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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,260 comments Add your comment
C's
February 21st, 2009
10:04 am
Sorry, not MLBTV.com. My mistake. Just Google MLBTV and you’ll find it.
GermanBravesFan
February 21st, 2009
10:06 am
Thanks, C’s…. much appreciated! I will only be able to see day games, but it’s better than nothing!
Doc Holiday
February 21st, 2009
10:09 am
what with this?
Your comment is awaiting for moderation
how come a comment appears like that for more than 48 hours?
Dadgum
February 21st, 2009
10:14 am
As for Hudson, the guy is on thin ice anyway in ‘09. There is a 12 mil mutual option which the Braves can decline and pay Hudson a few bucks to leave. Exactly where Hudson will fit in with this rotation is anyone’s guess. It will hinge on teh performances of Kawakami and Vazquez most likely. If those guys perform and barring any other injury to another starter, I don’t see the Braves picking up Hudson’s option at this point. I mean 12 freakin million dollars!! You gotta be kidding me.
Don’t know about you guys but knowing what I know right now it would be a long shot to imagine Hudson pitching for Atlanta. Yeah, things can change. It’s a long season but Hudson is on thin ice and apparently pissing people off in the meantime.
Rock on…..keep up the good work Dave!
Doc Holiday
February 21st, 2009
10:15 am
Random…………can you read me?
tr
February 21st, 2009
10:17 am
Doc H – probably has something to do with the AJC computer glitch – they’re working on it – that limits viewable posts to the last 100 or so! Annoying!
George
February 21st, 2009
10:34 am
I read the Moore column this morning and found it interesting that it has been closed for comments already. Is this because of the new “100″ rule or because EVERYONE responding to was critcal of the inept Brave’s management and the way John Smoltz and others have been mishandled?
greg
February 21st, 2009
10:42 am
DOB:
Why can’t you just go back to the old blog format? It was 100 times better than this one. I see no advantage to this. Your posts are harder to find because they come in only slightly darker than the rest of us rather than the blue that worked so well. And most of us don’t even get to see your posts because of the hundred comment nonsense. Is there really some advantage to this? All of your AJC sports colleagues are still using the other format, and there stuff is a lot easier to read. I know it’s hard for a newspaper’s management to admit error, but this new blog format sucks. Go back to the old one. This is a clear case of fixing something that wasn’t broken.
PTBNL
February 21st, 2009
10:48 am
George, did you read the comments? The first few were critical of Braves managment, but after that it seemed to me that most (overwhelmingly) were critical of both the writer and Smoltz. At least that is how it was when I went there yesterday afternoon.
Ben
February 21st, 2009
10:52 am
DOB- I hope I’m not repeating these questions, with the technical problems AJC is having. Has Soriano thrown yet? How does Kawakami look?
Random
February 21st, 2009
10:57 am
Doc Holiday –
Loud and clear, for who knows how many more minutes.
I myself have had 10-20 comments awaiting moderation over the past couple of days (ironically, 3 or 4 defending DOB’s reporting).
I said I’m opting out for now — we’ll see if I’m serious about that.
I strongly urge you to go to the “From the geeks” link above and let them know what you want/need/expect from the blog — it’s currently under (re)construction.)
spotts
February 21st, 2009
10:59 am
Going back to the running talk – I’d like to ask the men who run the Atlanta Marathon and Half Marathon on Thanksgiving to either not wear white shirts or wear some kind of a running shirt. At the finish line it looks like everyone’s got white t-shirts with two red eyes looking at me.
As for Heyward and Freeman, I’m real excited about having some potential studs in the lineup. I just hate how you have to be patient in baseball and wait a few years for players to develop. I’m real glad they got invited to spring training, though.
David O'Brien
February 21st, 2009
11:02 am
TKO: Vazquez? He’s perfectly fine. He’s pitching in the WBC, pitched in winter ball. He’s had no health issues to speak of.
Soriano’s thrown once, at least (not sure if he threw yesterday; I’ll ask). Had no problems. Also supposedly threw bullpens in D.R. before he came down, then missed first few days of camp with sickness.
spotts
February 21st, 2009
11:03 am
<strong?greg
You really think it’s easier to spot a few blue letters than an entire hilighted post?
And most of the other columnists Moore and Bisher are using the new formats. And some of the other beat writers that I’ve seen. The new format takes a way shorter time to load and will be great once this 100 post thing is cleared up.
David O'Brien
February 21st, 2009
11:04 am
Ben, Kawakami has thrown three bullpens and will face hitters for first time today, or is supposed to at least. I’ll tell you how he does against them. Cox was real impressed with his last outing, first time he threw anything but fastballs (he’s on a bit of a different schedule, doing things the way they do in Japan, bringing on his pitches slowly, waiting to face hitters after a few bullpens, etc)
Doc Holiday
February 21st, 2009
11:06 am
Enter your comments here
JEB
February 21st, 2009
11:07 am
Reading through Moore’s column (and blog entries), it really seems about 10 to 1 against Moore and Smoltz.
The front page story (w/picture of Smoltz) is kinda sad and troubling.
It appears that Smoltz feels like the Braves organization needs to be pulling out a lot more dollars – spending more – in order to keep players (namely himself!)
In this economy, and the constantly growing cost of taking the family to a game, those are NOT comments to be making. I would bet that more than 50% of the families that have been going to the game for the last 5 years have been going on debt. They are families that could not pull the cash out of their pockets to go – and placed it on the card and increased their debt load in going to the game.
This type of activity soon catches up with you. It’s not hard to look at our economy now and figure that out. A lot of people will not being going to games this year because they have no more credit room to go on.
As I said, not a day and time to be making comments as Smoltz did about money being paid to multi-millionaires. It really shows how out of touch with the times he is!
By the way, I love Smoltz! He is my all-time favorite Brave!
MacGruber
February 21st, 2009
11:09 am
DOB, long time reader, first time posting. Great job with the blog, truly gets me through work everyday.
How’s Kotchman looking so far this spring. I must say he was disappointing at first base last season offensively. Do you feel like he’s the answer there, and if not, who would be?
DiamondbackMac
February 21st, 2009
11:13 am
MacGruber http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090220&content_id=3858610&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
Article on Kotchman
spotts
February 21st, 2009
11:16 am
JEB
So you’re blaming baseball for the economic troubles.
Brian22
February 21st, 2009
11:22 am
DOB, Kevin Kennedy supposedly reported on XM that the Braves are close to signing Luis Gonzalez. Any truth to this?
JEB
February 21st, 2009
11:25 am
Spotts
Man you really jumped on a limb…
Going to baseball games is one of our “extras” in our spending.
Not something we HAVE to have or do. It’s an easy thing to cut out (and will be by many!). Many will not be able – and many just will not increase their spending or debt to go to games this year.
As of right now, I have 5 very close friends, and active Braves fans, who have stated these very issues.
By the way, no – baseball is not to blame.
Coxlover
February 21st, 2009
11:27 am
Smoltz is just an idiot. Doesn’t he realize the Braves can’t afford to pay players like the Yankees and Red Sox do. The Braves play in a relatively small city of 500,000, and we’re a mid market team. We can’t compete with the likes of the Red Sox and Yankees.
DiamondbackMac
February 21st, 2009
11:29 am
DOB You must have known some marathon runners. I used to run 15 miles 7 days a week. Some weeks I cheated but felt guilty when I did.
tr
February 21st, 2009
11:32 am
All the “running” talk this morning has given me leg cramps, and I don’t even run!
TM
February 21st, 2009
11:34 am
I’m tired of reading people bashing Smoltz in these blogs. There are a few things that must be said:
1. For those who think John Smoltz chose to leave the Braves, get a reality check. It was the Braves who gave him such a low offer that he even entertained the thought of leaving. Braves management didn’t even come to see him pitch and see his progress. They also did not have an open line of communication with Smoltz to learn of his progress. Add those 3 things up and the “hand writting” is pretty clear that the Braves did not want Smoltz.
2. It is the decision of not retaining Smoltz that has rocked the fanbase… not Smoltz going to the Red Sox. There is a big difference between what Glavine did to the Braves back in 2000 vs. what happened in the Smoltz departure. The Braves did everything they could for Glavine back then and he shunned them. Reread #1 to see what the Braves did with Smoltz.
3. All those that whine and complain about the money Smoltz got last year while being hurt, $$$ per inning and all that cr@p. Every team has players who get injured and paid while not playing. It is a fact of MLB and contract law. Those people whine and complain constantly about athlete’s salary’s. THIS JUST IN: athlete’s get paid a lot of money and it is not comparable to everyday work compensation. What is so hard to understand about this?
4. For those who think Smoltz showed no loyalty after getting paid last year and not pitching and leaving this year, there was 4 times Smoltz became a free-agent and 4 times he took less money to stay with the Atlanta Braves. Now, most people dismiss this fact, but it is a major thing in this whole situation. 4 TIMES, Smoltz could have left for more cash… and did not. That is called LOYALTY, people.
**Summary**, in this day and age where players move around teams every year, two years, three years…
John Smoltz was a throw back to the “old days”. He earned and deserved the opportunity to call his own shot with the Braves. He wasn’t asking for the world. He only asked for a little loyalty in return for his loyalty over the last 20 years. The Braves were unwilling to do that. THAT is the problem I have with this team.
MacGruber
February 21st, 2009
11:39 am
DiamondbackMac
Awesome, thanks.
Brian22
I really hope we DON’T get Gonzalez. I would rather have Garrett Anderson if they are set on signing someone.
Frank from KS
February 21st, 2009
11:39 am
Well…if there was any interest in Orlando Hudson……he’s gone now.
How many others are we going to lose out on??
Ya know, I was one of the few Wren-backers….but I’m not sure if I would back him much longer.
As much as I’m happy he signed Lowe and he resigned Tommy….he’s f-up a lot of things that should’ve fell right into our hands.
Scherhoultz(sp) would’ve done better IMO.
DiamondbackMac
February 21st, 2009
11:41 am
MacGruber You’re welcome.
tr
February 21st, 2009
11:46 am
TM – I’m of the mind set that the Braves had other priorities (rightly so) at the time this all happened, and if Smoltz had really wanted to stay, he would have patiently worked his deal with the Braves as Glavine did and remained a Brave without having to sacrifice dollars and pride. He chose not to do so – no hard feelings – still a big fan.
But his relentless talk on the subject since then has strained this fan’s adoration. Would it be so hard for the classy guy I cheered to simply say something like, “I hate it didn’t work out for me to stay with the Braves, but I pitch for the Red Sox now. Next question!”
Poorbrave
February 21st, 2009
11:46 am
Thanks TM, Well said. Love John Smoltz, hope he wins big this year. Braves management sucks!!
Danga
February 21st, 2009
11:46 am
So Smoltzie is sporting a career loyalty average of .800. That ain’t bad in this day and age. I would be willing to be that most people on this blog were pretty upset when Smoltz left. I think we would all like the opportunity to catch a game at the Ted with him pitching in a Braves uniform. But the incessant moaning about how the Braves treated him unfairly gets a little old after a while. There is only so much bashing of your favorite team that you care to hear, even it is from someone you respect. The Braves made a choice. They were willing to spend a certain amount of money on a risky icon. Someone else was willing to spend a little more, so here we stand. The Braves have moved on, and I wish Smoltz would too.
Poorbrave
February 21st, 2009
11:47 am
Thanks TM, Well said. Got to love Smoltz and hope he wins big in Boston. Braves Management suck!!
PTBNL
February 21st, 2009
11:47 am
TM – Not the way many people see it.
Poorbrave
February 21st, 2009
11:50 am
Sorry about the double blog.
David O'Brien
February 21st, 2009
11:53 am
Should be a NEW BLOG posted now
mbatl
February 21st, 2009
11:55 am
I keep telling myself to lay off on Smoltz, but, the other disingenous thing he keeps saying is how he “sacrificed” 4 times to sign with the Braves.
I admit he probably could’ve gotten more money by going elsewhere. But, not uprooting his family (before he was divorced); remaining in a community and a clubhouse where he was comfortable, respected and had established strong ties – these things have “value.”
The suggestion that he did the Braves such a favor, at his own great loss, to stay here is just b.s. He did what made him happy, and there’s a price for that.
Woogidy
February 21st, 2009
11:58 am
Looking back though, Where does Smoltz fit in this current rotation? I suppose Smoltz is signed instead of Glavine then he’d be 3rd starter and they’d move JJ to the 5 spot, but there’d be no lefty. Glav will be the #3 or #4 out of camp because of Bobby. I think ultimately FW did the best he could with the $$$ alotted to payroll. Loyalty to the organization is outside the lines and has no meaning when it comes to getting guys out. FW went and got some guys that would perform between the lines, and that’s what matters. All that said, I’d have loved to see Smoltz finish his career here, but I care more about the name on the front and its success than the name on the back and their success. It’s Go Braves not Go Smoltzes. At the time he left it was strike 3(Peavy, Furcal, Smoltz) for FW, but it’s a new AB now, and I think he did OK.
Gil In Mechanicsville
February 21st, 2009
12:00 pm
Smoltz, The Braves and the Braves way…. Sounds like a good title for a blog lead… Anyway, as much as I loved having John Smoltz on the team, I fully understand the front office and the offer they made to John. I also fully understand why John left so I can’t blame him for going to Boston. As much money as he has made over the years, he has left that much on the table to stay in Atlanta. So.. let’s all move on and focus on the task at hand. Putting together a team with great pitching and defense and enough offense to halt the sub par seasons that hearken to the 80s
JEB
February 21st, 2009
12:01 pm
tr
Agree with you 100%
TM
I think the Braves management were pretty clear with Smoltz at the end of the season – concerning where they stod with him (and Glavine for that matter). Also, Cox and McDowell were there viewing and watching Smoltz’s pitching displays. Much of what he was doing was done under their eyes. (that blows away your #1 theory)
Also, it was in 2002 that Glavine left – not 2000.
I love Smoltz! We are all sad he’s not with the Braves.
He chose to leave – he’s hurt also! But, he needs to quit throwing rocks back over the fence – just NOT cool at all. Agree with “tr”, on how Smoltz should have handled it. That would have been more in character with him.
David
February 21st, 2009
12:14 pm
DOB, I was told at dwws that the players are just taking physicals today. Sounds like that’s not the case from what your saying. Are todays workouts open to the public?
Mitchell
February 21st, 2009
12:20 pm
Yo DOB,
Concerning our boy Francoeur (not *our* boy, just the *Braves* boy… I don’t know), I was checkin’ out his stats and noticed that he’s 27 homeruns away from 100. Do you think that will help him in some way so he can set his goal for that homerun total for ‘09 as opposed to the more symbolic 30 homeruns?
Or is it going to just make him more nervous and stressed and pathetic?
Kidding Jeff, you’re my boy. And there you go.
Kris in NC
February 21st, 2009
12:55 pm
Smoltz needs to move on. Enough of his whining. Ever since he signed with the Red Sox, all he has done is bad mouth the Braves, on one subject or another. No one ever twisted his arm to stay all those times when his contract was up, he chose to stay of his own choosing.
If Braves management was that bad, he should have left when he had the chance the very 1st time, instead of resigning 3 times before he left us. He was a team leader for this team, a fixture in Atlanta for his charity work but all this negative talk is not endearing him to the fans or people of Atlanta.
As someone so kindly said earlier, Smoltz and Glavine knew at the end of the season where the Braves stood in regards to their contracts and being resigned. Glavine stuck it out and he has resigned with us and Smoltz bolted for more money and won’t see the pitching mound til at least June.
As far as I am concern, Smoltz needs to shut his pie hole and concentrate on Spring Training with his new team, the Red Sox and stop bad mouthing the Braves. This is one fan who has lost all respect for the Bearded Wonder.
Travis
February 21st, 2009
12:57 pm
I find it rather entertaining that Terrence Moore has slammed the Braves for years for not having enough African American blacks on this team and when one is offered a contract we get no credit for trying.
Roger
February 21st, 2009
1:13 pm
In one way I am pleased but in another I’m very ticked off. I know that the Braves front office had to be cautious about Smoltz, but not to give a guy like this a chance is somehow to me just wrong. I know he’s mouthing off a little bit but I think most of us would do the same in his situation. The best thing to do now is to move on. I sure wish we could have given Andruw a chance in center field. It just looks like all the work he did for the Braves while he was here meant nothing. Sure could have used Griffey’s bat in the outfield but when home calls any of us would probable have done the same. I will somehow try to make this team seam like “My Braves”, although it will be hard without the guys that are gone. I miss Skip & Pete plus all the players I enjoyed so much like Raffy at shortstop. At least we have Tom Glavine on the mound. I hope he stays healthy.
bravos4875
February 21st, 2009
1:15 pm
this only 100 comments deal sucks. if you ask a question and cant stay one here for hours then you dont get it answered.
i just wanted to know about tim hudsons blow up in the locker room the other day but i guess will never truly know what happened….
CCjacket
February 21st, 2009
1:28 pm
DOB,
just curious if you know why Smoltzie apparently feels impelled to rip the Braves’ management at every opportunity. I don’t begrudge him leaving for a shot at another championship and I hope he does well, but I admit being a bit confused at his negativity toward his old organization.
Eric In Albany N.Y.
February 21st, 2009
1:45 pm
Does Anyone Know Id I Can Get This Blog OTC In DR?
Eric In Albany N.Y.
February 21st, 2009
1:52 pm
DoB… have you talked to seen or even heard anything about Lance Niekro in camp yet?
i know there isnt much of a chance for him but just wondered if there was any news on him.
fifthbusiness
February 21st, 2009
1:54 pm
TM The Braves have always made a fair offer to players, but they know that some one else will throw the bank at them and be under bid. With the budget that Time Warner and Liberty put them under it was the only way to operate. John Smolts realized in 1996 that there was more to life than money and stayed where he was comfortable. You think Andrew wished he had taken less and stayed home?
OutsideRobber
February 21st, 2009
2:02 pm
Either you’re a player for being a playoff team, as most teams believe they are on their public face for both the players, coaches, and fans, or you’re real behind closed doors and wait for a brighter day.
The Braves are one or the other in this equation. O’Brien, meantime, is a weasel on the make for whatever he believes can advance his career and, in this economy particularly, he’s been making all the wrong moves. O’Brien is a weasel.
Frank from KS
February 21st, 2009
2:35 pm
I’m a full-blooded Braves fan….but I also have rooted for the R. Sox for a long time and ya all b$#@* about Smoltzie going to Boston.
I say, Boston’s a pretty good choice for him. How do ya think ya’d all feel if he went to the Yanks? or do a Glavine and go to the Muts….opps…I mean the Mets (Lol)?
Am I sad he’s not a Braves? Yeah, sure…but at least he didn’t go to the aforementioned Yanks or Mets.
Frank from KS
February 21st, 2009
2:38 pm
Correction:
Am I sad he’s not a Brave?
not Braves
Canadianbrave
February 21st, 2009
3:01 pm
I think the Braves management is trying to do a good job walking a tightrope! They don’t want to throw money out the window after big name expensive talent, but they want to invest enough to attract a fan base and field a decent team, that with a little luck should be able to compete.
I don’t think the Braves want to be a farm system for the teams with huge payrolls, like the Pirates are, but they will never free spend like the Yankees, especially with the present economic conditions.
The Braves have rebuilt this year, by spending just enough to be a decent team, relying on their farm system for the future. I feel the thinking is that if you grow your own talent, you can afford to splurge on the one or two free agents and 1 or 2 stars you need to stay away from the basement.
The players that have got away this year, just didn’t fit with that philosophy, and the team seems to feel that the have enough young talent to make a drive for the top in the near future.
Unfortunately, the Braves just happen to be in a division with 2 or 3 other good teams, which decreases management’s odds of being successful this year!
GT81
February 21st, 2009
3:46 pm
Nice to hear from the Rock and Roll Animal hisself.
ppaddy
February 21st, 2009
3:51 pm
Since it seems Will Ohman doesn’t have a job yet, is there a chance The Braves will come back with another offer?
shano229
February 21st, 2009
4:25 pm
Who cares about the guys who didnt come here. Griffey(career done), Furcal(our ss is better), Burnett(I like Lowe better) those guys dont matter. Peavey wasnt a free agent so he didnt choose to not come here & we didnt want to waist a spot on Andrew Jones(he’s finished). So what did we lose? Nothing. I think Frank Wren has put together a nice team. Someone will surprise this year. I think the Braves can make the playoffs.
shano229
February 21st, 2009
4:30 pm
Also, Smoltz needs to bag his mouth. Why should the Braves waist a spot on his broken down body. I love the guy but come on he acts like it was high treason that he they didnt offer more money. I look forward to Tommy G giving us 10 wins from the 5 spot.
stew
February 21st, 2009
7:31 pm
For CF and LF I prefer some combination of Heyward,Gorkys or Schafer.I just don’t think that Anderson or Blanco are capable of scoring 100 runs from the leadoff spot. Gorkys or Schafer
could be better leadoff candidates with Heyward in the 3 hole before Chip. Play the kids! They
don’t need more seasoning.
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