(News & Bar Talk) What's Next For The Braves?

[HMFFL]

This thread can be dedicated to any of the offseason news or to discuss anything related to the Braves. As always, feel free to create new topics as well, and hopefully the offseason will be exciting.

[HMFFL]

Chipper reiterates commitment to play in 2012

Jones said the team’s September collapse would have no bearing on his decision.

“I’ve committed to playing next year,” he said. “I won’t commit past that; let’s put it that way. [But] I’m looking forward to it. As tough a pill as it is to swallow, for a lot of these young guys it’s a learning experience. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... y-in-2012/

[HMFFL]

Braves general manager Frank Wren sat down with selected members of the media following the end of the Braves season, discussing topics ranging from the September collapse to roster projections. In Part II of that interview, Wren talks about Brian McCann’s late-season troubles, the prospects of signing Michael Bourn long-term and Freddie Freeman’s breakout season, among other things. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... raves_blog

Just click the link when you have time because there's so much to read. Good stuff!

[Nemesis21]

A few things the Braves will need to do,

(Not in order)
1) Hire a new hitting coach
2) Decide whether or not to keep Alex around, if not need to find a 1 yr option.(Pastornicky should be ready by '13)
3) They will look into re-signing Bourn, will not be easy as he is a Boras client.
4) Decide whether or not to bring back Hinske, Diaz, Wilson and Conrad. (I'd like to see Hinske, Wison and Diaz return, and sign DeRosa. Bench- Ross Hinske DeRosa Diaz Wilson)

Wren has said Lowe will not be in rotation in '12, so he will be in the pen. Leaves us with Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, Beachy and Minor for rotation.

[HMFFL]

Most of the Brave fans I know believe Bourn is the priority. Not making the playoffs will possibly hurt us, but intend on staying positive, and hopefully he decides to stay.

[HMFFL]

Some good news.

Heyward’s latest MRI shows no issues with spine

Braves right fielder Jason Heyward had an MRI that ruled out any issues with his cervical spine, and he will be placed on a “maintenance and stretching program” to strengthen his right shoulder, the team said. No surgery is required.

Heyward spent 3-1/2 weeks on the disabled list in May and June for rotator-cuff inflammation in his right shoulder, which bothered him beginning late in spring training. He has had two MRI exams on the shoulder which showed no structural damage.

Heyward had the most recent MRI Thursday to see if there was anything spinal-related that was causing lingering soreness in the back of his shoulder, in order to give him peace of mind entering the offseason before he begins his workout regimen.

The NL rookie of the year runner-up in 2010, Heyward struggled in his second season and spent time on the bench in August. He hit .227 with 34 extra-base hits, 42 RBIs and a .319 on-base percentage in 128 games, down from .277 with 52 extra-base hits, 72 RBIs and a .393 OBP in 142 games as a rookie.

Braves general manager Frank Wren said two days after the season ended that Heyward would not be guaranteed a starting job next spring.

“He’s going to be in a battle unless he continues to progress at a good rate,” Wren said at that time, noting that Heyward made progress working on the adjustments the Braves asked him to make in his swing in the season’s final two months.

“He’s going to be in a battle for a position. It’s not a given he’s our right fielder. We’re going to go into the offseason planning with it in mind that we’ve got to have offensive production from right field. And we didn’t get that.” http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... al-damage/

[HMFFL]

The Braves have added three new coaches to their minor league organization and named Aaron Holbert their new manager in Double-A Mississippi, the team announced Tuesday.

Don Long, the former Pirates hitting coach, will take over as the Braves’ minor league hitting coordinator. He spent 2008-2010 as the Pirates major league hitting coach and the eight seasons prior to that as the minor league hitting coordinator for the Phillies.

Luis Lopez, who served as a minor league hitting coach for the Red Sox for the last four seasons, will take over as the Braves’ minor league fielding coordinator. Long and Lopez join Doug Dascenzo who was named the Braves outfield and baserunning coordinator after 13 seasons in the Padres’ system.

Holbert joins the Mississippi Braves after managing in the Indians’ system for the past four seasons. Holbert was named Carolina League manager of the year last season after taking Kinston to the playoffs for the second consecutive year. He is a former first round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, taken 18th overall as a shortstop in 1990.

Filling out the rest of the managerial spots in the Braves’ system: Dave Brundage (Triple-A Gwinnett) and Luis Salazar (high Single-A Lynchburg) will remain in their current positions, while Randy Ingle returns to manage low Single-A Rome after spending last season managing the Braves’ rookie league team in Danville, Va.

Jonathan Schuerholz, son of Braves president John Schuerholz, debuted as a manager for the Gulf Coast League Braves last year. He will move up to manage the rookie league Danville (Va.) Braves. Rocket Wheeler, who managed in Double-A Mississippi last year, will manage the Braves’ Gulf Coast team. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... raves_blog

[HMFFL]

Mark Bradley: The Braves aren’t in this World Series, but they’ll make it soon

The Braves? They need to secure a shortstop — Alex Gonzalez is a free agent and the prospect Tyler Pastornicky isn’t quite ready — but that’s about it. The bulk of this team’s decisions have to do with projection: Will Chipper Jones be healthy enough to play 100 games? Will Tommy Hanson’s shoulder be OK? Will Martin Prado remember how to hit? Will Jason Heyward remember he’s Jason Heyward?

There wouldn’t seem to be a Braves’ buying spree coming this winter. Kenshin Kawakami is finally off the payroll, but Derek Lowe remains — for one year more at $15 million. The Braves might have enough money to re-sign Gonzalez for a short term at a modest price, but they surely can’t afford the big-name shortstops (Rollins or Jose Reyes) who’ll become free agents. Even so, will keeping Gonzalez and hoping for better elsewhere be enough to turn this team, which has won 180 games the past two seasons, into a bigger winner?

Yes, because they have a phalanx of young pitchers who are big-league ready. That’s the greatest currency there is, and Wren was right to hoard it at the trading deadline. But there will come a time when one or two of these pitchers will need to be moved — can’t really have a seven-man rotation — as simple asset management.

The Braves, believe it or not, are very close to a World Series. They’ll need to get beyond the memory of this season’s fold, but that’s why there’s an offseason. They had enough talent to win 89 games in a season when they didn’t hit a lick, and they have enough to offer in trade that they can go buy whatever they lack. If even a few of those hitters return to form, they won’t lack much. Why, they even have a leadoff man now. Can world domination be far behind? http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/ ... e-it-soon/

We have so many what if's that need to be resolved before I feel positive about us making it to another world series during the near future.

[Nemesis21]

I'd like to see what some of everyone's off season moves would be if they were GM.


I'll go first,

Hire Dave Magaden as hitting coach.

Re-sign Bourn, Hinske, Wilson and Diaz.

Sign Josh Willingham and Marco Scutaro (could keep Alex or get a little more production. Pastornicky won't be ready till 2013)

Prado to super utility role(3b, 2b, 1b)

Lowe to the pen.

CF Bourn
3b Chipper
C Mac
2b Uggla
1b Freeman
LF Willingham
RF Heyward
SS Scutaro

Hudson
Hanson
Jurrjens
Beachy
Minor

Bench- Hinske, Ross, Prado, Wilson, Diaz

Kimbrel
Venters
Martinez
EOF
Medlen
Lowe
Delgado

Moylan is out for much of 2012 with an injury.

[Superiorblogman]

Braves,Hawks,and most definitely the Falcons are all overrated talent wise by locals. We are far off, that's why it is so much pressure on someone like Jason to have a mammoth Matt Kemp type season to put us over the top. Jason needs to come through with 35 HR's and hit about .330 for us to get back to the WS anytime soon. IMO, the problems lie below.

Unproven starting pitching

Hudson if he stays healthy, he has been injured in the last 5 years

Then what? What is proven after Hudson? Lowe, and Lowe is Marvin Williams just waiting for him to come off the books.

Power hitters: Uggla then what? Even with Uggla why do we have to put up with such low averages just to get power? McCann, Chipper, Heyward,and Freddie Freeman are all capable but too many what ifs?

Small ball: Bourne, Constanza: Both capable but if you play Constanza everyday Prado, Chipper, and Heyward will not really reach there max potential because neither is really a platoon player even though Prado is the closest to that, but for some reason thare is such a love-affair with him playing multiple positions that he can't be sit.

My solution is simple: Go get another starting pitcher:Chris Capuano,Jeff Francis, Scott Kazmir, all better lefties than what we have.

Bring back Andruw Jones if you are going to keep Constanza on the roster and Chipper is not retiring. Bourne, Prado, Heyward, Constanza, and Andruw Jones that is more than enough to cover the outfield.

The only thing I can't figure out is the SS position, honestly I don't know what the thought process was in trading someone as young as Yunel for someone with such poor plate discipline as Gonzo. Even if everything goes well the SS should hit in the 8th spot and will be our weak spot in the lineup next year.

[Nemesis21]

Braves,Hawks,and most definitely the Falcons are all overrated talent wise by locals. We are far off, that's why it is so much pressure on someone like Jason to have a mammoth Matt Kemp type season to put us over the top. Jason needs to come through with 35 HR's and hit about .330 for us to get back to the WS anytime soon. IMO, the problems lie below.

Unproven starting pitching

Hudson if he stays healthy, he has been injured in the last 5 years

Then what? What is proven after Hudson? Lowe, and Lowe is Marvin Williams just waiting for him to come off the books.

Power hitters: Uggla then what? Even with Uggla why do we have to put up with such low averages just to get power? McCann, Chipper, Heyward,and Freddie Freeman are all capable but too many what ifs?

Small ball: Bourne, Constanza: Both capable but if you play Constanza everyday Prado, Chipper, and Heyward will not really reach there max potential because neither is really a platoon player even though Prado is the closest to that, but for some reason thare is such a love-affair with him playing multiple positions that he can't be sit.

My solution is simple: Go get another starting pitcher:Chris Capuano,Jeff Francis, Scott Kazmir, all better lefties than what we have.

Bring back Andruw Jones if you are going to keep Constanza on the roster and Chipper is not retiring. Bourne, Prado, Heyward, Constanza, and Andruw Jones that is more than enough to cover the outfield.

The only thing I can't figure out is the SS position, honestly I don't know what the thought process was in trading someone as young as Yunel for someone with such poor plate discipline as Gonzo. Even if everything goes well the SS should hit in the 8th spot and will be our weak spot in the lineup next year.

Really ? His poor work ethic, taking plays off, show boating and wasn't well liked in the clubhouse.

Also if Braves go after a starting pitcher, I'd prefer Oswalt. Phillies declined his option.

[HMFFL]

I really do not know one person that actually overrates the Braves or Hawks. Now, people in Atlanta overrated the Falcons, because they finally put the losing ways behind them, and people find the team to be exciting. They ranked amongst the highest teams in ratings last season. I think the casual fans fail to realize who the most dominate teams are and they put the Falcons up there after reading the ajc. Face it, Vegas had the Falcons win total over/under 11 wins this season, so they're just difficult to predict no matter how you look at it.

Yunel was apparently traded because he had a poor attitude. I had no problem with the trade and Gonzo as his replacement. The team has much bigger flaws that need to be addressed before SS does.

[Nemesis21]

Braves pick up Hinske's option.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... raves_blog

[HMFFL]

It's safe to assume they will most likely have a pay some of his salary for next season.

https://twitter.com/#!/SI_JonHeyman/sta ... 1414660097

[HMFFL]

Braves pick up Hinske's option.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... raves_blog

I'm glad to hear that.

[Nemesis21]

Beat me to it. Braves are paying 5 mil of his salary.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/71740 ... ources-say

[Nemesis21]

Braves pick up Hinske's option.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... raves_blog

I'm glad to hear that.

Good day so far, Hinke's option picked up, McLouth's option declined and Lowe traded.

[ohara]

No, Braves paying $10 mil of the $15 mil salary. So we are losing $5 mil off our payroll. The prospect is OK, Chris Jones. He went 7-1 in A ball this past season. Have to see how our Minor League coaches bring him along over the next couple years. But at worse, we lose Lowe and save $5 mil. I'm OK with it.

[ATL Boy]

I'm happy, saves us 5 mil, gives us a decent prospect, and most of all clears room for one of the "Big 4" to take over the starting role, maybe even Kris Medlen could become starter again, he was a beast before Tommy John.

[ATL Boy]

and the report is we're paying 5 mil of his salary.