Such a slow news time - *sigh*. Every time I read the Braves Mailbag on the official site, I always answer the questions in my head before reading Bowman's (real) replies. Here's this week's mailbag...
Oh yeah, don't take my responses too seriously... :)
Do you think that Chipper Jones, in some sense, put the Braves in a tougher spot by coming back? Martin Prado would have played third base and they could have gone out to get an everyday left fielder.
-- Steven S., Washington
That's an interesting perspective. I'd like to see Marteen inherit 3B whenever Chipper retires (I don't think we have to worry about Chipper going to another team), and I'm okay with another year of Chipper. Marteen can spell him at 3B whenever Chipper gets injured or needs a rest, and MattE can play LF.
Why do we want to trade Martin Prado? I believe he came back too soon after the staph infection and was not at full strength. He will be back by this season's start and he is a tremendous talent.
-- Art R., Lafayette, La.
Art makes some excellent points. I don't want us to trade Marteen either. Who else on our team can play so many positions so well?
If Jason Heyward doesn't produce like he did his rookie year, do you see the Braves trading him, and if so, what can we get in return for him?
-- Josh O., Avis, Pa.
The Braves love a hometown guy. I think it would take something serious for them to consider trading him. If - heaven forbid - BMac had an off year, would the fans be rallying for Mac to be traded too? I doubt it.
I don't want to part ways with Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado. But what about the traffic jam we have with our starting pitching? I don't want to see the Braves block the career path of Julio Teheran. He has nothing left to prove in the Minors.
-- Michael R., Brooklyn, N.Y.
He says "traffic jam"; I say "insurance for inevitable injuries". We already traded DLowe, so now we're left with Huddy, JJ, Hanson, Beachy, and Minor as proven starters. Then there's Delgado and Teheran. They show potential, but the last four mentioned here need to start regularly working into the 7th inning. Our bullpen is great, but we can't burn them all up 3 nights a week.
I see having seven quality starters - plus Medlen, we can't forget all his talent! - as a positive thing. I don't see a problem here at all. Also, I love my pitchers and almost never want to see them leave. :)
2 comments:
Frenchy was a hometown boy too, though and I don't think they gave him NEARLY as many chances as they have given JHey.
Francoeur was with Atlanta in '05, '06, '07, '08, and '09. He was offered a long-term contract similar to McCann's at the same time Mac's was offered, and he turned it down. (Rumor has it he said he was worth more than Mac.)
Heyward has been with the Braves for two seasons - '10 and '11. We're not really comparing apples to apples yet.
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