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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
818 comments Add your comment
Metsamess
February 25th, 2009
10:57 am
The Mets have renamed their new stadium: “The World of Choke.”
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
10:59 am
ANyone in here in a fantasy league?
John Quest
February 25th, 2009
11:00 am
Metsamess, work on that Heimlich maneuver.
Anders
February 25th, 2009
11:01 am
Metsamess – Wow, how long did you work on that? Nothing creative about it at all.
I’ll give you a better one that I heard over the weekend.
“Citimorgue”
Now that’s clever.
lexbrave
February 25th, 2009
11:05 am
not that money buy’s championships but with the phillies increasing payroll to 132.5 million and the mets to 145 million that gives our two biggest competitors the top 3 or 4 payrolls in the game. kinda makes you wonder how good the braves could be next year if they had an extra 40-50 million to spend.
dogsbrekky
February 25th, 2009
11:07 am
DOB – beautiful day here in NY as well, probably 40 degrees colder then Florida but sunny and sweet in Central Park….
SO JJ goes today…
Can you advise if Heyward and other non-roster invitees get to play in any games……. love to see him in the lineup tomorrow on ESPN…
Pecota has forecasts for 2009, interesting Mucils 91W, Phils 88, Bravos 87…
If you add the heart factor it will be Phils 91W, Braves 90 W and Mucils 86W………
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
11:07 am
I finally read DOB’s Garret Anderson story from yesterday. I guess I was too busy talkin’ bout wrestlin’.
Anyway, here’s what I thought was interesting…
Manager Bobby Cox called Anderson “a tremendous pickup. This guy still can play practically every day. … All you’ve got to do is just look at his numbers, and the quality of individual he is. He’s got a knack for getting guys in. He puts the ball in play, doesn’t strike out.”
Looks like I’m not the only one who thinks Bobby’s gonna want to play Garret every day.
And now, let’s play some ball.
John Quest
February 25th, 2009
11:07 am
Movie lines for Spring Training:
From “Airplane” – All right, Striker, you listen, and listen close. Flying a plane is no different from riding a bicycle; it’s just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.
ease19
February 25th, 2009
11:08 am
Lexbrave – Yankees did not make the playoff with a billion dollar payroll last year so I would not make much of it.
Dadgum
February 25th, 2009
11:08 am
John Quest…How does Coach Glavine sound? Not as good as Coach Maddux.
Rock on……
Anders
February 25th, 2009
11:09 am
Metsamess: I’ve got an even better joke for you, The Mets’ 4th place finish in 2009.
ease19
February 25th, 2009
11:10 am
getnathan
DAP is commishing a fantasy league, not sure if there are any openings left…
toga party
February 25th, 2009
11:10 am
Chop Chop, I noticed that quote too, and had the same reaction you did. Bobby doesn’t just say things like that for no reason.
ease19
February 25th, 2009
11:11 am
Anders – FINALLY you talk sense!
Danny
February 25th, 2009
11:12 am
Will the spring training game be on TV today? Thanks in advance
lexbrave
February 25th, 2009
11:12 am
ease19, hence my money doesn’t buy championships..my main point was just imagine what the braves could add to their team right now if they had an extra 40-50 million to spend that would put them on even spending with the phils and mets..
the braves unlike the yanks have people who do a much better job of evaluating talent and team chemistry. the yanks just open up their check book and sign as many free agents as possible for as much as possible. spending money does not equal success, but the ABILITY to spend money sure can..
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
11:14 am
DOB,
If you can get Tony Schiavone on here, this blog will blow up. Just make sure the AJC folks post a little blurb about it on the sports homepage.
Efrim,
This wrestling stuff could go on for weeks. It started on Monday with a comment I made about playing the Andersons in the outfield. It just keeps going and going and going. The funny thing is that I have seen too many positive posts about the current state of wrestling. Seems that the disbanding of WCW several years ago took a lot of the steam out of the wrestling fans here.
Anyway, let’s play some ball!
Dadgum
February 25th, 2009
11:15 am
Chop Chop…you are correct. The Braves did not bring Anderson here to platoon. Not like they were going to do with Griffey. Of course it has been awhile since he logged over 100 games in the field and since he is only serviceable defensively I expect to see Diaz play a sufficient amount. Still can’t see Diaz happy.
Anyway, I felt like a Diaz/Shaefer platoon would have been fine with J. Anderson in CF. NOt happening though so no sense beating that horse again.
Rock on…..
dogsbrekky
February 25th, 2009
11:15 am
Danny – our game is not on tv or mlb.tv today
Thursday game (Hanson) is on ESPN at 1pm
Anders
February 25th, 2009
11:16 am
Not sure who’s posting in my name at 11:09. Not cool in the blogisphere.
PTBNL
February 25th, 2009
11:17 am
Anders, sometimes you really fall into the homer mode. (Though at times you actually do give a decent assessment of either the Braves or the Mets.) However, using the number of saves as a comparison of the two is not really acceptable. The number of saves a closer gets GREATLY depends on the team. How many times have the Mets given their closer the opportunity to get 60+ saves? And I don’t mean the Mets only, but any team. Most “baseball” people that I know do not say that K-rod is the best closer in baseball. Yet he is the only one who has had that many saves in a season. It says something about his team, not just about his abilities. Certainly some on this blog say things that are less than accurate about K-rod. Some may not know better, but in general it seems to me that it is just a matter of people being fans of the same team talking smack to get the juices flowing.
Yes, K-rod is good, but he is not automatic. He is good, but the question that was set before you is very valid, “How much better is he than Wagner?” The question is not in regard to “at this point in their careers” but rather in regard to the Wagner you had 2 years ago… or the Wagner that the Mets had while he was consistently their closer. At this point in his career… about anyone is better than Wagner. That is a moot point.
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
11:18 am
Braves have a three headed monster in Moylan, Soriano, and Gonzalez. They’ll match up well with K-Rod/Putz, and Madson/Lidge.
ease19
February 25th, 2009
11:21 am
lexbrave – gotcha! My wife says the same thing…We have the ability to buy a new 52” HDTV, but…no.
I do agree that the Braves generally get the most out of their dollar (usually, Mike Hampton being the exception) and tend to build teams rather than buy them.
ease19
February 25th, 2009
11:24 am
Anders – If the joke was supposed to say: The Mets 1st place finish in 2009, now that would have been funny! And yeah…very uncool IMHO.
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
11:24 am
Dadgum,
Yeah. Along with so many other equine carcasses, that dead horse will be beaten plenty during the season.
John Quest
February 25th, 2009
11:27 am
When I’m at my local drug store I usually browse the snacks, vitamins, cokes, etc. I wonder if Mike Hampton hangs out in the 1st Aid Section?
You know, neck braces, ace bandages, slings. sponge bob bandaids.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
11:29 am
Anders-I can see why you and other Mets’ fans might think you acquired the greatest closer in Baseball History and improved your team drastically while doing so-however…..
You need to look at the history of Closers with over 50 saves in a season. When you do, the outlook is much gloomier than Mets’ fans would have it, becasue in the predominant numebr of cases, the dropoff the following year is somewhat staggering-in fact, only twice has the pitcher really even hit their career average the following year.
Smotlz-55 to 45 (Career average 38, but the smallest sample size of any pitcher w/ 50 saves)
Gagne-52-55 (only pitcher to actually gain saves from one year to next, but after accomplishing this he then went from 55 to 45 the next year and dropped from 45 to 8, never saving more than 16 ever again.(career average 28)
Bobby Thigpen-went from 57 to 30. (career average 30)
Mariano Rivera-went from 50 to 28 and then went 53-43 (career average 38)
Randy Myers-went from 53 to 21 (career average 31).
Trevor Hoffman-went from 53 to 40. (career average 40).
What this tells me is that a career year in saves (which arguably KRod just had, as no one ever saved that many before) is not a sustainable proposition and is usually followed by a downturn of between minus 10-27 saves. KRod’s career average is 34 saves, which is a considerable dropoff. Since he had such a huge season (for the team with the best record in all of baseball, BTW-something the Mets WON’T have), let’s be real nice and say he will only drop to 41 saves in 09. This is a good number for a closer, but gives you nothing more than Wagner gave you while a Met (he was on pace to save 41 when injured the past couple years). This gives the Mets only an upgrade for the time Wagner missed-September of the last two years-hence not a huge upgrade at all.
Now as to the acquisition of Putz and KRod-Yes, definitely an upgrade over 08, again however…..Your starting pitchers averaged the following IP in their 08 starts-
Johan- 6IP/start.
Pelfrey- 6IP/start
Maine- 5.2 IP/start
Perez-5.2 IP/start
Redding-5IP/start.
Now supposing Putz and KRod pitch the 8th and 9th, who pitches the other 1-2 innings each night? Who pitches when those two are not able to go more than 3-4 times per week?
Upgrade? Maybe so, but hardly as much as was needed.
Metsamess
February 25th, 2009
11:31 am
With “Carload” Delgado off the juice and Luis at second it’s a good thing we don’t have a putz in the bullpen…oops, just remembered, we do.
cvbraves
February 25th, 2009
11:33 am
Looks like today’s game will be on audio/radio for those that have MLB.TV, but not on video.
ease19
February 25th, 2009
11:35 am
Lew – nice post, my point exactly…If closers are going to be great, then teams have to be in positions to get them there…
Original Jon
February 25th, 2009
11:37 am
Lew, I dont think you can make a comparison like that on saves the next year after a career year in saves because A.) We have no idea if last year was K-Rod’s career year in saves, this year could be it, and B.) You didnt mention how many save opportunities they had they next year. They might have had less saves chances the next year due to poor middle relief before them.
Why dont you put up their save percentage the year before and after, that would be a better gauge on how well they either did or didnt do.
DWW
February 25th, 2009
11:41 am
lew
I completly agree that the team gauges the number of saves.
I think that blown saves is the only stat that matters when it comes to closers.
Anders
February 25th, 2009
11:42 am
Lew,
As long as you have the history books open what’s the history on the signing of 36 year old pitchers to 4 year deals, how about 42 year old pitchers coming off their first ever surgery of their career, how about signing 36 year old left fielders who spent half their first 13 years DH’ing and couldn’t get a sniff this off season so he took a tip money deal just to stay on the MLB radar? See where this is going? I’m guessing you’ll put together an argument that each of those signings have merit and will very likely have a happy ending.
Again, I don’t expect 63 saves. More like 45 or so plus Putz will pick up some. I’ll take my chances.
I mean after all you’re the same guy that told me last year the Santana deal wasn’t all it was cracked up to be – how’s that working out?
Anything can happen – but you can’t single out K-Rod as a risk and then ignore the ones listed above.
Popeye
February 25th, 2009
11:44 am
pryguy
That looks like a good lineup. GA at number two feels just right.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
11:49 am
Origional JOn-No, the record attests to the fact that except in ONE case, EVERY pitcher with more than 50 saves in a season, dropped off by 10-27 saves the next year-WHETHER OR NOT it had been a career year. For argument’s sake though, I would imagine that KRod’s 64 saves WAS a career year, as no one ever saved that nany (by a goodly margin) before, though for all intents and purposes, it is a Moot Point. There have only ever been two pitchers with 50 or more saves twice-Gagne (did roids account for that?) and Mo Rivera, who is widely considered by many to be the best closer ever. KRod is not the best ever, despite his 08 season (which was superlative mind you). There will be a drop off.
BravesFanInRockies
February 25th, 2009
11:53 am
Lew, Original Jon
I don’t think you’re talking past one another. Saves can be deceptive simply because they tell you that a pitcher can hold a lead. They don’t tell you how well he performed, what situation he confronted when he entered the game, etc.
I can recall in the 1990s, especially during key games in a pennant race or in the postseason, when the Braves had a closer with dominant stuff (Wohlers, Rocker), Bobby would occasionally use his closer in the 7th or 8th inning if he needed to stop a rally or shut down the middle of the opposing order. And he’d have someone else finish the game.
If I’m not mistaken, LaRussa had done that, too. And Davey Johnson did it a lot in the ’80s.
IMO, Scot Shields was nearly as valuable as K-Rod to the Angels because he put K-Rod in the position to face three hitters and rack up a save. Remember, K-Rod made 76 appearances and pitched 68 innings. By contrast, Mariano Rivera pitched 70 innings in 64 appearances (and faced 30 fewer hitters).
If the Mets need him to pitch more than an inning in a game, we’ll see how he holds up.
VolBrave
February 25th, 2009
11:54 am
Keep Chipper in the 3 hole!
PTBNL
February 25th, 2009
11:55 am
8o
Lew
February 25th, 2009
11:56 am
Anders-We’re not discussing the Braves pitching or outfield situations (nothing but sour grapes on your part anyway), but the supposed Mets’ improvement. Yes, you’ll take your chances-you have no choice. You have no money left or you would (or should) have improved more than what was accomplished.
As for Johan-Lots of bucks for a guy who only goers 6.1 innings per outing and can’t beat a 90 loss team. Cost/benefit?
PIZZARO
February 25th, 2009
11:59 am
LEW–If Wagner had not gone down I do think the Mets would have won 2-3 more games which would have put them in the playoffs. Getting K-rod and Putz allows other relievers to go back to their set roles as specialist. I will say for the record that Duaner Sanchez will have a very good 2009 not that he’s had over a season to recover from his injuries. Sanchez, Putz and K-Rod will be tough on opposing hitters…..stay tuned
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:01 pm
BFIR-KRod is a good pitcher, don’t mistake that I believe it. What I was trying to point out and only what I tried to point out was that there is a substantial probability that KRod would not have as dominating a season in 09 and that the much ballyhooed improvement in the Mets’ pen was nowhere near as great as Mets’ fans seem to think. The Braves totally revamped their rotation-THEIR weak spot in 08, the Mets marginally improved THEIR weak spot from 08. Their middle relief is still non-existent. They will have trouble getting to The Putz and KRod.
pryguy
February 25th, 2009
12:01 pm
thanks popeye…similar names gotta stick with each other on here..it gets viscious
McPoyle
February 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
Lew, what are you arguing here? would you not want K-Rod to close out games? and are you also saying Johan is not worth it? The guy didn’t go as many innings this year because he’s in the NL, it’s a different ballgame, you can’t blame him for the bullpen’s struggles… if you’re arguing anything against Johan, you’re digging your own grave.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
Pizarro-Hold on to that thought. It may give you comfort. However after three successive years of tanking at crunch time (Mets SHOULD have won it all in 06 instead losing to a barely .500 team in the NLCS), you may need all the comfort you can get. Should have/could have. Whatever. They didn’t.
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
12:03 pm
BravesFaninRockies,
In 1986, Roger McDowell had 10 wins (as much as starter Rick Aguilera had) 22 saves and Jesse Orosco had 21, so those stats lend credence to Davey Johnson taking someone out and letting someone else finish. He had a two headed monster at the back end of the pen to do that.
That said, I don’t see much of that happening today because people want to have defined roles and blah blah blah…but Bobby Cox has Moylan and Soriano to bring in one to close out the 7th and the other to start the 8th. I don’t see Mets and Phillies having that flexibility in those spots. Often times, games are determined in innings 6-8 rather than 9th. I think the Braves are stronger than Mets and Phillies in those innings because they can go with Logan, Bennett, Moylan and Soriano.
Bluestreak
February 25th, 2009
12:03 pm
Speaking of Rasslin’, I always knew it was fake-ish (come on, being thrown from the top turnbuckle is real, whether its staged or not), but I really just lost interest when Vinnie Mac came out and just threw that out there as fact. Just took some of the luster off of it for me. Its hard to really sell out for some of this stuff when you are being told that its fake. There was always a little of the ‘wink-wink’ understanding between the wrestlers and the fans. But McMahon really just blew that up when he ‘fessed-up’ to it.
But that’s not the only way he’s ruined wres…er, rasslin’ for me. RIP WCW. (and whoever mentioned The Great Muta, thank you. The only time I saw a live event, Sting and Muta wrestled and any match they had was always a great show. Just really loved how they worked together.)
Now, time for the real stuff…I’m excited about what our hometown team is throwing out there this year. GA is going to be a real catalyst in the lineup. Steady, even production, regardless of a lack of 40 hr power, will be wonderful from the 4 hole. Or 3, because Chip and Garrett will likely be in those spots. And if we can get the real Casey K. this year, which I think we will, our lineup will be one of the more consistant and solid lineups in the NL. Not power-heavy, but definitely will have the ability to play station to station and get a lot of RBIs with RISP.
The Braves are gonna sneak up on a lot of folks, namely the Muts and the Phillies.
McPoyle
February 25th, 2009
12:03 pm
OK then i agree about the K-rod thing, not being as dominant, really numbers wise (other than saves) he wasn’t that dominant last year. but i don’t get the johan thing
Chopdawg
February 25th, 2009
12:05 pm
I notice a couple of fantasy baseball players on the blog; anybody play a fantasy game called “Baseball Manager”? Most realistic of all fantasy formats IMO, for the past several seasons I’ve played one NL team & one AL team.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:05 pm
McPoyle-No, Santana is a great pitcher. However, even his addition did not result in a Mets’ Division win, did it? The fact the goes only 6 innings per start (for a lot of $$$ and whatever the reason), does not help the Mets’ pen (their weakness) and he still has never beaten the Braves, who lost 90 games. Make of that whatever you will, but those are facts. As for KRod not closing-??????? WTF are you talking about?
PIZZARO
February 25th, 2009
12:06 pm
LEW–I’m not sure on your math. Santana pitched 234.3 innings with 34 starts. That’s better than 6.1 innings isn’t it? He also had 3 complete games. IMO he’s worth every dollar he makes.
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
12:07 pm
And for the Phillies, Chad Durbin will not duplicate the success he had last season.
McPoyle
February 25th, 2009
12:08 pm
no no, i didn’t catch all of what you were talking about, thats why i asked. i meant it as, wouldn’t want a guy like Krod on your team.
right right, and we can all agree their bullpen was beyond terrible last year, but you kinda threw johan under the bus when you say he hasn’t beaten the braves, which is all relative to the bullpen being awful. it’s out of his hands at some point.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:09 pm
Pizarro-SLIGHTLY better than 6.1 IP per start-at $20 something mil per year I would expect a bit more than that. However, we realize the Mets settle for less than what they pay for quite frequently throughout their history.
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
12:10 pm
McPoyle, Santana was outpitched in each loss against the Braves. it wasn’t a result of him pitching badly, because I think his ERA against the Braves was pretty low, but he was outpitched in both losses.
McPoyle
February 25th, 2009
12:10 pm
wouldn’t you want*
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
12:11 pm
Lew’s just talking smack. He can’t help himself. He absolutely hates the Mets. If you are on this blog for more than a day or two, it’s not difficult to figure out where he’s coming from.
Anders
February 25th, 2009
12:11 pm
Lew- That wasn’t sour grapes on my part. It was an attempt to show your tendency to see things differently depending which side of the argument you’re on. You spent the last two years ridiculing me about the geriatric Mets. Now look at your Braves. Suddenly I don’t hear any mention of age etc.. from you. It’s all about how the Mets by signing the top closer in 2008 (at a bargian rate since you brought up value) and added another top bullpen arm still are over rating their chances.
BTW – You mentioned that the save drop off for the 50 + closers ranged from 10 to 27. If you take a straight average of that it would be an 18 save drop off. That puts K-Rod at 45. So even in your convoluted argument I get to the number I’m projecting.
Metsamess
February 25th, 2009
12:12 pm
Lew: Your points are spot on. I look objectively at the Mets, and getting Rodriguez and Putz were good moves, because, as you point out The Mets starting pitching is built on guys that give you 5-6 innnings. Santana is an ace but he has 9 complete games in his career as he approaches 30 years old (not exactly the second coming of Tom Seaver – Tom Terrific would have 9 complete games by the all-star break in a typical season). In Reyes and Wright, The Mets have one of the best left sides of the infield in baseball. Beltran is also good to very good. After that The Mets are very ordinary.
PIZZARO
February 25th, 2009
12:13 pm
LEW–Yes the Mets lost in 2006 to the eventual world champs. You can use your own argument for the lack of more success in the playoffs for the braves. 14 division but just one title. I saw the braves get bounced many times by teams that I thought were inferior. You still can’t take away the fact that the braves were good enough to be there….Can you? The Cards got hot (Real hot) and took it all the way to a a world championship. Sometimes it goes that way Lew.
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
12:13 pm
Lew,
Santana was at 6.88 IP/start last year. That is a damn good number. For example, John Smoltz’s Cy Young season in 1996? That 24-8 one? He averaged 7.2 IP/start.
(K-Rod sucks, though. Nothing can save the Mets, not even the all-time single-season saves leader.)
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
12:14 pm
Lew, I hate the Yankees even more. I only hate the Mets because they are our rivals, but we beat them on a consistent basis so I can’t hate them that much.
KC
February 25th, 2009
12:18 pm
Is today’s game on the radio?
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
12:18 pm
That’s how I am, getnathan. It’s hard for me to hate a team that we’ve done well against when we were at our best. It’s not like the Mets have held us down or anything.
You know, like how we held them down for, oh, ten years.
McPoyle
February 25th, 2009
12:18 pm
man i just read that thing about Frenchy on braves.com, how bad do we need him to bounce back. i don’t want to get my hopes up, but i am optamistic about his double play bouncing, bases loaded leaving, swing at anything ass. is it unrealistic to hope for 20 and 100 out of him?
ease19
February 25th, 2009
12:18 pm
I think the bottom line here, is regardless of stats and age, both teams have holes to fill in the offseason and both teams did so…I think the Mets are a little weak in the middle of their bullpen and the Braves are somewhat unproven but both are better teams than they were last year. The thing to note is that, how did the Phillies improve? They signed a 37 year old outfielder to replace one who could hit but also couldn’t run faster than a goose and whose defense was more atrocious than…well it was bad.
So I think it will be an interesting pennant race this year…
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
12:20 pm
Okay. Maybe it was eleven.
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 (congrats on the World Series loss), 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.
Yeah. Eleven.
Supes
February 25th, 2009
12:22 pm
Lew, I have to side with Anders on that one (I know, world is ending!) but even of K-Rod goes for let’s say 40 saves there about, that’s a big improvement over last year’s Mets bullpen collapse (esp. when they were forced to use that washed up Bobby Ayala? for a closer in Sept.). I’m not sure if K-Rod went down…if Putz can be a closer again (he strikes me as a head case)…but the guy can throw the fastball and over power hitters for sure.
At any rate, I wouldn’t be looking at the Mets Bullpen to be a weakness this year on their team (unfortunately).
Anders…how does it feel for the Braves to smack down the Mets ace last year and do it again this year? If it happens, not sure poor Johan can take it!
Fleming
February 25th, 2009
12:22 pm
Can remember back in the early 70s I was doing construction work during the summer while in college. We had a professional wrestler working with us named Bearcat Wilkerson. I watched him one Saturday night get his leg broken in a wrestling match and toted out the auditorium on a stretcher. Come Monday morning he shows up at work with no cast on his leg. When asked about the broken leg his comment was that was his wrestling leg and sure enough he shows up on TV with the cast on for the next few months.
I wouldn’t jump in the ring with any of the wrestlers even if it as fake. My father in law made the mistake on getting drunk and jumping in the ring with Paul DeMarco once. I thought he was gonna get killed before the cops could drag him out of the ring and off to jail.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:23 pm
Anders-No, I’ve NEVER said the Braves would do more this year than contend and give a good showing of themselves. You and the Trolls, on the other hand, think the Mets are a lock for the Division and beyond, despite not improving all that much. Things will shake out as they will. As for KRod approaching your projection, it STILL is only the pace Wagner achieved while with the Mets (he was on a pace for 41 or so-45 is not that big a difference). I still contend that KRod ONLY improves the Mets for September-the time Wagner missed in 07 and 08. I don’t think it will be enough. You do. Imagine that-we disagree. The world will surely stop turning on it’s axis as a result.
McPoyle-No problem. All I’m trying to say is that the Mets are not a team that should be feared as much as some seem to think-the Phillies either. They both have as many question marks as the Braves do, though many don’t seem to realize that fact.
The Mets still have questions about middle relief, second base, catcher, the end of their rotation and the corner outfield spots. They have proven they are not a clutch team, even with the talent level they have.
The Phillies have lost Romero for 1/3 of the season and maybe Utley for an undetermined time. No one really believes that Lidge will achieve perfection again, if Moyer at 47has anything left at all, that Ibanez will be an upgrade or not, or that there is anyone certain in their rotation after Hamels.
The Braves might not put it altogether (though the possibility exists), but the competition did damn little to improve themselves over the winter and have their own Achilles’ heels. That’s what I’m saying.
ease19
February 25th, 2009
12:23 pm
Shouldn’t there be a new blog up soon?
Steve McP
February 25th, 2009
12:25 pm
KC – audio broadcast is on mlb
BravesFanInRockies
February 25th, 2009
12:26 pm
getnathan
Don’t disagree with you at all about the rise of the one-inning specialist.
I despise it, but understand why players prefer having defined roles and why relievers, who have traditionally been paid significantly less than starters, would love it, too, because as guys move up the hierarchy, from middle man to 8th inning specialist to closer, the salaries start rising precipitously.
When you have a bullpen of a half-dozen pitchers who are mixed and matched based on the needs of the team in different situations, it makes for better baseball IMO but it also means that pitchers’ stats (mainly saves and — UGH — holds) may not indicate how much they actually helped the team win. A reliever whose performance actually “saves” games because he snuffed a rally in the 6th or the 8th inning but didn’t finish the game may not rack up a lot of saves, meaning he’ll have a tougher time negotiating a big contract.
David O'Brien
February 25th, 2009
12:26 pm
Just got back up from the field. Heyward hit an opposite-field bomb onto the left-field berm, and a few line drives off the metal building that houses batting cages beyond the RF fence…..
New blog should be up in 10-15 minutes
cvbraves
February 25th, 2009
12:26 pm
KC: Yes, today’s game on radio.
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
February 25th, 2009
12:27 pm
Two comments:
ease19: Listen to your wife about the TV.
——————-
It just occurred to me that if Heyward, Hanson and Schaefer are all in Gwinnett, on those nights when Hanson starts they may well outdraw the big team.
McPoyle
February 25th, 2009
12:27 pm
Lew – i’d agree there, it should be an interesting three horse race. you look at the mets and the phils and they have their troubling spots (not that the braves don’t) so that leaves room for optimism in ‘09.
Who would you guys say is the top dog then in the NL? I think the NL east is the best division, but what about the best team? I’d be hard-pressed not to throw the Cubs out there, obviously the Phillies because they’re the champs. But no team really scares me that much.
DWW
February 25th, 2009
12:29 pm
what radio station?
Metsamess
February 25th, 2009
12:29 pm
It’s fair to say that Santana is the best starter in The NL East. It’s also fair to say that Hamels is a legit ace. But Lowe is not far off from being side by side those two, and 1-5 The Braves starting staff [even without a (healthy) Hudson, Campillo, Reyes, or Hanson] is clearly the best starting staff in The NL East. By the way, as fans of The Mets, Phils, and Braves argue throughout 2009, don’t be surprised if The Marlins don’t surprise us all.
DeAntonio
February 25th, 2009
12:30 pm
sorry if this was asked/answered elsewhere, but is the game today being broadcast on the radio… other than via mlb radio, i.e. subscription?
McPoyle
February 25th, 2009
12:32 pm
Metsamess, good call on the Marlins. i hate playing them, always always take them for granted. can’t say the same about the Nats tho…
ease19
February 25th, 2009
12:35 pm
THE BEAR – I did!, We got two 37″ HDTV’s, one for the living room and one for the bedroom instead! Xbox looks really nice on 37″
Oh BTW, listening to the wife is probable the best advice anyone can give!
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
12:37 pm
Chop Chop.
I didn’t know it went that far back (the domination of the Mets). You forgot 2007, and 2008. I think Braves won the season series those years, too.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:37 pm
Supes-Let me show this so even Anders and Pizarro can comprehend it. Everyone is acting like the Mets just added 40-45 saves by acquiring KROd. It is NOT so.
In 07, Billy Wagner had saved 33 games through September 10. Had he not been injured, he was on a pace to save about 38 games or so. In 08, he saved 27 games by August 2 before going down with another injury. This put him on pace for around 41 saves had he continued pitching.
In essence, he was on pace to save about the same or a couple less than Anders projects KRod to save. What this amounts to is that the Mets have only improved themselves over the time Wagner missed (part of August one year and part of September the other)-before that he was equally as effective as KRod is projected to be by the Trolls. The net gain with Rodriguez over Wagner is maybe 2-4 saves. Not that huge an improvement.
David O'Brien
February 25th, 2009
12:37 pm
Francoeur’s DHing today, Schafer’s in right, Kotchman cleaning up. I’ll get lineup on new blog
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
12:38 pm
I’m not talking season series, getnathan. I’m talking about winning the division. The head-to-head doesn’t mean much to me if we’re not finishing ahead of them in the standings.
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
12:40 pm
McPoyle, the Marlins are indeed tough, but Braves beat them in Atlanta consistently, and Marlins handle Braves in FLorida.
Marlins beat Mets more in NY than they do in Florida.
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
12:41 pm
CHop Chop, then you forgot 1991, 1992, and 1993 (and I believe Braves were making their charge toward Montreal in 1994, were 6 games back before the strike happened)
ease19
February 25th, 2009
12:41 pm
Lew – although you are absolutely correct in your assesment, you still have to let Anders and company defend their team just as emphatically…For you guys to go on and on and on…Just wait till its settled on the field and the Mets are wiping blood off their noses (ahhhh again!)
getnathan
February 25th, 2009
12:43 pm
NL East save projections (my opinion)
K-Rod-38
Gonzalez-34
Lidge-37
Lindstrom-30
Hanrahan-20
Chop Chop
February 25th, 2009
12:43 pm
We were playing in the NL West in ‘91, ‘92, and ‘93. Since our first season in the NL East happened during a strike year, I’m giving the Mets a pass.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:44 pm
ease19-I let the Mets’ fans rant all the time. However, since there’s nothing much else to do this time of the year, a little get and give with them is a fun thing to do. Nothing quite like the feeling of letting Mets’ fans know youthink they’re full of-well you figure it out.
Asd for lsitening to the wife-Good advice if you expect to stay married long. I’m approaching 34 years married and 35 together. I think I listen.
Anders
February 25th, 2009
12:48 pm
Lew- I’ve never said the Mets added 40 to 45 saves. Please don’t try and paint me as some lost fanatic – you know better. What I have said is the Mets have added enough bullpen to overcome their shortfall last year plus some, all things equal.
You want to bury your head in the sand about that, be my guest. BTW- Your not helping our credibility by slamming Santana in the process. He’s clearly regarded as one of the top pitchers in the game – you making him out to be anything less say’s plenty about your objectivity quotient.
ease19
February 25th, 2009
12:50 pm
Lew – understandable, at least Anders brought some money to the table today…But thank goodness we don’t have to listen to Phillies fans rant!
Yes definitely, 8 going on 80…Listening is the way to go…Besides I am actually beginning to think that I get more stuff that way…
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:53 pm
Denizens-It’s been fun, but I need to go work on the hank Aaron portrait. I’m almost finished so anyone who desires to send a few lines to Hank about their reminiscences of his playing days or just what he’s meant to you as fans of the Braves and baseball, now is the time. I really need all any of you care to send so I can have them printed and bound for presentation with the portrait. Now’s the time. Email me with a paragraph or two LewHartman@comcast.net Time’s a wastin’ and we need a better showing than what I’ve so far received. This IS a Blog presentation so, let’s step up. Anyone here is capable of writing two paragraphs. Git ‘er done. Soon-like today, please.
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:54 pm
Anders-You a lost fanatic? Nah. No way anyone would EVER accuse you of THAT.
MFin04
February 25th, 2009
12:55 pm
Can someone point me the way to the Braves Blog? Somehow I got onto the NY Mets one. But seriously…is there anywhere to listen (watch) to the game online for free?
Lew
February 25th, 2009
12:55 pm
Anders-And yet Santana, despite his greatness didn’t get you that Diviosn, did he? Guess y’all need more thanONE good pitcher. Later. I’m out of here.
DWW
February 25th, 2009
12:56 pm
All
640 wgst in atlanta is carrying the game i believe. Rush is on now but they have a countdown on the website so i think that means they will have it. There is a link on the website to listen on your computer.
Anders
February 25th, 2009
12:58 pm
Well – who’s leaving the blog wiping their bloody nose this time Ease 19? Me thinks it’s Big Lew. His 12:44 should have portended his surrender, however I didn’t expect it in such short order.
MFin04
February 25th, 2009
1:03 pm
What’s the website to listen to the game?