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915 comments Add your comment
BB5795
March 24th, 2009
3:01 pm
hk, I 2nd the “wow”.
DAP, yeah, the media. But whenever I call him, he seems pretty honest.
Ryan
March 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
I had been wondering about Escobar all Spring, but now that I know how everyone in the Braves organization feels about him, I ALMOST got my fix. Still haven’t heard much about how he’s actually playing on offense this Spring compared to previous seasons.
And this might be a dumb question, but why does DOB constantly call the park Dark Star? I hope there’s a really witty reason for it, otherwise the 18 different references to it in every blog is getting annoying.
Daybed Wagmoe
March 24th, 2009
3:04 pm
Bryan – yup, May would be easy for him to get thru waivers. Or, if Josh Anderson is tearing it up during the first couple of months and Schaefer is doing the same in AAA and showing that he belongs in Atlanta, then maybe that would make Anderson a valuable trade piece for a midseason trade. Don’t think that he’s got much trade value now.
“If we are down 5 runs, and we get a couple of runners on, what good does a 3 run HR do at that point?”
I think I know this one…we immediately get 3 runs in one single play. Wait, is this a trick question?
I’m trying to make sense of this “home run can be a rally killer” thing. Maybe because the bases are empty for the next batter? Maybe, logically, the rally is over because there are no more runners on base? But even then, the rally isn’t killed — a rally is “killed” when there are men on base but the team fails to bring any, or only one, of them home. As in, the Braves load the bases with zero outs, but then Andruw Jones strikes out before Jeff Francoeur grounds into a double play (’07 edition).
Mickeymc
March 24th, 2009
3:05 pm
Blanco is the 2nd best outfielder on the team. But who is the best? Is there a good outfielder on the team?
Jim
March 24th, 2009
3:07 pm
The above assessments can be argued, but are generally reasonable except for the bench. They left out Norton as the 5th bench player for the Braves and assumed the Phillies would go with 11 pitchers and 6 bench players. Dobbs is probably the best pinch hitter of all the bench players but he is a liability in the field. Bruntlett is OK, but he’s no big upgrade over Infante. Jenkins is another year older and isn’t much of an upgrade over Norton. Will the Phils carry both Jenkins and Stairs? Stairs is another player you would never put in the field. The Nats bench is rated way too highly as is their outfield. The Marlins were only given 4 bench players also with no back up catcher.
I also would not grade the Marlins infield as better than ours. Hanley Ramirez is a star, but Sanchez is a rookie that has not done all that much this spring, Cantu is a decent player, but no Chipper even in his later years. (He’s not equal to a combo of Chipper + Prado if Chipper plays only 110-120 games.) I am not an Uggla fan–he’s very 1-dimensional, and Kotchman deserves more respect than the comment that he’s no Tex.
ease19
March 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
whose on first?
Leah
March 24th, 2009
3:09 pm
AndyK. –
I don’t think Mac being on the heavier side had anything to do with him acquiring the nickname “Heap”, but I could be wrong. He got it in the minors, when he was about the same weight he is now, maybe lighter, and supposedly got it because of his love of sleeping, or so is the explanation he’s usually given in the past. I believe last year in an interview before the season on MLB.com (can’t find it now or I’ve post the link), he said the nickname was actually Heap of “Crap”, crap being a much less polite way of saying the actual term (though he never did say the actual word on air, he just insinuated it).
And then there’s also the theory that some Braves fans have going around that it has nothing whatsoever to do with his loving to sleep. But I won’t go into that one on here since it’s not exactly rated G.
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
3:09 pm
Schafer? Diaz? Anderson? Francoeur? I don’t know. I’ll rank the Braves OF during the season. It’s too early to tell who will have good years. I think Diaz will based on ST, but I don’t know, it’s ST.
Woogidy
March 24th, 2009
3:09 pm
I think who ends up with the center field job depends on the offers the braves get for Anderson. They’re not just going to let him walk and sign as a f/a, so if they get an offer they like, he’ll be gone. If not, he’ll be the CF. The tell tale sign for me is usually when Bobby raves about a guy, he’s the one the Braves are trying to trade. Remember Salty? Bobby went out of his way to say how good he was.
getnathan
March 24th, 2009
3:11 pm
Well I’m glad you guys acknowledge my presence lol. I look at HR’s like kicking FGs in the sense they are good for tying or winning the game. Of course I would like to see a HR when the game is tied in the 9th or extra innings. Do you all remember how Arizona in 2001 beat us in the NLCS? They didn’t hit a lot of HRs. They hit a lot of 2 run singles, 2 run doubles, an error by the Braves (Marcus Giles in particular), and Arizona suddenly is beating the hell out of us. I think the Braves will score more runs by speed on the bases (Josh Anderson, KJ), and doubles with some HRs of course.
Take that mountain makers!!!
Ryan
March 24th, 2009
3:12 pm
so anyone know why DOB calls the park Dark Star?
Bryan
March 24th, 2009
3:12 pm
Daybed – that was too good of a post to loose as the last post on a page.
Bigchiefrg
March 24th, 2009
3:12 pm
I need some help from direct tv braves fans…I am about to embark on my first season of baseball as direct tv subscriber. Living in charleston sc, i have been able to count on comcast in one way or another for my 162 days of televised braves coverage. do all u other direct tv, braves-a-holics get ur daily dose through the package or is there one of those 5 dollars sports star pkgs that would give me the channels I need?
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
3:14 pm
Small ball is the model the Braves need to go with for 2009 since they don’t have the HR and power potential they need to play walk walk 3 run homer. And as far as the center field job goes, I think your right, but I think they’ll make sure they’re comfortable with Schafer in CF every day before they start fielding offers for Janderson.
getnathan
March 24th, 2009
3:15 pm
Does anyone know if Moylan’s going to be on the opening day roster? or are they going to let him rehab until May.
McFann :Ô:
March 24th, 2009
3:16 pm
Leah–
Yeah, that’s the story I’ve always heard–that he got it in the minors ’cause he’d sleep till like…2 in the afternoon. I remember that interview, too–matter of fact, I have it on my ‘Pod. Not sure if they still have that up on the website anywhere–they’re kinda stingy with their clips, you know…
Have no idea what the other theory of which you speak is–apparently that’s a good thing, and as such, I’d like to keep my ignorance on this one, thank you.
RC
March 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
I thought the Philly writer was too low on the Braves infield, too high on the Braves OF, too low on the Mets OF, and way too high on the Marlins across the board.
Andrew
March 24th, 2009
3:21 pm
does anyone know what the braves arm patch will be this year? DOB feel free to shout out if you know.
Andy K.
March 24th, 2009
3:22 pm
I stand corrected. Nonetheless, no matter the nickname’s meaning, Mac is bound to be less of a “Heap” as I remember reading either a ChopTalk interview or something else that had Brian saying his wife keeps him in check now.
Steve McP
March 24th, 2009
3:23 pm
I think that it would be a really good thing for the blog to have an FAQ section, then when people ask the same question that has been answered so many times before a quick link to FAQ will suffice.
ozzie
March 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
Unless Darvish tanks expect a posting fee of $50mm and that is due to a global recession.
Figure the RSox, Dodgers and Mariners as potentials in terms of shooting the wad on him.
It would be great to get him but can you imagine Wren or Liberty writing a check for $~50mm as a stepping stone to sign away even more money.
From the little I have seen I would like to have the guy in a Braves uniform but I would be shocked if they even consider it.
I suspect the Braves would be in line for a posting fees in the teens or low twenties before they make the leap into the 50+ range.
Doc Holiday
March 24th, 2009
3:29 pm
In other news, “power house pelfrey” got touched for 6 runs in 4.2 as NL favorites Astros are hammering the Muts.
ncscoots
March 24th, 2009
3:29 pm
Brian saying his wife keeps him in check now.
Well, habits may change, but nicknames never die, LOL. He’s “Heap” now and forever. Or as long as he wears a tomahawk, anyway.
sportsmandh
March 24th, 2009
3:30 pm
In that preview article that was posted, not sure about all the other parts, a lot is a matter of opinion. But there’s one that jumped out at me, NO way is the Marlins infield better than the Braves. NO way.
Kenny Powers
March 24th, 2009
3:30 pm
Kenny Powers thinks it gets you 3 runs closer.
Doc Holiday
March 24th, 2009
3:32 pm
A week after PR got eliminated from the WBC, muts still are not playing Beltran nor Delgado………did this guys play yesterday or over the weekend?
flange1
March 24th, 2009
3:32 pm
After watching the WBC, which I enjoyed, It would be great to have Darvish on the Braves. What an amazing talent.
I don’t think the Braves would spend the money and they actually have a glut of pitching in the majors and AAA and a pretty good group in AA and A ball.
I guess they could try to trade some of their pitching talent for positional talent to then spend the money on Darvish, but $50-$75 million juts to talk to the guy and then pay him 15 or so million a year is more than I would expect from the Braves……
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
3:34 pm
It’s irrelevant at this point. Darvish’s club won’t be posting him for at least another few years.
Old Third Baseman
March 24th, 2009
3:35 pm
If we are down 5 runs, and we get a couple of runners on, what good does a 3 run HR do at that point?
Uhhh…cuts the deficit to two? So that one more baserunner brings the tying run to the plate? Would a two – run shot then also be a rally killer?
Chop Chop
March 24th, 2009
3:39 pm
I can’t remember if anyone posted this article about Yu Darvish on the last blog or not, but Royals manager Trey Hillman says that Darvish is “Fonzie and Elvis.”
MFin04
March 24th, 2009
3:39 pm
6-7 straight singles with some walks can get you 5 runs pretty easily too.
flange1
March 24th, 2009
3:39 pm
PWHjort,
I think the reason folks are speaking about Darvish right now is an internet report that his team may post him after this year because of all of the exposure to MLB and that they could reap a HUGE windfall in cash.
ease19
March 24th, 2009
3:39 pm
Then a solo shot to win…gotta love home run math.
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
3:40 pm
When you’re down you’ll take runs any way you can get them. Obviously you’d rather hit the HR with men on base, but cutting any deficit is a good thing. Home Runs are never bad.
Leah
March 24th, 2009
3:40 pm
McFann –
Yep, exactly because him always falling asleep at random times.
I totally understand!
Andy K. –
I think he still loves to sleep, but he even said, in ChopTalk I believe, that he didn’t sleep at weird hours anymore because of his off season workout routine, diet, etc. Not sure about now or even if he is still keeping up with that same diet or workout routine. I’m sure he’s doing something, though, to keep the weight off.
ncscoots -
Good point!
Kenny Powers
March 24th, 2009
3:40 pm
Kenny Powers thinks getnathan should no longer be able to post here. Even Kenny Powers knows that the best result an offense can have at any given moment is a homerun. Kenny Powers will play a baseball game in which you hit alot of doubles and Kenny hits alot of HR’s. Kenny will win easily.
mbatl
March 24th, 2009
3:42 pm
“It’s irrelevant at this point. Darvish’s club won’t be posting him for at least another few years.”
Source?
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
3:43 pm
I’m pretty sure that report is garbage. Here’s npbtracker’s take on it, he thinks Darvish will reach MLB around 2014. http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/06/the-darvish-effect/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_system
Jersey Gil
March 24th, 2009
3:43 pm
Ryan…this my Opinion about why DOB call Disney Champion Stadium “Dark Star”
In 2004 everything in life can be related, to me Hollywood movies,’The Godfather and Star War. So it is with the Battle for Disney (Roy Disney & Michael Eisner)which is somewhat unique because it parallels both movies.Dependly who is Good or Evil in your Point of View.
You can related Roy as Good & Eisner the dark or evil side.
I think nothing have to do with Music.
The Real Don Steele
March 24th, 2009
3:44 pm
Relative to the amount of experience necessary before playing at the major league level: Bob Horner came directly from the Arizona State Univ. campus to Atlanta and homered in his first game played. He never played minor league ball at all.
Kenny Powers
March 24th, 2009
3:47 pm
Kenny Powers has partied with Bob Horner. He twisted his ankle drinking a beer and was out for 6 weeks.
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
3:48 pm
Tim Lincecum was in the minors for all of like 1 month. College experience takes away a lot of the required minor league development time.
Brandon aka DukeBoy
March 24th, 2009
3:50 pm
DOB, I would like a clear, concise explanation as to why you refer the stadium as “The Dark Star”. I have my theories…
propp
March 24th, 2009
3:51 pm
Dave Winfield went from Purdue to the Pads with no minor league time. I think he even had it in his contract
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
3:51 pm
Chipper’s in the lineup tonight and is also scheduled to play tomorrow night at Viera. Took BP today, said felt fine, no problem.
G. Anderson is aiming for Saturday, that’s the date that everyone (doc, trainers, Garret himself) seems to agree is a good target date for his return.
McCann is catching tonight, and Bobby said he hasn’t decided about tomorrow.
ncscoots
March 24th, 2009
3:51 pm
Small ball is the model the Braves need to go with for 2009 since they don’t have the HR and power potential they need to play walk walk 3 run homer.
If they slug like 2008 again, you could play tiny ball, for all the good it will do. The team is neither constituted for nor inclined to play in the fashion you describe. Thankfully.
Braves got 100 dingers from their regulars last year, even with Blanco getting 400+ ABs, Francoeur’s disaster, Chipper going for the batting title, and McCann playing too many games. Only Blanco and Francoeur slugged under .400. Any kind of rebound for the team power-wise should put them at least middle-of-the-pack for HRs, so I’d have to say your premise is, well, wrong.
propp
March 24th, 2009
3:52 pm
or actually Minnesota for Winfield
rickman
March 24th, 2009
3:53 pm
I’m sure someone has already asked this, but is the game going to be broadcast on tv or radio tonight?
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
3:53 pm
DOB, I would like a clear, concise explanation as to why you refer the stadium as “The Dark Star.” — DukeBoy
We’ll get right on that.
Woogidy
March 24th, 2009
3:54 pm
Home Runs are never bad, but I like a bases loaded double rather than a grand slam when you’re down by 6 or more. It keeps the pitcher on his heels. If a homer is hit, it gives the pitcher a chance to take a deep breath, settle in. But, I’d take either.
Kenny Powers
March 24th, 2009
3:56 pm
So you like scoring 2 runs instead of 4?
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
3:57 pm
Andrew, you hope to avoid having an arm patch, since it usually is done as a memorial to someone near and dear to the organization, someone who had a huge impact with the team in whatever capacity.
I don’t know of any plans to have an arm patch this season.
ncscoots
March 24th, 2009
3:57 pm
Woogidy, there’s an easy way to make that moot: don’t get down by 6, LOL.
Kenny Powers
March 24th, 2009
3:57 pm
I know when I pitched I was really able to settle in after giving up a Grand Slam. Nothing like blowing a 6 run lead down to 2 to get you really calm and settled down.
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
3:58 pm
Blanco is in the lineup, playing left field and batting eighth.
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
4:00 pm
getnathan: Bobby reiterated today that if they keep Moylan on opening day roster, they’d like to carry an extra reliever, but that they haven’t decided if they’re going the route of an extra pitcher or extra position player. Also said, when I asked him if Soriano’s going to be ready, that he “hopes so.” Soriano is still having problems with that respiratory infection or whatever it is that he’s had all spring.
BB5795
March 24th, 2009
4:01 pm
I’m hoping our pitching hold up so that we don’t find ourselves down by 5 runs too many times. If the Braves have as hard of a time scoring the 5, as we do discussing it, we’ll lose most of those games.
StingerSplash
March 24th, 2009
4:01 pm
Like Dice-K’s coming out party three years ago (and he was dominant again this time around too … how about going more than 5 1/3 innings a start with the Sox, big fella?), Darvish will be hugely sought after if his team lets him go.
And how soon will the Japanese fans/leagues start griping hard about their best talent going to the U.S., even as the teams make absurd dough from the posting fees? Is it already happening? I don’t get the Osaka Journal-Constitution, or whatever, so I would be out of the loop.
And as far as kimono dragons go … they usually work for smaller tips.
BB5795
March 24th, 2009
4:02 pm
sorry, holds up. I gotta proof read more.
Brandon aka DukeBoy
March 24th, 2009
4:03 pm
Thanks DOB
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
4:03 pm
100 HR from your regulars is pathetic. We were 23rd in MLB last year in total HR with 130. Plus we replaced Mark Teixeira with Casey Kotchman. You think we’re going to get more power from that? PECOTA has the Braves slugging .417, good for 10th in the NL. That won’t get it done unless we play small ball. The Twins, last season, did nothing but play small ball. They were 20th in MLB in SLG % but 4th in runs. That’s the model the Braves need to follow in order to score runs. My premise isn’t wrong, you’re just delusional.
Cru Jones
March 24th, 2009
4:03 pm
No patch for skip??
And I cant believe people are having an actual argument about wether or not they want guys to hit homeruns.
garlick
March 24th, 2009
4:04 pm
Hey PWHjort, that article “the darvish effect” is a little bit of a crock. In the article it talks about how Nippon Ham, Darvish’s home team, would actually be losing money if they posted him for $60MM+, which is the estimates of what the team would make. That’s actually far from the truth.
Nippon Ham is not one of the powers in NPB, and probably will never contend for a title, with or without Darvish. The team just can’t compete with Hanshin or Yomiuri. They also sit at about 1.8MM per season in attendance, and haven’t varied very much since Yu was brought up to the main team. So attendance in Nippon Ham wouldn’t really be affected by Yu’s posting.
There’s something else to consider, Nippon Ham’s performance didn’t really improve this year, as they finished with almost the identical record to the year before, and this was after they were thought to be primed for a jump in the standings. So on the field they’re not getting better with Darvish, meaning they could probably send him away and not lose any ground, and could use the extra cash to sign younger players.
Also, with the WBC just having happened, Yu’s hype could not be any bigger. So the posting fee for him will only level off or go down from here.
There’s also been numerous reports that Darvish wants to come to the US at this point, as he’s achieved all he can in NPB. He’s been extremely politically correct in what he’s saying about NPB, but in the background he knows he’s not facing the best the world has to offer.
So I would expect him to get posted this year.
BB5795
March 24th, 2009
4:04 pm
Yes, DOB. I’m still alive.
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
4:06 pm
Hanson faced the Triple-A Gwinnett team today, or at least those who are in minor league camp (not those in major league camp).
He was a man among boys, relatively speaking: Five innings, no hits, one walk, eight strikeouts. Threw 75 pitches, including first-pitch strikes to 15 of 21 batters. “He was literally unhittable, facing those guys,” Bobby Cox said.
Hillbilly
March 24th, 2009
4:06 pm
Soriano is still having problems with that respiratory infection or whatever it is that he’s had all spring.
For the love of God, can somebody please get the man some Dimetap or something? Is it on MLBs banned substance list or something?
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
4:09 pm
Garlick, I agree that Patrick’s estimate that Nippon Ham would lose money if they sold Darvish for 60 M is probably false. However, I believe Patrick over any other reporter on what’s likely to happen. He tells everything like it is and if he tells me (as he did last night) that Darvish won’t be posted for another few years, I believe him. Nippon Ham can expect to get a very similar posting fee even if they post him 2 years before his free agency, so why not hang on to him for 4 more years?
Brandon aka DukeBoy
March 24th, 2009
4:09 pm
Hey DOB, how bout a Kansas – Duke championship game?
I look forward to Hanson being called up.
William
March 24th, 2009
4:09 pm
Doc Holiday…………And why do we care about the Mets?
RLPmetro
March 24th, 2009
4:10 pm
BigCHief…having watched the Braves with DirecTV, I will tell you that if just watching the games is enough for you, then having the baseball package will be fine. But if you want pre-game and post-game coverage (when available), then you will have to get the $5-a-month sports package that gives you the various sports programming.
Lunatic Fringe
March 24th, 2009
4:10 pm
Has the idea of scoring less runs on any given play caused The Kenny Powers to stop addressing himself in the 3rd?
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
4:10 pm
Lineups:
Pitt Pirates
1. Nyjer Morgan, LF
2. Freddy Sanchez, 2B
3. Nate McLouth, CF
4. Ryan Doumit, C
5. Craig Monroe, RF
6. Eric Hinske, 1B
7. Andy LaRoche, 3B
8. Brian Bixler, SS
9. Ross Ohlendorf, RH
Bravos
1. Schafer, CF
2. Kelly J., 2B
3. Chipper, 3B
4. McCann, C
5. Francoeur, RF
6. Escobar, SS
7. Norton,1B (Kotchman just getting over flu, back taking BP)
8. Blanco, LF
9. Vazquez, RH
DAP
March 24th, 2009
4:10 pm
PWHjortWe were 23rd in MLB last year in total HR with 130.
…and we were 16th in the ML in runs. thats what really matter in all this. its important to score runs. it doesnt matter how you score them. i think the braves will at least match 130HR, and i think we will score a few more runs this season. the pitching will make the biggest difference though.
ncscoots
March 24th, 2009
4:11 pm
My premise isn’t wrong, you’re just delusional.
Thanks. Perhaps we might rejoin this conversation at some date during the season when we have some data to determine the degree of delusionality and the actual ownership thereof?
Jersey Gil
March 24th, 2009
4:11 pm
If i live in Atlanta i will buying season ticket for the Gwinnett Braves to see this Kid. I’m already buy ticket for the Visit of The Braves to lehigh valley on May16,17,18…i hoping to see hanson pitch here.
Tomahawk210
March 24th, 2009
4:11 pm
DOB
What’s the line-up for tonight? Is Schafer playing?
Brandon aka DukeBoy
March 24th, 2009
4:12 pm
Like the line up for today… look forward to Vazquez pitching.
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
4:12 pm
Sure ncscoots. Sounds great.
Tomahawk210
March 24th, 2009
4:12 pm
Sorry…didn’t hit refresh fast enough to see.
mbatl
March 24th, 2009
4:13 pm
Bio on the guy writing for NBP tracker:
Silicon Valley middle-manager by day (and sometimes night too), Patrick has been a fan of Japanese baseball since SportsChannel aired the 1994 Japan Series while the Major Leaguers were on strike. Patrick then lived in Japan between 2000-2003, and has been following NPB very closely ever since. Patrick is not a scout or statistical guru, just a fan with an interest in spreading his passion for the game.
I have no idea whether Darvish will come to the US or not; but I’m not putting my trust in a self-admitted (LOL) middle manager from Silicon Valley.
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
4:13 pm
By the way, heard today that CSS is carrying about 25 Gwinnett games. Don’t have a sked, though.
brent a.
March 24th, 2009
4:15 pm
chief,
re: Directv
Basically, being in Charleston, it seems likely that you will get 162 Braves games. What you need to know/find out is whether the local Fox Sports channel you receive airs the Braves, or another team (I can’t imagine who would be shown in SC, other than the Braves). Also, you have to hope that you also get Sports South (which is really like Fox Sports South 2, but they don’t formally call it that).
Next, you need to find out what Directv does about Peachtree TV games in Charleston. I’m assuming that you don’t get the over-the-air Peachtree TV (channel 17 in Atlanta); however, it is very likely that because you are in Charleston, that Directv will include a Braves alternate channel.
So, the best advice is too see if you get channels 646 (FSS), 649 (SS) and then, also look to see if there is a channel called “BRVS” at 651 on your program guide. I think this 651 is the channel that will show the Peachtree TV games; but, because I’m in Atlanta, I can’t recall having used it last year, because I get the games on 17, so I’m not exactly sure.
Now, if you are currently paying for the sports package and getting all of the 600’s, then the test I mentioned above will not necessarily help, because naturally, you’ll be getting these channels any way.
What you need to know is which channels in your viewing area are not blacked out during the Professional Sports (MLB) telecasts.
Note, buying the cheap sports package to get all of the 600’s will not get you the Braves games, because if you are not in the Braves viewing area, then the games are blacked out and you must buy the MLB package.
I apologize for any redundancy above; but, if you don’t pay extra for the sports package, and you get the channels that I mentioned above, then you should be in pretty good shape. I know that last year it took some local cable providers in the South a few days to get their act together on PTree tv games, because a lot of people didn’t realize what was happening with that channel until after the season had already started.
If anything is unclear, please ask me again, and I’ll try to answer questions more directly.
David O'Brien
March 24th, 2009
4:16 pm
Cru Jones, they wore the patch for Skip for the last third of the season. I don’t think they’re wearing it again this year, but I’ll check to make sure. When I asked a while back, that was the indication.
GB
March 24th, 2009
4:18 pm
I always wished Justice would have hit a double instead of that HR back in ‘95.
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
4:18 pm
Patrick provides an unbiased view of NPB, something you can’t get from a professional reporter that doesn’t exclusively cover NPB (all of those speak Japanese, p.s.). All the American reporters love to write stories about how Darvish is coming to America. The headline “Darvish will stay in Japan” just doesn’t sell.
garlick
March 24th, 2009
4:18 pm
PWHjort, Patrick may be a good reporter, and I totally believe his site is probably the most accurate AMERICAN written site about NPB. Still, I’ve been watching Japanese baseball for 5 years now, my buddy is stationed over there currently, and I’m fluent in Japanese and have read many reports about Darvish in Japanese, and the posting really isn’t up to Nippon Ham, it’s up to Darvish & his family. If they say, post us, he’ll be posted. If they say don’t post us, they won’t. Either way, he has all the power in this situation, and currently the marker is far on the side of him being posted.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 24th, 2009
4:18 pm
What planet is BP’s Sheehan on? Gregor Blanco could hardly be described as a) having played “well” last year or b) essentially the same hitter as Garrett Anderson. Gregor Blanco has been last in line for any of the outfield spots this year and that includes behind Brandon Jones because at least Jones has some power. Garrett Anderson is a clutch hitter who knows how to get runners in. Matt Diaz is a lifetime .300+ hitter. Josh Anderson has hit over .300 during most of his time in the majors and can actually steal a base as opposed to just having speed. Jordan Schafer is a 5 tool player who will likely eclipse all the players mentioned (except for maybe Garrett career wise), including Francoeur.
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
4:20 pm
Thanks Garlick. And I do agree that Patrick’s is the best American written but very far from the best overall.
KC
March 24th, 2009
4:21 pm
Chipper, McCann, Francoeur 3,4,5…
I think that’s probably what we can look for this year against righties… flipping Frenchy and McCann in the lineup vs. lefties. And for the record, I think that’s the right call.
I think:
1 – Anderson (or Schafer)
2 – Escobar
3 – Jones
4 – McCann/Francoeur
5 – Fracoeur/McCann
6 – G.Anderson/Diaz
7 – KJ
8 – Kotchman
Any lineup that has KJ and Kotchman at the bottom of the lineup certainly doesn’t suck. This will be a better offense than many think.
McFann :Ô:
March 24th, 2009
4:21 pm
ncscoots He’s “Heap” now and forever. Or as long as he wears a tomahawk, anyway.
That’s for sure!
Leah, Andy K.–
Regarding the sleep thing, this article mentions it…here’s the quote thingy:
Along with drastically changing his diet, McCann has also been running three nights a week. When he returns home, he finds himself tired and often falls asleep much earlier than he did in the past.
“I go to bed at 11:30 p.m., instead of 4:30 a.m.,” McCann said. “I used to stay up watching TV until real late because I had a hard time sleeping. Now I’m waking up at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m., instead of noon. I think this is going to help me across the board. I know I’m going to be stronger, and I think I’ll be quicker and faster.”
Here’s the ChopTalk Q&A, too, just because.
Both of those articles have the same picture…Come on, they couldn’t have found a better one?
McFann :Ô:
March 24th, 2009
4:22 pm
Thanks for the lineups, Chief!
mbatl
March 24th, 2009
4:23 pm
PWH, I have no idea how unbiased or reliable “Patrick” may be. But, like Keyman suggested to Coach the other day, when you state other people’s opinions as fact, you ought to cite your references… unless you’re actually in touch with the Nippon Ham or Ju Darvish and have some inside information.
Tomahawk210
March 24th, 2009
4:24 pm
The line-up looks so much more intimidating with Schafer at the top than it would with Anderson. I’m sorry I just have that feeling.
Kenny Powers
March 24th, 2009
4:24 pm
Kenny Powers would have hit a 5-run homerun back in 1995
PWHjort
March 24th, 2009
4:28 pm
So you’re saying I should’ve linked to that in my post when I’d linked to it in a previous post? It’s not a research paper, I’d already credited Patrick.
Kenny Powers
March 24th, 2009
4:28 pm
Kenny Powers didnt make that last post but agrees that he has hit a 5 run homerun before. Kenny had a stripper on his back when he hit the HR and she was allowed to score as well. Later that night Kenny did most of the scoring.
ncscoots
March 24th, 2009
4:29 pm
Kenny Powers would have hit a 5-run homerun back in 1995
…and that’s why chicks dig Kenny Powers.
BB5795
March 24th, 2009
4:31 pm
Kenny, I hope you still had the stripper.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
March 24th, 2009
4:31 pm
Kenny Powers needs to stop talking about what he does while dressed in drag and playing womens softball…..
On a more serious note, looks like a good line-up tonight, should be quite the show.
diamondlady01
March 24th, 2009
4:37 pm
DOB- How about a patch for DC since we lost him last year?