I bought it from iTunes just yesterday. It's an OK CD, nothing special. A few good songs here and there. But I had to get it since I've seemingly always liked Ludacris' stuff.
But back to the issue at hand.
The events of the past few days (i.e., Griffey denying a report that he had signed with the Atlanta Braves, then a day later signing with the Mariners) have had me thinking. Seeing that this isn't the first time a major name reportedly signed with the Braves, then backed out and went elsewhere this offseason, I'd like to know what in the hell is Frank Wren doing wrong? I'll be the first to admit that I have no clue what goes on during those negotiations, nor will I ever claim to be able to general manage a professional sports team.
In an offseason after seeing my most-hated team in baseball (at least for the time being) win the World Series, as well as being reminded of it every day I go to and from campus as I'm surrounded by hundreds of red-P-hat-wearing students, I contemplated boycotting baseball in its entirety this upcoming season.
But during the offseason, there had been talks about the Braves really being active.
First, Javier Vasquez came over in a trade with the White Sox which sent several minor leaguers the other way, including Brent Lillibridge and Tyler Flowers, who were highly touted in the system.
During all of this, the Braves were in constant trade talks with the Padres and Jake Peavy. During this time, even I thought this would be a fantasy.
But that was until the Braves were in negotiations with Rafael Furcal, who started his career in the ATL before leaving for the Dodgers. While he did struggle with back problems last year, I was hoping for him to get back on track, and if the Braves landed him, we'd have that leadoff hitter that I've been longing to see this team have since he left. Not only that, but we'd suddenly have more leverage in the Peavy talks, as Yunel Escobar (one of the key parts that San Diego wanted) would have been available.
And I was a little excited when it was announced that he did sign. But a day later, I hear that Furcal denied reports that he had signed with the Braves. A day or so passed, and I hear that he returns to the Dodgers. Everything comes out that Wren believes that Furcal's agent reneged on what Wren thought was a verbal agreement, and then decides to cut off that agent for any other free agents he may possibly represent. And I momentarily lost some respect from the Furcal camp.
But a few days pass, and the team finally does land someone of note, Derek Lowe. While he isn't really ace-material, he should be solid enough to carry the rotation before Tim Hudson comes back sometime later in the season. *knocks on wood*
A few other minor signings occur, and then there's the Griffey situation. It hasn't been made a secret that the Atlanta Braves have the worst outfield power-wise, having put up only 27 homers last year between Jeff Francoeur (whose defense and arm accuracy has even slipped a bit), Mark Kotsay, Brandon Jones, Matt Diaz, Gregor Blanco, Josh Anderson, Omar Infante at times, and Greg Norton at times. Griffey, even though he's 39 and way passed his prime, would at least just platoon in left field against righties and churn out maybe a .265 average with, say, 15 bombs and 70 ribbies, which is already more than half of this group's output last year. And this week, what do you know, he decides to sign with the Braves.
Oops...Oh well, good luck in Seattle.
But what does this tell us about Wren and his ability to pull free agents? Is there something about him that he's not selling to the prospect? Is he just bad behind closed doors? (no, folks, I don't mean it that way so don't even start)
Now when a few days pass, I might be thanking Furcal and Griffey for not signing with the Braves, seeing that none of them are can't-miss guys at this point in their career.
But unforunately for me, this isn't the first time I've had to deal with crap in the offseason. I'm usually not the biggest critic of Ted Thompson, but he has pretty much been passive when it comes to chasing good talent in the free agent market, as he'd rather have unproven draft picks fill his roster instead. Yeah, Ted. How's that Justin Harrell pick going? That was a freaking waste, and anyone who has the audacity to try and defend that pick needs to be shot. I was mad when the pick was announced (but not as mad as this guy:)
(Yeah, it was probably TiVo'd and pre-meditated, but whatever)...but anyways, I was mad when the pick was made, and I tried to have patience and hope that this would pan out, but it hasn't, Harrell is still a lazy bum, and I thought this was a completely bullshit waste of a pick. In fact, he's spawned absolutely zero starters in the last two drafts (and no, people, kickers, as well as fullbacks who are just merely there to take up a roster spot do not count as "starters." And neither does that bum Jeremy Thompson).
And in the free agent market, right after the Packers were on the doorstep of the Super Bowl, the Packers only pull some backup linebacker Brandon Chillar (who did do an all-right job adding depth and experience to the linebacker position), and the year before, they only get some guy slated to play nickel or dimeback, and he doesn't even do that during the season because Tramon Williams punks him at that position.
Seriously, Frank and Ted, get your fucking shit together. You're making my life, as well as the lives of everybody who has the weird combination of liking the Packers and Braves, miserable. In fact, I'd be more comfortable with Wren not even getting everybody's hopes high with the potential signings of those individuals.
Oh well, looks like I'll be resigned to seeing Brandon Jones flail around in left field, Matt Diaz run into the picture of Hank Aaron picture in left field while chasing down a fly ball and Gregor Blanco being a complete failure at the plate. We can only hope that Jordan Schafer and Jason Heyward are the big boys that they are touted to be whenever they are ready to come up (likely to get some playing time in 09, might be with the big club in 2010). That, and Tommy Hanson waiting in the wings for the newly-signed Tom Glavine to wet the bed on the mound, then break his arm throwing his 60 mile-an-hour "fastball."
I'm out of here.
~KG~
