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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,211 comments Add your comment
David O'Brien
March 23rd, 2009
10:27 pm
Wayne, I saw the universally rank reviews of “Knowing” and decided, well, there’s yet another Nic Cage movie I can skip. And to think, there was a time when he was one of my favorite actors….
mbatl
March 23rd, 2009
10:28 pm
On the bullpen, we probably can carry 8 relievers for the first 2 weeks; that’ll make it a little easier to avoid having Soriano or Moylan going back to back.
Worst Movie-With-Mom Disaster: we took mom to see American Beauty a few years back. Still blushing from and apologizing for that one.
SoWeGa Fanatic
March 23rd, 2009
10:31 pm
Think of the monster years Chipper would have had with Arod batting behind him, and sharing his “meds” with him!
With Arod’s postseason performance, Atlanta would have had 14 straight division titles and 1 WS ring!
Doc Holiday
March 23rd, 2009
10:31 pm
Wayne,
Thats unrealistic.
mets fan in atlanta
March 23rd, 2009
10:34 pm
I’m sorry, a lot of you are repeating drivel about “options” and “starting the clock”. Yes, if you are the Rays, you may care about such trivial things. Until last year they had never had a winning season, EVER! Real major league teams don’t care about that stuff.
Can someone name an example where a young stud didn’t make the team out of spring training solely because of the fact arbitration might come a year earlier??? The Rays last year may have done that with Longoria because (until that season) they were a sad-sack franchise and they figured that normally any good player they have will bolt after the first 5 years.
Are the Braves that sad-sack that they don’t think they can sign a young kid (like a Schaefer) to a budget-friendly long-term contract if he is the real deal? Look at the McCann deal that the Braves did, they offered one to Franceour (his stupid fault he didn’t take it–btw this will probably mean Braves will point to that example in the future to a young kid), Mets locked up Wright and Reyes to very affordable long term contracts–look around baseball, everyone is doing it.
It affords a young player to have guaranteed money that is significantly more they would make in any year of arbitration, and the team has “control” of them for a longer period of time. The player can still finish that contract at a good age (usually around 28 or 29) so they are able to play the free agent market if they so choose.
What you are saying by using the “starting the clock” excuse is that the Braves have dropped to the level of the old Montreal Expos, where no young player would dream of playing there longer than they had to, before they skipped town as a 5-year free agent. See, good teams sign their good young players so they actually keep them longer, not shorter.
TDub
March 23rd, 2009
10:35 pm
I can beat taking your wife to “I Love You Man” – when I was 16 I took a date to see “Full Metal Jacket.” Hey, I was young…
96,sc
March 23rd, 2009
10:35 pm
Go Braves. From an OFFICIAL FAN of DOB and THE DUDE pages on facebook!!!
Original Jon
March 23rd, 2009
10:36 pm
We can can get into woulda and coulda scenarios but the ultimate one that I would have liked to have seen would have been us taking Josh Hamilton in the rule 5 a few years ago. Would have been nice in LF the last 2 years…for next to nothing too. 18 Wheels of Love
Would not and could not have happened, unless all the teams in front of us in the draft passed on him, which they did not, he went 3rd in that years draft. So he would have had to have been passed up by more than 10 or so teams before we even got a chance. I believe.
MiamiBrave
March 23rd, 2009
10:38 pm
Stadium was approved!
I still get to watch my Braves in Miami!
SoWeGa Fanatic
March 23rd, 2009
10:41 pm
DOB, speaking of Nic Cage, what did you think of National Treasure and The Rock, 2 of my faves? Course, anything Sean Connery is in is my fave.
The General
March 23rd, 2009
10:43 pm
Does anyone know what a person can do to get TBS to start broadcasting the Braves games again by the time the regular season begins. For those of us who do not live in the Atlanta area such as I and who are True Braves Fans. TBS has fallen off of its obligatons to have the Braves on the air. They could do by dropping such programs such High School Reunion and the New series Cougar or at least move cougar to a time slot to which it would not be intferring with Braves Games. I live in Texas and have been fo the past Three years due to employment conditions from Tenessee, which out here in Texas is better than Tennessee. I deserve to have TBS to broadcast all Braves starting with the regular season in 2009 so we Braves Fans can have our Braves back on the air again no matter where we live at in the nation. TBS has gone downhill fast in its programming ever since it dropped the Braves Games. They need to drop all reality programs and create a seperate network for those type of programs. And we cannot ever pick-up Peachtree or Sportsouth out of the Atalnta Area because of stupid Blackout rules which allows me to never see a braves game out here in Texas. Sportssouth always blackout the games for me beacuse out here in Texas they have a stupid blackout rule because I do not live back east anymore. But believe you me I am still Braves fan and I do want my Braves back on TBS where I can see the Braves Games again on TV. Again can someone answer me back to what I can do help out TBS to start broadcasting the games again by Regular Season this year.
Original Jon
March 23rd, 2009
10:44 pm
The General, it aint happenin bud, so get over it.
Wayne in Utah
March 23rd, 2009
10:46 pm
Doc
Your right, but you did ask…..
Wayne in Utah
March 23rd, 2009
10:47 pm
Actually Doc, my answer would tell you I don’t think there is that ONE player we could get at this point in the spring.
BravesFanChris24
March 23rd, 2009
10:50 pm
General
That’s why I get MLB Extra Innings. I know it’s kinda much, but you can split the payments up monthly. Luckily I can watch Braves on regular cable when they play Cubs/Marlins and FOX games.
SoWeGa Fanatic
March 23rd, 2009
10:53 pm
mets fan in atlanta, do all those great Met contracts have choke clauses written into them or does that just happen?
PWHjort
March 23rd, 2009
10:55 pm
I hate joe morgan.
Nate
March 23rd, 2009
10:57 pm
Comparing Anderson and Schafer, I think its pretty clear that Schafer is a better all around player. He certainly has a higher ceiling. But there really isn’t a downside to keeping Schafer in the minors for six weeks. Schafer could certianly use the seasoning and the additional humility that comes with starting in the minors. Plus not starting his arbitration clock is huge. The Braves would essentially be sacrificing six weeks, where if might be better off in the minors anyway, for a whole extra year on the back end. And really how much of a difference could he make over Anderson over a six week period? A few extra hits and maybe a homer or two over six weeks really doesn’t make that much of a difference statistically. Plus Anderson is still really an unknown qunatity. He hasn’t really been given the chance to start regularly in games that matter. In the limited duty he’s seen so far he’s hit better than anybody expected. That may continue all season. Even with Blanco sent down there isn’t room for both Anderson and Schafer on the opening day roster, and as its been said many times Anderson is out of options and would certianly get snatched up by somebody. Schafer and Anderson might both he needed later in the season if Frenchy flops, or GA can’t stay healthy. Keeping Schafer in the minors for a while is a good baseball move and a good business move.
The Rays kept Longoria in the minors for six weeks last year and that looks like a genuius stroke now. The Orioles will do the same with Matt Wienters this year. Its going to become the norm for high profile prospects. I don’t want to see Schafer or Hanson in Atlanta until the middle of May.
Steve McP
March 23rd, 2009
11:01 pm
General – MLBTV on the computer is also a good option. Quality is better this year and you can always watch the game through your TV from the computer
SoWeGa Fanatic
March 23rd, 2009
11:02 pm
General, I feel your pain. I cannot believe TBS generates more revenue now than it did with the Braves on. I have to hunt & search on Dish to get the Braves games I do, and I WANT THEM ALL!
BG FSU
March 23rd, 2009
11:03 pm
CharlieAlphaBravo, that’s funny about Unfaithful. Your mom is really cool though (I know that sounds weird/creepy, but she was my 6th grade teacher at Duluth Middle and she was awesome).
Wayne in Utah
March 23rd, 2009
11:06 pm
Nate
Longoria started playing with the big club on April 12th last year. Look it up.
TnBrian
March 23rd, 2009
11:07 pm
GA fanatic, I can tell you that you won’t read one of those ‘09 prediction mags, Lindy’s is one, that has us better than a 3rd place finish this year. You can’t get mad at it because a few had us 1st this time a year ago. Maybe they felt burned by our ‘08 finish. But, some write that we’re a few years away from being serious threats in the NL east again, so maybe they really think we just don’t have it in ‘09. I disagree…
brian
March 23rd, 2009
11:08 pm
is Hanson on schedule to start the home opener for Gwinnett?
rico carty
March 23rd, 2009
11:09 pm
One thing Rick Barnes and Dean Smith have in common…they never quit on their team. Or begged off a losing season, leaving the scraps to their assistant coach, and then having those losses removed from their coaching record. I am reminded of the story of Adolph Rupp, who was suffering from the gout and was in the hospital. But he got up and coached, because he said “There is no way I will send my boys to war and not be there with them”.
SoWeGa Fanatic
March 23rd, 2009
11:09 pm
Nate, you are so right.
TnBrian
March 23rd, 2009
11:15 pm
metfaninAtl, nice to see a Mutt fan can give some of their philosophy to the Braves franchise and their fans. Uhhh, I think Shuerholz,Wren and Cox know where their team stands and we’re comfortable having them lead the way. Two of those guys lead this team to 14 straight division titles…no worries here!
SoWeGa Fanatic
March 23rd, 2009
11:17 pm
TnBrian, I disagree as well. I know hope springs eternal in ST, but I really like this team, with JA or Schaefer either one in CF. The depth is remarkable. Of course, I liked it last year. But, we would have been right there at the end in 2008 if not for the injuries. Hey, that’s bball. (Easy to say that now.)
Frank from KS
March 23rd, 2009
11:20 pm
The General re: of your 10:43 pm post
Yeah, I whole-heartly agree. Having the Braves BACK on TBS would be MUCH better programming than say…Sex & The City or Everybody Loves Raymond, etc.
Hell, they don’t even show any westerns anymore. They used to show dozens of John Wayne flicks which I liked a lot.
PWHjort
March 23rd, 2009
11:20 pm
Nate, they probably wouldn’t get another year out of him, they’d just put him off the course of super 2 status, meaning he’d only get 3 arbitration years instead of 4.
Jackie Treehorn
March 23rd, 2009
11:21 pm
DOB: Needless to say, my folks aren’t movie buffs, and if I remember correctly neither of them knew too much about Kubrick and OBVIOUSLY had never seen any of his films. I really think my mom saw Nicole Kidman was going to be in it and thought it was a romantic comedy. My dad and went along because we heard Kidman showed her cans. And I guess the whole gangbang scene was just lagniappe.
David O'Brien
March 23rd, 2009
11:25 pm
What an unbelievable play by the Japanese LF. Just a tremendous play, every part of it. Can you imagine if they had Dunn in LF on that one?
BravesFan InRockies
March 23rd, 2009
11:34 pm
rico carty shoots and scores!
RHR
March 23rd, 2009
11:42 pm
Hey there’s a fan page for The Dude? I’ll have to look that up!
Nicolas Cage looks like a corpse these days, what the heck is he on.
mbatl, I’ve seen American Beauty several times, I’d watch it with my mom, dad, grandparents, kids, neighbors and cousins in a well lit room before I’d watch I Love You Man with my mom again.
cabravesfan
March 23rd, 2009
11:51 pm
That was a hell of a catch and throw in from the Korean center fielder…
Bubdylan
March 23rd, 2009
11:54 pm
“I’ve seen American Beauty several times,” -RHR
I’ve seen part of it several times…
CharlieAlphaBravo
March 24th, 2009
12:03 am
BG FSU:
Did you know who I am from Heap’s Facebook group?
You’d think that would’ve been easier with a “cool mom,” right? Nope. Not even slightly less uncomfortable.
CharlieAlphaBravo
March 24th, 2009
12:05 am
I don’t get everyone’s thing for Mena Suvari… She looks like a crazy, methed up Elf with small boobs.
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
12:15 am
Everyone doesn’t have a thing for her, CAB. In my opinion, your description of her is right on the money.
Then again, some dudes like to role play. I s’pose she’d be good in a Santa/elf role play sitch-ee-ation.
Runnin
March 24th, 2009
12:20 am
I saw Departures? (Okuribito in Japanese) the other night. Excellent! Best Japanese movie I’ve ever seen.
winterville
March 24th, 2009
12:21 am
Saw “I Love You, Man” tonight DOB. It was definitely another good one from that set of movies. I don’t know the main girl’s name but she is HOT. Wife material.
Bay Area Steve
March 24th, 2009
12:30 am
nolie,
no reevaluation needed, brother. Your post was clearly joking, and “locker-room”, as you put it. I know you kid around like that (as do I), and enjoy it, as I enjoy the rest of your posts. You sprinkle some good humor with very solid, detailed, baseball analysis, stemming from your scouting history (which you should post about more, and which I believe, even though I’m a skeptic when it comes to what people say about themselves here).
I responded, or at least tried to, in the same style (the only style I’m capable of), and thought my nonsensical jab about emoticons would make that clear. Obviously, I was wrong. My “always-right” percentage is far lower than yours or Wayne’s; it’s currently below the Doc Holiday line (think Mendoza line), at 6.08%.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
12:34 am
Japan leading 3-2 going to the ninth. It’s a nail biter!
Couch Tater
March 24th, 2009
12:36 am
Well the Fish finally got a new tank according to MLB.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/wsfl-stadium-pg,0,638195.photogallery
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
12:47 am
bottom of the ninth, still 3-2 Japan.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
12:50 am
Here comes Darvish to pitch the bottom of the frame for Japan.
Travis Bickle
March 24th, 2009
12:53 am
Are the Braves that sad-sack that they don’t think they can sign a young kid (like a Schaefer) to a budget-friendly long-term contract if he is the real deal? Look at the McCann deal that the Braves did, they offered one to Franceour (his stupid fault he didn’t take it–btw this will probably mean Braves will point to that example in the future to a young kid), Mets locked up Wright and Reyes to very affordable long term contracts–look around baseball, everyone is doing it. Mets Fan In Atl
“You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talking… you talking to me?”
“All the animals come out at night….dopers, junkies, Mets fans…”
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
12:54 am
That was one hell of a pitch by Darvish. Yikes.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
12:57 am
Darvish 100 MPH on the gun. One out, runner on first. It’s getting interesting.
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
12:59 am
Looks like I jinxed him. I’d like to see Korea get a walkoff hit here. That would be a cool ending.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
12:59 am
Walk. two on, one out. 3-2 Japan. Turn the TV on!
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:02 am
Strike out. Two down, two runners on base. 3-2 Japan.
Couch Tater
March 24th, 2009
1:03 am
Heluva game.
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:03 am
drama…tie game
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
1:04 am
What a great game. Two outs in the ninth and Korea drives in tying run off Darvish.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:04 am
Base hit to LF. all tied up at 3-3. And the crowd goes wild!
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
1:04 am
Bum Ho Lee.
Names just don’t get any better than that, man.
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
1:05 am
I should buy an orange Dodge Charger and name it “Bum Ho Lee”
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:05 am
extras
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:06 am
Extra frames coming up. 3-3 and all tied up. To the tenth.
nolie
March 24th, 2009
1:07 am
I responded, or at least tried to, in the same style (the only style I’m capable of), and thought my nonsensical jab about emoticons would make that clear. BA Steve
I thought so, but sometimes people don’t pick up that I’m joking especially on boards Just making sure it comes through the right way.
Couch Tater
March 24th, 2009
1:08 am
The Asian leagues are promoting baseball around the world. lol
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:09 am
DOB in honor of I love you, Man…no love for Rush on the ole blog? lol
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
1:12 am
Great bunt there. That pitch was really moving.
TnBrian
March 24th, 2009
1:20 am
I can’t help but think of Back to the future 2 when they’re in 2015 and they show Miami vs Cubs in the WS. Marlins opening a new stadium in 2012 and will be the Miami Marlins. Wouldn’t it be something if there really is a Miami/Chi WS in 2015?
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:22 am
Ichiro fighting for his life up there…great ab
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:22 am
TnBrian
That would be something huh lol
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
1:22 am
It would really be something if a DeLorean could be turned into a time machine…
TnBrian
March 24th, 2009
1:23 am
Of course Miami or Chi would have to switch leagues for that to happen, but maybe it will.. or not. How about a playoff spot to the WS? Nevermind
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:23 am
that should be the game…always happens…dude fights off numerous pitches and they get the big hit
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
1:24 am
I don’t like to agree with Joe Morgan, but there’s no way Ichiro should have been pitched to.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:25 am
Ichiro, Ichiro Ichiro !
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
1:25 am
Ichiro comes through. Again.
These teams have played some terrific baseball tonight. Gotta love how they play the game.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:26 am
Two out, two run base knock. 5-3 Japan.
CharlieAlphaBravo
March 24th, 2009
1:27 am
For once Joe Morgan was right about something… Pitching to Ichiro in that situation is absolutely criminal.
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
1:29 am
I get the feeling that Darvish won’t blow another lead.
TnBrian
March 24th, 2009
1:29 am
I want to here Joe Morgan say the name Gregory 10 times in a row as a torture test.
Couch Tater
March 24th, 2009
1:30 am
Will Ohman could have got Ichiro.
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
1:30 am
They pitched around him and got 2 strikes on him in the process. At that point, why not pitch to him?
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:31 am
Yes Sir, gotta love sound fundamental baseball. But why did they pitch to Ichiro?
Mitchie-san
March 24th, 2009
1:32 am
Ichiro is the epitome of a “professional hitter”.
TnBrian
March 24th, 2009
1:33 am
Couch Tater, really! It been funny to read some people panicking over Logan/O’Flahtery the last two days, but Ohman not having a team by now is fishy to me.
jed
March 24th, 2009
1:36 am
sure wish the braves could execute a bunt like japan. there’s a lesson in there somewhere about fundamentals.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:39 am
Two out, runner on first. It’s almost over.
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
1:39 am
Japan does it again…
Good game tonight.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:40 am
Japan does it again! 5-3 is the final.
Couch Tater
March 24th, 2009
1:41 am
Fun game to watch. Bring on the NL East.
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:42 am
can’t wait for the classic where the US can send its best to play for their country
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:42 am
Now that is classy. The whole Korean team comes out on the field and salutes the fans!
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
1:44 am
The Korean fans were chanting “Ichiro sucks” at one point. I chuckled.
OK
March 24th, 2009
1:44 am
What a game. Should have never pitched to Ichiro with 1st base open. Also you have to lay off 90% of Yu Darvish’s pitches he doesnt locate them well yet and they are way to nasty. You can’t help out someone who already has a huge advantage over you with great stuff.
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:44 am
Stay classy, Seoul
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
1:46 am
The U.S. could have sent its best this year. A lot of guys just don’t want to play in the thing. Moving the WBC to another time of year to benefit the U.S. players who aren’t willing to get in shape to play defeats the purpose of this being a “world” competition. It’s not all about us. We either take the competition seriously and adapt, or we watch other countries that give a damn beat us. No excuses.
MiamiBrave
March 24th, 2009
1:48 am
I agree Chop Chop…sad how many guys turn down the opportunity to play for their country, real sad in my opinion
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:53 am
Dice-K is the MVP.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
1:59 am
Small ball wins again. Great pitching, great defense, aggressive base running and timely hitting. Can’t argue with success.
Our Country, our players should take note.
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
2:15 am
It ain’t really sad. It’s just typical of our major pro athletes. It’s not that they’re spoiled. They’re just focused on their regular jobs. The WBC is a hassle for them. When you look at the players who weren’t on the team (Lincecum, Webb, Sabathia, Halladay, Cliff Lee, Billingsley, Nathan, Papelbon, Lidge, Sizemore, Holliday, etc.), you realize that this U.S. team was undermanned. Maybe we need a Coach K type to come along and lure guys to go out of their way to play in this thing? Could Joe Torre or Bobby Cox make a difference in the next WBC? I don’t know. Interesting thing to think about, though.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
3:29 am
On another note, from what I can gather and come up with as a rough tally, the 2009 payroll is right around 92 million. Of course that number is subject to change. The Braves prorated payroll for 2008 was 102.8 million, which took into account the salary of Mike Hampton.
92 million isn’t set in stone but it’s the best I could come up with and it puts the Braves right in the middle of the 30 team payroll structure.
johnny 99
March 24th, 2009
3:53 am
DOB–
Welcome back and hope the town the mouse built is treating you as well as can be hoped….
Your 4:32 PM note=sublime. why you’re a pro and i’m an avid devotee…
thanks, as always…
j99
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 24th, 2009
4:06 am
For those who care to know ….or not.
Mets 2009 payroll is 143 million.
Phillies are 131.5 million.
Our Braves, roughly 92 million.
Those Nationals are projected at 57.45 million.
The Marlins are scraping by at 33 million.