2012 Braves Season Thread

**BravesFanForever** · 07-24-2012, 07:10 PM

Not so fast on that deal.

I didnt even believe this was the best deal for the braves (in the long run), and NOW i certainly know its not. Dempster does not want to be a brave, therefore, we dont want him. Id rather keep delgado or trade for someone else who would like to be a brave. Ive never heard of "taking my time" to decided especially going to a contender. Any thoughts?

**SamtheBravesFan** · 07-25-2012, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by BravesFanForever

Not so fast on that deal.

I didnt even believe this was the best deal for the braves (in the long run), and NOW i certainly know its not. Dempster does not want to be a brave, therefore, we dont want him. Id rather keep delgado or trade for someone else who would like to be a brave. Ive never heard of "taking my time" to decided especially going to a contender. Any thoughts?

I'm estatic that it's collapsed. Dempster is surely due to regress. He's not a league ERA leader and anyone getting him will overpay in some way.

**PureBaseballFan** · 07-25-2012, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by SamtheBravesFan

I'm estatic that it's collapsed. Dempster is surely due to regress. He's not a league ERA leader and anyone getting him will overpay in some way.

Sam and BravesFanForever both said all that needs to be said bad deal made worse by the fact he doesn't want to be a Brave.

I think that James Shields should be the target though I don't know how well they match up with the Rays needs.

**BravesFanForever** · 07-25-2012, 12:11 PM

I agree, I think James Shields would be an excellent choice for the braves. I also like the idea of Jon Lester if they could pry him away from Boston. I would personally like both of these choices ahead of even the likes of Greinke, especially Dempster.

**Los Bravos** · 07-25-2012, 03:51 PM

I would love to have Shields.

**PureBaseballFan** · 07-26-2012, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by BravesFanForever

I agree, I think James Shields would be an excellent choice for the braves. I also like the idea of Jon Lester if they could pry him away from Boston. I would personally like both of these choices ahead of even the likes of Greinke, especially Dempster.

Lester is the perfect target for the Braves but I have doubt the Red Sox would trade him in season.

**BravesFanForever** · 07-27-2012, 11:00 AM

Jayson Stark is reporting on ESPN that the Braves have turned there focus from starting pitching to bullpen and bench help. Call me crazy, but I just dont believe that bullpen and bench help is going to propel them far into the post season. They may make it, but they wont go far as they are right now in the starting rotation. It seems to me like they may be preparing to put Kris Medlen in the rotation, which I certainly am not opposed to.

Right now, there rotation stands at:

Tim Hudson
Tommy Hanson
Ben Sheets
Randall Delgado
Mike Minor

or if they add Medlen, I see it as

Tim Hudson
Tommy Hanson
Ben Sheets
Kris Medlen
Mike Minor

That rotation to me isnt good enough to propel them too far into the post season. I could be wrong of course, but you are relying on a rotation that has a best ERA of a starting pitcher around 3.74, a pitcher who hasnt pitched in two years, but has looked good in 2 starts, Tommy who has at times looked like hes not right, and a shaky and inconsistent Mike Minor. Medlen is a curious one for me, but i am interested in seeing how he would do.

Still I would love to see a best scenario as this one:

Tim Hudson
Tommy Hanson
Ben Sheets
James Shields
Kris Medlen, with Mike as a bullpen and 6th man at times.

Just my opinion though, I just would be slightly disappointed if they make all this noise about high-quality pitchers and then decide to not take a chance on one. I do agree with not mortgaging the future on greinke though.

**Blue387** · 07-27-2012, 03:37 PM

Speaking of high-quality pitchers, the Braves have signed Miguel Batista. The Mets released him yesterday.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...l-batista.html

**PureBaseballFan** · 07-27-2012, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by BravesFanForever

Jayson Stark is reporting on ESPN that the Braves have turned there focus from starting pitching to bullpen and bench help. Call me crazy, but I just dont believe that bullpen and bench help is going to propel them far into the post season. They may make it, but they wont go far as they are right now in the starting rotation. It seems to me like they may be preparing to put Kris Medlen in the rotation, which I certainly am not opposed to.

Right now, there rotation stands at:

Tim Hudson
Tommy Hanson
Ben Sheets
Randall Delgado
Mike Minor

or if they add Medlen, I see it as

Tim Hudson
Tommy Hanson
Ben Sheets
Kris Medlen
Mike Minor

That rotation to me isnt good enough to propel them too far into the post season. I could be wrong of course, but you are relying on a rotation that has a best ERA of a starting pitcher around 3.74, a pitcher who hasnt pitched in two years, but has looked good in 2 starts, Tommy who has at times looked like hes not right, and a shaky and inconsistent Mike Minor. Medlen is a curious one for me, but i am interested in seeing how he would do.

Still I would love to see a best scenario as this one:

Tim Hudson
Tommy Hanson
Ben Sheets
James Shields
Kris Medlen, with Mike as a bullpen and 6th man at times.

Just my opinion though, I just would be slightly disappointed if they make all this noise about high-quality pitchers and then decide to not take a chance on one. I do agree with not mortgaging the future on greinke though.

At this point I think the Braves best chance of getting into the playoffs and going anywhere in them is Greinke. (Well that is dead)

I also don't buy into the Stark report but that is largely due to the fact that I don't think anyone has a really good grip on the Braves Front Office, usually if the Braves make a move it is quick and without anything really leaking out before the deal. I think the difference with the Dempster deal (though leading up to it there was almost nothing but very general speculation) is they simply believed Dempster had already agreed that Atlanta was a team he was willing to go to.

Originally Posted by Blue387

Speaking of high-quality pitchers, the Braves have signed Miguel Batista. The Mets released him yesterday.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...l-batista.html

OH YOU!!

**Blue387** · 07-28-2012, 03:53 PM

I hope the Braves demolish the Phillies this weekend.

**Los Bravos** · 08-24-2012, 10:41 PM

This is getting pretty worrisome.

**SamtheBravesFan** · 08-25-2012, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Los Bravos

This is getting pretty worrisome.

I've just about given up myself. I suppose the good news is that they probably won't have a big lead to blow and on the off-chance they do get hot, they can squeak into the playoffs and get past the wild-card play-in.

**Blue387** · 08-26-2012, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Los Bravos

This is getting pretty worrisome.

Don't worry. The Braves promoted Miguel Batista from the minors.

**Los Bravos** · 08-26-2012, 11:47 PM

I'm actually sort of happy to have him.

Tonight was a big, big win. Salvaged the road trip.

**SamtheBravesFan** · 08-27-2012, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Los Bravos

I'm actually sort of happy to have him.

The only advantage I can see to having him is that he's in the "Livan Hernandez" role; they wouldn't have to worry about him long-term.

**Atlanta Braves Freak** · 09-02-2012, 10:27 AM

Rosters expanded yesterday and the Braves called up Lyle Overbay, Costanza, Boscan, and Peter Moylan. Moylan pitched a perfect 8th, sucks we didn't get the W though.

**Los Bravos** · 09-02-2012, 06:21 PM

Ah, it just built up anticipation and excitment for today.

**PureBaseballFan** · 09-03-2012, 09:09 AM

Braves bench Dan Uggla all I can say is that is takes guts to do something like this and I applaud Fredi for doing it.

**Atlanta Braves Freak** · 09-03-2012, 01:08 PM

Medlen is proving his worth once again. Dominant performance, 18th straight Braves win when Medlen starts.

**skar** · 09-08-2012, 02:00 AM

Theres been some very shrewd management of purse strings this year again by the Braves, and while they are only likely to make the playoffs via the wild card, at this point they have the 4th best record in the majors. The starting pitching is starting to look more solid, if Hudson can remember how to pitch the 1st! Bullpen is pretty solid at the back end if they can protect the use of Kimbrel its a big +.

The worry to me is the hit or miss nature of the batting, although it was nice to see Uggla get a couple of hits last night, lets hope the bats spring to life more consistently and if they can sweep the Nats next weekend who knows?

I actually got to go to Turner Field last month on a visit to the States, unfortunately for the 6-2 loss to Dodgers but was a great experience but found the atmosphere to be slightly lacking compared to say a rugby or football(soccer) game over in the UK. Although my gf thinks Martin Prado has a cute butt lol.

Been a while since I been on here, but I still follow the Braves on a daily basis and will try to keep up here more now.

**Blue387** · 09-08-2012, 01:20 PM

How did Kris Medlen get so good?

**Los Bravos** · 09-08-2012, 06:05 PM

He's always been very good. With his stuff, the older and smarter you get, the better resuts you achieve.

**bobbylouise** · 09-09-2012, 02:19 PM

I gotta admit, I'm surprised at how well he's pitched as a starter. I never expected him to keep runs off the board for this stretch of time. Hope I didn't just give him the kiss of death.

Originally Posted by Los Bravos

He's always been very good. With his stuff, the older and smarter you get, the better resuts you achieve.