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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,442 comments Add your comment
CLE
July 21st, 2009
2:21 pm
Heehee @ Necromancer. Oh, that would be a much more entertaining game to listen to. I’m imagining Will Ferrell’s impersonations now.
Random
July 21st, 2009
2:22 pm
Is it true Carroll had to spell David yesterday for the Escobar interview because his people skills aren’t up to snuff?
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
2:22 pm
BravoMan–
They were being goofs last night! I gotta kick out of this converse (they were talking about Tommy throwing harder than he had before):
Boog: “Maybe it’s his new aerodynamic haircut.”
Joe: “Well, I’ve always said short hair makes you throw harder.”
Next pitch Tommy throws 95 MPH.
Joe: “See.”
Chop Chop
July 21st, 2009
2:22 pm
I hope there are people like that in real life, scoots.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:23 pm
fleming………….there is a difference between a manager “having faith” in a player who deserves patience……..and “having faith” in a player who doesnt. You have to take into consideration a number of factors (knowledge that comes from watching a lot of baseball over the years, knowing what to look for in a good player, etc).
When it came to Garret Anderson, I took into account that his struggles in April were due to the fact that he was hurt in Spring Training and that it took him a month to get his legs back and his timing down at the plate. I watched this guy play a lot against the A’s (I live in San Francisco) over the years. He can flat out hit. I saw no indication that he wasnt going to turn it around.
There are times when Matt Diaz will have some bad at-bats and take some “wild” swings. Just like yesterday, in his first couple of at-bats…….many people were calling him a BUM and wanting to see him benched. Go back and check this blog at the time the first part of yesterday’s game was played if you dont believe me. I said “be patient”, I’ve seen enough of Matt Diaz to know that he will sometimes look bad……and then get a hold of one and rip it in the gap for a double. That is why I dont trip when Diaz has some bad at-bats. Diaz’s last 2 at-bats, he ripped a triple in the gap and a single up the middle.
Chipper, McCann, Escobar and McLouth all have earned the right to be patient with when they struggle. They have shown that when they bust out of a slump, they can help carry a team.
I said be patient with Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami as well. I just dont “rip” someone when they struggle. I “rip” them if their struggles show me that they arent good enough to be consistent Major League players. I’ve seen enough of Francoeur, Kelly, Jeff Bennett, Peter Moylan, and Greg Norton to know that they are the kind of players that the Braves need to win ball games.
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
2:23 pm
I was listening to Chip and Lemke on the radio during a Braves rain delay a few weeks back and he had callers praising him left and right. Really, he seems like he is a Braves fan and gave his thoughts on the team which were pretty spot on. He was saying how he doesn’t want to be a “homer”(not in those words, but) and tries to be fair to both sides, but he “wants the Braves to win of course” were his words. Yes, he’s annoying but…
Chop Chop
July 21st, 2009
2:23 pm
I just hope those people aren’t given any kind of power.
Chucktown Brave
July 21st, 2009
2:23 pm
Forget “Big Red”, call him “T-Pain”
BravoMan
July 21st, 2009
2:24 pm
civilized white trash,
We don’t have the financial flexablity to aquire the big bat that we need right now. If Wren chooses to let Hudson walk and keep Vazquez that will give us the dough to sign or trade for that big bat in the offseason and hopefully hang on to Gonzo or Soriano, probably not both…
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:24 pm
Jaglawyer…………thanks. Glad you enjoy reading my postings.
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
2:26 pm
Oh yea…and Joe does seem to get annoyed with Chip.
I’ll never forget last year–it was during one of the Cubs series…August, I think, and Chip was sayin’, “You can go ahead and send the ROY trophy to Geovanny Soto’s house.” And Joe was like, “Well, the Braves have a pretty good candidate in Jair Jurrjens.” It was great…woulda been even better if JJ had won it…
Willy Wally
July 21st, 2009
2:27 pm
The problem with Lentz isn’t that his posts are long. In fact, I wish the majority of you would write longer posts instead of being forced to read the pointless and mindless one liner drivel most of you waste our time with all day, everyday. Less posts with more content is far more preferable than many posts with zilch in the way of content.
The problem with Lentz though isn’t that his posts are long, it’s that they are needlessly long. They’re too often filled with repetitive rants cut and pasted from other repetitive rants. I don’t bother reading him because there’s no point in doing so. I’ve already read what he has to say thousands of times already. Dude’s got no style, and his content, while somewhat quality, is too limited to make him interesting beyond the first five times you read what he has to say.
Couch Tater
July 21st, 2009
2:27 pm
Eleven of those comments were at least two paragraphs long.
Chop Chop, Send in two Fruit Loops box tops and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the AJC to receive a Capt Caveman decoder ring.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:28 pm
ncscoots…………..when you “ask” someone to not make any reference to you, you might want to extend them the same courtesy. You keep making “references” to me, yet you want me to quit making “references” to you?
Real classy on your part.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
2:31 pm
Paul – Please add me to the list with scoots to not reference me in your posts. I don’t read your novels and I also don’t want to be tempted by you refering to me.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:32 pm
BravoMan……………good posting at 2:24pm. I’ve been trying to say the same thing. However many of these “posters” on here cant see that. They think that not picking up Hudson’s 2010 option means that the Braves are “giving him away”……when in fact it means that the Braves will have an additional $12 mil to sign a free agent to play either left, right, or even 1st base.
Why trade Vazquez for a bat……when you can let Hudson go and sign a free agent slugger, and still keep Vazquez?
BUCK
July 21st, 2009
2:33 pm
Amen on the talking to English speaking players first part. Play our game, in our country, speak our language.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
2:37 pm
BravoMan – If Wren chooses to let Hudson walk and keep Vazquez that will give us the dough to sign or trade for that big bat.
If Wren keeps Hudson and trades Vazquez for a big bat, then he doesn’t need to get in a bidding war trying to sign a FA. Plus Hudson is a proven #1 and Vazquez isn’t.
Jaglawyer
July 21st, 2009
2:37 pm
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:32 pm
Why trade Vazquez for a bat……when you can let Hudson go and sign a free agent slugger, and still keep Vazquez?
My opinion is, when AND IF healthy, Hudson is clearly the superior pitcher. Vazquez is having a great season, and his value will most likely never be higher.
With that said, I hope Wren does not move Vazquez for a bat this season.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:38 pm
It’s amazing to see the number of people on this blog with Attention Deficit Disorder. I didnt realize that getting migraines from reading a posting longer than 2 sentences was “contagious”, lol.
Well, considering how some of you feel about me, if my postings give you “migraines”, then that becomes an added benefit for me.
As long as some of you post Braves related postings that I disagree with, I will continue to address your postings. I want real Braves fans who care about the Braves winning (instead of being more loyal to certain players)………to see someone counter postings that go against the Braves self interest when it comes to winning.
If you dont like my posts, dont read them. However your desires to get me to quit responding to your bad posts will FALL ON DEAF EARS.
Pete
July 21st, 2009
2:38 pm
Willy Wally: “I don’t bother reading him because there’s no point in doing so.”
Then you are certainly missing the point as he brings much insight and logic to this blog, in my opinion. Since you mention that he rants, your post was pretty much a rant and very repetitive.
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
2:39 pm
Chop Chop: blog sabermetrician. Is Paul Lentz’s XPP/P ratio the highest ever recorded minimum 10 posts? (That’d be extra paragraph post to post ratio)
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
2:39 pm
OK, folks. Sorry for the delay and lack of comments from this corner today. Had to finish a huge expense report from the last trip and get to another meeting downtown. Now at the ballpark, gonna crank out a new blog. Nice being in an empty pressbox on a beautiful day like today, looking at the green grass on a freshly mowed ballfield….
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:41 pm
fleming…………….Any team that is interested in Javier Vazquez IS NOT going to trade us an established slugger in order to acquire him. They will likely trade us prospects, but not a slugger. Name ONE Team who will, then get back to me.
If we trade Vazquez for prospects after the season in order to keep Tim Hudson, we will still have to acquire a slugger via free agency (and enter into a “bidding war”, as you said).
Daddio
July 21st, 2009
2:41 pm
I like freshly mowed too. Nice and soft…
fleming
July 21st, 2009
2:42 pm
David O’Brien – Sorry for the delay and lack of comments from this corner today.
No problem DOB. We always have Paul to fill up space.
RHR
July 21st, 2009
2:42 pm
Amen on the talking to English speaking players first part. Play our game, in our country, speak our language.
Ummmmm I dont think that’s what she meant.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:42 pm
Pete………….thanks for the support with your 2:38pm posting.
Andrew in P-tang
July 21st, 2009
2:43 pm
Braves to target Jason Bay in offseason IF the Sox dont sign him
RHR
July 21st, 2009
2:44 pm
DOB don’t waste your time getting mad and responding to the post on the last page, just get right to work on that ‘Phillies are the hottest team on the planet!’ blog.
THWG
July 21st, 2009
2:45 pm
PL- The main problem with letting Huddy walk is that the FA market isn’t going to be full of sluggers. The few big bats available will most likely end up with the Sox and Yanks, because they are the only teams that can overpay.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:46 pm
Daddio………..agree with your 2:41pm. I like a nice, trim bush as well with my female partners as well.
Wait……was you talking about baseball fields? My bad, lol.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:46 pm
I am smarter than you, and you, and you, and you…
Brightside
July 21st, 2009
2:47 pm
DOB, When you were growin up, did you ever dream that life could be so good?
Andrew in P-tang
July 21st, 2009
2:48 pm
braves pitching is good enough that we should move our fences in at turner field to what the phillies are…then you would see chip,mccann,yunel hitting 30+ homers
AlabamaBrave
July 21st, 2009
2:50 pm
Andrew in P-tang
July 21st, 2009
2:43 pm
Braves to target Jason Bay in offseason IF the Sox dont sign him
Oh, I think the Sox will sign him
AlabamaBrave
July 21st, 2009
2:52 pm
David O’Brien
July 21st, 2009
2:39 pm
DOB, what is the temp at the ballpark. BTW, what is your opinion of the new Coke bottle?
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
2:52 pm
I hope Wren hears about or looks for himself at that pole about who thinks Javy should be dealt for offense. 93% of us say NO! He had better not even think about it unless he’s blown away and is that really gonna happen? I have faith that he and Shuerholz won’t be tempted to trade that K machine. Can’t say enough about how Javy has blown me away since day one with my Braves. Never thought he would be this great. Guy just darts KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK and challenges any and every hitter that wants a piece of him.
fastasballs
July 21st, 2009
2:52 pm
“Plus Hudson is a proven #1 and Vazquez isn’t.” fleming
He’s also coming off TJ surgery & won’t be back to his former self for a while, if ever. The Braves don’t have a true #1 pitcher IMO. In reality it’s just a lable. It’s just the guy that pitches first anytime the rotation is reset. I’m more than fine with JJ, Vazquez, Hanson, or Lowe pitch in a big game. In fact Kawakami does just fine in the big games he’s pitched in this season as well.
We may not have that true ACE like a Beckett, Hallady, CC, Santana etc, but from top to bottom I’ll take the Braves rotation every time because of the depth. We may not have the advantage when facing one of the few ACES in the league, but we do when facing their 2-5 guys. I’ll take that every year.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
2:52 pm
THWG……….With the economy the way it is now, there should be some bargains out there come winter during free agency. Frank Wren can pick between getting a free agent to play left, right or even first. Depending on who he goes after, will determine if he keeps or trades Diaz, Church and Kotchman. Re-signing Garret Anderson is also an option. Jordan Schafer rebounding to earn the centerfield job, enabling McLouth to move to left (his arm isnt strong enough to play right field) will factor in as well.
Point is, Frank Wren has OPTIONS. Depending on how well certain players play (Jason Heyward’s continued development as well), and on what the market will bear in free agency, Frank Wren will have a number of avenues he can use to improve the Braves.
A lot can happen between now and the beginning of 2010.
Burdell
July 21st, 2009
2:52 pm
If we trade Vazquez for prospects after the season in order to keep Tim Hudson, we will still have to acquire a slugger via free agency (and enter into a “bidding war”, as you said).
Would you rather buyout Hudson’s option and risk him making the Phillies or Mets substantially better, or would you rather keep Hudson and Vazquez and not upgrade the offense? Or, are you planning to use Hudson as a closer?
ease19
July 21st, 2009
2:52 pm
Unfortunatley, you, and you, and you, and you happen to be fourth graders, so that is not saying much…
fleming
July 21st, 2009
2:53 pm
RHR – just get right to work on that ‘Phillies are the hottest team on the planet!’ blog.
RHP more interested on a how good the Giant’s rookie pitcher is for this blog. We need to win tonight LOL. Maybe a side note on the Phillies great season so far wouldn’t hurt either.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
July 21st, 2009
2:53 pm
Andrew in P-tang,
You do realize that part of the reason their pitching is so good is BECAUSE of where the fences are? How many times has McLouth run down a ball at the track? In Philly those balls are homers…
Jaglawyer
July 21st, 2009
2:55 pm
Why do people make it sound so easy that starters like Hudson can EASILY become closers?
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
2:55 pm
Paul, uh, no you’re not smarter, you just have a ton of time on your hands to analyze every single thing about this team. That’s obviously not the real Paul, but still.
Chopdawg
July 21st, 2009
2:57 pm
Lentz..re your 2:23 post:
“I’ve seen enough of Francoeur, Kelly, Jeff Bennett, Peter Moylan, and Greg Norton to know that they are the kind of players that the Braves need to win ball games.”
Did you mean to have a “not” inserted in there somewhere?
THWG
July 21st, 2009
2:57 pm
PL- While the economy right now isn’t terrific, that doesn’t stop the big budget ballclubs from overpaying for the good outfielders. Here’s a list of this year’s free agents:
http://bit.ly/K3Lb
I don’t see many (if any) names that the Braves could get for a decent price that would be worth letting Huddy walk for.
Zell Miller
July 21st, 2009
2:58 pm
BUCK
July 21st, 2009
2:33 pm
Amen on the talking to English speaking players first part. Play our game, in our country, speak our language.
Which language? Creek or Sioux?
Chop Chop
July 21st, 2009
3:00 pm
If we have ADD, then the Paul Lentz character has a massive dose of short-term memory loss.
I guess we all have our flaws.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
3:00 pm
fastasballs – He’s also coming off TJ surgery & won’t be back to his former self for a while, if ever.
By next year Hudson will be a year and a half from free agent surgery and should be fully recovered. Most TJ surgery pitchers preform better after the surgery than before. Then there is the fact that we have a month and a half this year to evaluate whether Hudson will be able to return or not before deciding on which to keep. Most likely, it is gonna be better for the Braves to keep Hudson and trade Vazquez for a slugger or prospects if that’s all we can get (But remember quality pitching is the number one demand in MLB), than to just give away Hudson.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:01 pm
fastasballs………props to your posting at 2:52pm. Most of these guys on here are “fixated” on whether someone is a #1 starter, or if replacing Kelly Johnson with Martin Prado was “worth it because Prado isnt an everyday player”. They cant see what you just posted: Our 2-5 guys in the rotation matches up with anyone’s in baseball.
As good as Tim Linecum and Matt Cain are………..do you think that the Giants “relish” throwing Barry Zito out there every 5th day? What about an old, injury prone Randy Johnson? Or an inconsistent Jonathan Sanchez (his no hitter aside, his record this year is 3-8 with a 4.68 ERA) every 5th day as well?
Name a team out there that has a better 3rd starter than Jair Jurrjens, a better 4th starter than Tommy Hanson, or a better 5th starter then Kenshin Kawakami?
I’ll take our starting pitching over ANY TEAM IN BASEBALL.
modrod
July 21st, 2009
3:02 pm
who could forget Dip I mean Chips comment last year on the radio that the Braves might be hesitant to bring Josh Anderson up from Richmond since he had a 22 or 23 game hitting streak going at the time. I thought Pete was going to fall out of his chair. He quickly reminded Dip that the Braves could careless what he was doing in Richmond if he could help out the big club. LONG LIVE SKIP.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
3:02 pm
By next year Hudson will be a year and a half from free agent.
Dumb butt that should be Tommy John surgery.
monty
July 21st, 2009
3:03 pm
Based on last years stats this is what you get with KJ. 2 months out of the year he will rake. But for 4 months out of 6, this is what you get: a .238 BA., a slugging percentage of .357(Oooh!), 1.5 HR’s per month(WOW)! and an OBP. of .315.(incredible!) Can we really afford to stick a guy out there everyday who for 4 months out of the year won’t even be an average major league player? And plays hold your breath defense to boot? Come on people, you are wiser than that.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:03 pm
Chopdawg………….thanks for pointing that out with your 2:57pm posting. Obviously I forgot to insert the word “not” in that posting you was referring to.
Bad typo on my part.
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
3:03 pm
Funny on both posts, Zell Miller. Speaking of funny, since we’ve gone on this winning streak I haven’t seen my boy willieg around here. Must’ve had to pawn his computer to finance his gambling addiction…..
CB
July 21st, 2009
3:04 pm
Chop Chop, I don’t want you to have any power either. I’m sure you would do some strange stuff.
ncscoots
July 21st, 2009
3:04 pm
Then you are certainly missing the point as he brings much insight and logic to this blog, in my opinion.
Examples, please. I’m an open-minded guy; change my opinion.
On another note, some of the best posters ever to grace this blog wrote relatively long posts. Insightful, erudite, entertaining, and informative posts, worth the time spent reading them, and one was always better for the effort.
Length of the post has no correlation to the quality of the content, and vice versa. The in-game one-line whoo-hoos and player-rips offer no more contribution than the twelve-paragraph tomes of imbecility and cluelessness from more verbose posters.
CB
July 21st, 2009
3:06 pm
I think they call that a Freudian slip.
RemoW
July 21st, 2009
3:07 pm
I like this: “looking at the green grass on a freshly mowed ballfield” Do you get that smell. There is a distinct order to a ball field that just been tended. I love that smell.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
3:08 pm
CB – I think they call that a Freudian slip.
Yeah you’ re right. Maybe I said free agent surgery because that’s what Hudson will be if we don’t pick up the option.
Pascual Perez Lives
July 21st, 2009
3:10 pm
Many Hispanic ballplayers have made the effort to learn English – no matter how broken it may be – so that they can better communicate with teammates and the press. Others, like Vladimir Guerrero, may have a learning disability that makes them deficient even in their own native tongue (usually, they are verbal, with scant reading and writing skills). Those types are (sadly) withdrawn from the mainstream, and make an effort to hide from the limelight as much as possible.
In Yunel’s case, he seems to be flamboyant and eager to share his side. What Escobar fails to realize is that after five years-plus in the Braves’ system, if he has not garnered the requisite English skills to at least share a three-for-four night with, say, Dave O’Brien, then he has no one but himself to blame for his being misunderstood.
The bigger picture may be that Escobar suffers from a cognitive disability that, compounded by the obvious language barrier, may be at the heart of his mishaps for as long as he has been with the organization. Even in schools, “problem children” have been mis-diagnosed throughout their 12 year of formal learning. In an adult education program here in Miami, the average foreign student may take anywhere from 1.5 to 2 years to master enough “combat English” to serviceably navigate life in America with a modicum of success.
Perhaps the Braves would be well-served to have Mr. Escobar evaluated so they can get to the heart of his lapses, as well as his failure to obtain the needed English skills to be able to effectively communicate in his present environment. I assure everyone here that his is not a reluctance to assimilate into the salad bowl of American life.
If the Braves fail to do so, we may turn him into that 18 year old dropout – much to our chagrin. (Yes, I have changed my tune on him, DOB. Thanks to Carroll Rogers.)
Oh, maybe Mr. Bradley would be well-served to say that Escobar may be the Cuban Derek Lowe rather than the Cuban Steve Carlton. Carlton would not have sought out Ms. Rogers at the batting cage – for anything.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:11 pm
fleming…………the question with picking up Hudson becomes: Do the Braves want to risk paying him $12 mil (he is scheduled to make $13 mil if the Braves pick up his 2010 option, however he has a $1 mil buyout if the Braves dont exercise it…hence the $12 mil figure)…………and hope that his elbow wont blow out next year or that he wont suffer a set back?
Again, I make reference to the DEBACLE that was called our starting pitching in 2008. Would it be worth the risk to trade Vazquez for prospects (because I just dont see the type of team willing to trade for Vazquez willing to give up an established slugger. That team would rather either trade prospects for a pitcher…….or sign a free agent slugger), knowing that we would be giving up a pitcher who never goes on the disabled list?
After last year, this year’s rotation has been a joy to watch. I look forward to seeing these 5 guys pitch next year. Tommy Hanson will get better with experience. Kawakami will improve as well as he gets more adjusted to pitching at this level.
CB
July 21st, 2009
3:11 pm
fleming, was referring to Paul’s not.
Burdell
July 21st, 2009
3:12 pm
Why do people make it sound so easy that starters like Hudson can EASILY become closers? -Jaglawyer
Hudson’s pitches and velocity seem to match well with a prototypical closer. He also has the confidence and experience. The major hurdle seems to be the different conditioning required to pitch every day, and he has an entire off season and multiple pitching coaches to make that work. It doesn’t seem like that much of a stretch (and most of us remember Smoltz making the move).
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:13 pm
Smooth, soft, and silky
With two long beautiful limbs
Freshly mowed is best
fleming
July 21st, 2009
3:13 pm
CB – fleming, was referring to Paul’s not.
Ok. Didn’t know anybody responded to Paul’s anything
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
3:15 pm
fleming: You said that Hudson is a proven number 1 and Javy wasn’t. Actually Huddy has never really been our number 1 until Smoltz got hurt last year. Javy has produced as our number1 all year and has just been lights out as of late. He has given up 13 earned runs in his last nine starts and is only 3-3 in those starts. If he had been getting any run support he would be in the Cy Young race. He has given up 2 earned runs or less in 11 of his last 13 starts. In that stretch he has 91 strikeouts. He has never gotten taken out of the game before the 6th inning. Only twice has he gotten taken out before the 7th. He has been absolutely nasty for us.
Pete
July 21st, 2009
3:15 pm
ncscoots: “Examples, please. I’m an open-minded guy; change my opinion.”
Im not here to change your opinion. Youve read the same ones I have, so if you disagree, thats fine.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:16 pm
monty…………..another nice posting by you at 3:03pm. Couldnt agree with you more.
By the way, it is obvious that many of these people arent “wiser than that”. If they were, they wouldnt be steadfast in their support for Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur.
I wasnt on this blog when Ryan Langerhans was stinking up the place. But I can only image the number of “oh, Langerhans is a great guy………..he hustles………..he plays good defense……..he has decent speed and can run from first to third on a single” posts that flooded this blog.
Never mind dude couldnt hit his way out of a paper bag, lol. What matter to a number of these so called Braves fans was that they “liked him”.
Pete
July 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
ncscoots: “Examples, please. I’m an open-minded guy; change my opinion.”
Forgot to mention Lentz does display a total lack of logic by living in Pelosi’s district LOL
CB
July 21st, 2009
3:18 pm
fleming,you are wise man.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:18 pm
ncscoots…………you say that you have an “open mind”. Well “Mr. Open minded”, when it comes to BASEBALL RELATED TOPICS………..where do you disagree with me? What do you think that I’ve been “clueless” on?
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
3:20 pm
Actually 3 times my bad. I worded it wrong also. Three times he has gotten taken out in the 6th inning. Other than that he has completed 6 innings every time he has pitched.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:22 pm
Pascual Perez Lives………..your 3:10pm posting brought a very interesting perspective to something that could possibly be hindering Yunel Escobar.
Considering that sometime in the future, the Braves could very well be considering offering Escobar a Brian McCann type contract…….it would be prudent for the Braves to have Escobar checked out and offer him as much help as they can with him learning English.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
3:22 pm
If it’s never contained coke, how is it a coke bottle?
You can write Coke all over it, but if it’s never bottled Coke, it ain’t a Coke bottle.
I’ve spoken my mind. Carry on.
Supes
July 21st, 2009
3:22 pm
OK, Tim Hudson is NOT a closer. Yes he has nasty stuff, but this isn’t John Smoltz 2.0 Huddy wants to be a starter and is going to be a starter on the 2010 rotation.
The other deal…Javy Vazquez will not be dealt for anything short than prospects. Preferrably an infield prospect (SS or 3B) and a high end pitching prospect. Braves CAN take on a limited payroll for next year, nothing flashy.
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
3:23 pm
Fleming: Actually I’m not sure if many people read your stuff since you rarely speak of the Braves. I actually do read a lot of Paul’s posts because he puts his point of view into things about the Braves and sometimes has good points. He does repeat a lot and uses some pretty odd styles but it’s better than reading a bunch of one liners that have nothing to do with the Braves or are completely wrong. I agree with Paul and disagree but at least he talks about the Braves and puts some time into his posts about issues with the BRAVES.
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
3:24 pm
Shamus–
Very insightful post at 3:22.
Very true, too.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
3:25 pm
The Bird and Indian –
Actually Hudson was a #1 with Oakland and a close #2 in Atl actually pitching the first game of the season. Vazquez has no doubt been very good this year and close to Jurrjens for #1 but previously only a #3 or worse.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:28 pm
Burdell……………totally agree with your 3:12pm posting comparing Hudson’s pitching abilities matching up well with a potential closing role. He has the similar make up to John Smoltz in regards to this.
And it would only be for this year. Something that many of you forget is that while the Braves were HOPING that Hudson was going to come back in mid-August………they didnt not PLAN on Hudson coming back. Now if we had a glaring need in the rotation, then I would be all for inserting him in back in the rotation upon his return. However, we have a GLARING need to add another arm to help out Soriano and Gonzalez finish up ballgames. That is where Hudson is needed MORE.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
3:29 pm
Thank you very much, McFann….
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
3:29 pm
Hudson was rarely number 1 for Oakland. Zito was number 1 when Hudson was there I’m pretty sure. Javy has been number 1 this year. He’s been more effective than JJ. Javy was was number 2 for Chicago behind Mark.
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
3:30 pm
Shamus: Your posts are extremely entertaining to read.
Chris from the Rock
July 21st, 2009
3:30 pm
What’s up with the Jon Miller haters in here? I think he’s up there with Vin Scully and David Niehaus (Seattle) amongst the best play-by-play guys in the game. Harry Kalas was up there too, and I hate to admit that I like John Sterling, even if he’s too over the top and calls for the Yankees now.
Pascual Perez Lives
July 21st, 2009
3:30 pm
Thank you, Paul.
Jaglawyer
July 21st, 2009
3:30 pm
Hudson was clearly the #1 in Oakland, Mark Mulder was #2 and Barry Zito was #3.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
3:31 pm
The Bird and Indian – Fleming: Actually I’m not sure if many people read your stuff since you rarely speak of the Braves.
If you mean I don’t rant on and on about impossible trades, Bobby is a donkey, lineups, and otherwise then you are correct. In fact I rarely post just read until I get tired of all the Brave bashing that goes on in this blog.
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
3:31 pm
Shamus–
You’re welcome!
TampaBrave
July 21st, 2009
3:31 pm
Paul
Bad comparison KJ is not relatively comparable to Ryan Howard. Try again. Plus KJ is not that great a hitter. I know everyone is gaga over him because they assume he can hit consistantly like he does in those little streaks he goes in to, but that is not reality. He is not a consistent bathead on the ball guy. Those trying to give him defensive credibility are seeing what they want to see. As for speed, running speed is different from base-stealing speed and he doesn’t have anywhere near the speed required to be a moderately good percentage base thief. Sorry, dem are the facts as impartial obseervers see them.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
3:32 pm
Pete………..now Pete, what does me living in San Francisco have anything to do with my take on the Braves, lol. I promised Heath from Cleveland that I would try to refrain from deviating from talking about non-baseball related topics, lol.
Given that you have posted a few good things about my postings………..I’ll not bite on the “living in Pelosi’s district” thing……for now, lol.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
3:32 pm
That cow ain’t a cow unless I see some milk too!
Dusty Rhodes (NY Giants) Lives
July 21st, 2009
3:33 pm
Shamus, yer observations are on target. Are you having a couple of nice afternoon “drinks”, Sir?
Enjoy.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
3:34 pm
TYVM Bird and Indian…
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
3:34 pm
Chris–
Jon Miller is just the king of the obvious. I mean, the other day he told us, among other no-duh things, that Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s HR record!
And all three of them kept going on and on about the Mets’ injuries…OMGosh…
But, I just remembered about Joe Buck…I think he might annoy me the most.
fastasballs
July 21st, 2009
3:36 pm
I’m all for keeping this pitching staff for next season. I’m not sure what to do about Huddy, I really don’t. As some has said he rehab stint & the rest of the season will go a long way in determining what to do with him.
If the Braves keep the current 5 starters going into next season I’ll be happy. If Hudson looks great & they opt to deal Vazquez over the winter I’ll be happy provided they get a bounty for him in return. I just don’t want to relive poor starting pitching anymore. No offense can overcome poor pitching for an entire season, just doesn’t happen.
The bigger question becomes what to do with Soriano & Gonzalez? Soriano would be everyones choice to keep as the closer, but he’s going to command some big money. Gonzalez will as well if he’s healthy. We do have some good arms coming through the system, but none will be ready to assume the closer role.
The Braves will have to either add to payroll or make some more tough decisions in the offseason.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
3:36 pm
The Bird and Indian – Javy has been number 1 this year. He’s been more effective than JJ.
Why, because he has more strikeouts? JJ has a better ERA and better record although strikeouts, ERA and record isn’t always the best indicator. I would call them equal mostly.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
3:36 pm
Dusty, that, and standing too close to burning shrubbery…
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
3:37 pm
Why would the Braves scouts be at a White Sox game?