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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
978 comments Add your comment
McFann :Ô:
March 1st, 2009
2:40 pm
PWHjort So, he sort of took your advice. Though the timing doesn’t quite line up.
LOL!
Hey, this is sweet: Thunder with the snow! The guy on the TV said it was thunder-snow.
TnBrian
March 1st, 2009
2:40 pm
I agree, McCann can’t throw a runner out to save his life. You’re right , the Phillies will expose that every time they get on base. Sh– every team will.
PWHjort
March 1st, 2009
2:40 pm
Zach Schriever is on for Ridgeway. The Phillies announcers, as well as I, know nothing about him. But they’re making fun of Jeff Ridgeway which is pretty hilarious.
Randy S
March 1st, 2009
2:40 pm
These Phillies broadcasters are painful.
RBP
March 1st, 2009
2:41 pm
he didn’t get the patented Klesko “Lean Back”, which i copied repeatedly as a kid.
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
2:41 pm
The Phillies radio announcer just bagged the hell out of Ridgway..
I for one, had NOT heard that WHAM had reformed and had converted to baseball
Magnus Pym
March 1st, 2009
2:41 pm
Mayberry trade for Francouer, straight up…
PWHjort
March 1st, 2009
2:42 pm
Schriever retires the batter. 5-2.
McFann :Ô:
March 1st, 2009
2:42 pm
TnBrian I agree, McCann can’t throw a runner out to save his life.
You just wait, pal. You just wait!
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
2:43 pm
Kansas b/ball looking very good, better than several top 10 teams
KC
March 1st, 2009
2:43 pm
Someone brought up the fact that Escobar hit into a lot of double-plays last year, and said that for that reason, he wasn’t a good #2 hitter. That’s a valid point, but he’s still the best choice for the 2 slot for the following reasons:
- He had a solid .366 on-base % last year, and OBP is important for anyone hitting 1 or 2.
- While he isn’t a base-stealer, he does run very well, and won’t clog up basepaths.
- Being a strong opposite-field hitter, he’s ideal for hit-and-run plays, which could be much more common if Anderson (a legitimate base-stealer) the leadoff hitter.
- He won’t be as prone to hit into DPs hitting 2nd behind Anderson. First of all Anderson will steal a lot of bases when he gets on, and as I mentioned, you’ll also see some hit-and-run plays. Also, consider that last year, with Escobar hit leadoff a lot, and often the runner on ahead of him wasn’t a threat to steal, so the first-baseman didn’t have to hold runners as diligently.
- Also, Escobar gets a lot of hits toward the gaps, and if Anderson’s on, he’ll get to third every time on a single toward the gap.
tr
March 1st, 2009
2:43 pm
chop chop – think i’ve discovered a flaw in the “perfect #2″ theory – if you don’t wipe, how would you know you didn’t need to? unless, of course you have a mets fan to check for you
cabravesfan
March 1st, 2009
2:45 pm
I have to say I am enjoying reading about all the snow you guys are getting in atlanta…while i look out my open front door into beautiful blue skys on an 80 degree Sunday here in Southern California:)
PWHjort
March 1st, 2009
2:45 pm
Escobar is actually a good #1 hitter, but the organization is retarded in the sense that they try to get him to be very aggressive in the #1 spot. If he would take the same approach that he does in slots 2-8, he’d be an excellent lead-off hitter.
David O'Brien
March 1st, 2009
2:46 pm
Back from clubhouse just in time to see McCANN HOMER on a 2-2 pitch from Chan Ho Park
PWHjort
March 1st, 2009
2:46 pm
Brian McCann Homer. 5-3.
18 Wheels of Love
March 1st, 2009
2:46 pm
McCann, mcgone!
PWHjort
March 1st, 2009
2:47 pm
DOB, who was that reliever we used after Ridgeway tanked?
braves4ever
March 1st, 2009
2:47 pm
tr, A Mets fan would be the wipe right? which would blow your theory
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
2:48 pm
No love for my WHAM joke………
KC
March 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
Woogidy, sorry, got you confused with someone else. But YES, definitely be great to have you there. Last year we did it at Frankie’s on the Prado, on north end of 285 near GA-400. That worked out pretty well, but nothing’s set yet.
We talked about doing it at The Bullpen next to Turner Field, but surprisingly, not only were they not staying open to show the game… they didn’t even know it was on!! For a business with the Braves at the center of their business model, I found that a little difficult to understand.
Anyway, email me at kccjr1@gmail.com, and I’ll keep you in the loop.
Tim
March 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
Guys. How is it always the catcher’s fault when he doesn’t throw out the guy at on the bases? The pitchers have to do their job holding the runners closer.
tr
March 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
braves4ever – not everyone has a mets fan handy
David O'Brien
March 1st, 2009
2:50 pm
Dogsbrekky, if they hadn’t given away the game at Mizzou a few weeks ago, the Jayhawks would be unbeaten in Big 12 play now and ranked in top 10, probably about 6-7. But best to lose that game, bit of a reminder they have to play all 40 minutes. Young, young team, perhaps Self’s finest coaching job. To lose all five starters from last year’s team and be in position to win the conference again….
DCBrave
March 1st, 2009
2:50 pm
Randy S-
Compared to the Braves’ announcers …. Oh, where’re they?
BravesFanInRockies
March 1st, 2009
2:50 pm
Hey DOB
Thanks for posting the link to the Rocky’s closing. I’m one of the 200-plus people from that newsroom and it’s a very sad time. For us, for our readers and for Colorado. I really appreciate your sharing it.
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
2:51 pm
KU looks like the dark horse for MM this year of those outside UCONN, Tarheels, Pit…
PWHjort
March 1st, 2009
2:51 pm
Tim, it is a combination of both the pitcher and the catcher, but it is universally accepted that catchers are the most important person when it comes to holding baserunners.
McFann ;Ô;
March 1st, 2009
2:51 pm
WHOO-HOO!!! See? Makin’ up for those SBs…
David O'Brien
March 1st, 2009
2:52 pm
PWH, it was Schreiber, brought over from minor league camp.
Razzle
March 1st, 2009
2:52 pm
With so many competing for the last bullpen spots, I wonder what an outing like that might do for a pitcher’s chances…
PTBNL
March 1st, 2009
2:53 pm
PWH, what universe is that?
McFann ;Ô;
March 1st, 2009
2:54 pm
cabravesfan–
Huh…80 degrees…won’t be too much longer for us. But this snow is really pretty. HUGE flakes, too.
Feels funny, though–checking baseball scores in the middle of thunder-snow.
BO JR.
March 1st, 2009
2:54 pm
RAZZLE not much on trade market
David O'Brien
March 1st, 2009
2:55 pm
BravesFanInRockies: I had no idea you worked for “the Rocky” (of course, how would I?). Sad to see, man. I feel for you. That’s what most of us writers from various papers have been talking about a lot this spring, especially guys like the Philly writers here today (they’re papers’ ownership filed for bankruptcy, same owner has both papers there)
reagan
March 1st, 2009
2:55 pm
Dadgum (or anyone)….does Richmond have NO baseball team now?
DCBrave
March 1st, 2009
2:56 pm
Razzle-
Not much as far as Cox’s concerned based on his previous years.
Andy K.
March 1st, 2009
2:57 pm
reaganright now, Richmond doesn’t have a baseball team. but there is talk of a AA team known as the Connecticut Defenders moving in…I think they are the Giants…
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
2:58 pm
Snowed here in NY this morning when the dog and I were in C Park, saw one of the huge Red Tail Hawks in the Ramble, hunting, amazing to watch,
think we are getting 6 inches tomorrow and tonight, a lot of fun for us outback boys
McFann ;Ô;
March 1st, 2009
2:58 pm
PTBNL–
Haha!! Good question!
Catchers do have a big responsibility in that regard–I mean, he cann signal to the pitcher to throw over, seein’ as how he’s got a better view of the runner–but the pitcher’s not off the hook when it comes to runners.
KC
March 1st, 2009
2:58 pm
I’m not saying that Escobar sucks as a leadoff hitter. But if Anderson can keep a decent OBP, he’s perfect. It’s a BIG plus to have a leadoff man with speed for many reasons.
First, as I said before, Anderson can really help you stay out of the double-play, be it by stealing second, or by way of a hit-and-run.
Also, Anderson has a few different ways to 2B. He can steal, he can be sacrificed over (though that isn’t Escobar’s strong suit), and If Anderson has a full season of at-bats in the leadoff spot, you can probably look for him to knock more than 30 extra-base hits. And when he does get on 2B or 3B, you’ve got two guys coming up behind him that are very good hitters with runners in scoring position.
And of course, a true SB threat on base is always a distraction to the pitcher.
Tim
March 1st, 2009
2:58 pm
PWH, The catcher doesn’t stand a chance at throwing out the baserunner if he’s half way to the base before the catcher get’s the ball.
Maybe DOB can tell us whose at more at fault for the stolen bases today. Are the throws bad or are the runners getting to good of jumps off the pitchers?
Jeff321
March 1st, 2009
2:58 pm
Ridgeway now has a 40.50 era. I bet he gets a spot in the bullpen…
Oh, and Infante getting worked out there in the outfield, eh? Imagine my shock.
We’re talking about Bobby Cox’s decision making again. He thought using Infante and Norton last year was a good idea… Sure they have talent but not in the outfield.
Daybed Wagmoe
March 1st, 2009
3:00 pm
Harry,
You mentioned Larry Campbell, Levon’s sideman. Back in 2004, I went to the Braves-Cubs game on Easter Sunday, and Bob Dylan was in Atlanta to play 3 shows at the Tabernacle, Monday-Wednesday. I was sitting about 25 rows behind home plate, and in about the 2nd inning, Larry walked in front of us and sat and watched the game behind the Cubs’ dugout. After the game, I went up to him and talked to him — really nice guy, sounded very much like the kind of guy that would be touring with Bob Dylan. He sounded a lot like Chong or The Dude (i.e., Big Lebowski), and talked like them too.
Erin
March 1st, 2009
3:00 pm
Is Infante really as bad a fielder as these Phillies announcers seem to think? They’re just ripping him apart–”they just want to find somewhere to play him where they can get his bat but won’t be hurt by his defense.”
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
3:01 pm
If we use Josh as CF and leadoff, could we bat Garret A 2nd (he is a great all round hitter)
3. Chipper 4. McCann 5. YUNEL 6. KJ 7. RF 8. Kasey
Robert
March 1st, 2009
3:01 pm
Sammons sucks
Randy S
March 1st, 2009
3:01 pm
DC Brave
Yes it was much nicer last year when Pete did every single spring training game (and most of them alone). He was made for those kind of broadcasts. Could easily fill 3 hours with fantastic stories.
BravoMan
March 1st, 2009
3:02 pm
Philly announcers are dumb. Infante is a stud in both offence and defence for being a utility player. Whoever dumb and dumber are doing the play by play they should be told to suck it!
Tim
March 1st, 2009
3:05 pm
Jeff321, what are you smoking? Who else were we suppose to use in the outfield last year when Kotsay and Diaz were both hurt?
Robert
March 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
from RotoWorld
Johan Santana (elbow) felt well enough Sunday that he changed his mind about going to New York for an examination on Monday.
Razzle
March 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
I have read so many times about players liking to play for Bobby… and I wonder if one of the primary reasons is that if you really stink it up, even ad infinitum, he’s got your back.
cabravesfan
March 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
The catcher doesn’t stand a chance at throwing out the baserunner if he’s half way to the base before the catcher get’s the ball.
Tim- I was just about to type the exact same thing…a big part of the problem last year was pitchers not being able to hold runners close and that, combined with Mac having some…um…issues with throwing guys out made for a lot of stolen bases
McFann
It is really just stunningly beautiful today- postcard perfect…
PWHjort
March 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
“Infante is a stud in both offence and defence for being a utility player.”
First of all, Offense and Defense are spelled with “s”s, not “c”s. Secondly, Infante is extremely lousy in the outfield. His defense is acceptable in the infield positions but well below average in the outfield.
DCBrave
March 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
Randy S-
I just appreciate the Phillies even have the announcers there, which’s better than nothing. Of course, who could beat Pete?!
spotts
March 1st, 2009
3:07 pm
Are you kidding? I’d say Ridgway deserves to be in the pen. He lowered his career ERA by 185.28 points last year. Not even Maddux has done that.
Bravely going forward
March 1st, 2009
3:08 pm
you there DOB??
cabravesfan
March 1st, 2009
3:08 pm
Robert-
The word is Santana isn’t going to New York becasue of the weather…
Hey McFann- what coding do you use for italics?
BravesFanInRockies
March 1st, 2009
3:09 pm
DOB, thanks. The video is something else. And the editor John Temple’s right. It’s hard to believe how much Rocky readers love the paper. I’ve been in the biz for two decades, with four different dailies, and I’ve never experienced the passion I have in Denver for a newspaper.
I’m thinking about y’all at the AJC, too.
Oh well. On to the Grapefruit League …
True Braves Fan
March 1st, 2009
3:12 pm
1. Anyone else listening to the game on MLB Radio? Boy the annouoncers stink!!!
2. Is is too early to worry about the Braves bullpen? Only Carlyle and Acosta have looked good so far..
Robert
March 1st, 2009
3:15 pm
did bennett pitch today
Braves fan in shadow of NYC
March 1st, 2009
3:16 pm
Are you kidding? I’d say Ridgway deserves to be in the pen. He lowered his career ERA by 185.28 points last year. Not even Maddux has done that.
haha pretty funny. also DOB when can we expect to see Glavine in a ST game. I havent seen the full schedule.
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
3:16 pm
Jo Jo will be in the pen, I think…. anyone anyone ?
Jim
March 1st, 2009
3:18 pm
Will Stockman pitch today? Might the Braves be trying to hide him in the late innings of the game when all the minor leaguers are playing and no one is paying much attention so that they can try to sneak him through waivers?
Jeff321
March 1st, 2009
3:19 pm
>Jeff321, what are you smoking? Who else were we suppose to use in the outfield last year when Kotsay and Diaz were both hurt?
Anyone that knows how to play the outfield. (For instance — Josh Anderson and/or Brandon Jones were on the bench or in Richmond during this time.) I think Bobby Cox and his defenders should be ashamed for using players out of position. We have plenty of studs up here right now that know how to play. You don’t think they just learned defense this year?
In other words, it doesn’t really matter if they can hit or not.. Because Infante & Norton’s bat aren’t worth their shoddy defense in the outfield.
Plus, I’d prefer any of the young bucks rather than Frenchy this year. We could have signed Ohman with that $3M+ and cut the “hasbeen” loose.
Erin
March 1st, 2009
3:19 pm
True Braves Fan–
They seriously are terrible. And doesn’t one of them sound like Sylvester Stallone (and about as intelligent)?
richbrave
March 1st, 2009
3:20 pm
My wife’s second cousin is back on the sports desk at the RALEIGH NEWS-OBSERVER. Says things are rough. A neighbor’s sister who works with him seconds that take. The RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH is on its last legs. Maybe another year. That’s about it from what I’m hearing around the community.
Razzle
March 1st, 2009
3:21 pm
ok, light powder finally blowing in a stiff wind in the Cohuttas… baseball season is here for sure
John Facenda
March 1st, 2009
3:22 pm
From the high latitudes of page five a breath of hot air which could have, if on another day, affected the outcome of the the 1967 NFL Championship.
Bravely going forward
March 1st, 2009
3:22 pm
HAVE THE BRAVES STOP TRYING COMPLETELY?
BravoMan
March 1st, 2009
3:22 pm
Wooo I spelled wrong. Give me a break am I in English class? And you got me on his OF defenSe. He’s a infielder by trade.
David O'Brien
March 1st, 2009
3:22 pm
Moylan said he didn’t have the sink that he had on his pitches during bullpens and BP sessions, that it was probably just a slight mechanical flaw from being overamped, the nerves and adrenaline in his first game back. But the arm was fine, which is what’s important right now. He iced and then went back out in the dugout to watch Stockman pitch that eighth inning from the dugout.
Said he’s got six weeks to be ready, goal to be on opening day roster.
Bravely going forward
March 1st, 2009
3:23 pm
*STOPPED
BravoMan
March 1st, 2009
3:23 pm
HAVE THE BRAVES STOP TRYING COMPLETELY?
Chill my man, it’s ST
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
3:23 pm
Kansas still “pasting” the MIZZ, horrible drubbing
David O'Brien
March 1st, 2009
3:23 pm
Actually, it’s five weeks from today, not six. But who’s counting….
Jim
March 1st, 2009
3:27 pm
DOB
I’m looking at the mlb box score and it says Marek pitched the 8th inning.
PTBNL
March 1st, 2009
3:28 pm
Hmmm It says Marek pitched the 8th. Maybe Stockman in the 9th?
Pulpwood Smith
March 1st, 2009
3:28 pm
Agree with Harry, very solid Lucinda show last night. Great covers, including AC/DC’s Its a Long Way To The Top, Every Picture Tells A Story, Hendrix’ Angel, sweet Guitar Slim cover. Also, an impassioned rant against Ticketmaster.
Erin
March 1st, 2009
3:30 pm
richbrave–
That’s really sad about the Times-Dispatch. I still read it online even though I live in Seattle and have been away from Richmond since I graduated from college (’03). Hope it lasts long enough to have my wedding published in it–I always wanted the announcement in it, and now it’s only about another year until it happens.
braves4ever
March 1st, 2009
3:30 pm
David, uhh we are counting, its been a long winter break started back in Aug when we were out of contention.
Jim
March 1st, 2009
3:30 pm
Have NL teams used a DH in spring training against each other before this year?
Interested Observer
March 1st, 2009
3:30 pm
DOB: You mentioned a while back that Chipper said something about him and Hudson showing the young guys early on that some of the things they were doing last year weren’t going to cut it anymore. Have you noticed anything different in that regard?
Robert
March 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
Marek has looked good so far
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
STOCKMANNNNNNNNNNNNN awright Aussies
stormcommander
March 1st, 2009
3:32 pm
but i’m not gonna lie, i’ve been horny on the braves/MIB blog once or twice i think
PWHjort
March 1st, 2009
3:35 pm
Did the hit Marek surrender get hit hard?
braves4ever
March 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
stormcommander , I have loved baseball for 40 years and never had that feeling about the game! its different than da lady that comes through in front of the TV.
Jeff321
March 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
1-2-3 inning for the STUD Phil Stockman.
But, will he make the team this year? And see any action? Ahh, the anticipation!
Chop Chop
March 1st, 2009
3:39 pm
Stockman has made more than 30 appearances only once in a season since turning pro in 1998.
Not good. Seems like a cool guy, though.
35YearBravesFan
March 1st, 2009
3:39 pm
You mean to tell me the Braves are too cheap to buy McDowell and McCann the Rosetta Stone language program for Japanese????
What gives???
Razzle
March 1st, 2009
3:40 pm
They’re going to buy English for Kawakami – 1 copy vs. 2, saves $$$
McFann :Ô:
March 1st, 2009
3:43 pm
cabravesfan–
Ours is postcard perfect, too…but obviously quite the opposite of yours! But I do love those nice, sunny spring days. 60s and 70s are my favorite.
Use the italics code on this page:
http://www.w3schools.com/html/tryit.asp?filename=tryhtml_formatting
but leave out the “p’s”. As far as the other codes on that page–I’ve never gotten them to work.
stormcommander
March 1st, 2009
3:46 pm
you ever notice while you’re at a toll booth that if you are all alone you can get the money from the coin trey in your car with no problem but if there is a long line behind you you can’t easily pick up the change and you fumble around and maybe drop some? i hate that.
spotts
March 1st, 2009
3:48 pm
35 – I saw one of those Rosetta Stone commercials the other day. Looks like the Braves won’t be helping out McCann/Dowell and they’ll have to learn a foreign language the old fashioned way – with headphones and in black and white. Learning a foreign language was so hard before Rosetta came along
stormcommander
March 1st, 2009
3:50 pm
i hear it’s stunning when the famous blue stuffed worm in flap-jaw space with the tuning fork does a rare blink on Hara-kiri rock.
Jeff321
March 1st, 2009
3:50 pm
There is something wrong with this blog software and/or servers.
The last post was 3:43 and with a refresh its back to 3:32. And when I hit refresh a couple more times its likely to reappear as expected.
With that said, I use broadband and have no need for a cache. (Its set to zero.)
So, the blame is all on your end.
dogsbrekky
March 1st, 2009
3:51 pm
The Texas Rangers are playing some dude named Hamilton in CF today instead of Andruw… wtf
tr
March 1st, 2009
3:51 pm
This text is an italics test
cabravesfan
March 1st, 2009
3:51 pm
Thanks McFann!