Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
895 comments Add your comment
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
February 27th, 2009
5:10 pm
kirkinga,
The Tiger Woods example was just a recent example of one of the athletes you posted about “failing” in the “clutch”
Kind of fit the point, while it may have been a somewhat weak analogy.
In any event, it seems we are on the same path that being “clutch” is not a skill, nor is it really that measurable. If you have a .333 hitter and he’s 0-2 in the first 2 at bats of the game, but happens to get his last hit of the game in the 9th to drive in the winning run…. do we consider that “clutch” or “being average” ?
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
5:11 pm
BTW, Mariano Rivera is not a clutch performer. He’s simply the best closer in the history of the game.
*************************************************************************************************************************
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Oh my my my! That’s funny. You’re either a lawyer or a politician.
Comeon now, there are good players who don’t do well in clutch situations. We’ve witnessed this phenomenon as Braves fans. Suddenly the pressure is on, there is more at stake, and players who succeeded in the regular season, couldn’t get it done in the clutch. Same thing for any particular game. We know that certain players do well in ‘Close and late” situations and they all aren’t great players.
I can’t believe any baseball fan would ever write that Rivera isn’t clutch. Wow!
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
5:12 pm
OJ
It seems obvious that a lot of folks don’t watch the games too much.
Magnus Pym
February 27th, 2009
5:12 pm
Andruw is 7 for 7 or is it 6 for 6… lol lol lol, another sports car needed I think..
Clutch – yes there is such a thing if one can expand their mind..
3 World Cup wins due to Shane Warne = Australia
Triple crown soccer due to Ryan Giggs = Manchester United
Bernie
Jeter
Rivera = those sad sack of waste Yankees….
Joe Montana
Pippen and a dude called Jordan
Jack bloody Nicklaus… Tiger effing Woods…. Tom Watson…. Lee Trevino….
shall we go on
David Ortiz…. Manny
Dave JUSTICE……………
Kirby frickin Puckett
MFin04
February 27th, 2009
5:13 pm
I dont have anything with him…except his numbers in Sept. If he comes back…and a lot of times with TJ surgery it is a BIG if….and gets 50 saves…id be impressed. Id be impressed with 35 to 40 saves. But you can have 10-15 blown saves in there. I like Moylan and Soriano too. There is no reason they couldnt close games. Sometimes saves are more a product of time and situation then good pitching. If you are up 3 with the 6,7,8 hitters up…thats an easy save. Up 1 with Utley…Howard…etc up next…that is a “real” save.
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
5:14 pm
cabravesfan
It’s amateur day here on the ole blog.
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
5:15 pm
kirk,
Based on Garret Anderson’s career stats in those situations, I think that we should expect, at minimum, his career numbers in those stats. If he decides to go crazy on the National League this year in pressure situations, I’m all for it. I’m just going by what his career stats tell me. He’s never played for my team before.
keylargo
February 27th, 2009
5:16 pm
MFin04
As Original Jon said, MG had Tommy John surgery in June of 07. It is a 18 month rehab period before a pitcher is back to full strength. Some can come back and pitch as part of the rehab in about a year, if they pay the price by working in rehab. MG did this and came back at 70 or 80%, whatever, but he will not be 100% until a full 18 month period, which is now. Give the guy a chance to get in shape and get his mechanics back. Pitching involves your entire body, as Mike Hampton proved. He was among the best in baseball prior to his injury and there is no reason he can’t be back on top.
MFin04
February 27th, 2009
5:18 pm
Batting .300 with runners in scoring position will drive in a lot of runs will it not? Who cares about clutch. .300 with runners in scoring position is just fine with me. Consistency is better than clutch anyways. Its like the old basketball adage…of “He hits free throws when they count”. I dont want a guy that makes them when they count…I want a guy like Steve Nash that hits them when he is tired…when he has the flu…when his grandmother dies…when he is blindfolded…when its the first quater…etc. Same thing with Anderson…he will get hits in all parts of the game…not just the end…or when runners are on.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
February 27th, 2009
5:18 pm
If anyone remembers…
2 years ago Frenchy was in the top 3 for driving in RISP with 2 outs. Then last year happened….
Is he clutch? Or were his first 2 years just a mistake….
CharlieAlphaBravo
February 27th, 2009
5:18 pm
Magnus:
It’s called the “treble” in soccer… And I’m not sure you can give all the credit to Giggs. That’s a bit like saying the ‘92 Dream Team won gold because of Mark Price. Sure, he’s good, but there were a few other guys on that team that might have had something to do with it…
keylargo
February 27th, 2009
5:19 pm
MFin04
By the way, the elbow is stronger AFTER Tommy John surgery than it was before the injury.
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
5:19 pm
BravesFanInRockies …you know I’m just messing with you I hope?
(Except for the Rivera isn’t clutch part)
MFin04
February 27th, 2009
5:19 pm
keylargo…ill give you that…well said. i’ll wait and see…i hope for the teams sake he is back. he obviously wasnt back last year…that is all i am saying. he needs better numbers this year. and if he is 100% like he says he is…there is no reason…he shouldnt have great numbers. agreed.
cabravesfan
February 27th, 2009
5:20 pm
Wayne-
I guess so…
Magnus Pym
February 27th, 2009
5:21 pm
MFin04 – I think there is a stat about quality saves.. if that makes sense, cannot recall where I saw it but I am pretty sure it is analyzed by some geek somewhere….
$100M for a defensive tackle in this market… I am really laughing now
Manny is worth $35M a year on thatr scale…
PWHjort
February 27th, 2009
5:23 pm
The research can be found at http://www.billjamesonline.net/ and I’m not at liberty to post it here because the website is a pay-only site and I can’t post information people pay for in a public place.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
February 27th, 2009
5:24 pm
Magnus,
Don’t say that…. Manny may be reading this blog and use that against the Dodgers in negotiations LOL
PWHjort
February 27th, 2009
5:24 pm
Mariano Rivera isn’t clutch, he’s just all around good no matter what the situation.
PWHjort
February 27th, 2009
5:25 pm
And 43 PA’s isn’t big enough of a sample size to draw any conclusions. GREAT hitters sometimes go through 43 PA spans where they fail to reach safely then will turn around and go through another 43 PA span where they hit .700
MFin04
February 27th, 2009
5:25 pm
It is interesting…that Manny gets that much money…but can’t field the baseball. I realize he is one of the top 5 hitters of this generation…but…surely…his defense alone…would knock off some of the money wouldnt you think? I mean ARod and Pujols…are great hitters and can field. Do guys not get any money based on defensive ability?
TnBrian
February 27th, 2009
5:26 pm
This might not sit well with some here, but if Franc. has another year like last year, kiss the playoffs goodbye. I don’t care about what anybody here will say, Jeff is the key..period. Look at how many guys he left on base and since there aren’t many, if any, legit power guys on this team to round the bases, there will be more on base. He starts that crap again in ‘09, send him packing and or bench him for the team and our sake. But, Bobby will never bench him for long and will campaign to keep him around even if he sucks again.
Magnus Pym
February 27th, 2009
5:27 pm
Buffalo – Frenchy was top of the league one year for RBI with 2 out BUT HE HAD more bats with 2 out and RISP etc etc
Charlie Alpha – yes Giggs had help from Solskaer and the right foot of some dude but he peeves me big time as I am a Chelsea fan..
but Nicklaus and Warne. there is no argument
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
5:28 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan…yes, during that season, he did well in that one clutch category. And I seemed to recall we were all cheering him on and were hoping to see him come up in those situations.
I’m glad you raised that example, because it goes to show further that clutch is not a “skill” and that it’s not only great players who can perform well in the clutch.
Garret Anderson though has been getting it done for a long time now. Not a spectacular player, not blessed with loads of power, or speed. But when you really need a hit, he succeeds more often than many others, and almost all of the Braves. He’s even getting better with age as someone else has pointed out.
This really is about the Braves, first and foremost. Can we do better in scoring opportunities than we did last season? With the addition of Garret Anderson, there is a track record that says he will help.
Magnus Pym
February 27th, 2009
5:29 pm
Mariano got smashed in 2001 WS and critical at bats in 2004 ALCS… FWIW
Even Yankees players and fans up here in “Mucilville” think so
cphizzle
February 27th, 2009
5:35 pm
well i dont care how 2009 comes out this year im just glad that im not a freakin yankees or red sox fan can i get an amen from the congregation
Magnus Pym
February 27th, 2009
5:35 pm
Amen brother…….. love to Braves fans
PWHjort
February 27th, 2009
5:36 pm
Amen.
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
5:36 pm
TnBrian
While I would agree that Francoeur left a lot of runners stranded last year, he could suck as badly this year, and we could still make the playoffs. I think our rotation made our “hitting in the clutch” look worse than it really was.
If we would have been able to hold teams to .5 to 1 run less per game last year, we would have given Philly and the Mets a run. Gotta lay that blame on the injuries that beset the staff moreso than hitting in the clutch (I love typing that….)
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
5:37 pm
Amen
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
5:38 pm
PWHjort.. again, we all, or most of us, have respect for Bill James. But just because he says something doesn’t make it true. I believe we already talked about his work and Nate Silver’s work as well?
In any research, it’s about what questions you are asking. Bill James has his questions, Silver has his, the folks over at Fangraph with their “clutch” stat have theirs, etc…
Look, sometimes people overthink stuff. Sometimes some existing stats really do tell you all you really need to know. I want to know which Braves are the best to have at the plate in those “clutch” and “late and close situation”. We have stats that we can use for that purpose. I pretty sure that is not the question James or Silver were attempting to answer in the “research”.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
February 27th, 2009
5:38 pm
Wayne,
I think you are right with the pitching. But you have to admit…. losing that many 1 run games did put the clutch hitting under the microscope a lot last season.
FYRMedic
February 27th, 2009
5:42 pm
Chipper Jones is the modern day Cal Ripken Jr. Dude knows how to take care of the fans!
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
5:42 pm
Mariano got smashed in 2001 WS and critical at bats in 2004 ALCS… FWIW
************************************************************************************************************************
So what? All that means is he’s not perfect. No one claimed he was perfect. The claim is he’s clutch. His overall record supports that claim.
Again, you can be good, and not perform well in the clutch. Some players are both, like Rivera. But no one is perfect…lol!
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
5:45 pm
Sorry all for my spelling and grammatical errors. Too rushed in writing my comments today.
jcfromut
February 27th, 2009
5:47 pm
Any news on Chipper signing and extention?
Magnus Pym
February 27th, 2009
5:48 pm
kirkinga – good points, he is the best I have seen, just saying some of the “Chardonnay Yanks fans” (who probably have died in this recession) have been whining loud and long about those 2-3 outings and how he is not clutch……..
this is why sometimes stats are good, they remove the optical illusion caused by those anecdotal failures and successes….
cphizzle
February 27th, 2009
5:49 pm
dont know about you guys but i am pretty stoked about the talent that we got coming up the next couple of years. looks like we got all of the positions covered. glad that we do the things the right way, bring players up through the system and develope them instead of buying and overpaying players.
TnBrian
February 27th, 2009
5:50 pm
Wayne in Utah, I hope you’re right, but I have yet to read one article or sentence in the last week or two that even has Atl. above a 3rd place finish for this year. I’m not exagerating one bit either. But, nobody knows what will happen to a team with injuries, etc. through 162 games, so we’ll see.
Francoeur is the key. Look at all the 1 run loses and the majority of that was the offenses fault. Jeff was to be blamed for most of it. I’m not saying that even if he’d been really good in ‘08 would we have won the division because of the injuries to the pitchers, but he can definitely hold us back in ‘09 with that miserable production. We have the durable pitchers and the pen is healthy, so we need him back.
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
5:51 pm
Buffalo
You’ll get no arguments from me that we stranded a lot of runners last year. We really did stink it up. We could have gone a lot farther had we had either more clutch (or better) hitting or a rotation that could consistently gotten us into the 6th and 7th innings.
I just see the rotation being more of the culprit. But it was an overall team failure.
I really like our chances with our much improved rotation, and our everyday lineup. Obviously, injuries can stir things up a lot, but if we get no more than the “league average” of injuries, I think we will be a .500 or better club.
As much as having another thumper would be ideal, I still like a lineup that has McCann, Chipper, Escobar, KJ, Kotchman, Francoeur and any combo from the ranks of Schafer, GAnderson, Diaz, BJones and JAnderson.
Not too many pushovers in that lineup, and Frenchie is certainly key.
I expect (or maybe better stated, hope) a breakout year from guys like Escobar, KJ and Kotchman this year. If each of those guys raise their games a notch or two, we could have an interesting summer.
Let’s not forget how critical it is that we get 130-140 games out of Hoss.
Luther
February 27th, 2009
5:51 pm
Reggie Jackson, regular season, 262-356-490, postseason(281ABs), 278-358-527
Mark Lemke, regular season, 246-317-324, postseason(232ABs), 272-335-353
Josh Beckett, regular season, 3.78, postseason(87IP), 2.90
John Smoltz, regular season, 3.26, postseason(207IP), 2.65
I honestly have always thought Smoltz threw better in big games. And you would think that the pitchers or hitters faced would be better in the postseason as well.
dogsbrekky
February 27th, 2009
5:51 pm
My girlfriend’s father is okay thank god, thanks for the well wishes..
So I checked in on Andy (ruw, not rew) and he has a hit, he has a hit
go kid
David O'Brien
February 27th, 2009
5:51 pm
Forgot who asked (this pagination thing hurts in that regard) about Diory Hernandez. The guys’s a talented player and could probably earn a spot on some teams, but not this one right now, it would seem, barring injury or trade. There’s just not an open job for an infielder with this club right now.
But he certainly could have a future somewhere, whether with the Braves or another team.
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
5:53 pm
TnBrian
I can’t remember ever the pundits getting it all correct before the season. I guess that’s why they play 162 games huh.
Its gonna be fun…….
dogsbrekky
February 27th, 2009
5:56 pm
Lemke – oh music to my ears, that guy was so good for us…. CLUTCH, whatever………… and Smoltzy….. Jack Morris 10 innings of clutch ball vs us………….
DID Heyward play today, I missed some innings ?
keylargo
February 27th, 2009
5:58 pm
I want to give a plug to Comcast wireless internet and Mozilla Firefox Browsers as a great combination for this blog. I can hit the refresh icon and 3 to 4 seconds later – there it is. Refreshed from the point I left it.
I started with Bell South DSL (ATT) and IE. What a pleasure it is now compared to then.
dogsbrekky
February 27th, 2009
5:59 pm
chizzle – hallelujah mate, I am very excited about the young talent
Medlen, Hanson, Freeman, Heyward, Hernandez, Schafer, B Jones (looks gr8), J Anderson (starter in ‘09)……….
Lew
February 27th, 2009
6:02 pm
Wayne-I don’t know, but I think your BABIP might be fluctuating. Better go see your Doctor.
David O'Brien
February 27th, 2009
6:04 pm
That plucking of Miguel Tejada yesterday by Tommy Hanson, let’s just say some Braves were impressed…..
Alright, gotta get out of here and drive back to the OrlanDisneyopolis.
TnBrian
February 27th, 2009
6:05 pm
Wayne, I know but when 99.9% of the pundits are arguing against most of us, you kinda have to start looking at it through their eyes, don’t you? Some of them I agree with. We have no “ace”, no legit leadoff hitter,no true power hitter, and the pen is a huge question with key guys coming off injuries. I really do believe that the durability and depth of the pitching will give Atl. a 2nd place finish, but a 3rd place won’t surprise me a bit. I hate them, but the Mutts are going to be tough with that pen and those 3-4-5 hitter, along with Reyes, and the Phills are tough too, but who knows. Their Sep. collapses or not, the Mutts are improved, people.
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
6:07 pm
Magnus Pym…funny stuff. No offense to Chardonnay lovers though.
Lew
February 27th, 2009
6:09 pm
TNBrian-The people who make those predictions have been predominantly wrong for years. They claimed for years that the Braves’ streak would end and were wrong for at least 5-6 years. Some of them claimed we would go to the Series last year. We all know how that one turned out.
Personally, I’d rather expectations were lower for the Braves this year. It will make it all that much nicer when they exceed expectations, IMO.
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
6:16 pm
Luther,
I actually looked up Lemmer’s numbers when I started thinking about this clutch stuff. Lemmer had three great postseason series (’91 WS, ‘92 NLCS, ‘96 NLCS), one decent one (’95 WS), and seven awful ones. It doesn’t matter, though. We will always remember his great series because Lemmer raised his game so much.
On the other hand, we can look at a guy like A-Rod and see that his postseason numbers since the 2004 ALCS have been well below his overall career norms. Yankee fans are right to think that A-Rod isn’t a clutch player, at least in the postseason. His numbers are way off.
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
6:17 pm
I agree, Lew. I like lower expectations. As long as the players on the team expect more, that’s all that matters.
BravesFanInRockies
February 27th, 2009
6:25 pm
kirkinga,
Yup. Understood. I’ve said this before, but I have a problem with the whole idea of “clutch performers.” (The fact that it’s very difficult to measure clutchness only helps my case.)
If you imply a player is clutch, that his performance noticeably improves when the game’s on the line, then what’s he doing the rest of the time, loafing?
I could probably be convinced that there’s such a thing as being “non-clutch.” That some players do not respond well to high-pressure situations and their performance suffers.
But clutch? Don’t like it. Talented people (physically, mentally, both, whatever) get the job done.
TnBrian
February 27th, 2009
6:29 pm
Lew, you’re definitely right on these “experts” being wrong most of the time, but like I said, I do agree with what some of them have written about this team. This all got started with the Francoeur situation earlier, and I still think his bat holds the key for this team. Weird as that sounds, it’s probably true. It only stands true if injuries stay down and Moylan and Soriano bounce back after surgery,and Gonzo stays off the DL. We all just better hope that this team takes the lowered expectaions for them in ‘09 as a way to play better and not slack off. I really am worried about Moylan and Soriano the most. They’re so imporatnt for us.
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 27th, 2009
6:37 pm
What does a fan have to do to get a quality picture from spring training: go to Orlando? I’d love to see at least 1 picture from today’s game.
DMBJAMS
February 27th, 2009
6:42 pm
That plucking of Miguel Tejada yesterday by Tommy Hanson, let’s just say some Braves were impressed…..DOB
Did something happen before that to instigate it? Was there bad blood from anything?
Thanks
Matt
csg
February 27th, 2009
6:45 pm
DOB, any word on Chip’s extension?
Original Jon
February 27th, 2009
6:45 pm
DMBJAMS Guess you didnt watch the game yesterday, Roy Oswalt pegged Yunel in the elbow, so Hanson got redemption for his teammate.
keylargo
February 27th, 2009
6:47 pm
DMBJAMS
Escobar was hit an inning before on the elbow. SS for SS.
Steve from OH
February 27th, 2009
6:52 pm
Are you guys trying to bait me again? Luckily for everyone involed, I gave up pontificating for Lent…so you’re on your own BFIR!
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
6:58 pm
TnBrian
I have never had any illusions that this years Braves would have much of a shot to win it all. My only hopes are that we play competitively, and maybe we get into October.
But, I am an unabashed homer….
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
7:01 pm
While I take no pleasure in a baseball player getting hit by a pitch, I do love it when a pitcher has his team’s back. (was that statement contradictory??)
Gotta run for a while….later….
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
7:02 pm
BFIR,
You need to use your eyes to gaze upon the clutch. The clutch resides in every fiber of David Eckstein’s being. The clutch flows with every beat of Craig Counsell’s heart. The clutch rode shotgun on every batting practice fastball that Sterling Hitchcock threw against our beloved Braves.
Open your eyes and embrace the clutch.
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
7:10 pm
BravesFanInRockies, good, I’m glad you understood, some here don’t and hold a grudge…lol!
I think we’re close to agreeing actually. I think if I’m reading you right, you don’t like the term or maybe, how the term can be misused or hyped?
That is why I try and be really clear about what I am talking about when I use the term. I think no matter what, we’re talking about how a given players does in a particular set of circumstances and from there we look to see who among that group is the most consistent.
Clutch or no, the Braves must do better in late and close situations and with scoring opportunities in general. Having an improved rotation and a pen that isn’t overly used will help, but they aren’t enough.
The Braves had many winnable games last season, if only someone could’ve gotten a guy over or in. That’s why I think there’s legitimate hope this season. I agree with Lew , that lower expectations are better at this point. I forget the movie, but I think it was Pacino’s character that said “Never let em see you coming”. That should be the Braves this season.
TnBrian
February 27th, 2009
7:13 pm
Wayne, I wasn’t singling you out, I was just both speaking out of frustration on some these jerk-off writers, and agreeing with some of their points at the same time.
Lew
February 27th, 2009
7:13 pm
TnBrian-Dude, I understand your concerns-I just think things will pretty much work out fine-however, like Nathan (N8) and i have said throughout the winter, that if we make our push in 2010, we’ll be happy. AS people are beginning to see with Schafer, Heyward, Hanson and Freeman, we’re good to go in the next year or so.
I think Frenchy will better his 08 performance and return to at least his old form. EVen if he doesn’t though, I think Yunel and KJ are ready to break out and that the pitchers we got over the winter fixed the leaks in the rotation.
As for the pen-Soriano’s injury was weird. Every time he threw a pitch, a nerve snapped over the bone in his elbow, rubbing on a bone spur. Painful. They moved the nerve so it can’t happen again. Even though injured, the Dude has been lights out and now he’s not in pain. He’ll be fine and give a closer option if Gonzo isn’t all there, which I believe he will be. Even if Moylan isn’t ready, we’ve still got Stockman, who is no without options, Marek and Medlen who both can relieve and tons of other guys like Campillo, Carlyle, Bennet, ACosta, Boyer and all those LH dudes they got. We’ll be fine.
I also see the Mets and Phillies having some of their own questions and that doesn’t even take into account whatever may be wrong with Santana’s arm. I just don’t think they’re as strong as many lioke to believe. We’ll see. I’m just not going to worry and most of those guys don’t have a clue, anyway-like the guy Coach was talking about the other night-the one who had Clint Sammons starting in center for us. Yeah. Right.
Steve from OH
February 27th, 2009
7:13 pm
Chop Chop, don’t forget every scrappy, punting-inspired play Darin Erstad has made. A veritable clutchapalooza, everytime the man stepped foot on the field.
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
7:14 pm
kirk, I don’t know about you, but I’d settle for a better effort from our starters in Innings 1-6 (and hopefully 7) and take my chances on the “clutch” hitting not being much of a factor in our won-loss record. The more often you’re ahead going into the late innings, the better your chance of winning ballgames without needing those big cats to walk late.
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
7:15 pm
As a football player, Darin Erstad was a damn fine punter.
As a baseball player, Darin Erstad is also a damn fine punter.
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
7:24 pm
Lew,
The only thing is that a lot of people here seemed to think that same media had a clue last year when everyone was so high on the team. Most of the media types I’ve read this year have the Braves as winning somewhere around 85 games. I actually predicted 85-77 on my own, which means I should probably go beat my head against a wall somewhere until I learn something.
Darin Erstad
February 27th, 2009
7:27 pm
Got me a national championship ring, a World Series ring, money, fame, the womans and sportswriters on my jock while Steve from Ohio and Chop Chop are doing what on this stinky pagina?
Darin Erstad
February 27th, 2009
7:32 pm
Chop Chop, George Will once called me the “Diamond In Orange County”. What’s your momma call you?
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
7:32 pm
Chop Chop, always enjoy reading what you have to say because you are always rational…lol!
Can we disagree on this one buddy? I understand where you coming from. I get the David Eckstein thing(my eye’s are rolling believe me), but I hope you see how I am trying to limit was is and isn’t clutch, and more importantly tie it to the Braves. Same deal with Erstad and all the so call gritty “dirt” players, but that’s another subject.
I agree with you on a better effort from our starters…and pen. But what I don’t want to see is we get a player, or two on in the 7th, 8th, 9th inning, we’re tied or down 1-2 runs, and nothing happens. Now I know many are going to scream Bobby Cox, but really it comes down to players getting those runs over and in in those late situations.
I like our chances, but I’m going to be looking at June because that is the time when Braves’ teams seem to come alive or die. With Garret Anderson aboard, I think we’ll do better offensively after the 7th. With Norton and Diaz/G. Anderson on the bench, we should be ok there in late situations as Diaz does well with RISP and we know what Norton can do.
So getting ahead and staying ahead is better I agree again, but I think usually it’s the teams that come from behind well that get to the playoffs. I could be wrong though.
TnBrian
February 27th, 2009
7:41 pm
Chop Chop, you were apparantly refering to me when you wrote that a lot of us agreed with the media with their predictions this time a year ago. Well, not this one. I had big concerns with aging,good, but aging pitchers last Feb. This year, I feel that the depth,durability, and talent of our pitchers will eventually give us a 2nd place finish. You can come up with your cute little one liners all night, but I am not defending what these nerdy, know-it-all writers think. I just agree with some of what they say.
flange1
February 27th, 2009
7:43 pm
clutchapalooza
what a great word!!!!
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
7:47 pm
My momma calls me your son, Darin Erstad. I shore can kick a ball.
Greg Norton isn’t much of a clutch hitter, kirk. I did some paralysis of analysis on that dude today. He was insanely good in the clutch, outside of tie game situations, in 2008. He won’t do that again for us. Nevertheless, if Norton could produce numbers somewhere between 2008’s Big Papi-like clutch numbers and what he’s put up for the rest of his career, he’d still be quite useful late in ballgames.
(By the way, I’m always right. Ask KC.)
Time to eat. Have a good evening, folks.
Couch Tater
February 27th, 2009
7:50 pm
Wasn’t clutchapalooza a song by Jan & Dean or The Beach Boys?
Chop Chop
February 27th, 2009
7:51 pm
I was referring to an earlier comment made by Lew about what the media said last year, TnBrian. My cute one-liner wasn’t directed toward you. It was directed toward those (I was one of them) who thought that the Braves were a likely favorite in the NL East last year. If you fall into that category, grab a beer and join the club.
ncscoots
February 27th, 2009
7:54 pm
Steve-OH, I’m glad to see you are able to resist the pull of The Dark Side. The “clutch” thread is so, oh, December.
By the way, I’d say Eckstein was less “a clutchapalooza” than “loaded with intangibles”. Sucker was chock full of intangibles.
Somewhat less so with tangibles, maybe, but, hey, that’s some other conversation…
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
7:55 pm
Greg Norton isn’t much of a clutch hitter, kirk. I did some paralysis of analysis on that dude today.
************************************************************************************************************************
Right you are! It was lazy writing on my part. I should’ve said with Norton’s ability to get pinch hits. So including him wasn’t about clutch so much as it was about him being a pinch hit leader.
We’re going to have to replace Gotay’s pinch hits. I don’t think that has been talked about much here, but he and Norton were 1-2 in PH’s last year.
Well, I trust you and KC, so ok there.
ncscoots
February 27th, 2009
7:57 pm
Wasn’t clutchapalooza a song by Jan & Dean or The Beach Boys?
Unfinished tune by Brian Wilson. Was due to be on “Pet Sounds”; master now lies gathering dust.
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
8:02 pm
The “clutch” thread is so, oh, December.
************************************************************************************************************************
Well I didn’t bring it up. But I will admit a weakness for the topic.
Then again, we all have topics we never seem to tire of. I know there are some here that roll their eye’s when the subject is clutch, but boy oh boy, if you bring up certain sabermetrics or certain players, coaches, managers, they get all real excited like. Heck they might even spout off a comment or 100 all night long.
flange1
February 27th, 2009
8:05 pm
Scoots, nice 7:57!
Couch Tater
February 27th, 2009
8:09 pm
Brian Wilson wasn’t clutch, I guess.
ease19
February 27th, 2009
8:16 pm
Clutch = Doing the deed at the right place and right time…take it how you want, but that is my opinion only.
ncscoots
February 27th, 2009
8:18 pm
Couch, good one, LOL. Wish I had a followup that was witty enough to compare!
kirk, you got that right. It’s not so much I mind the bees that buzz in our many bonnets, but I will confess to peevishness at the certainty and arrogance of some positions taken…on either side of any question.
Naturally, since I am always right, I have no need to display such certitude, LOL.
TnBrian
February 27th, 2009
8:20 pm
Chop Chop, I’m already at 6 Bud’s and still going!
kirkinga
February 27th, 2009
8:37 pm
ncscoots… I thought Chop Chop was the one that is always right? You mean there can be more than one?
I view this time on the blog and us all getting in blog shape for the upcoming season.
Not that I didn’t enjoy the 200, 000 comments about Dunn-Swisher-Nady-Abreu-Ibanez, but it’s nice to have Spring Training to pontificate upon.
Wayne in Utah
February 27th, 2009
8:39 pm
Offer is supposedly off the table for Manny. Come on McCourt, hold your ground. You are bidding against some magical, mystical team from Scott Boras’ imagination.
Drop it to 15 million straight up for one year. If they say no, give Repko a shot in the outfield.
Lew
February 27th, 2009
8:45 pm
ChopChop-Dude, if you really want to go beat your head into a wall, that’s your prerogative. Might give you more of a headache than trying optimism for a change. I mean, really Dude, would it hurt you, or do you just enjoy taking it out on those of us who aren’t doom and gloomers? Lighten up before you blow a blood vessel.
If you’ll remember, we were in it last year despite major injuries right up til the All Star break-then we got mashed by everything that could possibly go wrong. I refuse to take 08 as anything but an aberration -a perfect storm-something I certainly don’t see happening again, especially after the pick ups Wren made this winter.
Whatever. Believe anything that gets you through the night, Buddy.
uga-brave
February 27th, 2009
8:49 pm
clutch? anyone remember that cartoon clutch cargo?
the wife is up at lake burton this weekend with a bunch of her friends, so gonna go get overserved at my favorite establishment.
no i am not going to the pony.
Lew
February 27th, 2009
8:51 pm
And his pals Spinner and Paddlefoot. UGABrave-you’re old like me if you remember that one.
dogsbrekky
February 27th, 2009
8:51 pm
Just back from dinner – word in NY on JOHAN Santana is not good…………
uga-brave
February 27th, 2009
8:52 pm
speaking of athens, LEW, do remember the band PYLON?
SoWeGa Fanatic
February 27th, 2009
9:03 pm
“You need to use your eyes to gaze upon the clutch. The clutch resides in every fiber of David Eckstein’s being. The clutch flows with every beat of Craig Counsell’s heart. The clutch rode shotgun on every batting practice fastball that Sterling Hitchcock threw against our beloved Braves.
Open your eyes and embrace the clutch.”
Actually, the clutch resides to the left of the brake.
winterville
February 27th, 2009
9:03 pm
what are you hearing dogsbrekky?
uga-brave
February 27th, 2009
9:11 pm
i will tell you who is not clutch, the cab i called 40 minutes ago.
ease19
February 27th, 2009
9:13 pm
ANDERS?…ANDERS?…Anyone heard from Anders? Maybe we should put out a missing person’s report, I mean the METS lost and now Johan has turned up lame…ANDERS?