AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 12
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Plain to see why Braves won’t trade this one
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mesa, Ariz. _ Waiting to watch the phenom Kevin Towers wants most but won’t get, Tommy Hanson, pitch for the Mesa Solar Sox against the Surprise Rafters before a crowd of about 57 (including nine scouts, as of 12:25 p.m.) in this Arizona Fall League tilt here at HoHoKam Stadium, and wondering what a pair of Solar Sox might feel like on a cold day. Like, for instance, the day we’ll endure Saturday when we go to the KU-Texas football game in Lawrence, Kan.
I just went back and checked, and it was Oct. 6 when I wrote a blog headlined, “Alabama son Peavy to pitch for Braves? It’s possible.” (And was ridiculed on that blog by a few suggesting we were merely drumming up offseason page hits, but I don’t like saying “Told you so,” so I’ll not do it.)
Anyway, here we are, 37 days later, and Braves Nation’s long nightmare drags on. Actually, it’ll only be a nightmare for most Braves fans if the deal falls through, but I’m sure — judging from responses here — there will be plenty of folks who also bemoan losing prospects, any prospects, all prospects, in any deal including one for a bona fide ace. Goes with the territory.
And there’s also no dismissing the fact that Peavy has had elbow and shoulder soreness in the past, enough to land him on the DL a few times, including once this past May (and that cropped up just five weeks into the season, never an encouraging development).
But all things considered, including the reasonable contract ($63 mill guaranteed over four seasons, or $81 mill over five) and the fact that Peavy’s ERA and strikeouts rank him near the top of major league pitching since he joined the league, and that overwhelming 2007 season that made him a unanimous Cy Young choice, and the fact that he’s from Alabama, grew up a Braves fan and still owns a home and a hunting lodge in ‘Bama … well, this is too good for the Braves to pass up, as long as they don’t give in and fork over the prospects Towers wants most (and they won’t, at least not Hanson or Jason Heyward).
Will they substitute big ol’ slugging catcher Tyler Flowers for highly rated center-field prospect Gorkys Hernandez as part of the package, as Towers has reportedly asked them to do? Possibly, but unlikely according to people I talk to. Because the Braves have so little catching depth in their minor league system, they’d either have to go get a backup or be prepared to turn over catching duties to Clint Sammons if Brian McCann got hurt and was out for any significant length. Can’t see Braves turning to Sammons, who’s just not been much of a hitter at the big-league level.
I think the Braves might be ready before long to bring up Flowers and give him a crack at the job if McCann got hurt. Flowers has continued to develop, after impressing Bobby Cox and others in spring training last year with the big club. He’s raking out here in the ‘Zona Fall League, and that’s obviously why Padres officials have come around to asking for him, I’m sure.
By the way, though Gorkys probably has a slightly higher upside (potential) than Jordan Schafer, I think the Braves are more inclined to give up Hernandez simply because Schafer is at least a year ahead of Gorkys in his development, and probably a couple of years ahead of him. Schafer can be ready this year, right out of spring training, I really believe that. And I think the Braves believe it, whether they say as much or not.
Anyway, Schafer’s done himself a favor by going to Mexico to play winter ball, if you ask me. Because I know in the past, not just with the Braves but other teams I’ve covered, certain players agree to go play winter ball and others don’t, and when tough decisions have to be made later by the front office, a player’s willingness to do whatever it takes to get better and work on deficiencies in his game.
Braves wanted Schafer to get more at-bats after he missed 50 games for his suspension last season, and instead of whining or saying he wanted to go home to work out and relax for the winter after an emotionally difficult season, Schafer said, “No problem,” and packed for the Mexican League, hardly a glamorous assignment.
Good point about economic impact: Buster Olney made a great observation in his ESPN blog this morning, pointing out that some free agents might be eager to take offers quickly this year when the period begins Friday where teams can make offers to all free agents instead of just their own.
The reason some might move quickly: The economy. It’s terrible and getting terrribler (not a word, but should be). Here in Phoenix, the D-Backs just announced they were eliminating about 30 front-office jobs, nearly 10 percent of their work force.
The Padres and D-Backs are slashing player payrolls, and as Buster pointed out, the Dodgers and Giants are obviously aware of this and might be less inclined to spend lavishly if the other two teams in their division are cutting back.
If an agent believes some other clubs might start cutting back as we get towards the new year, then that agent might advise his free-agent player to take the best offer he gets in the next couple weeks and opt for security of the chance to possibly hold out for a better deal only to see the economy continue to erode and more teams be given edicts from ownership to cut payroll.
Oddly enough, this situation might actually help the Braves, who for the first time in a long time have significant money available to spend on free agents or added salaries through trades. I asked Braves CEO Terry McGuirk right after the season whether the economy might have an effect on the team’s spending plans, and he said no, it was full speed ahead.
I asked Frank Wren the same question last week at the GM meetings and he said no, the Braves had no revised their outlook or their spending plans.
So with at least $40 mill available, and perhaps closer to $50 mill, for winter additions to next year’s payroll, the Braves are in position to quickly make a competitite offer or three to a free-agent pitcher or pitchers (or possibly power-hitting outfielder, though I sent they’d prefer to trade for that).
Ryan Dempster, Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett are among the possible free agents targeted by the Braves, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they make offers to at least two of them by next week, if not by this weekend. This Peavy thing has frustrated the Braves, because it’s taking longer than they’d hoped and they don’t want to miss out on other pitchers or hitters while waiting to see if the Padres will take their offer of shortstop Yunel Escobar and a couple of prospects for Peavy.
They’d like to know if they’re going to get Peavy, because it could add some urgency to the need to get another No. 1-caliber starter if they are not likely to land the San Diego ace.
OK, back to the game here. Solar Sox scored twice in bottom of first to give their ace Hanson a 2-1 lead. I bet you that’ll be enough.
Second inning. Hanson gave up a couple of hits and a run - only the second against him all fall - in the first inning, but now he’s struck out the last two batters, one in the first and the first batter here in the second.
Impressive, yes. He throws hard, people, and he’s 6 feet 6 and mixes up his pitches, changing speeds and using both a hard-biting slider and a pretty big downward curve. Haven’t seen much of the changeup yet that he’s been working on.
We’ll keep you abreast as it goes on. He’s probably not going more than about five innings.
In the second inning, he struck out the first guy, then issued a walk before striking out the next two to end the inning. That’s 34 strikeouts and six walks this fall, folks. He’s completely dominating a league with some of the best prospects in baseball.
Dude sure looks ready to me.
”OUTFIT” by Jason Isbell (Drive-By Truckers)
You want to grow up to paint houses like me,
a trailer in my yard till you’re 23
You want to be old after 42 years,
keep dropping the hammer and grinding the gears.
Well, I used to go out in a Mustang,
a 302 Mach One in green.
Me and your Mama made you in the back,
and I sold it to buy her a ring.
And I learned not to say much of nothing,
and I figured you already know
But in case you don’t or maybe forgot,
I’ll lay it out real nice and slow:
Don’t call what you’re wearing an outfit.
Don’t ever say your car is broke.
Don’t worry about losing your accent,
a Southern Man tells better jokes.
Have fun but stay clear of the needle.
Call home on your sister’s birthday.
Don’t tell them you’re bigger than Jesus,
don’t give it away.
Six months in a St. Florian foundry,
they call it Industrial Park.
Then hospital maintenance and Tech School
just to memorize Frigidaire parts.
But I got to missing your Mama,
and I got to missing you too.
So I went back to painting for my old man,
and I guess that’s what I’ll always do
So don’t try to change who you are boy,
and don’t try to be who you ain’t.
And don’t let me catch you in Kendale
with a bucket of wealthy man’s paint.
Don’t call what your wearing an outfit.
Don’t ever say your car is broke.
Don’t sing with a fake British accent.
Don’t act like your family’s a joke.
Have fun, but stay clear of the needle,
call home on your sister’s birthday.
Don’t tell them you’re bigger than Jesus,
don’t give it away.
Don’t give it away.
