Braves in thick of wild-card race
If the Braves lose tonight, or get shut out by Tim Lincecum tomorrow, you can rest assured that it will elicit the familiar refrains from that certain segment of our blogulace (blog populace, get it?).
They will groan, “Season’s over.” “Time to sell.” “Fire Pendleton.” “Fire Bobby.” “This team would have to play 20 games over .500 the rest of the way,” and blah blah blah.
It’s entirely, utterly predictable.
And a bit silly, for the time being. Because while the Braves looked to be a fairly hopeless case a month or so ago, things have changed, folks. Most observers see that. But if you can’t or just won’t acknowledge it, well, that’s fine. But it’s kind of silly.
Escobar
Fact is, the Braves have a 13-6 record since June 28, better than any other NL team except the one that’s in front of them in the NL East. The Phillies are 14-4 in that same stretch, riding a nine-game winning streak, and playing now like the team that won the World Series.
It’s going to be very difficult for the Braves to catch them, barring major injuries in Philly. And if they Phils get Roy Halladay? Well, that would make it even more unlikely the Braves or anyone else could catch them in the division.
But the wild card? Entirely winnable. The Braves are four games behind wild-car leader Colorado, after beating the Giants last night to drop S.F. out of the wild-card lead.
The Braves, who have won eight of their past 11 games and four of five since the All-Star break, are tied with Milwaukee and Houston for fourth in the current wild-card standings, 3-1/2 games behind the Giants and three behind the Cubs.
After going 8-15 while scoring fewer than 3-1/2 runs per game from June 3 to June 27, the Braves have averaged more than 5.3 runs per game in the past 19 games, while getting even better pitching than the mostly solid work they had continued to get during that 23-game skid.
The lineup no longer appears dysfunctional. The clubhouse is no longer morgue-like. Quite the opposite, actually.
Brian McCann said at the All-Star break how excited he was to get the second-half started, because he had seen a different attitude around the team since the end of June. The Braves were finally close to healthy, and he had noticed how many good at-bats guys were putting up in the past few weeks.
• Since June 28, the Giants are 11-8 with a sparkling 2.88 ERA that’s offset by a poor offense that’s hit .257 in that stretch.
• Since June 28, the Rockies are 12-7, including a split with the Braves in the series before the break, when the Braves gave them a couple of games with late-innings meltdowns when Gonzalez was hurt and Soriano unavailable (for one game).
The Rockies have hit .246 in that 19-game stretch, with a 3.30 ERA and 4.7 runs scored per game, on average.
• The Cubs are 12-8 since June 28, including a series loss to the Braves in Chicago. They have a 3.38 ERA and 21 homers during that stretch, but while hitting just .258 and averaging 3.9 runs per game.
• As for the Braves, since June 28 they have hit .293, posted a 3.27 ERA, and cranked out 21 homers — where was that for nearly three months? — and averaged nearly 5.4 runs per game.
The addition of Martin Prado to the lineup since June 30 has provided a spark in the 2-hole. Yunel Escobar is raking in the 6-hole. Ryan Church isn’t the outs machine that Jeff Francoeur was, and a solid platoon guy with Matt Diaz in LF.
And the Braves are a far better team with Nate McLouth in CF and atop the order.
Going to get another bat on the trade market doesn’t seem quite a urgent a need as it did a few weeks ago, and certainly not if if means having to blow a hole in the superb rotation to do it.
♣ July turnaround: The Braves lead the NL in average (.296) OBP (.368), slugging (.477) and runs (95) in July. The Phillies have scored 94 runs this month, while no other NL team has scored more than 82.
Quite a dramatic turnaround for the Braves from June, when they hit .247 with a .309 OBP and .378 slugging percentage, and scored more runs than only the Nationals, Cubs and Padres.
They’ve only played 17 July games, and have already scored two more runs than they did in June.
Lead the way have been NL Player of the Week Escobar, who’s hit .405 with eight extra-base hits, 13 RBI and a 1.214 OPS in 15 July games, and Matt Diaz, batting .405 with six extra-base hits, eight RBI and a 1.106 OPS in 13 July games.
Prado continues to sizzle, batting .351 with 10 extra-base hits and a .936 OPS in 17 July games. Casey Kotchman has hit .349 with a .984 OPS in July, and 29-year-old rookie Brooks Conrad’s hit .344 with two triples, two homers, eight RBI and a 1.070 OPS in 14 July games.
Yes, when Brooks Conrad’s posting a 1.000-plus OPS for more than half a month, you could say hitting’s contagious.
Notice no mention of McCann and Chipper Jones as team hitting leaders in July. That’s great news for the Braves, who for the first 2-1/2 months of the season looked completely inept in games when either Chipper or McCann didn’t carry them.
Chipper’s got a .306 average and is tied with Escobar for the team lead with 13 July RBI, while McCann’s hit .281 with 11 RBI and mere .716 OPS in July.
If the Braves can do what they’re doing with Chipper or McCann carrying the offense, it only boosts the confidence of the rest of the lineup. They know they’ve got the goods now to compete without having to depend on the pitching staff holding the other team to two or fewer runs.
♣ Escobar keeps going: He got the NL Player of the Week award, but Escobar’s been hot for a lot longer than a week.
Dude has hit .319 with 26 extra-base hits (eight homers), 47 RBI and an .872 OPS in 65 games since April 25, and he’s blazed at a .396 clip with 16 RBI and a 1.170 OPS in his pas 17 games.
And no wonder Turner Field fans stand by him: During that latter stretch, he’s hit .481 (13-for-27) with 10 extra-base hits, 12 RBI and a .533 OBP and .889 slugging percentage in nine home games.
♥ Etc. - Chipper has 419 homers and is seven from tying Hall of Famer Billy Williams for 40th on the all-time list…. Kotchman has played in 147 consecutive errorless games (1,308 total defensive chances)… Braves game Aug. 2 vs. the Dodgers was moved to 8:05 p.m. for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
♣ OK, gotta get downstairs. Here’s a great cut from the new Wilco (the album) which is, for me, their best album since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Oh, and in case you missed my rec the other night: go see The Hurt Locker. Probably the best movie I’ve seen this year, and one of the best three or four war movies I’ve seen in a quarter-century.
“BULL BLACK NOVA” by Wilco (Jeff Tweedy)
It’s in my hair
It’s on my clothes
It’s in the river, over the road
It’s shining down my angry star
Hanging off the hood of my car
We’re not going far
Not going far
It’s coming down,
They’re coming up the shoulders
What have they found
I wonder if they’d know
I’m in a bull black Chevy nova
Silhouetted by the setting sun
This can’t be undone
This can’t be undone
If I am the one
Blood on the sofa
Blood in the sink
Blood in the trunk
High at the wheel of a bull black nova
And I’m sorry as a setting sun
This can’t be undone
This can’t be outrun
It’s in my hair
There’s blood in the sink
I can’t calm down, I can’t think
I keep calling
There’s blood in the trunk
I can’t calm down
I freak out
Oh black out
2,171 comments Add your comment
Chucktown Brave
July 21st, 2009
3:49 pm
Last?
SanFranFan
July 21st, 2009
3:52 pm
1st!!!!
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
July 21st, 2009
3:52 pm
Thanks for the new blog, DOB.
Does anyone else think the blog has gotten less interesting since the Braves started winning?
[Ducks]
SanFranFan
July 21st, 2009
3:52 pm
BRAVES WILL LOSE TONIGHT!!!!!
Bob Dole
July 21st, 2009
3:54 pm
ED
Max14
July 21st, 2009
3:54 pm
Hey Chucktown, T-Pain is a heck of alot better than Big Red.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
3:54 pm
Man I’ve been waiting with bated breath for this new blog….AND the game tonight…
But its cool…just popped a gum and now I’m pretty relaxed and have fresh breath.
Go Braves!
Chop Chop
July 21st, 2009
3:55 pm
(I’ll post this again.)
A Mason jar doesn’t have to physically contain a Mason. However, a Mason jar is limited to 33 degrees of separation from Masonic influence.
A Coke bottle is not a Coke bottle unless it has physically contained that wonderful elixir.
Max14
July 21st, 2009
3:56 pm
Anyone hear that Braves had representatives at Chi Sox game last night? Wonder whats up with that.
Chucktown Brave
July 21st, 2009
3:57 pm
Thanks Max14… I started calling him T-Pain when he came up from AAA. I have all my friends calling him that too now. It is catching on.
southern hope
July 21st, 2009
3:58 pm
This is a really good column.
Also, I am more excited about tonight than I should be….the Braves will break your heart…I know because I’ve been a (hot & cold) fan for 10 years. anyway, you might see me and my kids about 6:30 looking for a few scalper tickets in front of the stadium.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
3:59 pm
Following up on a thought from the previous blog: Does it really matter who is the #1, #2, etc, etc on a staff. Sometimes we get a bit hung up on titles.
Excellent blog story Dave. Thanks again to you and Carroll on our behalf.
Nice tidbit on Kotchman’s recent surge. Is it me, or does he seem more comfortable a bit lower in the batting order?
Thrillhouse44
July 21st, 2009
3:59 pm
I hope Chipper lights up Sadowski for number 420.
Efrim
July 21st, 2009
3:59 pm
“Going to get another bat on the trade market doesn’t seem quite a urgent a need as it did a few weeks ago, and certainly not if if means having to blow a hole in the superb rotation to do it.”
Given the amount of innings Soriano, Eric O, Gonzo and Moylan have pitched, I’d rather Wren go after a pen arm that most likely won’t cost as much as a hitter. Braves probably can’t take on any money and it’d be hard to acquire a skilled position player without having to give up something of value in the farm or the major league roster. Not sure who though, but relief pitching is usually a lot easier to obtain this time of year.
Andrew in P-tang
July 21st, 2009
4:00 pm
TRADES: Vazquez may stay in Atlanta
Javier Vazquez | Braves
Javier Vazquez had previously been considered Atlanta’s best trading chip. A rubber-armed pitcher with good strikeout numbers, a solid ERA and a contract that’s not a poison pill, many consider him an ideal deadline pickup.
Maybe the Braves got the message and decided that yeah, Vazquez is pretty valuable. GM Frank Wren implied as much last night, saying, “I don’t think we’ll be selling. I sure hope not. I mean, something drastic would have to happen for us to be selling.”
That said, multiple sources agree that the Braves are still targeting a bat.
Keith Law’s Take
The Braves still need help, and a bat
“My gut reaction is that without a bat, the Braves can’t win this division. The deficit is 8 games in the loss column, behind a clearly superior Phillies team that — if anything — has some upside (e.g., Hamels and Rollins should be better in the second half). That’s a lot to overcome.”
pinkygonzales
July 21st, 2009
4:00 pm
DOB,
The braves had a home game moved to Sunday night right before a West Coast trip by ESPN for the second time in as many years. They were livid about that last year, and would have to be very upset about it again this year. Any word from the players about that yet?
Chief Nocahoma Lives
July 21st, 2009
4:00 pm
Ah-h-h-h, fresh blog.
Go Braves!!!
Mason
July 21st, 2009
4:00 pm
I was born in a jar
CB
July 21st, 2009
4:00 pm
Nova, I like your enthusiasm,you are always ready to play. fleming, nothing wrong with your posts, we need some more positive bloggers around here.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
4:01 pm
Phillies have only allowed more than 3 runs 4 times in the last 14 games……….dudes have been pitching very well lately, which means that their actual winning chain is more relatedto their pitching than to their hitting, which is not normal for them, so id say they will get back to earth as quick as tonight and return to the usual .530 baseball.
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
4:01 pm
I’m not sure who DOB is refering to as the “groaners” on the blog lately. If anything, it’s the same whiners that polute the blog every day so nothing new. Anybody seen “MFin04″? My God, the most negative one here hasn’t been around too much lately… coiencedence? Other than that, it’s been pretty positive.
CharlieAlphaBravo
July 21st, 2009
4:02 pm
Have the Braves inquired about the availability of Arizona’s Mark Reynolds?
If Wren were to acquire Reynolds, he would be a great addition. He’s slugging .544 this year with 25 dingers in what appears to be a break-out season. He’s a right-handed 3B that has played 1B, 2B and OF in his career.
Most importantly, he’s making less than $500K this year and is under contract until 2014. He might be elligible for “super two” status, but would be a bargain even for post-arbitration prices. This way we could push for post-season berth this year without selling out the farm or adding payroll. Chipper could move to first (or Reynolds could play 1B until he’s ready to move), and Kotchman could be packaged with a prospect in the deal.
I don’t know if Reynolds is available, so this all may be moot, but it’s at least an interesting hypothetical…
Then again, sometimes the best move is to not do anything at all…
KnightInATL
July 21st, 2009
4:03 pm
DOB or anyone with concrete knowledge.
Can you clarify whether Tim Hudson’s contract includes a player option or a club option for next year. I was always under the assumption it was a club option until I heard one of the Braves radio announcers (unsure which one) indicate it was a player option.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
4:03 pm
“BRAVES WILL LOSE TONIGHT!!!!!”
Did we already sweep the Giants? wow that was fast………
Mason
July 21st, 2009
4:03 pm
Doc, the same could be said about our hitting, no?
Chris from the Rock
July 21st, 2009
4:03 pm
In regards to the Braves scouting the ChiSox, it’s wishful thinking on my part that they’re looking into acquiring Konerko. But alas, I don’t think our Bravos have the payroll flexibility.
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
4:04 pm
Paul Lentz,
I come on this blog several times a week and notice you posting each time. You must be a wealthy guy. To write all of those short novels, you have a lot of time on your hands
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
4:04 pm
Paul
Well, about being attacked…you have to admit that calling people IDIOTS and MORONS and ADD is not a good way to win over people.
I know…your thinking you’re not here to make friends….but, it sure does help knowing you have more people in your corner and you respect you and your opinions. I remember when I first started coming across your postings, most of them were filled with IDIOT and MORON comments.
After a while, you get a bad rep on here as being just what you are calling the other folks. That’s why you’re being attacked. Some of the things you say, in terms of baseball, are good, strong points. I agree with Francouer being shipped off..I agree with KJ being where he’s at, and I agree with Schafer (sp?) being demoted.
But, when someone else respectfully disagrees with you, you go off like a bomb. Maybe you might want to analyze how you come across on here.
You might be surprised if you have any sense about you…
KennyP
July 21st, 2009
4:05 pm
Great write up today – other than starting it with a bit of a sour feeling. I dont think that the Phils are out of reach either – their pitching wont keep this up and ours has proven it can. i look forward to a fight to the end for the East.
PMC
July 21st, 2009
4:06 pm
With Anderson hitting better, the “extra bat” could be a combination of the platoons in left and right Prado, Infante back and Brooks Conrad.
As usual it’s not one guy with the Braves it’s quite a few. They do have better plate appearances now. They aren’t better than the Philles, but they absolutely can make it closer and make a run at the Wild Card. Why not? Even as currently constructed.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
4:07 pm
CharlieAlphaBravo,
If your clock is ticking, why change the batteries?
Knowitall
July 21st, 2009
4:07 pm
There is no way that the Braves lead the NL in average, OBP, slugging, and runs with Terry Pendleton as their hitting coach!(rolls eyes).
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
4:07 pm
Paul Lentz,
I come on this blog several times a week and notice you posting each time. You must be a wealthy guy. To write all of those short novels, you have a lot of time on your hands AmbulanceChasingLawyer
Well we got no choice
All the girls and boys
Makin all that noise
‘Cause they found new toys
Well we can’t salute ya
Can’t find a flag
If that don’t suit ya
That’s a drag
School’s out for summer
School’s out forever
School’s been blown to pieces
No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher’s dirty looks
Well we got no class
And we got no principles
And we got no innocence
We can’t even think of a word that rhymes
School’s out for summer
School’s out forever
School’s been blown to pieces
No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher’s dirty looks
Out for summer
Out till fall
We might not go back at all
School’s out forever
School’s out for summer
School’s out with fever
School’s out completely
Do those two together give anyone a clue?
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
4:08 pm
Charlie, I’m kinda bouncing around on the idea of moving Kotchman. He’s so good over at 1st and doesn’t get nearly the love he deserves for what he does defensively. But, I still think a Reynolds or Cantu hitting cleanup would really take the offense to a new level. We have a lineup full of guys who don’t K a lot and talk their walks that having one guy who does K a lot but hits HR would work in this lineup right now.
BravoMan
July 21st, 2009
4:08 pm
SanFranFan, Go to a Giant’s blog, this is Bravo Territory
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:09 pm
David O’Brien………….well written article. I love how you talked about the “naysayers” reactions if the Braves were to lose today or get shutout tomorrow by Tim Linecum, lol. That was priceless, lol.
When the Johan Santana beat us on Saturday, sure it was disappointing. However going into that series, I knew that there was a chance that we could lose on Saturday. However, the Braves ended up winning the other 3 games of that series (like we were supposed to). The same thing could happen again this series (however I’m not going to give up on Wednesday’s game, not with Jair Jurrjens pitching and with how well we are hitting the ball).
There is still a lot of baseball to be played. And I’m still not going to give up on the division. The Phillies will eventually fall back down to earth. Even if they acquire Roy Halladay, they are no lock to win the division. They still have to play us 9 more times (6 at our place). If we can keep playing like we are capable of, we can make a race of this. Also, one never knows what role the injury bug will play.
However, I do realize that at the present time, the wild care is more of a better shot. All we have to do is continue to win games and everything else will take care of itself.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
4:10 pm
Are the Braves really in need of an OF anymore? Mixing GA/Diaz/Church for the corner OF spots, based on lefty/righty pitching, seems to be working really well right now.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
4:10 pm
BravoMan
Sounds like we have a Giants Troll here now…
ncscoots
July 21st, 2009
4:11 pm
KnightInATL, I’m sure someone will fill you in on Hudson’s option, but, for future reference, great contract info on everybody at Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Among others.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
4:11 pm
I wouldnt rule out them catching the Phillies. The Phillies won’t win from here on out and pitching wins.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:11 pm
Necromancer………….you disagree with 99.9% of what I have to say? Exactly what do you disagree with………baseball related that is? I’m just curious.
fleming
July 21st, 2009
4:13 pm
CB – fleming, nothing wrong with your posts, we need some more positive bloggers around here.
Thanks CB. I do get tired of all the negative posts. I guess it’s because I played ball long enough to know that ball players can have slumps, bad years, bad at bats etc and they don’t always need to be called out on them. As bad as KJ and others have been at times this year, they still haven’t been as bad as Rollins and look at what he’s doing now because the Phillies stuck with him.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
4:13 pm
Thanks for the new blog DOB.
Blogulace…I like it.
abwright
July 21st, 2009
4:13 pm
Braves are only 1 game behind Chicago in the wild card race.
Braves win and Cubs loss = tied for third in WC, 2.5 out of second
Braves win and Cubs win = 5.5 back in the East, 2.5 out of second in WC
Can’t complain about that. But, Braves need to win.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
4:14 pm
Mason,
Well said, but I would have to disagree with you. Our offense was underachieving. I said in spring training that this team was capable of leading the league in doubles, and thats where we stand right now. I said in spring that all of our players were capable of hitting over .285, that included KJ and JF, they are “gone” now but nevertheless we have a team full of guys that are either hitting above or very near .285. Phillies pitching is having a very good streak, impossible for them to keep up. On the Braves case, we can even get better once Norton is replaced by Infante and KJ replaces Diory. And there is always room for improvement from Chipper and Mc whom are underachieving.
abwright
July 21st, 2009
4:14 pm
Something which seemed to go unmentioned last night…
Braves are back over .500 for the first time in a long time.
Need to win tonight, especially with Lincecum on Wednesday.
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
4:14 pm
I don’t get the Wild Card talk. It seems its easier to win the division then the wild card. You play the Phillies more and don’t have to jump 5 to 10 teams.
I don’t think either of them is easy at all though. The way the Phils are playing it may be impossible to win the division, but to beat out 5 teams is equally as tough.
Luther
July 21st, 2009
4:15 pm
Why has the AJC made the Braves Blog so hard to find in the jumble they call a sports page?
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
4:16 pm
Keylargo
Could be, huh.
Necromancer
Best thing to do is that once a blogger offends you to a point of total frustration, is to TOTALLY, and I mean TOTALLY disregard EVERYTHING he writes. Works well for me. I just roll on through all the noise.
TommyP
I agree that the Phillies are still within reach, although the resurgence of their pitching is annoying. Ask the Cubbies about the Mets in 1969.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
4:16 pm
Paul Lentz
Baseball related stuff is that “one tenth” of what I agree with you on.
It’s the other stuff..like the to over verboseness of your posts and the other thing that I don’t want to mention.
That’ll just be stirring up the ole proverbial hornet’s nest and I don’t want a reprimand from DOB
I’m leaving it alone, dude…
abwright
July 21st, 2009
4:17 pm
Other good news for WC contention…
SF and Colorado will play each other for a few games towards the end the season.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
4:17 pm
Oh yeah..almost forgot…Paul, the way you address some of the other folks….
Not exactly classy…
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
4:18 pm
MFin04,
Braves have pass 4 teams in the WC standings in about 10 days………..maybe they can pass 4 more in the next 2 months, dont you think?
fleming
July 21st, 2009
4:19 pm
Catching the Phillies will be tough but we control our own destiny with them with 9 games to play. Wild Card looks easier but the Rockies scare me. They are playing very good ball now and we have seen from the past in that division they can take off. We may rue that game we gave them before the break.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:19 pm
TnBrian………in reference to your confusion about the “groaners” that David O’Brien was referring to……..you might want to go back to his previous blog and see what the “groaners” were saying when the Braves fell down 2-0 yesterday in the 2nd inning. Or, perhaps you’d want to see what they were saying about Matt Diaz after his first 2 at-bats yesterday. It was comical, to say the least.
Start reading page 8 of yesterday’s blog to see the “groaners” in action concerning Tommy Hanson. Then go to page 13 if you want to read what they had to say about Matt Diaz.
It’s stuff like that that David O’Brien was referring to.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
4:19 pm
MFin04 – I agree, wild card is fun to follow and definitely go after but still in the division race too especially with 9 face to face games against the Phillies left.
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
4:19 pm
Wayne – you think he’s about a Soph?
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
4:19 pm
Wayne in Utah
You sir, I enjoy reading your posts.
I guess with age, comes wisdom, ya know?
AZBravoFan
July 21st, 2009
4:19 pm
CharlieAlphaBravo,
While Reynolds is a nice player, he’s a strikeout machine. I think he broke 200 last year. Not sure I have the stomach for another player like that. He would have to play first where I think he’s nowhere near as good as Kotchman with the glove. If Casey plays error-free ball and hits in the .280’s I’m cool with that. With Yunel’s rocket arm and Chipper’s erratic play in the field, I think we need the best defense possible at 1B.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
4:20 pm
You can write Coke all over it, but if it’s never bottled Coke, it ain’t a Coke bottle.
Shamus, I had no idea you were a fan of Rene Magritte’s work. This is not a pipe is your favorite, right?
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
4:20 pm
Yeah we really need another win tonight…
Seems like a lot of us have been saying that for the past month…but it true…we lost our way into this situation…Now we have to win our way out of it!
Let’s sweep these Mo Fo’s….
And oh yeah….I CONTINUE TO SMELL MOMENTUM
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
4:21 pm
SanFranFan
Back for more punishment? How did that back-to-back no hit bid by Sanchez go last night?
Man, your bullpen sure looked good last night.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
4:21 pm
fleming and CB
You know, I can handle some negativity, but when things weren’t going to well, it was total idiocy on here at times. Like a few years ago with Chris Woodward. He was having a horrible year, and was being attacked personally constantly. We need to remember that these guys are regular folks like most of us.
As one of you stated, take KJ and Norton for instance. Those guys have been pretty good players in the past. They are just having a tough run. No need to castigate them for it. Besides, both of these two guys went down (or up) to Gwinnett to work things out. No huge ego’s there.
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
4:21 pm
4 teams in 2 months or
1 team in 2 months that you play how many more times?
Seems to me the odds of passing one team are better than passing 4 especially if two of those teams are in the same division and help keep each other at the top of the WC Standings.
Jason
July 21st, 2009
4:21 pm
What are the chances of Atlanta signing Halliday? Frank Wren has ben known to drastic things right when we are in the heat of trying to make it to the post season. Its a place he is not use to being…:)
chc4
July 21st, 2009
4:22 pm
Mark Reynolds also has 125 strikeouts in 340 ABs. That’s horrific!
abwright
July 21st, 2009
4:22 pm
Braves second half game plan …
Step one: Get back to .500 (check)
Step two: Get into second place in the East (check)
Step three: Get into second place in the WC race
Step four: Get into first place in the WC race
Step five: Get into first place in the division
Why worry about the WC? It’s a step on the road to the eventual goal and makes for more interesting conversation than, “We won. Phillies won. Nothing’s changed.”
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
4:23 pm
LOL Roman Gal
raindawg722
July 21st, 2009
4:23 pm
Maybe I’m the only one but I think that the Braves have a better chance to win the division than the wild card. The Rockies, Brewers, Cubs, Giants are all strong. And the Cardinals are in the mix if the Cubs or the Brewers catch them in the central. There’s just too many team good teams there and the Braves are not going to go head to head against them so it will be difficult to make up ground.
On the other hand, the Phillies’ pitching is still just as bad as their lineup is good. Hamels has not been the same pitcher this year since he pitched all those innings last year. JA Happ has pitched pretty well but he’ll be approaching his career high for innings pitched in a couple more starts. Blanton is decent. Anyone else that they’re running out there would not even be the fifth starter on the Braves staff right now. Honestly, if the Braves played the Phillies for every game for the rest of the season, the starting pitching match up would favor the Braves almost every time.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:24 pm
Necromancer…………..I was attacked FIRST for my positions supporting the moves Frank Wren made. I over responded back by attacking with the name calling. I should have been the bigger man. But I wasnt and I had to deal with the repercussions of it.
I’ve refrained from the name calling today and there are those who still cant let it go. Oh well. I’ve noticed a few bloggers actually defend me today. In hindsight, I should have waited for that to happen awhile back, when the initial attacks were going on.
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
4:24 pm
Why has the AJC made the Braves Blog so hard to find in the jumble they call a sports page?
Good question.
Who ever designed the Braves’ page didn’t put too much thought into making the page user-friendly. If they actually were trying to make it easier/more visually appealing for AJC readers, then they did a pi$s-poor job.
Hopefully, more changes are on the way. The lay out is annoying.
CB
July 21st, 2009
4:25 pm
I think 88 wins will get us a wild card- what do you think?
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
4:25 pm
No need to castigate them for it. Wayne in Utah
Eww…..ouch…that would kinda hurt, wouldn’t it??? :O
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
4:25 pm
MFin04 -
The Braves 7-2 against the Phillies this year and are STILL 6.5 games back. They can pass them, but the way the Phillies are playing right now, it doesn’t appear likely. The Wild Card teams are far more flawed than the Phillies and the Braves are closer to the WC lead…
KnightInATL
July 21st, 2009
4:25 pm
nscoots- Thanks, I’m aware of Cot’s site–he does a phenomenal job keeping up with contracts. I’ve just heard differences in Hudson’s deal and wanted to get some concrete clarification. Thanks for the knowledge though.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
4:25 pm
keylargo
Soph. That would be my guess.
Necromancer
And while we might disagree on ocassion, I also enjoy your posts. (though I can’t remember what I disagreed on to be honest w/ you)
I have CRS disease.
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
4:26 pm
7 Teams in the Wild Card race currently, possibly 9 total.
I say the Braves worry about the Phils and try and make up ground there.
Jason
July 21st, 2009
4:27 pm
Is Aaron Rowand going to put a band aid on his sore elbow and play tonight? Ole Tommy Hanson plunked him pretty good last night..
TexasBrave
July 21st, 2009
4:27 pm
Wayne KJ and Norton’s are rehab assignments where Frenchy was a demotion. Perhaps the Braves could have saved face by making up some type of injury for Jeff and then it wouldn’t have been so obvious that he was being demoted like KJ and Norton.
monty
July 21st, 2009
4:28 pm
We will chase down the Phillies, Baby steps 1st! I really don’t think this is just a wave we’re on right now. I believe we have turned a corner and are a much improved team. Once a team really starts to believe in themselves the sky is the limit! Step 1. Keep playing great ball. The Phillies pitching has to or should start to moderate again soon. Step 2. Stay close, even just moving up one game a week is fine for now. Step 3. Keep dominating Philly when we play them. They will get the message, “there’s a new sheriff in town.” Step 4. keep winning,Phillies thinking, “hey these guys aren’t going away!” Step 5. By the end of August we’re maybe 1 to 2 out! Fans are now going ga-ga at the games! It ought to be like the early 90’s again in Atlanta. I still get teary eyed and have goose bumps when I see Sid Bream sliding home and JUstice falling on him, but something I had never focused on before that I saw the other night when they showed it again was the fans in the stands went crazy!! I want to go crazy like that again! Step 6. Pull out the division the last weekend of the year! Step 7. Take it ALL!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
4:28 pm
Dayn Perry of Fox Sports.com (who I think is a douche and his coverage against Altanta 95 % of the time is even douchier)
Says we may be able to get Matt Holliday and an ever dropping price…that’s if Liberty allows us to add the payroll…
I don’t usually speculate the trade scenario…I just don’t know what the hell Frank Wren is going to do…
Like I have no idea…and with Hudson coming back…It very very interesting…
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:28 pm
Necromancer……….as I said earlier today, I promised “Heath from Cleveland” that I would try to refrain from the name calling and talking about non baseball stuff. Today I have not engaged in any name calling or personal attacks. I have limited my postings to strictly Braves related stuff.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
4:28 pm
Wayne in Utah
You’re funny!
Paul Lentz
At least you’re admitting some things….that’s saying something…
Tennbravefan
July 21st, 2009
4:29 pm
I mentioned this near the end of the old blog but ESPN’s insider has a headline of Braves in search of big bat. Does anyone know what the article actually says?
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
4:29 pm
we need some more positive bloggers around here.
Then who would we make fun of?
Chuck
July 21st, 2009
4:29 pm
What is the thought on Kelly Johnson after his AAA time is up? Do the Braves keep him with the club, release Norton, send Diory down, send Kelly down? The possibilities seem endless. Diory is their back-up shortstop – who else can play there? But he sure hasn’t hit much. Norton thought he might get released earlier and is a good bit older than Kelly. Infante is coming back sometime soon. Prado can play first also. Noticed Kelly had 7 RBIs yesterday – making the decision difficult. Would be interested in the discussion!
CB
July 21st, 2009
4:29 pm
Wayne,don’t feel bad- I have old coot’s disease.
KnightInATL
July 21st, 2009
4:30 pm
CB- The average wins by a WC winner over the last 5 years is 90. And in 4 of the past 5 seasons, 90 wins won the WC by the slimmest of margins (1 game).
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
4:30 pm
What is the minimum we could send to Oakland to pick up Matt Holliday? (I think that his price should have dropped appreciably)
It is possible that he could go into a contract push for the last couple of months of the season. (it is also as possible that he won’t, hence the lower valuation)
And as to Mark Reynolds. What kind of defense does he play at first, third and the outfield?
Noah
July 21st, 2009
4:30 pm
Wild Card is nothing new, been around for quite a while now. Teams may make moves they wouldn’t otherwise but you compete for division and if you do well you’ll be in the wildcard race…it sure is fun to watch both races though. Teams have come from much further then 6 games back…see 1995 Mariners coming from 13 games back in August or several other teams.
ncscoots
July 21st, 2009
4:31 pm
KnightInATL, I see no one gave you any scoop on it, as I thought would happen, LOL. Did yo get the info you wanted?
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
4:31 pm
CB and Wayne
I’m sure y’all heard the rules of being 50, haven’t you?
I can’t post the list due to vulgarity, but it’s pretty funny!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
4:32 pm
MFin04 -
Hey, I’m not saying the Braves shouldn’t continue to try to win the East, but the more realistic view from a fan’s point of view is the WC based on how close they are to that goal already.
Jason
July 21st, 2009
4:32 pm
Holliday is old news too me..he hit 2 dingers last night and thats the first I have heard of him.
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
4:33 pm
4 teams in 2 months or
1 team in 2 months that you play how many more times?
Seems to me the odds of passing one team are better than passing 4 especially if two of those teams are in the same division and help keep each other at the top of the WC Standings.
Who cares. It doesn’t really matter as long as the Braves win most nights. If they can win on average 2 out of every 3 games the rest of the way, then they will be a factor at the end of the season (be it in the division or the WC). That might not be enough to get into the post-season, but they will be competitive, which is a vast improvement over a first-half Braves team that was pretty boring to watch most nights.
However, I’m still only cautiously optimistic about this team. They have shown improvement before only to slide back into mediocrity. Ultimately, if the lineup continues to grind out good ABs, and the starters eat up quality innings – this team has a legit shot.
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
4:33 pm
http://www.coolstandings.com/baseball_standings.asp?i=1
Braves have a 17% chance of winning the division. 6% chance of winning the wild card.
You wild card people keep dreaming
ncscoots
July 21st, 2009
4:33 pm
Dayn Perry of Fox Sports.com (who I think is a douche and his coverage against Altanta 95 % of the time is even douchier)
Where’s BASteve? We have a new member of the club, Nova Scotia Steve, LOL.
Dayn Perry…was, is now, and forever shall be.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
4:33 pm
I wouldnt count on Hudson, he is a bonus if he helps this year.
Who do you get rid of in the OF if you add a Holiday. I hate to see Diaz or Church go unless its part of a trade that makes good sense
CharlieAlphaBravo
July 21st, 2009
4:33 pm
Doc:
You’re right, but the lineup could still use a little more power, I think. Maybe that’s a move for the offseason, but the FA market doesn’t look too overwhelming… I think it would come down to the negotiations, and what Arizona was asking in return. They’re struggling at 1B, so Kotchman may have descent value.
Either way, I don’t mind leaving it up to Wren and company. He’s cerainly done little to make me think he would get hornswoggled in the deal. He’s a regular J. Paul Getty! Bully!
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
4:34 pm
Roman Gal
I am always a willing target, oft times opening myself up for a myriad of attacks. Let the sticks and stones fly!
(ps there will always be a dufus or two around to punch at!)
CharlieAlphaBravo
July 21st, 2009
4:34 pm
I’d like to apologize for the end of that last post. I don’t know what in the name of Furman Bisher’s ghost got into me.
Space Monkey
July 21st, 2009
4:35 pm
All we had to do was get rid of two rally killers in our lineup. Now our offense is potent.
Base
July 21st, 2009
4:35 pm
Give me a break,the Braves won’t be their at the end. The Braves have no regular hitting.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:35 pm
chc4………..I’m not saying that Mark Reynolds is the answer. However, I could live with his 125 strikeouts in 347 at-bats…….because he also has 17 doubles, 25 home runs, 63 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and 46 walks to go along with those 125 strikeouts.
Just like I could live with Adam Dunn’s 105 strikeouts in 321 at-bats……….because he also has 17 doubles, 24 homers, 64 RBIs, and 73 walks to go along with his 105 strikeouts.
Just like when I said that I can tolerate Garret Anderson’s lack of defensive prowess in left field because he rakes at the plate……..I could certainly come learn to live with Reynold’s or Dunn’s proclivity to strike out a lot because of all that DAMN POWER they bring to the plate when they do connect, lol.
Skeezix
July 21st, 2009
4:36 pm
Post season is a long shot, but it has been fun to finally see offense and the great pitching we’ve had all season get run support. I hope we can keep it up, but I doubt we have enough to catch the Phils. It looks like the Mets, with all their injuries, may fall so far back they can’t catch up–so second in the division is now a real possibility. The WC race is tough with so many good teams to climb over; but we can always hope that the Bravos continue to score runs, then it may get exciting come Sept.
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
4:36 pm
Regarding Hudson and Vazquez -
This is a tidbit from Bowman’s blog yesterday:
But it doesn’t appear that they [Braves] will have the financial resources that would allow them to keep both Vazquez and Tim Hudson around for the 2010 season.
Hillbilly
July 21st, 2009
4:36 pm
I never have understood any of this “Braves should worry about the wildcard” or “Braves should worry about the division” talk. You worry about winning tonight, and let the rest of the league sort itself out. Scoreboard watching is fine, but how do you “concentrate” on winning one playoff spot over the other?
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
4:37 pm
I am always a willing target, oft times opening myself up for a myriad of attacks. Wayne
I’ll keep that in mind. Off days usually get a little too sane around here…
CB
July 21st, 2009
4:37 pm
KnightinATL, THINK 43-26.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:37 pm
Heath (Cleveland)…….be patient. The Phillies will fall back down to earth. Trust me. I’ve been right about a lot of things when it comes to the Braves this year……..right, lol?
KnightInATL
July 21st, 2009
4:38 pm
Tennbravefan- Just generic info referencing an AJC article saying we won’t be dealing Vazquez. And referencing Schultz’s article which quotes Wren saying we won’t be sellers. It then goes on to say multiple sources indicate we are still targeting a bat.
FWIW, Keith Law said without adding a bat we can’t win the division.
Greg O
July 21st, 2009
4:38 pm
Here’s a thought that I believe in and you’re likely to hear from the Braves’ players and coaches, as cliche as it may sound. Instead of worrying about whether they’re going after the wild card or the division, let’s worry about the game at hand and the opponent on the field that night. It doesn’t mean anything to be chasing one playoff spot or another if you don’t beat that day’s opponent. Instead of worrying about which spot they’re fighting for, the Braves should be worrying about getting the bunt down (which they’ve been awful at) and putting the ball in play when the hit-and-run is on. It’ll be the little things like fundamental execution that decide whether the Braves make a move on a playoff berth.
Let's Go Bravos!
July 21st, 2009
4:38 pm
I really feel that the Braves will win the East! The Phillies will start losing soon and fizzle out maybe to the wildcard position. The Bravos have far superior pitching and the bats have began to get some pop in them! I’m looking forward to watching them compete for the rest of the season!! (this is much different from my post from about a month ago, when I was so frustrated at watching them play) They have finally realized their potential!!
Noah
July 21st, 2009
4:39 pm
Think about the positive changes since the start of the year:
New CF: McClouth
New RF: Diaz/Church
New 2B: Prado (and Infante before that)
New Starter: Hanson.
All of these guys have been productive replacing guys who were very unproductive. Not bad for one season, no wonder things are looking up
braves fan in las vegas
July 21st, 2009
4:39 pm
we have 3 more with the giants and then a 3 game set with the brewers right after that. if we can manage to take 4 out of 6 then we are going to be fine. we have the most games out of any NL team within their own division. We have played the phillies extremely tough this year currently 7-2 against them and should be 8-1. no reason to believe we can’t take 6 out of 9 against them the rest of the way. there seems to be a fire in this team again which is good. and it all seems to start with the Mclouth trade. That with finally moving KJ out of the lineup and trading Frenchy has made this a solid line up.
Imagine what could happen if Chipper and Bmac go on a 7 game tear like they are prone to do. we could easily take 8 of 10 and gain some ground.
monty
July 21st, 2009
4:40 pm
The team has a certain chemistry right now. Not sure I would go busting things up just yet. I love Kotchman’s defense and he has starting hitting, now. He saves at least 1 run a game with his defense IMHO.
RHR
July 21st, 2009
4:40 pm
Braves in thick of wild-card race
Huh. Probably not anymore …
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
4:40 pm
Numbers don’t always tell the whole story…
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
4:40 pm
Greg O – You forgot Sacrifice Flies
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
4:41 pm
Give me a break,the Braves won’t be their at the end. The Braves have no regular hitting.
They’re hitting at the moment, and that sure makes for more entertaining baseball than the first-half team was on most nights. If nothing else, this team looks competitive. As a fan of the Atlanta Braves, its nice to think that this team at least has a shot – even if the shot is quite long.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
4:42 pm
DOB-
I like how you added this little snippet to please RHR…
The Phillies are 14-4 in that same stretch, riding a nine-game winning streak, and playing now like the team that won the World Series.
Texas Nick
July 21st, 2009
4:42 pm
Would anyone do a Medlen, Shafer and Kimbrel for Holliday and a 6yr/78mil extension with Oakland picking up half of his salary this year?
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
4:42 pm
Heath numbers do tell the story most of the time when used with caution.
Braves are 3x’s more likely to win the division than the wild card. There are too many teams with too many possibilities for the the Wild Card to be an easy get.
tvsportscaster
July 21st, 2009
4:43 pm
knightinatl. To answer your question about Hudson’s option for next year I’m pretty sure it’s a mutual option.
CharlieAlphaBravo
July 21st, 2009
4:43 pm
AZBravoFan:
I think you convinced me. 200 Ks is a lot, and that would make it difficult to stick him in the middle of the lineup where that power is needed. He’ll probably improve in that area, but he also might end up like Francoeur. Ks are a lot more tolerable when you’re producing in other at-bats….
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
4:43 pm
ugh I think the blog ate my post.
I’ll wait to make sure before I attempt to re-post.
Frustrated Braves Fan
July 21st, 2009
4:43 pm
Hey DOB — Bradley wrote a column on how he’s going to find out if Escobar is a nuisance in the club house or not. Can you start a new blog just about Escobar and how good he really is and how the media is blowing the “Escobar topic” way out of proportion
Noah
July 21st, 2009
4:44 pm
Agree on Kotchman. I’ll take him as a #8 hitter with great defense anyday. Can’t underestimate the value of defense.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:44 pm
Heath (Cleveland)………….if the Braves can play the rest of the season the way we’ve been playing the past few weeks, the play-offs will be there for us. A lot of baseball still left to be played. Us winning will put pressure on the teams ahead of us to win. Injuries play a factor. Plus……the Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs, and Astros all have to play each other. Chances are, they will all beat up on each other………..with one left winning the division.
If that happens, then that leaves the Giants and Rockies. They still have to play each other, along with the Dodgers a number of times as well.
Again, if we can continue to win like we are capable of………all we need to be focused on are the Philies. We either win the division………or……..we will get the wild card because we will be the last team standing among the wild card contenders.
wjones
July 21st, 2009
4:44 pm
“I mentioned this near the end of the old blog but ESPN’s insider has a headline of Braves in search of big bat. Does anyone know what the article actually says?”
We don’t need a big bat, unless Garrett Anderson broke his. He uses, I believe, a 35 oz, 36 inch bat (or is it the other way around?). That’s plenty big enough without having to go look for a bigger one.
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
4:45 pm
Salamander – Agreed, at least this team is now watchable. By my count the 3 or 4 tvs have been broken on this blog due to the Braves offense being soo darn terrible this year.
The last 30 games or so the Braves offense has finally caught up to its pitching and this team is finally fun to watch!
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
4:45 pm
MFin04 Salamander makes a lot of sense. You just go about playing every night. Don’t pay too much attention to the standings. Besides, the percentages will change as your record improves (or doesn’t improve). At the end of the year, you take what you get.
Necromancer
I know well and definitely live by the 3 rules.
CLE
July 21st, 2009
4:45 pm
Hm, anyone notice there are a lot of Steves on this blog?
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
4:46 pm
Would anyone do a Medlen, Shafer and Kimbrel for Holliday and a 6yr/78mil extension with Oakland picking up half of his salary this year?
Why everybody gotta go includin’ Schafer in every trade proposal, huh?
Richie
July 21st, 2009
4:46 pm
**Max14**
I believe we could be looking at another reliever possibly. I don’t see us going after Dye, they aren’t giving up Quentin and I think Konerko production doesnt match salary, for what they’d the Braves to give up.
wjones
July 21st, 2009
4:47 pm
“Agree on Kotchman. I’ll take him as a #8 hitter with great defense anyday. Can’t underestimate the value of defense.”
He also has a 12-game hitting streak, all the while bloggers left & right are complaining about what a weak bat he is. I don’t think some of them are actually watching the games.
CharlieAlphaBravo
July 21st, 2009
4:47 pm
wjones:
I believe they said he uses that big bat in BP, not in the actual game.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
4:47 pm
Anyone still want Garrett Anderson out of town so we can play the youngsters in AA?
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
4:47 pm
Huh. Probably not anymore …
Shoot…I forgot about the DOB curse.
Ballgame!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
4:48 pm
To get to 90 wins:
-Phi must go 38-34 the rest of the way…very easy for them.
-Atl must go 43-26 the rest of the way…not so easy.
Granted 90 wins is a relatively arbitrary number that I have thrown out there, but division winners ofter hit that 90-win plateau. The Phillies, as much as I hate to say it, are probably going to be a few wins about that even, so, yeah, despite the current “odds” out there fore book-makers, I think the Braves have a better shot at the WC.
Just for giggles, the Rockies (current WC leader) have to go 39-30 to get to 90 wins for the season.
Richie
July 21st, 2009
4:48 pm
Roman Gal
Probably because he is the odd man out. The acquisition of McClouth and Heyward’s rise kind of makes him available/expendable. I guess
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
4:48 pm
Noah……………good defense from Kotchman while having him bat 8th can be ok if the other guys in the batting order are picking up the slack.
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
4:48 pm
Would anyone do a Medlen, Shafer and Kimbrel for Holliday and a 6yr/78mil extension with Oakland picking up half of his salary this year?
I wouldn’t.
Efrim
July 21st, 2009
4:49 pm
Roman Gal, I agree. Why sell low on Schafer? How about we see some healthy big league months from the kid in the ATL outfield?
I saw this article from MLBTR: http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/NickPiecoro/58200
“Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the D’Backs didn’t want to offer Felipe Lopez arbiration in the offseason because he might have accepted. He would have been in line for a $5-6MM salary so the Brewers chose two mediocre prospects instead of offering Lopez arbitration.”
Sure hope the Braves offer Gonzo and Soriano arb. Little concerned about that, to be honest with you. 6.1 million for Soriano and 3.4 million for Gonzo this year. Not sure what their 2010 contract will be, but they will both be in line for a nice raises IF they were to accept arb.
ray k.
July 21st, 2009
4:50 pm
Noah…
You’re right about the turnaround, and it is so exhilerating to have reasonable hopes for a post season birth, but it’s a shame that the Braves wasted several weeks of the season before realizing what an exercise in futility it was to continually send Jordan Schafer, Kelly Johnson, and Jeff Francoeur to the batter’s box–most of the time in the same game!
Chipper Jones makes DOB’s job much easier when he simply volunteers politically incorrect quotes such as “We no longer have any automatic outs in the line up”
Here’s my optimistic 2 cents: http://tomahawktake.com/
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
4:50 pm
Well my post was eaten. I don’t remember everything I wrote, but I DO remember this:
On the subject of the definition of terms (Mason Jar, Coke Bottle), it bothers me that those skinny orange objects with the flat black bases are called “traffic cones.” They are not conical in shape. Therefore they aren’t cones. I know that they are technically called “bollards,” but in American vernacular I have NEVER heard them called anything but cones!
Couch Tater
July 21st, 2009
4:50 pm
Garret Anderson hasn’t been too shabby in July.
.309 BA .345 OBP .890 OPS 8 RBI 3 HR
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
4:51 pm
Keep thinking they have a better shot at the Wild Card. They don’t. Those odds take into effect all of those scenarios. You have to also account for the current division leaders in the wild card as well. They could stumble and one of the wild card teams win the division….while the division leader then ends up with the wild card. Thats one of many reasons why the Braves are 3x more likely to win the division.
CharlieAlphaBravo
July 21st, 2009
4:51 pm
Would anyone do a Medlen, Shafer and Kimbrel for Holliday and a 6yr/78mil extension with Oakland picking up half of his salary this year? Texas Nick
I think the real question is whether Holliday would be willing to do an extention. He’s a Boras client, so he’ll probably go to free agecy. That’s too much talent to give away for a half-year rental.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
4:52 pm
Paul…The other guys are picking up the slack, thats why Kotchman isnt hitting 5th anymore. This lineup looks so much better then before. I guess adding a .330 hitter in the 2 hole (Prado) and replacing Frenchy with Diaz/Church will do that.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
4:52 pm
He also has a 12-game hitting streak, all the while bloggers left & right are complaining about what a weak bat he is. I don’t think some of them are actually watching the games.
He does have a weak bat. Dude’s slugging .399. A lot of people want/expect more power from a firstbaseman
Braves73
July 21st, 2009
4:52 pm
Prediction Braves will win the East. The Phillies will lose 7 of there next 10 games and the Braves will continue there onslaught to through the middle of August. They will be tied on Sept. 7 and will win & take the lead on the last series of the season.
You heard it here first!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
4:52 pm
yeah there are a lot of Steve’s on this blog…hahaha I’ve noticed a couple…but I’ve been coming here for quite some time…just posting a lot more…
Cause I get an crap load of laughs from this blog man…its pretty dam entertaining!
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
4:53 pm
Probably because he is the odd man out.
I suppose those same people fail to realize that he’s on the disabled list and might not even play for the rest of the season. Yeah, those are exactly the types of players to trade…
Besides, he’s not “the odd man out.” I have to think the Braves envision a future outfield of McLouth, Schafer, and Heyward.
John
July 21st, 2009
4:54 pm
If, indeed, the Braves are about 7% to win the wild card….I’d luv to load up the wagon at about 14/1…and take my chances. Of course, I would never do this…Betting is just…wrong.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
4:54 pm
Hey look, our old friend made the “No-So-Hot Sheet” over at Baseball America.
Gorkys Hernandez, of, Pirates: Since being traded from Atlanta to Pittsburgh in the Nate McLouth deal, the 21-year-old Hernandez has struggled for Double-A Altoona. A key piece in the exchange, Hernandez batted .316/.361/.387 for Mississippi prior to the deal. But after going 1-for-25 last week, his averages dropped to .250/.292/340 in the Eastern League. Despite plus speed, Hernandez has been caught stealing four times in six tries. His value rests in his ability to get on base, steal bases and play solid defense, but thus far he hasn’t done those things for Altoona.
And Barbaro made the “Men Among Boys” sheet.
unbelievable
July 21st, 2009
4:55 pm
Holliday sucks outside of Coors. If you want him you wait until he’s a FA and get him then. You dont offer prospects and you dont fight with him in arbitration. He’s not going to hit 30hr’s or steal 30 bases anymore. There are better and cheaper options out there
Efrim
July 21st, 2009
4:55 pm
“Probably because he is the odd man out. The acquisition of McClouth and Heyward’s rise kind of makes him available/expendable. I guess”
Richie, I think Wren might be more open to trading Schafer now then he was before the McLouth trade, but given his two month major league performance and current status(injured), it’d be selling really, really low on Schafer. I’m for keeping him and starting him at Triple-A next year…..provided he can’t play in any minor league games this season because of the injury.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
4:55 pm
RG
I figure that to be our outfield in 2011 for sure. Maybe later in 2010.
Richie
July 21st, 2009
4:56 pm
6 yr/78 mil? I don’t think he’ll get that cheap. I believe Boras will make someone bite on at least 17mil. He got 18 mil per for Andruw and he had a horrible year for the Braves before he walked.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
4:56 pm
How about we see some healthy big league months from the kid in the ATL outfield?
…or years.
CB
July 21st, 2009
4:56 pm
Paul Lentz, write your blogs like the 4:44 and 4:48 and quit the name calling and you will gain respect on blog. What you say is not the problem- it is the disrespect of others and their thoughts and beliefs that has people down on you. Change the tone,please.
bgvt
July 21st, 2009
4:56 pm
Heath:
While it might be “easy” for the Phillies to go 38-34 over a 72 game stretch, it isn’t hard to imagine them going 38-34 over a 72 game stretch. In fact, over the first 72 games of this season, they had a 38-34 record! The Phillies have gotten hot in July but they were stone cold in early June. With their rotation, they can go into a slump.
Obviously, the Phillies have a lead and an advantage but the Braves have a chance — especially since the Braves aren’t fielding the same team that they put on the field day after day in the first part of the season.
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
4:57 pm
Efrim, RG–I’m all for giving Schafer a look again in ST provided he can come back and play some AAA time this year (don’t know how feasible that is), and provided that the Braves send him off to winter ball somewhere. I think he can still be a valuable part of next year’s squad.
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
4:58 pm
Obviously, the first step is getting back to 100% health-wise, but I really think Schafer is going to be at least an above-average regular, with star potential. Kid has a tremendous glove, arm, and speed and all the tools with the bat…
Nick
July 21st, 2009
4:59 pm
If the Braves get a power hitting 1B then they are a World Series team, period.
PMC
July 21st, 2009
5:00 pm
Is there any thought of maybe working Chipper out at 1st Base and Prado more often at 3rd? I don’t know if that’s a dumb idea or not but it’s an idea anyway.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
5:00 pm
Do any of you guys play “Steak for the Cash” on espn.com? It’s a free contest where you pick the outcome of one contest. You cant make another pick until that contest is over. The top 7 streaks by December 7th get invited to ESPN for a chance to win $1 mil on ESPN television.
Right now I have a 6 game streak going. I picked the Braves to win tonight as my next pick. Anyway the best streak so far is 25, with the 7th place person having 22. Every time I get to 6 or 7, I end up losing and having to start over. If the Braves can win tonight, I’ll start being more selective in making my picks and try to slowly build a streak. Getting lucky wont hurt either.
The A Bomb
July 21st, 2009
5:00 pm
Philly is not going to struggle that much — they had their bump and we clustered our chance. They’re the defending world champs and will win at least 90 — and more if they snatch Halladay.
Usually around 88 wins puts you in the wildcard talk at the end — I would think they would need to keep playing well at home the rest of the way. . . say 24-10, and around .500 on the road the rest of the way to be in contention.
Philly is not going to fall. . . Rollins is out of his slump and that spells trouble for everyone else.
Bad Trades Live
July 21st, 2009
5:00 pm
Texas Nick: No.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
5:01 pm
bgvt -
Rollins and Hamels were awful in the first half. Also, the Phillies slump coincided with Ibanez going on the DL. Well, now Rollins is performing better and Ibanez is back, so, I hope they only go 38-34 over the next 72 games….but they’ll probably fair better than that.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
5:01 pm
I think he can still be a valuable part of next year’s squad.
Me too. I think the main thing for him will be getting healthy. I hope it doesn’t take his wrist that long to heal, because getting a few at-bats in AAA at the end of the season and then going to winter ball will go a long ways towards him getting back to the big leagues sooner rather than later.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
5:01 pm
Angels 1B (Morales) is hitting .291 with 17 HR and 52 RBI. Wonder if they are missing CK……….He also has a .992 F% BTW.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:01 pm
If the Braves make the playoffs via WC, will Cox stick around or call it quits…
any thoughts?
Efrim
July 21st, 2009
5:02 pm
Steve from OH, I agree.
Random
July 21st, 2009
5:02 pm
Have you ever noticed how smart people try to act on here? Well, how come you haven’t figured out Necromancer = Robert/DONK?
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:03 pm
Count me in on not giving up on Schafer just yet, too!
DP
July 21st, 2009
5:03 pm
Loved Chipper’s comment about no longer having automatic outs in the lineup. Frenchy, KJ and Schafer, in case you haven’t figured it out he was talking about the three of you.
Chipper basically told Jeff Schultz a few weeks ago that Francouer was a lost cause as a major league hitter.
There had to be some dissension developing in the clubhouse when Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francouer kept their starting jobs for so long despite being automatic outs.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
5:03 pm
Carroll Rogers, of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Atlanta Braves 2B Kelly Johnson (wrist) could be activated from the disabled list Saturday, July 25, when his rehab assignment ends. He is hitting .282 (11-for-39) with two doubles, two triples, a home run and eight RBIs in 10 games with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
5:04 pm
Efrim………..even if the Braves offer Gonzalez and Soriano arbitration and they somehow got a big raise………that would be tolerable because both will still produce (barring injury)………and it will only be for 1 year. My big fear is the Braves signing both to huge contracts and their arms blowing out. That would be disastrous.
I’m sure that the Braves plan is to offer both arbitration. Either the Braves sign them to reasonable contracts……….they sign with another team and the Braves stockpile some draft picks……or the Braves have them back next season on 1 year contracts. Either of those options work for me.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
5:04 pm
Count me in on not giving up on Schafer just yet, too!
Wayne, I knew I liked you. How can I possibly make fun of you now?
Eddie Haskell
July 21st, 2009
5:04 pm
Where are all of the Bobby Cox haters? Why we would be 19-0 if it wasn’t for Bobby making stupid moves.
Funny how some hitting and pitching can make you smart all of a sudden.
BMoney
July 21st, 2009
5:04 pm
Fantasy Question: Esco’s been so darn hot lately…
Should I bench Jeter for Esco?
The Bell Curve Lives
July 21st, 2009
5:04 pm
A Bomb: Not hating on Philly, but they don’t have the pitching, even with Halladay. The BoSox want him, and can add payroll this year, and will shed payroll for next year.
Also, a couple of midwest teams want him. Halladay to Philly is not a slam dunk.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
5:04 pm
News: Campillo, who had scar tissue and bone chips cleaned out of his shoulder six weeks ago, could begin a throwing program in a month, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. [-]
Impact: Campillo could begin pitching again by winter ball and then be ready for spring training in 2010.
rtrafford
July 21st, 2009
5:04 pm
Those stats for KJ in Gwinnett are made prior to his performance last night with 2 HR and 7 RBI.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:05 pm
Have you ever noticed how smart people try to act on here? Well, how come you haven’t figured out Necromancer = Robert/DONK? Random
LOL! Flattered, but no.
There’s only one Necromancer
nolie
July 21st, 2009
5:05 pm
Jonathan Mayo on First Round Draft Picks
The Futures Game, as always, was outstanding, even with the four-hour rain delay. I think I would’ve given Jason Castro the MVP for his three-run homer and throwing a base-runner out, but that’s just me. Kudos to the organizers of that game. Obviously, I’m biased, but I think it’s the best part of the All-Star festivities.
There’s not a whole lot to report on the first-round signing front since last we spoke. No. 4 pick Matt Hobgood made his debut over the weekend, tossing an inning for the Bluefield Orioles in the rookie-level Appy League. No. 10 pick Drew Storen was promoted to Class A Advanced Potomac. He hasn’t given up a run or a hit since July 5, a stretch spanning five outings and 6 2/3 IP. Overall, he had racked up 26 K’s and zero walks in 14 2/3 IP for Hagerstown. Other performers from the first round:
No. 5 pick Tony Sanchez (Pirates) is hitting a combined .333 in 16 total games with a .920 OPS. He’s hit .340 in 12 games with West Virginia since joining the SAL team.
No. 17 A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks) is off to a 20-for-78 start (.256) with South Bend in the Midwest League. He’s got a pari of homers and three steals.
No. 21 Jio Mier (Astros) is hitting .300 for Greeneville in the Appy League. The shortstop has a .400 OBP and has gone 24-for-80 overall with one homer and 14 RBIs in 21 games. He’s got three stolen bases as well.
No. 23 Jared Mitchell (White Sox) had his debut delayed a bit, but he’s hit the ground running with Kannapolis in the South Atlantic League. The LSU standout has gone 4-for-9 with a pair of doubles in his first three games.
No. 24 Randal Grichuk (Angels) is diong just what he said he hoped he would. He took a bit to adjust, hitting .120 over his first six games. He’s hit .391 since over 15 games in July and is at .319 overall in 94 rookie-level Arizona Leauge ABs. He’s got 21 RBIs in 21 games with 10 extra-base hits and three streals.
No. 25 Mike Trout (Angels) has been keeping up with Grichuk, though he missed a week earlier this month. He’s gone 15-for-33 (.455) to start his pro career, with five extra-base hits (three doubles, two triples) and five steals in nine games.
No. 26 Eric Arnett (Brewers) doesn’t seem to like the shorter stints he’s not used to. In five total games with Helena in the Pioneer Legue, the Indiana right-hander has a 8.31 ERA. He’s allowed eight runs on 10 hits while walking five. He does have 9 K’s in 8 2/3 IP.
No. 28 Reymond Fuentes (Red Sox) has played 12 games in the Gulf Coast League and his hitting .333 (13-for-39). He’s got a .400 OBP and has two steals (to go along with three caught stealing).
No. 31 Brett Jackson (Cubs) made a brief stop in the Arizona League to shake off some rust, then went to Boise in the Northwest League. Combined, the Cal outfielder has hit .333 (21-for-63) in 19 games, with a pair of triples, a homer and 16 RBIs.
No. 32 Tim Wheeler (Rockies) is also in the Northwest League, with Tri-City. He’s hit .299 (29-for-97) in 24 games. He’s hit six doubles and a homer while driving in 13 runs and stealing 4 bases.
I’m efforting to get stories done on the first-rounders I’ve yet to talk to (that would be Pollock, Trout, Fuentes, Jackson and Wheeler). I’ll be sure to let you know if/when those get done.
That’s about it in terms of news of that nature. There have been no new signings and it’s looking like there’s a lot of waiting to see what the other guy is doing. I expect that deadline day — Aug. 17 — is going to be very, very busy and interesting. Here’s what I’m hearing:
* It would seem like Mike Minor and Mike Leake, at 7 and 8, wouldn’t be tough signs, but things are taking a little longer. My guess is Leake’s camp is waiting to see what Minor signs for and perhaps neither wants to set the “college arm” bar.
* Tyler Matzek (No. 11, Rockies) is sticking with his bonus demand, which is north of $7 million. Good luck with that.
* Matt Purke (No. 14, Rangers), the next HS lefty with crazy demands, has supposedly come down some. That being said, he’s still around $5 million, which is on the steep side, no?
* The other top picks — Strasburg, Ackley, Tate, Turner, to name some — aren’t going to get done until close to or at the Aug. 17 deadline. So buckle your seat belts.
wjones
July 21st, 2009
5:05 pm
“He does have a weak bat. Dude’s slugging .399. A lot of people want/expect more power from a firstbaseman”
Historically, Bobby wants a good glove man at first when he has a first-rate starting pitching staff, and it has worked well for him in the past. It seems like I remember him commenting on why he picked Tyler Houston over Frank Thomas in the draft, he alluded to concerns about Thomas’ defense. You don’t have to agree with his philosophy, and I don’t always either, but he’s had some great results with this formula.
Another part of that formula, though, is when he has had lower power production at a historically power spot like first base, he has compensated by having greater power in spots that aren’t historically power positions. At catcher, McCann is significantly above your average catcher offensively. Escobar as SS would also be. You could also argue Prado at 2b (and Kelly before him when he actually was hitting) and Chipper at 3b. McLouth at CF is above average in the power departments for his position as well. Almost an inverse, isn’t it? The “power spots” are below average while the “defense spots” are above average. So you may look at Kotchman, who is batting seventh or eighth, and think of him as a weak spot, when Bobby sees someone who is reasonably priced, who hasn’t committed an error in his time as a Brave, who saves runs (and pitches) for his pitchers, who has hit 20 doubles, even while missing some time, and is slowly inching up to .300, with some walks mixed in as well. Now when/if Freddie Freeman, now only 19, is ready to step up in either 2011 or 2012 (hopefully), then Casey might be ready for the scrap heap. But it would not surprise me if he lasted, assuming decent production, until then.
Fantasy Island Lives
July 21st, 2009
5:05 pm
BMoney: Uh, yeah.
MFin04
July 21st, 2009
5:05 pm
KJs average now it like .350 with 3 hrs and 15 rbis in 11 games
Richie
July 21st, 2009
5:05 pm
Roman Gal
I know Schafer is injured. I am not saying he needs to be moved. But the Braves went out and acquired a CF, who is under contract for like 3 or 4 more seasons. And if Heyward is coming up, then he is looked at as possibly moveable.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
5:06 pm
Chipper basically told Jeff Schultz a few weeks ago that Francouer was a lost cause as a major league hitter.
Must’ve missed that. But, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised, because Chipper tells it like it is, man…
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
5:06 pm
I want them to be between 5-10 games over .500 before I start even thinking playoffs.
As they’ve been hovering around and under .500 recently it’s been off and on “yays” and “boos” … but when they’re 5-10 over and a 2 or 3 game losing streak doesn’t put them back in the same spots they have been being, I can start feeling better about them.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
5:06 pm
But who is going to pitch for the Phillies. Of the starters only one has an ERA below 4.50 and he has only started 11 games. Even Cole Hamels their ace is at 4.72 and has given up 16 home runs.
And Jimmy Rollins is hitting .236 and has a sub .300 OBP (French territory)
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:06 pm
Random
I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to folks style, etc to be able to really guess or know.
BTW, what are my alias’? (let’s see how good you are)
rtrafford
July 21st, 2009
5:06 pm
If Halladay to Philthy was a slam dunk we wouldn’t have just read about a deal the Mets turned down for the Ace last week. With any luck the current hot streak by the Philth has their front office dellusional…thinking they have no flaws…
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
5:06 pm
Roman Gal…………..nice update on Gorkys Hernandez at 4:54pm.
You must be pretty wealthy yourself and not have to work…………considering you have “all that time” to look that up (just kidding, lol).
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
5:06 pm
Funny, I was watching some TV series on AXN and one guy was watching some braves game……..after a few seconds the guy screams “I dont understand how Cox is still managing”……Believe me, Im not making this up. It was pretty funny.
bit failu
July 21st, 2009
5:07 pm
Niekro went six innings giving up one hit and three unearned runs. I may be the only one who cares, but it seemed noteworthy to me.
Dr. James Andrews Lives
July 21st, 2009
5:07 pm
Thanks for the 411, Doc Holiday. That is good news indeed.
The Second Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:08 pm
Necromancer @ 5:05PM — “There’s only one Necromancer”
GUESS AGAIN!!!
The A Bomb
July 21st, 2009
5:08 pm
Philly is one of a handful of teams that doesn’t need lockdown pitching to win the division because of their HITTING. Did you see what they did to Lilly last night?
They hit up and down the lineup. They don’t need to hold teams to 3 runs night in and night out. Even if they don’t get Halladay they are still hands down the best team in the NL East. We had our chance as did Florida and New York and we did not take advantage.
THWG
July 21st, 2009
5:08 pm
Too bad this isn’t the NBA, where half the league makes the playoffs… Then the Braves would be a lock for a postseason spot.
nolie
July 21st, 2009
5:08 pm
http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2009/07/21/greg-maddux-you-beat-lineups-not-hitters/
Interview with MAD DOG, who says you beat lineups, not hitters
Chris
July 21st, 2009
5:09 pm
David –
Good blog today. Icing on the cake is your Wilco endorsement. “Bull Black Nova”, “You and I”, “You Never Know” – a great three songs in a row.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
5:09 pm
Richie-
I see what you’re saying, I just don’t agree. Wren has always included Schafer in that “next wave” along with Heyward, Hanson, and Freeman.
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
5:09 pm
Some time in the not so distant future, David Wright goes down south for a duck hunting trip one October. He rents a pair of waders, borrows a 12-gauge from Adam LaRoche, and gets all the camouflage he needs for the hunt at his local Wal-Mart. He spends the night at a hotel near the lake he’ll be hunting on, wakes up at 3:30 AM, gets ready, and heads to the lake. After he gets to his blind around 5:00 AM, he waits until the sun comes up and the ducks to start moving. For three hours he furiously pursues his limit, but to no avail. Just as he’s ready to call it a day, one duck shy of his limit, he sees a crippled wood duck flying and figures he might have a shot at getting his limit. He takes a rather long shot and somehow connects with the duck, sufficient to knock it to the ground, though it lands away from the water.
So he gets in his boat and travels over to the shore where he anchors the boat and begins to look for the duck. As he’s heading in the general direction of the duck he sees a fence that encloses a rather large field. So, assuming the duck landed in the field, he starts towards the fence as a tractor, heading in his direction from the other side of the fence, becomes visible. As he approaches the fence so does the tractor and a man steps off to greet David. Low and behold, that man is Chipper Jones.
David says: “Chipper Jones! I haven’t seen you since you hit that walk-off homer at Shea Stadium in game 7 of the 2013 NLCS. How have you been?”
Chipper replies: “Not too bad, David. What brings you down here?”
“Well, I’m just trying to get my mind off of the massive meltdown the Mets just experienced again, so I thought I’d come down here and do a little hunting to clear my mind.”
“So I guess you’re responsible for this.”
Chipper holds up his right hand, which he has wrapped around the neck of a slain wood duck. David’s eyes light up, he’s finally found the duck and has his limit.
“Oh, great!”, David replies, “You found my duck.”
“What do you mean your duck?”, Chipper said, “it landed on my property.”
“Well I killed it, so it’s mine, right?” David replied.
“No sir. My property, my duck.”
“Come on, Chipper, that’s my limit you’re holding.”
“Nope. It’s my first of the day.”
“Chipper, don’t be an ass, or I may just call the police.”
Chipper sort of chuckles at the notion and proposes a counter-offer.
“I’ll tell you what, around here, we settle things by the 3-kick rule“.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You’ve never heard of the 3-kick rule?”, Chipper replies in shock.
“No, I’m afraid I haven’t.” David admits.
“Well, here’s how it works. I kick you three times, then you kick me three times. We go back and forth until someone “gives”. Whoever prevails, wins.”
David’s eye starts to sparkle.
“You mean to tell me that an old man like you wants to challenge me to a kicking contest?”
“You bet. You’ve got no idea what’s coming.”
“OK, then.” David replies, “You’re on”.
David stands ready with his hands covering his groin area as Chipper readies himself to commence kicking. Chipper takes a step forward and delivers a forceful kick–aided by his steel-toe boots–right into the kneecap of Wright. David keels over in pain and grabs his kneecap. Just as he bends down, Chipper comes back with another, this time right in the face. Wright leans back, nose bleeding and in an extradonary amount of pain. Before he even realizes what happens, Chipper delivers a third blow right between the legs. Wright immediately falls to the ground and begins to vomit. After 5 minutes of recovery, Wright finally looks up and musters up what energy he has left and says in a raspy, barely audible voice,
“Alright you son of a b****, my turn now.”
Chipper sort of smiles at him and says,
“Nah, that’s alright”, and he throws the wood duck and hits David Wright in the side of the face.
“I give. You can have the duck”
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:09 pm
Here are some of my old aliases:
Flustered Fan, Liberty Braves, Bobby’s Nose, Dixie Dawg, New Owners Needed
There, I guess the cat’s out of the bag, now..
I just borrow Robert’s “Donkisms” from time to time….
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:10 pm
Wow, if Greg Maddux is not a unanimous first ballot Hall of Famer, with one’s on every writer’s tally card, the BBWA needs to be taken back to the woodshed and shot.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:10 pm
The Second Necromancer
NOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 21st, 2009
5:11 pm
O’Brien, we can all appreciate the improvement from our baseball team. But you left out one deciding factor, Bobby Cox. The man won’t get any support from this fan.
So yes, I said it right from the beginning in spring training. I fully expected this team to win around 85 games. but the playoffs? Sorry, I can’t see it, not with Cox running this team.
monty
July 21st, 2009
5:11 pm
A Bomb
“Philly is not going to fall.”
Would you mortgage the farm on that one? As Skip Carey used to say, “Anyone who bets on baseball is a fool.”
bit failu
July 21st, 2009
5:11 pm
Niekro’s one-hitter is only interesting to me, understood.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:11 pm
A Bomb: Same hitting as last year, but their pitching was WAY better last year. I just don’t see it.
RC
July 21st, 2009
5:12 pm
Noticed something cool on the scoreboard at the game last night: Among the Braves current starting lineup (including all 4 outfielders), Nate McLouth and Ryan Church are the ONLY starters with batting averages under .280 (and Church is sitting at .279…one hit away). A little ironic that the leadoff guy is the one with the lowest batting avg (McLouth is in the .260s), but still really cool that we have that many guys who can consistently get hits.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
5:12 pm
Holy Sweet Mother Mary we need Derek Lowe to be the man tonight…
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
5:13 pm
Where’s Paul Lentz? It’s been a few minutes!
FEAR
July 21st, 2009
5:15 pm
THWG
July 21st, 2009
5:08 pm
Too bad this isn’t the NBA, where half the league makes the playoffs… Then the Braves would be a lock for a postseason spot.
……..and that’s why it sucks
Greg O
July 21st, 2009
5:15 pm
MFin04, Not sure how I forgot sac flies… my biggest pet peev in baseball is the inability to score runs with a man on third with less than two outs. The sac fly and the RBI groundout to the right side should be simple, yet efficient plays, but it’s a problem throughout MLB. I just don’t get it.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:16 pm
Richie
As much as I like Nate McLouth, I like him even better as a corner outfielder. He is an OK centerfielder, but not a great one. His gold glove was a controversial one. If he learns to hit, Schafer could be an excellent choice for CF.
bit failu
I too would love to see Lance do well for the Braves. It’s only right.
Roman Gal
Not to worry, I will say something stupid often enough!
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
5:16 pm
Where’s Paul Lentz? It’s been a few minutes!
Must be dead.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:16 pm
RC: What I like even more is the number of walks McClouth and Church are getting. Their OBP with the Bravos must be up there. Several rallys in the past several days have started with McClouth and Church getting on base via the walk.
Hope working counts is contagious.
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
5:17 pm
So yes, I said it right from the beginning in spring training. I fully expected this team to win around 85 games.
That’s kinda where I had ‘em figured at too, Coach. 83-85 wins. At one point earlier this season, I thought it might be enough to really make it interesting with the pitching-less Phils, but now, it’s not looking that way if the trends hold. But trends are just that, and sometimes they aren’t predictive of the future, man. Just think…if we out-perform those 85 wins by say, 2-3 games, get a little lucky, where might we be?
There’s always hope, Coach. Unless you’re the Nationals.
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
5:17 pm
You must be pretty wealthy yourself and not have to work…………considering you have “all that time” to look that up (just kidding, lol).
You caught me. I only pretend to be a poor college student. But in reality, my dad is really rich and I live a Paris Hilton-esqe life.
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
5:17 pm
Thanks for the new Blog, Chief!
Chis–
The A Bomb
July 21st, 2009
5:18 pm
I don’t know if I would BET on it. . .
But I can at least look at it objectively like everything else. . .
Rollins most likely will not fall back to what he was doing prior to the series in Atlanta. . .
Hamels, Happ and Blanton — not the best to trot out there but remember — they have a 6 1/2-game lead RIGHT NOW and have extended that lead with that pitching while we have played pretty decent ball.
If you’re expecting the Phillies to lose 11 of 13 I don’t buy it. And if you think they’re not in the market for another starter you guys are nuts — even if it is not Halladay. They will improve their pitching.
Hey — I love the Braves as much as anyone. But I’m not a homer. I don’t get forcefed Atlanta talkradio all day. I am just glad we’re playing better baseball RIGHT NOW. I just don’t think it’s our time to win at a high level RIGHT NOW. When Heyward and Freeman and maybe Cody Johnson come up, maybe so. Not RIGHT NOW!
Roman Gal
July 21st, 2009
5:18 pm
Hey, I just found out I’m going to the Braves game.
Later!
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:18 pm
And Prado does the same. Coincidence as to their success and how it has affected the Braves as of late?
I think not.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:18 pm
Seems like since McCann lost all that weight, his head seems a bit bigger now…
BravoMan
July 21st, 2009
5:19 pm
Nova Scotia Steve, Indeed we do…we need MLB Opening Night Lowe(or maybe a little less because the Giants line-up is far frm the Phillies)
CharlieAlphaBravo
July 21st, 2009
5:19 pm
I nominate PWHjort’s 5:09pm for post of the week… We have to wait ’til 2010 for the “post of the decade” award, right?
The Second Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:19 pm
MUAHAHAHAHAHA YOU HAVE BEEN USURPED!
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
5:19 pm
Have a blast R-Gal!
RC
July 21st, 2009
5:19 pm
Wayne,
Totally agree with your assessment of McLouth. An OF in the next few years of McLouth in LF, Schafer in CF, and Heyward in RF sounds pretty awesome to me!
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
5:20 pm
DOB while McCann’s hit .281 with 11 RBI and mere .716 OPS in July.
It’s mere because the dude forgot how to take walks…
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
5:20 pm
Wren has always included Schafer in that “next wave” along with Heyward, Hanson, and Freeman
I agree. If I’m Wren, that’s the future I have in mind. And I’m definitely not selling low on Schafer. I don’t think I’m trading him unless I get a really significant return back. In any case, it sure would look good to have those 4 producing while making the league min, espcially given impending raises to JJ, Mac, McLouth, Prado/Escobar (2011), and big contracts outstanding to KK, Lowe, Huddy, Vazquez (gotta think one of ‘em will be retained) and Chipper. Plus we’ll probably invest a few bucks in one of Gonzo or Soriano. Need to have some cheap, productive players in the years ahead…
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 21st, 2009
5:20 pm
Dear Braves blog, wake up and smell the coffee. The Phillies team ERA during their 13-1 winning streak is 2.30…………HEEEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Not to mention the best offense and defense in the National League.
It’s what I have been preaching since I joined this blog. Pitching, defense, speed, power and timely hitting. The Phillies have it all, in spades. It’s why they are the defending World Champions.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:21 pm
The Second Necromancer
As in the Highlander movies..”There can only be ONE!”
Hee hee
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
5:21 pm
Roman Gal–
Hope they put on another good show for you!
Necromancer–
What’s that supposed to mean?
Ghost of Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
5:21 pm
You’re all fools……..
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
5:21 pm
PWHjort: that post right there is right up there with N8 (I think it was him) with post of the year. Was it N8 that talked about Unknowns posts during the game last night?
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
5:22 pm
Hey, I just found out I’m going to the Braves game.
Oh, that’s sooo not cool.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
5:22 pm
PWHjort -
Funny. Actually laughed out loud.
BravoMan
July 21st, 2009
5:23 pm
Line-up anyone??
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:23 pm
RG
Don’t embarras us please!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:23 pm
McFann :Ô:
Er, it just means that he’s, er, trimmed up.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
5:24 pm
I’m not going to miss out enjoying the pennant race because some fans on here think tiems won’t be good until the rookies of Heyward and Freeman come up. Next two months could be a lot of fun, the Braves have got lucky with things and luck is what you need sometimes. I am referring to the remake of the team without a lot of big trades…ie..Prado, Hanson etc.
The A Bomb
July 21st, 2009
5:24 pm
Thanks Coach. Objectivity doesn’t suck.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
5:25 pm
Dr. James Andrews Lives,
I missed your 411 joke, but you are welcome
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:25 pm
A Bomb: I’ll concede this. The only NL East team that can overtake the Phils are the Bravos. The Braves have to play .600-plus ball AND take the Phils the rest of the way in their head-to-head.
However.
The Phils will not run away with the division unless the Braves play the .500 ball they’ve played up until the break. The Phils’ streak as of late is an anomaly. They are just not pitching that well. Or else they would not mortgage their future by going for Halladay.
Believe me, Toronto is asking for the leg to go with the arm.
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
5:25 pm
Necromancer–
Gotcha.
For s second I thought you meant figuratively, so I was like, “What…?”
Noah
July 21st, 2009
5:25 pm
Coaching…so the Phillies 2.30 ERA during their win streak proves they can’t win without pitching and so far their pitching doesnt seem to be there this year.
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
5:26 pm
Coach (2010 or Bust): Oh great you’re back. You honestly think that they will continue that kind of pitching. Outside of Hamels they have no one that is proven to be consistent. Just a question for you. If the Braves happen to make a run here to finish out the month and they are around a game and a half out, what will you say? Will your name still be the same?
Soph
July 21st, 2009
5:26 pm
Wayne, keylargo – I see my name in your earlier posts. I’m confused.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:27 pm
Doc Holiday: dial 411 = information (on Campillo)
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
5:27 pm
I wonder if unknown will be here tonight after he was proves worthless last night.
The A Bomb
July 21st, 2009
5:28 pm
However MiaBch. . .
Look for the Phils to get another starter — it might not be Halladay, but don’t look for them to stand pat. They are a 90-95 win team. We can’t match that.
Max we are an 85-90 win team IF we play well at home and .500 on the road.
Cherokee
July 21st, 2009
5:28 pm
it with people who don’t have access to fielding bible numbers. (PWH)
ah yes,those defensive stats that Bill James himself says are not nearly as meaningful as hitting/pitching stats huh? But he’s probably wrong and you are right, huh? ever actually play a game of organized ball in your life ?
get real youngster, neither one of them are above average, but neither one of them is much better than the other one either .Each have their strengths and weaknesses.
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
5:28 pm
C’mon, Coach, that’s a bit of a knee-jerk reactionary line of thinking. The Phils are still 23rd in team ERA, given up the most HR (Braves have given up the fewest), and are 26th in team FIP. C’mon, dude, you know that this isn’t a good staff and won’t be, despite a good 10 or whatever game stretch. Pitching is no. 1 in your book and mine, and they don’t have it. They’re probably still gonna win the division, but let’s not act like they’re not flawed, ok?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
5:29 pm
Numbers vs. Lowe:
Last Name, First Name AVG AB HR RBI
Aurilia, Rich (2004-2008).375 16 0 2
Lewis, Fred (2004-2008) .667 3 0 1
Molina, Bengie (2004-2008) .316 19 0 1
Renteria, Edgar (2004-2008) .250 8 0 1
Rowand, Aaron (2004-2008) .500 20 0 2
Sandoval, Pablo (2004-2008) 1.000 1 0 0
Winn, Randy (2004-2008) .324 37 0 2
Uh oh.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:30 pm
And Hamels has been getting nuked as of late. Moyer will show his years in Aug./Sept. The bullpen will get shredded.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
5:32 pm
Problem is without pitching you are done in the playoffs. Having watched years of high powered offensive teams in Seattle in the late 90’s I’ve seen what happens if your pitching is not there.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:33 pm
PWH
That was a great variation of an old classic, but excellent none the less.
Soph
We were not taking your screen name in vain or anything like that. We were referring to someone being possibly a sophomore literally.
beekay
July 21st, 2009
5:33 pm
Lentz
I too have seen every Brave game this year on the extra inning package with the exception of a few Saturday games blacked out by Fox…although I disagree with you politically and religiously I think your posts about the Braves are spot on. Your valid points make up for the other garbage that you tend to spew out
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
5:33 pm
And please, humor me by telling me how many rants you’d have gone on if, of your rotation’s three consistent starters, the highest ERA+ is 97, posted by Joe “I have multiple chins” Blanton, follwed by (in order) 92, 77 (Hamels, Moyer). Now, you’ve seen Chan-Ho Park and Antonio Ba#tardo and JA Happ and Rodrigo effing Lopez take turns in the rotation. C’mon, dude, don’t even try to tell me you wouldn’t be sharpening the guillotine in preparation for Wren’s head right now. They can always gut their system and get Halladay or Lee (making them locks, IMO), but right now they don’t got it. And don’t deny that they do.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:34 pm
Coach
I would not bet good money on the Phillies ERA staying anywhere close to those numbers for more than another week.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:34 pm
I’m calling it now, July 21.
The Phils will Phold, thanks to a patchwork rotation that does not eat innings and a bullpen that will implode thanks to overuse. Heck, JC Romero’s arm has a tongue. I know this because in his most recent stint (Sunday), I saw it hanging out of his elbow.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:34 pm
McFann
Oh no…Mac’s down to earth as anyone…
I was just going to say he reminded me of Spongebob Square Pants…
Saint Jimmy
July 21st, 2009
5:36 pm
great post DOB.
but – don’t give up on the East yet. The Phillies are notoriously streaky, & if we can stay within shouting distance (I guess 7 games is more like “Bullhorn distance”) while they crush it, then we’ll definitely make up some ground once they come back to Earth.
either way, they July Braves are the ones we had all expected in March.
if they do win the WC, then I really like their chances vs the Dodgers in a 5 game series. Finally, the shoe would be on the other foot, as this ATL team is built more for the post-season than the long haul.
if, if, if….
Soph
July 21st, 2009
5:37 pm
Wayne – got it! No worries – just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
5:37 pm
Any lineups posted anywhere?
Scotty
July 21st, 2009
5:38 pm
DOB updates please!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
5:40 pm
The only way I can see Frank Wren trading Jordan Schafer would be if a really good, relatively young, established slugger (right handed and under 30) was on the market and the team offering this hypothetical slugger wanted Schafer to be included in the prospects they wanted in return.
While I have high hopes for Schafer, I dont think that I would consider him “untouchable”.
So barring that kind of trade, I would like to see him work on getting his swing back in Triple A, play some winter ball, and see how he performs in Spring Training. I’d even be willing to see him called up in September when the rosters are expanded, if he shows that he can hit in Triple A before then.
Hopefully he can work on showing the Braves that he deserves to be the opening day center fielder in 2010.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
5:41 pm
beekay…………we can agree to disagree on the political stuff. I have refrained from talking about non baseball related stuff today.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
5:43 pm
And yeah I think its prime time Philly lost a game…I think Joe Blanton may be just the man to do that…and Jamie Moyer has to be “ahem” – (I use this term loosly) “pitching” one of these days…
I smell a couple losses coming up very soon…
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:43 pm
Interesting thought. If KJ keeps hitting .320-plus at Gwinnett, do you drop Conrad – or Norton. I know Bobby likes Norton the same way he liked Keith Lockhart, but Conrad has been doing the job.
Sometimes catching lightning in a bottle is better than hoping for the re-capture of successes past. Keep Conrad, send Norton down until September. And keep Diorys Hernandez because you never know when Yunel may need a break.
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
5:44 pm
I’ll say it again – it doesn’t matter if the Braves have a better shot at winning the division or the WC, as long as they continue to win games at a good clip, then they will be a factor in one race or another right down to the wire.
Even if this team doesn’t make it into the post-season, I’ll happily take a competitive July/August/September over a boring team that looked dead in the water in June. Not to suggest that the Braves will definitely remain competitive for the rest of the season, but they just might…
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
5:44 pm
Necromancer Mac’s down to earth as anyone…
He sure is. That’s why I asked…shoulda known what you really meant (as I hit submit I figured it out).
I was just going to say he reminded me of Spongebob Square Pants…
Aww…come on, now.
rtrafford
July 21st, 2009
5:44 pm
Sal, spot on at 5:44
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
5:44 pm
I’d take either–Division or WC…though obviously I’d rather have the Division.
P-Town Brave
July 21st, 2009
5:45 pm
Chris from the Rock-
I’m right with you there…after I read about the Braves having scouts at the Sox game, Paul Konerko seemed to be the only guy who really makes sense at this point since we’ve retooled our OF depth already…
BUT short of sending the Sox Kelly, Casey, and Kenshin, I’m not sure how well we match up there as Pauly has a 12M contract for both this year and next (not bad for a power hitting 1b) BUT also has a full no-trade clause under the 10/5 rule.
So I really don’t know what to make of the rumor there…
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:45 pm
Well, Chino reminds me of Patrick.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
5:46 pm
Pinkhygonzalez: No one with the Braves is pleased about that game being moved to Sunday night, at least not anyone on the baseball side. It’s silly, really, to make any team play the Sunday night game on the East Coast and then fly cross-country to play the following day. So easily avoidable.
P-Town Brave
July 21st, 2009
5:47 pm
Oh, and to add to that…why would a team that is 1 gm out of the division lead take their best hitter and trade him now?
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:47 pm
Someone get Frank Wren, wrestle the cell phone away from him, and lock him in the supply closet until August 1st. We win or lose with this team. Keep all of our youngsters in our minors. Worry about the OF in the off-season. The flanks need to be re-evaluated for down the road.
Not for the next two months.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
If lineup hasn’t been posted yet (or even if it has):
Braves LINEUP
1. McLouth
2. Prado
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. Anderson
6. Escobar
7. Kotchman
8. Church
9. Lowe
No surprises whatsoever
Giants put Aurilia on DL with an infected big toe.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
MiaBchBravesFan
Interesting thought. If KJ keeps hitting .320-plus at Gwinnett, do you drop Conrad – or Norton. I know Bobby likes Norton the same way he liked Keith Lockhart, but Conrad has been doing the job.
At least Lockheart hit .200
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
Would you trade Kris Medlen for Chad Qualls?
abwright
July 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
Roman Gal, 5:18 pm … “Hey, I just found out I’m going to the Braves game.”
Can we get some “Roman Gal on a Blackberry from the Lexus Level” posts?
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
DOB
ESPN is more concerned about the “draw” than what the effect the trip will have on the player’s bodies…
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
5:49 pm
What game got moved to Sunday night?
Cherokee
July 21st, 2009
5:51 pm
Oh come on, PWH. Prado doesn’t have enough starts for a reliable UZR. I don’t know who this “we” is that you speak of, but you are obviously not a statistician. (JDH)
I think he is kin of like coach. He read somewhere that particular stat was among the best and started quoting it without knowing how it works. He sure is a believer in it though, got to give him props for faith, however misplaced. He should back off a bit cause it is making him look a bit foolish, and he does make some good points on other subjects sometimes. Sorry for coming at this so late.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
5:51 pm
Necromancer: I was just going to say he reminded me of Spongebob Square Pants…
Didn’t you mean Spongebob Square Head?
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
5:51 pm
Necromancer Well, Chino reminds me of Patrick.
Ummm…no comment.
DOB No surprises whatsoever
Wish there was at least one…
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:52 pm
Roman Gal = Blogcelebutante
PW: Dodger game at LA on a Sunday.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
5:52 pm
PHHjort -
August 2nd against LAD–was earlier in the day. It stinks b/c the Braves play on the west coast the next day.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:52 pm
Spongebob Square Body
TurnThePage
July 21st, 2009
5:53 pm
I say Norton gets dropped IF Kelly Johnson comes up to the big team. But that’s me. I think Frank Wren will demote Brooks Conrad. Just a hunch.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
5:53 pm
Bobby Cox thinks Carlyle can be back in two weeks.
No word on what they’re doing with Kelly J.
But you tell me if this sounds like he’ll be playing 2B anytime soon. I asked Cox about the biggest change in the offense, the reason for the turnaround:
“Prado, getting him in the 2-hole, and dropping Escobar down where he can get some RBIs,” Cox said. “Prado’s been so hot, and getting on base so much, it’s made a world of difference.”
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:53 pm
As to Braves roster decisions that will need to be made (Kelly Johnson’s situation) at the end of the week; I really wish either Conrad or Prado could play an acceptable SS to be Yunel’s back-up. That would let you bring KJ back up on Saturday, and send DH back to Gwinnett.
Let’s you keep Norton for just a bit longer, to see if he could get out of his funk. As bad as he has been, I suspect most of us would rather see him at bat than Diory.
tvsportscaster
July 21st, 2009
5:53 pm
PWHjort, The August 2nd tilt with the Dodgers is now a Sunday Night contest
TexasBrave
July 21st, 2009
5:54 pm
MiaBchBravesFan there are possible outcomes when Kelly is able to come off the DL.
1. Conrad is optioned to AAA – most likely scenario
2. Norton is DFA – least likely scenario
3. Kelly is optioned to AAA –
Myself I would like to see Conrad kept and Norton DFA. Oh and I know that some of you think Kelly could get traded, but I don’t see that happening, he is not Frenchy.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
5:54 pm
DOB -
So, how much longer before you get those fish tacos on the brain for your up-coming trip to San Diego in a couple of weeks?
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
5:54 pm
Are we on Sunday Night Baseball then or something?
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
5:55 pm
I asked Cox if they had Lincecum figured out for tomorrow night. He laughed. I said, “Well, you’re overdue against him.” He laughed again and said, “A lot of teams are overdue with that guy.”
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
5:55 pm
Yikes, when will Bennett be back? Hope never, with us anyway.
Original Jon
July 21st, 2009
5:55 pm
No no no, ESPN just wants to move it to 8 o’clock, but not televise it, lol. GEEZ
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
5:55 pm
Grab some bench Kelly…you’re gunna be there a while
I’d say sit front and center right beside Kawakami’s translator!
That’s would give anyone the motivation to get back on the field!
Jake W.
July 21st, 2009
5:56 pm
The Phils have been on a good streak lately, the ball can’t seem to miss their bats. While right now I think our best shot is in the wild card, it will be interesting to see what ground we can make up once the Phillies cool down. Not to mention when the league figures out Rodrigo Lopez isn’t Greg Maddux and old timer Pedro trys to give it one more shot.
Speaking of old timers, Smoltzie isn’t looking to good in Boston so far. Maybe he will figure it out but it sounds like the natives are getting a little restless with him up there. Scanned some of their blogs and they are clammoring for the kid Buchholz and wanting to the push the old timer to the bullpen or out the door. Sounds a little like those who wanted Hanson here from the start of the season instead of signing Glavine. I’ve never actually seen Smoltz pitch with them this year so I don’t know how he looks. If anyone could feel me in I’d like to know. Does he look like he’s got much left?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
5:56 pm
PWHjort -
Yes, that was the reason for the move.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
5:56 pm
Heath: They’re always on the brain. Fish tacos … you can get ‘em in any city now, practically, including Atlanta. But they’re still best in San Diego.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:56 pm
The Bravos always lose that first game on the West Coast when their Sunday game is moved to night. They’ve actually done the Braves dirty like that more often than not in the past 8-10 years.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
5:58 pm
Jake W., that’s what the scouts had told Boston writers — don’t expect the old Smoltzie. Those who saw him in his rehab starts said that.
He’s throwing 89-90 mph fastballs and no splits. That’s a huge difference from his 94-95 mph heaters and nasty splits.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
5:58 pm
Had some shrimp taco’s w/ mango salsa for lunch today! ummm!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
5:59 pm
DOB -
Yeah, they are definitely best in San Diego…gotta say, I’m already jealous of you. Jake’s has always treated me well!!!
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
5:59 pm
TX Brave: Glad to see I’m not alone on that one.
nolie
July 21st, 2009
6:00 pm
Have the Braves inquired about the availability of Arizona’s Mark Reynolds (CAB)
no, they aren’t interested in a guy who hits .230 away from his hitter’s paradise park.I don’t care how much power a player has, the Braves have never been interested in hitters with real low batting averages
TommyP
July 21st, 2009
6:00 pm
We do not need to trade Kelly Johnson. At this point, his trade value is at an all time low. Hold onto him.
And then we have that same crowd saying the Phils won’t get it done due to their starting pitching…. Please. Again, for those that can’t comprehend this, the Phillies don’t need the pitching just about every other club needs with their lineup. A 4.50 ERA from their starters will suffice.
TommyP
July 21st, 2009
6:01 pm
I have the feeling if Wren makes any deals, it’s a very small deal for either more bullpen help or a pinch hitter….both that can be accomplished by giving up a fringe prospect.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
6:01 pm
Fish tacos are best when the fish is broiled or baked. A fried breaded fish piece inside a taco is just plain yuck. Like a breaded chicken patty in between two buns – still don’t get that one either.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
6:02 pm
KnightInATL: Hudson’s option is a mutual option, both sides have to agree to exercise it. Hudson could veto it if Braves exercised it, but I don’t see that happening, not with only a month or so of major league starts under his belt after surgery. Don’t think he’d get more than $12 mill for 2010 elsewhere (though I could be wrong), and he wants to stay here anyway.
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
6:02 pm
Oh lord.. the game is on Peach Pit TV tonight…
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:02 pm
I hate to see Smoltz struggling in Boston, as much as him leaving ticked me off. I was told by someone with inside knowledge that his shoulder was a mess. I have never doubted his heart though.
Just a bit sad, if this is how he will finish up.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
6:04 pm
If Smoltzie could leave the split for a good changeup, he could pitch another season with an 88-90 mph f-ball. He’s an old dog that can learn a new trick.
KnightInATL
July 21st, 2009
6:05 pm
Thanks for the info, DOB. Very much appreciated.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:06 pm
MLB Trade Rumors says the D’backs would be looking for a up and coming starter for Chad Qualls. He is signed through 2010. Would he be worth Medlen (though I love the guy)???
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
6:06 pm
PWH: Peach Pit TV – I am laughing my tail off!
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
6:06 pm
Quit meddling with Medlen; he stays!!!
monty
July 21st, 2009
6:07 pm
A silver-lining?
The Phillies have 36 remaining games with teams outside the East, which is a good thing since they have beat up on the East (except for the Bravos). And out of those 36 games 30 are with teams still in the hunt for a playoff berth. The BRaves on the other hand have just 27 games outside the East and 19 of those games are with teams still in contention. And as you all know we have 9 games left with the Phillies. This is doable people if we continue to play like we have lately.
Jake W.
July 21st, 2009
6:07 pm
I know Wayne, the guy is a warrior but from what you and DOB said its not sounding good for him and if he doesn’t get it together those fans are going to eat him alive. Don’t know what will happen with him up there but I wish him the best.
TexasBrave
July 21st, 2009
6:08 pm
the Phillies don’t need the pitching just about every other club needs with their lineup. A 4.50 ERA from their starters will suffice. TommyP
Sadly you are correct. It will be enough to get them in the playoffs as long as the offense keeps putting up big numbers. However, it will not be enough to get them another WS ring. Their pitching was better last year to go along with the offense. Good pitching will beat a good offense, that is why we have taken seven out of nine games thus far from them. It’s unfortunate we only play them nine more times.
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
6:08 pm
Wayne…I agree with you about smoltzie..sad to see him struggle
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
6:09 pm
monty: RIGHT ON! That is one heckuva silver lining.
Nelson
July 21st, 2009
6:12 pm
It was obvious that KJ was not a second baseman, and that was a failed project that took a long, long time and KJ injury for Bobby to give-up on it. I said that many times in this blog, but always somebody jumped over me, but time (and a lot more double-plays) have given me the reason!
Please do not bring back Body Carlyle, instead why not extend a contract to el “Duke”, he is a World Series Ring magnet!!! and I believe could help a lot as long reliever.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:12 pm
I know a lot of folks are frustrated with our signing Lowe and Kawakami (some wishing we had saved some of that cash for a bat), but after seeing Smoltzie struggle, I really like our rotation. We don’t have any total shut down starters on our staff (unless Hanson becomes one); as all of our guys have the propensity to have a down stretch during the year.
I just think that we are really set for the next few years. If there was any way we could keep Vazquez AND Hudson, I would be thrilled. Too bad none of these guys are left-handed.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
6:12 pm
Quick look ahead to tomorrow’s Jurrjens vs. Lincecum matchup:
Lincecum is 7-1 with a 1.39 ERA in his past 11 starts, with 93 strikeouts and 19 walks in 84-1/3 innings. He’s 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in his past nine road starts. Against the Braves, he’s a perfect 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five career starts, including eight scoreless innings (five hits, two walks) on May 26 in San Francisco. Ryan Church is 4-for-6 against him, and Brian McCann is 5-for-13.
HackLikesBeer2...&Scotch
July 21st, 2009
6:12 pm
The Phils are not hitting like the 1927 Yankees. If they pitch with a 4.50 ERA, they will lose the division.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
6:14 pm
David O’Brien……..thanks for the Bobby updated quotes on your 5:53pm posting. Now that is the “Bobby” I like to hear speak. Not the “Uh, I need to give Francoeur some at-bats to get him going” Bobby that we’ve heard speak too many times.
I would only support Kelly being brought back up if he replaces Greg Norton on the 25 man roster. Barring that, I would hope that Frank Wren keeps him at Triple A until an injury happens or until the September call-ups.
As far as Buddy Carlyle, if he is going to be called up, I’d rather see him replace Peter Moylan. Having him replace Kris Medlen makes no sense because we’d have no one to work long relief or fulfill the spot starter role. So the likely candidate for Carlyle to replace would be Manny Acosta. While still feel that Moylan is too inconsistent to pitch in tight ball games in the 7th inning……..I could “live” with it. Having Carlyle replace Acosta wouldnt have nearly the negative impact as having Kelly replace Brooks Conrad instead of Norton.
C's
July 21st, 2009
6:15 pm
That look ahead to the Jurrjens/Lincecum matchup sure lacked a lot of Jurrjens.
Jake W.
July 21st, 2009
6:17 pm
TexasBrave
I agree with what you said on the Phillies. Their lineup will beatup on the lesser teams and lesser pitchers but come the playoffs unless their pitching gets it together I don’t see them repeating. A lot of people give Cole Hamels and that offense the credit for winning that World Series last year but they were also anchored by good pitching performances by Moyer and Myers in the playoffs. That plus their good offense. Not just a good lineup alone got them that ring.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
6:17 pm
Wayne in Utah……………Diory Hernandez will stay on the roster until Omar Infante comes back (Infante can fill in for Escobar if need be, in addition to being able to play other positions). So for the time being, Hernandez will have to stay on the roster.
AZBravoFan
July 21st, 2009
6:17 pm
BIT FAILU
Fear not. You are not alone. I’m very interested in Knucksie, Jr.’s progress. It would really make a cool story. And I was always a HUGE fan of his uncle.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:20 pm
Nelson
So you are saying that just because Kelly Johnson lost his job in Atlanta, that he is no longer a second baseman?? Afraid I’m going to have to disagree with you on that one.
He might not be a slick fielding second baseman. Also, he might not be a consistent hitting second baseman. But, I didn’t see them playing him at any other positions in Gwinnett. (unless I totally missed that one??)
So, I think he is still a potential second baseman for our Braves. Actually, he is not much different from Prado as for fielding the position, from what I have seen.
As for Buddy. You gotta throw out this season, due to his diabetes. Maybe he never amounts to much, but last year he was one of our more consistent arms in the pen. I look forward to his return to the staff.
Go get ‘em Buddy!
TexasBrave
July 21st, 2009
6:21 pm
Paul, Buddy is a long reliever/spot starter and the most likely scenario when he is activated is that Medlen will be sent down so he can be stretched back out as a starter. I too like Chris but I will also understand the move when it happens.
Oh and you can forget him or anything happening to Moylan unless he falls of the face of the Earth. He is Bobby’s right hand man, sort of speak.
glove51
July 21st, 2009
6:21 pm
DOB — if you are ever in Ft. Worth, go to Fuzzy’s for fish tacos. They are really, really good. I like Rubio’s for a quasi fast food/casual dining fish taco place in Phoenix. I think they are in Cali too.
I agree on your comment abour this being the best Wilco CD since YHF, although I lked the last one quite a bit. No as fond of A Ghost is Born, which, of course, they won a Grammy far. Being There is still their best reocrd bar none.
Any chance the Braves would bring up Kelly and drop Norton?
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
6:21 pm
And facing Lincecum tomorrow will be a surgin’ Jurrjens: He’s 3-1 with a 2.16 ERA and .176 opponents’ average in his past four starts, despite totaling more walks (12) than strikeouts (11) in 25 innings in that span. He’s 2-0 in his past two home starts, while allowing just three hits and no earned runs in 13 innings. He is 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts against the Giants, both in 2008.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
6:24 pm
As for tonight, Lowe should probably just pretend like he’s still pitching for the Dodgers: He’s 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his past eight starts against the Gigantes, from Aug. 2006 to last September.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
6:25 pm
David O’Brien……….I live in San Francisco, so I’ve well aware of how good Tim Linecum is. What I’ve been able to pick up in games where he has struggled……..it is important for the opposing team to work the count against him. Get his pitch count up and make him labor. If his control is there, then it will be EXTREMELY tough to get to him. His stuff is among the best in baseball.
However, Jair Jurrjens is no slouch himself. Tomorrow should be a good match-up.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
6:26 pm
glove51: Rubio’s started in San Diego. They had a stand at old Jack Murphy Stadium, and have several stands at the new ballpark.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
6:27 pm
I’d sure rather have KJ pinch-hitting than Ed Norton. Just worry that temptation might overcome Bobby if Prado struggled a bit. I kinda believe the decision to anoint Prado the starter was made in the FO. It’s hard to believe Bobby wouldn’t step down in such a circumstance, but he’s an old-school “company” guy. They tend to obey, pretty much regardless. Frenchy would still be out there every night if Wren hadn’t intervened by trading him. Bobby’s the kinda manager who would never take a players job because of injury. If Bobby had 100% control of personnel moves, and if KJ was actually injured but is healed, he’d be in Atlanta, tonight, and most probably in the starting lineup. Course that’s just my opinion, but with so many years of Bobby’s pathological player-loyalty (starting with Blauser) under my belt, I feel like I read him pretty well.
jcfromut
July 21st, 2009
6:28 pm
any chance kj is traded?
joe
July 21st, 2009
6:29 pm
DOB, how long did you wait to use the Surgin’ Jurrjens LOL
RHR
July 21st, 2009
6:30 pm
Because you have to live in SF to know how good Tim Lincecum is.
Lars Taint
July 21st, 2009
6:31 pm
Paul Lentz,
I really respect that you are seeing your faults on the blog and trying to change. I think you will find that most people on here agree with your opinions on the Braves, they just were annoyed by the insults and ramblings about unrelated topics.
C's
July 21st, 2009
6:32 pm
KJ is not gonna be traded. Wren has proven to be a pretty good GM. And good GM’s don’t trade players when their stock is at it lowest.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
6:32 pm
David O’Brien……………I loved Smoltz when he pitched with the Braves. However, it was apparent that with his injury last year, it was just too risky to offer him a contract for this season…….knowing that he wouldnt be back until mid-June (at the earliest)…..combined with the fact that the Braves were on the hook for $13 mil for Tim Hudson this year……..Frank Wren was smart to move in a different direction.
Seeing him pitch last night against Texas wasnt pretty. He had a decent first 5 innings. However, he just lost it in the 6th. While Boston has a deep bullpen and can therefore absorb Smoltz not being effective more than 5 innings every few outings……..the Braves dont have that kind of depth.
I wish him well. I dont think that it is over for Smoltz. Boston is the right team for him. From what I have seen of him in his first few starts since he came back…..it would not be impossible for me to fathom him pitching better as the season progresses.
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
6:32 pm
“Keith Law’s Take
“My gut reaction is that without a bat, the Braves can’t win this division. The deficit is 8 games in the loss column, behind a clearly superior Phillies team.”
We’re 7-2 against them and play them 9 more times and this guy is saying they’re clearly better and we can’t beat them. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I cannot believe ESPN gainfully employs this pinhead. Statistically speaking, he should *accidentally* get more of these right than he does.
Train Wreck Bystander
July 21st, 2009
6:32 pm
PTV available on dish Network here in Tennessee AGAIN – channel 449
I must be living right.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:33 pm
Shamus
Gotta say you probably read Bobby pretty well….but, I think he will view Kelly as a 1-2 start per week guy. Now, if KJ get’s hot, you might see him pick up the AB’s for Kelly.
Realistically, if KJ played twice a week, and if Prado spelled Chipper on one of those days, it might not be a bad proposal. I know that some will have a total meltdown the first time KJ starts over Prado, but unless KJ is released, it IS going to happen.
HackLikesBeer2...&Scotch
July 21st, 2009
6:33 pm
When will Omar Infante start getting at-bats at Gwinnett?
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
6:33 pm
“And I’m definitely not selling low on Schafer. I don’t think I’m trading him unless I get a really significant return back.”
I completely agree. A Schafer deal only makes sense if we get a legit starting outfielder back in the process, much as was the case with Gorkys in the McLouth deal.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
6:33 pm
I have doubts that the White Sox and Braves will make any big trades this season. The Sox have scored ONLY 21 more runs than the Braves, which means they don’t have a great offense in the AL.
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
6:36 pm
“We do not need to trade Kelly Johnson. At this point, his trade value is at an all time low. Hold onto him.”
I also agree with this. The only way a KJ deal makes sense at the moment is if we get a reliever back in the process who is signed at a reasonable rate next year. That would give us insurance if Soriano or Gonzalez leaves. Or both, God forbid.
HackLikesBeer2...&Scotch
July 21st, 2009
6:36 pm
Shamus, your 6:27 post is on target. Bobby is an old romantic fool; he fall in love too easily with the old flame. Which is why he needs to wake up and start giving Conrad the AB’s instead of Norton.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:37 pm
Getting close to game time.
later…..
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
6:37 pm
David O’Brien……..I know that this may sound far fetched to ask, but is there anyway you can ask PeachTreeTV why they dont show games in high definition on Direct TV? I subscribe to the Extra Innings package on Direct TV and absolutely hate when games are shown on PT. FoxSportsSouth show the games in HD. I end up watching the feed of the opposing team when the games are shown on PT. Thanks in advance if you can pull this minor miracle off.
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
6:38 pm
“KJ is not gonna be traded. Wren has proven to be a pretty good GM. And good GM’s don’t trade players when their stock is at it lowest.” (C’s)
Look. I understand how this concept applies in fantasy leagues. But in order for the concept of “selling low” to be valid in real baseball you have to operate under the assumption that some FO’s have access to information others don’t. And that’s simply not the case. Every FO in baseball knows exactly what KJ is worth and his slump probably hasn’t hurt his value (unless they really think he’s toast, in that case Wren also knows he’s toast and the concept of selling low isn’t valid here either). That said, I don’t think we should trade him either.
HackLikesBeer2...&Scotch
July 21st, 2009
6:39 pm
Dave O’Brien: cable TV miracle worker – deluxe!!!
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
6:41 pm
MiaBchBravesFan,
OK, just didnt know it was specifically about the Campillo info, since I Posted some other info.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
6:41 pm
Almost game time…God Bless Us All!!!!
ncscoots
July 21st, 2009
6:41 pm
The only way a KJ deal makes sense at the moment is if we get a reliever back in the process who is signed at a reasonable rate next year.
Then, you’re saying that Johnson is worth no more than a Chad Qualls, who might be the most qualified guy who meets your reliever description. That, to me, is selling low. That type of reliever is worth no more mid-season than a prospect or two, and prospects who don’t figure into the team’s plans, at that.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
6:42 pm
And the massive chopping cow
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
6:42 pm
DOB Brian McCann is 5-for-13 [against Lincecum]
That includes August 6th, 2008, when BMac went 3-4 with a double and a K against Lincecum. He’s 0-4 with…[glup]…a pair of K’s against him this year.
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:42 pm
Braves sweep the Giants….you heard it here first (doing my best Coach impersonation!)
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
6:43 pm
I’m lucky, I get the Giants feed tonight
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
6:44 pm
I’m a little late in adding to this but it seems like the offense turned around when Martin Won the 2nd base job about a month ago…
With that said KJ will get dealt for a Reliever and a minor Leaguer. I think he needs a change of scenery. His Salary is gonna jump next year as well
And Who Sits when Infante comes back…I think Infante will spell Chipper a few games at third…Add he will be our number one pinch hitter…Norton will get released when Infante comes off the DL One would guess
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
6:45 pm
I’m lucky, I get the Giants feed tonight
With Jon “Pumpkin” Miller??
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:45 pm
scoots
KJ would be a God in that park, huh. Then our bloggers would be calling for us to get him back in 2-3 years.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
6:45 pm
Prado + Infante + Conrad = Deal KJ
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
6:46 pm
Wayne in Utah, I wholeheartedly agree with your second paragraph, but I also believe if it were totally up to Bobby, Prado would have never been “named” the starter in the first place.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
6:46 pm
jeffery d
Thanks for reminding me
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
6:47 pm
Norton will get released when Infante comes off the DL One would guess
Yeah, you’d think so…
MiaBchBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
6:48 pm
Pre-game show. Later, Blogizens.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
6:48 pm
Wayne in Utah,
If we sweep the giants Ill neve moan about Cox again……….ever………..
LOL
Come on freak!!!!!!!!!! dont let me down, I wont be able to live without moaning about cox.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
6:49 pm
Chris – that’s okay…at least we don’t have Furcal anymore.
“An unasisted triple play, by Rafael FOUR-CALL!”
Brave Fan in Florida
July 21st, 2009
6:49 pm
Did the Braves sign their 1st round pick
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
6:49 pm
At least I think that was Miller
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
6:49 pm
Nova Scotia Steve,
Does that include cox too?
ncscoots
July 21st, 2009
6:50 pm
Wayne, probably not that long, LOL. With all the “ADD” abounding on the blog (according to some posters), posters will forget all about the ripping they gave the guy as soon as he wins Player Of The Week for another team.
Flat Bill Kid
July 21st, 2009
6:50 pm
DOB could you just ask Directv why they don’t carry Peachtree HD instead? I hate sitting all night on the phone with them.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
6:51 pm
The Mute Button = Greatest Invention Ever!
When ESPN Guys and/or Chip are doing the commentary ~_~
cabravesfan
July 21st, 2009
6:51 pm
DOB-
You ever try Fiesta Taco in San Diego? I’ve got friends there that claim it is the best taco place in Southern California, which is saying a lot…
Wayne in Utah
July 21st, 2009
6:51 pm
Dang Doc. I’m calling out the prayer groups all over Braves land!!! I’m gonna hold you to it!
(you’d change your screen name and still bitch, huh!)
Jeff321
July 21st, 2009
6:51 pm
We do not need to trade Kelly Johnson. At this point, his trade value is at an all time low. Hold onto him.
Hold on to him till when? The off season so he can get non tendered? Sorry, but KJ isn’t worth 400K, IMO..
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
6:52 pm
The Phillies might not need a quality starter to win the division, but when they get to the playoffs, Good pitching will limit their offense. THey need another starter to advance in the playoffs.
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
6:52 pm
“Then, you’re saying that Johnson is worth no more than a Chad Qualls, who might be the most qualified guy who meets your reliever description. That, to me, is selling low.”
You picked the name, not me. I wasn’t specifically discussing a closer. If we go that route, the available player I would covet is George Sherrill since he’s better right now and I believe in the hot hand theory when it comes to baseball players. Having said that, Qualls wouldn’t be a bad fallback option since he’s under contract through next year and a bit younger than Sherrill.
Whether you consider that selling low or not is up to you. For me, that trade works since it returns someone who immediately helps this team. I am a huge fan of Kelly Johnson despite his inexplicable fall off the table this year. I am also a realist who knows that he has lost his job and I’m more concerned on what the Braves can do to help themselves now. If we still have him after the season, I’m perfectly fine with that, but I do not consider a trade of a guy with a lifetime OPS of .773 for an AL pitcher with an ERA of 2.35 or an NL pitcher with a career ERA of 3.32 to be selling low. Your mileage may vary, but that’s where I stand on the subject.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
6:52 pm
DOB – My cable gets a little fuzzy when it rains, can you come by and fix it?
NORRIS
July 21st, 2009
6:53 pm
What is the lineup tonight? did I miss it?
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
6:55 pm
The Mute Button = Greatest Invention Ever!
Thing about that is they’ll be talking about like, Chipper’s mechanics on the radio, but Chip will be talking about Jeff Francoeur’s turkey underwear so the PTV cameras will be trying to get a shot of the undies while you’re listening to something completely different.
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
6:55 pm
Well now it looks like the Jays GM is saying it’s unlikely Halladay will be dealt this season. Hopefully that takes care of the obsession some of you have with the Halladay/Phills thing.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
6:56 pm
jeffrey d
LOL!
TJ
July 21st, 2009
6:57 pm
NORRIS–Braves lineup is posted on page 3, about three quarters of the way down.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
6:57 pm
On Giants pregame show they said they could be looking for a second baseman.
KJ to Giants then as a possibility?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
6:58 pm
Is neither the SF or ATL feed in HD tonight?
C's
July 21st, 2009
6:59 pm
ncscoots -
I understand what you’re saying about other GM’s/FO’s having access to KJ’s past numbers. But his stock is still low regardless. Otherwise, that’s like saying Vaz’s stock isn’t any higher right now than it was at this time last year. It is. Because of what he’s done recently. Just like KJ’s stock has gone down because of what he’s done lately.
What a guy has done recently isn’t the end all be all of what FO’s look at. But it certainly plays into the equation.
ncscoots
July 21st, 2009
7:00 pm
Your mileage may vary, but that’s where I stand on the subject.
Nothing wrong with that. Being wrong, that is, LOL.
Seriously, trading players for less than value isn’t exactly the road to riches, and trading good position players for relievers isn’t value-for-value, in most instances.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:00 pm
Tomahawkin…………..my guess as far as how Bobby will use Infante will be as a super sub. When Infante comes back, Bobby will be able to load the line-up more with either lefties or righties……Diaz/Garret in left………Infante/Church in right. Also, Infante can spell Escobar at short. If Prado has to play first or third to give Chipper or Kotchman a rest, then Infante can play second, unless a lefty is pitching and Infante has to play right field, which means that Conrad can play second.
Regardless, Omar Infante coming back will give Bobby Cox more flexibility to take advantage of pitching match-ups.
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
7:00 pm
“KJ to Giants then as a possibility?”
They’ve got pitching to burn, but you don’t see teams fighting for the same playoff spot help each other out very often.
DiamondJim
July 21st, 2009
7:01 pm
Braves & Giants are on Dish @ channel 449 as part of Dish Sports package. Cost me $5.99 per month – with first 3 months FREE! AND 449 is Peachtree TV.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:02 pm
jeffrey d……….I suggest that you get a better tv. and fork over some cash for Direct TV, lol.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
7:02 pm
I wonder how other teams value Kelly Johnson?
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
7:03 pm
I took some heat for saying that Prado is going to go through a “correction” with his hitting, which he is. He will not continue to hit .330. But he is the starting second baseman and I support him.
But the Phillies are going to go through a “correction” of their own also. They really have a weak pitcher going tonight and I think their winning streak will come to an end and they will start to come back to earth. At least I hope they do.
GradyBaby
July 21st, 2009
7:03 pm
Who here thinks Hanson will be or is better than Lincecum?
cafleming
July 21st, 2009
7:03 pm
Thank Heaven! I finally can watch Peachtree TV on Dish Network channel 449. I reside in Talladega, AL.
Slugger - theweeklyscene.com
July 21st, 2009
7:03 pm
RAISES RIGHT ARM AND LISTENS TO DRUMS BEAT…
DUMMMM DUMMMM DUMM DUMM DUMM DUM DUM DUM
DUMMMM DUMMMM DUMM DUMM DUMM DUM DUM DUM
[CUE HORNS]
OHH
OHHHHH
EH-OHHHH
OHHHHHHH
OHH
WEH-OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
DUMMMM DUMMMM DUMM DUMM DUMM DUM DUM DUM
DUMMMM DUMMMM DUMM DUMM DUMM DUM DUM DUM
[repeat 'Tomahawk Chop' until victory]
blazon
July 21st, 2009
7:04 pm
Dish channel #449 showing not available in my area, southern ohio
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
7:04 pm
I know that if Halladay isn’t dealt to Philly that will have some of you depressed because you won’t have anything to complain about, but I’m sorry, if a teams GM says it’s unlikely, it ain’t happening.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:05 pm
Heath (Cleveland)……………the Giants feed is not in HD either. I just turned to BayAreaFoxSports (the local network that carries the Giants) and they arent offering the game in HD either. The majority of the time they do. But on occasion they wont. They didnt have it in HD last night either.
Bobby Is A Junkie
July 21st, 2009
7:06 pm
Wren had to take Frenchy away from Bobby. Trading Frenchy was the only way the team could be assured that Bobby would NOT have Frenchy parked in right field EVERY night!
Wren will have to trade KJ as well. When/IF KJ becomes available to Bobby, you can count on him getting some starts at second base no matter HOW WELL PRADO IS HITTING!
Bobby is like a junkie for certain players. He was a Frenchy junkie and he is a KJ junkie. I don’t trust Bobby on the Prado deal. I would bet that Prado still can’t rest assured that he owns the second base job even though he has more than earned it!
Please Frank Wren, save the Braves nation from Bobby’s indescretions! Trade Kelly Johnson before Bobby puts him back in the lineup!
Slugger - theweeklyscene.com
July 21st, 2009
7:08 pm
In text form, fans, please type your own version of the Tomahawk Chop.
Let’s see some CHOPP’N! (not to be confused with Chopin).
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
7:09 pm
Wayne,
Im a gentleman of word……….Id keep it.
We are not that good though………………..but im already sweating anyway.
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
7:09 pm
UH OH, this Sadowski kid is a “medical miracle” so you know what that means… Chip will be ready to scream if the kid does well with, “RYAN SADOWSKI, WHAT AN INSPIRATION TO MLB AND MY OH MY DID HE JUST BLOW AWAY THE BRAVES IN THAT INNING, WOW!!!” I’m just sayin, get ready Braves fans.
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
7:09 pm
“trading good position players for relievers isn’t value-for-value, in most instances.”
Nonsense. Kelly Johnson would be first in line to tell you he isn’t a good position player right now. In order for him to get back to that level, he would have to start again, which won’t happen here, barring injury. In short, the deal you’re shrugging off as selling low is one where the Braves would be the ones hoping the Orioles said yes.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:10 pm
Other than Winn and Sandavol……….this is a VERY WEAK Giants line-up tonight.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
7:11 pm
Man are we hot……….. Lowe is our 4 or 5th best pitcher right now……….good god.
HD Feed
July 21st, 2009
7:11 pm
The Peachtree feed is in HD
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:11 pm
Winn = Braves Killer.
Throw at him or something!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:11 pm
Winn = Braves Killer.
Throw at him or something!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:11 pm
Winn really knocked the crap out of that one.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:12 pm
For the love of God….I hope no one gives Escobar an error on that play…it could get ugly…
But seriously tough play…nice try
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:12 pm
Not sure why the double post. Sorry.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:13 pm
Paul Lentz- to use a phrase I’ve heard on the broadcast before…”It’ll look like a line drive in the box score tomorrow”….lol
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:13 pm
How about trade for Winn?
We usually acquire Braves killers ~_~
Nate McLouth and Mike Gonzalez just to name a few ~_~
JasonInFL
July 21st, 2009
7:13 pm
Here’s our Ace! Man, I hope D-Lowe can buckle down and have a good outing…we need it with The Freak going tomorrow…
The Second Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:14 pm
Not a good start….
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:14 pm
As the saying would go….
Can’t Beat Em….Acquire Em!
Nick
July 21st, 2009
7:14 pm
I guess were getting bad Lowe tonight.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:14 pm
Joe Simpson trying to calm all the fans…
His best comment of the Monday night…
“Annnnnddd right down the middle for ball three” lol Gotta love Joe Simpson
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
7:14 pm
“But the Phillies are going to go through a “correction” of their own also. They really have a weak pitcher going tonight and I think their winning streak will come to an end and they will start to come back to earth.”
I don’t start scoreboard watching until September. This statement does tie in nicely with all of the Halladay to the Phillies paranoia creeping around here, though. The quickest way to guarantee that the Phillies pony up for Halladay is to have them start losing for the next week. Then, pressure builds for that deal to happen. With a 6.5 game lead, they can stand still as long as they keep winning.
So, whether the Phillies win or lose between now and the trade deadline goes a long way in determining what happens with Halladay.
joshb
July 21st, 2009
7:14 pm
Triple Play, you heard it here first
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:15 pm
wooo K!
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:15 pm
Joe Simpson =
Boog too!
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
““Annnnnddd right down the middle for ball three” lol Gotta love Joe Simpson”
I’m a big fan of Joe’s comments like that. hehe
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
“Kung Fu Panda”…I love it. Kinda hard to be scared of somebody with that nickname.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
What a DP!
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
Oh my goodness.
letsgetrich
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
OHHHHH!!!!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
What A DP!!! THAT WAS SICK!!!
HD Feed
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
Web Gem!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
Two ground balls that are perfectly placed is not exactly a reason to be too concerned about Lowe…
Just as I type that, another ground ball that results in a DP!!!
Jeffro
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
Holy Escobar Batman!!!!
CLE
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
Holy smokes, what a nice DP!
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
Wow, that play would make a nice poster, that leap by Escobar over the baserunner sliding into second. Quite an athletic play.
JasonInFL
July 21st, 2009
7:16 pm
now, that folks, was a double play…my word that was beautiful!
blazon
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
DJim…thanks for info, was just offered same deal…but blacked out tonight…how often is that likely to happen, any idea? thanks
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
JMAN
Escobar is amazing
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
Web gem anyone?
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
Add Good defensive overall as to why the braves have played well lately…
Nick
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
PLAY OF THE YEAR!
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
That was an AMAZING DOUBLE-PLAY!! Wow! Beautiful!!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
Looks like a web gem there…
coach smith
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
WOW!!!!!
oh yeah we should trade Escobar right???????
anyone who wanted that is just plain DUMB
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
I’ll get worried about Lowe when the ball is left up and the opposition is hitting something other that ground balls.
Zephyr 8
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
Escobar got some air.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
I prefer the “Premiere Plays Of The Night” over “Web Gems”. That proves my liking of MLBN over ESPN ~_~
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:17 pm
OK I’LL GO WITH HOLY SMOKES…..
My last post got deleted….lol
ray k.
July 21st, 2009
7:18 pm
Escobar may well be the best short stop in the NL. I said it.
Man is he special.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:18 pm
Now, who wants to trade Escobar now?
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
7:18 pm
I think that runner was safe at 1st but that was the best dp’s turn I’ve ever seen, live anyways.
cricket
July 21st, 2009
7:18 pm
Ok, as not a big fan of our announcers, I have to agree that these giants announcer clowns are way worse.
Jack
July 21st, 2009
7:18 pm
Kelley Johnson would never made that play.
MEB
July 21st, 2009
7:19 pm
We’ll be watching that play for many years. WOW!!!
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:19 pm
woo way to pitch out of trouble D-Lowe!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:19 pm
KJ would have bobbled that play…
Nick
July 21st, 2009
7:19 pm
mclouth is popping everything up.
Joebrave
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
EsssssssssssCOBARRRRR!!!!!!
THWG
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
He was SO safe at first, but I’ll take it.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
Aw man, sounds like I missed a gem of a DP!
I’m still at work.
Jake W.
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
“Escobar got some air”
Air Escobar’s, the shoes would have to have a gold tip of course.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
Prado still doing it!
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
I guess the way escobar is playing …he should get his own personal interpreter…
the hopes of the braves nation rest in your hands mr. hanson
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
its so funny the responses you are getting from people on escobar now….
just on saturday, everyone wanted him traded….or killed.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
The Giants pitcher looks like he’s got Scurvey!
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
Atta boy Praydo!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
Prado gets a hit…to “correct” all of you that say he won’t hit for a high BA.
John
July 21st, 2009
7:21 pm
On those type of double plays…you better obviously beat the throw to 1B….or the ump is gonna call you out…maybe safe…but a great play
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:21 pm
No Interpreter need on that Escobar play…
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:21 pm
Looks like Chipper’s got a whole can of Copenhagen in his lip tonight.
I wonder if there is a stat on how good he does with or without the dip…
MANOLO
July 21st, 2009
7:22 pm
What a play!! this DP combo is looking everyday better. This reminded me of the old Dodger combos of Davy Lopes, bill russell, in terms of coordination. Guys, forget about the middle infield, these two will be here for a LONG TIME. If I will be KJ, i will be playing the outfield in AAA, to be ready for the future.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:22 pm
“a switch went off” ???
Seriously?
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:23 pm
Why in the heck was KJ ever converted to an infielder in the first place?
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:23 pm
SpongeBob up at bat…
Joebrave
July 21st, 2009
7:23 pm
Wildcard?Wildacrd? to hell with the Wildcard, run down them damn stinkin Philthies and take back what is rightfully Atlanta’s the N.L.East Title, Wildcard?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:23 pm
Necromancer -
He was a SS to start.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:24 pm
Betcha KJ’s glad he wasn’t around to wittness that DP…
I shouldn’t say that…I like Kelly… I really think he wants to help the team!
Capt Caveman
July 21st, 2009
7:24 pm
If you just saw that double play turned by Esco and still think the Braves need to trade him, than you have no idea what you are talking about.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:24 pm
Meanwhile, Prado continues to rake at the plate.
Joebrave
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
BMACCCCCCCC!!!!!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
aneurism…dang, now I feel bad…
Sorry bout what I said about the pitcher..
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
McCann!
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
Necromancer- I believe KJ was an infielder to start with. They converted him to an outfielder then back to infield.
THWG
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice
Jeff321
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
Mac comes through!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
Good Lick B-Macc!!!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
GO SPONGEBOB!!!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
Damn, just a little higher, lol. McCann TOMAHAWKED that one.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
YEAH….Way to get on the board!!!! Let’s get behind these guys!!!!!
Go Braves…keep rollin….keep on rollin
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
1-0 Braves…on a uuuuuhm. Double!
Gotta make McFann feel good!
Chop Chop
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
High fastballs are killing the Giants in this series.
Bobby Is A Junkie
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
Joe Simpson talking about Chipper’s comment that he doesn’t know and he doesn’t want to know why the Braves are playing better.
Does it take a rocket scientist to see that the Braves started turning the corner when Frenchy was benched for a few games and Prado FINALLY was in the lineup every day?
Is it a coincidence that the Braves look better now than they have in a couple of years and that it takes place when Frenchy and KJ aren’t in the lineup?
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
Attaboy Mac!!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:25 pm
Its About time Our Commentators call him B-Macc! Attaboy Chip!
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
7:26 pm
9 straight!! RBI DOUBLE!!!
John
July 21st, 2009
7:26 pm
When things are goin’ bad…that 2B bounces over the wall and we don’t score. …Things are goin’ good…at the moment
Joebrave
July 21st, 2009
7:26 pm
Time for Loaf to spank some ass here!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:26 pm
TJ
i didn’t know that…
interesting…..
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
7:26 pm
Necromancer–
Me, too…we always face these kinda guys…
Bobby's Cox
July 21st, 2009
7:26 pm
Just saw the DP. Excellent.
Runner was safe at 1st, but that’s what happens when you awe the umps…
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
7:27 pm
I guess you have to tip your cap to TP for the hot hitting this month
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:28 pm
Oh Gawd, They are still playing those Stupid Amstel Light Commercials…
Bring back the Samuel Jackson Commercials please…?
joe
July 21st, 2009
7:28 pm
McFanny…nice start. And what about that play to end the top of the first?!
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
7:29 pm
John When things are goin’ bad…that 2B bounces over the wall and we don’t score
Haha! That’s for sure!
THWG
July 21st, 2009
7:29 pm
Chip: “Whoever it is [who taught Garret Anderson how to hit] taught his pupil well.”
Right as GA strikes out.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
7:29 pm
Those who want to trade Escobar are insane.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
7:30 pm
I guess you have to tip your cap to TP for the hot hitting this month
No. Everybody knows TP only makes hitters worse.
nolie
July 21st, 2009
7:30 pm
Did the Braves sign their 1st round pick (BravesFaninFla)
no. i posted a story mentioning him a few pages back.They drafted him 15 positions high to save money and they still haven’t signed him
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
7:31 pm
Joe–
Yep! That play in the first was amazing–Proda laid out to get the ball, flipped it to Escobar who bare-handed it while tagging the base, leaped over the runner, and fired to first! Close play, but out nonetheless!
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
7:31 pm
We’d be batting .998 this month if it weren’t for TP (Greg Norton would still get out)
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:31 pm
I’m not tipping TP anything…
Marc
July 21st, 2009
7:31 pm
For those of you that criticize Braves announcers; be glad we don’t have to hear the Giants announcers every game. Yay for MLB Extra Innings… I think.
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
7:32 pm
Chipper with a very good play!
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:32 pm
Wow. The D is on it tonight.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:32 pm
Good Pick By Hoss!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:32 pm
Boys are playing good ball…all over the place…
This is fun!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:32 pm
Still no fly balls, outs our otherwise, given up by Lowe…..great sign so far.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Isn’t Renteria making 9 Million a year…?
Waht a Foolish Signing that was by the giants F.O.
They Got Hustled! Just glad it didn’t happen to us…
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
WOW THAT WAS SICK!!!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
WHOA!
That WAS special.
Bobby's Cox
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
KJ was actually a SS.
They moved him to the OF because….well you can imagine why.
Then before the 2007 (after TJ surgery), he practiced with Hubbard every day in the offseason to convert to 2nd, because they wanted his On Base capabilities at the top of the order.
They had a “tryout” in ST that year. Wouldn’t say KJ won that competition outright (looking at the stats)…but they chose him. Prado went on to win like AAA player of the year or something for Richmond.
KJ had a decent year in 2007. He started off on fire. I was happy. People say he had a great year, but I remember him being inconsistent & the stats show it a bit. Last year was worse with the inconsistency. Bobby was finally forced to make a switch. Glad Martin finally got his shot. I think it’s made him a more complete player though being a backup, trying to play other positions, etc..
KJ is not hurt. He’s eligible to come off the DL now. He’ll be traded for a reliever. We need relievers. Hope we can get a prospect too.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Damn Esco.
Marc
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
I still say KJ and Frenchy have horrible rookie and sohpmore years if not for TP. You can’t blame their failures on him and not give him credit for their success. Just saying. OF course they both suffer from the inability to adapt.
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Could it be that joe simpson has a man crush on escobar
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Another Web Gem anyone?
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Simpson said it best..”He’s special, Folks”
THWG
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Aw c’mon. Esco makes it look so easy.
DirtyYuni
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Wow, back to back picks. Left side’s looking good.
letsgetrich
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
They love to hate him. Go yuni!!!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Escobar is amazing. Let him be himself and have fun
Bobby Is A Junkie
July 21st, 2009
7:33 pm
Escobar is channelling Ozzie Smith!
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
That’s at least 3 plays so far that could be on ESPN web gems.
N9(Escobar is THE future& NOT tradable)
July 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
Yunel shows off da skills!!!!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
This whole game may be a web gem…
Jaglawyer
July 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
Just think if he lost the frost tips . . .
TexasBrave
July 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
Oh my Goodness!!! Escobar is unconscious.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
SIGN THE MAN….SIGN THAT MAN…PUT THE CONTRACT IN CUBAN, SPANISH, ESPANOL AND ENGLISH…
ace
July 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
Maybe KJ can transition to a utility role – some 2B, 3B, LF, 1B? Get some work at those spots in spring training next yr. His 09 slump may have led some to over react (sort of a blog tendency it seems). He does have some punch at times. KJ haters are everywhere but maybe he could be an asset down the road. Might overlap with Infante’s role a bit. But all the Infante admirers may be too infatuated with his 09 numbers, which are better than his past performance. I like them both as part of the bench.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:35 pm
Necromancer- I was wrong about KJ. He came up in 2005, played left field. He was switched to 2B because he had surgery on his arm (don’t think it was TJ surgery, but serious) and missed 2006. He switched to infield in 2007, which is where he’s been ever since. Sorry ’bout that….
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:35 pm
I have to watch the Giants feed because the Braves feed is blacked out her in San Fran. Mike Krukow just said “Wow” and then it went to commercial break, lol.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
7:35 pm
Esco haters!!!!
How’d you like them apples?
Mike in LA
July 21st, 2009
7:35 pm
They are having fun. Who cares where they are in the standings. If they play the kind of baseball they are right now for the rest of the season the record will work itself out.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:36 pm
I think he got switched from SS to 2B when Escobar took over full time.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
7:36 pm
This pitcher kinda looks like Adam LaRoche
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
7:37 pm
Would be nice if Church has a long AB… only 3 pitches thrown this inning.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:37 pm
I’d like to point out…I was never EVER an Escobar hater…
And also thought the trade Escobar “because he in Bobby’s doghouse” was the most tiring this blog may have ever been…
Maybe not that hardcore…but it was tiring
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:37 pm
Easy inning there…
Marc
July 21st, 2009
7:38 pm
The Giant’s announcers response to Esco’s pick to end the last inning; “Uribe can pick it to, some great plays come out of him”.
Be glad you’re a Brave fan right now, it could be worse, you could hav e to root for the Giants.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:38 pm
TJ
No problem, man.
I thought that KJ had started out as a LF’er.
Oh well…
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:38 pm
Esco looks so happy today too.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:39 pm
Uribe’s is a fat slob!
Can’t stand the Giants annoucers….buncha “meat”heads!
N9(Escobar is THE future& NOT tradable)
July 21st, 2009
7:39 pm
Bingo. Chips brings up Frenchy before the first inning ended.
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
7:39 pm
Okay, whichever one of you made the Pride of the Yankees deal, thank you.
SG
July 21st, 2009
7:39 pm
Hey guys found a perfect game link. Plus they are begging for viewers. Thought I’d share. http://www.p2p4u.net/watch-live-sports.php?id=3151&link=2
the hopes of the braves nation rest in your hands mr. hanson
July 21st, 2009
7:39 pm
TnBrian,
yeah the obsession with halladay to the phils might be coming to an end….but a new obsession with cliff lee to the phils is about to start brewing.
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
7:39 pm
TJ…kj did have tommy john surgery..performed by Dr. James Andrews
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
7:39 pm
argh…the wife wants to go on a bike ride…
Hold the fort down for me!
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
7:40 pm
Err, Damn Yankees. Pride of the Yankees has slightly different subject matter and significantly different viewpoint regarding the Yankee ballclub.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:40 pm
Yep. Those were the stats that I could find on the QT. I’m sure some stats guys could probably find more. I’m just not a “stats guy”…. or stats girl for that matter.
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
7:40 pm
Maybe 3 people out of the hundreds who post on the blog wanted to trade Escobar – can we please just drop the whole damn conversation?
I’m tired of hearing “Don’t trade Escobar!” Really? No sh!t. I’m sure these comments might sway Wren to keep this player just this one time.
Wren isn’t going to move the guy without a significant return (including a good young SS), and that deal isn’t materializing. So please, can everyone just drop it?
Escobar is going nowhere. There is no need to panic about Wren moving him.
Done.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:41 pm
A lot of ground balls early by Lowe is definitely a good sign. I like our chances tonight.
THWG
July 21st, 2009
7:41 pm
jeffrey d- He swings like LaRoche, too.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:41 pm
That upmire is calling everything and anybody out over there…he just sending people to the dugout left or right…no matter if they’re safe or out…
I love it…
I think he just rung
letsgetrich
July 21st, 2009
7:41 pm
with that defense behind lowe.. no he is wheelin and dealin
MANOLO
July 21st, 2009
7:42 pm
BOBBY COX/ PAUL, if we trade KJ for a right handed reliever, so we can send Manny A. down, who can we get? I like weathers, but he can be had for less that KJ I believe. What about Capps from Pittsburgh? Is he available?
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:42 pm
SG…thanks for that link.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
7:42 pm
Can anyone on the Braves get Winn out
CrimeDog
July 21st, 2009
7:42 pm
Salamander-
Amen. No one has mentioned trading Escobar in weeks, yet after every good thing he does, we hear “still want to trade Escobar?”, addressed to no one in particular.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:42 pm
yup i think he just called Winn out…lol
Zephyr 8
July 21st, 2009
7:43 pm
Does Randy Winn get hits against any other teams?
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:43 pm
God I hate Winn!!!
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
7:43 pm
“Why in the heck was KJ ever converted to an infielder in the first place?”
The same reason Chipper was converted to an outfielder. That’s where the need was.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:44 pm
Get him here Lowe…
Marc
July 21st, 2009
7:44 pm
High heat from Lowe? lol?
Jalb3rt
July 21st, 2009
7:44 pm
OMG, Randy Winn please go back to the AL!!!!!!!!!
nolie
July 21st, 2009
7:44 pm
trading good position players for relievers isn’t value-for-value, in most instances. (SCOOTS)
amen to that. they are relievers for one reason, cause they ain’t good enough to be anything else. That applies to 90+% of them,and one of the ways in which they manifest their suckatude is by going cold just when you think they are hot stuff. I would never trade a decent regular player for any but the most proven longterm reliever.and Sherrill for instance has yo-yoed almost every year. No thank you.
N Nine
July 21st, 2009
7:45 pm
Salamander YES! I agree, not happening! It could finally be a quiet deadline.
Jaglawyer
July 21st, 2009
7:45 pm
Frank Wren on the phone . . .
“Mr. Lentz, what do you think about this move . . .”
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:45 pm
Wow. That thing rolled for a while.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:45 pm
Whew….a little luck can’t hurt.
abwright
July 21st, 2009
7:46 pm
Another great comment by Chip Caray, “Good job by Chipper to watch that ball go foul.”
Like Chipper had a choice!
JerseyBrave
July 21st, 2009
7:46 pm
I have to watch the Giants telecast because of Extra Innings, and these Giants announcers are quite monotone and boooorrrrrrring. Man, these guys are putting me to sleep.
Marc
July 21st, 2009
7:46 pm
These Giants announcers really are just terrible.
SG
July 21st, 2009
7:46 pm
N/p TJ…I’ll post again:
Hey guys found a perfect game link. Plus they are begging for viewers. Thought I’d share. http://www.p2p4u.net/watch-live-sports.php?id=3151&link=2
Feeanch
July 21st, 2009
7:46 pm
DOB, as usual, I enjoy your music and pop culture shout outs almost as much as your bloggy blog. Totally agree with you on the new Wilco. About 7 listens in and I think it’s better even than YHF b/c Tweedy’s songwriting is much improved since he got off the pills. Their Bonnaroo set this year was amazing, including the reemergence of a happy Tweedy. We all like happy Tweedy. Three bands you may have heard of but if not, definitely check out: Phoenix (like the strokes, except better hooks, a lead singer, and more fun), Mute Math (the best live band in the country hands down, and the only band who can rock a keytar), and Frightened Rabbit from Scotland (kind of a Travis/Parachutes-era Coldplay.
I’m headed to Elbow on Aug 8th. Let me know if you’re interested. I have an extra ticket.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
It would be good to have games left against the Nationals if they could beat them.
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
“He was switched to 2B because he had surgery on his arm (don’t think it was TJ surgery, but serious) and missed 2006.”
It was in fact Tommy John surgery. We had three or four guys who needed it that season IIRC.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
I think we can keep Kotchman.
SG
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
And that’s PTV feed
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
Oh boy…what is goin on here tonight folks
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
The Kotchmeister With the Sick Stab!!!
N Nine
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
WEB GEM CITY
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
The KOTCHMAN!
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
The Braves stayed at a holiday inn express last night…they brought their a game
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
Nice play Kotchman.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
Holy geez. Loving the defense tonight. Awesome play CK.
DirtyYuni
July 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
Krotch is like a vacuum over there. They’re flashing the leather tonight.
JasonInFL
July 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
Seriously, I don’t know if I have ever seen the Braves play D like this!
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
I have to watch the Giants telecast because of Extra Innings, and these Giants announcers are quite monotone and boooorrrrrrring.
Tell me about it. They were wholly unenthusiastic about that great DP we turned in the first. I don’t even think they acknowledged it once, just whined about the missed call at first…
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
Jersey Brave- try that link SG just posted. You can get the PeachtreeTV feed. Or at least it’s working for me….
wow
July 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
Just start handed out the webjems this is amazing defense way to go boys!!!!
joe
July 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
D D D D D D D!
Original Jon
July 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
Phillies lead 1-0 on a Rollins homer
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
Kotch haters!!
Whaddaya think of that?
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
7:49 pm
What a play by Kotchy!!
His glove is amazing.
N Nine
July 21st, 2009
7:49 pm
ESPN needs to do a special Top 5 Gem for the Braves. Sizzling 3 innings!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:49 pm
Phillies up early on Cubs already. That helps in the WC chase.
never
July 21st, 2009
7:49 pm
Saving a run with the glove.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
7:49 pm
Phillies are an incredible MLB team!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:50 pm
Heath
That’s the way I look at it…
Let’s just keep winning…we’re always gaining on someone!!!!
Braves Paisan
July 21st, 2009
7:50 pm
If GA makes a great catch in LF, the Apocalypse will be upon us!
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:50 pm
So it was TJ surgery? OK, then I was correct. Wasn’t sure, I just remember that he had a lot of trouble with pain in the arm after throwing in from the outfield. Thanks CorkylikesBeer and Gone Viral.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:50 pm
Bunt attempt for a hit for McLouth….he needs the practice.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:51 pm
Rally-Time Boyz!!! Lets’s Do This!
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:51 pm
DLowe! That boy can hit too!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
7:51 pm
Braves Paisan
July 21st, 2009
7:50 pm
If GA makes a great catch in LF, the Apocalypse will be upon us!
LOL….funny funny stuff
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
7:51 pm
“I would never trade a decent regular player for any but the most proven longterm reliever.”
The *only* reason Mike Gonzalez for Adam LaRoche wasn’t a masterstroke was because Gonzo got hurt. And he was far from proven at the time. I trust our scouts to make the right call on a player that can help us.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
7:51 pm
Derek Lowe, Silver Slugger Award winner?
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:51 pm
D-Lowe with a knock!
Marc
July 21st, 2009
7:51 pm
Lol, we just need to make it to the post season, from there we should be able to sweep the Phils, even though they would sweep anyone else.
Joebrave
July 21st, 2009
7:52 pm
dAMN i AM GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF THESE DAMN pHILTHIES, dAMN YOU TO HELL rOLLINS!
nolie
July 21st, 2009
7:52 pm
Why in the heck was KJ ever converted to an infielder in the first place? (Necro)
he was an infielder to begin with a SS
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
7:52 pm
Can you do a bad job of watching a ball go foul?
Joebrave
July 21st, 2009
7:52 pm
Now maybe Chase ugly will break his damn hand again!
raymond
July 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
1/4 of the NL has a shot at the wild card which means that each team has a small chance.
to think the Braves can beat out all the others is wishful thinking. it won’t happen due to simple probablity and the fact that there are several other teams just as good as the Braves.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
Got everyone else hitting, now just need to get Nate back on track too.
Chris from the Rock
July 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
Your revolution is over, Mr. Sadowski. Condolences. The bums lost. My advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir. The bums will always lose. Do you hear me, Sadowski?
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
Prado
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
That was the slowest base hit up the middle I’ve ever seen.
semiballcoach
July 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
the phillies streak started after chipper gave rollins that bat
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
…or you can continue to watch McLouth hit lazy fly balls.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
Prado hitting for average! I’ll take it!
abwright
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
Better to be lucky than good as that seeing eye single by Prado trickles through the middle.
I bet Lowe had some words for his infield before this game. They’ve been playing inspired defense.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
Chippa!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
2-0….Braves are just rollin’
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
Attaboy Hoss!!!
John
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
I like Prado….but when ya hot ya hot….them balls got eyes
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
Atta Boy Chipper!
JasonInFL
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
There we go Chip!
Marc
July 21st, 2009
7:54 pm
Raymond, the only other team in the NL as good as the Braves right now are the Phils. What’s our record against them this year? 5-1 or something like that?
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
7:55 pm
semiballcoach
July 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
the phillies streak started after chipper gave rollins that bat
What was Chipper thinking?
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
7:55 pm
Everyone’s favorite
secondbasemanutility player Kelly Johnson is 1-2 tonight!The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:55 pm
Attaboy Hoss!!!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
7:55 pm
Prado deserves cheap hits, he got robbed twice last night
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:55 pm
Prado getting more hits….further “correcting” everyone that says he can not hit for a high average.
Jeff321
July 21st, 2009
7:55 pm
KJ amassed 45 errors playing SS for Macon in 2001.
joe
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
where’s the donk that keeps asking when chipper delivers in the clutch?
abwright
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, way to walk McCann to load the bases.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
Hoss shoppin’ at the gap!
The Phillies are an incredible baseball team!
Bobby's Cox
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
Gone Viral & everyone else. Just listen to me about all this KJ stuff.
KJ was converted because we were a year removed from Furcal being gone. 2006 sucked without a leadoff hitter. With the year KJ put up in 2005 getting on base, they thought he’d be the best option.
I was upset Prado didn’t make the team…though at that point, not as a starter, but as the backup. Woodcrap made the team instead. I was upset we made that trade with NY. When Woodward hit like Mendoza, and during KJ’s dry spells, that’s when I started being a believer in Martin, especially after his ST that year in ‘07 and when he was hitting pretty well in AAA while playing mistake free defense.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
Intentionally walking McCann to get to LOAF. Make em pay LOAF!
John
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
OK Loaf…no double play here…let’s get that Crazy Cuban up there..!!
Chris from the Rock
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
Your revolution is over, Mr. Sadowski! Condolences. The bums lost! My advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir. The bums will always lose! Do you hear me, Sadowski?
Marc
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
Loaf gonna make them pay for that one, just watch!
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
Walking Mac to bring up Anderson? Kinda dangerous, but what other option do they have I guess?
Matt
July 21st, 2009
7:57 pm
How about that first grand slam of the year rght here?
joe
July 21st, 2009
7:57 pm
we can put this game away here
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:58 pm
Good job Loafy – productive out!
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:58 pm
Productive out LOAF! Good job.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
7:58 pm
No slam, but got a run in….
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:58 pm
We’ll Take that Loaf…But I thought it was a gapper when he hit it…
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:58 pm
Not a GS…but a sac fly plates another run. 3-0 is a big lead considering the opponent.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
7:58 pm
I am calling a Escobar Home Run
abwright
July 21st, 2009
7:58 pm
There’s another run by GA on a sac fly.
Now, Escobar can put the spike in the Giant’s coffin for the night.
joe
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
good professional at bat there…
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
Yunel!
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
So it was TJ surgery? OK, then I was correct. Wasn’t sure, I just remember that he had a lot of trouble with pain in the arm TJ
If seems to me you would have a tendency to remember TJ surgery.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
still a RBI
John
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
We are peelin’ that tater…!!!
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
Escobar..needs a long term contract…show him the money
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
Yeahhh, There We Go ESCO, “This Is How We Do It!”
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
KJ amassed 45 errors playing SS for Macon in 2001.
Yeah when he was 19. Look at the next few years:
2002 – 24
2003 – 16
2004 – 11
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
4-0 is an even bigger lead. ’bout ready to put this one in the “W” column.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
EscoBAH is in the house!
Something special he is Joe Simpson.
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
Esco is red hot unreal
abwright
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
Chipr just asked, “How many times have the Braves struck out with runners in scoring position. They don’t seem to be doing that lately.”
Yah! Schafer and Francouer routinely struck out with runners in scoring position. It with the rule, not the exception.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
My man Esco…..keepin’ on keepin’ on son.
Original Jon
July 21st, 2009
8:00 pm
You cannot, I repeat, CANNOT remove Yunel from the 6 spot in the lineup, just cant.
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
8:00 pm
Does Joe Simpson have enough hair to get the golden highlights
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:00 pm
LOL @ keylargo. Yeah, you’d think so. I can only claim brain cramp….
JasonInFL
July 21st, 2009
8:01 pm
Man, this is the best the Braves have played in a long time (or so it seems without taking the initiative of doing actual research). They are hitting, playing incredible D, gettting timely hits, pitching, etc. Just imagine if we wouldn’t have dropped those two games to the Rocks before the break. Either way, B-Mac knew what he was talking about…this team is ready for the 2nd half!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:01 pm
MIXXO
“Your 7:56 quote about shopping at the gap…”
I Like that quote Chief!
Joe Schmoe
July 21st, 2009
8:02 pm
Way to go Esco…. Show the haters why you deserve respect, and dont need to talk.
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
8:03 pm
I bet Phil Neikro is the answer to the trivia question.
joe
July 21st, 2009
8:03 pm
I agree, 6 spot is perfect for Yunie. This game is real close to being put a way. Another run or two or three for good measure, but this should be enough barring a Chernobyl
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:03 pm
LOAFY
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
8:03 pm
Tomahawkin
I do what I can Boss!
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
8:03 pm
I wonder if Escobar understood McCann’s speech….At least KK has his own interpreter …Escobar should get his own personal interpreter…
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:03 pm
That was the first fly ball out.
Great stat just given about the Giants not yet to overcome a 3-run deficit.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:04 pm
Chip and Joe
Please don’t jinx us tonight…?
THWG
July 21st, 2009
8:04 pm
I love all their first pitch swinging. It’s making Lowe very efficient.
THWG
July 21st, 2009
8:04 pm
Cubs-Phillies tied.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:05 pm
Can’t blame there. Lewis is fast.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:05 pm
Lowe looks pretty good so far tonight. Sinker is working.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
8:05 pm
Did we ever think (in May & June) that we’d see this this kind of performance?
Honestly, I had my doubts, but this is nice!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:06 pm
Heyward 0-2 2K’s
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
8:06 pm
DOB..did you take French at Kansas for the ladies….
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:06 pm
Nice stab Chipper
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:06 pm
Good Olee Stab Hoss!
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
8:06 pm
Flashin’ the leatha tonight.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:06 pm
C’mon Cubbies. No “lovable losers” tonight please…
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:06 pm
Damn, the defense is looking really good tonight as well.
Bobby's Cox
July 21st, 2009
8:07 pm
Francouer just dropped a ball in RF…
Original Jon
July 21st, 2009
8:07 pm
Hmmm, Phillies and Cubs tied, who would you rather win that game?
joe
July 21st, 2009
8:07 pm
D!! chipper must be feeling 27 again with this recent braves surge
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:07 pm
This is good
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
8:07 pm
I can’t complain about Verizon and Geico commercials tonight. No commercials on Peachtree.
Cheese
July 21st, 2009
8:08 pm
D Lowe is dealing! Only 1 ball hit in the air and it was a foul out, every other ball hit on the ground to an infielder or through for a single
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
8:09 pm
Bream/Belliard/Blauser/Lemke/TP/Justice/A.Jones all helped the Braves win all those years, not just the pitching. It’s good to see that we have both good pitching and defense with this ‘09 team.
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
8:09 pm
Steve Carlton threw 304 innings in 1980.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:09 pm
Church taking the walk
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:10 pm
Here comes the bunt…
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:10 pm
Steve from OH……..I’ve been listening to Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper (the Giants announcers) for years. They announce like they are having a normal conversation over a cup of coffee. That’s their style. And they are definite homers, lol. When Bonds was playing, Krukow was a big Bonds supporter.
Epinephrine
July 21st, 2009
8:10 pm
Another great play.
Oh and by the way, we may be watching Escobar morphing into a flat out star. Not a good player-but a star. Just think, two years ago Baseball Prospectus was calling him a “utility player”.
What is this team going to do if Mac and Chipper keep heating up? Of course, we are slated to lose tomorrow with Tiny Tim on the hill–but taking 3/4 in this series would be really nice. This is a different team than the one we saw in April and May, no question.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:10 pm
“Now Walk It Out!”
That’s such a dumb song…!
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
8:10 pm
So nice to see a Church walk vs. a Francoeur Flailing out (or single).
joe
July 21st, 2009
8:11 pm
Cubs are closer to Braves than the Colorado, so cubs win and braves win and colorado loses, we move a game closer
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
8:11 pm
Phil Niekro had 342 innings in 1979.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:12 pm
good bunt.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:12 pm
Lowe and Vazquez could give bunt lessons to the rest of the team.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:12 pm
Lowe needs to help McLouth with bunting.
Matt
July 21st, 2009
8:12 pm
Nate’s due for a big fly.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:12 pm
Derek Lowe, designated bunter, anyone?
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:12 pm
That too Heath (Cleveland).
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
8:13 pm
Phew!!! The ESPN gametracker made that bunt look like an infield popup! lol
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:13 pm
need to get McLouth going
joe
July 21st, 2009
8:13 pm
Let’s add on natey-baby
Epinephrine
July 21st, 2009
8:13 pm
Counting games back in the WC right now is just silly. Braves need to keep winning series. Once it gets to late August, then worry about the teams in front. Right now, just keep playing good ball. I mean, a three game sweep of the Phillies would change everyone’s thinking. It’s just not worth doing the math right now.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
8:14 pm
Everytime y’all post “WC” it makes me think “World Cup” lol
THWG
July 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
Boy, Nate could use a day or two off.
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
Lowe needs to help McLouth with bunting.
And Escobar might need to help him hitting
McLouth is not a leadoff hitter
July 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
He needs a day off!
Gaijin
July 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
Superhoo – instead of watching Gametracker, try this link (about the same bandwidth)
http://channelsurfing.net/watch-mlb.php?w=1
Original Jon
July 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
What is the deal with Nate lately? He seems to be having a lot of strikeouts and O-fers.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
Man, come on Nate. Need to at least put the ball in play baby!
Bobby's Cox
July 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
OH Steve,
I apologize. I was reading over the blog the other night when I was on & was like, dude, steve never responded to me about his arm. Turns out you did & gave me your own High School ball story. Just wanted to tell you I read your response after all. I felt like an a$$. Sorry to hear about the arm btw…sounds like you’re still having issues with it?
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
Whoo-hoo! That was a fun inning (the third)…that’s one way to get a walk, BMac!
I woulda been on here sooner, but the Bird started having a serious freak out–flying all over the place and slamming into everything. Scary stuff…back in the cage now, and calmed down.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:16 pm
Prado!
Keep it going!
letsgetrich
July 21st, 2009
8:16 pm
damn Prado…
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:16 pm
Prado!!!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:16 pm
Attaboy MP!!!
Team MVP Nuff Said!!!
abwright
July 21st, 2009
8:16 pm
Good hit by Prado to pick up McLouth and drive in the fifth run.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:16 pm
Prado doing some more “correcting”
Matt
July 21st, 2009
8:17 pm
Prado is a BEAST!!!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:17 pm
Correction anyone? I guess that Prado is well into “correcting” himself tonight? Lol.
Jeff321
July 21st, 2009
8:17 pm
Prado doubters please step forward…and apologize directly to the man!
Epinephrine
July 21st, 2009
8:17 pm
If there has one guy that’s been cold, it’s McLouth–but gotta hand it to the guy, he still gets on base even when struggling. He’ll come back around eventually.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:17 pm
Heath (Cleveland)……….you barely beat me to the punch with the “correction” thing.
groundfog
July 21st, 2009
8:18 pm
Put Church in Center tomorrow.Nate needs a day off imo
abwright
July 21st, 2009
8:18 pm
So much for that 1.00 ERA for Sandowski.
Giants in deep doo-doo right now.
Hopefully, the Braves sweep the Giants and “wake them up” too (since the Giants play the Rockies next).
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:18 pm
Orgional Jon
Nate-Dawg has been having a lot of O-Fers lately, but he is still drawing his walks…Joe and Boog Mentioned that last Night…
Original Jon
July 21st, 2009
8:18 pm
If you are Kelly Johnson you have got to be thinking “Man, I may never play second base for the Braves ever again”
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
8:18 pm
Alright everyone, I finally get to leave work. Heading by the Commissary then watching the rest of the game at home!
Marc
July 21st, 2009
8:18 pm
I released Matt Holliday earlier this year and added Prado – starting too look like a genius on my fantasy team, lol.
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
8:19 pm
Hey, no biggie Bobby’s! The only problems I have with the shoulder is it is definitely very weak compared to before and to my left. But I still play a lot of golf and hockey with no problems, though I haven’t played any ball since I left school (unfortunately). I’ve got full ROM and no pain, and hence, no complaints!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
Hopefully the Braves sign Escobar and Prado to long term deals in the offseason. Hanson and Jurrjens too.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
Cubbies-Phils still 1-1 in the top of the 5th.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
B–MACCCCCC!!!!!!!!
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
BLOWOUT!
Marc
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
BALLGAME
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
Brian EFFIN McCann!
Matt
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
YEAH BABY!!!!!!!! BMAC TOUCHES EM’ ALL!!!!!!!!!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
HOLY $HIT!!!
Who are these guys wearing the Braves uniforms?
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
MAN THIS TEAM IS CLOWNING!!!!
Winterville
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
When is Mac gonna start hitting again?
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:20 pm
McFann has a big smile on her face
cabravesfan
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Good lord, suddenly this team isn’t missing anything…I’ll take it
THWG
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Ballgame.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Original Jon………..nothing wrong with Nate McLouth. He is just in a little slump. We have other guys picking up the slack right now. It isnt like he isnt going to bust out of it. Be patient. Slumps are part of the game. It isnt like he is going to go through a stretch where he bats .240 in a 900 at-bat stretch with only 16 homers.
BAMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 run jack for McCann. A few days ago, some of you were talking about McCann slumping. The past few days he has started to heat up. Give McLouth some time to bust out of his.
Meanwhile, nice to get into that Giants bullpen early.
Cheese
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Folks we are looking at a different braves team than the one that played through June
joe
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
F*$% YEA!!!!!!
Efrim
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Wow. Bring on Lincecum!!!(waving my fist in the air)
abwright
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Ballgame!
After nearly getting hit by a pitch, BMac strokes a 3 run homer to center field.
8-0 Braves.
Maybe Gonzales and Soriano can get a night off.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
BOOM!!! BMac! Walk Chipper, face BMac. Not a good idea. Looks like BMac is gettin’ his swing back in order.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
If I were the Phillies, I would not get to comfortable
Original Jon
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Oh man, I hope they show the same kind of offense for Jair tomorrow against Lincecum.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
STICK A FORK IN EM!!!
DirtyYuni
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
With leads like this all the time, maybe having Jeff Bennett back won’t be that bad! (shudders)
JasonInFL
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
B-Macccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc!
Jeffro
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
MAN are we scoring some runs……Please Bobby don’t tinker with this lineup!!!
Gaijin
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Seriously – where has THIS team been all year? GREAT defense, timely and productive offense. The pitching has been here, but…..Day – um! About time huh?
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
power showing these past two days hopefully prep them for when runs will probably be scarce to come by tomorrow.
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
Rob in SC–
Yes I do!!
With runners on 1st and 2nd!! I think it’s for real that he’s heating up this time.
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
Wow. We’re hot.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
Let’s just sweep this SF mo fo’s outta town…INCLUDING The Freak
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
ROB.,…JJJ is represented by Scott Boras…good luck on the long term deal
VENEZUELA
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
this cannot be the same braves from the nats series……….??????????????????/
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
I realize that most folks don’t have as much time as I do to read the blog (relatively easy month for me, and the work I do is computer-based, so lots of time to sneak a peek into the blog, LOL! Plus…blackberry).
DOB, you’re evil.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
I know Lincecum is great, but the Giant hitters should be worried about facing Jurrjens. He has been great too.
Joe Schmoe
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
Wow, where the f-was this team at the begining of the year??? This has been a long time coming.
Let’s wear their bullpen down. We need to wear them down for the next two games!!!
Jack
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
I like to watch games like this!!!!!
RHR
July 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
Mama there goes that mann!
Bobby's Cox
July 21st, 2009
8:23 pm
Man, what a game tonight…
Nova Scotia Steve
July 21st, 2009
8:23 pm
PS
Good game to rest some of our regulars…Chip…Nate…
Get Conrad and Diory and those guys in there…
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:23 pm
With the way the Braves are playing right now, ya think the Phils might be looking over their shoulders saying, “these guys just won’t go away”?
VABraves4Life
July 21st, 2009
8:23 pm
That is whats good… Wish we could bottle some of these runs up for tomorrow. You know the kid that we are playing against has gone close to 20 innings with only giving up two runs. Guess his ERA just got a culture shock
groundfog
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
This team is starting to gel. With that said, we lose tomorrow it’s OVER! haha that was for DOB
Gaijin
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
Seriously – where has THIS team been all year? GREAT defense, timely and productive offense. The pitching has been here, but…..Day – um! Perfect time to bring it all together
N Nine
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
Wonder if we damaged Giants’ ERA enough to take over as the best…
Salamander
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
Seriously – where has THIS team been all year? GREAT defense, timely and productive offense.
Wren made some shrewd moves. Picked up McLouth and Church, Bobby finally benched KJ (and then he got hurt), GA started to hit… and suddenly there are no automatic outs in this lineup. And the bench looks good as well.
Finally.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
Are we like……….hot or what????
The Phillies are not quite as incredible as I first thought!
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
*in Cleveland Brown voice* …anddd BOOM goes the dynamite.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
Bout Time For The COOOOLLLLL-Train!!!! AKA the Bandwagon to get jumping…!
Expect front-running/bandwagon braves fans to appear on this blog by the numbers like they did the first 2 games of the season…
If ya smell what I’m cookin?
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
Attention Brewer pitchers:
Look out, the Braves are coming.
RHR
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
Joe schmoe, it was starting kj and jf every night, thats where this team was.
Epinephrine
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
MAC
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
My reverse mojo is working it’s magic!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:24 pm
It is SO NICE to not have easy outs in the line-up. We have guys who can work a walk (even though Nate McLouth is struggling he did draw 4 walks on Sunday against the Mets), guys who can help turn the line-up over faster.
I picked McCann as my catcher for my fantasy baseball team tonight. Keep racking up the points for me Brian.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:25 pm
Maybe Francoeur was the clubhouse cancer. (lol I know he is a great guy)
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
8:25 pm
Take THAT Adam LaRoche
Soph
July 21st, 2009
8:26 pm
Yeah Mixxo you need to use some of that reverse psychology on the Phillies.
N Nine
July 21st, 2009
8:26 pm
DOB, I’m glad we don’t have to hear the title jinx “Braves in thick of wild-card race”
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:26 pm
Braves have scored 8 tonight
St Louis has scored 1 tonight
I know it’s early, but that ties the Braves for 6th in runs in the NL…I’ll ask the question I asked earlier today again: Do the Braves really need an OF anymore?
Mitchie-san
July 21st, 2009
8:27 pm
Chipper was right. Its amazing what can happen when you dont have two automatic outs in the line up.
Its scary to think what it would be like if we had a true power threat at clean up and THEN B-mac…
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:27 pm
Rob from SC…………..agree with your 8:22pm post. Instead of being fearful of Linecum…….I’m excited about seeing Jair Jurrjens pitch against the Giants. With the way our offense is playing, I’m liking our chances tomorrow.
braves70
July 21st, 2009
8:28 pm
Wow this is so fun to watch. It’s like we were in a bad dream for 3 years and now we have awoke. The changes in the team and lineup definitely improved my negative feelings. Maybe the Braves have been influenced as well.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
8:28 pm
The only thing that can put a damper on this game so far is Chip’s voice
Frank Wren
July 21st, 2009
8:28 pm
You can tell Terry Pendelton has been working with these guys. He is a GREAT hitting coach. Glad we have him around.
MiltonDawg
July 21st, 2009
8:28 pm
Good Times!!! McFann: Did i not tell you last night that BMac would redeem himself for you.
lance
July 21st, 2009
8:28 pm
The giants should really go after a bat
DirtyYuni
July 21st, 2009
8:29 pm
Take your time out there, Loaf. Just let it rumble around in the corner for a while.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:29 pm
Kotchy Boy!
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
8:29 pm
In other news, Ollie Perez has walked 5 in 4 1/3 innings (3 ER) against the Nats…Riaan Spanjer Furstenburg 1-3 with a homer…Mycal Jones 2-3 with a 3B and a HR.
Really hope Jones figures out to hit because if he does he’ll be a good one…
Braveheart
July 21st, 2009
8:29 pm
Ev-ery-body clap your hands!
ColoradoBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
8:29 pm
Yes 8 runs for the Braves. This is great. How many times have the Braves faced a rookie for the first time and scored 1 run with 4 hits. Tonight is great to see them beat up on a young guy they should knock around. Fantastic defense all around the infield.
Go Braves….
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:29 pm
Paul Lentz
A lot of sports media and fans get caught up with strikeouts. I do that sometimes myself. However you don’t need excess strikeouts to be a dominant pitcher. Look at Maddux. Jurrjens has been a shutdown pitcher this year.
joe
July 21st, 2009
8:30 pm
With Erin Andrews being in the nude I mean news lately, I’m wondering if y’all remember when she worked for TBS, and how Skip would get all surly with her…lol
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:30 pm
Any of you guys see that fine A$$ blonde sitting behind the Giants dugout? Not being able to see it in HD, I couldnt get a clear look. But damn, she looked FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:30 pm
Steve from OH
Is Jones the fast player we drafted
i cant take it anymore
July 21st, 2009
8:30 pm
I can’t believe the Mets have Franker batting in the cleanup spot tonight.
It looks like the Braves had a cleanup hitter all along
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:30 pm
Pity run there.
Eric from MO
July 21st, 2009
8:31 pm
Heath, no! We have solid hitters at every position. With our startng pitching and back end of the bullpen we dont need a great offense. Just an offense that can consistently hit.
Bill in VA
July 21st, 2009
8:31 pm
Nats up 4-0 over Mets in DC.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:31 pm
There goes the shutout. Bummer.
MiltonDawg
July 21st, 2009
8:31 pm
Its going to be nice to finally be a couple games over .500. That loss to CO before the break must’ve lit a fire under these guys.
joe
July 21st, 2009
8:32 pm
Alright Lowe, let’s not just throw it completely down the middle, regardless of the lead
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 21st, 2009
8:32 pm
need to get chipper out and give him a break
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
8:32 pm
Rob–I think it was Kyle Rose, GCL Braves, at least among the more notable draft picks. But yeah, Jones can run real well…I believe 3B Jakob Dalfonso (GCL) is supposed to be pretty quick too.
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
8:32 pm
Paul..I guess you don’t you make to the south often…but she is dime a dozen down here….hot chicks in the south…
Bobby's Cox
July 21st, 2009
8:33 pm
Steve,
you should start throwing again. If you have full ROM, might was well give a shot one day. I had tennis elbow in high school my junior year. Couldn’t get the ball 10 feet & shut down the rest of the year & only pinch ran/pinch hit. Didn’t play ball for 2 years & the arm was stronger than it ever was in amateur leagues. I’m sure your arm will respond well..that is if you’re interested & willing to risk it to have a “I’ve still got it” moment.
MiltonDawg
July 21st, 2009
8:33 pm
Organ guy is playing Whiter Shade of Pale—nice
Eric from MO
July 21st, 2009
8:34 pm
Just got home from work and this is the first inning I have watched, what is Lowe’s pitch count. Can he go 8 or 9 to give the pen some rest?
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
8:34 pm
Bobby’s–I’d sure love to, but I don’t really have much time for a Roy Hobbs league or anything like that…but if I could, I would, for sure.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:34 pm
Rob from SC……………Agree with your 8:29pm posting. While it is good for a pitcher to have a strikeout pitch in certain situations (bases loaded , not outs situation for instance)………it is actually more economical for a pitcher to get a bunch of 1st or 2nd pitch ground ball outs. Jair Jurrjens has a smooth delivery and really good composure.
Both Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson both have composure for young pitchers. We have the makings of 2 stalwarts of the rotation for the next 10 plus years.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:35 pm
settle down Lowe
CrimeDog
July 21st, 2009
8:35 pm
Mycal Jones is a burner. A tiiiiiny bit “slower” than Rose but still one of the quickest players in the draft.
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 21st, 2009
8:35 pm
I’d get bmac out too…..
DirtyYuni
July 21st, 2009
8:35 pm
Loaf Anderson is an anagram for “an aloof nerd(s).”
Coincidence? I think not.
But as long as the man’s hitting, I don’t give a crap.
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
8:35 pm
“Do the Braves really need an OF anymore?”
There is a reason I’m talking about relievers today. The acquisition of Church gives this team remarkable balance and depth at all 8 spots. If we keep KJ, we’re even better in that we take Hernandez off the team for him…and Infante is coming to take Conrad or Norton’s spot.
The most crucial aspect of the second half of the season for the Braves imo is the health of Gonzo’s elbow. If he’s fine, this is a remarkably balanced team.
Vinings Jim
July 21st, 2009
8:36 pm
cabravesfan – please excuse my absence last night. I had my Monday night class. My absence was not a deterrent to the newly-minted hottest hitting team in beisbol, I’ve noticed.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:36 pm
Can somebody hold that boy down and get a pair of shears to his hair? Please?
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
8:36 pm
Just noticed that this is McCann’s 6th game in a row. Meaning he’ll probably sit tomorrow. Against Lincecum….awesome.
Eric from MO
July 21st, 2009
8:36 pm
Soriano and Gonzo should not get up tonight unless they are going to the pisser.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:37 pm
Umpire gave us a friendly called strike three there. I’ll take it.
braves70
July 21st, 2009
8:37 pm
No Wi-FI at the Ted? Maybe they have Fooze Ball.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:37 pm
So far we’ve kept Panda under control.
THWG
July 21st, 2009
8:38 pm
Or maybe a hot tub…
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
8:38 pm
Sandoval is reminiscent of the late-career Tony Gwynn, in terms of girth.
cabravesfan
July 21st, 2009
8:38 pm
VJ-
Hi
Missed you last night- I didn’t hang around long after the game but you missed a fun one 
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:39 pm
He does kinda resemble a panda, doesn’t he?
Efrim
July 21st, 2009
8:39 pm
“Just noticed that this is McCann’s 6th game in a row. Meaning he’ll probably sit tomorrow. Against Lincecum….awesome.”
I’d rest him Thursday and Sunday this week. Both day games. Zito on Thursday and I can’t remember the Brew Crew pitcher on Sunday. But that would be what I would do.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:40 pm
Lowe threw a lot of pitches that 5th inning. His pitch count is up to 76 pitches. Hopefully he can get 2 more innings and then Bobby can bring in Manny Acosta or Kris Medlen to get the last 2 innings. Or maybe one of the other guys for an inning of work.
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
8:40 pm
MiltonDawg–
You sure did! And he sure is redeeming himself!
jeffrey d–
I’m betting he plays tomorrow, and then sits Thursday’s DGANG against the lefty.
MiltonDawg
July 21st, 2009
8:40 pm
KJ is prime for tradebait now. Keep Conrad/Hernandez/Infante. Can we get anything for lowly Norton?
Jalb3rt
July 21st, 2009
8:40 pm
The only way to get Winn out, is on a forced out at second! Haha! Not even Shawn Green was a better Brave killer!
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
8:40 pm
Hey I don’t think they’ve played that “How bout foosball?” commercial yet…maybe they’re retiring it?!?
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
8:40 pm
McFann must be in the yard jumping around. Her mann has BROKE OUT!!
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
8:41 pm
We have a hot tub in the pressbox. Pretty sweet … until Bowman enters.
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
8:41 pm
Lowe at 76 pitches. He might be able to make 2 more innings, a couple of 1-2-3 innings with low pitch counts should get the job done.
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
8:41 pm
Ohhh, there she is… Your mann is cookin McFann!
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
8:41 pm
It just doesn’t seem like a good idea to start a catcher 7 games in a row. But whatever.
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
8:41 pm
blazing speed by krusty krotch
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:41 pm
Kotchman, That Speedster!
Braveheart
July 21st, 2009
8:41 pm
I’ll miss Skip during Thursday’s businessman special. He was always good to make a crack about all the businessman being so kind to bring their daughters to the game.
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
8:41 pm
Give Kotchy a hit!
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
8:42 pm
CrimeDog–that’s what I’ve read. Good to have both he and Rose in the system. Like I said, hope they learn to hit, if not that speed is useless…
cabravesfan
July 21st, 2009
8:42 pm
Efrim-
I’m betting they sit Mac on Thursday (day game) but not Sunday because Monday is an off day…but then again, 2 days off in a row might be good for him
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
8:43 pm
Is this not the Braves team we had expected from the beginning of the year? Better late than never. I guess ridding of JF and KJ from this lineup was addition by subtraction. Or you could just say Prado has done wonders to this lineup in the 2 spot, adding Nate has helped shore up the lead off spot (however, not as of late), and having Diaz platoon more regularly with Garrett and Church has helped the bottom of the order produce runs as well.
Not that the Braves offense doesn’t need a power hitter, but they have shown they can be consistent with producing runs over the past couple weeks. I’d like to see Wren add another quality arm we can depend on in the bullpen. I’m excited from the next few weeks. This division race is far from over, regardless of the Phillies recent play. Our starting pitching is above and beyond their arms.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:43 pm
McCann will probably leave in the 7th or so and play tomorrow too.
cricket
July 21st, 2009
8:43 pm
Damn..it will be funniest thing ever in MLB if Kotchman breaks the hit streak record
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:43 pm
Efrim…………I have to disagree with you on your 8:39pm posting. McCann will probably play tomorrow against Linecum. Thursday would be an ideal day to give McCann a rest because 1. it is a day game after a night game…….and 2. Ross can bat against the lefty Barry Zito.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
Take that back….tomorrow is a day game. So, now I don’t think that will necessarily be true.
RHR
July 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
I remember when erin was on tbs. Nobody ever talked about how hot she was until she went national. I still say shes average, blondes just dont do it for me, i guess.
Curtis Jones
July 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
They scored that a hit? Merry Christmas Casey!
groundfog
July 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
OK, DOB has said “girth” and “hot tub” in a couple of posts. DOB may need a vacation lol
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
Shamus McFann must be in the yard jumping around.
My family wishes I was!
Yeah, he’s cooking! And Kotchy extends his hitting streak, too! Infield hit, was it? (I missed that one.
) Sweet!
It’s all good.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
oops….take that back too….plays tomorrow and off thursday since IT is a day game..
lol
WAY off tonight.
Braveheart
July 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
Just noticed that this is McCann’s 6th game in a row. Meaning he’ll probably sit tomorrow.
Dunno. It’s been gorgeous in Atlanta the last few days. Temps in the 80s with low humidity. Maybe that’s why McCann is starting to heat up. The Southern sun is finally cutting him a break.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
8:45 pm
Just noticed that Kotchman has 8 career stolen bases.
….how did that happen?
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
8:45 pm
That ain’t a bad idea Heath (Clnd)
John
July 21st, 2009
8:45 pm
Bobby gonna pull a jaw muscle…screamin’ “EASY !!”….at Lowe…
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
8:45 pm
“Sandoval is reminiscent of the late-career Tony Gwynn, in terms of girth.”
If the two of them, Mo Vaughn, Cecil Fielder and Terry Forster had a hot dog eating competition, I’m not sure who would be the favorite.
MiltonDawg
July 21st, 2009
8:45 pm
Erin Andrews or Jillian Barberie??
kool$kat
July 21st, 2009
8:45 pm
Mets are starting their collapse early this year…
Eric from MO
July 21st, 2009
8:46 pm
Pryguy dont forget that Huddy will be back in a month which will add an arm in the bullpen. Not saying we dont need an arm but dont expect to get a big reliever. May pick up someone up off waivers such as we did with Jarad Wright a few years ago.
Jaglawyer
July 21st, 2009
8:46 pm
Heres hoping the vast majority can keep the proper perspective tomorrow against the Freak if/when the bats cool off a bit . . .
groundfog
July 21st, 2009
8:46 pm
Rooting for the Cubs absolutely sucks, but here we are.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:46 pm
After seeing how Kawakami pitches much better with extra rest, then seeing Hanson blow the Giants away on extra rest, I would be tempted to go with a 6 man rotation if Hudson pitches well
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
8:46 pm
LOL@McFann
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:46 pm
MiltonDawg -
Uhm….BOTH.
groundfog
July 21st, 2009
8:46 pm
and I love Chitown, my favorite city… but Cubs fans? where is the puke emoticon?
braves70
July 21st, 2009
8:47 pm
Wonder if the Giants would make a trade for Matt Holliday from across the bay in Oakland?
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:47 pm
Hmmm. I checked my cable guide for the game tomorrow and it says the game will be on at 6pm Central time.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:47 pm
Take McLouth out
RHR
July 21st, 2009
8:47 pm
If tomorrow is a day game then yeah, need to get mac and chipper out of there. We need our best lineup vs the freak.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
8:47 pm
I’ve said it before but now I have visual…Kotchman needs one of these guys following him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T0GRjxOP98
CorkylikesBeer
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
I kinda wish Bobby would pull some of the regulars out now especially Mccann
blazon
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
so paul, who’s the chick in the crowd?
your comments were pointed and loud
but you come from the Bay
where many are gay
are comments of this sort allowed?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
Nate needed a hit.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
put Church in CF next inning
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
Good Hustle Nate-Dawg!!!
TJ
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
Hustle Nate! Hustle!
Vinings Jim
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
Fantastic hustle, Nate!
RHR
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
Nice hustle nate dog.
Marc
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
Lol Mclouth was like “enough of this crap, I deserve a hit darnit!”
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
McLouth!
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
8:48 pm
Tomorrow’s game is at 7:00…
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
8:49 pm
cabravesfan but then again, 2 days off in a row might be good for him
I think so.
Braveheart It’s been gorgeous in Atlanta the last few days. Temps in the 80s with low humidity.
Oh! I’ve been LOVING this! My sister and I have been bike riding this week…so great.
Though I thought all the fresh air would make me sleep like a baby…but I slept like a fish last night.
Maybe that’s why McCann is starting to heat up. The Southern sun is finally cutting him a break.
Haha! Yeah! ‘Bout time…
Braveheart
July 21st, 2009
8:49 pm
Erin Andrews or Jillian Barberie??
Does anyone find Jillian Barberie hot? Great bod, but unfortunately her face looks like a transvestite trying to look like a cougar.
Eric from MO
July 21st, 2009
8:49 pm
For everyone saying take out guys dont forget the Phillies game on openng week. Wait til the 8th til you start taking guys out. Dont want to kill our momentum by accidently letting them comeback.
braves70
July 21st, 2009
8:49 pm
As I have watched McLouth, I think he reminds me a lot of Len Dykstra.
John
July 21st, 2009
8:49 pm
I’d walk Prado….to get to Chipper…even with the sacks loaded…(g)
Zephyr 8
July 21st, 2009
8:49 pm
Love to see that. A player in a slump creating a hit with some hustle.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:49 pm
Maybe that will be the kind of hit to get McLouth going. A RIP by Prado would be really nice here, given the “correction” that he is “due”.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:50 pm
What a great pitching matchup on Saturday
Hanson vs. Gallardo
Joebrave
July 21st, 2009
8:51 pm
Just once Cubbies Mash those damned Philthies!
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:51 pm
Tomorrow is a night game against Lincecum. Thursday is the day game.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:51 pm
So, Braveheart….
You would call here a butter-face? Everything is nice but here face?
…I’m here all week.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
8:51 pm
Prado, so close to a four-hit game (again) and a
three-run homergrand slam there.Curtis Jones
July 21st, 2009
8:51 pm
Great hit by Nate
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
8:51 pm
Dang Marteeen! Almost a granny!
N Nine
July 21st, 2009
8:52 pm
Before game: Loaf @ .289avg 7HR 35RBI $2.5MM
Griffey Jr @ .215avg 10HR 27RBI $2+MM
Gaijin
July 21st, 2009
8:52 pm
Uh DOB – that would have been a four run homer – isn’t there a name for that?
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:52 pm
Almost one there
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:52 pm
…apparently, I can not spell or correctly identify times of games on the Braves schedule tonight…. *sigh*
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
8:52 pm
Heyward doubles
RHR
July 21st, 2009
8:53 pm
God i hate chip caray. I was trying to cook dinner earlier and had to keep running in here to see what happened bc he does that even on routine fly outs-and for both teams!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:53 pm
blazon…………despite what you may think of the bay area and gays, the Bay Area is a straight man’s paradise. Plenty of hot, freaky women who are into the “no strings attached” or “friends with benefits” type of deal.
I was just commenting on the hot blonde behind the Giants dugout.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:54 pm
I don’t know if a love Peachtree TV, but I like it better now.
groundfog
July 21st, 2009
8:54 pm
If Chip impersonates his Dad again, i’m gonna throw up my dinner.
MiltonDawg
July 21st, 2009
8:55 pm
Haha Braveheart & Heath- i have no complaints on this end. Besides, cougar hunting isn’t so bad.
jeffrey d
July 21st, 2009
8:55 pm
As much as I don’t like Chip, I actually enjoy his Skip impressions
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:56 pm
Kotchman
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
8:56 pm
Thanks, Shamus!
CorkylikesBeer–
Might not be a bad idea…
Braveheart
July 21st, 2009
8:56 pm
Frenchy hitting cleanup tonight signals the Mets waiving the white flag.
RHR
July 21st, 2009
8:56 pm
Thanks for clearing that up, steve.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:57 pm
MiltonDawg………….the good thing about “cougars” is that when they are on the prowl, it doesnt take much game to “score”. They know what they want and dont want to waste time playing petty games.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:57 pm
Right at Church
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
8:57 pm
It’s the most runs the Giants have allowed in consecutive games this season.
kool$kat
July 21st, 2009
8:57 pm
I prefer Chip to “boog” anyday
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
8:57 pm
Nate-Dawg Reminds Me Of Dykstra Minus the Roids
I believe Dykstra stole 100 bases in the minors one year…?
Chopper2Chipper
July 21st, 2009
8:57 pm
RHR,
Same thing. I got in just in time to hear about Yuni’s homerun to the warning track.
Braveheart
July 21st, 2009
8:58 pm
Definitely a butter face
Marc
July 21st, 2009
8:58 pm
Before I leave the blogs for the night, I just need to say it again… The Giants announcers are just terrible.
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
8:58 pm
Jeepers…my Gameday is frozen…what’s happening in the game?
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
8:58 pm
The Giants announcers are both raving about the defense of Escobar and Kotchman.
blazon
July 21st, 2009
8:58 pm
paul…you bounder, you!
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
8:59 pm
Eric,
Understand where your coming from, but it’s already been said Huddy won’t be coming out of the bullpen. The way these starters have been pitching, I don’t know who you are going to want to move to the bullpen either. It’s not to say their success as starters can translate to pitching out of the pen. Completely different mentalities. I’d rather find someone with more experience/dependability. Again, in a perfect world…
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
8:59 pm
Just taking a quick peek at who the Brewers are likely to have against the Braves:
GM 1: Parra / 4-8 / 6.37 ERA vs Vazquez
GM 2: Gallardo / 8-7 / 3.28 ERA vs. Hanson
GM 3: Burns / 2-3 / 6.21 ERA vs. DLowe
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
8:59 pm
The Jey Hey kid is 1-3 with a double.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
8:59 pm
McFann -
Still 8-1. Top of the 6th, 2 outs and a man on 1st.
TennesseePaul
July 21st, 2009
8:59 pm
Just saw this from DOB a few pages back. “They’re always on the brain. Fish tacos … you can get ‘em in any city now, practically, including Atlanta. But they’re still best in San Diego”
I always read the blog raves from DOB concerning the fish tacos but he’s only getting the fast food chain Rubbio’s fish taco’s which aren’t that good. Better fish tacos have been made in SoCal than those of Rubbio’s.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
8:59 pm
N Nine
July 21st, 2009
9:00 pm
Chip needs quit baseball and start a new career in puppetry.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:00 pm
Oh No, Not Good!!!
Why Isn’t D-Ross In there!!!
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
9:00 pm
You’re very welcome, McFann!
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
9:00 pm
Ouch Mac!
JasonInFL
July 21st, 2009
9:00 pm
ummm…ouch!
RHR
July 21st, 2009
9:00 pm
Yikes.
Bravesfaninmetsland
July 21st, 2009
9:01 pm
DOB:
I asked this the other day but you weren’t around.. This is totally non-baseball related. Do you have any reasoning behind The Shield not being nominated for a single Emmy award this year? It make sno sense to me. Chicklis, Goggins, Pounder, the show and writers this is a complete non sport injustice
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
9:01 pm
Better check to make sure they’re still there, Macc…
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:01 pm
I think that McCann is going to wake up tomorrow with sore nutsack tomorrow.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:01 pm
Bobby’s NUTS for leaving McCann in this long! Waka waka
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
9:01 pm
I say let McCann bat and then replace him….if he gets a hit, pinch-run and bring in Ross to finish the game.
Jeff321
July 21st, 2009
9:01 pm
Looks like Mac took a low blow!
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
9:02 pm
That’s gotta hurt….
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:02 pm
Chip Does Get Excited Easily…! He Reminds me of Tony Schiavone on the old Dubya-C-Dubya (WCW) Rasslin episodes of 10 years ago in regards to getting excited over little things…
But its funny!
Chopper2Chipper
July 21st, 2009
9:02 pm
One thing I enjoy about PTV is that I seem to hear more sounds of the game — e.g., Bobby, trainers, etc. Pretty neat.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:03 pm
Sunday looks like one heck of a match up as pointed out above
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:03 pm
OMG
Joe Simpson Singing Beyonce…
Priceless…
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
9:03 pm
Heath–
Thanks!
Um…yeah, didn’t see what happened there, but flipped the channel just in time to hear Chip’s choir comment.
Seriously, Chip, you just need to shut up sometimes…
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:03 pm
McCann is a gamer
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:03 pm
LOL @ Tomahawkin….I had forgot all about the old WCW wrestling…Loved to watch that one before it merged with that “other” company….
Sound effects crew
July 21st, 2009
9:03 pm
Ding! (a little late)
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:04 pm
Dammit! Now I have that song In My Head!
cricket
July 21st, 2009
9:04 pm
Well, I can confidently say that all of us men felt Mac’s hurt more than McFann
RHR
July 21st, 2009
9:04 pm
Joe singing beyonce > joe crushing on frenchy.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:05 pm
TJ
Lets Not Talk about the Other Vinnie-Macc’s So-Called “Sports Entertainment” AKA Garbage!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:05 pm
Bravesfaninmetsland………I’m going to miss “The Shield”. Vic Mackey was “the man”.
Richie
July 21st, 2009
9:05 pm
is there a delay in the game? My gameday has been stuck on bottom of the 5th
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:06 pm
RHR
U didn’t have to go there!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:06 pm
Harden just blew away Dobbs with two outs and the go ahead run at third
southern hope
July 21st, 2009
9:06 pm
richie, I was wondering same thing…did they go to a super long time out?
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:06 pm
Yeah, well you notice I didn’t call it by name. It used to be fun to watch. Now it’s all trash.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:06 pm
WOW B-Macc Shaves His Arms…! Good I hate Furry Arms…!
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
9:06 pm
My gameday has been stuck on bottom of the 5th
nope it’s in the Btm of the 6th. Yahoo’s in game box score is up-to-date
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:07 pm
I did some catching, and the cup doesn’t protect that much at all
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
9:07 pm
TennPaul: No, I don’t generally get fish tacos at Rubio’s anymore. Did years ago at the old ballpark, but they’re not as good at the new place. Besides, there’s several places downtown (and many more in surrounding area) that have better fish tacos than Rubio’s. Far better.
Carroll Rogers
July 21st, 2009
9:07 pm
Seeking possible interviews……I’m working on a story about the Braves new organist Matthew Kaminski and I’m wondering if there are folks blogging who have been to a game at Turner Field this year and noticed some of the songs he’s come up with for opposing players, and who could just give me some feedback.
If you’re interested, please e-mail me at crogers@ajc.com. Please include a phone number where you will be available tomorrow morning/midday because I will want to call you, not simply use something you’ve e-mailed me. Thanks much!
cricket
July 21st, 2009
9:07 pm
Ok, now this was funny- giants announcer just tipped his cup ..er..cap to Mac for staying in the game
Joe Schmoe
July 21st, 2009
9:08 pm
If I was BMAC, Id reach down there and make sure everything was in place…. Might even do the cough test!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
9:08 pm
Why not replace McCann here? Perfect time to do so.
Richie
July 21st, 2009
9:08 pm
DOB, Carroll….is there a delay in the game? Or on the field?
Joebrave
July 21st, 2009
9:08 pm
Nothin like a hard foul to the cods to make a man sing Sopranoooooo!!!!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:09 pm
Get B-Macc Out NOW!
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
9:09 pm
A WALK!! He walked all by himself!! Did you see that?
Force out? Dangit…
Cricket–
Uh…anyway…
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
9:09 pm
Richie…nope, we’re cruisin’ right along in the bottom of the sixth.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:09 pm
This Valdez kid who is pitching for the Giants, is the only piece of the Russ Ortiz trade that the Giants have left. The other 2 bums didnt do anything for them. Meanwhile we got 2 20 win seasons out of Ortiz before he left as a free agent for all that money the Diamondbacks gave him.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
9:10 pm
Richie -
No. No delay. Bottom of the 6th, 2 out, 1 on. 8-1 still.
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
9:10 pm
come on Cubbies, it’s getting late in the game time to score a run or two
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:10 pm
Top of the 8th. Still 1-1 Cubbies and Phils.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:10 pm
LOAF hustling and Yunel is beasting it!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:10 pm
We are strong up the middle
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
Moylan’s warming up
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
Some of these guys batting average has steadily been shooting upward that past few weeks.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
1-2-3 Cubs 8th
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
WoW, Maybe It its the Weather or Something but Joe Simpson Has pulled a 180 in his dissing/praising of ESCO…
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
Is the lead safe enough for Moylan
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
Tomahawkin–but I am reminded of it every time Joe talks about one of the guys getting a “Ric Flair” base hit….
cabravesfan
July 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
DOB-
did you catch my question about Fiesta Taco? I have friends that rave about it- I’ve never been there but if you get the chance you should check it out
Joe Schmoe
July 21st, 2009
9:12 pm
Fish Tacos, you guys are making me hungry. When I was stationed in San Diego, they were plentyful. A little cabage, and some crema with avacodoe slices!!!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:12 pm
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
WoW, Maybe It its the Weather or Something but Joe Simpson Has pulled a 180 in his dissing/praising of ESCO…
Wonder if management said something to him. He was out of control.
RHR
July 21st, 2009
9:12 pm
I noticed angel of the morning for angel pagan when the mets were in town. Thats all i noticed, I generally tune out the cheesy stadium sounds. I’ll pass your note along to others who might be more helpful.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:13 pm
David O’Brien……………….I totally support Bobby bringing in Peter Moylan in the 7th inning (its 8-1 so its no big deal, lol). I have Braves pitching on my fantasy baseball team tonight so hopefully he wont come out as the “bad” Moylan tonight.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:13 pm
Bottom of the 8th, the Phils have a total of 4 hits. Rollins has 2 of them.
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:13 pm
Oh well, Kotchman.
Keep pickin’ it at first big guy and we’ll keep you in the lineup.
Beach Dawg
July 21st, 2009
9:13 pm
Sitting here thinking about the suddenly offensive focused Braves I have to wonder if trading Jeff had more to do with it than the predictable out. He was obviously extremely well liked in the clubhouse and I wonder if his “funk” rubbed off on others in that they felt sorry for his troubles. Maybe same with Kelley!! Just a random thought while thinking
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:14 pm
Check Out Those Chicks! And Why Are they Hanging with that Wusse…?
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
9:14 pm
WOOOOO, look at those little hotties!
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:14 pm
Damn. I need to go to Singles Night at Turner… Yum
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
9:14 pm
Is the lead safe enough for Moylan
*thinks back to Philly on April 8* Hope so, he’s uncharacteristically put together two pretty good outings in a row
Chopdawg
July 21st, 2009
9:14 pm
Carroll–whoever the new ATL organist is, he/she’s not in the same class as Rome Braves keyboardist Ruby Marquard
PeteinCharleston
July 21st, 2009
9:15 pm
Fergosi was just spotted for a second night at the White Sox game. Any insights DOB?
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:15 pm
OH Hell Yea…! U can Bet You Bottom-Dollar that I love those Ric Flair’s lately! We couldn’t get those to save our Ass in the first half…
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:15 pm
Moylan needs those extra MPH back bad
Greg O.
July 21st, 2009
9:15 pm
U-nique Yu-nel… U-nique Yu-nel… I’m Ron Burgundy?
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
9:15 pm
That camera guy is having fun.
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
9:15 pm
Paul,
For all the analyzing and discussing you do on the Braves here, you would think your concern for the team would not spill over into fantasy baseball. After all, you’re such an academic when it comes to baseball and your knowledge is wide spread. Why waste it on such a pointless battle of wits called fantasy baseball?
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:15 pm
OK, y’all…that’s a guy thing, right? (directed at Tomahawkin, TnBrian and The_Superhoo)
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:16 pm
Church is in CF!
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
9:16 pm
I dunno…I can hear the organ over the tv and I like his stuff…
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
9:16 pm
Bottom of the 8th, the Phils have a total of 4 hits. Rollins has 2 of them
One or two imposing guys in the offense and nothing scary in the starting pitching and yet other teams are bowing before them for some reason.
Interested Observer
July 21st, 2009
9:16 pm
The only song I noticed was Billy Joel’s “You may be right” for David Wright. I appreciate the effort but thought that was a bit of a stretch.
But I loved the one that DOB pointed out on the blog…. A-Rod’s “I get by with a little help from my friends” CLASSIC!!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:16 pm
“I need to go to singles night at Tooner Field”
Yeah, Me Too!
I’m Suprised D.O.B. Isn’t out there Pimped Out in A White Tux and A Cuban Cigar, Gettin His Swerve On!!!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
9:17 pm
Rockies continuing their winnings ways…up 2-0 in the 2nd.
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
9:17 pm
I don’t get why Bobby doesn’t at least take Mac out and give his knees some rest. Maybe even Chipper, I mean you have Conrad and Ross on the bench.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:17 pm
The Philles offense isn’t just good because of their power, but Rollins, Victorino, and Werth can run and barely get caught. They put pressure on teams
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
9:18 pm
That’s 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA in his past three starts for Lowe, after that horrible five-game skid. He’s only gone six innings in each of the past three, though.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:18 pm
Boobies!!! Al Bundie would be Prowd!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:18 pm
pryguy………….fantasy baseball actually helps me keep up with what’s going on around the whole sport of baseball. You have to if you want to do well. You know who is hot and who is not.
MiltonDawg
July 21st, 2009
9:18 pm
Carroll Rogers- been to a few games this year–nothing has stood out that much but tonight i heard Procol Harum’s Whiter Shade of Pale. I forget if was for an opposing player but tell him that was good stuff there.
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:18 pm
Seriously.
I thought the Phillies had starting pitching problems. WTF? When is that going to become evident, cause everytime I look up they’re holding a team to two runs or less.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
9:19 pm
Those Giants fans look so sad.
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
9:19 pm
I just remembered that it’s singles night at the game.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:19 pm
LOL @ Tomahawkin ((9:18)
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:19 pm
When do the Rockies play a GOOD team
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:19 pm
DANG that chick in the yellow shirt…”Well equipped” comes to mind.
And I live in Montana, I’m single, and I’m an officer in the AF. I don’t see many hotties that aren’t off-limits. LoL
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:19 pm
LOL ROFL OMG
Giants announcers call Jair Jurrjens……JAR Jurrjens ~_~
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
9:20 pm
Paul,
Step away from the blog. Take some deep breathes. DOB and Carroll will be here in the morning. Take a night off brother.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:20 pm
Petey-Pabb Needs to Bring Back those Throwback “Horace Grant” Goggles…!
He’s been a changed man w/o them, J/K…
RHR
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
Lol i love when tomahawkin imagines dob out on the prowl. Funny stuff.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
Attaboy Churchy!
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
Church with a nice catch!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
Church looks good in CF
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
If you’re scared go to Church!!!!
Soph
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
Nice catch Churchy!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
Had some to spare…
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
Huh, Phills only have one run through 8. Wonder why… oh, they were facing a tough pitcher. The Braves seem to have a bunch of them. We can catch them since we still face them quit a bit more in ‘09.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
I like Infante, but I don’t like him in CF. Church can be the backup there now. That gives us much better D
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
Well, whatever it takes to get that dude out. Randy Wynn turns into Barry Bonds (minus the planet-shaped head) against the Braves.
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
9:22 pm
Kevin Youkilis has the record for consecutives errorless games for a 1B it stands at 238 games.
Next to him is Steve Garvey with 193.
Where does he stands now? 170 games? Could anyone help there?
Right now CK is approaching Garvey……….thats how big this streak is.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:22 pm
David O’Brien……….you cant really count tonight’s game as Lowe not going more than 6 innings. In an 8-1 game, Bobby probably felt that getting the bullpen some work tonight was the thing to do. If it was a 2-1 or 3-1 game, I’d be willing to bet that Bobby would have brought Lowe out for the 7th, even though he was at 92 pitches. Lowe could have gone one more inning if need be. However with the big lead, no sense in overworking Lowe.
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:23 pm
TnBrian,
Apparently the Cubs have faced a tough pitcher the last two nights, too. And so did the Marlins the three games before that.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:23 pm
Rob From SC
“The Philles offense isn’t just good because of their power, but Rollins, Victorino, and Werth can run and barely get caught. They put pressure on teams”
And Beacuse of that aspect of the game the Phillies have Owned us over the last 3 years prior to 2009…
That element of putting pressure on opposing teams goes unnoticed…
But have you or anyone else noticed that the braves usually play sub-par Defense against the phillies
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:23 pm
How do the Astros keep winning.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:23 pm
Nice sacrifice by Church! I didn’t think he had a prayer! But I guess I’m preaching to the choir!
Carroll Rogers
July 21st, 2009
9:23 pm
OK, thanks to a couple of you guys and any others yet to come. But it’s going to take a full on e-mail to me rather than blogging to get me something I can use in the paper. crogers@ajc.com, if you will. Include a phone number. Thanks
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:23 pm
Good Question!!!
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:23 pm
Doc,
The Giants announcers tonight said it was 147 games going into tonight for Kotchman’s error-less streak.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:23 pm
Looks like the “good” Peter Moylan showed up tonight.
Nice catch by Church there. I like his versatility.
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
9:24 pm
The_Superhero, OMG, and they were wearing tight little daisy dukes! I gotta go pick up my girlfriend here in a little while and it’s a long drive… guess what I’ll be thinking about.
bravefaninok
July 21st, 2009
9:24 pm
Is nate hurt??seen him grab his lower back in his last AB.Now church in Center.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:24 pm
Tomahawkin
The way to beat the Phillies is to keep Rollins and Victorino off base. The Braves have done this and that is why we are 7-2 against them
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
9:24 pm
Lidge and his 7.02 ERA pitching in the 9th
anytime now cubs … anytime now
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:25 pm
Church with a hit!
MANOLO
July 21st, 2009
9:25 pm
We should worry about getting an additional reliever, more than a bat. Unless hudson wants to….
i still remember two years back when we got Texeira. We came out of the break hitting like we are now, until the bullpen started blowing 8-2, 7-3 leads, and from then we went down the drain.
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:25 pm
Good piece of hittin there Church. Got to try to keep up with the suddenly-scoring Francoeur.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:25 pm
Wren did a great job getting Church
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:26 pm
suddenly-scorching i meant to say
Flat Bill Kid
July 21st, 2009
9:26 pm
In regards to all the Braves HOF numbers on the fasade.
Chip- UH what are the Yankees gonna do?
Simp- uh dont know dont really care…
Typical Chip talk. Pathetic
RHR
July 21st, 2009
9:26 pm
Superhoo – do women even live in montana?
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:26 pm
bravefaninok–I think they just went ahead and took him out because of the blowout score. Just as a precaution. I think he had back problems before the trade.
TnBrian
July 21st, 2009
9:26 pm
chillidog, you can’t possibly think that Phills rotation can keep pitching like this, can you? Moyer/Blanton/Happ and even Hamels will have more than their share of bad outings in ‘09.
MEB
July 21st, 2009
9:27 pm
Carroll… anything they can do to improve the in-game atmosphere at the Ted would be greatly appreciated. The same old recorded stuff has been around for a couple of years too long. I really enjoy the live organ at ballgames. Listening to John Denver’s Thank God I’m a Country Boy on PTV right now ng this shtick is getting real old.
GO BRAVES!!!
Frank Wren
July 21st, 2009
9:27 pm
There are 6 women in Montana. They arent allowed to vote
Doc Holiday
July 21st, 2009
9:27 pm
chilidog75,
Thanks. So it is
Youkulis ———- 238
Garvey ———– 198
Kotchman ——– 147
CK is not actually 3rd, or at least I dont have that type of info, all I know is that he could take over 2nd best ever before season is over.
AlabamaBrave
July 21st, 2009
9:27 pm
Is Nate hurt or is he just resting?
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:27 pm
Heyward responds nicely after the 2 K’s. Double then single
Braveheart
July 21st, 2009
9:28 pm
I liked when the organist played Material Girl for Arod when he came up to the plate
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:28 pm
It did look like McLouth grabbed something after his swing in the fifth inning — before he beat out the infield single. Hope it’s not serious. Didn’t seem to affect his speed any.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:28 pm
I think Nate is resting, well, hopefully.
Church seems to be heating up.
THWG
July 21st, 2009
9:28 pm
Phillies bring in Lidge to pitch top 9. Still tied 1-1.
Chris
July 21st, 2009
9:29 pm
Nate seems really tight, needs to lay off the weight room and try some palates for flexibility.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:29 pm
Women: yes
Hot enlisted women: yes
Hot local women: some
Hot single local women: none.
Mason
July 21st, 2009
9:29 pm
Tomahawkin,
I’ll go! I guess you’ll be thinking about…
dinner! What to have for dinner!
Am I right?
chilidog75
July 21st, 2009
9:29 pm
Did look like McLouth grabbed something after a swing in the fifth inning — the at-bat where he ended up getting the infield single. Hope it’s not serious. Certainly didn’t seem to affect his speed.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:29 pm
Rob From SC
Co-Sign…Add To That It Doesn’t Make me get Violent with the Remote when Utley and Howard hit Meaningless solo homers against us instead of 3 run Boobs
Braveheart
July 21st, 2009
9:30 pm
There are two women in the Dakotas – N8 and Cooch
abwright
July 21st, 2009
9:30 pm
Norton put some good wood on that ball in a meaningless pinch hit appearance.
Here’s hoping that the Cubs and Philthies go 21 innings. Wear out the Philthies bullpen going into a 24 games in 25 days stretch (or whatever it is).
Braves Paisan
July 21st, 2009
9:30 pm
Ms Rodgers: The organist played the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends” for A-Rod, obviously for the “I get high …” line. Also, lots of “Whiter Shades of Pale” for players with White or Blanco in their names. I also remember the paisanic classic “Finiculi Fincula” but can’t recall making a connection with a player. There were also some really bads songs I have repressed.
AlabamaBrave
July 21st, 2009
9:30 pm
Organist played Hawaii-Five O theme for Shane Victorino and I think Mele Kalikimaka
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:30 pm
McCann can teach McLouth some yoga ~_~
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:31 pm
Rob From SC
With Ibanez in the Lineup Disco-Go-Round We will be facing a different Phillies Offense, “Bank On It!”
We have Yet to “Pass The Test” Against Ibanez
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:31 pm
Rob From SC
With Ibanez in the Lineup Disco-Go-Round We will be facing a different Phillies Offense, “Bank On It!”
We have Yet to “Pass The Test” Against Ibanez
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:31 pm
White Sox have been rumored to be up for trading Jenks
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
9:31 pm
Cubs still punchless, on to the bottom of the 9th
don’t think they can be depended on tonight
abwright
July 21st, 2009
9:31 pm
So, does the organist play “Lady of Spain”?
(That was an obscure Slapshot joke, if you care.)
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:32 pm
Bottom of the 9th. Still 1-1, Cubs and Phillies.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:32 pm
Yea My Boy Easy-E Is In
I want to hear some Old N.W.A. Now! “Express Yourself!”
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:32 pm
The Phillies just turned a lucky double play to end the top of the 9th. Bad time for the runner to be going on that pitch. Instead of 1st and 3rd one out, ball smoked up the middle and Rollins, who was coming over to cover 2nd, turned the double play.
Cubs, Giants, and Mets are battling each other for the worst offense award, lol.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:32 pm
*hears Dropkick Murphys* is Papelbon pitching for the Braves now? Lol
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:32 pm
Tomahawkin
We player 2 of three series against the Phillies (4-2) with Ibanez in the lineup
Mason
July 21st, 2009
9:33 pm
TnBrian that is…
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:34 pm
Mason
Hell Yeah Partna!
Whip It Out!!!
The Strawberries and Whip Cream That Is…!
And Throw in some Patron…! For the Bellyshots…!
Belly-Shots Rule!
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
9:34 pm
Has anyone else ever heard this nickname for Number 7? Fran Fran the GIDP Man. I thought it was hilarious when I saw it.
AlabamaBrave
July 21st, 2009
9:34 pm
Kung-Fu Panda is one of the coolest nicknames ever
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
9:35 pm
I think it may be a little early to be scoreboard watching. I think it is more important to continue to watch the Braves play at this level and everything will work itself out in October.
I’m still checking the Phils score by the minute though!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:35 pm
The Apocalypse is upon us, lol. Ryan Langerhans hit his first homer of the year for the Mainers.
David O'Brien
July 21st, 2009
9:36 pm
McLouth mild low-back strain, day-to-day
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
9:36 pm
Is it me or has the music at the Ted gotten a lot better?
Heck, it even sounds like there is a new stadium organist now…
I like it!
MT Braves Fan
July 21st, 2009
9:36 pm
Superhoo, agreed on the available women in MT, lived here long enough to back you up on that one!
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
9:36 pm
Marmol just struck out Ibanez.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:36 pm
Rob From SC
The Last Series we played against Philly, We Clowned them and made their lineup look punchless w/o Ibanez…
The Good thing is that Groin Injuries are sensitive and hang around…Most men know that from experience themselves
Come On Easy-E Where U at Baby!!!
RHR
July 21st, 2009
9:37 pm
Email her, people. Come on, help the lady out.
Superhoo, so there are more hot women in my house right now than there are in montana? Thats what i figured lol. My boss drove thru montana a few yrs back and raved about how beautiful it is there. And how you could drive for hours and not see another living soul.
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:37 pm
I hope McLouth will be fine. Give some days off since Church can play CF.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:37 pm
There We Go Easy-E…
Our Most Underrated Reliever!!!
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
9:38 pm
That’s good news DOB. Isn’t the Church deal even sweeter having that option to move him to center? Wren needs to be commended once again. He has been on point with almost all the moves he has made. Yet time and time again he is ridiculed.
Zephyr 8
July 21st, 2009
9:38 pm
“Kung-Fu Panda is one of the coolest nicknames ever”
He could steal my car and i still couldn’t be mad at him with an awesome nickname like that.
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
9:38 pm
looking at these first two games and how the Giants have scored I think the Braves have a legit shot at a shutout tomorrow.
AlabamaBrave
July 21st, 2009
9:38 pm
David O’Brien
July 21st, 2009
9:36 pm
McLouth mild low-back strain, day-to-day
Yeah, that means we won’t see Nate again until Sunday at the earliest
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
9:38 pm
Oh fine…McLouth hurt now?
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:39 pm
2 out, bottom of the 9th. Cubs-Phils could be headed for some free baseball….
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:39 pm
Mild lower back strain, McFann
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
9:39 pm
McFann,
Remember the injuries last year? We have been lucky and I’ll take a day-to-day injury than him landing on the 15 day DL.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
9:39 pm
Going to the 10th in Philly!
Dumbfound
July 21st, 2009
9:40 pm
Matt stairs up for phillie two outs in the bottom of the ninth ! corrections ! extra innings !!
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:40 pm
RHR,
Western MT is pretty awesome. Mountains and passes and whatnot. Most of MT (the part my guys live and work on ICBMs in) is plains with only a mountain here or there. Definately right about the scarcity of people. I’ve basically accepted that I’ll be single till I’m out of here in 2 years. Lol
ChurchMan
July 21st, 2009
9:40 pm
On to the 10th with the Cubs playing the role of a bad odor.
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
9:40 pm
I need to slow down before I begin to pull a “Paul Lentz” on all the bloggers.
brian
July 21st, 2009
9:40 pm
Wren was lambasted by many for failing to pull off the Peavy trade. Where would we be with that trade now? No Derek Lowe, no Nate McLouth, and no Yunel Escobar.
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
9:41 pm
Who will lead off? Prado, Escobar, or Diaz?
Braves Paisan
July 21st, 2009
9:41 pm
Necro: they STILL play “Country Boy” during the stretch, so how much better could it be?
Mason
July 21st, 2009
9:41 pm
Waiting for Ray Liotta to walk out of centerfield in his Black Sox uni, look at the beeyatches in the crowd and ask Chipper, “Is this Heaven?”
To which Chipper would say “No, this is a baseball field. Heaven has girls in short orange shorts and above average chicken wings”.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:42 pm
Bobby should be yelling “EASY EASY” when Chipper has to hustle down that line, like he does with the pitchers…
CHIP CARAY IS A BUFFOON
July 21st, 2009
9:42 pm
I really hate Chip Caray’s forced laughter at his own pathetic quips. Must be nice to have a soft high salary job, because of your daddy and grandaddy. What a punk!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
9:42 pm
Yeah…I hate that “Country Boy” crap…I was kind of hoping they would have axed that crap after the A.S. Break!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:42 pm
I have Noticed that they have Changed Some of the Music as well
Bring Back The Old Ozzy Crazy Train 4 Chipper NOW…The Trick Daddy/LIL Jon Version They’ve been playing since 2004 has gotten old! And It ain’t Chipper’s Style!
And Stop Playing that Gwen Stefani Garbage! Her voice is nails to a chalkboard!
THWG
July 21st, 2009
9:43 pm
Tim Lincecum’s hair is EXACTLY like Michael Jackson’s hair.
MT Braves Fan
July 21st, 2009
9:43 pm
Superhoo, you must be somewhere around Great Falls?
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:43 pm
Anyone else think The Freak looks like a manish woman?
I’m kinda disturbing myself for thinking that. Please someone agree. Lol
Ashley
July 21st, 2009
9:43 pm
Can Chip Caray just shut up already? He talks too darn much. He’s no Harry or Skip. Chip would be sweeping up the Ted if it weren’t for his last name.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
9:43 pm
It sounds like the organist is playing different rifts or maybe there is a new organist.
But they do need to quit playing the John Denver crap.
It serks!!!
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:44 pm
Prado Kotchman Chipper McCann Loaf Yunel Diaz Church
Wouldn’t be bad.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:44 pm
Yep. Live right off Malmstrom AFB in (not so) Great Falls, MT!
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:44 pm
Yea!!! And Whats With All the Country Music they Play at Tooner Field?
I know we are in the deep rooted south but Atlanta is a Cosmopolitan City ran by Out-Of-Staters…
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
9:44 pm
Put some blonde hair on Lincecum and you got ME at age 17.
….’cept my hair was longer.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:44 pm
I agree with you Superhoo.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
9:45 pm
Chip would be sweeping up the Ted if it weren’t for his last name. Ashley
Hell, he could, with THOSE eyebrows!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:45 pm
Acosta, I may be the only fan you have left
so don’t suck
pryguy
July 21st, 2009
9:45 pm
I like Kotchman in the 2 spot. I thought he hit well there earlier in the year when Bobby put him in there. Contact hitter who can move runners over.
MANOLO
July 21st, 2009
9:45 pm
Rockies up 3-1 in the fourth. Next in line.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:46 pm
I’m Not Hating On Linecum but he reminds me of Maralyn Manson…
I bet he listens to that before games…
Dumbfound
July 21st, 2009
9:46 pm
(laugh) Phillies have Chen Ho Pak pitching !!
fastasballs
July 21st, 2009
9:46 pm
If were the Freak I’d try to avoid committing any crimes. He’s too purty to go to prison.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:46 pm
Phew thanks, TJ!
Btw at The University we call you Mr Jefferson. Haha
McFann :Ô:
July 21st, 2009
9:46 pm
Just had to get that K in there, huh, BMac?
TJ–
Thanks!
pryguy–
Huh, yeah, totally.
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:48 pm
Acosta needs to learn a changeup. He has a hard time locating his slider. Teams sit on his FB. Maybe Medlen can teach him the change during their spare time in the pen
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
9:48 pm
Acosta…..could he qualify as a “Bobby’s Boy?”
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:48 pm
pryguy………..I’ve been saying the same thing you said in your 9:38pm posting.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:49 pm
I still say that somebody needs to hold that boy down and take some sheep shears to his head… (since we were discussing Lincecum)
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:49 pm
nasty pitch
Jman
July 21st, 2009
9:49 pm
HOW ‘BOUT THEM BRAVES!?!?! Even Acosta is pitching well!
Rob from SC
July 21st, 2009
9:50 pm
Jman
Where were you when Escobar took over this game with his glove
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:51 pm
BallGame!!!
RHR
July 21st, 2009
9:51 pm
Its totally obvious how much play you studs get with all your talk of cougars, beeeeyatchees, and friends with benefits.
keep dreaming, boys.
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:51 pm
Ballgame.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
9:51 pm
Wow, Manny, impressive…
I stand corrected, for tonight, that is..
BravesFanChris24
July 21st, 2009
9:51 pm
2 Games over .500
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:51 pm
Woooo what a handle by Kotch! He wants that streak!
fastasballs
July 21st, 2009
9:52 pm
It’s a bit early for scoreboard watching, isn’t it? 65 games or so to play is a little early. All the Braves have to do is continue to play good baseball like they have been & the rest should take care of itself.
It’s amazing how well they have played since dropping KJ/Frenchy & adding Prado. Well actually it’s not if you think about it. It had to give this team a boost to know two guys were not killing the line up. As Yogi Berra said “Baseball is 90% mental — the other half is physical.”
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
9:52 pm
Cubs-Phillies going to the top of the 11th.
TJ
July 21st, 2009
9:52 pm
RHR—as I pointed out earlier…it’s apparently a guy thing…
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
9:52 pm
Going to the 11th in Phil.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:52 pm
Cubs Phillies into the 11th!
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
9:52 pm
Good going, boys, you’re looking like what all of us on here wanted y’all to be!
Winners!
RHR
July 21st, 2009
9:53 pm
Pretty sure that was carolyn lowe they just showed on the phone.
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
9:53 pm
Oh Hell Yea! It’s Good to win the 1st 2 with Cy Linecum up Tomorrow…
Double J matches up against him and we will come back against their bullpen “Bank On It!” 2-1 we win!
Wheelz007
July 21st, 2009
9:55 pm
Great win for the good guys!
We’ve got some momentum going. Let’s keep it up!
Jeffro
July 21st, 2009
9:55 pm
I feel good about this team. It seems like since Prado got in there this team actually has LIFE.
ghostwriter
July 21st, 2009
9:55 pm
Anybody see the Mets? You know it’s bad when Frenchy is batting clean-up.
Robert
July 21st, 2009
9:55 pm
When they are clicking like this, the team is Donk-proof. If they can continue it for three more months, who knows. Sadly, everyone knows that at some point the team will no longer be in a collective zone, and the outcome of a game will rest on a Cox decision – and that’s where we’ll lose a game in the standings to the league
Enjoy it while it lasts – and hop they continue to let Bozo doze thru the games for at least a few more series
bravefaninok
July 21st, 2009
9:55 pm
astasballs
July 21st, 2009
9:46 pm
If were the Freak I’d try to avoid committing any crimes. He’s too purty to go to prison.
OHHH Damn ….that made me spit drink all over my monitor.
Dan_in_NC
July 21st, 2009
9:56 pm
Nice win for the Bravos!!!
I’m shocked to see no complaints about Bobby using Moylan tonight? Brings back a point I made Sunday Night, you never know as a reliever when you may go 3 or 4 days without work. Good thing Soriano threw Sunday or we would be asking him to go on 5 days rest. Odds are hgih we’ll need him and Gonzo tomorrow.
Jman
July 21st, 2009
9:57 pm
Rob, Been out with the Fam tonight… Got in around the 7th. I’m all for Yunel now. I thought Mark Bradley’s article was really good, and maybe Yunel is just misunderstood. I just hated his attitude and apparent lack of doing things the right way… Hitting like he’s hitting now can cure a lot of ills though… Go Braves!
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
9:57 pm
My wife says that Lincecum with that hair looks exactly like Professor Snape would at that age.
TennesseePaul
July 21st, 2009
9:57 pm
DOB: That is good to hear and spot on.
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
9:59 pm
Ugh up in bottom of 11th: Utley, Howard, Ibanez
Dumbfound
July 21st, 2009
9:59 pm
I laughed too soon ! The Cubbies can’t get any runs off of Chan Ho Park !! Cubbies will lose ! Sorry Cubbies !!!!
Paul Lentz
July 21st, 2009
10:00 pm
Dan_in_NC…………..I have no problem with Bobby using Moylan in situations like tonight. I just think that he is too INCONSISTENT to be using in the 7th inning of close games.
McFann ;Ô;
July 21st, 2009
10:00 pm
NICE! The Braves sure are on a roll, eh? Boy oh boy…lovin’ it!
And here’s my Odd Stat of the Night (as just mentioned on the broadcast): Last time Braves were two games over .500–May 25 against the Giants. And who were they gonna face the next day? Tim Lincecum.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
10:01 pm
If St Louis finishes the game with 1 run, the Braves will be tied for 6th in runs scored. That is a big just (from 11th) in the past 20 games.
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
10:01 pm
I think the Braves are a better team now than they were when they faced the Giants back in May.
AlabamaBrave
July 21st, 2009
10:01 pm
Gone Viral
July 21st, 2009
9:57 pm
Your wife is a funny lady. He does look like a teenage Snape
The_Superhoo
July 21st, 2009
10:04 pm
Just made me realize they left out all those revelations about Snape and Harry’s dad in the new movie. Lame.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
10:05 pm
RHR @ 9:53
I was wondering. Very pretty!
McFann ;Ô;
July 21st, 2009
10:05 pm
Necromancer–
They sure are playing like it!
Mitch C
July 21st, 2009
10:06 pm
Dave, a few weeks ago, I thought the Braves season was over. Now, if they keep playing as they are, a wild card berth seems a possibility.
The real thing is this: The Braves have to keep plugging away. I dont know what number of wins it will take to get the wild card. It’s usually between 85 and 90. The Braves are two games over 500 after tonight’s win, so one would figure they have to play.. 10 to 15 games over the rest of the way.
Another issue is the trade deadline. I’m in agreement with the 90% who said that the Braves should not deal Javy Vazquez for offensive help. Doing so would greatly weaken our pitching. We dont know what Tim Hudson will give us when he comes back, and Tim can be a free agent at the end of the year. If we trade Vazquez, and lose Hudson to free agency, or decide not to re sign him, due to the question of his health after TJ sutgery, we are then left with only three servicable starters in Jair, Lowe, and Hanson.
I would either stand pat on July 31, or make another deal not involving a starting pitcher.
Good Run the the few weeks. Let’s hope it continues.
Mitch
fastasballs
July 21st, 2009
10:06 pm
It’s great to see Lowe getting back on track. With him coming around there isn’t a weak spot in the Braves rotation. Even if you view Kawakami as one, which I don’t, he’s better than any other 5th starter that comes to mind. He does exactly what he should do, keep the team in the game, usually allows 3 or less in 6 or so innings.
Looks like Chipper & McCann is getting it together as well. If the offense stays hot as a group this team could win 8-10 in a row. The pitching is there to do it. I know it’s been a really long time since the Braves have put a streak together of any length, but the conditions are about as right as they are going to get.
SoWeGa Fanatic
July 21st, 2009
10:07 pm
Moylan has a career 2.77 era and is what, 15 months out from TJ surgery? I think he has been outstanding, with the typical TJ bumps in the road.
McFann ;Ô;
July 21st, 2009
10:08 pm
fastasballs Looks like Chipper & McCann is getting it together as well.
Yeah!
Richie
July 21st, 2009
10:10 pm
Tomorrow is a dandy and a tough one as well tomorrow. Braves make Lincecum work for every out he gets tomorrow. Let’s try for 3 games over 500 tomorrow.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 21st, 2009
10:10 pm
Lets go Cubbies!
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
10:10 pm
Good article on Heyward vs. Stanton:
http://www.baseball-intellect.com/jason-heyward-vs-mike-stanton/
37YearBravesFan
July 21st, 2009
10:10 pm
I smell momentum also, but I worry about what they will do when KJ is due back. The current chemistry of the team should NOT be messed with!!!
DOB, any rumors about what they’ll do with KJ????
GO BRAVES!!!
SoWeGa Fanatic
July 21st, 2009
10:12 pm
Phils have 2 on with 2 out.
Dumbfound
July 21st, 2009
10:12 pm
Two Phillies on with two out !!! Duh ! Duh ! Dumm !!
McFann ;Ô;
July 21st, 2009
10:13 pm
Yeah, so…what did the Cubs put in Heilman for?
Night, all!!
NY Frenchy
July 21st, 2009
10:14 pm
WOW! Booby finally gets it right & puts in Acosta with a 7 run lead, thats the only time he should pitch, if ever. Dont get too excited, were still only 2 games over ordinary sports fans, lets see where were at on Labor Day weekend then maybe we have hope!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
10:15 pm
…would be nice if the D-backs can put a few runs on the board tonight and sneak out a win against the Rockies.
Dumbfound
July 21st, 2009
10:16 pm
Sheww !!!!
fastasballs
July 21st, 2009
10:16 pm
Steve from OH, Thanks for the good read. I love me some Jason Heyward, well in a non homosexual sort of way.
18 Wheels of Love
July 21st, 2009
10:17 pm
For those that care….Three Sheets, the show about the guy that travels to different countries and partakes in teir drinking customs, is now on the FIne Living Network. New season started last night. Awesome show….
Necromancer
July 21st, 2009
10:18 pm
Good night folks..hopping over to FaceBook for a bit….
Steve from OH
July 21st, 2009
10:19 pm
Well fastasballs, you know me, I’ve never found a prospect I couldn’t hug…
SoWeGa Fanatic
July 21st, 2009
10:20 pm
Interesting…if the Cubs win, we gain a game on the Phils. But, if the Phils win, the Cubs drop into a 3 way tie for 3rd with us in the WC race.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
10:20 pm
Damn, winning is funnnnnn.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
10:22 pm
Arizona scores… 4-3 Rox now…top of the 6th, 1 out, Upton on third.
Mixxo
July 21st, 2009
10:23 pm
Damn, winning is funnnnnn. – Soph
Yeah it is!!! Need to keep this going tomorrow against a tough pitcher.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 21st, 2009
10:23 pm
It’s high drama in Philly tonight. Going to the bottom of the twelfth all tied up 1-1.
keylargo
July 21st, 2009
10:25 pm
Tour de France news
Though Armstrong is no doubt vying for an eighth Tour win, the New York Times quoted Contador as saying that Armstrong has stopped competing with Contador for first place and instead will ride the rest of the Tour to help Contador and team Astana win the event.
Armstrong must realize he is not capable of beating Alberto Contador, his team mate on Astana, who should win the team championship.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 21st, 2009
10:25 pm
St Louis scored their 2nd run….so, Braves will stay 7th in runs.
Javy Vazquez/ Lopez
July 21st, 2009
10:27 pm
Question? How many other teams have a switch hitter on the bench with a .114 average???? Why is Norton still on the roster, he should be serving happy meals somewhere, when we hit the road trip, leave him here & give his roster spot to someone who can help us, he’s a donk!
Richie
July 21st, 2009
10:29 pm
Josh Willingham for 1b/of, thought anyone?
lexbrave
July 21st, 2009
10:29 pm
cubs take the phils to the 14th and the dbacks pull within 1 of the rox.. should be an interesting night.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
10:30 pm
Braves highlights on Baseball Tonight!
AdirondackDave
July 21st, 2009
10:31 pm
Steve O — Appreciate the article on Heyward & Stanton. Wish we had both… wait, maybe we do with Cody Johnson.
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
10:31 pm
Liked the article, Steve.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
10:31 pm
“This is Yunel Escobar world and we’re all just trying to live in it.” -Karl Ravech.
Haaa!
Goldenglove002
July 21st, 2009
10:32 pm
sweet, 2 web gems (2 for Escobar, 1 for Kotchman). Braves finally get a little attention on ESPN
Tomahawkin
July 21st, 2009
10:33 pm
I can’t believe you guys still watch BSPN!
The Bird and Indian
July 21st, 2009
10:35 pm
Is Yunel Escobar becoming the most interesting man in the world? I mean in the MLB?
We have 3 web gem nominees. 2 By YE19.
Soph
July 21st, 2009
10:36 pm
T’Hawkin – I had to see what they said about the Braves. They actually showed them some love tonight. Baseball Tonight said we were the “web gem game”.
fastasballs
July 21st, 2009
10:36 pm
So who gets the boot once KJ comes off the DL? Conrad I presume? An off chance of Norton being DFA’d I suppose, but I doubt it.
Kelly has been ripping the ball at AAA including a couple of hits tonight & an RBI. He’s one streaky hitter & could help this team if he gets on a roll. I wouldn’t mind seeing him start at second on days Prado spells Chipper/CK or even a little left field once in a while, but Prado is the second baseman, he’s more than earned it for now.
KJ played his way out of the line up & feel he needs to produce before he gets back in it on a regular basis. I feel he’s got a lot more to offer & I hope he can produce in whatever role he’s given.
For whatever reason this line up is working & I seriously doubt Cox will tinker with it anytime soon. Lord knows I could be wrong, but I hope not.
PWHjort
July 21st, 2009
10:37 pm
If Escobar was on the Red Sox you’d be telling people to shut the f*** up about Yunel Escobar ALL THE TIME. Boog made the same observation about Hanley Ramirez, but I think it also applies here. Yunel’s a stud.
Goldenglove002
July 21st, 2009
10:37 pm
Tomahawkin-
have to get my highlights somewhere, don’t have MLB network
Shamus Thacker
July 21st, 2009
10:37 pm
Sure hope the Phils lose. Last I saw it was 1-1 in the 13th.