Braves News World

2/6/07 Former Braves right-handed pitcher Lew Burdette died at 80.
2/11/07 Agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Oscar Villareal on a one-year contract.
2/13/07 Liberty Media Corp. agreed to terms to purchase the Atlanta Braves from Time Warner.
2/15/07 Invited infielder Yunel Escobar, left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison, first baseman Carlos Mendez, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and catcher Clint Sammons to attend major league Spring Training.

12/3/06 Signed right-handed pitcher Tanyon Sturtze to one-year contract.
12/7/06 Traded left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez to Mariners in exchange for right-handed pitcher Rafael Soriano.
12/7/06 Announced that they lost right-handed pitcher Sean White to Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft.
12/9/06 Signed outfielder Willie Harris to minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training.
12/12/06 Declined to tender 2007 contract offers to second baseman Marcus Giles and right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma.
12/14/06 Invited right-handed pitcher Buddy Carlyle, left-handed pitcher Steve Colyer, outfielder Doug Clark, catcher Iker Franco, and catcher Corky Miller to attend major league Spring Training.
12/20/06 Atlanta Braves named Chip Caray and Joe Simpson as 2007 TBS broadcast team.
12/20/06 Signed infielder/outfielder Chris Woodward to a one-year contract.

11/1/06 Activated right-handed pitcher Blaine Boyer, left-handed pitcher Mike Hampton, outfielder Kelly Johnson, right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma, and right-handed pitcher Phil Stockman from 60-day disabled list.
11/2/06 Named Dave Brundage manager of Triple-A Richmond.
11/3/06 Andruw Jones won ninth consecutive Gold Glove Award.
11/4/06 Signed left-handed pitcher Steve Colyer to minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training.
11/7/06 Former Braves right-handed pitcher Johnny Sain died at 89.
11/10/06 Brian McCann named 2006 Silver Slugger Award winner.
11/20/06 Announced outfielder T.J. Bohn was claimed off waivers from Mariners and purchased contracts of right-handed pitcher Jonathan Johnson & outfielder Gregor Blanco from Triple-A Richmond.
11/22/06 Atlanta Braves season tickets for 2007 season made available for sale.

8/5/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Jason Shiell to Triple-A Richmond.
8/6/06 Purchased contract of left-handed pitcher Wayne Franklin from Triple-A Richmond.
8/11/06 Placed left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez on 15-day disabled list, recalled right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry from Triple-A Richmond, and outrighted right-handed pitcher Jason Shiell & first baseman James Jurries to Triple-A Richmond.
8/11/06 Former Atlanta Braves executive Bill Lucas & outfielder Ralph Garr inducted into Braves Hall of Fame.
8/13/06 Placed infielder Willy Aybar on 15-day disabled list (broken left hand) and activated third baseman Chipper Jones from 15-day disabled list.
8/13/06 Rehired Paul Snyder as director of baseball operations.
8/14/06 Matt Diaz set Braves record and ties National League record with 10 hits in 10 consecutive at-bats.
8/15/06 Optioned outfielder Scott Thorman to Triple-A Richmond and recalled right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier from Triple-A Richmond.
8/21/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier to Triple-A Richmond and recalled infielder Martin Prado from Tiple-A Richmond.
8/23/06 Danys Baez underwent surgery (appendectomy).
8/25/06 Placed right-handed pitcher Danys Baez on 15-day disabled list (appendix) and recalled right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier from Triple-A Richmond.
8/31/06 Traded right-handed pitcher Luis Atilano to the Nationals in exchange for first baseman/outfielder Daryle Ward and moved right-handed pitcher Phil Stockman from 15-day disabled list to 60-day disabled list.

7/2/06 Placed right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma on 15-day disabled list (right hand numbness) and recalled right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry from Triple-A Richmond.
7/2/06 Andruw Jones, Brian McCann, and Edgar Renteria named to National League All-Star Team.
7/4/06 Activated right-handed pitcher John Thomson and optioned right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier to Triple-A Richmond.
7/5/06 Chipper Jones named National League Player of the Week.
7/15/06 Placed right-handed pitcher John Thomson on 15-day disabled list (right shoulder inflammation) and recalled right-handed pitcher Peter Moylan from Triple-A Richmond.
7/15/06 Chipper Jones surpasses Dale Murphy to become Atlanta Braves all-time hits leader with 1,902.
7/16/06 Chipper Jones ties Paul Waner’s major league record for most consecutive games (14) with an extra-base hit.
7/18/06 Chris Reitsma underwent surgery (right elbow).
7/19/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Peter Moylan to Triple-A Richmond.
7/20/06 Purchased contract of right-handed pitcher Jason Shiell from Triple-A Richmond and traded catcher Max Ramirez to the Indians in exchange for right-handed pitcher Bob Wickman.
7/21/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry to Triple-A Richmond.
7/26/06 Moved right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma from 15-day disabled list to 60-day disabled list.
7/29/06 Traded infielder Wilson Betemit to Dodgers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Danys Baez & infielder Willy Aybar and recalled shortstop Tony Pena Jr. from Triple-A Richmond.
7/30/06 Placed third baseman Chipper Jones on 15-day disabled list (strained left oblique), moved first baseman Brian Jordan from 15-day disabled list to 60-day disabled list, and designated right-handed pitcher Jorge Sosa for assignment.
7/30/06 Former Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Bruce Sutter inducted into Hall of Fame.
7/31/06 Traded right-handed pitcher Jorge Sosa to Cardinals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Rich Scalamandre and assigned Scalamandre to Triple-A Richmond.

Julio Franco wants to play until he’s 50 years old and the Mets may make that possible. They signed him to a 2-year contract worth $2.2 million. He would turn 50 during the 2008 season. Franco hit .275 with 9 home runs and 42 RBIs last season. He compiled a .292 batting average, 29 home runs and 171 RBIs during his 4+ seasons with the Braves. With up-and-coming first basemen like James Jurries in the minors, the Braves declined to offer Franco arbitration in order to maximize their budget for offseason acquisitions.

Rafael Furcal bid the Braves goodbye as he signed a hefty 3-year, $39.5 million contract with the Dodgers. The Braves could not match the the Dodgers’ salary offer, which was apparently the most important factor in Furcal’s decision. Furcal’s departure means a new shortstop and/or leadoff hitter hitter will be at the top of John Schuerholz’s shopping list this holiday season. However, the Braves are by no means bereft of shortstop talent in the organization. Wilson Betemit is excelling in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, hitting .296 with 6 homers and 20 RBIs in 142 at-bats. 23-year-old phenom Yunel Escobar is expected to be ready for the major leagues sometime next season and 17-year-old Elvis Andrus may have the brightest future of them all.

The Braves will have yet another new face in the cloer’s role next season. Kyle Farnsworth has signed a 3-year, $17 million contract with the Yankees to be a setup man. The Braves had offered Farnsworth a 3-year deal to be their closer when they heard that he had signed with the Yankees. Braves fans can look forward to one consolation: since Farnsworth signed with the Yankees before December 7th (the deadline for offering a player arbitration) the Yankees will owe the Braves a compensatory first-round draft pick once Atlanta offers him arbitration (a formality since he has already signed). Now that Trevor Hoffman, Billy Wagner, Tom Gordon, and Todd Jones have signed, the Braves will likely look to find a closer via a trade or within their system.

The Braves have promoted former shortstop Jeff Blauser from roving minor league instructor to manager of the Double-A Mississippi Braves next season. Blauser played for Atlanta from 1987 to 1997. Brian Snitker, who managed Mississippi last year, will take over as manager for the Braves’ Triple-A Richmond affiliate (Pat Kelly, who managed Richmond last year, will now serve the organization in a scouting capacity). Additionally, managers Rocket Wheeler (who managed Class A Rome last season) and Randy Ingle (who skippered the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2005) will switch roles.

Ralph Garr played for the Atlanta Braves from 1968 to 1975 and has served the organization as a coach and scout since 1985. Garr was honored for the latter stint when he recently received the Buck O’Neill Professional Scouts and Coaches Association Man of the Year Award at the 755 Club at Turner Field. He currently scouts talent in the Houston area for the franchise while also traveling to evaluate the Braves’ professional opponents and potential player acquisitions.

After spending 15 years as the Atlanta Braves’ pitching coach, Leo Mazzone is moving on to serve as the pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles. The Braves had little chance of retaining his services as Mazzone has had a long-standing agreement with Sam Perlozzo, his best friend since childhood, that he would serve as his pitching coach if Perlozzo got a permanent job as a manager in the majors. Perlozzo and Mazzone played American Legion ball together as teenagers and were neighbors during the 1980’s. The fact that Mazzone will be close to family in Maryland and more than double his salary (to $500,000 a year) made his decision that much easier. Since Mazzone signed with the Orioles over a week before his contract with the Braves expired the Orioles were willing to send pitcher Moises Hernandez, the older brother of top Mariners prospect Felix Hernandez, to Atlanta as compensation. Hernandez was 0-4 for the Class-A Aberdeen Ironbirds last year but compiled a 3.08 ERA and struck out 56 in 52 2/3 innings. As far as replacements for the exiting Mazzone, the leading candidates include former Braves pitching coach Bruce Dal Canton, Mike Maddux (brother of former Brave Greg Maddux), and Randy St. Claire (current Nationals pitching coach and former Brave). Other possibilities include Guy Hansen (current Richmond Braves pitching coach), Don Gullett, and Mel Stottlemyre who recently resigned as Yankees pitching coach after 10 years of service. Joe Kerrigan and Braves announcer Don Sutton are longshots who have been bandied about as well.

Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Rick Camp has been sentenced to approximately 3 years in a federal prison after being convicted of participating in a conspiracy to steal more than $2 million from a mental health agency. Camp was serving as a lobbyist at the time he and 4 other people, including former state representative Robin Williams, allegedly committed the crime. Camp compiled a 56-49 record and 3.37 ERA during 9 seasons with the Braves (1976-78, 1980-85).

A new website, ILoveFrancoeur.com, has been created by Atlanta radio station 790 The Zone to celebrate the exploits of new Braves sensation Jeff Francoeur. Right now the station is conducting a contest to choose a new nickname (I must agree that “Frenchy” is just weak) for the rising star. He was referred to as “Supermanâ€? during his high school playing days but let’s not get carried away so soon…

To be considered for the contest, entries need to be submitted through that website. The nicknames submitted will be presented to Francoeur and he (and perhaps some teammates) will decide the winner. The entrant who submits the winning nickname winner will win prizes including tickets to an upcoming Braves game, an autographed official Francoeur jersey, t-shirts from the Rome, Mississippi and Richmond Braves, CD’s of George Strait (Francoeur’s favorite musician), and a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant in Lilburn, Georgia. Good luck everyone and keep knocking them dead Jeff!

The latest Brave to participate in the team’s monthly online chat was Phil Niekro. News of note is the fact Knucksie and his brother, Joe Niekro, will be managing a Hall of Fame Fantasy Camp in Cooperstown in October. Lou Brock, among others, will participate. The chat transcript is now available.

Braves scout Paul Snyder and Boston Beaneater player Herman Long are slated to be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame on August 19th, 2005. The Braves will also welcome members of the 1995 World Series Championship team back in commemoration of the 10-year anniversary of their title.

Paul Snyder has been involved with the Braves franchise the past 48 years. He was a player in the Braves farm system from 1957 to 1963. Since then his assinments have included early stints as manager of the Greenville, West Palm Beach, and Greenwood minor league teams. He has also served as Director of Stadium Operations, a scout (starting in 1967), Bill Lucas’ Assistant Minor League Administrator, Director of Scouting, and Assistant Vice President of Scouting. Most recently, Snyder was Director of Scouting and Player Development for the Braves and, in 2000, a Special Assistant to the General Manager.

Herman Long, also known as the “Flying Dutchman,” started at shortstop for the Boston Beaneaters from 1890-1902. Between the years 1891 and 1898, the Beaneaters won five pennants with Long as their everyday shortstop. He also led NL shortstops in fielding percentage twice, led the league in runs scored in 1893 and led the league in home runs with 12 in 1900. He is the only shortstop aside from Ernie Banks to lead the National League in home runs!

To reserve tickets for the Braves Hall of Fame luncheon and induction ceremony call (404) 614-2310.

Former Braves second baseman and outfielder Ron Gant signed today to serve as an analyst for 17 Atlanta Braves games on TBS this season. He will join play-by-play announcer Chip Caray and analysts Joe Simpson & Don Sutton (who will rotate) for special “Braves TBS Xtra” broadcasts. Like last season, the “Braves TBS Xtra” coverage will feature enhanced graphics, a sports ticker, a virtual leadoff meter, hit chart diagram and other cool neato whiz-bang technologies. The first “Braves TBS Xtra” telecast will start at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 9th (against the Mets).

Ron Gant made headlines last month when he was involved in a fatal car wreck. A pick-up truck, driven by a 74-year old resident of Douglasville, Georgia, turned into oncoming traffic where it was struck by the SUV Gant was driving. Gant sustained no serious injuries and no charges were filed.

Rick Mahler, the stalwart of the Braves pitching staff through much of the 1980s, died of a heart attack Wednesday at the age of 51. He was preparing for his second season as a minor league pitching coach for the Class-A St. Lucie Mets. He is survived by his wife, Sheryl, and five children.

He led the Braves in ERA in 1981, 1984, 1985, & 1988 and in wins in 1985, 1986, and 1988. During his 12-year career which started in 1979 he posted a 96-111 record with a 3.99 ERA. It’s a shame that he, like so many other deserving Braves players from the decade, never got to play in the World Series.

I can still remember my brother and I waiting for autographs by the Braves team bus outside the Astrodome. It was 1987 and the Braves had just lost another one to the Astros. We, along with 30 other fans, pleaded for signatures as the Braves players walked by. A few players came over to sign for us, including Rick who was on the way to his car. We still have the baseball Mahler signed in a plastic square holder in our living room.

It’s a sad day for the organization and Braves fans everywhere.

Braves broadcaster Don Sutton is scheduled to sign autographs from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm this Sunday 2/27/05 at Machinist Hall (12365 St. Charles Rock Rd.) in Bridgeton, MO. Autograph ticket prices at the show range from $35 - $50. You can contact the promoter, St. Louis Sports Collectors, Inc., at (618) 281-6014. Admission tickets are $4 per person per day and free for children ages 5 and under.

Sutton is also slated to sign autographs at 12:00 pm on Saturday 3/5/05 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza (111 North 3rd St.), Hall C, in Phoenix, AZ. Advance autograph ticket prices range from $39 - $79 (and are subject to price increases at the show) and photo opportunities are $39 each. You can contact the promoter, Tri-Star Productions, at (713) 666-9595. Admission tickets at the door will be between $8 and $10 per day for those age 6 and over and free for ages 5 and under.

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)

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.