17 Seconds

Didn't I just say the window was 2-3 years? And come on... you're really counting on Harden long term? Really I'm terrified about the offense. Every key player other than Soto is old and many of them have shown signs of decline.

Maybe he watched the last 2 Octobers You mean the ones that Chipper Jones was watching on TV? I'm just saying.. it's not ridiculous to think that a guy who wants to win a title might not think his best chance is with a Cubs team that could not handle the moment 2 years in a row. Keep in mind that he's under contract for at least 4 more years. The Braves will probably be in a better situation than the Cubs 2-3 years from now. I doubt that. Beyond that, maybe. MAYBE. You're not concerned about all the aging Cubs players and backloaded contracts? The offense could be a huge mess in a few years. I'd say the window for this group is closing.

They were 20 games back because they had an insanely large amount of significant injuries. If they get Peavy and make a couple other moves they will compete for the division in 2009. And the significant injuries were to oft-injured soon-to-be 37 year old Chipper Jones, nearly dead John Smoltz, always injured Mike Hampton, already dead Tom Glavine and it was bound to happen sooner or later Tim Hudson. You can assume another 40 innings out of Hudson next year, but none of those other major injuries were at all flukish or unexpected, and they can't expect any of them to produce more in 2009 than they did in 2008. Atlanta needs a lot of help. There were a lot more injuries than those guys you mentioned. Those were the ones that made a difference. Name guys who were flukishly injured that can be expected to return healthy next year and perform better than they did this year. That's the only way you can pretend they are a couple moves away from contending again. I think you're really over exaggerating how bad they were last season and really underestimating how bad injuries destroyed their pen. Peavy/Hudson/Jurrjens/Campillo/whoever can win if guys like Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano stay healthy. They were only -25 in run differential last season and they pretty much mailed it in and shut guys down in the second half. Peavy, maybe another bat, and good health has that team competing in 2009. I don't think he's overexaggerating at all. You're only listing the pitching staff. They don't have Teixiera anymore. Who is going to step up and match the offense he provided? That's why I said they needed another bat. Plus it's not like they got a ton out of Tex. They got a .902 OPS for 381 at-bats and then got literally nothing out of Kotchman for the next 2 months. They got .279/.378/.458 (.836) out of 1B last season. How hard is that to replace?

Maybe he watched the last 2 Octobers You mean the ones that Chipper Jones was watching on TV? I'm just saying.. it's not ridiculous to think that a guy who wants to win a title might not think his best chance is with a Cubs team that could not handle the moment 2 years in a row. Keep in mind that he's under contract for at least 4 more years. The Braves will probably be in a better situation than the Cubs 2-3 years from now.

Maybe he watched the last 2 Octobers

Thanks for stopping by, Bruce. What percentage would you give to this getting done? 50/50...better than 50/50? I think the chances are better than 50/50. Unlike the Orioles, the Padres must move Peavy. They'd also like to get it done before the free-agent market opens. It's pretty much in the Padres' court now. It all depends on whose offer Towers likes. Wait... better than 50/50 that he gets traded to the Cubs, or better than 50/50 that he gets traded period?

They were 20 games back because they had an insanely large amount of significant injuries. If they get Peavy and make a couple other moves they will compete for the division in 2009. And the significant injuries were to oft-injured soon-to-be 37 year old Chipper Jones, nearly dead John Smoltz, always injured Mike Hampton, already dead Tom Glavine and it was bound to happen sooner or later Tim Hudson. You can assume another 40 innings out of Hudson next year, but none of those other major injuries were at all flukish or unexpected, and they can't expect any of them to produce more in 2009 than they did in 2008. Atlanta needs a lot of help. There were a lot more injuries than those guys you mentioned. Those were the ones that made a difference. Name guys who were flukishly injured that can be expected to return healthy next year and perform better than they did this year. That's the only way you can pretend they are a couple moves away from contending again. I think you're really over exaggerating how bad they were last season and really underestimating how bad injuries destroyed their pen. Peavy/Hudson/Jurrjens/Campillo/whoever can win if guys like Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano stay healthy. They were only -25 in run differential last season and they pretty much mailed it in and shut guys down in the second half. Peavy, maybe another bat, and good health has that team competing in 2009.

They were 20 games back because they had an insanely large amount of significant injuries. If they get Peavy and make a couple other moves they will compete for the division in 2009. And the significant injuries were to oft-injured soon-to-be 37 year old Chipper Jones, nearly dead John Smoltz, always injured Mike Hampton, already dead Tom Glavine and it was bound to happen sooner or later Tim Hudson. You can assume another 40 innings out of Hudson next year, but none of those other major injuries were at all flukish or unexpected, and they can't expect any of them to produce more in 2009 than they did in 2008. Atlanta needs a lot of help. There were a lot more injuries than those guys you mentioned.

Keep in mind we're talking about Bruce Levine and the media in general, guys.

They were 20 games back because they had an insanely large amount of significant injuries. If they get Peavy and make a couple other moves they will compete for the division in 2009.

Now this is officially Roberts: Part II. I e-mailed Churchill from Prospect Insider (he has a Cubs contact) for the first time since last offseason to ask what he's heard. He says it sounds like Atlanta is going to get him... even without Hanson or Yunel. Here's to 4/60 for Ryan Dempster and a 1.38 WHIP next season.

The Dodgers would never trade Kershaw for Peavy and certainly not Kershaw + Eithier or kemp. If Khalil Greene enters the mix they could. If they dont end up over paying for Furcal, the Dodgers dont have a definite choice for short stop, and that way, they could use that money toward over paying for Manny instead. So Khalil Greene will make the Dodgers want to trade super prospect Clayton Kershaw? The Dodgers aren't trading Kershaw, and they definitely aren't trading him to a team in their own division. It's just not happening.

The Dodgers would never trade Kershaw for Peavy and certainly not Kershaw + Eithier or kemp.

So then he's going somewhere?

http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13039&page=71 By the way, the following quote came from the same guy So Sheets/Haren/Hamels are "second tier" guys and Zambrano is an elite ace? He kind of lost credibility right there. Haren/Hamels/Sheets were all filthy and top pitchers last season. I'd be thrilled if Peavy matched any of those guys

http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13039&page=71 I think Meph's head will explode if he reads that

By the way, I'd like to see Marshall end up getting a shot at starting a full year at Petco. I think he could do some really good things there.

I'd give up 19 Jeff Samardzijas for Peavy

Whaaaa? We should be thrilled if Samardzija was the centerpiece of a trade. That's robbery

Eh, sort of uncalled for. Garwilly is a long time poster here and there's no reason to doubt he heard what he did. I know it's easy to poke fun after the Roberts stuff last year, though. Haha I'm just playing....relax dudes. It wasn't meant to be a shot at that guy anyways. Perhaps the reference to my package was unneccessary though

I'm just messin around

My somewhat connected friend just texted me and told me his balls itch. Just speculation at this point though

Haha. The Mets giving Dempster a big contract sounds like an absolute disaster. let's hope that happens.

lawl

It's going to be so depressing when we whiff on Peavy and then give Dempster 60 million.