For better or worse, the trade has been made. It was a shortsighted and selfish trade but that is another story.

 

My problem is that, now that these prospects are no longer in the Braves organization, efforts are made to downplay their ability and potential. All of a sudden, Saltalamacchia doesn't have star potential, Andrus can't hit, Harrison is an above average prospect with arm trouble, and Beau Jones is no more than a throw in.

 

It is one matter to deplete your farm system of its top three prospects and its 14th rated prospect (some have Jones as #8) but it is quite another thing to bad-mouth them on the way out.

 

Andrus will probably never be Jeter. Of course, playing in New York enhances Jeter's image. Andrus is only 18 (not 19 as several have posted), leads Carolina League shortstops in fielding, and has a batting average that has been on a steady rise. He is the youngest player in the Carolina League.

 

Those who are actually familiar with the Carolina League know that it is well known as a pitchers league. Coastal Federal Field is a pitcher's park.

 

This trade could be much like the Alexander for Smoltz trade. Doyle Alexander led the Tigers to the world championship whereas the 19 year old Smoltz blossomed into a hall of fame pitcher.

 

While it is unlikely that these prospects will end up as hall of famers, it is also unlikely that Teixeira will lead the Braves to a world championship.

For better or worse, the trade has been made. It was a shortsighted and selfish trade but that is another story.

It's a standard "risk the future for the present" deal ... nothing more, nothing less.

My problem is that, now that these prospects are no longer in the Braves organization, efforts are made to downplay their ability and potential. All of a sudden, Saltalamacchia doesn't have star potential, Andrus can't hit, Harrison is an above average prospect with arm trouble, and Beau Jones is no more than a throw in.

Heck, a lot of teams do that. The Dodgers made a living on it in the late 70s and early 80s, trading away overhyped prospects that never did much out of the thin air of Albuquerque.

 

I think Saltalamacchia can be a heck of a valuable guy over the next few years, but he has more value to the Rangers than he would have had for the Braves. Putting together a baseball team is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle ... the pieces have to fit together to make the pretty picture. The Braves traded an odd fit for a piece they knew they needed.

 

Bottom line ... the Braves have traditionally made good decisions on which young guys to keep and which ones to deal away in trades. That has to be considered when evaluating this deal, at least until a few years from now when things have shaken out.

It is one matter to deplete your farm system of its top three prospects and its 14th rated prospect (some have Jones as #8) but it is quite another thing to bad-mouth them on the way out.

It's all spin ... nothing more, nothing less.

 

Heck, I'm no Braves fan and I don't care a lick for Schuerholz. I think the guy is arrogant and the organizations reeks of it. But I'm just calling the trade like I see it ...

Andrus will probably never be Jeter. Of course, playing in New York enhances Jeter's image. Andrus is only 18 (not 19 as several have posted), leads Carolina League shortstops in fielding, and has a batting average that has been on a steady rise. He is the youngest player in the Carolina League.

 

Those who are actually familiar with the Carolina League know that it is well known as a pitchers league. Coastal Federal Field is a pitcher's park.

Andrus will be 19 later this month ... hardly an egregious mistake on our part. And, pitcher's park or not, his numbers don't look anything like a potential Jeter, as some have touted him to be. He's also made 25 errors.

 

Andrus could turn out to be a star ... at his age, he has plenty of time to develop. But baseball history is full of young, athletic shortstop prospects that never panned out.

This trade could be much like the Alexander for Smoltz trade. Doyle Alexander led the Tigers to the world championship whereas the 19 year old Smoltz blossomed into a hall of fame pitcher.

The Tigers didn't make it to the World Series in 1987, when they acquired Alexander for Smolts. They won it in 1984.

It's a standard "risk the future for the present" deal ... nothing more, nothing less.

Heck, a lot of teams do that. The Dodgers made a living on it in the late 70s and early 80s, trading away overhyped prospects that never did much out of the thin air of Albuquerque.

 

I think Saltalamacchia can be a heck of a valuable guy over the next few years, but he has more value to the Rangers than he would have had for the Braves. Putting together a baseball team is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle ... the pieces have to fit together to make the pretty picture. The Braves traded an odd fit for a piece they knew they needed.

 

Bottom line ... the Braves have traditionally made good decisions on which young guys to keep and which ones to deal away in trades. That has to be considered when evaluating this deal, at least until a few years from now when things have shaken out.

It's all spin ... nothing more, nothing less.

 

Heck, I'm no Braves fan and I don't care a lick for Schuerholz. I think the guy is arrogant and the organizations reeks of it. But I'm just calling the trade like I see it ...

Andrus will be 19 later this month ... hardly an egregious mistake on our part. And, pitcher's park or not, his numbers don't look anything like a potential Jeter, as some have touted him to be. He's also made 25 errors.

 

Andrus could turn out to be a star ... at his age, he has plenty of time to develop. But baseball history is full of young, athletic shortstop prospects that never panned out.

The Tigers didn't make it to the World Series in 1987, when they acquired Alexander for Smolts. They won it in 1984.

 

Excellent rebuttal. I stand corrected. Detroit lost in the LCS to Minnesota. However, they would not have won their division without Alexander's 9-0 record after coming to Detroit.

 

As for Andrus, we shall see (he will turn 19 a week before the end of the season so you are splitting hairs). Same is true for the others. I do think your knowledge of the Carolina League in general and CFF in particular is somewhat lacking. However, some things are fairly certain. Dotel will be there two months. Teixeira will be there, at most, fourteen months. Mahay will not peform as well as would McBride. And, Royce Ring will take that natural name onto the revival trail. Finally, Texeira will not lead the team to the playoffs as did McGriff. People should remember that, when McGriff came, the Braves had four potential twenty game winners in their rotation including three future HoFers in their absolute prime. That does somehow make a difference, don't you think?

 

You are also quite correct in your assessment of Schuerholz, the organization, and many Braves fans. They, and I was one of them going clear back to Milwaukee, do tend to be unbearable. Oh well. I still have my MB Pelicans- assuming they have enough left to field a team. And, the organization still has Schuerholz's son who, though he can't hit or field, is a very likeable young man.

As for Andrus, we shall see (he will turn 19 a week before the end of the season so you are splitting hairs). Same is true for the others. I do think your knowledge of the Carolina League in general and CFF in particular is somewhat lacking.

Actually, I know a little about the Carolina League. I also know that Andrus' stats are pretty similar to what he did in the Sally last year. As much of a pitching-friendly environment as Myrtle Beach might be, it doesn't change the fact that Andrus has a long way to go offensively.

 

Of course, Andrus has plenty of time to develop ... and he may very well do it. But a lot of teams don't mind trading a few tomorrows for a few todays, and this is a classic case of it. You have to give up something valuable to get something valuable.

Dotel will be there two months. Teixeira will be there, at most, fourteen months. Mahay will not peform as well as would McBride. And, Royce Ring will take that natural name onto the revival trail. Finally, Texeira will not lead the team to the playoffs as did McGriff. People should remember that, when McGriff came, the Braves had four potential twenty game winners in their rotation including three future HoFers in their absolute prime. That does somehow make a difference, don't you think?

It's too late to lament the McBride deal ... I never understood that one, either.

 

As for the Teixeira-McGriff comparison ... I don't see the relevance of it. I think the Braves will make the playoffs, and that is why Teixeira was brought on board.

 

As for Teixeira's future ... who knows? He might take a renewed liking to the city in which he attended college. And let's face it ... the Braves are a better organization to be in than the Orioles right now.

Teixeira hit a homer tonight in his debut with the Braves!

Teixeira hit a homer tonight in his debut with the Braves!

 

 

He certainly did although it was after the game was long ago decided. He also struck out twice and drove in a run (bases loaded walk) without taking his bat off of his shoulder. Dotel even pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning- with the score 12-3. Of course, one robin doesn't necessarily denote the arrival of spring. The short term success of the changes will not be known until the first week of October. The long term ramifications may not be known for many years- ie Alexander for Smoltz.

Speaking of that extension, Texeira turned it down because of the state of the Rangers

 

You have a link to that quote?

Actually, I know a little about the Carolina League. I also know that Andrus' stats are pretty similar to what he did in the Sally last year. As much of a pitching-friendly environment as Myrtle Beach might be, it doesn't change the fact that Andrus has a long way to go offensively.

 

Of course, Andrus has plenty of time to develop ... and he may very well do it. But a lot of teams don't mind trading a few tomorrows for a few todays, and this is a classic case of it. You have to give up something valuable to get something valuable.

It's too late to lament the McBride deal ... I never understood that one, either.

 

As for the Teixeira-McGriff comparison ... I don't see the relevance of it. I think the Braves will make the playoffs, and that is why Teixeira was brought on board.

 

As for Teixeira's future ... who knows? He might take a renewed liking to the city in which he attended college. And let's face it ... the Braves are a better organization to be in than the Orioles right now.

 

 

 

 

With Scott Boros as his agent, greenbacks will be the deciding factor. Loyalty and integrity in baseball disappeared with free agency- for the players and for management.

You have a link to that quote?

I'll see if I can find one!

I'll see if I can find one!

 

I've heard Scott Boras say directly that he doesn't "let" his players sign extensions under contract, so that made your comment about why Tex turned it down seem different. I truly don't think the "state of the Rangers" had anything to do with it.

 

He is going to be a $20 million a year guy, come heck or high water.

Here is a link, to an article that may offer some insight. I've excerpted portions, from the link.

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/080107dnsporanglede.ccc962c5.html

 

Boras acknowledged that an offer was made but declined to discuss specifics. Boras also emphasized that Teixeira, who expressed unhappiness with the Rangers' direction during a one-game rehab assignment nearly three weeks ago, did not request a trade.

"Mark said he wanted to win with the Texas Rangers, but it was going to take time to determine where the Rangers were going. They wanted him to make a decision now. The club made their decision. I don't think there is any ill will."

^ Yeah I read in multiple articles where Daniels said that if Teixeira didn't accept the offer than they were going to trade Teixeira either inseason or during the offseason. Big Ultimatum givin to Teixeira.

He certainly did although it was after the game was long ago decided. He also struck out twice and drove in a run (bases loaded walk) without taking his bat off of his shoulder. Dotel even pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning- with the score 12-3. Of course, one robin doesn't necessarily denote the arrival of spring. The short term success of the changes will not be known until the first week of October. The long term ramifications may not be known for many years- ie Alexander for Smoltz.

 

 

Tex hit another homer tonight...

The Braves sure aren't lacking for hitting, but pitching is killing them. Soriano and Wickman are so inconsistent. Wickman went 1-2-3 in the 9th, but by then Soriano had given up a grand slam in the 8th to let the Astros tie it. Dotel meanwhile needed 11 pitches to go 1-2-3 in the 7th. You can't blow 4 run leads in the 8th and expect to win.

The Braves sure aren't lacking for hitting, but pitching is killing them. Soriano and Wickman are so inconsistent. Wickman went 1-2-3 in the 9th, but by then Soriano had given up a grand slam in the 8th to let the Astros tie it. Dotel meanwhile needed 11 pitches to go 1-2-3 in the 7th. You can't blow 4 run leads in the 8th and expect to win.

I agree, they need starting pitching. I made that comment and some, found it amusing.