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893 comments Add your comment
Chop Chop
April 19th, 2009
2:42 pm
Duke has given up 10 H in 4 IP. That’s what the Pirates saw from him last season.
bravos2249
April 19th, 2009
2:42 pm
If that was sent twice sorry it still showed up in my box so I hit submit again. If not forget about this . LOL
cabravesfan
April 19th, 2009
2:43 pm
Thank gawd for the 4 ft walls
I’ve never quite understood low outfield walls, but I’m not complaining today:)
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
2:43 pm
Now we got this game in the Bag! It needs to Rain its as.s off after the 5th inning, because if the Blow-pen comes in and Blows this one, I’m gonna get Violent…!
LT-A blogger
April 19th, 2009
2:43 pm
Anyone up for moving KJ to LF and letting Prado play 2nd. Know it won’t happen but they were gonna do it for Furcal so why not?
bravofan
April 19th, 2009
2:43 pm
eh these bats are waking up FINALLY!!!!
lexbrave
April 19th, 2009
2:44 pm
just a couple more runs and the braves might have a big enough lead for the pen to hold a win.
Efrim
April 19th, 2009
2:44 pm
Here comes the platoon at second comments….
Anyway, BIG HIT for the Braves and good to see production like that from our bench, which is a good one.
bravos2249
April 19th, 2009
2:44 pm
Dukes went from 1 ER and 3rd in era to giving up 6 ER to us…haha
Original Jon
April 19th, 2009
2:45 pm
Chipper Jones just being in the lineup got us those runs, without Chipper being up next, Duke wouldnt have thrown anything that Martin could have hit because he would have taken his chances with the next batter. Chipper’s presence changes the whole dynamics of the game at hand and how people are pitched.
JTLUK
April 19th, 2009
2:46 pm
For all of you looking for the Joe and Boog facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=84507221966
DOB’s facebook page is much cooler though
David O'Brien
April 19th, 2009
2:46 pm
That Prado homer was to the biggest part of the park, too, just to the left of the 410 sign where that crevice juts out in left–center
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
2:47 pm
Bravos2249…
I like the 4 ft walls, gives the throwback feel and its so deep out there any way…But at the same time its easy to rob homeruns out there as well…I remember B. Giles used to do it all the time…
Same Scenario in Anaheim, LA ,and Boston…
Chop Chop
April 19th, 2009
2:47 pm
That’s especially true for mediocre pitching, Original Jon.
David O'Brien
April 19th, 2009
2:48 pm
Garret Anderson left game with tightness in his left quadriceps, listed as day-to-day.
jbutler
April 19th, 2009
2:48 pm
lexbrave…not quite. But I admire your optimism.
TnBrian
April 19th, 2009
2:48 pm
Nothing would be better right now than having this game get passed the 5th with this score and eventually getting postponed. Chipper gets extra “thumb rest” and javy will pick up his first win under 90 pitches.
mbatl
April 19th, 2009
2:49 pm
“Thank gawd for the 4 ft walls”
The guy hits the ball 410 feet and you’re crediting the short walls for the HR?
PWHjort
April 19th, 2009
2:49 pm
“Garret Anderson left game with tightness in his left quadriceps, listed as day-to-day.”
Best news I’ve heard all day. I’m on the Diaz train.
David O'Brien
April 19th, 2009
2:50 pm
Braves doing a number on Z. Duke on his 26th birthday
bravos2249
April 19th, 2009
2:50 pm
I hope you guys on the blog won’t kill me. But so far to me, Vazquez has been like a Smoltz-type version to this team. Now had we kept Smoltz he wouldn’t have been the ace and he would have struck out a lot. At least with Javy we don’t have to worry about his shoulder falling off. Love the Smoltz, but I love healthy players even better.
DAP
April 19th, 2009
2:50 pm
im in nashville on business, and cant watch the game. thank helping me get caught up.
chipper does change this lineup. im guess had he been healthy, we would never have had a 5 game losing streak…we probably would have won friday, cause he would have had a chance for some big RBIs with all those runners weve had. his bat makes such a big difference…
TnBrian
April 19th, 2009
2:51 pm
Continuing from my last post:
DOB would also have more time to cruise around Pit. for old Cash albums…
Chop Chop
April 19th, 2009
2:51 pm
I won’t kill you, bravos2249. I’ll just shrug my shoulders.
cabravesfan
April 19th, 2009
2:51 pm
mbatl-
No- he was referring to the fact that the ball only cleared the wall by about 2 feet…would have bounced off it if the thing had been a little higher
He hit the ball a ton, no doubt, but would not have cleared in ATL (or a lot of other parks)
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
2:51 pm
Its good that bats have woke up today, now we better go into Washington and take 2 of 3…
But I have a feeling that one of those games gets rained out in D.C.
Anybody want to sit Chipper out for the rest of the game? It’s a blow-out and given that he needs to rest his hand and the field is damp, I don’t want to see him slipping again…?
N8
April 19th, 2009
2:52 pm
No matter what the arguments have been by fellow bloggers, I’ve felt for a while that Prado was ready to contribute as an everyday player. And though, he may best be suited for a part time (uber-sub) role, if Garret Anderson doesn’t heat up soon, and given KJ’s shoddy defense at best at 2B (or inconsistent at least), I’m with the people that have been saying put KJ in LF (everyday) and put Prado at 2B.
That all being said. NEVER gonna happen.
bravos2249
April 19th, 2009
2:52 pm
DOB
Not just with the Braves but all over Baseball these little injuries have been hurting players. Do you think some could be due to the long spring training? Just with the late start of the season and all.
SDM
April 19th, 2009
2:52 pm
“Prado GOES DEEP. All I had to do was right about the power outage, and voila, problem fixed.”
LOL David, and does the AJC actually pay you to “right”?
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
2:53 pm
Man GA, Has pulled the Chris Chandelier syndrone…Is it me or he just looks out of shape…?
Garrett Anderson's personal trainer
April 19th, 2009
2:53 pm
“…catcher Brian McCann, who’s out of the lineup today, as planned, after using a new ointment last night for the first time for his blurry left eye.”
The new oinment was actually Garrett Anderson’s favorite linament. Apparently, it’s not only good for tight quads but it works wonders on blurry eyeballs.
Hotspur
April 19th, 2009
2:53 pm
Blue unis.
nolie
April 19th, 2009
2:53 pm
Vazquez has the stuff to be an ace…he can limit that one bad inning and the HR ball, he can be dominan (JasonFla)
yeah he does, but he lacks the consistent command. In Ks per 9 innings he usually ranks in the top ten but in Ks per 100 pitches which adds a measure of efficiency he drops 8-9 spots; as opposed to Smoltzy who jumps a few spots.
northbeach Scott
April 19th, 2009
2:54 pm
Nice opportunistic hitting by Matty Diaz to lead off th 5th. Unfortunate DP by French and out by Kotch. However, let’s get the Pittsburghers through the 5th and make this a game.
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
2:55 pm
“I’m with the people that have been saying put KJ in LF (everyday) and put Prado at 2B.
That all being said. NEVER gonna happen.”
Agreed N8, It ain’t gonna happen so we’re gonna have to kill those thoughts…Unless there is a serious injury…
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
2:57 pm
Nice Omar Vizquel emulation by “O”…That is a harder play than it looks
nolie
April 19th, 2009
2:58 pm
68 pitches in 4 innings. thats 17 per which is what he used in the 4th according to ESPN. If he keeps it up 7 innings would need 119 pitches. The Ks are nice but a few 2 pitch outs would be nice too.
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:00 pm
Braves are beating Pittsburgh. We are clicking on all cylinders. No one can beat us now. World Series here we come.
nolie
April 19th, 2009
3:01 pm
just 12 that inning that was nice to see
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:01 pm
Vazquez and Lowe tie for the Cy Young. Boyer comes back to be closer of the year!
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
3:01 pm
Javy is dealing…Our Starters did their job against the AAA pirates offense…This series should’ve been a sweep for us, Jo-Jo Pitched good enough and should’ve got a win yestersday…
I believe our starters have given up 6 runs in this series (don’t quote me on that) The Blow-pen and a(n) offfense that was in creep mode for the first 2 games prevented that…We might regret not sweeping these boyz later in the season…
PWHjort
April 19th, 2009
3:02 pm
We lose a ton of runs with Prado at 2B. I know, Kelly isn’t “good” defensively at 2B (he’s about average), but Prado is so far below average defensively we’d net negative runs from that move. Maybe Prado in Left is a better option. I just like mixing Prado in at various positions. He’s so bad defensively I hate keeping him at 1 position for more than 1 game, but I like his bat in there. When Kotchman needs a day off, Prado can play 1st. Chipper injured, Prado at 3rd, Kelly day off Prado at 2nd, etc..
bravos2249
April 19th, 2009
3:02 pm
Chop Chop
When Smoltz is injured it’s hard to say I’d want him over Javy. I never really knew much about hum til the Braves got him. But in the sense of Wren letting Smoltz go, he did retrieve a player that provides the same kinda overall performance we would have got from him, at least if he was healthy all year. At least IMO.
Chop Chop
April 19th, 2009
3:02 pm
I was already like that in spring training, irrational exuberance. The regular season is just gravy, man. It’s like watching 162 games (and the playoffs) on DVR and knowing how it all ends. It’s like living the dream every day. I love it.
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:02 pm
Prado gets the batting title. If we can get him enough ABs.
mbatl
April 19th, 2009
3:04 pm
irrational exuberance
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. – Oscar Wilde
Frankie Knuckles
April 19th, 2009
3:04 pm
ohhhhhhhhh, Logan.. watch out. he’s heatin up
Mitchell
April 19th, 2009
3:04 pm
I was wondering when Martin was gonna hit a homerun. That definitely looked a lot deeper at first than it was, however, upon further review, that’s 410 feet out there. That would have been way out in Philly or some similarly cheap park. That was crushed.
Prado and Omar to me just look like they’re gonna hit a laser homerun every time. I don’t get all of Omar’s soft fly balls. He’s gotta get in a groove and just make good contact. Learning to freakin’ bunt might be something to put on the old to-do list.
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:04 pm
Who needs Nick Swisher? Garrett Anderson is a proven winner.
nolie
April 19th, 2009
3:05 pm
Not just with the Braves but all over Baseball these little injuries have been hurting players. Do you think some could be due to the long spring training? Just with the late start of the season and all. (Bravos2234)
could be, I noticed an article in the Boston Herald about injuries piling up on WBC players too
northbeach Scott
April 19th, 2009
3:05 pm
Vazquez 3 sacrifice hits, today. Nice. Let the other pitchers learn something.
Fractured Fundamentals
April 19th, 2009
3:05 pm
Let Vazquez run the bunting clinics for the Braves. Give him an extra 50 grand a year to drag the regular guys out and show them how it’s done.
Loaf Garret on a blackberry from the trainers table
April 19th, 2009
3:05 pm
Hey guys, I’m alright. Just a little tired after last nights slump busting activities. I think I’ll take a nap now.
bravos2249
April 19th, 2009
3:05 pm
You know we didn’t see Omar play this early last year, cause of the broken hand. He may be a slow starter. Even if you do play on the bench, I think you can be one…right?
Jeff321
April 19th, 2009
3:06 pm
Now would be an excellent time for the Schafer haters to make their presence known.
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:06 pm
Chipper is a demi-god. An avatar. I will name all my children “Chipper”.
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:07 pm
Shafer = rookie of the year. Perhaps rookie of the young century!
Mitchell
April 19th, 2009
3:07 pm
Omar, wtf?
TnBrian
April 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
PWHjort, you make it sound like Prado is the Venezualan version of Adam Dunn. He’s not that bad, dude! He’s average, but come on.
bravos2249
April 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
nolie
and the fact is it’s not serious stuff it’s like little nicks that have them out for 3-4 days….well some are not so lucky
Joe
April 19th, 2009
3:09 pm
anyone else think “boog” is a goob?
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:09 pm
Ted Turner mails a special pair of aviator goggles to McCann and he has sharper vision than a bunny rabbit.
TnBrian
April 19th, 2009
3:12 pm
Schafer wears a 6 7/8 hat? That is 12 year old sized right there.
Garret Anderson
April 19th, 2009
3:12 pm
Spell my name right, b*tch. It’s LOAF
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
3:13 pm
Uggh Oh…I’m getting flashbacks of Vazquez start in philly…We Need a DP badly…
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:14 pm
Rupert Murdoch buys the AJC and O’Brien’s job is saved. Russell Crowe plays O’Brien in the movie.
northbeach Scott
April 19th, 2009
3:15 pm
Joe is the boob and goob, not Boog. Boog is quite the pro for being in his mid-twenties.
PWHjort
April 19th, 2009
3:15 pm
Nah, man. He’s really bad.
Frankie Knuckles
April 19th, 2009
3:15 pm
Tn – and he sports it with the flat bill. I bet that changes once he sees enough video..
N8
April 19th, 2009
3:16 pm
Never said that Prado was gonna win a batting title. Since Chipper only has one, the odds of a Bobby Cox led player winning a batting title again, anytime soon (or ever again) are minimal.
But make no mistake about it. Prado uses the right approach, doesn’t try and to too much, takes the ball where it’s pitched, and ALWAYS seems to hit the ball hard.
Can’t ask for much more. That is, unless he would be on the cover of SI, and be labeled the “Natural”. Then you should expect batting titles.
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:17 pm
The AJC uses some of the Murdoch capital to hire a tech whiz and the blog functions flawlessly ever after.
Shafer Back To Earth
April 19th, 2009
3:18 pm
Proclaiming all is well with Shafer is like having a car in your driveway that doesn’t crank for four straight days. On the fifth day it starts and your proclaim it the best vehicle ever manufactured! lol
I’m not a Schafer hater at all. I think he’s going to make a fine player some day. Just like some here want to crucify posters who point out the Braves flaws, I just thought it was pretty silly to proclaim Schafer the best thing since sliced bread based on his performance of the first week of the season.
Good to see him adjust today. Hope he continues to improve. However, he’s a rookie and I expect him to have his struggles this season. It’s not a negative manifest of his current and future worth to point out he has and will suffer from the perils of being a rookie in the big leagues.
mbatl
April 19th, 2009
3:19 pm
I really don’t get the debate about Prado. He’s a VERY GOOD backup 2b, 3b, and if needed 1B or corner OF. We should be glad to have him, and keep using him just as we are. As a utility player. There aren’t many better.
Jeff321
April 19th, 2009
3:19 pm
“The AJC uses some of the Murdoch capital to hire a tech whiz and the blog functions flawlessly ever after.”
Funny but not factual. Seeing that FNC’s website has been a joke for years.
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:19 pm
My tuna salad sandwich tastes really, really good. It has just the right amount of mayonnaise! And the iced tea is terrific.
Things just can’t get any better than this.
Chop Chop
April 19th, 2009
3:20 pm
I now present Baseball Prospectus 2009’s paragraph on Martin Prado:
“Prado looks like a younger, better version of Infante, but while he is a solid second baseman and finished the year in Chipper’s stead at third base, he isn’t really viable at shortstop and most of his production at the plate is average-driven. Still, that production was steady on either side of the sprained thumb he suffered in May, and given that he’s just 25, the Braves would be wise to find out if the extra doubles power he showed in the majors last year was real.”
There is nothing in that paragraph that suggests that Prado is a below-average fielder at second base. If he were considered below-average, that would be mentioned.
(According to the same book, Kelly Johnson’s “limited defense at the keystone drags down his overall value.” I think most of us here would agree.)
Cherokee
April 19th, 2009
3:20 pm
he lacks the consistent command. In Ks per 9 innings he usually ranks in the top ten but in Ks per 100 pitches which adds a measure of efficiency he drops 8-9 spots; as opposed to Smoltzy who jumps a few spots.
nolie
I like the SO per 100 pitches too.It does better at telling you how well a guy really pitches and it does show Vazquez at a level more like how he produces
semiballcoach
April 19th, 2009
3:21 pm
vazquez has a sniper in left field light tower to keep cox and mcdowell away from bullpen phone
Rodney Derrick
April 19th, 2009
3:21 pm
Javier Vazquez is a very good pitcher. NL strikeout king this year. And did anyone know before today that Greg Maddux and the Braves were his favorites growing up in Puerto Rico.
bravos2249
April 19th, 2009
3:22 pm
Rodney
Yes we knew
So anyone think Javy will go 7
bravofan
April 19th, 2009
3:22 pm
prado is good are we forgetting he just hit a 3 run bomb!?!?!
N8
April 19th, 2009
3:23 pm
bravos2249… Correct me if I’m wrong, in your 3:02 post, did you actually say that Vazquez would provide the same performance if Smoltz was healthy?
Put the pipe down and step away from the computer. Before you hurt yourself.
Now… has you stated that having Vazquez may give the Braves innings and provide a semi-servicable starter, rather than crossing our fingers and hoping Smoltz pitches half the time. I could live with that.
But IF Smoltz in healthy, (even at age 42), Vazquez couldn’t in his wildest fantasies, ever dream of being as good as Smoltz.
If Smoltz has zero impact on the Red Sox this year, it will be due to injury, or health. THEN you can pat Wren on the back for that transaction.
But if Smoltz is back in May, and has a Smoltz like year, Wren will have egg on his face (again) for letting Smoltz leave.
I understand the “safeness” of letting Smoltz walk, but don’t kid yourself, from a fan standpoint, and a results standpoint, even though the initial angst over the Smoltz fiasco is over. It ain’t over. If Smoltz dominates, the uproar will begin all over again.
That all being said, for a guy not really sold on Vazquez, he’s had a VERY nice game today. Let’s see if Bobby lets him go 7 or 8 innings. Then I’ll be happy/impressed.
Ol' Donk
April 19th, 2009
3:23 pm
Told you Corky was lights out. He had a double, RBI and his average is up to .429. I bet he has a whole box of sugar cubes. Wonder if we could trade Hanson for him. I need my diapers changed, again. Oops, just passing gas.
Jeff321
April 19th, 2009
3:23 pm
I take it Chipper didn’t like that one very much.
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
3:24 pm
only 390 feet for Prado’s homer, I never believe those distance trac’s
Please take Chipper out NOW! In a game like this, He’s due to injure himself in the damp conditions…
Oh Chipper HBP he will be day-to-day with a briused thigh once it swells…
LuisG
April 19th, 2009
3:24 pm
Time to get him out of this game and let KJ play, huh? 6-0 lead and now getting hit by a pitch…
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:25 pm
Who will be made a saint first: Mother Theresa or Robert Cox. Lobby your cardinal.
NCBravesFan
April 19th, 2009
3:25 pm
Dear Craig Hansen: if you’re aiming to pound away at Chipper’s thumb, you might want to aim higher.
Didn’t take long, did it?
Jeff321
April 19th, 2009
3:26 pm
Excellent hit by Frenchy.
cabravesfan
April 19th, 2009
3:26 pm
Jeff Francoeur! He has looked very good this series
Bill in VA
April 19th, 2009
3:26 pm
Good one, Frenchy
Tomahawkin
April 19th, 2009
3:26 pm
Nice AB Jeff…! It has been Feast or Famine for this Offense, Lets feast on the Nats Next…!
irrational exuberance
April 19th, 2009
3:27 pm
Frenchy is mister consistency!
cabravesfan
April 19th, 2009
3:27 pm
And once again all our runs have come with 2 outs, right?
jbutler
April 19th, 2009
3:28 pm
Irrational…you’re makin me laugh today..which is a good thing!!
Ron Roberts
April 19th, 2009
3:28 pm
Whew, this Garrett Anderson signing is starting to feel like an albatross; I’d compare him to our signing Raul Mondesi,but hell, Mondesi wasn’t missing games – just whiffing at the dish.
I am REALLY jacked to see Jeff Francoeur doing so well, though; the longer this goes on, the better his confidence will be. He, to me, is this team’s ‘x-factor.’ If he does this all season, we’ll be JUST FINE. The rough stretch has more to do w/the Braves not having Chipper in the lineup and McCann at full strength. Seeing Schafer taking cues from coaching and actually accepting is REALLY encouraging, too. Don’t let this early slump fool you, bandwagoners!!!
nolie
April 19th, 2009
3:28 pm
But IF Smoltz in healthy, (even at age 42), Vazquez couldn’t in his wildest fantasies, ever dream of being as good as Smoltz (N8)
the point i made above about the differences shown by Ks per 100 pitches. Smoltz showing goes up, Javy’s goes down. But I still kinda like him and expect(hope?) for a solid year
N8
April 19th, 2009
3:28 pm
mbatl, I agree with you, Prado is a great sup/backup/utility guy. Very nice weapon to have.
To me, it’s not really about over-stating Prado’s value, as much as the LACK of ability/defense/health (Garret Anderson), at the LF position. Along with KJ’s below average defense (I know he works hard – but it’s just not good enough).
I think we would be better defensively with KJ in LF and Prado at 2B. Granted if Anderson was healthy, he’d provide more power to the lineup in LF than having the Prado/KJ combo in the lineup together. Even Diaz might be a better (more proven) hitter than Prado. But his defense in LF is worse than KJ’s is at 2B.
So the combination of solid (yet not powerful) hitters (KJ in LF, Prado at 2B), along with what I think would be better defense, outweighs whatever power Garret Anderson brings to the table.
If I’ve gotta watch/listen to that guy play another inning in LF, I’m gonna lose it. He makes Ryan Klesko seem fleet-footed out there.
bravesfan1124
April 19th, 2009
3:29 pm
kudos to frenchy
2008 version would not do that
Nice to see the adjustments producing
Dadgum
April 19th, 2009
3:31 pm
Folks, I swear, I have been telling you about Prado for a year or better. The Braves are going to have to find a way to get this guy in the everyday lineup.
Of course with all our injuries he may be anyway but what do you do when Chipper and Esco get back? Prado is too good or could be to come off the bench in my opinion.
Rock on….