Medlen, Braves need win — badly

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Frank from KS

May 31st, 2009
5:54 pm

Braves Paisan

Ummmmm…….I seem to remember Sid Bream being a not-so-prototypical power-hitting 1st baseman and the Braves did alright with him.

RHR

May 31st, 2009
5:54 pm

Is he old enough to drink gatorade?

Braves Paisan

May 31st, 2009
5:54 pm

Frank, my NY fans didn’t believe me when I told them to PLEASE be patient with Tex, that he wouldn’t hit for crap for the first five weeks … and then we he started to hit, he would hit for the rest of the year.

But … being NY-ers, they have told me they reserve the right to boo him.

Virginia Ranger

May 31st, 2009
5:54 pm

DOB any word on Casey?

Interested Observer

May 31st, 2009
5:54 pm

If Prado is barely servicable at 1B, what would Barbaro Canizares be?

cs95

May 31st, 2009
5:54 pm

is it too late/too risky to release glavine and trade vasquez (yes, vasquez) for a bat and let medlen and hanson go. Then if need be we have morton.

Jerald Holcombe

May 31st, 2009
5:54 pm

common sense: nobody said diddly squat about Kotchman being an allstar first baseman. He is a great defensive first baseman. Big friggin difference.

Chop Chop

May 31st, 2009
5:55 pm

Medlen = “Lord, please give me some runs today. I don’t want them to blame my flat-billed cap anymore. I love my flat-billed cap.”

I guess it worked.

Facts? What Facts?

May 31st, 2009
5:55 pm

ANDY… OK YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE ERROR THING. BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN HE IS ALL THAT. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN HIM MAKE SOME PRETTY BAD PLAYS THAT HE DIDNT GET CHARGED AN ERROR FOR. HE IS NOT THAT GOOD A HITTER AND HAS NO POWER EITHER. WE HAVE HAD SOME GOOD FIRST BASEMANS IN THE PAST BUT HE IS NOTHING MORE THAN MARGINAL.

You go common sense! Reality is for losers. Stick to your belief no matter how incorrect…and do it with caps! Nice!

Jerald Holcombe

May 31st, 2009
5:55 pm

I’d rather trade Kawakami than Vazquez.

AndyC

May 31st, 2009
5:56 pm

common sense

You trash Kotchman on his defense and then when everyone crushes you for being ignorant then you start to trash his offense to try to support your argument. So which is it? Is he bad defensively or offensively? Just admit that you were wrong.

Jerald Holcombe

May 31st, 2009
5:56 pm

basemans? That’s humorous

Fred

May 31st, 2009
5:57 pm

Common sense, If you are watching the game, you should know that Joe and Boog said that Kotchman has not committed an error as a brave. Meanwhile, Prado is primarily a second baseman who has played little first base prior to this season.

Bobby's Belly

May 31st, 2009
5:57 pm

first 15k fans get cap! everyone gets a cap and atl’s homeless will have new headware too

common sense

May 31st, 2009
5:57 pm

im just saying he aint that good. everybody is all upset cause he got hurt. but he hasnt been in the league full time but just 2 years.
im not saying he sucks or anything. im just saying he is easy to replace. especially at first base. geez if andrew jones can play first now anybody can. it is also know as the retirement spot for most catchers.

Rodney Derrick

May 31st, 2009
5:58 pm

When folks talk about trade possibilities and Braves system wide pitching depth, one team with a great center field prospect is the financially rich NY Yankees. The Yankees have a potential star in center fielder Austin Jackson, who is hitting .348 at Class AAA.

common sense

May 31st, 2009
5:58 pm

you guys are hilarious.

brian

May 31st, 2009
5:59 pm

with Medlen now regaining his control and showing he can pitch in the majors along with Glavine coming back, decisions have to be made. Obviously Wren can keep Medlen, Morton, and Hanson at AAA this year and bring them up next year when Glavine retires and Vazquez is traded. He can also put out feelers to see what Medlen or Morton can bring. Could one of them bring DeRosa? Or could one of them bring a top quality position prospect near the majors or a year from the majors?
Or has Medlen’s performance today given Wren enough comfort to throw Vazquez’s name out on the market for a trade this year knowing that Hanson is ready and Medlen can step into the 5th starter role? Morton is not a bad back up at all for Medlen

StingerSplash

May 31st, 2009
5:59 pm

I think sometimes it’s hard to judge good 1B defense … until you don’t have it and then you see how many low throws aren’t scooped up, how many plays in the hole aren’t made, how many outfield throws aren’t cut off when they can be, etc.

SoWeGa Fanatic

May 31st, 2009
5:59 pm

“Breaking ball. Didn’t hurt.” You ain’t ever been hit by a baseball, have you?

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:00 pm

You guys if we are basing all this on defense then shaffer should be in this conversation as well. He has played pretty good in the field but he has no business being our center fielder

Redstick19

May 31st, 2009
6:01 pm

common sense is not aptly named, is he?

BravesFanChris24

May 31st, 2009
6:02 pm

Medlen going the distance?

Interested Observer

May 31st, 2009
6:02 pm

Medlen is pitching at a noticeably slower pace today. Not nearly as frantic looking as his first two starts. It’s good to see he’s calmed down.

Capt Caveman

May 31st, 2009
6:02 pm

Good to see that with 9-0 score and Medlen pitching a 1 hit shutout there is still something that the idiots on this blog can beatch and moan about. Casey gets HBP, so now we try to slam him for his defense at first base.. Yeah — makes sense.

Chop Chop

May 31st, 2009
6:03 pm

common sense = uncommon inanity

RHR

May 31st, 2009
6:03 pm

I just got an email from braves.com with the Indians logo on it. :lol:

Sgt. Pepper

May 31st, 2009
6:03 pm

Jerald Holcombe –

I’m with you on keeping Vazquez over Kawakami.

Not only has Kawakami been hurting the team with his performance, but I fear his signing is going to haunt the Braves for a long time in a number of ways. We have great young pitchers coming up, and we need a place for them. No one is going to take KK off our hands, so that makes a better pitcher, such as Vazquez, the odd man out. So then his presence not only weakens his position in the rotation, but also our overall depth.

I just keep hoping the warm weather will improve his control as the Braves claimed it would when he struggle early. Otherwise, he is going to be weighing us down for the next three seasons by performing poorly, and resulting in the absence of other better pitchers.

cs95

May 31st, 2009
6:03 pm

vasquez would net more in a trade than KK and KK will not be traded or demoted, because wren wants that connection to the japanese player

AndyC

May 31st, 2009
6:03 pm

common sense

Wow. I just learned everything I need to know about you.

SoWeGa Fanatic

May 31st, 2009
6:03 pm

“Tomahawkin

May 31st, 2009
5:28 pm
Matty-D Standing Up

Hitting is contageous…

I bet we wont score 8 runs the next 2 games…”

Good grief, enjoy this one before you quit on the next two, Loser.

RHR

May 31st, 2009
6:04 pm

The subject line was “Enter to Win Top Braves Prizes and Playoff Tickets!”

… Maybe that’s why.

cs95

May 31st, 2009
6:05 pm

the question now is when do you get more for vasquez now in the middle of season when teams are in division races and for 1 1/2 seasons or during the offseason

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:05 pm

I think it is pretty funny that you guys are all on the same boat for kotchman.
common sense says kotchman is just an average first baseman.
In my fantasy baseball league kotchman is a free agent and nobody wants him…why is that???? could it be that there are many other teams with better firstbasemen.

Braves Paisan

May 31st, 2009
6:05 pm

I’ve had fastballs thrown at my head, but in purely amateur ball. Didn’t hurt as much as a head-to-head knocks in college football, however.

Intent matters.

Chop Chop

May 31st, 2009
6:05 pm

RHR.

I got that e-mail, too. It was in my junk mail.

(I’m being serious.)

Goldenglove002

May 31st, 2009
6:06 pm

If Prado is barely serviceable than Canizares is a DH.

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:06 pm

Andy… let me ask you… what has this team done in the last few years.
enough said.

Capt Caveman

May 31st, 2009
6:07 pm

common sense — you just hit the nail on the head. You are a fantasy league idiot, that crap has nothing to do with REAL BASEBALL.

what are you, like 12 yrs old??

Roman Gal

May 31st, 2009
6:07 pm

Does anyone know of any good crow places that deliver in Ohio? I’m fixin’ to eat some…

Steve from OH – Sure, I ordered some from the Ohio Crow Company a few weeks ago. I really like mine with a side of bitter, theirs is great.

RHR

May 31st, 2009
6:07 pm

I’m glad Medlen has all his family watching today. Hey DOB if you get to talk to him after this, ask him what Chipper came over and said to him in the 1st?

SoWeGa Fanatic

May 31st, 2009
6:07 pm

Common Sense, you have none.

legalbuzz

May 31st, 2009
6:08 pm

Kotchman:
Tied for Braves lead in Doubles and RBI’s going into today and Gold Glove defense, yet he is “easily replaceable”? We aren’t deep enough that any starter is easily replaceable, much less someone tied for team lead in RBI’s.

Redstick19

May 31st, 2009
6:09 pm

common sense- fantasy leagues (most of them, at least) don’t count defensive stats. That’s why he’s available. Next arguement, please… You can’t say that he’s a poor defensive player and then use his offensive stats to make your point. So what else you got, slick.

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:09 pm

you base statistics in fantasy play. You want the players with the numbers. Kotchman doesnt match up with leagues best at first.

capt caveman… you are asking someone their age??? Have you looked at your name lately?

Vinings Jim

May 31st, 2009
6:09 pm

RHR – I didn’t scroll down the e-mail far enough to notice, but I just went back, and there it was.

Chop Chop

May 31st, 2009
6:09 pm

Garret looked like a tractor trailer trying to turn around in a phone booth on that play.

Jerald Holcombe

May 31st, 2009
6:09 pm

common sense, so first base is the retirement position for most catchers? Wow, I wasn’t aware that MOST catchers move to first base to extend their careers. I’m racking my brain trying to come up with a list of MOST catchers that ended up playing first base. Sorry, must be having a brain freeze cause I can’t think of but a few. Maybe you can help me out and name MOST of these catchers. Hmmmm?

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:11 pm

redstick… I just said he was a marginal first baseman. thats all.
I dont think he has any range at first. The errors are not there true.
I just dont think he is all that. thats all.

Braves Paisan

May 31st, 2009
6:11 pm

RHR

May 31st, 2009
6:11 pm

That was very Francoeuresque.

David O'Brien

May 31st, 2009
6:11 pm

Mark Reynolds has got serious whiffage.

SoWeGa Fanatic

May 31st, 2009
6:11 pm

The Kid has some cahunas!

AndyC

May 31st, 2009
6:12 pm

Way to go kid!

Boo

May 31st, 2009
6:12 pm

I can’t wait till interleague. Imagine Cox’s lineup of hard-hitting DHs: Garret Anderson, Matt Diaz, Martin Prado….

Chop Chop

May 31st, 2009
6:12 pm

Seems like four or five of the Ks today have been Francoeur specials. The D-Backs haven’t had a clue.

Can't Buy A Thrill

May 31st, 2009
6:13 pm

You’re seeing a young man grow up today in Medlen. A very confident walk off the mound after that K. You GO son. 8)

Capt Caveman

May 31st, 2009
6:13 pm

common sense — Have you looked at yours?? Go back and read your own posts, moron.

You are obviously a kid so you really have no credibility here. You are merely providing the blog with some comic relief today. But thanks for playing.

Paul Lentz

May 31st, 2009
6:13 pm

The thing I like about Medlen is that he gets strikeouts on pitches that are balls. That means that his pitches have serious velocity on it. Notice I said velocity, not speed. 9 strikeouts in 6 innings isnt bad. I hope that Bobby sends him out to start the 7th inning. He’s only thrown 91 pitches. He can go one more inning.

David O'Brien

May 31st, 2009
6:13 pm

X-Rays negative on Kotchman, which of course, is a positive report (only place where negative is positive; I’ve always been amused by that).

Contusion of the right shin.

Redstick19

May 31st, 2009
6:13 pm

Common sense- again, Kotchman doesn’t match up well right now offenseively with other 1st baseman. But that’s not your point- you are trying to convince us that he’s not a good defensive 1st baseman. That’s like trying to say that Greg Maddux is a bad pitcher because he has a batting average below .200. Get my pint now? So I ask again, what else you got?

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:13 pm

piazza stands out in my mind. but would have to look up some of the catchers. but yes. The good catchers move to first after there legs go.

SoWeGa Fanatic

May 31st, 2009
6:13 pm

“common sense

May 31st, 2009
5:58 pm
you guys are hilarious.”

and your and idiot.

Goldenglove002

May 31st, 2009
6:13 pm

Common Sense, you are a retard if you are judging a player based on how much they are owned in fantasy leagues. Kotchman is one of (if not the best) defensive 1B in the league, which does not normally count for fantasy baseball. His offensive production is definitely on the lower half of 1B, but he is still one of the better guys on the braves roster. you look at other 1B’s and you get some of the leagues best hitters in Gonzalez, Morneau, Pujols, etc. No wonder he isn’t owned.

J williams

May 31st, 2009
6:14 pm

Reynolds has more K’s than Schafer!!! Wow!

RHR

May 31st, 2009
6:14 pm

Are those people chanting “porn stache”? It really sounded like it. Heh.

Jerald Holcombe

May 31st, 2009
6:14 pm

Braves Paisan: I’ve had fastballs thrown at my head, but in purely amateur ball. Didn’t hurt as much as a head-to-head knocks in college football, however.

You are telling me that fastballs thrown at your head didn’t hurt very much? Don’t think I’d be admitting that to these guys. That’s almost a joke.

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:14 pm

where you guys getting this from… My only point was that I didnt think he was a good first baseman. I never said that I based it all in one area.

NCBravesFan

May 31st, 2009
6:15 pm

Is that Dirk Diggler on the mound for Arizona? :lol:

richbrave

May 31st, 2009
6:15 pm

KOTCHMON:

16 doubles and a high .270’s average is bad? All-star LEVEL glove is bad? And is it me or have I noticed when he’s been in the two hole he responds with some offense? I think he comes through MORE often than NOT when he’s heavily relied upon. I’m not saying he hasn’t hit into DP’s in clutch situations etc. But who this year hasn’t?

Yeah, let’s move KOTCHMON, and bring up every person who has shown any offense in the minors this season. We can have the arb clocks expire on an entire 25 man roster all at once. Oh yeah, intelligent. This championship team will be built one game at a time, and it MAY be the end of 2010 before all the kinks are ironed out.

Now trying CANIZARES for NORTON might be in the cards. I’m unaware how he has performed in a pitch-hitter role. He has three errors in GWINNETT this season and has been pretty servicable so far. But he’s no KOTCHMON around the first sack that’s for sure.

Braves Paisan

May 31st, 2009
6:15 pm

Don’t want to jinx him, but Medlen looked like a consummate pro pitcher today.

BravesFanChris24

May 31st, 2009
6:15 pm

Whew! Good news on Kotchman.

RHR

May 31st, 2009
6:16 pm

BravesFanChris24

May 31st, 2009
6:16 pm

cabravesfan

May 31st, 2009
6:16 pm

Norton getting in on the doubles today!

split decision

May 31st, 2009
6:16 pm

you guys are something else. where is this love affair with kotchman coming from.

RHR

May 31st, 2009
6:16 pm

So Medlen’s done? Aw man. Good work today, son.

legalbuzz

May 31st, 2009
6:16 pm

Hopefully Casey is ok but if he is banged up our immediate option appears to be AAA 1B Barbaro Rafael Canizares. He is hitting .335 with 8 HR and 31 RBI’s. That said, they just advised that X-rays on Casey are negative so hopefully after some ice and a day off he will be ok.

Vinings Jim

May 31st, 2009
6:16 pm

You can’t stop Norton, you can only hope to contain him!

split decision

May 31st, 2009
6:17 pm

I agree Kotchman is just average. Good D. Average pop. But bottom of the league in comparison to other first basemen.

cabravesfan

May 31st, 2009
6:17 pm

Six pretty much brilliant innings from the kid today…really nice to see :D

RHR

May 31st, 2009
6:17 pm

Gotta be careful if you’re having a love affair with Kotchman.

J williams

May 31st, 2009
6:17 pm

Can’t Norton play 1B? How about Cox getting him some time on the field. He’s done only pinch hitting this season.

Goldenglove002

May 31st, 2009
6:17 pm

Good news on Kotchman. Also good news that Norton got a hit. I was beginning to think he wasn’t even on the roster anymore.

Braveheart

May 31st, 2009
6:17 pm

You never wanna hear the word positive on a drug screen.

Uno-Ocho

May 31st, 2009
6:17 pm

NORTON!!

Get down here!

JJ

May 31st, 2009
6:18 pm

Common Sense –

You are entitled to your opinion. It’s just that it’s idiotic. GMs all over baseball would tell you CK is one of the best defensive 1b in the league. You base fantasy leagues off of offensive stats, which CK isn’t going to rack up. But this whole discussion started with your idiotic opinion that Martin is just as good defensively as Casey. That’s just dumb.

SoWeGa Fanatic

May 31st, 2009
6:18 pm

“capt caveman… you are asking someone their age??? Have you looked at your name lately?”
Oh, I hate to admit this, but Cap, he’s got you there.

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:18 pm

Thank you. I like Kotchman. I just wish we had some stick at first.

Boo

May 31st, 2009
6:18 pm

Il Cattivo

May 31st, 2009
6:18 pm

Hanson @ Gwinnett:

4 IP, 1 H , 7 SO

He continues to amaze.

Chop Chop

May 31st, 2009
6:18 pm

I know why I don’t like Joe and Boog (or Chip…or Marc Fein). It’s because they sound like little league parents encouraging their kids. It finally hit me that that is why they bother me so much.

common sense

May 31st, 2009
6:19 pm

I NEVER SAID THAT KOTCHMAN SUCKED DEFENSIVELY. NEVER SAID IT…
I JUST SAID HE WAS NOT ALL THAT.

Paul Lentz

May 31st, 2009
6:19 pm

I know that Schafer is struggling, however you guys have to remember that this is in his rookie year. If Bobby decides to keep Diaz in right, then I would keep Schafer in the 8th spot. He plays a good enough centerfield. I feel that not having Franceour in the line-up will take less pressure off Schafer because his hitting woes wont be as noticeable with Franceour’s easy out bat taken out of the line-up. If Diaz produces like I feel he can, then that puts less pressure on Schafer. The kid will hit. But the Braves cannot afford to have 2 easy outs in the line-up. One easy out who has the potential to get better is much preferable.

David O'Brien

May 31st, 2009
6:20 pm

Braves hadn’t had two players with three doubles in one game since 1986, when Andres Thomas and Glenn Hubbard did it

Goldenglove002

May 31st, 2009
6:20 pm

Hanson only went 4 innings? or has the game only gone 4 innings so far.

I honestly can’t say I’m expecting any less than those numbers for him at AAA at this point in time. He does it almost every game.

Tinky Winky

May 31st, 2009
6:20 pm

“capt caveman… you are asking someone their age??? Have you looked at your name lately?”

What is wrong with it?

Redstick19

May 31st, 2009
6:20 pm

common sense from %;42 p.m.–
I HAVE YET TO SEE GOLD GLOVE CALIBER DEFENSE FROM KOTCHMAN????
HE IS MARGINAL AT BEST. ON OUR LONG LIST OF FIRST BASEMANS HE IS NO WHERE NEAR THE TOP.

That’s where we’re getting it from. Coming back to you now? Nice touch in all caps, too.

SoWeGa Fanatic

May 31st, 2009
6:20 pm

“I just said he was a marginal first baseman. thats all.
I dont think he has any range at first.”
Oh. In that case, you would be…wrong!

Vinings Jim

May 31st, 2009
6:20 pm

Wow, this may have been mentioned, but I just saw that Nadal lost at the French Open (and not to Federer)!

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