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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,699 comments Add your comment
TnBrian
June 20th, 2009
3:57 pm
Somebody link me a live weather radar thing for the Boston area so I don’t have to wonder what my plans are gonna be tonight. I got no time for this waiting BS…
DAP
June 20th, 2009
3:58 pm
gonzalez and soriano are both at about 31 innings, so niether one have been overused to this point in the season, when you look at it as a while. obiously, you dont want to use them several days in a row either, but im just saying…they are on track to have the right work load so far.
another factor in using them is that in the 8th and 9th, we were facing the toughest part of the red sox lineup. this may have played a part.
personally, i think bullpen managment is bobby’s worst attribute as a manager. ive never liked the way he uses it. but, there too much info we dont know as observers to critique to much.
for instance, i would have let kawakami go one more. but, maybe kawakami was gassed, from being so amped up. maybe bobby thought it was important to take him out and let him revel in his out dueling his countryman. maybe he told bobby his shoulder was hurting. theres just too much we dont know.
bravos2249
June 20th, 2009
3:58 pm
DOB
Wakefield has been projected to start tomorrow since last week……..so I’m guessing your the only one that thought Dempster was pitching.
TnBrian
June 20th, 2009
3:59 pm
Didn’t mean to come off rude but I’m a little edgy today.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 20th, 2009
3:59 pm
http://www.weather.com/weather/map/USMA0046?showanimation=yes&mapregion=us_bos_closeradar_plus_usen
bethpage boy
June 20th, 2009
4:02 pm
Is this like a scheduled day off for chipper or what? just wondrin after how joe simpson was commenting on how well he was runnin last night.
Salamander
June 20th, 2009
4:02 pm
Well if the game does get rained out – at least there is enough craziness pouring out of Iran today to occupy the time…
I hate the premise of Twitter and Crapbook, but I gotta admit that those (and other) websites have been instrumental in the Iranian affair this past week.
bethpage boy
June 20th, 2009
4:03 pm
day off as in the field. maybe prados d is better than chips
Frank from KS
June 20th, 2009
4:04 pm
Steve from OH
What part of OH ya from? I lived for almost two years (Sept 04-Jul 06) in Columbus (actually Grove City) before moving back home to Kansas in July 06.
Braveheart
June 20th, 2009
4:05 pm
How many relievers are solid gold year in, year out? About a handful of them. Most good relievers get about a three year run of glory, and if they’re lucky, they get five good years before they vanish. Why is that? One reason is that most of them aren’t that good anyway. They were failed starters for good reason. Very often, they have flawed mechanics that make them injury prone and less consistent from one game to the other, one season to the next. They’re also more prone to getting figured out the more they are exposed since their stuff, even if wicked, is limited – again, because of flawed mechanics limiting their ability to develop secondary pitches beyond nasty heat and, if they are lucky, one wicked breaking pitch. The reasons go on and on.
Thus, abused or not, the majority of relievers are not meant to last because their flawed mechanics make them injury prone, not very consistent, less able to be effective with deception the more their limited pitch selection is exposed, etc., etc. They’re just not good bets to be effective long term anyway. Thus, they get abused. Get what you can out of ‘em while you can. Use ‘em up, wear ‘em out, make ‘em do, or do without.
Steve from OH
June 20th, 2009
4:07 pm
Frank–I’m from in the boonies outside of Toledo, and I’ve lived near Toledo and a couple different places in NE Ohio. Where I currently live is classified info!
Columbus is really a nice town, IMO. Love the OSU campus as well.
keylargo
June 20th, 2009
4:07 pm
Andy C
I agree that Bobby has a tendency to overuse relievers. And I don’t agree with everything BC does either. But I do very much resent people who have very little baseball knowledge ripping BC like he is a Met or something.
I read about 10 or 15 post with people saying “the sky is falling” because BC used two guys for one inning two days in a row. Do those people think the pitchers wouldn’t be throwing throwing on a side session if they didn’t get into the game? No, they don’t have a clue, but continue to rip Cox for doing what his 45 years of MLB experience tells him is right. And I won’t take it too long from a moron before I say something.
Steve from OH
June 20th, 2009
4:08 pm
BH–totally agree.
TnBrian
June 20th, 2009
4:10 pm
Heath, thanks bud! Ewww, that doesn’t look good, but maybe it stays north and south of Boston tonight.
bethpage boy
June 20th, 2009
4:11 pm
Cox just wanted Raphy and Gonzo sharp in case its a tight game tonight or tomorrow. Gonzo gets a lil to hyped sometimes in big games.
bethpage boy
June 20th, 2009
4:14 pm
Cox wanted to get Raphy and Gonzo in to that Bean-town atmosphere early on and get the adrenaline under control. Braves need there best the next two games and Im glad they got in.
McFann ;Ô;
June 20th, 2009
4:15 pm
AJC [stinks] I’m off to play my x-box!!
Oh good! Now you won’t have to waste your time on here. Whoa…honestly, I don’t know how you do it.
(Shoulda left sooner, ya…)
groundfog
June 20th, 2009
4:16 pm
Thanks for the updates on weather everybody! Like many Braves fans,I believe the next 2 weeks will determine the season. Every run, every at bat,every error,etc is going to be huge for this team. They will have to play at a high level, but the pitching is there. Will the hitting go from horrible to average? Then it could get interesting. See you all tonight!
Heath (Cleveland)
June 20th, 2009
4:18 pm
The way the cell is rotating that is directly west of Boston now, looks like it has a good chance of rotating its way north of town.
bethpage boy
June 20th, 2009
4:23 pm
Just curious…dont shoot down the idea yet…what if Frenchy led off? He would have McClouth behind him then Chipper followed by Escobar then McCann. Frenchy would almost,you hope,change his approach to the plate. He would have 3 tough outs behind him and maybe he would see better pitches. After McCann I would have KJ with Diaz and GA bringing up the rear. Just a thought.
AndyC
June 20th, 2009
4:26 pm
keylargo
I just don’t think it’s a good situation where the manager doesn’t trust the majority of his bullpen (other than the main three guys) to close out a game when he has a 6 run lead. That’s all I’m saying.
Goldenglove002
June 20th, 2009
4:26 pm
Where is one of our farm system experts? I was looking around at the Brvaes minor league affiliates, and a player I’d never before heard of stuck out somewhat to me in AA: Matt Young, the undrafted FA outfielder from 2004.
Young has a .274 AVG/40 R/2 HR/18 RBI/21 SB/.398 OBP line in 234 AB’s this year, and had very similiar looking numbers last year. Everything I read says he has been quite consistent as having very good plate discipline and will post higher OBP’s and OPS’s. Does this kid have the potential to evr see some time with the big league club?
Heath (Cleveland)
June 20th, 2009
4:26 pm
Be interesting to see how Santana performs for the Mets today…so far so good…for the Mets.
DAP
June 20th, 2009
4:27 pm
braveheartOne reason is that most of them aren’t that good anyway. They were failed starters for good reason.
this might not be as true now as it used to be. a good bullpen is a very important part of a ballclub nowadays, especailly set up men and closers. some guys are pegged as releivers from day one, id bet. even before tehy get a chance to fail as a starter.
Steve from OH
June 20th, 2009
4:27 pm
Goldenglove–his future is probably as a utility man.
Whiplash
June 20th, 2009
4:32 pm
My band used to play at Johnny D’s there on Harrisburg Pike in Grove City around that time. The other place too – at the Quality Inn at the Grove City exit off 71?
AJC SUCKS
June 20th, 2009
4:33 pm
McFann– I’m back from playing X-Box for a minute just to tell all you bloggers that I feel like I’ve been mistreated here so I’m out!! I don’t know if I’ll even come back after all this abuse I’ve UNECCESSARILY taken!! POOO ON ALL YOU!!
bravos2249
June 20th, 2009
4:33 pm
Anyone still miss Davies?
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090620&content_id=5432500&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Goldenglove002
June 20th, 2009
4:34 pm
is he OF only or can he play the infield also?
Shane
June 20th, 2009
4:35 pm
Gotta wonder now that David Wright is a singles hitter if he is a victim of the steriods testing.
jeffrey d
June 20th, 2009
4:37 pm
I can’t tell if AJC Sucks is serious or not
McFann ;Ô;
June 20th, 2009
4:37 pm
AJC [stinks]–
Well, what do you expect after coming on here just to insult the place? Jeesh…
Shane–
It’s Citi Field…That place would turn Babe Ruth into a singles hitter.
McFann ;Ô;
June 20th, 2009
4:38 pm
jeffrey d–
To be honest, I hope he’s not…
Salamander
June 20th, 2009
4:40 pm
AJC SUCKS
How about you take your Ritalin and do your homework like a good boy?
Steve from OH
June 20th, 2009
4:40 pm
Goldenglove, B-R has him at all OF positions and spending a good amount of time at 2B. He could probably play 3rd in a pinch too. Doesn’t hit for enough power to be an everyday player, and he doesn’t steal bases at a high enough rate to one of those no pop/all steal type of players. But he’s athletic and can play a lot of positons and hits for a high average and good OBP, so he’ll be a good option for a supersub-type player
AJC SUCKS
June 20th, 2009
4:41 pm
You gosh darn tootin I’m serious!!! I’ve had it with being abused for my 1st Amendment Right…… Freedom Of Speech!!!
Heath (Cleveland)
June 20th, 2009
4:42 pm
McFann:
I think it’s safe to assume that we hope most of the people on here aren’t serious… lol
Braveheart
June 20th, 2009
4:44 pm
DAP, alot of them get pegged early on as relievers because their flawed mechanics, limited mental makeup, limited pitch selection are just that glaringly obvious from day one. It’s one reason I don’t like the idea of drafting of college closers.
K. Johnson
June 20th, 2009
4:45 pm
frenchy is now a singles hitter. Any thoughts about why?
bethpage boy
June 20th, 2009
4:47 pm
least hes gettin on base K. Johson…a third of the time
K. Johnson
June 20th, 2009
4:47 pm
Behtpage:
What if frenchy didn’t play. That would help the whole team
Frank from KS
June 20th, 2009
4:48 pm
Steve from OH
Cool. Yeah, I actually liked living in Columbus. Only thing is…it takes a day or two to get anywhere…(Lol). I know I miss being able to drive downtown Columbus at noon and 5 p.m. and seeing all those good-lookin’ office women in their skirts and high heels (Lol) leave work to go home for lunch at noon or to go home at 5.
And I miss the scenery (and I’m NOT talking about the countryside….LOL). From married to single…from older to younger…it’s ALLLLL up in Columbus Ohio.
Braveheart
June 20th, 2009
4:49 pm
frenchy is now a singles hitter. Any thoughts about why? (KJOHNSON)
2 obvious reasons: 1. His mechanics are so screwed up, his body goes every which way, and deprives him of the ability to drive the ball, and 2. He swings at too many pitches that are hard to drive, especially when you are swinging at them with mechanics that are depriving you of the ability to drive the ball
K. Johnson
June 20th, 2009
4:49 pm
I agree. I can’t hit a dead dog. but if not for frenchy I’d be the person to blame
DAM
June 20th, 2009
4:50 pm
I love it when people on here think they can predict the weather by looking at a radar image (and a bad one at that … I refuse to use weather.com for anything).
How about we leave weather predictions to those of us who have degrees in Meteorology? (It looks like the rain, or at least the heavy stuff, will hold off until very close to the end of the game, say between 10:30-11:30.) That large area of rain between Binghamton and Albany, or the “cell” you refer to (which isn’t a thunderstorm cell, it’s just a large area of rain), likely won’t even make it far enough east during the game for it to matter whether it moves north or south of Boston.
Also, if you want better forecasts and radar products, try http://www.weather.gov rather than weather.com. Forecasts from weather.com are essentially just model guidance products. Forecasts from weather.gov are made by human forecasters who add skill and reasoning to the model guidance.
K. Johnson
June 20th, 2009
4:51 pm
Braveheart #3) pitchers know he swings at everything. He makes no adjustments. The first post was in relation to the one about david wright being a singles hitter. Nice response though. I agree
K. Johnson
June 20th, 2009
4:53 pm
Looks like rain and it feels like rain.
Braveheart
June 20th, 2009
4:53 pm
Just heard that Thrillhouse44 is now a proud papa. He’s probably too tired to read the blog today, but Congrats to the chillest blogger on here! A good dude who will undoubtedly become a a good daddy
bethpage boy
June 20th, 2009
4:54 pm
I wish KJ and Frenchy both could figure things out. I believe KJ still has a shot at coming out of it but Im bout to give up on Frenchy. It seems to me that he just aint got a clue. I believe its a mental thing.
bethpage boy
June 20th, 2009
4:56 pm
Is V. Martinez up for grabs? He has went 0-6 today. He’d fit right in.
jeffrey d
June 20th, 2009
5:00 pm
Yeah I’m sure the Indians are ready to give up on Victor. I hear A-Rod’s been benched too, let’s make a move for him too. And as soon as Pujols has an 0-fer, then we’ll be all set.
McFann ;Ô;
June 20th, 2009
5:00 pm
Heath–
Haha…really…
AJC [stinks]–
Hey, we have 1st Amendment rights, too.
Anders insecurities
June 20th, 2009
5:04 pm
How long is Anders going to continue to act all butt hurt over a percieved slight by DOB on his supposed observations on Glavine being productive or not? Can Anders only feel “whole” if he gets some sort of recognition from DOB on his past prognostication? Can DOB throw Anders a bone? Will Anders ever feel whole again? We are all waiting for this exciting conclusion..
jeffrey d
June 20th, 2009
5:08 pm
I like how Anders insecurities uses “perceived slight” and “prognostication,” but then uses the wrong “butt.”
richbrave
June 20th, 2009
5:08 pm
Get ready to rumble BRAVES fans. From the way I hear it on the SOX NETWORK, some few surviving codgers consider this a cross-town rivalry and they’re looking for a lot of payback off last night. GO BRAVES.
Braveheart
June 20th, 2009
5:08 pm
Sorry, can’t trust a Kelly Johnson weather prediction. I fear that as a weatherman, Kelly Johnson would drop the ball on whatever forecast he gave me. But Kelly does have good practice at the waving and pointing thing weathermen do. He points and waves at every ball hit by him to his right side
cabravesfan
June 20th, 2009
5:09 pm
Random-
Thanks for the info on Dice-K. I know he was close last year…
Did someone really write “Poo on all of you”? Just…wow
richbrave
June 20th, 2009
5:10 pm
ANDERS:
Don’t be upset. After all, this is just fantasy-land.
brent a.
June 20th, 2009
5:11 pm
Chasing one’s tail: I’ve had this sense these past couple of seasons watching Bobby Cox and the Braves, the sense that Bobby is sort of chasing his tail, trying to recapture one more moment of postseason glory rather than go out on a down note.
But it doesn’t look like he’s any closer to catching that tail and returning to the postseason, even though the wild-card race is obviously wide open for any team that can play decent ball the rest of the way. (DOB)
Yep, I’ve been saying that for 2 years.
Meanwhile, 4.5 games back . . .
Go Braves!
jeffrey d
June 20th, 2009
5:12 pm
Unless “butt hurt” is some new hip phrase the kids are using these days.
“The Braves are gonna put a butt hurtin on the Sox tonight”
David O'Brien
June 20th, 2009
5:12 pm
Lineup
1. McLouth
2. Escobar
3. Chipper, DH
4. McCann
5. Anderson, LF
6. Prado, 3B
7. Kotchman
8. Francoeur
9. Johnson
Chop Chop
June 20th, 2009
5:12 pm
You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
Anders insecurities
June 20th, 2009
5:13 pm
but I did tell DOB, I did!!! he must acknowledge me…
Braves Fan
June 20th, 2009
5:13 pm
thanks for the lineup DOB
K. Johnson
June 20th, 2009
5:14 pm
whole world is turning gray. ’cause it looks like rain and it feels like rain
David O'Brien
June 20th, 2009
5:17 pm
Wakefield has been projected to start tomorrow since last week……..so I’m guessing your the only one that thought Dempster was pitching. – Bravos2249
Well, no. Actually I was just going off the Braves game notes distributed before last night’s game. So at least one other person thought so (although I hadn’t really “thought” about it at all, other than to read what was on the notes).
AndyC
June 20th, 2009
5:17 pm
DAM
The meteorologists don’t know what’s going to happen either. It’s all just a guess. Theirs may be slightly more educated then ours…but not much.
Bryan
June 20th, 2009
5:17 pm
DOB, Can you please remind Furman Bisher to take his medication before writing another blog?
Heath (Cleveland)
June 20th, 2009
5:18 pm
Not a “bad” lineup based on who is on the roster. Would rather see the following though:
1.) McLouth
2.) Escobar
3.) Chipper 3B
4.) McCann
5.) GA DH
6.) Diaz LF
7.) Kotchman
8.) JF
9.) Prado 2B
David O'Brien
June 20th, 2009
5:19 pm
For Red Sox, Kotsay’s at 1B, Youkilis at 3B.
1. Pedroia, 2B
2. J.D. Drew, RF
3. Youkilis, 3B
4. Bay, LF
5. Ortiz, DH
6. Kotsay, 1B
7. Ellsbury, CF
8. Varitek, C
9. Green, SS
K. Johnson
June 20th, 2009
5:24 pm
I have better numbers than old papi
Heath (Cleveland)
June 20th, 2009
5:24 pm
McFann…your boy catching up in voting?
Vinings Jim
June 20th, 2009
5:25 pm
cabravesfan – just letting you know I’m here (lots of multi-tasking right now, so I’ve been checking here every twenty minutes or so). Unlike yesterday, I managed to wait until after 5:00 to begin mental preparations for the game. I have seen more golf than I expected, given the weather forecast this morning. And the paint is also drying very nicely.
Salamander
June 20th, 2009
5:27 pm
Unless “butt hurt” is some new hip phrase the kids are using these days. jeffrey d
When someone acts indignant over the actions/words of someone else – the indignant person could be considered “butt hurt.” Usually, butt hurt connotes that the person who believes that they have been wronged are overreacting for no reason other than to shield their fragile ego.
Thus, someone who is “butt hurt” thinks their ego has been challenged in some significant way, when the reality of the situation is that most everyone else thinks that the indignant person just needs to get over it.
Or something along those lines…
fastasballs
June 20th, 2009
5:27 pm
Geez would it be too much to ask for Diaz to play in right & Frenchy to guard the bat rack?
McFann ;Ô;
June 20th, 2009
5:30 pm
Thanks for the lineup, Chief! It’ll be int’resting to see Kotsay again!
Heath–
I don’t know…we’ll find out on Monday! Dangit…I haven’t had many chances to vote this week!
Gonna cash in a few real quick…
VOTE McCANN 2009 ALL-STAR!!!!
fastasballs
June 20th, 2009
5:30 pm
The over & under for Frenchy’s LOB total for the night is 4. Place your bets people………….
McFann ;Ô;
June 20th, 2009
5:31 pm
OK…well, scratch that…the ballot thingy is “experiencing delays”.
Guess everyone’s jamming it full of votes for BMac!
VOTE McCANN 2009 ALL-STAR!!!!
Goldenglove002
June 20th, 2009
5:32 pm
wow, what an odd ending in Chicago
Chop Chop
June 20th, 2009
5:33 pm
I have yet to cast a single All-Star vote this season.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 20th, 2009
5:33 pm
fastasballs:
I think it will be less…but not because JF performs well. I’m afraid that Beckett mows down the lineup since his last performance was a stinker.
jeffrey d
June 20th, 2009
5:33 pm
You need to send that to Webster’s, Salamander. That was beautiful.
brent a.
June 20th, 2009
5:34 pm
Kotsay plays first base? I never knew . . .
Braveheart, I like your post (at least what I read of it) regarding relievers.
I think the theory behind it is part of the reason why Frank Wren was so willing to let Will Ohman go, and why he was more than satisfied to take his chances with Logan and O’Flaherty as “lefty specialisits.”
Wren himself commented last season/off-season about the “cyclicality” of (left-handed) relievers, etc.
(as I type this, Cubs when on a wild pitch/passed ball . . .)
Anyway, it takes me back to our awesome bullpen of 2002 (pretty sure, 2002), remember when we pulled Chris Hammond out of his backyard in Alabama and turned him into a guy who was lights out for one inning a game, and how we blew probably our best chance at a championship since 1996, or 1998. (And in many ways, our last really good chance at a title).
brent a.
June 20th, 2009
5:37 pm
I bet someday DOB will write a best-selling book on baseball, and it will be full of stuff that he “stole” from Anders.
J/K
DAM
June 20th, 2009
5:41 pm
AndyC
Sure, no one “knows” what’s going to happen, but I’m gonna go way out on a limb here and say that 95% of the people who have a degree in Meteorology can make a forecast that is rather significantly better than those who don’t. Why do meteorologists have jobs if our forecasts are only “slightly more educated, but not much.”
Salamander
June 20th, 2009
5:41 pm
jeffrey d
heh, thanks.
Anders insecurities
June 20th, 2009
5:42 pm
that’s it, just mock me, but I will be recognized… oh yes, I will…
richbrave
June 20th, 2009
5:43 pm
McLOUTH-SOUTH:
No,no and triple no!!!! Whew.
PWHjort
June 20th, 2009
5:44 pm
Ah, so you do read the notes before writing the blog. Caughtcha red-handed. And yes, I’m joking.
cabravesfan
June 20th, 2009
5:46 pm
Vinings Jim-
Hi
I actually haven’t been around much either- was working on my dad’s jeep with him and then took the dog for a swim- Still haven’t watched any golf though 
Couch Tater
June 20th, 2009
5:47 pm
I get my weather from my rabid three-legged dog. When it thunders he goes underneath the house. Best d@mn Meteorologist.
PWHjort
June 20th, 2009
5:47 pm
Is Dempster possibly starting the make-up game?
Heath (Cleveland)
June 20th, 2009
5:49 pm
HR for Carlos Pena… TB up 2-1 now over the Mets in the top of the 7th.
Braveheart
June 20th, 2009
5:49 pm
I can make a weather forecast right now for everyday between now and Labor Day here in Atlanta: friggin’ hot and humid as hell, about 95 degrees, and you’ll have a hellacious thunderstorm just as you’re leaving work that’ll blow over by the time you get home, but will have been around long enough to make your drive home on 285 even more nightmarish than usual because the stupid drivers are even more stupid about the way they drive when it rains
Supes
June 20th, 2009
5:51 pm
fastballs,
At first glance that sounds like a great idea. Have Jeff “guarding” the bat rack…at second thought…I wouldn’t want him anywhere near the “Braves bats”. They might “catch something” in the process!
bravos2249
June 20th, 2009
5:52 pm
DOB
I’m just saying…I mean Carroll posted Wakefield was starting days ago…it’s been on the Braves official website…on the Red Sox official website…it’s on the Press Pass….just saying.
keylargo
June 20th, 2009
5:53 pm
Don’t y’all start talking about weather prognosticators. Every time I turn the TV on, I am scared I am going to see a big red and yellow blob and a weatherman pointing at it and telling me to pack up and leave..
Yes, it’s Hurricane season again. Home Depot, Publix and the TV stations are all geared up to make lots of money, hurricanes or not. The county spends millions of advertising telling you if you don’t leave during a hurricane, no Police or Firemen will help you in an emergency. I have enough gasoline stored to run my generators for two weeks or burn my house down in fifteen minutes. I have enough bottled water to refill my swimming pool after the next storm surge fills it with salt water.
The best thing about Hurricanes though is that all the tourists HAVE to leave. The hotels, camp grounds close and all the tourists leave. It’s so wonderful for a couple of days and we usually only get a little wind and rain.
Usually.
McFann ;Ô;
June 20th, 2009
5:53 pm
Chop Chop–
Tsk tsk tsk! No wonder Y. Molina’s ahead…
Salamander
June 20th, 2009
5:53 pm
Braveheart
Your I-285 post is priceless. I swear that people forget how to drive when it rains.
“OMG! Its raining! Well, I suppose its time to hit the gas and take my hands off the wheel.”
bravos2249
June 20th, 2009
5:54 pm
DOB
The Red Sox don’t even have a Dempster….that’s the Cubs game……….