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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,241 comments Add your comment
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
5:30 pm
BravoMan-
It’s like people think we have some stud reliever locked in a closet under the right-field seats. There were three pitchers left there: Moylan, Acosta and Soriano. If they Mariano Rivera and Pabelbon rotting in the pen, of course you don’t put Moylan in. But these are the relievers the Braves have. They have been decent. That’s life. You don’t win every day.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
5:30 pm
DOB
Would sure be nice to know what other bloggers have used “Wayne in Utah” today.
But go ahead guy, have some more fun. At least I know who the blog idiots are!
monty
July 23rd, 2009
5:30 pm
I wonder how guilty Norton feels for being kept? Seriously.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
5:32 pm
Bobby’s Cox
The folks you are talking to aren’t listening, I fear.
Time to blow this pop stand!
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
5:32 pm
Funny thing is, if you pay no attention to money but look at performance and past experience , Derek Lowe should be your bullpen man. What a 6th-7th-8th inning weapon he would be.
Jake W.
July 23rd, 2009
5:33 pm
Would you guys please just give it a rest on the Conrad thing. It makes sense why the Braves made the decision they did. They are probably giving Norton some time to prove he can become what he was in the second half for us last year. If it doesn’t work out Conrad is still in Triple-A where as if we cut Norton he’s gone.
And on to KJ, I don’t see how anyone could blame that play on him. I’m not a KJ defender but Moylan had no business even looking to 3rd on that play. If he would have thrown to 1st when he got the ball its an out. Simple failure to execute. Same with the Kotchman play. If you are going to look to second don’t go floating the ball over to 1st, you got to fire it. Chipper has got to catch that ball coming in to third. Just an all around bad inning starting with the liner off of Gonzo. Outside of that these Braves had played great defense this entire series.
Good to hear that Gonzo is all right. We most definately need him in the bullpen. KK has got to learn how to get people out with less pitches. That was his problem today, not to mention he didn’t really seem to get any borderline calls while Zito benifited from them the whole game. That strike on Escobar was ridiculous and the way the ump talked to Bobby was well unprofessional. I understand the umps aren’t perfect so the guy missing the pickoff call at 2nd while it hurt at the time was more understandable to me than flat out missing balls and strikes calls. Some of these umpires and their ego’s, I don’t know. Some time they need a talking to like Escobar gets at times. And for once I would like to see my Braves benefit from the dumb rule that calls for the runner going to 1st to not run in fair territory. God knows we have been burned by the rule.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:33 pm
CrimeDog,
Bingo. You’re absolutly right. I do think they’ll make a deal for a MR at the deadline, but you gotta work with what you got. The negativity on this blog is off the charts. I stand by my ballclub through every win and LOSS…
Count de Monet
July 23rd, 2009
5:34 pm
I said ythis at the time so it is not a second guess.
Why didn’t Bobby let Medlen start the 8th. He just pitched 2 shutout innings and I’m sure he wasn’t tired. Lefty/Righty matchups don’t mean as much with a crap hitting team like the Giants.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:35 pm
CrimeDog………it isnt that I “love” Brooks Conrad so much. It’s that it sickens me to see the Braves keep a BUM like Greg Norton on the team, at the expense of a player who can tribute to us off the bench.
Do you really want to see Greg Norton come up in crucial situations like he did in the bottom of the 8th inning on Saturday against the Mets, with the bases loaded, 2 outs, score 2-1 Mets? The fact that he didnt come through “in that particular situation” didnt bother me by itself. It’s his failure there, ALONG with him hitting 5 for 45 for the season………that has me so damn frustrated. Why would any SANE manager use a BUM like Greg Norton in a crucial situation like that?
Also, it just CONTINUES a trend of keeping Bobby’s guys who arent contributing.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
5:35 pm
When Huddy Comes Back I’d rather have Kamakaze in the Bullpen…
Is It me or does it seem that Kamakaze gets drained and Fatigues easily in the Humid Conditions in Georgia…I’ve never been to Japan but I imagine that the heat and humidity in Japan do not resemble the stifling conditions in Georgia…He Can’t be used to it…
Huddy is used to this weather and therefore can last longer in games in Mid-August…We are still due for a big heat wave…
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:35 pm
Wayne–
Those people are twits. I mean, everybody knows they’re fakes.
Jerkish nutbags is (are?) what they really are…
monty
July 23rd, 2009
5:35 pm
The problem with KJ is he hits 2 months out of the year and takes 4 months off! Seriously, go to baseball reference and check it out, look at the splits by months and see how 4 months out of last year’s 6 month season he hit 230. Averaging 1.5 HR a month and slugging very low.
Jake W.
July 23rd, 2009
5:36 pm
Uh oh a little panic on the blog again.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:36 pm
Good news today. Phillies put Durbin and Romero on DL
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:37 pm
BTW–Thanks for the Timmy quote, Chief!
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:37 pm
McLouth of the South……do you really think that Greg Norton is “one of the better power hitting pinch hitters currently in the game”? WOW, lol. How does one respond to that?
Dude you left me speechless with that one. I’m truly at a loss for words, lol.
CB
July 23rd, 2009
5:37 pm
Wayne, that was rerrible about your dog, unless you are a very wierd man.
stachemoney
July 23rd, 2009
5:37 pm
Remember Chris Woodward and how much Cox would play him and the guy freaking killed us? We all said to ourselves, aren’t their better options somewhere else? Of course there were! Same goes for KJ. When he was hitting .220 3 months into the season, we FINALLY got to see Prado, and look what he has done. Cox’s idiotic moves of staying with the Bennetts, Woodwards, Nortons(this year), KJ’s, Frenchys has been so destructive to us the past couple of years. We don’t have the supporting cast to take on so many “easy-outs” as we might have in the past when we had Andres Galarraga, Furcal, JD Drew, Sheffield, McGriff, et all. Face it, we don’t have a protoypical leadoff guy nor a proto cleanup guy. We have to have guys in the lineup that are on base percentage focused.
Jake W.
July 23rd, 2009
5:37 pm
I can get a one line post to go but my long well thought out post gets eaten.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:38 pm
jeffrey d……………Brooks Conrad is a switch hitter as well.
ccrider
July 23rd, 2009
5:38 pm
scoots: No worries. I just always take your comments with a good natured view.
It was a bummer of an afternoon, both ballgame and otherwise.
You and I both know that one game or series mean little in the seasonal big picture.
I only worry about the fragile nature of certain teams the Braves have had, that tend to swing wildly from being competent to neurotic.
I have a bit of a bad feeling that his team may be one because so far this season, although they have had one of the best starting pitching rotations since Mad Dog, Glav and Smoltzie, their defense and offense has been schizophenic Unfortunately at this late stage of the season, for them to make up the ground on the Phillies or wild card teams, they can’t afford anymore malise of any length.
wjones
July 23rd, 2009
5:39 pm
“and inserting Kelly Johnson in the double switch, which will come back to haunt us soon because Bobby will use his hit in the 8th as an excuse to give Kelly more at-bats). ”
OK, so Kelly got a hit in the 8th, which is bad because this gives Bobby an excuse to use him? Is this what is called circular logic? A bench player gets a hit, prompting a manager to use him again. Hmmm.
njbraves
July 23rd, 2009
5:40 pm
Paul Lentz…..I’m not the biggest Moylan fan, but he is the sinkerballer out of the pen. Two on, no out, every manager in the game goes to his sinkerballer…you need the double play. There was no one else to bring in there. Acosta is just as bad as Moylan, and you’re not gonna use Soriano there.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:40 pm
Supes……….what good will it do for Tim Hudson to be a starting pitching come late August……….IF BOBBY CONTINUES TO USE BUMS LIKE PETER MOYLAN AND JEFF BENNETT (Bennett will be back soon, you can BANK ON IT) in crucial situations?
Jaglawyer
July 23rd, 2009
5:40 pm
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:35 pm
jaglawyer (probably a lawyer wanna be….are you on your mother’s computer again?)
I don’t live by each and every individual at bat, but instead by a much larger body of work.
Yes, a critical stikeout at the wrong time can hurt, but games are not won and lost on a single at bat. Otherwise, we would now be sending Kotchman down or releasing him altogher. The nerve of him, to K when the bases are juiced.
____________
Wayne, first of all I am unfortunatley an attorney and I actually listed my firm website last night on the blog. However, no one really cares about that.
As for your “defense” of Norton, well, I would have to think you are in the extreme minority . . . Cox, Norton, Norton’s grandmother and you . . . as the ONLY people that think he should still be on the team.
Funny, I come back to my office after “lawyering,” click on Gamecast and who else but your boy Norton with the final out. Go figure.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
5:41 pm
njbraves-
The logic is blinding. Paul will not respond to this.
John
July 23rd, 2009
5:41 pm
Missed the game today….apparently KJ put the “mojo” on us… and cost us the game. I think, until we can get somebody that knows what they’re doin’… to come to the clubhouse and do one of them “Exocism”…well…we’re pretty much doomed.
However…until an “Exocist” is rounded up…I will do my part (with all due respect to Barney) to try and solve this situation…
“Inkem…binkem…notamus…rex…protect us all from the man with the hex”
There…that oughta do it…Now…bring on the Brew Crew !!
njbraves
July 23rd, 2009
5:41 pm
Guys…I know Norton isn’t very good, but can you all stop acting like we sent Willie Mays back to the minors. It’s Brooks Conrad for God’s sake. Most on here never heard of him before a few weeks ago. Let it go.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:42 pm
CrimeDog ……….I dont quite understand your 5:21pm posting.
njbraves
July 23rd, 2009
5:44 pm
Crime dog…..Paul will respond…he has an answer for everything. He’s going to tell me that Moylan is terrible and that Bobby is a horrible manager for letting him into the game. His responses never vary much from hi original, drawn out thought.
stew
July 23rd, 2009
5:44 pm
Day game after night game always sucks. No offense to Ross but he can’t hit cleanup. Lineup is different without McCann. Yunel batted cleanup. The last 2 losses I put on Cox. In the loss to the Mets he walks Wright with one out runner on second in the sixth inning of a scoreless game. “I don’t want Wright to beat me” was probably what he was thinking. Wright ended up scoring. They made 2 demotions that I disagree with. Firstly, they demoted Blanco (one of the heros of the Phillies sweep) and promoted Norton (who was 4 for 48 before his single the other night). Blanco gives them more flexibility than Norton and is a much better outfielder than Anderson or Diaz. He just can’t hit the long ball. Now they sent down Conrad seemingly a clutch player for KJ who really isn’t gonna play much. Why break up the good mix? Cox has a history of making bad moves in critical situations (he brought in Jeff Riordan to pitch to Ed Sprague remember). I don’t know why they don’t bring back Leo (the greatest pitching coach of all time) and dump Pendleton (maybe some of you out there think the recent power surge was his doing). Now they’re bringing back Infante who hasn’t played in 2 months and sports a hefty .349 average. Break up a winning combination. You go with who brought you to the dance..
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:44 pm
Wayne, what is there to understand? Seriously?
In the last “365 days” according to baseball-reference.com, Norton has had 128 PA (6 starts mixed in those PA’s), he’s had 23 hits (.228 average), with 4 HR and 20 RBI.
Brooks Conrad in the past 28 days has 34 PA’s with 11 hits (.344 average) to go with 2 HR and 8 RBI.
Let me help you out with the math on that. In 1/4 the time played, Conrad has 1/2 the “stats” (hits, HR and RBI) as Norton does.
So what if Norton was the “best PH” in all of baseball LAST YEAR. Brooks Conrad has been a GOOD hitter THIS MONTH!
It was the wrong decision. With KJ back on the roster, Prado could have been the emergency 1B if Kotchman goes down. And as bad as KJ was earlier in the year, I’d rather have HIM on the bench than Norton. How scary is that?
John
July 23rd, 2009
5:44 pm
Oops…make that “Exorcist”…KJ also apparently put the “mojo” on my spelling as well…
Recovering Sports Junkie
July 23rd, 2009
5:46 pm
DOB, forgive me if someone already asked this (don’t have time to read all the posts), but do you think the anticipation of this roster logjam factored into the Braves trading Francoeur? Considering how he handled last year’s demotion, maybe they were worried how he would handle being a part-timer.
TnBrian
July 23rd, 2009
5:46 pm
I’m not gonna call him out but a blogger said earlier that the Braves should trade Gonzo and Casey to Chi. for Konerko. Yeah, like they want an average hitter and a reliever who’ll be a FA in a couple of months for their best hitter. Makes no sense to even post that but I think he thought it made sense. It would probably take Casey/Medlen/2 prospects to get him and that’s if they’re even taking offers for him at all.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:46 pm
BravoMan……….it was still 1-1, runners on 1st and 2nd when Peter Moylan was brought in. If he DOES HIS FREAKING JOB like a number of you still feel he is “capable” of doing, then it is a tie game going into the bottom of the 8th.
If Kelly still gets a hit like he did, then McLouth will try and bunt him over…….with Prado (who did get a hit in the 8th) and Chipper coming up. If we score there, Soriano comes in to pitch the 9th.
Yet we will never know because Peter Moylan comes in and GIVES THE GAME AWAY with one of his patented MELTDOWNS.
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:46 pm
Monty, be carful. Your 5:35 post brings up the “consistency” debate from earlier in the year with KJ. Don’t go getting half the blogs panties in a bunch over that one. You’ll be ridiculed and mocked (even though you’re right).
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:47 pm
Wayne, what is there to understand? Seriously?
In the last “365 days” according to baseball reference, Norton has had 128 PA (6 starts mixed in those PA’s), he’s had 23 hits (.228 average), with 4 HR and 20 RBI.
Brooks Conrad in the past 28 days has 34 PA’s with 11 hits (.344 average) to go with 2 HR and 8 RBI.
Let me help you out with the math on that. In 1/4 the time played, Conrad has 1/2 the “stats” (hits, HR and RBI) as Norton does.
So what if Norton was the “best PH” in all of baseball LAST YEAR. Brooks Conrad has been a GOOD hitter THIS MONTH!
It was the wrong decision. With KJ back on the roster, Prado could have been the emergency 1B if Kotchman goes down. And as bad as KJ was earlier in the year, I’d rather have HIM on the bench than Norton. How scary is that?
monty
July 23rd, 2009
5:48 pm
Hey, “we never heard of Conrad 2 months ago”, therefore he couldn’t really be of any value to our team.” Great Logic! We have to know him like a family member for him to be worth keeping around. “At least we know what Norton can do, right everybody!?!”
John
July 23rd, 2009
5:48 pm
Any chance….since Bobby has apparently given up on Conrad….we could trade him…and maybe pickup some help…I’m sure he’s worth more than KJ on the market…
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:48 pm
Paul, CrimeDog ment who should he have put out there? Acosta? Soriano? Pointless arguments man.
Jake W.
July 23rd, 2009
5:49 pm
Would you guys just give it a rest on the Conrad thing. It makes sense why the Braves made the decision they did. They are probably giving Norton some time to prove he can become what he was in the second half for us last year. If it doesn’t work out Conrad is still in Triple-A where as if we cut Norton he’s gone.
On KJ, I don’t see how anyone could blame that play on him. I’m not a KJ defender but Moylan had no business even looking to 3rd on that play. If he would have thrown to 1st when he got the ball its an out. Simple failure to execute. Same with the Kotchman play. If you are going to look to second don’t go floating the ball over to 1st, you got to fire it. Chipper has got to catch that ball coming in to third. Just an all around bad inning starting with the liner off of Gonzo. Outside of that these Braves had played great defense this entire series.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:50 pm
stew–
The curse of the DGANG…
IT does seem like they lose a lot of afternoon weekday games. But that’s not Ross’ fault…
richbrave
July 23rd, 2009
5:50 pm
HEY DAVID O’BRIEN:
If you every get to PUERTO RICO’s south shore, I recommend PITO’s CAFE on Route 2 four miles west of PONCE. Seafood specialties. I had RED SNAPPER with MANGO salsa. Fantastic. Veggies cooked like eastern N.C., boiled to mush in a pot of water. No al dente here. ANERICAN nautical theme biker bar. Great view of the CARIBBEAN. I mean front row. The water literally washes under the veranda, therefor the prices are muy caro. You can sit at the bar and watch American sports in English while sucking down suds and CERDO. Can’t vouch for the B-B-Q at this spot though. We didn’t partake this trip. Next time for sure.
Another great restaurant, AIJILI-MIJILI just outside old SAN JUAN east across the lagoon on the beach road in CONDADO. Again, terrific seafood.
GREAT CUBAN B-B-Q at the METROPOL in GUAYNABO. But the best B-B-Q was east of SAN JUAN off Route 3 right by the MESTAPE RIVER in PALMER on the road (Route 191) to EL YUNQUE(the rain forest NATIONAL PARK). Big sign saying B-B-Q on the left heading up toward the park. They cook their own pork in a pit like B-B-Q places used to do in southeastern VIRGINIA in the forties and fifties before they were outlawed for being open-air types. Great Spanish style pork, rice and red or black beans, yuca, toastones, cold cervesa. Man. Hard to believe I actually lost weight as I tried to eat my way out of the resort in PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC and across PUERTO RICO.
Jake W.
July 23rd, 2009
5:51 pm
Also Good to hear that Gonzo is all right. We most definitely need him in the bullpen. KK has got to learn how to get people out with less pitches. That was his problem today, not to mention he didn’t really seem to get any borderline calls while Zito benefited from them the whole game. That strike on Escobar was ridiculous and the way the ump talked to Bobby was well unprofessional. I understand the umps aren’t perfect so the guy missing the pickoff call at 2nd while it hurt at the time was more understandable to me than flat out missing balls and strikes calls. Some of these umpires and their ego’s, I don’t know. Some time they need a talking to like Escobar gets at times. And for once I would like to see my Braves benefit from the dumb rule that calls for the runner going to 1st to not run in fair territory. God knows we have been burned by the rule.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:51 pm
Nooooo!! I capitalized both the “I” and the “T”! And it’s posted now…there’s nothing I cann do…
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:51 pm
The reason Bobby “had” to rely on Peter Moylan in that situation is because he totally mismanaged the top of the 8th inning. I would have left Medlen in to pitch the 8th. If we had a one run lead, I could see bringing in Gonzalez. But not with the game tied. Medlen had pitched a very effective 1 2/3 innings. Leave him in for one more. But not only did he bring in Gonzalez (who had to leave the game because he got hit on the arm), but he only used Boone Logan for ONE HITTER. I would have left him in the game. I’d rather take my chances with Logan than with Moylan.
But with Moylan being one of Bobby’s guys…………….
Jake W.
July 23rd, 2009
5:52 pm
KK has got to learn how to get people out with less pitches. That was his problem today, not to mention he didn’t really seem to get any borderline calls while Zito benefited from them the whole game. That strike on Escobar was ridiculous and the way the ump talked to Bobby was well unprofessional. I understand the umps aren’t perfect so the guy missing the pickoff call at 2nd while it hurt at the time was more understandable to me than flat out missing balls and strikes calls. Some of these umpires and their ego’s, I don’t know. Some time they need a talking to like Escobar gets at times. And for once I would like to see my Braves benefit from the dumb rule that calls for the runner going to 1st to not run in fair territory. God knows we have been burned by the rule.
jed
July 23rd, 2009
5:54 pm
conrad down, kj back, norton stays…quite the syndrome here. specifically:
–terrible terrible decision bringing KJ back. even if they’re showcasing him. why? despite the miserable season he’s had, i still believe he’s talented. too talented to trade with his stock so low. keep him in AAA and let that reclamation project continue. could pay dividends in september. bringing him up so soon and subjecting him again to major league pressure is not good for him longterm. and yeah i agree absolutely with the blog’s shared fear that cox wont be able to resist starting him at least twice a week. wren bringing up kj is like putting a bottle of whiskey in front of a recovering alcoholic. cox being the drunk, yes.
–cracked up when i saw cox quote: ‘nothing like having a veteran pinch hitter’. yeah, a veteran pinch hitter who’s 5 for 45 this year. (again, cox=drunk.) now, cox does have a valid point in that he wants a vet for a pinch hitter. so do i. braves need to send norton to AAA to get *his* head on straight as well. get him a lot of at-bats. that seems what he needs and he cant get those in atlanta. i’m also fully in favor of making a simple trade at this point to bring in a new pinch hitter. just DFA norton. i can live with either AAA or DFA…but right now, norton aint producing and they gotta do something there.
–while norton’s in AAA, yeah, bring back conrad. but fergodsakes, get kelly back in AAA.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
5:55 pm
Kelly getting a hit in the 8th is a GOOD thing. He’s still a Brave right? Wasn’t it a leadoff single? We don’t ground into the DP we have ourselves something cooking in the 8th.
But, Kelly’s tirade in AAA and a hit in his 1st AB back here maybe gives some teams hope that he’s found his swing. Teams are willing to take chances. Kelly did hit like .700 last September. Combine that with maybe he’s found his grove, and maybe our trade options open up a bit. How is that bad???? You people are unreal, and this is coming from the biggest Prado fan than all of you combined who wanted to see Kelly moved this past offseason or earlier so Martin could get his shot.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:56 pm
It is nice to be proven right. I have been saying for a few weeks now that the Phillies pitching staff will suffer even more injuries, due to being overused. Today they just put J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin on the disabled list. That bullpen is taking a beating.
That will put even more pressure on the other guys in the bullpen, considering their starting pitching isnt getting deep into ballgames. The Phillies will fall back down to Earth.
That is why it hurts so much to GIVE AWAY a game like we did today.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
5:56 pm
Randy Winn vs. Braves:
39-for-86 (.453) with 12 extra-base hits and 13 RBI in past 24 games.
55-for-145 (.379) with 19 RBIs in 42 career games.
tvsportscaster
July 23rd, 2009
5:57 pm
I’ll put in my two cents about the Conrad situation. It was a bad decision and here’s why, what the hell is Diory Hernandez still on the team for. That is what hasn’t been mentioned, that was another option as well, send Hernandez down, you can keep Conrad and Norton and if Norton continues to stink it up, then when Infante is ready to come back you can make a move. Why in the world they felt the need to keep Hernandez is what is mind boggling to me, and yes Conrad can play short so there goes that theory.
MrNeutral
July 23rd, 2009
5:58 pm
Brooks Conrad is a switch hitter as well. PaulLentz
Apparently, so are you Paul.
John
July 23rd, 2009
5:59 pm
Conrad at SS….I’d pay big bucks to see that !!
monty
July 23rd, 2009
6:00 pm
Kelly lost his swing, but he found it! It was hiding under the bed all along.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:00 pm
njbraves………I would have kept Logan in the game. He only faced the one batter, who got on because of Kotchman’s blunder.
wjones…………..the thing you dont understand is that Kelly getting a hit today is an “aberration”, not a true indication of his ability to contribute for us the rest of the season. Just as when Francoeur would get a hit……people would get on here and say “he’s swinging better”. Francoeur getting a hit would keep him in the line-up. He should have been benched at the end of May.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
6:01 pm
If he wants a veteran for a pinch hitter, heck, go out and get Julio Franco again. He’s probably not doing anything — and I can almost guarantee he would go, at least, 6 for 45.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
6:01 pm
DOB–
Yeesh…and how many SB are mixed in there?
Our only hope is that he stays out West for the rest of his career…
N8
July 23rd, 2009
6:01 pm
For the record, I’m not blaming today’s loss on KJ, nor do I think the decision to drop Conrad over Norton had ANY impact on today’s game.
I think much bigger picture than that. Today’s game turned on poor defense and the inability to hit a guy that’s been no better than a batting practice pitcher for the past two years.
DOB, with numbers like that, I wouldn’t be shocked if Wren makes a “move” for Winn in the future. Seems like Braves always have their eye on guys that they see dominate them up close. Like McLouth did for a couple of seasons since his callup.
Not saying they’ll go after him, but it would fall under the “if you can’t get him out…. acquire him”, kind of menatlity.
Dude just isn’t that good over-all, but clearly plays his best against the Braves.
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
6:01 pm
What I said, you dumbarse, is that Norton is a premier CAREER power hitting pinch hitter in the league. Wanna bet you can find a 5-for-45 stretch in the resume of just about every hitter in this league? Think about it: 10 game stretch for an everyday guy with 5 one-fer and 5 oh-fer games. Doesn’t sound so bad does it? The man is comfortable in a role that most players aren’t and he is a veteran presence.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
6:02 pm
Hmm…only 8…and only 3 over the last five seasons (counting ‘09, of course).
But no CS…
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
6:02 pm
tvsportscaster:
Diory is still on the team because he’s a backup option at SS. Until Infante is ready, we really don’t have a backup SS. Diory has hit well in AAA this season. He hit well there last year too. He’s a good hitter and eventually will figure it out at the major league level. His value to the team right now is strictly on the defensive side of the ball until Infante is ready late next month. You saw what bad defense could do today. He’s on the team to prevent that from happening should something happen to Escobar.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:02 pm
N8……………great posting at 5:47pm. Well said. Way to break it down.
Jake W.
July 23rd, 2009
6:02 pm
You keep Diory because until Infante gets back you have no legitimate backup at SS for Esco. Thats it in a nutshell.
Eternal Judgment
July 23rd, 2009
6:03 pm
“It’s nice to be proven right.”
- Paul Lentz
Famous last words.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
6:03 pm
Why would you ever pitch to Randy Wynn in a key situation? Whenever someone is pounding you on the head with a dull hammer sooner or later you need to say “enough.”
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
6:03 pm
Randy Winn can go choke on a Lincecum hairball!
He needs to be traded to an AL team quickly.
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
6:04 pm
DOB-
I know it is a few days off but any idea how the rotation will set up for the Florida series with Monday being an off day? I imagine nobody will be skipped but just curious (I’m actually trying to figure out what the rotation will be when the team gets out here…)
BravesfaninWis
July 23rd, 2009
6:04 pm
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:25 pm
BravesfaninWis–
That would be kinda cool to meet those two!
**********************************************************
I thought so to. It would be kinda cool to shake hands with the announcers of my favorite team. Boog is hilarious, I know he bugs the hell out of some people, but he is fun to listen to during the games. He and Simpson seem to have a good chemistry calling games together.
BTW, how do you bold names on here?
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
6:05 pm
Bobby’s C
Funny you should ask. I looked up KJ’s stats last September and for the month in 26 games he hit .398 with 39 hits in 98 AB’s. 9 Doubles, 3 Triples, 3 HR’s, 6 BB.
That was good for a .429 OBP
His Slugging % was .643
His OPS was 1.072
Better than Prado’s run this month but if you want to know the difference in them, look at the slugging %.
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
6:06 pm
Braves missed an opportunity today.
Paul Lentz,
Here is the list of Bobby’s Boys:
1. Jeff FRANCINE (traded, Wren forced this on Bobby or you can bet ANYTHING he’d still be starting in RF for us)
2. KJ (Bobby Cox you can BET forced Wren to make this move to bring him back)
3. Norton (Bobby tends to fall in love with this type player…Pete Orr, Keith Lockhart, Chris Woodward, etc you name them they’ve played here. it’s the “veteran pinch hitter crap”. In this case, NORTON is lucky to have a fraking job on a MLB team. When Seattle (not so good hitting team last year, releases you in MAY, something is UP)
4. Jeff Bennett (I guess Bobby likes the fact that he chews tobacco and lost 75lbs in the off-season)
5. Peter Moyland (Bobby is determined to visit australia one day, and really wants Peter as a tour guide)
Well there you have it. I think for the 2010 braves to have a shot, ALL of those characters need to be gone from the 25 man roster.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
6:06 pm
oops….didn’t realize Conrad was a switch hitter too
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
6:06 pm
Paul and others re Moylan – as many of us have said for 4 months, we rushed Pete back from major surgery based on some BP/ST sessions where he threw well whilst ignoring the fact that he was 30-45 lbs overweight and lacking velocity.
Now we have used Moylan some 50 odd times and when the ol’ sinker doesnt bite he makes a nice sidearm batting practice guy as was shown today. Now we are kind of stuck because outside of the little dog, there is no RH in the BP who is lights out (excusing the closer of course).
Several here have also alluded to Pete “hitting the sauce” heavily of late… not a good sign
as far as KJ for Brooks Conrad – what value does KJ hold for us, really, he is hitting 215 and has made some abysmal errors (both actual and mental) this year and last and since he has been “up” we have NOT MADE the playoffs……….. cut our losses I say, nice guy or not
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:07 pm
tvsportscaster…………………Diory Hernandez has to stay on the roster because he is the only one who can play shortstop if Yunel gets hurts. However his days are numbered because when Omar Infante comes back, he will be demoted (Omar can play short as well).
So that is why Hernandez wasnt sent down. Norton, lol, freaking unbelievable, lol
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
6:10 pm
For the record, I’m not blaming today’s loss on KJ, nor do I think the decision to drop Conrad over Norton had ANY impact on today’s game. I think much bigger picture than that N8
N8, there is no big picture here. There’s 9 days till the trade deadline I believe. One of these guys is getting moved before then for bullpen help. I’d almost guarantee it. If not, I’ll admit I’m wrong. But Wren seems pretty smart. We have 3 of the top 7 relievers in appearances on our team. All the games we’ve lost lately have been lost with a reliever on the mound. The bullpen is the only area we don’t have depth. Gonzo was hurting before the break. He got hit again today. I’m pretty sure Wren sees the need, and I’m pretty sure he’d be looking to move KJ and his salary for bullpen help. With Caryle, Hudson, and a RP obtained via trade, we suddenly have options in the pen, and a lot more depth.
richbrave
July 23rd, 2009
6:12 pm
Hey DAVE:
Remember the grief I got for suggesting DON BAYLOR not TP was the best hitting coach the BRAVES have had in the past twenty years. Well, just one man’s opinion right?
Braves Paisan
July 23rd, 2009
6:12 pm
Judy and I took off for the “Businessman’s Special.” She pointed out – correctly — that “B-man Special” is a misnomer, anachronistic: it was a family outing, tons of kids, the future lifetime fans of the game.
Our team has been playing so well that an inning like the 8th was … what … statistically probable. The good news is that we DIDN’T tie the game and have to strain relievers long into the late afternoon. Lick ‘em tomorrow.
From the “Ya Always See Somethin’ Special at the Big Ballpark” file: walking through the plaza, we saw a man guiding his young son, who was wearing a #7 Braves jersey. Over the long name of Francoeur, they had sewn a thick white strip with the name “CHURCH” inked over it. Classic.
wjones
July 23rd, 2009
6:12 pm
“wjones…………..the thing you dont understand is that Kelly getting a hit today is an “aberration”, not a true indication of his ability to contribute for us the rest of the season. Just as when Francoeur would get a hit……people would get on here and say “he’s swinging better”. Francoeur getting a hit would keep him in the line-up. He should have been benched at the end of May.”
Maybe. I don’t think any of us can predict the future. Kelly in June was horrible; Kelly last September was awesome. But just as someone else was trying to take September out of Kelly’s numbers, you could also use that same logic to take out Kelly’s June numbers from this year. Both months are outliers, even with someone as streaky as Kelly. Kelly was not the same hitter in June that he had been in the past. Whether that had to do with injuries, confidence, bad habits, or a combo, I don’t know, and I don’t think anyone else on this site does, either. Perhaps what he did in AAA was a turnaround, maybe it was a mirage, but you don’t find that out unless you see. And Kelly off the bench, if he is right, is valuable. He has power, is patient, has speed, when he is right. Will he be right? I have no idea. Neither do you. We can both speculate, but neither of us has a crystal ball. I am glad he got a hit today. If he goes 20 for 20, I will be happy. If he goes 1 for 20, I will be sad, for many reasons, the biggest is that we have someone with no value that we may have to either option or release. But no reason at all to put him on this team if you aren’t going to try and use him.
Bobby feels that Norton’s “production” so far this year is the abberation, as opposed to his performances in previous years. He also has a different opinion of his defensive abilities as opposed to last year–only 2 appearances at first, no appearances in the OF, and I would assume a real emergency would have to occur for him to be at 3b. But whether he is no longer a viable option on the roster, or whether he is due, I don’t know, and neither does anyone else, including Bobby. I hope, for the team’s sake, he hits .400 the rest of the year. Do I think he will? No. But Bobby sees something in him still, and whether we agree or not, we have to respect that.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:13 pm
McLouth of the South………….I think that Brooks Conrad was pretty “comfortable” when he hit that game winning 3-run, pinch hitting homer in his first at-bat with the Braves on July 3rd against the Nationals. I’m pretty sure that Conrad was “pretty comfortable” hitting 11 for 32 with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 homers, and 8 RBIs.
However, I dont want a player on my team who is “pretty comfortable” hitting 5 for 45. I’d play the hot hand “any day of the week”.
I dont know to many managers who will sit down a player in a 13 for 26 stretch like he did Matt Diaz, just so Jeff Francoeur could get some at-bats to “get him going”. I dont know of too many teams out there who will send down a hot role player like Brooks Conrad for an old, broken down, 5 for 45 hitting BUM like Greg Norton. Those moves DEFY logic.
Shawn
July 23rd, 2009
6:14 pm
Im going on strike until Kelly and Norton are off the Atlanta Braves roster!! How can they even look at themselves in the mirror after demoting Conrad and still have Norton on the roster? You know, WOW… just WOW! Bobby Cooks is senile or sumthin cause this is uncalled for and I demand a good explanation as to why this happend!!
nique
July 23rd, 2009
6:17 pm
the argument that they brought KJ up to trade him before the deadline makes no sense. what team in their right mind is going to want a guy barely batting over .200. at this point there isn’t enough time before the deadline for KJ to improve what teams think about him enough to want to trade for him. also norton suuuuuuuuucks and is way overpaid. bring conrad back.
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
6:17 pm
cabravesfan – I had been wondering the same thing.
By the way, I did put in four grueling hours of work earlier with two lovely young twenty-somethings. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
6:18 pm
Bobby’s – that is the most intelligent piece I have read on here in months
you should be benched instantly for such insightful analysis
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:20 pm
keylargo………if you take away Kelly Johnson’s September, here is what you have…………169 hits in 681, which comes to a batting average of .248, with 15 homers and 70 RBIs. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.
However, a number of you guys LOVE Kelly Johnson because he has had ONE GOOD MONTH in the past year and a half? ONE FREAKING MONTH? Are you kidding me?
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
6:20 pm
Braves have missed last few octobers because of games like this one.
Playoff caliber teams dont lose games like this……….either they dont make those type of plays or if they do, they come back and kick axx.
N8
July 23rd, 2009
6:20 pm
Bobby’s Cox, (btw, that moniker cracks me up EVERY time I type it – thanks), you might be right. Perhaps they’re “showcasing” some people for pending trades. Just like they did with Francoeur before trading him. But at this point in the year (and their careers), do guys like KJ or Norton need to be showcased?
Isn’t there a book out there on them? But like you, if one is moved, I will admit I was wrong. Never afraid to do that. Still think that if Hudson has zero setbacks in the next 9 days, Vazquez could be on the move as well. Less likely than a few weeks ago, but still possible, imo.
We’ll see……
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
6:20 pm
VJ-
you lead a tough life…
wondering what exactly?
Shawn
July 23rd, 2009
6:21 pm
nique— really! I wouldn’t trade a bag of baseballs and a rack of bats for that sorry sack! He and Norton stink something awful and Mr.Cooks loves him some Kelly/Norton sandwich. Why else are they crowding the dugout, taking up space that could be used for someone useful? Huh, tell me that!!
stachemoney
July 23rd, 2009
6:21 pm
Supes: Great list. This defines cox’s idiotic destructive strategy.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:22 pm
Supes………….totally agree with your 6:06pm posting. Our only hope if for Frank Wren to get a new manager for 2010. It would be a BIG WASTE for the players that Frank Wren has done a good job of assembling, being wasted because of a few BUMS that are “Bobby’s guys”.
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
6:24 pm
cabravesfan – about the Braves rotation – I believe I mentioned a while back that my sister will be in LA that weekend.
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
6:27 pm
And if you take away Martin Prado’s July you have a .261 hitter.
And like I told you before and you had no answer for Kelly Johnson had 301 hits in 2007 and 2008. And he hit .282 over those two years.
How you like that JA?
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
6:27 pm
However, a number of you guys LOVE Kelly Johnson because he has had ONE GOOD MONTH in the past year and a half? ONE FREAKING MONTH? Are you kidding me?
So we’re just going to take away Kelly’s good numbers so we can show off stats we like? In that case I’ll throw out 2009.
From 2007-2008, KJ is hitting .281 in 1068 ABs with 109 extra base hits. If KJ’s as awful as you’re making him out to be, that must’ve been one heck of a month to bring up a two year average to .281.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
6:29 pm
And what does everybody have against September 2008? KJ was ON FIRE. It’s not like he got lucky over the course of a month. We’ve seen him do it before and we want to see him do it again.
Mr. Scary
July 23rd, 2009
6:29 pm
So we’re just going to take away Kelly’s good numbers so we can show off stats we like? In that case I’ll throw out 2009.
I love it that Kelly’s detractors can do this, but when you do it, they’ll find some way to piss-and-moan about it and call it illogical or something. Well, newsflash idiots, when you do it it’s illogical too. Let’s see how they respond when their own flawed logic is flipped right on its head.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:31 pm
I posted this at 4:02pm. I couldnt resist the urge to post it again. Hopefully you guys will get a good laugh out of it:
Here is a way that we can have a team full of “Bobby’s guys”:
1. Call up Jeff Bennett called back up.
2. Give Tom Glavine a call and tell him that we were sorry for cutting him and that we want to give him another chance.
3. Call Boston and offer them Tommy Hanson in exchange for getting John Smoltz back
4. Trade Jair Jurrgens to the Astros so we can re-acquire Mike Hampton.
5. Trade Yunel Escobar to the Seattle Mariners for Ryan Langerhans.
6. And last but not least……….Let’s trade Javier Vazquez to the Mets so we can get our beloved Jeff Francoeur back?
If Frank Wren can make those moves, then we can go back to having really good guys on our team who make great teammates, sign lots of autographs, and who will play hard for Bobby Cox because they appreciate being “Bobby’s boys”. We need more players that the fans on this blog really like and miss.
John
July 23rd, 2009
6:31 pm
Paul
I think…someone with your knowledge…KNOWS… that given the present situation…KJ should be on the roster. You (perhaps rightly so) just think the wrong person was sent down. So…with all the “pull” you have around this place…call a stop to all the “hatin” on “my boy” KJ…Just say…”Guys..KJ SHOULD be on the roster”
Go ahead…you can do it…just get those little pinkies to typin’… and take some of the heat off “my boy” KJ…tia
Startled
July 23rd, 2009
6:32 pm
Johnson is right. Cox always seems to find room for the utility players to play, even if it ends up hurting the team. I think Bobby has lost it.
You have a lineup that has just been stricly rocking and what do you do. You change something here, pull in Norton here, put johnson in here. I am so sick of this. You have starters for a reason. Unless they are hurt you play them. Thats the way it is. They are the starters and when you team is winning 11-3 you put in a utility player here and there. You dont replace the entire team.
Moylan stunk again today like always. The guy cant pitch in a pressure situation to save his life. Why does Cox continue to use him there. Why why why.
jed
July 23rd, 2009
6:32 pm
you *might* get some interest in KJ, but no great returns; there’s no way anyone’s going to trade for norton.