2012 player preview: Matt Diaz
When the Braves acquired Matt Diaz from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of August, I was vehemently opposed to the move for several reasons.1) Fredi Gonzalez would feel inclined to start Diaz in right field over Jason Heyward when lefties were on the mound.2) Diaz's effectiveness against lefties in 2011 had dropped off to the point where he had no purpose on the team aside...
Via Chop-N-Change
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2 days ago
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2 days ago
Discuss
2012 player preview: Jose Constanza
Jose Constanza is a very polarizing figure among Braves fans. Some erroneously believe that he should have gotten more playing time down the stretch. Some correctly believe that all he can be is an extra outfielder due to his good speed and little else in his game. Constanza will go into camp competing for the fifth outfielder slot (yes, fifth outfielder....remember, Matt Diaz and...
Via Chop-N-Change
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9 days ago
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9 days ago
Braves stand pat during offseason
If you haven't purged the final game of an epic collapse from your memory, you'll remember the Braves' lineup looked like this on that fateful September day:
Michael Bourn, CF
Martin Prado, LF
Chipper Jones, 3B
Dan Uggla, 2B
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Matt Diaz, RF
Jack Wilson, SS
So now, look ahead to Opening Day 2012. The Braves' lineup will look something...
Via Fox Sports South
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19 days ago
Braves stand pat during offseason
If you haven't purged the final game of an epic collapse from your memory, you'll remember the Braves' lineup looked like this on that fateful September day:
Michael Bourn, CF
Martin Prado, LF
Chipper Jones, 3B
Dan Uggla, 2B
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Matt Diaz, RF
Jack Wilson, SS
So now, look ahead to Opening Day 2012. The Braves' lineup will look something...
Via Fox Sports South
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19 days ago
Pittsburgh Pirates 2011 Position Recap: Corner Outfield
Alex Presley was freed in late June, and went on to hit for a .298 average in the majors.
For most of the 2011 season, there wasn’t a specific starter at either corner outfield position for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jose Tabata began the season as the everyday starter in left field, but finished the year as the everyday starter in right field. That happened when Alex Presley...
Via Pirates Prospects
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October 21, 2011
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October 21, 2011
What Went Wrong in 2011
The free agent market is a death trap for the Pirates
You can’t lose 90 games without a lot of things going wrong. In the case of the 2011 Pirates, there were some problems that were different, at least for their current front office, and some that were grindingly, depressingly the same. There were also some problems that maybe had a silver lining. Let’s look at the main...
Via Pirates Prospects
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September 30, 2011
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September 30, 2011
33 games in 31 days: Game #31: The Phils earned victory no. 100, as they defeat the Braves, 4-2.
The Phils win their 100 game of the season, hitting the 100 mark for only the third time in the franchise’s history, as they defeat the Braves, 4-2.
The Braves took the lead in the first as, with two men out, Chipper Jones hits a solo home run, his eighteenth home run of the season, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead. The Braves increased their lead in the second as, with a runner...
Via MyTeamRivals.com
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September 27, 2011
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September 27, 2011
Which part of 2011 matters the most?
We've all been awfully hard on the Pirates' off-season free agency acquisitions this year, and with good reason. Matt Diaz and Lyle Overbay were completely awful and even though Kevin Correia somehow made the All-Star team, his peak was really only "Better than Brian Burres" and even that didn't last for a full season. It's easy to pile on Neal Huntington...
Via Where Is Andy Van Slyke
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September 23, 2011
News and Notes
Catching up on some news and notes:
PirateFest will be be much earlier this year: December 16-18th
The PTBNL going from Atlanta to Pittsburgh in the Matt Diaz trade was identified: minor league pitcher Eliecer Cardenas. Cardenas is a 23 year old in High-A with decent numbers–certainly not a valuable prospect, but more than I would expect in return for Diaz.
As mentioned earlier...
Via Raise the Jolly Roger!
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September 23, 2011
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September 23, 2011
Pirates acquire RHP Cardenas in Diaz trade
The Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday acquired minor league righthander Eliecer Cardenas from the Atlanta Braves to complete last month's trade of Matt Diaz.
On Aug. 31, the Braves acquired Diaz from the Pirates for cash considerations and a player to be named. That player is Cardenas, 23, a reliever who pitched in Single-A and Double-A this season.
Cardenas began 2011 with...
Via Pro Sports Daily
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September 21, 2011
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September 21, 2011
Pirates Acquire P Eliecer Cardenas From Atlanta Braves
The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially received right-handed pitcher Eliecer Cardenas from the Atlanta Braves, completing the trade between the two teams last month that sent outfielder Matt Diaz back to Atlanta.
Diaz was acquired for a “player to be named later,” and that player is Cardenas.
Cardenas, 23, pitched in both AA and A+ this season.
In 40 A+ appearances ...
Via Rant Sports
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September 20, 2011
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September 20, 2011
Pirates acquire RHP Eliecer Cardenas from Braves
The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired right-handed pitcher Eliecer Cardenas from the Atlanta Braves, according to an announcement by the team. Cardenas was sent to the Pirates to complete the trade that sent Matt Diaz to the Braves in August.
The 23-year-old Domincan pitcher was 4-3 with seven saves an 2.11 ERA in 45 Minor League games this season.
Image by Navin75 under the Creative...
Via PRO Rumors
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September 20, 2011
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September 20, 2011
Pirates Complete Matt Diaz Trade
The Pittsburgh Pirates have completed the Matt Diaz trade, acquiring right handed pitcher Eliecer Cardenas from the Atlanta Braves as the player to be named later.
The 23-year-old Dominican native went 4-3 with seven saves and a 2.11 ERA in 45 minor league games this season, striking out 76 batters in 59.2 innings. Cardenas finished the season with Lynchburg in the Carolina League...
Via Pirates Prospects
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September 20, 2011
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September 20, 2011
Diaz doing what the Braves needed him to do
When the Braves acquired Matt Diaz last week, they believed that he would help lessen some of their struggles against left-handed pitchers. And by recording a pair of singles against southpaw Clayton Kershaw on Sunday, Diaz showed he is capable of handling this role.
Via mlb.com
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September 05, 2011
Pirates Notebook: Diaz returns to Braves; Bowker joins Phillies
HOUSTON -- Last offseason, Pirates management identified then-free agent Matt Diaz as a player that could provide a veteran bat -- and veteran leadership -- to a young roster. Diaz signed a two-year contract with the Pirates, but he will not finish one year in Pittsburgh. The Pirates traded Diaz to the Atlanta Braves Wednesday for a player to be named later or cash.
Via Post-Gazette
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September 01, 2011
The Braves are the Most Improved Team in the MLB
There is not one team in Major League Baseball that improved as much as the Atlanta Braves have at the two trade deadlines in the majors this season. (The Texas Rangers improved their team tremendously, but not as much as the Braves have) Yesterday was the end of the waiver trade deadline and there will be no other deals made until the General Manager meetings or Winter Meetings...
Via Rant Sports
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September 01, 2011
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September 01, 2011
The BP Broadside: Heyward You Show the Braves the Way to the Playoffs? by Steven Goldman
The day the Braves reacquired outfielder Matt Diaz, pitcher Derek Lowe out-homered Atlanta’s outfielders 1-0. This was not at all a shocking development. Braves outfielders have been, as a group, among the worst in baseball this season.
Diaz, who hit .305/.353/.461 in five seasons with the Braves after being dismissed by the Rays and Royals organizations, has looked totally...
Via Baseball Prospectus
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September 01, 2011
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September 01, 2011
Pirates ship off outfielder Diaz to Atlanta
The Pirates cleared room on the 40-man roster and cut salary by trading outfielder Matt Diaz to the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named later or cash.
Via Pittsburghlive.com
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September 01, 2011
Braves acquire IF Jack Wilson from Seattle
The Atlanta Braves have added middle infield depth for the final month of the regular season, acquiring Jack Wilson from the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night for a player to be named.
The Braves, who acquired outfielder Matt Diaz earlier Wednesday, also obtained cash from Seattle in the deal.
Wilson was hitting .249 in 62 games for Seattle and has been on the 15-day disabled...
Via AP on Fox
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August 31, 2011
Pirates trade Diaz, Bowker on Wednesday
The Pirates made a couple of trades on Wednesday, with outfielder Matt Diaz returning to the Braves and Triple-A outfielder John Bowker headed to the Phillies.
Via mlb.com
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August 31, 2011
Matt Diaz to the Braves
In more proof that the real trade deadline is not until August 31st, the Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Matt Diaz. The move may not make headlines but, its similar to last year’s deal involving Cody Ross to the Giants. If you guys recall, Ross hit multiple homers in the playoffs last year and was the NLCS MVP. I’m not saying Diaz will have the same impact but...
Via Off The Bench
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August 31, 2011
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August 31, 2011
Pirates trade OF Diaz back to Braves
Matt Diaz returned to the Atlanta Braves in a trade with Pittsburgh and will start in right field against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.
Via Seattle Times
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August 31, 2011
James McDonald takes the mound tonight in hopes of salvaging at least one game from this ugly trip to Houston. Obviously the first two games haven't gone well and I'd rather not say anything about them at this point, but Charlie Morton and Ross Ohlendorf both racked up big strikeout totals against the Astros despite not being strikeout pitchers. McDonald, on the other hand...
Via Where Is Andy Van Slyke
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August 31, 2011
Braves Tried, But Can’t Quit Matt Diaz
The Atlanta Braves have been rumored with a desire to add a right-handed bench bat. Ironically, they made a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon bringing back fan favorite and great teammate, Matt Diaz.
Diaz was non-tendered in the offseason as the Braves felt he would be too expensive through arbitration. Diaz had expressed that he would take what he made last...
Via Rant Sports
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August 31, 2011
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August 31, 2011
Transaction Analysis Blog: Comings and Goings on Playoff Eligbility Day by R.J. Anderson
Atlanta Braves
Acquired OF-R Matt Diaz from the Pirates for a player to be named later or cash considerations. [8/31]
Placed LHP George Sherrill on the 15-day disabled list. [8/31]
If nothing else, Diaz provides a nice right-handed pinch-hitting option who is familiar with the Braves way of doing business. From 2006-to-2010 you could find Diaz in Atlanta, hitting .305/.353/.461...
Via Baseball Prospectus
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August 31, 2011
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August 31, 2011
THE BRAVES HOT 25
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