Braves vs. Phils: Say no more
Braves need Lowe on his game tonight
I was on an elevator with ex-player and current broadcaster Mark Grace and a couple other people last week, when someone asked about some player who’d been pouting about something or other in the past week (no, not Yunel Escobar).
Grace had a general answer that I had’t really thought about, for the attitude or entitlement or thin skin that it seems like a lot of younger players have these days.
”This is the first generation of players to come along since Little League starting giving out trophies to everyone who played,” he said.
And the others of us on the elevator had a collective silence for a moment as that sunk in. I think he’s onto something.
Anyway, just thought I’d share that before we dive into today’s blog, which we’re going to try to keep brief before we head out to the ballpark for the opener of a cruci… oh, I’m not even going to say it. Not going to say crucial series against the Phillies.
Because we’ve been saying crucial series and crucial homestand too much lately. And besides, if the Phillies keep playing as poorly as they have for the past few weeks, both them and the Braves – and the Mets, for that matter – might all be looking up at the Marlins soon.
Florida’s the only NL East team that’s played decent ball in June, and now Fredi Gonzalez’s club has climbed to second place, ahead of the Braves and Mets and only 2-1/2 games behind the phaltering Phils.
For the month of June, the Phillies are 11-14, including 4-11 with a .239 batting average and 5.58 ERA in their past 15 games. But while they’ve lost their past six in a row at home, they’re still a majors-best 26-12 on the road.
Need we remind you, they won every game against the Braves last season at Turner Field? Didn’t think so.
The Braves are 4-2 against the Phillies this season, after going a staggering 4-14 against them in 2008. But they haven’t played them yet this season in Atlanta, only in Philly, where the home team is just 13-22.
(Phillies might be better on the road because they get treated better there they do by their home fans when anything goes wrong; the World Series triumph is long since forgotten by plenty of hard-bitten Philly fans, who gave the home team some slack for a bad series or two this season, but now let them have it with the family City of Brotherly love boos as soon as a game turns screwy).
Anyway, the rest of the division in June: The injury-riddled Mets are 9-17 with a 5.09 ERA and a scoring average of four runs per game in June, with only 14 homers in 26 games. They’ve hit .172 and posted a 6.69 ERA during their current four-game skid against the Mets and Brewers.
The Nationals, if anyone cares, are 9-16 with a .243 batting average and 3.4 scoring average in June.
Braves, well, they’re 10-15 with a solid 3.48 ERA in June — problem is, they’ve averaged only 3.52 runs per game. Doesn’t leave much room for errors (and speaking of errors, they’ve made plenty of errors and mental mistakes).
That 3.52 scoring average might be a bit skewed, too, by a few high-run games.
Here’s what I mean: The Braves are 6-12 with a 3.46 ERA in their past 18 games, and they’ve scored two runs or fewer in nine of those 16. Yes, more than half of their past 16 games, they’ve scored two runs or fewer.
The Marlins, meanwhile, are 16-11 with a .278 average and strong 3.86 ERA in June. They’ve got both quality pitching and the power bats that are coming around after a slow start. The Marlins have hit 29 homers this month, and they just won a series against the Yankees and swept series against Toronto and Baltimore since June 12.
While so many people have focused attention on the Phillies, Mets and even the Braves, the Marlins are again getting the most out of their talent and competing for a division title despite home crowds even punier than the team payroll.
♣ Favorable matchups (?): The pitching matchups would appear to favor the Braves in the series, with Phillies RH Joe Blanton (4-4, 5.06 ERA) going against Derek Lowe (7-6, 4.53 ERA) tonight, followed by Phillies LH Cole Hamels (just 4-4 with a 4.44 ERA this season) against Jair Jurrjens (5-6, 2.93) in the middle game, then a still-unannounced Phillies starter against Mr. Hard Luck, Javier Vazquez (5-7, 3.04).
Vazquez had the NL strikeout lead with 125 until Tim “The Freak” Lincecum passed him last night when Lincecum threw a two-hit, eight-strikeout shutout vs. King Albert and the Cards. Those two could end up passing that strikeout lead back and forth all season.
Of course, with the way Lowe’s pitched lately, hard to say tonight’s matchup favors the Braves. The way he pitched in two of his past three starts, he’d not be favored against anyone.
Lowe is 0-3 with a 12.34 ERA in his past three starts, after going 7-3 with a 3.44 ERA in his first 13. He was rocked for eight runs (six earned) and 11 hits in three innings Thursday against the Yankees, after a similar outing two starts before at Baltimore (he had a quality start at Boston in-between, but it was against Josh Beckett).
Meanwhile, Blanton is 0-1 in his past four starts despite a 3.20 ERA. The Phillies scored one run while he was in two of those games, and two runs while he was in another. He’s 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his past two road starts.
However, Blanton is 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in three starts against the Braves, including a 9.64 ERA in two this season (12 innings, 17 hits, 13 runs).
Still, on the other hand, Lowe is 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA in seven starts against the Phillies since 2005, including eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball in an opening-day Braves win this season at Philly.
So, yeah, we’ve got all manner of trends going in opposite directions. Make of it what you will. It’ll just be interesting to see if Lowe’s been able to pinpoint anything since his last start and make a correction tonight against a lineup that rakes like few others on the road.
♣ Picking up slack: Phillies starting pitchers are last in the NL with a 5.21 ERA, but still have a 25-21 record thanks primarily to huge run support. Their starters ERA is .20 higher than the NL’s next-worst, the Padres (5.01, 21-29).
Meanwhile, Braves starters have the third-best ERA (3.82) behind the Giants (3.69) and Dodgers (3.79). But while Giants starters have a collective 31-24 record and Dodgers starters are 28-19, Braves starters are just 26-29.
Did we mention huge run support?
The Phillies’ team average (.258) is just two points higher than the Braves, but who cares? It’s not important, because the Phillies have a higher OBP lead the NL with 104 homers and 387 runs (the Braves have just 78 homers and 308 runs).
And unlike the Yankees, who hit the bulk of their homers at their bandbox home ballpark, the Phillies actually hit as many on the road (which seems crazy given the ease with which they and other teams have hit homers at Citizens Bank Park since it opened).
The Phillies have a league-high 57 homers on the road, 20 above the NL average and 24 more homers than Braves hitters have hit on the road.
The Phillies have four players with at least eight homers on the road: Chase Utley (eight), Jayson Werth (nine, including one that looked like it might bring down the CN Tower in Toronto last week — God, what a majestic blast that was), Ryan Howard (12) and Raul Ibanez (13).
The Braves? They have no hitter with more than five homers on the road. But at least they execute flawlessly, steal a lot of bases … oh, wait, nevermind. Wrong team.
By the way, did you ever imagine than an in-his-prime Ryan Howard would be the second-best power hitter on his team? He has been this season. Ibanez has been remarkable in his first season since coming over from Seattle.
The Braves are fortunate — Ibanez is still on the DL. His absence has been felt in a major way by the Phillies, and the Braves had best take advantage in this series.
♦ OK, gotta get to the ballpark. I leave you with a choice cut from the Gaslight Anthem’s killer album, The ‘59 Sound. And here’s a great clip of them doing the song live, with a special guest. A very special guest. (Thanks goes to our AJC politics writer Aaron Sheinin, for the link.)
“THE ‘59 SOUND” by Gaslight Anthem
And I wonder which song they’re going to play when we go.
I hope it’s something quiet mannered, peaceful, and slow.
When we throw out into the ether.
Into the everlasting arms.
I hope we don’t hear Marley’s chains before July.
Cause the chains I’ve been hearing now for most of my life.
And the chains I’ve been hearing for most of my life.
To hear the ‘59 sound coming through my Grandfather’s radio.
Did you hear the rattling chains in the hospital walls?
Did you hear the old gospel choir when they came to carry you over?
Did you hear your favorite song one last time?
And I wonder were you scared when the metal hit the glass.
See I was playing a show down the road when your spirit left your body.
And they told me on the front lawn, I’m sorry I couldn’t go.
But I still know the song and the words and the name and the reasons.
And I know cause we were kids and we used to hang.
And I know cause we were kids and we used to hang.
To hear the ‘59 sound coming through my Grandfather’s radio.
Did you hear the rattling chains in the hospital walls?
Did you hear the old gospel choir when they came to carry you over?
Did you hear your favorite song one last time?
Young boys……..young girls.
Young boys……..young girls.
Ain’t supposed to die on a saturday nights.
Ain’t supposed to die on a saturday.
Well they ain’t supposed to die on a saturday night.
Ain’t supposed to die on a saturday night.
To hear the ‘59 sound coming through my Grandfather’s radio.
Did you hear the rattling chains in the hospital walls?
Did you hear the old gospel choir when they came to carry you over?
Did you hear your favorite song one last time?
Young boys…….young girls.
Young boys…….young girls.
2,469 comments Add your comment
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:27 pm
DOB what do you think about what I am thinking.
I wonder if where Jordan Schafer holds the bat might be the reason for him struggling. He keeps his hands a little lower than his chest. He also holds them out front. He can’t generate proper bat speed when the pitcher throws the fastball right at his hands. Most batter hold the hands higher in their setup to generate bat speed when the begin thier swing. While holding their hands high and back they are able to generate speed while moving their hands forward. Hopefully that is correctable. What do you guys think.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
He also has no load mechanism with his hands, that if he develops should help increase his power production. I understand he has put up good Minor League Numbers, but the quality of fastballs he will see at the ML level are so much better that he needs to make adjustments.
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
“”The Braves? They have no hitter with more than five homers on the road. But at least they execute flawlessly, steal a lot of bases … oh, wait, nevermind. Wrong team.”"
Very funny stuff DOB…
Scott K.
June 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
I felt that Schafer was just dropping his back shoulder and thus his hands before swinging. This was causing him to swing late and under on fastballs, and when he did hit them it caused him to pop them up.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:32 pm
Scott K.
If you are watching the game, he holds his hands lower than any current player I have seen. That is fine for away pitches, but he can’t catchup on even average fastballs.
Scott K.
June 30th, 2009
2:34 pm
Rob from SC (howdy from Florence!),
When you say “If you are watching the game,” are you referring to a specific game or just his stance in general?
I know that I specifically remember watching him every day during his horrible slump in the majors and it just seemed to me that dropping his back shoulder was causing him some problems.
Goodoleboy
June 30th, 2009
2:34 pm
Last night’s dream was vida guerra but Werth for KK and Medlen was being discussing on Sportscenter in the background
Bring Back Andruw
June 30th, 2009
2:34 pm
It’d be nice if Lowe earned some of that 60MM tonight in a big game.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:35 pm
Scott K.
Today’s game is on MLB network and his stance is exactly the same. He is dipping his shoulder as well.
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
2:36 pm
rob, whatever problems Schafer might have been having in April, raising his hands, lengthening his swing, and loading deeper ain’t the solution.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
2:36 pm
Shamus Tucker…
Those Nasty Stats That D.O.B. Brought up is salt in the wound to braves fans…I can’t believe how garbage our offense has been…
We Gotta start turning it around quick and at leats take 2 of three since we have favorable matchups…
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:37 pm
Scott. The dip in his shoulder might be him trying to generate bat speed. He needs to raise his hands or he won’t hit the inside fastball.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
2:37 pm
Thanks for the new Blog, Chief! That is a very good point by Mark Grace…I think he’s onto something, too…
From the last Blog:
AndyC That is a very specific dream you had last night
Mine cann be that way sometimes…first dream I ever had about BMac was even more specific than that…
Um…But yeah, I guess I’d take that, too, seein’ as how the dude still gave him a single, thus making his AVG and OBP go up. And hey, the Braves still got two runs on the board…
Course, if something like that did happen, they might not take both RBI away, but that might depend on how many outs there were.
Roman Gal I never like that movie, Charlotte’s Web.
Hmm…why am I not surprised…?
jason BMac is good, and as you have pointed out, he is getting even better.
Oh yeah!
Lamar Banks Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa have be traded to the Braves for Bobby Cox and Casey Kotchman.
Impossible! BMac and I were already traded to the Cardinals for Pujols and Molina! Yep…tonight’s our last night with the Braves…
Scott K.
June 30th, 2009
2:37 pm
Rob from SC,
I see, I don’t have MLB network access. I would be interested in seeing tape of his stance/swing in the minors and spring training as opposed to tape of his struggles in the majors this year.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:38 pm
ncscoots Raising his hands, as long at he brings them straight to the ball will not lengthen his swing.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 30th, 2009
2:38 pm
Rob from SC,
So I take it Schafer hasn’t looked good in his at bats today?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:39 pm
Scott K.
The problem Schafer is facing is that Major League pitchers will throw the fastball right under his hands every pitch until he proves he can hit it. Minor Leaguers are not the good
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:39 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
He took strike three right at his hands.
bmacnation.com
June 30th, 2009
2:39 pm
Bring Back Andruw,
I agree. He went 8 scoreless earlier this year against the Phils, I fully expect him to have a great start tonight.
Thrillhouse44
June 30th, 2009
2:40 pm
Lowe turns it around tonight, Kelly goes 4-5, Francoeur goes 3-4 with a walk, and the blog goes silent tomorrow. Could it happen?
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
I dunno. I never got much consolation from receiving the retard trophy. It always made me feel like a retard when I received it. I never got the good trophies, but my brother always did. He even had a few MVP trophies. I’d stare at them at night, and sometimes cry myself to sleep, knowing I’ll never be better than the retard trophy.
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
A friend gave HUGE kudos to a BBQ joint in Hiram today. It would help if I could remember the name. It was something like “Dan and Paul’s;” I’m certain the Dan part is correct. Anyway, it’s across from Wal Mart, anybody heard of it?
I’ll make the trek Saturday and post my review. Now, if the windows are past a certain point of clean I may not stop, so don’t hold me firmly to it.
Epinephrine
June 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
This is probably a make or break series. If the Braves can beat the Phils, there is still a legit reason to call this team “contenders”. We have our best three pitchers going, and everyone is healthy. If we cannot manage to take the series, may need to start thinking about what deals make sense for 2010 2011.
It’s just…man the NL East is bad. But a series win here-even, dare I say, a sweep, then heading into Washington…if there was a time for the Bravos to reel off 6/7 or 7/8, this is it.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:42 pm
I love prospects and hate to trade them, Sometimes I am guilty of over valuing prospects. Schafer needs to make an adjustment in his stance. He has always K’d at a high rate. I would be interested ti see how many of those strikeouts were inside fastballs.
getsomewins
June 30th, 2009
2:42 pm
Braves need to see what Cleveland would take for V-Mart (anyone not named Jason Heyward or Tommy Hanson).
I think Cleveland MIGHT take Freeman, Medlen, Francoeur, Kelly Johnson, and a low level prospect.
Next, deal Kotchman to the Red Sox for Ramon Ramirez
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
2:43 pm
You want bad intentions, try a kid who went through grade school with THAT name. ncscoots
What kind of fascist ba$tard would make a 5-year old have to spell “Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg”? That’s just torture.
LOSTlover
June 30th, 2009
2:43 pm
As long as we can keep Kelly from dropping the pop ups in the ninth, we might win one or two this series.
No, I’ll never forget.
getsomewins
June 30th, 2009
2:43 pm
Then trade Garret Anderson to Rays for Joe Nelson
Renegator
June 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
BSPN is reporting that Carlos Beltran got a second opinion on his knee and it confirmed that he would NOT need surgery. He is expected back around the All Star break.
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
Gotta toughen the kid up somehow, Roman Gal.
Coulda just named him “Sue,” though.
getsomewins
June 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
Lineup after the trades:
1. McLouth
2. Infante (when he returns)
3. C. Jones
4. V. Martinez
5. McCann
6. Escobar
7. Matt Diaz
8. Prado
Thrillhouse44
June 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
Willy Wally, you should sell your retard trophy on eBay. They’re hot in the streets right now.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
Imagine had they brough him up early to have a Schafer-esque result.
Hanson would be in a corner somewhere crying his eyes out.
getsomewins
June 30th, 2009
2:46 pm
Bullpen –
Gonzalez
Soriano
Moylan
O’Flaherty
Ramirez
Nelson
Acosta
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
2:46 pm
Chop Chop-
You’ve got a point. But, at least Sue is easy to spell.
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
2:47 pm
A bad bone bruise in the knee is not a fun thing to have. I got one of those while working at UPS years ago. Took me a couple of weeks before I could really bend the knee normally.
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
2:47 pm
Not through the tears, Roman Gal.
Not through the tears…
Nova Scotia Steve
June 30th, 2009
2:47 pm
Thrillhouse44
June 30th, 2009
2:40 pm
Lowe turns it around tonight, Kelly goes 4-5, Francoeur goes 3-4 with a walk, and the blog goes silent tomorrow. Could it happen?
I gunna go with no’s across the board on that one…maybe Lowe turning it around is your best bet
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
2:48 pm
Subtract bats and add pitching. Just what this team needs……..
getsomewins
June 30th, 2009
2:53 pm
Epinephrine -
I have bigger questions about the Braves ability to beat the Nationals 2 of 3 than them beating the Phillies
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
2:54 pm
I see Jon Heyman at SI.com has Soriano and Vasquez on his all-star team…oh yeah, and that guy of ours behind the plate. What’s his name?
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
2:55 pm
bad bone bruise in the knee is not a fun thing to have. I got one of those while working at UPS years ago. Took me a couple of weeks before I could really bend the knee normally. (CHOP CHOP)
In the words of Biggie Smalls:
You’re mad cause my style you’re admiring
Don’t be mad, UPS is hiring
dmack2027
June 30th, 2009
2:55 pm
DOB,
Looks as if your Jayhawks might be losing Xavier and CJ Henry.
Just heard a portion of an interview where Carl Henry stated that X would have gone to my beloved Kentucky Wildcats had his mother not injected her opinion. Now the mother has told Xavier that she does not care where he goes, and Xavier is thinking of going to Kentucky.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:55 pm
Schafer’s next at-bat was a fastball right under his hands and he hit a little dribbler for an infield hit. He needs to change his stance in order to hit that pitch.
dmack2027
June 30th, 2009
2:56 pm
Neither have enrolled in classes at KU, so they could go anywhere.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
2:56 pm
A hit! A hit!!
Yay, Schafer!
Duke
June 30th, 2009
2:56 pm
Nice post thrillhouse, made me laugh out loud
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:56 pm
Also looked like he hurt his wrist on the swing
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:57 pm
Roman Gal
The softest hit I have seen. LOL
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
2:57 pm
and he hit a little dribbler for an infield hit.
Hey, a hit is a hit.
Supes
June 30th, 2009
2:57 pm
getsomewins,
I think you are SERIOUSLY overvaluing Victor Martinez.
Guy is a solid hitter with decent power, but he’s a subpart fielding 1B and the Braves already have an all star catcher behind the dish.
DOB,
Some great stats in this blog. It’s a shame that the Braves starters are third in ERA and have a sub .500 record combined!
It’s all on the offense so far.
Shame too, Wren hitched his wagon to Schafer (early on before we got McLouth), Jeff (FRANCINE) and KJ (hot and cold).
Now the Braves are paying the price for that.
Hey, at least we get Nate and Esco back in the lineup today…so we’ll be contending with 5 good hitters (Chipper, B-Mac, Esco, Nate and Anderson). Have a chance to win unless Lowe gives it away with that sinker that “doesn’t sink”.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
2:58 pm
are you watching Roman Gal
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
2:58 pm
Not through the tears… Chop Chop
Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg’s tears would bring world peace and end world hunger.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 30th, 2009
2:59 pm
Rob from SC,
Do you think that his stance is an issue for the recurring wrist issue?
Seems like if he hurt it a few weeks ago on a swing, and hurt it again on a swing, both from trying to hit the inside pitch… maybe an adjustment does need to be made…..
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
2:59 pm
Biggie Smalls woulda been hilarious to see unloading a truck. Dude woulda broke his sacroiliac.
Bodacious
June 30th, 2009
2:59 pm
Random question: Who was the guy who hurt his neck running into the wall against the Bravos in the 90s? I’m thinking Reds and Bip Roberts, but I can’t seem to find evidence anywhere.
Emmitt
June 30th, 2009
2:59 pm
Ted Williams and Barry Bonds held their hands very low as well. They didn’t have any problems catching up with fast balls from what I remember. I’m just saying….
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:00 pm
are you watching Roman Gal
Who’s watching me?!
JK. No, I don’t have MLB Network. I’ll trust your judgement, doesn’t mean that I’m not going to put a positive spin on everything he does.
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
3:00 pm
A good, AUTHENTIC, BBQ joint, needs no window shades. The glass should contain enough smoke and just plain filth to give everything that surreal barbecugasmic glow.
Shoot, I’m gonna have to head to a place here in town where the Q is less than supreme. It ain’t all that great, but it’s a fix till I can do better. I should never write about BBQ unless I have a pound of the good stuff (from another town, or my smoker) lying around…
See y’all later…
good call
June 30th, 2009
3:01 pm
just discovered the gaslight anthem a few weeks ago. the ‘59 sound is an incredibly good album top to bottom. they should be announcing some more dates for the fall soon. DOB, is their earlier stuff as good?
Crazy Trades McGee
June 30th, 2009
3:01 pm
I can’t tell, is it the same person who continues to believe that we can trade for V-Mart?
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
3:02 pm
Yeah, Thrillhouse, while flicking through channels the other day, I came across some show where some lady had called 911 saying something about her baby not breathing and so on. The EMS folks came out and she was only talking about a cat. They wanted to arrest her, but they saw she had Special Olympics awards on her wall, so they left her alone.So, evidently, you’re right, the retard trophies are indeed the thing to have out on the street these days.
getsomewins
June 30th, 2009
3:02 pm
I know I’m gonna get reamed for my trade proposals, but I think V-Mart would be a great #4 hitter for us, and this lineup would start scoring runs. Also, the bullpen would get fortified with guys (Ramirez in particular) who can spell Moylan in the 7th or even Soriano/Gonzalez in the 8th.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:02 pm
Rob from SC-
What was the “On-field Delay” right after Schafer’s stolen base?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:02 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
He has the same stance he had in Atlanta. Brian Jordan was talking about how Jordan Schafer didn’t see many inside fastballs in A or AA because pitchers are not normally comfortable throwing inside at a young age.
joe
June 30th, 2009
3:02 pm
Original Jon,
holy cow, you still don’t get it.
#1 i don’t hit refresh ever second.
#2 i suggested trading straight up, two comparable players, one of which is slightly younger and makes less money. obviously, there is no “upside” to KJ other than that he makes a little less and is alittle younger. the only advantage Felipe Lopez has over KJ is a slightly longer track record, and better batting stats this year.
this could be minor trade that would be advantageous for both teams. i did not, in SERIOUSNESS, suggest Kelly has any upside. Again, sarcasm and facetiousness….apparently lost on you altogether. continue with your job, you’re probably better at that.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:03 pm
Roman Gal
Louisville manager argued catcher interference on Schafer’s stolen base
Crazy Trades McGee
June 30th, 2009
3:03 pm
I think we should trade the entire Braves batting and fielding portion of the roster for the entire same portion of the Phillies roster. BAM! Problem solved. I’m a GENIUS.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
3:03 pm
It’s not where you hold your hands, it’s where they end up when you complete your stride and plant your front foot. I’ve seen video from a lot of really good hitters with wildly different stances, and they all end up in very similar (if not the same) position once their front foot touches the ground. Tinkering with how Schafer holds his bat while the pitcher takes is signs ain’t gonna fix nothing.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
3:04 pm
RG-
first, you diss my catcher. Then you diss one of my favorite pitchers by spelling his name wrong! (and that after tyrping Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg 900 times) The pitchfork is ready…I’m pondering if I should add flames
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:04 pm
getsomewins-
You won’t get reamed as long as you don’t talk about trading untradeable players, trading for undtradeable players, trying to pawn off our scraps for some other team’s superstar, or propose trading Jordan Schafer or Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg for…well, anyone.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
3:04 pm
http://www.rightviewpro.com/how-rvp-works/concept/mantle
Crazy Trades McGee
June 30th, 2009
3:05 pm
Can you trade Season Records? If so we should trade our record + Francoeur, for the Red Sox Record. That would get us into first in the NL East for sure.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:06 pm
cab-
You really gonna get on my case about spelling?? Hmmmm?????
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:07 pm
Anybody else reading the “Live Chat with Mark Teixeria” right now?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:07 pm
Steve from OH
But he never raises his hands.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
3:07 pm
Notice how Mantle’s hands rest near the plane of his uniform lettering, whereas Ichiro’s are near his ear. Notice the difference in strides in frames 2-3. But notice the very similar hand and head positioning in frame 4 (footplant) and notice how their shoulder planes are similar.
Epinephrine
June 30th, 2009
3:08 pm
Beating the Nationals is fine from a pride point of view, but it doesn’t tell the Braves anything about their ability to contend. Beating them is a must. If you drop a series to the Nats 5 games out near the break, the question of whether to aim for 2010 becomes a no brainer.
Also, STOP WITH THE V MART. IT IS NOT HAPPENING.
1) We don’t need a first baseman or catcher. Casey Kotchman is coming off the books right around the time that the Braves have Freddy Freeman penciled in at first. Also, our defense is suspect enough as is. And we have a fine backup catcher for when Mac is sitting. It addresses nothing except getting a right handed bat. Yes, the Braves need a right handed bat. But they do not need one at 1B. They need a bat as a salve against the out machines located at 2B and RF.
2) The Indians are not shopping V-Mart
3) We don’t have the payroll to take V-Mart on
4) Even if we made a square peg fit in a round hole, it would cost us our one current strength-starting pitching. Kris Medlen isn’t ready, and he may never be more than a bullpen pitcher. The Braves have no idea what they are going to get from Tim Hudson. So dealing Vazquez for a short term solution to a lack of a right hand bat is just silly. If you deal Vazquez, you do it for 2010 and beyond.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:08 pm
The problem is that Schafer has his hands so low that he can’t get on top of a higher fastball. Also his hands are so far forward. Why not keep you hands back in order to prevent extra unneeded movement on your swing
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
3:09 pm
Neither does Mantle.
jason
June 30th, 2009
3:09 pm
I am also curious to see if Schaefer was was having trouble on the inside pitch. I am no hitter. I pitched in what little baseball expirence. I thought it was a natural reaction from injuring the wrist. Like he couldn’t draw his hands in quick enough on the inside fastball. But what do I know, hitting was not my forte.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
3:10 pm
Yeah, Chop Chop, my brother’s a cop, and whenever he hears Biggie go on in a song about his dope selling days, my brother’s like that fat ba$tard would have made for the sorriest, most useless drug dealer ever. He’s like first of all, the dude is like 6′4″, 300 pounds, who do you think the cop is gonna see first when we ride on up? He’s too fat to run away when you chase after him. He wasn’t the strongest or most athletic looking cat, so there wasn’t gonna be much of a fight once you got your hands on him even though he’s that big and heavy. Also, being as fat as he was, his movements are too slow and deliberate to be slick enough to conceal where he’s hiding the drugs. But then my brother’s like it would have been hard to detect drugs hidden in a fat fold during a pat down if a fat fold is where he hid his drugs.
getsomewins
June 30th, 2009
3:11 pm
Also, STOP WITH THE V MART. IT IS NOT HAPPENING
No. lol
And part of division winning teams is beating the teams that you should beat. I’m not sure these Braves are there.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
3:12 pm
RG-
I know, and I deserved that…I really do need to proofread. But I do know how to spell VAZQUEZ
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:12 pm
Steve
What can Schafer do to hit the inside fastball with authority
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 30th, 2009
3:12 pm
Rob from SC,
I understand that it is the same stance as it was in Atlanta, but do you think that may be causing part of the problem with his wrist injuries as well?
Lamar Banks
June 30th, 2009
3:12 pm
LMAO Crazy Trades McGee
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:13 pm
cab-
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
Oh, look!! [points behind you]
A spider!!!!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:14 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
Yes I think the wrist is part of the problem, but he has always had a problem with the strikeout.
DAP
June 30th, 2009
3:15 pm
im not a hitting expert, but it seems to me that schafer could hit the high inside pitch if his hands are quick enough to get the bat head out front…basically hitting the ball before it travels to deep. everyone has agreed that schafer’s bat speed had been affected by his wrist injury, so….maybe the inside pitch wont be quite as handcuffing once his wrist heals completely.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
3:15 pm
Steve
What can Schafer do to hit the inside fastball with authority
I don’t have any slo-mo video on Schafer and I’m not a scout, so that’s a good question. It seems to me that he could stand to learn to recognize the pitch better, and get his wrists healthy. Practice, practice, practice. If he didn’t have good swing mechanics he wouldn’t be a top prospect and he wouldn’t have put up the numbers he has in the minors.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:17 pm
This Mark Teixeira chat is soooo lame!
He’s a total Yankee suck-up now. Not just like a normal player might be, he’s baaaaaddd. Bleh…
Thrillhouse44
June 30th, 2009
3:17 pm
He’s too fat to run away when you chase after him.
Did you see Notorious, Willy Wally? That’s pretty much how he got caught, but his boy took the fall for him. Now, I’m down for my friends and all, but I’m not doing time in the pen for any of them. They’re lucky to get a free round off me. But that’s not where I was going with this. Oh, anyways, dude sounds out of breath every time he’s interviewed – perhaps he should have sold more crack – it was probably the most exercise he got.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
3:18 pm
DAP–I think that’s a big part of it. I also think that well-located inside fastballs are tough to hit, no matter how good you are. As for the strikeouts, Rob, I don’t really give tow sh!ts because it means that he’s working the count and drawing a lot of walks.
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
3:19 pm
Mark Grace thinks he is clued into some grand social inadequacy that puts a generation of players at a disadvantage competitively – because he thinks they all got trophies for just playing? Gimme a break. Sounds like the one that I heard years ago about how society changed when fathers stopped taking their kids to the corner barbershop and relied more on mothers and salons to get the job done. Grace heard someone say that and he thought it sounded cool so he is repeating it…and it is wrong. Little leaguers have been getting trophies for just participating for 30+ years. And for the same amount of time, little leaguers have been required to play a minimum amount of innings per game, regardless of skill level. It’s a comical statement, but for every Escobar that throws a hissy fit, you can argue that McCann, McClouth, and Frenchy are the opposite – and from the same generation. I’m sure if asked, Mark Grace could name a few whiney b*itches from his playing days.
getsomewins
June 30th, 2009
3:19 pm
V-Mart, V-Mart, V-Mart!!!!! lol
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:19 pm
Steve
What we don’t know is how many of Schafer’s minor league strikeouts were on that pitch. If it is a high percentage then he has a problem that needs to be corrected.
Dan Fan
June 30th, 2009
3:20 pm
I agree with what Mark Grace said but I don’t think it applies to Escobar considering where he came from. He was hardly from the land of trophies for t-ballers.
I’m not sure what Escobar’s problem is other than he’s pretty immature and has been given a pass for bad behavior because of his prodigious baseball talent. His arse should have been kicked when he got in the fistfight w/Blauser in Mississippi.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:21 pm
Steve
you should give two Sh*** because the strikeouts got he a ticket back to AAA.
TnBrian
June 30th, 2009
3:21 pm
Anybody know why my laptop isn’t charging? First time it’s ever happend and thought maybe somebody here would know what’s up…be much appreciated.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
3:22 pm
Roman Gal oh yeah, and that guy of ours behind the plate. What’s his name?
Bryan McCain.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
3:22 pm
I don’t think there’s any doubt that he needs to address that part of his swing, Rob. But stiking out, in general, is a vastly overrated area of offensive performance. It really doesn’t mean diddly squat for hitters.
Duke
June 30th, 2009
3:23 pm
Rob,
Just butting in, but I feel like if Jordan would get his hands a little farther back in a load position but not too far away from his body and not too high above his shoulders. He needs to work on a hands to the ball drill. Maybe a broom stick to golf balls. Just hitting the balls with the end of the broom stick using only his hands and wrist while rotating his body
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:25 pm
TnBrian-
Before I say anything, are you sure it’s plugged in?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:26 pm
Duke
I really think his hand position is a major part of the problem.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
3:26 pm
Dangit…no Van Pope?
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:27 pm
McFann-
Wait! Are you sure? I thought his name was Four-Eyes?
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
3:27 pm
From what I gathered Schafer had problems bringing his hands in to adjust to the high and tight fastball. But I’m no expert.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
3:27 pm
I’m just shocked to learn they have electricity in Tennessee these days so that TnBrian can charge up a laptop when he learns how to
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
3:29 pm
Brian McCann’t Start An All Star Game
DAP
June 30th, 2009
3:29 pm
epinephrine
re: your 3:08, you are right that victor martinez trade wont happen, but 1) the braves need to upgrade anywhere they can, and if that means 1st base, then do it. not getting a better first baseman because the one we have is under control for a few years is a terrible idea. the team needs t be improved, and 1st base is an area that could be upgraded.
2) this is correct
3) you have no way of knowing this unless you work i the braves front office.
4) the tribe would be looking for prospects anyways, not someone like vazquez.
TnBrian
June 30th, 2009
3:29 pm
Roman Gal, everything is plugged in…my Tn brain knows that much.
rammerjammer
June 30th, 2009
3:30 pm
Little league trophies = big league hissy fits? If Grace was being sarcastic, that’s pretty funny. If he was serious, well, that’s funny in a different way.
bmacnation.com
June 30th, 2009
3:30 pm
Roman Gal,
I think Tex loves NY so much because he has a secret passion for Broadway musicals. Not making that up, heard him say it in an interview last season.
N8
June 30th, 2009
3:31 pm
Why stop with simple trades of “bit” parts? Just do it right.
I propose trading the Braves for the Red Sox. But Wren must insist on keeping Hanson. The Chowders can keep Smoltz. Don’t want him. Oh. They can have Varitek and Ortiz, too. We’ll keep McCann and Francoeur. For one, McFann would be pizzed if she had to become a Red Sox fan, and what? You actually thought getting rid of 99 percent of the roster means Francoeur was actually going to go away? Dream on.
Here’s my lineup after the trade:
Drew RF
Pedroia 2B
Youkilis 3B
Bay LF
McCann CA
Kotsay 1B
Ellsbury CF
N. Green SS
And the Rotation:
Beckett
Wakefield
Hanson
Lester
Penny
Oh yeah. We’d have Boston’s bullpen too.
I predict THIS version of the Atlanta Braves might win the NL East (just so long as Bobby leaves Francoeur on the bench).
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
3:31 pm
Last thing on Schafer
He starts with his hands up front, then brings them back then up front again. He has swung through every fastball. He needs to try starting with his hands back. Get rid of all the extra movement.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
3:31 pm
Roman Gal–
Hmm…I think you’re closer with that one…I think I better look this up…
Willy Wally–
Not cool.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:31 pm
I think Tex loves NY so much because he has a secret passion for Broadway musicals.
There’s nothing wrong with Broadway musicals! He’s got that going for him.
Herschel Talker
June 30th, 2009
3:32 pm
It’s blind homer time, starring DOB. DOB will excuse anything and everything and will claim that the Braves “have ‘em just where they want ‘em!” Can we please get someone who will tell it like it is? Maybe Robert can start a blog.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
3:32 pm
18 Wheels of Love, what Grave meant was that players today think they are entitled to being treated like stars although they haven’t earned such a status. A lot of kids in little league are coddled and not really taught the right way and wrong way to do things. They are told how great they are even when they aren’t. I know what I’m talking about because I have 3 kids in little league and have spent every day for the last 3 months at a field of some kind and saw it everyday. Kids aren’t drvien to be the best they can be and the ones who are really good are pampered from a young age. So, when they get older they feel they should continue to be pampered and spoiled. Grace is totally right!
Knowitall
June 30th, 2009
3:33 pm
TnBrianRoman Gal, everything is plugged in
Next step, is your electricity on?
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:33 pm
TnBrian-
Just to be sure…
My laptop’s power cord has 3 places where it can come unconnected and stop the power flow. Is the cord completely put together without anything coming loose?
Coldwork
June 30th, 2009
3:33 pm
Schafer’s hands are low and his swing is long making it near impossible to get to a fastball above the belt on the inner half. Their are many fixes to this problem, but the hitter has to buy into any solution.
pinkygonzales
June 30th, 2009
3:33 pm
DOB,
Was wondering how far away Infante is from coming back and if there has been any discussion about sending both Hernandez and Blanco back to the minors when he does and perhaps bringing up a third catcher so Bobby could use David Ross more often in pinch hitting situations. He’s one of our biggest threats of the bench, but Bobby doesn’t like using him as a pinch hitter. But with Infante’s flexibility, he could be the fifth outfielder as well as a back-up infielder along with Prado. Also, wondering if Ross has ever taken any balls at first base. Just a thought.
Duke
June 30th, 2009
3:34 pm
Good point, any extra movement his usually bad movement. Keeping your body quiet and still is what a good hitter is looking to do.
Wes
June 30th, 2009
3:34 pm
You guys think we can get Viktor Martinez for John Halama?
Coldwork
June 30th, 2009
3:34 pm
I agree with the extra movement on Schafer’s swing Rob. Needs a more direct and simple swing.
Wes
June 30th, 2009
3:35 pm
Whoops: Victor
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
3:35 pm
Neight–
Yeah, you bet I would!
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
3:35 pm
I really think his hand position is a major part of the problem.
Jeez, bro, we get that, LOL. The fifteen posts on it gave it away.
AndyC
June 30th, 2009
3:36 pm
McFann
Are you talking about what I think you are talking about? No, never mind. I don’t want to know.
dogsbrekky
June 30th, 2009
3:37 pm
Did I see that we had assigned KJ and Frenchy to AAA?
wait………
nope, didnt think so, and so until then we will be mediocrites !!!
DAP
June 30th, 2009
3:39 pm
N8, there is no such position as CA.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
3:40 pm
No offense, but I haven’t heard that much complaining about hand positioning since, well, I’ll wait until McFann goes to bed to tell that one
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
3:41 pm
I understand what Grace is talking about and I don’t agree with it. Tell McCann he is not driven. Tell that to Frenchy. Grace is taking a single example and trying to make a statement about society – and it doesn’t work that way. We have it easier than our parents did because we have the internet automatic coffee makers, does that mean we work any less than they did or are less driven? Not necessarily. There are just as many good players now as there were during Grace’s playing days and just as many whiny players. Pete Rose would say the same about Grace’s generation and Ty Cobb would say the same about Rose’s generation. It’s a funny thing to say but it doesn’t carry any weight.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
3:41 pm
AndyC–
Well, it wasn’t anything naughty, if that’s what you’re wondering…
TnBrian
June 30th, 2009
3:41 pm
Roman Gal, yeah mine is like that and everything looks fine. Oh well, appreciate the help!
BL
June 30th, 2009
3:43 pm
The only place Schafer’s hands need to be are around a dumbell trying to get stronger. His 63 K’s on the year STILL lead the team and those games still count whether he is in the minors or not! Tired of hearing about KJ and Frenchy on here. Time to start holding EVERYONE on this year’s club accountable. Those 2 haven’t held 1-6 spots all that much this year have they?
Greg in TN
June 30th, 2009
3:44 pm
Afternoon denizens…
It’s okay DOB, you can say it. It’s a pretty key series with the lads of Ben Franklin coming to town and I think it’s pretty amazing that the Braves have already matched the win total against those pfree pfalling pfills. The Braves are 4-2 against both the pfills and the Nationals and need to continue the status quo if Wren and Co are to be buyers in a month’s time and not sellers.
Wheel of Fortune may not be visiting Danville anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean one can’t find a pleathora of consonants and vowells on the back of the uniforms of the D-Braves. Got to hand it to you, Roman Gal, I’ve been chuckling at the Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg watch so far (and isn’t that a GREAT name for a guy playing first by the way? Furstenburg? Classic).
But with Furstenburg, Ryohei Shimabukuro and Daniel Elorriaga-Matra all on the Danville roster at the same time, I have to wonder if the D-Braves are going to have Optometrist night at the ‘ol ballpark in Danville anytime soon.
Logan
June 30th, 2009
3:46 pm
Gwinnett just committed a league high 79th team error. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Lou 5 Gwinnett 1 bottom of the sixth.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
3:46 pm
RG-
You made the decision easy…flames are a must
wjones
June 30th, 2009
3:47 pm
I wasn’t aware that Cuba had Little League. Strange that Escobar, of all people, would act this way. While you might expect McCann and Frenchy to feel entitlements, from their upper-middle class upbringings, here is a guy who risked his life to come here! Hard to understand.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
3:48 pm
18 Wheelers, you’re missing the point. It has nothing to do with good players. It has to do with attitude. For every Brian McCann I can show you 30 Yunel Escobars, Carlos Zambranos and Milton Bradleys. And even with Francouer. I can bet he always had those bad habits but because he was always so talented nobody ever wanted to confront him. But when he got to the Majors he was no longer the most talented kid on the field. He was just average and needed to make those adjustments but balked at doing it because he figured, “I’m fine the way I am. I’ve always been fine so I don’t need to change.” Dude, this current generation feels entitled in general. That is why most of them don’t want to work or put any effort into anything. They feel everything should just be handed to them.
Larry
June 30th, 2009
3:48 pm
“While so many people have focused attention on the Phillies, Mets and even the Braves, the Marlins are again getting the most out of their talent and competing for a division title despite home crowds even punier than the team payroll.”
Hear that? Most of their talent combined with the lowest payroll in baseball!
That, my friends, is called managing, coaching and leadership, a quality sorely lacking in the home team’s dugout at Turner field!
brent a.
June 30th, 2009
3:48 pm
We do cater to our kids in this culture; that said, I think most, if not all major leaguers worked very, very hard to get where they are and understand hard work and dedication.
Do you see Brian McCann acting like a spoiled brat all the time? Ever?
I think people have thrown fits all their life. I think they show up on ESPN 24/7 and like swine flu and a southern governor’s affair, we get inundated with this stuff like its big news.
Watch Ken Burns’ baseball documentary and see how many guys threw fits and played like spoiled brats.
Ty Cobb once pulled a Ron Artest and beat up a crippled man, and he was one of the all-time greats. In 1986 when Pete Rose was chasing Cobb, how much did you hear about that incident?
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:48 pm
I have to wonder if the D-Braves are going to have Optometrist night at the ‘ol ballpark in Danville anytime soon.
Haha. That’s a great idea! The Braves have some pretty freaky-named players…
Furstenburg? Classic.
Holy Cornelia! You’re right! Didn’t even think of that…Of course, now McFann and cabravesfan are really gonna be getting on my case.
Space Monkey
June 30th, 2009
3:50 pm
BL: Not sure I understand your 1-6 comment on KJ and Frenchy. KJ was leadoff “hitter” most of the year. Cox stubbornly stuck with him, even after the rest of the league knew he was a sure out. As for Frenchy, he played quite a few games in the 4-5-6 holes.
DOB: Thanks for turning me on to Gaslight Anthem. Very solid band.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:50 pm
I do not fear you, cabravesfan. I am from the South. I know how to evade a flaming pitchfork!
N8
June 30th, 2009
3:50 pm
Sorry DAP. On that piece of information, Wren should back out of the proposed deal.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
3:51 pm
Escobar’s in the lineup. Not sure about McLouth, but assuming he is. Haven’t been downstairs yet. Going now, had hoped they’d post lineup up here before I went down.
DAP
June 30th, 2009
3:52 pm
18 Wheels, i feel the same way, but i couldnt say it like that.
i was just going to say something like: its retarded to think that some people get bad attitudes when criticized because they all got trophies in little league.
not that i dont think we have alot of people who feel entitled to things that they arent, i just dont think its just because they all got trophies in little league. we do live in a society right now where it seems like the absolute worst thing you can do to someone is hurt their feelings. i hate that.
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
3:52 pm
Don’t they also have a Kayaunnis (or something like that) on the Danville roster?
N8
June 30th, 2009
3:52 pm
Again, we’ve got the imposter back to play with the big kids.
The first 3:50 post to getsomewins was NOT me.
Looks like somebody could use some new Legos to play with. Wuz da madder, did mommy not hug you enough? Or did Uncle Chester hug you too much?
Time to go incognito again. Sooner or later, the smart ones will figure out my other moniker when there is imposters running wild on the blog.
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
3:52 pm
I’d tell you ’bout the crack I sold,
But I lost it in my left fat fold.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
Greg in TN Furstenburg? Classic.
Haha! So he has to stay at first now!
WW No offense, but I haven’t heard that much complaining about hand positioning since, well, I’ll wait until McFann goes to bed to tell that one
OK, I don’t know what that means, but keep in mind that I read a lot of the late-night blogging the next morning.
rammerjammer
June 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
TnBrian, is it plugged into a GFI outlet? You know, one with red and black buttons? Sometimes those circuits will lose power if there’s an electrical malfunction and you have to push the red button in to make the outlet “hot” again.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
No, Larry, that’s called constantly selling off your players once they hit arbitration so that you keep payroll down and the farm stocked. And since nobody on the team has ever recieved a huge contract they all have that to play for. It’s simple, really. A great formula for extended periods of mediocrity followed by brief periods of success and excitement.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
Escobar’s in the lineup.
Yesssss. Quite frankly, I don’t care if he acts like a baby as long as we have the best lineup on the field.
DOB
Tell Bobby I’ll let him use my paddle next time Escobar acts up, ok?
brent a.
June 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
rose: 9/11/1985 (not 1986)
Larry
June 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
Further, if somehow we could witch uniforms with the Marlins and get their speed, contact and situational hitting, attitude, future outlook, and certainly their manager, I’d once again be excited about attending games at Turner Field.
But, with the Braves current group of hackers, pouters, and hopelessness in RF, LF, 2nd Base, 1st Base and the worst in-game, strategic, decision making manager in baseball, well, rather that going to Turner Field I’d rather have a root canal. Less painful experience!
kirkinga
June 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
I don’t think Escobar feels entitled. I do think there are some things that are attributed about him as bad, that are really might just a function of cultural differences.
So when he flares up at an ump or glares up at the scorer, these are things that he might have gotten away with in Cuba, but here seem…to some fans…in bad form.
I find it hard to believe that Escobar is all of a sudden acting in this manner and it is a complete surprise to the organization. Wasn’t he scouted before he was signed? Didn’t he play in the minors for a brief period after signing?
Escobar doesn’t beat his wife, doesn’t cheat and impregnate Hooters waitresses, doesn’t drive drunk, doesn’t abuse animals, doesn’t sell/use drugs(as far as we know), has not gotten into it with any fans, there have been no reported off-field incidents, no inflammatory comments made in the papers..including the Spanish-speaking press, he hasn’t killed his best friend in an accident, etc…
I find it really hard to paint Escobar as a problem child. To say that a kid who grew up dirt poor, in a totalitarian country, and had to face death to escape has a sense of entitlement akin to some suburban kid from the US. is beyond laughable.
From his perspective, he’s probably disgusted by the wimpy play of some of his teammates.
brent a.
June 30th, 2009
3:54 pm
have fun in the club house DOB.
bring back some good tidbits and a winning line-up.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
3:54 pm
Neight–
Of course we know that those posts weren’t from you! They were much too short…
drinks on me today
June 30th, 2009
3:55 pm
The angels at Heaven’s Door are discussing recent events on earth
Angel 1 “Farrah Fawcett, what a beauty but who would want to be her kid, young O’neal they used to beat him to a pulp”
Angel 2, “Ah, the O’neals, that is nuttin’, poor ol’ Michael jackson used to get the bejesus beaten out of him by his dad, like all the time.
The 2 angels enter into a discussion with another baseball fan angel about whose child they would like to be…
Angel 3 pipes up, “I would want to be the child of an Atlanta Braves player”.
Angels 1 and 2 almost simulataneously reply, “Why in god’s name would you want to be a Brave’s kid”..
Angel 3, “Because Atlanta couldn’t beat anyone”
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
3:56 pm
Here’s what I mean. Take McCann and Frenchy. McCann struggles he listens to his dad and Chipper and makes adjustments. Frenchy struggles and listens to Chipper but chooses to ignore Chipper’s advice and continues to suck. Now, as good as McCann plays does anybody thinks he has anywhere near the tools of Francouer? But, why is he successful and Francouer isn’t? McCann listens to instruction and doesn’t think the world revolves around him.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
3:57 pm
Angel 3, “Because Atlanta couldn’t beat anyone”
Hey!!
That’s not true!You shouldn’t say that!dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
3:58 pm
Is Prado starting today, anyone, anyone
jeffrey d
June 30th, 2009
4:00 pm
Well if McLouth can’t make it, at least we have comfort in knowing that Bobby will still use the Blanco and KJ 1-2 knockout.
Mark
June 30th, 2009
4:00 pm
Kirkinga–Your comments are proof that as long as someone is playing well, they can get away with just about anything…Just look at Man-Ram and the antics he pulls but he gets away with them because he produces…Escobar is producing right now so fans like you are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because you like the way he is playing…If he went on a Francoeur-esque streak at the plate and kept playing defense like he has been, people on this blog would be ripping him apart…Look at Francoeur, seems like a really good guy, but can’t hit a lick so he gets treated like garbage…
DAP
June 30th, 2009
4:00 pm
kirknga, your post has alot of truth to it…if the braves were winning, id bet you no one would even notice the way escobar acts.
Money
June 30th, 2009
4:01 pm
I think the Braves should trade Kelly Johnson to the local department store for a set of Turkey Underwear for all the players…
And if Frenchy claims that the team is 7-0 when he wears his Turks, then why doesn’t he wear them all the time?
Greg in TN
June 30th, 2009
4:01 pm
ncscoots Don’t they also have a Kayaunnis (or something like that) on the Danville roster?
Indeed they do Scoots, still have their roster up. Kuyaunnis Miles is an outfielder. Missed them in Greenville this past weekend, but may have to drive up to Kingsport in August just to see these guys and see how badly Kingsport’s PA guy mangles some of these guy’s names.
Klaus
June 30th, 2009
4:01 pm
Vmart is someone they can trade for and is not too expensive given what is coming off the books this winter.
Kotch is completely wrong for this ball club (what he brings) and Freeman is a 2012 ETA.
If Kotch is here until 2012 the Braves are screwed.
KJ, GA, JF, Diaz at a min will be gone this winter (if not sooner) so you can afford VMart and btw unless you are the Braves CFO you don’t know what they can afford. No one here does.
Vmart is a slugging and switch hitting 1B who can bat cleanup for the next 18mos at a min. If you can extend him (will be cheaper than trying to extend Holliday for example) you build a powerful bridge to Freeman if he makes it.
Kotch is a human book mark and an inferior one as well for this club. Put him on a power team and his weaknesses will mean little. On this team he is just more of the same – single/doubles hitting guy (who is as slow as dirt) with no power and no shot at driving in lots of runs.
Bench KJ for Prado and trade for VMart and the team improves 30% at minimum.
retired scout
June 30th, 2009
4:03 pm
Hey Rob from SC, why didn’t you let Bobby Cox or Pendleton know about how to help Schafer hit 93 m.p.h. fastballs on the inside half and a little up in the zone…in fact, almost every major league hitter could use this knowledge. Guess it’s only a matter of time until you are “discovered” and take over as hitting instructor for some MLB organization.
drinks on me today
June 30th, 2009
4:03 pm
Robert – McCann started the year half blind and batting less than $2, yet got some eyewear and is now batting, err, err near $3.30 yes! The man is the best offensive catcher in MLB since Pizza boy.
THE GUY HAS more talent than many think and a pile more in his big toe than that idiot who plays RF.
Frenchy on the other hand, goes to the supposed “god” of batting coaches, gets some instruction that upon implementation works well after the ST adjustments. He starts the year hitting over $3 with very few Ks and occassional power but decides that Rudy J, TP, Chipper and all else and sundry should NOT be listened to…
that is not a guy with “talent and tools” but an arrogant, ignorant imbecile..
jeffrey d
June 30th, 2009
4:03 pm
Sweet Lord, are we still talking about Victor Martinez?
Larry
June 30th, 2009
4:04 pm
PWHjort,
I understand your reasoning, though I believe overstated and over simplified. Regardless, they’ve won two World Series since the last time the Braves won their only title. Second, who do you think is best equipped to win the next one at this very moment?
I’ll pick the Marlins!
jeffrey d
June 30th, 2009
4:05 pm
Man…Schafer gets a hit and you guys still rag on him….for getting a hit!
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
4:06 pm
Certainly, Cuban players are more demonstrative in their leagues than their American counterparts. However, Escobar isn’t in Cuba, anymore. Even though he has less than two years experience in MLB (and that could be part of it, i guess), it’s time he learns to channel that ferocity rather than feature it as a petulant display. And, no, I don’t want him play buttoned-down…just put that anger to constructive use.
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
4:06 pm
DOB– What Mark Grace is really saying speaks to the issue of ACCOUNTABILITY. And no one on the Braves seems to call anyone to account except Yunel, who is not deserving of such treatment as he is the most clutch player on the team. It is strange though to read that Little League players all get rewards. Hey when my batting average fell from .530 when I was eleven to .130 when I was twelve and when I also beaned several guys when they tried me at pitcher and I had numerous passed balls when they tried me at catcher, no one gave me an award. Too bad that it turned out several years later that my left eye had become very near-sighted in between years eleven and twelve. No laser surgery or fabulous glasses to fix the problem. Of course, those were the days of Eisenhower and Nixon in Washington and Marvin Griffin in the Georgia statehouse. A very different time, so while accountability has changed, there have been a few positive changes. Hey, we can even blog on the internet.
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
4:06 pm
Klaus – Casey is a 5 star 1st baseman and at a minimum has probably improved our chances of winning games…..
ie when the other sides of the IF have not coughed up retarded errors
AndyC
June 30th, 2009
4:06 pm
McFann
Ok. Good. You had me wondering there for a minute.
N8
June 30th, 2009
4:06 pm
No. I may be long-winded, but I’m more clever than that. But thanks for asking.
DAP
June 30th, 2009
4:07 pm
mark
people would probably just mostly feel sorry for jeff if it werent for his comments last year about being “betrayed” by the braves for sending him down, or patting himself on the back this year for drawing a walk.
i agree jeff seems like a good guy, but like kirknga was saying…escobar stays out of trouble. plays well, but actually gets treated worse than jeff does.
sure, bench the guy for not doing what he is supposed to do on the field, which is play hard and play the right way, but jeff gets in the lineup almost every night despite his extremely poor performance.
for everyone else, by the way, DOB specifically said at the beginning of the mark grace story that they werent talking about escobar.
Klaus
June 30th, 2009
4:07 pm
I will agree the Indians don’t appear to be shopping him but the Giants are scouting him this week.
The Giants must think there is a chance so they sent their top scout out to see him.
Sometimes the obvious trades or guys who are being shopped are not the ones you get. Look no further than Nate McLouth.
How many sites had him out for sale? None!
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
4:07 pm
just to see these guys and see how badly Kingsport’s PA guy mangles some of these guy’s names.
Greg, you gotta get tape of that, my friend, LOL; it will probably be worth the price of admission!
AZBravoFan
June 30th, 2009
4:07 pm
I have to agree with 18 Wheels. Players’ attitudes today have nothing to do with kids all getting trophies for playing. That only happens in the recreational leagues and mostly at the younger ages. The kids that really have talent leave those leagues pretty early and join all-star teams, travel teams, and club teams where the competition is cut-throat and there is only one trophy.
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
4:08 pm
Robert, I would argue that McCann has more tools than Jeff because he has the mental capacity to make changes that make him a better player. Frenchy lacks that ability and therefore doesn’t have the tools that McCann has. It’s the elite players that can take knowledge and transform it into production. Frenchy may have the knowledge and ‘tools’ as you say, but he lacks that ‘it’ quality to turn it into production.
BL
June 30th, 2009
4:08 pm
Robert, I am sure after the last year and a half, Frenchy does not think the world revolves around him. Worst post of the day so far in my book.
richbrave
June 30th, 2009
4:09 pm
What pray tell is LOL!
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
4:11 pm
Rodney Derrick,
I think a question that needs to be asked is if Bobby is talking to Yunel about his problems on the field or if he is just benching him to make a statement? If he is just benching him and leaving the talking to Chino then I think Bobby is doing Yunel a disservice. I know there is the language barrier but Bobby needs to address this mano y mano with Yunel. I just wonder if benching someone without directly addressing the issue gets the point across?
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
4:11 pm
Trophies for everyone, is that true
god… and I thought only the socialist nits in my birth country did “sheet” like that, what is the world coming too, wanting to encourage kids to have fun and enjoy their exercise and feel special and part of a team ……
I am sure Pujols must think he is only so great because he didnt have to share trophies with the suckee kids when he was 9 !
Jeff R
June 30th, 2009
4:12 pm
“Grace had a general answer that I had’t really thought about, for the attitude or entitlement or thin skin that it seems like a lot of younger players have these days.”
”This is the first generation of players to come along since Little League starting giving out trophies to everyone who played,” he said.”
Amen to that. A lot of prima donnas around these days.
This “there are no losers” approach today is inane. Can’t win all the time…
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
4:12 pm
Or Frenchy is just stubborn and refuses to change because its the way “he’s always done it” and it works just fine.
My point is this. As obnoxious as my generation was when I was a kid (I’m 34) I worked everyday to earn money. These kids today expect their parents to give them money and they don’t think they have to work at all. It is an attitude that pervades all of society.
jmart1951
June 30th, 2009
4:13 pm
18 Wheels of Love:
I agree with you. If the new crop of players feel entitlement it is not because every kid gets a trophy in Little League. The major league players would still be the ones that were receiving most valuable player awards. And how would all of the other kids receiving a participation trophy give the now major leaguer a feeling of entitlement.?
In most cases, throughout sports, the superstars are identified early and are given advantages and pampered throughout their school days. When practically everyone you are in contact with fawns over you and tells you how great you are its hard not to start believeing the hype. Here is where parents make the difference. Some parents are worse than their “entitled sons” as they live in the glow of his success. Other parents still demand discipline, courtesy, kindness and standards.
We are all wired differently and it makes managing 25 players that much more of a challenge. It is the managers responsibility to figure out how best to interact with a player. The same type of discplinary action does not work for every player. This is one way that the good manager earns his keep.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
4:15 pm
AndyC–
Haha…if it had been anything naughty, I don’t think I’d be on this Blog…not as “McFann”, anyway…
18 Wheels I would argue that McCann has more tools than Jeff because he has the mental capacity to make changes that make him a better player.
Right!
Bravesfaninmetsland
June 30th, 2009
4:15 pm
DOB:
That mark Grace quote was on ESPN the other day, but i don’t think it was Mark who was saying it. And secondly come on man. No U2 song to celebrate the kick off of the new 360 tour tonight? Where’s the love for Bono and the boys?
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
4:16 pm
RG-
Do I want to know why you have a paddle? And does Nolie know about your…fondness for RSF? (no way in hell I am learning to spell that one) As for the flaming pitchfork…I’m sure I could come up with something esle. This is LA after all
kirkinga
June 30th, 2009
4:17 pm
Mark, your comments are proof that you can’t read. What is “it” that Escobar has gotten away with?
“It” certainly isn’t anything like other Braves players, managers, and Atlanta pro athletes have done. So the idea that he’s producing and has gotten an excuse is laughable too.
Perhaps you want him to be a good ol’ boy and he is never ever going to be that. That was part of what I was saying. Where he is from, certain shows of emotion are not seen as bad, but here they are. Just because someone is different does not make them bad…or a problem.
None of the “incidents” in which he has been involved has risen to the level of beating your wife, or driving drunk, or any of the other examples of truly bad behavior we’ve seen from athletes.
There shouldn’t be a double standard and it’s really not hard to notice that some fans, like yourself, judge Escobar differently than you do other players and their managers, owners (Rankin Smith Jr. anyone?)
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
4:17 pm
Robert – I think the attitude of any generation is person specific… my parents did not give me a thing because they had little loot. My kids get quite a bit but are expected to know the value of work and making their own way in the world… now if other kids do not learn those lessons then it is the PARENTS fault not the spoiled brat, yes ?
NORRIS
June 30th, 2009
4:18 pm
any word on mclouth yet?
Adam
June 30th, 2009
4:18 pm
Ever think Schafer may not be hitting well through the zone because he doesn’t have the “medical help” he used to have?
Bravesfan1984
June 30th, 2009
4:18 pm
why are none of my comments showing up?
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
4:19 pm
Ever think Schafer may not be hitting well through the zone because he doesn’t have the “medical help” he used to have?
Seriously? You’ve gotta be new here.
BL
June 30th, 2009
4:19 pm
DAP
I think frenchy is in the lineup almost every night because it kinda helps to have a gold glove athlete with one of the best arms in baseball patrolling that pasture we call an outfield (one of the most spacious in the majors I might add). You seem to know your stuff which is why that post surprised me. I think we all understand by now he is probably a career 7 hole hitter, and probably not a bad one at that when it is all said and done. Would you rather have a noodle arm in right for 30 more points in average?
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
4:20 pm
Robert,
Frenchy being unable to take knowledge and turn it into production or being stubborn, as you say, both tell you he is lacking a tool to be an elite player. He may put it all together but he is just one of many to not have that capability. Baseball ain’t easy.
I am not disagreeing when you say kids today expect stuff, it’s just always been that way generation to generation. When you got an Atari, your dad probably thought you would be spoiled and never leave the house….but you did and many others did. I just think a blanket statement like Grace made is not true at all.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
4:20 pm
I’m not threatened by the Phillies, I’m not thinking about last year. The clearest sign to me that this isn’t the same team that swept us at home last year is Brad Lidge’s multiple blown saves.
They’re not the same Phillies, that’s all there is to it. They’re still in first place but we’ve shown so far that we can beat them.
What I am worried about is Derek Lowe. We can’t have our “ace” going out there and giving it away again.
The key to this series is to set the tone early and let them know it’s not going to be like ‘08.
I just hope to God we’re ready to play and that we don’t let them off the hook.
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
4:20 pm
Are people here seriously comparing the talents of McGreatOne and the worst RF in MLB,
JBoog1285
June 30th, 2009
4:21 pm
Lineup posted
1. McLouth CF
2. Escobar SS
3. Jones 3B
4. McCann C
5. Anderson LF
6. Kotchman 1B
7. Francoeur RF
8. Prado 2B
9. Lowe P
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
4:22 pm
now if other kids do not learn those lessons then it is the PARENTS fault not the spoiled brat, yes ?
Nature and nurture, dogsb. The parents are of course always responsible for some portion of what their kid is, but if the kid is a brat, chances are he’s gonna have a little brat in him no matter who he was raised by. Parents can only do so much.
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
4:22 pm
Anyone listened to the entire Wilco record yet – that came out today? After the last one I’m hesitant to buy it.
Tony
June 30th, 2009
4:23 pm
Schaeffer has been merely a victim of major league pitching. He needs to really do some homework, or the Braves should trade him for a good outfield hitter, possibly Juan Pierre. The Braves need help now not later.
Bravesfan1984
June 30th, 2009
4:23 pm
please send kelly to AAA!!!!!!!!
DirtyDawg
June 30th, 2009
4:23 pm
I think Mark Grace is confusing T-Ball, and all those leagues that start when kids are four and five years old. When we started LL, and I expect when Grace did as well, there was nothing other than LL and you started that at 8 or 9. Everybody that participated got a LL medal but when it came time to play, not everybody got an equal playing time…and today while you’re expected to play everybody, not everybody plays the same amount.
As for getting trophies, sometime during the season a ‘good’ coach will find something to honor every member of the team with a ‘game ball’. What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with being ‘the most improved’ even though they’ll probably never be as good as the best players on the team?
As for major league ballplayers that come in as prima-donnas, I hardly think they were ever considered LL-ers that were given trophies when they weren’t excelling…certainly Jeff Francoeur always earned what he got…it’s just that he’s no longer the biggest, fastest and most gifted athlete on the field and that’s the problem he, and the rest of those that don’t quite make it as far as they thought, or that their mommas and daddy’s thought, they would.
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
4:25 pm
Baseball ain’t easy.
Ya think, LOL? My guess is that much of our neighborhood here missed out on that little factoid. I only wish that reading it in your post could correct the lack.
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
4:25 pm
That lineup tonight is the best team Bobby can put on the field. If that lineup and the pitching we have going doesn’t get it done, then it ain’t gonna get done.
DAP
June 30th, 2009
4:25 pm
robert(chipper is the bestThese kids today expect their parents to give them money and they don’t think they have to work at all.
wrong. im one of these “kids” and my parents never gave me anything, because i didnt ask. ive been working since middle school.
p.s. usually when an older generation criticizes a younger generation, its the older generation that is to blame. in other words, the kids out there who just want their parents to give them money and dont think they have to work are probably like that because their parents always gave them money and never made them work.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
4:25 pm
It’s not very often that you hear “Juan Pierre” and “good hitter” in the same sentence unless separated by “not.”
That’s a no go, big guy.
NorCal
June 30th, 2009
4:26 pm
TnBrian,
You could try turning the laptop off, removing the battery, and then reseating it. Otherwise, it could be the cord, the internal circuitry, or the battery.
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
4:27 pm
Schaeffer has been merely a victim of major league pitching. He needs to really do some homework, or the Braves should trade him for a good outfield hitter, possibly Juan Pierre.
Yes. Juan Pierre.
That breezy sound you hear, ladies and gentlemen, is the sound of credibility escaping the room.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
4:28 pm
Is there a website to check how often Kawakami throws each pitch
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
4:28 pm
ncscoots-
I think credibility left a while back…
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
4:28 pm
BL – I suggest you peruse the old http://www.fangraphs.com and see how valuable a fielder that slow dude patrolling said pasture we call the OF is
Hint it is the stat at the bottom of this link
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4792&position=OF
Also refer to the comparison of all MLB RF, where our hero ranks 28/30 after a putrid 2008 ad infinitum
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
4:30 pm
dogsb–Frenchy was sixth overall among right fielders in runs saved over 2006-2008 according to the Fielding Bible.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
4:30 pm
Larry,
I’m not saying the Braves are a better run organization. The Marlins most certainly are. I’m just saying it isn’t because of leadership. It’s because of young talent.
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
4:31 pm
cab, think that might have been one of his buddies, logic. Cause I know that dude bailed, LOL.
ernesto
June 30th, 2009
4:32 pm
Prado in over KJ, we might have a chance tonight
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
4:32 pm
Hmm…
“Baseball ain’t easy.”
That’s true, but it’s easier for some than others. I sometimes get the feeling that the game of baseball resembles a college final that some of our players are too stupid, and too drunk and/or high, to study for.
jason
June 30th, 2009
4:33 pm
1. McLouth CF
2. Escobar SS
3. Jones 3B
4. McCann C
5. Anderson LF
6. Kotchman 1B
7. Francoeur RF
8. Prado 2B
9. Lowe P
This can’t be the line up. Is BC senile or what?
CF, 2B, 3B, C, SS, LF, RF, 1B, P. Is is that freakin hard. We scored runs with that line up and with the line up back, BC comes with that crap above.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
4:34 pm
Hey, let’s not get carried away. Pierre is nothing special, but Schafer will be darn lucky if he’s as good as Pierre has been in his career. It’s fashionable to kick Pierre around, but Pierre did a helluva lot better than Schafer in the majors at the age of 22, and he’s had a 10 year career with an AVG over .300 and 450 stolen bases. I wouldn’t trade Schafer for him, but Schafer will be darn lucky if he gets this turned around and has a career half as good or lengthy as Pierre.
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
4:35 pm
or an even better judge of value for said RF would be the ranking of ALL MLB RF in 2009 (even those only playing a few games), where he ranks
wait for it..
TADDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
82 out of 83, 10 spots behind the former Bravo Josh Anderson, bloody sobering reading…………
Patron Saint of the Lost Art
June 30th, 2009
4:37 pm
Jason…that would be the lineup to go against a left-hander, but tonight is the lefty heavy lineup to battle the right-hander Blanton.
jason
June 30th, 2009
4:39 pm
My point on Schaefer is that alot of harm was done by BC batting him in the 8 hole. He most likely would have his share of SOs, but not as many has he got. Best spot in the order was in the 2. In front of Chipper. he would have seen a lot better pitches. He would have been pitched totally different. With a runner on, he could have advanced the runner though bunting. He also has the ability to drive the ball in to the gaps.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
4:39 pm
I love how people quote UZR stats in the middle of the season, although according to the actual guy who invented UZR, looking at a half-season of UZR stats is pointless, and that even looking at a full season’s worth of UZR isn’t all that telling of a player’s true fielding talent. Rather, he suggests looking at a three year sample of UZR data. But folks keep banging on anyway about 70 games worth of UZR info although the inventor of UZR says not to do that.
BL
June 30th, 2009
4:40 pm
Dogs:
Most RF’s are not career 7 hole hitters that play great defense SO comparing him to other RF’s who are mostly power/HR hitters that play awful defense does me/Braves no good. My point is understanding what we have.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
4:40 pm
I’m sorry, but I cannot understand why we can’t have Magellan out there navigating the black hole that is the Braves’ RF.
Jurjjens Surgeons
June 30th, 2009
4:41 pm
Jason,
I couldn’t agree more. As long as Escobar is batting second, the lineup is wrong. He is not a 2 hitter. He has no speed. He is too good of an RBI man to not be hitting in the middle of the lineup. Think about this. Everytime Yunel hits into a DP, that’s an opportunity taken from Chipper to hit with a runner on base. It’s no wonder Chipper has fewer at bats with RISP than any 3 hole hitter in baseball.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
4:41 pm
My point on Schaefer is that alot of harm was done by BC batting him in the 8 hole. He most likely would have his share of SOs, but not as many has he got. Best spot in the order was in the 2. In front of Chipper. he would have seen a lot better pitches. (JASON)
DID YOU WATCH THE GAMES? HE WAS BEING SMOKED WITH FASTBALLS! BUT YOU THINK HE WOULD’VE DONE BETTER HITTING IN FRONT OF CHIPPER WHERE HE WOULD HAVE SEEN NOTHING BUT FASTBALLS? LOL
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
4:41 pm
I love how people quote UZR stats in the middle of the season, although according to the actual guy who invented UZR, looking at a half-season of UZR stats is pointless, and that even looking at a full season’s worth of UZR isn’t all that telling of a player’s true fielding talent.
I did read that somewhere a few weeks ago. One of the reasons I’m not as big a fan of UZR rather than the Fielding Bible.
jason
June 30th, 2009
4:42 pm
Patron Saint of the Lost Art, Point taken, then just flip CK and JF. I don’t care about righty/lefty match ups. I look at who is hitting, and what the team has done together. The biggest problem I have with that lineup is Esco batting second. Esco is at his best with RISP. He should be in a run producing spot. Plus BMac needs the added protection.
bravesfaninmassland
June 30th, 2009
4:43 pm
18 Wheels -
Listening to the new Wilco right now (couldn’t resist picking it up as soon as it came out). It’s good. A much more even effort than Sky Blue Sky and a lot less pointless soloing by Nels. It’s too early to say much more than that (I’m only on listen 1-and-a-half), and I don’t like it as much as I like YHF or SummerTeeth, but I think it’s good. Pretty mellow, but good.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
4:43 pm
Well, at least Bobby had the good sense to put Prado in the lineup instead of Kelly.
BillyBrave
June 30th, 2009
4:43 pm
Frenchy needs this kind of bat control….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykIdSolHg8k
jason
June 30th, 2009
4:45 pm
Willy Wally, If you read the posts, I also talked abut him being injured also. If fully healthy, Schaefer was done a disservice batting eighth. I think alot of the SOs came by the fact of the wrist injury that he played almosr 6 weeks with. In truth, he should have DLed the third week of the season.
Patron Saint of the Lost Art
June 30th, 2009
4:46 pm
Jason…yeah, you are probably right. But it certainly isn’t senility that is deciding his lineups; whether you like it or not, Bobby has always played the lefty-righty matchup (much to the chagrin of Kelly Johnson)…
BL
June 30th, 2009
4:46 pm
RF is the most offensively strong position in the majors. How are you going to compare a guy with as much struggles as jeff has had to the position?
It has been made clear on here about the run support the braves do not have. Think we need every run at the plate thrown out we can.
Daslied
June 30th, 2009
4:46 pm
18 Wheels – listened to the new Wilco once today. I like it alright, but their new albums usually take me a few listens. That being said, I love Sky Blue Sky. They’ve still not put out something that tops the song “Via Chicago”, in my opinion, but they’re still pretty dang awesome.
Vinings Jim
June 30th, 2009
4:46 pm
GORECKI !!!!
jmart1951
June 30th, 2009
4:47 pm
Jason…
I agree with you. Yunel should be batting 5th permanently. Prado should be in the 2 hole. If Cox wants to flip flop Fancouer and Kotchman .. OK.
Why wouldn’t you take advantage of your best hitter with RISP by batting him 5th instaed of 2nd? The Braves scored 7 runs the only time Cox tried it this year. They now have 3 left sided hitters in a row when the relievers come in. I’m pretty sure (certain) that the Braves haven’t scored 7 runs since (maybe not 7 runs total of all games since).
Steve in NC
June 30th, 2009
4:48 pm
Rob in SC,
re: your first comment. DOB isn’t a hitting coach, dude.
Interested Observer
June 30th, 2009
4:48 pm
Grand Slam by Reid Gorecki. Gwinnett scoreds 6 runs in the 8th to tie the game at 7.
DAP
June 30th, 2009
4:48 pm
BL my response to you got eaten, so ill try again.
citing defense to justify benching yunel and playing francouer is just silly. escobar is an excellent SS, despite is mental lapses this season.
playing someone who cant hit just because they have a good arm is silly, and jeff’s arm in no way justifies his poor offense.
I think we all understand by now he is probably a career 7 hole hitter,
no, i thought most of us by now realized that jeff might not be a good enough hitter to play major league baseball. and its not his average that is a problem, its his horrible on base percentage and his puny slg% that make him so bad offensively.
jeff has alot of work to do, probably in the minors before he will ever be an average MLB player. and i hate to say that, cause i like the guy, but that doesnt make him a good player.
bit failu
June 30th, 2009
4:49 pm
Big knock Shafer!
Interested Observer
June 30th, 2009
4:49 pm
I should have waited. Schafer follows with a HR to take a 8-7 lead.
jason
June 30th, 2009
4:49 pm
Patron Saint of the Lost Art, I say go with the righty/lefty matchups, just leave the heart alone. Chipper, McCann, Escobar. Work those matchups around that part of the line up. I have been calling for Escobar to be dropped to 5 or 6 sixth almost all season. He is the most clutch with RISP than anyone. Especially with Chipper getting one AB per month in those situations.
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
4:49 pm
Everytime Yunel hits into a DP, that’s an opportunity taken from Chipper to hit with a runner on base.
Good thing he’s hit into one DP the ENTIRE FREAKIN’ MONTH, huh?
Good grief. The man isn’t a middle-of-the-order bat, he’s a 2 hitter with pop. Try to see the difference.
Tomahawk Talk
June 30th, 2009
4:49 pm
Schafer! g braves score 7 to take lead in bottom of 8th
Brian20
June 30th, 2009
4:50 pm
Hey DOB, what do you think about that horse sh*t going on down at Kansas, Calipari is such a cheater. It just so happens all this comes out after Meeks keeps his name in the draft and gets drafted. Cal has probably had the Henry’s in his back pocket this whole time.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
4:50 pm
ncscoots-
you might be right…think I saw Logic standing by the side of the road this morning holding a “will work for common sense” sign…kinda sad.
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
4:51 pm
I should have waited. Schafer follows with a HR to take a 8-7 lead.
But where were his hands when he hit it, LOL?
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
4:52 pm
cab, LMAO.
Patron Saint of the Lost Art
June 30th, 2009
4:52 pm
Jason…agreed.
Vinings Jim
June 30th, 2009
4:52 pm
Now the big Braves have something to follow up tonight – what an amazing inning – two outs in the 8th, down 7 – Brandon Jones reached on a misplayed double, and wow.
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
4:52 pm
I do not recall using just said UZR, I was however using the overall value of said OF including hitting and fielding (so part season UZR etc) but I suggest one also add in 2008 and see where our RF stands, it is not pretty, either on offense (almost the worst OF in all of MLB) and a middle of the pack defender (at best) as per the fangraph measures, also on baseball prospectus but thank god for the Fielding
Bible (Steve) because it gives me pause for great hope on the defensive side of the game !
Then again we could mercilessly cut our losses as we have done in the past with has beens and never will be/s……….. oh the joy of it all
jason
June 30th, 2009
4:52 pm
ncscoots, In a Braves lineup Escobar is a middle of the order hitter.
TnBrian
June 30th, 2009
4:53 pm
NorCal, I’m thinking it’s the cord myself. Girlfriend is gonna call comcast and see what’s up. Thanks for the help.
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
4:53 pm
Schafer goes yard
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
4:54 pm
I did read that somewhere a few weeks ago. One of the reasons I’m not as big a fan of UZR rather than the Fielding Bible. (STEVE FROM OH)
That’s a really poor justification Steve because they’re using the same data and the reason he says UZR should be examined more in three year samples rather than one year or partial seasons – alot of it is a flawed data issue. At least he admits that flaw. Does Dewan admit the same flaw or pretend +/- to be infallible even though he’s using the same data source as UZR?
Rich Grayson
June 30th, 2009
4:55 pm
Unrelated comment to today’s discussion – just a request for your intervention with the print edition of the AJC.
The currentAJC Sports Section displays the MLB Standings along with “Streak” (which is a great piece of info, but only half the info one needs to figure out how a team is doing.) and “Home” (which is an absolutely worthless bit of info – tells me nothing of current value- see Phillies). What’s needed in lieu of “Home” is the info on “Last 10″ games, a stat that virtually every other sports section in the country provides.
If you agree, would you prevail upon the AJC’s Sports Editor to make the change? Thanks.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
4:55 pm
Steve from OH,
No. He’s not even in the top 10 for 2006-2008. He’s number 4 for the 2005-2007 list. That, of course, was compiled before his abysmal 2008 season. The one that he proceeded with working out like a defensive back and gaining 20 LBS of muscle thinking it was a good idea (why nobody told him it wasn’t is another issue. I mean, somebody needs to be looking over his head. Nobody’s ever mistaken him for a Rhodes Scholar). This caused him to lose all of his bat speed and speed in the field which resulted in a big fat -12 in +/- (good for 30th among Right Fielders. The only players worse were Bobby Abreu and Brad Hawpe. He tied with the then 38 year old Ken Griffey Jr., the then 34 year old Jermaine Dye, and Andre Ethier. Way to go, Frenchy.). And we all know how bad his batting statistics were that year.
Ever since he gained all that muscle before the 2008 season, he’s been a well below average defender. Completely worthless in the field. He is simply not a good defender anymore. I’m making this point because people constantly talk about his contributions in the field. He has a good arm. That’s it. He doesn’t get to nearly as many balls as he used to (or that he needs to), which is much more important when you’re playing the outfield. Such that Matt Diaz is now a defensive upgrade over Jeff Francoeur.
Francoeur has been slightly better this year (his UZR/150 is up from -4.9 to -3.6 and his +/- currently sits at effectively zero), but he’s nowhere near the defender, or player in general, that he was before 2008. He was a halfway decent player with no plate discipline but got by because of his defensive contributions and ability to put the ball in play with authority. Ever since he put on that weight his bat speed has declined such that he can’t put the ball in play with authority and he can’t run well enough to cover the ground necessary to be a plus defender in right.
He’s finished.
Adam Dunn
June 30th, 2009
4:55 pm
are we going to get a lineup or is dob going to keep jackin one off
WILD BILL
June 30th, 2009
4:56 pm
Simple Bravos math=4th place, Thank You Washington Nationals! We have 4 guys in our lineup that are worth a damn, but 2 are part timers(Chipper & B. Mc) & 1 is a dumb azz donkey(Escobar) which leaves us with McClouth as the only full time quality regular. Our corner outfielders are a joke & will be outta here after this year, Casey no power K. is just servicable, & we dont know what Infante can do @ second on a full time basis & probably wont cause Bobby will not let him play full time when he comes back. Hate to say it but it definetely is looking like Wait till next year time Again! I would rather lose with Diory than let Escobar play like an idiot, now its rubbed off on KJ! Summary= Pitching-Yes Hitting-No Defense-No 2 When Meatloaf was singin this one he wasnt thinkin bout the Bravos! They are a sad bunch right now
Vinings Jim
June 30th, 2009
4:56 pm
ncscoots – his hands were exactly one.two inches from the third button on his shirt.
Beercan
June 30th, 2009
4:57 pm
“A friend gave HUGE kudos to a BBQ joint in Hiram today. It would help if I could remember the name. It was something like “Dan and Paul’s;” I’m certain the Dan part is correct. Anyway, it’s across from Wal Mart, anybody heard of it?”
It’s called Jim & Nick’s, and it is DAMN good food. The Hiram one is literally sitting in what used to be my backyard; I lived on Greenfield Road until I was 6 or 7 (they were just starting to widen 278 when we moved). For some reason Google maps still shows nothing there but dirt, but it’s all built up now, and J&N’s is near the corner.
That little house at the corner of Greenfield and 278 is still there, and ours was next to it. Looking at the Google map, the dirt road after that house used to be our driveway. I took not a few lumps to the forehead learning how to ride my bike on a gravel driveway.
Interested Observer
June 30th, 2009
4:57 pm
I took another look at Schafer’s HR. His hands were attached to the end of his arms.
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
4:57 pm
ESCOBAR NEEDS TO HIT 5th DAMMITT!!!!!!!!!
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
4:57 pm
Roberto Clemente TWICE led the NL in GIDP. What a bum that Clemente was!!!!
BL
June 30th, 2009
4:58 pm
DAP
I was not justifying benching Yunel to play JF. I just meant in general. Tired of him being the reason we have terrible run support. I think he has been hitting much better as of late including a few right at people, don’t you?
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
4:59 pm
It was my understanding that UZR breaks up each player’s position into defensive zones and analyzes a fielder’s performance based on balls fielded in each zone, whereas the Fielding Bible cross-checks each play with other fielders at the same position with similar play opportunities. Are you saying that they get the data for these plays from the same source? I thought the Dewan stat used video…
Remeber when I asked you to clarify UZR for me because I wasn’t familiar with it? I wasn’t kidding, LOL!
Vinings Jim
June 30th, 2009
4:59 pm
While Brandon Jones was batting (down 7-1), Chip Carey said to Brian Jordan, “Now, in a case like this where the game is basically over,” and BJ said, “The game isn’t over yet.”
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
5:01 pm
I took another look at Schafer’s HR. His hands were attached to the end of his arms.
In the midst of the carnage, a bright light of humor, LOL. Thanks, man!
Skeezix
June 30th, 2009
5:01 pm
I think Schafer is too tense (especially in the hands,arms, and shoulders)at the plate and that muscle tension slows everthing down. It is no different than what happens with a golf swing–a tight grip ruins a golf swing.
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:01 pm
BL, the problem with JF and why he catches crap is because he was our RH run producer. You say that he has been hitting well of late, he still ain’t producing no runs. He does absolutely nothing when it is needed.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
5:01 pm
PWH–I’m looking at the pdf excerpt from Bradbury’s website and it has Francoeur at sixth overall from 2006-08 with 26 runs saved…
Vinings Jim
June 30th, 2009
5:01 pm
Vlad Nunez strikes out the side – Gwinnett wins!
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
5:01 pm
VJ-
Reason #974 why Chip Carey is a…fill in the blank
TennesseePaul
June 30th, 2009
5:02 pm
“Where’s the love for Bono and the boys?”
Died with Zooropa, the corpse was then burned with Popmart, and the latest “installment” scattered the ashes across the many guano piles in sub-saharan Africa
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:02 pm
Skeezix, maybe he needs a back massage while in the on deck circle.
Just kidding
Vinings Jim
June 30th, 2009
5:02 pm
Not the side, sorry – only 2.
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:02 pm
Dogsbrekky – Welcome back. How was the trek?
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
5:03 pm
Did you just curse them?
Jurjjens Surgeons
June 30th, 2009
5:04 pm
“The man isn’t a middle-of-the-order bat, he’s a 2 hitter with pop. Try to see the difference.”
As opposed to the middle of the order behemoths of Anderson and Kotchman who have combined for less HR than Yunel. I’m not saying he’s a power hitter, but he’s the best hitter with RISP for the Braves this year. Perfect common sense would see him batting behind two guys with .400 OBP.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
5:04 pm
I’m looking at fieldingbible.com (which should probably correct) and he’s not on the list. He was +24 from 2005-2007. Take away the +11 2005 season and add the -12 2008 season and he’s at +1 for 2006-2008.
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
5:06 pm
If you go over to Mark Bradley’s most recent blog, you’ll find a link to a a Mark Bechtel SI feature about Charlie Manuel. If you want a great baseball read, check it out.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
5:06 pm
Here are Francoeur’s +/- numbers 2005-2009:
2005: +11
2006: +3
2007: +10
2008: -12
2009: 0 (so far)
Your list is incorrect. Or you’re looking at a mislabeled chart. Or something, because Francoeur isn’t in the top 10 for 2006-2008.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
5:06 pm
You’re looking at +/-. I’m talking about runs saved. But even so the +/- in this has him at -7 for 2008. I’m fairly sure these are correct because there directly out of the Fielding Bible II.
Anyway, who cares? He’s a downright terrible hitter and in all likelihood an average-ish defender.
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:09 pm
Steve from OH, AMEN, he just freakin SUCKS…
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
5:09 pm
His runs saved numbers 2005-2009:
2005: +6
2006: +2
2007: +6
2008: -7
2009: 0 (So far)
From http://www.billjamesonline.net/
Scott
June 30th, 2009
5:09 pm
Yo necesito el lineup por favor Senor O’Brien
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:10 pm
Steve- Frenchy can still throw real well when the oppurtunity presents itself, but I don’t think he scares anyone with his glove or athelticism to run balls down in right field. I think overall your aver-ish remark is fair- fielding wise.
TennesseePaul
June 30th, 2009
5:11 pm
Just like clockwork, Garret Anderson is heading into July hot. In his last 18 games he has hit .353/.375/.515. Probably why he’s been seen with his hands on his knees in the outfield. The man is tired. Usually gets to DH…
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
5:12 pm
Anders – Italy was mighty fine, even accounting for all of the bloody Aussie tourists,
fair dinkum I met more Australians in 5 days in Cinque Terre then I have in 6 years in USA
Jason
June 30th, 2009
5:13 pm
This for DOB. If/and or when he pops backs in the blog. What is the feeling within the organization of starting Prado as a regular and making KJ the sub? Can not be worse than the results that have played out already?
Plus/Minus
June 30th, 2009
5:14 pm
I grade the blog as a -14 today.
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:14 pm
BTW- Remember about a week or so ago when I asked if anyone else was worried about the Marlins sneaking up the back staircase? Many on here said they stink, can’t field etc..
Well what do you think now? Personally I don’t think they got the memo that they aren’t polished enough to compete for the division. I say they stick around all year.
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
5:15 pm
Jeesh – I apologize to all for starting the Frenchy stats thing…
now we have upset God up here in NYC as it is howling down with the rain AGAIN (oh well I missed 14 days of it this month)
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:16 pm
Dogsbrekky – Glad to hear it. You didn’t miss much here except the AL east anihilating the NL east.
THWG
June 30th, 2009
5:16 pm
Anders- I say the Fish stick around until their rotation gets too tired. They’ll fade come August/September.
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:17 pm
Dogsbrekky – oh yeah, you missed our daily rainstorm too.
BBraves
June 30th, 2009
5:18 pm
If this was the lineup wonder how many more runs would be scored
1. McLouth
2. Prado
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. Anderson
6. Escobar
7. Kotchman
8. Francoeur
WilliamG
June 30th, 2009
5:19 pm
WJones – while Cuba doesn’t have Little League it does have something that serves the same purpose – categoria pequena.
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:19 pm
THWG- Please don’t mention fading in August/September to me. I get horrible flashbacks.
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
5:19 pm
Anders – I actually got back a week ago so I did see our wondrous efforts ala Mr Beffrey “I will try to put my hand thru the wall” Jennett and our let’s try to kill Javier Vazquez with 1000 pitches in 100 degree heat trick…….. we suck but at least so do your ‘mucils.
I even felt sorry for the mutts kid at 1st base the other night, he now has a case of the cannot catch, throw and hit-itis
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
5:20 pm
BBraves,
Not as many as this line-up:
1. McLouth
2. Prado
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. Anderson
6. Escobar
7. Kotchman
8. Pitcher
9. Francoeur
Just limit Francoeur’s PA’s any way possible and we’ll score more runs.
JBoog1285
June 30th, 2009
5:20 pm
Scott, check back a few pages, lineup has been posted.
BBraves
June 30th, 2009
5:22 pm
PWHjort like it!!!! That is one way to take the pressure off Frenchy
Jurjjens Surgeons
June 30th, 2009
5:23 pm
“BTW- Remember about a week or so ago when I asked if anyone else was worried about the Marlins sneaking up the back staircase? Many on here said they stink, can’t field etc..
Well what do you think now? Personally I don’t think they got the memo that they aren’t polished enough to compete for the division. I say they stick around all year.”
Well, let’s see. They have one proven starter and he’s an injury concern. Their bullpen is iffy at best. They have one great offensive player and a lot of streaky, but mostly mediocre, offensive players.
Finally, similar things have been said about them “staying in it all year” in the past. Save two exceptions in their existence, they’ve NOT stayed in it. I think I’ll go out on a 10 foot wide, iron limb and say they’ll fade.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
5:24 pm
This lineup would score the most runs:
1. CF McLouth
2. 2B Prado
3. 3B Chipper
4. C McCann
5. SS Escobar
6. LF Anderson
7. 1B Barbaro
8. RF Infante
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
5:24 pm
Anders the good news on the rain front is it is NOT FORECAST to rain on July 4, the 7 days surrounding July 4, yes, but on July 4 we can expect partial cloud and a little thing called the SUN..
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
5:25 pm
18 Wheels– My problem is not so much reasonable criticism of Yunel, but the lack of acknowledgement of his super clutch play, and the DOUBLE STANDARD that allows deplorable play by KJ, Loaf Anderson, and Frenchy. I thing it is not unreasonable to think that Yunel wants to improve, but how would you feel if you saw the other players playing stupidly and loafing without accountability?
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:26 pm
Dogsbrekky – Nothing the Mets can do with all these injuries. I’m hoping Minaya doesn’t panic and make a short term trade unless it only costs $’s. If I was Minaya regardless of what happens in the next couple of weeks I would see what the market for Sheffield is. He definetly has value on an AL team. I’d try to move him for something.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
5:27 pm
PWH, that was wrong. Funny but wrong.
unbelievable
June 30th, 2009
5:27 pm
PWH, your lineup still sucks because Jeff is still in it. How Bobby can justify putting him in the lineup everyday is beyond me. Dont tell me he’s playing because we dont have replacements, when you’re the 2nd worst everyday RF in baseball making $4 mil you’re easily replaceable with just about anyone
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
5:28 pm
Larry,
I live in SoFla and the fans down here (all 264 of them) will gladly give you Fredi Gonzalez. It was embarrassing when he screwed up a double switch against the Yankees and Joe Girardi of all people called him on it. I’ll bet Beinfest loved that one. The Marlins have good young talent and incredible scouting. Most of their players came from other organizations. The key cogs drafted by Marlins were Hermida, Volstad, and Johnson. Most of the others came through trades and Rule 5.
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:29 pm
Rodney Derrick, I agree. I love Yunel. When I talk about him being traded, it’s not because I don’t appreciate all the talent heas, and all the plays he has made. Not even his passion whinch I like the most. When I talk about trading Yunel, it’s because he is on BC’s bad side. He doesn’t do things the Braves Way. You can’t do that and remain on BC’s team.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
5:30 pm
I hope that some of these 2nd guessers are the first to show up and admit they’re wrong should the Braves score 5+ runs tonight. Secong guessing a HOF manager before the game is played is not smart.
the real Andy
June 30th, 2009
5:30 pm
weird. had a dream last night that andruw was back with the braves – and oddly enough it wasn’t a nightmare
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:31 pm
unbelievable, Maybe $4 mil is to much money sitting on the bench? That’s the only thing I can think of.
BBraves
June 30th, 2009
5:31 pm
Really glad to see Prado playing tonight hope that continues. Braves should just go ahead and trade Kelly for whatever they can get. I really did like Kelly but him and Frenchy have killed the offense. It is aggravating to watch a game knowing that there are better players on the bench than in the lineup. Would also like to see Brandon Jones up here playing. He doesn’t have any power but his average in AAA isn’t bad. Forget trading the farm to get a power hitting on a one year rently. Lets keep the propects and let them mature play with what we have and give Prado and B Jones a chance to play regularly.
richbrave
June 30th, 2009
5:32 pm
Hey ANDERS. Haven’t seen you post in awhile. Coming around to give us a boost so we sweep the FILTHIES?
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:32 pm
Jurjjens Surgeon (really?) Did you read the blog?
The Marlins, meanwhile, are 16-11 with a .278 average and strong 3.86 ERA in June. They’ve got both quality pitching and the power bats that are coming around after a slow start. The Marlins have hit 29 homers this month, and they just won a series against the Yankees and swept series against Toronto and Baltimore since June 12 (DOB)
Just a lucky month I guess? I don’t think that limb is a wide as you hope.
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:32 pm
Baba O’Riley, You a reguale here? Second guessing BC is a favorite past time…. LOL !!!
Skeezix
June 30th, 2009
5:33 pm
Something to be positve about:
While we should commiserate about this impotent offense, we also should be looking forward to Huddy’s return. When he returns to form, the Braves are going to have one of the better rotations. If Wren can awaken from his coma and get us a couple of bats, then in 2010 the Braves should be fun to watch again.
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
5:34 pm
Nothing like sub-par barbecue and hot beer.
I could yap at any time…
Please move back; protect yourselves from a possible pyroclastic-barbecue/beer flow.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
5:34 pm
BBraves that’s not a compelling argument for BJones. “He doesn’t have any power, but his average in AAA isn’t bad.”
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
5:34 pm
the real Andy – I had a dream that Walt Weiss was young again and could play 2nd base and could actually hit,
oh how we look through the past with rose colored specs
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:34 pm
richbrave – Hard to root for either. Kind of like when the Islanders played the Russians in the old Cold War days. Us Rangers fans rooted for ties and lots of injuries!
BTW- I’ve been here. Although with the summer holidays coming it will be off to the shore for awhile after tomorrow.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
5:35 pm
Here’s what I’d say about Escobar. In a perfect world I would want him a Brave for his entire career. However, if he has a bad atttitude that could pervade the clubhouse and cause problems. Guys who are surly or hardheaded tend to poision a clubhouse or locker room. (See Terrell Owens). That is the dilema with a guy like Escobar. He makes the team better in one sense but because of his actions sometimes its addition by subtraction. Look at Milton Bradley. He walks on a field and is usually one of the best two or three players on the field but his bad attitude has caused him to move around. His attitude poisons clubhouses.
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:36 pm
Skeezix, Nothing against Huddy, can’t wait until he returns, but we already have on =e of the best staffs in Baseball. It’s like #3.
cvbraves
June 30th, 2009
5:36 pm
DOB: Kris Medlen is listed as a swithhitter on the roster. If that is true, I would think Bobby and Roger would rather him bat right to protect his pitching arm rather than left. Few times I’ve seen hin bat, he has batted left. Just concerned for him, hate to see him expose that nice arm if not necessary.
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
June 30th, 2009
5:36 pm
Anders re: your 5:19 p.m. “THWG- Please don’t mention fading in August/September to me. I get horrible flashbacks.”
With all due respect Anders……that was funny..(LOL) with the way the Mets have (can we all say?) lost it in August and September here recently.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
5:36 pm
jason- I seldom, if ever hear someone say “I was wrong, Bobby was right”. It’s easy to second guess everything he does. Some people throw 10 pounds of @^%$ on the wall, but only mention the 3 ounces that stick.
Tony
June 30th, 2009
5:37 pm
While you are sitting there managing like the rest of us from armchairs, the Braves have to make some moves. Nobody has noticed that Jeff and Garrett are just not getting it done except for occasional streaks or glimmers of hope. I’ll reiterate a trade with Schaeffer or Frenchy for Pierre or comparable outfielder who will get on base, steal bases, and score runs in front of Chipper and B Mac…any suggestions. This is the major leagues, teams have to keep up or go home.
nolie
June 30th, 2009
5:38 pm
Anxiety disorder -
Jesus! What would Mantle say? (Knucksie)
“Toss back a few more beers, kid”
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:38 pm
Baba O’Riley, That’s about the norm around here.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
5:39 pm
Escobar took himself out of the lineup, told Cox (or the trainer) that he couldn’t go. I asked, he said it’s “not good.” But he took infield and hit….
McLouth ALSO out, even though he said as he was coming off field that he was still good to go. Maybe he misunderstood our question. Anyway, he talked to Cox after BP, told him it’s not 100 percent yet but he could play. Cox decided otherwise.
SO THE LINEUP (which originally had McLouth and Escobar at the top)
1. Blanco, CF
2. Prado, 2B
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. Anderson
6. Kotchman
7. Francoeur
8. Hernandez, SS
9. Lowe
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:39 pm
Again with trading Schaefer. Pretty soon it will be Freeman and then Heyward.
K with a K
June 30th, 2009
5:40 pm
Does anyone else think it is time to move Chipper to 1st. He is making way to many errors this year. I would love to move Kotchman for what ever and then move J.Vazquez and a couple prospects for the Brewers M.Gamle(spelling) put it’s their 3rd base prospect. I think it could work if we leave Chip at 3rd move Kotchman and move Mac to 1st and start David Ross behind the plate. I think it is time to move Bobby to his Adairsville farm and move Joe Simpson from the booth to the bench.
joe
June 30th, 2009
5:40 pm
DOB,
Yikes! Time to knock back a few beers.
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:41 pm
And we start the series off with a loss, unless Lowe can no-hit…. AGhhhh who am I kidding?
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
June 30th, 2009
5:41 pm
dogsbrekky
I think I seen you mention something (can’t remember the post at all) but you said something about Greg Norman.
I don’t agree with him leaving his wife for someone else…..but if he’s gonna do it, might as well cheat up and not down….and he definately did that with Chris Evert who’s definately gotten better with age.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
5:41 pm
Anyway, who cares? He’s a downright terrible hitter and in all likelihood an average-ish defender. (STEVE FROM OH)
LOL. I was just thinking this same thing. Ran over to the store for a bit, and was thinking about it, and was like why the hell am I bothering thinking about this guy anymore, he flat out sucks.
If I were Frenchy, I’d be terribly concerned that they’re not benching me or demoting me. The fact that they are playing me everyday tells me they’ve given up on me, but just have little alternatives to me. But I bet that’s never crossed his mind. Demoting or benching him would be a sign that they’re still trying to change him, still think they can get through to him, still think he’s worth fighting for or with to make him a better player.
It’s like my dad always told me, the day you find your woman ain’t fighting with you, or for you, is the day she’s decided she’s gonna leave you because she’s finally realized she can’t change you, so she’ll just settle for what you are until something better comes along
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:43 pm
So your SS and CF’er are out tonight. I’d like to say I feel bad for you guys but…..
joe
June 30th, 2009
5:44 pm
Let’s hope Blanco and Prado have a good game with a couple hits each. I don’t understand what’s happened to Gregor. He was better than this last year.
jhpm
June 30th, 2009
5:44 pm
What an enemic lineup lol
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
5:44 pm
I think it is time to move Bobby to his Adairsville farm and move Joe Simpson from the booth to the bench.
I simply cannot fathom this statement. I don’t even think Robert hates Cox this much.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
5:44 pm
I grade the blog as a -14 today. — Plus/Minus
The committee is in agreement: Worst comment of the day, when taken into consideration that it was both inane and lacking any semblance of humor. Well done, Plus/Minus.
BBraves
June 30th, 2009
5:44 pm
Baba O’Riley
Brandon Jones has a decent OPS drives in runs and hits for a decent average. He also plays pretty good defense. Would like to see him given a shot to see what he could do. Better than some of the players on the roster than continue to strike out. At lease by getting on base the team has a chance to score runs.
jhpm
June 30th, 2009
5:45 pm
I think Joe Simpson would make an EXCELLENT manager .
the real Andy
June 30th, 2009
5:45 pm
ouch, no mclouth and no escobar. ugh.
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
Baba O’Riley
Can’t second guess Bobby tonight. Apparently his hands are tied.
jason
June 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
One more injury and KJ will play. Prado, How’s the groin?
biff pocahontas,,uh roba
June 30th, 2009
5:47 pm
willy wally, they like playing guys they’re about to trade, and hoping frenchy will be at least average in the process…
i’m telling ya, he’ll be gone, just not soon enough…
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
5:47 pm
The crappy little lineup again. Braves lose 7-0. Ballgame!
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
5:47 pm
Don’t worry bout us Anders, you got enough to worry about yourself…
Like the suckadellic Muts…
jhpm
June 30th, 2009
5:48 pm
Lowe hasn’t exactly been lights out lol
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
5:48 pm
And on top of everything else, Francoeur didn’t wear the underwear today. I know, I know. Dude goes out of his way to tell us he wore them Sunday and he’s going to wear them today, then doesn’t wear them. Said he went to the lake yesterday, got home and they were in the wash today, so he didn’t wear them….
By the way, we were watching the Gwinnett Braves game in Cox’s auxiliary office by the dugout, just after he’d finished his radio show, when Schafer hit a home run — after Gorecki hit a grand slam in same inning.
THWG
June 30th, 2009
5:48 pm
It still bothers me that BC was going to put Esco in the 2 hole…
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
5:49 pm
Was just commenting on your endorsement earlier. Yes, I know he has “better than average” MINOR LEAGUE numbers. my opinion…he’s a 4A player. I would like to see Reid Gorecki get at least a cup of coffee in Atlanta. He’s been a favorite of mine since his days with the Palm Beach Cardinals. He’s a great defensive outfielder, but his offense is not up to par. Great guy.
Kentavo
June 30th, 2009
5:50 pm
OMG, Lowe better not have one of his Walkfests tonite.
kirkinga
June 30th, 2009
5:50 pm
Good for Escobar.
Though comparing him to Terrell Owens or Milton Bradley is bizarre. Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see the comparison between him and those two. If there is, then there is alot of information we haven’t been privy to I think.
Btw..all clubhouses are not the same.
jmart1951
June 30th, 2009
5:51 pm
Question: Now that Gwinett is so close toThe Ted, could a player play in Gwinett in the afternoon and then again at The Ted that night?
jhpm
June 30th, 2009
5:51 pm
DOB:
Has Franceour ever hear of using a clothes dryer?
Foggy Notion
June 30th, 2009
5:53 pm
Awesome song and live clip with the Boss. If I were to get a Gaslight Anthem albums is that (’59 Sound) the one to get?
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
5:53 pm
Frenchy, sans turkey-drawers, should be yanked from the lineup.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
5:53 pm
Joel Youngblood played for 2 different major league teams on the same day. I believe it was ‘82.
K with a K
June 30th, 2009
5:53 pm
I would love this line-up
McLouth CF
Escobar SS
Chipper 3B
McCann 1B
Diaz/B.Jones LF
Ross C
Prado 2B
Schafer/Frenchy RF
I don’t hate Bobby just think it’s time for a change. Think Joe is a great baseball mind, from listening to him talk.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
5:54 pm
Does Francoeur even need to clean his underwear? It’s not like he gets all sweaty running bases he never gets on
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
5:56 pm
Francoeur’s Turkey Underwear Saga epitomizes this team.
Granted, I don’t even know what that means, but it sounds right to me.
biff pocahontas,,uh roba
June 30th, 2009
5:56 pm
tell frenchy to wear a garter belt. didn’t it work for nuke laloosh. and make sure the flower is in the front…
wasn’t that his name??
Plus/Minus
June 30th, 2009
5:57 pm
No humor eh? Would you have rather that I said all this talk about Schafer’s hand position and UZR ratings were boring the hell out of me??
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
5:57 pm
RIP, VIBE magazine
TBrown
June 30th, 2009
5:58 pm
No undies, No Esco & McL – time to drink
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
5:59 pm
I wasn’t necessarily comparing him to those guys. I was meaning in the sense of somebody who has a bad attitude or doesn’t listen to instruction or refuses to follow the lead of the vets. And I don’t care what type of clubhouse you have if there is a guy who has a bad attitude or doesn’t listen then that clubhouse will get poisoned.
Anders
June 30th, 2009
5:59 pm
Joel Youngblood played for 2 different major league teams on the same day. I believe it was ‘82. (Baba)
You forgot that it was in two different cities. Other guys have been traded between double headers . For anyone under 30 that’s when teams played two games in the same day and you only had to buy one ticket.
Plus/Minus
June 30th, 2009
6:00 pm
Or whether Bobby Cox’ lineup either sucked, or stunk? I stand by my -14 grade.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
6:00 pm
for those who saw the Schafer Homerun, where was the pitch location.
biff pocahontas,,uh roba
June 30th, 2009
6:00 pm
Gorecki isn’t labeled, is he? you know the label, “prospect”… you no labeled, you play in the bigs.. at least that’s what happened to me…that, and i i was slower than malasses, couldn’t hit,
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
6:00 pm
Escobar took himself out of the lineup, told Cox (or the trainer) that he couldn’t go. I asked, he said it’s “not good.” But he took infield and hit… DOB
He took himself out of the lineup? So he was kinda being punished the past few games, and was probably well enough to be in the lineup, but now that he has rested (after taking BP today and all), he can’t go?
Smells damn fishy.
Not saying you’re hiding something DOB – just seems really odd to me unless he aggravated it today I suppose… color me skeptical.
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
6:01 pm
Maybe Yunel decided to bench himself for a little while? That’ll show ‘em.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
6:01 pm
Inside fastball, Rob
MiltonDawg
June 30th, 2009
6:02 pm
lineup looks rough, i’m not sold on it either. here’s to hoping the day off actually benefits them this time. if francouer does the turkey boxers ritual, can we sacrifice one on the field to put him out?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
6:02 pm
Steve from OH
was it really?
Supes
June 30th, 2009
6:04 pm
Yunel needs to SUCK IT UP.
He’s either really, really hurt (but then why take infield and BP)? or he’s still “benched”…or he is saying he’s “hurt” to stick it to BOBBY COX who “benched him’.
We need him in the lineup. Hernadez is inferior defensively with a weaker arm, and can’t hit worth a lick.
McLouth out hurts even more…as Blanco wouldn’t even be employed by 95% of major league teams b/c he flat out sucks, has a noodle arm and can’t hit to save his life, plus he doesn’t utilize his speed well.
Braves are in deep trouble without Esco and Nate in the lineup.
Hey…at least KJ is OUT OF THERE!
Now if Matt Diaz was playing instead of Jeff…we may have a fighting chance:)
Anders
June 30th, 2009
6:04 pm
for those who saw the Schafer Homerun, where was the pitch location. (Rob from SC)
Since the worst comment of the day award was given out already by DOB I suggest the “Trying to Hard” award for this one.
I mean – come on. Really.
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
6:05 pm
Maybe Yunel decided to bench himself for a little while? That’ll show ‘em
I don’t want to think there could be any truth to this statement at all, but… it looks weird the way this has gone down with him and Cox over the past few days.
TommyP
June 30th, 2009
6:06 pm
Anders: I don’t get it. The guy wants to know where the pitch was. Really.
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
6:06 pm
Franks KS – I still have nightmares about 1996
The Shark’s ultrachoke in “The Masters” and well you know the rest
wjones
June 30th, 2009
6:06 pm
Can Frenchy do nothing right? If it’s lucky underwear, YOU DON’T WASH IT UNTIL YOU LOSE! He can’t even get being superstitious right! What a f-up!
YUNIFAN
June 30th, 2009
6:06 pm
Yunel took BP on Friday too…I was there…
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
6:06 pm
8-1 Phils.
I hope I’m wrong.
MiltonDawg
June 30th, 2009
6:07 pm
or better yet, having francouer sacrifice the turkey and drinks the blood. kind of like a voodoo ritual. who knows, this stuff could actually work?
Anders
June 30th, 2009
6:07 pm
Steve from OH -was it really? (Rob From SC)
If only there was a symbol for astonishment like them smiley faces. OK carry on. I look forward to what you make of this.
Anders
June 30th, 2009
6:09 pm
wjones – That 6:06 was hilarious.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
6:09 pm
Why does Francoeur insist on joking about his turkey underwear when he absolutely sucks? It’s not funny. The fact that he’s got the nerve to joke about something like that when he’s hitting a big fat .248/.283/.347, WORSE THAN LAST YEAR, well, he just disgusts me in every way. It’s time for that worthless piece of garbage to go. In no other organization would a player THIS BAD for THIS LONG make it this far without being benched, sent to the minors, etc.. The fact that Francoeur continues to trot onto the field and move like molasses while making more outs than most lead-off hitters really shows how badly run the Braves organization is. Clearly the front office isn’t calling the shots. Either that or they’re completely retarded. I think the former.
The absurd 3 day demotion last year is another thing that goes to show what a terribly run organization this is. The fact that they let him post a sub-300 OBP for all of 2006, a lost season, without sending him to the minors when it was clear that there were (and still are) MASSIVE holes in his game speaks volumes. But they let him stay for all of 2006 and all of 2007 (not without reason in 2007). Then 2008 comes and he displays the same holes he did in 2006 minus all the power and all the plus defense. He displayed all the holes on a massive scale and none of the positive attributes of his game. He was completely worthless. And the organization waits until July to send him down. How on earth are you going to let a player that bad continue to ruin your line-up? It was clear that his game has deteriorated on a massive level. And then, what do they do? 3 days. ARE YOU SERIOUS? The problems with Francoeur at the time were so vast that there’s no way he could’ve solved them given a MONTH in the minors. But instead he just whines and they back-track and bring him back up when he CLEARLY shouldn’t be on a MLB roster.
And he hasn’t been down since. I don’t have any rational reason why. There isn’t one, really. Other than this organization isn’t run by the front office. Or it is run very badly by the front office.
(Jerry Seinfeld)
June 30th, 2009
6:09 pm
I wanna know where that pitch was
ehh
“I don’t wanna know where that pitch was”
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
6:10 pm
Remember the Braves’ “Not Too Shabby” commercials?
That was the low-point of the Atlanta Braves organization.
Frenchy’s requiring turkey-panties to succeed is definitely a gutter-scraper. Hope to Hell it doesn’t go national…
dogsbrekky (confused and demoralized by '09 baseball)
June 30th, 2009
6:11 pm
Just whatever PWHjort writes, he captures my disdain with far greater clarity, sense of purpose and factual data
thanks mate, Froggy sucks rotten egg gas !
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
6:12 pm
Anders
If you don’t like my comment, good for you. I just wanted to know if Schafewr was making any improvements. Go back to you Choker Team’s board
drumzalicious
June 30th, 2009
6:14 pm
With the Indians seemingly going into a Fire Sale what do you think about the Braves going after Sizemore?
We currently have a RF’er thats under-producing and so is our 2B and we could definitely use another bat in our lineup.
Do you think the Indians would take a package built around Schafer, Medlen, Cody Johnson and one or two of our A Ball pitchers?
Medlen has become expendable simply because of our pitching depth that we currently possess and the amount of pitchers working their way up through the minors. Schafer is a given that we would have to give up and its not a decision i see hurting us too bad we get a guy for 3 and 1/2 years who is proven now.
Johnson and the A ball pitchers would just be something to sweeten the deal along with Schafer and Medlen.
What are your thoughts on this do you think its too much to give or too little. Also do you think the Braves would pursue something like this?
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
6:14 pm
They did a few “Hey Vern” ads too.
OMG, the horror, the horror…
Plus/Minus
June 30th, 2009
6:15 pm
Escobar needs a stimulus package!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
6:16 pm
drumzalicious
Grady Sizemore will have surgery on his injured elbow.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
6:16 pm
after the season and might miss ST
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
6:17 pm
cabravesfan
Do I want to know why you have a paddle?
Probably not. Just know, that when I bought it, the man who sold it to me asked if he was taking my Margarita Money…
And does Nolie know about your…fondness for RSF? (no way in hell I am learning to spell that one)
Perhaps, but if not, it’s probably best to keep it on the Down Low.
As for the flaming pitchfork…I’m sure I could come up with something esle. This is LA after all
Psshh…bring it, sister!
Supes
June 30th, 2009
6:17 pm
….and for the last time:)
The Indians are NOT trading Grady Sizemore or Victor Martinez. They are 2 of the key players they want to build around!
Just damn, some of you people!
I’m telling you, Yunel is doing this on purpose to get back to Bobby Cox. He knows how much Hernadez sucks when he’s in there taking his place at SS.
AustinBrave
June 30th, 2009
6:17 pm
Sounds like Yunel is pulling a Manny, need to get rid of that boy!
Plus/Minus
June 30th, 2009
6:18 pm
I wanted to know where the pitch was, before I didn’t want to know.
drumzalicious
June 30th, 2009
6:19 pm
V-Mart is a FA after next year and i HIGHLY doubt they are able to retain him.
Not with the Red Sox losing Lowell and having an opening at 1B
Plus/Minus
June 30th, 2009
6:19 pm
Can we deal Escobar to LA for Kemp or Ethier?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
6:19 pm
The Indians might trade Victor Martinez. He has an option for next year. They have a top catcher in the minors (Carlos Santana. Depends how much the trading team is willing to give up. It would take a lot.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
6:20 pm
Plus/Minus,
Depends on how frustrated with Furcal the Dodgers are. But probably not.
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
6:20 pm
Plus/Minus, you can get a personal stimulus package in Milledgeville. It’s called electro-shock therapy.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
6:21 pm
I took another look at Schafer’s HR. His hands were attached to the end of his arms. Interested Observer
Whew…that’s certainly good news.
(ps- That made me smile real big!)
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
6:21 pm
Humidity is down a tad today, maybe the sinker will be sinkin’
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
6:22 pm
DRum-Ciaous
Do You Read the blog…?
D.O.B. Has already been quoted for the last time that he thinks there will be little or no way that the braves get Sizemore…So put it to rest…
There Will be few Big names/trades made this year, “Bank on it!”
For Further Proof read the reports from across the league….
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
6:22 pm
dogsbrekky,
Don’t overlook Faldo’s brilliant final round at the 96 Masters. Faldo is a turd (you ought to hear what the foreign press says about the guy … it’s not pretty), but he played great golf that day.
Plus/Minus
June 30th, 2009
6:23 pm
Shamus
Electro-shock is way overrated…..
oh SNAP!
June 30th, 2009
6:25 pm
I’m sorry but HAHAHAHA…Bobby benches Escobar for 3 days…or atleast 2 and when he wants Escobar to play he can’t….I hope Escobar gets well but Karma is a bitch.
cvbraves
June 30th, 2009
6:26 pm
Minus Kelly, same lineup tonight that beat Boston Sunday.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
6:27 pm
Lineup Sucks Once Again Tonight…We will score less than three but wait Heavy-B is pitching for Philly, anything can happen….
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
6:28 pm
8-1 Phils.
I hope I’m wrong.
Mixxo, you should ashamed. Timeout for you!
Couch Tater
June 30th, 2009
6:30 pm
she finally realized she can’t change you…
It was that d@mn First Place trophy I won at the company “scramble” golf tournament in 1985 that gave me an attitude of entitlement. I was the “B” player in a weak field. I’ll have my ex read the Grace comments to verify these trophies lead to attitude problems and not her constant griping.
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
6:34 pm
Gonna go do some online bowling before game-time. My life (since being dumped like yesterday’s trash by galfriend) gets more exciting by the minute!
BravesfaninWis
June 30th, 2009
6:34 pm
So if the Braves can’t afford to trade for a power bat that makes good money, and the players they currently have couldn’t hit the ball if it stopped right in front of them, how are the fans supposed to stay happy and support this team?
The fans pay for tickets and everything else at the ballpark which in turn helps pay for all the players contracts, so what happens when the fans are pissed and don’t go to the games anymore? Pretty soon Turner Field is going to look a lot like the Marlins park if this crap keeps up..
This is not like the old days when we were winning with lower paid, and lesser known players.. Now it seems that nobody can get the job done regardless on what kind of money they are making.. My guess is that fans are going to get sick of this sooner rather then later and stop attending the home games.. Then the Braves owners and front office will have themselves to blame for that..
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
6:35 pm
Yunel removes himself fro lineup…McLouth sits….Frenchies turkey panties are in the wash….boy, that’s some obstacles to overcome before even taking the field.
Gotta wonder about the Escobar thing….
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
6:35 pm
Mixxo, you should ashamed. Timeout for you! – Roman Gal
*cowers in shame*
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
6:35 pm
Someone Mentioned If we can Move Hoss To First…Maybe when Kotchman’s salary goes up in a few years…
Better Yet..It Won’t Happen but move Hoss back to LF…Even His Defense out there is better than Loaf’s and we get twice the bat…
However he’s stuck at 3rd it’s too late in his career to make a position change…
The Abs Man
June 30th, 2009
6:38 pm
Why are Nate and Yunel not in lineup tonight?
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
6:39 pm
BravesFanInWis
“The fans pay for tickets and everything else at the ballpark which in turn helps pay for all the players contracts, so what happens when the fans are pissed and don’t go to the games anymore? Pretty soon Turner Field is going to look a lot like the Marlins park if this crap keeps up..”
Bro That is alredy Happening, Most Braves Fans are not gonna drive an hour in traffic, spend a shytload of money to get bored to death at the game when the team scores 1-2 runs if that…Most Braves Fans Stopped caring after the 1st month, Hence the Number of posters dropped dramatically from the 1st week of the season after the first 5 games…I’m calling the Attendance at 25,000. 15,000 will be Phillies Fans…
glord
June 30th, 2009
6:39 pm
After comparing the line ups tonight I have an astute baseball observation. We have a hitting advantage at catcher.
After watching Jeff Francoeur play baseball the last two years I have another one. I belive DOB got confused and meant he saw a turkey wearing Francoeur underware.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
6:40 pm
Salamander, glad you’re not saying I’m hiding anything.
I was about to say, would you like for me to ask Escobar to undergo a strength/flexibility test so I can determine if he’s truly hurt?
nolie
June 30th, 2009
6:40 pm
think credibility left a while back (CBF)
yeah he left with that so-so Greek athlete somebody mentioned a bit ago..Mediocrites.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
6:40 pm
And just to add to how badly this organization is run. They’re willing to invest 3.375 million dollars on Francoeur, who is a proven failure. But they’re not willing to go over slot on the draft and selected a player with a crappy ceiling when a handful of players with phenomenal ceilings were available. We could’ve had one of Purke, Matzek, Turner, or Miller for 5.575 million.
glord
June 30th, 2009
6:41 pm
cvbraves
June 30th, 2009
6:26 pm
Minus Kelly, same lineup tonight that beat Boston Sunday.
Unfortunately minus Hanson too.
Chipperchop
June 30th, 2009
6:41 pm
That lineup is a guarenteed loss.
Mike in LA
June 30th, 2009
6:42 pm
I think too much is being made about Chipper’s defense. Yes he’s made a lot of errors compared to the last few errors but 3rd basemen generally make errors in bunches. ARod had a really tough fielding year a few years but has been very solid since. Chipper still makes that barehanded play better than anybody and I can’t think of any physical errors that have cost the Braves a game. Maybe the miscommunication on the popup in Boston, but that was a mental error. I look for Chipper to have a big second half offensively and defensively simply because he’s a great player and makes adjustments.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
6:43 pm
Abs Man: See the little numbers at bottom of page? You can scroll back a page at a time. It’s awesome.
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
6:43 pm
DOB
Ha! Nope not necessary dude. The whole situation doesn’t sit right with me, but what do I know? Maybe he really is hurting and can’t play.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
6:45 pm
Escobar’s reply when I asked him: “No good.”
And when an AP writer waited and asked him later in clubhouse if it hurt to hit, or field, or what: “Don’t understand you…. It’s no good.”
If that’s the case, and he really didn’t understand her, then his English comprehension has actually regressed steadily in two years, because he understood questions like that when I asked them in his rookie year, at least enough to give a response.
joe
June 30th, 2009
6:46 pm
“The whole situation doesn’t sit right with me, but what do I know? Maybe he really is hurting and can’t play.”
Bobby Cox said all along that he was sitting because he was hurt. Hey, maybe I’m naive, but then again, maybe we should take it at face value.
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
6:46 pm
McLouth: ¿Está el jefe aquí?
Yunel: Sí.
McLouth: Debemos asir nuestras piernas y hacer un sonido triste. No tendremos que jugar hoy.
Yunel: Eso es una gran idea, Nate.
glord
June 30th, 2009
6:47 pm
You know its bad when Esco pulls a Sammy Sosa.
Pennski
June 30th, 2009
6:47 pm
Escobar is a joke. I’m sick of this guy, he only wants to play when he is happy and go lucky. I could care less, let’s just get rid of this joker.
ray k.
June 30th, 2009
6:48 pm
Good god.
That line up is about as formidable as a basket full of polka dot puppies.
I hope Lowe has his s$”% figured out.
So, what’s up with Escobar? Seriously–is he sulking or is he hurt? I just don’t get it.
I have a feeling Chipper is going to break out tonight, though. 3-5 2B, HR.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
6:48 pm
Funny, Chop Chop.
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
6:52 pm
Has anyone seen Braves’ minor league manager Ingle pull a Waldman? I say bring Waldman and Ingle to the big club with their fire. But at least the minor leaguers are seeing guys with desire to win as examples.
nolie
June 30th, 2009
6:52 pm
Rather, he suggests looking at a three year sample of UZR data. But folks keep banging on anyway about 70 games worth of UZR info although the inventor of UZR says not to do that. (WW)
AMEN! I’m not a big fan of it , but if you are gonna use it, at least use it correctly. I always get a hoot out of PWH using such a small sample size and proclaiming Prado to be a devastatingly bad defender. IMP people who rely solely on stats to determine what level a defender is, need to learn enough to be able to watch and make that decision themselves;especially with players on their favorite team.
bravos2249
June 30th, 2009
6:55 pm
DOB
He probably meant “Don’t you understand….no good.”
In Spanish verbs come before some words. He probably just mixed them up.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
6:55 pm
By the way, I LOVED the Nate McLouth Know Your Braves video. I thought it was good!
I can just imagine him sitting in the clubhouse watching The Hills…oyy!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
6:55 pm
Ray K.
“Good god.
That line up is about as formidable as a basket full of polka dot puppies.
I hope Lowe has his s$”% figured out.”
Co-Sign Bro…!
I think Esco Might be hurt Worse than everyone thinks he is…Those hip injuries are no joke…
If This Persists over the roadtrip then It Might Be a Good Idea to put him on the D.L. so he won’t miss that many games with the A.Star Break included in there. We are gonna need is Ass If this team is to make a run…I cann’t See D. playing there, The Guy has not impressed me one bit. We need a Esco Healthy ASAP…!
He was the only one hitting with R.I.S.P. And 2 out…
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
6:56 pm
Wow…talk about being redundant in that 6:55 post.
Yikes.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
6:57 pm
Tomorrow night might not be the ideal night for Escobar to return to the lineup: He’s 1-for-13 against Hamels, though he does have five walks.
nolie
June 30th, 2009
6:58 pm
Good grief. The man isn’t a middle-of-the-order bat, he’s a 2 hitter with pop. Try to see the difference (SCOOTS)
I don’t believe in all that hes a #2, hes a #8 crap. To keep the ol’ blog more interesting, Bobby should just pick the names out of a hat everyday….Oh wait….
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
7:00 pm
Roman Gal–
Yeah, the McLouth video was great! I’ve really enjoyed those Know Your Braves videos.
Chop Chop
June 30th, 2009
7:00 pm
Overall, the Braves’ outfield positioning seems to be better this year, but that’s because there are better pitchers on the mound on a regular basis. There aren’t as many mistake pitches being hit to spots that cross the defense up.
I know that’s kinda stating the obvious, but I do think you get a better idea of someone’s defensive ability when pitchers hit their spots. If a guy doesn’t field well under those circumstances, he isn’t a good fielder.
Chris
June 30th, 2009
7:01 pm
Its seems after a few years in the Majors some guys look for any excuse to get a 2 week vacation, Kotchman.
ray k.
June 30th, 2009
7:01 pm
DOB, if and when Yunel has a break out game, I would pay you money to stroll up to the circle of press surrounding him in the club house after the game, shoulder your way to the front, and right when he looks at you expectantly with those big proud eyes, give him the once over, say “No bueno”, flip your notepad closed, and walk away to interview someone else.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
7:01 pm
nolie,
Have you ever WATCHED Prado play defense? He’s horrible. Absolutely atrocious. OK, he’s pretty decent at 3B (he’s got a good arm). But at 2B and 1B he covers no ground and frequently makes misplays so bad the scorekeeper can’t even charge him an error. He makes all the errors KJ does (even though they’re not charged as errors because whereas Kelly would actually GET to the ball, Prado misplays it so bad he doesn’t touch it) plus covers half the ground. And using UZR halfway through the season isn’t meaningless. It isn’t perfect, but neither is any fielding stat. Nor are the opinions of most of the numbskulls who populate this blog and sincerely believe that Prado is a better defender. In general I prefer +/-. Which is relevant with any sort of sample size. And +/- agrees that Prado is awful at 2B.
18 Wheels of Love
June 30th, 2009
7:01 pm
Yunel/Francoeur/prospect
for
Bucholz/Lugo
jeffrey d
June 30th, 2009
7:01 pm
Does JJ really pump anybody up?
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:01 pm
Freaking PeachTreeTV again, lol.
RJB in DC
June 30th, 2009
7:02 pm
Oh boy- just scrolled through the blog. Between a AAA caliber line-up (exceptions for Chipper and McCann) and a snarling crowd online this evening, it could be ugly. D-Lowe better be sharp tonight, or I might have to go with something more tame like Rachel Maddow firing up Rush over Senator Al Franken…
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
7:02 pm
Why did the Pirates just trade for Lastings milledge? That guy is a cancer.
jeffrey d
June 30th, 2009
7:03 pm
Ugh….it’s 7:02 and I’ve already had enough Chip
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
7:03 pm
BTW–Great comeback for the G-Braves today! I didn’t see any of the actual game, but I had the Gameday goin’ on. Very fun.
bravos2249
June 30th, 2009
7:04 pm
The Pirates traded Niger Morgan, for Lastings Milledge.
bravos2249
June 30th, 2009
7:04 pm
I meant it as in a WOW….Morgan,McLouth, Nady and Bay…..yeah that’s how you win…lol
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
7:04 pm
jeffrey d Ugh….it’s 7:02 and I’ve already had enough Chip
I just heard a tiny bit of the pre-game radio show and I’ve already had enough Chip.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
7:05 pm
Huge step back for the Pirates.
scottbravesfan
June 30th, 2009
7:06 pm
There probably won’t even be 25,000 fans at the game. Maybe 20,000 but that’s being generous. I never understand why Atlanta doesn’t support their sports teams. Braves, Falcons, Hawks, Thrashers, Georgia Tech all have trouble drawing fans. Maybe they should move the Braves to Charlotte or Raleigh maybe they will actually get some fans to the ball park.
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
7:06 pm
MLB guys say Frenchy wearing the turkey underwear tonight. Who is correct– DOB or MLB guys?
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:07 pm
He’s horrible. Absolutely atrocious.
Come on, he’s not that bad. He’s about average in my opinion…which isn’t atrocious.
bravos2249
June 30th, 2009
7:07 pm
I like to go to Home Depot,” Kawakami said through Takasue. “It’s fun just to walk around because there are so many things, not like Japan.”
He has also fed his car hobby here in the U.S. too. He recently bought a Maserati to go along with the Chevy Tahoe hybrid he has through the Braves.
The trick, he has found, is driving it around Atlanta.
“I have to be very careful so I don’t get in an accident,” Kawakami said through Takasue. “Safety first, because people drive fast over here.”
That goes for Kawakami off the field as well. Takasue said Kawakami has learned about 50 English phrases.
Like what, Kawakami is asked?
“Can I have a cheeseburger?” he said, with a smile. “My order come yet? Not yet?”
LOL….haha…nice article by Carroll.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
7:08 pm
I rate both Kelly and Prado as average defenders. Kelly with a bit more range, Prado better hands.
Bravesfan1984
June 30th, 2009
7:08 pm
oh wow chip and joe are wearing their lucky undies…ugh peachtree
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:08 pm
I just heard a tiny bit of the pre-game radio show and I’ve already had enough Chip.
I might just have to turn on the radio. They really need to spread out these PTV airings…there’s only so much Chip I can handle in any given week.
Wabe
June 30th, 2009
7:09 pm
Hey all. Dammit…Peachtree TV huh?
ray k.
June 30th, 2009
7:09 pm
Yeah, those “Know Your Braves” Videos are really knee slapping fun, huh!
Instead of shooting insipid Youtube type shorts about what their favorite Karaoke song is, I’d much rather these guys watched a video called “Know Your Hitting”
hhmmm
June 30th, 2009
7:09 pm
Thanks Bobby . You beat down the one guy who actually cares, who actually is frustrated at poor performances and losses. And way to go Chipper for piling on him when he was out. At least Esco, at least before today, played hurt Chipper. Gdamn you two guys are going to kill whatever spirit is left in him Great move, Now go kiss KJ’s ass even though he has made as many of not more dumb plays.
nolie
June 30th, 2009
7:09 pm
Escobar took himself out of the lineup, told Cox (or the trainer) that he couldn’t go. I asked, he said it’s “not good.” But he took infield and hit… (DOB)
gee, so much for all that “punishment” Bobby was unfairly handing out by “benching” him. Wonder where all that started anyway? Funny how so many posters just “know” what is happening in the locker room all the time.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:09 pm
This is gonna be a rough night…Blanco, Diory, JF, Kotchman, Lowe…thats 5 automatic outs.
Yunel probably wants to be traded.
June 30th, 2009
7:10 pm
Maybe Yunel came into the season after hearing about all of the rumors that the Braves were trying to deal him (which they were) finally got fed up with it all. I mean he came into the season he leads his team in hits, runs and rbi. He’s showing he’s commited to helping the team win and through all of this he makes the same mistakes, Chipper, KJ and Diaz does with defense and baserunning. Yet he gets called out and benched. Maybe he’s now thinking go ahead and trade me, i have talent, i will make it somewhere. Its funny that in a league with all these cubans and hispanics that so few reporters are bilingual? I mean seriously if you could go up and do like McLouth could and go talk to him in his native language could he duck your answers then? Why is there no bilingual reporter working for AJC? That way there would be no need for statements like well he doesnt have a clue what im talking about. Maybe AJC should hire McLouth part time?
Marv Kleeman
June 30th, 2009
7:10 pm
Some thoughts on the Braves seventy-five games into the season:
I don’t know where the perception comes from (on this blog) the Braves have a surplus of starting pitching.
What surplus?
In the entire organization the Braves have a total of six (count em’ six) major league caliber starting pitchers.
1) Derek Lowe (who is in the midst of a terrible slump and let’s hope its just a slump)
2) Jair Jurrjens
3) Javier Vazquez
4) Kenshin Kawakami (and let us hope our Japanese import does not suffer any psychological damage from being hit in the face off the bat of that “clod” Joba Chamberlain).
5) Tommy Hanson
6) Kris Medlen
Other than those six; the cupboard is bare.
Tommy Glavine (released)
Charlie Morton (traded)
JoJo Reyes (injured but ineffective when given the opportunity)
James Parr (injured but probably just a journeyman)
Jorge Campillo (out of the picture completely as a result of shoulder tendinitis)
Buddy Carlyle (a likeable guy; we’re all rooting for him but probably not up to the task)
Jeff Bennett (no comment)
The Braves are so devoid of starting pitching it probably explains the drafting of Mike Minor in the most recent player draft at pick #7.
There was a need to bring on board a “low” ceiling but major league ready starting pitcher.
So for all those who endorse the trading of Javier Vazquez; please reconsider.
Our surplus is no surplus.
kirkinga
June 30th, 2009
7:10 pm
I think Yunel is really injured and he doesn’t want to go out there and play injured. I think that is a good thing. Sometimes pain is distracting.
What’s really a shame is so-called Braves fans believing the guy is faking it or calling him “boy”. Escobar isn’t perfect but he’s one Brave that I never doubt burns to win and doesn’t accept failure very well at all.
Perhaps that’s his real problem, he doesn’t know how to be a “business like” loser?
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:11 pm
Well, I was about to say let’s not bring Jimmy Rollins back to life. K-out!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
7:11 pm
I guess it’s a blessing I have the Phillies feed ~_~
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
7:11 pm
I think Yunel with his attitude is telling Bobby………”Ill play when I want to, and not when you want to”……….thats a sign that Cox has no authority among his players……….
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:11 pm
Nasty Pitch To J-Roll for the K, I hope that is an omen for how the night will go…
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
7:13 pm
The pirates are an example of an organization that doesn’t seem to give a crap, don’t know what they are trying to do. That trade with the Nats, I don’t know.
On the Escobar thing, I definately think he’s hurt but I don’t know to what degree. That last game he played he looked horrible on defense and I don’t think it was for lack of trying. He just didn’t look right out there.
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:13 pm
I’ve been picking McLouth for my ESPN fantasy baseball team lately. However, I kind of figured that he wouldnt be in the line-up so I didnt pick him. I was right.
Enough of Francoeur and his stupid A$$ underwear. I dont want to hear about what kind of drawers our no hitting right fielder is wearing. Hit a freaking home run more than once every 3 weeks or so……..then you can maybe talk about wearing some gay A$$ underwear.
How can a grown man who has only hit 5 homers all year have the “nerve” to say that his “lucky underwear” is helping he Braves win. How about you tell those mofo drawers to help you hit some freaking homers. If our line-up had some right handed power, then maybe we could win a few more games.
Nöcho
June 30th, 2009
7:13 pm
DOB is it safe to assume that if Schafer has a hot stretch going into the break, that we won’t be at AAA for very long? Or with McLouth on board, do you think they intend on leaving him down for the remainder of the season?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:15 pm
You’re talking to a nervous nelly here. Or is it Nellie?
All I know is D-Lowe better not give ‘em anything.
If we can win with Gregor Blanco and Diory Hernandez in the line-up tonight then the Phillies might be in serious trouble.
We have to light up Blanton one way or another.
Come on D-Lowe!
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:15 pm
thats a sign that Cox has no authority among his players
Oh, brother…players take themselves out of the lineup all the time. Chipper does it, too. Maybe, just maybe, Escobar doesn’t want to hurt himself even more by playing.
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
7:16 pm
Sinker appears to be “falling off the table” quite nicely.
Of course, as I type that, a pop fly to left….
kirkinga
June 30th, 2009
7:16 pm
Yunel/Francoeur/prospect
for
Bucholz/Lugo
So now you want to trade Escobar for another wife beater? What is it with you people? Headstrong young player i a problem, but no problem with guys who abuse women? Sheesh!
nolie
June 30th, 2009
7:16 pm
it looks weird the way this has gone down with him and Cox over the past few days. (Salamander)
It only looks weird if you buy into that crap about Bobby punishing him.
The only other option is that he did bench himself lying about being hurt, and if that is the case he needs to be traded ASAP, because that would be total egocentric BS.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:16 pm
Interesting theory there Holiday.
Not buying it.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
7:17 pm
“gee, so much for all that “punishment” Bobby was unfairly handing out by “benching” him. Wonder where all that started anyway? Funny how so many posters just “know” what is happening in the locker room all the time.”
Exactly what I was thinking. That’s one thing I try to stay away from, not assuming I know what’s going on in that locker room, but the way some folks talk I would think they know these players personally.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:17 pm
Come On Offense We Gotta Slapp Heavy-B!!!
Pippi Longstocking
June 30th, 2009
7:17 pm
“gee, so much for all that “punishment” Bobby was unfairly handing out by “benching” him. Wonder where all that started anyway? Funny how so many posters just “know” what is happening in the locker room all the time.”
It doesn’t take a washed up catcher to know the Braves have been feeding the announcers and this website with anti-Yunel crap.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:18 pm
Turner Field practically empty. As it should be.
I’d rather hear nothing than “Let’s go Overrated-Team!”
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:18 pm
Ay-yi-yi, Gregor.
Let’s go Marteeeeeeeen.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:19 pm
Not having Nate and Yunel in the lineup is killing us……
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:19 pm
Not a good start by Blanco.
Nöcho
June 30th, 2009
7:19 pm
Perhaps when Escobar was saying “It’s no good”, he thought the reporter was asking about his attitude and ability to focus?
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:20 pm
Man, Blanco really sucks. I hate that after watching his relative impotence last year in lineup he’s somehow found his way into the starting lineup again.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:20 pm
atleast blanco worked a full count.
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
7:20 pm
I just love the way Blanco works the count……….he is good on that. Braves will get rid of that guy……..but I can assure you he will become a very good leadoff hitter.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:21 pm
Dirty Uni
Agreed Get B Jones Up here…Blanco Blows, but at least he worked the count
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:22 pm
THANK YOU PaulLentz.
On another note, this lineup is much better than the usual one. Maybe Bobby Cox is reading this blog on how to improve our run production.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say we are definitely gonna win this game with better run production..just watch and see!
nolie
June 30th, 2009
7:22 pm
We could’ve had one of Purke, Matzek, Turner, or Miller for 5.575 million. (PWH)
Hell they haven’t even signed Minor yet and they drafted him cause he was supposedly cheaper.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:22 pm
Here We Go With those Damn Amstel Light Commercials…!
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:22 pm
Dirty Yuni,
Blanco is A LOT better than KJ for this team. End of discussion.
bravos2249
June 30th, 2009
7:22 pm
Could Chipper be slumping because of NOT being on the DL….I mean it’s a crazy idea but this year has got to be the first where he played almost every game in June.
Shane (The original)
June 30th, 2009
7:23 pm
Did anybody mention Blanco worked the count?
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 30th, 2009
7:23 pm
NEWS FROM THE FUTURE…7/1/09
Gregor Blanco
June 30th, 2009
7:23 pm
Hey, I might not hit worth a damn, but I can sure work the count. At least I didn’t tell Bobby “no good” tonight!
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
I cant believe that Diory Hernandez is our best option after Yunel…… he cant hit and his defense is below average.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
We can’t let this fat boy get out of the inning without at least a run.
Not liking the offense so far. I know it’s just one inning but I didn’t like what I saw.
How did that guy catch that in the sun like that? He’s on steroids no doubt.
Shane (The original)
June 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
I mean he is hitting .143 but the way he works the count is a thing to behold!!!!
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
Wow………they just said we are the only team with a player that has hit 10 HR in Braves uni this season.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
Man…Chipper’s average is below .290. It’s…just.not.right.
the Count
June 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
Gregor Blanco worked me real good!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
Good play Prado!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
What a play!
He’s slow but I’ll take it.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:25 pm
Gotta love the shift. Great play.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:25 pm
Good Play Martin…That play was not rountine…
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:25 pm
Dirty Yuni,
I take that back, I was thinking of Norton. Both KJ and Blanco’s OBP sucks, Blanco’s sucks even worse.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:26 pm
Roman Gal, what is Chipper’s OBP?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:26 pm
Gregor might not give you a lot but he does work the count often and usually makes contact and that’s a hell of a lot more than you can say for Schafer and DH and Jeff and oh yeah, Kelly Johnson.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Jared–RG is fully aware of Chipper’s OBP.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Ugh Blanco!
At least no one scored
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Wow, Blanco totally misplayed that. Think he shoulda had it.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Send Blanco Down NOW!!! No excuse for That!!!
joe
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
christ, gregor
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Excuse me while I take that back.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
ballgame.
Gregor Blanco
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Maybe I should have told Bobby “no good” tonight!
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
At least he works the count.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Nate would’ve had it.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Nice [expeltive deleted] defense Gregor!
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
What was everyone just saying about Blano? Something about him not being as bad for the team as…
Ugh.
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
7:28 pm
That was fugly Blanco.
Yah really.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
7:28 pm
Rodney, I don’t know what to tell you, other than he told me, two TV stations, and everyone else within listening range (including MLB.com writer) that he did NOT wear the stupid underwear today. Did not. Negatory. No. Period.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:28 pm
Is Brandon Jones on the DL?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:28 pm
That’ll probably do it.
Gotta love the errors. Not sure how I feel about the walk.
I wouldn’t go there to be honest. Unless the runner made it to second which I’m guessing he did.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
7:29 pm
How many extra runs does our defense give up
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:29 pm
Come on Braves.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
7:29 pm
How was that not an error?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
No Brandon Jones is not on the DL
nolie
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
ave you ever WATCHED Prado play defense? He’s horrible. (PWH)
yes I have, a hell of a lot more than you have and he is not horrible. But hey I was just a scout making my living evaluating talent, you are obviously the damn expert. with all that book baseball knowledge you spout. The guy is NOT a horrible defender. He is also NOT a great defender, but he is NOT what you claim him to be and there is no way in hell that the small sample size he has in the bigs is a meaningful stat.
Gregor Blanco
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
I misjudged the flyball. Why should I have an error? It is Lowe’s fault he didn’t strike out the guy!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
Nice DP!
glord
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
As I watch this team lately all I can think of is the Cleveland fans in Major League – “Who the hell are these guys”.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
Yeahh Good DP…!!!
Tomahawk Talk
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
no Jared he hit a key double in the comeback win for the Gwinnett Braves
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
Good job Lowe
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
Nice going Lowe.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
here we go folks somthing is wrong with Lowe we need a double play or we lose. all they need is 2 runs and were out of a game
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
Chipper really needs to work on his defense.
joe
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
low throw, but nice dp
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
Whew. Way to go D-Lowe, Chipper, & CK.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
Close.
Don’t get up people. It was just an inning ending double play.
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
Great job by Lowe to get out of the Blanco-induced mess.
Your Atlanta Braves … made up of more spare parts than a salvage yard.
mr baseball
June 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
Does Chance the Manager really and truly believe that the Braves are a better team with Blanco in CF as opposed to Diaz? Blanco brings nothing to the table. Diaz at least can hit. As I write this, Blanco butchers a ball in center. Way to go Booby.
At some point this season, KJ is going to hit to his established level. Prado, on the other hand, is never going to be much of an offensive contributor. Might as well let KJ work his way out of his slump. At least he walks sometimes.
Don’t care how close the Braves are to the division lead. As long as the Nose Picker in Chief is also the Decider in the Dugout, this team is headed for a 4th place finish in the division.
Chances are at least 50-50 that the Braves’ season ends this week. Hope I’m wrong. Maybe the rotation will make up for all the other problems, most of all the genius Hall of Fame manager.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
Yeah, Blanco’s not going to win any Gold Gloves, people. But at least he hits a ton….
Rodney, by “MLB guys,” are you referring to the TV people? Because I just asked Bowman, and he didn’t write that. He was told same as the rest of us — he didn’t wear them.
If you’re listening to what MLB TV guys are saying, you’re hearing info that’s second-hand. They’re just reading what was supposed to happen (i.e., he said he was going to wear them) and not what actually happened. The network has no representative here, so they wouldn’t know until they read later what we’ve written (or unless they came on the blog and saw it already).
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
I thought Chipper was going to screw that one up.
Sorry Chip.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
It’s only an error if there’s a reasonable expectation that you make the play. In Blanco’s case, there is no reasonable expectation that he makes a play, even on a ball hit directly at him when he doesn’t have to move aimed directly at his glove.
That’s the nice thing about Blanco, actually. It’s impossible for him to commit an error because he’s never expected to make a play.
glord
June 30th, 2009
7:32 pm
Lowe looks like his sinker has good movement tonight.
zookey
June 30th, 2009
7:32 pm
Paul Lentz
Now its Jeffs underware,you have a serious problem…
Yunel probaly wants to be traded
Even at near league min Yunel probaly makes 4 times what you do for playing baseball 6 months a yr.
Press one for english…
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:32 pm
How was that not an error?
Because scorers don’t penalize players for being slow or misjudging flyballs.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:32 pm
Interesting stat from Joe, the Braves are the only team to not have a player hit 10 home-runs. Thats embarrassing. Doesn’t surprise me, this is one of the worst offensive lineups ive ever seen put on a field.
1. Blanco – need I say more? He wouldn’t be on any other teams minor league squad, also cant field particularly well.
2. Prado – career .280 hitter which isn’t bad but no speed or power and limited defensive range.
3. Chipper – old, slow, no power, declining stats, bad defense, and piss poor attitude.
4. McCann – overrated in general but is a good offensive catcher, bad defensively.
5. Garrett – old, bad defense, slow, no power.
6. Kotchman – Worst offensive 1B in the majors, slow, absolutely NO power.
7. Frenchy – need I say more?
8. Diory – Horrible hitter, career minor leaguer, decent defender, no speed or power.
KJ – sucks equally in the field and at the plate.
Diaz – hustles but not great defensively, swings at everything, career .270 hitter with minimal power.
McLouth – decent average but all around good player now injury bug has taken him out.
Yunel – good hitter, good defender, piss-poor attitude but along with McLouth & McCann, he is one of the 3 bright spots.
Doug
June 30th, 2009
7:33 pm
DOB
Do the official scorers at Turner Field have access to an open bar? There have been some questionable scoring decisions on this homestand.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
7:33 pm
Whassupp tonight Braves fans?
Nolie, you know the youngsters on the blog have to say everybody is horrible. Please don’t tell them they are wrong, it might harm their pschye!
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:33 pm
Jeff Bennett can take his “sweet A$$” time coming back (I hope the moron never comes back).
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:33 pm
Yeah, Blanco’s not going to win any Gold Gloves, people. But at least he hits a ton…. DOB
[smirk]
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
Damn, Victorino’s got some wheels.
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
Chipper really needs to work on his defense.
It certainly seems that way doesn’t it?
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
Wow…a centerfielder that can catch. How ’bout that?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
Now DOB’s making fun of Blanco. I won’t stand for that.
Maybe DL shouldn’t have walked that alien looking dude. Ever think of that?
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
you know the youngsters on the blog have to say everybody is horrible. Wayne in Utah
Now, wait a minute…
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
Roman Gal,
One thing is HOF Chipper Jones taking himself out of the lineup and another thing is an immature child taking himself out of the lineup
nolie
June 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
I think Yunel is really injured and he doesn’t want to go out there and play injured. I think that is a good thing. Sometimes pain is distracting. (KIRK)
I’ve thought that all along, and i certainly hope it to be true cause the other possibility that YE sat out and weakened the lineup even more because of a snit is really not acceptable
glord
June 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
Crap our only two hitters smoked it right at them. Now we wait three more innings for them to get up again to have a chance to score.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
Well, well it’s Loafy’s birthday. Happy Birthday. Now do something.
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
Did you know fish has swept the nats this season? 12-0
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
AWFense Please Don’t Make Heavy-B Look Like S. Carlton…Dizam!
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
“4. McCann – overrated in general but is a good offensive catcher, bad defensively.”
I can’t even comment on that it’s so stupid.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
Put THAT in your Krotch and smoke it.
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
zookey…………what I “have a problem with” is a player who has hit only 5 homers all year, talking about how his “lucky underwear” has helped the Braves go 7-0 whenever he wears them. This isnt ‘People Magazine’. I could careless less about hearing him talk about what he wears to bring the Braves “good luck”.
However about wearing something that will help him hit some homers?
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
DOB– I was just asking the question because that is what the TV guys were saying. As far as belief is concerned, I will always believe you and Carroll before any Braves announcers or Bowman or especially the TV guys from MBL and ESPN. You and Carroll make being a fan an informed and fun experience!
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
Who the hell said B-Mac is overrated? Are you kidding me?
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
RG
I guess I should have qualified that remark. “SOME” youngsters….
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
I can’t even comment on that it’s so stupid.
Look who wrote it. One of the “dirty dozen” of idiots around here.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
One thing is HOF Chipper Jones taking himself out of the lineup and another thing is an immature child taking himself out of the lineup Doc
Ok, whatever. So you’re saying that Escobar should play hurt, opening himself up to the possibility of missing even MORE time? You realized he missed a week for this same injury earlier in the year, right? Yes?
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
“And Jeff Francoeur comes up with a man aboard and two outs.”
Well, time to go grab a beer.
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
damn it so F bomb slow.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
At least he speaks english unlike some people on this team… Kenshin Kawakami.
Kidding.
Am I the only one though who wants Garrett Anderson to hit a game winning homerun just so that he would have to do a post-game interview?
I haven’t heard the guy say a word. They never interview him. What’s up with that?
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Enter your comments here
joe
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
oh my god CK is so freakin slow
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
God We Have The Slowest Team In the Majors….Arrrghhhh!!!
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Atta boy Jeffro!
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Nolie
If it ends up being that Yunel is tanking, he has to be sent packing. That is unacceptable, period.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
I guess hoping CK to score on that hit was asking for a bit much.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
You gotta send Krotch there with Diory coming up, inning over.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Damn, there was a dust storn out there on the RF warning track when he tried to field that ball. Looked like that spot hadn’t been watered in a month.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
I cant believe you said McCann is overated????? He is the best offensive catcher in the bigs……
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Good stuff Frenchy.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Wayne-
Thank you.
Blast you, Kotchrocket and your lack of speed!!
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Is he running with cement blocks on his feet? He had like 3 weeks to score.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Wow. Huh. This is me eating my words.
Doug
June 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
Nice hitting!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
God damn it Casey Kotchman. How f*ing slow are you!
Who doesn’t score on that?
Frankly, I like D-Lowe here more than DH.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
Nice job Frenchy to bad Diory is up next…… hope he proves me wrong.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
Loaf – did you forget about Mauer?
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
Come On D-Lo, Help Yourself Out…! Cause You know damn well that the AWFense Isn’t gonna help you…
glord
June 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
Crap I wish we had someone who could score on a double with twos outs. Did I say crap again. Lucky break. Lowe is a better hitter than Diory
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
Now I have to hear Chip and Joe talk about those freaking drawers.
Kotchman has to be the slowest man in baseball. Now for the next month, we get to hear how Francoeur is “swinging the bat better”.
RHR
June 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
OMG idiots. Casey shoulda went. The chances of him making it are greater than the chances of Lowe getting an RBI.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
even better Lowe is hitting, improvement over Diory. Help yourself out Lowe !!!
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
Race between Kotchman and a pregnant lady. What place does Kotchman come in?
I guess that’s an old one, huh!
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
Damn Kotchman, if your gonna be that slow at least hit for power. What a worthless major leaguer.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
Braves strand three and I need more tea.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
No Speed, No Hustle =’s 4th place….Sid Bream Could’ve made it on that play!
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
Yup, Krotchy is slow alright.
Nothing new there. 97% of major-leaguers score on that.
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
7:41 pm
CK has to be slower than Mc…………..Im sure about that
glord
June 30th, 2009
7:41 pm
Why not send Kotchman with the pitcher coming up. Well atleast we cleared the pitcher for Blanco and Prado. Wait a minute why didn’t we send him again?
Braveheart
June 30th, 2009
7:41 pm
Nolie, I’m with you. Maybe Yunel was hurt all along. However, even as big of a Yunel defender as I am, if he’s playing a tit for tat game with Cox saying if you can tell me I’m hurt when I’m not, I can tell you I’m hurt when I’m not, then we’ve got a major, major, major problemo on our hands.
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:41 pm
At least we go the pitcher our of the way and will have Blanco leading off in the 3rd.
nolie
June 30th, 2009
7:42 pm
It doesn’t take a washed up catcher to know the Braves have been feeding the announcers and this website with anti-Yunel crap. (Pippi)
ah a conspiracy nut huh? I got news for you CN, the Braves can do anything they want to with Yunel, they don’t hace to conspire to ruin his rep first. If they want to dump him one way or the other then thats all they have to do. Unless of course you have a bug in the locker room? yeah, I didn’t think so.
Any other good conspiracies going on around the world lately?
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:42 pm
Play Like What Happened on that Francoeur Double and Holding Casey Up really Pisses Me off…!
If Anyone Agrees? give me a Hell Yeah!
RHR
June 30th, 2009
7:42 pm
DOB, do you regret writing the burst about Jeffy’s panties?
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 30th, 2009
7:42 pm
I say he’s looking at porn.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:42 pm
I promised my friend’s wife that I would obstain from blasphemy as she is sort of religious and pointed out to me once how often I say God Damn and I have been very good about it… but God Damn it!
Give me a f*ing break.
Oh great, 3-0 on Blanton. That’ll help.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
7:43 pm
Not watching on TV, should Kotchman have been sent on that hit w/ Hernandez coming up next?
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
7:43 pm
Why can we never score from first on a 2-out double?
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
7:43 pm
I’d like to see Chip make me look at the ground that the Reaper covers…
It starts.
McCann is overrated?
That is such a dumb statement, my friend. Haha! If he’s overrated, then why isn’t he the lead vote-getter?
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
7:44 pm
BTW…………that was the best hit of the season by JF………….THE best.
Someone
June 30th, 2009
7:44 pm
Maybe Escobar gets traded tonight.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:44 pm
McFann-
Who said McCann was overrated?
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
7:44 pm
Why can we never score from first on a 2-out double?
Because this team is F-bomb slow. I’ve seen syrup with my velocity.
Man, that play really pis-es me off. We don’t have a lot of power and we give up runs with station to station yawnball.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:45 pm
Come on D-Lowe. Strike his ass out.
Blanton’s already been getting that call. He’s out. Go sit down fat boy.
Jimmy Rollins, my new favorite Brave. Get it, because it’s like he’s helping us out because he’s bad and makes outs?
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
7:45 pm
Hell Yeah Tomahawkin!
Gotta make him make a good throw there…even with Casey running. It’s not like we’ll have a ton of chances to score.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:45 pm
Joe Blanton should walk his dog a little more often…and stop eating the treats.
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
7:45 pm
*more velocity
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:45 pm
Prado, Chipper, and McCann have good OBP. They are supporting all the other deadbeats in this lineup…
Just go to the sortable stats page on atlantabraves.com and click OBP.
I do not understand why Brandon Jones is in AAA if he was 8 for 13 while he was in the majors. Can you say, thanks Bobby!
FIRE BOBBY COX, politely.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
7:45 pm
Mitchell??? You made your point.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
Rollins & Werth for Escobar & Franqueer?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
I’ve seen syrup with my velocity.
You just blew my mind Salamander. Oh, it was a typo.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
Ok, cabravesfan you know my day isn’t complete until you tell me what the weather is like over there today.
zookey
June 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
Paul Lentz-Even the most casual Braves fan knows JF has not played well for the last couple years,most also know there is no Santa.
Just don’t need reminding every 10 min…
RHR
June 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
It doesn’t take a washed up catcher to know the Braves have been feeding the announcers and this website with anti-Yunel crap.
This website is far from anti-Yunel. DOB compliments him often, I’ve never got the feeling from him, like I do from Joe Simpson, that he just doesn’t like the guy. Joe can’t do his job without showing bias, he loves Frenchy even when his own mama is saying ‘damn Jeff, you kinda suck, huh?’ but the Braves have tried their best to trade him.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Another thought on Yunel is could they be keeping him on bench cause of trade talks maybe someone is real interested in him and we dont wont him to get hurt or make his injury worse…. idk We did that with Salty for a few games before the Tex deal…
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Jim Powell just asked on the radio, “How bad would the Phillies pitching be without their defense?”
That’s a good point. They don’t give the team extra outs…
I’m jealous.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Escobar has been traded to the guantanamo pelicans of the cuban dictator league for a player to be named later.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:48 pm
Mixxo
“Gotta make him make a good throw there…even with Casey running. It’s not like we’ll have a ton of chances to score.”
Its Rare That The braves have early leads…I’m tired of trying to play the catchup game…
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
7:48 pm
Soph-
at home, 70 and breezy…downtown today 83, sunny and gorgeous
RHR
June 30th, 2009
7:48 pm
I haven’t been online much today, why is it that people are saying Yunel isn’t really hurt?
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
7:48 pm
Loaf can still hit
If that were the case, then Bobby wouldn’t have put Yunel in the lineup to start with.
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
You just blew my mind Salamander. Oh, it was a typo.
Ha! yeah… I was flustered, didn’t proofread.
Damn it so slow… grrrrrrr.
Its ’cause we’re playing the Phillies – I want to see some wins. No excuses, pull out the stops. sweep these chumps.
Gone Viral
June 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
All kidding aside, I think McCutchen would have scored from the on base circle on the play where Kotchman couldn’t make it past third.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
No Speed, No Hustle =’s 4th place….Sid Bream Could’ve made it on that play!
Sid Bream now could have scored on that play.
Of course he couldn’t get a hit with the bases loaded and one out in the 8th inning of Game 7 against Jack Morris so **** him.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
Why would we trade Yunel, honestly who could we get with a better on base percentage and or glove. Thank God for Yunel Escobar and shame on Joe Simpson and other Yunel scapegoaters. Yunel plays with passion and emotion, *most* other Braves players are in lala land like Francoeur and Garrett Anderson
driver8
June 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
What is Brandon Jones minor league stats so far this year? Just wondering.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
Come On D-Lo, Strike This Mudda-Sucka Out!!!
Pennski
June 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
Zookey– You are preaching to the choir. It doesn’t matter, Paul will continue to rail against Jeff with everything he has and be sarcastic when he has a good at bat or something. He’s an idiot, he just likes to make his “voice” heard.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
Why Can’t The Braves Do stuff like that…?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
Give me a ****ing break.
Strike him out DL.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
ballgame
nolie
June 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
So you’re saying that Escobar should play hurt, opening himself up to the possibility of missing even MORE time? (RG)
If he has been hurt-and i believe he has- then he should indeed sit out if still bothered.The problem arises with all these bloggers who have been so positive that he has not been hurt, but being punished. I don’t believe that was the case, but if it was and he decided to refuse to play in a snit, that is not acceptable. You know that all those conspiracists can’t have been wrong,right?
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
7:51 pm
RHR
Because he took BP, etc today, but then took himself out of the lineup. Not Bobby’s decision – Esco said he was hurting and made the call to sit.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:51 pm
Dammit Chase Ugly.
RLPmetro
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
DOB…don’t crucify me if you think this is a terrible idea. I just finished reading the article about Joe Mauer in last week’s SI. They made a point to talk about Mauer becoming a free agent after next year, and how the Red Sox and Yankees will be desperate to try to sign him IF the Twins are stupid enough not to extend him this year. Here’s my question…if they sign Mauer to the monster deal he deserves, does that make Morneau expendable? I mean, surely they would love to keep them both, but what if the Twins can’t afford both of their salaries? When will Morneau be a free agent? Is it possible that a team like Atlanta could turn some prospects and some good pitching into a Justin Morneau? Just a thought.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
That Fckin Howard!!! Gawd He Kills Us…Behind Phat-Albert!
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
Re: B. Jones, I don’t know, look at his major league stats though.
B Jones is a player who knows how to get things done. It’s too bad Bobby Cox is too dumb to play him over guys like Francoeur, Blanco, and Anderson. Look at their freaking on base percentages for God’s sake!
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
*sigh*
Here we go.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
Ugh!
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
bounce saved a run
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
I agree Jared…. I’m just saying its a possibility. I’m comforatable saying Yunel is the best overall SS in the NL east right now. He is really young and low salary which means we would get alot in return. But i hope that doesnt happen….
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
Esco isn’t gonna be 100% all season, in all likelihood. Those hip flexor injuries can be pretty nasty.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
This game sucks so far.
I’m sure the Braves would complain about the attendance tonight and the fans not being behind them. Doesn’t stop the Marlins from winning.
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
OUCH!
glord
June 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
With this lineup that might be all they need.
Blogger Formely Known as Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:53 pm
Thats enough Phillies, rest your starters.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:53 pm
I don’t know why they waste their time hitting to the gaps. They should just hit it right at Blanco. They’d have much greater success.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:53 pm
but if it was and he decided to refuse to play in a snit, that is not acceptable. nolie
I agree, but I’m pretty sure Bobby wouldn’t tolerate that either. If that was the case, I bet it’d be pretty obvious that Bobby was furious at Escobar.
You know that all those conspiracists can’t have been wrong,right?
Oh, that’s right…
Derek Lowe on a blackberry from the mound
June 30th, 2009
7:53 pm
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
7:53 pm
If we don’t sw=core against Blanton, then this team really is hopeless.
Chopper2Chipper
June 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
Chip just gave me a heart attack with that call.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
dang if one more run scores we dont have a chance in hell. I dont understand how u get 2 quick outs and then this sh1t happens…..
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
We’re very lucky that Howard hit was a ground rule double!!!
We’re very unlucky Bobby Cox is too dumb to create a lineup card with the players with high on base percentages!!!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
I’m warming up for my Dennis Green post-game interview.
They are who we thought they were, AND WE LET ‘EM OF THE HOOK!
GoBravos
June 30th, 2009
7:55 pm
Can we get a refund now.
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
7:55 pm
1-2-3 inning coming up.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:55 pm
Yea We’ll Take That..We Got a Break…! Offense Come On Shyt! You guys are going up against Heavy-B, Not a no-name rookie pitcher…!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:55 pm
You know what, we might as well lose.
Just get it over with.
I know that was a break but D-Lowe is not cutting it.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
7:55 pm
Look at their freaking on base percentages for God’s sake!
Dude will you quit it with the OBP crap? Do you have anything else to offer except that Francoeur and D. Hernandez have a bad OBP? We do realize that, brah.
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:56 pm
Pennski………..I’ll give Francoeur some props when he DESERVES it. Hitting a homer or double once every 3 weeks isnt going to cut it.
CONSISTENT power is what the Braves need from the right field position….not “lucky underwear”, lol.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
7:56 pm
I’m glad you agree that Yunel is obviously one of our best players. If we trade him we WILL get ripped off!
I have more faith in Frank Wren than trading away Yunel Escobar although I think Bobby Cox would trade him for Kelly Johnson straight up if he was GM.
FIRE BOBBY COX, REPLACE WITH GREG MADDUX
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:56 pm
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
7:56 pm
We’re very unlucky Bobby Cox is too dumb to create a lineup card with the players with high on base percentages!!!
If those players were readily available to him I daresay he would…
nolie
June 30th, 2009
7:56 pm
I haven’t been online much today, why is it that people are saying Yunel isn’t really hurt? (RHR)
some have been saying that for days, that he is ok but Bobby has been punishing him. yeah I know…
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
7:56 pm
Roman Gal–
This poor, misguided soul
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
7:57 pm
Breaking news on ESPN.
They’re reporting that Gregor Blanco actually made a play in centerfield. 104,230 people have already commented in disbelief.
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
there we go.
some speed… finally.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
Wow. Dissing people on our team really works.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
There We Go G!!! About Time You Do Something…!
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
Now that’s what the Braves would like to see — put the ball in play and use that speed for extra bases.
RHR
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
GO GREG WHITE! Are you kidding?! That’s a single for Krotchy.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
Blanco can sure run, too bad he can’t hit or field
Doug
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
Hey! There we go!
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
Maybe that triple will be the SPARK that our offense needs.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
Man, if only there was some stat to quantify that three-base hit, huh Jared?
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
At least he works the count, poor guy…
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
ChoppertoChipper
Chip may have given you a heart attack on that call but I could tell it wasn’t going out.
He does that doesn’t he? Usually I don’t mind it unlike most people but that time he overdid it big time.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
Marteeeeeeeeeeeeeen!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
Look how fast we scored.
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
yes Prado!Bye Bye KJ Good luck
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
NOW we’re talkin’!
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
how about that Blanco did something , now a month ago we wouldnt be able to get the run in from 3rd with 0 outs so lets see what happens
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
There We Go Martin!!! “This Is How We Do It”…Keep It coming!!!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
Charter member of the Gregor Blanco fan club.
Somebody give it up for Greg White!
RHR
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
Today is one of Chipper’s sons birthday. How bout a HR for your boy, Chipper. Or, do it for Loaf’s birthday. I don’t care really.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
oh my god we scored…with less then 2 outs. I had forgotten that was legal
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
McFann
Hah! There are so many Negative Nellies here…
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
I love what speed does for a team, but what happened to the old saying “don’t make the first out at third base”?
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
That’s how you do it!
Soph
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
lol @ Roman Gal’s 7:58. Love your sarcasm.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
groundfog
You said bye bye Kelly, Did Bobby Cox get fired?
RHR
June 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
OH HELL.
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
8:00 pm
Way to go Prado. Nice clutch hitting there. Now if Chipper and McCann can both help my fantasy stats, lol, and of course help us score some runs and win, then perhaps tonight will be a good night all around.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:00 pm
“Somebody give it up for Greg White!”
HAHAHAHA. Totally calling him that from now on.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:00 pm
Come on Chipper!
Don’t cut the mini-rally short.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:00 pm
RHR
“GO GREG WHITE! Are you kidding?! That’s a single for Krotchy.”
LOL, You didn’t have to go there…
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:00 pm
No bueno Chipper
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
He did just that.
Good thing Martin got it done.
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
Wise Latino players make things happen
bravos2249
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
What’s BMAC’s ab song?
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
Uh oh, he pulled something.
Wes
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
is it just me, or if Chipper is hurt, does anyone else really not care?
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
at least he didnt hit it on the ground
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
I love what speed does for a team, but what happened to the old saying “don’t make the first out at third base”?
Oh, Wayne, there’s always something…
GoBravos
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
Chip hurt again, shocker.
Paul Lentz
June 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
Wishful thinking.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
B-Macc Trying to hit one to I-20…
I hate it when this team swings for the fences…
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
McFann, I’m going to let you yell at B-Mac for that pop-up.
Jerald Holcombe
June 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
Jeez, Chipper is such a fragile little china doll. It’s almost like he looks for a reason to be hurt.
nolie
June 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
agree, but I’m pretty sure Bobby wouldn’t tolerate that either. If that was the case, I bet it’d be pretty obvious that Bobby was furious at Escobar (RG)
well not if he could prove it, but thats pretty hard to do plus even thinking that way opens up a can of worms in the clubhouse. You would never want to think that one of your players is laying down, and Bobby being a players manager would be even less likely to think that. IMO it a mountain made out of a molehill, cause I think Esco has indeed been hurting.
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
C’mon Loaf, double in the corner!
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
A freaking popup?? Dude’s REALLY struggling lately…..
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
“Uh oh, he pulled something.”
Yeah, he pulled a Yunel. It’s called not feeling like you want to play anymore.
crimedog
June 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
Braves2249-
“All the Above” by Maino
mustrdgasnroses
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
Why does it sound like Chip enjoys the Braves’ woes????
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
Chipper and Brian. Killing another rally.
Brian’s swinging the bat like Jordan Schafer. For the fences.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
and it begins…… now 3 of our best hitters will be out of the lineup……
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
On Francoeur’s hit: A blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
Loaf looks like he’s 50. come on Loaf
The Lammer
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
Chipper limping off.. Sweet. Headline tomorrow: Chipper to DL with oblique strain.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
IMO it a mountain made out of a molehill, cause I think Esco has indeed been hurting.
Me too. It’s been obvious just watching him play.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
Oh my gosh…I need to quit with this freakin, “McCann hits this pitcher good”, “McCann rocks in this ballpark”, “McCann’s due at the plate”…
DAAAAAAAAANNNNNNGIIIIIIIIT!!!!
Roman Gal–
There sure are…
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
What? No conspiracy that Chipper was just pretending so he could get that day off he’s been asking for?
Wes
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
in 2009, you really consider Chipper Jones one of our ‘best hitters’??
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
Chipper to DL with a full body strain
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
So Bobby calls Loaf, “Andy”, eh?
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
JJ–
Yes…yes, he is…
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
G. $ is 37? Did they have to cut him open to count the rings today? Or did they use carbon 12 dating?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
Give me a break.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
That’s what happens when players get on base! Outs aren’t made and players get *on base*. (That’s for you Steven) If you have a problem with the truth of this baseball axiom, you are dumber than Bobby Cox.
I will point out the 1 major flaw we have. Bobby Cox’s reliance on low OBP hitters. And I will suggest how to fix it. Replace Bobby Cox (because he will not put in the right players, a different manager WILL (IE Greg Maddux). I will continue to point out this flaw and the solution as long as I can.
Steve, go back to your old awesome state you moved down from. Don’t screw up my State by being an a-hole.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
Well Hell, At least We Made Heavy-B Work…!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
JROLL humping Prado’s head
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
Ok, Lowe, there’s your run…oh, wait…
Tri State
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
HEY PEACHTREE TV!
Turn down the moron mike near the Braves dugout…Bobby Cox is drowning out the announcers. Are you ever going to get tired of that stupid concept?
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
in 2009, you really consider Chipper Jones one of our ‘best hitters’??
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
“JROLL humping Prado’s head”
The Braves are always getting screwed, huh? Nyuck nyuck.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
I’m guess BMac’s OBP has dipped below .400 now…
His AVG needs to watch it or it’s gonna be in the .280’s…
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
Nolie
Have you seen Freeman or Heyward play in person, in so what are your impressions
Gone Viral
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
“What is Brandon Jones minor league stats so far this year? Just wondering.”
He has no homers in 185 at bats. He’s having a very weird season. His OBP is tremendous at .378 but he’s slugging only .368. You’d think he was a slaphitting speed demon with those numbers.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
Not a Garrett Anderson hater, but I most definitly would prefer Gary Sheffield over him. No Gary isn’t the power threat he used to be but if you don’t take him seriously he can still hit it a very long way. The Mets kind of took him like a bench/platoon player but he sure has been big for them.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
Jared, you gotta be new here…
And my blog name is “Steve” and my given name is Stephen. Get it right.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:07 pm
RG
If Blanco get’s thrown out at third, all hell would have broken loose on the blog. Was it close (only listening, and not watching)?
cricket
June 30th, 2009
8:07 pm
Phillies announcers were praising Cox’s wily management for walking Feliz in 2nd. Apparently this blog is not a mandatory reading for them
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
“You’d think he was a slaphitting speed demon with those numbers.”
No, he’s just a prototypical Braves outfielder…singles hitter with no speed and no pop.
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
No Wayne, it wasn’t close.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
His AVG needs to watch it or it’s gonna be in the .280’s…
coughChippercough
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
Oh, Blanco
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
Take your time, Greg White!
No need to hustle to get to that ball.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
G’s Range Sucks! Come On!
Gone Viral
June 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
“Somebody give it up for Greg White!”
I miss Will Ohman. He might be the funniest player in baseball.
the real Andy
June 30th, 2009
8:09 pm
Airtran gets a good deal with their Home Run inning – they get their name mentioned a lot, but never have to give anything away
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:09 pm
Tri State I’d rather hear Bobby drop some f bombs then to hear Chip do his Skip impersonation(or anything)
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:09 pm
Derek Lowe needs to get his s*** straight.
I don’t know what that means. I know I wish Tommy Hanson was pitching tonight.
Turner Field would be full capacity if those alcoholics in the Bud Zone would sit in the seats.
You know, you can get beer in the seating area. And you can drink it too!
And you can drive home and put hundreds of lives in danger!
Braveheart
June 30th, 2009
8:09 pm
Jared, you’re a friggin’ ‘tard and a half. Steve understands far better than your simplistic childish arse how critical OBP is.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:09 pm
(only listening, and not watching)? Wayne
Me too. Like I said, there’s only so much Chip Caray I can take…
bigmacattack
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
So Chip and Joe say David Wright is on pace for a “bad” (horrible is sounded more like it) offensive year and on top of that he leads the Mets with 10 errors??
But he leads NL third basemen in votes for the All-Star game? LoL, it’s no wonder I don’t watch that crap game anymore.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
RHR
Thanks!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
Thank You Loaf!
The Lammer
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
GB sure plays a deep CF.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
Wayne–
Nah, it wasn’t really close…at least I didn’t think so. But what the heck do I know? I said BMac was gonna turn it on tonight…
Roman Gal–
Uh-huh…
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
They are getting some good swings on Lowe.
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
Wayne in Utah,
Not even close……….. he could have made it standing.
Doug
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
Andruw Jones on the trivia question?
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
If Chippers hurt we’re really screwed, he’s one of only 3 players that Bobby Cox plays with a high on base percentage.
Steve, one reason for the repitition is so it will sink in. You seem to prefer slugging percentage over on base percentage for your lineup, *that* is the sign know nothing. Baseball is simple if you learn which stats matter and which ones don’t and how teams function.
Bobby is on cruise control putting in our worst hitters at the top of the lineup. He should be requesting Brandon Jones as a leadoff man and Diaz in right. If those players were in the chances of us winning this game against the Phils would be much, much higher.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
“Garret Anderson takes a zigzagging route to get to that ball.”
The preferred term is he “loafed over drunkenly” to get it.
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
Loaf with the skates on.
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
8:10 pm
Andruw Jones would have caught that one, Gregor
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:11 pm
is the answer Griffey
cricket
June 30th, 2009
8:11 pm
Nice catch by the birthday boy. Now how about a home run to blow all those 37 candles ..
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:11 pm
“Uh oh.”
Chip it’s not the 9th inning. It’s not the 7th inning. Just use your eyes.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:11 pm
Thome
AndyC
June 30th, 2009
8:11 pm
DOB
Did you ever think you would spend so much time talking about underwear? Kinda comical when you think about it. Probably not for you though.
Chopper2Chipper
June 30th, 2009
8:12 pm
I really wish the Braves had a patch honoring Skip on their jerseys.
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:12 pm
I like that there is an ad for Mail Order Russian brides on the blog.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:12 pm
Doug – I think it’s Andruw too.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:12 pm
Mitchell
Chip’s brother calling the Gwinnett Braves is easier to listen to than Chip
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
8:12 pm
Braves pitchers have heart attacks when the ball is hit to left
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:12 pm
dirtyyuni, Loaf had to finish texting somebody. He thinks we don’t see that blackberry that he painted the same color of his glove, but we do.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:13 pm
Here’s hoping Lowe can get into the 7th tonight.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:13 pm
RHR-
There is?!
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:13 pm
Braveheart, you are an idiot, and sticking up for an internet friend for foolish reasons. Lame. If you are genuinely attacking my intelligence I can assure you that you are on the loosing end of this one.
I will stir the pot with a-holes like you on a message board because you have no guts to call for Bobby’s firing.
Your inertia is pathetic. Strive for better chump and learn the reasons why the Braves are losing and call for the changes to fix them.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
KOTCHMAN!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
Utley looked like KJ
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
You seem to prefer slugging percentage over on base percentage for your lineup, *that* is the sign know nothing.
I actually prefer wOBA or equivalent average, and to a lesser extent VORP and OPS (for simplicity), but to each his own, I guess…
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
Kotch ran like the wind for that one.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
We’ll Take That…!
Jennifer
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
Hey McFann, How are ya!?
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
Hahaha!
So I dog him for being slow… and he runs one out.
cricket
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
Kotch was flying LOL
Wes
June 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
David Wright is on pace for a ‘bad year’ yet he is on pace to blow every Atlanta Braves out of the water in every single offensive stat.
Hmmm…..
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
FRANCOEUR!
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
McFann-
Wouldn’t you think it’s funny if that Kotchman/Utley play was a hit?!
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Surprised no game delay from all the smoke Kotchman made burning his way to first.
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Smoltz winning 7-1 after three. Think he knew something about Braves hitting prowess.
Doug
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Yeah I remember when the AS game was played at Commisky Park Andruw was looking like the MVP until Gagne blew the game. Had a homer and 3-4 RBIs I think
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Wow. Can we please not talk about turkeys anymore?
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
McFann and Doc
Thanks!
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Jennifer–
Eh, could be better…how ’bout you?
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Fancine With the Single, Here Comes the DP…Station 2 Station baseball…Here We Go…
Come On D!!!
Wes
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
glad to see these pitchers finally f*ck*ng up and hitting Francoeur’s bat
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Francoeur actually looks…*gulp*..GOOD tonight! Should we be concerned?
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Let’s take bets on if Diory hits a triple whether or not Kotchman scores from second…
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Kotchman has a great glove but he has got to be the slowest guy I have ever seen. Utley still almost had a chance to gte him. Its not like he isn’t trying but it looks like he’s running hard and just going absolutely nowhere.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
wow jeff is 2 for 2 maybe he can turn his season around……. please we sure do need the bat…. sick of see a pitcher bat 6th and 7th everynight
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Don and Jim say Francoeur is wearing the Turkey underwear under his uniform…and now they’re making fun of him. Heh heh.
Jennifer
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
I’m Great!!!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Good job Hernandez!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Man That was a Lucky Good Play…
Doug
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
nice bunt
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Bunting with the Pitcher up next?
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
If you are genuinely attacking my intelligence I can assure you that you are on the loosing end of this one.
I am fairly certain that BH has a doctorate, Jared. And in a very difficult field, no less. And even if I’m wrong, he knows more about baseball stats than you or I could ever fathom.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
I am by no means a Francoeur supporter, but he does look a lot better lately. I just wonder if he is still capable of driving the baseball consistently.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
What the heck is Hernandez doing??? Kids!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Lowe time to help yourself out here.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Roman Gal–
Haha! Almost…
You’re welcome, Wayne!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
If Andruw could get his act together and somehow get back to his former self, he could be a hall of famer.
You would think at least the Braves will retire his number.
Say what you want but the guy performed in the post-season, unlike a lot of guys on this team, and as the trivia question revealed, he had his share of highlights in all star games.
The Lammer
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
LOL that’s what you do with Diory you bunt to get to the pitcher.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Groundfog…Yea, Only the Braves!
tralfaz
June 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
-I note alot of people advocating trades of various sorts to get another “bat” in town. I have a cheaper suggestion: before trading anybody, try getting rid of that fatass hitting coach and getting one who knows how to piss & hit the ground. It may work, or it may not. It certainly can’t make things any worse, and if there is no improvement by the end of the year, THEN go shopping.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
With Kotchman on third, it’s not called a “squeeze,” it’s called a “cram.”
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
Utley had time to run to the store and back before Krotchy got to 1st.
“Jeff was smart, looking for something middle of the plate” OMG JOE Jeff doesn’t “look for” anything, first of all, don’t act like he goes up there with a plan. And second of all, yeah, way to go for looking for “something middle of the plate”…what a genius you are for doing that.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
We could squeeze if Kotchman wasn’t so damn slow.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
Now what?
Three run homer?
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
I’ll take it i bet if he didnt bunt he would have struke out or hit into dp
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
Rob I am by no means a Francoeur supporter, but he does look a lot better lately.
He and McCann switched places…
cricket
June 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
.130 hitter bunts in fron of .167 hitter
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:18 pm
Come On D-Lo we need a Gapper! Please…?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:18 pm
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
If Andruw could get his act together and somehow get back to his former self, he could be a hall of famer.
You would think at least the Braves will retire his number.
Barbaro Canizares wore 25
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:18 pm
I hope Derek hits one over the outfielders heads…just to show them up for playing him so shallow.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:18 pm
They’re playing that great yodeling sound from Raising Arizona when the catcher goes out to talk to the opposing pitcher … funny.
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:18 pm
Lowe will have to hit it to deep Center for a tag, and then it’s still a bang abng play.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
He and McCann switched places… McFann
I feel like they’re incapable of both being good at the same time.
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
Squeeze! doh!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
Piss Poor Fundamentals Again…
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
takes balls to squeeze with Kotchman
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
Hey, Cox is trying the squeeze there. Lot of good it did ‘em.
But it was on, even with Kotchman at third.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
RHR,
That post at 8:17 is so money.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
wow actually bunted with Krotch on 3rd …..
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
Sutton says Francouer is wearing the turkey underwear.
Guess his Tim Tebow underoos are still in the hamper.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:20 pm
“Jared, you gotta be new here…
And my blog name is “Steve” and my given name is Stephen. Get it right.”
I am new here. That really is a GREEEAAATT call, clearly you being here forever has made you a great Braves fan who knows how to get things right. You would rather chat on here all night about this or that trade deal and not know what the problem is.
I will call you whatever I want. If your name says Steve why the hell should I call you Steven? I am not inclined to show you ANY respect now, chump. You are lucky I was even calling you Steve because based on your initial actions you are clearly an a-hole and, FRANKLY, you deserve to be told it.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:20 pm
HAHAHAHA. I love how everyone at home plate’s already seen the ball bunted fowl and then you see Kotchman come trotting in 39 seconds later.
AndyC
June 30th, 2009
8:20 pm
I like how Bobby calls 36 year old Lowe “kid”.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:20 pm
Yup, gotta learn how to get those bunts down.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:20 pm
Come on Gregor!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:20 pm
Kotch should try to steal home ~_~
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:20 pm
well Lowe cdid not friggin help himself. He lays the bunt down it’s 2-1
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:21 pm
I’d still try a bunt.
If my boy Blanco gets the runs home I want hear it for the boy.
He’s so little.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:21 pm
That squeeze attempt made absolutely no sense with Kotchman being on third. I would have just let him swing away.
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:22 pm
Chip my God just stop it!
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:22 pm
StingerSplash, that’s funny (the line about the Tim Tebow underwear). Even though Don’s wrong — Francoeur’s not wearing them, has never worn them under his actual uniform, and didn’t even wear them to the ballpark today as originally planned — that’s still funny.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
Derek Lowe already has 72 pitches.
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
Typical Braves right there.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
There goes that. At least it’s still tied ~_~
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
Our execution of little league Fundamentals Blows!!!
That will hurt us…!
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
Way to sting that one Greggie.
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
DOB What is the song they plan on the occasion of a Brave Home Run? I have always wondered since the days of Javy Lopez, Gary Sheffield and Vinnie Castillo
jeff
June 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
what a pathetic inning …. that is saddddd you wonder why this team sucks thats why.. first and 2nd now outs and we dont score… just wow……
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
Yeahhhh, what is on top of Blanton’s hat? Ya’ll saw that?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
Wow. Can’t say Chipper or Brian would have done any better.
Top of the order coming up. DL better be ready.
Again, we’re letting them off the hook.
Can’t win without Nate and Yunel.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
What I want to know more than anything is why a bunch of guys on a baseball blog are so interested in Frenchy’s choice of underpant.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
nice pitch right down the middle…… atleast he worked the count………
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
What WAS that on top of Blanton’s hat?
Original Jon
June 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
72 pitches for D-Lowe, what the hell man. THought he was supposed to be able to go deep into game.
bigmacattack
June 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
gotta say … i’m not surprised by that inning.
jeff
June 30th, 2009
8:25 pm
and now philly takes the lead…
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:25 pm
Roman Gal–
Me, too, and it REALLY irritates me…
Wes
June 30th, 2009
8:25 pm
god these braves are clutch
Edward
June 30th, 2009
8:25 pm
2 Runners on. ZERO Outs. 0 Runs. Story of the season… Hall of Fame managing at it’s finest.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:25 pm
What I want to know more than anything is why a bunch of guys on a baseball blog are so interested in Frenchy’s choice of underpant. Steve
Because he’s so Cuuuuuute!
(I guess that doesn’t have the same effect coming from a girl…darn.)
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:26 pm
Hope EOF was watching that play…
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:26 pm
Great play by the Kotch man.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:26 pm
I am not inclined to show you ANY respect now, chump. You are lucky I was even calling you Steve
What else would you call me, Esteban? I don’t speak Spanish. But whatever, I’ll defer to the dude who thinks all times on base are created equal.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:26 pm
Kotchmeister…!
He Maybe The Slowest SumBytch Around But man can he field!
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:26 pm
If it’s pine tar then Blanton’s stupid. He keeps touching it though so it makes me wonder.
Original Jon
June 30th, 2009
8:27 pm
Edward, you had the bottom of the order coming up, what the hell do you want from it, tons of production?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:27 pm
The song is called “tonto, jump on it” by the sugarhill gang.
Or at least that’s what the internet says/
keylargo
June 30th, 2009
8:27 pm
Looks like we can give the Dumbazz of the Week award early this week.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
Get up Medlen
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
Lowe put his backside into that ~_~
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
Awwww, hotdammit. Of course – another one goes down. Please be okay D-Lowe.
Edward
June 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
Great hes hurt now…
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
Oh, no!!
Is he ok?!?!?!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
Damn That Was A Nasty Booty-Shot!!! Not Good!
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
I love that Mac & Chipper are laughing at D Lowe right now
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
Man, D-Lowe just took a liner to the grundel.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
Lowe put his backside into that ~_~
Forrest Gump style ~_~
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
back of the sack
bravos2249
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
OUCH…off the booty.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
Start comments now….
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
Still an out.
Victorino needs to get his ass kicked. I’m tired of his s***.
Lowe needs to hit him next time.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
I hope he’s okay, but i’m laughing my head off right now.
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
Lowe got tainted?
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
I’m sick and tired of these ass clowns taking out our pitchers…yikes…it hit him in the jewels.
Doug
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
I guess a cup doesn’t protect that side…
jeffrey d
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
I think we need to get a tuba player follow Kotchman when he runs the bases.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
The song is called “tonto, jump on it” by the sugarhill gang.
Apache?
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
If it were Hanson he could’ve guided the ball into Kotchman’s glove ~_~
RLPmetro
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
OUCH…D-Lowe takes one right in the taint!
Anonymous Caller
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
Guys ,unless there is a new style of bunting that makes the ball disappear, there is not a good enough bunt to score Kotchman.
R Rob
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
What a nutty hit that was!
Anonymous Caller
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
What an ACE…
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
That Fckin Utley!!!
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
Chipper laughing….
not laughing now, though.
Bleh…
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
Now the laughter is gone.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
Ugly strikes again.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
1st HR allowed by Lowe to a Lefty.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
Chipper was laughing after that butt shot…
OK, fun’s over now apparently. Homers by the opposition to give them the lead will do that.
jeffrey d
June 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
Are you joking me? As soon as I quit watching the game, Lowe gets racked? That’s terrific…
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
The reason we didn’t score with a guy on 1st and 2nd and nobody out is because the other guys weren’t able to get **on base**!
“Boy, I’m glad Bobby is such a legendary manager…I would ***never*** say he should be replaced with someone who knows which players should actually play. I have more fun watching a losing team and chatting online on a blog than improving my hometown club.”
You have no guts and are a first class jerk. Work on those 2 things.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
Schafer needs to watch that swing by Utley
bravos2249
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
You think with as many times as we face Utley..mac wouldn’t call for an inside pitch..but NO!
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
Yeah sure, hit our pitcher in the sack and then take him yard. Bitches.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
Well, Chase really hit the nuts off that one.
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
Ballgame!
jeff
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
told ya.. the braves inability to do anything in that bottom just cost them.. that ball was crushed…..
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
This season I need to add.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
Lowe Is Gonna Feel Like He got violated when he sits on the bench and he will get Clowned by the rest of the team…
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:32 pm
game over…….. i figured the pen would blow it later anyways……
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:32 pm
I was afraid of that.
I thought maybe after that he would shut ‘em down or start blowing it.
If he can just go another inning without giving up any more, I’ll take it.
At least it was a solo shot.
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
8:32 pm
DOB,
Maybe you could poke your head into the radio booth between innings and let Don know?
Oh, and Mr. Lowe … don’t rub it.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:32 pm
Schafer needs to watch that swing by Utley
Hey, hey, hey…Schafer’s already gotten a homerun today!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:33 pm
Roman Gal
I am sorry, I know you love Schafer.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:33 pm
Hey, at least his back side saved him a run right there.
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:33 pm
The game is not over.
However, I would not let Hernandez bunt again with 2 on and 0 outs.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:33 pm
“I love being down by 1 run in the 5th and realizing my chance of winning the game given this situation is low because my great manager plays all the low OBP players brainlessly.”
Steve, go to atlantabraves.com click sortable stats and click OBP. That should help you learn which players should be in the lineup, this could give you something intelligent to talk about on here besides trading Javier Vazquez for Mike Cameron.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
A wag in the pressbox had a great comment as replays were showing that rather intimate spot where Lowe was struck by the pitch: “Where’s Skip when we need him.”
jeff
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
there pathetic fundementals just cost them a runn.. nice job. a sinker right down broadway was sent flying out of here…
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Yes RG, mail order russian bride ads. I’ve never seen that here before but there were 2 different ones…now its a toyota hybrid ad. Hey, gotta appeal to everyone with your ads, I suppose.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Rob from SC-
That’s right. You’d better watch it! I’ve got my eye on you, mister!
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Who will have a higher BA at the end of the game…CJ or GA?
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Oh man, and easy inning coming up for Blanton…
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Game NOT Over!
Prado!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
I wouldn’t want Braves fans to start emulating the bleacher bums and other degenerates at Wrigley Field any time soon but when is somebody going to throw the ball back?
Why does that never happen? If I caught a Chase Utley homerun ball I’m not taking it home.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Love me some Prado
Doug
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
OK This is the AB Mac gets to Blanton.
Need some runners on ahead of him.
Or just hit it out Martin!!!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Hell Yeah!!! Martin!!!
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Marteeeeeeeeeeeen. My guy!
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Lets face it our team sucks and the organization is afraid to admit it. We spent so much money on Lowe, Chipper Extension, Javy, Kawakami, when u do that much u suppost to contend. its like were fighting the truth that its time to rebuild or somthing…… its so fustrating that were not even a 500. baseball team….
ElbravoX-- EbX
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
Don’t care if we hit a couple of batters and I would do it in a rather obvious way. I. Hate.The.Phils
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
A laser to left to tie this thing up again. Prado’s got pop, no doubt.
Roman Gal
June 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
RHR-
Do they come in Male versions?
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Marteeeeeeennnnnnnnnnn
Kelly who?
JJ (WTH is Jeff Bennett still on the roster???)
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Suck it Blanton!!
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
There’s some power!
Attaway Marteeeen!
Anonymous Caller
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
a Second Baseman that can hit!! WOoo
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Derek Lowe should have been wearing Frenchy’s underwear
jeff
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
hellooo BOBBYYYYY PLAY PRADOOOO everynighttttt… NOT KELLYYYY….
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Where would we be without Martin?
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Bye Bye KJ-who is KJ going to be traded to?
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Great job Martin!!
Wes
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
that was for you, Roman Gal
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Babe Prado! Will we ever hear the end of it now? (Bobby, are you watching this?)
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Prado getting it done tonight.
Wow, Rollins looks fugly tonight.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Well, getting one right back is important but good god can we do that with runners on base!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Chipper!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
So Far Martin Is The Only One Who Has showed Up Tonight on offense!
JJ
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Ha! You too Jimmy!!
P-Town Brave
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Dear Bobby Cox and Kelly Johnson Fans:
SUCK ON THAT!
Sincerely,
Martin Prado
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Not that I’ve seen, RG. LOL
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Prado just said anything you can do. Way to keep track with one of the 2nd basemen in the game.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
Roman Gal
I will be nice to Schafer. I just want him to be the type of player you and I want him to become.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
this could give you something intelligent to talk about on here besides trading Javier Vazquez for Mike Cameron.
When have I suggested this? Was I drunk? Is Prado proving valuable to the team right now? Are you completely obsessed with OBP at the expense of better metrics?
Answers are no, no, yes, yes.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
Prado is my second favorite Brave behind Gregor.
God, I keep wanting to call him Omar.
How bout a homerun Brian McCann?
JJ
June 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
Well…..at least it wasn’t a pop out.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
BOO YA!
Was Martin 1 of the 3 guys in the lineup tonight with a good OBP?
YES, he was.
the hope of the braves nation rests in your hands mr hanson
June 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
our bench players are better than our starters!
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
That homer by Prado was one more than Kelly’s hit in 101 at-bats in his past 28 games.
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
Smoltz may get #1 in Charm City tonight. Up 9-1
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
Are you kidding me?
What does he have to do to get a hit.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
RG-
What, 2 aren’t enough? Nolie, RSF, and now a Russian man-bride?
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
Does Jayson Werth always try to make everything look more complicated than it is?
KornDawg
June 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
A little late but Lowe gets an “ass”ist for that putout!
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
One of these line shots to right is gonna burn Werth!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
Here we go about to blow another big inning.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
McFann,
Just making sure you are ok!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
Can We Take Advantage of the opposing team making errors for Once, Cheese=Whiz!
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
Steve, go to atlantabraves.com click sortable stats and click OBP. That should help you learn which players should be in the lineup
Perhaps you should apologize to Braveheart and let him actually teach you something about baseball?
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
Mitchell How bout a homerun Brian McCann?
Are you daft?
Me and my jerkish-nutbag of a self had to go on and on for TWO DAYS how good he was against this pitcher…
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
LOAF!
It’s Your Birthday!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
Whatever Jason Werth does it’s because he’s an alien.
Look at him.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
Go Loafy, it’s your birthday, we’re gonna party like it’s your birthday.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
Dear Bobby,
Get rid of Kelly Johnson and play Prado every day until his OBP gets worse than Kelly’s.
Thanks,
A Braves fan who wants our team to win
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
There We Go Loaf! Station 2 Station Again, Let’s Go!
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:39 pm
Happy Birthday GA!
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:39 pm
Rob in SC–
Thanks…but I’m not, really…
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
8:39 pm
Smoltz – one run, three hits through four tonight. Tarp out on the field now.
Attaboy, Prado. Looks like Kelly will be picking splinters out of his backside for a while.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:39 pm
“our bench players are better than our starters”
They do represent all our offense tonight, but i’d still rather see this lineup with Yunel and Nate. I think we only got to see that lineup with Prado 2nd and Yunel 5th once before he got hurt. It was productive.
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
8:39 pm
How about that semi-annual three dinger so I can go to bed
Uno Ocho
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
Blanton is a cheater!!!
“What’s that $hit on your cap?”
“Crisco, Bartol, Vagisil”
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
McCann has been to aggresive at the plate. Him and Chipper are trying to do to much every AB. Chip just needs to hit like last year i’ll take 2 or 3 singles a night.
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
JF may have a chance for a big hit. I hope he can keep the momentum.
JJ
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
Come on Frenchy!!!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
Can Francoeur hit with RISP
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
Have the Braves hit a granny this year?
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
Jeff, this is the at-bat of the year.
What’re you gonna do?
Uno Ocho
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
“If the umpire is watching me close, I just stick some jalepeno up my nose.”
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
OK Jeff..
You’ve had a good night so far…
Can you come through when it matters… when (gulp) the bases are loaded?
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Come On Francine…! I Smell A DP he Will hit for the homer and get burned…
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Frenchy you better at least get one in.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
OK frenchy here you go time to blow game wide open!!!!!!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Francoeur’s going yard here
Doug
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Alright undie boy…need another good AB. Or a deep fly out at least
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Good place for Frenchie to keep it up.
Lets GO Jeff!
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
If the Frency goes yard, will he drop trou for his curtain call
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Patience Jeff.
RLPmetro
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Come on, Frenchy. Shut all these bloggers up right here!
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Whatever, it works.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
At least it was no DP
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Well, this will show you exactly how well Frenchy’s doing…
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Not the best, but he gets an RBI!
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Way to be productive Frenchy.
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
He tried to kill the rally.
groundfog
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
pretty weak but i’ll take it
Tomahawk Talk
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
he does his job…not pretty but it worked
JJ
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Not what I wanted, but I’ll take it….
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
That’s about right.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Steve,
Please shut up if you are going to be an a-hole. Also, I will definitely have no respect for you if you cannot *at the least* agree that if we want the Braves to start winning again Bobby Cox should either retire or be fired if he chooses not to.
Thank you,
A real fan
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Could have been a lot worse I suppose.
He is an idiot though. A major idiot.
Winterville
June 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Well I guess that’s better than nothing.
Wes
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
great patience
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
R U Serious! At least we got 1…
Our RF Singles Hitter Needs To go To Victoria’s Secret
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
Why swing, you can’t drive that pitch
RLPmetro
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
A run’s a run…
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
Not exactly what I had in mind Jeff, but we got a run out of it.
Doug
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
What’s Lowe’s pitch count? Would you pinch hit here?
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
I’d rather have Lowe hitting than Diory anyway.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
phew!!!! thought it might have been a double play
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
That was qute a way to get the lead. Clutch
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
I want a pinch hitter right here.
Go for the win. The Phillies did it last year against us.
Not to be though, huh?
KornDawg
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
“You put snot on the ball?”
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
Jared and Steve are in love.
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:43 pm
Wow…Hernandez has been walked twice now.
Uno Ocho
June 30th, 2009
8:43 pm
He shoulda wore the lucky underoos
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:43 pm
At least we got the lead!
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
8:43 pm
We gotta trade Lowe asap.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:43 pm
holy smokes Diory is a beast his OBP is gonna go way up!!! lmao
crimedog
June 30th, 2009
8:43 pm
Jared-
Have a drink dude. How has Bobby cost the Braves tonight?
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:43 pm
Our AWFense Blows…! It should be at least 4-2
BT
June 30th, 2009
8:43 pm
Why wasn’t Lowe told to take a strike?
Cuck-a-Too
June 30th, 2009
8:44 pm
To those that have said Prado’s not an every day player, I’m not sure who you’re watching.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:44 pm
Jared
Everybody is getting tired of your drivel.
If you are jamming up Steve, you fail to realize you are messing with one of the most respected folks on the blog. Who are you anyway?
JJ
June 30th, 2009
8:44 pm
Typical scoring inning for the Braves….8 batters to the plate, score twice.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:44 pm
Jared
I lead the parade for Bobby Cox to be fired as well as for Terry Pendleton. I also understand that John Schuerholz left us in a tough spot, and Liberty Media could care less if we win. We lack Major League talent in many area’s. I would fire Bobby Cox, but also build for the future.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:44 pm
Not to seem funny here but maybe KJ needs to go see a psychologist or something. He obviously has the tools to succeed at this level, so I have to think its more mental than physical. I don’t know, but didn’t John Smoltz do that? Regardless I hope they continue to play Prado. We can’t afford to keep waiting to see if and when he’ll break out.
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:44 pm
JF was not exactly as patient as I was hoping.
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:44 pm
i prolly would have brought Diaz to pinch hit he is beast with bases loaded and his pinch hitting numbers are very impressive. Lets just hope Lowe gets us 2 more scoreless innings.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:44 pm
Let ‘em off the hook.
Unbelievable. I didn’t believe DL was going to get a hit but I’m still in disbelief.
Jeff fails yet again. He can’t play this game. We’ve seen enough to know that it doesn’t get any better than that.
A double then a single and then he swings at the first pitch.
Why why why?
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
8:45 pm
Why swing, you can’t drive that pitch
You saw who was batting right? (sarcasm)
Bases loaded? Jeff went up there determined to swing at the first thing within a foot of the plate.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:45 pm
crimedog, I remember you from the other night, you seemed to suck too. you were defending bobby last time or was it something else we were arguing about?
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:45 pm
9 LOB through 5 inninings.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:45 pm
The problem with playing Prado everyday, is that once Bobby Cox decides somebody is a role player he doesn’t change his mind.
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
8:46 pm
Hope KJ is getting used to the bench………..
Martin is the man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can tell how bad phillies pitching is when we already have 3 runs in 5 innings with nate and yunel on the bench
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:46 pm
KotchMestier…Lovely…
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:46 pm
Perhaps KJ and JF are both trying too hard. I bet baseball is not fun for them this year.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
8:46 pm
Nice play Kotchman
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:46 pm
Nice Play Kotchman!
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:46 pm
at least “no hit” Kotchman plays excellent D
crimedog
June 30th, 2009
8:47 pm
Yep, that was me defending the 6th-winningest manager of all time. What an idiot I am.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:47 pm
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:46 pm
Perhaps KJ and JF are both trying too hard. I bet baseball is not fun for them this year.
Watching them play is not fun for us either
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:47 pm
Kotch = 0 errors in 132 games
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:47 pm
No errors for Kotchman since coming to ATL. It’s very impressive.
DirtyYuni
June 30th, 2009
8:47 pm
Man, I know everyone gets on Kotchman a lot and the dude’s got no power. But I really like the guy. I’d rather keep him for a long time and find power elsewhere.
Wes
June 30th, 2009
8:47 pm
Dear All Sportscasters,
Do not make analogies to other sports if you don’t know the names of the positions.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
8:47 pm
Kotchman is a slow m-fer and he has three homeruns compared to Tex’s 20 but I’m not sure that douche bag is really any better at first.
Great play.
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:48 pm
I don’t want to speak to soon…however, Lowe’s outing thus far is encouraging.
Braves Paisan
June 30th, 2009
8:48 pm
Good evening, gentlemen and gentlewomen. My boy Mar-TEEN can rake, no?
Bobby has to leave him in the way he is hitting.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
8:49 pm
Kotchman has made 8 errors in his 6 year career. Total. Kid can play D.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:49 pm
I keep missing Kotchy’s good plays…
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:49 pm
this will be his last inning unless he get a quick dp. We should have pinch hit and tried to get a few more runs.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:50 pm
Wat To Go D-Lo Walks hurt to this lineup ya know…?
Edward
June 30th, 2009
8:50 pm
Get Low out of there… before this becomes a massacre..
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:50 pm
Rob from SC – “Watching them (KJ & JF) play is not fun for us either”
I agree with that. I know I had higher expectations.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:50 pm
O’Flaherty and Moylan up in the ‘pen
Tom O'Hawke
June 30th, 2009
8:51 pm
“Francoeur’s not wearing them, has never worn them under his actual uniform, and didn’t even wear them to the ballpark today as originally planned” — DOB
Dave, you know this to be true ….. how? *
* Oh boy, I think I’m in deep doo-doo, now.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:51 pm
At least Bennett isn’t warming up ~_~
Edward
June 30th, 2009
8:51 pm
Get Lowe out of there… before this becomes a massacre..
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
8:51 pm
Lowe is done, pull him.
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
8:51 pm
The Lowe collision of his body part with the baseball (and Chipper’s reaction) reminded me of the Reds’ Duane Walker about 30 years ago, sliding in to make a catch. But the ball hit him in the jewels instead. He lay there on the ground, rubbing a fairly sensitive part of himself when he realized the cameras were on him. He looked up right into the high first base camera with a huge sheepish grin. I was laughing too hard to notice if Pete+Skip were laughing too. But I bet they were.
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
8:52 pm
Tom-
Do you really want the answer to that question?
(Hi, by the way
)
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:52 pm
please don’t blow it Lowe
the real Andy
June 30th, 2009
8:53 pm
@jake w = Not to seem funny here but maybe KJ needs to go see a psychologist … didn’t John Smoltz do that?
it wasn’t too publicized, but Maddux did that as well, immediately preceding his record 4 straight Cy Youngs. worth a shot at least
SoWeGa Fanatic
June 30th, 2009
8:53 pm
Hilarious! We’re arguing over Frenchy’s drawers!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:53 pm
Come On D-Lo, Get Tough! Lets Get Out of this!
RHR
June 30th, 2009
8:53 pm
Damn i got excited when they called him back. Thought they were leaving Joe Bla in.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:54 pm
Thank you God for Rob from SC. How refreshing. You are the first person to sound reasonable on how to improve our team. You represent the voice of hope I am **not hearing** from Steve and his pathetic fanboys like Wayne and Braveheart. How very, very lame.
To Wayne: I could care less if he is **respected** on this message board. He has *no* credibility with me without stating Cox must go. Cox is responsible for putting together these lineup cards that lead to no hitting. We have hitters with much better on base percentages that Bobby *prefers* not to play for players like Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson. If you have not yet realized this, PLEASE think about that.
Wayne, Regarding your comment: I find it very pathetic to look for respect on a message board if you are not actually contributing to the ways to improve the Braves. As far as I see it, Braveheart is just a loser who spends his life on a message board with ZERO cojonas to call it like it is with our team, so that powers that be can and will improve our team!!
Wayne, by your comment I can tell that you obviously suck too. My advice to you is to learn to think for yourself and *quit it* with the message board gang mentality. It makes me lose all respect for what you stand for.
Tom O'Hawke
June 30th, 2009
8:54 pm
cabravesfan, actually, can you delete the entire post?
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:54 pm
StingerSplash
I didn’t see that (before my time sadly), but from your description I am laughing big time.
driver8
June 30th, 2009
8:54 pm
Have to agree with the other post as well regarding DLowe..nice to see him back on track!
Also, Prado has now got my stamp of approval from now on..hands down that 2B position should be his. Not sure where that leaves Kelly Johnson but frankly I don’t really care.
A FAN
June 30th, 2009
8:54 pm
look at that philly goin for it!!!!
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:54 pm
Braves have stranded nine runners in the game, EIGHT by Lowe (dude’s come up with two out and multiple runners on in three of the past four innings.)
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
8:54 pm
Wonder if the Braves will put a “turkey-drawers clause” in Frenchy’s next (if he ever gets one) contract?
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:55 pm
WTF Was That…! Come On Guys!
The Lammer
June 30th, 2009
8:55 pm
Awesome Lowe.. Lets give em runs..GET HIM OUT!!
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
8:56 pm
As good as Kotchman is around the bag, he probably saves errors for his infielders with his ability to dig ‘em out too.
If we had some power from our corner outfielders, we wouldn’t hear anybody complain about his hitting.
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:56 pm
Good job Derek!
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:56 pm
WHEW!
That was a close one.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:56 pm
Big pitch by Lowe!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
8:56 pm
Yeahhh!!! Give Props To D-Lo! We need More Insurance NOW!
Loaf can still hit
June 30th, 2009
8:56 pm
good job lowe!
driver8
June 30th, 2009
8:56 pm
Way to Hunker Down DLowe!!!
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
8:56 pm
Great way to end the inning.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
8:57 pm
“Yep, that was me defending the 6th-winningest manager of all time. What an idiot I am.”
Crimedog, yes you are an idiot for that. There are some confounding factors at play with your statistic.
If you don’t think we’d be better at producing runs with a smarter manager making our lineup than you actually are an idiot.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
8:58 pm
Huge getting Coste out. He’s one of those unsung Phillies (aka nobodies) who’s killed Braves in past.
Bravesfan1984
June 30th, 2009
8:58 pm
time for the pen to step it up now
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
8:58 pm
Jared
Here is my concern about not selling at the deadline. I understand that there are great players in the Major Leagues that have been selected as compensation picks for lost Free Agents. But look how many are not stars. With several teams in the race needing relievers we should get really good prospects back for Gonzalez and/or Soriano. I would not trade Vazquez, but instead would try to trade Lowe. There are people on here that think Lowe is untradable but I disagree. If we did get a bat to play LF that won’t make Johnson, Kotchman and Francoeur hit.
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
8:59 pm
Braves girls are looking mighty lovely again this evening.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
8:59 pm
BLANCO!
Tom O'Hawke
June 30th, 2009
8:59 pm
Against this team, 7 or 8 more insurance runs couldn’t hurt.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
8:59 pm
OK, Blanton’s out…BMac 0-3.
Ian Snell, Great American Ballpark, and now Joe Blanton…when will I freaking learn, eh?
At least we’re winning…
Soph
June 30th, 2009
8:59 pm
Blanco with two hits? Whoa.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
8:59 pm
A great piece explaining bone bruises (for you, Roman Gal) and Carlos Beltran’s situation.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
G Finally Showed Up 4 Once! Lets do this!
Braveheart
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Steve, I don’t know stats better than you. You are just much more perceptive and can figure it out without wasting hours upon hours tearing it apart and examining it inside and out the way I have to.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Oh my gosh. We’re actually playing small ball.
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Blanco…way to go. I few decent games recently.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Oops, gotta add the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4284173&name=bell_stephania
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Gregor Blanco. Give it up Braves fans!
A FAN
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
lets get D-LO some runs!!!!!!!
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Good ABC Baseball So-Far Come On Hoss and B-Macc!
crimedog
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Jared-
Just out of curiousity…do you think that playing Jeff Francoeur over Matt Diaz makes Bobby Cox worthy of getting fired after winning 2007 games and 14 division titles?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Jared – 2 more things
Whether we realize it or not we are rebuilding. We have not made the playoff’s in three years.
Cox might be the 6th winningist manager of all time, but Pete Rose is the all time leading hit leader. I wouldn’t want him playing for us.
Did we just bunt with the only person hitting. Cox must GO
cabravesfan
June 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Tom-
even if I could delete it, I wouldn’t
Doug
June 30th, 2009
9:01 pm
Why take the bat out of Prado’s hands?
Jared
June 30th, 2009
9:01 pm
That a babe, Blanco!
TennesseePaul
June 30th, 2009
9:01 pm
“those unsung Phillies (aka nobodies)”
Atta boy DOB! Way to stick it to those World Champion Filthies! good furnuthin scum
the hope of the braves nation rests in your hands mr hanson
June 30th, 2009
9:01 pm
i know chip is on deck but i believe i would have let prado swing away in that situation with no outs…..
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
9:01 pm
Hoss and B-Macc Need To Stop Swinging for the Fences! All we need is a single!
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
9:02 pm
I vote the “Your and Idiot” award for tonight, as he seems hell bent on offending everybody that doesn’t agree with him!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:02 pm
Wow.
Letting ‘em off the hook.
driver8
June 30th, 2009
9:02 pm
You have to like the way Blanco and Prado are playing tonight. Very impressed by them and happy as well as those guys just don’t get much PT.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
9:02 pm
To Jared, oops…
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
9:03 pm
Jared, you ignorant slut.
You might as well go ahead and lose any respect for me, too, while you’re at it. That way, I can sleep easy, knowing that the person who most recently found the 2001 Bill James Handbook in the bargain bin has cast me aside.
Ignorance, the lack of available knowledge, is a curable condition. Stupidity, the inability to process available knowledge, is not. Jury’s still out on you, but I’m guessing the verdict is the latter.
How’s that, numbletard? You want to tango, or just adjust your dress?
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:03 pm
McFann
You man is killing me. Get his father on the phone now.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
9:03 pm
Soph
June 30th, 2009
9:03 pm
Awwww. That’s bad luck.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:03 pm
Unbelievable.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
9:04 pm
That Fckin Feliz…! Now That Is Hustle! Hope U were taking notes Hoss!
Jerald Holcombe
June 30th, 2009
9:04 pm
damn he’s slow
driver8
June 30th, 2009
9:04 pm
Yikes that one will be on ESPN highlights…grrrrr!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:04 pm
Pretty soon the Phillies are going to take this game which is rightfully their’s.
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
9:04 pm
We have got to have the worst 3 & 4 hitters in the league.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:04 pm
who would win a race between McCann and Kotchman
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
9:05 pm
He’s lucky Lew’s not here, Wayne. You saw what he did to Shaun, and I personally thought Shaun had insightful things to say. Plus he seems like a nice guy…
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
9:05 pm
O’Hawke: Pretty simple, really. I asked him.
And so did two TV crews.
If anybody cares, he does plan to wear them tomorrow. Said if the Braves can get through this game tonight without him wearing them today, they’ll be in good shape. Besides, he said you can’t go to the well too often, which is why he was reluctant to wear them two games in a row, even if they’d been clean or he’d had time or the motivation to run the dryer.
Wow, really can’t believe I’ve written so much about the man wearing holiday-themed underwear.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
9:05 pm
Prado and Blanco Are The Only ones who showed up on AWFense tonight…We gotta get the linup clicking altogether if we are gonna make a run, not just 1-2 guys per night…
RHR
June 30th, 2009
9:05 pm
lol scoots, you pompous ass.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
9:05 pm
Rob in SC–
I…I…I have no words for this…it feels like it’s never going to end…
I thought he had a hit and an RBI right there…but no.
driver8
June 30th, 2009
9:06 pm
McCann has the catcher running excuse … Kotchman uhhhh dude is just slow.
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
9:06 pm
Who would win a race between McCann and Kotchman?
The world of comedy, that’s who.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
9:06 pm
Unknown–
Why don’t you shut up?
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
9:06 pm
the real Andy
His streakiness would lead me to believe its more mental than physical. When he is doing good I don’t think its because he’s lucky. He obviously knows how to hit, but those prolonged slumps are what worry you. They talk about the mental side a lot with pitchers. An example would be Hanson and JJ and their mental makeup compared to Jojo Reyes and Charlie Morton’s mental makeup. There is a difference there for them so maybe its the same way for hitters.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:06 pm
We’re going to give this one away pretty soon.
I mean, if the score remains and we actually hold on and win it will be a miracle.
Jimmy Rollins, lookin’ like D-Lowe at the plate.
Just don’t let the little papaya on base.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:07 pm
We need a father’s reunion for Chipper and McCann.
RJB in DC
June 30th, 2009
9:07 pm
Not sure if it has come up, but the radio crew was mentioning that the plan for Hudson is that he starts his re-hab assignment on 17 July. Myrtle Beach.
Tom O'Hawke
June 30th, 2009
9:07 pm
Hi, McFann—
Is tonight’s game 亚特兰大勇士 VS 费城费城人 ?
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
9:07 pm
TennPaul, don’t be taking my stuff out of context, bro. You know I was talking about the Costes and Felizes of the Phillies, not the team in general. Those lesser lights have killed Braves in the past.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
9:07 pm
He’ll be alright McFann. Just a little slumpy slump. Not good timing, but he’ll be fine.
RHR
June 30th, 2009
9:07 pm
The most disturbing thing about Jeff’s underwear is that they were BRIEFS. I mean, I haven’t seen boys printed briefs since my little brother wore underoos when he was like, 4. I didn’t know they even made printed briefs.
If you do ever bring up the underwear to him again, DOB, please ask him if they are grown men underwear.
RHR
June 30th, 2009
9:07 pm
Frankie Wren looking dapper this evening.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
Victorino is up there with Teixeira and AROD as my most hated players.
BravesFanChris24
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
EOF getting some of the action too lol.
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
Well, if only Jeff were a winner like Michael Jordan. He wears underwear on TV all the time.
Jake W.
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
Victorino is trying to take out all our pitchers.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
EASY-E With the Nice Kick Save, Bout Time we get one of those!
driver8
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
Nice kick O’Flaherty !!!!
Doug
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
That’s what we need. Some breaks in the field to go our way.
Nice kick save EOF!
RLPmetro
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
A kick save and a beauty!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
Maybe we are going to win this one.
Come on Eric.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
It might be best for McCann to miss the All-Star game. He could use the rest
the real Andy
June 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
can’t say i agree with the decision to have Prado bunt. oh well.
good inning O’Flaherty
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
We have got to have the worst 3 & 4 hitters in the league.
We’re one of only 4 NL teams to have two of the top 15 hitters according to EqA. I’m sorry, but you are a complete tool, especially when you say stupid crap like that and then run and hide when asked to back it up, like right now.
unbelievable
June 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
here’s what I love. Leadoff single by Blanco, waste Prado’s bat by doing another stupid sacrifice, taking Chippers bat out of his hand essentially, and not scoring a run
I bet teams love playing against Bobby, they only have to get two outs per inning with all the crap bunting calls. Prado hit a HR last time up and is 2-3 with 2 rbis and we just give them an out. This is unreal
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
GOnzo in the 8th, Soriano in the 9th
Jared
June 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
ncscoots,
From your lovely comment it is clear you are yet another a-hole joining Braveheart, Steve, and Wayne, congratulations.
Since based on your comment I can tell you think you are smarter than everyone. Do **You** think Bobby Cox should stay or go? My guess is you, like the 3 friends I just mentioned for you, also lack the cojonas to tell it like it is so the Braves can move on and move towards World Series contention again.
Like I told Wayne after his similar attack, your attitude and actions are pathetic.
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
Mr. O’Brien,
In a world where Kim Kardashian his her own show, where Kendra gets a spinoff and Brooke Hogan gets a show, you actually wonder aloud about writing about a right fielder’s underwear? Shocked you should not be.
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
Nice 6 pitch inning.
driver8
June 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
Speaking of Victorino wasn’t he the guy that leveled McCann some time back?? That guy is a pain in the … you fill in the blank.
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
9:10 pm
Do these Phillies remind you of a team that plays home games in Summer Hill??
the little things that cause us to lose are going our way. Kind of feel we may just win this one.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
9:10 pm
Sure is, Tom O.
Soph–
Yeah, but it ain’t so little…he’s 3 for his last 20. Hasn’t had a stretch like this since he was half-blind.
Rodney Derrick
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
Kelly would have still been looking at second and then Frenchy would have been jogging and voila, Victorino would had had a triple. Thank goodness we have a real player at second with Prado
driver8
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
Come on LOAF hit one out!
RHR
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
Mitchell. You no longer remind me of me. If you just jinxed this !))*#*# game! That is serious bidness, don’t DO that. I may be a woman but I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
Hell yeah!
I’m still going to be pissed because I know we can beat these guys and we can’t get away with playing like this.
We’re not sending a message. Plus I’m being eerily being reminded of last year, the first game at home when Kelly… not going to say it.
bigmacattack
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
So “Mr.Ace” only goes 6 innings.
If the Braves ever made it to the playoffs, I’d want JJ in a deciding game
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
driver8–
Yes…yes, he was. The Reaper is what I call him.
Jared
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
“We have got to have the worst 3 & 4 hitters in the league.
We’re one of only 4 NL teams to have two of the top 15 hitters according to EqA. I’m sorry, but you are a complete tool, especially when you say stupid crap like that and then run and hide when asked to back it up, like right now.”
Who are you talking to Steve? I know it’s not me because Chipper and McCann are pretty much the only hitters keeping us alive at this point. I thank God we have Chipper and McCann.
Greg Olson Homers
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
I liked the bunt call. You get a runner in scoring position with Chipper and McCann having a chance to knock him in. Two guys who hit .350 (guess) with RISP. Raises the possibility of scoring a run significantly. I’ll take the out for base trade.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
If we could get Loaf to hustle he wouldn’t be that bad
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
9:12 pm
Hope Boobie does not try to think to hard. Maybe let EOF come out for the 8th and see if I can do anything
Soph
June 30th, 2009
9:12 pm
Um, I think he’s talking to the guy that said Chipper and Mac are the worst 3 & 4 hitters. Duh.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:12 pm
Chip
That is not a shocker, it’s called good managing.
Unknown
June 30th, 2009
9:13 pm
Jared = douche.
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
9:13 pm
I would be interested to know who has fouled off the most number of pitches this year on the Braves team.
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
9:13 pm
I addressed it to the person who wrote it. No need to wonder who it was intended for. Hence the “quotation” leading off the comment.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:13 pm
Poor McFann is having a rough week.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
9:13 pm
Yeah, Steve! Lew would eat his lunch, and make him like it!
TennesseePaul
June 30th, 2009
9:14 pm
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
9:14 pm
Gawd What A Dumb Question!
Are The People who asks those know how questions 6 year-olds…?
Cheesewhiz!
driver8
June 30th, 2009
9:14 pm
McFann :Ô: – I thought so … sorry to bring back bad memories as I know he is your guy. The Reaper lol nice name can I borrow it?
Jared
June 30th, 2009
9:14 pm
To be honest Steve, you did not address your response, you quoted unknown’s post.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:14 pm
Maybe the problem is Chip, have we made the playoff’s since he’s been here
Steve from OH
June 30th, 2009
9:15 pm
Raises the possibility of scoring a run significantly. I’ll take the out for base trade
Raises the probability of scoring one run, yes, but also the probability that they don’t give Chipper anything to hit. It also lowers our overall run expectancy, which is why I’m not a fan of it. Looks like one run might be huge here, but multiple runs would be even better.
Virginia Ranger
June 30th, 2009
9:15 pm
What kind of Uware does Mrs Frenchy wear??
Bill (SC)
June 30th, 2009
9:15 pm
Can the pitching staff win us another game tonight?
keylargo
June 30th, 2009
9:15 pm
Martin Prado has seven HR’s in four years. Never two in one game and people are whining that he bunts the runner over to second for CJ and BMac? You guys need something else in your lives.
SoWeGa Fanatic
June 30th, 2009
9:15 pm
Tomahawkin, 6 guys have hits and Diory has two walks. Seems to be spread out pretty good to me.
Soph
June 30th, 2009
9:15 pm
Damn that Feliz. Jeez.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:16 pm
Feliz = Gold Glove
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
9:16 pm
Since based on your comment I can tell you think you are smarter than everyone
Son, I’ve got broken bats that are smarter than you.
Mixxo
June 30th, 2009
9:16 pm
Jeff is hitting the ball hard. Gotta like that.
Bravesfan1984
June 30th, 2009
9:17 pm
COBRA time……sssssssssssssssssss…ssssssssssssss..
StingerSplash
June 30th, 2009
9:17 pm
Through seven innings …
Braves are 1 for 8 with RISP and have left 10 on base.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:17 pm
RHR, I’m speechless.
I have no response to that.
Goodoleboy
June 30th, 2009
9:17 pm
Victorino is my favorite non-Brave… That guy knows how to play the game
driver8
June 30th, 2009
9:18 pm
THE COBRA!!!!!!
Braveheart
June 30th, 2009
9:18 pm
Well, if I do recall correctly, if it’s the same guy, Jared did get one thing right about two years ago in his endless battles with Coach: Jeff Bennett sucks!
Soph
June 30th, 2009
9:18 pm
Whew. Thought he had it.
Wayne in Utah
June 30th, 2009
9:18 pm
Jared
While some of us get frustrated with the tactics of Bobby Cox, most of us realize that no manager is perfect, and that Bobby has attributes that others don’t. Is he the best manager for this team? That is not for you or me to determine, but for Frank Wren.
When Frank wants my opinion, I suspect he will call. We have somebody on the blog ocassionally that you would relate to. His name is Robert. Look him up sometimes.
Now, everybody knows you don’t like Bobby Cox, nor do you want him to manager one more inning. We get it.
We also get it that you are a bit shallow in your baseball IQ. So, a bit of friendly advice: Stoppped trying to match wits with some of the best of the blog (I certainly don’t include myself with those distinguished persons, but I know better than to call them idiots).
Otherwise, have a nice night!
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:18 pm
Come on Chip.
Get a grip.
Tomahawkin
June 30th, 2009
9:19 pm
It was Too High, lol…But It scared the tar out of me…
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
9:19 pm
Look, he’s an alien.