Sports Columnists

By The Man

December 14, 2006 06:50 PM | Link to this

Terence. For once I’m with ya!

By RS

December 14, 2006 06:56 PM | Link to this

I totally agree. It’s ridiculous that they do not increase payroll when revenues are up and the team is running on a huge budgetary surplus. If next year payroll is not increased by at least 15%, I don’t think the Braves can be competitive in the future.

By GT Baby

December 14, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this

I am going to have to take sides with the Braves.With the erractic and eccentric spending of teams there is no need for the Braves to “throw” away money for a mid-level pitcher or a marginal hitter. With the Soriano trade and the signing of Sturtze the Braves have improved there bullpen and with Hampton coming back and the young kids improving the Braves will do better to way until next year to find out where they need improvement instead of just throwing money around.

By CW

December 14, 2006 07:27 PM | Link to this

We have to sign Andruw Jones to an extension.

By chopper

December 14, 2006 07:28 PM | Link to this

Boy, it’s tough being the red-headed stepchild. The memories are fading when we were neck and neck with the Yankes in payroll and world series appearances. Oh well, I hope Liberty Media understands that an under-funded, under-achieving, boring product won’t sell in Atlanta not to mention on cable. OPEN UP THE PURSE STRINGS! BRING BACK “AMERICAS TEAM” and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

By Hatin' on Goobers

December 14, 2006 07:43 PM | Link to this

Who’s going to put a lot of money into a team that won 14 consecutive division titles and can’t sell out a playoff game?

If people right here in Atlanta don’t have passion for the team why should anybody in NY or Colorado have passion for the team?

By stew

December 14, 2006 07:46 PM | Link to this

Andruw would take 17 mill for 5 or 6 years to resign with the Braves. But, they have to sign him before he becomes a free agent and they have to make the first move. How can they let him walk? Do it before his scumbag agent gets involved.

By Haywood Jablome

December 14, 2006 07:57 PM | Link to this

Where’s the evidence that the Braves are running some huge budgetary surplus? I mean specific evidence, not just “MLB baseball revenue was up last season.” This situation bugs me, too, but JS has a reasonable budget. He can’t blow wads of cash like the retards in Chicago (and I’ll bet you a dollar that the Cubs aren’t in the World Series next year anyway!). If JS is the creative genius he thinks he is, he’ll find a way to get by with “only” 80 mil!

By AdirondackDave

December 14, 2006 07:59 PM | Link to this

I think we need to squeeze every dollar we can out of the budget and be prepared to increase Andruw’s salary by $5M per year for the next 5-6 years. He’d stay for $18.5M per. If either Hudson or Hampton has a good first half, they will have serious value again (look at this year’s free agent salaries.) Move either at the ‘07 July 31 trading deadline for major league ready prospects. Yankees or Red Sox would love to have either one of these guys for the final push, especially after a successful first half. We can then re-sign Andruw and maybe even trade for a little proven talent to fill needs at that time.

By AdirondackDave

December 14, 2006 08:06 PM | Link to this

One more comment… Andruw is one of the most consistent and durable offensive and defensive players in the history of MLB. He is just turning 30 and is likely hit hit 600 home runs before he’s finished and play outfield like nobody else. He will be up near Hank is the history of the franchise. How the hell can we not do what ever is necessary to keep him?? I think he’d stay for $18.5 and give us many for years of what he’s given us in the past. It’s a no brainer for me regardless of what the “suits” do with the budget.

By JND

December 14, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this

How quickly people forget that what other teams are going through right now, signing all those free agents, the Braves went through a few years ago when they gave huge contracts to Chipper, Andruw, Smoltz, Maddux, and the rest. The Braves are at the tailend of those contracts and throwing themselves back into new, huge contracts is not the smart move. They should take a page out of the Rays, Mets, and A’s books and sign Francoeur, McCann, LaRoche, James, and all the other great youngsters to extended contracts now, avoiding arbitration and expensive free agency!

By Efrim D

December 14, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this

If the Braves keep an 80 million dollar payroll for the next 5-6 years than I am NOT for keeping Andruw Jones. We can’t have one player, no matter how good he is, eating 20 percent of the payroll and jeopordizing the chances of keeping players like Laroche Mccann Francouer James and Soriano. The Braves should trade Andruw to the Dodgers asap for Ethier Loney and Elbert. Great futures. THIS TEAM ISN’T WINNING IT ALL NEXT YEAR!!! SAVE THE FURTURE!!!

By TheSouthernJackAss

December 14, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this

It certainly is refreshing to participate in a blog without being besmirched by “Condescending Dave”!…

By underpaid fan

December 14, 2006 08:31 PM | Link to this

Hard for me to be critical of a team that has been as successful as the Braves have. True they are using more restraint than they used to, maybe more than other teams, but perhaps we need to be critical of the other teams for going absolutely insane with MLB players salaries. Personally, the greed just turns me off.

By Peter

December 14, 2006 08:52 PM | Link to this

Negative, negative, negative. Look at last off season. JS said that he was comfortable with CR as closer and that they felt comfortable with the bullpen. That worked out didn’t it?

You’re not going to be able to fit the young guys under an $80 million payroll if Andruw’s here or not. Two big reasons..

1)Nobody turns down millions to do the same job in another city. I love Atlanta but I left for bucks.

2)Players want to win and you’re not going to have a chance to win on a consistent basis if you can’t pay the players. No hometown discount BS please because it was BS even before guys like Drew (who wanted him anyway) and Farnsworth (same same) left.

We’re going back to the old Braves.

By Jim

December 14, 2006 09:01 PM | Link to this

As a 30-year Braves fan, I’ve almost hit rock bottom with digust and despair. Thanks Time-Warner. There will be NO Rocco Baldelli or Chone Figgins as our leadoff hitter. I know the way Scrooge Schuerholz works. Non-Generous John signed journeyman 2B Willie Harris to a minor-league contract a few weeks ago. Quoting Mark Bowman from MLB.com “Harris, who has played 369 Major League games, will be given a chance to win a roster spot as the starting second baseman.” That’s just great, a once great Braves franchise now resorts to no talents like Willie Harris so Time Warner Execs can pay their Rolling Hills Country Club dues and send their children to Harvard. Braves Team President Terry McGuirk said “basically the team is pretty much set for 2007.” Great. No Mike Gonzalez, no Rocco Baldelli, no Chone Figgins. Team McGuirk and Schuerholz are gloating over the trade for Rafael Soriano. Trouble is more than one MLB scout has been quoted as saying Soriano hasn’t been the same since his skull met a Vladimir Guerrero rocket late last season. How can McGuirk and Schuerholz be excited about the 2007 edition of the Braves when they still have NO MLB leadoff hitter??!!! (sorry Johnny S - Wee Willie Harris is a washed-up bum). There have been no significant improvements from last year’s team. Aybar and Harris as wanna-be leadoff hitters who both have pianos on their backs and can’t steal a base, shell-shocked Soriano, but NO Mike Gonzalez, Rocco Baldelli, or Chone Figgins. Thanks Time-Warner, and John Scheurholz and Terry McGuirk - you both should be ASHAMED of treating the Braves fans as used-car salesman victims. Just tell me the truth, that’s all I ask… tell me truth. Admit you are not going to spend any money or trade players to try and compete. Don’t tell me how good the 2007 Braves are going to be when you play bargain-basement baseball and choose NOT TO COMPETE. Only in my dreams… a dominant bullpen with Mike Gonzalez, and REAL leadoff hitter like Baldelli or Figgins.

By UNKNOWN HINSON

December 14, 2006 09:11 PM | Link to this

I DONT WANT THEM TO SPEND 50MIL ON GIL MESCH OR WHATEVER HIS NAME IS. I JUST WANT A LEADOFF HITTER, IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR XMAS?

By glorydays

December 14, 2006 09:42 PM | Link to this

Spending as much as last year isn’t so impressive when your competitors are spending more in a changing market.

By Jeff

December 14, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

Don’t fret so much. This team will score LOTS of runs. Francoeur cuts strike outs in half. Bullpen now shored considerably up. We’ll find a second baseman who can lead off and steal bases. John Smoltz seals his Hall of Fame status by winning 2 or 3 World Series games. The World Series trophy is coming back to Atl.

By ITS GETTING OLD

December 14, 2006 10:13 PM | Link to this

Thanks Terence for telling the truth, something Braves Brass want do. Terry McGuirk must have fell of the truck or is on crack. Terry do you expect us to believe your lies. Terry is just a YES man for AOL and soon to be Liberty. I hope the IRS turns them down or finds something wrong and put their a#$ in jail.

By Bo

December 14, 2006 10:16 PM | Link to this

Jeff its nice to dream…but get real!

By John

December 14, 2006 10:18 PM | Link to this

If the 2007 team is set, then it is a loser. Still no starting rotation. Still no leadoff hitter. Still no fire!!

By Billy (TBFnB)

December 14, 2006 10:24 PM | Link to this

TheSouthernJackAss,

To make you feel at home…your an idiot.

By Jeff R

December 14, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

Why is this such a surprise? Time Warner forced Braves management to reduce the team’s budget from around $100 million a few seasons ago to $80 million today. Time Warner’s cheapness is nothing new; it’s just starting to bite harder given the spike in player costs.

Anybody who thinks that Time Warner or Liberty Media are going to open their wallets wider is spitting in the wind. Time Warner wants to unload the franchise and Liberty Media wants it only as part of a tax savings gambit. Neoither gives a hoot about baseball or the Braves. Our only hope is that Liberty Media, should they purchase the team, sells it to an owner who gives a damn about the Braves and Atlanta, and who will have enough sense to let thepros run his team while he writes nice, big fat checks.

By I am the decider

December 14, 2006 11:18 PM | Link to this

I don’t think Liberty is particularly interested in owning the Braves and will probably sell the team after it is acquired. It bothers me that MLB has let this thing drag on for so long without putting some pressure on TW. I expect A. Jones to leave and the Braves to continue to play second fiddle to the Mets. Heck, the Marlins may pass them this year.

By TheSouthernJackAss

December 14, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

Billy(TBFnB),

DOB Just called—If you’re finished with his dick he would appreciate it if you put it back in his pants where you found it!!!…Bitc h!

By GT braves fan

December 14, 2006 11:27 PM | Link to this

We have to sign Andruw Jones to an extension.

By Mills

December 14, 2006 11:45 PM | Link to this

Terrence, Great article. It’s to bad the Braves are willing to spend millions (over 10 million per year the last 3 years) on upgrades to Turner Field, but yet each year continue to lower payroll. (I think that since the other teams in the league are making their payrolls higher that the Braves staying at 80 million really equals to a slight reduction in payroll every year.) At least stop raising the ticket prices if you are going to do this. At least stop spending on other areas including Turner Field if you are going to ignore payroll. Come on McQuirk, show some Marbles!

By burt

December 14, 2006 11:45 PM | Link to this

when times warner sucks all the blood out of the braves, and dumps them, we will be the new kansas city in baseball. mlb should force the sale of the braves to local ownership.

By Mark

December 14, 2006 11:49 PM | Link to this

I agree with you for once Terence!!

By Scott

December 15, 2006 12:31 AM | Link to this

The sad thing is. Is that Time Warner continues to make a profit every year off of the Braves. Forbes magazine sites them as making a profit every year during the run including when TIme Warner was crying about not having any money to sign Glavine and Maddux to extentions. Time Warner is awful!!!!

By scannerzone

December 15, 2006 12:31 AM | Link to this

Terence, No doubt, The way this next season is coming I would imagine T/W is only waiting on Liberty to complete the deal with no significant changes being made due to an agreement by both until it’s all done. After all it is a business….Do they really think we’re so stupid? They would like nothing better to see the team improve by some magical wizard behind the curtain “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”, JS, I’m sure. However, they are depending on JS to make it happen. JS has no say concerning spending any more money. Both he and Bobby are short timers anyway. They’ve been promised extra incentives to keep it going until the deals are done.”new contracts” It’s sad. I do still think the two of them will do their best with what they have. After the success they’ve had neither of them will be leaving to go somewhere else. Anywhere from here is downhill. As it looks both the Admiral and the Captain are going to show to be men of character as they both have shown to be during their leadership on this ship. Maybe before this long sailing ship goes down, we’ll see 1 more victorious season patched together. Or maybe once the deal is complete and Liberty puts the franchise up for sale AB will come in a take ownership before its all too late. peace

By Jonathan

December 15, 2006 12:43 AM | Link to this

Guys I really believe that we are going to compete next season, we have no money to spend but we have something more important than that, HEART people win championship w/team work on the side not money,If I am wrong can someone tell me please why the yankees don’t win every year. We have a limit budget I know that, but still too much heart in this club, so I wish you My BROTHERS to be patient and see how the season goes…From New York let’s go braves

By LA Brave

December 15, 2006 01:45 AM | Link to this

If they are running at that kind of surplus, than think of it like this, someone has to keep Time Warner in the black b/c they sure can’t do it on their own.

By Choppin Bob

December 15, 2006 01:54 AM | Link to this

Terrence, I didn’t waste a minute reading your article. ok, maybe 73 seconds. You are an idiot and I will never like your writing. Oh wait a second….Santa Claus just dropped 20-30 mill in our pocket….I like you now.

By Greg

December 15, 2006 06:08 AM | Link to this

Wow! McGuirk should work for the cigarette companies. “We have no conclusive evidence that smoking causes cancer.” Did his nose actually grow when you were speaking with him. “The sale has no effect on the budget.” Wow! That’s a great lie. Was it in person or on the phone? As for Giles, I can’t stand the little twerp, but letting a player of that quality go for NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! was by no means a smart move. Do you know what we could have got for him next July when the Braves are 15 games behind the Mets? I figure our hard budget cost us two AA pitching prospects and maybe more. Wow! McGuirk can lie with the best of ’em.

By bill

December 15, 2006 06:55 AM | Link to this

Since when did one have to agree with a writer to consider them a good writer? Oh yes, I forgot for a minute that we have had this behavior exhibited for the past 6 years in Washington…you don’t agree with me, you’re an idiot. I don’t know how long Terence has been writing for the AJC, but I probably read his first column and have had a love/hate relationship with him since. I disagree with him quite often but I respect him as a writer and, if I open my mind a little, I often finish with a new perspective on something. This is a good take on the Braves’ situation and is one that all fans need to become more vocal over…we deserve better. This is not a small market…we have national support and our recent history speaks for itself. MLB is moving too slow to correct our ownership problem…they are as much to blame as anybody. Thanks for speaking out on it, Terence. Go Braves.

By Mike Clark

December 15, 2006 07:14 AM | Link to this

I know. We cound bring back justice and Grissam. We know they should have never left. Man, Mr. Moore, You should know how to spend someone elses money. Keep up the good work.

By coach

December 15, 2006 08:01 AM | Link to this

Did the Braves executives cut their payroll? I venture to say NO because that’s where they get their bonus from. As long as we idiots continue to buy season tickets, they will continue to raise ticket prices, and continue to cut payroll. This season I WILL NOT RENEW MY SEASON TICKET PACKAGE and encourage everyone else to follow suit. Then they will get the message. Make this the grassroots campaign to not buy season tickets until they see fit to listen to the serfs. (I stopped renewing my Hawks tickets several years ago)There will always be a seat to any Braves Game you want to see at a lower price. When they come calling after the 1st of the year, tell them its just not in my budget this year. Maybe someone will get the hint.

By T-Rex

December 15, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this

If Andruw goes, I will no longer be a Braves fan. He’s by far better than Chipper. Andruw has already did his part and accepted less money to be a Brave. Its time for the love to be returned. Pay that man. He’s worth it. You guys paid Hampton for years of nothing, why not pay Andruw when you know what you are going to get year in year out.

By KC

December 15, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this

For right now… it is what it is. There is a pending sale underway right now, so we’re not going to see any significant operational adjustments right now. We’re just not. Once the sale is complete, things might get a little better. I’m convinced they won’t get any worse.

Let’s keep in mind that AOL/TW has been a struggling corporation for several years now. If you’re going to have corporate ownership, better that it be a thriving company, rather than a struggling one. That’s the good news about this AOL-TW/Liberty Media sale.

By GT

December 15, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this

Terry McGuirk is the front man for one of the oddest purchases in baseball history. He has to manage a lame duck organization where the marriage is over for the team and the owner and until the paperwork is finished the new spouse is not allowed to decorate the house. There is no indication by the lawyers or government or baseball on when this will happen, so the present owners and team have very little in common as the purchase drags on. We in Atlanta are lucky McGuirk cares enough to sick around. He certainly doesn’t need the money having been the chairman of Turner Broadcasting and making millions on the stock in its merger with AOL. McGuirk was the alpha of the Atlanta Braves. He was the man that hired John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox and backed all the moves that brought 14 division championships to this town. He has done it not grandstanding like the present owner of the Falcons and with very little drama like the present Hawks are having. The average sport’s fan on the Atlanta street wouldn’t even know his name. Moore only brings the subject up as a left-handed way to berate McGuirk for not offering Jones some outrageous salary and by writing this curry favor with Moore’s constituency. Hacks like Moore aside this town owes the Braves in general and McGuirk in specific a debt of gratitude for not only bringing a winner to what was once “Losersville USA”, but the way this team conducted itself during this run.

By Jim

December 15, 2006 09:21 AM | Link to this

Terence I could not have said it better myself. The Braves are an incubator for MLB & give up more good players than many teams grow or even know. Come on front office! Open the treasury and give us something to cheer about. I love the Atlanta Braves & it makes my booty want to take a dip of snuff when they talk about budget restraints. Good grief, there is plenty of money to bring another shot at a world series to Atlanta. Terence thank you for telling it like it is! Go Braves!

By mack

December 15, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

man o man theres no way the braves can contend.every one is spending money and they [braves management] act like their broke they have to be one of the richest teams out there.don’t pee on my leg and tell me its raining.

By GTA

December 15, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

Andruw’s not going to get a contract favorable to the Braves, his jerk agent wants 20 mill and I doubt he’s going to budge. Homeboy wants to give them 15 mill which is a very very good contract even though some dumb team out there would give him 20. If I were him, I would stay with the Braves no matter what, since he lives in Atlanta and has already spent his career here.

By Brian

December 15, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

God forbid the Braves ownership try to turn a PROFIT on their asset. Give me a break, people. Baseball is a business. If you owned the Braves, I guarantee that you would not be so quick to say “yeah, let’s give Andruw $18.5MM per!” The real issue here is the lack of a salary cap in baseball, which creates an uneven playing field between teams with huge revenues (Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, etc) and teams with lower revenues.

By francoeur7fan

December 15, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this

Haywood’s right. Just because the MLB in general may have a budget surplus, how on Earth does that have anything to do with the Braves’ budget specifically? You all see the empty seats at The Ted. I sincerely doubt that there’s a major surplus here. (However that does NOT excuse JS for not offering Glavine the within-reason salary he was seeking! Period.)

And when does the bubble burst? Does Worthless Selig think that clubs can continue to keep (over)spending on mediocre-average players and it won’t cause MLB to suffer eventually? It will be the death of the small-market teams and a horribly uneven playing field.

By francoeur7fan

December 15, 2006 09:45 AM | Link to this

Haywood’s right. Just because the MLB in general may have a budget surplus, how on Earth does that have anything to do with the Braves’ budget specifically? You all see the empty seats at The Ted. I sincerely doubt that there’s a major surplus here. (However that does NOT excuse JS for not offering Glavine the within-reason salary he was seeking! Period.)

And when does the bubble burst? Does Worthless Selig think that clubs can continue to keep (over)spending on mediocre-average players and it won’t cause MLB to suffer eventually? It will be the death of the small-market teams and a horribly uneven playing field. Not everyone likes the Yankees, BoSox & Cubs…

By J.D.

December 15, 2006 09:45 AM | Link to this

Haywood’s right. Just because the MLB in general may have a budget surplus, how on Earth does that have anything to do with the Braves’ budget specifically? You all see the empty seats at The Ted. I sincerely doubt that there’s a major surplus here. (However that does NOT excuse JS for not offering Glavine the within-reason salary he was seeking! Period.)

And when does the bubble burst? Does Worthless Selig think that clubs can continue to keep (over)spending on mediocre-average players and it won’t cause MLB to suffer eventually? It will be the death of the small-market teams and a horribly uneven playing field. Not everyone likes the Yankees, BoSox & Cubs…

By J.D.

December 15, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this

Haywood’s right. You all see the empty seats at The Ted. I sincerely doubt that there’s a major surplus here. (However that does NOT excuse JS for not offering Glavine the within-reason salary he was seeking! Period.)

And when does the bubble burst? Does Worthless Selig think that clubs can continue to keep (over)spending on mediocre-average players and it won’t cause MLB to suffer eventually? It will be the death of the small-market teams and a horribly uneven playing field. Not everyone likes the Yankees, BoSox & Cubs…

By 2007 Saga

December 15, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

The 2007 Saga has already been written. I predict that Hampton will get injured(career ending), Smoltz will miss at least 5 starts due to injury/stiffness/soreness, and Hudson will simply stink. That will leave our starting woes as bad as our bullpen woes from last year. 2008 will bring the focus back to starting pitching.

Given that salary is stuck on $80M, not much JS can do given he has much of it tied up in Hampton, Chipper, & Andruw. Hampton & Chipper are untradeable given their high salaries and limited production. Andruw is untradeable because he will not approve a deal. Until these guys are off the payroll, JS will be handcuffed.

By Scrooge

December 15, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

Terrence:

You mention the outrageous salaries given to mediocre talent (Meche, Lily, et al), then you express frustration that we are not entering this market? If anything, commend the front office for refusing to play in an offseason of escalating salaries. With a fixed budget, maintaining fiscal responsibility is of utmost importance, and giving in to rising salaries would’ve killed our chances to compete in the years to come.

By J.D.

December 15, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this

sorry that got triple posted, guys. the website was acting up. :-P

By Michael

December 15, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

For once JS got it right, teams are spending insane amounts of money on average players, this will come back to haunt THEM, not us.

You all seem so focused on the dollars of baseball, but yet the braves can’t sell out a playoff game. Are southerners too focused on football? i fly down for every platoffs from NJ, the least locals can do is drive 10 minutes to the game. Watch a Yankees playoff game, they put us to absolute shame!

By Michael

December 15, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this

Great Job JS, if the A’s, Bulls, Pistons, Spurs, Twins, and Indians can manage contedning professional sports teams without spending foolishly than we can too!

By chris

December 15, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this

All the negativity, I am an idea’s man, I work on enthusiasm, don’t take that away from me. By the way, Brian played hurt last year, Jeff will be much better, we will have Wickman all year, our bullpen before Wickman will be much improved with the addition of Soriano and Sturtze plus the maturity and health of our other guys, our rotation will be much improved just by getting healthy, Kyle will pitch like a number 2 in the 5th slot, and Hudson will pitch like a 1 in the 3rd slot, Adam should be much better in the first half of this year than last, and we are going to keep such an eye on Chipper this year that he should play in 140 games and dominate like he did in ‘99. Did anyone notice how much better Hudson was in his last 5 starts. All he did was move to the other side of the rubber. I know why everyone is thinking we are not going to be good this year, but we will win the division and go deep in the playoffs, WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Jordan

December 15, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this

good article TM, even though i’m pretty sure you never go back and read thru the comments

By Jch

December 15, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

The very first response to Moore’s column cites a “budgetary surplus”; otherwise known in the business world as “profit”. I do not know if this “profit” exists (can someone confirm) but am assuming it does due to the surge in baseball popularity, rising ticket prices and stable (stagnant?) payroll.

The “The Atlanta Braves Baseball Team” is a “for profit” business - not a government agency, charity or other NPO (non-profit organization) who may run “budgetary surpluses”. By their nature, NPO’s have no intention of making profits and if they are fortunate enough to find themselves with a “Budgetary Surplus” they are bound by their directors to find a way of using it to better their existing programs or fund a new one. They can not have surpluses/profits.

The front office (JS included) has a completely different charge. Their sole responsibility is to make a profit - period. If they find themselves with a profit (budgetary surplus) they split it among the shareholders and celebrate a job well done.

The formula for doing this is simple - increase revenues and keep costs as low as possible while still providing a quality product. Fielding a competitive team that is enjoyable to watch, therefore attracting ticket buying fans, is merely a “tool” in making this profit. Other tools would include raising ticket, concession, parking and other prices to drive up revenues. Another all important tool in running a profitable business is managing costs, which includes player payroll.

This seems to get lost in these discussions. Too many of the contributors seem to think Time-Warner, whoever owns the team at any given time, “owes” the community a championship team. The only people they owe anything to are their share-holders and they owe them their best efforts in making as large as a profit as possible.

They owe us nothing.

However, if we don’t like what we’re seeing, don’t go to games. Don’t watch them on TV. Don’t discuss them on blogs. When this happens reveneus will fall and the head office will find themselves needing to use one of the “tools” at their disposal to drive up revenues and profits. Since they could hardly spend less on payroll and raising ticket and other fan prices doesn’t make sense when you have low fan support, they will turn to increasing the level of quality of their product - namely field a better team.

But, until the fans do this, nothing will change.

On the roster side of things, I agree 100% with Mr. Moore’s column. Signing Glavine would have been insane - did we really want 2 40+ year olds anchoring our rotation???? And for Giles - his production and defense is EASILY replaced with far less than his projected $5 million.

I am of the opinion the team, as it stands now, will be more than competitive. I enjoy watching the young guys play and perform. The offense last year was fantastic and losing Giles isn’t going to affect this at all - it very well may be improved with a better lead-off guy for less money. With the addition of Wickman and Soriano, our bullpen will be nearer the top of the league instead of the bottom. With a healthy Hampton, James, Smoltz, Hudson and the rest we should have a very good rotation. I’m excited about our team and truly think they will get back to the play-offs and contend for championships in ‘07.

By VaBravesfan

December 15, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

I totally agree with you, Mr. Moore. These teams paying ridiculous amounts of money for marginal players are going to be trying to dump them in a couple of years. (See Texas Rangers)

By Dan Bassen

December 15, 2006 10:29 AM | Link to this

AUTHER BLANK WHERE ARE YOU!?!

By tedicus

December 15, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this

We need to get rid of the Turner South deal. That’s the way you increase revenue and can have a bigger budget too work from. Most homes in america do not get Turner South, but most of them get TBS. Put the games back on TBS!!! The reason they became America’s team was because most of America could watch them on a regular basis.

By Brent

December 15, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

One thing that is irking me is that the Braves have had a flat $80 million payroll for a few years now, with no annual adjustment to keep up with inflation. If the budget were simply being raised 5% per year to keep up (which should seem to be pretty standard practice), we would have been able to keep Marcus Giles.

By gary lineberger

December 15, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this

**js should try a contract offer like this 13 million guaranteed for 10 years. sure dru could get more but 130 mil guarantee to finish a career where he started , priceless

By Rick Roberts

December 15, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this

Terence, you are right on! I live in KCity and love what Dayton Moore and the Royals are doing—they have seen how letting your club slip for years can be so costly and now are on the way back. The Braves should take heed—the budget should be $90M in Atlanta just to stay even with increased salaries and other team competition. The Braves are an ‘asset’ and should not be devalued by the ‘bean counters!’

By Howie from Poughkeepsie

December 15, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this

I love the fact that the Mike Gonzalez-Adam LaRoche trade is still a possibility. But I’m NOT for then trading Gonzalez to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera. If we are going to give up a talent like LaRoche, we must keep Gonzalez. It is a move for a solid future - locking up the closer role for years. Modeling after the 1996 Yankees, Soriano and Gonzalez ‘set up’ Wickman next year, and then Soriano sets up Gonzalez for the next few years. Offense is great - defense wins championships. We will get by with Thorman at first, and Kelly Johnson either in left (platoon with Mike Diaz) or at second base. Let’s LOCK what we haven’t had for the past two years - a closer.

By Andy

December 15, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this

JS knows what he is doing. You have to remember that we have a handful of young guys (James, Frenchy, McCann) that we will need to sighn to extensions in the next 3 years. He doesn’t want to overcommit to a player and then not be able to sign these guys.

By Fed Up

December 15, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this

TBS will never increase the number of Braves games. Besides, after this year, there will be no more Braves games on TBS. It’s going to be MLB on TBS. Which means we’ll get a steady diet of Yankees, Red Sox, and other big market teams in a vain and stupid attempt to increase ratings. Maybe the way to increase TBS’s ratings would be to not show the same Adam Sandler movie nine times in a week.

By DaTominator

December 15, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

I just don’t see the logic in the arguments put forth in this article - on the one hand the Braves are to be praised for showing sanity in not opening up their coffers to Tom Glavine, but on the other hand they should act like all the other idiots who are throwing 55 million at the likes of Ted Lilly??? Come on, Terrence. Did $200 million buy the Yankees a World Series last year?

I like the team I think the Braves will put on the field next year, and I REALLY like what I saw out of Prado for the brief time he was up. Continuing to mix youngsters with a few higher priced guys is the way it needs to be done, and not going bonzo for questionable free agents is wise behavior on the part of the Braves organization.

By JimK

December 15, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this

I thank our management team for the best years of Braves baseball. And I admire them for not participating in this year’s round of salary inflation.

I agree with AdirondackDave that we should be looking to unload Hampton and Hudson’s deals just as soon as we can get MLB-ready top prospects for these guys. But not so we can incur another huge liability with Andruw.

We will never have money like the Yankees and Red Sox again. For now we must compete in the Cardinals salary bracket — which means being sellers, not buyers of guys like Renteria, and on the receiving, not donor end of prospects like Wainright.

Our role models for the future may well have to be the Marlins and A’s. We need to maintain fiscal discipline, our discerning eye for young pitching talent, refuse to deal our best prospects, and be willing to absorb the occasional rebuilding year or two.

By ron

December 15, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this

I’m going to stop supporting the team if they don’t start getting competitve by spending money.

By Big Daddy

December 15, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this

PLEASE PLEASE

“The supposedly gasping Kansas City Royals gave $55 million to Gil Meche, a right-handed pitcher with a record not worth mentioning. Lefty Ted Lilly has a record that is even less worth mentioning, and he got $40 million from the Chicago Cubs.”

I see no reason for the Braves to make idiotic moves just because perennial losers Kansas City and the Cubs make them. This is nuts.

And another thing. It makes no sense to try to sign Andruw to a long term contract for $20-25 million as he enters the downward side of his bell curve. He will have given Atlanta his best 11 years. Now let one of the fools pay him for all our enjoyment over the years.

Many people on here keep talking about the Braves fans losing interest. It isn’t happening. Last year (during Atlanta’s worst record in 16 years) saw the highest fan turnout in the last 4 years, 2,549,522. You call that losing interest?

I will agree the salary lid should be lifted a bit for them to compete in certain areas but money is not what forms championships. Just look at the WS winners the last six years. Here they are and how they ranked in salaries.

St. Louis. 13th. White Sox. 13th. Boston. 2nd. Marlins. 24th. Angels. 15th. Arizona. 8th.

There is no correlation between how much money is spent and the World Series winners.

By Nick

December 15, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this

But there is a correlation between our apparently well known budget and what our management can do. We couldn’t even trade Giles because everyone out there knew that we couldn’t afford to keep him, and they could get him for next to nothing in just a few weeks. If not for this ridiculously strict budget they are on, JS could have probably gotten something for him at the winter meetings. Instead, we can’t afford to sign these guys to measely 1yr 6mil contract and so they wonder off and we get nothing in return. I guarantee that Liberty Media will be worse. This doesn’t get any better till LM has a couple years of tax breaks off the Braves and finally sells us to someone who cares about baseball.

By DonCoburleone

December 15, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this

Terrance I usually can’t stand your articles, but this one hit the nail right on the head. Excellent points and a very well thought out piece…

By GT JACKETS

December 15, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Here is the team that the Braves will potentially field in 2007…Not bad on paper…We will have to see how they perform… Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, James, and Davies…I will take this rotation if Hudson turns it around and Davies and Hampton stay healthy. Smoltz can win 16-20 games this year, James will win 16-18 games, and 12-15 from Davies and 14-17 for Hudson and Hampton. If this comes true the starters will win 72-87 games this season.

Wickman, Soriano, Sturtze, McBride, Villareal, Yates and Boyer…could make up the pen and that is leaving out Devine, Foster, Cormier and Parronto. This could be one of the best bullpens that has ever been assembled in Atlanta.

LaRoache, Prado, Renteria, Chipper, McCann, Frenchy, Andruw and Diaz as your starters and Bryan Pena, Langerhans, Aybar, Orr and Thorman off the bench. This aint that bad.

Projected Line-up Prado a .300 hitter with decent speed about 10 hr Renteria .300 17 hrs Chipper .300 35hr 110 rbi Andruw .275 45 hr 145 rbi McCann .300 20 hr 80 rbi Francouer .280 35 hr 100 rbi LaRoache .290 40 hr 100 rbi Diaz .275 17 hr 65 rbi

If I am right and not dreaming then this team is not going to be that bad. If the Braves would have had a dependable closer last season we would have made the playoffs and LaRoache is out to prove last year was no fluke. McCann is the real deal and Frenchy must have aggressive patience at the plate. Chipper will have a good year and edgar will come back with avengence. Andruw will put up normal numbers and Prado is Rookie of the year.

Stay behind the Braves and lets hope that Bobby and JS can continue to improve this team. We can win the NL East, NL Pennant and WS this year if we stay healthy and perform. Stay Positive and see what happens….You might be surprised…

By Justin

December 15, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

Why don’t Braves fans ban together and start a website petition along the same lines as “FireMillen.com.” The website can be dedicated to convicing the Braves execs to increase the team’s payroll for AT LEAST the 2008 season. That way, we can resign our franchise hero Andruw Jones. Andruw WANTS to stay. If we petition and bring it to their attention how important it is to us fans that he remains, it could make an impact. For Liberty whatever…they need to understand how the first step towards having the fans embrace this ownership regime, is to keep our star in town.

I say someone with the technological know-how starts a website and we all voice our opinions to the ownership that this payroll situation is unacceptable and will catch up with the Braves very soon.

By Philip

December 15, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this

For once I agree with you. The only thing that will solve the Braves talent woes will be new ownership that’s willing to invest in the team’s success. The Brave’s have been steadily going down hill ever since Ted Turner handed over the reigns.

By Jimmy Oz

December 15, 2006 02:14 PM | Link to this

Bobby Cox is great at making chicken salad out of chicken *#@%&!, and McQuirk and JohnS. have made sure he has a pile of that to work with for ‘07, but there is such a thing a being true to your fans who support you year after year and decade after decade. Spend a few mil and make this team the contender we deserve! NOW!!

By Jack

December 15, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this

Give the Braves credit, maybe they are not bloating their payroll with second-rate (or less) talent so they will have the money to keep Andrew. While it always boils down to staying healthy, the Braves have the chance to be a good team next year. I feel there is a good chance, JS will add the few missing pieces we need to round out the team without bankrupting the future. How many of these stupid teams spending monoply money have really helped themselves add pieces that will assure a world championship?

By Bruce

December 15, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this

Maybe we should wait until the season starts to trash the roster moves or lack thereof. It’s only December. Plenty of time to make a deal.

By Get your head out!

December 15, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

Moore isn’t saying we should sign Lilly and Meche, he is trying to point out what none of you seem to realize. That the rising costs of losers like Meche and Lilly means the Braves are boned. Even below average players are going to cost BIG BUCK$.

The Braves cannot compete on an $80M budget when a #5 starter costs $10M or a setup man costs $5M. There’s no fuqing way! The cost of living in the MLB just went up and the “budget” isn’t following suit.

I don’t give a damn about AOL’s stockholders. If they want a better return on their investments, get off a sinking ship, and buy better stock. AOL has sucked since day one and when the deal was announced that the Braves were part of the package they acquired, I knew the run was over. It took a few years to snuff out the winning, but it’s upon us. Sell the fuqing team, AOL!!!

By Big Daddy

December 15, 2006 03:19 PM | Link to this

It makes no sense to try to sign Andruw to a long term contract for $20-25 million as he enters the downward side of his bell curve. He will have given Atlanta his best 11 years. Now let one of the fools pay him for all our enjoyment over the years.

Many people on here keep talking about the Braves fans losing interest. It isn’t happening. Last year (during Atlanta’s worst record in 16 years) saw the highest fan turnout in the last 4 years, 2,549,522. You call that losing interest?

I agree the salary lid should be lifted a bit for them to compete in certain areas but money is not what forms championships. Just look at the WS winners the last six years. Here they are and how the winners ranked in salaries.

St. Louis. 13th. White Sox. 13th. Boston. 2nd. Marlins. 24th. Angels. 15th. Arizona. 8th.

There is no correlation between how much money is spent and the World Series winners.

By GM

December 15, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this

They won’t increase payroll, but they don’t mind raising ticket prices. Time Warner sucks and should be forced to sell the team before it becomes just another group of wannabes and hasbeens. And from the way I see it, I’ll give them about another year to get to that point. Just as soon as Andruw gets his big payday from the Yankees.

By REAL BIRD FAN

December 15, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this

First off go braves!!! It seems that The Braves orginization is suffering from the big business paradox of baseball. These corporations DON’T care about the game they care about dollar $igns! All we can do is hope that someone who genuinely cares about Atlanta baseball! Until then guys and guyetts keep your fingers crossed! Two thumbs up TM! Finally! GO A!!!

By theBO

December 15, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this

Okay here is the answer to the braves problem. It’s a name. It is a person. Brave need to cut ties with Chipper Jones. 100 games out of him this coming year I doubt it. He is done, stick a fork in him.

By Jeffrey

December 15, 2006 04:56 PM | Link to this

The Braves are very nearly at the point they were in 1975 when the LaSalle Corporation wanted to sell them and Ted Turner saved the day. Without another Turner-esque benefactor, the Braves will slide to the bottom of the league. TW and Liberty have zero interest in owning a baseball team. We are just fortunate that they have not yet ordered a fire sale of players.

By theBO

December 15, 2006 05:03 PM | Link to this

The reason the braves will lose Andrew Jones Is Chipper Jones.Why don’t his name (chipper) come up in trade rumors? The face you see first as a Brave is Chipper. It’s time for Chipper to go or at least head to the bench.

Braves will be better off without Chipper at third and the face of the braves.

By theBO

December 15, 2006 05:05 PM | Link to this

If this is not a fire sale, what would you call it?

By theBO

December 15, 2006 05:09 PM | Link to this

If Chipper contract was up, the Braves would over pay for him. Fans from my area of the south can see hat Chipper is done but the Braves don’t.

By Dano

December 15, 2006 05:28 PM | Link to this

Don’t care about the MLB (Major League Business/Baseball) no more.

By JN

December 15, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this

One thing missing in the story. If the Braves aren’t spending, are they relying on their farm system? It would have been a more objective story if the author had told us about the situation of the Braves’ prospects. Instead, we are led to believe that the Braves’ management doesn’t want to spend a penny and doesn’t care about the team…

By fjensen

December 15, 2006 05:49 PM | Link to this

How about “Coca Cola” or “Home Depot” stadium for $25 million

By Vic from Chelsie

December 15, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this

Get rid of Andrew right now. He is an over rated fealder, and an ignorant hitter. He wouldn’t have the RBI’s if there haden’t been a bunch of good hitters in . When he comes up with people in scoring position and less than two outs I’m hoping he striks out instead of hitting into a double play, I’ve seen all I want of him. And Giles is sta