Braves Sign Dave Ross

Ha, I was just about to email this to you. I think it's a good solid signing. Some of their pieces are slowly falling into place.

Having Dave Ross around will let Corky Miller and Clint Sammons mature more, but the Braves will eventually trade them like they did Salty,and Flowers..Overall good deal I suppose

"Having Dave Ross around will let Corky Miller and Clint Sammons mature more"

Corky Miller mature more???????

Corky Miller is 33 years old. I don't think he's "maturing" any time soon. Brilliant comment.

I'm happy about this, but only because I don't want the Astros to sign Ross.

Braves fans should not be disappointed with this guy. I wasn't when Boston got him when Cincy releseed him late in '08 and if Dave Cash wasn't Wakefield's personal catcher, have a feeling Ross would have been back as the reserve for '09. He's a pretty good glove/arm man with some decent pop, just got to get him some more AB's than Boston was able to, since he only got the call when Boston had him, 'Tek, Cash and the rookie Kotteras on the late season roster and he was just out of synce with his wings, but he looked very good behind the plate still in the few innings he was out there.

I wouldn't be surprised too to see Ross play a little 1st until Krotchman finally grows a pair and becomes the hitter he was hyped up to be.

Very solid signing. Surprised no one signed him who needed a starter like Houston.

This shows how ignorant the Reds Front Office is.

Last year, David Ross had better Offensive stats than Paul Bako and was at least as good, if not better than, him on Defense.

What did the Reds do? They released Ross, ate his salary, brought up Ryan Hanigan from the Minors and then proceeded to play Bako WAAAAAYYYY more than he should have been played, just because he was one of Dusty Baker's Boys.

Then, they let Bako become a Free agent.

Now, the Reds only have Hanigan on the roster at the Catcher's position and they don't know whether he is a starter or a back up and are rumored to be looking for another Catcher.

Some of the rumors being Homer Bailey to the Rangers for Gerald Laird or Bronson Arroyo to the Rangers for one of their other Catchers.

So, instead of keeping Ross and resigning him, they are stupidly looking to overpay for an overhyped Catcher in a market where a LOT of teams are looking to get a Catcher.

I like this signing for the Braves. Ross can give them some nice pop off the bench and a solid backup.

Trade Simmons for what? A sucky low A prospect?

No sammons is potentially a good catcher in the majors. There are several teams in need of catching. Tigers, Red sox, Astros, and the marlins are always down for a trade. I am pretty sure we could get some good prospect for him.

Where is the love for Vazquez the guy hasn't even put on a Braves uniform and we are already calling this a failure. A change of scenery can produce trash into all star talent. Brad lidge for example. CC going to the Brewers was the best for him he found another gear with a change. Just give him a chance I am sure he will not let us down. I mean he is not any worse then Hampton sitting on the bench soaking up money.

Phils dude:

Lay off Morton and Reyes, especially Morton! They are still young and learning. Reyes doesn't look like he'll ever be that much, but who knows. Morton has good movement on all of his pitches but he has work to do on his control on the mound and in his head...he is 25 or 26, but he's probably a late blossomer(is that even a word?)

Brian,

I think you meant late bloomer. Ok, I'll lay off, but I actually said something complimentary about a braves acquisition, so that's a step in the right direction, right? Right nixa37?

I still think Vazquez is a waste of money and a mistake and if Flowers ends up a 25HR 90-100RBI guy in a couple years you'll be regretting that deal.

Crown royal 34,

Flowers won't end up as a catcher, IMO. He's wayyy too big to fit behind the plate. Baseball prospectus said that in the history of baseball there has NEVER been a catcher that's been that size, something like 6'4, 250. I'd expect the Sox to move him to say 1B at some point???

Also if he develops into that by the time he reaches AAA you could then sell him off for a lot more if better options are available. To me its very possible that Flowers has just scratched the surface of what he can do and Kenny WIlliams is known for buying low and ending up with gold. Unfortunately I know, gavin floyd.

I think Vasquez has some upside for the braves. Being in the NL will help lower his ERA, and the Braves has a history of getting the most from some guys like this. Besides, I liken this to the Joe Blanton deal the phils made last year. We might have given up a little more, but at least we have a solid innings eater that can win 15 games or so and take the load off the bullpen. As long as this isn't the "ace" Wren ends up with, this could be a great move.

"I don't know what's falling into place, they signed a mediocre pitcher and a backup catcher."

What mediocre pitcher are you referring to? I don't recall them signing any.

I love JJ, but I think he still needs a year or so to become a true ace. If you add someone like peavy/lowe/burnett the Braves will have a very solid rotation. And if JJ DOES step it up to ace level this year, it could be a pretty great rotation.

For the guys pounding Vasquez, consider this. he was a strikeout/flyball pitcher in a hitter's park. Flyball pitchers are more successful at turner field than the cell because turner is a pitcher's park not a hitter's haven. And i expect kotchman to rebound this year and have an average close to .290-.300 and 20+ homers. Burnett is most likely the next piece and then i think we can see the braves start to take shape. A rotation consisting of Burnett, Jurrgens, Vasquez, Morton, and Reyes/Campillo is far from terrible and if just one of Morton and Reyes puts it together thats a strong staff

I think Frank Wren may be on his way to winning the executive of the year. I bet he is very quickly gaining the respect of GM's all around baseball. I think the time has gone where other teams wondered if they could pull one over on the "new guy" after JS left.

phils.... check out Javy's peripherals.... they are sick. Getting out of a launching pad and into the NL in a better pitchers park is going to do wonders. He will flourish in the NL under Cox. My guess is he is at worst a number 3 starter, with the potential for much more. Love the pickup.

The Braves plan to enter the season neck and neck with Pilly for the best bullpen in the NL East with Benett/Carlyle/Acosta/Soriano/Moylan/and Gonzo as well as Logan or Ohman(Ohman obviously being more appealing)which is a start of something the Braves didn't have last year. Their rotation relies fully on potential. If Vasquez and Jurrjens live to their potential and Hanson ends up there or the Braves get Greinke or Bailey then their rotation is pretty set in my opinion.

It all comes down to if the offense produces. Ross is huge especially if Norton resigns and even more if he dosen't. The Braves are still a solid OFer or two away from being taken seriously though in my opinion. They get that and I will REALLY be looking forward to next season.

The Braves needed an innings eater and that's what they got in Vasquez. He is also under contract through 2010 for relatively little money (relative to the ridiculous contract the M's gave Carlos Silva, a comparable middle of the rotation innings eater.)

I am optimistic about the Ross signing. He is Babe Ruth compared to Corky Miller. I hope I never see him in the majors again...unless, of course, he is playing for the Mets!

Go Braves!