Thoughts on Sidney Ponson

[jatremblay]

Don't know about you, but I think if the Braves deal for Ponson they are the team to beat. Great offense and adequate pitching has been enough so far, but a post season rotation of Maddux, Ortiz, and Ponson would be tough to beat.

[Liter22]

As a MEts fan it would be easy for me to say somthing bad about this team, but with Ponson they really would be the team to beat.

[PopTop]

Two points to consider ... First, what are the Braves willing to part with and what is Baltimore looking for in return? ... The Orioles' front office has already said they wouldn't just give him away, that in some ways they may be better off with getting the extra draft picks in compensation for losing Ponson to free agency ... And that's assuming they couldn't work something out with him over time and sign him themselves this winter.

Secondly, are the Braves willing to give Ponson something on the order of a new 3-4 year deal worth $7-$8 million per season? ... I'm just thinking this is about what Ponson is looking for since he spurned a 3-year, $15+ million deal recently from Baltimore ... If Atlanta isn't willing to sign him longterm, if Ponson's desires exceed the Braves' budget, is Atlanta willing to merely give up solid prospects for a 2-month rental?

Certainly with their offense so far, the focus should be on Atlanta's pitching if they are indeed looking to improve their roster ... But with Maddux pitching better recently, I'm thinking I might look for more relief, just my opinion.

[Baseball Guru]

Interesting to say the least...

If Ponson goes to the braves, if they weren't already, they definitely will be the team to beat in the NL.....

I think the Braves may be willing to pay Pnoson some money...

They are hardly paying any of Hampy's salary thanks to the Marlins and Rox.....

Should be interesting though to see what happens....

[Blue56]

Baltimore should go for javy lopez and a prospect or, madux, prospect and someone else.

[jatremblay]

Oh well, I guess SF got him after all. The Braves were going to offer either Johnny Estrada or Wilson Betimet and Jason Marquis, but I guess this wasn't enough. NYY getting Boone was the big news of the day I guess.

[Blue56]

ya sf got a great pitcher. hey what about boston.

[Fragmentsofme]

Suppan's a fluke, he'll go back to anonimity after this season. Plus, he's never done well in the A.L. I'm kinda glad we didn't trade away our prospects, because that's what has built this team. And I would have been really sad if Javy had gone, he's only my favorite player. And the Orioles were looking for young pitching, so Maddux wouldn't have worked, especially with the year he's having. Anyways, I'm glad we stayed the way we were, I mean, we've only got the best record and baseball. Oh yeah, and I'm a newb, hope to enjoy my time here

[Baseball Guru]

Suppan's a fluke, he'll go back to anonimity after this season.

Not sure where Suppan came into this but I don't think the Sox care if he goes back to his old self after this season as long as he stays hot this year which is the reason they got him....


He has a good era but he is only 10-7 and has a high WHIP and gives upa lot of hits....Nothing spectacular but an upgrade over Fossum and probably even better than Burkett.....

Anyways, its all good that the Braves have the best record but it wont mean anything unless they manage not to choke in the playoffs..

As a Braves fan, seeing how this team is definitely made up different compared to their other great teams of the 90's, how do you really think they will fare in the playoffs???

[jatremblay]

Its hard to say... I have been a Braves fan since Dale Murphy was in rightfield and this is definitely the best offensive team I have ever seen them have. In the past, they had more starting pitching, however five good starters doesn't make much difference in the playoffs. You really only need three, which makes teams like Oakland so dangerous. I guess now those three would have to be Maddux, Ortiz, and Hampton. Maddux, for all his regular season dominance, has been a .500 playoff pitcher. I guess one thing I don't like is that in the past Maddux never let Javy catch for him (this appears to be changing this year.) Maddux has got to swallow his pride and do what is best for the team and clearly Lopez is having a career year but even when he wasn't he was better than Eddie Perez. When I went to see them play the Philles two years ago, I saw Fernado Lunar catch instead of Lopez... that is just ridiculous.