2020 Atlanta Braves News

[Buzzbomb]

I’m not sure why we have to watch this damn story on repeat for our entire lives. Plenty of blame to go around in this one, but if I had to pick one thing I’d say the base running the last few days pretty much lost the series.

No, being thrown out at the plate(just like the Dodgers were a few innings later)& not able to stay in the rundown long enough for Riley to make third safely, didn’t lose the series. Check out the bats the last three losses: 2 runs, 1 run and three runs on about 3 total hits last night. Betts came to life, Acuna did not.

 

[THWG]

Just a heads up, this is going to be a long post. Well, that sucked, but I'm even more excited for the Braves future now. We pushed the juggernaut Dodgers to 7 games with basically 3 rookie starters and a rookie CF who only played 2 games the whole year. The Braves have to make some moves this offseason, but I feel like what they did this postseason is going to be the start of another 90s run. My perfect offseason for the Braves looks like this:
1) Extend Freeman and Swanson. Give Freeman something pretty much like his first extension, 8/180. I think Swanson would take 5/45 or 6/66. And re-sign Melancon and Greene to 2 year deals.
2) Sign a veteran starter who can eat innings. I would love to see the Braves sign Bauer and I've heard they are going to go after him very strongly. Bauer will probably get something like 6/175. But, I'm not going to get my hopes up here so I would really like to get Tanaka or maybe Taijuan Walker. Also wouldn't mind bringing back King Felix for depth.
3) Bring in a lefty OF bat. I love Markakis, but he looked to be about done this year. I want to see us get somebody like Joc Pederson who provides pop and can play all 3 positions. We could then platoon him in LF with Duvall.
4) Re-sign Ozuna. I put this last because I only want them to do this if the NL goes to the DH permanently. I love his game and the way he mentored the younger guys, but he is such a liability in LF and we saw what outstanding defense does with the entire Dodgers OF.

My wildcard in all of this is George Springer. If we have the chance to sign him, I would absolutely pull the trigger. We would have 3 CF in the outfield and our depth there would be ridiculous.

So in my ideal world, the Braves go into next season with a rotation of Soroka, Fried, Anderson, Tanaka, and Wright/Wilson/Folty. The pen would be Ynoa, Newk, Matzek, Smith, Webb, Melancon, Martin, and Greene with Dayton, Davidson, and Touissant being options.
In the field, we would have D'Arnaud and Contreras/Jackson at C. An infield of Freddie, Ozzie, Dansby, and Riley. An OF of Duvall/Pederson, Pache, and Acuna. Then Ozuna would be DH. On the bench we would have Culberson, Contreras/Jackson, Pederson/Duvall, and Camargo. This team wins a World Series and I know it's basically the same team, but the additions of Sorka being and healthy and a veteran like Tanaka gets us over the hump imo.

 

[Buzzbomb]

When the early innings were passing by, you could see the glum faces in the Dodger dugout. Betts and Seager looked like they were filled with worry. If you win 3 games and lead for half of game 7, you pretty much played a better team even.
Noted, the LA payroll trumps the Atlanta one. Starting pitching and the youth, will all gain from this experience going into 2021. If there is a season for MLB.

 

[GT_EE78]

That stunk
so here's an upbeat article about the future
Some free agents (decisions have to be made) are listed below from article:
outfielder Nick Markakis and backup catcher Tyler Flowers
Marcell Ozuna
bullpen- Melancon, Martin and Greene

Why best is yet to come for Braves after postseason loss to Dodgers

The Braves lost, but the best is yet to come with this loaded organization

www.cbssports.com

 

[THWG]

That stunk
so here's an upbeat article about the future
Some free agents (decisions have to be made) are listed below from article:
outfielder Nick Markakis and backup catcher Tyler Flowers
Marcell Ozuna
bullpen- Melancon, Martin and Greene

Why best is yet to come for Braves after postseason loss to Dodgers

The Braves lost, but the best is yet to come with this loaded organization

www.cbssports.com

Markakis has been great for us, but I really hope we can get a lefty bat with more pop. We also need to try and trade Inciarte. Maybe we can package him and some prospects for a veteran pitcher.

 

[Milwaukee]

“On the dance floor”

 

[kg01]

Based on (lack of) viewership, MLB needed the Braves in the Final (yes, I called it the Final. Sue me).

TBS really made the Braves America's Team. Too bad that's getting lost as the years roll by. There's too many dang channels, which is why so much dumbarse sh*t is on TV. Get off my lawn.

 

[Milwaukee]

 

[Milwaukee]

I’m curious as to what his contract bonus is for the award. This is awesome. If you listen to all players in MLB, even bitter rivals, FF might be the most respected player in the league. Everyone just seems to genuinely like the guy.

 

[GCdaJuiceMan]

I’m curious as to what his contract bonus is for the award. This is awesome. If you listen to all players in MLB, even bitter rivals, FF might be the most respected player in the league. Everyone just seems to genuinely like the guy.

Think he had a top 5 mvp bonus which was 200K. I bet there is a cherry on top for actually bring MVP.

 

[Buzzbomb]

Ozuna reportedly being pursued by 10 teams, including Atlanta.

 

[THWG]

Ozuna reportedly being pursued by 10 teams, including Atlanta.

I wish we knew what the DH situation is going to be like next year. I want the Braves to re-sign Ozuna, but only if he can DH. I think Pederson or Brantley is who we really need to target right now until we know about the DH.

 

[Milwaukee]

And he loses 24M he was scheduled to get. Ouch.

 

[GT_EE78]

Smyly inks one-year, $11M deal with Braves​

Smyly inks one-year, $11M deal with Braves

Drew Smyly’s hometown is listed as Little Rock, Ark., but his signing with the Braves is a homecoming. “I was born actually in Gainesville, Ga.,” Smyly clarified. “I didn’t live there for long, but my parents used to live in Rome, Ga. My first MLB game was at Turner Field

www.mlb.com

 

[FredJacket]

Braves maybe got a 2-fer here. Addition to staff... and non-addition to a division opponent's staff.

 

[THWG]

I love the signings that we've made so far. I would still like us to get Pederson or Brantley and get one of Melancon/Greene and one of Hand/Hendricks.

 

[Milwaukee]

didn’t know where to put this (twss)

 

[Buzzbomb]

Phil Niekro passed away from cancer at 81 y.o.

One little league year, I sold the most candy to win a Nucksie autographed ball.
Met him when working as an upper level supervisor during my youth. He pitched a one-hitter vs. Cincy on the last day of a season in the ‘70’s. The next night I was invited to eat dinner with him, **** Ruthven and Rob Bellior(SS, who was an usher before he played for the Braves). The other two gentlemen who met us at The Coach and Six, passed away years ago. One was Tillman “Barney” Berry, who was instrumental in getting Pat Jarvis into the Sheriff's seat in Dekalb County. He also got the Mayor of Lilburn to designate a road in Lilburn for Phil. Mr. Niekro asked me to visit him on the first game of the next season to be with dugout passes, so he could give me some baseballs for my sister. She and my mom lived not far from West Palm Beach, therefore while waiting for sister to get home from school, I decided to take in a Braves Spring Training game. It rained out, but who do you think noticed me at the concession stand? Yes, Phil was eating peanuts cleverly disguised with a fishing hat, out of his uniform. He took me down to the locker area and loaded me up with goodies for Jenifer. He remembered, kept his word. I had the pleasure once of inviting him to have lunch with Al Ciraldo, Sr. at Mary Mac’s.

I will spare you how hot Ruthven was with Teddy Ballgame Turner. He got traded shortly after that meal we had with him(I was seated between he and Phillip.

Phil was probably the nicest athlete, I’ve ever known. Nancy is his soulmate.

Edited to say: Richard Ruthven. He went by a different first name, as I got censored here. It rhymes with TRick, and is slang for the most valuable male anatomy part known as a *****.

 

[FredJacket]

Phil Niekro passed away from cancer at 81 y.o.

One little league year, I sold the most candy to win a Nucksie autographed ball.
Met him when working as an upper level supervisor during my youth. He pitched a one-hitter vs. Cincy on the last day of a season in the ‘70’s. The next night I was invited to eat dinner with him, **** Ruthven and Rob Bellior(SS, who was an usher before he played for the Braves). The other two gentlemen who met us at The Coach and Six, passed away years ago. One was Tillman “Barney” Berry, who was instrumental in getting Pat Jarvis into the Sheriff's seat in Dekalb County. He also got the Mayor of Lilburn to designate a road in Lilburn for Phil. Mr. Niekro asked me to visit him on the first game of the next season to be with dugout passes, so he could give me some baseballs for my sister. She and my mom lived not far from West Palm Beach, therefore while waiting for sister to get home from school, I decided to take in a Braves Spring Training game. It rained out, but who do you think noticed me at the concession stand? Yes, Phil was eating peanuts cleverly disguised with a fishing hat, out of his uniform. He took me down to the locker area and loaded me up with goodies for Jenifer. He remembered, kept his word. I had the pleasure once of inviting him to have lunch with Al Ciraldo, Sr. at Mary Mac’s.

I will spare you how hot Ruthven was with Teddy Ballgame Turner. He got traded shortly after that meal we had with him(I was seated between he and Phillip.

Phil was probably the nicest athlete, I’ve ever known. Nancy is his soulmate.

Edited to say: Richard Ruthven. He went by a different first name, as I got censored here. It rhymes with TRick, and is slang for the most valuable male anatomy part known as a *****.

Good stuff, BuzzB. I was always a fan of Phil Niekro!

 

[FredJacket]

On honor of Phil Niekro...