GHS06

Sounds like a clueless baseball fan... Braves don't care about money more than winning. Money and winning are synonymous. If the team wins, like the run in the 90's, fans are in the seats, and the team makes money. In recent years, even when the Braves have been "close enough to the top" nobody goes to the games. Thus they don't make money and can't sign the big name free agents. "All they needed to do was bring in a power hitter..." They did this. They brought in Troy Glaus. Or were you talking about Jason Bay, who signed for about 22 mill a year, or about 8 mill a year more than Chipper. Or maybe Matt Holliday, who signed a HUGE deal for 7 years and 120 million. Signing either one of those guys would seriously have jeopardized the future, with guys like Jurrjens and Hanson due a big raise in the near future. I don't know what other power hitters you could be talking about, but the real prized free agents could only be afforded by a handful of teams. You have no idea what you are talking about if you say they don't care about winning. Please tell this to Bobby Cox before his last season. Frank Wren has done everything he can with the funds he has been given. The rotation is where the bulk of the funds went, and it is stout. If Heyward is the player everyone thinks he is, the lineup could be much better than anticipated. And believe me, if intentionally walking Heyward at the end of they year is warranted, the Atlanta Braves will have a very good year.

While they were cautious last year with Hanson, Heyward is a different situation. He's been called a "once in a generation" prospect. Offensively, he's been compared to Fred McGriff and Derek Lee, only bigger. Those guys are 1st baseman. Heyward is an outfielder, and an outstanding one at that. He's a five tool player and as close to a sure thing as they come. Because of his rare ability to come in and contribute immediately, and this being Bobby's last year, don't be surprised if the Braves feel a little risky and pencil the Jay-Hey kid in RF on opening day. He WILL be up at some point this year, sooner rather than later.

He was called up for the AAA playoffs last year. I believe he has 11 AB's or so in AAA.

Right now, the only definite is that Nate McLouth is the starting CF. If Heyward doesn't make the team out of spring training (which would shock me), you would probably see Melky in right and Diaz in left. If Heyward performs in Spring Training, he will be the everyday RF. LF would be a platoon of Diaz and Melky/Hinske. Melky is the more versatile outfielder, and may not be used in the platoon since he could fill in for Mclouth in center or Heyward in right. Personally, I'd abandon the platoon and the outfield would be Diaz, McLouth, and Heyward.

Chipper is getting what he deserves: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4029831 Tom Glavine was signed to be the 5th starter. He was given until the fifth spot in the rotation came up, April 20th or so, to be ready. He wasn't. Why do the Braves owe Tom Glavine? He had no problem going to their biggest rival for 5 years. He was given the chance to be the fifth starter and he couldn't do it. The Braves scouts said he wasn't going to be able to perform at the major league level. The front office gave him the option to retire. He asked for his release. He got it. I don't remember what happened in 1994, maybe someone who was older than 6 at the time does, but from what I've read the main point coming from Tom Glavine was the fact that baseball is a business. Maybe you do reap what you sew.

So i hard to work all day and was planning to catch the Braves game on mlb.tv after it was over. I've been avoiding ESPN and anything sports related so i don't see the score. Then my roommate texted me and said the Braves traded for Nate McLouth. I thought he was kidding. I LOVE Nate McLouth. Then I heard who he was traded for... nobody with a future on the Atlanta Braves. A steal. This is an INCREDIBLE deal for many reasons. The braves fill about 3 voids on their team with one move. A speedy ALL-STAR outfielder with power production who plays great defense. Another thing about this deal is that it was done on JUNE 3rd which is crazy in the MLB. Deals like this don't happen til much closer to the July 31st trading deadline. Wow. Kudos to the front office. So i coulnd't help myself so i logged on to ESPN.com. On the sidebar it says: Braves trade for McLouth. Glavine released.I almost fell out of my chair and said Holy F*** in front of my mother. This was long overdue. Glavine will get shelled by major league hitters. He throws like a 79 mph fastball or something. Thats a batting practice fastball. I didn't put two and two together, but i was reading the Glavine article, and the third move of the day that could be the best... Tommy Hanson is called up and will start Saturday. Are you kidding me? This is just too much excitement. There hasn't been this much hype for a Braves pitching prospect since Steve Freaking Avery. Almost every scout has Hanson tabbed as a #1 or #2. The timing of the Glavine's release kind of sucks... it should have been months ago. Why they wait until he has gone through rehab and actually looked decent, i don't know, but it was absolutely necessary. Frank Wren is my new favorite person. He swung a crazy trade to help with a dismal offense and made a stout rotation that much better in one day. There's still plenty of time for this team to mesh and go on a run in the East. Or Hanson and McLouth could fall on their faces, but why worry about that now? The Braves are a better team now. And the future looks as bright as ever. Couldn't ask for more than that. As a Braves fan, I'm giddy as a school girl and I hope you other Braves fans realize that there is something to be giddy about! WOOOHOOOOO!

Can't say no to that.

ding ding ding

Looks like the best bet is Xavier Nady. Some others that have been mentioned quite alot are Nick Swisher, Adam Dunn, and Ryan Ludwick.

Looking like a pretty good offseason overall if a power hitting outfielder can be added... Rotation looks extremely solid. Bullpen looks solid. Bench is solid. Defense seems solid. Offense...lacks a little. Good job by Frank Wren so far though.

Only stating facts. Its hard to see the positive when there's so many negatives!

None of that stuff matters because, like it or not, couch burning is synonymous with WVU and no other school.

Just a little proof that some of you don't know what you are talking about... My roommate's girlfriend got a VT football jersey for her 9 year old nephew for Christmas. Early in December, she noticed that Tyrod was online on Facebook chat. She sent him a message half jokingly asking him if he would sign the jersey. Much to her amazement, Tyrod said sure, it was no problem. He met her in Squires Student Center later that day and signed the jersey. She said he was thrilled to do it and was very nice.

Yea, the latest is KJ to left, and an absolutely dynamic dp combo of Escobar and Furcal. Who knows though, the Braves still desperately need an Ace, and i don't think KJ fits the bill as a power-hitting outfielder. Exciting offseason thus far, and I assume it will only get better. Welcome back to the good guys, Furkie!

You can't blame him for being classless, he's just following the example set by Washington's players: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Dancing-on-the-Star-Starring-Tank-T-O-and-a-?urn=nfl,111252 T.O. learned his lesson. Hopefully someone gives Rock his.