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978 comments Add your comment
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
3:12 pm
Carroll-
We need you more when the real season starts. I remember you’ve alway been the Braves’ lucky charm: Whenever DOB’s on leave and you took over the last couple years, the Braves had a much higher percentage of winning as far as I could recall.
Carroll Rogers
March 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
Good point, DCBrave…Though I think even my luck ran out late last season….
The Braves just announced they’d signed the remainder of their 0-3 guys (0-3 years of service time), meaning everybody on the 40-man is under contract. The players they signed to one-year contracts: Manny Acosta, Jeff Bennett, Blaine Boyer, Buddy Carlyle, Jorge Campillo, Charlie Morton and Peter Moylan; two infielders: Yunel Escobar and Martin Prado; and outfielder Gregor Blanco.
ease19
March 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
I guess we should go ahead an pencil JJ in at triple A to make room for Hanson…5 not so sharp innings…man this early in ST and he already looks terrible…Better yet, lets just package him up and trade him.
KC
March 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
DWW, I hear ya…
If Francoeur bounces back, a bat obviously wouldn’t be acquired for RF. But they could choose to upgrade their lineup in LF. Not that there’s anything wrong with what they’ve got there now… but if they could get a bat with more power, and just as importantly, a RIGHT-HANDED power bat… that may have some appeal.
And Vazquez may not be traded directly for that bat. While not terribly common, 3-way trades do happen. But more likely, Vazquez could be traded for young talent that could then be flipped for a bat (or simply serve to replenish whatever they send away for that hitter). Even if they’re entirely separate trades, if the Braves want another bat, Vazquez may have to go to clear salary space for that player.
toga party
March 2nd, 2009
3:20 pm
Steve from OH, That was a great interview. Thanks for posting the link.
“Like I said, we are going to prepare a case that puts the Braves in the best possible position whether the player’s agent is Scott Boras or Scott Baio.”
That’s a really funny image.
Jeff321
March 2nd, 2009
3:20 pm
I don’t know if this has been posted since I just checked the last page of comments.
SB Interview: John Coppolella, Braves Director of Baseball of Administration
via MLB Trade Rumors
http://www.squawkingbaseball.com/?p=573
TnBrian
March 2nd, 2009
3:21 pm
Harold Reynolds played 12 seasons with 21 career HR’s and was a lifetime .258 hitter! Well, we know he is good at one thing and it ain’t playing baseball. Running his fat, ignorant a– mouth is all he’s good at. I mean, is there any other reason for the Braves to be motivated than to shut this little twurp up? GOOD…we don’t want or need Jr.’s drama filled, limping BS on the Braves. Reynolds played his sorry 12 yr. career, 11 with Sea. so he should know all about being a loser. Joe Simpson had pretty bad career stats with Sea., but he has never said anything as ignorant as this joke. It’s obvious that little Harold boy is jealous with Atl. in one way or another. Why else would he even campaign to get player to stay away from a team he has absolutely no ties. He knows nothing about our team.
Anders
March 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
KC- Couple of points for your Vazquez scenario. He’ll be due about $6 mil more for this season at about the deadline and he has $11.5 mil coming next year. Big $’s for a number 3 in this market. He also has no trades to the NL and AL west teams. So forget Holliday on the A’s for example. Take out the NL east for obvious reasons and the AL east because the contenders there are loaded already and you have a pretty narrow group to choose from – “hypothetically” of course.
toga party
March 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
Jeff321, that’s the one Steve from OH posted a little while ago. Great interview.
TennesseePaul
March 2nd, 2009
3:26 pm
DWW: What contender is going to want to give up a power outfield bat for a number 3 starter at the deadline?
I’ll be happy with him if he can some how manage to turn in one of his best seasons. This team is loaded with mid-rotation starters (2-6 starters). We probably won’t see a dominate ace-like season out of any one of them, but we should get consistency throughout all of them… The ERA may not be below 3 for any of the guys, but the standard deviation between all the starters ERA’s might just be nice and tight.
DWW
March 2nd, 2009
3:27 pm
Does anyone have a link to this Harold Reynolds story?
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
3:32 pm
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum-
You really want me to tell you why I asked my little leaguer son not to strike out but was not bothered by Frenchy’s Ks?
It’s not the effect of striking out but the effect not striking out that makes the difference. If you’ve ever couched a little league team as I have, you may have noticed that as long as you put the ball in play and not strike out, you’ve got a very good chance of being on base merely because of the levels of the little leagues’ defensive skills. That’s why I told my son just not to strike out. For Frenchy, on the other hand, not striking out usually means groundouts, flyouts, doubleouts, etc. because of the high defensive skills of the major leaguers. I was not bothered that much by his Ks because I know that’s not the reason he was struggling. If he did not hit into that many DPs last season, even if he was just struck out, we still could’ve won some of those games we lost.
KC
March 2nd, 2009
3:34 pm
Anders, yes I see your “hypothetical” points. I was completely unaware of the limited no-trade clause, so you’ve got me there.
He can veto trades to 9 NL/AL West teams. Doesn’t mean he couldn’t be traded there of course… just that he’d have to agree to it. That complicates that possibility, but certainly doesn’t eliminate it.
As for his salary, the trade deadline is about 2/3 of the way through the season, so his remaining salary will be closer to 4 than 6. And I won’t repeat everything I said earlier about him being a #2 or a #3 starter… but he’s just as likely, IMO, to look like a #2 (see 2007) as he is to perform as a #3.
I’m convinced that Vazquez probably will be traded, if not at the deadline, then next winter. At some point, the Braves will have to make room for both Hanson and Hudson.
Hey… it’s to bad Derek Lowe’s last name doesn’t start with an “H”. We could have the “killer H’s”! Doesn’t have quite the same ring as the “killer B’s”, but…
TnBrian
March 2nd, 2009
3:34 pm
Anders, you must feel proud to have a little piece of ignorant scum like Reynolds associated with your team. Hey, didn’t he get fired from ESPN? Wonder why. He’s definitely hit a nerve with us Braves fans and hopefully some of the players get wind of his stupid comments and shut him up. It’s one thing to talk trash about another team if you make decent points, but this moron honestly believes the Mutts will be better than Atl. for many years…uhhh, ok.
KC
March 2nd, 2009
3:41 pm
TennPaul, “Even in Vazquez’s best seasons he is merely a #3.”
2007: 15-8, 3.73 ERA, with 216 strikeouts and 213 innings (in a hitter’s park with the DH)
2003: 13-12 (for a terrible team), 3.24 ERA, 241 strikeouts, 230 innings
2001: 16-11, 3.42 ERA, 208 strikeouts, 233 innings
Those were his best seasons. Are those numbers “merely #3″ quality??
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
3:41 pm
Carroll-
I was kidding anyway. The denizens here all know that we’re lucky to have both DOB and you and other site or blog would be real lucky if they have only one of you.
Nice to see all those guys get signed, which I guess, was never a question anyway. But still it’s nice now that they can just focus on getting ready for the season.
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
3:45 pm
Harold Reynolds helped us not get Griffey. That’s fine with me.
ease19
March 2nd, 2009
3:47 pm
KC
a bit contradictory today aren’t we…
Actually, as I told Lew, I’m not at all convinced that he’ll be traded. While I think there’s a very real chance of that happening at the deadline, it’s probably just as likely that he won’t be going anywhere until next winter. But I decided to go out on a limb and say “Hanson will be in the rotation in July”.
KC
March 2nd, 2009
3:47 pm
Chop Chop, I agree with you. We’re probably better off with the way things ended up.
brent a.
March 2nd, 2009
3:47 pm
Even at his age, how many of you would rather have Heyward starting in RF for us this year than Francoeur?
brent a.
March 2nd, 2009
3:48 pm
DWW,
I think DOB linked the Harold Reynolds article back around page 9, or 10 of this blog.
I would start there, and then move forward. (I think).
Wayne in Utah
March 2nd, 2009
3:54 pm
If Harold Reynolds somehow helped Ken Griffey Jr to make his decision to go to the Mariners, then maybe Harold isn’t such a bad guy after all.
KC
March 2nd, 2009
3:56 pm
ease19, LOL… I don’t think it’s contradictory, just stating two completely opposed viewpoints. Okay… I’m not helping my case.
But seriously, I’m NOT saying the Vazquez WILL be traded. He very well may not be. But I do think it’s a distinct possibility. There’s also a chance that Glavine won’t have stay healthy or won’t have much left in the tank (though I think he will).
But between the possibility of a Glavine break-down or a Vazquez trade… I’ve to the point where I think it’s probably more likely than not that Hanson will be in the rotation soon. It may soon be nearly impossible to keep him down there.
I would say I’m about 60/40 on that… but decided to go out on a limb and predict that he’ll be here sometime in July (if not sooner – if one of our starters break down).
spotts
March 2nd, 2009
3:57 pm
I wouldn’t want Heyward. I’m sure he’ll be great, but almost every player needs a few years in the minors. Even Andruw, who absolutely destroyed minor league pitching, hit in the low .200s his first couple of years in the majors (although I’m sure the Dodgers would’ve killed for lower .200s last year)
Jeff321
March 2nd, 2009
3:58 pm
Hampton pitched two innings today.. 6 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned, 1 BB, 2 SO, 9.00 ERA.
crap-wheelie
March 2nd, 2009
4:04 pm
Am I the only one who thinks the WBC is the reason that Francouer failed to mature as a hitter? Am I also the only one who thinks that Vazquez and McCann are being irresponsible. Vazquez hasn’t thrown a pitch to an opposing MLB team yet in a Braves uniform. McCann is leaving camp when we have two new starters for him to work with. As for Chipper…He’s a real veteran. If he wants to go play in that absurd WBC exhibition series, no one should stop him. But let’s get real. It’s not a world championship. It’s not even very good baseball. Worse, it takes guys away from camp when they should be working to get ready for the season. How definitive is the WBC when Oscar Villareal was one of its stars last time around?
Wayne in Utah
March 2nd, 2009
4:08 pm
Does anybody else think it would be wonderful if Frank McCourt came out with a two year, 30 million dollar offer for Manny, with a team option for the second season (no player offer).
In today’s economy, that is more in line with what he is worth.
He could say “Manny, either take the offer and get a haircut, or sit on your brains for the next year and let them dreadlocks keep growing.”
Epinephrine
March 2nd, 2009
4:11 pm
People are right in saying that the season rides on Jeff. What that means, though, is that the Braves cannot afford to have Frenchy replicate his numbers of last year. They CAN afford to have him play better, but not have a standout season. But replicating last year (given our other outfield members) will be a death knell for this team.
TnBrian
March 2nd, 2009
4:14 pm
crap-wheelie, NO, McCann shouldn’t have gone to that silly thing. He needs his butt in camp, not for the hitting, but learning the 4 new pitchers he’ll be catching. I threw Logan in their because he seems, as of right now, the opening day lefty in the pen. He should’ve waited until the next one rolls around, whenever that’ll be.
About Frenchy, the homepage has a article where it says Chipper thinks it hurt him because he didn’t get nearly enough at bats, and thinks Mac will get plenty. Soemthing like that, just don’t feel like digging it up and read it word for word.
Hey, I read DOB,Thomas’ comments on my predictions last night, and they don’t think Chipper will reach 125 RBI’s. WHAT? Why couldn’t he? If he could play 140-145 gms, he can easily reach that. He is the best pure hitter in the game, guys.
TBraveFan
March 2nd, 2009
4:15 pm
Hey Carroll – how long will you be covering ST? Eons ago, I think on a road trip to Pittsburgh (maybe??) we flew out on the same flight and you said (via the blog) if I ever see you again, to say hello… well, gonna be arriving in ST on Friday – will be there until the 23rd…
Robert
March 2nd, 2009
4:16 pm
Even at his age, how many of you would rather have Heyward starting in RF for us this year than Francoeur?
Didn’t you hear, Bobby the donk thinks of Francoeur as his son. So he’ll continue to play the worst everyday outfielder in the majors (minimum: 400 ABs) for two of the past three years.
Hee haw Hee haw Hee haw Hee haw Hee haw Hee haw Hee haw Hee haw
Original Jon
March 2nd, 2009
4:17 pm
TnBrian Chipper has never had more than 111 RBIs in a season, and that year he played 160 games. Why do you think he can have 125 in 20 few games??
TN Jeff
March 2nd, 2009
4:18 pm
Andruw Jones today – 1 for 2 with a K
Totals – 2 for 11 with a walk & 9 strikeouts
Yikes
RIP Skip
March 2nd, 2009
4:18 pm
I, for one, am willing to give Harold Reynolds the Atlanta Braves Platinum Excellence Award for keeping Griffey away. Definitely no hard feelings here.
I admit I wanted Bobby Abreu, but G. Anderson is fine with me.
Original Jon
March 2nd, 2009
4:19 pm
Meant 20 fewer games.
BA
March 2nd, 2009
4:19 pm
If Vazquez had been traded to the Mutts, Anders would undoubtedly classify him as a “strong #2″ starter.
At least NY resigned the dominant Oliver Perez to counter the three new Atlanta starters. Not to mention the lineup presence of Ryan Church and Brian Schnieder- to raise fear in the hearts of NL pitchers everywhere.
But at least the Mutts didn’t waste money this offseason. After all, who would want a 36 year-old that has won 15 games and pitched 200 innings every year since Nirvana came out? Let’s go with Perez…
BA
March 2nd, 2009
4:21 pm
Man am I glad to see Robert and his hee haw/donkey routine. It just doesn’t get any funnier than that. To bad history and reality contradict the hilartity.
Original Jon
March 2nd, 2009
4:25 pm
Robert, I am starting to think you are an actual Jackass, err, donkey, sorry about that.
Steve from OH
March 2nd, 2009
4:28 pm
Toga party, my favorite bit from the interview was this:
Bill Shanks wrote a book a couple of years back gushing over the Braves, which was mostly hostile to statistics and sabermetrics. Describe the culture within the Braves regarding newer, advanced stats.
“The culture within the Braves is to find the best players, period. In order to find the best players we use as much information as possible throughout the process. That process begins with our scouts, trusting in what they see, hear, and project in, about, and for a player. I truly believe we have the best scouts in baseball, a virtual All-Star cast of former players, managers, general managers, farm directors, and scouting directors: Jim Fregosi, Chuck McMichael, Dom Chiti, Dick Balderson, Tony DeMacio, Tim Conroy, and Jeff Wren, and that’s just our Major League scouts.
I also truly believe we have the best scouting and player development system in baseball. The work being done by Roy Clark and his staff on the amateur side, Johnny Almaraz and his staff on in the international side, and Kurt Kemp and his staff on the player development side is nothing short of outstanding. I can’t speak for those three individuals and their methods, but the results speak for themselves. I can say that there is a synergy among all those departments and within our entire baseball operations group that provides us with a competitive advantage when it comes to identifying talent.
And yet that isn’t enough. We want to continue to get better and to learn more about players and methods. Just as we surround our organization with the best scouts we want to provide Frank with the best information to supplement the contributions made by those scouts. To that end, we explore any and all statistics that may be relevant to a given player. We are on the cutting edge of newer, advanced stats and have created some of our own statistics and formulas, which obviously we cannot discuss. I think that portraying the Braves as hostile to statistics and sabermetrics couldn’t be further from the truth.”
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
4:29 pm
Boy, Robert, I’d really prefer to hear your play-by-plays in the last week.
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
4:31 pm
BA,
Hmm…Nirvana hit it big in 1991.
Derek Lowe is 36 and has pitched over 200 innings five times (2002 was the first time he did it) and has won at least 15 games three times. Javier Vazquez is almost 33 and has pitched over 200 innings eight of the last nine years. He’s won at least 15 twice.
Uh…Glavine pitched over 200 innings 14 times? He was around when “Nevermind” dropped.
As for Bobby, he’ll deserve allllllllll the sugar cubes he can eat if he gets us into the playoffs this year.
Wayne in Utah
March 2nd, 2009
4:37 pm
TN Jeff
At least he isn’t hitting into double plays….
Robert
Damn, do we have to listen to your constant BC whinning this year? We get it. You think Bobby is a donkey. Can we get a refrain this year?
Robert
March 2nd, 2009
4:38 pm
Don’t be getting mad at me just because I questioned his royal highness: the donk.
The donk wanted Andruw back. The donk will play Francoeur everyday again whilst benching Kelly Johnson. The donk will start another idiotic platoon. The donk will use a lefty pitcher who is better at getting right-handers out as a lefty specialist.
HEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAWHEE-HAW
nolie
March 2nd, 2009
4:39 pm
when the braves actually have more money than the phils, DAP
Phils payroll this season is 135M, so I don’t see what you’re saying here??
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
4:43 pm
Robert: Is college closed today because of the snow?
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
4:44 pm
The stupid refreshing botton isn’t working again.
Robert
March 2nd, 2009
4:45 pm
Chipper Jones: The Most Overrated Player in Baseball
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
4:45 pm
And I get the “Nirvana” thing. Pure hyper-bowl. Just wanted to answer your comment in a humorless way. Those are the best kind of responses. “Shaun-lite,” so to speak.
PTBNL
March 2nd, 2009
4:46 pm
“Everybody can hit bombs,” Jurrjens said. “That’s not a big deal. I’m just not hitting my spots like I want to and that’s making me a little bit mad right now. That’s my second outing and I need to start improving. I feel like I haven’t improved anything yet and that’s frustrating.”
Mike S
March 2nd, 2009
4:46 pm
Guys, I’m guessing (and hoping) that there are two different “Robert’s” here. The helpful one with the play by play the last few days, and the tired one trick pony no one can stand.
BA
March 2nd, 2009
4:47 pm
Yes, Robert. Of course he will.
Chop Chop, are you so devoid of a sense of humor that you actually took that comment literaly, or are you just pretending that you are because you desperately need to correct someone?
That’s cute the way you incorporate “um” and “hmmm” in written form. Maybe throw in a couple of omg’s or lol’s. Go ahead and dumb it ALL the way down.
Original Jon
March 2nd, 2009
4:49 pm
Robert, you are the DONK
Robert
March 2nd, 2009
4:51 pm
Frankly you eeyore Cox defenders make me fricking sick. I have a good mind to leave.
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
4:51 pm
Donka$$, that is. Sorry.
Original Jon
March 2nd, 2009
4:52 pm
Damn Robert I wish you would, leave. But if you want to stay here, just remember, you are only making yourself look like the ass and we will just start to ignore you, maybe even report your comments as a public nuisance.
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
4:53 pm
Read my last post, BA. I was giving you the business.
Robert
March 2nd, 2009
4:53 pm
DONK: “Hee, Haw. Hee, Haw. Where’s that sugar cube? I’m starting think about all those times when I left starters in for an inning or batter too long, cause I did not want to hurt any of the fella’s feelings. Wish Andy was here to solve our cleanup problems. Man I’d take Lockhart and Woodward in a heartbeat over Infante & Norton. Those boys were lights out.
Speaking of which, I get the feelin’ that I am lights on, nobody home. Anybody got a sugar cube so I can get a glucose rush? Maybe the Rangers would take Hanson and Heyward off our hands for Andy. I really need my diaper changed.”
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
4:53 pm
Robert: Answer MikeS’s question please: Are you the one that did the nice play by play last week? If yes, we’ll forgive you.
nolie
March 2nd, 2009
4:59 pm
Has there been any report or word on Brandon Hicks? WAYNE
until he proves tha he can hit higher than .235 with a gazillion Ks, there isn’t much to tell. He is 6′2″200 kinda guy so likely third in the future but might stay a SS where he is a decent fielder. It’s way too early to be paying much attention to him given that he strikes out 40% of the time. If I had to guess right now I’d say it is unlikely that he will ever be worth thinking about at the MLB level. Check back in a year or two.
spotts
March 2nd, 2009
5:00 pm
Robert, I’m sorry I wasted my time reading that crap. Pretty much all that guy said was that Chipper was great during his prime, but his numbers have been declining in recent years. hmmm….it’s almost as if stats go down as players age? But not Chipper. He’s just overrated.
Original Jon
March 2nd, 2009
5:02 pm
Robert“Hee, Haw. Hee, Haw. Where’s that sugar cube? I’m starting think about all those times when I left starters in for an inning or batter too long, cause I did not want to hurt any of the fella’s feelings. Wish Andy was here to solve our cleanup problems. Man I’d take Lockhart and Woodward in a heartbeat over Infante & Norton. Those boys were lights out.
Speaking of which, I get the feelin’ that I am lights on, nobody home. Anybody got a sugar cube so I can get a glucose rush? Maybe the Rangers would take Hanson and Heyward off our hands for Andy. I really need my diaper changed.”
BA
March 2nd, 2009
5:03 pm
I would read it, Chop Chop (didn’t I already read it) but you know, ajc and the page navigation.
Man, this Donkey guy is just killing! Do the hee haw again, Robert- that’s funny right there, no matter who you are.
Guess we need somebody to make Cooch look smarter.
TennesseePaul
March 2nd, 2009
5:03 pm
KC: In a word. Yes.
What’s more likely, that Vazquez suddenly starts pitching like he’s 24 again, or that he pitches to the tune of a 4.50 ERA, 29HR and a 1.26 WHIP (his average over his last five seasons). Granted, he’ll probably toss a lot of innings and K a lot of batters. I’m glad for it. But I am not mistaking him for a #2 pitcher. His a #3 in his good years and less than that the rest of the time.
For his career by league:
Lg__W-L__ERA__WHIP_HR
NL 11-12 4.20 1.27 27
AL 13-12 4.52 1.26 28
Last five years
_W-L__ERA__WHIP_HR
13-12 4.50 1.26 29
He was acquired for his innings.
winterville
March 2nd, 2009
5:04 pm
Robert
Are you posting that POS about Chipper because you agree with it? If so then that goes way further than not liking Bobby Cox and thinking he is incapable. Saying Chipper is the most overrated person in baseball is plain ignorant. I’m by no means saying he is the greatest player ever or anything like that but that whole article is ridiculous. It was written by a bitter Mets fan who is tired of getting owned by Chipper. It is poorly written and it never even really says why the guy thinks he is overrated. Overall just a crappy article.
nolie
March 2nd, 2009
5:05 pm
Sometimes, it’s as if the demon-spirit of Bill Shanks is on a roll of blogger-possession. SCOOTS
BLASPHEMY !!!!!!!! You are only saying that cause you got kicked off his site I bet!!!!!! Better watch out or DOB will kick you off here too !!!!
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
5:09 pm
BA,
‘Taint difficult to figure out the connection between Cooch and Robert.
DCBrave
March 2nd, 2009
5:10 pm
On the contrary, I think Chipper is one of the most underrated. Imagine if he were playing in NY.
Brad in MT
March 2nd, 2009
5:13 pm
Robert…please do us all a favor and get off the blog, you have to be the most ignorant baseball fan alive….
Robert
March 2nd, 2009
5:14 pm
No I don’t agree with the “Chipper most overrated” column. I just posted it for y’all’s amusement. I think Jose Reyes is the most overrated player in baseball.
The most overrated overall though, is no-doubt eeyore Cox aka the Donk.
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
5:17 pm
(The funny thing is that I’ve wanted Bobby out of here since ‘99. As time went on, I realized he wasn’t going anywhere until the team either started sucking really bad or he retired.
McFann :Ô:
March 2nd, 2009
5:17 pm
winterville It is poorly written and it never even really says why the guy thinks he is overrated.
Kinda like those posts Mets Rule You Drool wrote in November 2007 stating that McCann was overrated?
Original Jon
March 2nd, 2009
5:18 pm
RobertThe most overrated overall though, is no-doubt eeyore Robert aka the Donk.
Nate
March 2nd, 2009
5:22 pm
Starters #1-4 are gonna get just about the same number of starts, and after the first week ratations get jumbled so you can’t say that any team’s #1 starter is gonna face another #1 starters any movre ofter than the #4 guy. Arguing over what number starter each pitcher is or may be has no real relevance. The pitching order doesn’t matter during the regular season. Sure pitching order matters during the post season, but there pitching order is gonna be determined by in-season performance.
winterville
March 2nd, 2009
5:22 pm
Yea pretty much McFann!
NotForMe
March 2nd, 2009
5:25 pm
No, the competition isn’t as good in Japan as it is in MLB. But it’s significantly better than AAA baseball here. And if you can go 38-20 with a 2.83 ERA over 500 innings in Japan… it seems to me that you can succeed in MLB.
no it isn’t “significantly” better than AAA. How would you know anyway? Kk pitched in one of the best pitchers parks in Japan too. Did you know that? And if they aren’t predictions, just what the hell are they and why bother posting them? Man up fellow, you blew hot all last winter and spring and then pretty much disappeared when the Braves stunk it up. A little optimism is a great thing, but you might try mixing in at least a little realism. What a huge homer.
18 Wheels of Love
March 2nd, 2009
5:28 pm
F Y I
Beastie Boys ‘Paul Boutique’ remastered and re-released. I’m gonna have to re-purchase that one!
Robert
March 2nd, 2009
5:31 pm
This is the robert who gave play by play the other day, I will go by Robertfrom SC so you don’t mistake me for the the other guy
NotForMe
March 2nd, 2009
5:31 pm
I’m wondering if signing Dunn to a $20 mil two year contract had anything to do with Jim Bowden’s demise. After all other corner outfielders (of equal? value) were going for much less. THE BEAR
They have been investigation Bowden and Rijo for a year at least. Didn’t have anything to do with this winter’s signings
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RobertfromSC
March 2nd, 2009
5:31 pm
I am getting a little concerned with Jurrjens, no strikeouts yet. He needs to find his control
Wayne in Utah
March 2nd, 2009
5:32 pm
Nolie
I kinda figured as much on Hicks, although the fact that he is getting some AB’s at the big camp are telling in one way. He must have some potential, or else another would be getting those reps.
I would love to see Eric Campbell get some starts with Chipper at the WBC. Dude has loads of potential. Hopefully, he has lost the attitude…
Lew
March 2nd, 2009
5:32 pm
McFann-You should have mail-if not let me know and I’ll try to re-send FLBravesGirl’s ST pictures.
RobertfromSC
March 2nd, 2009
5:35 pm
Carroll or DOB, how was Jurrjens velocity
cityofdecatur
March 2nd, 2009
5:40 pm
Robert’s back. been a couple of years it seems. **if you try hard you can bypass his one trick pony (donkey) bit and enjoy the blog**
cityofdecatur
March 2nd, 2009
5:40 pm
Robert’s back. been a couple of years it seems. **if you try hard you can bypass his one trick pony (donkey) bit and enjoy the blog**
cityofdecatur
March 2nd, 2009
5:41 pm
only hit it once hmmm
NotForMe
March 2nd, 2009
5:44 pm
LOWE 24-3 1.88
VAZQUEZ 22-7 2.28
JURRJENS 21-9 2.89
KAWAKAMI 20-11 3.21
GLAVINE 16-11 3.54
HANSON 12-2 2.24
rammerjammer
March 2nd, 2009
5:50 pm
Anders, I do believe you are the straw that stirs the drink around here.
The hypothetical Vazquez scenario you posed doesn’t bother me. It concludes half the teams in baseball would/could be interested, including the wealthiest teams from the AL East.
That those teams are loaded with pitchers ignores the real possibility that a pitcher or two or three will be lost to injury. How attractive, then, would a 200-IP guy look? Very, I’d say.
Still, enjoy your input.
RobertfromSC
March 2nd, 2009
5:51 pm
I wonder why Bobby Cox won’t consider Jo Jo Reyes in the Pen
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
5:54 pm
We can do better than 115 wins from our starters, NotForMe. Gotta be at least 120, right?
Couple that with 7 guys with 80+ RBI this year (at last check, I haven’t found another team in MLB history that had more than five) and we should be a contender in the NL East.
Hypothetically, of course.
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
5:56 pm
I should add that Donk would find a way to lose 90 games this year with 115 wins from his starters. He’s that damn good.
ShamusThacker
March 2nd, 2009
6:06 pm
Summa y’all spend more time fussin, than discussin.
We still gotta while before 2012, be happy… I don’t really believe the 2012 crap, but I’m gonna make sure I have loadsa’ fun on Dec 20… lol
TnBrian
March 2nd, 2009
6:17 pm
Cox was campagining for Druw pretty hard I heard. He does have some weird soft spots for certain guys. Druw is a lost cause with almost no hope, it appears.
Wayne in Utah
March 2nd, 2009
6:20 pm
Chop Chop
Kinda like the years when Phil Neikro was a 20 game winner…..and a 20 game loser in the same season.
Wayne in Utah
March 2nd, 2009
6:23 pm
At least Andruw’s not hitting into too many double plays so far!
Chop Chop
March 2nd, 2009
6:29 pm
Bobby should go to a three-man rotation. It’s stupid not to start our best pitchers 54 times.
NCBravesFan
March 2nd, 2009
6:35 pm
Anders: agree completely with your 3:25 on Vazquez. I don’t doubt that JV is capable of having a good season in ATL, but I question his trade value because of how much he’s going to be owed in this economy … if you are at the deadline and you need a #3, you want to get someone whose contract is up at the end of the year, or who is cheap … and cheap for a #3 starter in this economy is a heck of a lot less than $11.5 mill a year.
It’s like Neyer (I think) said … teams don’t acquire players, they acquire contracts.
NCBravesFan
March 2nd, 2009
6:40 pm
NotforMe – re: your 5:44 … I smell the sarcasm way up here in NC. Those six starters will combine to log 158 of the 162 decisions in 2009. lol Might as well give Moylan 4-0 and call it a day.
KC
March 2nd, 2009
6:43 pm
TennPaul, you didn’t see “he’s a #3 starter”. You said, that even in his best seasons, he was a #3 at best.
With all due respect, I don’t know that there’s a single person in baseball that would agree with that statement. Clearly in his best seasons, he was a strong #2.
Last year, he was a #3 type of starter. No doubt. And in every other season since 2003, he was a #3. But there can be no double that in his last few years in Montreal, and in 2007 in CHI, he was markedly better than “a #3 starter at best”.
We can spin numbers anyway we want. There are the breakdowns you mentioned… but then we can say that in 3 of his last 4 season in the NL, he was excellent. But it really doesn’t matter.
In the end, he’s a that was clearly a #3 starter last year, and in 2004-2006. If that’s how he performs, then he’ll be a #3 starter for us. But based on his ‘07 season and his last few years in Montreal, we can see that he’s most definitely capable of better.
So we can get a innings-eating #3 out of Vazquez, or way may get a strong #2. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Tomas
March 2nd, 2009
6:45 pm
Harold Reynolds is just unrealistic. To think the Mariners actually have a shot after a 101 losing season, it’s just crazy. I don’t know how good their prospects are, but you have to be kidding me that after trading JJ Putz, they will compete this season. The Angels, A’s, and Rangers have much better teams.
It’s like saying the Nationals actually have a shot.
From what I’ve read and seen this spring training, you have to be extremely optimistic about this teams farm system. The Mets have depleted their system with all the trades they’ve made, and their team is only slighty better than the Braves. That is if they are able to stay healthy, and it just seems they’re players are going to break down(Johan, Redding, Garcia, and K-rod).
The Phillies have the best team of the three, but not by much. They’re pitching just seems horrible, but that’s what I said last year. This time the Braves and Mets have reboosted their teams, so maybe this year will be different. If Cole Hamels, has some kind of injury, man they’d be screwed.
I just don’t understand why Reynolds doesn’t think the Braves will able to beat the Mets, and Phillies in a couple of years. At least they have a much better shot than the Mariners thats for sure.
McFann :Ô:
March 2nd, 2009
6:47 pm
Lew–
Thanks! I got your e-mail, and I’ve been trying to send a reply for the past…oh, maybe 3 1/2 hours. My attachments aren’t working properly at the moment…the dang things won’t load. But I’m working on it…sorry about the delay.