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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,495 comments Add your comment
18 Wheels of Love
April 27th, 2009
10:24 pm
Tell the folks who cna go to games regularly to keep the faith too….need to keep those ticket sales up.
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2009
10:24 pm
I’m one that always believes the glass is half full and I hope that I always will be.
I knew there was a reason I liked you ugaman despite you being a Georgia man
I’m the same way…drives my friends crazy
Jake W.
April 27th, 2009
10:24 pm
Attendance during the week is usually pretty weak and especially during the school year. We’ll see how bad were really doing when school gets out for the summer. If were down we surely won’t be the only team this summer.
Mark in PA
April 27th, 2009
10:25 pm
P-Town, were you calling on the Waterboy? The actual quote is
“Oh, No! We suck again!”
I’m seeing a pattern emerge… Every six days, the bats wake up.
4/12 vs. Nats- 8 runs. (4/13 was off)
4/18 vs. Pirates – 10 runs
4/25 vs. Cincy – 8 runs
Everything in between was total crap- mostly losing, with two walk-in wins.
Don’t know what this means, beyond the fact that our offense has blown pretty consistently for two weeks solid. With our great pitching, maybe we’ll win an award for best PF/PA of a losing team.
Look out Houston on Friday! Until then…
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2009
10:25 pm
UGAMAN I wasn’t Bashing You But after watching the Phillies Manhandle the Nats Pitching, I see Why I go Off on this team everynight for making average pitchers look like Cy Young…Now we lose a game to the Phils…and we can’t take that “Oh Its Another Loss” philosopy in this hard A..s Division…
TnBrian
April 27th, 2009
10:25 pm
I love my Braves and always will, but I’m starting to worry about them. Not necessarily them losing because it’s early and all the teams in this division have problems, some with BIG problems. But, these “it’s anybody’s game” types are us losing in the majority again. Who’s to blame? Cox, T.P.,Kelly… WHO? It’s a mixture of things and the thing that stands out in my mind is still Wren’s decision to sign Kawa. to such a big contract when he and everybody else knew a big bat(not Garret FU** Anderson) was absolutely a main priority.
Turtsnap
April 27th, 2009
10:26 pm
Tonight we saw the difference between a good team and a mediocre team…. I believe that would be 3-2!
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2009
10:29 pm
DumbFounded, Your Qoute
“I hope the fans continue not to come to the games !! With a bad economy who wants to see that @#$%! the Braves are putting out and lose their hard earn money !! How in the hell the Phillies come from four back of Atlanta and now leads them three games ! Sorry a@3 ! team ! Sorry a@# !!”
I will Co-Sign If I had gone to the Game tonight I would not probably not go back again…That game Was Boring and Not worth the 60 bucks…Hell I can throw a Braves party at my house and have twice as much fun than to watch those overpaid millionaires played “Businessman-like” Baseball…
What a Waste…
mbatl
April 27th, 2009
10:30 pm
Honestly, in April, I’d take a 3-2 loss to one of the best teams in the NL over Philly’s apparent 13-11 win over the Nats, when their (the Phils’) starting pitcher gives up 3 HR and 6 ER in 4.1, and their pen allows another 5 in 4.2.
Scoring slumps tend to come to an end. It’s gonna be okay, people. Quit whining!
Random
April 27th, 2009
10:31 pm
MFin04 (9:39 pm): “Bobby should have brought Gonzo in, in the first place.”
The first two batters Moylan faced in the 7th hit right-handed. He got the first and third batters to ground out — his main problem was he waklked the pitcher. After that, the only hit was a ground ball single that made it through, and then he struck out Pujols.
Are you saying that Cox should have anticipated Moylan walking the pitcher and not used him?
NCBravesFan
April 27th, 2009
10:32 pm
Joel Piniero? Seriously?!
TnBrian
April 27th, 2009
10:32 pm
I say that if we don’t see an improvement within the next month or so, we really do need to just stay off thing…at least concerning the Braves. There’s no sense in us getting all riled up over something we have no control over. Who’s in?
Carroll Rogers
April 27th, 2009
10:32 pm
BMac is headed to Myrtle Beach to play two games there – Tuesday and Wednesday – to try out the new contacts he was fitted for. yes, he’s to wear two contacts this time, not just one on the left eye. He played a little catch at the ballpark Monday night to see how it would feel and it went well enough for him to want to get in a game and test it out.
Ugaman
April 27th, 2009
10:34 pm
Carroll, B-mac is on the dl right? I didn’t think he could play in the minors or anywhere for that matter if he was on the dl.
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
10:35 pm
Positve:
1. Kotchman is looking pretty damn solid.
2. Infante keeps showing what a solid guy he is.
3. JF keeps hitting it the other way
4. bullpen was solid.
5. Bennett taken out at just the right time…………kudos to cox
6. SP keeps performing solid……..this is not an april thing……. pitching will be here all season.
Negative stuff:
1. Cox is doing the same stoopit thing he did with JF and AJ…………having 100 000 times more patient with KJ than he should. Old man, the solution is so simple………. hit him 6 or 7th and youll see a guy coming out of a slump as fast as a sneeze.
2. Frenchy swinging for the fence in the 9th……..boy……….if you are not hot right now……..just try to get on base, you are not a HR
3. The inability to tie a game late when we have the chance.
4. another 1 run loss
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2009
10:35 pm
C-Roge Is Back…
Well It Doesn’t even Make Me feel any better to know that we have the same record as the Bankees…
I’m still P’d off at the Fact that the Phillies had their Way with the Nats and we Scored 6 Gawd Damn Runs in a series we should’ve swept easily…
Philly scored 6 runs in that eighth inning…ARRRGGGHHHH!
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
10:37 pm
I know right Tomahawkin ?! you can do bad all by yourself !! Does anyone think all the Braves Millionaire players feel passionate about losing a game they should have won ?!! When I look at the Braves, I see the when is the next pay day check !! I really don’t see them caring ! I wish the passionate fans who want to win should be able to take their place and recieve their pay !!!
cvbraves
April 27th, 2009
10:37 pm
Very nice game, Braves, against probably the Central champs. Don’t need to hang your heads after this one.
Jeff321
April 27th, 2009
10:37 pm
Andre Either is hitting .842 against left handed pitching.
Bob
April 27th, 2009
10:37 pm
April blunders bring May losses.
Here are the reasons why May will not be any better than April
1. Speed. We have none.
2. Power. We have mild to moderate.
3. Avg. We have moderate to good but inconsistent.
4. Starters. Pitch count too high…will wear down starters.
5. Relievers. Roles not yet firmly established…thus inconsistent.
6. Managers. No excitement….getting ejected is no longer the key to getting fired up…bobby ball is not winning ball.
Kelly Johnson's Bowl of Sad
April 27th, 2009
10:38 pm
Positives:
1. Didn’t cry when Bobby pulled me.
Negatives:
1. The season isn’t over.
Jake W.
April 27th, 2009
10:39 pm
Phillies do have some srious pitching problems. they may have come back against the Nats but thats the Nats. The comebacks against the Marlins were against their pen which everybody knew wasn’t strong and they beat up on someone making their major league debut Sunday. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say unless they get some starting pitching from somewhere there will be no repeat.
Rock On....
April 27th, 2009
10:40 pm
Rex….when you score less than 4 runs you lose 80% of the time. This was one of those games that went the Cards way but it is especially tough as the Braves only gave up 3 runs. Statistically they lost a game they will win 80% of the time. If you don’t you have a really bad team on your hands.
Honestly can’t believe Escobar was not given an error in the 1st inning on that high school caliber back hand. Wow. OK, home cooking by the scorer I guess.
Folks I hate to be an I told you so but… I told you so. Prado needs to be playing 2nd base and batting everyday. What is wrong with KJ being the sub? Man I hate to sound like a broken record but isn’t it obvious?
Ugaman
April 27th, 2009
10:40 pm
tomohawkin…they make pepto or tums for that!
Random
April 27th, 2009
10:40 pm
MFin04 (9:40 pm): “I say we try not to pitch to Pujols again in this game…how about that?”
Oh sure — of course.
‘Cause when you wrote that, Pujols had already torn up Braves pitching to the tune of 1 for 4, 2 K, 0 Rs and 0 RBIs, with 6 LOB. But he was so-o-o-o-o-o scary doing it.
And then looky, looky — Carlyle gets him to fly out to LF.
Sure better walk him 4 times tomorrow so we don’t see a repeat of tonight’s awesome performance, huh?
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
10:40 pm
Anybody want to bet a $100.00 that Cox will have Kelly Johnson in the starting line up ?!! Any takers ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2009
10:43 pm
Dumbfounded
Someone Mention that the 90′S braves had something that this team has been missing for years, And that Is the Ability to come back from behind in games…The World Champion Phillies have done it all season, and We have not, that separates us from the good teams and has for the last 3 years…With our anemic offense now we give up more than 2 runs and this team quits, WTF…
It seems like this team takes a Blaze approach at losing games by 1-run over the last year…Its like they’re used to it, No Pride at all shown by this team…
With the Way this team has been “Playing With My Emotions, I’m seriously on the line of turning into that Fan From Major League 2 who bashes the team left and right…
Sarah
April 27th, 2009
10:43 pm
Dumb Anderson and Glavine and bring in Hanson and Heyward. Im sick of waiting on the young talent while the old slobs hang out on the DL to prove something. This is a whole team and they deserve better. While we are waiting on Glavine, JO NO is blowing games and Hanson is kept down. Dont want to start that arbitration clock. They would reather loose games. I for one am sick of having space setters taking down our lineup. Glavine and Anderson are both way done and its time for the new to take over. Way past time.
Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux are done. Only one of them is man enough to say its over. The other two will fight on and take their teams down with them. The big three should have all retired together. Its over. Its time to move on.
Necromancer
April 27th, 2009
10:44 pm
I heard Chip and Joe go on about how the Cardinals were aggressive and played hard all the time. Can’t say that about the Braves. They’re anything but aggressive.
They do not have the look of a team that wants to win. They are so disappointing to watch, especially after 3 years of no playoffs. Just friggin’ pathetic.
Random
April 27th, 2009
10:44 pm
MFin04 (9:40 pm): “Hit him…to get Pujols up…..BOBBY IS A DUMB@ss….should have had Gonzo in the whole time.”
Ri-i-i-i-ight — in the 7th, 8th AND 9th. (Remember, you wanted Gonzalez instead of Moylan in the 7th.)
Tomas
April 27th, 2009
10:45 pm
Good pitching tonight, but the walk to the pitcher really hurted. There is something about this cardinals, that it seems like they make absolutely 0 mistakes against the Braves, and always take advantage of almost every opportunity.
Great defense from Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols, and Brendan Ryan was awesome. They always play hard that’s for sure.
Tomorrow hopefully the Braves will hit some balls that they can’t catch.
Ugaman
April 27th, 2009
10:45 pm
Just in case anyone is interested. The Hawks beat the Heat tonight to even the series. Woodson made an adjustment (finally) by leaving ZaZa in while he was being a menace on the boards. It paid off as his hustle plays probably won the game for the Hawks.
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
10:45 pm
Hang your head ?! Hang your head ?!! Give me a @#$%! BREAK !!!!!!! You see ! My point !! You have Braves fans that feel the say way as the Braves players !! They just don’t give a @#$%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PWHjort
April 27th, 2009
10:45 pm
I wasn’t too thrilled with Jeff Francoeur’s hack-happy mentality with runners at 2nd and 3rd and nobody out in whatever inning that was. I mean, it’s ok to hit a first pitch you know you can do something with, but we both know Francoeur can’t handle breaking pitches very well. He gets an 0-0 breaking ball that he fishes from below the zone for a fly-ball out. At that point, down 2, I’d rather have him work the count and play for a big inning. I don’t know if I’ve Bobby or Francoeur to accuse of this stupidity, but this crap has got to change. I’m sick of us settling for 1 run.
SoWeGa Fanatic
April 27th, 2009
10:46 pm
“IF KELLY JOHNSON WAS A MINORITY HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME AGO, THE SOUTH HAS A LONG WAY TO GO. I DONT THINK THE BRAVES WILL EVER GET THERE, SAD STORY.” Braveshater, you are stuck in the past plus you’re an idiot.
Tomas
April 27th, 2009
10:47 pm
McCann should have his lasik surgery and get his eye problem fixed for good instead of just messing with contact lenses again.
Ugaman
April 27th, 2009
10:49 pm
Wearing two contacts might actually solve the problem for McCann. I wear contacts and when I only have one in, it feels really weird. The air just hits your eye without the contact in and you can definately tell somethings just a little off. Maybe this will work.
Coach (2010 or bust)
April 27th, 2009
10:50 pm
Run support, offense. It ain’t there. 4.26 runs per game…..Abysmal.
Steve Phillips busting on our Braves total absence of speed and the running game on national TV is embarrassing. Unfortunately, he is right.
Jeff321
April 27th, 2009
10:50 pm
McCann should have his lasik surgery and get his eye problem fixed for good instead of just messing with contact lenses again.
Do they usually “operate” while the eye has an infection? Isn’t that something you’d want to eradicate first??
Jake W.
April 27th, 2009
10:51 pm
Hawks tried to blow that game in the 2nd quarter but i’ll take it. We needed one win in Miami and we got it.
Tomas
April 27th, 2009
10:51 pm
Kelly Johnson is really struggling after being the best hitter on the team for nearly two weeks. I hope Bobby moves Schafer to the leadoff spot soon.
Dr Hoo
April 27th, 2009
10:52 pm
2 negative observations….
1) Francoeur came up twice with a runner at 2nd and nobody out and failed to advance either runner. This cost us the game. Let’s quit praising the average and 2 out RBIs until he can execute like a professional in important situations when there is some pressure.
2) Our relief corps seems to be worse when we are down a run. As soon as PM came in with us down a run, I knew we were going to give up a run, it’s automatic. We were lucky it was only one. If Boyer were still here it would have been 5.
That said, love the starting pitching (minus Kawabunga) and I expect that will keep us in the hunt all year.
Ugaman
April 27th, 2009
10:52 pm
Steve Philips is always busting on the Braves. He’s just still mad because when he was the GM at NY the braves pounded his Metros every freakin year. The Braves are the reason he got fired. Do you really think his comments on the Braves and Bobby cox aren’t biased?
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
10:54 pm
That’s right Sarah ! The Braves in 2005 brought up Mccain and Francoeur because Raul Monguesi was a bust and the Braves was struggling and all Brian and Jeff did was to help the Braves win their 13 in a row division championship ! Bring the damn kids up again !! Who’s to say it won’t happen again !!!!
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
10:57 pm
Sorry about my spelling ! I’m angry damn IT !!
Macon Braves (RIP)
April 27th, 2009
11:00 pm
DOC— Your 10:35 post was spot on.
uga-brave
April 27th, 2009
11:00 pm
average baseball team playing poor baseball. 4-9 in the last 13.
no power at 1st base or any of the outfield positions.
everyone but smilin frank can see it.
SoWeGa Fanatic
April 27th, 2009
11:04 pm
Couldn’t see the game as ESPN is blacked out 178 south of the game…stupid.
Some observations from reading the blog:
1)Good news on BMac, but catcher is not the problem.
2)There are a lot of “I told you..I called that…” baloney builders on here.
3)Depending on who you listen to, this game was lost by Kelly J, Escobar, Moylan, JJ, Bobby Cox, Frank Wren, Kotchman, or Chipper.
Negativity is king of the blog. Yuk.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2009
11:05 pm
Too Bad This Isn’t 1999, Because I would’ve rather watched Rasslin (If it was the good 1999 Attitude era stuff) to than watch these Boring Clowns get taken to School by one of the Teams I hate Most…
SoWeGa Fanatic
April 27th, 2009
11:07 pm
“1) Francoeur came up twice with a runner at 2nd and nobody out and failed to advance either runner. This cost us the game.”
Oooops. Add Francoeur to the list of who lost the game.
Carroll Rogers
April 27th, 2009
11:10 pm
ugaman, he’s on the disabled list, but these games qualify as a minor league rehab assignment. Sory I didn’t clarify that
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2009
11:10 pm
Too All The Bloggers In Here…???
How Can you Say That there was Good that Came out of this Game When All of us Know That Bobby C. And his Posse are gonna go out there tomorrow with the same Philosopy, Same Attitude, Same Lineup, Etc, and Play the Same way as they’ve had the last 2 weeks and will get the same results as they’ve had the last two weeks…Call Me Negative If you Want to, But I’m also a Realist, and These Crappy/Boring games getting old…Especially for a team that had a lot of hype/Optomism coming Out of Spring Training…
Carroll Rogers
April 27th, 2009
11:11 pm
Raul Monguesi? That’s a new one!
monty
April 27th, 2009
11:13 pm
Tell me anybody who has come through in the clutch late in the game since Schafer scored that winning run the first week of the season? No one. Who has gotten a game winning hit or a hit to tie up a game after the 6th inning this year in a close game??
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
11:13 pm
Yeah ! We are negative because we are tried of this @#$%! !! I’m so desperate one name “BARRY BONDS” !! I don’t care what kind of circus that may follow ! Just for this season !! The man can still rake !! I think ?!
Carroll Rogers
April 27th, 2009
11:14 pm
Thought you’d appreciate these nuggets from Chipper in the post-game clubhouse.
“We continue to waste JJ’s good outing with bad offensive performances,” Jones said. “Until we start doing something at the top, we’re going to continue to struggle. We’re just not getting anything generated at the top of the lineup offensively. We’re continuing to make baserunning mistakes at inopportune times. You walk pitchers, you’re not going to win a lot of games.”
And when I pointed out that they probably felt like they should win when they hold Pujols to 1-for-5.
“Take that man, I don’t think we got him out four times all year last year,” Jones said. “The guys did a good job of keeping him at bay, keeping everybody at bay. We pitched, and we played defense. We just didn’t hit. Just didn’t hit. Kotch had a good game. Aside from that it was pretty slim pickings.”
2Kelly Johnson/ATLBRAVES
April 27th, 2009
11:16 pm
Bobby won’t sit me as he made me a promise that if I struggle at any point, he will let me play through it. You fans are upset, meanwhile, we were all laughing and joking in the clubhouse. We have fun and you guys should just chill the heck out. Expect me leading off for awhile. Prado is an excellent player, but the one who makes the decisions, Mr. Cox, makes out the lineup card each game, so I don’t know what to tell ya. We all appreciate you fans and that’s the truth. We love you guys! Things will surely get better…..
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
11:16 pm
I didn’t mean to go get Monguesi Carroll !! Merely pointing out that he was a buster !!!!!!!!!!!
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:17 pm
Re-post for the night shift:
getnathan (10:42 am), (11:40 am), (11:49 am): “Kawakami is getting done in by one bad inning in his starts, so that says to me that the teams catch up to his pitching pattern and hit him. . . . It looks like he’ll pitch 4 scoreless innings and give up 1 or 2 hits, and then in the 5th he’ll give up 3 or 4 runs. . . . It seems like he’ll pitch scoreless ball for four or five innings, but then give up 3 or 4 runs in an inning, thus making his whole start when in actuality he didn’t pitch that badly. . . . “
Doc Holiday (11:50 am): “He has good stuff but second time around he is getting hammered.”
No, not really.
Actually, not at all.
In his first start, against Washington (4/11), Kawakami went 6.0 IP and gave up earned runs in the 1st (1 ER) and 3rd (2 ERs) innings (3 total ERs).
He faced 25 batters. First time thru the line-up, he gave up 2 Hs, 2 BBs and got 3 Ks; 1 ER. 35 total pitches, or 3.88 pitches per batter.
Second time thru, he gave up 2 Hs, 2 BBs and got 3 Ks; 2 ERs. 31 total pitches, or 3.44 pitches per batter.
He pitched to the first 7 batters in the Nats line-up a third time — 0 Hs, 0 BBs and 2 Ks; 0 ERs. 23 total pitches, or 3.29 pitches per batter.
. . .
In his second start, against Florida (4/16), Kawakami went 6.0 IP and gave up earned runs in the 2nd (2 ERs) and 6th (2 ERs) innings (4 total ERs).
He faced 27 batters. First time thru the line-up, he gave up 2 Hs, 1 BB and got 1 K; 2 ERs. 29 total pitches, or 3.22 pitches per batter.
Second time thru, he gave up 2 Hs, 1 BB and got 2 Ks; 0 ERs. 41 total pitches, or 4.56 pitches per batter.
Third time thru, he gave up 1 H, 1 BB and got 4 Ks (the top of the order — batters 1-4); 2 ERs. 39 total pitches, or 4.33 pitches per batter.
. . .
In his third start, at Washington (4/21), Kawakami went 5.0 IP and gave up earned runs in the 2nd (1 ER) and 6th (1 ER) innings (2 total ERs).
He faced 24 batters. First time thru the line-up, he gave up 4 Hs, 1 BB and got 1 K; 1 ER. 40 total pitches, or 4.44 pitches per batter.
Second time thru, he gave up 0 Hs, 2 BBs and got 1 K; 0 ER. 38 total pitches, or 4.22 pitches per batter.
He pitched to the first 6 batters in the Marlins line-up a third time — 3 Hs, 0 BBs and 0 Ks; 1 ER. 15 total pitches, or 2.50 pitches per batter.
See DAP for analysis.
. . .
In his fourth start, at Cincinnati (4/26), Kawakami went 4.2 IP and gave up “earned” runs in the 4th (2 ERs) and 5th (6 “ERs”) innings (8 total “ERs”).
He faced 23 batters. First time thru the line-up, he gave up 0 Hs, 1 BB and got 0 Ks; 0 ERs. 32 total pitches, or 3.56 pitches per batter.
Second time thru, he gave up 4 Hs, 0 BBs and got 1 K; 4 “ERs”. 27 total pitches, or 3.00 pitches per batter.
He pitched to the first 5 batters in the Marlins line-up a third time — 4 Hs, 0 BBs and 0 Ks; 4 “ERs”. 19 total pitches, or 3.80 pitches per batter.
As previously discussed, it was the worst of bad luck that prevented Kawakami from completing a scoreless 5th.
. . .
. . .
Conclusion: Kawakami he does NOT get worse and worse as he goes thru the opponents’ line-ups a second and third time. (Though he does probably tire toward the ends of his starts. Like most pitchers.)
Throwing out yesterday’s fluky fifth inning, in his first four starts Kawakami has been as good or better the second time thru the opponent’s line-up as he is the first time.
First time — 8 Hs, 5 BBs, 5 Ks, 4 ERs, 3.78 pitches per batter.
Second time — 7 Hs, 5 BBs, 7 Ks, 4 ERs, 3.81 pitches per batter.
And his third time thru the line-up is no worse than his first time (throwing out yesterday’s fluky fifth inning). Thru his first three starts, in which he pitched a third time to 7, 9 and 6 batters respectively (ie, he missed the 7th batter once, and the 8th and 9th batters twice each):
First time — 8 Hs, 4 BBs, 5 Ks, 4 ERs, 3.85 pitches per batter.
Third time — 4 Hs, 1 BB, 6 Ks, 3 ERs, 3.50 pitches per batter.
And to repeat — on his third time thru the Marlins’ line-up, ke struck out their first four batters — Bonifacio, Amezaga, HRamirez and Cantu.
In Kawakami’s case, familiarity does not breed contempt.
PS: Somebody oughta check my math.
Not Really A Rant
April 27th, 2009
11:18 pm
Not really going to rag on the Braves by calling names and questioning certain players and managers manhood, but I do think you can make observations without calling for some people’s stones on a plate!
Fundamentals are killing the Braves. Bunting (not tonight but most nights) poor baserunning, getting picked off, running into outs, missing the cut off man, not covering bases (thanks Infante for saving the ninth)not being patient at the plate, swinging for the fences when a base hit will do, swinging at too many first pitches (Escobar) walking hitters, walking the pitcher.
I’m not one who believes that it all begins and ends with the players. If you have terrible personnel, you can’t win, thats a given. If you have decent personnel who are motivated, you can surprise folks. If you have good personnel who are motivated, you can contend. If you have GREAT personnel who are motivated, lookout world.
If you have decent or good personnel who aren’t motivated and who do not play fundamental baseball, there is no way you are going to field a consistent winner.
The Braves, because of their rotation, are either decent plus or good minus. Since they don’t have top to bottom strengths in their lineup, they MUST play fundamental baseball to even hope to contend. Right now, they aren’t contenders because they don’t do the little things that can win you quite a few games during the season. Too many mistakes. Too many opportunities by the wayside due to the inability to execute.
I fear the only way to change this team is to change the attitude of the players. For too long, mediocre performance has been accepted and greeted with a “tough luck, we’ll get ‘em tomorrow.”
Bobby isn’t effective. Bobby seems to sleep through games. Bobby could manage drunk because all he’s going to do is make a few pitching changes and hope someone hits a 6 run homer. Letting KJ hit away instead of bunting the tying run to second after the lead off single in the 6th was nothing less than malpractice! KJ is in a full blown slump. That was the time to let him put a bunt down and get the tying run in scoring position. But no. KJ hit into a DP. Do I blame KJ for doing that? In that circumstance, No! Bobby knows he’s slumping. It was up to Bobby to give the Braves a chance to get the tying run into scoring position and give KJ a chance to succeed. What? Was he asleep? Who DOESN”T make that decision with a struggling guy at the plate and the game on the line?
Bobby Cox, that’s who.
Ok….guess I did actually go after Cox’s stones.
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2009
11:19 pm
Dumbfounded-
Dude, his name is MONDESI…
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
11:20 pm
I think the most important thing we have to understand is the fact that no matter how bad muts SP is and will be all year, or how bad phillies SP is and their BP woes or how thin the marlins bullpen is……………This is not the heart or nucleus of the situation………..We all have to understand that right now are worst enemy is within……..Our offense is our own enemy. It all starts in the leadoff spot……And this is not a KJ thing……….I mean……..Im OK with him, as far as he is hitting 6 or 7th, he will go below the mendoza line tomorrow and Cox will keep him leading off……….. I dont understand………Schafer in not suitable for leading off because he is young and not mentally strong enough to carry all that responsibility………but how about KJ………..he is also young……..and he is not doing very good at dealing with the pressure……….. give the guy a break………..stop overexposing him, let him relax and hit 6th.
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
11:22 pm
Corrections !! It seems like Chipper cares !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
11:22 pm
Very interesting stuff RANDOM…….
Chop Chop
April 27th, 2009
11:24 pm
Here is my translation of Chipper’s comments:
“Kelly, Yunel, and Moylan? Eat it.”
Carroll Rogers
April 27th, 2009
11:26 pm
Couple more stats for ya: Four of the Braves 10 losses this year have been by one run (Oh no, not that again!)
David Ross has a hit in six of his seven starts. He’s also 3-for-5 throwing out baserunners.
Kotchman now has five multi-hit games this season, which is tied for tops on the team with Chipper and Francoeur.
The Braves have scored two runs or less eight times this season….And not surprisingly are 1-7 in those games.
And I, as some have apparently figured out, am 1-5 on the beat this year. I will happily take some serious time off if you guys would like!!
Nite all!
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
11:32 pm
Thanks ! I told you forgive my spelling ! I’m ANGRY !!!
Dumbfounded
April 27th, 2009
11:37 pm
Don’t go Carroll ! What did Popeye have to say about his team tonight ?!! Never mine ! It would make me Angry !!!
scottbravesfan
April 27th, 2009
11:45 pm
The Braves have got to get some clutch hitting going on. Too many runners left on base.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
April 27th, 2009
11:46 pm
Guys, Kelly Johnson has the photos of Bobby with the goat this year, passed down thru the years from Keith Lockhart, Chris Woodward, Corky Miller, etc. so he’s gonna play regardless. Terry Pendleton has copies also so he is immune from criticism about this crappy offense we trot out there. No power, no situational hitting, no working the count, and who the hell is our baserunning coach, most boneheaded baserunning team I’ve seen since the Stevie Wonder/Ray Charles Traveling All-Stars.
Frank from KS
April 27th, 2009
11:47 pm
Carroll
If I might ask…….how long ya been at the AJC? Since 91 when the Braves started the run of division titles?
scottbravesfan
April 27th, 2009
11:50 pm
Bobby Cox won’t mess with the linup it’s Bobby Cox. The guy is as conservative as they came. The Braves would have to lose 20 games in a row before he would think something is wrong with the lineup. Kelly has to get out of the lead off spot and Yunel needs to learn to work a freaking count. The guy swings at the first pitch so many times it’s ridiculous. I was watching the Red Sox work the counts last night and was wishing the Braves could just do half of that they would have a much better offense. Because no one is going to be hitting three run home runs so they better be manufacturing runs as often as possible. Schafer needs to get on and they need to let him run see if he can steal some bases.
scottbravesfan
April 27th, 2009
11:52 pm
I also think it’s time to ax Pendleton. Get Don Baylor back that guy was awesome as hitting coach.
mets fan in atlanta
April 27th, 2009
11:56 pm
Random,
So you’re saying after all that, the only two starts that Kawakami has allowed 2 ER were against the Nationals???? What is your point? I thougth it was going to be a summarization that implied Kawakami had pitched pretty good this year, but his only two decent “quality” starts have been against the Nationals???? It will be a long season for him.
BTW, I took a break from the blog for a little while while the Braves were on that massive losing streak–i couldn’t kick you while you were down. Of course i wasn’t too happy when the Mets got swept by St Louis, but it looks like Manuel has lit a fire under the Mets starters here lately. Pelfrey went 5 2/3 innings with 2 ER, and Maine went 6 innings tonight with 0 ER. They are basically pitching for their job, and at least they are showing some pride. I don’t know still about Oliver Perez. I think it will come down to this weekend against the Phillies. If he doesn’t show something that game, i think they will send him to AAA (seriously). Word is, he’s not out of options, so he might have to do a Brett Myers.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2009
12:13 am
My lineup tomorrow would be:
Schafer… why not??
Prado… give Kelly some time to regroup
Jones
Francoeur…more of a cleanup guy than Kotch, to me anyways
Kotchman
Escobar
Ross
B.Jones…
Not Again
April 28th, 2009
12:16 am
If I recall correctly, a great mind once said Stephen
obviously wasn’t you
Daybed Wagmoe
April 28th, 2009
12:20 am
Chipper’s right, the Braves didn’t get him out 4 times in any of the 7 games the two teams played against each other last year. Hell, they only got him out 3 times in a game once.
Last time the Braves got Pujols out 4 times in a game was August 26, 2007, when he couldn’t get a hit off Smoltz.
P-Town Brave (Pleading for DRASTIC Change)
April 28th, 2009
12:23 am
Ouch…there goes Chipper, throwing guys under the bus again, which would be fine, but I don’t exactly see him tearing the cover off the ball, nor does it look like he even cares…
Maybe its just his personality type, but he gave away 2 AB’s tonight and was just real ho-hum about it on his way back to the dugout…
Not like Yunel or Martin or even Casey who throws his bat ocassionally when he gets frustrated over missing a pitch or a really bad AB…
No, I tend to group Chipper right in with Kelly…which reminds me…
Does anyone have the proper medication for Kelly’s bipolar bat?! Anyone…Bueller….Bueller?
Speaking of meds….maybe someone can give Bobby something that can either bring him back to reality and 2009 or at least knock him out long enough to find someone who knows where reality is located…
Hey don’t worry folks, there’s always tomorrow…Bobby will get it all fixed up for ya…Here’s your lineup for the Tues night game….trust Bobby, it’ll work:
Johnson
Escobar
Jones
Kotchman
Francoeur
Diaz
Ross
Schafer
Wait, that looks familiar you say…what the quote…
If it ain’t broke…no no, thats not it…
Oh yeah…I’m Bobby Cox, I will do whatever the h*ll I want! The only way they’ll replace me is if I die…and one last one…
I’m gonna ride this MF’er til the wheels fall off!
ATTN BOBBY: The wheels are on fire, the car is incinerated, and the wreckage looks almost as bad as Carl Edwards’ car did on Sunday.
That is all!
P-Town Brave (Pleading for DRASTIC Change)
April 28th, 2009
12:25 am
Carroll-
The only people around here that NEED to take some time off are Kelly Johnson, Kenshin Kawakami, Bobby Cox, Terry Pendleton, and Brian Snitker.
P-Town Brave (Pleading for DRASTIC Change)
April 28th, 2009
12:29 am
Not Really A Rant-
Classic stuff! And the most logical and BEST post of the night…
Can’t argue w/ any of it because it really speaks for itself…all true!
Once again, GREAT post!
Not Again
April 28th, 2009
12:30 am
I’m angry damn IT !! Dumbfounded
aw, I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe mommy will kiss it and make it all better.
Jake W.
April 28th, 2009
12:30 am
mets fan in atlanta
If you’re gonna point out Kawakami’s starts against the Nationals I think its only fair to point out that the last start by Pelfrey and those 2 ER were also against the Nationals. I guess its gonna be a long season for everybody then.
Coach (2010 or bust)
April 28th, 2009
12:33 am
Chipper Jones understands more about what’s wrong with this team than anybody. He was around when the Braves were the beast of the east. The Hall of Fame switch hitter has seen feast and now famine. It would be wise to listen.
Dumbfounded
April 28th, 2009
12:36 am
Ha ! Ha ! That was so funny I forgot to laugh !!!!
Chop Chop
April 28th, 2009
12:39 am
Coach,
It would be interesting if other guys on the team (like some of the fans) looked at Chipper’s comments and said, “What the hell does he know? He only has one ring.”
Coach (2010 or bust)
April 28th, 2009
12:41 am
Hey KC, care to draw anymore comparisons between this Braves team and the Yankees of the 90’s?
Not Again
April 28th, 2009
12:41 am
Ha ! Ha ! That was so funny I forgot to laugh !!!! Dumbfounded
you mean she didn’t? Wow she’s a toughie. Maybe your daddy will kiss it and make it all better if you ask real sweet? Surely somebody in your family cares about you? Maybe they are just as tired of hearing you whine as the board denizens are?
Not Again
April 28th, 2009
12:43 am
Once again, GREAT post! PTOWN
only if you’re an idiot
Dumbfounded
April 28th, 2009
12:46 am
Yes ! I’m her ! So talk that sh!t to me !!!
Jake W.
April 28th, 2009
12:46 am
On what Chipper said, I think he’s dead on. He’s not putting the blame on just Yunel and Kelly, when he says the top of the order is struggling I think he is including himself too. Jair Jurrjens did a great job with this lineup and he didn’t look to have his best stuff. Not to mention the staff as a whole kept Pujols in check. This team is shooting themselves in the foot more than they are helping themselves. You don’t walk the pitcher or the guy hitting right before Pujols for the fact. Molina is one of the best defensive catchers in the game so you might not want to wander to far off base. This offense isn’t even playing mediocre its playing horrible in so many facets of the game. Makes you wonder if we only did the little things right like good baserunning , good defense, and get them on, get them over, get them in. But we can’t do that. Teams like the Cardinals are good enough. They don’t need our help.
Coach (2010 or bust)
April 28th, 2009
12:48 am
Chop Chop, what’s even more interesting is since Chipper signed his new contract extension, Hoss knows he has the freedom to rip people. Chipper is the Braves version of E.F. Hutton, when the Hall of fame leader speaks, you better damn well listen.
mets fan in atlanta
April 28th, 2009
12:52 am
Um, good point, i suppose, but at least Maine did his against the Marlins tonight, but I am definitely encouraged by Pelfrey considering he’s 2-0 and not feeling pain anymore….
toothy leary
April 28th, 2009
12:54 am
the braves problem is they need more male bonding they need to go camping and construct a smoke lodge and form a drum circle and sing and learn to trust one another to embrace each other and to embrace and trust in their leader, the chief the medicine man the authority for he is the one true man among men
PWHjort
April 28th, 2009
12:55 am
I’m pretty sure Chipper’s baserunning comments are directed at Escobar and his not producing at the top of the line-up comments are directed at Kelly.
MariettaDerek
April 28th, 2009
12:57 am
That game was definitely NOT double pits to chesty.
Chop Chop
April 28th, 2009
12:58 am
I think we need another bench-clearing incident. Maybe having one of those every other day might fix the problems with this club.
toothy leary
April 28th, 2009
12:59 am
if i were kelly johnson what would i be a strange quark? an egyptian? an armadillo? a texas ranger? a stranger? a bear with scabby claws? bad hands? bad breath? distressed and bankrupt? living in the street? alone? nothing to look back on? no history? no gameplan? a mendoza imposter? running from the law? afraid? do don’t to me for help you swine i want you gone
Not Again
April 28th, 2009
1:00 am
Yes ! I’m her ! So talk that sh!t to me
you should be nicer to your child and coax him/her into feeling better after the big bad Braves hurt his/her puny little feelings and cause more teen angst.
toothy leary
April 28th, 2009
1:01 am
my lawyer advises me to watch what i say but in order to do that i have to first write it down and then i watch it i watch so that i don’t say something i regret like the braves are the worst team in baseball no i’m exaggerating they are only the fourth worst team in baseball there i said it now can they sue me
toothy leary
April 28th, 2009
1:03 am
chipper reminds me of chipper shredder and what happened to steve buscemi in fargo in the snow and marge gunderson got there too late to save him like the braves they have no one to get saves cause they can’t seem to get a lead