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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,930 comments Add your comment
Captain Obvious
July 23rd, 2009
10:39 am
I tend to wear shoes everywhere I go.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
10:39 am
Dodgers are faraway from everybody else in BA and ERA……….thats a tough team to beat.
BossLady
July 23rd, 2009
10:39 am
Parliament, MotherShip Connection — Now that was good times and good days, Yeah I’d say life was as close to perfect as perfect itself Yeah
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
10:41 am
Last night I think Chip C. said the Braves are the best bunting team in the majors….they have 40 something sacrifices.
Apparently, having the most in something makes you the best? In this case, I don’t think so. Braves possibly are the worst bunting team in the majors, they just happen to have the most sacrifices.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
10:41 am
Doc Holliday
Getting close to a 4-0 sweep, my friend. Are you getting worried?
CB
July 23rd, 2009
10:41 am
I really don’t agree with much of what Curtis said but I also don’t think we should be castigating him for expressing his thoughts. I would rather read opinions written thoughtfully than Robert or others spewing garbage.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
10:42 am
Not to mention they also lead the league in OBP., hits and are 2nd in SB.
They are also 2nd (only to the braves) in fewest HR allowed in the league.
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
10:42 am
We always say that’s what they need to do… manufacture some runs… and we get it on the legs of our 37 year old superstar.
I especially loved the way Escobar manufactured that 3-run dinger. Sure killed the rally, though, LOL.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
10:42 am
Let all he pundits crown Philly the winner of the East! All they can do from there is fall off of their lofty thrones! And let them eat crow!
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
10:42 am
MFin04 and Curtis Jones
A match made in…..heaven??
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
10:43 am
RHR – if you have a lineup, share it, don’t knock other people’s lineups, man up and post your own.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
10:43 am
On KJ:
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090722&content_id=6005140&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
wheelz007
July 23rd, 2009
10:43 am
Potential Playoff Rotation:
1.) Jair
2.) Javy
3.) DLowe
4.) Hanson – Jair would be pitching on 3 days rest. Bad-bad idea.
5.) Jair
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
10:44 am
Playoff Rotation=tough call. It all matters how Hudson rebounds from TJ. My guess is Lowe will be in it, and he should. He, like Smoltz, shines in October. We have a problem coming up with our rotation, but a problem most teams would kill to have.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
10:45 am
MAybe DOB is taking out his anger on some other previous Curtis post. But I didn’t see that much to be upset about at 8:22.
HotChop
July 23rd, 2009
10:45 am
Enter your comments here
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
10:46 am
Wayne,
I Know, I should have never said that…………LOL………..Im screwed.
Dodgers are also 3rd in team fielding………..this team is a monster………….Torre has done a superb job. Make no mistake, this aint no coincidence, Torre knows how to win, period.
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
10:46 am
Braves possibly are the worst bunting team in the majors, they just happen to have the most sacrifices.
I’m going to give myself a minute here, and see if I can come up with the logic that makes those two statements fit together.
Nope.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
10:46 am
Wayne – why do you feel the need to knock people down to build yourself up? What exactly did CJ say that was incorrect? It seems to me he made a pretty good analysis of the Braves problems. It’s not that he isn’t a “great” Braves fan, it’s that he sees the flaws on this team and wants this team to win. If you disagree with some of his points, then disagree, if not, let it go. Either way, no reason to say stuff “like match made in heaven”. I don’t really see what you’d disagree with of his first 10 statements.
fleming
July 23rd, 2009
10:47 am
MFin04 – Apparently, having the most in something makes you the best?
Only if that’s RBIs by your 1B I suppose
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
10:47 am
Hmmm…obviously when Hudson comes back one of the Braves starters has to go to the ‘pen. Somehow never considered this, but which starter has the most experience as a reliever? One Derek Lowe would be your answer. What a luxury to have him available in case Huddy, Hanson, or KK only get through 5, or as a dynamite 7th-8th inning option. You could ABSOLUTELY trade Gonzo then. Question then becomes: does a 15 mil salary guarantee a spot in the rotation or on-field performance? He’s been mostly effective but still is 5th in ERA. Very interesting indeed…
Wes
July 23rd, 2009
10:48 am
Eric, the Twins want HELP at 2B. Not Kelly Johnson.
James is Red
July 23rd, 2009
10:48 am
MFin04 – Not to beat the same drum, but… you’ve got to have Lowe in there. Not only has he been very, very good when he’s on, he’s got impressive playoff experience.
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
10:49 am
Wayne,
Your 10:42…good stuff.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
10:50 am
wheelz007 – depends how they designed the schedule for the 3 day rest. But I really like having Jair in the 5th game, that makes a lot of sense. That’d get Lowe a start as well, and possibly set the Braves up for having Jair pitch game one of the next series, if they could win it in 4. Good idea.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
10:50 am
BravoMan,
Playoff rotation? We still have lots of work to do, not only jump ahead of all those teams, but keeping ourselves there.
But I would go like this
Jair + Vazquez + Hanson + Lowe
KK + Hudson + Soriano + Gonzo + Moylan + Medlen + Oflaherty on the pen.
beekay
July 23rd, 2009
10:51 am
Braves shouldnt trade anything good for a reliever
E.O. , Moylan, Gonzo and Sori can handle close games
Logan, Medlen, Acosta can get the ugly stuff
Bobby needs to protect the end of game guys a bit by keeping them out of any game that is 4 run lead or more
monty
July 23rd, 2009
10:51 am
Doc Hoilday
Read the KJ article. I detect a very strong emphasis on how KJ took going back to AAA “very professional”, “never complained” as contrasted to how a certain other Brave took going down? I think you know who.
fleming
July 23rd, 2009
10:52 am
MFin04 – RHR – if you have a lineup, share it, don’t knock other people’s lineups, man up and post your own.
I think she has to woman up not man up. Can you at least get gender right.
rammerjammer
July 23rd, 2009
10:54 am
Someone asked about the very small man pictured on a tractor in the 1970s Braves photo montage at the stadium? I haven’t seen the photo, but it might be Donald Davidson, who was the team’s traveling secretary back in the day.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
10:55 am
Doc Holiday, I was just saying cuz the subject came up. I’m not getting my hopes up about the playoffs. I know where the Braves are at and what needs to be done to get there. I think Philly can be taken, especially if they don’t get Halladay which I’m bettin they won’t.
BossLady
July 23rd, 2009
10:56 am
Listen, everyone hopes Francoeur does well. We never hated the guy, just wanted him gone. If he turns out to be the best MLB corner outfielder then I would be happy for him and especially his parents. We needed Jeff gone so just let it go and you can always wish him the best from a distance.
njbraves
July 23rd, 2009
10:56 am
Funny how the talk went from “the season is over, this team is garbage”…to playoff rotations, in about a week. Let’s not get crazy just yet.
Curtis Jones
July 23rd, 2009
10:57 am
To DOB at 9:05 am…insults are beneath you, man. I enjoy your work, and have always been complimentary of it. I understand you have to toe the company line, but as someone else posted, if you disagree with my points, tell me why. Don’t lower yourself to playground insults.
To chilidog75 at 10:05 am. I never said I wanted David Ross to get more AB’s at the expense of Brian McCann. Read what I wrote. It would be good to have a third catcher on the roster, at some point, so that Ross could be used as a PH from time to time. Ross is a good hitter, and plays maybe once a week. He’s not Corky Miller. The team needs power and offense, and he’s a major league hitter.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
10:57 am
Sure Monty,
But KJ would have look dumb to try making a case since Prado is looking like manny. at the plate.
beekay,
Sure thing.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
10:58 am
In a playoff for me personally I’m going with my hottest pitchers.If Lowe hasn’t been pitching like D.Lowe can, he ain’t starting. Good record or not in the post season. THat is BC philosophy and why Norton is still getting run out there.”well he was lights out with the Dodgers or whoever.”
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
10:59 am
scoots-Yunel’s blast was worth the wait,right?
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
11:00 am
monty-It’s Philly-no crow-scrapple. One might actually prefer the crow.
JBoog1285
July 23rd, 2009
11:00 am
KJ activated and Brooks to Triple A per Mark Bowman.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
11:01 am
Most RBIs by a first baseman would make you the best. Ryan Howard, Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder. That logic would work.
Just not with the amount of bunts. I don’t know how he could say the Braves are the best bunting team, does he actually watch the games? He is an announcer for crying out loud. They’ve bunted so much because their offense has been terrible for most of the year. But geez, the most bunts, makes you the best, horrible logic.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
11:01 am
Kelly activated, Conrad optioned back to Gwinnett.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
11:02 am
BravoMan,
Philly might be scratching their heads so hard trying to find a way to get halladay, but Im sure they are also smart enough not to do so cause it will take tons of their talent to do so. I hope they dont find the way. But if they do, they will have to weaken their farm a lot, we all know that and we also know they dont wanna do that,
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
11:02 am
wow…bad move there.
PWHjort
July 23rd, 2009
11:04 am
Heh, Wes. That was funny. Though KJ (even if he’s hitting like he has this year) is a huge upgrade for them at 2B considering their 2Bmen have combined for a big fat .518 OPS this season.
cphizzle
July 23rd, 2009
11:05 am
well good to see we will still have greg norton to make an automatic out
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
11:06 am
Its official———– Cox and Norton are lovers
Theres no other explanation to that roster move.
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
11:07 am
Bravoman-I’m not so sure what makes you think that Hudson would have any effect whatsoever on the Playoff rotation. We already have five starters pitching lights out that AREN’T coming off of TJ suregery barely a year ago who will, by that time, have maybe four starts.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
11:07 am
ncscoots – you really think that because the braves have the most sacrifice bunts, they are the best? Could it be that other teams actually hit the ball and therefore don’t have to bunt as much? Could it be that the Braves have the worst % of getting sacrifice bunts down, but happen to do it soo often, that they have the most sacrifices, yet the worst %?
It’s very possible to have the most, yet not be great at it. The Braves certainly aren’t a great bunting team.
Jeff321
July 23rd, 2009
11:12 am
Not very happy about Norton still being on this team while Conrad goes to blow in the wind.
PWHjort
July 23rd, 2009
11:12 am
I don’t like the move.
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
11:15 am
That really is disappointing seeing Conrad sent back down. What else does a guy have to do to stay on the roster? He did everything we could of asked for and more filling in. I am one of the biggest supporters of Bobby and Wren, but I do not agree with this move. Norton has done nothing for us this season that warrants him being on this roster at this point.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
11:15 am
MFin04 (I know I shouldn’t worry about answering your question, but logic be damned…here goes)
My response to Curtis Jones 10 points about the Braves:
1) IMO, BC has not mismanaged his rotation or the team. They are a .500 team because for most of the season, they are quite average with the bats. DISAGREE
2) I would agree that Prado is a catalyst. I don’t know if anybody knew before he was handed the starting job. Again, another opportunity to slam the manager, and not the player(s), in this case, KJ.
3) Diaz, when playing as BC has played him, is a catalyst. The jury is still out on whether he can handle over 500 PA’s in a season.
4) Casey Kotchman is not a power hitting player. He IS a drag on the basepaths. He is NOT a light hitter….that would be Gregor Blanco and Diory Hernandez and Kelly Johnson so far this year. AND, he is an EXCELLENT fielder, not a good glove. AGAIN, overstating and understating.
5) Partly true, partly false. Most end of the bench relievers are NOT big game pitchers, and I dare say that EVERY team that has been in the World Series this century has carried pitchers similar to those two.
6) DANG IT!!! I would have to whole heartedly agree on this one!!! And he didn’t feel the need to say “in spite of the manager” anywhere in that point.
7) Partially disagree. McLouth is not an IDEAL leadoff man. His average is a bit too low, hence his OBP is a bit low. And he K’s too much for an ideal leadoff hitter. But, he might be the best leadoff hitter we have. If we put Prado in the leadoff position, he would also have his downside. And then who would you bat second?
9) Don’t know. And how can you? If Norton had quit the first time he had a bad half year, or a bad year, we would have never had him do so well for us last year. No doubt Norton is having and awful year. Maybe you should have said that.
10) Again, here is another point I would agree with you on.
So, MFin04, I guess I agree with a few points of your buddy Curtis, but not too many.
Again, I think you two should get a room.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
11:15 am
It is so pleasant to be in 2nd place already and watch the muts hit the double digits number on the GB column. Baseball Gods are awakening.
Cubs are idle today so we will be all alone in 3rd place if we complete the sweep.
Josh B
July 23rd, 2009
11:16 am
This season is shot. Thanks Wren, we need Brooks Conrad for this team not freaking Greg Norton. I’ll see you guys next season.
ghostwriter
July 23rd, 2009
11:16 am
DOB:
Is there any threat that KJ will start at 2B over Prado? Or it is known that KJ will be a bench player?
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
11:16 am
David O’Brien
July 23rd, 2009
11:01 am
Kelly activated, Conrad optioned back to Gwinnett.
I don’t have the words
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
11:17 am
MFin04-Yeah, and to think how many times Denizens demanded that the Braves bunt more and play small ball. Imagine that-now there’s dissent and duality. Never saw that before on the Ole Blog.
TexasBrave
July 23rd, 2009
11:18 am
I don’t understand the Conrad demotion. Wren has been making all the right moves to make this a better team and although I realize this move is not as huge as the Frenchy trade, DFA Norton would have made this team just a little better. Lets just hope Bobby doesn’t over use Norton. Probably a pipe dream.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
11:18 am
I’m not sure how anyone could like that move, Norton doesn’t play in the field and he doesn’t pinch-HIT.
James is Red
July 23rd, 2009
11:19 am
Good call, Josh B. This move does mark the end of the season. Go join Anders on his hiatus.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
11:21 am
Doc
After our win this afternoon, that Cox and Norton being lovers stuff will have to go…..
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
11:22 am
People——– when this kind of moves are made, you just have to stop and think for a second. There most be something cooking for Cox to decide to make such a “bad” move. I dont think there is a soul on this blog or in atlanta for that matter that thinks this is a good move. But maybe, just maybe, there is an explanation we all ignore. Lets wait and see what Bobby has to say to this blogs moderator if the question is asked.
Hey Wayne,
I was just practicing for the new beginning. “My live after this sweep”………. I want to vomit, I can believe I just wrote that stuff.
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
11:22 am
I love it that Fans of a team who have won 8 of their past 10 and 16 of their past 21, completely turning their season around and are moving up on all our competition are now going to boycott the team because a player who bats twice a week is still on the team. Incomprehensible.
ChipperFan
July 23rd, 2009
11:22 am
Norton over Conrad is a bad call, no doubt.
My playoff rotation would be:
Jurrjens
Lowe
Vazquez
Hanson
Jurrjens
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
11:24 am
Wayne,
You are enjoying this moment, arent you?
Well, at least Im enjoying our winning streaks. I will miss the moaning though.
McPoyle
July 23rd, 2009
11:24 am
Brooks is gone?? NOOOO!!! what a great job he did, good stuff.
As I said on here yesterday DOB, …E has no, and never should have had any business with Sloan. She’s way too fine. At least Turtle brings a good personality to the table. E is just a chump. Love it when Ari knocks E down a peg or two, even more than I like it when he does it to Lloyd.
Mac
July 23rd, 2009
11:25 am
What does Norton have to do to get released, kill someone?
Austin
July 23rd, 2009
11:25 am
Ok, so Greg Norton over Brooks Conrad? LMAO
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
11:26 am
While I hate to see Conrad go down, I think the idea of keeping Norton on board is to give him a few more AB’s to see if he can get out of this season long funk.
Who knows, maybe with all the hitting our team is doing presently, Norton can catch the bug.
Again, not saying I like it either, I just understand it.
For those who would leave or throw away the season for this roster move, I have one thing to say: Take your ball and go home, if you don’t like the rules.
(the rules being that Frank Wren makes the decisions, not the MIB Bloggers)
HuffBraves
July 23rd, 2009
11:26 am
C’mon guys, is the Conrad demotion really going to make or break this season?
Yeah, he had a couple of good weeks at the plate, but Kelly has a proven track record, he’s been raking at AAA, he’s always been an EXCELLENT pinch-hitter, and his defense is FAR superior to Conrad’s.
If he comes back and hits .200 again, we can send him right back down. But I have a feeling he’s going to be a pretty important part of this team down the stretch.
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
11:26 am
Mac
July 23rd, 2009
11:25 am
What does Norton have to do to get released, kill someone?
Even that might not be enough
CB
July 23rd, 2009
11:27 am
Hey, we have to gripe about something. Life is too good,right?
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
11:28 am
Wayne you agree with most of the items on there that I do. Maybe we should get the room?
Prado has been nothing but consistent for the Braves when he is playing. KJ has been terrible this year. It is on the manager for playing Frenchy and KJ every day. And for batting KJ leadoff so darn often. He could have been playing Infante there everyday as well.
Bobby has mismanaged the bullpen, that argument is long gone and over, but he has. If Casey K wasn’t a light hitter he wouldn’t be batting 7th or 8th.
All the rest I think you and I both agree on.
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
11:28 am
HuffBraves
July 23rd, 2009
11:26 am
C’mon guys, is the Conrad demotion really going to make or break this season?
Yeah, he had a couple of good weeks at the plate, but Kelly has a proven track record, he’s been raking at AAA, he’s always been an EXCELLENT pinch-hitter, and his defense is FAR superior to Conrad’s.
Here is my rebuttal: .111
Anders
July 23rd, 2009
11:28 am
It is so pleasant to be in 2nd place already and watch the muts hit the double digits number on the GB column. Baseball Gods are awakening (Doc Holliday)
You’re tempting karma again. Remember – the Braves are about one tweak away at third or catcher from irreparable harm. The Gods don’t look kindly on those that take pleasure in others demise. ( I know this first hand from what the Gods did to me the last two years!)
atlbravesfan44
July 23rd, 2009
11:28 am
The Conrad demotion will not. The fact that Norton is still on this team may.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
11:29 am
GREG NORTON=This years CORKY MILLER….
UNBELIEVABLE…Guy can’t hit a fastball down the middle
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
11:29 am
Lew, I would agree with you there as well I was jst mentioning Hudson because some of the others have Hudson in their rotation for a possible playoff reach. If it were my call I’d stick with the guys who’ve been consistant all year long.
Bad call on send Conrad down. He won us a few game sthanks to his clutch hits. He almost ht for the cycle in Colorado. Don’ get that at all…
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
11:29 am
Mac,
He might have done that already when he left the bases loaded a few days ago……..
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
11:30 am
Lew,
Clearly some on here are overreacting a bit. Losing Conrad is more than just two at bats in my opinion. I feel like a player like that brings more to a team than just at bats. It’s called giving a team an identity. Granted he is simply a bench player at this point in his career, but he battled in his at bats and did anything asked of him to make this team better. I haven’t seen that from Norton. Brooks is a spark plug IMO.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
11:30 am
the rules being that Frank Wren makes the decisions, not the MIB Bloggers(Wayne)
[Shocked]
Noooo! Get right on outta here! Well, I’m almost positive his wife or his kid reads this and tells him exactly what we think and he works accordingly. Arrghhh!
Chris from the Rock
July 23rd, 2009
11:30 am
What is it about Norton’s .111 batting average that allures the Braves’ brass? He’s not getting it done pinch hitting and has only played first twice this season. And if Kotchman needs a day off, slide Prado over to 1B and let KJ play second.
Anders
July 23rd, 2009
11:31 am
James in Red and #31
Who are you guys and what have you done with the Braves faithful who have been blogging here through the tough times?
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
11:31 am
Anders,
You can always become a Braves fan………. you just have to admit braves are your daddies and you are in.
LOL.
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
11:31 am
After his first half, Kelly Johnson has nowhere to go but up.
I agree that Brooks Conrad is preferable to Norton, but let’s get real for a minute. The guy has batted 45 times so far in almost four months of the season. His position on the team is a make or break one-especially now that KJ is availiable for pinch hitting. Maybe some of you are totally overreacting? Ya think? Besides-it’s not as if Conrad was shipped to a Siberian Gulag or anything. He’s across town.
18 Wheels of Love
July 23rd, 2009
11:32 am
Terrible move. Hopefully there is a pending deal going to happen prior to July 31 that will make this move make sense….but I doubt it. Weird.
Adam Lawson
July 23rd, 2009
11:32 am
Umm, dont let the door hit you wehre the Good Lord split ya on your way out. At least with this move, and it’s really the only way to defend the move, Brooks can get some playing time and improve his game.
nfieldr
July 23rd, 2009
11:32 am
Kelly activated, Conrad optioned back to Gwinnett.
Boo…. hisss.
GermanBravesFan
July 23rd, 2009
11:32 am
The best part about the Braves’ streak: posts by Robert have been decreasing steadily!!
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
11:32 am
Doc Holiday, I seriously doubt that the Dodgers being .009 points higher than the Braves in batting average and the Dodgers being 0.18 points better in ERA than the Braves is NOT faraway better from everybody else.
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
11:32 am
Excuse me-his position on the team is NOT a make or break one.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
11:32 am
Doc
Actually, I think there is a lot of truth in your statement about there being “reasons”.
And yes, I am loving this…..I think we are going to become best buds!
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
11:33 am
Lew,
He brings more to a team with his desire and his hustle. I haven’t even watched the kid play live on TV. I’m going off highlights and what I hear on here. Tough to choose dead weight over a kid hungry to make himself and his team better.
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
11:34 am
Do you really want to take the chance of having children who look like Ross Perot? Lew
I’ll love my children no matter what they look like…besides, that’s what they make plastic surgeons for.
Poorbrave
July 23rd, 2009
11:34 am
Look for Norton to be releasted or included in a trade. Kelly also could fit in trade. (very little value)
Braves have interest in Jorge Cantu, Mark Teahen, Cory Hart……….GA could be traded to AL to contender……mlb.com
Bring CONRAD back his Pete Rose play sparked the Braves at the right time.
TexasBrave
July 23rd, 2009
11:34 am
While I hate to see Conrad go down, I think the idea of keeping Norton on board is to give him a few more AB’s to see if he can get out of this season long funk. Wayne in Utah
Wayne it is one thing to give a regular a few more at bats to work things out, it is quit another to give a pinch hitter one at bat every other day in the hopes he could work out of it. Norton only has 5 hits in 45 at bats this season. The only way he is going to be able to “work it out” is if he gets some continuous at bats which I am happy to say is not going to happen.
I just don’t get Wren. He releases, doesn’t sign or trades Braves icons Smoltz, Glavine and Frenchy, but he doesn’t have the heart to release Norton?
wjones
July 23rd, 2009
11:35 am
“Last night I think Chip C. said the Braves are the best bunting team in the majors….they have 40 something sacrifices.
Apparently, having the most in something makes you the best? In this case, I don’t think so. Braves possibly are the worst bunting team in the majors, they just happen to have the most sacrifices.”
Well, it is obvious that Chip misspoke; he should have said “have more sacrifice bunts”. Not a word wizard, that Chip. But on the subject of bunts, we (I say we because I am also guilty of this) look only inward on this subject. “Why don’t we bunt more?” “We are terrible at bunting!”. We do this because we see the results of our team when we don’t bunt or fail to get a bunt down or bunt badly. But what are we comparing this to? I’ll be the first to admit that I have no idea how many times the other teams in the league bunt, or how proficient they are at it. I don’t live and breathe with their successes and failures the way I do the Braves, and I certainly don’t curse the TV when other teams bunt badly, fail to get a bunt down, or don’t bunt whent the situation calls for it. There was a time when I probably would have, but not now. So I think that many of us here on the blog suffer from blinders when looking at this, and I’m sure other, subject(s).
The point made earlier about Ross needing to bat more will be partially solved, but not until September. Sammons will undoubtedly be called up, making our bench stronger in the process. Not because of Sammons, but because Bobby will be free to utilize Ross as a pinch hitter earlier in the game without worries, and also McCann when he is resting. Also he will be able to utilize pinchrunners more stategically as well with the catchers. I also would not be surprised if Sammons was not activated for the Post-season roster, replacing the 12th (unneeded) pitcher, also making our bench deeper in the process. So Norton still has to earn his post-season spot in this scenario. I would suspect, given this scenario, that Medlen, Acosta, and Logan (barring acquisitions) would be fighting for the last spot (assuming also that Hudson is one of the other 10 by then).
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
11:35 am
prguy-Brooks is a spark plug? Seriously? Then why did he only bat 32 times since being called up? Come on Dude-you’re comparing role players and with KJ coming up, you have the defensive part Conrad would have added over Norton. This is much ado about not much.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
11:35 am
Conrad was a threat, opposing managers had him on their heads. Norton is worse than having the pitcher hit. Im sure managers start laughing once Norton is the only one left on the bench for the braves late in the game.
Poorbrave
July 23rd, 2009
11:36 am
sorry about the t in released.