Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,297 comments Add your comment
Shane
March 16th, 2009
1:58 pm
If you are a Mets fan on this blog then you indeed truly have no life whatsoever
DAP
March 16th, 2009
1:59 pm
KC/strong> great point. going 6 innings and allowing 3 runs (the threshold for a QS) is a 4.50 ERA…so shouldnt going 8 innings and allowing 4 runs count as well? or going 5 innings and allowing 2 runs?
granted, pitching enough innings not to burden the bullpen is part of getting a quality start, but still….
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
2:00 pm
quality start percentage, KC, much more important. Raw counting stats seldom provide enough information to make determinations about “good” or “bad”.
QS is supposed to be an indicator of how often a pitcher gives his team a good chance to win, correct? Javy does that about half the time. The other pitchers on your list do it more often; in some cases, significantly. I’m pretty sure that his ERA in those quality starts isn’t as good as the others, either, but I’m not going to take the time to look it up.
As for perspective, both Zambrano and Sheets made fewer starts than Javy and produced as many or more QS.
Nothing wrong with being happy Vazquez is on the squad, and nothing wrong with acknowledging his shortcomings, either. What he is, is not bad. But, expecting him to wake up on April 5th and be a top-of-the-rotation starter is not a good plan A.
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
2:00 pm
What does the roster get cut down to…25? 44 to 25 is a long way to go….?
Shane
March 16th, 2009
2:00 pm
Also there is no such thing as “clutch”
PJ
March 16th, 2009
2:06 pm
New blog post on Tommy Hanson http://braves.gearupforsports.com/blog
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
2:07 pm
MFin04 , 25 by opening day. Everyone else must be optioned to the minors, released, traded, or euthanized.
Random
March 16th, 2009
2:07 pm
THE BEAR (1:34 pm): “BravesFanInRockies, I’d like to read all of your posts (as well as the others who use long names). If you would break your name with just one space it would divide and show your full name down the left side and not inside the message itself.”
I have the same problem myself (’cause I view the page on “Largest” text size).
The work-around I’ve found is to highlight the text of the first line, from the end back to the beginning. This highlights the text without highlighting the handle.
Give ‘er a try and let me know if it works for you.
Ludwig van Beethoven
March 16th, 2009
2:08 pm
Perhaps this French man Francouer on your team can play my good friends symphonies? His name is François-Adrien Boieldieu. You will agree that symphonies will calm your fans after long work days, and your team after long trips on road. Perhaps it calms the other team into a vulnerable state for easy defeat? Just some suggestions. Hip hop not kind to my music in the new era. We need to resurrect, so to speak, by hitting the sporting events and kill hip hop in its tracks. Thank you for your time. -Ludwig
Misschien is deze Franse man Francouer op uw team kan spelen mijn goede vrienden symfonieën? Zijn naam is François-Adrien BOIELDIEU. U zult het ermee eens dat symfonieën zal rustig uw fans na lange werkdagen, en je team na lange reizen over de weg. Misschien kalmeert het andere team in een kwetsbare toestand gemakkelijk nederlaag? Slechts enkele suggesties. Hip hop niet mijn soort muziek in het nieuwe tijdperk. We moeten herrijzen, om zo te spreken, te raken door de sportevenementen en vermoorden hiphop in zijn tracks. Dank u voor uw tijd. -Ludwig
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
2:08 pm
So who is on the euthanized list?
flange1
March 16th, 2009
2:09 pm
Afternoon all,
Bub, sorry about your dog. One of the worst things that I have ever done was take my Mom’s dog to be put down.
Anders, I totally agree with you on the WBC. I am glad Chipper is not hurt badly and hopefully his season will not be impacted.
But at some point some star player will go down and we will hear how awful and unfair the WBC is.
It needs to be moved to the end of the season….
And playing BMac in left? CRAZY!
BAS, always enjoy your late night posts! Funny how some folks don’t understand humor….
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
2:12 pm
Read about the “Super Twos” but is there a certain for that or is it some magical formula?
Thrillhouse44
March 16th, 2009
2:13 pm
PJ’s pimpin’ his blog. I think DOB could throw some chin music even in Spring Training.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
2:13 pm
Everyone else must be optioned to the minors, released, traded, or euthanized.
Except Anders. No one likes him enough to put him out of his misery.
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
2:14 pm
Certain date for the Super 2’s?
18 Wheels of Love
March 16th, 2009
2:15 pm
Why can’t the WBC allow players to stay in their teams camp and then just show up when it is game time…like Brian Roberts did last night? Pitchers could get regular work and players can play in the regular ST games between WBC games.
Greg in TN
March 16th, 2009
2:15 pm
The Offensive Assassin exits stage left from the proceedings down in Miami and it appears as if the SS USA is sputtering again on Bud Selig’s international stage after a brief respite in the form of last night’s win against the Dutch. It was a win which saw everybody’s favorite catcher manning the spot in front of the LF wall at Dolphin Stadium in the ninth inning after a pinch-hit RBI double a half inning before and definitely raised some eyebrows on Planet Braves.
One thing is certain, with attendance just north of 11,000 for the game, it seems Dolphin Stadium is in mid season form.
BubDylan: Sorry to hear about having to put a pet down. I’ve done that as well, and I also did what DOB did with one of his and held mine as he drifted off. It’s never easy to lose a friend, especially one of the four-legged variety.
Random
March 16th, 2009
2:15 pm
ncscoots (2:00 pm): “quality start percentage, KC, much more important. Raw counting stats seldom provide enough information to make determinations about “good” or “bad”.”
Well, in this particular case, with a 5-man rotation, there’s an upper limit to total starts to begin with — maybe 32-33 (if all goes well).
So if the number of quality starts in a season exceeds 20, you got a pretty good idea that you’re talking about a “good” pitcher. And an even better one when you learn he had only 30 starts total.
Agree that it’s a different story with spot starters. Or less than full season starters. (Or if you wanna do some in-depth analysis.) Then you gotta rely on %ages.
euthanizer
March 16th, 2009
2:16 pm
both Andersons on maa list
dude
March 16th, 2009
2:18 pm
Anybody listen to 680the Fan in ATL? Whats up with their lineup?
DAP
March 16th, 2009
2:20 pm
scoots are you looking at vazquez’s career QS? and if so
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
2:20 pm
I’d like to see the WBC, or at least “Team USA” incorporate either some amateurs or, more likely, some minor leaguers, into the roster. The same problems would exist – injury risks, and lack of repetition in ST, but I think it would be interesting to see some younger guys in the mix. Maybe a 25 man-roster, but with a handful of prospects as well, to prevent situations where a catcher is playing LF, or a hitter is used when he’s got a minor injury.
Jim
March 16th, 2009
2:20 pm
Sports Illustrated did an article a number of years ago about the number of innings pitched before and after age 26 as being a predictor of who would and wouldn’t develop arm problems. Warren Spahn and Nolan Ryan were the prime examples of pitchers whose innings before age 26 were limited by either military service or National Guard duty + early ineffectiveness, but who threw well over 200 innings/year after age 26 without experiencing arm injury problems. I believe Mark Fydritch was the prime counter-example. Ineffectiveness also limited the number of innings Koufax threw for the first 4 years of his career. He was forced into retirement by arthritis, which may or may not have been the result of too many pitches. Santana was not an instant ace and did not throw a lot of innings early in his career, but Hamels was almost on-arrival the ace of the Philly staff and has had prior history of arm injury problems.
TnBrian
March 16th, 2009
2:20 pm
I love Tavarez, especially after he punked Victorino. Man, that was awesome! Little Shane was scared and he shoulda been. Kinda wish we had kept a spot open for him because you just never know when you’ll need a crazy one in the bunch. I say that now, and watch Julian tag one of our guys in the ribs this year, cause dude’s CRAZY!
Bear, good point about Guillen, but Vazquez has a history of “choking” or whatever you want to call it even before he went to Chi. It’s not like the guy’s reading the blog and being affected by what fans think. Remember, he has Cox by his side all year, so that confidence should sore for him this year. I’d give him 16-17 wins with an ERA of 3.70-3.80… my bad, I said I wouldn’t make anymore silly predictions but couldn’t help it.
Random
March 16th, 2009
2:22 pm
Bay Area Steve (1:03 pm): “I think your confidence is misplaced. Bobby’s made my point again, and you know exactly what my point was. Kudos for ignoring it, and finding the word struggle in the quote.”
No, my confidence has been proven to be well-founded indeed by your very own comment above. “Kudos” for the sarcasm and insult. And no, you had no valid point.
A valid question might have been how can anyone who actually saw him pitch write that headline. (I think this is more or less the point that Bobby’s Cox has been making this morning.)
But you asked how can anyone write a headline like Lowe struggles in second outing against Astros for an article that contains Lowe’s quote that “Today it was more of a struggle”, and made the editor out to be And Idiot.
Well, it was a stupid question, and Your And Idiot, regardless of how you or Bobby’s Cox think Lowe actually pitched.
How he actually pitched was never the question, you drunken fool.
Bay Area Steve (3:55 am): “And, wtf with headline writers?
“How the [heck] can some dude read DOB’s Lowe column, and come up with ‘Lowe struggles in second outing against Astros?’ “
Apparently ’cause he DID read it, whereas you (apparently) DIDN’T.
SmyrnaJim
March 16th, 2009
2:22 pm
dude – 680 is just flipped around for a few days because the Rude Awakening is broadcasting from Ireland tomorrow, so Chernoff and Oliver are doing the morning show today and Wednesday.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
2:22 pm
dude – What do you mean?
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
2:23 pm
“Anybody listen to 680the Fan in ATL? Whats up with their lineup?” – dude
I listen to them in the mornings getting ready for the day… and apparently they sent the “rude crew” guys to Ireland for St. Patty’s day, and moved the afternoon guys to a.m. to cover for a couple of days… and picked up the national broadcast in the afternoons. (that’s a long explanation, but think that’s whatsup with that).
The GM
March 16th, 2009
2:24 pm
If Chipper is perpetually injured this season who plays third? Prado, Infante, move Escobar over or do the Braves use some of their excess pitching and trade for Chipper’s replacment? Chipper’s not getting younger and his days as a Brave are probably over after this season unless Wren a bundle of cash he wants to throw at him for old times sake.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
2:24 pm
dude, what he said…
Epinephrine
March 16th, 2009
2:29 pm
Signs it may be time for the season to roll around: engaging in un-winnable arguments about Vazquez’s “consistency” vs. Derek Lowe, Vazquez’s quality starts and what that means in the big picture, and whether quotes from various figures suggest that Derek Lowe was “solid” in his last outing or if he struggled. At that point, we probably all ought to pipe down and just see what these guys do in April.
Signs we still need some spring training: McCann has yet to gain experience with the majority of our rotation, there is a legit battle between Schafer and Anderson, and oh yeah, it’s nice to actually be able to have a conversation on the blog. For those that don’t recall, the first two weeks on this blog during the regular season are absolutely miserable. It gets flooded with drive bys that express absolutely absurd opinions.
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
2:30 pm
Chappelli – one of your biggest fans. I pitched for West Torrens and played against your lil brother Trevor a few times…. also Greg used to deliver the coke to our school when we were like 5 years old… I remember that was before he made it really big (like 1969-70)…
Hope you are doing well and still involved in the cricket and baseball downunder… I am told you were a great catcher in your day..
dude
March 16th, 2009
2:31 pm
mbatl/smyrnaJim -thxs.
Cherokee
March 16th, 2009
2:31 pm
If you guys decide to carry out Bay Area Steve’s wishes to have me put down, for the love of god don’t let New Cars handle it. Anders
I don’t know, it sounds like an excellent solution to me
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
2:32 pm
Thanks for the update on Chipper, I may have already said that…meant to and got busy. Don’t think I did….
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
2:34 pm
It’s my assumption that super 2’s are arbitrary. There are no stats that determine them. If you read that blog on Hanson, the author kinda has a point, but then kinda doesn’t. Hanson could be called up 20 days after Shields was and qualify as a super 2 if the people that determine super 2’s think he fits. Hanson could completely dominate and post astounding numbers/percentages to boost him into a higher percentile of major leaguers. Likewise, Hanson could be brought up sooner than Hamels and not qualify as a super 2 if he doesn’t post the numbers.
I’m pretty sure owners wanted to change, or make, or determine rules for what makes a super 2. Maybe i’m wrong cuz i’m not too knowledgeable in the area, but I think Milwaukee getting screwed out of draft picks this offseason because of Sheets’ surgery (not signed), and the economy causing teams to hold off on signing super 2’s (and consequently not allowing former teams to acquire those draft positions), is making owners upset. This is one aspect of baseball that is making it a young man’s game again. There’s more emphasis in the young for cost control, and because older players may not be able to perform as they reach mid 30’s to 40’s in age.
But from what I understand, the designation of a super 2 is completely arbitrary. Correct me if i’m wrong.
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
2:35 pm
DOB – Ian Chappell – was a superstar Australian cricket player and from a family of 3 star brothers, 2 of which captained Australian cricket for many years.
Ian Chappell is regarded as the best “tactical” captain of the modern era of cricket downunder
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Chappell
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
2:38 pm
The GM,
if Chipper can’t play 3rd, i think they give Prado and Infante a chance to win the position before they acquire someone. Esco will not be moved over to 3rd in any event.
Nick
March 16th, 2009
2:39 pm
“The top 17 percent of players with at least 2 but less than 3 years of Major League service. These are known as “Super 2” players. To qualify as a Super 2, a player must have accumulated at least 86 days of service in the previous year. Historically, the cutoff point for Super 2 status is 2 years, 128 days of service, though the requirement has been as high as 2 years, 140 days in years past.”
http://baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_baseball_arbitration_works
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
2:40 pm
Jackie, don’t have AMC in the rental house. Gotta watch Breaking Bad when I get home, on DVR….
As for Ian, maybe if I knew who he was, or how famous he is over there, I’d question whether that was him. Since I have no idea, well, it could be Ian Dury for all I know (look it up, for those not familiar with the Blockheads)
nolie
March 16th, 2009
2:41 pm
Javier Vazquez is 11th on the active list of pitchers for K/9IP. DOC
Don’t get me wrong I like the signing, but he is a good bit lower in Ks/100 pitches which is one of his problems…command
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
2:42 pm
It’s my assumption that super 2’s are arbitrary. There are no stats that determine them.
Top 17 percent of players, by service time, for players with at least two years but less than three years of service time.
This is why thinking that keeping a player on the farm for a certain amount of time will prevent arb eligibility isn’t quite right. It just all depends, on what players qualify for the super 2 pool in any given year, and how much service time those players have at the time of qualification in question. I mean, it’s probably fairly certain that, if you keep a player in the minors for two or three months THIS year, he won’t make the super 2 criteria going into his third year. Other than that…
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
2:44 pm
TnBrian I love Tavarez, especially after he punked Victorino. Man, that was awesome! Little Shane was scared and he shoulda been.
If we’re thinking about the same game, September 24, 2008, he didn’t actually hit the Reaper–it seems the Reaper was wondering a little too far off third in the eighth, and Tavarez made a move to throw over. But the Reaper didn’t like that. “Look at the scoreboard!” he appeared to be saying–the Braves were ahead 10-4. Then they got into an argument and the benches cleared, yaddy-yadda.
I don’t know if that’s the game you’re thinking of, though.
DAP
March 16th, 2009
2:46 pm
mcfann “punked” isnt the same thing as “plunked”.
James is Red
March 16th, 2009
2:49 pm
mbatl – Your Rude Awakening explanation may be right, I don’t listen to them that often. But if you go to the website, they’ve changed the On the Air schedule to reflect Chuck and Chernoff in the morning spot. Seems more like a firing to me.
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
2:49 pm
DOB – Ian Chappell is slightly more co-ordinated than the late great Ian Dury, if you get my drift
YE19
March 16th, 2009
2:51 pm
DOB, Didn’t you say in a previous blog last week that you were doing a story on ESCOBAR? I’m eager to read it-What gives?
flange1
March 16th, 2009
2:51 pm
DOB, you mean Ian “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll” Dury?
I wonder if he is still alive. Dude had some MASSIVE health issues…
But he recorded for Stiff Records. What a great label
Anyone remember Wreckless Eric?
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
2:52 pm
DAP–
Oooooo…how embarrassing!
Looks like I read that wrong…mea culpa! Sorry, TnBrian!
ease19
March 16th, 2009
2:52 pm
The Rude Awakening will be airing from Ireland tomorrow. They have been advertising it for at least the last week or so
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
2:53 pm
James is Red, you may be right – wouldn’t bother me at all; I don’t really like that show that much. My explanation was the ‘party line’ I heard on the radio. Seemed a little strange to me to send Chris, Perry and Leo to Ireland for one day, so you may be right. Chuck and Chernoff are very good, IMO.
(and God love Leo, but he is a coach, not a talker; he has absolutely nothing to do on that show unless a specific question about pitching comes up…)
Eware
March 16th, 2009
2:54 pm
DOB, did you ever pick up Dan Auerbach’s (of the Black Keys) solo album? It’s pretty dark with some great guitar work – no surprise there.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
2:59 pm
thanks scoots. that makes sense. i dodged around the percentile thing. thanks for making it crystal clear.
I still don’t understand how keeping a player in the minors prevents him from super 2 eligibility. Eventually, everyone good enough will be eligible, whether they’re delayed or not, and whether they’re the top 17 percent or not. If you’re trying to prevent a good player from becoming branded as a super 2, it would make more sense to continually bring up and send down a young prospect over 2-3 years, to prevent them from accumulating top 17% stats.
It seems the strategy then is strictly about delaying the arb clock.
If there were a salary cap, then that could prevent good players from leaving small market teams to large market teams. Then there’s always the argument of how do you prevent owners from allowing that to happen to stock pile on draft picks, keep team salary low, and hoard cash they should be spending?
Anders
March 16th, 2009
2:59 pm
Bay Area Steve – Glad to see you made it back.
Oh yeah, New Cars was looking for you. He’s just around the back of the barn. Yeah, down there on the left. Something about an award for being the funniest late night poster. Just go ahead around.
I’ll wait here for ya.
flange1
March 16th, 2009
3:03 pm
Maybe I AM and Idiot, but I thought the reason the Rays kept Longora down last year for a bit was to give the team another full year of control.
Am I wrong? Didn’t exactly that happen?
KC
March 16th, 2009
3:06 pm
mbatl: “You listed a handful of pitchers who had more QS than Javy, but in fact there were 47 starters who had more than Javy’s 17. And his QS pct of .52 was not especially impressive either (tied for 57th in the majors among pitchers with 160+ IP).”
I listed a handful of starters with as many or more quality starts because those were notable names who are recognized as top-of-rotation pitchers, which puts the QS totals into perspective. And I counted 44 starters with more quality starts last year, not 47, though I could be wrong. But that’s splitting hairs, I know. The more important point is this…
Cataloging how many starters had more QS’s is kind of a deceptive way to evaluate this, because we’re talking about a statistic to which adding just 1 or 2 quality starts to the total would change that number (of starters with more QS’s) significantly.
While 44 starters had more QS’s than Vazquez, only 25 starters had as many as 20. So he was right there in the neighborhood with most other quality starters in baseball in this category. And if you take into account that fact that he pitched in a hyper-hitter-friendly American League park…
And as previously mentioned, he had 20 quality starts in 2007.
“I’m glad to have him, and have a “feeling” that he’ll put his good stuff to better effect in Atlanta, but it’s not accurate to suggest that his 17 QS in 33 starts last year was impressive.”
I’m sorry, you must have me confused with someone else. Who said 17 starts was “impressive”? Not me. I said 17 quality starts was “good”, not impressive. I think a .283 batting average or a 4.00 ERA is “good”, but nothing close to “impressive”.
PIZZARO
March 16th, 2009
3:06 pm
Shane–What exactly are the qualifications that allows you to determine who does and doesn’t have a life? Does the mere fact that your a braves fan qualifies? I’d like to know so that in we can all benefit from you great wisdom.
Ian Dury
March 16th, 2009
3:07 pm
DOB,
Hit me slowly, hit me quick… hit me with your rhythm stick!!
CB
March 16th, 2009
3:11 pm
Nice to hear so many animmal lovers on the Braves blog,even DOB.Anders does not need to be put down,we want to see him stick around to see the Braves kick the Mets and Phillies butts this year.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
3:12 pm
If you’re trying to prevent a good player from becoming branded as a super 2, it would make more sense to continually bring up and send down a young prospect over 2-3 years, to prevent them from accumulating top 17% stats.
A player accumulates service time each day he is on the 25-man roster, and a baseball “year” is 172 days. Calendar years aren’t the ruling factor. In your scenario of up-and-down, the kid still eventually accumulates two-plus “years” of service time, anyway. You might delay the calendar year of that arb eligibility, I guess, but you might accelerate it, too, right into the Super 2 pool.
And, if the kid doesn’t spend 20 days or more in the minors on each trip down, he continues to accumulate ML service time, just as if he never left. So, you’d have to do without his performance a LOT just to delay his eligibility. If you can afford to do that, the player probably isn’t worth worrying about to start with.
SmyrnaJim
March 16th, 2009
3:14 pm
Re: the Rude Awakening – they did the same thing last year (Dublin for a day) – Jameson’s Irish Whiskey pays for it as a marketing deal.
Bill
March 16th, 2009
3:14 pm
Don’t know if anybody posted this yet, but Santana isn’t the only Mets starter with a sore shoulder-
http://minorsandmajors.com
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
3:16 pm
How do options work in MLB? Is it each time you are sent or called up to the Big Leagues?
KC
March 16th, 2009
3:21 pm
nscoots, I’m not saying that quality start percentage is meaningless… but part of the significance of a quality start TOTAL is what it says about the reliability and durability of a starter. Percentage does not tell you whether you can count on a guy to climb the hill every 5th day.
Also, what constitutes a “good” quality start percentage is relative. For team win totals, most people consider 90 wins a good season… though, a 55% win percentage doesn’t sound particularly impressive.
Again, there are a lot of starters out there (who are well recognized as top-end guys) who post a quality start (as it’s currently defined) just over half the time. In context, the 57% quality start % Vazquez has posted over the past couple of years… is good.
Not “impressive” to use mbatl’s word… but definitely good.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
3:23 pm
Bill – Actually Redding IS the only one with a sore shoulder in Metville and yes many knew this because I posted it days ago when it was announced.
For the record, Santana had a sore elbow. Appears fine now and throwing well – fingers crossed.
Now you’re all caught up.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
3:24 pm
I thought the reason the Rays kept Longora down last year for a bit was to give the team another full year of control.
Well, he came up on April 12, according to baseball-reference, which would make him, what, 10 days short of three full years prior to 2011? At the very least, he’s bound to be in the Super 2 pool, no?
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
3:28 pm
Longoria actually signed a (very bad) 6-year deal in April of ‘08, so Super Two not an issue with him, I don’t think.
winterville
March 16th, 2009
3:29 pm
I certainly don’t wish injury on anyone but it sure would be nice if Hamels was about a turn behind come April 6. I wouldn’t mind missing him to start the season.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
3:31 pm
Speaking of Santana, tomorrow’s his day to pitch. And guess who the Mets are playing? – Los Bravos!
Unfortunately, Santana doesn’t do the bus ride thing so he’s gonna pitch in a minor league game (there’s a joke right there for me) back at Met camp.
Psst. Come over hear. Yeah you. I think Santana is just afraid of the new unstrikeoutable Frenchy.
winterville
March 16th, 2009
3:31 pm
Meant April 5.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
3:31 pm
Winterville – Don’t go there – bad karma. Did you not learn anything last year?
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
3:34 pm
Anders – who is the likely 4 and 5 for the Mets, is Maine still a ? for health…. I see that Redding is injured and Garcia is hopeless….
DAP
March 16th, 2009
3:34 pm
anders santana “doesnt do the bus ride thing”? what does that mean? maybe this is akin to smoltz working out on a backfield all last spring? somthins’ up with johan.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
3:40 pm
Dogsbrekky – I don’t know what order Manuel will put them in but Maine, Pelfrey and Perez make up 2 through 4. #5 looks like it might be Livan Hernandez at this point. Garcis will be cut to save the $8 mil. Redding will be DL’d and come back as the long man if at all.
Minaya said they are not talking to Pedro at all. Looks like the Dodgers for Pedro.
BA
March 16th, 2009
3:42 pm
What would have been a weak Mutts rotation anyway is falling apart. Guess they’ll look to the unstoppable bats of Ryan Church and Brian Schnieder to pick up the slack.
winterville
March 16th, 2009
3:42 pm
Like I said Anders, I don’t want Hamels to have TJ surgery or anything but if he gets little behind and misses the first series, I won’t cry.
DAP
March 16th, 2009
3:44 pm
adners how bad would it suck for you if johan goes down and redding is his replacement in the order? ouch. and is maine back healthy? i havent heard alot about him.
Roman Gal
March 16th, 2009
3:47 pm
Would Kelly Johnson pick my Ninth Symphony to play before his at-bats? Beethoven
He’d better not…
Ugh. I hate that song!
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
3:49 pm
“Not “impressive” to use mbatl’s word… but definitely good.”
KC, I apologize for putting words in your mouth! I thought you were using the QS stats to make a case for Javy being an above-average starter. My mistake.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
3:51 pm
mbatl…ah. Moot for the Desperate Housewife, then, LOL.
KC, as for reliability, turn the QS stat on its head: how many times does the pitcher put you in a position to lose? Say, less than 6 innings and more than 4 runs (we’ll call that a “really-crappy” start, or RCS). Now, every pitcher is gonna have a bad day once in a while, yes? But, shouldn’t a good pitcher have a very high ratio of QS to RCS? Well, Javy tends to come up with a few too many RCS to fit my definition of “reliable”, LOL.
As for the “new ballpark, new manager, he’ll be better for it” theory, seems to me that he was pitching in the same ballpark for the same manager in 2008 as when he put up the 2007 stats that many here point to as indicators of “good”. So, I don’t find that argument too convincing.
He is what he is. A middle-of-the-rotation starter, because he so far has been unable to tap all his potential. Just as likely to be dominant or dominated, one outing to the next. Me, personally, I don’t have a problem with that or his being a member of the squad (as I’ve said). Maybe McDowell can get through to him, and I’d love to see it. Just let’s not be elevating the guy beyond his (so far displayed) capabilities.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
3:54 pm
DAP – It’s not uncommon for your top pitchers and star players to not make 2 hour bus rides early in camp. Reyes isn’t going either. I’m not sure who else. Santana will be throwing publicly – just more locally to minor leaguers.
Novice Ned
March 16th, 2009
3:56 pm
Who’s playing more games at 3rd base this season, Chipper or A-Rod? And is your prediction a sure thing?
DAP
March 16th, 2009
3:56 pm
anders i know that to be true, but ive never heard the “i dont do buses” explanation.
reagan
March 16th, 2009
3:57 pm
Hunt (and other per lovers)…..Afriend of mine (cat lover) put it in similar terms…….Your dog see you as everything wonderful in life…….a cat sees you as staff.
Shane
March 16th, 2009
3:59 pm
Certainly pizzaro always willing to help
Basically if you are a fan of another team and are on here trolling and blogging you either are
A Too big a dork to blog on your on teams site and have been humiliated only to run here
B Really have no life and blog on both
Either way your life is worth very little.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
3:59 pm
DAP – You can stop at how bad would it be if Santana went down? Doesn’t matter who the Mets put there. Period.
Maine has been throwing free and easy. He’s a bit of a headcase though. Thinks waaay too much. He needs to just get out there and pitch. When he’s on, he’s kind of Oswalt light. I know, I know many will say “Very light”. There saved you the trouble.
Gary
March 16th, 2009
4:00 pm
9th Symphony? He’s not Keith Olberman or the guy from Clockwork Orange.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:01 pm
Winterville – I believe you were hoping for injuries – not ordering chinese food. It doesn’t work that way.
GBRAVE
March 16th, 2009
4:01 pm
Can Freeman or Heyward play 3rd base? Who is top prospect there?
Get used to the fact that Chipper is going to be day to day for the rest of his career.
Gary
March 16th, 2009
4:03 pm
I think Freeman and Heyward are just fine where they are.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
4:04 pm
a cat sees you as staff.
Dang, can’t argue that point either. Cats (or at least mine) are master manipulators.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:04 pm
DAP – Doesn’t do the bus thing was me taking liberties. The official word was “he wasn’t taking the two hour bus ride to Disney. Too many crazies on the road, smoking cigars, listening to obscure CD’s, TEXTING, and begging some woman to go out with him when they should be focused on the road to risk your ace out there.”.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
4:04 pm
thanks again scoots. you’re my human encyclopedia today. screw wiki, i’ve got scoots!
bigchiefrg
March 16th, 2009
4:05 pm
Interested Observer That was a hilarious post about the quote from Julian Taveras on him signing with the Nats…
someone else
March 16th, 2009
4:06 pm
Anders, I love you dearly. Don’t let those bad Braves fans hurt your feelings. Making some hot tea, if you want to sit down and have a calm talk about baseball.
Chop Chop
March 16th, 2009
4:07 pm
dogsbrekky,
I was reading some of the posts on here and this in one of yours:
…also Greg used to deliver the coke to our school when we were like 5 years old… I remember that was before he made it really big (like 1969-70)…
Dude, you got coke delivered to your school? When you were, like, five? Man, I shoulda grown up Down Under. I woulda been the Tony Montana of the monkey bars.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:09 pm
someone else- Be right there. I’ll bring the crumpets. Can I bring someone?
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
4:10 pm
Bobby’s, nolie and I were bemoaning the fact that our “steel traps” are getting a little rusty these days, but, I can still occasionally remember where I’ve squirreled away a few acorns, LOL.
raindawg722
March 16th, 2009
4:11 pm
GBRAVE, maybe someone else can confirm this, but I wonder if there has been any talk of moving Hicks to 3B since he seems blocked at short? He may not be an immediate candidate since he only played a handful of games at AA last year. He also strikes out a lot, and doesn’t hit for much average, but has got some pop in his bat. Not sure what his glove is like but DOB said he’s been impressive in camp.
Tomahawk210
March 16th, 2009
4:11 pm
Did I read correctly that Schafer had another day with 2 hits? and against a lefty? Oh no I thought he wasn’t supposed to be able to hit lefties? If Josh Anderson can’t handle the pressures of an everyday ST competition, how is he going to handle being the lead-off hitter for the Braves this season against top tier pitchers. It seems he is folding under the pressure while Schafer is stepping up under the pressure, the true mark of a MLB ready player.