Mark Bradley

By 96,sc

January 13, 2009 11:58 AM | Link to this

Good article. I agree.

By TG

January 13, 2009 12:04 PM | Link to this

Awesome!!! Two great pickups in the last few days. Now all we need is a power hitting outfielder and a healthy Chipper Jones. Can’t wait for Spring Training to start!!!

By Previous Ryan Skeptic

January 13, 2009 12:06 PM | Link to this

Mark, you made some good points. I wholeheartedly retract some of my previous negative statements about Frank Wren from Sunday. I did go a little to far with the bashing but it was mainly out of frustration (still upset with his “average” fan statement though). I thought for sure that Derek Lowe was well on his way to the Mets. What can I say? Frank Wren pulled the strings and made the impossible possible. All we need now is a least a bat or two.

By Dave

January 13, 2009 12:08 PM | Link to this

I like the fact we did not give away all our prospects and hopefully these pitchers will transition us to the day these guys on the farm arrive and maybe Liberty Media sells the team to say Arthur Blank who starts spending money.

By Truatlfan

January 13, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this

I also agree. Smoltz wanted to go to Boston. He felt he had a better chance to win there. With these additions by the Bravos and with the Yankees and Rays to competer with, wouldnt it be priceless if Atl made the post season and Smoltz had to watch us play.

By MARK

January 13, 2009 12:22 PM | Link to this

Bashing the GM ext thats being a Fan..maybe we will be okay the always is to have solid pitching..however more important is a team to stay healthy..One for sure Key is that Frenchy come back strong this season.He has been quiet thats a good sign.

By Brian

January 13, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this

Still not happy with the whole Smoltz deal…..he should have been given what he wanted…..he deserves it. He’s made a LOT of sacrificies for the Braves’ orginization and should expect the same in return. Wish nothing but the best for him. As for what we have now….we’ll see how things pan out but unless we get a legitimate hitter i really don’t see us doing too much this year.

By bailer

January 13, 2009 12:27 PM | Link to this

let me rtell all you dumb a@@es out there,the braves did not let smoltz go, HE LEFT the braves and the people that loved him. TO HELL with him let his PHONEY a@@ go, the braves are MUCH better off

By This Gets Old

January 13, 2009 12:27 PM | Link to this

You know that I normally agree with you but in this case I think that you can argue with the results. The Braves are not close. I’m one of the biggest fans but truth is truth. Lowe will be matched up against Santana and Hamels this season.

Even if he’s able to match them pitch for pitch how are the Braves going to score runs? How many RBI can you count on from the OF?

Kelly Johnson is who he is, streaky and most definitely not a clutch hitter. I’ve been writing it for three years…REBUILD THE TEAM!

The trade for Tex was ludicrous. It was time to break it down then now they’re putting more money into a team that can’t win. Ask yourself, if you were a stock holder in Liberty would you want money spent on a baseball team?? A non-essential asset?

I ask in all honesty, would you rather have the roster of the Braves or the Marlins? Braves are closer to the Nats than the Marlins. Let’s get real and don’t forget all of the press about how we had six starting pitchers at the start of last season. Don’t forget about how that would help insure “the health of the entire rotation”

Get real, rebuild.

By Bill

January 13, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

Good Article…and we did not give away our prospects

By ArkyTech

January 13, 2009 12:38 PM | Link to this

Let me get this straight….the Braves added 3 quality starters AND kept all their prospects? Yeah, Frank Wren is an idiot.

By Howie in Augusta

January 13, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this

Good points Mark!!! Well said!! I have followed Derek Lowe’s career and know that he has been a solid pitcher throughout this decade… Nothing to show that this yr. won’t be any different. I also love the acquisition of Kawakami….Sure, I was disappointed to see Smoltz leave but I also know that in all the situations where pitchers have departed us he never ever came close to being what he was here….In other words his time was up and that includes guys named Maddox and Glavine. Sure they won a few games for other teams but weren’t difference makers..The Braves always seem to know when a pitcher won’t be effective any more…Kudos to Mr. Wren. Now let’s get a good radio broadcast team and get ready for spring training!!!

By A-Man

January 13, 2009 12:58 PM | Link to this

Frank “Wrong Again” Wren couldn’t assist a proctologist with successfully distinguishing a whole in the ground.

By RRR

January 13, 2009 1:03 PM | Link to this

Sorry Mark, but I can’t agree. This is much more than just “healthy bodies”. He lost a franchise icon, because he was too shortsighted.
And, for those who believe that Smoltzie wanted to leave, you are wrong. If such were the case, you can believe that Chipper wouldn’t have been SOOO damn mad at how the Braves treated John.

I’ll leave you with one final thought/question: IMAGINE, if you will, that we still had John Smoltz, and he’d be ready to throw his first pitch in July for the stretch run.

By Pete

January 13, 2009 1:09 PM | Link to this

Frank Wren knows what he is doing and doesn’t act from pure emotion as 90% of the fans do. Smoltz is washed up and will prove so by June 1. The Braves are in great shape in pitching now, thanks to Wren. Good job, Frank.

By matt r

January 13, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

Still doesn’t justify not matching the Red Sox. Like Chipper says, if there’s anyone you take a gamble on, it’s Smoltz.

By leland

January 13, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

Dear Mr. MB—your usual thoughtful article. But catcher’s mitts and capillaries? You back in Santa Fe? Your pal, Leland

By DAN C

January 13, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wren did a nice job of getting some pitching help. The Brave’s still need a big bat. hopefully that will come later. Sad to smoltz leave. Who know’s how things will end up. Evvery move is a gamble. Go brave’s

By Joey

January 13, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this

Gosh, please give the Smoltz thing a rest! The Braves didn’t owe him one penny. Yes, we got somewhat of a hometown discount from him the last contract renewal. But last year (one-tenth of a season for $15M), and a few others we didn’t nearly get our money’s worth. Anyway, he hopped the train out of town in a big hurry, so let him go. Great moves, Wren. If you can pick up a hitter before spring training, this will go down as one of the best off seasons in years.

By bali

January 13, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this

Change is good. GReat work Braves. Now maybe it is time for chipper to look elsewhere and free up more money.I do not say that because I do not appreciate the efforts of The Jones and the Smoltzes and others. What a great run, but time marches on.Maybe this is the start of a new day.Just hope it does not take 20 years of mediocrity before the Braves win another Pennant.Good luck smoltzie. Hope you play the next 3 or 4 years with the Bosx injury free

By TrueBlueBravesFan

January 13, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this

Geesh some people are never happy.

Derek Lowe was the best pitcher left and we have added him……The second best Japanese pitcher and bonafide eatings eater in Vasquez and still people are griping about Smoltz……

Don’t get me wrong….I love the guy……but I think its safe to say you will get more from Derek Lowe over the next 2 years then you would have gotten from a 42 year old John Smoltz just coming off MAJOR shoulder surgery. I don’t care how great his rehab is going. Shoulder surgery is no joke. I will not be surprised if he doesn’t even make it to the postseason this year. And if his shoulder doesn’t hold up then you can bet Smoltz will just hang up the spikes (See Curt Schilling for a similar case in point).

On a different note talk about a twilight zpne possibility….It is more than likely that when the Braves face the Sox (twice this year) there’s a fantastic chance that it could be Smoltz pitching for the Sox and Lowe pitching for the Braves……and it could happen twice once with Braves fans cheering on Lowe and once with Sox fans cheering on Smoltz……How surreal can it get. Wheres Rod Serling when you need him.

Now I would cap this offseason by adding Griffey Jr and A Jones as fourth and fifth outfielders and keeping Diaz and either Blanco, Anderson or Schafer…….to split time……talk about awesome depth…now lets just hope that Soriano (Sore Armo) and Moylen come back healthy and were on our way.

By Father of 5

January 13, 2009 1:31 PM | Link to this

To the contrary, this move proves Wren knows nothing about the game — except that he needed to do something drastic to placate the idiot fans who are going to buy tickets the first half of the year. After that, the Braves will be deep in 4th place (assuming they can outperform the Nats, which is not a given).

In a move of clear desperation, Wren agreed to pay a solid #3 pitcher 15M until he’s 40 years old. Wren gave away the organization’s best catcher and a valuable ss for an average #4 starter — so they could pay the hack 11M a year. But he didn’t have another 2.5 for a dominating #1 pitcher who might not pitch until May? Where is he going to get his #1 and #2 starters? I don’t think they came from Japan. Would anyone who know baseball hesitate for one second to switch the Braves pitching staff with the Phillies, Mets, or Marlins? So what does that tell you about the team’s real chances — either this year or in the forseeable future? Sorry, but Wren remains a bumbling idiot — all “emotion” aside.

By jimmy

January 13, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this

BREAKING NEWS WREN TO GIVE LOWE #29 SO WE CAN FORGET SMOLTZ YEAAAA

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 1:35 PM | Link to this

The Braves now a starting staff that should be able, duh, to start games on a regular basis. Contrast that to last season, when Hampton didn’t pitch until July, when Hudson didn’t pitch after July, and when Glavine and Smoltz both went on the disabled list in June. The names might have been bigger last year, but at the end of the day that’s all they were — names.

By old fart

January 13, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this

Spring training just around the corner. Fresh, new pitching arms have arrived. Young kids waiting their chance in the wings. Cox is smiling again. Let’s get started.

By Getaway

January 13, 2009 2:03 PM | Link to this

Who was the #1 that Wren wouldn’t give another $2.5 mil to?

By Kentavo

January 13, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this

Let’s have a 10-man rotation to keep everybody fresh:

Lowe, Vasquez, Jair, Kawakami, Campillo, Carlyle, Bennett, Jo Jo, Morton, and Hanson.

Everybody can work in some long relief between starts.

By RRR

January 13, 2009 2:06 PM | Link to this

Well, Mark: I’ll choose to ignore your “duh” remark, but who could have predicted the unprecedented rash of pitcher injuries we had last year? YOU certainly didn’t : you chose the Braves to win the NL East if I recall…as did many.

That said, we DID overpay Lowe compared to his other offers: $12mil/yr over three from the Mets. So, out of desperation after the loss of Smoltz, Wren felt compelled to do something/anything, and I believe, too, that this is a good move. BUT, imagine this: $14mil/yr over four years would have been the best offer Lowe had, too. That other few million? Well, half of it for John to stay with the Braves. A no brainer to the minds of many…

By Michael

January 13, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this

Some need to read: The Braves offered Smoltz the same overall money that the Red Sox did. The Red Sox just ponied up $5 mil guaranteed vs. $2 mil from Atlanta. For a guy who you knew wasn’t going to pitch half the season, who could argue?

I’m so thankful that the Braves go into an offseason without counting on Mike Hampton to return — and that monster salary of his. The starters are healthy on the whole, so hoo-ah.

By Tadpole

January 13, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this

It is just crazy how many Braves fans want to keep recycling washed up players every year, year after year. We do not owe anybody anything. Glavine, Smoltz, Hampton, Furcal, Andrew, … Let it go.

By Rob

January 13, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this

I for one will be glad to see some new pitchers. There is no guarantee that Smoltz will ever pitch again. He’s 42 years old and you just don’t heal the same at that age whether you are a pro or not. He has been one pitch away from ending his career for some time now. Please let it go people! The Braves did not owe him anything, he was paid very handsomely for his services while he was here. The Red Sox can afford to take a risk because they have a ton of starting pitchers. The Braves don’t have that luxury. Let it go, life moves on.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

Michael makes the salient point: The Red Sox are so loaded they can afford to wait for Smoltz to pitch in June, if then. The Braves are not. They had to have a rotation in place in April, and clearly the aforementioned wasn’t going to be ready then.

By Rob

January 13, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

I for one will be glad to see some new pitchers. There is no guarantee that Smoltz will ever pitch again. He’s 42 years old and you just don’t heal the same at that age whether you are a pro or not. He has been one pitch away from ending his career for some time now. Please let it go people! The Braves did not owe him anything, he was paid very handsomely for his services while he was here. The Red Sox can afford to take a risk because they have a ton of starting pitchers. The Braves don’t have that luxury. Let it go, life moves on.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this

And let’s ask ourselves this: If, on Oct. 1, somebody had told you the Braves would have added three starting pitchers without defoliating their farm system (and recalling that Wren said he couldn’t count on Smoltz or Glavine being part of the mix), wouldn’t most among us have said, “Job well done”?

By Coastal

January 13, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this

Everyone keeps talking about this JAP pitcher like he will come to Atlanta and win 20 games. Who really knows what this guy will do. If the Braves don’t sign Abreu, Manny or trade for Nady, i’ll still count this offseason as a negative.

Yes, you can’t win without good starting pitching, but you can’t win if you don’t score runs either.

By Coastal

January 13, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this

Everyone keeps talking about this JAP pitcher like he will come to Atlanta and win 20 games. Who really knows what this guy will do. If the Braves don’t sign Abreu, Manny or trade for Nady, i’ll still count this offseason as a negative.

Yes, you can’t win without good starting pitching, but you can’t win if you don’t score runs either.

By Ben

January 13, 2009 2:56 PM | Link to this

Now that the pitching looks better, what about going after Adam Dunn? He is probably good for 40 Homers, 100 RBI, and a 100 walks. Even though he is average on defense, he is still out there. Price seems to be dropping too!!

By Tim

January 13, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this

“Job well done”, Mr. Wren…and Mr. Bradley. After 14 years in Africa, this Georgia boy will finally be back in the US for a full baseball season. I’ll be in Richmond and missing the R-Braves, but will be faithful to WSB in the evenings. These two acquisitions give me hope for a good year. That’s all I can ask for.

By Mr. Obvious

January 13, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this

Wow.

Bradley has sure done a 180-degree turn on FRANK WREN since Saturday.

Guess you who has naughty pictures of Mark Bradley now, Kids.

Let’s all ask Cal Ripken, Jr. to appraise the performance and intellect of Frank WRONG, shall we?

By scottbravesfan

January 13, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this

Great column Mark! The Braves are back in it. We need to pick up a left fielder. Jermaine Dye, Bobby Abreau, or Adam Dunn. We need to pick up one of those guys.

By d ranch

January 13, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this

Folks, All I hear is people bit chig about losing John S. He chose to leave let it go her will be back to go in the HOF with the braves . We have to go with what we got . The starting five is going to eat innings so our bullpen does throw their arms out by July . Now we need a LF and we will be OK> get over js in boston he chose to leave and Frank Wren is doing what he can with out trading the farm. So far so good….

By CW

January 13, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this

Coastal,

Don’t mean to be preachy, but referring to someone as a JAP pitcher is pretty disrespectful. And I don’t think anyone is suggesting that any of our new pitchers, Lowe, Vazquez or Kawakami, are going to win 20 games. But considering that last year we only had one pitcher who won more than 10, all three figure to be a HUGE upgrade.

The difference between counting on last year’s rotation of Hudson, Hampton, Smoltz, Glavine etc. and this group is that none of these guys are over 36 (Smoltz and Glavine were) and none of them have a history of significant injuries (Smoltz and Hampton did).

Last year was a huge bust because the Braves counted on pitchers that we had no business counting on to be durable and productive. Give Frank Wren some credit. He learned from this and vowed not to rely on aging stars (Glavine, Smoltz & Hampton) and instead completely rebuilt the starting rotation.

Our new rotation not only keeps us in more ballgames during innings 1-6, but our bullpen just got a huge boost as well in innings 7-9 because Bobby Cox won’t have to go to the pen early in so many games.

By brewdawg

January 13, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this

Mark

I’m confused. I thought you wanted the Braves to “move forward”. Yet now you’re happy that they’ve landed a 36 year old no. 3 starter, a Japanese pitcher who has yet to throw a major league inning, and the mediocre Vasquez? Further, you imply that the Braves have pitching depth, unlike last year. So that should mean that they could have afforded to keep Smoltz around for an extra 3 million without having to count on him early in the season.

Maybe these moves will work out, (and I hope they do). My point is you are now contradicting yourself on the Smoltz issue. They are in a better position this year than last year to take a chance on the future Hall of Famer. Seriously, 60 million for an aging, yet solid pitcher, but not 5 million for a Hall of Famer who has constantly played through pain (effectively) and defied critics when it comes to his injuries? That makes absolutely no sense. You have really whiffed on this one.

By Reality

January 13, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this

Mark—You need K-1 teaching credentials to “host” this blog. I recommend lots of time outs and finger painting.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 3:21 PM | Link to this

I’m not contradicting myself. I wanted a team that wasn’t married to the past, that wasn’t afraid to find new Braves and — this above all — wasn’t about to trade away its farm system.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this

And I see no way in which this represents an about-face from Saturday’s column. That was always intended to give Frank Wren a chance to speak his mind, which he did. It wasn’t a rip of Wren. I have not written a rip of Wren. And I’m certainly not inclined to do so today.

By brewdawg

January 13, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this

I didn’t realize we had to give away prospects to match the Red Sox offer. My mistake.

By Ramblin Wrecker

January 13, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this

In the end, I think the Braves did the best thing regarding Smoltz. You can’t contrast the deal the Braves offered him directly with the one he took from the Red Sox. You have to look at what the Red Sox and what the Braves were buying because it was not the same thing.

The Red Sox were spending a guaranteed $5 million on a half season of Smoltz, and more likely than not a post-season of Smoltz, which is definitely a valuable commodity. The Braves on the other hand are not swimming in either extra cash to throw around OR a likelihood of being in the playoffs without having Smoltz in the first half of the season. By the time Smoltz is ready to play in late May or June, the Braves might be playoff afterthoughts, and therefore the amount they could guarantee was lower. By the time the Braves would know if their risk was worth it, it could be too late. So why in their right minds would they guarantee so much cash. The Braves needed to sign or trade for front line starters who would be playing from opening day on. And to do that they need to allocate lots of money to sign or cover the salary of a pitcher they trade for. So they couldn’t afford to give Smoltz a $5 million guaranteed gold watch contract just because. I think Smoltz, as generous as he was to the Braves over the years, failed to even see that a contract from the Red Sox/Yankees/insert perennial playoff team is apples, and a Braves contract is oranges. I think deep down, Smoltz was hoping for a scenario that allowed him to leave without just looking like he bolted. Ironically, I don’t think it was the monetary guarantee that wasn’t satisfactory to Smoltz it was the playoff guarantee that he saw lacking. It is obvious, right there in his press conference today. “I just love winning.” He said if he had to carry the resin bag out to the mound to get to win, he would. That doesn’t sound like a man who would let $3 million of guaranteed money determine his destination (especially such a competitive man who is likely to meet many of the incentives included in either the Red Sox deal or Braves deal, so the guaranteed money would have been rendered irrelevant anyways). He just didn’t think the Braves would win.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 3:35 PM | Link to this

I”m at the Kenshin Kawakami press conference. It’s being held in the 755 Club — as opposed to the auxiliary clubhouse — due to the large number of media folks in attendance. And Bobby Cox and Roger McDowell are here, too.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this

Also in attendance: The Japanese consul general Takuji Hanatani.

By P.J.

January 13, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this

Derek Lowe is NOT a #3 starter…that’s exactly what Javier Vazquez is. Third starters keep you in ballgames, they don’t win them on their own.

Look at Lowe’s ERA and WHIP the last 4 years in LA; there’s nothing higher than 3.88 and a 1.27, respectively. Those are #2 starter numbers at worst and when he’s done better than that, he’s an ace. Is he a Jake Peavy ace? No, but he’s a clear #1. He was also in the top 10 in the NL last year in strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Lowe is solid and a MUCH better signing than AJ Burnett, who wanted another year, more money and was no guarantee to even pitch, except when he was ready for his next free-agent deal.

Bottom line is that its a great signing and gives the Braves a solid rotation top-to-bottom.

By brewdawg

January 13, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this

I agree that Smoltz may have left even if the Braves had matched the offer. I’ve always thought he wanted another shot at playing for a winner, and would be willing to sign with another team if necessary. But for no good reason the Braves didn’t match the offer, so we’ll never know.

I hope the Braves make the playoffs. I hope they win the World Series. I just know that if they do make the playoffs, I would want John Smoltz in the dugout, even if it turns out he’s done and can only provide experience and a strong presence to the younger players. And, if he comes back healthy, wouldn’t you like to see the best pitcher in postseason history out there in a Braves uniform? Won’t then it seem kind of silly the Braves weren’t willing to dish out an extra 3 million dollars for that chance?

By Father of 5

January 13, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this

Mark, you seem pretty preoccupied with protecting the Braves farm system. Are you really that sure that all the prospects given away for the right to pay an aging sub-.500 pitcher for $11M will not pan out? Some scouts who know what they’re doing thought pretty highly of those guys traded for Vazquez.

Also, you keep comparing this year to last. Is that the standard? Do we want to be a little better than we were last year? Winning 75 games? With all this scrambling and wasted spending, the Braves have a pitching staff substantially worse than at least 3 teams in the division, let alone the rest of the NL, not to mention the rest of baseball (see AL East, Central, and West). And that doesn’t address the lineup totally devoid of speed, power, and RBIs. Yeah, Wren has done just great.

By Bobby

January 13, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this

Now if only we had a day-to-day line up that could be counted on to hit the ball clear out of the infield, we might not lose 90 games. All 2-1 thrillers.

By brewdawg

January 13, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this

Father of 5

In Mark’s defense, he never approved of the Vasquez trade. He did think the Braves gave up too much for him. He has said repeatedly that’s really the only move Wren has made that he hasn’t agreed with.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 3:57 PM | Link to this

Thanks, BrewDawg.

Oh, and I just asked Kenshin Kawakami if he threw the Gyroball — the much-discussed pitch that Daisuke Matsuzaka is rumored to throw. He said he didn’t know exactly what a Gyroball is — nobody does — but that it looks like a cutter. And he does throw a cutter.

By BroomeDawg

January 13, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this

I am a little happier today. But the problem wasnt about us not fielding a rotation. The problem all along was that Wren went and dis-respected the most passionate and loyal Braves fans out there, and he let the face of the franchise leave.

Yes, I think the bloggers, and the people that call in to the radio sports talk shows are the real fans. We aren’t the transplants who go to games to pick up girls, drink a beer, and get a tan (though we may do that as well). We are the fans that traveled to Pittsburg for the Playoffs in the early 90’s with our giant Tomahawks, faces painted, and Braves shirts proudly displayed in a sea of yellow and black. We are the fans that sat in old Fulton County Stadium when it looked like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays of a few years back (you know when you knew everyone else that was there). We are the ones that care so damn much about this team that it hurts when the face of our franchise for the past 21 years leaves to go pitch for the Boston Yankees. For the record when I saw that news blurb I thought I had been kicked in the balls.

Yes, the Braves may compete this year, God I hope they do. But, now Mr. Wren needs to learn to think before he opens his mouth and bashes the true blue fans who work overrtime to be able to afford to go to a game. Stop telling the world we are going after Pitcher A with everything we got, just to pull out. We dont want to see our farm system ruined, but we also dont want to constantly end up as the Groom stuck at the altar while the bride runs off to mexico, err NY.

Just asking Mr. Wren to think a lil more before he opens his mouth, and possibly be more honest with the fans. Smoltzie may have left no matter what, but dont let it be because you dis-respected him.

Last point is, God knows I would hate to have it come down to game 7 of the World Series with Lowe on the mound for us, and Smoltzie on the mound for the Red Sox. Think he would have some motivation for that? I think he might pitch a perfect game. Then what?

By RC35

January 13, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this

Back in the 70’s, when the Braves would occasionally win a game, my Father would say, “Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then!” That’s the way I feel about these signings. We signed an old gun-for-hire and an unproven pitcher from AAAA Japanese ball, while letting one of the all-time greats slip out of town with scarcely a half-hearted attempt to keep him. Big whoop. Let’s see who has more wins and a better ERA in September. My guess is Smoltz versus either one of these two guys. Just remember, Cardinals, Orioles, and Blue Jays are baseball birds. Wrens are just little fowls.

By Mike

January 13, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this

Mark, the real question is, with Valentine’s Day just over a month away, how are you going to show Frank Wren more love than you did in this article? Chocolates and a nice dinner are good for “starters” (pun intended), but you can’t stop there. Maybe The Shane Company will have some good deals going on matching man-bracelets for the two of you.

By UGA75

January 13, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this

FIRE FRANK WREN

Mark I agree that you did not do an about face on Mr. Wren. You defended him in every update, or at least tried to get fans to calm down. I was calm then and I’m calm now. The Braves are terrible as presently constructed. Terry Pendleton can’t get anyone to hit and he’s the hitting coach, Roger McD clearly doesn’t know anything about pitching, it can’t be a total accident that Leo almost never had a pitcher go down with arm injuries (Smoltz being the exception) and Almost everyone Roger coaches goes on the DL. The real problem is Bobby Cox being so loyal to his coaches, Terry should have been gone when he couldn’t reach Andruw and Frenchy went from a potential all star to looking like he’d never seen a baseball. A baseball coach needs to operate like a physician, “First do no harm”. Does anyone doubt that Don Baylor couldn’t correct Andruw (were he still here) or Frenchy, maybe even get Kelly J to be more consistent.

I do not like or respect Frank Wren, he ran Smoltz off with indifference, just like leaving Ripken at the airport. He hates Stars, and wishes he were one. He wants recognition, but says “average fans” don’t know what they are talking about, so he rips us for calling a spade a spade or a dud a dud (dud=FW) Mr. Wren is like the prettiest girl in high school, everyone would love to buy her(him) for what they are really worth and sell them for what they think she’s(he’s) worth. Does anyone think that Scott Boras would have let Lowe sign with the Braves this quickly if there were any offers remotely competitive. * OF COURSE NOT*, Boras did what he always does, get more than his clients are worth (note the 4th year guarantee from the Braves, no one else would go past 3 years). Frank Wren was like a bleeding guppie in a shark tank, he’s lucky Boras didn’t take his underwear.

Chipper will be leaving shortly, Frank can’t stand not being the star of the franchise.

FIRE FRANK WREN

By Father of 5

January 13, 2009 4:14 PM | Link to this

Getaway, did you happen to attend Smoltz’ last start in Atlanta, when he threw his 3000th k? Probably not. Most people in this city didn’t realize the significance or don’t care much about baseball — judging from all the empty seats. Even with a hurt arm, the guy was untouchable. As usual, the Braves gave him no support and he didn’t get the win. I wonder how he’ll do when his arm is repaired? Sure would be nice to have him around Aug - Oct. For any team that cares about winning, 10M is a great deal. It’s pretty clear what the Braves care about. How often do you think any Braves pitcher will be labeled “untouchable” this year?

By LivininAL

January 13, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this

For 3 million we could have had both Lowe and Smoltz and still would not have to have rushed Smoltz, but Lowe is much better than a big question mark on the rotation. However,I dont think Campillo is our 5th starter teams were adjusting when seeing him the 2nd time around.

By LivininAL

January 13, 2009 4:23 PM | Link to this

For 3 million we could have had both Lowe and Smoltz and still would not have to have rushed Smoltz, but Lowe is much better than a big question mark on the rotation. However,I dont think Campillo is our 5th starter teams were adjusting when seeing him the 2nd time around.

By Robbie T

January 13, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this

I think the Braves management has done at great job improving the starting pitching.Now we need to make a couple of more moves to get some power hitters in the corner outfield spots.And some speed at the top of the lineup would also help.We cannot have another year of zero productivity from the outfield.The Braves are only a couple of players away from a contending team now.

By BamaFan

January 13, 2009 4:35 PM | Link to this

I’d like to see Josh Anderson get a fair shot at center and bat leadoff. We need some speed at the top of the order and he could steal 40 bases easily. Last year he hit .294 with 10 SB in 136 AB.

By Scoots

January 13, 2009 4:36 PM | Link to this

Frank Wren truly saved his arse. I have to admit, I was ready to hang him a week ago after the Smoltz thing, but he’s definitely redeemed himself. We’re probably paying Lowe a little more than he’s worth, but was there really another option at this point? And the Braves desperately need some durability in the starting rotation - it will be nice to see our starters go into the late innings and save our bullpen.

I really like the Kawakami signing. I think this not only gives us another solid pitcher, but it will broaden the fan base, and give us some international sports media attention. I don’t know if this guy has quite the starpower of Ichiro, but it could even be good for the City of Atlanta, in attracting Japanese tourism and business to our city (seriously). I hope the team and the city treat him well.

By KG

January 13, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this

I have to disagree. I don’t see where we got anything better than a 3rd starter in Kawakami, and as far as Vazquez goes, last time I checked he is a career sub-.500 pitcher with an ERA north of 4.25. At what point does that qualify him as a pretty good pickup? Lowe seems to be a solid pitcher, but I don’t know if he is an unqualified “ace”. In some other rotations he may not even be better than the #2 guy, but obviously mileage may vary in that situation. Plus, at 35, he is ripe for a major injury.

Bottom line, when I look at this rotation, I don’t see a stellar group of guys. I see two guys with a LOT of promise in Jurrjens and Hanson, but they both need more experience at the top level. Maybe one of them slots in at #2, maybe #3. Kawakami seems to have been a pretty good pitcher- in Japan. Not quite the same level of competition over there though. Like I said, I wouldn’t put him higher than #3 myself. Obviously, Lowe is gonna be our #1 starter, so that should take care of the top 3 spots, but who’s then left to fill the 4 and 5 spots- not the best scenarios there. I would take Campillo right now over Vazquez, and hope that Hudson comes back stronger and sooner than expected- he’s the team’s true ace right now.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this

Fashion note: Bobby Cox showed up at the press conference wearing a suit — no tie, but a suit — and what appeared to be bowling shoes. I asked him about his choice of footwear. “I thought I had dress shoes [in his office],” he said, “but neither pair fit.”

So you’re up to date on that key point.

By Ray K

January 13, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this

Noone gets bargain free agent deals with any Boras clients.The Braves had to pay what they wanted as they had backed themsleves into a corner. The only real option was Garland as Wolf has Tellem/Kinzer as an agent and signing Perez gives the Mets two more high draft picks (we already got them 2 more for Glavine a year ago)Of course, if Reyes and Morton were as good as advertised, all this nonsense could have been avoided. If Dunn is too expensive and needs a 4-5 yr deal, Garret Anderson or Abreu can help short-term until Heyward arrives. The OF remains quite feeble.

By staggerlee

January 13, 2009 5:28 PM | Link to this

You guys who rip Wren are really annoying. The Braves have a much better chance to compete now. They have 7-8 guys who can start if needed. The farm system is still intact less a catching prospect. He’s still looking for a hitter and will probably get one. You whiners would still complain and moan even if he gets the entire Red Sox team! You seem like a bunch of babies crying because someone took your bottle. Go cheer(if you call it that) for another team.

By ET

January 13, 2009 5:28 PM | Link to this

Evidently UGA75 and other posters think Wren needs to be fired for running off Smoltz. You guys have no clue what this is all about. You only think with your emotions. Dam the facts, full speed ahead.

John Smoltz wanted to go to Boston. Wren didn’t run him off. We paid him 14 million last year to cheer lead. He now wants you to believe that guaranteeing an extra 3 mil for doing nothing is the reason he left…Bullcrap!!! That extra 3 mil was his if he stayed on the roster 60 days…2 months…out of the whole season. Are you really that gullible? He didn’t even call Wren back to let him know what he decided to do. He was already out the door. That or he really thinks he can’t pitch next year.

Smoltz is hanging Wren out there as the bad guy so Smoltz can still look good to the fans. He didn’t have the guts to tell us he wanted to play for Boston, he had rather Wren take the heat and have it look like Wren wouldn’t pay him what he was due and it worked.

John please man up… Just tell us it wasn’t about extra money, you just wanted to pitch for Boston. By the way, wasn’t that the team you idiolized as you were growing up…Hummmmm.

By richbrave

January 13, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this

He’s mortgaged the past, the present, and the future. Fire the bum. You really love playin’ the crowd don’t you BRADLEY?

By Bill Profitt

January 13, 2009 5:48 PM | Link to this

Best thing that could happen for the Braves, Smoltz want last two months with Boston then he will be a cheerleader again. He probably could not make it through my son’s little league. Go with youth, put Smoltz out to pasture.

By Mr. Obvious

January 13, 2009 5:59 PM | Link to this

Methinks Mark Bradley doth protest too much about his sudden [ahem] “NON-love” for Frank Wren.

Why don’t you two go get a room, one with a HUGE, roomy closet?

Do you jokers do one another’s hair?

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 5:59 PM | Link to this

I don’t consider Vazquez a top-of- the-rotation guy, either, but I think he’ll be an OK No. 3. And like Lowe a lot. He was the winning pitcher in all three series-clinching victories for the Red Sox in 2004, including the famous Game 7 in Yankee Stadium, and I’ve seen him absolutely throttle the Braves. I remember Cox saying afterward, “He can throw a shutout with just one pitch.”

That pitch being his sinker, natch.

By Patrick

January 13, 2009 6:00 PM | Link to this

I believe that dropping Smoltz was a great choice. We have spent so much money on risky investments (i.e. Mike Hampton) and when we have an opportunity to invest our money wisely in a player known for being a inning-eater, it is a smart choice. I did not like Wren earlier this winter but I always thought that Lowe was much more worthy of being a Brave than Burnett. Wren has brought in 3 pitchers that should pitch their share (at least 2 of the 3 should get 200+ innings) and has set up next year to have Hudson, Lowe, Jurrjens, Vazquez, and Deuce K not to mention Hanson. Now I believe that Wren needs to drop the defensive liability to Dunn and sign him to provide a 30+ homerun right-handed hitter to the line up.

By renegade

January 13, 2009 6:17 PM | Link to this

JOHN SMOLTZ is gone, quit crying.He left on his own, jumped ship,flew the coop,what ever you want to call it. HE AINT HERE get over it; maybe with all these new guys well see him in the w.s., and beat his sore armed tail in the process. good bye John see ya in cooperstown; in a braves uniform.

By The Grinch

January 13, 2009 6:21 PM | Link to this

I told everyone four days ago to relax and give Wren a chance. I hope y’all are a bit nicer to him in the future; if it was me reading all the crap from the past few days I would have told this town to stick it and gone somewhere else. He hasn’t made a bad move since he’s been here (Tex was JS’ doing). Smoltz should’ve stayed, but that’s his business. No need to cry; we’ll have more than enough pitching, especially next year.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this

The Braves believe Hudson, who’s already under contract, will be ready to pitch in August. Smoltz is targeting July. Would you pay $5 million for the prospect of getting one injured pitcher back when waiting on the other costs you nothing more than you’re already obliged to pay?

By UGA75

January 13, 2009 6:28 PM | Link to this

ET

Frank Wren has a history of dislike for Franchise Stars, check the Orioles and his treatment of Cal Ripken. The Smoltz situation was another slap to a star, if you remember Wren was on record as saying at the end of the season that they would address Smoltz and Glavine during the off season. Smoltz would have cemented the clubhouse and helped young pitchers if he never pitched a single pitch. Since you wrote in this blog Frank says you, like me are pretty ignorant. I do have a couple of Masters and a Doctorate, but none are in baseball management. You say sort of like Frank Wren, that I don’t have a clue and am operating on emotion. I never make decisions nor offer opinions in the heat of anger, what is your excuse for insulting someone who disagrees with you?You are entitled to your opinion as I am to mine. That doesn’t make either of us stupid, or uninformed, we just interpet facts in different manners.

By jimmy

January 13, 2009 6:30 PM | Link to this

yes

By jimmy

January 13, 2009 6:33 PM | Link to this

if his name is JOHN SMOLTZ YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

By Portabello

January 13, 2009 6:39 PM | Link to this

John Smoltz is NOT just another pitcher.

He was the FACE of this Franchise.

He was the HEART of this Franchise, regardless of whether he ever took the mound again.

Now the face of the BRAVES is anonymous and the HEART is gone.

Acutally, come to think of it, the only face that comes to mind when one thinks of the Braves now is a manager knuckle-deep in a nostril while digging for gold.

By WGJacket

January 13, 2009 6:42 PM | Link to this

Lowe? Good, just what the Braves needed was a $60 million pickup of yet another #3 starter. At least this might keep them ahead of Washington in the NL East. Maybe. The Mets and Phillies aren’t worried.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 6:46 PM | Link to this

If the Mets aren’t concerned, why were they courting Derek Lowe so hard themselves?

By THE BEAR

January 13, 2009 6:56 PM | Link to this

In 2008 the Braves paid $22 million dollars to Smoltz and Glavine and got 81 innings and 5 wins for all that money. That is over $4 million for each win. Don’t you really think that is enough to pay to aging former stars for nostalgia reasons? They had their “send offs” last year. Smoltz was offered a contract this year that would have paid him up to $12 million if he had earned it. That is enough for me.

Frank Wren is paid to put a competitive team on the field. Last year he tried to do it with old men and it didn’t work. This year he is doing it the right way.

Congratulations Mr. Wren for having the backbone to stand up to all the crap that has been hurled your way. You have a lot of supporters out here whether you realize it or not. Good luck in getting a strong bat for the OF and hopefully without having to give up any top players. I also hope you will be able to keep Prado as he is a source of real comfort in case he is needed at any infield position other than SS.

And one more thing, I hope you don’t give in to anyone trying to pry Kelly Johnson away. If he can continue his new stance and his overall approach to hitting that he exhibited in August and September last year he is going to be a valuable cog in the Braves wheel.

By 74dawg

January 13, 2009 7:04 PM | Link to this

Good column Mark. Like I said in the ‘hate Wren’blog the other day,I will give the Braves organization the benefit of the doubt until they prove they don’t deserve it. 14 straight earns that. These ain’t the Clampetts (smiths) we’re talking about here .

By brewdawg

January 13, 2009 7:04 PM | Link to this

Mark

I won’t go into it. You know my answer to your question. You just aren’t seeing the bigger picture, which surprises me considering how long you’ve been associated with this town.

By How Soon You Forget

January 13, 2009 7:24 PM | Link to this

Let me get this straight - has everybody forgotten the screw-ups of the past three months just because Wren had one good week? Do you REALLY think it was that good of a week? Do you REALLY think we are now a 95 win ball club? Do you REALLY think that the other GM’s, free agents, and player’s agents will suddenly treat him with more respect because of one good week? Do you REALLY think that suddenly the rest of the team - and the coaching staff - will perform that much better because of one good week? I hope so, but I remain skeptical. Based on his past history, I am afraid that we just got snookered - again. The additions are okay, but they’re not that stunning, and Wren had to do something, or else he was in danger of becoming irrelevent (which is much worse than disliked) to all those folks he claims to ignore because he’s so much smarter than we are.

By CW

January 13, 2009 7:29 PM | Link to this

Good lord. You guys with the “iconic face and heart of the franchise” thing need to get over your man-crushes. The Braves spent approximately 15% of last year’s payroll on Smoltz and he appeared in 28 innings. He likely will not pitch until July or August this year, if he is able to pitch at all.

We all love John Smoltz. Terrific guy, warrior, etc. But Frank Wren needs to field a team of players who can show up from day 1 and PLAY. Smoltz does not fit that description.

We already have another $15 million dollar pitcher on the shelf until August at least. Wren did what was needed to make this team competitive now and in the future.

Several posters above have put it very well. Smoltz didn’t leave because of $2-3 million. He left because he knows this is the end and he likely only has one more shot at playoff baseball. Of the two teams, a playoff appearance with the BoSox seemed like the better bet, so he took it.

By Ask John

January 13, 2009 7:40 PM | Link to this

CW and the other posters have said it well. Smoltz took a close look at how Wren was doing his job and decided that “a playoff appearance with the BoSox seemed like the better bet.” Smoltz voted on Wren’s performance by leaving home. That’s pretty significant, don’t you think?

By ScottinGainesville

January 13, 2009 7:44 PM | Link to this

Great, an untested (MLB) 33yr-old for $7M per year, and a 35yr-old for $15M/yr. I hope they’ve got the orthopedic surgeon on speed-dial. Personally, I’d rather keep the Smoltz personality, even if questionable health, for $5M. As soon as one of these guys doesn’t work out, we will have that giant hole back in the rotation.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 7:44 PM | Link to this

I’ve been here almost 25 years, and I’ve seen guys like Dominique Wilkins and Dale Murphy and Tom Glavine and Deion Sanders leave. But, as Cox said, the game goes on.

And tell me again: What exactly were the screwups of the last three months? Getting outbid on A.J. Burnett by the team that outbids everyone? Pulling out of the Peavy trade because the Padres wanted too much? Getting jilted by Rafael Furcal? (To me, the screwup would have been in signing Rafael Furcal.) Letting Smoltz leave when you were about to bring in two healthy starting pitchers?

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 13, 2009 8:02 PM | Link to this

Co-sign every word of This Gets Old’s post at 12:27 PM.

By ScottinGainesville

January 13, 2009 8:16 PM | Link to this

Huge support for UGA75

While off topic, I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of T.Pendleton. WHAT A JOKE! I totally agree, have you ever seen so many hitting stars, like Andruw, Frenchie, Chipper and others look so bad at the plate for so long?? All I ever hear is they have to figure it out on their own. Andruw never did get it “righted”, Frenchie was apparently taking advise from everyone down to the doorman and Chipper has to consult with his dad to get straightened out. Where is TP?? Isn’t this what he is supposed to do?

I can’t really fault McDowell for injuries at the senior center (ie starting rotation). I see our pitching issues as management related, counting on too many seniors for too long and when they get hurt we’re sending to AA club for a quickie replacement.

By Meanwhile...

January 13, 2009 8:21 PM | Link to this

But more importantly Mark, if Sugar Ray Leonard were to build himself up to “185 lbs. of whipcord and steel” (without the juice of course) could he still take out Mike Tyson?

Geez, try to pay homage to a classic “what if” column, and you can’t even get a response.

Bert Sugar would not be proud of you!

By mr baseball

January 13, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this

For all the baseball geniuses who still think the Braves lack a No. 1 starter: The ace of the Phillies went 14-10 last year with a 3.09 ERA. The guy who will probably get the Braves’ opening night assignment was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA. Huge difference, huh?

Lowe has not missed a start since he became a starting pitcher about 7 years ago. Vazquez has not missed a start in about a decade. The Braves sunk about $50 million last season into 4 starters who made just over 50 starts in ‘08. Glad to see Wren has learned his lesson.

The team is better off without Hampton, Glavine & Smoltz. Glavine is done and Smoltz might have something left, but it’s not worth as much as the Red Sox offered, except maybe for PR purposes here.

Wren has done his job, at least as far as the rotation. Now he needs to re-sign Ohman (or a comparable lefty reliever) and upgrade LF. Abreu is probably too expensive and Dunn is too one-dimensional. If Nady can be had at a reasonable cost in young talent, he would be the best bet. Dye probably costs too much and would require more in terms of talent expended.

If a cheap stopgap is the only possibility, the Braves could do worse than Jim Edmonds. As an absolute last resort, there’s always Andruw, provided the Braves pay him what he’s currently worth: not much more than the MLB minimum.

For all those pining for the former GM: When was the last time the Homeboy Upstairs expended any real money on a free agent? I think Bill Clinton was still in the White House at the time.

By Baracked the vote!

January 13, 2009 8:50 PM | Link to this

Mark did the braves overpay for Lowe? from what i have read, the contract is significantly more than the Mets were willing to shell out ( 3 years <40 million) and u have been saying ALLLLLLLLLLL winter long the braves shouldn’t engage in this type of activity. As far as I am concerned, if u win, the $$ are worth it. Also, i am incredibly relieved Liberty allowed Wren to spend the $$

By Arthur

January 13, 2009 8:55 PM | Link to this

Great Article, and I agree. Now, how about Adam Dunn for a left fielder??

Thanks MB, keep up the good work.

Arthur

By Marc

January 13, 2009 9:02 PM | Link to this

Am I the only one that wants to see Manny in a Braves uniform? Keeping in mind of course Nady is probably the best we’ll get, if that.

By Jim

January 13, 2009 9:25 PM | Link to this

Any sports column that borrows its opening line from e.e. cummings is all right by me.

And it also happens to be a correct assessment. Nostalgia is a luxury GMs of mid market teams can’t afford. The Braves owe Smoltz a retired number someday. They don’t owe him a fat contract.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 10:04 PM | Link to this

Congratulations, Jim. You win the prize.

This week, e.e. cummings. Next week, Tom Clancy.

By Mark Bradley

January 13, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this

To Meanwhile: No, he couldn’t.

By Mitch

January 13, 2009 10:40 PM | Link to this

Mark, you make valid points in your post. However, you sound more like Frank Wren’s P.R. guy, then an impartial sportswriter reporting on the hard facts of the state of the Braves.

It almost sounds like you couldnt understand why fans were upset at what happened so far this winter. This was a 90 loss team, that needed significant improvement. We had just lost a franchise icon. This is an orginization, and a city, that was used to nothing but winning, for a decade and a half. I think, considering the state of the Braves until this week, fans had every right to be upset.

Now, seemingly, Frank has put together a solid team. We have three very good starting pitchers, in Lowe, Jair, and Javier, one who will hopefully be good, in the new Japanese guy, (I cant spell his name without looking, lol) and, can hope for a return from Tom Glavine.

I’m satisfied with the moves Frank made, but I still have two concerns, one less significant than the other. If I’m correct, Frank’s money to spend has been spent, with the signings he made so far. What do we do about another bat, and also, what happens with Glavine? Unless I’m way off with my math about Frank’s money situation, this team cant possibly have very much left. What kind of contract can we offer Tom, if he wants to return, and if we want him? Also, what do we do about the outfield?

As for another bat: Frank could trade for one. The question is: Who does he trade, and what can we afford? People have talked about speculation of Abreu, Dye, etc, but those guys make big bucks. I dont see that we have money for any of those guys.

By Matt the Brave

January 13, 2009 11:03 PM | Link to this

I highly disagree with John Smoltz on what he said today in that the Braves gave him no option. I’m sorry, but they offered him a deal, didn’t they? I mean, of 32 teams, only one other apparently offered him a contract. Next point is that he’s not going to be ready until June. Umm, folks, pennants are won in May. If we’re 20 games back, John Smoltz isn’t going to win 20 games to get us into the race in that little bit of time. Yes, I hate that Smoltz is gone, and I hate that he’s going to be in Boston, but at least he’s in the AL when we MAY only see him once, and we don’t have to feel bummed out if he were pitching for, say, the Mets? I think that we’re going to be pretty good even if we have the light-hitting (but productive) outfield that we currently have. I think Francouer comes back strong, and we’ll be ok through the middle of the lineup for power. Keep in mind, in the mid-90s, we had Fred McGriff, David Justice, and if he didn’t strike out too much, Ryan Klesko. Now we have Chipper, McCann, and probably Francouer for 3,4,5. We’ll see what happens.

Go Braves!

By Meanwhile

January 13, 2009 11:45 PM | Link to this

Actually Mark, given the state of Tyson’s deterioration, I’m not sure it isn’t more plausible now than it was then.

Funny how a particular column will stick in your mind, even years later. Now about that Wren fellow; even if he shouldn’t be fired fortwith, henceforth he should carry a stain, perhaps not an indelible Bonds/Clemons stain, but a stain nonetheless, for trading the face of the franchise.

By turkey

January 14, 2009 12:06 AM | Link to this

Mark great column. Frank Wren, right or wrong thank you for looking ahead. As the great Satchel Page once said,”Don’t look back you never know what might be gaining on you.” I think looking at last season we had a good idea what was gaining on the braves.

By Karl

January 14, 2009 1:45 AM | Link to this

All The Braves Need Know Is Bobby Abreu

I’m glad the Braves finally got their ace in Derek Lowe. We overpaid sure but we kind of had to for a Boras client. Lowe-Jurrjens-Vazquez-Kawakami-Hanson/Campillo/Morton makes for a top 5 starting rotation in the NL.

Wren needs to do one more thing: sign Bobby Abreu. Abreu swatted 20 HRs and 100 RBIs last season. He’s a high OBP guy (.902 career OPB) who would fit perfectly behind Chipper and McCann. I’m scared to death of another horrid LF platoon. Abreu hasn’t generated much discussion this offseason and given how cheaply the Rays landed Pat Burrell it seems like a weak market.

By Ken Stallings

January 14, 2009 2:00 AM | Link to this

Mark Bradley, perhaps you think there are legions of soul-less fans out there who will retract everything said and written, but that’s not the case. Yes, the two recent acquisitions are good. But, a few million more and John Smoltz would have been poised to add to this rotation, or to the bullpen.

Where does Tom Glavine figure into all this? We have a six-name roster of starting pitchers. Glavine in the bull pen? He’s historically a cold-starter. That makes for a poor reliever. Smoltz could excel in either role.

Make no mistake, I’m happier now than I was a week ago, but that doesn’t change everything. We don’t know how this Japanese free agent will pitch in the MLB.

By 2K

January 14, 2009 2:02 AM | Link to this

In the court of public opinion, there is sufficient evidence that Frank Wren has establish a pattern of disregarding team icons such as Cal Ripkin and John Smoltz. His style of management has offended fans and created much controversy. His George Bush like dismissal of fan opinions smacks of arrogance. It is regretful that he and other senior level management did not make every effort to keep Smoltz for all the reasons so many have expressed. I agree with those who feel Smoltz was looking to depart all the while maintain his credibility with players, friends and fans. I also think that it is not a coincidence that he chose to inform the team of his decision to sign with the Red Sox just hours before the team meeting with Lowe. I am pleased that Lowe reached a deal with the Braves and actually think he is a better fit than Peavy or Burnett. However, it does not erase the stain of disillusionment I feel for the Braves “decider”.

By drew

January 14, 2009 2:54 AM | Link to this

bring in Andruw, then get either Swisher or Nady..i like nady alot more but he will be a FA after this year so that sucks..hopefully ohamn will re-sign what is he doing..lineup is k. johnson-like him here cuz more capable of hittin

By MichaelS

January 14, 2009 5:56 AM | Link to this

Mark Bradley claims Frank Wren knows what he’s doing because Wren just overpaid for a 35 year old pitcher by at least 12 million dollars? Stick to football Mark because it’s obvious you’re as clueless as Wren. By the way Derek Lowe did not like LA because it was too laid back for him and told his agent he wanted to play in the baseball intensive atmosphere like Boston, NY, etc. You think playing in Atlanta is going to light Lowe’s fire and excite him?? Ha! Prediction - John Smoltz will have a bigger and more positive impact on the Boston Red Sox than Derek Lowe will have on the Braves.

By The Grinch

January 14, 2009 7:49 AM | Link to this

One good week? How about we give Jurrjens back for whoever we traded for him, overpay Burnett (who’s not as reliable an ace as Lowe) even more grossly than the Yanks, trade every decent prospect in the farm system for Peavy who doesn’t want to pitch here, tie up 40 mil in an injury prone leadoff guy who’s on the downside of his careeer and re-evaluate how the team would look. I think Wren deserves the benefit of the doubt from here on out.

Yes, this gets old and Davenpoop, we still need at least one more bat if not two. But the offseason isn’t over yet and I imagine we’ll get at least one and this team may not win the division but it’ll hang tough and next year will be sublime. Considering we still have all our key prospects, that’s a lot better to me than just “blowing it up,” though I wouldn’t hesitate to trade Chipper (if possible) if we’re not in it by the all star break. Wren was able to land a decent pitching staff despite him; his mouth and obliques are close to outweighing his bat.

By fieldofdreams

January 14, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this

Perhaps Frank isn’t in Wren over his head, after all. It’s doubtful John Smolt-Zeus will ever recover, to hurl his lightning bolts again, and with Lowe, K2, J2, Hanson and Hudson, we should be competitive. The Smoltz-less but suddenly strong staff will keep us games, creating opportunity for the young Brave outfielders we’ve heard so much about. And who knows, if San Diego tanks, we may even end up with Jake Peavy. That said, can someone please tell me who’s going to close games? Without a closer we finish no higher than third.

By Howard

January 14, 2009 8:46 AM | Link to this

I loved Smoltz, Glavine and Maddox, but I love winning more. MLB is a business and players are assets used to produce a result. I understand the emotion surrounding the loss of Smoltz but as a long time sports fan I think the business decision was correct. How often do teams hold on to players for emotional reasons. I loved Dale Murphy but the truth is the Braves kept him too long as well. Even Hank Aaron was allowed to leave when it was no longer in the team’s best interest to keep him. I agree that Wren did a good job considering the money he has to work with. His job is much more difficult than Shuerholtz. Also, didn’t we win the division after Maddox and Glavine left and Smotz went to the bullpen. Who was our ace then? I can’t even remember the guys name who was a free agent from SF?

By Professor

January 14, 2009 8:55 AM | Link to this

Good article and refreshing, positive comments after being subjected to Schultz’ negative articles. Maybe now that Smoltz is in Boston, Jeff can disengage his lips off John’s butt and write an article with a positive twist. Nah!!!!

By Jared

January 14, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this

when will you people realize that Smoltz LEFT the Braves, not the other way around. The Braves were the first team to come to him with a very respectable offer and John turned them down for more money, plain and simple. He’s 41, coming off surgery and rehab, and he’ll be lucky to make 15 starts next year. He is not worth what the Red Sox gave him from a baseball, on-field standpoint.

Yes, you try to keep your franchise players for the duration of their careers, and Wren did that by offering John a respectable contract. If he’d wanted to stay an Atlanta Brave, he had every chance.

There are some that say Wren was a failure for not getting Peavy and/or Burnett, both guys which we would have had to “overpay” for. Burnett is not worth anything near what the Yankees are giving him. People said Wren was not trying hard enough to make the team better. Now he goes and gets 2 very solid pitchers in one week and you guys still aren’t happy.

Some of you will never be happy. Personally, I’m very happy with Lowe, Jurrjens, Kawakami, Vasquez, and the 4 options we have for the #5 spot. And then in 2010 we’ll really be back to full strength with Huddy, Lowe, Jurrjens, Kawakami, and Vasquez. Everybody that poo-poo’d the Vasquez deal… ask every major league team if they’d mind having Javier Vasquez as their #5 and they’d jump all over it.

Once again, everything depends on the health of the players, but if Soriano, Gonzalez, and Moylan are all back strong this year that’s a pretty good 7th, 8th, and 9th inning team.

Now let’s go get a bat in the outfield.

By Chris

January 14, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this

Weak rotation, weak bullpen, weak infield, below weak outfield, weak GM, weak sportswriter.

By Josh

January 14, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this

Abrue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SIGN HIM

By Steve

January 14, 2009 10:35 AM | Link to this

Thanks for giving Braves Fans some hope Wren…you deserve some credit…things did not look good there for a while…sign Andruw Jones!!!

By Sir Stealth

January 14, 2009 10:44 AM | Link to this

To answer the first paragraph, 1) Not at all 2) Yes 3) No and 4) Yes. These are very positive additions and I really hope they’ll make the Braves better - but letting Smoltz go was still unforgivable.

By Kenneth Simpson

January 14, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this

I read where the Rangers wanted to move their SS to 3rd in 2009 to make room for their shortstop sensation, Elvis Andrus. Do braves fans remember him? He was given to the Rangers along with 3 other sensational players to rent Tex for one year. 3 of the 5 players they gave the Rangers are in the top 10 minor league players. WOW. Just think how the braves could use the 2 pitchers now and maybe Andrus too. He stole 54 bases last year and I think hit like .285. Did the entire braves team do that? I don’t think so. Except for Chipper no one probably hit .285 and I know no one stole 54 bases. That trade I guess will go down as the worst trade they braves have ever made, if not it is close. I cannot imagine what they were thinking to give away all that talent for nothing. They knew Tex would leave for free agency where the yankees were waiting with their checkbook opened. I remember when Elvis signed he was a sensation and then they gave him away. I hope all the players involved in that stupid trade are sensational major league players and show the stupidty of the braves and management for giving them away. At least the Rangers are giving their young players a chance to play and the braves don’t have sense enough to do that. They just them to stay in the minors so they can give them away. I guess they think it looks better to trade away minor league talent than a major leaguer, but again the major league team don’t have many players anybody wants so they keep the good players in the minors so they can trade them. I use to be a diehard braves fan but after some of the stupid trades they have made in the past cleaning out the heralded farm system I have no interest in them anymore. I try to follow the players they gave away and wish them the best so they can tell the braves at least some team gave them a chance to perform. BRAVES MANAGEMENT STINKS TO THE CORE. I HOPE THEY FINISH IN LAST PLACE AND I FEEL THEY WILL.

By Shane

January 14, 2009 10:59 AM | Link to this

For the last time the Braves didnt let Smoltz go. HE LEFT!!!!!!!!!!!! If he had pitched this year he would have made the same money in bonuses from the Braves. Its a shame Smoltz has NO CLASS and threw the organization that has been very good to him under the bus on the way out the door. The team name is the Atlanta Braves not the Atlanta Smoltzs

By Mark Bradley

January 14, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this

We don’t know how Kawakami will fare in the majors, no. Neither do we know if John Smoltz has anything left.

By willdave

January 14, 2009 11:13 AM | Link to this

Great column, Mark. Too many Atlanta fans seem to place sentiment over sound management. The Braves were wise not to get into a bidding war for a 42-year-old injury-prone pitcher. The 2.5 million they offered him was more than fair. The fact that Smoltz has been here since 1987 shouldn’t have influenced them to offer him any more than that. What matters most is what can he do now, not what has he done in the past.

By getnathan

January 14, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

judging from previous seasons, Lowe has been a solid innings eater AND has an excellent postseason pedigree. We don’t know what we are going to get from Kawakami. Vazquez is back in the NL where he had a good deal of success AND is another innings eater. Yes, we still need a RH power hitting LF (Jermaine Dye, I wish it could be Matt Holliday or even Manny, but I digress) because the lineup is lefty heavy and you don’t want Pedro Feliciano or Scott Eyre coming in to get a row of hitters out. Braves may need to sign Will Ohman or Boone Logan to get Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Delgado, et al, out.

By dap01

January 14, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this

Good article.

Yes, the Braves are better. No, the Braves did not choose for Smoltz to leave. Yes, Smoltz chose to leave. Yes, Smoltz chose to cast blame toward the Braves. Yes, Smoltz collected $14 million for 26 innings. No, Smoltz did not exibit class when he left.

By J-man

January 14, 2009 11:25 AM | Link to this

I commend Wren for making a realistic offer to Lowe, although I do think he overpaid. He simply had to. No problems with the Kawakami signing. I think it could be very good, but if Kawakami fails to produce, the organization will look bad and the fans will say stuff like “Japanese league pitchers never pitch well in MLB”. That’s not true, but that’s what they will say.

I still think the Braves badly mishandled the Smoltz situation. Regardless of what some think, incentives that cannot be met (200 innings pitched?!?) are not really incentives. I think that had the Braves talked privately with Smoltz there was a way to nudge him out politely with the explanation that the team is looking to 2010 and beyond and frankly since he won’t be part of that future, he’s just in the way here. Making a low ball offer with some unreachable incentives and no private explanation was not the way to do this.

By getnathan

January 14, 2009 11:47 AM | Link to this

if somehow kawakami doesn’t perform as advertised, we’ve got the depth in the pitching now with the young pitchers who have had a taste of the major leagues. Hanson’s also in waiting. Braves will be fine in the starting staff. Braves were not going to pay Smoltz to come back in July to pitch. Braves don’t have that luxury as Red Sox and Yankees do.

By getnathan

January 14, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this

And Jeff Bennett will probably end up setting up Gonzalez instead of Soriano. Would like to see Soriano grab hold and never let go of the set up role. Moylan’s return will only make the bullpen stronger.

By BRowe44

January 14, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this

I’d still feel a little better if we had a reliable left-handed starting pitcher. We can’t go into the season with 5 righties. Perez still available?

By jimmy

January 14, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this

sup par sighnings fire wren NOW !!!!!!!!!!

By Andyk

January 14, 2009 3:02 PM | Link to this

Wren is in way over his head.

By ET

January 14, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this

This is why baseball needs a hard salary cap. Teams like Boston, NY Yankees, etc. can stockpile players for the playoffs. The smaller market teams don’t have that option. Boston is willing to pay Smoltz 10 mil to watch the first half of the season and then play down the stretch & into the playoffs.

The Braves can’t afford to do that. We were willing to pay him 5 mil to be on the roster for 60 days…2 months…2/5 of the season. How is that not reasonable? He didn’t even have to pitch…just be on the roster!

Boston on the other hand is willing to pay him 5 mil to watch the first half & another 5 mil to pitch down the stretch and into the playoffs. We don’t have enough money to pay other pitchers to get us to that point where he could have helped us in the playoffs.

John Smoltz walked away from his loyal fans for what… a few million. We paid him 14 million to sit last year. He wanted us to pay him 5 mil more to sit this year…No thank you, John. You don’t cheerlead that well.

By skeezix

January 14, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this

Mark: Man what a flip flop on Wren! In only what? Two days? I agree, there has been improvement, but not enough. The Braves are staring at a third or fourth place finish in the NL east and here’s why — We don’t have an ace comparable to (Lowe to me is a #2) the Phillies/Mets aces. Kawacommie is an unknown until we see what he can do in the bigs-so a big gamble there. The loss of Smoltz (over a relatively minor sum) is a very big deal in terms of team leadership, the fans and what he could do for us late in the season. Finally, there’s been no improvement in the outfield in terms of offensive production. If Frenchy continues with his Andruw imitation, then we are possibly a fifth place team.

By Maniacal Pariah

January 14, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this

Our problem is Bobby Cox. Simply fire him, and we’ll get a world series in atlanta.

By Mark Bradley

January 14, 2009 4:49 PM | Link to this

I say again: You can’t blame Smoltz for taking more money — who among us wouldn’t? — but you can’t blame the Braves for not offering more.

And I don’t think I flip-flopped on Frank Wren. Truth to tell, I’m sure I didn’t.

By Meanwhile...To answer Mark's question

January 14, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this

Who among wouldn’t? I’m guessing Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn might not have taken the extra money and run. After all is there not a certain cachet that goes with being a Hall a Famer who played his entire career with one team; a cachet money can’t buy?

If Smoltz doesn’t get another ring, don’t you think this might play out as an unfortunate coda to an otherwise stellar career?

By NYC Brave

January 14, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this

Are the Braves just trying to be competitive or are we out to win this thing? I don’t think a weak offensive and average defensive team is going to win big with a proven mediocre (Vasquez) and a hopefully mediocre (the Japanese dude) as mainstays of the rotation. If we still had Tex maybe this would give us a chance. If we aren’t going to compete for first, I’d rather see the young guys get a chance. I thought Morton and Campillo pitched well as rookies; why are they out of the picture all of a sudden? Then there is Hanson, Locke, etc. How are we going to bring these guys along when we’re paying for these older chumps. We should have either focused on this year and gotten Peavy, Lowe, kept Smoltz to go with Jurgens, or let the young guys have their turn and aim for 2010.

By JJS

January 14, 2009 8:00 PM | Link to this

Smoltz, Glavine, (Favre) Ego, greed, money. Family second. Someday these self absorbed men will apologize to their kids. “Cats in the Cradle” = not there for kids at crucial times. But they got that extra million bucks that they “needed” so badly. Nice priorities, guys.

By MichaelS

January 15, 2009 6:49 AM | Link to this

The beauty here is if Mark Bradley actully knew what he was talking about regarding Frank Wren supposedly knowing what he’s doing then it should be obvious to Mark that Frank Wren could have signed lifetime Brave and face of the franchise John Smoltz to a Red Sox type low risk/low guaranteed money/incentive laden one year contract AND signed Derek Lowe for LESS money than what Wren (over) paid in the end to get Lowe. (It’s become quite clear they disrespected Smoltz and that’s ultimately why Smoltz left. It wasn’t the contract offers but the attitude behind them from both the Braves and Red Sox that swayed Smoltz. The Braves miscalculated because they didn’t think Smoltz would leave regardless of how they treated him. Wrong again Wren!! Now there’s a future nickname for Frank Wren - Wrong Again Wren) With Lowe only the Mets and Braves were involved, Lowe was never the #1 target of the Mets (Perez is) and the Mets offer to Lowe was firm at 3 years and 36 million. So the genius, that baseball wiz that is Frank Wren swooped in and offered AN EXTRA YEAR and an EXTRA TWENTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS for a 35 year old non-ace who never had sleepy laid back Atlanta as a place he wanted to be. Pure genius!! Derek Lowe didn’t like LA because it was too laid back and Lowe missed the intensity of places like Boston where he used to pitch. So he signs with Atlanta. ha ha ha ha Can’t blame Lowe because Wren made him such a generous offer he simply couldn’t refuse desite that fact that Atlanta was never on Derek’s wish list of places to play. I just can’t wait for the Lowe press conference when Derek tells all of you that he signed with the Braves because he wants to win (ha ha ha ha NOT happening Derek) and it’s a great organization. Yeah right!! Derek Lowe signed with the Braves strictly fot the money, the money and the money and absolutely no other reason. Try not to laugh too hard when he tells you otherwise.

By Rick Long

January 15, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this

Well Bradley, I guess we might as well enshrine Wren in the hall of fame already right next to his predecessor. Let’s give Mr. Wren a C+ this offseason so far with charitable grading.

Clearly Wren has improved the rotation and Ross and Infante should help the depth. On the other hand, I don’t know that he has achieved what he said his two main goals were this offseason.

Wren said his goals were two “front line” starting pitchers and some power in the outfield. Slice it any way you want, neither Lowe nor Vazquez fits anyone’s definition of a No. 1 starter as is Peavy (although I like Lowe a lot and don’t understand why he wasted all that time in a bidding war which he couldn’t win with the Yankees for Burnett; that delay and the Smoltz fiasco also most likely caused them to overpay for Lowe).

I don’t think, however, that the Mets and the Phils are sitting staying up at night worrying about hitting Vazquez or even Lowe for that matter. To be fair, Wren also gave up 4 prospects, one highly regarded, for Vazquez and a reliever the Chisox couldn’t wait to dump. You also are just penciling in Kawakami as a sure fire productive pitcher despite the fact that you most assuredly have never seen him pitch and he hasn’t thrown one pitch in the major leagues. How about if we hold off on his coronation too?

I understand that there is still time and a number of potential outfield candidates, but so far nothing on that front (FWIW, if the Braves feel that Schaefer and Heyward are the real deal, then I would prefer that they sign a free agent to a short term deal rather than trading even more prospects for someone like Swisher or Nady).

By Skeezix

January 15, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this

Mark: Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always enjoyed your articles….and you usually don’t flip and flop. But it is becoming evident that Wren has a problem with how to communicate with and handle people. Someone in his position shouldn’t still be working on polishing his interpersonal and negotiating skills. I mean only giving Smoltz two phone calls? ,,, and the way he let himself get jacked around by Furcal’s agent.. and why was he after Furcal anyway?

You may not see it as a flip flop on Wren but it sure came across that way to this reader. As a Braves fan since 1957, I hope you are right about Wren and that he has really improved this team. But when I compare us to the 2008 Braves and the 2009 Mets/Phillies, I don’t see this team as being better than last year’s. Remember we lost a lot of offense in the outfield last year, and Wren hasn’t done squat to improve that. Pitching looked fantastic at the start of 2008 as did the outfield. Now pitching looks pretty good (not fantastic), Tex is gone and Frenchy is a real question mark. We are looking at placing 3,4, or 5 in the division. I predict #5 if Kawakami is a bust and Frenchy continues to whiff.

By chris

January 15, 2009 7:12 PM | Link to this

Mark, great column and right on target. It stung to see Smoltz leave a few days ago but after sleeping on it and getting more of the details it seems it was his decision to leave not the Braves. We have 3 great veteran starters and 2 young kids who will be a formable rotation against anyone this year. We do still need some punch to the lineup but the way Wren handled things has left us with some options to do just that. I ve always felt that the measure of a good leader is not so much how he handles everyone screaimg his name in glory but how he handles it when everyone wants his head on a platter; he remained principled and made some smart fiscal moves that has improved the Braves. I wish Smoltz no ill will; he was part of this organization for 20 years and no true Braves fan will ever forget his contribution; but this is 2009 not 1999 nor 1991 again. We can’t keep basking in years past but move on and start looking at why this team has missed the post season three straight seasons. I hope we can get Dunn or even work out a deal to bring Jermainne Dye back.IF we can get a big bat like that then look out Phillies and Mets..

By William

January 16, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this

Mark, you miss the point on two very significant points. First, you state that the Braves signed “three starting pitchers.” The Braves already had 6 “starting pitchers.” I think the point is that they now have a #2, two #3 or #4s, an unknown Japanese pitcher that wasn’t pursued by many, and a myriad of #5s. In Burnett and Peavy, you get a legitimate #1. Also, the Braves were put in a position that they HAD TO get Lowe so they outbid the Mets by $3 million per year and added an additional year for a 36 year old pitcher that will more than likely break down at some point during the year (it is inevitable).

The other point you miss is that the Braves could have done this AND signed Smoltz. John Smoltz did not want to go somewhere else - trust me. He deserved the right to pitch in Atlanta if he wanted. The team owed me that. He pitched broken down, hurt and carried himself on the field in pieces too, too many times. This was not a “either/or” situation. In an age where fans AND MEDIA yell at players for having no loyalty or allegiance, shouldn’t teams be held to the same standards? We complain that players go to the highest bidder or forget the fans, etc. - PLEASE! What, please tell, will you say when they do the same thing to Chipper, who changed positions, took less, restructured his contract, etc, to stay here. Same thing? That’s a shame…