Olney On La Russa, Mulder, Hudson

I really hope the Braves are able to move Derek Lowe or Kenshin, because I do not want to see Javier Vazquez go. Derek Lowe was clearly not worth the 70$ million we gave him. Should have given him like 40$. If we go otu and get someone who can hit 30+ homers we will be in the playoffs.

Buster Olney has the biggest boner for Mark Mulder!

In the 2009 pre-season Olney said Mulder would be the best value free agent of the year.

They around mid-season, he kept talking about teams that could pick up Mulder for a second half run. He also kept saying that Mulder was "Almost ready" to pitch.

I think this man crush is getting a little weird...

The Braves will have to atleast eat 3-4M yr on the rest of Lowe's contract to be able to have more interest in him in trading for. If they can than that will allow the to resign Laroche, Extend Hudson/JV, sign FA Xavier Nady,and a Closer (Gonzo possibly Accepting Arb 1yr 6M)

I agree that I prefer a rotation of Huddy/JV/JJ/Hanson/KK rather than Lowe. Either way one of Lowe/KK will have to be traded to get a powerhitting OFer that will make the difference next year in getting the braves into the playoffs.

^^ Lowe might be the better player than Maggs right now but Maggs is only allowed $18MM and this is his last year - unless they somehow let him get 130 starts this year. Lowe meanwhile has $45MM still coming to him over the next 3 years. No way the Tigers take that swap

You can't sell low on Lowe, last year he was considered a solid number 2 starter or maybe even a number 1 for some teams and fans on this site were killing the Vasquez deal because Javy was a bum and Flowers is the next Piazza. Flash forward to this year, now Lowe is the bum and Javy is the ace, really? Make no mistake, Hanson and Jurrjens are 1-2 for next year and beyond, with Javy, Lowe, and Huddy filling out the last three spots we should have an even better staff. I agree we need to move somebody for the simple fact that the Braves refuse to go over the 100 million dollar number, but it has to be KK. He will be better next year, but I don't know how much. With Soriano's money coming off the books and Hudson should get a pay cut the Braves should keep LaRoche and go after Jermaine Dye and maybe Billy Wagner. I know two old guys (Wagner and Dye) who don't have much left right, but with Heyward and Shafer soon to be ready and the young arms we got in the minors we only need a stop gap. Keep Gonzo in case Wagner needs a rest and you will still have three guys who can close (Moylan, Gonzo, Wagner). I'm not buying Moylan's numbers against lefties, when he gets that breaking ball going like it was at the end of the year he'll have a year like he did in 07. Diaz and Heyward should be in right field to start the season, KJ or Infante (preferably KJ) need to be moved for another arm in the pen or minor league depth, Norton should be gone with Church, and I would consider bringing back one of Campillo or Carlyle on a minor league deal just to see if they can bounce back. One of those guys would be a decent injury replacement or spot starter if Medlen can't handle it.

C Mac
1b LaRoche
2b Prado
3b Chipper
ss Esco
lf Dye
cf McLouth
rf Diaz/Heyward

1 JJ
2 Hanson
3 Javy
4 Lowe
5 Hudson

The Braves had the second best record in the NL after the break with Church and Garrett, imagine Dye and Heyward instead?

Diaz played a lot more than Church and played a big role in the success after the break.
I don't think that a platoon would be a good way to bring the top prospect in baseball up. If he struggles, then play the other two outfielders.

I am hoping for the current trend of 2nd-chance pitchers to overlap with the next season. Like Pedro and Padilla... This is my hope for Mulder in Milwaukee. I agree with Insomniac. I like your thoughts on Kyle B. (Are you speaking on behalf of the Braves, too?) Anyhow, I remember watching spring training last year whenever it was on. When he came off the bench to pinch hit for the Padres, "Adam Dunn" ran through my head. I'm pretty sure the Dodgers would want to keep James Loney, though who knows WHAT they'll do after the disaster and with the McCourt problems... Mulder - really good idea. He'd be close to a Lackey-type. But what's with the HR's, even during his AL years? And does anyone know if it was the NL that hurt him first, or did the injury just come at the same time he'd joined the Cards? RE: Derek Lowe - what a disappointment! We got Braden Looper for closer to 1/3 what Lowe makes a year, and minus the obscene amount of home runs Looper gave up, they kind of match up. But you guys who are good projecting a pitcher's ceiling and decline probably can chart everything out to show why Looper got lucky with the wins and run support. Still; I'm really glad we didn't invest that money in Lowe, even though I've liked him for a long time. That's the whole problem with a Type-A. (See; Jeff Suppan 2006 to Milwaukee). A Type-A 'workhorse' who is, in all reality, a middle starter makes the whole market over-spend. A sinker-ball guy is just as risky as a knuckler, in a way. There are certain weather conditions and only a certain number of pitches they can throw sometimes. It's a specialty pitch that people can knock out of the park when it isn't right. Just got into the cerebral part of baseball 2 years ago, and I like to study pitching, but may not be correct with the sinkerball observation. I do think differently with Aaron Cook, but he's got a Contreras forkball, one of my favorite pitches.
*Okay - so do you all think Milwaukee will be pretty good if Mark is healthy? *and GET Blanks (for Braves)!

This may sound crazy, but it's coming from a big Braves fan.

I say, let Laroche walk, convince Chipper to move to 1st (his defense is really dropping), and sign Adrian Beltre. (I know, sounds stupid..)

Then, trade Lowe to Tigers for Magglio Ordonez. Tigers need a solid 3 guy because Washburn is really gonna struggle in that ballpark, and Braves need a run producing batter. They really suffered this year with only 1 legit run producer (Yunel Escobar)...(sorry, I love McCann, but he's not a good #4 hitter)