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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,241 comments Add your comment
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:23 pm
RHR At least Yunel seems to have finally gotten over losing Brayan Pena.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
4:24 pm
Huddy is pitching tonight right
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
4:24 pm
the answer is KELLY JOHNSON AND GREG NORTON.. Brooks Conrad has proven himself to be a reliable asset to this team and MARTIN PRADO has stolen the 2nd base job.. if kelly johnson starts. greg norton example the mets game last weekend gets blown away by brian stokes when he has a 3-1 count bases loaded. he missed 2 pitches that were 91 mph. if you cant hit that why the hec are u on a major league roster.. so again bad choices made by a manager that cant use logic and common sense, and has lost the sense of rewarding players when they have proven and earned it.. norton and Johnson have not earned there spots on the roster..
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:25 pm
How did Kotchman not get an error? I mean I love the streak…but you’ve gotta give him an error on that. He fielded it in time, if my grandmother through that ball half speed, she would have throw him out by a step.
Soph
July 23rd, 2009
4:25 pm
Hi McFann! Yup it is, thanks for the b’day wish.
Wish they woulda won too but I’ll take 3 out of 4 anyday of the week.
JayDubu
July 23rd, 2009
4:26 pm
I didn’t see the game, but the 8th inning read really ugly on ESPN’s gameday. It would have been nice to go into the next series with a sweep of the Giants, and a nice little winning streak.
I know that the game was close until the wheels fell off in the 8th, but KK has to go longer than 5 innings. It exposes the Braves bullpen too much.
Tough loss.
Kurdt Kobain
July 23rd, 2009
4:26 pm
Someone pat the umps on the back. They played a great game for SF. Nice effort.
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
4:26 pm
and all you people that are saying trade escobar uhh just be quiet please. he has proven why this team needs him this past week..
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
4:26 pm
ncscoots
While I will continue to not read anything from “he who must not be named”, because he is an a-hole, I couldn’t help but read your 4:22pm to him.
Best way to get his goat is to tell him you will pray for him. (small teeny tiny reference to deity will definitely push his buttons!)
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:26 pm
Not only was the defense bad, but the Braves always seem to blow up when using multiple pitchers in an inning. Might be a good idea to stick with Medlen, or even Boone Logan after Gonzo got hurt, and not bring guys that are cold into a situation.
CB
July 23rd, 2009
4:27 pm
scoots
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:27 pm
Ain’t it the same?
Uh no. 6 is more than 3 and 4 is less than 8.
Some people.
fleming
July 23rd, 2009
4:27 pm
ncscoots – Who knows, you might even learn something about the game of which you are so hopelessly and pitiably ignorant.
Who needs to know anything about the game if you have cut and paste ability
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:28 pm
Kurdt Kobain,
Agree with you 100% man. 6-2 is a great homestand. We’re not gonna win every game from here on out. The talent is there. Kelly and Norton didn’t lose us the game so enough with that. It’s not like Conrad had a big effect on the homestand anyway. Today was one bad defencive inning and the inablity to score with some bs calls to boot.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
4:28 pm
let the norton hating begin lol
When did it ever end?
wjones
July 23rd, 2009
4:28 pm
I’ve seen several comments blasting KK for only going 5 innings, forgetting that he only gave up one run, and also forgetting that we had a well-rested bullpen, and also forgetting that he is, basically, our fifth starter. If KK pitched a game like his last two starts last year, where do you think that would have put him? I’ll answer that for you. He would have been our number two starter, right behind JJ. Please, a little perspective, folks.
I also am glad that many of you don’t work in the Braves front office. Forgetting for a minute that some of the comments and perspectives are totally out of whack, I would just worry about your mental state in that position. Some of you make George Steinbrenner and his little boy seem laid-back in comparison. Please ask your doctor about Xanax.
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:28 pm
The Bird and Indian
That’s just too damn bad you can’t trade squat!!!
BL
July 23rd, 2009
4:28 pm
Glad nothing has changed in the week I’ve been gone. Seen 2 posts from Paul Flame and they both include Francoeur somehow.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
4:28 pm
Brooks Conrad has proven himself to be a reliable asset to this team
He has not. Citing 34 plate appearances as “proof” is akin to doing a “comprehensive” emergency room study and stopping it after 10 patients, and running up and down the halls yelling “we’ve got proof, we’ve got proof!,” when in reality it’s 7:30 and you’v been at work for a half an hour, and there are hundreds more patients to be tested.
In this metaphor, patients=at bats, for your reference.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:29 pm
Andrew in P-tang……….the reason why I went “too far” in my 4:02pm posting is because it is so frustrating to see Braves fans want to see “their favorite players” take up roster spots that should be going to the more productive player.
Ever since the winter, when Frank Wren has tried to “clean house”, there are a number of Braves fans who get upset when their favorite players are let go, even when it is time for them to go.
I like the job that Frank Wren has done overall. However, he just cant resist giving in to Bobby on certain things.
Unless that changes, there is NO WAY that we are going to make a serious run at the play-offs. NO FREAKING WAY. Bobby Cox is going to stick to the Peter Moylans, Kelly Johnson’s……..and coming soon, the Jeff Bennett’s and Buddy Carlyle’s of the world no matter how much they suck.
One loss isnt the end of the world. However today is an indication of how the rest of the season is going to go…….considering the move that was made before the game started…..and how Bobby continues to use “his guys”.
Unless those things changes………I will come out and say IT’S OVER WITH. Kelly Johnson will make his way into the line-up. Greg Norton will continue to be used in crucial pinch hitting situations. Peter Moylan and soon, Jeff Bennett will be pitching in the 6th and 7th innings in close situations. That is a recipe for DISASTER. You can bank on it.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
4:29 pm
JEFF
I think Bobby and Frank will decide which players have “earned” a spot on this team. They haven’t called me yet, nor do I think they have called you.
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
4:30 pm
amen paul we need a manager who will use the right guys in the right situations instead of playing favorites to his boys.. moylan just sucked today, and yes the crappy defense and pathetic mistakes in the 8th killed the game.. but will also say watching cox get ejected again is just old and no fun anymore..
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
4:30 pm
Disappointing loss.
Great homestand.
Going into the San Fran series, EVERYONE was stating they would love to get 3 of 4. And that’s exactly what the Braves did. But I guess any loss, no matter if it’s at the end of a four-game winning streak or a 40-game winning streak, is going to lead to cliff-jumpers hopping on the blog. Just odd.
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
4:30 pm
Conrad > Norton, KJ, Kotchman
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:30 pm
The defense really did lost the game today. You can’t really tell how bad the bullpen today was with all the errors and bad defense. Kotchman gets that out at first, you have a runner on 2nd with 1 out. Things might end up different.
Offense did really help things much either. Had chances to score but didn’t drive anyone in. You aren’t going to win many games only score 1 run.
I’ll give the bullpen a pass today. Medlen pitched pretty darn well.
richbrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:31 pm
“INFANTE comes back soon. What do we do with him?” Trade KJ for middle relief.
I go on vacation for two weeks and the team becomes world-beaters. I listen to my first game back and they’ve those bumbling laughable June losers again. WTF! FOUR UNEARNED RUNS.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:31 pm
Steve from OH…………so I guess that Kelly’s .217 batting average in 235 at-bats this year isnt a big enough “sample” of how much Kelly has contributed this year?
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
4:31 pm
wayne please tell me why greg norton and kelly johnson have earned there spots..
ccrider
July 23rd, 2009
4:31 pm
A huge momentum breaking game! The Braves had a letdown and in the 8th inning reverted back to the poor defense that marked their first half of the season. I wonder if the retaining of Norton over Conrad could have disappointed or confused the team, who know that they have a better chance with Conrad on the team.
I know many will say major leaguers don’t let that affect them, but I know most competitve players would feel let down to have a player that has figured in their recent success and been a sparkplug like Conrad has and it may have robbed them of the edge they seeemed to be playing with.
The team looked sluggish and off kilter the whole game. I hope this one seemingly insignifigent move by Wren and Cox of going with the under performimg veteran, over the great suceess(if possibly temporary) of a 29 year old rookie who sparked the team in his first game with a 3 run homer to victory doesn’t get the team down and start us back to the first half futility,
Is it just me, but it seems like the stupidity that Bobby exhibitied of going with Kelly Johnson over Martin Prado for SOOO LONGGG is being repeated all over again?
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:31 pm
You’re welcome, Soph! (Was it some other Blogger’s B-Day today, too? If so, Happy Birthday, whoever you are!)
I’ll take 3 outta 4 any time, too. Today’s game was just extremely boring…
RHR @ 4:27–
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:33 pm
Happy Birthday, Soph. Too bad the Braves didn’t know it was your bday.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:33 pm
How’d KJ end up playing 2nd base in the game?
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:34 pm
MFin04,
You’re right man. Idk how much I’d critize Kotchman tho, 1st error in a million chances and gets taken out at perhaps costs the game…
N8
July 23rd, 2009
4:34 pm
Big shock. As GREAT as the Braves have been playing (and they have been playing great), it’s no surprise that when given the opportunity to go four games over .500, they fail.
It’s also evident to me, based on him being pretty much a 5 inning pitcher at this point, that when Hudson comes back this season, and he is ready to go deeper than 5 innings, KK will be the guy going to the bullpen.
I’ve been saying it all year, the guy has “8 million dollar” middle-relief/long man written all over him. When he keeps his pitch counts down, he can go deeper. But he obviously has the “stuff” to get big league hitters out. He just needs to learn to pace himself better. I’m glad we have him. Nice option to have, but he’ll hurt our bullpen by not going deeper everytime he goes out there eventually.
I’m more than a little disappointed in Bobby’s decision to keep Norton over Conrad. To me, you play the hot hands, which Conrad has basically been since coming up, and Norton hasn’t been since last year. Makes zero sense to me.
I suspect, we’ll see Conrad come September when rosters expand. But let’s hope that it’s not too late, and that having Norton on the bench instead of him doesn’t cost us games.
Do I think that we’ll win the WC? I think we’ve got a better chance than at any time in the past 3 seasons to do so. As for whether we WILL win it? Hard to guess. When the defense fails the team miserably like today in a game that would have closed the gap on one of the teams ahead of us in the WC standings (which is what you have to do – catch one team at a time), I tend to think it’s all a mirage.
But obviously the offense is in better shape than in April and May, and the pitching is certainly the best rotation 1-5 of any of the teams we’re chasing, so I’d like to think our chances are better than good. But they still have to excecute. Being the “best team on paper” doesn’t really help much.
Especially when your manager handicaps the 25 man roster by leaving a guy like Norton on instead of Conrad. The team has to overcome stupid decisions like that, and playing sloppy defense won’t help.
But the only team in baseball playing better in July than the Braves is the Phillies. So it could be a helluva lot worse. I just want to see this team take the bull by the horns and charge with it. Losing is OK. But giving games away isn’t acceptable for a team that fancies itself as a contender.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
4:34 pm
It is not, you big dummy, in comparison to is 1800-PA sample size of moderately above-average offensive play in his career and his 1200-PA sample of well above-average offensive play from 2007-2008. And please STOP using batting average, it makes you sound more stupid than you already are.
Please to do not respond to this message.
fleming
July 23rd, 2009
4:35 pm
MFin04 – How’d KJ end up playing 2nd base in the game?
You come on here ripping the Braves and you didn’t even pay attention to the game???
wjones
July 23rd, 2009
4:35 pm
Paul Lentz, do you think that the Braves will be activating Jeff Bennett and/or Buddy Carlisle soon? And if so, how do you feel about it?
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
4:35 pm
A huge momentum breaking game!
But, think how much worse it would be if they had won 10 in a row, and then, my goodness, lost one! Wouldn’t that have been terrible for the spirit of the team?
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
4:36 pm
I can be a douche sometimes. I don’t know how to play well with others yet.
Mitchell
July 23rd, 2009
4:36 pm
I love how every so often when I start writing some two hundred word post I end up accidently pressing some unknown combination of keys and then my computer explodes.
Nothing like wasting time on a blog to have one of your posts disappear for no clear reason whatsoever.
I’ll try to recreate what just happened. This one will probably come out OK.
This is truly time wasting. Here goes…
Cox has lost it
July 23rd, 2009
4:36 pm
You know Kelly will be starting tomorrow because he got a hit.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
4:36 pm
When McCann got 2 strikes I remember thinking about what McFann said last night
“He’ll probably come in and pinch hit in the 9th, K, and end his hitting streak”
and I thought “oh great, now she’s probably right.” But then he got you a double! But then Greg Norton took care of all that.
McPoyle
July 23rd, 2009
4:36 pm
Yunel, mercy. Kid is smokin hot these days.
A sweep would have been nice, I liked the matchup today, Zito has been weak. Need to get off to a good start in Milwaukee… I like our matchup tomorrow… but Gallardo is tossin on Saturday. Hanson better bring his A+ stuff Saturday night.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:36 pm
fleming – i started fast-forwarding when the game was over.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:37 pm
N8…………well said posting at 4:38pm. I totally agree with you. Just wait and see what happens in the coming weeks when Jeff Bennett and Buddy Carlyle are activated and Kelly Johnson is being platooned with Martin Prado.
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
4:38 pm
Lets see…. Get away day game after winning 3 straight, Kawakami pitching, KJ in the game, Norton in the game, McCann not playing
that was not a recipe for success
by the way a 6-2 homestand…the only two games lost were the games Kawakami started
fleming
July 23rd, 2009
4:39 pm
MFin04 – fleming – i started fast-forwarding when the game was over.
The game was 1-1 when KJ came in
Marc from FL
July 23rd, 2009
4:39 pm
N8, where have you been? Waiting for something to complain about? One bad innings over 5 games is hardly the end of the world. The Braves have looked like a playoff team since the break. Simple as that.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:39 pm
wjones……..of course the Braves will be activating Bennett and Carlyle soon. Just go and check out the pattern of behavior of Frank Wren giving in to Bobby Cox.
Instead of cutting Greg Norton and keeping Kelly Johnson in Triple A…..both are back and free to rejoin the “Bobby’s boys clubhouse”. We are talking tenure at its best, lol.
McPoyle
July 23rd, 2009
4:41 pm
Not that Kawakami pitched poorly in those outings, coach smith.
Could have won both of them with some offense… he got the JJ treatment his last two outings. Then the bullpen let both games get out of reach.
BL
July 23rd, 2009
4:41 pm
N8, good post @ 4:34!
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
4:41 pm
N8, where have you been? Waiting for something to complain about?
Give N8 more credit than that. He typically has something insightful to say, negative tone or not.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:41 pm
“the only two games lost were the games Kawakami started”
Either the bullpen is bad or the bullpen is mismanaged, I’m going to go with the later. But if the Braves starters can continue to go 7 and the offense can get our starters a 3 or 4 run lead, then we won’t have to worry about any of that. Let’s hope that continues to happen.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:41 pm
This won’t change anything. 1 loss isn’t gonna change the outcome of the year. I think the loss to Santana was worse than this and they didnt let get to em
Ralph
July 23rd, 2009
4:42 pm
The whole braves team could just feel the presense of KJ back in the doughout, just like old times hey Bobby. Now that we know we have Norton to provide all the pinch hit power we will ever need the braves will overtake the phillies in nothing flat. Mebe Kelly will get a couple more hits then Bobby can send Prado down when Infante comes back then we can get Bennett back and get rid of Medelin then Bobby will be really, really happy.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
4:43 pm
JEFF
I will tell you. It’s called their past record, and their willingness to go down and work on things. Both guys have shown an ability to be a huge asset in the past. Both went to Gwinnett to work on their game.
This is no slam to Conrad, he has earned the right to be considered for this lineup. Problem is this, how do you justify just dropping a guy who has shown the ability in the past to be a big asset for his team.
The entire season is made up of decisions. How long do we stay with Schafer? How long do we stay with KJ? You get the point. Do we tell Schafer that he is through with the Braves, because he definitely stunk it up at the plate. Heck no. You send him down to prove himself again.
That is exactly what happened w/ Norton and KJ. Conrad wasn’t released, he was sent up the road to Gwinnett.
Sometimes you have to exercise a bit of patience with these players who have proven in the past that they are capable.
That works better for me than just to say NORTON SUCKS or something stupid like that. Frenchy is gone. Corky is gone. Boyer is gone. If Norton doesn’t pick it up soon, he too will be gone. (btw, go look at his numbers at Gwinnett and last year in ATL)
Mitchell
July 23rd, 2009
4:43 pm
Well last time I did something and then I found myself on some website offering me a used car or something.
Not really. I was just trying to see if I could intentionally recreate what sometimes happens for no reason whatsoever when I accidently press one wrong key and then everything goes away and then I want to punch a door.
Cox has lost it
July 23rd, 2009
4:43 pm
I AM SO FRUSTRATED BY THIS TEAM!!! EVERY TIME WE BUILD ANY MOMENTUM, AN ABYSMAL DECISION BY BOBBY COX KILLS OUR MOMENTUM!!! SOMEONE HAS GOT TO FIND A WAY TO PREVENT HIM FROM USING NORTON AND JOHNSON, AND PRETTY SOON, BENNETT TOO!!!
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:43 pm
jeffrey d–
Ha, I thought of that, too. And during that bad stretch he was having earlier this this month, I think he would’ve proven me right…
Glad to be wrong there. Love them doubles! (Did I ever mention that?) But yeah…then Norton got out…
Huh, but ya can’t blame this loss on Norton! Can’t really point a finger at any one guy, although Casey didn’t help out much at all…
monty
July 23rd, 2009
4:44 pm
Chipper might as well have sat out the game today too. A few brainfarts cost us the game. Oh well everyone assumed we would lose last night, I guess things got evened out, that Jeff Kellogg dude blows in my opinion. Everything close Zito got and KK didn’t. 2 missed calls at 2nd. runner in the infield running to 1st didn’t get called. Never does except when its the Braves! Still think KJ should have reached out for the ball and if the runner hits him we get the interference call but instead he let the ball travel and hit the runner. I believe Prado would have made a more instinctual play on that one.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:45 pm
Colorado is 20-10 in their last 30, the Braves 18-12, Phillies 17-13. Division and WC are going to be tough to win, losing games like today.
N8
July 23rd, 2009
4:45 pm
Marc from FL, if you would actually read the post, (and can comprehend the English language), you’d notice that 99.99 percent of that post not only shows a new found CONFIDENCE in what I actually EXPECT this team to do, with how the roster has been laid out with the moves and the trades (along with Hudson beginning his comeback), but that I actually complimented them more than I ripped them.
It’s no secret that this team hasn’t seen the better side of 4 games over .500 in quite some while, despite MANY opportunities to get over that hump.
Like always, I’m simply stating fact. But if you want to rag on me for being gone for almost a week, and posting on today’s game as “waiting for something to be negative about”. Go right ahead. You make yourself look more stupid than you’re trying to make me look by accusing me of doing so.
Then again, I didn’t really need to point that out, because the majority already understood that.
McPoyle
July 23rd, 2009
4:45 pm
Per Jayson Stark on Javy Vazquez…
The Braves are leaning heavily toward holding on to Javier Vazquez, but not merely because, as GM Frank Wren put it this week, “I don’t think we’ll be selling.” Clubs that have spoken to them say there are two other reasons:
1. They believe Vazquez has turned a corner under Bobby Cox, a manager Vazquez has always wanted to pitch for.
2. The Braves haven’t seen enough of Tim Hudson yet to be comfortable with the idea of giving up a meaningful piece of their rotation to make room for a pitcher who had Tommy John surgery 11 months ago, even if it brings back a badly needed bat. And one NL executive says that’s the right call.
“If you think you’re in a race, it doesn’t make sense to hope something is going to happen,” he said. “You have to know it’s going to happen to trade a guy like that.”
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
4:46 pm
The whole braves team could just feel the presense of KJ back in the doughout
The doughout? That the part of the stadium where the Braves make cookies and bread?
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
4:46 pm
Paul-
How many times have you been in the clubhouse or in the dugout before games? How do you know who is “giving in” to who? and who does Cox put into the game instead of Moylan there? Just wondering
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:47 pm
“the only two games lost were the games Kawakami started”
LOL! Now who said that? Remember, the last game was against Santana–offense did nothing whatsoever, and KK only gave up 2 runs through 7, no?
Today, he gave up 1 run through however many innings…we did not lose those two games because of KK.
And is it just me (I’ll bet it is), or does KK not seem to go as deep into games when Ross catches? I’m sure I’m dead wrong…
nfieldr
July 23rd, 2009
4:47 pm
I don’t see how the scorer could have given Kotchman an error on that play. Mental error, ok, bad play, most def. But he fielded the ball cleanly and made an accurate (although rainbow) throw to first. Had to be scored a hit.
ccrider
July 23rd, 2009
4:47 pm
scoots: your sarcasm is noted and let’s hope it is just a bump in the road, but sometimes with teams that are not dominate, and this team is surely not, a bad management or coaching move can throw things off wack again. I just hope they come out against the Brewers and jump right back into the groove, gripping, ripping and slinging the leather, otherwise they may start to doubt themselves and team officials.
The season is to far along for them to go into another long funk that results in falling below .500 again. If, that happens all the breath will be sucked out and the trade deadline will have passed without making trades that could benefit them in 2010.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:47 pm
Casey K striking out with the bases loaded didn’t help did it McFann
or that error that started it all 
That whole inning was a nightmare with soo many bad plays, you can’t really blame one person. The offense was horrendous too. Can’t really put this game on Bobby as much as I’d like to.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
4:47 pm
BC is looking at KJ right now like a drunk looks at a shot of whiskey!
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:48 pm
jeffrey d @ 4:46–
BossLady
July 23rd, 2009
4:48 pm
As soon and Kelly, Norton and Bennett come back on the field the Braves will go down again.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
4:49 pm
Offense has also only scored 2 runs in Kawakami’s last 2 starts
N8
July 23rd, 2009
4:49 pm
Marc from FL,
I wanted to point out. I absolutely WILL NOT apologize for the comments on Norton vs. Conrad. Meant every word of it. Cox has fallen off his rocker with that decision. If he wants to use the fact that Norton “led the league in PH in 2008″ as the reason to choose him over a guy actually hitting NOW (July 2009), then I don’t know how to respond to that.
Decision makes no sense whatsoever, and if you disagree, I want to read your opinion why.
So, like I said, I won’t apologize for that portion of the post being negative. A decision like that deserves negativity. Period.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:49 pm
This game to me wasn’t givin away by one bad inning. The offense didnt score apart from a HR. You wanna know why…….lack of patience. Chipper and Diaz especailly today were up there swinging away the whole time. That’ll cost us runs they way we left men on and they way we swung the bats they deserved to lose.
Nothing you can do about it now; however, just head to Vazquez with the assurance that you’re still within reaching distance.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:50 pm
I ment to say head to the brewers with vazquez starting…my bad
Shamus Thacker
July 23rd, 2009
4:50 pm
We played .750 baseball this series. Hoping for more is fine; moaning about .750 baseball is NOT!
Doesn’t show much gratitude for the guys who made it happen.
Doesn’t show much gray-matter on cranial dip-sticks either!
GREAT series Bravos!!
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
4:50 pm
I’m gonna propose that they put an “Eruptions” tally somewhere in the upper deck or right-field, like they have splash-down hits in San Francisco. Each time Cox is tossed, the number changes. He’s at 146 now for his career.
And man, he did not hold his tongue when I asked him while ago if that pitch was a little high:
“A little high? I’ve never seen a ball like that called a strike, ever. In 50 years… That ball was so high, it was a joke. It was a curveball, a breaking ball.”
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:51 pm
nfieldr – rainbowing a throw when you can throw the ball hard is an error. Should the runner at first be out? The answer is…with a good throw, yes. Therefore its a throwing error. Not throwing the ball hard enough or too hard is an error. Same thing from a 3rd baseman, 2nd baseman, SS, etc.
Lew
July 23rd, 2009
4:51 pm
coach smith-They were also the only two games of the Home Stand where the Braves didn’t hit. I’d hardly blame Kawakami for the losses either today or against Santana.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:51 pm
Going into this series, I would have been happy with taking 3 of 4. However, when they Braves were able to take last night’s game……….then the expectations HAVE to change. Going into today, this was a VERY winnable game.
Everything that could have gone wrong did. And it started with Conrad being sent down instead of Greg Norton being cut. That to me set the tone for the course of events that happened today.
Very disappointed in Frank Wren today. I have been on his bandwagon and still am pleased with the majority of the moves he has made. However, keeping Greg Norton and sending down Brooks Conrad just sickens me. I am absolutely afraid that this move is a “sneak preview” of the moves that are going to be made in the next few weeks concerning Jeff Bennett and Buddy Carlyle.
JPS
July 23rd, 2009
4:51 pm
Any one notice that as soon as Kelly the freakin fraud came in, the game turned to crap.
That guy is a carrier for bad kharma
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:51 pm
MFin04–
Well, yes, that’s what I meant when I said, “although Casey didn’t help out much at all…”.
You cannot put this on Cox…other than putting in Moylen, he didn’t do anything wrong…did he? I’m sure somebody on here could come up with something.
And I hafta go with nfieldr on that Kotchy play. Not an error error, but a mental error for sure, and I wouldn’t be shocked if that’s why he came out.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:51 pm
The Braves doughout? Does Jo Jo know about this?
monty
July 23rd, 2009
4:52 pm
Chipper reminded me of a former Brave today. Lose a Frenchy, gain a Frenchy!
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
4:52 pm
ccrider, first, my apology. I’ve read enough of your stuff to know you’re not one of the front-running hindsighters, and I rather leaped on that line of your post without looking first. No reason for that with you. Sorry.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
4:52 pm
I wouldnt mind Carlyle coming back to the pen, just please say no on Bennett.
nfieldr
July 23rd, 2009
4:53 pm
To further illustrate my point, this is taken directly from the Official rules at mlb.com:
Rule 10.12(a)(1) Comment: Slow handling of the ball that does not involve mechanical misplay shall not be construed as an error. For example, the official scorer shall not charge a fielder with an error if such fielder fields a ground ball cleanly but does not throw to first base in time to retire the batter.
Soph
July 23rd, 2009
4:53 pm
Thanks RHR! I wanted something cool to happen on my b’day too since you got to see Frenchy get traded and all on yours.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
4:53 pm
McFann – I’m picturing Chipper in an apron, Yunel in a chef’s hat, et cetera. All in “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” montage form.
Cox has lost it
July 23rd, 2009
4:53 pm
Gotta remember, Kelly is a Baby Brave. Too few of them left, of course Bobby is gonna stick with him.
Marc from FL
July 23rd, 2009
4:53 pm
N8, chill, lol.
I still say we would have won this game if Frank Wren ran down to the dugout, took his shirt off, and started challenging players to fight him. I will not apologize for THAT!
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
4:54 pm
Gonzalez said he’ll be back for the Florida series, and definitely wouldn’t need to go on DL. Bobby said wouldn’t be able to pitch for a few days, but they didn’t think they’d need to DL him.
Everybody in clubhouse talking about how the Braves had one bad inning on the homestand, cost them the game today but that they wouldn’t leave hanging their heads after what was otherwise a strong homestand.
Asked what happened in the eighth by a TV guy, Ross said, “Guys didn’t execute bunt plays. It’s pretty self-explanatory if you watched the game.”
Chipper said things turned on the Moylan play, when he spun towards third base instead of just throwing to first to get an out. Chipper said he was yelling “first, first, first” to Moylan and Ross was yelling “three, three, three” for him to go to third. “Just a miscommunication,” Chipper said.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
July 23rd, 2009
4:54 pm
monty,
Did you happen to think that Chipper saw the 1st pitch and it was what he was looking for when he stepped in?
I’ll trust Chippers plate discipline over yours any day.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
4:54 pm
Diaz always swings away. He has no patience. That’s just the hitter he is — and he’s a good hitter.
Chipper, on the other hand. Don’t know what was up with him today. The AB after Prado’s four-pitch walk was a bad one. He just went up there hacking, and made an out on the very first pitch.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:55 pm
The night is young, Soph.
monty @ 4:52 have you met my friend MFIKY?
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
4:55 pm
Bobby getting tossed for his player is exactly why these guys love playing for him. I can see this trip to the hospital and now Bobby going to the wall for him as being a possible turning point in their relationship. (at least I am hopeful for that)
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:55 pm
Paul,
Jesus Harold Christ! If you think Kelly’s presence other than Conrad’s lost us the game today then you have no business being on this blog. I’m kicking you off the Wren bandwagon. I’ve been on that longer than you anyway.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:56 pm
An error is an error. He should have throw the ball harder. That’s a mental and physical error. Have to know who is running, what the situation is, and get the ball to the base accordingly. It wasn’t one of their big fast slow guys, it was a guy with decent speed, hustling down the line. A normal throw gets him. A hard throw gets him. A slow throw even gets him. An ultra slow throw…doesn’t get him.
KJ SUX
July 23rd, 2009
4:56 pm
Kelly Johnson SUX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!