Dusty Baker’s remarkable life and career is profiled in an insightful piece from Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post. Baker shares several intimate details about his many professional and personal ups and downs, some responses to criticism that his managerial style is too “old-school” for today’s game, and his path back into baseball as the Nationals’ new skipper. Here’s some more from around the NL East…
- The bullpen and defense stand out as the biggest areas of improvement for the Nationals if they’re to rebound, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson opines as part of a reader mailbag. It remains to be seen how new relief acquisitions like Shawn Kelley, Yusmeiro Petit and Trevor Gott will fare in Washington, and Ladson wonders if Jonathan Papelbon will also start to decline in his age-35 season.
- The Phillies are looking to make another big score from the Rule 5 Draft in the form of Tyler Goeddel, CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury writes. Goeddel was the first pick of December’s draft, going from the Rays farm system to a shot at a regular Major League gig in the Phillies outfielder.
- In an interview with Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (Twitter link with an audio clip) Braves president of baseball ops John Hart said his club is “gonna be players” on the international market and they “hope to be very active.” Atlanta is expected to be perhaps the most aggressive team in the 2016-17 international signing period, as the Braves are reportedly prepared to far exceed their bonus pool limit in order to load up on premium young talent. They’ve already been linked to such notable top prospects as Venezuelan infielder Kevin Maitan and Cuban outfielder Lazaro “Lazarito” Armenteros.
- Liberty Media, the Braves’ corporate ownership group, has released some documentation about the team’s finances as part of its plan to issue public shares in the Braves, Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes (subscription required). It’s a very interesting behind-the-scenes look at the Braves’ financial picture, including how the team suffered quite significant operating losses over the last two years, though depreciation and amortization played a large part in putting the team in the red.
- In NL East news from earlier today on MLBTR, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson shared the latest on the relationship between Jose Fernandez and the Marlins.
Do the tracking stock holders have any voting rights? I wouldn’t think so, but the AJC is silent on that score.
Also nowhere are the Braves’ cash flows addressed. That’s really the critical part of the analysis as accrual accounting and non-cash charges muddle the economic picture.
Anyone else speak “Greek”, and can translate?? lol
Not sure if another language or accounting?
I think they are saying the braves players were not worth the money they paid them. Amortization is what an asset is worth in revenue brought in versus his cost. That should be a close approximation any way.
As long as the Braves sign Maitan I, personally will be happy!!
Anyone else they may sign is just a bonus, but it is definitely Maitan or bust!!
When I first heard of Maitan I looked into him and read up about him and I have to totally agree with you. Getting comparisons to Miguel Cabrera, when Cabrera was that age is no joke. I hope the “handshake” they have is binding to both parties involved.
Phillies opening day lineup should look like:
1. Hernandez 2B
2. Herrera CF
3. Franco 3B
4. Howard/Ruf 1B
5. Altherr RF
6. Goedel LF
7. Galvis SS
8. Rupp C
9. Nola/Eickoff/Morton/Hellickson/Oberholtzer
That’s a laughbly bad lineup.
Only bright spots are Nola and Franco (some minor upside to Cesar Hernandez and Odubel)
Inexperienced is a better way to put a lineup with potential, Francos a stud, Altherr is very under rated, galvis is not by any means an awful player and it doesn’t matter Crawford will be here soon and Hernandez isn’t to bad either, Herrera can hit, field and run, Rupp showed good power to end the year and Nola and Eickoff have solid stuff for the rotation. The only down spots are Howard and Ruf, both are worthless K artists, Goedell is an unknown so until then I’d rather have Bourjos in there because when healthy he’s got a decent bad with amazing speed and a great glove, this line up had tons of potential and will continue add more as prospects arrive to the ML roster
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that they sign Rollins to a one year deal to not only play one last season but to also mentor Crawford and ease him into the position. I think that makes more sense that having Galvez out there again. Rollins could play a similar role as to what Torii Hubter did last year in Minnestoa, sign a 1 year deal with the organization you broke in with to not only finish where you started but to groom young guys and teach them the ropes. I know Howard and Ruiz are still there but I think it just makes a lot of sense to bring back Jimmy as well.
Don’t think Velazquez will make the rotation?
Nats are lucky to have a bunch of veterans in their starting lineup, because Baker would put them in anyway. With Zimmerman, Walker, Werth being 30+, and Espinosa Ramos, and Revere almost there, that leaves Rendon at 25 (but he’s too good to sit), Harper at 23 (nothing need be said there), and Michael Taylor at 24 (so he’ll definitely be in a platoon with Revere….lol). Trea Turner is screwed unless Espy really screws up. Dusty is know as a “Veteran’s coach”. He loves the guys with experience.
I hope I am wrong about him (which means that he has changed his ways), because if the Nats play Werth every day in LF, they’re in trouble.
Just a tad confused, who’s walker on the nats? Do you mean Murphy? Or am I being stupid
Disgusting to see the Braves ownership taking the team public. Right now with the new stadium that is on the horizon that was paid for in large part by taxpayers, the fact that people are high on the farm system, and the fact that you can’t own many sports teams as a normal person these investors are going to make a mint on the investment. Sickening to see taxpayers pay for something and increase the value to watch someone parlay that into a huge payday. This is why corporate welfare needs to end, IPOs are suppose to increase capital to grow the company not get rich. The capital isn’t needed in this case thanks to taxpayers so the money will wind up in someone’s pocket. Beings that it is corporate get ready for the team to become like small market teams that build cheap talent and don’t hang on to many players long term. More money being made carrying a low salary. Just ask the Astros owner about what he made during his $30 million payroll seasons. He showed the largest profit of all teams thanks to revenue sharing.