atlanta_braves: Poll #1228906

CITATION MISSING (

404) wrote in

atlanta_braves,
@ 2008-07-24 10:56:00

Poll #1228906
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Will the Braves trade Tex?

View Answers

Yes, the team is out of contention, and needs to unload
15 (57.7%)

No, the Braves are still hanging around, and to raise the white flag at this point would be
11 (42.3%)

Should the Braves trade Tex?

View Answers

If the Braves can get a good deal, he should be traded
20 (76.9%)

No, the any deal that is proposed will not be worth it in the long run
6 (23.1%)

(Post a new comment)

	john_holton 2008-07-24 04:21 pm UTC (link)
	I think that the Braves are kidding themselves if they think they're still in contention. At this point, they need to realize that Tex and Ohman are gone after this year, because they won't be able to afford them, and cut their losses. I think now is also the time to see what the interest is in Francoeur; he's acting like someone who could use a new home. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	404 2008-07-24 04:32 pm UTC (link)
	It is hard to see any team wanting to take on Frenchy, even with his good arm. He is undisciplined, seems to be at the point of frustration. He looked to be doing well at AA, but Wren seemed to panic and bring him back after another injury. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	john_holton 2008-07-24 08:57 pm UTC (link)
	A lot of that might be attitude. Still, there have to have been some feelers for him. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	404 2008-07-24 10:29 pm UTC (link)
	I don't see why, maybe teams think they can get him on the cheap. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	john_holton 2008-07-24 10:53 pm UTC (link)
	And maybe they can. I can see Matt Diaz playing right field, or Josh Anderson, with Brandon Jones taking over in left. A trade would have to yield a major leaguer or someone ready to come up. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	striderremix 2008-07-25 09:49 pm UTC (link)
	Newspapers were talking about a Jose Guillen for Jeff Francoeur swap midday yesterday, I think. They're similar players but Frenchy is younger, so I don't really see the rationale for it, but who knows. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	john_holton 2008-07-26 01:12 pm UTC (link)
	The rationale would be to give each a new home. And maybe KC would throw in Brayan Pena.... (Reply to this) (Parent)

	nelliebelle 2008-07-24 05:01 pm UTC (link)
	lol at the concept that the braves might still be in contention. mathematically speaking, everyone's in contention, but if you're remotely honest with yourself you can see this is not a world series team. i'd be in favor of ditching tex for someone we could use, but i doubt that's how it will play out. (Reply to this) (Thread)

john_holton
2008-07-24 09:07 pm UTC (link)

Right. It's going to be an effort to get to .500 with the team playing at .500 since the All-Star break. They have to go 33-28 the rest of the way to break even, 36-25 to match last year's record, and, face it, that's not going to get them to the playoffs as a wild card, let alone win the division. Even if by some miracle they were to get into the playoffs, better Braves teams than this have been out in the first round.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	papi 2008-07-24 05:09 pm UTC (link)
	I voted "no" on both. Mainly because even though this is his final year on his contract, Tex seems to be the perfect guy to build a team around. Chipper's still the man, but he's getting old, and no one else on the Braves is scary enough... yet. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	john_holton 2008-07-24 09:12 pm UTC (link)
	If Teixeira didn't take a couple months at the beginning of the season to play consistently, I might be inclined to agree with you. Tex hit into a lot of inning ending double plays with runners in scoring position in April, May and the first part of June. Better to build around McCann, Escobar and Blanco. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

papi
2008-07-24 09:38 pm UTC (link)

My (personal) philosophy has been that it's better to build around a cleanup hitter than a 1, 2, or 5. McCann is quite good, but I don't believe he's the 4-hole type of guy.

Braves.mlb.com had a report saying that it's a possibility that Kotsay could be traded, which IMO would make more sense than trading Tex because you'd have to replace both his bat AND his glove. Blanco proved he could play center field just as well as Kotsay, and he's much younger.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	john_holton 2008-07-24 10:00 pm UTC (link)
	I have to disagree on McCann, who I think is ready for cleanup, but I see your point. As for trading Kotsay, absolutely, especially since Blanco doesn't have the persistent back trouble. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	papi 2008-07-24 10:08 pm UTC (link)
	I don't doubt Mac's bat at all. But what to do when he's got a scheduled day of rest, which all catchers do? His backup would most likely bat 8th. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

john_holton
2008-07-24 10:49 pm UTC (link)

For one thing, Mac needs a better backup. Corky Miller is a good spare catcher, but not a pinch hitter or late inning replacement. Clint Sammons looked promising at the end of last season, and is hitting .242 at Richmond this season. I think he's your backup as of September 1.

As for a good #4 hitter when McCann's not playing, I think that's what the Braves look for in a trade. Or, bat Chipper 4th, Kelly Johnson 2nd and Escobar 3rd (or Escobar 2nd and Johnson 3rd) once a week when McCann's off.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	papi 2008-07-25 01:36 am UTC (link)
	That all makes sense. But no one's touched on this issue... if we trade Tex, who do we actually want in return? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	neightball 2008-07-25 05:34 pm UTC (link)
	Pitching. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	papi 2008-07-25 06:10 pm UTC (link)
	Then who plays first? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	neightball 2008-07-27 03:37 am UTC (link)
	Scott Thorman, Chipper Jones, Omar Infante? If we trade Tex the season is over, who cares who finishes the season at the position, they'll find someone else to play there before the season starts. (Reply to this) (Parent)

john_holton
2008-07-25 07:37 pm UTC (link)

The guy who most closely approximates Tex is Conor Jackson, who has the same OPS and a similar fielding percentage. He'd be good to have, if Arizona were to part with him and maybe a starting pitcher from AAA for Tex.

I think what we're up against is not knowing what Teixeira is going to do when his contract is up. He says he wants to stay, his wife is from here, he went to Georgia Tech, he's a great fit. The question is whether Scott Boras is going to price him out of the market, and if so, whether Tex will pull an A-Rod and strike his own deal. The Braves will have some extra cash next year since they won't be paying Hampton an arm and a leg to sit on the bench, but there are other needs (an aging third baseman, a starting rotation that could lose two veterans next season due to injury or old age, a right fielder with an attitude problem, a AAAA backup catcher, a lineup made up of castoffs and spare parts, etc.) that might be seen as an equal problem. And if Teixeira leaves, you need a first baseman. Makes Tomcat problems seem simple....

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	papi 2008-07-25 07:47 pm UTC (link)
	You hit the nail on the head; Scott Boras is the X-factor that no one brought up. A lot of it rests on how predatory he decides to be. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

john_holton
2008-07-25 08:29 pm UTC (link)

That's what I mean. We wouldn't even be having this discussion if it weren't the final year of his contract and he didn't have an agent that saw him as a cash cow. The Braves don't get a lot in return if he leaves, certainly no one that they can use right away. I think it's prudent to see if the Braves can get value for value. If they don't trade him in the next week, he's likely here for the rest of the season, and see what happens then.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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