Braves face resurgent Reds

Tom O’Hawke (7:59 pm): “The [4] most time-consuming events in the world. (starting with the shortest) 1) the evolution of man
2) getting your car repaired
3) Yankee – Red Sox game”

4) Brian McCann hitting a triple.

April 25th, 2009

The 3 most time-consuming events in the world. (starting with the shortest) 1) the evolution of man
2) getting your car repaired
3) Yankee – Red Sox game

• Link
• Report this comment

Jim …. Sorry man, that went right over my head. Usually, I pick up on that stuff, but not that time. I figured with all your early NY ties, that you must’ve lived in this state. Are you still a NY Giant fan? They’re real popular around here. They train on the Albany State campus.

• Link
• Report this comment

Okay, you’re back.

Braveheart (1:08 pm): “You’re getting so lost in the trees, you’re not seeing the forest.”

Hardly. I’m making a distinction between behavior that directly affects a game and behavior that does not. Not a mystery that Chipper (or any other pro) would react differently to each.

“See the bigger picture point of what I’m saying.”

I see your point — I just think you’re wrong. You’re making a distinction between how Chipper reacts to others’ behavior vice his own, and how he reacts to a “rookie’s” behavior vice another veteran’s. Right? And criticizing him for it. I’m making a distinction between how Chipper reacts to behavior that may affect a game vice other behavior. And I do not think his reaction/nonreaction is inappropriate.

Imo, yours are insignificant distinctions when compared to the critical one of whether the behavior might affect a game. Second, yours are false distinctions — he took on Smoltz, didn’t he? And few outside this blog (and NYC) are harder on Chipper than he is on himself.

“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.”

So it’s okay to tie one of our pitcher’s hands behind his back if we tie the other pitcher’s hand as well?

Tortured logic, my man — different strokes, I guess.

Braveheart (1:13 pm): “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.”

How about that new fella — Valquez? Vasquez? He plunked 6 last year — 75 in his 353 start career. (He averaged over 5/year in NL, and just under 8/year in AL.)

Escobar’s behavior removed the option of retaliation — whether the Braves actually would have or not is a separate discussion.

• Link
• Report this comment

16 – 11 Boston, 8th inning.

• Link
• Report this comment

“That would be my USC Trojans, adding a 24th Rose Bowl title to their trophy case”

Yes, cabravesfan, we know. That’s how I knew you didn’t mention that you are a USC fan(to me). I would’ve remembered that, thanks to that miserable Rose Bowl Game. I think, though, if they played another 3 quarters, or so, that we would’ve caught you. Seriously, I watched them all year, and they played great. Then, in that first half against your club, they looked like a Pop Warner team.

• Link
• Report this comment

Random … good one @(8:06 & 8:07). I hate to admit I thought that was funny, because you never know when McFann is coming back on. McFann, that was Random, not me.

• Link
• Report this comment

alright- warning to all: gearing up for 49ers rant #3…

• Link
• Report this comment

OK, can’t rant because they traded the pick…

• Link
• Report this comment

Good by, cabravesfan. Don’t forget beer and cigarettes for the dog.

• Link
• Report this comment

Evening folks…

The pitching during the final three at-bats turned in by Derek Lowe after the blown call by Tim Tschida in the home half of the fifth was something to behold. Dickerson, McDonald and Votto struck out on 16 pitches.

It was good seeing the Offensive Assassin launch a long ball in the second and Greg Norton earning his first hit of the season. Now a road trip that looked particularly bad in Pittsburgh and Washington might end with a sweep in Cincinnati and a winning record for the trip.

It’ll be tough losing everybody’s favorite catcher while he gets his eye issues worked out, especially with the Cardinals coming to town to start the homestand. Today was a good sign to be sure, but would love to see some runs on the board tomorrow for Kawakami and again on Monday for JJ.

• Link
• Report this comment

“It’ll be tough losing everybody’s favorite catcher while he gets his eye issues worked out, especially with the Cardinals coming to town to start the homestand.”

Greg, it may just be a rumor, but I hear they have McFann on suicide watch.(I’m just kiddin’, young lady) She’s gonna kill me tomorrow.

I must be blind. Everyone that has opined, has said that Tim Tschida blew the call, including you. I thought Yunel held onto the ball too long and the runner was safe. Both on live play and the replay. So far, the only ones that share my opinion are the announcers. The REDS announcers.

• Link
• Report this comment

“Kelly Johnson and the Braves rocked the Reds for their third straight win” AJC

Ummm…NO.

Kelly Johnson did NOT rock the Reds today. Kelly was again 0-4 and is now batting .212 on the year, yet he continues to be a fan and manager favorite while solid hitting Infante and Prado continue to be benched.

I just don’t understand how many more changes this kid will have. June, July, 2020?

• Link
• Report this comment

TJ …. are you kidding me. That’s what the AJC said? Wow, if he has another game like today, he’ll be flirting with Mr. Mendoza.

• Link
• Report this comment

Never mind. I see it now. Wow @ AJC.

• Link
• Report this comment

So it’s okay to tie one of our pitcher’s hands behind his back if we tie the other pitcher’s hand as well? Tortured logic, my man — different strokes, I guess. Tortured logic. (RANDOM)

One walks less than 2.4 per 9 for his career. The other walks almost twice that – 4.7 a game for his career. Who’s likely to be hurt more by having the inside taken away from them?

One is a 32 year old veteran in his 12th season. The other is a 25 year old in his second full season. Who’s more likely to be hurt more having the inside taken away?

The 25 year old in his second full season who walks almost 5 a game for his career, had gotten 5 of his first 8 outs via the K, and was showing no hit stuff, but had walked two and hit a batter. Don’t see how taking away a side of the plate from a guy flashing no hit stuff but lack of command is not desirable.

Escobar’s behavior removed the option of retaliation — whether the Braves actually would have or not is a separate discussion. (RANDOM)

Did it really remove retaliation? Didn’t seem so to me this afternoon. Lowe did retaliate this afternoon.

The Braves were in a game that looked like it was gonna be a close one Friday night. The opposing pitcher always has no hit stuff and was flashing that kind of stuff early on. That opposing pitcher, however, is a young, relatively inexperienced pitcher who walks ALOT of batters. That same pitcher was showing lack of command early in the game. By taking away half of the plate from that pitcher, Escobar made that pitcher more hittable, predictable, and made it harder for that pitcher to do something he experiences difficulty with, namely, throwing strikes.

In what looked to be shaping up as a close game, by reacting the way he did, Escobar also took his pitcher off the hook. His pitcher didn’t need to waste putting a runner on base in a close game for the sake of retaliation. They could take away half the plate from the wild, relatively inexperienced pitcher while his ace could retaliate the next day while his team was facing a lesser pitcher where putting a baserunner on wouldn’t be as costly.

So, by “overreacting” the way he did, Escobar got a chance to rally his troops behind him, got to rattle the opposing pitcher, placed the opposing pitcher at a tactical disadvantage as compared to his starting pitcher that game, and got to exact revenge the next day with his ace on the mound against a lesser pitcher.

• Link
• Report this comment

The David Ross Acquisition seems huge right now. I think Braves fans are really going to start liking him this week. He may be my favorite member of our top-flight bench right now.

• Link
• Report this comment

Tom O’Hawke (8:41 pm): “I must be blind. Everyone that has opined, has said that Tim Tschida blew the call, including you. I thought Yunel held onto the ball too long and the runner was safe. Both on live play and the replay. So far, the only ones that share my opinion are the announcers. The REDS announcers.”

You’re right — you are blind.

Best replay angle was from left field which showed both the tag to Chipper’s left and the base to his right. (If I recall, in the replay the shot from home plate, the umpire obscured the actual tag.)

It went kind of like this: slide — slide — tag — slide — slide — “Safe!!!”

And you’re right — Escobar held the ball a little too long (looked like he had some trouble getting it out of his glove). He should’ve got it to Chipper sooner rather than later, so that the runner would be heading back to 2b in case anything went wrong. Like a bad call or something.

(Lest anyone think I’m in love with Chipper, I’ll be first to say that his throw too Escobar was way high, and may have contributed to or directly caused Escobar’s difficulties getting a grip on the ball.)

• Link
• Report this comment

PWHjort–

I like ‘im…first backup catcher I’ve had any use for in the past, uh…three years…

• Link
• Report this comment

By the way, does anyone have a transcript of what Escobar was screaming at Volquez Friday night?

• Link
• Report this comment

Tom O’Hawke Take another look at that throw to Chipper and tag at 3rd. It looked like Chipper applied the tag when the runner’s leg was almost a foot away from the bag. The ump really blew the call.

However, the whole play was ugly from Ross’s throw to Chipper, to Chippers high throw to Yunel, to Yunel’s late toss to Chipper. Sometimes umps punish the pros when their plays are not smooth and reward (i.e. the phantom stepping on 2B, while turning a DP) some that are smooth, but not technically correct.

Also, Chipper rarely barks at the umps and he did to on this play as he knew he nailed the runner.

• Link
• Report this comment

I also am glad they dled McCann. Sometimes players will hurt their teams more by trying to be good team players and trying to play through injuries. McCann will come back even stronger, right McFann? Also Brayan Pena was DFAed today. Wonder if Braves could use him even for minor league depth?

• Link
• Report this comment

CB–

Right!

• Link
• Report this comment

OK, got some beer for me, some beer for the dog, what time does the game star…DAMN IT I hate day games!

• Link
• Report this comment

Let’s just hope McCann doesn’t become as blind as Corky’s bat

• Link
• Report this comment

Random … I must’ve blown it! The more I read here (opinions), the more I see that it’s me against the world. Well, not everybody. George Grande, Chris Welch (Reds announcers) and Tim Tschida agree with me. As a matter of fact, Tim is probably on the other side now.

You’re not being a “Chipper lover”. Yunel had all day to throw that ball, even if it had super glue on it!

• Link
• Report this comment

So I just discovered the 49ers traded their 2 and 4 this year for a 1 next year…can’t really complain about that

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey so who ended up winning that stellar Sox Yanks game?

• Link
• Report this comment

Random, better to demonstrate tortured logic rather than none as you are

• Link
• Report this comment

northbeach Scott (9:16) …. I agree I missed the call. Even with replays. I guess I was so sure that he was safe, that I really didn’t pay that much attention to the replays. Especially, when the Reds announcers were saying it was a good call. I don’t know why I let you all know how stupid I am. I guess I found that hard to believe (that I could be so wrong). The worst part of this honesty, cabravesfan will be home pretty soon. This will be another strike against me. I believe I already struck out. I hope she gives me 3 outs.

• Link
• Report this comment

Braveheart-Random is persistent? And we’re not? On that one I’ll bid Y’all Nice Denizens a good night.

• Link
• Report this comment

cabravesfan I agree that he has great upside and i hope he is a factor this year. Good luck on Niners this year and Go Bravos!

• Link
• Report this comment

Braveheart (9:40 pm) –

I’m sorry — what?

My attention wandered — all I caught was ” “.

8->

PS: Sorry about the repeat — didn’t mean to “call you out” at all, let alone twice.

You seemed to have been in and out today, so with the fast pace of commenting during the game and the pagination and all, I thought you had missed the first one. Just wanted to continue the discussion.

But not ad absurdum. Or ad infinitum.

So let yours (8:59 pm) be the last word.

PPS: Thanks, Lew.

• Link
• Report this comment

MR. O’BRIEN

Please check out and opine.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741

• Link
• Report this comment

I always wondered what the contract negotiations concerning Garret Anderson between Frank Wren and Scott Boras were like. Through a source close to the negotiations, I have acquired a transcript of such negotiations.

Frank Wren (answering the phone): Hello.

Scott Boras: Hello Frank, It’s Scott.

FW: Oh, hi Scott. I haven”t heard from you since you fleeced us in the Derek Lowe negotiations, how have you been?

SB: Well, I’m still waiting for Manny to sign so I can collect my fat bonus check, but thanks to you and the Yankees, I’m doing just fine.

FW: Good to hear, Scott. What can I do for you today?

SB: Well, Frank, I have a client that you may be interested in.

FW: Well, at this point in the off-season the only thing I’m really looking for is a right-handed power bat that can play acceptable defense in left field. Do you have anything that fits that description?

SB: Not exactly, the player I had in mind doesn’t bat right-handed.

FW: We could still be interested, provided he can hit for power.

SB: And he doesn’t EXACTLY hit for power. Well, he doesn’t hit for power at all, really. He’s kind of washed up and his bat speed is extremely slow.

FW: As long as he play acceptable defense in left field we may still be interested in a platoon partner for Matt Diaz.

SB: He really can’t play acceptable defense anywhere.

FW: Scott, that doesn’t seem like something we’d be interested in, what else can you tell me about him?

SB: Well, he’s 37 years old, so you know he’s got longevity. He played for 15 years with 1 organization and holds most of the records with that organization but they’ve decided not to try to re-sign him, so you know he’s loyal to the team. And he’s only looking for a 1-year deal. Combined with the fact that he plays with the passion of a cinder-block, I think he may be a fit for your organization.

FW: So you’re thinking a 37-year-old whose previous organization of 15 years wasn’t interested in re-signing, who bats left-handed, who plays terrible defense, and who doesn’t hit for power would be a good fit for us?

SB: Well, not necessarily a fit, but you’ve got extra money, and I know how you love to waste it. Just sign this guy.

FW: What’s his name?

SB: Come on, don’t you read the internet? It’s Garret Anderson.

FW: How does 2.5 million sound?

SB: Let me get back to you with my decision, give me and my client 24 hours to talk it over.

FW: Ok, Scott. Talk to you soon.

–end conversation–

2 minutes later:

FW (answering the phone): Hello.

SB: Frank, it’s Scott, we’ll take it.

FW: Ok, we’ve got a deal. I’m going to have a heck of a time explaining this one to the fans.

SB: Frank, it’s Atlanta. The fans will think he’s valuable so long as he gets a few RBI’s here and there.

FW: Right you are, Scott. How silly of me to worry about my incompetence.

SB: Take care Frank.

FW: You too, Scott. I look forward to doing business with you in the future.

SB: Not nearly as much as I’m looking forward to it. Maybe next year we can work on a deal that will bring Kevin Millwood back to Atlanta. You know, he’s been working on his batting practice fastball and he’ll be a great asset to every other NL team should you acquire him next year.

FW: We’ll see, Scott. Take it easy.

SB: Likewise.

–end conversation–

• Link
• Report this comment

“My opinion of Mike Martz probably can’t be printed here or in any public forum” — cabravesfan

Martz was pretty much a genius during his heyday in St. Louis. Like most coaches, he’s only as good as the talent he has to coach. (and I though Crabtree was a good pick at 10, btw, but you know the Niners better than I do);

Braveheart, it’s already been beaten up, so I’ll just say… I agree with all your theory behind the plunking and its ultimate effect, but you give Yunel way to much credit for his thought process in the whole thing. He got hit, and got mad. That’s about it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Dude, if that was supposed to be funny, it failed miserably.

• Link
• Report this comment

cabravesfan (9:58) …. sometimes I think on the run (unfortunately).

• Link
• Report this comment

mbatl-

actually a lot of 49er fans really liked the pick, I’m just not one of them.

The big problem I had with Martz was that he did not fit in with the way the 49ers are built. He tried to turn a team built around a running back into a pass happy team, when they had questionable or unproven talent at receiver and JT O’Sullivan at QB (the fact that he felt JTO was the best option at the position said a lot- JTO followed him from whatever rock he crawled out from)…he and Nolan clashed and he clashed even more with Singletary. He couldn’t call a decent play on any of the 49ers goal line attempts from 2 yards out on Monday night against the Cardnials in a game the 49ers should have won. The talent was not the biggest problem. Martz refusing to work with what he had (i.e. a pro bowl running back) was the biggest problem. Note that when Singletary took over the team and demanded they go back to the power run as their feature offense they went 5-2…

Wow, I guess I did have one more 49er rant left in me tonight…sorry!

• Link
• Report this comment

Slingblade …. the only thing I recognized, in your 10:03 post, was “Tom”. Were you talking to me. If so, what are you talking about? You are typing, in a fashion, that is way too intelligent for me. Would you please put that in layman’s terms. That is, if you are talking to me.

• Link
• Report this comment

Random, by my count Tom O’Hawke actually only has one strike against him (although it is kinda a biggy)- he is a Packers fan. I can overlook the Penn State thing (see: Rose Bowl, 2009) and the reliance on announcers on opposing teams to gadge good calls…

• Link
• Report this comment

Looks like the real Kyle Davies pitched in KC today, 5.1IP, 8H, 7ER, 2BB, 2K, 2HRs allowed, vs Detroit this afternoon.

Josh Anderson was 2 for 4 with a triple, SB, 1R, 2RBI. Good going kid. Way to take advantage of the opportunity. Would have liked him in Atlanta, but Schafer looks like the real deal and he’s ready now.

• Link
• Report this comment

Good stuff, Braveheart. I played against, and heard from, some pro players at camps too (a little earlier vintage, though), and about all I got from those guys was, “just use your natural talent and be great.” My head and heart said yes, but my skinny 6′ body said no no no. Ha!

Maybe that’s why third string catchers tend to make better MLB managers than HOF sluggers.

• Link
• Report this comment

Man, I learned something tonight. When you make a mistake, don’t go public with it. Prior to this, I had never made a mistake. I thought I had made one once, but I was mistaken.

• Link
• Report this comment

northbeach Scott-

You know, I really like Josh Anderson and am really glad he’s doing well but this season marked the second time he was projected to win the starting center field job with the Braves and was beaten out by someone. That makes me question…something about him. Not sure what because he seems like a really good kid and a decent player but it just makes me wonder if there is something that kept preventing him from getting over that hump…just a thought

• Link
• Report this comment

northbeach Scott re: your 10:19

Yeah, Mr. Davies just didn’t have it tonight….but it does not mean that tonight was the *Real* Kyle Davies.

He’ll be better in his next start. He’s been pitching some pretty good ball for the Royals.

• Link
• Report this comment

PWHjort

Ahhh….from your source’s e-mail eh?

Still…it was quite funny

Lol

Kevin Millwood back in a Braves uni, eh? Well…if that happens….the Braves will definately have some decisions to make concerning the starting staff next year. (Lol)

• Link
• Report this comment

fans’ butts

• Link
• Report this comment

I had never made a mistake. I thought I had made one once, but I was mistaken (TOM O’)

yeah, like I used to be conceited but now I’m perfect

• Link
• Report this comment

OK y’all I’ve got a very important question- keeping in mind that I have not eaten yet today, do I go for the second beer now or find something to eat and then go for beer #2? (cabravesfan)

You’re a woman, right? Why are you asking a bunch of men then? We’ll all likely say we don’t like fatties, so don’t eat. We like when girls are drunk. Eating is too sobering when drinking. So, please, go ahead with beer #2 ….. and go for 3, 4, 5, 10 while you’re at it. Just let us know where you’re at, one of us will be kind enough to pick you up after you’ve been drinking all day without eating

• Link
• Report this comment