With the Braves second baseman under performing, how realistic is the trading of Dan Uggla?

Dan Uggla should have his bags packed and on standby because he’s going to get traded, right? Um, not exactly.

Let’s not get too hasty in trying to trade Dan Uggla right now.

Sure, Dan Uggla has not been the perennial .260/.350/.470 ball player that he was in Florida, but I’m going to make a case that he has still been a productive ball player in Atlanta.

The first reason is that he gets on base. Last year, Dan Uggla led all of baseball with 94 walks. That led to an OBP (on-base percentage) of .348, which was third best on the team behind Prado (2nd) and some guy named Larry (Chipper Jones). Sure, he hit .220 and didn’t have at least 27 home runs in a year in his MLB career, but is a guy not allowed to have a bad year (or two)? I remember in 2004 when Chipper Jones hit .248 and people were saying that he had lost it as quickly as Dale Murphy did. Dan Uggla is no Chipper Jones and will never be, but the point is that bad years happen to ball players. » Continue reading “So the Braves Should Trade Dan Uggla, right?”

2012 Atlanta Braves Preview

The National League East

Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals

Predictions

1. Phillies
2. Braves (Have one of the two new Wild Card Spots)
3. Marlins
4. Nationals
5. Mets

Brief Divisional Overview:

With the Marlins doing some rebranding, don’t sit on them to be quiet, especially with what they did in the off season. Their new stadium, mascot, uniforms, and Ozzie Guillen as their manager, they might be a sight to see. » Continue reading “A Look Into the Crystal Ball”

Peter Moylan, Kris Medlin, and Tommy Hanson doing their version of Kimbreling.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the things we are grateful for, and perhaps in Atlanta’s case, remind them that even with a colossal collapse,  it could be worse. So let’s get to appreciating what we have (in no particular order).

1.  Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado are still Braves.  Although it was rumored that the duo was being shopped by the organization, no moves have been made, and it appears the rumors stemmed from other teams calling the Braves with interest.

2.  The Braves have enough pitching to consider dealing Jair. » Continue reading “Giving Thanks in Braves Country”

The stove is already hot, but the Braves stoked it up by the move fans have been waiting for.  Derek Lowe is no longer an Atlanta Brave.  Lowe has struggled for the past two seasons, but was responsible for Atlanta making it to the post season in 2010.  The deal left the Braves covering an expected $10 million of Lowe’s $15 million contract.  In return, they pick up a minor league lefty Chris Jones.  While Atlanta made the deal to simply unload Lowe’s salary, Cleveland actually stands to gain from picking up the soon to be 39 year old.  Lowe has the veteran knowledge and leadership that most rotations lack, and more than that, he still has the drive to win.  I truly hope that Derek Lowe can find away to pull out a better season than 2011.  His body of work deserves to be remembered for more than just how far he fell. » Continue reading “Throw Another Log on the Fire”

Would somebody act like they want to be in the playoffs?  Atlanta has let a 10 1/2 Wild Card lead diminish to one game with two to play.  What is worse, they lead Philadelphia, but once again could not capitalize with runners in scoring position.  St. Louis is no better.  Those “damned old billy goats” (that is another George Tencleve special you may remember from previous posts.)had the tie in their hands, but just could not hold on.  » Continue reading “After You. No, After You, I Insist…”

If you still need to see more, click on the link to see MLB video.

Well, maybe just online, but there is panic nonetheless after the Braves dropped another game to the Marlins.  Their lead in the Wild Card is merely 1 1/2 over St Louis, and the Giants are not far behind.  Derek Lowe gave up three runs in his 6.1 innings of work, which is an improvement, but the offense gave him no help.

I still feel that Atlanta will slide into the playoffs, but honestly, I am not sure why.  There is still a possibilty to get Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens back, but right now, the probably is scoring runs.  They have been through this before, so maybe it is as simple as Larry Wayne Sr paying a visit!  Whatever the plan is, they have six days to make it work!

I’m guilty of it too- you are in a hurry, so you put off stopping to get gas or the place down the road is so much cheaper.  I can make you tell yourself, I have to be on time- I will stop later.  You hit every light, there is a wreck ahead of you, and traffic is at a stand still.  You begin to panic.  You are cutting it so close.  You may not make it up the next hill, but if that gas station is still open, you can coast in on fumes.  If it is not, you will be stuck until someone comes to help, or you wait until it opens for business, swearing all along this will never happen again.  Until the next time when you absolutely have no other choice. » Continue reading “Gas IS Expensive These Days…”

Image Source Page: http://www.newsday.com/topics/Derek_Lowe

That is what I am going to keep telling myself anyway.  Full disclosure:  I missed Friday night’s game because I was reporting from the Georgia Dome sidelines for the Great American Football Classic.  The first game looked very much like the box of the Braves s Mets, except for the fact that the team that won 74-0 was supposed to the stomper, not the stompee.

It is obvious at this point that Derek Lowe is not going to have the September of last year, but with Teheran also giving up four runs in the fourth, Fredi Gonzalez may be forced to go with experience and PRAY!  Tommy Hanson may make it back, but how will he play after being out all this time?  One bright spot is that Fredi was able to string together a long list of relievers to get through the game, but the four runs in the first were never able to be surmounted.  We may be looking at having to pull pitchers when they allow runners on base.  I am still going with the second part of the equation- PRAY!

The Braves are once again looking to Tim Hudson to bring them back from a horrific outcome.  Huddy is going to have to be in better form than some of his last outings if the Braves are going to keep a spot in the playoffs.  St Louis closed within 3.5 after beating Philadelphia.  I am not encouraging to start cheering against the Cardinals, but the Brewers.  St Louis is close enough to catch them, and if the Braves take care of business, they can edge out the Brewers.  Come on, what did you expect from the girl who is choosing to believe last night’s game never happened?

Last week I was privileged to be a guest on Braves Banter for the second time.  This week’s hosts were Chris Mascaro and Angelo Crane.  Listen to here our take on the Braves’ post season outlook.

This week has been rough on Atlanta fans.  The Braves were swept by the Phillies and Cardinals, and the Falcons fell on their faces against Chicago.  You would think Atlanta would be due to win an extras innings game against a team that’s season is over.  WRONG!  The Braves lost to the Marlins 5-4 in 12. 

Atlanta did not lose ground in the Wild Card with St Louis losing, but that really does not matter for the morale of the city.  The fallback all season has been the pitching will pull the Braves through, but when an All-Star and a deserving All-Star in Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson may be out for the season, confidence is not high.

The bullpen becomes even more important when the reality of starters going five or less innings (Derek Lowe and youngsters Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy, yes age discrimination on my part.) is a distinct possiblilty.  In my mind, it has to get better, the bats have to get hot, and the pitchers have to come through.  Do not wake me, I am practicing the Secret!