We're Back

The Wren's Nest-After that first series against Philly last year The Power's That Be felt over confident in the team and went off for a weekend in Vegas. Unfortunately this ended with Martin in a sex rehab clinic in Alabama and myself stuck in a Chinese work camp shoveling horse shit. In short, we fucked this thing up. We'll be back this year to try to provide consistent coverage and insight as well as gratuitous laughs, mostly about bullpen management. This is assuming that Monsieur Machiavelli doesn't get arrested while in Germany. We have 4 potential aces and a number five starter that could be most teams three or four. We have a bullpen good enough and deep enough that Petey Moylan may not break 60 appearances until after the all-star break. Here's to Bobby's last run, and solid season ahead.

Chipper Extended Through 2012

THE WREN'S NEST- The sudden departure of John Smoltz this past offseason left many Braves fans feeling slighted by the front office and jilted by a long time legend. In the wake of Smoltz' departure some fans began wondering about the future of the last remaining fixture of the Team of the 90's, Chipper Jones.

Over the weekend Chipper and the Braves hammered out a three year extension worth at least $42 million that will keep him in the only uniform he's ever known through at least 2012. In spite of his obvious injury concerns, he remains one of the most feared hitters in the game and apparently has only gotten better with age. Even with a typical age regression, Chipper's numbers and defense still justify his $13 million annual salary. Though the free agent market this offseason slowed the flow of large, multi-year contracts, $13 million for a franchise player who is still quite capable of posting MVP numbers is a bargain considering the extensions given to guys like Mark Ellis and the $25 million given to the mercurial Manny Ramirez. With this extension, Mets fans can look forward to Chipper giving the new Citi Field a proper introduction to the hell he put Shea through over the years.

Anderson to Tigers: Immediate Reaction

ATLANTA-Over the years John Schuerholz established certain GM's with which he had special relations with. And by special relations I mean in the sense that he continually went back to these individuals when he felt he needed to rape and pillage a team of it's assets for $.25 on the dollar. Schuerholz guy was Jim Bowden, the now disgraced former GM of the Nationals. Deion Sanders for Roberto Kelly, Mike Kelly for Chad Fox, and Neagle, Rob Bell, and Michael Tucker for Mike Remlinger--a key bullpen arm for years--and Bret Boone come to mind. Low and behold Frank Wren has found his beotch--the esteemed General Manager of the Detroit Tigers Dave Dombrowski.

In a little over a year Frank Wren has lied, stolen, and swindled his way into Double D's heart from his perch in the Wren's Nest, coming away clean with last year's unquestionable staff ace in kid sensation Jair Jurrjens and now flipping a spare part in Josh Anderson for a potentially dominating bullpen arm in RHP Rudy Darrow.

Josh Anderson came into the spring competing for the starting center field job with top prospect Jordan Schafer and Gregor Blanco. In limited major league duty Anderson had proved quite capable, compiling a .315 average and showing outstanding speed and range. Had he performed even adequately this spring instead of throwing up a decidedly unimpressive .283 OBP he was expected to win the job outright while Schafer would go to AAA Gwinnett for further development (and the all-important stalling of his arbitration clock) where he would also be joined by Blanco. As it stood, Anderson was out of options, looked to be nothing more than a spare part, and was likely to be designated for assignment or outright released at the end of the spring. His ability to hit for average was his lone asset, as his speed was often negated by his inability to take a walk (13 walks in 203 PA), a real deficiency considering he was likely to be the team's leadoff hitter. At best, he was Juan Pierre without the fat contract and with less speed, albeit he carried a little more pop in his bat. The Braves should not have gotten anything of value for him unless he was being over-valued based on his inflated average (Absolutely unsustainable. His career BABIP is .379. Color me skeptical.). Luckily, Wren had Dombrowski on speed dial.





One of these men will be breaking camp with Atlanta. Josh Anderson is not that man.


For a guy who would be very lucky to have made the roster out of spring training Wren managed to nab an incredibly high upside arm. Rudy Darrow is a 5'10", 180 lb RHP out of Nicholls St. Coming from an odd sidearm slot at 94-95, he reminds me a hell of a lot of one Joey Devine. At 25, it's time for him to step up a level and prove himself after two rock-solid full minor league seasons. Though stymied by surgery early on, Darrow has put up a career 2.52 ERA in the minors to date, with 101 K's in 103 innings, 37 walks, and one (1!) homerun. Darrow figures to start the season in AA Mississippi where he, as well as Stephen Marek, could be one of the first bullpen arms called up in the event of injury.

Video of Darrow's delivery:
Rudy Darrow/Justin Smoak - Arizona Fall League - 2008-10-31

In my book, this is one of the more impressive trades Wren has pulled as he took a spare piece who was unlikely to make the roster and garnered a potentially great bullpen arm.

Immediate Reaction: Vazquez to Braves

ATLANTA--Yesterday, various sources confirmed that Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan were on their way to Atlanta, as Brave's GM completed the long rumored acquisition from his home in the Wren's Nest. At first glance, this move helps solidify a shaky rotation and marks an item off the list of parts that needed to be picked up this offseason. Chicago's side of the deal is all but confirmed, pending physicals and a press conference. There are many conflicting reports as to who Atlanta gave up to complete the trade, as ESPN.com reports the deal as SS Brent Lillibridge, LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, and a minor leaguer. Foxsports.com, Sportline, and MLBTR (via the AJC's Dave O'Brian) all indicate a four-player swap, in which Atlanta would hand over Lillibridge, C Tyler Flowers, 3B Jon Gilmore, and Rookie-League pitcher Santos Rodriguez.

I find it odd that the would include Flowers in a package for Vazquez, as it seemed that his inclusion is what caused the Peavy deal to fall through. Flowers, one of the hottest hitting catching prospects this year, posted 17 homers and a .921 OPS in Class A Myrtle Beach this year and followed that up by mashing 12 homers in 20 games with the Mesa Solar Sox. He's shown the ability to play 1B, long a position of continuity that has eluded the Braves, and it would make sense to keep him in the system as insurance that 18 year old phenom Freddie Freeman doesn't pan out.

The first scenario, though seemingly much more unlikely as more reports come out, is much more favorable to Atlanta, though Flowers is still likely to be a part of the deal. Reyes, the Braves' best major league ready prospect at the beginning of 2008, struggled with his control and homers throughout the season, though he did show flashes of brilliance. Still, his loss could be afforded by a team relatively thick with low-expectation, major-league ready pitching in Charlie Morton, James Parr, Chuck James, and, if healthy, Anthony Lerew, not to mention the dominant Tommy Hanson.

The second scenario is a little tougher to swallow, as the Braves not only give up Flowers but also Jon Gilmore, the 19 year-old 3B prospect out of Iowa. Gilmore projects to have great raw power and plate discipline once he develops while already being a consistent bat, hitting .291 over two seasons including .337 in Danville before getting a cup of coffee with low-A Rome. Losing a low-A, projectable player is generally an acceptable cost; however, the Braves now have to find another player in the draft to replace Gilmore and his gifted athleticism as the heir-apparant to an old and frequently battered Chipper Jones. Gilmore figured to break in around 2011--about the time Chipper hit 40, and the two prospects above him in the pecking order--Van Pope and Eric Campbell--each have their flaws. Pope possesses an outstanding glove, but struggles at the plate, hitting .237 in Mississippi this year. Campbell has exceptional talent and athleticism, but has struggled off the field, including a suspension handed down by the organization, and is being exposed to the Rule V draft (though unlikely he'd be taken given the off field troubles).

As for Javy Vazquez being a Brave--I'm elated. He's a guy who showed great stuff and the ability to eat innings while toiling for terrible Montreal teams. While he's not the ace, or likely even the number two, that Wren was looking for, he's a solid addition. He continues to eat innings (would top 200+ nine straight years if not for coming two short in 2004) as well as still having great stuff, as he still averages over 8 K's per 9 and usually only walks 2-3 per 9. He's generally hard to hit (Top 10 in H/9 3 times since 2001) as well as posting good WHIP numbers from year to year. Furthermore, a return to the senior circuit where he could face a pitcher three times a game as well as not facing the stacked offenses of the AL could do him significant good.

The other piece the Braves receive, Boone Logan, is a guy I hope I don't have to write about much when the season begins. I can see myself getting pissed off everytime he enters the game. Think 2008 Royce Ring. But with a weaker beard, a weaker name, and weaker stuff. I see him being inducted into the HOS by July.

This trade should do the Braves some short-term good over the next two years, as Vazquez is likely to deliver 200+ innings of sub-4.00 ball, while posting close to 200 K's and around 60 BB's, all while making a manageable $11.7 million a year. The Braves gave up three guys who weren't going to see the bigs by 2010 or 2011, and a utility infielder who was blocked and fell off the cliff last year splitting time between AAA and Atlanta. The long-term assessment depends on how Flowers and Gilmore develop. If these two become even .270/20 guys, this deal may be much harder to swallow three or four years from now if the acquisition fails to help lead Atlanta back to the playoffs.

Wren and Towers Call It Quits

ATLANTA -- Two general managers in baseball are giving one another the silent treatment. Padres' Kevin Towers and the Braves' Frank Wren are no longer discussing a deal which could bring 2007 National League Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy to Atlanta for shortstop Yunel Escobar and prospects.

In a phone interview from his weekend cabin in the Appalachian Mountains, which Frank calls 'The Wren's Nest', the Braves GM said "We've had a communication breakdown. I mean we've been talking for a month now, and I just want Kevin to commit and he won't do it." Wren emotionally added "I've offered him a future no one else can give him, and he just says he wants more, more, more! I send him texts all day long and he just replies with one word replies, so I'm done!"

Towers refused phone calls from JBB offices, but sent an e-mail statement which read "Frank and I had a good thing going while it lasted. However, I have to move in another direction. Right now Jim [Hendry] is promising me stability and upside Frank cannot ensure. While I wish Frank all the best, I have to ---- what I can ---- while I can ---- it."

Wren, distraught, is moving on. Reportedly in the mix to sign free agent pitchers A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, the GM will have to win an aggressive bidding war between several other teams offering a king's ransom for the pitchers. While Wren also made a push for the most coveted free agent on the market, C.C. Sabathia, it looks to be all for not. In an effort to reclaim their annual payroll championship, the Yankees have offered C.C. over thirty million dollars more than any other club. Hank Steinbrenner, the team's co-chairman, said "We feel really excited about bringing another payroll title to the Bronx. We're really setting up a dynasty at this point. I mean, we may very well eclipse a quarter billion dollar payroll this year! It's not how you spend your money in baseball, but how much you spend that equals success. Just look at the Devil Rays, it's no wonder the Phillies, of all teams, beat them!"

Ultimately, Frank Wren may have to resort to overpaying for Derek Lowe who would be approaching 40 at the end of his next contract. Frank said of Lowe "He may not be an ace for us, but I have no doubt he's a king." Meanwhile, Frank's queen Kevin Towers may have to re-think his stubbornness for commitment with the Cubs re-signing Ryan Dumpster to a lucrative 52 million dollar elbow insurance policy. So the question remains: Will Frank and Kev call it quits, or become partners once again?