Hey, it’s a rain makeup game today, and the Cubs and I are here to entertain you until the Yankees arrive tomorrow, and DOB returns after a day to catch his breath.
The Braves, like I did last Friday, wake up today to find summer is here in Atlanta, and not summer like it is in the northeast – sticky and humid, yes, but not this.
It’s dang hot. And that might not be a bad thing for hitters. The Braves offense could use loose joints, and the ball jumping out of the park. I just hope players have been hydrating because they’re going from 63 degrees yesterday at first pitch in Boston to highs around 90s here today. And with the heat index, it feels like 95 already.
Speaking of hot, the Cubbies come in hot. They’ve won four in a row, with a come-from-behind win over the White Sox and a weekend sweep against the Indians.
And as DOB pointed out yesterday, the Cubs have won seven of their last eight against the Braves, including all six against the Braves last season. And they’ve won six of their last nine games at Wrigley South, er um, Turner Field.
Of course this team isn’t the Cubs team of 2008 but they are starting to come around a bit at the plate. In the last four games they’ve hit .272 and averaged 6.5 runs per game. Derrek Lee has hit .389 with four home runs in the last four games.
For the Braves, now would be as good a time as any to break out of this thing they have going behind Javier Vazquez. Amazingly, they’ve lost each of his last five starts, even though he’s pitched well, going so far as to pitch eight innings in each of the last two starts.
Vazquez was a victim of pitcher/hitter Micah Owings his last time out in Cincinnati and lost despite pitching the Braves’ first complete game of the year. He gave up four runs, three of them on the opposite field Great American Ball Park-aided homer by Owings, and afterward, Vazquez sat in his chair, ice pack on his shoulder, staring down into his locker for ….a …long….time.
His outing before that one, Vazquez pitched a two-hitter in eight innings against the Pirates and got no-decision after Rafael Soriano blew the save in the ninth. So in all, going back through May 25, Vazquez is 0-3 in five starts despite a 3.44 ERA. He’s walked only four, struck out 39 and held opponents to a .205 batting average.
That brings him to 4-6 with a 3.41 ERA overall this year.
Vazquez is 3-4 with a 5.17 ERA in his career against the Cubs. Lee is his toughest out, going 20-for-50 (.400) against Vazquez for his career, and half of those hits are for extra bases – seven doubles and three home runs. Watch out there.
Ryan Dempster has an idea what Vazquez feels like. The Cubs have lost each of Dempster’s last three starts, despite the fact that Dempster has given up no more than three runs in any of them. He’s 0-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three starts. He did walk six batters in his last outing against the White Sox on June 17; somehow he gave up only three runs though.
OTHER MUSINGS:
OK…what’s next. Do I seem distracted? Well, I am. I’m trying to watch the US Open and blog at the same time. I confess. And let me just say, there are some funky fashions making their way onto the tour. Some of these britches – Barnes yesterday and Mickelson today – retro, Euro, something. But Mickelson is making his move to the top of the leaderboard. Interesting stuff.
So this ain’t exactly easy, with Johnny Miller in my ear, while I try to wax eloquent on the Braves. It might be easier if Johnny would have something to say about the Braves mixed in with his comments.
But who does?
They failed to win a series on that nine-game trip. Shoot, they haven’t won a series since they swept Toronto May 22-24. The best thing the Braves have got going right now is that the Phillies have lost six in a row.
I don’t really know. Honestly, these are strange times to be around the Braves. Just pick up the paper over the last week or so, and you’ll see how all over the place we are. One day Mark Bradley is saying it’s time to trade Jeff Francoeur, the next it’s this team isn’t connecting to Bobby Cox the way past teams did, and then even Furman Bisher is saying it’s time to trade Chipper Jones.
I expect the big pleas on the blog, where moods swing from one pitch to the next., but to see it in rapid succession in print from our distinguished columnists, it’s making my head spin just a bit. And that’s no knock against them. These are fairly desperate times.
So this is what happens to teams on the decline that – let’s face it – aren’t one or two moves from being cured. Ask Nate McLouth. That was a very serious trade, at a very key time, at the weakest position on the Braves field at the time. But how much of an impact has it really made?
Since the day of that trade, and the day the Braves ushered out Tommy Glavine for Tommy Hanson, the Braves have gone 6-10. They’ve given up only a 3.88 ERA but hit .255 and averaged 3.75 runs.
I don’t know what it’s going to take. The answer isn’t as simple as it used to be when the Braves needed a cleanup hitter, or a leadoff man, or an arm for the back end of the bullpen. But it’s not any one thing, and before it’s all said and done, maybe it’s a complete overhaul.
The ground is rumbling isn’t it? Like a train is coming. And I guess we’re all just along for the ride.
2,351 comments Add your comment
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:11 pm
foist???
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:11 pm
yesss. Braves need to getsomepower. Jose Guillen might be feasible if Royals agree to eat some of the salary.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:13 pm
DOB -
A complete overhaul?? Who do we start with?
Bryan
June 22nd, 2009
1:18 pm
getsomepower
do you even read the blogs? its Carroll
Rev. Otis Nixon
June 22nd, 2009
1:18 pm
thank you for noticing the unending negativity from the ajc columnists these days. i’ve asked him a million times, but he’s only given me sarcastic replies, but is jeff schultz specifically on the “braves bashing beat”? his columns are negative across the board. i’ve said it before, carroll, and i mean it, you are the best writer covering the braves. why all the negativity at the ajc? i’m a journalist myself, and i just don’t see why the editors would think it’s a good thing to have so much negativiy with nothing to balance it out…
Jeff321
June 22nd, 2009
1:18 pm
OK…what’s next. Do I seem distracted? Well, I am. I’m trying to watch the US Open and blog at the same time.
Woke up this morning expecting to watch Directv’s Wimbledon “mix” channel.. (Choose from different courts.) And its postponed because of this golf stuff! So, now I only have one channel of tennis and of course no one I want to see.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:19 pm
My Quote from the last blog
Braves Will Have a Winning Record this Homestand, “Bank On It!”
The Braves Come Correct against the Good teams of baseball and Play like a AAA team against Garbage Teams that they normally should beat up on…
We will get Teased over the next week or so…We will In Tonight 5-3
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
1:20 pm
Getting rid of Jeff Bennett would be a start. Has lost 4 games for the Braves this year, gets hit hard almost every other outing. Guys are batting .300 or so against him, and the OB% is hovering around .400. That isn’t good for a guy we continue to pitch in clutch situations (9th inning/extra innings).
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:20 pm
No To Jose Guillen
I’d Rather Go after Vlad Guerrero, If and Only if the Angels eat up some of his salary…
Even though He is older now he Would Be Good Protection for Chipper in the Number 4 Hole
Pete Orr
June 22nd, 2009
1:20 pm
Negative? More like realistic.
DAP
June 22nd, 2009
1:21 pm
no, i think after the mclouth trade, we are one step away. one more bat, and were there.
6-4-3
June 22nd, 2009
1:23 pm
Heard DOB on the radio for the first time yesterday, and I gotta tell you I was thrown by the southern accent. I know Atlanta is in the South, but I’m from Jersey so I read all these posts with a northeastern accent.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:23 pm
Bryan
Wow. I missed it. Put me in the electric chair
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
1:24 pm
DAP – I agree, one more bat and better usage of our bullpen and this team can win.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:24 pm
MFIn04 -
I totally agree. Every time he comes into the game in a tie situation, I cringe. One pitch, one HR yesterday (albeit it was a pesky pole HR)
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
1:25 pm
I don’t know what’s so hard about the Braves situation. We are overstocked with starting pitchers and still have a decent injury reserve in James Parr. Obviously we’ve bantered many names around but the botom line is simple: any team that wants Vazquez will want to trade prospects vs. major leaguers; any team willing to sell us a power bat will want prospects back. Trade Vazquez first then go shopping. What’s so hard about that?
Since nobody liked LaRoche, what about a trade of Vazquez to MIL for a package centered around Parra or Jeffress? WAS and CLE apparently would want young pitching for Dunn and DeRosa. Should be an easy flip, no?
Stanco
June 22nd, 2009
1:25 pm
Use the shovel to cover this team……and to start a new foundation. This one is broke, with no chance of being repaired!!!! If you want a fairy tale surge…….look for a good book!
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
1:25 pm
Braves need a legit power hitting high OBPs guy to play RF and hit 4th and they need a second baseman who isn’t hot and cold or mostly cold right now like the one they keep trotting out there every game.
Solutions. Nothing you can right now about 2B. Just play Prado a lot more until Infante can come back by the end of July, at which time you can use either of them at 2B. In the off-season try and acquire Jorge Cantu from the Marlins (he used to be a 2B), while he won’t win any gold gloves, he’s decent defensively and can still hit for power and is a RH bat. That way we aren’t so predominantly left handed of a lineup.
The Outfield Situation, a bit more tricky. Since we are 1-2 years away from Schafer, Heyward and Johnson being ready…(Schafer should be ready next year, about half a year at AAA will do) they’ll have to do some patch work.
With Jeff gone, Anderson gone, and Diaz just a backup…going after a Josh Willingham, Jeremy Hermida or Cody Ross would be one way to go.
Steve
June 22nd, 2009
1:27 pm
The ejections on Sunday at least showed the team does have some fire in them at least. I say Escobar should be benched today for that bone headed play. Granted Chipper being the veteran should have called for it but Escobar wasn’t even in the same zipcode as the ball. He plays like he leaves half is brain in the dugout on defense. If he was hitting better you could overlook it.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:28 pm
Someone Mentioned on the last Blog the Idea Of Huddy Closing…
I wonder If Huddy has been asked that question to see if he has been open to that Idea…
But That Seems a little Preliminary to me….
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
1:28 pm
Nice summary of recent events Carroll –
Coupling the fact that Bobby doesn’t have a contract for next year with the Braves’ poor play in June, leaves me with the sense that major change is a comin’ for better or worse. As you suggest – perhaps we’re all on this train for the ride, but I would add that we have little control over which station we’re going to stop at.
THWG
June 22nd, 2009
1:29 pm
Hm… Apparently the Royals GM considers Frenchy a successfully developed player. I’d hate to see what he considers an unsuccessfully developed player.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:30 pm
Anyone Going to Wrigley Field South Tonight…? I’m Suprised that this Blog hasn’t gained bandwagon Cubs Fans within the last 24 hours or so…
Jersey Gil
June 22nd, 2009
1:30 pm
CR..Tell DOB..next time he fly to the East Coast, telling to fly to Atlactic City..Air Tran has now 4 direct fly to Atlanta. Easy and conviniance Airport with no problems in and Out.
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster??)
June 22nd, 2009
1:31 pm
I’m altering my name just a bit from now on as long as it’s still applicable.
My ramblings:
I’m hopeful the outburst of emotion from yesterday will carry over on the homestand and this team will look like it has a pulse. I really agree with Tomahawkin in that I I think we’ll fare well over the next 10 days.
The Phils have major problems when they don’t hit and the muts are still banged up. Could be a good week or so if we can manage some runs. Need to continue to recent outburst of run support here at the Ted.
If Jeffy Bennett never pitches for the Bravos again I won’t shed a tear or think twice about it. He freakin sux.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
1:32 pm
“The best thing the Braves have got going right now is that the Phillies have lost six in a row.”
Yup, that’s never a really good sign. And I agree, they aren’t one hitter away. Because Casey Kotchman, Garrett Anderson, Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur haven’t been good offensively. So they are far more than just one bat away. I guess we could keep hoping the Phillies and Mets lose so that the division is won by 80 games. But no one really thinks that is going to happen, right?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
1:33 pm
Hmm…MLBTR says that we very nearly sent Jones, Lillibridge, Concepcion Rodriguez and Jeff Locke to Pitt for Jason Bay last year. They even say that we had Bay’s name stitched on a jersey before Frank Coonelly nixed the deal.
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
1:33 pm
IMHO, the McLouth trade + better use of the assets on the team make this a better than .500 team, but nowhere near a playoff contender.
Braves need to get better/more consistent production out of 2B, RF, and LF, better bullpen production, and better defense to be a contendah.
If the guys on the team do not step it up, I count about 4 pieces before this team can become a playoff contendah. One or two pieces might get them to the playoffs, but it probably takes four to win out.
fleming
June 22nd, 2009
1:33 pm
DAP – we are one step away. one more bat, and were there.
Possibly but not real sure about that. It appears the last two/three years that the Braves are very Schitzoid. Everyone hits for several games and runs comes in bunches, then no one hits for several games. They need to go on a tear but that would require everyone to be consistant and someone like Chipper or McCann going on a hot streak sorta like when Chipper destroyed the Mutts a few years back. He was able to do that because everyone else was consistant during the streak but I just don’t see that happening right now. Not writing them off but they need to get started.
N8
June 22nd, 2009
1:33 pm
“They failed to win a series on that nine-game trip. Shoot, they haven’t won a series since they took two out of three from Arizona May 29-31″ Carroll
Not to nitpick Carroll, but that series agaisnt Arizona was a four game series that we split.
Steve, wanted to relay to you that the Kings X show was fantastic. There was only about 200-300 people there. Kind of crazy to have such a low turnout. Kenny Chesney was also in town that night, but I find it hard to believe that they’d be “competing” with each other for crowd.
Steve and Efrim, I’m not suggesting that the Braves SHOULD, offer arbitration to Jeff. I’m just saying, that since he’s the golden boy/natural, I wouldn’t put it past them to do just that. If I thought they were willing to give up on him, they would have benched him or sent him down, LONG ago.
That being said, what would he “win” in arbitration? Twelve dollars? More so than last year, I don’t think that’s a get together that Jeff, nor his agent want to take part in.
But as I said, trade mid-season, or non-tendered after the season, I don’t really see much chance of him being in a Braves uniform next season (which he should NOT be). But I wouldn’t be shocked if he was.
Jersey Gil
June 22nd, 2009
1:34 pm
Supes …One of the Team in NL east that i scare off is the Marlin…Good Pitching…I don’t think the Marlin going to let Hermida or Ross go or be trade.They need a First baseman or a Third Base.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
1:35 pm
“no, i think after the mclouth trade, we are one step away. one more bat, and were there.”
DAP, but you still need Johnson, GA, and Kotchman to start producing. They have been pretty awful. That’s three hitters.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:35 pm
Wily Mo Pena Has been Released by the Mets…
That Dude has tremendous Up-Side and McGwire-Esque Power…He Be a Shrewd Pickup…Then We can send G. Blanco down to Gwinnett Where he belongs…
Many People Consider him to be Another Overrated Yankee Prospect that has been a Bust, But he’d be a low-Risk/High Reward signing…
N8
June 22nd, 2009
1:35 pm
Damn italics. LOVE this format. Have I said that before?
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
1:36 pm
“Hmm…MLBTR says that we very nearly sent Jones, Lillibridge, Concepcion Rodriguez and Jeff Locke to Pitt for Jason Bay last year. They even say that we had Bay’s name stitched on a jersey before Frank Coonelly nixed the deal.”
I really do like the direction the Pirates are headed. Kinda. Although that deal makes me wonder….
And Alveraz looks a bit overrated, and Tabata doesn’t look great either. Wow. Poor Pirates.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
1:36 pm
N8–sweet. I’d love to see King’s X in such a small venue like that. As for the arb case, he can’t make less than 80% of what he made this year, and I think the arb panels take into account his merch sales and all the promotional stuff they use for him too. So he’s got a lot going for him going into arb (besides his putrid performance, of course).
Jeff R
June 22nd, 2009
1:37 pm
Carroll, in her understated way, says it best: one or two moves aren’t likely to turn the Braves around.
Adding a power bat may help some, but Braves’ bats have been tepid or outright cold up and down the order.
I don’t buy that the reason that why those bats are cold is that opposing pitchers can work around Braves’ hitters. I think the team isn’t hitting because its just not… hitting.
Francouer has probably flamed out. Anderson is older. Chipper is older (where’s the power?). Kelly Johnson is slumping. Escobar’s numbers are good but not superior (based on his talent). Kotchman has been in and out of the line up. McLouth is underperforming a little.
There you have it.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:37 pm
Did anyone think that the Braves played with some fight this weekend, even though we lost 2 of 3 and very well could have won 2 of 3? I think it’s a good sign that we play with some fight.
Bennett should only come in as a mop-up guy.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:38 pm
JJ
All Things Considered Yesterday (Especially the AAA Caliber Defense) The Braves refused to give up unlike so many of the losses this year where If we don’t score in the 1st 3 innings it seems this team gives up…
I think we are gonna give the Red Sox and The Bankees Hell This Week…
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
1:39 pm
Efrim that’s exactly why I think we need to trade Kotchman, with a prospect if necessary, for a power hitting rental player at 1B such as LaRoche. CK needs to play for a team with a big hitting so he can hit in the 2 or 7 spots.. Frankly I wonder if we’d be better off with Canizares, defense be damned.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
N8, it’d be one of the most criticized move in Braves history if Wren offered Francoeur a contract for next season. I’m not joking. To pay him at least 3.4 million again, for what he is providing now, is indefensible.
fastasballs
June 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
Wow I didn’t realize Wren came THAT close to getting Jason Bay. He was able to pull out McLouth from the Pirates this season, but how much different would this team look right now had the Bay deal went through?
“The Braves would have sent Concepcion Rodriguez, Brent Lillibridge, Brandon Jones and Jeff Locke to the Pirates” Too bad the Pirates didn’t take that offer, but for them to get that deep into things with that return is amazing to begin with. Said the deal was so close the Braves had already sewed Bay’s name onto a jersey.
Landing Bay last season would have made things a lot easier this off season of Wren. Maybe Frenchy would have been traded when he had a little more value, maybe other moves are made or not made.
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
getsomepower: Swap Medlen and Bennett’s roles.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
1:41 pm
…big hitting OF
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:41 pm
Carroll suggests a complete overhaul. So if this team were to get gutted out, where would we start?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
1:42 pm
Efrim–I think that they actually have smart folks in the front office now. Coonelly especially (damn him! I wanted Bay). Neal Huntington is as cutting-edge as Theo when it comes to the new stats. I like the direction they’re heading in, too.
But I didn’t understand why they promoted Alvarez. Wasn’t he royally struggling in hi-A? And yeah, Tabata isn’t looking so good. But hey, they got a pretty nice package all in all for a year and a half of a very average hitter.
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster??)
June 22nd, 2009
1:42 pm
Tomahawkin –
Agreed. They lost the series but I thought they fought hard and got a handful of clutch hits (which is better than in previous series). May be just blind optimism, but I think they are turning a corner. We’ll see.
All starts tonight. Make the cubbies cry!!!!!
Rodney Derrick
June 22nd, 2009
1:42 pm
Carroll– Glad to see you on the blog again before Seattle. Usually good luck at least in your first game back. And Vazquez could sure use some of that luck. Meanwhile, while I know you are not planning to run in a competitive way in the marathon, you will have an advantage with your heat training over those Northwest folks if you get even a moderately warm day. As someone who live in the Northwest for a number of years, I can say that folks out there are not trained for the heat like you will be. Of course, their heat is drier, so you still have to hydrate well. Maybe the Braves will still have an advantage over the Cubbies and Yanks and Phils in this regard.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
MFin04,
Medlen excelled when he came in extra innings vs Pirates
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
A Name I’m Gonna Throw Out there Again is Maggs Ordonez!
If Detroit eats 1/2 of his salary he’d be a Shrewd Pickup especially since he got Benched
Hoss, Maggs Ordonez, and B-Macc 3-4-5 Would be dope…
N8
June 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
steve, I guess I didn’t know that about the arbitration. But it makes sense. The players union, wouldn’t allow teams to rake a guy over the coals for a bad year or two (though they should).
Yeah, that concert was wierd. Place holds about a thousand people. Really nice club. Basically 7 other clubs in the venue, and then they have the pavillion type room for the concerts. The rest of the place was packed. All of the other clubs were hoppin. About 3 tunes into the concert, they basically opened the doors and stopped collecting tickets and people still didn’t come in.
Not too many young kids are groovin on the Kings X apparently. LOL! Fine by me. I stood about 15 feet from Ty Tabor and had about 6 feet of “clear space” around me the guy that went with me. It was like a private part. Sounded great (that club has a house system to die for).
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
Braves outscored the Red Sox 13-11 in the series and went 1-2. (I believe that’s correct?)
fleming
June 22nd, 2009
1:44 pm
McLouth of the South – trade Kotchman, with a prospect if necessary, for a power hitting rental player at 1B
And what happens next year with no First Baseman. Kotchman hasn’t been that bad when healthy. He isn’t a cleanup hitter but LaRoche isn’t enough of an upgrade to help this year and will cost the Braves next.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
1:44 pm
Atlanta needs to pounce! They need to take advantage of the way the whole division is playing, I don’t think they’ll have too many more chances like this.
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
1:44 pm
N8, dang you’re right. thought i’d read last series win was Toronto, so I should have known better. let me fix that.
and hey, some rain, that’s a great thing to see…and i mean this about being early in the day, of course.
DAP
June 22nd, 2009
1:44 pm
tomahawkin
you know, one thing that has crossed my mind…call me crazy…but john smoltz will be a free agent in 2010. i wonder if the braves could sign him back as a closer? just thinking out loud, here.
efrim youre right. i guess my thinking is that we have ALMOST won so many games, that i feel like one more legitmate hitter would put us over the top in a few of those. to me, anderson is coming around, and though kotchman has been slumping, i know he has it in him. after that, you play prado the majority of the time in place of kelly, and youre an improved team.
fastasballs
June 22nd, 2009
1:45 pm
“McLouth is underperforming a little”
Looks to be on track for what he normally puts up. He’s been here 16 games, has 3 HR’s 9 RBI 4 2B. That pans out to 30HR 90RBI & 40 2B. His OBP & SLG are down a tick & his strike outs are a little more than expected, but for the most part he’s putting up what he normally does based on last season’s totals. He’s about what I expected.
Jersey Gil
June 22nd, 2009
1:45 pm
The Pirate Trade history with the Braves are not very Good….Barry Bond was a Braves until his manager mess up the Deal, same happen last year with Bay.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
1:45 pm
Fleming We have enough stopgaps to fill in at first base until our prospects come up. I don’t think you’d be able to get much for Kotchman anyways. I’d rather just keep him and move a pitcher and Frenchy for some half decent bat
N8
June 22nd, 2009
1:45 pm
“To pay him at least 3.4 million again, for what he is providing now, is indefensible.” Efrim
As it was THIS year. Yet he did it anyhow. I’m not gonna shy away from the fact, that I’ve been on the Jeff Francoeur “trade” bandwagon since before last season ended.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not arguing with you. I agree with you. But like I said. He had no business going into this season counting on him either, yet he did.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:46 pm
Also I wasn’t big on the Trade for Luke Scott Bandwagon, But He Impressed the Hell Outta My Narrow A..s In that series in Baltimore…
He’d be a low Risk-High reward move to make…
THWG
June 22nd, 2009
1:46 pm
McLouth of the South- You’re probably right about CK. He belongs somewhere like Texas (plenty of power to go around), where Chris Davis probably makes Rangers fans cringe like a certain RF makes us cringe. Not to mention they need pitching, which we also have.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:46 pm
I take a lot of positives from this weekend’s series.
Gonzo was hitting 93-95 on the black.
McLouth and Escobar had a very good series.
I didn’t get the feeling the game was over after Boston took the lead.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
1:47 pm
If we trade for a Texas player, we should go after Nelson Cruz. The guy is not yet fully established but he looks to be on the road to becoming a top player so taking him early in a trade could benefit us greatly. He’s got the power with the bat, that’s for sure.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:48 pm
MFIN 04
Didn’t we out-hit the opposing team yesterday and still lost…?
It seems like we hit like a playoff team when there are 2 outs and execute hitting with Neolithic Incompotence when there are less than 2 out and R.I.S.P.
That has been going on all season…
N8
June 22nd, 2009
1:48 pm
Carroll, no problem. The only reason I noticed, is becase before that 3rd game went to extra innings, I was “bragging” about at least winning the series, and then realized that their was to be a fourth game. Oh… and that little fact that we ended up losing the 3rd game. LOL! If I remember right, game one of that series should have been won, and people were griping about it (big shock), and oddly enough, I was trying to be a voice of reason claiming “series victory”.
Needless to say, I felt responsible for jinxing them. So, don’t expect any more voice of reason stuff from me.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
1:48 pm
Jersey Gil,
I was talking more like in the off-season next year, try to see what can be done with the Marlins. I think Cantu maybe an UFA? I’m sure Cody and Ross are still under their control.
Pete
June 22nd, 2009
1:48 pm
Efrim: “N8, it’d be one of the most criticized move in Braves history if Wren offered Francoeur a contract for next season. I’m not joking. To pay him at least 3.4 million again, for what he is providing now, is indefensible.”
Agree. Braves should consider themselves very lucky that JF was so greedy a couple years ago when he turned down the Braves offer of roughly 5 years/$25 Mil. If I recall correctly, he practically laughed at the offer. Contrast that with McCann, who accepted.
THANKS, Jeff!
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
1:49 pm
Thanks for the new Blog, Ms. Rogers!
getsomepower I didn’t get the feeling the game was over after Boston took the lead.
Me neither…until Boston got their 6th run. Then I knew the Braves would never regain the lead…
fleming
June 22nd, 2009
1:49 pm
BraveNewWorld – Fleming We have enough stopgaps to fill in at first base until our prospects come up.
And who would you use next year for stop gaps? A whole year of Prado at first? Canizares?
Burdell
June 22nd, 2009
1:50 pm
Ask Nate McLouth. That was a very serious trade, at a very key time, at the weakest position on the Braves field at the time. But how much of an impact has it really made?
The record not withstanding, the McLouth deal had a big impact on the Braves. They’re scoring some runs and have a legitimate scoring threat from 1 to 4 in the lineup. I don’t have time to look it up (I’m supposed to be working, you know), but the hits/game seem to be up as well, despite a McLouth slump when he first came over.
The problem is that once you get past #4 in the lineup, things are very weak. Unless McLouth gets on base, Escobar moves him over, and Chipper or McCann get him in, the team isn’t going to score on that turn through the lineup.
The team went from 3 above average guys + 5 below average guys to 4 above average guys + 4 below average guys. That sort of move isn’t going to propel you from .500 team to World Series champs, but it certainly fortifies your team, especially when that pickup is a guy on a reasonable long-term contract.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:50 pm
DAP
I dunno Know If Smoltz will still have the Dominating stuff to close next year…
I’d Rather Use him as a Set-Up Man, especially if we lose Both Soriano and Gonzo…
If we are out of the race within the next month it might be a Shrewd move to trade either one of them…And get something in Return…
Don’t Be Suprised if Either one of them ends up playing for Whinebrenner and The Bankees or the Minaya and Los Melts…
jed
June 22nd, 2009
1:50 pm
i dont get what’s so difficult either. the braves need to trade for a power bat in RF, and they need to play someone other than kelly johnson at 2b. (i’d go with prado until omar comes back.) cox has put us in a hole by insisting those guys be on the field for the first half of the season.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:51 pm
McFann :Ô:
lmao. That was funny. It kinda sunk in after that, but the first pitch. Geez
jed
June 22nd, 2009
1:51 pm
“those guys” = KJ & JF, obviously
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
1:51 pm
This team could probably have scored 50-100 more runs if they had halfway decent situational hitting with 0-1 outs (sac flys, getting runners over, etc) and competent base running.
Max 14
June 22nd, 2009
1:52 pm
There are some problems with this team, but alot of these problems could be cured or at least upgraded. I feel that managment is too loyal to a guy under performing or in a slump. I think you can afford to give one or two guys the benefit of the doubt when he has perfomed well in the past, but 5 or 6 guys? Thats just wishful thinking. I think the Braves have also lost a focus on fundamentals offensively. In that game yesterday, everybody talked about the bad call on O’Flarety, Chipper’s ejection, JJ’s error, Bennet’s long ball, what about in the top of the ninth when Mclouth gets on base with one out and has 2nd stolen but Escobar puts the ball in play and Mclouth has to come back to first. Then Escobar gets a single that possibly would have scored the lead run if Mclouth had stole second, instead Mclouth is just advanced to 2nd setting us up for a DP, which didn’t happen. That run scores, we see Soriano in the 9th, and not “loose it in a minute” Bennet. I’m not saying it was Escobar’s fault, I just don’t think everyone was on the same page, which should have been “lets manufacture the lead run and get our closer in here”.
jed
June 22nd, 2009
1:53 pm
and again, there’s no point trading KJ & JF. you’ll get no value in return right now. send them to the minors. KJ for certain is reformable. not sure about JF
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
1:53 pm
Hell, I’d Deal Gonzo and Francine For Nellie Cruz Straight Up Right NOW!
Or maybe Throw Medlen in there as well since we are gonna have a log-jam of starting pitchers when Huddy Gets back…
It would be a good Move for Both teams, Do It Now Frank Wren…Jobu Said So!!!
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
1:53 pm
Anybody read MLBTR where the Braves already had Bay’s name sewn on the back of a jersey? Would’ve been nice, especially since the prospects we were giving up weren’t any top guys. Pitt. GM finally caught on that he was getting ripped, BIG TIME, and pulled the plug.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
1:54 pm
Flemming: And who would you use next year for stop gaps? A whole year of Prado at first? Canizares?
Combo of Infante/Prado would do well enough. Infante is a solid to good at times and Prado is solid as well. They are role players and I have no concerns with their ability to play. I’m against trading Kotchman because he’s playing as expected. The people who are underplaying are the ones we need to move and that is obviously Frenchy and KJ. We should try and go after Brandon Phillips, imo.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
1:54 pm
jed -
Cox does have a tendency to stick with something that isn’t working.
My first overhaul suggestion – approach BC and offer him a promotion out of the dugout. If you’re going to replace BC, you need a fiery manager, an Ozzie Guillen type
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
1:55 pm
One other thing to notice about the games in Boston, is that McLouth drove in a lot of runs (3) in the series, and when we move back to the NL rules, he isn’t going to get as many chances.
McCann Fan
June 22nd, 2009
1:56 pm
Someone earlier mentioned Adam Dunn. I argued all off-season with my neighbor that we should not go after him. I have since eaten crow and now really wish we had his OBP and power numbers. Let’s try to trade Vasquez and Frenchy for him.
Pete
June 22nd, 2009
1:57 pm
Steve from OH: “As for the arb case, he can’t make less than 80% of what he made this year, and I think the arb panels take into account his merch sales and all the promotional stuff they use for him too. So he’s got a lot going for him going into arb (besides his putrid performance, of course).”
Thats incorrect re: the merchandise sales; its strictly performance on the field. As far as the 80% goes, is that just for arbitration? Andruw Jones is making about 10% of what he did last year, but since he was released from LA, maybe thats a different situation.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
1:57 pm
MFin04 I don’t know why they’re having him lead off, the guy has been producing more than any other player since coming over and his bat has power. I would move Mclouth to 3rd in the order and shift everyone back a spot. Chipper clean up, McCann 5th, etc.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
1:57 pm
Tomahawkin,
I don’t think the Braves should be “throwing in Medlen” in any trade. He’s Hanson’s insurance policy.
Burdell
June 22nd, 2009
1:58 pm
And who would you use next year for stop gaps? A whole year of Prado at first? Canizares?
They need one more year of Kotchman. The way Freeman is playing, he’ll be up in AA at the ASB. Then you give him a year and a half of AA/AAA and he should be ready to go (despite being 21 at the time).
fastasballs
June 22nd, 2009
1:58 pm
Also since McLouth arrived Chipper has not been doing much of anything at the plate. That’s about par for the course with this team, something good happens followed by at least 2 things that are bad.
Hopefully Frenchy sits againg tonight. He’s stinking it up as usual regardless of what he thinks. Is he just putting up a front or does he really believe some of the crap he spews in interviews?
If I’m his teammate I root & pray for Frenchy to come out of his funk, but I also want my manager to play the guys that give us the best chance to win. It’s got to be hard for guys like Chipper & McCann to watch Frenchy wreck every rally or swing at pitches a foot out of the zone. How long does this go on before guys start not caring? Is it happening now?
fleming
June 22nd, 2009
1:58 pm
BraveNewWorld – I’m against trading Kotchman because he’s playing as expected. Combo of Infante/Prado would do well enough
My point exactly with the talk of trading Kotchman for one half year of LaRoche. Using Infante/Prado combination for the whole year limits your flexibility at 2nd, 3rd, and outfield totally.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
1:59 pm
Moving Medlen would be a dumb move right now. He’s pitched well enough for someone getting adjusted to the league and has a lot of potential. If he can keep improving, the combo of Hanson/Medlen could be nasty. Our pitching staff is full of a lot of talent right now so moving a pitcher would be the best solution. I say an established pitcher like Vazquez can give us a good return.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
1:59 pm
Bobby likes to have a beer league softball lineup. He could have one by dumping Francoeur then trading Vazquez and Kotchman. With Rasmus looking good the Cards may give up Ludwick for Vazquez; might even swindle a prospect from ‘em too. Still say CK should be moved while he still has value. Kotchman, Brandon Jones, Parr, and Francoeur for Dunn? Seeing the big fella full time at 1B would be fun to watch if not pretty…
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
2:00 pm
Pete–is that incorrect? I thought I read that somewhere, but I guess we can scratch that part! My bad. As for the 80% thing, I’m fairly sure that he can’t make less that 80% of this year’s salary in arbitration next year.
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
2:00 pm
Braves still need that rh, right field bat. Pitching has been pretty good with expection of a few, but in order to win this divsion they need a bat.
Have a new blog on the braves at http://www.newblogofbraves.blogspot.com, if you folks would go there and check it out and vote on my ploe i would appreiciate it. Need the traffic for a good mark
Thanks
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
2:00 pm
McCann Fan,
Trading Vazquez into the NL East is probably one thing the Braves don’t want to do, but if they were to want to…out of all the teams…I’d say the Nats would be the one team they may very well do so. The Nats need quality starting pitching. Javy has been very solid this year (despite his W-L record). That maybe a good “straight up deal” for Adam Dunn. Nats have plenty of OF-ers. They may want one of our bullpen arms…like a Peter Moyland as a throw in. Both Javy and Dunn are signed for next season, so their salaries are similar.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:01 pm
Medlen should be in the starting rotation next season, along with Hanson
2010 Rotation (as I would see it right now)
Lowe
Jurrjens
Hudson
Hanson
Medlen
Vazquez is expendable.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:01 pm
Andruw is still getting his money, Pete. In order to release Andruw, the Dodgers worked out a deal with him to defer up to $12 million of his 2009 salary ($21.1 million big ones) over the next five years.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:01 pm
fleming Our issues aren’t with the infield, they are with the OF. Prado and Infante aren’t going to solve those issues, we need to move for an OF and it’s that simple. Hell, what we should have done was go after Abreu for 5 million. We’d probably be in first right now if we had his bat – 20 homeruns, 100 rbis and great discipline. Instead we get Garret Anderson who is clearly over the hill and should just call it quits.
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
2:01 pm
McCann fan, Ok, that just makes no sense…why would the Nats trade for Vazquez if they’d apparantly be trying to shed payroll ridding themselves of Dunn? They’d want prospects and probably quit a bit of them.
I think maybe Garret and a decent pitching prospect for Thames in Det. and then turn around and trade Frenchy to KC for DeJesus. Makes sense getting DeJesus since he could platoon in LF with Diaz and have Thames power in RF. Easier said than done but that would work out perfect in my eyes.
N8
June 22nd, 2009
2:02 pm
This is my favorite bit on that mlbtraderumors story on Bay:
“Bay had no idea that he came so close to becoming a Brave and said he’s happy to be in Boston.”
Yeah. No sh!t. In similar news, Ringo Starr is Happy that Pete Best didn’t continue his career with the Beatles.
That being said, for the guys that were to have been given up, and given what Bay has done this year, that would have been a FANTASTIC trade for not only the remainer of last year, but for now. My how things would be different with him batting cleanup, huh?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
2:02 pm
So yeah, it’s just for arb. If he’s non-tendered, he can make the league minimum or a team could try to sign him to a minor league deal. I don’t think we could sign him until sometime in May if we did non-tender him (if we wanted to bring him back on a minor league deal; God I hope we don’t), but don’t quote me on that part.
fleming
June 22nd, 2009
2:03 pm
McLouth of the South – Seeing the big fella full time at 1B would be fun to watch
Are you a Sadist or something
VaBravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
2:03 pm
Efrim and Steve from Ohio: Alvarez played here (Lynchburg, VA) through yesterday. He is quite a bit over-rated. As of Saturday he was only hitting .251. Fair defensive player. Makes some great plays and fumbles easy ones. Word here is that he is already on the Pirates 40 man roster, don’t know that for sure, though.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
2:04 pm
Va–I think he is. I believe it was part of his deal when he signed.
Original Jon
June 22nd, 2009
2:04 pm
Canadaian braves fan, Just a little advice if I may, but, the black font on the red background is not a good idea. Makes it very hard to read.
AndyC
June 22nd, 2009
2:04 pm
CR
The forecast tonight isn’t great but hopefully it will move through before game time. I hope we don’t have another delay tonight. You have had a rough go of it lately with the weather. So DOB goes into Boston with rain forecasted for the whole weekend and he sails right through no problem. That must leave you asking “why me” a little right?
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
2:04 pm
Guys keep talking about trading the underperformers. I say again- what do you think you would get for them? Answer: crap. You have to trade value to get value. Now is absolutely the time to trade Vazquez as you would be selling high. Kotchman is a tradeable asset right now because he’s only in ARB 1. Keep him through next year and you couldn’t get a bag of balls for him.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:05 pm
OMG Dunn???/ Ludwick??? I am damn glad you guys don’t run the front office!!!!
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:06 pm
Go and Check some STATS before you post Garbage Players Like Dunn, and Ludwick!!!!
fleming
June 22nd, 2009
2:06 pm
BraveNewWorld – Our issues aren’t with the infield, they are with the OF.
Agreed but the proposed trade wasn’t Kotchman for a power outfield bat but Kotchman for 1/2 year of LaRoache. Still I don’t thing you weaken your team at first for the rest of this year and all of next for the type outfield bat that Kotchman would bring in return
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:07 pm
McLouth of the South You don’t have to trade value for value, you could trade for value with potential value. An established pitcher and a prospect can bring a solid bat. What we should have done was go after Ibanez. Right now though, we are stuck because there aren’t too many power hitters out there right now and the ones that are, are looking for a big contract in coming years. The next big pickup we make is probably the final one of the season for us so it has to be someone worthwhile. Season will basically ride on this trade, so yeah – got to make a good move.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:08 pm
So Vazquez, Kotchman, Francoeur and a prospect for Victor Martinez. Cleveland’s in last place and will be sellers.
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:08 pm
John Deere Greene,
what stats are you referring to?
do you mean dunn’s .267 avg, 18 HR, and .900+OPS??
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:08 pm
Ryan Ludwick #47 RF» Add Widget
2009 STATS
BA HR RBI OBP SLG
.240 10 36 .315 .434
Some freakin upgrade!!!!!
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
2:08 pm
TnBrian,
It’s unlikely the Nats would want any more prospects. They would want major league ready players who they can plug into their every day lineup or starting rotation right now.
Javy Vazquez gives them an immediate number 3-4 durable rotation starter.
So that trade scenario seems like it would benefit both sides. Nats starting ERA this year…not good.
Meanwhile, Braves are lacking power. Dunn can brings us that.
John Deere Green,
Yeah Ludwick. Don’t tell me you haven’t been paying attention. Guy’s been hurt for a better part of a month and will still end up with around 30HR and 100RBI. Which one of our stellar OF-ers do you think will approach those numbers?
fastasballs
June 22nd, 2009
2:08 pm
Freeman & Heyward may get here sooner than you think. Both are pure hitters & are progressing nicely. I’m not advocating this season, but but sometime in 2010 for sure, provided they continue their good hitting.
This team in the later part of 2010 should look something like this.
McLouth CF
Escobar SS
Chipper 3B
McCann C
Heyward RF
Freeman 1B
Infante 2B (probably somebody else)
Schafer LF
Maybe Schafer or McLouth ends up getting traded, but I seriously doubt it. That’s a very afforable line up & leaves plenty of room to put a lot of money in the rotation. Lowe, JJ, Hanson, KK will be there or should be I should say.
There are a slew on good prospects coming up as relievers as well. Should see a very competetive team that won’t cost a fortune for at least a 3-4 seasons.
In late 2010 this team will have power, speed, & hitters who hit for average. Just about everything we’re lacking now. Hopefully a new manager is in here by then & then we can sit back & watch a core group of guys like Hanson, JJ, Escobar, Freeman, Heyward, Schafer & Mclouth for many years to come.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:09 pm
John Deere Green If you think Dunn is a garbage player than you know nothing about baseball, He’s got more homeruns/rbis in last 4 years than any other player and the guy walks a lot. His OBP is great and we can just put him at first. We aren’t getting him though, his value is too high and Nats know it. Dunn has been nothing but solid all of his years, very reliable.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:09 pm
Yes and 72 strikeouts, and poor defense!!! Got that with garrett Anderson!!!!
Look The front Office is NOT GOING TO TRADE FOR ADAM DUNN!!!!
Not Now not EVER!!!!
mudcat
June 22nd, 2009
2:10 pm
No more trading away our prospects!!!! Trade some our players and build for next year. We’re not going anywhere this year so get prepped for 2010 & 2011. This is a team that has to start thinking beyond the next 3 or 4 months. If not, we’re doomed for the next 5 years. JM
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:10 pm
Correct, and His defense at first is very sub-par!!!
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:11 pm
fastasballs We can’t move Mclouth, he’s too good. In fact, we should resign him ASAP. He is probably the best addition to the team in years. Let Schafer figure out the bat and then throw him in RF/LF. Platoon him with Diaz next year. The guy has so much potential…
LSU
June 22nd, 2009
2:11 pm
Carroll,
For every step forward, the Braves seem to take 2 steps backwards..This current team can’t even put together a good week, let alone a good month…Unfortunately for Vasquez, it’ll most probably be more of the same for him today.
Also CR, when do you think the powerful Braves are going to hit their next homerun? I’m guessing not before the end of this month, but likely sometime in July?
Go Tigers!!!
McCann Fan
June 22nd, 2009
2:12 pm
Thank you joe for the stats backup. TN Brian – Vazquez for Dunn is a similar salary, similar contract need for need swap. Plus they have too many outfielders and we have too many starting pitchers. John Deere Green – Dunn has an OPS around .950 and is on pace for yet another 40 home run/100 rbi season. You don’t want that?
O'Brien
June 22nd, 2009
2:12 pm
Carroll,
I wonder if its just coincidence that the Cubs have started hitting since they fired their hitting coach.
And look at the Rockies. Since they fired their manager, they are something like 18-6.
The Braves need a spark. They need a new voice. Somewhere.
NC Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
2:12 pm
The negativity is warranted … the Braves have a right fielder, 2B and LF who can’t hit consistently enough to do too much … and the defense on the left side of the diamond has been spotty at best.
Kinda limits the chances of reeling off a good seven game streak when you have so many different issues.
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:12 pm
John Deere Green, calm the F down dude…chill.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:12 pm
Try a full year of Spilborghs if you want to go get an outfielder!!! But Dunn??? Ludwick???
and Ludwick was hurt, and is still hurt, no one in their right mind trades for an injured player!!!!
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:13 pm
John Deere Green I’m not advocating it because his value is too high but he would be a great solution to our problems. You may not like him, but he’s a offensive powerhouse.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:13 pm
This Pittsburgh Post-Gazette link from MLB Trade Rumors is kind of interesting to me.
This is the part I like:
McCutchen’s instant success would appear to vindicate the Pirates’ patient approach with their top prospect, given that general manager Neal Huntington and director of player development Kyle Stark had maintained for months that they would not promote him until he was prepared to excel.
“First of all, I’m not that smart to envision Andrew going up and hitting .333 with nine extra-base hits in 78 at-bats,” Stark said last night. “However, the idea of making sure a player is ready to compete rather than survive is part of our approach to promoting players. We felt Andrew made huge strides in Instructional League last fall and wanted him to display those adjustments in games that mattered while proving to himself — and us — that they were solidified.”
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
2:13 pm
What’s not to like about Ludwick? Dude has a career .843 OPS in 1500 PA. In a down year so far his OPS+ is 97 after putting up 125 and 110 over the last two years. And Dunn is a lifetime .901 OPS with 5000 PA. That is perennial All-star level hitting. Now his defense…
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:13 pm
Oooh…it’s in blue.
Awesome.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:14 pm
I hope Cox retires after this year, it’s obvious his style of managing isn’t going to work. Bring in someone new already.
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:14 pm
Dunn is on pace for 140RBI, and 45HRs on the worst team in baseball.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:14 pm
No I quite frankly have had enough Statues playing any position for the Braves…..Dunn is very immobile!!!
Burdell
June 22nd, 2009
2:14 pm
As far as the 80% goes, is that just for arbitration? Andruw Jones is making about 10% of what he did last year, but since he was released from LA, maybe thats a different situation.
Well, Jones is still being paid by the Dodgers, so that’s not entirely true. Hampton would have been a good example ($15 million -> $2 million). But regardless, yes, you cannot have a player’s salary drop more than 80% in an arbitration year. A free agent can have their contract fall all the way to the league minimum if their play warrants it.
In tendering a contract to a player (or renewing the contract of a player not yet arbitration-eligible), a club’s salary offer may not be less than 80% of the player’s salary and performance bonuses the previous year or less than 70% of his salary and performance bonuses from two years earlier.
Francoeur’s salary will be at least $2.7 million next year if he’s offered arbitration. If he’s non-tendered, he becomes a free agent and can be dropped down to the league minimum.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
2:15 pm
Obviously you wouldn’t trade for someone who’s injured. If that’s the case then you look elsewhere…
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
2:15 pm
Ryan Ludwick had over 30 HR and 100RBI’s last year and no major injuries.
He’s been dealing with an injury for the last month or so, and is now coming around. Depending on how bad that injury is or how quickly he can get back to normal, he’ll be back to form in no time. Guy is a legit number 4 or 5 RH hitter. Exactly the type of hitter the Braves need.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:16 pm
Joe, don’t let the record confuse you, Nats have a great offensive team. Dunn, Zimmerman, Johnson, Guzman, all great players.
Coach ( 2010 or Bust)
June 22nd, 2009
2:16 pm
Yes, our Braves are losing on the field and at the gate. The remaining 94 games are nothing more than an effort at futility. Stick a fork in them, they’re done. It’s time to sell and soon.
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:16 pm
I also like Ludwick.
Pete
June 22nd, 2009
2:16 pm
Chop Chop: “Andruw is still getting his money, Pete. In order to release Andruw, the Dodgers worked out a deal with him to defer up to $12 million of his 2009 salary ($21.1 million big ones) over the next five years.”
I know, and hes getting only about 10% (90% cut) of his 08 salary this year from the Rangers. As Steve said I do know there is some sort of rule that a team cannot cut a player’s salary by more than 20% from previous year, but I think that applies only if hes with the same team; just not sure if it applies prior to arbitration eligible or during arb as well or??
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:17 pm
Adam Dunn #44 LF» Add Widget
2009 STATS
BA HR RBI OBP SLG
.267 18 49 .402 .529
and Fielding stats career
Total as LF 985 951 7959.2 1844 1740 46 58 7 .969 2.02 .480
Not Good not at all!!!!
LSU
June 22nd, 2009
2:17 pm
An injured Ludwick is way better than a healthy Francoeur.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
2:17 pm
Obviously you wouldn’t trade for someone who’s injured. If that’s the case then you look elsewhere
*************************************************************
Agreed on that point, but if they are getting close to being recovered from that injury, why not?
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:18 pm
With V. Martinez on the team:
1. McLouth (CF)
2. Escobar (SS)
3. C. Jones (3B)
4. Martinez (1B)
5. McCann (C)
6. Anderson (LF)
7. Diaz (RF)
8. Prado (2B) or Kelly Johnson (2B)
9. Pitcher
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:18 pm
John Deere Green so throw his ass on first and his offense will compensate enough.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:18 pm
Ludwick has Pujols to protect him, and a very short outfield from whence to amass HRS, not at the Ted dude!!!
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:19 pm
Put Ludwick in this line-up and he is Jeff francouer!!!
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:19 pm
bravenewworld…very true, nats offense is capable.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
2:19 pm
John Deere Green you look at those hitting stats and see “not good at all”?
If that’s the case then I don’t know what to say other than your and idiot.
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
2:20 pm
Maybe I am in the distinct minority here, but I don’t really see that the Braves need to make another deal. The rest of the division is in a tailspin.
Meanwhile, our lineup looks completely different with Casey Kotchman back. That is a consistent quality AB, and the Braves will score more runs because of it.
By the way, Garrett Anderson has hit .308 with a .351 OBP in June. Those complaining about him need to start paying attention.
This team has a shot. A lot will hinge on Kelly and Francoeur. Braves cannot afford to have two out machines in their lineup. But both have shown signs lately of breaking through. Time will tell, but I don’t understand the impulse to sell.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:20 pm
getsomepower Why position McLouth as the lead off? He’s tops in RBIs and HRs in ATL, put him in 2nd at least.
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:20 pm
Victor Martinez? Id be willing to eat crow if this happens, but I don’t think CLE will let him go.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:20 pm
Puts Nationals offense with our pitching, we’d be running away with the NL East right now. That team can hit.
fastasballs
June 22nd, 2009
2:20 pm
BraveNewWorld, I’m not advocating trading McLouth in the coming years, just throwing stuff out there. I’m just excited for the next few seasons with the prospects & the young guys on the team already.
Cody Johnson is a wild card in furture years. His raw power is unreal, 20 plus homers playing in a pitchers park at Myrtle Beach is amazing. He still has huge stike out #’s, but is improving in that area slightly. His walks are up & so is the average. He could seriously make some guys expendable in a few years.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:20 pm
Spilborghs, Dye, and other seemingly available outfielders woukld suffice the Braves needs for now.
Dunn is too much of a defensive liability anywhere on the field, and Ludwick is a by product of Pujols…..
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
2:21 pm
Also, Ryan Ludwick has hit .189 with a .282 OBP since coming back from the injury. Not sure how he is “coming out of it”, but I’m not sure he is the solution.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
2:22 pm
When did Ludwick start hitting ahead of Pujols? On some level isn’t he protecting Albert, not the other way around? Seems to me he’s been coming up with bases empty on many occasions this year, Albert having 23 dingers and all.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
2:22 pm
VaBravesfan, thanks for the Alvarez info. I feel bad for Pirates fans. Although not really.
fastasballs, haven’t we rushed enough prospects? Heyward AND Freeman by 2010? I guess it’s possible for them to be September callups. But meaningful roles on the team like Schafer? I sure hope not. Braves need to enter 2010 not thinking about those two. Schafer in CF, McLouth in a corner, Kotchman at first and a new bat on a short term deal in the other corner.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:22 pm
I am not discounting Dunn’s ability to draw walks, get on base, and hit Hr, but 18 bombs, and only 48 rbi smells a little like solo shots to me, and not clutch at all…..
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
2:23 pm
People talking about Victor Martinez, just stop. You are out of your mind if you think, A) The Indians are trading him, and B) The Braves have the pieces to get him. He isn’t going anywhere.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:23 pm
Anytime you have Pujols in the line-up before, or behind he is protecting your ass!!!!
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:24 pm
I really like McLouth’s game. Plays hard, he’s very fast, hits for some power, and can get em in the outfield. I say put him in left once we construct a proper outfield. With normal production from other parts of the lineup, he is a perfect addition near the top or bottom third of the lineup.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:24 pm
You’re talking a very different class of hitter there McLouth, very different, One will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, the other won’t even be asked to wash the steps!!!
Coach ( 2010 or Bust)
June 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
Epinephrine you cannot be serious?
Our Braves would have to play .600 baseball from now until the end of the season in order to have any shot at the playoffs. They haven’t done that since 2004. Wake up and smell the coffee. It’s over.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
What do you all think the Rays would give us for Javier Vazquez? They are statistically the top scoring team in the majors.
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
John Deere, Id take 45 “solo” or two run shots on my team any day.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
We need to go after Nelson Cruz. Texas needs pitching, we have it, we need a bat, they have it. 18 homeruns, 45 rbis this year so far.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
If Dunn were acquired I don’t foresee Chipper moving to the clean-up spot, so who is going to protect Chipper???
BravesfaninWis
June 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
Seeing as though the other teams in this division are bombing as well, the Braves need to decide quickly if they are buyers or sellers.. If we are going to be sellers, then wait a while until we can get something better for any of the players that we are going to part with..
Now if we are going to be buyers ( which we should definitely be considering we have played horribly lately and are still in the thick of things) then they need to do something quickly so we can take advantage of the other teams struggles in our division..
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
My guess is that it’s probably during arbitration years, Pete. While arb-eligible players are completely under team control, there has to be some safeguard against them being screwed by their teams.
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
getsomepower Pat Burrell but I doubt they’d trade him. Wouldn’t mind seeing him in an Atlanta uniform.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
Francoeur could go to the Rays also.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
5 solo shots, and 45 errors at 1b!!!! way to pick your poison there joe!!!
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
Original Jon
thank you I need the help and advice for a good mark, how was the short read?
Jeff R
June 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
fastasballs…
I stand corrected about McLouth.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
Would Texas trade Nelson Cruz though?
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
John Deere, McCann would, duh
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:28 pm
I meant 45 solo shots
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
McCann has enough protecting to do without picking up someone that strikes out 150+ times a year!!!!
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
There is a lot of blame that could go around for yesterday’s loss. But the most egregious player was Garrett Anderson. He choose not to come home on the sac fly to Davis Ortiz and we let the back-up catcher score and didn’t hit the relay man. Thats 2 runs despite the errors and blow call by the umps.
McCann Fan
June 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
Supes, joe and everyone else…Thanks for the backup on the Dunn idea. Probably won’t happen, but that’s an instant injection of offense to a team that wins win they score 4 or more runs. Adam Dunn takes us from pretender to contender right away. Gotta get back to work. Thanks again
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
getsomepower I think they would but we would have to give them Vazquez and someone else. I doubt they’d take Frenchy since they’re just oozing with outfielders, though. Probably would have to be a pitcher and another pitching prospect for Cruz. I think he has the best upside out of all the other players. Blalock is solid and so is Byrd but I don’t think they’ll amount to what Cruz is capable of doing.
sportsmandh
June 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
Afternoon denizens,
Here is something I wanted to throw out, since we all like to talk about so many different topics. Lots of people say Bobby need to go, I’m of that opinion too (I hope it doesn’t happen in any kind of brutal or ugly fashion like it did with Smoltz or Glavine though). After Bradley wrote that article last week about Cox’s possible replacements, I’ve been thinking about who I’d like to see the Braves get as their next manager, whenever it does happen.
I’ve been stewing it over, and before you respond with any ideas remember you have to keep it realistic. For example, don’t say Mike Sciosia, give me a break why would he want to come here? And don’t speculate on any guys that could possibly get fired if they fail this year to make the post season, like Joe Girardi or Lou Pinella or something like that. Keep it real.
The only guy I liked off Bradley’s list was Freddy Gonzalez. I like him pretty well, but he would not be my first pick. I am not in favor of Terry Pendleton, I think we need to disconnect from the current coaching staff and am not in favor of internal candidates with exceptions being Eddie Perez and possibly Roger McDowell.
I have been stewing it over. My number one candidate is Don Mattingly. Here are my reasons why:
1) New blood.
2) Knows and understands the values of fundamentals, having played and coach for the Yankees and now the Dodgers for several years. Those organizations wrote the book on fundamentals (look what Scoscia has done).
3) Would relate great to younger players, b/c he’s not too old, they know who he is etc. He’d command respect. Also on the other note too though, he has quite a few years of coaching under his belt now too, so he would have more coaching experience than other younger guys (such as Eddie Perez).
4) An offensive minded guy. The team currently and probably for the near future with young offensive help being needed, such as Schaffer, Heyward, Freeman etc. A guy like Mattingly would probably be excellent to bring those guys along. He also could probably hire a great hitting
coach and have a good idea on how that whole mission should be handled.
5) Biggest ? is, would he be interested in ATL? Don’t know if he’d be an Atlanta type guy or not, as in even interested in the job.
My second candidate is Ron Gardenhire, but I’m almost not following my rule on that. Because I don’t know if he’d be interested in Atlanta at all. Only reason I can think of is if he might think it may be time for a change of scenery from Minnesota. Some times you can get stale if you stay in one place too long.
Here’s my one last comment on the game yesterday, and really this goes more to the current roster. WHY WHY WHY is Gregor Blanco on this team????? Better yet, WHY did he get a start when you need all the offense you can get especially and going up against the Sox in a hitter’s park. It makes no sense at ALL. And as far as being on the roster don’t tell me b/c there’s no back up center fielder. Diaz or Francoeur either one could play center if needed in emergency situations. If another corner outfielder is needed in an emergency situation, Prado can be stuck out there for a game or two. Blanco is THE definition of dead weight. He needs to go now. Also, Norton needs to be cut, not brought back off the DL. Canizares should be left as the 25th guy. See what he can do, he’d be a good pinch hitter. Also if he does well he might could be some trade bait to an AL team as a pinch hitter.
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
2:30 pm
Coach. We are 4.5 games out, and the Phillies and Mets are just as flawed teams as the Braves. We may not have a very good team right now, but we certainly are not out of it, and I can guarantee you that whoever wins the NL East will not do it playing .600 ball the rest of the year.
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
2:30 pm
Lamar1Banks2, he also came back the next inning and evened the score, so not sure how your analysis holds up there.
wish i had that job
June 22nd, 2009
2:31 pm
DOB returns after a day to catch his breath.
A day to catch his breath?? He worked ONE SERIES after taking two off. Last we heard from him he was stuffing his face after the game yesterday. Wish I had his job.
Coach ( 2010 or Bust)
June 22nd, 2009
2:32 pm
Okey Doky then…….I can see that this new blog has gone right off the deep end.
D-E-N-I-A-L is the word ya’ll are looking for. I’m out.
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
2:32 pm
Original Jon, made a change, let me if it looks better
Thanks
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:32 pm
Epinephrine the fact that PHI has lost 6 straight and we are STILL 4.5 back says it all to me. This is when we should be pouncing but we can’t. I don’t even think we have had a 5 game winning streak all year. We’ve got to get something going, a streak, a wave to ride and go from there. We’ve taken 1 step forward and then 2 back this whole year.
DAP
June 22nd, 2009
2:32 pm
getsomepower
ben zobrist from the rays would be sweet. i dont think they would trade him in a million years, though.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
2:32 pm
Adam Dunn is on pace for over 40 HR and 110RBI. Yeah but that darn defense, we wouldn’t want that on OUR team.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:33 pm
Pedro Alvarez was promoted to Double-A Altoona today. I guess the Pirates aren’t too worried about him.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
2:34 pm
Here’s one to chew on:
Escobar + Kotchman to CLE for VMartinez
Vazquez to TEX for Andrus, prospects
After the Indians trade DeRosa they’d still have Esco and Peralta to play the left side, and both players they get back are under control longer and cheaper than Victor.
Epinephrine, I truly think Cleveland would have to listen to that offer.
sportsmandh
June 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
that last part meant to say Canizares may have good trade potential as a designated hitter
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
DAP
June 22nd, 2009
2:32 pm
getsomepower
ben zobrist from the rays would be sweet. i dont think they would trade him in a million years, though
I was thinking of the same player. I would put him 5th.
Pete
June 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
Chop Chop: “My guess is that it’s probably during arbitration years, Pete. While arb-eligible players are completely under team control, there has to be some safeguard against them being screwed by their teams.”
Arb eligible players (2.5-6 years of eligibility) MUST be given arb if player and team cannot agree to a salary; it is NOT an option for the club. So a team cant really screw a player during these years. Salary will be chosen by an arbitrator after club and player submit the salary amount.
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
Mattingly would be a very intriguing choice, thanks for the post. Maybe sign on a Don Baylor or Eddie Murray (is he even interested in coaching?) as a hitting coach, and Glav/Maddux/Smoltz as pitching coach? Could be a winning recipe…
DAP
June 22nd, 2009
2:36 pm
everyone, please remember these various ways we are learning to get coach to leave.
BosnianBaller
June 22nd, 2009
2:36 pm
Wouldn’t a Vazquez for Alex Rios trade make sense for Both the Braves and Blue Jays
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
2:36 pm
They would want more than just Esco/Kotchman for Martinez and I’d try and not trade Escobar. He is the best SS in the whole league, bro. His defense is amazing, cannon for an arm and he can swing a great bat. People forget this is only his 2nd full season and he’s playing like a Derek Jeter already. Also, Vazquez for Andrus isn’t enough, they’d want more from ATL. Andrus is too good. I say we go after DeRosa…
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
2:36 pm
McLouth of the South-
Texas is in the AL West…not happening
macingram
June 22nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Apart from Vazquez we don’t have much to offer. What team in their right mind would want Frenchy, KJ, or Kotchman. I think the Braves are going to have to keep these non-hitting players until they can get the prospects ready. I would like to see the Braves try and go after Brian Roberts. He would be a good leadoff man and an upgrade at 2B. I don’t know what to do to improve LF, RF, and 1B.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Texas is not trading Andrus.
Escobar, Kotchman, and Francoeur for Victor Martinez.
Vazquez and 2 prospects to Milwaukee for J.J. Hardy
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:38 pm
With Martinez and Hardy…
1. McLouth
2. J.J. Hardy
3. C. Jones
4. V. Martinez
5. McCann
6. Anderson
7. Diaz
8. Prado
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
2:40 pm
I see the dumb trade proposals are back and more powerful than ever.
joe
June 22nd, 2009
2:41 pm
Um, Victor Martinez is not coming here. He is valued in cleveland as a franchise player, and would take more than CK,Yunel, and Frenchy to get him. Probably would take a JJ on top of all that, if they are even open to doing it, which I would guess they’re not.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
2:41 pm
J.J Hardy, he of the .213 AVG., 43 Ks, 6 HR and .296 OBS? Oh, and rather poor fielding thrown in (.979 career)? No thanks
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
2:42 pm
hey folks check out http://www.newblogofbraves.blogspot.com
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:43 pm
The rules are there as a safeguard to protect those players. That’s all I meant, Pete. I don’t know the answer to your question.
TyCobb
June 22nd, 2009
2:43 pm
Outside of McCan, Chipper, McClouth, and Escobar the lineup is terrible. LF, RF, 1B all need serious upgrades. It doesn’t help that the team can’t hit for power but they don’t know how to play small ball and they almost never run. I say send all the struggling players to AAA and see if they can learn to hit. If the team is going to stink it might as well send a message to the players; “Hit or ride the bus”
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
2:46 pm
Alright! A gloom and doom article means the Braves are sure to go on a win streak. Especially if DOB writes it, but we’ll take it from Carroll too. You heard it here first.
tale of woe
June 22nd, 2009
2:46 pm
I agree with the dude who said the dumb trade proposals are back. If the Braves are going to trade Frenchy or K.J. we are getting prospects back or just as bad major leaguers. We are not going to solve our issues with these trades. Most of the proposals out there are just plain silly.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
2:47 pm
getsomepower–
Thanks!
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
2:47 pm
The trade ideas are getting more absurd by the day.
Vazquez AND two prospect for J.J. Hardy? Absurd. Milwaukee would be the team sending prospects over in addition to Hardy.
Look guys, there aren’t bats available right now. Wren said it himself. And the few that are are way over-priced. The Braves also can’t take on a lot of salary, which only complicates the process.
Bring up Brandon Jones and platoon him in RF with Francouer. Then, start Prado at 2B. In two weeks, if the Braves are still in it…then we can talk about trading for bats.- when they actually come available. If they’re out of contention by then, trade Soriano since both he and Gonzalez will be back next year. Trade Francoeur for whatever you can get and perhaps dangle Vazquez.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:47 pm
McLouth, Why do we need another Catcher???? V.Martinez??? Where is the braves weakness a catcher???
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
2:47 pm
I don’t think the Braves will be making another offensive trade…I don’t see where he’d go. The infield is pretty set. There’s no reasonable excuse to bench or release Garret (at least not from the Braves’ standpoint. We’d all love it). No team that’s out of the race is going to trade FOR him.
McClouth is going to be in center for awhile.
And Francoeur…I don’t see the Braves giving up on him just yet. And why would a team trade a good outfielder for Francoeur?
Pete
June 22nd, 2009
2:47 pm
Chop Chop: “The rules are there as a safeguard to protect those players. That’s all I meant, Pete. I don’t know the answer to your question.”
I agree with you there is a 20% max cut rule; I just dont recall when it applies.
Klaus
June 22nd, 2009
2:48 pm
If you want to be aggressive and you think Huddy will come back strong I would offer San Diego or Cleveland the following for their 1Bs.
JJ, Kotch, Freeman and JOJO + tbd
for
SD – Adrian Gonzales or the Indians Victor Martinez
I am not saying they would bite as the trade stands but it would start a dialog.
Then I would make a trade for Holliday (prospects + tbd MLers) with the goal of offering Holliday a 1 year extension with a player option. He will need one year back in the NL to get his numbers up and ride out the remainder of the recession.
If you can dump one of JF or GA in the deal above great if not JF to AA and Holliday to RF.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:48 pm
Donald Fehr stepping down as MLBPA executive director.
Sammy Sosa
June 22nd, 2009
2:48 pm
I’ll come out of retirement and play RF for the Braves. I bet I can get my steroid buddy Barry to play left. I know we are way over the heal but I sure we can do better than Frenchy. That guy needs to get on the juice.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:48 pm
I see the negative, miserable people are back and more miserable than ever
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:48 pm
tell ya what, I will trade you 20.00 for ten thousand right now!!!!
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
2:48 pm
We don’t need Victor Martinez here b/c we have Freeman at 1B in 2 years and B-Mac behind the plate for good.
So you’d be ‘Renting’ Victor Martinez for one and half season…very Texiera like. Not good.
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
2:48 pm
With Martinez and Hardy…
1. McLouth
2. J.J. Hardy
3. C. Jones
4. V. Martinez
5. McCann
6. Anderson
7. Diaz
8. Prado
I see we’re going with the double catcher approach. It’s a bold move, let’s see if it pays off
Jersey Gil
June 22nd, 2009
2:49 pm
sportsmandh…Let me give you another name of Bobby Cox Replacement list…How About Carlos Tosca..he know the Organization when he was the Richmond Braves manager, he speak both language well, and can comunicate with Esco & another latin Player.
tbhawksfan
June 22nd, 2009
2:49 pm
Trade Chipper and Vasquez and bring in two or three young studs. A couple position players and a top prospect pitcher. This team needs to open a window and Chipper can still bring in top young goods.
We could get another JJ and a couple top prospect young position players for those two. 2011 could be the beginnign of the next run. 2010 would be fun watching the new kids grow up.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:50 pm
getsomepower,
Stop being negative. The Braves have enough power. I’m tired of your negativity.
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
2:50 pm
Epinephrine
He cost the braves 2 runs. He is a singles hitter who doesn’t walk and doesn’t hit for power. Even if I buy your argument that he got a run back. He still gave away 2.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
2:51 pm
John Deere Green it has become apparent that you’re too stupid for me to engage any further…
tale of woe
June 22nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Donald Fehr is stepping down! Maybe Baseball can finally get a salary cap!!!!!! The dude always seemed like an ass to me.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:51 pm
best you might do for Stenchcouer is Sanchez from San Fran two struggling players swapped for each other, and Hope like hell Sanchez can resurrect his form, else it’s just a wash….
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
2:51 pm
I’d Rather Go after Vlad Guerrero, If and Only if the Angels eat up some of his salary…
Loaf and Loaf 2 slowly roaming the outfield! Yeah. No.
Brett
June 22nd, 2009
2:52 pm
here’s a blog describing a few options the Braves have. feel free to drop comments and frequent the site
http://sites.google.com/site/atlchop/blog-4/whatneedstobedone#
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:52 pm
Stupid, You’re the one trading half the damn team for another catcher!!!!
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:54 pm
Sheesh and I am stupid???? And why resort to name calling??? I am not the ignorant assmunch creaming for another catcher, and a clubfooted power hitter that strikes out more than half the team combined……….
Vinings Jim
June 22nd, 2009
2:54 pm
cabravesfan – you act like there’s a problem with those stats. You are so negative.
Tom Emanski
June 22nd, 2009
2:55 pm
I can fix the braves problems. All they have to do is buy and watch my videos. It works ask all-star slugger Fred McGriff.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
2:55 pm
come up with something sensible, and reasonable and i might agree with ya there pal!!!!
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
2:57 pm
RHR-
Loaf and Loaf 2 slowly roaming the outfield! Yeah. No.
You are awesome
Vinings Jim-
Nice of you to tear yourself away from “tutoring” to stop by
Sorry- maybe I just don’t get it…those are good numbers? my bad
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
2:57 pm
FloridaBrave that’s the point…
if Wren would get off his ass and start the bidding process for Vazquez we could unload his $11.5 MM while dumping Francoeur’s $2.8 MM. Now you have money to go get a bat.
KennyP
June 22nd, 2009
2:58 pm
getsomepower is my favorite person on here. How about Frenchy and a couple prospects for Pujols.
Billy Walsh
June 22nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Its going to take a lot more to pry Martinez away from the Indians. No way the Indians trade him and where would the braves play him? Forget about Dye..he makes way too much money. DOB has stated several times that the braves cannot add much payroll. If the braves do acquire a power bat, Vazquez would probably have to be moved or maybe the braves will surprise everyone and pull off a McClouth like deal at the deadline.
Fred McGriff
June 22nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Tom Emanski’s videos can make a winner out of any body.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Oh and Jim?
Hardy’s only making $4.6 million this year, so he’s pretty cheap too!
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
2:50 pm
getsomepower,
Stop being negative. The Braves have enough power. I’m tired of your negativity.
Okay so I need to change because you said so. Tell everyone that has been negative to stop, which you won’t, so don’t point any more dumb statements my way.
Bravedawg
June 22nd, 2009
3:00 pm
Epinephrine – clearly there is no place on this blog for sound reasoning and rational statements. Please visit another blog. After all, it’s so much easier to say “GARRET ANDERSON SUCKS!!! KOTCHMAN SUCKS!!!” than to actually look at the stats and see that Kotchman has been pretty consistent all year, somewhere between .270 – .300, and providing Gold Glove defense. And GA is starting to hit a lot better after getting off to a very bad start. Kotchman will never hit like Teixeira, folks. We’ve got him on the cheap for a few more years, and he’s an above-average offensive 1B, and superb defensive 1B. We paid peanuts for GA, and by the end of the year I bet everyone will be pleased with his performance.
GA & Kotchman are not the problems…I’m looking at you, KJ and Francouer.
AZBravoFan
June 22nd, 2009
3:00 pm
Green’s homer might have been a Pesky job, but it was just like Mark Reynolds double for the D’backs that ended up winning that game. Since Boston plays fundamental ball, a runner on second with no outs would have ended up scoring probably anyway.
Slugger www.theweeklyscene.com
June 22nd, 2009
3:00 pm
Trade for Nelson Cruz? Why would a division leading team trade a guy that’s helped them get there? Let’s think of more realistic opportunities for Vazquez(teams in last/2nd to last, not in the NL East):
Aubrey Huff, BAL .276, 9 HR, 47 RBI
Matt Holliday, OAK .269, 8 HR, 39 RBI (Beane probably won’t)
Brad Hawpe, COL .332, 10 HR, 50 RBI
Other than that, not too many OF are available that will allow us to upgrade our power numbers.
We should try to package some guys for Hawpe or Huff, IMO, because both of those guys are pretty decent. Baltimore’s got a lot of hitting, they should definitely deal Roberts or Huff.
About Hawpe:
“News: Responding to trade rumors, Rockies’ general manager Dan O’Dowd claimed that he had no interest in dealing Hawpe, the Denver Post reports.
Spin: “I don’t know where any of that came from,” said O’Dowd. “I don’t foresee us doing anything with him. That’s something you would only do strategically, for the big picture. That would be something for the offseason, if at all.” Hawpe is on pace to be the Rockies’ only All-Star in 2009. The situation has become more complicated by the fact that the team is now in wild card contention.”
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
3:01 pm
I swear some of y’all need to get off of it. No one person owns this thing. I will say whatever is allowed for me to say on here. Period. Whoever has a problem with it, they know what they can do.
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:01 pm
Can you imagine how many posts there’d be on this blog if we weren’t negative?
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:02 pm
Maybe offer JoJo and B.Jones to Colorado for Spilborghs???
Maybe pry Jonny Gomes from Cincy….
a little more realistic don’t you think?????
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
3:02 pm
getsomepower,
Here. Take a joke. I mean it.
Slugger www.theweeklyscene.com
June 22nd, 2009
3:02 pm
And BTW, let’s get pissed at Jeff Bennett for giving up what would be a foul ball or fly ball out in every remaining MLB park except Fenway (now maybe Yankee Stadium too).
I guess we’re still pissed at Jeff for giving up a double-play ground ball that Escobar sat on his heels and waited for. I don’t get why Soriano wasn’t out there, but Soriano could have given up a 299 ft. fly ball just as easily as Bennett.
Jersey Gil
June 22nd, 2009
3:03 pm
Brett …Not to many Option huh…. The Braves never make deal with the Same Division team..never Happen…I see a trade with another American Team but not with the NL East. That why the Hermina,Frenchy , Morton deal was dead.
Slugger www.theweeklyscene.com
June 22nd, 2009
3:03 pm
Fred McGriff -
Post of the day.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
3:04 pm
BraveDawg, Kotchman has been decent and he’s under team control thru 2011. All this makes him… valuable! I still say Kotchman plus a prospect for LaRoche. Kotchman + 1 bought Tex last year didn’t it?
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:04 pm
And DOB was just speculating on the salary take on, however no such statement has ever come from the Braves brass
N8
June 22nd, 2009
3:05 pm
“We may not have a very good team right now, but we certainly are not out of it, and I can guarantee you that whoever wins the NL East will not do it playing .600 ball the rest of the year.” epinephrine
I don’t mean to get technical over the numbers (OK… maybe I do). But IF the Phillies play 1 game over .500 for the remainder of the season (they have 95 games left, thus the 1 game over .500), the Braves would have to go 52-42 the rest of the way (a .553 winning percentage.
I’m not sure that all three teams ahead of us are going to merely play .500 ball the rest of the way. Which means that if any of them play above .500, the Braves will need to win MORE than 52 games the rest of the way. The Braves have 94 games left. If they win 57 games (which is what they will NEED to win if the Phillies play 6 games over .500 for the rest of the way), that would be a winning percentage of .606 (56 wins puts them at .595).
Basically, what I’m sayin, is that if the Phillies simply do what they’ve been doing (playing slightly above .500), the Braves will be REQUIRED to play .600 ball to win the division.
So, by reading between the lines of your “guarantee” you’re basically saying the Braves have no shot at winning, so long as the Phillies play over .500. Which is why, as every day passes with the Braves playing uninspired baseball, their odds of catching anybody (barring they simply DOMINATE in head to head competition against ALL teams they are chasing), are dwindling more and more.
Bill Naharodny
June 22nd, 2009
3:05 pm
I would come back if Coxie would ax me
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
3:05 pm
McLouth of the South,
Easier said than done. You don’t think Wren would trade Francouer for the right deal? C’mon.
And for Vazquez, he’s got a lot of trade value, sure. But he can’t be traded to the NL West or AL West, and the Braves aren’t trading him within the division. That leaves three decisions in which to trade him, too.
And then how many teams in those divisions need pitching, can add payroll, and will forfeit the talent necessary to acquire Vazquez?
It’s not as easy as how we make it sound. The theory of trading Vazquez is fine. the application just isn’t practical right now.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
3:05 pm
Just for the record, Jo Jo Reyes is on the DL- he’s not getting traded any time soon
beachcomber
June 22nd, 2009
3:07 pm
Not sure I want to be the Cubs tonight. Having to fly in for a day then head to Detroit. Granted they swept the hapless Indians but I strongly suspect the Braves are pissed and will most likely take it out on the Cubs this evening.
And Bravedawg, good points on GA and Casey. Go Braves!
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
3:08 pm
Stop being so negative, N8. Your numbers are wrong because the Braves are righteous.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:08 pm
Jo Jo was placed on the 15 day DL May 22, this is June 22!!! I am quite sure he is off by now….
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:09 pm
Just for the record, Jo Jo Reyes is on the DL- he’s not getting traded any time soon
And as much trade value as some of you apparently think he has, he’s not worth that much.
“Oh how bout Francoeur and Jo Jo for Hanley Ramirez and some prospects?”
owl hunter
June 22nd, 2009
3:09 pm
Man! All you would-be GM’s need to think before you type. Do you think other GM’s say “What trade can I make to help the Braves today?” Please stop thinking of scenarios involving our crappiest players being traded for superstars. Use the time you spend thinking of this nonesense to learn about baseball.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
3:09 pm
Send Francoeur down if needed. Who cares if he gets pissed? And as for Vazquez, you could trade him within a week if you wanted. MIL, STL, and TOR are all apparently able to add payroll if needed and need pitching. With STL and MIL duking it out for the Central you could drive the price up pretty nicely.
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
3:10 pm
Correction to my 3:05: That leaves three divisions in which to trade him to.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:10 pm
Hence my suggestion of B.Jones, and Reyes for Spilborghs, Spilborghs seems to have fallen to 5th OF for the Rox!!!
Vinings Jim
June 22nd, 2009
3:10 pm
cabravesfan – next thing you know, you’ll be saying we won’t consider trading Ryan Langerhans for some crazy reason you’ll concoct.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
3:11 pm
Let’s trade Vazquez for Steven Strasburg
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:11 pm
and Dude is Lefthanded and has some pop on that fastball!!! worth quite a lot in the big Leagues….
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
3:12 pm
John Deere Green-
ummm, you do know the “15 days” is the minimum time one has to spend on the DL, right? Not the maximum?
jeffrey d-
I don’t think Jo Jo’s got any trade value right now
N8
June 22nd, 2009
3:12 pm
“But he can’t be traded to the NL West or AL West” FloridaBrave
Unless they asked him to waive that limited clause to go to a real contender. But other than that, you’re point is correct. About Wren only having a handful of teams to move him to.
That being said, his trade value will still be much higher in the next 5 weeks, than at any point this upcoming winter.
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:12 pm
That leaves three divisions in which to trade him to
In which to trade him to? Who are you? Chip Caray??
Jersey Gil
June 22nd, 2009
3:12 pm
Since i live in Jersey and i been watching a lot of Phillis Games the last few years…I think the Phillis is not going to Win the Division. First last year was unique year..Perfect season for there closer and and over the head year for a few player (Werts,Victorino,Rollins).
This Division going to be decise in the last months of the Season between The Braves & Mets. Nine Games between the last week of Aug 7 Sept…So you better buys those ticket…
N8
June 22nd, 2009
3:12 pm
Again with the damn italics!!
TNCODE
June 22nd, 2009
3:13 pm
Face it folks, the only way Francouer gets traded is if KC comes calling,
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:14 pm
go to the Braves website and see for yourself, Jo Jo does not have DL placed by his name….
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
3:14 pm
D-E-N-I-A-L is the word ya’ll are looking for. I’m out.
Woo!
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
3:14 pm
Vinings Jim-
Trade Langy? Are you kidding?? Why would we do that?!? (oh wait, you mean he’s not… DAMN IT!)
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:14 pm
KC the blogger or KC the Royals?
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:14 pm
Everyone thought kyle davies had no value as well!!!1
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
3:14 pm
The Dunn trade is only good if you can put him at 1st base to limit his liabilites on defense. McLouth would be exhausted with an outfield of Dunn and Garret Anderson
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
3:15 pm
Too lazy to go back and see if I got any hits on my Thames/DeJesus trade scenarios, so here again… GA and pitching prospect to Det. for Thames…Frenchy to KC for DeJesus. Nothing wrong at all with those trades and they would help out all teams involved since apparantly KC GM likes Frenchy and all.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
3:15 pm
John Deere Green-
Yes he does-
* 37 Jo-Jo Reyes L/L 6-2 230 11/20/84 15-day Disabled List
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=atl
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:16 pm
Maybe ,Acosta, and B.Jones but you get the gist of what I am saying…a Spilborghs type move is all that can be accomplished without raping the Farm!!!!
Alonzo
June 22nd, 2009
3:16 pm
it seems like the smarter way to approach the Coach/N8 question is this — does anyone imagine that this Braves ballclub will be able to reel off a string of victories (7 straight victories, 8 straight victories)? If they aren’t able to do this sometime (like, in say, July), and play 500 ball most of the rest of the time, there are no playoffs for this team.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
3:17 pm
I see the dumb trade proposals are back and more powerful than ever.
Stay tuned for the exciting proposed lineups that will include 3 actual Braves and 5 guys from other teams. It’s riveting I tell ya.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
3:18 pm
Here’s a little note from Buster Olney today:
The Indians are ready to deal Mark DeRosa, but they want a young pitcher in return, and the Cardinals are not willing to give up any of their better young relievers (Jason Motte, Chris Perez or Kyle McClellan), and the Mets won’t part with Bobby Parnell. The Yankees demonstrated some interest in DeRosa before, and if they believe that Alex Rodriguez might continue to struggle this year, DeRosa would be a heck of an insurance policy. But even the Yankees are coping with some financial limitations this season, and they haven’t been engaged on DeRosa for a while.
The Yankees have some financial limitations?
owl hunter
June 22nd, 2009
3:18 pm
The way things are going, we could win the division by accident. We won’t do anything until this team learns some basic concepts of the game (baserunning, defense), though. Also, there’s a reason Jose Guillen has played for so many teams. Bobby would probably give the Esco treatment to this guy for attitude alone.
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
3:18 pm
McLouth of the South,
You don’t know Vazquez could be traded within the week. So there’s that…
Blue Jays aren’t a candidate to land Vazquez. What do the Cardinals have to offer? They’re not trading Ludwick- they wouldn’t have anything after Pujols if they traded him.
That leaves the Brewers, and they’re on record as being uninterested in trading Hart, Hardy, Gamel, and Escobar.
If there’s one thing Wren has showed is that he’s extremely aggressive. Accusing him of “sitting on his @$$” is unfair. Even if Vazquez was made available, it’d take some time to trade him. That’s just how deals work.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:19 pm
Jo-Jo Reyes (P)May 21 2009, 07:54 pm ETBio | News Archive
Before Thursday night’s game, the Braves announced that Jo-Jo Reyes had been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring that he suffered while running toward first base during Wednesday night’s eighth inning.
This transaction created a roster space for right-handed pitcher Kris Medlen to make his first career start during Thursday night’s game. Reyes is running out of chances in Atlanta, as he takes a 7.00 ERA with him to the DL.
like I said,May,not 30 days later, no groin, nor hamstring issue takes that long unless torn, he is just idle….
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:19 pm
We got 7 innings of Octavio Dotel for Kyle Davies. woooo!
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
3:20 pm
RHR
You are so right. Some don’t have a clue
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:20 pm
RHR – they’re up early. We might actually see TWO men behind the plate tonight if we can pull off that Victor Martinez deal.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:21 pm
Dude was still tradeable, and you expect more for reyes….
TNCODE
June 22nd, 2009
3:21 pm
BREAKING NEWS: SRB……Reports that The Atlanta Braves have finally found a taker for Jeff Francouer. Ronnie’s Place of the Atlantic Beer League is offering free beer to all current Braves players on the 25 man roster for one year. Bobby Cox response to the trade was, “Yea now we can lose and not even know it. Wren announced that a drinking game will be used. Strike outs = downing one beer. Oh wait…….that could make players want to lose.
N8
June 22nd, 2009
3:22 pm
Alonzo, great point. Unfortunately, since we haven’t won as many as 4 in a row (and haven’t won a series in 8 or 9 series), the odds of us winning 7 or 8 in a row at any point, is very minimal, imo.
It’s what I’ve been saying for weeks. Those old Braves teams (and any other team that wins it’s division), usually had a stretch of ball where they go something like 25-5 or 30-10, and then merely play “.500 ball” the rest of the year, and possibly a losing month somewhere along the way.
For 4 seasons running now, this core group of players has shown that it is NOT capable (even when we had Tex and now when we have a VERY strong rotation), of going on a run like that.
Which is why they won’t be winning anything this year. If (BIG IF) this team can have one acceptionally strong month, (as well as either the Mets, Marlins or Phillies), the NL East is surely up for grabs.
But, personally, I don’t think the Braves have it in them to do the deed.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Trade for Nelson Cruz? Why would a division leading team trade a guy that’s helped them get there?
Because the blog said to? Duh Slugger. Get a clue.
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Getting Kyle Davies for Octavio Dotel was a steal. Hyle Davies wouldn’t have given you the seven innings
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
3:23 pm
I agree with John Deere Green on one thing. I think Ryan Spilborghs is a REALISTIC option for the Braves. I think he is/will be available and he’s cheap enough but in terms of his salary and what it would take to acquire him that the Braves should look into it.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:24 pm
There ya go, as I was saying, No team is Taking on the Braves Trash (see Francouer, Reyes,etal:)for Dunn, Dye, Lee,or especially Cruz!!! However second tier guys Like a Spilborghs , or Luke Scott may be more attainable, and be quite the pleasant surprise….
Unless said team is in total salary dump mode!!!!
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
3:24 pm
If the Yankees have financial limitations, then what’s up with the Braves?
CB
June 22nd, 2009
3:24 pm
Is there a sarcasm button on this blog?
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
3:25 pm
Kotchman for LaRoche? Adam LaRoche? Law have mercy, I need to go lay down after reading that.
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:25 pm
Although we were able to get Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez. Maybe we can find another GM who’s a sucker for a lefty.
timthebrave
June 22nd, 2009
3:26 pm
Does anybody know when infante is scheduled to come back?
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
3:26 pm
if the Braves aren’t gonna get any power, then let’s acquire some speed, and Bobby Cox is going to have to put more runners in motion and do a lot of hit and run.
The Angels do it, and they score plenty of runs, so it can be done.
PWHjort
June 22nd, 2009
3:26 pm
Carrol,
Soriano entered the game when it was tied 1-1 during Vazquez’s 12 strikeout game. So there was no save opportunity. So there was no blown save. Just FYI.
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
3:26 pm
The majority of the Braves on the DL are there because their pride is hurt, not their bodies.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:26 pm
The Braves have limitations however they are self imposed!!! the Yankees have a 200+ mill payroll, and no financial sense whatsoever!!!!!
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
3:26 pm
John Deere Green-
Dude’s on the DL. Weither he’e healthy or not, he is still on the DL- I believe he reinjured himself in his rehab start but doesn’t matter…
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
3:26 pm
Some of you people can’t possibly be watching the games. Only explanation I have.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:27 pm
No need for nonsensical trade proposals that just do not make sense!!!!
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
3:28 pm
John Deere Green,
Luke Scott a “2nd tier guy”? You are aware he’s leading the O’s in HR and is hitting close to .300 and was injured for a long while as well. Meaning if he had been healthy he’d be hitting even more. Guy isn’t going anywhere. He’s part of the building block for the O’s.
However, if somehow he became available and the Braves can trade for him, it would be a major upgrade over any of our corner OF guys.
PWHjort
June 22nd, 2009
3:28 pm
How on earth is a young power hitting outfielder under team-friendly contract terms and under control for 2 and a half years a “second tier guy”. (I’m talking about Luke Scott).
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:28 pm
Just don’t think Jo Jo is out of BOOBY”S doghouse is why he is not activated, I believe he is out of options , maybe not, but I think so!!!
jimmy a
June 22nd, 2009
3:29 pm
just FIRE WREN
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:29 pm
Scott is not Name Brand is what I mean, IE:Lee, Holliday, Dye!!! for christsakes use your head!!!
CB
June 22nd, 2009
3:29 pm
cabravesfan, you are using reason and logic,please don’t.
sportsmandh
June 22nd, 2009
3:30 pm
AH YES, Kyle Davies…. He’s really tearing it up, for those of you who have mentioned him. He was a big loss.
News Flash: He was optioned back to AAA this weekend. Here’s his #s: 3-7, 5.76 ERA, 1.53 WHIP.
I imagine those are similar #s to what some other team will get for Jo Jo if they are willing to take him on.
Marc
June 22nd, 2009
3:31 pm
The Braves aren’t going to be trading anyone of significance for the rest of the season. Namely because they won’t be picking up Hudson’s option for next year. This is a “hope our guys get it going” team, like it or not.
LT
June 22nd, 2009
3:31 pm
“Some of you people can’t possibly be watching the games. Only explanation I have.”
RHR, I’m pretty sure most of the Braves fans that b**** about the team online haven’t watched three back-to-back games since the 90s — they just look at the box score the next day. In case you haven’t counted lately, it’s been 10 years since the 90s.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
3:31 pm
CB-
Damn, I hate it when that happens! Thanks for the warning- I’ll try to keep the logic and reason to a minimum
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
3:31 pm
Adam LaRoche? Adam LaRoche? Why the hell would you want Adam LaRoche. Did you not watch the games when he was in a Brave uniform. The guy is a streaky hitter who doesn’t get hott until the ALL-STAR break. Why would u want that?
Ed
June 22nd, 2009
3:31 pm
Just one more time, with feeling, QUIT SUGGESTING THAT VAZQUEZ, our BEST pitcher, be traded. Some idiot might listen to that nonsense.
CB
June 22nd, 2009
3:31 pm
yeah, use your head.”sarcasm button”
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:32 pm
Scott , Young???? Dude is 30 years old, hardly a mid 20’s guy…. However a latebloomer
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
3:32 pm
For those hoping to trade Vazquez, who is your 2009 starting rotation?
Just curious.
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:32 pm
No need for nonsensical trade proposals that just do not make sense!!!!
Yeah, that’ll shut them up…
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
3:33 pm
RHR
I make Trade Proposals but I try to keep mines realistic…and try not to come off as someone who Think the Braves F.O. resembles that of a PS2 Baseball game…
We are Not gonna add more Payroll to the team so the only trade the braves will make will be one in which the other team eats a huge chunk of a player’s salary…
Time To watch the O.C. on youtube for a minute…
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:33 pm
For those hoping to trade Vazquez, who is your 2009 starting rotation?
NO!!! Don’t ask that. Here we go….
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
3:34 pm
Vazquez isn’t our best pitcher by a long shot. There is this guy named Jair who has pitched like he wants to win the Cy Young…
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
3:35 pm
For those hoping to trade Vazquez, who is your 2009 starting rotation?
Peavy
Hanson
Smoltz
Hudson
Yunel (because we traded for HanRam)
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
3:35 pm
Hey, if it makes you feel better, doom and gloom away. But here are the facts:
1) The Braves have, by no small margin, the best rotation in the NL East.
2) The Phillies have an atrocious rotation, exacerbated by injuries to Brad Lidge and Raul Ibanez. Ryan Madson’s attempt at plugging the dam has not worked. Unless they trade for an arm, they are in serious trouble. With Peavy and Oswalt unlikely to move anywhere any time soon, good luck.
3) The Mets have an equally troubled rotation, made worse by the fact that Johan Santana has looked all too human as of late. Worse still, Carlos Beltran is battling injuries that do not appear to be on the wane any time soon. Jose Reyes is still experiencing pain when he engages in high effort exercises.
The Braves are NOT a very good team. I never claimed otherwise. But thanks to the beauty of divisional play, to be competitive this year they do not need to be very good. They just need to play up to their potential. If Tommy Hanson starts pitching like he is capable, and if EITHER Francoeur OR Kelly Johnson break out, this will be a competitive team.
You may have missed it while lamenting GA’s defensive shortcomings, but again, dude has been hitting +.300 this month. Casey Kotchman isn’t a home run guy, but he gets extra base hits, and when healthy, hits for average. That is all we need from those two players. Should by a miracle we actually make it to the playoffs, the Braves will probably get steamrolled.
But with Tim Hudson’s return now on the distant horizon, and the rest of the division falling apart at the seams, the Braves have a chance to figure in this race. If admitting that bothers you, by all means, lament away. But it doesn’t change the fact that we are now playing in what during previous years has been affectionately titled the NL West.
Unlike previous years, the Braves do
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:35 pm
Marc, Wren has already stated that Hudson’s option will be picked up… where or when did it come out he wouldn’t be exercised????
sportsmandh
June 22nd, 2009
3:35 pm
I don’t know if anyone brought this up the last few days. But from the for what it’s worth department, I’m not knocking Tom Glavine, but the fact that no one else wanted to sign him makes Wren look a little better on the PR front. The general public believed the front office saying he was cut b/c they thought he couldn’t get anyone out was an excuse, and it was really about payroll, yada yada yada. Well I think if it was obvious he had something left in the tank another team would’ve been quick to call him. Like the Phillies, Mets, Rangers, or maybe Cardinals, White Sox or Tigers just to name a few.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
3:35 pm
The Braves are horrible at situational situations. We have all witnessed countless times of the team, as a whole, failing to get guys over and getting guys in–doing the “little” things. Doing the little things and staying away from grounding in to DPs is the Braves BIGGEST problem–not so much hitting itself.
Last 6 games:
Cin (Loss) 12 hits
Cin (Loss) 7 hits
Cin (Win) 8 hits
Bos (Win) 11 hits
Bos (Loss) 5 hits
Bos (Loss) 14 hits
Only one of those 6 games were the Braves really “shut down” by the opposing pitcher (Beckett). That kind of loss, you just tip you hat and move on to the next day. But looking at these 6 games, 2 of them the Braves hit very well…just did not do the small things to make those hits add up to more runs and, therefore, wasted a good offensive day.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
3:37 pm
John Deere Green,
You’re saying that Adam Dunn is no good, based on what exactly? He’s not going to give you WORSE defense in LF than what is there currently, and his 40+ HR’s will be MORE than what is currently in LF.
So based on your theory of bad defense and lots of strikeouts, Ryan Howard is horrible as well?
Vinings Jim
June 22nd, 2009
3:39 pm
cb – every time I try to use the ’sarcasm button’ I screw it up, and it comes out half italics/half bold.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:39 pm
Dunn is not going to be traded for, there are 4 million reasons why….
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:40 pm
Remenber he does not play at the Ted either….
DAP
June 22nd, 2009
3:40 pm
wow. you guys are just unbelievable today.
the braves have the pitching this year to go on a 25-5 type run. and i remember fondly those teams back in the day that would just turn it on and win, baby. anyways, the pitching is there. the offense is not there. anderson and kelly would have to get real hot, and bobby would have to decide to bench frenchy for this team to win 25 of 30. if the braves can close out this month at 5-3…i think the braves’ chances are pretty good with so many interdivision games left.
i predict that the NL east team (other than the nats) that plays the best against division opponents from here on out wins the east.
jsmoove
June 22nd, 2009
3:41 pm
Where is evetone at that wanted Blanco to come up and start in center? That was a great idea. 1 for 22or 23 with 1 rubi??? He could’nt hit water if he fell out a boat! Trade him and Kelly Johnson! Both of those guys are hot garbage. We may not get much, but i will take an insruction booklet on hitting and let Terry Pendleton read it!!!
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
3:41 pm
Jim-
I am sure one of your ladies can show you how to push the button…
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:41 pm
Alas, go ahead get Dunn for Lf,Laroche for 1B,L.Castillo for B, and while your at it get Ludwick for RF, and Trade Chipper for Garret Atkins, and Move Loaf to short!!!!
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
3:41 pm
Can we talk about Jeff’s little dig at Braves fans? Well, I don’t see why not.
I would just like to personally apologize to Mr. Francoeur if I may. Jeff, I’m sorry. I’m not going to be able to make it out to the Ted tonight to be among the possibly outnumbered Braves fans but here’s a suggestion: put your money where your mouth is.
How bout a nice little three run homerun to quiet those no-class Cub fans? How about you do something about it, for once. Give us something to root for and maybe you won’t have to run your mouth.
But you know what, I like it. He called us out. I’ve been waitin’ for that but to have it come from Jeff kind of rubs me the wrong way. Show us what you got Jeff. Walk the walk.
CB
June 22nd, 2009
3:41 pm
Vinings Jim, we are probably the dumb ones here.”sarcasm button”
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:42 pm
Maybe then the Braves will win the Molasses title!!!!
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
3:43 pm
John Deere Green,
Wren did not say he was picking up Huddy’s option. He said “lets wait and see how he comes back” or something to that effect.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:44 pm
No dude Wren verbally stated the option would be picked up!!!!
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
3:44 pm
jeffrey d, 3:35 pm…”who is your 2009 starting rotation?
Peavy
Hanson
Smoltz
Hudson
Yunel (because we traded for HanRam)”
ROFLMAO
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
3:44 pm
What’s our ‘09 rotation if(after) we trade Vazquez? Easy.
1)Hudson
2)Lowe
3)Jurjjens
4)Hanson
5)Kawakami
Medlen, Reyes, Campillo, Carlyle as emergency starters.
It’s still a top notch rotation. heck, it’s better than it is this year.
Goldenglove002
June 22nd, 2009
3:44 pm
The Braves are still competitive because of how bad the NL East has been this year. I honestly think this will all be decided in the last month when its all about divisional play. If the braves manage to make the playoffs, it will be because they are able to win in the last month. Playoffs would be another story, as the only advantage the Braves may have there is that they have done decent against good teams so far. Don’t sount them out yet, all we need is for the offense to get going.
By the way, it seems like the Yankees are struggling lately. Could be good (or with the Braves luck the Yanks will just be the next team to get hot right as the braves play them).
kill the Cubs!
Alonzo
June 22nd, 2009
3:45 pm
Epine:
The Braves, by the numbers, have a chance. They aren’t that far back. They also have an incredibly tough homestand, which will likely put them farther back by the time of the All Star Braek. Plus, there is nothing in the play of this team this year that suggests any ability to be consistent. Let’s be clear — it’s going to take one of those winning streaks out of nowhere that will take this team to the top. It’s going to take people being unexpectedly good at critical points.
This team has — instead of the surprise guy who scores the unexpected run — the ever rotating group of weakest links who always gets the strikeout just when the game is on the line. And, given the hitting, the game turns out to have been on the line in the 2nd inning when first pitch frenchy fails to get the runner home.
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
3:46 pm
The O’s GM publicly stated he was not allowing their club to be the minor league farm system for other teams. i.e you better bring a really good package to get some of their talent.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
3:47 pm
John Deere Green,
Where did he say this? Because if he did say it, which I’m pretty sure he didn’t… he should be fired.
Who picks up a $12 million option on a pitcher that he hasn’t even seen pitch after MAJOR arm surgery? Really?
Dude, you’ve said about 3 or 4 things on here today that make no sense at all. Jo-Jo is still on the DL, because Dunn K’s he’s a bad player, Wren said he’s picking up Hudson’s option, why would we go after another catcher (you do know that Victor Martinez has been playing 1B most of the season?
Do you watch baseball at all, or did you stop 2 years ago and just look at stat sites now?
Alonzo
June 22nd, 2009
3:48 pm
DAP:
They have all the pitching to make a run. They have little of the hitting, not terribly much of the coaching, and very little of the heart.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
3:48 pm
Epinephrine………….what “signs” has Francoeur exhibited that he is “coming around”? In his last 6 games, he’s 3 for 20 (.150) with 1 RBI. In the month of June, he has 1 double and 1 homer in 57 at-bats, while batting .228. If you think that is “coming around”, then WHAT THE FCUK IS A SLUMP?
GT Falcon
June 22nd, 2009
3:50 pm
Should have signed Adam Dunn instead of good OLE Anderson….
Bravesfan84
June 22nd, 2009
3:50 pm
why do we keep seeing adam laroche’s name come up in this blog???? he is a bum and i would take kotchman over laroche any day of the week.
Mr. Enigma
June 22nd, 2009
3:51 pm
The weather in Atlanta is atrocious right now. Are they going to get it in?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
3:52 pm
Interesting to see how the Braves respond after yesterdays loss. Chipper and Cox both showed some heart and fire. It seems like the team was fired up from that in the top of the next inning. Maybe it will carry over into the home stand?
P-Town Brave
June 22nd, 2009
3:53 pm
Here’s some more logical ideas…
1) Release Jeff Bennett
2) STOP playing Kelly Johnson…his AB’s now aren’t even semi encouraging…Martin Prado has EARNED a spot for the time being
3) Either get Diaz some more AB’s in RF or find someone the team can get more AB’s in RF…sadly, even Blanco looks more confident at the plate than Francine.
4) FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, will people stop talking about trading Escobar! I know he has his lapses, but still, he’s by far the best clutch hitter and hitter w/ RISP that we have…If the team got rid of him, think of how much worse they would be.
And Carroll, to comment on all of the different reports from the one on Bobby to the one on Chipper…
It just really proves the point that this team really has no identity anymore…
Bobby needs to ride off into the sunset and this team desperately needs a natural leader, because no offense to Chipper, but he just doesn’t have a leading type of personality.
Slugger www.theweeklyscene.com
June 22nd, 2009
3:53 pm
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday games at the Ted. The promotion through theweeklyscene.com will allow you guys to get uppber box, not upper pavilion, for half off.
So, Thursday’s you’ll pay $6 (instead of $12)
Friday-Sat you’ll pay $8 (instead of $16)
These are the seats that are up top from home plate down the 1B and 3B line to the foul polls.
Hopefully this will help someone soon, and we’ll have the site updated next week with an official page.
If you’re going to any games this Thurs-Sat, go to the theweeklyscene.com and click on ‘Contact’ at the bottom of the page.
E-mail us to let us know if you plan on goin down, and we’ll give you the deal info before we create it on the website.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
3:54 pm
John Deere Green:
If you think Adam Dunn is a bad hitter, I’m not sure what else I can say. The fact is that he’s a very good hitter, and as for “not clutch,” he’s had positive WPA numbers in every season he’s played in. As for his defense, yes, it is horrendous, but so is Garret Anderson’s. Now, if you give me the option to bring in a hitter that is way, way better at hitting than Garret Anderson with similar defense, I’m gonna have to say “hell yes.”
Not taking issue with the idea that the Braves can’t or won’t acquire him, just that you think he won’t be an upgrade. He will. And by a pretty large margin.
Original Jon
June 22nd, 2009
3:54 pm
Canadaian braves fan, yes, that makes it much much easier on the eyes to read. Pretty decent stuff you talk about. Not bad at all.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:55 pm
Buffalo, i probably have forgotten more than you will ever know about the Braves,and for the record this team is open to any forum not just yours, and Adam Dunn, is an overpriced slow-footed player that happens to K more than he hits….If his career stats are not enough to dissuade anyone from wanting him, then so be it, but imo, Wren and company decided when they had the chance to sign him, I am quite sure the stats dictated as PASS!!!!!
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
3:56 pm
FloridaBrave, assuming Hudson is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery by opening day, yes, I’d agree. That rotation should rank the Braves in the top third or even quarter of the NL.
Richard Weiss
June 22nd, 2009
3:56 pm
Enter your comments here
Richard Weiss
June 22nd, 2009
3:56 pm
We are still in contention and only 4.5 games out before the ASB. If we can improve the team with some key trades/acquisitions I think we have a good shot at the pennant considering Phillies and Mets not too stong this year.
There are a few problems right now. BC is a big one but I doubt he will be fired or replaced for whatever reason this year (he’s gone next year). He is loyal to a fault which has lost quite a few games – leaving pitchers in too long, and continuing to use Jeff Bennett at critical times (he stinks – he’s a minor league pitcher who guarantees a loss in almost any game he comes into. Should have been demoted or traded a long time ago)
Key moves to compete:
1. Trade Francouer for a legitimate power hitter in RF – will need to throw in a good picture and some prospects.
2. Get rid of GA – he’s just not doing it and is over the hill for his salary. As in RF, need a legitimate power hitter – trade for Adam Dunn if at all possible.
3. Get rid of Kelly Johnson and use Omar Infante when he comes back, Prado until then.
4. As in LF and RF, we need a legitimate power hitter at First Base. Kotchman is an OK hitter but without power.
The main defect is HITTING for power and consistency. Fix that and we compete immediately. Our pitching is OK – we would have won a lot more games if only we had bats and hit at critical times.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
3:57 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan–
I hope so!
And if they go into a rain delay tonight (which they prob’ly will, doggone it), SportSouth better show something entertaining, ya know what I mean?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
3:57 pm
John Deere Green,
It’s nice to see that you’ve forgotten more than I’ll know, it seems you forgot realism as well.
You wouldn’t want Ryan Howard at 1B instead of Kotchman? Please, just answer that simple question….
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
3:58 pm
McFann :Ô:,
You mean like that new McCann special that I have yet to see? MLB.TV doesn’t show the “rain delay” feed, they just have a blank screen.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
3:58 pm
by the way Ensuring starting pitching wouldn’t be a problem again also played a part in that pass….
However if Wren and Co., didn’t blink in the offseason, then why should they hoist him over their shoulders now????
Abreu probably should have been sought after, but wasn’t, so let the lamenting continue!!!!
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
3:58 pm
Paul Lentz, I just meant hitting the ball hard (ie, robbed of a double by Ellsbury Saturday), drawing walks, and cutting down on strikeouts. Remember, we are talking baby steps here.
And Mitchell, it might have rubbed you the wrong way, but frankly Braves fans deserve to be called out. The attendance at Braves games is pathetic, and we get outdrawn every time a major market team comes to town. You can point to the economy, but comparable/weaker with worse to similar teams, like Colorado, San Francisco, and Houston all perform far better.
The Braves, by percentage, are 26th in attendance. Detroit beats Atlanta in both attendance and total. What economy? It’s unfortunate, but as a city Atlanta isn’t a great baseball town.
Goldenglove002
June 22nd, 2009
3:58 pm
yeah, i think they’ll get this one in. most of the storms are staying ttracking straight down the east of 75, meaning they’ll stay east of Turner. But I’m no meteorologist.
N8
June 22nd, 2009
3:59 pm
“Hey, if it makes you feel better, doom and gloom away. But here are the facts” Epinphrine
Now why do you have to go get all pompous, like that?
You stated that you GUARANTEED that the team that wins the NL East will NOT have played .600 ball the rest of the way.
Here are is MY FACT. (If you choose to call me pointing it out to you, “gloom and doom”, that’s a YOU problem, not a me problem)….
IF the Braves are going to win the NL East, AND the Phillies DO NOT simply play .500 ball the rest of the way, the Braves will certainly have to ALMOST play .600 ball to win the East.
Period. Make of it what you will. Either that, or stop making silly guarantees before you do the math.
You can talk about rotation all you want. You’re correct. But here’s the thing. ALL SEASON we have had the best rotation in the division. Add to that, we’ve got TWO closers at the end, capable of shutting teams down on a nightly basis.
Things surely can turn quickly. No doubt about it. But so far… The rotation has simply kept us afloat. Without them, we’d be sunk for sure.
THAT is how bad and flawed our offense is.
I noticed, halfway through that post you stated:
“You may have missed it while lamenting GA’s defensive shortcomings, but again, dude has been hitting +.300 this month.”
Which tells me you weren’t talking to me. LOL! So sorry to get all “pompous” on you. But I figured I’d leave the post anyhow, because whether you are talking to me or not, my argument (along with yours) is still valid.
I’m not denying what you are saying (that we have a shot), we certainly do. I just think that as each day passes that we’re not picking up steam (while the Phils and Mets are losing), our odds diminish.
As for the Phils rotation? They play in that bandbox, and with that offense, they’ll survive. They have so far.
As for the Mets rotation? They play in one of the toughest hitters parks, and will survive (as they have). It really comes down to how Maunuel will manufacture runs. If they do that, they too will be fine.
I don’t know much about Florida, so I won’t comment. They’re young and Freddie seems to have them playing good ball. To me, they’re dangerous, because nobody sees them coming.
If the Braves could simply eliminate Jeff’s and KJ’s horrible AB’s from the lineup, and add a RH power bat to replace Jeff, (Prado is fully capable of replacing KJ – or at the minimum, platooning with him), it might be enough. Should be. But after almost 70 games, I think it’s pretty clear what the Braves are and are not.
Time to fix it, or pack it in.
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
3:59 pm
Heck, we can’t even vote Brian McCann to the all star game, and that only requires an internet connection. Guaranteed that outside St. Louis Molina isn’t getting votes. It’s just unfortunate.
Slugger www.theweeklyscene.com
June 22nd, 2009
4:00 pm
Actually guys, they incorpoated this when we uploaded this week’s code to the website last night:
If you look at any of the four neighborhoods and scroll down to Thurs/Fri/Sat you’ll find our ticket discount link.
Hopefully we can get an even bigger promotion down the road, maybe an AJC – BravesBeat – Carroll/DOB discount.
To sum it up:
Thurs – $6 Upper Box
Fri-Sat – $8 Upper Box
monty
June 22nd, 2009
4:00 pm
Interesting and somewhat telling quote from Chipper after the loss yesterday, something to the effect that “Now these guys should have confidence to know that they can play with the Red Sox or any of the elite teams”. That speaks volumes to their level of confidence in themselves going into that series. I think the Braves have played in most ball games this year, Very few blowouts.So Chipper believes (if I read between the lines) that the team’s problems are between the ears.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
4:00 pm
Epinephrine,
The Braves aren’t that interesting to most folks.
Vol4ever
June 22nd, 2009
4:00 pm
1 – We could have signed Adam Dunn as a Free agent and gave up nothing. 2 – Braves will NOT spend money on the bullpen. and I’ll add a 3rd- Braves will NOT be in the playoffs with this team. I have been a Bobby Cox supporter for a long time, but it is time for him to go.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
4:00 pm
John Deere–you must be new here. There was actually a pretty big discussion about strikeouts a while back, and most of the empirical evidence I’ve found suggests that they’re typically nothing more than just another out. So, the negative value (what little of that there is) of his strikeouts pretty much does nothing to the huge positive of his .900+ career OPS. Try again.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
4:01 pm
I surely hope that the Braves wont automatically pick up Hudson’s $12 mil 2010 option. If the Braves dont trade Javier Vazquez for a power hitting right fielder, then what sense does it make to pick up Hudson’s option? I’d rather decline his option and use his salary to sign a free agent power hitting right fielder. That is basically like making a trade isnt it.
If the Braves pick up Hudson’s option, then who do you put in the bullpen for 2010? I mean let’s be realistic here. Lowe, Vazquez, and Jurrgens arent going to the bullpen. Tommy Hanson is a potential ace. Putting him in the bullpen isnt going to help his development. The Braves didnt call him up to put him in the bullpen. So that leaves only Kenshin Kawakami. Do you really think that the Braves are going to put Kawakami and his $8 mil a year salary in the long relief role…..because I dont see the Braves trading him either. The Braves want to tap into the Japanese talent pool and many young Japanese players are seeing how the Braves treat Kawakami. Also, Kawakami, unlike Francoeur, is making ADJUSTMENTS. After his rocky April, Kawakami has shown MARKED improvement in May and June. He is more than a serviceable 4th or 5th starter.
So knowing that, if the Braves picked up Hudson’s option, then the only logical thing to do is trade Vazquez. I feel that that course of action would not be a smart thing to do. Reason being, Vazquez is healthy and durable. Hudson is coming off elbow surgery. Picking up Hudson’s option and trading Vazquez for a power hitting right fielder………is MUCH MORE RISKY, than declining Hudson’s option and using his salary to acquire a free agent right fielder while keeping Vazquez.
It’s about being smart with where you allocate payroll dollars.
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
4:01 pm
N8, what makes you think the Phillies are not going to play .500 the rest of the year? It doesn’t take a novel to make that argument-it can be done in a sentence. If the Phils play around .560+ the rest of the way, the Braves won’t make it. But I don’t see any indication they will do that.
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
4:02 pm
And no-I wasn’t responding to you earlier.
brick
June 22nd, 2009
4:03 pm
Here is an idea. How about trading mike gonzalez for chone figgins. The Angels are looking for a good reliever and the Braves need another hitter. Both are free agents at the end of the year. He is not a power hitter but if you can not get a power hitter then get a true leadoff man. This team needs more speed. He could play second for Kelly. I don’t know if he is truely available but I read on mlbtraderumors.com that the Angels were willing to trade anyone in their infield for pitching. Lastly, he is from Georgia so maybe he will resign with the braves after the season. If he doesn’t stay then you get a draft pick just like you would with gonzalez. This allows the Braves to get a player that can really help us now and also see if he likes it enough to resign with us. Lets be honest, I don’t see the braves signing both gonzalez and soriano when the season ends. There is too many teams looking for closers.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:04 pm
For those reading my posts, I think there is NO WAY that Adam Dunn will get traded to Atlanta. A player of that calibur does not get traded within the division.
Oh and John Deere Green, I’m still waiting on where Wren “verablly stated” the option pick up on Hudson.
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
4:04 pm
Chop Chop, that’s just another way of saying that “most folks” around Atlanta don’t find baseball that interesting.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
4:05 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan–
That’s just what I had in mind! You haven’t seen it yet? Dang, that’s a shame…I’ve seen most of it…but I haven’t seen the end, which stinks…
They have a few clips from it here. The part about him as a kid might be my favorite so far…like I said, haven’t seen the ending. (And those of you that have seen it, DON’T TELL ME HOW IT ENDS, please.
)
Storm seems to be picking it up…I may have to depart from the computer for a little while…
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
4:05 pm
McFann – what the heck did Brian do to his “Teddy Bear” look? That is going to, for sure, cost him All-Star votes.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
4:05 pm
BNYBF–I believe Wren is on the record with that, with the caveat of “healthy.”
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
4:05 pm
Well, it’s plainly obvious that they don’t find mediocre baseball interesting.
Bring back Francisco Cabrera
June 22nd, 2009
4:05 pm
Man there is a lot of b*tching going on around here.
I see the team as 3 moves away from success (2 wont even require trades)
1. Trade for a power hitting outfielder.
2. Release/demote Jeff Bennett
3. Bench Kelly and start Prado til Infante returns.
Simple really. And as far as the lack of support for our team, well that is because the “Braves Fans” would rather spend their time griping on a blog instead of standing behind their team. We had a good run and it takes time to replenish that, get over it, we cant win every year (unless you have a payroll like the Stankees or Red Sox), but we can still support the club. Stop crying and start cheering, a little fan support might actually help spark these guys (yes i am aware i sound like a Homer right now, but its all true).
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:06 pm
brick
DO they want another lefty closer in their pen? (they’ve got Fuentes, who’s actually got more saves than the guy he replaced)
varodrunner
June 22nd, 2009
4:06 pm
I have to respond to Rev Otis Nixon
I can see why you call it negativity – It is negative! But the Braves suck right now and the columnists are finally calling it as they see it instead of buckling under the corporate publicity hounds trying to sell you and me and all the rest of us on here that these are the Braves of the future and are here to win. They will win nothing until certain moves are made. What those moves will be are more complicated than anything I can figure out. But we have people (WREN) that are supposed to be able to resurrect this team into the winners that they were under Scherholtz reign.
I, personally, applaud the columnist’s candid comments which, IMO, is right on the money.
Do we trade Chipper? Not if trades are made to allow us to win. Do we tradde Franceour? YES, he is under such pressure here that, again IMO, he cannot be succfessful – too much pressure for a guy his age.
Do we need a new coach? YES – clearly Bobby’s not able to manage this young team. His method of leading was much more effective with veteran players and he was also much younger, Remember this, in 1991, when the Braves came upon the scene from worst to first, Bobby was eigtheen years younger and more spirited. Did you notice that the ejection was only his 2nd of the year. Not the spunky manager we are used to is it? He is lost right now and I DO NOT mean that as a derogatory comment. I truly don’t think he has a clue as to how to motivate this talented team. And it is talented. Talented enough to win with the right chemistry, but it lacks that chemistry. Let’s see what happens now that we have soem fire out of Bobby, Chipper and O’Flatterey.
To Jeff, Furman, and DOB, Please please continue to give it to us straight. Good job guys.
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
4:06 pm
Chop Chop, exactly. And if you are only a fan of a team when things are flush, you aren’t much of a fan of the sport. You are a fan of winning. And that is fine, but it’s still not the most heartening thing in the world, I am sure, for the Braves players.
varodrunner
June 22nd, 2009
4:07 pm
WOW sorry for the BOLD but how do yoou turn it off?
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
4:09 pm
Epinephrine…………..so what if Francoeur got “robbed” of a double by Ellsbury on Saturday? That pitch was a hanger from Beckett. It should have been hit our of the ball park. Also, in the 8th inning of that game with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out, Beckett threw another hanger that had “hit my a$$ over the Green Monster” written all over it. Instead he pulls it fouls. The next pitch he hits into an inning ending double play.
Francoeur has absolutely NO POWER anymore. If his “upside” is being a singles hitter who bats .250………..then cut his a$$ right now. 1 homer and 1 double in 57 at-bats in the month of June. PATHETIC. 15 homers in his last 848 at bats……even more PATHETIC.
John Hoar
June 22nd, 2009
4:09 pm
I sure don’t know anything about baseball, but it doesn’t look like a good idea to trade one of our known entities. We know that Vazquez can pitch and it’s not his fault he doesn’t have a better W-L record. We also know he wants to pitch for the Braves. Hudson? We don’t know that he can pitch after his surgery, and we don’t know the future prospects of signing him with the options. Do we know that he wants to pitch for the Braves since John Smoltz is gone as well as Glavine? They were all considered big time pitchers and it was comfortable for him in that environment.Perhaps we should be thinking about the loss of Hudson rather than Vazquez
CB
June 22nd, 2009
4:09 pm
The best blog GMS come out in June-they know who we SHOULD have signed and what the best trades ARE. Aren’t we lucky?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
4:10 pm
CB–I know, right?
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
4:10 pm
Whoa, whoa Paul Lentz. I have no interest in defending Francoeur right now, so if that’s the argument you want to have, pick someone else.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
4:10 pm
I think most fans are frontrunners, Epinephrine. Most fans don’t have an intense passion for the game. Hell, despite the amount of times I post here, I don’t have an intense passion for baseball. I love the game, but football is my favorite sport.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:11 pm
B.B.F.C. – I see you hate the Yankees, too.
a little fan support might actually help spark these guys (yes i am aware i sound like a Homer right now, but its all true).
Consistent winning will get the fans behind them (although we haven’t sold out of playoff games).
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
4:11 pm
Mr. Enigma
http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/USGA0028?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared
That cell will be long gone…
Jersey Gil
June 22nd, 2009
4:11 pm
CR..Can you find out how far Infante is to return to line up?…
The Injury he suffer is difficult to come back from them, becuase his rebab doesn’t include swinging the bat until is completly heal,his swing timimg will be affect.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
4:12 pm
Mr. Enigma
Well At least I think it will…it’s a weird one
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
4:12 pm
From the previous blog:
I’d Rather Go after Vlad Guerrero, If and Only if the Angels eat up some of his salary…
Vlad is gimpy in the field – he would best be suited in the AL where he can DH. Plus his numbers this year are god awful:
32 games – 1 HR, 4 doubles, 1 triple .668 OPS.
The best blog GMS come out in June-they know who we SHOULD have signed and what the best trades ARE. Aren’t we lucky? CB
People LOVE to bust out hindsight when its convenient.
N8
June 22nd, 2009
4:12 pm
Epinphrine, I figured as much (about you responding to me), but like I said. I spent too much time typing the post to dump it.
As for the Philies? I don’t know. Because like the “respect” I always expected from other teams about the Braves being the champions until somebody knocks them off, I say the Phillies are still the team to beat until proven otherwise. Recent trends shows that they are capable of playing good ball when they need to against teams chasing them, and that the Braves are not. Neither are the Mets.
But like I said. I agree with you. On paper, we should be killing this division. Give us one more bat (RH) and our odds go up considerably. Give us two more bats (as long as one of them being replaced is Jeff’s) and we run away with this division.
Keep running KJ and Jeff out there expecting things to “turn around”, and our biggest worry should be about staying ahead of the Nats. Not chasing the Phils, Mets and Marlins.
Wren needs to act, and act fast. No way can he sit around and expect a late “Rockies” like push in September. Nip it in the bud. Or watch meaningless games after August 1st.
BTW, sorry for the “tone” in the last post. Got defensive when I thought it was aimed at me (something about seeing the words “doom and gloom” make me think people are talking to me
).
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:12 pm
Last 7 days: GA
G-AB-R-H-2B-3B-HR-RBI-BB-SO-SB-CS–AVG–OBP–SLG-OPS
6-19-2-9–1–0–0—6–1–1–0–0-.474-.476-.526-1.003
GA has been doing very well in the last few weeks (up to .280/.313/.385 3HR 24RBI) and even better the last week as you can see from above. As others have pointed out, you don’t need a lot of HR-hitting guys on the team, just guys that hit well in situaional opportunities. GA has been less and less of the Braves’ offensive problem as the season has gone along. Since he makes $2.5M, he is probably starting to produce exactly what he is being paid. Since the Braves can not upgrade LF, RF AND 2B (will leave 1B out of the discussion for now), I would concentrate on getting a guy like DeRosa who can play ALL of those positions and let him play every day depending on who gets the day off in RF and 2B.
varodrunner
June 22nd, 2009
4:13 pm
Epinephrine
I’m with you. The team, as poorly as they have played, could end up on top of the NL East. A lot of if’s haveto happen, but they could based on exactly what you pointed out. We assume a lot, but Franceour could bounce out of his three year slump. Garrett could begin to hustle a little more and continue his hitting. The very best if, IMO, is that Kelly could start hitting. He has a better chance of Franceour unless he has already surcombed to the pressure.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:13 pm
Steve from OH,
The “healthy” part was my point. I know he’s stated that if Huddy is HEALTHY they will pick up the option. I don’t know where he’s said “we’re picking up the option” as John Deere Green is trying to say.
But then again, he thinks Victor Martinez is still a catcher…. so I guess I shouldn’t expect too much?
owl hunter
June 22nd, 2009
4:13 pm
“Braves will NOT spend money on the bullpen.” Vol4ever
The reason for this is that they shouldn’t. For every Trevor Hoffman, there are 5 Eric Gagnes. If you have the money to throw around, go for it, but that money is usually spent more wisely for other needs. Relievers have a very short shelf life in most cases. The Braves develop pitchers well, and are good at finding cheap, effective releivers.
Brick; it’s nice to hear a well-thought, reasonable trade on this blog fo a change.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
4:14 pm
paul lentz,
You think it’s easy to hit a homerun on a hanger don’t you? I just laugh at guys like you who think it’s easy to do it all. I’m not defending Frenchie b/c he is struggling and there could certainly be an upgrade here. The fact of it is I just laugh @ guys like you who think they could dominate major league pitching. Get a life Paul, seriously
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:14 pm
So if July 31 comes and goes and no trade for our highly coveted power hitting RF is made, what do the Braves do then? Do they dismantle this team in the offseason (with the exception of a few signed veterans)?
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
4:14 pm
Chop Chop, that pretty much sums up the Atlanta sports scene exactly. That is fine, people are obviously entitled to pick their sports and their fan mentality. But for those of us that are first and foremost fans of baseball, it can be tiring to root for a team whose fan-base is primarily band-wagon in nature.
TN Jeff
June 22nd, 2009
4:14 pm
Best comment I read on the blog yesterday during the game was someone questioning why the Braves refuse to try to steal bases when you have a knuckleball pitcher tosses up erratic pitches.
DO THE BRAVES HAVE ANY PRE-GAME PLAN?????????
The only plan I see played out game after game is …
This team has a will to lose and lose they will
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
4:14 pm
Wouldn’t that be some……a rescheduled rain out game that might get rained out…
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:15 pm
Trying to get those numbers to line up…but it just doesn’t come out the same way it is typed… can the good men and women of the AJC fix that?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:15 pm
Paul Lentz,
You do realize that Pedroia hit a double down the line on a “hanger” from JJ. Are you trying to say that he should have hit that outta the park too?
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:16 pm
I have to add something…and we’re 10 games under .500, 8 -10 games out of any playoff spot….
LT
June 22nd, 2009
4:16 pm
“1. Trade for a power hitting outfielder.
2. Release/demote Jeff Bennett”
BBFC, I have questions/comments on each. Trade which of our guys? And before you say “Francoeur”, consider from the other team’s perspective — who’d want him, and what kind of crap would we get in return for him?
Also, Bennett is out of options. You can’t automatically “demote” him. Do you not know how options and waivers work?
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
4:16 pm
varodrunner…
;gtstrong;ltBolded text here;gt/strong;lt
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
4:17 pm
Heath those GA numbers are skewed…
Take away the day he DH-ed (which was the majority of his production 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs)
And lump in all the runs he costs with his defense in Boston…and its a whole different
Bring back Francisco Cabrera
June 22nd, 2009
4:17 pm
Regardless of how well he is pitching, Vasquez should be traded. To get a quality bat without mortgaging our future they will have to give up something of value. He will clear the most payroll allowing some room to manuever. In normal circumstances i would rather keep him, but even with Javy gone we still have the best rotation in the division and that will clear the payroll we need to get an impact bat. Its sad but true.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:17 pm
Not new here at all…i just wonder sometimes at the arrogance of some posters here that they have all the knowledge of what makes this team better, and no one else can have an opinion, Mine is Adam Dunn is not enough for this team…. and makes absolutely no sense, since the black hole on offense is from the right side and not the left!!!!!
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
4:17 pm
That’s not right…
gt;stronglt;Bolded text heregt;/stronglt;
AndyC
June 22nd, 2009
4:17 pm
John Deere Green
Are you getting paid by the exclamation point and question mark or something? That’s the only reason I can figure why you use so many. If not, then one of each will do. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
N8
June 22nd, 2009
4:17 pm
“The best blog GMS come out in June-they know who we SHOULD have signed….” CB
Yeah. But if you care to troll back through old blogs (this past winter), you’d see that MANY of us, were saying the same thing back then….. “Sign Dunn, Sign Abreu, (mine was Ibanez – always hit lefties and righties well). Don’t sign KK. Didn’t need Vazquez, needed a bat. Shouldn’t count on Jeff. Move KJ for a RH bat. Move KJ to LF, etc…..”
And you know what? Some of us got ripped THEN for “first guessing” or suggesting such stupidity. 22 HR and 59 RBI later, I think that Ibanez would look just FINE in our lineup playing LF. Still.
And before you think it’s the “bandbox” in Philly padding his stats. Check out his home/road splits. Dude’s tearing it up on the road (at a higher pace than in Philly).
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
getsomepower,
I think the Braves don’t completely dismantle, but you could see a lot of moves in the off-season to “re-tool” the offense.
I’m interested to see if the Braves will be “even” at the trade deadline, not buying, but not selling either. With the prospects they have coming up, and the team as it sits with some “stop gaps” until the young guys are ready….. they may just wait till the off-season to be “buyers” and let things play out this year.
DAP
June 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
paul lentzIt’s about being smart with where you allocate payroll dollars.
oooh…ok. thanks paul lentz!
but you know, if we trade vazquez and keep hudson, we get $11.5 mil to spend AND whatever players we can get from vazquez. besides, hudson is a better pitcher than vazquez, assuming health.
Jeff R
June 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
I’m not convince that Wren picks up Hudson’s option. Everyone os convinced that Vasquez is going to be traded. That’s far from a sure thing. The guy’s having one of his best season (forget the W/L columns; he’s had little run support).
Hudson is expensive. We haven’t even seen if he still can pitch with the old effectiveness.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
Bennett should be relegated to mop up duty. When the game is out of reach (either way) then bring in Bennett to finish it up.
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
pole question at http://www.newblogofbraves.blogspot.ca, leave a comment
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
Bennett is out of options? Even better! That means we won’t have to have him pitch for us ever again!!! WOOHOOO!!!! Reminds me of Blaine the Goo Boyer…
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
Arggh! I cannot do greater than or less than signs!
gt;
lt;
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:19 pm
TN Jeff:
I was not able to watch the game or be online to comment about it yesterday, but I was thinking the Braves should be running all over Wakefield yesterday too. The Braves team is not SO SLOW that even Wakefield should keep them to a station-to-station team. With all the hits they had yesterday, the Braves definitely lost an opportunity. Same thing with the first game of the Pirates series.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
4:19 pm
Turner Field is too big for the Braves. Throw in the fact that the Almighty Choppin’ Cow has continued to reinforce the stadium’s status as a wicked den of pagan idolatry and, well, it’s kind of hard to complain about the lack of attendance. In fact, the lack of attendance should be celebrated. This means that Braves fans are turning away from blasphemy.
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
4:20 pm
<
>
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:20 pm
sorry it is http://www.newblogofbraves.blogspot.com
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:20 pm
Andy i will use as many as I like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
4:21 pm
OK, varodrunner, one last time,
<strong>Bolded text here</strong>
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:21 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
getsomepower,
I think the Braves don’t completely dismantle, but you could see a lot of moves in the off-season to “re-tool” the offense.
I’m interested to see if the Braves will be “even” at the trade deadline, not buying, but not selling either. With the prospects they have coming up, and the team as it sits with some “stop gaps” until the young guys are ready….. they may just wait till the off-season to be “buyers” and let things play out this year.
I think that’s why most of us are frustrated. If the team is “close” as most of us think they are (me included), then let’s get this said player to put us in a position to win the division. If they are not “close”, then bring some young talent up (as they’ve done with Hanson and Medlen) let them take their lumps now so they can be better next year.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
4:21 pm
MFin04–
You referring to the “goatee”? Yeah…totally like his full-beard better. It’ll grow back…always does.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:22 pm
“And you know what? Some of us got ripped THEN for “first guessing” or suggesting such stupidity.”
N8, you know what’s really funny? People saying that the defense of Adam Dunn was just too much to deal with. Right……
Cuz he is soooo bad defensively that we just can’t have him in our outfield.
To me, that was the awful part of the posts this winter. Don’t get me wrong, defense is important. But you have to hit if you are playing RF, LF, 1B. You just have too.
Goldenglove002
June 22nd, 2009
4:22 pm
I’m sure Bennett would pass through Waivers if the Braves demoted him. Or maybe the Phillies would grab him. Hey, even better. We’d get to beat up on the Phillies and Bennett wouldn’t be able to blow it for us.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
4:22 pm
ncscoots
Good post at 6:23am.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:22 pm
It’s really a shame with Bennett because the guy throws in the mid 90s.
brick
June 22nd, 2009
4:23 pm
How about this for a trade idea . How about trading mike gonzalez for chone figgins. The Angels are looking for a good reliever and the Braves need another hitter. Both are free agents at the end of the year. He is not a power hitter but if you can not get a power hitter then get a true leadoff man. This team needs more speed. He could play second for Kelly. I don’t know if he is truely available but I read on mlbtraderumors.com that the Angels were willing to trade anyone in their infield for pitching. Lastly, he is from Georgia so maybe he will resign with the braves after the season. If he doesn’t stay then you get a draft pick just like you would with gonzalez. This allows the Braves to get a player that can really help us now and also see if he likes it enough to resign with us. Lets be honest, I don’t see the braves signing both gonzalez and soriano when the season ends. There is too many teams looking for closers.
Bring back Francisco Cabrera
June 22nd, 2009
4:23 pm
LT
yes i do know how waivers work and i also recall typing release as well. I honestly dont care what they do with Bennett as long they dont pitch him anymore.
As far as who to trade, that is always up for debate. I think Vasquez gives value and some teams might (note that i said MIGHT) think he has value. I never said trade Frenchy, but then again apparently you are seeing things in my posts that i am not. Kudos to you.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:24 pm
Just saying the relentless yelping for Adam Dunn makes about as much sense as people here , clamoring for Lillibridge to start at short over Escobar in 07, and how did that one turn out??? I am still laughing my ass of on that one!
The Braves shortfall is power from the right side, not the left!
Pimp My Blog
June 22nd, 2009
4:24 pm
Enter your website here
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:24 pm
brick
Angels have Brian Fuentes as their closer. I think teams may be calling for Gonzo after yesterday’s performance. Dude was hitting 95 on the black.
Gman
June 22nd, 2009
4:25 pm
Trade Yunel and a prospect and Kotchman to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez. San Diego is 15 games out and wanted Yunel in the Peavy negotiations. Put in Martin Prado to play short until Omar Infante can come back. Then platoon Prado and Johnson when Infante returns. Diory can also come up for a spill at short.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
4:25 pm
What kind of a name is Joba, anyway? Were his parents high? Steve from OH
Steve-He was a big baby and they’d just watched Star Wars. Lew
Haha…this is funny.
Chris Rock
June 22nd, 2009
4:25 pm
pole question
The answer is: Keep your daughter off of it.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:25 pm
and how did that Schafer thing work out? When I said in the winter this kid was a joke, I got lambasted, well where is the Supastar now?
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
4:26 pm
Some of you guys and your trade proposals are hysterical… Gman, do you really think the Padres are going to give up Adrian Gonzalez??
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:26 pm
“I think the Braves don’t completely dismantle, but you could see a lot of moves in the off-season to “re-tool” the offense.”
I bet Wren listens on everyone except Chipper, Heap, McLouth, Lowe, Hanson, Jurrjens, Heyward, and Freeman(this is a reasonable list, not “sure, we’ll trade you Hanley Ramirez straight up for Nate McLouth). I’d add Escobar to the list, but there has been just too many signs that a trade could possibly come. If I was running the team, and thank god I’m not(since everyone says that line when using this statement), I’d have Escobar on that list.
AndyC
June 22nd, 2009
4:26 pm
John Deere Green
Ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be that way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not be reading anymore of your posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Goodbye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
CB
June 22nd, 2009
4:26 pm
N8,no problem with your opinions over the winter,I had a few of my own,but it is easy to shoot hindsight to death,lol.People coming on telling us in June who we should have signed,uh, worthless.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
4:26 pm
Efrim,
You’re right about needing bats in those spots. Also, if you have a SS and CF with good range, you can cancel out some of Dunn’s defensive ineptitude.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:27 pm
now you all want Dunn, a complimentary palyer at best when you have enough defense elsewhere to make up for the deficiencies.
Slugger www.theweeklyscene.com
June 22nd, 2009
4:27 pm
I really don’t think GA cost us too many runs in Boston. The umpire blowing the call then O’Flaherty throwing a curveball to a lineup that couldn’t touch a fastball yesterday lost that for us. Anybody notice how many good swings the RedSox had all weekend off a FB? Not many.
I think Bay, and that’s it.
Most their hits were offspeed pitches (Nick Green’s bomb was a fastball, though).
JD Drew swings through a first pitch fastball, takes strike two on a FB then obviously was looking for a CB (since he took the same pitch twice, Ump froze on 0-2).
What do we think JD Drew’s looking for against a lefty, fastballs? All good LH hitters I hit with always looked curveball b/c that’s all they saw from LHP. Curveballs can be pretty easy to hit if you see it up out of the hand.
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
4:27 pm
What the heck is a CHONE!?! Not having that garbage name on this team!!!
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:27 pm
getsomepower,
I think they are doing fine bringing up the younger players at this point. Schafer was either hurt or not ready to hit in the bigs, and I was one of the few that wanted to see him start in AAA. I am as frustrated as anyone, but I don’t see the “fix” available right now. It’s going to have to be close to the deadline before we find out everyone that is available, and I think our best chance to re-tool the offense and make a run is next season.
The player that would be a “fix” could be available at the deadline, or may not be available until this winter. You have to remember that it’s not just about guys who are free agents, but guys that are blocking young talent, fallen out of favor with management, and a host of other reasons, will be available this winter.
I’m trying to come up with an answer to the problems myself, but I think next season at this time we’ll see Kotchman’s name in a lot of trade rumors, as well as Francoeur (if he’s still here). With Freeman and Heyward almost ready, and Schafer ready next year (if not sooner) you’d then have an OF of Heyward, Schafer, McLouth. You’d also have an IF of Freeman, KJ/Prado, Escobar, Chipper.
I think the best shot that they have is to wait and play it out.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
4:28 pm
N8
I don’t think even the Phillies front office could have anticipated the monster season Ibanez has put together. So I’m pretty OK with my winter stance that he was too expensive – of course, his production has more than matched his salary, but who knew that type of year was coming from him? Not to mention he’s 37 – he looked like a high priced injury risk.
Dunn, on the other hand would have been a better pick up than GA and KK (combined salary of ~$9 million), and his numbers were predictable given his production the past few years. I also was against signing Dunn, but that was after it was clear we didn’t have the payroll to sign him.
Would Wren have signed Dunn for 2 years @ $10 mill per instead of KK for 3 years at ~$7 mill per? Probably, but at the time he signed KK, Dunn’s price tag was MUCH higher. It was only towards the end of the offseason that Dunn got desperate and took the Nationals offer, which if I recall was on the table for most of the offseason, but Dunn expected to find a better deal that never materialized.
GaCracker
June 22nd, 2009
4:28 pm
Can the GM trade Bobby and our coaching staff for Joe Torre and his staff? Once again they lose a close one. Why do we only let effective relievers pitch one inning, then, as if it’s written in stone, they are removed. Nice job getting Bennett in in the bottom of the 9th!
Get pitchers to learn to field their positions. Get Phil Niekro or Tom Seaver to show them how, since Maddux is still active.
varodrunner
June 22nd, 2009
4:28 pm
OK disregard – practicing
gt;stronglt; my boldgt;/stronglt; and my none bold
Flat Bill Kid
June 22nd, 2009
4:28 pm
Goo
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
4:29 pm
I mean, on that hit yesterday that caused the ejections–um, why did he not throw home? McFann
Because he’s fundamentally against throwing runners out at the plate. That’s why he hates Francoeur so much…
varodrunner
June 22nd, 2009
4:29 pm
bold text Non bold
Flat Bill Kid
June 22nd, 2009
4:29 pm
Goo
brick
June 22nd, 2009
4:29 pm
I know they have fuentes but shields is gone for the year and they have nothing else. I am just thinking on the fact that the braves cannot afford to sign gonzo and soriano. So, why not try to get something that can help the major league club not just a draft pick for either soriano and gonzo. I prefer soriano.
Slugger www.theweeklyscene.com
June 22nd, 2009
4:29 pm
John Deere -
I’m actually going to side with Jordan on this one, even though I took heat for saying he wasn’t an elite defensive CF at the start of the season.
Jordan’s comments about his role and what he’s doing right now in AAA show he’s more mature than when that kid that graduated from Parkview with the hair-flip was sent down last year.
I’m pulling for Jordan.
varodrunner
June 22nd, 2009
4:30 pm
ok – thanks I think I have the Bold and the non bold now – Oh my I am such a happy guy
TennesseePaul
June 22nd, 2009
4:30 pm
“you play prado the majority of the time in place of kelly, and youre an improved team”
I hate this. I hate this because it is true and I am not a Marteen fan. But KJ has burned the last ember of the bridge. Not even one of his patented september hot streaks is going to change my mind. That guy needs to go.
Flat Bill Kid
June 22nd, 2009
4:30 pm
Good golly we need a few wins.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:30 pm
I am pulling for him to turn it around as well, I don’t want to see another prospect fail as so many have before….
DHD
June 22nd, 2009
4:31 pm
Everybody has a different opinion about how to fix the Braves proving once again that nobody has a clue. Nice entertainment though. everything from making Hudson a closer to trading the manager for another manager. Where do these people come from, the government?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:32 pm
John Deere Green,
Dunn would be the perfect clean up hitter on this team. Doesn’t matter that he hits lefty, he hits for power. That is something this team lacks.
As far as Schafer, I’m still going with you being wrong on it. The kid can rake, he just needs to work on some things in AAA. He didn’t spend enough time in AA last season, and that hurt him.
Again, I was one of the few who wanted to see him start in AAA this season, even after he out hit Anderson. I was somewhat worried that he wasn’t ready. I think if he was tearing it up in AAA right now we’d have Anderson to trade for another piece of the puzzle.
owl hunter
June 22nd, 2009
4:32 pm
John Deere Green
It’s a little early to consider Schafer a bust. He’s 22 and he wasn’t ready. He will not rot away in the minors for years to come. I wonder if you even like the Braves. For all you say about Dunn, you have done some serious whiffing on this blog.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:32 pm
“I don’t think even the Phillies front office could have anticipated the monster season Ibanez has put together.”
Phillies got really, really lucky. I can’t imagine he will be putting up the same number when he turns 39 in 2011. Plus, I’d bet we see more aches and pains from Ibanez during this deal. He has been worth every penny this season. But I’d bet he won’t be in two years.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:32 pm
i would like nothing more than for Schafer to become what is expected of him, however the juice incident didn’t endear him to me….
Turtsnap
June 22nd, 2009
4:32 pm
Wouldn’t it be funny if tonights makeup game got rained out????
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:33 pm
brick -
They might take Soriano. I don’t see two lefties coming out of the pen for them at the end of the game.
How about Juan Rivera?
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:34 pm
test
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
4:34 pm
Roman Gal–
Turtsnap Wouldn’t it be funny if tonights makeup game got rained out????
No.
Mmmm Hmmm
June 22nd, 2009
4:34 pm
Clearly BBFC doesn’t know who LT is. ;~)
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
4:34 pm
Where do these people come from, the government?
High school and video game trades.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:35 pm
Bolded text here test
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
4:35 pm
I’d laugh if the make-up game got rained out. That’d be hilarious.
You should be able to trade managers. No reason you shouldn’t be able to.
owl hunter
June 22nd, 2009
4:36 pm
Not that it’s an excuse for our rather ugly play, but the weather has been kicking our a$$ this season!
Frankie Knuckles
June 22nd, 2009
4:36 pm
CanadianBravesFan,
I’m sure the folks at the AJC love you redirecting people to another blog.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:36 pm
getsomepower,
I like Juan Rivera actually. Maybe Gary Matthews Jr. is on the block? I know he was upset with his playing time this season……
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
4:36 pm
Pennski…………..I never said that it was easy to hit home runs. However these guys are supposed to be Major Leaguers. Players at this level are supposed to hit home runs. Jeff Francoeur, who plays every day and gets 600 at-bats in a season, should have more than 15 homers in his last 848 at-bats. Plus he is being paid $3.375 mil this season. And of course he is in line to get $6-7 mil in salary arbitration next year. I have every right “as a Braves fan” to question Francoeur’s ability to hit Major League pitching.
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
4:36 pm
From the looks of the AJC poll asking if the Braves are pretenders or contenders, over 80% voted pretenders. Yet, most of you are coming up with trade scenarios to make the team better and get into the playoffs. Let me guess, the ones that voted pretenders don’t post here? Make up your minds!
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:37 pm
Jury is still out on Schafer for now tho, But Dunn, cmon you’re reaching considerably there.
and No I don’t like the Braves I love this team, I watched As a kid when Ralph Garr was a beast on this team, got highly pissed when Dusty Baker was traded, cried when the Hammer left, and was thoroughly
outraged when Brett Butler,Dave Justice,Marquis Grissom, and A.Wainwright were traded away……
So when it comes to the Braves yes I do give a damn!!!! and No I don’t want Adam Dunn!
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:37 pm
“I hate this. I hate this because it is true and I am not a Marteen fan. But KJ has burned the last ember of the bridge. Not even one of his patented september hot streaks is going to change my mind. That guy needs to go.”
As sad as it is, I have to agree. I’ve fought it. I’m like the biggest Kelly fan on here. But he’s regressing and the walk rate is troubling. Plus, he is making 2.8 million, so that salary is going to climb before he hits free agency after 2011. Unfortunately, they would get little for him in a trade at this point and that’s the awful thing. Because coming off of that 2007, they could of gotten tons. Mountain of value, then.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
4:38 pm
Hate when posts get eaten. MFin04
You know, the less you post, the less your posts will get eaten.
brick
June 22nd, 2009
4:38 pm
Juan Rivera would be an upgrade for sure. I see the point of the two reliever being left handed. I was thinking about that too. I trade gonzo because he scares me more that is the only reason. But if it works out with soriano being more attrctive to teams then I would trade him. Which ever can get you the most in return because both can get the job done.
ncscoots
June 22nd, 2009
4:38 pm
With Freeman and Heyward almost ready, and Schafer ready next year (if not sooner) you’d then have an OF of Heyward, Schafer, McLouth. You’d also have an IF of Freeman, KJ/Prado, Escobar, Chipper.
Well, whenever that happens, better hope some of those folks are Pujolsian in nature, LOL. Because you’ll be running out a starting 8 with one or two five-year vets in the bunch, and almost no one in their prime. Not exactly a recipe for World Series domination.
But at least we’d get to see if bloggers REALLY can deal with “let the kids play, I don’t care how bad they are”, LOL.
getsomepower
June 22nd, 2009
4:38 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:36 pm
getsomepower,
I like Juan Rivera actually. Maybe Gary Matthews Jr. is on the block? I know he was upset with his playing time this season……
Would he want to come back here? He is a former Brave.
bigcooterb
June 22nd, 2009
4:40 pm
Why not trade the Braves for Pujois and call up the farm system to fill in aroung him?
Boonie
June 22nd, 2009
4:40 pm
Where is this Rogers guy at and why hasn’t the lineup been posted?
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:40 pm
MFin04
GA is not a defensive genius. That said, the Braves likely do not have the payroll flexibility to fix ALL of the offensive problems. Of the ones they could fix, which would you rather the Braves address? RF, LF, or 2B? I am not enamored with the idea of having GA, nor am I disgusted. I only contend that he is less of a problem then other spots. Thoughts?
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:40 pm
Kelly Johnson since the start of the 2008 season:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske05.shtml#2008-2009-sum:batting_standard
.270/.333/.427 in 860 plate appearances. 99 OPS+.
Sigh…
Lank
June 22nd, 2009
4:40 pm
Is there a lineup yet?
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
4:42 pm
Is Boonie drunk?
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
4:42 pm
DLowe’s new blog is a bit hard on the eyes…I’m still seeing it in front of me. Perhaps he should reverse it and go black type on white background.
PWHjort
June 22nd, 2009
4:44 pm
Strikeouts pros and cons:
pros: they’re preferable to double plays, they drive a pitcher’s pitch count up
cons: you can’t have a “productive out” when you strike out, sometimes when you put the ball in play good things happen.
Final note: they’re the same as any other out with no men on base.
They’re not good, but having a low K% is not nearly as important as most other offensive things. Like AVG, OBP, SLG, BB%, ISOP, plate discipline, etc…
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
4:44 pm
Let me guess, the ones that voted pretenders don’t post here? Make up your minds! TnBrian
I voted pretender and I have repeatedly stated that the Braves are more than 1 piece away from contending this year. Just so you know some people are consistent (well, at least in this particular case).
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
4:44 pm
’m pulling for Jordan.
Slugger-
I knew I liked you.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:44 pm
Heyward and Freeman are almost ready? People here think that? Wow. I know they are playing very well for 19 year olds in High-A, but I’m pretty sure it’s possible to ruin any prospect. Even Jason Heyward. So sure, promote them. Call em up in September of 09. They’ll be 20 by then(at least Heyward will be). I’m sure they’ll OPS .900 in the majors by then…..
Wait, what’s that? They aren’t doing that right now, in High-A?!?!?!
CB
June 22nd, 2009
4:45 pm
scoots, “true” fans will still be fans,lol
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:45 pm
Efrim… can you explain your *sigh* ?
The dude is at 226/.292/.380/.672 this year with no signs of getting better this with is .067/.176/.133/.310 numbers in the last week.
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
4:46 pm
Heath I posted on the other blog today, that I’d rather have Frenchy in RF than GA in LF.
Frenchy plays better defense, and runners think twice about running on his arm.
On the flip side, GA is a marginally better hitter, but a terrible left fielder. Teams run all over his weak arm and he is so darn slow he can’t get to anything. Once he gets to the ball..he can’t throw anyone out.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:46 pm
ncscoots,
Not that it happens that often, but the Rays did it with young guys, and that team can’t be worse than the current one. Plus with “letting the kids play” the bloggers and fans would have some excitement with the team, and probably more patience as they are “kids” and we are rebuilding.
varodrunner
June 22nd, 2009
4:46 pm
Actually the Marlins have won with young talent – Just saying…….
Why not the Braves?
Answer – Marlins had a manager capable of managing young talent
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
4:46 pm
Paul I understand that 100%, but you also aren’t destroying Casey Kotchman, GA, Matt Diaz, Jordan Schafer, or Kelly Johnson either. You make it out to sound like every time Ryan Howard gets a hanger he puts it in to the seats, he doesn’t, ask Mike Gonzalez about it in the first series of the year…
Seems to me you are just on a personal rampage against the kid, that’s my point.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:46 pm
will someone PLEASE INFORM THE AJC THAT JEFF FAILURECOUER IS NOT THE BRAVES ONLY PLAYER!
Jeez i get tired of seeing that bum on the front page of the sports section!!!!
Kentavo
June 22nd, 2009
4:46 pm
Freeman ain’t ready – have you seen his stats?
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:47 pm
PWHjort:
I have not read through all your posts to follow your discussion, but I presume that last post is a defense for Dunn?
varodrunner
June 22nd, 2009
4:47 pm
MFin04
Who could argue with that? Not me!
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
4:47 pm
But at least we’d get to see if bloggers REALLY can deal with “let the kids play, I don’t care how bad they are”, LOL.
It would either cause me to:
A- get carpal tunnel from all the scrolling
B- stop reading the blog
C- go insane
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
4:47 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan………there is a difference between a player who misses a hanger, yet more times than not hits a hanger….and…..a player who almost always misses hitting the hanger. Dustin Pedoria hit a hanger for a double that probably should been hit out of the park. However, Pedoria won the MVP last year, and has shown that he can CONSISTENTLY hit the hanger. Even the best players go through slumps, like Chipper is now. However when Chipper busts out of the slump, I’m sure that you’ll see more than 1 double like what Francoeur only had when he went through his recent 7 for 18 “hot streak”, lol.
HOWEVER, Jeff Francoeur pretty much has lost the ability to hit homers PERIOD. Dude has hit only 15 FREAKING HOMERS in his last 848 at-bats.
The Braves cannot afford to play Jeff Francoeur. He contributes virtually NOTHING to the Braves offense.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
4:49 pm
Paul, in all seriousness, who is the better everyday option than Jeff in rf? And don’t say diaz, b/c he’s not exactly dominating pitching and Jeff has easily saved runs w/ his arm.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:49 pm
Heath, I really thought Kelly Johnson was going to be an above average regular for the duration of his time in Atlanta. After his 2007, I thought he was just going to keep OPS’n like .830. That hasn’t been the case, and it upsets me.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:49 pm
Kentavo,
I was talking about mid-2010, not this season. By the end of this season Freeman and Heyward will be in AA, I’m guessing they will both get the call within the next 3 weeks. After playing the rest of this season at AA, they will start next year in AAA. Both will get non-roster invites to spring training to get some work with the big club. 1/2 a season in AAA and they could be ready for the bigs.
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
4:50 pm
scoots,
My favorite posts over the years have been the ones where Coach says that he knows the answer to something, but conveniently won’t reveal it. We can rest assured that he’s just too wise to give the answer away. After all, he can’t allow the ham-n-eggers here to have access to his hard-won secret knowledge. Coach is the 33rd-degree Mason of this blog.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
4:51 pm
DAP………..I never said that Javier Vazquez was a “better” pitcher than Tim Hudson. However, it is a “bigger risk” to pick up Hudson’s option and trade Vazquez for a right fielder………then it is to decline Hudson’s option, keep Vazquez, and use Hudson’s salary to acquire a right fielder through free agency. Health issues is a big deal.
Paying $12 mil to a pitcher coming off elbow surgery, while trading away a healthy, durable, good pitcher is VERY RISKY.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
4:52 pm
How often have storms moved almost perfectly southward in ATL? That storm cell is a very odd one. Looks to be moving fairly wuickly though.
Redirect
June 22nd, 2009
4:52 pm
McFann,
I usually troll, but I had to ask: How is it you stay so completely down to earth in all of these “discussions” and don’t get all bent out of shape? Even when someone goes after your “mann”, you hold your own! You are a true fan and I enjoy the level-headed comments that you make. It’s refreshing as opposed to some of the crap I see some people throwing out here!
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:52 pm
At this point I would trade Stenchcouer for Claudell Washington, even Terrence Moron would like that one!
Vinings Jim
June 22nd, 2009
4:52 pm
Roman Gal – re your 4:38 – unfortunately, not enough posts being eaten here today, given the volume coming from some directions.
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:53 pm
“Freeman ain’t ready – have you seen his stats?”
Kentavo, I agree. He has had a very good year for a 19 year old in High-A, but 18 walks in 62 games and a .250/.388/.357 line against LHP leads me to believe that he isn’t quite ready yet. Maybe for Double-A. But the majors? Absolutely not. Could he be ready by the start of 2010? I doubt it. September of 2010? Maybe. Start of 2011? Probably. June callup in 2011? Yup, sounds good.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
4:53 pm
Paul Lentz,
So because Pedroia has won an MVP, and his ball actually fell in for a double, then he gets a break. But because Francoeur hit the ball hard and was robbed on a great play, he gets killed?
I see how it works.
You can’t have it both ways….. either you kill everyone for missing the hanger, or you lay off the 1 player that misses it. I’ll go out on a limb and say that the average major leaguer hits the hanger out of the park around 5-15% of the time. How many times do you see that ball fouled straight back, or ripped foul, or hit hard but to the gap somewhere?
ncscoots
June 22nd, 2009
4:53 pm
Plus with “letting the kids play” the bloggers and fans would have some excitement with the team, and probably more patience as they are “kids” and we are rebuilding.
Why, in a normal world, you would be correct, of course. But, if you plan to tell me that the bulk of current contributors to this forum would see a young, getting-their-brains-beat-in team as “exciting”, and would show “patience” while the beatdowns occurred, I ask you to forbear. That universe does not exist for humans, LOL.
The Braves enduring failure for the number of years that the Rays were truly awful, before a single year of perfect-storm success, would produce mushroom clouds of epic proportion on this blog. I kid you not, my friend.
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
4:53 pm
Adam is not a bad player but he would most useful at 1st base and not the outfield
gayle
June 22nd, 2009
4:53 pm
Am I the only one who has had it with BC’s moronic comments following yet another Braves’ loss?
“We won everything but the game.”
Gee, where in the standings do such “victories” count?
You can make all of the trades and fantasy pickups mentioned here, but it will all amount to naught until you get that relic out of the dugout.
The ejection yesterday was not a sign of fire in this tean, it is a sign of growing frustration over yet another losing season.
Get used to it Braves fans. As long as you have Bobby, you will continue to lose, regardless of who is on the field.
He got the pitching so sorely lacking last year and the team has a worse record.
It’s way past time to clean house.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
4:54 pm
His outing before that one, Vazquez pitched a two-hitter in eight innings against the Pirates and got no-decision after Rafael Soriano blew the save in the ninth.
Carroll-
Actually, Soriano just took the loss. The game was tied 1-1 and Sori gave up 2 runs.
Since the day of [the Nate McLouth] trade, and the day the Braves ushered out Tommy Glavine for…
June 22nd, 2009
4:54 pm
[...] Carroll Rogers brings home the recent struggles of the Braves That’s pretty simple math, if you give up more runs than you score, you’re not going to win more games than you lose. [...]
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
4:55 pm
After his 2007, I thought he [KJ] was just going to keep OPS’n like .830. That hasn’t been the case, and it upsets me. Efrim
Yeah, I was confident that KJ was ready to be a solid bat in the lineup this season… whoops. I spoke out in favor of keeping him versus trading him as part of a package to St Louis for Ludwick… oops.
KJ’s lack of production represents my worst prediction for the 2009 season… At least I never had faith in Jeff rebounding – I knew that kid was staying in the garbage.
PWHjort
June 22nd, 2009
4:55 pm
Heath,
If anyone chooses to use it as a defense of Dunn they may, but no. The post is about strikeouts in general. Without any Dunn context. Or any context at all. Other than the way baseball is played and studied in this day and age.
LeVar Burton
June 22nd, 2009
4:55 pm
Jeff, I told you not to take my word for it…
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
4:56 pm
Pennski……….Diaz is the BETTER option in right field than Francoeur is. Francoeur does not drive the ball at all. Diaz’s bat gives the Braves a better chance to score runs.
I never said that Diaz is the long term answer. However, for now, I’d much rather see him in the line-up than Jeff Francoeur. A little offense from Matt Diaz is MUCH BETTER than no offense from Jeff Francoeur.
Shamus Thacker
June 22nd, 2009
4:57 pm
Y’all include Frenchy in pretty much all trade scenarios.
That’s like trying to find a date for your galfriend’s ugly cousin.
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
4:57 pm
I did notice that the only reason Bobby got ejected was because he was already out there for a pitching change. No way Bobby would have gotten out of the dugout to argue that call. Anyone else notice that?
He was pretty much, “while I’m out here, I mine as well argue.”
ncscoots
June 22nd, 2009
4:57 pm
Chop, Coach is Coach…not good, bad, or indifferent, he just…is.
CCjacket
June 22nd, 2009
4:57 pm
how hard could it possibly be in this technology age to get a pic of Carroll up there instead of DOB by now, 3 months into the season??
Just confusing to see his pic when she’s blogging.
? ? ? ?
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
4:58 pm
Beltran headed for the DL
Talk about bad luck.
I really wish this team had just average outfielders in the corners.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
4:58 pm
Redirect–
It has everything to do with the way I was (and continue to be) raised. I also learned from my first few weeks on the Blog–I was a bit of a jerk then…
Thank you very much–I appreciate the post!
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
4:58 pm
I’ve seen blogs titled “should we trade chipper”, “is it time for bobby to retire”, and “is the season over for the Braves”……………However, I would like to see a blog titled “Is Frank Wren a serious candidate for Executive of the Year award”?
Frank Wren has done a really good job rebuilding the Braves. At the end of last season, the Braves starting pitching was in DISARRAY. Against a lot of public backlash……Frank Wren traded for Javier Vazquez (gave up a prospect who probably wont amount to anything and a career Triple A player)……..signed Derek Lowe (many of you said the Braves “overpaid” for him)…….Ripped off the Pirates in the Nate McLouth trade (gave up a bum, a singles hitter, and a relief pitcher prospect)……..and more importantly, didnt resign Hampton, Smoltz, and let Glavine go. Also, after the disaster that the back-up catcher position plagued the Braves last year, Frank Wren made a smart pick-up in signing David Ross to a 2 year contract.
I know that Wren has gotten a lot of backlash for “not improving the offense”. Signing Garrett was the best option, giving the financial constraints. Many of you MORONS are forgetting that the Braves are paying Tim Hudson $15.5 mil to be on the disabled list this year. If the Braves didnt have to pay him, then Frank Wren would have been able to improve the offense this past winter.
However…..there is good news on the horizon. At the end of the season, there will be no more contracts to players who are hurt. Hudson’s contract comes off the books at the end of this season. In 2007, the Braves paid $52 mil to 4 starting pitchers who pitched a combined 52 starts. This year, the Braves are paying $36 mil to 5 starters who have pitched a combined 60 starts, with 94 games still left in the season. Even when you factor in Hudson’s $15.5 mil salary this season for zero starts so far, that pushes the starting pitching payroll to $51 mil to 6 pitchers who have started 60 games, still a much better bargain than last year. If the Braves dont exercise Hudson’s option, then the Braves will have a 2010 salary allotment of $36 mil for our starting 5. That frees up so much money to improve the offense.
Frank Wren has worked wonders so far. And I’m sure that he will make a trade happen in the next few weeks to improve the offense even more.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
4:59 pm
Now Beltran, Mutts are feeling the Braves woes of 08
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
4:59 pm
Bobby Cox’s doesn’t loaf to balls in the outfield, nor does he drop pop ups, nor does he fail to hit the cut off man, nor does swing at the 1st pitch, nor is he a streaky hitter who only finds the cold streak.
You can blame Bobby for alot of things but the cupboard is bare in alot of spots on this team.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
4:59 pm
Paul there #’s are not that much different. You can’t just leave the defense part of things off the table anyways. You saw what happened last yr when we had to depend on Diaz full time, he was borderline awful… I like him in the position he is in, and the reality is he’s not a full time option. Frenchie is the better alternative right now with what we have in RF
scott
June 22nd, 2009
5:00 pm
BELTRAN TO THE DL.
Yet another reason why we can catch the Phillies and Mets. They’re banged up wayy more than we are. A few good series and we’re right back into it
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
5:00 pm
PWHjort:
Just curious… However, it would be a perfect argument for Dunn. He is hitting .267/.402/.529/.931 with 18HR and 49RBI. Does he have a lot of K’s (74), yes, but he also has 55BB.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
5:01 pm
I do agree w/ you there paul. Frank has done a fantastic job rebuilding this team. I think he’s pulled all the right strings from top to bottom.
Vinings Jim
June 22nd, 2009
5:01 pm
Weatherwise, this is the third time today that it has gotten dark and I hear thunder rumbling (15 miles northwest of the stadium), but so far all I’ve seen are a few raindrops. Seems to be a green blob over the stadium right now.
What Bobby does is...
June 22nd, 2009
5:02 pm
sit there and smile like a blithering imbecile while his playas loaf to balls and throw to the wrong base and forget how many outs there are and are so busy arguing with the umpires that they forget to play ball.
That’s what Bobby does and he is responsible for the lack of professionalism on this “team”.
Anders
June 22nd, 2009
5:02 pm
I’m guessing you guys have seen that Donald Fehr is retiring? Thank God and good riddance. Should be interesting to see how the new guy approaches this whole steroid thing. Clean slate with a chance to take a fresh approach to it all. Fehr had to recognize that he was in a never ending spiral regarding these names coming out. Just the fact that we hardly saw him anymore spoke volumes. This guy was a media hog when he was riding high.
It’s a long shot and may not even be legal but maybe the new guy urges the players to get all the names out once and for all. Like I said a long shot but at the very least I’m all for changing the players union voice. It’s been Fehr too long and he became stale.
Now if Selig would agree to go play with his grandchildren maybe we could fix that office too. Who knows? Maybe the game will go back to the fans again?
MFin04
June 22nd, 2009
5:03 pm
Lamar1Banks2 – What do other managers do to players that do that kind of crap though?
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
5:03 pm
Vinings Jim-
Would I be pitchforked if I asked for a short rain delay? SHORT! Like, an hour? Just so I can get home before the game starts? (ducking under my desk now…)
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
5:03 pm
Beltran to the DL with a bone bruise.
Since the day of [the Nate McLouth] trade, and the day the Braves ushered out Tommy Glavine for… « wire2
June 22nd, 2009
5:04 pm
[...] Carroll Rogers brings home the recent struggles of the Braves That’s pretty simple math, if you give up more runs than you score, you’re not going to win more games than you lose. [...]
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
5:04 pm
I see it has been posted. But yeah. This division is open for the taking.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
5:05 pm
Anders, amen to that. The guy has been a major roadblock to the whole steroid thing. I hope we can put this behind us now as baseball fans.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
5:05 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan……………dude, if Francoeur not hitting a hanger out was an “isolated” event, then I wouldnt jump all over him for it. However, I have watched pretty much every Braves game the past several years on Direct TV’s MLB Extra Innings package. I have seen Francoeur miss hanger after hanger. If Francoeur was producing some, then that is one thing. But Francoeur has 4 homers and 6 doubles ALL YEAR LONG. It’s almost July for crying out loud. Wake up and smell the freaking coffee dude.
When you produce, you get a pass when you struggle. However, when you dont produce, yet keep getting chance after chance to produce………and still dont produce……..then what is wrong with fans wanting to see the BUM benched? I’m sick and tired of seeing Francoeur come up in crucial situations and killing rallies.
I know that hitting in the Major Leagues is hard. That is why I’m not being paid $3.375 mil to play, like Jeff Francoeur is. If Francoeur cant do it (which has become apparent for quite some time), then give someone else a chance (Matt Diaz).
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
5:05 pm
That’s right, scoots. He consistently brings to the table whatever it is he brings to the table.
PWHjort
June 22nd, 2009
5:06 pm
Beltran to the DL? Wow, it can’t get worse for the Mets. Well, it can. Johan Santana can go on the DL.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
5:06 pm
cabravesfan–
Efrim
June 22nd, 2009
5:07 pm
Appy League preview for all you awful prospect huggers……..:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090622&content_id=5465636&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:07 pm
Paul Lentz favorite term to describe his fellow “Braves fans” – MORONS
Of course, it takes one to know one.
Paul Lentz = Internet tough guy know it all.
Vinings Jim
June 22nd, 2009
5:08 pm
cabravesfan – ok with me – I head off to teach in an hour, so a delay might give me a chance to see some of the game live. And it has just started raining here.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:09 pm
Give me the equivalent of Adam Dunn RH power hitter the Braves can go after? Anyone?
Don’t say DeRosa (not even close to the same HR power), or Holliday (not away from Coors). So OK then experts…give me that 40HR guy that bats righty?
Packerman
June 22nd, 2009
5:10 pm
Does anyone here realize how absurdly left handed the Braves lineup would be when Heyward and Freeman come up? That makes all but 2B, SS, and 3B as the only non-lefty batters. With Chipper at 3B, there are only 2 true righty hitters in that lineup. The Braves seem to have an uncanny ability to see every team’s left handed pitchers, so that lineup could present serious matchup problems. I can’t wait to see these kids in the majors, but we need to make sure we can keep some semblance of balance in the lineup.
PWHjort
June 22nd, 2009
5:10 pm
Efrim,
The title of that article is, “Raw talent takes center stage in Appy League”. I don’t mean to be all 3rd grader here but, DUH! It’s a rookie league.
Packerman
June 22nd, 2009
5:11 pm
Supes, his name is Jermaine Dye. He’s probably more of a 30-35 homer a year guy though.
Louisville brave
June 22nd, 2009
5:12 pm
Would the baseball gods dare have frenchy out of the line up for two straight games? oh…let us pray
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
5:12 pm
McFann-
I think that was the last game I asked for a rain delay too
Vinings Jim-
Yeah, I’ve kinda got a bad track record with that…maybe not such a good idea after all?
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
5:13 pm
Louisville brave:
Funny dude. Funny. I bet Frenchy AND KJ are both in the lineup…
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:14 pm
Supes, his name is Jermaine Dye. He’s probably more of a 30-35 homer a year guy though.
******************************************************
Aging guy with less power. Next. I’m talking a legit 40HR guy like Adam Dunn is going to be this year.
Come on experts. Let’s hear it.
Of course, none of this would matter if we still had Texiera here. There wouldn’t be near the power outtage necessary for the Braves to show for a power bat.
Oh, and Dye due to make MORE money this year than Dunn.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
5:15 pm
Louisville brave
Doubt it. One can dream I suppose.
Vinings Jim
June 22nd, 2009
5:15 pm
cabravesfan – I’m playing it neutral – I just don’t want a tree to blow on my head on my way to Midtown.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
5:17 pm
Pennski………I never said that Ryan Howard or Albert Pujols hits every hanger out. However…..they hit plenty enough hangers out of the park to warrant a pass on the times that they miss hitting the hangers out. Jeff Francoeur simply has forgotten to hit homers. 15 homers in 848 at-bats is PATHETIC.
I would much rather see Garrett and Diaz playing in the outfield than Francoeur. So what if Francoeur has a good arm. His bat is killing the Braves offensively. You have to score runs to win games in this league. Garrett is warming up, and Diaz has pop in his bat. Plus, Garrett and Diaz are making less than Francoeur, yet producing more. Let’s take a look at their stats:
…………………Jeff Francoeur….Matt Diaz……Garrett Anderson
At-bats………………249…………..124……………….161…………
Average……………(.245)…………(.274)……………(.280)……….
Doubles………………..6………………6………………….8………..
Triples………………….2………………2………………….0…………
Homers………………..4………………3………………….3…………
RBIs…………………..30…………….17…………………24……….
Walks…………………12…………….12…………………10……….
Strikeouts…………….36…………….27…………………18……….
Francoeur has by far the most at-bats. Yet compare their power numbers? Francoeur is a bad hitter.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
5:17 pm
Vinings Jim-
I think I would be against that too
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
5:17 pm
Supes
DeRosa doesn’t have the power Dunn has. But….he is hitting 277/.347/.470/.816 with 13 HR 12 Doubles and 50 RBI. I think he would be a welcomed addition in RF, don’t you?
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
5:17 pm
Have you hugged a prospect today?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
5:17 pm
Beltran to the DL? After Reyes and Beltran? And Church missing time earlier? And the Phillies have only one starting pitcher with an ERA+ above 93?
Gosh…darn…you…Jeff…Francoeur…and…Garret…Anderson…and…Kelly…Johnson (though I think you’ll break out of it). Aargh!
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:17 pm
Adam Dunn = Perfect fit for the current system of sit and wait for the 3run jack that Bobby loves to play. (Personally I’m not a fan of it, but this current team is not built for speed or power right now. Adding a player like Dunn at least gives us the power element and presence in the lineup)
semiballcoach
June 22nd, 2009
5:18 pm
please stop wondering if gary matthews jr. is available, the braves already released him several years ago, pre-roids….he signed as a steroid aided free agent and has returned to his natural talent level at a very high price tag
Kentavo
June 22nd, 2009
5:19 pm
There’s no way Donk has the nerve to bench Stenchy two games in a row.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:20 pm
Heath (Cleveland)
Of course DeRo would be a “welcomed addition”. After being exposed to the wretched style of play that Jeff and Loaf put us through most of the time.
That’s not what the point is. The point was raised that Dunn strikes out too much and is LH. So I say again, what premiere power hitters are out there who are RH, that cost what Dunn would cost (in terms of salary) and are signed for an affordable contract for the next 2 years?
Find me the RH “version” of Dunn that the Braves could acquire to push them over the top in the NL East?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
5:22 pm
Chop Chop, I have not. However, I would like to point out that 2009 draft picks Mycal Jones, David Berryhill, Riaan Spanjer-Furstenberg, Cory Harrilchak, and Robby Hefflinger will be opening with Danville!
Also, other prospects of note starting with the D-Braves are Julio Teheran, Brett Olberholtzer, Tyler Stovall, Cory Rasmus and Adam Milligan (keep an eye on him).
Prospects, consider yourselves hugged.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
5:22 pm
Oh…and DeRosa’s career numbers are .279/.348/.426/.774….so, it’s not like DeRosa is hitting so far over his head that we have to worry about skewed numbers. Make it happen!
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
5:22 pm
Supes
Dunn is the guy Wren should have nabbed over the winter, but when Wren had money to throw around his price tag was closer to ~$14 mill for 4 years, not $10 mill for 2 years. Thus, I don’t blame Wren for passing over Dunn – the timing was off, and he went and signed KK and Lowe instead.
Now, in terms of trading for Dunn… Wow, you gotta think the Nats are asking for at least 3-4 players, all of which need to be ML ready or have extremely high ceilings. Otherwise, why trade him this year? If no one is going to give the Nats top flight talent for Dunn, then it makes sense to keep him for the start of 2010, and trade him before next year’s deadline (or during the winter for a nice package of talent).
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
5:22 pm
Supes…………I see nothing wrong with “challenging” someone’s posting, particularly if they take the time to make out a MORONIC trade proposal like you did yesterday when you made your case that the Braves should trade Francoeur, Kelly, and Jo-Jo for Adam Dunn. You explained how the Nationals would benefit from that “proposed” trade.
You had the nerve to call Francoeur, Kelly, and Jo-Jo “decent Major League players”, lol. If you are going to post garbage like that, then you deserve to be called a MORON. There is NO WAY that the Nationals would take “our garbage” for a 40 home run guy. Dont get me wrong, if I was Frank Wren, I’d do that trade in a heartbeat. But come on dude, that trade aint never going to happen.
Anders
June 22nd, 2009
5:22 pm
Steve – You missed Perez, Maine, Delgado and Putz on that list. See why I’ve said I’ll be happy to be 4 to 5 games out by July 10th? Less likely everyday but I can hope.
CB
June 22nd, 2009
5:23 pm
I vote for Paul Lentz for “moron of the year”. Do I hear an amen?
Anders
June 22nd, 2009
5:23 pm
Amen
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
5:24 pm
MFin04
Just what we are doing losing. Can’t turn water in wine
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
5:24 pm
Steve,
I’m glad you stepped up to the plate. Everyone can use a hug from time to time.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
5:24 pm
Paul Lentz, why not use rate stats like normal people? Instead of posting those raw numbers while we’re all wondering “is 30 RBI in 249 AB better than 17 RBI in 124 AB?” Geez man, at least give us some meaningful info…
Packerman
June 22nd, 2009
5:25 pm
Dunn is not a perfect fit. He strikes out WAAAAAAAAAAY too much. We’re talking 150 Ks per year. 40 homers is nice, but it’s not all there is. If he was so amazing in this system, why is it that Cincinnati (when he was with them) and Washington were all time loser teams with the same system. Guys like Dye or Derosa give you a solid power bat and you can feel confident that they won’t fan when you need them most.
Louisville brave
June 22nd, 2009
5:25 pm
Heath in Cleveland…I’m afraid you’re going to be right…and that is (one reason) why it’s easy to dislike Cox…even though we lost yesterday, our offense looked pesky and alive…no black hole at the bottom of the order to kill rallies
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
5:26 pm
cabravesfan–
I think it was…
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
5:26 pm
I vote for Paul Lentz for “moron of the year”.
Shouldn’t we at least consider our options first?
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
5:26 pm
I agree with Paul Lentz, Frank Wren has done a great job. I do diasgree with the KK signing though
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
5:26 pm
Supes….don’t “need” a RH version of Adam Dunn to win the NL east. Replacing JF with DeRosa and playing Prado at 2B instead of KJ would get rid of two guys that consistently hurt us with doing the little things. They often have the most unproductive ABs with RISP or with just getting guys over or just hit a fly to the outfiled to get ‘em in. The current team, as constructed, probably has left 50 easy runs on the bases because of unproductive outs.
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
5:27 pm
Amen
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
5:27 pm
The Angels might take Kotchman back for Gary Matthews Jr. and pay some of Matthews’ salary. Moreno doesn’t like Matthews. Saw his AB last night, and he worked a walk by laying off some tough pitches. I’d take Matthews any day over Francryer, steroid allegations or not…His 10.4 mil salary is less than Guillen’s
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
5:27 pm
Packerman, as far as K’s are concerned, an out is an out, be it by K or by a warning-track flyout. There has been no empirical evidence that I’ve come across that suggests that high strikeout totals adversely effect one’s offensive performance.
Tyler
June 22nd, 2009
5:27 pm
Carroll Rogers needs a Lift!!!
Brett
June 22nd, 2009
5:28 pm
Pujols has to be juiced
CB
June 22nd, 2009
5:28 pm
Roman Gal- nah, hands down.
Packerman
June 22nd, 2009
5:29 pm
A warning track flyout can advance runners, Ks don’t.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
5:29 pm
Chop Chop, after reading stuff like “Adam Dunn is a complementary player” and “Jeff Francoeur-for-Jonathan Sanchez,” I feel as though I need a hug…
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
5:29 pm
Roman Gal-
How much time do we have? (although that could be a good rain delay topic…
)
BravoJon
June 22nd, 2009
5:29 pm
Lineup posted:
1. McLouth CF
2. KJ 2B
3. Chipper 3B
4. McCann C
5. Anderson LF
6. Kotchman 1B
7. Francoeur RF
8. Hernandez SS
9. Vasquez P
Let the speculation begin on Escobar.
The Real DEal
June 22nd, 2009
5:30 pm
I vote for Paul Lentz for “moron of the year”. Do I hear an amen?
Umm…soo many here to pick from ya know? Perhaps we should have different categories? I suggest:
1.Moron OTY
2.A-hole OTY
3.Whiner OTY
4.Blog Pundit OTY
There are other categories of course, but soo many possible great selections on here.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
5:30 pm
OH Steve,
thanks for your response to mine yesterday. I posted a novel about BABIP / line drive % etc… and those stats you and others like to use that I think are frivolous. But, it was a nice post, and we’ll continue to agree to disagree about Kelly. Plain and simple.
The reason why I took out last september, was because that was just 1 month where Kelly produced in the past 6, usually a month when a lot of hitters do well as pitchers tire and minor leaguers get PT.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
5:30 pm
Salamander……….while picking up Ibanez or Dunn last winter would have been nice……Frank Wren couldnt improve both the offense and starting pitching at the same time. He wisely choose to rebuild the starting rotation and “hope” that Francoeur and Kelly could produce offensively.
However, with Hudson’s $15.5 mil coming off the books after this year, that will free up even more money (along with non-tendering Francoeur and saving his $3.375 mil) to go after that elusive right handed power hitting right fielder in free agency. That is if Frank Wren cant swing a trade before the trade deadline.
Packerman
June 22nd, 2009
5:30 pm
Plus defensively Dunn is even more of a liability than GA. I want a player who is at least competent in all phases of the game.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:30 pm
Salaamander,
Good post. You make a very good point about the Nat’s point of view and dealing Dunn. I agree, they can probably get more for him next year at the trade deadline. I also agree that paying Dunn 4 years and 14 million is too much and I wouldn’t have wanted him at that price. However, 2 years for 20 is a bargain to me. Well what’s done is done.
I think Wren needs to at least come to Stan Kasten and the Nats and offer Javy Vazquez, Peter Moyland and another player if need be (that doesn’t include top tier talent from the farm) for Dunn. He’s gotta make the play.
If not Dunn…I’d settle for DeRosa if he doesn’t cost too much again, the Indians are going to ask for a lot.
I’d have to think Dunn would be easier to acquire than DeRosa due to Mark’s versatility and stable defense versus Dunn’s questionable defense.
PAUL LENTZ – Keep on digging that hole. Making lots of “friends” here with all the blog regulars.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
5:31 pm
IDIOTS!
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
5:31 pm
Right, sure, but a large majority of one’s Ks usually come with no one on or an a situation where a “productive out” wouldn’t easily advance a runner, and Dunn’s other hitting abilities easily outweigh the relatively isolated situations in which his strikeouts adversely impact the team’s run expectancy (whereas him getting on base or hitting a homer impacts that figure much more).
CB
June 22nd, 2009
5:31 pm
Steve from OH- BLOG HUG.
Frankie Knuckles
June 22nd, 2009
5:31 pm
Robert
June 22nd, 2009
5:32 pm
“So this is what happens to teams on the decline that – let’s face it – aren’t one or two moves from being cured”
This team IS one move from being cured.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
5:32 pm
Supes he goes by Dense Paul Lentz!
And he’s a gawddamm published novelist, published right here on the MIB!
He’s a smart man with a B.S. in Urinalism. Leave him alone!
nolie
June 22nd, 2009
5:32 pm
Trade Vazquez first then go shopping. What’s so hard about that? (McLouth)
And use Parr?Nah, he is just another journeyman, and I’m not sold enough on Medlen at this point to give up Javy. Foolish idea IMO unless they fall completely out of it in the next three- four weeks.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
5:32 pm
cabravesfan-
No rain delays. Where’s my pitchfork? I just had it…
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
5:32 pm
WHAT??? that is the worst lin-up of the season. 4 automatic outs tonight. That doesn’t even include the pitcher.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:33 pm
I vote for Paul Lentz for “moron of the year”. Do I hear an amen?
*****************************************************
That’s actually pretty good:)
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
I speculate that Escobar is getting a little rest since this is supposed to be an off day anyways. Maybe Bobby is actually giving the kid a breather. You had to think he would sit one of the regulars tonight anyways… why not Escobar? Don’t like KJ batting 2nd or in the lineup period, but whatever.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
5:35 pm
What the hell kind of line-up is that??????
Rock on.......the denizen formerly known as Dadgum
June 22nd, 2009
5:35 pm
Going to game tomorrow against Yanks. If Braves win I am taking credit for win stream that ensues. Sitting at Stouts Irish Bar in Buckhead right now. Can’t blog as often right now but Efrim you and are on the same page on KJ.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
5:35 pm
CB…………why do you consider me to be a “moron”? Because go against the grain and sing the praises of Frank Wren? Or is it because I applaud Braves management’s decision to not resign Smoltz, Hampton, and cut Glavine? Or perhaps I have the nerve to say that no team will EVER trade for Jeff Francoeur? Or better yet, you think I am a “moron” for saying that blaming Terry Pendleton on Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson not hitting is like some parent blaming the teacher for their stupid, lazy kid at school for failing.
I take the time to do the research when presenting an argument. I dont say stuff like “oh, the Braves should trade Francoeur, Kelly, and Jo-Jo for Adam Dunn”…..knowing that there is no way in hell that the Nationals would ever trade for our garbage.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
5:35 pm
Nolie,
Medlen is good enough right now to go .500 in the five slot. Lowe/Jurrjens/hanson/Kawakami will be plenty good enough, especially if you bring in a hammer after dealing Javy. Actually saw a blurb on the mlbtraderumors site about the Red Sox using the fact that they can take on payroll as leverage to hang on to elite prospects. If the Braves can find a taker for Vasquez’s money then they will be in the drivers’ seat on the bats.
CB
June 22nd, 2009
5:35 pm
Supes, do I get an award? lol
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
5:37 pm
Hey, Escobar was scratched with a sore right hip flexor. He is day-to-day. Not sure when he hurt it. We found out about the change while the clubhouse was closed, and the Braves didn’t hit on the field because it’s drizzling. They think the rain should be through by game time-ish.
Lineup:
1. McLouth CF
2. Johnson 2B
3. Jones 3B
4. McCann C
5. Anderson LF
6. Kotchman 1B
7. Francoeur RF
8. Hernandez SS
9. Vazquez P
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
5:37 pm
There are only 4 games being played tonight? Wow…
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
5:38 pm
Paul Lentz,
Nice post last night about Francryer. I posted the same thing last week after the AJC article on Schafer was published, which was the same time Jeff said something like “We’ll see if I’m in the Braves plans financially” etc…
Schafer was owning up to sucking. He said he wondered what took so long, how he needs to improved, etc… you know, putting the blame on himself rather than the organization…
You compare that attitude with Jeff’s last year, his smart a$$ comments yesterday about not playing, his “financial” comments & not having a long-term deal (yet it is his fault for turning one down), and it’s just seriously upsetting as a fan. If the guy were producing, that’s one thing, but to have a player that sucks as much as Francryer, and hear the b!thcing, it’s getting old, and older, and….pathetic. I really would not care if we just DFA’d him just to let him go walking off into the minor leagues of another team for nothing in return.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
5:38 pm
Paul you keep saying that Hudson’s #’s are coming off the books, the braves are going to make an effort to resign him, and if you read the blog at all during spring season, DOB said Hudson definitely wanted to resign here. I wouldn’t expect those #’s to go away.
We can agree to dis-agree, but I just don’t think Diaz vs. Frenchie is a basic push batting but with Frenchie being better defensively. Just my opinion
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:38 pm
nolie,
If Javy is traded (let’s say sometime in early July)…Hudson is scheduled back for August. So you’ll need a 4-5 week period of Kris Medlen.
I think Kris can be servicable at worst and pretty good at best. We saw what he can do in arizona. The “relief” effort versus the O’s was not good. Then again, he’s still learning on the fly here at this level.
At any rate, I think 5 or so starts for Medlen the Braves can endure that until Huddy returns.
All indicators right now are that Huddy is going good on his rehab throwing, feels like he can make the August return date and wants to pitch. Guy is a competitor and would pitch with half an arm out there.
So if we can deal Javy and get a bat to help out in RF…I think it’s worth the gamble to go with Kris Melden for a month or so in the 5th spot of the rotation.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
5:38 pm
No, Dense Paul Lentz, it is your incessant rambling about stuff you have no clue about. Arbitration is one example. Frenchy’s agent wouldn’t be stupid enough to put anything near a $7MM request on the table- it would be guaranteeing defeat when the braves offer a modest 20% raise after a piss poor year. Frenchy and Kotchman, combined, will make 8.5 MM TOPS next year.
scott
June 22nd, 2009
5:38 pm
Esco is just getting the night off. I thought i heard Esco was supposed to get the semi-day off yesterday as the DH, but when Bobby wanted FYF to rest, he put Diaz in RF and started Esco. I think i read this on CBSports.com or something..
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
5:39 pm
Thanks for the lineup, Ms. Rogers!
That hip-flexor again, eh? Maybe he shouldn’t jump in the on-deck circle…?
Hey, his doing that doesn’t faze me, but I’m just saying…
scott
June 22nd, 2009
5:39 pm
…or maybe he has a hip flexor.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
5:40 pm
Scoots,
I was talking about the real world with “patience” and not so much the blog world. You know, the real world, with understanding and common sense? I know we all get lost in the blog sometimes, but the “real world” does exist.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
5:40 pm
That lineup is painful to look at… oh well. Here’s hoping Vazquez has a complete game shut out in his arm tonight.
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
5:40 pm
Paul Lentz,
None of those arguments go against the grain. Most people agree. You are just arguing with yourself and annoying everyone. I guess you have forgotton about the “MORONIC” trade proposal you were trying to convince everyone of a couple of weeks ago. You are the one that said the Braves should trade Vasquez ($11.5 million) and Frenchy to the Rangers for Nelson Cruz who makes the league minimum and is one of the best young power hitters in baseball this year.
Carpe Diem
June 22nd, 2009
5:40 pm
Damn italics. LOVE this format. Have I said that before (N8)
I can’t figure out how you keep accidentally bolding & italicizing. Oops I just typed 17 extra characters in two different places? Hmmm. If you aren’t bright enough to not do that, why are we reading your posts?
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
5:41 pm
Roman Gal-
not sure where your’s is, but I can lend you mine if you want to pull it out of Frank Wren’s spine…
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
5:41 pm
Shouldn’t the superlatives be done at the end of the year? Or are these mid-season awards?
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
5:41 pm
Bobby’s Cox which was the same time Jeff said something like “We’ll see if I’m in the Braves plans financially” etc…
When did he make a comment like that? Geesh…
Packerman
June 22nd, 2009
5:42 pm
Right, sure, but a large majority of one’s Ks usually come with no one on or an a situation where a “productive out” wouldn’t easily advance a runner
What imperical evidence do you have of that? I’ve never heard that one before. I don’t think there’s a way to argue that point without a ton of research that I’m frankly too lazy to do and really wouldn’t know where to start. I would be interested to see the % of time a batter comes up with no one on vs. the % when a productive out would be needed. I guarantee the latter is going to be a much smaller percentage. So that argument gets skewed right away.
Seems like our Braves strike all the time in “productive out” situations.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
5:42 pm
Vasquez ain’t getting any run support again tonight with that lousy lineup, and with Dempster going tonight.
The temp is up in Atl…too bad it will be the opposing teams balls flying over the fence tonight with fly ball pitcher Vasquez against Lee who destroys him, Soto who’s starting to turn things around, and a Cubs team that is playing better than ours.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
5:42 pm
Supes………………….I’m not here to “make friends”. I’m here to put my ideas out there for improving the Braves. Also, I would rather have a team full of A-HOLES and WIN……..then have a team full of nice guys and LOSE.
Now I see you proposing trading Javier Vazquez for Adam Dunn. While I wouldnt do that trade either……..at least it is a “big improvement” over your proposed Francoeur, Kelly, and Jo-Jo trade for Dunn that you was so happy to post yesterday. While yesterday’s trade proposal would have ripped off the Nationals……..your proposal today favors the Nationals. The Braves can do much better than Adam Dunn if they were to trade Javier Vazquez
Packerman
June 22nd, 2009
5:42 pm
Seems like our Braves strike out all the time in “productive out” situations.
Sorry.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
5:43 pm
Salamander,
Even if Javy pitches a complete game shutout, we’ll find a way to lose. Francoeur will hit a HR and round the bases starting with 3rd, therefore giving us a negative run.
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
5:43 pm
Here’s hoping Vazquez has a complete game shut out in his arm tonight.
Does anyone remember Randy Johnson’s perfect game, when Mike Hampton happened to pitch an excellent complete game? This season kind of reminds me of that.
Pete
June 22nd, 2009
5:44 pm
Roman Gal: “There are only 4 games being played tonight? Wow…”
Very common on Monday and Thursday to have light schedule due to travel, etc. If Braves were not doing a makeup game, there would be only 3 games.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:45 pm
CB,
You get the creative blogger of the day award for coming up with that:)
Paul Lentz – It takes one to know one. That’s all I have to say about that.
Maybe one of these days you’ll learn not to attack fellow blog vets even when you wholeheartedly disagree with that they say, there is a respectful way to make a point. Name calling is not one of them. It’s best you learn that, or no matter how educated and stat driven you may sound, people will eventually freeze you out.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
5:45 pm
After being in Boston Esco was so excited to get in bed with Southern women again that the poor guy threw his hip out.
The Real DEal
June 22nd, 2009
5:45 pm
Medlen is good enough right now to go .500 in the five slot.
Right..and we have proof of this/ Or is it just because you wish it to be?
zmerk13
June 22nd, 2009
5:46 pm
Kelly Johnson is hitting second?! Are you kidding me? He is hitting in the .180s this month. And his “double” to left yesterday was a flyout in every other ballpark in baseball. ughhh 0-4 from the 2 hole tonight.
Mike in LA
June 22nd, 2009
5:46 pm
Prado gets three hits yesterday, was perfect in the field at 2b and 3b, makes a great slide to score the tying run at home but can’t get in the lineup today. Go figure.
Robbie T
June 22nd, 2009
5:47 pm
There is one outfeilder out there that the Braves should try to work a trade for.They could put him in the clanup spot between Chipper and McCann and take their chances with him.He could also play right feild.He would hit somewhere around .250 and hit around 25 dingers and drive in 90 to 100 runs.His name is Andruw Jones.The Rangers are loaded up with outfeilders and Jones could be had.He would be an improvement over who’s out there now.He is a right hand hitting above average defensive player who has pop in his bat.Exactly what the Braves need in the middle of the lineup.Put Jones back in the lineup eveyday and he will help this team.He wants to play,needs to play and he will do a good job.Name me 1 other player out there who is afforable thats any better than Andruw Jones? Give Texas a couple of prospects and lets go!
Shamus Thacker
June 22nd, 2009
5:47 pm
Don Fehr is on his way out.
Before wishing him well, I’d like to say #%$# YOU! %$#@ #$@&$% $#@#$#@%##$!!!
Good luck Donald
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
5:47 pm
With a line-up like that, maybe Bobby likes Yunel and hates Vasquez.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:48 pm
Paul,
I don’t give a frak about you are “not here to make friends statement”.
it’s not about that. It’s about acting like an adult and respecting your fellow fans. Has nothing to do with friendship. You feel free to make a “whatever” you want out of yourself by calling people names. Moving right along.
and Lars Taint pretty much proved another point for me. Get the PLANK out of your eye before you go removing the “speck out of mine”
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
5:49 pm
I hope Yunel didn’t aggravate the hip flexor on that infield pop.
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
5:49 pm
Paul Lentz, the way you talk about baseball makes it obvious that you never actually played the game. You think you know what you are talking about because you won a t-shirt in your fantasy baseball league and made some great trades on MLB 09 The Show on the PS3. You really need to stop talking down to everyone as if you know so much more about the game because to people who actually do know the game, you look really stupid.
JerseyGil
June 22nd, 2009
5:50 pm
Hey guys i been hear all day that Frenchy/Guillen trade…What happen with Houston Bergman/Lee trade?…Houston has to dump Salary, they don’t go nowhere this year..
CB
June 22nd, 2009
5:50 pm
{chest swells with pride}
ArkyTech
June 22nd, 2009
5:50 pm
Man….Franceour, Kelly, and Diory in the lineup with Diaz, Prado, and Escobar on the bench? And we’re wondering why Vazquez keeps pitching well but can’t get wins?
wow
June 22nd, 2009
5:51 pm
Braves are a waste of time they cant even put a respectable line-up card out.
Markie
June 22nd, 2009
5:52 pm
My predictions tonight:
McLouth- 3-5 2 singles/1 double/2 RBI/2 runs scored
Johnson- 1-5 single/3K’s/0 RBI/1 run scored
Jones- 2-4 single/2-run-HR/2 RBI/0 run scored
McCann- 0-4 2K’s/sac fly/1 RBI/0 runs scored
Anderson- 1-3 1K/single/BB/0 run scored/ 1 Fielding Error
Kotchman- 0-3 2 groundouts/BB/1 pop out/0 runs scored
Francoeur- 0-4 2K’s/2 fly outs/0 runs scored
Hernandez- 0-4 3K’s/1 groundout/0 runs scored
Vazquez- 7IP/8K’s/2ER/1BB/6H No decision/ Braves lose 4-2
Dempster(W), Moylan(L)
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
5:52 pm
Bobby’s Cox…………..thanks for the props. You are correct in saying that Jordan Schafer owned up to basically “sucking” during the first part of the season. Going down to Triple A will do him some good. I saw enough of him to know that he has it in him to MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS that are necessary to come back up by next season and become an impact player.
When I hear Jeff Francoeur basically “blame the manager” for him not playing yesterday (heaven forbid, Bobby’s first responsibility should be putting the best line-up out there for the Braves to win…………instead of placating Francoeur’s New England family members who wanted to see Francoeur play all 3 games). If I had my way, dude would have been benched all 3 games.
Pennski………your assertion that Diaz/Francoeur batting stats are basically a “push”. You cannot be further from the truth. Matt has had 124 at bats, while Jeff Francoeur has had 249. That is twice the number of at-bats for Francoeur. Yet Diaz has 3 homers, 6 doubles and 2 triples……….while Francoeur has 4 homers, 6 doubles, and 2 triples. If you double Diaz’s power numbers and at-bats to equal the number of times Francoeur has been been at-bat…………then you will see that Diaz is twice the power hitter than Francoeur is.
You might want to look at the stats a little closer. Same power numbers, yet Diaz has had half the at-bats. Do the math.
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
5:52 pm
With a line-up like that, maybe Bobby likes Yunel and hates Vasquez.
I’ll bet Bobby and Yunel are out back having a cigar right now, laughing mischeviously and throwing darts at a poster with Javy’s face on it.
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
5:53 pm
JerseyGil I hope like hell they don’t bring Jose Guillen’s crazy ass in here.
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
5:54 pm
McFann :O:
Thanks for your post on http://www.newblogofbraves.blogspot.com
Did it look OK?
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:54 pm
Markie,
that’s a pretty grim and probably fair way to look at it. Esp. the bottom of the order, which is the black hole in the Braves lineup and always comes up with men on base and fails to produce.
Jersey Gil,
I believe Berkman is making a lot of money this year, 17 million? Not sure about that and is due to make more next year. Braves can’t handle that kind of payroll increase.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
5:54 pm
Mike in LA
I bet Prado’s groin is bothering him… remember how he got up and winced yesterday after making that slide at the plate? He looked pretty gimpy.
That aside, Bobby would probably bench him for KJ even without the groin injury because… well, I don’t have anything nice to say, so… yeah.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
5:55 pm
McLouth of the South…………..salary arbitration is not solely based on last season’s numbers. Arbitrators factor in previous seasons as well. Again, Francoeur’s agent will argue that Francoeur was underpaid his 3 pre-arbitration years, while playing every day and winning a gold glove in right. It is not out of the realm of reality to see Francoeur getting a bump to $6-7 mil if the Braves were foolish enough to tender him.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
5:55 pm
McFann…
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/06/14/braves_francoeur_trade.html
So my memory wasn’t that good, but that’s what I drew from it. Totally different attitude from Schafers
http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/06/15/braves_jordan_schafer.html
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
5:55 pm
Saw Guillen a couple of weeks ago in Toronto and his defense looks worse than GA
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
5:55 pm
CB, something tells me Esco was swelling with something when he threw that hip out… wasn’t pride though
And another novel from Dense Paul Lentz, Moron of the Year!
TBrown
June 22nd, 2009
5:56 pm
Markie -
5 RBIs and only 2 runs scored??
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
5:56 pm
JerseyGil I hope like hell they don’t bring Jose Guillen’s crazy ass in here.
*******************************************************
I’ll second that. Plus he isn’t producing much and costs a cool 12 million!
Wren really did this to himself. He banked on KJ (not slumping), Anderson hitting from the get go, and on Jeff (somehow turning it around). Neither one of those have happened.
So it’s Wren’s fault failing to see that the flaw of his plan was placing his hope in the likes of Jeff and KJ.
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
5:57 pm
Bobby is flat out senile not playing Prado and Diaz on a regular basis! He really is…. you cannot win with tha lineup unless Javy throws another gem and Dempster is way off his game tonight. Sure, it can happen, but that’s way too risky right now considering how tough it gets this week with NY/Bos and the Phillies AWAY from home where they play their best. I just don’t understand his facination with Frenchy and Kelly.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
5:57 pm
Paul, do as I have, give up on these morons,these Morons want to give up half the farm system for Adam Dunn and his poor defense and 150+strikeouts..And they call people like us morons
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
5:58 pm
Markie McCann- 0-4 2K’s/sac fly/1 RBI/0 runs scored
Ouch. How the heck did you arrive at that? 2 K’s? Gyah…
Canadaian braves fan–
You’re welcome! No prob! Yeah, it looked fine.
the real Andy
June 22nd, 2009
6:00 pm
the more i hear about how close we got to having Bay, the sicker I feel to my stomach. should would be great to have that guy mashing for us.
Louisville brave
June 22nd, 2009
6:00 pm
That line-up is comically bad…BC wins the Moron of the Year contest
Bob Dole
June 22nd, 2009
6:01 pm
Markie how can Chipper have 2 RBI, McLouth have 2 RBI, McCann have an RBI and the Braves lose 4-2?
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
6:01 pm
McFann if you liked it you can become a follower and get emails about blogs as they r posted
Thanks
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
6:02 pm
Markie,
You have the braves scoring 5 runs, and losing 4-2, you also have chipper hitting a HR and not scoring a run….
wanna try again?
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
6:02 pm
Holy hell Dense Paul Lentz and John Deere Green are forming a bond. This ought to be worth every dime I pay for this subscription…
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
6:02 pm
Carroll
Did Prado aggravate his groin yesterday? Cause I don’t see the point in not having him in there when Escobar sits.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
6:02 pm
Bobby’s Cox–
Ah! I guess I didn’t read that one about Francouer. Thanks for the link! I did see the Schafer quotes when they came out, and I really like those! Love it when guys cann face the music like that.
Canadaian braves fan–
OK…will my e-mail have to be shown on site?
jeffrey d
June 22nd, 2009
6:03 pm
Just a heads up, you spelled Canadian wrong
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:03 pm
Lars Taint………….A few weeks ago, I did propose a trade centered around the Braves trading Javier Vazquez to the Rangers for Nelson Cruz. I said that perhaps other pieces could be added to the trade to make it work. However the trade would benefit both teams. Tom Hicks, owner of the Rangers, has shown that he is willing to part with young players and take on payroll in his quest to help his team make the play-offs. A few weeks ago, the Rangers had a 5 game lead. I said that if the Rangers didnt make a trade to improve their pitching that the Angels were poised to make a run. Today, Texas is in first by 1/2 a game. The Rangers need starting pitching. The Braves need offense.
There is NO WAY that the Rangers can compete with the Angels and make the play-offs with their current starting rotation. Peavy and Bedard are both hurt. Besides Javier Vazquez, what other starting pitcher is out there that is worth trading for? The Rangers, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Mets are virtually BEGGING for starting pitching.
My point is that the Braves are dealing from a position of strength. If you want to play, you got to pay. The Braves are willing to pay to play (by dangling Vazquez)……..however, other teams need to be willing to do the same (give us a power hitting right fielder). Either that, or help the Braves with making a 3 way trade.
JerseyGil
June 22nd, 2009
6:04 pm
We Can Make the same trade we make with Hampton…Houston Pay some of his Money (Bergman)
I trade Frenchy,Medlen,Kelly for him..and Houston paid 1/3 of his salary.
Markie
June 22nd, 2009
6:04 pm
TBrown— doesn’t really matter because we all know that a bad team will find a way to lose. It’s a real shame too, because this team can be really good if managed properly. Bobby Cox is mad at Wren and Shuerholz and I really believe that. I’m not saying he keeps throwing AA or AAA at best players out there(KJ/Frenchy)to intentionally lose, but something is up. He used to not do that and had a much shorter fuse and patience. That fire is gone, folks. There’s just not nearly as much as there used to be. Watch some old clips from the 90’s and you’ll see clearly what I’m talking about. I can also tell you that Chipper has just about had it.
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
6:05 pm
A Lance Berkman trade would not happen. He is the face of Houston the way Chipper is for Atl. Carlos Lee is in the middle of a 6yr 100mil contract I believe.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
6:06 pm
Say it with me Paul Lentz- Javy Vazquez has a no trade clause that bars trades to the NL & AL West.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
6:07 pm
Jersey Gil,
That was a 3 team “deal” more or less where the Rockies and the Marlins picked up half the salary, I think it was the first 2 or 3 years. The Braves payed the backloaded end of the deal.
I can see a 3 team trade, but it takes a lot to make those happen.
Well, we all agree on this. Wren can’t just sit on his a&& and let this current roster go down with it. Changes must be made. At the very least to address the RF situation.
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
6:07 pm
tarp is coming off. sun is peeking through….
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
6:08 pm
cabravesfan -
You’re a fiesty lady. : )
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
6:08 pm
The only “big money” guy I would want would be Dunn. Otherwise go with a Cody Ross, DeRosa type. Or, yes, even LaRoche; he of the .100 higher OPS, 7 more HR, and similar defense to our current 1B.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
6:08 pm
Just noticed Carlos Lee (who’s making $18.5 million this year- yikes) has a full no trade clause…not happening
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:08 pm
Lars Taint……..I dont play video games. I watch a lot of baseball. Unlike you, I subscribe to the MLB Extra Innings package on Direct TV. I watch pretty much every Braves game, as well as many other games. I pay attention to what is unraveling in the games. I just use stats to back up what I’m saying.
Louisville brave
June 22nd, 2009
6:09 pm
Cox is an idiot!!!…it’d be one thing to get cute with the line-up if we were 4.5 games up…but seriously…KJ in the 2 hole? WTF? Even if we were to somehow win tonight, which if I had to bet money I’d say we we’re not going to, this is crap, and i need the number to call to lodge an official complaint…can you help us out with that Carrol? Who’s getting the grass-roots fire bobby cox movement going?…come on people…how long are we going to take this crappy leadership?…Fire Bobby Cox!! Fire Bobby Cox!! Fire Bobby Cox!!
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
6:10 pm
Heath (Cleveland)-
Javy’s no trade clause has only been mentioned about 100 times since people started bringing up the idea of trading him…just wanted to make sure Paul was aware of it
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
6:10 pm
Paul Lentz,
Why do I somehow doubt that you are paying attention….
Shamus Thacker
June 22nd, 2009
6:10 pm
The Frenchy Farce continues…
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
6:11 pm
McFann no i think you can hide it
Thanks for your help
GO BRAVES GO
N8
June 22nd, 2009
6:12 pm
CB, totally agree.
Salamander, I agree about Ibanez outperforming his contract.
But similar to the D-Lowe signing (believe me, by the end of those 4 years, that may look like the Hampton contract – though Lowe has always been healthy), we overpaid in terms of years to fix a problem NOW.
Sure Ibanez was too expensive, and at 37 years old is gonna be severely overpaid in 3 years. But Wren wanted/wants to win now, and didn’t solve the outfield issues last winter. Ibanez was clearly the best choice out of him, Abreu and Burrell. As for Dunn? No denying his power is above any of theirs (regardless of Ibanez’s numbers so far), but Ibanez has always been the better “hitter”. Which is why he was my choice.
Not to mention his lefty/righty splits were damn near identical.
As for his defense? He’s got none. But neither do the hacks we’ve got in LF, and I’ll take his weak defense over Jeff’s weak bat ANYDAY.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:12 pm
I really don’t think it’s right that some of you on here call me a moron. When I make a post I do every bit of research I can. I have subscriptions to BaseballAmerica, Scout.com, I visit mlbtraderumors.com, and, yes, even video games. Like it or not MLB the Show can be a good source to learn about salaries, etc. I’ve never been a guy that couldn’t get along with people and I simply don’t understand why all of you are ganging up on me. I understand all of the finer points of baseball and have a lot of good things to share if you’ll just give me the chance! What do you say guys?
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
6:12 pm
Still… I like it. : )
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
6:12 pm
Lance Lance Birthday Pants is hitting .241
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
6:13 pm
just go to follower
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
6:13 pm
Paul Lentz,
Please give me one example of the Rangers owner trading a young star who will be making peanuts for several more years in order to take on more salary. Anyway, the point was that you included Frenchy in this trade, but earlier today you said everyone that thought we could trade Frenchy was a “moron”.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
6:13 pm
cabravesfan, Mike in LA,
The Braves are on ESPN on Wed against the Yanks. If you two are down, we can meet up somewhere and watch the game.
Let me know & I’ll post my spam email address & respond with my real one.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:13 pm
cabravesfan…………I know that Vazquez has a no-trade clause to the NL & AL West. However that does not mean that he cant waive it. Also, I was explaining why I feel that that trade could make a difference for both teams. The Rangers adding Vazquez would improve their starting rotation and help save the work load of the bullpen. And of course Nelson Cruz would give the Braves that much needed pop in his bat. As I said, perhaps some pieces could be added to make this trade work.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
6:13 pm
Paul, I’m saying that there is no appreciable upgrade by placing Matt Diaz in the line up everyday over Jeff. I like Diaz, however even if you “double” the statistics it’s not so cut and dry. Matt is batting against lefties most of the time and not righties since he platoons w/ GA. I think the matchup there is better, as most people would agree. Put him in the line up everyday and this is what you get:
G AB R H 2b 3b HR RBI BB so sb cs avg obp slg ops
2008 Atl 43 135 9 33 2 0 2 14 3 32 4 2 .244 .264 .304 .568
Now if you look at those #’s, when Diaz was the opening day starter in LF before he was injured, that’s not very good. My point is, when he was depended upon as the opening day starter against lefties/righties, it’s not all that much better if at all than Jeff’s #’s.
That’s all I’m saying
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:15 pm
Someone used my name to make a posting at 6:12pm…………..really classy.
The Handsome Pierogi
June 22nd, 2009
6:16 pm
With the Braves rolling out a lineup like that, I expect Dempster to be in Cy Young form again. It’s hard winning with a lineup of guys that (for the most part) have no power AND have below-average OBP’s.
61 year Braves Fan
June 22nd, 2009
6:17 pm
Cox’s strategy continues to befuddle me. McLouth a high % base stealer is on first with no one out.
Why not have Escobar take a pitch and McLouth steal. Everybody steals on Wakefield the knuckle-
baller and with a rookie catcher chances are nearly 100%. With this poor hitting team you have to
manufacture a run any way you can and didn’t we lose by 1 run? Also does Escobar ever have his
brains in the game? Allowing a pop fly to land in the baseline that leads to a run is inexcuseable.
Louisville brave
June 22nd, 2009
6:18 pm
Paul Lentz…I think you’re allright…but I admit that most times I skip over your posts cuz they seem tiresome and laborious…but when I do read your stuff, you make good points, and you are well versed in baseball, so I wouldn’t call you a moron…but if i have to see another of your posts mentioning trading vasquez, i think im going to barf…just kidding dude…but maybe you should chill out a little with the dense posting…seems to be pissing some people off
Jack G.
June 22nd, 2009
6:18 pm
All you people who think you know it all really irritate those of us who really do.
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
6:18 pm
Paul,
How do you know I don’t have MLB Extra Innings? You must not have watched many Rangers games since you originally posted that we should get Nelson Cruz from the Blue Jays. If you really knew baseball like you claim, wouldn’t you have known who Cruz plays for without having to look on the internet?
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:19 pm
Lars Taint………….yes a few weeks ago I did include Francoeur in the proposed Vazquez/Cruz trade. However, as I have had time to time about it…….and see Francoeur continue to suck and not produce….when I put some thought to what he could get in salary arbitration……..I came to the conclusion that no team will trade for Francoeur.
Unlike many of you, I’m more than willing to revise and make a correction to what I previously said. As one gathers more information, I see nothing wrong with making a revision.
Mixxo
June 22nd, 2009
6:20 pm
No BP tonight?
I dunno….that might be good.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
6:20 pm
Derrek Lee is really hot right now. In the last 7 days, he’s hit .364, .391, .955, with a 1.346 OPS. His Babip is .308 during that span, too…
francouer sucks.
June 22nd, 2009
6:21 pm
Seriously people, stop blaming escobar for the pop-up. Chipper said it’s as every bit his fault than escobars.
The wind was blowing left to right. I’m sure the ball was over Chipper’s head and when it came down fell in front of Escobar. It’s not like he just let it fall. It was a communication error between both players…let it go. It’s not like we didn’t have other chances to win yesterday
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
6:21 pm
Bobby’s Cox-
would love to but can’t wednesday…maybe another time?
Paul Lentz-
I know Javy can waive his no trade clause, but typically if a clause like that is there, it’s there for a reason and I can’t see him changing his mind…
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
6:23 pm
Paul Lentz,
So you are calling someone a moron for suggesting that we trade Frenchy when you thought the same just two weeks ago? I tried to tell you how wrong you were two weeks ago, and you argued to the death. I guess you must have finally listened to me.
Loaf Garret on a blackberry from the clubhouse soaking his aching feet
June 22nd, 2009
6:23 pm
WUT UP SUKAS!! I’m listening to California Dreamin’ on my i-pod….I can relate to dis song!!
Chop Chop
June 22nd, 2009
6:24 pm
I guess I’m just going to have to face it. Paul Lentz is the most conscientious poster here. I can’t find a fault with the man. He has won me over with his thought-provoking baseball essays.
The Handsome Pierogi
June 22nd, 2009
6:24 pm
I live well north of the ATL and it’s blazing hot up here, so I’d like to thank Francoeur and KJ in advance for the cool winds from the South this evening.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
6:25 pm
lol Chop Chop, the only post that actually wasn’t his was the only one that was worth reading…
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:26 pm
Lars Taint…………..also, to answer your question about “when was the last time the Rangers traded a young player for an established player” question…………back in 1992, the Rangers traded a young Sammy Sosa to the Chicago Cubs for an aging George Bell.
Mike in VA
June 22nd, 2009
6:27 pm
Carol, the official team website has LHP Jeffrey Lorick assigned to Atlanta Braves in the transactions section under roster. He was the 20th round pick this year. Did this happen or is it a misprint?
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
6:29 pm
No Escobar tonight
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
6:30 pm
Bobby’s–that’s cool. I can live with “agree to disagree,” though I’m not disagreeing that giving Prado more PT will help us. It most certainly will. Just saying that I think Kelly is due for a rebound and that trading him now would be selling needlessly low.
BABIP isn’t a “performance” statistic persay, as in it doesn’t tell us anything about how “good” he’s been–it’s a predictive stat, as in, is it likely that he’ll rebound or regress or stay the same? As for the LD%, the reason I post that is because hitter BABIP isn’t as definite as pitcher BABIP, as in a hitter’s can go down due to poor contact and the stat will no longer be predictive of a rebound performance, wheras due to Kelly’s still solid LD%, this is a less-likely explanation (though not out of the question). If you think these stats are garbage, then I will disagree with you as there has been a lot of work done on them, and you know I wouldn’t cite something if I didn’t believe in it. You know I wouldn’t cite Kelly’s RBI totals or SB totals if they helped his case (I don’t know if they do or not, just sayin’).
In the case of pitchers, the league average is around .290 or so, so you an expect (in most cases) that a pitcher will eventually regress in either direction toward that number (or thereabouts), based on my understanding of the statistic. So, when Jair is posting a sub-1.50 ERA and some bloggers (myself included) are proclaiming him the next Walter Johnson, you calmly point out that his BABIP is sub-.250, and–sure enough–he has regressed. Right now he stands at .292 with a FIP (fielder independent pitching) of 3.52, so I’d say where he’s at is pretty close to where he should/will be. Which is doggone nice for us.
The guy who did the majority of this work is Voros McCracken who called it “DIPS” (defense-independent pitching statistics) when he noticed that pitchers, even good ones, don’t really have much control over what happens to the ball once it’s in play. Which is why we like pitchers who strike batters out and great defense. It’s all a really good read, I’d encourage you to check it out.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
6:30 pm
cabravesfan,
sure…anytime they’re on national tv again i’ll re-ask. I think i saw that you like beer, so a mutual Yardhouse would be a cool place to watch a game.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
6:31 pm
I guess it doesn’t matter that Alfonso Soriano is struggling so much lately since he’s now playing the Braves.
He’s struggling on a Kelly Johnson-like level…
Over under on his extra-base hits against us tonight…2.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
6:32 pm
OH Steve,
Not fair, how did your long post go through but mine didn’t? I’ll work on a response now….
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
6:32 pm
Canadian braves fan–
Ah! I think I found it–do I just type my e-mail address into that box that’s off to the side?
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
6:33 pm
Haven’t the braves not been able to take BP in 3 days…..and they are hitting well…maybe that’s the trick….
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
6:34 pm
Bobby’s–copy your post before you print it, because I’ve had long ones that’ve been eaten but then I can simply paste them back into the text box and re-post.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
6:34 pm
Bobby’s Cox-
remind me again where you are? I’m all for the Yardhouse
semiballcoach
June 22nd, 2009
6:35 pm
wonder what illegal logo booger sciambi is wearing
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:36 pm
Lars Taint………..what do you have to say about DUSTING you with the Rangers trade of a young Sammy Sosa to the Cubs for an aging George Bell?
Quiet as a mouse I see.
dude
June 22nd, 2009
6:36 pm
Looking to Tues,Wed,Thurs,…..has anyone heard if STER-ROD is going to play? I know he was sat down..but just wondering if anyone knows. Thnaks
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
6:36 pm
Chip Caray just told EOF on the pre-game show that bullpen pitchers have to have a short memory to be effective, and O’Flaherty responded by saying something along the lines of, “Yeah, but we get to pitch so much over here that we can forget quicker.”
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
6:37 pm
Paul Lentz,
LOL!! Thanks for proving my point! Tom Hicks didn’t even own the Rangers then, and even if he did, Sammy Sosa had not done anything at that point in his career. Nelson Cruz is among the AL leaders in home runs and he is making the league minimum! HE IS NOT GOING TO BE TRADED!!! You need to make another revision, since you are man enough to admit when you are wrong.
P-Town Brave
June 22nd, 2009
6:37 pm
WOW! Kelly Johnson not only in the lineup but in the 2-hole…
I am now in fact certain that KJ is Bobby Cox’s gay lover….Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Well, is there even a point in watching the game tonight given the lineup?
Maybe if Prado were smart, he’d pull a Shawn Chacon to get the heck outta this place where you can get 3 hits, be one of the top hitters in the entire month for a team desperately needing wins, play solid D at multiple positions, and yet, still have a tough time smelling the field…
Only in Bobby’s Bizarro World…
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
6:37 pm
O’Flaherty made a comment? I don’t think I’ve read two words from the guy…he’s like he invisible man on our roster.
twoiron
June 22nd, 2009
6:38 pm
Escobar with hip flexor? I think he is being benched.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
6:39 pm
Steve-
His accent kinda took me off guard. I’m not sure what I expected him to sound like, but it certainly wasn’t what he does sound like…
Packerman
June 22nd, 2009
6:40 pm
Paul Lentz… Are you really bragging about coming up with a trade made 17 years ago when there was a completely different FO philosophy? You’ve got to do better than that to impress people. Sosa wouldn’t have been anything without his corked bats and roids anyways. Got anything this decade?
ncscoots
June 22nd, 2009
6:40 pm
Chop, glad to see that you’re giving proper respect to our friend Mr. Lentz. I’ve always liked that about you, LOL. I’m a little shocked that folks are actually still reading the guy’s posts, but, so it would appear.
I just had a horrid, horrid thought. What if Paul Dense is actually Coach’s son? Holy Cornelia.
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
6:40 pm
Paul,
you said that “Tom Hicks, owner of the Rangers, has shown that he is willing to part with young players and take on payroll in his quest to help his team make the play-offs”, and the best example you could come up with was 17 years ago before Tom Hicks even owned the Rangers! I rest my case.
monty
June 22nd, 2009
6:40 pm
If you notice Escobar takes control over the infield except on anything hit Chipper’s direction. (No fly zone) The last thing he would want to do is bump into Chipper or something and hurt him.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
6:40 pm
Just heard that Alfonso Soriano isn’t playing. Thank goodness!!
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
6:41 pm
I know Vazquez is a master at the K’s and dominating for spurts during a game, but does anybody else get nervous before his start that he’ll have that one bad inning that dooms us?
Bill Naharodny
June 22nd, 2009
6:41 pm
Please Coxie, ax me back
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:42 pm
Lars Taint……….you didnt specific Tom Hicks…you specified “the Rangers”. You might want to go back and check your posting.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
6:42 pm
Theres a good game scheduled in AAA tonight. Clay Buchholz versus Scott Kazmir. That one should be a fun one to watch.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
6:44 pm
Holy Cornelia indeed, scoots…
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
6:45 pm
Martin seeks light amid power outage: Russell Martin’s season-long power outage for the Dodgers ended with his first home run. What has been the problem?
Hmm…it all started in the 2nd half of ‘08…It’s bad karma from hogging the ASG!
Seriously, though, it is very odd. His hitting has really dipped off.
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
6:45 pm
Obviously Paul, I meant under Tom Hicks since that is what we were talking about. I didn’t mean in the history of Rangers baseball. Anyway, it was still irrelevant since you brought up the trade of an unproven young player and we are talking about a PROVEN young player MAKING THE LEAGUE MINIMUM.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
6:46 pm
When is Schafer due to return from the DL.
Kelly Johnson
June 22nd, 2009
6:47 pm
HA, you guys are somethin’! Working on my swing very hard and Bobby sees the work ethic and rewards me. There’s nothing wrong with rewarding guys. How else do you expect guys to get confidence, Bobby instills this in his players. Gotta head out, ya’ll take care and enjoy the game.
KJ signing off
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm
I would call Tom Hicks and see what it would take to get Andrus back. How about this trade option.
Rangers Get: Kotchman, Vazquez, Gonzalez, Francoeur
Is that a fair trade
Braves Get: Elvis Andrus and Justin Smoak
shadetree
June 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm
TnBrian
Always good to read your stuff.
All pitchers have that one bad inning. Glavine’s was the first. Vasquez let up on the pitcher and it burned him. I bet he doesn’t do that again.
I would take Vasquez on my team any time. I know he wants to go all the way when he is going good, as any pitcher would. He called it out and that’s more than what most Braves players do. Him and Lowe need to step up and take the leader role. We have no one else. I am tired of the negative stuff and all I do is read DOB.
I wouldn’t want to play for these fans either.
If they would move the stadium to Alpharetta we would sell out ever game. Nobody wants to go down to that cesspool.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm
We could give them Escobar instead of someone else
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
6:50 pm
rob from sc-
Anyday now. They originally said two weeks, so I imagine he’s getting close to returning.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
6:50 pm
My bad JoJo is on the DL
Frank from KS
June 22nd, 2009
6:50 pm
Paul Lentz
I disagree with you in that it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Rangers win the AL West IF, that is…they keep playing like they have up to this point…and no one gets hot at some point (Angels, A’s would be the only teams that might).
AND that would be fine with me. Now I know how some people felt when the Braves were winning all the damn time. It’d be nice to see someone OTHER than the Angels win the AL West.
Anders
I agree with your post concerning the news of Fehr retiring. Good bye and good riddance. I can still see him on TV 24/7 (at least, it seemed that way) after the strike started.
I’m not defending Scott Boras….but to those who think it’s his fault salaries are through the roof….it’s more Fehr’s fault than Boras’s.
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
6:53 pm
rob,
Rangers trading Smoak is like us trading Heyward. Not going to happen…
P.S. They’re not trading Andrus either.
Roman Gal
June 22nd, 2009
6:55 pm
I never knew that in 1999, the year that Andruw Jones had 493 put-outs and a range-factor of 3.12, that he had 10 errors. Wow…
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
6:56 pm
Brett–
Where is the comment box?
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
6:56 pm
Lars Taint………….notice I said “a willingness to trade young players AND take on payroll” in a quest to win. I guess that you forgot about Hicks signing A-Rod to a 10 year $252 mil contract. Or him signing Chan Ho Park to a 5 year $65 mil contract. Or him trading a young Travis Hafner to the Indians for Ryan Drese back in 2002. Since Hicks has been owner, the Rangers have spent a bunch of money on established players in a quest to make the play-offs.
My point was that a poster said that “there is no way that the trade is going to happen because the salaries dont match”. I said that money would not be an issue here. Tom Hicks will spend the money AND trade young players if he feels that that player can help his team win.
Frank from KS
June 22nd, 2009
6:57 pm
Roman Gal
It shows he was human…(Lol)
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
6:57 pm
McBigmouthof the south, You prolly can’t pay attention let alone pay for a damn subscription! Idiot!, I, unlike you have not retorted to calling people names for posting their thoughts, but since you can here ya go YOU ARE AND IDIOT!!!!
shadetree
June 22nd, 2009
6:57 pm
reckon what’s up with benching Escobar?
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
6:59 pm
And I, unlike you will admit a wrong, Jo Jo on the dl I was wrong,
BravesfaninWis
June 22nd, 2009
6:59 pm
I was actually hoping that Francouer sitting yesterday had something to do with him being traded. Oh well, its a nice thought anyway. I would like to see either Dye or Matthews manning RF for the Braves. Either one would be a huge improvement.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm
Is Escobar being benched for the popup that dropped?
Jennifer
June 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm
hey everyone
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm
The only way to keep Stenchy Benched is to fill his Gut full of jack daniels and Give him the keys to a crotch rocket!!
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm
Hell no to Gary Matthews Jr.
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm
shadetree, way too much negative here, and I can be to a point. But, I know where you’re coming from on that and on Javy. He needs run support but like you said, Glavine had his one bad inning so he needed the same and he’s a HOF. I’d really hate to see Javy traded which is why I cringe when I remember how much they gave Kawakami. If they had not, could’ve put MEdlen/Hanson in that spot and had enough to get a bat without trading Javy…maybe that can still happen. Games startin
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
7:01 pm
Lars Taint……….a couple of weeks ago, the Rangers were ahead of the Angels by 5 games. Today they are ahead by 1/2 a game. The Rangers just got swept by the Giants. Other than Kevin Millwood, none of their other starters are CONSISTENTLY giving them quality innings. The Angels got healthy and you know that they will be active before the trade deadline.
The Rangers cannot compete with the Angels if they do not improve their starting rotation. That is a FACT. If the Rangers do nothing, the Angels are going to run away with the division. That is why I proposed the Vazquez trade. I also said that other pieces could be included to make the trade work.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:02 pm
I feel horrible for Martin Prado. He has done everything asked of him including playing hurt. Why does Bobby Cox look at him as a bench player. Give him an extended look as the everyday second base job. I guess Bobby Cox see’s something in Kelly Johnson that I am missing.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
7:02 pm
Hey, Jennifer.
PWHjort
June 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm
Enter your meaningless trade speculation here
Jennifer
June 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm
yawn
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm
The Braves can’t count on a loss by the Phillies tonight…
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm
if we trade Vazquez to the Rangers, I want Andrus or Smoak. The f***** us over in the Tex trade, it is payback time.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm
Kelly Johnson and Booby Kooks watched deliverance together today, that is why he is in the Line-up!
Jennifer
June 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm
hey McFann! how are ya
shadetree
June 22nd, 2009
7:04 pm
Chipper called him out after the game saying that Escobar always calls for everything but he didn’t for this.
John Deere Green
June 22nd, 2009
7:05 pm
Kelly is still hearing Banjo Music, and Booby still thinks Kelly has a purty mouth..
Brett
June 22nd, 2009
7:05 pm
McFann click on Blog and then the first entry at the top…you can leave comments there
Couch Tater
June 22nd, 2009
7:05 pm
Parson,
The rest of the kids are on there way. Congrats to your Clemson golfer Lucas Glover. Honor him by moving back to the white tees.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:06 pm
rob from sc
Yeah his hip just hurt after he found out he was being benched.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:06 pm
For the teams in the playoff hunt the Yankees and Red Sox don’t need starting pitching. Tampa is desperate for a closer but can’t add payroll. I wonder if the would be willing to give up Ben Zobrist or Wade Davis for One of our closers. The Tigers need pitching and a bat but don’t really have any top prospects.
chuckw/deadjournalist
June 22nd, 2009
7:06 pm
(pulling a gossip girl) seen at a golf tourney today: tom glavine wearing a boston red sox titlist cap.
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
7:06 pm
Rangers are in the NL West and Vazquez can block any trade to teams in the NL or AL west.
Blackbird
June 22nd, 2009
7:06 pm
Am I the only one who thinks the Dodgers should dump Manny right now? Perhaps for a Medlen type pitcher and a couple of utility players named Kelly and Francine? They’ve got it running on all cylinders and all Manny can do is crap in the clubhouse.
Soph
June 22nd, 2009
7:06 pm
Hey everyone. Glad the rain went away.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
7:07 pm
Jennifer–
Not bad, thanks. How ’bout you?
Brett–
All righty…I’ll go look!
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
7:07 pm
We cannot lose to Dempster tonight. The guy’s a joke. We have to just kill him.
I hate his name. What kind of a name is that?
Come on Braves, let’s kick his ass.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:07 pm
Carroll
Was Escobar Benched?
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
7:08 pm
I’m a little shocked that folks are actually still reading the guy’s posts
Much like Coach and Robert’s posts, one is all you need. Love child of?
Jennifer
June 22nd, 2009
7:08 pm
McFann, I’m great thanks…. Just trying to decide if I wanna watch the game or go read my book,lol.. its a hard decision…
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
7:09 pm
I must be doing something wrong…I still can’t find it…
Hey, Soph. I’m glad, too!
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
7:09 pm
Rob – No. Hip flexor dealie again. If you’d read Carroll’s comments before asking her questions you’d also be in the know.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
7:09 pm
Anyone else see that note on Pujols being the first guy since Ted Williams in the ’40s to lead triple crown over a full decade? This just in…the guy is good.
ncscoots
June 22nd, 2009
7:09 pm
Enter your meaningless trade speculation here
Bro, I didn’t know there was any other kind, LOL.
Frankly, I love that kind of stuff. Our old buddy Robert (not the donk Robert, the other guy) used to make some truly outrageous, 5-team-12-player-other-dimension-stuff posts on trades, and I liked reading them. Truly.
I know some of these folks are actually, well, serious, but I forgive them that. The joy is in the reading and chortling, regardless of the reasoning behind the origination.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:10 pm
The Cubs lineup looks worse than ours
N8
June 22nd, 2009
7:10 pm
rob from sc, you act as though JS shouldn’t be held responsible for taking part in that trade (Tex)? Why and how did the Rangers “f***” us. They asked for players and JS gave them to him.
Where, this past winter, when Towers asked for Heyward, Hanson or any of the other top prospects for Peavy, Wren said no. Should we be mad at SD for trying to f*** us? LOL!
Kudos to the Texas GM. He had a “chip” and he maximized it.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
7:10 pm
cabravesfan,
i’m about 35-40 min east of LA near pomona/san dimas/la verne/ claremont/ etc…i drive a lot so i have no problem meeting you wherever, whenever you’re down to see any game actually.
Soph
June 22nd, 2009
7:11 pm
Ha Rob, I was thinking the same thing. Who is Micah Hoffenpauir? (sP – I know I spelled it wrong) Jake Fox…?
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
7:11 pm
Jennifer–
That wouldn’t be a hard one for me! I’ve never been a big reader…sometimes I wish I was. But I’d rather watch the Braves, the birds, draw, or write.
Pretty much nothing stands in the way of me and the Braves, though!
THWG
June 22nd, 2009
7:12 pm
Are the Cubs trying to give us an advantage? Or are they trying to further embarrass us by beating us with a less than stellar lineup?
Soph
June 22nd, 2009
7:12 pm
Dammit, I can hear those Cubs fans at the Ted.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
7:12 pm
OH Steve…
can’t get my novel to post…tried resending it but now it says “duplicate post detected”….
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
7:13 pm
Our old buddy Robert (not the donk Robert, the other guy) used to make some truly outrageous, 5-team-12-player-other-dimension-stuff posts on trades, and I liked reading them. Truly.
Me too, because you could tell he reall put some work into them. Not like the “boy, I like that Pujols kid and that Reyes guy we’ve got sucks. I’m sure we could work something out!” crap.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:13 pm
N8
Your right. Schuerholz screwed up. We were desperate and he gave in to outrageous demands. What I meant was for us to be unreasonable and hope Daniels gives in to us.
Mixxo
June 22nd, 2009
7:13 pm
Diory with an authentic DP. No phantom. p)
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:14 pm
I’m LMAO….at the Vote for All Star printed on the steps….that is suppose to be towards us home viewers
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:14 pm
I can’t believe no team has tried to acquire Jake Fox. His minor league numbers are crazy.
Soph
June 22nd, 2009
7:14 pm
Joe caught onto what I was thinking. I still think Esco would’ve gotten both of those.
NEW CARS
June 22nd, 2009
7:15 pm
Hicks MIGHT make a trade…but I wouldn’t bet a dime on it…especially cutting 10% of the administrative staff due to unexpected losses so far….They have some marketable pieces, but I think you are more likely to see them go after a young pitcher like Juurjens and give up bats that way…Not saying we trade JJ, just saying that is a more likely route for the Rangers to improve their pitching
CB
June 22nd, 2009
7:15 pm
ncscoots, I think Chop Chop was using his sarcasm button,lol.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:15 pm
Might be a short night for Javy
Lars Taint
June 22nd, 2009
7:17 pm
Paul,
I’m not quite sure why you don’t get it, but I am going to try one more time. No team is going to trade a PROVEN player making the league minimum for an aging player making $11.5 million. It doesn’t happen and you can’t give me one example of it happening. I’m not talking about trading prospects, I’m talking about proven, really good players. Players that are currently helping their team. Not unless they are getting a GREAT player in return,
ncscoots
June 22nd, 2009
7:18 pm
RHR, as I said, a horrid, horrid thought, LOL. But, do you find some of that same Napoleonic obsession with being thought correct drifting through the posts in question? Eerie.
But, I’ll say this about Coach: he’s been around these parts a long time, and I’ve gotten used to him. At his absolute flaming worst, he’s still a cut above some of our more recent additions. Who shall go unnamed, in my own self-interest. Otherwise, they may start bombarding me with Chone Figgins and Ryan Freel posts.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:19 pm
Soph
Well Diory also hasn’t played in like a month so…he is kinda rusty
Soph
June 22nd, 2009
7:19 pm
I just noticed that bravos2249. If it’s aimed at us, all I can see is Vote All Star – Times Today – Braves.com. Funny stuff.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
7:19 pm
That was a nasty 3-2 pitch from Vazquez.
THWG
June 22nd, 2009
7:19 pm
Attaboy Javy!
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
7:20 pm
Lars, please, stop. You’re hurting me.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:20 pm
I want to sign Vazquez to an extension. He has been really good.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:21 pm
Soph
It will work though…I just find it funny.
Soph
June 22nd, 2009
7:21 pm
Mixxo
June 22nd, 2009
7:22 pm
Hope that hit a Cubs fan!!
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
7:23 pm
I find Dempster’s hand think a bit annoying.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
7:23 pm
The only way have a friend is to be one
That’s what my fortune cookie just said. I think Coach can use that advice.
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
7:23 pm
Whats up folks! Ready for a solid homestand hopefully!
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:25 pm
And how I pointed out they have 3 lefties…3 are starting….but in different spots of the lineup
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:26 pm
He’s getting closer…GO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!
Yadier Molina Cardinals 1,496,285
Brian McCann Braves 1,180,312
Canadaian braves fan
June 22nd, 2009
7:27 pm
vote now for the Brave to be traded go to http://www.newblogofbraves.blogspot.com
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
7:27 pm
I meant to say thing ~_~
They just had to show the ejections again.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
7:27 pm
Good AB McCann…it’s not like the guy in front of you just walked on 5 pitches.
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
7:28 pm
Excellent news bravos2249 by the cut off date hopefully Brian will overtake Yadier. He deserves to finally start an All Star Game.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
7:28 pm
For the love of Pete, McCann!! Make the freaking guy freaking pitch to you!
He’s been making too many first-pitch outs lately. It’s really getting on my nerves…
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
7:28 pm
No, Rob from SC, Escobar wasn’t benched, which is why i wrote when I posted the lineup that he was out with a hip flexor!!!
Escobar was in the original lineup, ye conspiracy theorists….
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:28 pm
I know that Yunel can make some mistakes…but the guy has just as many rbi and Hanley
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
7:29 pm
That really is nuts that Molina is leading McCann. Do that many Cardinals fans really go and vote because it’s in St.Louis…guess so.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:30 pm
Whether or not McCann starts I believe it’s the first time he’s got this many votes…so that is a good thing
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
7:30 pm
can’t believe how nice it feels up here in the press box. 77 game time temperature. the rain did its magic….
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
7:30 pm
The had a choice to not bat Kelly Johnson 2nd, is call Martin Prado. KJ doesn’t deserve to play.
Bobby Cox Hat Tipping Club
June 22nd, 2009
7:31 pm
Carroll commented on the blog lead in about listening to Johnny Miller call the US Open,
“It might be easier if Johnny would have something to say about the Braves mixed in with his comments.”
Carroll, if you know anything about Johnny Miller, you would know that he is known for his unfiltered thoughts and comments.
Miller’s comments on the Braves might go something like this: “The Braves are losers playing with a losers attitude. How can Bobby Cox be absolved of all blame for this train wreck? If you are going to take the credit for the good times you must be accountable for the bad times. And what’s up with the hitting on this team? They look like a bunch of little leaguers. And above all, I hate to accuse someone of choking, but if the shoe fits!”
Now anyone who knows anything about Johnny Miller’s rep as calling them like he sees them without worrying about ruffling feathers, knows that what I wrote above about what his hypothetical comment on the Braves might be, is pretty accurate.
Don’t wish for Miller’s comment unless you want to hear his views, warts and all! lol
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:31 pm
Shout-Outs To TnBrian, McFann, Soph, among others!
WAAAZZZUPPPHHHHH!
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:32 pm
Yadier gained over 444,000 votes……Mac gained around 220,000
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
7:32 pm
Carroll
Does Bobby Cox consider Prado an everyday player?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
7:35 pm
Norton rehabbing in Gwinnett…1-1 so far.
Mixxo
June 22nd, 2009
7:35 pm
Still a road game right?
70/30 (Cubs/Braves) fan ratio at Wrigley Field South
We’ll be alright!
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
7:36 pm
Weather has been horrendous here. Last week and even this past weekend and even today temps have reached the low 100s
Duke
June 22nd, 2009
7:37 pm
Be patient with the offense folks. Anderson will prove to be a asset to this team Kelly will turn around his struggles. Frenchy can give us maybe 13-17 HRs and 80-90 RBI will be fine
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
7:37 pm
Bravos2249–
BMac gained 284,649 votes. I think this is the most votes he’s ever gotten, too.
Howdy, Tomahawkin!
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:38 pm
I’ve had a bruise under my kneecap….hurts to walk….had it from a wreck though
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
7:39 pm
PWHjort, 7:03 pm…”Enter your meaningless trade speculation here”
Howse about Javy Vazquez and Jeff Francoeur to Texas for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, and Neftali Feliz.
I’m sure that Javy would waive his no-trade clause for Texas which isn’t really that far west.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:39 pm
McFann :Ô:
Well I knew it was 200,000 in something..but I used the calculator on my phone and I couldn’t go back and look….lol…Yadier still gained more though
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
7:40 pm
There we go.
First pitch hooray.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:40 pm
Did Anyone Else in the “A” Get a 5-Minute Rain followed by instant sunshine…? I swear it rained for 5 Minutes out here on the Southside
And Wrigley Field South is living up to its name tonight….
Here we go again with the undisciplined at bats, Make Dumpster Work!!!
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
7:40 pm
WAY to Go Jeffy 1st pitch swinging!!!
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
7:41 pm
“Francoeur First Pitch Swinging” needs to be on the back of his jersey.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
7:41 pm
Take some pitches Jeff.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:41 pm
How come every time after Jeff hits the ball he looks at it…if the a$$ would just run he’d probably beat out more hits….maybe not that one but some.
Doc Holiday
June 22nd, 2009
7:41 pm
Jason Bay Was Nearly A Brave
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 22 at 12:20pm CST]
We know that the Braves and Rays almost acquired Jason Bay from the Pirates at last year’s trade deadline. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com has some specifics on who the Pirates would have received in return and just how close the Braves came to completing the deal:
* The Braves would have sent Concepcion Rodriguez, Brent Lillibridge, Brandon Jones and Jeff Locke to the Pirates.
* Interestingly, Locke was eventually dealt to the Pirates for another All-Star outfielder, Nate McLouth.
* The Braves actually had Bay’s name sewed onto a jersey. I wonder who has it now…
* Pirates president Frank Coonelly called the deal off since he wanted more major league talent in return.
* Bay had no idea that he came so close to becoming a Brave and said he’s happy to be in Boston.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
7:42 pm
I’d take a loss for every remaining game this season in exchange for someone, anyone, taking JF off our hands.
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
7:42 pm
attaboy Jeff you sorry son of a B(7ch, I can’t wait til your ass is gone!
FloridaBrave
June 22nd, 2009
7:42 pm
abwright,
Throw in Beau Jones and then sign-me up.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
7:43 pm
Lars Taint………In mid-June of 1983…..the St. Louis Cardinals traded Keith Hernandez to the New York Mets for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. The Cards had won the World Series in the previous year and needed to shore up their starting pitching. So they traded Keith Hernandez, who was in his 10th year and making good money (I’m not sure how much, but I can assure you that it was a lot more than what Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey were making). The Mets needed offense so they traded one of their starters (Neil Allen) to the Cards. Allen went on the go 10-6 for the Cards that year.
I’m not saying that that was a good trade for St. Louis to make (after all, Hernandez went on to help the Mets win the World Series in 1986). What I am saying is that a team is willing to trade a cheap, established player (Neil Allen pitching for the Mets) for an expensive, productive veteran (Hernandez for the Cards).
Again, this doesnt happen that often. But it does happen.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:43 pm
Th Cubs have 5 hits…we have none….oh well at least it’s 0-0….
FOR NOW.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
7:43 pm
Javy is not exactly foolin’ out there tonight, huh?
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
7:44 pm
Tomahawkin, what’s up. If the Braves win, I’ll give you a WAAAAAAZZZZZUUUPPPPPP!
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:44 pm
Everyone Bashes Francine but at least he isn’t making the F-U-Dome Kind of money. If he was then this blog would really being in an uproar!
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
7:44 pm
Can somebody, anybody please KICK FAILURECOUER IN THE NUTZ!
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
7:44 pm
MAC is 315,000 or so votes back. We have to make that up on this homestand. If anyone votes at the park anymore? That can be done in the next two weeks but for crying out loud the Cardinal fans are flooding the vote to get their guy behind the plate.
I know the game is in St. Louis but for real … Molina over BMac as the best catcher in the NL?
I might offer this idea, it has been shopped around so I will not say I came up with it. Seeing this game means EVERYTHING now let the players vote for the starters and the fans vote for the backups.
When this game was for the FANS I understood the popularity thing but seeing now it’s for WS homefield adv. I would think the players have more to say about this game than we do.
Personally I think it should go back to the way it was. Bud Selig is a goof for coming up with this because of the tie back in Milwaukee.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:45 pm
Doc Holiday
That was all ready posted..but that’s gotta be a lie. Andy LaRoche didn’t have THAT much mor MLB talent than Brandon Jones….They called it off cause the Red Sox wanted to ship Manny off and the Dodgers wanted a big name…..it was the Bigger Clubs that had more dough that enforced that deal.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
7:45 pm
Bobby’s, you still tryin’ to post your response? I’m interested to hear what you have to say.
Ahh shucks...
June 22nd, 2009
7:45 pm
It’s looking like it will be a 2nd straight complete game loss tonight for Vasquez, who will allow the lone run to score on a solo shot by Lee.
Also looks like it will be a no-hitter for Dempster in Javy’s losing effort.
Shucks..
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:45 pm
TnBrian
Just Give me a “Hell Yeah” You know that I’m an old WWF Rasslin Attitude Era (1997-2000) Junkie!
LOL
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
7:46 pm
joebrave that comment made me laugh out loud……..yeah I can’t wait til he’s freaking gone either Javy is awesome we should not trade him!
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
7:46 pm
bravos2249, 7:41 pm…”How come every time after Jeff hits the ball he looks at it…if the a$$ would just run he’d probably beat out more hits….maybe not that one but some.”
I think it’s the same instinct that drives a child to look at a booger he’s just picked before popping it into his mouth.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:46 pm
Driver8
Can’t vote at TF anymore…cause Voting ends around the same time the voting ends…they wouldn’t have enough time to tally them.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
7:46 pm
I’d take a loss for every remaining game this season in exchange for someone, anyone, taking JF off our hands. RHR
That would be boring to watch though!
Besides.. no one is taking out our garbage unless we take a pile of junk back. Face it – we’re probably stuck watching Jeff-o in RF for the remainder of the season.
Ahh shucks...
June 22nd, 2009
7:46 pm
Steve,
I’ve tried like 20 times….tried italicizing it, taking out some words, etc…
Have any ideas?
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:48 pm
Does Anyone On here Kick It At The Chop-House when they go to the games…?
If So how is the experience…? It seems like a lot of Chicks Hang out there….
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
7:48 pm
Tomahawkin, I’m more of the ‘90-’99 sorta WWE guy because of Bret Hart and Austin. It’s just garbage now!
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
7:49 pm
tried changing my name….
email address
bolding
nothing Steve….
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 22nd, 2009
7:49 pm
Javy’s Dancin in and out of trouble. So Far….Need some RUNS!!!
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:49 pm
Good Stab Nate Dawg!!!!
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
7:49 pm
Nice going Javy.
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
7:50 pm
i went to the chop house once in like ‘99 it sucked….crappy food and a buncha little kids running around. It was a sunday game though.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:50 pm
See..that might have gone out at Wrigley….LOL…he got hot…but in a bandbox..it ain’t gonna work here
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
7:50 pm
Joe just said about Javy pitching to D. Lee on a 3-1 count, “You don’t just throw a guy this hot one down the middle,” and then Javy did. D. Lee missed it for the fly out to center field.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
7:50 pm
Try re-wording a bit of it. If you’re using cursewords the blog might eat it. Change anything that’s close in that regard (it’s happened to me). I’d just re-word some of the parts that you’re able to and try that.
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
7:50 pm
Tomahawkin – I tend to when I go to games with some friends and get a good spot on the railing. It’s a good time out there. With family obviously get some good seats. Depends on the group you are going with I would think.
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
7:52 pm
Be patient with the offense, Be patient with the offense. If we are any more patient the season will be over.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:52 pm
TnBrian…
Co-Sign to that last statement Bro…
The WWE Blows I haven’t watched It since 01…
The New DX was a Joke and That Clown John Cena Is Garbage…
I was a big Dubya C Dubya Junkie as well…I’m glad I can watch all that stuff on Youtube Now…!
I’ve about had it with the Offense Playing with My Emotions!
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
7:52 pm
FEAR
I don’t see too many kids up there now….at least not late in the ball game…I heard that standing at the area behind home where the concessions are is pretty good….but ya have to stand
Johnny Reb
June 22nd, 2009
7:52 pm
Can anyone tell me whay esco is not playing?
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
7:52 pm
Bravos2249–
Yeah, Y. Molina gained a ton more votes…did he have some kind of really good week or something?
Cactus Jack
June 22nd, 2009
7:53 pm
BANG! BANG!
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
7:53 pm
nice bunt.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
7:53 pm
How does Dempster not have carpal tunnel with that stupid crap he does before every pitch?
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:54 pm
One Thing I hate About Turner Field is that there are no Bars/Clubs Within Close Range of the Ballpark…
I guess that’s what happens when you Build a ballpark in the middle of the “Hood”!
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:55 pm
Good Call Cactus Jack!!!
I Watch TNA All the Time, But they have gotten kind of stale!!!
TNA Is More Atletic than that Farce Known as the WWE
There We Go Nate Dawg!!!!
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
7:56 pm
There’s your run Javy. Make it stick.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
7:56 pm
OH Steve,
I know you wouldn’t post “garbage” stats here. You’re one of the best bloggers here, and in my phantom post last night I acknowledged you for backing up BABIP with line drive % and contact %…..
Anyway, here I go…..
I’m not a fan of a batter’s BABIP. I’m more a fan of a pitcher’s BABIP, as it seems you are. However, I don’t think any conclusions (predictions) can be drawn from either BABIP based on a comparison to league averages. BABIP, in my opinion, has to be used by comparing the margin between past BA with past BABIP for hitters, and previous BAA and BABIP for pitchers. As far as predicting Kelly will turn it around based on his BABIP, well hey, we’ve predicted a lot of better things from Kelly that hasn’t fruitioned either.
OH Steve,
I know you wouldn’t post “garbage” stats here. You’re one of the best bloggers here, and in my phantom post last night I acknowledged you for backing up BABIP with line drive % and contact %…..
Anyway, here I go…..
I’m not a fan of a batter’s BABIP. I’m more a fan of a pitcher’s BABIP, as it seems you are. However, I don’t think any conclusions (predictions) can be drawn from either BABIP based on a comparison to league averages. BABIP, in my opinion, has to be used by comparing the margin between past BA with past BABIP for hitters, and previous BAA and BABIP for pitchers.
Relating this to Kelly. Kelly’s margin of BA to BABIP is also the lowest in his career this year and by quite a lot (2005: 0.54, 2007: 0.52, 2008: 0.53, 2009: 0.24). This tells me that Kelly is not maximizing the value of the balls he’s putting in play because he’s not putting good wood on the baseball.
I think it’s great that you told me who the guy was that determines line drive % because that’s the exact question I asked you last night. When I watch games, I’m not seeing a lot of line drives from Kelly. I’m not seeing hard hit balls that are being snared by defenses, “seeing eye” grounders that are being snagged by infielders, etc… I’m seeing weak pop ups, can of corn flyouts, and balls being rolled over to the 2nd basemen. When you tell me that his line drive % is up this year over years past, then that makes me question line drive %.
Again, I don’t see Kelly putting good wood on the ball and the fact that his BABIP and his BA are so close in margin over his past seasons tells me that he isn’t getting unlucky this year like you posted yesterday, but in fact his AVG is a pretty accurate reading on the value of the balls he’s putting into play.
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 22nd, 2009
7:56 pm
There you go baby!!!
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
7:56 pm
Braves scored. Javy better make it stick it might be the only run he gets.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
7:56 pm
Nice rip Nate.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:56 pm
ABC Baseball Baby!!! Whoop Whoop!!!
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
Why is Nate batting lead off, put him in the 3 spot and move chipper to clean up. Honestly, he’s the best hitter on the team, why not give him more RBI opportunities.
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
another stolen base for NATE
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
Nice rip by McLouth. Dempster’s pissed. That was at least questionable, unlike the O’Flaherty pitch yesterday.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
I love the Speed Game!!! Nate-Dawg Showing Out!!!
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
Mclouth 10 for 10 in SBs When was the last time we had some speed on this team seriously?
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
Wow. Nate in not by much
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
Finally Steve…
Here’s the last paragraph:
The other point I made on Kelly was that his swing is all about timing. Unlike Jeff, he has the bat speed to be an effective major leaguer, but the way he uses his hands in his swing in reliant on how effectively he times pitches. That is why I think Kelly is such a streaky hitter. You see him take the same hacks (he does have a really nice swing) on nearly every swing, yet sometimes he hits the ball out of the park, and other times he rolls it over (out in front) or gets under it. Timing. Chipper is the same way and uses the double toe tap to time pitches. Kelly should be talking to Chipper a lot if he hasn’t been already, IMO…
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
Nate McLouth steals second. 10 for 10 this year.
Thanks FW for bringing in a legitimate base stealing threat.
Dawgdad
June 22nd, 2009
7:58 pm
Prado may not be the ideal starter at second base but, he’s bntter now than KJ, but the same could me said for Diaz or Blanco being better now for the team than Stenchy. Seems if Bobby decides you are the starter, some outside force, trade, injury, or demotion has to occur to get that person out of the lineup permanently. Why can’t he play the hot hand til the person cools off?
Johnny Reb
June 22nd, 2009
7:58 pm
WHY IS ESCOBAR NOT PLAYING TONIGHT?
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:58 pm
Can We Have Nate-Dawg Come out to some old Regulators…? As His Intro Music!!!
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
7:58 pm
Gotta love Wren getting Nate. Regardless of how this season turns out, McLouth was a great pick up.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
7:59 pm
Johnny Reb
Damn it you lazy bum – go read what Carroll posted… he’s hurt – hip flexor again,
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
7:59 pm
I was gonna guess TP too but thought it was way too obvious.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
7:59 pm
Nate-Dawg Is Our First Stolen base threat since Furkey left…!
Johnny Reb, Read The Blog C-Roge Pointed Out why Esco isn’t in the game…
Bobby Cox Hat Tipping Club
June 22nd, 2009
8:00 pm
Brian McCann is an All-Star victim. If the Braves were the Braves of the 90’s and early 00’s, B Mac would be the NL starter going away.
Unfortunately, the Braves are a mediocre team and do not carry the same respect as say……the Cardinals even. It’s a shame but the Braves are an afterthought to most baseball fans who don’t live in the South.
B Mac deserves better than that.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:00 pm
RHR
It May Be D.O.B. Who Jams Out To That Earth Wind And Fire….!
Cactus Jack
June 22nd, 2009
8:00 pm
Yeah Bro, I used to watch wrestling all the time, but ive grown up and am a big MMA fan now.
BANG! BANG!
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:01 pm
Good Eye KJ
Its about time we work the counts! Nice
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
8:01 pm
That’s 10-of-10 in stolen bases this year for McLouth, 67 of 72 for his career
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:01 pm
Kelly takes the pass. Nice going Kelly. DUcks on the pond.
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
8:01 pm
McLouth should be where he is. Nobody before him COULD get on base so it’s nice to have someone who can hit and get on base for Yunel, Chipper and BMAC. I find nothing wrong with this at all.
nolie
June 22nd, 2009
8:01 pm
WE need to keep Vazquez around all year just to teach the rest of the team how to bunt.
Mike Mike Bo
June 22nd, 2009
8:01 pm
Sounds like Russel Branyan (1B) in Seattle could start to be shopped… He’s having quite a nice year. Maybe the Braves go after him if they’re not COMPLETELY out of it by July. I wouldn’t think that he’d cost too much, in turn we could ship off Kotchman to the M’s. Hhmmmmmmmmmm…
Bill (SC)
June 22nd, 2009
8:01 pm
I like Johnson’s AB. 10 pitches. Kudos.
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:01 pm
We need to really capitalize here.
Good baseball in the inning so far.
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:02 pm
I like that. Nate Dawg. Heh.
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
8:02 pm
Not to mention Nate McLouth is the ONLY person on this roster who we know can steal a base at any given momemnt.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:02 pm
Its Sink Or Swim Time For the Braves And Chipper Needs To Start Hitting…
If anyone agrees Then Give me A Hell Yeah!!!
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
8:02 pm
johnny reb, don’t be afraid to scroll. hip flexor. and i ain’t sayin in no more.
Mike Mike Bo
June 22nd, 2009
8:03 pm
HELL YEAH!
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
8:03 pm
E C Dubya was what I loved
I still watching wrestling today for the matches. I prefer the old school goodness.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:03 pm
Hoss, Come On!!!
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
8:03 pm
clearly i just jinxed mclouth….wow.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
8:04 pm
Bobby’s, glad to see your post came through! I think in regards to hitter BABIP, you refer to a hitter’s career average as opposed to a league average like pitchers. I agree that it’s less certain than pitcher BABIP. In regards to the BA/BABIP separation, that’s interesting. I would think that some of that is due to the fact that he’s putting more balls into play than usual (not K’ing as much), so a larger % of his outs are being made by the defense as opposed to the K, meaning his BABIP would go down a bit. But that’s a very good point. Also a reason for the low walk rate–not working too many counts this season. And that’s a shame (he walks as I post this, I’ll have some crow), because he was really good at that. And his LD% is a bit down from previous years, but still above 20%. I don’t think I said it was up, but if I did, it was a mistake.
But anyway, good post. Always enjoy the conversation. But I’ll stick to my guns and still say that selling low on him now is a mistake. Doesn’t mean that you can’t play Prado a bit more though.
Man, gotta love agressive baserunning, huh?
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:04 pm
Dempster throws a couple of wicked sliders to Chip in that sequence.
And somebody finally throws out Nate Dawg.
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:04 pm
good job chipper………..lame
BraveNewWorld
June 22nd, 2009
8:04 pm
Driver8 we have people who can get on, just not any people who can bring them in.
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
8:04 pm
Failed hit and run
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
8:04 pm
Arggh! McLouth is now 10 for 11 in stolen bases. Chipper strikes out with the runners going. Nate was a dead dog at third.
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 22nd, 2009
8:04 pm
Ummm…….HELL YEAH, Tomahawkin!!
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 22nd, 2009
8:05 pm
LOL…..Talk about bad timing. Oops…
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:05 pm
I’ll take an occasional “running into an out” in exchange for aggressive baserunning.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
8:05 pm
ouch.
It seems like Chipper has had trouble catching up to fastballs for most of the season. Maybe just me, but his bat seems slow.
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
8:05 pm
that was 31 consecutive stolen bases dating back to april of 2008 by mcLouth just snapped by the strike-em-out, throw-em out double play, when Ryan Dempster got Chipper at the plate and Soto got McLouth at third.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:05 pm
Well, that didn’t work…Dangit, Grove!
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
8:05 pm
Chipper sucks as much as Frenchy
McFann
Yadier hit .440 but only 1 HR 4 RBI
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:05 pm
That Double Play will be a deciding result in the Game, “Bank On It!”
We are gonna Need Chipper to start hitting this Hoestand…That was a Big Inning…
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:06 pm
Regarding the all star voting, I’ve been doing my part.
I’ve been voting my ass off. I hope ya’ll are too. I’m stealing every email address, I’m a voting fool.
Did that just happen!? Dammit Chipper, what the hell. That was terrible, the guy’s trying to walk everybody and just like that we let him off the hook. We only have one hit? You’re killing me Braves.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
8:06 pm
Bobby’s–if you ask me, everyone could stand to listen to what Chipper has to say about hitting. The dude knows what he’s talking about.
Unknown
June 22nd, 2009
8:06 pm
I wish the Braves would trade Chipper, hes done.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
8:06 pm
You know Soto could have thrown to 2nd…seems like he just wanted to show off by throwing out the runner at 3rd.
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:07 pm
Kelly made the play. Kelly never ceases to amaze me.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:07 pm
BravesFanChris24
Co-Sign Bro, E-C-Dub Used To Kick A..s!
That Joke that the WWE turned it into is garbage, I’d watch American Idiot over that crap…
Jack
June 22nd, 2009
8:07 pm
Chipper is in a funk now. He didn’t touch the ball.
Johnny Reb
June 22nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Thanks Carrol at least you didn’t curse at me like Salamander. I must have read over that point.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Unknown
Don’t exaggerate, he’s not done, but he is slumping for sure.
He’s a 10-5 guy anyway, he ain’t going anywhere without approving a trade.
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Does anyone else agree we should keep javy? I think so
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Joe, Boog and Fred… get over it. It’s not happening. I’d go every night if I could but it’s not happening. Stop being so desperate about it.
The Braves just need to worry about winning.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Bravos–
Ah! He hit .440, so he got 440,000? Only one homer and four RBI? Hmm…
BMac hit .316 with no homers and 2 RBI. He did have 2 um…doubles, though!
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
8:09 pm
Carroll Rogers – No you didn’t jinx him.. does a hit and run get you off the hook regarding his base stealing prowess? I think so. Hit and run is tough. I have been very happy with Nate’s performance at the top of the order so far.
Gives us some punch and speed at the top of the order , what more could you ask for? Looking at the roster seems the best thing we can do.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
8:09 pm
good job Carroll!
Johnny Reb
June 22nd, 2009
8:10 pm
Fear
We should keep Javy for sure. He’s awesome. We can’t win without solid pitching and without him our pitching would be a lot thinner
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
8:11 pm
aIGHT NOW LET’S PUT THIS DEMPSTER IN A DAMN dUMPSTER!
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
8:11 pm
Oh hell ol Joe is drinkin wine tonite…,.
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
8:12 pm
Braves made ‘em work in the third and Javy got ‘em 1-2-3 in the fourth.
Hope the bats keep it up in the bottom of the fourth and chase Dempster.
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
8:12 pm
Lemme see If I could just get Stenchy to smoke a doobie maybe that boy would relx and play some damn ball????NAH!!!!!!
Bobby Cox Hat Tipping Club
June 22nd, 2009
8:13 pm
Chipper swinging through that pitch knowing the runners were going shows you just how tough a stretch he is in right now.
That being said, I have to send the runners in that situation with
Chipper at the plate every time! Does Chipper K sometimes? Sure he does but he’s such a good situational hitter he won’t be part of a “strike ‘em out-throw ‘em out” very often.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
Aaarrrg!!!
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
LOAF Is On Fire!
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
nice shot GA!
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
Does Garret ever break a sweat?
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
Too bad nobody was on base!
Loaf Garret on a blackberry from 2B
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
Come get in my poster!
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
There ya go Loaf!!!
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
McFann
Agreed B-Macc Doesn’t Look Right Without His Jake Plummer Beard…
Same Thing Goes for Smoltz…
I wish Loaf could hit like this when there are runners On!
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
8:15 pm
Loaf has been in my spirits again!!!
THWG
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
I sure hope what we’re seeing from GA at the plate is him warming up… Not just a hot streak.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
The answer is Luis Castillo
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
Guess that was a gooooood BLUNT
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
Tomahawkin–
Yeah.
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
And there goes it ~_~
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
Damn Big Dummy
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
Cox better bench Anderson for that s***
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
Dang it Loaf!!
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:16 pm
WTF!!!!!! uhhgh!!!
Loaf Garret on a blackberry from the dugout
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
Don’t hate. Failcoeur is up next anyway.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
WHY Can’t This Team Hit With R.I.S.P. And Less Than 2 Out…?
This Is Really Beginning To Piss Me Off!!!
Joebrave
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
Loaf you Oaf
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
Awesome.
This guy has nothing and we’re letting him off the hook.
Javy is going to have to be perfect.
Virginia Ranger
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
If their pitcher can’t get us out, don’t worry, we can take care of it. Watch us run the bases.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
McCann has struck out 10 times this month after only striking out 12 times in April and May combined.
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
Francoeur!
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
great job costing us a run loaf?
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
That hurts.
nolie
June 22nd, 2009
8:17 pm
Damn, just because I said a couple of times over the winter that Chipper was due for a down year, doesn’t mean he actually had to go ahead and do it! That hurt. C’mon Bravos !
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
Another Baserunning Blunder That Costs Us!!!
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
Woohoo Frenchy!!!
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
atta boy Jeff, too bad Casey can’t run out of sight in two days…
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
so GA gets caught in a run down so of course jeff gets a hit! F’ING typical!
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
Paul Lentz. That is what I was talking about. Eat it.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
Damn, a miracle. Francoeur hits a double. Now he is 4 for his last 21, lol.
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
That just makes it worse as far as I’m concerned. Who would have thought Jeff would get a hit?
Come on D.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
Oh hell, we’ll have to hear about that hit for 6 months. I mean, if his GIDP, fly out, and slow roller to first on the first pitch the other night were “some of his best at bats” then just imagine what he’ll have to say about a double.
Bobby Cox Hat Tipping Club
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
Casey was trying to pull a ball to the right side to move the runner but there was no way he could pull that ball. So he got what he got.
Now Frenchy hits a gapper and no one scores.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
Come On Dee..! We Need You Baby…!
Cactus Jack
June 22nd, 2009
8:19 pm
FRANK THE TANK!!
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:19 pm
bobby Cox’s thoughts
If Escobar screws up on the bases they call him stupid
Garret F**** up the say he was being Aggresive
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
8:19 pm
How slow is Casey Kotchman? wow a pregnant woman could outrun him.
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:19 pm
Swing Diory!
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
8:19 pm
I wouldn’t give Jeff as much credit for that double as I would blame Dempster for making a REALLY stupid pitch to a free swinger. But, he hit a mistake, so I’ll give ‘em that.
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
8:19 pm
Molina just let that ball go right by him…didn’t look a starting catcher there.
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 22nd, 2009
8:20 pm
Paul Lentz –
Go hate somewwhere else. Freakin DA.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:20 pm
We Need The Bench Playas to step up if we have any shot at winning this year…
On thing that was so good about the 1995 Braves team Our Bench Playas were Clutch that year
Epinephrine
June 22nd, 2009
8:21 pm
Long inning for Dempster
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
8:21 pm
Epinephrine………….dude, I need to see A LOT MORE than a double (it would have only been a single if the centerfielder didnt bobble it)…….before I will even consider retracting how I feel about Francoeur’s hitting ability. A LOT MORE.
However, I’m sure that you now feel that he has “turned the corner” and should therefore be given a 5 year $75 mil extension.
THWG
June 22nd, 2009
8:21 pm
Dempster’s already at 71 pitches in the 4th. This could be good news later on.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:21 pm
What do you guys think we would have to give up to get DeRosa. Can it be done without Freeman (Heyward is ubtouchable)
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:22 pm
…………………….
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
8:22 pm
get the bat off your shoulder diory… Dude is no better than a AAA infielder. cant hit
Unknown
June 22nd, 2009
8:22 pm
Diory sucks. Send him back down and call up Barbaro.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:22 pm
Dammittt!!! Another Wasted Oppurtunity…! That’s Twice Now…This Team Needs a 1995 Clutch Mike Mordecai of the bench if we are gonna win this thing
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
8:22 pm
rob from sc…indians need young pitching. This is especially true since they probably won’t have Cliff Lee for very much longer.
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:22 pm
yeah mike deveraux was great in the nlcs in 95
nolie
June 22nd, 2009
8:23 pm
I swear that this team is snake-bit. No matter what they do something seems to go wrong. Get rid of that dam cow, and shoot whoever put it up there.
TnBrian
June 22nd, 2009
8:23 pm
Wasn’t Diory pretty high thought of as a minor leaguer? Maybe it was just for his defense but I thought he was a pretty soild little singles hitter with some speed.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
8:23 pm
Not scoring there hurts but at least they’ve kinda wore Dempster out the last 2.
How’s their pen? Overworked and underwhelming?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
8:24 pm
Diory sucks. Send him back down and call up Barbaro
Just shows that you don’t have any idea what the heck you’re talking about. Diory is here because he can play SS, which Canizares cannot (heck, he can barely play 1B). Were the Braves to make that move, they’d be stuck using Johnson or Prado at short. These ain’t video games, dude.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
8:24 pm
Steve, I also don’t think we should sell him low. He’s had good seasons and he’s more capable of turning things around thant Jeff who I think is a lost cause.
Again, I’m not a fan of looking at career numbers either, especially when a player is in their 4th year like Kellly. Players usually change from the player they were in their 1st few years, so looking at BABIP using Kelly’s career numbers is moot IMO. It is interesting though how similar his BA/BABIP margin was in all his other seasons up till this point. I saw the same thing with Joe Mauer, who Yahoo argued wouldn’t hit .400 because of his high BABIP. I disagreed, because the challenge with hitting .400 is being consistent year round. Mauer does have a high BABIP, but to me that means he’s hitting the ball well. His margin between BA and BABIP was tied for the lowest in his career with the year he hit his career high in BA.
But anyway, when looking at BABIP I don’t look at career BA, just year to year comparisons with BABIP using the margin.
I agree that Kelly needs to start working counts. That was a helluva at bat last inning. I think if he does that more and sees more pitches, fouls tough ones off, he’ll start raking again (get his timing down). Funny that you are for playing Prado now, but after seeing that at-bat by kelly, i’m against it because it’s a sign he might be coming around, and no one on this team can be as productive as Kelly when he’s hot. It’s his consistency, or lack thereof, coupled by the team’s lack of consistency, that drives me nuts. This team is, and has been, a couple of consistent hitters away from making the postseason, and that is why i chose my stance on Kelly…as i’m sure you’re aware of by now. Gotta love your patience though…reminds me of Cox throughout the 90’s…
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
8:24 pm
Don’t get me wrong I am not hating on Yadier Molina by all means but can a baseball fan actually think when they fill out this ballot that… hey that Molina is by far the best in the NL and we need him there so we can win this game? Outside those who pull for the Cardinals?
Where is the rest of the National League baseball fans that have watched the catcher position. It’s weird.
Bobby Cox Hat Tipping Club
June 22nd, 2009
8:24 pm
Diory ain’t no Infante. Maybe he’s destined to hit sometime in the future, but he an auto-out right now. Not killin’ the kid, he has no business being in the bigs yet so I’m cutting him some slack. Not his fault he isn’t ready. Just stating a fact.
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:24 pm
Ugh.
nolie
June 22nd, 2009
8:25 pm
What do you guys think we would have to give up to get DeRosa. Can it be done without Freeman (ROB)
anybody who would be willing to give up Freeman for three months of DeRo is just plain …well I’m not even gonna say .
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
8:25 pm
Bobby’s Cox-
There is actually a new Yardhouse downtown that would be perfect…
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
8:25 pm
Oh no!
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
TnBrian, he was a solid hitter in AAA. I think they brought it up earlier in the broadcast that he was a good singles hitter in AAA
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
OH NOZ!
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
good effort
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
NOOOO McCann!!
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
Epinephrine………..upon seeing a replay of that pitch, Francoeur should have done more with that pitch. It was a fastball middle in (in other words, in a player’s wheelhouse). I’m not saying that Francoeur cant get a hit on a pitcher’s mistakes. However Francoeur simply cannot DRIVE the ball. A home run on a pitch in his “wheelhouse” should happen “on occassion”.
Unreal, lol. Dude gets on hit on a pitch he should have “crushed” and you are telling me to “eat” it.
Actually Francoeur is 4 for his last 22 ( I forgot about his weak at-bat in the second inning).
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
Crap, Brian.
Looks like he’s OK
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
Driver8 Where is the rest of the National League baseball fans that have watched the catcher position. It’s weird.
They’re prob’ly watching us play tonight.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
I see blood! Man he was slow getting up. Dang that almost knocked him out.
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
ok so javy is gonna have a bad inning here gives up maybe 3….we won’t score again…then mcann looks like he almost killed himself.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
nolie
Don’t forget Schuerholz still has imput.
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:26 pm
Oh great. That’s exactly what we need.
Freakin’ Dempster is melting out there and he’s getting away with murder.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:27 pm
Can BSPN Give B-Macc All the Press for Being Bloody! Much Like they Did With Curt Schilling’s bloody Sock…?
Lamar1Banks2
June 22nd, 2009
8:27 pm
If McCann gets hurt we might actually catch the Nationals.
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:27 pm
Come on Javy, perfect. Be perfect.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
8:27 pm
Damn, the Braves dodged a big bullet with McCann not getting hurt on that play. The Braves cannot afford to lose him.
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
Joe Simpson has a good point…why not bring down the padding all the way down to the surface so nobody hits that concrete.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
Paul, a double is a double is a double. Get that through your head! I don’t care if it doesn’t leave the infield, it’s a double. He “should” have crushed that pitch, unbelievable reasoning there, I am convinced.
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
trying to breathe again…
Wren In Doubt
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
Steve From Ohio – Thank you for pointing out that there are three phases to this game. Perhaps the gentleman you addressed missed yesterday’s game or the Brave’s 14-season run that featured outstanding D.
Virginia Ranger
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
I have been dodging subway cars. What is the scoop with Esco?
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
No reason for that to be exposed at all.
Cactus Jack
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
Remember when BJ Surhoff broke his leg on the concrete in right field a few years back?
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
when you give up a hit to Andres Blanco, you are destined to give up a run
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
8:28 pm
FEAR, you an emo kid?
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
8:29 pm
Bobby’s, I’m for giving Prado some more PT now until Kelly starts showing that he can hit again. Should this funk continue for a few more months, I’d be in favor of giving him a full-time job. I don’t think he’ll ever be able to top what Kelly did in 2007 over 600 PA, but he’ll do just fine. I suppose that’s why I still like Kelly–he’s proven that he can be a great stick at his position. Gotta have a little bit of patience with those types of hitters.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
8:29 pm
rob from sc
THANK YOU!
( about the base running comment)
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
8:29 pm
Epinephrine………….with that double in the 4th by Francoeur, I think I will start my “Francoeur for MVP” petition. After all, he has “turned the corner”, right?
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:29 pm
Holy curd…for once I’m glad our TV was on another channel…
Did somebody say blood?
Virginia Ranger
June 22nd, 2009
8:30 pm
Enter your comments here
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:30 pm
I think They Don’t Bring the Padding All the way down because it may hold in moisture and attract Mold when the Weather is like this…But Then Again there is Mold Preventer for that
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
8:31 pm
i’m reading off the Braves notes that plenty of good seats remain for the Red Sox and Yankees series…..wow.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
8:31 pm
McFann, not like BLOOD, his arm was just skinned a little bit.
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:32 pm
emo…………not even close
cabravesfan
June 22nd, 2009
8:32 pm
McFann-
He’s fine…he’s tough
(he scraped his arm up a bit, banged his knee…no worries! )
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:32 pm
I think Vazquez could hit a gnat in the ass from 60 feet.
Virginia Ranger
June 22nd, 2009
8:32 pm
How about we trade our best hitting ourfielder? Think about it.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:32 pm
Who is a Bigger Bust I’d Take him over Kazuo Matsui…!
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
8:32 pm
Did anyone see Kotchy come rushing in when Mac hit the wall? “I’ll saaave you, man!”
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
8:32 pm
Let’s hope B-Mac is alright!
Javy pitching another solid game.
Braves offense stinking it once again.
Diory Hernandez…TAKE the fraking bat off your lazy a&& shoulders.
The Pitcher is on Deck, you have 2 men on base with 2 outs…use your head. They are not going to give you a 3-2 fastball down the middle. I called that off-speed pitch from work!
Man Braves are in a world of hurt without Yunel, or Omar playing SS.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
8:33 pm
Huh, I seem to recall a time when Diory was the next big thing to lead off for us. Boy, the times are a’changin, huh?
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
8:34 pm
That is sound reasoning Steve…common sense is what i love. Sounds fair to me.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:34 pm
Vazquez is pretty damn good
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
8:34 pm
Carroll…you’re surprised? When the best thing to happen to the Braves is a 6-game losing streak by the Phils…and the Braves basically don’t gain any ground… not hard to figure out that people don’t want to waste their hard-earned money on the product that is currently on the field.
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
8:34 pm
Nice work there Javy.
Paul Lentz
June 22nd, 2009
8:34 pm
Pennski…………….so what you are saying is that Braves fans should be content with Francoeur being a .250 singles hitter who only occasionally gets an extra base hit? Garrett Anderson has shown in the past few weeks that he can in fact turn on a pitch. Why cant Francoeur do it.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:34 pm
Well At least the crowd is into it tonight!!! Even If it is Wrigley Field South the crowd is into the game unlike most nights
Nice Pitching JV!!!
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:34 pm
Way to get out of it, Javy! Keep rollin’.
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:35 pm
LET’S GET SOME RUNS BRAVES!!!
We can put this one away. For the love of God get Javy some runs.
Supes
June 22nd, 2009
8:35 pm
Excellent work by Javy in the 5th. Man the guy is fun to watch. Throws 4 pitches with good command for strikes.
Stan Kasten, come on now…you know you need another SP for the Nats. Make the Deal Wren. Javy and Moyland for Dunn, and bench Jeff or demote him to AAA.
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
8:35 pm
Back atcha, Bobby’s. Even though we don’t see eye to eye on the issue, you have supported you position very well. That’s what I come to the blog for.
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:36 pm
You know, Vazquez is our best trade piece from our longest suit and we do need a big bat in the worst way, but I don’t want to give him up.
Dude is DEALIN’.
McFann :Ô:
June 22nd, 2009
8:36 pm
RHR, cabravesfan–
Thanks…yeah, he’s a toughy!
Just realized I said “curd”, not “crud”…I wasn’t quite put together when I typed that…
WestPalmDawg
June 22nd, 2009
8:37 pm
Nobody should want to support a crap product, no matter who they play, good seats doesn’t surprise me
Heath (Cleveland)
June 22nd, 2009
8:37 pm
Javy’s win-loss record wouldn’t indicate it…but…really look at his numbers… If he keeps this up, isn’t HE worthy of All-Star consideration? On a team that provides him some run support…I would say he would get some consideration.
sri
June 22nd, 2009
8:37 pm
Bobby’s and Steve, good discussion about Kelly. Had so many hopes for him.. sigh.. I think he should seriously consider honing his skills in the outfield in the winter, and he could become a left handed version of Derosa. He is athletic enough that his outfield defense will be league average. Like you guys said, I would hate the Braves to sell low on him, and I hope the Braves hang on to him one more year.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:38 pm
Offense Sucks Once again…
It should at least be 3-0…
McLouth of the South
June 22nd, 2009
8:38 pm
I wonder what Dense Paul Lentz would have done with that fastball?
Driver8
June 22nd, 2009
8:38 pm
Carroll Rogers – I know I will be down there tomorrow with the Braves gear on and giving the Yankee fans that come in a bit of Southern Hospitality – OLD SCHOOL Style – GO HOME YANKEES! You ain’t welcome here! LOL
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:39 pm
McFann, I liked “Holy curd.” Just told my wife I’d found a new saying, in fact.
Pennski
June 22nd, 2009
8:39 pm
Not at all Paul,, but good fans support the player when they do something right unlike you. I’m every bit as critical of Jeff as you, but when he does something right the sarcasm that you display makes you sound like a met or yankee fan.
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:39 pm
good job johnson
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2009
8:40 pm
Come on Chipper! Hit one out.
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
8:40 pm
Nice patience tonight from KJ.
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:40 pm
i like the patient Kelly
Steve from OH
June 22nd, 2009
8:40 pm
Kelly has looked more patient at the plate lately. I hope he gets back to his old ways, even if it means he strikes out more, as he’ll draw more walks to go along with it.
Tomahawkin
June 22nd, 2009
8:40 pm
“Nobody should want to support a crap product, no matter who they play, good seats doesn’t surprise me”
Co-Sign…!
I think most people would rather watch the Gwinnett Braves at a fraction of the cost
Way to work that Base-on-Balls KJ
Hoss Come On, 2 Run Homer Rite Now!
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
8:40 pm
Chipper!
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:40 pm
McL of the S, the funny thing is, I signed in as him earlier and made some subtle references to his sexuality and San Francisco, etc, and he missed it….
Chipper! And way to hustle!
Bobby Cox Hat Tipping Club
June 22nd, 2009
8:40 pm
Carroll Rogers:
“i’m reading off the Braves notes that plenty of good seats remain for the Red Sox and Yankees series…..wow.”
Carroll, being a Braves fan who doesn’t live in the metro area, I’m unable to attend more than about half a dozen Braves games a year. I’m about 3 hours away.
When I found that the Braves were playing the Red Sox AND Yankees at home this year, I was going to buy tickets for at least a game in each series……UNTIL…… The Braves started their “hold the gun to the fans head” tactics in April of saying if you didn’t buy a package, you couldn’t get tickets!
Well guess what. I wasn’t going to be held hostage and decided that under no circumstances would I pay to see either series.
I suppose there are other fans who felt the same way I did. No offense to the players or anyone on the blog but I hope the Braves management and marketing group CHOKE on those tickets! I just think it’s really funny that they are having to hawk those tickets just to be able to sell them all at this late date! You reap what you sow.
A simple HA HA is all I can respond with.
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:41 pm
so kelly gets hurt from walking to first?
Bravesman
June 22nd, 2009
8:41 pm
Supes
Where did you go yesterday?? we were talking about your brilliant idea of trading for Adam Dunn
Carroll Rogers
June 22nd, 2009
8:41 pm
wow, they just showed a video clip of Evander Holyfield in a Braves jersey, getting the fans pumped up with a series of air punches (ok, i have no idea what to call that) and chanting “Let’s go Braves.” ….I like it
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
8:41 pm
Wow…KJ finally looks to be coming around…and he’s either cramped up or hurt
RHR
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
Kelly needs some potassium.
Cactus Jack
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
KLESKO SWING!!
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
the was a ugly swing
Salamander
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
Damn that looked bad, bad, bad. I hope he isn’t really hurt.
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
Hmm. McCann got his money’s worth on that cut…
hmmm
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
I keep hearing that we should trade Vasquez but he has out pitched Lowe and is cheaper. How about we trade Lowe instead and use that money for hitters … plural.
ElbravoX-- EbX
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
Breaking news: Juan Pierre and a minor leaguer for Vasquez, the Dodgers will “eat” half of Pierre’s next year salary!!
BravesFanChris24
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
I think Kelly has the cramps.
abwright
June 22nd, 2009
8:42 pm
That swing by BMac was reminiscent of many of the AJ swings where Andruw would sit down in teh dirt at home plate after missing.
Bobby's Cox
June 22nd, 2009
8:43 pm
cabravesfan,
So Yardhouse it is. Now we just need an excuse….
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:43 pm
MAC looks horrible
Bravesman
June 22nd, 2009
8:43 pm
Carrol Rogers
Jeff Francouer+Lower level spec for Josh Willingham, can you bring that idea up to Wren PLEASE!!!!!
THWG
June 22nd, 2009
8:43 pm
I don’t think Kelly’s used to being on base. Having to run from first to third cramped him up a little.
f.n.hale
June 22nd, 2009
8:43 pm
Plays like that last inning should make us realize McCann won’t catch another 8-10 years in MLB. The guy is too big go do this long term and his stick is way too good to have him hobbling in another 4 or 5 years. I think the Braves are making a huge mistake if they aren’t seriously considering their options for another position in the next couple of years. For those that haven’t spent time back there, it is really hard on your joints and back and moreso for a guy of Brian’s size. And (before you jump me McFann) I’m not just talking about his weight. He’s just a big guy.
TRobb1
June 22nd, 2009
8:43 pm
Dempster can make guys look silly.
bravos2249
June 22nd, 2009
8:43 pm
Yeah…I though for sure that would be 1st and 3rd…..and then I saw Chipper sliding into 2nd…I was like…whaaa?
rob from sc
June 22nd, 2009
8:43 pm
ElbravoX– EbX
NO WAY
FEAR
June 22nd, 2009
8:44 pm
hmmm: trade lowe………interesting.