The live chat on MLB.com with Frank Wren, Braves General Manager, wrapped up just a few moments ago...here's the transcript, in case they edit it down for the official site. :)
Frank Wren 11/15/2007 2:55 pm - 3:51 pm
baseballmod: Topic: Braves baseball
baseballmod: Thanks for joining today’s chat with Braves general manager Frank Wren. Please keep submitting your questions.
baseballmod: Thanks for participating in today’s chat. The chat will begin in about 20 minutes. Please keep submitting your questions.
frankwren: Hello everybody, I look forward to chatting with you today. So let’s get started.
easygoinlar: Very happy about your promotion good luck. Just do not forget about us fans that live and die with each game. Thanks
frankwren: That is the biggest responsibility you feel in this job… the obligation you feel to the fans to put a good team on the field.
bigwilks23: Can you give us any indication as to who you are looking to add as our center fielder?
frankwren: As I have indicated, we want more of a short term fix so that we don’t block our young CF’s in the system… we have several we are working on.
braves5795: Honestly, are you interested in getting Glavine back on the team? I think it will help the pitching on the ballclub.
frankwren: We are interessted… he would clearly make our rotation deeper and obviously better.
charmer: Congratulations on your promotion and staying with the Atlanta Braves. My question for you, are there any truths to the rumor of the Braves acquiring Mike Lowell, and if there is, would Chipper move to the outfield or would he be traded?
frankwren: Nothing to it at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tjwashga: How interested are the Braves in resigning Octavio Dotel and/or Ron Mahay?
frankwren: We have expressed interest in Mahay... Dotel has indicated he wants a multi yr contract which we would be less likely to do.
henryrod: Should I renew my season tickets next year ? Are the Braves going to be a better (more exciting ) ball Club?
frankwren: From my perspective we will be a very exciting club… I think our pitching will be much better and our you position players will be coming of age as run producers… can’t wait for Spring training.
charmer: Were you involved with the meeting/talks in Arizona with Tom Glavine’s agent? If so any insider information on Mr. Cliffton’s response?
frankwren: I met with Greg Clifton yesterday and there is very strong interest from both sides to try to work something out.
Thanatos: What type of relationships do you have with other GMs? Are there any that you get along better with than others?
frankwren: I knew every GM with the exception of Tony Regans with the Angels prior to the GM meetings and have a good relationship with most if not all.
charmer: How do you feel about our bullpen right now? Do we need to acquire another lefty with Ron Mahay a FA or will Royce Ring be that guy for us in 2008?
frankwren: We are trying to acquire another LHR and feel Ring can be a solid guy in our pen as well.
qooraf91: Are we going to get any pitchers other than Tom Glavine
frankwren: If we are able to sign Tom, we would have 8 SP’s for 5 spots and would look to improve other areas of our club.
chip4prez: Who impressed you and Bobby most in Arizona? any suprises?
frankwren: Charlie Morton threw extremely well with his 5 inning no-no and Jordan Schafer played very well in CF… Brandon Hicks @ SS and JC Holt @ 2B both played well… was a good trip overall.
desbrules: What are the possibilities of the Braves getting anyone from the Astros, and who would they give up?
frankwren: You better ask my buddie Ed Wade that question.
brvsnut: Can you put the rumors to rest — is getting Ken Griffey Jr. really a possibility?
frankwren: I don’t think so…
bryant123: How long have you been in baseball?
frankwren: 31 years… 6 as a player… 4 as a coach and 21 in the front office.
gsu22: What is the orginization hoping for out of Mike Hampton next year?
frankwren: We hope he can return to form… after watching him this week it looks like he is heading in the right direction.
wilson9: how does our minor league pitching staff look?
frankwren: I am very excited about our young pitching prospects… we have close to a dozen guys who throw in the mid to high 90’s that look like they can make an impact in the next 4 or 5 years
bravebrave: Where is Jason Heyward playing position-wise? In the outfield or first base? Can you predict where he'll end up?
frankwren: For now he is in RF and watching him in the FIL he is a great athlete and he gets very good jumps… very, very talented!
stlfan1966: are you going to work out an extension with Chipper Jones?
frankwren: We have Chipper for a couple more years and we hope he finishes his career here.
cafleming: What other construction are the Braves doing this year for Turner Field?
frankwren: We are adding field level seating behind homeplate (44′ from the batter) the Dugout Club will have it’s own private dining room, currently under construction beneath the stadium
charmer: Any potential trades on the table involving Kelly Johnson and allowing Martin Prado a chance at 2B? Or any thought about moving Kelly back to the outfield to fill in the void of Andruw leaving?
frankwren: We are fortunate to have quality young players like these two… but we like Kelly at 2b and think he can be one of the best all around players at that position.
tjwashga: What is Scott Thorman’s future with the Braves?
frankwren: Scott is playing in Mexico and having a pretty good season so far… he is 3rd in homeruns with 8… we think he has a bright future.
gomabman: The Braves are in dire need of speed. Will you please pursue Tori Hunter type to fill Andruw Jones’ spot in Center Field?
frankwren: We have acquired one of the fastest players in baseball in Gorkys Hernandez and we have quite a bit of speed coming up in our other young CF… that is one of the tools we are looking for in our CF job.
frankwren: Couple More Questions…
tjwashga: Have you had any discussions with Mark Teixeira on a long-term deal?
frankwren: I have not, but I had a great conversation the night I was named GM and look forward to having him in the middle of the order for this next year and hopefully many more.
ttiger04: Are you going to look for more bench depth?
frankwren: We are trying to give Bobby more options for late innning moves for sure… those players are harder to get than you might think.
tjwashga: Will Matt Diaz get an opportunity to be the everyday leftfielder?
frankwren: He has been outstanding the last 2 years in the role Bobby has used him… I’ll just leave it at that and let the Manager decide whats best for the team… got a couple things we are working on that could happen soon and need to get back to the phones… thanks for joining in on this chat and we’ll do it again soon.
11/16/07: Here's the official transcript on MLB.com.
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