The Atlanta Braves announced they have re-signed outfielder / first baseman / pinch hitter Greg Norton to a one year contract for the 2009 season. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.
I getting really tired of these “Braves are the laughing stock of the MLB” comments. No, they are not. Almost everyone I’ve heard comment on the Furcal situation is squarely in the Brave’s corner on that one. At least we competed with the Yankees for Burnett — no reason to laugh at us there, it’s more than 28 other teams managed to do. Atlanta apparently is one of only 4 or 5 places Jake Peavy does want to go to, but he has the matter of a general manager with brain damage to overcome.
So, all you people who come here to post three or four times a year in order to say something stupid and negative, please, in the name of all that is holy, go away. At least for a while.
I will now await a minimum of 10 comments starring mis-informed people who think that Wren signed Norton to be our power hitting LF. Let the idiotic bitching begin!
Great move. Not always signing a big name will give you a chance at making the playoffs. A signing like this is what also helps put you in the playoffs.
I think bringing Norton back is smart. He produced great for us off the bench. Having a switch hitter off the bench creates miss matches. We can use him in left and help take some pressure off of Matt Diaz. Good move. He’ll also give Frenchy a break if he slumps and I believe they can use him at first too. Good move. Now lets get Adam Dunn!!!!!
the funny thing is that norton actually hit clean up for us a few times this past year. fail.
but in all seriousness, he’s a good bench bat to have. i approve.
The Braves seem to stockpile players that have seen their best days and pay them next to nothing and Greg Norton is one of those players. In 2006 Norton hit 17 homers for the Rays but in the last two seasons he has hit a total of 11 homers. He batted 294 times in 2006 and since then has batted 389 times giving him 6 less homers in almost 100 more at bats. He does get credit for hitting .296 for Braves with runners in scoring position. His OBP of .373 last season was very respectable and he shows great plate discipline. When he hit from the right side last season he hit .192 while hitting .289 as a lefthanded batter.
There is a lot of good stuff in hindsight. Where a lot of people called him Rake, I kept calling him the White Wilson Betemit until I decided to start calling him GNortony, in honor of Bobby adding “-ey” to everyone’s name.
I also found a fanpost by jug a few months ago where he was all apathetic about Infante returning from the DL, and only two months later, was he practically the most reliable bat in an injury-blitzed lineup.
of a Braves cap signed by the Rake / GNortony / WWB, which I received in my gift bag at the Braves Power Lunch I attended — the one where I interviewed John Smoltz. Also I met him afterward outside the restaurant…. pretty unassuming sort of fellow. Norton, not Smoltz.
Norton’s a great guy. I talked with him a bunch of times when he was in AAA Charlotte, Toledo, and Durham. He’s definitely a pro; he goes about his business and treats people the right way. I was a fan before they picked him up and only became more of one during the season. Definitely glad they brought him back.
THE RAKE RETURNS!!!!!
mvandonsel - December 19, 2008
Indeed…smart move.
Smoltz's Beard - December 19, 2008
No Brainer
At least SOMEONE wants to come to Atlanta.!! Atlanta Braves are a laughing stock right now
AlRoBraves95 - December 20, 2008
I getting really tired of these “Braves are the laughing stock of the MLB” comments. No, they are not. Almost everyone I’ve heard comment on the Furcal situation is squarely in the Brave’s corner on that one. At least we competed with the Yankees for Burnett — no reason to laugh at us there, it’s more than 28 other teams managed to do. Atlanta apparently is one of only 4 or 5 places Jake Peavy does want to go to, but he has the matter of a general manager with brain damage to overcome.
So, all you people who come here to post three or four times a year in order to say something stupid and negative, please, in the name of all that is holy, go away. At least for a while.
Thank you, and good day.
sddbaker - December 23, 2008
+10
mvandonsel - December 23, 2008
I wish...
I had taken a picture of his wife at the brown bag event, to post, to commemorate this joyous occasion.
royhobbs - December 19, 2008
Is she good looking?
mvandonsel - December 19, 2008
I like it
Very solid move, and we should all be glad.
I will now await a minimum of 10 comments starring mis-informed people who think that Wren signed Norton to be our power hitting LF. Let the idiotic bitching begin!
VegasAces - December 19, 2008
Link
Is there a link to this or did you just hear it?
bbxxj - December 19, 2008
I’m one of the special people who occasionally get press releases from the Braves.
gondeee - December 19, 2008
hahaha
gondeee’s kind of a big deal, y’know.
royhobbs - December 19, 2008
haha
Ok I trust you.
His line last year as a switch hitting PH: .316/.473/.526 with 3HR in 57AB.
Solid signing.
bbxxj - December 19, 2008
I’m glad we re-signed Greg Norton
Sparhawk - December 19, 2008
Pretty sad....
When this is the best news we’ve gotten. It is a good move, though.
secondbass - December 19, 2008
Best move of the offseason.
someguy917 - December 19, 2008
Great move. Not always signing a big name will give you a chance at making the playoffs. A signing like this is what also helps put you in the playoffs.
rockybull - December 19, 2008
See you in October
I’ll eat my hat if we make the playoffs next year.
TradeAndruw - December 19, 2008
for once, i approve of this
LONG LIVE THE RAKE
bigjoe - December 19, 2008
The last Braves game at Shea made special by Mr. Norton
VictorW - December 19, 2008
Here's a picture..
of the Mets vs. The Rake:
sddbaker - December 23, 2008
hahahaha
+10
mvandonsel - December 23, 2008
That's hilarious!
This better be posted every time the rake hits a homer!
VictorW - December 24, 2008
I think bringing Norton back is smart. He produced great for us off the bench. Having a switch hitter off the bench creates miss matches. We can use him in left and help take some pressure off of Matt Diaz. Good move. He’ll also give Frenchy a break if he slumps and I believe they can use him at first too. Good move. Now lets get Adam Dunn!!!!!
mrrich95 - December 19, 2008
how long before we hear that some other team signed him?
SayHeyWerd - December 19, 2008
+1
totally caught off guard by that one. Priceless!
scstrato - December 19, 2008
p.s. Nortons the man
SayHeyWerd - December 19, 2008
We now have a power hitting left fielding clean up hitter!!
jjcollins - December 19, 2008
the funny thing is that norton actually hit clean up for us a few times this past year. fail.
but in all seriousness, he’s a good bench bat to have. i approve.
FYFs LOBs - December 20, 2008
i noticed no one said this, the deal is for like 800K or so
awesome deal
bigjoe - December 20, 2008
Rake!
Sorry, guys, the only pic I have of Jaena has just a portion of her face in it.
Lizziebeth - December 20, 2008
Greg Norton Signing Typical of Braves
The Braves seem to stockpile players that have seen their best days and pay them next to nothing and Greg Norton is one of those players. In 2006 Norton hit 17 homers for the Rays but in the last two seasons he has hit a total of 11 homers. He batted 294 times in 2006 and since then has batted 389 times giving him 6 less homers in almost 100 more at bats. He does get credit for hitting .296 for Braves with runners in scoring position. His OBP of .373 last season was very respectable and he shows great plate discipline. When he hit from the right side last season he hit .192 while hitting .289 as a lefthanded batter.
NIteowl049 - December 23, 2008
Classic.
I was trying to go back in the archives and find the game thread where we came up with the name Rake, but I found this first:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2008/5/5/473240/braves-acquire-greg-norton
Smoltz's Beard - December 23, 2008
Ha
There is a lot of good stuff in hindsight. Where a lot of people called him Rake, I kept calling him the White Wilson Betemit until I decided to start calling him GNortony, in honor of Bobby adding “-ey” to everyone’s name.
I also found a fanpost by jug a few months ago where he was all apathetic about Infante returning from the DL, and only two months later, was he practically the most reliable bat in an injury-blitzed lineup.
royhobbs - December 23, 2008
I prefered GNortony!
I think we came up with rake because somebody said he looked like a tool in his MLB.com photo.
mvandonsel - December 23, 2008
me. as usual
bigjoe - December 23, 2008
Let’s be reasonable here. I called him a tool, and then we argued about which tool in the shed would be the best fit. You ultimately won, with Rake.
Smoltz's Beard - December 23, 2008
At least neither of you two losers tried to copyright it, like that one guy who tried to copyright all of the clever sayings that started here.
royhobbs - December 23, 2008
you shouldn’t crap on gondee like that, its real mean.
and i SO called him a tool first. shenanigans, i say.
bigjoe - December 23, 2008
I am the proud owner...
of a Braves cap signed by the Rake / GNortony / WWB, which I received in my gift bag at the Braves Power Lunch I attended — the one where I interviewed John Smoltz. Also I met him afterward outside the restaurant…. pretty unassuming sort of fellow. Norton, not Smoltz.
sddbaker - December 23, 2008
Norton’s a great guy. I talked with him a bunch of times when he was in AAA Charlotte, Toledo, and Durham. He’s definitely a pro; he goes about his business and treats people the right way. I was a fan before they picked him up and only became more of one during the season. Definitely glad they brought him back.
cbwilk - December 23, 2008
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