They didn’t have to trade him, but….

(more...)

5,135 comments Add your comment

Vinings Jim

July 12th, 2009
12:34 am

DOB – I appreciate your not attaching my name.

PWHjort

July 12th, 2009
12:34 am

That sounds like an email from coach smith after uga-brave took him out for a night on the town.

Robert(Chipper Is The Best)

July 12th, 2009
12:34 am

DOB, all I can say is that is very apparent the public school system is failing many in this country. :)

Vinings Jim

July 12th, 2009
12:35 am

Ooh, gave it away. :evil:

cabravesfan

July 12th, 2009
12:35 am

DOB-

What the hell…?? Wow. Just…wow. That’s…speechless…

Jukeandjive

July 12th, 2009
12:36 am

I feel dumber for having read that email.

cabravesfan

July 12th, 2009
12:36 am

Tom-

So I’m guessing asking for the rain (or your car issues) to keep you around is not necessary?

VJ-

I told you to lay off the vodka!

Tom O'Hawke

July 12th, 2009
12:37 am

DOB, that’s definitely willieg. (he doesn’t always use caps)

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
12:37 am

Where the devil is Roman Gal?

Sadly, I am back home. But, I’m going to look on the bright side…I get to watch the Braves on tv again.

Mixxo

July 12th, 2009
12:38 am

Hope Homer isn’t driving. :(

Vinings Jim

July 12th, 2009
12:38 am

CBF – the issue is typing with Yumi on my lap.

Brad Komminsk Lives

July 12th, 2009
12:38 am

I wish Francoeur nothing but the best. He seems like a good kid. Yet, the only way he’ll become a successful ML hitter is to relax – and learn to consistently go to the opposite field when the pitch dictates as such. Right now, the Capt. Caveman moniker speaks to an undisciplined hitter who ties himself up in knots, making hime easy prey for decent pitchers.

As for the sign-which-closer quandry, after this elbow scare, the case for Soriano is getting stronger. Yet, I like Gonzo. Showcase Hudson for the next several weeks, and trade him for prospects. Use the option year dollars the Braves would’ve spent on Hudson, go to arbitration on both closers, and use the money to sign them both. Those millions are better spent on both closers than on Hudson next year. Medlen will be ready next year, and the Braves will have six starters right out of the chute.

Anyone? Buhler? Anyone?

David O'Brien

July 12th, 2009
12:39 am

Imagine the Scowl at the All-Star Game, a media day. That’ll be interesting.

It’ll be cool, though. He’s well-deserving of it, and who knows, being there with those other All-Stars, being recognized like that, could even make him more driven to get back. It would certainly raise his profile (and perhaps his salary in free agency, at least a small bit).

Chop Chop

July 12th, 2009
12:39 am

DOB,

Don’t you just hate it when Smoltzie sends you that stuff?

cabravesfan

July 12th, 2009
12:39 am

VJ-

Sure! Blame the dog :)

keylargo

July 12th, 2009
12:40 am

Mark Martin just won 1 million in Nascar race tonight. Blogger

That’s just terrible. To think ARoid has to play 6 or 7 games to get a million. Life’s just not fair.

wow

July 12th, 2009
12:40 am

Brock Lesnar is a BEAST ufc he beat the tar out of Frank Mir domination wow

TnBrian

July 12th, 2009
12:41 am

That e-mail to DOB sounded like Brian Jordan… SEE YOU LATA, that slida, Sariano–and the worst commentator of 2008-09 goes to…

Bubdylan

July 12th, 2009
12:42 am

“hat took 6 games”

I miss Hat.

jj

July 12th, 2009
12:43 am

Larry asked DOB an interesting question.In his talk with Wren I also wonder why he did not ask him about his opinion of Bobby Cox’s managing.I really would be interested to hear his answer.Can BC bring this TEAM home without making his usual – -cks?Wren is giving him the horses just as John S. did when he was GM.Bobby the ball is in your court,can you handle it?

cabravesfan

July 12th, 2009
12:43 am

OK- I think it’s time for bed…good night all!

Tom, VJ-

I hope to see my 2 favorite people tomorrow :)

Ok, I'm drunk!

July 12th, 2009
12:45 am

everybody go to ‘Men on Film’ youtube. a little In Living Color from back in the day

fastasballs

July 12th, 2009
12:45 am

I see Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg had an off night tonight 1-4 HR 2RBI’s & a walk. He must have felt sorry for the opposing pitchers & wanted to help lower their ERA after his 2nd inning blast.

Vinings Jim

July 12th, 2009
12:46 am

Good night, cabravesfan – I’ll be thinking of you while I’m educating tomorrow.

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
12:46 am

now that is the guy they should be bringing up in Sept. He is obviously way past ready. nolie

See, Roman Gal? Even nolie agrees with us. RSF=HOF, baby! Steve from OH

nolie, welcome to the club!

Tom O'Hawke

July 12th, 2009
12:48 am

Good night, LA Woman. xxxxxx

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
12:51 am

He must have felt sorry for the opposing pitchers & wanted to help lower their ERA after his 2nd inning blast. Fastaballs

Yeah, he’s a great guy. The reason he does it is because of an incident he had when he was 8 years old. You see, he was playing for his high school varsity team at the time, and near the middle of the season during a game, it was his at-bat, and when he walked to the plate, the pitcher grew so afraid that he wet his pants and started crying for his mommy. So, ever since then he’s felt the need to go easy on the pitchers every once in a while.

Chuck James Lives

July 12th, 2009
12:53 am

Oh, and by the way, our starters have been on a six-inning rut lately. If this team is gonna make a move, the starters need to go seven-plus with greater frequency in the second half. Otherwise, the bullpen will explode, and we will keep the gNats company well into September.

This especially includes you, Kenshin Kawakami. (Hey, Bobby, don’t be afraid to stretch Hanson to seven frames; he a young strong buck!)

Tom O'Hawke

July 12th, 2009
12:53 am

Jim, did our lady just go to bed at 9:43 on a Saturday night? What the hell have you two been doing all day?

Doug

July 12th, 2009
12:55 am

This is laughable…it amazes me how “baseball” stupid Atlanta fans are. Francoeur has struggled mightly over the last year and a half, and he has a lot of work left to make himself a top MLB hitter. However, he has some talent and has taken steps to make adjustments and has shown some signs of improvement. Here is the bottom line and something all you Francoeur bashers fail to acknowledge…Atlanta took Francoeur with the 23rd pick in the first round, and signed him to a 2.2 million dollar signing bonus. John and his boys apparently thought Jeff was the real deal. So there is only one of three possibe answers to what has happened. One, the Atlanta scouts and front office suck and cannot evaluate talent and wasted that 23rd pick on Francoeur. Second, the Atlanta coaching staff sucks or third, it’s both. My two cents worth is…it’s both. Don’t get me wrong Francoeur is not a victim here, but when an organiztion gets rid of a first rounder it signed to the largest signing bonus to date it is because the organization failed, and failed mightly!

This organization is going no where fast. All that top notch rookie talent the organiztion was bragging about from 2005 is now gone with the exception of BMac. So it would appear to me that Atlanta has no clue how to evaluate talent. And thanks to Frank Wren Atlanta has shipped a lot of other supposed talent out of the system. The team Frank Wren has put together has no speed or power. No chance of making the playoffs with that kind of team. Truth is as long as the current front office is running things this organization will continue to go no where fast, and Atlanta fans will live with the fantasy that the Braves are still the class of the league and should make the playoffs every season. Good luck with that.

fastasballs

July 12th, 2009
12:56 am

Tomorrow will probably be an old school Coors Field game 8-7 or so. Hopefully Medlen shuts them down, but after the last two games their offense will be itching to get going.

Hopefully this great starting pitching is contagious & Medlen gets his dose before tomorrow’s game.

RED28

July 12th, 2009
12:56 am

IF THE BRAVES WIN TOMMORROW, WE’LL BE AT 44-44, .500 AND DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THE PHILLIES-PIRATES GAME, COULD BE 4 GAMES BACK HEADING INTO THE ALL-STAR BREAK WITH 9 MORE GAMES AGAINST THE PITCHING DEPLETED PHILLIES. NOW I KNOW THE PHILLIES HAVE A POWERFUL OFFENSE, BUT THE BRAVES STARTING PITCHING AND CLOSING PITCHING RANKS UP THERE WITH THE BEST AND IN THIS GAME OF BASEBALL, GOOD PITCHING ALWAYS BEATS GOOD HITTING AND THE PHILLIES, I BELIEVE, JUST CANT KEEP GETTING BY WITH THIS QUESTIONABLE TO DOWNRIGHT AWFUL PITCHING FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. IT IS GONNA CATCH UP WITH THEM. NOW ARE THE BRAVES GONNA GET THEIR OFFENSE TOGETHER TO CATCH THEM, CAUSE THE PITCHING IS THERE BUT THEY CANT BAIL THE BRAVES OUT EVERYNIGHT CAUSE U HAVE TO SCORE RUNS TO WIN. SO THE POSITION PLAYERS OF BRAVES HAVE TO DECIDE ARE THEY MEN OR A BUNCH OF HITLESS BABIES TRYING TO RIDE THE ARMS OF THEIR PITCHERS ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE THE DIVISION IS DEFINETLY WINNABLE FOR THEM.

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:01 am

it amazes me how “baseball” stupid Atlanta fans are. Doug

Well aren’t you just the charmer! Hey, I want to thank you, though. Seriously. With this being on the first line, I knew I didn’t even need to bother reading the rest of your post, seein’ how “stupid” I am.

fastasballs

July 12th, 2009
1:03 am

“And thanks to Frank Wren Atlanta has shipped a lot of other supposed talent out of the system.”

According to that logic those “prospects” probably sucked since the Braves drafted them so we’re better off with other team’s talent.

Ever think maybe drafting at the bottom of the first round for 14 years had anything to do with the lack of top notch talent? The last #1 was Chipper Jones, guess he sucked too, right?

There are plenty of top notch pitching prospects in the system right now. Two are already here, many more in the pipelines.

Moses

July 12th, 2009
1:05 am

My people, just believe in Frank Wren he will lead you to the promise land. You may not realize now but he is doing his Job and that of Bob the Manager ( Bobby Cox )You see Bob left spring training with a team far less capable than the best team that he could have selected. Consider that red headed pitcher traded to St. Louis( Blaine Boyer) and Jeff Bennett at the expense of Medlin, Boone Logan and Manny Acosta. Like most of you I was glad to hear that Bennett eliminated himself due to his stupidity, because Bob would keep trotting him out there. It was almost a divine intervention for him to play Prado over KJ, although Prado’s ability offensively and defensively wass better. While I agreed with him giving Frenchy the oppurtunity in Rightfield, he needed to sit him down some, so he can look on and probably ruminate on it. I like Frenchy, and remember when he Just came up that I would stop whatever I was doing when he came to the plate. However all that wore off and I no longer looked, because I knew what to expect, he became a Rally killer. I agree with everything said by Paul Lentz, you have said it all correctly. I wish people would stop calling for Vazquez and Escobar to be traded. Vazquez is the best pitcher on the staff, and Escobar is a future Allstar.

Mitchie-san

July 12th, 2009
1:05 am

Bubdylan, you are one funny dude!

a643dp

July 12th, 2009
1:05 am

Has anybody looked at the Phillies schedule they are scheduled to play SD one game 07/23 I have never seen a 1 game series scheduled.

jeffrey d

July 12th, 2009
1:07 am

a643 – Probably a makeup game from a rainout

Necromancer

July 12th, 2009
1:09 am

Sure is nice to see bubdylan back amongst us again!

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:10 am

I guess maybe Anders was mistaken about Sori being worthless? nolie

What?! Anders wrong? Hah! Good one…

Paul Lentz

July 12th, 2009
1:10 am

David O’Brien…………I just read your interview with Frank Wren. Excellent interview. I feel that Frank Wren has been unfairly criticized. If anything he needs a lot of praise for what he has done. Rebuilding the starting rotation was a minor miracle.

I find it “ironic” that people will call themselves “Atlanta Braves” fans, yet their first loyalty is to the “player”. Now, I’m not saying that fans shouldnt like players. I myself, have players that I like. However, just because I “like” a player, does not mean that I want to team keep playing a player, even if his play is hurting the field.

As a sports fan, I have no illusions that any of these athletes “like us fans”. To be honest, if I was a professional athlete, I probably wouldnt like the average fan either, lol. Knowing that, I separate my emotions as a fan, from the logic that is needed to see what a team needs to do to win.

When John Smoltz and Tom Glavine were performing well for the Braves, I really enjoyed watching them play. However, when age and injuries caught up with them, it was time to let them go. Allocating precious payroll dollars to them, especially with Tim Hudson being paid $13 mil while on the disabled list this year, would not be a wise course of action.

After the fiasco of last year’s starting rotation, Frank Wren decided to acquire pitchers who could pitch 6-7 innings with regularity. Signing Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami………and trading for Javier Vazquez were great moves by Frank Wren. Those guys, along with Jair Jurrgens, have been horses who give us innings.

The timing of deciding to cut ties with Glavine while bringing up Tommy Hanson was perfect. I dont see how Tom Glavine was treated badly. The Braves signed him to an incentive ladden contract, with the expectation that he would be ready to start on April 18th, when the 5th spot in the rotation would be needed to pitch. Instead, his shoulder was slow to heal, so the Braves had to go with Jo Jo Reyes. After he proved ineffective, the Braves went with Kris Medlen. Then after seeing Tom Glavine show in rehab that he didnt have anything left in the tank, the Braves decided to cut him loose and bring up Tommy Hanson, who was pitching well in Triple A. Hanson went on to win Rookie of the Month in June.

However, because the offense has struggled (Francoeur and Kelly Johnson were counted on to provide some power), our record does not fairly reflect the progress that Frank Wren has made in improving the team.

The way this team is assembled offensively, the Braves are not going to score a lot of runs. However, we have some players on offensive who can play multiple positions. A combination of lefty/righty bats that will allow Bobby to be flexible. When Omar Infante comes back, I feel that you’ll see the Braves offense improving.

The one thing that I am concerned with is Bobby Cox’s loyalty to Peter Moylan. Moylan is too inconsistent to be pitching in the 7th inning of close games. It’s a crap shot with him. I would rather see him give Manny Acosta a chance to pitch.

THWG

July 12th, 2009
1:15 am

I read Paul Dentz’s posts like a used to read required novels in high school.

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:16 am

I figure that willieg is either Lew or Roman Gal. There are startling similarities in diction and tone. Chop Chop

This hurts me.
[tear]

fastasballs

July 12th, 2009
1:21 am

Paul Lentz, I think you’re beginning to see an improvement in the offense now. The lower end of the order is starting to produce a little more than before. These guys are getting on base, but of late Chipper/McCann have been cold & Escobar has missed several games.

At full strength this offense can score a lot more runs than it has. It’s never going to resemble anything the Phillies or Rockies have, but as you have seen the Braves pitching has basically shut down those two offenses down.

I think the Braves are going to surge, but must have McCann/Chipper to start raking or someone else to play above their head for a while. With this pitching staff they have the ability to roll off 8-10 in a row, but need a few easy victories in that streak so the pen isn’t worn out like we have seen recently.

Wren BLOWS

July 12th, 2009
1:27 am

lets go mets!!!! jeff 2 rbi’s..cant wait for him to kill the braves

Heath (Cleveland)

July 12th, 2009
1:30 am

I like to keep track of the run differential for teams to see how t hey are performing relative to what might be “expected” of them based on that differential. Florida is the only team that is really performing that much differently than their expected performance (performing better, as you might expect). With the Braves ever increasing pitching edge in the NL East, they really only need just a little extra offense. It’ll be interesting to see how the addition of Church helps the team.

Typical lineup at the beginning of the year:

1. Schafer
2. KJ
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. GA
6. Escobar
7. JF
8. Kotchman

Moving forward (with Kotchman and Escobar):

1. McLouth (big upgrade)
2. Prado (really big upgrade)
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. Escobar
6. GA
7. Church (slight upgrade)
8. Kotchman

1/3rd of the lineup has been improved since opening day. I’m really looking forward to see how the offense performs as July 31st approaches.

Nite Owl

July 12th, 2009
1:31 am

Doug, I couldn’t disagree with you more. Scouts sign tons of players. Only a very few make it to the major league level and have long and successful careers. That includes first-rounders. Remember Brien Taylor of the Yankees? Remember Todd Van Poppel?

If you don’t think the Braves can evaluate talent just because a first-rounder didn’t work out, then you’re not the superior baseball brain you claim to be. Even this “stupid” Atlanta fan can recognize that all clubs, even the Yankees and Red Sox, sign guys in the first few rounds that don’t make it.

As for your assessment of the Braves’ front office, let’s see.

Wren pulled a Dimitroff with the starting rotation. He inherited three broken-down veterans (Glavine, Smoltz, Hampton), and he got rid of them and picked up Jurrjens, Vazquez, Lowe, and Kawakami. He had the guts to bring up Hanson instead of caving in to Glavine. Now you’re looking at one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Also, our bullpen is looking good, as long as it stays healthy, which can be said about anyone’s bullpen.

As for the offense, just think of how much better the Braves’ record would be if Francoeur and Kelly Johnson had hit more than .240 and .220 respectively this year. Even with just a few singles or walks here and there from those two, instead of rally-killing double-plays and strikeouts.

Wren’s only mistake was relying on these two guys, and they tanked brutally. I don’t think anyone thought they both would be this bad this year. Is that the scouts’ fault? Wren’s fault? Is the entire organization clueless?

No, because they didn’t stand pat. They sat K.J. down and started the (ahem) home-grown Prado, who promptly won the NL Player of the Week. They traded Francoeur for an upgrade who makes better contact. (Case in point: Francoeur got a couple of dink hits tonight while Church made solid contact and just missed a grand slam. Church already looks like an improvement, and as a bonus, he’ll probably wait until the pitcher actually throws the ball before trying to steal second.) They also have three more weeks before the deadline to try to upgrade the outfield.

And you can try to bash the farm system for only producing McCann, but you’re way off. It also has produced Hanson, Medlin, Escobar, and Prado. It produced Charlie Morton, who Wren was somehow able to trade for Nate McLouth, who we’ll have in CF for the next four years. And it has Jason Heyward (the newly minted top prospect in all of baseball) and Freddie Freeman coming down the pike in the next year or so, which should shore up RF and 1B for the next 10 years.

So laugh all you want, but if you want to judge the whole organization on one Golden Boy not working out, then you owe everyone in Atlanta an apology. To quote Kevin Kline from A Fish Called Wanda: “Don’t call me stupid…”

Oh yeah, and bite me.

jeffrey d

July 12th, 2009
1:32 am

I only skimmed Paul Lentz’s enormous post, but it seems like he has as good a grasp on when to use quotes as Joey from Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tIacBHehEc

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:32 am

Man, my Rome team could really use some offense.

Of their starting 9 tonight, the highest average of them is Jahdiel Santamaria at .264…but his OBP is .308.

Seems to me like they need some Spanjer-Furstenburg action.

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
1:32 am

willieg is a test-tube baby who failed the test.

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
1:33 am

That’s exactly what they need Roman Gal!

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
1:35 am

willieg’s familt tree consists of a trunk.

JPS

July 12th, 2009
1:35 am

Paul Lentz

July 12th, 2009
1:10 am

I find it “ironic” that people will call themselves “Atlanta Braves” fans, yet their first loyalty is to the “player”. Now, I’m not saying that fans shouldnt like players. I myself, have players that I like. However, just because I “like” a player, does not mean that I want to team keep playing a player, even if his play is hurting the field.

Paul – A very wise man once said…”Root for the laundry” That’s what I’m trying to do…root for the laundry.

a643dp

July 12th, 2009
1:35 am

Jeffrey D- no it is the original schedule

Adam Wainwright Lives

July 12th, 2009
1:38 am

Doug, I’ll take it a step further.

A generation and change worth of Georgia youngsters have grown up only knowing division championships and baseball success. This success was built on the backs of three people: Glavine, Smoltz, and Maddux. Of the three, only Glavine was a Brave draft pick – from the mid-80’s!

The Braves’ front office philosophy for the past 7-9 years was to draft Georgia talent in the hopes that wide-eyed kids would sign for the cliche hometown discount. While Georgia has one of the best little league systems in America, so does Florida, Texas, California, and other states in the union.

As far as position players are concerned, take away Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, and Brian McCann in the past 18 years, and what do you have? A very sobering picture of how poorly the Braves have drafted and developed position players, as well as top-notch pitching. And while they were able to get rid of many Triple-A types bundled up to get the likes of say, Fred McGriff, very few have panned out for the other teams. It was a great model in the 1990’s – when the Braves had money to hide the dearth of available minor league talent – but not so good lately.

The future laid in the hopes of such prospects as Wilson Betemit and Andy Marte. Where are they both now? (A hard lesson I had to accept because I was so high on both of them too, but I am just a fan.) The front office times are so bad, that the two trades we made for hitters in the new century – J.D. Drew and Mark Teixeira – really hurt the Braves due to losses of the few genuinely good prospects we had, and the short terms Drew and Teixeira lasted with the team.

The Teixeira trade especially stings because it buttresses Doug’s contention that the Braves are poor talent evaluators as a whole. Four of the five prospects traded to Texas have laid the foundation for a rosy Ranger future, with prospect number five poised to join the big club in the near future.

The jury is still out on Hanson and Medlen; they need to provide years of “solid” service in order to restore(?) the luster to the front office. To their credit, the Bravos have done a decent job of drafting in So. America and the Caribbean in the past 6-8 years. Yet, Doug raises a valid point. Dayton Moore wasn’t the deity people made him out to be, and the Braves, if they are not going to be the big spenders they were in the 90’s, have to do an even better job of evaluating talent – and get out of their Georgia rut.

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
1:39 am

“”Paul – A very wise man once said…”Root for the laundry” That’s what I’m trying to do…root for the laundry.”"

Musta been alot wiser than me; can’t figure it out to save my life….

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I’m very dense

jeffrey d

July 12th, 2009
1:39 am

What’s with these huge posts? Is it encyclopedia night?

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
1:41 am

Doug, I’ll take it a step further.

Adam, I’d say that’s around ten-steps farther.

Wheelz007

July 12th, 2009
1:43 am

Braves starters have made 48 Quality Starts so far.
Philly – 41 QS
Mets – 44 QS
Florida – 42 QS

Also, we are 9-4 in our last 13 games. We need to get to .500 tomorrow night.

Go Braves!

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
1:43 am

War And Peace Night Jeffrey

David O'Brien

July 12th, 2009
1:43 am

Chop Chop: That was funny…

Great posts tonight, folks. Just thought I’d throw that out. Don’t usually expect to see such substance and good humor late on Saturday night. Luv it.

Go Lance.

Heath (Cleveland)

July 12th, 2009
1:43 am

jeffrey d -

I just had to watch that utube clip. Hillarious.

jeffrey d

July 12th, 2009
1:44 am

Never read it

David O'Brien

July 12th, 2009
1:46 am

Just saw the Mets highlights. Seriously, that was strange seeing Francoeur in that Mets uni. Very strange.

Heath (Cleveland)

July 12th, 2009
1:46 am

jeffrey d -

About a week ago, I posted a “word of the day” to the blog – succint. It didn’t catch on. I’ll try again.

Today’s word of the day:

Concise

Sensing a theme? :cool:

Elvis Andrus Lives

July 12th, 2009
1:49 am

Yeah, DOB, but the gork over first base looked pretty familiar. Get used to it, Met fans.

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
1:50 am

Nothing like winning to lighten the blog atmosphere.

Got kinda dismal a few days back…

Always interesting though.

Mitchie-san

July 12th, 2009
1:50 am

DOB. I know its a little early to be wondering this, but how do players get assigned to winter leagues? Is it their choice where to go, or is it more of an acutal assignment. How soon after the season can I start looking for players to come to Hawaii.

I am just thinking ahead for this years winter league out here. Thnaks for any input. You da man.

The A Bomb

July 12th, 2009
1:50 am

DOB — forget seeing Francoeur in the Mets jersey…. Did you see the fan WITH the Francoeur jersey?

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:51 am

Is it encyclopedia night?

Yes. Heath, I expect a 10-paragraph essay on the meaning and history of the word “Concise”. You have 10 minutes.

Go!

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:53 am

It was strange seeing Francoeur in a Mets uni. He’s a lot uglier now for some reason. I can’t quite put my finger on it, though…

Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out eventually.

Elvis Andrus Lives

July 12th, 2009
1:53 am

LOL – thanks, Shamus (I think). . .

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
1:53 am

Got poke ribs in the oven at 1:55 AM. Was gonna grill em till my finely-tuned laziness took over. Smell terrific, be fine all slathered-down in Sweet Baby Ray’s…

Salamander

July 12th, 2009
1:54 am

Just got home – nice win tonight.

Nice drunken tirade email at 12:31 DOB. Funny stuff.

Just saw the highlight of Jeff’s RBI single – nice to see he had a solid first game with the Mets… even if the RBI single was a cheapie, off-the-fists-type single that happened to drop in a good spot. OK, OK – sorry for doggin’ the guy. He got the job done on his first night. Good for him,

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:54 am

“The last thing I wanted to do was roll over my first pitch for a double play to end the inning.”

Well, Sweetie, it never seemed to bother you when you were wearing the Tomahawk across your chest.

Heath (Cleveland)

July 12th, 2009
1:55 am

Roman Gal -

Please ask Paul for that. I am incapable of such a request. :cool:

BossLady

July 12th, 2009
1:57 am

Okay where do I begin. This Francouer trade is beginning to feel like my first marriage, I hated that guy and couldn’t wait to walk out on him. After a few months, I thought about the good times and if felt different. Today, I feel bad about Francoeur and the thought of he and Katy in a mean and dirty city like Flushing. I hope they will be alright.

The Allstar Game I choose Albert Pujols as my favorite to perform and as the hometown favorite. I love players in the MLB on all teams. If they are performing they have my vote. McCann I hope will do well.
I thought I might get a Pujols jersey tomorrow.

As far a Chipper saying he hopes that they perform to fan expectations I say get up and go to work and do your damn jobs. If they were in different occupations they would have failed terribly. They could not work for me. I am in a “What Have You Done Lately” business too.

All my life I havee been a Braves fan but I believe that the All Star roster is impressive. Can’t complain about Jurrgens and Vasquez just glad they get the rest and go home for a while.

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:57 am

Francoeur’s issue at the plate has been his lack of plate discipline — something the Mets are confident they can cure given time.

That would take a miracle…and Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg is the only miracle-worker I’ve ever heard of.

Elvis Andrus Lives

July 12th, 2009
1:58 am

Folks, I’d rather write something along the lines of a legit opinion than waste “concise” space “succint”-ly trashing the likes of Paul Lentz and New Jersey – sheesh!

jeffrey d

July 12th, 2009
1:58 am

Please ask Paul for that. I am incapable of such a request.

I think he’s already on it. Along with the detailed history of Jeff Francoeur’s pitch counts and Pendleton’s SSPI (sunflower seeds per inning)

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
1:59 am

“I was just trying to pick his mind on [Braves skipper] Bobby Cox,” Manuel joked. “He’s one of the best managers in the game. What does he do every day? Why is that roster so good?”

Haha…well, Bobby sure has all those other players and managers across baseball fooled, eh?

BossLady

July 12th, 2009
2:02 am

DOB did you tell that email person that “Your And Idiot”?

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
2:02 am

Heath-

I think I would be breaking one of my self-imposed rules by communicating with Mr. Lentz.

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
2:04 am

How’d Star Spangled-Furburger do today Roman Gal?

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
2:06 am

Shamus-

Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg hit a 2-run homerun, walked, and decided to make an out three times.

uga-brave

July 12th, 2009
2:07 am

watching the elvis thing on encore.

loved quintin’s thing. either you are a elvis fan or a beatles fan.

that defines your character.

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
2:08 am

Roman Gal, that guy is gonna be a STAHHHH in Rome!!

Heath (Cleveland)

July 12th, 2009
2:08 am

Me make fun of New Jersey? Nope. I’ve been there. Those wise guys have got me convinced to keep quiet on my feelings for that *#%^hole of a place.

jeffrey d

July 12th, 2009
2:09 am

Did he really homer? I was checking out his stats today and noticed he only hit one homerun in the past 10 games.

Heath (Cleveland)

July 12th, 2009
2:09 am

Oops. Now I need to find that damn phone number for the witness protection program….

jeffrey d

July 12th, 2009
2:10 am

Those wise guys have got me convinced to keep quiet on my feelings for that *#%^hole of a place.

So much for that

JPS

July 12th, 2009
2:10 am

Fixing Frenchy

I turned to the Mutts telecast for a few minures and I caught the following exchange. The brosadcasters were saying how Frenchy was impatient and had poor pitch recognition ( no surprise there).

One of them asked Jerry Manuel if he and the hitting coazch (Howard Johnson) were going to get him in a cage and pour over his swing. Manuel said there were going to do nothing for two weeks. Just let him be himself sand hopefully there will be nothing to fix. If they pick something up they will work with him.

Interesting approach but isn’t that what the Braves did? As I recall, despite a lot of suggestions he would always wind up doing his own thing.

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
2:12 am

Shamus-

Yep! If I find out early enough about his promotion, I’m (almost) definitely going to go!!

BossLady

July 12th, 2009
2:13 am

I am so tired of these bloggers trying to second guess the GMs. If I was in their profession I would not know what to do as I am not a baseball professional.

The idea of a person emailing DOB for nothing is like my grandhildren sitting here asking for something!!!! I am going to tell their parents to just take them home.

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
2:14 am

You’re not that far off McFann, and your attempt jogged my memory a bit. It’s Riaan (Carl) Spanjer-Von-Furstenbargerburg! Shoot, ask Roman Gal if I ain’t right!

I have to admit, Shamus, your attempts at spelling his name make me laugh. You were so close on this try…better luck next time.

Heath (Cleveland)

July 12th, 2009
2:16 am

…despite my pleas. The field agents just won’t relocate me to Hawaii. Shucks. So much for relying on witness protection.

CameronC

July 12th, 2009
2:16 am

I live 5 minutes from Danville, never been to a Danville Braves game but iv been to atlanta 4 tims this year. Do I need to hit up a danville game soon?

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
2:17 am

I was checking out his stats today and noticed he only hit one homerun in the past 10 games.

Jeffrey, he has to pick and choose his times. He doesn’t want everyone to know he’s so vastly superior to them by hitting homeruns all the time. He just goes out and helps his team win.

Shamus Thacker

July 12th, 2009
2:18 am

Thanks R-Gal, my brain cell is still trying to wrap around that name…

Roman Gal

July 12th, 2009
2:18 am

Do I need to hit up a danville game soon? Cameron C

If you want to be able to say that you saw Future Hall of Famer, Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg play in rookie ball…then yes, you should go soon.

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