Braves may be nearing a deal for bat ...

Nemesis21 · Post #1 » by **Nemesis21** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:56 pm

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/07/b ... -bat-.html

bstrassburg · Post #2 » by **bstrassburg** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:19 pm

I love vague tweets.

bstrassburg · Post #3 » by **bstrassburg** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:38 pm

Sounds like Jonny Gomes is the leading name right now.

http://twitter.com/#!/jonmorosi/status/ ... 4988508161

I think he could be very solid in the Matt Diaz role. He hits lefties well, and would be good for spot starts and off the bench.

Nemesis21 · Post #4 » by **Nemesis21** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 10:40 pm

Olney on Braves and Pence,

http://twitter.com/#!/Buster_ESPN

ohara · Post #5 » by **ohara** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 10:43 pm

Hunter Pence as a Brave would make my day! Just wonder what we would be giving up as he wont come cheap.

Nemesis21 · Post #6 » by **Nemesis21** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 10:51 pm

ohara wrote:Hunter Pence as a Brave would make my day! Just wonder what we would be giving up as he wont come cheap.

Something like Nate McLouth, Mike Minor, JJ Hoover or Zeke Spurhill, Andrelton Simmons and Todd Redmon for Hunter Pence and Wilton Lopez.

Bold = in Braves top 15 prospects list

Lopez would give us another RHP in the pen, thus they can DFA Proctor and send Gearrin back to AAA.
Lopez is 28, 45.1 IP 2 HR 14 BB 39 K 2-4 W/L 9 HLD 4 BLSV 2.78 ERA 1.24 WHIP this season.

Post #7 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:33 pm

I hope its Pence!

However, I have a feeling it's going to be Jeff Francoeur.

Superiorblogman · Post #8 » by **Superiorblogman** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:14 am

I hope its Pence or Adam Jones but I am thinking it will not be a everyday player. Heyward, Prado, Schafer, that is pretty much going to be your outfield most nights out. Pence would basically mean Heyward is the odd man out and the Braves are like the 2nd or 3rd most popular MLB team and Heyward is a big reason why. Lastly, we dont know when Chipper is going to retire so Prado can go back to 3rd permanently, so you are telling me Heyward is going to be sharing time with Pence and Prado for the next maybe 3 years? Schafer and McClouth are the two clear CFielders so you are going to have Prado, Pence, and Heyward fighting for playing time. I don't think so. It is going to be a utility bat

ohara · Post #9 » by **ohara** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:17 am

Jim Bowden spoke with Freddi today and he said they were looking at a R handed bat who would be able to play all three OF positions. Makes you think of Pence and Mr. Beltran

Nemesis21 · Post #10 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:24 am

Superiorblogman wrote:I hope its Pence or Adam Jones but I am thinking it will not be a everyday player. Heyward, Prado, Schafer, that is pretty much going to be your outfield most nights out. Pence would basically mean Heyward is the odd man out and the Braves are like the 2nd or 3rd most popular MLB team and Heyward is a big reason why.

Why is that so ? Pence would play in CF, started 95 games in CF his rookie yr, was moved to RF when they acquired Bourn. If Pence landed in Atl, Schafer goes back to AAA, Nate goes to the bench. Braves Bench - Ross, Hinske, Lugo, McLouth, Conrad

With Chipper,

LF Prado (R)
RF Heyward (L)
3b Chipper (S)
C Mac (L)
CF Pence (R)
1b Freeman (L)
2b Uggla (R)
SS Gonz (R)

When Chipper retires,

LF Schafer (L)
3b Prado (R)
RF Heyward (L)
CF Pence (R)
C Mac (L)
2b Uggla (R)
1b Freeman (L)
SS Gonz (R)

Superiorblogman · Post #11 » by **Superiorblogman** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:50 am

Cool, never knew Pence played CF, but why send Schafer back down he gives us some speed that we dont have. He has 13 stolen bases in 47 games Pence has 7? My point is getting a everyday player is going to stunt the growth of one of our young players. The elephant in the room that noone wants to mention is if Chipper is going to be getting hurt every year for the next 3 to 5 years he needs to just call it quits or not be a everyday player.

Nemesis21 · Post #12 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:53 am

Superiorblogman wrote:Cool, never knew Pence played CF, but why send Schafer back down he gives us some speed that we dont have. He has 13 stolen bases in 47 games Pence has 7? My point is getting a everyday player is going to stunt the growth of one of our young players. The elephant in the room that noone wants to mention is if Chipper is going to be getting hurt every year for the next 3 to 5 years he needs to just call it quits or not be a everyday player.

Schafer has 13 stolen bases, but he is not getting on like we need him to. He is not a major league hitter yet. His OBP is below .300. Going back to AAA won't hurt Schafer.

ohara · Post #13 » by **ohara** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:52 am

Prado, Pence and Heyward would make a very nice outfield for the Braves for a few years. I really hope we find a way to make it happen.

Nemesis21 · Post #14 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:58 am

ohara wrote:Prado, Pence and Heyward would make a very nice outfield for the Braves for a few years. I really hope we find a way to make it happen.

Would likely be the rest of this season and 2012 if Chipper doesn't retire. When Chipper retires, Prado to 3b, Schafer in LF. So Schafer, Pence and Heyward for a few yrs.

bstrassburg · Post #15 » by **bstrassburg** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:14 am

Nemesis21 wrote:
ohara wrote:Prado, Pence and Heyward would make a very nice outfield for the Braves for a few years. I really hope we find a way to make it happen.

Would likely be the rest of this season and 2012 if Chipper doesn't retire. When Chipper retires, Prado to 3b, Schafer in LF. So Schafer, Pence and Heyward for a few yrs.

Schafer would play CF. He'd be much better defensively then Pence in CF.

ohara · Post #16 » by **ohara** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:20 pm

Ken Rosenthal is saying that Pence is not yet on the radar for Atlanta. Looks as tho we may have inquired on Beltran, Upton, Gomes and Ludwick. Really prefer Pence, but I could live with Upton or Beltran if the price was right. Do not want Gomes or Ludwick.

bstrassburg · Post #17 » by **bstrassburg** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:41 pm

I don't understand the Gomes hate. I think he'd be a great RH bat off the bench, something this team sorely lacks (except for Ross who they don't want to use in that role). I realize he's not a sexy player by any stretch but he just crushes lefties. If he's our only move I can understand being somewhat disappointed considering the mediocre production coming out of CF, but we are still arguably more stacked (if players play to norms) than any other team in the playoff hunt offensively (except for the Brewers and they have very mediocre production at SS and 3B).

ohara · Post #18 » by **ohara** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:02 pm

It's not that I "hate" Gomes, because I dont. i just dont see him as an impact player who will make us much better. Especially if we have to give up something to get him. A .215 BA does not excite me at all as far as helping Atlanta catch Philly. 11HR and 31 RBI is not impact. But I do agree that he hits Lefties well. But if that is all the FO wants, then this is the kind of pick up I expect at the last minute to add to the bench. He is not an impact player IMO and if that is the move, then we are basically conceding the Division to the Phillies and playing to hold onto the Wild Card spot.

ohara · Post #19 » by **ohara** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:33 pm

Peter Gammons tweeted that Houston not likely to trade Pence as they cannot get an offer they like. So Pence not likely to be a Brave. And if the Mets are going to ask the moon for Beltan, he's out. I dont know if the FO is greatly enthused about BJ Upton. So at this stage, I'm starting to think the FO is NOT after an impact bat, but perhaps only a platoon player to attack Lefties - and that certainly does give the impression that Gomes is the target. Just leaves me kinda flat feeling that we are content making it as the Wild Card team, and then we are likely exiting in the 1st round. Not something I can get excited about.

There is always the chance that there is just a lot of smoke to confuse people and Frank Wren is going to go big here. We just have to wait and see.

Nemesis21 · Post #20 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:55 pm

Think of Gomes as a RH Hinske. He is not going to put us over the top though.