Sports Columnists

By Chad

February 15, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

I feel lost as a huge Braves Fan to think MLB, AOL, Ted or who ever could allow this to happen. If ownership has no cares in how the team does……HOW CAN WE. This is a sad day in baseball we need a salary cap to stop all of the teams like the Yankee’s from killing baseball with there overspending.

By glenn

February 15, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

The NFL would never allow a transaction like this . Half a year till football . UGGGGHHH !!!

By mike

February 15, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

It disgust me to no end to think where this franchise is going. You could not have sumed it up any better by the phrase twiddle our thumbs. We added some sore arms to our bullpen at the expense of offensive production. We still have 1) no leadoff 2) no first basemen 3) an over-paid often injured third baseman 4) an out fielder with no arm now at second that has not seen live pitching since 2004. 5)no left fielder and 6) an undisciplined local flash in the pan occupying right. My prediction same song second verse Braves no better than third in division.

By doc

February 15, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

liberty has to own it a certain amout of time according to tax issues. since it took so long to pull this one off the team might be up for sale quietly withing the next year and a half. i think the holding period was two years. they will probably be good enough stewards to not let the investment depreciate significantly bu they wont be putting any money into it unless they expect to keep it and use it in their business like turner did.

the real test cases will be this year when the contracts of two good guys who didnt go for the jugglar the last time they signed contracts comes up this year. of course that is the contracts of smoltz and a. jones. they will test the waters and the intentions of this new ownership. with smoltz’ pending divorce he may be less inclined to stay with the home team as he will probably be without significant custody anyway as the father is usually odd man out when it comes to raising kids in situations like this so he may feel more freedom to roam this time around. i doubt he will give the home team discount.

By Don't drink and type

February 15, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this

Just don’t let Atlanta Spirit get ahold of the Braves. What a disaster that would be. The team would be running the bases backward and pitchers throwing the ball straight up into the sky.

By GT

February 15, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

All pro sports have turned into polyester fast foods made for prime time production. There use to be one Disneyland then there were two and now the Chinese are sporting mouse ears. I think NASCAR found that people will cower to any level for entertainment so why knock yourself out. The Braves may be a little more of a family atmosphere than the Falcons where drunks hold a convention two or three Sundays a month but the prices and what you get for them are not made for family not to mention the parking and the location. I don’t know about basketball I don’t go and I don’t watch, but it is my suspicion is if I want a class in gangster activity that would be your classroom. And the pros have torn up the college ranks taking what they want and putting it in their carnival, but then the colleges were asking for it when they started putting athletes on the field that can’t spell the college they play for. In short there is nothing to save my friend, it is like a prostitute trying to save her virtue. Now explain one more time the problem people have with the Master’s over there in Augusta doing things their way.

By Rhett Butler

February 15, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

So now that this deal is almost done, does anyone know if its still going to be called Turner Field?

By Orlando Rivera

February 15, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

I agree with Don’t drink….just as long as Atlanta “lack of” Spirit doesn’t own the team they’ll be fine. They would hire an incompetent GM who would draft nothing but a team full of 6’3 shortstops because they’re “long and athletic”

Listen people America has gone corporate long before (and after) Liberty Media leaves. Just so as long as Scherholz and Cox remain to run the team operations everything will be fine. Go Braves!

By Butsky

February 15, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

Turner couldn’t care less. He only bought the Braves the first so he could fill time slots on TBS.

Blank has his hands full already, and besides I don’t think MLB allows owners on the field during games

By Dan

February 15, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

Hey - don’t blame teams like the Yankees for “killing” baseball because they spend what they want. I hear Braves fans constantly whine that their owners won’t spend what it takes - that’s a Braves and Braves ownership problem. Seems to me that if teams outspend the Braves, Braves fans complain that it’s not fair. However the Braves still have a higher payroll than more than half the teams out there. Is that fair? Fact of the matter is the game has changed and it takes a certain financial investment to be successful. If a team’s owners are not willing to make that investment they need to get out of the industry.

By Hoosier Aaron

February 15, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

Maybe I’m in the minority here. I’ve been calling the Braves my favorite team since I was 5 (1969)…through Hank’s record, losing at lot, winning a lot..through Ted Turner being a horrible owner then a great owner. The one thing that has not changed (regardless)is…I can’t wait for the next Braves game and I’ve always lived 7 hours north of Atlanta where it wasn’t always easy to watch or listen on the radio for that matter…I don’t see my attitude changing once Liberty takes ownership. Short of a strike…nothing can mess up Braves Baseball as far as I’m concerned.

By Curt

February 15, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

The immediate test to see how interested Liberty is in the team is to see if they stick with this ridiculous self-imposed salary cap. JS keeps talking about how you can build a championship team with $80 million. Apparently not in Atlanta and not with 60% of that going to 5 guys.
Until this team can make moves to improve themselves down the stretch, and not when they are dead and buried like the Wickman move last year, they will never contend again. And it is time to recognize that little coming out of our farm system is contributing to the long term success of the team. Take McCann out of the mix and fleeting glimpses of Franceour and we have nothing. No young arms - Chuck James needs to do it for two years before he gets crowned the next big thing. No bullpen help. This is a team hamstrung by high priced aging veterans and young guys not producing. At some point moves need to be made and the only way that happens is to open up the checkbook. I see this team finishing around third in the division just like everyone else.

By Chris

February 15, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

The only way to get Liberty to start caring about what happens on the field is to stop attending games and paying for the product until they increase payroll. That’s the ONLY thing we as fans can do in this situation.

By Morris

February 15, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

Be careful what you wish for, Mark. There is always the danger of an anti-Savior presenting himself and fooling us all with promises of championships, but instead delivering overpaid mediocrity, rising ticket prices, and demands for fancier digs with more corporate boxes.

By Dr.Doom

February 15, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

The braves need to get some brothas on the team. That way the new ownership will have to spend money in order to replace everything that was stolen.

By Fan Since '79

February 15, 2007 01:15 PM | Link to this

Amen Hoosier Aaron!

By GTYjackets

February 15, 2007 01:19 PM | Link to this

I’m so sick and tired of people bashing the Braves! Do any of you guys understand what has transpired here in the decade and a half? Sure the Braves only won a single title in that stretch. Only the yankees and Marlins won more than once in that time frame. Most teams didn’t even get to sniff the playoffs, much less a World Series birth! Yes, I dislike corporate ownership as much as the next guy. I can even understand why some are upset over the fact that 5 guys are cloggin up most of the payroll. But never, ever forget who those 5 guys are. Especially the Jones boys and Smoltz. Those 3 players would be welcome on any team at the drop of a hat for price we have them right now. The Braves don’t finish first for the first time in 15 years and everyone is ready to dismantle them and boot Atlanta Legends out the door. Did all of you forget that the Braves were in contention for the Wild card most of the year. And if you take away that horrid June they played better than .500 for nearly all of it too. Shame on you people. Get some perspective before you start ranting your maniacal bull!!!!

By Kay

February 15, 2007 01:30 PM | Link to this

Liberty cant sell the team in two years, they have to hold it. Do some research on Malone. The guy does a lot of buys like this one, saving taxes in every deal. However the guy is also a winner and makes his companies grow and prosper.

Yes the management will stay the same, but I bet your bottom dollar that the payroll relaxes. He will do what he has done and that is create a winner. He wont just let the braves it at 80 million and be the bottom team of the National League East. He does not work like that.

So dont look for management changes it will contine just like it is. They have not finished their statement though with payroll. It will open up. I bet on it.

By DNutz

February 15, 2007 01:41 PM | Link to this

Let’s see if we can paint a picture here… Liberty Media is a corporation with stockholders to answer to. How long would the executives stay employed if they let an investment tank. Regardless of the reason for purchasing the Braves, it is still an investment. If they don’t at least keep up the status quo, the Braves lose value in a resell 2, 5, or 20 years down the road. The best thing Liberty can do is invest in building a MORE valuable team. That might also play into increased revenues for DirectTV in a “NFL Sunday Ticket” type arrangement with MLB. Afterall, the Braves do have one of the largest national followings of any MLB team. Either way, if they tighten the purse strings and the Braves are in the cellar for the next couple of years, the resell value of the Braves will plummet and Liberty will lose money. If they were stuiped enough to allow that to happen, the lower sale price would certainly entice the likes of an Arthur Blank type.

By David

February 15, 2007 01:47 PM | Link to this

www.bustedplay.com has some good stuff on Braves, Yellow Jackets, Hawks, etc. It’s a sports blog, but it’s written by a guy in Atlanta.

By MizzouGuru

February 15, 2007 02:24 PM | Link to this

Well, if that’s true, then we can expect the payroll to stay tight over the next year or two as Liberty Media would want the Braves to look good for a sale.

By Joe Smoe

February 15, 2007 02:27 PM | Link to this

They have to hold it for 5 years to be a tax write off, and it still has to be approved by the MLB. I Still have faith in mankind and think it wont be approved. Further it wouldnt be to much more of a switch compared to the last owners. The payroll will stay the same at 80 million. That is not bad, thats in the top 15 payrolls. The Braves have a bigger then normal farm system and should be able to compete with that.

Yes, it would have been nice to have a Poppa Big Cash own the big show. But, this is the price that Atlanta has to pay for trusting Turner for all those years.

The team is a great team, for the amount of money we have to spend. Many many teams with higher payrolls would trade team for team.

Next year, 2 of the 5 higher payroll guys will be gone. The managment system may change and, the big questions come then. The new owners will have all the options opened at that point.

By Batman

February 15, 2007 02:43 PM | Link to this

Excellent article by Mark Bradley: I think the Braves can use two Saviors: Clemmons and Johnson. The Braves should trade Tim Hudson away and try and acquire Cy Young winners Roger Clemmons and Randy Johnson. The Braves rotation currently will not improve until great players are acquired and inserted into the starting rotation to help the Braves win. Roger Clemmons and Randy Johnson have combined for a total of 12 Cy Young awards (most ever for two individuals). I also believe that Roger Clemmons will break Cy Youngs win total of 511 wins. I know that Roger is quite a ways off from that total, but Clemmons is in wonderful shape and if he pitches until his mid to late 50s I think he has an incredible chance to make history and catch Young and surpass his win total of 511.

By Robin

February 15, 2007 03:03 PM | Link to this

you’re dumb, Batman.

By David

February 15, 2007 04:17 PM | Link to this

www.bustedplay.com has some good stuff on Braves, Yellow Jackets, Hawks, etc. It’s a sports blog, but it’s written by a guy in Atlanta.

By Jeff R

February 15, 2007 05:54 PM | Link to this

I believe in a piece with DOB’s By Line, Terry McGuirk had no comment when asked if he’d be interested in putting together an investor group to buy the Braves when Liberty Media puts the team up for sale in twenty-four months. Is McGuirk being given a minority interest in the team? If so, might he be in the queue to make an offer?

What’s the story? What do you guys at AJC know, if anything?

By unknown hinson

February 15, 2007 06:49 PM | Link to this

Time Warner makes me want to puke, eat it, shlt it out, eat it again, and puke one more time. It’s sad that Arthur or the other Atl real estate guy did not take over, I would have been much happier. And even though $ has taken over sports, that’s life. That is what runs this country, your life, and the world. So even though human life has been reduced to the simple color of green, it’s not a reason to quit caring about the Braves. No matter who runs the team, it’s a sport where guys come to play a game they enjoy. You can never script it and even though it’s ran by $ you can’t take the fun out of playing and watching sports. GO BRAVES!!

By unknown hinson

February 15, 2007 06:53 PM | Link to this

P.S. Even though it just got bought by another conglomerate company, it can’t be any worse than the evil NY based Time Warner.

By mark

February 16, 2007 02:27 AM | Link to this

Batman ummmm wheres Robin..

By bevsouth

February 16, 2007 07:27 AM | Link to this

I don’t know what Mike’s been drinking but to say we acquired wo sore arms for the bullpen is so stupid I can’t beleive it. Gonzo was 24 for 24 last year and Soriano was excellent. As to no 1st baseman or 2nd baseman, true their unproven but eveyone is a rookie sometime,I’m bettng KJ is better then Giles and Scott will hit 20 jacks and drive in 75 runs from the 7th hole. As to where they finish, it will depend on Hudson and Hampton. If they pitch to their old standards we take the division.

By kenny from athens

February 16, 2007 09:26 AM | Link to this

David McDavid owned the Mavericks before Mark Cuban bought them and turned the franchise around. Key word around. McDavid was cheaply running the franchise in to the ground. Hopefully, a local owner of Mr. Blank’s pedigree will buy the Braves. We need good owners like Mr. Blank. Not bad ones like David McDavid. Or dysfunctional groups like Atlanta Spirit.

By Bravesjeff

February 16, 2007 09:30 AM | Link to this

Lets go back to the 80’s! I love going to an empty ballpark, ample parking and enjoying a game without having to worry about a penant race.Its much more fun and relaxing not to mention free tickets left on my windshield for the next game from disgusted season ticket holders.Lets go back to when it was a game and only a game.

By Jonny5

February 16, 2007 09:59 AM | Link to this

I can’t wait for the season to start, so I’m going to Orlando/Lake Buna Vista next month to watch America’s Team take on the Cardinals. I have tix for Friday and Sunday but need two for Saturday the 17th.