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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,373 comments Add your comment
Steve from OH
June 10th, 2009
5:16 pm
bravos, I’d expect Diaz to play left and Anderson to DH based on the current roster. This means we’ll see a lot of Frenchy. Yay! Oh, wait, that’s not right….
a643dp
June 10th, 2009
5:16 pm
I think everybody is really negative on GA. The guy has batted .298 since May 10th. In comparison Frenchy is batting .191 since May 10th. The amazing thing about Frenchy is that he had 109ABs in May and had 1 BB. That is sooooooooooooooo pathetic. Another good thing is Diaz is batting .348 since May 10th. Sprinkle in a Nate McLouth take away Frenchy like last night and we got ourselves an OK outfield FOR NOW.
Buzzmeat
June 10th, 2009
5:17 pm
I am not negative on GA, just his defense sucks really bad.
PWHjort
June 10th, 2009
5:18 pm
a643dp,
It has been a rather empty .298. His / stats since May 10 are .298/.316/.402. with 4 walks and 5 XBH in 95 PA’s.
Steve from OH
June 10th, 2009
5:19 pm
Anderson is hitting .270/.304/.378 during the last 28 days. That’s not good no matter which way you slice it, a643dp.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
June 10th, 2009
5:21 pm
Steve from OH,
You’re probably right about the lineup, but I’d much rather see Heap DHing just to give his body a little rest. Even if it means playing GA in LF and Diaz in RF.
Scratch that. Especially if it means playing GA in LF and Diaz in RF.
CB
June 10th, 2009
5:21 pm
Paul Lentz, you have set a new blog standard for boring, mindless drivel. Do you know how hard that was?
bravos2249
June 10th, 2009
5:21 pm
Steve from OH
Well I completely left Diaz out….but It’d be nice putting Blanco in the 9th spot…instead of Frenchy….cause it’d be another player on base for Chipper…
And…GA hitting .270 in the last 28 games is a lot better than at least 2 players on this team
Chop Chop
June 10th, 2009
5:21 pm
Kinda like Juan Pierre without speed on the bases or range in the outfield, PWH.
scott
June 10th, 2009
5:21 pm
can ya boy get a lineup??
DevilInLaw
June 10th, 2009
5:21 pm
DOB, Any idea what the lineup is tonight? Please make our evening by telling us that Francoeur is not in it!
Steve from OH
June 10th, 2009
5:23 pm
Piedmont, that’s a good point. I hadn’t considered using Ross and Mac together in the lineup, and Ross’ bat would sure help us based on both what he’s done this season and what everyone else has done this season. Heck, if it gets Frenchy out of the lineup, I’m all for it! The only drawback would be that if Ross gets hurt and Mac has to catch, we’d lose the DH…right? At least I think so…
fastasballs
June 10th, 2009
5:24 pm
The more I read what you guys write about DeRosa the more I think the Braves could seriously use him. Think about it, you add his bat to the line up & subtract a bat from Frenchy, KJ or Loaf (love that name). He’s a good back up for basically any infield position or corner outfield spot.
He’s almost too perfect, lol. Add Infante in the mix when he’s back & the Braves could replace two of their three automatic outs with guys who can hit & work a count.
With the pitching staff coming together & the bullpen being as solid as it is the offense doesn’t need to put up 5-6 runs a game like the Phillies do, but it can’t get shut out in games when the 1-4 hitters in the order are not producing for that game. It happens way too much. As bad as Frenchy, Anderson & KJ has been it seems like majority of their offense (not much) has come when the Braves scores 8-10 runs, rarely in tight games. Maybe I’m wrong on that, but it seems like it to me.
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
5:24 pm
Lew………I could care less about Franceour’s “desire” to improve. The fact that he spends “hours” in the batting cage to work on his hitting is of little importance to me. What is IMPORTANT is what he does on the field of play. Bottom line, he simply DOES NOT produce. That is what I have against Franceour. The fact Braves management does not want to get rid of him because 1. they fear the public backlash….and 2. they have an unrealistic “fear” that Franceour is going to go somewhere else and turn into a “superstar”.
As a true Braves fan, I could care less about “public backlash”. Also, as a true Braves fan, I dont feel that it is right to “tank” this season (by playing Franceour and hitting him 5th and 6th in the line-up, the Braves are tanking the season)…..just for the unrealistic hope that Franceour will turn it around in a year or two. The Braves have a team who is just one right handed power hitting right fielder from going on a serious tear (just like the Braves did back in 1993 when they needed a left handed power hitter named Fred McGriff to go on the tear that they did to make it to the NLCS).
Again, it is nothing person. It’s about winning. Just because Franceour is a nice guy, signs autographs, has a good work ethic, and is a home town hero…..does not mean that he is “entitled” or has a “birthright” to play right field for the Atlanta Braves. His PRODUCTION at the plate is what SHOULD determine his “right” to play right field for the Braves.
McFann :Ô:
June 10th, 2009
5:25 pm
Bravos2249 I always wanted to ask you about how you were in school but on here at like 10am…lol…that explains it
Yeah, I cann sneak on here between subjects. (Immediately after lunch is a really good time, too)
I like the Triple A team (been to two games this year–Opening Night and BMac’s rehab game…hmm…maybe that second one didn’t have so much to do with the Triple A guys…). Thanks for the link. I’ll keep those in mind…
Prattvillenolzfan–
Hmm…no…we don’t live up there. We’ve got a ton of wildlife in our backyard, though. But yeah, I’ve lived in this house in Gwinnett all my life.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 10th, 2009
5:25 pm
From last blog:
After this series…the Braves have the following schedule through the end of the month:
3 at Baltimore
3 at Cincinnati
3 at Boston
1 vs Cubs (make-up)
3 vs NYY
3 vs Boston
3 vs Phi (2 games wrap around to July)
This is a very difficult schedule coming up for the Braves and, as NC Braves Fan has eluded from the previous blog, could actually determine what the Braves do in regards to trades in July.
Another reason I like the McLouth trade is that even if the Braves become sellers in July (due in large part to that difficult schedule), McLouth represents both an upgrade for the immediate future AND the for the next couple of years–at a relatively inexpensive cost.
Going back to the schedule…the Mets and Braves get the biggest raw deal every year in the NL when it comes to the interleague schedule. Their “natual rivals” of NYY and BOS, respectively, cause them to have to face these two teams TWICE every year. The Phillies, on the other hand, don’t play the Yankees at all, and only play Boston for one series. I know some are going to say that is whining…but, in reality, there really is a reason to be upset about this if you are the NYM and the Braves…
CB
June 10th, 2009
5:26 pm
No, we have another winner.
Dan
June 10th, 2009
5:29 pm
Raul Mondesi, 2005
OBP: .270
Slugging: .359
OPS: .630
Homeruns: 4
Extra-base hits: 12
Plate appearances: 155
Result: Released on May 31, 2005
Jeff Francoeur, 2009
OBP: .275
Slugging: .341
OPS: .616
Homeruns: 4
Extra-base hits: 11
Plate appearances: 230
Chop Chop
June 10th, 2009
5:29 pm
CB,
Why you was critical of Paul Lentz?
Lew
June 10th, 2009
5:29 pm
Paul Lentz-Read CB’s 5:21 post. It’s 100% accurate. I could add a few adjectives, but I feel you’ve probably heard them all before. Do you even realize how idiotic most of us here think you are. You’ve said nothing about Francoeur we haven’t heard so many times before we could repeat it all in our sleep. You’re boring, tedious and have nothing new to add to any debate. Whatever. Wallow in your meaninglessness. I guess it suits you.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
June 10th, 2009
5:31 pm
Steve, yes, if one of the catchers were to get hurt, we’d lose the DH for that game. Would rather take that chance than have Frenchy or Blanco in the lineup, however. Some of our pitchers could probably hit as well as either of them, anyway.
Gone Viral
June 10th, 2009
5:31 pm
Could we take an Occam’s Razor approach then? At this point, how many people here still consider Jeff Francoeur to be a viable (i.e. at least average) option as a starting corner outfielder?
beekay
June 10th, 2009
5:31 pm
It’s hard to like GA…his body language is awful. he seems to loaf when any ball is hit to a gap. He is possibly slower than Kotchman who I think is the slowest in the MLB, he never smiles and seems like he doesn’t enjoy the game. He has had a few meaningful hits but many seem like they are slap singles with 2 outs and no one on.
Steve from OH
June 10th, 2009
5:33 pm
Yes, x-BFIR, it’s definitely a risk worth taking considering the alternatives. Heck, Medlen probably could out-hit Frenchy right now. Sigh, now even I’m taking shots at the kid. Shame on me.
Efrim
June 10th, 2009
5:33 pm
Dan, that’s scary. If Francoeur were old, I’d bet he would be released by now. Don’t worry, you’ll only have to deal with him for a maximum of 3 and a 1/2 more months. We can all get on with our lives after that.
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
5:33 pm
CB…………a fan’s “actions” show whether they are a “true” Braves fan. Unyielding loyalty to a player (Smoltz, Glavine, Franceour, etc.), even when their production is hurting the team (paying them and giving them a roster spot hurts the team) shows that a fan is more loyal to the player than the team. It is incorrect to call oneself a “Braves’ fan” if you complain and cause an uproar when the Braves let Smoltz sign with the Red Sox for a guarantee $5 mil, with the option to make another 5 mil in incentives (by the way, how many innings has he pitched this year)…..or you get upset when the Braves cut Tom Glavine, even though paying him $3.5 mil would have hindered the Braves chances of landing Nate McLouth (by the way, how many innings has he pitched this year? Has another team picked him up since his release last week?)…or the unyielding support of Jeff Franceour, even though he is killing the Braves offense.
Saying that you are a Braves fan is one thing. Backing it up with your actions (you know, simple stuff like wanting to see the Braves sign and play players who will help the Braves actually win ball games…..instead of either stinking up the place or sitting on injured reserved because their old asses are taking a long time to heal).
Actions, not words, reveal whether on is a true fan.
Chop Chop
June 10th, 2009
5:34 pm
It’s spelled “France-our,” Gone Viral.
That sumbitch oughta eat some freedom fries. Maybe he’d be able to hit somethin’.
Ben (with American flag pen on shirt)
June 10th, 2009
5:36 pm
francoeur could use some freedom fries and liberty cabbage.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
June 10th, 2009
5:36 pm
Now that you mention it, Steve, I wonder if anybody’s actually crunched the numbers on how often a catcher is injured during the course of a typical season. Preventing injury is always used as the reason to not use your backup catcher as a pinch hitter, but how much of a risk is it? If your top pinch-hitter makes 50 appearances and a catcher leaves the field because of injury once every — I’m guessing here — 150 games, why not take that chance?
Besides, if you decide to use Ross or Heap as a PH only in the 8th inning or later, you’re minimizing the likelihood of being stuck with an emergency catcher.
Steve from OH
June 10th, 2009
5:38 pm
Another good point, Piedmont. I don’t know the numbers and am not going to crunch them (sorry!) but I would be interested to see them.
CB
June 10th, 2009
5:38 pm
What can I say Paul, you are correct sir, have a wonderful day,sir.
fastasballs
June 10th, 2009
5:39 pm
Anyone know if Thursday will be Smoltz’s last rehab start provided he does well? If so it’s possible he’s up with the Sox when the Braves head into Boston.
Burdell
June 10th, 2009
5:39 pm
Dan
The difference between Mondesi in 2005 and Francoeur in 2009 is that the Braves had a legitimate replacement in 2005 (a top prospect).
If Francoeur is released, who will take his spot? The viable options are guys with the same offense and worse defense. If Schafer recovers and hits the cover off the ball in AAA, that’s one thing. But until you have a viable replacement, there’s no reason to release a guy with a guaranteed contract.
Lew
June 10th, 2009
5:39 pm
Gone Viral-What does it matter how many think he’s viable or not? Really? Will it change what Bobby or the Braves will do with him? Will it make him any better or worse? Will it make him any more attractive as a trade piece?
I think we all realize by now that he has a terrible OBP. I think we all realize how he has lost his abiltiy to hit for consistent power or even to hit consistently. I think we all realize he has gone back to his old stance and old approach. Going over it ad nauseum and nitpicking hhis idiosyncracies will change nothing whatsoever. He is what he is and will be what he will be. Continual and constant berating of him , his abilities and his personality will garner us nothing whatsoever.
I realize that most are totally down on the Dude and no one is happy with the results he’s not achieving, but browbeating the guy becaue he turned his head on a play where he scored the winning run on an infield hit is on the dge of lunacy-even moreso since it’s been going on for almost 48 hous. God Almighty, even KJ droppped that freaking fly ball and cost us a game. Francoeur scored the F&*%king run.
N8
June 10th, 2009
5:40 pm
fastasballs, that’s all I’m saying, is that DeRosa (and Infante if he returns), offer better bats, than what we’ve got at the corners. Add to that, KJ would be more appreciated, being the bat he’s capable of being, rather than what is needed of him due to Frenchy and Garret being fairly worthless.
Not stating that DeRosa comes over and has a Fred McGriff like affect on the team. That would be silly. But simply adding his bat and dumping Jeff’s from the everyday lineup would be fine by me. Could actually platoon Loaf and Jeff, if need be.
But by playing Jeff everyday, Bobby is doing the exact opposite of what he gets so much credit for. Which is putting guys in position to succeed. He’s merely exposing him more often by playing him everyday. Which also hurts the team.
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
5:40 pm
N8………I have an easy answer to why Jeff Franceour is not a good player anymore. When he first came up, MLB did not know how to pitch him. It took awhile for MLB to figure him out. However, that time passed LONG AGO. In the past year and a half, it became common knowledge how to pitch Jeff Franceour. A big part of being a successful Major League player is one’s ability to make adjustments. I feel that the simple answer to Franceour’s hitting woes is that he simply does not have the ability to make those adjustments. There is a lot more to hitting than “talent” or raw athletic ability. Franceour is not capable of making adjustments at the plate. That is why I feel that the Braves need to get rid of him.
David O'Brien
June 10th, 2009
5:40 pm
BRAVES LINEUP
1. McLouth
2. Escobar
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. Anderson
6. Norton, 1B
7. Francoeur
8. Johnson
9. Jurrjens
Lars Taint
June 10th, 2009
5:40 pm
Paul Lentz, why don’t you give us another genius trade proposal to get rid of Frenchy, or are you still holding out for Texas to trade us Nelson Cruz for Vasquez and Frenchy despite the $15 million salary gap. LOL!! Please stop acting like you know so much about baseball. Everyone on this blog is annoyed by you. You have become what you hate. You are the Jeff Franceour of the AJC Braves blog.
scott
June 10th, 2009
5:41 pm
WTF @ that lineup
hoho
June 10th, 2009
5:41 pm
PAUL LENTZ and others:
perhaps the blogging and sports mania has gotten out of hand if we are now comparing dead beat dads to true braves fans…excuse me??? did i seriously just read that? you’ve got to be effin kiddin me.
braves and sports are entertainment, it’s fun to be a “true fan” but that means something different for everyone- back away from the computer now and go do something like actually throw a ball or mow the yard or….play with your kids, yea!
David O'Brien
June 10th, 2009
5:41 pm
Burdell: Good point at 5:39 p.m. You’d think that would be obvious, but to some here, it’s clearly not.
i cant take it anymore
June 10th, 2009
5:41 pm
jeff francoeur
Burdell
June 10th, 2009
5:41 pm
DOB
Any word on Prado? Hopefully that leg doesn’t turn into a nagging thing.
Dog of Flanders
June 10th, 2009
5:42 pm
I note that sometimes using caps for emphasis does not work… just depends on what you’ve written, it seems…~
BravoJon
June 10th, 2009
5:42 pm
HAHAHAHA, wow Lars, wow.
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
5:43 pm
Rabid Rascal….The Braves have a better option than Jeff Franceour in right field. MATT DIAZ. While Diaz may not have the arm Franceour does, there is no question that Diaz can hit the ball better than Franceour. That is who I would play in right field. Matt Diaz. I’d play Garrett Anderson in left field. In late game situations where the Braves have the lead, I’d move Diaz over to left and then insert Franceour in right, like Bobby did last night.
Lew
June 10th, 2009
5:43 pm
Paul-Thasny you for your clarification. I will cancel my subscription to Chop Talk immediately and sell all tickets for future Braves’ games on Stub Hub. I will sell all of my Braves Memorabilia-no, maybe I’ll give it to a True Braves’ Fan-who do you suggest?- and will no longer wear my Braves T Shirts or Braves hat until you have decided that I fit your definition of a true Braves’ fan.
Sure I will. Douchebag.
McFann :Ô:
June 10th, 2009
5:44 pm
Thanks for the lineup, Chief.
beekay
June 10th, 2009
5:44 pm
wow…what a bad lineup 5-9. After our fist 4 hitters it gets ugly! Chalie must be licking his chops to get back at us with that stellar lineup
Ben (with American flag pen on shirt)
June 10th, 2009
5:44 pm
Burdell, at last check, brandon jones’ obp was in the .360’s in triple-a. so yes, they do have have a non-out-maker down there with big league experience to boot.
sure, jones ain’t hitting for power. but then neither is frenchy and his .340 slugging percentage.
Fred
June 10th, 2009
5:44 pm
Paul Lentz, You claim “actions” are what makes a true braves fan. How many Braves games have you attended this year? Last year? That seems like a good measure of a true fan, a person who spends his/her time and money on the team he/she supports.
monty
June 10th, 2009
5:45 pm
CHop Chop
My apologies, I did to your post what many have done to mine which is skim over it too fast.I thought you were pronouncing him as already “solid” after his shellacking Sunday. My bad, him being solid the rest of the way out would be a “Best Case Scenario.” It takes a man to admit when he is wrong, if I do say so myself.
choozer
June 10th, 2009
5:46 pm
Our 2nd-best hitting outfielder (Diaz) is on the bench when he could be playing in place of Francouer or Anderson. Pathetic. Charlie must be excited to see the second half of our line-up.
Lew
June 10th, 2009
5:46 pm
Oh yeah-And ask my 30 year old son whether I was a Dead Beat Dad or actually coached his Little League team, cooked his breakfast and dinner and made him do his homework and washed his laundry. Again-douchebag.
Ben (with American flag pen on shirt)
June 10th, 2009
5:46 pm
ps: only on the braves can a hitter like francoeur with worse stats keep his spot forever. how can you bat francoeur above johnson when johnson’s ops is like 100 points higher?
bravos2249
June 10th, 2009
5:46 pm
Heath (Cleveland)
I don’t know who we’ll face in the Cincy series because they are most likely to skip someone BUT….I have the probables for the Baltimore and Boston series:
Baltimore:
Hanson vs. Berken
Kawakami vs. Hill
Lowe vs. Bergesen
Boston
Kawakami vs. Dice-K
Lowe vs. Beckett
Jurrjens vs. Wakefield
I don’t think they’ll take any of them out for Smoltz
Oh and if I’m right Our boy Hanson will get to see what he’s made of when he faces the Red Sox and Yankees at home…I don’t think anyone would rather see Glavine in those spots.
AGTFan
June 10th, 2009
5:47 pm
I think if we had a poll on the blog, “Who’s a REAL Braves fan?” Paul Lentz or Lew, Lew would win hands down. I’m actually more tired Paul Lentz posts than I am of Frenchies problems at the plate.
chuckyo9
June 10th, 2009
5:47 pm
Happy Birthday Jeff Bennett!!! …
Epinephrine
June 10th, 2009
5:47 pm
This is our best lineup, if we plug in Kotchman for GA. Earlier I was thinking we would hit Kotchman 5th. But I didn’t realize GA had hit .298 since May 10. If he continues around that clip, keeping him 5th probably makes the most sense, as he hits lefties fine too.
Definitely a case to be made for Diaz, but as long as Francoeur keeps drawing “good” walks, let’s see what happens.
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
5:47 pm
PWHjort………..to answer your question, the only time “playing” Franceour, with the current make-up of the Braves roster, makes sense is like Bobby did last night, as a defensive replacement late in the game where Matt Diaz was moved to left field to replace Garrett Anderson while Franceour was inserted in right field. But other than that…there is absolutely no justification for playing Franceour.
Lew
June 10th, 2009
5:48 pm
Yeah-It took the opposing pitchers over two and a half years before they figured out Francoeur swings at the first pitch and could get him out without knocking in 100 runs. They’re almost as stupid as Paul Lentz if that is the case.
DevilInLaw
June 10th, 2009
5:48 pm
Quick quiz — rank Norton, Johnson and Francoeur in total bases you expect them to have tonight.
I know I’d go 1. Johnson; 2. Norton; and 3. Francoeur. … So, how in the world is Francoeur still no. 7 in the lineup?
The 5th Beatle
June 10th, 2009
5:48 pm
DOB,
Now that the Braves offense is averaging around 6 runs a game against the mighty Pirates, I hope it doesn’t mean that they’ve given up looking for help. Now that Francoeur, Garrett Anderson & Kelly Johnson have tanked this season, the Braves need to get rid of these 3 for whatever they can get.
David O'Brien
June 10th, 2009
5:48 pm
Burdell: It’s Prado’s groin, not leg. And it’s only been a couple of days, including one day that he played 15 innings on it. So no, it’s not healed yet. Wasn’t expected to be.
He hurt it until Sunday, as it turns out. I thought it had been a couple days before that, but apparently not.
bravos2249
June 10th, 2009
5:48 pm
For everyone about the lineup….it’s almost the same as last nights….and I thought Prado would play today…that can’t be good.
We need DeRosa badly now….before it was a thought but with both hurt we can’t contiue to put out a lineup that has these 5-9 hitters.
Capt Caveman
June 10th, 2009
5:48 pm
YO Paul Lentz —
How can we all become “true” fans such as yourself??
And does the “self-righteous indignation” come in the member kit??
Epinephrine
June 10th, 2009
5:49 pm
Well, for the Boston series, that’s about as good as we could have hoped for re: pitching. KK may elevate due to Dice K, Lowe is probably our best bet against Beckett, and depending which Wakefield we get, Jurrjens may give us an advantage in the last spot.
Of course, I’d be just as happy seeing Hanson or Javy out there. Can’t remember the last time as a Braves fan I felt comfortable with all 5 starters.
Lank
June 10th, 2009
5:50 pm
Norton at 1B again? … If only we had someone at Gwinnett hitting .344 with 8 hrs that we could call up …
Epinephrine
June 10th, 2009
5:50 pm
I meant plug Kotchman in for Norton.
Greg Norton's Mother
June 10th, 2009
5:51 pm
How can you start Greg Norton at first base again????
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
5:51 pm
CB………..just because you have the attention span of a 4 year old….and…because you are incapable of critical thinking when it comes to evaluating what is best for the Braves….does not mean that my posts are “boring and mindless”. It isnt my fault that your brain swells when you realize that you have to “think” to understand something.
The 5th Beatle
June 10th, 2009
5:51 pm
One more thing DOB….Lets stop signing useless over the hill outfielders. Garrett Anderson is an embarrassment in my opinion.
Epinephrine
June 10th, 2009
5:52 pm
DevilnLaw-
Kelly is hitting behind Francoeur, because if Frenchy hits 8th he up a creek (which is not to suggest he’s otherwise fine). Without anyone hitting behind him, he will see only bad pitches. Pitchers know he doesn’t have the patience to succeed with an automatic out batting behind him. Kelly, even when he struggles, still does a good job of getting on base. He is a much better “8″ hitter.
AGTFan
June 10th, 2009
5:52 pm
Lew,
you might as well ignore Paul Lentz. Arguing with idiots like him get’s you no where. Paul Lentz is one of those guys that makes me wish for an auto ignore feature. I find that just immediately scrolling past anything he has to say is the best medicine.
K with a K
June 10th, 2009
5:53 pm
Joe Simpson should be the Braves next manager. Go vote Brian “Specs” McCann NL All-Star Catcher. Go Braves beat Morton.
P-Town Brave
June 10th, 2009
5:53 pm
Wow…brutal lineup again I agree!
Looks like Mac to Mac will have to carry them again!
N8
June 10th, 2009
5:53 pm
Lew, after reading your 5:39, I have one piece of advise. Take some of my pills.
You’re crackin’ me up today. Thanks. I needed it.
I just can’t for the life of me understand why Bobby won’t platoon him. If I’m Gregor Blanco and Brandon Jones, I’m having my agent calling Wren and asking for a trade. Granted, those guys aren’t anywhere near all-stars. But how bad does a guy have to consistently be, before you get a shot to “help out” in the form of a platoon? Especially when you’re already on the roster?
I think it speak VOLUMES of what the organization thinks of those two guys, when they can’t even bump a guy with an OBP of .275 out of the lineup.
To put this into perspective of how bad that is. In 2004, if you ONLY consider Barry Bonds’ intentional walks (120 of them), his OBP was .166! Then again, maybe that just puts perspective on how feared Bonds (roids or not) was in 2004, at age 39.
fastasballs
June 10th, 2009
5:53 pm
Wow fantastic line up there………..
N8, I’m with you all the way. At this point just subtracting the bats of Loaf & Frenchy would do a world of good for this team. Jeff is playing much better defense this season since the ankle healed up, but he’s not a SS so that isn’t much to hang his hat on without some offensive stats to back the glove up with. He is quite proud of his “good walks” he had the other night so maybe that’s progress in his mind. I’m still laughing at that comment, it’s a classic for sure.
Cox is Andruwing it again with Frenchy. Right now there is little choice or options in RF with Infante on the DL & BJones hurt & not doing much at AAA. Regardless if Infante was healthy right now Frenchy would still be in there every day if stayed true to form.
Now if Schafer heals up & gets back to form I’d love to see that line up with or without DeRosa. Adding Infante, a healthy Schafer & DeRosa by trade would put this team on a path to truely make a run at the division IMO.
ahmed5456
June 10th, 2009
5:53 pm
YO!!!! If you have ran out of email-addresses for MLB All-Star Voting, use this site http://10minutemail.com/10MinuteMail/error.html. It gives you an e-mail address for 10 minutes, you can renew your time!!!! After the 10 minutes, you can have another e-mail adress. Do it folks, let’s start B-Mac this season. We can’t let Yadier Molina, start over McCann. Do it folks!!!VOTE BRIAN MCCANN AND CHIPPER JONES!!!!!!!!!!
Lew
June 10th, 2009
5:54 pm
AGTFan-Doubtless you’re right. Are you sure you a TRUE Braves’ Fan?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 10th, 2009
5:54 pm
Lank,
If only that same guy didn’t have the range of a tree stump at 1B and could catch a ball…..
ahmed5456
June 10th, 2009
5:54 pm
YO!!!! If you have ran out of email-addresses for MLB All-Star Voting, use this site http://10minutemail.com/10MinuteMail/index.html. It gives you an e-mail address for 10 minutes, you can renew your time!!!! After the 10 minutes, you can have another e-mail adress. Do it folks, let’s start B-Mac this season. We can’t let Yadier Molina, start over McCann. Do it folks!!!VOTE BRIAN MCCANN AND CHIPPER JONES!!!!!!!!!!
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
5:54 pm
Lew………uh, I believe that I have offered a lot to the debate. I clearly post my reasons for the positions I have. For instance, many of you have advocated for the firing of Frank Wren and stated that the Braves are “cheap”. I have been in the minority and stated how wrong some of you morons for taking those “positions”.
N8
June 10th, 2009
5:54 pm
“gee guy just copy it b4 you send it” nolie
Normally, I do. But 99 times out of a 100, when there is a new blog, it doesn’t happen as often. Plus I forgot. LOL!
Burdell
June 10th, 2009
5:55 pm
Ben (with American flag pen on shirt)
In 2008, B.Jones had a similar OBP in AAA and came to Atlanta and was mediocre (~.267 average, <.400 SLG) meanwhile is UZR was -4.3 – which is worse than LOAF. Francoeur puts up similar offensive numbers with a UZR of +1.4.
When your outfield consists of Garett Anderson (UZR -4.1) and Nate McLouth (UZR -0.6), do you really want to add another bad defensive outfielder?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 10th, 2009
5:55 pm
P-Town Brave,
I wonder if Mac and McLouth hit homers in the same inning they will be Mac to Mac homers?
Lars Taint
June 10th, 2009
5:55 pm
Just like Frenchy, Paul Lentz thinks he is much better and smarter than he really is. He thinks that if he keeps posting the same crap without making adjustments that eventually we will think he is clever and insightful. Maybe we can trade him to the Padres for a new pair of McGregor cleats.
David-ATL14
June 10th, 2009
5:55 pm
Lew gets my vote.
Seldom do anything more than scroll selectively now.
Always read DOB’s posts and look for a few of the quality bloggers like Lew,McFann, Greg from Tennessee, Steve from Ohio, RomanGal,PWhjort and a few others that go unmentioned.
Sadly people like Paul lentz,jeff321 and their ilk have diminished the quality of dicurse by leaps and bounds.
Always seems like the people that should tome it down delight in a full frontal display of knowledge lacking in all things baseball.
Wise one said better to keep mouth shut and be thought of as a fool than open yap and remove all doubt.
CB
June 10th, 2009
5:56 pm
Thanks Mr. Lentz, I will try to think harder,sir.
Lew
June 10th, 2009
5:56 pm
N8-No, If you’re Blanco or Brandon Jones, you’re posting crap on the blog about Francoeur under the name of Paul Lentz, hoping someone will attempt an assassination plot.
Burdell
June 10th, 2009
5:57 pm
Interesting thing I noted: Diaz has the same UZR as Francoeur. Francoeur has below average range but a great arm. Diaz is the opposite.
Lew
June 10th, 2009
5:57 pm
Damn-I just called you N8 instead of Nathan. Maybe I do need medication. Time to go burn one? Probably.
N8
June 10th, 2009
5:57 pm
Apparently, I’ve also forgotten how to use the italics function.
McFann :Ô:
June 10th, 2009
5:57 pm
ahmed5456–
I’m approaching 175 votes!
VOTES McCANN 2009 ALL-STAR!!!!
Ben (with American flag pen on shirt)
June 10th, 2009
5:59 pm
Burdell, RF defense just isn’t that important. You can’t keep running a guy with a .616 OPS out there every day, a guy who has been sucking for 3 years now (’06, ‘08, ‘09).
A .270 OPS and .341 slugging percentage is not acceptable from a right fielder, i dont care how Godly their defense is. and francoeur’s ain’t even special.
Steve from OH
June 10th, 2009
5:59 pm
Burdell–I like UZR as much as the next guy, but it’s not as definitive as batting metrics. A good “ballpark” figure, but as always with fielding metrics, to be taken with a grain of salt. That said, I agree that adding another bad defensive outfielder will hurt the club. But at this point, don’t you have to start thinking about getting rid of both Frenchy and GA and looking for alternatives, defense aside?
ahmed5456
June 10th, 2009
6:00 pm
Great, McFann!!! Let’s keep voting, people.
Ben (with American flag pen on shirt)
June 10th, 2009
6:00 pm
“A .270 OPS”
OBP
David O'Brien
June 10th, 2009
6:00 pm
Some I talked to today think that Schafer’s wrist injury had something to do with his struggles, and some believe it might have. But no one I’ve talked to (and I’ve talked to several team officials/coaches and a few players) believes it was the primary reason.
Also, GM Frank Wren said they didn’t think this bone bruise on his hand was the same thing that bothered him before. This is something he felt “pop” on a swing Friday, but two visits to the hand specialist and an MRI showed only the bone bruise, no ligament or whatever damage.
The injury before was on the wrist, not the hand.
PWHjort
June 10th, 2009
6:01 pm
Burdell,
UZR is a cumulative stat.