SB Nation Atlanta - Braves Finally Pounce, Picking Up Michael Bourn For Jordan Schafer, 'Spare Parts'https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2011-08-01T14:37:21-04:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19965042011-08-01T14:37:21-04:002011-08-01T14:37:21-04:00And Still More Michael Bourn Trade Praise
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<p><a href="http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2011/8/1/2309153/michael-bourn-and-self-evaluation">Beyond The Boxscore wraps up the narrative </a>of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> march towards the brink of the trade deadline and eventual buzzer-beating flawless victory. Remember when you kind of thought Frank Wren wouldn't make a move?</p>↵
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/8/1/2309616/and-still-more-michael-bourn-trade-praiseJason Kirk2011-08-01T12:01:15-04:002011-08-01T12:01:15-04:00Michael Bourn Trade Praise Continues
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<p>Check out the poll below <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/8/1/2308582/michael-bourn-trade-braves-news-analysis">Rob Neyer's story on the Michael Bourn trade</a>.</p>↵
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/8/1/2309041/michael-bourn-trade-praise-continuesJason Kirk2011-07-31T12:57:23-04:002011-07-31T12:57:23-04:00Meet Michael Bourn, The Braves New Star In Center Field
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<p>Michael Bourn may not be a big name, but he is one of the best outfielders in baseball. And now he's with the Braves.</p> <p><span>Michael Bourn</span> may not be known around baseball as a superstar. He should be, though.</p>
<p>There are many aspects of Bourn's game that make him such a valuable player. Whether it's his fine approach at the plate, blistering speed on the base paths, phenomenal range in the outfield or his reputation as one of the better clubhouse guys around, he brings everything to the table each and every day he shows up to the park.</p>
<p>"Michael Bourn is a perfect fit for our club, which focuses on speed and defense to match up with our strong pitching," <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> general manager Frank Wren said. "This trade gives us the first true leadoff hitter we've had in a number of years."</p>
<p>Among <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=cf&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2011&month=0&season1=2009&ind=0" target="_blank">qualified players</a> since the 2009 season, Bourn ranks fifth among center fielders in batting average (.283), fifth in on-base percentage (.352), seventh in <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/index.php/offense/wrc/" target="_blank">wRC+</a> (109), first in stolen bases (152), and -- most importantly -- first in <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/index.php/misc/war/" target="_blank">WAR</a> with 13.3 "wins" in that time span.</p>
<p>WAR (Wins Above Replacement) may not be one of the more traditional stats used by fans of the game, but it essentially judges how good a player is compared to a league-average player. With today's current market, one of those wins goes for about $5 million on the open market. </p>
<p>Basically, the Braves just acquired a player who has been worth $57.5 million dollars since 2009. That's more than <span>Curtis Granderson</span>. That's more than <span>Shane Victorino</span>. That's more than <span>Josh Hamilton</span>. To put it simply, Michael Bourn is a superstar and one of the best outfielders in baseball. And we got him for spare parts at the trade deadline.</p>
<p>Braves fans are absolutely going to love their new center fielder. His smile is contagious and he flies around the bases faster than just about anyone in baseball. He will serve as our first traditional leadoff man since <span>Rafael Furcal</span> departed years ago and he will be with the club through the entire 2012 season. This is a perfect fit. </p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/7/31/2307208/michael-bourn-trade-braves-astrosScott Coleman2011-07-31T11:22:46-04:002011-07-31T11:22:46-04:00Michael Bourn Traded: Braves Players, Jordan Schafer React
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> achieved <a href="http://www.talkingchop.com/2011/7/31/2307088/atlanta-braves-acquire-michael-bourn">what looks to be a masterpiece of a trade on the day of the MLB trade deadline</a>, acquiring top-notch leadoff man and CF <span>Michael Bourn</span> from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> for CF <span>Jordan Schafer</span> and an assortment of prospects, none of which was among the Atlanta system's most majors-ready players.</p>
<p>David O'Brien <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ajcbraves/statuses/97681134019813376">takes the temperature of the Braves clubhouse</a>, finding players are happy to be acquiring a true leadoff man, but sad to see Schafer go. <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/JeffSchultzAJC/statuses/97681611675541504">Jeff Schultz had a word with Schafer</a>, who said he wasn't surprised about the news and was expecting to go to Houston.</p>
<p>Considering Bourn is under contract for 2012, giving the Braves plenty of time to negotiate an extension if they so desire, this move looks even better. This isn't just another <span>Mark Teixeira</span>. Get used to seeing a base-churning player with speed at the top of Atlanta's lineup for the first time since ... since whenever, because he's going to be around for a little while.</p>
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https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/7/31/2307214/michael-bourn-traded-braves-jordan-schaferJason Kirk2011-07-31T10:44:32-04:002011-07-31T10:44:32-04:00A Photograph Of Mischievous Frank Wren
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<p><a href="http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/6/19/2232463/mlb-atlanta-braves-trade-rumors-news-deadline">It's that time again</a>:</p>↵<p><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/photo_images/1983104/203831_Braves_Spring_Baseball.jpg" width="300"></p>↵<p><i>(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)</i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/7/31/2307171/a-photograph-of-mischievous-frank-wrenJason Kirk2011-07-31T10:12:31-04:002011-07-31T10:12:31-04:00Braves Trade For Michael Bourn: Deal Costs Jordan Schafer, Three Prospects
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<p>Frank Wren finally made his move, and it looks to be a fantastic one. The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Braves</a> acquired CF <span>Michael Bourn</span>, perhaps the speediest leadoff man in the National League, from the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Astros</a> for CF <span>Jordan Schafer</span>, RH <span>Juan Abreu</span>, RH Paul Clemens and LH <span>Brett Oberholtzer</span>. Oh, and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Braves/statuses/97669044240527360">the Braves get some cash out of the deal</a>. </p>
<p>I'll let my more baseball-literate brethren weigh in on the nuts and bolts of the trade, but the move is being very well-received. Atlanta didn't have to let go of any of its top pitchers or either of its top pitching prospects, and the need to keep Schafer around would've pretty much been canceled out by Bourn's addition anyway. Hard to see the downside here.</p>
<p>Braves fans are ecstatic, while <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/7/31/2307109/michael-bourn-trade-braves-astros">Al Yellon of Baseball Nation calls</a> the move a "big win for Atlanta." Martin Gandy of Talking Chop <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/gondeee/statuses/97668808243818496">says the players given up were essentially "spare parts." </a>Friends of the program <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/bravesbuzzer/statuses/97672373662261249">David Lee</a> and Ben Duronio are pleased, with the latter <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Ben_Duronio/statuses/97667970788114432">calling it a "f------ awesome trade."</a> Our own Scott Coleman is <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/scottcoleman55/statuses/97669785671831552">likewise taken to expletives</a> in praise of Wren. I could link to every Braves fan who's f------ geeked about the deal, but we haven't all g------ day.</p>
<p>(Pssst! According to one metric, which of course involves cursing, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/CapitolAvenue/statuses/97674048787578881">Bourn might be baseball's best young center fielder</a>.)</p>
<p>More to come on the trade, but it looks like the Braves have won the trade deadline.</p>
<p><i>For discussion, head to <a href="http://talkingchop.com">Talking Chop</a>.</i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/7/31/2307115/braves-trade-michael-bourn-astrosJason Kirk2011-07-31T09:48:09-04:002011-07-31T09:48:09-04:00Braves Trade Rumors: B.J. Upton Risks Don't Scare Atlanta
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<p>Some haven't considered Tampa outfielder as a viable candidate to be acquired by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> citing a perceived questionable attitude and work ethic. Braves beat writer <a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com/twitter/ajcbraves/~pGBLo">David O'Brien reports via twitter</a> that Fredi Gonzalez would not be opposed to adding a player with "baggage" saying that the Braves clubhouse usually sorts those kinds of problems out. </p>
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<p>Regarding Upton's "baggage", #Braves' Fredi G made it clear he wouldn't care about adding player with "baggage," said he's seen in past when players with questions about attitude or whatever have fit in great in Braves clubhouse, and cited Sheffield as example.</p>
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<p>Sheffield is a good example of a player that came to Atlanta with a history and had relatively no problems in Atlanta. Sheffield often referred to former Braves manager Bobby Cox as the best manager he had ever played for. </p>
<p>Gonzalez had a high profile dust up with a player as manager of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins">Marlins</a> when he benched shortstop <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> for not hustling in a game. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5197935">Ramirez ripped Gonzalez publicly</a> and the situation never did completely go away and may have factored into Gonzalez's departure from the club. </p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/7/31/2307046/braves-trade-rumors-b-j-upton-risks-dont-scare-atlantaKris Willis2011-07-31T09:00:53-04:002011-07-31T09:00:53-04:00'A Slightly Better Lottery Ticket'
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<p><a href="http://bravesandbirds.blogspot.com/2011/07/stay-calm-and-carry-on-trade-deadline.html">Braves & Birds on whether a deadline deal for an outfield bat will really amount to all that much</a>.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2011/7/31/2306975/a-slightly-better-lottery-ticketJason Kirk