Atlanta Braves II

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#11,002
#11,002
And right on cue, here comes Jeff Schultz with the first journalisticly fellative piece for the Brian McCann camp.

In his first six full major league seasons, Brian McCann has played in six All-Star games, won an All-Star game MVP, won five Silver Slugger awards, accumulated more home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits and game-winning hits than any catcher in baseball, won a lot of games, smiled a lot, never caused a riff and has proved to be so genuine and honest that he probably wouldn’t know a magic muscle-inflating pill if one did a backflip into his morning Cocoa Puffs.

“He puts up numbers, and he did it even when other guys were taking performance-enhancers,” Braves teammate David Ross said. “He’s more like, ‘How many Advil should I take?’ I can’t corrupt him. He won’t even drink a Red Bull. I want to punch him.”

All of which makes you wonder how it could be that the Braves and McCann may part ways at some point in the near future.
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....

McCann said, “I understand it’s a business. They have to do what’s best for them, and I have to do what’s best for me. I’m just going to play as hard as I can and let everything else fall into place.”

This much is certain: There were fan backlashes after the way the Braves handled the exits of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Those guys were at the end of their careers. If the Braves decide a popular player in his prime such as McCann is too expensive, even with Chipper Jones coming off the books, cars may be torched.
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Etc. Gah.
 
#11,003
#11,003
Maybe just a coincidence that they did a bit long bit on one of the sports stations today about whether the Braves should bring back McCann or try to sign Bourn instead.
 
#11,005
#11,005
Concerning Mac, there's the memorable line in moneyball where Pitt amply describes Oakland as being somewhere below a layer of crap. If the braves start the revolving door of letting farm-raised talent like Mac walk away, especially with chipper retiring then you will have absolutely no doubt that the braves will be the Royals of the NL East in less than three years. Damn shame if this happens when it doesn't have to.
 
#11,007
#11,007
Vercingetorix said:
Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to free up salary to sign Brian McCann to a lifetime contract. 10 years, $170 million is a small price to pay to lock up the best catcher in the league until he's 40.
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MaCann needs to hit the road. Ross is fully capable, and has been since last year.
 
#11,008
#11,008
_vol said:
Concerning Mac, there's the memorable line in moneyball where Pitt amply describes Oakland as being somewhere below a layer of crap. If the braves start the revolving door of letting farm-raised talent like Mac walk away, especially with chipper retiring then you will have absolutely no doubt that the braves will be the Royals of the NL East in less than three years. Damn shame if this happens when it doesn't have to.
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There's a whole lot of room between A) starting the revolving door of letting farm-raised talent like Mac walk away and B) signing a 30 year old catcher to a 5 year, $75 million contract. I'd be fairly shocked if the Braves and McCann don't work something out.

(What am I saying? I don't expect them to just work something out. I actually expect them to sign McCann to a giant, eventually crippling contract. It's the Brave Way.)
 
#11,009
#11,009
With Chipper hanging em up its a perfect opportunity for them to hand the team over to mac by locking him up. But they'll screw around and push him away I am afraid.
 
#11,011
#11,011
Vercingetorix said:
There's a whole lot of room between A) starting the revolving door of letting farm-raised talent like Mac walk away and B) signing a 30 year old catcher to a 5 year, $75 million contract. I'd be fairly shocked if the Braves and McCann don't work something out.

(What am I saying? I don't expect them to just work something out. I actually expect them to sign McCann to a giant, eventually
crippling contract. It's the Brave
Way.)
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Would rather them use the cash on Bourn.
 
#11,012
#11,012
_vol said:
With Chipper hanging em up its a perfect opportunity for them to hand the team over to mac by locking him up. But they'll screw around and push him away I am afraid.
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Why is there a need to hand the team over to anyone? I like McCann as much as the next guy, but the future of this offense is the Heyward/Freeman combination. The Braves would be fine without a comfortable veteran face-of-the-franchise guy around.

They would miss McCann's bat, but honestly that's probably already on the way out anyway.
 
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#11,013
#11,013
Vercingetorix said:
Why is there a need to hand the team over to anyone? I like McCann as much as the next guy, but the future of this offense is the Heyward/Freeman combination. The Braves would be fine without a comfortable veteran face-of-the-franchise guy around.

They would miss McCann's bat, but honestly that's probably already on the way out anyway.
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Seriously, we're talking about a catcher. He's going to break down before any long term deal is over. If people hated the back end of the Chipper deal, wait until you see what $15 million+ looks like for a 35 year old Catcher.

I've said it before.... If they could let Javy Lopez walk after hitting 43 HRs, letting Mac walk should be a cakewalk.
 
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#11,014
#11,014
GAVol said:
Seriously, we're talking about a catcher. He's going to break down before any long term deal is over. If people hated the back end of the Chipper deal, wait until you see what $15 million+ looks like for a 35 year old Catcher.

I've said it before.... If they could let Javy Lopez walk after hitting 43 HRs, letting Mac walk should be a cakewalk.
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Agree completely. I like Mac as well, but it doesn't make sense unless they pump up the annual salary for a short deal. Even then, probably won't be any value there.
 
#11,015
#11,015
I'm not totally opposed to bringing him back. They just can't give him Yadier Molina's contract.

His value would be a lot higher to a team where he could play 1B some of the time too without displacing one of the core members of the lineup.
 
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#11,016
#11,016
Yeah, I'm not sold on a McCann long term deal either. If the Braves are competing against FA, it won't help them these next couple of years. TV contracts are really boosting some payrolls, and I don't believe the Braves fall into that category.
 
#11,017
#11,017
I love McCann. But the days of having a cornerstone career player are over. There are no more Chippers or Jeters. It is a dying fad. It doesn't make economical sense. Enjoy him this year and pick up his option next year and wish him luck for the latter years.
 
#11,019
#11,019
Dbake005 said:
Why are there no more chippers or jeters? Explain
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I see what he's saying and understand it. I think you're just playing devil's advocate, but Cutch in Pitt and Longo in Tampa have potential to be one spot lifers (although I think Cutch is outta there at some point). Also, I hate hearing about how Jeter is so awesome for playing for one team his whole career.. Yes he is Mr Yankee, but who could have paid him more? Plus it's not like they were losing. Same could be said a little for Chip too, but he definitely could have made more coin elsewhere.
 
#11,021
#11,021
And I agree on Jeter. He wasn't exactly doing charity work playing for the best team in baseball in yankee stadium while being paiiiiiid.
 
#11,023
#11,023
There will always be a few guys who manage to stay with one team their whole careers. All it takes is a long productive career, a little good luck as to when your contract comes up, and valuing a secure situation over the idea of extracting every last theoretical maximum dollar possible.
 
#11,025
#11,025
GAVol said:
Seriously, we're talking about a catcher. He's going to break down before any long term deal is over. If people hated the back end of the Chipper deal, wait until you see what $15 million+ looks like for a 35 year old Catcher.

I've said it before.... If they could let Javy Lopez walk after hitting 43 HRs, letting Mac walk should be a cakewalk.
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I remember bringing this subject up some time back and stating the Braves should trade him to a contender while they could still get something of value in return. The idea wasn't well received but should the Braves season tank this year I still say its a good idea.
 
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