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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,631 comments Add your comment
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
11:34 pm
4-29 Hitting w/ R.I.S.P. This roadtrip…?
T-Hawkin is getting another Hot-Flash thinking about that!!!!
Danga
May 28th, 2009
11:34 pm
Steve from Ohio…Amen on that 11.27 post.
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 28th, 2009
11:35 pm
I would like to know how TP is handling this. Who, if anyone, is he working with, and what is he telling them? How does he address such a disfunctional offense?
Supes
May 28th, 2009
11:35 pm
Hey, be of good cheer. 2011 we’ll actually have some talanted OF with power and a revamped roster! That’s only 2 MLB seasons away!
Steve from OH
May 28th, 2009
11:35 pm
N8, I should’ve specified “during game time.” Big omission. Lunchtime is a rather plesant time to blog.
PWH–I enjoy your input, I really do. Yours was just an easy one to pick on…
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 28th, 2009
11:36 pm
You have to give Lowe credit. He’s hanging tuff.
LT- A Blogger
May 28th, 2009
11:36 pm
DOB should be proud!!!
Kansas’s Kavya Shivashankar spells “Laodicean” to win the National Spelling Bee Championship!!!
Though, she’s not nearly as hot as Anoushka Shankar. It probably would still have been more fun than watching this. I’m going to bed.
Jeff321
May 28th, 2009
11:36 pm
Haren hits the cold concrete.
kotchman
May 28th, 2009
11:37 pm
braves need to get some kind of spark or something, next month is bruuuuutal. we might be trading instead of looking for an outfielder in 30 days.
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 28th, 2009
11:38 pm
Steve from OH, I’m with you.
curtis jones
May 28th, 2009
11:38 pm
Haren hurt himself, but could have struck out Schaefer from a stretcher.
N8
May 28th, 2009
11:38 pm
Losing Infante WAS huge, because regardless of him being a “bench player”, he was our best hitting CF. Our best hitting 2B. Our backup 3B. And our backup SS. Along with not only our best leadoff hitter, but one of the better ones in the league (statistically in 2009, anyhow).
So yeah. It was a big deal.
“…losing a good bench guy is what good teams get over quick.”
Whoever stated that makes one VERY BIG incorrect assumption. This isn’t a good team. Yes. The Braves in 1995, would have “gotten over” losing their utility guy.
The way Wren constructed this team, no. They won’t get over it anytime soon.
PWHjort
May 28th, 2009
11:38 pm
I think you know I’m not one of the ones on here during games ripping people after every at-bat or constantly calling for people to be fired, etc. But the way this team is content to score 2 runs a game, the way we don’t work the count, and the way we just generally play with no passion whatsoever (except Mike Gonzalez) disgusts the hell out of me. It’s like I’m a bad guy for being disappointed when my team plays like crap. OK…..
groundfog
May 28th, 2009
11:38 pm
Day off for Schafer or fire Cox now!
kotchman
May 28th, 2009
11:39 pm
let’s send schafer to tex for andrew
BigMacAttack
May 28th, 2009
11:39 pm
K’afer sighting. He just keeps getting better everyday
Danga
May 28th, 2009
11:40 pm
There are many intelligent bloggers here whom I really enjoy reading. It just seems that during streaks like the current one that the blog disintegrates into name calling and screeches for heads to roll. I suppose I should work on my scrolling down skills.
Steve from OH
May 28th, 2009
11:40 pm
N8, I agree that losing Infante was huge. But it would hurt a lot less if Escobar wasn’t simultaneously hurt as well. GMs can’t really plan to have good options readily available when their top two SS go out at the same time.
groundfog
May 28th, 2009
11:40 pm
Any idiot can see whatever they are doing with Schafer aint working-time to change it up-he is getting worse!
No More Bobby
May 28th, 2009
11:41 pm
Honestly we have had big bats, great pitchers and different coaches with no results for many years now. The one guy still here is the one that needs to go.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD – FIRE BOBBY COX!!!!!!!!!
kotchman
May 28th, 2009
11:41 pm
we need a 2 run shot..
Elvis Presley
May 28th, 2009
11:42 pm
Kelly got a triple double. That’s two doubles and a blown double play that cost the game/series/season. Again.
brady wilfred
May 28th, 2009
11:42 pm
Our best hitting 2B.
Thus far this year until the injury, yeah. Overall no.
Guys, I know Infante was hitting some crazy-high stuff, but that is NOT who he really is.
FaninFaytown
May 28th, 2009
11:42 pm
Wow another K for Jordan. I wish I had a solution, as does everyone else here but theres just no quick fix. Kid has just got to learn to put the bat on the ball.
Committee on Redundancy Committee
May 28th, 2009
11:43 pm
“simultaneously hurt as well” -Steve from OH
Jake W.
May 28th, 2009
11:43 pm
At this point it may not hurt to switch Schafer out with Blanco. Schafer has the higher upside so you want to get him to work things out. It’s one thing not to hit but he’s really not even making contact. At this point I think going to Triple A and letting the kid get his head on right could help him.
Chop Chop
May 28th, 2009
11:43 pm
Pull Haren and turn Chipper around. That’s what I’d do.
alsim
May 28th, 2009
11:43 pm
Thru the lineup:
Kelly – up & down & down
Yunel – how can a guy 6′2, 200 only have 19 career HR. Too young to have so many injuries. Will he ever be an All-Star?
Chipper – stellar career is winding down, oft-injured.
McCann – awesome, no complaints.
Kotchman – 1st Basemen are supposed to hit 20+ HRs, 100 RBI. He does not.
Garret – going thru the motions.
Diaz – not enough power.
Frenchy – ’nuff said.
Schafer – not ready for the majors.
No base stealers. Just a bunch of singles hitters, half of Chipper & McCann = no playoffs.
brady wilfred
May 28th, 2009
11:43 pm
Losing Escobar is what bothers me a lot more than Infante.
Escobar this team really misses.
BigMacAttack
May 28th, 2009
11:43 pm
4-4 so far in making teams and pitchers seem better than their records. Cubs playing Dodgers now, they’re at .500 and could be below .500 when they come to Atlanta, which means the braves better watch out for them
jokes on us
May 28th, 2009
11:44 pm
what will really be funny is when Shelly and all the other 0-fers light it up for 2 months to finish the season when they are 20 games out of it and the season is already over. Then they finish with decent looking stats just like last year and we all fall for the same false hope for next year. People need to be traded or let go. HEads need to role. People dont feel they need to try because Bobby will never change as loyalty is # in his book. God i wish we had LaRussa or somebody firey like that. I effin hate Steve Spurrier but sometimes it takes punting on 3rd down to send a message.
Steve from OH
May 28th, 2009
11:44 pm
PWH–there is a HUGE difference between being disappointed when your team plays like crap, saying you think a change needs to be made, etc. etc. (except stupid things like “fire Snitker” etc.) and saying it every 5 seconds of every game. It’s redundant and pointless and adds nothing to the conversation. At all. So you think the June schedule is tough? Cool. Great observation. Say it once and be done with it. The observant bloggers will notice and the ones that don’t, well, ya don’t need ‘em anyway. Saying it again and again does nothing to further the conversation. Again, not trying to lump you in with the bigtime negative posters of the world, it’s just that your post was a very easy one to use.
curtis jones
May 28th, 2009
11:44 pm
Everybody’s talking about how the loss of Infante is so huge. Great BA, great OPB. Agreed, he is a sparkplug. But few seem to recall that the Braves’ Hall of Fame manager rarely had the “team’s best leadoff hitter…in the freakin’ starting lineup!
Diaper Dan
May 28th, 2009
11:44 pm
Cox stopped goosing his pitchers when they leave the mound. Rumor has it, he squeezed on a dirty diaper and came away with stinky fingers.
Chop Chop
May 28th, 2009
11:45 pm
Well, worked out for Haren. Good pitching.
Danga
May 28th, 2009
11:45 pm
Escobar’s loss has put a black hole from the 6th spot on down in the lineup. The opposing pitchers can pretty much coast through 1/2 of our lineup. We just aren’t deep enough offensively to lose any players.
brady wilfred
May 28th, 2009
11:45 pm
Geez, Chipper has been “tutoring” K’fer a little too much.
Bravos33
May 28th, 2009
11:45 pm
That may not “be who Infante really is”, but he is certainly better than any of the performances we are currently receiving from the other members of the lineup.
braves70
May 28th, 2009
11:46 pm
Face it folks this group of Braves will be lucky to not finish 5th. This team stinks as much as any Braves team I have seen in my 39 years of following the Braves. Frank Wren should be canned immeadiately for putting together this monstrosity. Bobby Cox is already retired whether he knows it or not. The Braves would be wise to be sellers rather than buyers at the trade deadline. This season is OVER.
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 28th, 2009
11:46 pm
WOW! Braves are 5th in the league in OBP, but 14th in slugging %. Amazing.
Steve from OH
May 28th, 2009
11:46 pm
Ah, I’ve been caught by the committee that caught me!
FaninFaytown
May 28th, 2009
11:46 pm
Shelly?
Zap Rowsdower
May 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
Escobar this team really misses.
Other teams miss him they do not
kotchman
May 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
we don’t supouse to know but losing is ok for this team. let’s make sure schafer, kotchman, JJ, hanson, freeman, heyward. and get rid of a few contracts like chipper (way too much money), vasquez, francoeur, Garret anderson, soriano (6.5 mill wow). and hopefully develope a couple more players in the next few years.
curtis jones
May 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
at 11:43, alsim wrote that Garret is “going through the motions.” I’m not even seeing a lot of motion.
BigMacAttack
May 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
Braves trend: get a run, give up a run. Will it continue?
phlegm
May 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
This would never happen:
Journalist: Mr. Cox, what do you think of your team’s execution tonight?
BC: I’m all for it.
brady wilfred
May 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
Oh, the Braves scored. So now it’s time to instantly give up the run.
curtis jones
May 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
Yep, Jorge Campillo’s back in midseason form.
Steve from OH
May 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
Now if you want to be negative, the 11:47 post is how it’s done!
N8
May 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
Steve, I gotcha. Like I said. Just pointing out the irony in it.
I’ve stopped blogging (about the current games) during game time. I’ll bitch about this game when it’s over. I’ve now broadened my groaning to just “general” Braves crap, during game time. LOL!
The sad thing, is that the only real reason I “pick” on Bobby, is because so many people want to praise him for the good old days, and give him a pass now (the irony in that kills me). So I try and be reasonable about it. That being said, there are things about Bobby I don’t like (some that I do like to go along with them), but I don’t think this mess is his fault.
Normally, I’d blame the players. But that is where Bobby could “help”. I blame Francoeur for being a horrible hitter in recent months. But who’s to blame? The guy that can’t hit? The guy that keeps putting him out there EVERY game? Or the GM who built his 2009 team with the assumption/hope that Jeff would turn it around?
I’m starting to think this mess is ALL on Wren. THE ONLY thing that’s gone his way since he took over for JS, is the Renteria for JJJ/Gorkys trade. That’s it. I guess he deserves a bit of credit for getting Kotchman out of Tex. I think he could have got more for him had he traded him BEFORE last season started, and was ridiculed for suggesting it.
But other than that. Things just haven’t gone so well. Furcal, Griffey Jr., Burnett, Smoltz, deciding to keep Francoeur, deciding to NOT keep Josh (not that big – but shouldn’t have been done without another viable CF option).
I take that back. He chose to sign Ross to back up McCann. THAT was a good move. Can’t complain there.
I’m not sure what deals were “on the table” this past off-season (or even right now). We probably will never know. Not like anybody would buy the Frank Wren biography where he could tell such tales. But if that Ludwick for KJ deal was an option this past off-season. That was a mistake to pass on.
Passing on Dunn, Abreu and Ibanez was silly at best. I feel like I’m forgetting some of them. If I am. Feel free to chime in.
Anyhow. The point of this post, is that unless he fixes this mess and fast (I know it’s going to be tough to do before mid-to-late June), he will be soley responsible for why a team with this much pitching depth consistently plays .500 baseball.
PWHjort
May 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
I understand what you’re saying Steve. Completely. And I tend to agree. I just don’t see how my post illustrated that point.
Steve from HO
May 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
That June schedule sure is tough. Anybody check that out? The schedule? In June? Of the Braves? Brutal.
Bravos33
May 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
I wish I could say that we have a chance to improve with our current makeup, but it just simply isn’t possible. The only chance we have is for multiple guys to get hot, and the reality is that we do not have guys capable of that. We have too many mediocre hitters that we rely on. It is tough for Kotchman, Johnson, Francoeur, and LF platoon to all get somewhat hot at the same time. That is the reality of what we have to hope for. They simply cannot produce enough when they are not “going well.”
freshd
May 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
Im not hating on the braves, but even a blind man can see that GARRET ANDERSON isn”t playing hard and he wants to be somewhere else.I CALL THAT TOUGH LOVE!
jokes on us
May 28th, 2009
11:52 pm
yeah, you know, Shelly Johnson. That woman out there playing second base.
Jackie Moon
May 28th, 2009
11:52 pm
What does TP do? I know his title is “hitting coach”, but what does he actually do? Does he talk to the hitters? Does he work with them in batting practice? Does he do anything? Does he tell Francouer to lay off the first pitch after the batter before him gets walked? Is he held accountable when the offense doesn’t produce? What is his role? Do the players trust him? If so, why do they seek help from hitting coaches from other teams during the offseason? Are there still fans out there who think he’d be a good manager once Bobby is gone? Surely not. These are questions floating through my head during the past couple of weeks.
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 28th, 2009
11:52 pm
If nothing is done this inning, then again one inning has beaten us.
kotchman
May 28th, 2009
11:52 pm
i want my braves to develop players like the marlins, twin, brewers, cardinals, even if take years. than buying players left and right and getting nothing like cubs, yanks, mets, LA, dodgers.
let’s enjoy that we are developing a few players and others are young and future MLB stars.
PWHjort
May 28th, 2009
11:53 pm
Wow, I just read the funniest post of the night over at another blog:
“drew Says:
So Don is talking about Dan Haren, who apparently loves Seinfeld and has all the episodes. And he says, “to borrow a phrase from that show, Haren tonight has truly been ‘master of his domain’.”
Well, yes, I suppose so. Dan Haren has refrained from masturbating out on the pitcher’s mound. Good call, Don.”
mr baseball
May 28th, 2009
11:53 pm
The Braves have 2 OFs who are utterly useless on offense. They have an OF sitting on the bench all but a game or 2 a week batting close to .300. Why is that?
How does a team with a player so obviously overmatched offensively as Schafer send the kid out out day after day with the knowledge that’s he not going to be able to contribute anything at the plate. And unless I’ve missed something, he hasn’t been all that exceptional with the glove.
This is getting pretty ridiculous. With Blanco not any sort of reasonable alternative, the Braves don’t have much choice but to put someone in CF who is not really a CF, but at least might get a hit more than 2 or 3 times a week.
Or they can keep sending Schafer out until he crosses the Mendoza line, with the thoroughly befuddled RF not far behind him.
The possibility of any kind of trade for OF help is extremely remote, and the Braves don’t need to try another Teixeira trade. The best they can hope for is some kind of stop gap deal, because what they have in AAA is not the answer.
Anyone out there still think this is a playoff calieber team? Really? Please explain.
BigMacAttack
May 28th, 2009
11:54 pm
“That June schedule sure is tough”
maybe maybe not. braves are playing terrible against the bad teams and good against the good teams. Only bad teams in June are Baltimore and Pittsburgh for 7 games.
Guy On The Radio Just Said
May 28th, 2009
11:55 pm
“Haren just a little more dominant than Lowe tonight.” In other news, Obama’s a little more well spoken than G W Bush.
kotchman
May 28th, 2009
11:55 pm
Qualls in not that great. against good offensive teams
PWHjort
May 28th, 2009
11:55 pm
“I wish I could say that we have a chance to improve with our current makeup, but it just simply isn’t possible.” (Bravos33)
Yeah, you’re right, I suppose it’s extremely difficult to find 2 MLB average corner outfielders to replace the corner OF group we’ve got. I mean, what’s rarer, a 300 game winner or a decent hitting corner outfielder?
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 28th, 2009
11:56 pm
Not a walk in the game. How often does that happen?
brent a.
May 28th, 2009
11:56 pm
hard to believe that Loadicean won the spelling bee title.
I’m not joking here. Most of the time, I don’t even know the word that wins it.
RHR
May 28th, 2009
11:57 pm
That boy has got heart, I’ll tell you that right now.
kotchman
May 28th, 2009
11:58 pm
GA 1ts homerun
brady wilfred
May 28th, 2009
11:58 pm
KJ for Ludwick seems to be the new Rocco Baldelli thing: the rumor that died early and some won’t shut up about.
Stevie Wonder
May 28th, 2009
11:58 pm
I can’t see this team making the playoffs.
brent a.
May 28th, 2009
11:58 pm
PWJhort’s 11:53 is another example of why baseball is almost always more entertaining on the radio.
JD
May 28th, 2009
11:58 pm
PWH – That’s pretty funny
brady wilfred
May 28th, 2009
11:58 pm
LOAF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Make the last out Francoeur, how fitting.
BigMacAttack
May 28th, 2009
11:59 pm
lol @ anderson trying to run fast.
PWHjort
May 28th, 2009
11:59 pm
Chad Qualls should kiss his middle infielders and 1B after this game.
JD
May 28th, 2009
11:59 pm
kotchman – That was a funny looking homerun there.
Chop Chop
May 28th, 2009
11:59 pm
That’s a benefit of the doubt call.
groundfog
May 28th, 2009
11:59 pm
We are getting robbed on those lol! At least GA showing some life
kotchman
May 29th, 2009
12:00 am
why GA didn’t say anything, show some FFFFFFFIIIIIIIRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE. or bobby coooxie!!!!!
Elvis Presley
May 29th, 2009
12:00 am
“hard to believe that Loadicean won the spelling bee title.”
What a racist thing to say. I’m Loadicean, and we’re plenty smart.
StingerSplash
May 29th, 2009
12:00 am
And your Atlanta Braves are under .500 again right … about … now. Thank you, Frenchy.
freshd
May 29th, 2009
12:00 am
GARRET ANDERSON JUST MADE SPORTCENTER, HE WAS CALLED OUT BECAUSE HE LOAFS TOO MUCH.GOOD NIGHT STENCHY!
BigMacAttack
May 29th, 2009
12:00 am
lol @ Francoeur keeping on keeping on
groundfog
May 29th, 2009
12:00 am
Jesus Francoer, three straight? I have no words
JD
May 29th, 2009
12:00 am
And Frenchy K’s his way into our hearts again.
brent a.
May 29th, 2009
12:01 am
two years in a row we begin a Memorial Day swoon
Mixxo
May 29th, 2009
12:01 am
Phew!
Glad that’s over with.
ABravesFan
May 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Hey DOB can you please ask Jeff Francouer why he sucks?
Thanks in advance
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 29th, 2009
12:02 am
And the sun will come up tomorrow too. But, it won’t be quite as bright.
groundfog
May 29th, 2009
12:02 am
We have arguably the worst looking two hitters in baseball on our roster.
brent a.
May 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Elvis,
are you joking, or did you misread my post. I’m confused. Note, I didn’t say, “a Loadicean”.
I hope you’re joking.
N8
May 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Steve, I agree that having Escobar out magnifies Infante’s loss. But to ONLY call Infante the backup SS, is selling his importance to this team short.
I think Diory has filled in admirably at SS. But we could use Infante’s bat on occasion in LF, CF, RF, 3B, SS and 2B.
His precence “spells” (or can) all of those guys keeping them fresh, and he was producing while giving guys days off.
So while Escobar being the everyday SS is the obvious bummer in the injury category, Infante’s versatility is what this week hitting team is really missing right now.
After tonights, soon to be loss, we will be 3-5 since Infante went down. Not gonna say he’s the reason for our slide. But I don’t think it’s out of line to assume that he would have started SOMEWHERE in a couple of those games, and since he was batting .349 at the time of the injury, I think he might have made the difference in one of those games.
With the way this roster is constructed (with him being the uber-sub, spot starting in many positions), losing him for two months will cost us around 2-4 games I’m guessing.
Then again, if Chipper and Escobar stay hurt, Francoeur stays in the lineup, and Schafer continues to pile up the K’s? Those 2-4 games will be the difference of having 91 losses or 95 losses. LOL!
BigMacAttack
May 29th, 2009
12:02 am
The “French Retreat” is 8 points away from his 08 season average.
jukeandjive
May 29th, 2009
12:03 am
FRENCHY WILL BE FINE WITH ANOTHER HITTING COACH!!! Preferably a new on in Atlanta. If our hitters have to continue to go elsewhere to improve, and don’t improve under Pendleton, then isn’t it obvious??? These guys are not getting the right something or other that Rudy in TX and other guys in the big leagues are getting. When have the Braves under Pendleton been a good much less a great hitting team. IT’S OBVIOUS! Let’s try that before trading our talent. NOW! PLEASE!!!
Chop It Up All-star
May 29th, 2009
12:04 am
Wow, if only there were a fantasy league for number of strikeouts per game by a player – Francoeur and Schafer would be awesome!!
Stu Klitenic
May 29th, 2009
12:04 am
“Losing Infante WAS huge, because regardless of him being a “bench player”, he was our best hitting CF. ”
That would be true if Infante ever had the chance to play CF.
LuisG
May 29th, 2009
12:04 am
And now we’re back under .500. And after having one of the best road records our team has “managed” to lose 4 straight against two teams with losing records. It’s like this has been the Braves’ story the last couple of years. It this thing going to end?
PD: Still a Braves fan and always will be.
TNScott
May 29th, 2009
12:04 am
I’m guessing that Tom Hallion had dinner reservations somewhere.
Rafael Furcal
May 29th, 2009
12:05 am
i sho is glad i didnt sign with the braves