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February 2009
testing testing testing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just seeing if this old format is still running
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Where’s David O’Brien
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
David O’Brien has moved…to a new blogging platform. Just go here to read and talk about the Braves. His first post: What’s a fair offer for Glavine?
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A-Rod tests positive, world economy spirals
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the terrific movie Frost/Nixon, the first question that David Frost asked disgraced ex-President Richard Nixon on the opening day of their historic interviews was, “Why didn’t you destroy the tapes?”
The first question that might be asked of a Players Association official regarding the alleged positive steroid tests of Alex Rodriguez and 103 other (so far) unnamed positive-tested players should be, “Why didn’t you destroy the results?”
Because unless I’m missing something here (and I could be, for I’m a simple caveman), the union had nothing to gain by keeping results of 2003 tests that were supposed to be secret and sealed, tests that were supposed to carry no penalties and to serve only as a gauge for whether or not the sport needed a mandatory testing program (which it obviously did, as the number of positive tests clearly indicated).
The natural assumption is that someone screwed up by not destroying the test results between then and now. Because if those results had indeed been destroyed, if there was no evidence in existence of a positive test for A-Rod, then wouldn’t the tarnished star and his agent Scott Boras (who has a law degree, by the way, and plenty of top attorneys at his disposal) be preparing a lawsuit right about now?
I mean, really, why wouldn’t they just say, “Prove it? Show us the positive test result” if proof of a positive test doesn’t exist somewhere? Or am I missing something?
(BLOGMEISTER NOTE: Even as I was typing this, A-Rod came clean and admitted to ESPN that he used performance enhancing drugs in the early part of the decade. So disregard the previous couple of paragraphs. That’s moot now.)
Anyway, that was among the thoughts I had while pondering this last night between mostly insipid performances at the Grammys, after being asked all day Sunday about my thoughts on the subject (the A-Rod subject, not the Grammys). ESPN interviewed me and asked if I was surprised by the news. Others asked if I was shocked.
And I told them: With the exception of Greg Maddux, no player from my era of baseball coverage (since the early 1990s) being connected to a steroid test would shock me at this point. Sad, but true. It’s gotten to that point.
(I should have added Tom Glavine’s name, too. Oh, and Charlie Hough. Remember old Charlie, the knuckleballer? He was the opening day starter for the Marlins in their franchise’s first game, and the genial greybeard smoked a cigarette a couple hours beforehand as he spoke to reporters. Folks, I can assure you, without reservations, that ol’ Charlie Hough did not use steroids. There, don’t you feel better about our grand game now? But anyway….)
(Oh, wait. David Eckstein. I mean, if he’s used them, someone gave him placebo ‘roids. So let’s add the skinny shorstop to the list. Maddux, Glavine, Hough, Eckstein. And the skinny dude that covers the Diamondbacks for the Phoenix paper. All ‘roid-free, absolutely. I think.
There, is that a slippery enough slope to begin today’s edition of the Braves/MIB blog? (And let me be clear, I’m not in any way suggesting it’s a bad thing when A-Rod or anyone else, if they’re guilty, gets tarnished by steroid scandal. Just wondering if the union that’s supposed to serve them might have failed in this 2003 testing thing.)
By the way, this will be the last blog on this outdated format we’ve used for a few years. We’re going high-tech, moving to WordPress for our next edition blog later this week. It’ll be easier, smoother, faster, and will allow us to do all kinds of links (audio and even video eventually, if we/I figure out that stuff).
But, just as I once said to my ex-wife: Why didn’t you just destroy the tapes? (OK, I never said that to her. It was a FedEx package, not tapes. But that’s another story, and this isn’t the place to delve into that. Though I would say to the genius who sent that … oh, nevermind. Raging water under the bridge.)
Oh no, no Ohman: Looks like we’ll have to find a new clubhouse well to go to for irreverent humor, since the amiable lefty Will Ohman isn’t being pursued any longer by the Braves.
Was told they hadn’t actually been in pursuit since getting lefty reliever Boone Logan from the White Sox in the Javier Vazquez trade, after earlier claiming another lefty, Eric O’Flaherty, off waivers from Seattle.
The Braves didn’t want to spend the money that Ohman sought in a two-year deal (something close to the two-year, $8 mill Jeremy Affeldt got from San Francisco back in November, before the diminished-salary market took shape for lefty relievers). After getting two far cheaper lefties, the Braves, obviously oblivious and/or unconcerned with our blog needs, no longer felt it made sense to sign Ohman.
With lefty closer Mike Gonzalez joined in the pen by the new lefties Logan and O’Flaherty, and Jeff Ridgway as a backup, the Braves would rather spend the money on other needs, named an outfield bat if they can find a deal they like.
They’ve talked to the Yankees about possibly trading for Nick Swisher or (less likely) Xavier Nady, but if either of those deals happens it probably won’t be until spring training, at least. They’ve had trade discussions with other teams, too, but the Braves are playing this very close to the vest and leaks have been few and far between in the last month, either from the Braves or from teams they’ve talked to.
The Braves could go the free-agent route instead of trading, and to me that possibility seems to have grown in recent weeks as Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn and others have languished on the market, unsigned with barely one week before position players report (Braves pitchers and catchers report to Dark Star Saturday).
If the Braves can get a player as accomplished as Abreu for $4 mill or so per in a one- or two-year deal, it might be too good for them to pass up. Expect a flurry of signings in the next few days, and don’t be surprised if the Braves are involved in one. Not saying it’s a given, but it could certainly happen.
Saw a good quote from an anonymous GM, who told ESPN’s Peter Gammons: “I still believe that one of the factors that has hurt some of the good offensive free agents this winter, like Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn, is the concern about how many runs they give back defensively. There is a great deal more appreciation for defense than there was a decade ago.”
Speaking of A-Rod: How ‘bout the rather stunning suggestion from my man Bill Madden at the NY Daily News, who said the Yankees should dump A-Rod and eat the remaining $270 million on his contract. Here’s the link:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/02/08/2009-02-08eating270mworthitfortheyankeesto_-2.html”>Sunday column.
If you don’t want to paste that link in your own browser (what, are you lazy?) then here’s part of what Bill wrote: “When the Yankees re-signed Alex Rodriguez in the fall of 2007, they envisioned the “clean” alternative to Barry Bonds — the knight in shining armor who would erase the stain of steroids from the all-time home run record, and they would bask in the glory of it with their brand.
Now that A-Rod’s pursuit looks as counterfeit as Bonds’, they should do what’s best for the organization: Cut him loose — no matter the cost.
As difficult as it is to imagine eating $270 million, the Bombers will be making a statement, not just for the Yankee brand but for baseball as a whole.
They will be applauded for it.
The Yankees operate under two basic tenets: The relentless pursuit of championships and the fierce protection of their brand. If they are going to remain true to both, then they have no choice but to sever ties with Rodriguez.”
This winter the Yankees invested $423 million with the signings of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. All of that figures to be offset now by the reports that A-Rod was a steroid cheat. Everywhere the Yankees go this spring and into the season, they will be greeted by choruses of “A-Fraud!” and “A-Roid!” And if you think A-Rod wilted under the pressure of big games before, just imagine his delicate psyche now under the heightened scrutiny of the media and fans….
OK, ME TALKING NOW: Speaking of that gargantuan contract, do you folks realize it includes $6 million bonuses for A-Rod when he reaches each of the four milestone career home run totals of Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Henry Aaron (755) and Bonds (762). Imagine the reaction now to his collecting $6 mill each time he clicks off one of those greats.
Disparity about NFL/MLB steroid cases: ESPN’s Buster Olney made an interesting observation in his Monday blog.
He wrote: It’s worth taking a moment to note the incredible disparity between the response to performance-enhancing drug use in Major League Baseball and the response in the National Football League. Players like Shawne Merriman and Rodney Harrison were suspended for drug use and the issue went away, with fans and media quickly moving on. But when baseball players are named, the fallout goes on and on and on.
Why? My own theory is that the average fan knows the faces of baseball players and is familiar with them. They follow them every day throughout the summer and hold them to a different standard. The faces of football players, on the other hand, appear only 16 to 20 days a year, hidden behind face masks for shorter careers than we often see in baseball. A-Rod is someone who has been in your living room hundreds and maybe even thousands of times, while Harrison could walk into restaurants without being noticed.
Buster then asked his readers the same question I’ll ask you folks: Why do you think it is that steroid use in MLB gets so much more scrutiny than in the NFL?
Who’ll fill Cox’s shoes? Whenever I’m asked to name possible successors to Braves manager Bobby Cox, I mention hitting coach Terry Pendleton and a couple of former Braves third-base coaches, Fredi Gonzalez and Ned Yost. Not that there won’t be plenty of other candidates, but those are obvious ones.
Anyway, I bring this up now because of something I read in the Miami Herald about Marlins manager Gonzalez, who hasn’t been offered an extension as he enters the final season of a three-year contract.
He was quoted in the article thusly: “I don’t even worry about it,” said Gonzalez, who was 71-91 in 2007 and 84-77 last year.
And the Herald quoted noted baseball fan Stan Van Gundy, the Orlando Magic (and former Miami Heat) coach: “With what Fredi has done with that roster — I mean, winning 84 games last year and they played only 161 — that he wouldn’t get an extension is mind-boggling to me…. It was one of the best managerial jobs done in baseball last year, if not the best.”
(I’d have to say, I agree with Van Gundy.)
Fredi, who was the Sporting News 2008 NL Manager of the Year, and his wife have kept their permanent home in Atlanta, where his kids attend school, etc.
No Andruw in Atlanta: In case you missed it, Andruw Jones has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rangers, expected to be announced early this week. He’ll make $500,000 if he wins a job on the big-league club, and could make about $1 mill more in incentives if he plays all season.
The Braves talked to Andruw and his agent, Scott Boras, and made it clear they’d like to have him on a minor-league deal similar to what the Rangers and New York Yankees offered. I’m told that if Andruw couldn’t get the major league contract he sought, if he was going to have to settle for a minor-league deal, then it was going to be with the Rangers, in part because Boras wanted him to have a chance to work with renowned Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.
Boras is trying to do what he can to help get Jones’ career back on track, to get his swing back to something resembling what he had in his best years with the Braves, before his performance slid precipitously and he began flailing at more outside pitches than ever and collapsing on his back leg on so many swings.
OK, that’s it for now. Carroll Rogers is on Braves watch this week, and will update the Tom Glavine situation and other matters.
“LITTLE BONNIE” by Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)
On the day that she was buried
Her Daddy stood out by the cemetery fence
Prayed to God for forgiveness
For surely all of this is punishment for my sins
They put her in the family garden
Said you could hear his heart breaking miles away
All the men pitched in and bought a marble angel
To mark the piece of land where little Bonnie lay
My Grandma said she would keep her in the mornings
So her Mama could sleep a bit and do the chores and such
She’d read her stories about little girls and magic powers
That would never let a pretty angel hurt
Her Mama’s always been a beauty
She’s still beautiful to this very day
But they say Bonnie’s crystal eyes put the stars to shame
Maybe heaven needed Bonnie’s face
My Grandma said she would keep her in the mornings
A swollen angel who never would complain
She’d read her stories about little girls and princesses
Whose Daddy’s don’t feel punished for what heaven takes away
Little Bonnie never married
Little Bonnie never even made it to four
But I grew up in her presence
Even though she was gone before I’z born
Even though she was gone before I’z born
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Bravos, The Hammer, and The Train
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s quite a Thursday night in Atlanta, with a former President and $17.5 million commissioner Bud Selig among the many celebrating Hank Aaron’s 75th birthday at the downtown Marriot Marquis, and Wayne Hancock playing only a few miles away at The Earl.
OK, so Wayne “The Train” ain’t exactly Henry “The Hammer” on the fame meter. Nonetheless, the master of hillbilly swing will put on a show that any of the formally attired folks at the Aaron birthday bash would surely appreciate. Maybe they should have asked Hancock to do a set over at the Marquis?
Anyway, we’re headed out to The Earl, while Carroll Rogers is reporting on goings-on from the Aaron soiree.
Meanwhile, the text messages I got from Will Ohman today were kind of cryptic, and I really don’t know what to make of it. He said he’s not at liberty to discuss the state of negotiations, as much as he’d like to update us. Part of me says that means he’s getting close to a deal with the Braves, who always like for the other parties they negotiate with to keep matters close to vest.
So if Ohman ain’t talking at all (only texting, and not giving any hints in those words), then I’m guessing he might be close to a deal to return to Atlanta, especially since Ken Rosenthal reported earlier this week that the Phillies were no longer going after Ohman.
But we’ll see. At least we know it’s likely to be resolved very soon, because I’m fairly sure Ohman (and many, many other unsigned free agents) would like to know where they will be reporting for spring training in just over a week.
Speaking of lefty relievers, in all our discussions here in recent weeks and months about the Braves bullpen, we’ve many times mentioned the lefty newcomers, Eric O’Flaherty from the Mariners and Boone Logan from the White Sox. But the guy we keep forgetting to mention is Jeff Ridgway, who had a 3.72 ERA in 10 appearances for the Braves last season, with eight strikeouts and one walk in 9-2/3 innings.
OK, you’re right — it’s not as if it’s a grievous oversight. He’s far less proven than even O’Flaherty and Logan, Ridgway having entered last season with only three career major league appearances (and an, ahem, 189.00 ERA).
But he does have good stuff. And between the three of them, the Braves might believe or hope they have enough to replace Ohman without significant dropoff.
Yeah, I agree with most (probably?) of you that that’s probably not sound thinking. But I’m just pointing out what they might be considering.
Like I said, it wouldn’t surprise me if they sign Ohman soon.
[BLOGMEISTER UPDATED: I was informed Saturday night at the Braves are no longer pursuing Ohman. Don’t know when decision was made or why, but they are no longer pursuing the lefty. So disregard the previous line. It would, indeed, now surprise me if they sign him, soon or otherwise, since they’re no longer pursuing him. Carry on….]
As for left field…. I’m just not hearing anything in the past few days to lead me to believe the Braves are ready to make a move before they get to Dark Star for spring training. That doesn’t mean they aren’t talking to teams, and doing a good job of keeping things hush-hush, as they had hoped to do.
But usually, I’ll at least hear something from the other end, a call from this reporter or that scout who’s heard about a trade brewing, and is calling to ask if I’ve heard anything from the Braves’ end.
As I’ve said, that can change quickly. The Braves might have been told weeks ago what it would take to get, say, a Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher, and might suddenly call the Yankees back and see if the price is still the same. The Yankees could say yes it is, the Braves could say, then we’ll do it. Ba-da-bing, trade done.
But so far, I’m not hearing anything that makes it seem such a deal is in the works. And what GM Frank Wren said after the Derek Lowe signing — that the Braves don’t feel like they have to make an outfield move right now, that they can afford to be patient — was apparently exactly what he meant.
It wouldn’t surprise me as much as it would surprise (or apparently at least disappoint) many of you if the Braves go to camp with Matt Diaz in left field and let guys like Brandon Jones, Josh Anderson and even Gregor Blanco compete for playing time in a possible platoon, depending what happens in CF, where Anderson and Blanco are expected to be candidates along with Jordan Schafer.
But it also isn’t going to surprise me if, between now and mid-March, the Braves decide they really need to go get a proven run-producer, like they said was a priority entering the offseason, before they substantially improved the starting rotation.
Between the three additions to the rotation and the positive reviews that Jeff Francoeur is getting from no less than candid critic Chipper Jones, plus the performance by Schafer in the Mexican winter league, perhaps the Braves believe they can get by with the combination of pitching and offense they have now.
Or maybe they just want to take a little time in Florida to at least look at what they have in front of them before committing significant dollars to another outfielder, particularly if it’s a defensively limited OF like a few of the free agents that have been and still are available.
I don’t know, for sure. They’re not saying much. So we’ll just have to see what transpires between now and next week, or next month.
Rock Chalk, Crime Dog: In case you missed it (and I’m reasonably sure that 99.9 percent of you did), the Kansas Jayhawks - my Jayhawks — signed the offspring of a popular former Brave on signing day this week.
Wide receiver Erick McGriff is from Jesuit High in Tampa, and he’s also from Fred McGriff. That is, he’s the son of the former Braves 1B.
Glavine update: Tom Glavine threw 75 pitches on Tuesday and said everything went well, again. He sounds more and more certain that he’s going to be ready to pitch in 2009, perhaps even breaking camp with the team.
That is, if the Braves offer him a contract. To me, it doesn’t sound like Glavine has any serious interest in pitching elsewhere, but probably because he doesn’t want to unless it absolutely comes to that.
By that I mean, if he goes through all this rehab and the arm feels sound, it also sounds like he has no interest in calling it a career after the disappointment of last season. Not if he can still pitch and pitch well, or at least believes he can.
When you’ve never previously been on the DL in your entire career, it’s got to be difficult to accept an injury-plagued season as the finale. So if he’s ready to pitch and the Braves don’t offer him a major league contract, then yes, I think he’d consider an offer from another team, and I’m pretty certain he’d get one.
But I also don’t think it’ll come to that. I do believe the Braves will make him an offer soon, a major league offer, with a small salary and plenty of incentives.
That, too, will probably happen soon, if it’s going to happen at all. Remember, Braves pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 14, just one week from Saturday.
“GOING BACK TO TEXAS” by Wayne Hancock
I’ve gone through Arizona, right through New Mexico
I’m gonna keep on driving just as hard as I can go
I’m an Interstate daddy
Taking my lonely heart back home
I’m going back to Texas
Back to the only gal I’ve ever known
That Lone Star spirit is right here by my side
When I cross through old El Paso my heart will fill with pride
Ain’t gonna stop for nothing
Till I see the lights of San Antone
I’m going back to Texas
Back to the only love I’ve ever known
I’m going back to Texas, that’s how it’s gonna stay
Back to my old stomping grounds and the joints I used to play
And when I get back home, Lord, I know I’ll never be alone
I’m going back to Texas
Back to the only gal I’ve ever known
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Renewed optimism among Braves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves fans, you were not alone.
Plenty of Braves players were at least as concerned as most of you Braves/MIB blog denizens and other fans this winter as the team misfired on free agents (A.J. Burnett, Mike Hampton, Rafael Furcal) and potential trade acquisitions, notably Jake Peavy. Chipper Jones spoke for many when he wondered aloud whether the Braves were doing all that was required to put together a contender.
But after the recent signings of starters Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami, on top of the earlier trade for Javier Vazquez, I heard a genuinely optimistic tone from everyone I talked to when pitching camp opened Friday.
“You don’t know know how excited I was when I started hearing about some of the arms we picked up,” closer Mike Gonzalez said. “We can go out and compete, man. We’ve got the guys. We’ve got innings eaters, and the guys who can bridge the gap” between the starters and closer.
Gonzalez said he feels like he’s 20 years old again, like he has a “new arm” now that he’s 20 months removed from Tommy John surgery and coming off an offseason in which he was able to rest and do normal conditioning work, rather than spending all winter rehabbing his elbow.
Reliever Blaine Boyer spent the offseason working out with John Smoltz in a demanding regimen that helped burn more than 15 pounds off Boyer’s physique, and redistribute plenty of the remaining pounds from midsection to legs and upper body.
After fading down the stretch last year (he ranked among the major league leaders in appearances past the All-Star break), Boyer said his workouts this winter with Smoltz were designed specifically for endurance to get through the long season with a better chance of avoiding a late-summer fade.
“Lots and lots and lots of reps,” said Boyer, who worked out with Smoltz at an L.A. Fitness in Alpharetta, and said that yes, that created some interesting situations.
“I’d see people going, ‘I think that’s Blaine Boyer,’” he said, “and then’d they see Smoltz and go, ‘I know that’s John Smoltz.’”
Boyer said Smoltz, who signed with the Red Sox last month, is so intense, so focused during his workouts, he wouldn’t even notice the people stopping and staring at them during their workouts.
While he’s going to miss his mentor Smoltz a great deal, Boyer sounds more excited than ever about the approaching season.
“We’ve got three guys with 200-inning potential in our rotation,” he said. “I don’t think people realize how huge that is. That’s like a great gift from the clouds. Not only it is going to help the bullpen, but also the guys in the field.”
As for Gonzalez, Ohman said the same thing manager Bobby Cox said about the closer: “You can only imagine what he’s going to be like after a full offseason of rest. He’s going to be dominant this year.”
Cox said the pitching staff as a whole “is so much better than what we ended up with [in 2008],” and that adding innings-eating starters, “means a lot.”
Ohman to Philly? If the Philadelphia Phillies this week make Will Ohman an offer that’s closer to the two-year, $8 million deal that Jeremy Affeldt got from San Francisco than what the Braves have offered Ohman, then Ohman may be facing Atlanta’s many left-handed hitters a whole bunch of times next season.
No, Ohman’s never said what the Braves offered him in November, a deal that’s been on the table since then. But I’m told it wasn’t nearly as lucrative as the deal Affeldt got, and it hasn’t been raised since it was first made. And the Phillies expressed interest and expect to meet again with his agent this week.
Affeldt was fortunate that the Giants made him that big offer right away, and smart to have taken it. Subsequently, the market collapsed for most free agents, but particularly for lefty relievers and corner outfielders, none of whom are getting anywhere near the level of deals that were handed out in recent offseasons, before the general economic meltdown finally impacted baseball.
If Ohman were to get an offer from Philly that’s worth a $1 million or more than what the Braves offered him, then you can’t blame him for taking it. Because this might be his one chance to get a contract that could set him up for life (no, not every player needs tens of millions to be set up for life).
With a pitcher, particularly a reliever in his 30s, you just don’t know how long you’re going to last, when that elbow or shoulder might blow, or when that fastball velocity starts to be diminished or that pitch movement begins to dull.
So as much as the Braves/MIB blog and its denizens would like to see him back in Atlanta, hey, if the Braves don’t make him an offer that’s in line with what he might get from the Phillies or another team … well, then I guess we’ll just have to hope that either Boone Logan or Eric O’Flaherty, the two new lefties, is a big fan of The Big Lebowski and does a decent impersonation of Harry Caray reading the lineup card.
Oh, and the Braves will hope one or both can fill Ohman’s shoes in a significant role. The bullpen should be strong, but if Ohman’s not back, then that (situational lefty) is another question mark, alongside the twin setup men coming back from surgeries, Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano.
By the way, I just called Ohman and got his voicemail. When you call his number, you hear music instead of a ring. On Will’s phone, you hear one of two songs: The Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” or Ben Harper’s “The Will to Live.”
They don’t have options: It’s always important entering spring training to keep in mind what players have exhausted their minor-league options. Because if all things are equal, or even close, in a position battle, the guy who’s out of minor-league options is usually going to be kept on the roster over a guy who’s not out of options.
Players out of options have to clear waivers before they can be sent to the minors. That means, of course, that if that player has value, if he’s very good but there’s not a spot for him on the major league roster, a team will be more inclined to work out a trade rather than lose him on waivers to another team.
With that in mind, here’s the Braves’ list of out-of-options players on the current 40-man roster: OF Josh Anderson; right-handers Blaine Boyer, Derek Lowe, Anthony Lerew, Rafael Soriano and Phil Stockman; lefty Mike Gonzalez; catcher David Ross, and utilityman Greg Norton.
Kawakami update: While Kenshin Kawakami has been home waiting for his visa, the Braves’ new Japanese pitcher kept busy preparing for his first major league spring training.
My mole in Japan tells me Kawakami threw 157 pitches Saturday in a bullpen session at Nagoya Dome, the home park of his old Chunichi Dragons team.
By the way, for those who’ve asked, I asked again about Kawakami and WBC and was assured by Braves officials Friday that he will not be participating in the tourney….
Speaking of Japan and the WBC, if Kawakami’s homeland does well in the tourney, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Japan doesn’t have the depth of some Latin teams or the U.S., but its players have been working out together more than a month before the U.S. team’s first workouts.
What to make of BA rankings: Baseball American ranks the Texas Rangers No. 1 in its organizational rankings of top prospects, a spot held by the Tampa Bay Rays the past two years.
The No. 1 prospect in the top-rated organization is none other than right-hander Neftali Feliz, the best of a handful of prospects the Braves traded to Texas for Mark Teixeira and lefty reliever Ron Mahay on July 31, 2007.
One other of those traded Braves prospects made the Texas top 10 list this year, shortstop Elvis Andrus at No. 4. Andrus is the frontrunner for the Rangers’ starting-shortstop job entering spring training.
For what it’s worth, the last time BA ranked Atlanta the No. 1 farm system was 1999. The Braves’ top-rated prospect that year? Lefty Bruce Chen.
I’m guessing Perez will have a better career than Chen, who is 35-37 with a 4.63 ERA in 242 games (112 starts) in parts of 10 seasons, and didn’t pitch in the majors in 2008.
Sign o’ the Times: Won’t be able to look for that Prince CD or any other at Ella Guru after this month, folks. Yes, sad to say, my friend Don’s great excellent CD store is closing, another victim of the terrible economy on top of the already sharp decline in music sales in recent years.
Here’s the e-mail my man sent out just this morning:
Hello, lovelies:
There’ll be another e-mail on the same subject shortly but this one’s being sent to a list of EG’s best friends, customers, promoters, vendors and so forth. We’re closing the shop at the end of February and I want to give special thanks to those on this list. I can’t tell y’all how much it’s meant to me to have met, laughed with, talked about and listened to music with you, seen shows and partied with you, etc. etc. &tc.
Those there and supporting in all ways from Day One at the old LaVista shop: Mo (most of all), Ella and her girly-girls and boys, Mommer and my family, Darren A., Jim Ogle (NOT possible without you, Jimbo), G-man and Robbie and Kev and their spouses and lovers and kiddies, Dean and Amy and their beefy son Porterhouse, JoshyJoshyJOSHY!, James M. the speaker of Truth to Power, Mark B. and his Stanky family:, Aron and the Sage fam and Sandy too, the incredible Karin, MR. Acid Mothers Temple a/k/a John “Boris” Brite, Pete Patterson esq., Rogers/Samuelson gang, Jeff McCord and family, Mike Cooper, Coach Marty H. and family, Phil Tan, Rut, Hobbsie, Krista, John P., Keriann, Chris P., Marlene, Richbourg, Dougie and REDsters, Sylvia, Russell C., Alex at OK, James Kelly, Dan and Sean and all at WnF, Gene for having a real record store in Greenville, Matt Myers for having me and who knows what this feels like, Alex Ayers, Hunter and Brookie, Callie P. and Tess, J. Regan, Glen S. and family, Jeff Clark, Lee Fidler, Robert Drake, Craig V., the ravishing Stephanie F., John Beers, Reedy and the Barkers, Steve Witte, Jay Wardlaw, Ed Bishop, Chris Merrifield, Colm, Bill Buzbee & Lisa Chang, Matt Gewolb (my favorite Mets fan), Dave Lynch, Sean K., Mal M., the Marks: Apple & Snyder, S. Hedeen, Steve Scott, Steve Dancz, Joshy A. and the lovely Jessica, Gus M., D. Blackburn, D. O’Brien (who has the second best gig in the world), the mighty Hughs: Freeman and Suhr, David Williams and Kat, Drew D., drumho Don, J. Askins, Jarid, the members of the Justin/Turner Overdrive: Jeff, Kev, Stuey, Jerry, and Oliver (you got a month to come have a look at the shop, Ollie!), Calder, Jeremy O. and mom, the VTA guys, Kerry and Ryan, Lynn and Rebecca, Tasman, Brad McD. and so many more. There are tons I’ve missed. Y’all are the best. I only hope you can somehow all remain as cool as you presently are without EG to help you out :)
Um, Sean and Logan and David, y’all might want to advance the schedule on finishing your cool mural :)
Mercenary sale info to follow in the message to the wider e-mail list. There well may be a party. Watch this space.
D.
Folks, this is a real negative for some of us. If you’ve got any money left and/or plans to purchase music in the next month and you live in the area, do an old indie-record store owner a solid and stop by Ella Guru to wish Don well in whatever his next venture might be. For a Univ. of Florida alum, he’s a good dude, and he fought a good fight.
“PILGRIM” by Kris Kristofferson
See him wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and his jeans,
Wearin’ yesterday’s misfortunes like a smile
Once he had a future full of money, love, and dreams,
Which he spent like they was goin’ outa style
And he keeps right on a’changin’ for the better or the worse,
Searchin’ for a shrine he’s never found
Never knowin’ if believin’ is a blessin’ or a curse,
Or if the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down
He’s a poet, he’s a picker
He’s a prophet, he’s a pusher
He’s a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he’s stoned
He’s a walkin’ contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction,
Takin’ ev’ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars,
And he’s traded in tomorrow for today
Runnin’ from his devils, Lord, and reachin’ for the stars,
And losin’ all he’s loved along the way
But if this world keeps right on turnin’ for the better or the worse,
And all he ever gets is older and around
From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse,
The goin’ up was worth the comin’ down
He’s a poet, he’s a picker
He’s a prophet, he’s a pusher
He’s a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he’s stoned
He’s a walkin’ contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction,
Takin’ ev’ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
There’s a lotta wrong directions on that lonely way back home.
