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2,175 comments Add your comment
Steve from OH
May 26th, 2009
8:50 pm
Braveheart, I agree. Well said.
Bravesfan
May 26th, 2009
8:51 pm
The sad thing about Jeff’s bad play is that he still has a good chunk of our offensive numbers. Drop Frenchy and you throw away the guy near the top of our team in hits and RBI. The team as a whole, for the most part isn’t pulling their weight on offense. Frenchy is just the guy we focus on because he’s struggled since last season.
18 Wheels of Love
May 26th, 2009
8:53 pm
This from Buster Olney earlier today about Francoeur:
“He’s the easiest guy in the league to pitch to,” said one longtime talent evaluator, “because you know he’s going to swing.”
Carpe Diem
May 26th, 2009
8:53 pm
common sense…Vazquez is making about 3 million less than Holliday this year, and Oakland would have an option to keep him next year. If not, they won’t have any problem trading him this year or next
so they save a couple million, big deal. Somebody will give them a much better cheaper return which is what they will be looking for.
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
8:53 pm
njbraves
Well, saying Frenchy is “hitting” is a little over exaggerated, right?
More like whiffing.
I still say he needs to see a shrink!
Anthony
May 26th, 2009
8:54 pm
Last season proved that Diaz wasn’t an everyday player because before he was injured the LF position was practically given to him and he couldn’t hit whatsoever. Diaz is a terrific part time player and can absolutely nail left-handed pitching. But if we ask too much of him, we may lose his great value off the bench.
Anders
May 26th, 2009
8:55 pm
Dirty Yuni – The wake up call was in reference to you expecting to trade Frenchy and his contract. No way. Unless you package him.
As for Hawpe -imo there is no way the Braves are taking that contract on in this environment. They’ll sit tight to see what breaks in late June or early July. This will be a buyers markket if you’ll take money on or give up prospects imo. Wren has resisted both so far.
Frank from KS
May 26th, 2009
8:55 pm
keylargo
Good answer..(Yas).
Anders……Jim Rice?
Anders
May 26th, 2009
8:57 pm
Yaz it is. The potato farmer from the south fork of Long Island. Yes Dogsbrekky, in addition to cablevision LI offers some of the most beautiful farmlands and vineyards on it’s south fork.
Dunn just launched his 15th. 3-1 Mets.
keylargo
May 26th, 2009
8:57 pm
Frank – Maybe if I could spell it right, I’d win.
Jeff321
May 26th, 2009
8:57 pm
Dunn hits #15.
Capt Caveman
May 26th, 2009
8:58 pm
Anders — after my playing days I was a HS/College Umpire and there is no rule about moving the bat. However there is a general safety guideline that is an inherent part of the umpires job. Moving the bat if it is a danger is just good umpiring, the chance of stepping on it by either the runner, catcher, or the umpire himself is a danger that can be avoided with a simple act. However, with that being said, it only occurs on a play where the ump has the time to do it. A runner on second trying to score on a hit, a tag play from third, or a runner from second going all the way around on a bunt that gets an infielder to throw to first are all plays where the ump has time if he deems it necessary. Any runner coming in from third on an infield ball would be too quick and therefore the bat just has to lay where it is. Even the catcher can’t move it in that situation sometimes.
There is a part of the batter’s job to try and toss the bat out of the way in situations where it can help his team.
We all remember Barry Bonds little son getting dragged out of the way in the playoffs trying to retrieve a bat while a ball was in play. Most of the time it is just human nature and reacting to help prevent injury be it a bat boy, a bat on the ground, or even some piece of equipment such as a catchers mask. That’s why you never see a catcher toss his mask until he is sure where the play is going to happen, to avoid injury to himself.
David O'Brien
May 26th, 2009
8:58 pm
Imagine Chipper’s slow drawl, and this is what he said when I asked him about being in the lineup today, after he’d tested his foot with some running on the field before BP:
“I’ll be treading lightly, but I felt like I could go out there and, you know, play,” he said.
Cuck-a-too
May 26th, 2009
8:59 pm
Hey Can we put Francoeur on the DL retroactive to Opening Day 2006 and collect insurance money? The day his career hit the dumpster
6-4-3
May 26th, 2009
8:59 pm
The Mets appear to be down on Ryan Church. I know they’re in our division but I think Church isn’t a bad option for us. Any possibility or interest at all in Church?
Anders
May 26th, 2009
9:02 pm
Captain – thanks for the info. good stuff. BTW- that was dusty Bakers son. Bond’s and shawon dunston’s kids were frolicking around that dugout too. That was a ridiculous scenario when you think about it. MLB playoff games mixed with a day camp.
Mr. Pootingfield
May 26th, 2009
9:02 pm
Lets bring back Raphael Ramirez!
gayle
May 26th, 2009
9:03 pm
**TN Jeff** Nice to know someone is paying attention. Nice to see you, too.
I’ve not given up on this team. I’ve never really cared for them much. I am only a fan of good baseball, not the Braves or the relic in the dugout.
Capt Caveman
May 26th, 2009
9:03 pm
One last thing Anders —
The ump has to keep his eye on the play, as the plate umpire he has the ultimate final call on a play so he has to make sure he is watching, anything involving the bat is usually done out of the corner of his eye. It’s something that is easy to do, and sometimes the ump just doesn’t see it b/c his attention is focused elsewhere.
As far a Ron Darling, I always say it is easy to lay blame from the booth. He has to say something quick to sound important. After a little thought he might have said something different.
Goldenglove002
May 26th, 2009
9:04 pm
This is completely random speculation, but anyone think maybe the Braves would pursue Alex Rios of Toronto. He seems to be falling out of favor even though he’s having a decent season. Joe Inglett got the nod over him yesterday, and he’s been called out by the manager multiple times over the year.
The contract situation would be a little odd (signed through 2014 with a 2015 option, but it’s not an extremely expensive one, especially up until the end of next year. He’d probably be a great addition to the Braves, bringing both the speed and power elements.
Dawgdad
May 26th, 2009
9:05 pm
You can’t play Diaz in right on a regular basis, because God Love him, he throws like a girl.
Interesting Philosophy
May 26th, 2009
9:05 pm
My in-laws have a beach house in the Hamptons. Being a Southern boy with no idea about Long Island, I was surprised on my first visit with all the farm land and produce grown on L.I. I felt almost at home there. The Hamptons, on the other hand, I could NEVER feel at home there!
CB
May 26th, 2009
9:06 pm
njbraves I agree we have to realize nobody will want to trade for Frenchy, he will have to be a part of any serious trade as a throwin. Our only hope to get any really good hitter is to trade from our strength, either starting pitching or prospects.
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:06 pm
When was the last time we actually had a full time left fielder?
keylargo
May 26th, 2009
9:08 pm
I don’t know that the Braves would take on Alex Rios’ contract.
# 7 years/$69.835M (2008-14), plus 2015 club option
* signed extension with Toronto 4/4/08, re-working 2008 deal signed 2/5/08 ($3.5M signing bonus remains, 2008 salary reduced from $1.335M to $0.735M)
* 08:$0.735M, 09:$5.9M, 10:$9.7M, 11:$12M, 12:$12M, 13:$12.5M, 14:$12.5M, 15:$13.5M club option ($1M buyout)
* full no-trade clause, 2009-10
* limited no-trade clause, 2011 – end of deal (may block trades to 6 clubs)
Jack G.
May 26th, 2009
9:09 pm
Put Diaz in RF. So he dosent hit righties to well. So whast Frenchy Dont hit righties or lefties.
Frank from KS
May 26th, 2009
9:09 pm
Necromancer
I’m guessing Ron Gant.
ben
May 26th, 2009
9:09 pm
I think too much is being made of the lack of power. True they lack it, but what kills them is easy out from the CF, RF, 2B. If francoeur, hit .280 with 8 hr I think the braves will be ok. The lineup is designed to have everyone hit singles and doubles and that can work. Power simple covers up when you cant string together hits.
Bravesfan
May 26th, 2009
9:13 pm
The last time we had only one guy who was an every day left fielder would be… wait for it…
2003 — Chipper Jones 149 games started in LF
Anders
May 26th, 2009
9:13 pm
Sheffield with a 3 iron 3 run HR. Nice 400K investment so far.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 26th, 2009
9:14 pm
ben…I agree with you. A little more power would be nice, but solid OBP and guys that “do the little things” is far more important. We often have big black holes in our line-up where a just a base hit or a productive out will do and the guys K or something else very unproductive.
Hakuna
May 26th, 2009
9:14 pm
heard that perfectly, DOB.
Frank from KS
May 26th, 2009
9:15 pm
ben
I’m one who can’t get over all the resistence to Kotchman. Altho I said on a past blog that 1st base is normally a power position…BUT Bream (altho he did hit a few HR’s) wasn’t a power-type 1st baseman like McGriff or Big Cat and they did just fine with him.
18 Wheels of Love
May 26th, 2009
9:15 pm
Yep, coulda had Sheff too.
bravefaninok
May 26th, 2009
9:16 pm
wainwright the cards pitcher just hit one out…..4th career homer
Interesting Philosophy
May 26th, 2009
9:17 pm
Yep, Shef is paying off. Now if he had signed with the Braves, he would look like Anderson right now. Better yet, Raul Mondesi.
18 Wheels of Love
May 26th, 2009
9:18 pm
Anders, you can’t word-for-word repeat the guys on the MLB network and claim them as your own comments. That’s blog rule number 1.
Couch Tater
May 26th, 2009
9:18 pm
I hope….som’n……don’t..reach up’n bite Chipper. gotta dip?
Goldenglove002
May 26th, 2009
9:21 pm
Some interesting clauses I just noticed in Kenshin Kawakami’s contract. He can recieve bonuses for recieving a rolaids relief award. Maybe Wren was thinking he could end up as a reliever?
Steve from OH
May 26th, 2009
9:21 pm
Well, Hanson’s night looks to be done…7IP, 5H, 1ER, 2BB, 9K. 105 pitches, 3 grounouts to 8 flyouts.
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:22 pm
Sad part about it is there is no legitimate back up plan for the struggling Schaefer. I admit, I was one of the ones that was glad that he got the starting CF job over the other Anderson.
But now, as we all know..we are all eating a little bit more crow with each strikeout Schaefer accumulates.
It would be easy to send him down…but who could replace him….Blanco?
Sheah…don’t think so..
We need to do some damage control real soon before it’s too late…
Anders
May 26th, 2009
9:24 pm
18 Wheels – What are you talking about?
CB
May 26th, 2009
9:25 pm
Steve Hanson needs to be up with the Braves. He has nothing else to prove in the minors. The Braves need to find a trade partner and get this young man up here. What do you think?
18 Wheels of Love
May 26th, 2009
9:26 pm
Your 9:13 was nearly verbatim what they said on MLB network at that very moment….3 iron shot, best 400k investment. Just bustin balls.
PWHjort
May 26th, 2009
9:27 pm
If you think we’re going to be a better team by calling up Gorkys and sending down Schafer. Well, I don’t know how to finish that thought, but you’re most likely wrong.
tvsportscaster
May 26th, 2009
9:28 pm
CB, It’s Tommy Hanson, not Steve
Anders
May 26th, 2009
9:28 pm
18 Wheels – I haven’t turned the channel in an hour. I wrote that as he was rounding the bases. Perhaps those guys are reading the blog?
Interesting Philosophy
May 26th, 2009
9:28 pm
Necromancer,
I wasn’t sold on Shafer as being the CF solution. I reasoned that Anderson was out of options and had some big league experience under his belt. That is why I wanted Anderson. I have to admit that Shafer won the job in the spring, but I just hated shipping Anderson off and in essence counting on Shafer to perform immediately.
The main problem I have with the situation is that the Braves went “all in” on Shafer, not having a backup plan in case he performed like he’s performing now.
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:29 pm
There is a pro rugby player named Steve Hanson..but wrong sport…
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:30 pm
damnJerald
little frustrated, eh?
CB
May 26th, 2009
9:30 pm
You know Jerald you tell us you are a Braves fan but all you do is come on the blog spewing hatred, wishing people to die and calling it our team. YOU SIR, ARE AND IDIOT.
N8
May 26th, 2009
9:30 pm
I’m not sure who the hell Steve Hanson is or whether he belongs in the minors anymore. But I sure would like to see Tommy Hanson get called up.
Anders
May 26th, 2009
9:31 pm
Livan with 8 complete. 1 run against the #2 team in runs scored in the NL. How ’bout dat?
Steve from OH
May 26th, 2009
9:31 pm
I think the Braves need to get him up here before the middle of June, but I don’t think they need to trade any of their current SPs (JJ, Lowe, Vaz, KK) at the moment to faciliate that…
Horner's Corner
May 26th, 2009
9:31 pm
Goldenglove002 – Damn you, you stole my thought about Alex Rios. He’s had some success over the last several years and he has a little bit of speed as well. He’s off to a rough start this season and it appears his value may be down with the folks in Toronto. It may be the perfect time to make an offer.
I don’t know much about his defense, but I don’t think he’s as big a liability as what the Braves currently have in LF
Mike Hancho
May 26th, 2009
9:32 pm
Bring back Justice!
Daybed Wagmoe
May 26th, 2009
9:32 pm
Steve from OH, thanks for posting the info on Hanson. I was about to post it when I went back up to see if anyone else already did, so I saw that posting it wasn’t necessary. The kid had another good start and lowered his ERA to 1.48.
CB
May 26th, 2009
9:32 pm
Sorry tvsportscaster meant to put a comma behind the Steve, was talking to Steve from Ohio.
Mike Hancho
May 26th, 2009
9:32 pm
Put him out there with Nixon and Gant
Goldenglove002
May 26th, 2009
9:33 pm
Tim Dierkes at MLBtraderumors says that Hanson should no longer be super-two eligible if the Braves were to call him up right now. Now all we need is a opening to get him up here. He looked great in Gwinnett tonight.
Bravesfan
May 26th, 2009
9:33 pm
I’m fairly certain he wasn’t saying “Steve Hanson”. He just left out some punctuation. Probably meant “Steve, Hanson”
Steve from OH
May 26th, 2009
9:33 pm
Has anyone looked at Anderson’s numbers lately? It would be like trying to decide whether you want a Hyundai or a Kia…
Jerald Holcombe
May 26th, 2009
9:33 pm
Man, we are getting ripped off by MLB-TV this year. I swear that I haven’t seen more than 1 game on my computer this season. And that’s not gonna change tonight either. Someone needs to explain to me how the Braves can play at 10:15pm in San Francisco and it not be a nationally televised game, but it still gets blacked out. What a waste of $139.
Interesting Philosophy
May 26th, 2009
9:34 pm
Livan ain’t bad…… in the first half, but he’s been struggling the last few years in the second half. Enjoy him now.
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:34 pm
Yeah Interesting Philosophy
We pretty much shot ourselves in the foot. You would figure the Braves would, indeed, have had a viable back up plan.
But now, what do we do? Continue to watch Schaefer approach the Most Strike outs by a Rookie record?
This sucks on so many different levels…
CB
May 26th, 2009
9:34 pm
Yeah n8 going back to grammer skool, heh heh.
Bravesfan
May 26th, 2009
9:35 pm
I kinda feel bad saying it but does anybody else kinda wish Glavine would hang it up and save us that bonus money we’d owe him if he makes a start in the majors? Would also open up the spot for Hanson. Like I said, I feel bad even thinking it but.. still…
Anders
May 26th, 2009
9:35 pm
Livan now batting in the bottom of the 8th. yes, batting. Going for the complete game-wow. rare feat in these parts.
18 Wheels of Love
May 26th, 2009
9:36 pm
So Sean Casey says “That ’s a 3 iron right there….probably the best $400k investment by the Mets ever.” as he is watching the HR being hit.
Then at 9:13 you say “Sheffield with a 3 iron 3 run HR. Nice 400K investment so far.”
You claim they are getting ideas from the blog and repeating on air.
So either it is:
A) A crazy coincidence
B) Blagerism – same as plagerism but on a blog
C) Sean Casey stumbled into the Lost time travel warp and read your comments on the blog and then traveled back in time 5 minutes and then repeated them on air.
D) I’m bored waiting on the 10 PM game and am stirring up crap.
Goldenglove002
May 26th, 2009
9:36 pm
Your welcome Horner’s Corner
. I wouldn’t worry much about his defense, considering he would probably more than make up for it with offense (or atleast I think he would). I haven’t heard anything about it, which means it probably isn’t too bad.
CB
May 26th, 2009
9:36 pm
thanks bravesfan I am and idiot
Daybed Wagmoe
May 26th, 2009
9:37 pm
“Livan with 8 complete. 1 run against the #2 team in runs scored in the NL. How ’bout dat?”
Anders — Livan’s pitching against the Phillies? Funny, I thought the Mets were playing the Nationals, who are the #6 team in runs scored in the NL.
Couch Tater
May 26th, 2009
9:37 pm
N8
He’s on to something, we need a rugby player in RF to lite a far into this team.
Greetings
May 26th, 2009
9:37 pm
Braves need to trade for Mark DeRosa…BRING BACK MARK….
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:37 pm
Come on, N8
Steve Hanson is the pro rugby player…duh
If you don’t believe me, just google it! LOL
Unknown
May 26th, 2009
9:38 pm
Phillies & Mets winning so looks like we will be out 2.5 games barring a miracle.
Horner's Corner
May 26th, 2009
9:39 pm
keylargo- Thanks for the Alex Rios contract information. It is a bit expensive and man, what a commitment. Through 2014? I guess if the Braves did get Rios we wouldn’t have to worry about LF for awhile.
N8
May 26th, 2009
9:39 pm
“Escobar still day-to-day, could be tomorrow, but Arizona more likely, Cox said.” DOB
So, in other words, he just had his knees replaced?
PWHjort
May 26th, 2009
9:40 pm
The Gwinnett Braves have J.C. Holt playing in the outfield tonight. Could this be significant?
N8
May 26th, 2009
9:40 pm
CB, just giving you crap. Obviously, I knew who you meant.
Interesting Philosophy
May 26th, 2009
9:41 pm
Necro,
I would rather be proactive and have a plan going in than to be reactive and find yourself in the situation the Braves now find themselves in. What do we do now? Beats the hell out of me!
McFann :Ô:
May 26th, 2009
9:41 pm
I know we sort of drifted from the subject of All-Star voting, BUT for a limited time only, you cann download your own campaign bumper sticker here!
Hurry up! They are going fast…
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:41 pm
18 Wheels of Love
Good grief, my friend.
Could you ever try any harder to stir up some fecal matter?
Anders
May 26th, 2009
9:41 pm
18 Wheels- Don’t know what else to say but when I posted my 9:13 those were my words. I haven’t watch MLB network tonight. If you watch the hit you’ll see that it does look like a golf shot. I’d say great minds think alike but Sean Casey ain’t all that great.
varoadrunner
May 26th, 2009
9:42 pm
DOB – very nice article on hte woes of the Braves outfield. I admire your candid approach to documenting a visible weakness that the Braves (might be trying to address) have not addressed. And the Braves are suffering because of it. Is it a Wren shortcoming? NM. moving on……
Gorkys could not be worse than Shafer right now and the experience could be injuring shafer for the future. Give the next kid a chance. But the big question to me is Chipper. In your opinion, and not based on his electing to not play, what is his condition? He can pinch hit and elects to stay in the game. Can he play 3B and hit? Chipper, and I am not being fair, but seems to have become a lazy premadona … Maybe he doesn’t want to hit against Linecum (??). I know that that’s extreme, but seems that Chipper sits rather than playing through the pain. If it would cause irrepaiable damage, I’ll give him a pass, but the Braves are in this thing and he’s NOT. I’d love your comments.
Steve from OH
May 26th, 2009
9:42 pm
PWH, my rational side says “Brandon Jones getting day off,” while my hardcore fan side says “ooh, ooh, Loaf Garret gone! Hooray! B. Jones comin up…world champs!”
Or something like that…
N8
May 26th, 2009
9:42 pm
“Phillies & Mets winning so looks like we will be out 2.5 games barring a miracle.
Beating Lincecum wouldn’t be a miracle. He’s lost before. Getting Escobar, G. Anderson, Chipper and Mac in the same lineup for more than two games in a row, might be the miracle we’re looking for.
18 Wheels of Love
May 26th, 2009
9:42 pm
Like I said, stir crazy.
Goldenglove002
May 26th, 2009
9:42 pm
Rios’s contract is long, but they could get him and trade him after 2 years if they feel like they have prospects (say Heyward or Gorkys). I’d call it a tradeable contract if it came down to something like that.
Random
May 26th, 2009
9:43 pm
This comment never got posted yesterday –
“The noblest fate that a man can endure is to place his own mortal body between his loved home and war’s desolation.”
Hats off, and hearts open, to all those who served and never made it back home.
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:43 pm
Interesting
I guess we have to watch Schaefer continue to rack up the strikeouts until he gets pissed off enough and does break out of it…
N8
May 26th, 2009
9:45 pm
18 Wheels of Love, since you brought it up, what’s your take on LOST’s season finale and where Abrams is leading the story?
I’ll wait to read your response, before I give you my take.
Horner's Corner
May 26th, 2009
9:45 pm
Bravesfan- Don’t feel bad about not being excited about Glavine’s return. In fact, I’m not sure many of us are. OK, I don’t want to speak for the rest, but I know I’m not. I have seen Tommy pitch over the last several years and it ain’t great. I would prefer to watch someone younger with his career ahead of him, not behind him. Medlen, Morton, Hanson, but maybe not Jo-Jo for awhile.
Anders
May 26th, 2009
9:45 pm
Daybed -coming into tonight what 5 NL teams were ahead of the Nats in runs scored?
varoadrunner
May 26th, 2009
9:46 pm
DOB – Sorry I missed your 8:58 post – but i also haven’t seen your official lineup yet either.
Necromancer
May 26th, 2009
9:48 pm
Anders
Shame on you! Blagiarism is a crime punishable by getting a pair of Bobby Cox’s 3 day old underwear place on your head!
Okay, I’m just joking..
I was a bit juvenile with that, wasn’t I?
bravefaninok
May 26th, 2009
9:48 pm
JC holt has 4 career homers ..
TnBrian
May 26th, 2009
9:48 pm
HOLY SH!*!! Mac is 5th in All-Star voting for catchers? I think some of you need to quit bitc#! and moaning about the Braves flaws and vote that boy in!
WestPalmDawg
May 26th, 2009
9:49 pm
Apparently the Orioles brought up Weiters today because he could no longer be a Super 2 at the end of 2011. Hanson’s in the same boat. Are we still going to wait on Tom Glavine?
McFann :Ô:
May 26th, 2009
9:50 pm
TnBrian–
I’m doing my part!