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Friday, November 16, 2007
Waiting for Glavine; is this the new CF?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Biding time while we wait for the inevitable announcement that Tom Glavine has signed with the Braves (they made their first offer today), debate whether my little ol’ Kansas Jayhawks could win two or three games in the SEC, question whether Barry Bonds or Michael Vick received the worst counsel/advice over the years, and ponder why Braves prospect (and Oregon quarterback) Dennis Dixon wears football pants that don’t cover his knees, much less have pads to protect those bony and extremely valuable joints.
But before we get to any of that, let me tell you about Chipper Jones and what I believe to be a very good chance he’ll sign an extension with the Braves at some point in the next year or so to virtually assure he finishes his career with the same team he began it with.
Jones, 35, is under contract for $11 mill in 2008 with a vesting option for 2009 worth between $8 mill and $11 mill, based on plate appearances. I don’t have exact breakdown on the scale, but if he stays even reasonably healthy the option will vest. In other words, he’s probably a Braves for at least two more seasons.
“Right now I’m pretty much counting on [the option vesting],” he told me a week ago.
Jones has indicated he’d like to play as long as he’s able to perform at a high level, which he certainly did last season, despite time on the DL for hand injuries sustained in a freak collision while running the bases.
The switch-hitter batted .337 with 42 doubles, 29 homers, 102 RBIs and a robust 1.029 OPS in 135 games and 513 at-bats, including .378 with 22 homers, 74 RBIs and a 1.171 OPS in 312 at-bats vs. righties.
Now, about his contract and future with the Braves. I asked him a week ago if he’d talked to the Braves about an extension, or even thought of bringing it up with the team.
“I don’t know how I would handle that,” he said. “I’ve never had to really go to the Braves before. They’ve always approached me. Maybe with my age and the health issues, they’re maybe waiting until they absolutely have to do something.”
But that’s understandable, he said. In other words, don’t expect him to demand an extension this winter and cause any waves.
“Doesn’t really matter to me, either way something will get done,” Jones said.
General manager Frank Wren, when asked about a possible extension for Chipper, said during the GM’s online chat Thursday: “We have Chipper for a couple more years and we hope he finishes his career here.”
It’s Friday afternoon and I can’t tell you whether a Glavine signing will happen this afternoon, next week, or between Thanksgiving and the Winter Meetings Dec. 3-6 in Nashville.
But I am fairly certain it will happen before the meetings begin in Music City. They’d better, or else we’ll have to spend too much time waiting around at night instead of going over to Robert’s Western Wear for some boots and hard country music.
But anyway … the question on everyone’s minds is, who is going to be the Braves’ backup shortstop? OK, perhaps it’s not on everyone’s minds. Perhaps it’s on very few people’s minds, relatively speaking. But somewhere, in the back of most Braves’ fans brains, behind the space reserved for love or hate of Glavine (greatest Atlanta lefty and World Series hero to many Braves fans; intelligent, fund-raising family man to many who know him; evil, money-grubbing union rep in the eyes of some; and frustrating sum of those parts for still others).
(By the way, I personally like Tom a lot, and believe he’ll be a strong addition in the No. 3 rotation spot and good influence on the young pitchers, particularly the young lefties. But - and I mean this — I also understand why there’s such a wide gulf in Braves Nation’s view of him. I don’t necessarily agree with those on the other side of that split, but I understand their view. When it comes to union matters, and/or making certain statements that offend middle-class folks, well, that can become a cross to bear, one Tom will never completely shed.)
But back to the backup shortstop. Who’ll it be? Well, I can say with near absolutely certainty that it won’t be Chris Woodward. How’s that? But seriously, we’re still so early in the free agency timeline, and so few trades have been made, that the lesser needs of most teams haven’t been addressed yet and won’t be until those teams take care of more important matters and see how much money is left over or who is still available after the more sought-after players are paid handsomely.
Maybe the Braves will fill the backup shortstop need before the Winter Meetings, but I doubt it. More likely they’ll do that later, as they did last year with the late signings of Woodward and (readers, cover your eyes if you’re faint-hearted) Craig Wilson.
First on the docket, at least in terms of important, is the Glavine matter and center field, with left-handed relief probably ranking behind that, ahead of backup shortstop. Besides, with young, sturdy Yunel Escobar moving into the shortstop role, I’m sure the Braves are hoping they won’t need a backup shortstop very often at all. Can’t count on that, of course, but should be able to expect him to play the vast majority of games.
Center field: Braves have been looking at several possibilities to serve as their stopgap center fielder, there are no Ken Griffeys or Aaron Rowands among them. Certainly no Torri Hunters.
No, they’re going to probably get their man on the trade market, most likely a younger player with some CF experience, a low salary and no long-term commitment. That commitment part (and the salary matter) would seem to rule out Coco Crisp, who’s signed for $4.75 million next season and $5.75 million in 2009, with a team option for $8 million in 2010.
Braves are looking for a guy to be the bridge from Andruw Jones to Jordan Schafer, who could be ready by midseason, but might also be better served by another full season in the minors, since he’s not played above A-ball. But the Braves privately anticipate him being ready no later than some point during the 2009 season, and will be willing to bring him up sooner in the event of an injury or poor performance from the man who gets the CF job to start next season.
Is there any chance that Schafer could persuade them to give him a crack at the job this spring? I suppose, if the Braves can’t get a quality CF this winter or the one they get stinks it up or gets hurt in spring training. But I think it’s an outside shot, at best, that Schafer opens the season on the roster.
This will probably be like the Renteria trade, or so many others the Braves have pulled over the years - one that few if any had suspected before it was announced.
THIS JUST IN: As I was literally about to post this blog, Braves announced they’ve trade reliever Oscar Villarreal to Houston for outfielder Josh Anderson.
Just talked to Frank right after the release came out, and he made it clear to me that this kid will compete for the center-field job, but isn’t necessarily “the” replacement. Braves wanted to get him now in case they can’t acquire another, more experienced guy this winter.
Again, this guy will compete for the job, and I’d guess he would be the favorite unless the Braves get another center fielder this winter.
From the Braves’ press release on the dude: Anderson, 25, hit .358 (24-for-67) in 25 games for the Astros this year. He spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Round Rock, where he played all three outfield positions and batted .273 (140-for-513) with 17 doubles and 64 runs scored. He ranked third in the Pacific Coast League with 41 stolen bases.
The left-handed hitter was the MVP of the 2006 Texas League All-Star game and in that same year he led the league for the second consecutive season in stolen bases and ranked first with 173 hits. In 2004 Anderson led all of minor league baseball with 78 stolen bases and in 2005 he was rated as the best defensive outfielder and the fastest base runner by Baseball America.
So there. Dude can fly. And hit for average, though not for a lick of power. And unlike, say, Gregor Blanco, this guy’s done it, albeit briefly, at the major league level.
OK, now back to the regularly scheduled blog:
Lefty in ‘pen: Braves have talked to Ron Mahay’s agent, and at least looked into Colorado free agent Jeremy Affeldt, too. But I think both of those guys, the only two accomplished lefty relievers on the free-agent market, are going to end up getting far bigger deals than Braves are looking to spend (Braves have Royce Ring, but want two lefties in the bully).
Maybe I’ll be wrong and Mahay will stay with the Braves, since he told me at the end of the season that he liked his two-month stint with the team. But again, money talks, and he’s going to get a lot, perhaps in a three-year contract from some team. That’s a big commitment for a mid-30s reliever who’s had some health issues in the past.
Nice rumor, “7Sports”: When you’re a Boston TV station and you start a rumor about a high-profile and very popular member of the World Series champion Red Sox, it’s probably best if you’re reasonably accurate in the details. Or even half-right.
The early candidate for Most Ridiculous Rumor (non fan blog-generated category) goes to Channel 7 of Boston, which breathlessly reported a couple days ago: “7Sports has learned that Mike Lowell has received contract offers from four separate MLB teams: the Braves, Angels, Cardinals, and Yankees. A source close to the Lowell side of the negotiations tells 7Sports that each offer is a 4-year contract, worth between $55-60 million.”
Within 24 hours, executives with the Braves, Angels and Cardinals had shot down the rumor and said there was absolutely no validity to it, in regards to their own teams.
But hey, at least the Yankees supposedly made an offer for Lowell. One out of four ain’t too bad, right?
Actually, that’s about right, because in the internet age, I’d guess about 25 percent of the rumors you read have any validity, particularly if they come from folks who don’t cover the team on a regular basis and rely solely on one unnamed source.
OK, take us out, Steve:
“THE GRINGO’S TALE” by Steve Earle
Beggin’ your pardon there stranger
You look like you’re new to this town
We’re a long way away from the beach here
You won’t see many gringos around
Well I come from West Colorado
And I’ve wandered this world far and wide
I’ve lived for some years in the shadows
And my eyes are unused to this light
If you buy me a strong drink of whiskey
I will tell you the tale of my life
It’s long and it’s sad but it fits me
And it may bring a tear to your eye
All the men of my family were soldiers
The hard fightin’ straight talkin’ kind
When my turn came all that was over
But I’d already made up my mind
I was there when we blew though Grenada
And I still have to ask myself why
Then we took down that fool Noriega
That’s where I caught the good colonel’s eye
Well he asked me if I loved my country
And before I had time to reply
He regaled me with tales of past glories
I believed every one of his lies
So I left my old life behind me
Turned my back on my family and friends
And I did everything that they asked me And I lost some sleep now and again
And I lived like a thief and assassin
I smuggled their poisons sometimes
Until I asked the wrong question in passin’
And the colonel himself dropped the dime
So if you’re ever in west Colorado
Tell the folks in Durango goodbye
There’s a price on my head and I can’t go
So I’ll just wait around here ‘til I die
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