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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,401 comments Add your comment
Bubdylan
April 25th, 2009
12:00 pm
A little clubhouse tension won’t hurt us. It’s not likely to get out of hand with this bunch.
Bubdylan
April 25th, 2009
12:01 pm
(That’s not me saying I’m glad Chipper said that publicly)
Lew
April 25th, 2009
12:04 pm
I’ll try this for the third time (why the techies can’t fix this blog is beyond me).
Yunel has run his mouth and indulged in tantrum-like emotional outbursts for three years now. Do y’all seriously believe no one has had these private discussions with him? Have they done any good?
Now he’s been called out in public and told in no uncertain terms- “Get over it. You are no longer a rookie. You hang over the plate. When you inevitably get hit by a pitch, buck it up, take your base, shut up and quit p!$$!ng off the other team or the umps for showing them up. You are NOT winning friends and influencing people. It’s immature, detrimental and it’s about time you grew up and quit acting like a little kid.”
Couch Tater
April 25th, 2009
12:07 pm
Bubdylan,
I agree, Yunel seems to be the only player that keeps this team from being lethargic. In my opinion, Chipper should have had Yunel’s back or referred DOB to Yunel for comments.
AustinBrave
April 25th, 2009
12:15 pm
Whats the line up for today?
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
12:20 pm
Did anyone else notice the Lou Reed reference DOB snuck into his game story last night? Nice.
KC
April 25th, 2009
12:30 pm
I’ve been out of town and a little disconnected from what’s happening with the Braves… Are they sticking with JoJo as the 5th starter for now?
Well, we all have to hold our breath and pray that the Lasik takes care of Mac’s issue.
Good news is that the starting pitching looks good, the bullpen looks MUCH better, and everyone else in the division is flawed… so no one’s going to run away with this thing while the Braves are trying to get McCann and Chipper healthy.
David O'Brien
April 25th, 2009
12:31 pm
Rex, I don’t think Sammons will play much. I asked Cox if Ross would get the bulk of the playing time and he said yes, with off day coming up they could start him every day a while….
Had one Braves person (I’ll not say if it was player, coach, etc) tell me that Escobar should have gone out and kicked Volquez’s arse, send a message that it’s not OK to throw at him. But he told Escobar that he was right to confront Volquez, to shout at him and all. This person said he, like Escobar, believed Volquez was throwing at him.
By the way, I heard the baseball tonight guys talking about how Escobar should have known that a guy who “walked the yard” as Volquez did last night, was not throwing at him. Well, problem with that was, Volquez didn’t walk the yard until the next inning.
He had retired the first two guys in the third, including a strikeout of Kelly immediately before he hit Escobar. Volquez’s only two walks before he hit Escobar were back-to-back walks in second inning, and he got a groundout and strikeout after those two to get out of the inning.
So it wasn’t as if he was crazy-wild all night. in fact, that happened after he hit Escobar. One could even argue Volquez was rattled from the incident, etc.
OK, anyway, just wanted to share that.
David O'Brien
April 25th, 2009
12:32 pm
Steve from OH: Glad you caught that wild-side Lou Reed reference. I like doing that on the rare occasion when it works, using a reference like that.
i cant take it anymore
April 25th, 2009
12:35 pm
esco needs to chill. I have never been a fan of his temper. Glad chipper said it was unnecessary.
RUNNIN…
how is chipper going to say it to his face? He doesn’t speak spanish, does he?
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
12:36 pm
nolie, would you mind giving us an assessment of Donovan Tate and Shelby Miller?
In BA’s midseason draft order, Tate is projected to go sixth and Miller 9th. Miller supposedly has touched 97 this spring.
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
12:37 pm
DOB, I’d like to see it more often. But I’m sure you could slip plenty in that no one (except maybe Lew) would get.
Braveheart
April 25th, 2009
12:39 pm
Winning friends and influencing people? On the other team? Who gives two friggin’ sh!ts if you are making friends with your opponents? And that’s really a problem with Chipper’s comments. He seems far too concerned with how the other team feels. He should’ve said eff ‘em. We’re always getting nicked up. We can’t afford to anymore. Intentional or not, we can’t afford guys getting hurt because someone doesn’t know how to throw a friggin’ strike.
Matt Keuler
April 25th, 2009
12:39 pm
Keep up the good work O’Brien
i cant take it anymore
April 25th, 2009
12:39 pm
well, forget that idea
Couch Tater
April 25th, 2009
12:41 pm
Thanks DOB for the comments from the “mystery person”. I felt Volquez was throwing at him. And, it didn’t seem that Volquez lost his composure til after the confrontation.
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
12:43 pm
Same lineup as last night, btw.
ncbravesgirl
April 25th, 2009
12:43 pm
I love that Esco shows that fire. No one else seems to but Gonzo. We need more of that.
Random
April 25th, 2009
12:44 pm
Braveheart (7:53 am): ” Wow, way to get your teammate’s back there Chipper.”
Runnin (8:36 am): ” I concur completely. If Chipper wants Yunel to have a little more restraint on his emotions, Chipper should have a little more on his mouth.”
Braveheart (8:42 am): ” Chipper will comment on Yunel acting like a macho fool towards Volzquez, but won’t comment on Hudson acting like a macho fool towards DOB.”
Perhaps because Hudson’s behavior did not potentially affect the outcome of a game?
Braveheart (9:54 am): ” Runnin’, I’m not questioning Chipper’s desire to be out there. I’m just questioning his leadership. Escobar doesn’t like getting hurt as much as Chipper. I gotta imagine Escobar is pretty darn tired of getting nicked up all the time on plays at second, sliding and getting hit with pitches. So, he threw a bit of a tantrum about it. Escobar’s hissy fit isn’t much different than the time or two Chipper got hurt and got all angry about it and made reporters wait around for far too long because he was too angry about getting hurt again to come out and talk about it.”
Yes, it is – it’s totally different. Escobar took the inside pitch away from Vazquez – Vazquez who uses more of the plate than any other Braves starter. Escobar prevented the Braves from getting his back in a later inning by forcing the umpire to put both teams on notice. Did Chipper’s behavior affect a game?
Runnin (11:36 am): ” Braveheart, I agree with you. If Chipper had something to say about Yunel’s hissy he should’ve said it to his face. Maybe he did.”
Fact is, Chipper has talked personally and privately to Escobar about his behavior last year after a similar incident. Easy to understand why he distanced himself last night – “say something once, why say it again?”
Nick in PA
April 25th, 2009
12:44 pm
DOB,
Have a cousin thinking about going to College at Kansas.
Any words of wisdom?
Random
April 25th, 2009
12:48 pm
This bears repeating:
Eric from MO (9:55 am): ” Would everyone get over what Chipper said. He was right. End of story.”
And this:
Chop Chop (12:30 am): ” Volquez quickly turned his head toward first base after hitting Escobar and uttered some sort of profanity. He wasn’t happy with himself. He didn’t stare down Yunel or anything. From the radar gun, that appeared to be the hardest fastball he threw the whole game and he just lost control of it.
“Besides, if [Escobar] had just walked to first, Vazquez could have given an answer. Instead, warnings were issued and nothing could be done.”
(In fact, the former has had a lot of smart stuff to say this morning — kudos to him.)
David from NY
April 25th, 2009
12:50 pm
DOB,
Just curious. New blog for the early game today? Watching the replay of the Escobar HBP, definitely looked to be going after him.
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
12:52 pm
Dob have you watched…..Notorious ..
P-Town Brave (Let Your Bobby, TP, Snitker, Chino Go)
April 25th, 2009
12:52 pm
What the h*ll does Martin Prado have to do to get in the lineup?!
I’m really starting to believe that Kelly is holding onto some compromising pictures of Cox…
braves70
April 25th, 2009
12:53 pm
I came to the realization years ago that while Chipper may be a great player and I will cheer for him, he is, in my opinion, not a very commendable person. Unfortunately, it seems that great players are often total failures at being real people. Once in a while a Dale Murphy will combine great talent and great character. Most however are like Chipper and not worth much as a human.
McFann Ô
April 25th, 2009
12:53 pm
CorkylikesBeer–
Haha…yeah…uh-huh…
MariettaDerek
April 25th, 2009
12:55 pm
Almost game time! Let’s hope the bravos get a little double pits to chesty with it today!
MFin04
April 25th, 2009
12:57 pm
Dont tell me its the same….we only score on walks lineup…??
Il Cattivo
April 25th, 2009
12:58 pm
P-Town Brave – Yes – Cox knows Kelly could bust out of his slump anytime and start slugging. Given how streaky he is it might be quicker if he plays rather than if he sits. As annoying as his slump is, its magnified because of the slumptitude (borrowing a word here) Esco, Chipper and the absence of Mac. Why focus on Kelly alone. Thank goodness for Frenchie.
Random
April 25th, 2009
12:58 pm
Braveheart (12:39 pm): “We’re always getting nicked up. We can’t afford to anymore. Intentional or not, we can’t afford guys getting hurt because someone doesn’t know how to throw a friggin’ strike.”
And you repay in kind — hit their SS, but not when both teams have been warned.
Save the brawls for the obvious cases of malicious intent. Last night was far from obvious, and Escobar’s behavior took the inside pitch out of Vazquez’ arsenal.
Wasn’t worth it — it served no purpose.
flange1
April 25th, 2009
12:58 pm
Hi All,
It appeared to me that EV WAS throwing at Yunel. I agree with Braveheart, Chipper should shut up to the media and talk to Yunel if doesn’t like the way he reacted.
I bet we have some retaliation today. Typical Dusty Baker series.
McFann Ô
April 25th, 2009
12:58 pm
So now they’re saying it’s an infection in his eye, eh? “Great”…
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
12:59 pm
braves70, your 12:53 wouldn’t be a prime example of the pot calling the kettle black, would it?
Runnin
April 25th, 2009
12:59 pm
I really didn’t think he was throwing at Escobar. If you watched the replay Volquez gesticulated his displeasure as soon as he hit him. I guess he could’ve been pretending but usually when pitchers throw at someone they don’t show any emotion one way or the other.
All Chipper would have to do is take him aside and shake his head no. But what Yunel did didn’t bother me. He didn’t go nuts and get thrown out of the game. This could actually be an example of his maturity. It could’ve been much worse. And anyway, a little broohaha every now and then helps clear the cobwebs.
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
12:59 pm
Mcfann…why does everyone hate on Corky….Carroll Rogers even made snide remark about Corky in her blog…
cabravesfan
April 25th, 2009
1:01 pm
I HATE FOX
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
1:01 pm
Ncbraveschick..you are right….Soriano also shows a lot of emotion at times…
Treehouse
April 25th, 2009
1:01 pm
No way a bobby cox run team is going to retaliate!
cabravesfan
April 25th, 2009
1:02 pm
Morning all- game’s blacked out again, any updates would be appreciated
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:02 pm
cabravesfan, I’ll try…
P-Town Brave (Let Your Bobby, TP, Snitker, Chino Go)
April 25th, 2009
1:03 pm
Il Cattivo-
Because Yunel has a glove and uses it….Kelly does not….
Thats why
cabravesfan
April 25th, 2009
1:03 pm
Steve from OH-
You are my hero! Thank you!!
Il Cattivo
April 25th, 2009
1:04 pm
Soriano shows as much emotion as a stuffed owl.
cabravesfan
April 25th, 2009
1:05 pm
Soriano shows as much emotion as a stuffed owl.
Totally agree, unless you consider looking like you are going to kill someone an emotion (did anyone see the look he gave…whoever it was that hit the double off him last night?)
Runnin
April 25th, 2009
1:07 pm
Ol’ Slooberball is on the mound for the Mets today. Everybody put your bibs on.
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
1:08 pm
Braves70..I concur…no one ever mentions…How much Chipper loves his Hooters or Bobby beating his wife…we all make mistakes in life….
Braveheart
April 25th, 2009
1:08 pm
Last night was far from obvious, and Escobar’s behavior took the inside pitch out of Vazquez’ arsenal. (RANDOM)
You’re getting so lost in the trees, you’re not seeing the forest. See the bigger picture point of what I’m saying. Chipper calls out Escobar for having a hissy fit, when he himself throws hissy fits. Chipper picks on easy targets for having hissy fits, but never calls himself or a fellow vet out when they throw hissy fits.
Now, as to the inside being taken away from Vazquez, dude, it was taken away from Volzquez just the same, a guy who doesn’t have the control Vazquez does. Volzquez, in fact, walks almost twice as many batters per 9 innings than Vazquez. Who’s likely to be more harmed than by having the inside taken away? It’s clearly Volquez.
Couch Tater
April 25th, 2009
1:09 pm
Wasn’t worth it – it served no purpose.
Well… unless it broke the concentration of Volquez and he walked in some runs.
MFin04
April 25th, 2009
1:09 pm
Prado, Infante DLed….playing too well.
Random
April 25th, 2009
1:09 pm
P-Town Brave (12:52 pm): “What the h*ll does Martin Prado have to do to get in the lineup?! “
Against a RH starter? Bat left-handed.
“I’m really starting to believe that Kelly is holding onto some compromising pictures of Cox…”
No, it’s Cox who has the pictures — one of Arroyo pitching RH, one of Prado batting RH and one of KJ batting LH.
Simple as that.
Jeff321
April 25th, 2009
1:10 pm
I have lost all respect for Chipper Jones. (Not that I respected him much before running his mouth about Yunel.)
SHAME!
Treehouse
April 25th, 2009
1:11 pm
“Lost respect for Chipper?”
Ha. You sound smart.
MFin04
April 25th, 2009
1:12 pm
Random…they cant hit righties or lefties…just play Prado or Infante or both…you have short, 2nd, and left….to put them in at.
rob from sc
April 25th, 2009
1:12 pm
Escobar should tell the newspapers that he doesn’t like Chipper Jones missing 30 games a year.
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:13 pm
Kelly walks.
MariettaDerek
April 25th, 2009
1:13 pm
Lead off walk, KJ! DP to C early!
Stephen
April 25th, 2009
1:13 pm
Can a man get a double play?
Braveheart
April 25th, 2009
1:13 pm
Escobar prevented the Braves from getting his back in a later inning by forcing the umpire to put both teams on notice. (RANDOM)
Uh, Random, how often do you see the Braves retaliate? Hudson is about the only one who would get his teammate’s backs in that regard. So Escobar didn’t prevent his team since they only have two guys who would retaliate. One is on the DL. The other is in AAA.
Il Cattivo
April 25th, 2009
1:14 pm
Arroyo seems to get off to good starts ever, atleast over the last few years. A couple of years ago he started 8-0. Its usually better to face him later in the summer as he tails off. Lets hope we can get to him today.
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
1:15 pm
Braveheart…Blaine Boyer was traded he is not in AAA
…..
David O'Brien
April 25th, 2009
1:15 pm
Nick in PA: Tell him or her not to even think twice. Do it. Time of your life. (Especially if he or she’s a hoops fan, but even if you never attend a game, it’s a great place to go to school.)
MariettaDerek
April 25th, 2009
1:16 pm
Yunel, RBI double! DP to C!
David O'Brien
April 25th, 2009
1:16 pm
Nice start to this game, eh? Esco rockin’ the RBI double
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:16 pm
Esco works a full count from 0-2, then doubles off LF wall, Kelly scores, Esco to 3rd on throw.
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
1:16 pm
I didn’t know kelly johnson could really motor…joe simpson is lost at times…
Brandon
April 25th, 2009
1:17 pm
atta boy Yunel!!
MariettaDerek
April 25th, 2009
1:17 pm
RBI single, Chipper! DP to C!
David O'Brien
April 25th, 2009
1:17 pm
… and another RBI knock, by Chipper.
Two runs in, no outs still
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:17 pm
Chipper w/a single down LF line…
Random
April 25th, 2009
1:17 pm
flange1 (12:58 pm): “I agree with Braveheart, Chipper should shut up to the media and talk to Yunel if doesn’t like the way he reacted.”
Chipper has already talked to Escobar — probably more than once.
It has apparently not worked.
I agree with Lew (12:04 pm): “Yunel has run his mouth and indulged in tantrum-like emotional outbursts for three years now. Do y’all seriously believe no one has had these private discussions with him? Have they done any good?
“Now he’s been called out in public and told in no uncertain terms- ‘Get over it. You are no longer a rookie. You hang over the plate. When you inevitably get hit by a pitch, buck it up, take your base, shut up and quit p!$$!ng off the other team or the umps for showing them up. It’s immature, detrimental and it’s about time you grew up and quit acting like a little kid.’”
Brandon
April 25th, 2009
1:18 pm
atta boy Chipper.
Treehouse
April 25th, 2009
1:18 pm
Kotch single!
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:18 pm
Kotchman singles on a liner to center.
BravesFAN885
April 25th, 2009
1:19 pm
We will destroy all your Reds
David O'Brien
April 25th, 2009
1:19 pm
Kotchman’s single makes him 7-for-13 against Arroyo. Chipper is 10-for-21 with two homers against him.
Il Cattivo
April 25th, 2009
1:19 pm
Think Frenchie can go yard today?! I think so.
Stephen
April 25th, 2009
1:19 pm
And Jeff kills the Rally, nice.
Treehouse
April 25th, 2009
1:19 pm
Ugh, double play Frenchy. Chipper to 3rd.
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
1:19 pm
That was a fancy double play
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:20 pm
Jeff broken bat 6-4-3 DP.
DirtyYuni
April 25th, 2009
1:20 pm
Remember that time that the Braves had supposed interest in Bronson Arroyo? I like him better on the Reds.
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
1:21 pm
I am surprised that Brandon is not starting today…..
Jeff321
April 25th, 2009
1:21 pm
Diaz swings at one a couple feet outside (again), eh?
Stephen
April 25th, 2009
1:21 pm
Yep, chase the pitch three feet outside, that a boy Diaz.
Treehouse
April 25th, 2009
1:22 pm
I’ll say it again, when Matty wiffs, he wiffs ugly!
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:22 pm
Diaz k’s swinging.
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
1:23 pm
Mr. Diaz is struggling and needs a couple of days off…and he needs some fried chicken…
McFann Ô
April 25th, 2009
1:23 pm
CorkylikesBeer–
I didn’t hate Corky…but Ross is better.
cabravesfan
April 25th, 2009
1:23 pm
So instead of watching the Braves actually hit the ball, I am forced to watch ESPN’s 900 hours of draft day coverage…whoo hoo! (although they just replayed Mike Singletary’s 1st rant from last year- good stuff)
P-Town Brave (Let Your Bobby, TP, Snitker, Chino Go)
April 25th, 2009
1:23 pm
See that right there proves how awful our offense is…
We had a chance to break the game open early w/ 2 already in and 2 on w/ nobody out…
Jeff breaks his bat on a pitcher’s pitch and hits into a DP and then Matt strikes out…
Normally I would be happy to get the 2, but not under those circumstances!
David from NY
April 25th, 2009
1:25 pm
P-Town,
We are up 2-0 in the first. I’ll take that every day.
cabravesfan
April 25th, 2009
1:25 pm
was that last pitch to MattE really as far outside as it looked on gameday? It looks like it would have actually hit a left handed batter
CorkylikesBeer
April 25th, 2009
1:25 pm
Cabravesfan….did you watch the special on Micheal Oher..tackle from OLE MISS…very good and moving..
abwright
April 25th, 2009
1:25 pm
My 2c on the Escobar incident last night.
He got plunked. Unless there was some bad blood between Volquez and Escobar, it couldn’t have been intentional. There was no point to it at that place in the game.
But, most of the time, the Braves won’t retaliate. I think this is appropriate. Deliberately hitting batters is a punk move. Chipper’s remarks, as the elder statesman of the team, laid out the Braves’ philosophy and needed to be said.
However, Escobar losing his temper changed the tempo of the game. Pitchers (except for Bob Gibson, of course, who’d break one of Escobar’s ribs next time) might be a little more cautious about pitching him inside.
Vazquez, who had much better control last night than Volquez, was probably much less affected by the removal of the inside pitch than Volquez.
As long as Escobar doesn’t do this more than once a season, it probably got the Braves a little more fired up. They’ve been pretty flat this road trip. So, all in all, this could be a good thing.
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:25 pm
Lowe K’s leadoff hitter Dickerson.
David
April 25th, 2009
1:26 pm
I agree … somewhat surprised B.Jones not starting
cabravesfan
April 25th, 2009
1:26 pm
Corky-
I missed that but they are talking about him going to the 49ers, who are my team…sounds like a good choice
Steve from OH
April 25th, 2009
1:26 pm
Chopper to Chipper…2 down.
TnJeff04 (née MFinBrian321)
April 25th, 2009
1:27 pm
MFin04 (12:57 pm): “Dont tell me its the same….we only score on walks lineup…??”
There’s our little muffin with his piercing insights!!!
Eric from MO (10:00 am): “Its crazy, first people complain because we dont take enough pitches and draw enough walks. Now people complain because we only won because of the walks. I just dont get it.”
Me neither. I think they really do hate the Braves. Or Cox. Or both.
Stephen
April 25th, 2009
1:27 pm
NICE