AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 08
Monday, October 8, 2007
Ready, set … start your Braves rumors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This could be a slow couple of weeks for Braves fans, since the free-agent and trade markets won’t heat up until after the postseason and the Braves and Tom Glavine seem determined not to screw up and let slip any sort of earlier-than-permitted negotiations that may or may not take place between their sides.
And let’s be clear: I don’t think it’s a given that Glavine is coming back to the Braves, as much as he wants to and as much as the Braves could use him in the middle of their rotation. Again, as it has before, I’m guessing this will come down to money.
He’ll take a discount, I have it on good authority, but how much of a discount? And will the Braves be willing to pay $8 mill, $9 mill? That seems a reasonable amount for a pitcher you could pencil in for 12-14 wins and 200 innings.
But we’ll see. Braves need more than just Glavine added to their rotation, and can’t count on Mike Hampton, at least until they see how Hampton does in winter ball (still don’t know where that’s going to be yet; I just checked with team today) and maybe not until they see how he does in the spring.
They need to get a younger starter whose contract they could control for several years. Someone, as we mentioned last week, like Oakland’s Dan Haren or Joe Blanton, if the A’s decide they need to move one of them in order to restock with young players/prospects they’d get in return. Either would be a huge addition for the Braves, and arguably make them the NL East favorite, with or without Glavine.
But Oakland might not be ready to deal one of those young pitchers yet, and the Braves might they have to settle for a lesser light, say lefty Noah Lowry of the Giants, who’s expected to be trade bait this winter and is coming off a 14-8 season in which he posted a 3.92 ERA but also had exactly as many walks (87) as strikeouts in 155 innings.
Lowry’s WHIP has risen in each of his four seasons in the majors, and jumped from 1.393 in 2006 to 1.551 this season. He had a bone spur late in the season, but was expected to recover without surgery. Still, it’s a red flag, perhaps a reason the 26-year-old old might be had for relatively little in a trade.
In 2005, Lowry had a 3.78 ERA and 172 strikeouts (76 walks) in 204 innings. Something to keep in mind as we move forward. There are other guys like that out there, too, guys you might not be focused on because of the attention given more glamorous but not-very-realistic targets, as far as the Braves are concerned.
We’ll update as we hear anything. But it’s still too early for the good trade rumors to start. Non-playoff teams are just beginning to gather for their organizational meetings, like the Braves are this week in Orlando.
No shaking hands at the Ted: Looks like I’ll have to be rude and not offer a hand upon greeting strangers at Turner Field from now on.
This after I read something alarming in The Week magazine: The American Society of Microbiology did a study in which they spied on 6,000 people in public bathrooms and found that nearly one in three guys didn’t bother to wash hands before exiting.
The study found that 12 percent of woman failed to wash their hands.
And here’s the scary part: “The study discovered strong regional differences in hand-washing habits - 79 percent of male New Yorkers washed up, as did 81 percent of Chicagoans. But at Atlanta’s Turner Field, just 57 percent of guys stopped at the sink.”
Folks, I’m just repeating what I read.
And now, I’m packing an extra bottle of hand sanitizer in my computer bag.
Speaking of home games…. As I wrote within a blog last week, Braves are scheduled to open the 2008 season at home, against Pittsburgh. I think they’re going to play on the first day of the season, Monday, then have an off day Tuesday, the day that some teams will open. But not certain about that.
Also, as I mentioned, Braves don’t play Boston at all next season. Their interleague schedule, from what I can gather, includes road games at Anaheim, Texas and Toronto, and home games with Seattle and Oakland.
I think the Braves are planning to release their schedule this week.
Pendleton, Snitker on Royals’ radar: The Kansas City Royals and GM Dayton Moore are having their organizational meetings this week in Surprise, Ariz., and a major topic of conversation is their managerial search. Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton’s name has been mentioned prominently, which comes as no surprise. But also mentioned by members of the Kansas City media has been Brian Snitker, the Braves’ third-base coach and a minor league lifer until he was brought up to the bigs to join the Braves’ staff last winter.
(Believe me, if Snitker’s name has been mentioned by K.C. reporters, then it was leaked to them by someone in the organization. Because you don’t go through the coaching staffs of major league teams and go, ‘Ahh, here’s one candidate. Brian Snitker in Atlanta.’ We do know Dayton always liked Snitker, so it does make some sense, especially given Dayton’s background in player development.)
(By the way, the Royals are having their winter meetings in a place called Surprise. The Braves are having theirs in a place that could be called Predictable. Families go to Dark Star outside Orlando with kids and with wallets full of credits cards and cash, and leave with no money and severely strained credit cards, having consumed many bland meals in overcrowded chain restaurants and spent obscene amounts on all-day tickets to Fun, Inc. Very predictable. But we digress….)
Where were we? Oh, Pendleton. Can’t see him taking the K.C. job, if offered it. See him staying in Atlanta and waiting to see if Bobby Cox steps down after the 2008 season, because Pendleton would have to be a primary candidate to replace him, I’d guess.
One potential job opening that might appeal to Pendleton: St. Louis. If Tony La Russa were to move on, I could definitely see T.P. interested in that position, and them interested in him. Otherwise, I believe he’s staying here until Bobby steps aside, which might be next winter, but also might not be.
Whither Andruw? Gentlemen, start your rumors. I’m hearing Dodgers, Rangers, Giants and White Sox as potentially interested teams outside the NL East.
And within the division? Folks, don’t be surprised if Andruw lands with a team that plays the Braves 18-19 times a year, which would be strange, wouldn’t it, at least initially?
There’s the Stan Kasten connection in Washington, where Andruw could be appealing as a marquee player for a team moving into a new ballpark with big revenue streams that go with that.
And there’s Philadelphia, where Andruw’s hit an awful lot of homers and stolen an awful lot of extra-base hits over the years. If the Phillies don’t re-sign Aaron Rowand, they might take a run at Andruw. Seriously.
And then there’s one that hasn’t been mentioned, but that I was told by someone close to the situation that it could be a possibility: The Mets. Yes, the Mets.
I know, I know, they have Carlos Beltran, who’s in the middle of a $119 million contract and quite solid afield himself. But the Mets also have a ton of money, with more coming when their new ballpark opens in 2009. So who’s to say that one of those guys, and I’m guessing Beltran, couldn’t be moved to right field?
Hey, stranger things have happened. I gotta admit, my first reaction when told this possibility was, “C’mon, makes no sense.” But the person who told me seemed serious and quite sincere, at least that it could be a possibility.
Me, I’m leaning toward Dodgers or White Sox in the Andruw chase. But it’s way, way early. Actually, the process has barely even begun. Players haven’t even filed for free agency yet, and won’t until after the World Series.
So stay tuned. Gonna be an interesting offseason. And we didn’t even discuss the possibilities for Andruw’s replacement, primarily because we wore the topic out last week and there’s been nothing new, not yet, to add to the conversation.
Andruw or Torii? By the way, thought I’d share this from the Boston Globe, which asked former A’s manager Ken Macha and former Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez who’d they’d select between CFs Torii Hunter and Andruw Jones (hey, I wish they’d asked a recent NL manager, too, but since I’m just stealing the note I really can’t be too picky. If I go to cover the World Series, I’ll try to ask a few folks there the same question.):
Anyway, here’s the responses to the Globe:
Macha: “A little bit of an unfair question only because I think I’ve only seen Andruw Jones play about six times live, but I certainly know that he’s an outstanding player and know of his reputation for being a great defensive outfielder. But I’ll take Torii Hunter. I think he’s great for a team. I love the way he imparts his wisdom on younger players and takes them under his belt. He learned how to play the game from Kirby Puckett. He’s a guy who can beat you in many different ways. He can throw you out. He can make a great catch to rob you. He can come up with a key hit, a key home run, and every time he takes that field, you know how much he respects the game of baseball.”
Martinez: “A lot of people you talk to don’t think it’s close; they’d say Torii. But for me, I think it would be Andruw. Don’t get me wrong, I love Torii and the enthusiasm and the defense he brings to a team. I know Andruw had a tough year, but I’ll guarantee you that there’ll be a lot of clubs who are going to line up for him because he’s a special player. He’s got a little more power than Torii, he drives in runs, and he’s more of a leader than people think. He’s quieter than Torii, but I know that Andruw is a true leader who loves playing the game. I know in the offseason a lot of players congregate around Andruw and work out with him. He’s been a huge leader in Atlanta for a long time. A lot of people in Atlanta believe that Andruw’s shoulder was bothering him all year and that’s what caused the downward year with his batting average. But he’s such a talent.”
Music, music:We’re going to the Kings of Leon/Black Rebel Motorcycle Club show tomorrow at the Fox, and was pleasantly surprised to hear that local band Manchester Orchestra’s also on the bill. Those young kids can play, for sure.
The new Thurston Moore solo CD is great. Springsteen’s new one is even better every time I listen to it. And if you’re looking for a great CD you’ve never heard of, try the new one by the Shout Out Louds, called “Our Ill Wills”. You’ll be glad you did.
Been enjoying another brilliant record from Atlanta’s ascendant punkers, The Black Lips. Their new album “Good Bad, Not Evil” will get you revved up.
Had a good visit to Wax ‘n’ Facts record store yesterday, found nearly mint-condition copies of a two-record Bobby Bare album from the early 70s, plus Fabulous Thunderbirds’ classic “Girls Go Wild” and an old Tom T. Hall record. All on vinyl, complete with pops and other noises. Outstanding.
OK, Steve, take us out.
”HOMETOWN BLUES” by Steve Earle
I wish I’d never come back home
It don’t feel right since I’ve been grown
I can’t find any of my old friends hangin’ ‘round
Won’t nothin’ bring you down like your hometown
I spent some time in New Orleans
I had to live on rice and beans
I hitched through Texas when the sun was beatin’ down
Won’t nothin’ bring you down like your hometown
Home is where the heart is
Ain’t that what they always say
My heart lies in broken pieces
Scattered along the way
So don’t think about me when I’m gone
I don’t mind travelin’ alone
You are the sweetest little thing I ever found
Won’t nothin’ bring you down like your hometown
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