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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,704 comments Add your comment
nolie
June 27th, 2009
12:48 am
Other than local notoriety, what on Earth qualifies John Smoltz to manage a major league baseball team at this time?
very good question, OWL HUNTER. I imagine they see him as a tough guy and think that is the way to go, even though Ozzie is the most ridiculed manager in baseball within the sport itself. No question that John has always been willing to run his mouth.
Salamander
June 27th, 2009
12:49 am
Also, while the Phillies went 5-14 over the last 19 games, the Braves went 8-11, Marlins 12-7, and the Mets also went 8-11.
nolie
June 27th, 2009
12:52 am
EDDIE PEREZ FOR MANAGER 2010!!! (SID)
I’d certainly go that route B4 i had Smoltz do it. With all the bad vibes Terry has been getting lately, Eddie might actually have a chance when Bobby gets kidnapped by an outraged blogger named Robert.
Mitchell
June 27th, 2009
12:52 am
Holy crap, “sidslidkid”? I didn’t even read your name until just now.
Rather a propo wouldn’t you say? That means ironic and coincidental, sort of I guess.
You might say I’m a sid slid kid as well.
I was there man!
hhmmm
June 27th, 2009
12:54 am
Nolie I don’t like Ozzie but he has as many tittles and Bobby Cox so …….
Mitchell
June 27th, 2009
12:55 am
I’m out. I will be missed no doubt.
Wayne in Utah
June 27th, 2009
12:55 am
I got it all covered for ya Frank. Just give me a call for the details. Chipper and Vazquez to the Angels for Brandon Wood (put him at 3rd, and suffer while he develops). Kawakami (he can join his countryman) , Marek and Diamond to the Dodgers for DeWitt, Repko and Scott Elbert. Soriano and Diaz to the Rays for Zobrist. KJ to StLouis for minor league catcher Bryan Anderson. Escobar, Francoeur and Rohrbough to the Cubbies for Vitters, Theriot and Colvin (minor leaguer).
Release GA, and pickup Ryan Freel (had to get that one in.
Your lineup: McCann, Kotchman, Prado/Dewitt/Infante, Theriot, Wood, Schafer, Repko and Zobrist. (McLouth is healing)
Starters: Lowe, Jurrjens, Hanson, Medlen and Parr (Huddy when he returns). Bullpen: Gonzo, Moylan, Carlyle, O’Flaherty, Acosta, Logan and anybody from Gwinnett (you guys said that anybody from AAA was better than Bennett, so I want that guy anybody)
We will lose a lot more games than we have so far, but Bobby will turn the reigns over to Eddie Perez, making Robert and all his disciples happy.
Because we will continue to lose, and lose big, the ranters will be most happy and have a most excellent time on the blog.
Next year, we will have young guys, maybe better, maybe not, and some restocked minor leaguers to pull from. Buy around 2012, we might be able to contend again, with the likes of Heyward, Freeman, Vitters, Elbert, Cordier, Teheran, Anderson, and Cody “The Bat” Johnson as the ultimate PH’er. Guys like Kimbrel and Francis will be here, or near.
No more loaf, Francine, KJ and BC to pick on.
What say ye folks??? (he says with tongue firmly planted in cheek)
hhmmm
June 27th, 2009
12:55 am
titles as Bobby … but you knew what I meant anyway
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
12:56 am
Tom-
Hey, you are the one that hooked us up and then went on vacation
First- I missed you while you were away
Second- I think Vinings Jim is leaving us for the evening so I’m all yours
owl hunter
June 27th, 2009
12:56 am
I like Eddie for manager. I admit I don’t know much about his credentials, but he handled pitchers well, and had a good baseball IQ. Fame does not equal manager material.
Vinings Jim
June 27th, 2009
12:56 am
Tom – I am afraid I’ve stayed up about five (well, maybe two) hours past my usual bedtime. Let me know if you need me to do the proofreading anytime tomorrow – I have nothing better to do with my life. Of course, if you didn’t abandon us for your solitude, perhaps you wouldn’t feel left out. Have a wonderful evening, buddy!
wow
June 27th, 2009
12:56 am
how can you blame kelly and frenchy not tonight man kelly had 1 ab and frenchy wasnt the only one yea they both blow but so does everyone else on this team right now the only ones that can hit at the moment are mac, mclouth, and escobar the rest suck including chipper offense and defense
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
12:58 am
, Eddie might actually have a chance when Bobby gets kidnapped by an outraged blogger named Robert
nolie, Robert is invited to our “party”, shhhhh, ….
Mitchell
June 27th, 2009
12:58 am
Still here…
I must say, I wouldn’t mind Ozzie. How he has a ring is beyond comprehension. I mean, the fact the he has the same number of championships as his former manager is absurd but he seems to embody all the things we’ve been asking for in a manager. Somebody to trash his players when they start sucking.
It would probably be a horrible idea not that it would ever happen.
Wayne in Utah
June 27th, 2009
12:59 am
Mitchell
I bet Vazquez would love that idea!!
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
1:00 am
Tom-
I think it should be given in his honor, actually. He’s earned it
sidslidkid
June 27th, 2009
1:00 am
Mitchell,
It sucks seeing the lack of fan support at the game. I’m sick of hearing our fans say “I live too far away” or “I can’t afford to go to games” or whatever other pitiful excuse they come up with. We need butts in the seats more than ever. But then again with the Braves playing like they have so far, they aren’t making the TED look like a fun place to be… it certainly wasn’t fun being out numbered at home tonight.
owl hunter
June 27th, 2009
1:00 am
Ozzie would make us relevant at the very least. I bet he and Kenny Williams get in bar fights for fun.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:03 am
Hey, you are the one that hooked us up and then went on vacation …..
I think Vinings Jim is leaving us for the evening so I’m all yours — cabravesfan
Apparently, you release how desperate us mountain men can be.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:05 am
REALIZE, REALIZE, REALIZE ,,, sheeesh
Yunel's Frosted Tips
June 27th, 2009
1:05 am
They say Eddie Perez will threaten to kick people’s ass when they get outta line, I think that’s exactly the kind of manager this bunch of “mail-it-ins” need, they should all back up to the pay window for their next check and be ashamed to show their faces.
Vinings Jim
June 27th, 2009
1:06 am
Tom – is that release or realize?
Vinings Jim
June 27th, 2009
1:06 am
Never mind.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:07 am
Jim, weren’t you going to bed?
sidslidkid
June 27th, 2009
1:08 am
Eddie will be an MLB manager one day. I doubt that day is next year though.
Vinings Jim
June 27th, 2009
1:09 am
I saw that ‘all yours’ comment, so we shall see.
nolie
June 27th, 2009
1:09 am
he has as many tittles and Bobby Cox so (hhmmm)
pure circumstance. he also can’t get his team regularly into the playoffs nearly as much as Bobby did.Most all the guys who are known as winning managers now days are players guys except LaRussa who ain’t exactly Ozzie or Bowa either. Players are too expensive and too full of entitlement issues in this day and age to provoke. Even Billy Martin, who could step in sometimes and jump start a team, couldn’t get it done on a regular year after year basis, and that was in the bad old days when players were not much more than chattel. Fans who believe that tough talk and humiliation works with professional players are sadly mistaken. any number of players over the years have said that BC does raise hell at them, but keeps it private. Which is why all the Cox bashers aren’t aware of it I guess. And that is the way it should be.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
1:10 am
Tom-
I was about to correct you (lord, what is the world coming to when I’m the one correcting the spelling and grammar?)
Vinings Jim-
My influence is spreading
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:10 am
Jim, I hope you now REALIZE the importance of proofreading that deathlist.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
1:10 am
Vinings Jim-
You’ve had me all to yourself for a week…
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
1:12 am
Tom-
Between you and me, that list might get all screwed up and we’d off the wrong list. Not good
Salamander
June 27th, 2009
1:13 am
I don’t get why people suggest that fans should boycott the Braves for putting a “diminished product” on the field… Going to games is fun – even when we get blown out and the Braves are having off years.
You can get in the game for 5 bucks, and then just drink beer and people watch all night while catching the game. Chances are that you’ll be able to move down to better seats after the 5th inning or so (at least for weekday games), and when it gets boring (or just too hot to sit in one place for too long) you can walk around and check out… the scenery as DOB would put it.
If you have kids, then i guess it might be a different story. I wish beer was cheaper, but that’s my only real complaint.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
1:13 am
or the wrong people I should say
NO MORE BOBBY
June 27th, 2009
1:13 am
Eddie Perez? Hmmmmmmm. Might work for me but he seem real buddy buddy with the players and we dont need that anymore. I think Smoltz wouldnt care who liked him or hated with the players. But if Eddie would slap players around maybe we can pay him to do a little of that now. Cuz there are plenty of players that need it.
I saw someone say trade Chipper to Tampa and that seems like a good fit for him. Last week I was against a chipper trade but honestly I think he has already thrown in the towel for this year. That hunting interview seemed to get more of a rise from him than baseball.
NO MORE BOBBY
June 27th, 2009
1:17 am
One last thing and Im out for the night….
If you were told by your job you could stay as long as you wanted it even though you were costing your job and its other employees to suck, we all would stay right? So unless Wren gets some Glavine balls and fires Bobby, that old man is going to rot in a Braves dugout and we can forget winning baseball in Atlanta until my kids grow up. AND I DONT EVEN HAVE ANY KIDS YET!!!
MIBravesFan
June 27th, 2009
1:21 am
“David O’Brien
June 26th, 2009
11:22 pm
“We’re still losing every time Philly’s losing,” Jurrjens said. “Hopefully we can change soon and start scoring some runs.”
He also said: “I’m giving 100 percent each time I go out there, keeping my teams in the game. That’s all I can do.”
The kid handles this with grace and composure, always.”
This kid is not only a really good pitcher, he’s a really good kid. I’m sure his parents are proud of him, and they should be. They did a great job raising him. And I don’t care what return he could bring in a trade, the Braves need to keep this kid the same way they need to keep Tommy Hanson. It does not matter he was acquired in a trade rather than “home grown” (silly Tigers) – if the Braves trade pitching for a bat, it needs to be Javy (no matter how great he has pitched, and he has), not this kid.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:22 am
I was about to correct you (lord, what is the world coming to when I’m the one correcting the spelling and grammar?)
Vinings Jim-
My influence is spreading
Don’t worry, cabravesfan, I’m very capable and willing, to be illiterate, on my own. I don’t need anyone’s help. But thanks, anyway.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
June 27th, 2009
1:25 am
The following Braves have quit for the season:
Garret Anderson (never even started,biggest dog to ever wear a tomahawk)
Kelly Johnson (appears disinterested in having a quality at back)
Chipper Jones (thru it in after the ejection Sunday)
Bobby Cox (a caricature of himself at this point in his career)
Still Trying:
Jeff Francoeur (as bad as he is, he tries most of the time)
Yunel (boneheaded at times, but definately wants to win)
McCann (All Star)
McClouth (hope others don’t rub off on him
David Ross (Wish he or Mc could play another position)
On the bubble:
Casey Kotchman (great glove but singles don’t get it)
DOB (not talking about BBQ enough these days
hhmmm
June 27th, 2009
1:25 am
Nolie I don’t like Ozzie but no team gets to be World Champs due to circumstance. Don’t buy that one. Leyland and Pinella are jerks too but have won a title. Simply making the playoffs and being swept away is just being able to play 3-5 games extra a year. Nothing more, nothing less.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
1:28 am
Tom-
sorry, I think there was supposed to be something else to that but I got distracted and now I have no idea what I was going to say.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:32 am
Hey, guys, I have a question for any of the below authors:
Hopefully Frank Wren is thinking a trade. Nothing big but something little. I’m ready to depart with one of the combo of Frenchy or KJ. —- Jake W.
I hope Yunel gets enough of Cox picking on him and takes a baseball bat to him in the clubhouse like they used to do in Cuba. —- Yunel’s Frosted Tips
Bobby Cox is a morally corrupt, drunken wife-beater who only knows how to communicate through swear words and grunts. —- Mr. Hydranamo
I hate to say it, but I think it’s time to trade some guys and look to next year. This year is a wash. —- owl hunter
These appeared after tonight’s loss, on the blog. My question is, did you come up with this after tonight’s loss, or is this something that’s been festering all season long? Just curious ….
Roman Gal
June 27th, 2009
1:32 am
That has to be the most infuriating game I’ve ever been to.
There were 48,418 people there, and I’ll bet at least 30,000 of them were Red Sox fans. Yankee fans were nothing compared to the Red Sox fans.
uga-brave
June 27th, 2009
1:33 am
blah blah,
this offense stinks. francoeur blows. blah about kelly. they both smell.
tired about him turning the corner.
francoeur blows. period end of statement. period done deal.
he is the only one that thinks he does not suck.
the guy has no humillity. he thinks he is the best.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:35 am
LAdy, I was supposed to put a big
face after I was done. But not sure if that’s what you meant.
uga-brave
June 27th, 2009
1:37 am
eight doubles in two hundred 70 at bats. great job.
nice job jeff.
RHR
June 27th, 2009
1:39 am
I just listened to the Rome interview with Chipper from yesterday that someone referenced earlier. Hmm. Kinda sad actually. His heart just doesn’t seem to be in it anymore…
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
1:39 am
Tom-
No i meant after my comment- that was kind of an unfinished thought but someone kept sending me e-mails and I lost my train of thought and posted it without finishing it…bu tI’m glad you aren’t actually mad at me
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:39 am
Yankee fans were nothing compared to the Red Sox fans
RG, what do you mean?
Salamander
June 27th, 2009
1:41 am
Just read Rosenthal’s article about Smoltz’s start against the Nationals tonight – he got tagged in the first inning, but it sounds like Smoltz did pretty well considering it was his first start back… retired the last 8 batters he saw, including the last 3 on strike outs. His fastball hit 92-93 on the radar gun as well.
I hope Smoltz comes back strong and contributes in the post-season. The dude deserves another shot at glory (regardless of how things ended with the Braves). If the Red Sox make it to the WS, it will be exciting to see if Smoltz can still be big game pitcher.
uga-brave
June 27th, 2009
1:41 am
nice job jeff, eight doubles. everybody has triple that.
bravos2249
June 27th, 2009
1:42 am
You know I think Chipper seriously need a day off. Is his dad on vacation of something..I mean come on Mr. Jones. lol
bravos2249
June 27th, 2009
1:43 am
RHR
Can you link me to it please…
hhmmm
June 27th, 2009
1:43 am
you might can name the World Series winners but to name who won the divisions each year no one remembers …. tells you what it really is all about. Titles. World Series Titles. Anything else is just not the same. So if there is anyone here that thinks we have a shot at a TITLE, let me know. If not let it go and make some changes now.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:43 am
cabravesfan—-
OK, I’m dense, what the heck would I possibly be mad at?
Salamander
June 27th, 2009
1:44 am
I guess I should add – assuming Smoltz is in the WS rotation. Even out of the bullpen, Smoltz would be fun to watch I suppose, but I’d prefer he was starting.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
1:46 am
Tom-
I have no idea. Have I meantioned the great combo of Actifed, Aspirn, Zinc and mulitple beers that made up my evening meal? My thought process is a little screwy right now
bravos2249
June 27th, 2009
1:48 am
hhmmm
Tampa Bay
Boston
Philly
Dodgers
Angels
Those are the only teams I remember from last years post season.
RHR
June 27th, 2009
1:49 am
bravos -its on Rome’s pay website. Sorry. I’m sure there’s a free version somewhere? but I have no clue about that.
nolie
June 27th, 2009
1:50 am
Nolie I don’t like Ozzie but no team gets to be World Champs due to circumstance. (hhmmm)
yeah fans hate to admit it, but once you get into the playoffs it is mostly a crapshoot. We all like to think we are in control in everything, but often that is not the case in life or BB, we just structure our perceptions so we can believe it is. Who gets hot at the right time is often the determining factor and that is mostly circumstance. Look how seldom the favorites win and how the WC team can.
You plan the best you can, but there are numerous factors involved in winning, many out of your control.
Ozzie will be out of BB in a few years as a manager and will have a hell of a time getting hired back in that slot
. I never got to play as high as the majors because of an arm injury, but I worked with minor league teams, and spent a good bit of time around the MLB teams that I scouted for, and I know for damn sure the first time my manager threw me under the bus, he’d lose my enthusiasm, and I don’t have near the ego and entitlement issues most MLB players do.
And all this crap others are spouting about who has quit etc. Total foolishness. Players can get down a bit like anybody else in any job, but they aren’t quitting on the season. That’s fan hysteria hogwash. Sorry if this is too strong.
Roman Gal
June 27th, 2009
1:51 am
Tom-
They were so loud the entire game. I went to game 1 against the Yankees and they were reletively quiet. Granted, their team was losing, but even at the beginning of the game…
They were so loud. I guess I’ve just gotten used to being one of the loudest people at the ballpark…
uga-brave
June 27th, 2009
1:51 am
alright, went to the st. regis.
smoking hot cougars. took my smoking hot wife to kymma. my hot wife went to penn st.
she went to law school at vanderbilt.
got lucky. hot blond, and smart. cant do better.
Ronald Millsaps
June 27th, 2009
1:52 am
I attended the game Monday night and had a blast, one of the best pitching matchups I’ve ever seen in person (Vazquez-Dempster), and exceeded the hype. (As I told one of my friends that day, the irony here is that Atlanta pursued both in the offseason, and I’m glad we got who we got.)
Two years ago, the Red Sox and Tigers came to Atlanta, and Atlanta won the first game of the series and got shelled in the next five. In the second game, I distinctly remember Tim Hudson and Josh Beckett dueling, and Boston winning, 4-0, which sounds awfully familiar right about now.
The Braves intrigue the heck out of me, as they have a lot of strengths but also some all-too-familiar weaknesses. Forget the lack of putting down a bunt by Jair tonight and the runners who didn’t advance; does it not seem that this team usually waits for the other side to set the tone? I think if Atlanta will reverse this trend, the A-B-C baseball will work more fluently as a natural product.
Speaking of Jair, I’ve noticed he is very resilient. I’ve seem him have bad innings in games and bounce back very strongly in the same game. Tonight, for example, after not putting down that bunt, he later drew nine pitches from Beckett. Not bad at all.
I’ve been critical of poor camerawork, etc. of some of the coverage we’ve seen at times, but overall I think the coverage is very good, and Joe Simpson, Chip Caray, etc. are extremely astute. I’d like to think every piece of commentary they make on a given night gets back to the team.
I would like to see Jeff Francoeur moved to cleanup, and maybe we should play Kelly Johnson in left and Martin Prado at second. Johnson should regain his swing soon and is a major factor in this team’s success. Nothing against Casey Kotchman, but I’d consider letting Barbaro Canizares play first for some extra pop.
I don’t know what Yunel Escobar’s deal is, but he is a major talent who needs to be more professional. I hope we can lock him up.
The announcers have done a great job chronicling the immense heat at Turner Field lately. I have a suggestion: Drink eight glasses of water a day, and do so as part of a healthy lifestyle, as opposed to gulping down 2-3 several times a day. I call this process pre-hydrating, and if you do it, you can prepare for the heat. If you don’t, well, it’s like pouring water into an overheated engine.
Back to the aforementioned pop, I’m glad the announcers recently have discussed the differences between Turner Field and rival parks, such as Citizens Bank and Fenway. In Atlanta’s defense, Turner Field itself is not nearly as conducive to home runs as these other parks, and think about the difference! What if each regular had three more home runs than they currently have! Think about the statistical differences, and think about how warning-track outs chase the statistical landscape when they suddenly become home runs, doubles, etc. and fewer outs!
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
1:52 am
cabravesfan–
OK, let me clarify for you. There’s NOTHING I should be mad at you for. What’s wrong with you? Why are you taking painkillers? And what’s with the zinc? Are you suffering from dandruff?
bravos2249
June 27th, 2009
1:53 am
RHR
That’s ok
uga-brave
June 27th, 2009
1:55 am
i got lucky, a hot blond married me.
she went to vanderbilt law.
nolie
June 27th, 2009
1:57 am
And what’s with the zinc? Are you suffering from dandruff? (TOM)
Zinc is great stuff Tom. Years ago my doctor told me to take zinc and a lot of the various B vitamins daily. I used to catch something nasty several times a year, I haven’t had a cold or the flu in close to 20 years.
RHR
June 27th, 2009
1:57 am
bravos2249-
Basically he talks about….how different it is to be on a team that takes the field “hoping” to win instead of the teams in years past who took the field “knowing” they were going to win. Talks about his 4 boys at home, talks about how tired he is of all the travel, said he’d play forever if he could play 162 games in atlanta and not have to travel, says he might not play out the extension, his mind and his body will let him know when its time to quit and that it’s getting close. Said he hurts all the time, wants to be with his kids, gets tired of some of the media – ie the NY media always sensationalizing every little thing he says in order to sell papers, says he’s just going to stay away from those media types from now on … Said that when he hangs it up he will miss the clubhouse, will missing going to battle with those guys every night from 7-10 but will definitely not miss the travel and the aches and pains.
Roman Gal
June 27th, 2009
1:58 am
Question for those who watched the game…
What did JJ do for his second balk? I saw that he flinched on the first one, but didn’t see what happened for the other…
nolie
June 27th, 2009
1:58 am
she went to vanderbilt law UGA
gee you would think she’d be smarter than to hook up with you Uga. J/K
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:01 am
Tom-
I’ve got a nasty cold…the zinc is in the form of these horrible lozenge things that are allegedly cherry flavored but pretty much taste like, well, zinc…and make everything else taste like zinc too. The Actifed is the good stuff that you can’t even get anymore without a perscription because it has ephedra in it- it works really well but, combined with the alcohol, makes me a little…let’s just say it feels like I’ve had more then a few beers
uga-brave
June 27th, 2009
2:02 am
bravos2249,
i am a lucky guy. the wife loves baseball and penn state football.
she took me to scottsdale to see the dawgs light up sparky.
we lit up arizonia st. five days in the desert.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:03 am
And the thing is, I never get sick…so on the rare occasions that it happens, it pretty much makes me useless
nolie
June 27th, 2009
2:04 am
without steroids and HGH 37 or 38 is a bitch in athletics, even baseball. In the old days most were gone by then. Exceptions of course, but Chipper’s body has not aged well it seems. He is probably just down like everybody gets and will bounce back.but It can be difficult to adjust to your skills letting you down more and hard to handle the approaching end and it is made worse in his case by the teams’ decline too. I won’t be surprised if he does quit B4 the contract ends. He sure doesn’t need the money.
nolie
June 27th, 2009
2:05 am
so on the rare occasions that it happens, it pretty much makes me useless (CBF)
and this is different from all the rest of the time in what way?
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:06 am
Nolie-
Hey now, remember I get to check out that list before the invites go out…you should be nice to me
Salamander's smokin hot salamander
June 27th, 2009
2:09 am
I’m a 100% smokin hot amphibian. I have large black eyes that will eat your soul – the boys love them. Also, I’m growing my third tail.
Call me.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
2:12 am
Zinc is great stuff Tom. Years ago my doctor told me to take zinc and a lot of the various B vitamins daily. I used to catch something nasty several times a year, I haven’t had a cold or the flu in close to 20 years.
nolie, I agree. The ingredient appears “big time” in my daily multiple vitamins, that I take. My question, to cabravesfan, was to, how is this, combined with her beers, messing her up?
Now, I have a question for you, that I, and most of your friends on the blog, don’t want answered. You said, ” I used to catch something nasty several times a year”. We, of your friends, on the blog, are hoping you are refering to a flu, or cold, … right? Please say, yes…
uga-brave
June 27th, 2009
2:12 am
nolie,
totally outkicked my coverage.
got a laywer wife that looks like heather locklear.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:15 am
Tom-
It’s got more to do with the actifed then the zinc- the zinc is just nasty…
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
2:18 am
combined with the alcohol, makes me a little…let’s just say it feels like I’ve had more then a few beers
Sweetheart, now you’re really trying to get Jim, or myself, to make that flight, aren’t you?
ccrider
June 27th, 2009
2:19 am
The Braves will have to ride this season out with what they have, due to a poor trade market for hitters and an under achieving group of hitters and defenders.
I hate writing this but changes have to be made before next season, as the team is a poor mix of talent, head cases and non performers.
I have a feeling that we have seen the last of Yunel Escobar. His ability is unquestioned, but his mental and maturity missteps have Bobby Cox at the end of his rope.
Everyone has been calling for the trading of Javier Vazquez, but i believe the pitcher most likely to be moved may be Derek Lowe. I know the age and salary is a detriment, but it just takes 1 of the many playoff teams that are desperate for a quality starter to make the trade happen. The $15 million salary could be paid by the Braves for 2009 and most importantly off the payroll in 2010. Texas, L.A. Angels, Brewers, Yankees, Mets, and Phillies are the most obvious, although I doubt Frank Wren would send him to our division rivals.
Soriano and Gonzalez would bring some very nice prospects in return and we could always go after 1 of them in free agency.
I can also see some team trading for Kelly Johnson hoping to correct his problems.
The focus of the teams management, as soon as they are officially far enough out of the race is to trade the players that don’t fit long term due to behavior, salary, under performance or free agency and get as many near ready prospects as possible while at the same time reducing payroll so next year the Braves can fill the holes aggressively with quality players such as Bay, Holiday, Figgins, Derosa, O. Hudson, Scutaro, J. Damon, R. Ankiel. T. Hoffman, B. Wagner.
Heyward, Freeman, Schafer, C. Johnson are on the horizon and combined with Chipper, McCann, McLouth, a few prospects like Brandon Wood, Sean Rodriguez, Matt Gamel, Josh Reddick or Austin Jackson and some veteran free agents like Derosa, Figgins, Holiday and our lineup would match our pitching, which would get us to the playoffs once again.
Adam
June 27th, 2009
2:19 am
Basically on Rome interview Chipper says he hurts every day…. he wants to be around when Braves are good again (I don’t know what he’s thinking) but playing to 20 years is probably out of the question.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:20 am
Tom-
Jim’s long gone dear…
Roman Gal
June 27th, 2009
2:22 am
I saw that Jesus Sucre got promoted to Myrtle Beach. Good for him. Hopefully he’ll get more playing time there.
nolie
June 27th, 2009
2:24 am
I used to catch something nasty several times a year”. We, of your friends, on the blog, are hoping you are refering to a flu, or cold, … right? Please say, yes… (TOM)
no I used to work for TORCHWOOD in Cardiff, Wales-my paternal homeland BTW-and I meant Aliens.Most of whom are allergic to zinc for some reason.
I also used to catch some nasty pitches when I was a catcher….after I had to tell the dummys what to throw of course
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:25 am
Nolie-
For that Torchwood reference you will be given a permenant free pass from me
nolie
June 27th, 2009
2:26 am
got a laywer wife that looks like heather locklear (UGA)
good for you dude. Does she happen to have a somewhat older sister who is just as hot, but dumb enough to put up with me?
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
2:27 am
Tom-
Jim’s long gone dear…
From what I hear, once you talked about your inability to handle your meds and alcohol, he was on his way west. He hired a dogsitter for the week, so what does that tell you? I’ve got “Frank from KS”, keeping an eye out for him. He should be passing by, pretty soon.
nolie
June 27th, 2009
2:29 am
For that Torchwood reference you will be given a permenant free pass from me (CBR)
yeah I put that in there just for you, darlin’. I just finished watching the entire second seasoon on DVD over the last 3 days. Good stuff, no doubt.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:30 am
Tom-
If you want I’ll hold him off until you get here…let you two fight it out
Nolie-
All you have to do is mention that vibrating bed…
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:34 am
Nolie-
It’s one of my favorites- new mini series starts soon (can’t remember exactly when but it looks outstanding)
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
2:38 am
nolie, we do share something else in common, besides the Braves, and our love for sports-minded women. My great-grandfather was from Wales. He was an inventor. ( I think he was working on a vibrating bed, when he died).
uga-brave
June 27th, 2009
2:49 am
nolie,
she does, her older sister is penquin, steelers fan. she is a nurse in pittsburgh.
er nurse. hot chick. and she has a job.
Salamander
June 27th, 2009
2:49 am
My brother was born in Wales. I was born in England.
Cardiff has a pretty vibrant music scene (Super Furry Animals probably being the most well known band from there).
Torchwood? Never heard of it, but I don’t watch much TV other than baseball, the news, and cartoons so not a big surprise.
Tom O'Hawke
June 27th, 2009
2:50 am
LAdy, or nolie, I still have about another hour, or so, of paperwork. So if you’re still up, let me know.
Robert
June 27th, 2009
2:50 am
“Bobby Cox (a caricature of himself at this point in his career)”
I still say that Cox is doing the exact same as he ever has. It’s just that when your biggest challenge is remembering whether to pencil in “Maddux”, “Glavine”, or “Smoltz” into the nine-hole (and he had Mazzone to remind him) it’s easier than when you’d actually have to strategize intelligently in order to win lots of games
Take at close look at the years in the streak. The average number of wins required to win the NL East in those years was like 92 (I did the math at one point – dont remember exactly, but it was low 90’s)
Now does anyone SERIOUSLY think that it took some kind of managerial wizardry or genius to get 92 wins out of a team that pitched first ballot HOFers 3 nights out of 5? (and had a more than averaage 4th starter and at LEAST 2 other future HOFers on the team most every year)?
Cox’s job was EASY during the streak. He had great starting pitchers who needed little teaching and little babysitter-style oversight, he had the best pitching coach of this generation, and he had to beat all of four teams, two of whom were usually out of contention before the season began in any given year.
You dont immediately see how good or bad a manager is when he is consistantly surrounded by top-level talent. You see it
a)when he faces similar top-level talent in a winner-take-all situation (i.e. – the playoffs)
or b)when his talent is mediocre and he has to maneuver skillfully to succeed
When the Braves have been in either one of those aforementioned circumstances, they have consistantly, flagrantly, and undeniably underachieved.
If this isnt empiric proof that Cox is a terrible manager.
For those who want a more thorough established proof – I’m sorry but we cant run the experiment of letting the same team be managed by different guys. The closest example I can provide is the 81 and 82 Braves – two very similar teams managed by Cox and Torre in succesive years. Torre’s efforts were some 11 games better than Donk’s.
Cox has never been anything but a bottom-level in-game strategist. It’s only now, when he is short of high cards, that this has become glaringly obvious on a day to day basis
The emperor has no clothes.
The donkey has no brains
nolie
June 27th, 2009
2:51 am
My great-grandfather was from Wales. He was an inventor. ( I think he was working on a vibrating bed, when he died). (TOM)
good show. My father’s parents were 1st generation miners from Wales worked in the Pennsylvania coal mines. His father died of black lung B4 I was born. Maternal side is split pretty evenly between Scot and Irish lineages, with just one little German who somehow wandered along and got caught. So mostly all Celtic of one kind or another. I still strip down & slather on the blue clay when girding up for the blog wars.
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:51 am
Tom-
I’m actually about to go to bed…I will talk to you tomorrow
cabravesfan
June 27th, 2009
2:52 am
Good night all!
Salamander
June 27th, 2009
2:52 am
Regarding the Cardiff music scene – I should say Super Furry Animals are probably the most well known RECENT band from there. I think Cardiff has been cranking out bands for a while, but many of the bands were making music before I cared about such things.