Chipper: Win was like ’90s

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1,712 comments Add your comment

AdirondackDave

April 30th, 2009
3:44 pm

Piedmont Blues — Yeah, I agree, it’s probably very unlikely the Pads would want to deal Gonzalez. Still, if I were FW I’d be trying to find a combination that would at least get their attention. If the Braves want to make a run this year or next, seems to me they can’t rely on Kotch, Diaz, GA, or Francoeur too provide the offense they need.

dogsbrekky

April 30th, 2009
3:44 pm

I was watching the Communist Network Broadcasting Company (CNBC) this morning and they proclaimed the recession may be over

The next story I watched on FOX was about the Chrysler Ch 11

but that’s enough finance and happiness for one day

Chop Chop

April 30th, 2009
3:44 pm

Oh, there’s plenty of Kool-Aid available, scoots. Turn that frown upside down.

FTBITTTD

April 30th, 2009
3:45 pm

Kelly Johnson and Casey Kotchman would be highly regarded on a team that had an abundance of power. On a team void of any power, they stick out like sore thumbs because A) Kotchman’s position is normally a power hitting players spot and B) most expected Kelly to round into a semi-complete player by now.

And how many home runs did the OF hit last year? 30 maybe? We are probably on track to hit less than that this year. Amazing.

Bobby's Belly

April 30th, 2009
3:45 pm

KK, GA, and Tommy G. could have bought Abreu and Ibanez. Instead, we got a guy who is destined to be a garbage time reliever, a guy who does not want to be here, and a guy who struggles to brush his teeth.

dogsbrekky

April 30th, 2009
3:46 pm

Am I still retarded or have I NOT seen Casey Casem hit many doubles in the last week (added to his 300 average),

Why is anyone suggesting he is NOT pulling his weight at 1st base

Plus his fielding has been SPECTACULAR

Chop Chop

April 30th, 2009
3:47 pm

CNBC is communist?

MFin04

April 30th, 2009
3:48 pm

TnBrian – what’s the joke? People on here can take a joke.

cphizzle

April 30th, 2009
3:48 pm

he aint drivin in the runs a la the other night with the sacks packed he poped out to right field…he can hit singles all day but hes got to hit them when they count as well

blueridge

April 30th, 2009
3:49 pm

1. schafer- cf
2. kotchman- 1b
3. infante- ss
4. chipper- 3b
5. ross- c
6. b.jones- lf
7. prado- 2b
8. frenchy- rf

Loaf Garret on a blackberry from the bank

April 30th, 2009
3:52 pm

I love it here! Plenty of banks to put all my money in. Even though I now only use 48 banks because of the sweet new FDIC insured limit.

ncgary

April 30th, 2009
3:52 pm

its the end of the month, and quotas must be met

PWHjort

April 30th, 2009
3:52 pm

If we acquired Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres, and It’d take a King’s ransom plus them being out of contention, like Chop Chop said, Kotchman isn’t something they’d be interested in getting in return. They want cheap players, not arb-eligible players.

dogsbrekky

April 30th, 2009
3:53 pm

Chop Chop – I thought that’s what CNBC stood for yes/no ?

Actually I am still retarded. I just traded Manny for Lowe and Vazquez cause my fantasy pitching sucks, then I realised my hr and rbi numbers suck as well………

oh dear !

On another note, the kid in CF has adapted well to some early fielding blunders and is taking some great at bats to get those BB, anyone else agree

TnBrian

April 30th, 2009
3:53 pm

MFin04, ole’ Lew might get offended and it’s a pretty nasty joke anyways. Lew is such a party pooper! :roll:

Piedmont Blues (formerly BravesFan InRockies)

April 30th, 2009
3:53 pm

cphizzle,

They’re asking Kotchman to fill a role that he’s not really capable of handling — be a run producer who provides lots of power in the middle of the order. Says more about the shortcomings of the roster (or Bobby’s lack of creativity as a manager) than it does about Kotchman’s talent. You wouldn’t put Yunel in the cleanup spot, for that matter, unless you really didn’t have any other options.

Which makes you wonder why Chipper’s not hitting 4th. But that’s me.

Run Heap Run

April 30th, 2009
3:54 pm

Some idiot at work told that “joke” earlier. It’s super lame and super unfunny and is so stupid you have to explain it. Sounds like a 10 year old wrote it.

DawgFan

April 30th, 2009
3:54 pm

Any word on the Richie Sexson signing?

monty

April 30th, 2009
3:54 pm

More stats:

The Marlins have only scored one more run than their opponents have.Yet they have a 5 game differential between wins and losses. They have been out hit for avg., opponents have a higher OBP.,but they do have a huge differential over their opponents in HR’s by 11.

The Phillies have been outblasted by their opponents in HR’s by 11 and they have outslugged the Phillies, and hit for higher avg. As a team they are only batting .244.(low) The Phillies have though scored more runs than their opponents and have the biggest differential in that dept. in the East.

What to make of all of that? Maybe the Braves aren’t quite the impotent team everyone make them out to be,(including myself) but the bottom line seems to be something you can’t put your finger on. Something intangible. Like “timely hitting” when it means something. The Phillies and Marlins are 2 teams that you would think would have big numbers over their opponents in hitting but they don’t, the Braves(who everyone thinks can’t hit their way out of a wet paper sack) have the numbers hitting wise over their opponents but are behind those 2 teams in wins and losses. If the stat that meant the most was RS versus RA then the Marlins shouldn’t be in 1st place.

If Hr’s were the most important stat then the Phillies shouldn’t be only a 1 1/2 games out of 1st. Of course pitching has to be factored in, but my point is that the Braves have outhit and outslugged opponents(which I never would have guessed)but they haven’t outscored them, which speaks to me of taking advantage of opportunities.

Chop Chop

April 30th, 2009
3:55 pm

Gotta love Cot’s Baseball Contracts, man. They really bring it.

For example, you can bookmark this link if you want to know what the Braves are currently obligated to pay for ‘09 through ‘13.

Piedmont Blues (formerly BravesFan InRockies)

April 30th, 2009
3:55 pm

dogsbrekky,

Yeah, I’m impressed with the toughness Schafer has shown and the adjustments he’s made. Kid’s banged up, too.

dogsbrekky

April 30th, 2009
3:55 pm

cphizzle – point taken about Casey Casem

DAP

April 30th, 2009
3:55 pm

hopeful when all our guys are back and healthy, the offense will be good enough to keep us from longing for a trade of some kind.

as bad as our offense has been, weve been very close to winning many of the games we lost, which means one or two good hits would have won us some games. having mccann and anderson might make up that slight difference.

TnBrian

April 30th, 2009
3:56 pm

PWHjort, i’m sure ole’ Towers would seriously consider a Freeman/Rohrbough/Hernandez type deal for Gonzalez and maybe a low minor league pitcher.

TnBrian

April 30th, 2009
3:57 pm

Run Heap Run, did it have to do with slavery?

dogsbrekky

April 30th, 2009
3:58 pm

Seriously, if Richie Sexson ends up in Atlanta I will just give up

Guy sucks major time.

Then again I didnt want Swisher either this year and we see him carving up some AL BEAST pitching

shelbydawkins

April 30th, 2009
4:00 pm

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0902/mlb.alex.rodriguez.headlines/content.2.html

a little old but worth rehashing due to the current situation. Wonder how much of that 10 yrs he’ll be able to play?

dogsbrekky

April 30th, 2009
4:00 pm

A dopey question – Can a team acquire another team’s player for cash considerations only (like in the European soccer)……

Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!

April 30th, 2009
4:01 pm

FYI does anyone else work in an office where there co workers have very stupid laughs?

Chop Chop

April 30th, 2009
4:02 pm

Yeah, dogsbrekky. If a lot of cash is involved, Selig would have to approve it. Otherwise, sure.

DawgFan

April 30th, 2009
4:05 pm

NCphil, I kind of agree with you. Richie Sexson could add a lot of power off the bench and play a little 1st on Kotchman’s days off. Wren at least has to consider that.

Lew

April 30th, 2009
4:06 pm

TnBrian-I might get p!$$ed off? Why? Because you might mention Obama?

You seriously don’t get it, do you? I’ve never said one way or another what candidate, party, or political persuasion I might agree with or vote for because We Aren’t Supposed To Talk Politics On The Blog-it’s the prime directive-printed at the top of every blog page. The fact that you were talking politics a week or so ago was why I got upset, not because of any political view you might have. Quite honestly, I don’t care enough about you to give a damn one way or another what affiliation you might have. To me you’re nothing but an anonymous blogger who I probably won’t ever meet, who makes statements I tend to ignore most of the time, rather than to get into an argument with you.

jonatuga

April 30th, 2009
4:10 pm

I heard an obaba/swine flu joke but it wasn’t nasty or funny. Had to do with pigs flyin.

RC

April 30th, 2009
4:10 pm

dogsbrekky ,

I think a trade can be done for cash, but only in very small amounts, like with a non-prospect minor leaguer. If the $$ is over a certain amount (I think it’s $1 million) then it has to be approved by the commissioner’s office, and they try to only allow those if it’s to pay off the contract for one of the traded players (like how the Braves received cash in the Hampton and Kotsay trades).

Chop Chop

April 30th, 2009
4:10 pm

Lew,

That’s such a cynical viewpoint.

(Oh, and I thought you said you had some metal to e-mail me about, dude. I need some new metal to balance this new Dylan out.)

AdirondackDave

April 30th, 2009
4:12 pm

Dogsbrekky — I believe if 1M or more changes hands the commissioner has to approve.

TnBrian

April 30th, 2009
4:12 pm

Lew, you’ve singled me and only me out when that “p” word floats around here once in a blue moon. You know what…nevermind! :mad:

ncscoots

April 30th, 2009
4:12 pm

Jonah Keri at SI.com has been cribbing my notes again, LOL:

Amid all this teeth-gnashing, nail-biting and name-cursing, perspective gets tossed out the window. A team’s preseason expectations are trashed. A player’s track record is discarded. Events that might otherwise be considered simple anomalies suddenly take on the weight of the world…

Putting too much credence into 20 games’ worth of results is a great way to be proven spectacularly wrong later…

Above all, the rush to judgment might simply be caused by our collective impulse to attach meaning to all of life’s events — doubly so on the baseball field…Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with a pitcher’s mechanics, nothing noteworthy about a hitter’s power outage, nothing revolutionary about a ballpark, and nothing special about a hot-starting team. As unsatisfying as it is to say it, sometimes stuff just happens.

Lew

April 30th, 2009
4:14 pm

ChopChop-Cynical, but that’s how I feel about it all.

My wife just had surgery on her foot and with all the running around to doctors and whatnot and taking care of her while she’s immobile, I haven’t gotten around to the email-but I will. I’m NEVER cynical about good hard rock.

Knowitall

April 30th, 2009
4:15 pm

When did 12 homeruns become a lot of power?

MFin04

April 30th, 2009
4:15 pm

With that being said…whats the joke TnBrian….apparently he won’t be offended. Jokes and politics are two completely different things anyways.

Lew

April 30th, 2009
4:15 pm

TnBrian-Never mind works for me. You’re upset because I said something to you a couple weeks ago and never referenced you since? Dude, get over yourself. You aren’t all that insightful to begin with.

cphizzle

April 30th, 2009
4:16 pm

my thing with the clean up spot is give somebody else a shot at it. i like chipper in the 3rd spot, so i am sayin whats in gonna hurt to give francouer a shot at it. i believe he is the only one we got left to possibly fill that hole

TnBrian

April 30th, 2009
4:17 pm

Lew, one more thing… if you seriously judge whether or not you like somebody as a person from a sports blog, you need to get out more. That just doesn’t sound right to me. Good day!

MFin04

April 30th, 2009
4:18 pm

Anyone…watching the Rangers game? Pitcher…Guardado just got pulled from the game…then argued with the Ump…then got thrown out for aruging the strike zone…LOL…not really sure that effects him too much now does it? It was hilarious…he was waving his hat around his head like a cowboy while walking to the dugout.

dogsbrekky

April 30th, 2009
4:21 pm

Cash trades – thanks for the info

Kind of makes sense, otherwise the evil empire would have bought everyone by now, won another 3 WS and then filed Chapter 11 after their overpriced, overhyped, phallic structure of a stadium busted what was left of their ass

I am loving that Tex is hitting under 200 though, puncy, over-rated girl

TnBrian

April 30th, 2009
4:21 pm

Lew, you ask me something about stats or any other BS like that, no, I’m not insightful. You ask me something I’ve observed simply from relating what I see now and in the past, I think I’m right on at least 90% of the time. Good day!

Andy K.

April 30th, 2009
4:24 pm

wonder if anything is up….

MFin04

April 30th, 2009
4:28 pm

They asked ARod if he had been truthful about all his comments in the off-season and in his interviews and he replies with “I’m not going there”. Why can’t you just say “Yes, I told the truth”…and let it go. Sad sad little boy who never grew up.

Kim

April 30th, 2009
4:29 pm

I posted some more of “The Most Interesting Man in the World” quotes. Obviously it’s not going to show up. I won’t bother re-posting unless you folks want them.

;-(

DirtyDawg

April 30th, 2009
4:30 pm

The thing about jokes about Obama is that they aren’t funny because you know they aren’t true. Unlike jokes about Bush. The weren’t funny because you knew they were.

TnBrian

April 30th, 2009
4:31 pm

Andy K., you refering to why DOB isn’t posting and maybe Wren is looking to sign someone? If you are, I have a feeling something will happen soon. Sexson might not be far off target either.

mbatl

April 30th, 2009
4:31 pm

Just noticed this quote from Padres CEO Jeff Moorad (from mlbtr):

When asked about the idea of signing Adrian Gonzalez to an extension in 2010, Moorad replied, “Why wait until 2010?”

Doesn’t sound like the Pads are too eager to trade Gonzalez.

AdirondackDave

April 30th, 2009
4:34 pm

Wonder if the A’s could be tempted to let Matt Holliday go… he’s off to an ‘08 Andruw type start, well nobody’s every been quite that bad, but still looks like he needs new scenery. Maybe Diaz, Morton, and any 3-4 prospects not named Hanson, Heyward, and Freeman? Hope FW is working the phone these days.

DawgFan

April 30th, 2009
4:34 pm

Brian, I agree. If Wren was smart he has to be looking at a big bat like Sexson.

nolie

April 30th, 2009
4:34 pm

(BILL M)

Cody Johnson is about 4th or on the ouitfield depth chart and there is no way he is coming to the big club in less than 3 years if ever.

MFin04

April 30th, 2009
4:35 pm

Andruw just put his arm around the ump to ask him about a pitch…that was low that he called a strike. It was hilarious. Friendly disagreement, lol.

ncscoots

April 30th, 2009
4:38 pm

ADave, you do know that the guy is a Scott Boras free agent this year, right? Who is going through a horrendous start in his first year away from Coors (so much for new scenery)? What exactly is there in that confluence of circumstances that makes you think he’s worth a half-team of prospects?

Macon Braves (RIP)

April 30th, 2009
4:40 pm

How the heck is Sexson a “big bat”. Guy hit .220 last year with 12 homeruns in 96 games. Not to mention the huge drop-off in defense that would be at first if he replaced Kotchman. No way is Richie Sexson the answer.

Macon Braves (RIP)

April 30th, 2009
4:43 pm

And in 2007, Sexson hit .205 with 21 HR’s and 63 RBI’s in 121 games. Get off the Sexson thing people, the guy is not a good player.

Lew

April 30th, 2009
4:43 pm

ChopChop-If I have the correct address, then you should have mail.

nolie

April 30th, 2009
4:44 pm

would think they would draft a 3b before a SS (Mitchie-san)

There are no decent 3rd basemen available to go high in the draft, and SS are often converted to 3rd basemen after drafted if they show the size. Most teams, including the Braves, do not usually draft by position anyway unless there is someone available whom they are certain can step into the bigs in a very shorttime. It is usually the “best available player” left because it takes so long to develop most players, in the 3-5 years it often takes, positional need can change. There is a very good SS in the draft but it is unlikely he waill last till the Braves selection turn. They shoulda lost a lot more games last year.

AdirondackDave

April 30th, 2009
4:45 pm

Mbatl — One the other hand, a contract-extended Gonzalez would net Moorad that much more in a trade. Everybody has a price they say… and the Braves have a lot of roster and prospect talent, or so it seems anyway. I just hope FW is working on some things and they don’t include Hanson and Heyward. I hated to see Flowers go but it helped get us Javy. Seems to me the Braves aren’t really going anywhere this year without a real cleanup hitter to help Chipper and Mac.

mbatl

April 30th, 2009
4:46 pm

Where is the Sexson talk coming from? Is that just (no offense) some blogger’s suggestion, or is it a real rumor?

Huge, huge mistake if the Braves are thinking of that. .211/.306/.392 in 217 games over his last 2 years, and no job offers in ‘09, suggest to me that maybe Richie is done. (but, he’d probably hit a home run once in a while – woohoo!)

MFin04

April 30th, 2009
4:47 pm

Is Pujols available? He had a horrible series in Atlanta…maybe they’d put him on the block?

Run Heap Run

April 30th, 2009
4:47 pm

TnBrian 3:57 – Oh no, must have been a different joke.

Andy K.

April 30th, 2009
4:49 pm

TnBrian, yes that was what I was referring to. And I THINK i have a solution, Sign Sexson, and send Norton to AAA to try and find his swing, and play everyday. Then, use a Kotchman and Sexson platoon, and see who does better. When Norton is ready, make a decision.

Chop Chop

April 30th, 2009
4:50 pm

Got it…and replied, Lew.

ncscoots

April 30th, 2009
4:51 pm

Geez louise, do you guys remember ever hearing of a trade for an established player in blinkin’ May?!? Ever wonder why that is?

Moby Grape

April 30th, 2009
4:52 pm

Finally, you can’t use “Bobby didn’t want to burn out the bullpen” excuse either. Seeing that today is an off day, eh. (JEFF321)

Exactly the type of statement that Bill James labeled as made only by amateurs, not by people who have any knowledge or experience. but hey, no surprise

AdirondackDave

April 30th, 2009
4:52 pm

ncscoots — Just throwing out ideas here. Main thing, seems to me anyway, if that the Braves need at least one more big bat to be serious about the playoffs. I don’t think GA adds much even if he’s healthy. You have any thoughts on strengthing the offense?

PWHjort

April 30th, 2009
4:54 pm

TnBrian,
I wouldn’t support trading Freeman for Adrian Gonzalez, it’d be a bad financial move, plus we can’t break up the Salt & Pepper duo (joke). Additionally, the Padres have a stud 1B prospect that’s nearly MLB ready named Kyle Blanks, so netting a 1B prospect probably isn’t something they’d be interested in. Something like Hernandez, Rohrbough, and 1-2 of the Rome/Danville starters (Delgado, Teheran, DeVall, Spruill, Pruneda, or Osuna) would probably be a better swap for both organizations.

ncscoots

April 30th, 2009
4:55 pm

ADave, I do, but it’s unlikely that any here want to hear them. Seeing as how they mostly center around waiting, LOL.

Macon Braves (RIP)

April 30th, 2009
4:55 pm

AndyK–Maybe you should RETHINK that solution. Hmmmm, do we want a guy that has hit .211 over the last two seasons (with very little power the times he did mangage to get a hit and not strikeout) or a guy that is currently hitting .303 (though admittedly no power) and plays Gold Glove defense?? Is that really that tough of a decision?

Efrim

April 30th, 2009
4:56 pm

Teams usually wait until June 1st. Most teams probably look internally to fill needs on the big league roster before looking outside of the organization. Especially this early in the season. Wait until June 1st. That’s a large enough sample size to determine what you need. 50-60 games.

PWHjort

April 30th, 2009
4:57 pm

I saw that mbatl. I just can’t dismiss the thought that if they’re out of contention and Kyle Blanks is playing well at AAA (he’s currently hitting .319/.430/.528 with 4 HR in 84 PA’s), they’ll want to move Adrian Gonzalez’s admittedly small salary to save a few pennies.

AdirondackDave

April 30th, 2009
4:57 pm

nscoots — as in waiting for Heyward, Hanson, and Freeman?

AustinBrave

April 30th, 2009
4:58 pm

How about a trade for Helton from Colorado for Kotchman if he could get us thru this year we would have Freeman next year. We need some pop somewhere. Maybe Dye for Francouer we would have Heyward next year.

MFin04

April 30th, 2009
5:00 pm

On a scale of 1-10 the offense is currently operated at what? 2 or 3? With a healthy Chipper, GA, and McCann…that should move it up quite a bit. If KJ eventually gets going or some combo of Prado/Infante/KJ/Esco get going the offense should score a lot of runs…dont you think?

ncscoots

April 30th, 2009
5:02 pm

ADave, no, as in waiting for the current members of the roster to return to their norms. If these guys are all hitting .200 in June, that’s another story. But they won’t be, and it won’t be. That so many folks (not you) ignore that just befuddles me.

Andy K.

April 30th, 2009
5:03 pm

How about we solve the early problem internally? Call up 1B-Barbaro Canizares! AND, on the plus side, he’s Cuban, which gives Esco someone to relate with, and maybe that would help him.

PWHjort

April 30th, 2009
5:03 pm

Todd Helton is under contract at 16 + million dollars until 2011 with an option for 2012, so no.

Doc Holiday

April 30th, 2009
5:04 pm

I read that 3 minutes ago………cards want to trade pujols because he was horrible against braves……

nolie

April 30th, 2009
5:05 pm

I say trade Kelly for a dozen bats, if you can’t get at least that just shoot him in the head and put us all out of our misery. worthless no good Braves wrecker. And that damn Yunel better pick it up soon too.

CorkylikesBeer

April 30th, 2009
5:05 pm

Chop…isn’t gonzo a free agent next year?

zmerk13

April 30th, 2009
5:06 pm

CorkylikesBeer– yes he is

CorkylikesBeer

April 30th, 2009
5:07 pm

Gonzo and soriano will have a great years since it is contract years…perhaps we can trade both at the deadline

Lew

April 30th, 2009
5:08 pm

Considering that Helton is making over $15 mil this year and Dye another $11.5, I find it extremely doubtful the Braves would take on that kind of salary.

The Real Question

April 30th, 2009
5:08 pm

People keep saying wait for 2010. Problem is, Heyward and Freeman will be in Double-A to start the season. Gorkys Hernandez is a centerfielder and not a corner outfielder. Not to mention he will still need more seasoning in Triple-A. Hanson will be up by then, so the starting pitching should be strong. The bullpen will lose Soriano and Gonzalez. The Braves will still need a left fielder, closer, possible upgrades in RF, 2B, SS, and 1B.

Shouldn’t we really be saying, let’s wait until 2011?

Lew

April 30th, 2009
5:10 pm

nolie-I hear they’re setting up those scaffolds and chopping blocks in the on deck circles right now for the in-game player executions. They’re still looking for a headsman. Probably be a few volunteers here on the blog.

Comrade Cox

April 30th, 2009
5:11 pm

From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

Let’s face it comrade Chipper doesn’t need much. So we decided to give 90% of his salary to comrade Garret Anderson who is actually VERY needy.

And from now on everyone must get their hands dirty. We will start rotating the catcher position (the MOST proletarian position on the team) among ALL players. Tomorrow, comrade Escobar will do the catching.

Onward, for the glory of the team!

DawgFan

April 30th, 2009
5:11 pm

Helton and Kotchman are almost the same player.

BaseKnock

April 30th, 2009
5:12 pm

Yeah, Andy. Gotta sign Richie Sexson!

Comrade Cox

April 30th, 2009
5:13 pm

Comrades Wren and Scheurholz will be raking the infield tomorrow, after they return from their re-education classes.

CorkylikesBeer

April 30th, 2009
5:13 pm

Will anyone on the team hit 30 hrs this year?

Lew

April 30th, 2009
5:14 pm

corkylikesbeer-Dude, if Gonzo and Soriano are having great years at the trade deadline, we will likely be in contention for our division title. Why would we trade them under those circumstances? Seems that would certainly doom us to no playoffs.

Why don’t we wait a little past the 1/10th portion of the season before we start advocating trading players and trying to decide on next year’s lineup?

BaseKnock

April 30th, 2009
5:15 pm

Corky, Sexson would hit 30 homers.

Chop Chop

April 30th, 2009
5:17 pm

Eat this post, blog.

Micah Bowie

April 30th, 2009
5:17 pm

Comrade Cox

April 30th, 2009
5:17 pm

We next confront the Houston Astros.

WE WILL BURY THEM!

Their cosmonauts are inferior.

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