Braves News World

Peter Gammons reported that Atlanta offered Giles, Dan Meyer and another minor leaguer to the A’s for either Barry Zito, Mark Mulder or Tim Hudson. Officials from both teams denied the report.

Mark this one down in the “ludicrous” column! Schuerholz would be out of his mind to do such a deal. Giles is going to be counted on to deliver lots of pop next season (and at a very affordable price tag) with J.D. Drew likely leaving. The Braves can’t afford the drop in production from a switch to Nick Green or Mark DeRosa.

Adam Miller from Athletic Supporters explained in May why he thinks the A’s may try to pawn off Zito on a team like the Braves. Don’t do it Schuerholz!

This has been touched on before, but Zito’s strikeout rate has declined from a high of 8.61/9IP in 2001 to 5.67/9IP in 2003. His strikeout rate is back up again this season, but trends of declining strikeout rates can be signs that a pitcher’s performance is on track to decline, as well.

Assuming that Zito can bring his numbers down to more palatable levels in the coming weeks, he may be the best candidate to trade for offensive help and prospects. He is likely still perceived around the league to have ace value, as his 2002 Cy Young award would indicate. He is due the largest salary increase of the Big Three over the next two years. He is represented by Scott Boras, and may be difficult to sign to an extension. And he may end up providing the worst relative performance level of the Big Three.

If they took Tim Hudson, he’d likely be with the Braves only one year (he is a free agent after the 2005 season). So Mulder would be the best option for the Braves. That being said, the Braves will be in deep trouble next year if they don’t have Giles’ offense in the lineup. Unless they have some serious tricks up their sleeves, it just wouldn’t be worth it. I don’t see it happening and I think Gammons has just gone senile…

The Braves will be conducting an online holiday auction on their official site to benefit the Atlanta Braves Foundation. The auctions will run from November 22 - December 8. Featured items that will be auctioned are listed below. Let the bidding begin!

John Smoltz autographed baseball
Chipper Jones autographed baseball
Andruw Jones autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
J.D. Drew autographed baseball
Marcus Giles autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
Rafael Furcal batting practice-worn jersey
Mike Hampton autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
Mike Hampton autographed game-worn home jersey
Julio Franco batting practice-worn jersey
Mark DeRosa batting practice-worn jersey
Bobby Cox signed 2003 NLDS Game 5 lineup card
Bobby Cox autographed game-worn jersey
Leo Mazzone game-worn away jersey
Terry Pendleton batting practice-used jersey
2004 NLDS Game 1 game-used base

After over a month of negotiations, Don Sutton has agreed to return to the Braves broadcast booth in 2005. In September, Turner Sports officials picked up the options of the contracts of Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, and Joe Simpson. Sutton wasn’t satisfied with the terms he was offered at that time. Since then, Turner added Skip’s son Chip Caray to the broadcasting team, prompting speculation that Sutton would not be returning.

However, it was apparently their aim all along to carry 5 broadcasters. In addition to the TBS and Turner South telecasts, Braves can be heard in Atlanta on both WGST 640 AM and WKLS 96.1 FM (96 Rock) starting in 2005. It is widely expected that Chip Caray will take over for his father Skip in the coming years. It will be nice to have that Caray continuity to hopefully span another 30 years of Braves baseball. I’ve always been a fan of Skip’s wisecracks and the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously.

If you suffered, as I did, through the 1980’s as a fan of the bumbling Braves, you remember Ozzie Virgil, Jr. as their all-star catcher in 1987. Today Virgil was named the manager of a new independent league baseball team in Surprise, Arizona. They will be playing in the newly-created Golden Baseball League. Other former major leaguers that have been tapped to manage in the league include Terry Kennedy and Les Lancaster. Congratulations Ozzie!