Diaz looking tough, hitting strong
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — For the second time in three springs, Matt Diaz looked like a hockey player this morning. Sans a playoff beard.
Diaz smiled this morning to reveal to me his chipped front tooth. And I don’t mean a slight chip. We’re talking the bottom half of the tooth was gone.
Or, rather, the cap was gone.
Matt Di ... er, Gino Odjick
And it all looked familiar.
For those who might not remember, Diaz’s tooth was chipped near the end of 2007 spring training when he got struck accidentally by Chris Woodward’s bat near the batting cage before a Grapefruit League game.
He’s had a cap on it since, but that cap got broken Wednesday when Diaz used his teeth to remove a bottle cap. Hey, even intelligent folks do less-than-intelligent things.
“It was stupid,” Diaz said, shaking his head and smiling.
Former hockey player Tom Glavine told Diaz that he looked like a hockey player.
And he did.
But when Diaz told me what Glavine had said, he did so in a voice that sounded a bit like Daffy Duck, on account of the missing tooth. So much for mistaking him for Gino Odjick.
Diaz, a Lakeland, Fla., native, is headed to his family dentist this afternoon. The same dentist he saw in March 2007, when he was rushed over from Kissimmee after the pregame incident.
The bottlecap removal is about the only thing that’s gone wrong this spring for Diaz. Wait, scratch that. There was also the fly ball that bounced off his glove for an error yesterday against the Phillies, though it was a tough play and Diaz covered a lot of ground to get to it in the left-center gap at Clearwater, showing off some speed after dropping 20 pounds this winter on the P90X diet.
Anyway, his spring has been otherwise impressive. He’s hitting .364 (8-for-22) with a team-high four doubles, a home run and seven RBIs, also a team-high.
“He’s ready to go,” hitting coach Terry Pendleton said as Diaz was hitting line drives and long balls to every part of the field during batting practice.
When I asked Pendleton if the Braves would be alright in left field if Garret Anderson isn’t ready to begin the season, he said, “Oh, absolutely.”
(For the record, Bobby Cox said again that he’s “pretty confident” Anderson will be ready to begin the season, though the veteran has yet to play in a Grapefruit League game after pulling a calf muscle. No return date yet.)
Good bloke is ailing: Phil Stockman had an MRI in Atlanta on Wednesday, which confirmed he has two herniated disks in his lower back. They haven’t determined a next course of action, but he’s reluctant to get more injections simply because that’s been tried and hasn’t worked.
At the same time, it’s also been explained to him that surgery, though a relatively simple procedure to shave part of the disks, does have risks, including infection and the potential that it won’t alleviate the problem.
As I understand it, he and the doctors believe all this could stem from the bad hamstring injury he had in 2006, when he ended up having one of three hamstring tendons in his left left removed after it tore from the bone and wouldn’t heal properly.
The theory being that the hamstring injury, in effect, threw his body a bit out of alignment and he’s had various compensatory injuries since then. The fact that he’s 6-feet-8 might magnify everything in this situation.
“It’s very frustrating, because I came to camp in the best shape of my life,” the amiable Aussie reliever said this morning.
Medlen can hit, too: Among the Braves’ scheduled relievers today after Jair Jurrjens’ start is Kris Medlen, the undersized right-hander whose stock climbed last year soon after he was moved from the bullpen to starting rotation at Double-A Mississippi.
Medlen, generously listed at 5-10 (he’s closer to 5-8), went 6-5 with a 3.11 ERA in 17 starts after moving to the rotation in early June. He was fourth in the league with 120 strikeouts (and only 27 walks) in 120-1/3 innings, and was recently ranked the Braves’ ninth-best prospect by Baseball America.
Even before I saw him pitch, I figured he was a pretty unique cat when I was out at the Arizona Fall League and saw this little dude hitting fungoes to Mesa Solar Sox fielders. Not just messing around, but hitting them like an expert, like a coach who’d done it for years.
As it turns out, Medlen, 23, was a shortstop in college. He could hit. Still can.
But he pitches better. He throws hard, which is initially surprising when you’ve first met him, this right-hander who looks like someone’s kid brother that’s visiting the clubhouse.
Medlen has allowed one hit and one run with two walks and four strikeouts in three innings this spring, and he’s caught Bobby Cox’s eye. The manager has praised him several times.
In November out in Arizona, I asked Mesa manager Rocket Wheeler about him. Wheeler also had Medlen on his high-A Myrtle Beach team in 2007 (Medlen had a 1.13 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 24 innings for that Myrtle team).
“Jim [Fregosi] asked me the other day, do you like him better as a starter or reliever,” Wheeler said, recalling a conversation with the Braves special assistant and top scout. “I said I haven’t seen him as a starter. He’s a reliever for me for about three weeks [in 2007], then he goes to Double-A and I haven’t seen him since [until the Fall League].
“He’s got a great changeup, spots his fastball very well, and got a good curveball to go with it. He gets in trouble when he hangs it, but that’s like any pitcher.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
“He’s a very fierce competitor, and probably one of the best athletes on the team. He hit .308 in Mississippi when he got to hit.”
Gonzo goes today: We’re also scheduled to see closer Mike Gonzalez make his third appearance of the spring. He was clocked at 92 mph in his last outing, up a few ticks from his spring debut.
Gonzalez said 88-91 mph in spring training is normal for him, always has been. He said he’s had no problems with his surgically repaired elbow and he’s jacked up, excited, about the season and being healthy for the first time in a few years.
Among NL leaders: Before today, Tommy Hanson and Derek Lowe were tied for fifth in the NL with nine strikeouts, and Jo-Jo Reyes was second in innings (13) and 10th in ERA (2.08)…. Yunel Escobar’s .444 average ranked sixth among NL leaders in Florida, and Matt Diaz was fourth in slugging percentage (.682) and tied for second in doubles (four)…. Braves starting pitchers had a 1.55 ERA in the past six games, with 12 hits, four runs, six walks and 22 strikeouts in 23-2/3 innings. Hanson is scheduled to face the Marlins on Friday in Jupiter, Fla.
OK, game’s about to start: So let’s take this out with a tune from Waylon’s seminal outlaw-country album, Honky Tonk Heroes, which might just be the greatest country album ever. If you don’t own it … why?
“YOU ASKED ME TO” by Billy Joe Shaver & Waylon Jennings
Long ago and far away
In my ol’ common labor shoes
I turned the world all which a way
Just because you asked me to.
Like unto no other
Feel simple love is simple true
There’s no end to what I’d do
Just because you asked me.
Let the world call me a fool
But if things are right with me and you
That’s all that matters
And I’ll do anything you asked me to.
Knowing how much I love you
And after all that I’ve been through
I’d turn and walk away from you
Just because you asked me to.
(Lord. I hope you’ll never do.)
Let the world call me a fool
But if things are right with me and you
That’s all that matters
And I’ll do anything you asked me to.
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
671 comments Add your comment
ease19
March 12th, 2009
12:43 pm
Anders just got gang tackled on page 8 of the last blog…Ha!
Runnin
March 12th, 2009
12:45 pm
lovable losers and no account boozers
ease19
March 12th, 2009
12:48 pm
Runnin – That sounds like the overnight crew…
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
12:48 pm
Lineups today
NATS
1. Cristian Guzman, SS
2. Lastings Milledge, CF
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
4. Nick Johnson, 1B
5. Austin Kearns, RF
6. Josh Willingham, LF
7. Anderson Hernandez, 2B
8. Luke Montz, C
9. Daniel Cabrera, RH
BRAVES
1. Josh Anderson, CF
2. Jordan Schafer, RF
3. Yunel Escobar, SS
4. Casey Kotchman, 1B
5. Omar Infante, 2B
6. Martin Prado, 3B
7. Brandon Jones, LF
8. David Ross, C
9. Jair Jurrjens, RH
chc4
March 12th, 2009
12:49 pm
I thought the game started at 12:05?
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
12:52 pm
DOB – odds Schafer makes the team
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
12:53 pm
chc4, it does — if you’re in the Central Time Zone.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
12:54 pm
And he bolted, ease19.
Runnin
March 12th, 2009
12:54 pm
No, just another Waylon Jennings line, but I guess it could be.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
12:55 pm
Jurrjens watched the Netherlands’ upset of the Dominican Republic Tuesday on the internet at the vacation home he’s staying at in Orlando. Needless to say, he was excited.
“I don’t know how come my neighbors didn’t call the cops on me,” he said, referring to all the noise he made in the late innings.
AdirondackDave
March 12th, 2009
12:57 pm
Thanks for the update on these guys, DOB. Really looking forward to being at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter tomorrow to see Hanson pitch.
winterville
March 12th, 2009
12:57 pm
DOB
Baylor leads KU 26-13 right now. They are missing their 3’s and Baylor is hitting theirs. Let me know if you want me to update you occasionally.
chc4
March 12th, 2009
12:58 pm
I’d feel so much better about this team if we still had Keith Lockhart.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
12:59 pm
I was going to give him his due PTBNL, but the Mets don’t play until 7:05pm, so I guess it just got a bit hot in here. He is right though, bullpen is filled with a lot of ‘ifs’, but I still like our chances versus previous years…
Runnin
March 12th, 2009
1:00 pm
No radio today. ~||:o(
AdirondackDave
March 12th, 2009
1:00 pm
chc4 — Good chuckle.
i cant take it anymore
March 12th, 2009
1:04 pm
I wish Diaz would leave the cap off
BraveTiger
March 12th, 2009
1:04 pm
DOB – Are you keeping up with KU? Baylor is up by 17 with 7 left in the first.
Self Fan
March 12th, 2009
1:06 pm
Baylor’s doubled-up Kansas 26-13 in the first half? Can that be right?
GwinnettFan
March 12th, 2009
1:07 pm
DOB…keep the in-game updates coming this afternoon…anxious to see what the top of the order can muster up today…could be a peek into the future.
Brandon
March 12th, 2009
1:07 pm
No Frenchy in the line up? Im disappointed.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
1:09 pm
Bowman said he saw Logan this morning, and he had his hand wrapped in guaze. Asked him what happened, and Logan responded “nothing, he just did that a lot in the mornings” Bowman concluded lefties just walk a different line than most.
Bowman also said Garret said that his leg was progressing well. He raised his leg up…and later reached down to pick up his keys. Maybe he’ll be back sooner rather than later.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
1:10 pm
Yes, there are “ifs”, but are the ifs worse than what happened last year? I doubt it, but it is possible. I certainly have no problem recognizing the ifs, but I do have a problem with ignoring that last year we did not have the back end of our bullpen, essentially, at all since Gonzo was not 100% even when he came back. So, yes there are ifs, but on the other hand there is a good chance that we will get much more from the back end “prospects” than we did last year. And, too, should not be ignored.
BAJ
March 12th, 2009
1:10 pm
Baylor by 13
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:10 pm
Jurrjens cruised through a 1-2-3 first inning on a groundout and two easy flies.
Coastal
March 12th, 2009
1:11 pm
a Keith Lockhart / Walt Wiess double play combo would be sweeeeeeet
winterville
March 12th, 2009
1:12 pm
KU making a little run, down 30-22 with 4:08 to go in the 1st.
chc4
March 12th, 2009
1:12 pm
The range on a Lockhart/Weiss duo would be breathtaking.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
1:13 pm
Inning 1
Top Half
B:0 S:0 O:1 – Cristian Guzman grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Casey Kotchman.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Lastings Milledge flies out to center fielder Josh Anderson.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:3 – Ryan Zimmerman flies out to left fielder Brandon Jones.
Stat Geek
March 12th, 2009
1:14 pm
Entering today, 569 spring training participants have a higher batting average than Jeff Francouer.
708 have a higher slugging percentage.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:16 pm
Escobar struck out to end a quick first inning by Cabrera….
BraveTiger: I’m watching, and it was way too early to worry. They’ve erased deficits like that in no time in several recent games.
AdirondackDave
March 12th, 2009
1:17 pm
Stat Geek — Now those are numbers we never heard before and probably never will again. Unless, of course, you feel we need updates.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:18 pm
Winterville, we’ve got the game on in the pressbox. I need only turn my head to the right a few degrees. But I appreciate the offer. Might take you up on it later in this or the NCAA tourney. Not every pressbox has a TV down here. Most don’t, at least not one we can watch from our seats.
Bravesforever
March 12th, 2009
1:18 pm
Stat Geek needs a date – badly.
Frenchy Fan
March 12th, 2009
1:19 pm
Will Jeff Francouer make an appearance in todays game, Dave?
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
1:19 pm
DOB, never got around to it during the season, but, your kids at KU deserve a lot of props. I thought they had zero chance to win the conference this year, as young as they are. They got a little game, those kids.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
1:19 pm
Regarding G Anderson, it may take a while before he is 100%. Calves are interesting muscles. They can feel pretty good but not yet be completely healed. So it would be wise that even when it gives him no pain, they let him continue to rehab before putting it to the test. If they do, since he has said that this is a first, it probably won’t be an ongoing problem.
When in my mid 40’s I pulled one of my calf muscles because I tried to do a hurry workout and did not warm up properly. (As David said, even if someone has intelligence, or some measure thereof, they still can do stupid things.) I had over 600# on the calf raise machine and “pow”. I rehabbed it slowly and did not set it for 2 months. Since then I have been able to do well over 600# without any problems. I say all of that to say that even at his age, this does not mean he will always have trouble with the calf.
N Nine (eta24)
March 12th, 2009
1:19 pm
“Remember what Andruw used to do with hanging breaking balls?” one scout said. “Even when his rear end came flying out, he could hit the ball a long way. He can still hit a mistake now, but it’s basically the same stuff we’ve been seeing the last couple of years.”
Even Jones’ defense is suspect these days. One scout said Jones’ bat speed is still adequate, but wondered if he has a vision problem.
“He’s not tracking balls well in the outfield, and he’s swinging and missing at some pitches by a foot,” the scout said.
sri
March 12th, 2009
1:20 pm
Frenchy Fan.. (from Bowman’s blog)
Matt Diaz and Jeff Francoeur were permitted to go home after this morning’s workout. Both are scheduled to travel to Jupiter for this weekend’s two-game series against the Cardinals and Marlins.
winterville
March 12th, 2009
1:21 pm
Baylor up 37-33 at the half
Frenchy Fan
March 12th, 2009
1:22 pm
Thank you SRI, im going to put away the laptop and take part in watching the MADNESS…
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:23 pm
Jurrjens retired first five guys before walking Willingham.
winterville
March 12th, 2009
1:23 pm
Just saw your last one DOB, yea just throw out a comment if the tourney starts and you need an update. I’d be glad to.
Brandon
March 12th, 2009
1:24 pm
Did Jorge Campillo pitch for Mexico last night? If so, how did he do?
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:24 pm
Anderson Hernandez flied out to CF, just in front of the warning track, to end the inning.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
1:24 pm
winterville, ga?
Danny K
March 12th, 2009
1:25 pm
DOB, any indication from Bobby Cox how the rotation’s shaping up? The order of it I mean. I’ve read speculation that Jurrjens will be the #4, but I just don’t get it. I think he’s better suited for the #3 slot with Kawakami in the #4 slot. Would love to see Jurrjens when I travel to Atlanta for the home opener, though.
Coastal
March 12th, 2009
1:25 pm
Go Clemson, beat the nerds!
Epinephrine
March 12th, 2009
1:26 pm
What is the link to the mlb.com play by play? I can’t find it.
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
1:27 pm
Duke is going to win the ACC tournament this weekend…
ease19
March 12th, 2009
1:27 pm
Gosh, wish I could go home early…PTBNL, I was just giving Anders something to nibble at…He just tries so hard
Bullpen should be fine, in fact the entire pitching staff should be fine, in further fact, the whole team should be fine. I think that it is a good year to be a braves fan. Like last years Falcons, not a lot of expectation, but certainly lots of things going right (fingers crossed)
Calf injuries can be real nags, as with any major muscles in the leg…so yes, pain is not a real good indicator…
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:28 pm
Kotchman single to CF to lead off second.
winterville
March 12th, 2009
1:29 pm
Yessir Bravely Going Forward. Born in Athens but raised in Winterville.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
1:29 pm
DukeBoy, Mark Bradley seems to think Tech is going to win it all…
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:31 pm
Infante 6-4-3 GIDP
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
1:31 pm
Ease19, Tech has a talented team, the nerds just cant seem to put it all together. Look out for the bugs next season tho, with Favors coming in and talented corp already there expect big things.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
1:31 pm
nice, i’m in athens too. winterville’s such a quaint little town.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
1:32 pm
Think MLB.com is more a half-inning by half-inning rather than play-by-play, and it isn’t as quick as DOB.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:32 pm
Wow. Prado hits would-be single to RF, but is THROWN OUT at first base by Austin Kearns. Oy. Not good. Should’ve gotten there. Kearns made a nice throw, but if Prado is busting it, he makes it.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
1:33 pm
Was Prado hustling or lack thereof.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
1:33 pm
what do you mean he was thrown out at first?
Disappointed In Prado
March 12th, 2009
1:34 pm
Prado, say hello to the bench.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
1:34 pm
I was just making fun since the Man in Pink had a hunch…A 2-14 record with a talented team should not scare anyone least of all Duke. And even next year, will another talented team fall short under Hewitt? I don’t foresee a Georgia-esque upset bid by the jackets.
Shamus
March 12th, 2009
1:34 pm
Did he get tagged out rounding the bag, or was he thrown out before he ever reached first?
Billy Boy
March 12th, 2009
1:34 pm
Did he trip, fall down?
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
1:34 pm
Ease, yep. I have much more experience with such than that one experience since I was for several years a certified personal trainer but I just used my own experience as an example. Even then only hitting the necessary points regarding the injury of that particular muscle group (gastronos, et al).
Mekons
March 12th, 2009
1:34 pm
Jorge started and won for Mexico last night. The game got called under the mercy rule. I think the score was 16-1.
winterville
March 12th, 2009
1:34 pm
Yea, it definitely is. I live in Athens now too. I moved to the “big city” for college at UGA. Can’t go back now.
MLH
March 12th, 2009
1:36 pm
I hope that was one hard hit ball to right field by Prado
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
1:36 pm
Fire Hewitt, EASE19?
ease19
March 12th, 2009
1:36 pm
I think that Prado has already been thoroughly introduced to the Bench, since he was never in real contention for an everyday spot.
Runnin
March 12th, 2009
1:37 pm
Ugh. I have a buddy who still plays softball in his 60s. He told me that he was recently thrown out at 1st from left field. Now THAT’S embarrassing.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
1:37 pm
i hear ya, winterville, i probably should have left when i graduated a couple of years ago, but it’s just too much fun
BravesinTN
March 12th, 2009
1:38 pm
Stockman needs to see a McKenzie certified Physical Therapist. Specifically, Robert Medcalf in Atlanta. Hamstring issue, I almost guarantee had nothing to do with it…I would absolutely not do the surgery until trying the therapy for 1 or 2 months (probably wouldn’t take that long) – if he were my patient…
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:38 pm
Daniel Cabrera singled to right with one out in third, which is particularly noteworthy in that the pitcher is a career 0-for-14 with 14 strikeouts in regular-season games.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
1:38 pm
Alas DukeBoy, too expensive. I think that it would cost something like 11 million to buy out his contract. If this were Auburn or Tennessee, maybe. I just want to see GT become relevant again.
Mekons
March 12th, 2009
1:40 pm
There goes Cabrera’s reputation for consistency.
lewie
March 12th, 2009
1:40 pm
thrown out at first?
that’s terrible
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
1:40 pm
oops hmmm I corrected it when I wrote it but for some reason the computer did not do the correction
gastronos = gastros
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:41 pm
Ryan Zimmerman just hit a two-run single to the R-C gap.
And no, Billy Boy, I didn’t see Prado slip or fall. He just didn’t get there very quickly. Thought it was a routine single, near as I could tell (we don’t have replay, but others in pressbox didn’t see him slip either)
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
1:41 pm
Ease19, who would you bring in to Replace Hewitt if he is shown the door?
THWG
March 12th, 2009
1:41 pm
ease19- The best chance we have at becoming relevant again will come next year. If CPH can’t even make a little noise in the ACC with the guys he’s recruited, then I think he’s a lost cause.
LJ
March 12th, 2009
1:42 pm
Campillo looked really good last night. I watched the game and he was lights out.
hokie
March 12th, 2009
1:43 pm
Enter your comments here
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:43 pm
Jurrjens has run into a lot of trouble here. Just walked Johnson after that two-run double by Zimmerman.
DAP
March 12th, 2009
1:43 pm
i know anders is gone, but i want repost this, to make sure he sees it when he comes back.
anders Not to mention one of your so called innings eaters, Glavine, can’t get on the mound yet and can we let Kawakami throw in the MLB for a couple of months before we pencil him in at 180 to 200 innings?
why cant you realize that if we get 200 innings out of vazquez and lowe (almost a given) that will be 2 more guys than we had do that last year? not even counting glavine and kawakami, weve probably got around 100 more innings coming from our guys now than we did from any two guys from last year, not counting jurjens. look at this:
2008:
jurjens 188ip
campillo 158ip
reyes 113ip
morton 74ip
hampton 78ip
those were our top guys. lets just modestly project our 5 this year.
lowe 200ip
vazquez 200ip
jurjens 180ip
kawakami 150ip
glavine 100ip
the first group totaled 611 innings. the second group will total 830 innings. thats a 200 innings difference, and also a modest estimate. if you dont think that will make a HUGE impact on the bullpen all by itself…well then youre lying.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
1:45 pm
anyone else think it’s be pretty anti-climactic for the nats to end our winning streak?
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
1:45 pm
Im just ready for Hansbrough to go.
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
1:45 pm
maybe prado ran the bases wrong and went to third first????
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:46 pm
Got a FC 6-4 to get out of the inning without further damage. Nats up 2-0
Epinephrine
March 12th, 2009
1:46 pm
Jurrjens hasn’t looked too good this spring. I really hope he avoids a sophomore slump. We may have “depth” at starting pitching, but I could foresee a scenario where Glavine, Jurrjens, and Kawakami all run in to trouble. Then we’d have Hanson, Morton, and Reyes right back in the rotation. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
garlick
March 12th, 2009
1:46 pm
it’s anti climactic in general to end a winning streak in spring training.
It’s spring training. You’re not supposed to have climaxes.
Coastal
March 12th, 2009
1:47 pm
Amazing how Hewiett was a great coach just 5 years ago, now he is a bum? Part of the problem is that he has recruited certain guys who leave after one year. Crittenton should still be there IMO, and Favors already said he is one and done. The GT fans should take some blame too with their attendance. Hard to create a hostile enviroment with 2500 people, half of which are wearing sweater vest. Hewiett is to blame some, but not all, of GT woes.
Bobby's Cox
March 12th, 2009
1:47 pm
I threw out a chick from LF at first at a soft ball tourney once. Kinda felt bad. Not like i was playing that close up…we had to play behind cones when the girls hit so we couldn’t all be rovers. She hit it pretty hard. I just charged it strong, got a nice one hopper, bunny-hopped, and threw a bullet to first.
Matt Diaz' dentist
March 12th, 2009
1:48 pm
I just installed a new gold tooth for Matt Diaz.
Matt Diaz' dentist's Dad
March 12th, 2009
1:49 pm
That was dumb, now go to your room!
Brandon
March 12th, 2009
1:49 pm
Jurjjens will be fine…
Lunatic Fringe
March 12th, 2009
1:49 pm
Dukeboy—I would love to see Lon Kruger from UNLV come to GT if they could pry him lose. Though I wonder if he burned some bridges when he was with the Hawks.
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
1:49 pm
you was just tryin to score with the chick right bobby’s cox
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:50 pm
B. Jones hit a liner that SS Guzman leaped to snag, robbing him of a hit.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
1:50 pm
GARLICK: if it’s just spring training and not worthy of terms like “climactic,” then why are you wasting your time on a braves messageboard on an off-broadcast day? hmmm? i think people care more than they would like to make it look… too cool for school. personally, i’m excited as hell and proud to admit it and that’s why i’m on this dumb message board, because it’s the closes I can get to MY BRAVOS!! GO BRAVES!! GO BRAVES!!
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
1:51 pm
*closest
Jorge
March 12th, 2009
1:52 pm
I remember that happening once to smoltz….getting thrown out on a would-be hit to RF. Don’t remember the year, but it was a while ago. May have been philly or montreal. Think it was on the astro-turf.
Thrillhouse44
March 12th, 2009
1:52 pm
1999 had Tae Bo with Billy Banks
2009 has P90X with Tony Horton
Who wins in a fight?
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
1:52 pm
“I threw out a chick from LF at first ”
Well, I threw a chick out for not letting me get to first, and she thought it came out of left field. Is that the same thing?
Anyway, agreed, Brandon. JJ will be fine. Sounds like he’s struggled a little with command on his fastball, but it’s 3 weeks to opening day. He’s not one I worry too much about.
THWG
March 12th, 2009
1:53 pm
Coastal- if you were given the contract that Hewitt was given after the ‘04 run (under our old AD who never had the you-know-whats to fire Chan Gailey), you would have no incentive to create a winning team either. His contract auto-renews at the end of each season to be a 6-year, roughly $6 million deal. In other words, the only way to get rid of him is to either fork over a huge sum of money (which we just gave to Paul Johnson) or have him quit. In other words, he’s not going anywhere for awhile.
beekay
March 12th, 2009
1:54 pm
Not sure if you heard but Josh Hamilton chipped his tooth aon a soda can a few days ago…apparently he was holding the can with his teeth while signing autographs and his tooth cracked and fell out…
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
1:54 pm
Jurrjens single to RF with two out
WHAT? LOL
March 12th, 2009
1:54 pm
You “bunny hopped” and threw her out at first? I think it’s a CROW-hop, brotha!
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
1:55 pm
Payback for JJ.
Run Heap Run
March 12th, 2009
1:55 pm
Ew my boss is back from lunch an hour early. Guess that’s it for my meaningless game following.
Coastal
March 12th, 2009
1:56 pm
I never said Hewitt should be fired, I still think he is a good coach, at least he recruits well. And you can’t be awful to take a team to the final four.
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
1:56 pm
Lunatic, Lon would be a great hire for Tech.
Nick
March 12th, 2009
1:57 pm
Enter your comments here
Bobby's Cox
March 12th, 2009
1:57 pm
No cphizzle. I always thought about throwing the slower girls out if I had the opportunity. I hadn’t played ball for 2 years and my arm was stronger than it ever was. It’s just that when i finally got a chance and did it, i wish i never had done it.
It was one of those instances where people look at you like you’re some kind of jerk. I honestly felt bad. She was a good hitter, just not that fast. Should’ve conceded the hit in a tourney like that and with her getting the hit she had.
Poorjeff
March 12th, 2009
1:58 pm
Hewitt was never a great Coach in my book, he just had great asst. coaches. Can’t believe any Fool for AD would give Hewitt that contact. Believe its 7 million pay off? Wish Rads and etc would pay him off and fire his a@@. Don’t blame people for no going to watch that joke of a team. GT women’s team could beat the Men’s team.
Matt Diaz' dentist
March 12th, 2009
1:58 pm
Big Daddy, what do you have against gold teeth?
Bobby's Cox
March 12th, 2009
1:58 pm
it is a crow hop dude. we had a guy in high school that had a weird “crow” hop, so starting calling it a bunny hop. Stuck ever since.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
1:59 pm
Thrillhouse, not sure about your question, but between the two programs P90X is the better program for most objectives. But… better than either…. get a personal trainer! lol
18 Wheels of Love
March 12th, 2009
2:00 pm
Best thing to happen to Prado…because it’ll never happen again.
WHAT? LOL
March 12th, 2009
2:00 pm
That’s too funny…
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
2:01 pm
Bottom Half
B:0 S:0 O:1 – Brandon Jones lines out to shortstop Cristian Guzman.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:3 O:2 – David Ross strikes out swinging.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Jair Jurrjens singles on a fly ball to right fielder Austin Kearns.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:3 – Josh Anderson grounds out, shortstop Cristian Guzman to first baseman Nick Johnson.
Cyrus
March 12th, 2009
2:01 pm
Tied Jayhawks and the Bears 51-51 Baylor has gone ice and I mean freezing cold.
Poorjeff
March 12th, 2009
2:01 pm
Coastal–That was big time Luck. Right time at right place.
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
2:01 pm
You “bunny hopped” and threw her out at first? I think it’s a CROW-hop, brotha!
That was a ballroom-dancing league, I think.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:03 pm
Schafer just slashed an opposite-field double down LF line, bounced over short fence for GR double.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
2:03 pm
Inning 4
Top Half
B:0 S:0 O:1 – Josh Willingham flies out to center fielder Josh Anderson.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Anderson Hernandez grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Casey Kotchman.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:3 – Luke Montz flies out to left fielder Brandon Jones.
Thrillhouse44
March 12th, 2009
2:04 pm
PTNBL, I think Billy Banks wins in a street fight.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:04 pm
18 Wheels: Very true, your 2 p.m. comment. Very true.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:04 pm
bunny hop in softball, crow hop in baseball
DukeBoy, I am still waiting for UGA to talk to Knight, I just haven’t followed college basketball in the last couple of years to know, but like I said earlier, Hewitt will still be around because of the buy-out cost so high and its probably a moot point to even speculate.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:05 pm
Schafer just stole third. That offseason speed work appears to be paying off for him.
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
2:06 pm
Schafer is so much more exciting as a player than Anderson. He makes things happen
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:06 pm
Schafer scores on Escobar’s groundout, Braves trailing 2-1 now.
Chris
March 12th, 2009
2:06 pm
Hey Dave, How about a Whiskeytown song to celebrate Ryan Adam’s wedding Tuesday in Savannah. I saw him and the Cardinals Monday night at the Florida Theatre in Jax. Great show.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
2:06 pm
If Schafer keeps stealing bases like this it really marginalizes Anderson…because that’s all he’s really got over Schafer at this point.
Bobby's Cox
March 12th, 2009
2:08 pm
ya, for now on, bunny-hop in softball, crow-hop for baseball. lol.
Schafer putting pressure on Anderson? Wow, kid is performing.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
2:08 pm
DOB: Who does it look like is shaping up to become trade bait?? is schafer as fast as anderson? Which, in your gut, do you feel like out the plethora of relievers will we be saying “adios” to here soon?
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
2:08 pm
I wouldn’t know Thrillhouse44. I have never seen either of them actually fight anyone. But I would think that Banks is a good bit younger than Horton. Of course, that may not be so since the recordings I have of Banks are several years old.
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
2:09 pm
Ease19, Knight to UGA is a perfect fit. UGA needs a shot of life in its basketball. Too many good recruits going to Tech or going out of state to play ball.
Gerald Perry
March 12th, 2009
2:10 pm
Hey DOB, do you happen to know the next game the Braves will have on TV this spring?
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:10 pm
Banks does these Boot Camp videos now (or at least more recent than the Tae Bo series) and they are real butt kickers…
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
2:11 pm
Has anyone done a comparison to see how Anderson and Schafer have done against good MLB pitchers this Spring?
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
2:12 pm
Baylor leads Kansas by two with 6 minutes to play.
18 Wheels of Love
March 12th, 2009
2:13 pm
Schafer makes things happen. I think you can say the same about Josh but maybe with a little less conviction. I’d like to see Schafer win the job but will be content to give Josh a shot if he earns it and only if he earns it. I’m not a big proponent on playing someone over another to a) not start their arb clock and b) b/c someone is out of options. If the guy is ready and can contribute then you play him. Same goes for Hanson. If he is the guy and is ready, yo don’t hold him back until June so you don’t start his clock. I understand the GM side of it but I want players that have been labeled as the future to be given their shot the second they can contribute.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
2:13 pm
gerald, it looks like the friday after next, according to the braves schedule on their website
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:13 pm
Infante two-out single and Prado walk, now a pitching change. RH Jason Bergmann in.
garlick
March 12th, 2009
2:14 pm
Bravely, as you can tell, I’m only mildly watching this, and only because at my job I have to be on the computer all the time, and the ownership doesn’t care if I watch as long as I get my work done.
My interest is only in how specific players look, not the W/L record, which means nothing in Spring Training.
So yes, you can’t use anti-climactic when talking about spring, because wins and losses mean zero compared to how some guys are working on things, and how they’re preparing for the season.
When we get to the season and wins actually mean something, then start using those types of terms.
Roman Gal
March 12th, 2009
2:15 pm
I ♥ Schafer.
Bobby's Belly
March 12th, 2009
2:15 pm
Remember people. Schafer’s got options. If the goal was to field the most competitive team we wouldn’t of signed GA or Tommy Glavine so let’s not even think about bringing up Schafer. To tell you the truth we’re in final discussions w/ Jim Edmonds right now, but we’re trying to schedule his DL time around GA and Chipper’s.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:16 pm
B. Jones single through right side, drives in tying run…
And KU in trouble against the suddenly hot-again Baylor Bears.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:16 pm
DukeBoy, I know! What a jolt that would be! Felton did a decent enough job cleaning up Harricks mess but has not been able to do much himself in terms of recruiting and Knight would not only fire up the basketball program, but possibly other programs as well? Hard to believe that talent was going to Texas Tech just to play for the Mad Scientist, when the Mad Coach was just down the street…
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
2:18 pm
I told u Dave, Kansas is a tad bit overrated. Great season after losing entire starting line up, i will acknowledge that.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:19 pm
Ross strikes out with two on to end the inning.
Bobby's Cox
March 12th, 2009
2:19 pm
18 Wheels,
I agree with your last post.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:19 pm
Hard to distinguish between Bobby’s Cox and Bobby’s Belly…Bobby’s Belly, hush with that kind of talk. With DOB’s reputation, it will end up on MLBTR by the end of the day
Eric
March 12th, 2009
2:20 pm
Brandon Jones is really having a nice spring
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:20 pm
Mike Gonzalez in to pitch the fifth.
Don Waddell
March 12th, 2009
2:20 pm
How is Diaz on faceoffs?
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
2:21 pm
Ease19, Knight = Instant Credbility, I live just south of Macon and im a fan of the Dawgs in every sport, except basketball. I just lost interest in UGA basketball. I would love to see the General parading the sideline at Stegman with his red sweater.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
2:21 pm
Yeah, ease19, and it is a good thing that he did a less demanding series before he went to the more demanding ones. It probably would have been good if Horton had done the same. P90X is really too difficult for most people in today’s society to try to do. It would be very discouraging. But it is very difficult (in some ways, impossible) to really meet people’s needs generically (mass tapes). Each person is like a snowflake and has a different mixture of muscle cell types in all the varying muscle groups of the body. These differing muscle cell types affect the amount of resistance each person can do and the amount of reps they can do of any given amount of resistance. That is why I said that the best program is to get a personal trainer.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
2:22 pm
Inning 4
Top Half
B:0 S:0 O:1 – Josh Willingham flies out to center fielder Josh Anderson.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Anderson Hernandez grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Casey Kotchman.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:3 – Luke Montz flies out to left fielder Brandon Jones.
——————————————————————————–
Bottom Half
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Jordan Schafer hits a ground-rule double (1) on a fly ball to left field.
——————————————————————————–
B:1 S:0 O:0 – With Yunel Escobar batting, Jordan Schafer steals (1) 3rd base.
——————————————————————————–
B:1 S:0 O:1 – Yunel Escobar grounds out, shortstop Cristian Guzman to first baseman Nick Johnson. Jordan Schafer scores.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Casey Kotchman grounds out, first baseman Nick Johnson to pitcher Daniel Cabrera.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Omar Infante singles on a fly ball to right fielder Austin Kearns.
——————————————————————————–
B:4 S:0 O:2 – Martin Prado walks. Omar Infante to 2nd.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Pitcher Change: Jason Bergmann replaces Daniel Cabrera, batting 9th.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Brandon Jones singles on a fly ball to right fielder Austin Kearns. Omar Infante scores. Martin Prado to 3rd.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:3 O:3 – David Ross strikes out swinging.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:23 pm
Struck out Ian Desmond to start the inning, now Guzman’s up, gets ahead 0-2 after Guzman pulls second pitch foul….
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:24 pm
Guzman flied out to right
Gets ahead 0-2 on Milledge…
winterville
March 12th, 2009
2:24 pm
Any idea how hard he’s throwing DOB?
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
2:25 pm
gettin’ crunk in south mac-town, boy!
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:25 pm
Guzman took next two pitches, then fouled one back. Popped out to 2B to end inning.
StingerSplash
March 12th, 2009
2:26 pm
DukeBoy,
Should Tech (please please please) fire Hewitt, they need to get Mark Few from Gonzaga.
I get the feeling Mike Brey might be looking for work soon too. But no thanks.
Coastal, Bobby Cremins is no tactical genius and he took a team to the Final Four.
DOB, does Kearns still have a pretty good arm or was that Prado just going in second gear to first? And does Kearns still look like he’s having trouble pushing himself away from the buffet table? (Man, think about the OF the Reds had for a little while — Kearns, Dunn and Wily Mo. All they were missing was some smokin hottie or Jimmy Hart for a manager and they could have been WWE champs)
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
2:26 pm
UH OH, KANSAS is in TROUBLE
Marty McSorley
March 12th, 2009
2:26 pm
Diaz clubbing .364 this spring? Wow, must have a nice slapshot, eh?
Jay212033
March 12th, 2009
2:26 pm
I knew that Jones would have a nice spring which is why I didn’t think we needed to sign Anderson but hey more depth you can’t beat that.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:27 pm
winterville, he threw a bunch of curveballs. I saw 91 on a fastball, don’t know if he topped that
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
2:28 pm
looks like we got ourselves some depth boys you cant ever have enough backups
Thrillhouse44
March 12th, 2009
2:28 pm
From everything I’ve seen/heard/read, the key to getting ripped with P90X is the diet. I’m a firm believer that you can’t outwork the kitchen table.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:28 pm
PTBNL, I already have a personal trainer…he is on my Wii Fit…lol! But seriously, you are right. With the Taebo series I end up flailing my arms and legs with no discernible rhythm, the abs ones are pretty good since he really focus’s on your core, but I have really found a great fit (no pun intended) with some of the older Gilad stuff.
Bobby's Belly
March 12th, 2009
2:30 pm
Tomorrow we’re going to have Schafer catch. It seems like he’s not getting the drift I’m screwing with him moving him all over the OF.
Nick
March 12th, 2009
2:30 pm
Sorry about the Jayhawks, DOB
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:31 pm
Well, that’s sure a nice way to secure a good seed and roll into the NCAA tourney, huh? Horrible.
Cyrus
March 12th, 2009
2:32 pm
Kansas will be fully healed and rested before next Thursday or Friday DOB not a massive loss and let Bill Self teach these kids some more before the tournament that really counts.
winterville
March 12th, 2009
2:33 pm
That kind of thing happens alot in NCAA basketball. Some times the teams are more focused on the real tourney than the conference one. It could be a blessing in the long run.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:34 pm
Buddy Carlyle in to pitch for Braves to begin sixth
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
2:34 pm
PTBNL, depending on the type of exercise you do (compared to your fiber type) you can change the composition of your muscles from slow-to fast-twitch and vice-versa.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:35 pm
GORKYS HERNANDEZ is in to play CF. They hadn’t even announced that he was brought over today.
Cyrus
March 12th, 2009
2:36 pm
Great we go from Rockchalk Jayhawk to Erin Andrews who is absolutely beautiful in my book.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:36 pm
By the way, I asked Bobby Cox about first round of cuts, whether they’d be later than usual because Braves are short-handed with WBC commitments. He said they hadn’t even discussed the first cuts yet.
So yes, I think it’ll be later than usual.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
2:36 pm
Inning 5
Top Half
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Pitcher Change: Mike Gonzalez replaces Jair Jurrjens, batting 4th, replacing first baseman Casey Kotchman.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Defensive Substitution: Frederick Freeman replaces pitcher Jair Jurrjens, batting 9th, playing first base.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ian Desmond replaces Jason Bergmann.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:3 O:1 – Ian Desmond strikes out swinging.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Cristian Guzman flies out to right fielder Jordan Schafer.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:3 – Lastings Milledge pops out to shortstop Yunel Escobar.
——————————————————————————–
Bottom Half
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Pitcher Change: Josh Towers replaces Jason Bergmann, batting 9th.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Frederick Freeman singles on a ground ball to center fielder Lastings Milledge.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Josh Anderson grounds into double play, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to second baseman Anderson Hernandez to first baseman Nick Johnson. Frederick Freeman out at 2nd.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:3 O:3 – Jordan Schafer called out on strikes.
Slugger
March 12th, 2009
2:37 pm
While I’m happy to have Garret Anderson a Brave (and maybe this one year will allow for further development for Brandon Jones), I hate not seeing Brandon Jones play every day.
Line drive after line drive, quality at-bat after quality at-bat.
Since Jones is an athlete, I seriously suggest the Braves train him all year at…Third Base.
With Francoeur, Schafer and Heyward the future outfield for the Braves, I really think Brandon Jones can add value to the Braves as a 3B/4th outfielder.
Just don’t let him go.
JMar
March 12th, 2009
2:37 pm
That’s awesome info. I wondered why more athletes didn’t give P90X a try; the plyometrics aspect alone is killer and improves athletic performance on the few athletes I’ve heard used it.
Bravely going forward
March 12th, 2009
2:38 pm
DOB: was gonzo only supposed to pitch that one half-inning? he’s okay, right?
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:40 pm
Another impressive inning for Carlyle, who gave up a hit that barely got past Escobar and got a strikeout to end the inning.
Random
March 12th, 2009
2:40 pm
Jeff321 (11:42 am): “MLB network launched in 50 million homes which is the most for any new channel.. ever. So, to say something about “nobody having it” is simply false.”
Jeff321 (12:05 pm): “>’I dont have MLB network at my house so its not in every household.’
“Its in about 45-50% of the households. But, then again, anyone who “really wanted it” would just switch to Directv. (Assuming they have line of sight for a dish and are allowed to have one.)”
http://www.bizofbaseball.com: A statement released from MLB Network said, “MLB Network successfully launched on January 1 in approximately 50 million homes. MLB Network is carried by most major cable and telco providers as well as DirecTV on digital basic or expanded basic. As has been widely reported, MLB Network is not carried [on] a specialized sports tier, but does require customers to subscribe to digital basic cable or the equivalent.”
But some of the approximately 50 million subscribers expecting to see the new channel were met with blank screens, a product of service level requirements, possible hardware issues, and in at least one instance, a local cable company not having digital service up and running by launch time.
The largest factor, for those that may be expecting to have access to MLB Network, revolves around what is deemed to be the “basic” package. A key point for distribution of MLB Network stemmed from negotiations in April of 2007 for MLB’s out of market package, Extra Innings. While Extra Innings was initially going to be granted to DirecTV as a monopoly, eventually the cable consortium of iNDemand was able to broker a deal to continue to gain access to Extra Innings, but it was stipulated by MLB that MLB Network would also have to be carried, and on the basic tier, the most widely available. According to MLB Network, the distribution deal brokered with all carriers is that all must broadcast on the digital basic, or the carrier’s equivalent, a key difference from early reports. Those that have analog service, no matter the carrier, will need to upgrade.
The exception for the lowest level of digital service required for MLBN, at this stage, appears to be DirecTV. MLB Network is on the Choice package and above. Choice is the level just above what DirecTV deems as “Family”, or the lowest level. ESPN, and other sports offerings, are not on the Family level of service.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:40 pm
Thanks DOB I think I had asked about that earlier. And I am sorry about you hawks as well, but silver lining, being a middle seed is not all that bad right? If Kansas is really that good, then they should roll over some of the other less good middle seeds, and not have to worry about a cinderalla type story form some 12/13 seed…
Gerald Perry
March 12th, 2009
2:41 pm
Thanks Bravely! I’ll have to check out the schedule…Sweet about Gorkys!
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
2:42 pm
Inning 6
Top Half
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Defensive Substitution: Diory Hernandez replaces center fielder Josh Anderson, batting 1st, playing center field.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Pitcher Change: Buddy Carlyle replaces Mike Gonzalez, batting 2nd, replacing right fielder Jordan Schafer.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Defensive Substitution: Jason Heyward replaces pitcher Mike Gonzalez, batting 4th, playing right field.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:1 – Ryan Zimmerman pops out to shortstop Yunel Escobar.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Nick Johnson grounds out to first baseman Frederick Freeman.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Austin Kearns singles on a ground ball to center fielder Diory Hernandez.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:3 O:3 – Josh Willingham strikes out swinging.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
2:43 pm
I have not seen much of Gilad, I will have to look that one up. I don’t really stay on top of these things. I usually tell people who try to bait me into getting into an argument over some DVD that just came out that if the movements are safe and if they get you moving when otherwise you would not be, then certainly do that DVD. These things are so fadish it would take a lot of time to test them all out to see what would be good for whom. If a client needed something from a DVD, and if I did not already know of such a DVD I certainly would do the research to find one that fit their need the best. But if I am working with them, I can usually go through a set of tapes with them and make adjustments to what is prescribed on the tape so as to best meet the need of the client without having to find new ones.
Of course, as you say, I should just point them all to WII fit and all their problems would be solved!
I will say that I have liked some of Gunter Peterson’s offerings. They are pretty easy to adjust to make easier or more challenging.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:44 pm
Slugger – I think you will find some argument about Francoeur being part of the “future” outfield. I think that Heyward has already claimed that spot.
Ian Curtis
March 12th, 2009
2:45 pm
Bravely going forward: He’s a closer. Why would he pitch more than one inning if he likely won’t pitch more than one inning in the season? He’s okay. Just getting his one inning of work in like usual.
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
2:46 pm
ease19 he gets no argument from francouer is THE future of the outfield…proof to come as we journey throughout the season.
LJ
March 12th, 2009
2:48 pm
Francouer has already proven he can hit major league pitching and hit it well. Let’s see if Heyward can play above A ball before we label him as the Future.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:49 pm
Ummmm
I was not kidding about my Wii…
Gilad is good stuff, he has been around a long time and I really enjoy his work outs. But like you said, it is all about personal preference, what you are trying to accomplish and frankly, bottom line, what works for you.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:49 pm
Brandon Jones just gave the Braves a 3-2 lead by bouncing an RBI single up the middle with two on and two out in the sixth inning.
JSWI
March 12th, 2009
2:50 pm
DOB — What are Schafer’s chances of staring at CF ? Has Anderson been given that spot or is there still a position battle ? I apologize if this has been covered already, most projected lineups I have seen have Anderson. Just wanted your opinion. Thanks
StingerSplash
March 12th, 2009
2:51 pm
DukeBoy,
Knight still knows strategy and fundamentals as well as any coach alive. But I don’t think his style of coaching will get him the top notch recruits anymore. Plus, he up and walked out on Texas Tech in the middle of the year. Don’t think for a minute opposing coaches won’t use that against him on the recruiting trail. Also, he’s 68. The travel, the breaking down of game video, the practice hours, the recruiting … that fire in his belly for that may have died out, and at 68, it’ll be tough to re-ignite.
Slugger
March 12th, 2009
2:51 pm
ease19 – I respect your opinions on here, but it’s safe to say the Braves have a long-term interest still in Jeff Francoeur.
Why else would the Braves pay him what they paid him after last season.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
2:52 pm
Thanks for the new Blog, Chief!!
From the last one, page 8, eighth comment up from the bottom:
Kim I really am a baseball-aholic, and not just a girlie girl going on about a cute guy! But, sometimes the girl in me takes over!
That goes for me, too.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:52 pm
Braves have bases loaded after Ross hit a sharp grounder that the 3B couldn’t handle. Freeman up with bags juiced and two outs….
ease19
March 12th, 2009
2:53 pm
Oh don’t get me wrong, I am a Francoeur apologist, always have been, but its a slow day and I have become rather chatty today. Trying to upgrade my blogging status. I think he has done all the right things so far, but people continue to bring up his BA, OPS , etc and are all ra ra Heyward.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:53 pm
Freeman with another good piece of hitting, goes the other way with a two-run single to left field to put Braves up 5-2.
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
2:54 pm
Regarding B Knight and UGA, I was all over it when the rumor first hit, but have backed off. From what I hear, Knight is not the greatest recruiter in the world, and at his age, he’s not likely to be in suburban living rooms 150 evenings per year. Yeah, some guys might come to UGA just to play for the legend, but I question whether that would balance a lack of active recruiting by the head coach.
chc4
March 12th, 2009
2:55 pm
DOB — Does Brandon Jones have any role on this team? Seems like he can hit some, albeit not much power. I guess the G. Anderson signing pretty much means he’s destined for AAA yet again.
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
2:55 pm
carlyle is very good
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:55 pm
Gorkys Hernandez is coming to bat with runners on first and second, two out, and RH reliever Steven Shell entering game.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
2:56 pm
Someone: “What do you think about Tommy Hanson and Jason Heyward being ranked so high in Baseball America’s latest rankings?”
Bobby Cox: “They better take a look at Freeman.”
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
2:56 pm
Freddie Freeman has got me stoked this guy is the future!
Anders
March 12th, 2009
2:57 pm
Anders just got gang tackled on page 8 of the last blog…Ha! (Ease19)
And he bolted, ease19.(PTBNL)
Ease19 and PTBNL = New BFF’s
Got to laugh at you two chumps high fiving each other upon arrival to the new blog like you just came back from gang fight.I’m guessing you’re just what we refer to as “scnabs” up here in this neck of the woods.
garlick
March 12th, 2009
2:57 pm
mbatl, you’re correct about Knight not being a very good recruiter. He wasn’t very good back in his hey day, and has progressively gotten worse. He’s a great X & O’s coach, but never was able to pull the talent to Texas Tech that he needed in order to be really successful.
Still, he’s not worth the reputation to have him on staff now, especially at his age.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
2:57 pm
Steve, there is some truth to that, but it is limited. As a general rule, you can not make a marathon runner into a good sprinter. You can make them a better spinter than they “normally” are, but you can not totally change the make up of the person’s muscle capacity. The muscle types are important in the working out process. For example, people often come me wondering why they aren’t making progress on their bench press like their workout partner is. I may ask them about other muscle group exercises and how they compare to their partner in them. Invariably they will be making progress in at least one muscle group that their partner is not. This is because they have differing combinations of muscle fibers but are doing the same workout (rep range, and number of sets). If I suggest that they change the rep range of their workout on the bench press, the roles then reverse and the one who was not making as much progress becomes the one who makes more progress. They may have been doing a workout for white fast twitch muscle for years, but his muscle cells did not drastically change to white fast twitch muscle. Instead he continued to have a higher concentration of red fast twitch muscle. So when the rep range was changed to accommodate his particular mixture of muscle cells, he made better progress.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
2:59 pm
Gorkys just tried to hit a 2-1 pitch 600 feet, it appears. Spun in his shoes as he swung and missed.
Then took a pitch for 3-2 before striking out swinging way ahead of the pitch.
Epinephrine
March 12th, 2009
2:59 pm
Does Hanson go tomorrow? Too bad if so-game won’t even be on the radio.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
3:00 pm
I would regard a Bobby Knight signing as a Bill Parcels type hire. Bring him in to help rebuild the program, give it some credibility then pass it on to a young developing stud coach. Yeah, you may have seen that lost fire but he may have three years left to get a few studs, win a bit and see what happens.
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
3:00 pm
B Jones would be better than Frenchy, as would the Schafer kid and almost any OF you can throw out there. I find it hilarious he suddenly needs to try out a new swing care of us for the MLB season when every other hitter in MLB sort of knows how to hit… he just really needs to be sent to AAA for a season…. Schafer is much better already
getnathan
March 12th, 2009
3:01 pm
Gorkys is anxious. I’m excited about our favorite baseball team people. GO BRAVES!!!! They’re gonna make some noise this year.
Bobby is da man!!!
March 12th, 2009
3:01 pm
maybe the dingo ate your baby…
JSWI
March 12th, 2009
3:02 pm
Nevermind that Schafer/Anderson question… I just realized it was addressed on the last blog… I am also in spring training mode it appears….
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 12th, 2009
3:02 pm
All this offense, going back to the minors. Garret Anderson isn’t even playing. I can’t help but laugh at the futility of it all.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
3:02 pm
Anders, it all good…you dish as well as you take…
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
3:02 pm
Brandon Jones will be up when G. Anderson gets hurt
garlick
March 12th, 2009
3:04 pm
That’s the problem, ease19, he won’t get studs. He’s never really gotten studs, and most kids don’t want a military style coach, they want a Calipari type that plays and up and down game, and will let the kids play freely.
With Knight, he’s a disciplinarian who beats you into submission. Just not a good combination for getting the “studs” who see themselves as NBA ready right now, and wanted to be treated as such.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
3:04 pm
My dumb Gameday isn’t refreshing.
The thing still says it’s the bottom of them sixth and Escobar’s up to bat…and the thing is frozen.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
3:07 pm
The Garret Anderson signing was a really expensive way to say “we are confident that our youngsters will produce”.
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
3:07 pm
On Coach Knight, Ease19, exactly my point. Very well said.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
March 12th, 2009
3:07 pm
Anders,
I just got my tix for Braves vs. Bisons out here in a couple months. I’ll keep you informed as to how your AAA Mets do.
Kim
March 12th, 2009
3:08 pm
McFann –
DAP
March 12th, 2009
3:09 pm
coachI can’t help but laugh at the futility of it all.
we know what you mean. everytime you post, we feel the same way.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
3:09 pm
garlick, that’s a really good point, “studs” who see themselves as NBA ready, have really changed the dynamic (and image) of the NBA recently. There are some really good kids out there now. But like Anders admitted yesterday when talking about cricket, I am really out of my element now…
Robert
March 12th, 2009
3:09 pm
Thanks for your great coverage of the Braves, DOB. I have a few questions that I’m sure you’ve already discussed, but I wanted to know your latest thoughts. First, are the Braves really comfortable with Logan and/or O’Flaherty as their lefties out of the bullpen? And is Will Ohman still just sitting out their unsigned? Also, while I like Infante’s flexibility as a utility player, can the Braves win with him (along with Prado) playing upward of 40-50 games at third (due to Chipper’s inevitable injury problems)? Finally, who if anyone in the organization is currently being groomed to be Chipper’s eventual successor at third base? Is it Eric Campbell? Does Escobar eventually move over from SS? Will Andy Marte return from exile (and fulfill his once bright promise)? What about Wilson Betemit? Is it a player to be named later?
brent a.
March 12th, 2009
3:10 pm
You know what’s sad?
Lockhart and Weiss are probably responsible for two of the 5 biggest (positive) Braves play-off moments of the last 10 years.
Gorky Miller
March 12th, 2009
3:11 pm
Anyone else sick of all this blah-blah about non-Braves topics? What’s going on in the game?
Anders
March 12th, 2009
3:11 pm
Buffalo – Appreciate that.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 12th, 2009
3:11 pm
DAP , I feel the same way every time Bobby Cox fails to retire.
chc4
March 12th, 2009
3:12 pm
Robert — From all I’ve read Campbell has been a disappointment. Not sure we have replacement at 3B currently in the system, at least not high enough up to be an option in the near future. I suspect we’ll sign CJ to an extension soon and ride him as long as we can.
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
3:12 pm
Robert does have a good question. Who will ultimately succeed Chipper at third base?
Slugger
March 12th, 2009
3:13 pm
CH4 – Brandon Jones hit 14 HR between High A and AA in 2006 then hit 19 HR between AA and AAA in 2007.
He only had a little over 100 AB last year and didn’t show his power, but look to his stats in AA and AAA to find the true measure of his power in an every day role.
Magnus – great insight, not to mention legibility.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
March 12th, 2009
3:13 pm
Anders,
I’m stealing a Fernando Martinez bat too….. I know the bat boys out here in Rochester…. so if he goes into a slump after he leaves Rochester, you’ll know why.
SeligSucks
March 12th, 2009
3:13 pm
Gorky Miller – I am also trying to get some Braves content here on the Braves blog
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
3:14 pm
Robert, I’ll answer those. Yes, the Braves are very comfortable with Logan/EOF competing for the LOOGY job. Yes, Will Ohman is just sitting out there unsigned. Prado will probably get the lion’s share of chipper’s injured at-bats this year and he hit very well last year. Campbell and Van Pope are the prospects at 3B we currently have that could potentially take over for Chipper. My guess is we find a 3B in the draft soon, though. No, Escobar will never move from SS to 3B. Historically that doesn’t work. Plus, Escobar is an excellent fielder at short, he’s much more valuable at the more premium position. Betemit and Marte are no longer with the organization, so no on them.
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
3:14 pm
I follow the Moskva down to Gorkys Park, listening to the wind of change.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
March 12th, 2009
3:14 pm
Is if Martinez thats the Mets next version of Willie Mays? Whoever that big prospect is that you got haha.
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
3:14 pm
The box score says Medlen is on to pitch
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
3:15 pm
Inning 7
Top Half
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Defensive Substitution: Brooks Conrad replaces pitcher Buddy Carlyle, batting 2nd, playing second base.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Defensive Substitution: Diory Hernandez replaces shortstop Yunel Escobar, batting 3rd, playing third base.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Defensive Substitution: Brandon Hicks replaces second baseman Omar Infante, batting 5th, playing shortstop.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Defensive Substitution: J. C. Boscan replaces third baseman Martin Prado, batting 6th, playing catcher.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:0 – Pitcher Change: Kris Medlen replaces Buddy Carlyle, batting 8th.
Gorky Miller
March 12th, 2009
3:15 pm
Van Pope to replace Chipper!
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:16 pm
PTBNL, I agree with you on that. On your average joe, it’s a lot easer to interconvert fiber types (and you’ll see more of a difference depending on what they want to do), because the distribution is more even, but on elite athletes, they’re very likely to already be genetically predisposed to be good at sprinting or marathon running, and you’re not gonna see much change in them. Good assessment.
Personal trainer, eh? I like to work out as well. What type of weight exercises would you recommend for a guy with bad shoulders?
ShamusThacker
March 12th, 2009
3:16 pm
DOB, ever heard of a Waylon song/album titled “Cedartown Georgia?” Well, that’s right smack where I am. Johnny Cash filmed a pool hall scene at The Old Mill restaurant here, for a movie called “The Barron And The Kid.” Pretty cool/wild place, pretty nice folks too. Country sangers seem to like it anyway. lol Alan Jackson once lived 10-miles up the road in Cave Spring; sister still does.
Hey, on the baseball side of things, we sure do have a load of GREAT prospects, the most I can remember in 40-years of Braves fandom.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
3:17 pm
Gorky, looks that way at this point. Though I pray to christ that changes.
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
3:17 pm
Brandon Jones lookes much better this spring and is ready for the show… we need to play a “Who is best plays today” game in 2009 and screw the local kid’s feelings……… this spring should be a wake up for all of our outfielders to perform and then we pick the best 4 from that performance to start the year
So far that would be Schafer, B Jones, Diaz and a toss up between Josh A and the kid away at WBC… along with the one sure thing Garret A, our current RF would be seventh ranked on recent form
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
3:17 pm
“From all I’ve read Campbell has been a disappointment.”
chc4, Campbell’s problems have all been between his ears. He has had discipline/attitude problems and been suspended a couple of times. He’s a fine talent. Hopefully, he’ll grow up a little and become the player he could be… not counting on it, of course, just hoping. It would be like a 1st round draft pick if he could get his act together.
DAP
March 12th, 2009
3:17 pm
Who will ultimately succeed Chipper at third base?
guys, we have one of the best third baseman in history and are about to sign him to an extension. its possible that chipper’s successor hasnt even graduated from high school yet.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
3:17 pm
Kim–
Hahah…I don’t know about you, but I wish he was down in Braves’ camp right now. But it’s a mixed emotion because I don’t want the USA to lose…
Aw, well…it’ll be Opening Day before we know it…I hope…
Gorky Miller
March 12th, 2009
3:18 pm
i dunno. i think van pope is at least a good baseball name.
chc4
March 12th, 2009
3:18 pm
Slugger – Brandon Jones was a hot prospect 2-3 years ago but he has seemingly stalled. It’s pretty obvious Wren doesn’t see him as a solution or we wouldn’t have re-signed Diaz and brought in Garrett Anderson. Jones is not a good defensive OFer either so I think his future is limited. Would love to be wrong though.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
3:18 pm
B:0 S:0 O:1 – Alex Cintron flies out to right fielder Jason Heyward.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Luke Montz flies out to right fielder Jason Heyward.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Freddie Bynum replaces Steven Shell.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:3 – Freddie Bynum flies out to right fielder Jason Heyward.
garlick
March 12th, 2009
3:18 pm
ease19, I’m a huge college BB guy. I’m a U of Arizona grad, and we just went through the whole Lute Olson mess, and I can tell you with certainty, you don’t want to go through the aging legend drama if you can afford to.
In fact, the story goes that when Lute retired, Knight called the Arizona AD and said he was interested in the position, but was told politely that we weren’t interested, so all of this is very familiar, and I had to learn a lot about Knight and what he was about, and he’s really not worth the risk at this point.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
3:19 pm
We were waiting downstairs to talk to Jurrjens and missed Heyward’s home run. Some here thought it was a mistake call by umpire, that the ball didn’t actually clear the fence. Umpire ruled it hit off the black batter’s eye wall behind the fence in center and caromed onto field.
I didn’t see it and there is no replay, so can’t tell you what happened. Just what others up here said.
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
3:19 pm
Busy inning for Heyward
Pitcher Change: Kris Medlen replaces Buddy Carlyle, batting 8th.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:1 – Alex Cintron flies out to right fielder Jason Heyward.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Luke Montz flies out to right fielder Jason Heyward.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Freddie Bynum replaces Steven Shell.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:3 – Freddie Bynum flies out to right fielder Jason Heyward.
DukeBoy
March 12th, 2009
3:19 pm
DAP, good point Chipper can still produce..Frank Wren needs to begin organizing an extension..
Anders
March 12th, 2009
3:20 pm
DAP -If he’s related to you I’d bet on it. OK Ease 19 and PTBNL , you can pile on now.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:20 pm
chc4, don’t dismiss Campbell quite yet. He had a nice offensive season in MB (though he was a bit old for the league) in a very tough hitter’s park (.841 OPS, 19 HR). His performance at AA this season will be very telling. If he’s over his attitude problems, he might have a breakout year. If not, he’ll probably go the Van Pope route and become more suspect than prospect.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
3:21 pm
Medlen is pitching to Eldred, and he looks to be about half the size of the giant Eldred. Just cut him down, though, struck him out swinging to end the inning.
The kid’s impressive, looks so small and young, especially in his baggy uniform.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
3:22 pm
Medlen gave up a leadoff single, then induced a double play before striking out Eldred.
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
3:22 pm
when did Heyward homer
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
3:22 pm
DAP, yes. I think it is very, VERY possible that Chipper’s replacement is yet to graduate high school. I know Wren hates college players, but it’s also a possibility that Chipper’s replacement will be in college soon, if not already.
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
3:23 pm
DOB – a lot of people compare Medlen to a young Maddux, your thoughts ?
DAP
March 12th, 2009
3:23 pm
andersIf he’s related to you I’d bet on it.
haha…nice.
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
3:23 pm
Did Heyward homer today
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
3:24 pm
DOB – can you give us some updates – mlb is slow
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 12th, 2009
3:25 pm
Josh Anderson, 28 official at bats, ZERO walks. The proof is in the pudding.
Lunatic Fringe
March 12th, 2009
3:25 pm
Looks like Tech is holding up against Clemson—tied at half!!
BSI
March 12th, 2009
3:25 pm
I think Heyward doubled in those runs…didn’t hit a homer according to mlb.com. I’m guessing DOB hit the booze a little early due to the Kansas loss!
po' lil' frenchy
March 12th, 2009
3:25 pm
I wonder what Francoeur is doing with this day off
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
3:25 pm
Mark Bowman says he homered.
18 Wheels of Love
March 12th, 2009
3:26 pm
Medlen reminds me of Roy Oswalt-lite.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:26 pm
PHW, I don’t know that Wren hates college players. Take Hanson and Rohrbough…two of our top pitching prospects came out of college (draft-and-follow). Hicks was a college guy. Granted, the Braves do have a habit of taking HS guys in the early rounds, but that may be “best player available,” not strategy, talking. I mean, everyone was shocked that Heyward fell to us in ‘07.
JJ Hoover and Jacob Thompson out of last year’s draft both came out of college, off the top of my head. I remember them taking Josh Fields out of UGA a year or two ago in like the 2nd(?) round.
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
3:26 pm
where are you getting your updates from
Anders
March 12th, 2009
3:27 pm
DAP – I meant that in good spirit. Hope you took it that way.
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
3:27 pm
What type of weight exercises would you recommend for a guy with bad shoulders?
Curling 12 ounces of Sam Adams.
Dave's Leather Jacket
March 12th, 2009
3:27 pm
go braves!
Kim
March 12th, 2009
3:27 pm
McFann – I totally agree with you; I wish he were in camp as well. It’s kind of nerve wracking because I worry he and Chipper will get hurt. Of course, Chipper’s already had his oblique issue. I’m keeping my fingers crossed they stay healthy throughout WBC and come back ready to go!
Robert from SC
March 12th, 2009
3:27 pm
the box at mlb.com said Medlen had a perfect inning
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
3:28 pm
Lastings Milledge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Gorkys Hernandez.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Joel Guzman grounds into double play, second baseman Brooks Conrad to shortstop Brandon Hicks to first baseman Frederick Freeman. Lastings Milledge out at 2nd.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:3 O:3 – Nick Johnson strikes out swinging.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:28 pm
Nah, scoots, not a drinker. Besides, I can curl like 24 oz. at least. Pfft…12 ounces!
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
3:29 pm
frenchy is caddying for tiger today
18 Wheels of Love
March 12th, 2009
3:29 pm
Is it true that our AA right fielder is leading the entire spring training in HR’s? That’s awesome.
GwinnettFan
March 12th, 2009
3:29 pm
HR: Heyward (1, 7th inning off Shell, 0 on, 2 out).
BSI
March 12th, 2009
3:29 pm
Updated box score on mlb.com says Heyward DID hit a homer and it’s now 6-2 Braves!
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
3:31 pm
ncscoots, yes a 12oz of the Sam White Ale for Spring does the biceps very nicely, add ‘roids for a super sized program of 12 beers a session, that will reduce the recovery time
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
3:31 pm
Besides, I can curl like 24 oz. at least. Pfft…12 ounces!
It’s not the weight, it’s the reps, my man, LOL.
DAP
March 12th, 2009
3:31 pm
anders definitely.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:32 pm
Scoots, you’re cracking me up today.
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
3:32 pm
It’s very possible that Chipper’s replacement is a baseball player.
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
3:32 pm
J. C. Boscan grounds out, second baseman Alex Cintron to first baseman Nick Johnson.
——————————————————————————–
B:4 S:0 O:1 – Brandon Jones walks.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:1 – Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Matt Young replaces Kris Medlen.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Matt Young grounds into a force out, second baseman Alex Cintron to shortstop Freddie Bynum. Brandon Jones out at 2nd. Matt Young to 1st
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
3:34 pm
no Chop Chop chippers replacement will be Shanes grandmother
GwinnettFan
March 12th, 2009
3:35 pm
From the looks of it, our AA and AAA teams should clean up, but how about the starting 9 in Atlanta? Id say the most impressive sightings so far have been from players not intended to be in Atlanta in April.
Mekons
March 12th, 2009
3:35 pm
What’s a Matt Young?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
March 12th, 2009
3:37 pm
DOB,
I know you didn’t see it, but maybe you can ask around….. was Heywards HR off of a fastball, or was it a breaking pitch?
Just curious to see if he’s adjusting to the better breaking pitches, we all know he can catch up to the FB at this point.
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
3:37 pm
Could be, cphizzle.
As long as she doesn’t value runs batted in, she’ll be a superstar.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
3:38 pm
Anders, if you are willing to bet…Wait until KC gets on here! He’s the bettin’ man. Can’t pile on DAP until after…
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:38 pm
I believe a Matt Young is a species of utility player.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
3:40 pm
Steve, hmmm that is kind of a loaded question to a personal trainer. But I probably could give some advise with more information. What do you mean by bad shoulders? Is it a rotator cuff injury, weak tendons, etc. I assume there is pain. Where is the pain (anterior/front, medial/middle or posterior/rear)? The shoulder joint is unique in that it is the only joint that can move 360*. Thus it is more prone to injury. Also, the shoulder is involved in practically all upper body movements. So the shoulder can easily be stressed or overworked.
And… the needed shoulder workout is dependent on your other upper body movements. For example, if you work with heavy weights on the bench press, you can not expect your shoulder muscles to hold up if you only do light stuff for those muscles. As the saying goes, in any compound movement (such as the bench press) you are only as strong as your weakest link.
So… to determine exercises for your shoulder you need to look at your overall goals. Do those goals fit your particular body (including shoulder make up)? I would say that if your shoulders are not irreperable, you probably will need to back off of real challenging upper body workouts and begin to build up your shoulders at your shoulders’ pace. That is to work them TO the point of pain and back off a little so the pain does not continue, but no further than that. It is good that you want to do work with your shoulders. Even injured shoulders should not left immobile for long. They need to move… to be moved.
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
3:40 pm
Our best line up 2009
1. Schafer
2. Yunel Escobar
3. Garret Anderson
4. Chipper
5. McCann Guru
6. Kotch
7. KJ
8. Diaz/B Jones
Batboy – Frenchy
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
March 12th, 2009
3:40 pm
Matt Young = scrappy outfield type player…. he was a guest blogger in Hansons AFL blog as well. Played with Mesa over the winter, hit well, not a lot of pop, more of a slap hitter, finds the gaps.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
3:41 pm
Ya, Steve, but the Braves wouldn’t give Fields a respectable signing bonus. In general, Wren likes high school pitchers in the early rounds so he can get them doing things “the Braves way”. Even though college pitchers are 4 times as likely to make it to the bigs as high school pitchers.
Spud Webb
March 12th, 2009
3:41 pm
Not sure what I’m missing here and this is all my opinion. Diaz always gets a lot of hype in the spring and the season never amounts to much?? Going back to look at his numbers. I know the guy makes contact, but overall numbers??
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
3:42 pm
Steve, check this out. Jim Bowden on Aaron Crow: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2008/08/more_than_3700_words_from_jim.html
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
3:42 pm
Matt Young in LF, Jerome Gamble? in to pitch 9th for Braves.
Dave's Leather Jacket
March 12th, 2009
3:42 pm
who the hell is jerome gamble?
Mekons
March 12th, 2009
3:42 pm
Thanks, Buffalo. I vaguely remember him now, after your prompting.
DOB's Leather Jacket
March 12th, 2009
3:44 pm
have we won yet?
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:44 pm
PTBNL: multidirectional instability. Ended my pitching career. Now my repaired shoulder is the one that does a little better. But you called it–it does hurt my bench. I suppose I’m doing myself a disservice by not doing much shoulders, but I am tremendously busy, and don’t have time for a third lifting day usually. I suppose I could slip in some shoulders at the end of my other days. When I was a bit younger, I usually did seated press (dumbbell), shrugs, and the like. Never military press though.
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
3:45 pm
One out, one on for the Nats.
Spud Webb
March 12th, 2009
3:45 pm
Ok, looks like I’m wrong, last year he was hurt so not much to say about that. Looks like .327 & .338 respectivly in 06 & 07. Not much power and some RBI’s. I know bobby platoons him. Interesting thought. 300 AB’s in each of those years, add another 200 and I’m not sure what the power numbers would be??
Well I hope we get a full year out of him and less platoon (Anderson hurt already).
cvbraves
March 12th, 2009
3:45 pm
Game over. Braves Win.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:46 pm
PWH, I would say that in general, the Braves like to scout and draft their area (the southeast) heavily regardless of educational orientation. But whatever they’re doing, it is working.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
3:46 pm
Big EAST was a big WAFTAM, left 2nd game at half time as Villa were crushing the other weenies Marquette (what the eff is a Marquette anyway, is it a real college)
…….. big buzz was KANSAS losing DOBi One Knobi wtf is going on..
Madison Square sucks, so old and cruddy……….
“I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moments gone…..all my dreams, pass before my eyes with curiousity….”
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
3:47 pm
I don’t know if I like a closer named Gamble. Would rather go with Locke.
Spud Webb, Diaz’ career numbers (including a disastrous ‘08) are .305/.344/.448. Not star material, but better than average.
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
3:49 pm
Keerist, Tigers are spending another day playing down to the competition. Jackets still lead at 11+ to go.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
3:49 pm
How did young Medlen throw today and Jair ?
Also did Brandon Jones continue his startling form please ?
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
3:50 pm
Good link, PHWjort. Very insightful.
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
3:52 pm
dogsbrekky,
Those Marquette “weenies” went on an 11-2 run to start the second half. They’re down by seven now.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
3:52 pm
mbatl – Diaz is a gamer and a solid player, he just needs a FULL YEAR in evry game possible to show his worth
Mekons
March 12th, 2009
3:52 pm
Thanks for that link, PHW. A shocker that wasn’t Boras playing games like that.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
3:55 pm
chop chop – I was so bored, can’t say I will ever love b/ball but thanks for the update, probably end as the most exciting final minute ever (that takes 23 minutes to play)… yada yada yada
?
Why do they run to the basket and instead of shooting turn around and pass it to some other dude, really annoys me that
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
3:56 pm
mbatl – Diaz is a gamer and a solid player, he just needs a FULL YEAR in evry game possible to show his worth
Well, except for too many Ks, not enough BBs, no speed, and little power, you’d be right.
Man, I love Matt Diaz, how can you not? But not 500 ABs worth, sorry. BC has put him in situations where he can be successful, and I hope the Braves continue to do that, rather than expose him.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
3:56 pm
Wow, tech by 12 all of the sudden.
TRIVIA: What does Clemson do better than the Mets?
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
3:58 pm
It’s probably because they want to annoy the bloody hell out of you.
SeligSucks
March 12th, 2009
3:59 pm
ease19 Wow, tech by 12 all of the sudden.
TRIVIA: What does Clemson do better than the Mets?
Wear orange?
raindawg722
March 12th, 2009
3:59 pm
ease19: No one, not even Clemson, chokes better than the Mets.
GT08
March 12th, 2009
3:59 pm
choke – i just had to be the one to say it…i hate clemson orange and purple
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
4:00 pm
I like Diaz as a platoon player against lefties…which is why I think signing GA (esp. to play everyday) is a terrible idea. I know a Jones/Diaz platoon carries a lot of risks, but it puts both of them in a position to succeed. Plus, they have upside. GA is just old.
Rick
March 12th, 2009
4:01 pm
You really don’t want a closer named Riske ( there was a guy named David Riske pitched for CLEVELAND )
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:02 pm
Kris Medlen – I am told he is really really good but does he have any chance of making this roster
Eric from MO
March 12th, 2009
4:02 pm
Can Garrett Anderson play right? Since Diez right nows seems to be doing just fine.
J.D.
March 12th, 2009
4:03 pm
DOB, what do you think the chances are Buddy Carlyle ends up as the long man out of the pen? I would have to say it looks pretty good for him to make this club. A lot of people don’t realize how effective he has been for Atlanta, especially last year.
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
4:04 pm
Clemson sucks. They do the same thing every year under Oliver Purnell. They load up on cupcakes early in the season, post a great non-conference record, and end up finishing around .500 in the ACC.
At least the Mets can’t purposely set their schedule to be so easy early on in a season.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
4:04 pm
So much for that assessment that a couple of pressbox wags made of the Heyward homer. Several who were in the dugout or on the field said the damn ball hit halfway up the towering batter’s eye background beyond CF, and was actually a very long home run, not a questionable or “phantom” homer.
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
4:04 pm
whats up with diaz bending backwards at the plate, that the only beef i got with him.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
4:06 pm
J.D., Carlyle’s pitched very well this spring, and Cox really likes him. “Very underrated guy,” Cox said just a few minutes ago when I asked about Buddy after the game.
I’d say he’s got a pretty good chance of making the club.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:06 pm
chop chop – you and Bubdylan should do a stand up routine together, both of y’all crack me up
ease19
March 12th, 2009
4:06 pm
raindawg722 – Clemson has choked for the last several decades or so…the choking Mets have only been a recent phenomenon.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
4:07 pm
Kim–
yeah, I worry about that, too. When we came home last night and I saw that Mac had been taken out after only 4 innings, I thought, “Oh no…please no!”
I have a feeling he’s gonna have a solid year. Another year like last would be OK by me. (I mean his stats, not the team’s play!) Though a few more RBI wouldn’t hurt my feelings–oh, and throw in 6 more doubles, so he cann have the record!
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:07 pm
Buddy is a sure thing……..
Anders
March 12th, 2009
4:07 pm
Dogsbrekky – Matt Diaz is a platoon player and a right handed pinch hitter off the bench. He can’t hit the twisted stuff from the righties. Plus you nail him to the bench late in games you are leading. That’s what he is. The sooner you accept that the less dissapointment you’ll have when he spends the first half of each season proving this.
18 Wheels of Love
March 12th, 2009
4:09 pm
Seriously, who has hit more HR’s in ALL of spring training than Heyward? The guy must have 4 or 5 if you include the 2 during the intrasquad game.
cphizzle
March 12th, 2009
4:09 pm
is matt diaz any relation to cameron diaz? they kinda favor to me if i use my imagination.
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
4:10 pm
scoots, regarding Diaz: I’m one of those who doesn’t care much about strikeouts. Rather have contact, but it’s not like he K’s 200 times per year. He’s not the ideal corner OF, but when he’s had playing time (06 and 07), a .333/.366/.487 line, with 19 HR and 112 Ks in 655 ab’s (slightly more than a full season, obviously).
And as to being “put in situations where he can be successful”, he had almost as many ab’s against RHP (346 pa’s) as against LHP (361) in those 2 years.
Like I said, he’s no star. But I’ll take him on my team; the platoon – I hope it’s a semi-platoon – with Garret A. could be quite productive.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:11 pm
JOE – HUN goes tonight huh, see if your crappy club with their crappy doctors can eff up the best pitcher in baseball……… why oh why rush this guy……….
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
4:11 pm
I don’t know about Matt, but I’d like to have relations with Cameron Diaz.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
4:11 pm
Steve, you can do without military. I don’t normally encourage them at all with free weights unless it is partials or done with a cambered bar so that the head does not become an issue.
Yeah, I definitely would take some time to work on the shoulders, even if you just maintain the rest of the upper body. By doing so, you will give your upper body a better chance of progress since you must work through your shoulders to do other upper body movements. I would recommend some band or tube work both for the rotator and for the different heads of the shoulder. I am sure you have done these kinds of exercises in rehab (PT). These smaller muscles will probably need such stimulation from now on. The good thing about these exercises is that they can be done almost anywhere. After you have done them for a while, it shouldn’t take much time since you probably could stimulate the muscles, ligaments and tendons with one good set each of two or three movements. Then, once a week, preferably before a day off or leg day, do some work on the different heads of the shoulder. I.E – rear shoulder flyes, front raises, and your dumbbell presses (concentrating on the medial head of the shoulder). Be careful to keep strict form. Then incorporate a move like the upright row which uses all the heads of the muscle. As these strengthen, you will be able to be more aggressive with your other upper body movements.
Anders
March 12th, 2009
4:13 pm
Seriously, who has hit more HR’s in ALL of spring training than Heyward? The guy must have 4 or 5 if you include the 2 during the intrasquad game. (18 Wheels)
Not including the 100 all stars who went to the WBC?
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
4:13 pm
[The Tigers] load up on cupcakes early in the season, post a great non-conference record
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t disagree with that, but not this year. The non-conference schedule was fairly strong. Dudes just read too many press clippings after the Duke win, and haven’t really played well since the Florida State game right after.
Today, they shot for crap and defended worse. Not much I can say good about them today.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
4:16 pm
Steve, their strategy seems to be with their top picks take a) raw, toolsy high school pitchers, b) from the southeast, c) that aren’t represented by Scott Boras. I hope the ones they took in 08 (Devall is the only name I remember) do pan out well, but College pitchers are more likely to make it to the big leagues. Anyway, like you said, whatever they’re doing, it’s working.
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
4:16 pm
Heyward has hit ONE homerun in spring training games (today). I’m sure a lot of guys have hit them off their own team in intrasquad workouts.
Anders, when did you decide to go from a NY fan with some interest in the Braves, to being a troll? Always enjoyed your posts, but you’re kinda’ hammering the braves-suck party line lately.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
4:17 pm
Good stuff, PBTNL. Thanks a lot!
ease19
March 12th, 2009
4:17 pm
UGA should probably send the women’s team out for the second half…at least it would give them a chance.
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
4:17 pm
mbatl, I want Diaz on my team, too. No doubter.
Tigers down by 4 with a minute left.
KC
March 12th, 2009
4:17 pm
mbatl, hey man, just so you know… I think you confused me with RC yesterday. But I do think it’s encouraging that Frenchy’s hitting to all fields.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
4:20 pm
Steve – You should probably see results fairly quickly with the bands; low resistance and high reps. And you would be surprised at what simple push-ups will do, even from your knees…(again I speak from lots of experience)
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
4:20 pm
KC, sorry ’bout that. I regret being negative about Jeff yesterday. You’re the eternal optimist with him; I guess I’m more skeptical. But hoping for the best, of course.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
4:22 pm
Yeah, the bands helped me a ton when I was coming off surgery and such. And you’re right, push-ups are a terrific exercise all the way around.
Anders
March 12th, 2009
4:23 pm
mbatl- I never said the Braves suck. But I don’t think they are a serious contender at this point unless they pitch lights out which I don’t see either. Could happen but not likely imo. I’ve explained my reasons numerous times today and backed them up with numbers. What’s wrong with that?
bigchiefrg
March 12th, 2009
4:23 pm
When did Gorkys get to camp? I am I right in saying this was his first game?
Also DOB, is Ray LaMontagne someone u listen to? He jammed pretty hard on SNL this past week and just seems like your type of music. I think I am check out more of his stuff.
Kim
March 12th, 2009
4:25 pm
McFann – Let’s not rule out the possibility of another triple!
ease19
March 12th, 2009
4:25 pm
mbatl
Today KC is the Frenchy optimist, tomorrow, he could quite possibly have him on the trading block.
Sorry KC couldn’t resist…
ease19
March 12th, 2009
4:27 pm
Oh and mbatl, Anders got a concussion earlier,so…he ain’t exactly thinking straight at the moment.
nolie
March 12th, 2009
4:27 pm
Sorry for bein’ a mite “testy” at 6:12. RANDOM
no problem, you were right. I misread it and then misread it again.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:27 pm
Steve – I have been doing a sprinters program for the last 5 weeks and am down about 25 lbs in fat and building some muscle back up, I also just cut out all the sugar, bread and sauces from my diet……. back down to 193lbs after hitting an Andruw like 218lbs (6 feet) around the start of Feb………..
smittybat
March 12th, 2009
4:28 pm
I love the Diaz “lean-back”
I think he’ll have a good year.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
4:28 pm
Bigcheif, Gorkys arrived in camp today. He was previously in minor league camp.
Gerald Perry
March 12th, 2009
4:30 pm
If McCann hits another triple this year (much less two! Didn’t he hit two last year?), I’ll buy both you ladies dinner, lol.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:31 pm
chop chop – you were right I should have stayed for the last 1/2
The score is now only 3 points to Villanova……… basketball is so rigged…….. they should just play the last 2 minutes……..
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
4:33 pm
That’s the way these tournaments go, dogsbrekky. That’s why I pay a hell of a lot more attention to college basketball in March than I do any other time of year. The regular season is just an appetizer.
bigchiefrg
March 12th, 2009
4:35 pm
Hey PWHjort, why did they decide to bring him up? Just to get a look?
Roach
March 12th, 2009
4:35 pm
Anders last blog you said Kawakami pitched once a week not entirely true. DOB put the numbers up awhile back he has been in a 6 man rotation recently but before he has logged enough innings that 200 is not out of the realm of possibility. And your new closer came off a record year yes but how many were with 1 out or 2 outs. Meaning he didnt pitch a full inning. Your closer also likes to make things a little hairy.
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:36 pm
chop – I lived in Las Vegas for some time and used to wear my UNC Tarheel gear and everyone used to comment on the March madness… it seems to be the most talked about event of the year.. I was there in 2004-05 when UNC won it all… very exciting tournament..
However, I find the NBA the least interesting global sport outside bog-racing
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
4:40 pm
I don’t know why they decided to bring him up. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. With Schafer, Anderson, and Gorecki all in camp and Blanco at the WBC, he’s not competing for a roster spot. I guess it was so he could be watched by the execs and Bobby or get some at-bats vs. some higher quality pitching. I’m glad they called him up, though. Your best prospects should be in camp after a full season to face some big-league competition.
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
4:41 pm
Marquette’s up with 40 seconds left. Let’s see if they can hold on.
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
4:43 pm
OH, NOOOOOOO…
A layup at the buzzer? That’s a flat-out stomach punch!
brent a.
March 12th, 2009
4:44 pm
I sort of, kind of can’t believe that KY woke up and won a game today.
Now, I’ll just be sucked in tomorrow, in hopes that a win over LSU will actually give them a glimmer of hope to make the field of 65 in this relatively weak year for college hoops.
For the next 20 hours, I’m gonna be thinking of all the ways this team will find a way to lose tomorrow.
Go Braves!
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
4:44 pm
Well, I guess ‘Nova deserved to win that…?
Bring on the next game.
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
4:46 pm
However, I find the NBA the least interesting global sport outside bog-racing
Naturally, since those are only the best athletes in the world of sports playing the game. No reason to find that interesting.
Kim
March 12th, 2009
4:48 pm
Gerald Perry – I like steak dinners so start saving now!
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
4:49 pm
The NBA is better now than it was several years ago. The top players are better, the refs are a lot worse, and there’s more scoring. All of that leads to a higher quality of entertainment.
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
4:49 pm
’scoots, you’re referring to the bog-racers, right?
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:49 pm
scoots – depends how you measure the best..
vertical leap combined with speed and power probably..
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
4:52 pm
On a baseball note I just read this on mlbrumors..
The Braves had more drama with the near-Rafael Furcal signing, but they were already respectable in the middle infield. Anderson isn’t spectacular as the left field import, but he’ll help (and isn’t any worse than Ken Griffey Jr.). Presumably the Braves have some cash left over for a possible midseason addition. But using CHONE projections, their lineup projects to score a healthy 4.93 runs per game. The Mets and Phillies tied for second in the league last year with that same figure.
The Braves should have a pretty good defense again; last year’s was rated seventh in the game in The Fielding Bible II. Last year’s bullpen wasn’t great, but more pitchers are healthy this time around. Overall, this looks like a 90 win team to me.
Bottom line: Despite the offseason drama, Wren assembled a deep, revamped rotation to go with an already-above average offense. The Braves should return to their contending ways in ‘09.
dude
March 12th, 2009
4:52 pm
Anyone know of any correlation between super spring training season and how a team does in regular play? Seems like Braves in the past year had so-so spring and not great season. Obviously, mentally it has to feel good to get this many W’s in spring training.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
4:52 pm
Kim–
Oh yeah! Can’t rule that out.
Hey, with the new slimmer build, it’s a huge possibility.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
4:54 pm
Dude, some people say it tends to carry over, but empirical studies show there’s no correlation. It can’t hurt, that’s for sure.
Epinephrine
March 12th, 2009
4:54 pm
What did Jurrjens have to say about his performance?
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
4:55 pm
The Dawgs are getting killed by the Dogs. Not much of a surprise there. I hope Damon Evans can get a guy in here to, at minimum, make the Dawgs a semi-regular in the NCAA tournament. That would be quite an upgrade.
brent a.
March 12th, 2009
4:55 pm
I think the NBA is somewhat difficult to appreciate on television, which does cause a problem.
Also, the 82 games and all the travel, lends itself to some players not bringing it every night.
But, after watching a lot of college basketball, I find myself appreciating the quality of NBA players that much more.
The shooting in the NBA is phenomenal, as well as player’s ability to finish at the rim.
Also, the college game lacks talented big men, and I’ve always appreciated dominant centers/power forwards.
Kareem was my first ever, favorite player, and ever since, I’ve always appreciated the skill level of these bigs, and often find myself campaigning for guys like Jabbar and to a lesser extent, Wilt, as being the best players of all time, while guards/wing players like Jordan are more often than not, given the quick nod as the GOAT.
People lack an appreciation for the big man, and the college game contributes to that.
People like to talk about the passion of college basketball. Trust me, if you watch enough, you’ll see plenty of college basketball players not giving max effort. However, I think a lot of the people that believe that college players give more effort than professionals, are the fans of major schools like Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, etc. and/or they mainly only watch games in March.
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
4:57 pm
’scoots, you’re referring to the bog-racers, right?
Might as well be, for all that guy would know the difference. The strongest, fastest, quickest, most athletic people in the universe are in the NBA. “Uninteresting” isn’t quite the word I would use to describe watching them go about their business.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
4:57 pm
The NBA was 1/2 as interesting as it is now. Chris Paul and LeBron James have made the NBA exciting again.
brent a.
March 12th, 2009
4:58 pm
chop chop
your 4:49 sums up the current state of the NBA, pretty nicely.
separately, as far as spring training goes, I remember one of Chuck Tanner’s Braves’ teams having the best record in spring training . . .
that aside. The Braves pitching looks good. I don’t foresee that disappearing just because the calendar turns to April.
the offense is a still a work in progress. I’ll expect inconsistency and be thrilled if we see mostly good.
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
5:00 pm
’scoots, yeah, I really agree. NBA players are tremendous athletes who must also master very difficult skills. However, IMO, the regular season really is just a prelude (due to 16 playoff teams), and I really believe it would be a much better game with a 45-second shot clock, and no 3-point line. Skills would be so much more valuable in such a game.
But I loves me the NBA playoffs. It’s intense.
Gerald Perry
March 12th, 2009
5:01 pm
I would gladly buy steak dinners for McCann triples! It’s a deal, =)
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
5:03 pm
I really believe it would be a much better game with a 45-second shot clock, and no 3-point line. Skills would be so much more valuable in such a game.
Yeah, but think of all the blood down on the blocks, LOL. 45 seconds to feed the post, and no perimeter liability to sagging? Mercy. Somebody gets mean and hurtful in their attitude in THAT game. HA!
dogsbrekky
March 12th, 2009
5:04 pm
scoots, yes don’t cry cause someone doesn’t buy into the hype
of course rugby league, rugby union, NFL, Aussie Rules, MMA, boxing, sprinters, swimmers on and on wouldn’t qualify as the “fastest, quickest, most athletic people in the UNIVERSE
perhaps only if your knowledge of the universe is this country, which I suspect yours would be…… let us know your thoughts on those other global sports, ok hero
“Party on Wayne”
Kurt
March 12th, 2009
5:07 pm
Helps that the Hawks have become relevant again, at least as far as Atlanta’s interest in the NBA. Bill Simmons mentioned recently how one team in a city can ignite the others, like the Patriots did for Boston sports in 01, then the Sox and Celtics followed with championships. That’s interested with the recent revival in Atlanta’s sports. Falcons pulled out a great season no one saw coming, now the Hawks are having their best season in decades, and the Braves are looking really strong early on. Winning really is contagious!! Though maybe the Hawks-Celtics series could be credited with the spark.
Great win GT. Way to play with pride here at the end of a dismal season, guys. They can beat FSU tomorrow too, especially if Clinch plays like he did today. Amazing what happens when everyone figures out how to shoot and hit free throws.
ncscoots
March 12th, 2009
5:08 pm
dogsbrekky (and I assume that’s short for “dog’s breakfast”), your suspicions are your own, and you’re welcome to them. As to the rest of your posts and content, good choice of monikers.
Buzz Meat
March 12th, 2009
5:10 pm
Whats the Deal with Charlie Morton, i havent Seen or Hread of him all spring!!!!!!
chris from md
March 12th, 2009
5:12 pm
PWHjort and bigchief,
I think Gorkys was there today because Diaz and Frenchy left town.
DOB and others, you heard it here first– Braves will trade Sammons to the Astros by the end of camp. That team is desperate for catching.
Chris from MD
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
5:15 pm
I’ve figured this sports argument out…
Australia has somewhere around 22 million inhabitants, while the U.S. has over 300 million.
By my calculation, this means that an Australian’s opinion is worth roughly 7% of an American’s.
Case closed.
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
5:16 pm
And whoever doesn’t realize that my last comment was a joke, shame on you.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
5:18 pm
And maybe if McCann hits another triple, the Braves’ website will post a video of it!
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
5:20 pm
Oh, and one of my favorite dinners is pizza…
(Mac only hit one 3B last year, BTW.)
Kim
March 12th, 2009
5:20 pm
It’s a plan then! You’re a good sport Gerald Perry!
Steve McP
March 12th, 2009
5:20 pm
Chop Chop – good logic, on that basis Table Tennis and Badminton should be the best sports in the world as the Chinese love them so much
Steve McP
March 12th, 2009
5:21 pm
Also a joke, before the thought police turn up
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
5:23 pm
That’s right, Steve McP.
I’m working on a “nukes per inhabitant” rating. That should also factor into the worth of someone’s opinion.
Jim
March 12th, 2009
5:24 pm
Charlie Morton puled an oblique muscle in his side in the first week of camp. He is just beginning to throw again.
sri
March 12th, 2009
5:26 pm
Anders,
do you also spend time on a Phillies blog and try to convince them about the superiority of the Mets? just curious…
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
5:28 pm
For those unclear about Gorkys: He’s NOT in major league camp. Was just brought over today to play in a game, which the Braves often do with prospects. Just random, and often unannounced, as this was. We might not see him again this spring, or we might see him in a few days. Just don’t know. He was brought over for a game last week, I’m told, but no one probably knew because he didn’t actually get in the game.
Gerald Perry
March 12th, 2009
5:37 pm
Thanks Kim! And McFann, you’re in luck, since I’m a pizza chef!
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
5:37 pm
Steve McP – you also have the Indians with their 1.2 Billion people to consider so any sport they and the Chinese play may have the most populist answer… but no way is an NBA player the ‘fastest and quickest’ athlete,
Jim
March 12th, 2009
5:38 pm
The best infield prospect in this year’s draft is a college player from UCLA that draws comparisons to Longoria and Tutlowitzki. He is expected to be the 2nd or 3rd player drafted and is not likely to be around when the Braves pick. I think he is also represented by Boras. Surprisingly, the Braves are loaded with outfield talent –Schaefer, B. Jones, Blanco, Anderson, Frenchy, Heyward, G. Hernandez, and possibly Cody Johnson. It is likely that they may try to trade from outfield depth to get a future third baseman.
Wayne in Utah
March 12th, 2009
5:53 pm
Jim
Has Eric Campbell been discussed as a possible 3B prospect?
Magnus Pym
March 12th, 2009
5:54 pm
Surprisingly, the Braves are loaded with POTENTIAL outfield talent
Jim
March 12th, 2009
6:00 pm
I don’t think he’s a big prospect anymore.
Wayne in Utah
March 12th, 2009
6:04 pm
Maybe so, but he might be the best we have now…. I could see a trade for a 3B prospect or someone blocked at their current team.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
6:08 pm
Gerald Perry–
Alright!
Gerald Perry
March 12th, 2009
6:18 pm
=) at McFann…Going to dinner. Enjoy the rest of your night denizens! Go Braves, let’s keep the streak going through the rest of Spring Training!
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
6:20 pm
Chris from MD, I agree that Sammons COULD be moved, but he has options and he’s a local boy so I don’t see it. Also, the Astros have nothing to send us for Sammons. They have a horse-shit farm system and nobody on their big league roster makes sense for us except for MAYBE Hunter Pence, who would require more than Sammons to acquire and wouldn’t fit into the clubs’ long term plans. I don’t see a Sammons to the Astros trade.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
6:21 pm
Wayne, Eric Campbell and Van Pope are the 2 3B prospects we have in our system that aren’t long shots to eventually make it to the bigs. Though Campbell may be considered a long shot at this point.
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
6:25 pm
Hicks could very possibly be a 3B prospect. He hits like a corner IF, and probably has the glove to play anywhere needed. Will still be interested to see what Campbell does this year. He could get right back into “elite” status if he’ll just shut up, get to park on time, and play ball.
And I sure don’t see trading Sammons. We’ve dealt so much catching away – Ramirez, Salty, Flowers. If McCann or Ross should get hurt, we need a guy with some experience to call up.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
6:25 pm
Hey! Cool! They got links up for the posts now!
Random, Toga Party, they must have heard us!
(Gerald Perry, yeah, let’s keep it going through ST and the real season!)
Chop Chop
March 12th, 2009
6:30 pm
I still agree with me.
I’m so clever.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
6:42 pm
Regarding 3B prospects, don’t forget Brandon Hicks. He’s a very strong defensive shortstop with a lot of power, enough power to move over to 3B if necessary. He just needs to cut down the strikeouts.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
6:44 pm
Charlie Morton has done some light throwing without pain in his strained side muscle, Bobby said. He didn’t know details of when Charlie might try throwing off the mound again, and Charlie was gone by the time we got out of Bobby’s office.
Hakuna
March 12th, 2009
6:58 pm
DOB–KJ’s not played the last two games. Should we be worried or is he resting?
Moby Grape
March 12th, 2009
7:10 pm
JJ Hoover and Jacob Thompson out of last year’s draft both came out of college, off the top of my head. I remember them taking Josh Fields out of UGA a year or two ago in like the 2nd(?) round. —Ohio Steve
If you are having to think that hard to come up with such a few instances, it looks like strategy to me. Obviously they don’t “hate” college kids but their “scouts first” orientation when drafting lends itself to procuring a lot of high-schoolers. Dan Myer was another college guy, but he was picked about 50 places above where most had him rated as a quck and relatively cheap reliever sign. His bonus was way below what others in his group received. Wren actually might have more interest in college guys than John S did.
Steve from OH
March 12th, 2009
7:32 pm
Moby, four of the Braves first 7 picks were college guys. My point was to say that they obviously prefer HS guys, but they won’t shy away from college guys at all. The “hate” part was the key word there.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
7:43 pm
The question for Hicks at 3B would be his defense. In general, moving someone from SS to 3B means they play worse defense. Though if he has the arm, he’d be fine at 3rd.
ease19
March 12th, 2009
7:46 pm
PWH – remember that Chipper moved from short to 3B to LF back to 3B and is now considered one of the best in the game.
Wayne in Utah
March 12th, 2009
7:50 pm
PWHjort
I really don’t understand your statement “moving someone from SS to 3B means they play worse defense”
Are you saying that players are moved to third because they are invariably weaker defensively, or that 3B is harder to play? I believe there are some cases where players played worse after moving positions, but I am not sure you can support that statement otherwise, generally speaking.
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
7:54 pm
A-Rod (hey, love him or hate him) made the switch to 3B too. A good shortstop needs a good arm. Most can play 3rd if needed (and acclimated to it). Problem is, most SS don’t have the power bat generally desired at 3B. Hicks has that, if he can stop knocking the air out of the park a third of the time.
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
7:56 pm
oh, and Cal Ripken Jr. too…
brent a.
March 12th, 2009
8:15 pm
and Chipper was originally a shortstop . . .
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
8:23 pm
Ease, that isn’t relevant to a SS-3B discussion. What I’m saying is that it takes a different set of tools to play Shortstop and 3rd Base. Shortstop is the more difficult position to play without a doubt. However, if you look at the history of people switching from SS to 3B, it generally hasn’t worked out like everyone expected it to. 3B have to charge bunts and require a better arm than a SS. To quote Bill James on the issue: “Well, shortstops who switch to third base rarely seem to emerge as outstanding defensive third basemen. A-Rod hasn’t. Cal Ripken didn’t. Toby Harrah didn’t. I can’t really think of one who has.” And in another post: “The question was about Michael Young –snip– converting to third base. . .might this make him a Gold Glove third baseman? To which the answer is: it generally doesn’t.” That being said, I’m not ruling out the possibility that Hicks could play an average, or even above-average, 3B. I just don’t know, it’s a concern of mine that I’d have to see addressed before I make any conclusions as to whether I like him more as a 3B or a SS for the club. But that’s a long way down the road. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. He’s still young so it won’t be like A-Rod converting. We’ll see.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
8:26 pm
Chipper Jones switched early in his career to 3B mainly because he had pretty pathetic range at SS. His arm and tools developed as a consequence of him switching so early. If you think about it, a LOT of major league players were shortstops or pitchers (usually both) on their high school teams because they were the most gifted and athletic players on the team. Pretty much everyone was at once a SS.
Eric from MO
March 12th, 2009
8:28 pm
How is a college player represented by Boras? I didnt think college players had agents.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
8:32 pm
I just figured out how to use the “polls” feature on this WordPress thing. I stuck a poll in the original blog above, if you want to check it out and vote. It’s about the red jerseys and what you think the Braves should do with them.
Slowly, when I have time, I’m able to figure out new stuff on this WordPress. Now if we could just get them to stop with the pagination. Unfortunately, we haven’t figured out how to let it do the preferable one long scroll without bogging down everything.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
8:35 pm
Eric, they’re represented for their professional career. They can be a college player represented by Scott Boras, but only if they plan on playing professional baseball.
Dadgum
March 12th, 2009
8:37 pm
Sorry to hear about the news on Glavine today. That he has been pushed back on his starts. Cue Hanson. Get him ready. Let the big dog eat!
Rock on…..
Eric from MO
March 12th, 2009
8:37 pm
PWHjort from personal experience, I think ss is easier in its own ways. Yeah you have to have more range and get more balls hit to you but the ball doesnt get on top of you as quick. You dont have to have as good as of an arm. Also you barehand more balls at third. This was just my personal experience and opinion. I by no way claim Im right, just what I believe.
Eric from MO
March 12th, 2009
8:39 pm
PWHjort I dont understand. In other sports, such as football, players are disquafied by NCAA for having agents.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
8:39 pm
Cool poll thingy, Chief!
I was voter #5!
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
8:40 pm
PWHjort , props on doing your homework on the issue. From what I’ve read, I suspect that Hicks could convert to 3B if the Braves asked him to (and you didn’t deny that); and I think A-Rod and CRJr (and certainly Chipper) played respectable 3B even though their natural position was SS; but regardless, you backed up your views with some solid stuff.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
8:41 pm
Hakuna, since Kelly had as many or more ABs than anyone on the team except Josh Anderson before today, I’m guessing he just got a couple of days off because he’s going to make the Jupiter trip and play both games down there. I saw him take BP, so if he’s got anything wrong with him, it ain’t anything serious. Bobby didn’t mention anything and no one thought to ask, frankly. But I’ll check tomorrow.
Steve McP
March 12th, 2009
8:41 pm
Hey DOB – one other thing that would really help is to have your guys put the page numbers at the top of each page as well as at the bottom, even more so now that we have 100 posts per page.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
8:43 pm
PWHjort and others: Let me be clear — I haven’t heard the Braves discuss moving Hicks to third. Bobby has said he’s good enough to play SS in the majors right now. I’m just saying, it’d certainly be possible to move him there if you kept Escobar long-term and wanted to get Hicks’ bat in the lineup eventually.
Mitchie-san
March 12th, 2009
8:45 pm
DOB, what is your opinion on the red jerseys?
Jeff321
March 12th, 2009
8:47 pm
Random
I know you’ve been trying in vain to engage me. So, did I say anything that wasn’t factual about MLB network?
Eric from MO
March 12th, 2009
8:48 pm
Im the only one who has voted to wear the uniform on all Sundays:(
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
8:50 pm
Eric, in regard to agents, I think there was a recent lawsuit on the issue. However, I’m fairly sure that NCAA players are allowed to be represented by an agent. As far as 3B/SS, they’re 2 different positions that require different skill sets. To play a good SS you need excellent range, an excellent glove, decent instincts, and a good arm. To play a good 3B you need good range, a good glove, excellent instincts, and an excellent arm. I don’t think it’s a matter of one is harder than the other, they’re both very hard. Some people are better at Short and some people are better at Third. The Shortstop is regarded as the most “defense-first” position (besides the battery).
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
8:55 pm
And on Ripken, Rodriguez, and Chipper. Chipper was pretty lousy in the field until before the 2007 season when he decided he wanted to make being a better defensive player a priority of his. He has rated above average on the +/- scale since then after being significantly below average in 2006. Interestingly, Alex Rodriguez was also pretty lousy at 3B until the 2007 season. He has been above average for the past two seasons after being significantly below average in 2006. Fielding Bible statistics don’t go back far enough for me to gather up any data on Ripken’s fielding, but by most accounts I read, Ripken was about average at 3B. Certainly not bad but not necessarily good either.
Moby Grape
March 12th, 2009
8:56 pm
ayne, Eric Campbell and Van Pope are the 2 3B prospects we have in our system that aren’t long shots to eventually make it to the bigs. Though Campbell may be considered a long shot at this point. PWH
right now neither one is more than a long shot. Van Pope is almost certainly never going to be a starter in Atlanta he’s already 25and can’t hit a lick, and Campbell will have to get his act together and make some serious improvements in his game and his attitude or he won’t either.
AdirondackDave
March 12th, 2009
8:56 pm
Wow, not one but TWO Mets starters are stinking up the place today in their ST game. Santana gave up earned 3 runs in less than three innings and Tim Redding has been charged with 9 earned runs in less than 2 innings. That’s hard to do.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
8:58 pm
Eric–
So sad…yeah, most people seem to want to burn them, well they ain’t gettin’ mine!!
Moby Grape
March 12th, 2009
9:00 pm
He just needs to cut down the strikeouts. DOB
and raise his BA about 50 points, the two don’t always go hand in hand as Jeff showed last season.
Steve McP
March 12th, 2009
9:01 pm
Be fair the Mets are playing the mighty Florida Marlins.
Anyone seen Anders or Metro Man?
Moby Grape
March 12th, 2009
9:04 pm
The “hate” part was the key word there—Ohio Steve
which I said to and added that Wren might be more interested than John was, but I’ll be surprised if they go that heavy that early again this year, we’ll see
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
9:06 pm
Ya, Pope has put up pretty crappy numbers in the minors. Though he did well in the AFL.
Steve McP
March 12th, 2009
9:10 pm
Moby Grape – re: Frenchy – his BA has gone up a lot in the last week or so. Maybe he has worked out a few things and those early AB’s in ST helped him get the kinks out and he is in good shape moving towards the season. No strikeouts is astonishing considering what he did last year and he does not seem to be fazed when he is up with runners in scoring position, a couple of SF’s is better than the strike out or weak grounder that we were seeing last year too often in that situation.
winterville
March 12th, 2009
9:11 pm
Man, Tim Redding is an absolute beast for the Mets. Last week he only recorded 1 out against the University of Michigan while allowing 5 runs and tonight, since he had to top that, he decided to give up 9 ER to the Marlins in 2 innings. He must have seen Kendrick’s box score from yesterday and decided to put everyone on notice that he is the worst 5th starter in the NL East. “Take a seat kid, here’s how you lose your spot.”
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
9:17 pm
Santana gave up 3 runs in 2.2 innings. Redding had another impressive outing this time giving up 9 runs in 2.0 innings. I love watching the Mets lose.
Old Third Baseman
March 12th, 2009
9:20 pm
PWHjort@ March 12th, 2009 8:50 pm
“To play a good 3B you need good range, a good glove, excellent instincts, and an excellent arm.
Of course, if every player had good range and glove, as well as excellent instincts and arm, then they would be a good player.
Duh.
Spoken like someone who has never played 3B, as the most important requirement has been omitted.
Very Quick Reflexes are the most important requirement to play 3B, or else you will have a Rawlings imprint on your forehead.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
9:22 pm
I covered that in the instincts part.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
9:23 pm
And I said a “good” third base. There are probably 15 players in the MLB that play a “good” 3rd base.
KC
March 12th, 2009
9:26 pm
Braves now have the best spring record in baseball. Doesn’t mean much, I know, but it’s nice to see. I don’t KNOW this to be true… but I would guess that teams that have overwhelmingly good springs probably go on – more often than not – to have good seasons.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
9:27 pm
I guess I made the mistake of including “reflexes” as a sub-set of “instincts”, but yes, that and a good arm are the most necessary tools to play 3B. Which is why I said that to be good at the position you need to have “excellent” instincts (reflexes included).
Old Third Baseman
March 12th, 2009
9:27 pm
And I said a “good” third base. There are probably 15 players in the MLB that play a “good” 3rd base.
Is this related to the part where you told us that if a player was good at 4 of the tools, then he would be a good player?
northbeach Scott
March 12th, 2009
9:27 pm
DOB, confirming that Heyward’s HR was absolutely crushed today, just to the right of dead center. The ball hit the black screen above the fence about 12-15 feet above the wall. Not sure what the pitch was. The young man can thump. He also made several solid plays in RF, today.
Old Third Baseman
March 12th, 2009
9:29 pm
“reflexes” as a sub-set of “instincts”
God help us all..
mbatl
March 12th, 2009
9:29 pm
PW, calm down, dude. You’re the guy who thinks Jason Perry is a “replacement value” major league outfielder, right? And you’re the only person I’ve heard mention Van Pope in about 2 years. You’re a decent (and prolific) blogger, but please climb down off the mountain, okay?
Tomas
March 12th, 2009
9:31 pm
Buddy Carlyle has no chance to make the team. Just look at all the talented relievers in the team who are just way better than Buddy. Although he stats looked good, let’s not forget he only pitched in blowouts, and was not overused at all. Kris Medlen has a much better shot to make the team than Buddy in my opinion.
Normally a team carries 7 relievers. My guess is Boone Logan, Jeff Bennet, Manny Acosta, Blaine Boyer, Peter Moylan, Rafael Soriano, and Mike Gonzales will be those pitchers.
Jorge Campillo, Kris Medlen, Eric O’Flaherty, and Buddy Carlyle would have to be the leading candidates if any of those 7 relievers get injured.
Moby Grape
March 12th, 2009
9:33 pm
Moby Grape – re: Frenchy – his BA has gone up a lot in the last week or so. Maybe he has worked out a few things and those early AB’s in ST helped him get the kinks out and he is in good shape moving towards the season.—Steve McP
my only point was that cutting down on strike outs would not necessarily mean raising his average which Hicks also needs to do. I used Frenchy as an example because last season he struck out fewer times than in earlier years but his average plummeted. Too early to comment about this spring or the future though I hope he improves for his own sake and the Braves.
Random
March 12th, 2009
9:33 pm
McFann :Ô: (6:25 pm): “Hey! Cool! They got links up for the posts now! . . . they must have heard us!”
Yeah — wow!!! That’s great!
“History is made by those who show up!”
winterville
March 12th, 2009
9:35 pm
I’d put Buddy in ahead of Bennett Tomas. That’s just my opinion. I’d probably put him in ahead of Acosta too. He throws strikes. That’s what I hate about Acosta and sometimes Bennett. Just come in and throw strikes. Buddy may not have the best stuff but he trusts it.
18 Wheels of Love
March 12th, 2009
9:36 pm
VORP talk? I’d rather read Bob Loblaw’s Law Blog.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
9:38 pm
Random–
Sure is great…now I have another Q:
How do you link something up under a word other than the web address? You know, so instead of linking
http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mccanbr01.shtml
I could call the link “Brian McCann’s Baseball-Reference Page”?
winterville
March 12th, 2009
9:41 pm
I’ve always wondered the same thing McFann.
Jeff321
March 12th, 2009
9:45 pm
It would be like this.
(Look under An HTML Link.)
Leah
March 12th, 2009
9:46 pm
Hakuna – KJ played in yesterday’s game for a couple of innings (with two AB). He didn’t do much yesterday, except a sac fly. KJ hasn’t had a day off in a couple of days, I don’t think, so I think he deserved one. I’m sure he’s fine, as DOB said.
Old Third Baseman
March 12th, 2009
9:46 pm
northbeach Scott @ March 12th, 2009 9:27 pm
DOB, confirming that Heyward’s HR was absolutely crushed today, just to the right of dead center. The young man can thump. He also made several solid plays in RF, today
I was lucky enough to catch the Rome Braves once this past summer in Columbus. Jason Heyward had an “off” day at the plate, but they were pitching very carefully to him (I couldn’t sneak over to get behind home plate – dammit). They were not going to let him beat them. Still, the young man has a very commanding and patient presence at the plate.
Freddie Freeman and Cody Johnson were the two that rocked that night. Freeman hit one out, and roped several other line drives with that sweet swing of his. He is so big, but with such a controlled, short swing, that the ball just jumps off his bat. However, the longest shot of the night came from Cody Johnson – he hit one off the clock on the Pepsi sign about 25 or 30 feet above the left – center field wall.
Braves have some serious bats coming up soon..
Couch Tater
March 12th, 2009
9:48 pm
winterville,
I’ll second your 9:35.
Random
March 12th, 2009
9:54 pm
Jeff321 (8:47 pm): “I know you’ve been trying in vain to engage me.”
“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”
Sorry, bud — I think you’re projecting. You should just give it up, boy.
Btw, did you like my porm? It you did inspire:
ahem
Selective memory’s so convenient –
Wouldn’t you agree?
From week to week the haters can’t
Remember who they hate.
We need an ump, a judge, a ref
(Someone who’ll work for free),
Who’ll stay up late to watch and wait,
And keep the haters straight.
Night night.
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
9:58 pm
Hmm…gonna give it a try before I turn in:
BMac’s B-R Page
Hope that works…
McFann :Ô:
March 12th, 2009
9:59 pm
Sweet! It did work! Thanks, Jeff321!
NIGHT, ALL!!
Random
March 12th, 2009
10:08 pm
(PS: Way to link, Leah!!!)
McFann :Ô: —
Like this for the link above (only with the pointy brackets instead of the parens, and “http” instead of “huh?”):
(strong)(a href=”huh?://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2009/03/12/diaz-looking-tough-hitting-strong/comment-page-5/#comment-24691″)McFann :Ô:(/a)(/strong)
And you can copy and paste the link’s URL address by right clicking on “Link” and selecting “Copy Shortcut” (or your browser’s equivalent).
Not sure if that’ll be decipherable — in short it’s (a href=”URL address”)your text that you want blue(/a).
DWW
March 12th, 2009
10:12 pm
“Though if he has the arm, he’d be fine at 3rd.” PWHjort
If he is a short stop then he has the arm. SS has a longer throw to first than 3b does, due to the normal depth they play.
Jeff321
March 12th, 2009
10:14 pm
Random — In other words, you just go around quoting people for fun. Well, I hope you got a good laugh.. because this will be our last engagement. (Unless of course you change your name.)
Random
March 12th, 2009
10:17 pm
KC (9:26 pm): “I don’t KNOW this to be true… but I would guess that teams that have overwhelmingly good springs probably go on – more often than not – to have good seasons.”
“There you go again,” Reagan shakes his head, looks down, looks up, rolls his eyes, levels his steely gaze.
“Wishin’ instead of thinkin’. Or readin’. Or lookin’ stuff up.”
winterville
March 12th, 2009
10:40 pm
Lakers
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
10:40 pm
I’m perfectly calm. And Jason Perry fits the definition of replacement level perfectly. Replacement Level = freely available talent. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_over_replacement_player
StingerSplash
March 12th, 2009
10:41 pm
While the Gino Odjick shot (with the unheralded Karl Dykhuis) is inspired, nothing beats the image of the toothless icon of Flin Flon, Manitoba, Bobby Clarke, grinning with his hands on the Stanley Cup.
Steve McP
March 12th, 2009
10:56 pm
Here is an ESPN article that reviews the link between good ST and regular season performance.
http://assets.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/bp/1518849.html
Interesting that there does seem to be some correlation, especially on the bad ST’s (with the exception of the Braves!)
Doug
March 12th, 2009
10:57 pm
Great Song DOB….have you heard the Lizzy Long version? http://www.lizzylong.com and check it out.
PTBNL
March 12th, 2009
11:01 pm
DWW, I was surprised no one else pointed it out that as a general rule the SS needs to have the strongest arm in the infield.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
11:08 pm
northbeach Scott: Thanks for the firsthand verification. Wish I’d been up there to see that.
Heyward hit one in batting practice, by the way, that was the longest homer (and I hate calling batting-practice longballs “homers” because they’re not, but what else to call them?) that I’ve seen hit there since Wily Mo Pena’s LINE DRIVE off the clock atop the left-field scoreboard in B.P. a year ago.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
11:09 pm
by the way, northbeach Scott: Was that you that said hello during batting practice? Someone was getting autographs and said hello to me, said they read the blog, just wondering if that was you.
PWHjort
March 12th, 2009
11:15 pm
Nice article Steve McP.
Santa3247
March 12th, 2009
11:19 pm
Reid Gorecki & Brandon Jones are more wonderful outfielder than Jordan Shafer(he failed at AA and don’t know AAA at all) Gregor Blanco(he was worst in Major outfielders) you got it?
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
11:22 pm
Doug, that’s a pretty good cover.
And a good opportunity, long as we’re talking Waylon and women, to link this clip of Hoss with his beautiful wife Jessi Colter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khEAuU5ShXs&feature=related
Bubdylan
March 12th, 2009
11:29 pm
DOB, about the prettiest I’ve ever seen Jessi Colter when she’s playing keys for Waylon Johnny Cash Show DVD. Definitely a woman that can cast a spell.
Bubdylan
March 12th, 2009
11:31 pm
Sometimes I skip words sentences, it makes look smart.
David O'Brien
March 12th, 2009
11:31 pm
Bubdylan, that ain’t no sh … uh, joke. That ain’t no joke. The woman’s amazing.
Runnin
March 12th, 2009
11:35 pm
That beard really changed Waylon’s image.
Moby Grape
March 12th, 2009
11:41 pm
Interesting that there does seem to be some correlation, especially on the bad ST’s (with the exception of the Braves!) — McP
Thanx Steve. Interesting reading but the sample size -a few years compared to over a hundred years- makes it pretty iffy. and a correlation of .15 in that small a sample is pretty meaningless but gives some indication that guys like Scoots and nolie and such are pretty much right-it makes just about no difference one way or the other and shows why teams do not put much emphasis on spring games
Run Heap Run
March 12th, 2009
11:49 pm
Wow I haven’t thought about Waylon and Jesse and Hee Haw since I was a little girl and my grandparents would watch that show when I spent the night with them. Well I guessed they watched it all the time but the only time I saw it was when I was at their house…my parents were more the hippie type who thought they were way too cool for Hee Haw and the like. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.
Runnin
March 12th, 2009
11:52 pm
Waylon and Jessi were both great on the concept album White Mansions.
Steve McP
March 13th, 2009
12:02 am
Not saying it makes a difference, the stats are there and there does seem to be some correlation in terms of the poorer performing teams, but not so much the best performers. I do though think that winning is a good habit and the Braves are entering the season in good shape on the back (so far) of one of the best ST’s in recent times. It has to be good for the early games to go in feeling good about the team and it is good that the players expect to win.
PWHjort
March 13th, 2009
12:12 am
I took from it that there’s so much statistical “noise” that we can’t really conclude anything. Doing something like comparing a team’s combined 10-year spring training record and their combined 10-year regular season record would probably correlate better. All I know is it certainly can’t hurt to play well in the spring.
count choppula
March 13th, 2009
12:16 am
the count says how about the fact that the golden boy has ZERO extra base hits?
the count says there has never been a player that has got so much rope.
count says, quit comparing him to ANDRUW.
that is a insult to ANDRUW.
yeah walks are great, if you can run.
sorry KC UNTIL he hits like a real RF all bets are off.
if brandon jones got the same amount of at bats last year, who would of been better?
JOE
March 13th, 2009
12:16 am
DOB i think it’d be a great idea for the braves to use the RED alternates as home alternates in general. I like them on Sundays and i think they’d look nice at some night games too!!
count choppula
March 13th, 2009
12:18 am
anyone watching the cuse and uconn?
great game.
count choppula
March 13th, 2009
12:23 am
DOB,
breaking bad might be the best thing going on.
no idea how that will end.
hey, i liked the shield. breaking bad might not be on that level, but it is a pretty good watch.
Dallas Ryder
March 13th, 2009
12:26 am
NEWS OUT OF HOUSTON ASTROS SPRING CAMP: Mike Hampton needs Tommy John Surgery
JOE
March 13th, 2009
12:29 am
yeah count…go cuse!!
Chop Chop
March 13th, 2009
12:32 am
Speaking of the Astros, check out this projected rotation from The Sporting News:
PROJECTED ROTATION
1. RHP Roy Oswalt. Highest ERA (3.54) of his career in ’08, but went 9-2 with 1.96 ERA in final two months.
2. LHP Mike Hampton. His 13 appearances (4.85 ERA) last season were his first since 2005.
3. LHP Wandy Rodriguez. His 3.54 ERA in ’08 was career-best by more than a run.
4. RHP Brian Moehler. Most contenders’ rotations don’t feature a 37-year-old with 4.73 career ERA.
5. RHP Brandon Backe. His 6.05 ERA, 36 HRs allowed were worst among N.L. starters.
(Gonna be a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng season in Houston.)
Chop Chop
March 13th, 2009
12:41 am
Love the Gino Odjick pic. I also like the name “Dykhuis” appearing in there.
Wait a minute…Dykhuis…
Wasn’t that a Commodores song?
count choppula
March 13th, 2009
12:43 am
anyone else watching this classic?
jrjags
March 13th, 2009
12:48 am
This UConn vs. Syracuse game is awesome. 5 OT’s???? Wow. Epic classic.
spotts
March 13th, 2009
12:49 am
yes…..5 OTs? crazy
spotts
March 13th, 2009
12:50 am
That would’ve really sucked if they fouled and it ended on a FT
count choppula
March 13th, 2009
12:53 am
the count says, francoeur gets special treatment.
count wonders if brandon jones got the same amount of plate appearances,
count thinks, francoeur owes the braves.
brandon jones is not a gwinett county all star.
the count has never seen a more polarizing player.
jrjags
March 13th, 2009
12:55 am
All of the scrubs are coming in. So many foul outs.
uga-brave
March 13th, 2009
12:56 am
what a game, anyone else watching.
jrjags
March 13th, 2009
12:57 am
Yes we are uga
Derek
March 13th, 2009
1:03 am
Who’s winning the match?
Steve McP
March 13th, 2009
1:03 am
5 OT’s is ridiculous. Why not have a penalty shot shoot out after the second OT – I bet the TV will support that for both excitement and there schedules
uga-brave
March 13th, 2009
1:03 am
dinner at capital grille tonight. hung out with a couple of unc fans.
we made it through the dark times, (super bowl till the tourneys)
game on now boys. tourney, baseball, and eventually college football.
nothing worse then the run between the superbowl and march 10th or so.
PWHjort
March 13th, 2009
1:04 am
No way they’re going to 6 OT…..
JOE
March 13th, 2009
1:04 am
6 overtimes…wow
jrjags
March 13th, 2009
1:05 am
6 OTs…
Sonny in Mechville too
March 13th, 2009
1:05 am
unreal…what a game!
uga-brave
March 13th, 2009
1:05 am
6 ot’s never happenened before
spotts
March 13th, 2009
1:06 am
Yes it has. They just said so.
uga-brave
March 13th, 2009
1:07 am
great stuff.
jrjags
March 13th, 2009
1:08 am
The longest game was a 7 OT game. Cinci vs. Bradley in 1981
jrjags
March 13th, 2009
1:10 am
Think this one will be on ESPN Classic tomorrow?
Steve McP
March 13th, 2009
1:10 am
Go to a shoot out from the free throw line – end this thing!
uga-brave
March 13th, 2009
1:10 am
predictions anybody?
i thought pitt my be tough?
over now the cuse have them.
Saltywoody
March 13th, 2009
1:12 am
Too bad this game has to end with so many scrubs in. It’s getting ugly.
Although, half the guys can barely walk anymore…
jrjags
March 13th, 2009
1:13 am
Yeah. Great game, but they’ve got nothing left. Thomas for Cuse has played 21 minutes all year…only 71 in his career. And he’s been playing for two OTs now.
uga-brave
March 13th, 2009
1:21 am
who are anyones top four seeds?
mine.
uconn, unc, rick pittino , and pitt.
how about gillispie ruining kentucky’s legacy, much like richrod did to michigans legay
Moby Grape
March 13th, 2009
1:24 am
Not saying it makes a difference, Mcp
I didn’t say that you did, just posting some thoughts in reference to previous comments from others concerning spring training vs regular season.. If nothing else it’s much more fun to be 10-2 than 2-10.
BraveRed
March 13th, 2009
1:24 am
Frenchy has one…one home run. Ah, ah, ahhhhh…………
Chop Chop
March 13th, 2009
1:25 am
Yikes…
Johnny Flynn played 67 out of 70 minutes tonight.
Insane.
Chop Chop
March 13th, 2009
1:31 am
Excuse me…
Jonny Flynn. The man deserves to have his name typed correctly after that performance.
PWHjort
March 13th, 2009
1:32 am
UNC, Pitt, Michigan State, Oklahoma.
uga-brave
March 13th, 2009
1:58 am
bravered,
i am the biggest critic of our rightfielder.
i really believe he will have a decent season.
that being said, i sure wish he would keep his mouth away from the media.
never seen a player that loves the quote like him.
the dude has zero extra’s.
note: has there ever been a player on the braves that has gotten this extra treatment?
laroche hit .280 30 ish and got traded.
but then again roche’y was not local.
gurantee the french will never hit 30 for the braves.
though he will probably make excuses.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 13th, 2009
2:05 am
The Braves don’t seem to have a back up plan if Francoeur falls on his face this year. That is worrisome. Our Bravos have the best record in Grape fruit league play, so enjoy this while it lasts.
spotts
March 13th, 2009
2:11 am
How is there no backup plan? We have about 50 outfielders. Diaz, Anderson, Ganderson, Jones, Schafer, Blanco, etc etc
PWHjort
March 13th, 2009
2:12 am
Plenty of them are available on the trade market too.
uga-brave
March 13th, 2009
2:17 am
coach,
i agree. they will trot him out there until the end. your RF SHOULD be a power hitter.
he aint ever gonna be a slap hitter that steals bases.
one or the other? right.
either be a gap to gap power hitter, or be somebody that can run.
he at this point can do neither.
he is the X factor on this team.
he really has to hit for power to make this lineup work.
Paulie
March 13th, 2009
2:47 am
Lord, I miss Waylon. Thanks, DOB, for remembering one of the true greats of CW music. BTW, I might have “Dreaming My Dreams” ahead of “Honky Tonk Heroes” on purely sentimental grounds. Great column today.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 13th, 2009
4:26 am
And another thing. I’m not buying the story coming from Bobby Cox that the center field job is wide open. The CF job is Josh Anderson’s to lose. Unless he has a really bad spring, Schafer and Blanco are headed back to the minors. As David O’Brien has already alluded to, Josh Anderson is out of options and the Braves don’t want to risk exposing the speedy outfielder to waivers.
Jeff Bennett’s 14.54 ERA looks rough. Buy hey, it’s only four innings of work. He should be ok.
Anybody want to wager on whether Chipper or Garret Anderson will be spending more time on the DL this year?
David O'Brien
March 13th, 2009
6:35 am
That Syracuse-UConn game might have been the most amazing sporting event I’ve seen in a while. I fell asleep during the first overtime, after they had overruled the would-be game-winning 3 (correctly, I might add) at end of regulation.
Woke up hours later, or at least I think it was hours later, and was confused by the fact the game was in the fourth overtime. I think I actually woke while the replay of the entire game was being shown. Anyway, I watched the rest of the fourth OT and then the fifth and sixth OTs, in a quasi-sleep state where my brain was still trying to figure out, is this live or is it the middle of the night?
Anyway, can you imagine Syracuse trying to play again tonight? Wow.
ncscoots
March 13th, 2009
6:42 am
All this love for the glove of Brandon Hicks flies in the face of what I personally have seen of him, but, certainly Bobby and the Braves have seen him more than I. Guess I’ll defer to the better evaluators, LOL. His bat’s got the thunder, no doubt, but not quite enough lightning to go along with it. Not that it much matters. I’m guessing there is a stud 3B prospect available from somewhere in a trade for prospect pitching, when the time comes.
gurantee the french will never hit 30 for the braves
uga, if you’re right, it’s going to be a long season short on contention, especially if it’s the Anderson Twins along side of him. He has to thump, and not just a little bit. The pitching may be good and deep, but it isn’t dominant, and I think the Braves will need an 800-run season to create enough differential in this division. So there aren’t any ifs, ands, or buts for Francoeur.
David O'Brien
March 13th, 2009
7:15 am
Paulie, there’s not a bad song on that album. Or on most of his albums, for that matter. Great artist….
Coach, I don’t disagree on the CF job. But gotta write what they’re saying. I think you can tell from how I wrote it that plenty of people believe, as you do, that it’s Josh’s job to lose. But you just never know. Things happens. Still, if I had to predict, at this stage I’d still say it’s going to be Anderson’s job. But we’ve still got 3-1/2 weeks until opening day….
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
March 13th, 2009
7:16 am
DOB, when did sort of open become wide open (Cox: Centerfield job wide open)?
PJ
March 13th, 2009
7:27 am
Check out the Braves blog at http://braves.gearupforsports.com/blog/
DisBrave15
March 13th, 2009
8:10 am
I know these games don’t count, but is anyone else surprised by the amount of runs they are putting up so far with thier lack of power? Plus it seems that our utility players are hitting quite well.
Coldwork
March 13th, 2009
8:36 am
That Syracuse Uconn game last night was the best college basketball game I’ve seen in over 10 years. The only game I remember that was in its class was the Duke vs NC game in 1995 when Duke wasn’t very good and NC had Rasheed Wallace and Stackhouse and wound up winning in 2OT. I just remember Jeff Caple of Duke making a half court shot to send the game into double overtime and the crowd exploding. What an atmosphere. The game last night was all about resilience. Syracuse just never gave up and outlasted Uconn. Great game.
Hillbilly
March 13th, 2009
8:45 am
Paulie and DOB,
That live version of ” Bob Wills is Still the King” off of Dreaming My Dreams…..holy smokes. Many, many budweisers met their demise with that song setting the scene in my wilder days.
I’ve been listening to his Music Man album all week. Especially love his version of “He Went to Paris.”
PJ's Mom
March 13th, 2009
8:50 am
Don’t plug your Braves blog on here, PJ. Kthxbai.
CB
March 13th, 2009
9:18 am
Josh Anderson will lead the Braves to 1st place in the NL EAST. Looking forward to this season!Go Braves!
Bob Horner
March 13th, 2009
9:22 am
Nice call on the Waylon DOB — arguably the greatest country album ever. Definitely the one that put Waylon on the map. Check out Victory by Billy Joe Shaver if you don’t own it (but you probably do)
Dennis
March 13th, 2009
9:35 am
Runs are the key indicator for offense, not home runs. A run scored via walk, sacrifice and single is one hit, one run. A solo home run is one run. I know …simplistic but the truth. I can recall the Dodgers of the 60’s scoring tons of runs without a bunch of home runs. I think a 1B by name of Wes Parker drove in about 100 with around 10 home runs. If the Braves can put runs of the scoreboard without a 30 home run guy, it is ok with me.
GermanBravesFan
March 13th, 2009
9:37 am
Question: how difficult is it for a center fielder to learn playing the corner outfield positions? The reason I am asking is because what if Francoeur does not produce this year and Schafer is doing well in the minors, would it make sense to put Schafer in right field (assuming that Anderson will get the center field job)? What about Gorkys Hernandez? Would it make sense to put him in left field in a year or two? Just wondering… Thanks for any feedback! And: Spring has finally arrived in Zurich, Switzerland. Got a whopping 50 degrees today! I guess that does not compare to Orlando, Florida… However, there is a good chance I will get to see the Braves’ game against the Yankees on March 28. I sure could use some sun!!
Andre "Pulpwood" Smith
March 13th, 2009
9:48 am
Man, I just got around to watching that Waylon and Jessi video. Nice looking woman back then, but that has to be the worst job of lip synching ever.
DWW
March 13th, 2009
9:59 am
GermanBravesFan
IMO (deffensively) a center fielder would have no problem playing the corner outfield spots the difficulty would be a corner outfielder moving to center. Generally a center fielder can play any of the outfield position; you would like to have your strongest arm in right, but a good center fielder will also have a good arm. Schafer has the tools to play any outfield spot, but you would normally want more power than he has for a right fielder.
Dadgum
March 13th, 2009
9:59 am
Coldwork….yeah it was a great game caught the highlights. NC State over Maryland ACC final in 1974, double OT 104-103, when only the winner went to The Dance. Voted by many as the greatest college game ever played. Oh yeah, no shot clock, no dunking, and no 3-pointer, no kidding. Straight up. David Thompson in his prime. Kinda makes the UConn/Cuse game last night look a little pale. Still though a good game.
Congrats to my Jackets!! They could have folded long long ago. Speaks volumes for Hewitt. When the NCAA and NBA quit allowing players to bolt after a year the college game will become much better. Why they don’t do what baseball and football do is beyond me. With Crittenton and Young on board Tech would have been going to teh NCAA tourney I have no doubt.
I feel sorry for Hewitt actually. He has to play the one-and-done game with the blue chip prospects as he doesn’t get the number of top players that UNC/Duke/Kansas get every year. I am not blaming the players for going. I’m blaming the system. College basketball could be so much better a sport. Making a player stay through his junior year would also allow the NBA to become a stronger sport as it would make the players more recognizable having seen them for 3 years in college. Just saying….
Rock on….Paul Hewitt is a great coach and recruiter
car3boogie
March 13th, 2009
10:04 am
Guy stopped by a bar last night in South Ga. with his guitar. The guy was good really good. Found out later he was a member of the band Memory Dean from Athens. Moon light out on a deck with my favorite lady a few friends, this guy singing and playing, What a night.
GermanBravesFan
March 13th, 2009
10:05 am
DWW – thanks for the opinion. I was just wondering since the Braves seem to have three really good centerfield prospects and it would be fun to see all of them play for the Braves at some point. Of course, I understand that one or more of them could be used in trades.
Also, if Francoeur cannot find his swing, then the Braves might as well give Schafer playing time in right field. Just my opinion.
Kim
March 13th, 2009
10:05 am
I wasn’t watching basketball last night, but it does sound like you all enjoyed quite a show. I watched ER, and it was awesome last night. It was a treat for us longtime fans of the show to bring back Drs. Ross and Benton and Nurse Hathaway.
toga party
March 13th, 2009
10:11 am
“But you just never know. Things happens.” – DOB
I’d says that just about sums it ups.
Especially when talking about the Braves.
Worrying about position battles, before we even know which one of them will get injured this spring, just seems pointless.
ncscoots
March 13th, 2009
10:13 am
Runs are the key indicator for offense, not home runs
Oh, I don’t disagree with you there, at all. It’s just that big flies are more efficient at producing runs. Teams score any runs at all in so few innings that it’s imperative that they maximize scoring in the innings in which they do score, and stringing together multiple hits over three outs is more difficult than hitting a single pitch out. That’s all I was pointing to.
I do have to disagree with you about the 60s Dodgers, though, or at least on the definition of “tons of runs”, LOL. Those guys relied on pitching to create differential. They scored more than 800 runs once in the decade (Tommy Davis’s big year), under 700 every other year. But they had Koufax, Drysdale, Osteen, Sutton, etc., and a high mound. Nobody’s BA got well against those guys!
Wascally Wabbit
March 13th, 2009
10:13 am
Who says they need a stud third baseman in the system to replace Chipper? We’ve been lucky the last two decades or so, but will likely have to suffer through years of serviceable third baseman after Chipper retires. Just as Chipper, Andruw and Javy allowed the Braves to take mediocre shortcuts at critical corner slots like first and left, it could be that Heyward, Schafer, McCann, KJ and Escobar allow the Braves to take serviceable shortcuts at positions like third. The next third baseman likely ain’t in the system right now. Third base will likely become the new first base/left field “just throw any dime a dozen dweeb out there” position for the decade after Chipper retires. Eddie Mathews and Chipper Jones broke in almost fifty years apart. We’ll likely never have another third baseman like either one of them until 2050 or so. So don’t fret over whether they’ll find the next Chipper or Eddie because that ain’t happening for another half century. And don’t fret over whether they’ll find the next Joe Crede ’cause everywhere you turn there are a million Joe Credes just like Joe Crede.
Dadgum
March 13th, 2009
10:14 am
Actually hit DOB link to Colter/Waylon because I couldn’t remember what she looked like. Good song but that 60/70’s hairstyle was doing Jesse no favors in addition to the song being out of synch. She’s cute but she is no Rosanne Cash with either looks or voice. Just my opinion.
Rock on…….only two things in life that make it worth livin…oh, you know the rest.
DAP
March 13th, 2009
10:17 am
scoots another great things about homeruns is that it can turn a game around real quick. if youve got tons of homerun power, you are almost always in a game. it makes coming from behind much easier and more probable.
if youve got no one that hits homers and a good pitcher on the mound, you know he (or the defense) will have to make several mistakes for you to score. if you have some boppers, one mistake is all it takes.
DWW
March 13th, 2009
10:20 am
I’m very excited about our outfield and pitching situations, because (and this doesnt happen very often) when someone does go down with an injury you get to see someone you wanted to see play anyways. This will be the antithesis of last year; instead of saying “here we go again” we might be saying “ok now lets see what one of these young guys can do”. I think this will mean much less stress and more enjoyment for braves fans this year.
ease19
March 13th, 2009
10:24 am
Wascally Wabbit
Couldn’t disagree with you more. Bob Horner was ROY at third and was lights out the best hitter on the Braves in the 80’s (and probably the league), besides Murphy, and who knows what he could have done if not for his injuries (which forced him to retire at 31)…and a little known third baseman named Terry Pendelton was a serviceable 3B, oh heck, who won the MVP in 91′. Why would we want to settle on a “dweeb” as you call them?
Bobby's Belly
March 13th, 2009
10:25 am
Josh Anderson just stole first.
ease19
March 13th, 2009
10:28 am
DAP – good point, however a couple of doubles in a row can accomplish the same thing, and while the Braves don’t have the home run potential, they can certainly generate a bunch of extra base hits.
ease19
March 13th, 2009
10:33 am
DWW – kind of a win-win for us Braves fans!
cphizzle
March 13th, 2009
10:33 am
Martin Prado just got thrown out at first….from right field
Bobby's Belly
March 13th, 2009
10:35 am
Here are Josh Anderson’s minor league stats the last 6 seasons. Look close. What # alarms you the most? See Answer Below.
2003
TRI NYPL 20 Hou A- of 74 297 44 85 11 4 3 30 26 9 16 53 10 2 2 4 2 .286 .339 .380 719
2004 LEX SAL 21 Hou A of 73 299 69 97 12 3 4 31 47 9 33 47 7 1 2 2 0 .324 .402 .425 827
SAL Caro 21 Hou A+ of 66 280 45 75 13 6 2 21 31 4 13 53 6 1 7 0 3 .268 .314 .379 693
2005 COR Tex 22 Hou AA of 127 524 67 148 17 9 1 26 50 19 29 80 8 2 10 2 5 .282 .329 .355 684
2006 COR Tex 23 Hou AA – of 130 560 83 173 25 4 3 50 43 13 27 73 10 0 8 4 9 .309 .349 .384 733
2007 ROU PCL 24 Hou AAA of 132 513 64 140 17 6 2 43 40 8 32 75 8 2 10 1 11 .273 .325 .341 666
2008 RIC IL 25 Atl AAA – of 121 494 77 155 25 4 4 40 42 7 30 57 6 3 8 3 9 .314 .358 .405 763
6!!!!!!!!! 6 Minor League Seasons
Random
March 13th, 2009
10:37 am
My response to PJ’s Smoltz article:
“Balderdash!!!
“This is an internally inconsistent revision of history, replete with a false chronology implying invalid causations.
“You should be ashamed.”
Jersey Gil
March 13th, 2009
10:41 am
I’m Home from The Classic(San Juan) and i like to make a couple coment about the WBC, i know a few of you don’t like the set up of the classic, wrong Time, player can be hurt…But this was my first experiance in any international event, and was awasome…i make a few friends from other country(Panama,Dominican Republic) and we promise to keep in contact thru email and phone.
I recomend to any Sport Fan ,if you have the Opportunity to attend any of this event to do it. I think the WBC is great for Baseball.
Wascally Wabbit
March 13th, 2009
10:41 am
Pendleton got hot and had a career year or two but, generally, was about as average as an average baseball player could be. You can find some serviceable stopgap like Terry on the street any old time. You can’t count on him playing out of his mind for a year or two like Terry did, but serviceable stopgaps like Terry are a dime a dozen in this game. And because Horner only played 100 games a season on average in his career, he was also just average in the value he gave to a team. + Offense for 100 games with replacement level offense for the other 60 games a season made Horner nothing more than average at best.
David O'Brien
March 13th, 2009
10:45 am
We’ve arrived safely to Jupiter .. from the galaxy (OK, couldn’t resist an Earth, Wind & Fire reference).
Little over 2 hours, no speeding tix, wide open on the Florida Turnpike.
Fredi Gonzalez’s boys are taking BP, and Tony Perez is by the batting cage. Gotta go down and say hello to one of the friendliest Hall-of-Famers to ever wear a uni.
I see the Bravos are starting to come down the left-field line from the visitor’s clubhouse. So I’m gonna get down there and see what’s up.
cphizzle
March 13th, 2009
10:46 am
dont know to many servicable MVPs like Terry, Wascally Wabbitt
Wayne in Utah
March 13th, 2009
10:48 am
Doubles vs Homeruns
I have often been torn when listening or watching a rally as to whether a homerun or a double are the best things for a team. Of course a homer adds one (at least) more run to the tally, but sometimes a double keeps the rally going so the next batter can get his shot at it. If there are runners on 2 bases and the batter crashes a homerun, then the next batter comes up with no body on base, and possible the momentum has stopped.
Does anybody else think that way when watching/listening?
DWW
March 13th, 2009
10:51 am
Wayne
I’ll take the homerun every time.
David O'Brien
March 13th, 2009
10:51 am
Dadgum, she’s not quite June Carter either, in June’s prime — smokin’ hot and one of the great voices.
MGL
March 13th, 2009
10:52 am
Wayne – Yes, but chicks dig the long ball.
Bobby's Belly
March 13th, 2009
10:54 am
Wayne – Luckily for you that’s not a big problem for this team.
DAP
March 13th, 2009
11:00 am
wayne
yes, i feel that way when watching a rally. its fun for it to keep going, but the big blast is usually the best climax to a rally. it also accomplishes the goal of a rally, which is to put up a crooked number.
DWW
March 13th, 2009
11:00 am
2011 line-up just for kicks
1.Schafer CF
2.Escobar SS
3.Heyward LF
4.Freeman 1b
5.Mac C
6.French RF
7.KJ 2b
8.Hicks 3b
9.Hanson p
Bobby's Belly
March 13th, 2009
11:01 am
Gotta go open up my swimming pool. I’ll be back for start of the game.
DAP
March 13th, 2009
11:01 am
p.s. wayne, if no one hits a homer and clears the bases, then you eventually have to suffer through one of your players “killing the rally”. so a homer eventually is always preferred.
DAP
March 13th, 2009
11:07 am
DWW i need to reprimand you for not putting chipper in your 2011 fantasy lineup. it would also be nice if we could find a way to split up those three big lefties.
Lew
March 13th, 2009
11:07 am
All we’ve heard for some years now is constant b!tch!ng, p!$$!ng, moaning and groaning that Bobby Cox counts on the three run Home Run. Now all we hear is that there is no one out there to hit a three run Home Run for the Braves.
Seems to me that no matter what happens, there will be people here p!$$!ng, moaning, groaning and b!tch!ng no matter how the team is constituted.
ease19
March 13th, 2009
11:08 am
Wayne – I would save that question for after the WS (ok a little homer optimism)…I believe that we will find it answered with this Braves line-up…
Wascally Wabbit
March 13th, 2009
11:08 am
You mean the 1991 MVP that Barry Bonds truly deserved? Maybe if Terry Pendleton didn’t so suspiciously turn into a .300/20/100 guy overnight when he was already over 30 years old right at the dawn of the steroid era (when he had previously only hit higher than .264 one time in his career while never hitting more than 13 homers in any of his first 7 seasons), Barry Bonds wouldn’t have finally given into the temptation and Frankensteined himself later in the decade. Terry was the best story in 1991. Barry Bonds was the best player in 1991. And spare us all the most valuable argument. We haven’t seen the Pirates since Barry left. The Braves never noticed Terry left. Who sounds more valuable?
ncscoots
March 13th, 2009
11:13 am
Lew, I’m not sure it’s the same folks doing the CBPMG in your first sentence and your second sentence, LOL.
DWW
March 13th, 2009
11:14 am
DAP
If you add a healthy Chipper to that line up its just too good. So good I thought it might be against the rules or something.
cphizzle
March 13th, 2009
11:14 am
well to even be in the discussion for MVP would be a given that you have a good and not servicable year. you need to work on your researching skills also, took way to long to come up with those stats on TP.
cvbraves
March 13th, 2009
11:14 am
Bobby’s Belly: Naw…I think the biggest surprise re: Josh was that the Houston Astros left him in the minors for 5 years…like they couldn’t find a spot for him? They used all his options…but I don’t think he needs one this year. I agree with DOB, he’ll be on the Braves opening day roster, and I believe he’ll stick.
18 Wheels of Love
March 13th, 2009
11:15 am
Wabbitt, that might be the stupidest argument against TP that I have ever heard. I am a little dumber having read that.
ease19
March 13th, 2009
11:15 am
Wabbit – I will give you Jim Presley in 89′ but when you consider how bad the Braves were in the 70’s and 80’s (for the most part) Jeff Blauser and Ken Oberkfell were more than serviceable 3B and Darrall Evans 41 home runs was pretty impressive as well. No superstars, obviously, but still more than “dweebs”. Horner would have been a superstar if his knees and shoulder held up and for you to say that about Pendelton kind of demeans the title MVP, especially for every guy that has only won the MVP only once…
18 Wheels of Love
March 13th, 2009
11:24 am
We didn’t miss TP when he left because of guy named Chipper, a future HOF’r. Your argument is completely lame.
Renegator
March 13th, 2009
11:31 am
Lew,
when the manager is waiting on the 3 run homerun and you don’t have anyone on the roster that can hit it – guess what? You lose 90 games a year.
PTBNL
March 13th, 2009
11:33 am
I didn’t go back to read the origin of this discussion, but it seems to have something to do with the quality of 3B in the Braves’ past. If I am off base, please forgive the post.
Eddie Matthews was definitely no slouch at 3rd. And Clete Boyer won a GG while with the Braves in 1969.
Steve from OH
March 13th, 2009
11:33 am
How exactly does one “wait” for a three-run homer?
Lew's alter ego
March 13th, 2009
11:34 am
What’s the point in yammering about complainers? If you really don’t like this place, why not pack all your stuff and leave.
DAP
March 13th, 2009
11:35 am
DWWIf you add a healthy Chipper to that line up its just too good. So good I thought it might be against the rules or something.
haha, awesome.
Wascally Wabbit i also think its funny that your blaming terry for bonds’ steroid use!
ease19
March 13th, 2009
11:36 am
18 Wheels – According to PWHjort, Chipper didn’t become more than a “serviceable” 3B until the 2007 season. Can’t believe I just wrote that…the dumb bug must be catching…
ease19
March 13th, 2009
11:37 am
PTBNL – Don’t worry, not much of a “discussion”.
PTBNL
March 13th, 2009
11:40 am
Okay Sorry for the intrusion. I should have kept my fingers out if it!
cphizzle
March 13th, 2009
11:41 am
i just think its funny that wabbit put steroids and terry “fat albert” pendelton in the same sentance as steroids
18 Wheels of Love
March 13th, 2009
11:43 am
14 in a row will cause people to become delusional because when they crunch their stats to come up with the ‘how did they do it?’ answer, it explodes their tin foil propeller hats.
cphizzle
March 13th, 2009
11:43 am
anyways who wants some fish for lunch???
18 Wheels of Love
March 13th, 2009
11:46 am
Seriously, about to walk out the door to hunt down some fish tacos for lunch. Good omen for the game today….
Bobby's Belly
March 13th, 2009
11:46 am
Allright – Can’t get the cover off the pool. I’ll stimulate the economy and call a pro. Back to blogging. CV – I like Josh Anderson. But not w/ the Braves. Atleast not as a regular. Truth is he should be the 4th outfielder, coming off the bench late. The GA signing was ridiculous at first glance and turning ludicrous before opening day. Pulled muscles on 35+ year old men are trouble. This team is built for ‘10, ‘11, and ‘12. Said repeatedly this team has .500 written all over them. That’s not meant as a knock on the Braves. They play in a tough, tough NL East. Hanson and Schafer should be facing the Howards’ and Hamels’ this year to gain experience for the next 3-4. Mediocrity w/ kids does not bother me. Mediocrity w/ veterans is a waste of time (development). Tom Glavine Bobblehead day would have been much cheaper for the Braves. What if (I know it’s a big IF), Glavine is healthy and stays healthy? How do you get Hanson to Turner Field this year? Are you going to release Glavine? I don’t think so.
Bobby's Belly
March 13th, 2009
11:49 am
Josh Anderson just stole first , again.
nfieldr
March 13th, 2009
11:49 am
DOB, any news on James Parr this spring. I haven’t heard anything about him. Is he in line to make the ML roster?
Wayne in Utah
March 13th, 2009
11:55 am
If the next batter coming up is the pitcher, then I definitely want my #8 man to hit a dinger…..not that it would happen much. I was just thinking similarly to what Lew was alluding to. We have a team that might not have the luxury of “waiting” for the three run homer.
Doubles are very nice…..
J.D.
March 13th, 2009
11:56 am
I gotta admit, I feel pretty good about being a lifetime ‘Cuse fan today. I’m heading over to MSG to see them tonight, don’t know how much they have left, but we shall see. The most amazing game I think I have ever seen, 6 OT’s, Onuaku, Ongenaet, Devo, Jackson all fouling out, big shot after big shot, just unbelievable. GO CUSE!
Random
March 13th, 2009
12:01 pm
Wayne in Utah (10:48 am): “Doubles vs Homeruns
“I have often been torn when listening or watching a rally as to whether a homerun or a double are the best things for a team. Of course a homer adds one (at least) more run to the tally, but sometimes a double keeps the rally going so the next batter can get his shot at it. If there are runners on 2 bases and the batter crashes a homerun, then the next batter comes up with no body on base, and possible the momentum has stopped.
“Does anybody else think that way when watching/listening?”
For me, it depends on how many runs you need — if the homer puts you enough ahead, then I’m happy to see it.
But if you think you’re gonna need even more runs than that one homer will give you, I think I’d rather see the double.
Three reasons I can think of (none to do with “momentum”, though):
a double seems less likely to chase a faltering pitcher off the field — you wouldn’t want him to be relieved by a likely better pitcher (OTOH, if you know your opponent’s bullpen stinks or is depleted, the opposite reasoning would apply);
most pitchers’ pitch don’t perform as well from the stretch as from a full wind-up — baserunners usually prevent pitchers from employing a full wind-up;
baserunners can disrupt many pitchers’ concentration or cause them to lose total focus on the batter.
I liken it to pulling toilet tissue off a confounded public restroom dispenser — if you know you’re going to need more after the current pull, you pull smoothly and gently so’s not to break it off in the innards of the machine, which would make you have to reach and scratch to get the next pull started. That would be a double.
But if you think the pull you’re currently going for will get the job done, you just yank it when you’ve got enough. That’d be the home run.
ease19
March 13th, 2009
12:06 pm
Random
I liken it to pulling toilet tissue off a confounded public restroom dispenser
That’s all too disturbing and yet true at the same time. Very funny!
Tomahawk210
March 13th, 2009
12:13 pm
I have a gut feeling that if Schafer outplays Anderson in the next 2 weeks Bobby will give Schafer the starting CF job. Everyone knows that Schafer is the CF for the future and if he continues to hit and steal base after base like he’s doing then Bobby knows what’s best for the team, and I don’t think Bobby cares about the arbitration and all the other stuff. I wouldn’t be surprised if G. Anderson starts the season on the DL and we have Anderson, Schafer, and Francoeur out there. I think Bobby is a big fan of Schafers, as am I after I keep reading how hard the kid works at everything and how he only knows how to play all out.
Wayne in Utah
March 13th, 2009
12:16 pm
I hate those TP dispensers!
Good analogy Random!
CB
March 13th, 2009
12:17 pm
I hear so many arguments on this blog about the lack of HRS,obp,hitting in the clutch.We all should understand this about the game of baseball- put a good manager,hitters and pitching together,you give yourself a chance to win.The Braves have done this-sit back and enjoy what is about to transpire.MCFANN you are my favorite blogger because you have such an innocent joy for your man and team.
DAP
March 13th, 2009
12:19 pm
random i love your analogy, dude.
ease19
March 13th, 2009
12:24 pm
Valid point, and I think most (including myself) would like to see that happen. However, who would play CF? I know that Schafer is fast but as Bobby says about Anderson, “He’s really fast.” If the worry is about Schafer going to AAA to get at bats, why not platoon him with Diaz in LF. With both of those guys in, Wow, totally changes the dynamic of the line-up! In retrospect, I think the G.Anderson signing was a bit of a panic move (although I still like it). Problem is, what to do about B.Jones?
Wayne in Utah
March 13th, 2009
12:30 pm
ease19
Too many OF’ers is a good problem to have…..
David O'Brien
March 13th, 2009
12:32 pm
Schafer leading off and playing CF today, followed by Escobar, KJ, Kochman cleaning up, Francoeur, Infante at 3B, Diaz, Sammons and Hanson.
I’ll get lineup in new blog I’ve gotta hurry to write before game.
ease19
March 13th, 2009
12:35 pm
Wayne, as is too many pitchers…Its gonna be a good year
Fred
March 13th, 2009
12:36 pm
I just saw that there is no radio through mlb.com today. Oh well, I will just keep up through this blog (and maybe I will actually get some work done). Last spring training was great, with Pete calling all the games over the internet.
Couch Tater
March 13th, 2009
12:38 pm
SteveOH,
Your comments yesterday about drafting high school players vs. college.
Question #8 somewhat addresses that, but I figured you may want to read the article anyway. (if, you haven’t)
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/bill-james-answers-all-your-baseball-questions/
nitram odarp
March 13th, 2009
12:47 pm
unless j anderson just tanks these next few weeks it will be his job. the braves are going to send schaffer to triple a to start the year then maybe bring him up after a while just to save the arbitration years. also i like the idea of diaz as the fourth outfielder. infante can play a decent center field and i think diaz’s right handed bat off the bench is very logical in a heavy left handed line up
22oz
March 13th, 2009
12:48 pm
Fred, this year has been a big disapointment as far as radio broadcasts. Last year, Pete Van Wieren broadcast spring training game, and you could listen to them on the MLB gameday audio package, which led to me to purchase it again this year. Needless to say, i’ve been very disapointed.
22oz
March 13th, 2009
12:49 pm
*Geez, i meant to say Pete Van Wieren broadcast EVERY spring game…
cvbraves
March 13th, 2009
12:50 pm
Fish looked tough last night. Routed Mets, 16-8. Should be good test for Hanson. Think Johnson pitching for Fish, should be good test for Braves’ offense, too.
cvbraves
March 13th, 2009
12:51 pm
22oz: Agree with the big disappointment in ST Braves coverage.
Salty
March 13th, 2009
12:53 pm
DAP…playing catch-up and following the logic of homers vs. doubles affect on rallies. Metaphorically, if the homer is the best climax…then the double is extending the foreplay?
I’m gonna get in big trouble…aren’t I???
cphizzle
March 13th, 2009
12:53 pm
i bet pete still turns down the tv and does the play by play for himself
Ritchie from Scotland
March 13th, 2009
1:01 pm
disappointed there isn’t even any audio coverage of the game today on mlb.com, especially with Hanson pitching.
FilliesFeelingFrightfullyPhilarmonic
March 13th, 2009
1:01 pm
Is this game televised anywhere so we can see the next SMOLTZ action ?
DAP
March 13th, 2009
1:01 pm
salty i almost didnt use that word because of that…bad salty, bad!
Bobby's Belly
March 13th, 2009
1:13 pm
new blog?
KC
March 13th, 2009
1:13 pm
No TV, no radio (from either team). DOB, you’re our only connection to today’s game!
cvbraves
March 13th, 2009
1:14 pm
Inning 1
Top Half
B:0 S:3 O:1 – Jordan Schafer strikes out swinging.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:2 – Yunel Escobar grounds out, shortstop Hanley Ramirez to first baseman Gaby Sanchez.
——————————————————————————–
B:0 S:0 O:3 – Kelly Johnson flies out to left fielder John Raynor.
Ritchie from Scotland
March 13th, 2009
1:16 pm
I knew our ST performance has been pretty good, didn’t realise it was the best in both leagues….I know it’s only St but still…
Couch Tater
March 13th, 2009
1:16 pm
Random, you may want to stay away from fish tacos.
cphizzle
March 13th, 2009
1:19 pm
well somebody please wake DOB
David O'Brien
March 13th, 2009
1:20 pm
NEW BLOG SHOULD BE UP
Hanson’s allowed a single up the middle, hit a batter, and given up a run with two out in the first.
Mekons
March 13th, 2009
1:22 pm
I’m not seeing a new blog….
Bubdylan
March 13th, 2009
1:28 pm
Random, you have a poet’s soul, my man. (not sacrcasm)
Bubdylan
March 13th, 2009
1:29 pm
….whatever “sacrasm” is.