I admit..I've been against getting bourn for a while. He's overrated, strikes out a ton with no power and can very well come here putting up career lows ala Jason bay . But I've been imagining him leading off for us in front of guys we know are gonna hit (Murphy, Wright, Davis..even tejada in the 2 hole could bring him home). Bourn annually gets close to 200 hits so if he puts up typical numbers he can give us huge opportunity to be (yes I'm saying it) a juggernaut. Up and down the line up we would have little to no "easy outs" . And if Duda can get on track we'd have three guys who can give us 25 or more Homers. (and let's not forget Buck can provide ample pop as well.) Bourn also helps Duda in the field a ton. So while Iwouldn't lose sleep if we pass on some mega contract for him I can finally see how some firmly believe he'd be a difference maker.

thoughts?(..other than from bbjmparis)

I was also on the fence with Bourne, but (and I'll probably be called a koolaider) I don't think this team is really that far off from contending.

I agree with John Harper who feels very strongly that Santana is going to have a very good year this year. Everything he hears regarding Santana is good, and it's his walk year. I like our rotation, even minus Dickey, and we might even see Wheeler this year.

The lineup would look pretty damm good with Bourne at the top. Look at it this way, if you want a side-by-side comparison. The Yankees are going to scratch for runs this year, most folks are in agreement that they won't be the "Bronx Bombers" this year. And going man for man, is their rotation and bullpen *really* * that* *much* better than ours? Taking into consideration the age of some of them. And alot of folks consider them to be a 90 win team this year. I don't, but alot do.

Just my opinion from where I'm sitting.

I think its the hallucinations kicking in... have you eaten yet? JK. Bourn is an upgrade, there is no question. How much of an upgrade, that is the question. I think as the possibility grows that they get bourn and keep the pick, it looks better and better for the team. Also, as now it seems the Pen may not be a total disaster, maybe they can hold on to some leads this year.

>>>"i have no problem signing bourn. Look I admit im more positive than most BUT i am also a realist. Our OF stinks so adding bourn who provides speed and defense is needed. i think Sandy is handling this perfectly. He obviously wants bourn BUT he has waited until our pick is protected and other teams have finished their offseason. Bourn will be a met IMO"<<<

Well, I don't know if Bourn will be a Met or not, but I agree with your post. Bourn would fit several needs we have - speed at the top of the order, and defense in CF. Also agree that Sandy is playing this out perfectly. If he doesn't land him, it won't be from a lack of good strategy. He's waiting to protect his pick, and for the price to drop, and not coming off as desperate. My only problem with getting Bourn is that we not pay too much in $$$ and years for him if we do sign him. Other than that he should be a use piece.

My thought is that those 156 Ks won't look good in that lead off spot. Nothing makes me feel as low as seeing the first man up strike out it takes the air out of the Balloon. I know that he won't lead off every inning but still even if he is not those Ks don't move many players around the bases.

I'm still in the if they sign him they sign him boat. Never like dealing with Boras. I always wonder if they could get 2 or 3 players for the money they'll pay Bourn.

His strikeout rate is definitely high, especially for a non-power hitter. One thing to keep in mind about the 155 K's though, is that he had 624 AB's last year. So he K'd about 25% of the time in 2012, not good by any means, but his other two recent seasons he struck out in 21% and 20% of his AB's, which is still high but a little better.

By comparison, BJ Upton has K'd between 27% and 30% of his AB's over the last 4 years. I know he hits for a lot more power, but that's a lot of swings and misses.

We'll see, it may be a moot point anyway if he signs elsewhere.

The Braves have so many swings and misses on their team it will feel like they installed air conditioning to the people in the stands. Both Uptons, Heyward, Freeman, Uggla and Johnson all first line starters. That leaves only 2 players McCann and Simmons plus the pitcher to make contact.

And they'll still score a lot of runs... Proving that Ks isn't as important as some would have you believe.

They don't move runners around the bases and make your team more dependent on the Home Run. So when those home runs don't happen you make it hard for your team to score.

Yet, teams with very little speed and a lot of power always end up scoring more runs.

SA said it himself- Power matters in the game today.

Strikeouts are overrated. The actual percentage of situations that occur where a strikeout is worse than any other type of out is very small.

I agree.
he should hold his value for 3 years. (hopefully not more)
Just because the Braves and Nats look so good doesn't mean that we should say its pointless to try and improve right now.
Bottom line is Bourn makes us a better team and the ultimate goal is to improve right?

welcome aboard. bora has been too qute tho. probably busy eating some dumb owners lunch.

IMO this conversation is moot because we are not getting Bourne because Fred ain't spending.

<<"My thought is that those 156 Ks won't look good in that lead off spot. Nothing makes me feel as low as seeing the first man up strike out it takes the air out of the Balloon. I know that he won't lead off every inning but still even if he is not those Ks don't move many players around the bases. "

I hear you, but what's the difference between Bourn striking out or Reyes popping out to leadoff a game. Bourn's approx a .349 OBP leadoff hitter with 40+ SBs and a gold glove caliber CFer. He'd be a huge upgrade and really help Wright, Davis, etc

Bourns price will go down the longer he waits

The more this plays out, the more I'm thinking he could possibly be the piece that puts us in WC contention. No, I'm not choking on my koolade. He gives us a true lead-off hitter and CF. He may strike out a lot, but that seems to be a trend nowadays. As long as he get near 200 hits, 40 SB's and plays solid D, he improves us greatly and gives us some flexibility with future trades. It also means no major holes in the line-up, last year we had lots (Thole, Bay, Torres). With our starting pitching looking better and better, our BP now having several L & R options for all roles, improved offense and a very good infield and a potentially decent OF (Bourn, Duda, Kirk, DD, Cowgill, Brown, Baxter, Byrd).....just maybe.....WC #2??