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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > July > 21
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Braves are sellers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the past several weeks, as the Braves’ season has fizzled and the pitching staff began resembling the before picture at a prosthesis convention, there has been this debate about what to do with Mark Teixeira.
If nothing else, what happened this past weekend should unify the masses.
After struggling to convince themselves they were still in the playoff race at the All-Star break, the Braves lost consecutive home games to the Washington Nationals, or possibly Generals, by combined score of 23-8.
When any August-September miracle hinges largely on the rejuvenation of Tom Glavine and the reconstruction of Humpty Dumpty (Mike Hampton), it’s so over.
Mark Teixeira: Good player. Nice guy. Not a difference maker. Goodbye.
Frank Wren wouldn’t divulge as much Monday. He says he hasn’t made up his mind yet. But he reiterated comments about the need to look to the future if the Braves’ present sat at the intersection of Rigor and Mortis.
This time, the words carried more weight.
“We didn’t play well against a team we should’ve played well,” said the Braves’ general manager. “So if that’s an indication how we’re going to do between now and the trade deadline, we’re not going to get back in it.”
And then: “If this isn’t our year, we have to make the ballclub better going forward.”
Wren certainly picked a fine time to take over for John Schuerholz. Home builders have had better years.
The Braves as sellers. Let that one sink in for a while. We haven’t seen this for 18 years. In 1990, the Braves dealt Dale Murphy to Philadelphia. Even then, Murphy was on the downside of his career and the team had David Justice to take over in right field.
The Braves as sellers. Get used to it. To think any other way regarding Teixeira is nonsensical.
He’s good. He’s not great. He hasn’t made the Braves better. He’ll likely bolt and chase the money in free agency. End of discussion.
The Braves were 56-51 last season the day they acquired Teixeira. They are 74-79 since. Is that a difference-maker?
They were 46-52 going into Monday’s game at Florida. In the last two months, they have had one winning streak as long as three games. Still optimistic about passing three teams in the National League East?
The injuries to the pitching staff: not Teixeira’s fault.
Jeff Francoeur’s meltdown: not Teixeira’s fault.
But 5-22 in one run games? Yeah, that’s partly on him.
Elite players should make a difference. Elite players shouldn’t hit .306 at home but only .245 on the road, where the Braves have the third-worst record in baseball. Elite players, franchise players, difference-making players — they don’t build statistics merely by hitting two home runs in 15-6 losses to the Nationals.
Teixeira hit .259 with runners in scoring position in June. He was hitting only .235 in those situations in July going into Monday. His career average with RISP before this season: .327. This year: .278. Bad timing.
He leads the Braves in home runs and RBIs. But forget numbers for a moment. Can you remember his last big moment?
Two seasons.
Two non-playoff seasons.
End of discussion.
Schuerholz swung the trade at the deadline last year. The Braves gave up five prospects, including Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Some believed that to be too much for an impending free agent. Actually, it sent the right message. It was aggressive. It just didn’t work.
Now it’s time to cut losses. There will be a market for Teixeira — potentially at least the Angels and Red Sox. A trade is the only thing that makes sense.
The Braves … as sellers? Wren realizes the oddity of what he’s facing.
“We’re all accustomed to being on the other side,” he said. “It’s strange. When you’re a buyer, you’re looking at major league talent. When you’re a seller, you’re looking at players just below the surface. You’re looking at a different talent pool.”
Go ahead and look. The debate’s over.
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