Rowland's Office

Steve Harvey, meet Heidi

I tune in to watch Game 6 and instead there's that show I've never watched starring the guy who looks one of the California Raisins. Technical difficulties, we're told, though it took awhile for them to post that message. TBS: Very amateur.

I bet Bud had something to do with this.

--CB

Blame it on Bud

If the Rays win tonight (with an ailing Kazmir on the mound, I'm not liking their chances) there will be six days between the end of the playoffs and the start of the World Series. 

TV wants it that way. And Bud always serves the golden calf -- the game's integrity be damned. There are no weeks off during the season, and there shouldn't be any in the postseason. It screws with the natural rhythm of the sport. 

The last time we waited so long between the LCS and World Series, an earthquake was to blame. This time it'll be greed's fault, with another sizable assist from the used car salesman sitting in the commissioner's office. 

 --CB

It's on

DOB reports:

A person familiar with the talks said the Braves and Padres have discussed a potential blockbuster trade that would send the Alabama native to Atlanta for a package likely to include at least three highly-rated Braves prospects, or a young player and prospects. ... 

Five-tool outfielder Jason Heyward and 18-year-old pitcher Julio Teheran are considered to be close to untouchable prospects by the Braves, and pitcher Tommy Hanson and slugging first baseman Freddie Freeman aren’t far behind in that regard. 

The Braves would also like to keep centerfield prospects Jordan Schafer and Gorkys Hernandez. It remains to be seen whether the Padres would deal Peavy without getting at least one of those prospects. The Braves might try to pull off the deal with a package that includes one of their current major league middle infielders and highly rated prospects such as catcher Tyler Flowers and pitchers Charlie Morton and Kris Medlen.

Why not Francoeur? If I had to chose, I'd keep KJ over Frenchy. 

--CB

J.D. Drew's diary revisited

A new dispatch is coming -- let's just say negotiations with Ol' J.D.'s brother Tim have been contentious. CD has agreed to chaperone the Hahira Fellowship of Christian Athletes on their trip to a Christian dude ranch outside of Branson, so we're getting closer. 

Here's the original, along with my favorite one, from earlier in the year. 

Yours in Christ, 

--CB

Manny to the Braves?

Not sure what to make of Mark Bradley's column. Manny ain't coming to the Braves, and Frank Wren won't be pursuing him. Nor should he -- and not because Manny is a "strange character." (He is, though lumping him in with Rocker and Lofton misrepresents all three. Rocker was a racist jerk. Lofton was a jerk. Manny's just a weird dude.) 

If the Braves were coming off another disappointing October and had money to spend, I'd be in favor of signing the reigning Mr. October. (Imagine if the Braves had had him instead of Shef, the Big Cat and Ol' JD? It's reasonable to suggest the home team would've won another championship with Manny hitting behind Chipper.) 

Age is also an issue. Manny will be 37 next year. If he was 27, I'd be more amenable.

The ancillary nonsense doesn't bother me so much because Manny produces. I don't like it, but he's no more toxic than Shef. And unlike the career malcontent, Manny never went 3-for-30 in the playoffs. He has a career. 286 BA, with 28 homers and 73 RBI in 103 games. 

--CB

Could Yesco be involved in Peavy deal?

Yesterday Buster Olney reported that one of the teams involved in the Peavy derby is receptive to expanding the package to include Khalil Greene. Olney speculated that St. Louis might be that team, but DOB wonders if it's Atlanta instead.

Why would the Braves want a player coming off his worst season (.213-10-35)? They wouldn't, but think about it from San Diego's perspective. The Pads are trying to shed payroll, and if you took Greene (due $6.5 mil in '09) you probably wouldn't have to give up as much.

Yesco would be an attractive return for San Diego. He's cheap and effective, though let's not overstate his potential. I don't think he's a future superstar -- an All-Star, maybe, though in the SS-rich NL that's unlikely to be anytime soon. I'd prefer to keep him, but he shouldn't be considered untouchable. That goes for everyone on the major league roster not named Jurrjens or McCann.

Greene, 29, is far from finished. He's just one year removed from driving in 97 runs. Defensively, he's one of the best. Over his last four seasons Greene has committed just 42 errors.

Regardless, pitching should be our priority. And aces are harder to come by than productive shortstops.

--CB

Beating the Peavy drum

We want him. He wants us. Everything seems to be falling neatly into place. Too neatly, perhaps:  

I received an e-mail couple days ago from a guy from Alabama. I agreed to leave out his name and hometown (only way he’d let me use this e-mail), but I’ve got every reason to believe it’s legit. The guy said he and his buddies stay in contact with Peavy, and have for years since the latter went off to forge a career.

He said he spent some time with Peavy this past season, and that the subject of the Braves came up then, as it had in the past with Peavy and his friends. The guy said he asked Peavy about playing for Atlanta, and the pitcher “said it was something that he had always wanted to do, and made it sound like that was his #1 option when his contract was up.” (That’s taken directly from the guy’s e-mail.)

Now, all this was before the Padres owner’s divorce and before the team went in the toilet on the way to 99 losses. They weren’t that bad at the time when this guy said he talked to Jake. Back then, a trade to the Braves or any team wasn’t being discussed.

This guy said in the e-mail that if the Padres hadn’t signed Peavy to his big contract a year ago, Peavy told him he probably would have eventually signed with the Braves after his arbitration years were up, even if it meant signing a below-market contract. (This guy insisted Peavy was becoming a little upset with the Padres — that is, until they finally came through with the big contract.)

--CB

Take it away, Nelson

Y'all cross your fingers

Hey, I 'preciate some of y'all asking about me. But first off, let me clear up a couple of things. No, I ain't got busted for DUI... lately. I do enjoy an evening at the Pony, though. Damn straight, atlpaddy.

I ain't been there much in the last few months, what with our financial woes and all. Been a pretty crappy season for me and the Bravos. Pretty well sucked, huh? Tell you what, Mr. Wren ought to go get that Peavy. That son of a gun can throw. And he's a good southern boy that likes hunting and fishing, too. Bring him on.

But by God, don't, do not trade Jurrgenson. He's good. Send them Jeff I-hit-.280-in-September-so-give-me-a-damn-medal. Send them whatever it takes. Just don't give em Jurgenser. Find another pitcher, too, while you're at it, and maybe a damn outfielder.

Man, tough as things has been lately for me and Brenda, I'm feeling kinda relaxed right now. Brenda's out of town trying out for Survivor. I know, I know. Hell, I told her she ain't got a chance, that maybe she ought to try one of them weight loss shows.

Big mistake.

She near 'bout throwed me through a wall. Told me the biggest loser around here was named Duane Shumate.

Anyhoo, I still hope she makes it. If she gets on the show, no matter if they kick her off the island right away, we get 10 large. Ten grand would pay off about a third of our credit card debt. So, what is it them people say, go girl?!

Back to the ball club. I don't see how next year could be any worse than this one. But I think the Braves gotta go with young, hungry guys like Tampa's got. Hell, I just about stacked some furniture the other night with some dude wearing a damn Boston hat. I hope them sumbitches get their ass kicked, like yesterday.

Even though Brenda's gone, I still got to go to my counseling meetings. Dude, personal bankruptcy's a bitch.

--Duane From Forest Park

"The ultimate Boras client"

That's how Tex is described by a number of team execs. Apparently Boras is going to ask for 10 years and $200 million. Seriously. That's a lot for a player many consider to be a poor man's A-Rod:

He is diligent about staying in shape year-round, is durable and works hard on all facets of his game. But his detractors - and there are more than a few - say that, like A-Rod, Teixeira is an accumulator who feasts on bad pitching, does his best work when his team is way ahead or behind, and is a corporation unto himself who does not mesh seamlessly with the clubhouse culture. Essentially the overall numbers are better than the total package. 

"The statistics will be there, but this is not a player who will make anyone else on the team better," said a former teammate of Teixeira's. "The numbers indicate an elite player, but if you watch him every day you will realize he is a very good player, not elite."

Might that former teammate be Chipper? Just a hunch. Whoever it is, their evaluation is dead on.

--CB