Jake Peavy: Available.

[nilodnayr]

He was talking about last year's playoffs, and I'd say the Braves were a favorite heading into the year with a full year of Tex.

 

I dunno. I didn't think they had much of a shot over both Philly and NY. But I guess it's fair to say they were in the conversation.

 

 

Yeah, that was pre-season for 2008 (a bit early in the offseason for2 009 predictions :D ). If you go back and look at the pre-season predictions, many many many people had the Braves winning the East.

 

Sorry, there wasn't any clear indication in your post you meant pre-2008, so I had assumed you were speaking in the present.

 

And fwiw, anyone pre-2008 that had picked the Braves over the Mets or the Phillies was doing so on reputation, or else drinking. Nearly everything I can remember from the pre-2008 season had the East with two teams making the playoffs, with the other divisions being much weaker. I thought most had Mets and Phillies, but something in my brain tells me the Braves were the popular dark horse pick.

 

I do remember Neyer writing something about the carry-over effect of a dozen (or whatever) division titles in a row by the Braves still impacting pre-season predictions. Especially since the year writers actually did write them off (was it 2005?), they still won it, surprising everyone, and this 'never underestimate the Braves' attitude seems to have forever permeated the baseball writing circles.

 

Well I did use the phrases "at the beginning of the year" and even "last years" multiple times, but hey, it happens, no biggie.

 

As far as the Braves, 10 of the 19 ESPN guys predicted the Braves to make the playoffs. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed, but they weren't the only ones to put the Braves as a contending team. They were an 88 win pythag team in 2007, afterall and that was only with 2 months of Tex. Philly was an 87 win pythag team in 2007 and was losing Rowand. The mets were an 86 win pythag team in 2007 and made the big addition of Santana, but many feared the aging of Alou and Pedro, a thin pen and the hangover from the choke job.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview08/news/story?page=08expertpicks

 

You'd have to have been drunk, passed out, puked on yourself, wrung the vomit out of your clothes and into your mouth to try to keep the buzz to think that the Braves, coming into 2008, were not among the favorites to win the NL East.

 

Or it might just be tough to look back with objectivity after the rough Braves 2008 season :)

[Jehrico]

He was talking about last year's playoffs, and I'd say the Braves were a favorite heading into the year with a full year of Tex.

 

I dunno. I didn't think they had much of a shot over both Philly and NY. But I guess it's fair to say they were in the conversation.

 

 

Yeah, that was pre-season for 2008 (a bit early in the offseason for2 009 predictions :D ). If you go back and look at the pre-season predictions, many many many people had the Braves winning the East.

 

Sorry, there wasn't any clear indication in your post you meant pre-2008, so I had assumed you were speaking in the present.

 

And fwiw, anyone pre-2008 that had picked the Braves over the Mets or the Phillies was doing so on reputation, or else drinking. Nearly everything I can remember from the pre-2008 season had the East with two teams making the playoffs, with the other divisions being much weaker. I thought most had Mets and Phillies, but something in my brain tells me the Braves were the popular dark horse pick.

 

I do remember Neyer writing something about the carry-over effect of a dozen (or whatever) division titles in a row by the Braves still impacting pre-season predictions. Especially since the year writers actually did write them off (was it 2005?), they still won it, surprising everyone, and this 'never underestimate the Braves' attitude seems to have forever permeated the baseball writing circles.

I think a lot of people picked the Braves before this last season started simply because they got burned on numerous other occasions when they picked against them in the past.

[RammyFanny]

The Braves still believe they have the best offer out there for Jake Peavy, even as some people in baseball believe that the Cubs are the favorites to land the San Diego right-hander. But even as they try for Peavy, the Braves are also making plans to go after other starting pitchers.

 

That includes free-agent right-handers A.J. Burnett and Ryan Dempster, according to sources.

 

Burnett, who opted out of his contract with the Blue Jays, is expected to have many suitors. The Yankees, who have more money to spend than anyone else, are sure to be involved.

 

Dempster is believed to favor a return to the Cubs, who would like to keep their 17-game winner.

 

But the Braves are serious about upgrading their rotation, as general manager Frank Wren told my colleague Scott Miller at last week's GM meetings in California.

 

"We need a couple of starters," Wren said. "Maybe even more than that. I'd like to beef up our rotation. That's the area we've been known for."

http://danny-knobler.blogs.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/entry/8590096/11619619

[Rusch33]

I'm also trying to figure out anyone could believe the Braves to be a favorite to win the East considering that they don't have an ace in Smoltz who might not be back at all. Hudson is coming off elbow surgery, and won't be back next year (TJS).

 

Add on that Tex is gone. Chipper is always hurt. Francoeur was horrible this year. I can't honestly see how you could have either of them overtaking the Mets/Phillies/Marlins next year. I don't care if Bobby Cox is coaching this team or not.

 

They have a rotation of Jurrgens, Campillo (who faded badly at the end of the year), Parr, and Reyes (era above 5). Getting Jake Peavy isn't going to do anything to cure this teams' problems.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm also trying to figure out anyone could believe the Braves to be a favorite to win the East considering that they don't have an ace in Smoltz who might not be back at all. Hudson is coming off elbow surgery, and won't be back next year (TJS).

 

Add on that Tex is gone. Chipper is always hurt. Francoeur was horrible this year. I can't honestly see how you could have either of them overtaking the Mets/Phillies/Marlins next year. I don't care if Bobby Cox is coaching this team or not.

 

They have a rotation of Jurrgens, Campillo (who faded badly at the end of the year), Parr, and Reyes (era above 5). Getting Jake Peavy isn't going to do anything to cure this teams' problems.

I agree with you 100%. Even with Peavy the Braves don't have the pieces to compete in the NL East.

[Jehrico]

I'm also trying to figure out anyone could believe the Braves to be a favorite to win the East considering that they don't have an ace in Smoltz who might not be back at all. Hudson is coming off elbow surgery, and won't be back next year (TJS).

 

Add on that Tex is gone. Chipper is always hurt. Francoeur was horrible this year. I can't honestly see how you could have either of them overtaking the Mets/Phillies/Marlins next year. I don't care if Bobby Cox is coaching this team or not.

 

They have a rotation of Jurrgens, Campillo (who faded badly at the end of the year), Parr, and Reyes (era above 5). Getting Jake Peavy isn't going to do anything to cure this teams' problems.

I agree with you 100%. Even with Peavy the Braves don't have the pieces to compete in the NL East.

Now we just need someone to tell Peavy that.

[Mephistopheles]

I think we should get one of our good programmers/hackers to hack into ESPN.com and set up the home page to "Peavy to the Braves = Third Place Still" or something so he knows that no matter what they Braves will be playing second fiddle to the Mets and Phillies.

[nilodnayr]

I'm also trying to figure out anyone could believe the Braves to be a favorite to win the East considering that they don't have an ace in Smoltz who might not be back at all. Hudson is coming off elbow surgery, and won't be back next year (TJS).

 

Add on that Tex is gone. Chipper is always hurt. Francoeur was horrible this year. I can't honestly see how you could have either of them overtaking the Mets/Phillies/Marlins next year. I don't care if Bobby Cox is coaching this team or not.

 

They have a rotation of Jurrgens, Campillo (who faded badly at the end of the year), Parr, and Reyes (era above 5). Getting Jake Peavy isn't going to do anything to cure this teams' problems.

I agree with you 100%. Even with Peavy the Braves don't have the pieces to compete in the NL East.

 

Braves team right now: Write them off pre-season, there is no way in hell they contend. 2% chance at winning the division

 

Braves team with Peavy: A marked improvement, but they are still near the bottom of the teams in the middle rung (rung between teams that are favorites and those that don't have a chance in hell). 8% chance of winning the division

 

Braves team with Peavy and $30M of additional money to spend on whoever they want in FA, while still having some (not a lot anymore) prospects they would be willing to trade: A team that still will not be favorites by any stretch of the imagination, but have moved up to at least the top half of the middle rung teams. A team that should be .500, with more downside than upside. 20% chance of winning the division.

[ISUCubsFan]

I don't think there's any question that the Cubs have a better chance to win the World Series next year than the Braves at this point of the offseason. If Peavy's only concern was to win a title he'd veto any trade with Atlanta and come to Chicago, but he included Atlanta on his list of teams to be traded to originally. I doubt he would do that if he planned on vetoing any trade with Atlanta in the first place. I think if the Braves put together a deal that doesn't significantly change their major league roster for next year, Peavy probably won't invoke his no-trade clause.

[Clem Fandango]

I think we should get one of our good programmers/hackers to hack into ESPN.com and set up the home page to "Peavy to the Braves = Third Place Still" or something so he knows that no matter what they Braves will be playing second fiddle to the Mets and Phillies.

 

Does he have an official website or MySpace/Facebook page we can flood? I tried to find it in Google but found nothing.

 

Actually, annoyingly enough when I typed in "Jake Peavy Official Website" the #1 return result was the Atlanta Braves Official Site

[erik316wttn]

I think we should get one of our good programmers/hackers to hack into ESPN.com and set up the home page to "Peavy to the Braves = Third Place Still" or something so he knows that no matter what they Braves will be playing second fiddle to the Mets and Phillies.

 

Does he have an official website or MySpace/Facebook page we can flood? I tried to find it in Google but found nothing.

 

Actually, annoyingly enough when I typed in "Jake Peavy Official Website" the #1 return result was the Atlanta Braves Official Site

 

Great, even Google is betting against us.

[Jehrico]

I think we should get one of our good programmers/hackers to hack into ESPN.com and set up the home page to "Peavy to the Braves = Third Place Still" or something so he knows that no matter what they Braves will be playing second fiddle to the Mets and Phillies.

 

Does he have an official website or MySpace/Facebook page we can flood? I tried to find it in Google but found nothing.

 

Actually, annoyingly enough when I typed in "Jake Peavy Official Website" the #1 return result was the Atlanta Braves Official Site

 

Great, even Google is betting against us.

I get Peavy's RotoTimes webpage when I google "Jake Peavy Official Website" and click on "I'm Feeling Lucky."

[Clem Fandango]

I think we should get one of our good programmers/hackers to hack into ESPN.com and set up the home page to "Peavy to the Braves = Third Place Still" or something so he knows that no matter what they Braves will be playing second fiddle to the Mets and Phillies.

 

Does he have an official website or MySpace/Facebook page we can flood? I tried to find it in Google but found nothing.

 

Actually, annoyingly enough when I typed in "Jake Peavy Official Website" the #1 return result was the Atlanta Braves Official Site

 

Great, even Google is betting against us.

I get Peavy's RotoTimes webpage when I google "Jake Peavy Official Website" and click on "I'm Feeling Lucky."

 

I just tried that and it gave me the Braves site again.

 

:(

[RammyFanny]

I just saw this old article was updated a few hours ago, and i'm not sure if this was in it before:

Towers, who expects Peavy to be traded before the Dec. 8 winter meetings, said one of the three teams wants a decision by Nov. 14, the first day free agents can solicit offers from all clubs.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-11-06-peavy_N.htm?csp=34

 

With hearing how impatient the Braves are being in this deal, it's obviously them. If no trade has been made by the 14th then maybe it means the Braves are out?

[Butterscup1679666578]

I just saw this old article was updated a few hours ago, and i'm not sure if this was in it before:

Towers, who expects Peavy to be traded before the Dec. 8 winter meetings, said one of the three teams wants a decision by Nov. 14, the first day free agents can solicit offers from all clubs.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-11-06-peavy_N.htm?csp=34

 

With hearing how impatient the Braves are being in this deal, it's obviously them. If no trade has been made by the 14th then maybe it means the Braves are out?

 

I thought it'd be us, since we want to get a deal with Dempster done before that date?

[JeffH]

I just saw this old article was updated a few hours ago, and i'm not sure if this was in it before:

Towers, who expects Peavy to be traded before the Dec. 8 winter meetings, said one of the three teams wants a decision by Nov. 14, the first day free agents can solicit offers from all clubs.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-11-06-peavy_N.htm?csp=34

 

With hearing how impatient the Braves are being in this deal, it's obviously them. If no trade has been made by the 14th then maybe it means the Braves are out?

 

I thought it'd be us, since we want to get a deal with Dempster done before that date?

 

Hendry is not a "set a deadline" kind of fellow.

[davearm2]

I just saw this old article was updated a few hours ago, and i'm not sure if this was in it before:

Towers, who expects Peavy to be traded before the Dec. 8 winter meetings, said one of the three teams wants a decision by Nov. 14, the first day free agents can solicit offers from all clubs.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-11-06-peavy_N.htm?csp=34

 

With hearing how impatient the Braves are being in this deal, it's obviously them. If no trade has been made by the 14th then maybe it means the Braves are out?

 

I thought it'd be us, since we want to get a deal with Dempster done before that date?

 

Hendry is not a "set a deadline" kind of fellow.

Especially not if he's really serious about obtaining Peavy and also re-signing Dempster.

[RammyFanny]

I just saw this old article was updated a few hours ago, and i'm not sure if this was in it before:

Towers, who expects Peavy to be traded before the Dec. 8 winter meetings, said one of the three teams wants a decision by Nov. 14, the first day free agents can solicit offers from all clubs.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-11-06-peavy_N.htm?csp=34

 

With hearing how impatient the Braves are being in this deal, it's obviously them. If no trade has been made by the 14th then maybe it means the Braves are out?

 

I thought it'd be us, since we want to get a deal with Dempster done before that date?

There was an article a day or two talking about the Braves impatience and how they wanted to push for a deal before the deadline, so i'm just about positive it's them. They still are planning to make a run at a decent pitcher during FA, with Peavy or without. And if it's without, then they are going for two.

[DubCub]

I don't know if this has been posted already ( didn't have time to go back through 53 pages) but found it funny anyway.

http://www.thecubsbrickyard.com/2008/11/07/cubs-trade-for-jake-peavy/

[mdwilla]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-11-cubs-brite-chicagonov11,0,2914971.story

 

new article from Sully at the Tribune and there's no new info.

[David]

If the Cubs up the ante for Peavy, they could lose one ace while getting another in return, although it should be noted that Peavy has twice been on the disabled list with elbow soreness, and, like Rich Harden, has been given extra days of rest at times. Peavy has a 3.64 earned-run average on four days' rest and 2.77 on extra rest.

 

Dempster is an ace now?

 

It should also be noted that Peavy is a much, much better pitcher than Ryan Dempster, Paul

[cubsfan26]

I guess according to Paul Sullivan if you pitch like an ace for a season, you are one until you stop pitching like that.

[DonnieD]

Okay, I'm sure you guys are going to take this with a grain of salt (as I would), but I just got it from a GREAT source that Jake Peavy will not be traded to the Braves. A deal to the Cubs is extremely close and has been for a little while now. My source is very surprised that it isn't done by now. If by some chance the deal to the Cubs falls through, he will probably end up staying a Padre (very unlikely) or becoming a Yankee (even more unlikely). The only other team that has a chance at all is the Dodgers and they would have to overwhelm the Padres with their offer.

 

I will not identify my source yet and it isn't a permanent one by any means, I just completely lucked into this (unbelievably reliable) information.

[inari]

I want to believe it so bad.

[David]

Unbelievably reliable, eh?