Lowe faces desperate ‘Stros
Tony
Lynyrd
Dark Star, Fla. – Good morning from Lake Buena Vista, where the temp’s already in the 70s and the sun is shining as Braves players filter in from the parking lot beyond left field here at Champion Stadium.
It’s 10 a.m. The fellas were given a rare morning to sleep in after the overnight trip to Jupiter, which nearly the entire team made.
Just now I was transcribing some interviews I did in Jupiter this weekend, and while Tony Perez is speaking in his distinct Cuban accent, he’s nearly drowned out by Lynryd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone” that was blasting on the stadium speakers in the background as we talked by the batting cage. The beauty of baseball’s melting pot never ceases to make me smile.
Anyway, about today’s game… The Astros are busing the 12 or so miles over from their spring compound to take on the Bravos today here at Disneyopolis, with Derek Lowe facing former Braves prospect Jose Capellan.
Believe it or not, Capellan and another couple of former Braves you might be familiar with, Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz, have been the Astros’ best pitchers this spring. Which probably ain’t saying much, considering the Astros are 1-13-2 in Grapefruit League play.
They haven’t won a game in March. That’s not a typo.
Not coincidentally, the ‘Stros are bringing over their entire lineup today. They want this game, folks.
The Braves are coming off a 2-1 loss against the Cardinals yesterday that snapped a 10-game winning streak, including eight Grapefruit League wins in that stretch.
Granted, these results will be forgotten in a few weeks when the teams play a game that actually counts. But it’s still worth noting when you’ve had the kind of streaks and skids that the Braves and Astros, respectively, have been on these past two or three weeks.
You don’t want to get too excited about winning most of your games in spring training, but you do get concerned if your team loses almost every game. Even if Roy Oswalt and a few others are away for the World Baseball Classic.
Speaking of the WBC, yesterday’s Braves loss was the first since Chipper Jones and Brian McCann left camp to join the U.S. team for the WBC. And on the same day the Braves’ winning streak ended, the U.S. got pounded by the Puerto Ricans, mercy-ruled 11-1 in seven innings, for God’s sake, in a second-round game at typically three-quarters-empty Dolphin Stadium.
Loading ...On a bright note for the Braves, Javier Vazquez pitched for Puerto Rico and stuck it to the U.S. The man was dealing, folks. If you saw the game or highlights, you know what I’m talking about.
And even if you’d be disappointed to see the Americans fall short of the final round, hey, at least Vazquez helped move them one loss from sending Chipper and Mac back to Braves camp.
Alright, gotta get down to the clubhouse for a while. Braves may or may not be announcing their first round of roster cuts today, but either way, we’re not expecting any of the premier prospects to be among those shipped out.
OK, I’m back now. Big day for bullpen: Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano are both scheduled to pitch an inning today for the Braves, only the second Grapefruit League appearance for Soriano and third for Moylan.
The surgically repaired relievers are obviously major players in the Braves’ planned bullpen, and they could be the difference in turning a decent ‘pen into an exceptional one.
Moylan, who’s pitched each of the past two Sundays, joked that he’s on the NFL schedule. He told me this morning he believes he’ll be ready for opening day. He’s who’s less than 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery.
Moylan threw two side sessions without incident since last Sunday’s appearance. The Aussie will fly to the Bahamas tomorrow to get his visa. (It’s a complicate explanation, but those who were around the blog last year remember he had to do the same thing then. You have to get your work visa stamped in a foreign country, and his paperwork wasn’t ready before he left Australia after Christmas, or something like that.)
When I asked Soriano if he thinks he’ll be ready for opening day, he said in his low grumble: “Yeah, I think so.” His surgically repaired elbow presumably hasn’t caused any problems yet this spring, or he hasn’t said it has. His lingering upper respiratory infection, or whatever he had, has been better since they gave him some sort of inhaler, which he showed me and tossed into his locker.
Gold Glove at first base? Four different first basemen in the past five years have won National Gold Gloves, which got me wondering whether Casey Kotchman could possibly become the fifth different winner in six seasons.
Possible, but not real likely.
Because as much as the award is supposed to be for defense, and as much as Kotchman’s D might be as good as any NL 1B (especially now that Mark Teixeira is out of the league), the coaches and managers who vote on the award often lean heavily in favor of guys who also put up big offensive numbers.
Now that San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez has won one (last year), we can probably expect him to win more. He’s very good defensively, on top of being a beast with the bat: In his three full seasons in the bigs, he has 90 homers, 106 doubles and 301 RBIs, and also top-20 finishes in the MVP balloting in ‘07 and ‘08.
Others who’ve won the NL Gold Glove at 1B the past six seasons: Derrek Lee (2005 and 2007), Todd Helton (2004) and Albert Pujols (2006).
In the 11 years before that revolving door of winners, the award was dominated by Helton (2001-02), J.T. Snow (1997-2000) and Mark Grace (1992-93 and 1995-96), with Jeff Bagwell (1994) the only other winner in that long stretch.
If Teixeira, a two-time AL winner, had spent more than one full season in the NL, it’s a good bet he’d have won a Gold Glove or two over here. Dude’s extremely smooth around the bag.
But watching Kotchman, it doesn’t look like the Braves lost much at all on the defensive side with that trade.
“Tex might have a little more movement,” infield coach Glenn Hubbard said. “But Kotch looks very similar. He’s solid.”
I asked Bobby Cox if he thought Kotchman was a Gold-Glove caliber player.
“I think you have to put him in that class,” Cox said. “He’s real good. And he’s swinging the bat, too.”
GM Frank Wren said, “No question about it, he can really play first base.”
Hubbard went on to discuss the Braves’ overall defensive strength and deep pitching staff, the biggest reasons that so many in the organization, including players and team officials, are optimistic about this team’s chances to contend for a postseason berth after a three-year absence.
Wren was commenting on Kotchman’s defense when he expanded the subject.
“That’s one of the things that we really feel so good about with our club, is an outstanding defensive infield,” the GM said. “And with the number of sinkerball guys we have in our rotation, especially when Huddy comes back, that’s important.”
Tim Hudson could be back sometime in August, a year after having Tommy John surgery. The Braves hold a $12 million option on his contract for 2010, with a $1 mill buyout if they don’t pick it up. Hudson has the right to veto it.
Charlie update: Almost forgot to tell you, pitcher Charlie Morton has been long-tossing for the past week and said he’s not had any issues with his strained oblique. He hopes to get on the mound in the next few days — “ASAP,” he said — and resume preparations for the season. He’s anxious to get going again.
TODAY’S LINEUPS
Astros
1. Kaz Matsui, 2B
2. Hunter Pence, RF
3. Lance Berkman, 1B
4. Carlos Lee, LF
5. Miguel Tejada, SS
6. Geoff Blum, 3B
7. Darin Erstad, CF
8. Humberto Quintero, C
9. Jose Capellan, RH
Braves
1. Jordan Schafer
2. Yunel Escobar
3. Kelly Johnson, 2B
4. Matt Diaz, LF
5. Jeff Francoeur, RF
6. Freddie Freeman, 1B
7. Martin Prado, 3B
8. David Ross, C
9. Derek Lowe, RH
We’ll close things out with a song for Sunday morning….
“SINK HOLE” by Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)
I’ve always been a religious man, I ‘ve always been a religious man
but I met the banker and it felt like sin, he turned my bailout down
The Banker Man, he let into me, let into me, let into me
The Banker Man, he let into me and spread my name around
He thinks I ain’t got a lick of sense cause I talk slow and my money’s spent
Now, I ain’t the type to hold it against, but he better stay off my farm
Cause it was my Daddy’s and his Daddy’s before
and his Daddy’s before and his Daddy’s before
Five generations and an unlocked door and a loaded burglar alarm.
Lots of pictures of my purdy family, lots of pictures of my purdy family
lots of pictures of my purdy family in the house where I was born.
House has stood through five tornadoes,
Droughts, floods, and five tornadoes.
I’d rather wrastle an alligator than to face the Banker’s scorn
Cause he won’t even look me in the eye
He just takes my land and apologize,
with pen, paper, and a friendly smile, he says the deed is done.
The sound you hear is my Daddy spinning, The sound you hear is my Daddy spinning
The sound you hear is my Daddy spinning over what the Banker done.
Like to invite him for some pot roast beef and mashed potatoes and sweet tea
follow it up with some banana pudding and a walk around the farm
Show him the view from McGee Town Hill
Let him stand in my shoes and see how it feels
to lose the last thing on earth that’s real
I’d rather lose my legs and arms
Bury his body in the old sink hole Bury his body in the old sink hole
Bury his body in the old sink hole under cold November sky
Then damned if I wouldn’t go to church on Sunday
Damned if I wouldn’t go to church on Sunday
Damned if I wouldn’t go to church on Sunday
and look the Preacher in the eye
1,297 comments Add your comment
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
12:06 pm
Good blog thanks
1-13 is a kind of like my eating record at the Big Texan, one success in 14 tries at the 72 oz steak…
Mitchie-san
March 15th, 2009
12:10 pm
found it.
Doc Holiday
March 15th, 2009
12:12 pm
After watching last night game……….
I liked the way Peavy came down to earth with style. I wonder how does he really feels now. I can recall him acting as a GOD, as if no team but the Cubs deserved him, the Braves werent good enough for him. He could have been part of a rotation that has the pitcher that shutdown his teamates (Vazquez). I know he will put good numbers again (Peavy), but he learned last night that he is only human and that he has too big a mouth.
On the other hand, USA got pushed around by PR, but it has to be encouraging to all of us Braves fans to see outing after outing how good Vazquez has looked.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
12:13 pm
Anyone here? Someone? Someone Else?
mbatl
March 15th, 2009
12:15 pm
Another ex-Brave, Chad Paronto, has also pitched well for them this spring.
Vazquez has looked great in both of his WBC appearances. As I recall, he pitched some Winter League innings too. I’m assuming he’s a guy who can just go and throw it as much as needed (hopefully) without problems.
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
12:22 pm
Shamus — Adirondack Dave reporting in.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
12:22 pm
It’s 12:30 p.m. on a Sunday in 2009, and on the stadium PA here at Dark Star, they’re playing “Saturday Night” by the Bay City Rollers.
Perfect.
Braves Fan in PA
March 15th, 2009
12:25 pm
DOB, Any news on your favorite bullpen arm. It seems his price is dropping any chance the Braves consider signing Ohman at this point?
VENEZUELA
March 15th, 2009
12:28 pm
Yeah DOB? Whats going on with the BIG LEBOWSKI? Ohman is a huge Loogy for us considering boone logan isnt that impressive
spotts
March 15th, 2009
12:28 pm
Gold Glove voters seriously take offensive stats into account? That’s so dumb.
But it would explain how David Wright keeps winning. I just assumed his parents were on the NL Gold Glove voting team.
Jim
March 15th, 2009
12:31 pm
One ST start under unusual circumstances does not say much of anything about how Peavy OR Vaszquez will fare this year, but one little tidbit that the announcers threw out last night might make us happy that we have Lowe + Yunel, etc. instead of Peavy. In Peavy’s Cy Young season 2 years ago, he never went more than 7 innings in any start. He throws a lot of pitches at max effort.
DukeBoy
March 15th, 2009
12:32 pm
The stadium crew is playing some awesome music today. Skynyrd then some Saturday Night, could the day get any better.
A Duke win against FSU, and a Braves win would make it a perfect day!
Roach
March 15th, 2009
12:37 pm
DukeBoy,
You are right my friend.
Someone
March 15th, 2009
12:41 pm
Here
Anyone
March 15th, 2009
12:42 pm
Present.
Someone Else
March 15th, 2009
12:43 pm
Whew, finally made it. I’m here too.
northbeach Scott
March 15th, 2009
12:45 pm
Dave-O, sorry to have missed you on Thursday, my last Grapefruit league game–that was not me at the batting cage. Just returned to Atlanta. Appreciated the feedback on ST observations. Glad to contribute. Will bring you a nice Ybor hand rolled sometime in the future.
Very interested in the progress of young Marek as he seems to have had an impressive spring. Assuming he makes the first cuts-he should. Would love to see an article about him. Especially if he has a shot a being on the opening 25 man roster with Glavine not needed until 4/19.
DukeBoy
March 15th, 2009
12:47 pm
anybody catch Puerto Rico-United States last night? Javier was lights out! Braves rotation now and in the future (barring injuries) could be the best in the NL.
DiamondbackMac
March 15th, 2009
12:51 pm
ShamusThacker I have a theory that there only about four posters on this blog and they all have multiple personalities who sit around and argue with each other all day. I’m not sure if I’m one of them or not. Hmmmmm
1058.38
March 15th, 2009
12:52 pm
Dang, Chipper’s hitless in the WBC.
DiamondbackMac
March 15th, 2009
12:53 pm
ShamusThacker Could be that you’re one of my personalities, or maybe I’m one of yours. I think I need professional help.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
12:56 pm
Duke Boy, I still think there is a whole lot of uncertainty with our starting rotation. It could be great, or it could be decidedly average.
We know what we have in Lowe, and it will be good. Could be very good.
We don’t know what we have in Vasquez. We know he will probably put up around 200 innings and a bunch of Ks. But will he be the guy that put up an ERA of the low to mid 3s, or the guy that approaches 5? Hopefully playing under Bobby, pitching in the NL, and pitching closer to home will help push him back to the very quality pitcher he has always shown flashes of being. But who knows?
For Jurrjens…dude has struggled a bit this spring, and we should always be wary of a sophomore slump. I am hoping JJJ is the real deal and avoids a slump. He has good stuff, and a great head on his shoulders so he has a lot of things going for him. But the truth is we won’t know until he gets out there and succeeds–especially given his inconsistencies this spring.
We certainly don’t know what we are getting out of Kawakami. Could be a guy with really good stuff who will put up around 200 hundred innings. Could be a guy that never makes the adjustment.
And Glavine…if healthy, an advantage from the 5 spot. If not, a liability.
The good news is we have Hanson, Reyes, and Morton waiting in the wings. Hanson still hasn’t found his form this spring, but nevertheless has been flat out nasty at times. He is the real deal. Reyes may have finally turned the corner–if so, a huge deal for this club. And I actually am still very high on Charlie Morton. He pitched hurt last year without his best stuff, and still kept the Braves in games. When his velocity is touching 96, the sink on his two seamer and his 12-6 curve are impressive stuff. So anyway, despite uncertainty we have guys that can jump in. But with that being said, there is still uncertainty with this rotation.
DukeBoy
March 15th, 2009
12:58 pm
Epinephrine, excellent points
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:01 pm
Gorkys is among the minor league players brought over for this game. We’ll let you know if he gets in
Robert
March 15th, 2009
1:02 pm
Donk is excited since the team is what 10-3? Gosh he’s close to his dream 162-0 season.
Just like the Braves to be the nest team in baseball on March 15
If just once they could be the best on October 15
Not while Cox is around, that’s for sure
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
1:03 pm
1058.38 — Not to worrry… Chipper’s saving them up for us when he returns. Mac on the other hand should be reprimanded for his shameful hits.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:04 pm
PHIL STOCKMAN has been released. If you knew him, you’d really feel bad, because that big Aussie is as good a bloke as they come. And hilarious. We’re gonna miss him, for sure.
Eight roster cuts will be announced tomorrow.
Mike S
March 15th, 2009
1:05 pm
1058 – to be honest, I am getting a little concerned over Hoss’s struggles at the plate. Obviously the oblique pull did not help matters, but Chipper is at that age where some hitters just suddenly lose that little bit of bat speed that made them special.
I am hopeful to see another .300 season out of him, but so far this spring he has looked completely overmatched at the plate. Hopefully it is just rust and lack of swings.
Mike S
March 15th, 2009
1:07 pm
Hate to hear that DOB. Stockman is one of my favs, it is a shame he never really recovered from that injury. Hopefully someone else will sign him and give him a shot.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
1:08 pm
Mike S, Chipper always looks terrible in the early spring. He has only had a few live at bats thanks to the WBC-not every day play like the normal club. He is the least of our concerns.
Lowe is dealing…and the Stros are atrocious.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
1:09 pm
spotts – JETER won I think 3 Gold Gloves recently (04-06 ?) and he outright stinks
It should be the Teachers Pet Glove award
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:10 pm
Lowe has struck out Matsui and Pence to start the game….
Great play by
KotchmanFreeman leaping to his right to stab Berkman grounder, then tossing to lowe covering first for third out….DiamondbackMac: Regarding your 12:51 p.m. post, iI so, they’re using hundreds and hundreds of different IP addresses and putting in a lot of work to come up with 125 or so different and quite interesting profiles and photos on that Facebook club that Run Heap Run started.
Crista
March 15th, 2009
1:10 pm
Moylan! I hope he does well.
He’s my favorite&&
I’ve missed him!
Jim
March 15th, 2009
1:12 pm
Epinephrine,
There is uncertainty at this point with most every rotation. Having Reyes, Hanson, Morton, Parr, etc. at AAA and people like Lowe and Vasquez who have consistently avoided injury and provided 200+ innings in the rotation provides a reasonable assurance that the pitching will be at worst average with reasonable protection against the complete breakdown that occurred last year. I assume that if Glavine is not ready to make his first start, that it will be made by Reyes, not Hanson. Reyes is left handed and I think the Braves want to give him some time in AAA and keep the arb. clock from making its first tick this year. I agree with you on Morton. Before he was shut down, his velocity was topping out at about 91 mph and he did not have the movement on his pitches that he had in his earlier starts. However, he will have to re-establish his prospect status at Richmond this year if he is to fit into the long-term plans of the Braves.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:12 pm
Schafer just pulled an inside fastball onto the top of a tented TV location set up above the RF corner seats. If he’d straightened it out a bit, it would have landed at least 30 feet beyond the fence.
Then he grounded out.
DukeBoy
March 15th, 2009
1:12 pm
how many pitches did lowe throw in the top half of the inning?
chuckw/deadjournalist
March 15th, 2009
1:13 pm
i hate to see stockman go, but that’s an open 40-man roster spot … interesting to see who moves in
Scott M
March 15th, 2009
1:13 pm
Any idea where I could hear the broadcast over the internet? I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
brian
March 15th, 2009
1:13 pm
Too bad about Stockman, just couldn’t keep himself healthy. I wonder if he gets his back figured out, if the Braves might re-sign him to a minor league deal.
Andy
March 15th, 2009
1:14 pm
Epinephrine, yes there is uncertainty. Yes……. last year was a pretty big painful fluke. If you take out pretty much everyone of the starters to injury except 1 most teams would fall apart to that kind of uncertainty. Lowe and Vasquez you pretty much know what they are going to get—pretty much. JJ is more of a wild card than kwami(good enough)—and I think JJ will be pretty solid. Kwami can pitch–even without his best stuff–he is our 4th starter and he will be solid. Glavine—in 23 years been on the disabled list when….oh yeah last year. He is the 5th starter and I simply can’t wait. Even when he has nothing he’ll still won’t be giving into a hitter. It has been a while since the braves were relevant. It just seems like to me the pen is way more uncertain and the lineup…..well….
Il Cattivo
March 15th, 2009
1:16 pm
Shame about Stockman. Hope he can get his back fixed and get his career back online.
While on this topic, if Moylan doesnt pitch well today I’m sure someone will suggest it was because of the Stockman release.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
1:19 pm
DOB – re our fellow Antipodean, if he gets his back fixed, does the club pay for that and/or can he come back next year and try out again ?
JerseyGil
March 15th, 2009
1:20 pm
Yes i think we going to see Stockman in Gwinnett, The next to go is Ridgway.
pfunkATL
March 15th, 2009
1:21 pm
I am PUMPED about the season. HUGE BBall fan here, yet in my years in the ATL I have seen the Braves go one and out in the play-offs, WITNESSED the KJ pop-up game first hand, watched Smoltz’s arm fall off, saw AJ go from BEST to WORST( same with JK) and watched this team lose 90 last year. Seems like OLD TIMES. I was a LONG-SUFFERING Royals and Marlins fan as well.
I have REAL HOPE this year. I am projecting wild card, but at LEAST entertainment. Last year was HEART-WRENCHING. I am also a HUGE Escobar fan, and hoping for big things from him. With a rebound from Frankie, a healthy rotation, and some contribution from the KIDS, I should be at LEAST a semi regular in our corporate seats behind first base, assuming Ray’s Restaurants let me get the tickets…LOL.
I am a regular reader of the blog- only contribute on occasion, but ALWAYS here. KC I will be at the opening day kick-off party, same as last year. Let’s TOAST that this one will be better!
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:21 pm
Walked Carlos Lee to start second inning, then a broken-bat single for Tejada puts runners on corners with none out and Blum to bat
DiamondbackMac
March 15th, 2009
1:22 pm
DOB I was just making an attempt at humor. Not very successfully it seems.
gobravez
March 15th, 2009
1:22 pm
I wonder who will be added to the 40 man? Schafer, hopefully.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:23 pm
Blum sac fly to left field, terrible throw by Diaz about 12-15 feet off the mark
brian
March 15th, 2009
1:25 pm
gobravez, why would you add Schafer?? That would start his options, and we don’t want to do that.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:26 pm
Erstad just lashed a double that sailed past Diaz. Would’ve taken a good jump and route to get to it, but honestly, he wasn’t even close. Ball went to the wall, drove in a run, Astros up 2-0
6 Grapes
March 15th, 2009
1:26 pm
DOB, who’s playing 1st? You have freeman in the lineup you posted, but said kotchman made a great play over there…
trublueBravesFan
March 15th, 2009
1:27 pm
Hey DOB…..I thought you said in the linup section that Freeman was playing 1b?
gobravez
March 15th, 2009
1:28 pm
Brian, Because you have to add Schafer to the 40 man to add him to the 25 man roster.
Schafer has done more than enough to win the CF job. Not to mention Anderson is coming back down to earth now.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:29 pm
Freeman made the great play at 1B, not Kotchman. I instinctively wrote Kotchman.
brian
March 15th, 2009
1:31 pm
gobravez, you wouldn’t do that till you absolutely know that you’re going to keep him. As of right now, we don’t know without a shadow of a doubt that he’s going to be on the team. There’s still 3 weeks till the season, so adding Schafer now, doesn’t make any sense.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
1:32 pm
Andy, I actually feel pretty good about both our lineup and our pen. Our pen could be flat out nasty-and I hate to say it, but at least it is a contract year for Soriano…maybe that will give him the extra push he needed. But what we are seeing with Moylan…if he is coming in during the 7th inning, look out.
Our lineup may lack power, but we have tough outs top to bottom, and potential break out years from any one of KJ, Esco, Frenchy, and Kotchman. McCann could also have an absolutely huge year. With Schafer eventually in there as a spark plug…this line up with put up runs.
Isenberg
March 15th, 2009
1:32 pm
Why is Will Ohman still a free agent?
Something’s gotta be up; teams wouldn’t normally let a left-handed reliever THAT valuable stay on the market this long (even with such a poor economy).
northbeach Scott
March 15th, 2009
1:32 pm
JerseyGil, I think Stockman will miss a good portion of the season, if not the entire season, with injuries. I hope the Braves would give him another minor league shot should he come back next year injury free. Agree with you on Ridgway, he’s been lousy and the other two LOGYs have been better. We may also see Redmond, and Vlad Nunez go down.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:33 pm
Francoeur FIRST STRIKEOUT of the spring. Capellan blew a fastball that Francoeur swung and missed to go to 1-2, then an off-speed pitch that Francoeur was way out in front of.
Runnin
March 15th, 2009
1:35 pm
I never thought it was possible for the Capellan for Kolb trade to look any worse.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:35 pm
northbeach Scott: Vlad Nunez can’t get sent down — he’s already down. He’s in minor league camp, been brought over for a bunch of games.
McFann :Ô:
March 15th, 2009
1:36 pm
Pete–
Yeah, I noticed it right away. Like I said–Clint Hurdle Syndrome.
brian
March 15th, 2009
1:37 pm
Francouer has done well this spring but as I have said before he needs to come through with bases loaded sometime to really get over the hump
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
1:38 pm
Can anyone claim Stockman if he gets healthy or do we get first shot
Schafer deserves to be in this OF, he can play, eff the “clock” starting to save a few $
jaker
March 15th, 2009
1:38 pm
why did chip caray say that freeman is #5 on baseball america’s top prospects? That is Heyward, right. Does he always make mistakes like that?
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
1:38 pm
Haha man. I forgot about Dan Kolb. Between him, Reitsma and Ken Ray, good lord. Are people really worried about the pen?
DiamondbackMac
March 15th, 2009
1:39 pm
Miss St. – 25
Tenn. – 23
brian
March 15th, 2009
1:40 pm
dogsbrekky, that’s fine if Schafer deserves the spot, but you don’t just add him now. It’s pointless. If you add him and he goes on a slump, you started his clock for nothing. If you add him now and he makes the team, you could have just waited till the last minute to do it. It’s spring training, you don’t need to add a player till you absolutely have to.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
1:41 pm
brian – how much $$$ does it cost to start the clock now on Schafer and Hanson versus waiting say until August ?
brian
March 15th, 2009
1:43 pm
could cost millions, you start their clock now, they would be eligible for a “super two” arbitration, where as if you start it in August, that’s an extra year till they’re eligible for arbitration.
That’s millions in future contracts that could be saved. It also saves an extra year, in case they struggle.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
1:44 pm
Dogsbrekky-The situation would be analagous to Francoeur’s. He was arbitration eligible for the first time this season after 3 1/2 years instead of just three. In essence, by waiting until August, they can get an extra half year out of the player before they become arbitration or Free Agent eligible.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
1:44 pm
okay so its not just a $400k contract we are talking then
Thanks for the info brian
Also. Why is Tennessess called the Volunteers?
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
1:45 pm
Tennessee
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
1:46 pm
I’ve sorta been on the Frenchy hater/fan fence. I’m solidly on the fan side now.
Anybody know if the rumor’s true that Roger Clemens has denied being Roger Clemens?
I would have asked you the question Anyone, or even someone or someone else, just thought I’d ask Anybody for a change of pace…
Lew
March 15th, 2009
1:46 pm
Shamus-Have you left Anyone Else out of the equation?
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
1:46 pm
Lowe just hit a two-out single into the l-c gap, just beyond the outstretched glove of Carlos Lee. He should’ve had it probably, but Lowe will take that hit gladly.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
1:47 pm
Sure we could save millions by starting him in August…and also we could save ourselves the trouble of playing in October. I’m all for saving money, but if he’s the best man for the job he should be out there. The ultimate goal is winning games with the best team possible, not putting forward the best budget we can. The games in April count just as much as those in September.
mbatl
March 15th, 2009
1:47 pm
Don’t think it has to be “August”. I read that it’s typically about 86 days, so with the late start this year, that would put us around early July.
I have a feeling that Schafer will be on the 25-man on opening day… but there is certainly no reason to put him on the 40-man until we’re ready to make that decision, whether it’s on Opening Day or July or next year.
brian
March 15th, 2009
1:49 pm
epinephrine, I’m not saying that we don’t put Schafer on the 40 man roster to start the season, I’m just saying we don’t need to do it now. There’s 3 weeks till ST ends, we can wait till then.
DukeBoy
March 15th, 2009
1:51 pm
Lowe with a base hit…very nice… Duke up by 15.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
1:51 pm
Epinephrine-You’ve only seen about 40 Spring Training At Bats from Schafer-and those not necessarily against the best ML pitching. There’s three weeks left until the season starts and anything could happen in that time. It has yet to be proven-much less proven beyond the shadow of a doubt-that Schafer is ready for his Clock Starting Party. The kid missed a goodly portion of his AA season. We have time AND other options with more experience against said ML pitching.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
1:51 pm
Lew, Someone Else asked me the same thing.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
1:54 pm
Schafer – The reason I think we give this kid a go now is;
1. He plays like a man on a machine (Pete Rose like)
2. He is super super fast down the base paths
3. He can hit for power
4. He has a good arm
5. He spent his own loot buying an expenisve batting machine to improve himself
6. He spent his own loot paying for sprinting/speed lessons.
Kid outright guns. Josh Anderson I like as well but you do not go for Carrie Fischer if Carrie Underwood is available
DiamondbackMac
March 15th, 2009
1:54 pm
dogsbrekky – Tennessee is nicknamed the volunteer state.
Frankie Knuckles
March 15th, 2009
1:55 pm
volunteers – Has something to do with either the Revolutionary War or the Civil. Not sure – Do know they volunteered some as* woopings this past football season
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
1:56 pm
They volunteered to shoot Yankees.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
1:56 pm
No I agree. And if Schafer is in a rut come opening day, by all means put him in AAA. Then ignoring the business side of things would be foolish. But if he’s ready to go, I say let him take the shot. I really don’t think Josh Anderson is an every day MLB center fielder. But that is the whole point of these battles.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
1:57 pm
Epinephrine-In addition, Shafer has less than 300 AB at AA. Josh Anderson has a .315 BA and .363 OBP in 203 ML AB. He has stolen 11 bases and been caught twice-in the bigs. Schafer hasn’t played a single game in the Bigs.
Andy
March 15th, 2009
1:57 pm
Epinephrine my heart feels the same way you do. I think everything you say about the line up is true. I hope and pray it is true. My head says that left is a big question mark. How much does GA have in the tank? Diaz I love and a big fan—when he gets 9 straight hits all of it. But its been a while since he has been a constant force. Not his fault he’s been injured. CF lots of uncertainty. RF hopefully will be alittle different from the last two years. 3rd solid. SS can be amazing and infuriating. 2nd adv. to good. 1st okay to good? Catcher awesome. Yes I think this lineup could drive in tons of runs. esp. if cf provides a spark al la furcal. But thats still alot more uncertain than our starters. The pen is just one big question mark. But has alot of pieces that could be amazing.
DiamondbackMac
March 15th, 2009
1:58 pm
ShamusThacker Actually, I think it was because they sent volunteers to fight at the Alamo.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
1:58 pm
Shamus-Did Anyone answer?
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
1:58 pm
Lew – Your “other options with more experience ” is struggling something fierce w/ the pressure of a ST competition.. Got news for you – the pressure of facing Cole Hamels opening night is far greater. Schafer’s 0-2 today. Both times the stadium was on their feet. He brings similar speed as Anderson and much more of everything else. If you haven’t noticed, this OF could use some pop.
Steve McP
March 15th, 2009
1:59 pm
Don’t overlook Blanco – he played a fair bit in CF last year and he is having a good WBC. He started well last season (although he tailed off a bit at the end) and might get a look if Anderson does not get the nod.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
2:00 pm
Anybody’s guess Lou….
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
2:00 pm
Chip Caray just came over to our side of the pressbox, reminded me of his late, great dad’s classic intro from the field formerly known as Joe Robbie/Pro Player Stadium. It was something like, “Hello again, everybody. From the banks of the Miccosukee River….”
Anyway….
Last week when I was home, Chip made his first appearance of the spring out here at Dark Star. He called my cell, not knowing that Skip did my voicemail message a couple of years ago, one that I intend to keep on there for a long, long time (it’s awesome, done off the top of his head, about 30 seconds long, something about me at the plate, hitting the ball, then “O’Brien is rounding second, now he’s headed for third, it looks like he’s going to try to score, O’Brien is … out at home. But if you leave a message, he’ll call you back. So long, everybody.”
It’s really good, and he did it without hesitation when I asked him one time in a pressbox somewhere.
Anyway, Chip called my phone last week, and when that message came on, he said he just about cried.
Then he left me a message using a spot-on impersonation of Skip’s voice. It was almost surreal, when I checked my voicemail that afternoon after being in the gym or somewhere.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
2:02 pm
Lew, a significant chunk of Anderson’s good MLB numbers come from September games, which statistically should count for absolutely nothing given that he was playing for bottom dweller teams. Spring numbers and September numbers are meaningless. For the rest of his career-a much better statistical sample-he has put up sub-par OBP numbers. I don’t see why that would change over the course of a regular season. I could be wrong, but I don’t think it will change.
Also, I don’t see how the fact that Schafer hasn’t played in a big league game should be an argument against him…playing in a big league game. Seems a bit circular, no?
DiamondbackMac
March 15th, 2009
2:04 pm
dogsbrekky – I was wrong.
Tennessee has had several nicknames, but the most popular is “The Volunteer
State.” The nickname originated during the War of 1812 when thousands of Tennesseans
enlisted in response to Governor Willie Blount’s call for volunteers.
2Parc
March 15th, 2009
2:05 pm
Chip’s one of the best in the biz.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
2:05 pm
Bobby’s Belly-SO? Like I said-there’s three weeks left in spring training. Yes, Schafer IS the future for the Braves-if you go back and check, you’ll find that everything I’ve ever said about Schafer-going back to on the scene reports from Dark Star last spring-have been completely positive and enthusiastic. However, Anderson has performed well at the big league level-yes, a small sample size, I admit, though nearly the same sample size as Schafer at AA-but success, nonetheless. Considering that he has no remaining options and the clock has NOT started on SChafer, I’m betting JS goes to the minors to start the season-as he should. There is zero need to throw him to the wolves yet-no matter the fan consensus.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
2:05 pm
That’s right, the Davey Crockett deal…
Well, I’ll bet a bunch uv’um volunteered to blast Yankees too… lol
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
2:05 pm
Lew – 6 minor league seasons. That about sums it up. Schafer is the future.
Kyle
March 15th, 2009
2:06 pm
Don’t normally comment, just read the blog, but that was a pretty cool comment about Chip DOB. There is not much stronger than the bonds of a father and son tied by baseball.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
2:07 pm
BTW-September games count the same as games in April through August. I’ve never reallyseen the sense in discounting September performances. They take place in ML stadiums, against ML teams, and despite some September call ups, are played against ML pitching.
DukeBoy
March 15th, 2009
2:07 pm
any updates on the game?
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
2:08 pm
Lew – No reason? JA’s hitting .225 or so. You actually cannot steal first base.
2Parc
March 15th, 2009
2:08 pm
2-0 still
10-80
March 15th, 2009
2:08 pm
Awesome story DOB, you need to figure out a way to save that somewhere forever b/c god knows you might lose your cell or something and its gone
shane
March 15th, 2009
2:08 pm
I remember Gov Blount, had a helluva curveball
Shawn G
March 15th, 2009
2:08 pm
2-0…end of fourth. French hit a line-drive single to CF,
mbatl
March 15th, 2009
2:09 pm
“a significant chunk of Anderson’s good MLB numbers come from September games, which statistically should count for absolutely nothing given that he was playing for bottom dweller teams.”
Epinephrine, I don’t think the “September At Bats” arguments is valid. About half the Braves’ September games last year came agains the Mets and Phillies, who were in a death-match for the playoffs. No one was throwing softballs in those games.
10-80
March 15th, 2009
2:09 pm
also, i may have missed this but where is Don on the radio? just getting Chip some practice for the season?
Lew
March 15th, 2009
2:11 pm
Bobby’s Belly-Dude, didn’t you read what I said? I agree that Schafer is the Future-but not the immediate present. And if minor league numbers always equated ML performance, I don’t think McCann would have won Two Silver Sluggers or Three All Star selections. Mac hit all of .275 with a .334 OBP in FIVE minor league seasons. Find an argument that actually means something.
dogsbrekky (UNC Rocks)
March 15th, 2009
2:12 pm
Diamond Back – thanks you, kind of a clever name then like the “Sooners”, I actually guessed that one a while back…..
Lew
March 15th, 2009
2:13 pm
Bobby’s Belly-Dude, I’ll bet you one of my drawings that Anderson makes the team and Schafer starts the season in the minors. Argue all you like, but him not having options means one of two things-He either starts in Atlanta for the Braves or he gets traded. They will NOT just release him.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
2:13 pm
Capellan had a leadoff single in the fifth, then Lowe struck out Matsui and Pence before Berkman grounded out to end the inning.
pfunkATL
March 15th, 2009
2:14 pm
DOB, AWESOME story about Chip/Skip…I REMEMBER that game…was watching as I do about 130 + a year ( mostly re-broadcasts as I work at nite). Love to hear your message on the cellie…any way you can audio-post it on here??? OR you could e-mail me it at pfunkatl2003@yahoo.com…PROMISE I am NOT a STALKER…LOL
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
2:15 pm
lmao@shane
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
2:15 pm
Lew – Your arguing for a career minor leaguer wilting under the pressure of ST competition. Let me guess, you think the Tommy Glavine signing was a good baseball move too. Get a clue Lew.
Old Third Baseman
March 15th, 2009
2:15 pm
Kyle March 15th, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
Don’t normally comment, just read the blog, but that was a pretty cool comment about Chip DOB. There is not much stronger than the bonds of a father and son tied by baseball.
Gotta second this one DOB – very cool. Had to get up and walk away for a little while here on a rainy, gloomy Sunday afternoon. It will be very strange and sad without Skip AND Pete this year.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
2:16 pm
I can draw stick men too Lew.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
2:16 pm
He could also freehand-roll a helluva blount. lol
DiamondbackMac
March 15th, 2009
2:20 pm
dogsbrekky
Here’s the rest of the article in case you’re interested.
Tennessee has had several nicknames, but the most popular is “The Volunteer
State.” The nickname originated during the War of 1812 when thousands of Tennesseans
enlisted in response to Governor Willie Blount’s call for volunteers.
Other nicknames include the “Big Bend State,” which refers to the Indian name of
the Tennessee River; “The River with the Big Bend”; and “Hog and Hominy State,”
now obsolete but formerly applied because “the corn and pork products of Tennessee
were in such great proportions between 1830 and 1840”; and “The Mother of Southwestern
Statesmen,” because Tennessee furnished the United States three presidents
and a number of other leaders who served with distinction in high government
office.
Tennesseans sometimes are referred to as “Volunteers,” “Big Benders” and “Butternuts.”
The first two are derived from the nickname of the state, while the tag of
“Butternuts” was first applied to Tennessee soldiers during the War Between the
States because of the tan color of their uniforms. Later, it sometimes was applied to
people across the entire state.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
2:21 pm
Bobby’s Belly-Get a clue? From YOU? Seriously? You can draw flies, too, I’m certain of it.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
2:23 pm
Non-connoisseurs of the finer shrubs will have a tough time understand my last comment.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
Expect two of the eight cuts tomorrow to be starting pitchers Todd Redmond and James Parr. Neither was going to make this team, obviously, and the Braves want them to go to minor league camp now so they can get stretched out in preparation for the season.
Josh B
March 15th, 2009
2:25 pm
Can someone give us some play by play action? Or give out the radio station?
The Real Don Steele
March 15th, 2009
2:25 pm
Shamus – your 2:16 post. Now that’s funny!
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
2:27 pm
MBATl, you need to check your stats. Anderson hit .296 for the Braves in September, with an abysmal .317 OBP. His gaudy MLB numbers come from his tenure with the Astros, where he hit .356 on September with a .400+ OBP. When he faced the Mets and Phils last September, he reaffirmed my belief he has trouble getting on base. Speed isn’t too important when you are on base only .317 of the time-and that is when he was hitting well.
Also, the quality of the opponent is only half of the “September numbers don’t matter” argument. The simple truth of the matter is that the players don’t feel the pressure to win and succeed to the same extent as they do in the regular season. The consequences aren’t there and the pressure is lifted.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
2:27 pm
“I’m certain of it.” OK – I give up.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
2:28 pm
And maybe someday soon, you’ll learn to draw reasonable conclusions, too.
Random
March 15th, 2009
2:28 pm
Lew (10:22 am): “Pete died of a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Kurt Cobain blew his head off. Pete played basketball. Kurt played guitar.”
Sorry, all — my bad. Thanks for the corrections.
I was thinking of his his mom.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
2:28 pm
And as I type, Schafer lays down a bunt and gets on base…
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
2:28 pm
After a Prado leadoff single and Lowe one-out sac bunt, there was a pitching change. Then
JoshAndersonSchafer lays down a nice bunt that lefty pitcher Wesley Wright couldn’t field cleanly near first-base line. Ruled a single.Kelly grounded out to end inning with two on.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
2:29 pm
Random-Seriously? I wasn’t aware of that.
Larry Whisenton
March 15th, 2009
2:29 pm
Lew likes to ride the log flume backwards.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
2:29 pm
SORIANO in to pitch. Only his second appearance, the other also against Houston on Tuesday.
JerseyGil
March 15th, 2009
2:30 pm
Eight Man Out:Redmond,Parr,Ridgway,Valdez,Parr,Boscan,Conrad,hicks.
Rodney Derrick
March 15th, 2009
2:30 pm
On the radio via MLB.com, Frank Wren said he expects to move some pitchers before end of spring, especially those not set for big club or Richmond.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
2:31 pm
DOB, that was Schafer, not Josh Anderson I believe…or at least that is what the announcers said.
mbatl
March 15th, 2009
2:31 pm
Epinephrine, no real big argument here. My point was just that in general, you shouldn’t dismiss September stats as meaningless, because the other team often has something to play for. September stats shouldn’t be viewed as meaningless.
I’m actually hoping (and expecting) that Schafer is the starting CF on opening day. He’s certainly not been overmatched this spring, and he hit well (.316/.358/.421) in ST last year. Brings much, much more to the table that Josh or Gregor.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
2:32 pm
And of course, Lowe’s already ready to talk to us. He showers and is ready to bolt.
I’m watching a few Soriano pitches, at least, before I go down.
He’s already hit 94 mph three times in the first batter.
Got him out on a groundout, 92 mph pitch
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
2:33 pm
OK, gotta get down there or Lowe’s gonna leave
BravesAC
March 15th, 2009
2:33 pm
DOB
Really enjoyed the Skip/Chip story. Made me laugh…and re-connect for a bit with a guy who was a true asset to the Braves even if he wasn’t on the field.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
2:35 pm
Nice to see Anderson execute things he’s been working on this spring too.
rob
March 15th, 2009
2:37 pm
Schafer had the bunt hit
Patrick
March 15th, 2009
2:38 pm
Can someone keep up with the play by play while DOB is gone?
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
2:39 pm
Schafer just said give the hit to Anderson. He needs it more.
phishing with the braves
March 15th, 2009
2:41 pm
yeah, diaz can swing the bat on occasion but man he is a slob in LF…
Jim
March 15th, 2009
2:43 pm
From the MLB box score, Schafer had the bunt hit and Escobar grounded out.
Anyone
March 15th, 2009
2:47 pm
Patrick I think Someone is taking a break.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
2:47 pm
Well, box score says it was Schafer with the bunt. Man, the kid is looking at Anderson’s strengths and executing those on the field. 1-3 today, hitting .360 now.
Box also says Diaz has a hit today and is now hitting .393. Pretty Diaz-like.
Other meaningless stats:
Frenchy, who has his 1st K, has another hit in 2 AB and his avg keeps rising (.345). This “frenchy hater,” or doubter as I like to say, is starting to believe more and more everyday.
Prado keeps hitting, 1-2 ad now at .323. He and Infante look good, better if Prado can cut down on the base path errors as we move closer to April.
Ross seems like he hasn’t got a hit since the 1st week. 0-2 again today.
Freeman is also 0-2. Kid is going to be good. I like how he hits using all fields.
Soriano gave up a hit in 1 scoreless inning.
Kelly is 0-2 and has fallen to .300. I hope he can be more consistent than he was the last 2 seasons. He’s been looking good so far.
Someone Else
March 15th, 2009
2:49 pm
Patrick I think Someone went to his mother’s house for Sunday dinner.
Josh Anderson's Mom
March 15th, 2009
2:49 pm
Lies! It’s all lies!
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
2:51 pm
Yes, that was Schafer on the bunt hit. Which might tell you something about that speed he worked on this winter. I mean, I looked up to see him bolting from the box, and I swear just from the speed I thought it was Anderson, that he’d come in the game.
YunelBar
March 15th, 2009
2:51 pm
How has Yunel’s spring gone so far? Really have not heard much about him to this point?
StingerSplash
March 15th, 2009
2:52 pm
DOB,
I think the story of your voicemail message is better than the reputed answering machine message Will Clark used to have.
BTW, B.B. still puts on a great, great show and his band is beyond tight.
CT Splitter
March 15th, 2009
2:53 pm
Lew is too busy drawing a ‘mean johnson’ to provide game updates.
Braddd
March 15th, 2009
2:54 pm
For those not listening to the game, Frank Wren was on and saying he may trade some of the young pitchers. He (implied) it could be for a power bat. Though that really doesnt mean anything.
Random
March 15th, 2009
2:55 pm
Epinephrine (12:56 pm): “Duke Boy, I still think there is a whole lot of uncertainty with our starting rotation. It could be great, or it could be decidedly average.
“We know what we have in Lowe, and it will be good. Could be very good.
“We don’t know what we have in Vasquez.”
If we don’t know what we got in uninjured, 11-year veteran Vazquez, then we flat out don’t know nothin about nobody, and should prob’ly all of us just shut up.
How is it that you think we know more about Lowe than about Vazquez?
Pete
March 15th, 2009
2:56 pm
Bobby’sCox says: “Frenchy, who has his 1st K, has another hit in 2 AB and his avg keeps rising (.345). This “frenchy hater,” or doubter as I like to say, is starting to believe more and more everyday.”
The problem is he has yet to hit his 1st double, or ANY extra base hit, this spring (grapefruit games). Believe me, hes not paid to hit over .300 only; hes paid for power. Maybe all the adjustments he made cost him power? I dont know; just speculating.
Braddd
March 15th, 2009
2:57 pm
Random, I think he meant Vazquez has been up in down in terms of ERA.
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
2:57 pm
StingerSplash — Let’s hear more about Will Clark’s machine message.
Braddd
March 15th, 2009
2:57 pm
I mean up AND down
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:02 pm
Moylan in to pitch, induces a 5-3 groundout to begin the eighth.
DukeBoy
March 15th, 2009
3:03 pm
Score?
Random
March 15th, 2009
3:04 pm
Mike S (1:07 pm): “Hate to hear that DOB. Stockman is one of my favs, it is a shame he never really recovered from that injury. Hopefully someone else will sign him and give him a shot.”
Of what — cortisone? Or did you have in mind something “stronger”?
(Cognitive dissonance, much?)
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:04 pm
Struck out Jason Smith for second out.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:06 pm
and a 3-4-1 putout to end inning (ball went off 1B’s glove, fielded by 2B, who tossed to Moylan)
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
3:06 pm
Random, if you’d bothered to read the next sentence you wouldn’t have needed to type out the question.
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
3:06 pm
DOB — Do Soriano and Moylan look like their old selves or do they seem to be holding back anything.
john10
March 15th, 2009
3:09 pm
DOB
Any idea why the Braves didn’t put Stockman on the 60 day DL instead of releasing him? Seems like a low-rent way of saving a few dollars..
rob
March 15th, 2009
3:10 pm
It is Schafer time
rob
March 15th, 2009
3:11 pm
base hit by Heyward off a lefty
rob
March 15th, 2009
3:11 pm
1st and 3rd no out
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:14 pm
Braves have runners on the corners with none out and Brooks Conrad batting. He just fouled back a pitch, has a 2-2 count.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
3:14 pm
Oh, Lew. Schafer 2-4. Starting a rally. Put the crayons down and tell me Josh Anderson is the answer.
mbatl
March 15th, 2009
3:15 pm
I know many bloggers hate them, but now would be a nice time for a 3-run homer.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:15 pm
Conrad hits a lazy fly to right, not deep enough to score the runner.
Brings up Brandon Jones.
Got over 8,000 in attendance today, they just announced.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:17 pm
Jones hits a long double to the left-center gap to drive in both runs. Impressive piece of hitting there.
Score tied 2-2
mbatl
March 15th, 2009
3:17 pm
… or a 2-run double.
rob
March 15th, 2009
3:18 pm
Brandon Jones needs to be on our team
matt
March 15th, 2009
3:20 pm
Looks like Schafer should be the CF out of spring. I don’t think a roster spot should be determined by who does/doesn’t have options. Should go to the guy that’s playing the best, which is obviously Schafer so far.
By the way, does anybody out there actually have ESPN Deportes? I don’t have it down here in south GA. It’s really frustrating. I find it hard to get into the WBC when I can’t even watch the games. Would have loved to see the game last night, even though USA lost. Would’ve loved to see Vazquez pitch. If they really want to drum up interest in this thing, it would probably help if people could actually watch the games, at least the US games. If I can’t watch the games, I just as soon have Chipper, Mac, Vazquez back in Braves camp.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:21 pm
Adirondack, Moylan was throwing a lot of changeups, the pitch he’s been working on this spring.
NOW Brandon Hicks just laced a single up the middle, putting runners on the corners.
Braves are doing this off lefty Tim Byrdak, who had allowed only five hits in 6-2/3 innings before today. They’ve got three against him, including hits by young LH hitters Heyward and B. Jones
Joshua L
March 15th, 2009
3:22 pm
It was on MLB Network as well, Matt. That is how I was able to watch the game…
Braddd
March 15th, 2009
3:22 pm
Braves lead 3-2
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:22 pm
Norton grounds into potential inning-ending double-play, but throw to first base for would-be second out was high and the go-ahead run scores.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
3:23 pm
mbatl, we just hate when a team relies on them. Nice to have a team that, so far this spring, can string together some hits, something that our 3-run HR dependent team couldn’t muster consistently over the last few years. It’s nice to inject some speed into the lineup, and a few consistent hitters that analysts say this team needed.
but ya, that would be nice. Or another hit to put the tying run in scoring position with 1 out, or perhaps at the corners.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:23 pm
Gorecki infield pop to end inning. Braves are up 3-2 entering ninth.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
3:25 pm
amazing things happen when you put the ball in play.
matt
March 15th, 2009
3:25 pm
Don’t have MLB network either, cable really sucks down here in this small south GA town. Can’t wait to move back to Athens!
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:27 pm
Someone asked why Stockman not put on 60-day DL. I haven’t talked to him since they announced he was released just before game. But when I talked to him after the MRI confirmed the two herniated disks last week, he said the docs talked about him getting more injections possibly. He said we’ve already done that and it didn’t work. He was frustrated, you could tell, from going through all the work this offseason to get in shape, then having the same issues with the back and pain radiating down the legs, etc.
John Adcox
March 15th, 2009
3:30 pm
Man, it is getting harder and harder not to get on the Brandon Jones bandwagon. I can’t help remembering all those comparisons to Dye when he was young. I know he’s not going to live up to that, but he’s winning me over. That Diaz/Jones platoon sounds awfully sweet about now.
phishing with the braves
March 15th, 2009
3:30 pm
the reason that the WBC hasnt been on any of the major sports networks (espn and fox) for the most part this week is because the ncaa conference tourneys get much better ratings. hands down.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:30 pm
I asked Garret Anderson about his calf this morning, said he’s doing better, but still hadn’t run on it. If I had to guess, I’m gonna say next weekend at the earliest before we see him play. Could be a little sooner, but considering he hasn’t run on it yet….
John Adcox
March 15th, 2009
3:31 pm
How’s Logan looking?
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
3:32 pm
pete,
I thought frenchy didn’t have the bat speed to be a ML hitter. Looks like changes to his stance, hands, feet, etc, are allowing him to see some pitches longer and put the ball in play with some authority.
I don’t think the lack of power is a problem. He’s hit a lot of balls hard, and as long as he keeps getting more comfortable, the balls will find power allies and the fence. The more his new approach becomes 2nd nature, the more he’ll be able to sit on his pitch in favorable counts and drive a ball as well.
Look back 2 weeks, and you’ll see my posts regarding Frenchy have turned a 180. Looks like he’s making progress. It’s not definite yet, but it’s very promising…
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
3:34 pm
Boone Logan just gave up a single and then a looong double by someone named Lou Santangelo off the base of the CF wall. But Schafer made a great play to get to it, field it cleanly and throw to the cutoff man, and the Astros held the runner at second.
Logan then struck out Abercrombie with runners at second and third to end the game. Braves win 3-2.
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
3:35 pm
LEW — I see your points on the Anderson-Schafer battle. Here’s what it comes down to for me. Every day (including the Jupiter game I was at on Friday) Schafer seems more and more like a serious impact player. I know the clock issue is always in the background but I think if the pitching stays healty, Schafer can be key offensive player from the git-go. I’d like to see Anderson kept on as a 4-5 outfielder for his speed on defense and as a pinch runner. Garrett Anderson, I just don’t know what he brings now… I like Matty a lot but after his offensive (and defensive) showing this spring, maybe it’s time to trade him for a stellar prospect if that’s possible.
Frankie Knuckles
March 15th, 2009
3:36 pm
matt – regarding Jordan over Josh. We have to get something for Josh. Hes a good fielder and an absolute burner. You don’t walk away from that empty handed. Just wouldn’t be a smart business decision. This aint little league bro.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
3:36 pm
Sounds like Schafer saved a run, won us the game. Anyway, I’m clearly in the tank for Schafer, but I will say Anderson has earned the chance to prove me wrong. We’ll see what he can do the rest of the spring. But if I am FW, I have a hard time sending Jordan back down.
Wayne in Utah
March 15th, 2009
3:36 pm
Dave
Which of the new lefties looks better at this point in the spring? Logan or O’Flaherty?
I like what I am hearing from lots of our players right now. But then again, it’s a bit early to be proclaiming Brandon Jones the next Jermaine Dye.
Poorbrave
March 15th, 2009
3:37 pm
I agree with you LEW. Josh stays and Schafer goes AAA. If Josh can’t cut it you can always call Schafer up. AAA will only be 30 minutes away. Josh should have stayed up last year in my opinion and Blanco should have got more time in AAA. Just because you get hot in ST don’t prove you’ll be hot when season starts. There’s a lot of difference in Season and ST. Remember they both are Braves, stay positive.
cmac1919
March 15th, 2009
3:37 pm
Boone Logan seems like the real deal
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
3:37 pm
LEW — I just now read DOB’s 3:34… That’s what I mean about Schafer being an impact player, with the stick and glove both.
Shawn G
March 15th, 2009
3:38 pm
There is ZERO chance Jordan and Josh are both on the 25.
N Nine (eta21)
March 15th, 2009
3:39 pm
“”It’s frustrating for me to be hurt,” Stockman said March 8. “But it’s the same problem. I’ve been rehabbing it for two years. I’ve tried everything and done everything the Braves have asked me to do rehab-wise, and it’s still there.”
Why didn’t he have a typical back surgery instead of going around the problem for such a long time? I don’t get it.
Schafer needs to be on this team. Its showing.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
3:39 pm
Schafer’s got options blah, blah, blah.
Wayne in Utah
March 15th, 2009
3:40 pm
I understand the caution requested for several of our youngsers, but if a kid is ready, let’s not delay his debut (Schafer, BJones, Hanson, Medlen, Marek are names that come to mind.).
Wayne in Utah
March 15th, 2009
3:41 pm
At some point if Brandon Jones continues his spring showing, does he make Garret Anderson unnecessary?
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
3:41 pm
and pete,
what’s the issue if frenchy has turned into a merely .300 hitter with no power? You do realize that this team would then be stocked with a bunch of them right? Escobar, McCann, Chipper, Anderson, Diaz, Kotchman, Infante, Prado, possibly Kelly, and then Frenchy, could all be .300 hitters. I don’t see the problem as long as he can hit a single with a runner in scoring position.
You can’t pitch around a bunch of .300 hitters, especially when each one of them has a good change of going yard at any moment, and the lefties (garrett, kelly, mccann) do pretty well against LH pitchers also.
StingerSplash
March 15th, 2009
3:43 pm
That last 9.6 seconds of basketball in the SEC championship game may have been the worst 9-second span of basketball in history. It was enough to make Naismith, Rupp, Iba and Allen all roll over in their collective graves. It also gave John Wooden a throbbing headache, if he was unfortunate enough to watch that. Dreadful.
Love the eerily prescient Street Survivors album cover to open the blog. Listened to the second CD from Southern Rock Opera on the way home last night. Let me tell y’all a story. So far-fetched, it must be true ….
Fred
March 15th, 2009
3:43 pm
Shawn G, There is definitely a chance Schafer and J. Anderson could both be on the opening day roster if G. Anderson remains injured (or if another injury occurs). Under those circumstances, I could see Shafer starting in center with J. Anderson platooning with Diaz in left (or vice-versa). Obviously, B. Jones could also platoon with Diaz if G. Anderson isn’t ready opening night.
Random
March 15th, 2009
3:44 pm
Braddd (2:57 pm): “I think he meant Vazquez has been up [and] down in terms of ERA.”
Yeah, well so has Lowe — see Seattle and his last two years with Boston.
Thanks, though.
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
3:45 pm
Great story about the voicemail, DOB. I don’t see how he kept from crying like a baby.
Beautiful day here in northeast bama….I’ve got my ipod strapped on and my dog at my feet…we haven’t ran in 2 days because of non stop rain. Have a good afternoon everyone and Go Braves!
rupert
March 15th, 2009
3:45 pm
I was for giving the job to anderson, and letting shafer get some tripple a seasoning, but his preformance this spring has changed my mind. Anderson is what he is. He is a high speed, low on-base guy who is a slap hitter. That is fine. Shafer has much more pop, a better arm, and his speed is close to anderson’s. He is the better ALL AROUND player.
I understand the financial side of this issue, but at some point, especially with the braves record the past 3 years, you have to put the best 25 out there.
brewdawg
March 15th, 2009
3:48 pm
DOB,
What I wouldn’t give to hear that voice message. Skip was a treasure. Gonna be awful strange to not hear his or Pete’s voice when I’m listening to the game when I go camping. There is a great satisfaction in listening to the Braves game while staring at a fire and drinking some brews out by lake Allatoona.
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
3:48 pm
I’m not trying to bandwagon Schafer but one more point. He made that great catch Friday in Jupiter right in front of me (I was in the cheap seats at that moment.) Made me realize in spades that he can do what Andruw most importantly did, which is make the pitching staff that much stronger and more confident knowing he’s out there in center to save some mistakes.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
3:48 pm
I will say Brandon Jones is really showing something this spring. I don’t think a player of Garrett Anderson’s caliber should ever be called unnecessary. If he played for the Red Sox or the Yankees, I’d be willing to wager he would get a lot more respect than he does now on this blog. The numbers he has consistently put up over the years are very impressive, and deserve respect.
With that being said, Brandon Jones appears finally to be showing why he was once so highly regarded. This may be a fluke, but I’m starting to think he may have just put too much pressure on himself last year in AAA and in the majors. However, I’m just not sure there is room on this team for another left handed outfield bat. We’ll see. Maybe one more year in AAA while GA is a brave, or maybe we package him with some other guys for prospects.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
3:48 pm
Poorbrave,
I agree with you that Anderson should’ve been the CF last year, so we don’t have to speculate anything right now. Now, Anderson is out of options and that most likely means the better player stays in AAA so we can see if Anderson can really cut it. You can’t cut a player outright with Anderson’s speed and base stealing ability. He should’ve been the backup outfielder to Kotsay last year to come off the bench late in games for base stealing/defensive replacement purposes. Seemed like a no-brainer, but apparently it wasn’t. That move and the Devine trade were the 2 bone-headed management decisions last year.
I like that we’re arguing over these type of problems. Having too many options is a good problem to have. Now Brandon Jones is making things even more interesting.
Mitchie-san
March 15th, 2009
3:49 pm
Braves win!
18 Wheels of Love
March 15th, 2009
3:49 pm
Chip and Powell on the radio said that Wren dropped a few hints that there could be at least 2 moves before spring is over. They talked the need for a power bat and some more HR’s….but where would that person go? Any thoughts that they might not be satisfied with LF, even with Garrett in the fold?
N Nine (eta21)
March 15th, 2009
3:49 pm
Wayne___
B. Jones looks more ready than before, but he couldn’t be ready at any worse time!
phishing with the braves
March 15th, 2009
3:50 pm
wayne in utah, quite simply, YES. same situation with hanson. hanson has made the glavine signing look questionable at best.
Andy K.
March 15th, 2009
3:50 pm
DOB: Who did the Braves replace Stockman with on the 40-Man????
mbatl
March 15th, 2009
3:51 pm
What’s the best you can expect from Josh? .300/.330/.400? Maybe 5-8 HR? And from Gregor, .270/.360/.390? 3-5 HR?
I honestly think Schafer can post something like .280/.350/.450 and 10-15 HR out of the box (and maybe much better). And play better D than either of them. Options and arbitration are a consideration, but not if a guy is ready to contribute.
Not gonna eat my gun if it doesn’t work out that way, but based on what I’ve seen this year (and last S.T. too, when he hit over .300) I think Schafer adds a lot to the lineup and is ready for prime time.
Random
March 15th, 2009
3:52 pm
Epinephrine (3:06 pm): “if you’d bothered to read the next sentence you wouldn’t have needed to type out the question.”
I read your whole comment.
Twice.
And it wasn’t a bother. Really.
I still don’t understand why you think we know more about Lowe than about Vazquez. The latter has pitched 2270 ML innings — the former, 1940.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
3:55 pm
Rupert – Right on. Same guys trying to save the Braves 2 million a year early on a Hanson, Schafer, B. Jones arb clock argument complain about the $3 hot dog at TED. Can’t understand the Josh Anderson argument at all. Like some people on here don’t realize every org. in baseball has a Josh Anderson (or several). Fast as hell, solid defender, slap hitter, low avg, low obp. Go visit any of your favorite team’s minor league affiliates. They’re all over the place. When you see them in the bigs they’re coming in in the 8th to run or play D.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
3:55 pm
Someone posted on the last page about Wren saying he could deal these extra arms for a power bat still. I don’t see how that’s necessary at this point, or who that bat would replace (Diaz, Garrett, Schafer, BJones, JAnderson?)
Just don’t see how Wren could say that now. I was speculating a trade all winter in dealing a combination of b. jones/diaz/parr/carlyle/campillo/redmond, etc.. to Texas for Nelson Cruz. Seemed like it would be a good trade thus far in ST based on what players have done. But, now after signing Garrett, how is that possible?
Maybe he was just saying in case RF was a problem? Just seems odd Wren would say that now. Was it really on the broadcast today?
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
4:01 pm
The Braves only have 72 strikeouts all spring, and 25 of those came in 70 at-bats by three kids: Heyward (nine), Schafer (eight) and Conrad (eight).
Schafer, by the way, got lauded again by Cox afterward. Terrific defensive play with two outs and runner going in ninth, another two-hit game including a bunt single … he’s doing a lot of good things every day, it seems, to make Braves think long and hard.
Fillies Feeling Frightfully Philharmonic
March 15th, 2009
4:01 pm
Braves CF options in order
Jordan Schafer
Greg Blanco
Josh Anderson
but I would gues you will take the worst option
FWIW – Schafer is one of the quickest guys we have scouted on the base paths this spring (he clocks quicker than Anderson), he is mighty fast
Doc Holiday
March 15th, 2009
4:01 pm
I dont think that just a year after our SP s…….ed (like it did in 2008), that signing Glavine for so little could look questionable. Specially on a refurbished rotation that has no aces, out #2 is a sophomore, our #3 has some question marks and our #4 has never pitched in the majors. Not to mention that Hanson has not done so either (regular season…….excuse me if Im wrong). JoJo you cant trust, nor Morton. This signing could look bad by ASB if our youngsters start tearing off AAA and one of them is given the opportunity at MLB and he succeeds. But what if something goes awfully wrong with JJJ or with Kawakami (or whatever his name is) ?Then youll see Glavines importance. Im not a fan of having him around, Dont think he is an important piece, but think about it twice, he could end up being important. You never know.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
4:02 pm
Random, once again you make it clear you have no idea what you are talking about. Actually, Lowe has been the model of consistency over the last few years. He has been in the top 3 in ground ball ratio since 2002. That is 6 years. He has had a sub 4 ERA since 2005-every year he has been a starter in the NL. He has ha a sub 5 ERA every year but one in which he has logged significant playing time.
Vazquez has had ERAS since 2002 of: 3.91, 3.24 (both NL), 4.91, (AL) 4.42 (NL), 4.84, 3.74, 4.67 (all AL). That is, he has bounced back and forth over the 4.00 line several times over the last few seasons. We are hoping to get a sub 4 Vasquez thanks to being free of Ozzie and back in the NL. We may get the +4 Javy that has excellent stuff but can’t quite get it together. Who knows.
But there is reason why Lowe was regarded as one of the most coveted FAs this off season, and why Vasquez is regarded as something of an enigma. It is because one is consistent and the other isn’t. But nice argument anyway.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
4:03 pm
I really don’t think management is really THAT concerned about postponing the arb clock on Schafer. If he’s ready, he’s ready. They were willing to start the clock last year. I just find it odd that people here think management is that concerned about saving 2 million 2 years, or 3 years from now, on a guy who is most likely going to be a franchise player anyway, and whom Wren will try and sign to a deal similar to McCann, Howard, Braun, Longoria before he’s even arb eligible.
I think they’re more concerned with letting go of Anderson’s ability without either trading him or giving him his fair shake. That’s all. I don’t think the money is an issue. I think the minute Anderson shows some success, they trade him for a lefty bullpen arm prospect and bring up Schafer because Schafer is showing he’s got Anderson’s game anyway.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
4:03 pm
Bobby’s Cox: They have a surplus of young pitching, but I don’t think you’d expect to get a major league power bat from kind of guys I think he’s talking about possibly trading. Rather, you could get a young guy with power, a prospect. I think that’s probably what he’s talking about or alluding to.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
4:03 pm
Bobby’s Cox – Wren intimated on “SEVERAL” immediate deals (2-3 weeks) involving some of our excess pitching and
“We need to know/be sure where our offence will come from”
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
4:05 pm
As I read that back, it was too harsh. Didn’t mean to come off as condescending.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
4:06 pm
Andy K: Nobody yet. They don’t have to have the 40-man filled. If, for instance, they wanted to add Schafer, that’s not a decision they have to make today. Not that I’m saying that’s what they they intend to do, just giving you an example.
Pete
March 15th, 2009
4:07 pm
B’sCox,
Well Im just not quite as optimistic about JF as you. Seems as if pitchers have made necessary adjustments, and JF cannot or has not found the right answer yet, although obviously hitting .340+ with only 1 K is encouraging.
But Im not sure the power will come; its certainly been long enough in spring to have at least 1 double, not to mention HR. Its worrisome to say the least. Im guessing there is 50/50 chance he will not be a Brave in 2010.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
4:07 pm
epinephrine – Ozzie snorts too much and is a cancer to anyone in his clubhouse with sensitivity,
give the Braves FO etc some kudos at getting a proven KKKK king with Vazquez……………….in a pitcher’s park he will be much better
Random
March 15th, 2009
4:08 pm
Epinephrine — And it looks like I’m not alone in not buying into your seemingly arbitrary distinction between Lowe and Vazquez:
Andy(1:14 pm): “Epinephrine, yes there is uncertainty. Yes……. . . Lowe and Vasquez you pretty much know what they are going to get—pretty much.”
Jim(1:12 pm): ” Epinephrine, There is uncertainty at this point with most every rotation. Having . . . people like Lowe and Vasquez who have consistently avoided injury and provided 200+ innings in the rotation provides a reasonable assurance that the pitching will be at worst average with reasonable protection against the complete breakdown that occurred last year.”
Fillies Feeling Frightfully Philharmonic
March 15th, 2009
4:09 pm
Nelson Cruz for Josh Anderson, Parr and Morton may be on
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
4:10 pm
Cox said Moylan used a new changeup he’s been working on, threw a few of them today including one to strike out a lefty hitter. He threw his regular changeup, too.
Cox thinks Moylan might be ready for opening day, but still not certain. Said a lot depends on how many pitchers they keep, since they’ll have to be careful and not use Moylan on back-to-back days right away, etc.
He fully expects Soriano to be ready.
Doc Holiday
March 15th, 2009
4:10 pm
I also have to admit that JF has improved, I just hope he continues to play good baseball, he is one of the missing pieces that could turn us into such a special team.
One last comment………We are ready to rumble people. Think about it: When a team has these many pieces, abundance, for example. What the hell is Glavine doing around here as a 5th starter? Wow, I can picture more than half teams on the league that would love to have that situation around. What about having a monster waiting in the wings to make the team as a 5th starter (hanson). What about having to decide between Schafer, Anderson, Blanco and BJ for only 1 spot remaining in the roster? Not to mention Heyward is not to far behind (2010). This could be a very special year for the Braves, we are in form to win more than 90 games easily I would say.
Lets go Braves!!!!!!!!
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
4:11 pm
Guys turn on the WBC now
This Cuban guy is pitching…… he is freakish 101 mph, 77 mph knee buckler curve……. Chapman and Cuba vs JAPAN
will be the game of the event !
Jackie Treehorn
March 15th, 2009
4:11 pm
A lot of you have expressed concerns over the outfield saying that the good play of Brandon Jones and Jordan Schafer makes guys like Garret Anderson and Josh Anderson expendable. I think it is important to remember we’re in Spring Training, and through injuries or otherwise, we’ll likely see both of these guys this year. A good spring will likely carry over to good starts from both Jones and Schafer at AAA, which can only help their confidence. But what happens when the Braves go with Schafer to open the season and try to get Anderson through waivers, only to have him claimed by some other team? Then, if Schafer proves to not be ready, you’re left with a bad situation in center.
All I’m sayin is, unless Anderson stinks up the joint for the rest of spring training, he at least deserves a chance to be our center fielder/leadoff man from Day 1.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
4:12 pm
thanks DOB and dogsbrekky. That makes some sense now.
Mekons
March 15th, 2009
4:12 pm
DOB: That’s the sense I got out of Wren’s statement, too. For instance, we could really use someone who could play a lot of 3B in a couple of years, or a power bat for LF down the line.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
4:13 pm
lol at Garret being expendable
We got him because he hits and hits and hits…..
Doesnt matter the time of year or pitcher or situation, guy hits consistently
Pete
March 15th, 2009
4:13 pm
B’sCox: “and pete, what’s the issue if frenchy has turned into a merely .300 hitter with no power? You do realize that this team would then be stocked with a bunch of them right? Escobar, McCann, Chipper, Anderson, Diaz, Kotchman, Infante, Prado, possibly Kelly, and then Frenchy, could all be .300 hitters. I don’t see the problem as long as he can hit a single with a runner in scoring position.”
If JF doesnt deliver some power this year, believe me, its a huge problem. Braves have built their team counting on him being a power hitter. And no I dont mean 35+ bombs either; Im talking 25 or so with 30-35 doubles. Youre assuming a lot of .300 hitters there; a couple wont and then you have injuries, etc.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
4:16 pm
This CUBAN is nasty, let’s get Yunel and some mates to kidnap him (nicely) and have his agent sign a nice long term deal with us
Doc Holiday
March 15th, 2009
4:16 pm
Pete,
Truth is, Braves dont really need JF to hit 35 HR in 2009. He is not our cleanup hitter. What they really need if for him to hit about .295 and drive in more than 95 runs. if he is hitting 5th or 6th and he does that, I can guarantee you that we will be in business.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
4:16 pm
Random, actually the post you quoted from Jim doesn’t have anything to do with your argument. In my post, I said our rotation could be “great” or “decidedly average”, due to uncertainty. I also said at minimum Vazquez will give us 200 innings and Ks, if healthy. Jim said that every rotation faces uncertainty, and that at least we would be average, with Vazquez giving us innings and uncertainty.
He didn’t say anything about how Lowe was less uncertain than Vazquez. But Lowe’s reputation is one of consistency, and Vazquez is known as a guy with great stuff that for some reason hasn’t become the pitcher he is capable of being. If that for some reason bothers you, I don’t know what to say except don’t take it out on me.
18 Wheels of Love
March 15th, 2009
4:18 pm
Doc, if Jeff hits HR’s like that, he will be our clean-up hitter.
3pitch
March 15th, 2009
4:20 pm
Wren stated that out of a seven man bullpen, they had seven pitchers vying for three open spots and some were out of options. He mentioned trading the excess (relief pitchers). And he is still not sure about the offensive capability…..do they have enough? At least, this is what I heard. There was no mention of trading young starting pitchers for outfielders.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
4:22 pm
Absolutely no reason to trade young starting pitchers. The way I see it, only Lowe and Jurrjens are probables in our rotation in three years. We will need Reyes, Morton, Hanson, Rohrbough, Locke, and Medlen to fill those spots.
Fillies Feeling Frightfully Philharmonic
March 15th, 2009
4:22 pm
Atlanta has the best rotation in the NL now, regardless of ifs, buts and maybes…………
The only match up you have trouble with is maybe San Francisco if Randy is well…….. Lincecum beats Lowe
Johnson beats Vazquez (close)
Zito gets crushed by my grandma… so Jurrjens wins
Kawakami and Matt Cain ?????
Sanchez or Lowry vs Glavine = Braves
Braves are better than us, Mets, Marlins (who will be very good), Arizona, Cubs, Cards… so as long as healthy pitching is your strength
Your OF is a major problem outside Garret
N Nine (eta21)
March 15th, 2009
4:25 pm
“Truth is, Braves dont really need JF to hit 35 HR in 2009.”DOC
Which OF will produce the power then? Diaz? Schafer? The truth is we NEED power, can’t afford to be the worst power outfield production team for straight two years.
Random
March 15th, 2009
4:27 pm
Epinephrine (4:02 pm): “once again you make it clear you have no idea what you are talking about.”
Who, me?
No way.
(Btw, when was the other time?)
“Vazquez has had ERAS since 2002 of: 3.91, 3.24 (both NL), 4.91, (AL) 4.42 (NL), 4.84, 3.74, 4.67 (all AL). That is, he has bounced back and forth over the 4.00 line several times over the last few seasons.”
Lowe has had ERAS since 2002 of: 2.58, 4.47, 5.42 (all AL) 3.61, 3.63, 3.88, 3.24 (all NL). That is, he has bounced back and forth over the 3.85 line several times over the last few seasons.
You wanna compare their WHIPs over the same period?
(No, you don’t — trust me.)
TexasBrave
March 15th, 2009
4:29 pm
DOB if Glavine will not be needed until mid-April is there a possiblility that he could make some starts down on the farm to build up his arm strength? Is there a way to do that other than putting him on the DL?
oldbrave
March 15th, 2009
4:30 pm
the volunteer name came from the Texas fight for independence when Daid Crockett and A bunch of Tennesse Volunteres fought at the Aloma
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
4:31 pm
OF power is not an issue if Schafer is the CF’er. Diaz/GA = 18, Frenchy = 15 (hopefully many more), Schafer = 12-15 as a rookie. 45-50 hr’s is acceptable from the OF. Now you put JA into CF and you have last year’s production.
TexasBrave
March 15th, 2009
4:31 pm
oldbrave were you there?
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
4:33 pm
I still don’t think we need the power this year. Our pitching won’t give up many runs, and the way our lineup can string together hits now, i think we’ll be able to score more than we give up.
I think it’s still a little bit of a concern for Wren as the GM in the early stages of ST, but as a fan, I’m not that worried. Pitching wins ballgames. A poor offense will lose them, but this offense isn’t that poor without a power bat, as long as it’s more consistent than last season, which i think it will be. Nearly everyone can hit 15-20, so power isn’t even a concern.
Mark Windsor
March 15th, 2009
4:36 pm
This centerfield thing is really a problem the most complete player is Shafer he has good power great defense some speed the other 2 lack power and 1 of those 2 Blanco isnt fast at all but can hit singles and doubles..they are going to have to trade some fat away or maybe make a cut and with Anderson being 26 I think he is odd man out due to lack of power and his age.Shame Anderson has been in wrong placwe at wrong time with his career, he is a good guy.Wasnt a Brave that everyone loved named Bret Butler a similuar type player as Anderson?He had a great careeer with dodgers..the game has changed a lot..you need power I guess.
Tennbravefan
March 15th, 2009
4:39 pm
First of all, Stinger Splash, I agree worst 9 seconds of basketball I’ve ever seen in that SEC title game. As for the CF battle, at this point you have to go with Schafer, and you’ve got Blanco as a backup option in AAA. As for Anderson, package him in a trade along with Jo Jo Reyes. XM radio keeps talking about the Padres wanting young pitching. A package of Jo Jo, Anderson, and Kotchman may land A. Gonzales and a prospect. Cf solved and power bat solved. (probably never happen though)
N Nine (eta21)
March 15th, 2009
4:39 pm
Could Blanco or Anderson be on the trading block?
Random
March 15th, 2009
4:42 pm
Bobby’s Cox (4:03 pm): I really don’t think management is really THAT concerned about postponing the arb clock on Schafer. If he’s ready, he’s ready. They were willing to start the clock last year. I just find it odd that people here think management is that concerned about saving 2 million 2 years, or 3 years from now, on a guy who is most likely going to be a franchise player anyway, and whom Wren will try and sign to a deal similar to McCann, Howard, Braun, Longoria before he’s even arb eligible.
It ain’t necessarily the money — it’s also a question of which years of his career do we want in Atlanta.
Here’s how Baseball Prospectus’ Jay Jaffe put it in regard to erstwhile Brave Elvis Andrus:
I spent a bit of time talking about [Michael] Young in last week’s Outside Help piece on the AL West, much to the consternation of some Rangers fans who seem to believe that getting Elvis Andrus to the majors immediately is a higher priority than seasoning him in Triple-A and strategically starting his service clock so as to retain him a year longer. I mean, would they rather have him available as a 20-year-old in 2009 or as a 26-year-old in [2015], a point when the Rangers presumably won’t be staffing their rotation with the Padillas, Millwoods and Feldmans? From where I sit, the answer is so academic it hardly seems worth asking.
Pete
March 15th, 2009
4:43 pm
DOC: “Pete,Truth is, Braves dont really need JF to hit 35 HR in 2009. He is not our cleanup hitter. What they really need if for him to hit about .295 and drive in more than 95 runs. if he is hitting 5th or 6th and he does that, I can guarantee you that we will be in business.”
First of all in order to have a meaningful debate, please quote me correctly. I did not say JF needed 35 HR’s; I said 25 with 30-35 doubles. And in order to have 95+ RBI’s hitting 5th or 6th, my feeling is he will have to hit 25 HR’s.
And yes if he does get 95+ RBI’s, I definitely agree that works for the Braves.
Chop Chop
March 15th, 2009
4:44 pm
I heard that the “Volunteer” nickname comes from the time when Daniel Boone asked for some men to jump into the Cumberland Gap to see how deep it was. Them “volunteers” was Grade A Moe-rons.
Go Dawgs.
bravesfan54
March 15th, 2009
4:44 pm
Dave, this whole blog thing you’ve got here is an important activity/outlet – as part of baseball- in my life.
Todays blog, with the musical and Chip/Skip anecdote, was exceptional.
Me, as I type this I am listening to the re-mastered Moody Blues’ “On the Threshold of a Dream”.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
4:44 pm
this is going to be a pretty good Cuba/Japan game. Wish Yu Darvish was pitching today though against this Chapman dude.
Jay212033
March 15th, 2009
4:45 pm
The kid Chapman from Cuba is good but he’s a head case!
Lew
March 15th, 2009
4:45 pm
Adirondack Dave-You have no need to convince me of Schafer’s ability or potential. I’ve been saying he’s the real deal ever since I saw him last Spring in Orlando and I’ve said throughout the season that he was an incredible defensive outfielder that is within reach of Andruw like defense-nor do I believe that Josh Anderson will ever be a truly standout player in the bigs where Schafer may very well.
However, there are other factors at play here other than the almost apopletic joy some seem to have of rushing him into the fray. The kid is just that-a kid-he’s only 23. He has had very little experience past A ball. Keep in mind that this is still only Spring Training and many of the better pitchers are off with the WBC. He’s performing admirably, but it will not hurt him in the least to start the season a half hour away at Gwinnett. Nor will it hurt (given the apparent consistent budget concerns the Braves have) to start his clock a bit later.
As has been said before-Anderson is out of options, has played well when called up the last couple years, and I just don’t see the Braves releasing him and getting nothing in return-and I bet he won’t clear waivers. Maybe they will decide Schafer is, indeed, ready and package him with some of the excess of pitching and pick up a decent prospect. I certainly don’t discount that possibility. But all things being equal, I see Josh starting in center, but he will not remain there for long.
shane
March 15th, 2009
4:47 pm
The Volunteers (or Vols as it is commonly shortened to) derive that nickname from the State of Tennessee’s nickname. Tennessee is known as the “Volunteer State,” a nickname it earned during the War of 1812, in which volunteer soldiers from Tennessee played a prominent role, especially during the Battle of New Orleans.[5]
Mitchell
March 15th, 2009
4:48 pm
Braves win 3-2 over the Astros.
It’s a good thing too. I was really starting to get tired of losing.
Uh, so I know none of this is supposed to matter but can they keep doing it anyway? I don’t know how ready some of the older players are for the season to start what with injuries and their sad aging bodies but these youngin’s came to play. Let’s get this thing going baby, I’m ready for opening day.
You know, given the current economic crisis maybe they should just cancel the Final Four tournament altogether considering the amount of office productivity that is commonly lost with coworkers constantly updating their brackets and following the up-to-the-minute scores.
Can America really afford yet another NCAA Men’s Basketball at this crucial time in our history?
Baseball Ray…
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
4:48 pm
Random,
I don’t think it’s a question of the years either. Like I said, he’ll most likely be a brave for a long time. So, i think he’ll get a McCann-esque contract. The money nor the “years in which he’ll be in Atlanta” aren’t an issue to management IMO, nor should be. The concern would be, what to get for Anderson, and when they could trade him for peak value instead of sending him through waivers.
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
4:50 pm
mitchell,
always enjoy your wit.
everyone have a nice sunday.
flange1
March 15th, 2009
4:55 pm
Lew,
Your 4:45 is exactly my feelings on the Schafer/Josh center field issue.
I sure wish we had a spot for B Jones……
Random
March 15th, 2009
5:04 pm
Chop Chop (4:44 pm): “I heard that the “Volunteer” nickname comes from the time when Daniel Boone asked for some men to jump into the Cumberland Gap to see how deep it was. Them “volunteers” was Grade A Moe-rons.”
Don’t judge us all by tnbrian. We’re takin’ up a collection to get him to change his handle to “wvbrian“.
TexasBrave
March 15th, 2009
5:04 pm
Lew I see where you are coming from and I agree to a certain extent. However, lets fast forward and say that Schafer is still swinging the hot bat and Anderson isn’t. I can’t see the Braves keeping Anderson and sending down Schafer just because they don’t want to start his clock and don’t want to release Josh without getting something in return. If all things are equal and both are performing the same then Josh should be given the chance to prove himself until the Braves are ready to start Jordan. But if Anderson is not performing at the end of ST and Schafer is why would the Braves not want to start the best player regardless of the clock or someone being out of options.
I will reserve my final judgement until the end of ST. But it ended today I believe Jordan gives us more than Josh does and makes us a better team now instead of waiting later.
Doc Holiday
March 15th, 2009
5:05 pm
N Nine (eta21),
All I can tell you is that I rather see JF hit for average than TRY hitting for power and ending up with a .240 BA.
With the pitching we have and lots of good hitters, you dont really need HRs. HRs is not the only way to win games. Besides, we can get HRs out of Chipper, Mc, Kotchman and Yunel, some out of Anderson/Diaz. So I think we will be just fine if JF gets on base, and not necessarily hitting the big fly.
Pete,
I never said that you mentioned those numbers precisely. I think 25 HR out of JF would be more than enough from him. At least in 2009. He needs to get more selfconf. before trying to become a HR king.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
5:06 pm
Flange-Me too. I think Brandon will be a very good player given the chance.
Jim
March 15th, 2009
5:07 pm
Mitchell,
If they are updating there brackets, they are not creating worthless derivatives or laying off more productive workers. Maybe we need to stretch the tournament out longer.
Saltywoody
March 15th, 2009
5:09 pm
here’s a good youtube clip of the chapman kid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE0iQmsFSms
a little after the 3:00 minute mark, he dials up 100 and looks like he not only throws it by the batter, but almost gets it be the catcher. pretty nasty.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
5:11 pm
TexasBrave-Short of trading Anderson, I don’t see Schafer starting the year on the Braves. Too many practical reasons why they won’t. He’ll be back soon, but starts at Gwinnett unless Josh is traded. They will not release Anderson just to start Schafer’s clock. Makes no sense to do so, especially since this is back to being a pitcher oriented team and Josh’s defense is excellent.
Random
March 15th, 2009
5:12 pm
Bobby’s Cox (4:48 pm): “I don’t think it’s a question of the years either. Like I said, he’ll most likely be a brave for a long time. So, i think he’ll get a McCann-esque contract. The money nor the “years in which he’ll be in Atlanta” aren’t an issue to management IMO, nor should be.”
Gotta disagree. Respectfully, as it were.
There’s no guarantee he’d go for a McCann type deal — Francoeur didn’t. Many don’t.
The only guarantee is that Atlanta will have roughly minimum 6 years ML service from him before he’s FA eligible.
And which years in his career those will be is one of the foremost concerns of GMs everywhere. It’s one of the most important (and hardest) parts of their job. Of course it’s an issue to Braves’ management, imo.
Abbott Costello
March 15th, 2009
5:13 pm
Someone’s one first.
Someone Else is on second.
Until a decision is made, third base is Random.
Who’s Runnin? Ncscoots.
Outfield: Bobby’s Cox. (Sorry.)
Bullpen: All left Anders.
i can’t take it anymore, getnathan……
Abbott Costello
March 15th, 2009
5:14 pm
Ooops… someone’s “on” first, I meant. Sigh.
Pete
March 15th, 2009
5:15 pm
TexasBrave Says: “But if Anderson is not performing at the end of ST and Schafer is why would the Braves not want to start the best player regardless of the clock or someone being out of options.”
Because being “out of options” means JA would have to clear waivers before being sent down, which means another team would claim him. So the Braves would either have to trade him, or protect him by keeping him on the 25 man roster.
Mitchell
March 15th, 2009
5:15 pm
Wow Bobby (apostrophy ‘S’), thanks. I’m touched.
I always appreciate the innuendo… your’s, not mine. The touching is purely metaphorical. I am trying to cut back though.
Pete
March 15th, 2009
5:17 pm
DOC says: “I think 25 HR out of JF would be more than enough from him.”
Thats my point…you agree with me so why the debate? Read my 4:13 post not sure if you saw it.
Random
March 15th, 2009
5:18 pm
Lew (5:11 pm): “TexasBrave-Short of trading Anderson, I don’t see Schafer starting the year on the Braves. Too many practical reasons why they won’t. He’ll be back soon, but starts at Gwinnett unless Josh is traded. They will not release Anderson just to start Schafer’s clock. Makes no sense to do so, especially since this is back to being a pitcher oriented team and Josh’s defense is excellent.”
Gotta agree 100%. Respectfully, as it were.
(Plus, his elephants is decent.)
Josh B
March 15th, 2009
5:20 pm
Is Chapman currently in the minor leagues?
Lew
March 15th, 2009
5:20 pm
Random-But does his BABIP Fluctuate? And if so, how much?
Mekons
March 15th, 2009
5:23 pm
The Braves could try sneaking Josh through waivers at the end of ST, when most teams have already made all the moves they plan to. His only real value is as a placeholder for Schafer; I’d say he’s behind Blanco as an actual useful piece in the future. I like the guy, but he’s last in usefulness amongst our seven outfielders.
If they’re going to send Schafer down, which I think they’re going to do, Blanco should probably start in CF and if G. Anderson is on the DL, Brandon Jones should platoon in LF with Diaz.
spotts
March 15th, 2009
5:25 pm
Chapman plays for Cuba. In case you haven’t heard, Cuba and the US haven’t really communicated in oh….40 years. So I wouldn’t expect him in the majors anytime soon.
BravesFanInRockies
March 15th, 2009
5:27 pm
Lew,
I’ll be surprised if J.Anderson isn’t on the opening day roster, but if Schafer keeps playing the way he has (and JA shows he still can’t get down a bunt, for instance, and Schafer can), it will make the team’s decision tougher.
The way I see it, Josh has some big league at bats, but he’s a poor man’s version of Schafer (or what Schafer should become). When your OF put up the worst offensive numbers in baseball last year, why not give the kid a chance?
Besides, If everyone’s so confident J.Anderson would never clear waivers, then the Braves should get *something* for him in trade if they decide he’s not going to make the opening day roster.
(This team has too many Andersons in the OF anyway.)
spotts
March 15th, 2009
5:30 pm
Unless he pulls a Yunel
Josh B
March 15th, 2009
5:33 pm
Spotts what does him living in Cuba have to do with anything? Yunel is from Cuba so I dont see how that would effect anything
Steve from OH
March 15th, 2009
5:35 pm
Uhh, Josh, have you been following the news recently? And by recently, I mean the last 50 years…
Mekons
March 15th, 2009
5:35 pm
There’s that tricky little defecting problem. The Cubans cracked down after two of their star players were caught trying to defect and were quickly dropped from the team. The rest of that team is being watched like a hawk.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
5:36 pm
Random, if you don’t see the difference between the numbers you just reeled off about Lowe, and those of Vazquez, I don’t know what to tell you. One has been below 4 since 2005, every year he has been a starter in the NL. The other has seen his ERA climb and descend significant peaks and valleys. Also, I’m not sure where you get the “3.85″ number from, other than setting an arbitrary line to further your argument. I don’t know anyone else that refers to a 3.85 ceiling and floor.
And no, I don’t care to compare their WHIPs. Considering Lowe is a ground ball pitcher, that would be a somewhat silly comparison.
As for the “once again”, last season I thought you were foolish in arguing 1) we should bench KJ for Prado, and 2) that trading Brayan Pena would be devastating for Yunel Escobar’s career.
KC
March 15th, 2009
5:36 pm
Yeah, Schafer is still a long shot to make the team out of the gate. BUT…
If Schafer keeps playing like this AND Schafer struggles over the next few weeks, they just might part ways with Anderson and throw Schafer right into the mix.
But if Anderson plays well between now and opening day, Schafer will almost certainly start at Gwinnett.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
5:38 pm
Josh B-
Yunel defected from Cuba…he (and anyone else that did the same) would not be able to play for the cuban national team, even if they wanted to…and anyone on the cuban national team would never be allowed to play pro ball in the United States
TexasBrave
March 15th, 2009
5:38 pm
“Makes no sense to do so, especially since this is back to being a pitcher oriented team and Josh’s defense is excellent.” – Lew
Excellent point! I was, of course, thinking offense. I am always in the frame of mind of putting your best nine on the field. To me Jordan is better than Josh and makes the Braves better. But I guess you have to take all considerations into play also. Not that I have to like it.
Blair
March 15th, 2009
5:39 pm
Jordan is unreal good in center, better than Anderson IMO.
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
5:39 pm
Lew, time will tell. I’d be willing to make that wager. Frankly, I don’t think Anderson is that highly valued on other teams. Prospectus thinks he is mediocre, and I doubt we’d get much more than what we got him for-an Oscar Villareal type player. Thus, I don’t think the Braves incur much damage by releasing him.
Further, if defense is your rationale, hands down Jordan is regarded as the better player. My money is on Jordan making the team. We’ll see.
spotts
March 15th, 2009
5:41 pm
Just saying….because of the embargoes and feuding nations and such, you hear of a lot more players coming from the DR, Venezuela, etc than from Cuba.
spotts
March 15th, 2009
5:42 pm
Cuba doesn’t look too kindly on peolpe who try to leave.
spotts
March 15th, 2009
5:44 pm
How many Cuban exiles are there in MLB? Escobar, Brayan Pena, I think Livan Hernandez….anybody know of any others?
Wayne in Utah
March 15th, 2009
5:46 pm
I would start Schafer over JAnderson in a heartbeat, but the Braves since Chipper, Andruw and Furcal have shown a reluctance to putting kids into the lineup until they have tasted AAA pitching. I don’t necessarily agree, but that’s the way it’s been. (can somebody give me examples otherwise?)
If the Braves FO grew a set and put Schafer into the starting lineup in April, I think there are about a dozen Josh Anderson’s out there that would be available if Schafer falls on his face, not to mention Gregor Blanco waiting in the wings (who I believe does have options)
Some of you folks have a love affair going with Josh Anderson because he can field and run like a deer. Too many other holes though……
Bill
March 15th, 2009
5:47 pm
Obama opened up communication with Cuba last week…..what else is new?
Wayne in Utah
March 15th, 2009
5:47 pm
Alexi Ramirez is another one…
winterville
March 15th, 2009
5:48 pm
The White Sox have a few Cuban players like Alexi Ramirez and the two young guys who defected recently.
Jackie Treehorn
March 15th, 2009
5:52 pm
Mekon,
I agree with everything you said up until the point about starting Blanco in center field. What has Blanco showed you that Josh Anderson hasn’t? In his first full season in the majors, Blanco proved to have almost zero pop and didn’t steal bases very effeciently. There only way you can survive in this league with such little power is if you are swiping a ton of bases a la Juan Pierre in his prime. Anderson has more power and better speed than Blanco, and you would have to think he could hit at or better than Blanco’s .250 clip last year.
Ward
March 15th, 2009
5:54 pm
Anderson will start the season in CF because of his lead-off abilities, plain and simple.
The Real Don Steele
March 15th, 2009
5:54 pm
Embargoes, politics, etc. have nothing to do with the lack of cuban players in MLB. Cuba is a communist dictatorship ya’ll and people have to flee under cover of darkness if they can. Many try and are shot or otherwise disappear. It is Cuba’s fault that players can’t play here and nobody else’s!
Steve McP
March 15th, 2009
5:55 pm
Here is a list from Baseball Almanac of all Cuban players in the majors, I count 21 that are active.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/birthplace.php?loc=Cuba
Epinephrine
March 15th, 2009
5:55 pm
I think Blanco has more pop, and he definitely has a better OBP. I think those two, though, may essentially be a push. I like Blanco because he gets on base, but he isn’t as fast as Anderson.
Braves Paisan
March 15th, 2009
5:55 pm
I think it was Bill James, a long time ago, who showed that the best predictor of a great career in the majors is breaking in at a young age.
Jay212033
March 15th, 2009
5:56 pm
Vincedo, Marte and Gomez are the most recent to defect.
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
5:57 pm
LEW — I don’t disagree on any of your points regarding Schafer/Anderson, all well-taken as usual. In the end, though, I think the Braves are going to find a way to start Schafer in center, most likely because they will deal Anderson, a pitcher, and maybe another (Diaz/G.Anderson/Kotchman for a serious power outfielder or possibly a first baseman. Somethings got to give with this excess of talent IF the Braves can handle the budget implications. We’ll know in a few weeks. What great problems to have, eh?
Mitchell
March 15th, 2009
5:57 pm
Wait Jim, are you serious? I was kidding.
I was just indulging in the adoration of Bobby’s Cox.
Wow, that doesn’t sound right.
Actually, I’m just getting really tired of the tournament itself if you must know. Nobody even cares about college basketball until this point anyway. As a sporting event it is genuinely exciting but the majority of people who watch only care about getting the bragging rights for winning a pool and pocketing some money. Then by the end of the first Sunday, everybody’s backet is busted and beaten into a pulp except for one time when I actually came out with all my Sweet 16 teams only to lose on the last night cause my friend who had lost everything else picked Syracuse because he heard something about this Carmello Anthony guy. And I had Kansas. And do I remember the guy’s name who hit the game tying 3 pointer for the very same team last year? No I don’t. Not that I picked them nor would it have mattered if did. Hell, maybe I did. I have no idea, all I know is I didn’t find myself any richer when all was said and done.
Damn, that was some folksy talkin’ just now wasn’t it? Yes sir. You bet.
All I know is the worse the Braves seem to get the more I care about spring trainer and the new season. I used to never pay attention cause I knew we’d win regardless of who they got or the spring training record. I’m just ready for opening day (or night, as the case may be) and at this point I can’t care much less about the WBC either.
Jake Peavy can suck it by the way.
Poorbrave
March 15th, 2009
5:58 pm
Wayne in Utah, Frenchy never played in AAA! Sounds to me like alot of you fans have a love affair with Schafer and he’s only played 80 games in AA?
I’m just a fan, but I trust Wren and Bobby to do whats right to win this year. If that puts Joe from Utah in CF great. Just make it happen! GO BRAVES.
PAUL
March 15th, 2009
6:04 pm
HAHA PEAVY GETS ROCKED FOR 6 RUNS I BET FRANK WREN IS GLAD HE DIDNT MAKE THAT TRADE NOW!!!!
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
6:10 pm
The arguments are interesting. But, as usual, very much oriented toward what has happened in recent times. It is the nature of man to do so. I remember when Griffey had been in the ML for about 5 years and his rookie cards were said to be worth much more than a Hank Aaron rookie card. Like I said, the nature of man.
Some are arguing that Sept, doesn’t matter, yet are placing much on ST (with many of the better players not even in ST). Besides that, if you look at ST, you would have to cut Tex every year almost, before he ever got to a season. Also, would you cut Chipper Jones? He has done terribly. Does it mean he doesn’t have skills? I know… but we have much more to go on with those players. Yes, and that is the point. To argue strongly on the side of any candidate for CF at this point is to argue base on “unknown”.
Schafer surely has outperformed Anderson this ST. Not just to say that ST is early, etc, but even in the middle of a season you could probably get a stretch of a few weeks were certain other Braves actually out produced Chipper offensively. Anderson seems to typically not do so well in ST. On the other hand Schafer seems to do very well in ST (as he did last year), but to be honest, I was very surprised that he did not do much better than he did last year in the early part of the season (before the HGH fiasco). Toward the end of the season he started doing much better, but in Winter ball, I was looking for him to do much better than he did.
These things give me reason to question whether Schafer is really ready.
It may be that Schafer can (as some people say it) turn it on when he wants to. But if that is the case, what does it say about the times that he does not want to. And… can he sustain it even when he wants to?
We might be disappointed if he were to prove to be a AAAA player if we brought him up at the cost of losing Anderson.
On the other hand, I certainly hear the voices of those who say, play the best player. I like the idea. But I am not so sure we know who the best player is. Many here talk about the fact that there is such a small sampling of data to go by, but seem to throw that out when their bias wants/needs to do so. Some want to go by minor league stats, but that is not the ML. Most players will not do as well in the ML as in the minors, but others seem to come alive when in the majors. Could Anderson be such? There is a small sampling for sure, but what has happened so far could point in that direction.
Beyond all of this is a matter of the Braves design of development for Schafer. They don’t have more time to develop Anderson and he is not a Braves product as Schafer is. Does the Braves organization think they can bring Schafer up to be even better than he would be if they brought him up now? Could they see something that they could develop him into a 5 star player through the use of the minor league system which places its sights more on development than on winning games?
In all honesty, I don’t know the answers to these questions. I am willing to admit that they are there, no matter what I see. (I do see Schafer looking good in ST!) As such, I am in anticipation of seeing what the Braves decide and what explanation we are given when they do. Either way, I don’t see doom. It is nice to have options!
Jackie Treehorn
March 15th, 2009
6:11 pm
It’s spring training, Paul. I doubt Frank Wren raised an eyebrow.
MattyO
March 15th, 2009
6:22 pm
DOB, great story about Skip and Chip. Good stuff there.
Mekons
March 15th, 2009
6:23 pm
Jackie: Blanco is tearing it up in WBC; he seems to have turned a corner and become a far better player. We’ll see when he gets back to the Braves, but he’s been the forgotten man just because he is out of sight.
I guess it’s a nice problem to have. I’m just glad I’m not Bobby Cox and Frank Wren right now.
Poorbrave
March 15th, 2009
6:24 pm
PTBNL–Amen!
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
6:25 pm
Poorbrave, you put in a short paragraph pretty much what it took me a book to say. lol
Except that I would amend what you said by adding not only that the Braves FO do what it takes to win this year, but also in the future.
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
6:26 pm
lol looks like we were responding to each other’s post at the same time, Poorbrave.
Rob from SC
March 15th, 2009
6:37 pm
DOB – Do you think Blaine Boyer is a lock for the team, or is he trade bait. I think he will have a great year.
dogsbrekky
March 15th, 2009
6:42 pm
Blanco has improved and looks good but he does not terrify any opposition in any way, speed, power, avg, defense etc
Schafer may make some look hard when he is on the base paths
Leah
March 15th, 2009
6:46 pm
Chipper injures oblique again, scratched from lineup tonight.
Tim-Braves Lifer
March 15th, 2009
6:46 pm
Chipper is out for usa with another oblique strain!! Bring him home!
muffin
March 15th, 2009
6:53 pm
wow, it just seems to me that that schafer kid is taking want we see in anderson and taking it to another level (bunting, stealing bags, speed) i really believe we have a future star budding right in front of our eyes with all of his tools he has shown us in the past week.
Fred
March 15th, 2009
6:58 pm
Chipper’s out of tonight’s line-up after re-injuring his oblique muscle. Boy, who saw that coming. This WBC thing is absolutely absurd! But some of the blame is with Braves management for not insisting Chipper head to Disney after the initial injury.
MLH
March 15th, 2009
7:11 pm
McCann never played abobe AA as well
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
7:12 pm
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I want Hoss on ice until April 5th. Pass the word along, DOB.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
7:12 pm
Epinephrine-I’m not saying this is what I think should happen, but what WILL happen if no trade is made. There are several rational reasons for the Braves to send him to Gwinnett to start the season and to let Anderson start in center.
Anderson has hit almost .300 in over 200 ML at bats. No, he doesn’t have the power potential that Schafer does, but he has speed, can steal bases (11 out of 13 attempts) and plays excellent defense. Schafer will be across town. I fail to see any downside here. Jordan will get his shot and hopefully will become a star player. However, he has few more at bats at AA than Anderson has at the big league level. Given the salary concerns longer term, which could mean several million $ to what has proven to be a team with perennial salary issues, how much hurt could we possibly incur with Schafer a half hour away?
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
7:14 pm
Also, the link to print out the bracket isn’t working…if you could pass that along as well lol.
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
7:15 pm
Thanks, to whoever gave the URL for the Pistol Pete videos on Youtube. I watch a few of them while I was there. Not as much video on his passes as I have seen in the past. I love to watch him make passes. It is amazing.
phishing with the braves
March 15th, 2009
7:16 pm
doc holliday, you are right to a degree. i probably should have said “barring injuries…”. but i just think that not spending that money on a 40+ yr old and letting a youngster come up and take that fifth spot would have been smarter. same thing with left field. its not like we went out and got manny. we got an aging garret anderson and an over the hill glavine for several million. just seems we could have saved that money and let hanson/campillo/reyes/morton come up and take the fifth spot and go after a more solid arm in the pen. Or get a bigger bat in LF. the anderson signing makes a lot more sense to me than the glavine signing. you have to admit though that potentially one of the youngsters could do just as good a job as glavine for a lot cheaper. like someone said before, after last years team, its good to have options.
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
7:17 pm
watch = watched sorry
ease19
March 15th, 2009
7:22 pm
Classic KC…wouldn’t have expected anything less
If Schafer keeps playing like this AND Schafer struggles over the next few weeks
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
7:31 pm
LOL When I read that in KC’s post I thought, “ease19 is going to love that one”!
nolie
March 15th, 2009
7:31 pm
e arguments are interesting. But, as usual, very much oriented toward what has happened in recent times. PTBNL
very good post PT. lotsa questions, and lots of different things will be taken into consideration making the decision. I kinda trust the Braves brain trust a tad more than most of the posters on here….except for myself of course
KC
March 15th, 2009
7:31 pm
ease19, I of course mean to say “if Schafer continuesbto play well and Anderson struggles… =)
TexasBrave
March 15th, 2009
7:32 pm
Lew good points all. My only thing is that although his average has been right around .300 his OBP hasn’t been much higher and he strikes out a lot. He is going to actually have to get on base to steal second. Can we afford to have a lead off hitter with a realitivly low OBP?
I agree that pitching and defense should be a focus, but you still have to score enough runs to win. How many times last year did we lose those low scoring one run games. Can Anderson get on base enough to give reason for Schafer to start down a AAA? I don’t think so. I think he will weaking our chances of scoring runs.
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
7:34 pm
nolie: “….except for myself of course ”
I had to laugh. Good one!
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
7:36 pm
KC, we knew what you meant, but you surely didn’t think ease19 would pass that up, did you?
DirtyDawg
March 15th, 2009
7:41 pm
Hey DOB, were you the one that supplied James Parr’s responses to the Pop Culture Grid in this week’s SI? I realize that it may be poor form for posters here to introduce political prejudice, or indeed any kind of prejudice, but I ‘really’ have a problem when professional athletes do it. Particularly rookies, or whatever this kid is. I mean when MLB’s biggest prima-dona. Curt Shilling, comes out so strongly for one side or another, you expect it because Shilling has long ago established the reputation for saying and doing what he thinks – even if it doesn’t turn out so good, but this kid is just startin’ out. Did you suggest to him that he might want to lay off the politics? He may have a lot of support from over-paid, under-educated professional athletes with his points of view, but frankly I can do without knowing it.
OK, let me hear it…
Bubdylan
March 15th, 2009
7:42 pm
KC likes to halve his cake and eat it two.
ease19
March 15th, 2009
7:43 pm
Couldn’t resist
At least KC knows that at least one person is paying (close) attention to his posts!
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
7:43 pm
Hey DOB, you mentioned earlier about our profiles on facebook. How are you seeing those? I think most everyone has theirs set to private? Are you related to all the O’Brien’s in the group or is that just coincidence?
brian
March 15th, 2009
7:43 pm
typical elite liberalism comment from dirty dawg. Just because you disagree with Parr does not make his comments undereducated. Then again if it takes one to know one…….
William
March 15th, 2009
7:45 pm
I’m so looking forward to the start of the season. I’m so NOT looking forward to the daily….is Chipper playing today????? If he is going to be “the” guy he needs to be “THE” guy! Hard to have stability when your star is day to day EVERYDAY! I’m thinking Cal Ripken played through some oblique injuries during his time…………… I know it’s spring training and he shouldn’t be taking ANY unnecessary chances, but I see the same thing happening during the season. In my opinion if the Braves sign him to a multi year contract, they are stupid. I think they made the right call on Smoltz and they need to do the same with Chipper.
Interested Observer
March 15th, 2009
7:46 pm
According to the story on ESPN, Chipper is leaving the US team and going back to Orlando. The bad news is he’s says the oblique is a lot worse than when he first injured it in Toronto.
22oz
March 15th, 2009
7:46 pm
What a crowd for the USA Netherland game! Why the hell would the powers that be have this thing in Miami? Do they not want to make money? Might as well have it in Atlanta! Just kidding, mostly….
Anders
March 15th, 2009
7:48 pm
What up Braves fans? Just saw the news on Chipper. And now he’s heading back to camp. Should have left a week ago. He looked funky last night. I posted it.
Derek Jeter batting third? Really? Sounds like Davey Johnson is scared of offending him. Listen, the guy might go 4 for 4 tonight but there is noway he’s a number 3 hitter on ateam that has Wright and Dunn 5th and 6th.
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
7:49 pm
Dirty Dawg — I’m with you on this one. You put it very well.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
7:51 pm
Apparently Jeter was sulking during BP before he new he was playing. Nice job Captain America.
Doc Holiday
March 15th, 2009
7:54 pm
Pete,
I just dont think JF will hit 25HR. Sencond, Braves dont need him to hit that many HR. Im sure he can get to 95RBI with 20HR. In any case, 25 HR is not a lot of power, it is clearly above average, but not exactly thunder.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
7:54 pm
Sounds like Davey Johnson is scared of offending him.
Anders- did you hear Sutcliffe and Other DOB say jeter was basically pouting during batting practice because he wasn’t in the original lineup? It’s always nice to hear the team’s fearless “leader” acting like a child…
BravesFanChris24
March 15th, 2009
7:56 pm
DOB
I read on MLB Trade Rumors that several teams are apparently inquiring on Buddy Carlyle. Do you think there’s a chance he’ll be traded? If so, to where and for who? Also any idea on any other potential trades as the roster is getting trimmed?
Anders
March 15th, 2009
7:57 pm
Hey Doc- depending on Chippers oblique they may need Frenchy to hit 50. Stay tuned.
Shane
March 15th, 2009
7:58 pm
why wouldnt we talk to Cuba. The embargo sure hasnt worked.
McFann :Ô:
March 15th, 2009
7:58 pm
Doc H. Im sure he can get to 95RBI with 20HR.
Sure. McCann got 92 RBI with 18 homers…and yes, yes, Francoeur got 105 RBI with 19 HR.
William
March 15th, 2009
7:59 pm
Doc,
What makes you think JF will not it 25 HR’s? It’s not like he hasn’t done it before. I agree, that doesn’t need to be his focus, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he hits 25-30 this year. If he bats .300 and hits 15 HR, I’m okay with that also.
Steve McP
March 15th, 2009
8:00 pm
Dirty Dawg, just looked up my SI issue and saw that you were upset that James Parr said he was fed up hearing about Obama (when I read the magazine it did it register with me as being out of order and so I did not know immediately what you were referring to).
I found his views open and they were surely his honest opinion, whether you agree with him or not, just because he is a professional athlete does not mean he should have no views on anything outside of sport.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:00 pm
cabravesfan – The fact that Johnson was going to sit him tells me at least he will do whats right. After being forced to add him to the lineup batting him third tonight is downright puzzling.
I’ll know that the WBC is getting some traction when they don’t have to show the Pedroia video game commercial between EVERY inning.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
8:01 pm
I believe Bobby said the competition is “wide open.” Please tell me how you tell Schafer he’s going to Gwinnett? Granted, if Schafer goes 0 for his next 20 there will be a competition re: avg. But Schafer still dominates in ALL other aspects of the game. Don’t bring up speed. Anderson can’t get on base often enough to utilize his and Schafer can absolutely run everything down in CF. His higher obp more than compensates in the SB dept. I would encourage the Josh supporters to objectively compare their #’s. It’s not close. Not to say JA can’t play, but his future is as a 4th OF’er. How this is debatable (and how I allowed myself to get reeled into this argument) is obscene. It’s the only open job in camp (so they say) so I would hope DOB can get his mlb contacts to give us an opinion on the matter. 6 yr minor leaguers are 6 yr minor leaguers for a reason.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:03 pm
Damn Rollins is good. Jeter couldn’t make that play – well, ever.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
8:04 pm
The WBC has not been kind to Chipper, for sure. Dude goes back to try to take care of unfinished business, one of the only guys to return from the 2006 team, then goes hitless and gets hurt. Braves can only hope this isn’t something that’ll affect him when the season begins in three weeks.
Should know more tomorrow about severity, after he returns to camp tonight. I’ll let you guys know if I get a quote either directly from him or through the Team USA media relations man later tonight.
winterville
March 15th, 2009
8:05 pm
DirtyDawg
I agree with you that I don’t want to hear what people that have nothing to do with politics have to say about it but I fear that the only reason you have a problem with this particular instance is because it doesn’t line up with your views. And there is no reason to call him undereducated when you know nothing about him. Gimme a break. That is the last thing I plan to say on this as I know we aren’t supposed to talk politics on the blog.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:06 pm
Funny thing happened right after the announcement of Chippers oblique injury. Lew disappeared. Hmmm….
Perhaps he’s looking for his Chipper oblique painometer to see exactly where this latest one falls?
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
8:08 pm
Run Heap Run, I saw quite a few that weren’t set to private. The majority were (set to private), but quite a few aren’t.
18 Wheels of Love
March 15th, 2009
8:09 pm
DOB, would the Braves consider a LF’er in a trade if one presented itself or are they dead set on Garrett? Just wondering if Francoeur after a bad year, a rookie CF possibly, and Garrett injured early on might have then re-thinking their OF options?
Jeff
March 15th, 2009
8:09 pm
Dirty Dawg
Do you think it’s parrs fault that SI asked him a question and he responded with his opnion? if you’re offended by someone’s opinion then you should probably reconsider living
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
8:10 pm
Lay off Lew – He’s drawing a picture of Chipper’s oblique so we can better understand the problem.
ease19
March 15th, 2009
8:12 pm
Rick Sutcliffe = Tim McCarver
Jake W.
March 15th, 2009
8:12 pm
The news on Chipper sucka. I thought he should have maybe gave it a rest after he first aggrivated it. Hopefully its not that bad with three weeks left in spring training maybe it can be better by the time the season starts.
On the Parr issue I see no problem with what he said as they are his beliefs and he is allowed to think whatever he wants. You don’t have to agree with everyone. On political and social issues I personally take what athletes and entertainers have to say with a grain of salt.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 15th, 2009
8:13 pm
O’Brien, the Chip/Skip phone thing was really heartfelt. Good stuff my friend.
Don’t know if anybody else has noticed but Jordan Schafer and Josh Anderson have been alternating starting and playing in CF the last week or two. Schafer is clearly winning the battle. His bunt hit today got my attention. This is something that Anderson isn’t capable of doing. Schafer also has three SB’s to Anderson’s one theft.
Chipper’s oblique is unfortunately going to be a season long problem. Garret Anderson is almost as injury prone. Gregor Blanco isn’t even in the Atlanta outfield picture. He’s back up destined for the Gwinnett Braves.
Good bye Phil Stockman, we hardly knew thee. Atlanta opened up a roster spot. Could they be hedging their bets?
All of the pitching looks great. Both starting and bullpen guys.
Matt Diaz is raking at .414, he is leading in every offensive category except the kitchen sink (HR).
Dear Frank Wren, G. Anderson/ J. Anderson may have been the original plan. Except that Diaz and Schafer look much better on the field of play at the moment.
I’m beginning to wonder if Tommy Glavine will be ready to pitch for real in three weeks? No worries here folk’s, Tommy Hanson and Jo-Jo Reyes are good to go.
Francoeur is batting .333 with one single K and four walks. The problem is, he doesn’t have one single extra base hit as of yet.
Greg Norton and Clint Sammons lead the team with two dinger’s apiece.
Parts of the projected starting line up only have four HR’s and two stolen bases. But they also have 31 RBI and eighteen extra base hits. Gotta take the bad with the good or is it the other way around?
William
March 15th, 2009
8:13 pm
I thought of another question…………Who’s left on the team with the sack to call Chipper out about his injuries now that Smoltz is gone?
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:13 pm
DOB – Like I said when Chipper first tweaked it – This is no time to be John Wayne. Braves should have reeled him in. If he’s lost for an extended period that’s crippling to the Braves. IMO no single player means more to his team offensively in the NL East than Chipper.
Obliques are funny things. Sometimes they heal quickly and sometimes it just lingers and lingers.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:14 pm
Mr Jeter – feel free to mail your glove back to Tampa. You won’t be needing it for the rest of the WBC.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
8:15 pm
Anders-
That Pedroia commercial actually cracks me up…and you are right, Captian Derek Jeter would not have come colse to that ball.
I would also agree about Johnson wanting to do the right thing if I hadn’t read a quote from him syaing they kept Peavy in last night because they wanted him to get his “work” in…completely ignoring the fact that he had less then nothing.
Meanwhile The Best Shortstop on the Roster hits a 2 run bomb
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
8:15 pm
and i can’t spell…obviously I meant close, not colse
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:17 pm
Bobby’s Belly -That 8:10 was hilarious.
Shane
March 15th, 2009
8:17 pm
Isnt Dirty Dawg allowed to give his without having to reconsider living?
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:20 pm
Sutcliffe is lost. Jeter wasn’t happy because he wasn’t playing. Let’s not make it out to be he was upset because of the way they played. BTW – we got that data from SUTCLIFFE in the first inning.
The teflon beat goes on for Captain America.
ccrider
March 15th, 2009
8:22 pm
I know with the previous dealings in mind that this seems farfetched, but one trade that would make infinite sense for both teams would be the Braves and Padres working out a trade for Adrian Gonzalez. The Padres need pitching, outfield and value players. Some combination of Josh Anderson(A speedy outfielder to cover that spacious park), Gorky Hernandez(same player with higher potential), Kotchman( a temporary replacement until Kyle Blanks is deemed ready and then another valuable trade chip), Jo Jo Reyes, James Parr, Charlie Morton, Blaine Boyer, Jeff Bennett, Todd Redmond and Diory Hernandez. I admit the Peavy fiasco would probably make this a longshot, but it is one of the few trades that make sense for both parties!
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:25 pm
Oswalt is a filthy gunslinger.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
8:26 pm
I’m sure somebody (if not somebody else) has already mentioned that Chipper shoulda sat this WBC thing out. Coulda happened here too I guess.
Not in the “best interest” of MLB to have its players attend. Hear that Bud!?
Stewart
March 15th, 2009
8:28 pm
DirtyDawg
I agree that it’s unfortunate that sports appears to grant a bully pulpit to people so they can voice opinions about things they don’t know much about. What you have to trust is that listeners have some judgment regarding where they get their ideas – whatever those ideas happen to be.
And for those calling DirtyDawg an elitist… from the standpoint of formal education, most sports stars are undereducated, simply because they don’t pursue schooling beyond high school. Perhaps James Parr went beyond high school, I don’t know, but these days a high school degree just isn’t very much education. Now, his implication that only undereducated people are tired of Obama… that one I won’t pursue on a smartly “politics-free” blog. That’s it from me on things other than baseball.
Go Braves! This team needs power more than it needs speed. Schafer provides some of both, so I’d like to see him in CF sooner rather than later. Give J. Anderson a shot at the starting slot but don’t give him too much slack. Also, am I alone in eager anticipation of the day that Heyward starts for us? That kid’s likely to become a beast.
GamecockBrave
March 15th, 2009
8:29 pm
Run Heap Run, whats the name of that facebook group again?
Interested Observer
March 15th, 2009
8:30 pm
Unfortunately, even if Chipper is healthy enough to start the season, I don’t think he’ll be “ready” to start the season. He has yet to find his swing this spring. I don’t see how he’ll have enough time to get health AND get his swing on track.
William
March 15th, 2009
8:31 pm
Can Heyward play third?
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
8:34 pm
18 Wheels: They didn’t sign Garrett Anderson to a great deal in order to move to another option because he strained a calf muscle in camp. I haven’t heard anything to indicate they’re even considering another LF option.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 15th, 2009
8:34 pm
ccrider, neither the Braves nor the Padres have any plans of trading Kotchman or Gonzalez. The Padres also have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. Both are young affordable gold glove caliber first baseman. They aren’t moving anywhere.
Pete
March 15th, 2009
8:34 pm
DOC, 20 may be enough to get to 95 RBI, but will depend on if he bats 5 or 6 in lineup. Braves would love 95 RBI for sure, but Im not convinced he can do it. Going to be very interesting year for him, as he is under contract for this year only.
David O'Brien
March 15th, 2009
8:36 pm
Here’s the transcript from Chipper’s press conference in Miami tonight:
Q. What happened?
CHIPPER JONES: I just had a reaggravation of the oblique today. It was a hard decision. I really wanted to play tonight, see if it would loosen up. But you know, it’s to the point where it’s bothering me just sitting around because I know it’s a lot worse than it was first time around in Canada, and I just think I, as well as the brass in Atlanta, think it’s probably better that we get back to Orlando and take care of it in house as quickly as possible.
Q. Realizing this is not the Braves’ physician or your physician, but what is his diagnosis? What did he say in terms of seriousness?
CHIPPER JONES: It’s just a strain of the oblique. It’s something you’re going to have to get off of for four or five days and reevaluate and go from there. This is something you don’t want lingering. If you can take care of it now, I certainly don’t see there being any problems in going forward come April 1st, April 5th, whatever opening day is. But it’s something that’s really bugging me and progressively getting worse.
So it’s important to get it taken care of.
Q. What’s the difference between Canada and now?
CHIPPER JONES: I felt it coming on in Canada, and this was pain. This was cutting off my swing type pain. It was impossible to extend out during BP and really juice the ball in the outer half, I had to cut myself off. Anything middle part of the plate in, I could hit fairly well, but I couldn’t extend on the ball out over the plate, and that’s a problem.
Q. Opening day are you confident you’re going to be all right?
CHIPPER JONES: I hope so, as long as we take care of it now and we don’t come back too soon and have it just linger. This is one of those things that can linger, especially for a switch hitter. I’m no good if I’m not at 100 percent.
Q. Was it hurting you last night, too?
CHIPPER JONES: You know what, last night it didn’t bother me much at all. You know, I had a little bit of a lingering effect from Canada, but it wasn’t anything that really I said I need to sit down. But today it was a couple of the guys saw me grab it after a swing, maybe second to last round in the cage, and they pulled me aside and said, “Don’t mess with this.” It’s worse than it was in Canada.
Q. What do you say to people who are critical of this event because of the risk of injury, guys playing harder than they normally would at this time of year?
CHIPPER JONES: I don’t know that it wouldn’t have happened in Orlando. We’re at the point in spring training where we’re starting to extend numbers of at bats and numbers of innings that we play in spring training, so I’m not going to say that it wouldn’t have happened. When I take an at bat in spring training, I’m no less aggressive than I would have been here because I want to try to get something out of each and every at bat.
I think myself and Dustin Pedroia will tell you that this can happen at any point. I mean, Dustin did his doing extra work, which is stuff we do all day every day in spring training anyway. I’m not a big proponent of blasting the WBC because somebody gets hurt.
Q. Obviously your comments in Toronto, you wanted to stay in and fight through this, so how tough is this?
CHIPPER JONES: It’s very tough to look the guys in the eyes and have to walk out of that clubhouse. We’ve made a lot of good friends here, and we’re having a good time. We feel like we can advance, and knowing that I’m not going to be able to be a part of that is disappointing, but I’ve got to look at the bigger picture.
Q. You’re going back tonight?
CHIPPER JONES: I am.
Q. How much since the original thing have you been able to work on the right handed swing, or has it pretty much been all left handed swings since then?
CHIPPER JONES: Mostly left handed, but there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t do some work right handed. I mean, that’s why I’m surprised today. I mean, I did a lot of work in the cage before batting practice on both sides of the plate, and I felt fine in the batting cage. It was just one little odd swing that I took, and I’m right back to square one.
Q. Did you get a chance to say goodbye to your teammates?
CHIPPER JONES: I did, yeah.
Q. What did they say?
CHIPPER JONES: You know, they were disappointed as much as I was, as we were yesterday when Dustin left. There’s nobody that wants to be out there more than he and I. But unfortunately our bodies haven’t allowed us to do it this time around.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 15th, 2009
8:37 pm
Wayne in Utah, both Francoeur and McCann made the jump from AA Mississippi. there you go.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:38 pm
Wright just got Escobarred in the headand doesn’t look great. GET HIM OUT!!!
Ed
March 15th, 2009
8:40 pm
For all of you who want to start the season with J. Anderson in CF & send Schafer down, that means G. Anderson in LF, & “Punch ‘n Judy” in RF. Just how many HR’s do you see there, not to mention Schafer has become the straw that stirs the drink for Atlanta’s lineup.
Thrillhouse44
March 15th, 2009
8:41 pm
DOB, how long would you say it typically takes Chipper to get in the groove? If he takes 10 days off or so, do you think he’ll be ready for the start of the season? I know that’s impossible to tell for sure, but I figured you’d know about how many AB’s Hoss needs to “find his swing”.
ease19
March 15th, 2009
8:41 pm
A billy goat could do better commentary than Rick Sutcliffe…
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 15th, 2009
8:43 pm
Just for reference. Chipper’s oblique injury has cropped up in each of the previous four seasons (05-06-07-08). This will be problematic all season long.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
8:44 pm
anders- in case you missed it the USA is a little short on 3rd basemen right now…
Bond, James
March 15th, 2009
8:46 pm
Shaken, not stirred. Straws are sissy sticks.
ncscoots
March 15th, 2009
8:46 pm
I kinda trust the Braves brain trust a tad more than most of the posters on here….except for myself of course
Except for yourself, and …? And…?
On another note, for those ready to ship some OF out because a couple of rooks are having a good week: I’m pretty sure FA signees, such as Garret Anderson, can’t be traded just yet. It’s either FAs or arb cases (or both, maybe) that can’t be moved until later in the regular season. I’m sure somebody can and will look up the rule, LOL.
Random
March 15th, 2009
8:46 pm
Epinephrine (5:36 pm): “if you don’t see the difference between the numbers you just reeled off about Lowe, and those of Vazquez, I don’t know what to tell you. One has been below 4 since 2005, every year he has been a starter in the NL. The other has seen his ERA climb and descend significant peaks and valleys. . . . And no, I don’t care to compare their WHIPs. Considering Lowe is a ground ball pitcher, that would be a somewhat silly comparison.”
Whoa, Nelly — please don’t misconstrue. I’m not arguing that Vazquez is better, only that we have as much info about him as we do about Lowe – that is, enough to fairly confidently anticipate what to expect out of each. As confidently as these things allow.
You ask, Why look at WHIP? Well, not to compare Vazquez to Lowe as far as respective ability, but to show that Vazquez has been more consistent over the same time period than his ERA would indicate (about as consistent as Lowe) — and it’s actually a better indicator of pitcher performance than ERA (though also imperfect).
Also, I’m not sure where you get the “3.85″ number from, other than setting an arbitrary line to further your argument. I don’t know anyone else that refers to a 3.85 ceiling and floor.
Well, 400 is no less arbitrary than 385 — don’t be taken in by your familiarity with our base 10 system. In base 7, 400 is 1111; 385 is 1060. Which of these is more arbitrary? (Hint: also neither.)
“As for the “once again”, last season I thought you were foolish in arguing 1) we should bench KJ for Prado, and 2) that trading Brayan Pena would be devastating for Yunel Escobar’s career.”
Nope — I was never down on Kelly. I never said we should bench him for anyone — you’re thinking of someone else.
As for the potential effect of Pena’s abrupt and unjustifiable (I mean – Corky???) release on Escobar — while you’re overstating my case somewhat (”career”??? sheesh), I know what you’re talking about.
Thing is, I was right about that.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
8:48 pm
Hope Chipper doesn’t call Hammy for injury advice…
I look for Hammy to undergo a triple-bypass in May or June, whether he needs it or not.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:48 pm
Not sure who else on here is actually watching the game but that last swing by Chipper sure looked funky. Very tight in the upper body area. He is not extending his upper body or arms at all. (Anders 9:10 last night)
This was cutting off my swing type pain. It was impossible to extend out during BP and really juice the ball in the outer half, I had to cut myself off. Anything middle part of the plate in, I could hit fairly well, but I couldn’t extend on the ball out over the plate, and that’s a problem. (Chipper in Miami tonight)
Sorry folks – He was hurting last night and should have shut it down. I’d bet my life if he was at a normal st game no way he would have stayed in there if he played at all. And then inbp today he probable hurt it more. End the madness that is the WBC.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
8:49 pm
Rick Sutcliff is not a billy goat?
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:49 pm
Cabravesfan -I don’t care. Forfeit.
muffin
March 15th, 2009
8:51 pm
coach, any more correct about chipper in your 8:43 post, you would think a veteran would understand some type of off-season training program, when a team such as ours cannot afford our star player to continue to play only 120 games a year.
Pete
March 15th, 2009
8:52 pm
Run Heap Run: “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I want Hoss on ice until April 5th. Pass the word along, DOB.”
Wont matter where he is. Count on him missing 5-6 games in April, if not the DL.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
8:53 pm
Anders- I suspect you will have to look elsewhere for sympathy
ccrider
March 15th, 2009
8:53 pm
Coach ( Skip and Pete will be missed), The Braves need a power bat, the Padres need young starting pitching and postion players. Things have changed since those statements were made by the Padres, Peavy is openly begging for a trade to the Red Sox or other contenders, they have a young top prospect in Kyle Blanks almost ready and they are going to have to completely rebuild. The money works for both sides and the only thing in the way, logically, is the problems with the Peavy trade lingering!
Anders
March 15th, 2009
8:54 pm
Cabravesfan-More than fair point on your part.
Rob from SC
March 15th, 2009
8:55 pm
DOB is Boyer a lock to make this team
winterville
March 15th, 2009
8:56 pm
Who are you trying to convince Anders? Everyone knows where you stand on the WBC but that won’t change a thing. It is what it is. No one on this blog can do anything about the WBC and you saying “I told you so” about Chipper isn’t helping anything.
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
8:57 pm
Wow what a surprise, Anders comes out with a vengeance when he gets word of Chippers injury.
Gamecock Braves – it’s Braves fans of DOB’s blog. I just logged out of FB or I would give you a link.
monty
March 15th, 2009
8:59 pm
Anders
I concur! All Chipper has to say to Bobby is “I’d better sit today Skip.” And Bobby would say,”Don’t let me catch you swinging at anything for a week. In the WBC if you can’t go, you feel like you are letting the team down. THe U.S.A.!
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
8:59 pm
Oh hey Coach, how did you like The Wrestler? I saw you said you were going but didn’t see if you liked it or not.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:01 pm
Yeah, let’s turn this on Anders. Grow up fellas.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:03 pm
Winterville. Oh yeah, I told you so about Rollins over Jeter too. He just raked a triple.
Hey, that does feel good.
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
9:04 pm
Thanks for that transcript, DOB.
winterville
March 15th, 2009
9:05 pm
Anders
How bout you grow up and don’t come running here to say “See I was right” when something like this happens. It only serves as self promotion and many don’t care what you have to say on issues dealing with the Braves whether you are right or wrong. You really have to learn to deal with that if you want to come here and converse.
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
9:06 pm
Oh wait Gamecock Brave, I’m not logged out, just thought I was.
Here you go – http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=53472692450
Pete
March 15th, 2009
9:06 pm
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed): “Wayne in Utah, both Francoeur and McCann made the jump from AA Mississippi. there you go.”
Well McCann certainly didnt miss AAA, but Im not so ready to say same about Francoeur at this point. Are you?
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
9:07 pm
So- Best SS on the Roster is 2-3 with a HR, triple, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI…The Captian is 0-1 with a walk and zero RBI- but i’m sure the captian is struggling because he put all his energy into helping Rollins become a better hitter
Couch Tater
March 15th, 2009
9:08 pm
Anders,
I suspect the WBC is important for the long-term success of the MLB Network and to the international advertisers of that Network. Hate to say it, but the players can be replaced.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/33954
StingerSplash
March 15th, 2009
9:08 pm
Anybody else watching “Family Guy”? The non sequitur with Conway Twitty has me in tears. That, and Conway ruled.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:09 pm
Winterville – Thanks for the blogging lesson. Now I know why no one ever answers me or even mentions me on this blog. And all this time I thought only I could read my posts.
macdwolfpack
March 15th, 2009
9:12 pm
I’m as big a Chipper fan as the next guy, but it’s time to move Hicks over to 3rd base in Miss/Gwinnet and to start developing the next 3b for the Braves either via the minors or trading some of this surplus pitching to get an heir apparent. I personally am not interested in seeing us get into a Mike Hampton type situation at 3b.
This lineup has little power and when one of youir main power cogs can’t play but 3/4 of the season and maybe less as time goes on, it’s time to start planning for that day right now when you might have to replace Chipper.
At the same time, maybe it’s time for Chipper to reevaluate his routine to do something to get himself in much better shape with greater flexibility to help cut down on some of these repetitive injuries.
Not saying through him out, just saying it’s time now to make sure you have a plan B in place.
I also would have to give serious consideration as to whether or not he can stay healthy when it comes to a contract extension right now. I’d have to see him stay healthy for at least 2/3rds of a season before offering him a long term deal. If he hurts this much at this age, as his body ages he’s only going to have a much greater chance of injury.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
9:13 pm
Andruw jumped from AA too, didn’t he?
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:13 pm
Coach – Great point. I hadn’t heard that before but it sure makes alot of sense. The Network could also show International games during our off season. Excellent perspective.
I’ll read that Newsweek attachment when time permits – Thanks.
Winterville – Look at me. I’m conversing, I’m actaully conversing!!
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
9:16 pm
winterville mentioned you anders…
winterville
March 15th, 2009
9:17 pm
Anders
No, thank you for the lesson on sarcasm. I really appreciate it. I honestly am not one of the people who minds your presence here most of the time. It is only during times like this where you try and have a look at me moment so everyone can see how smart you are. You need to have more confidence in yourself and realize that you don’t have say the same things over and over and then when it proves true, rub it in everyone’s face. I can’t recall anyone arguing with you in the first place on the WBC issue or Jeter/Rollins for that matter. No one is going to pat you on the back for your comments whether they are true or not. I think you really just want to be liked and you try too hard.
Tomas
March 15th, 2009
9:18 pm
Poor Chipper. He was bothered by that oblique injury last year, is there some kind of surgery that would fix the problem one and for all?
TnBrian
March 15th, 2009
9:18 pm
This is why I like Wren. He didn’t bow down to Smoltz, and he’s apparantly not bowed down to Chipper either. He knows loyalty don’t mean sh!! if the guy’s warming the bench for 2 or 3 months. If this oblique thing with Jones lingers for awhile, I just don’t see how comfortable Wren will be offering Chipper a gauranteed 3 year contract or whatever the offer will be. Another year of nagging injuries from our 3rd baseman and I have a feeling he won’t be a Brave a year from now.
BossLady
March 15th, 2009
9:18 pm
That Skip and Chip voicemail was too much. Thanks for sharing.
optimisticfan
March 15th, 2009
9:20 pm
12-3 baby! the future is looking good!
GamecockBrave
March 15th, 2009
9:22 pm
Run Heap Run, thanks man.
AdirondackDave
March 15th, 2009
9:25 pm
TnBrian — I also think Wren will be very cautious now with Chipper’s contract. However, I disagree that another year of nagging injuries (120 games this year) will be his last with the Braves. I see a series of one year plus option(s) based on ABs in his future. Chipper has said many times he wants to finish his career in Atlanta and I believe he will.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:25 pm
No one is going to pat you on the back for your comments whether they are true or not (Winterville)
Why not? Take a moment to answer that honestly – even only to yourself.
winterville
March 15th, 2009
9:26 pm
Anders
Because we are on the internet and no one know who you are and you are a Mets fan.
18 Wheels of Love
March 15th, 2009
9:26 pm
Anyone else think Randall Simon looks like Tracey Morgan?
Pete
March 15th, 2009
9:27 pm
TnBrian at 9:18, I believe you are right on.
OhMyAchin'Belly
March 15th, 2009
9:27 pm
believe Bobby said the competition is “wide open.” Please tell me how you tell Schafer he’s going to Gwinnett? Granted, if Schafer goes 0 for his next 20 there will be a competition re: avg. Bobbys BellyAcher
Hey why don’t we trade G Anderson so they both can play? Oh yeah, that’s right…
BossLady
March 15th, 2009
9:28 pm
I am sorta happy for Francoeur and wish he had done the Braves some good before he did that big standoff.
As I stated last year the Braves do not look the same and the days of old are gone.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
9:29 pm
I just want to applaud Anders and winterville for showing us all how to work through things together.
Anders needed a blogging lesson; winterville enthusiastically lent a helping hand. Winterville needed to brush-up on sarcasm. Who was there to save the day? Anders, that’s who.
I’m sobbing uncontrollably, I need to go…
Dan
March 15th, 2009
9:29 pm
Guys I can see being traded: Buddy Carlyle, James Parr, Martin Prado, Blaine Boyer and Jorge Campillo.
No way it’s a big trade for Swisher or Ludwick.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:30 pm
Should be interesting to see how the negotiations go now. If the Braves back off a little I could see Chipper getting his nose out of joint and pulling the plug completely.
winterville
March 15th, 2009
9:32 pm
I can’t see Prado being traded with Chipper’s health. Anybody else you mentioned, I wouldn’t be surprised either.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
9:35 pm
Anders- not sure how or why Chipper’s injury would have any bearing on contract negotiations- it’s not like this is the first time he has gotten hurt…
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:37 pm
Winterville- So we can boil your 9:26 answer down to that I’m a Mets fan – You know being that we’re all on the internet and we really don’t know any of the others are.
You see- that wasn’t hard. We got right to the root of the issue. That’ll be $250 please.
BTW – Rollins just knocked in another run. I heard on the world wide web by some non Braves fan that I don’t know that he should have played instead of Jeter last night. Just sharin.
ease19
March 15th, 2009
9:38 pm
Don’t insult the billy goat by comparing him to Rick Sutcliffe.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
9:39 pm
Derek Jeter the face of baseball? They are aware that the sport is played in places other then New York, right?
Thrillhouse44
March 15th, 2009
9:39 pm
I agree, cabravesfan. Seems as if Anders and others are already assuming this injury is going to be a nagging one that keeps popping up throughout the season. I’d like to see how it plays out before we panic. Of course, if Anders followed that logic, he wouldn’t be able to resurect that post in August, which he loves to do.
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
9:39 pm
Thinking about calling up a floozie and inviting her to flooze.
That felt like a tweet…
See Y’all layer. BTW, just joking winterville and Anders; hell, I reckon I like everybody here…
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:39 pm
Cabravesfan -True but it’s never easier when the guy shows up for negotiations on crutches -figuratively speaking of course.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
9:40 pm
Anders- I think most Braves fans would agree that Jimmy Rollins should have played last night…I know I do
ShamusThacker
March 15th, 2009
9:40 pm
Excellent point ease19!
Bye
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:41 pm
Derek Jeter isn’t even the face of the Yankees anymore -where it counts anyway, on the field.
Doc Holiday
March 15th, 2009
9:41 pm
Anders,
Im sorry to tell you that your wish wont come true.
William,
I dont think he will because he will have a slow start, he needs time to get his wheels as if it was 2007. He might hit better than last year, but just to suggest that he might hit 30 is out of this world, IMO, just MO.
Pete,
I think he can, he just has to stop believing that he is the cleanup hitter and that has to go for the fence every time out.
i cant take it anymore
March 15th, 2009
9:43 pm
anders, will you tell us the winning numbers for mega millions this tuesday? oh yeah, you think you could write this paper I’m working on? You seem to know everything and it would be nice if you could help. just post your email, and I’ll send you the topic. I understand if you are busy, because I know your level of credentials and responsibility are really, REALLY high. but seriously, the help on the lotto numbers isn’t too much to ask, is it?
Erin
March 15th, 2009
9:43 pm
ShamusThacker
Andruw didn’t jump from AA–I still lived in Richmond at the time, and he was a BIG deal the 17 or something games he played at AAA before he went to Atlanta. Pretty sure I saw one of those games, but I don’t remember it much now.
onionhead
March 15th, 2009
9:45 pm
achin belly-if the public is to believe that the competition in center field is wide open then Schafer has made a statement this week. However it is only one week and Anderson needs to answer the call or head on out the door. Plenty of teams start arb clocks if guys are ready so very bad argument when one guy is out performing the other by such a large margin!
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
9:47 pm
it’s never easier when the guy shows up for negotiations on crutches -figuratively speaking of course.
I would agree if it was anyone other then Chipper- especially after the PR hit they took with the Smoltz dealings- they will do everything they can to keep Chipper a Brave, injury issues aside
18 Wheels of Love
March 15th, 2009
9:47 pm
Chipper has continually talked about how we are not a large market team and that we cannot go after the big boys and hamstring our team with an unrealistic contract. Chipper has also been more than willing to rework his contract. I would like to see him retire as a Brave but I am not against letting him walk if he demands a contract that doesn’t represent where he is as a player nearing the end of his career (imagine the pickle the Yankees are in with Jeter! Yowza.) In the end I see Chipper taking a fair deal – that being if he isn’t injured all year.
Random
March 15th, 2009
9:47 pm
Anders–
Careful — yer gonna pull your own oblique, pattin yerself onna back like that.
BossLady
March 15th, 2009
9:48 pm
Okay, guys and gals. The Braves are having a superb spring training and there is no need to defend us against anyone, for any reason.
Those who choose to come on here and hype you guys/gals are of no
important substance.
Let’s enjoy this spring training and the updates DOB is providing and
maybe “believe” until we see something to the opposite.
SKIP we love and miss you Sir you will never be forgotten in ATLANTA.
Bill in VA
March 15th, 2009
9:48 pm
Anders, You called it, I agree.
He should have bailed from Toronto. Even that may have been too late. His swings have been gruesome to watch. But it could have happened anywhere, too. I knew that end of last year!
Anders
March 15th, 2009
9:50 pm
Well, I have to go work on the cure for cancer now. I promised I’d get that done over the weekend.
See you folks down the road. Talk amongst yourselves(about me of course).
ease19
March 15th, 2009
9:53 pm
I asked Anders to go out and enjoy his weekend yesterday morning (since he has only 21 days left to enjoy), however it appears that he chose to remain on the blog. Anybody else notice that he is lacking a
boy/girlfriend to hang with?18 Wheels of Love
March 15th, 2009
9:54 pm
Adam Dunn would have been nice in LF.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
9:56 pm
18 Wheels-
Adam Dunn would have been nice at the plate…not in left field (have you seen him “playing” in the outfield? It’s…not pretty)
winterville
March 15th, 2009
9:56 pm
Good night buddy. See ya the next time something you said ends up being right!
Random
March 15th, 2009
9:57 pm
Anders–
PS:
onionhead
March 15th, 2009
9:58 pm
Anders-I would expect you to solve the national debt in your next endeavor1
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
9:58 pm
How is it, Anders, that you only choose what part of the quote from Chipper you want to hear? I read the interview and immediately thought of your comment last night. Because in the interview Chipper specifically said that the oblique was NOT a problem last night. He even went on to say that it was not even a problem today in the cages. It became a problem during batting practice when he made a particular swing. Breaking your arm to pat your own back can be painful. But you do it often enough I am sure it is no problem for you. Strange thing is… as you mention something about Lew being missing…. you disappear when you have been wrong (many times) and come back as though you never said anything wrong. In this case, a question was asked specifically about last night. Chipper said… not a problem.
18 Wheels of Love
March 15th, 2009
10:00 pm
Cab, I’m fully aware of his defense and would be willing to take the drop off for 40+ HR’s. But really, who would we be comparing his defense to? Diaz and Garrett are the likely platton and the drop off from them would be minimal since they aren’t exactly gold gloves.
OhMyAchin'Belly
March 15th, 2009
10:02 pm
Except for yourself, and …? And…?
On another note, for those ready to ship some OF out because a couple of rooks are having a good week: I’m pretty sure FA signees, such as Garret Anderson, can’t be traded just yet. It’s either FAs or arb cases (or both, maybe) that can’t be moved until later in the regular season. I’m sure somebody can and will look up the rule, LOL. Scoots
and…SCOOTs of course. It’s FAs who can’t be traded right away. I’m too lazy to look up the date but it’s somewhere between May 15 and July 1 I believe. Man that hurts so much not to be able to remember that kinda crap anymore. My steel trap is rusting away. They just told me last week that if i get any dumber they are gonna hafta kick me outta Mensa., they’re getting embarassed.
Random
March 15th, 2009
10:04 pm
TnBrian–
Mmmmmmm — “WVBrian“. Sounds nice, huh? Got a certainly understated elegance, don’t you think?
Try it — you’ll like it!
Well love it.
PS: “AdirondackBrian” also seems viable about now.
Bubdylan
March 15th, 2009
10:06 pm
Anders, I almost slipped into thinking of you as a non-troll again. Whew. That was close.
Seriously, if Santana gets ever gets hurt in some way I saw coming, and it occurs to me to run right over to a Mets blog and quote myself, I think I’ll go back to reading the newspaper.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
10:07 pm
18 Wheels- first- I like Dunn..seems like a good guys, has a gorgeous swing, gets on base a lot…but- it is a pretty significant drop off, even from Garrett and Matt (or anyone else the Braves currently have)- it is that bad- but bottom line (and I am sure you are well aware) it was just not cost efficent to sign him
Run Heap Run
March 15th, 2009
10:08 pm
GamecockBrave – you’re welcome, but I’m not a man, man.
Lew
March 15th, 2009
10:12 pm
I just wish Anders would show me how to draw that damned oblique so I can teach that Little Moron Bobby’s Belly something. God knows he’s ignorant enough.
Random
March 15th, 2009
10:13 pm
Anders (9:25 pm): ” ‘No one is going to pat you on the back for your comments whether they are true or not’ (Winterville)
“Why not?”
‘Cause you beat ‘em to it!!! L.O.L.
How’s your oblique?
18 Wheels of Love
March 15th, 2009
10:13 pm
Yeah, too expensive. I still would have chanced it if he was affordable. Above avg in CF and RF would allow me to be OK with Dunn in LF. But alas, it’s all moot.
The GM
March 15th, 2009
10:16 pm
The Braves had better prepare to play most of the season without Chipper. His body just isn’t able to play 150 games anymore and a younger player is a definite need. Maybe Prado is the answer otherwise a trade and upgrade should be the next move.
f.n.hale
March 15th, 2009
10:22 pm
Shamus, your 9:29 wasn’t exactly a bubdylan12:24, but very funny indeed.
Bub, that 12:24 (was it Friday night) will go down with other alphanumeric icons, John 3:16, Bacardi 151, Highway 101, Cherry 2000, well, maybe not that last one but you get the point. Funny stuff.
Though I find it weird, I’m glad Anders hangs out here and I really don’t understand the animosity from some. His posts are entertaining, informative and witty. It is refreshing (sometimes) to look at things without the Braves colored glasses.
dogsbrekky, did you really say antipodean?
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:23 pm
Looks like Jeter could ground out to 3rd.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:23 pm
Look, I was right (see Jeter comment above)
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:24 pm
That Engelhardt dude looks like he could hit a ball a long way.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:24 pm
Wow he tattooed that ball…..right again.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:25 pm
Lindstrom should throw at the next guy.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:26 pm
see! I knew it!
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:27 pm
I saw this bench clearer coming.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:27 pm
Whoah – Where’d that one come from?
Chris
March 15th, 2009
10:28 pm
DOB, I have checked everywhere and cannot find what the current status is on Will Ohman…what do you know?
Roach
March 15th, 2009
10:28 pm
Whats the score of the WBC game stuck here at work again
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
10:29 pm
Chipper just wants to come back in time to see Schafer, Hanson, Freeman, and Heyward.
northbeach Scott
March 15th, 2009
10:29 pm
Ohman remains an unsigned free agent.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:29 pm
Youkilis is an overrated fielder
AIG
March 15th, 2009
10:30 pm
More money. I want more money. Give me more money. Now.
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:31 pm
Error Youkolis…I’d mentioned his fielding deficiencies earlier. Check for yourself!
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:31 pm
Lidstrom doesn’t look right to me
Zap Rowsdower
March 15th, 2009
10:32 pm
Wow that standoff between the US and the Dutch was kinda a shame.
A Rod's Cousin
March 15th, 2009
10:32 pm
Chipper needs an injection.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
10:33 pm
Roach-
it’s 8-3 USA
ease19
March 15th, 2009
10:33 pm
I’ve got a felling that “Anders” is not really Anders…Not cool.
Liberty
March 15th, 2009
10:34 pm
Save money. I want to save more money. Save me more money. Now.
Random
March 15th, 2009
10:35 pm
“Anders” (10:23-10:27 ff)–
Not funny.
And not cool.
ease19
March 15th, 2009
10:35 pm
So, I guess we are not looking at the Dutch for our “big” bat?
Anders
March 15th, 2009
10:41 pm
For the record two of those posts werereal Anders. The 10:27 ‘bench Clearer” and the “wooah” one just to see if I could smoke out whoever wasusing my name-oh well.
BTW- The Liberty was me too -that was for fun. Random and Ease 19- appreciate the cover. Now back to my lab.
n.y. post
March 15th, 2009
10:41 pm
Did Chipper have a baby momma in Toronto? Did she speak French and cook him waffles for breakfast? Or was she a refugee from Serbia? Did he buy her an expensive automobile and promise to love her always? While he is away, will she finish writing her novel? What was the real problem with his oblique? Was he stabbed with a broken bottle in a bar brawl? And what was McCann doing there? He doesn’t drink. Or does he? Does Bobby Cox twitter in the dugout? And what was in the e-mail he sent to Timothy Geithner? Was it advice or a request? And why is a man named Leonard hanging out in the Braves shower? Handing out soap? Soap on a rope? And which Brave never showers? Are his initials BB? Is Frank Wren overated as a philatelist? And when will Anders eat his cream of wheat?
Zap Rowsdower
March 15th, 2009
10:43 pm
David Wright seemed to have a major issue with that guy taking his time watching the homer. I say let the Dutch enjoy it. Its the Netherlands dude- they’re about to go home so they should have some fun while theyre still here.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
10:44 pm
Philatelist? Help. I’m on a commodore 64 – no dictionary.
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
10:44 pm
Mac with the pinch hit RBI double!
9-3 USA bottom 8
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
10:47 pm
They put Mac in left field!
spotts
March 15th, 2009
10:47 pm
McCann’s in left?!
Zap Rowsdower
March 15th, 2009
10:48 pm
BRIAN MCCANN IS IN LEFT FIELD. HOLY CRACKERS
brent a.
March 15th, 2009
10:48 pm
Be careful, Mac!
cabravesfan
March 15th, 2009
10:49 pm
please let someone hit the ball to left!!!
Fred
March 15th, 2009
10:49 pm
McCann is now in LF!?!? This WBC is a joke!
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
10:49 pm
We let the Dutch score 3 runs off of us? Not good.
DAP
March 15th, 2009
10:49 pm
mccann just went in to play left field for team USA. weird!
Random
March 15th, 2009
10:49 pm
Philatelist = stamp collector
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
10:49 pm
McCann’s in left!
Tim-Braves Lifer
March 15th, 2009
10:49 pm
there s our power hitting outfielder!!!!!
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
10:50 pm
McCann in LF? Bet Anders couldn’t predict that one!
Just messing with you Anders.
JimD
March 15th, 2009
10:50 pm
Maybe our left field situation is settled now. We can play McCann in LF and let Sammons stay up. ROFLOL!!!!
NO WBC
March 15th, 2009
10:50 pm
I still don’t like the WBC. The USA doesn’t know what their role is in the tournament. There are a couple of articles on SI.com today that address that very point. You have everyday players who are bustin’ it because the want to win, yet Johnson leaves Peavey in until they score a half dozen off him last night because “he wanted Peavey to get his work in.” Whats up with that? The US doesn’t know if they are trying to win the tournament or just trying to get these guys ready for the regular season. Until USA baseball decides that they are really trying to win the WBC, why should any player take himself away from his team to be part of that?
Now to Chipper. Might Chipper have sustained the oblique injury had he been in training camp with the Braves rather than on the US team? Perhaps, but I think we all know Chipper and how he handles such injuries. Does anyone really think Chipper would have been swinging the bat again as soon as he did if he wasn’t playing in the WBC? He may not have suffered the injury just because he was playing in the WBC, but he may have made the injury worse because he tried to come back and swing the bat too soon because of the WBC.
spotts
March 15th, 2009
10:50 pm
Why do the big networks hire the worst sportscasters in their respective sports? Fox has McCarver and Buck and some other idiots for the BCS. And now we’ve gotta listen to these clowns? I mean…they’re a step up from Joe Morgan and that guy who’s shaped like a pumpkin (the one who calls Furcal “FOUR-call!”), but still…
Bobby's Cox
March 15th, 2009
10:50 pm
Why couldn’t Bobby and Wren think of that before signing Garret and trading Flowers?!
Bubdylan
March 15th, 2009
10:50 pm
Yeesh, our blog is spiraling.
Fred
March 15th, 2009
10:51 pm
If Cox and Wren are watching this, there is likely some broken furniture down in Orlando.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
10:52 pm
Thanks Random. Don’t get the context from the n.y. post post, but oh well. I’m smarter than I was a minute ago (unless you’re lying to me) – then I’m as smart as I was a minute ago.
n.y. post
March 15th, 2009
10:53 pm
If Broxton asked to use your bathroom, would you let him? And what if he asked to borrow some magazines to look at? Would you be worried? Do you own a plunger?
Couch Tater
March 15th, 2009
10:53 pm
He was in left field only because Jeter wouldn’t let him play SS.
MrNeutral
March 15th, 2009
10:54 pm
Good for McCann! Now Francoeur can work on his catching.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
10:54 pm
Nice Couch.
SoWeGa Fanatic
March 15th, 2009
10:55 pm
Anders, I just read on MLB Santana is out 10-12 weeks with his elbow. What happened to him?
PTBNL
March 15th, 2009
10:56 pm
They got away with it. And, admittedly it was just one inning, but playing someone out of position like that could be hurtful.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
10:57 pm
One day, while a blonde was out driving her car, she ran into a truck.
The truck’s driver made her pull over into a parking lot and get out of the car.
He took a piece of chalk and drew a circle on the pavement. He told her to stand in the middle and not leave the circle.
Furious, he went over to her car and slashed the tires.
The blonde started laughing.
This made the man angrier so he smashed her windshield.
This time the blonde laughed even harder.
Livid, the man broke all her windows and keyed her car.
The blonde is now laughing hysterically, so the truck driver asks her what’s so funny.
The blonde giggles and replies, “When you weren’t looking, I stepped out of the circle three times!”
spotts
March 15th, 2009
10:57 pm
Oh man….McCann at short? He’d have the range of a beached whale
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
10:58 pm
Q: What’s the definition of an Impotent Loser?
A: A guy who can’t even get his hopes up.
MAC 4 LF
March 15th, 2009
11:02 pm
wow i was REALLY wanting to see a hit to LF, and yea we found our power LF haha
DAP
March 15th, 2009
11:03 pm
the story about jeter being in a bad mood because he wasnt in the lineup really irked me. ive always apreciated jeter for the way he plays the game, but he really has no business being in the lineup as a DH, and he is nowhere near the defender that rollins is. at least davey johnson didnt let jeter play SS tonight, but i hate that he gave in and DHed him. (i would have DHed dunn and let victorino play)
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
11:03 pm
GA’s calf is feeling better.
n.y. post
March 15th, 2009
11:04 pm
Has Roy Oswalt ever been “institutionalized”? Has he ever mutilated squirrels with a cheese knife? Does he travel under the name “Mo Hostettler”? Does he belong to an obscure sect that practices astral projection? Is he a constitutional scholar pretending to speak no Hebrew? When will he retire and live in a forest? Is his paycheck larger than the 1983 GNP of Guatemala? Does he believe in the “little people”? Has he ever eaten uncooked ostrich? Does he have a taste for “boy bands”? Does he have a fraternal twin in Idaho who is afraid of snakes?
spotts
March 15th, 2009
11:10 pm
No he doesn’t.
n.y. post
March 15th, 2009
11:13 pm
WBC…When does Iceland play Ethiopia?
n.y. post
March 15th, 2009
11:17 pm
In Spain, is “Mexico” pronounced “MECK-THI-CO”?
Sum Ting Wong
March 15th, 2009
11:17 pm
#$@&%!. Joe West and Steve Phirrips. Rousy.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
11:17 pm
Am I suppose to put my solar cover on during the day to heat up my pool or at night to keep the heat in my pool?
n.y. post
March 15th, 2009
11:21 pm
“Am I suppose to put my solar cover on during the day to heat up my pool or at night to keep the heat in my pool?”
At night, switch to a stellar cover.
Zap Rowsdower
March 15th, 2009
11:22 pm
I wonder if there’s beer on the sun
n.y. post
March 15th, 2009
11:23 pm
“I wonder if there’s beer on the sun”
Only warm, European style brew.
winterville
March 15th, 2009
11:24 pm
I think the reason Jeter was the DH and in the 3 spot was because of how late Chipper got scratched. They didn’t want to change the rest of the lineup so they just plugged him in.
Bobby's Belly
March 15th, 2009
11:26 pm
There is beer in Bobby’s Belly. Nice to stop firing on JA for awhile. I really do like the guy …… as a 4th OF’er.
n.y. post
March 15th, 2009
11:35 pm
Is there fire in Bobby’s belly? Or is that a jalapeno?
onionhead
March 15th, 2009
11:35 pm
Heck with outfielders. What to do with third base and third hitter may be the question that needs answered soon!
onionhead
March 15th, 2009
11:37 pm
Bobbys belly- what in the world did you start all that fuss over today?
Bubdylan
March 15th, 2009
11:37 pm
Look out for the Schlitz Malt Liquor Bull….
Sum Ting Wong
March 15th, 2009
11:51 pm
Kevin Tower want all Korean team plus stock in Samsung for Jake Peavy. He read Moneyball too much.
TnBrian
March 15th, 2009
11:59 pm
If any of you bloggers are under 35 years old, probably not, but maybe you have played ‘09 The Show. Good game and you even get to pick your own jersey’s. They’re wearing their blue ones for the road, right?
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
12:09 am
How old do you think we are, TnBrian? lol
nfieldr
March 16th, 2009
12:10 am
Just watched most of the US WBC game. Is it just me or does Sutcliffe really suck as an announcer? And while I’m at it, is Eric Young the worse baseball talking head on TV? C’mon EY…. enunciate… please! OK, off my soapbox now, just had to vent, thank you for your time.
cabravesfan
March 16th, 2009
12:12 am
nfieldr-
it’s not just you
cabravesfan
March 16th, 2009
12:13 am
and TNBrian-
Believe it or not some of us are under the age of 35:)
Roach
March 16th, 2009
12:14 am
TnBrian,
I have xbox forced to play mlb2k9 not a bad game though….When is EA Sports gonna do baseball again MVP baseball was so much better than the show or 2k
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
12:17 am
Has anyone seen my cane? Hurry up…midnight bingo is starting in the activity room soon and I don’t want to miss it.
Zap Rowsdower
March 16th, 2009
12:21 am
Bingo! Let me grab my sound amplifying headphones and I’ll be right there!
Bravestillidie
March 16th, 2009
12:21 am
I love Chipper Jones….don’t get me wrong, but it’s a good thing we have an embarassment of pitching depth cause we are gonna need it to trade for a nice young 3b, or SS so we can move Esco to 3b. I know that Infante and Prado are both serviceable and I would love for them to get an opportunity, but in the long run, we need a studd to fill in when Chipper can’t go. Kinda hard to replace the arguably greatest switch hitter ever.
BTID
MrNeutral
March 16th, 2009
12:25 am
I have read nothing on the entire page 6, my post included, that anyone, anybody else or anyone at all would miss if it were deleted.
Sum Ting Wong
March 16th, 2009
12:34 am
Oliver Perez actually play for Mets? okie dokie…
…heh heh.
Bubdylan
March 16th, 2009
12:35 am
Some love for Bobby Cox just now on the WBC broadcast. Manager for Mexico (V. Castillo?) being quoted saying Cox was his most influencial manager and so forth. Talked about how Bobby would absorb the blame when something went wrong.
Zap Rowsdower
March 16th, 2009
12:42 am
Ah Mr. Neutral. The blog’s last hope. Sanitas et veritas my good man. Thank you for your service to us all. I bid you good morrow.
TnBrian
March 16th, 2009
12:46 am
RunHeapRun/cabravesfan,I was just being a smart a- because when I’ve come on here at night there seems to be a lot of old know it all farts. Kidding…sorta
Roach, never played the MVP game, but if it’s better than The Show, I gotta get it. The Show’s pretty good, but I do have issues with it, like Frenchy having a “C” for his average after ‘08…more like a D or even an F. The best has to be Escobar because it looks just like him. I’ve changed a couple of things like making my own little japanese Kawakami guy and even changed Kelly batting stance. It’s cool, but don’t over play it, cause it’ll give you a migrane
DirtyDawg
March 16th, 2009
12:49 am
Want to thank you guys for your responses to my earlier post about young Mr. Parr’s SI ‘culture’ comments. You’re obviously correct in the assumption that I don’t share his thinking…and you’re also correct in that he has every ‘right’ to express them. My point, and the question was directed to DOB, was whether or not he had done the questioning. Obviously, he had better sense that to respond. I shan’t belabor this point further except to say that I don’t enjoy hearing about the political leanings of the guys I expect to be cheering for – it sorta takes the edge off of it if I know that Hank Aaron and I are in such disagreement with them.
hmmm
March 16th, 2009
12:52 am
So you don’t mind knowing Hank Aaron’s leanings but you don’t wanna know about Parr’s?
Roach
March 16th, 2009
12:54 am
TnBrian,
MVP baseball no longer is made EA gave up the right to make baseball to concentrate on madden and 2k cant make football games stupid if ya ask me they pushed each other.
No Time?
March 16th, 2009
12:54 am
RunHeapRun/cabravesfan,I was just being a smart a- because when I’ve come on here at night there seems to be a lot of old know it all farts. Kidding…sorta Tin Brain
TinBrain is that you baby? I been looking all over the internet for you sweetie. Ain’t you ever gonna talk dirty to me anymore? I think you’re just a big tease, you mean old brute. I’m under 35, well almost. I shaved my legs and armpits just for you and you still ignore me.
gotigers72
March 16th, 2009
12:54 am
I am already sick of the WBC. Chipper injured, no telling how long it will be before he’s back full strength. Keeping my fingers crossed that Heap doesn’t get hurt, or Vasquez or Campillo or Blanco. And for what? So some team can beat the US and brag about it? I’ll bet the Padres aren’t happy that Peavy is on the team either. Out there stressing his arm which they count on to win 18-20 games. No way he is ready. I know he probably started earlier, but his body is used to being in ST right about now.
The timing of this thing is horrible. If they want to brag about beating us, play in the middle of our season. I know that is impossible, but the owners and managers can’t be too happy about their million dollar babies risking injury. Yes the other teams have ML players also, but Peavy and Oswalt are 2 of the best pitchers in the game, and can’t be prepared for this like they would be in July.
All it will take is for one big name ML player, a Miguel Cabrera or a Chipper to get hurt and miss the entire year and the USA team will then be playing with minor leaguers or college boys next time around. I didn’t like it the first time, like it even less now. Could you blame the owners for worrying about their investments going down? If it’s a big name player that puts fannies in seats, I wouldn’t blame them for banning their players from playing ever again.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
1:03 am
Not sure this comment is warranted based on the last 50 or so posts, but here it goes:
From Bowman: “Chipper Jones has spent the past couple of years campaigning for the Braves to start drafting more power arms. Courtesy of Hanson, Medlen, Locke, Teheran and Rohrbough it appears the veteran third baseman’s wish has been granted”
I like how involved chipper gets in the organization.
Roman Gal
March 16th, 2009
1:09 am
DOB Did you give Bobby a hug for me? If not, I’m sure you’ll remember tomorrow, right?
Thanks for those quotes about Bobby from Kotchman. Even if you don’t like some of the things he does, there’s no denying what he’s done for the Braves.
Run Heap Run, I saw quite a few that weren’t set to private. The majority were (set to private), but quite a few aren’t.
Hmm…I wonder if mine is set to private. I should probably check. And you’re right about a lot of the profile pictures…some are kinda freaky looking…not that I don’t love everyone here…because everyone is so…ok, I’m gonna stop digging my hole before it gets too deep to climb out of.
Whew! That was a close one!
By the way, did you give Bobby a hug for me? If not, I’m sure you’ll remember tomorrow, right?
Bubdylan
March 16th, 2009
1:12 am
Three homers off Perez. So far.
Roman Gal
March 16th, 2009
1:17 am
Speaking of Jordan Schafer (which we weren’t, but…who’s counting, right?)
I doubt anyone here is a bigger Schafer fan that I am, but as long as Anderson is respectable this spring, I don’t see any harm in giving him a chance. There are several sides to the Schafer to Gwinnett preference. First, it will obviously be better for the Gwinnett ticket sales if Schafer is there. Second, there’s no need to overexpose him so early if Anderson can play half-way decently. And third, it doesn’t hurt to wait to start his clock if you can help it.
Don’t get me wrong, I would be ecstatic if Schafer were to start in Atlanta…but, like I said, I don’t see any harm in giving Anderson the chance. But he does have a long way to go before he should get that chance. We shall see.
Zookey
March 16th, 2009
1:17 am
DirtyDaug
Finally got it out didn’t you..Your educated political prejudice.
Frankly I can do without it.
winterville
March 16th, 2009
1:26 am
Bubdylan
Perez struggled through his first start too.
Roman Gal
March 16th, 2009
1:32 am
Well…since I’m in a chatty mood (it happens from time to time)
I saw Watchmen last weekend. I hated it. The storyline was good. The acting was good. But the gore was just too much. I wouldn’t consider myself ‘weak-stomached’ or anything like that, but it was very violent. Of course, since the majority of people on this blog are men, most of you will probably like it a lot.
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
1:41 am
Thanks for correcting me about Andrew, Erin. Guess that was one of my less enlightening posts. lol
Folks, when I post something, assume that it’s wrong until proven otherwise…
Struck out on the floozies. I’ll never criticise Frenchy again…
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 16th, 2009
1:41 am
Yep, I saw the Wrestler in the theatre this weekend. Loved it. The whole movie was gritty, real and everything I expected and more.
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
1:43 am
First flick in a while that I really look forward to seeing.
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
1:50 am
The movies are booming. Folks are doing inexpensive things, closer to home. It’d be nice to renovate a movie theater and move in. Make the balcony a master bedroom, unload mounds of cash on a blue-ray projector…
Thank Gawd for fantasies.
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
1:59 am
I think the economy will do the same for baseball as theaters. A Braves game ain’t the cheapest thing to do, but it’s cheaper than getting liquored-up and raising Hell. Especially if you leave-off the raising Hell part at the game…
I’ve got the grill going; yep, 2 AM. See y’all tomorrow, take care all…
Thanks for the great work DOB.
Someone
March 16th, 2009
2:00 am
Even without me the blog is still here. Amazing!
Someone Else
March 16th, 2009
2:01 am
Of course it’s still here. Do you think the world revolves around you?
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
2:01 am
LMAO…….Goodnight
Anyone
March 16th, 2009
2:01 am
You worthless idiots, it’s only here because I’m here.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
2:04 am
I’m getting a kick out of Korea’s lineup.
Of the 9 starting hitters, 6 are named Kim or Lee (2 Kim’s, 4 Lee’s)
They have 3 Lee’s batting back-to-back-to-back (5-7 hitters), and before that, are 2 Kim’s batting back-to-back (3&4 hitters).
So from hitters 3-7, Mexico is facing Kim, Kim, Lee, Lee, Lee.
I wonder how that makes Jeong and Park feel. Maybe Jeong doesn’t feel so bad. After Korea’s starter left the game, Mexico faced Jong, Jong, Chong, and then faced a Kim. So Park is definitely the black sheep.
DiamondbackMac
March 16th, 2009
2:10 am
Bobby’s Cox ROFL
DiamondbackMac
March 16th, 2009
2:12 am
Bobby’s Cos – I noticed that the last game Korea played but didn’t think to put it so eloquently as you.
Bubdylan
March 16th, 2009
2:13 am
winterville, Perez seemed to throw a lot of good pitches, made some hitters look bad. But when he’d miss, he’d leave it right in the middle and they’d kill it.
DiamondbackMac
March 16th, 2009
2:13 am
It’s like having a team full of Smiths and Jonses.
nolie
March 16th, 2009
2:18 am
First flick in a while that I really look forward to seeing. Shamus
do they actually have a theater there or do you hafta run to Rome to see a movie? Go and watch any of the Braves minor league up there?
DiamondbackMac
March 16th, 2009
2:21 am
Whoops, sorry, that should have been Cox. My fingers seem to be drunk.
DiamondbackMac
March 16th, 2009
2:23 am
Well, time for bed. Good night and may God bless you all.
Bubdylan
March 16th, 2009
2:50 am
I have to take my dog in and have her put down tomorrow morning. Best dog I’ve ever had. Y’all think of me in the a.m.
G’night Braves fans. God bless.
nolie
March 16th, 2009
3:02 am
have to take my dog in and have her put down tomorrow morning. BUB
I really sympathize. I had to put my cat down about a month ago. My condolences.
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
3:46 am
I vote to put Anders down.
I can’t imagine a better example of why the guy is a troll. His very first post tonight is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen here (including Robert), and the posts that followed were damn close. He says Lew left because of Chipper, yet Anders himself didn’t show up until immediately after the news.
I’m ashamed of any fellow Braves’ fan, and MIB blogger, who defends the douche. (scoots, I saw the first answer, but I have to ask again; can we upgrade him to “prime of his douche-bag career,” and note that Dayn Perry better stay at the top of his game?)
Condolences bubd, nolie.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
3:53 am
bubdylan: Best wishes on what’s going to be one of the hardest days imaginable, with your dog. I held mine when they put him down, and It’s one of the toughest things I ever went through.
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
3:55 am
And, wtf with headline writers?
How the hell can some dude read DOB’s Lowe column, and come up with “Lowe struggles in second outing against Astros?”
And, can someone explain why the author doesn’t write their own headlines? You hire a guy, pay a guy, trust a guy to write for you, to entertain whatever audience you can retain in the ‘paper business, and you let someone else, who clearly doesn’t read/have time to read these articles, insert whatever headline his mood fits. They’re basically saying DOB, or Carrol, or whomever can’t author an effective headline. Ridiculous. ‘Tis like saying I can’t drink a whiskey.
Apologies to Someone, Someone Else, Anyone, female writers, non-drinkers, and anyone else I may have offended (except for Anders; Anders, you’re a douche-bag).
BA
March 16th, 2009
4:17 am
Hang in there, Bub.
Anybody else watch that Cuba/Japan game? Daisuke was absolutely Madduxian. The Cubans came unglued, pulling pitchers left and right- you should have seen their catcher, he was pulling his hair out!
The Japanese have a spectacular lineup. I have trouble believing that those guys aren’t playing on at least close to a Major League level.
Anders has a sickening pios attitude when anybody brings up any of the Mutts constant string of injuries, yet he’s the first to post a Braves injury with glee. The definition of a douche bag- Andouche.
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
4:33 am
Andouche – I’m usin’ that.
Lindstrom throwing behind that guy tonight was BS.
First of all, guys today admire, celebrate what they do. I don’t like it; I never will. I’m an Emmitt Smith, act like you’ve done it before, act like you’ll do it again, hand the ball to the official type of guy. Most athletes today aren’t, and pitchers have adapted to that. I suspect Bob Gibson would’ve killed someone who did the Sammy Sosa bunny-hop to first base.
Secondly, it’s an international game against a team that’s going home. Let it go. If Brandon Jones did that, against the Marlins in June, I’d throw at him, too. But some no-name guy just hit the biggest homer of his life. Let it go.
Now, as I type this, I see on the DVR that God himself, David Wright seems to have instigated the incident. So, I’ll blame them both. I can almost, almost accept Lindstrom deferring to a “leader’s” opinion that what the guy did was wrong, but Wright’s an idiot. I’ve seen Delgado do far, far worse. Hell, I’ve seen Endy Chavez do worse. Does Wright pull them aside?
Roach
March 16th, 2009
4:34 am
How about this name for a fantasy baseball team……Heap’s Hosses??Huh Sound Good??
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
4:45 am
Anders’ Douches??
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
4:55 am
Can someone hide the McCann played left news from McFann?
She might think he can get two triples this year, and outsteal Francouer. Well, he can outsteal Francouer, and perhaps Blanco (what a waste of speed that guy is).
This is not to denigrate our RF. Here’s to hoping he keeps this up. I’m starting to believe, or at least plausibly hope. Skeptic, but hopeful. Or hopeful, and hammered? You decide.
Where’s another whiskey?
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
5:04 am
I forget who had the “theory” (I know you were joking) about five guys with multipe-personalities posting here. Good stuff. But, I wonder if Anders isn’t something similar.
I know the new Philly poster is fake; a couple of our name-changers are very good. But, I think Anders might be a creation, as well. I think it’s jjs, or the like, back to mess with us (miss ya, jjs, almost miss the seal). If it’s just Anders, how sad. If so, I pity the douche.
And, am I an alcoholic, if, to myself, out loud, I say “I pity the douche,” like Mr. T? Don’t answer that.
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
5:09 am
If one can blog with one’s self, does one need the blog?
If one is unable to read Anders “patting himself on the back,” should one doubt that it is inevitably occurring?
Roach
March 16th, 2009
5:11 am
BayAreaSteve is drunk posting….the blog equivalent to drunk texting/drunk dialing….Actually quite humorous…give him another one!!!
Roach
March 16th, 2009
5:13 am
Blog!!!!Blog!!!Blog!!!Blog!!!Blog…..Come on Steve is that all you got…
N Nine (eta20)
March 16th, 2009
5:13 am
He will get his two triples, you just wait buddy!
Any plans to switch LF Diaz with C McCann this year? I wanna see McCann run after a flyball, now that’s worth the price of admission.
onionhead
March 16th, 2009
5:15 am
is there any intellegent life form out there at this time?
onionhead
March 16th, 2009
5:17 am
Diaz to catch? Maybe, I was at the game yesterday and he took some bad routes on two balls. No bad routes catching!
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
5:17 am
I was beggin’ he’d get one Nine. I was even trying to decide if he’d play a worse left than Diaz. Our C is slow, but quick.
Hey Roach, thanks, I believe I will.
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
5:18 am
<—– non-intelligent life-form.
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
5:19 am
<—– greater than Anders’ intelligence life-form
Roach
March 16th, 2009
5:19 am
Anytime Steve glad to help out anyway I can
nolie
March 16th, 2009
5:35 am
yeah it’s aa real bummer. They can sense from you that something is wrong. They are in a cold hard place that they don’t like and that frightens them. They crawl over to you for comfort and reassurance that everything is alright. You hold them and try to pretend while your heart breaks. It’s a lot longer than one bad day.
Greg
March 16th, 2009
6:06 am
The one thing Chipper isn’t mentioning about his WBC injury is that yes, he might have injured himself in Orlando but if he had Bobby and Wren would have shut him down until they were sure he was healthy. Instead, he pushed to get back in the lineup and play in this crapload exhibition. I’m as patriotic as anybody, but part of me wants the U.S. team to be eliminated this week so that Brian McCann will come back to ST and learn our new pitchers rather than PLAYING OUTFIELD in the WBC. What the hell kind of stupidity is that?! Final note: It’s great to see Vazquez pitching so well for PR. I’ve always thought he was immensely talented, but I am concerned that maybe he tuned it up too fast because he was representing PR against the U.S. BTW PR is part of the U.S., and I resent them having a separate team. But that ship sailed long ago.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
6:28 am
Andouche – I’m usin’ that.
I’m with you there, that’s a keeper. Agreed, on his prime, too; probably get locked up for a long-term about now.
Bub, I’ll join in others’ commiseration; few things harder than what you’re getting ready for. I’ve gone through it a few times over the years, and I cry like a baby every time. Just a month ago, I had two old cats, 18 years old, go just 48 hours apart. Born in the same litter, so I guess it was appropriate they left the world at the same time, too. Hang in, my man.
Gil In Mechanicsville
March 16th, 2009
6:59 am
My guess is my cat while die of frustration while trying to open a can of tuna herself with the electric can opener…
Mark Windsor
March 16th, 2009
7:29 am
Stop the XChipper TRASHING…its not fair..Chipper is one of BEST baseball people out there he wanted to represent our country on the USA team..Im sorry it wasnt good for him..He has been the Greatest Brave since Henry Aaron Hands down..Hope you get better soon Chipper..and he will…I would not like to see this season a chipperless team..he valuable in many ways on and off the field..hes got 3 weeks to heal.;..
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
7:39 am
Bay Area Steve: Now that was funny stuff. The overnight comedy club, 10-drink minimum. Gotta love it.
Bubdylan
March 16th, 2009
7:54 am
Thanks, everybody, for the kind words. Felt funny posting it, but it was a rough night and the dude I normally tell my troubles to has too many of his own right now for me to lay this on him.
Just about to go to bed, finally. About four o’clock I said screw it (she starting to hit some serious pain) and drove her to Anniston and paid the emergency-hours people to do it. It must have been fate, though, cuz she perked up and enjoyed the car ride, head out the window in the misting rain, almost no traffic at that hour. It was pretty surreal.
I came completely unglued during the ten-minute wind-down after the first shot, and, yeah, DOB, definitely one of the hardest days ever, as you said.
Now, to bed. I know this stuff doesn’t really belong on here, but thanks for listening. And thanks again for the warm words. (And the funny ones, Gil in Mechanicsville; a much-needed burst of laughter at your 6:59).
Bill M.
March 16th, 2009
7:56 am
Chipper’s injury is a problem for the Braves. I hope they don’t give him a 3yr. deal. One year at a time. I don’t know of any young 3rd. base prospects that might be available. They need to trade for Teahen from K.C. He’s young and can play several positions. K.C. might take Morton or Reyes.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
7:58 am
My steel trap is rusting away. They just told me last week that if i get any dumber they are gonna hafta kick me outta Mensa., they’re getting embarassed
Heck, mine’s degraded all the way down to mousetrap, so don’t feel bad, my friend. Mensans spit on the sidewalk when they see me coming.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
8:15 am
DOB- Gotta say I’m pretty disappointed in you condoning what Bay Area Steve posted into the late hours. Personally I found it offensive and fairly vulgar. I get that you can’t stop a lot of this type of stuff from people who choose to personally attack others – but to give it your seal of approval is somewhat disconcerting.
Anyway, while all this Anders hatred clears let me explain what I was trying to convey last night with my Chipper posts. We have now seen multiple instances of where players feel the pressure to continue to play in this WBC where they most likely would not have in a normal ST circumstance. Cano admitted as much, Marte intimated it and Girardi confirmed he would not have pitched him. And IMO if Chipper was at Braves camp he would not have pushed on or at the very least the Braves would have shut him down even for the slightest twinge. The reason I posted the comments I made on Saturday night next to the comments Chipper made before leaving camp was to show imo that he wasn’t telling the full truth that he was fine the night before and had re-injured it just in bp last night. It was obvious to anyone who watched that at bat that he was struggling. If he was at Braves camp they would have seen this as well and shut him down. I’m not here to call Chipper a liar, what is he supposed to say? He’s a gamer and a pro – I get that.
My point is that you can’t leave these types of decisions in the players hands, especially when they’re feeling the obvious pressure to play in this tournament.
I stand by my comments that this whole WBC is an incredible risk of the MLB’s most valuable assets. Just give me one circumstance where you think Cox would put McCann in left field for a st game? How about a 4 out save for K-Rod on March 12th?
Wake up folks, Selig has sent these managers to the casino with our wallets.
june_baby
March 16th, 2009
8:26 am
have been very impressed by the consistent play of all facets of the team this spring. i do believe there is a connections between spring and early regular season play. get off to a good start and it can propel you throughout the season. so far so good! what’s up with all thge injuries with chipper jones, getting earlier every year, and will probably last all year!! is this an indication of possible ped use earlier in his career?? i feel it’s time to ask these questions, because all of these injuries continue to add up with him!!!
Cyrus
March 16th, 2009
8:32 am
DOB I read the blog here for the past hour to work off my hang over and did my eyes decieve me when I read that Brian McCann, our All Star catcher, was playing LEFT FIELD for crying out loud. I have officially renamed the WBC the WBJ the World Baseball Joke and to hear about Chippers injury being worse has worsened my headache as well. The WBC sucks big time. I am still shaking my head thinking about the fleet footed Brian McCann playing left field. Mario Mendoza must not have been available.
Wascally Wabbit
March 16th, 2009
8:34 am
………. The one thing Chipper isn’t mentioning about his WBC injury is that yes, he might have injured himself in Orlando but if he had Bobby and Wren would have shut him down until they were sure he was healthy. Instead, he pushed to get back in the lineup and play in this crapload exhibition ………….
Are you sure? Two years ago in ST, Chipper hurt his leg. Then Chipper came on this very blog and read what everyone was saying and got absolutely furious about all of the horrible stuff the bloggers on here were saying about him. So Chipper rushed back from that injury in ST in an attempt to tell all of the bloggers here to go screw themselves and, as a result, hurt his oblique.
I wouldn’t blame the WBC. Chipper’s body has a nasty habit over the last five seasons of breaking down without any help from the WBC. Frankly, it’s for the best that he got one of his five injuries for the season out of the way in ST (or at the WBC substituting for ST). There should be little doubt that he will have five nagging injuries this season. The foot will flare up, the oblique will get strained, the hamstring will get pulled, the back will spasm, and he’ll somehow get struck in the noggin during BP. It’s not a matter of if these injuries will occur at this stage of his career. It’s simply a matter of when. The oblique is out of the way now ….. the only question now is when and where and how the other four injuries will happen. But at least we now know we’ve got one of them out of the way. Four more to go!
Couch Tater
March 16th, 2009
8:36 am
Anders, re-read my 9:08 from last night. Follow the money.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
8:39 am
Buddylan, sorry to hear about your dog. The guy getting all perked up maybe made it a little tolerable.
Roach and Steve, funny stuff. I have no problem with drunken posts, long as it’s the funny drunk personalities & not the angry drunk type. Lighten up Anders. It’s not like Steve is drinking every night (I think). Everyone is entitled to a few too many drinks every so often. Probably out with some friends, came home, wasn’t tired, and wanted to blog. What’s wrong with that?
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
8:39 am
Big hugs for Bub today.
Mark Windsor, I completely agree with your 7:29.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
8:40 am
Anders, we know you’re probably right. But please, because of who you are, we’ll never admit it, so just go along with the flow. You’re like the friend that’s a little different that everyone bags on. Just let us do it…it’ll make it easier on everyone.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
8:44 am
Couch – I hear ya. I was partially defending myself at this point and partially wondering why there isn’t more outrage on here about this whole WBC? The Braves could have lost both guys last night. One to a players slef diagnosis and the other to a ridiculous managerial decision. There was no reason at all to put McCann in left. None.
This is crazy stuff. What’s next – K-Rod gonna start a game?
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
8:48 am
The youngsters, including Freeman, Schafer, Heyward, are headed across the outfield to the batting cage right now, to warm up for this sim game.
I saw Glavine in the clubhouse while ago, asked him if he’d seen Chipper yet (stall’s next to his). No, he hadn’t. So I left, said good luck today, and to watch out for that kid Heyward. Glavine laughed and said, “Yeah,” knowing what I was alluding to — that Heyward’s taken Jurrjens and Kawakami deep in the two previous Monday sim games.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
8:51 am
Bobby Cox – I hear you. But DOB’s post at 7:39 is like the parent who gives those kids alchohol when they’re 16 – to use your metaphor. Then it all goes bad and everyone wonders how it got to this point?
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
8:51 am
Oh hey I didn’t know Ryan Braun got hurt during this WBC thing too. And the Marlins closer?
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9341542/WBC-injuries-making-GMs-plenty-nervous-
“Team USA manager Davey Johnson publicly apologized to Braves manager Bobby Cox for playing McCann out of position, and also acknowledged asking Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly if he could play left field.”
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
8:54 am
Manny got hurt in his first ST game? You people are supposed to keep me better informed.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9339916/Manny-hurts-hamstring-during-first-game-in-outfield?MSNHPHMA
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
8:58 am
Using McCann in LF last night underscored the silliness of the U.S. deciding not to take the full number of players allowed on the roster. (I’m assuming they went through with that plan, carrying fewer than the max number of roster players. If they ended up filling out the roster, then disregard this post, but I think they went with fewer than allowed, as they said they would in the conference call we had with Chipper, Rollins and a Team USA honcho before the tournament).
Team USA’s reason for taking either one or two fewer than allowed (I believe it was actually two) was that they didn’t want a situation like 2006 where the manager felt compelled to get everyone playing time.
Well, that’s precisely why you could take any utiility player(s), even if it was a minor league guy, to be the last man or two on the roster. To avoid a situation like last night. If McCann had gotten hurt in LF, they’d have looked terrible for not having a full roster, for not carrying an extra utility guy who could have gone out there.
By the way, I couldn’t tell if Wright was really reacting so strongly, jumping off the bench like that, to see how far the ball was going or if he was really that upset about the Netherlands guy pimping it. If it was about him pimping it, then Wright and the U.S. should’ve been above it in this situation, let the kid enjoy his one moment of glory. To throw at a batter as a response to that, given the opponent and all, come on.
Offsuit
March 16th, 2009
9:02 am
Mr. O’Brien – is the simulated game today open to the public like regular practice sessions? If so I am bringing my son instead of Epcot today.
Thanks
Thrillhouse44
March 16th, 2009
9:02 am
Condolences, Bub. We put my childhood dog down last April and it was a day I’ll never forget. It’s pretty sweet he got a good ride in last night – I’m sure he loved it. Get some rest, bud.
Offsuit's Son
March 16th, 2009
9:03 am
What?
TommyP
March 16th, 2009
9:04 am
Anders is right. That was absolutely bush-league to approve that crap from last night.
And there was nothing at all humorous about it.
I read some of what Anders wrote and can’t for the life of me figure out why so many on here rag on him.
Offsuit
March 16th, 2009
9:05 am
Son get off your iphone and get ready for baseball – we will go to Epcot tomorrow for pete’s sake. LOL
Acworth Don
March 16th, 2009
9:08 am
Well, Chipper being Chipper, he’s hurt again. Nothing new. He’ll be back at counting time and I believe he’ll be the Chipper of old… good
at bats and stats and hurting too. I’m more apprehensive about Frenchie,
will he be cool and relaxed to start the season? He can be great again if he can bring his head around and here’s where Chipper can be the most
help to the team. Help Frenchie mature Chip and this season will be a good one!
Thrillhouse44
March 16th, 2009
9:09 am
Anders, I wouldn’t say it’s like a parent giving booze to a 16 year old. I’d say it’s more like a parent letting kids work it out on their own…actually it’s not. We’re adults here – he’s letting adults handle it on their own while acknowledging some hilarious posts by Steve.
Couch Tater
March 16th, 2009
9:09 am
Dave, I didn’t get the impression that Wright was upset. I think the ESPN Boys were just trying to get Lindstrom off the hook.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
9:10 am
Anders with the fame also comes the abuse. Don’t read too much into it. The fact that Steve actually spent all morning blogging with himself I think is what was so funny. Also kinda sad.
i cant take it anymore
March 16th, 2009
9:13 am
sorry about your dog, bub. I’ve had my old man for 7 years. when it’s time for him to go, there is going to be some serious heartache. he’s a family member, no doubt.
10-80
March 16th, 2009
9:21 am
Bub, sorry to hear about your pup. If you are a reader, check out Merle’s Door by Ted Kerasote. Is a real good story about a dude in Montana and his dog, lots of insight into dogs character etc and a really good read. will make you appreciate your dog and understand that you made his life good.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
9:21 am
Couch tater – Kind of agree with your 9:09 but certainly didn’t want to be the first to say so – you know being who I am and all :}
I do agree that if Wright was upset it was out of line. Let the guy enjoy the moment. I’ve seen a lot worse. The guy never pointed, looked at the pitcher or the dugout or anything obvious like that.
Can you imagine if Lindstrom hurt his shoulder throwing that pitch behind that guy in the emotion of the moment? Wow.
3trees
March 16th, 2009
9:24 am
BubD – Sorry for your loss. To hear your description of the last ride broke my heart. As many have noted, I’ve been there too. Get some rest and hope you feel better. And what better place to share than here?
Go Braves … and BubDylan’s dog!
Dawgtime
March 16th, 2009
9:28 am
OK, it is time for someone to speak up about Chipper Jones. This guy is chronically hurt. I am saying that he is either a poorly conditioned athlete or a spoiled overpaid cry baby. Frankly, I believe he is a little of both. He is constantly hurt at questionable times. He strikes out five times in two days and is suddenly hurt. No, he struck out because he is not seeing the ball and sucked. After getting the big contract, he seems to have lost his dedication to the game. How many injuries has he had over the last 5 years? It’s always questionalbe injuries too. I’m not questioning his talent, rather his heart and commitment. I personally do not feel he can be counted on. I would trade him for prospects. Move Chipper to the Dodgers for Ivan DeJesus Jr, Scott Elbert, Ethan Martin, and Josh Bell. The truth is that we are a year away from contending for a title. Two years from now, the lineup would be Jordan Schafer CF, Kelly Johnson 2B, Jeff Francoeur RF, Jason Heyward LF, Yunel Escobar 3B, Casey Kotchman 1B, Brian McCann C, and Brandon Hicks or Ivan DeJesus Jr. The bench should be Martin Prado Utility player with speed and bat, Gregor Blanco speed and lefty hitting OF, Omar Infante utility infielder, Josh Anderson speedy OF, Matt Diaz excellent hitter and leader, and Dave Ross as a backup catcher. The rotation should be 1. Dereck Lowe 2. Jair Jurrjens 3. Tim Hudson 4. Tommy Hanson 5. Javier Vazquez. With a righty rotation, a balanced bullpen would be needed and should include. JoJo Reyes Lefty that could be a situational starter, Scott Elbert lefty with a good arm, and Mike Gonzales lefty closer. For the righties, Manny Acosta righty inning eater, Peter Moylan righty setup man, and Rafael Soriano righty closer. I’m not sold on the Japanese pitcher yet. They tend to be overrated. He could fill in until Tim is healthy. We need to transition to a lineup that has more speed. It makes the game more exciting and the team better. With the lineup I described, we would have constant pressure on the pitchers. Waiting for the 3 run homer has not been effective for us.
If I had Only Known
March 16th, 2009
9:37 am
If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you will have $49.00 today.
If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in AIG one year ago, you will have $33.00 today.
If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Lehman Brothers one year ago, you will have $0.00 today.
But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the aluminum
cans for recycling refund, you will have received a $214.00.
Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink heavily & recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
9:41 am
10-80 – I gave that book to my wife a couple of Christmas’s ago…she read it but was unable to finish the last several pages due to the inevitable…Although we are cat people, she still enjoyed it though.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
9:43 am
Ease 19 – I suspected you were a cat guy – so to speak. :}
Lew
March 16th, 2009
9:44 am
BubDylan-You’ve got my condolences, too. I’ve been there myself.
dgd
March 16th, 2009
9:46 am
If I had only known–will you be my new investment advisor?
10-80
March 16th, 2009
9:49 am
Ease…yeah, I should have put a disclaimer on that msg to Bub that he should wait a while before reading it. Does get messy on the eyes at the end, but has a pretty uplifting message overall I think
ease19
March 16th, 2009
9:50 am
Explain yourself Anders.
Lew
March 16th, 2009
9:50 am
We got our first paycheck today with the tax break in it. Thankfully, we can go out and get that tank of gas we’ve been needing. $33. Wow. I’m floored. We have been stimulated.
Random
March 16th, 2009
9:52 am
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?’ “
Hmmmmm — lessee now.
Perhaps this Derek Lowe quote from the article’s fourth paragraph can shed some light on this pernicious and vexing, indeed perplexing, mystery:
“‘Last time it was much easier to locate. Today it was more of a struggle, which is going to happen [at times] throughout the season. … Last game was about as good as I’ll throw the whole season, as far as how I felt, be able to command both sides.’”
Nah — that couldn’t be it.
I dunno — I’m stumped. Stoopid headline writers.
(sarcasm, case you didn’t notice)
(And your other comments last night were of a similar level of insight and intelligence.)
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
9:56 am
Bubdylan–
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your 7:54 brought tears to my eyes. Never had a dog, but my brother had a tortuous die at the vet while we were on vacation. Take care. You have my condolences.
Thrillhouse44
March 16th, 2009
9:57 am
I just checked my check and was stimulated to not see a tax break. What’s up with that?
optimisticfan
March 16th, 2009
10:01 am
So I don’t know about you guys but I’am liking the Bravos 12-3 spring training record! I mean its not like we are even playing the best players at every posistion but granted neither are other teams that means we must have a really good farm system, I already knew that but I don’t think other teams did. Good thing Chipper came back to Orlando to work on that Oblique.
Ritchie from Scotland
March 16th, 2009
10:01 am
Just been watching the US v Netherlands highlights. I think wha Lindstrom did was disgraceful. So the guy admired him massive home run for a minute, let him have that. Adam Dunn did the exact same thing on his similar shot. These guys may never play in the majors and get to hit off major leaguers, if it was me i’d be dancing!
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:02 am
Got a lot of the bigger names from minor league camp over here for the sim game, though I don’t think most of them will do anything but play in the field, not hit. I saw Cody Johnson and Ka’aihue (spelling correct?) for the first time. Didn’t realize (and neither did Bobby Cox) that Cody was so huge.
He’s every inch as tall as Heyward, and probably 15 pounds heavier.
Jo-Jo Reyes just gave up a leadoff single by Schafer to start this thing.
eltrompoBRAVESfan
March 16th, 2009
10:02 am
You know what DOB, I really didn’t mind the throw-behind last night after the homer. I actually thought it brought a little more personality to the competition. I loved it! And I have to believe the Dutch players loved it as well; it was a chance to show some emotion and spunk.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:04 am
Heyward struck out after the Schafer single
optimisticfan
March 16th, 2009
10:05 am
Who is pitching in the simulated game, I think I missed who it is??
Ritchie from Scotland
March 16th, 2009
10:05 am
I don’t know what i’m on today mistakes a plenty in that post.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
10:06 am
Ease 19 – Yourself is a pronoun that means: That one identical with you.
Where are you going with this?
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
10:06 am
Bay Area Steve–
Two triples. Out-steal Francoeur. Mark that down!
Cherry Gatorade?
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:06 am
Josh Anderson grounded out before the Heyward K, then Freeman grounded out after it to end inning (hey, we’re on our own here, got to keep up with windows closed and no announcements, etc — I know you feel for me)
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
10:08 am
I’m not questioning [Chipper's] talent, rather his heart and commitment.
I never thought anyone would ever qualify for the robdawg Memorial Moron Trophy (he sets a high bar, after all), but I see I was wrong.
Never say never.
Jersey Gil
March 16th, 2009
10:10 am
DOB…. The maximun Roster Player on the WBC is 28, USA has 28 as follow: 15 Pitcher, 2 Catcher,7 Infielder, 4 Outfielder:
contrary to PR: 14 Pitcher,3 Catcher, 6 infielder, 5 Outfielder.
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
10:11 am
ncscoots,
Maybe that comment was just a joke or something, there is no way a person with a normal IQ could say that.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
10:11 am
DOB, a little info on my boy Kala’s ABs today, if you get the chance. I love watching that guy hit.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
10:12 am
Anders – Not going anywhere, just curious as to where I came off as a Cat dude
Jersey Gil
March 16th, 2009
10:12 am
DOB… when The braves going to announces the Roster Moved today? after the Sim Game or Tonight?
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:12 am
Glavine gave up a leadoff single to Hernandez (we’re not even sure which Hernandez it is right now) after getting ahead 0-2.
He’s ahead of Holt 0-2, gets him to ground out to first base on next pitch.
Big Cody at bat now. Glavine bounces a curve, runner goes to third.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:13 am
Cody’s taken a couple of big swings, count’s full, he flies out to CF, sac fly.
optimisticfan
March 16th, 2009
10:15 am
Dob thanks for the answer! DOB back to Jersey girls question when are the Braves going to announce the roster moves? and who do you think it will be?
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:15 am
Borchard (yes, Joe) is up. Grounds out to SS.
I don’t want to say Glavine’s fastball is unimpressive, but… Well, the changeup looks good.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:17 am
No sighting of Chipper this morning. Bobby doesn’t seem to think he’ll be out here today, doesn’t seem overly concerned about the injury, believes he’s got plenty of time to get ready, etc.
Reyes is beginning second inning, Diory Hernandez coming up
richbrave
March 16th, 2009
10:19 am
Joe’s slated for GWINETT I presume. GLAVINE never had much of a fastball even when he was here in RICHMOND as a youngster in the eighties.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:19 am
For what it’s worth, Reyes’ fastball looks about 110 mph when you’ve just watched Glavine.
But then, Glavine ain’t relying on stuff at this point, that’s for sure.
Jersey Gil
March 16th, 2009
10:20 am
Bud…. Sorry for you loss, few year back i was in the same boat with my lady, she was 14 yr old.
But a few months later i was in my office thinking what to buy to my wife for xmas…and god put in my hand a newspaper and an adv to adopt this 6 month old terrier, the most beautiful think happen to us, we love this dog and never forgot my old lady.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:20 am
Diory grounded out, then HICKS lined a double to left-center. Like what I’ve seen of Hicks this spring.
richbrave
March 16th, 2009
10:21 am
Glad to see JoJO has made improved strides over last year. Is MORTON scheduled to do more than soft-toss anytime in the next couple of days?
Anders
March 16th, 2009
10:22 am
Glavine gave up a leadoff single to Hernandez (we’re not even sure which Hernandez it is right now) after getting ahead 0-2 (DOB)
I believe that was Keith.
BravesAC
March 16th, 2009
10:22 am
Bubdylan,DOB
Had to put my yellow lab down very recently. Her hips had her in agony at 12. That dog was special – a gift from me to my kids after my divorce and if any dog ever united a family Sparky did. The family home was next to an elementary school and ball field and all year Sparky had kids/parents stopping by. People always wanted to buy her and even though money was tight never would. She was good to everybody.
Sometimes letting them go to be out of pain is the biggest act of love you can do. My kids, now grown, came too because we always were in this together and Sparky deserved the support.
I feel for you brother.
eltrompoBRAVESfan
March 16th, 2009
10:23 am
Isn’t Hicks are 3B prospect?? What are his chances of coming up if Chipper goes out for extended periods of time this season?
Anders
March 16th, 2009
10:23 am
Ease 19 – It was a joke. Must I connect the dots? As you like to say “It’s all good”.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:24 am
Conrad just took Reyes DEEP, and I mean deep. He hit a two-run homer that landed three-fourths of the way up the grass berm beyond left field.
Braves lead Braves 2-1.
Kennelly singled, then Josh Anderson lined back to Reyes to start a double play.
By the way, Anderson’s hitting in front of Schafer, not other way around. I had it wrong in that first inning play-by-play (and can you believe I’m doing play-by-play from a damn sim game? Something is wrong here.)
eltrompoBRAVESfan
March 16th, 2009
10:25 am
Bubdylan,
I feel I should also give my condolences. Same thing happened to my German Shepherd. It is crushing. I hope all goes well for you.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:26 am
Glavine facing Ka’aihue, a lefty hitter. Gets him to swing through a couple of pitches, including a fastball on 1-1. So it’s 1-2 now. K.K. checks swing on a ball inside …
ease19
March 16th, 2009
10:27 am
Sorry Anders, just not firing on all cylinders this morning…No, we can just leave it at that
eltrompoBRAVESfan
March 16th, 2009
10:27 am
Reyes should throw behind a hitter after what Conrad did……….
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
10:27 am
Random,
I think the headline is misleading as well. In fact, on the Braves MLB.com page, the headline reads, “Braves rally to pick up sharp Lowe.”
“Sharp Lowe,” and “Lowe Struggles” are pretty different headlines, talking about the same performance on the same day.
Lowe did not “struggle.” He may have been off with a few pitches to a few hitters than led to only 2 runs in one inning, but he did not struggle to warrant being sharp on a different web page.
richbrave
March 16th, 2009
10:28 am
Everyone I know says “yeah, yeah, its spring training” PITTSBURGH’s got a good record too. “Let’s see how they do” when the bell rings in APRIL. I say, “the BRAVES’ record this year is a vast improvement over last” and maybe I want to believe, but its saying mo’ better to me. I can see ATLANTA in the 86-90 win catagory which puts MLB’s senior club of the senior circuit in the hunt come OCTOBER.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:28 am
Struck out K.K. looking at fastball.
Gets ahead of Kirkland on a slooow curveball. Fouls a dribbler off 1B line, it’s 0-2.
NEW CARS (FORMERLY USED CARS)
March 16th, 2009
10:28 am
possibly the worst moment I experienced was when I had to put my dog down a couple of weeks after my dad died. The dog had gotten hit by a car and broke his back. He was crawling in the yard with his front legs. I went in and got my .38 and shot him, but didn’t kill him. Now I’m crying and he’s howling and I only have 3 shells. So I miss him through teary eyes with the second shot. Then I grabbed his head and put him down. I don’t know if I could ever do something like that again for the rest of my life, but sometimes we have to do those things. It doesn’t mean your not a man if you cry about it, though.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:29 am
Kirkland struck out swinging at a curveball.
Cyrus
March 16th, 2009
10:30 am
whose the home plate umpire DOB ?
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:30 am
Behind 2-0 against Guzman, who singles through left side on next pitch. Runner on, two out, the mysterious Hernandez (not Diory, not Gorkys) is up.
optimisticfan
March 16th, 2009
10:31 am
DOB I really appreciate the play by play of the sim game and I think my fellow Braves fans do as well! Rich Brave: I expect good things this season!
10-80
March 16th, 2009
10:32 am
new cars, thats a hell of a story man, thanks for bringing us all down even more on a sodden Atlanta morning…but seriously, thats a horrible story.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:33 am
Mystery Hernandez grounds out to end inning.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
10:34 am
Behind 2-0 against Guzman, who singles through left side on next pitch. Runner on, two out, the mysterious Hernandez (not Diory, not Gorkys) is up. (DOB)
Does he have “Just For Men” label on his helmet?
TnBrian
March 16th, 2009
10:34 am
Dawg at 9:28, I don’t agree, but I understand! I think that’s how C.Rock said it. Chipper being hurt a lot is hard to think about, and it’s only natural that we get frustrated.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
10:34 am
That’s probably the saddest story I have ever heard. My heart goes out to all who have lost dear family friends.
Dadgum
March 16th, 2009
10:35 am
New Cars…dude, I am not sure I would have told that one. Seriously, think before you post.
Rock on….
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:36 am
Schafer just lined an opposite-field double to the left-field warming track off Reyes.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:38 am
Heyward struck out, Reyes carved him up pretty good.
Epinephrine
March 16th, 2009
10:38 am
I like this Mystery Hernandez guy.
Dadgum
March 16th, 2009
10:39 am
New Cars…you get a mulligan. Perhaps I have posted a few times here that wasn’t well-received. OK, I have definitely posted a few times that wasn’t well-received.
Rock on……did Glavine’s fastball hit 80 on the gun?
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
10:40 am
Hey facebook people, I created a bracket pool for us …. in case my other bracket is a bust lol
http://apps.facebook.com/thebracketchallenge/?page=pool&id=225413
Please join in!
Anders
March 16th, 2009
10:40 am
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.
eltrompoBRAVESfan
March 16th, 2009
10:40 am
Man, you gotta have some talent if you depend on control and location instead of velocity and the like….I’m talking about Glavine of course.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:40 am
Reyes just about took Freeman’s head off with a fastball. Schafer stole third on the pitch.
Now Freeman draws walks, bringing up Diory with runners on corners and one out.
eltrompoBRAVESfan
March 16th, 2009
10:41 am
Anders- LOL!!
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:41 am
6-4-3 DP on first pitch to Diory
10-80
March 16th, 2009
10:41 am
Anders, haha agreed.
Dadgum
March 16th, 2009
10:42 am
Anders… i am in tears. Stop it. Stop it!!!!
Rock on….
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
10:42 am
Oh theres a game going on? Sorry DOB, didn’t mean to interrupt..
Cyrus
March 16th, 2009
10:44 am
I could see a bench clearing brawl with that high and tight pitch. I could see it now the Braves suspend there own Braves
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:44 am
Gamble in to pitch for Braves. He’s the older guy who was throwing a no-hitter for Mississippi in that game where Smoltz was supposed to pitch the eighth inning and ended up pitching the ninth.
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
10:45 am
Jersey Gil the most beautiful think happen to us, we love this dog and never forgot my old lady.
That’s kinda like what happened to us when my brother’s tortuous died–we were looking to get another pet and started looking at cockatiels. Then we found The Bird. And he’s the best little bird in the whole wide world!
Runnin
March 16th, 2009
10:45 am
>>ANDERS WROTE:::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.<<
Now that’s funny!
DOB, thanks so much for the play-by-play updates. Much appreciated!!!
ease19
March 16th, 2009
10:45 am
Doubt New Cars would have tears in his eyes over you Anders…If he missed it would probably be on purpose.
OHBravesGirl
March 16th, 2009
10:45 am
BubDylan, sorry to hear about your loss. Hang in there.
Dadgum
March 16th, 2009
10:46 am
Mystery Hernandez huh, well if somebody with the last name of Brown comes up to bat it ain’t me.
Rock on…..Anders I am still in tears and stuff is coming out my nose. OK I’ll stop…
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:46 am
Holt just grounded out, great scoop by Freeman on throw from SS.
Cody Johnson doubles deep to center.
22oz
March 16th, 2009
10:48 am
Who’s umpiring these games?
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:48 am
Freeman another NICE PLAY, scoops up Borchard’s grounder and shovels it from glove directly to Gamble covering first for out, only way he’d have made the throw in time. Freeman’s impressive, folks.
18 Wheels of Love
March 16th, 2009
10:49 am
Schafer sounds like he is willing is way onto the 25 man opening day roster. Single, double, stolen base…and it’s only 10:50 am!
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:49 am
K.K. dribbler in front of plate, 2-3 for third out
zephyr8
March 16th, 2009
10:51 am
so glavine pitched 2 innings?
DAP
March 16th, 2009
10:51 am
bubdylanI know this stuff doesn’t really belong on here, but thanks for listening….
no, man. i consider this a community where we care about each other, as much as you can care about an anonymous poster…thanx for letting us know about it.
sorry about your dog, man. ive experienced it myself, and it is very tuff.
DAP
March 16th, 2009
10:53 am
i liked the throw behind last night too. c’mon, its baseball. i dont fault the batter for taking in his homer, either, but when you show up the other team, thats what happens!
garlick
March 16th, 2009
10:53 am
bubdylan, I just had to put a cat to sleep on Thursday of last week, he had a brain tumor, so I definitely feel your pain.
It was probably one of the most horrific moments of my life, and yet at the same time, completely necessary. I wish that experience on no one.
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
10:53 am
DAP no, man. i consider this a community where we care about each other, as much as you can care about an anonymous poster…thanx for letting us know about it.
I agree.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:54 am
1-2-3 inning for Reyes, whose Braves still trail Glavine’s Braves 2-1.
PTBNL
March 16th, 2009
10:55 am
David, according to Rosenthal — Johnson said that Team USA went with fewer position players to ensure that there would be enough playing time for all. The problem is, a player cannot be replaced if he is injured in the middle of a round; if Team USA loses Braun on top of Jones, Johnson will be down to two players on his bench Tuesday. — you were right about the US going with a limited roster.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
10:59 am
New Cars, just saw your story. If that story is true — and it must be, because why in hell would anyone make up something so torturous — then I’m stunned. That’s the most horrible thing I’ve heard in some time.
Anders’ followup was, indeed, hilarious.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
11:00 am
Little lefty Gunderson is pitching. Gave up a hit and picked off the runner
18 Wheels of Love
March 16th, 2009
11:03 am
Here’s my solution to fix the USA team for the WBC….
They should handle it the same way Brian Roberts was picked to be on the team. Just pick the 25 hottest players for each round and pull them from spring training camps. It’s not like they have to travel far for the games. Let all the players participate in their own teams spring training and then be pulled away for a few days to compete. This way pitchers can get on their regular rotations and if it is their turn to pitch then they would be a candidate for the USA team for that round. I realize this might be seen as a benefit to the US in that there is no set lineup round to round, but it would keep players in their respective camps most of the spring.
DAP
March 16th, 2009
11:03 am
new cars that was a horrific story…geez…sorry about that.
but maybe you should sit the next couple of plays out.
anders dang, that was funny.
Lew
March 16th, 2009
11:06 am
McFann-I think you mean tortoise. Tortuous is what we’d like to do to Anders.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
11:07 am
Anderson popped out for first out in fifth inning against Reyes, who’s pitched well except for the bomb by Conrad.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
11:09 am
Kala not exactly covering himself with glory, is he, LOL? After I tout the guy, too. Must have not read the blog before those first two ABs.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
11:09 am
Schafer flied out to left, Heyward’s up … mind wandering … 24 is on tonight …
Random
March 16th, 2009
11:11 am
Bobby’s Cox (10:27 am): “I think the headline is misleading as well. . . Lowe did not “struggle.” “
Lowe (15 Mar): “Today it was more of a struggle”
You should take yer argument up with Lowe, not me.
I stand by my previous sarcasm and insult — I am confident that Bay Area Steve would do the same for me.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
11:11 am
Game over. Merciful. Going down to talk to the subjects.
Interested Observer
March 16th, 2009
11:13 am
Was that real play-by-play or simulated play-by-play?
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
11:14 am
18 Wheels,
I pretty sure the 1st single in the 1st inning was Anderson’s, then Schafer grounded out. DOB said he had them reversed and Anderson was hitting ahead of Schafer. Still, nice to see Schafer take a lefty the opposite way for a double, twice in a matter of days, then steal 3rd (again).
Runnin
March 16th, 2009
11:16 am
That was fast. How many innings did they play???
Jim
March 16th, 2009
11:18 am
What was Perez’s line against Korea?
It looked to me that the Dutch player Englehardt was looking to see if the ball stayed fair. He didn’t stand around very long to admire his hit, or showboat, after he saw that it was fair.
What happened to Braun last night?
Jersey Gil
March 16th, 2009
11:18 am
The Mistery Hernandez is……GORKY??????
richbrave
March 16th, 2009
11:19 am
DAVID O’BRIEN:
Thanks for the article on ole’ ‘ROO ‘NADS. Too bad. He had some wicked stuff. Could really bring it. Dominated here last year before the physical problems began catching up to him. Always wondered why his effectiveness declined in ‘08. Now I know. Again, thanx.
Chop Chop
March 16th, 2009
11:20 am
DOB made that stuff up. He’s probably sittin’ on a rental couch with a beer hat on.
Cyrus
March 16th, 2009
11:21 am
OMG Thank goodness I had my fill of play by play of a simulated game ! This game was a simulated game and I was following along and you can see I have not gotten a thing done this morning.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
11:21 am
Random,
“more of a struggle” than the 4 complete innings he through last time out, sure. But, he did not struggle. The one inning was a struggle, or, the 3 or 4 batters was a struggle. Then he straightened out. The 2 runs he gave up, were enough for the braves to win. How is that a struggle?
Since you’re so good at doing it, go find the quotes where he said something like, “I’m doing fine. The results will tell you how you’re pitching, and the results say i’m doing ok.”
Gallardo giving up 5 ER in 1/3 innings last week, is an outing in which he “struggled.”
Again, how can one website say he was sharp, and the other say he struggled? Steve’s point was that editors will write the headlines without having any inclination as to what transpired in-between the lines. I think the editor took the quote you’re talking about and ran with it. But, what about the other quotes? Even if he struggled finding his stuff, doesn’t mean he wasn’t effective. The headline hinted his outing was terrible.
18 Wheels of Love
March 16th, 2009
11:22 am
You are right BC, I caught that change after the fact. Still nice to see him living up to the hype, so to speak. I hope he wins the job.
How many innings was the sim game? Glavine throwing Efus pitches?
Spud Webb
March 16th, 2009
11:22 am
Shocker, Chipper is hurt. A little early isn’t it???
GermanBravesFan
March 16th, 2009
11:24 am
Greetings from Zurich, Switzerland, where spring has finally arrived (even though not with temperatures in the 70’s, but having sunny weather and NO MORE snow is fine with me)!
Anders: regarding your comment about McCann in left field in the WBC game… I thought baseball players are athletes, so why would McCann hurt himself playing left field? Do you think he might misjudge a ball and it might land on his head? Well, then let him wear his catcher’s mask and helmet out there…
Regarding Chipper’s injury: that could have happened anywhere – in the batting cages during spring training or in a game. Same thing with the pitcher who got hurt in the game last night. My question is: do those pitchers who know that they are going to be in the WBC adjust their schedules at all or do they just go by the normal spring training schedule? Just wondering if better preparation could avoid such injuries.
Run Heap Run
March 16th, 2009
11:27 am
“Shocker, Chipper is hurt. A little early isn’t it???”
So are Ryan Braun, Dustin Pedroia, Matt Lindstrom, and Manny Ramirez.
Next…
bigchiefrg
March 16th, 2009
11:27 am
DOB…I very seldom do this, but I have to disagree a bit with your thoughts about Lindstrom throwing behind the kid. Now granted I am COMPLETELY against the WBC to begin with, but if it is going to be played at all then they need to do it right. This shows intensity and that these guys aren’t just running out there and playing patty cake.
He didnt throw at the kids head, it was butt level. Also, how funny would it have been to see a bench clearing brawl in the midst of an ‘olympics’ style tourney. You think that Selig would have put a life-time ban on Lindstrom for bringing a gray cloud over his precious little baby?
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
11:27 am
Lew–
Heh heh…yeah, that’s what I meant.
richbrave
March 16th, 2009
11:28 am
Epinephrine:
Well, if that’s the way you see it, then it must be so. You go daddy-o.
Turtsnap
March 16th, 2009
11:28 am
Bubdylan – I had a Beagle-mix in the ’90s that was a great dog, and I was devastated when he was run over and killed one night… We then bought a Pom and had him for 11 years. He declined fast though, and I was faced with a decision of putting him down. The vet suggested I give it a weekend to see. Kelsey passed on his own over that weekend. I was struggling mightily with what you just had to go through, so I do feel your pain. I now have a Boston Terrier. She is the queen of the house. I finally found my favorite breed.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
11:32 am
I hope he wins the job too 18 wheels.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
11:35 am
Throwing at a Dutch kid, because a Dutch kid got caught up in the biggest moment, ever, in his soon-to-be-over baseball life. Kinda bush, I think. Especially when players such as Jose Reyes and Alfonso Soriano pimp as much as they do, and don’t get the same treatment. They, at least, are supposed to be professionals who know better.
raindawg722
March 16th, 2009
11:36 am
Mystery Hernandez . . . sounds like one of Michael Vick’s aliases.
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
11:38 am
Some facts interesting for today:
Javier Vazquez is 11th on the active list of pitchers for K/9IP.
He is ahead of John Smoltz, Kelvin Escobar, Jason Schmidt, Carlos Zambrano, Ben Sheets, CC Sabathia, Roy Oswalt, Brandon Webb, John Lackey, Mike Mussina, Andy Petit and Roy Halladay. I mentioned some of the best among the top 50.
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
11:40 am
Are we sure that wasn’t young Jonathan Schuerholz wearing a Hernandez jersey?
Chop Chop
March 16th, 2009
11:40 am
Love this quote from Bryan Engelhardt:
“I hit the home run, and the guy is a Major League pitcher, so you need to shake it off the next guy,” Engelhardt said. “I don’t see why he (Lindstrom) threw the ball [at] his (Vince Rooi’s) head.”
I didn’t know that Vince Rooi’s head is his arse. No wonder this was such an accomplishment for the Dutch squad. It’s not easy to pick up the ball from that vantage point.
GermanBravesFan
March 16th, 2009
11:40 am
Bubdylan… I had a black lab who got sick while I was visiting in Germany. My roommates took him to the vet who had scheduled an ultrasound on his back. The night arrived back in San Francisco, I had a message to call the vet. I was still at the baggage claim when I returned the call and the vet told me then, that my dog had passed away 20 minutes before. It was one of the worst moments of my life as a dog owner… I think I would have preferred to be there when he passed. I understand how tough your situation was, but, on the other hand, you had the chance to be there and be with her. I didn’t and I am still sad today. I hope that you will feel better when you wake up today!
Anders
March 16th, 2009
11:42 am
Note to self: Ignore K/9IP stat when evaluating pitchers.
Chop Chop
March 16th, 2009
11:43 am
Uh oh…
Cole Hamels has an owie.
Ben
March 16th, 2009
11:44 am
BREAKING NEWS– HAMEL’S AILING ELBOW TO BE CHECKED .
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
11:44 am
If you are wondering who is #10 in that list……….it is future HOF Mariano Rivera. Not bad Javier.
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
11:45 am
Vazquez is 13th on the list of active pitchers with less BB/9IP. Not bad either.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
11:46 am
Doc, you just join Javy’s rep firm, LOL?
DAP
March 16th, 2009
11:50 am
anders K/9IP is a good stat to look at, as well as K/BB ratio. seriously, dont ignore it.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
11:51 am
Doc- Anything on that list about wins and losses?
Anders
March 16th, 2009
11:53 am
DAP – I hear you and was half kidding. But look at the names on that post. How many of those guys would you pass up to take Vasquez?
18 Wheels of Love
March 16th, 2009
11:53 am
Hamels thinks it is no big deal…wait and see.
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
11:54 am
Among active pitcher, Javier Vazquez is the youngest guy in the top 25 list with 2270 IP at age 31. The second youngest guy among the top 25 in that list? Another Brave, Tim Hudson. Leading that list is Tom Glavine. Last guy on that top 25 list……….another Brave, Derek Lowe.
We are loaded with quality and experience.
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
11:58 am
Active list K/BB
Vazquez is 10th, ahead of Randy Johnson, Jake PEavy, Roy Halladay, Josh Beckect, John Smoltz, CC Sabathia, Brandon Webb,
Anders
March 16th, 2009
12:00 pm
Doc- So lot’s of innings on pitcher’s arms is a good thing? Wow, have to say I had that one backwards.
Perhaps the Braves should be looking at Pedro? I’m sure he ranks high in all three categories mentioned.
Jersey Gil
March 16th, 2009
12:00 pm
It Phillis Time this year to bug injuries….By end of April Bravos Up 51/2 game in First.
DAP
March 16th, 2009
12:00 pm
anders hey man, i know. as weve discussed at frustrating length recently, you cant just look at one stat, but it does help figure out what kind of pitcher youre looking at. all you have to do to see weakness in vazquez (for 2008) is look at his hits allowed and HR allowed. but, its never a bad thing to K 200 batters in a season.
by the way, tightness in the elbow is never “no big deal…” that goes for johan too. its only a matter of time before both those guys go down. i believe both will succumb to major injury this season. i hate it for them, especially hamels.
Ultrasuede
March 16th, 2009
12:04 pm
Leave it to Vazquez to pitch great when it doesn’t mean a damn thing. He’ll wet his pants when it’s crunch time in September, like he did with the White Sox last year and does every time it’s an important game.
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
12:05 pm
Anders,
Actually there is……….Vazquez has a .496 winning %. BUT could you tell me who is going to be the muts #3 starter? I bet it would be Perez, a pitcher that has a 478%. Ooopps. Not to mention that at age 31 he has 18 more wins than Johan Santana (29 years old). Oooops.
Any more questions?
reagan
March 16th, 2009
12:07 pm
Turtsnap…………..Had a Boston for 13 years. They ARE more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Mine had a stroke and would not respond to treatment……….had to put him down. I had just gotten out of the Marines and cried like hell. ………… NOBODY loves you like your dog!!! Thats why you have to do what you have to do…….because you love them so damn much.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
12:07 pm
DAP _ Vasquez is a solid pitcher. I agree with that, but he doesn’t belong in the conversation with the likes of those mentioned in Doc’s 11:58.
As for Hamels, that wasn’t me who said no big deal. When I saw that article about his elbow I closed my eyes and thought “There but for the grace of God go I”. I wish no injuries on anyone.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
12:09 pm
NOBODY loves you like your dog!!!
My cat would beg to differ with that.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
12:12 pm
Chipper’s here getting treatment, says he should play by end of the week, probably. Really doesn’t sound severe at all, he said it was same as when he hurt it in Canada, and he came back because he didn’t want to sit out another five days, which is what they were going to do with him.
Said he was ready to play after three days up there, and had to wait five. Didn’t want to do that. Also said that while he loved the experience of hanging out with the guys and reprenting country and all, he wouldn’t do the WBC again in its present format. Said “way too much down time,” and they were bored to tears playing two games while in Toronto for a full week. “It ain’t exactly Las Vegas,” he said….
Glavine and Cox were encouraged by Glavine’s performance today. Bobby said it was far crisper than his B.P. sessions. Hey, I didn’t see those, so I can’t compare them. He’s still got 30-some days before he pitches April 18, and Glav seems confident he’ll be ready….
Bobby’s Cox: No, the single was by Schafer. I had just missed the Anderson out in first inning, that’s what I corrected. Schafer had two hits.
Turns out that WAS Gorkys Hernandez, by the way. Confused us in the pressbox because he had a different number that when I saw him the other day (had a number in 60s the other day, in 30s today) and he also looks older and more filled out than last year.
He’s pretty cut now, can obviously run, though he didn’t get to really show the speed much today. No balls were hit to him that resulted in any memorable plays or throws.
Just watching him and Schafer today, you’d have to come away thinking that one of them is quite a bit ahead of the other at this stage, and Schafer’s the one.
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
12:13 pm
Anders,
Among active leaders in IP, in the top 2 we have maddux and glavine. I can recall just 1 or 2 stints at the DL between the 2. Then you have Randy johnson and Myers. Have many blown arms can you count until now? Your point is irrelevant. Are you predicting that Vazquez will have an arm injury because he has pitched tons of innings? Are you saying that about Jamie Moyer also? Give me a break. There is no correlation to that. If that was the case, pitchers would not blow their arms before the 1000 IP mark. Please tell me you have something better to say.
reagan
March 16th, 2009
12:14 pm
Ease…….I’ll tell you the difference between a dog and a cat. If your cat was 4 feet tall …6 feet long and weighed 400 lbs it would eat you for dinner and not think a thing of it. If your dog was8 feet tall…and weighed 800 lbs you could smack him on the nose with a rolled up newspaper and he would lick your hand and look at you as if to say “I’m sorry”!…..whatever i did I wont do it again. Oh yeah……he would also jump in front of an upcoming bus and give his life to save your life. Other than that………………………………………… PS actually I like cats too.
eltrompoBRAVESfan
March 16th, 2009
12:17 pm
Chop Chop- I laughed my head off at your comment at 11:40 am about Englehardt……Great stuff!
zephyr8
March 16th, 2009
12:17 pm
Only one stat has some correlation to injusies and thats innings pitched in one year compared to years before. Mostly present in younger pitchers since they are just stretching their arms out. The pooint is Hamels threw much more innings last year (especially including t5he playoffs) than the year before that which could present a posible injury concern.
bdbraves
March 16th, 2009
12:22 pm
Note to self: Don’t screw with Doc about statistics.
DiamondbackMac
March 16th, 2009
12:25 pm
Whew, I finally got caught up with reading posts. Took my forever with all the pauses for laughter. Especially the one where Anders prayed not to put down by New Cars. Really good stuff for a rainy Monday.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
12:26 pm
reagan – not that you are wrong, but my cat is a pretty cool dude and loaded with personality…Most cats are lacking in that department, I admit.
bigchiefrg
March 16th, 2009
12:26 pm
ncscoots – …Especially when players such as Jose Reyes and Alfonso Soriano pimp as much as they do, and don’t get the same treatment…
I would buzz their tower every time they did it too…But I am willing to bet they wouldnt pimp if they did that against a Bob Gibson or Nolan Ryan type.
N Nine (eta20)
March 16th, 2009
12:27 pm
Ya, DiamondbackMac, That was too funny!
DAP
March 16th, 2009
12:27 pm
new cars Vasquez is a solid pitcher. I agree with that, but he doesn’t belong in the conversation with the likes of those mentioned in Doc’s 11:58.
thats incorrect. if the discussion is about K/9IP, then vazquez absolutely belongs in the discussion because hes top 10.
the hamels/johan comment wasnt towards you, just a general statement, sorry to confuse.
reagan great post about the difference between dogs and cats. love my dog, that little booger.
JPHunt
March 16th, 2009
12:28 pm
The difference between cats and dogs is: when you feed a dog he is grateful and thinks that you are god; when you feed a cat the cat thinks that you are serving it and therefore it must be god. Obviously you can see this in their personalities.
P.S. I hate cats
Daniel
March 16th, 2009
12:33 pm
DOB- Thanks for the update on Chipper. That was exactly the news I needed to hear. So, it is begining to look like Schaefer over Anderson. Does Josh have any trade value? Since teams can just wait for him to be placed on waivers. Could they keep Anderson and Schaefer and Norton lose out?
Also, wanted to reccomend a group called BLK JKS (black jacks) which sounds like Tv on the Radio (sort of)
If you haven’t already, you need to check out Dan Auerbach’s solo album Keep it Hid. He is half of the Black Keys. Great record and totally in your wheel house.
ian chappell
March 16th, 2009
12:35 pm
DOB;
I am an Australian who has followed the Braves since the early nineties.
My wife is a big Booket T & the MG’s fan and her birthday is on April 13. So, following your recommendations I bought tickets to see Booket T & the DBT in Sydney on April 11. Hope they live up to your publicity!
Incidentally in your chat with Peter Moylan early in ST he said; “The Chappell brothers and Allan Border played winter [in Australia] baseball to keep their eye in for cricket.”
Tell Peter; “Ian Chappell didn’t play baseball to keep his eye in for cricket. I played because I loved the game.”
I played my last game of Masters baseball as a catcher aged 58.
Random
March 16th, 2009
12:35 pm
Bobby’s Cox (11:21 am): ” ‘more of a struggle’ than the 4 complete innings he through last time out, sure. But, he did not struggle. The one inning was a struggle, or, the 3 or 4 batters was a struggle. Then he straightened out. The 2 runs he gave up, were enough for the braves to win. How is that a struggle?”
Like I already said, ask Derek Lowe — he said it, not me.
“Since you’re so good at doing it, go find the quotes where he said something like, ‘I’m doing fine. The results will tell you how you’re pitching, and the results say i’m doing ok.’ “
You mean something like on Sunday when Lowe said “Last time it was much easier to locate. … Last game was about as good as I’ll throw the whole season, as far as how I felt, be able to command both sides.”? Or last Wednesday: “That’s about as good as I can do it,” Lowe said?
What’s the point? I don’t get it.
“Gallardo giving up 5 ER in 1/3 innings last week, is an outing in which he ’struggled.’ ”
Tell it to LOWE. He surely needs to know that he’s been using the wrong word, and would be delighted to receive the benefit of your edumication.
Just stop buggin me about it. If you don’t mind.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
12:39 pm
Doc, Yeah I have a question for you.
Vasquez, Santana, Peavy, Halladay, Beckett, Webb, and Sabathia are all on a bench. Selig tells Wren he can pick all but one. Who does Wren leave on the bench? Salary aside of course.
If you’re going to use these numbers and names as evidence they need to have relevance. I agree the numbers you stated show certain abilities but apparently they don’t translate directly into how effective a pitcher is or Vasquez would be at least equal to the guys mentioned above in all ways.
BTW – Perez has been a .565 pitcher since the Mets got him and he’s been .595 the last two years. Plus he’s only 27 so let’s give him a chance to see where he is versus the 31 year old Vasquez – shall we?
18 Wheels of Love
March 16th, 2009
12:40 pm
Daniel, your post got me thinking…Wheel House…great name for a band!
Daniel
March 16th, 2009
12:43 pm
Anders-
your comparison doesn’t make sense, because Vasquez is a 2 or 3 where those names are all ace pitchers. The salaries don’t match because they are not asked to do the same things. A more reasonable comparison would be Vasquez, Moyer, Perez… who do you take then?
BT
March 16th, 2009
12:43 pm
Great comparison Reagan (by the way I voted for you twice). And Cats are OK but Dogs are the best!
ease19
March 16th, 2009
12:43 pm
when you feed a cat the cat thinks that you are serving it and therefore it must be god.
Can’t argue with that point.
Daniel
March 16th, 2009
12:45 pm
I like it 18.. There first album could be called low and away
Daniel
March 16th, 2009
12:46 pm
dear lord… I meant their first album. I hope Bobby’s Cox doesn’t yell at me
ease19
March 16th, 2009
12:46 pm
Anders, that is a serious no-brainer. Of course Wren would leave Peavy’s sorry butt on the bench.
Wascally Wabbit
March 16th, 2009
12:47 pm
Vazquez is a flyball pitcher who’s had the misfortune of pitching in front of some awfully slow footed outfielders and in pitching in parks where homers fly. As a result, he has been made to look worse than he has truly pitched. The seasons Vazquez has been good have usually coincided with having good defensive outfielders behind him.
Oliver Perez on the other hand is also a flyball pitcher who’s been made to look much better than he truly is because it’s hard to hit a homer even off a flyball pitcher in his home park AND because Perez has had Endy Chavez and Carlos Beltran tracking down everything under the sun in the outfield. If you put Oliver Perez in Comiskey with those slow footed Chisox outfielders, you’d be looking at a 5.00+ ERA.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
12:47 pm
Chipper should have called A-Rod. He sure knows how to fill his down time while in Toronto. Perhaps down time is a poor choice of expression in this instance?
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
12:48 pm
Vazquez looked great. He really did. And this wasn’t Spring Training. This was the WBC…yeh its early in the year…but you dont mow down the whole US lineup unless you’re a great pitcher. Frank Wren sure looked smart when Jake Peavy got ripped by the Mets, I mean Puerto Rico…i Mean the Mets….and Vazquez looked great against everyone but his catching-mate, Brian McCann.
Random
March 16th, 2009
12:48 pm
reagan, ease19–
They’d both kill ya if they were big enough.
But at least with the dog, it’d be an accident.
In my house, cats and dogs are living together.
Woogidy
March 16th, 2009
12:49 pm
So Chipper quit the WBC team?
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
12:52 pm
DOB,
thanks for the clarification on schafer’s 2 hits, doing an unheard of play-by-play on an intra-squad sim game, and the chipper quotes. Now go play some golf work-a-holic!
Anders
March 16th, 2009
12:54 pm
Daniel – Your 12:43 is my point exactly. If Doc’s numbers show Vasquez to be superior to all these guys why is he a number 2 or 3 and not an ace? Apparently those numbers aren’t as relevant as he would like to think. I’m not arguing he isn’t a number 3 .500 (maybe a little better) pitcher. I’m arguing that because his number are so good in K/9IP and BB/9IP doesn’t mean he’s going to all of a sudden win .600 of his games this year.
He’s 31 with many, many innings under his belt (See Docs numbers) why would he all of a sudden have a breakout year? It’s certainly not going to be because of huge offensive support.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
12:56 pm
First round of cuts, these eight: RHPs Steve Marek, James Parr, Todd Redmond and Luis Valdez were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett; LHPs Francisely Bueno, Mariano Gomez and catchers Phillip Britton and Matt Kennelly were reassigned to minor league camp.
Down to 44 active players in camp.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
12:58 pm
Ian Chappell, great to have you here, mate. I’ll pass along that line to Pete.
You’ll enjoy the show, I almost guarantee you. Almost.
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
1:00 pm
So the Braves have to get down to how many? 25 or 40?
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
March 16th, 2009
1:00 pm
Anders,
“Doc, Yeah I have a question for you.
Vasquez, Santana, Peavy, Halladay, Beckett, Webb, and Sabathia are all on a bench. Selig tells Wren he can pick all but one. Who does Wren leave on the bench? Salary aside of course.”
———–
I’m not Doc but I would leave Beckett on the bench. Of course I am quite familiar with Beckett having watched him while he was with the Marlins. I’d take Vazques over him with no hesitation.
Josh
March 16th, 2009
1:02 pm
Dob, who are you picks for the Final 4? and title game
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
1:03 pm
Random, 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.
Anders, hilarious 10:40. And vulgar? That’s about as clean as I can get.
For the guy who thought it was sad, well, it probably was. Do you pity me? Do you pity the douche?
DAP
March 16th, 2009
1:03 pm
andersI’m arguing that because his number are so good in K/9IP and BB/9IP doesn’t mean he’s going to all of a sudden win .600 of his games this year.
i didnt read a post that said that. did i miss it? just comparing a few cherry picked stats…whats wrong with that? also, what about a pitcher who goes 15-8 in 215 innings, strikes out over 200 with an ERA in the 3.75 range? thats a guy who is at least a very strong #2 right? if vazquez did that, it wouldnt be a breakout year. hes already done it, and hes already broken out. hes a good pitcher, and has that kind of potential. i think us braves fans believe hes been put in a good situation to succeed. a players manager, in a pitchers park, with very good defense and bullpen, and possibly a very good offense.
im very excited about what we will get from vazquez this year.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
1:04 pm
Wascally, you wouldn’t be saying that an opinion of Vazquez and Perez should be, dare I say it, …
park-adjusted?
Josh from Columbus
March 16th, 2009
1:04 pm
DOB,
When are the next round of cuts? Also, do you still see Shafer NOT winning the starting CF job simply due to the combination of J. Anderson being out of options and the benefits gained from bringing up Shafer later in the season, e.g. arbitration eligible later, et cetera.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
1:07 pm
Random, how can i ask Lowe, when he himself says he doesn’t care what he thinks about his stuff:
“Hitters will tell you how good your stuff is,” Lowe said. “I don’t care what I think about my stuff. Hitters will tell you, especially the later you go during Spring Training when you’re facing more regular guys. The results are letting me know that I’m doing fine.”
I could of course ask Cox, who said this:
“Lowe was excellent again.”
Or, we could cut the chase and ask DOB, who wrote:
“Derek Lowe faced the Astros for the second time in six days, and this time he wasn’t perfect. But the Braves’ presumed opening-day starter was plenty good for most of his five innings…”
OR, you could ask the editor, who recently changed the headline to:
“Lowe solid in victory against Astros”
No more from me. I’m getting tired of it too.
Doc Holiday
March 16th, 2009
1:08 pm
Anders,
I was not trying to tell Vazquez is better than Sabathia or peavy or Beckett or whomever. I was just stating he has very good number if you compare him with some of the games great pitchers.
And please, not to contradict yourself. Because all you are saying while stating that Perez has a better W% since joining the muts, is that there is a big chance Vazquez does the same when he comes to a pitchers park with great defense behind him.
And please dont give me stats about just 2 years of perez cause in that case I could tell you that Vazquez had exactly the same W% (.565) if you go back to 2006 and 2007. PErez has been in the majors for 7 years now and he has won 10+ games only 3 times. Thats 42% of the seasons he has played. On the other hand Vazquez is 9 out of 11 seasons in that department, not to mention in 1999 he won 9 games. You do the math. Oh, and one more thing, if Vazquez and Perez were the last 2 pitchers on the market and Wren/Cox and Minaya/J. Manuel had to choose between a guy that has pitched more than 200 innings in 8 out of the last 9 seasons and a guy that has never pitched 200 innings, not to mention the Ks, who do you think they would choose?
Daniel
March 16th, 2009
1:08 pm
I’m sorry Anders, maybe I missed Doc’s point. I thought he was pointing out the Vasquez at 2 or 3 is closer to an ace in terms of numbers. The idea being to point out the depth of the starting pitching on this team. I mean we are fretting over whether a 300 game winner or young phenom should be our 5th starter. Which is a vastly superior position than the Mets are in
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
1:09 pm
Wins/Losses for a pitcher are mostly based upon run support and not a pitchers ability. If Vazquez gives quality starts and the Braves win games with their bullpen…who cares who gets the Win.
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
March 16th, 2009
1:11 pm
Anders,
“Daniel – Your 12:43 is my point exactly. If Doc’s numbers show Vasquez to be superior to all these guys why is he a number 2 or 3 and not an ace?”
————
Vazquez is superior in that particular stat and that stat is important to his overall performance. Vazquez is a solid pitcher whether you choose to place him as a No. 2 or 3. He is part of a fine staff of NO. 2s and most teams would love to have that staff. Aces can only win once every five days at best and if you are stuck with four No. 4s or 5s then you have a problem. Trying to win a pennant with an ace and little else is a daunting task. Ask Atlanta about 08. And ask the Mets about 08 or 07. They simply have not had a rotation lately that will equal Atlanta’s staff for 09. On any given night the Braves will have a good chance to win. Can you say that about the Mets? I thought not.
BlawgDawg
March 16th, 2009
1:11 pm
On my first tourny bracket I have these in Final Four: Pittsburg vs North Carolina and Kansas vs Memphis. Then I have North Carolina beating Kansas in the Championship.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
1:12 pm
Steve has awoken for some clarification of his own…welcome back Steve. How’s the hangy?
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
1:17 pm
If Vazquez gives quality starts and the Braves win games with their bullpen
Unfortunately, Javy isn’t all that great at delivering quality starts; does so only about half the time. That’s not as big a deal if he’s pitching at the back end, but it’s worrisome for a guy being penciled in at 2.
Unless, of course, some here are correct, he has an epiphany to go along with the change in uni, and he finally starts to maximize his tools. Stranger things have happened.
Random
March 16th, 2009
1:17 pm
Bobby’s Cox–
Lowe solid in victory against Astros
Happy, Pappy?
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
1:17 pm
No clarification needed, Bobby’s. You said it better than I can. He knows what I mean, he’s just being an Andouche.
Hangy, what hangy. I exaggerate for effect. Stone sober, here.
Spontaneous
March 16th, 2009
1:18 pm
Kudos for ignoring it, and finding the word struggle in the quote
Guess he’s really not Random then is he?
Steve McP
March 16th, 2009
1:18 pm
Surely not THE Ian Chappell!
Celebrity blogging of the highest order.
Where is Dogsbrekky on such an occasion.
BravesFanInRockies
March 16th, 2009
1:20 pm
Hamels pitched 72 more innings in 2008 than 2007. Possible Verducci effect?
Daniel
March 16th, 2009
1:22 pm
I want to agree with both ncscoots and mfin04.
Quality starts is the most valuable stat for a starting pitcher.
If we get 20 QS from Vasquez, I will be ecstatic, and the Braves will be playing in October.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
1:24 pm
Muy bien, Random
-enter silly emoticon here-
What we can agree on, is if that was Lowe struggling, then he’s going to be pretty damn good for us this year.
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
1:29 pm
Having the best pitcher in baseball also doesnt mean that much. Having the best staff in baseball, however, does mean a lot. Not saying the Braves have the best staff in baseball…but “the whole is greater than the sum of all parts”. Individually the Braves dont have many superstars…but they could have the making of a great team.
TnBrian
March 16th, 2009
1:30 pm
Lets chill on Vazquez because everybody knows the guy and how he has never lived up to his potential. He’s shown the world that he chokes in big games and until he proves otherwise, Anders makes a good point at 12:07. With his stuff and durab., he should easily be right there, or close to those guys, but for whatever reason can’t turn it on when it really counts. Hate his ERA, clutch perf., but love his K’s and innings. He’s just not worth the $11.5M he getting paid…who is anyways?
cricket
March 16th, 2009
1:33 pm
ian chappell ???
we need to check the ID for that one..
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
March 16th, 2009
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.
Just a suggestion.
Thanks,
The Bear
March 16th, 2009
1:20 pm
Hamels
Il Cattivo
March 16th, 2009
1:34 pm
Ya right – “The” Ian Chappell comes on a baseball blog just to talk about music and clarify something. DOB dont fall for that.
Daniel
March 16th, 2009
1:38 pm
I don’t really know who Ian Chappell is.
Does that mean there is something wrong with me?
ncbravesgirl
March 16th, 2009
1:38 pm
bub,
I am so sorry for your loss. We have had to put 3 labs down in my lifetime and it was impossibly hard each time. Only one of our pups passed away peacefully in my dad’s arms (a dachshund). (I was 9 or 10 at the time). I wrote a story about it for a creative writing class in college and sent it home for my parents to read. They both cried. The love of a pet is very real and deep and makes us better people.
Glad to hear Chipper is not concerned and planning to push through, but I really wish we had some sort of depth in the Minors at 3b.
Steve McP
March 16th, 2009
1:39 pm
Cricket – Ian Chappell was very well known for playing amateur baseball, I think he used to play in leagues to keep fit when cricketers had an off season, so it is plausible.
TnBrian
March 16th, 2009
1:39 pm
Back to Vazquez, DOB was and probably still isn’t a big fan of his for the exact same reason Chi. traded him…he ain’t clutch. He oughta be better with Atl. than Chi., but lets hold of on praising his WBC performance until he does it in a big game for us. I’m not getting suckered into this silly hype just yet.
KC
March 16th, 2009
1:39 pm
nscoots: “Unfortunately, Javy isn’t all that great at delivering quality starts; does so only about half the time.”
I respectfully disagree. Anytime you’re in the high teens or better with your quality starts total… that’s good. Vazquez had 17 QS’s last year, and 20 the year before.
To put that in perspective, here are some quality start totals from last season:
Carlos Zambrano: 17
AJ Burnett: 19
Ben Sheets: 18
Derek Lowe: 20
Roy Oswalt: 22
Roy Halliday: 23
Daniel
March 16th, 2009
1:40 pm
Thanks KC. You proved my point
Il Cattivo
March 16th, 2009
1:41 pm
Daniel
He was a great australian cricket player – one half of the famous Chappell brothers. Later known as a cricket commentator.
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
March 16th, 2009
1:41 pm
Tn Brian,
“Lets chill on Vazquez because everybody knows the guy and how he has never lived up to his potential. He’s shown the world that he chokes in big games and until he proves otherwise”
————
Ozzie Guilles doesn’t like Vazquez and tagged him with the “choker” label. He’s been successful for over ten years and how Ozzie can do that to him is beyond me. I have seen a lot of good pitchers who have not won in post season. All you have to do is look at Atlanta’s BIG THREE who are bound for the HOF. Would you call any of them chokers for not winning more in October?
Calling someone a choker is unfair and sure as heck is not conducive to being encouraging to the pitcher himself. I choose to encourage him and enjoy his success. And remember not to charge him with choking every time he loses. For he will lose; even Cy Young, Dizzy Dean, Bob Feller and Sandy Koufax lost some games. And I don’t think anyone would call them chokers.
BravesFan InRockies
March 16th, 2009
1:42 pm
OK, THE BEAR. Does this help?
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
1:43 pm
There is a HUGE difference between pitching for Bobby and Ozzie. I think that can have a huge effect on numbers. Ozzie is a horrible manager…won’t last long in the majors.
Steve McP
March 16th, 2009
1:43 pm
Don’t forget his other brother Trevor, who he had bowl the last ball of a game underhand so that a 6 could not be hit off of it – led to a change in the rules of the game.
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
1:43 pm
What pitches does Lowe throw? What’s his major strikeout pitch?
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
March 16th, 2009
1:44 pm
BravesFan
InRockies
That is super. Thanks.
Interested Observer
March 16th, 2009
1:46 pm
The following gem is from foxsports.com. Julian Tavaraz at his best…..
We’re not sure how the Nationals should feel about this one, so we’ll just let Julian Tavarez’s reason for signing with them speak for itself. “Why did I sign with the Nationals? When you go to a club at 4 in the morning, and you’re just waiting, waiting, a 600-pounder looks like J-Lo. And to me this is Jennifer Lopez right here. It’s 4 in the morning. Too much to drink. So, Nationals: Jennifer Lopez to me.”
KC
March 16th, 2009
1:47 pm
To add to what I was just saying about quality starts…Of course, it could be argued that a 5 inning scoreless – or 1 or 2 earned run – start should be considered a quality start. And you could also make the case that going 8 or 9 innings with 4 ER is a quality start.
If you were to expand the definition of a “quality start”, you’d find that quality starters DO provide quality starts the majority of the time. But based on the current definition (6 innings, 3 ER or less), high teens or better is a good QS total.
DAP
March 16th, 2009
1:50 pm
scootsJavy isn’t all that great at delivering quality starts; does so only about half the time.
eeeh, i dont know about that. im not sure about his career, but it wouldnt take an epiphany for him to have more than half of his starts be quality starts. in 2007 he had, by my count, 20 quality starts out of 32.
cricket
March 16th, 2009
1:54 pm
Steve McP
Yup, its plausible but may be not likely as he posted at around 3:30 AM Sydney time. Anyway, Australia did bring in some aspects of baseball in cricket, mainly in the fielding department. I think it was the Australians / South Africans that brought in the concept of hitting the cut-off man when throwing in from the boundary. Now even the Indians have accommodated some baseball fielding drills, though their basic approach is still to out-hit and out-score the opponents and not to try to restrict the runs through fielding.
Random
March 16th, 2009
1:54 pm
Bobby’s Cox (1:24 pm): “What we can agree on, is if that was Lowe struggling, then he’s going to be pretty damn good for us this year.”
Agreed.
(Well, we chased that hare pretty far afield, didn’t we? At least we made it back to a point of agreement.)
Jackie Treehorn
March 16th, 2009
1:54 pm
DOB, did you catch Breaking Bad last night? Edge of your seat suspense right there. It truly is the best show on television right now.
Rufio
March 16th, 2009
1:55 pm
I heard today on ESPN that the Orioles are gonna have Weiters in the minors to start the year most likely… dumb
The kid is legit.
Not to mention a protected minor leaguer in my fantasy keeper league… but thats just my own selfish reasoning.
Who am I kidding… this is purely a selfish post all around. I dont care about the Orioles success, other than it would mean less success potentially for the Sox and Yanks.
Ludwig van Beethoven
March 16th, 2009
1:56 pm
Perhaps my Symphony No.5 part 1 could play at your baseball events with much applaud from fans? Perhaps in-between your innings? After a home-run? Would Kelly Johnson pick my Ninth Symphony to play before his at-bats? Perhaps he pick each part of my sixth symphony to play during each month of the season?
If no, could the Dodger pianist play my music?
This message will repeat in Dutch for my Dutch fans.
Misschien mijn Symphony No.5 deel 1 kunnen spelen op uw honkbal evenementen met veel applaus van de fans? Misschien in-tussen uw innings? Na een home-run? Zou Kelly Johnson pick mijn negende symfonie te spelen voor zijn op-vleermuizen? Misschien kiest hij voor elk onderdeel van mijn zesde symfonie te spelen tijdens elke maand van het seizoen?
Zo neen, kan de Dodger pianist spelen mijn muziek?
Dit bericht zal herhalen in het Nederlands voor mijn Nederlandse fans.
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
1:57 pm
KC, hate to call BS! on you, but sorry, but your quality starts stat is misleading. 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’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. (he was a little better in ‘07, tied with about 10 guys for 23rd in QS).
BlawgDawg
March 16th, 2009
1:57 pm
I saw Kings last night on NBC. Don’t know if it was the first one, or if I’ve just missed it in previous years, but it was really good, lot’s of potential there. Ian McShane is the king in the show, he is a great actor to me, loved him as Swearengen in Deadwood.
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.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
4:12 pm
Just saw the WBC episode from last night. Wright and Lindstrom were totally out of line, imo. It was 8-0, let the kid look at his shot. He wasn’t showing anyone up, and didn’t even look at it that long. He looked more surprised that he hit the ball that far, and as if he was wondering if it would stay fair. That was merely a fraction of the looks that manny ramirez, bonds, sosa, and countless other show boats give or gave to their long flys. Looks like Wright and Lindstrom forgot that in the offseason.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:15 pm
Bobby Cox – It didn’t look to me like Wright made a huge deal out of it. I would agree that what the batter did was not that bad. Especially under the circumstances. Let him enjoy possibly the one moment on a stage like that he may have.
Where was all this bravado when the USA got mercied?
MFin04
March 16th, 2009
4:16 pm
I read the same article about TIm Hudson last year…that ESPN wrote about Hamels this year. Not looking good for the Phillies.
ease19
March 16th, 2009
4:17 pm
Anders – Maybe you should leave someone at the house and go grab anyone.
someone else
March 16th, 2009
4:18 pm
Anders, yes dear. As long as its not new cars. Oh, almost forgot bring me some David Wright pictures, I love that boy. I have Metro man and Sniper 69 here waiting honey.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:18 pm
Anyone or anyone else?
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
4:20 pm
Bobby’s, when I saw the replay last night, I really didn’t think Wright was adding to the fray; looked to me like he was watching the ball fly out of the park, not the batter. The batter preened a little, but no worse than Griffy Jr or Manny do every time they hit a fly ball.
And, Lindstrom did it right, a soft fastball towards the buttocks. No way was that gonna hurt anybody.
As Adam Dunn (that great baseball philosopher) said, “it’s just baseball.”
Andy K.
March 16th, 2009
4:20 pm
Julio Franco is now the manager of a Mets Minor League Team….ugh.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:21 pm
Someone else – This has a Silence Of The Lambs feel to it. Are you making a new canvas for Lew out of Met bloggers?
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
4:22 pm
Anders, did you see the view of Wright and Englehart both in frame from the 3rd base camera? Not sure why Wright got up like that and was staring down Englehart, other than he was disgruntled. Possibly that made Lindstrom think more of the “stare” than he would’ve.
I’ll say this: It was more apparent to me that Wright was upset with Englehart than it was that Englehart was show boating. Not even close in that determination.
DAP
March 16th, 2009
4:25 pm
raindawg722 whats the 722 in your name mean? anyways, bobby has been saying the hicks is already a MLB SS (defensively) his offense just needs al little work. im sure that he could be convert to a 3B guy, and seems to have the power of a corner guy. if he can cut down on his Ks (139 Ks in just under 400 ABs last year) he might be ready in a year or so.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:26 pm
Bobby Cox – Yes I saw that and I did see him looking at the batter. His expression hardly changed and I didn’t see him jawing or anything. Not saying it didn’t happen, but I didn’t see it. To me, this was a case of ESPN and that moron Sutcliffe (who’s still living in the 80’s) making something out of nothing. Just my opinion and I know enough to say it’s probably slanted.
But it wasn’t like we saw Wright screaming at the guy or anything.
DWW
March 16th, 2009
4:27 pm
Bobby’s
It was kind of a weird reaction from Wright. He jumped up as soon as the ball was hit(too early to tell that Englehart was posing), but he was clearly looking at Englehart not where the ball was going.
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
4:28 pm
Chop Chop – I should have said he drove the CoCola truck.
TnBrian
March 16th, 2009
4:29 pm
McFann, punked,plunked…Taveras woulda done either, so I guess it doesn’t matter, right?
DAP
March 16th, 2009
4:30 pm
i think the next batter should have been thrown at. its fine, not a big deal, cause it wasnt at his head. just like posing a little bit isnt a big deal, getting thrown at in that situation is part of the game.
add ryan howard to the list of guys that watch it way to long. he seems like a nice guy, but he really needs to get beaned.
chris from md
March 16th, 2009
4:32 pm
DOB and others,
Who do you all see as rounding out the Gwinnett rotation? I have Hanson, Reyes, Morton, Parr, and Redmond. But what about Medlen? AA again, bullpen, or does he bump Parr or Redmond? Also, who the closer– Nuzez or Marek? Just wondering… man, this team is loaded with pitching talent.
Chris from MD
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
4:33 pm
mbatl, The view i saw showed wright glance at the ball, then Englehart, then immediate bounce of his seat and walk up to the dugout stairs moving his mouth. When he got up, he took one more glance, actually, i shouldn’t even say glance, maybe a head tilt to RF, then immediately re-fixated on Englehart. And, Lindstrom’s throw was no soft toss. It was pretty hard pitched with intention that wasn’t warranted.
Anders, I’m still rooting for the US, actually, i could give a crap if the US wins, or loses. I like the WBC, but don’t care for the outcome. But if I were rooting for a team, it would be the US, then Japan, so that’s not my beef. Just sucks that you ruin a kids glory like that. I don’t even hate david wright. I’m just stating what i saw because it was discussed earlier. If it were McCann that did what wright did, i’d have the same view – damn straight.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:34 pm
add ryan howard to the list of guys that watch it way to long. he seems like a nice guy, but he really needs to get beaned. (DAP)
I love how nonchalantly that line was written.- He’s a nice guy. Hit him in the head with a round hard object traveling at 90mph. – Hey, what’s for lunch?
Jersey Gil
March 16th, 2009
4:35 pm
Ok guys here is my opening Day 25 men roster:
12 Pitcher(Lowe,JJ,Javy,KK,Glavine,JOJo,Gonzo,Sori,Moylan,Boyer,Logan,Bennett)
2 Catcher: Mac,Ross
6 Infielder: Esco,Chipper,Kelly,Kotch,Infante,Prado
5 Outfielder: Anderson,Anderson,Diaz,Norton,Frenchy.
I think Campi & Carlyle will be trade before season Open.
Option to AAA: Hanson,Morton,Diory,Shaffer,Jones,Blanco,Sammon.
I hope the People in Gwinnett fill that ball park, awasome team.
TnBrian
March 16th, 2009
4:35 pm
Anders, Sutcliffe does seem like an instigator, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Wright might be a little stressed out with the questionable health of his pitchers. You should be worried because September isn’t too far away. Just sayin
McPoyle
March 16th, 2009
4:35 pm
Just read that new chipper article with his quotes about the downtime in the WBC, and it makes perfect sense. I heard Sutcliff (not always to be taken seriously) say that last night during the game and I agreed with it. These guys play 162 games in 180 days… Days off are few and far between, I think they could handle the WBC games in the matter of two weeks instead of 3.
Part of me wants to see this thing take off, but nobody really seems to care, especially here in the the states. there’s not a good time to play it. the Cuban team stops their regular season to come over here and play, so they’re literally in midseason form. Our guys are just getting their timing down and trying to hit spots. and it’s kinda sad when the games are in the US and venezuella and puerto rican fans are louder than US fans… like watching a Cubs vs Brewers game in Milwaukee… whose the home team??
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
4:35 pm
DAP, maybe why that ticks me a little, is because something that innocent by Englehart got the next batter thrown at. Yet, last year, our pitchers didn’t do ($&($ when it was waaay more warranted on a handful of occaisions. Actually, no, that’s not it. I really don’t think Englehart did anything wrong, and I’m all for throwing at a hitter to make a statement.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
4:36 pm
I blame union brotherhood for the lack of wiping admiring looks off hitters’ faces. Hard to throw one at the lips after you’ve sat together griping about The Man, LOL.
That, and all the armor that hitters can wear to the box these days. All that protection really leaves you not much to throw at other than the head, and no pitcher really wants to take that kind of chance. Not really.
Coach joe
March 16th, 2009
4:37 pm
If the Mets lose Santana and Redding and Hamels goes down for the Phillies, watch for the Braves to contend for the Division title. Look how many pitchers we lost last year to injuries. If Anderson and chipper can get healthy and if Francouer has a decent year, it just might be a fun year.
Go braves..
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:38 pm
Bobby Cox – I hear ya. Could go either way I guess. We do agree that the reaction the USA had was wrong – completely. They looked like the spoiled rich kids who didn’t want the poor kids ruining their party.
(Hey wait, that’s just like what happens to me here.):}
DAP
March 16th, 2009
4:40 pm
i was just thinking, with the braves pitching depth, by the end of the season (when hudson is back) they will have enough talent to make two 5 man rotations that are both better than the 5 man rotations of some teams. thats pretty cool.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:43 pm
Anders, Sutcliffe does seem like an instigator, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Wright might be a little stressed out with the questionable health of his pitchers. You should be worried because September isn’t too far away. Just sayin (TnBrian)
Seriously? You think Wright jumped up and vented on the batter because he’s stressing about the Mets pitching situation and what it means for September?
Seriously? OOOOKKKK.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
4:44 pm
Check out some of Chipper’s quotes about the WBC from the story I filed while ago:
By DAVID O’BRIEN
dobrien@ajc.com
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. _ Chipper Jones said his strained oblique muscle will be fine, but the World Baseball Classic needs changes.
The third baseman left Team USA and returned to Braves camp after aggravating the strained muscle in his right side during batting practice before Sunday’s game against the Netherlands in Miami.
“There’s some serious problems with the WBC setup,” said Jones, will skip the rest of the tournament. “I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. But I wouldn’t do it again under the current format. There’s way too many days off. This tournament could be over by now.”
Jones was back at Braves camp Monday for treatment. He said his strain is relatively minor and he could be back in the Braves lineup by the end of the week. Braves manager Bobby Cox didn’t think Jones would be out much longer than that.
Team USA officials had planned to rest him five days, as they did after the initial injury March 8 in a game at Toronto.
“Well they kept me out five days in Canada, and I was probably ready to go on the third day,” Jones said. “They were going to do the same thing so I said, screw it, I’m coming home.
“I’d much rather be around this [Braves] training staff and treat it aggressively and hopefully get back into some kind of action in two or three days.”
The 2008 batting champion has been away since reporting to Team USA March 2. He went 0-for-10 with six strikeouts in three games.
He said he felt fine during Saturday’s game against Puerto Rico, but felt a twinge in his side during batting practice Sunday.
“I took about 20 swings in batting practice and hit a ball about 450 feet to right-center field, and I felt it,” he said. “I stuck my thumb in it just to try and loosen it up a little bit and [hitting coach] Reggie Smith saw me and came up to me and said, ‘Don’t mess around with that thing. If you feel it, get out of there.’”
After two more swings, Jones took his advice. After being examined in Miami, he decided to pull the plug and return to Braves camp.
He said this strain isn’t nearly as severe as others he’s had, including a left oblique strain that disabled him twice in 2006.
“They were going to be extra-cautious because it’s the second time it’s happened [in eight days],” Jones said. “And I just told [Team USA trainers] last night, if you’re not going to listen to me and you’re just going to tell me I’m going to be out for five days, I’m going home….
“What’s five days gonna get us? Off day today, game tomorrow, game on Wednesday, and one day-long trip to L.A. … I might be ready to play the [championship] game. If they’re gonna keep me out that long, I just said, I’m going home.”
Jones, who also played in the inaugural WBC in 2006, said he won’t play again if the format isn’t changed.
“Just way too many days off,” he said. “We stayed in Toronto for a week and played three games. I don’t know if you ever stayed in Toronto, but it’s not exactly Las Vegas. To say that we were plucking our eyebrows out one at a time would be an understatement.
“You’re not getting the work in that you should. You’re getting reps, but you’re not getting the at-bats that you need.
“Getting to share a clubhouse with the guys and getting to know people on a different level is the cool part about it. But when you’re talking about a three-week tournament, and you could literally play eight games in three weeks, it’s just too much down time for spring training.”
Roach
March 16th, 2009
4:44 pm
JerseyGil
Schafer has to be the startin CF not Anderson. Schafer is just better no way to sugar coat it.
Chop Chop
March 16th, 2009
4:44 pm
Here’s a better argument against throwing at a Dutch player…
You’ve got a six-run lead in the eighth. Dude hit a homer and enjoyed it. So what? He’s about to go home to Wooden Shoe Land and smoke some primo weed and eat tulips.
Okay, to be realistic, he’ll be going to some island in the Caribbean.
Anyway, his team is done. What good is it to “send a message” to a team that is gone in an inning? Why even risk getting one of your own guys hit? Just a brain-dead move by Lindstrom.
(Of course, it wasn’t as brain-dead of a move as making his appearance with a bum arm. This is why I love the WBC.)
DAP
March 16th, 2009
4:46 pm
coach joeIf the Mets lose Santana and Redding and Hamels goes down for the Phillies, watch for the Braves to contend for the Division title
if this happens, the braves better do alot more than contend. they oughta blow them out.
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
4:46 pm
anders, exactly.
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
4:46 pm
Jersey Gil – I hope we keep Buddy and use Medlen in some kind of role, maybe use JoJo at AAA and then if Glavine is injured bring him in as nos 5 starter until Hanson is ready.. also Bennett is a bit iffy…
I suppose you are right in your thinking that Buddy and Campillo have the best trade value of our marginal starters/relievers.
Tomahawk210
March 16th, 2009
4:47 pm
Jersey Gil
If things keep going like they have last week look for Schafer to replace J Anderson on your 25 man roster. It seems like J Anderson can’t handle the pressure of a little ST competion so how will he handle the pressure of leading off every game. Schafer it seems thrives under the pressure and welcomes it and as I’ve read from a number of reports brings a fire to the clubhouse and line-up that we’ve needed on this Braves team for the last few years. The kid goes balls out every game and works very hard, and his hard work should be rewarded with a spot on the MLB roster in April.
nolie
March 16th, 2009
4:50 pm
.Your dog see you as everything wonderful in life…….a cat sees you as staff. Reagan
so? that’s the way it should be. dogs are emotionally needy and cats aren’t.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:50 pm
Three puffs of white smoke from Chipper condemning the WBC. Now watch the old blog go full speed ahead negative on the tournament.
Jersey Gil
March 16th, 2009
4:51 pm
Roach….what’re going to do With Josh Anderson…no Option…release him? give a present to the Mets?….he will be another candidate to trade.
AdirondackDave
March 16th, 2009
4:52 pm
DAP — You’re right about that. Braves have the talent to staff two rotations without being ashamed of either. Somebody (probably starting with Glavine) will go down though, and the extra depth will come in very handy. I see JoJo coming up first and Hanson after the all-star game.
Coach Joe — It won’t be necessary for Hamels, Santana, etc. to go down for the Braves to be right there this year. They are competitive right now and when Hanson (and probably Schafer) come up mid-season and Hudson comes back in September, I’d put my money on Atlanta. If I were a betting man, that is.
Have to watch Chipper closely and get him right for April, though.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
4:53 pm
Aaaaaalllll Aboard! Next stop. We knew we hated this WBCville.
McPoyle
March 16th, 2009
4:53 pm
if i have to hear sutcliffe tell everybody how much jake peavy loves this country one more time, i’m going to fight somebody. preferably somebody small and weak that i can handle, i don’t want to get beat up over sutcliffe’s flair for the dramatic. i swear this guy could make a routine groundout to second base sound like it was the most beautiful, unselfish, all-american play in the history of baseball.
AdirondackDave
March 16th, 2009
4:55 pm
DOB or anybody — Can a team trade for a future draft pick in MLB?
nolie
March 16th, 2009
4:56 pm
if he can cut down on his Ks (139 Ks in just under 400 ABs last year) he might be ready in a year or so. DAP
wanna bet?
Bay Area Steve
March 16th, 2009
4:56 pm
Random,
I know I’m not going win with you; I mean, you hold your own with Shawn, what chance do I have? But, this feigned ignorance thing you repeatedly do is a major part of your “assedness.”
It seems pretty telling to me that they changed the headline. I try to see your side, and can’t imagine continuing to argue the point even after they changed the headline.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
4:57 pm
Three puffs of white smoke from Chipper condemning the WBC. Now watch the old blog go full speed ahead negative on the tournament.
You mean, moreso than it already has been? Seems to me that sentiment has been running against the tourney by a large margin.
Just because your opinions are based on whatever David Wright utters does not mean the same concept holds true for other, more rational folk.
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
5:00 pm
The only way the WBC will be taken seriously is if they do a full blown format like the World Cup Soccer or Cricket with an intensive tournament structure, say every 4 years, but that would mean MLB doing some structural changes……. hence we no chance (have to pass the owners, player union etc)
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
5:01 pm
i swear [Sutcliffe] could make a routine groundout to second base sound like it was the most beautiful, unselfish, all-american play in the history of baseball.
If the groundout were made by David Wright, then, yes, it would be. The world knows this.
nolie
March 16th, 2009
5:02 pm
DOB or anybody — Can a team trade for a future draft pick in MLB?
No
Tomahawk210
March 16th, 2009
5:03 pm
Jersey Gil
Just because a player has no options is no reason for better player to be sent to AAA. The Braves team is what brings the fans and we want the best product on the field regardless of options, arbitration and BS like that. If things keep progressing the way it has as far as Schafer outplaying Anderson and they keep Anderson simply because of options, then I will not watch the Braves until they put the best line-up on the field. Because in my mind, they are not concerned about winning and playing their best players who work hard and should be rewarded for their hard work. I’m getting tired of mediocre Braves teams year after year, and from what i’ve seen of Anderson he is a good 4th OF, nothing more. He folds under pressure just like he did to Blanco last year in ST.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
5:04 pm
ncscoots – ouch. There’s a nuance I was alluding to that you didn’t pick up on. Not to worry – it’ll be clear.
At least that what David Wright told me.
AdirondackDave
March 16th, 2009
5:06 pm
Nolie — Do you know the rationale behind not allowing the trading of draft picks?
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
5:11 pm
I’d like to say hi to Everyone, Anyone, Nobody, and Somebody Else…
Anybody here? Somebody? Everyone Else?
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
5:12 pm
Fox Sports South will have Fred Hickman host its Braves Live thing this year. Here’s part of the release they sent me:
FOX Sports South and SportSouth today announced the return of Braves LIVE, the only expanded pre- and post-game show for the Atlanta Braves. The networks have named broadcast veteran Fred Hickman as the host of Braves LIVE. Jerome Jurenovich returns to Braves LIVE, moving from behind the desk to the field and clubhouse to provide exclusive insight and interviews. Hickman and Jurenovich join analysts and former Braves’ standouts Ron Gant and Brian Jordan for the 30-minute pre-game show and expanded post-game coverage for telecasts on both networks. Braves LIVE coverage begins on Saturday, April 4 at 12:30 p.m. ET on SportSouth before the Braves face the Detroit Tigers at 1 p.m. ET in their final Spring Training game played at Turner Field.
Anders
March 16th, 2009
5:14 pm
ncscoots is on full David Wright attack.
Sir, are you not aware that the USA is at baseball war and Mr. Wright is the only born American we have to fulfill the duties required at third base? The other soldier we assigned fell by the way side during a battle with the Netherlands. Well, actually he fell off the truck on the way to the battle – but I digress. We asked this felled soldier to send the backup from his battalion once he reaches his base camp. Incredibly enough they have none and we will have to rely on another battalion to supply a backup for Mr. Wright should we survive to the next campaign on the west coast of the United States. In these dire times we need to all put our selfish thoughts aside and pull for our boys to come home victorious.
You’re negative singling out of this American hero is neither condoned nor appreciated by the rest of the citizens of this great country of ours and it would be appreciated if you would cease and desist such actions.
That is all.
raindawg722
March 16th, 2009
5:18 pm
DAP, 722 are just some lucky numbers that I tacked onto my screen name. I really didn’t give it too much thought.
Thanks for passing along Cox’s comments. Hicks had 19 errors in 107 games at short last year, which seems a little high. Not saying he couldn’t work on that, and maybe he has great range and is otherwise pretty smooth. A switch to third might even help him.
Unless the Braves unload Yunel (which isn’t completely unlikely) I just cannot see him playing short in Atlanta and there’s no one else in the minors that looks remotely ready to step in at third in the next year or two.
That might be one of those positions that the Braves stock up on by trading some of their surplus pitching.
Interested Observer
March 16th, 2009
5:18 pm
I love Chipper, but being that he reaggravated his oblique after playing just one game tells me he wasn’t ready after 5 days, much less three. This is spring training, not the regular season. You have to be extra cautious with such things.
Hammy the Brave
March 16th, 2009
5:25 pm
To all who love Jordan Schaffer,
Don’t you think he has some holes in his game, that you aren’t seeing at present? Specifically, from what I’ve read in Baseball America, he has trouble hitting lefties, has to get his walks up and K’s down(OBP), has to improve his stolen base %, and has been streaky offensively.
Just because you want a player to do well, and know he is the future of the team, doesn’t mean he is actually ready to take that spot on the team, with no AAA experience. It also doesn’t mean the younger player has no flaws- they either haven’t been discovered by too little time in the minors, or you haven’t done real research on “your boy”.
I like Schaffer as much as anyone, and want him and the Braves to do well, but I don’t want him rushed to the majors because of his ST performance.
Think about it,
Hammy the Brave
A FAN
March 16th, 2009
5:32 pm
damn no katie T this year. thats sux!!!!
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
5:33 pm
Hammy, I strained my lighter-thumb while igniting a blunt. How many days off should I request, and how might I parlay that into a leisurely six-month vacation?
You the man in the know, just askin….
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
March 16th, 2009
5:36 pm
Anders,
If Chipper hates the WBC, then so do I….. I’m a mindless sheep…..
But seriously, I’d like the WBC if it was shortened and they played more games more often, as someone here already said. Also, it’s never going to gain popularity when you don’t put the US team on ESPN or ESPN2, instead of pushing it aside to the new MLB network that not everyone has.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 16th, 2009
5:36 pm
Hammy, both McCann and Francoeur made the jump from AA. Think about it.
Andre "Pulpwood" Smith
March 16th, 2009
5:40 pm
DOB, great job on the Ian Dury reference. Some may prefer the great “Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’ Roll” but I prefer “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.” Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq4NZEtNTAo
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 16th, 2009
5:40 pm
In fact, Andruw Jones had just 50 games of experience in AA and AAA ball before making the jump to the big leagues.
Rafael Furcal played all of three games in AA.
Trust the scouts. They know more than anybody.
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
5:41 pm
TnBrian punked,plunked…Taveras woulda done either, so I guess it doesn’t matter, right?
Haha…yeah, that’s true.
Bubdylan
March 16th, 2009
5:41 pm
Hey, everybody, thanks again. You folks are awesome. It’s been a genuine comfort reading your responses. I read them slowly, and many of them twice.
I’m doing much better. Sleep is a real miracle, isn’t it? Got a bunch to do the next few days (thank God), so with a little patience, I’ll be fine.
Speaking of patience, it’s great to see Jordan Schafer work all the way back to bringing the kind of excitement he brought before his troubles.
McFann :Ô:
March 16th, 2009
5:43 pm
Chipper “There’s way too many days off. This tournament could be over by now.”
Gotta agree with him on that.
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
5:45 pm
Coach, I’m thinkin anybody might be a scout; gonna be really offended dude…
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
5:46 pm
HAMMY = meet the Jordan Schafer of 2009 ST, he has shown improvement in ALL areas you raise
BUBDYLAN – sorry about your dog, I am convinced I would have died if it were not for my beloved border collie……
Bobby's Cox
March 16th, 2009
5:48 pm
Hammy, it’s not a question if he has holes in his game. Every major leaguer has a flaw. It’s a question of, is he the best option available? He’s been hitting lefties quite well this spring, has been running, bunting, fielding. He looks ready. It may be a streak, as you say, but if he continues this for the next 2.5 weeks, then it’s gonna be hard to determine he’s not ready.
dogsbrekky
March 16th, 2009
5:48 pm
Anders – your last post made me chortle but I kind of like using air power to win wars
BA
March 16th, 2009
5:49 pm
If John Maine is “Oswalt light” then Martin Prado is “Chase Utley light”. Congratulations to Andouche for posting the absolutely dumbest commentary I’ve seen in months.
Blatant biased Mutts homerism. Andouche, your credentials as any sort of legitimate baseball fan have been removed. Oswalt light.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
5:56 pm
Raindawg: Hicks is OUTSTANDING defensively. There are no questions about his defense. None.
ShamusThacker
March 16th, 2009
5:58 pm
Never heard of a credentialectomy. Painful?
Anders
March 16th, 2009
5:58 pm
BA – Yeah, you’re the guy I would go to for my baseball credentials. BTW- The name calling is childish, although I’m not surprised.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
6:00 pm
Hammy: Schafer focused this winter on hitting lefties and improving his speed, specifically his first step. That’s what his work with a sprint coach was all about, and it’s shown. As for hitting lefties, he’s shown no sign of struggling against them this spring, and if I’m not mistaken, he didn’t struggle much against them in the minors in 2007, only last season.
Bubdylan
March 16th, 2009
6:01 pm
Hey, what stinks both as a baseball stat and a piece of plumbing?
A John Main(e) Line.
AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Okay that pun is half-stolen from TheGhostofGaryMatthews on the MLB board. But this one’s mine: What do you call an earthquake that knocks you off the toilet? A John Rocker. Pfffft.
I’m delirious. See y’all later.
raindawg722
March 16th, 2009
6:16 pm
DOB, thanks. I guess that’s what I get for quoting stats out of context. I did see that Hicks only had 1 error in 16 games at AA, which ain’t too shabby (although it’s not a great sample size either).
DAP, I changed my mind about the 722. I added those numbers to my handle because that was Hick’s OPS at AA Mississippi last year.
BA
March 16th, 2009
6:19 pm
Maine: 33-27, 4.18 career era
Oswalt: 129-64, 3.13 career era
What insufferable dolt, other than Andouche, would even attempt to make this absurd comparison? When the Mutts expose (ala David Cone) themselves to be the third or fourth place team that they are, the forty Andouche posts per day will dissapear and we can resume a more reasonable, intelligent discourse around here.
Ok, it won’t be intelligent, but at least we won’t have to sift through this “Oswalt light” nonsense. What’s next- Reyes as a stand-up clubhouse guy? Castillo as the pillar of health?
When the Mutts fired their 17th manager in the last 6 years, Andouche was nowhere to be found.
When the Mutts suffered their second straight unfathomable collapse in September, Andouche was a ghost.
I have a feeling his dissapearing act will get a much earlier start this year, considering the AAA team the Mutts are apparently willing to go to war with this season.
Gil In Mechanicsville
March 16th, 2009
6:26 pm
Before all you guys get your panties in a wad in Anderson vs Shaffer, just remember Bobby will let things go for the first two months of the season in order to get a feel for the team. I doubt he will feel compelled to lose a good outfield in Anderson to give Schaffer an early boost to the majors. Schaffer will be up soon enough if he lights it up in triple A the early part of the season.
JG… I think you are about 98% right on your projected line-up but Bennett looks to be the guy on the bubble to me. Still lots of time before the season gets serious.
chappelli
March 16th, 2009
6:30 pm
dogsbrekky;
Nice to hear from you even if West Torrens were our [Glenelg's] greatest rivals. I actually caught 3 Claxton Shields [1964,65,66] and my fellow catcher was Gary Thompson from West Torrens. Actually played in Phoenix in the Masters World Series in 1999 and one of our coaches was Gary Thompson – it was great to catch up with him after many years. You are absolutely right about Greg working for Coca Cola [ not the type to deliver coke] and just to remind the person who referred to the under arm delivery – I was the brother not involved.
David O'Brien
March 16th, 2009
6:31 pm
I just added a Chipper Jones games-played poll to the original blog, if you want to go there and vote.
Gil In Mechanicsville
March 16th, 2009
6:31 pm
And while the early ST wins can deliver a sense of euphoria to the novice, remember teams like the Mets have a lot of their regulars playing in the WBC. Spring training games don’t count for a reason, it’s to allow time to get players ready for the main event. Even then, don’t forget what the Astros have done over the last 3 seasons. Coming from way back at the mid point to being there at the end….
Gil In Mechanicsville
March 16th, 2009
6:34 pm
And I don’t think Chipper’s presence or absence is going to be as telling as it was last year.
onionhead
March 16th, 2009
6:35 pm
Gil in Mechanicsville- I agree with everything you and others say about losing Anderson and sending shaffer down. The one rotten apple in the barrell seems to be that Bobby and Frank announced publicly that it was “a wide open race”. At this point how do you look Shaffer in the face and say that we tell the truth here but go to Gwinnett anyway?
Gil In Mechanicsville
March 16th, 2009
6:37 pm
Answer… Baseball is still a business….
onionhead
March 16th, 2009
6:39 pm
As foe the WBC, we have more guys like Santana and Zambrano saying no to this thing and stuff like Mac playing left field. Is this really going to survive that much longer?
nolie
March 16th, 2009
6:39 pm
Trust the scouts. They know more than anybody. Coach
well of course you should trust the scouts. they are the cool in-the-know guys. unfortunately no official ones have piped in on the board to let us know what they think. I am sure that they will have their input so whatever happens at cut off date will in fact be influenced by their opinions and thus we will know. This has happened every spring since I have been on various Braves boards-which is about as long as any have been available. There is always a huge argument about bringing up youngsters, pro & con. Some can be viewed as valid like the Schafer/Anderson debate, many much less so like Heyward/Francoeur, and most are absolutely stupid off-the charts guys who have a hot spring and fans go nuts about bringing the up. Que sera, sera. World ain’t gonna end one way or t’other
onionhead
March 16th, 2009
6:41 pm
Business? Isnt the Braves the ones that yelled about not being able to trust the people your working with in the Furcall case this off season? Would they do the same to its players?
TnBrian
March 16th, 2009
6:46 pm
Anders, I was kinda being sarcastic, but since you’re taking seriously, than yeah, Wright is stressed and worried. He needs some xanax with his anxiety.
Lew
March 16th, 2009
6:49 pm
Shamus-Light it with your other hand and then go listen to the new Thin Lizzy CD.
Lew
March 16th, 2009
6:52 pm
Onionhead-I look him in the eye if I’m Bobby and Frank and tell him he’s done a good job this Spring and is going to start the year in Gwinnett and tell him they’re sure they’ll see him up sooner rather than later. They’re his Bosses. Case closed.
The Boss
March 16th, 2009
6:56 pm
I’d tell Schafer to do whatever the hell I say. I’m the bleepdamn boss. If he don’t like it, I’ll plant some HGH in his locker and let him sit and spin for 100 games.
Shawn G
March 16th, 2009
7:01 pm
I think I figured out the Super Two thing. Service time and Super Two are two separate things.
Normally, a player has three years where the team basically pays the player what they want to and the player receives three years of arbitration. Being a Super 2 player gives you 4 years of arbitration instead of three. Either way you still get 6 years of service time out of a player.
So you have a few scenarios:
1. You break ST with them on the 25 and you get 6 full years.
2. You wait a few weeks to bring them up and at the end of the 6th season they only have ~5.9 years of time so you get an extra year. (I believe the first arb year would be after the 4th year)
3. You bide your time to July/August and hope your guy don’t fall in the Super Two category.
So maybe try #2 on Schaefer and #3 on Hanson?
Does this seem correct? Thoughts?
onionhead
March 16th, 2009
7:01 pm
Wow Lew & The Boss, just WOW! I have no problem with this guy going down and I do like Anderson. You guys have real issues with this kid however. The only argument i present is that you said in the media that it is a open race and it is not then under your terms. Time will tell and I wish you good mental health!
Andy K.
March 16th, 2009
7:02 pm
It’s Bobby Cox’s and Frank Wren’s jobs to do what is right for the team, simple as that. And as of right now, it looks like Schafer is right for the team, not Anderson, nothing against the dude, he’s pretty cool (met him once), but Schafer in these past weeks has sort of given me the impression that he’s really fighting for it, and wants to skip Gwinnett all together.
Shawn G
March 16th, 2009
7:02 pm
*Schafer
David-ATL14
March 16th, 2009
7:05 pm
BubDylan
Sorry to hear about your loss. That is as tough as a day can get. Been through it twice myself.
Had to put down a dog after 12 years. Replaced it with a cat, just couldn’t take on another dog at that time. Had to then put the cat down after 8 years due to illness. Replaced her with a dog.
Don’t know how you will proceed in the coming months but as trite as it sounds
TIME HEALS.
mbatl
March 16th, 2009
7:08 pm
I’m in the “Schafer now” camp. But if it doesn’t work out that way, Braves sure don’t owe him any apologies or explanations. He probably would’ve been up last year but for the HGH foolishness.
Lew
March 16th, 2009
7:18 pm
Onionhead-Dude, I’m not anti Schafer and certainly don’t have issues with him. However, Bobby and Frank are his bosses and he does what they tell him to do. It’s not a contentious thing, it’s reality.
Anderson deserves his chance-if not in Atlanta, than with another team via trade. He has hit .315 in his ML time and though most claim he has a bad OBP, in his 203 ML at bats, his OBP is .363. He plays excellent defense and is just as fast (if not faster) than Schafer and has stolen 11 of 13 bases while in the bigs. Schafer will be all of a half hour away if needed. I fail to see what the big deal is here. Sending him down for a couple months is not punishment, it’s smart baseball and the Kid is doing nothing more than paying some dues-just like Josh has. Comes with the territory.
Not to mention everyone here is basing this all on a Spring Training performance (with many of the better pitchers not even facing him). He has zero ML at bats (he actually has barely more AA AB’s than Josh has ML AB’s) for y’all to base any conclusions on and while Anderson may be having a slower spring, he DOES have some pretty successful Major League experience.
onionhead
March 16th, 2009
7:21 pm
Lew- after reading your post a second time I think that is probably what will be said and I can agree with that. I guess I am old school and want there to be trust with my employer. We as fans can never be upset when players leave when they get the chance if they feel decieved from management during theyre stay here. Boby and Frank are the bosses and no matter what they say in the paper it is soley their decision. I am rooting for whomever they send out there. GO BRAVES!
Reality
March 16th, 2009
7:21 pm
” I have a feeling his dissapearing act will get a much earlier start this year, considering the AAA team the Mutts are apparently willing to go to war with this season.”
BA – I know you’re a blinders-on homer, but in what possible universe could you or anyone see the Mets as a borderline-AAA team? Reyes, Wright, Beltran, K-Rod, Santana, Delgado….I mean, I know you like the Braves, but c’mon–you’re embarrassing yourself.
Wil
March 16th, 2009
7:39 pm
In the simulated games, who calls the balls and strikes?
f.n.hale
March 16th, 2009
7:56 pm
Bubdylan, sorry to read about your dog, man, but glad you’re feeling better. We’ve had dogs all my life (currently 5) and I can tell you it doesn’t get any easier. We lost one to an automobile last year and an 18 and a 19 year old cat last year alone (have 7 cats right now). It’s always hard but especially when you’ve made that special connection with one, dog or cat. Ours have all been rescued from bad situations so they’re mostly just glad to be here. It’s hard to make that decision to “pull the plug”, but that just comes with the deal. When the time comes I always hold them while the vet does the deed and I cry like a baby. Get a little embarassed later, but it’s the least one can do for an old friend. Be well.
ncscoots
March 16th, 2009
7:58 pm
Guys, I think Josh Anderson would have to play worse than David Wright’s nanny to not break camp with the big club. Schafer really, really needs to see some extra advanced pitching before he comes up. Yes, yes, I know he’s raking, blah blah blah, and Anderson may yet face-plant, for all I know. Most here know I’m not a big fan of his, but I doubt his appearance in 30 games is going to make or break the Braves’ season. Some extra seasoning for Schafer, on the other hand, might just make it.
N8
March 16th, 2009
7:59 pm
That’s an awesome story about Chip and your voicemail DOB. Hey… who you got in the Kansas/NDSU game?
On a side note, this damn WBC has to go away to another time of the year. McCann in LF? Hmmm? What happened to our last super-uber-star last time somebody asked him to play som LF?
As for Chipper’s injury, it would be easy to say “I told you so”, but if he hurt himself just swinging, I’m gonna go with the theory that that injury happens no matter where he’s working out, or playing in the spring.
But having McCann be asked to play LF (even if only for an inning), should be enough reason for Liberty Media, JS, Wren and Bobby to get on the phone and get Brian back to camp.
N8
March 16th, 2009
8:00 pm
Wil, I think the pitcher gets to call balls and strikes. They use “ghost runners” too.
Sorry, couldn’t resist. I actually have no idea who calls the pitches, just saw an opportunity to be a smart azz.
keylargo
March 16th, 2009
8:01 pm
I would love to see the WBC set up as a tournament at one site. Cuba would be the natural central location where you could draw fans from all of the teams. I have not thought out any of the scheduling or formats because it will never happen under the current relationship between Cuba and America.
Americans can not go to Cuba under the present law and I’m not even sure if the team could get permission from the State Department. But it would be the trip of a lifetime to spend a couple of weeks in Cuba watching baseball and enjoying the beaches.
18 Wheels of Love
March 16th, 2009
8:02 pm
“Another day, come on, come on….”
My wife is going to karate kick the TV if she hears that song from the MLB network one more time!
Anders
March 16th, 2009
8:05 pm
BA- Time for a reality check . Like the one at 7:21 Einstein. BTW- as for lst years “disappearing act”. I was on line at this blog the last day of the year when the Mets got eliminated. Same day they closed Shea. I doubt you remember because I’m sure you had bolted months earlier to college football having turned your baseball credentials in for another season.
By Oswalt light I meant Maine’s style. Assuming you actually watch baseball (not a lock based on your posts) catch a John Maine game some day. His style and mannerisms are similar to Oswalt. He throws a flat darting low fastball like him. They have a very sinilar buils and he carries himself similarly too.
DWW
March 16th, 2009
8:05 pm
DOB
Have reporters recently asked Bobby Cox about the Schafer Anderson battle and pointed out that Schafer has clearly played better? If so, what has his response been? I know Bobby has commented on this before but not since Schafer has made this recent push.
Dadgum
March 16th, 2009
8:08 pm
I gotta say that if Chipper is bellyaching about the WBC format, well