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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,977 comments Add your comment
David O'Brien
May 9th, 2009
7:21 am
Oh, and the person impersonating BRAVEHEART and a few others, you need to get a new, original screen name today (come on, think hard, you can come up with something). We don’t go for that weak stuff, posting as someone else, and you’ll find that your posting access on this blog could suddenly become limited if you continue using others’ established screen names. Just letting you know.
Oh, and all the comments you made as him last night should be erased now, if I’m not mistaken.
Canadaian braves fan
May 9th, 2009
7:39 am
Morning Dave, what are the chances of Bennet and Reyes being sent down and Hanson and Medlen coming up. Bennet has allowed way to many base runners, over 30 now in his short season
OldBravesBag
May 9th, 2009
7:40 am
Dave, Can you address the Kelly situation at all, or is this considered no bid deal? I can’t help but think if this were any other starter, we’d be hearing a lot more about it. Thanks.
MilwaukeeBravesFan
May 9th, 2009
7:59 am
DOB – this is an off-topic question, but…Do you know where the Braves stay (hotel) in Milwaukee?
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
8:22 am
DOB-
So by established, you mean those of us w/ a great deal of posts right
BTW, you think you could do some of us a favor and slip Bobby the blue pill, so he can come back to reality…
The reality that if JoJo pitches Wednesday, we can easily mark an “L” down in the record book.
Oh, also, I will be making the short trip to St. Louis for the Braves series in September. I would like to know where you guys are staying as I would just like to introduce myself and shake your hand. (That is if you ever have any free time)
Turtsnap
May 9th, 2009
8:25 am
I sure am glad Bobby is giving JoJo one more start, because he HAS earned it. GIVE ME A BREAK. Bobby takes this a bit too far sometimes. I wonder on any other “contending” team if JoJo would get another start?
jason
May 9th, 2009
8:32 am
Just my opinion, you can bash me if you like. I think ATL gives up on their young pitching to soon. I think they also rush their young pitching up to soon. I hope Hansen and Medlin stay at Gwinnet as long as they can. After winning as long as the Braves have; it has become expected. These young pitchers have to learn to win at the big league level. They can’t just come in and dominate. I think alot of JoJo’s problem is… He’s trying to pitch to perfect. Instead of being relaxed, he’s appears to be to tightly wound. Look the offense is scoring what? ZERO runs for him. Two starts he pitched his arse off, and got a no decision for it. Another thing, I would have taken him out last night in the fourth inning. You have a tightly wound pitcher trying to pitch to fine, for perfection who is getting absolutely no run support. A young pitcher At that. And now you have worry about his confidence being destroyed. I am not Bi52&ING at anyone.I’m just frustrated at what i am watching night after night for the past 3 years.
Jeff R
May 9th, 2009
8:35 am
Reyes has been given a golden opportunity and has blown it, unfortunately. The guy has the talent; he just can’t put it together. He shows glimmers, but that’s about it. If he does have a major league career ahead of him, it’s not going to be in a Braves’ uniform.
Kawakami and Reyes are dragging this team down – in addition to slumping batters, though the last two games give some hope that the bats might be coming around.
jason
May 9th, 2009
8:38 am
Question, who was the last pitcher that ATL has developed in the minors to have had success?
Jeff R
May 9th, 2009
8:40 am
Jason, good points (”I think ATL gives up on their young pitching to soon. I think they also rush their young pitching up to soon.”)
Would tend to agree with you, especially about rushing pitchers up. In Reyes’ case, either they should let him pitch a full season at Gwinnett, or send him elsewhere. He’s not cutting it in Atlanta.
Some pitchers mature later; that may be the case with Reyes. If (or when) management sends Reyes down or ships him out of the system, they should pitch Parr or Carlye (sp). Let the Mortons and Hansons and other on the farm continue to develop.
jason
May 9th, 2009
8:48 am
That’s my frustration right there. Did you notice his body language last night. Especially that las two homers he gave up. He looked defeated. I felt bad for him. He has the talent. He will be like Davies, and be traded. Hopefully to a more stable team where his career can flourish.
Braveheart
May 9th, 2009
8:51 am
Thanks DOB.
Looks like Bobby’s faith in Kotchman is starting to pay off. He reminds of Don Mattingly a bit with the glove and the bat. Doesn’t have the power that Donnie Baseball had in his ‘85 to ‘87 prime, but otherwise has the .300 bat, doubles, and glove.
jason
May 9th, 2009
8:52 am
I hope they learned from Morton last year. I know that they didn’y have much choice with all the injuries. Morton looked over matched. He is now having a solid year so far at Gwinnet. Let him stay the whole year and bulid the solid make up and confidence. I wouldn’t think of bringing Hansen up until late season callups. And that would be only to pitch out of the BP.
McFann :Ô:
May 9th, 2009
8:59 am
Bruce–
All right! Sweet! Man, if we ever get some seats in that area (at Turner Field), I’ll hafta put my jersey on backwards! (Hey, you should keep that practice ball–start a collection!)
Hey, they showed you on TV after Mac hit his doub–uh, single! Ya know how they go threw the crowd to find fanns of whoever just did something good. Don’t know if that particular clip is on the website, but it might be…
That’s great that your wife is going with you! Prob’ly isn’t as much fun going by yourself.
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
9:01 am
Jason-
That would most likely be Adam Wainwright…Braves developed him, then traded him for J.D. Drew.
Unfortunately some guys have the mental makeup to make the jump and stick in the bigs…I don’t see Reyes or Morton having that…
They’ve both had their chances…someone else deserves that same chance to make an impact.
JerseyGil
May 9th, 2009
9:03 am
DOB…I think what Bobby going to do with JoJo is as soon Glavine is ready he put jojo in the Pen, i agree not to rush ours prospect so soon. i have a good time in the Park last night, my wife was happy, that inportant to me.
But today is pay back time…Go Bravos.
TBraveFan
May 9th, 2009
9:05 am
Jo-Jo pitched better than most pitchers I saw in ST (over 3 weeks of games every day)…I wouldn’t give up on him just yet, he’s not pitched poorly except for maybe last night. I’m not ready to give up on him because run support has been as much an issue lately with the starters W-L records as anything. Keep in mind DLowe has pitched excellently as has JJ, but no run support to give them deserved wins….
The only issue I see right now is bringing Schafer up too soon (I think he’d have benefited greatly from starting the season in Gwinnett), and KK. KK has always pitched in a 6 man rotation if I’m not mistaken – that plus getting acclimated to MLB hitters…maybe he’ll come around…
Sending Jo-Jo down, bringing Hanson up would be a HUGE mistake. HUGE… I saw Charlie pitch very well last night, and Kris is kickin’ it too – but no way I’d send Jo-Jo down for one of them to replace him either. I wish the average ‘fan’ would stop screaming to get these young guys up – let them develop, mature, and be here for the future… not rush them and see them all go thru what Schafer is experiencing now.
Geez – we have all the right pieces, there is just a glue that is missing to bring it all together….but pitching isn’t the main issue — I think it’s the chemistry that’s missing…..and Chipper needs to realize that dogging teammates is not ‘leadership’ – keep in private and in the clubhouse – not in the press. I wish Mac would call a team meeting, stating “ok guys, we’re back (except Glav), we’re what was envisioned out of ST, now let’s go out and do it”… yes I think Mac would be a much better team ‘leader’ than anyone else simply because he just goes out and does his job quietly – and quite well….
McFann :Ô:
May 9th, 2009
9:05 am
DOB–
Thanks for the update on BMac. Hey, hope the glasses work with the traditional mask! That’d be nice…Dude, that fogging must be extremely annoying. I hate it when my glasses get dirty. Can only imagine how obnoxious it is when you’re trying to catch.
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:08 am
I am not trashing Hansen or medlin, but how do we know if they have the make up to withstand pitching at the MLB level?
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:09 am
We have drafted all of these young powerful arms to dreadfuly figure out that they are not mentally tough enough to pich in the Majors. Makes you think ATL should draft a collage pistcher or 2 every once in a while.
Braveheart
May 9th, 2009
9:11 am
Jason, your point is well taken, but how do they know when to bring ‘em up or leave ‘em down?
Greg Maddux, first 36 games, 32 starts of career: 8-18, 5.59 ERA, 186 innings, 225 hits, 121 Ks, 85 BBs, 20 HRs
JoJo Reyes, first 38 games, 35 starts of career: 5-15, 5.88 ERA, 186.7 innings, 210 hits, 125 Ks, 91 BBs, 31 HRs
How do you know? Should they have left Maddux down? Or did Maddux need to get his brains beaten in so his one of a kind mind could start figuring things out, rather than just bullying dudes in the minors? I’m not saying JoJo is Maddux whatsoever. No one is. Just saying that you usually learn more from your mistakes.
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
9:18 am
TBraveFan-
You bring up a good point, however, its all about wins and losses when it comes to MLB, and JoJo hasn’t won a game since last June.
Braveheart-
Its nice to make that comparison and all, but there are many guys who started 5-15 that could have been compared to Maddux, but never made it either…
IF we’re willing to give away the season go ahead on w/ JoJo, but in the same sense, why trade for Vazquez and sign Lowe…
My point is this. The 86 team Maddux was on w/ the Cubs was downright awful, and they could afford to let him take his lumps as they rebuilded onto making the playoffs in 89.
Basically, if we want JoJo to take him lumps and make this another rebuilding season then cool, but why waste money on Vazquez that certainly wasn’t necessary, and then on Lowe which at this point may not be necessary for half his contract?
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
9:19 am
Jason-
We did. We traded him to Oakland for Mark Kotsay. His name – Joey Devine…was successful w/ Oakland til he blew his elbow out earlier this season.
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:23 am
Braveheart, I agree. Especially with your last lines. You usually learn most from your failures. ATL won for 14 years. The price for winning and the expectation for so comes at the expense of your younger talent not being afforded the chance to make mistakes at the big leagye level and learn from them.
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:27 am
P- Town Brave, The problem is nothing lasts for ever. I said a couple of days ago that everything has to end. ATL has to begin anew. I reconize that ATL is going no where. Braves mgt doesn’t. They need to let these kids learn and quit spending money on veterans wuth no chance to win. Even if they make the playoffs this year again they would more than likely be out after the first round. They will never trully contend for a WC by staying in this cycle.
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:31 am
On the Devine topic. ATL rushed him to an extent, and probably garnered the responsibilty for his arm injury. Didn’t he get drafted straight out collage and pitch for ATL that same year?
Lew
May 9th, 2009
9:31 am
Comments on the Nightly Blog Bashing-
Now y’all know why I moved from Philadelphia at age 17 and never returned for more than a week in the intervening 41 years.
Does David Caruso have a congenital neck defect that makes holding his head a up straight an impossibility? I swear the Dude tries to rest his ear on his shoulder when he talks.
The aspect of the Braves’ play that drives me the most insane is the terrible defense. The hitting hasn’t been worth talking about and maybe JoJo would do better with a change of scenery or another trip to Gwinnett and at this point having a different hitting coach wouldn’t see me raise an objection, but damn- the defense has been brutal and there is absolutely no excuse for play that has turned that sloppy. That 4 unearned run inning looked like Little League games I attended when my son was playing years ago. THAT trend has got to end.
Jeff R
May 9th, 2009
9:34 am
Braveheart, good points about Maddux’s early performance. Thing is, Braves management has structured this team with the expectation that the they would be competitive this season. Doing so, allows little room for pitchers, especially, to make mistakes and develop at the major league level.
Wren is trying to have it both ways: win and rebuild. Tht’s hard to do. But, as I wrote, the expectation is that the Braves can win now, so it hurts a guy like Reyes.
Jeff R
May 9th, 2009
9:36 am
Joey Devine was entirely mishandled by Braves’ management.
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
9:37 am
Jason-
I hate to say it again and again because most don’t want realize it, but its not the spending the money on players they need to stop…They really need to let Bobby ride off into the sunset and rid themselves of a poor staff under him. I really do hope for everyone’s sake that this is Bobby’s last year, but I’m not holding my breath.
I mean we certainly could have lost 90 games or not made the playoffs while rebuilding for the last 3 years w/ a new manager…
Unfortunately, it still makes the process that much longer w/ Bobby around…
At some point the end has to be realized by both management and by Cox…I mean I woke up today and learned that legendary NBA coach Chuck Daly has passed…He was 72…Bobby is 67.
Frankie Knuckles
May 9th, 2009
9:37 am
Jason,
Look up Tommy Hansen at wikipedia.
That guy isn’t a pitcher he’s a catcher! Ohhhhhhh
siskel_god
May 9th, 2009
9:38 am
1 month into the season and I say the experts got it right with the Braves, probably 4th place in the east.
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:38 am
Jeff R, couldn’t agree more. To piggy back on Reyes and all the other young pitchers in the system including Hansen. All these young pitchers will never be given a fair shake as long as Braves mgt. continues to operate in this manner.
Jeff R
May 9th, 2009
9:38 am
Lew’s right: the sloppy play is unexcusable. It doesn’t take tons of talent to field and throw a baseball; it takes competence earned through practice and concentration.
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
9:41 am
Jeff-
I agree and not only can you double dip on whether you want established players or prospects playing, you also can’t expect Frank to be able to change the philosophy of this team when he didn’t select the guy who is running the ship (Cox).
Frank wants to change the Braves into a speed/defense/pitching team, while Bobby is still on station to station homerun ball…it would be like a team drafting a center when their coach desperately needed a point guard….it just doesn’t work….the sooner they recognize that, the less painful it will be.
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:41 am
P-Town Brave, that may be your best blog of the morning. I agree 100% That’s what making the past 3 years so Damn hard. Almost every Brave fan can see it. Some may even know how to fix it. But the ones that matter are apparently blind and deaf.( Braves mgt )
Jeff R
May 9th, 2009
9:44 am
Good points, P-Town Brave…
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
9:45 am
bob,
I cant understand how can you say braves should put the guy with the worse glove in the IF at 1B. What do you thing he will do when chipper or yunel throw a 1 hopper? or when a shot is hit to 1B and he needs to pick it on 1 hop. What about guarding the line late? Nah……. he cant field 2B………1B shouldnt even be discusses.
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:45 am
Frankie Knuckles, my bad Hanson
Lew
May 9th, 2009
9:47 am
Braveheart-I can’t seem to remember who it was, but I once heard a quote from a ML experienced person who claimed a young pitcher had no inkling of what they were doing until 50 starts into their ML career. It’s nothing but the commonly prevalent SitCom mentality (there is always a quick solution) we have in this country that demands success from the very beginning of a player’s career. No one wants to acknowledge that development takes time-and not just time in the minors.
We constantly hear about all these players the Braves have given up in recent years (most of whom were about to be ridden out on a rail by fans who thought they were worthless). DeRosa wasn’t successful for several years after leaving-neither was Wainright, Marquis, Dye or anyone else we gave up on. Even Kyle Davies is beginning to look like a decent ML pitcher.
We need to learn two things-1.patience 2. More patience and 3.Not having a winning team for several years is not an aberration for 99% of ML teams. After a run like the Braves had, this is a normal process of rebuilding. We had lousy draft position for a decade and a half because of where we finished and only three years of decent draft position (one of which hasn’t even taken place yet).
We have had Corporate ownership that while it didn’t knock our salary level down to Marlins’ levels, it didn’t increase it enough with the contracts we had to get those extra pieces like Mike Devereaux or Free Agent acquisitions that may well have aided us. You are seeing the result. it’s time to just be a Braves’ fan because they’re your team and you’re a fan. It can be done. Look at Cubs and Phillies fans. Look at Anders.
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
9:50 am
Jason, Jeff-
At this point, I would like to see Bobby gone, but I know that won’t happen…
Therefore the next best thing would be to fire Pendleton, Snitker, and Cadahia and tell Bobby that we need to get better coaches in there and start winning or he’ll be the next one out the door.
But like you said Jason, most of us have seen the writing on the wall for a few years now…I mean can Bobby even really relate to Jeff, BMac, or Jordan?! I would guess not.
Lew-
How are those eyes doing this morning?
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
9:52 am
Jeff R and Lew are right.
Thats why phillies are in 1st place (as I mentioned late last night). Phillies are leading the league in FP………no wonder why are they in 1st even when they have the worst SP ERA in the division. On the other hand braves are fielding the ball like a bunch of scared girls. Really, I have never seen braves defense look so bad, that Im sure of. Chipper has always been solid. We had blauser, walt wise, rafael belliard, lemke, tex, laroche, gallarraga…….solid glove…………for some reason this year they look awful with the glove………so bad that I cant even tell the difference between KJ and the rest of the IF, he gets lost in the mix since they look as bad as him, and I would say sometimes some of them have looked even worse than him with the glove………….
Braveheart
May 9th, 2009
9:52 am
IF we’re willing to give away the season go ahead on w/ JoJo, but in the same sense, why trade for Vazquez and sign Lowe… My point is this. The 86 team Maddux was on w/ the Cubs was downright awful, and they could afford to let him take his lumps as they rebuilded onto making the playoffs in 89. Basically, if we want JoJo to take him lumps and make this another rebuilding season then cool, but why waste money on Vazquez that certainly wasn’t necessary, and then on Lowe which at this point may not be necessary for half his contract? (PTOWN)
Well, I don’t think it’s a matter of just rebuilding and throwing away the season. JoJo is just a fifth starter. Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but on pretty much every team, the fifth starter is a slot for replacement level pitchers: young kids just called up or reclamation project, washed up old men.
I wouldn’t say they wasted money on Vazquez. $11 million is what league average pitchers make these days. It was a good investment, both on the field and also in trade value for later on in case lightning doesn’t strike and this team ain’t very good. Remember the Braves got Smoltz 22 years ago because Kasten and Cox made the decision to sign Doyle Alexander the previous offseason with the sole intent of trading him at the next deadline for a young pitcher like a Smoltz.
Also, you sign Lowe and trade for Vazquez because you hope lightning strikes and the young kids all come together and you’d be prime to win. But if it doesn’t work out, and the team doesn’t win alot, at least you’re not at risk of being like the 1988 team and winning only 54 games, which is very demoralizing for a young team. Creates a culture of losing that stigmatizes young players. Also, these kids need to see someone like Lowe never resting in the clubhouse, running the stadium steps before every game and so on.
Also, as to your concerns about Lowe, what makes you believe he’ll be here all four years? Obviously, they’d like him to be, but just as likely, they could use him the way they used Denny Neagle, who didn’t last here for the duration of the contract they signed him to. They used Neagle to buy time for Millwood to make the transition from fifth starter to fourth starter, and as trade bait to get them a quality positional player like Bret Boone and a quality reliever like Mike Remlinger. Maybe in year two or year three of his contract, they trade Lowe like they did Neagle and that’s how they get themselves Chipper’s replacement at third.
It’s not black and white, go with the kids or go for it all.
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
9:52 am
Lew-
You do make good points, but re-read my 9:37 and 9:41…
The Braves can not truly go into a rebuild mode until we completely scrap the coaching staff as well.
jason
May 9th, 2009
9:54 am
Lew, if only Braves mgt would take that outlook. Take lumps now for a brighter future. Look. ATL has JJ, JoJo, Hansen, Morton, and Medlin. Hudson is still young enough to give a veteran pressance. On offense. You have Heyward, Freeman and Hernandez coming to join Schaefer, Frenchy, McCann, and Yuney. With some smart FA aquisitions, who knows in hopefully 2-4 years what they can accomplish.
Braveheart
May 9th, 2009
9:54 am
Does David Caruso have a congenital neck defect that makes holding his head a up straight an impossibility? I swear the Dude tries to rest his ear on his shoulder when he talks. (LEW)
George Clooney does that very same thing as well, especially if you watch any of the old ER episodes he was on. He doesn’t do it as much anymore though.
P-Town Brave
May 9th, 2009
9:55 am
Doc-
Do you notice that we’re usually always out of position though, giving up dinkers or getting balls hit past 1b/3b down the lines (Chino’s job)?
BH-
Outstanding points, and yes, like your last statement says and Jason, Jeff and I have been discussing, you can’t double-dip, you just absolutely can not have it both ways and expect to move forward and progress…
At this point, we’re just treading water!
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
9:58 am
P-Town Brave,
To tell you the truth I have not noticed precisely that, but I cant understand what you are saying. They just look out of position, like caught off guard. The team is not playing like one. Its not solid. Its like if it was the 1st day in spring and they have never played together……..like an allstar game……….but with no stars.
David O'Brien
May 9th, 2009
9:58 am
OldBravesBag: Not sure you mean by “addressing” the Kelly Johnson situation. He’s struggling, has been for several weeks. At the same time, Infante has been quite hot when given the opportunity to play second base and lead off. Therefore, he’s worked his way into the lineup. With the offense strugglling so mightily, Cox is using the leadoff hitter/2B he thinks or hopes will spark the lineup, rather than continuing to use the one who has struggled for several weeks.
Lew
May 9th, 2009
9:59 am
PTown-They’re doing good enough that I saw that debacle last night in way more detail than I would have liked.
I think Bobby’s going to retire in the next year or so. I’m not all that certain it will be good for the Braves that he does, but…..I still think it will happen sooner rather than later. I like TP-great Guy-but he has been totally ineffective as a hitting coach and was, honestly a surprising pick in my estimation, because (MVP year aside) I never really thought him that great a hitter when he played. I find it quite telling that when players need help, Chipper, Chipper’s Dad, the Dude in Texas and Daddy McCann seem to have better luck and are the ones that seem to be sought out.
I also think we lost a lot when Leo and Corralles left. Pat was the best bench coach I’ve ever seen and I’m proud to have met him several times (we have friends in common). The outfield play has not been the same without him positioning the defense. Chino is also a good guy-Snitker, too-but have seemed somewhat uninspiring to me since they’ve been around. I truly question some of the runners I’ve seen Brian send the past couple years.
David O'Brien
May 9th, 2009
10:00 am
MilwaukeeBravesFan: In your city, they stay at the Pfister downtown.
J.L
May 9th, 2009
10:02 am
The opinion that the Braves give up on their young pitching too soon does not apply to JoJo. He has been given over a year. If you say that wins/losses do not give a true indication of how he has pitched which is 0-9 in his last 17 starts. Then how about 6.61 ERA in that span? I would say that is a pretty good indication. It is now getting to the Corky Miller level of bad judgement. If you are not going to bring up one of the 3-4 pitchers in Gwinnett that are dominating, then try Parr. He pitched good at the end of last season.
Lew
May 9th, 2009
10:03 am
Braveheart-I’ll take your word for it. I’m not going back and watching ER re-runs.
jason
May 9th, 2009
10:04 am
You keep a veteran like Lowe around to help transistion young pitchers like JoJo and Hanson to the big leagues. Just like Chipper with McCann and Frenchy. Even get a little productivity along the way.
Braveheart, I hear what you are saying. To go completely rebuild mode would severly hamper the confidence of such a young team. That’s why you need a veteran here and there. That’s why I am upset with how this turned out. Chipper provides the steady influence to the position players while Smoltzie does the same for the pitchers. Showing the kids what the committment, hard work, sacrifice, and attention to detail will get them in the future. We had that chance the past 3 years and failed to catitolize on it. Especially the young pitchers.
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
10:05 am
I kind of feel a little more positive now that Mc is back………he was good at the plate last night……..What I dont like is having GA hitting in the middle of the lineup.
I think bobby should stick to the plan………Mc cleanup and some consistent bat protecting him, not necessarily a power bat (we dont have it anyway, hahaha). I think the best option right now are Kotchman and JF. By doing this, if there are runners on base when Mc gets to bat, and they dont give him anything to hit or walk him intentionally, you dont have much room to put our 5th hitter…….Kotchman with his .300+ BA can then do some damage. OR JF who is making lots of contact this year.
Anders
May 9th, 2009
10:05 am
For what it’s worth I vote that Bobby gives Reyes at LEAST one more start. he-he.
Rock On....(the denizen formerly known as Dadgum)
May 9th, 2009
10:06 am
Look I think everone on this blog, including our esteemed blogmeister, realizes that the Braves need a change of scenery in the dugout. We are on a 4-year roll of being a team that is treading water just to be a longshot as a wild card team. The makeup of the team is downright boring and the play uninspired.
We have three 2nd basemen we are trying to play at the same time and the one getting the incumbent seat is the worst of the three. Wren is still trying to hang on to hope that a 43 year old retread pitcher will rebound to his 25 year old HOF self. We have a rookie in CF that is striking out at about a 50% pace but Cox is staying with him as opposed to bringing up Blanco or other options. Guess he is trying for that MLB strikeout record.
Solutions you ask….sure, put Prado at 2nd-bench KJ or trade him-send Shaefer to AAA and insert Blanco-and for goodness sakes make sure McCann can see. Would calling up Hanson at this point be too much to ask? OK, great.
Lew
May 9th, 2009
10:07 am
JL-In case you didn’t notice, Parr has been in the bigs for a couple weeks, now and pitched in relief last night. He has been hit around a bit.
Anders
May 9th, 2009
10:10 am
Lew- I’ll back Braveheart on the Clooney thing. I used to make fun of his constant use of the head bobble to one side and puppy dog eyes that made him a heart throb. Give him credit, he parlayed into a pretty nice life for himself.
I still do my Caruso wipping off the sunglasses imitation when he plays the tough guy in the end. Has there ever been a guy who would get more laughed at in real life if he tried that crap? Ok, ok – don’t asnwer that one.
Rock On....(the denizen formerly known as Dadgum)
May 9th, 2009
10:10 am
DOB…couldn’t agree with you more about KJ situation. Now with Infante and Prado both better players than KJ and even with KJ in top form he is streaky why do you not trade him. Perhaps as the deadline nears they will. Assuming they are still in the race.
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
10:11 am
Rock On,
I agree, but remember…….KJ is a babybrave………no way they trade him, he will be babysit til he becomes a superstar (even if he never does). Uninspired…….thats a great way to describe this whole thing-
Joe Fan
May 9th, 2009
10:11 am
There is certainly no reason to rush Hanson, Morton, Medlin or Redmond up until the Braves make changges in the management of this team from top to bottom. The Braves are a bunch of pieces that don’t fit together and rushing these guys up will only set them back under the coaching staff here. I don’t know of any other team where Cox would still be managing with a team floundering like the Braves have the last 3 plus years. And yes Reyes was right when he said, he should have plugged Hamels in the back. Hamels was definitely obstructing the play. Give me some fire in this team !!!
Braveheart
May 9th, 2009
10:11 am
Braveheart-I’ll take your word for it. I’m not going back and watching ER re-runs. (LEW)
Understandably. I used to be addicted to old re-runs of ER, but that show went downhill big time after Clooney left. Don’t know how it lasted another 10 years.
Rock On....(the denizen formerly known as Dadgum)
May 9th, 2009
10:14 am
What, seriously, is a Dan Caruso? Is he the former Miami Vice guy and NYPD guy? Think his name is David.
Braveheart
May 9th, 2009
10:16 am
Didn’t Caruso drown in Officer and a Gentleman?
Rock On....(the denizen formerly known as Dadgum)
May 9th, 2009
10:16 am
Forget the Caruso post…I need glasses (preferably with two lenses).
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
10:16 am
Rock On,
We need power now, not at the trade deadline.
I would trade norton also, he has done nothing but look awful. Get something for him, he has good career numbers for a PH, we have enough good guys on the bench, no need for a historically good PH………… bench is solid enough. I think braves can get some good bat if they send……………… KJ/Prado + Norton + minor league pitcher
Anders
May 9th, 2009
10:16 am
BTW- The mets starters are pitching deeper into games now and they’re also hitting with risp. Bingo – 5 game winning streak. I think we can call off the Daniel Murphy defensively challenged watch now. Apparently he isn’t single handedly sinking the Mets as previously reported.
Mets not on their way yet. I need to see this pitching through a couple more times through the rotation which will bring us right to the 40 game mark I’ve been talking about. If Reyes and Wright start to get hot – watch out.
Rock On....(the denizen formerly known as Dadgum)
May 9th, 2009
10:18 am
Caruso was not in Officer that was Keith.
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
10:20 am
But with all this pitching, we should be winning, I mean………..once upon a time we won with…………..lemke+ sid + blauser + TP + greg olson…………..that was not a powerful IF, at least not more than this one. But we had justice and gant in the OF. This being said, if you exchange them in the equation with chipper and Mcs power, Id say we have the same power we had back then, the diff…………..solid difference, spirit and clutch.
Braveheart
May 9th, 2009
10:23 am
Caruso was not in Officer that was Keith. (DADGUM ROCK ON)
Here’s Caruso drowning in Officer and a Gentleman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzoNOWsy1rk
Rock On....(the denizen formerly known as Dadgum)
May 9th, 2009
10:23 am
Doc….kinda agree but I would obviously keep Prado. Best case is for KJ to pick up some momentum so he would attract a better player in trade. Unless we get a 1st baseman for Norton, why not give the kid Freeman a shot there. I know, I know, he hasn’t played above high-A. So what, we are throwing Shaefer to the wolves and Freeman is a better hitter. Just sayin……..
jason
May 9th, 2009
10:24 am
I have theory on Norton. Does ATL have another lefty on the bench? That’s why he is still her. Diaz need to go. Not hitting, and blocking B. Jones. By the way, I see in the future Escobar playing 3B with Hernandez at SS. Check this out. 1B Freeman, 2B Prado, SS Hernandez, 3B Escobar, C McCann, RF, Francouer, CF Schaefer, LF, Heyward. Pitching rotation: Hanson, JJ, JoJo, Morton, healthy Hudson. Medlin RP/back up starter.
J williams
May 9th, 2009
10:26 am
Rock On
You’re point on with your analysis of the Braves, but your solutions will keep them at status quo.
Not much they can do about Mac, but they really need to find a right handed power bat. I’m sure that they’re already looking, and I expect that a move will be made around the all-star break if the Braves are still close.
Whenever the Braves don’t score first,especially if it’s more than 1 run, regardless of what inning it is, the games takes on a look of desperation.
Some teams are built for the regular season (Braves of old), some for the play offs, but this team is neither.
jason
May 9th, 2009
10:28 am
P-Town Brave, Lew, Braveheart, Jeff R, I have enjoyed the discussion this A.M. I am passionate about my Georgia sport teams. All of them. I now live in Texas, and don’t get to see enough Braves. I come on this blog to get info from the GREAT DOB, and from all you guys who are very passionate and so knowledgeble about our team. Thanks guys and keep up the good blogging.
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
10:29 am
Anders,
Muts are a good team, but they wont do if they dont pick up at least one very good arm. Your SP is pretty bad and I mean bad. They have a streak because they face us and the pirates………..2 very very bad offensive teams……..yeah, they faced the phillies, got to tip your gat there, but it was santana.
You will soon see what Im talking about……… that pitching is not gonna hold. They are as bad as our offense and your hitting is as good as our pitching.
Phillies on the other hand, are on the same situation as your team, but they are so freaking aggressive at the plate………they play like winners………like men, like soldiers, not like a bunch of crying babies………….thats why they will win the division if our teams dont do something quick…….
They ball that delgado dropped in atlanta the other night, that says it all, you are doomed. It was the same thing KJ did last year against division rival phillies……….that speaks of lack of concentration. He then managed to laugh about it and Wright was hugging him and laughing with him. I missed the funny part about it. Maybe it helps relax, but Id say that is not the way to handle it. Im sure Utley wouldnt be laughing with victorino if he dropped a ball like that.
Rock On....(the denizen formerly known as Dadgum)
May 9th, 2009
10:30 am
Braveheart, thanks. Same guy.
Doc Holiday
May 9th, 2009
10:33 am
Id say today is a must win situation………..we have to avoid the losing streaks……….I know we cant win them all obviously, but it is a must to avoid losing skids, even putting 2 losing games together………..win the series braves.
BTW……..we will be playing toronto soon……..another tough series.
dogsbrekky (Braving thunderstorms in Filly)
May 9th, 2009
10:34 am
If anyone else is going today and wants to say hi
I will be the Braves fan sitting in section 132 behind our dugout in the pouring rain………. wish I waited a few more days before buying the old tickets
still, we have 2 flyball pitchers in a homerun park, should be fun if we get the game in
Go Vazquez
JerseyGil
May 9th, 2009
10:39 am
dogsbrekky…I be on 109 Row 36 seat 13-14,,,Me with Braves Hat,,My Wife Phillis Hat…see y them.
Buy y a beer…
Rock On....(the denizen formerly known as Dadgum)
May 9th, 2009
10:40 am
Jason….great lineup, but I am not ready to ship out Vazquez for Hudson. Similar money and Vazquez gives the Brave swhat they need. Solid starts and 7 innings (when Cox leaves him in). Not a given the Braves are going to pick up Hudson’s option at 12 million. Also don’t see Lowe on your list. Assume that is an oversight. Agree that KK will be traded or waived after the season. Jo Jo could be in a trade as well. Pitching is not the braves main problem.
OldBravesBag
May 9th, 2009
10:40 am
Dave, Kelly is a starter…or was. He’s not struggling anymore…hitting .385 in May with limited at bats off the bench to his credit. You haven’t talked about any whining or texting from him that I know of…so I’m thinking he’s taking it like a professional. Certainly… no other starter is treated the way he has been. So I’m thinking something is up in the dugout or clubhouse. Frenchy was allowed to struggle all of last year…and he wasn’t so hot in the field either. I’m also thinking guys are treated differently due to their draw, and I was wondering if there was anything to it. Or…. Bobby isn’t thrilled with him…..seeing as this has gone on for three years in a row now. Infante doesn’t have the power Kelly has….and I think the Braves could use a bit of it right now. Frankly…I just don’t get it…..
dogsbrekky (Braving thunderstorms in Filly)
May 9th, 2009
10:41 am
Doc – very good points about the NL EAST teams
Given that Filly has had horrid pitching and yet can still lead the division with those animal bats means it will be a long tough summer for the other teams
My feeling watching JoJo for the last year or so is that he doesnt have a good baseball brain……. he throws ball after ball to Coste and then even with Hamels at bat cannot throw a 1st or 2nd pitch strike…
then he throws a gut ball to Rollins…….. he kind of reminds me of a poor man’s Ollie Perez (yes a bad comparison)
John Smoltz
May 9th, 2009
10:42 am
NOW do you guys know why I left? 13-16. Same ole tire-spinning Braves since 2006!
jason
May 9th, 2009
10:43 am
Line up I would really like to see. CF Infante, 1B Kotchman, 3B Jones, RF Francouer, C McCann, SS Escobar, LF Anderson, 2B Prado. Infante is smoking from the L.O. Kotchman is a contact hitter not alot oh Ks plus alot o 2Bs. Chip is Chip. Francouer will see pitches in front on McCann. Escobar is position to hit with RISP. GA can just relax; take some pressure off, and Prado is perfect for the 8 hole. contact hitter who will put the ball in play.
Serge
May 9th, 2009
10:45 am
If Kelly is “strugling” (Hes hit .398 in May) What do you call what Anderson has been doing David?
Anders
May 9th, 2009
10:45 am
Doc- We’ll see about the mets SP. I think you’re selling them a little short. Time will tell.
As for the Delgado thing, I think you’re reading into that a little too much. The guys a 15 year vet and he dropped a ball.
He sure seemed focused last night when he hit that 425 ft. bomb in the 8th.
dogsbrekky (Braving thunderstorms in Filly)
May 9th, 2009
10:46 am
Jersey – will check the field map and check you out, I think 106 is on the 1st base OF side, will see if I can get around there
Have to go now and drive down the old Turnpike before it starts peeing down, I will be in an “away Braves cap”, Braves warm up jacket……..
Serge
May 9th, 2009
10:48 am
Garret Anderson in the month of may
.133 .235 .200 .435
and Kelly is the guy thats struggling? This is our cleanup hitter.
jason
May 9th, 2009
10:48 am
Rock on, I was looking at the future, down the road. Not necessarly Huddie, could be Lowe. Just need a veteran pitcher in there to steady the ship. In two years I don’t see KK with ATL. If vasquez and or Lowe is still there , I would let two of the young pitcher work the BP for some MLB expirence. Kind of like Houston used to do.
jason
May 9th, 2009
10:52 am
Houston used to bring a young kid up at the beginning of the year and put him in the BP for the year. Long relief. The next year work him in the 5 spot to increase expierence, and build stamina and innings. By year 3 they would have an established pitcher who could benefit the team. Example, the Great Mike Hampton, Chris Holt, and Shayne Reynolds.
Braves73
May 9th, 2009
10:53 am
Ok, we all realize that young pitchers traditionally struggle in their first few years of development (in the majors), but why continue to use a guy like Jo-Jo in a spot when you have better talent in the minors? If we are going to use the excuse that “you don’t want to rush a guy up”, then why would any manager EVER bring any player up????
Here’s is what I see. You pay your scouts well to analyze your young talent, why not go with your best prospect (Hanson) and work him into the rotation. By all accounts, no matter when you bring him up (this year, next year, 2020) he is going to have to learn and have on the job training (to learn the process of pitching & gain experience). We all clearly see that Jo-Jo may be better suited for the Gwinnett Braves (right now) or out of the bull pen in short stints to regain his confidence.
vabravesfan
May 9th, 2009
10:55 am
Jason I don’t know about diory. He plays horrible defense, I think he had 7 errors just in spring training. Granted he is hitting great down at Gwinnett right now but he has to shaped up the defense.
John Smoltz
May 9th, 2009
10:57 am
KJ is doing just as well if not better than Schafer, Francoeur and Anderson. But none of those three have lost their starting gigs. How can a team expect to win with such favoritism?
Go Sox!
Frankie Knuckles
May 9th, 2009
11:01 am
Why is everyone selling short on Medlen? He is ripping it up in AAA right now. He needs to be a starter. Let JoJo relief role
jason
May 9th, 2009
11:02 am
vabravesfan, good point, but that’s why you have to be smart with your FA pick ups.
Braves 73, if I were to bring Hanson up this year, I would work him out the BP. Lets say Hanson is coming up this weekend. I work him out of the BP til the all star break. with some spot starts thrown in. At the break, I would reevaluate where Hanson is in his growth and developement. The whole point of not rushing a kid to the majors is #1 confidence, and #2 Effeciency in his pitch counts. You don’t want damage his confidence and you don’t want to over work his or the BPs collective arms.
J.L
May 9th, 2009
11:04 am
Lew,
He has always been a starting pitcher in the minors which even though he has been up a couple of weeks pitching mop up duty, has not been given a chance to start. That is where he had some good games at the end of last season. Some pitchers can’t transition form starter to reliever or vice versa.
flange1
May 9th, 2009
11:04 am
Morning All,
Not the best of games last night…
I thought Hamels was in the base path too, but this team, especially JoJo does not respond well to boo boos. That is typical for young pitchers.
These stupid errors have got to stop. The ball Yunel botched was not that hard a play either.
Is any one else seeing how little ground in right Frenchy can cover? He seems VERY slow and his routes are not too good.
DOB said something on the blog about JS covering a lot of ground in right center on a fly, Frenchy was not close to that ball and to me it looked like a ball the RF should have taken.
To me Frenchy has morped into a 1+ tools player. He has a great arm and can hit singles…
Hope the power returns at some point.
By the way, anyone who actually thought that was Braveheart posting last night sure does not pay attention!
DOB, the blogger that likes to steal monkiers doesn’t have the same IP address of our old friend Stinky does he?
That was was one of his favorite games….
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 9th, 2009
11:04 am
“Doc- We’ll see about the mets SP. I think you’re selling them a little short.”
Anders, you’re kidding, right? You can’t possibly be serious.
jason
May 9th, 2009
11:05 am
A thought on minor league pitchers. I am kind of old school. I don’t like the fact that they are on such strengent pitch counts, and that they rarely work 7 innings. That’s one reason why I don’t believe that they are ready for work at the big league level, both mentally and physically.