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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
410 comments Add your comment
spotts
March 21st, 2009
10:31 pm
The dookies got it
SmyrnaJim
March 21st, 2009
10:31 pm
What a play by Scheyer!
cabravesfan
March 21st, 2009
10:31 pm
wow Texas is sorta self destructing in the last minute or so…
Metropolitan Man1
March 21st, 2009
10:32 pm
Yeah, this WBC game could get interesting if Venezuela can keep finally stop making errors.
Jake W: No, having a great spring training record would not have me jump up and down with excitement. I’ve followed baseball to long to let that hype me up. Like I said watching the guys tinker with new things so they can be crisp against the scouting reports is a welcomed sacrificed for spring training wins any year. I already aknowledged the braves up and coming young guys, but most of them are currently blocked by fossils and reclamation projects. 2011 is a more reasonable year for the braves to really do damage unless you break the bank and get some offense that will keep up with the pitching.
Richbrave:
Wagner went down which exposed the rest of a weak pen (Omar dropped the ball as well on this). Obviously he wasn’t light out leading up tp the injury so there goes your reason. It really doesn’t matter if he comes back for any of the 09′ season, it would just add another vet to the pen possibly in the heat of a pennant race.
cabravesfan
March 21st, 2009
10:33 pm
spotts-
no kidding- how on earth do you let someone run the length of the court for basically a lay-up with less then 6 seconds? Shades of Tyus Edny…
Shamus Thacker
March 21st, 2009
10:35 pm
WOW, I didn’t get to stay tuned in past the second, then I see the score… WE KIGGED THEIR AZZ! We’re being WAYYY underestimated, even by some of our own here…
Summa y’all can’t see the forest for the trees; you let old baseball cliches about young players skew your thinking. “He’s gonna hit a wall,” “he needs to see AAA pitching,” (which is worse, btw, than AA pitching!), “ooooh, it’ll ruin his confidence if he comes up and gets hammered,” “he needs more seasoning at AAA.” BAAAAHLONEEEEEEEEEEE!!! All summa these yunguns need is a baseball, bat, and glove; THEY can play ANYWHERE, RIGHT NOW!
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
spotts
March 21st, 2009
10:36 pm
As a Georgia fan and alum, I’m actually used to teams making wide open shots and layups
SmyrnaJim
March 21st, 2009
10:37 pm
Okay, Carroll – way to hang on!!!!
Metropolitan Man1
March 21st, 2009
10:37 pm
Richbrave: A Santana injury would no doubt be a disaster in the Mets camp. I really don’t know what panic move Omar would make to bridge the gap. I guess it depends on the severity of the injury. Since you forsee this, why don’t you tell me the injury so I can pass it on to Omar so he can get the ball rolling on what to do.
Shamus Thacker
March 21st, 2009
10:40 pm
true spotts, and funny
spotts
March 21st, 2009
10:43 pm
Yeah…Harrick kind of killed my college basketball experience. Although I did beat Harry Dawg in a tricycle race at a game.
spotts
March 21st, 2009
10:44 pm
beat him good
TnBrian
March 21st, 2009
10:44 pm
OMG, these Met fans, Metro/MetInAtl., can’t be older than 15, right? If you are, for your sake, DON’T SAY! I’d be embarrased to come and talk smack to us when that “other” team of yours in New York has hidden behind the big boys for decades now and has never figured out how to beat us. It’s cool to cheer for your team but don’t think for a second that you’re going to make us second guess our team becuase of your jealousy. We’re a lot smarter than that. Sorry, but the Braves are better than the Mets, and they’ll prove it!
winterville
March 21st, 2009
10:45 pm
Carroll, maybe the haters will stay away for awhile. Nice win by Duke.
Shamus Thacker
March 21st, 2009
10:45 pm
Chavez will prolly declare Venezuela the winner, even if they lose.
cabravesfan
March 21st, 2009
10:46 pm
eh…making easy lay-ups is way over rated…just ask USC (they must have missed 8 or 9 in about a 10 minute span against BC yesterday…)
zookey
March 21st, 2009
10:47 pm
Metro Man,”2011 is a more reasonable year for the Braves to really do damage”bla bla bla.
You should know better than to come on here and get everyones hopes up…
Supes
March 21st, 2009
10:48 pm
ATTENTION BLOGGERS: Do NOT pay attention to any of these “so called” Mets fans, other than Anders, they just come in when it’s convinient.
At least Anders is entertaining, and is here all the time (usually).
BTW…It’s nice to see that the Mets “fans” are admitting, 2010-2011 looks pretty SCARY for their CHOKE ARTISTS otherwise known as the NY Mets. Yeah, by then the Braves will have the DEEPEST and BEST starting rotation in the NL EAST, and a pretty DAMN good lineup (full of young and talanted players), like Jordan S. ; Freeman and Heyward.
Meanwhile, Mets will get OLDER, all they have is David Wright and Jose Reyes. Oh, and Santana’s questionable ELBOW.
As a Braves fan, I’m more concerned about the Phillies (at least they have GUTS and firepower on the lineup) and the Marlins, who always, always have one of the best minor league systems/scouts and turn out so many young outstanding players!
William, you are walking a fine line sir, between BLINDLY defending Jeff, and using the “hating” term so loosely. Deserving, constructive criticism is quite JUSTIFIED sir, if Jeff (who am I well aware must perform or else for the Braves lineup) doesn’t live up to what the TEAM needs him to produce (numbers wise)
Shamus Thacker
March 21st, 2009
10:48 pm
I too believe the Bravos are better than the Muts, and I honestly don’t think it’s all that close. Maybe I’m nuts, maybe not, we’ll see…
spotts
March 21st, 2009
10:52 pm
I don’t get all the smack against the Mets. They’ve beaten us THREE YEARS IN A ROW!. I think we’ll finally regain bragging rights this year, but my goodness people…
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 21st, 2009
10:58 pm
Glavine pitched OK, but lets not get to excited, it was against the Met’s B squad.
Where did this trade talk come from? Pitching surplus is just that, a plus.
Josh Anderson is the only player of significance who is out of options. Boyer is out of options but he is likely to make the team.
Mark Bowman has mentioned Jeff Bennett, Buddy Carlyle, Manny Acosta and Jorge Campillo as names that have come up in trade discussions.
I would maybe consider Campillo and Carlyle as trade bait if the right deal comes up.
Atlanta does need a big another big bat. Preferably someone who can play third base and swing it from the right side.
Mark Teahen comes to mind but I doubt if KC would even consider such a trade. Teahen is banging away to the tune of .485 in spring training so far with five dingers. The Yankees are already chasing him, for obvious reasons.
I like Brian Barton. But I’m not Frank Wren and the Braves probably think they have enough depth in the outfield. Barton has maintained a .314 BA in four minor league seasons but it’s his .413 OBP that that has my attention. He leads off and plays all three outfield positions equally well, is great fourth outfielder with outstanding athleticism. Barton bats right handed.
Jake W.
March 21st, 2009
11:01 pm
Met Man I never said you would be jumping up and down, I said you would be as optimistic as braves fans. I guess you think your team is the only one who tinkers with stuff in srping training. I mean Jeff Francoeur is “tinkering” with a new swing. Yunel Escobar is “tinkering” with new muscle. Kawakami is “tinkering” with an American baseball. Peter Moylan is “tinkering” with a new arm. Soriano is “tinkering” with health. Glavine is “tinkering” with his 70 mph fastball. I mean even with all this “tinkering” we are still finding a way to perform well. And go ahead and admit it. If you had the young guys we had coming up performing well in Spring Training you would be very optimistic or even excited about your future. But once again I ask you because I really don’t know the answer. Do you have any up and coming youngsters that you are excited about. I mean was the update on the Mets farm system?
nolie
March 21st, 2009
11:06 pm
I never read it when you guys make these huge posts. spotts
well it is the ADD generation
cmac1919
March 21st, 2009
11:08 pm
“I don’t get all the smack against the Mets. They’ve beaten us THREE YEARS IN A ROW!. I think we’ll finally regain bragging rights this year, but my goodness people…”
We beat the Mets. It was just the Phillies (and pretty much every other team in baseball) that gave us fits.
“I mean was the update on the Mets farm system?”
The Mutts got a farm system?
spotts
March 21st, 2009
11:09 pm
Pitching surplus is just that, a plus.
Why sit on a bunch of arms that aren’t going to be used? Between Lowe, Jurrjens, Vazquez, KK, Glavine, Hanson, Campillo, Morton, and JoJo, that’s WAY too many arms and insurance arms than we have a need for.
Same with the ‘pen. Gonzo, Soriano, Moylan, O’Flaherty, Acosta, Bennett, Boyer, Ridgway and others I’m sure I forgot
nolie
March 21st, 2009
11:12 pm
Nevermind, a Georgia grad. Now I know why you can’t read the long posts.
Tomas
March 21st, 2009
11:12 pm
Those Koreans sure can play. Wow 9-1 against Venezuela.
spotts
March 21st, 2009
11:13 pm
aguhguhguh…..funny
Metropolitan Man1
March 21st, 2009
11:15 pm
Jake W. come on give it rest. 16 Mets players participated in the WBC. Not all have returned so expecting a sub .500 win loss spring training record is of no consequence. So now you take the “tinkering” statement and make it seems as though the braves are tinkering. Please they are recovering from surgery and don’t want to break down in the spring, only during the season. Your young guys are nothing more than highly touted prospects with Hanson being the only close to sure thing. Over and over on this blog it has been stated a proscpect is just that, a prospect. So good luck thinking all these spring training guys are all future All Stars because all they have proven is the fact they are hungry. Myabe hungrier than other teams with so many open posistions to jock for. Add that with some good scouting and I can see the future optimism, but the present will be a shock in reality. Dues are being paid for 14 straight and they aren’t up yet.
spotts
March 21st, 2009
11:19 pm
Thanks teach. You sure opened our eyes
Doc Holiday
March 21st, 2009
11:22 pm
Poor Mess fans, they need to come here trying to feel better after 2 choke season and a 12-1 defeat
DiamondbackMac
March 21st, 2009
11:30 pm
Metropolitan Man1 – We definitely need to introduce you to New Cars. The sooner the better.
Doc Holiday
March 21st, 2009
11:31 pm
16 Mess players participated in WBC? no wonder why Korea and Japan might play in the finals.
cmac1919
March 21st, 2009
11:32 pm
Mutropolitan wo-man1
Seriously, instead of these long-winded posts, just say “I’m an idiotic Mutt fan.” See? That’s equal to what you’re spitting out in one compact sentence.
zookey
March 21st, 2009
11:35 pm
Metro Metro Man
Nothing moore than highly trouted prospects.
The present will be a shock in reality.
Now I am scared to face the season….
Shamus Thacker
March 21st, 2009
11:39 pm
I was contemplating a long-winded post, but as an easy out I’m just gonna say I’m an idiotic Braves fan.
Goodnight
Doc Holiday
March 21st, 2009
11:39 pm
Man………..Mess players dominate the baseball world……. what are we going to do now?
Should we play this season? or just hand the trophy to the muts?
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 21st, 2009
11:44 pm
Hey spotts, want to know how many starters the Braves used last season?
Eleven.
How many total pitchers?
28.
I rest my case.
By the way, the average major league team uses between eight and nine starters during the course of the 162 game marathon season.
Jake W.
March 21st, 2009
11:48 pm
You give it a rest Met Man. Prospects are just that Prospects. Yeah and so was Wright, McCann, Chipper, Reyes, and everybody who has made it to the majors. There is no gurantee that they will be the “real thing” but when did I ever say that. I said i was optimistic and excited over their play. I never said Hanson is the next Johan or that Heyward will hit home runs like A-rod and play defense like Andruw Jones in his slimmer days. Learn how to read please before you make a rebuttle. Prospects may not be a gurantee but if you have them you can trade for some major league talented players. I see you dodged my question again. I know,the mets don’t really have a farm.
And as for the “tinkering” statement, at least I stated some facts. Francoeur is tinkering with a new swing. Kawakami with a new ball and so on and so on. I mean are you the expert on “tinkering” where you decide what is or what isn’t. Maybe if you actually made a statement that wasn’t so biased and full of crap someone would actually take what you say seriously. Till then i’ll let your mets get back to tinkering and then maybe they can figure out how to win in September.
PWHjort
March 21st, 2009
11:50 pm
Kawakami was hurt in 2003 I believe. I just wrote an article on the possibility of trading some of our excess talent: h ttp://www.braves launch pad.com/?p=2546 (no spaces in the URL)
uga-brave
March 21st, 2009
11:55 pm
bay area steve,
glad that braveheart, set it right.
uga-brave
March 22nd, 2009
12:11 am
got two cats, and a huge german shepperd named “FRITZ”
mcfann no turtles? the cats mames are jose and billy white shoes.
fritz is a great german shepperd. he is a monster. he would eat everything.
bubdylan i am sorry about your dog.
fritz is not sure about our outfield.
spotts
March 22nd, 2009
12:19 am
Where did that come from?
N Nine (eta14)
March 22nd, 2009
12:28 am
noticed nobody talking about Glavine after the game. Lets see Glavine’s 78-82MPH or Hanson.
N Nine (eta14)
March 22nd, 2009
12:28 am
the count is not sure about our outfield
N Nine (eta14)
March 22nd, 2009
12:29 am
the count can’t count the OF depth of average players…
count choppula
March 22nd, 2009
12:43 am
the count thinks blanco has no chance.
the count thinks schafer might be the real deal.
the count loves francoeur’s new approach.
the count thinks, if brandon jones would of been a RH, he might of HAD a chance.
the count still thinks our outfield will suck.
riddle the count this, if brandon jones had as many at bats?
the braves traded laroche after a .280 30 85 rbi year.
he was arb eligible.
do any of you mensa members really believe he will be back next year?
dogsbrekky
March 22nd, 2009
12:47 am
Supes – I thought his name was JOSIE Reyes
dogsbrekky
March 22nd, 2009
12:49 am
Just saw Art Garfunkel at an awesome old theatre out on Staten Island (St George), his band was fab…….
uga-brave
March 22nd, 2009
12:51 am
well where is serbok?
braves-dave.
braves-dave is gone. braves-dave was the polar oppisite of KC.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 22nd, 2009
1:01 am
The Adam LaRoche trade was a mistake.
Not because Mike Gonzalez got hurt or because he hasn’t succeeded. If LaRoche had stayed, Mark Teixeira would have never been needed. All those prospects we traded could have been put to better use. As it is, Mike Gonzalez, Casey Kotchman and Steve Marek are really talented players. But they don’t add up to what was traded. Nor have the Braves come out ahead as of yet.
PWHjort
March 22nd, 2009
1:05 am
Coach. I agree those trades were mistakes. However, they aren’t bad YET. Until the prospects prove they’re legit MLB talent, we’re not behind. Now, it is very likely they will be MLB players and the Braves will end up behind, but it isn’t certain yet. See the Tim Hudson trade.
spotts
March 22nd, 2009
1:38 am
What’s ugabrave talking about? His posts look like modern poetry
Baseball has its glory days
Days can take a man’s life
Somewhere, a lazy dog is crying
Roach
March 22nd, 2009
2:11 am
anybody here?
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 22nd, 2009
4:06 am
16-4 so far and it looks like our Braves are going to win the Grapefruit league title. Do they get a bottle of bubbly for that or what? Sigh….if only the regular season were so easy.
According to MLBtraderumors.com the Frisco Giants are hunting for an upgrade in their bullpen. Preferably a long reliever. Atlanta is rumored to be willing to part with a bullpen arm.
Schafer's Wafers
March 22nd, 2009
4:40 am
Roach will now change his name to Schafers Wafers which by the way should be the crowd section for Jordan. We could dress up in wafer outfits btw wafers are a type of cookie if anyone doesnt understand
ncscoots
March 22nd, 2009
6:55 am
uga, no offense, but I can do without BravesDave resurfacing, though I imagine the first oh-fer by Francoeur in the regular season will cause a visit.
As far as Francoeur being gone in a year, I’m not the Laroche analogy follows. The Braves were trying to fill a glaring hole with that trade, and felt they had an adequate replacement at 1B. Moving Francoeur, after a good year, wouldn’t seem to fit the same circumstances. No RH sluggers on the farm are likely to break through any time soon, and the team is awfully left-handed already.
Random
March 22nd, 2009
8:01 am
Metropolitan Man1 (9:03 pm): “Real Mets fans are always and still excited, but the reality of the past two years lets you know to stay proud and loud but keep it low until the season actually begins.”
Yeah, well, I’d've expected that the reality of the past two years would have taught you to keep it low until the season actually ENDED.
Carroll Rogers
March 22nd, 2009
8:05 am
Top of the morning to you….Smyrna Jim and Winterville, thanks…survive and advance. I’ll take ‘em however they want to come this time of year. Never seen a play like Scheyer made, and I like it.
Got my run in already so I’ll be all set to bring it to you from Port St. Lonely here in a few hours. I had to wait til the sun came up so I didn’t get freaked out thinking about that woman who was stabbed running on Briarcliff. Beyond scary.
Talk at you guys around lunch time after I see what’s going on with the Bravos today.
Random
March 22nd, 2009
8:18 am
Schafer’s Wafers (4:40 am): “Roach will now change his name to Schafers Wafers which by the way should be the crowd section for Jordan. We could dress up in wafer outfits btw wafers are a type of cookie if anyone doesnt understand”
Schafer’s Waifs might be more appropriate if he begins the season in the Gwinnett AAA orphanage.
I myself still favor “Schafer’s Strafers” for when he finally makes the big team, based both on his automatic rifle arm and on the way he sprays the baseball to all fields. (If indeed he does.)
“Schafer’s Strafers” could all sit together in the outfield cheap seats (rookie = minimum salary or thereabouts) in face camouflage with mock AK-47s.
Random
March 22nd, 2009
8:29 am
Coach (1:01 am): “The Adam LaRoche trade was a mistake.
Not because Mike Gonzalez got hurt or because he hasn’t succeeded. If LaRoche had stayed, Mark Teixeira would have never been needed. All those prospects we traded could have been put to better use. As it is, Mike Gonzalez, Casey Kotchman and Steve Marek are really talented players. But they don’t add up to what was traded. Nor have the Braves come out ahead as of yet.”
Not disagreeing with you — not at all. I respect your baseball analyses.
But one unmentioned factor in the LaRoche trade MAY have been the Braves’ anticipation of a severe crackdown on meds coming out of the PED hysteria.
No way LaRoche could be productive without his meds.
(Admittedly, the meds crackdown has yet to happen. We’ll see what the next couple of years bring. But “Performance Enhancement” is the elephant in the room when it comes to LaRoche.)
dogsbrekky
March 22nd, 2009
8:31 am
Random = A+
Smokey Joe Wood
March 22nd, 2009
8:33 am
From Bowman, on Hicks: Hicks showed that he’s getting comfortable with some of the adjustments suggested by Pendleton. The 23-year-old shortstop… has widened his stance and attempted to better control his swing by using a 35-ounce bat.
“The bigger bat seems to be helping,” Hicks said. “I’ve got such good hands and that’s what they’re trying to capitalize on. It seems to be working right now.”
A guy strikes out 139 times in 396 at-bats and hits .235. His problem is making contact. So the hitting coach’s solution to this is to give him a bigger bat?? Slow his swing down? That seems to fly in the face of the laws of physics. Shouldn’t he go to a lighter bat? Shorten the swing? Choke up?
Pendleton is supposed to be a good hitting coach. Who are his big success stories? Francouer, who sought out another hitting coach before (apparently) turning things around? Andruw Jones? I’m just sayin’, look at the evidence.
Random
March 22nd, 2009
8:38 am
N Nine (12:28 am): “noticed nobody talking about Glavine after the game. Lets see Glavine’s 78-82MPH or Hanson.”
Anybody else think that if Smoltz had re-signed with the Braves, Glavine would’ve either retired or sought his fortunes elsewhere?
Given that Smoltz is at least a month or two farther along in his rehab than Glavine, who here thinks he would not have been ready to roll on 17 Apr? (Regardless of the Sox’ own plans to hold him in reserve him until this summer.)
18 Wheels of Love
March 22nd, 2009
8:43 am
Carroll and Bowman both write articles about possible Brave trades on the same day? Methinks something will happen sooner rather than later.
Random
March 22nd, 2009
8:45 am
Smokey Joe Wood (8:33 am): “A guy [Brandon Hicks] strikes out 139 times in 396 at-bats and hits .235. His problem is making contact. So the hitting coach’s solution to this is to give him a bigger bat?? Slow his swing down? That seems to fly in the face of the laws of physics. Shouldn’t he go to a lighter bat? Shorten the swing? Choke up?”
Yeah, I gotta admit that’s got me scratchin’ my head.
It’d be interestin’ to hear what slugger, nolie or Coach think about that.
Or Captain Caveman — I wish he’d return soon.
richbrave
March 22nd, 2009
8:54 am
MMan1:
According to my source, a MINNESOTA scout told him that JOHAN had long-term damage that would begin to show up in about two seasons. The nature of the injury was not revealed, but evidently would need major corrective surgery. Than’s all I know. Now you know what all the regulars have heard from me since I stopped screaming for the BRAVES to sign him in October-November 2008. I guess we’ll see if my contact was correct before the end of this season. Good luck with that.
Ritchie from Scotland
March 22nd, 2009
9:16 am
Smokey Joe: Hick has said what Pendleton has suggested is working didn’t he? Each player is going to have to make different adjustments and not everything will work for all players. It can’t be an easy job and in no way would I say Pendleton isn’t doing a good job.
Random
March 22nd, 2009
9:21 am
Thanks, dogsbrekky — right back atcha, doubled an d redoubled.
Woogidy
March 22nd, 2009
9:43 am
Oh God, we’re doing the rhyme theme at Turner Field again? Are “Lowe’s Bro’s” gonna join us in right field this year? Or is it “Garrett’s Parrots” in left? Wait a minute… We’ll be “Ross’ Crosses” We’ll dress up and carry a cross. Oh, nevermind. Someone is telling me that’s not a good idea, especially if he gets on fire!
Lew
March 22nd, 2009
9:53 am
As to Brandon Hicks and a larger bat-Depends on why he was swinging and missing the ball. If he was not covering the plate, a longer bat might help. If he was out in front of pitches, a heavier bat may help him by slowing his swing..
I can definitely see cases where the larger bat might be of benefit.
spotts
March 22nd, 2009
10:06 am
Kawakami’s Salamis?
Doc Holiday
March 22nd, 2009
10:45 am
Braves Fielding Offers for Pitching
By Brian Shephard [March 21 at 6:01pm CST]
Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that Braves GM Frank Wren may look to trade surplus pitching as the season nears. According to Bowman, “Wren has already started to receive a number of pitches from teams that need arms.”
Bowman writes that the “most expendable pitchers” appear to be Jeff Bennett, Buddy Carlyle, Manny Acosta and Jorge Campillo.
35YearBravesFan
March 22nd, 2009
10:49 am
I don’t hate JF either, but last year was terrible. Not sure if all the hype the year before got to his head, which got to his bat, or what. It seems his attitude has shifted as well as his batting stance, which is good in my mind. But I wish him the best, we really need him in there doing well.
GO BRAVES!!
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 22nd, 2009
10:53 am
Um, random, Adam LaRoche was diagnosed with ADD back in high school. He is the one ML baseball player who has a reason to be on meds.
McFann :Ô:
March 22nd, 2009
10:55 am
Leah–
Good point about posting a lot of pictures on Image Shack. That would be a royal pain…
cabravesfan–
Sorry…I totally read your post wrong. You said, “Anyone catching the 1st WBC semi?” But I just passed over it as I scrolled down the page, so I thought you were asking who was going to be catching the semi-finals…guess we know where my mind was…sheesh…
Jeff R
March 22nd, 2009
10:58 am
I’m with Wren: don’t move talented surplus players just to move them.
Braves need a solid prospect in the pipeline to replace Chipper, perhaps as early as next season.
The Pirates have two top prospects at 3B: Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez. The Pirates aren’t going to swap Alvarez, but it would be interesting to see if they’d entertain proposals for Walker. He started out as a catcher in the Pirates system and was moved to 3B. He’s now slated to move to 1B and start there when Alvarez arrives in 2010. In the mean time, chances are good Walker will be back at AAA this season (the Pirates are starting Adam LaRouche at 3B).
Anyway, if Wren could pry away a solid 3B prospect, moving some combination of Anderson, Prado and the pitchers mentioned might be the right move at the right time.
McFann :Ô:
March 22nd, 2009
10:59 am
Um……where did my other post go? I posted something to Uga-Brave about his pets…and about our pets…and it’s not here…what in the world…?
Oh sassafras…Let me see if I cann find it in my computer history…shoot…
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 22nd, 2009
11:08 am
As far as the situation with Brandon Hicks, the heaver bat actually does make sense, and I’ll explain why.
Lighter bats of course generate quicker reaction time and bat speed. Heavier bats hit harder and the ball travels farther.
but this is why his hitting coach recommended the heavier bat.
A “super Light” baseball bat could be counter productive because it might alter the hitters natural swing. Hicks timing could be effected depending on his natural strength causing the bat head to be too out in front. If the bat is too light it might also be harder to control the bat through the hitting zone when coming in contact with the ball.
A “heavier” bat slows the whole process down and allows for improved bat control. Of course, this is all predicated on the player having the natural talent and ability to adjust and still be able to catch up to the fastball.
Roman Gal
March 22nd, 2009
11:15 am
Derek Jeter will be the shortstop, with Jimmy Rollins as the designated hitter.
He must want to lose. Seriously, what’s the point of this? If this is a must-win game, should you have the best team possible on the field?? USA should’ve hired me to be the manager…
Doc Holiday
March 22nd, 2009
11:19 am
Roman Gal,
You want the guy with the most experience out there to minimize the risk of making a dumb defensive play. JRo is very good at SS, but if you are looking for experience, Jeter is the man. We could argue about it all day. I think is not that bad a decision.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 22nd, 2009
11:30 am
For those of you who don’t have MLB.com and the ability to watch games online, Wednesday the 25th, Friday the 27th, Saturday the 28th and Sunday the 29th will all be televised by the new MLBN (baseball channel). Yea, four Braves games coming up later on this week all on TV if you get the baseball channel.
McFann :Ô:
March 22nd, 2009
11:42 am
OK…What’s the matter with this freaking thing? (Excuse my language.) I’ve tried and tried to post a response to uga-brave, but none of them will show up–not even the first one, which did not contain a link.
It’s really bugging me…I mean really bugging me…
Frank from KS
March 22nd, 2009
11:47 am
I don’t know about the rest of ya….but I could definately see the Braves going after someone like Matt Holiday at the deadline especially if the A’s are out of it in July and (which I believe they will be) the Braves in the thick of it in the NL East.
Here’s a non-Braves comment…..watch out for my home state Royals. I think they may surprise in the AL Central.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 22nd, 2009
11:50 am
Ya’ll ever heard of Jesus Guzman? Me neither.
But apparently he is the talk of the San Francisco Giants spring training camp. The 24 year old switch hitter is tearing it up with 4 HR’s, 14 RBI and a .404 BA. He plays 3B but allegedly has brick hands. He tore up the Venezuelan winter league and a broke 35 year old record with 67 RBI.
Here is an article about it: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=1984
ncscoots
March 22nd, 2009
12:03 pm
I’ll tell you, I’m afraid to say anything about Brandon Hicks, anymore, LOL. I’ve seen him in maybe a donzen games over the last two years, and I didn’t come away with the defensive opinion posted by DOB and the Braves. Since I have to assume they know a little more about the kid than I (HA!), I’m starting to think I was watching somebody else altogether!
Lew
March 22nd, 2009
12:06 pm
Scoots-At least we’re all in agreement about Schafer’s defensive capabilities.
mbatl
March 22nd, 2009
12:09 pm
’scoots, have you watched Eric Campbell? What are your thoughts on him (attitude/discipline issues aside)?
Gil In Mechanicsville
March 22nd, 2009
12:11 pm
He plays 3B but allegedly has brick hands… Then the question becomes, is his lack of defense offset by his offensive production?
Thirdbase is where shortstops end up when the reach their manweight… If they can hit that is…
northbeach Scott
March 22nd, 2009
12:12 pm
:Coach: Thanks for the link to the article on Jesus Guzman-interesting prospect. Also appreciate your analysis on the Hicks/Pendleton batting change. Sounds like the approach is working with Hicks. The little I saw of him in ST from 3/7-3/12 games was solid.
Jim
March 22nd, 2009
12:24 pm
I doubt a team is going to give up a high 3B prospect for the likes of Campillo, Bennett, Carlyle, Acosta, Anderson, Blanco or even Jo Jo. I don’t think a package of any of the above brings back a player who will be better than Prado. If we were to include Morton, Prado, and Brandon Jones in a package we might get a good return, but I don’t think that is a deal that needs to be made right now. Prado is a big component of our team and is needed for Chipper injury insurance, and Morton and B. Jones could improve their trade value by a big 1/2 year/year at AAA. I like the upside of both Morton and Jones and would be reluctant to trade Morton at all. I would reluctantly trade Jones for good value only because we are too left-handed in the OF. I like our OF as presently constituted (both at Atl. and AAA) and don’t see a pressing need for another big bat (particularly a 1/2 year rental).
Andy K.
March 22nd, 2009
12:27 pm
Today’s Lineup::
Anderson, J, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
Escobar, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
Johnson, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
Norton, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
Francoeur, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .368
Diaz, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .410
Prado, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Sammons, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .412
Jurrjens, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
18 Wheels of Love
March 22nd, 2009
12:35 pm
The game is on Direct TV 639.
repeat
The game is on Direct TV 639
Andy K.
March 22nd, 2009
12:37 pm
Anyone remember C.J. Nitkowski? Well, In short, in 07 and 08, he was pitching in Japan, and started blogging and chronicling his experiences. This off-season, he was a free-agent, and almost came back to the MLB, but then took an offer from a Korean team, and has gone from relieving to starting. He has since continued his blog. It’s really interesting, and provides a lot of insight. I’ve been following for quite some time now. http://www.cjbaseball.com One of his teammates is Canadian WBC pitcher Mike Johnson.
PTBNL
March 22nd, 2009
12:40 pm
Random, if you are talking about Adam’s ADD meds, then the Braves would not have touched Lowe either. Lowe takes the same stuff (he has ADD, too) and was instrumental in talking Adam into taking the meds.
TnBrian
March 22nd, 2009
12:43 pm
Jim, I wouldn’t trade Prado either unless it’s for a player that can help us now. It wouldn’t make sense with Chipper’s shakey health. I’m not sure if you’re right about not getting a player better than Prado if they trade a package of Bennett,Campillo, etc. Teams need pitching bad and might get suckered into trading a very good IF prospect. It’s happend before, but I definitely wouldn’t have Prado in the trade. We still have Infante but what if he goes down with an injury?
Rodney Derrick
March 22nd, 2009
12:55 pm
You guys are crazy to think the Braves should trade Martin Prado. With the possibility of Chipper missing at least 40 or so games, having such a consistent and good hitter available is very very important. He is versatile, with big time hustle. Plus if Kelly got hurt, he is great for that role too. And a good pinch hitter. Do you guys speak negatively about him just because you are big Kelly fans. Hey, I like Kelly too, but he has a few weaknesses too, like going to the right on grounders, but he is making great progress. Remember how good Mark DeRosa is now!
ncgary
March 22nd, 2009
12:56 pm
what channel is that wpix
Brandon
March 22nd, 2009
12:56 pm
anybody have the link for the updated blog?
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2009
12:59 pm
do we have an updated blog?