I think it's looking at each situation based upon it's own pros and cons. I would be the last person to blindly defend the Braves organization.DOUGHBOYS wrote:They could have cut him, just like San Diego did.Yah Mule wrote:I think the trade makes sense for Atlanta. Kemp has been in steady decline, but he's still got a marketable name and Braves ownership doesn't want to open that controversial new stadium with the kind of uninspiring lineup they had this year. Olivera is 31, injury prone, he hasn't hit in the majors and he has a domestic violence charge hanging over his head. They've been trying to deal him since news of that broke, so I would imagine they're thrilled.
They essentially bought Kemp's contract minus a little that SD threw in.
It seems the Braves have been given divine response in all deals.
If they trade for prospects, it can be reasoned they are building for the future.
If they trade for a large contract, it can be reasoned they have to have names for their new park.
They can do little wrong as far as reasoning goes. At the same time, they have to build a team.
The way they are doing it does not meet with divine response.
Kemp will give Atlanta 150 games, 25 HR, 90 RBI and an average around .260. Olivera hasn't even proven he belongs in the majors at all and Braves management hated his guts. So they get some money off Kemp and rid themselves of an embarrassment.
The trades Atlanta made for prospects were greeted with such enthusiasm because management in AZ is a combination of guys who are in over their heads and guys the game has passed by. John Hart probably has a special phone in his office strictly for Dave Stewart's phone calls similar to Batman's direct line to Commissioner Gordon.
The Braves are 25th in attendance this season. They're averaging almost 6,000 fewer per home game than they did two years ago. Acquiring some players Joe Sixpack has heard of before was going to happen.
By the way, the Indians are 28th in attendance, so it's not just All Star catchers who don't want to go to their games.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance