CBAreject

Leiter and Glavine have been terrific this year. Mets ERA is the best in the NL. Mets lack hitting. Don't be fooled by a temporary hot streak. That lineup is full of holes. I'm sick of hearing about how their .700 OPS shortstop is a 'run scoring machine', too. Don't give that crap to me and expect me to swallow it, NY media. Wiggington is decent at best. Floyd is overpaid. Hidalgo has been good for only 2 weeks. Piazza is the only reliable hitter in that order.

J.D. Drew has been the 2nd best hitter in the league OPS-wise (save Helton and his Coors inflated stats) to Barry Bonds. He's every bit as good as Sheff was. The bats we miss are Chipper's, Javy's, and Giles'. As good as Estrada is, he can't approach the MONSTER season that Lopez had last year. I expect Chipper to have a better 2nd half (though not hit .400 as others are predicting) and Giles to come back in good shape, though.

Who is this guy? He thinks Indiana could've squeezed us for a draft pick in addition to Jackson. Then, he says that the Hawks got a raw deal b/c Harrington isn't that good. Which is it? I think Jax for Harrington was about even, and it appears both GM's did, as well.

I think it's really unfair that they've had a couple of injuries. The MLB should institute a rule that the Yankees can borrow any player from another team's roster while their own player is injured.

Look, a guy with a .700 OPS isn't going to win any divisions for you. Furcal is a better offensive player (as much as I don't really like Furcal). The Mets hit a hot streak sparked by 2 good weeks by Kaz and Hidalgo. Chances are, Hidalgo will not hit .500 for the rest of the year. Mets will finish 3rd.

It's rare that you can say a guy with a 3.78 ERA has been 'lights out' and not get carted away... Reitsma's big blown games: 7/9 vs. Phillies - 3 runs in 1 inning...eventual loss 6/16 vs. KC - 4 runs in 1 inning...blows 2 run lead...loss 5/28 vs. Phillies - 1 run/BlSv/loss... *also has 2 other blown saves that I do not consider to be as BIG as the three listed above including a 2 run inning against Cincinnati that we came back to win. I list those three because the were crucial. We'd be a game up on the Phillies if he'd been the 'dominant' reliever that the Braves' management said he was. That game against KC could've turned things around in the midst of a losing streak. Instead, we just kept losing and went 6 games under .500. I never said Reitsma was horrible. He's an average set-up man by league standards. A "lights out" setup man has a 2.5 ERA and is unhittable in big games. Remlinger was a lights out setup man. I think Reitsma is a fine component of a good bullpen, but I wouldn't want him as the closer of a contending team. If Smoltz leaves after this year, I'd hate to see Reitsma take his job...he's just not good enough. Braves' management has been way wrong on players before. Wes Helms a 40 HR guy? Andruw Jones deserving of a 6 yr 75 mil deal? Albie Lopez? Rico Brogna? Michael Tucker? Quilvio Veras?

Tonight's game was the type that you might look back on at season's end and say, 'you know we were starting to pull it together, starting to make a run, and that game was the one that sent us back into a tailspin.' Reitsma has shown that he is not a premier relief pitcher this year. It made me sick when we traded Nelson for him (though now Nelson looks like a flop?). This guy had one decent half season in his whole career, and suddenly he's our 'closer of the future'. Tonight's game was one of a few BIG ones he has BLOWN this year. True, Smoltz will get credited with the BS, but it was Reitsma's three runs given up, all with 2 outs and nobody on in the bottom of the 8th that were the catalyst for the Phillies comeback.

He shouldn't have a job at all, much less for his salary. Schaffer will start. I wonder if Dez will be the #2 or not...

For that reason, I might trade for him. However, I would only do it for his value in another trade. I don't want him on the team, but 18 ppg has more value that 'solid defense'.

"You got some Phantom numbers in here. The budget I produced came out to 21.8 million. That's the 18 + 1 MCE if needed." No, your numbers come out to 21.8 million for THIS year. The money obligated for next year is about 3 mil greater given the raises you included. What do THIS year's salaries have to do with NEXT year's cap (which we will be very close to with your signings). I understand that we could trade contracts next year, but that's an uncertainty. You have to find takers, even on 1 yr deals. Phoenix was successful, but they had to trade a #1 pick to get rid of White. BTW, I think that Swift is a fine player, but I do not think he is equivalent to Kenyon Martin. That said, I agree that we should sign him for 6 before giving 14 to KMart.

On ESPN.com: "Fans and a new coach aren't the only things missing in Atlanta. The Hawks' drought in search of a future All-Star in the draft has reached a league-high 20 years, since the selection of Kevin Willis at No. 11 in 1984." Hooray for Babcock! Hooray! How did this scroat bag get a job, let alone keep it for over a decade?

I hope we get rid of Andruw's contract. He makes way too much money to hit .240 and strikeout in every clutch situation. Ortiz, I think we should keep. We're not in a position to get rid of pitchers. Maybe JS thinks Ortiz will get 12 million per year after this season. Problem with all of this is that Magglio is gone after next season. He wants a massive deal, and it's hard to argue that he doesn't deserve it with what some other guys are getting. He is often a top 5 MVP candidate. BUT, I'd trade Andruw for him right now just to get rid of Andruw's contract. He is so lazy.

I would like to have Dampier, but you have to understand what a huge contract this guy is going to get. Two players that are off-limits are Marcus Camby and Eric Dampier. Both will request 10 mil + per season. Damp opted out of the last 2 fat years on his contract (I think they avg'd 9 mil per year!) because he smells a monster deal. Nothing less than 6 yrs 60 mil gets him, IMO. Blount is a much better option, as we could likely have him for much less. Okur will get a fairly large deal (starting at 7 mil?). Swift should start at 6... Foyle? He will get a bloated deal. I think he will turn out to be an albatross for somebody down the road... You heard it here...albatross

We obviously need to field a team this year, but we don't want to blow next year's cap space. Many are suggesting 3 year deals to several players, but I think we should think outside the box. Let's sign players at above market value to come and play for 1 year. That way, we preserve cap room while still fielding a decent team. For example: Pryzbilla, 1 year - 4.5 million. He might get 6 million from somebody else over 2 years or 9 over 3, but he's got an opportunity here to play himself into a better contract, just like Jax did. We can sell opportunity here, like no other team can. No other team has so much roster room or so many starting spots wide open. 1 year deals should be our mantra. The only guys we should tie up would be a very good big man...e.g. KMart, Swift, or Okur...maybe Blount. Everyone else can be quickly replaced. 1 year deals. Overpay.

I've said it before. We CANNOT blow our cap space on a bunch of mid-level players. From now on, when you make suggestions about whom we should sign you need to consider what will be obligated when we attempt to sign FA's next year. Let's say we do what you said: I say we sign Fizer 2 years 5.5 million. (Starts at 2.5) We sign Collier 2 years 4.5 million. (Starts at 2.0) We sign Charlie Ward 2 years 8.4 million. (starts at 4.0) We sign Swift at 5 years 36 million. (Starts at 6.1) We sign Foyle 3 Years 13.2 million. (Starts at 4.0) We sign Pryz for 3 years 10.56 million. (Starts at 3.2) How much would be obligated for next off-season? 3 + 2.5 + 4.4 + 6.4 + 4.4 + 3.5 = 24.2 million bux!!! We have to keep a MAX SPOT OPEN. I do NOT agree with spending all of our money on these scrubs.

We have to put ourselves in position to sign a MAX free agent next year. That won't be too difficult because Hendu and CC will come off the books, and JT will be very tradeable. Whatever plans we have, though, should include keeping cap space open for next season.

I think J.R. Smith is more likely to bust

but I wouldn't trade #6 for Harrington. I think Artest is a good cog to build around. Star? No, but what are the chances we draft a better player?

I thought that was his strongsuit. I've heard nothing but praise for his court vision. He's supposed to be the next great PG (Kidd, Magic).

I've been frustrated over the Hawks' failure to trade for extra lotto picks, especially when it appears they could've been had so easily. However, I realized, after doing some reading that Knight probably did the right thing. First off, trading for #7 might've been foolish. The reason is that the Suns required from the Bulls a pick that was only top 3 protected next year and top 1 protected the following year. Fellas, we're probably going to pick top 5 next year, and a lottery team without a lottery pick has little hope of improvement as Babcock has shown. Second, trading for #2 might've been impossible. Truth is, LAC wants a particular player who would most likely be off the board at #6 (Livingston, Gordon). We could've used JT/#6, but LAC didn't want more contracts. They were trying to unload salary, not take it on. Also, if we'd traded for #2, it would've precluded a trade for #1, which may still take place. I also think we may still trade for #3. Why? Chicago was enamored with Luke Jackson, and will get him at #7. OK, so why not draft some other great prospect at #3? Well, remember what Chicago has done recently. In 3 of the past 6 drafts, they have had 2 top 7 picks. The first two of those drafts produced Fizer, Crawford, Chandler, and Curry. Not impressed? me neither. I don't think Chicago will do it again. They will get their man at #7, and they don't need another teenager. They will trade #3, IMO. I think that there are 2 major possibilities tonight. We trade for #1 or we trade for #3. Howard or Livingston will wind up in ATL. I'm guessing it will be Livingston at 3.

I just posted this over in homecourt. Anyhow, I question whether the Magic take Howard if they plan to trade Tmac for veterans. I agree that they'd probably take Okafor if they trade for a win-now team. On the other hand, I think the more likely scenario is to build through the draft as they've done before.

If McGrady had kept his mouth shut a little longer, the Hawks may have had a chance at Howard. However, McGrady has now let the Magic know that they must rebuild without him. Why, then, take Okafor? No reason. They take Howard to build around. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1824663 This also probably costs us a chance at trading for #7. Phoenix is the most likely suitor for McGrady. I think they'll trade something like Joe Johnson, #7 pick, future pick for McGrady.

Let's add some local flavor. He was a #1, right? Leaf was pretty awful as a #2. Here are some awful Atlanta picks: Braves: Mike Kelly #2 overall Tyler Houston #2 overall Hawks: Koncak #5 Falcons: Bruce #1 (I think)

Everybody's saying that we don't want to give up next year's pick since it might be in the lotto. What says we can't trade them the #17, Philly's future pick, and take on a medium contract (Rodney White?) to get #7??? I would do it, guys. Well, I would do it if Knight is high on one of the Euro bigmen. If we came away from the draft with Livingston or Harris and a good bigman, I would have to chalk it up as quite a success.