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Braves vs. Blue Jays 3-13-10
by mccannfan on Mar 15, 2010 3:09 PM EDT
on Talking Chop
I attended my first Spring Training game down in Kissimmee, FL this past weekend. Despite the downpour and about 45 minutes spent getting lost and trying to find our way back to our motel on Friday, it was a great day for a game on Saturday. We got to the complex around 7:15 am to see if we could score some autographs and saw Jason Heyward and Jordan Schafer, among other minor leaguers, pass by, but weren't able to get anyone to sign. We stopped by the EPSN Clubhouse Store and got a t-shirt. There were already a lot of people there for other miscellaneous events. We left shortly after to get breakfast and hit some of the places nearby. Around 11:15 am, we arrived back at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to a mass of people and an assortment of age groups of cheerleaders.
We weren't able to stay for the entirety of the game because of the 5+-hour drive to South Georgia we had ahead of us to get home, but we stayed until around the 5th or 6th inning when some of the regulars started to come out. Our seats in section 107, row D were great and it was a great trip overall.
My camera isn't the best one out there, but here are a few of the pictures I snagged while at the game. Photo Gallery (Click link to see the rest).
The view from our seats.
Troy Glaus signing autographs.
David Ross coming back from the bullpen after warming up with Tim Hudson.
Chipper after hitting into a double play.
Billy Wagner mowing them down.
Matt Diaz reaches base.
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Some questions from a Spring Training noob.
by mccannfan on Mar 1, 2010 9:34 PM EST
on Talking Chop
We're heading down to Florida to a Spring Training game for the first time on the 13th, but I have a few questions that I wasn't sure about and couldn't find on the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex site. I thought maybe some of the regulars that attend Spring Training games would know.
I've read and am definitely going to use the tips and tricks suggested by CB. Our plan is to go early that Saturday morning to the complex and see if we can score some autographs then get some breakfast and come back soon after. What time on game days do the players usually show up? Also, I know there's an admission fee to get into the complex, but do you have to pay that if you have a tickets to a game? And will they let you leave and come back in? Just a few questions that I had.
Any information about this would be really helpful and appreciated.
No Braves Winter FanFest for 2010
by mccannfan on Jan 8, 2010 9:16 PM EST
on Talking Chop
Apparently, the Braves have decided to forgo FanFest for this year. There will be instead only a Braves Caravan. I figured as much when I e-mailed them the end of December and received an e-mail this past Monday telling me that "they could announce they were doing a Caravan," but wouldn't answer my question about there being a FanFest. In the same message board post on the Braves Fan Forum about FanFest 2010, someone posted a link to Facebook group about being upset that there won't be a FanFest, which is how I found out about the "announcement."
Why is it that every other team makes FanFest their biggest fan-oriented offseason event and the Braves can't even have one (or try to charge a buttload to attend one)? Just because you take a few players (most of whom probably are not anyone worth seeing) to cities around the South, doesn't make it FanFest. The same players won't be going to every stop, I'm sure, so if you planned on getting your favorite player's autograph, and the Caravan isn't going to a city near you, you'll just have to wait.
What will they get rid of next?
Boone's infamous "goatee" likes to haunt everyone.
I wonder if this kid thinks this about Frenchy now.
Picture caption:
Back in October 2005, Camp Creek Elementary teacher Sarah Swingle asked her class to write something about Jeff Francoeur, who attended the school as a boy, and here's what student Archie Clark had to say about his future presidential hopeful, Frenchy.
If the Braves explore trading right fielder Jeff Francoeur, the Royals likely would be the team with the most interest. Royals GM Dayton Moore was the Braves' farm director when Francoeur rose through the minors. However, others in the organization are not high on Francoeur, one source said.
The Red Sox have taken two looks at Francoeur, according to another source. Francoeur's poor plate discipline would make him a questionable fit in Boston, but perhaps the Sox see an opportunity to buy low, if they are indeed interested.
The Braves will need to find a power hitter in left even if they keep Francoeur, so trading him would effectively create two holes. Better they give Francoeur every opportunity to straighten out. He was 8-for-17 in his last five games before going 0-for-4 Monday.
Medlen to make his Major League debut Tuesday night against Rockies
Comment by Carroll Rogers also mentions Jo-Jo will be going to the bullpen. I'm guessing that will push James Parr back to the minors. Why keep Jo-Jo over Parr in then 'pen is beyond me because Parr has done well in some key situations the past few times he's pitched and Jo-Jo...well he's done nothing but raise a few fans' blood pressures.
ETA: Another scenario that I didn't think about when posting this was that Bennett could be on the outs. But I find it less likely than sending Parr down, unless Bennett gets sent down. Does anyone know if Bennett even has any options left?
"We didn't hit," manager Charlie Manuel said. "Vazquez pitched good against us. He wasn't doing nothing that I'd say was really great. But he changed speeds and threw strikes and didn't walk people."
Maybe this is why the Phillies have pitching problems...
Manuel didn't think Javy Vazquez's start against them Saturday was "Nothing that he'd say was really great"? I would say it was a heck of a job by Vazquez. Maybe that's why the Phillies need pitching; they don't know a quality start when they see one.
It’s very likely that McCann is going on DL tomorrow, and he made it sound like he’s decided to have the surgery. He wants to get this squared away now, he said, miss a couple of weeks and get back, rather than keep trying to fix it with contacts, etc.
Sammons has been called from Gwinnett. Again, it’s not definite yet, but sounds pretty close to definite. As Bobby said, he didn’t anticipate anything changing overnight. McCann sounds like, in his mind, he’s already decided to have Lasik.
Quote by DOB on Mac's situation.
I think if he goes ahead and has the procedure done now, he'll be back before too much longer. Having the procedure done now will be a lot better than him waiting to have it done since it's obvious that he's having problems with that left eye still.
Ex-Braves mascot Chief Noc-A-Homa talks tepee
Find out what the former Braves mascot has to say about his glory days.
What Chipper's experience in Toronto might have been like...
This is slightly funny, but it does seem to be poking fun at the southern man known as Chipper. Not sure whether to be offended or laugh, since I, too, am from the southern portion of the US (only a couple of hours from where Chipper is from) and I'm not a redneck (though there are good bit down here), but I guess the term comes with the territory, unfortunately.
Chipper injures oblique again, scratched from lineup.
IMO, Chipper should just stop worrying about the WBC before he seriously injures himself and is out a majority of the year. This is one of the main reasons why most fans hope USA loses tonight.
According to multiple reports, Chipper has left the USA team. I'm assuming he's on his way back to Braves camp.
Andruw is sorry...for sucking.
Outfielder, now trying to catch on with the Texas Rangers, says he's sorry he 'didn't stand up to my reputation' last season in L.A.
This is shocking! Has the world ended yet?
Just thought I'd post this. There are no words, lol.
This is Jeff's new approach when attempting to catch fly balls. I think his new batting stance looks the same way or maybe it's his new face when he strikes out.
Reminds me of Smalls from the Sandlot, "Please catch it, please catch it."
"I know there are 103 guys out there right now who are pretty [darn] nervous, and I'm not one of them," Jones said.
Frenchy still likely headed to arb. hearing, KJ hopefully not
The Braves are working on a limited salary right now, as well all know. Apparently, the Braves offered to up Frenchy's initial offer of $2.8 mill to $3.1 mill, but he wanted $3.4 mill when negotiating. Frenchy is really greedy and thinks he will win his arb. hearing on Feb. 20th. Is he the only one that thinks this?
KJ is believed to still be working out a deal with the Braves, as they don't believe he'll reach his arb. hearing on Feb. 19th, but they seem to still think they have more to work out before reaching an agreement.
Club officials, major-league sources say, would prefer a left-handed hitter, and are checking into the remaining free agents -- Garret Anderson, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds and Ken Griffey Jr.
A trade for the Yankees' Nick Swisher also remains possible, but the Braves almost certainly could land one of the free agents for less than the $5.3 million that Swisher will earn in 2009.
K-Ros lists some new possibilities for LF and talks about the Glavine negotiations
Firstly, I thought that the organization wanted a right-handed bat? Secondly, I'm not too sure about those names. Wouldn't a platoon of Diaz/B. Jones produce about the same, if not more, than one of those four guys?
Latest on Ohman, Glavine, and OF situation.
Hopefully we can sign Ohman and maybe even Glavine if he doesn't want much money, which I don't believe he'll demand much. The OF situation is interesting and so are the comments from Ohman. Maybe the Braves are close on a few deals with spring training starting a week from Saturday.
The Phillies decided Tuesday not to pursue free-agent left-hander Will Ohman, who could have helped fill the void created by J.C. Romero's 50-game suspension. The team is close to its budget limit.
I wonder if this is because Ohman's asking for too much or it's really because they just can't afford him either way. We really should sign him, though, IMO.
The Braves signed their first baseman, Casey Kotchman, to a $2.885 million contract, avoiding arbitration, the Post has learned.
Kotchman had asked for $3.25 million through arbitration and the Braves had countered at $2.475 million.
Kotchman also can make an additional $25,000 by reaching each plate appearance total of 575, 600, 625 and 650. In addition, Kotchman can make $50,000 for winning the MVP, being an All-Star, earning the Gold Glove or bring the World Series MVP. He can take home $25,000 for winning the Silver Slugger or the LCS MVP.
The Vulture is now a Royal
Another ex-Brave that is now a Royal, even if it is a minor league deal. I wonder, between the Royals and Nats, which team has signed more former Braves of the two.
Tom Glavine expected to meet with Wren this week
Not sure if it's to hammer out a deal or anything, but I did read that the Nats are not really interested in signing the lefty veteran as has been reported recently.
Francoeur wants $3.95 mill.
Arb. eligible figures have been announced and none have apparently agreed on anything yet.
Francoeur wants $3.95 mill, but was offered $2.8, which he more likely deserves. KJ wants $3.3 mill, but was offered $2.35 mill. Kotchman wants $3.25 mill, but was offered $2.475 mill.
Braves and Arbitration.
by mccannfan on Jan 15, 2009 11:24 PM EST
on Talking Chop
Since the Arbitration Filing period ended today and figures will be exchanged Monday, I was wondering everyone's thoughts on how much of a raise each Braves player might get and how much they actually deserve to get. To refresh everyone's memories, the players that filed are Jeff Francoeur, Mike Gonzalez, Kelly Johnson, and Casey Kotchman, and Matt Diaz.
Also, do you think any of our players will go to a hearing? Usually the Braves don't have that kind of problem with not getting their players to agree to a salary figure that is offered. Really the only player that filed that I see possibly going to a hearing would be Francoeur, because of his wanting more money in a long-term deal but not getting it (or deserving it really), but I'm not entirely sure after the year he had last year.
What are your thoughts?
Update: Just read this about Diaz already striking a deal.
Diaz will earn at least $1.2375MM, but could earn $50K more if he makes 600 plate appearances.
Andruw was asked if he’d be willing to go to spring training on a minor league contract, and he said no.
Thought that was quite interesting considering Andruw's situation. But then again, this is Andruw we're talking about.
Yasser Gomez in the outfield?
by mccannfan on Jan 11, 2009 7:24 PM EST
on Talking Chop
MLBTR pointed out an update on the two recent Cuban defectors, Yasser Gomez, an outfielder, and Yadel Marti, a pitcher. They're attempting to get an agent and are supposedly "open to all teams", but specifically name the Yankees, White Sox, and Red Sox in this video interview. They are supposed to be major-league ready and do expect to be with major league clubs by the start of Spring Training.
Gomez, a career .331 hitter, hit .397 with 51 runs and 41 RBIs in 66 games during the 2008 national series tournament.
Here are some more of Gomez's stats. Now, I was thinking since we have a few Cuban defectors in our system already, and one rising star on our roster in Escobar, maybe we can convince Gomez to sign with us as the outfielder we need. Just a thought.
The Sox are also trying to hash out an agreement with veteran free-agent right-hander John Smoltz, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. Smoltz, 41, would likely not be able to play until late May, but the Sox normally overstaff their starting rotation to account for injuries as they did with Bartolo Colon last season.
As of last night, sources indicated that Smoltz was leaning toward Boston's offer which was said to be somewhere in the vicinity of $5.5 million guaranteed with the opportunity to earn a few million in incentives which could hike the salary up to $10 million. The Sox and Smoltz have been talking since before the Winter Meetings. The Sox do not anticipate that Smoltz will be ready until later in May, but one of the incentives being discussed would be a roster bonus if he's with the team by June 1.
Smoltz, who has spent all 20 seasons of his major league career with Atlanta, which has also expressed a desire to keep Smoltz, would like to return as a starter, but there's always the option he could relieve.
Smoltz, an 8-time All-Star and National League Cy Young wiwnner in 1996, owns a 210-147 mark with a 3.26 ERA. he also has 154 career saves.
John Smoltz Close to Signing with Red Sox?
This would just make this off season even worse. Hopefully this is just a rumor. We really need to go ahead and sign him and Will Ohman before some other team does.
Nats Sign Wil Ledezma
The Washington Nationals have signed left-hander Will Ledezma to a $750,000 minor-league deal. Add him to the plethora of former Braves the Nats have signed.
Atlanta: Braves general manager Frank Wren can salvage what has been a frustrating offseason -- no shortstop Rafael Furcal, no righthander Jake Peavy, no righthander A.J. Burnett -- by adding a corner outfielder with power. Atlanta's outfield produced only 27 homers last season, fewest for a full season by an outfield since six clubs had 27 or fewer in 1992. That included 19 homers by the Chicago White Sox.
The Braves have also not given up hope of signing free-agent righthander Derek Lowe, though the Mets reportedly offered Lowe a three-year, $36 million deal. If the Braves land Lowe, they will consider themselves lucky for missing out on Burnett.
Braves quietly pursuing Derek Lowe?
I wonder if we're actually pursuing Lowe or the guy is just saying that we might consider it. I know Lowe is 35, but if we land him for around what the Mets are offering (3 years/$36 mill) or similar to that offer, I would feel better knowing we had someone else in our rotation that isn't necessarily an ace, but someone that would possibly be useful and productive this season. What are your thoughts?
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