It's Monday, the middle of November and JB is feeling inspired.

Perhaps this kid could walk for to raise money for the Braves' offseason spending. Or maybe I should do my own walkathon.

So even though the Peavy talks have cooled off don't think Escobar has immunity from a trade. And so if the ...

Yes there was a lot to be downhearted about last year but here are some reasons to keep your chins up.

McCann wins the Silver Slugger

So he got snubbed at the All Star game by both the fans and Clint Hurdle. Who cares? He's the best hitting catcher in the NL and he's wearing a Braves [...]

Unless the Padres all of a sudden cave in and lower their asking price, we won't see Peavy make his way to Atlanta any time soona??. or presumably ever.

Here's what Wren the man himself said.

" Jake Peavy is obviously a quality top-of-the-rotation pitcher. But our

focus is still to build our ...

Good day Braves fans. I'm JB and I've got the mid-November, no baseball, waiting-on-something-to-happen blues getting me down in Atlanta.

On the good side though, I am a baseball fan that loves basketball and the Hawks (though they didn't win) impressed me greatly last night. In fact, I do love ...

I've always thought that the point of the Rookie of the Year award was to recognize a player who has played his first full year in the majors and done the most with the least amount of experience at a younger age.

First off I have to say, the Yellow Jackets have sent me on a roller coaster. I've gone from ecstasy and hopefulness a week ago to downright depression and anger today.

At least my Hawks are off to a 4-0 start! For the first time in 10 years they're undefeated to start the season. And though the Hawks have suffered from many things ranging from lack of talent to underperforming seasons to miserable support, I for one am excited about this team.

But despite it being the midst of football season and I'm watching the Falcons hold an 11 point lead in the Dome over the Saints, there's still some Braves talk to be doing.

So sit down, grab your favorite brew with me, and let's talk baseball.

Not a move has been made to get any new acquisitions for on the field. Although according to my friend over at Rain Delay, the Braves have got a new assistant for Frank Wren, Dom Chiti.

But as far as who the Braves are actively pursuing there are some good names being thrown around. Don't get excited, none of them end in "-amirez".

Jake Peavy

The big name still being floated around belongs to the 2007 Cy Young winner who's drawing interest from the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs and Braves with the latter two being most serious and in high contention for this thing to go through. It's possible one of these clubs, will end up scoring Jake possibly before Thanksgiving. Since Chicago may get preoccupied with signing either/both Dempster and Harden, they may look to make improvements in other places. The Dodgers have made an extremely good offer to Manny Ramirez and I still think the Padres are going to be reluctant to send talent to their division rivals.

It does look better for the Braves right now to land Peavy. Although the Padres have been drooling over Tommy Hanson to be included in the deal, Wren has (thankfully) refused to include him. After sending away 5 prospects for Teixeira a little over a year ago, I myself don't not leap for joy at the thought of sending away our top pitching prospect. I also don't like the no trade clause Peavy wants wherever he ends up. Schuerholz never did it but would Wren? Send Chuck James, Jo-Jo Reyes, Yunel Escobar, for Jake Peavy and maybe you've got a deal. Though I can't say I'm all that thrilled about departing with Escobar the more I think about it. Would we look to inexpensive options in possible returns of Furcal or Renteria or turn to Lillibridge full time? I can't say there seems to be a real clear solution if Escobar is gone even if it does include bringing over Peavy. If we do end up passing on this altogether there's alsoA¢a‚¬A¦

Junichi Tazawa

The Braves have yet to follow the herd and tap into Japanese talent but they have reportedly made an offer on 22 year old Tazawa who has refused to play in Japan and wants to test the market in the MLB. The only thing I know about the offer to Tawaza is that it was "agressive" (somewhere in the $7 mill. range) and includes a spot on the 40 man roster and an invite to Spring Training. The Red Sox are the only other team who may go hard after him though the Mariners have been mentioned as suitors as well. With big money to spend though, Boston would not be afraid to make a push after Junichi. A Japanese pitcher on the Red Sox? Also in the pitching world there isA¢a‚¬A¦

Free Agents

Pitchers Derek Lowe, AJ Burnette, Brad Penny, Ryan Dempster, Rich Harden, Mike Hampton, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine are a few other names we've mentioned before that may attract some interest from the Braves. (Notice I didn't even mention that C.C. guy). I of course would be very happy with the combo of a proven veteren (Derek Lowe tops my list) and someone like a Tazawa (young and a good Tim Hudson replacement).

The only thing about Tazawa is that though he's obviously a talent that is drawing interest from quite a few teams, he's never pitched in North America. $7 million, that's a lot for a 22 year old who's hasn't spent a day in the Majors and is a bit of an expensive risk.

Add to your free agent list Greg Norton, Julian Taveras, Tom Glavine, Vladimir Nunez, Elmer Dessens, Jorge Julio, and Will Ohman, Ruben Gotay.

No offense to Tom Glavine or Mike Hampton (unless they're real cheap and have richly incentive laden contracts) the only guys I really wouldn't mind having back in this bunch is John Smoltz, Ruben Gotay and Greg Norton. But if I had my pick of the two I'd go for Norton as a versatile fielder and very productive pinch hitter.

So there's not really a completely ideal situation here. Unless we strike very good deals with a top free agent and we find another Jair Jurrjens somewhere.

I hate doing predictions and making speculation. Right now there are far many more questions than answers.

Would the Braves take chances on Glavine, Smoltz or Hampton again?

If the Braves trade away Escobar for Peavy who plays short?

How likely is it for the Braves to win the Tazawa bidding?

Would Campillo pitch his way onto a spot in spring training?

That's why you can't project a 5 man rotation with any certainty. But if you want strictly, plain ol' opinion here's mine.

1) Derek Lowe

2) Jair Jurrjens

3) John Smoltz

4) Tommy Hanson (pitches in Spring Training and earns a spot)

5) Mike Hampton

This means of course I'd really like to know your opinion and I would love to see your own rotation projections.

Next post we'll take a look a left field options. In the meantime,

Keep choppin'

~JB

I know how you love Change so how about putting some of your policies to work on the Atlanta Braves? Yes We Can?

Another "thanks" goes out to Kevin from Ramblings 1.5 for his contributions throughout the postseason. I never intended to have so much dedicated space to the Phillies on this Braves blog but he stepped up when I put out the request to get bloggers from each playoff contender to post for The ...

There was Marcus Giles, getting cut from the Colorado Rockies before 2008 began.

Javy tried to make a comeback and instead we went with Abraham Miller. I don't even want to talk about this decision. Now he's in the unemployment line.A

Andruw signed a two year deal with the Dodgers and couldn't ...

I'm JB. I like drinking coffee. And this is my Braves blog.

Hey folks. It's a good day to be alive even ifa€¦

-The Braves aren't playing baseball in October.

-The Yellow Jackets lost their homecoming game. (I'm still in mourning. I can't believe I could even type that.)

-The Falcons lost. But I ...

The tools of my trade:

For blogging.

For fuel.

For info.

I'm not ashamed to say it. I'm hoping for a Philly win tonight. And it's a bandwagon this Braves fan treads lightly upon. I haven't been pulling hard for them the entire series. In fact I've watched many of the games of this Fall Classic to ...

I must be crazy but I'm not ashamed to say it.

I'm hoping for a Philly win tonight. And it's a bandwagon this Braves fan treads lightly upon. I haven't been pulling hard for them the entire series. In fact I've watched many of the games of this Fall Classic

It's Friday. It's a day off of baseball but it's World Series week.

This Braves blog asks the question: Am I the only Braves fan out there that's a little ticked off about seeing Willy Aybar in the World Series?

In 2006, Mr. Aybar was acquired by my Atlanta Braves in a trade that sent Wilson ...

Am I the only Braves fan out there that's a little ticked off about seeing Willy Aybar in the World Series?

Well, the Phillies are still in it and "Phightin'" for a World Series Championship. They'll have to get through the upstart Rays who just knocked off a tough Boston club. That also means our guest bloggers from Ramblings 1.5 is still with us since his team is still in it. Here's what he has to [...]