Terence Moore

By DHD

July 30, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

No doubt about it. They had no choice. I actually like Kotchman and you never know what the young pitcher is going to do. The Braves should make a few more deals. Free up some money and go after a couple of stud pitchers like Sheets and Sabbathia in the off season.

By Batboy Bill

July 30, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

OK Frank—here’s the issue.  No sense worrying about blowing up the team this off season.  That has already been done one way or another.  Here’s the question—You potentially have $40 million in contract budget freed up after this year.  What moves do you begin planning NOW?  Me…I keep McCann, Escobar, Cotchman, Chipper (and pray) and the best of the young pitchers.  Trade anybody else and get ready to buy, buy, buy!

By Will

July 30, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

I for about 2 months now thought the braves didnt have a chance. They are just not a very good baseball team and to top it off are poorly managed.

By LivininAL

July 30, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

Trading Tex was the easy part. I don’t think he will be missed that much, Kotchman will do fine. Now the difficult part will be get a legitimate #1 stopper on the mound for opening day next season. We have the rear end of a rotation, but we have to have someone to wag the tail. Developing a bit of fundamentals for the game of baseball would be a good start for next year also.

By justinstud

July 30, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

It hurts to be a Braves fan right now. I remember the feeling of a playoff loss, but it isn’t even August and it feels that way now. I hate the state of the club, but injuries like this are unlike anything I have ever seen in a lot of years of watching baseball. It just sucks to see them throw in the towel like this. The only way something can be salvaged is to commit fully to bringing on a top tier starter such as Sheets or even Sabathia. It isn’t the Braves way to get into bidding wars, but to rebuild now, it may be a necessity. If Hudson is gone until 2010, next year doesn’t look much more prosperous. This is the first time in years that I can watch the Braves on any given night and feel their chances of winning are less than 50-50. Tex could always consider coming back in a few months……….

By P. Rose

July 30, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

BULL! You idiots make me SICK!! It was a bad trade. Why? Because WE SHOULDA SIGNED TEX. Can’t afford him? BULL! Ted would have signed him. Sure, the Yanks, Sox & Mets will bid. Fine. OUTBID THEM. We’ll have the dough. Smoltz, Glavine and Hampton will all be gone. Use that money. While you’re at it, sign another couple of studs with big bats. Get good players, dammit! Let’s WIN again! All you wussies, content with being mediocre, should join a 12-step support group or plant a garden or something. What, so we just cut our power at first base in half, and that’s supposed to make us feel good? BULL! Wake up, idiots! News flash: We just got worse! We got weaker!

Yesterday by Angels general manager Tony Reagins

Yesterday Mark Teixeira seemed so far away Now it looks as though he’s here to stay Oh I believe in yesterday

Suddenly The Braves ain’t half the team they used to be They’re so wussy now they sit to pee Oh I believe in yesterday

Why they have to blow I don’t know They wouldn’t say

They’re screwed Up the shaft ‘specially after yesterday

Yesterday Mark Teixeira seemed so far away Then Atlanta gave their balls away Oh I believe in yesterday

Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm

By Lowcountry Bulldawg

July 30, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

Love the trade. The management saw the writing on the wall that Tex was goingto command a insane 10 yr/230 mil contract and promptly moved him at the right time. While a very good player, Tex is no where near worth that much of a financial commitment. In dealing for Kotchman they locked up a solid firstbasemen, who may develop into a 20-25 homerun type of player. Much similar to the player they just traded away.

Also please do not use the money to sign Ben Sheets. Do we need another overpaid broken down pitcher on the roster? Sheets when healthy is excellent, but he has a problem staying healthy. Look at the last big name pitchers to get those big deals- Pavano, Santana, Pedro. No way do I give a 5 year 90 million dollar contract to a pitcher. To many holes on the offense…leftfield, centerfield and maybe even rightfield.

Go get us an outfield with that 23 million we are saving next season!

By Fan since 66

July 30, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

I remember when the Phillies sent Abreu to the Yankees that they improved in the standings. Now, I don’t actually expect the Braves to contend, but can now play the role of spoilers, especially if they don’t sit still and make another move or two. Spend some money now and keep Ohman,(with him what a bullpen next year) acquire a good outfielder, and don’t totally throw in the towel. Too many people are talking a 3-5 year rebuilding stage, but with signing a stud free agent pitcher, we can contend next year. Kotchman will do nicely thank you, and may in fact be clutch whereas Tex, face it, was not. Nice glove and a good clubhouse person from all accounts. Can’t wait till next year.

By Dmsun

July 30, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

It all comes down to 20 mil per year. Which is what Boras will get for Tex. The Braves would have mortgage the rest of the team just to retain one player. The Braves should stay away from any Boras represented player. I loved Tex but one player can never be that important to a team. We could sign seven top of the line relievers for that price. Bring on the kids and let’s get back to basics. Solid fielding, Throwing strikes, and basic hitting fundementals. Bunting, hit and run, hitting behind the runner, taking the extra base, steals aand just plain hustle. That is baseball always has been, always will be. You do not need the superstars and their agents.

By Lowcountry Bulldawg

July 30, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Will,

Tell me how Bobby Cox was expected to win with the following injured players:

Escobar

Chipper

Diaz

Kotsay

Gonzalez

Soriano

Smoltz

Hampton

Hudson

Asking a little much of Cox I would think. How about asigning a little blame to the director of scouting for having let the minor league system slip in talent. The Braves no longer have talent from 93-97 in the system. Cox is a escape goat for bandwagon fans!

By Explicit

July 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

Ok he’s traded and there is nothing that we can do about it but I do have a couple of things that as a Braves fan I would like to know.

First of all why did this deal have to be done so soon? We had time to explore more options so why didn’t we use it? This Kotchman/Marek deal doesn’t exactly strike me as a, “do it now or we pull it off of the table” type of deal. So why did we have to do it so soon?

What happens now if a contender loses one of their key guys down the stretch and needs a guy like Teixeira. We could have asked for a little more I would think because teams in contention aren’t going to jeopardize their entire season when they can easily find a proven bat like Tex’s.

As a fan it just seems like we took a lesser player under a longer contract for less money. Doesn’t sound that great to me but then again neither does Liberty Media Group owning the Braves.

The second thing that I want to know is, “did the Braves offer Tex a contract?” According to Dave O’Brien’s conversation with Tex they didn’t but I have heard that Wren said that he did.

Can you clear the air? If they offered him a contract and he said, “no” then that’s one thing.

According to Tex he thought he would spend the rest of his career with Atlanta and he seemed dissapointed to be leaving. He quickly became my fathers favorite Brave and for a guy with cancer who loves the Braves he was very unhappy to get the news from me last night. We have been watching Braves games since 1990 together and that’s the first time I ever heard him say, “I don’t want to talk about baseball anymore tonight.”

So what happened?

By Tomy Fournier

July 30, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

SOUND GOOD…BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SOME OTHERS CHANGE,BEGINNING WITH THE “MORON” MANAGER AND ALL THE COACH STAFF,INCLUDDING MR.MCDOWELL(PITCHING COACH) AND MOVE OUT THE AGERS(GLAVINE,SMOLT,HAMPTON,KOTSAY,CORKY,NORTON,GOTAY) AND COME WITH NEW ARMS AND MOVE OR TRADE SORIANO,BOYER,RHING,JOHNSON,DIAZ,ACOSTA AND FRANCHY AND MY BE OTHERS IN ORDERS TO MAKE A BETTER TEAM TO THE NEXT SEASON…HOPE!!!

By Lowcountry Bulldawg

July 30, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Love the trade. The management saw the writing on the wall that Tex was goingto command a insane 10 yr/230 mil contract and promptly moved him at the right time. While a very good player, Tex is no where near worth that much of a financial commitment. In dealing for Kotchman they locked up a solid firstbasemen, who may develop into a 20-25 homerun type of player. Much similar to the player they just traded away.

Also please do not use the money to sign Ben Sheets. Do we need another overpaid broken down pitcher on the roster? Sheets when healthy is excellent, but he has a problem staying healthy. Look at the last big name pitchers to get those big deals- Pavano, Santana, Pedro. No way do I give a 5 year 90 million dollar contract to a pitcher. To many holes on the offense…leftfield, centerfield and maybe even rightfield.

Go get us an outfield with that 23 million we are saving next season!

By HDavid

July 30, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Long time Braves fan, although living in New York. Bobby Cox is a premiere manager. No one could have done more with the 2008 version of the Braves. They have had more than their share of injuries to key players. Chipper’s 36 and breaking down, Hudson may need Tommy John surgery, Kotsay has missed many games, Francour has had his difficulties, Escobar has been out. The bullpen has been overworked and unproductive. Nobody’s fault just a fact of life. The Braves organization is still top notch and this is just a temporary setback.

By bobby

July 30, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

In spite of all the injuries, the Braves would probably still be contending if they had a manager who knew how to handle a pitching staff. With Smoltz, Glavine and Maddoux, any manager would look like a genius.

By DOG THE MAN

July 30, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

We need to be players in the free agent market. We keep trying to get by on reputation and retreads. Its time to start spending some money in the farm system and start signing players. We can develop and shop at teh same time. I am tired of the Braves always saying that they will be players and them do NOTHING!!!! Let’s get in the game and start competing for talent!!!!

By drg

July 30, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

we need a lot more changes. We need two good outfielders, the lack of production in tha outfield and the meltdown of our bullpenn due to Bobby Cox’s overuse. now with Hudson out we need a starting pitcher, pray that Hampton do not pull anything out of place, he need to show us why we have paid him all of those millions. Get rid of Corky and let Sammons catch while McCann is out. Bring Gorky and Shaffer and let them play the rest of the year. If Francour do not get better, get rid of him.

By Stan

July 30, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

I’m fine with the Texiera trade… but was any attempt made to sign him to a long term deal? I had heard somewhere the Braves don’t negotiate with pending free agents during the season… but if you’re willing to trade players during the season to prepare for the future, you should be willing to negotiate with players during the season to prepare for the future. Tex is a good hitter (from both sides of the plate), a really good fielder, is only 28 and wanted to stay here. I know his agent is Scott Boras, but I would have at least made an offer first before being forced to trade him away.

And if we’re trading players away… why not Mike Hampton? He just pitched without hurting himself which makes him more valuable right now than he’s been in 3 years! If we can get ANYTHING in return for him it would be worth it! Please Frank Wren… pull the trigger!

By jeffrey blustein

July 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

Kotchman & Teixeira are only 3 years apart. Give the Braves credit for having tried; getting Tex was the right thing to do, in Ted Turner’s day Tex would have been signed by the Braves…

By CRM

July 30, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

Mr. Moore, let’s not be too hasty to judge Mr. Kotchman’s skill level. I’ve watched a lot of baseball over the years and I have seen players switch leagues and die and I have seen players switch leagues and thrive. Until he shows us what he can do, let’s assume Mr. Kotchman will fall into the latter category. Anyway, I agree that the Braves had absolutely no choice. This season is over. It’s time to build for the next Eastern Division Dynasty.

By tom

July 30, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Batboy Bill, mcann you don’t need to worry about, he’s signed through 2012 and the team has an option for 2013

By Terence Moore

July 30, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Will,

They actually were a pretty decent team for the last couple of months, especially with most of their folks healthy. As Terry McGuirk accurately pointed out, the division isn’t great. It’s probably better than mediocre.

Th Mets, the Phillies and the Marlins are all flawed. So, if the Braves didn’t have, let’s say, half of the injuries that they had, it would have been interesting.

But would have, could have, should have.

Right?

The Braves did what they had to do, given what IS the situation.

By charles harris

July 30, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

I hated to see Tex go because he played hard no matter the circumstances but of course if you have no intention of resigning him for next year you had to trade him-did we get enough-who knows? The Bravos really need to get more pop in the lineup-i think they should try to get adam dunn. I know its feast or famine with him but at least you have the power threat.

By LivininAL

July 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

I think Kotchman will be a nice fit here. Trading Tex was the easy part, even with all his stats,I dont think he will be missed that much, but I wish him well. Now the difficult chore is to obtain a true number ONE pitcher for opening day. We have the tail end of a pitching staff but we need a ONE to make that tail wag. Developing a bit of fundamentals for the game of baseball, along with an OF bat would also be welcome for next year .

By Matt

July 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

I couldnt have said it better myself Batboy Bill. Clean house and keep the core. This Braves team can be winners, if we can just put the right players on the field. We need to not settle for has been talent or 2 or 3 star players. Build young players up and get some good, young experienced talent to lead the team. I would add Kelly Johnson, Blanco and Infante into the mix of players to keep. But the ownership has to prove to the players and MOST OF ALL the fans that they are willing to see they have what it takes to spend money and make the Braves winners. WE ARE TIRED OF WATCHING THE REDSOX, YANKEES, CUBS, METS, PHILLIES AND NOW THE BREWERS SPEND THE NECESSARY MONEY TO WIN!

Anyways, Im excited about the futurefor the Braves, its just gonna take some time, hard work, and money!

Mean while I can smell football season! GO FALCONS and GO DAWGS!

By Marty

July 30, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

I thought Tex was the answer. I was wrong. Many were. We were above .500 before Tex, under with him. It’s not his fault. The Braves problems are many. Injuries top the list, but we can’t get the big hit or big pitch when needed. Same as ‘07. We don’t beat the teams we should. How many wins do the Nationals have since leaving Atlanta 10 days ago? These are major league ballplayers who need to step up their game. I hope we’re not headed for a repeat of the ‘80’s.

By General Patton

July 30, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

This management group have destroyed a franchise and proven their incompetence.

The next Braves to be released should be Cox, Pendleton and McDowell.

Now I know it’s possible to end a “Wet Dream, DRY!”

By Aaron

July 30, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Good trade. It is better to get something for Tex than just letting him go. Kotchman is signed till 2011, and he’ll hopefully only get better. Oh yeah, can we please get rid of “Stenchy” also?

By gayle

July 30, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

The denial of Cox and McGuirk, not just this year but in years past, will cost this team dearly.

As the Braves settle into a few years of mediocraty, consider the prospects traded away for band-aids and hired guns for just one more division title and the associated immediate exit from the playoffs.

There must be something about pro-sports in Atlanta that simply prohibits the building and maintaining of a winning franchise. Only Arthur Blank is the visible owner who puts his name and brand on the team and is accountable when it falls below expectations.

Who takes responsibility for the Braves? Some bean counter in Denver? This is a team with no course, no plan, no soul.

Trading Tex was a positive step, it forced some to acknowledge last year’s trade was a last gasp for this team and their heroes from the 90’s.

While the Braves have sat on their “laurels”, the competition has built up, retooled and committed to winning. That is why we, as Braves fans, are destined for a trip back in time to the glorious 80’s - although this time unfortunately without Ted at the helm.

By ttough44

July 30, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

The Braves need to have a house cleaning. 1. Get rid of these bullpen pitchers. Bring up some young-uns and lets polish them the rest of the season. 2. Trade Francoeur, to Dodgers and let him and Andruw Jones talk about their bating styles and how much $ they havent earned lately. 3. Kostsay? Trade him too. Non productive! 4. Do yall think if Frenchy was moved to centerfield it would improve his vision of hitting? Naaa! 5.Coaches, it is time to regroup. You reckon, now that the Braves do not have the quality starting rotation (of which I could have taken the Braves to the playoffs and would have probably won at least 2 world series rings..( I would never have brought in the slow circle change pitcher to pitch to Kirby Puckett) ) With the talent the Braves have had we should have won more than one world series, Braves have not played fundemental baseball for yrs. Long ball dependency…..time for a change?

By General Patton

July 30, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

Fire Bobby Cox, Pendleton and McDowell. The ignorant management team has proven their incompetence.

With this group of idiots destroying the franchise, Now I firmly believe, A Wet Dream can end Dry!”

By BoiseSt.Broncos!!

July 30, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

TRADE FRANCOUER!!! PLEASE!!!

By Jim

July 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

It was the right move. Tex is a very good player, but he didn’t show to be the type that could put a team on his back and carry it (like Chipper has many times in his career). Tex piles up the stats, but lots of them seemed to come when we were already well ahead or well behind. I don’t remember him coming through very many times in critical situations (again, like Chipper has many times in his career). I also didn’t particularly care for his “I’m a slow starter” quotes early in the season when we needed his bat badly.

The Braves payroll can’t match the NYC/LA/Chicago teams, and the money it would have cost to keep him would be better spent to split among two or three good players instead of committing it all to him (how about a new outfielder with some dang power!)…..or maybe it can go to a top tier starter next year. I hope that is what they are planning.

I hope this makes everybody appreciate how lucky we were to have experienced that 14 year run. These days the Braves are just another mid-market team trying to compete with the high payroll clubs. It can be done with the right moves and some luck (like not loosing half your team to injuries like we experienced this year)…..but I doubt we will ever have any more multi year playoff runs. Ah, the good old days….

By Carey in Arkansas

July 30, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

I like the Tex trade, especially since the year is lost anyway. The braves needed to get younger and yesterday was a good start. I love chipper and Smoltz but remember the braves run started in 91 after they traded a beloved Murphy. Chipper probably wouldn’t approve a trade but if he would the braves should consider it. I’m not sure on Smoltz’s options next year, if it lies in the braves hands, we shouldn’t pick up the option. Both guys are stars when they play, but the problem is Chipper is injury prone and Smoltz may be done anyway. It’s not like the Braves have the MLB best attending fans anyway. Last night sounded like a road game for the braves, but it’s that way when the cubs and red sox come in too. Get younger and take some of the additional millions available and bring in a reliable stud pitcher and a power bat.

By jv

July 30, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Now let’s see if management is allowed to spend the money that has been cleared. Just a quick look tells me that Hapton’s $16+ mil, Tex’s $12 mil, and Glavine’s $10 mil will be available. Plus I doubt Kotsay will be back. So they should have $40 mil going into free agency. If they took that and got a true ace SP - say a Sabathia and 1 solid major league corner OF - maybe Bay, although I would prefer a bigger bat, and then maybe another solid player who could play 3B or the outfield - a Youkliss/Huff type player - better than a utility player - an every day player with flexibility. Then I think with some help from prospects they would be very strong next year.

By PJ

July 30, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Tex is gone (dumb move) so now there are a few more that need to go Glavine,Hampton,Frenchy,Miller……….please let’s not get Maddux back so he can retire as a Brave (like Glavine will)…..we need good players that can hit……..

By BravesLover

July 30, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

I don’t want to be a spoiler…I want a team that wins. Not tries to win, not competes to win, not wants to win. WIN baby that’s the name of the game. I don’t want to see a AA/AAA team representing my team and my city. Give me major league players and a mamager that perform or slide down the Swannee. Interesting conversation in last night’s game that the Cardinals have much of the same injury problems that the Braves have but LaRusso doesn’t allow players or reporters to talk or dwell on who isn’t there. He takes his best 25 each day and says let’s play ball…and expects to win! BC has been taken to the shed by Charlie Manual (who is no genius) and La Russa in the last two series. Another interesting by Brian Jordan who played for both was his comparison of the two managers. He said Bobby fills out the line up card and that’s it. LaRussa and Duncan know the most up to date information about their players and opposing players and plan accordingly. Both have enjoyed success but give me a manager who knows the game and is prepared every day over a nose picker. There are no answers in the buggers. Your players either play the game right every day or they go to a lower level to learn to do it right. The top of the ship down list is wanger pulling Francoeur. Give us major league players, Frank.

By Mitch

July 30, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

Had we been anywhere near the wild card race, I would have said we should have kept Tex. With as far back as we are, Smoltz gone, Glavine maybe or maybe not coming back, Hampton start to start after three years on the DL, and Hudson (Heaven forbid) maybe gone for a year or more, this deal had to be done.

Bottom line, non contending teams trade star players at trade deadlines to get young talent. I’m not saying this team will be as bad, but we did it in 1987 with Doyle Alexander, and got a young Tigers farm hand named John Smoltz. Alexander helped the Tigers win a division that year by going 9-0 down the stretch, and Smoltz, even if he heaven forbid never throws another pitch, won 210 games, saved 154 more, won fourteen division titles, six NL pennant, and a World Series. I’d say we got a pretty good return for Mr Alexander. I’m not saying that the Kotchman-Tex deal will be the same return for us, because it wont, but, the point is, teams out of the race trade their chips to contenders at trading deadlines. It’s just how baseball is.

We might well have to prepare for next year as if there will be no Glavine, Hudson, or Smoltz. Glavine’s retirement will be his choice. If he comes back and pitches okay in the last month of the season, it might be worth 8 mil to sign him. As for Hudson, if he needs TJ surgery, hes done. With Smoltz, the guy is a such a gamer, that if he can at all come back, I believe he will.

We really wont know what next years team will look like, under we see what the verdicts are for Smoltz, Hudson, and Glavine. If we could get a Ben Sheets, or CC Sabathia, it might be worth it to let Smoltz and Glavine go. A rotation of Jurrgens, Hudson, and Sheets or Sabtahia, would be a great one through three. If that happens, we contend next year. If Hudson needs TJ surgery, unless Smoltz comes back and wins 15 games, or Glavine stays, and wins 12, next year will be troublesome.

The deal had to be done, and we are done for 2008. Personnel decisions and health will determine how the 2009 Braves look, and we may not know that for several months, unless we find out that Tim needs TJ surgery today.

By Dwayne

July 30, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

Yes injuries have been a factor, but for most of the year, the Braves have had one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. Like the old Bill Clinton Ad “It’s the hitting stupid.” The Braves need some offense and while the Renteria trade brought a good young pitcher, we lost one of our best and most clutch bats. Let’s face it, Chipper cannot be counted on anymore. He is only good for 120 games a year max, yes he is one of the best when he is playing, but the Braves need a superstar they can count on. Next year’s starting pitching should be okay, but we need a big bat and not another Mark Kotsay or Raul Mondesi. What ever happened to the days when the Braves got the Gary Sheffield’s or the Fred McGriff’s. Take a look at the stats for the minor league teams the Braves have, it’s scary. NO power at all. Thorman has the most home runs and he’s not the answer either

By glorydays

July 30, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

My question is: Did we pay too much for Tex last year and by how much? The Rangers have a pretty good farm system of ex-Braves, including Max Ramirez. Who did we get for Ramirez?

By Keeping It Real

July 30, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Signing Tex for a big salary for a season and a half was ridculous when you know that Scott Boras was going to stick it to the Braves once a new contract was on the table. Lets see, the Braves gave up four or five very promising young players under the assumption that they could win a pennant with a pitching staff on medicare with their arms in a sling. They only got two players back for the effort in less than a year. Was Salty that bad at first base? Is it just me, or did Braves management go through a brain disorder? How STUPID is this?

Now that Tex is gone, they should move Glavine, Hampton,Kotsay,and others and use the salary savings to pay Escobar, Johnson,Jurjjens and bring in some talent(speed and pitching) to support what they already have with Frenchy(if he is healthy) and McCann. Bring up the kids in the minors and put them on the field to see what they have. Stop playing old guys with inflated salaries based on previous performance. The Marlins keep turning over young rosters with different managers and winning with low attendance and revenues.

How much do they pay the GM for making bonehead moves like this? I thought baseball was a business. We need someone like Billy Bean at Oakland. He knows when to unload players and restock. Seems like the players and their agents are much better than Braves Management.

By Bo

July 30, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

Maybe the best part of deal is the player no ones talking about Marek. Troy Percival said, Marek was the upside of the deal. He worked with him last year in minors and said he would be in majors in year or two. Hell we could come out of this smelling like a Rose. Who knows but have faith .

By DHD

July 30, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

Ted DID sign players. Go back and check the record of his Braves from 76 through the 80s. He did a great job, didn’t he? it’s MUCH more than throwing your money to guys like Messersmith. Ted was OVER-RATED.

By MAV

July 30, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

P.Rose You obviously have no business sense and pretty much no sense at all. Keep trying to go through life with the tough guy attitude. That works well in business, and YES baseball is a business. You don’t give 20 to 25% of your payroll to one player. It doesn’t work. Just ask the Yankees!

By GLEP

July 30, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Wake up baseball fans!! We just learned that one man is not going to fix this mess. Tex was painful proof of that.Oh and, Not his fault? Have ya’ll forgotten his “Slow start”? Remember all the opportunities he could have driven in a run here a run there and we wouldn’t have had such a incredible record in one run games. This team has gone from 14yr champions to major league doormats!They finished 3rd two staight yrs and now a miracle has kept them from the cellar.IN fact the Nationals head to head have owned the Braves this yr. They are the worst team in MLB.Presently.Given this, NOBODY should be off limits. As they said when we traded Dale Murphy, We couldn’t win with him Might as well trade him.This team needs a total revamp. Starting at the top with the ones who masterminded this disaster.Everyone is expendable in my book.Even their scouts have proven they don’t know how to judge talent nor tell a players weaknesses. They can’t play fundementally, Cox has become a babbysitter,and They have shown that giving them a comfort zone is a mistake. This team needs dynamite to unearth the dead.

By Steve

July 30, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

Give me a break. I picked the Braves to finish fourth in their division before the first pitch. This lineup is a joke. They should have dumped Chipper years ago. If he sprints to first base he goes on the DL. They should have gotten ride of MR. Slump Andrew Jones years ago as well. Why do we still have Hampton?

By Wrong

July 30, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

The Braves should move McCann to first base and get some pitching

By BL

July 30, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Since we no longer have 3 HOF pitchers on the squad, some thought needs to be put into the spring training schedule. The famed “relaxed” atmosphere and “do what you need to do to get ready on your own” has to go. Injuries and lack of consistency anywhere on the field show that.

By Pat

July 30, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

You Tex hater out there finally got your wish. We traded a gold glove power hitting switch hitter at the 4 hole for a slap hitting guy and a pitcher with a 2-6 record in AA ball. You can count on 35, 135 and 280 with Tex. Can you count on the same production from Casey? Give me a frigging break. If we would have kept Tex, we could at least get another attempt to sign him. Even if we couldn’t, we would at least get those 2 premium picks. Anything can happen in the draft. This trade made me sick. We already have one player with a girl name. Do we really need to add another? Those who think the Braves will use the $$$ to get a front line pitcher ala CC is smoking pot? If we can’t afford Tex, do you really think we have a chance to outbid the Yanks, Sox and Angels for a frontliner like CC? I am so done with the Braves. First the Hawks and Thrashers and now the Braves. Go ahead and rename Atlanta to Loserville. That’t what we are.

By whistlebritches

July 30, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

If Francouer hits and Boyer does not pitch, we win, and we keep Tex.

By GT

July 30, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

So, if those who exhibit understanding and correct interpretations of events are “stupid”, what does that leave you and Bradley?

Terence, the Braves had this division lost long before Chipper and Hudson found the DL, long before the last four losses, long before last week.

Just last week, your column espoused how the Braves were ‘destined’ to start playing better because you said the string of injuries “simply could not continue to happen as frequently as they have all year”. Here’s the first thing any sports writer should know about baseball: there’s no such thing as destiny in this game, except that which you make yourself.

But go on; keep referring to people as “stupid”, especially those of us who actually watched this team and who managed to connect their results to the larger context of the division race before now.

As Ricky Roma once said, You never open your mouth before you know what the shot is.

By jimmy

July 30, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Why even worry about next year or the next game if Cox is managing.T..M. ,why put new wine in old bottle?L et Cox,Glavine,SMOLTZ,Hampton,and because of injuries,Chipper ride off together in the sunset.Job well done,let”s find our Joshua and move on.

By Don Keeballz

July 30, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Why is everone saying we need a big bat we got CORKY MILLER, MILLER TIME!

By CB

July 30, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

Whoever is happy if we can play the role of spoiler, makes me want to puke. I agree with P. Rose. You had the best 1st basemen and 28 years old. Sign him. With the old guys leaving finally, there is still money left over to get better. When we had talent, it was overlooked that the coaching was poor and fundementals mediocre. Now with little healthy young talent beyond McCann, every fault is fully exposed, including that the Braves managment, and from what I read, many of its fans acceptance of mediocrity. Would you all be accepting if your daughters morals were as mediocre and “whatever” as the Braves seem to be?

By Bama1

July 30, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

OHMan will be traded to Cards by deadline.for???

The Bay deal is still on radar…its up to Pirates to take Braves deal or Rays.

Marek is a starter and just turn relief pitcher…had 57 k’s in46 inning so far this year. Could be great for Braves.

Kotsay trade is 50% at this time?

Frenchy to Royals still 50%? pray it works.

Bobby Cox may retire 10%

By TNJeff

July 30, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the insight, Captain Obvious

By Jonathan Goldberg

July 30, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Low Country Bulldawg: Great post. People need to realize how truly crazy our injury problem has been this year. One thing, however, you omitted Glavine from the list.

Explicit: To your question about why we moved so soon on Teixera: we had to, the trading deadline is Thursday the 31st.

By Jonathan Goldberg

July 30, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

To those bashing Cox, y’all are idiots who know nothing about baseball. Most serious baseball fans, such as Peter Gammons, would consider Cox, along with LaRussa the best managers of the last 20 years. 14 straight division titles is unbelievable. One blogger wrote that with Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux we should win. Well we did. Cox did his job.

One blogger tried to compare the Braves mediocrity with the mediocrity of his child’s morals. Morals and baseball talent are two completely different things. People can control their morals. Hitting or pitching a baseball is another.

Losing Hudson, Glavine, Smoltz and others to injuries would cause any team to have a losing season. The biggest disappointment is Francouer’s poor play. If you predicted it a year ago, i give you credit. Otherwise, it is easy now to jump all over him. Those who say Ted would have signed Tex don’t remember the loserville days of the late 70’s and 80’s. Except for about two or three seasons, we were pathetic. We’ve been the best team in baseball over the last seventeen years. Besides NY, only Boston and Florida have won two series I believe. We won a lot more pennants and divisions than any of those teams.

By Rick Long

July 30, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

P. Rose, CB and others:

What makes you think Texeira would sign with the Braves at the end of the year? Sure, he is a great young talent who would be great to try to build around. However, by all accounts the Braves tried to get him to sign an extension this spring and offered a sizeable contract. Recall also that the Rangers traded him at the deadline last year after he turned down a huge contract offer from them. Led by the nose by Scott Boras, Tex has made it clear to anyone thinking this through that he is going to play out his contract this year and test the free agent market this offseason. That his right.
However, given those circumstances and the fact that they surely must now realize that they fumbled the ball by not trading Andruw at the 2006 deadline and got nothing in return for him when he became a 10/5 man, made this move a no-brainer, even before the roof caved in over the weekend and Monday when Hudson and Chipper went on DL and McCann was lost for at least several days.

The fact of the matter is that this team’s terrific 14 run is over and has needed an overhaul for several years now. For anyone who feels otherwise, consider that the Braves have been 5 or 6 games below .500 over the one year time period that Tex has been here. Management could continue to delude itself into believing this team could still contend and continue the mediocrity that has defined the team since the beginning of 2006 or finally wake up and try to start building around a good young nucleus. As a long time (+ 45 years), I for one am glad to see that the team is finally going in a new and younger direction.

P.S. If Texeira really meant it when he said how much he enjoyed playing in Atlanta and isn’t solely about the money, the Braves have the same opportunity to sign him this offseason as anyone else. P. Rose and CB: would you like to take the “he’ll sign with the Braves this winter” side of a bet?

By BA

July 30, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

Thank you so much for this 100 word gem, captain obvious. Next week: Why Josh Childress won’t be a Hawk next year- he’s in Europe. Moore, How DO you keep a job?