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Lowe Close, Kawakami Closer

by Pat - posted Saturday, January 10th, 2009

Derek Lowe in an apperance in Atlanta.

Derek Lowe in an apperance in Atlanta.

With the departure of John Smoltz things have seemed to pick up lately with other free agent pitchers. The Braves met with free agent pitcher Derek Lowe formally of the Dodgers. Lowe is probably the top pitcher on the still on the market now. The Braves did not seem to show much interest in Lowe at first, but things changed as the Mets made an offer and the Braves lost Smoltz to the RedSox. Lowe would provide an “ace” type pitcher that is severely needed in the starting rotation. Lowe can provide both quality starts, and many innings pitched throughout the year. He is most noted for his durability over his career. Even with an addition of Lowe the Braves still have a need for more quality starting. In another deal, the Braves are reported as being close to signing free agent pitcher Kenshen Kawakami from Japan.

Kawakami is a largely scouted pitcher in Japan that has the MLB equivalent of a Cy Young award. He brings many good potential qualities to an MLB club. He is still young at only 33, and a few players in MLB baseball have ever faced him. He features a fast ball that tops out around 90 mph, and a great curveball. He also has a typical deceptive motion as much of the Japanese pitchers feature. There are some negatives to this deal however, in Japan pitchers work on a 6 or even 7 day rotation compared to 5 or sometimes even 4 in MLB. Along with this, communication is always an issue with foreign players. I don’t know how much English he knows, but I am willing to bet catcher Brian McCann does not know much. Kawakami is supposed to meet with the Braves over the weekend in Atlanta and pending a physical could be signed as early as next week. Let’s hope these deals get done and the Braves can then turn their focus on acquiring a power hitting left fielder. Jereme will have a full rumor mill update on the next available show.

Video Highlights of Kenshen Kawakami Pitching in Japan

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Smoltz Heads To Boston, Braves Fans Very Unhappy!

by Bravescast - posted Thursday, January 8th, 2009

John Smoltz departs from the Braves after over 20 seasons

John Smoltz departs from the Braves after over 20 seasons

Pat:

I think Jereme said it best last week in the show when he mentioned how much baseball has changed and how he missed the way things used to be. With the news that John Smoltz will be headed north to Boston, I couldn’t help but to think what it now takes for a player to play an entire career with the same team. Yes I realize he was part of the Tigers organization to start with, but Smoltz is and will always be a Brave in my eyes. I have read several reports stating that Atlanta’s offer was nowhere in the same ballpark as the Redsox. I have to believe that Smoltz was keeping the Braves informed of potential clubs interest and probably gave the Braves a chance to match or come close. This is just another big disappointment in what has been a very hard off-season for Braves fans. Frank Wren will now turn his attention to signing Derek Lowe. Although the move would still be positive for the Braves, it really doesn’t seem to matter as much now!!!

Jereme:

This Morning when I woke up it was hard to believe that the long time Braves Pitcher John Smoltz was no longer with us. Now I am not going to lie, I am a little bitter. I mean the way this off-season has gone its hard for even the most loyal Braves fan to not have some bitterness in them. I am torn on who to really blame. Is it fair to blame Smoltz, or the front office of the Braves? Who is to blame will come out later this week as the Braves say they offered him an incentive based deal and Smoltz says that there are large gaps in the offer. The one thing that I can say with a Definite is that Atlanta Braves fans have lost a true contender. One that was passionate about the game, and treated the fans to 200 wins, 3000 strikeouts, and several key wins (both in the regular season and post season). To say Smoltz will be missed is an understatement, but as a fan of the game and the player I wish Smoltz all the luck this season.

Bert:

It looks as though the Atlanta sports landscape will never again be the same. After twenty plus years with the Braves John Smoltz will be leaving. One of the staples in Atlanta will never wear the tomahawk across his chest. Not like when two other greats of the mound, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux John was more than an every five day player. If you ever had a chance to see this guy pitch whether it is from the first inning on or in the bottom of the ninth you saw a warrior on the rubber. His departure is a shocking but truth shaking moment for the Braves faithful as we all see the lack of enthusiasm of the front office. I guess you can say the Braves got beat out on two wonderful pitchers for a combined six million dollars. And this is a team that right before the season was over said that they was going to have sufficient funds to build a competing team in 09. From a huge fan base that Atlanta had in the postseason runs in the 1990s to the dwindling few that is still there now we will all miss the great starter and of course the ninth inning when we all stood up to the sound of thunderstruck.

Video Blog: CSS’S Chris Dimino on Smoltz Leaving Atlanta

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It Looks Like There Will Be No FanFest This Year!!!

by Bert - posted Sunday, January 4th, 2009

newfanfest 

Looks like no Fanfest in 09″

 

I am 27 years old, and I like most youngsters enjoy things that Fanfest had to offer in years past and as I see the months and weeks of the offseason go by and not much good is happening. I was looking forward to Fanfest if nothing more is to see who will be there, but is like a great tradition that was really starting to take off.  The games, the players, the autographs and other great Braves things to look upon and the various baseball related booths that popped up last year was a great finishing touch.

Now instead of paying ten or so bucks to enjoy such a fest you have one of two choices.  I guess the baseball fans that wear ties and make all the decisions knows what the fans really want right?  Well here is choice number one so let Johnny hear about this.  Braves Diamond Gala.  There you can get all of your games and entertainment along with players, silent auction and casino night.  That’s right. Take the seven year old boy who loves his team a ton to casino night great idea!

Idea number two is a good idea and for a cause so I will try and not hate on it too much.  This month go to the park for the Braves autographfest.  Same idea with a little twist on fanfest.  You get to buy seats or something in three different price ranges and get autographs, splendid.  The tickets start at around twenty bucks and go to one hundred.  It really confuses me how this one is going to work out but come on really?

Here is my take on this.  The Braves love their fans so they want to do something for them, but do not want them to get too close just in case someone either asks a tough question (Wren) or an projectile is launched.  Tickets for the games have already taken a rise and this year. Frank Wren is putting a worse product on the field and they are taking away an interactive weekend from the fans.  What gives?  How about you take the money you was going to give a few players to come to Atlanta with and you just buy back some of those fifty grand Suntrust seats and give them away on game day.  That way at least it looks like people really want to be there.

If you take something away you have to give something else back and it does not look like they are giving us much back in return for being the fans for all of these years.

It is the time of year that little Johnny and his two friends haggle with moms and dads to load up the mini van and head out to downtown Atlanta for the annual Fanfest.  Luck is on your side this year mom and dad because you will not have to deal with the traffic; not because you have to take Marta, or because it is at the GWCC, or because you can take a short cut to the Ted. It is because the Braves took one more thing away from the most loyal of fans.

 

 

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Time is Ticking on the Braves Off-Season!

by Pat - posted Thursday, January 1st, 2009

Time iss ticking on the Braves off-season!

Time is ticking on the Braves off-season!

Happy New Year to all Braves Fans! With the change of the calendar it now means we are a month closer to baseball returning. It may seem a while a way but pitchers and catchers are only six weeks away from reporting to camp with spring training only a couple weeks behind.  This means it is officially time to start worrying if the braves and Gm Frank Wren are going to make anymore off-season moves to bolster the 09 roster. So far fans are extremely disappointed in how the off-season has gone so far. Not only have the braves not significantly improved their club, the other teams in the division have! Both the Mets and (World Series Champion) Phillies have improved their biggest weaknesses over this winter. It appears the Braves are now down to plan C. That plan being; go with what you got and hope for the best! What the braves have are a couple of huge holes. Starting pitching and power is the obvious two. I am sure that Braves are closely monitoring the status of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Both pitchers have expressed interest in returning to the club in 09 if healthy. These two guys may now have to be relied on to be a big part of this upcoming season’s starting rotation. We all know how that worked out last year. I can’t remember such a disappointing off-season in quite a few years.

With the thought of relying on unstable pitching, it is just as uncomforting to know that this year’s Braves team will not be able to slug it out with any of the strong clubs in baseball. I don’t want to see a Brandon Jones, and Matt Diaz platoon in the outfield. I don’t want to see a Matt Diaz and Greg Norton platoon either! I want to see a trade or free agent acquisition that makes since. The Braves have been rumored to have interest in names like Dye, Ankiel, Cameron, and others. So far we are stuck watching the same outfield that produced one of Major League Baseball’s weakest outfields and one of the weakest Atlanta Braves outfield in quite some time. How about we get rid of some of the unproven talent on the team such as pitchers Reyes, or even Morton or position players like Blanco or Brandon Jones and include them as a trade for a quality player. These guys would be great for a team rebuilding and looking to cut payroll or take chances on young unproven talent.

With time ticking closer to the 09 season it is easy to see that the Braves Christmas Wishlist has not come true. I think Santa must have thought that Frank Wren was a bad boy or maybe just a bad GM so far? My question to anyone and everyone who reads this just this: with the minimal time remaining in the off-season what should Frank Wren focus on? He can still try to acquire a starting pitcher or a power hitter by trade, or maybe focus on the health of the current players such as Smoltz, Glavine, Moylan and Soriano. Whatever happens from here I will support my home town team and hope for the best, and I hope you will do the same.        

 

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Whats the deal?

by Bert - posted Sunday, December 21st, 2008

callinline3  Braves GM Frank Wren

This is not going to be one of those write ups that I send in and everyone is going to understand… the first time you read it anyway.  We had a great show last week and we all said some things mostly out of either anger or at least anxiousness.  The reason way is that we should have two pitchers and an outfielder by now.  The only thing we have is a number five starter and hey we even signed Greg Norton to a one year deal.  Great we have a pitcher and an outfielder just what we needed right?
On the verge of something great going to happen with Peavy and it falls through.  Then the best G.M. that we have right now sets his focus on one guy and we lose him by just two and a half million.  Say what?  If you just want to sign one guy and you have forty million in your pocket you better get outbid by ten million and maybe Atlanta’s most die hard fans may feel bad for you.  What does Wren do?  He goes to the press and says well Atlanta is not close to their home like New York is.  Give me a break, give all of us a break.  Get a pitcher or even better get a clue.

One of the road blocks in getting Peavy was trading away our shortstop to get him.  Peavy likes to have defense behind him so he was a little worried.  Cannot blame him can you?  Well our backup shortstop was involved in one of the worst trades in recent memory to get the before said pitcher, which leads me to the next joy ride in this off season.

Remember Fookie.  We almost had him. Almost!  So it was said that Wren had a deal in place for three years and an option for a fourth.  Sound good?  Wren was in discussions with Mr. Kizner and then sent a signed term sheet.  Just about the equivalent of a handshake, a done deal.  Pat was exited, he called me I was exited.  Wait for it, Fookie is going to be wearing Dodger blue for the next few years and not the tomahawk.

So this pretty much puts me where I wanted to start this write-up.  How much can an agent get by with.  How much does the client know what is really going on?  Why exactly do we even call it free agency?  I asked a friend of mine who has seen and been around more baseball than I about such said questions and I still do not understand most of this crap.  I mean I get it but why.  Did you see the numbers on some of these guys?  Sabathia is getting like nine million or some unbelievable number before he even pitches.  By the way he can walk away from his seven year contract after the 2011 season.  So I really have to ask why do teams have to put up all this guaranteed money and guaranteed years to outbid other teams and then a it in their contract that they can walk early?  A ton of questions I know.

 

So for that matter that leaves the Braves left scratching their …. Well you get the idea.  We could not land Peavy, and got outbid by less than three million and shunned by a former teammate just so he can continue to play short.  I only have to say excellent.  I am going to keep my head up high and cautiously wait for the 09 season to start.  At least wait and see what other gaffs I can write about. 

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It begaining to look a lot like nothing!

by Bert - posted Saturday, December 13th, 2008

This off season was to be the best since the Braves brought in Maddux before the 93 season.  Early on in the weeks after the World Series the Braves and Padres were in talks about sending a Cy Young winner for a package of players highlighted by Yunel and other prospects.  Well the Braves did not want to give up another arm from the minors so the Braves and Padres went back and forth for a couple of weeks and nothing came of it.  So the Braves have upwards of $40 million to spend this year so here is the backup plan,  Ryan Dempster of the Cubs and A.J. Burnett.  Well Dempster signed an extension with the Cubs so that left the Braves with one viable option Burnett.  Everyone knew that the Braves have no pitching so they can actually bid dollar for dollar with them, exactly what the Yankees did.  Here is what the Braves actually did do, they sent one too many prospects for a below fife hundred pitcher for the south-siders.  The Braves went back and forth with one team for a established ace and then turn around and send one of the best prospects among others for a number five?  The Braves upper management must not have seen last season play out in their own ballpark.  Right now we have Jorge and a number five starter.  You can pencil anyone else in where you want to but who is going to head up the rotation?   I know who….. The $40 million dollars you have in the bank, that is who!  I have been on Wren’s side up to now.  If you have the opportunity to get an ace you get him, if you have the chance to bring in a number one from free agency with the cash you have you don’t get beat out by just a million or so.  Right now the Braves are the biggest losers in my book in the off season regardless what the experts say.  If you have the ability to get what you need do not let someone to slide in and beat you out.  Let’s not forget they need an outfielder.

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Was this the “Big Move” I hope not!

by Pat - posted Sunday, December 7th, 2008

As the Braves off season continues we await what is supposed to be the “Big Move”. This past week the Braves made a move by trading for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez. The trade brings over a pitcher that will not be a solid number 1 or 2 starter in National League. In fact Vazquez numbers shows him to be more along the lines on a 4 or 5 in the Braves new potential rotation. Vazquez has a career loosing record at 127-129. There are a few positives to the deal. Vazquez is still a young pitcher and should be considered an innings eater. Last year he pitched in 33 ball games and completed over 208 innings. Something that will be needed with the lack of consistency in the Braves starting rotation. The deal send 2 of the organizations better prospects to another team. That may make things more difficult in future trade talks. The move was the first to add starting pitching for the 2009 season. General Manger Frank Wren has mentioned numerous amounts of times that he is looking for 2 front end starters. I dont believe this is that deal. Time and options are running out on some of the free agent pitchers and also trade options. Many believe (including me) that the Jake Peavy trade will be completed eventually. With the winter meeting coming up soon, it will mark a time where many free agents will be on the move and trades will take place. The Braves have made an offer the pitcher A.J. Burnett but he is not expected to sign with anyone till other free agent starters begin signing. The next 30 days or so should determine what kind of team we put on the field for 09. According to the Braves official website, John Smoltz is doing not only well but better than expected for his rehab. He should be 100% for the start of Spring Training. There is the whole contract situation that still will have to be addressed. Initially I thought the Braves may see how Smoltz felt about returning to the bullpen, but with the lack of off season activity he may be needed more in the starting rotation. To give your thoughts on the Vazquez trade clickon the “Comments Section”.

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What Skip Caray Meant to Me

by Pat - posted Saturday, August 9th, 2008

Rest in Peace Skip

Last week’s Bravescast will go down as one of the most memorable for me. After shooting the show on Sunday evening I got home and settled in. I decided to cut on the news and see what is going on over the weekend. That’s when I got the shock that everyone else received. After watching the news story, I had such a mix of sudden emotions at once. I was feeling Sadness, denial, confusion and more. For most people they lost a great sportscaster and long time voice of the Braves and Hawks. For me, Skip was that and a whole lot more.

I grew up in a small town outside the Atlanta area. Much like Skip, I shared an enormous passion for sports. It is a passion that grew more and more as I got older. I was only 8 years old when I started keeping up with the braves in 1991. The worst to first year was some of my first memories as a braves fan. Throughout my early childhood the only time I was not planted in front of a tv at game time was when I was at practice. Like most kids in sports, I wanted to be a pro athlete. As the years pasts I knew that it was not going to happen and started thinking what do I want to do when I grow up? My parents and other relatives always mentioned to me that if I really should try to become a sports broadcaster. There came a certain point in my life where I decided to change my role models and idols. I stopped “wanting to be like Mike” and started “wanting to be like Skip”.

Skip Caray was the biggest influence I had in wanting to be a broadcaster. There were many nights when my bed time came around at 10:00pm, my mom would make me cut my tv off but allowed my radio to be on. I would always stay up till early in the morning when the Braves were playing on the west coast. Skip was there day after day and game after game. As I entered High School the Braves were still in the middle of the greatest playoff run pro sports has seen. As I got older I really began to respect Skip and the other Braves broadcasters more and more. I think we had the best in the business. I also began to get more of the jokes and sarcastic things that made Skip who he is. He was a very clever broadcaster who could always keep you entertained no matter what the score was. I hated missing a Braves game because there was no telling what Skip may have said that I missed. After I graduated high school I went into broadcasting school and took up a high school writing position at a local newspaper. This was the point in my life where I really started paying attention to broadcasters and their styles. Skip had a style all to himself. There will never be another Skip Caray. When I got my first play by play job I tried to take all the positive things from broadcasters that I have learned from over the years. Skip use to give some occasional advice during broadcast and on his “ask Skip” segment. He made me realize that you don’t have to have an outstanding voice to make it. He mentioned that it was all about passion and being able to make someone feel as they were there. Skip was the greatest at that.

When I watch all the great calls he has had on tv I can still imagine I was there. I knew that as bad as I felt after getting knocked out the playoffs he felt the same. He was honest and always told it like it was. I always wanted to be able to tell Skip how much he meant to me. I wanted him to know he is the main reason why I became a broadcast journalist. I thought about writing a letter or e-mail, but I decided I would do it in person. I got to see Skip at fan fest. My friend Chris and I waited to the end of the autograph line so we would have a chance to really talk with him. Skip autographed his shirt and I never said anything to him about his influence on my life. I thought maybe it wasn’t the right time or it might sound corny or something. I sure wish I would have said something now! I will never ever forget Skip Caray and what he meant to both me and the city of Atlanta. I am grateful I am living in the “you tube” times. I can flip on a computer and hear his voice with only a few short clicks. We will be having a special Skip tribute of our own this weekend. It should be ready on Monday. Please feel free to leave you comments and special Skip moments of your own.

Here are some great places to hear other tributes to Skip:

Skip Caray Braves Video Tributes
Skip Caray Hawks Broadcast Highlights
Skip Caray Radio Tribute Braves Radio Network
Skip Caray Radio Tribute WSB

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Braves Drop a Huge one in Philly! Time to Rebuild?

by Pat - posted Sunday, July 27th, 2008

The Braves offense picked a great time to awaken for a year long slump. It could not have been a worse time for the bullpen to struggle though. Things on the injury front were starting to look up with the return of Hampton and Soriano plus Glavine not far behind. The lost on Sunday to me, means that the Braves should now start to put their focus on 2009. A possible trade of Texeria would mean possible filling some whole on the roster. Where do you turn though? The Braves have the best hitting catcher in baseball, a multi –time allstar at third base, young pitching in the starting rotation and 2 possible great closers in the bullpen. If Tex is gone, there will obviously be a whole at first base and also the cleanup spot. The Braves have a ton of talent in the minors and it is always refreshing to see the young guns. This series was one that could have built a ton of momentum. Instead the Braves loose 2 of 3 and see their all star catcher injured. Most people are scared of the word “rebuild” when it come to pro sports. For the Braves it is a different scenario. The nucleus will stay in tact. For those of you who think that the Braves should keep Tex and resign him, look at the Money that Andruw Jones got after having a very disappointing season. The Braves will always pride themselves in building from within. 2008 will go down as a year with ton of potential but an unreal amount of injuries and lack of clutch hitting. In reality the Braves, Marlins, and Phillies are only on good streak away from taking control of the division away from the Mets. Can this Braves team win 6 in a row or 8 out of 10? To me the answer is no. Win series and play 500% on the road are the keys to winning in the MLB. It was also the Braves calling card more the 90’s and early this decade. I welcome your thoughts on my comments and whether you think it is now time to be sellers and not buyers.

 

Bert’s Trivia Question of the Week

Last week:Who was the first DH in MLB history?

This week:What year did both leagues in MLB first count a foul ball as an official strike? 

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The Top Ten Things I Currently Dislike About Baseball

by Bert - posted Sunday, June 15th, 2008

I love baseball and I know that hate is a strong word but there is a couple of things I can go without seeing in this great sport that I love so much.  I have a list here that could be longer but have narrowed it down to ten.  This week I will give you ten to six and next week I will reveal five to the number one thing I hate.
Bert’s Trivia Question of the Week!

This Week’s Question:Would went on the DL to allow Hank Aaron to be called up & what average did Aaron hit that season?

10. The Five Minute High Five In The Dugout

Some of the greatest feats in baseball has been done by the most gracious ball players.  Then you have a guy that gets a solo homer in the third inning in a six to nothing game and he acts like it was the end of the cold war.  That type of celebration is way too much!

9.  Time Of The Game

Baseball has taken some measures in correcting this problem.  I do not mind a one to nothing ballgame that takes two and a half hours.  I just hate the games that are prolonged by pitchers that take a tour of the mound after every pitch and batters adjusting their batting gloves and helmets even when they watch a pitch go by. (Nomar)

8.  The Shift

You can make all the changes in the world on defense but here is my opinion.  By doing that you are forcing your pitcher to throw the ball where the batter wants it.  Smart?  And it seems to me every time a grounder is hit it would be right at where the second baseman should already be at.

7.  New Ballparks

They are great, they look nice, they bring in a ton of money and they make baseball so different than most other sports.  They should not build them to specify one hitter on your team  This is one of the main reasons people want replay in baseball.  The walls are so different and they have such crazy angles and corners that even the umps don’t know what call to make.

6.  Pickoffs

Not the normal throw to first.  I hate the fake to third and fake to first move.  Can anyone remember the last time that worked?  If you fake to more than one base that should be a balk.

5. Schedules

I said before I think a third grader is in a dark room throwing darts at a schedule.  I say no more two game series and no more interleague.  You are taking away time with your respective league.  Not to mention the whole world series thing.4. All Star Game

4. All Star Game

Suppose to be an exhibition between the best in both leagues voted by the fans.  Then our friend Bud makes it count by awarding the winning league home field advantage in the world series.  If they end in another tie who gets it then Bud?  How about the winners get extra sunflower seeds in the dugout.  I know since the fans put the teams together give them something.  Obviously they did better putting a team together than over half of the general managers in their careers.

3.  Ticket Prices I say the real fan only makes about 30000 to 40000 a year.  Tickets for a good seat start at about thirty right here in Atlanta.  Don’t forget about parking and food prices.  If you out price yourself the game will look a lot better on that HDTV you got at your house.  Why charge more for the games on Friday and Saturday, are the teams going to put better players on the field than say Monday or Tuesday?  I can tell you no on that one especially in Atlanta.

2.  Day Night Doubleheader

Doubleheaders use to be the best thing in baseball, until lights and greedy owners came along.  The first game usually starts about twelve or one o’clock, everyone is at work so who is going to show up?  How about the real fan, yes the guy who cannot afford a good seat is usually in the nose bleed section screaming his lungs out on the close play at first.  Then you want to clear the stadium wait an hour or so and do it again and charge twice.  How about the first game be charged ten bucks and let it be a first come first serve on all seats and give a nice discount on the “nightcap.”  That may smooth things over with the average Joe.

1.    Designated Hitter

Since the start of the 1973 season I have hated this rule.  Well I would if I was alive since the start of it.  A team over pays for their star pitcher, he plays once every five days and he plays half of those games?  Oh yeah and to pick up that mess you have to pay millions for a guy to sit and drink water or Gatorade, stick gum on someone’s cap, light a teammates shoe lace on fire and finally come in and hit?  I always thought pitchers were athletes too.  Only in half of Major League Baseball!

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