pingman

"Just a thought. Would a Hart for Randall Delgado swap be fair? I really like Delgado" As both a longtime Braves (1a) & Brewers (1b) fan I think these two teams could make a deal..... how about Hart for Delgado & 23 year old RHP Brandon Beachy FWIW....the Braves promoted the 20 year old Delgado to AA & Beachy to AAA on 07/23....Beachy has "found it" this year & fits the power -pitcher description that Melvin wants ..... I guarandamntee that Beachy will be highly rated by BA The Braves have historically been suckers for toolsy OF's so maybe Gomez could be worked into this deal too

Weeeks, Fielder & Braun have a reputation for leaning over the plate.....they should not be surprised nor upset if they get drilled because it's part of the game This stuff has been going on for 100+ years & it will still be happening 100 years from now.... Macha is a joke....now he can add crybaby to his resume

speaking of Chipper....his defense is really bad; so how come no one has tried to bunt on him?

Heyward is a stud! ....what a 5-tool talent!

found this tidbit: Also the Braves have 18 year old Dominican SS Edward Salcedo (signed to a $1,600,000 bonus over the winter) advancing quickly ....he might be ready by 2012 more.... and even more....from the Braves Scout.com page:

BINGO! As long as Schuerholtz & Cox are around the Braves are all about (1) playing hard, and (2) playing smart ....Escobar has failed on these requirements....he certainly has the talent but what's disappointing to us Braves fans is that he's failed to respond to benchings & other disciplinary attempts by Cox ....

The Braves are not in the market for pitchers....their strength is pitching depth in fact they have a few worthy guys stuck in AAA that are major league ready.... what the Braves need are (A) a middle of the order right handed bat ...aka Hart, and (B) a 3B of the future Actually the Braves badly want to keep Minor because (A) he's their only southpaw starter prospect in the near horizon & (B) they don't have a southpaw starter in Atlanta ....they really, really like Minor.... So who does that leave? Hart + Gamel for Medlen plus ?????? (a pitching prospect not named Teheran, Vizcaino, Kimbrel, Minor, Delgado or Carlos Perez) ....I'm a fan of (1a) the Braves & (1b) the Brewers so I consider myself neutral & honestly looking for a deal that work's for both organizations

you keep moving major leagues to different positions & the defense is going to get worse need to make these changes in the minors

Braves have a few interesting prospects: (Stats thru 07.09.10) * AAA Gwinnett... 22 year old RHP/closer Craig Kimbrel (Braves #5 prospect by BA) 1-0-12 saves 0.84 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 12.66 K's/9 ...throws 97+big slider.... spent some time in Atlanta before being optioned to get consistent work: 2-0-0 1.08, 1.68, 16.20 (yep, 15 k's in 8.1 innings!) ....considered Braves closer of the future.... probably not available in a Hart trade * AA Mississippi...RHP/starter Brandon Beachy (23 years old) ... 3-1 1.13, 1.01, 11.31 & .199 opponents BA !!! * AA Mississippi...RHP/reliever Juan Abreu (25) 3-0-5 saves 1.69 ...supposedly touches 100 mph ...rebounding after slow start * AAA Gwinett...LHP/reliever Mike Dunn (25) 2-0-7 1.11, 1.08, 11.95 ...consistently throws 95-97 ....former Yankee came to Braves in the Vazquez trade but is blocked by the deep Atlanta bullpen * AA Mississippi.... corner OF Willie Cabrera (23) .... .328, .387, .460 ....makes contact; strikes out only once every 10.86 plate appearance ...11 SB but only 3 homers

Bill Shanks (Owner of the Braves page @ Scout.com & host of a Braves radio show....he's VERY connected to Braves mgmt & has an excellent track record on these type of rumor vs fact things) posted this @ http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=248&f=2070&t=6104277 The general concesus is the Braves-nation HATES this rumor.... I just can't see Hart returning a Baseball America top 50 pitcher (Minor is included in their latest ranking in the 26-50 category) ....btw Lawrie is ranked #15 http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2010/2610314.html

getting back to the original question, Mark A has to be thinking about putting fannies in the seats....and Milwaukee has proven that they will fill the stadium to see an exciting product (lineup filled with homerun hitters) ....therefore status quo might be his recipe.... keep in mind that it looks like the economy will get worse & that's a serious threat to Brewers' revenue..... not to mention Mark A must have serious concerns about his investment business

why would the Marines make that trade? they'll get much more than that for Lee

David O'Brien is the Braves beat-writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves have lots of pitching especially at the High-A level & below....but they have virtually nothing for major league ready hitting prospects I doubt the Braves would trade Kris Medlen, Jonny Venters, Craig Kimbrel, Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino or Randall Delgado....but there's still plenty of power-arms including 2009 1st round pick southpaw Mike Minor & Robinson Lopez, a 19 year from the Dominican .... and you can include the above mentioned DeVall too

Weeks needs a new position.... FWIW....the D'Backs have unofficially raised the white flag & will be shopping their roster including 2B Kelly Johnson....just saying

I could see the Braves making a run for McGhee but not until this winter.....Chipper will likely retire leaving a big hole to fill at 3B .... The Braves are budget-strapped therefore they won't go after Prince (and move Glaus back to his natural position of 3B) .... plus the Braves management despises Boras more than most teams....

+1 ....and Kottaras shows NO leadership ....the catcher, as the captain of the infield, needs to yell which base to make the throw to.... a recent game still grates at me when McGhee fielded a bunt and with his back to base wheels & throws to 2B and everyone is safe: Kottaras MUST direct McGhee on that play to get the sure out at 1B ....and I agree he's horrible at blocking balls in the dirt

Braves fan weighing in on this topic (Braves & Brewers are 1a & 1b in my book; my dad was a huge Milwaukee Braves fan & I was "outta-the-will" if I didn't keep an allegiance with the Braves -haha!) The Braves farm is relatively thin compared with their standards from most of the last decade....but they're deep with premier pitching prospects: 1) Teheran (age=19)....with Strassburg now in Washington, Teheran might be the #1 pitching prospect in minor league baseball (not my words) ....a recent scouting report on a Braves site said his stuff is superior to former Brave farmhand Netali Feliz... three "+ pitches" including a heater with good movement that recently was still hitting 97 in the 7th inning or a recent game..... untouchable unless Braun's in the deal so the Brewers will never sniff him 2) Vizcaino (19).... got him from the Yankees in the Velazquez deal ....BA ranked him as the Yankees #3 prospect ....another power guy who's projected as a top of the rotation prospect 3) Minor (22).... lefty was the Braves #1 draftchoice in 2009 then did very well in the Arizona Fall League.... projected as a middle of the rotation starter 4) Randall Delgado (20) ....yet another highly regarded youngster.... 5) Robinson Lopez (19).... he's going to climb the BA ratings because he's yet another young prospect beating up on older prospects in Class A Rome.... explosive stuff 6) Dimaster Delgado (21) ....lefty is rehabbing from arm surgery but is still highly regarded by the Braves 7) Tyler Stovall (20) ....currently refining his stuff at Braves minor league camp in Orlando....lefty was a 2nd round pick in 2008 ....also worth mentioning are rookies already on the Atlanta staff: Craig Kimbrel is still only 22 & is considered the closer of the future.... he throws very hard & is compared favorably with Billy Wagner....southpaw Jonny Venters (25) has surprised in Atlanta as a rookie with his filthy slider & 95 mph heater.....and the Braves rotation already includes a pair of 24 year-olds in Tommy Hanson & Kris Medlen CONCLUSION: the Braves are rich in pitching prospects....BUT painfully lacking in hitting prospects PREDICTION: IMHO it would take an overwhelming offer to pry Teheran & Vizcaino from the Braves but others could be had in exchange for hitting prospects, especially since ATL will be looking for a 3B this winter (to replace a retiring Chipper)

+1 ....another vote for Morneau.... from Crash's original post I like Morneau the best.... Prince is the wildcard because he has the potential to eat himself out of the league

Weeks at DH with Counsell at 2B.... .... letting Weeks focus on his hitting for a few days might help him snap out of his funk

scratch the Braves from your list... 1) they're against the wall with their budget (hence "giving" away Javy Vazquez & Rafael Soriano) 2) too much bad blood with Boras 3) they really like Freddie Freeman (20 year old who's already in AAA) as their 1B, maybe as soon as opening day 2011

when Rickie's bat is slumping does he let it affect his defense?

Jason Heyward is the real-deal

This could be a very schrewd business decision.... The Champions Tour's popularity is growing because more of the top talent is reaching 50....like Couples....and later this year you add Kenny Perry & Calcavecchia when they turn 50, both who loved playing in Milwaukee & were crowd favorites Brown Deer is an old school course that is well liked by the older players because it requires shot-makers who can work their ball with both draws & fades.... the new school bomb & gouge types are the ones who generally stayed away from Brown Deer because they couldn't manage the tight fairways.... One thing they could consider is using a pro-former MLB player pro-am format.....this is already done with the NFL on the Champions Tour & is quite popular....visualize the Pebble Beach Pro Am except all the amateurs are former MLB players

hate the media, not Heyward.....it's not his fault If you look at Heyward objectively you can't help but be impressed....imagine if he had any protection in the Braves pathetic lineup (he's only hit from the 6 or 7 hole thus far)