Braves face Hampton, Astros
This probably isn’t the best way to get folks flocking to the old ballpark during a recession: The Braves have hit .220 with one homer while going 1-5 in their past six home games, including five homerless games in a row entering tonight’s series opener against the Astros.
The good thing is, there will be fireworks tonight, guaranteed.
Well, almost guaranteed. There’s always the chance that the weekly Friday night postgame fireworks could get squelched by rain or a rain delay that pushes the game to midnight and brings a city ordinance banning post-midnight fireworks.
But what about in-game explosions of the hitting kind? The Braves (and their pitching staff) could use some run support including perhaps a few long balls.
Three homers in 291 at-bats at home this season. That’s it. That’s the Braves’ total output, and it’s the fewest home-park homers in the majors in 2009.
The first two pitchers going for the Astros aren’t the ones you’d pick first if you wanted an opponent who serves up homers aplenty. Mike Hampton tonight and Roy Oswalt on Saturday.
Hampton returns
Oh, had we failed to mention that ol’ “Hampy” is starting tonight for the Astros? Oh, yes, the lefty returns to Atlanta, where I’m quite sure the reception is going to be … well, interesting.
As most of you are fully aware, Hampton spent the past six seasons with the Braves, about half of that time on the disabled list for a litany of injuries and two elbow surgeries.
But he finally got healthy last summer and posted a 3.72 ERA with eight quality starts in his last nine games. He was 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 starts for the Braves last season.
The Braves hoped to re-sign him to an incentive-laden one-year deal.
He said late in the season that he was appreciative of the Braves’ patience in him through his injuries, and that he would consider that when weighing free-agent offers after the season. Gave some indication he’d like to stay.
In the end, however, he agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with Houston, taking less money than the Braves offered. Wanted to be closer to his children in Arizona, according to several people familiar with his family situation. (He was working through a divorce during his entire last season with the Braves.)
I was told that Hampton also wanted to be around former Astros teammates, guys closer to his age like Jeff Bagwell, who’s still living in Houston and has a front-office role with the team.
Hampton pitched for the Astros for six seasons (1995-99), including his 22-4 season in 1999 when he was the Cy Young Award runner-up to Randy Johnson.
The Braves paid the left-hander $48.5 million over six seasons, during which he made 85 starts and went 35-24 with a 4.10 ERA in 509-2/3 innings.
That worked out to … working on my adding machine here … about $570,000 per start, $1.39 million per win, or $95,160 per inning, although insurance paid portions of his salary while on the DL.
Hampton made a total of $78.5 million during that six-year stretch, the rest of it paid by the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins as part of the three-team trade that brought him to Atlanta in November 2002.
He signed a then-record eight-year, $121 million contract with Colorado before the 2001 season, and was traded after two disappointing seasons in Denver.
After going 63-31 with a 3.30 ERA in 133 starts over the four seasons before he signed that huge contract, Hampton was 56-52 with a 4.81 ERA in 147 starts during the eight-year megadeal.
He’s 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts this season for the Astros, and he allowed 16 hits and seven runs in 12-1/3 innings of his past two starts, getting no decisions in home losses to Milwaukee and Cincinnati.
The reason I said he’s not the one you’d pick to hit homers against: The sinkerballer has only given up 22 homers in 294 innings at Turner Field, where he’s 19-16 with a 3.70 ERA in 47 starts.
Possible good sign for the Braves: Lefties are hitting .304 against him this season, albeit in only 23 at-bats.
Chipper Jones is 19-for-50 (.380) with one homer, five walks and two strikeouts against Hampton. But only three other active Braves have faced the lefty, none with more than six at-bats against him.
♣ Power drought: The Braves have hit eight homers during their current 5-10 slide, after hitting 10 in their first six games (5-1).
You might be surprised at one of the four NL teams that’s hit fewer homers than the Braves — the Mets, with 13. Only the Giants have hit fewer (12) than the Metropolitans.
But the Mets have also hit .285 (third in the league) with a majors-leading 11 triples, 13 stolen bases, and a .362 OBP, compared to the Braves’ .257 average with four triples, league-low four stolen bases and respectable .343 OBP.
Not that triples are overly important, but I found it interesting that 10 of the Mets’ triples have been hit at new Citi Field, where the Mets have only seven homers. We’ve heard the place plays huge, and that stat – 10 triples, seven homers — is a clear indication to me that the power alleys are, indeed, huge.
I mean, the Mets have twice as many triples at home as the next-highest NL total (San Diego’s five, also in a big park).
Hit one to the wall in the gaps or into the corners of the new Mets ballpark, and your speedier hitters can have some fun. Which might not apply so much to the Braves.
Runner steals base ... ohhh
♣ Speed talk: Speaking of speed, I know it’s a subject of much debate whenever it’s mentioned on this blog. With that in mind, and considering the Braves’ lack of stolen bases along with their lack of homers, I asked a few uniformed Braves about the importance of steals.
And before some start to recite the fact that the Braves’ division-title teams also generally were at the bottom of the league in steals, take a look at the home-run totals of some of those teams, the three or four big-time hitters that most of those teams had in the lineup, and leadoff hitters many of them had.
Anyway, the current Braves have four stolen bases, which is half as many as the next-lowest NL total by the Brewers (eight). But the Brewers also have 29 homers, which is tied for the NL high and 11 more homers than the Braves have.
So, is it important to steal bases?
• Hitting coach Terry Pendleton: “Depends on the ballclub. It’s important in advancing the runner, getting him in position to score. I like to have base stealers because it puts more pressure on [opposing] pitchers, infielders, and even the outfielders. Everybody has to be on their toes, aware of the runner.
“You’ve got to be able to put pressure on the other team. If you don’t [have base stealers] you better have some guys who can hit some doubles, or hit balls out of the park, or bunt and do the little things.”
Can a team offset a lack of speed and stolen bases?
• Chipper Jones: “You can if you execute the ABC’s of baseball — hit behind runners, get runners over, hit and run, execute bunts — you can make up for it. But if you don’t have a lot of speed and you don’t execute the ABC’s, it comes to light more often.”
Has this team executed those ABC’s?
”No,” Chipper said.
Rookie Jordan Schafer has some speed and stole some bases in the minors, but isn’t doing much of that in the Nos. 7-8 spots in the lineup, mainly for concern of making the third out and having the pitcher lead off the next inning.
I asked him about the Braves’ lack of base-stealers.
”That’s why we’ve got to do the little things right to win games,” Schafer said. “We don’t have guys who hit 40 home runs, and we don’t have guys who steal 60 bases, so we’ve got to move the runner over and do all the other little things right.
”Our starting pitching’s done awesome. We’ve just got to play good defense and play smart baseball, be unselfish, get the guy over, get every run we can.”
♣ Anyone wonder what’s become of Kerry Ligtenberg? No? Then don’t ready this story.
Alright, I’m out of time. Gotta fight Friday traffic and get to the ballpark. I wanted to share some other stats about how well the Braves have hit on first pitches and how Kelly Johnson might have some hope of ending his skid with Houston in town (he’s hit .382 with three homers in 11 games against the ‘Stros) and how Schafer’s had 10 walks in his past seven games and … well, like I’m out of time.
Digging the new Bob Dylan album, Together Through Life, particularly the cut “I Feel a Change Comin’ On” in which he says, “I’m listening to Billy Joe Shaver, and I’m reading James Joyce. Some people they tell me I’ve got the blood of the land in my voice.”
Here’s a a Dylan classic to take us out, “Every Grain of Sand” from the Shot of Love album. Oh, and check out this great slide-show presentation to accompany it, or this live video of Bob doing it, or this one of Bon Iver covering the great song. Oh, and by the way, Billy Joe Shaver’s playing Eddie’s Attic on Wednesday.
“EVERY GRAIN OF SAND” by Bob Dylan
In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed
There’s a dying voice within me reaching out somewhere
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair.
Don’t have the inclination to look back on any mistake
Like Cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break
In the fury of the moment I can see the master’s hand
In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.
Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear
Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer
The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.
I gaze into the doorway of temptation’s angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name
Then onward in my journey I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.
I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night
In the violence of a summer’s dream, in the chill of a wintry light
In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space
In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face.
I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
Sometimes I turn, there’s someone there, other time it’s only me
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand.
2,273 comments Add your comment
rich brave
May 1st, 2009
3:03 pm
I will repost from the previous blog. I want the BRAVES to pound on that $$$$ sucking, a** hole HAMPTON tonight.!!!!
rich brave
May 1st, 2009
3:04 pm
LINE-UP for this evening. INFANTE, PRADO, JONES, KOTCHMON, FRANCOUER, SCHAFER, DIAZ, ROSS, picher. GO BRAVES.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
3:07 pm
Here’s a clip of that new Dylan song, DOB:
I Feel A Change Comin’ On
The delivery on that “Billy Joe Shaver/James Joyce/Blood of the land” line is classic. It works as well with Dylan’s voice as anything he’ll ever sing.
Wayne in Utah
May 1st, 2009
3:10 pm
rich
Now how do you REALLY feel about Mike Hampton?
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
May 1st, 2009
3:11 pm
DOB do I really need to repeat this again?
Why the power drought, because we have no power hitters other than Chipper.
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
3:12 pm
Baseball America did an article about the hottest minor leaguers: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2009/268037.html
Here’s what they said about Hanson: What’s left to write about Hanson? We all know the stuff—a plus fastball, a pair of plus breaking balls and a changeup that also flashes as a quality offering—is among the best in the minors, which has led to a 1.38 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. There probably aren’t many pitchers in the major leagues with the kind of stuff that Hanson has, though his command isn’t quite where it needs to be yet.
McFann Ô
May 1st, 2009
3:15 pm
ease19–
Aw! Glad you were able to get it–wouldn’t want a vole loose in the house! So your cat is 16? If so, then he’s twice as old as Petey!
McFann Ô
May 1st, 2009
3:16 pm
Oh, and thanks for the new Blog, Chief!
Little Slow
May 1st, 2009
3:17 pm
It slips my mind who the college football coach was who made the quote, but frefering to his teams bad performances he said, “We’re little, but we’re slow!”
That’s the Braves. They are little with the bat and slow on the bases. Doesn’t win in football and it won’t win in baseball either.
rammerjammer
May 1st, 2009
3:17 pm
REALLY hope Bobby gets a wild hair and has Schafer lead off and drops Kelly to 6 or 7.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
3:18 pm
blah, blah, blah… just don’t expect much, if any, turnaround until Mac gets back in that lineup. TP sure knows how to talk the game of ABC baseball. Unfortunately, judging from these last few years, he doesn’t know how to actually get it to sink into the head of his hitters.
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
3:19 pm
nolie (if you’re here), any idea what Hanson’s K/100 rate is?
Thrillhouse44
May 1st, 2009
3:21 pm
Good to read Ligtenberg is still chasing dream. Can’t be mad at that.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
3:21 pm
McFann, you are a sweet person and smart too. But, do you really have to thank DOB for writing blogs? That’s what he gets paid to do. He has a dream job that most people would envy. No disrespect to you, just sayin.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
3:21 pm
Whatever happens with the club this year, Bob Dylan says that it’s all good.
michael
May 1st, 2009
3:27 pm
Excellent article DAVE. I’ve been preaching the lack of ABC baseball in this team for the last 3 years. Nice to see that at least Pendleton and others at least admit that the team lacks these fundamentals right now. Terry has got to be teaching the guys this huh? Wonder why they just are not getting it? Would you agree that a lot of ABC baseball includes being patient at the plate…another area where this team fall short IMO. Again…great article and thanks.
I remember watching those early 90s teams and while they did steal more than they are doing now…stealing bases was not their strong suit. Instead…playing ABC baseball was and it showed. WHY can’t this team get back to playing ABC baseball?
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
3:29 pm
Braves need to get the bats going. The pitching staff has more than shown us that they could carry this team to the playoffs if they’ll just get the run support
PMC
May 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
I’ll be shocked if he makes it to the stadium and up through the dugout with out injury. Hopefully he gets the body glide out to prevent pectoral chaffing. Hopefully he’s spending a lot more time being close to his family in Arizona since he’s so much closer to them in Houston. I guess 45 minutes of flight time was just too much for them… It’s not like he pitched in Atlanta for 2 entire years.. so I’m sure they had plenty of time to hang out toegther.
about 10 runs in 5 innings would be nice.
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
May 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
Can someone edit a wikipedia article on the “90s” and have it just totally relate to the Atlanta Braves….
90s are gone! Its 2009…2009!!!! IF were going to win we need to get back to the basis that is true Michael..
rich brave
May 1st, 2009
3:32 pm
WAYNE:
You don’t want to know how I REALLY feel about the lizard.
ease19
May 1st, 2009
3:32 pm
nscoots – in reference to my having asked about you living on borrowed time a couple of blogs ago…I probably confused you with nolie, but anyway, disparaging remarks were made one late night during spring training about McCann, and McFann woke the next morning with a ax in her hand looking for his head. It was funny cause the late nighters knew what was going to happen!
Wally Butts
May 1st, 2009
3:33 pm
You shold always have an asterisk next to “Hampton is starting tonight”
* If he doesn’t hurt himself warming up, if he doesn’t get hurt running on a treadmill, if he doesn’t get hurt getting dressed etc.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
3:35 pm
I’ve made comments about McCann before just to get a reaction out of McFann. I’ll do a post in a minute to see if I can get a reaction out of someone.
(I just want to see if this person pays attention to what I post. Get ready for it.)
michael
May 1st, 2009
3:36 pm
Those of us who lived by every pitch through the 90s…especially after following the team through the torid 70s and 80s…will never forget the 90s. It was a recipe that won games pure and simple. Strong starting pitching + good fundamental baseball + good defense won games pure and simple.
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
ease, gotcha.
Piedmont Blues (formerly BravesFan InRockies)
May 1st, 2009
3:38 pm
Hampton can’t win tonight (oh, he might post a W, but that’s not what I mean). If he pitches well, some Braves fans will say — See, he was goldbricking all along! If he gets rocked, they’ll question Houston’s sanity in signing him. Best thing for him personally might be 5-6 IP, 3-4 ER, removed for PH (except the dude can probably still swing the bat). As I said, he can’t win.
Steve
May 1st, 2009
3:39 pm
We should’ve signed Bonds
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
3:39 pm
michael, define “good fundamental baseball”, would you? Selective memory can be a tricky thing.
AustinBrave
May 1st, 2009
3:40 pm
where can I go on line and get the line up for tonight?
michael
May 1st, 2009
3:45 pm
ncscoots. Fundamental baseball to me is hitters working the count (discipline)and hitting to all parts of the field…not going up there swinging at the first pitch and trying to yank everything. Stealing a base when the opportunity arose. Getting runners into scoring position via a bunt…opposite field ground ball or whatever it took. Getting a runner over to 3rd base with less than 2 outs and then actually getting that runner in with a fly ball.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
3:45 pm
michael, “why can’t this team just go back to playing ABC baseball?” Maybe they’re just not as good as Belliard/Gant/Justice/Blauser/Grissom/Nixon and on and on. KJ and Escobar, your top of the order guys, are just plain awful at “ABC” baseball… absolutely clueless! That’s why me and 98% of the people here want a change in that lineup.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
3:45 pm
You know, the biggest problem with this club is the lack of “doing the little things” and the lack of team speed. I’m glad to see that Pendleton and Chipper seem to agree that these are problems. It just pains me whenever I see Josh Anderson’s stats with the Detroit Tigers. This kid had everything we needed, folks. Look at the steals (he has 6 SB…that’s two more than our team…enough said) he’s posted this year. The guy is flat-out tearing it up.
Check out this article where Brandon Inge extols the virtues of Josh Anderson. But nooooooooo, he couldn’t play here, could he?
Look at this quote:
When asked on Sunday if Anderson reminded him of any other players, teammate Brandon Inge said yes.
“Grandy,” he replied.
Inge wasn’t referring to Curtis Granderson’s power. (Anderson doesn’t have that.) He was instead complimenting Anderson’s character and approach to baseball – virtues for which Granderson is widely known.
“I’m talking about how he enjoys the game,” Inge said. “He doesn’t let one at-bat bring him down. That’s very key…
Leyland conceded before Sunday’s game that he can’t be certain Anderson will continue swinging the bat as well as he has. But Leyland did point out that Anderson has a good track record in the minors – a .294 average in nearly 3,000 at-bats – so it’s quite possible his average could remain near .300.
“He’s done a great job,” Leyland said.
Ain’t it funny that Jim Leyland seems to be optimistic about Josh Anderson? It would be nice if we had a manager like Jim Leyland. He understands that being able to do the little things and having team speed is a big key to winning games.
Thrillhouse44
May 1st, 2009
3:46 pm
Yes, Steve, I’m all for signing players that haven’t played in a year.
C's
May 1st, 2009
3:46 pm
Good fundamental baseball – Get the bunt down when called up, >2 outs and a runner on 2nd hit behind the runner to move him up, >2 outs and a runner on 3rd hit a deep fly ball, know the situation, watch/listen to base coaches, make the routine defensive plays, etc, etc, etc…….
RC
May 1st, 2009
3:47 pm
AustinBrave,
The quickest place to get the lineup for tonight is to wait around and keep checking this blog. DOB usually posts it as soon as he’s back from the clubhouse, so that’s more than likely the first place it’ll be available. Just make sure the post is from him and not some of the others on this blog, who routinely post the lineup they WANT to see, instead of what it actually is.
Random
May 1st, 2009
3:48 pm
Chop Chop (forthcoming) –
No way!!!
Random
May 1st, 2009
3:49 pm
Oops — too slow.
michael
May 1st, 2009
3:49 pm
TnBrian
I agree with you whole heartedly. I still think “or hope” that Escobar will come around to being a good #2 hitter eventually but a change in the top two needs to be made immediately. Infante was a breath of fresh air but we all need to be prepared for Kelly and Yunel in the 1-2 position tonight unfortunately.
Random
May 1st, 2009
3:49 pm
Chop Chop (3:45 pm) –
No way!!!
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
3:51 pm
This team has some guys who can steal bases. Kelly Johnson, and Jordan Schafer, who by the way have some pretty good OBP(specially Schafer). That’s why Schafer shouldn’t bat 8th, they’re wasting his talent. But sinced his been batting 8th, he has had some opportunities, and has only attempted it once(and been succesful by the way). I don’t know if Bobby gives him the green light to steal, or he gives them the sign, but the bottom line is, Braves running game has been pathetic ever since Furcal left. He needs to steal more than he has, specially since this team is having a lot of trouble scoring runs.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
flange1–good post from the last blog. Well stated. I guess my whole schtick on the stolen bases thing is that I think it is a terrible idea to trade offensive output, such as average, OPS, or defensive ability, whatever, for speed. Don’t get me wrong, I love speed–when it is used properly. Speed is useless when you don’t get on base, you don’t execute, you make errors in the field, etc. And it seems like (at least to me) that the same people on this board that want so much to have more speed in the lineup are also the people who have no confidence in Bobby Cox as a manager. Now, I don’t know about you, but that makes no sense to me whatsoever. So you want more speed in the lineup, more smallball, but you want to put that speed in the hands of a manager you don’t have confidence in? Never mind the ton of statistical analysis that shows that it is awfully hard to churn out a net profit from small-ball, whether it be stolen bases, the hit and run, bunting (where there really is never any profit to be made), whatever. So this again baffles me.
Instead, I argue not necessarily for speedy baserunners (not saying I wouldn’t love to have them), but smart baserunners. Guys that can get from 1st to 3rd in situations that they should. Guys that don’t make boneheaded plays that simply give outs to the other team [looks at Yunel Escobar]. Guys that don’t necessarily steal every single time the situation calls for it, but guys that pick their spots and steal when there is a very, very high likelihood that they’ll make it (i.e. the pitcher not paying attention, middle infielders falling asleep, whatever the case may be). As an example, I would take Brian McCann’s 5-5 in stolen bases any day over Cap’n Jeter’s 11 SB/5CS and 15/8 numbers the last two seasons.
Again, I’ve got nothing against speed, though I argue against it’s effectiveness a lot. The thing I’m mostly arguing against is the fact that speed cannot make a below-average hitter (i.e. Willy Taveras, Juan Pierre, Emilio Bonifacio) good. It just doesn’t work that way. Now, give me the option between a Carlos Beltran and a Carlos Lee, well I don’t think that there should be any debate. That is where speed really floats my boat…a great player, and then he brings that extra, not singular dimension onto the field with his speed. But if you build a team around speedy players you are generally building your offense around a singular quality, a singular dimension…and good teams are going to figure out ways to defend against it all day, every day, and they’ll eat you alive. Remember, this is the BIG LEAGUES, not high school ball, and these guys on the field generally know what they’re doing. A guy’s speed isn’t going to force enough errors, enough misplays, enough whatevers to make up for his lack of other overall ability. Big league teams just aren’t going to kick the ball around like a more inexperienced team will.
dogsbrekky
May 1st, 2009
3:54 pm
Hampton………….. okay then.. will he pull a hammy whilst coughing on his way to the mound… you know he is back in the ATL
On a positive note DOBI ONE Knobi – I DVRed the Fleetwood Mac show from Palladium HD the other night… dont know if you have seen it, but ol’ Lindsay Buckingham can still fire on all 12 cylinders…. he did a great acoustic version of “Looking out for Love”..
Go Lowe and the Braves
AustinBrave
May 1st, 2009
3:54 pm
How’s the weather in Atlanta. I see you are going to get some rain. Are we going to get the game in?
Steve
May 1st, 2009
3:55 pm
Thrillhouse44 you have the all time leader in home runs sitting at the house. Pick up the phone and sign him; he’ll be good for 30 home runs.
ease19
May 1st, 2009
3:55 pm
Chop Chop – Josh’s numbers are sure to regress. If you take the relatively small sample size of his major league at bats compared to his minor league stats, you will see that is the case. Josh Anderson is a worthless outfielder with little to no upside…
(I am not the one obviously, but was I close?)
RIPSkip
May 1st, 2009
3:56 pm
From the end of the last blog…
I predict that no Atlanta Brave will hit 20 HR this season. What do you guys and gals think?
Thrillhouse44
May 1st, 2009
3:57 pm
Steve, Hank Aaron is already at the ballpark; why not play him? I know what you’re saying, but the dude’s time has come and gone. If he was worth the headache, he would have signed by now (or last year).
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
3:57 pm
I’m just gonna set righ-chere in my boat on Lake MIB and wait for somethin’ to bite the bite of complete agreement.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
4:02 pm
Thrillhouse44 you have the all time leader in home runs sitting at the house. Pick up the phone and sign him; he’ll be good for 30 home runs.
You would also have the singular worst defensive outfielder in the history of baseball. He’d give up those thirty HR and probably more with his glove. Never mind the exorbitant cost of manufacturing a hat big enough to fit his giant dome.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
4:03 pm
And I mean that both literally and metaphorically.
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
4:04 pm
michael, I thought you might have meant the fact that the Braves either led the league, or were second, in home runs every year from 92-98, and hit 197 in 99 to finish fourth in the league. I wondered how that fit in to the winning formula you stated earlier, LOL.
I’m not trying to rag on you, but, the refrain of “fundamentals” always, and I mean always, comes up when a team is struggling. It’s not the “little” things that cause the struggle, it’s usually those big old honker LARGE things that the suckers are failing at. Nobody cares about how well you bunt, if you’re tearing Mr. Spaulding a new one at six spots in the lineup. Conversely, if you aren’t hitting, doing all the “little” things right ain’t worth a bucket of spit.
Admittedly, I’m speaking of the offensive side. No excuse for sloppy defensive play (if you have a good skill set), not keeping your head in the game, that sort of thing. Agreed on that.
AustinBrave
May 1st, 2009
4:06 pm
Why not sign Edmonds, he’s still got a little pop in his bat. He’s good for 15- 20 homers.
RC
May 1st, 2009
4:06 pm
RIP Skip,
I think that both Chipper and McCann will pass 20 HR. However, both could be considered risky as far as injuries go, so while I think there will be players with over 20 HR on the team, it’s not outside the realm of possibility to say there won’t be.
SeaAtl
May 1st, 2009
4:09 pm
Reading Rogers’ article on Derek Lowe’s training regimen makes me an even bigger fan of his. I hope his work ethic and intensity, along with Chipper now being a more vocal leader in the clubhouse, can fill some of the veteran leadership void left when Smoltz chased dollars out of town.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
May 1st, 2009
4:10 pm
RIP Skip,
There are 4 or 5 players on this team that have the ability to hit 20+ HR’s.
Chipper, McCann, Frenchy, KJ, Anderson.
There are a few question marks in there obviously, however KJ has been close to 20 before, McCann and Chipper have hit over 20 on a regular basis (Chipper for the last 14 years) and Frenchy has the ability. Anderson needs to be healthy, but I think he can get it done.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
4:11 pm
Infante’s in there again, third straight game at second base and leading off.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
4:13 pm
Sammons is catching, batting eighth.
Otherwise, usual lineup
mbatl
May 1st, 2009
4:15 pm
“It’s not the “little” things that cause the struggle, it’s usually those big old honker LARGE things that the suckers are failing at.” – ncscoots
Very well said.
I’m much less concerned about the 4 stolen bases than I am about the 14 runners thrown out on the basepaths (over-running bases, getting picked off, taking bad chances on tag-ups, etc). Tops in the league.
When you don’t have speed, don’t compound the problem by making stupid base-running mistakes.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
4:16 pm
I take that back. It’s not usual lineup — Francoeur’s hitting cleanup
1. Infante
2. Escobar
3. Chipper
4. Francoeur
5. Kotchman
6. Diaz
7. Schafer
8. Sammons
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
4:17 pm
Guys that don’t make boneheaded plays that simply give outs to the other team [looks at Yunel Escobar].
Ah, but he’s the same guy who made those “heady” steals in some games last year, no? Blog LOVED that s*** and put it on the bubblegum card pronto, LOL. Remember how posters raved about his game?
Kid had a bad couple of weeks on the bases, though, no argument. Which I will promptly forget, if he doesn’t do it again.
Erin
May 1st, 2009
4:17 pm
DOB
Thanks for the info on Ligtenberg. He was one of my favorite Braves in high school.
Interested Observer
May 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
Is there something wrong with Ross? I thought Bobby had said with the offdays that Ross could probably play until BMac got back.
The_Superhoo (Montana by way of Virginia)
May 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
BOO THIS MAN!
My prediction is that he pulls his groin in the bullpen pre-game and goes on the 60-Day DL.
Gary
May 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
Ligtenberg has a degree in chemical engineering? …wow. impressive.
Steve McP
May 1st, 2009
4:19 pm
If Josh Anderson had stayed here out of ST, how many of the people on this blog would be maintaining that the Braves were hopeless because they were unwilling to take a chance on the new guy and pointing out how Anderson’s fielding and hitting was inferior to Schafer who played best in ST (which is why Schafer got the job and Anderson did not).
Steve McP
May 1st, 2009
4:20 pm
By the way I was one those who voted in the polls on the blog to have Anderson start in the OF and I was in a minority as I recall.
Macon Braves (RIP)
May 1st, 2009
4:20 pm
The double play machine in the two hole again……
michael
May 1st, 2009
4:21 pm
nscoots, You made my point for me. This team will not lead or come in 2nd in homeruns this year…that much is obvious. Do you remember how many one run games this team lost last year. In close ballgames… getting the bunt down or moving the runner means everything…I’m sure you will admit to that. I will disagree with you however when you say the doing all the “little” things right ain’t worth a bucket of spit when you offense is struggling. At least you are putting your team in more positions to score…but it’s still up to the offense to make it happen.
RIPSkip
May 1st, 2009
4:22 pm
I agree several have the ability to hit 20, but I don’t think anyone will…not this year.
DAM
May 1st, 2009
4:24 pm
there’s really not much of an excuse for keeping schafer at the bottom of the lineup anymore. so he strikes out more than you’d like from a leadoff hitter. obviously, chipper has the highest OBP of all the regulars (.420). who’s second? schafer at .415. the only other normal starter who’s even close is kotchman at .376.
i don’t know what bobby is thinking here. maybe he’s going senile? all i know is i can live with a few extra strikeouts for a .415 OBP and speed from the leadoff spot.
Efrim
May 1st, 2009
4:27 pm
Steve from OH- excellent post at 3:53pm. Good read and I agree, 100%.
Infante again? Wow. I guess Bobby feels that Kelly needs an extended break away from second base. Hopefully he can get his job back, at some point.
DAM
May 1st, 2009
4:27 pm
also, schafer has 7 more walks than anyone else on the team (16). he takes a lot of pitches and appears to have an outstanding eye. several of his strikeouts have come after he got absolutely reamed with a terrible strike call. being young, he lost composure, and proceeded to strikeout. he’ll grow out of that and learn how to deal with a bad call here and there.
McFann Ô
May 1st, 2009
4:27 pm
TnBrian–
Yeah, it’s what he gets paid to do. But it’s still nice to know people appreciate your work, I’m sure. Just like to let ‘im know.
ease19 etc……It was funny cause the late nighters knew what was going to happen!
Heh heh…
Chop Chop I’ve made comments about McCann before just to get a reaction out of McFann.
Oh yeah.
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
4:28 pm
Why is Kelly not in the lineup again today? 3 straight days of rest is not normal, he is either battling an injury, or he lost the starting job because he is in a slump and Infante isn’t.
DawgFan
May 1st, 2009
4:28 pm
This team needs Richie Sexson. I hope he signs.
dogsbrekky
May 1st, 2009
4:29 pm
I lol at anyone who claims mlb numbers (in the case of Josh Anderson) do not matter and that said player/s will revert to minor league numbers over time… MLB is full of players who spent minimal time in the minor leagues or who had poor numbers and turned into stars..
This type of argument is the same as those who cling to old company balance sheets and profit numbers and ignore the CURRENT DATA at their own peril
Reality is that Josh Anderson is hitting 300 (again), swiping bases and playing okay outfield… we have a similar talent in CF now with a bit more power and a better OBP
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
4:33 pm
John Smoltz has a dead arm, now his expected June return is looking less realistic. Thank you Wren for using common sense, the least common of the senses.
C's
May 1st, 2009
4:33 pm
Better question……why WOULDN’T Infante be in the lineup. He’s our hottest hitter right now and he’s taking the place of our coldest hitter since they play the same position. It’s not rocket science.
I could see him in LF, but he needs to be in there somewhere.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
4:33 pm
Contacts didn’t work for Mac, who’s wearing glasses now, will try to play wearing glasses for first time in his life. He’s gonna try to play with a pair of Oakleys worn under a hockey-type facemask/helmet. Will rehab at Gwinnett with it, see what happens. Surgery is last resort if this doesn’t work out.
Macon Braves (RIP)
May 1st, 2009
4:36 pm
Got a feeling all those smiles McFann just threw out a minute ago just turned upside down
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
4:36 pm
Do you remember how many one run games this team lost last year. In close ballgames… getting the bunt down or moving the runner means everything
LOL, brother, that’s why you try not to play close games!
Seriously, I understand what you are saying, but “small ball” is not the same as “fundamentally sound”, and I think that’s where folks get off track. Giving up outs in an effort to score minimal runs, when you are in fact having trouble scoring runs, compounds the felony.
I’m not talking about tactical situations in which a single run may be enough to win (I always have to put that disclaimer in before 4000 posts on 9th inning bunts come flying in), but rather relying on such tactics as an offensive strategy. That’s just bucking house odds, and casinos stay open for a reason.
so, if we’re talking actual fundamentals of the game, I agree with you, naturally. If you equate fundamentals with small-ball as an ongoing strategy, not so much, probably.
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
4:37 pm
I prefer Frenchy batting cleanup. His been a great run producer this year, and every year before last year, he has limit his strikeouts, and he has more power than Kotchman. And Kotchman has just 4-5 RBI’s, and always seems to popout or stike out in key situations, plus his absence of power is causing teams to pitch around Chipper.
dogsbrekky
May 1st, 2009
4:38 pm
Dobi – if the Braves medical staff had half a brain between them (the last 3 years) they would realise that McCann should have just had the operation (again) immediately and then he would have been back within a month…….. at this rate he will have trouble all early summer
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
4:38 pm
I became a true Braves fan in ‘91. My then husband had always watched them and my grandparents had always watched them and I even went to a few games in the late 80’s. I sort of grew up with a Braves game on in the background although I never paid much attention to it until one night in 1991 when I looked up from feeding my newborn son to see David Justice hit a 2 run homer in Cincy, my husband was going NUTS…it was so contagious that I jumped on the bandwagon and still haven’t let go.
We lived in Athens at the time and even in a football town Braves mania was everywhere. It was like baseball in Boston is now…EVERYONE was talking about the Braves and everyone was a Braves fan. If only they could somehow capture that 90’s magic again the butts in seats someone on the last blog referred to would take care of itself.
Ah well…until then – Go Braves!
Supes
May 1st, 2009
4:39 pm
This current Braves lineup is extremely flawed and no wonder the team is struggling to score runs.
That’s on Wren and Bobby.
Wren left this team without a prototypical lead off hitter, and a legit power hitting 4 hole hitter.
Bobby is refusing to arrange the lineup order that would maximize the team’s current capabalities.
It should be
1. Schafer CF
2. Infante 2B (or Kelly, depending on match up)
3. Jones 3B
4. B-Mac (when healthy, when not…bat Ross here regardless)
5. Jeff RF
6. Kotchman 1B
7. Yunel SS
8. Brandon Jones LF (or Diaz depending on match up)
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
4:39 pm
MLB is full of players…who had poor numbers [in the minors] and turned into stars..
Name 10.
KC
May 1st, 2009
4:41 pm
DAMNIT!!!!! I was really hoping these contacts would work (as was Brian McCann and every other Braves fan). Well… I hope these glasses work for him. We’ve got to have Mac in the lineup and at 100%!!!!!!
But if he has to have surgery, let’s get it done quickly and get that out of the way. If he had surgery tomorrow and missed 2 weeks in recovery, he will have effectively missed 6 weeks of the season. That sucks, but let’s just get this damned problem fixed already!!!
AustinBrave
May 1st, 2009
4:41 pm
Japan won the last two World Classic’s by playing small ball. I think every team needs it, but we need power also. We have been getting hits and walks, just not timely hits and walks. We need to put the pressure on the other team.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
dogsb–I’m betting that the Braves’ medical staff does in fact know what they’re doing. There is probably a lot going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about. He’s also seen several specialists that appartently haven’t recommended the surgery, keep in mind.
Efrim–thanks, man.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
4:43 pm
Bobby is reallly slow to figure out the lineup. Seems he will only switch up one guy at a time. The correct lineup will show up it 7-8 days lol. Good to see someone else in the 4th spot. McCann in glasses…lol someone called it earlier on the blog…thats funny. He really should’ve had the corrective surgery if that would have fixed it.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
4:44 pm
And somebody HAS to get a photo of Mac in glasses.
If he’s gonna have to have lasik I want him to have it tomorrow. Tonight after the game if possible.
McFann Ô
May 1st, 2009
4:45 pm
Wow…I…I…um…I don’t know quite what to…um…O…K…
It…well, it…um…uh…
chipperchop
May 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
Now that is one crappy lineup.
DAP
May 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
i was kind of hoping KJ would be in there tonight after three days off, plus he has hit lefties grea tthis year. im also disappointed ross inst catching, but he needs days off too, so…..
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
Righty, Righty, (Switch hitter batting) Righty, Righty, Lefty, Righty, Lefty, Righty.
Thrillhouse44
May 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
So, is BMac’s eye not dry and irritated anymore? I assume since he’s just wearing glasses, the vision is the only thing wrong with his eye right now. Anyone know for sure?
KC
May 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
Supes, I agree with you on putting Schafer up in the leadoff spot. However, with Schafer leading off, Escobar is an ideal #2 hitter.
Because of Escobar’s league leading ground-ball ratio and reasonably good ability to make contact, Schafer/Escobar is a PERFECT hit-and-run combo. If Schafer reaches, you can let him steal, have Escobar bunt him over, or hit and run.
Also, the opposing first-baseman can’t cheat off the bag with Schafer on. He MUST hold Schafer close to the bag, which helps create a truer hole on the right side of the infield, which works well with Escobar’s ability to go the other way with the ball.
As far as KJ is concerned, he has clearly displayed that he’s most comfortable hitting down in the order. 7th is a perfect place for Johnson.
When healthy, this should be the lineup, IMO:
1 – Schafer
2 – Escobar
3 – Jones
4 – McCann
5 – Francoeur
6 – Anderson
7 – Johnson
8 – Kotchman
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
Why is surgery McCann’s last option? Instead of fixing his problem for good, he’s still trying new contacts, and now glasses. If he has surgery, I think he needs to wait two weeks, he should have had it when he was placed on the DL.
Kenny Powers
May 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
Kenny Powers has been a busy man of late. Not able to blog with my usual tiger like ferocity. Im f’in back though folks which means some of you are f’in out.
Smithoma
May 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
MIKE HAMPTON OWES ME MONEY!
DawgFan
May 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
Yeah, I agree. Sexson is a righty.
G
May 1st, 2009
4:52 pm
DOB
Are these Oakleys like the ones that the pitcher for STL wore that are indeed like glasses and clear. Not sunglasses prescriptions?
chipperchop
May 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
Did anyone here this? Extract from another blog.
“Just heard an interview with Bowman on the radio. Had some good and bad news on the Braves. First said the organization is worried about McCann’s eye problem. It seems to go day to day with clearing up then blurring. He said he questions whether Garrett Anderson really wants to be here, seemed a little indifferent. He says KK is about as he expected. The strike zone in Japan is larger and he has always left alot of balls up in the zone but could get away with it in Japan but not here. Average pitcher at best. Says he fully expects to see Hanson in the rotation by June. He is just too good not to be here.The organization is kicking itself a little for not spending KK’s money on a bat.”
Catfish
May 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
Mike Hampton owes us all money.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
Mac’s a ballplayer. The doctors think of surgery as a last resort because of the risk that permanent damage could be done to his eye. It makes sense that they would want to take the conservative approach. I mean, they don’t want to be responsible if something goes wrong and they ruin the kid’s career. CYA, you know?
Bobby's Belly
May 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
Good to SEE so many opthalmologists on the blog today.
Macon Braves (RIP)
May 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
Escobar seems to mostly hit the ball up the middle on the ground, which is right where the second baseman and shortstop are playing when at “double play depth”. I can’t for the life of me see why Bobby keeps sticking Escobar in the 2 hole. How many times does he have to hit into a DP and either end the inning or clear the bases before Chipper comes up to see that he either needs to be dropped to 7 or so or put in the leadoff spot. I would prefer to see him at the back end of the lineup.
dogsbrekky
May 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
Bobby’s Belly – good spelling, did you use your reading glasses whilst typing that ?
buzzmeat
May 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
CHIPPER CHOP,
The Garret Anderson thing seems like it is true, because he was a DH sometimes and now he cant do that. Also he spent his career in one organization. Plus he is in a platoon with Matt Diaz
Efrim
May 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
KC- I think Casey Kotchman deserves a little more credit than 8th in your order. He has a .376 OBP and I don’t have too much confidence in Anderson. Flip flop the two or move Kelly up to 6th, Kotch to 7th and GA to 8th.
stynes
May 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
Didn’t hear the Bowman comments but very interesting. I’m also worried about McCann. If this isn’t something that clears up, that hurts BIG time. Interesting comments re: GA. And I second the motion re: the bat. I wonder if the pitching continues to outpace the hitting by such a huge margin, particularly if McCann and GA don’t come back and come back strong and KJ doesn’t find his groove – will it force FW to make a trade for a bat.
Bobby's Belly
May 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
3rd grade spelling champ.
Piedmont Blues (formerly BravesFan InRockies)
May 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
Frenchy hitting cleanup … trying to live up to promise to not say bad things before Memorial Day …
TBrown
May 1st, 2009
5:00 pm
I’m growing concerned with Mccanns vision problems. I hope nothing permanent is in store.
When Garrett Anderson is healthy, there is no platoon with Matt Diaz.
Maybe we should have signed Andruw Jones to play left-field.
No to richie sexson under any circumstance.
TBrown
May 1st, 2009
5:00 pm
Also, yesterday was an off day. Why isn’t Ross catching?
buzzmeat
May 1st, 2009
5:00 pm
I personally do NOT see why McCann didnt just get the Lasik in the first place, He has tried 2 different contacts, why would glasses work? Especially as a catcher, i see the glasses falling off his face.
Interested Observer
May 1st, 2009
5:00 pm
Lasik isn’t necessarily the answer to McCann’s problem. In fact, if his vision keeps clearing, then blurring again, I would say it probably isn’t.
CB
May 1st, 2009
5:00 pm
I have always been a Kelly Johnson fan but I also feel it is time to take a long look at Infante at 2nd base. He has looked very impressive on defense and I think he can leadoff better than Kelly. We really need to shake up this lineup. I hope we will soon bring Schafer up to leadoff but for whatever reason Bobby is not very innovative.
Thrillhouse44
May 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
You’re right, buzzmeat. McCann needs rec specs – and not the new, fashionable rec specs. I’m talking Kareem Abdul-Jabaar rec specs.
chipperchop
May 1st, 2009
5:03 pm
Stynes,
I fear that by the time other teams might be willing to be a trade partner, it will be far too late, and won’t make sense. Kinda like in 2006 when we got Wickman who was lights out that year, but we were too many games back to make a difference. I also think that because of the low attendance, you will not see the Braves add any money to their payroll, and might have to shed some payroll with one of the pitchers, Lowe or Vaz (especially when Hudson comes back). Are we not getting any insurance money on Hudson? Just curious. Anyway, no one will take KK off our hands for that salary, and Jurrjens is too cheap and good, to make sense. Wish we would have pulled the trigger with Nady or Swisher instead of settling for GA and Glavine, both of whom probably won’t even play this year.
mbatl
May 1st, 2009
5:03 pm
Bowman’s been really down on G Anderson for a while now. Some of it seems to stem from Garret’s personality or demeanor, which I could really care less about. We really haven’t seen him play healthy, so hard to judge his ability. I’m not defending GA, but think it’s a bit quick to pronounce him a failure.
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
5:03 pm
Lasik surgery is very risky.
dogsbrekky
May 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
McCann may have my problem. I was cross eyed as a kid and now have a bad astigmatism (spelling Bobb’s Belly ?). I am extremely left side dominant and the only way I can play sport is to wear BUT 1 contact in my left eye…….. my vision then becomes blurry a lot of the time and my right eye is far sighted whilst the left is marginally near sighted..
If Mc has an astigmatism along with his very dominant (so I am told) left eye then he may have long term troubles… My problems started when I was around 22-23 and my eyeisght for tennis/baseball etc hasd never returned anywhere near normal to allow me to play at a high level..
Lasik does nothing for this type of problem
Kenny Powers
May 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
Kenny Powers is getting a strange Nick Esasky feeling when discussing McCann’s eye.
Moby Grape
May 1st, 2009
5:07 pm
So, stats cam be misleading sometimes. —J WILLIAMS
I guess that’s why anybody who is into stats wouldn’t think to pay any attention to a reliever’s ERA. Picking the correct stats to use for a given player might make things a bit less confusing
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
5:09 pm
This was built on a lot of players playing very “averagely”. Problem is McCann has been out, Anderson has been out. KJ, Esco, and Diaz have been playing below their own “average”. Ross and Schafer have been bonuses…but not much was really expected from them in teams of this team winning. And Chipper is Chipper.
DawgFan
May 1st, 2009
5:09 pm
NC, you’re right! Richie Sexson would be great on this team.
ncbravesgirl
May 1st, 2009
5:10 pm
I thought Mac already had Lasik once and I read somewhere that this dry eye thing is a potential side effect? I know he was considering going back in for a second procedure though.
dogsbrekky
May 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
Can Ross play LF or another position
Steve McP
May 1st, 2009
5:12 pm
Run Heap Run – liked your story, not quite like mine.
I took my wife to watch the Braves and Andruw Jones hit a walk off home run to win the game in the 10th.
She has never been to another game!
I guess some people just don’t get sport.
Obvious question
May 1st, 2009
5:12 pm
Anyone else worried about McCann? Kirby Puckett anyone?
J williams
May 1st, 2009
5:13 pm
Hey, I’m just glad baseball is back. THe weather is warming up, the the grill is hot!
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
5:13 pm
And that’s the other thing, dogsbrekky.
I merely hope that LASIK might be what he needs. If it’s something that can’t be corrected through surgery, he really needs the glasses to work. If that doesn’t work out, gulp.
chipperchop
May 1st, 2009
5:13 pm
Richie Sexson blows. Think KJ is having problems? I don’t think Sexson has hit better than 230 BA for a few years now. There is a reason no team wants him.
AustinBrave
May 1st, 2009
5:14 pm
Guys lets give Sammons a try at catching he did a great job in spring with 3-4 homeruns and batted around .400 if I remember right.
Lets just pray that McCann’s vision problem doesn’t get any worst.
I do beleive Schafer needs to be in lead off, SOON.
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
I would think Ross could play a little 1st base. All you have to do is catch the ball and look pretty.
Moby Grape
May 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
but the point made with the ‘96 team is a good one. SB totals arent the end all. thats all that was intended to be gleaned from that, and its true. pointing out the better offense and dominant pitching is moot. —DAP
that’s true, but you know N8…it was obviously a response to coach’s idiot blog that said nothing about anything but running game. BTW coach still has not explained to me how the Braves of a couple of years ago who had 67 steals actually outscored the Mets who had 200 steals, IF steals are the most important thing going as he so often claims. The guy can be an obnoxious blowhard spouting foolish opinions much of the time, but he is a board “institution”.
CarolinaAnn
May 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
what’s the latest on Richie Sexson?
Efrim
May 1st, 2009
5:16 pm
Clearly, the Braves need Heap back if they have any plans on winning a lot of baseball games. Hopefully, the guy can get this solved and the Braves can get the best offensive catcher in the league back in their lineup.
mets2009WSchamps
May 1st, 2009
5:17 pm
I can’t WAIT to face your hapless Braves for our upcoming series. Your team can’t hit the broad side of a barn. I predict a series sweep for the Metropolitans!! Braves outscored 30-1. After all, your team has made every opposing pitcher look like a CY Young candidate. Anyone we throw at your sorry team will shut them down. Just what we need to get back on track!! You people should just start rooting for the Mets. The Braves just don’t have the payroll to hang with the big boys anymore, and free agents actually DONT want to play for the Braves, because they too know that the Braves have no shot at postseason anytime soon!
dogsbrekky
May 1st, 2009
5:17 pm
Chop chop – If McCann has blurry vision that can often be ANOTHER problem, hopefully it is just the after affects of lasik and not a brain related ailment or a “balance” thing
Jackie Treehorn
May 1st, 2009
5:20 pm
DOB, or anybody: Do the Braves project Jason Heyward to be a sure-fire right fielder? What I mean is, do they think he’d be better suited playing there than anywhere else, or would they put him in left field when he is ready? Or would they move Francoeur, assuming he isn’t traded?
The reason I ask this is because if you would have asked me before the season what the chances were we’d see Heyward with the big club this year, I would have said zero percent. Now, I’d say there’s at least a 25% chance, given the lack of outfield pop. And if I remember correctly, when Andruw came up when he was 19, the situation was very similar.
Bobby's Belly
May 1st, 2009
5:20 pm
Let’s concentrate on the guys who are playing. Now, someone get me a Richie Sexson update.
AustinBrave
May 1st, 2009
5:22 pm
Boy it would take a lot to make the Mets pitching staff look like Cy Young except for Santanna. Whats that rotation ERA again?
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
5:23 pm
If all else fails, McCann can put an eye patch on, keep a parrot on his shoulder, and start saying “Arrrrrrrrrrrrr” a lot.
(I’m picturing a pirate playing catcher with a parrot on his shoulder. The parrot is saying, “Bawwwwwwwwk! That had the corner!”)
rammerjammer
May 1st, 2009
5:24 pm
I think Anderson was dealt for a AA pitcher as compensation for the heist that was Jurrjens-Gorkys for Renteria.
KC
May 1st, 2009
5:24 pm
Efrim, I think you might be selling Anderson short to suggest that he should hit behind Kotchman. Anderson is a proven run producer, and didn’t he hit something like .374 with RISP last year?
I could agree with hitting Kotchman 7th and KJ 8th if not for one thing… speed.
If Kotchman singles with with KJ standing on 2B, or doubles with KJ at 1B… we score a run. But if Kotchman is on base for KJ under the same circumstances, we’ll often need one more hit to score anything.
If it comes down to KJ and Kotchman hitting 7th and 8th (and IMO, it should)… then the slowest guy on the team should be hitting 8th.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
5:27 pm
Sexson anyone?
KC
May 1st, 2009
5:27 pm
mets2009WSchumps “I can’t WAIT to face your hapless Braves for our upcoming series.”
Standings:
1 – Marlins (14-8)
2 – Phillies (11-9)
3 – Braves (10-11)
4 – Mets (9-12)
5 – Nationals (5-16)
WHINER
May 1st, 2009
5:27 pm
to me how a team that is 11 hours away is blacked out for me by MLB Extra Innings…and MLBTV?
MF
they probably don’t like you any more than most of us here do.
McFann Ô
May 1st, 2009
5:28 pm
Anyone else worried about McCann?
Yes…and I can’t take much more of this (selfish of me, I know. Like he’s having any fun).
I had to Google Kirby Puckett…but P-Town Brave mentioned him in a post to me! I had to know what he was talking about in order to respond with intelligence!
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
May 1st, 2009
5:28 pm
McCann is probably trying the glasses so he can get back on the field and play ASAP. If he does have to have surgery, wouldn’t it be more beneficial for him to have it in the off-season?
If the glasses work, he can wait on surgery and get back soon. If they don’t, then he’ll need the surgery anyways. It’s kind of a lose/lose situation. He’s a competitor and wants to get back on the field, much like we all want him back ASAP. So it seems the course of action they are taking is the one that gets him back on the field the fastest, not necessarily the most permanent solution.
Necromancer
May 1st, 2009
5:29 pm
No bombarding, please? But is Sexson really what we need right now? The dude’s stats were kind of unimpressive, unless there is something I am missing :O
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
5:30 pm
What state is the team McCann is playing for in?
Piedmont Blues (formerly BravesFan InRockies)
May 1st, 2009
5:39 pm
Necromancer,
Sexson used to have a lot of power. Decent on-base skills. Always struck out a lot. Could never play 1B very well (that’s being charitable). Now he mainly just strikes out a lot. But because he used to have a lot of power, some of our fellow denizens think he’s the answer to our prayers. I believe they’re wrong.
Eware
May 1st, 2009
5:39 pm
I think Mac should wear glasses with tape in the middle. That might throw off the pitchers a little. They’ll think they’re throwing to a nerd, but then, that nerd will jack a homer off them.
Been a loooong day, folks. I’m worried about Mac.
Piedmont Blues (formerly BravesFan InRockies)
May 1st, 2009
5:40 pm
Oh, and he still can’t play 1B very well.
What denizens really want is the pre-2006 version of Richie Sexson. Or maybe Chris Duncan?
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
5:40 pm
Just because G Anderson gets injured doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be here. It’s like accusing Chipper that he doesn’t want to be here because he gets frequently injured.
If Anderson didn’t want to be here he wouldn’t have signed his 2.5 million 1 year deal. He is struggling because it’s a new league, new pitchers, and he just hasn’t played enough to get in a groove.
Kenshin Kawakami is 33 years old, has spent his whole pro carrer in a six man rotation in Japan, with a smaller strike zone, and ball. Give him one more month at least to get adjusted to the hitters, and playing in a 5-man rotation.
Look at Dice-k’s first month in the big league’s, 14.2IP, 11ER, 22 Hits, 8BB, 17SO’s, 6.97 ERA. Kawakami’s first month 21.2IP, 17ER, 24 Hits, 11BB, 18SO’s, 7.06 ERA.
They’re not too far apart. But they did give him too much money, considering they were going to sign Derek Lowe. If Kawakami struggles, and Jo-jo keeps having great starts, then Hanson replaces Kawakami, I don’t care if he is making 8 million a year.
Leah
May 1st, 2009
5:42 pm
Run Heap Run –
Mac used to wear glasses as an alternative when his eyes would get dry before and after games. The AJC had facts about different players up toward the beginning of last season; Mac’s fact was about contacts/glasses. I’ve seen several pictures of him wearing glasses taken by various fans or at events at some point or another, like this one. I’m guessing DOB means that Mac’s never played baseball while wearing glasses before.
TommyP
May 1st, 2009
5:46 pm
Now THAT little cartoon about the stolen bases was funny. Well done.
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
5:48 pm
Drunk blogging at 3:00 in the afternoon from Vegas on an iPhone-forgive me if this makes no snse- really hope Mac can either play with the glasses or gets that surgery ASAP…obviously we need him back. And to add my two cents to the Hampton thing- I like the guy and would not boo him (not his fault he was hurt so much, sure he wanted to pitch) but I do hope we light him up tonight- we need the win more then he needs to feel love (or hate) from the fans
TommyP
May 1st, 2009
5:49 pm
Who was the last big time basestealing threat for the Braves?
Grissom? Well, he didn’t top 30 for us so I’m not counting him. (did anyone know he played 9 more seasons after leaving Atlanta? More than I thought)
Deion?
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
5:52 pm
Furcal had some wheels!
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
5:53 pm
Cabravesfan – I guess I have to step up my intake – you’re not usually so far ahead of me.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
5:56 pm
I totally agree. Richie Sexson is the power bat we NEED on this team.
FTBITTTD
May 1st, 2009
5:56 pm
I’m sure the Docs have looked into it but I wonder if Brian McCann is suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome (DES)? I know of some people that have had it, usually older, but it does occur in younger people too. Sometimes tead duct surgery can help too.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Your tears function to keep the eyes lubricated and comfortable. Dry Eye Syndrome is caused when the tear glands in the upper and lower eyelids do not produce enough tears and/or the tear ducts drain too much tears off the eye surface. The phenomenon causes the eyes to feel irritated, scratchy, burning, red, and uncomfortable. Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is the most common of all eye disorders, affection approximately 20% of our population.
nolie
May 1st, 2009
6:01 pm
(SCOOTS)
I didn’t find a link that showed me pitch counts for all of Tommy’s games. He has 5 starts totaling 26.2 IP and 38 Ks. Round that off to three 9 inning stints for what? almost 13 per nine innings.
I remember reading that he has had trouble throwing less than 100 pitches per start, so guessing he has around 500 pitches so maybe 7.6 per 100? Somebody on here could likely find the pitch counts and be more accurate. So per 100 it comes down a LOT, but is still decent. Shows he isn’t very efficient yet.
Necromancer
May 1st, 2009
6:03 pm
With Sexson and all, and him not being too effective lately, do we take the chance on him? Does he snap back into his pre-2006 form? Or will we have another bust on this team?
Sorry, folks, but I’m not totally convinced yet.
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
6:07 pm
Smyrna jim-
Started with a margarita that was basically straight teliqua and went from there…god bless Vegas and their open beverage container laws;)
nolie
May 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
I probably confused you with nolie, but anyway, disparaging remarks were made one late night during spring training about McCann, and McFann woke the next morning with a ax in her hand looking for his head. (EASE)
That were me not Scoots, but it’s OK by me if you confuse us since he ain’t too dumb for a former pitcher.(I mean c’mon…the catcher has to tell him what to throw and then hold up his mitt to show him where to throw it,-you’d think the dummy could figger something out on his own- and if it gets hit the catcher has to walk out to the mound wearing 50 pounds of hot chaffing gear, just to pat him on the butt and tell him he’s great.) All the pitcher has on his mind is ogling all the hot ladies sitting anywhere between the 2 dugouts.
Just don’t confuse me with Coach or the Dirty Dozen of in game whiners though, OK?
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
nolie, I dunno if you’ve seen this, but here is a link to an article about K/100: http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2009/01/2008_leaders_an.php
Notice Javy Vazquez still in the top 30, ahead of Jake Peavy and Cole Hamels. Also notice our NL East buddies Mike Pelfrey, Livan Hernandez, Kyle Kendrick, and Joe Blanton in the bottom 30.
Rob from SC
May 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
I am worried about McCann’s eyes
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
6:11 pm
Also, who is this Steve OH guy? Did a double-take when I saw that name. Confusing…
Anyone else think our buddy BaseKnock is posting under several different monikers in order to profess Richie Sexon’s greatness?
TM
May 1st, 2009
6:12 pm
DOB,
Can you explain why there is a box score of the Cardinals and Braves showing in the middle of the game with the Cards winning 5 – 3? What is going on there at the AJC?
Lew
May 1st, 2009
6:13 pm
Obvious Question-Kirby Puckett had Glaucoma-nothing at all like McCann’s problem. Puckett’s condition was degenerative to the point where his vision was destroyed.
Dry eye has treatments including plugging the tear ducts-a common procedure. The bluriness should be corrected with his lenses. Most people only have the Lasik done so they don’t have to wear glasses-something people have done for a couple hundred years or so
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
6:14 pm
nolie, don’t rag on pitchers, brah. You know that we have a terribly difficult time trying to concentrate on your sweaty butt when we could be oogling the ladies…do you blame us?
Tommy
May 1st, 2009
6:15 pm
BBelly (and dogsbre), before you hurt your arm patting yourself on the back it is OPHTHALMOLOGIST.
Kenny P, I’m starting to get that same feeling.
Francoeur batting cleanup is disturbing (but so is 5th or 6th); Chipper has NO protection.
Same feelings as rich brave re: Hampton. He should have pitched for the Braves for nothing. That’s what we paid him for over several years, nothing. Hope we score a hundred on him.
Can someone give a running clinic for Escobar? Little League coaches could work with him in the mornings. Why not sit him until he gets the message?
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
6:16 pm
Cabravesfan – sounds like fun – I’m taking it easy tonight so I’ll be ready for mint juleps tomorrow. Will you be paying attention to the Braves while you do Vegasy things? (Tiger falls out of the lead on 18 – badly misread a 70 foot putt).
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
6:16 pm
As a tribute to Dylan’s new album, McCann should get a pair of prescription New Wayfarers to wear oh the field. Like this: http://feeclopinette.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/dylan-bob-sunglasses-9904511.jpg
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
6:16 pm
DOB..any reason that Lasik was a “last resort” for McCann. I wore glasses until my freshman year in high school….god I am getting old…anyway, I wore glasses and changing to contacts made a huge difference in my life. Glasses area clumsy…I can see McCann constantly fiddling with them and the darn things getting knocked around as a catcher. I just wonder why he didn’t go straight to Lasik surgery after the first couple of contact lenses didn’t pan out. Am I wrong to understand that people sometimes have to go back for another Lasik visit after a small period of time anyway? (Not all…just some.) If he has to have Lasik, it will be a month on the shelf instead of just two weeks.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
6:19 pm
Dry Eye Syndrome is a side effect of a lot of things. Did you all know that silicone breast implants can cause dry eye syndrome and sjogren’s syndrome (dry mounth/dry eyes)?
I know this has nothing to do with Heap but I’m very concerned about this thing and I know he has got to be frustrated as hell. I hope he can make a go of it with glasses but it seems like it would be annoying
Thanks Leah, I’d never seen him in glasses before.
cabravesfan – I’m super jealous of you right now!
What state is the team McCann is playing for in?
Gwinnette? Gwinnette, North Dakota … lovely place, they say.
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
6:20 pm
I take it since no one’s freaking out about it the weather isn’t that bad in the ATL?
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
6:22 pm
How about Harden today. Walked in a few runs. I just saw him walk 2 people in a row on 8 pitches in a sports center highlight.
Daybed Wagmoe
May 1st, 2009
6:23 pm
DOB – Thanks for the “Every Grain of Sand” links. That would probably be high up on my list of top 10 Dylan songs. Love it.
AussieBlowhard
May 1st, 2009
6:24 pm
if the Braves medical staff had half a brain between them (the last 3 years) they would realise that McCann should have just had the operation (again) immediately
Dogsbrekky
It isn’t up to the Braves medical staff, he is seeing experts who are much more knowledgeable than a baseball staff could be about his eyes and they are saying no surgery right away. If he has an infection or dry eye further lasik surgery is the last thing that needs to be jumped into. Of course this just kind of goes along with all your other blowhard braggart posts that generally indicate you to be a bloomin’ idiot-as opposed to a bloomin’ onion. Go crawl back into your hole and play with all your “celebrity friends”
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
6:27 pm
bravos2249 – weather is perfect right now – 77 with some clouds
mbatl
May 1st, 2009
6:28 pm
nolie, from the research department: Hanson has thrown 461 pitches, 304 for strikes.
And the best hitting prospect in the minors has missed 5 of his team’s last 8 games, and no one on the entire internet has a single comment about why. I’m starting to suspect some kind of conspiracy.
Hey Braves Fans...
May 1st, 2009
6:29 pm
How about everyone stop taking shots at each other on here? It’s immature and uncalled for if you want to debate someone’s point, go ahead, but stop attacking people!
semiballcoach
May 1st, 2009
6:31 pm
i bet mlb is already nearing the record for most runs walked in for a season
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
6:32 pm
mbatl–so that would be 8.24 K/100? Hot darn, that’s good. The 2008 leader was Rich Harden with 7.37 K/100. Obviously, that’s MLB vs. AAA–but you’ve gotta love that.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
6:33 pm
Dave–hate to pester, but is there any way you could find out what (if anything) is wrong with Heyward? Perhaps McCann would know?
P.S., any info on Cole Rohrbough would be awesome, too…
MariettaDerek
May 1st, 2009
6:36 pm
Yeah, the lack of info on Heyward is definitely NOT double pits to chesty.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
6:36 pm
McCann hit with the glasses, said it felt good, that he thinks this will be the solution, at least until offseason. Docs have told him surgery should be last resort in-season, but it is an option if glasses doesn’t work out.
He hit in the regular glasses today, but the Oakley sports glasses should be here in a day or two. Said he doesn’t want to make any “this is the solution” pronouncements, because he’s said twice that he was doing better with contacts, only to have that change quickly.
But he said if he gets used to the glasses and the depth perception thing, this should work. Doesn’t know if he’ll have to wear them under the hockey mask, but if he does it should work because he would just leave the mask on when catching popups, taking throws, etc.
nolie
May 1st, 2009
6:42 pm
nolie, I dunno if you’ve seen this, but here is a link to an article about K/100 (OHIO STEVE)
no I hadn’t seen that, thanks buddy. The last ones I saw were 2007 where I think Javy ranked in the top 18 or so down from 8th or 9th in K/9IP. Ialso I seem to remember several of the K/100P in 07 as being higher that Hardens shown in 08, but the idea is just to add a bit of efficiency judgment. I look at both.
Daybed Wagmoe
May 1st, 2009
6:42 pm
Not sure if this has already been posted or not, but here’s something from The Onion today:
Nation Dumbfounded As To Why Little-Leaguer’s Favorite Player Is Chipper Jones: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nation_dumbfounded_as_to_why?utm_source=a-section
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
6:44 pm
The only thing that should be hard for Mac is switching to the Hockey type mask.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
6:44 pm
Thanks for the info, Chief!
[sigh]…We’ll see…Hockey mask?? Hoh boy…
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
6:45 pm
nolie, I’d never heard of K/100 before you mentioned it, so I’ll admit I have about zero famililarity with it at this point. Just wondering if you had the numbers on hand, because I calc’ed Hanson’s at 8.whatever, and you’re saying it’s “ok” and I’m looking at Harden’s and going “ok?!?!”
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
6:48 pm
Why are you all asking me why McCann didn’t have Lasik right away, as if I’m part of some coverup or none of the four specialists he’s seen here and in D.C. have the knowledge to make the right decision? Mac said they told him the surgery should be the last resort, perhaps because the recovery might keep him out longer, or perhaps because they just don’t want to burn/laser the guy’s eye for the second time in 18-19 months? Some act as though it’s like getting a flu shot, having one’s corneas cut, which is what Lasik basically is. He was younger than most docs I’ve talked to recommend getting the procedure to begin with (22 when he had it).
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
6:50 pm
Smyrna jim-
I will follow them as best I can but focused I. Drinking and other things that can’t be mentioned here
. Sports Books will be my friend this weekend
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
6:51 pm
By the way, turns out Kawakami had a cortison injection in his sore shoulder on Monday. He did light throwing today without incident, and the Braves think he’ll be ready to pitch Tuesday.
Terry Pendleton
May 1st, 2009
6:51 pm
Anybody know why I still have a job with the Braves other than winning that MVP and leading the Braves to the 1991 series? I cannot believe these morons still pay me.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
6:52 pm
Heyward’s been out with a leg strain, either a hamstring or a quad. I’m trying to find out specifically. He’s supposed to play tonight, I think.
CB
May 1st, 2009
6:52 pm
Hey DOB the recession is probably your fault too
nolie
May 1st, 2009
6:52 pm
nolie, from the research department: Hanson has thrown 461 pitches, 304 for strikes. (mbatl)
thank you research dept. that would make his K-100 better than the 7.6 I guessed, more like 8.2. Very good but still a big difference than the K/9IP
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
6:53 pm
I have a feeling if Heyward was injured, we’d here something. Since there is no news on him, I suspect they’re just resting him.
redandpewter55
May 1st, 2009
6:53 pm
DOB,
Do you know what is up with Cole Rohrbough?
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
6:53 pm
Thanks, Dave.
(I’d be really pumped if you could get some dirt on Rohrbough, too, but no biggie…)
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
6:54 pm
“Why are you all asking me why McCann didn’t have Lasik right away, as if I’m part of some coverup or none of the four specialists he’s seen here and in D.C. have the knowledge to make the right decision? Mac said they told him the surgery should be the last resort, perhaps because the recovery might keep him out longer, or perhaps because they just don’t want to burn/laser the guy’s eye for the second time in 18-19 months? Some act as though it’s like getting a flu shot, having one’s corneas cut, which is what Lasik basically is. He was younger than most docs I’ve talked to recommend getting the procedure to begin with (22 when he had it).”
THANK YOU. I think wanting to avoid a potentially career-ending surgery at all costs is a no-brainer for Brian McCann. Likewise for the organization.
Terry "Fat Tub of Goo" Forster
May 1st, 2009
6:55 pm
My boy Blaine “Goo Boy” Boyer tossed a solid inning last night, lowering his ERA to only 18.00. Let’s see how long it takes for LaRussa/Duncan to trust him in a meaningful game and how fast it blows up in their faces. Then we will see how fast the round one get’s sent out of St. Louis.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
6:56 pm
OK, just got the report from Frank Wren on the injured prospects: Heyward tweaked a hamstring, should be ready “any day now.”
Freeman has a little side soreness and will miss a game or two.
Rohrbaugh turned his ankle. He’ll be back soon, too.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
6:57 pm
I want Prado in the line-up.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
6:57 pm
Great news Dave, thanks a lot.
mbatl
May 1st, 2009
6:58 pm
Thanks DOB!
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
6:58 pm
JEFF LOCKE should be up with the big club too.
Hey Braves Fans...
May 1st, 2009
6:58 pm
DOB Prado hasnt played in a very long while other than an inning here…a pinch hit there. Any news on when he’ll get a start somewhere?
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
6:59 pm
thanks DOB!
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
7:00 pm
How ’bout Roy Oswalt, with only 18 strikeouts in 32 innings this season?
nolie
May 1st, 2009
7:00 pm
because I calc’ed Hanson’s at 8.whatever, and you’re saying it’s “ok” and I’m looking at Harden’s and going “ok?!?!” (OHIO STEVE)
I was sloppy with the “decent” mostly because it is still a large difference between the two for him and partly because I think a “stud” pitcher should do better in the minors at that than in the majors(never investigated that to prove it though). Plus of course I was referring to my guess of 7.6 from not knowing the real pitch counts. And some guys actually go up.Smoltz did I believe in the last numbers I saw. Certainly not insulting Tommy, but I think it gives a further indication of his pitch count problems so far.
expect the worst
May 1st, 2009
7:00 pm
Look at what Cox said about Hampton:
“He went through a lot during those years,” manager Bobby Cox told the Braves’ site. “He’s a gamer. I like Mike a lot.”
He’s a gamer?
THIS IS PROOF THAT COX IS EITHER A SENILE PATHETIC OLD FOOL OR JUST SIMPLY A BLITHERING DUNDERHEAD!
A “gamer”?
A “gamer” is someone who straps it up DESPITE pain and/or injuries and ACTUALLY PLAYS THE GAME.
Hampton did no such thing. He played in what, 24 games in 4 years. And got paid $44 million dollars?
Hampton is not a gamer.
However he is a (choose any of the following):
goldbrick, wuss, slacker, cheat, fraud, poser, chump, stiff, crybaby, coward, bush-leaguer, etc.
BERNIE MADOFF could learn a few tricks from mister take-the-money and not do anything for it.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
7:02 pm
expect the worst, why don’t you try tearing a pec and then pitching on it? And then when you do, come back and tell us how it feels, mmmk?
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:02 pm
I like Julio Teheran.
David Souter
May 1st, 2009
7:02 pm
You were wondering what’s become of Kerry Ligtenberg?
He’s about to replace me on the supreme court.
If Ligtenberg is not the name of a supreme court justice, I don’t know what is!
expect the worst
May 1st, 2009
7:05 pm
“expect the worst, why don’t you try tearing a pec and then pitching on it? And then when you do, come back and tell us how it feels, mmmk?”
Yes, for $44 million dollars I would pitch with a torn pec.
People in India have their kidneys cut out for a few hundred bucks.
Tommy
May 1st, 2009
7:05 pm
Agree with expect. Bobby only hurts his credibility with such comments.
How tough could it be to sit on your duff and earn a $100 million! Should have been out there helping the grounds crew, the batboys, and the ushers!
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
7:06 pm
I’ll believe it when I see it, dude.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:06 pm
My daughter just asked me if I thought the Braves would hit a homer tonight. She’s 7. I didn’t want to lie to her, so I told her to go to her room.
mbatl
May 1st, 2009
7:07 pm
Braves paid Hampton $48.5 mil for 35 wins and 24 losses.
Dodgers have paid Jason Schmidt $47 mil for 1 win and 4 losses, plus whatever he does this year (and he’s still rehabbing).
Not saying the Hampton situation didn’t hurt, but things could be and sometimes are worse. I like Hampton… hope we beat him tonight of course, but wish him the best.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
7:07 pm
Sorry DOB…was just looking to see if there was any specific reason why Lasik was the last choice. I was only commenting on it (my first time to do so by the way) because there is a HUGE difference in depth perception when wearing glasses and contacts. I sometimes wear my glasses at night to let my eyes get some air (and to rest) and things look drastically different. Since pitch recognition is so key to good hitting, I just felt with my personal experiences (having bad eye sight) that changing to glasses would be a very difficult task. Just asking my friend…not trying to badger you.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
7:08 pm
mbatl, spoken like a truly sane person.
Tommy
May 1st, 2009
7:08 pm
The point IS: he didn’t pitch with a torn pec or any of the other thousand phantom complaints he had. His conscience should have had him doing SOMETHING!
Random
May 1st, 2009
7:08 pm
DOB (6:36 pm): “McCann hit with the glasses, said it felt good, that he thinks this will be the solution, at least until offseason. Docs have told him surgery should be last resort in-season, but it is an option if glasses doesn’t work out.
. . .
“But he said if he gets used to the glasses and the depth perception thing, this should work. . . .”
He may want to consider opening his stance a little as well.
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
7:08 pm
DOB, now that McCann’s back, could you ask him what did he thought of Cody Johnson. He hit two homeruns in the two games Mac was in there.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:10 pm
Tomas. What do you think McCann would say. “Kid looks good. Got some pop.” SIT DOWN!
stony mcmuffin
May 1st, 2009
7:11 pm
McCann should get like 3D glasses.
Then when the pitcher throws the ball, he’ll go like whoa! it’s like the baseball is coming right at me, man!
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
7:14 pm
Walk Up Music on “Opposite Night”
Escobar: Easy Like Sunday Morning
Chipper: Iron Man
Kotchman: Theme from Chariots of Fire
Garret Anderson: Start Me Up
Kawakami: Born in the U.S.A (oh, come on…)
Glavine: I Will Survive
Frenchy: Redemption Song
Schafer: You Send Me
D Lowe: I Only Have Eyes For You (Ouch)
KJ: Reach Out, I’ll Be There
McCann: I Can See For Miles (Sorry McFann)
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
7:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
7:14 pm
expect the worst,
If I knew that the $44 million was guaranteed, I wouldn’t pitch at all. I’d sit on my *** in the dugout, have this blog up on my laptop, and laugh at anyone who has a problem with it.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
7:15 pm
Oh, snap. DOB, kill that 7:14 please. I thought I thought it through, but I didn’t.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:16 pm
Like the choices Bubdylan
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:16 pm
Hampton owes us tonight! He better throw BP fastballs and let us tee off on him. We deserve that!
rev. bleep
May 1st, 2009
7:17 pm
baseball is the gift of a kind and loving god to his (or her) faithful and deserving servants. we shall honor him (or her) by paying attention thru the service (i.e. game) and not leaving early. amen.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
7:19 pm
cabravesfan , I really, really, really want to be with you. (I LOVE margaritas)
Is it just me or does anyone else want to know what cabravesfan is doing, that she can’t mention?
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
7:19 pm
Bubdylan–
Oooohh…ouch.
what goes around...
May 1st, 2009
7:20 pm
In his next life, Mike Hampton will be a child working in a sweatshop, 12 hours a day, for one dollar. And one scoop of rice.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:20 pm
Um, really rather NOT know, Tom O’Hawke, if ya don’t mind…
Roman Gal
May 1st, 2009
7:21 pm
nolie
What exactly do you mean you think that Hanson’s pitch counts have hurt him? Do you think that because he’s not throwing as many pitches it’s somehow messing him up?
N8
May 1st, 2009
7:21 pm
I think Mac should go with the Jose Offerman glasses, or perhaps the Horace Grant vareity. Better yet, how about the black ones with the skull and crossbones in the middle like Rick “wild thing” Vaughn wore?
I don’t care if he looks like Harry Caray, as long as they get him back in the lineup. This is getting silly.
On a side note, NOTHING I like more than when I rant for two days, and DOB has a chunk of his next blog saying basically what I’ve been saying. Especially when there is quotes from players saying the same things.
Now if he could just get some players to go on record saying Bobby’s lineups stink.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:21 pm
Bubdylan–hey, maybe a good one for BMac would be “I Can See Clearly Now”? That might suit better, I think.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:21 pm
My daughter just asked why the Braves don’t always play at Turner Field. I decided it would take too long to explain so I sent her to play in the backyard.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
7:23 pm
TJ, yup. Even better.
Roman Gal
May 1st, 2009
7:23 pm
SCGal
Sit down before you hurt yourself, darlin’.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
7:24 pm
This will make a lot of people happy – Bobby just said (on pre-game show) that Kelly will play tomorrow.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
7:24 pm
TJ , You must be a woman.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
7:24 pm
“The Bible – A Fairytale book of rules brainwashing millions. Obliviously used to help create war, kill, hate, judge and discriminate.”
YEAH! DEATH TO THEM GUYS! Oh, wait…
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:25 pm
Shoot…now I got that dadgum song stuck in my head….
Scully Knows
May 1st, 2009
7:25 pm
McCann, PLEASE DO NOT GET THE EYE SURGERY AGAIN. That crap is NOT good for
your eyes!
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:25 pm
uh, yes I am….. how’d you guess?
N8
May 1st, 2009
7:25 pm
So, you people saying that Hampton owes YOU money…
You guys all work for the insurance company that paid his salary, or what? In the same breath, are you people also of the belief that Bobby owes you money for bonehead decisions in the playoffs, that Wohlers owes you money for the pitch to Leyritz, or that Danny Bautista owes you money for falling over his shadow in the playoffs? Perhaps you should call Joey Devine and demand some sort of compensation. You guys must REALLY be pizzed at Nick Esasky, huh?
Good god, get over yourselves. You have EVERY right to pizz and moan about results on the field. Hell, what would have to say, if I wasn’t complaining. But to think that somebody “owes” the Braves anything, much less the fans because he was hurt? Unreal.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
7:26 pm
don’t care if he looks like Harry Caray, as long as they get him back in the lineup.
Good one, Nate.
DawgFan
May 1st, 2009
7:26 pm
N8 – you sound dumb.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
7:27 pm
Tom O – somehow I suspected you would be curious about that. By the way, I don’t know if I mentioned that my sister’s degree is from SUNY Albany, so she spent time in your neck of the woods
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
7:28 pm
Tom O’Hawke-
Not doing anything that would be illegal, just not necessarily blog friendly
.
Still drinking, come on out and join me
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
7:30 pm
TJ , It was either that or you are gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:32 pm
ROFLMAO! Tom O’Hawke– I’ll take the first option, if ya don’t mind!
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
7:33 pm
cabravesfan , I’d love to. I just hope you get drunk enough to tell us what you don’t want to tell us (huh?). You’re getting there. You capitalized the ‘c’ in cabravesfan.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
7:35 pm
Smyrna Jim … Absolutely! That’s very close.
what DOB won't tell you...
May 1st, 2009
7:35 pm
Match a member of the Braves with the corresponding nasty, personal habit:
a) Doesn’t wear underpants.
b) Never washes hands after using the bathroom.
c) Doesn’t brush his teeth or floss regularly.
d) Picks his toes.
e) Has a “wide stance”.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
7:36 pm
Cody Johnson just homered again for Myrtle…dude already has 9 on the season…and Myrtle is a tough hitter’s park, too.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:36 pm
Ah. Joe just said Ross is at home with his newborn son. Or daughter. Can’t remember.
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
7:38 pm
Game over.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:38 pm
1-0 Astros.
Hey Braves Fans...
May 1st, 2009
7:38 pm
Already losing? Too early to call it with this offense? I think not.
Hey Braves Fans...
May 1st, 2009
7:40 pm
Lowe pitching a game already.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
7:40 pm
TJ , I don’t know what ROFLMAO means. Could it be, Regular, Ordinary, Female … Loves Men And O’Hawke?
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:41 pm
OK, so how did the Astros get a run already? I missed the first part of the inning. I was watching the Red Wings/Ducks playoff game….
Wayne in Utah
May 1st, 2009
7:41 pm
Please, let’s not turn on the negative waves tonight concerning Mike Hampton. He pitches for that other team now, and it not my concern.
Eye problems are a serious thing, and I definitely think McCann should take things slowly, and methodically. No rash decisions needed. We all miss his presence on the team, but his eyesight is not something to be trifled with.
Personally, I would love to see Escobar in the leadoff spot, if Schafer is not going to be there.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:41 pm
Error on Lowe. 1st and 3rd. 2 outs.
expect the worst
May 1st, 2009
7:41 pm
Watch. Hampton’s muscle memory will kick in and he’ll have to leave the game early with some physical (or mental) ailment.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:41 pm
Sorry…shorthand for Rolling On the Floor Laughing My A** Off…..LOL
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
7:42 pm
Frenchy looks really slow chasing balls out there in right field!
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
7:43 pm
HAMPTON owes us big time! He took money for us and sat on his big butt. Now he owes us for everything!
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:43 pm
Ha. I just noticed there was another Steve in OH. My bad.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:44 pm
Tom O’Hawke it’s a texting thing…I do a lot of that between my friends…I’d rather text than talk on the phone…
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
7:44 pm
At this rate Lowe will give up 18 extra base hits – better pull him now.
ron worsley
May 1st, 2009
7:44 pm
If we had Richie Sexson on this team, we might have a chance to hit a homerun.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:44 pm
With Ross at home, I guess Diaz is our back-up catcher tonight. Right, DOB?
Logan
May 1st, 2009
7:44 pm
Hampton actually reaching the mound in Atlanta tonight can only be attributed to mapquest.
Ron Burgundy
May 1st, 2009
7:45 pm
I like scotch
semiballcoach
May 1st, 2009
7:46 pm
kelly who?
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
7:46 pm
Kris Medlen and Michael Bowden hooking up in a real pitcher’s duel in Gwinnett…scoreless after 6 (Medlen 6K’s, 1H, Bowden also 1 H).]
Jeff Locke and Jacob Thompson also w/ 3 scoreless apiece.
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
7:47 pm
Does anyone have the link for Fox Saturday games? I need the one that shows which markets the different games are in. (I know they’ve released the schedule but the pages I’ve found don’t have the pertinent information.)
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
7:47 pm
Damn it- even on vacation the f*ing blog eats my post…
Tom O’Hawke-
I’m not doing anything illegal, just not blog appropriate…
Come on out and join me…just drinking and having fun;)
Hey Braves Fans...
May 1st, 2009
7:47 pm
Oh look Infante got on. Everytime he gets on I just think how stupid Bobby Cox is for not playing him earlier. Come on Esco no DP.
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
7:47 pm
At least he attempted to hit into a double play.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
7:47 pm
TJ , Well…I almost had it.
DawgFan
May 1st, 2009
7:47 pm
I’m getting sick of Yunel’s crap.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
7:47 pm
OK…no way you can take omar out of the lineup until he goes through a bad slump….dude just comes in and hits the ball.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
7:48 pm
Esco almost grounds into a double play….come on Bobby take him out already and play Prado. MORON!!!
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
7:48 pm
Yunel is so impatient…
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:48 pm
That’s OK, Tom O’Hawke, your abbreviations weren’t too bad either…
Steve McP
May 1st, 2009
7:49 pm
So Ross is away and our reserve catcher is playing LF – looks a bit risky
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
7:49 pm
I like Frenchy in the 4th spot…he’s been the most productive brave thus far…thats not saying much tho…
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
Come on, Frenchy!
cricket
May 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
Escobar GIDP just failed to live up to his name. Braves are making sure not to make Hampton throw lot of pitches, don’t want him to get hurt again.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
SCGal, this is a baseball blog.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
There’s a cleanup hitter!!!!
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
<cabravesfan Vacationing where?
ron worsley
May 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
If Richie Sexson were hitting cleanup tonight, he would have hit that third pitch right out of the park.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
FRENCHY GOES DEEP!
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
Way to pick up Escobar and Chipper, Frenchy.
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
ATTA BOY FRENCHY!!!!
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
Not bad, Frenchy!
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
oops. messed that one up and I’m NOT drunk, or even drinking…LOL
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
All you dumb@#@ that knock Frenchy can suck it. He should have been cleanup all along!
BravesFanChris24
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
Francoeur
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
I called that homer. I typed it out and everything. Then I chickened out. No glory for meeeeeeeee.
Run heap run
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
Well we have ourselves a cleanup hitter
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
See, all I had to do was write about the Braves’ homerless streak and how they probably wouldn’t homer off Hampton… Voila.
By the way, there’s a big sign hanging from the Chop House, that says “Hampton’s Havenots. Thanks for Nothing.”
KC
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
Frenchy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MariettaDerek
May 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
Frenchy gets double pits to chesty with it! Big time! Let’s own Hampton tonight!
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
Steve McP…can’t Infante also play C in a pinch? If not…can still always move Diaz to C and bring in another guy to play LF…I’m OK with the current defensive alignment…
…as I was typing, Jeffy hit one out…2-1 Braves…finally!
ABravesFan
May 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
French you the man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
I saw that other slacker Hudson there waiting to high-five Frenchy – looking happy to be taking our money to do nothing.
Choppinmama
May 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
Does anyone know if catcher’s masks are fitted to the individual in any way? Maybe there’s a few hockey-styles leftover from Estrada. Any one with eye trouble knows that if your eye is bothering you, it bothers your whole entire body.
McFann: Maybe the team can petition MLB to let us use yellow balls like they do in tennis to help ‘ol four eyes until this problem gets “cleared up.” I’ll have to look up the patron saint of eyes. St Cecelia maybe? Hey, I know, let’s ask SCGal!!!
DOB: if one needs a lasik touch-up, they can do it soon after the original surgery is done, like in a couple of months. Thanks goodness infection is not the problem.
I was experiencing blurry vision from time to time, went to the dr. and he said I had oily eyes! Had to wash the lids well for a week or so, and it cleared that up, but I was diagnosed right away.
When you think about everything that goes on in your body that has to go right for you to feel and function well, it’s mind- boggling. (I’m sure BMac would take a boggled mind over dry and blurry eyes!)
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
Richie Sexson who?
Run heap run
May 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
Easy there mfin
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
I wonder if Hampton is tipping pitches since he feels bad about never playing for the Bravos?
DirtyYuni
May 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
Frenchy must have been reading the blog tonight because, with all that talk about the lack of homers and no certifiable cleanup hitter, he takes care of both.
Frenchy, if you happen to read this comment too, it’s great to see you coming around and playing great baseball again. It’d be awful nice to have you, Chip and Mac hitting back to back and producing.
bravefaninok
May 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
damn…….wtg frenchy…
Interested Observer
May 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
Hey, the Braves guy hit the ball over the fence. What’s that called again?
Mike
May 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
Hamptons Havenots…..thats awesome!
I stayed at a holiday inn last night....
May 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
Hampton Inn. You pay a lot for a room. But then there’s something wrong with it, so you have to sleep in your car.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
That’s ok, Bubdylan we’ll give you partial credit for it.
Ron Burgundy
May 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
It appears that the anti-christ, Chip Caray, has his usual diarreah of the mouth. Volume on mute
ABravesFan
May 1st, 2009
7:54 pm
That was definitely double pits to chesty!!!!!
Run heap run
May 1st, 2009
7:55 pm
Lmao @ the sign dob. Grrrr round 2 of storms and my satellite is being wonky i hope i dont have to go out to my jeep and listen
bravefaninok
May 1st, 2009
7:55 pm
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
I saw that other slacker Hudson there waiting to high-five Frenchy – looking happy to be taking our money to do nothing.
* Link
* Report this comment
Huddy doesn’t deserve that!
Holy Crap
May 1st, 2009
7:55 pm
Did anyone know that before that Francoeur homerun; Kelly Johnson was the sole team homerun leader?
Bobby's breath
May 1st, 2009
7:55 pm
I was experiencing blurry vision from time to time, went to the dr. and he said stop drinking so much.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
7:55 pm
What’s the highest a pitcher has batted in a lineup in recent years? Just 8th?
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:56 pm
They just showed a shot of Bobby trying on McCann’s glasses.
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
7:56 pm
Already losing? Too early to call it with this offense? I think not.
How brutal must your life be when you can be proven spectacularly wrong less than 15 minutes after such a statement, LOL?
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
7:56 pm
Alright DLowe…let’s just mow ‘em down now and win 2-1 : )
TJ
May 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
Where are you that’s having storms Run Heap Run?
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
Wow. Great catch by the kid. Covered a lot of ground in R-C
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
WOW! What a grab, Shafer!
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
Alright, Schaaaaaf.
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
Nice catch by Jordan Schafer
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
Who was that unmasked man?
Rob from SC
May 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
did we ever find out what is wrong with Jason Heyward
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
Hampton getting BOOOOED! Good for us! He owes us.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
I don’t believe that is cheering I hear for Mike Hampton. Lol. Serves him right.
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
TJ-
I’m in Vegas…just noticed my first post showed up…I sidi’d been drinking!
So Francoeur homered, huh? Good for him!
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
Leave it to Hampton…
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
Chorus of boos when Hampton came to bat, and when he got that single through right side of the infield.
Dan
May 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
Turner Field heavily booing Hampton!
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
Rob, Heyward mild hamstring I think. Back in a day or so, DOB said.
Blaine Boyer is beyond pudgy
May 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
How come it’s ok to refer to Pudge Rodriguez as “Pudge” but not to Goo Boyer as “Goo”?
ease19
May 1st, 2009
7:59 pm
Just don’t confuse me with Coach or the Dirty Dozen of in game whiners though, OK?
nolie – NOT an issue! I am a former pitcher as well, and my catcher was my roommate/friend throughout my playing career, so just imagine the ribbing I took
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
7:59 pm
I hope Hampton tries to steal and gets hurt again.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
7:59 pm
bravefaninok – sorry – I failed to use the sarcasm button – that was a shot at people on the blog, not Tim.
brent a.
May 1st, 2009
7:59 pm
Is Chip Caray really so oblivious as to be surprised by Braves fans booing Mike Hampton?
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
8:00 pm
Man, who put KJ back in the field?
ease19
May 1st, 2009
8:00 pm
By the way, that was a pretty swing by Francouer, I mean he did everything right there…
Kevin McGlinchy
May 1st, 2009
8:00 pm
DOB — do you see this KJ/Infante thing turning into a platoon situation?
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
8:00 pm
I remember when the Braves were opening at home against the Mets and the announcers were talking about how the first pitch is always an indicator of how the season will go, then all the sudden Kaz Matsui takes Russ Ortiz out of the ball park to straight away center. Good times.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:01 pm
Lowe…they gave you the 2 runs…hold ‘em down buddy…might be all you get.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
8:01 pm
Good job D Lowe getting out of that jam.
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
8:02 pm
I have a lot of respect for Mike Hampton…he couldve easily walked away from the game but worked his tail off to get where he is now. But for tonight I hope the Braves tear the cover off the ball
brent a.
May 1st, 2009
8:02 pm
Stephen,
And the Braves ended up winning the division (again) that year.
steve_97060
May 1st, 2009
8:03 pm
DOB, what’s the deal with second base now, is Omar going to take over for Kelly or is this just a short term change?
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
8:03 pm
DOB, I believe it was Run Heap Run that suggested negative writing, to produce positive results. She may be on to something.
TJ, I actually knew what the LMAO meant, but had no idea when you prefaced it with ROF. I’m glad you’re OK with my version. I like that one better myself.
cabravesfan , Your other post wasn’t eaten by the blog, it showed up. Either your screen is too tiny, or the alcohol too large.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
8:03 pm
Choppinmama–
Haha…yeah. The patron saint of eye diseases is St. Lucy.
Can’t believe he’s gotta switch to the hockey-style mask, though. Man, that’s tough…
Northern Ballfan
May 1st, 2009
8:04 pm
Let’s see. My team is doing poorly, and I hate the Braves. I think I’ll go harass their blog. They’re a bunch of Bible-thumpers down there, so I can get under their skin that way.
For kicks, I’ll pretend I’m a girl. From a southern state besides Georgia, that way I’m covered…
Nobody will suspect.
KC
May 1st, 2009
8:04 pm
That JJ guy on Peachtree TV is one of the most annoying television personalities I’ve seen in recent memory. GAWD I wish they’d get him out of the Braves broadcasts.
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
8:04 pm
DOB
LOL @ the sign
Jim
Huddy doesn’t deserve that. For all we know something could’ve been wrong with his elbow for years.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:04 pm
Work the count guys…no first-pitch swings.
Shamus Thacker
May 1st, 2009
8:05 pm
Hammy is a disgrace to the male gender.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:05 pm
Clint Sammons time, folks!
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
8:05 pm
BTW–The glasses he’s wearing now look kinda like the pair I wore up until last year.
Shut Up Joe and Chip!
May 1st, 2009
8:05 pm
Those guys just need to shut up about their disappointment with the crowd booing Hampton! They assumed, on the air, that it was because Hampton was hurt during the life of his contract and that is why all the fans were booing.
Then they continued to make the excuse that he kept rehabbing instead of just hangin it up so he could play ball again.
Well guess what you two rocket scientists! He rehabbed to WALK AWAY FROM THE BRAVES! I had NOOOOOOO problem with that jerk until he walked away from the Braves after they stood behind him during all that rehab.
So just shut up and call the game. Stop trying to expound on how the fans should behave toward Mike Hampton.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:06 pm
If ATL closes out MIA tonight, does the series with CLE start Sunday?
Elliot Spritzer
May 1st, 2009
8:06 pm
I have a lot of respect for Bernie Madoff…he couldve easily walked away from the game but worked his tail off to get where he was.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:06 pm
Chip drives me nuts. When have the braves ever had a back-up catcher that was more offense than defense?
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:07 pm
WOW! Sammons gives it a ride and Bourne comes up with an amazing catch.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
8:07 pm
Sammons robbed on a terrific catch by CF Michael Bourn crashing into the wall
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
8:07 pm
bravos2249 – see my 7:59 post
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:08 pm
Either a very late-arriving crowd or the Miami fans think the series is over…looks like a WNBA croud!
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:09 pm
Ha, yeah. Could the Braves sign Eddie Perez to a one day contract?
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
8:09 pm
Tom O’Hawke-
Difinately the alcohol
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
8:09 pm
steve-97060, get an easier screen name to respond to. Oh, and Bobby Cox said Kelly would be back in there tomorrow at second base.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:09 pm
…or crowd
Braveheart
May 1st, 2009
8:10 pm
I really could have done without Chip and Joe getting all self righteous about why fans booed Mike Hampton. Fellas, we get it. You like Hampton. You know Hampton. You’re friends with Hampton. It’s not his fault. Doesn’t matter to fans. We haven’t made the playoffs in three seasons. We got stuck with an $80 million payroll by AOL. He was taking up 10% of that, and hurting our ability to compete on the field during the season and financially off the field during the offseason. He was counted on to be a top of the rotation guy with Hudson and Smoltz. He wasn’t that, despite being paid alot of money to be that. Fans don’t know Hampton, but they what they do know is that he hurt the team hurt the team on the field and in the pocketbook FOR FOUR FRIGGIN’ SEASONS!!! I’m not saying it’s right to question his heart or desire or anything like that. But just the same, it ain’t right to act like you don’t get why fans boo Hampton either.
Moderate Maniac
May 1st, 2009
8:11 pm
It was just before they DL’ed Mac that I posted here that I didn’t understand why Mac couldn’t just wear glasses instead of screwing with contacts when they were irritating his eyes. I cited Darrell Porter and some other catchers who had played while wearing glasses.
Multi-million dollar corporations are sometimes run by idiots. The last year has proven that. So instead of shoving some glasses on Mac and being able to keep him in the lineup, they DL him for 15 days.
Oh well.
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
8:12 pm
DOB
I saw Baby Mama with your Hollywood girlfriend, Tina Fey, last night. It was a pretty good date movie, but I was surprised to see Fey in a batting cage scene. Pretty good looking left handed bat! Your taste gets a big +.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:15 pm
Nice quick 1-2-3 inning for Lowe.
Holy Crap
May 1st, 2009
8:15 pm
On the Bobby Cox show on the radio he said:
1) Garrett Anderson “means so much to the offense.”
2) McCann is now wearing glasses.
3) KJ in the lineup tomorrow.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:16 pm
Ditto keylargo
The_Superhoo
May 1st, 2009
8:16 pm
How much booing did Hampton get? DirecTV is out at my apt so I can’t watch
DAM
May 1st, 2009
8:17 pm
Let’s all pray that when Bobby sticks KJ back in there he slots him 6, 7, or 8 and bumps Schafer up to leadoff.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:19 pm
After three innings, I hate Michael Bourn.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:19 pm
If Cox wants to put KJ back in at 2B tomorrow…can he atleast consider leaving Omar in and giving Esco some time off? Omar has been the most consistent guy at the plate….seems that way anyway.
and then
May 1st, 2009
8:19 pm
and then Bobby Cox went out to say
1) He won’t eat bacon anymore because of the swine flu,
2) McCann is now eating carrots,
3) Tom Glavine is day-to-day,
4) Kawakami has been “lights out” he just looks tired
Eman
May 1st, 2009
8:21 pm
Tornado warning in the N. Georgia area, hope the bad stuff don’t make it to Atlanta
KC
May 1st, 2009
8:21 pm
I’m starting to wonder if Escobar EVER hits ANYTHING other than weak choppers to the left side. I know he has, but it’s getting difficult to remember anything else.
Shamus Thacker
May 1st, 2009
8:22 pm
Only beer joint within staggering distance closed for good. Don’t know what I’ll do. Legal to drive TO honky-tonk, illegal to drive home. Whadda quandary…
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
8:23 pm
Keylargo: Yeah, that movie was kinda weak, but she looked great, and I thought same thing of her batting stance and swing. Impressive.
Coolest chica going.
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
8:23 pm
If a Tornado does touch down, I hope it hits on Hampton’s knee and breaks it.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
8:24 pm
Might be time to play Prado yet?
KC
May 1st, 2009
8:24 pm
Holy Crap, Well, Anderson did hit .293, 15 HR, 90 RBI last year, not to mention hitting something like .374 with RISP.
Sounds valuable to me for a team struggling to score runs. Especially when the guy getting all the playing time in his place is hitting .225.
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
8:24 pm
Lol, treehouse.
The_Superhoo
May 1st, 2009
8:25 pm
Treehouse,
if a tornado breaks Hampton’s knee, it’d only be playing right into his hands! he wouldnt have to pitch another game for at LEAST 3 years!
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
8:25 pm
Is anybody else EXTREMELY SICK AND TIRED of that stupid AT&T commercial where the kid “throws his minutes out at the restaurant”? Ugh! When is that kid gonna get it through his head that their friggin’ minutes don’t expire? Those commercials weren’t funny the first hundred-thousand times!
Sorry. Really needed to get that off my chest…
KC
May 1st, 2009
8:26 pm
I’m sure KJ will be in the leadoff spot tomorrow… because he’s displayed such a comfort level there, it would be difficult to drop him in the order.
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
8:27 pm
McFann, I’m tired of the commercial that takes place in Amsterdam.
DUMBSABETTAVHUMSAHETTTAN
Or something along those lines.
The_Superhoo
May 1st, 2009
8:27 pm
McFann,
I’m more pissed at his mom. What a BITCH! I always hope the family will succeed in ridding themselves of their old minutes behind her back!
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:28 pm
Any chance we might hold on to this one?
It says, “ask again later.” Spooky.
KC
May 1st, 2009
8:28 pm
Damnit man… Lowe must not have his best stuff tonight. Every inning has been an adventure. It would REALLY suck to lose this game to Hampton and the Stros.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
8:28 pm
With you there McFann. I wonder what they pay people to come up with those things? They could pay me that much and I’m thinking I’d come up with something better that some of them out there….
Ron Burgundy
May 1st, 2009
8:28 pm
Stay classy, San Diego. F**k you Mike Hampton, douchebag.
The_Superhoo
May 1st, 2009
8:29 pm
I’m Ron Burgundy?
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
8:30 pm
Nice drive from Bibby and 1….
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
8:30 pm
Just missed that double play.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
8:30 pm
What happened on that double play? Could they not get him?
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
8:30 pm
Yet another defensive gaffe (throw) by Chipper Jones!
Boo
May 1st, 2009
8:31 pm
Oh yeah, that Infante, amazing defense….
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
8:31 pm
wrong blog sorry..
MariettaDerek
May 1st, 2009
8:31 pm
That was definitely NOT double pits to chesty. Tied game. Boo to that.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
8:31 pm
When he was with the Braves, Hampton would’ve strained two muscles beating out that double-play grounder.
KC
May 1st, 2009
8:31 pm
Fu#$$^#^#$%@&@$%&#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SH#$%^&&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get that run back!!! I do NOT want to lose again, ESPECIALLY not to Hampton.
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
8:31 pm
Anyone want to share what is going ok with the game?
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:32 pm
The ’stros are one of the few teams that have more issues scoring than the Braves…makes the Lowe struggles even more hard to swallow.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:32 pm
Nice K, Lowe. Let’s get that run back!
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
8:33 pm
Can someone explain what happened on the double play ball? Thanks
brent a.
May 1st, 2009
8:33 pm
Hawks play Sunday no matter what; either at home against Miami, or at Cleveland.
Lakers play Monday.
The_Superhoo
May 1st, 2009
8:33 pm
EFFING RBI FC??? GO TO HELL HAMPTON!
DAM
May 1st, 2009
8:33 pm
KC, you’re right. We’ll probably pretend that KJ is the one with the .415 OBP coming into today while Schafer’s is .295. Oh, wait.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:33 pm
If I may jump in, I have to say I like those unused minutes adds.
They’re mostly funny. For the most part.
That kid looks like a guy I know. He plays a teenager but I bet he’s like 35. Incidently the guy I know is 35 but looks 20.
I should talk. I hate looking younger. I want to be Greg Oden.
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
8:33 pm
i hope Hampton rips his pants and we see a little bit of his butt cheeks. And then instead of boos the whole crowd just laughs and laugh.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:35 pm
Ripple Shot,
WHAT THE &%#@!?
You’re outta here!
That’s messed up. I for one hope D-Lowe stops giving up cheap runs.
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
8:35 pm
Jim
sorry….Also sorry took so long to respond. The big screen is in the other room. lol
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:35 pm
Seriously, Ripple Shot.
That’s messed up.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:35 pm
lol @ get a new screen name to respond to.
I’m changing mine to just the letter ‘A’ or the number 1…haven’t decided yet.
Whoever asked where I was, I’m like 150 miles northwest of atlanta in a little town on the lake called guntersville. watching the lightning dance across the lake right now. Still got the game and my drink so I’m good.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:36 pm
Chipper still looks like he’s pulling off everything.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
8:36 pm
What’s up with Chipper?
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:36 pm
I wish that Bourne dude would fall down or something.
The_Superhoo
May 1st, 2009
8:36 pm
whoa RippleShot, you wanna see a dude’s a$$? ;-P haha
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
8:37 pm
I said a little bit of his butt cheeks. A tiny bit. Just enough to make the crowd laugh and laugh. And it would make Hampton feel so dumb.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:37 pm
Chipper sucks.
Come on Chipper. You’re blowing it.
Chopper2Chipper
May 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
Of course Glass sets down 9 in a row.
1
May 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
sorry! taken!
bravefaninok
May 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
8:30 pm
Yet another defensive gaffe (throw) by Chipper Jones!
* Link
* Report this comment
chippers throw was good ,it was infante who made the throwing error
TJ
May 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
Run Heap Run that was me asking. You’re several hours southeast of Me. Not supposed to get any really nasty stuff here, at least not until tomorrow afternoon and evening.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
cabravesfan – did you mean to ask what’s going on with the game, as opposed to what’s going ok with the game? Hampton has retired 10 in a row – the Astros tied the game on a near DP where Infante’s throw to first was wide.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
Bobby: “Okay, guys. They tied it up. Let’s go out there in the bottom of the 4th and swing at the first pitch and give Hampton a 1-2-3 inning on 5 pitches.”
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
Hey RHR.. I’ve been to Guntersville, pretty place. Tennessee river, right?
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
Rain looks like it’s moving towards ATL..but if it hits it shouldn’t affect Lowe. Probably won’t hit for another 2-3 innings.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
8:39 pm
Stephen–
Oh man, I hate that one, too!
The_Superhoo–
Well yeah, she’s annoying, too, but ya don’t have to go that far…um…Yeah, though, they oughta just trash all their minutes–and anyway, you can’t just hand out minutes, they’re on you friggin’ phone, aren’t they?
TJ–
Seriously! Whoever came up with the first one musta been really proud of those little orange disks.
They could pay me that much and I’m thinking I’d come up with something better that some of them out there
Betcha could…
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
8:39 pm
I have family that lives in Northern Alabama. (Arab, Guntersville area)
mbatl
May 1st, 2009
8:40 pm
Chipper and Yunel are in a grudge match for least patient hitters in the NL. Coming into the game, they were last (Yunel with 2.95 pitches per PA) and next-to-last (Chipper at 3.16 pitches per PA). Out of 113 qualified hitters.
In 2 PA each, Chipper has seen 4 pitches tonight… Escobar 6.
The battle continues, and the race tightens.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:40 pm
Right Gil, yeah it’s a beautiful place. Good fishing, they say.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:40 pm
Oh come on!
That sucks.
I feel like Jeff should set a goal for 27 homeruns this year. That would give him 100. Of course, if not for the low expectations that result from his down years he should be expected to hit 30, but 27 would be pretty impressive either way.
JD
May 1st, 2009
8:41 pm
Oh dear…the rally turtle’s hiding.
I’m positive it’s been discussed, but I don’t want to read through 500 posts: Can someone tell me what’s going on with McCann? I saw him in the dugout wearing glasses? What happened to the new contact and the rehab assignment?
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
8:41 pm
I hope that Tornado comes and rips a little part of Hampton’s pants.
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
8:41 pm
bravefaninok – Yeah, Infante made a bad throw. But, Chipper threw him a shot put.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
8:41 pm
They do like them little orange disks, supposed to look like a clock or something maybe? I dunno.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
8:42 pm
Mitchell–
The only one that was sorta funny to me was the yard sale one.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:42 pm
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
8:37 pm
I said a little bit of his butt cheeks. A tiny bit. Just enough to make the crowd laugh and laugh. And it would make Hampton feel so dumb.
No no no. Still sick. Please seek help.
Double Dare
May 1st, 2009
8:42 pm
Any news on Heyward? Sorry if this was posted before.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:42 pm
Come on D-Lowe!
Buckle down.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:43 pm
It was SO humid late this afternoon here, like August humidity, all my clothes were wringing wet after I ran, yuck. Is it like that in atlanta tonight?
TJ
May 1st, 2009
8:43 pm
Double Dare– Mild hammy problem. He should be back shortly.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:43 pm
Dare. DOB said Wren said Heyward- mild strained hamstring. Back soon.
Double Dare
May 1st, 2009
8:43 pm
Thanks guys! Let’s go BRAVES! Good night.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
8:44 pm
JD–
The contacts made his eyes to dry–drops didn’t help–and he went 1-6 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and two strikeouts in his rehab assignment in Myrtle Beach.
DOB’s got an article about it up on the AJC Braves page. Bowmen’s also got one on the “Official Site”.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:44 pm
JD – there’s a whole story about McCann’s eye thing on the sports page Braves link.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:45 pm
Hey, Diaz caught one for a change of pace.
McFann O, how do you make your s*** bold? I can’t remember how to do that.
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
8:45 pm
Mitchell- what part of a LITTLE bit of Hampton’s butt cheeks. It wouldn’t be a lot! Just a little skin. Just enough to get the crowd to laugh at him and make him embarrassed.
The_Superhoo
May 1st, 2009
8:45 pm
RippleShot
DUDE. why are you so obsessed with seeing inside Hampton’s pants? LOL
TJ
May 1st, 2009
8:45 pm
Steve OH would that be considered third hand information? you said that DOB said that Wren said….
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
Not sure Chip should a hit “fisted up the middle.”
nolie
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
What exactly do you mean you think that Hanson’s pitch counts have hurt him? Do you think that because he’s not throwing as many pitches it’s somehow messing him up? (Roman Gal)
No right now he is throwing too many pitches to get the number of outs he is getting. He has had to be pulled by the 5th inning in most starts cause he has already reached the 100 pitch count limit. It would likely be worse if he were up with the big club pitchjing against hitters who Fot The Most Part have better place discipline. He just needs to get a little better command so he can go farther into games. Lotsa young pitchers have the same problem.
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
Ahahahahah, Lee, sit down.
Baseball Announcers that sound dirty, but really aren't
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
Chip “the douchebag” Caray, “was fisted up the middle.”
JasonInFL (Formerly ME)
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
Andruw with another RBI…another extra base hit…
MariettaDerek
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
Sammons guns down Lee. That was DP to C!
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
Not bad for a 3rd stringer!
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
Ripple Shot I’m done with you.
I’m just gonna close my eyes when I see your name.
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
Any news on Heyward? Sorry if this was posted before.
Go back about an hour and read DOB’s grayed background post for news on Heyward.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:47 pm
TJ, was just trying to give DOB credit. I knew it was weird, but still makes sense.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
8:48 pm
Mitchell–
For bolding, click here.
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
8:48 pm
No, MITCHELL! I’m done with you. You clearly don’t understand how amazing it would be for Hampton to tear his pants exposing a tiny bit of his butt cheeks which would make the crowd laugh at him.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:49 pm
That’s Matty’s spot, huh?
Schafer's Wafers
May 1st, 2009
8:49 pm
No to the people who think Richie Sexson would be good….You people have clearly not watched any baseball if you think he is still decent. DOB gave the numbers last blog.
JD
May 1st, 2009
8:49 pm
Thanks guys…why doesn’t McCann just get the surgery already? I feel like he’s only going to hold the team back and prolong this. Hope I’m wrong and the glasses work, but still…
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:50 pm
Diaz’s single was exactly like his one from Tues that scored the 2 runs.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
8:50 pm
WOOOTTTT!!!
TJ
May 1st, 2009
8:50 pm
McFann Looks like you got another student, teach…LOL
Steve OH Yeah, I know. And scary part is, we all understood it too….
bravefaninok
May 1st, 2009
8:50 pm
im listening tonight,im blacked out because of houston.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
why not try to bunt with sammons?
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
Wafers. No one is suggesting Richie Sexson tonight. So don’t bring it up. Sit down.
ron worsely
May 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
There were extenuating circumstances involving Sexson. See last night’s blog.
Richie Sexson can still come back and have an impact.
H1Z1
May 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm
“There has been a small outbreak of “zombism” in London due to mutation of the H1N1 virus into new strain: H1Z1.
“After death, this virus is able to restart the heart of it’s victim for up to two hours after the initial demise of the person where the individual behaves in extremely violent ways from what is believe to be a combination of brain damage and a chemical released into blood during “resurrection.”
CT Splitter
May 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
I heard one time Bobby Cox ripped his pants on the way to the mound. Then all the sudden his dirty diaper drooped out the back and was hanging low.
JD
May 1st, 2009
8:52 pm
I’m gonna be honest…I’m mostly watching the Hawks game tonight and occassionally switching back to the Braves (as opposed to the other way around). I just don’t know how much longer I can take seeing the Braves act so inept at the plate. It’s painful to watch.
Lazy, stupid, worthless bloogers
May 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
Any Heyward updates? Any McCann updates? How about Glavine or Garret? Why isn’t Ross in the line up, uh? I am such a piece of sh!t that I actually think it is okay to add a comment/question and not bother to read even a page or two of other responses to see if the topic has been covered. What spoiled children you are.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
Superhoo: Hampton got booed quite lustily. Not, say, Barry Bonds-level booing, but just a notch below.
chippendale dancer
May 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
people pay to see a little bit of my butt cheeks. i’m firm. so is hampy.
DawgFan
May 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
A huge 30 year old tree just feel down in my back yard. Scary.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Berkman throwing error! Bases loaded, 1 out!
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Good fielding there – nice bunt
Schafer's Wafers
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Extenuating Circumstances….Yeah he SUCKS!!!
Couch Tater
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Did Hampton rip his pants?
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Sweet!
bobbyball!
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
eschew the bunt…have lowe swing for a 3 run homer…
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
If it would be up to some people in this room Schafer would be in the leadoff spot. Hanson would be up pitching, and well you all know the rest of the line up. Maybe the Braves should hire yall and the Braves would win everynight.
JD
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Wow I think we’ve found someone slower than Kotchman – Derek Lowe. He was going so slow they should play tuba music every time he runs.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
8:12 pm
DOB
I saw Baby Mama with your Hollywood girlfriend, Tina Fey, last night. It was a pretty good date movie, but I was surprised to see Fey in a batting cage scene. Pretty good looking left handed bat! Your taste gets a big +.
Does Baby Mama just keep getting funnier and funnier to anybody out there? I thought it was pretty good at first but I keep seeing it on HBO. That #$@! is funny as hell.
The batting cage scene cracks me up every time. Something about Greg Kinnear getting hit in the back with a baseball. I don’t know.
“I was swimming with dolphins this morning when I realized something. I am a great man.”
Tina Fey is redunkulous. Hot.
Okay, that’s probably enough.
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
8:55 pm
Smyrna jim-
I wanted an update- thanks…Having typing issues
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:55 pm
I wanna see a double steal here…would really surprise them!
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:55 pm
Bases loaded, 1 out top of the lineup, cabraves.
Infante about to either hit or walk.
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
8:55 pm
A walk would make me smile. That would show Hampton.
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
8:55 pm
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
Cmon Hampton, walk it out.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
The crowd will go nuts when Hampy walks in a run here
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
Finally, a bunt. A real bunt.
What a sight to behold. How can the Braves blow this?
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
…i’ll take an error to load the bases though : ) walk in a run maybe?
What's a blooger
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
“Lazy, stupid, worthless bloogers”
Is a blooger what you get if you pick your nose while blogging?
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
Where’s KJ when we need him – oh, never mind!
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
Infante for every day 2nd baseman please.
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
How can Cox sit Infante tomorrow?!
TJ
May 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
WOOO! Omar! nice.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
Where’s my laser linedrive homerun from Omar?
Come on baby.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
RBI Infante … Kelly Johnson weeps. Diaz and Schafer score
MariettaDerek
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
2 RBI single OMAR! That was definitely double pits to chesty!
KC
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
Well, if KJ’s starting tomorrow, fine. But Infante’s ass had better be in LF. Keep this boy in the lineup right now!!!!!
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
that’s big, if there’s rain coming.
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
GO OMAR.
OK but one Q… how is 11-24 not good?
steve_97060
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
how do you put Kelly back in at second after what Omar has been doing?
JD
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
I am such a piece of sh!t that I actually think it is okay to add a comment/question and not bother to read even a page or two of other responses to see if the topic has been covered. What spoiled children you are.
Sorry to inconvenience you by making you read a couple lines, or actually wasting 30 seconds of your time by helping someone out and answering a question. If it bothers you so much just skip it and go on to the next comment. I bet you’re the same kind of person that when someone asks you the time, you say “there’s a clock right there.”
PS – way to hide your identity by using a faux-screen name
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
Bobby we got to bench Infante!!! We can’t have this crap!!!!
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
ron worsely
May 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
There were extenuating circumstances involving Sexson. See last night’s blog.
Richie Sexson can still come back and have an impact.
Three ways to describe this blogs accuracy.
Worse
Worsely
Worseliest
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
HAHA! The crowd is laughing at Hampton. Now if he could only tear his pants exposing a tiny bit of his butt cheeks it would make the crowd laugh harder.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
Great, he’ll walk Omar and Yunel will hit into a double play even I could turn.
What does it take to get those people off their asses!?
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
…i repeat from earlier…if cox puts in kj tomorrow, he should leave omar in and give esco time off
Frankie Knuckles
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
Bobby can’t, he just can’t, sit Omar down tomorrow. Why would you? This ain’t little league
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
KC
LOL…that’s what I’m saying
KC
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
Double play? Can he resist?
Boo
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
Is it time now for another Escobar double play?
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
cabravesfan – Infante two run single (Lowe bunt was misplayed by Hampton to load the bases).
JD
May 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
You can only pick a blooger when you’re woose hunting.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
8:59 pm
Dude- your infatuation with Hampton’s butt cheeks is not healthy….
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
8:59 pm
Yunel being patient….WOW
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
8:59 pm
Yunel with some patience. Who knew?!
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
8:59 pm
A hit!
That’s my dog.
Who is this talking about Richie Sexson? That guy needs to retire. He’s done. He can’t hit $#@!.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Yunel – doubles off wall – 5-2, 2nd and 3rd.
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Where are the Escobar haters now?
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Too bad…I was thinking Esco would GIDP his way into our hearts.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Yunel RBI! YES!
KC
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take that in the arse Mike Hampton!!!!!!!
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
That’s another run. Yunel double to LF. Your turn Hoss.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
DP2C!!!! Or whatever u call it.
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Make em pay, Frenchy.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Walking Chipper to load them for Frenchy.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Intentionally walking Hoss. Booooooooooooo
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
cabravesfan
it was actually misplayed by Berkman not Hampton ( that’s ok Jim everyones watching the game and enjoying this hitting for once)
DawgFan
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Bases going to be loaded for Frenchy with one out.
steve_97060
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
the Frenchman cometh….
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
$10 says he swings and misses the first pitch
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
Frenchy, please take a couple of pitches in this spot.
Please?
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
Hook
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
In a perfect world Frenchy will hit a grand slam then Hampton will tear his pants on the way to the dugout exposing a tiny bit of his butt cheeks and the crowd will laugh at him.
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
lallalala
BravesFanChris24
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
Chased Hampton out
bravefaninok
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Make em pay, Frenchy.
I second that!!!!!!!
TJ
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
Frenchy can make them pay for the intentional walk to Chipper….
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
cabravesfan – you’re missing our best inning in a while – Hampton is out!
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
lol, “Hampton doesn’t like it as he hands the ball off.”
Now I’m happy.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
Why are they booing Hampton after that inning? He gave us runs, people.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
Come on Frenchy!!!!!
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
I wish the fans would’ve given Hampy a LITTLE more respect. It’s not like he chose to be hurt. But to boo him as he walks away from a terrible outing?
Boo
May 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
GTFO Hampton
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
Steve OH
IDK it would be more effective if they clapped for him.
KC
May 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
Come on Frenchy… there’s 3 runners on base, and they ALL belong to Hampton. Knock ‘em in!!!!!!
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:04 pm
Anybody taking that bet? Frenchy whiffs the first pitch
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:04 pm
Is the un-capitalized “lol” at least a little more masculine than the all-capper?
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
9:04 pm
Steve Oh- they wanted Hampton to stay in the game. Duh
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
9:04 pm
gee lost ur bet
bravos2249
May 1st, 2009
9:05 pm
JD
They aren’t booing him because he was hurt theya re booing him because after he spent all that time rehabing he just walked away. Family problems yes. And honestly I wouldn’t have wanted him on this team myself with his previous woes, but that’s why they are booing him.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:05 pm
How bout Grand Slam number two for Frenchy.
I was there for the first one. It was as good as Sid sliding I tell you.
I was there for both. Lucky me. I’d never been to a game with a walk off homerun. It was awesome. So now Jeff will probably hit into a double play.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
9:05 pm
Jim, Just curious, as I open my first beer, what’s your choice tonight?
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
I feel like I might have booed Hampton too but it’s a little overkill.
There are more worthy people to boo.
Save it for the Cubs and Tex.
Random
May 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Chipper can score from 1st on a double.
McCann can score from 1st on a double.
Can Infante score from 1st on a double?
But no!
Who all’s clogging the basepaths, now?
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Symrna jim-
The team always seems to play well when I don’t watch…coincidence?
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Atta boy Frenchy.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Frenchy, the cleaner-upper – two run single! – no, only one – Esco out!
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Esco, why so much of those??
BravesFanChris24
May 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Francoeur comes through again
Boo
May 1st, 2009
9:07 pm
Yes, drive in those Hampton runs!
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
9:07 pm
The weather has taken out ny game. Peachtree is OUT! Who cares, Bravos are winning and I’m drunk!!
Hey, I can kinda see Bobby coming out to argue, maybe? What happend
KC
May 1st, 2009
9:07 pm
JD, I don’t think it’s that Hampton was hurt so much. It’s the fact that the Braves were so patient with him, wanted him back, and Hampton proceeds to take LESS money to bolt for Houston.
I think ATL fans feel we deserved better than that. I know there’s talk of his wanting to be closer to his kids after a divorce… but his kids are in Arizona. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t there a baseball team in Arizona these days? If that was really the motivation, he could have played at home and seen his kids every other day. so I have a hard time buying that explanation.
Frankie Knuckles
May 1st, 2009
9:07 pm
Braves meet Mojo. Mojo meet Braves
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:07 pm
After seeing all the derision directed towards Hampton over the past few years, I’m pretty sure they were upset with him because he was being paid so much money to do nothing. Not because he didn’t come back. I remember a lot of people wanting to cut ties ASAP.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:07 pm
Tom O’Hawke, I’ll tell you mine.
Coor’s Original. It’s the shizzle. 16oz.
Speaking of.
Run Heap Run
May 1st, 2009
9:08 pm
Yunel out at home, I don’t think he was out or Pudge wouldn’t have tried to tag him again. Anyway, RBI single by Frenchy.
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
9:08 pm
Frenchy comes through again! Not sure about that Escobar play at the plate.. Even after checking out the replay a couple times.
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
9:08 pm
Tom
Opening beer #1 at 9:00? I’m disapponted in you!
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:08 pm
cabravesfan – sometimes I feel that way too – Casey out, inning over, 6-2.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:08 pm
The ol’ Hampton ERA rockin’ at a 4.88 clip now.
KC
May 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
Anyone other than Kotchman running there….
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
KC Yeah I see what you’re saying. I’m not about to go buy a Mike Hampton bobblehead, but I wouldn’t boo him.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
Can we petition for Chip to stop saying “Fisted up the middle.”
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
Was Esco out? Kotchman still sucks with runners on….needs to be batting 8th.
Tony Almeida
May 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
Snitker’s an idiot.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:10 pm
Yunel, are you a retard!?
He tagged him, I saw it. How does he get away with those blonde highlights?
I can’t even look at it.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
9:10 pm
Tom O’Hawke, Mitchell, cabraves fan and anybody else out there having a cold “adult beverage” of your choice, have one for me too. I can’t have one (or more) ’cause I gotta work in the morning….oh five hundred comes pretty early….
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:11 pm
I like Kotchman but dear God, how is anyone that slow?
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:11 pm
I’ll sign a petition to get Chip to stop saying a lot of things.
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:11 pm
I scratch my earlier comment. They should play tuba music over the PA whenever Kotchman runs…not Lowe.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
9:12 pm
Mitchell, Tex should get booed louder in Anaheim than Atlanta, but get booed nonetheless. You forgot Furcal.
Frenchy is back! brilliant!
A
May 1st, 2009
9:12 pm
I hate the word basepaths by the way…I don’t know why.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:12 pm
Tom – just some Pinot Noir with a Panera sandwich tonight – I’m gearing up for Mint Juleps tomorrow (the Braves’ starting time means I’ll be starting about the second inning with those).
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:12 pm
TJ, it’s okay to admit it.
You’re really an alcoholic. I accept you.
I kid.
Frankie Knuckles
May 1st, 2009
9:12 pm
Other day someone said he had to decide between highlights and braces. Yunel opted for the former.
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:12 pm
Mitchell – Thank you! What was Yunel’s goal with frosting his hair? To appeal to the 12-14 female crowd? He looks like he’s going to see a midnight screening of Hannah Montana after the game.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:13 pm
Barehand pickup by Yunel for out #1.
ncscoots
May 1st, 2009
9:13 pm
Is the un-capitalized “lol” at least a little more masculine than the all-capper?
Bub, a guy comfortable in his own skin can use either one, or neither; only the little man who isn’t sure he is one bothers to razz people about the use of the three letters. LOL
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:13 pm
See what happens when you execute a f*&#$$ bunt?
A
May 1st, 2009
9:14 pm
Maybe being in the cleanup spot gave Frenchy some confidence?
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:14 pm
Walk, groundout to Lowe – 2 down.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
9:14 pm
LOL @ Mitchell. Thank you. It’s nice to be accepted for what I am…
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:15 pm
“I hate the word basepaths by the way…I don’t know why.” -A
I totally agree. An obnoxiously clunky word. Let’s start a revolution. Let’s call them “baseroads.” What’ya think?
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
9:15 pm
I would sign a petition for most people in this room to take a hammer and smash their computer with it
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:15 pm
Seriously, I don’t know how he gets away with it.
I thought they made JoJo cut his hair when he had that mini-mohawk.
I don’t care.
brian
May 1st, 2009
9:15 pm
is Kotchman Sid Bream slow or what?
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:15 pm
Or maybe Frenchy is doing horrible in the cleanup spot. He just looks brilliant when compared to that “slugger” Kotchman.
Random
May 1st, 2009
9:15 pm
Btw, back in the 4th, Pudge grounded the ball thru the vacant SS position when Yunel covered second on that hit-and-run play (Pence on 1st).
Why was our SS covering second on the hit-and-run with a RH batter (Pudge) at the plate?
I would’ve thought the “off”-guy — 2B — would be covering with a RH batter up.
Andy K.
May 1st, 2009
9:16 pm
DOB, what is up with Derrick Arnold, one of our AAA Middle Infielders. He’ s been on the restricted list for ever…
KC
May 1st, 2009
9:16 pm
Mitchell, yeah if Sid Bream weren’t still alive, I’d swear Kotchman was Sid reincarnated.
If and when BC every sees fit to move Schafer to the leadoff spot, and McCann and Anderson get healthy… I think Kotchman ought to be hitting 8th. Not because he’s not better than the typical 8 hitter… but because everyone else in the lineup will be just as good and Kotchman clogs the basepaths.
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:16 pm
Kotchman is Roseanne Barr slow.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:17 pm
Pudge – groundout to Lowe. End of the middle of the sixth, 6-2.
BaseKnock
May 1st, 2009
9:17 pm
Can we please, for the love of god, get Richie Sexson on this team!
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:18 pm
What happened at home with Escobar? Explanation please?
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
9:18 pm
cabravesfan, I hafta start late. I’m very nocturnal.
Is the un-capitalized “lol” at least a little more masculine than the all-capper? — Bubdylan
I always wanted to know the answer to this, myself. I think ncscoots, is the one we should ask. BTW, are you still on the wagon?
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:18 pm
Lowe through 6. 91 pitches. Think he goes back out for one more?
TJ
May 1st, 2009
9:18 pm
Remember back several years ago when Andruw dyed his hair and it turned out that gosh awful orange color?
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
9:18 pm
DUMSAHETTAVENUMSUHETTAN
bigchiefrg
May 1st, 2009
9:19 pm
hey DOB, you got any updates on when we are gonna get adrian gonzalez from SD?
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
9:20 pm
Today would be a very prosperus day if the current scores hold up…CHC over FLA, NYM over PHI, and ATL over HOU
TJ
May 1st, 2009
9:20 pm
MFin04- Ump apparently said Pudge tagged him on the way by. Replay I saw was inconclusive. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t….
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:20 pm
Tonight would be perfect if Sammons got his first hit of the year.
Mitchell
May 1st, 2009
9:21 pm
KC wants to kill Sid Bream everybody. Watch out.
Sid, run!
Oh, get it? I’m making funnies.
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:21 pm
Are people actually serious about signing Sexson? As if he’s the answer?
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
9:21 pm
Steve OH. In a word… yes.
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
9:21 pm
Steve O – How is one more for Lowe, 8th – Soriano, 9th Gonzalez.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:22 pm
Diaz, Sammons. Back to back Ks.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:22 pm
Jim Powell just said, “The Braves have played some hot teams at the beginning of the year – Houston is not one of them.”
Hypochondriacs Anonymous
May 1st, 2009
9:24 pm
Hey guys, Mike just called and said he’ll be here soon as he showers! Oh and he said he talked to McCann and thinks he’s got problems with his eyes ’cause he couldn’t see the mitt.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
9:24 pm
Jim, I really respect your versatility.
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
9:25 pm
Lowe still in for the 7th.
Frankie Knuckles
May 1st, 2009
9:25 pm
Did Logan Schafer hit the ball well?
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:25 pm
Tom O’Hawke, yup. So far so good, thanks.
A
May 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
poot jokes? seriously?
Random
May 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
ncscoots (4:36 pm): “Seriously, I understand what you [michael] are saying, but “small ball” is not the same as “fundamentally sound”, and I think that’s where folks get off track. Giving up outs in an effort to score minimal runs, when you are in fact having trouble scoring runs, compounds the felony.”
Thanks — that is an important and necessary distinction.
“Small ball” = giving up an out in exchange for a base. Plain and simple. Period, the end.
When that base you get in exchange for the out (which you can afford to give) is home plate, and the run you score thereby is significant (tying or go-ahead), then “small ball” can be very valuable indeed.
If the base you get is only 2B or 3B, “small ball” can be fruitfully debated, but you usually would need to have more outs in your pocket than in the preceding scenario in order to make it pay.
Otherwise — ehhh. Not worth it.
jennifer in GA
May 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
Did yall hear Denise Richards sing take me out to the ball game for the cubs today, if not here it is… I must warn ya though its BAD http://www.tmz.com/2009/05/01/denise-richards-take-me-out-of-my-misery/
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
The Braves should photoshop a picture of Hampton with a tear in his pants exposing a tiny bit of his butt cheeks and put it on the jumbo screen. That would make the crowd laugh.
Rosanne Barr's repugnant queef
May 1st, 2009
9:27 pm
I can out run that oaf Kotchman. Do not insult me JD with these comparisons.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:27 pm
Houston’s radio guys are pleasant enough…
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
9:27 pm
well someone wants to see Hamptoms A$$ in this room
Andruw Jones
May 1st, 2009
9:27 pm
I play first base now? Who knew?
A
May 1st, 2009
9:27 pm
little earthquake in L.A., cabravesfan.
Denise Richard's meat curtains
May 1st, 2009
9:27 pm
Watch out for short shorts at the beach
ease19
May 1st, 2009
9:28 pm
Random – Logically, then yes, the 2B would cover, however, if they were playing to the fact that Pudge could/was not going to pull the ball, then you would switch’er up a bit…sometimes called strategery!
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
9:28 pm
hampton even
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
Tom-
That’s no excuse- just means you can drink longer
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
Okay, well, see ya…
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
TJ–
Yup! I bookmarked the page for easy linking.
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
oops…sorry, Roseanne.
abwright
May 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
KC. 9:16 pmI think Kotchman ought to be hitting 8th. Not because he’s not better than the typical 8 hitter… but because everyone else in the lineup will be just as good and Kotchman clogs the basepaths.
Alas, the pitcher will have to bunt twice to move him over to second. Then, it takes a double to score him. OomPah…OomPah.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
McCann wont catch with glasses…now?
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
Do you guys remember that time when Chipper went to the mound to get the mud off of his spikes, and he scared Bob Wickman making him jump?
TJ
May 1st, 2009
9:30 pm
So did I McFann…the one you gave me and the one Tom O’Hawke gave me the link to for the smiley face thingys…whatchacallums…emoticons!! Yeah, that’s it….
TrueBravesFan
May 1st, 2009
9:31 pm
This is no fun. what the hell can I bitch about when we’re winning. C’mon ‘Stros give me something to post about.If they are gonna start KJ at second tomorrow they need to put the Babe (Infant) at third and sit Larry the Fairy, he sux
A
May 1st, 2009
9:31 pm
Somebody get that boy some oxygen.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:32 pm
Come on Derek get out of this kid!!!
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:32 pm
Moylan warming up.
bravefaninok
May 1st, 2009
9:32 pm
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
Do you guys remember that time when Chipper went to the mound to get the mud off of his spikes, and he scared Bob Wickman making him jump?
yeah that was funny…
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
9:33 pm
Can anyone tell me why the Sports Book has every game on except the Braves game?
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
9:33 pm
This game is exactly why Lowe is so valuable…so often our starters were out of the game in the 6th inning…Lowe pithes into the 7th and beyond consistently. This should have a long-term positive effect on our BP (especially considering JV does the same thing).
i pooted and it stinks...
May 1st, 2009
9:34 pm
Cabravesfan—- maybe they are not showing the braves cause they SUCK
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:34 pm
He’s getting tired…come on DLowe!
A
May 1st, 2009
9:35 pm
Why would Denise Richards sing at a baseball game? Good lord. She doesn’t even know the words lol. She was so damn pretty in Wild Things, now it looks like her face is melting and all I got out of her reality show was that she’s a little crazy. More than a little.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:36 pm
Two groundouts to Kotchman, a single, and Berkman singles on a 3-2 pitch.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
9:36 pm
Bubdylan, I’m glad for you, keep it up. I will miss, however, those early morning monologues.
ncscoots , There’s a lot of traffic on the ole blog, tonight(Braves are winning). My 9:18 post would have looked a lot better if it beat your 9:13. Still, I knew you were the man to ask.
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
9:36 pm
Smoltz shut down for a week.
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
9:36 pm
This will be it for Lowe. He has about 20 pitches in the 7th.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:36 pm
Moylan time?!
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:36 pm
Bobby had to get one more nose pick in on his way to the mound.
jennifer in GA
May 1st, 2009
9:36 pm
A- it was bad wasnt it?!?!
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
It’s starting to rain here (about ten miles from the stadium).
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
Too bad he couldn’t get out of that inning.Come on Pete!!!
RippleShot
May 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
Mitchell! Don’t you get it! It was only a little, tiny bit of Hampton’s butt cheek! Just enough to make the crowd laugh at him and make him feel bad.
abwright
May 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
Man, DLowe had Berkman struck out, but Sammons dropped the ball (really tough play but I bet McCann would have held on). Berkman singles and knocks DLowe out of the game.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
Alright Peter…let’s go out and deal so sick sliders
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
9:38 pm
Nevermind- found it on one of the hard to see tiny screens
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
9:38 pm
Remember when they brought the relief pitchers in to the mound on a golf cart?
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:38 pm
Tom – I try to be versatile – in fact, the one thing have issues with is what our friend in Vegas started with today (unless someone has really good stuff like Herradura).
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
9:39 pm
Moylan needs to use that sinker for a dp.
Frank from KS
May 1st, 2009
9:39 pm
jennifer in GA
Denise Richards…..now there’s a gorgeous woman. Give me her and Neve Campbell anyday. ;>) *wink* (visioning the famous pool scene from Wild Things) :>)
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
9:40 pm
TJ–
Oh yeah, emoticons are fun. How ’bout this one for now:
jennifer in GA
May 1st, 2009
9:40 pm
Frank from KS, did u hear her sing?!!
A
May 1st, 2009
9:40 pm
Bubdylan 9:15 – I’m in!
MariettaDerek
May 1st, 2009
9:41 pm
Moylan looked DP to C there! Nice work, rattlesnake!
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:41 pm
THATABOY PETE!!!
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
9:41 pm
abwright really tough play but I bet McCann would have held on
Of course he would have!
PI Braves
May 1st, 2009
9:41 pm
anyone listening on the radio? WGNS seems to not carry the game tonight.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:41 pm
Does McCann lose his appeal with glasses…McFann?
TJ
May 1st, 2009
9:42 pm
LOL McFann glasses, huh? Not just glasses, but sunglasses…. I like it!
abwright
May 1st, 2009
9:42 pm
Moylan gets El Cabbageo to ground to Escobar who gets the out at second. El Cabbageo did not quite “fist that one up the middle.”
Braves have a four run lead with six outs to get.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:42 pm
I’m listening to WGST
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
9:42 pm
MCFann
Still thinking on your age. One question and I will guess. I have never heard you talk about driving. Am I not paying attention?
A
May 1st, 2009
9:42 pm
This new name is so short I cant even scroll back and find my own posts lol
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
9:43 pm
that yeuangalang beer commercial or whatever that beer is, is so stupid! Really, most all commercials are annoying.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
9:44 pm
MFin04–
No…
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
9:45 pm
TJ–
Thanks!
Keylargo–
I could drive …but I won’t read the manuel.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
9:46 pm
The professor, B-Mac. Nice glasses you nerd!
A
May 1st, 2009
9:46 pm
Why is Bowman hating on Loaf all the time now?
Do you have storms in Symrna, Jim or just rain?
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:47 pm
I know McFann’s younger than me (25)
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
9:47 pm
Mfin04-
For the record, guys that wear glasses are HOT
abwright
May 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
Brandon Jones pinch hits for Moylan and draws a walk.
McFann O, 9:41 pmOf course he would have!
I actually threw that in for moral support. The news of the day on your favorite player has to be getting you down.
Jeff321
May 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
No way Chipper Jones makes that play.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
Not only does McFann still like her mann, with glasses, but now Cabravesfan is really interested!
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
9:49 pm
McFann – I had you, I thought
You HAD to put that little wrinkle in there, didn’t you?
Treehouse
May 1st, 2009
9:49 pm
Nice single, Yunel.
A
May 1st, 2009
9:50 pm
Yunel! 2 RBIs tonight. Way to come around. Chipper needs to get his hit before the rain.
abwright
May 1st, 2009
9:50 pm
Cabravesfan, 9:47 pm Mfin04-For the record, guys that wear glasses are HOT
Now we know that McCann has been reading the blog. This was never about blurry vision…it’s about scoring points with cabravesfan.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:50 pm
Get Brandon Jones some playing time…good speed….good patience on the walk.
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
9:50 pm
A, you have him in beat the streak or something?
Denise Richard's meat curtains
May 1st, 2009
9:51 pm
My face is still nice, but the bod is flabby from squeezing out the pups. Plus I am as crazy as a sh**house rat and dumber than Chuck James.
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:52 pm
Just noticed that Chipper and Brandon don’t have their first initials on their jerseys.
Tim Kazurinsky
May 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
“For the record, guys that wear glasses are HOT.”
Now THAT is what I like to hear. Right on!
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
A – just rain here, but it’s been heavy at times.
abwright
May 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
Braves get another run. Chipper strikes out and Frenchy flies out to left to end the inning.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
That’s a big run there! Way to go Bravos!!!!
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
9:54 pm
cabravesfan, Ha, ha… I actually typed and submitted my 9:48 post before I saw your 9:47.
N8
May 1st, 2009
9:54 pm
“Just noticed that Chipper and Brandon don’t have their first initials on their jerseys.” JD
Uh…. I’m gonna go with the theory that NOBODY is gonna confuse one for the other. Not sure why. Just call it a gut feeling.
keylargo
May 1st, 2009
9:54 pm
TARP
Mr. Jalapeno Popper
May 1st, 2009
9:55 pm
I’m enjoying this game.
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
9:55 pm
For the record I have been a fann since day one…but the glasses certainly don’t hurt the cause
TJ
May 1st, 2009
9:55 pm
lol @ N8, I agree.
Lil Five Points Roger
May 1st, 2009
9:56 pm
I’m at the game! I’m going to wait it out. Wish they were serving beer. I’ve only had one.
A
May 1st, 2009
9:56 pm
I’m flattered that you think I even know what Beat the Streak means, PW, but no, I just want him to keep his how many ever game hitting streak going. That was probably his last shot tonight… Oh well.
Rain delay.
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:56 pm
Uh…. I’m gonna go with the theory that NOBODY is gonna confuse one for the other. Not sure why. Just call it a gut feeling.
Because EVERYBODY kept confusing Chipper and Andruw?
Random
May 1st, 2009
9:56 pm
I think I might’ve had KJ hit for Chipper in the 7th and stay in at 2B for the 8th and 9th, sliding Infante over to 3B.
I mean, with the score 7-2, you can protect Chipper from a fluke injury and give KJ an AB to maybe help him get out of his slump.
BravesFanChris24
May 1st, 2009
9:57 pm
Go ahead and call the game ~_~
JD
May 1st, 2009
9:57 pm
Oh good…we go from Chip Caray’s stupid voice to Bob Sagat’s stupider voice.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Keylargo–
Sorry!
abwright–
Thanks. Yeah, it’s gettin’ me down for sure. But I bet I’m not half as frustrated as BMac is…
OK, well, maybe half…
Cabravesfan
May 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Is it really raining that hard? Damn – I gotta go to dinner…at least we are winning- later all!
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Lil Five Points Roger. That’s hilarious. Yeah, wait it out. Have some curly fries and a lemonade.
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
9:59 pm
A – Beat the streak is a fairly silly fantasy game on mlb.com when you pick a hitter every day and if that hitter records a hit your streak continues. The goal is to build a 57 game hitting streak and you win 1,000,000$. I’m not sure of the exact rules.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:01 pm
JD, I don’t get the “alternative programming” on Peachtree. My cable system only has Peachtree TV on when the game is on and all I get to look at is the tarp on the field….
Ashley4Lowe
May 1st, 2009
10:01 pm
Hey Roger. Just read your post. Where are you? Wanna meet in the upper deck and make out?
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
10:01 pm
Nasty storm now, raining hard and blowing like crazy. Glad we’ve got these windows closed. If you’re out in that crowd … hey, I raise my cup of coffee to you. You’re a true fan.
bgvt
May 1st, 2009
10:01 pm
Well the G-Braves are having fun in Rhode Island. Kris Medlen almost matched Tommy Hanson’s pitching line from last night. Medlen: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K’s, 0 R. (Hanson had the same line except 9 K’s instead of 8). The team got a shutout both nights. Wow. Looking good on the farm.
Random
May 1st, 2009
10:02 pm
AustinBrave (4:41 pm): “Japan won the last two World Classic’s by playing small ball.”
Can you give specific examples, or are you simply repeating what you’ve heard others pronounce.
Remember, small ball is the exchange of an out for a base. It is not an umbrella term for hustling, or stealing bases, or hit-and-runs, or bunting for hits.
JD
May 1st, 2009
10:03 pm
TJ – really? That’s odd. You’re just missing America’s Funniest Home Videos. I changed it back to the Hawks game. They’re playing like the Braves play on most nights.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
10:03 pm
I’m gonna watch The Soup until the game is back. Funny show.
ease19
May 1st, 2009
10:04 pm
Eddie Harris: [looking at Vaughn's new glasses] They look good. I had a pair just like them.
Rick Vaughn: After the game, I’m gonna go out and get a pair that’s more me.
Willie Mays Hayes: I’m not sure if they’re that good.
Rick Vaughn: [staring at his new glasses] F***.
Lou Brown: Alright, let’s hit the field.
Smyrna Jim
May 1st, 2009
10:05 pm
cabravesfan – enjoy dinner – we’ll hold down the fort.
PI Braves
May 1st, 2009
10:06 pm
MFin04 – how did you connect to WGST? What URL did you use. I’m getting another progeam when connectingto WGST
abwright
May 1st, 2009
10:06 pm
With the rain delay, I guess I’ll go tune into the Texas Braves game.
Can’t watch the Mets versus Philthies. It’s not possible to root against both teams playing.
MrNeutral
May 1st, 2009
10:07 pm
Peachtree TV is showing a view of the Tarp. They put all the heavy things they could find along the edges to hold the tarp down – you know tractors and landscaping buggies. I was wondering if we are still paying Bob Wickman? He could at least sit out there and hold down an edge.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:07 pm
That’s ok, I’ll pass on the video show…lol. I switched over and watched the last few minutes of the Boston/Carolina playoff game. Nothing else on (sports wise) so I’ll just channel surf and hope the rain delay is a short one. Bedtime beckons, but I resist….
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
10:07 pm
See ya, cabravesfan. Take your time, I doubt this one will be resumed.
Reggie Taco
May 1st, 2009
10:08 pm
Sign me up for Richie Sexson.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
10:09 pm
Dang…it’s pouring here, too. Gonna wash that lime off my deer! But I don’t like thunderstorms very much…not at night…
If the lightening gets to bad, I may hafta turn off the computer.
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
10:09 pm
How bad is that new Montgomery Gentry version of “Braves Play Here”?
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:10 pm
Found the Hawks/Heat game on ESPN…not looking too good for the Hawks….
flange1
May 1st, 2009
10:10 pm
Is that Brandon Jones playing 3rd?
JD
May 1st, 2009
10:11 pm
Question: Had the Braves only been up by 3, and the game was called, would that count as a save for Moylan?
CarolinaAnn
May 1st, 2009
10:13 pm
Fun game tonight. Although my plan was for the Braves to win by 10 so I could go to bed. Have a big day tomorrow as I’m going to be selling okra at a county fair with the grandkids.
flange1
May 1st, 2009
10:13 pm
PWH,
About as bad as double pits to chesty or Richie Sexson.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:13 pm
Y’all can keep that bad weather. Right now it’s clear and 70 degrees. But depending on which way that stuff is traveling, It’ll probably reach my house some time over in the wee morning hours.
JD
May 1st, 2009
10:14 pm
PWH – It’s not like the old version was any good. They try to come up with ways to celebrate fanhood and pride, and it just comes off as overplayed and cheesy.
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
10:16 pm
Fair assessment, flange1. If you’re looking for some pretty crappy baseball-related programming, The Rookie is on AMC.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
10:16 pm
Seriously…if those glasses had blue frames, they’d look just like my old pair!
Rain delays…
Mr. Jalapeno Popper
May 1st, 2009
10:17 pm
Just call this game already. I want to watch Party Of Five.
Frankie Knuckles
May 1st, 2009
10:17 pm
ESPN Classic has the 1976 Tigers/Yankees game on. Mark Fidrych is pitching. Its entertaining to watch the guy and his, how do you say, unorthodox pitching style.
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
10:18 pm
Yeah, JD. I think the old one was maybe even worse. I prefer “Load Up the Bases” to both of the versions of “Braves Play Here”. Load up the Bases seems like a more family-friendly, fan centered piece of music while “Braves Play Here” has a decidedly corporate theme.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
10:18 pm
Some minor league updates…
Jacob Thompson threw 7 innings with 4ER, 3K. Braden Schlehuber 2-3 with a 2B.
Jeff Locke another strong outing for Myrtle…7 scoreless, 2H, 2BB, 6K. Cody Johnson homered, walked, and didn’t strike out.
Gorkys Hernandez 1-3 with a 2B, Brandon Hicks 0-2. Jonny Venters 5 innings, 1ER, 5H, 5BB, 2K.
Kris Medlen 6 scoreless…8K, 3H, 2BB. Impressive.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:20 pm
In case anyone is interested, the Detroit Red Wings beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in game one and the Boston Bruins beat the Carolina Hurricanes in their game one. Hawks are getting pasted in their game six against Miami…
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
10:20 pm
Sorry, I have mlbtv…and the game is on WGST…..its probably blocked out locally because of that.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
10:20 pm
Love to see Bennett close this game off. Don’t want to use Raf or Gonz.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
10:21 pm
PWHjort, do they still have that “beat the streak” game this year. I was wondering about that. I played it for a while last year. Got up to 21 straight, missed one, and then 11 more. They had a $10,000 prize for the longest streak of the year. One problem, for me, is that if you miss a day of playing, your streak comes to an end. I spend too much time in the wilderness, away from a computer, to play it all the time. I finally stopped very early in the season, last year.
They also had a HR streak, last year. I thought that was even tougher.
Random
May 1st, 2009
10:21 pm
DOB (4:16 pm): “I take that back. It’s not usual lineup — Francoeur’s hitting cleanup
1. Infante 2. Escobar 3. Chipper 4. Francoeur 5. Kotchman 6. Diaz 7. Schafer 8. Sammons”
Supes (4:39 pm): “This current Braves lineup is extremely flawed and no wonder the team is struggling to score runs.”
MFin04 (4:43 pm): “Bobby is reallly slow to figure out the lineup. . . . The correct lineup will show up it 7-8 days lol.”
chipperchop (4:46 pm): “Now that is one crappy lineup.”
Okay — so seven hits and seven runs in seven innings really suck, huh? (And disregarding of course several brilliant defensive plays by the Astros.)
Roman Gal
May 1st, 2009
10:21 pm
nolie
Gotcha. He’s seemed to do a lot better the past few starts by going 6 innings. But, don’t the Braves normally have a pretty tight leash on their minor league pitchers early in the season? There are only a couple of times I can remember where that wasn’t necessarily the case, like last year where Charlie Morton threw 122 pitches fairly early in the season for Richmond.
Hanson does seem like a guy who will always throw a lot of pitches…kinda like [cough]Jake Peavy[cough]
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
10:21 pm
Steve OH, we’ve gotta do something about this name thing…
flange1
May 1st, 2009
10:22 pm
By the way, Steve from OH,
Great post at 3:53. You expressed what I think many of us have been thinking to the SPEED IS IT posts of the last few days..
Kudo’s!
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:22 pm
McCann wearing glasses makes me feel alot better now. If a top player like him is able to do it, then maybe there is still hope for me!
But lets hope he doesn’t end up with a big issue that I have discovered with glasses. When you sweat and it’s warm outside, you get a lttle bit of evaporation off your body. Whatever is around your face then goes and condenses on the glasses, making it quite hard to see. I’m actually being serious about that, so we better hope McCann doesn’t have an issue with it.
CarolinaAnn
May 1st, 2009
10:24 pm
Well, this old lady can’t wait it out any longer. After all, I have to sell okra tomorrow. Good night, everyone.
PI Braves
May 1st, 2009
10:25 pm
ok, thanks MFin04. I’m listening from the Philippines. I usually listen through WGNS. But for some reason, today’s game is not carried.
Good thing the braves are winning this game! Yey!
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:25 pm
Steve from OH, who is Jacob Thompson? I’ve never heard him mentioned before when talking about the Braves farm system.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:25 pm
G’Night CarolinaAnn….have fun with the grandkids tomorrow. Hope the weather is nice for ya.
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
10:26 pm
I don’t know if they still have Beat The Streak. I guess they do. I haven’t checked. You’re right, it is too tedious. There’s things I check every day, but I don’t want that to be one of them.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
10:26 pm
Thanks flange!
Saw a great, great jazz show tonight btw….probably a guy no one has ever heard of, though…
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
10:26 pm
Medlen threw six shutout innings with three hits, two walks and eight strikeouts tonight in a 2-0 Gwinnett win, making the little right-hander 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in five games (four starts).
He’s got 28 strikeouts with six walks and 15 hits allowed in 23-2/3 innings.
Hanson has a 1.69 ERA in five starts, with 38 strikeouts, nine walks and 19 hits in 26-2/3 innings.
Nice options to have just a 25-minute drive from Turner Field, eh?
brian
May 1st, 2009
10:27 pm
Kotchman should hit second. Good contact hitter. Don’t have to worry about slowing Chipper down.
Runnin
May 1st, 2009
10:27 pm
What’s the weather report in Atlanta? Is this game gonna be finished tonight?
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
10:28 pm
Just for fun, how would a 2010 or 2011 lineup of this look?
CF/Schafer
2B/B.Phillips
3B/Jones
LF/Heyward
C/Mac
RF/Francoeur
SS/Escobar
1B/Freeman
Throw in a rotation of, Hanson/Lowe/Hudson/JJ/Reyes…good looking team
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
10:28 pm
Jacob Thompson was a 5th-rounder (I think) from last year’s draft. The thing about him is that he was a projected first-rounder, but got ill and lost a few mph on his fastball, so he fell to us in the 5th round, and we were able to sign him, so I was really excited about that.
Also, keep an eye on JJ Hoover and Randall Delgado. I think they’ll both be special.
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:29 pm
So is medlen gonna end up coming to Atlanta as a RP or has he converted to starting? I can’t wait to see him in Atlanta, so I hope they bring him in as a bullpen option. Atleast now he’ll have the abilty to serve as an emergency starter also. I’m thinking a better version of Campillo.
JD
May 1st, 2009
10:29 pm
Okay — so seven hits and seven runs in seven innings really suck, huh? Random
Have you seen the Braves’ offense recently? It’s downright puny. They’re good for one offensive explosion every 5 or 6 games and that’s it.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
10:30 pm
From what I’ve read, I think the Braves see Medlen as a reliever…does this mesh with what you hear, DOB?
Moderate Maniac
May 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
Goldenglove002,
There are some serious anti-fogging products out there that you can treat glasses with. The stuff is made for humid industrial environments. I’m sure some of the Braves clubhouse folks can keep a couple of pairs of glasses treated with the stuff for Mac.
Reggie Taco
May 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
What about this?
CF/Schafer
2B/B.Phillips
3B/Jones
LF/Heyward
1B/Sexson
C/Mac
RF/Francoeur
SS/Escobar
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
Steve, since you seem to know whats going on with the farm, what do you know about where Zeke Spruill is this season? I went to school with him last year, and he is a very good pitcher.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
10:32 pm
PWHjort, let me tell you, once you get a little streak going, you can’t believe the time you spend trying to decide on your next selection. That was another reason I stopped.
Goodnight, CarolinaAnn. I had a big day planned for tomorrow, but it pales in comparison to your selling okra at the county fair. I’m green with envy.
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:33 pm
Sexson? is he still even playing?
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
10:33 pm
How is it looking DOB, has an ETA been given?
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
10:34 pm
Spruill is at Rome, and doing really well…a 1.71 ERA in 21 IP with 20K’s and only 1 walk, and a 1.19 WHIP. I’m excited about him too, but he’s a bit of a higher profile prospect so I don’t emphasize him as much a a sort of “sleeper.”
PWHjort
May 1st, 2009
10:34 pm
How about this 2011 could-have-been lineup?:
CF- Schafer
2B- Orlando Hudson/Martin Prado/who cares
3B- Chipper
1B- Freeman
RF- Heyward
LF- Ludwick
C- McCann
SS- Escobar
Kevin McGlinchy
May 1st, 2009
10:35 pm
Any sort of timeline in place for Glavine, DOB? Apologies if this has been discussed ad nauseum and I missed it.
Kenny Powers
May 1st, 2009
10:35 pm
Even Kenny Powers must admit Frenchy has a better approach. Its working so far
Kenny Powers
May 1st, 2009
10:36 pm
BTW Kenny Powers thinks Michelle Wie is a fox
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
10:36 pm
M. Maniac There are some serious anti-fogging products out there that you can treat glasses with.
I’ve got the anti-reflective thingy. Dude, it drove me nuts when I could see the reflection of my eye in my glasses! Kinda frightening to look at the computer and have it look back you…
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
10:37 pm
Gwinnett closer Luis Valdez has a 0.68 ERA and five saves in six opportunities, with 15 strikeouts and six walks in 13-1/3 innings.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
10:38 pm
McGlinchy, Glavine is supposed to throw off the mound Monday for the first time in three weeks, and if that goes well they’ll “go from there.” No timeline on return yet.
concerned doc
May 1st, 2009
10:38 pm
Hey DOB…
has McCann had an MRI to rule out anything impinging on the optic nerve?
His vision problems make me think there’s something going on inside. The dryness is also kinda weird..maybe he needs a nerve conduction test?? Dunno, just throwing these things out there, since this is such a strange problem…
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
M. Maniac There are some serious anti-fogging products out there that you can treat glasses with.
I’ve got the anti-reflective thingy. Dude, it drove me nuts when I could see the reflection of my eye in my glasses! Kinda frightening to look at the computer and have it look back you…
I guess I got the cheap stuff. I don’t have any of that
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
DOB, who happens to be that closer we are speaking of?
TNtom
May 1st, 2009
10:40 pm
I wish I had DOB’s job.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
10:40 pm
Saw a great, great jazz show tonight btw….probably a guy no one has ever heard of, though… Steve from OH
Try me ….
Random
May 1st, 2009
10:40 pm
nolie, ncscoots, Steve from OH, et alii –
Here is the link to the MiLB Gameday for Hanson’s latest start. You can tailor the URL to got to Gamedays for all his other starts, if you know when he pitched and against whom and where:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_04_30_gwiaaa_pawaaa_1
And here is the link to the schedule of his last ten games (plus misc current individual stats):
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Tommy%20Hanson&pos=P&sid=t431&t=p_pbp&pid=462102
Cheers!!!
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:41 pm
wow the Hawks suck when they are away. Thanks alot rain for making me have to change the channel.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
10:41 pm
Goldenglove002: Oops, guess I left that out, huh? Luis Valdez. It’s there now.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
What’s the weather like at the ballpark?…gonna play any time soon? If not, gonna cue up a movie online from netflix while I wait for my DVDs.
Daybed Wagmoe
May 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
DOB — that’s Luis Valdez, right? (in your 10:37pm)
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
TNtom: Why, so you could sit out here at 11 p.m. on a Friday night watching it rain? Yeah, it’s a glamorous gig, if you can get it.
Daybed Wagmoe
May 1st, 2009
10:43 pm
oh nevermind — didn’t see your 10:41 post until now
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
10:43 pm
ok thanks DOB. Nice to see all of these pitcher with ERA’s under 2.00
Kenny Powers
May 1st, 2009
10:44 pm
Kenny Powers is playing a small violin. Just for DOB
mbatl
May 1st, 2009
10:44 pm
Goldenglove002, yeah, I keep trying to “get into” the Hawks but they just stink. One good game, two bad. “Superstars” Joe Johnson and Josh Smith manage 13 and 7 points in a game that would move us on to the next round. Terrible. They may or may not win game 7, but just not a very good team.
Moderate Maniac
May 1st, 2009
10:44 pm
I know this sounds kinda weird, but I’m making this statement with 100% sincerity and 0% hyperbole.
The Frenchy AB with the bases loaded was the best AB I have EVER seen him have. Even when he drove in 100 a couple of years, I have never liked his approach at the plate. He was a flailer who got by on athletic ability alone. He looked like a starving dog jumping on a hambone with every swing!
Frenchy now looks like a major league hitter. That’s the first time I’ve said that and meant it since his debut as a Brave. He went with that breaking ball to right field with intent. I don’t mean he swung late or fought it off like most of hits that have gone to right through his career. He slapped the ball where he wanted to slap it and with some authority!
Frenchy is proving me wrong. Although he may never be the Superstar he was tagged as becoming when he first came up, he has a chance to have a nice big league career if he continues to keep this confidence he is obviously carrying right now.
Kenny Powers
May 1st, 2009
10:45 pm
Websters
Kenny Powers : 1. Bulletproof tiger 2. See number 1
A
May 1st, 2009
10:46 pm
Kenny Powers finally made me laugh. Well done, sir.
A
May 1st, 2009
10:46 pm
But not with that 10:45 one..
Roman Gal
May 1st, 2009
10:46 pm
Man…I just read that Onion piece about the kid who likes Chipper. Good stuff. I really love reading the Onion. And The Onion Movie? Hilarious. I laughed so hard throughout.
Couch Tater
May 1st, 2009
10:47 pm
Steve from OH – If case you and O’Hawke haven’t listened to Rebecca Kilgore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=welbmPNcEuI
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:47 pm
Looks like the rain has slacked off at the stadium, or at least seems to be that way on TV. Any idea if or when they get the game restarted?
Kenny Powers
May 1st, 2009
10:47 pm
Kenny agrees with Maniac. That is the best AB he has ever had.
Scotty
May 1st, 2009
10:48 pm
Hey DOB any updates on the weather? I’m trying to decide if I should go party or not.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
10:50 pm
goldenglove, if you follow this link: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2008/drafttracker.jsp?p=0&s=30&sc=pick_number&so=ascending&st=number&ft=TM&fv=atl you can find selected scouting reports and videos (click the “400K” link on the side to get the long video) of DeVall, Spruill, Kimbrel, Thompson, and a few others.
nolie, get on this. I want full scouting reports on the lot by Monday, lol!
Tom–Robert Fraser, a studio musician of sorts…
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
10:50 pm
Goldenglove002–
Whatever they did to my lenses works great–don’t see my eye reflection at all anymore.
But my glasses are always dirty. I mean, they’re always covered with these smudges that I have no idea where they come from…
Lil Five Points Roger
May 1st, 2009
10:51 pm
Still at the Ted. I regret staying but dont want to leave now because that means I just sat here for over an hour.
buzzmeat
May 1st, 2009
10:52 pm
They should Call this game early dont yall think? pretty big lead for a 2 inning game
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
10:55 pm
As an “expert”(self-described) reader of radar, there is a “window”, coming up shortly. There’s more rain coming, down the road. The question is, can they get the tarp off and the field ready, and finish the game before the next rain hits? Stay tuned.
A
May 1st, 2009
10:56 pm
Well you could’ve gone to make out with Ashley, Roger.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
10:56 pm
DOB, it could be worse. You could be making out a future Braves lineup on a Friday night like myself. I have an excuse and it involves money… I blow money then have none for the weekends.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
10:57 pm
In case anyone was wondering, Dave Ross was away tonight because his wife had a baby. Cox told us but didn’t want us putting it out during game, for fear the other team would know (hey, he’s old school).
But if Sammons had gotten hurt tonight, or if he does get hurt (should they continue this game), Diaz or Norton is the emergency catcher. Ross is supposed to be back tomorrow
Frank from KS
May 1st, 2009
10:57 pm
ease 19
Major League is the best baseball movie ever….altho Major League 2 isn’t bad either. :>)
Didn’t really care too much for Major League, Back in the Minors with the guy from Quatum(sp)Leap.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:57 pm
They should be able to get the field ready pretty fast. They got that tarp on before the rain started really hard, so it shouldn’t take too long, if they decide to go on with it.
A
May 1st, 2009
10:58 pm
Oh hey, good of the Hawks to show up tonight. Good try!
TJ
May 1st, 2009
10:59 pm
DOB–Tell Ross Congrats on the baby when you see him…
Random
May 1st, 2009
10:59 pm
JD (10:29 pm): “Have you seen the Braves’ offense recently?”
The stupid-axe comments quoted pertained to tonight’s specific line-up, which has not been previously utilized.
And the stupid-axe comments turned out to be wrong — a predictable result of a common combination of knee-jerk negativism and ignorance.
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
11:00 pm
Tom O’Hawke, the rdar says it isn’t raining but it still is at my house. It unfortunately (or maybe fortunately since we have the lead) looks like this game won’t make it to the ninth inning.
McFann O
May 1st, 2009
11:00 pm
OK…Night, all.
buzzmeat
May 1st, 2009
11:00 pm
DOB, actually they did put that out during the game, Joe Simpson said it before the game. So I guess he didnt know that Ross did not want people to know.
brian
May 1st, 2009
11:00 pm
2011 lineup looks strong on paper though we still have to see who develops or flops.
CF Schafer
SS Escobar
3B Chipper
C BMAC
RF Frenchy
LF Heyward
1B Freeman
2B Hicks
SP Hanson, Lowe, JJ, JoJo, and Medlin/Locke/Rohrbough/Morton
If Frenchy continues his rebound and hard work I would love to see him stay a Brave for many years if he and his agent do not get greedy.
TJ
May 1st, 2009
11:01 pm
Well, folks, I’m afraid I’ve reached the end of my waiting period…. It’s 11pm here in the eastern time zone and as I said before, oh five hundred comes awfully early in the morning…. Sleep beckons. Goodnight everybody.
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
11:02 pm
Joe Simpson said in the 1st inning that Ross was away and Diaz was the emergency back-up. And that – surprisingly – Infante was the emergency emergency. I always thought it was Norton as well though.
A
May 1st, 2009
11:02 pm
You know like a few hours ago when I was talking about the rain here? Before it even started raining in Atlanta? Well it’s still raining here, it kindly stopped long enough for me to run to the store when the rain delay started but it started back up again shortly after. Doesn’t mean it will do the same in Atlanta, but I’ve noticed that it usually does.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
11:02 pm
I just depressed myself! Seriously, I’m on Zoloft but I see no improvement.
MFin04
May 1st, 2009
11:02 pm
Any word on the game resuming?
A
May 1st, 2009
11:03 pm
Maybe the umps will take tomorrow being a day game into consideration and go ahead and shut it down.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
11:04 pm
brian, THANKS! I have company on my sad Friday night. Again, thanks!
Interested Observer
May 1st, 2009
11:04 pm
I’m watching the Astros broadcast via Extra Innings. The Astros announcers mentioned Ross’ baby, too.
A
May 1st, 2009
11:04 pm
MFin, still raining hard in Atlanta and lots of lightning. Will be a while.
Moderate Maniac
May 1st, 2009
11:05 pm
Good luck with that, TnBrian.
AustinBrave
May 1st, 2009
11:05 pm
Maybe Frenchy should stay in the 4 hole.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
11:06 pm
You wanted Cody Johnson video? You got it:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2006/tracker/search.jsp
You’ll have to scroll and find his name.
Stinky Butt
May 1st, 2009
11:06 pm
Man….wish my boss hadn’t have eaten that mexican dish!
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:07 pm
Some Random Stats, in no particular order:
Peavy 5.74 ERA
Lowe 3.03 ERA
Burnett 5.40 ERA
Jurrjens 1.72 ERA
Hampton 4.88 ERA
Vazquez 3.38 ERA
Furcal .250
Escobar .274
Griffy Jr .200
G. Anderson .231*
Smoltz………………
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:08 pm
Uh… GriffEy Jr.
A
May 1st, 2009
11:09 pm
I don’t get it…why would he care if the other team knew he was out because his wife had a baby?
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
11:10 pm
Couch Tater, thanks, man. I tried to play it, but I have too much going on with my computer right now. It kept buffering. I saved it and will check it out later.
Steve from OH, you’re right. I never heard of him. However, I saved his name and will see what Mr. Google can tell me later.
TnBrian
May 1st, 2009
11:10 pm
Moderate Maniac, geee, thanks. You know, all this stuff started after the thyroid problems flaired up. Wanna talk about major panic attacks! I had radiation to kill off the thyroid in which it destroys the thing over time. ine is probably the size of a pinky nail. Sorry for blabbing, but it’s kinda interesting…you oughta look it up.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
11:11 pm
Random,
The problem is that some of those “jack-axe” comments are frequently right on the money.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
11:12 pm
Just curious, does Run Heap Run = A? aka, 1?
Goldenglove002
May 1st, 2009
11:13 pm
A, if the other team knew the Braves only had one catcher at the stadium they might decide to forget to slide at home plate, since the Braves would have to go to an emregency backup if Sammons were to get injured. Though I really don’t know if the Astro’s are the kind of team to do something in bad sportsmanship like that
David from NY
May 1st, 2009
11:13 pm
Thanks for the Johnson video. It’s some pretty terrible clips though.
buzzmeat
May 1st, 2009
11:14 pm
Bubdylan,
I laughed pretty hard seeing that asterisk by Garret Anderson!!!!
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
11:14 pm
Some of the videos from the 2008 draft thing I posted were pretty good…but that one wasn’t high quality, I agree.
Johninnc
May 1st, 2009
11:16 pm
So why are the umps not call it a game? It not like the stro are going to score 5 runs just to tie this game with just 6out to play with
Bill in VA
May 1st, 2009
11:17 pm
Who’s the roster casualty if they bring back Lightenberg?? Sexon??
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
11:18 pm
This game should be called. Going on 1hr20 mins. And i can’t listen to the callers calling into the rain delay show anymore.
Interested Observer
May 1st, 2009
11:20 pm
I think the idea is more that if the Astros knew that Ross was gone, they would know the Braves couldn’t pinch hit or pinch run for Sammons should that become relevant. Probably not worth the effort, but that’s the idea.
Interested Observer
May 1st, 2009
11:23 pm
The funny thing is Bobby doesn’t seem to realize that he is so darn predictible that everyone immediately notices when something is out of whack. I knew something was up as soon as I saw Sammons in the lineup. I’m just glad he’s out for a good reason.
uga1
May 1st, 2009
11:24 pm
Braves 2011
CF. Shafer
LF Heyward
3B Chipper
C McCann
1B Sexson
RF Frenchy
SS Escobar
2B Travis Jones
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
11:24 pm
This game is a perfect game to call. It’s late and there’s a sizable lead for one team.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:26 pm
This game is a perfect game to call. It’s late and there’s a sizable lead for one team -Chop Chop
AND the team that’s losing is the Astros. I mean, come on….
Random
May 1st, 2009
11:26 pm
The_Superhoo (8:27 pm): “McFann,
I’m more pissed at his mom. What a BITCH! I always hope the family will succeed in ridding themselves of their old minutes behind her back!”
The whole premise is flawed.
I mean, who has left-over minutes when their kids have their own phones???
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:27 pm
I don’t understand what y’all are talking about with Ross. They said on the radio hours ago that he had a kid today.
The_Superhoo
May 1st, 2009
11:27 pm
EXCELLENT POINT, Random!
I believe we have a winner!
Interested Observer
May 1st, 2009
11:29 pm
Bubdylan: Scroll back a page and see DOB’s comment regarding Ross and Cox.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
11:30 pm
DOB… What about sex? No, not between you and I (not that there’s anything wrong with that), I’m talking about Ross’s baby.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
11:31 pm
I’m not a homer, Bub. I like to see games called when we’re losing, too. It’s only fair. Besides, the infinitesimal possibility of seeing Bobby Cox hobble out of the clubhouse and dugout to get ejected by the rain god is worth it.
Tony Almeida
May 1st, 2009
11:31 pm
Since you’re not doing anything DOB, what the hell happened to Macay McBride?
A
May 1st, 2009
11:32 pm
Oh ok goldenglove..that makes sense.
Yeah it’s me, Tom. I said earlier I would just change my name on here to A or 1 to make it easier to reply to. Tipsy…and easily amused I guess. I’m tired of the RHR name, to be honest, but I keep it for familiarity. Plus..he’s not even a Heap anymore, he’s more of a little pile.
When I first posted here my ex husband’s screen name was actually the one already logged in to the name field on the computer so I didn’t change it, I didn’t comment more than once or twice in a blue moon then anyway then so I was like whatever lol.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
11:33 pm
My cable company just turned off the Peachtree TV feed and went back to the PPV promotion normally done on the channel. I was sick of looking at the tarp, so I’m cool.
Lil Five Points Roger
May 1st, 2009
11:34 pm
I’m seriously still here! Can’t leave now.
A
May 1st, 2009
11:34 pm
So why are the umps not call it a game? It not like the stro are going to score 5 runs just to tie this game with just 6out to play with
You missed that game in Philly, huh?
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:35 pm
Interested Observer, I see. The radio guys must’a missed the memo. Unless I’m losing it, they mentioned it right up front, though I was barely listening. I remember them saying they didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl. (The radio people didn’t know. Surely the Ross’s knew.)
Chop Chop, fair shmair. Homer…. sh…momer? If we were losing, we’d need to finish this sucker.
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
11:35 pm
Fireworks been canceled again……. It’s not even mid night.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
11:36 pm
Again, this is coming from an expert (yeah, yeah, says me), but I see 90 minutes of window.
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:37 pm
What channell is peachtree tv on direct tv?
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 1st, 2009
11:38 pm
So…the game hasn’t been called yet?
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
11:38 pm
Tomas, why didn’t they have the firework show during the rain delay?
A
May 1st, 2009
11:38 pm
I mean, who has left-over minutes when their kids have their own phones???
I actually do. Kids don’t use minutes anymore, they use texts. Unlimited family texting is $30, not bad really considering my iphone data plan is $30 by itself. But my kids don’t have data plans, they have cheap phones, much to their chagrin.
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:38 pm
tony almedia; I think he went to the tigers just like good ole josh anderson
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:38 pm
“Fireworks been canceled again……. It’s not even mid night.” -Tomas
The fireworks got O’briened. I knew it when I saw the headline about guaranteed fireworks. Way to be there for the kiddies, David.
Johninnc
May 1st, 2009
11:39 pm
Btw for people outside of Atlanta who gets Peachtree TV are you guys getting the Peachtree TV or just get to see the game showing on Peachtree TV and that all? .Btw because here in nc we are just getting the game and not the peachtree TV show or movies that are showing on peachtree .Anyway 2minuts before Joe was talking live on the Air.You could hear Joe saying they’d better get to do this quick at list i don’t have to work in tomorrow
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:39 pm
Tom O’ Hawke: hmm maybe because its raining and it’s kinda hard to set off fireworks when it raining ya know
Mr. Jalapeno Popper
May 1st, 2009
11:39 pm
Chip said the upmires are walking around the field now and went into the Braves dugout to talk to bobby. And that the rain has pretty much stopped.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:40 pm
Johninnc, games only for PTV in central Alabama.
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:40 pm
What channell is peachtree tv on direct tv? somebody please answer!
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
11:41 pm
I seriously can’t take these callers on the rain delay show. I always say there’s nothing worst than annoying, dumb blog posters. Well there is. HEARING THEM!
Johninnc
May 1st, 2009
11:41 pm
Bubdylan games only for PTV in NC
Lil Five Points Roger
May 1st, 2009
11:41 pm
Woohoo! Tarp coming off the field now! I’m going to sneak down behind the dugout.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
11:42 pm
Tarp is coming OFF the field. We’re gonna finish this thing, believe it or not (and I’m not)
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:42 pm
Oops. Peavy’s one-hitting LA through six. FIRE WREN.
A
May 1st, 2009
11:43 pm
Its channel 651 here, bravo fan.
Leah
May 1st, 2009
11:43 pm
Johninnc –
Games only in south Georgia, too. Mediacom channel is back on now so I probably couldn’t watch the rest of the game anyway if they do start playing again. Hopefully they call it, though.
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:43 pm
Really nobody can help me out DOB what channel please man i want to watch the rest of the game
Johninnc
May 1st, 2009
11:43 pm
Tarp coming off the field now but it sure look like that most of the fans went home
Roman Gal
May 1st, 2009
11:44 pm
I don’t know if it’s been mentioned, but Jordan Schafer is 10th in the Majors in walks with 16. That’s 2 behind Albert Pujols.
That’s absolutely astonishing. But I can’t say I didn’t expect him to succeed. Ahh. Gotta soak in the glory…
Mr. Jalapeno Popper
May 1st, 2009
11:44 pm
bravofan. Channel 651.
Roman Gal
May 1st, 2009
11:45 pm
Of course, that 16 walks was before today as he has walked yet again.
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 1st, 2009
11:46 pm
Anyone got a restart time yet? Some of us are relegated to MLB EI and are out of the Atlanta area…like hundreds of miles out…
Tomas
May 1st, 2009
11:46 pm
Steve OH, I’m with you on that one. Pretty irritating callers.
Tom O'Hawke
May 1st, 2009
11:46 pm
A, just want you to know that I’m paying attention.
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:47 pm
Mr. Jalapeno popper thaks it wasnat 651 i dont get that but its 17 on mine just in case anyone else needs to know i appreciate you responding though
nolie
May 1st, 2009
11:47 pm
(STEVE from OH)
you do know that half those MiLB pitchers will never make it to the show and 3/4 of the ones who do will be cannon fodder, right?
Johninnc
May 1st, 2009
11:47 pm
I see 2 braves players in right field
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
11:48 pm
Tom–you won’t find too much about him, I’m afraid. He’s a studio musican (well, in his younger years) that has played with Pavarotti (among others). He is a regular in the local club scene. He was my teacher for about a year, so that how I know him…
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:48 pm
Lil five points Roger: rough guess it how many people are actually left at the Ted?
uga1
May 1st, 2009
11:48 pm
We have got to sign Richie Sexson.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
11:49 pm
nolie–aren’t they all cannon fodder to this blog?
Johninnc
May 1st, 2009
11:49 pm
Wait a sec why are there also Astro player on the field .The some time as they are braves player on the field?
NYCBrave
May 1st, 2009
11:49 pm
Lets hope we can finish this one off. Whatever happened to Lonnie Smith? MLB TV was playing an old Braves game the other day and he came up to bat. Always liked him.
David O'Brien
May 1st, 2009
11:49 pm
We’re just one month into the season, and we’ve already had two two-hour Friday night rain delays and postgame fireworks cancellations.
This game coulda been banged 90 minutes ago without anyone on either team complaining, I’m thinking.
Oh, well. Play ball (again).
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:50 pm
Steve OH, it’s bad, isn’t it? The callers?
“what they neeeed ta do is git sumbody in ‘ere knows how ta make dem boys git the little thangs down pat. I mean, I ‘ont mean ta be harsh, but this is gettin ta be irritatin’ first one night and then th’other…”
*mute*
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 1st, 2009
11:51 pm
Steve-
Just because we bagged on your girlfriend for not being a good enough 2b and leadoff hitter doesn’t mean EVERYONE is a lost cause…
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
11:51 pm
It coulda been, DOB. However, that wouldn’t screw you as badly as this outcome.
JD
May 1st, 2009
11:52 pm
The game’s starting? Does PTV still have Bob Sagat on?
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:52 pm
what the heck no braves on my tv bob saget needs to get off with these funny videos
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
11:52 pm
uga1 @ 11:24. More stupidity.
BUT, is Travis Jones considered a real prospect? For the past year, I wanted Diory at 2b.
Rain Delays Kill My Buxx
May 1st, 2009
11:53 pm
My glorious return…Yeah, I’m not that excited either.
can anyone tell me if its worth making another to stay up for this…or are they going to wait another half hour. btw, dob you might appreciate that i’m waiting out this rain delay listening to music from the big pink…orange juice blues is playing right now…
JD
May 1st, 2009
11:53 pm
WHY does^
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
11:53 pm
The callers are exactly what I’d expect, Bub. The real geniuses are the ones posting on a blog at 11:53 p.m. on a Friday night. They should bow to us.
Steve from OH
May 1st, 2009
11:53 pm
Cute, P-Town Brave. You were referring to me, right? This other Steve OH has me mildly confused…
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:53 pm
yes i want braves baseball i do not care about the stupid videos what the heck this is an outrage did the video guys fall asleep???????
Eric from MO
May 1st, 2009
11:54 pm
Hey, everyone stop complaining about them not calling the game. If you can finish the game then you should. Those fans paid for a full game not 7 innings. Im sure most of the ones that stay are the ones who can only afford to go to one or maybe two games a year.
Chop Chop
May 1st, 2009
11:54 pm
PPV’s got The Wrestler coming soon to On Demand! Good thing I still have my pirated copy of The Wrestler (with Dutch subtitles).
nolie
May 1st, 2009
11:54 pm
Major League is the best baseball movie ever….altho Major League 2 isn’t bad either. :>) (EASE)
did you really say that? Oh My
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:55 pm
PTV is horrible put the game on for crying out loud!!!!!!!
Steve OH
May 1st, 2009
11:55 pm
Jeff Bennett for the Braves. Like I wanted!
Johninnc
May 1st, 2009
11:56 pm
O my Chip just said stupid on the Air.He also just said he did not have a good rain d
JD
May 1st, 2009
11:56 pm
Would anybody be upset if they stopped showing America’s Funniest Home Videos?
Random
May 1st, 2009
11:56 pm
Chop Chop (11:11 pm): “The problem is that some of those “jack-axe” comments are frequently right on the money.”
Not them three. Not tonight.
If every day, someone says the Braves will lose tonight, yes, they are sometimes “right on the money.”
A stopped clock is right twice a day — is that any reason to look to it for the time?
Justafan
May 1st, 2009
11:56 pm
Bingo! Its back on.
Bubdylan
May 1st, 2009
11:56 pm
Chop Chop, is it Friday? Man, I could’a had a date with….
is the tarp off?
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:56 pm
Finally its back on it looks like there are like 10 people there
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
11:57 pm
LOL, people actually stayed to watch the end of the game?
Eric from MO
May 1st, 2009
11:57 pm
Remember couple weeks ago when everyone wanted Bennett cut. Just saw his era is under one.
Mr. Jalapeno Popper
May 1st, 2009
11:58 pm
Bennett strikes out Tejada
bravofan
May 1st, 2009
11:58 pm
The city of Atlanta has an ordinance of no fireworks after 11:30 so boooo hooo no fireworks
Stephen
May 1st, 2009
11:58 pm
Put Kelly in LF and move him down in the lineup. Infante is too good right now.
Chino Cadahia
May 1st, 2009
11:59 pm
I’m a big guy. I like to sit on the bench and pat guys on the butt when they do well.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:00 am
Your awesome chino!
Steve OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:00 am
Bennett gives up a single then gets the DP. Going to the bottom of the 8th. Wish Sammons could get a hit.
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
12:00 am
Bennett’s got a 0.93 ERA.
Batters are hitting .395 off him. That’s… somethin’.
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:02 am
Stephen, does the number .306 mean anything to you? I’ll leave you to figure it out, as it is waay too far past my bedtime to keep blogging.
Adieu, friends.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:02 am
I wonder if Dob is still awake?
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
12:03 am
Chino Fact Time: I once ate an entire lasagna in the bathtub while listening to The White Album.
A
May 2nd, 2009
12:03 am
The braves should buy those 14 remaining fans a beer.
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
12:04 am
bravofan , My friend is the president of a big fireworks co.(Alonzo Fireworks). You’d be surprised what they can shoot in. Once they set their show up, they cover everything in thin plastic. If need be, they shoot the shells right through the plastic. Any decent size show is wired up to a 12volt battery. Then, it’s controlled with switches. Only the small shows are lit with a fuse. And they usually use a flare. Once those fuses are lit, nothing stops them. The wicks have a protective coating. The real reason why they wouldn’t shoot it off in the rain, is the rain, itself. I mean in your eyes. To view a fireworks show, you don’t want to be under anything, and you want to be able to look up, don’t you think?
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
12:04 am
Chino Fact Time: I sometimes fall asleep on the bench and dream Leghorn Foghorn.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:05 am
what the heck was that casey little half baby swing?
Chop Chop
May 2nd, 2009
12:05 am
Random,
I like broken clock bloggers. They serve to confirm my intellectual superiority. Everyone needs validation, right?
Moby Grape
May 2nd, 2009
12:05 am
—OHIO STEVE
Scroll??? You’re gonna make me scroll and find it?
Seriously, Thanx man. That’s not what I was thinking about though. The one I saw was a comparison of two hitters done on one of those sites that specialize in breaking down mechanics. They were not impressed with his swing I remember that but not where it was.
I had forgotten that he might be listed under John Johnson. Appreciate the effort dude.
Steve OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:06 am
Nice AB Kotch. Nice catch Pence.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:06 am
Tom O’ Hawke: sorry man but the Annoucers said on peachtree the city of Atl has an ordinance of no fireworks after 11:30
Mark in PA
May 2nd, 2009
12:07 am
“Why, so you could sit out here at 11 p.m. on a Friday night watching it rain?” DOB, 10:42
DOB, if you didn’t do it, thank whoever gave the blog link the title “Fireworks Guaranteed”.
But thanks for the homer you anti-called off of Hampton! Keep up the good hexing!
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
12:07 am
Casey K didn’t get the memo that everyone wanted the game to end, lol. Good at bat Kotchman, too bad you didnt get a hit.
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
12:08 am
Chino Fact Time: I have a home gym. But I don’t know where it is. Maybe off the garage. Who knows?
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:08 am
lol funny mfin04.
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
12:09 am
Who is going to pitch the 9th? Bennett still?
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:09 am
heres ole clint maybe he can get him up a hit for whoever said on the blog that they wanted him to get one ooooooo yeah he did
Steve OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:09 am
Yes! Sammons infield single! My night is finally perfect.
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
12:09 am
There’s Sammon’s hit whoever wanted it
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:10 am
I dont see why bennet wouldnt stay in unless bobby wanted to see what somebody else could do
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
12:11 am
Chino Fact Time: I wear chinos.
Steve OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:11 am
Wouldn’t be a Braves game without a Shafer K.
Mr. Jalapeno Popper
May 2nd, 2009
12:12 am
Steve. I think Diory is ranked above TJones, yes.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:12 am
lol yup that has become 2 much of a trend maybe they should give blanco a shot or Josh Anderson o wati they cant give anderson a chance he is with the tigers
GregNC
May 2nd, 2009
12:13 am
Why would anyone want Richie Sexson on this team?
DownOnTheFarm
May 2nd, 2009
12:13 am
Blanco has not looked good.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:14 am
yeah i didnt think he had I looked at his stats the other day he will come around sooner or later hopefully like KJ
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:15 am
I think we can all agree the Braves need to start stealing they are dead last in baseball with stolen bases
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
12:15 am
Chino Fact Time: I can’t jet ski.
TrueBravesFan
May 2nd, 2009
12:16 am
Jeff Bennett for the Braves. Like I wanted STEVE OH
damn we coulda won this thing if they had called it, now we are gonna loose
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
12:16 am
bravofan , It was before my time, and maybe yours, but I know the history. Do you know why the city of Atlanta has that fireworks ordinance? If you don’t, I’m sure many of the “slightly older” Braves’ fans do.
Funbags galore
May 2nd, 2009
12:17 am
Do you see that chick behind home plate resting her glorious cans on the rail? I think she forgot her bra or they busted out.
NYCBrave
May 2nd, 2009
12:17 am
These broadcasters are talking about how Pudge is much slimer these days, and they wonder how he lost the weight. They both know well it was the ‘roids. Come on guys. Are we going to start talking about ‘juiced’ baseballs again?
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:17 am
we will not loose this thing we could lose it but I don’t see it happening.
vabravesfan
May 2nd, 2009
12:17 am
will ohman just struck out adrian gonzalez on mlb network look in game
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
12:19 am
How do you walk a guy on 4 straight pitches…with a 5-run lead in the 9th inning?
Treehouse
May 2nd, 2009
12:19 am
Yeah, why not Bennett. Give up a BB.
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
12:19 am
Way to hit the zone with 2 out and none on in the last inning with a 5 run lead on a rainy night at midnight-twenty, Bennett.
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
12:20 am
Chino Fact Time: I keep gravy in my pocket.
A
May 2nd, 2009
12:20 am
I know i know lol but noy bc i was there or remember ut but bc my grandaddy and uncle were there qnd ive heard them tell that story no less than 133 million times in my life.
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
12:21 am
This is precisely why Bennett is not a legit candidate for a game that is close.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:21 am
That a way Kotch
Steve OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:21 am
1st and 3rd. 2 outs.
Steve OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:21 am
NO! We have to use GONZO! That is just sad.
Jeff321
May 2nd, 2009
12:22 am
Bennett needs to follow his BOYer out the door.
A
May 2nd, 2009
12:22 am
Oh for the love of christ is he for real with a pitching change?
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:23 am
Really Bobby bringing in Mike gonzalez this will be interesting boys especially with ole sammons behind the plate
NYCBrave
May 2nd, 2009
12:23 am
Leave him in there!
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:23 am
Jeff321 re evaluate what you just said
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
12:23 am
DOB, did they keep that as an error on Lowe??
Eric from MO
May 2nd, 2009
12:24 am
Yeah bravofan that was real interesting.
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
12:24 am
Ballgame. Does Gonzo get a save there?
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:24 am
wow really bringing in Mg for like what 3 or 4 pitches sad
PWHjort
May 2nd, 2009
12:24 am
If Bobby had let Jeff Bennett face 1 more batter he either a) saves Mike Gonzalez for another day or b) brings in Gonzalez for a cheap, 1-out save.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:25 am
no chino not a save situation get eat some lasagna
nolie
May 2nd, 2009
12:25 am
C’mon now Ms. A. If he didn’t and they tied it or won, this board would disintegrate in a blast of pure rage. Bobby is just doin’ his part to prevent strokes and heart attacks here.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:25 am
people it was not a save situation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric from MO
May 2nd, 2009
12:25 am
Well only 2 games back now.
MariettaDerek
May 2nd, 2009
12:25 am
That win was double pits to chesty!
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
12:26 am
It worked. Feed went out…how did Gonzo get him out?
Eric from MO
May 2nd, 2009
12:26 am
bravofan would you rather repeat what happened in Philly in game 3?
Stephen
May 2nd, 2009
12:26 am
Steve from Ohio:
Does Kelly’s current slump of 3-50 something mean anything to you?
Or how about .350, which is what Infante is currently batting.
Maybe we could go with .295, Kelly Johnson’s current OBP.
.203, The batting average of a certain someone with the initials KJ in the year 2009.
Another special set of numbers, 14 and 16, these being the amount of hits Kelly Johnson and Omar Infante have this season. By the way, Kelly Johnson is not the latter.
Last but not least we have 69 and 44, the number of at bats Kelly Johnson and Omar Infante have this season respectively.
Jeff321
May 2nd, 2009
12:27 am
bravofan – It came out just the way I thought then typed it.
Bear
May 2nd, 2009
12:28 am
Tom O’Hawke —- Not only do I know the history, I watched that game that made Atlanta change their fireworks ordinance. It was probably the most memorable game in Atlanta history!
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:29 am
no i dont but i think bennet could have handled it lets dont compare bennet to boyer just yet
Eric from MO
May 2nd, 2009
12:29 am
PWHjort I dont think 3 pitches is really going to wear out Gonzo. Back when Smoltz closed he said warming up normally weared him out more than actually pitching. Since Gonzo was warmed up might as well bring him in. Damn, everyone on here really hates Bobby!
A
May 2nd, 2009
12:29 am
Good point nolie.
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
12:30 am
We like Bobby tonight…we won. Still needs to change the lineup some, but its getting closer.
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
12:30 am
Yeah, but Stephen, Kelly Johnson’s got RBI’s in his glove.
Eric from MO
May 2nd, 2009
12:30 am
Stephen is KJ the first player to ever be in a slump? Guess there is no chance of him ever coming out of it. Might as well cut him.
Jeff321
May 2nd, 2009
12:31 am
bravofan – I agree, Bennett isn’t completely useless like Boyer. He is good for pitching in mop up games.
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:31 am
see yall tomorrow
bravofan
May 2nd, 2009
12:32 am
or later on today i should say yes he is jeff321
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
12:32 am
LOL, game is finally over so I can watch it on MLBTV….Hoorrayyyy!
Jeff321
May 2nd, 2009
12:33 am
The Braves need to let Infante truly compete for the job at second. Sure I like KJ’s offense, but can do without his shoddy defense and prolonged slumps.
Frankie Knuckles
May 2nd, 2009
12:36 am
Question! The Braves are renown for their scouting skills and farm system. Why are we having trouble piecing together a bullpen? And why is Medlen not getting the hype he deserves? Is it because he’s not 6′6”? Medlen has a shot at making some real waves.
nolie
May 2nd, 2009
12:36 am
Damn, everyone on here really hates Bobby! ERIC
yup they do. any old excuse to bitch about him
TnBrian
May 2nd, 2009
12:40 am
Jeff321, I agree, but I think you’ll see more of a platoon between Infate/KJ/ and even Prado. That seems more like Bobby’s style.
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
12:41 am
Chino Fact Time: When I first saw the show “Ace Of Cakes” in the TV Guide, I thought it was a documentary about my life.
Frankie Knuckles
May 2nd, 2009
12:41 am
Stephen – I have to agree. Thx for posting those numbers, maybe you should forward them to Cox. Also, Omar seems to feed on the pressure. Here’s to a new second baseman.
TnBrian
May 2nd, 2009
12:45 am
Did anyone see carrot top on Leno last night? He put on a mexican hat with a flu mask attached to it and also had a bat with a plastic hand on the knob of it…easier for scratching the sack.
Jeff321
May 2nd, 2009
12:46 am
TnBrian, sounds good to me! (I believe these guys should compete all year for their spots.. No sense in just leaving someone out there regardless of their paltry performance.)
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
12:47 am
Bear
Yeah, I remember seeing something about it, on TBS, years ago. The game was played in the 80’s, on July 4th (I think), and a big fireworks show was scheduled after the game with …. the Mets??? There were several rain delays (right), and then the score was tied forever. By the time the game was over, it was about 4:00 in the morning (give or take). I guess enough people were still there waiting for the fireworks. So, after the game, they set them off. Apparently, many of the local residents thought they were under attack. The police stations’ phones were clogged, with calls about invaders. People were frightened out of their minds. And the remaining faithfull in Fulton County Stadium, were going, “ooh, and ahhh”.
Chop Chop
May 2nd, 2009
12:49 am
Bobby’s a millionaire many times over, nolie. I’m sure that sleeping on an ergonomically correct pile of money helps him handle the criticism.
Necromancer
May 2nd, 2009
12:53 am
I know I have no room to talk when it comes to being negative about the Braves, but ESPN is always putting a negative spin on the Braves….even when they win!
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 2nd, 2009
12:59 am
Tom-
Thats a pretty funny story…then again I guess maybe not if you were an ATL resident at the time…
Well, at least I think its funny…OH, and for some reason when you said that story, I instantly had the music from the scene at the end of Caddyshack where Bill Murray blew up the course.
Steve OH
May 2nd, 2009
1:01 am
Last inning of the Padres/Dodgers game was a good one. Sanchez walks in Russell Martin for the winning run.
Bear
May 2nd, 2009
1:01 am
Tom O’Hawke
I can’t believe how well you put that, considering you were too young when it happened. There were a lot of crazy things, that happened along the way. Not to get into too many details, one actually sticks out. It was about the 17th or 18th inning. The Braves were down, either 1 run or 2 with 2 outs. There was no one left to pinch hit and the relief pitcher was up. Rick Camp was not only a bad hitter, because he was a pitcher, he was a bad hitting pitcher. As a relief pitcher, he hardly ever batted. That was a good thing, because he sucked! Anyway, if they were down 2, then there was a man on base. If they were down 1, then there was no one on, I don’t remember. Rick Camp was the tying run, that I do remember. Guess what he does? Yeah, his first major league HR. Score is tied again! I was watching the game on TBS at the time and this was the most memorable part. Some of the older Braves’ fans should chime in. It was so late though, maybe I was the only one on this blog that was actually watching it. Anyway, they lost the game in the next inning (19th). The fireworks followed!
Mark in PA
May 2nd, 2009
1:03 am
For the record, I called this on Monday (4/27, at 2225)- Every six days, the bats wake up. Tonight makes four repetitions of the cycle.
- 4/12* vs WSH, (8 runs)
- 4/19 in PIT, (10 runs)
- 4/25 in CIN, (8 runs)
- and now 5/1 vs. HOU. (7 runs)
(*4/13 was an off day or maybe leap day in the lunar cycle, I don’t know.)
What does it mean? Until they break the pattern (and score a lot tomorrow, or even Sunday), the offense still officially stinks.
David O'Brien
May 2nd, 2009
1:03 am
I hope that time spent sitting through rain delays is added to your life. Like time spent with dogs, you know?
If so, I’ve got a chance to reach 90, given my time spent covering the Marlins in rainy South Florida and time spent covering the Braves in what’s becoming rain-delay central.
David O'Brien
May 2nd, 2009
1:06 am
TnBrian, I think you probably find Carrot Top a lot more entertaining than do the vast majority of folks on this particular blog…. Then again, maybe not (he says, thinking about a certain blogger’s obsession with a painfully unfunny advertising catch-phrase….)
Daybed Wagmoe
May 2nd, 2009
1:12 am
Bubdylan at 11:42pm — why? Starting pitching isn’t the problem. And while Peavy threw 8 shutout innings tonight, that DECREASED his ERA to 4.58.
If Wren actually had traded for Peavy, plenty on here would be calling for him to be fired.
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
1:13 am
Talk about a .500 ballteam:
Braves are 11-11.
Their “Expected W-L”: 11-11
At Home: 5-5
On the road: 6-6.
Versus the Central Division: 5-5
Versus the East: 6-6.
One-run games: 4-4
Last ten games: 5-5
Runs scored: 92. Runs allowed: 92.
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
1:14 am
Daybed, I was kidding about Wren.
Mark in PA
May 2nd, 2009
1:16 am
I spent the delay watching a really bad movie with the kids, so it was time well spent. Back to the Future Part 2 has to set the cheese standard for sequels, though.
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
1:18 am
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
I agree about it being a funny story, at least now. Yeah, if you lived in that neighborhood, at the time, and heard those fireworks going off, you may have soiled your sheets. It’s a true story, though. I’d like to hear from some of the “blog-elders”, to listen to their recollection of it.
TnBrian
May 2nd, 2009
1:19 am
DOB, I don’t see how somebody couldn’t crack a smile, at least at his mexican hat bit he did last night. Maybe I’m the blacksheep of this blog, I don’t know.
TnBrian
May 2nd, 2009
1:21 am
Watching Buster Douglas kick some Mike Tyson A** on ESPN.
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
1:23 am
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff), Just curious. Does the P-Town stand for Provincetown?
Mark in PA
May 2nd, 2009
1:23 am
And let me go ahead and call the offensive explosion set for next Thursday, 5/7, at FLA.
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
1:27 am
Fact: after this many games last year, the Bravos were already 0-7 in one-run games.
Mark in PA
May 2nd, 2009
1:29 am
And let me call the next offensive explosion for next Thursday, 5/7, at FLA.
Chop Chop
May 2nd, 2009
1:29 am
Fact: The Braves have the same record after 22 games (11-11) as they did in 2008.
Rick
May 2nd, 2009
1:31 am
I think John Sterling ( now the Yankees announcer ) was doing that famous game for the Braves and he pretty much called the Rick Camp home run . He said something about how crazy a game it had been and said ” if Rick Camp hits a homer , it will be the craziest game ever . ” Everybody just laughed because Rick Camp was a horrible hitter but , by God , he did hit a homer !
Chop Chop
May 2nd, 2009
1:32 am
Fact: Who cares about my fact? I don’t. I was bored and sober.
Frankie Knuckles
May 2nd, 2009
1:32 am
What’s up with Carrot Top getting all ripped and going under the knife? That guy screams identity issues. Troubling.
Frankie Knuckles
May 2nd, 2009
1:33 am
Chop Chop – I like it. Our starting pitching shouldn’t go the morgue this year.
Mark in PA
May 2nd, 2009
1:34 am
Wow, a regurgitated post!
BubDylan, that is surprising (.500 on everything). I wonder if the league standings (ERA, IP, BA, RBI, etc) don’t all average out to 15th as well.
It is an improvement over last year. But last year was so freakishly bad with injuries to the rotation and the pen- it’s tough to compare.
but it is an improvement
1995
May 2nd, 2009
1:35 am
I’ve been to a lot of Braves games and have never heard a visiting player get as many boo’s as Hampton tonight. Loved the banner people had in the outfield that said THANKS FOR NOTHING.
Nice!!
Bear
May 2nd, 2009
1:35 am
Rick, you may be right. Sterling was one of the announcers, back then. They always worked in tandem, however, and I know his partner was Pete. Did you watch the game?
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
1:36 am
*throws glass of cranberry juice at Chop Chop*
Chop Chop
May 2nd, 2009
1:43 am
That could probably hurt. I don’t know. I’ve never had someone actually throw a glass of cranberry juice at me. I’m thinking that a glass of chocolate milk might hurt more. Milk is heavier than cranberry juice. If there’s vodka in the cranberry juice, it could temporarily blind me. If the glass breaks on my face, I guess that could permanently blind me. I don’t know. I’m not an expert. I’m just a blogger who blogs.
Rick
May 2nd, 2009
1:45 am
Bear , no , I heard it on the radio – we didn’t get cable TV here in the NC mountains til after that.
I think I heard the John Sterling call on a video replay of famous moments from Braves history
Bear
May 2nd, 2009
1:46 am
*throws glass of cranberry juice at Chop Chop* Bubdylan
I don’t want to tell you what to do, but if you’re going to start getting vicious, either have a drink or go to bed.
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
1:49 am
Bear, if I could have a drink, I could go to bed. I actually meant “slides a glass of cranberry juice down the bar.” It was a misguided “Departed” reference.
Bear
May 2nd, 2009
1:51 am
Oh, Ok. My, bad.
Bubdylan
May 2nd, 2009
1:53 am
I think I like the way a curved glass, tube tv looks better than the new stuff. The High Def is deeper and more detailed, but, purely aesthetically (sp?) speaking, I think the old tv’s are more lush.
And with that, g’night.
Bear
May 2nd, 2009
1:53 am
I think I may have just set the punctuation record, for the least amount of letters. We’ll have to check.
Bear
May 2nd, 2009
1:55 am
Goodnight, Bubd
Slick McPimpin
May 2nd, 2009
2:02 am
Speaking of Tina Fey, I’d gladly have relations with her in the location of her choosing (if you know what I mean). She’s awesome.
nolie
May 2nd, 2009
2:07 am
The High Def is deeper and more detailed, but, purely aesthetically (sp?) speaking, I think the old tv’s are more lush. (BUB D)
Very good observation ;the reason for that Bub is that the old CRT tubes could create a blacker black. than the digital displays have been able to so far
A CRT could actually turn pixels off in black areas of a picture so it was deeper more velvety looking, whereas digital displays can’t turn pixels totally off. LCDs in particular are more prone to Grayer blacks than plasmas and CRTs.
Some of the high end plasmas and LCDs are getting much closer lately. The Pioneer Kuro (Japanese for black) was the best display being made largely because of it’s outstanding black level, but Pioneer just quit making it cause it cost too much.
Sony and Samsung are now using LEDs as backlights for their high end LCD displays. These too are expensive though not as much as the Pioneers were, and they have better black levels and less blocking in dark scenes with just a little light sourse.
Vizio quite the plasma business too this year but will be introducing their version of LED LCDs soon at substantially lower prices, which should end up making the Sony and Sansungs get cheaper too.
Mekons
May 2nd, 2009
2:07 am
I didn’t read the blog tonight, but let me guess.
A. Bobby is just playing the hot hand with Infante and he’s an idiot.
B. Batting Francoer cleanup is just encouraging him to hit the first pitch and wave at outside sliders.
C. Bobby Cox sucks
D. Bobby had a fast hook and Moylen will screw up
E. The Braves suck and I have a .45 I am about to stick in my mouth. We should have won 22-0 and I refuse to accept less.
Rick
May 2nd, 2009
2:09 am
For those still awake , I’ll tell you a story about a rain delay and Hank Aaron . I went to a game about 1970 or so – it went into extra innings and then started raining about the 12th inning . It rained for 2 hours and about 1am they took the tarp off the field and everybody went onto to the field to loosen up . Hank Aaron was due up next whenever play resumed but I saw him sitting in the dugout and he never came out to warm up . Well , thats funny I thought but Hank had his own way of doing things . Well, the games starts and Hank finally leaves the dugout , walks up to the plate and hits the first or second pitch out of the park to win the game .
So we waited 2 hours to resume the game and Hank ended it in about 3 minutes . They said after the game that the other players just looked at Hank and shook their heads as if to say
” Man, how do you do things like that ! “
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
2:09 am
Tomorrow’s Braves’ game is a Fox game. That means, unless you’re in the right region, you can’t watch it. I could stay away from the results and watch it on the MLB archive. You have to wait 45 minutes, I believe. However, the Nascar race is tomorrow night, also. A Saturday night race from Richmond. I’m in a Nascar pool. I must watch the race. What to do, what to do. I guess I’ll have to listen to the game on radio. Man, it’s tough being me!
Chop Chop
May 2nd, 2009
2:10 am
I didn’t even catch that “Departed” reference. I guess I need to watch it again or something.
Or get some sleep.
Yeah. I’m thinking sleep.
Cabravesfan
May 2nd, 2009
2:13 am
Can’t believe they didn’t call this game…don’t they play a day game tomorrow?
Saw DOB mention Carrot Top- allow me to share the scariest thing I think I have ever seen…billiard on the way to Vagas, freakishly steroided Carrot Top on one side, 3 half naked girls on the other and the tag line “Carrot Top…Fantasy” – this is why people have nightmares!
1995
May 2nd, 2009
2:15 am
Do some of these Braves bloggers ever sleep?
nolie
May 2nd, 2009
2:18 am
I think I like the way a curved glass, tube tv looks better than the new stuff. The High Def is deeper and more detailed, but, purely aesthetically (sp?) speaking, I think the old tv’s are more lush. (BUB)
Good observation Bub. I just wrote a treatise on why that is Bub, but the damn blog ate it so y’all lucked out.
Basically that is because CRTs could create deeper more velvety looking blacks on the screen than digital displays can even yet, though they are getting closer.
Digital displays can be made brighter and much larger with higher resolution than CRT tubes could be, but the depth of the picture will likely never be as good,
Tim McCarver
May 2nd, 2009
2:19 am
Can’t wait to call the Braves game tomorrow. Even if you guys mute your TVs, I’ll still be talking my arse off about god only knows what.
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
2:28 am
nolie , Man, your 2:07 post was incredibly informative. I used to do some professional videography, and thought I knew a lot about tech-stuff. I’m still clinging to a 27″ Sony, as my main TV. When that dies, and I have to buy something more state-of-the-art, can I call on you, for advice?
Skeeter
May 2nd, 2009
2:29 am
Did y’all see the video of David Cone’s latest blooper?
http://withleather.uproxx.com/2009/05/david-cone-says-yankees-are-jerkin-off
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
2:33 am
cabravesfan, wow, you’re still up and at ‘em? Take a nap did you? You see, I’m still going. That’s why I waited before I popped the first one. It’s all about pacing one’s self.
LuisG
May 2nd, 2009
2:34 am
Here’s a link of ESPN’s Rob Neyer discusses about the “death” of the stolen base
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=4116668
nolie
May 2nd, 2009
2:40 am
When that dies, and I have to buy something more state-of-the-art, can I call on you, for advice? (TOM)
sure, I read on the subject a lot and a friend is a calibration tech so I’m usually at least up on the latist. I have a 42″ plasma in my bedroom and I’m hoping I can scrape together enough money to buy a 55″ Pioneer Kuro plasma b4 they all disappear, but that’s kind of a long shot. I still use a 20″ CRT for my computer. Black is beautiful in video displays too
Cabravesfan
May 2nd, 2009
2:42 am
Tom-
No nap just a 3 hour dinner…the night is still young
Just saw the Angels managed to blow a 5 run 8th inning lead to the yanks…I thought we were the only team that could do that
nolie
May 2nd, 2009
2:45 am
Thanks Luis. a quote pertaining to what many of us have said here.
Running very fast is a rare skill. Getting on base against the best pitchers in the world is a rare skill. The combination of those skills is exceptionally rare. For some years, teams were willing to tolerate a deficiency in the second skill if the first was present. Not so much today. In the late 1970s and early ’80s, Omar Moreno was one of the fastest players in the game and led off almost every game for years, despite an on-base percentage that barely cleared .300 (and sometimes didn’t) and a slugging percentage not much higher.
Today, Juan Pierre has similar skills and can’t get into the lineup. Speedy center fielders Michael Bourn and Willy Taveras do play regularly — Taveras led the NL last season with 68 steals — but it’s not all clear that they’ll get as many chances as Moreno did. The simple fact is that teams in the 1970s and ’80s paid little attention to on-base percentage and slugging percentage if a guy could run, and catch the ball in center field. Today they do pay attention (most of them, anyway
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
2:47 am
cabravesfan, No, my Sweet. The Braves are the only team to do that without the opposition laying wood on the ball.
Cabravesfan
May 2nd, 2009
2:50 am
Tom-
That’s a good point…and on that note I really do have to get some sleep- up since 5am, drinking since 3pm…Night all!
nolie
May 2nd, 2009
2:51 am
Nite CaBravesFan
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
2:54 am
nolie … I haven’t got into it yet, but of the few friends of mine, that have, they seem to think liquid crystal, overall, is better than plasma. I notice you have plasma. Thoughts?
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
2:55 am
cabravesfan, wish i were there …. good night
N Nine
May 2nd, 2009
2:57 am
time spent covering the Braves in what’s becoming rain-delay central. DOB
I’m sure Carroll has no sympathy for you DOB. That trip in DC was raining cats n dogs….
Great win guys!!! We gained on everyone except the Mets. Keeping our head above water while Mac figures this issue out. GL Mac, we’re(and McFann) pulling for you.
We need to keep Fuego Fante in the lineup, close your eyes and pick a position Bobby.
Tom O'Hawke
May 2nd, 2009
3:00 am
ya know, I have no idea what she looks like, but that’s one hell of a woman!
jj
May 2nd, 2009
3:47 am
I can’t believe Bobby Cox is putting Kelly Johnson back in the lineup tomorrow.Why?Infantie has been clutch at the plate and darn good in the field.Why this love affair withKJ?He was given the job in the first place,he didn’t earn it.Prado came up as a second baseman and has out played KJ every spring.It’s about winning ball games,it’s not no popularity contest.Man.Infantie and Prado are players that need to be playing,and playing everyday.You could put OI in the of or play him in if and Prado should be given the opputunity to play second.This playing favorites need to go.B.Jones has come up and played well,but BC puts Diaz in left against righthanders.Why?And all these posters calling for Escabor to be benched or dropped in the order,get real.
jed
May 2nd, 2009
4:34 am
JJ–
i’m not sure what the braves are going to do with the 2B situation, but it’s become quite the dilemma. right now, infante’s clearly the better player. to leave KJ in there is to maintain faith that he’s going to regain his stroke, suddenly find consistency, and provide the lineup with much-needed power. problem is that that transformation seems a ways down the road, and this team simply doesnt have the offense to afford that kind of patience.
is KJ out of options? i’d have no problem with sending him to AAA to work out his problems. he’s certainly valuable long-term. but like i said, this offense has to go with hot hands, and you dont get much hotter than infante right now. hot streak aside, infante’s just a really impressive player. i think it’s time the braves acknowledge he’s more than just a super-utility guy.
Andy
May 2nd, 2009
5:43 am
howzabout giving young Jordan a day off, putting Infante in center, and getting Prado some ABs at second? just for a day.
go Braves
the real Bobby
May 2nd, 2009
5:52 am
Ya’know, Andy, I just may do that. I’ve been wanting ro rest Jordan, and that’s a great way to do it. If I end up doing it, and I think I will, please don’t tell anyone it was your idea, OK?
ncscoots
May 2nd, 2009
6:40 am
I hope that time spent sitting through rain delays is added to your life. Like time spent with dogs, you know?
Probably true. But, after a certain amount, it just gets converted to sick leave.
Looking forward to Johnson back in the lineup today, if only to see the frothing at the mouth of the Doc Holidays and P-town Braves and every other poster whose sister Kelly must have have kissed in the past. That’s always fun. I have one of those monster Kensington Expert mouses, and I get to use all the magic buttons on it to scroll quickly, skip posts, and stuff, when these guys get going, LOL.
I was pretty impressed with Francoeur last night. He went through a little slump recently, stayed with his approach, made some adjustments. Good for him. At least two homers to center, too, as I remember, and that has to give him confidence that his power is getting there. Just hope he learns that it’s OK to turn on a pitch once in a while, too.
nolie
May 2nd, 2009
7:31 am
I notice you have plasma. Thoughts? (TOM)
LCD are all the rage no doubt, but they do not have as good a picture as plasma in general.
Both displays have their pluses and minuses.
LCDs are bright and they use less electricity. Their disadvantages are the worse black level and a narrow viewing range. As you move right or left the picture quality degrades in a hurry. Overall they are best for rooms that have a lot of light most of the time. Good fot TV and sports and games, less so for movie viewing.
Plasmas have much better black levels and a wider viewing range. Much less picture change if you vacate the center seat. Their disadvantages are the use more power and they can develop burn in, where the screen starts to retain a dim image of what was played. Not a good choice for game playing as a lot of games have static backgrounds. There are techniques to ensure that burn in does not occur, but you do need to be aware.
When flat panels were first available they were plasmas. A lot of total higwash was rumored about them by CRT companys. Like that they needed to be recharged with gas every year,. Many sales people in the big chain stores believed this crap and passed it on as fact, thus giving them a bad name.
However most TVs are sold on the showroom floors of brick and mortar chain stores, and these showrooms are very bright. LCDs can be turned up with much higher brightness and contrast so they look better in those places than plasmas do. There is no question that they are taking over from the plasmas for that reason and that they are becoming cheaper than plasmas in most size ranges, especially the popular 42-55 inch range.
Most dedicated movie watchers use a room where they can control the light. They turn the brightness and contrast levels down some and under those conditions plasmas really do a better job.
Rear projectors are about dead, and front projectors are pricey and more trouble to install and use and need a pretty dark room, though ion that setting they produce very large very impressive pictures.
Bottom line. It depends on the room that you are gonna place it in and the type of viewing that you do. In the dedicated sites and magazine reviews plasmas most always win the comparisons because of the better blacks which is kinda the foundation that you build the picture on. In the more general world LCDs are the hot sellers.
I have never seen an LCD that I liked as much as the best plasmas because I watch mostly movies in a dim room. The newer LCDs that are using LED backlighting are coming close but they are still top of the line sets that are pretty dear. That will continue to come down though like all electronics especially when Vizio and other cheaper lines introduce the.
In 5-10 years, most sets will be LCD with customers paying less for the regular ones and some springing for the LEDs.
If I were buying a set right now and could afford it I would buy a Pioneer Kuro while they are still around. Having less to spend I would buy a Panasonic plasma, because those 2 are the best and suit my viewing habits.
Art
May 2nd, 2009
8:26 am
What other team has a first baseman batting near 300 with no home runs and 4 rbis? The Braves need a first baseman and until that is done the Braves are not going anywhere
dogsbrekky
May 2nd, 2009
8:36 am
Rick – Thanks for that story about Hank, a beauty
CB
May 2nd, 2009
8:37 am
ncscoots excellent post concerning Francoeur,he is looking good overall. I also hope patience will continue making him a good clean up hitter. I still feel this is potentially a very good team after we get Mccann,Anderson healthy. I am by nature an optimist,but I see a lot of good for the future
dogsbrekky
May 2nd, 2009
8:37 am
Art – and how many safe hits has Casey saved with that awesome glove
Would you rather have Tex back for $180 and that 190 average and stupid biatch face
MEB
May 2nd, 2009
8:56 am
nolie… great stuff about television technology today. Great recommendation about Panasonic plasmas. The first thing people notice about mine is how vivid the blacks are. Seems strange to discuss how black the picture is when talking about color displays. Now if they can only broadcast every channel in HD.
GO BRAVES!!!
dogsbrekky
May 2nd, 2009
9:00 am
nolie – bought a Samsung 46″ tv for Chrissie and it is good but not great and I agree about the brightness factor……. mine is awesome for sports but some of those dark movies are horrid
Will look at Panasonic for the missus house
flange1
May 2nd, 2009
9:23 am
Morning All,
Great game last night!
I like the way Bobby keeps changing up the lineup looking for a better combination.
I like Frenchy in the 4 spot.
I think KJ comes back tonight on fire.
Lets see if we can beat up on Roy O….
McFann O
May 2nd, 2009
9:42 am
Ah! Nice to beat Hampton!
N Nine GL Mac, we’re(and McFann) pulling for you.
BIG time!
(Hockey mask……)
Daybed Wagmoe
May 2nd, 2009
9:50 am
I like our chances this afternoon. Oswalt’s career numbers against Atlanta: in 5 starts, 0-2, 6.41 ERA, 26.2 IP, 1.538 WHIP. At Turner Field, 0-1 with a 7.32 ERA, 19.2 IP, 1.678 WHIP in 4 starts.
Braveheart
May 2nd, 2009
9:54 am
I’m in the process of converting my dad from a Yankees fan into a Braves fan. He’s tired of pretending to root for guys who aren’t really Yankees in a stadium that isn’t really Yankee Stadium. Last night, he called me at the start of the game screaming about why Kelly Johnson wasn’t starting. I tried to explain he’s slumping, his backups are decent, when he slumps, he slumps for a long time, blah, blah, blah. Dad wasn’t having that. He was livid. Said you ain’t winning a World Series with Omar Infante starting anywhere on your team, but you might someday have a chance with KJ.
Justafan
May 2nd, 2009
10:00 am
Who’s your Daddy, Bobby Cox? BRAVEHEART
Supes
May 2nd, 2009
10:09 am
kelly johnson should have been traded for Ryan Ludwick this past off-season. Not exactly sure what the details were, or the proposed players on each team, but those were the 2 key players being considered.
This solves 2 issues for the Braves. A RH power bat that can bat 4th behind Chipper and infront of B-Mac…therefore no need to go get glass man Garret Anderson, and it also frees us Infante to play 2B on a daily basis.
Is infante a career .350 hitter? Of course not, given time, all things equal out. However, he doesn’t strike out as much as Kelly, and isn’t nearly as streaky. He also hits a lot of line drives, perfect for a 2 hole hitter on this team (unlike someone else, glad that Joe Simpson keeps bringing this up, highest ratio of ground balls hit versus fly balls, ESCO 6-4-3)
I guess sometimes, a GM must look back and admit he screwed up. Frank screwed that one up pretty good. Oh, and Ludwick hit another HR the other night…his 6th of the year I believe. Name a Brave with 6 HR on the year…yip, thought so:)
Good win on Friday. Glad to see that Hampton got the reception he did…and like others pointed out…it wasn’t for being hurt for 3 years…it was for bolting after the Braves STOOD BY HIM for those 3 years, wanted him back, were going to offer him a 1 year incentive laden contract, and he bolted for Houston. Boo fraking who about the family reasons. He owed the Braves that 1 year. It was his doing that we had to go and get Kawakami (who’s been a failure so far). Originaly Wren was going to get 2 proven starters, but after Hampton decided to sign with Houston, he had to go get a 3rd guy to fill in his number 4 slot in the rotation.
Oh, and Random…I was referring to the team lineup in general, not the one Cox used last night. If you must know. Professor of all things!
PMC
May 2nd, 2009
10:10 am
Tim McCarver… Awesome. I can’t wait for “knucklecurve” explanations and discussing the finer points of soft tossing the ball from second to first.
CB
May 2nd, 2009
10:11 am
McFANN good morning. Are you going to wear glasses in honor of McCann?
Daybed Wagmoe
May 2nd, 2009
10:24 am
DOB — Have you heard The Afghan Whigs’ cover of “Lost in the Supermarket”? I just came across it this morning. Pretty good cover and it seems to be the gem of a Clash tribute cd called “Burning London” which came out about 10 years ago. It seems like the album is less-than-good, but I’m basing that on the 30-second clips on iTunes.
Here’s a link — it’s number 9 on this page. http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=5297890&ap=0&albumid=8081865
Bobbymahlon
May 2nd, 2009
10:30 am
Bobby Cox is nuts. He plans on sitting Infanti today so Johnson can get back in the lineup. What has Johnson ever done to play regular besides being a poor second baseman and one who goes into prolong hittting slumps. By the time Prado gets a chance to play his timing will be way off, oh by the way he is hitting only .350 as is Infanti and we are such a good hitting team we cannot find spots for .350 hitters. I guess it is more important to play our so called regulars than to play the hot hands and win games.
Chino Cadahia
May 2nd, 2009
10:44 am
Chino Fact Time: My favorite movie is “Scary Movie 2.”
Coach (2010 or bust)
May 2nd, 2009
10:47 am
Ken Rosenthal’s latest blurb on why the N.L. East is a dog fight.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9521808/Mets,-Phillies-there-for-the-taking-in-East
Steve OH
May 2nd, 2009
10:51 am
I’m fine with KJ getting back in there today. He slumped. He rested. He deserves to earn his spot back. Good for Omar for pushing him.
buzzmeat
May 2nd, 2009
10:55 am
Well Steve,
I agree BUT…Maybe put Infante in LF today, He is hitting too damn good to straight up bench!!!!
Random
May 2nd, 2009
11:13 am
Steve OH (11:02 pm): “Joe Simpson said in the 1st inning that Ross was away and Diaz was the emergency back-up. And that – surprisingly – Infante was the emergency emergency. I always thought it was Norton as well though.”
Hmmm — I had somehow gotten the impression that Yunel was the emergency emergency.
Now that I think about it though, he probably is better suited to being the emergency crisis.
BabyGoatEater
May 2nd, 2009
11:13 am
Buzmeat….
I would be very surprised if Bobby didn’t do what you suggested. Infante isn’t a prototypical lead-off guy, but he’ sthe best we have right now (unless your like me, in the minority, that thinks even with his strikeouts, Shafer would be great there).
ABravesFan
May 2nd, 2009
11:13 am
Hey DOB you have seen the team play quite a bit this season can you tell us the lineup you think would be the best for this team?
Thanks in advance
Reggie Taco
May 2nd, 2009
11:29 am
2011:
CF – Shafer
LF – Heyward
3B – Chipper
C – McCann
RF – Frenchy
1B – Sexson
SS – Yunel
2B – Diory
benchwarmer
May 2nd, 2009
11:33 am
Play the hot hand, ALWAYS!. If someone is playing exceptional pro ball why sit him down. The other guy lost his chance for now. When the hot hand cools off maybe the “regular” guy will see the need to warm it up while he still can. Bobby has always differed to his players feelings a little too much. Play to win means playing the guy who is hot. For the team and the win first. This is the key reason why Atl only won one WS in the ninties. Grownups can handle this. Kindergarden stars only weep and look to uncle Bobby to make it better.
VaBravesfan
May 2nd, 2009
11:33 am
Not an expert on Lasik by any means, but my wife had the surgery about five years ago. Had to go back for a “tune-up” about a year later. Now she is back to contacts. Maybe not the same condition as McCann, but the man might have a tough row to hoe in the future.
benchwarmer
May 2nd, 2009
11:34 am
Reggie Taco, do you believe Chipper will be a 3 hole hitter in 2011?
Reggie Taco
May 2nd, 2009
11:40 am
Bench, we can’t very well play Richie Sexson in the 3 hole now can we?
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
11:49 am
So it looks like it’s going to rain again today. Looks most likely before the game and during. GREAT.
Cabravesfan
May 2nd, 2009
11:53 am
Morning all
Tom-
but why are you up and bloging at 3:00 in the morning??
Re your 3am: Thanks
I love that unemployed, unwanted strikeout king, poor fielding Richie Sexon ha suddenly become it savior because he can hit home runs…
David O'Brien
May 2nd, 2009
11:59 am
Schafer has 17 walks, tied with freakin’ Prince Fielder and Lance Berkman for fifth in the NL. This after he barely drew a walk during his strikeout-fest for a couple of weeks in early April. Impressive ability to make adjustments, this kid….
Francoeur is hitting .387 against lefties, after hitting .210 against them in 2008. And he’s hitting .458 (11-for-24) with RISP, after hitting .192 (34-for-177) with RISP in 2008….
Hey, I gotta hurry to the ballpark, so I just skimmed the posts. But no one was arguing that hi-def isn’t far superior for watching TV and DVDs, were they? Because it is. No debate, in my book, and I’m a dinosaur who says vinyl sounds better than CDs most of the time. When it come to video, watching the old way feels like a big letdown now, when hi-def’s not available in a hotel or whatever.
And Blu-Ray … unbelievable. I’ve only watched a few movies on my Blu-Ray player, but it’s ridiculous how good it is, the picture and the sound.
OK, I’m out.
KC
May 2nd, 2009
12:08 pm
Coach (2010 or bust), there’s a very good chance that this will be a dogfight to the finish… but I think there’s also a significant chance that the Braves will pull away from the pack at some point.
The Mets and Phillies have glaring weaknesses (their rotations), and the Marlins do to (the back of their rotation and the bullpen).
The Braves starting pitching is excellent, with the exception of Kawakami. But the KK problem will be fixed soon. Either he’ll start pitching MUCH better, or he’ll be replaced by someone who will. One way or the other, that problem will be fixed, and an already very good rotation will get significantly better.
And the bullpen has become a strength (decidedly so) thanks to Gonzo and Moylan finding the handle.
Which leaves the offense…
Even before McCann went on the DL, he was mired in a slide (do to the vision problem) that saw his average drop to .195. So, in effect, we haven’t had our cleanup hitter since the first series of the season.
Garrett Anderson is another significant piece that we’ve been without pretty much the entire season to date. This is a guy who hit .293, 15 HR, 90 RBI last year… not to mention hitting something like .374 – I think it was – with RISP last year. He’s a proven run producer. And his absence is REALLY felt when the guy getting all the playing time in Left right now is hitting .218.
And the absence of both of those guys, most especially McCann, has served to neutralize Chipper. I think keeping Francoeur in the cleanup spot might be the solution for now… but the reality of late is that Chipper hasn’t been given an opportunity to be the run producer we need him to be.
So middle of the order has been impotent, which has had a ripple effect throughout the rest of the lineup. Other players don’t get the same pitches to hit, plus they’re pressing and trying to compensate, and the whole thing snowballs.
With the middle of the Braves order pretty much a non-factor (until last night with Frenchy batting cleanup and stepping up), the Braves look like a team with no offense. But that will not be the case when the Braves have a healthy Brian McCann (and Anderson) in the lineup.
Bottom line… If and when they can get the lineup healthy, offense will not be a weakness for the Braves. Not saying they’ll be an offensive juggernaut, but a HEALTHY Braves lineup should be more than adequate to support this pitching staff.
Can other teams in the East say the same about their pitching problems? Can they say “when we get one or two guys healthy, we’ll be fine”?
Getting Hamels healthy will certainly help Phili’s cause a great deal, but one starter isn’t enough to get it done. And the Mets have the same problem… an ace + garbage. The Marlins are unproven, weak at the back of the rotation and in the ‘pen, and have an injury prone ace.
The Braves are in a much better situation than those other times, in my opinion. And if they can get their real lineup on field, they could leapfrog FLA and PHI and start pulling away.
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 2nd, 2009
12:22 pm
Scoots-
Ok, first off, stop being an idiot…I wouldn’t be THAT angry for Kelly to get back in there, but he doesn’t deserve it…Omar is playing very well at 2b and even better in the leadoff slot…
If Kelly wants to get back in, it should be in LF where he really belongs…
Oh, and I can add this…Kelly didn’t kiss either of my sisters…unfortunately one is married to a Cub fan and the other to a Cardinal fan….the tortures of living in IL.
Really though, after today how right could you possibly be? Kelly could come in and get 2 hits and STILL not outperform Omar…I was all for sitting Yunel yesterday and playing Omar at SS, BUT Yunel hit the ball solid his last two times up for big hits, so there went that idea…
So I ask again, what has Kelly done to deserve another opportunity while Omar is so hot?
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:25 pm
Last but not least we have 69 and 44, the number of at bats Kelly Johnson and Omar Infante have this season respectively.
I’m confused…are you trying to make my point for me? Because your post seemed to have the opposite tone to it…
HDTV is the stuff, man.
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:28 pm
P-Town, Kelly “deserves” another opportunity because he is a better baseball player than Omar Infante. If you put both of them in there, for every single game, for the rest of the season, Kelly will produce better numbers. I’m not sure why this is even debatable, except that fans just get carried away when they see a week’s worth of good or bad AB from a player…
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 2nd, 2009
12:36 pm
Steve-
I’m sure you believe that, but I’ve seen enough of the up down up down up down of Kelly to figure out that he’s not someone I want on this baseball team…We have enough streaky players, no reason to put another one back in….
Consistency should mean something…
And btw, what is the deal w/ you and Steve OH…you guys are freakin me out!
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
12:37 pm
Steve
kelly may put up better numbers, but in the sense of a lead off hitter right now Omar is better. Kelly slumps because he’s not that type of hitter. Kelly does deserve another chance, but why bring him back in against a right hander and Oswalt to boot? He may get some hits he may not but wouldn’t it have helped him better if he came back tomorrow against the lefty?
McFann O
May 2nd, 2009
12:41 pm
CB–
Morning!
Actually, I do wear reading glasses.
But I could go back to my old pair, which look a lot like the ones BMac wore last night…but the ones I wear now are still the same shape as his, just have thicker frames.
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:41 pm
Consistency don’t mean squat when you have a .698 career OPS. Please, people, realize sample size here. Just think about it for two friggin’ seconds…
Coach (2010 or bust)
May 2nd, 2009
12:42 pm
Um, for the record. KJ has never faced Roy Oswalt. For that matter, neither has Omar Infante.
Oswalt’s career line against our Braves 0-2 with an ERA of 6.41
McFann Ô Ô
May 2nd, 2009
12:43 pm
Oh, by the way–Mommy, my sister, and I went shopping for a little while this morning, and while we were gone, Daddy and my brother found a turtle! It was gone by the time we got home, though.
But this one was a girl…prob’ly looking for Rally…
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:46 pm
Kelly has a career .794 OPS as a leadoff hitter. Omar Infante has a career .671(!) OPS as a leadoff hitter. I just can’t bloody believe how you guys can just ignore these kinds of facts when they’re staring you right in the face.
bravefaninok
May 2nd, 2009
12:47 pm
is the blog frozen??last post i see is 12:08pm
Saff
May 2nd, 2009
12:48 pm
If Kelly Johnson was way better than Infante than why does Infante have better numbers, why does he play way better defense, and why is he consistent hmmm. Kelly is better than Infante in one aspect and that is power. I would much rather have Infante as the starter here on out Kelly has had his chances and the last thing we need is another streaky hitter back in there more times than not on the cold streak and also we need prado in there a little more and put Infante in left when we do this. By the way who in there right mind would sit a hot hitter for a cold hitter, makes no sense.
mbatl
May 2nd, 2009
12:50 pm
KC, agree with you about the offense. It’s likely to be good enough as long as the pitching holds up.
In addition to getting MAC and Garret back … the time is coming when Schafer will move to leadoff. I think Bobby is playing it smart by holding off… give him 50 games or so. But in his last 10 games (after the K-fest), he’s hitting .346 with a .553 OBP. And at the same time, moving KJ down will strengthen the middle/end of the order.
Plus, possibly adding Hanson (if needed) and Hudson (maybe even in relief) later in the year… if the Braves can stay within striking distance for the next month, they’ll be in good shape to make a move on the division.
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
12:51 pm
Hey Saff, do us all a favor and actually confirm that Omar Infante has better numbers than Kelly Johnson outside of a selected 44 AB? I say this mostly because I know you won’t find it, and perhaps this will keeps you busy long enough for Kelly to start hitting again…
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
12:52 pm
Steve
Career numbers don’t mean anything when right in front of your face you see Omar hitting and Kelly not hitting. I have said numerous times there’s no way Bobby will bench Kelly in favor of Omar unless Kelly is in a slump. There’s no way I can see Bobby naming Omar a starter over Kelly. Also not to bum on Kelly but he has better power ( homers) so his OPS would be higher in the lead off spot. I’m also sure that Omar hasn’t hit that much lead off, he may have but not as much as Kelly. Kelly desreves another chance, you may have failed to see that last time too. I just questioned why against a right handed pitcher when that’s the type of pitching he’s struggling against. WHy didn’t we see him last night? Why not tomorrow. Now I do think Bobby would’ve played him regardless with the late game and the early start today, but still he struggles against RHP’ing.
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 2nd, 2009
12:57 pm
Wow, back to the sample size again huh Steve…
Let it go buddy! Omar has now started the last 3 games of which he has been on base plenty, including EVERY time to start the game (something Kelly couldn’t do), he’s played solid D (again Kelly…)
Besides, I just have to point out that we can’t wait til September for Kelly to decide he wants to play this year…
Yeah he deserves a chance, but wait until Omar has cooled off to give him one…that would be the smart plan…
Oh, and maybe not bring a guy back who is struggling so bad against an ace like Oswalt, also a smart plan.
David O'Brien
May 2nd, 2009
12:57 pm
Guess who’s leading off?
SCHAFER.
KJ batting seventh. Ross is back, batting eighth.
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
12:59 pm
Ok Kelly is a starter and has more power but you guys wanna talk sample size..Kelly has over 100 more AB at lead off than Omar.
But the real numbers you want to look at are 1st batter of the game….not just hitting lead off.
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 2nd, 2009
1:00 pm
Steve-
I really would LOVE to physically drag my butt to the car and drive to OH just so I can smack you in the face w/ reality…
OMAR – HITTING
KELLY – NOT HITTING
Its that simple buddy…maybe you need a refresher course…
I’ll take consistency all day over what Kelly may or may not bring…
bravefaninok
May 2nd, 2009
1:00 pm
good news…hopefully jordan(logan) can handle this move.He seems to be making adjustments very well so far!
Daybed Wagmoe
May 2nd, 2009
1:00 pm
Schafer leading off? KJ batting 7th??
WOOHOO!! So I’m guessing the rest of the lineup is…
Schafer
Escobar
Chipper
Frenchy
Kotchman
Diaz (or B. Jones?)
KJ
Ross
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
1:00 pm
DOB
WOW, Bobby actually shaking things up this year early…I guess cause he can’t blame the pitching this season…lol
David O'Brien
May 2nd, 2009
1:00 pm
BravesfaninOK, blog’s not frozen, but your server might be. There were 10 comments posted between 12:08 and yours at 12:47.
J. Blauser
May 2nd, 2009
1:01 pm
Watching Braves & Jays in the ‘92 WS on MLBtv. Man, we were skinny back then.
Ugly too!
ABravesFan
May 2nd, 2009
1:01 pm
DOB does this mean no Infante in the lineup?
bravefaninok
May 2nd, 2009
1:01 pm
just my opinion here but KJ has got to be thrilled about this,he looks so uncomfortable leading off.
bravefaninok
May 2nd, 2009
1:03 pm
David O’Brien
May 2nd, 2009
1:00 pm
BravesfaninOK, blog’s not frozen, but your server might be. There were 10 comments posted between 12:08 and yours at 12:47.
* Link
* Report this comment
thanks cheif,after i posted that they all showed up….weird stuff.
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
1:03 pm
Since you seem be be a bit, erm, “thick” I would assume the words “regression to the mean” would mean little to you, no?
Just please, for the love of God, educate yourself:
http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/full/227/2/309
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 2nd, 2009
1:03 pm
And Steve, just for a little nugget of info here…IF anyone cared that much about past performances, wouldn’t Francoeur already have a new contract? I mean no sense in discussing his awful 08…look at how good his 06-07 were…oooh oooh oooh sample size oooh oooh oooh….
Not many could care about what Kelly did last year in Sept. or over the whole season if he drops the ball this year, and so far, well, he’s certainly not carrying it…
David O'Brien
May 2nd, 2009
1:03 pm
1. Schafer, CF
2. Escobar, SS
3. Chipper, 3B
4. Kotchman, 1B
5. Francoeur, RF
6. KJ, 2B
7. Ross, C
8. B. Jones, LF
9. Jurrjens
bravefaninok
May 2nd, 2009
1:03 pm
chief 2…lol
Braveheart
May 2nd, 2009
1:04 pm
Nothing more lame than threatening violence on a blog. I don’t mind name calling or personal attacks at all. But threats of violence? Well, they’re lame. I don’t find them offensive or anything. Just lame.
ABravesFan
May 2nd, 2009
1:04 pm
I would like to see Infante in left defense be damned. Diaz isnt exactly a gold glove left fielder.
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
1:05 pm
P-Town, the sheer amount of logic that you are missing is just incredible…I mean, am I wrong guys? Am I just hallucinating? Are they really using this argument and sticking by it? Tell me I’m not dreaming or something….
mbatl
May 2nd, 2009
1:05 pm
Wow. Give him 50 games, or maybe 22!
Schafer at 1 and KJ at 7 makes the lineup – on paper at least – so much more imposing!
TJ
May 2nd, 2009
1:05 pm
BravesfaninOK- I had my computer do that several times last night. Like it was spinning it’s wheels before moving…
Cabravesfan
May 2nd, 2009
1:05 pm
Schafer leading off,huh? I like it (should be good for KJ too)
Well, here’s your chance kid- do your thing
Epinephrine
May 2nd, 2009
1:06 pm
Apart from Kotchman, this is how the lineup ought to look. Substitute Kotch and Ross, put Mac at 4, boom, we got a lineup.
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
1:07 pm
Umm…Jeffy’s ‘06 and ‘07 seasons weren’t really all that good, dude.
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
1:07 pm
Stats are Kelly (113 AB) vs. Omar (85 AB)…1st batter of the game
.212 vs .282 avg
.276 vs .299 obp
.372 vs .541 slg
.648 vs. .840 ops
Both only have 2 walks and both strikeout a lot
Kelly 42 TB…Omar 46 TB
K 4 HR O 5 HR
Both have 24 hits
Both have 1 triple and omar only has one more 2B
It’s easy to see why people say Omar isn’t better than Kelly but based on these stats, at least LEADING OFF Kelly’s not Better than Omar. They are one in the same. But when one slumps and the other one hits, the fans want that one in the game.
Regardless Schafer is hitting lead off today…WHOOP WHOOP.
Lew
May 2nd, 2009
1:09 pm
In the past eleven games, Braves’ starters have given up 3 runs or less in 8 of them-two runs or less in 7. Braves’ relievers have pitched 26 innings in those eleven games and only given up 3 runs-two in winning causes. I like the way the pitching staff is headed and with Hanson and Medlen on the horizon, it only gets better. Now if we could only score runs like last night on a regular basis…………….
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
1:11 pm
Off topic…does anyone else think Lance Berkman looks like Phil Mickelson?
P-Town Brave(Schafer for leadoff)
May 2nd, 2009
1:14 pm
Great news from DOB, and yes Steve, I am completely fine w/ KJ hitting 7th as long as he stays in the 5-6-7 range in the order
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
1:15 pm
Steve
Now Kelly Johnson’s numbers in the 7th hole are a different story my friend
P-Town Brave(Schafer FINALLY takes his spot)
May 2nd, 2009
1:15 pm
<—–
And here’s to enjoying speed at the top today
bravefaninok
May 2nd, 2009
1:16 pm
TJ
May 2nd, 2009
1:05 pm
BravesfaninOK- I had my computer do that several times last night. Like it was spinning it’s wheels before moving…
thanks ,i have had that for a few minutes several time,but this was 40+ minutes,it seems to be ok now……
PWHjort
May 2nd, 2009
1:16 pm
I’d prefer to hit someone other than Yunel “Bounce into Double Play” Escobar second, but I’m psyched about Schafer leading off.
buzzmeat
May 2nd, 2009
1:16 pm
What is Shafers batting music? I was trying to figure it out the last 3 games… cant put a finger on it!!!
Coach (2010 or bust)
May 2nd, 2009
1:16 pm
Game number 23, line up number 16. Some things never change.
Braveheart
May 2nd, 2009
1:17 pm
I don’t mind Schafer at leadoff, as long he doesn’t think he is going to permanently be there or doesn’t think he needs to prove he permanently belongs there. This really is a team of interchangeable parts with no one yet a definable kind of guy at any one slot, except Chipper, who could bat third or fourth. Even as slow as he is, Kotchman could arguably bat leadoff kind of like Wade Boggs did back in the day with the Bosox by hitting .300 and getting on base. Not advisable really, but arguably justifiable. Just would like to see more flip flopping of where they bat so that they understand you don’t change a thing no matter where you hit. Some of them seem to take the lineup slot too seriously or too personally. Just get up there, be yourself, and hit, slug, get on base and run the bases as best you can no matter where you are in the lineup.
buzzmeat
May 2nd, 2009
1:18 pm
No Infante = boooooooooo
TBrown
May 2nd, 2009
1:21 pm
buzzmeat-
Schafer’s walkup song is turn my swag on by soulja boy
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
1:22 pm
I’d put Casey 2nd ( move everyone else up) and then Escobar either before or after Kelly.
I don’t care right now if Jeff isn’t really a 4 hole hitter…he showed different last night, but i’d rather have him hitting 4th than escobar hitting 2nd
Frankie Knuckles
May 2nd, 2009
1:23 pm
Not a bad lineup. Still wish we had a masher in the 4 hole. Oh well.
Rick
May 2nd, 2009
1:27 pm
Supe is right – Hampton was booed for turning down a contract from the Braves after not earning his pay for 3 years. It is not his fault he was injured but the fact remains that he got millions of dollars for not pitching and he owed the Braves something
DOB said that he took less money to go to Houston but that is misleading . He is counting the incentives in the Braves contract but only $1 million was guaranteed – Houston guaranteed $2 million with little or no incentives . Hampton probably figured that as much as he gets hurt, he wasn’t going to make those incentives anyway and he better take the Houston deal with twice the guaranteed money .
Braveheart
May 2nd, 2009
1:27 pm
Umm…Jeffy’s ‘06 and ‘07 seasons weren’t really all that good, dude. (STEVE FROM OH)
Steve, yeah, but if you hold onto that, then you’d have to concede that KJ’s ‘07 & ‘08 seasons weren’t really all that good as well. According to fangraphs, combined in the two seasons you referenced, Francoeur was worth 47 runs above replacement. KJ was worth 53 runs above replacement in ‘07 & ‘08 combined. Can’t have it both ways there. Not much difference between being worth 23.5 RAR on average versus being 26.5 RAR on average over a two year span.
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
1:29 pm
3 Questions for Anyone More Intelligent Than Bobby Cox:
1) Why is Kotchman hitting cleanup when he has proven he cannot drive in runs?
2) Why is Infante not playing somewhere LF, SS, etc?
3) Why Schafer in leadoff now? We found a leadoff hitter that has been winning us games?
KC
May 2nd, 2009
1:34 pm
And MBATL is officially a prophet. Not that most of us didn’t also see that coming, but MBATL called moments before DOB announced today’s linuep. Way to go MBATL!!!
CB
May 2nd, 2009
1:36 pm
We have been begging for Schafer at leadoff,heres hoping all of us brains are right.
mbatl
May 2nd, 2009
1:38 pm
KC, ha! Actually like a lot of folks I knew it was coming but thought it would be another month… but glad to see it today!
Hey, looking at the stats for the NL East, and here’s a fun fact for the feeble-minded:
The Phillies have hit 30 HR and given up 41: a net of -11 HR;
The Mets have hit 14 HR and given up 20; a net of -6 HR;
The Marlins have hit 17 HR and given up 17: a net of 0 HR;
The Braves have hit 19 HR and given up 10: a net of +9 HR;
Not that it means a whole lot, but does sort of point to how good pitching can offset mediocre offense. And though it’s a small sample, the Braves pitching had the same low-HR tendencies in spring training, so maybe there’s something to it.
Run Heap Run
May 2nd, 2009
1:39 pm
Krotchy back at cleanup? Boo. Is it too scary for Bobby to leave Frenchy at cleanup AND put Schafer at the top all in the same day? C’mon Bobby, live dangerously for a change.
Frankie Knuckles
May 2nd, 2009
1:40 pm
Oswalt K’s Schafer to start the game. Just the way its gonna be.
AndyC
May 2nd, 2009
1:50 pm
Frenchy killed hitting cleanup last night. Why not leave him there? At least Schafer is hitting leadoff.
Wayne in Utah
May 2nd, 2009
1:51 pm
From the talk here, I am assuming the lineups have been posting, and Schafer is leading off?
If this is true, then why is our resident idiot, MFin04 complaining? Just as I have guessed, you could give the dude a million dollars, and he would be ticked that you would require him to pay the taxes on it.
Run Heap Run
May 2nd, 2009
1:54 pm
Go back one page for the lineup, Wayne.
MFin04
May 2nd, 2009
1:56 pm
Wayne stop being a jerk. I haven’t complained. I simply question a few moves in the lineup that make no sense. Schafer in leadoff is fine with me…I like that move….but no Infante after he is hitting like what …. .600 in the series? And no Frenchy in cleanup after what he did last night? Makes no sense at all. Kotchman cannot drive in runs….or atleast he hasnt. So why put Casey K there?
My question about Schafer is this…why put him in leadoff when we have found a consistent leadoff hitter that has sparked us to games lately? I don’t dislike the move…just doesnt make sense when we have someone filling that spot well for the first time all year.
bravefaninok
May 2nd, 2009
1:58 pm
Frenchy did great last night,but with oswalt pitching (he is nastyyyyyyyy),might be best for jeff to bat in his regular spot.
NYCBrave
May 2nd, 2009
1:58 pm
Great opportunity for Schafer. If KJ starts to rake and Schafer struggles in the leadoff spot, do you guys it was worth it to do it just to get KJ going? Irrespective of how Schafer ends up doing.
Macon Braves (RIP)
May 2nd, 2009
1:59 pm
Reggie Taco—Be honest, your actually Richie Sexson right?? By the way, Richie, YOU SUCK, that’s why nobody will offer you a contract and why you’ve hit .211 over the last two years!!! Go Krotchman!!!!
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
2:01 pm
BH–does that take into account position as well?
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
2:04 pm
And they’ve got Jeff at -13 runs/average in ‘06, and Kelly at +16 in 07 (since he didn’t play in ‘06). I dunno how the fielding can translate that into Jeff is a better player…
Oh, and I found positional. Kelly was +2.3, Jeff -7.5.
DirtyYuni
May 2nd, 2009
2:05 pm
MFin- The longer you sit Kelly, you could argue the harder it will be for him to come back and be effective. And obviously the Braves aren’t ready/going to give up on him and have him reduced to a backup/platoon role. Infante has also gone from being a pinch hitter/defensive replacement to playing a few days in a row.
Against Roy Oswalt, one of the best righties in the league, and with Schafer playing well enough and making enough adjustments to merit a shot at leading off, I don’t think it’s a bad call at all to put Kelly in there down in the order, where there’s less pressure, and get him hitting.
I agree that Omar has more than proved himself…but he’s also very valuable off the bench and will likely get more than his fair share of chances going forward.
If all is right, you’re better with Kelly hitting 7th with some power and Infante coming off the bench.
Steve from OH
May 2nd, 2009
2:06 pm
Those were batting runs, btw.
Turtsnap
May 2nd, 2009
2:06 pm
I am now connected to DOB’s blog through my Blackberry, this could be dangerous
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
2:16 pm
Because kelly hasn’t been hitting good hitting lead off and Bobby said he’s going to play today.
bravos2249
May 2nd, 2009
2:19 pm
So is it raining in the good ole ATL
mbatl
May 2nd, 2009
2:21 pm
Anibal Sanchez getting rocked in Wrigley. It’s early, but for now it looks like the 5 young guns on the Marlins staff have been downsized to 2 – Johnson and Volstad.
bravefaninok
May 2nd, 2009
2:22 pm
how is the weather today???
Andy
May 2nd, 2009
2:28 pm
amazing that we have given up 31 fewer homeruns than Philly but are a half game behind them. just think about that for a second. that’s almost 3 fewer HR allowed per game!
Tomas
May 2nd, 2009
2:30 pm
Love the lineup today. Only thing I don’t like is Kotchman as the cleanup hitter. After what Frenchy did yesterday, he has to be the guy until Anderson and Mac get back.
Wayne in Utah
May 2nd, 2009
2:30 pm
Sorry about being a jerk, but when I come across someone like yourself that can never be satisfied, you just frustrate the heck out of me.
You know very little about people, and enough about baseball to make you think you are a fan, but you really don’t know as much as you think.
Bobby Cox has earned the right to put whoever the heck he wants to in the lineup, in whatever slot he wants to. So far, he has not called me to ask who I think should be cleanup. I wouldn’t put Kotchman there either, but do you hear me whining about it ALL the frickin time???
I just get so tired of guys like you and a few others that always have to find something to be critical of. Just enjoy the game, instead of critiqing each game/inning/AB/pitch can you??
When you quit worrying about what Bobby is doing, you will enjoy the game more.
Besides, 3 game does not a regular player make (Infante). If he was so much better of a player than KJ, don’t you think the Braves braintrust would have long ago put him into the starting lineup, and relegated KJ to the bench, or better yet, traded him???
These guys (manager, coaches, scouts, etc) watch a heckuva lot more baseball than you are I do. Have a little trust in their judgement. Guys can have a good weekend, or even a good month, but that doesn’t always make them the better choice to play. Also, a guy can have a bad month, and do you still pull him???
Heck if that were true, the Matt Holliday wouldn’t have been playing at all this past few games, versus getting a couple of dingers.
The basis of your problem lies in the idea that you must be instantly gratified on an ongoing basis. That is not realistic. (that happens to be one of the major problems in our culture these days too)
I don’t even know why I am saying this, because it will be like water off a duck’s back….
The most fun day to be on the blog is an off day, because you whiners seem to stay away more on those days.
Mixxo
May 2nd, 2009
2:31 pm
Hope we don’t miss Omar today.
Braveheart
May 2nd, 2009
2:31 pm
Yeah, Steve, it penalizes Jeff from a positional standpoint for being a rightfielder, but credits Jeff with being +25.4 RAA defensively according to UZR, while KJ was -17.6 Runs below average defensively.
Basically, KJ got 20 positional runs more than Frenchy for playing second rather than right, about 34 or 35 more batting runs than Frenchy, but Frenchy got 5 more replacement runs for playing more, and 43 more runs for being the far superior defender. Hence, the 7 run difference.
Andy
May 2nd, 2009
2:33 pm
also, i know i’m going to get blasted for this, but i don’t really get all the hatred for hampton. the guy wanted to be on the mound, fought for it, and i’m sure was way more disappointed than the blogosphere braves fan when he couldn’t make it.
i honestly felt bad for the guy. i mean, i thought maybe if he did a little yoga and learned to relax, all those freakish injuries wouldn’t happen, but still…. i felt sorry for him. it was obviously killing him to not be able to pitch.
and for those who claim they are upset bc he left – c’mon. it was best for everybody. the fans here hated him, he needed a change of scenery, and why on earth did we want him back in the first place? i’m glad he left. but i don’t hate the guy and i wouldn’t have booed him.
Mixxo
May 2nd, 2009
2:34 pm
Cubs 6-1 over the fish…..bottom 5th.
Wayne in Utah
May 2nd, 2009
2:35 pm
Andy
I feel the same way about Hampton. Actually, I have followed him as I was a resident of a Houston suburb when he came up. We are definitely in the minority here, as many think he tanked on purpose over the years, which is a totally false ascertion.
Chop Chop
May 2nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Wayne,
Infante was in there to send a message:
We will not allow Kelly’s position to continue to be an offensive black hole.
That’s the kind of message I like to see managers send to the team. It’s a positive message. That doesn’t mean that Bobby hates Kelly. It means that Bobby doesn’t think Kelly’s just going to get right by being in the lineup every day. I’ll give props to Bobby for making that move. That’s the kind of managing I like to see. You know, the kind that says, “I am taking measures to try to improve the lineup.”
I personally don’t care whether Kelly, Infante or Prado is playing second base. The only interest I have is this: winning. Whoever gives the team the best chance of winning on a given day should be playing.
Wayne in Utah
May 2nd, 2009
2:40 pm
I am sorry that Hampton chose not to come back to ATL. If he were here, we would have probably not gone after KK, and might have had a different strategy, that might have brought us some heavy lumber over??? You just never know.
As for Tommy Glavine, the Braves fan in me wants him to go out on a positive note, but I have a hard time envisioning that happening. I also think he might impede the promotion of Hanson if he comes back and pitches. Who would you rather have in the rotation? An iffy Glavine, or an inexperienced Hanson? I know what my choice would be.
I missed almost the entire game last night, family obligations. On Frenchy’s HR, what was the count, and where did he hit it? Pulled to left, straight out to LF or left-center, or did he push it to right?
Just curious.
Andy
May 2nd, 2009
2:42 pm
wayne in utah – man, sorry but get down off of your high horse. thinking about, questioning and second-guessing management’s decisions is the life-blood of baseball. it keeps fans engaged, allows us to put ourselves in somebody’s shoes. i sure can’t hit a 95 MPH fastball, but what decisions would i make if i were i charge of all those wonderful freaks of nature?
i love bobby, and i’m glad to have him. i cheer louder for him than anybody when the introductions are made. i might even get a little misty when he shuffles off the stage – but i don’t think the man’s infallible.