Not sure where this came from, but credit is due. I found it on Twitter a couple minutes ago. I think it goes a long way to explain how Fredi makes his in-game decisions, and why we're all so freakin' frustrated with him. Hopefully, we don't have to be Durbinated much longer.

A few pundits seem to think Fredi's on the hot seat this year. I'm not so sure he is, but he oughtta be. Frank Wren should know better than to put bad players at his disposal, because he WILL use them in leverage situations.

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Not really Braves-related, but certainly as baseball-related as my signature. If you don't read XKCD and you're at least a little bit computer/pop culture/science/internet nerd, you should. Anyway, this comic is actually very appropriate, and it's hard to find those like me--the baseball/science/internet nerd... we're a rare breed, apparently. Anyone else like me out there?

FUNNY COMIC. Don't forget the mouse-over text.

Hanson's old agency had some personnel issues, so he went and found himself a new one.

From mlbtraderumors: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/07/tommy-hanson-switches-to-scott-boras.html

Let me start by saying I don't have a problem with Boras, per se. His job as an agent is to take good financial care of his clients to the best of his ability, and he does that better than just about anyone.

Now that I've said that, a young player who is Boras client does not bode well for any team with a limited payroll once that player reaches free agency. All players are free agents at some point, so we'd still have to shell out some money to keep Tommy Hanson, but having Boras as an agent means 2 things: 1) Hanson will reach free agency at the earliest possible moment, and 2) the possibility of any kind of so-called "hometown discount" is pretty much zero. It also means that the Braves will now have to compete with teams that have much larger payrolls for Hanson's services upon his reaching free agency. Granted, this scenario won't happen until 2015, but the chances of Hanson remaining a Brave after that have become that much smaller, especially if he reaches his projected ability and proves to be one of, if not the most attractive free agent pitcher in the 2015 FA class.

Also, I'm not really sure if it matters much (or how), but Boras now represents 3/5 of the Braves starting rotation.

I actually got a question through in Keith Law's chat Wednesday, and got an encouraging answer. Hope this  trend continues and our often-panned 1st round pick of a "low ceiling guy" ends up better most people thought.

John (Atlanta)
Mike Minor is striking guys out like crazy, at 13.1 per 9 innings. Is he doing 
anything differently, or is it more a function of being more polished 
than the guys he's facing? Was he ever supposed to be a big K guy?

Klaw  (1:20 PM)
Throwing harder - a good 2-3 mph harder - with the accompanying drop in command.
The questions are: Can he improve his command without giving up the 
newfound velo? And can he maintain the velo for a full season? If the 
answers to both are "yes," his ceiling would jump to that of a #2 
starter.

Per DOB via mlbtraderumors.com:

Dave O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution passed along a text message (via Twitter) from Johnny Damon about the possibility of joining the Braves: "I hope. They are definitely a team that is on top of the list.”

LINK

I have to assume this is some kind of Boras tactic to drum up more interest. Maybe he told Damon to start texting writers or something. Just let it go already.

I find myself in the odd position of rooting for the Phillies. The only way that could have happened is if they were playing the Yankees, and lo and behold... That said, I hope they either sweep them out so it's quick and painless, or they go 7 games and the Yankees lose on a game-winning walk to Eric Bruntlett by Mariano Rivera with the bases loaded. Definitely not a homer by Howard, lest Phillies fans get more encouragement.

How about y'all?

Did anyone else watch this game? I dislike the Yanks as much as the next guy, but I have to take issue with Chip Caray's serious man-crush on Derek Jeter. Every other sentence out of his mouth made me think of that line from Wayne's World.

via img30.imageshack.us

"Excuse me Russel, but I believe I ordered the handjob."

One time, he gushed over Jeter catching a screaming line drive right at him by saying, "Derek Jeter in perfect position to take care of Michael Cuddyer." Really, Chip? 'Cuz he was at shortstop. You know, where he usually plays? Between 3rd and 2nd? You know, where most shortstops play?

There were no less than 4 graphics prepared to show how great Derek Jeter is, we had to watch the replay of that play where he threw out Jeremy Giambi at home by being in a totally strange place on the field and redirecting a relay throw. The guy just had to go 2-for-2 with 2 walks too, just to give Chip more to talk about.

All this, and almost no mention of Joe Mauer, who is the likely MVP this year.

OK, I'm sure they protect the ol' noggin a little better, but could you imagine someone like Chipper ever donning one of these? Or worse yet, a smaller guy like Kris Medlen?  Yikes.

Sorry, but David Wright, you remind me of this guy:

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Last offseason, when we picked up Mark Kotsay, I seem to recall that there was an important discourse about the state of the team, the look of our roster, and the face the team puts forth to it' s fans.  The roster is ever-changing as players (like Kotsay) come and go, and every player we pick up can play an important role (like Kotsay did).  And just like last year, we've picked up several new players this offseason, and I think it's important that we take the time to again ask the question: Do they have hot wives?

I'm sure this has been beaten to death, but here's my take in order of preference, with a possible darkhorse thrown in for good measure.

1) Adam Dunn:  He'll hit 40 homers, and walk 115 times.  He's so good he's boring, and to anyone who complains about his K's, I ask you examine how many outs he made last year, compared to Mark Teixeira.  Is his defense really much worse than someone like Diaz or Norton (or Chris Resop? HA!) in LF?

2) Bobby Abreu: I know, I know.  But if Dunn's price doesn't drop, Abreu might be the best cost/reward option because he'd ensure our ability to flesh out the pitching situation with Ohman and Glavine.  Really.  He'll at least get on base, and maybe post a 20/20 season with about 175 hits.  He gets bashed for his RF defense, but once again, would his LF defense really be any worse than what we've thrown out in LF since Willie Harris?

3) Trade for Nick Swisher: I'm hesitant here because he had a pretty bad '08 season.  But most writers and statheads seem to think he's better than that and due for a rebound.  I imagine he'd cost us a couple of relievers (Boyer and Acosta?) and a utility guy like Prado or Infante.  I like our bench and our 'pen and I don't like the idea of "hoping for a rebound" on a guy you depend on to bat cleanup, so I'd rather not see that happen.

4) Griffey to platoon with Diaz in LF: The darkhorse has arrived.  Junior had an OPS of .841 against righties last year, and Diaz (the 2 years prior to being hurt in '08) posted OPSs of .877 and .941 vs lefties.  Again, that's .841 from the left, .~900 from the right, probably better production than we could swing by signing anyone but Dunn.  Only playing against RHP might keep the injury bug away, and it would be nice to have either of those guys as pinch hit options later in games.  I hear Griffey's not bad to have in the clubhouse either...

5) Trade for Ryan Ludwick: I'm against this for the opposite reason I'm against Swisher.  He might not repeat.  He had a stellar '08, a very good '07, and before that?  He was another one of those "promising but always injured" guys.  At 29 he finally had a breakout season, but can he repeat?  Can he stay healthy?  I imagine he'll cost more in a trade than Swisher too. Late relievers, KJ, prospects, whatever, it's too much for another guy who might not perform like the cleanup hitter we need.

6) Trade for Xavier Nady: The guy has ONE GOOD HALF SEASON and you want to trade for him?  No way.  He's a BFA (Boras Free Agent) after this season, so even especially after a good year, keeping him around would be near impossible.  He's just not worth it.

I think the team looks good once we have a good bat in LF.  I like the rotation, I like the bullpen (I actually LOVE the bullpen once everyone's healthy again, and we re-sign Ohman), and I like the bench. I even like the broadcast team.   I just wish I could say "I like that 5 billion foot bomb Adam Dunn just hit to the moon to knock in Yunel and Chipper that went so far it counts for two" but I guess there's still hope?