Who Loves Links?

I DO!

Say hey Griffey – Griffey finally made up his mind late last night and chose the Mariners over the Braves.  I guess I’m disappointed?  I don’t really know honestly.  My first thought when I heard the deal was possible and that Griffey said he’d “Always wanted to play for Bobby Cox”, was that everyone always says they want to play for Bobby.  Problem is, the only time it seems possible is when they are far past their prime and willing to play for low dollars.

As the deal, and Griffey’s indecisiveness, wore on, I started to warm up the idea of having Griffey on the team.  He wouldn’t improve our defense any, but he still mashes righties, and even in limited playing time last year, hit more home runs that any other outfielder we have on the roster.  But by late last night, with no word still, I returned to my feelings of ambivalence.  The Braves have mostly been a bargaining tool for free agents this year and Griffey wasn’t going to put the Braves over the top anyway.

Keith Law hates the move for the Mariners.

While the guys over at USS Mariner are surprised at that their happiness.  Shows how much Keith knows…

Chipper Negotiations – Looks like they are looking at a long term contract to keep Chipper on the team until he retires.  Not really much to comment on since there aren’t any details.  Chipper says he can be “as productive at 40 as I am right now.”  Maybe, but there isn’t much evidence to show its very likely.  I love Chipper as much as the next guy, and I want to see him finish up as a Brave if at all possible.  Sometimes a team just has to take a hit in order to make it happen, but, and I know I’ll piss off a lot of people, but the player has to want it to happen, too.  Everyone talks about the paltry difference between the Sox offer for Smoltz and the Braves offer for Smoltz and why couldn’t the Braves just step up, but conversely, if John really wanted to finish as a Brave, he could have taken the offer as easily as the Braves could have upped the money.  I’m not faulting anyone for their decision, but its not as one sided as everyone likes to make it out to be.

Chipper makes over 12 million dollars a year and he gets that while having 600 PAs just once in the last 4 years.  While last year was great, he actually had 64 PAs less and 2 win shares less than the year before (Data from The Hardball Times).  I’m not saying don’t sign him, I’m not saying don’t pay him fairly, I’m just saying realize what you’re getting before you get all Fanboy about it.

Francoeur and Johnson avoid arbitration:  Straightforward stuff.  I’m glad to see The Braves avoid arbitration with Frenchy.  He’s not going anywhere anytime soon and the process is demoralizing to say the least.