47 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Atlanta celebrates the reunion of the d'Arnaud brothers by DFA'ing Chase. His replacement will be Lane Adams, a 27 y/o OF with 3,000 minor league ABs and 3 ML ones back in 2014 with the Royals

Frayed Knot May 01 2017 01:54 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

KTE - METS @ BRAVES - MAY 1-4 Fasten your seatbelt folks as it’s the biggest battle in the state of Georgia since Sherman marched into the Confederacy: Two teams will enter the ring but only one will come out in fourth place. This will be our first trip to ‘Suntrust Park’ some 14 miles northwest of (not very) old Turner Field in Cobb County, Georgia right by the interchange of Interstates 75 & 285. Remember also that all home Braves game now start at 7:35 PM … which is kind of ironic in that one of the reasons they gave for leaving Atlanta for the suburbs was bad traffic in downtown Hot ‘Lanta, but now here they are changing their starting time to a half hour later than any other team in MLB due, at least in part, to concerns about traffic. And that was all before some guy decided to light a fire underneath a highway a few weeks back which wound up collapsing an overpass pretty close to the Braves’ new digs. So take mass transit if you’re going … oh wait, the only mass transit are buses and they have to take the same roads. Nevermind. Monday — Gsellman vs Teheran [2-1; 3.38; 1.40] Tuesday — Harvey vs Dickey [2-2; 3.80; 1.39] Wednesday — deGrom vs Colon [1-2; 5.59; 1.31] Thursday — Wheeler vs Garcia [1-1; 3.99; 1.33] As mentioned, this is a battle for 4th place as the Braves sit 1/2 game above us at the moment with the Phils & Marlins just a game atop of them so us finding ourselves anywhere from last to 2nd after this series is over are almost equally likely outcomes. The Braves have had a weird season so far: they lost 6 of 7 to start the year, they then won 5 straight, lost 6 straight, and then followed that up by winning 4 in a row before losing in Milwaukee on Sunday. RA Dickey is coming off being pulled early in his last start due to a “Quadriceps Spasm” Colon's numbers suddenly making him not so attractive in our replacement pitcher fantasies. Brandon Phillips was also injured in our last series with them but wasn't DL'd and is back starting. No one else of consequence on the Braves is injured ... I wonder what color the sky is in a world like that?

Frayed Knot May 06 2017 02:11 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Flicked over to the Braves/Cards game between innings (Braves are getting kill't) and when StL's [u:j15iuyqs]Randall[/u:j15iuyqs] Grichik came up the organist played the 'Odd Couple' theme song. He/she has come up with some clever ones in the early going so far.

seawolf17 May 06 2017 02:22 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Frayed Knot wrote: Flicked over to the Braves/Cards game between innings (Braves are getting kill't) and when StL's Randall Grichik came up the organist played the 'Odd Couple' theme song. He/she has come up with some clever ones in the early going so far. The organist is on Twitter, and he's a fantastic follow because he'll actually crowdsource what songs to play for the visiting teams. It's excellent. [tweet]https://twitter.com/bravesorganist/status/860638102418845697[/tweet]

Edgy MD May 06 2017 02:24 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Two hands, Florrie.

Edgy MD May 06 2017 02:25 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

A good game #1000, Terry.

Frayed Knot May 06 2017 02:31 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

seawolf17 wrote: Flicked over to the Braves/Cards game between innings (Braves are getting kill't) and when StL's Randall Grichik came up the organist played the 'Odd Couple' theme song. He/she has come up with some clever ones in the early going so far. The organist is on Twitter, and he's a fantastic follow because he'll actually crowdsource what songs to play for the visiting teams. It's excellent. [tweet]https://twitter.com/bravesorganist/status/860638102418845697[/tweet] He had me stumped for a moment because I was thinking that Grichuk's name was Russell and so it took me a minute to figure out the connection.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 18 2017 06:36 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Freddy Freeman breaks his wrist, out 8 weeks. This could be Washington's easiest division championship yet. Oh it was on a HBP last night. [tweet:38srjar0]https://twitter.com/pgammo/status/865218726131621891[/tweet:38srjar0]

Frayed Knot May 18 2017 07:16 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

The Braves & Jays almost went at it last night. After the Freeman HBP there were a couple of close ones all of which triggered a classic Joey Bats bat-flip special after he clubbed one to deep LF. Several of the Atlanta infielders were yapping at him as he rounded the bases, then Suzuki got in his face as he crossed the plate. That discussion emptied the dugouts but things quieted down quickly. Probably wouldn't take much to ignite something tonight. It's the finale of their four game series.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 18 2017 07:21 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

I also read where Pillar called Jason Motte a bad word that rhymes with "maggot" or "slow-mo" even though Motte is probably not gay.

Frayed Knot May 18 2017 08:20 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

That, I believe, was over some "quick pitch" incident. These hitters have to get over this. Between that deal with the Phillies and Robles two years back, to Neil Walker just the other day complaining about it to the HP ump, to Pillar last night; if you're in the box you need to be ready for the pitch. I saw the film on Pillar and he had no one to blame but himself. Same with Walker. It's like they not only expect everyone to wait while they take their strolls (once again the 'stay in the box' rule is being ignored) and adjust their batting gloves (even after pitches they didn't swing at) and whatever, but they then seem to believe that the pitcher is required to ask "Mother May I?' before they go ahead and deal. No wonder that 9-inning games over 3:20 are as common this year as ones under 2:50

Edgy MD May 18 2017 08:39 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

I saw Gar the Batting Stance Guy paying "tribute" to Derek Jeter the other day, and I surprised myself by feeling angry, remembering how Jeter's entire routine was a form of gamesmanship, claiming an upper hand over the situation, telling the pitcher and ump in all his body language that the play cannot begin until he gives his permission.

Frayed Knot May 18 2017 08:52 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

And stuff like that will continue as long as it's indulged. Odubel Herrera might be the biggest abuser playing now. Jeter at least always made sure he asked for time with his right hand up in the direction of the ump even though he rarely bothered to turn towards the ump when doing so. Now granted he didn't need to do it prior to Every - Fucking - Pitch but it's like batters now make the assumption that 'Time Out' is the default setting and that it's only 'In' if and when they decide it is and then act as if they've been tricked when that's not the case.

Edgy MD May 18 2017 10:33 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Frayed Knot wrote: Jeter at least always made sure he asked for time with his right hand up in the direction of the ump even though he rarely bothered to turn towards the ump when doing so. Well, the arm was up. The hand would always dangle loosely like he was ordering another round of fruity cocktails from a wait staff too far beneath him to warrant eye contact. ^ Not in full dangle. ^

Frayed Knot May 19 2017 01:16 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Back to the Freddie injury for a sec, it comes some 10 days after the Braves had released Ryan Howard who was attempting a comeback via their AAA team, so bad timing there although it's certainly not a given that Howard and his .150 BA w/1 HR would have been the replacement. Although all I could think of was the angst of Met fans if, during our series in Atlanta three weeks from now, we had gotten beat by a Howard HR while he was subbing in for Freeman. Jace Peterson played there last night but the Braves are said now to be close to signing ... James Loney. As for the other shit: - Bautista predictably got plunked in his first AB although Teheran missed him with the first attempt and so had to go back for a second try. Joey Bats clearly expected it and strolled quietly down to 1st after taking one in the thigh. The strategy wound up backfiring as the Jays followed with three straight hits and led 3-0 after 1 en route to a 9-0 rout. Teheran is getting thumped early on in his new home ballpark: 10.50 ERA in 5 home starts so far vs 0.71 in 4 road games this year. Yeah I know it's a hitters' park but the other guy has to pitch there too and it didn't seem to bother Marcus Stroman who not only tossed 5.2 scoreless but also took Teheran deep to the opposite field for his 2nd ever hit and 1st ever HR. - Kevin Pillar was suspended for two games over whatever it was he yelled at Jason Motte for quick-pitching him. To replace him the Jays called up brief-NYM Darrell Ceciliani and stuck him right in the clean-up spot despite him hitting a homer-less .145 in AAA Buffalo this year. He went 3-for-5

Edgy MD May 19 2017 01:24 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

The Loney deal is a fait accompli. He had been released about 10 days prior by Detroit, with whom he'd been laboring in AAA. I wonder if he had a similar deal as last year, where he'd sign a minor league contract with the stipulation that he'd get a release if anybody came sniffing.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 19 2017 03:19 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Ceciliani also injured himself on that homer though, and went directly to the DL

Edgy MD May 19 2017 04:06 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

How did Teheran get two throws at a guy and not get kick'd out? Suddenly it's 1975?

Frayed Knot May 19 2017 04:41 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Edgy MD wrote: How did Teheran get two throws at a guy and not get kick'd out? Suddenly it's 1975? That was the one part of the game I actually watched, just to see what was going to happen. Basically everyone on both sides and the boys in blue knew what was going to happen. So after Bautista dodged the first attempt, he strolled quietly down to 1st after #2 plunked him. The ump then issued his warnings and everyone went on with the game. If the Jays were tempted to retaliate I think the warnings and the 3-0 early lead made that a bad idea. It was the 2nd batter of the game and so they got it all out of the way early. Self-policing and no one got hurt.

Edgy MD May 19 2017 05:22 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Hey, everyone knew what was going to happen in the Roger Clemens game too, but the warnings came after the Estes miss.

Frayed Knot May 21 2017 02:34 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Edgy MD wrote: The Loney deal is a fait accompli. He had been released about 10 days prior by Detroit, with whom he'd been laboring in AAA. I wonder if he had a similar deal as last year, where he'd sign a minor league contract with the stipulation that he'd get a release if anybody came sniffing. And the Braves go out today and deal for Matt Adams from the Cards (for a minor league IF + cash). That doesn't look good for the just-signed James Loney. Also not good for Anthony Recker who gets DFA'd to make room.

Frayed Knot Jun 07 2017 01:32 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 07 2017 01:50 AM

Colon to the DL with a strained oblique. How does one even find Bartolo's oblique? Of course his 7.78 ERA might have something to do with it.

Edgy MD Jun 07 2017 01:49 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

It's 2017. That's not the highest and ERA can get.

Edgy MD Jun 07 2017 08:45 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Braves prospect Sean Newcomb has been scratched from his start with Gwinnett and will be making his MLB debut Saturday in one of the doubleheader games against the Mets. Newc is 20-14 with a 3.23 ERA over 71 minor league starts, but has only pitched a half season in AAA. John Sickles has him as their fifth-ranked prospect, giving him a B+, which strikes me as high for a #5.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 07 2017 08:51 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

How do you get a name like "Newcomb"? I can see it being notable if you have a new car, or a new house, or a new wife, but if the only thing interesting about you is that you got a new comb, you've got to be the most boring person alive.

Edgy MD Jun 07 2017 08:55 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Derived from "Newcomer," I believe, which will make it particularly a propos on Saturday.

Frayed Knot Jun 07 2017 09:01 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Edgy MD wrote: John Sickles has him as their fifth-ranked prospect, giving him a B+, which strikes me as high for a #5. Mostly a case of a stacked Atlanta system. Sickels had him at #62 overall pretty much right smack in the middle of the rest of the B+ gang Was originally a 1st round (15th overall) pick of the Angels (2014) out of the baseball hotbed of the Univ of Hartford, dealt to the Braves in the Andrelton Simmons deal. Sunday is the day we would have seen Bartolo

Frayed Knot Jul 05 2017 02:04 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy MD wrote: The Loney deal is a fait accompli. He had been released about 10 days prior by Detroit, with whom he'd been laboring in AAA. I wonder if he had a similar deal as last year, where he'd sign a minor league contract with the stipulation that he'd get a release if anybody came sniffing. And the Braves go out today and deal for Matt Adams from the Cards (for a minor league IF + cash). So Freddie came back today from his broken hand. But seeing as how Matt Adams is OPS'ing 923 as a Brave as FFF's replacement (769 over parts of 6 seasons w/StL) Freddie is returning as a 3rd baseman. That was supposedly his position in HS plus in a handful of games in the lowest minors but not since. There seems to be some question as to whether this was suggested by Freeman or by the club but I applaud their efforts to keep both bats in the lineup. The worst that can happen is that it fails and they'll be forced to make the same decision they're be facing now if they didn't want to try the switch. Braves are getting smoked 10-0 by Houston as I type, but that has little or nothing to do with Freddie's position switch as far as I know.

HahnSolo Jul 07 2017 07:55 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Not for nothing, but despite Colon being a shitshow and Freeman being out most of the first half, 41-43 right now is not too bad for the Braves.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 07 2017 08:51 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

I asked you guys to help me stop worrying about them in January, but nothing doing. With Freeman back watch them be just good enough to hold us off on the better second half we'll probably have.

Frayed Knot Aug 05 2017 07:10 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

So the Braves signed Sean Rodriguez -- ex of the Pirates -- to a 2-year deal last winter, but he almost immediately got into a fairly serious car wreck leading the Braves to make a deal for Brandon Phillips as Rodriguez was expected to miss a big hunk of the season [several posts about this on Page 1 of this thread] Rodriguez got back ahead of schedule right after the ASB ... but now 37 ABs into his Braves career they deal him back to the Pirates in exchange for a minor league prospect. This can be a cruel game sometimes.

Edgy MD Aug 05 2017 11:22 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Particularly cruel if you were banking on the Pirates trading to re-acquire Neil Walker.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 02 2017 06:14 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Braves GM resigns amid signing bonus scandal: [tweet:h1klkfhd]https://twitter.com/MikeConti929/status/914899479140106245[/tweet:h1klkfhd]

Edgy MD Oct 02 2017 06:26 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

This better not be another kickback deal like the Washington team got mixed up in.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 02 2017 07:02 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

If the Braves signed any players illegally, any teams interested in those players should put their name in a hat...

seawolf17 Oct 02 2017 07:19 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Benjamin Grimm wrote: If the Braves signed any players illegally, any teams interested in those players should put their name in a hat... Pfft. Like THAT ever works out. :)

Frayed Knot Oct 02 2017 11:32 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

I'm not up on all the details of this deal with the Braves and them supposedly skirting the int'l signing caps or whatever, but it just shows that when you put artificial limits on what folks are permitted to spend, or earn, or accumulate, those same folks tend to look for ways to get past such boundaries. I believe there are a number of college hoops coaches who could tell you all about that and soon may be required to tell some judges and juries all about it.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 03 2017 12:10 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

This is a pretty explosive article. Though nothing's proven yet, this guy seems to be universally viewed as an asshole and a cheat, and seems that some high-profile signees could be set free from the org. https://sports.yahoo.com/john-coppolell ... 43724.html

Frayed Knot Oct 04 2017 03:48 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

It sounds like from that article that at least one of the schemes was to spread out signing bonus money to a number of int'l players who are all connected to the same agent so that it doesn't look like they're busting the spending limits on any one of them but with the understanding that the agent then steers the majority of the cash to the two or three top players even though their 'paper bonus' remains low. Like I said, you put artificial limits on things and folks will devise ways to circumvent them.

Edgy MD Nov 16 2017 02:40 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

It looks like the Braves will be forced to give up at least a few of their international free agents. I'd love to celebrate the Braves bad fortune, but it seems silly to me, with MLB turning into the NCAA and worse — building labyrinthine and tortuous rules to keep organizations from having the audacity to spend their money on talented players, forcing the teams to hire extra personnel to find sophisticated paths around those rules, and publicly humiliating them if and when they get caught trying to do just that. Just let teams sign players. It's bloody easy.

Frayed Knot Nov 21 2017 10:32 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

This is a pretty explosive article. Though nothing's proven yet, this guy seems to be universally viewed as an asshole and a cheat, and seems that some high-profile signees could be set free from the org. https://sports.yahoo.com/john-coppolell ... 43724.html Banned for Life!! Excerpts from Manfred's statement: "The investigation established that the Braves circumvented international signing rules from 2015 through 2017. ... As a result of the 2015-16 circumvention, the Braves were able to sign nine high-value players during the 2016-17 signing period who would have been unavailable to them had the Club accurately accounted for its signings during the 2015-16 signing period. "With respect to individual discipline, former Braves General Manager John Coppolella will be placed on the permanently ineligible list, effective immediately. Former Braves Special Assistant Gordon Blakeley will be suspended for a period of one year, effective immediately, and may not perform services for any MLB Club during his suspension. I intend to discipline other Braves' International Baseball Operations employees who participated in the misconduct after the completion of our internal procedures. My staff will speak to the Players Association and officials in the Dominican Republic regarding appropriate consequences for the representatives of the players who intentionally participated in schemes to circumvent our rules, none of whom are certified by the Players Association."

Centerfield Nov 21 2017 10:39 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Cool. He can hang out with Jennry Mejia.

Edgy MD Nov 21 2017 11:46 PM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

How can the Braves be perhaps THE model of a baseball organization from 1990 to 2007, under John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox, and then after promoting Schuerholz to president, make pretty much every wrong move possible? I half think that teams trying to swing new stadium deals take their eyes off of baseball matters at a certain level, and foxes get into the henhouse. And maybe the backscratching ethic that surrounds such deals starts to permeate the business. That's probably more than half bullshit, but it's a notion that occurred to me. Anyhow, relegate the Braves! Promote the AAA championship game winner Durham Bulls!

Nymr83 Nov 22 2017 12:58 AM Re: NL East Enemies: 2017 Atlanta Braves

Edgy MD wrote: I'd love to celebrate the Braves bad fortune, but I'm happy to dismantle the draft tommorow. As soon as we are done punishing the Braves today.