House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves Sunday Chop: the great beat writer dance-off

By Alan Carpenter

TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 08: Catcher J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins runs after hitting a solo homer to make it 8-4 in the top of 5th inning during the exhibition game between Yomiuri Giants and the MLB All Stars at Tokyo Dome on November 8, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 08: Catcher J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins runs after hitting a solo homer to make it 8-4 in the top of 5th inning during the exhibition game between Yomiuri Giants and the MLB All Stars at Tokyo Dome on November 8, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) /
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NAGOYA, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 15: Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves is welcomed by Manager Don Mattingly #8 of the Miami Marlins and Deesignated hitter J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins as he is introduced prior to the game six between Japan and MLB All Stars at Nagoya Dome on November 15, 2018 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
NAGOYA, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 15: Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves is welcomed by Manager Don Mattingly #8 of the Miami Marlins and Deesignated hitter J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins as he is introduced prior to the game six between Japan and MLB All Stars at Nagoya Dome on November 15, 2018 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) /

It’s relatively rare that we see such obviously polar-opposite takes on a rumor, but that’s what we’ve got right now with these snippets about J.T. Realmuto – the Human Trade Rumor.

This is almost getting comical – and would be except that the Atlanta Braves‘ off-season is either going to be merely ‘solid’ or jump to a new level once this rumor is resolved.

There are a lot of fans who really want this to be true… this notion that the Braves are trying to land the best catcher in the majors.  Others are rightly leery of what the Braves would have to forfeit to convince the Marlins that they are better off with their best trade asset playing against them for 19 games a year.

There are others trying to figure out why there’s even a conversation going on – the Braves have 2 catchers, after all.

The answer to that latter point should be obvious, and it’s essentially the mantra that all General Managers utter:  ‘we’re always looking to improve’.  I don’t care if you have 5 catchers on the roster… Realmuto would qualify as an improvement.

But for the this point in time, let’s just take a look at this curious battle going on between a couple of media folks who have been around the block a time or two:  Craig Mish and Mark Bowman.

Who are these Guys?

MARK BOWMAN.  Braves’ fans are well familiar with Bowman, who is employed by mlb.com to write about the Atlanta Braves.  He is occasionally called upon to contribute on the MLB Network and elsewhere due to his coverage of Atlanta.

Bowman has a sharp wit about him that often shows up in tweets via @MLBBowman.

CRAIG MISH.  Mish is from the Miami area and hosts the ‘Swings And Mishes’ podcast about the Marlins while also handling duties as a national sports host on Sirius/XM radio.  So like Bowman, he has sources – though his come via the Marlins’ side of the house, of course.

Mish maintains a website and also tweets his thoughts and rumors from @CraigMish.

Both are long-term pros and know what they’re doing… so that’s what makes this next bit so strange:  a public disagreement.

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