Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,631 comments Add your comment
Wes
May 29th, 2009
12:44 pm
Everyone of my posts makes sense. Amazingly, none of them mention Sidney Crosby or Chris Osgood
ppaddy123
May 29th, 2009
12:44 pm
Shaun, I don’t know if you watched last night’s game, but I did. Francoeur was terrible! His head is so screwed up. He has gotten into such a “FUNK” he’s using Escobar’s bat! Right now he is completely lost at the plate. He hasn’t got a clue! Save your numbers where Frenchy is concerned right now…….he just needs to sit.
Anders
May 29th, 2009
12:45 pm
Steve from OH- Hossa better be ready to get pounded by Mr Gill repeatedly. That takes it’s toll. The guy is an absolute monster. 6′ 7″ and all.
Steve from OH
May 29th, 2009
12:46 pm
Yeah, but can Gill contain a Franzen-Hossa-Filppula line? Size, speed, and skill baby!
TnBrian
May 29th, 2009
12:46 pm
JD, oh man, did you ever! DOB slammed you for everything you’re worth my man. He’s gotta a knack for doing that but most of the time it seems justified. Just take it and move on man. It’s part of the deal around here…you’ll learn.
P-Town Brave
May 29th, 2009
12:47 pm
DOB-
Yes, but you did type the comment and it does infer there being no true purpose for having a hitting coach if its all on the players….
So what can you really say distinguishes a good hitting coach from a bad one then?
I mean obviously you can’t say Hal McRae has anything to do w/ Albert Pujols, however, he has certainly helped Ryan Ludwick, Chris Duncan, Skip Schumacher, and so on…
Who exactly has Terry helped become a better hitter?! And the first one to say Brian McCann deserves to be smacked across the face!
Anders
May 29th, 2009
12:48 pm
Franzen is good. I didn’t know how good until recently.
PWHjort
May 29th, 2009
12:48 pm
The Braves and Holliday is the Sports Media’s favorite thing to speculate about these days. Which I’m OK with. So long as people understand that it’s just speculation and there’s no real news in that type of column. Re-opening a topic from yesterday, 2 questions for DOB and Denziens:
1) Has anyone seen Russel Branyan play this season? If so, does he look as good as his stats indicate? I’m just always a bit suspicious of guys in the midst of career years and I’d like to know if he’s really found his mojo or not.
3) Can anyone think of a reason that Branyan to Atlanta wouldn’t work? It seems like a PERFECT fit to me.
TnBrian
May 29th, 2009
12:48 pm
P-Town Brave, McCann is a better hitter than he was… OWWWWWWW, A** HOLE, that hurt!
bravos2249
May 29th, 2009
12:50 pm
From what I have taken so far, everyone is saying if the Braves aren’t going to get rid of Francoeur, Kelly (to an extinct), maybe add Anderson in there too ( I personally don’t hate him this is just what I’m getting from everyone) then why not get rid of TP?
Fred
May 29th, 2009
12:50 pm
PIEDMONT BLUES, I also believe we fired the strength and conditioning coach last year. The Braves were very hush hush about his departure, which makes me wonder what happened. The bottom line is the Braves haven’t hesitated to replace coaches when necessary, even though several bloggers feel that Cox is too loyal to his players and coaches. Personally, I think loyalty is generally a good thing. Look at the Hawks. Many people (including then GM Billy Knight) wanted Mike Woodson fired during the 2007/08 season. But they stuck with him, traded for Mike Bibby, and the Hawks made the playoffs the past two seasons and reached the second round of the playoffs this year. Denizens, don’t forget that most sports teams take a step back after changing coaches/managers.
Singer
May 29th, 2009
12:51 pm
these eyes, cry every night…for you
P-Town Brave
May 29th, 2009
12:52 pm
I mean c’mon people…it is what it is….this team is no better than a .500 team and its going to be up and down all year, nothing will change, nothing will be fixed that is broken, and we’ll have to tolerate what we’re seeing….so really we can get up, we can get down, we can complain/argue…whatever!
I’ve just come to realize that there’s really no point to it because the bad players are still going to be here and the coaching staff will remain in tact…
Its just mediocre baseball at its best and whether we went a stretch of 11-5 doesn’t matter simply because the next stretch will be closer to 5-11.
They are who I thought they were and anyone who thinks this current roster with the current staff is going anywhere might wanna go get checked out at their nearest physician.
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
12:52 pm
Shaun, I don’t know if you watched last night’s game, but I did. Francoeur was terrible! His head is so screwed up. He has gotten into such a “FUNK” he’s using Escobar’s bat! Right now he is completely lost at the plate. He hasn’t got a clue! Save your numbers where Frenchy is concerned right now…….he just needs to sit.
Read my post. Nowhere did I say Frenchy shouldn’t sit. Learn some reading comprehension.
ppaddy123
May 29th, 2009
12:52 pm
Can Mr Gill hit a fast ball?
Tennbravefan
May 29th, 2009
12:52 pm
Look its time for the Braves to make changes, maybe not trades yet, but changes. Francoeur and Schafer need to be out of the line-up. Schaffer can go to AAA and Francoeur to the bench for right now. I would try an Anderson LF, B. Jones CF, and Diaz RF outfield. Yes I know thats a terrible defensive outfield, but the team has got to score runs. And lets face it for every brilliant defensive play Schafer makes he makes a terrible one. That triple off of Lowe last night should have been a single, Schafer took a terrible route to cut it off. I’m not saying the outfield I suggested would work, but it is obviously time to try something different.
P-Town Brave
May 29th, 2009
12:53 pm
TnBrian-
Yeah, because of HOWIE McCANN!
Efrim
May 29th, 2009
12:53 pm
If the Wings are healthy, than I don’t think he Pens have a chance. While I know that Malkin and Crosby are playing better than this time last year, I’m not so sure Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin equal Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa. That said, the Wings D was A LOT better last year. Should be close. I’ll say Wings in 7.
Horner's Corner
May 29th, 2009
12:53 pm
Rammerjammer – Your solution is to, “ride it out?” Just relax everyone, the Braves just need to give Frenchy another 2,500 AB’s at the major League level, offer GA a 2 year extension and allow Schafer to conitunue to twist in the wind without a day off. Once this is accomplished the Braves should find themselves in the WS.
P-Town Brave
May 29th, 2009
12:54 pm
bravos2249-
There are so many things needed to be done to fix this team its overwhelming….
P-Town Brave
May 29th, 2009
12:55 pm
Horner’s Corner-
That is the “Bobby Way” is it not?
Lift and Tuck
May 29th, 2009
12:55 pm
Ever notice the worse the Braves are playing, the more snippety old DOB becomes? With the bloggers that is. He doesn’t have the stones to challenge anyone in the Braves organization. The batboy,maybe.
Steve from OH
May 29th, 2009
12:57 pm
Efrim, that’d be my prediction as well. Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Pens pull it off, though.
TnBrian
May 29th, 2009
12:57 pm
P-Town, I agree, Gant should be the hitting coach. Nah, I don’t know and none of us will know if TP is doing his job correctly since we’ve never seen him work side by side with these guys, but Gant seems to have a no nonsense kinda attitude which I like.
Anders
May 29th, 2009
12:57 pm
Wait for it, wait for it.
Steve from OH
May 29th, 2009
12:57 pm
Enter your comments here
Gutless
May 29th, 2009
12:58 pm
lift and tuck- apparently I run all the way up and down the Brave’s organization.
Canadian Braves Fan
May 29th, 2009
12:59 pm
Pens in 6 Detroit is banged up and Crosby is a MONSTER
Willy in Philly
May 29th, 2009
12:59 pm
Steve from OH: are you having a conversation with yourself by posting with different names?
Horner's Corner
May 29th, 2009
1:00 pm
Good point P-Town. I guess I’m not from the “Old-School, when slumps were allowed to last for years and latin players were best served in a back-up capacity.
Anders
May 29th, 2009
1:01 pm
OK Steve and Efrim I have to ask you guys to get off this hockey blog. The mutual admiration for each others teams ain’t gonna work heading into the finals. Don’t come back until you have more confidence in your boys and absolute vile for the other guy’s.
OK Wes – you can now discuss the merits of an ambidextrous pitcher who can pitch 2 out of every 5 starts.
Tomy Fournier
May 29th, 2009
1:01 pm
If any Mayor baseball team make a trade for all nine starting players…I hope Atlanta’s be the “FIRST ONE…INCLUDING THE MORON MANAGER”…IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY CAN COMPETE…AND WIN OVER THE MET AND PHILLY.
PWHjort
May 29th, 2009
1:01 pm
Damn blog ate my post. Anyway,
Has anyone seen Branyan play this year? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Also, can anyone think of a reason he wouldn’t be a fit for the Braves?
P-Town Brave
May 29th, 2009
1:01 pm
TnBrian-
It would seem like a pretty good choice….
Steve-
Just for you buddy.
I don’t know where I’m going
But, I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
But, here I go again
Here I go again
Tho’ I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I’m looking for
Oh Lord, I pray
You give me strength to carry on
Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An’ here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
I’m just another heart in need of rescue
Waiting on love’s sweet charity
An’ I’m gonna hold on
For the rest of my days
Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An’ here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
But here I go again
Here I go again
Horner's Corner
May 29th, 2009
1:02 pm
Bobby Cox is managing more and more like Dusty Baker.
Steve from OH
May 29th, 2009
1:03 pm
P-Town, I’m fine with those lyrics. It’s DOB that might melt down…
ppaddy123
May 29th, 2009
1:04 pm
“Shaun May 29th, 2009 12:37 pm
Here’s the thing with Francoeur: How do we know that discipline is a skill that for the most part isn’t a learned skill, at least not by the time a player reaches pro baseball.
Look at Francoeur in the minors. His highest walk total was 30 in 567 PA in 2003 (and that is including intentional walks).
17.38 PA per walk in the minors. 20.84 PA per walk in the majors.
I think too often we think of plate discipline as something that a player can improve just by concentrating more or being more mentally tough. But I think we should look at it as a skill like speed or power–skills that can take lots of work to improve if they can be drastically improved. Think about how many players drastically improve their walk rate.
Maybe Francoeur is what he is for the most part and it’s not his fault that he’s been in the lineup so much over the past four years.”
And…….My statement simply says he’s SCREWED UP! You can throw all the numbers at it YOU want to because that’s YOUR THING, Shaun…………My point……..if he’s resorted to using another player’s bat because “he thinks it has some hits in it” he needs to sit.
Anders
May 29th, 2009
1:04 pm
Is that 1:01 supposed to be from Tony Montana?
Wes
May 29th, 2009
1:04 pm
Have fun wipin off your chin after you blow Crosby again before bed tonight.
Wes
May 29th, 2009
1:04 pm
Have fun wipin off your chin after you blow Crosby again before bed tonight.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
1:04 pm
I have an idea. For the rest of the season…DOB will give us the pre-game notes, and then “We the Braves Fans” will get to vote for the lineup/positions for every game.
Sounds like a win-win situation.
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
1:05 pm
ppaddy123, I agree that Francoeur is “lost” at the plate. My assertion is that he has always been “lost” at the plate if by lost you mean undisciplined. I am saying he’s always been an undisciplined hitter; like some guys lack power and some guys lack speed, he lacks plate discipline and that’s the way he’s always been and probably always will be at least to a certain extent. You see, I firmly believe that plate discipline is a skill similar to power and speed and it’s not something that a player can improve simply by concentrating more or being more mentally tough.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
1:06 pm
“I guess I’m not from the “Old-School, when slumps were allowed to last for years and latin players were best served in a back-up capacity.” LOL!!!!!
Soooo True!
6-4-3
May 29th, 2009
1:07 pm
Tonight’s game is about as must win as you can get at this stage of the year. The pitching matchup is pretty favorable and the D’Backs are not a great team. If there’s even the slightest hope of contending this year then we’ve got to take this game.
Sorry if it sounds a little too urgent for this time of the season, but I don’t care. If we don’t win these type of games, I don’t care how many games we’re out and how many games are left, we’d have no business even considering anything this year. It would just mean that we out n’ out stink to high heaven. I’m not ready to say that yet, so let’s go!
I believe in Jurrgens though. I think he’s our true ace.
Peace out!
CB
May 29th, 2009
1:07 pm
Tomy you should have been here at 101am, you would have fit better.
Wes
May 29th, 2009
1:07 pm
WHOA! Who’s the funny man posting with my name?? This is the ONLY Wes, and I made no such comment about Sidney Crosby or your chin.
AndyC
May 29th, 2009
1:07 pm
Have you guys seen the story on the main page where you vote for whether a Brave should be an All-star? They basically list the entire starting lineup and I think it’s kind of cruel to include Frenchy, Schafer, and KJ on that list. Everyone knows that they shouldn’t be All-stars. The percentage for all three of them is something like 94% NO. There should really only be maybe 4 names on that list for possible consideration; JJ, Lowe, BMAC, and Escobar. I really only think JJ and BMAC will make the team. Anyway, my point is that it really must be embarrasing for these guys and their families to see their names being mentioned as possible All stars and see the overwhelming percentage of people that say NO.
Canadian Braves Fan
May 29th, 2009
1:07 pm
with a name like wes who blows?
fleming
May 29th, 2009
1:08 pm
Anders – OK Wes – you can now discuss the merits of an ambidextrous pitcher who can pitch 2 out of every 5 starts.
Anders, better yet, he can start and then relieve hinself.
rammerjammer
May 29th, 2009
1:08 pm
And I may have missed this in a previous discussion, but it seems to me Medlen was brought up to showcase his skills as a precursor to a deal for OF help.
Morton would’ve been a more logical call-up. He was pitching well and had ML experience. I think the Braves were hoping Medlen would show well and they could sell high. Alas, he has struggled and whatever trade value he had has dropped…at least, short term.
One strong start could change all that, I suppose. But he probably only has one more start before Glavine steps in.
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
1:10 pm
ppaddy123, right, he’s “screwed up” if you mean by that he’s not as good as most of other major league hitters (because of a lack of discipline). Not necessarily his fault that he wasn’t born a discipline major league hitter. For the most part the skills he lacked, he lacked when he came into the pros and has lacked them for a long time. It’s much like most of us don’t have the skills to hit a major league curveball. That’s just the way it is. We weren’t born that way like Frenchy wasn’t born to be a disciplined hitter.
Wes
May 29th, 2009
1:10 pm
Hey, #1- That wasn’t me
#2- Do you guys know the Yankees actually HAVE an amidextrious pitcher in A ball?? The only rule they came up with is that he has to distinguish which arm he’s going to throw with at the start of each at bat. He has a special, 2 thumbed glove.
Wes
May 29th, 2009
1:14 pm
Shaun: dead on my friend. It’s not a slump if you don’t have the talent to be better. Apparently, JF does NOT have the talent. A few week or a few month slump–acceptable. 3 years? Not.
monty
May 29th, 2009
1:15 pm
Frenchy in last nights game or maybe the game before hit a pitch hard to left(crushed) but it was right at the left fielder, camera showed him taking off out of the batters box looking out to left like he was in business then he realized the left fielder had it and the look on his face was like, “I can’t believe it, I finally nail one and it’s right at someone.”
Also, I don’t think that he is thinking middle of the plate away and drive it to right field(inside out swing)all the time, he took 2 strikes belt high on the outside corner in one AB last night(perfect pitches if you are thinking of going the other way) then once he got 2 strikes on him he swings at one a foot outside. In another AB he chose to swing at a pitch boring in on his shins though. Tells me he’s looking for something inside and he abandons his new approach on some occassions. I would think it would be hard to go up to the plate and be succesful when some AB’s you’re thinking one way and at other times your thinking just the opposite.
McFann :Ô:
May 29th, 2009
1:16 pm
Anybody see the ejections from the Red Sox/Twins game? Crazy stuff!
Renegator
May 29th, 2009
1:16 pm
P-town Brave:
Well said at 12:52.
I think it’s time to realize that this is just a .500 team. It has been for going on 4 years now. No reason to get all excited when they go 7-1 because they are just going to follow that up with a 1-7.
With the current mix of players and coaches/manager – this is just a .500 ballclub. Until either the players are gone (KJ, JF, JS, etc) or the coaches/manager are gone – nothing is going to change. Bringing in one bat or a pitcher isn’t going to change the .500 culture that this organization has had for the last 4 years.
Time to accept it.
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
1:17 pm
Wes, right but again Francoeur has been undisciplined all along. My question is why didn’t anyone notice at least at some point 2006? Well, I sort of know why–because everyone was enthralled by his RBI total instead of his actual skills.
Frankie Knuckles
May 29th, 2009
1:18 pm
There needs to be another Godwin’s law. The longer a blog debate continues the more likely it is for someone to bring up homosexuality.
Lasts nights game was painful to watch. However, I’ll watch tonight. Feels like its my personal version of self-mutilation sometimes.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
1:18 pm
Anyone watched a condensed game on MLB TV? Pretty cool feature. It shows the pitch of every at bat that is an out, hit, walk, etc. It might be the only way to watch the Braves from now on.
ppaddy123
May 29th, 2009
1:19 pm
You are right that he has no discipline, but I don’t think he was always lost at the plate. . His approach was much like Vlad Guerrero’s; see it…..hit it. The difference is Vlad would take a pitch away and drive it away. Francoeur got the idea in his mind he needed to be a “power hitting” right fielder and tries to pull everything. I think it’s a given he’s NEVER going to be the type of hitter that will work the count. I can’t believe I’m about to say what I’m about to say, but, THE DUDE NEEDS TO GET HIS MIND RIGHT! Quit trying to be something he’s not. Quit trying to work the count. SEE THE BALL….HIT THE BALL, but work on it in the minors….we need some wins!
ncscoots
May 29th, 2009
1:19 pm
Anders, better yet, he can start and then relieve hinself.
When he did the former, we were pretty sure that it would be on the blog that he eventually did the latter.
RHR
May 29th, 2009
1:20 pm
Good one, Lew (on the last page) Hey, let’s come up with a Rosetta Stone of Hitters just for Jeff. Heck, Rudy would probably write the text for him. Maybe even get Chipper to throw in a contribution or two. I think we’re on to something.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
1:20 pm
McFann – Varitek is an idiot. He argued a pitch that was 15-18 inches off the plate. Glad McCann doesn’t argue that crap. Varitek looked like an idiot.
The Twins on the other hand had every right to argue. They got screwed twice.
Wes
May 29th, 2009
1:25 pm
Shaun you could not have hit the nail any harder on the head. People (including Brave high ups) got so drawn in by his blown up stats that they missed the little thing. And that little thing is now beyong HUGE.
AndyC
May 29th, 2009
1:26 pm
JD
If you are a regular poster everyone gets crushed by DOB at some point, and yes it is usually deserved. Wear it like a badge of honor.
Wes
May 29th, 2009
1:26 pm
MFin- I’d love to if my MLBTv didn’t screw up every other night!
ncscoots
May 29th, 2009
1:28 pm
I think it’s a given he’s NEVER going to be the type of hitter that will work the count.
You guys do realize that more than half of ALL major league PAs are over by pitches 3, 4, or 5, right? Right? That all other counts, short OR long, are in the distinct minority? For everybody, not just Francoeur? No?
Oh. Then you wouldn’t know that Derek Jeter, for example, has never had a season (1) where he averaged 4 pitches per PA?
Guess somebody better tell those folks to start “working the count”, or they’ll never get anywhere.
bravefaninok
May 29th, 2009
1:29 pm
Wes
May 29th, 2009
1:26 pm
MFin- I’d love to if my MLBTv didn’t screw up every other night!
mine always seems to freeze when mcann or chipper is batting.
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
1:30 pm
ppaddy123, actually Francoeur and Vlad are very different. Vlad is one of the great contact/power hitters in history. Not many people have those skills. Vlad also has a little more plate discipline than Francoeur. I don’t think Francoeur is going to turn into Vlad by just “getting his mind right” or working harder. Much like I’m never going to be able to throw 90 mph just by getting my mind right or working harder.
Honestly I feel bad for Francoeur. I think he could be a useful major leaguer. But again the Braves got so excited by the RBI total his first couple of seasons, they’ve ignored his limitations as a player and they treated him like a future superstar. Now when his RBI totals aren’t there and everyone notices his limitations, it’s too late. Everyone’s expectations have already been raised.
I don’t necessarily want to blame the Braves too much either. A lot of it is the fault of the myth that RBI totals are a great measure of a hitter’s true value.
ppaddy123
May 29th, 2009
1:33 pm
MFin04, I just watched the highlights from the game….it appeared BOTH teams had “issues” with the home plate ump
Chuck7
May 29th, 2009
1:34 pm
The one common theme with the lack of offense and power from the Braves is quite clear — the hitting coach. While I respected Terry Pendeltone as a player, he is not getting results as a hitting coach. The article in a recent AJC Sunday edition showed photos of Chipper Jones giving hitting instruction, while Terry Pendleton stood by, listening. Why do you think Jeff Francoeur went outside of the Braves organization and turned to another organization for hitting instructions. Terry has been there for years, and the results are quite clear – it is time for a change in coaching.
Bobby's Cox
May 29th, 2009
1:34 pm
DOB,
Gotta disagree with you on Terry. I’m not saying he’s the reason for the Braves lack of hitting, but it’s not uncommon for a hitting coach to be fired when a team lacks to hit. It’s been done here in LA for many years. This is the 3rd season in a row the Braves have been sub-par at the plate, slg %, obp, and runs scored be damned.
I’m just saying, if a guy like Rudy can be praised for his coaching prowess, and hitting coaches are fired from time to time, then surely TP has to take some blame correct?
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
1:35 pm
Wes, right, they got drawn in by the wrong stats. Some stats are useful in telling you something about a player’s skills and some are not. Francoeur is a perfect example of what paying attention to the wrong stats can cost you and what paying attention to the right stats can do.
The irony is that people who pay attention to skills (by looking at stats that give you an indication of skills) are labeled the stat geeks. While the people who just pay attention to relatively meaningless numbers (AVG-HR-RBI) often criticize others for being stat geeks. What a world we live in!
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
The MLBTV condensed game from last night is only 17 minutes long. Not too bad, it gives a pretty good recap to the night.
David O'Brien
May 29th, 2009
1:37 pm
Singer: good tune. These Eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSMW4Gwi0y0
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
1:37 pm
Chuck7, except again the Braves are 4th in the NL in runs since 2002, when TP was named hitting coach.
ncscoots
May 29th, 2009
1:37 pm
A lot of it is the fault of the myth that RBI totals are a great measure of a hitter’s true value.
Somehow, I just don’t see that a canon of the SABR-inclined (”RBI is worthless”) has much to do with Francoeur’s problems. I’m glad to be reading you again, Shaun, but you’re reaching there.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
1st and 2nd no outs and we don’t score (3 straight K’s, BLACK HOLE!!!)? Horrible. Then Schafer gives up a run the next inning by taking a HORRIBLE angle on that triple that should have only been a double. This is fun.
ppaddy123
May 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
Shaun I never said Francoeur was going to be like Vlad…..their approach to hitting (see the ball hit the ball) was similar when Francoeur first came up. Maybe YOU shoud go back and read what I posted again.
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
When the pitching wasn’t good it was McDowell who needed to go. Funny how no one pays attention to McDowell anymore.
Mitchell
May 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
I don’t know about the rest of you but I am fretting the prospect of another loss for Jair Jurrjens. If there’s any justice in this world he’ll at least get a no-decision.
Of all our pitchers I get more nervous about JJ making another start than anybody. You’d have no reason to think we would lose based on his amazing ability but they just blow it everytime he goes out there. Can’t anybody just hit a freaking three run homerun for the hell of it?
I don’t know, I feel another loss tonight. We don’t have a team right not that can win with Escobar and Omar sitting on the bench and Chipper playing with his toe situation.
Frenchy, Hernandez and Schafer are automatic outs. There’s no getting around that. Who they hell is Diory Hernandez anyway? What is he doing here? Shouldn’t some of these players have certain qualifications to make it to this level? I realize we probably don’t have anybody else to fill in at the moment but that guy isn’t bringing anything to the table.
And how many times does Jordan Schafer have to strike out for him to get sent down? I’m not in the habit of criticizing Bobby these days and I know he gets pissed when guys don’t throw strikes but what possible justification would there be for Medlen getting another start at any time in the coming days or weeks? And he says about JoJo, “he’s so close to being good.”
No. He’s not. Not even close.
I kind of foolishly thought we’d win this series. We’ve played pretty decent against the D-Backs recently, well maybe not the 12-0 game. We have to get something going to come home and kick the Cubs around.
Fortunately they suck this year. Man I hate the Cubs.
David O'Brien
May 29th, 2009
1:39 pm
Although the Guess Who looked a lot cooler back in the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe8S6lZUSwo&feature=related
DAP
May 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
they got drawn in by the wrong stats.
i dont think it was as much that, as it was they tolerated the bad stats for two reasons, one being they figured jeff would improve as he got older and more experienced, and two is because other stats were pretty good.
nobody would have been as excited if they though jeff would stay the same or worse, digress.
Chuck7
May 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
I agree with the comments that TP needs to go or be changed to some other post in the organization. We have not had the results we need, despite bringing in raw talent. Just read the AJC column today. The mere fact that Francoeur is the leading offensive outfielder is evidence enough for the need for more power in the outfield. TP is not getting the job done. Elevate Chipper to a player/coach if you want!
Mitchell
May 29th, 2009
1:44 pm
Bobby’s Cox,
If the reason they don’t get rid of TP is because he’s the manager in waiting then we are really freakin’ screwed.
I don’t want any of those guys: TP, Cadahia or freaking Ned Yost to take over the helm when Bobby leaves. I mean, Eddie Perez maybe but somebody to take this thing in a different direction.
Even Bobby’s harshest critics will probably lament his absence when he hangs it up. I don’t see the next guy leading the team to 14 in a row.
It’s getting old though.
RHR
May 29th, 2009
1:44 pm
Poor Jeff. Another day, another slam.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sweetspot/0-2-153/Let-s-kill-this-oddest-of-rumors.html
Chuck7
May 29th, 2009
1:45 pm
I was at the ball park and watched Medlin in his first start. He looked like a scared kid. How can other clubs bring up pitchers who do well in their first starts and we can’t?
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
1:46 pm
ncscoots, what do RBI have to do with Francoeur? Well, in 2006-2007 Francoeur drove in 208. Yet he was horribly undisciplined therefore made too many outs to be all that valuable. Now that he’s not driving in runs everyone notices his limitations.
Eware
May 29th, 2009
1:49 pm
The Guess Who – heck yeah!
From Almost Famous:
“Give me the Guess Who. They have the courage to be drunken buffoons, and that makes them poetic!”
That’s my favorite film. Takes you on a journey, man.
McFann :Ô:
May 29th, 2009
1:50 pm
MFin04–
Yeah, I mean it was borderline…the camera angle was a bit weird. I cann see where it coulda been called a strike, but it was NOT worth all that! I mean holy cow–the Red Sox were ahead, anyway.
I’m glad McCann doesn’t fly off the handle like that, too. He has been ejected twice in his career. His first career ejection (Sept. 2006, I believe) was weird, though. Joe West just up and tossed him. But, I guess when you ask the ump, “Where did you have that pitch”, even if you don’t cuss, you’re gonna get tossed.
The second time he got ejected (June, 2007)–haha, I think he cussed that time…
Those Silly Braves!
May 29th, 2009
1:53 pm
From the DOB game story attributed to Cox,
“Later on, Haren really got tough,” Cox said of the hard-throwing right-hander, who retired 15 consecutive batters between Chipper Jones’ two-out RBI double in the third inning and Johnson’s two-out double in the eighth.
“He’s hard to hit at,” Cox said. “We hit some balls hard that were caught. And we got guys on and didn’t get them in.”
We hit some balls that didn’t find a hole. We hit some balls hard. We put some good swings on him. He justed missed that pitch in the third, if he gets it, it’s a different game. Or if Cox is talking about his pitching; I thought he pitched lights out. He made that one mistake with his location in the third. He doesn’t make that pitch, it’s a different game. I thought he settled down and looked darn good after giving up the first 8 runs. Blahhh, blahhhh, blahhhhh, blahhhh.
Geez Bobby! Get a few new lines, ok?
The Love Child of Dale Murphy and Johnny Cash
May 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
Let me preface this by saying I don’t necessarily think this is a good idea but here it goes. When Francoeur seems to be focused, he is somewhat productive. I think he loses that focus when (in situations like the second inning last night) he gets RBI opportunities and starts thinking about knocking the sticthes off the ball. How about moving Francoeur to the two-hole in the line up. I know that position in the line up is usually reversed for a high contact guy which is the exact opposite of what Francoeur is, but perhaps that would put Jeff in situations where he had to focus on going to the right side and do the things he was doing in April. In other words take his focus off of slugging and RBI and put it simply on contact. Again, I realize how radical this suggestion is, but if nothing else, it would break-up the swarm of rally killers the Braves have at the bottom of their batting order.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
Garret Anderson was so safe in the 9th inning. Not sure how a play makes Sports Center top 5, when the hitter is clearly safe at first.
Daslied
May 29th, 2009
1:55 pm
I don’t think you trade Francoeur, but I don’t think he should be playing every day right now. I agree with those of you who say he should be in the minors fixing things. He’s likely not going to improve putting tons of pressure on himself in the majors. I’m just almost convinved they won’t send him down. The guy does have skills, and he’s only 25. He probably won’t be “The Natural” any longer, but he should definitely turn into a decent offensive player. Please, Atlanta – for the love of god – do the best thing for all involved and send him to AAA for at least a few months. Brandon Jones is an improvement right now.
fleming
May 29th, 2009
1:55 pm
Question for the blog. After constantly having to read in game and after game critisms of batters not “working the count”, what is the proper blog definition for Working the count.
1. Does that mean I’m supposed to take 1 pitch, 2 pitches, 3 pitches, …. , or I’m not working the count.
2. Does that mean if the pitcher hangs a breaking ball and I hit it out on the first pitch, then I should hang my head in shame because I didn’t “work the count”.
3. What if I “work the count” and take 2 called strikes and then swing at a pitchers pitch fork ball in the dirt because I’m trying to protect the plate. Is that OK because I “worked the count” prior to the pitch.
Just wanted to know. Maybe a better question is does anyone know what the term selective in baseball is and how it applies to batters.
Ugaman
May 29th, 2009
1:56 pm
DOB, I haven’t been able to post much in a couple of weeks, but after reading the blog from last night, I’m almost glad. I sort of feel sorry for you because I can choose to get away from all of the crap that people constantly spew on this blog. You have to be on here everyday because its your job. Well, even if your job has its incredible benefits (being paid to watch baseball everyday and hang out with major league players), the constant negativity on this blog would drive me clinically insane. So, I don’t blame you if you actually sit at the bar and drown yourself with Newcastle or Guiness while responding to most of the ignorant imbeciles on this blog. cheers!
Jim
May 29th, 2009
1:58 pm
Agree with Kudzu Wildcat – send Ice Cold and JF down, bring up Blanco and B. Jones. Ice Cold and JF should stay down there until at least July 4, no matter how well they do.
Also, release or trade Norton – he’s not even hitting the weight of Willy Mendoza’s wife. Anderson to #1 PH. Diaz in left, Blanco in CF and B. Jones in RF. KJ should play some LF, too, and let Prado play 2B. Re Prado, we need to find out whether he’s just in a slump or whether last year was an aberation on the up side.
Our pitching is fine, in fact, good. We’ve lost McCann, C. Jones and Escobar – our best hitters – for too many games. A winning team might be able to carry one non-performing hitter but not Anderson (no power), Ice Cold (no contact), JF (no idea). Making the changes suggested above is a no risk venture – how can we do any worse with the new guys.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
2:01 pm
Great points Jim, the team needs to try something and try it soon. If it doesn’t work, what have we lost…games? We’ve lost 4 in-a-row, and there are 2 or 3 obvious holes in this lineup. Time to make some changes.
ncscoots
May 29th, 2009
2:02 pm
how can we do any worse with the new guys.
I swear, LOL, if I read that “not any worse” argument any more, I’m going to start cleaning weapons and making travel plans.
Billy Walsh
May 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
You cannot argue balls and strikes. Thats why Varitek got thrown out.
A rookie umpire with a short fuse who threw out both managers and Varitek (apparently no one used profanity either. Say what you want about Varitek..the GT alum has TWO RINGS, is the consumate leader, and is adored by the nation.