According to ESPN The Magazine, The Braves Are A "Dead Star"

[lilsnatch07]

The definition of dead star (according to them):
- "Ancient Celestial bodies that have burned through nearly all of their fuel. -

Braves - The midlevel payroll won't change (they don't know), and Mark Teixeira will cash in big at arbitration. That leaves little money for rotation help, except for maybe 41-year-old Tom Glavine.

- Other teams labeled as dead stars include Cardinals, Astros & White Sox-

They also give a bold prediction: The Braves will be frustrated in their initial attempts to sign Mark Teixeira, and speculation will begin about whether new GM Frank Wren will deal the power-hitting first baseman before the trade deadline.

Go on to pretty much say Glavine is old and washed up and the Mets will go after everyone from Dan Haren to Roy Oswalt (but come up short)

[SamtheBravesFan]

Of course they'd say that. They worship at the Church of the Metropolitans. It's a very easy and fashionable thing to say; just like it's easy to say that the Indiana Pacers will be one of the worst teams in the NBA. (I don't really think they will be, but it's easy to say.)

There are ways to work around this payroll issue, but they don't want to tell us that. It's all about propping up the Mets.

[at65]

This team hasn't been doing much over the past 2 seasons... Honestly I think this is the correct label until they start to perform better. I don't like it one bit, but it is what it is.

[charpotsss]

This team hasn't been doing much over the past 2 seasons... Honestly I think this is the correct label until they start to perform better. I don't like it one bit, but it is what it is.

I am inclined to agree with you. Who outside of diehard Braves fans really believes we'll do anything next year?

[SamtheBravesFan]

This team hasn't been doing much over the past 2 seasons... Honestly I think this is the correct label until they start to perform better. I don't like it one bit, but it is what it is.

But saying they're a dead star means they're just going to get worse or never get better. It's the equivalent of saying they're treading water. I don't know whether this has occured to ESPN or not, but there IS such a thing as re-tooling. With this age of the playoffs being what it is, the Braves can easily catch fire and win the pennant with the right people, just like the Rockies.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I am inclined to agree with you. Who outside of diehard Braves fans really believes we'll do anything next year?

What's better: believeing that we can change a few things to attempt to compete, making little to no changes and treading water, or completely dismantling the team and waiting 3-5 years for any real shot at competing? I'll take the first option, thanks.

[charpotsss]

What's better: believeing that we can change a few things to attempt to compete, making little to no changes and treading water, or completely dismantling the team and waiting 3-5 years for any real shot at competing? I'll take the first option, thanks.

I'm definitely in favor of the first option, but I feel like my belief that we can do that stems from the fact that I love the Braves whereas somewhat more objective outsiders probably don't think we have the ability.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I'm definitely in favor of the first option, but I feel like my belief that we can do that stems from the fact that I love the Braves whereas somewhat more objective outsiders probably don't think we have the ability.

Maybe today's trade would change their minds. ;)

[lilsnatch07]

Basically the only teams behind the Braves are the Pirates & Orioles and they were labeled as "black holes"

That's why I thought it was shocking

[JayDonnelly10]

Basically the only teams behind the Braves are the Pirates & Orioles and they were labeled as "black holes"

That's why I thought it was shocking

Where the hell are the Nationals and Royals the biggest losers year in and year out?

[SamtheBravesFan]

Basically the only teams behind the Braves are the Pirates & Orioles and they were labeled as "black holes"

That's why I thought it was shocking

This is why they shouldn't be taken seriously! :rolleyes: This is ESPN, promoter of the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox we're talking about here! *laughs*

[lilsnatch07]

Both Nationals & Royals were listed under "Nebulae"

A Nebulae - "Interstellar clouds of dust, gas and plasma that eventually dissipate or clump together to form stars

Nationals - Their 73 wins was more than they had the right to expect, and they're about to open a new ballpark. But they still lack an ace

Royals - No. 1 Starter? Gil Meche - Check. Closer? Joakim Soria - Check. Nos 3, 4 and 5 starters? Check back in two years

[lilsnatch07]

It goes:

Supernovas
Comets
Shooting Stars
Nebulae
Dead Stars
Black Holes

[SamtheBravesFan]

It goes:

Supernovas
Comets
Shooting Stars
Nebulae
Dead Stars
Black Holes

That's insulting.

[Gibby]

I disagree. The Braves have too powerful of a team to be considered a dead star. We have an incredible lineup (best in the NL IMO), an awesome bullpen, and we're workin on fixing the starting pitching. We were 5 games back from the playoffs and now we're improving and these guys think we're done. HA! Who pays these people to write this crap! :confused:

[Macquiao]

Of course they'd say that. They worship at the Church of the Metropolitans. It's a very easy and fashionable thing to say; just like it's easy to say that the Indiana Pacers will be one of the worst teams in the NBA. (I don't really think they will be, but it's easy to say.)

There are ways to work around this payroll issue, but they don't want to tell us that. It's all about propping up the Mets.
I agree.

[milbraves]

Seriously, ESPN magazine is a joke anyway. Wonder what they had to say about the the Rockies at last season's end, and the Tigers in '05.
What a load of hooey.

[Hobbes]

I wonder why dumb articles such as this always succeed in riling folks up. Who cares what some random writer things about the team?

[SamtheBravesFan]

I wonder why dumb articles such as this always succeed in riling folks up. Who cares what some random writer things about the team?

Probably the same reason I get upset when some stranger on a blog says about the Renteria trade: "I wish this were the first step in a full-scale rebuild".

[BGarrett7]

I think ESPN is dead-on with this statement.

Outside of the Hudson trade, what have the Braves done the past few seasons to make strides to being in the right position to win?

Even the trade for Tex could be considered counter-productive given the amount of talent that was coughed up, and the fact that the majority of the players given up will likely be key contributors somewhere in 2008.

Hell, even the Edgar trade today, although I'm sure they aren't considering it, was one step forward, three steps back.

They are doing absolutely nothing to help the franchise for the short-term. There are still very huge holes in CF and the backend of the rotation, as well as huge question marks in LF and SS. Even the quality of the bullpen could come into question with Gonzo being done till after the ASB and Dotel not likely to be resigned.

Based on everything that has happened to the Braves since Chris Burke's homerun off Joey Devine, I would certainly say they are a fading star, if not a dead one.

[Rafiki]

Yep, that's crazy talk. This team is way too young to be called a dead anything. Smoltz is old, Chipper is almost old, Hudson is getting close to almost old. Otherwise, the key pieces are pretty darn young and hopefully still improving. The only glaring longterm weakness I see is the lack of obvious minor league pitching talent ready to move up to Atlanta in the next year or two.

[ShipHockey7]

what have the braves done that deserves them to not have this name? anything?

[JCStone7]

what have the braves done that deserves them to not have this name? anything?

Well duh isn't it obvious? They failed to replace two Hall of Famers in Maddux and Glavine. Like it's that hard or something. :rolleyes:

[lilsnatch07]

what have the braves done that deserves them to not have this name? anything?

Yeah because if I had to rank the MLB team's chances of winning the World Series or the Playoffs next year, I'd put the Nationals, Marlins & Royals above the Braves....

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[JayDonnelly10]

Yeah because if I had to rank the MLB team's chances of winning the World Series or the Playoffs next year, I'd put the Nationals, Marlins & Royals above the Braves....

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:


Marlins are not in the same class as the Royals or the Nationals!

[SamtheBravesFan]

I haven't read this article, but it sounds like it's talking about long-term potential for supremacy.

Does anyone think the Royals, Marlins and Nationals will get better faster than the Braves?

[lilsnatch07]

I haven't read this article, but it sounds like it's talking about long-term potential for supremacy.

Does anyone think the Royals, Marlins and Nationals will get better faster than the Braves?


That's like asking if the dolphins will win the superbowl next year? If the Pirates will take the NL Central? If the Hawks win the NBA playoffs?

[cjones1999]

Why do we care what ESPN the magazine says? As mentioned before, they are a joke of a magazine.

[C-Dawg]

The only glaring longterm weakness I see is the lack of obvious minor league pitching talent ready to move up to Atlanta in the next year or two.

Ipso facto, dead star. Pitching is ALL that matters, my friend.

[broke]

Glavine coming back isnt the answer we need. We need a dominate 3rd pitcher. Id rather we get santana then let tex walk after next year if money is an issue.

[JayDonnelly10]

Glavine coming back isnt the answer we need. We need a dominate 3rd pitcher. Id rather we get santana then let tex walk after next year if money is an issue.


We will never be able to afford Santana why doesnt everyone understand this....hes going to command top dollar and teams like the Yanks and Red Sox, and Mets will throw money at him that we could never

[Scalpel19]

Pay no attention to what the "experts" on ESPN's shows or their writers have to say. They are simply a cluster-$@!# of Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox fans who don't know what they are talking about. The Braves are in no way a dead star. Believe me, this team will be much improved next season. We have a better lineup and will have a very much improved rotation to go along with a superb bullpen.

The only question that will remain will be who gets swept by us next October in the World Series.

Ignore ESPN, everyone except Jayson Stark, in talking with him he is very knowledgeable and knows his stuff. Also, Ken Rosenthal is the white Terrence Moore.

Don't mean to rant, but dang-it I love my Braves and hate that they get very little respect. People act like they were 40-122 when they were in fact over .500. We will prove them wrong next year