Braves News World

This year the Braves won’t be able to hold their annual FanFest at Turner Field because of the construction going on at the stadium. Instead, the team will be staging a two-day caravan whereby players, coaches and broadcasters interact with Braves fans in the Chattanooga, Birmingham, Columbus, and greater Atlanta areas on February 4th and 5th. Radio stations 640 WGST and 96 Rock, which will broadcast Braves games this season, are sponsoring the events.

Among the Braves personalities who have agreed to participate are Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Johnny Estrada, Horacio Ramirez, Nick Green and both Skip and Chip Caray. The locations and times of their appearances have yet to be announced. Each player or broadcaster will appear at their own separate location for a couple hours. The players and broadcasters will be signing a limited number of autographs and only one per person.

The Braves Community Caravan stops in the greater Atlanta area are listed below. The details of the Birmingham, Columbus and Chattanooga stops have not yet been announced.

Friday, February 4
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Highland Plaza (3605 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta)
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Dunwoody Hall (5550 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody)
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Home Depot Sandy Springs (6400 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. N.E., Atlanta)
5 p.m.-7 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Coweta Crossroads (100 Glenda Place, Newnan)
5 p.m.-7 p.m. ET ~ Publix at The Peach (2900 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta)

Saturday, February 5
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Promenade (1625 Pleasant Hill Drive, Duluth)
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET ~ Home Depot Merchants Walk (4101 Roswell Road, Marietta)
Publix at Dacula Village (720 Dacula Road, Dacula)
4 p.m.-6 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Alpharetta Commons (4305 State Bridge Road, Alpharetta)
4 p.m.-6 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Rose Creek Plaza (4403 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock)

“Camp Leo", the Braves’ annual pre-spring training pitching minicamp started by Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone in 1991, gets underway on Wednesday, February 2nd. The 10-day gathering of Braves pitchers leads up to the voluntary reporting date for pitchers and catchers on Thursday, February 17th.

The camp will allow Mazzone his first chance to impart his pitching philosophy to new acquisitions like Tim Hudson. Relievers Dan Kolb, Gabe White, Kevin Gryboski, Chris Reitsma, and Tom Martin will not be in camp this week. Ditto for John Smoltz who is in Michigan honoring an old coach of his.

Mazzone asks his starters to throw from a mound twice between starts rather than the one time most pitching coaches espouse. Each pitcher will throw off a mound five times during the minicamp, presumably giving Braves pitchers an advantage in terms of endurance throughout spring training and the regular season. Last season Braves pitchers used the disabled list only four times, lending yet further credence to Mazzone’s teachings.

Wired Braves fans will get first crack at individual game tickets this season. From Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. until the end of the day Thursday (both times Eastern), tickets for the 2005 season will be available exclusively through the official Braves online ticket site.

Starting Friday, the remaining tickets will be sold via the normal channels: online, at the Braves’ box office and through Ticketmaster. The Braves will again offer ticket specials such as the MasterCard Grand Slam Ticket Pack, Coca-Cola Two-for-One Tuesdays and McDonald’s Home Game Advantage Wednesdays.

Since the best-selling book about Billy Beane was titled “Moneyball” I think John Schuerholz’s forthcoming book ought to be called “No Money Ball"! Today Warner Books (big surprise there) acquired the rights to a book to be authored by the Braves GM. The book will be co-written by best-selling sports writer Larry Guest and will be published in hardcover at a date to be determined.

The book will cover the successful executive’s career, baseball philosophy, and views on management. Stories about baseball inner dealings and player insights will also comprise a good portion of the book.

The Braves signed veteran reliever Jay Powell to a minor league contract on Thursday. He will report to the Mississippi Braves on a rehab assignment after participating in extended spring training. Powell posted
a 3.38 ERA in 23 games with the Rangers last year before undergoing Tommy John surgery on his injured right arm.

The fact that Powell is a Mississippi native and resident played no small role in the Braves’ ability to make yet another cost-effective signing. Expect him to be ready to contribute at the major league level as soon as the all-star break.

The Braves signed Kevin Gryboski to a one-year contract worth $877,500 on Thursday, a $500,000 increase from last season. The signing enabled the Braves to avoid going through the arbitration process with any of its players this year. The agreed-upon figure was pretty much halfway between the $975,000 amount Gryboski was seeking through arbitration and the $780,000 offer the Braves had submitted.

With arbitration worries out of the way, the Braves will presumably now set their sights on signing Tim Hudson to an extension. Hudson has set a March 1st deadline to come to such an agreement.

The second Brave to participate in the team’s monthly online chat was Tim Hudson. Earlier today Hudson fielded softball (er, I mean baseball ) questions from fans on the official Braves site. The closest he came to discussing the ongoing contract talks between himself and the Braves was this quote:

As far as staying in Atlanta, that’s something I’m going to discusss with my family. We couldn’t be more happy right now. If I had a choice, I’d like to play here for a long time to come. Hopefully before Spring Training we can get together and get something worked out so I can be here and help this team win for many years to come.

The chat transcript is now available.

John Smoltz will be the featured speaker at the annual Georgia Tech Baseball Benefit Dinner on February 9th. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Georgia Tech baseball program. The dinner will take place at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. that night. Admission is $75 per person and $700 for a table of ten people. Other highlights will include silent and live auctions, as well as Georgia Tech player introductions.

Smoltz is the latest in a long line of baseball notables to speak at the event. Past speakers include Peter Gammons, Joe Torre, Tommy Lasorda, Jimy Williams, Sparky Anderson, Jason Varitek, and the Braves’ own John Schuerholz.

To RSVP or receive more information call (404) 894-5410 or send a check (payable to GTAA) to: GTAA, Attn: Tom Kinkelaar, 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW, Atlanta, GA 30332-0455. If mailing a check, the GTAA requests that you include the number of people attending, your address and your daytime telephone number. The deadline to RSVP is January 28th.

The Braves are inviting 16 non-roster players to spring training, including über prospects Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann. Seven pitchers, all right-handers (now we know why the Braves signed lefty Gabe White), made the cut: Kevin Barry, Adam Bernero, Matt Childers, Dan Curtis, Buddy Hernandez, Gonzalo Lopez and Zach Miner. Five catchers will make the trip to Lake Buena Vista: Miguel Bernard, Jean Boscan, McCann, Carlos Mendez and Brayan Pena. The outfielders invited were Francoeur and former major leaguers Roosevelt Brown, John Barnes, and Esix Snead (now there are three names that strike fear in the heart of pitchers! )

The Texas Rangers signed former Braves infielder Mark DeRosa to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training with the major league club

At the start of 2004, he really seemed like he was on his way to becoming a Braves standout for years to come. The Braves handed him the third base job at the start of 2004. After 2 1/2 months of meager production, the Braves moved Chipper Jones back to third on June 15th and began platooning Charles Thomas and Eli Marrero in left field. Up to that point, the Braves sported a 30-32 record. After the change, the Braves went 66-34. Coincidence? I think not. However, it must be noted that Marcus Giles returned from a two-month stint on the disabled list on July 15th to play an important role in the Braves’ resurgence.

The bottom line is he hit .239 in 309 at-bats – not to mention the question mark that now surrounds his right knee (where he tore his anterior cruciate ligament to end his 2004 season). The development of Nick Green (and Wilson Betemit) rendered him expendable. Hopefully he can find success as a utility player in the American League because he’s a good guy.

Marcus Giles avoided going to arbitration with the Braves by signing a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Braves Thursday. He made just $430,000 last season. The Braves apparently didn’t have the financial mobility to sign him to a multi-year contract meaning he’ll likely look for greener (pardon the pun) pastures after the 2005 season. Kevin Gryboski is now the only Braves player eligible for salary arbitration.

Let the haggling begin! Marcus Giles is asking for $2.7 million next season (compared to $430,000 last season). The Braves are countering with an arbitration offer of $2.05 million. The two sides should be able to find some middle ground before the salary arbitration hearing. Kevin Gryboski filed for a raise to $975,000 while the Braves offered $780,000. The Braves are more likely to stand their ground and go to arbitration with Gryboski.

Brian Jordan is back with the Braves, but this time at a much cheaper price tag. Jordan signed a one-year contract worth $600,000 (performance incentives could add another $400,000 to it). He made $9.1 million in 2001, his last season with the Braves. Unlike Raul Mondesi, who was guaranteed a starting outfield spot, Jordan will be competing against youngsters such as Ryan Langerhans for a starting role.

Though he was given a clean bill of health during the Braves’ comprehensive physical examination, there is still plenty of doubt over whether Jordan can be productive after posting a total of 11 homers and 51 RBIs over the past two seaseons combined due to his recovery from surgery on his left patella tendon.

If Mondesi has his head on straight and if Jordan has finally recovered fully from surgery the Braves have a pretty nice outfield (especially considering their salaries!). But those are two BIG if’s! If Jordan has a decent spring I think we’ll see him start in left. As the season progresses I think we’ll see more and more platooning of him with Langerhans until Langerhans plays the majority of games. Two reasons for that: First, Jordan fares much better against lefties than righties and most pitchers are, of course, right-handed. Also, nagging injuries will rear their ugly head as the season wears on. If I were Langerhans, I’d be ready to jump in at any time and make the most of the opportunity.

My understanding is Schuerholz still has millions to play with. He must be more worried about state of the bullpen now. Otherwise, I don’t know why he’d settle for Jordan when he can trade for a much more productive and healthy outfielder at a higher price.

Rafael Furcal, Dan Kolb, and Chris Reitsma each signed one-year contracts with the Braves Monday to avoid salary arbitration. Furcal will get almost a $2 million raise to $5.6 million this year, compared to the $3.7 million he made in 2004. Kolb, who made $1.5 million during an all-star season last year, more than doubled his salary to $3.4 million in 2005. Reitsma, who set the Braves franchise record for most appearances in a season (84), will make $1.65 million next season after making $950,000 in 2004.

Marcus Giles and Kevin Gryboski remain unsigned and will exchange salary figures with the Braves to begin the salary arbitration process if they can’t come to terms with the Braves some time today.

The Braves will host a baseball fantasy camp starting Jan. 19th and ending on the 23rd. It will take place at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL. Fans will be able to live out their childhood dreams while competing and interacting with former Braves players, including Steve Bedrosian, Rico Carty, Ralph Garr, Jerry Royster, Pat Corrales, Rick Mahler, Ken Oberkfell, Buzz Capra, Felix Millan, and Tom Paciorek. There is no admission fee for spectators. For more information contact All-Star Adventures at (800) 847-2131, ext. 203.

Five Braves players filed for salary arbitration Friday. That figure is tied for 2nd most among all teams behind Houston, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay (who each have six players going to arbitration). Rafael Furcal, Marcus Giles, Kevin Gryboski, Dan Kolb and Chris Reitsma will each trade salary proprosals with the team on Tuesday.

The Braves took the first step towards addressing their outfield vacancies when they signed Raul Mondesi to a one-year, $1 million contract on Friday. He flew to Atlanta to meet with club officials who deemed him fit, both physically and mentally, to be an important part of the Braves offense (and defense) next season.

You’ll remember both the Pirates and Angels terminated their contracts with Mondesi last year after assorted personal problems and injuries interrupted his season. The personal problems supposedly involved a lawsuit brought by former major league Mario Guerrero who claimed Mondesi promised him a share of his earnings. Mondesi also stated last year he feared for his family’s safety and that was weighing on his mind during the season.

The contract is laden with $700,00 in incentives that could substantially increase the payout for Mondesi. This is an opportunity to show he can again be the kind of hitter who notched 30 or more home runs each year from 1997-1999 and then get a decent-sized contract from another team in 2006. At that time Jeff Francoeur should be ready to take over right field permanently.

At $1 million how can you go wrong? I like this move a lot. If Schuerholz and Cox are convinced he will be focused next year that’s good enough for me. This still leaves the Braves with enough money to go after another outfielder as insurance for either Mondesi or the rookies in left field. Alternatively, it wouldn’t hurt to invest in a solid set-up man for the bullpen. We’ll just have to wait and see.

The Rome Braves, the class “A” affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, will hold their third annual Hot Stove Gathering at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Georgia, on Jan. 27th from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coosa Valley.

Longtime Braves broadcaster Pete Van Wieren will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Atlanta infielder Nick Green and catcher Eddie Perez will also appear at the event. The main event will commence at home plate at 7:00 pm ET. Door prizes will be distributed throughout the evening. The Rome Braves will also be holding a silent auction from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. for items that have been donated from major and minor league teams throughout the country.

Tickets to the event are available at the ticket department at State Mutual Stadium (755 Braves Blvd. in Rome or by phone at 706-378-5144). Ticket prices are $25 per person.

Gabe White is Leo Mazzone’s latest reclamation project. Today White signed a one-year deal with the Braves for $600,000. White and Tom Martin will be the lefties coming out of the bullpen next year.

Obviously, Schuerholz and Mazzone believe he can return to some semblance of his former self (he was 11-2 from 2002 - 2003). He had a horrendous 2004 season with the Yankees and Reds, going 0-1 with an 8.27 ERA for New York and 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA for Cincinnati. It therefore comes as no surprise he’ll be taking a paycut of over $1 million in 2005. Hopefully he’s the latest bullpen bargain the Braves have uncovered.

Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz will be featured guests at a dinner honoring the Double-A Mississippi Braves (formerly Greenville Braves) on Jan. 24. The event, dubbed “A Celebration of Champions” (though the Greenville team finished in the cellar of their division last year), will start at 6 p.m. CT at the Hilton-Jackson in Jackson, MS. The dinner itself will start at 7 p.m. CT.

In addition to dinner, speakers and presentations, the Mississippi Braves will be holding a silent auction and raffle for prizes and autographed memorabilia. Proceeds from those activities will benefit Jackson Metro Area charities.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 each (or $300 for a table of 10) at the M-Braves offices (226 Saint Paul St. in Pearl, MS) or by calling (601) 932-8788 or 888-BRAVES-4.