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Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
769 comments Add your comment
ease19
March 5th, 2009
12:23 pm
Yankees thought they were invincible…who’s laughing now…(probably the Rays, I would not say that about us just yet).
Ben
March 5th, 2009
12:23 pm
At this point I would like the Braves to trade Prado for top prospects. I really don’t see any immediate needs with our young Outfielders.
McFann :Ô:
March 5th, 2009
12:24 pm
DiamondbackMac–
Haha…No, that’s Beggar Ben the Wren.
Now that I know how to post my own pictures, I’ll have to post that one of The Bird:
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6637/snapshot20081029211111.png
Jim
March 5th, 2009
12:26 pm
The probability that the best team wins the championship is only very high for the NBA. (Best of 7, same lineups every night, a lot of points scored so that a fluke goal or bad call is minimized). The probability of the best college team winning the NCAA tournament is probably less than 20% (Assuming probabilities of winning each round to be 1, 3/4, 2/3, 3/5, 3/5, 55/100 gives a probability of about 10% of winning all 6). Hockey and baseball have best of 7 playoff rounds, but the effect of the pitcher and the goalie on the outcome of the game is greater and the fewer runs/ points scored gives a greater weight to chance. The World Cup Soccer also has more rounds (after the first series where the best team should emerge), fewer points/game, and the shootout to decide tie games to create higher possible obstacles for the best team to survive. The World Baseball Classic has a similar format and produces similar obstacles to the best team. The much maligned BCS probably produces a truer champion than any of the other sports except the NBA.
Carroll Rogers
March 5th, 2009
12:28 pm
I promise I’m here today and reporting for you fine folks. Been a busy morning of watching Glavine throw batting practice – he was encouraged – and finding out the latest on Schafer and Soriano. See, watch me tease now. I’ll put up a new blog just as soon as I can bang it out. The game is not until 2 today, so things are a little later than normal. I’ll holler when it’s up.
Bill in VA
March 5th, 2009
12:29 pm
Dr. Yuri Sucrat says A-Rod should be back to full strength in a “few weeks.”
ease19
March 5th, 2009
12:31 pm
Are we that comfortable with only having one utlility guy of our own? Same thing (God forbid) could happen to us. Does anyone know if Brandon Hicks can play more than one position? Or even Conrad…?
cvbraves
March 5th, 2009
12:32 pm
Glad you”re back, Carroll. Us old (70 YOA) baseball fanactics get a little antsy.
Fleming
March 5th, 2009
12:33 pm
When do they start broadcasting the games on Braves network? Did I hear a few days ago that it’s tomorrow?
MFin04
March 5th, 2009
12:33 pm
I hear that hip surgery takes 2-3 weeks to heel if you are on the “right” injections.
Anders
March 5th, 2009
12:34 pm
Bill in Va – That 12:29 is priceless. There’s Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburgh Address, then there’s your 12:29 post.
Fleming
March 5th, 2009
12:34 pm
Speak for yourself cvbrave. Only 60 here
MFin04
March 5th, 2009
12:34 pm
Conrad has been worse than Francoeur so far this spring…he seems to be striking out a lot and leaving guys on base.
Anders
March 5th, 2009
12:36 pm
Can Frenchy play third? I see an oppurtunity if he can.
Fleming
March 5th, 2009
12:37 pm
No Anders he doesn’t get hurt enough to play 3rd
Anders
March 5th, 2009
12:37 pm
Gee, I wonder what they’ll be talking about on the radio today?
Anders
March 5th, 2009
12:38 pm
Fleming – I meant for the Yanks. Kidding of course.
ease19
March 5th, 2009
12:39 pm
Anders – I would liken it to Reagan’s, “Mr Gorbachev, tear down your wall…” speech. It was that earth shattering…
Fleming
March 5th, 2009
12:39 pm
Now that’s a trade I would consider. Do you think we can get Jeter for him
TnBrian
March 5th, 2009
12:42 pm
Anders, ok, that was a good one at 10:10 this morning. I’ll give you that. I do have a question for a Mutt fans perspective- what do you think of Garret A.? Will he help and maybe even surprise a lot of people with 20+ HR’s, drive in 100+ RBI’s, or will he just decline even more this year because of age?
PTBNL
March 5th, 2009
12:45 pm
Object of the Game, I understood your position in the matter. I just did not go back and touch all the bases at the time to catch up to all that had been said. I apologize for that. I have read enough of your post to know that is not the whole of what you meant. I appreciate your efforts to keep posters aware of the object of the game. I, too, am aware that the object of the game is often missing (lost sight of) in the discussion.
Stats are interesting and can be useful. The Braves are obviously aware of this. But they also are aware that much can also be seen subjectively which stats can not completely reflect. Thus, the Braves get players that others miss because they don’t fit the prototype player who produces certain stats.
An aside — Several years ago when my nephew, who is now in dental school, was in high school, his baseball coach was also a scout for a MLB team (I think it was the Angels). There was a high school pitcher somewhere in the state that was really impressive. So he went to see him and was himself impressed. The pitcher was a lefty, but was only 5′ 9″ tall. The MLB team sent some of their top scouts to see this pitcher. The particular park where the game was played was set up so that you could not see the bullpen from the bleachers so these scouts could only hear the mit “boom” when the guy was warming up. They gave each other an approving nod and smiled. So they were greatly surprised when the pitcher actually came to the field to pitch. Immediately their attitude toward him changed. The guy pitched great and blew the other team away, but they were not interested. The baseball coach told my nephew this story and told him that the Braves drafted the guy. He ended by saying “that’s the difference between a winning club and a ‘also showed’ club when it comes to drafting.” Obviously, there is a difference.
Anyway, the game can not, must not, be reduced to stats, Certainly stats are part of the game, but they are not the game. Several years ago when Brett Boone was a Brave I said that batting avg doesn’t tell you anything (I should have added, “without context”). He replied that Chipper batted .XXX and Brett batted .XXX (I don’t remember what the avgs were, but it doesn’t matter). So he went on to say that this proves that Chipper is a better hitter than Brett. A friend of mine jumped in and said while laughing, “watch the game and you will know which one is a better hitter!” Her response was more accurate than his. Getting to the “object of the game”, Chipper may have hit at insignificant times while all of Brett’s hits may have been directly instrumental in winning games. Since that is the object of the game, if that scenario actually happened, then Brett would actually be a better hitter in regard to the success of the team. But obviously, the batting avg has to be given context. When he put names to the batting averages (and since we all HAD seen them play), yes, Chipper obviously was the better hitter that year. Not just because of the batting avg itself however!
Interestingly, most statheads don’t put much stock in batting avgs today. They say that they tell us nothing. Though I said that in a particular context of discussion, I certainly can not agree with that. Batting avg does tell something when given context…. not just the number itself. Many statheads also argue that there is no such thing as “clutch”. They say that the stats show that a hitter basically maintains his batting avg in clutch situations; that clutch is not repeatable (I think sustainable would be a better term). Hmmm If that is true, then batting avg does matter! The higher one’s batting avg, the more likely they will hit in clutch situations!
But I don’t need to argue it. I know that there is clutch. I also know that batting avg within a realm of context has meaning. Statheads would do well to realize that just because a stat does not prove something exists, does not mean that it does not exist, but rather that some things can not yet be measured with numbers.
When I was young and could play ball, I loved to practice as much as I loved to play the game (well, almost as much). And I liked to practice and play more than I liked to watch the game be played…. even by pros. I was not a baseball card collector. I liked the game itself. And I knew even when I was a kid that the game was much more than the stats the other boys could spout off about pro ball players. And…. no amount of arguing or “proving” will take that away.
Fleming
March 5th, 2009
12:48 pm
Anders With K-rod hurt and Santana’s arm falling off, do you think that maybe the Mutts and Yanks could work a trade of Wright for Burnett. With that the Mutts can put Santana and Burnett together and make one pitcher for the year. maybe
Logan
March 5th, 2009
12:55 pm
Chipper 3 run hr
usa 4-1
Blake Penno
March 5th, 2009
12:56 pm
….a 3-Run HR for Chipper for the US against Philly, if anyone cares…..
DAP
March 5th, 2009
12:56 pm
we still have a couple of spots available on the DOB/MIB fantasy league. email me at daalper@yahoo.com if your interested in joining!
Doc Holiday
March 5th, 2009
12:57 pm
Ben,
In what possible way can the braves benefit from giving infante or prado away? I just cant imagine. Only if we are gonna get a RF.
MLH
March 5th, 2009
12:59 pm
The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Ohman might have to take a minor league deal this year.
Wow.
cvbraves
March 5th, 2009
1:03 pm
Fleming: Did anyone answer your question about radio tomorrow. Checked MLB.TV and they’re indicatingating two radio stations covering the game tomorrow, one will be Braves’ announcers. Can’t remember call letters, something like WGST?
Ben
March 5th, 2009
1:03 pm
Doc Holiday,
I’m thinking future benefits. I really don’t know what prospects the Yanks have. We need a 3rd. baseman and perhaps another catcher in the near future.
ease19
March 5th, 2009
1:04 pm
PTBNL
Once again, an outstanding post. Thank you!
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
March 5th, 2009
1:06 pm
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MTpKDEaNjcY/SU0jyVVxbtI/AAAAAAAAAFc/Rh-GkR2GS6M/S570/Atlanta-Braves-1996-NLCS-Celebration–C10126010.jpg
I can’t wait for that image come November……..Good times……
ease19
March 5th, 2009
1:06 pm
Ben,
Why? It looks like Diory’s might be the 3B of the future and we have Ross at C for two years…after that, back-up catchers are a dime a dozen…
Jim
March 5th, 2009
1:07 pm
So PTBL
Is this kid pitcher still a prospect or reach the ML? If not, what is your point? Perhaps the other scouts were right.
ease19
March 5th, 2009
1:08 pm
Chuck
Wouldn’t you rather the 1995 World Series Celebration? I know I would. 1996 was bitter.
The Object of the Game
March 5th, 2009
1:08 pm
PTBNL – bravo…well said. I completely concur. And the childhood stuff is priceless – almost a mirror image of my own childhood feelings.
PTBNL
March 5th, 2009
1:08 pm
Thanks, ease19. Now I am worn out. lol
Jim
March 5th, 2009
1:10 pm
If backup catchers are a dime a dozen, why have we been enduring the likes of Corky Miller and Pratt for the past few years? Maybe you mean that a dozen of the likes are only worth a dime.
Doc Holiday
March 5th, 2009
1:12 pm
I think we need those 2 guys this year……our offense is not too good, the more they can help in 2009 the better. Its not like we can give away the little offense we have to built the future. At least not this year.
PTBNL
March 5th, 2009
1:14 pm
Jim, I don’t even know the boy’s name. No, it really doesn’t matter weather this guy turned out great or not. The point is that the Braves obviously have a higher degree of success than other clubs when it comes to percentages of pitchers turning out very good. That is true because they don’t limit themselves to certain statistical criteria as others do. Even a scout for another team makes that point. THAT is the point. Certainly, if the Braves did not have their track record, the point would be moot. But they do!
Jeff321
March 5th, 2009
1:16 pm
Today’s lineup.. Freeman hitting cleanup.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2009_03_05_venint_atlmlb_1
ease19
March 5th, 2009
1:17 pm
Jim,
You speak truth, I will never understand why Corky was on the team, however the likes of Bako, Blanco and Perez were more than serviceable backups…
And PTBNL, if I may sum up your posts…stats aren’t the only determining factor. Thats the point Jim.
Logan
March 5th, 2009
1:20 pm
Braun and McCann back to back hr. usa 6-1
toga party
March 5th, 2009
1:20 pm
Very nice post at 12:45 PTBNL. Well said.
cphizzle
March 5th, 2009
1:20 pm
i wonder what ol corky is up to these days? i bet he is workin at one of those 5 minute oil change joints.
Jeff321
March 5th, 2009
1:23 pm
I saw Corky playing for the White Sox the other day.
SoWeGa Fanatic
March 5th, 2009
1:24 pm
Is there a TV schedule for this season anywhere yet?
PWHjort
March 5th, 2009
1:27 pm
Corky the caveman?
Seymour1948
March 5th, 2009
1:28 pm
Here’s the broadcast schedule for this season.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/schedule/broadcast.jsp?c_id=atl
cvbraves
March 5th, 2009
1:30 pm
Today’s Braves’ lineup according to MLB.com
Atlanta AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Anderson, J, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Infante, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Anderson, G, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Freeman, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Francoeur, DH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Jones, B, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Prado, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Ross, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Hernandez, D, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PTBNL
March 5th, 2009
1:32 pm
Ease19, you may. And you did well. Maybe I was too verbose, but wasn’t sure one sentence would get across that there are many nuances involved in stats and their not being the whole story. Of course, I only mentioned a few. Many use pitching stats in such a way that will only show power pitchers in a positive light. By throwing out ERA, Wins, etc. because they are “team dependent” stats will make many very good pitchers fall way short of many pitchers who are not near as good (for their teams). Btw, it IS a team sport! Back to the “object of the game”!
Corky Miller has always been one that I would really like to be able sit down with Bobby in a conversational setting and ask about. I don’t assume that I have the full picture, but my picture is not a good one of his abilities. So I would like to see Bobby’s picture. lol
Logan
March 5th, 2009
1:33 pm
Corky is batting a cool .800 as a non roster invitee for cws.
McFann :Ô:
March 5th, 2009
1:33 pm
Oh, yo! A homer! Sweet.
BuzzMEAT
March 5th, 2009
1:34 pm
that broadcast schedule does not even say the next game on tv (which is thursday the 19th vs the tigers on sports south). I searched my tv listings and this was the next braves game
cphizzle
March 5th, 2009
1:34 pm
the signing and playing of corky will always been an unsolved mystery to me. that guy had about as much pop in his bat as a tee baller
McFann :Ô:
March 5th, 2009
1:36 pm
That USA lineup looks funny…McCann and the Reaper are batting back-to-back.
PTBNL
March 5th, 2009
1:40 pm
Hmmm McFann, you think he might give Brian the clothesline when he comes across the plate after a HR?
PWHjort
March 5th, 2009
1:41 pm
Corky is 4/6 with 2 doubles.
Roman Gal
March 5th, 2009
1:42 pm
So I was looking at that broadcasting schedule someone posted earlier and I have a question.
Is the game on September 23rd against the Mets really not going to be on tv?? If not, are you freakin’ kidding me!?
(Hopefully it’s just a typo)
Carroll Rogers
March 5th, 2009
1:42 pm
new blog should be up any minute….
MFin04
March 5th, 2009
1:43 pm
lol Corky Miller 4/5 2-2bs and an rbi…that is more hits than all of last year. Not to mention he threw out like 1 or 2 runners max. What exactly did he bring to the club?
cvbraves
March 5th, 2009
1:43 pm
Adam Dunn a 3-run homer for USA.
Roman Gal
March 5th, 2009
1:44 pm
Oh, and there’s another one in July against the Nationals!!
Jim
March 5th, 2009
1:46 pm
Who is the US playing?
PWHjort
March 5th, 2009
1:47 pm
The US is playing the Phillies.
i cant believe that guy's name is "shut up DOB"!
March 5th, 2009
1:47 pm
i didnnt see the Seattle game last night…but did the manager really have “thanks DOB” on the side of his hat??
if so that is too funny….
MFin04
March 5th, 2009
1:55 pm
Is it slightly scary that all the runs in the Phillies vs US game are from the NL East? Gonna be an interesting year with David Wright, Adam Dunn, Ryan Howard, etc.
KC
March 5th, 2009
1:57 pm
“Corky is 4/6 with 2 doubles.”
Time for a drug test!!!
Francoeur's legs
March 5th, 2009
1:57 pm
Why am I crooked? Jeff Foxworthy’s are too… WHY?
ease19
March 5th, 2009
1:58 pm
PTBNL,
Here’s one for you…2000 Mike Remlinger was 10-1…as a lefty specialist out of the bullpen. Yes he was effective, we know that, but based just upon the stat alone, usually a 10-1 record would reflect a dominant starter or a closer that could not hold a lead…And as far as Corky, I get it, among other things, Bobby is a sucker for those veteran (well veterans period) good “receiving” backup catchers…But Corky had to be the worst…