Everyone knows this already
Soriano surprises Braves, accepts arbitration | ajc.com
But it’s the first time I’ve felt sapient enough to put things down, so let’s talk about it.
I’m not quite sure why this happened. Oh, I know why Soriano accepted arbitration — he was looking at making less on a two-year deal than on a one-year arbitration award. I don’t know why that’s the case. I guess that somewhere, somehow, he got a “Not a Closer™” label and thus wasn’t worth Closer™ money and a draft pick, even though he was one of the better relievers in the league last year, and supplanted Gonzalez, who somehow is still a Closer™.
I don’t really expect Soriano to pitch for the Braves this year. I think they’ll work out a deal where he’s traded for a prospect. But that prospect will probably be pretty mediocre.
I don’t know why the Braves would only get a mediocre prospect for a dominant reliever. This isn’t ideal, but it shouldn’t prevent Wren from finishing the rest of his wish list.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:55 amI don’t know why the Braves would only get a mediocre prospect for a dominant reliever.
Soriano now effectively has a no trade clause until June 15 so that doesn’t help. His list of acceptable teams probably doesn’t overlap exactly with the list of teams willing to pay $8 million for a relief pitcher.
December 8th, 2009 at 7:03 amWe obviously have to move Lowe or Vasquez one way or another… and while we NEED an OF bat, by not having “The Gwinnett Black Hole of Offense” in RF this year we could theoretically get by if we just re-signed LaRoche for 1st and had Diaz/McLouth/Church in the OF until Heyward could supplant one of them right? We wouldn’t be dominating the league, but with our pitching we should still have a pretty good shot… right? How much is this likely to tweak Wren’s ability to do the rest of the things that need to be done this off season?
December 8th, 2009 at 7:04 amThe Winter Meetings are in Indianapolis this week, about an hour away from my office.
If anybody has a particular…um, message, for Frank, I could get a few of my boys together and we could go…you know, to try to get a point across.
Yep, we’re probably gonna go all Hoosier on LaRussa’s ass anyway.
December 8th, 2009 at 7:41 amMac–I hope you are feeling better.
#3–I would hope that we could sign Cameron and LaRoche and be done for awhile. We would start the season with a stronger team and have some great chips to trade in the summer. Unfortunately, I doubt that the Braves can afford it….
December 8th, 2009 at 7:50 amI’m surprised but not really. Surprised that Soriano’s agent couldn’t convince him that greater riches were out there if he remained patient. But in the end the client calls the shots and I guess that Soriano figured he was better off taking what the arbitrator gives him. Given his injury history maybe that was the correct call from his perspective. Maybe multi year deals weren’t out there.
I agree. We’ll only get a minor prospect for Soriano because everyone will know that a trade is just a straight salary dump.
Just dreaming, but a back 4 of Moylan, Soriano, Saito and Wagner would be killer. You could use the first 3 to take turns pitching in the high leverage situations and save Wagner to get all the glory for pitching the ninth. The starters would only have to go 6 innings.
I know I know we have to score some runs too. So, does the old adage ‘you can never have too much pitching’ still apply?
December 8th, 2009 at 7:52 amKevin Lee
Where are you at? I’m about 3 hours north of Indy, close to South Bend. My wife has family in Indy so we go down there quite a bit.
December 8th, 2009 at 8:29 amThe old adage has been disproven.
We have too much pitching.
December 8th, 2009 at 8:32 amIt’s not so much “too much pitching” that we have… it’s the “too much pitching SALARY” that we have (and not enough hitting yet).
December 8th, 2009 at 8:36 amIf someone wants JJ Putz surely someone would take Soriano at $8 million.
December 8th, 2009 at 8:56 amIf Bobby uses the bullpen like he did last year we may need Wagner, Saito, Soriano and Moylan. Otherwise the 3 left may end up with about 80 appearances each.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:12 amThis kinda feels like when Maddux accepted arbitration and we had to trade Kevin Millwood for Johnny Estrada. I hope this doesn’t cause us to make a bad deal because we didn’t budget for this.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:31 amAnybody know what the rules for the 40-man are? Do we have to cut somebody today, or is there a deadline by which we have to get it back down to 40?
December 8th, 2009 at 9:34 amLet’s sign Gonzales again and JJ Putz. Could you imagine that bullpen, O’Flaherty, Moylan, Putz, Gonzales, Saito, Soriano, and Moylan? Oh, and I guess Medlan can pitch in the 15 inning of tie games.
And yes, I’m joking.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:34 amJaredL;
I live in New Castle (Steve Alford) and work in Richmond (Vegas Ferguson).
I’m requried by local statute to recognize our heroes in any in-state correspondence.
Re: Soriano
December 8th, 2009 at 9:51 amOf the four mentioned by asol above; Soriano is the one I’d least like to see in a Braves uniform. I think Bobby worked him pretty hard last year.
I agree w/ Kevin re: Soriano in #15. He gave up too many crucial back-breaking type hits last year. I know that a common sabermetric response to a lot of those types of situations is “luck” (ie. regression to the mean – overall numbers are good, so he should be fine), but they happened too many times for me to really feel confident anymore when he comes into a tight situation.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:58 amReally, he could be the most frustrating type of reliever, because there were times he was absolutely untouchable. And then, memories of Ross Gload (& others) come to mind.
Oh well, Frank knows what he is doing…
Soriano was 27 of 31 in save opportunities last year. The league hit .194 against him. What’s the problem?
December 8th, 2009 at 10:02 amIt’s just too expensive a bullpen right now, regardless of all other considerations. That would mark a pretty major departure from the past, and it would sting when–somehow–the pen managed to be inferior to those of a few other, more modest teams.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:03 amThe point being that the money aside, having Soriano isn’t a bad thing.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:05 amhow about we shouldve offered Laroche arb instead of Soriano
December 8th, 2009 at 10:06 amSoriano will be traded. Someone will pay him the $8mil knowing that they dont lose any picks. We may not get anything of much value for him or Lowe, but I got a feeling both will be moved
December 8th, 2009 at 10:09 amLet’s just call up Heyward and have him hit like Manny, and inject Chipper with some youthfulness and our offense is fine.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:09 amGod bless Chipper. Come to think of it, if 2010 is more like 2008 than 2009, it will probably have to be because of divine intervention. 2009 may be his new norm.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:15 amWe have the technology to bring him back to 2001 form. I also hear Barry Bonds is still available at the league minimum. What is Wren waiting for?
December 8th, 2009 at 10:20 amIf we can get to the 6th inning with a lead, we are going to win. That is until June when Wagner, Moylan and Soriano are all dead from bleeding out because their arms fall off. Chipper will drown in the blood because his groin will be sore and he wont’ be able to get out of the way, so we will have to get a third baseman.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:29 amI doubt Chipper will drown in the blood. Its much more likely that he’ll slip on it, pull his groin, and sprain both thumbs when he breaks his fall.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:44 amThey can’t trade Soriano till the middle of June right?
December 8th, 2009 at 11:10 amThey can trade him but only with his consent.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:12 amOff Topic. Why does everybody want Mike Cameron. He strikes out too much and is old. Take a look at Marlon Byrd. He’s what we need. Take time and look at his highlights on mlb.com. I can see him hitting fourth.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:13 amI don’t think this Soriano development is a negative for the Braves. There will be a lot of interest in him. Also whoever acquires him doesn’t have to do a multi year deal. Red Sox, Yankees have both been linked to him. Don’t you think he Phillies would love to get him?
December 8th, 2009 at 11:17 amAll those on the site that want Swisher, this is your chance.
Law of averages, people. You think we’re going to get him for HoRam as well as pick up two high-slot draft picks when he leaves? Law of averages.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:19 amI think the Braves will be able to unload his salary pretty quickly, so in that regard, it’s not a big deal—but I think the value of the 2 picks we would have gotten if he’d declined is greater than the value of the return on him we’ll get now.
‘Course, that would mean it was still a good idea to offer him arb in the first place, since some return is better than no return (just letting him walk).
December 8th, 2009 at 11:21 am@29 – teams that want to trade for Soriano might have to offer a multi-year deal/extension to Soriano for him to approve a trade. He’s the one holding the cards now.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:21 amIf we make a bad trade, hopefully it’s getting rid of Soriano.
And hopefully it works out as well as the Millwood-Estrada swap.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:24 amSoriano doesn’t have team by team refusal rights. He can refuse to allow a trade before midseason, or he can provide written approval for the Braves to trade him. If/when he provides approval for a trade, he does not have “no trade to Kansas City” rights. He could then be traded to any team the Braves line up with.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:25 amAnd money notwithstanding, a pitching corps of five of our six current starters backed up with Moylan/Saito/Soriano/Wagner would line up on paper as the best staff of this decade. Not Braves’ staff, just in general.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:26 amLooking at the CBA, it’s not clear to me that Soriano has trade protection until he signs a contract. Arbitration is just a step in negotiating the contract. The language seems to require a signed contract, which implies that he might be able to be traded and then undergo arbitration with another team. But, it’s possible that I’m missing something.
I have no doubt that he will be traded. The question is whether or not he has a say in where he goes. I’ll try to find an answer.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:27 amOf the FA relievers, Soriano (who now isn’t one) was:
1st in K/9
1st in xFIP
2nd in fewest HR/9
2nd in fewest hits allowed/9
3rd in BB/9
Based on last year’s performance, it’s hard to say he wasn’t the best available reliever. (He’s ahead of Gonzo in each of those categories).
December 8th, 2009 at 11:27 am37—Yeah, I know KLaw only ranked Gonzo ahead of him on his list because of their respective injury histories and handedness.
So, nobody knows anything about the 40-man thing?
December 8th, 2009 at 11:29 amI think he is “untradeable” until there is a market for relievers and closers established. I think we have have him until January.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:30 amMarlon Byrd sucks.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:34 amThis 3-way deal wherein the Yanks woul get Curtis Granderson—why on earth would the D-Backs want to give up Scherzer for Edwin Jackson?
And my 39 was actually directed at 38. Waldo’s declaration of support for Marlon Byrd had not yet been approved.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:35 amElection Day: How fans can vote for a Braves announcer | Mark Bradley.
I’m tempted to start a Vote Chip campaign just to see how far I could push it. Vote for the worst!
December 8th, 2009 at 11:40 amHessmania hits Queens.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:52 amI don’t think Wren will have trouble trading Soriano at all. I’m not losing any sleep over this, and I don’t foresee a Millwood/Estrada trade looming.
Actaully, this may turn out to be a good thing as now we have two fewer draft bonuses to pay for. And the return on Soriano may be greater than the two picks, anyway.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:56 amI say we call up Liberty and just ask for a $10MM boost in payroll. C’mon… what’s ten million dollars?
December 8th, 2009 at 11:56 ambetter players = better returns and more people coming to watch…right??
December 8th, 2009 at 11:59 amHere’s my take/conjecture of where the Braves stand right now.
A 1B with the offense to play the position is needed. That should be taken care of independent of the Soriano situation. It’ll probably happen in conjunction with a Lowe/Vazquez trade.
Really the question, at least to me, becomes whether the team is better w/Soriano in the bullpen or a Mike Cameron in the outfield. I don’t think we have room for both. And, while in a perfect world I think I’d rather have Cameron, if we can’t get the trade value of a 1st and a supplemental out of Soriano, I think I’d be okay with holding him and putting a cheaper outfield out there until Heyward is ready.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:59 amFrom Boston Herald in Indianapolis;
And then there is the bullpen, with holes left behind by Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito. Scott Atchison, signed yesterday, is not a big deal. Even though Rafael Soriano accepted the Braves’ arbitration offer, they could still trade him and there is little doubt the Red Sox would be interested. Late yesterday afternoon, before he accepted arbitration, they expressed “a lot of interest” in Soriano, according to a major-league source.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:05 pmSoriano and Lowe for Youkilis.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:07 pm37,
We had a discussion with the help of Craig Calcaterra yesterday. My conclusion is, a player that accepts arbitration is trade-able (if he’s not a 10-and-5) until he signs a deal with his former club. And if they actually go to an arbitration hearing and the players’ salary is determined that way, they’re trade-able no matter what.
There’s a lot of ambiguity in the CBA language, and this is only one interpretation that makes sense, though I think it makes the most sense.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:08 pmThe Orioles need a closer too. I’d send Soriano for Luke Scott, handedness be damned, and look for a 1B.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pmOh, the poor, poor Mets…
December 8th, 2009 at 12:33 pmWhat produces this sympathy for the Mets?
December 8th, 2009 at 1:10 pmThey signed Hessman.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pmWhat did they do now?
Edit: HAHAHAHAHAHA!
December 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pmSee Stu @44.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:18 pmChurch was DFA’d? It’s only mentioned on sbnation twitter feed.
gondeee: Ryan Church DFA’ed by #Braves http://sbnation.com/e/955514
(I can’t get to the link at work, so not sure if it says he WAS, or may be).
December 8th, 2009 at 1:19 pmThere’s no way they’re projecting Hessman as a ML player.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:20 pmThat seems crazy.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:20 pmThe logic of teh sbnation link is sound. He was DFA’d now in order to add Soriano back to the 40 man. The DFA gives the Braves 10 days to attempt to trade him prior to release.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pmI wouldn’t release Church, and so far we only have Shanks’ word for it, but with Soriano taking a roster spot someone had to go.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:26 pmDOB confirms the DFA’ing of Church.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2009/12/07/firing-up-the-hot-stove-in-chilly-indy/comment-page-17/#comment-359110
December 8th, 2009 at 1:46 pmChurch has his uses, but he’s more or less the functional definition of “fungible replacement player” at this point, right? Just think of it as “Braves DFA Jeff Francoeur” if it helps.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:46 pmI do not think we would get the equivalent of two high draft picks for Soriano.
Now, I am sincerely hoping Gonzo is picked up by one of the 16-30 teams.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:47 pmDOB confirms…
@ajcbraves: Ryan Church designated for assignment by Braves to open spot on 40-man for Soriano.
also
December 8th, 2009 at 1:49 pm@mlbbowman: Braves making it known they won’t just give Soriano away.
Must truly be more of a market for KJ than Church.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:56 pmThe Yankees/Tigers/D-Backs deal is real, apparently.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:57 pmHow did our 40-man get to capacity? When we added the five pitchers I thought we still had a few (three) spots open. Wagner, Saito were added. Who else?
December 8th, 2009 at 2:01 pmA well deserved award for our favorite umpire:
http://cascreamindude.livejournal.com/135025.html
December 8th, 2009 at 2:09 pmThat Yanks/Tigs/D-bags deal is strange:
December 8th, 2009 at 2:11 pm(from MLBTR)
the Yankees get Curtis Granderson, the D’Backs get Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy, and the Tigers get Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Austin Jackson, and Phil Coke.
Yanks will get Curtis Granderson.
D-Backs will get Edwin Jackson & Ian Kennedy.
Tigers will get Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, Max Scherzer & Daniel Schlereth.
Guess Detroit really is shedding salary. I also wonder what this means for Johnny Damon & his chances of re-signing with the Yanks.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:12 pmKelly Johnson is still a valuable baseball commodity. He had one bad half. Ryan Church is a fungible platoon OF. KJ hits as well as Church and plays a more valuable defensive position.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:14 pmHard to see the Yankees sticking with Melky in left field. So Granderson in center wouldn’t necessarily block Damon in left.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:15 pmThe Yankees are giving up Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, and Ian Kennedy for Curtis Granderson? Not bad, even if you do have to platoon the guy. Coke and Kennedy are fringy and Jackson’s nowhere near a sure thing.
Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth seems like a pretty fair price for Edwin Jackson, too.
Nice — I love seeing a three-team blockbuster. There just aren’t nearly enough of them that go through.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:15 pmReally don’t like the DFAing. I worried that something like this was about to happen when I posted my question at 13. Church is useful.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:17 pmIt’s a shame, but I don’t know what they could have hoped to get for the guy. He certainly is useful, but I’m not sure he’s undervalued.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:18 pmRyan Church is about as useful as Jeff Francoeur. Would you guys be concerned if they had DFA’d Jeff Francoeur?
December 8th, 2009 at 2:24 pmActually I think Arizona did terrible here. The one person I would want in that whole trade is Scherzer.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:32 pmRyan Church is more useful than Jeff Francoeur. To this or any team.
As I said after they DFA’d Barbaro: At least we still have Stephen Marek.
Dusty,
December 8th, 2009 at 2:33 pmTotally agree. See 42.
Church can play a credible CF, is a plus at either corner and doesn’t embarras himself in the batters box. Frenchy looks good in jeans. Advantage, Ryan.
That said, I’m not losing any sleep over DFA’ing Ryan Church.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:36 pmThey can still trade him, right? If he’s a valuable piece, someone will give up something for him.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:37 pmChurch offered to Bobby a rusty trombone as a retirement gift and that was all she wrote for Church’s tenure in Atlanta.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:38 pmThey have 10 days to trade him, yes.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:38 pmIt will be somewhat harder to trade him under these circumstances than if they’d kept him on the 40-man.
Of course, I would have liked to have kept Church on the roster all year, though I know that wasn’t going to happen.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:40 pmWren must be scratching his head like we are. WTF Alfonso?
December 8th, 2009 at 2:43 pmThe Braves are also saying it is more important to keep Kyle Cofield than Ryan Church.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:45 pmStu,
What are your thoughts on the Vandy game tonight at Illinois?
December 8th, 2009 at 2:54 pmI pegged it as our toughest non-conference game before the season started, so I put VU’s chances at less than 50/50. But I do think we’ve got a chance, and Illinois hasn’t been quite as good as I expected them to be. Then again, neither have we.
I’m encouraged that the good AJ seems to have returned, but our guard play has to improve, and we can’t keep being so careless with the ball.
My heart says VU by 5, but my head says Illinois by 8.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:00 pmClasses? CLASSES?!?
December 8th, 2009 at 3:01 pmThe University of Alabama clearly has its priorities straight.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:12 pmAre you surprised that there are classes that early? At all? Or that they canceled them?
Not that it would ever infringe upon an important football game–because Wisconsin sucks at football–but I definitely enjoy the long winter break. I forgot how growing up my school used to start immediately after New Years. Ugh.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:12 pmWe usually have short breaks here. Weather, you know.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:15 pmChurch wasn’t gritty enough. Have y’all already forgotten how many games he MISSED due to INJURY? We only have room for 162 game playing SLUGGERS in our outfield!
December 8th, 2009 at 3:18 pmGammons out at ESPN
December 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm@ 85 If the FO think they can trade Church it’s better to DFA him than to DFA someone else and then trade him. The plan was never going to be keeping him. I think the Soriano business is just accelerating the timeline. Of course it may not work because of that timeline – seems to me he’d be easier to trade closer to ST.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:30 pmYeah, that’s a good point, Jay; I just seriously doubt that anyone will trade for him within the next 10 days. Hope I’m wrong again.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:32 pmThey could always assign him to AAA, if he doesn’t have any major league takers.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:36 pmsome things, in hindsight, might have worked out quite nicely for us:
1. soriano accepts arbitration
2. curtis granderson is traded to the yankees and in the trade..relief pitching
3. yankees need a setup man
4. we need a rh power bat
soriano for swisher
i say this deal happens before saturday. surely soriano would accept a deal to set up for rivera, right?
December 8th, 2009 at 3:37 pmI’ve asked this question multiple times on multiple forums:
Whom do the Yankees play in right field if they trade Swisher?
December 8th, 2009 at 3:44 pm@100: Ryan Church.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:49 pmEven the Yankees have some limits — trading a cost-controlled bat like Swisher, with no replacement, makes no sense.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:50 pmYanks already have 2 setup men, although they say that they (Joba & Hughes) will be starters. (BTW, Hughes’ move to the bullpen last year was a big development for them. He sucked in the post-season, but was terrific down the stretch.)
Also, the Yanks re-signing Damon is not written in stone. He wants 3 years; Yanks want to give him less. It’s a Boras negotiation.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:52 pmIt wouldn’t make much sense (IMO) for the Yankees to acquire an OF bat only to turn around and trade one away.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:01 pmMore Derek Lowe grumblings on MLBTraderumors, though it’s pretty vague: “Multiple Teams Discussing Derek Lowe.” Better than “No One Discussing Derek Lowe” I guess.
@66,
It makes sense that the Braves are telling everyone that we won’t give Soriano away. There’s no point in putting a “free pitcher” sign around his neck and hoping for the best. But I’m sure we’ll take the first decent trade that comes our way.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:03 pmI assume people here have seen this?
http://redlabelsports.com/
December 8th, 2009 at 4:09 pmHoly shit.
Peter Gammons to leave ESPN after winter meetings – washingtonpost.com.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:14 pmare you guys forgetting that the yankees gm said swisher was available?
December 8th, 2009 at 4:15 pm107—I wouldn’t get too worked up just yet, Mac; if Gammons was the first to report this, it’s probably wrong.
108—When? I remember there being some neboulous reports of some whispers that Swisher was being quietly shopped, but did Cashman actually say that Swisher was available? Again, it just makes absolutely no sense for them to deal him right now.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:16 pmWell, it would make sense if the hitters were at the same position. But they’re not. Granderson was brought in to play center, Swisher plays right, and Melky doesn’t have the bat for a corner.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:21 pmRight, that’s my point. Nobody among Damon, Matsui, Cabrera, Gardner, Holliday and Bay is credible in RF. And, as you say, I can’t imagine that they intend to play Granderson there.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:25 pmHolliday or Bay, maybe, in “Yankee Stadium”, but they’d be a problem in road games. And even the Yankees have some limits. Right?
December 8th, 2009 at 4:26 pmGood. Ryan Church is gone.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:30 pmI just laughed out loud, Tony. Thanks for that.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:38 pmMatsui’s probably gone & can’t play any outfield postion anymore. Damon can’t even play CF anymore. Neither Holliday nor Bay have ever played RF.
They’re not dealing Swisher unless they’re getting another RF in another deal.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:39 pmBay was pretty good playing in front of the Monster (15 assists last year) and the short field in “Yankee Stadium” would help him there, but again, not in road games. He’d be a real problem in right field in Fenway, for instance.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:41 pm106: Thanks, Sam.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:46 pmLowe, Soriano, and Church for Pujols.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:03 pmDOB offers me some encouragement:
December 8th, 2009 at 5:12 pmFrom Bowman just now: Braves GM Frank Wren said Soriano immediately provided clearance to be traded. He added he has already had discussions with multiple teams.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:16 pmA package deal for Lowe and Soriano should return something of significant value, methinks.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:16 pm23 million in salary relief, for starters.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:29 pm121 — Money to spend. Something on top of that would be lovely.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:34 pmOh, I think Soriano is worth at least a decent prospect. It’s not like he is without value. Heck, on a 1-year contract, he actually looks more attractive than a lot of guys since there’s no long-term risk. It would’ve been nice to get the draft picks for him, but it’s not impossible that we’ll get a similar return in a trade. He’s a very good reliever, and now teams don’t have to worry about multiple years on him.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:45 pmWhy does no one see this?
Soriano and Church for Swisher.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:47 pmBecause the Yankees don’t need Soriano & Church couldn’t play for them.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:05 pmYeah, but picking up expensive players they don’t need is what being the Yankees is all about.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:06 pmthis is the only link i can find, but it was leaked for a couple of weeks.
http://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/5863286864
December 8th, 2009 at 6:06 pmMac,
December 8th, 2009 at 6:10 pmNot anymore.
The Yankees didn’t NEED Sabathia AND Beckett. They could have just gotten one. But they got two, because they’re the Yankees and have that luxury. They’re bidding on Holliday and Bay, particularly the latter, and traded for Granderson coming of a World Series victory and a season in which they scored 915 runs, best in the majors. They’re the Yankees, getting more good players on an already great team is what they do.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:25 pmBurnett, you mean?
Mraver, when you say “a decent prospect,” does that mean a C+ prospect, or a B prospect?
December 8th, 2009 at 6:27 pmYeah, Burnett. I always got them confused.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:28 pmYou guys are all undervaluing Soriano, I think. I suspect he will return more than you think he will return. Certainly better than a salary dump and a C level prospect. You’re also all undervaluing Derek Lowe.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:38 pmGetting Gammons make the MLB Network a big time deal now. Good for them. I guess ESPN will just replace him with Sammy Sosa or some jack ass former player no one likes.
December 8th, 2009 at 7:01 pmIn Cashman’s mind, they did need those 2 pitchers. They were going to pick up 2 major starters after last season. That was a stated intent the instant that they were eliminated from the post-season in 2008.
And as it turned out, they probably don’t win the WS without those 2 guys and that’s the only conversation that matters around here.
The surprise last off-season was that they got Tex. They were done dealing (CC, AJ & Swisher), but Tex/Boras had a bad meeting with Boston & they reached out to Cashman, who went to the brass and basically put his job on the line getting him. They didn’t want to spend any more money, but they had a lucky window. (Remember, Swisher was signed to play some 1B.)
According to Cashman, they will not overspend in years or money for Damon and/or Matsui this year. Matsui will get a lowball, one-year offer to DH. If he declines, see you later. As for Damon, they want him, but Damon now has less leverage. It’ll be a negotiation, but they don’t have to get him.
If they were going to spend on more people they didn’t need, they’d just automatically re-sign Matsui & Damon. As it stands, they may not get either. Granderson gives them flexibility in the OF and in the Damon negotiations.
December 8th, 2009 at 7:01 pmThey will bid on Holliday and/or Bay to drive up the price for the Sox and vice versa. It’ll be a deal that if it gets accepted they can tolerate. I do agree that they won’t go particularly hard after either.
December 8th, 2009 at 8:02 pmbraves have interest in xavier nady according to peanut. at the beginning of the offseason, i wanted wagner, nady, glaus, and sheffield (and swisher of course). maybe i should keep wishing before the holidays.
http://markbowman.mlblogs.com/
December 8th, 2009 at 8:59 pmryan, should we have written that down?
December 8th, 2009 at 9:07 pmno, i wouldnt write it down. my wishes, unlike coach’s, dont always come true.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:51 pmnow ken rosenthal says ross gload is deciding between us, the phils, and the marlins on a 2 year deal. i hope to god we arent seriously thinking of bringing him to the bench. i mean, what can he do other than mediocre?
December 8th, 2009 at 9:58 pmAnyone is better than Norton. Hope the money isn’t stupid.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:21 pmross gload to the phils. THANK GOD!
December 9th, 2009 at 12:00 amI don’t know who’s more stupid…
December 9th, 2009 at 12:03 amApparently the Marlins turned down a deal of Neftali Feliz and Justin Smoak for Josh Johnson. Really? I really don’t think they plan on having Johnson too much longer. It would be a horrible feeling to see Feliz pitching against the Braves in the coming years.
Them Fish are idiots if they didn’t jump on that.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:17 am@131-
More of a B-type than a C-type. Soriano is a good reliever, and the Braves should be able to get a good player in return. Someone on the order of Randall Delgado, I would think.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:20 am144 – I have to doubt, and it’s been denied in other reports already, that that offer was ever made.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:24 amIf the Rangers are trying to move Feliz and Smoak to clear their payroll, I think we have several players we’d be willing to throw in a deal.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:18 amJoshua-
why? Feliz’s fastball, while FAST, is straight with little movement (still) and his secondary stuff STILL needs some work.
Smoak is the one who’s could be a MONSTER hitting behind Hanley and in front of Stanton.
I know pitching wins…but they Marlins have Morrison (1B) in the minors and could trade him and M. Dominguez for an arm. wow. the Marlins are going to be STACKED and soon.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:14 amI think Smoak is going to be another Mark Teixeira.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:06 amWhat the hell Wren? When are you going to announce our acquisition of the Panamaniac?
December 9th, 2009 at 8:10 amGeorge Lombard is retiring, but this guy thinks he should be a broadcaster…http://masnsports.com/2009/12/remember-george-lombard.html
December 9th, 2009 at 9:11 amAll the pretty girls have boyfriends. It’s like a Catch-22.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:25 amVols being investigated by the NCAA. Thought I would throw this out here, don’t think anything will come of it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/sports/ncaafootball/09tennessee.html?_r=1&ref=sports
December 9th, 2009 at 9:35 am“the use of recruiting hostesses who have become folk heroes on Tennessee Internet message boards for their ability to help lure top recruits.”
I like college football a lot, and I try to think of it as professional athletics (because, really, why deceive yourself). Stuff like this is hard to ignore, though. “the use of recruiting hostesses . . .”
December 9th, 2009 at 9:41 amBowman looks like an obese woman on a Richard Simmons cruise in his Twitter photo.
@154: Maybe Clemson should have had some to lure Francoeur in completely.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:45 amCaught a late flick with my wife last night, and right before turning my phone off, I saw Rosenthal’s tweet about our interest in Ross F. Gload (on a 2-year deal!). Terrified, I sat through the movie for two hours, not really wanting to refresh the feed after it was over.
Much relieved to log on and see that he’d signed with the Phils. That has to make Soriano even more anxious to accept a trade elsewhere.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:53 amHawpe for D. Lowe?
Joe Sheehan seems to think that might make some sense.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:19 amSmitty,
We were all going to politely ignore the hostess story. But now that you’ve brought it up …
December 9th, 2009 at 10:23 amJay,
All schools use hostesses. IF Tennessee paid for them to go to the games, it is a violation. If they went on their own, it is not. I am thinking they probably went on their own.
For some reason, Tennessee has fallen into Alabama’s world of late. The one where if someone sneezes funny, the NCAA shows up.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:24 ami basically got bitch slapped yesterday by the blog suggesting nick swisher might be available. well, it looks like buster olney agrees with me, so i’m probably 100%wrong.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/yankees-outfield-situation.html
December 9th, 2009 at 10:24 amHawpe would be a nice addition. He’s a lefty though, although his contract is cheap and only for 1 year. As a placeholder for Heyward you could do much worse, but it does put another lh in the order. Perhaps at first base primarily and providing some flexibility in OF construction? O’Dowd has mentioned using him there. He’s a bit of a Coors creation, but certainly can hit.
Here’s a nice article about his value:
http://www.purplerow.com/2009/11/5/1117777/just-what-is-brad-hawpe-worth
December 9th, 2009 at 10:37 amregarding recruiting hostesses:
pics or STFU
December 9th, 2009 at 10:38 amNo need to be defensive Smitty, I’m making no claim against UT specifically. I just find the idea of pimping out young women as bait for amateur athletes to be unsavory, and it dampens my enthusiasm for college football.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:39 amas long as the young women are amateurs also, no harm done.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:44 am@109 – I like Peter Gammons, but that was funny.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:50 amFrom DOB:
December 9th, 2009 at 10:51 am@ajcbraves: ‘Stros, O’s and Halos — looks like it will be one of those three trading for Rafael Soriano, unless another team steps up quickly.
“The Girls of Bruce Pearl” was a great edition …
December 9th, 2009 at 10:52 amDix,
Here is a pic.
http://admissions.utk.edu/undergraduate/contact/orangepride.shtml
December 9th, 2009 at 11:02 amas long as the young women are amateurs
To paraphrase an apocryphal statement, everyone’s a pro – the only debate is over the method of payment.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:05 amFor some reason, Tennessee has fallen into Alabama’s world of late. The one where if someone sneezes funny, the NCAA shows up.
Might have something to do with that mouth-running head coach. He sort of brings it on himself, don’t you think?
December 9th, 2009 at 11:12 amO’s? Happy to take Luke Scott of your hands for Sori.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:14 amSpeaking of the O’s, remember when Mazzone was heading to Baltimore, it was first suggested that we’d get some form of compensation in return, and folks—myself included, IIRC—were thinking we might get Markakis? Heh.
(Think we got King Felix’s older brother instead.)
December 9th, 2009 at 11:17 amStu,
Yeah, a little. But I still like him
December 9th, 2009 at 11:19 amYeah, plenty of UT fans do, but you shouldn’t be surprised that the NCAA has taken an increased interest in the program. It’s not like anything will ever come of these “investigations,” anyway.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:20 amAt UGA, our “recruiting hostesses” were called Georgia Girls. Dunno if they still have ‘em.
When I was at school, I became friends with a former Georgia Girl. She’d wised up & entered UGA’s art school. (Pretty sure she was the only gal in UGA history to do that. She went from designer clothes to thrift-store fashion. Very Athens, I gotta say.)
Anyway, she explained how it worked, how certain girls were assigned certain recruits. Kinda creepy, yes, but as major-college shadiness goes, this is really nothing.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:25 amAs long as the meetings with hostesses were voluntary and didn’t push the players over the 20 hours of mandatory football time each week, I don’t see what the problem is. There really isn’t anything worse than the players’ concentrating on football more than 20 hours a week. That’s just sick.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:27 amIf nothing is founded in it or there is only a minor penalty, then Tennessee will come out looking great.
However, when the NCAA comes along they look at everything. It is kind of bull shit that they are picking on Tennessee because Kiffin calls Urban Meyer out.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:29 amBowman:
This seems like a terrible plan. We need to get another back-up middle infielder because we’re getting rid of KJ and plan to play Prado some at first base? Nady+LaRoche would make a lot of sense—though still not as much sense as Cameron + LaRoche—but just signing Nady and plugging Heyward in RF from the get-go seems pretty weak to me.
Hopefully, more develops.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:33 amSounds a lot like geisha to me.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:35 amI also think letting Church go would mean Heyward has a really good shot at making the team.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:35 amCan anyone figure out why there is not more talk of Adrian Gonzalez in a potential trade? Seems to me that he would be a perfect fit for what the Braves need and they have the prospects to trade for him. The downside is that eventually he’ll be a free agent and command a large salary but with Chipper coming off the books in 2 years, maybe less, it seems like they should be able to work something out.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:38 amany two of Derosa/Nady/Cameron/Laroche is an upgrade with Heyward waiting. I dont like that we’ve released two players (Barbaro and Church) from our two weakest positions
December 9th, 2009 at 11:39 amWell on the plus side, you’d be buying low on Nady, and he may well get back to his 2008 form. Way too risky for my tastes though.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:44 amI think Nady would be a fine acquisition. It’s the fact that Bowman’s outlined “plan” seems to entail signing nobody else—except, bizzarely, a back-up middle infielder—in addition to Nady that worries me. Especially after letting go of Church.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:46 amlightning in a bottle
December 9th, 2009 at 11:49 amGaz, I think Padres have said Adrian isn’t somebody they’re looking to trade… in a way that I interpreted to be something like them wanting what we gave up for Tex.
So my question for you virtual Frank Wrens is this. Is it more important to trade Soriano, or is it more important to trade Lowe over Vasquez. So if a deal were in play that meant you could trade Soriano but it would make Lowe harder to move (to somebody else who might want both maybe?)… and more likely to have to move Vasquez… would you do it? Are you better off starting the season with Vasquez AND Soriano (and probably able to move Soriano later), or with Lowe, but no Vasquez or Soriano?
December 9th, 2009 at 11:49 amAre you better off starting the season with Vasquez AND Soriano (and probably able to move Soriano later), or with Lowe, but no Vasquez or Soriano?
Seriously? I don’t think that’s a choice the Braves are facing, but I’d much, much, much rather have Vazquez and Soriano in 2009 + $15 million in 2010 and 2011 than Lowe in 2009-11 + $4 million in 2009.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:52 amStu, I read Bowman’s comments as only regarding the free agent “plan.” I still think they add the big(ger) bat through trade.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:56 amMy virtual Wren’s idea is to get rid of both (Lowe or Vasquez and Soriano) and have enough money to get two good offensive upgrades
December 9th, 2009 at 11:58 amJay, maybe so, but yesterday (?), DOB (?) reported that Wren thought they were likely to address the offense via free agency and not trades.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:58 amMaybe the Lowe trade is a straight salary dump and they want in on Holliday. You drop Lowe and Soriano and you can afford Nady and Holliday.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:14 pmMike Lowell anyone?
December 9th, 2009 at 12:17 pmHmmm. Didn’t catch that yesterday.
Did see someone say that Red Sox are less interested in Soriano now, than when he was a potential FA. Does that make any sense?
December 9th, 2009 at 12:17 pmReiterated in his newest blog post:
I guess that language does leave open the possibility that they could do it in a separate trade, though. The version of that quote which I saw yesterday wasn’t so limited.
Those Marlon Byrd rumors persist, too. Please, no.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:27 pmYeah, I’ve been thinking it would be a Lowe for cash trade, then a prospects for a bat trade. Maybe. Now I’m concerned that Marlon Byrd is a serious part of the plan.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:35 pmI also don’t like the sound of Nady at 1st. I’m now of the opinion that Chipper should make the move to 1st. A repeat of the way he was playing 3rd last year won’t cut it.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:43 pmIt seemed that opposing teams were bunting for hits on a regular basis in the late season.
I also don’t like the sound of Nady at 1st. I’m now of the opinion that Chipper should make the move to 1st. A repeat of the way he was playing 3rd last year won’t cut it.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:45 pmIt seemed that opposing teams were bunting for hits on a regular basis in the late season.
I really hope that he can come back to play better defense, but I think we’d be better off with Feliz at 3rd and Chipper at 1st.
That Tim Hudson deal is looking pretty good.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:50 pm196 – yep. Randy Wolf just signed a similar deal. Wolf’s not bad, but…
December 9th, 2009 at 12:52 pmAnd even better.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:01 pmRandy Wolf might be the living definition of mediocre. In 11 seasons, he has an ERA+ of 103, and he’s only had four seasons of 180 innings or more. He isn’t durable, and except for 2002 and 2009 — when his BABIP was under .260 — he’s league-average at best.
I’m glad the recession’s over!
December 9th, 2009 at 1:25 pmwould picking up shelley duncan off of ny’s scrap heap be the worst idea in the world?
December 9th, 2009 at 1:33 pm@191,
That’s an interesting idea I hadn’t even considered. Even if the Braves had to eat $5 million a year, that leaves them with $15-20 million to spend, right?
Landing Nady and DeRosa wouldn’t be the greatest, but I’d take it.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:37 pmWow, Andy Pettite will be paid more than Vazquez this year. $11.75 million 1 year deal with the Yanks.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:59 pmHardball Times Hanson article
http://networkedblogs.com/p20460683
December 9th, 2009 at 2:02 pmHeaded to MSG tonight for the Big East/SEC Challenge.
UGA/St. John’s, then UConn/Kentucky.
I’m guessing UConn fans will slightly outnumber the St. John’s folk. I’m also guessing that I’ll be among a dozen or so Dawg people.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:06 pmDOB tweet:
@ajcbraves: Told that Rafael Soriano is out of Angels’ price range for the role they want to fill.
Updated:
December 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pmMaybe more importantly
@ajcbraves: Angels believed to have some interest in Lowe, but he’s not at top of their list.
Rosenthal says the O’s are out on Soriano now also
December 9th, 2009 at 2:19 pmdeleted
December 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pmAnother DOB tweet (not braves related, just amused me):
December 9th, 2009 at 2:35 pm@ajcbraves: Leyland, asked if Scott Sizemore might hit leadoff . “Only way a Sizemore is going to lead off for us is if we trade for Grady.”
Nice article on Hanson, spike; thanks for the link.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:42 pmWish I could get to the Hanson article here at work… blocked.
So… O’s and Halos out… means we must be trading Soriano, Lowe, and $10M to the Astros for Hunter Pence (no I don’t think that’s an actual possible deal).
December 9th, 2009 at 2:52 pmWell, now, that’s interesting.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:55 pmBFedRec, does this direct link to THT work for you?
Or this one, generated from the proxy-blocking site unblocked.org?
December 9th, 2009 at 2:58 pmSoriano for Crawford.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:01 pmNote to self: do NOT eat that large a bowl of raisin bran again.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pmAnybody else get the sense that sdp frequently types comments here which are meant for other blogs?
215—I wondered about Burrell.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:04 pmDirect link worked Thanks! (the proxy-blocking one didn’t… they block unblocked.org. HA!)
December 9th, 2009 at 3:05 pmI’m just a loose cannon, Stu. Hopefully somebody is chuckling.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:07 pmloose cannon on account of the raisin bran? that seems backward.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:13 pmSoriano for Burrell? wouldnt we be better to do a Soriano for prospects and offer Laroche/Derosa/Nady/Cameron that $9 mil that Burrell would get and see who accepts?
December 9th, 2009 at 3:16 pmWonder who we could get off the Ray or Stros. Ill call my barber
December 9th, 2009 at 3:18 pm221—Not sure. Burrell would seem like a big risk, but I don’t know what our scouts think about his ability to play the field. The salaries match up, though.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:18 pmMLBTR:
December 9th, 2009 at 3:23 pmThe Astros are close to acquiring reliever Matt Lindstrom from the Marlins, writes Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. Capozzi notes that the Marlins have been close on other deals that failed to materialize, however. The Astros are also considered a finalist for Rafael Soriano; I imagine they won’t get both.
I don’t think we are going to get a regular off anyone’s roster for Soriano. Probably a C+ or B- prospect.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:26 pmYeah, that’s the general wisdom, Smitty, but we also know that the Rays are looking to dump Burrell, and I bet they’d rather do that than give up a solid prospect. If the Braves are interested.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:32 pmAt this point, acquiring Pat Burrell is like getting an overpaid Jeff Francouer and putting him in LF.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:35 pmBuster Olney says we want a solid return and cash for Soriano.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:42 pmI think Olney was just saying we wanted a solid return and to not pick up the tab for Soriano’s contract, not that we want actual cash.
http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/6507671873
December 9th, 2009 at 3:43 pmHe is a righty who could stand at first base (58 games in 2000) as well as LF – he’s due 9M this year though. That won’t work.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:46 pmSoriano for Albert Pujols. We throw in Church too. Win Win. Cards get a CF and a closer, lower the payroll and we get a pretty good right handed 1b.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:55 pmsoriano, kj, freeman for Carlos Pena
December 9th, 2009 at 4:01 pmcarlos pena is in the last year of his deal isn’t he? You can’t give up Freeman for one year…
December 9th, 2009 at 4:07 pmSomehow I doubt the Rays will give up Pena. But it’s cool to fantasize.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:09 pm@231,
I dunno, price seems a little steep considering that Pujols has made errors in the past and failed to hit 50 home runs this year. Maybe Norton instead of Church.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:09 pmI can see the Rays moving Pena… He does make 10.25 mill… And, they’re the Rays.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:12 pmGiven the choice of being stuck with the salary and the player, I would choose Soriano over Burrell.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:18 pm237—I would trust our scouts. I’d rather have 2009 Soriano than 2009 Burrell, easily, but if they thought Burrell’s 2009 was a fluke, I’d be up for it.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pm3:23pm: Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports suggests the Rays are the frontrunner for Soriano, assuming they’ll expand their payroll to fit him in.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:31 pmMillwood to the O’s. Surely Lowe has got to be looking good to somebody who wants to make a run at 2010.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:47 pmFrom Stark:
Soriano deal could get done today, sources say. Rays very interested but balking at $ and player(s)
December 9th, 2009 at 4:51 pmMy expectations for return on Soriano are unbelievably low. Basically, I just hope someone picks up the money.
But why aren’t the Red Sox in on him?
December 9th, 2009 at 5:15 pmI’ve been watching Baseball Tonight this week, and it seems like every time they cut to a strikeout montage for the pitcher they’re currently discussing, it includes a healthy amount of clips from the Brave’s first half lineup. I’m also seeing plenty of second half Mets. Needless to say, Jeff Francoeur is pulling double duty.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:42 pm243 — that made me laugh.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:45 pmWren’ll have to settle for a little less, but I’m glad to see he’s being a hardass and just not giving Soriano away.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:59 pm217 — It’s because he goes to Clemson.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:20 pm@246: Hey, I might not be able to argue that.
We’ve got some construction going on here in a building and the crews are using elevators to get their materials to the floors. So, they’ve put foam-paneling along the walls of the elevator to prevent damage–there are at least fifteen penises drawn into the foam.
Higher education, folks.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:46 pmFWIW
http://twitter.com/ajcbraves/status/6520640881
Rays/Soriano could be completed by early am
December 9th, 2009 at 11:11 pmdoes anybody else got that feeling that pat burrell is about to be a brave? ugh… i wish it was crawford…
December 9th, 2009 at 11:13 pmRumor is Soriano for Longoria, straight up.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:38 pmThe Tampa Bay website still implies that the Rays are going for a Bradley/ Burrell deal. I would like for us to add KJ and try to pick up a prospect like Desmond Jennings, but I don’t see it.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:38 pmthis KY/UCONN game is exciting
December 9th, 2009 at 11:38 pm252 – Agreed – I wish Vandy looked a little more like these teams.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:41 pmI’ve been flipping back and forth between ESPN and A Christmas Story on TNT. As I’ve gotten older, I have learned to appreciate the dad more.
Ralphie just put on the pink bunny suit.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:43 pmgreat movie
look at KY, shows what good coaching can do
December 9th, 2009 at 11:47 pmThat is probably the best Christmas movie ever. Well, that or Die Hard.
Darren McGavin is perfect as the old man.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:48 pmCan’t believe UConn could not score the equalizer with those guys surrounding the basket.
Wall is some kind of player.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:49 pmif Brandon Lyon can get 3/15, then surely the Braves can move Soriano for 1/8
December 9th, 2009 at 11:51 pmHey Raffy, there’s this thing called free agency where guys like Ed Wade throw tons of money at relief pitchers. You should ask Brandon Lyon – or your agent – about it.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:11 amI didn’t grow up with “A Christmas Story,” but I love it. I think my parents thought it was too dark for kids…though I did grow up watching “Christmas Vacation,” which is much darker. Another good one.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:27 amJesse Chavez, eh? As long as the Rays are paying Soriano’s full salary, that works for me.
Makes it even more frustrating that we kept Marek and Cofield instead of Church, though.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:57 amJust got back from the UK/UConn game at MSG. (There was an opening game, too, but not nearly on the same level.)
After I get past the idea that I have a hard time rooting for either team—OK, I kinda rooted for Kentucky—I gotta say that it was one of the most exciting college games I’ve seen in a long time. So much juice in that building tonight…
And the demonstration John Wall put on in the first 4 minutes of the game—12-0 UK, with 6 points, 3 assists & 2 steals—was one of the most electrifying things I’ve ever seen. The place was going nuts.
If and when Kentucky figures out how to play 40 minutes, they could be a scary, scary team. Of course, they better make it happen this year because next year Wall’s probably gonna be playing for the Nets.
December 10th, 2009 at 1:08 amJesse Chavez is irrelevant. The point was to ditch Soriano’s 2010 salary.
The lost draft picks would’ve been nice though.
December 10th, 2009 at 2:17 amGood luck in the AL East, Sori. Gooooood luck.
December 10th, 2009 at 3:51 amI guess the best thing to say about Chavez is that Bobby can led him pitch in 70 games and play the role of Blaine Boyer.
The Braves need some middle infielders in their farm system; between losing the chance to acquire one for Soriano and the not getting the draft picks, the Braves have lost two opportunities to improve their organization….
December 10th, 2009 at 4:26 am#261–Marek yes, Cofield no–the latter is still growing and developing and has some legitimate upside–especially if he can improve his command….
December 10th, 2009 at 4:27 amNew post.
December 10th, 2009 at 4:59 am