AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 25
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tex and Hoss on the corners? That’ll work
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tex and Hoss on the infield corners for the rest of ’07 and all of 2008?
Yeah, that would work. It’s not a stretch to say the Braves, with Mark Teixeira at first base and a healthy Chipper Jones at third, would have the best lineup in the National League for at least the remainder of this season.
Yes, better than the New York Mets. Those switch-hitting sluggers on the corners would be the best 1-2 run-producing tandem in the league, long as they’re both healthy.
If the Braves could somehow pull off a trade for a top-notch reliever, perhaps in the same deal — Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson or rejuvenated closer Eric Gagne are attractive — then the Braves would, in the eyes of many observers, become the favorite to win the NL East and a strong contender for the NL pennant.
Now, will it happen? Will the Braves get Teixeira in a trade with the Rangers, who I’m told this afternoon are still talking to at least five other teams interested in their power-hitting, Gold Glove first baseman?
I don’t know. I’d say it’s at least a 50-50 proposition that the Braves will pull off the deal, maybe even better, say 65-35. But they’re almost certainly going to have to give up Salty to get Tex, and they might have to give up one of their top pitching prospects.
Would they do Salty and Jo-Jo Reyes for, say, Tex and Wilson? As much as the Braves would hate to give up both their top overall prospect and their top pitching prospect for a slugger they might not be able to afford beyond 2008 and a lefty reliever, they might have to do it.
Because if you look at this Braves team, their glaring weaknesses right now are first base and bullpen, particularly left-handed relief. They don’t have a lefty reliever (Wil Ledezma doesn’t count as a lefty reliever, nothing personal).
So if you could plug both your weaknesses while still only a few games out of first place with 40 percent of the season left to play, and knowing you’d at least be able to keep Tex for another playoff run in 2008, wouldn’t you have to strongly consider doing it?
Keeping in mind, as much as Salty could become a superstar, he’s not going to become that with the Braves, who don’t see moving him to first base a great option, when they can get so much back in a trade for him while he’s still a top prospect.
Sure, they could hold onto him, but what’s to say they’re going to get a better offer for him this winter? Who’s trading top young starting pitching these days? No team is. And if you can’t get a top young starter in return for him, then you fill your biggest weakness in a trade for him.
And from what I’m told, Teixeira, the former Georgia Tech star, would definitely be open to listening to long-term contract offers from the Braves. I know it’s a red flag to many (and probably to the Braves) that he’s repped by Boras, but hey, the Braves are either going to be able to afford to re-sign Andruw or they’re going to clear up an awful lot of payroll by not doing so.
And if they don’t re-sign Boras client Andruw, then they’re going to have to fill that offensive hold with a power hitter. Not many better ones available than Teixeira, who’ll also give you Gold Glove defense, something that’s important to the Braves at first base, if they can get it.
Teixeira is only 27, and he’s a career .286 hitter who averaged 35 homers in his first four seasons through 2006 and totaled a whopping 366 RBIs in the past three seasons with OBPs of .370 or higher in each of those seasons and slugging percentages of .560, .575 and .514.
Oh, he also played all 162 games in 2005 and again in 2006.
The man had 144 RBIs and led the AL with 370 total bases in 2005, and his huge offensive totals aren’t merely a product of a hitters’ ballpark. He actually hit more homers on the road (21) last season than at home (12), after hitting 30 of his 43 at home in 2005.
This season? He’s hit .300 with 23 doubles, 13 homers, 48 RBIs and a .404 OBP and .537 slugging percentage in 74 games, and had a stint on the DL for a leg injury.
Before going on the DL in early June, he was tearing it up. Teixeira hit .347 with 16 doubles, 12 homers, 38 RBIs and a .439 OBP in 40 games from April 27 to June 8, playing in all 40 Texas games in that stretch (dude plays every day).
He’s hit .292 with only one homer and seven RBIs in 13 games since returning from the DL, but has a .404 OBP. It also took Chipper a while to get his power stroke back when he returned from the DL, remember.
Would I do this trade, with Salty and Tex as the principles? Given the Braves’ current situation, and the fact that Teixeira would be back for at least 2008, yes, I would. But I’d hold out until the very last moment possible trying to get either Wilson or Gagne thrown into the mix, even if I had to give up Matt Harrison (but not Reyes) to get it done.
Stay tuned. This could happen. Could happen soon. Just don’t know. But when I don’t get callbacks from certain people in timely fashion, it’s usually an indication the Braves are heavily involved in talks.
Gagne is back: I’ll admit until very recently I wasn’t sold on Gagne, since I’ve seen him break down so frequently in recent years. But after checking into his status with people I know, and after looking at his numbers, it’s changed my mind.
Then seeing him save both games in a doubleheader yesterday for the Rangers, convinced me further. But God, get him out of Texas before they pitch him into the ground.
I mean, using Gagne in both ends of a doubleheader, with his history of arm problems? Insanity.
Anyway, check his numbers: He’s 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA has converted 16 of 17 saves, most of those in the past four weeks since moving into the closer role full-time. He’s got 29 strikeouts and 12 walks in 33-1/3 innings, and opponents are hitting just .192, including a meager .155 (9-for-58) with no homers by left-handed batters.
(Hey, Braves need a lefty, but he’d be the next-best thing — kill two birds with one stone, too, by giving them another closer option.)
Since June 26, Gagne has pitched 12 times and converted nine of 10 saves while allowing 12 hits, five runs and one homer in 12-1/3 innings. That included two scoreless innings for two saves in Tuesday’s doubleheader vs. Seattle (again, I say, insanity).
And get this: Gagne has been untouchable in road games, the complete antithesis of Bob Wickman, who as you probably know, has been terrible on the road and not blown a save or even given up an earned run at home.
Yes, Wickman got a 0.00 ERA to go with a .150 opponents’ average and 8-for-8 saves converted at home, and an 8.20 ERA and .349 opponents’ average with five blown saves in 14 opportunities on the road, including last night’s blown save in the 13-inning win vs. San Francisco.
Gagne? He’s got a 3.72 ERA and .230 opponents’ average in 20 games at Texas (outstanding, in that park) and a 0.00 ERA, .130 opponents’ average, and 10-for-10 saves in 14 road appearances.
So between Gagne on the road, and Wickman at Turner Field, you’d have the ideal closer combination, right? OK, so it wouldn’t work that way, since Bobby Cox isn’t exactly avant-garde in his approach (which is probably a good thing, for the most part).
But it’s nice for Braves fans to dream, eh? Sort of like Hoss and Tex on the infield corners, although that might be a lot closer to reality.
Ok, some blues. Blues lyrics don’t always translate well without the accompaniment. But if you’re not familiar with the tune, just imagine some deep, deep blues, “The Hook” in his low rumble of a voice, and the fog rolling in….
”FRISCO BLUES” by John Lee Hooker
I left my heart in San Francisco
I left my heart, people, in San Francisco
High on the hill, at the Golden Gate, ‘cross the bay,
in San Francisco, on the hill, the mornin’ fog,
and the cool, cool night
That’s where, I wanna be, San Francisco
That’s where
my heart up in New York City,
I’ve been to Chicago,
but found no place, like San Francisco,
with the cable car, high, high, on the hill.
In the mornin’ fog, the evening breeze,
the cool, cool night, is where I wanna be
Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
Work, work people, tell me about it, now
work out, work out
I got the blues for San Francisco
Yes, yes, yes, yes!
My heart is there, high, on the hill,
right down by the Golden Gate, ‘cross the bay,
that’s where I wanna be
I left my heart right there, in San Francisco
with the mornin’ fog and the cool, cool night, the cable cars on the hill.
That’s where I wanna be people,
my heart is there, my heart is there.
