Bravo Blog: Atlanta in tough spot at trade deadline

The MLB trading deadline is pretty exciting. A lot of names are trading places, and fans get to see what their teams will look like during the peak of the pennant chase.

The Braves are in an interesting position. Back in May, the Braves were viewed as a team without many significant needs, maybe needing a right-handed bat off the bench. However, as they often do, things have changed. The Braves need to make at least one deal for several reasons.

1. Injuries. With Brian McCann out for at least two weeks and probably longer, the lineup is suddenly lacking his dependable punch. Chipper Jones being hurt is no shock, but his questionable availability only adds pressure on GM Frank Wren to add a bat.

Heyward may still be a future star,
but he's just not hitting like one now.

2. Jason Heyward's struggles. I like Heyward, and I'm not ready to give up on him. However, at this point in the season, the Braves have to accept the fact that he's not hitting. He has all the stats of a platoon player right now, and he should be treated as such. I hate that for him, and I hope it doesn't shake his confidence. Right now, however, he's not hitting and the Braves can't afford to assume he'll figure it out quickly. They need to win and Heyward's .222 average isn't helping them do that.

3. An overworked bullpen. Jonny Venters can't pitch every day, but he almost does. The same goes for Eric O'Flaherty. These guys can't continue to be the only options in the eighth inning, but it's pretty obvious that Fredi Gonzalez (justifiably) doesn't trust Scott Proctor or Scott Linebrink in those situations. Atlanta needs another powerful arm, preferably a right-hander.

4. Other teams are getting better. By getting Carlos Beltran, the defending champion Giants almost look like locks to be in the postseason, and their lineup is now better than Atlanta's. If the Braves get the wild card, a first-round rematch with San Francisco is likely. Atlanta needs to be able to score on the Giants' electric staff, and their current lineup doesn't look to have the punch. Plus, you have to assume the Phillies will improve as will other contenders like the Brewers, Cardinals, and Pirates.

So, what should the Braves do? They need a right-handed bat, ideally one that can play center. They also could use that arm in the bullpen. They have plenty of prized pitching prospects. Lefty Mike Minor is the most major-league ready, but Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino and Randall Delgado are also down on the farm with a lot of potential. They were reluctant to give up any of them for a two-month rental like Beltran. The injuries to McCann and Jones, however, may force them to change their minds. Personally, I don't think all of those guys fit into the Braves' rotation next year or even in 2013 or 2014. Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, and Brandon Beachy all turn 25 this year and figure to be staples in the Atlanta rotation for a while. Plus, if Kris Medlen (age 26) returns successfully from Tommy John surgery, he'll also be fighting for a rotation spot next year.

If my opinion matters (and it doesn't), I say keep Minor because he's the only lefty and the most major-league ready (He's also the first guy to fill in if an Atlanta starter gets hurt). Keep Teheran because he has the highest ceiling. If dealing Delgado can help you get to the playoffs and maybe a World Series, do it.

Let's look at the options.

I like Upton's potential, but not his OPS.

B.J. Upton is an interesting name. With great speed and defense, his athleticism is unquestionable. His plate discipline, however, is not. His .228 average, 100 strikeouts, and .309 on-base percentage really don't make him much of an upgrade over Heyward or Nate McLouth. The only advantage he has over those guys is being right-handed, meaning he'd probably platoon in center with McLouth and Jordan Schafer (currently injured). The Braves have to be certain Upton would hit better in the National League if they were going to give up one of their prized pitching prospects for the inconsistent Upton.

Carlos Quentin of the White Sox has been mentioned a lot. His power would instantly make him the best (healthy) bat in the Braves lineup. The downside is that he can't play center, meaning Heyward would see his playing time cut. However, as I mentioned earlier, that's a concession Atlanta probably has to make. Quentin would be a great fit. The big obstacle, however: the White Sox are only three games out of first in the weak AL Central. If Chicago decides it's going to contend, Quentin should probably stay, which means the Braves would have to give up the farm to pry him away. I don't think it happens for that reason. Atlanta may be willing to give up one prized pitching prospect, but I bet Chicago asks for at least two.

Keeping Pence out of Philly would be a bonus for Atlanta.

Hunter Pence is likely on his way out of Houston, and Atlanta is definitely involved. Two reasons why: he's a very good player who fits well in Atlanta, and the Phillies also want him. Like Quentin, he's a very good right-handed bat who would fit right in the middle of Braves' (or Phillies') lineup, but he's not a center fielder. His .307 average would be the highest in Atlanta's lineup, and he has decent power numbers as well with 11 homers and 62 RBI. Unlike Quentin, he could probably handle center if he needed to, although he'd more likely split time with Heyward in right and play left when Prado spells Chipper at third.

Pence is due a big raise after this season, but the Braves can be flexible there. If Chipper Jones retires, then Prado moves to third in 2012 and Pence takes over in left every day. If Jones returns, the Braves could easily trade Pence if they decide he doesn't fit into next year's plans. (The situation would be the same with Quentin, by the way.)

Worry about this year first, though. Atlanta would love to have Pence's bat, and keeping him out of Philadelphia would be an added bonus. If a trade not involving Teheran can be worked out with Houston, Pence is probably worth it, especially if the Astros would accept Delgado instead of Minor.

The price on Adams is likely high, but he might be worth it.

I love what the San Diego Padres have to offer: outfielder Ryan Ludwick and set-up man Mike Adams. Adams is a perfect fit in the bullpen because he's the ideal eighth-inning righty. His 1.13 ERA and 0.73 WHIP makes him just as dominant from the right side as Venters is from the left, which means Gonzalez can trust him in those late game situations and lighten Venters' work load.

Ludwick, meanwhile, may not have the power numbers of Quentin or the athleticism of Upton, he is a right-handed bat that could see spot starts in all three outfield positions and hit for power, whether he's starting or pinch-hitting. I think the combination of Adams and Ludwick would be well worth a prized prospect like Delgado and maybe a few other minor leaguers to help San Diego's farm system. If that deal can be agreed to without having to give up any of Atlanta's other three prized pitching prospects, Atlanta absolutely has to do it. I just think San Diego would want two of Atlanta's prized arms, and that might be a tough sell for Wren, especially when those young arms could possibly be promoted to help the bullpen this season.

From a production standpoint, Oakland's Josh Willingham is similar to Ludwick. He is hitting for a low average this year (.244), but still has some pop (13 homers). I would think he's probably at best Plan D for Frank Wren, but he wouldn't be a bad consolation if everything else falls through. Although, he'd probably mostly be a right-handed bat off the bench who would see spot starts. Another plus on Willingham: he wouldn't cost the Braves any of their top prospects.

You have to give up quality to get quality. I think the Braves should go big, give up one of those prized arms and try to get a big bat. With Jurrjens, Hanson, Beachy, and maybe Medlen ahead of those young prospects, they can't all pitch in Atlanta. I'd be all for getting Quentin or Pence, but the Ludwick/Adams combination would be ideal. I do trust Frank Wren, though. He's made some great deals since he took over, and I'm anxious to see what he has up his sleeve.

Characters of a Sports Press Conference

(This an old blog I recycled from my now defunct OKBlitz blog. So, some of you who've been reading a while may remember it. For those reading for the first time, enjoy. I recycled it because I wanted to save this on Joe Knows for archiving purposes.)

I’ve been to several sports press conferences over the years, and I’ve been to them in several different parts of the country. No matter where I am, though, the characters remain the same. Sure, the faces and names may be different, but there are certain personalities that tend to exist in almost every sports press conference I’ve ever been to. So, as a service to you, the fan, I thought I’d let you know what you’re missing. I present to you the characters of the sports press conference:

The Alpha Male
owns the press conference.

The Alpha Male – This is his press conference. He’s been covering this team for years, and you, no matter how old you are, are a rookie in his eyes. The Alpha Male always asks the first question, and he will give you a death stare if you dare jump in there before him. The Alpha Male can be cordial at times, but he’ll always slip in the reminder that he’s the big man on campus. If you tell him about a great story you just did, he’ll tell you how it reminds him of how he did something similar 25 years ago, and of course he did it better than you did. Now, leave him alone so he can get that first question ready.

Stats – Stats is at every press conference, but he or she is in rare form in the post game press conference. Stats has been tracking numbers since the first minute of this contest, and he or she can’t wait to rattle off some statistics that will blow your mind. This is Stats’ biggest flaw. He or she has to read off ALL of these statistics before any question is asked. Simply asking, “Sam, you really struggled in the third quarter. What happened there?” is not enough. No, Stats’ question has to be something like, “Sam, after throwing for 213 yards and a 74.3 completion percentage and an overall quarterback rating of 153.9 in the first half, you dropped off to a 58.9 completion percentage and a third quarter rating of 98.2, including a 30 percent success rate on third downs and only completing three out of eight throws beyond 15 yards while holding the ball in the pocket for an average of 3.8 seconds before releasing. What happened there?”

Too many stats can be confusing, except to Stats himself.

While the rest of us fall asleep or just get impatient waiting for the question to be asked, Stats is just basking in the glory of reading off these hot-off-the-press numbers. The rest of the room does get one small taste of victory, however: Stats never gets the answer he or she is hoping for.

The answer Stats wants: “That’s a great point, Stats, and I’m glad you pointed that out. Clearly, I needed to be above 50 percent on those longer yardage throws, and I really need my third quarter passer efficiency rating to be above 130.5 if we hope to win, and obviously I can’t hold the ball for more than 3.5 seconds and hope to have a completion percentage above 60 percent. The zone defense caused some problems for me, and I need to make decisions faster, and we made that adjustment in the fourth quarter.”

The answer Stats gets: “Oh, um, really? I didn’t know that. I was just trying to make a play.”

While the rest of the room is thankful that’s over, Stats is undeterred. This is just a challenge. Just wait for numbers that are unveiled next time.

The Ramblin’ Man – A lot like Stats, he takes a long time to get to his actual question. Unlike Stats, he is not giving stats. He’s just talking, making obvious observations before he actually asks the question.

Coach’s Buddy – Coach’s Buddy is generally one of the better newspaper reporters in the room. Good questions are asked. Nice stories are written. Coach’s Buddy does one thing that irks the rest of the room, however. When the press conference is over and the coach is leaving the podium, Coach’s Buddy is there at the bottom waiting. This is when Coach’s Buddy asks the question he or she REALLY wanted to ask but did not want to say in front of everyone else. Depending on the coach’s mood, the exclusive answer is normally given. It’s that little something extra that no one else will have. Sometimes it’s nothing, sometimes it’s the best stuff of the weekend.

That is what irks everyone else: Coach’s Buddy gets this exclusive that everyone else could have gotten, but Coach’s Buddy doesn’t share. No one else likes it, but they all understand it. Everyone wants to know what those two are talking about at the base of the podium, but they all know they’ll just have to read the paper tomorrow to find out. Hats off to you, Coach’s Buddy. You’ve struck again.

Old School – Like the Alpha Male, this guy has been around a while. Unlike the Alpha Male, no one really knows who this guy is. Is even here working for a newspaper or television station, or is he just hanging out? He’s sitting there with nothing except a note pad and a pencil. He might even be wearing one of those old hats with a tag that says PRESS poking out of it. He looks like he’s traveled through time to be here, and he never says anything to anyone else in the room, probably because he views everyone else as a bunch of punk kids who don’t do things they way they did in the old days. He just sits there, scribbles a few things down then goes to write the story for some media outlet that may not even exist anymore.

The photographer who hates his life – We love this guy because he makes us laugh, even if he’s not trying to. The next day he gets through without complaining about something will be the first. He hates the fact that he’s here. He works 70 hours a week (or least that’s what he says), every muscle on his body aches, and the only thing he wants to do is go home. He hates this team. He hates the coach. He hates the players, and he can’t wait to complain to you about the crap that’s going on at his station. He always complains about how bad he wants to get out of the business, but we all know that he’ll still be doing this ten years from now.

Everyone's glad to see the hottie.

The Hottie – Sometimes she’s a reporter. Sometimes she’s a writer, or she could be an intern or a public relations person with the team. Whoever she is, all of the men in the room are glad she’s there. All the guys will strike up some kind of meaningless conversation with her at one point or another. She’s the one thing the photographer who hates his life won’t complain about.

The Kid – The Kid looks about 16 years old, but he or she is fresh out of college and doing the one-man band thing that so many in the television business have to do. The Kid is all alone and carrying a ton of equipment because no one else from the station is there to help. The camera, the tripod, a bag full of tapes and batteries are all The Kid’s responsibility. Everyone is nice to The Kid, because they were all there once. Still, it’s humorous to watch and look back on what it was like at an entry level job.

The people who do not appear to be working – They are always sitting there, especially in a post game press conference. They have nothing in their hands except maybe a beverage. They don’t appear to be with any media outlet. They sit in the front row laughing it up until the coach or one of the players walks in. They aren’t disruptive during the interviews, which is why they’re allowed to stay. Still, though: who are these people and who let them in?

The Human Rain Delay -  Just when you thought this long, draining press conference was over, the Human Rain Delay has at least one more question… or maybe three more… or eight.
See, most of us are blessed with the “it’s over” sense. This sense tells us when the party is over and it’s time to go home, when we need to stop chatting and let a coworker get back to work, and when to know that girl at the bar is not interested and just wants to be left alone. The Human Rain Delay (HRD) does not have this sense. He will stay at the party until he’s thrown out (and might even sleep over). He refuses to let you get back to work, and he will talk to that girl at the bar until she reaches for the mace.
At a press conference, when every question has been asked and coach is tired and ready to go, HRD has a long list of dandies that he’s been just saving for the very end. His questions are not only exhausting to coach, but also to everyone else in the room, because we all have to go, too. The Human Rain Delay is actually the arch nemesis of Coach’s Buddy, because Coach’s Buddy knows that the coach will be in a very foul mood after this late beating that HRD is dishing out.

I’m looking forward to another year of press conferences and seeing these characters. More importantly, though, I’m looking forward to the football games that will go along with them.

Media advice for athletes

There's an expression in the television business: Treat every microphone like a hot microphone. In other words: act like every microphone is on. It doesn't matter if you think you are on the air or not, if you're in front of a microphone, be careful what you say just in case it is on and goes out to the viewers. When this rule is ignored, bad things happen.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

The rule about microphones is just a simple precaution to make sure anchors and reporters don't make mistakes that could embarrass them or even cost them their jobs.

Athletes could learn to avoid controversy by following some similar rules. In today's media world, news travels fast. That means good news, bad news, and incorrect news all spread very quickly. So, for those athletes willing to listen, I offer a pair of simple tips:

1. If you wouldn't say it at a press conference, don't say it on Twitter.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate learned this recently (the reason I was inspired to throw this advice out there). Tate, during the ESPY awards tweeted "Jimmie Johnson up for best athlete?? Um, nooo... Driving a car does not show athleticism." NASCAR fans were immediately all over him. I know that if there's one hot button issue with NASCAR fans, it's people saying that their drivers are not athletes. Tate had to deal with all of the angry tweets, and it even became a story on ESPN.com's front page.

He's not the first (and won't be the last) athlete to speak his mind on Twitter and deal with backlash. After Osama Bin Laden was killed, Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall appeared to come to Bin Laden's defense on Twitter. He said he couldn't believe America was celebrating the death of a person they didn't know and that America didn't know "both sides."  He went on to say that America didn't know what really happened on 9/11 and that he found it hard to believe a plane could take down a building by itself. While he may not be the first American to throw out that conspiracy theory, he was the latest and he had to deal with the anger and backlash.

Athletes need to understand that Twitter is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the media landscape. Reporters everywhere follow as many athletes as they can find, and if something controversial pops up on their Twitter feed, they'll be happy to report it as if they spoke to the athletes themselves.

I'm not famous, and I only have about 400 followers compared to Tate's 21,000 and change, but I still watch what I say on Twitter. It's out there in the public, and anyone can see it. I avoid anything controversial or anything that could be misunderstood as bigoted because all it takes is a handful of retweets to spread the rumors to hundreds of people who don't know me, and then the backlash comes. Athletes should approach Twitter with the same caution. I'm not calling for censorship. Tweet whatever you want, but be prepared for the response if you say something stupid.

2. Treat every camera as if it's broadcasting to the entire world.
Follow this rule because if you do or say something controversial, that camera essentially is going out to the entire world. If it's a television camera, it only takes a few minutes to upload the video to a server from which any station in the world can download and put on its broadcast. If it's a fan with a smart phone, it takes seconds to upload to YouTube.

Go ahead, guys, make a joke in front of the camera.
Wait until you see what the media does with the video.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James could have followed this advice during the NBA Finals. Heading into a critical Game 5, they decided to walk around like idiots mocking Dirk Nowitzki's flu. The media made a story out of it, and there was quite a buzz about it heading into the last two games of the finals. They responded by saying they knew the camera was there and were just playing up for the camera to see if the media would make a big deal out of it. Well, mission accomplished, fellas. We did, and you looked like jerks. Meanwhile, Dirk and the Mavericks remained focused and took the NBA championship you thought you were entitled to.

Memo to athletes: if you say or do anything dumb or controversial in front of a camera, we will be happy to use it however we want. If there's a video like the mocking of Dirk that will drive up page views on a website or get people to watch a newscast, you bet it's going to be used. Act like a professional in front of every camera, and you'll be just fine.

When it comes to TMZ cameras, just say no.
Actually, don't even say no. Just walk away.

2A. If it's a TMZ camera, don't say a word. Walk away.
TMZ seeks nothing but controversy and will run with absolutely anything that is remotely controversial. If you say something really outrageous, you will regret it big time. USC Marc Tyler could not have been any dumber when, during a night on the town, he told TMZ that USC pays more than the pros. Joking or not, it got him suspended from USC. So, whether you only say one word like Kevin Durant did or you say the dumbest thing imaginable like Tyler, TMZ will get you. Just walk away.

Athletes need to understand how quickly things travel in today's media world. Be careful what you say and who you say it to. It's okay to be funny and entertaining. Shaq mastered that. Just know that if you want to say or do something controversial, it'll spread quickly.

The Stage is Theirs

It's the Wednesday after the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, officially the deadest day on the sports calendar. NFL, NBA, NHL and college sports are all in the offseason, and MLB teams don't resume play until Thursday.

That's why today is the perfect day for the United States Women's World Cup team to keep the momentum going. The stage is theirs and theirs alone. They will lead Sportscenter and almost every sportscast across this great nation. They'll be on the cover of every sports page and at the top of every sports website. So, they better put on a great show because it's all anyone will want to talk about Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Wambach's goal was a big moment, but the important
thing is what she and her teammates do next.

Abby Wambach's clutch goal against Brazil was the latest big victory for soccer in the United States. It was one of those moments that everyone, even people who don't follow soccer, couldn't stop talking about. It was a dramatic moment that helped those who don't follow soccer "get it."

I liken soccer in America to a political candidate running for office. A Republican doesn't have to worry about winning the votes of conservatives because he or she already has them. A Democrat isn't concerned about winning the votes of the liberals who will vote for him or her anyway. Political candidates have to focus on convincing the undecided voters and maybe stealing some from the other party. That's how an office is won.

Donovan's goal was a great moment just like Wambach's,
except the US men followed it up with a loss to Ghana.

Similarly, American soccer has its loyal fans that will always be there. What soccer needs is more moments like Sunday's big win to get the casual fans and even those who are sworn soccer haters to get on board and not forget those big moments.

Wambach's goal was almost identical to Landon Donovan's goal for the men's team in the 2010 World Cup. In both instances, the team was in the brink of elimination, a minute or two from the final whistle being blown. Then, out of nowhere, the ball found the back of the net, faith was restored, and the nation went crazy.


The problem with Donovan's big moment? It was followed up with a crushing loss to Ghana. While soccer had won a few more fans after Donovan's goal, most of America jumped right off the bandwagon they had jumped on a few weeks earlier. Let's face it. We're frontrunners. We love a winner.

Hope Solo's sex appeal isn't the only
reason to love this team, but it helps.

That is why the pressure is on the US women. There can't be a letdown today, when all American eyes will be on them. You can't help but think they have it in them, too. The United States was one of the top teams entering the tournament anyway. This team obviously showed its fire and heart battling back to beat Brazil. It has the star power of Wambach and Hope Solo, and the other top world powers (Germany and Brazil) are out of the tournament. The toughest part may be over, but they do have to finish.

Would the 1980 Miracle on Ice have been half as memorable if the United States had gone out and lost to Finland in the gold medal game? Of course not. We loved the upset over the Soviets in the semifinal, but we loved that team forever because it won the gold.

While I'm not saying a World Cup win would do for women's soccer what the Miracle on Ice did for hockey, the parallels are there. Wambach's moment will be lost if the United States trips up against France or in the final. People will jump off the bandwagon if they don't win. They have to win the World Cup. Then the momentum will keep rolling, and it'll be another big win for soccer in this country. Soccer will almost certainly never be number one in this country, but it can always keep gaining respect.

If the United States wins tomorrow, when everyone will be watching, the momentum and excitement will build. If they win it all? Then the celebration continues well after the World Cup ends.

That's why today is the perfect day for our women's team to make a statement. They are the only show in town.

Curtain up.

Changing the MLB All-Star Game

I titled my blog "Changing the MLB All-Star Game" instead of "Fixing the MLB All-Star Game" because the game really isn't broken and in need of big changes, but it does have some flaws that I could do without.

The Major League Baseball All-Star game is far and away the best all-star game in sports. Because of the history of the game, both sides try to win, but they have fun with it, too. Who could forget Randy Johnson throwing over John Kruk's head in the 1993 game in Baltimore?

The NFL Pro Bowl as well as the NBA and NHL games are essentially pick-up games with no defense are are just shows for fans, not that there's anything wrong with that. The games should just be for fun because they are, after all, exhibitions. There is no reason to risk injury by playing 100% in an all-star game. This brings me to my first suggestion for change.

The tie in 2002 was disappointing,
but let's not overreact to it.

1. The game should not decide home field advantage in the World Series.
This is one of the most ridiculous rules in sports, right up there with the NBA rule that a team gets to advance the ball after a late-game timeout. The rule about the World Series was put in place because of a gross overreaction to the tie in Milwaukee in 2002. Yes, that sucked, but I'm over it. Is it really that important that the players "play hard" in this game and want to play in it? I don't think so. By the way, I'm not sure they do even with this World Series rule in place.

Sixteen players have pulled out of the 2011 game for one reason or another. Sixteen. If they all really cared about home field in the World Series, wouldn't they suck it up and go? Furthermore, the 2002 game didn't end in a tie because the players weren't playing hard. The game ended in a tie because both teams scored the same number of runs and both teams were out of pitchers. That could happen this year or any year. In fact, it almost did in 2008 in Yankee Stadium. The game went 15 innings, and I was curious how much longer they would have let it go before both teams said they had had enough. At some point, it's just not worth it for a Major League team to have a pitcher blow out his arm in extra innings trying to get home field in a game his team might not even play in. I remember staying up watching the game, and I started pulling for a tie once the game got past the 12th inning because I wanted to see what Bud Selig would do if both teams ran out of players.

Why did the Giants have home field
in the 2010 World Series? This guy.

It is ludicrous that the reason the San Francisco Giants had home field advantage over the Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series was because Atlanta's Brian McCann doubled off Chicago's Matt Thornton in a July exhibition game. Digest that for a second.

The old way wasn't any better, either, by the way. Just alternating which league got home field? Equally confusing.

Home field advantage in the World Series should go to the team with the better record. Period. You don't give everything you have for 162 games just to have some game that doesn't count in the standings decide where Game Seven will be played. You give your best for 162 games because you want that critical home field in the games that determine the champion. The NBA and NHL both subscribe to this simple school of logic. Why baseball refuses to get on board with this has always baffled me.

Okay, so you're saying, "but Joe, what if it ends in a tie again?"

So what if it does? Just enjoy the fact you had a fun game and say goodnight. It's an exhibition. If it ends in a tie, big deal. We all had fun, right? Plus, if we know a tie is possible going in, I don't think it would be that big of a deal. That leads me to my next suggested rule change.

2.  The game cannot last more than 12 innings. After that, it ends in a tie.
If fans know going in that this is a rule, a tie will not be nearly as disappointing as 2002 was. If players and managers know this going in, they can manage their bullpens and benches accordingly. They don't have to save guys for a possible 18-inning marathon. They can empty the bench in the 11th and clean out the bullpen in the 12th. Isn't that always one minor complaint: that some guys didn't get in? This rule wouldn't completely solve that, but it might help.

Although there's no way to ensure every player gets into the game, knowing an exact drop-dead stop time (or inning) would help managers know when they can use everyone. So, some guys in their first (and maybe only) All-Star game can get in there just to say they played. Then the game can end and we can all go to bed.

I want to see Halladay pitch, not hit. Use the DH.

3. Use the DH every year in every park.
I'm a National League guy, and I like the strategy of having the pitcher bat. It forces managers to make critical decisions and rewards more well-rounded players who can both pitch and handle the bat. That said, I don't tune into the All-Star Game to see Roy Halladay or Jered Weaver hit. I tune in to see them pitch. Plus, All-Star pitchers are almost always pinch-hit for anyway. Using the DH all the time in the All-Star game means some bench player who was hoping to take the field won't see his night end after pinch-hitting in the second inning.

So, does that mean the National League just gets to pick its DH? Not necessarily, according to my next suggestion.

4. The top National League vote-getter who is not starting is the NL DH.
In other words, it's between the second-place finishers at first, catcher, short, second, and third against the fourth-place finisher in the outfield. It kind of has a wild card feel to it, doesn't it? So fans can keep voting for Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder even if Albert Pujols is way, way out in front.

On that note, my next suggestion isn't a rule change. It's just an affirmation of something that's already in place, although it draws some criticism.

5. Fan voting is fine the way it is.
I know that sometimes, guys get into the game that probably don't deserve it, but the game should be about the fans. If they want to see an aging player who is struggling but is an all-time favorite, I'm fine with that. Also, sometimes the AL lineup is all Yankees and Red Sox. To that I say: get out and vote more, fans of other teams. If you hate the Yankees and Red Sox, go stuff the ballot box for someone else.

I'm not suggesting sweeping change to the MLB All-Star game, just a few minor tweaks that bother me, especially the World Series thing. Taking that away won't make the players take the game less seriously. Even if they do, that's the direction the game is going anyway. I think fighting it is futile. The regular season and the World Series are now and forever will be more important than the All-Star Game, and I'm fine with that.

Several players pull out of the game every year with minor injuries. They'll do that no matter what is at stake. Baseball players respect their game, however. Even if a lot of players do pull out of the game, the ones who do play will always give a good effort for the fans no matter what the rules are, and I would like to see how the game looks if these minor changes were made.

Bravo Blog: Right time to fix Chipper's knee, trade thoughts

Now is the right time for Chipper
to have his knee surgery.

The Braves put Chipper Jones on the DL today so he can have arthroscopic surgery to fix a slightly torn meniscus in his right knee. It's the right move for the team for several reasons.

Chipper has been playing in pain for most of the first half. It's better to get the knee fixed now and get him as close to healthy as possible for the pennant race. Plus, with the All-Star break coming, the Braves have four days off, during which time Chipper can start to recover so he misses less games. Even if he needs a full three weeks to get back (estimated recovery time is 2-3 weeks), he'll only miss about 15 games.

The Braves will miss his bat, but not as much as you might think. The offense has been playing well lately, and 2010 All-Star Martin Prado has been on the DL during the hot streak. He's scheduled to return right after the break. So, he'll just jump right into Chipper's spot at third.

Another bonus is that Chipper should return before the trade deadline, meaning the team can evaluate if Chipper will be good to go for August and September, or if they will need to shop for offensive help.

Right now, there isn't a big need to trade for an expensive bat if everyone is healthy. A dependable right-handed utility guy, though, could be a nice addition, and I have an idea for one, although I have no idea if he's available: Omar Infante. Yes, the same Infante the Braves traded for Dan Uggla. Infante was a star last year in Atlanta coming off the bench to play several positions. If the Marlins are sellers, he could fill that role perfectly again this season. He can back up Alex Gonzalez at short (a job currently held by journeyman Julio Lugo), he could start in CF, LF, or 3B if needed, and he is a dependable right-handed bat. He'll be a free agent after the season, so the Marlins could probably be talked into dealing him.

Trade one of these guys? Absolutely no chance.

Don't believe any hype, though, about Atlanta trading any of its big arms. No one in the current rotation (Derek Lowe, Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, or Brandon Beachy) is going anywhere. Top prospects Mike Minor and Julio Teheran are also pretty close to untouchable I would think. The Braves would have to be blown away to be talked into dealing one of those guys, and I'm not talking about "Carlos Quentin blown away" (as some rumors have reported). I'm talking about "Jose Bautista blown away," which would almost certainly won't happen, so it's a moot point.

The Braves should look into bringing back Omar Infante.

The Braves' roster on August 1 (day after the trade deadline) will probably look pretty close to the way it does now, with the only possible exceptions being Peter Moylan should be back in the bullpen and maybe a bench player will be added. Frank Wren would be wise to call the Marlins to see what the price on Infante is. He'd fit perfectly as a bench player and fill-in starter. Everyone on the team already knows and respects him, and he'd be nice insurance down the stretch if the Braves suffer any unfortunate injuries.

Assuming Chipper and Prado both come back healthy, the Braves should be neck-and-neck with the Phillies all summer. Their starting pitching is great, the bullpen (the back end of it anyway) is as good as any in baseball, and the offense has finally started to click as Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla have warmed up. This team should be in the thick of the playoff chase, and a minor addition or two could help the Braves play deep into October.