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2,241 comments Add your comment
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
7:38 pm
Bobby’s Cox – definitely just sharing the dog – I am a one woman man – faithful to cabravesfan.
south georgia phil
July 23rd, 2009
7:39 pm
TYPICAL BORED BLOGGER-YOU ARE MY HERO! I’M NOT WORTHY!
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
7:41 pm
Be-little, BeBOLD…………..you stick with McLouth because McLouth has proven that he can rebound from a slump. And when he does, he goes on a homer and doubles spree. While I agree that McLouth could use a day off, I have not said one word about McLouth needing to be benched. I see with McLouth that he is just scuffling. In the course of a long season, even good players have slumps. It’s just that with good players, they dont have 2 good months/4 bad months).
south georgia phil
July 23rd, 2009
7:41 pm
Hey Paul Lentz… What’s with all the math, dude? This is a blog site, not the Alias Bureau!!
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
7:42 pm
keylargo – they let the cabs in for a few hours each day but if you ask the drivers they think they own the city… dude almost ran me over crossing the walkway while he had a red light… then he tells me I should stop (on the green) for him because he was in a hurry…..
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
7:43 pm
Do they still ask you what’s your average or do they ask you now throw out your highest month and your lowest month and tell me what your range is
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
7:45 pm
Stats – do any baseball sites do stuff like MEDIAN ERA etc, be fascinating to see because JJ, KK and Javier would have very low median ERAs etc
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
7:45 pm
Phillies up 3-0 going to the 3rd.
TommyP
July 23rd, 2009
7:47 pm
Supes: Forgot about the Vazquez trade clause. Could be a 3 team deal. Or the Dodgers could be looking at Mike Gonzalez.
I’m pretty sure I mentioned one of the Dodgers’ AA players that should interest us: Joshua Bell. BIG kid at 3B with very good plate discipline. Would be an ideal prospect to nab for our future at 3B.
Paul Lentz: Your quote in your reply to me was not a quote of mine. Not sure why you included it.
And if you think having Norton hang around for a little while longer will kill the Braves playoff chances, well, I don’t know what to say to you.
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
7:48 pm
Dogsbrekky
I met a lovely nurse from NYC down here on vacation a few years back. She lived in a hospital owner building in Manhattan that was next to the park. I had a great time up there and ran the park loop with her every day and saw a lot of things I had never seen before. Rode the bus and the subway to get around and ate some wonderful food. But I was glad I had a round trip ticket. I could not live there. Too busy and crowded.
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
7:48 pm
In the Conrad / KJ etc situation today, does Bobby have the say or the GM. I always assumed it was heavily the domain of the GM but this sounds like it was only Bobby’s decision
monty
July 23rd, 2009
7:49 pm
On consistency!\\
DId a little research with random players on old Brave’s teams and to my surprise there is much more inconsistency with players on a month by month basis than I imagined there would be. Looked up Lemke and Blauser two decent players but certainly not great and there was alot of inconsistent hitting from month to month. However KJ’s repeated prolonged slumps are on the extreme edge of being inconsistent! Especially the way his power numbers fall off in his down months. For example even in Blauser’s down months his Hr’s didn’t fall off dramatically, and in one bad month avg/ wise he hit more HR”s than in his best BA avg. month. Avg went down but power went up! Not so with KJ. When his Ba goes down so does his slugging %.
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
7:50 pm
Hate me all you want, but go back and find ONE POSTING in the past few months I’ve made where I was WRONG about either having faith in or dumping a player. FIND ONE, then get back to me.
Dude, I don’t hate you. You annoy me, and you have started annoying me enough to make me want to get rid of the annoyance. Like swatting a mosquito. Mostly, I’ve ignored you, since it was evident early in your time here that you were just another blogger wanna-be with no chance of actually contributing anything of insight, because of one simple fact: you just don’t know very much about the game, unfortunately. Wading through stuff from posters such as you is the price we all pay for a free, open forum in which we can debate ideas and promote the flow of enjoyable conversation. That’s the nature of the beast, and that’s OK. Nothing good comes without pain.
But you’re even more of a numbletard than I think you are if you believe I’d waste a moment searching for posts that would confirm knowledge that I already possess. Were I to put in front of you one or a dozen or a hundred posts that explicitly and directly prove your cluelessness, I doubt that you would accept the reality. Would you? Nah.
You have a depth of analytical skills that stops right about “Francoeur is not very good”, and, after that, your boat starts taking on water, I’m afraid. Yet, you stepped into a forum long known for having a wealth of knowledgeable posters, with a “moron” here and an “idiot” there, all the while displaying an arrogance undeserved, a frequency heretofore unknown, a verbosity unallayed, and a redundancy unduplicated.
I’ve taken a lot of shots at you today, and I enjoyed it. For a while. Tomorrow’s a new day, though, and I doubt I’ll continue it. Because, in the final analysis, you’re probably just not worth the time. My advice would be this: retire the moniker, come back with another one, and start over. Give yourself a mulligan, and try to get it right the second time. Otherwise, you’re always going to be the butt of jokes and the target of venom here. That’s no way to go, bubba.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
7:52 pm
Largo,
http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/Marine09/mitalia
thanks for your interest! Btw, 200 miles a week is pretty solid…
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
7:54 pm
keylargo – I love/hate New York city but I love the park. I have a border collie and meet a lovely group of people every day the “Boathouse”. If it were not for the park I could not live in this godforsaken place.
Then again, I have lived in 10 major cities around the world and I easily find fault with all of them.
I should move to my 1st love, which is South Carolina. However, I would then find something wrong down there and move again…..
I am resigned to the fact that I am the problem and not where I am
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
7:54 pm
scoots,
Loving your post to dentz right now. i posted something that looks quite similar yesterday. In fact, did you copy & paste that? The kid will learn, eventually….hopefully.
Braveheart
July 23rd, 2009
7:56 pm
Conrad was far more convincing in his stint than Johnson has been at any time this year.
Conrad, first 34 plate appearances this season: .344, .382, .688, 1.070, 1 double, 2 triples, 2 homers,
KJ, first 34 plate appearances this season: .333, .412, .767, 1.179 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
7:59 pm
phillies have already won today, why havent they updated the standings?
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
8:00 pm
Bobby’s C
200 a week is not so hard if you do it every day. 30’s are not much of a strain. 60’s mean 3 hrs in the saddle. But I do try to get in one of that length a week.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
8:00 pm
Heyward 1-1 with a walk
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
8:03 pm
Dogsbrekky
I assume you must mean the SC coast. Few people in NY know how wonderful it is there and the GA barrier islands. My Dad has a house in St Simons Island, GA and the prettiest place I have ever been to is Cumberland Island, GA. It is owned by the state and has a completely undeveloped 15 mile long beach.
jed
July 23rd, 2009
8:05 pm
you know, i find paul lentz can be a bit annoying myself, but his posts make good sense most of the time–unlike so many on here. he reminds me of n8. n8 used to be so full of himself, so “look at me! look at me!”, that he drove me nuts. but gradually, he got off that and now is fairly easy to take (personally), and although we disagree often, he’s one of the few here i consistently will take the time to read. paul’s got a lot better perspective on this team than most here do. i had to fight off a bunch of imbeciles just last week demanding that escobar be traded. and we’ve still got goobers on here who want to trade vazquez, not realizing that IF we stand a chance to win, it will be because wren’s put together one of the best starting rotations i’ve seen anywhere in a long time. at least paul has a full grasp on these things. and i’ll say this too: he’s dropped an awful lot of his obnoxiousness lately. i hope that continues for certain. anyway, i’m tired of seeing him post very legitimate content and then read you people calling him a girl or whatever. not terribly elevated on your parts, no matter how much of a twit he’s been in the past.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
8:06 pm
Largo,
I’m not worried about the biking, or the running. I can still run a 19 minute 5K. I’m worried about the swimming. My swimming distance has never extended beyond a couple of laps in the pool.
uga-brave
July 23rd, 2009
8:06 pm
couple of quick comments
the braves starting lineup today was 2-26 for their career against zito.
after executing a gameplan against lincecum the braves went back to a hack and jack approach against zito.
braves still need a right handed hitter.
santanna and zito had their way.
this is what .500 teams do, they tease you like a prom date.
that being said their starting pitching has been almost dominant this season.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:07 pm
TommyP ………….every game is going to be important. There are going to be situations that continue to come up where a key pinch hit here and there are going to affect the number of wins we get from now until the end of the season. Do you think that the Phillies win the World Series with the 2009 version of Greg Norton as their key pinch hitter off the bench last year?
We need to have more pinch hitting clutch hits like the one Brooks Conrad got in his first at-bat as a Brave if we are going to be serious contenders for the play-offs……….not pinch at-bats like the one Greg Norton gave us in the bottom of the 8th inning against the Mets on Saturday.
I can remember a number of people on his blog back in June saying that “it wouldnt matter much if we replaced Francoeur and Kelly because we have too many holes in our line-up. Well, HELLO? Replacing them DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE. A big difference.
And as I said before, it wont stop at just Greg Norton. Bobby’s boys Jeff Bennett and Buddy Carlyle are coming back soon.
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
8:08 pm
Bobby’s, I didn’t know that, sorry. Should have realized that someone else would have done that. But, I put the hammer on the guy today, and, to tell you the truth, it didn’t play nearly as well here as it did in my head, LOL. Guess I’ve lost my taste for that kind of thing.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
8:09 pm
Braveheart,
Remember that $100 friendly gesture you offered to take me up on last year? I have a great idea.
Though I admittedly never really took you up on the bet, you could, if you really wanted to, donate the money to my cause. Won’t go to me, but to the leukemia & lymphona society. I posted my TNT site on the previous page. No worries if you don’t want to though.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/Marine09/mitalia
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
8:09 pm
I really hope Rohrbough has a good outing.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
8:10 pm
lol scoots.
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
8:10 pm
Bobby’s Cox – I admire your subtle way of impressing cabravesfan with your physical fitness, while not directly addressing her – well-played.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
8:10 pm
Paul-
Alright man, come clean. What did Norton do to you. Did he run over your dog?
uga-brave
July 23rd, 2009
8:12 pm
i really don’t get the love affair some of you have with K.J.
he is a decent player in a massive slump. he is not a plus fielder, he is not a burner, he has maybe a tick above average power for a second baseman.
he usually touches cloth in pressure situations. he has a long mechanical swing that prevents situational hitting, and he might be a MUSH.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
8:13 pm
jeffrey d Boog can be VERY dry and he delivers it perfectly.
Yeah…I really like it when he tells stories about BMac–not just ’cause they’re about BMac, but because he tells them in such a funny way.
dogbrekky I know I am in the singular minority here but BOOG just makes me uncomfortable
I cann see why’d you say that…but most of the time, he’s funny, IMO.
A few games back some gonad wrote an article about how McCann was hurting us with his lack of power
Who wrote that?
The only time he really hurt us was during that slump he went through in late June-early July when he did almost nothing with RISP. I mean, besides when he was blind, and even then he went 3-9 with RISP.
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
8:13 pm
Bobby’s – I suck at the swimming legs but if you can coast along and are excellent at 1 of the legs you should be okay. I can run well but am near the worst swimmer and biker in most fields so do not be deterred.
keylargo – I have driven all over USA and there is something so special about the Carolinas and GA, especially the coast but as I grew up on beaches I am more enchanted by the wooded areas. I would probably chose somewhere around Burlington NC, Charleston SC or near Savannah or the ATL to live but my future missus is a godamm Yankee so I have zero chance
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:15 pm
ncscoots……..if you consider Kelly Johnson and Greg Norton to be “keepers” over Brooks Conrad, then you are sorely lacking in the intelligence department.
You are just mad because I am RIGHT ON in pretty much everything that I have to say when it comes to improving the Braves. So you resort to your “amusing” ramblings about me “not knowing anything about baseball” to justify your failure to be correct if your positions.
By the way, I am not going ANYWHERE. I will continue ESTABLISHING that I do indeed know WTF I’m talking about. You can go ahead with your incorrect analysis. I dont need someone who is on the wrong side of the issues to give me any props. So go ahead and “ridicule” me. Considering the source, why would I get upset? What you have to say carries no weight with me because you are pretty much ALWAYS WRONG.
Again, get back with me at the end of the season on Kelly’s numbers.
GradyBaby
July 23rd, 2009
8:16 pm
maybe we lost the magic when we sent Conrad down.
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
8:16 pm
McFann – sorry about Boog, some people just rile me,
then again I rile many people so maybe I should just turn off the sound on the mlb.tv and find the radio link
The article I think was on some ghey site like espn or was it baseball prospectus.. can’t remember
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
8:17 pm
if you consider Kelly Johnson and Greg Norton to be “keepers” over Brooks Conrad, then you are sorely lacking in the intelligence department.
Norton? Debatable. Johnson? No friggin’ way is he worse than Conrad. In any case, the only one lacking in the intelligence department is you. I’d recommend commissioning an S-2, solely for your use, because you ain’t gettin’ it done on your own, bro.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
8:18 pm
Paul-
Most of your assumptions about how the Braves make decisions and who are “Bobby’s Boys” are extremely far from the truth.
Mike J
July 23rd, 2009
8:18 pm
Every team losses games like these. The ones filled with mental breakdowns and weak offense. The thing that makes it so tough to deal with and kind of scary with our Braves is that games like this were the norm for us just a couple weeks ago. Lets just hope that this isn’t one of those “follow a great run with a torrid one” things.
The other thing thats frustrating is that the Phillies are playing even better than us. We are behind them by 2 games, we lose a few as they continue to win, we drop back to 6.5, then we gain only 1 game with all our good play, and so far it looks like we are going to lose that game again with 1 loss. Its tough to accept. The Phillies are pitching way better than they are and shouldn’t be able to keep it up. lets hope they don’t make a certain major move. And lets hope that its not the same case with our hitting, and we too will come back down to earth soon.
I know we are closer in the wild card, and all the talks shows seem focused on that, but I think the division is what you aim for. Only 1 team ahead of you there, and if you play against them well you have a shot to overtake them. Plus there are too many teams that are close in the wild card hunt, and too many things would need to go our way. We just need to aim for the division, and if that doesn’t happen when the dust settles then we hope we have the wild card.
Count de Monet
July 23rd, 2009
8:19 pm
McFann
I think Joe & Boog are great together. The only thing I don’t like is when they spend too much time on the trivia question.
Joe and Dip Caray JR however are horrible. No chemistry. It seems like has no use for Dip. I don’t think he likes him. I know I don’t. I wish he would go away.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
8:21 pm
VJ,
was it that obvious? damn….
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:21 pm
jed………..thanks for your show of support with 8:05pm posting. I give a detailed analysis on what I feel the Braves need to do……..and pretty much have been DEAD ON with my analysis.
Yet how do the naysayers respond? By name calling. They are simply unable to legitimately refute my positions. In the end, it is about smearing, just like what a candidate for political office does when he is behind in the polls. He cant win on the issues, so he resorts to dirty tricks to bring his opponent down.
Well, naysayers and name callers, I’m here to stay. I’m not going to let your petty, insecure tactics detract me from posting the truth about things related to the Braves. I will keep the focus on the TRUTHS. The naysayers can keep GETTING IT WRONG.
When all is said and done……..at the end of the year, Kelly Johnson and Greg Norton will both have SUCK A$$ numbers at the plate.
Shamus Thacker
July 23rd, 2009
8:21 pm
How’s Spanjer-F doing now Roman Gal?
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
8:22 pm
VJ,
have fun with her tonite. won’t be around. gotta go…
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
8:22 pm
.if you consider Kelly Johnson and Greg Norton to be “keepers” over Brooks Conrad, then you are sorely lacking in the intelligence department. paul lentz
You are right paul. It’s apparent that the other 30 GM’s in MLB missed Brooks Conrad’s talent for 10 years in the minors and you saw it in 34 ab’s this year. I don’t see any need for you to go back to High School in the fall.
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
8:23 pm
Mike J – I think we need 91 wins to get the Wild Card (at least) due to the nature of our final few months playing in division. We have had too many “soft losses” like today where we just coughed it up/mailed it in.
I had a strange feeling 2 weeks ago that we were going to win the NL East but the fillies are just animals. They could have the highest era in history to win a division and would probably still do so
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
8:24 pm
Well, Paul, I tried to help. If it’s all the same to you, I’ll let the blog be the judge of cred, since that’s the way it’s always been here. One reads, and then decides if further reading is worthwhile. Not much more to it, than that.
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
8:24 pm
It’s OK Peter Paul…
At least Jesus loves you
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
8:24 pm
Paul-
Not calling you any names. Just letting you know that you seriously have far less of an idea than you think you do. I can promise you that. From what I’m seen you’re wrong way more than you’re right.
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
8:25 pm
Shamus-
He’s been hit by a pitch and he flied out. The game is still young and he’s just letting the other team get a head start.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:25 pm
CrimeDog………..It isnt personal with Greg Norton. It’s just that he SUCKS at the plate. Bobby being steadfast in his support of BUMS like Norton is what frustrates me.
Jeff321
July 23rd, 2009
8:27 pm
Twins Trade Targets: Kelly Johnson
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/222978-twins-trade-targets-kelly-johnson
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
8:28 pm
Yet how do the naysayers respond? By name calling.
Well, first we (I) responded in kind–with statistical analysis. You then ignored it, deferred to your own(and flawed) analysis of out-dated and not-very-descriptive statistics and statistically incorrect sample sizes. You continued to state this information as correct, when in reality it isn’t, ignoring more relevant and statistically-powerful data. Thus, the name-calling, dentz-head. Ever wonder why exactly you got that name? Pretty soon we’ll have Robert calling you “donk.” If it’s still not clear, then I rest my case.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:28 pm
Steve from OH………….again, if you are correct in your analysis, then Kelly’s numbers from here until the end of the year will back you, wouldnt you agree?
If you are wrong, then we will not make the play-offs (because Bobby will end up using Kelly extensively, which will affect our offense).
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
8:29 pm
Paul-
Where do you get this “Bobby will end up using Kelly extensively” thing?
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
8:30 pm
Bobby’s Cox – I always do – bye.
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
8:32 pm
jeff321 – the bleacher report is laughably inept but may be accurate as to them seeking Kelly. They couldnt even get the fact that Yunel has zero to do with KJ’s position correct however..
Javy Vazquez/Lopez
July 23rd, 2009
8:33 pm
Hey Atlanta Brave, ifa you trade me to Dodgers you betta hope you no make playoffs cause ifa we meet I gonna shut you down, BEEEG MISTAKE ifa you trade me BELIEVE THAT! I an BEST peetcher on the team, NO????? I say YES!
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
8:33 pm
.895, .705, .811
These are Greg Norton’s OPS stats the last three years. His career mark is .759. This year he’s at .441…
There’s a hot streak in him yet.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:34 pm
keylargo………some players bloom late. While I am not saying that Brooks Conrad will develop into an All-Star, it makes absolutely no sense to replace him with Kelly Johnson right now. Brooks is the hot hand right now. Besides he is 29, which isnt old.
Dude, I heard this same argument when Bobby benched Matt Diaz during the Chicago series, even though he was 13 for his last 26. A number of people on here said “Jeff Francoeur is a proven 100 RBI a year guy. Matt Diaz has always been a reserve. You dont bench a Francoeur to play a part timer”.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
8:34 pm
because Bobby will end up using Kelly extensively,
Which he should, though not at detriment to Prado’s overall AB. It is a manager’s job to give an above-average player AB, right? Prado, Chipper, and Kotchman are all gonna need time off. Kelly should get those AB. We’re gonna need pinch-hitters. Kelly should get his share of those. Period.
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
8:35 pm
Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg just capped off a nice 5-run inning for the D-Braves.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:35 pm
CrimeDog……….ok, what SPECIFICALLY do you feel that I’m wrong about? I’m interested to hear.
BravesfaninWis
July 23rd, 2009
8:35 pm
McFann :Ô:
Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.
I really am hoping to meet some of the players and Joe and Boog as well. We have really good seats along the LF line which is where many of the Braves players warm up.. So I am hoping to talk with some of them, especially Matt Diaz..
DOB
How do you suggest me getting to meet Joe and Boog without going to jail on Sunday?:)
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
8:36 pm
Oh, and Heyward was intentionally walked before Freeman GIDP.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
8:37 pm
Steve from OH-
Don’t waste time with logic. It doesn’t work on him.
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
8:37 pm
Rihanna Star Spangled Banner Dianne von Furtstenberg sounds more like a fashion designer than ball-player
RomanGal – where in heck do you follow those stats please ?
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
8:39 pm
I have not read of one person who gave KJ any break at all for the wrist problems he is having. To have to get cortizone injections in them, I know from personal experience, that he was hurt past the point it hurt his performance. This is why we have so many problems on the blog getting along. A great team player and one with a tremendous upside is blasted by people who have no concept of team. For all we know the ups and downs KJ experienced were caused by the injury.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
8:39 pm
Paul-
Things I KNOW you’re wrong about, and I’ll leave it at that…
1) Jeff Bennett is Bobby’s boy.
2) Only injury to Kelly put Prado in the starter’s role.
3) Only injury to Bennett took him out of action.
4) Peter Moylan is Bobby’s boy.
5) Kelly Johnson will supplant Prado at 2B
6) This whole Brooks Conrad/Greg Norton argument is even relevent.
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
8:39 pm
I’d iBB Heyward, wouldn’t you?
NY Frenchy
July 23rd, 2009
8:40 pm
Who wants to ante up for KJ’s plane ticket to the Twins???? Can we get discount flights if we send Norton, Acosta, & Bennett with him. KJ on the bench is OK with most managers but the scary fact is Booby will put him in the game at the teams expense, its just too tempting for him not to screw up, watch sports fans it will happen, KJ back starting at 2nd soon as Prado dips below .300!
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
8:40 pm
Rihanna Star Spangled Banner Dianne von Furtstenberg
milb.com is where I follow the games live. You can listen to them, too.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:42 pm
Steve from OH……….outdated? Dude, I’m not one who is pointing to ONE MONTH in the past year and a half as an indication of Kelly being a good hitter. Do you think that THIS SEASON STATS are “outdated”? Or, do you feel that his Triple A stats in his rehab stint are a true indicator? Unbelievable.
Again, as I have no choice in the matter, we will see by the end of the year who is right in regards to Kelly Johnson, Greg Norton and Peter Moylan. It is just a shame that it will have to cost the Braves a shot at the play-offs in order to prove me RIGHT.
.
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
8:42 pm
THWG-
He’s walked twice and gotten a base-hit. Just pitch to him, ya scaredy-cats!!!
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
8:42 pm
Thanks Roman – I found the MISS Braves page but was NOT aware that mlb.com showed minor league stuff…. usually too busy watching the other mlb games
thanks again
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
8:42 pm
Steve from OH
I posted KJ’s stats from last Sept. Did you see them? Better than what Prado has done since he became the starter.
.398 BA
.429 OBP
.643 SLG
1.072 OPS
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
8:42 pm
Do teams not understand that Escobar is untouchable
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
8:43 pm
Roman Gal
Heyward will be here in September, I really believe that
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
8:44 pm
Dude, you really are thick…
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
8:44 pm
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
8:42 pm
Steve from OH
I posted KJ’s stats from last Sept. Did you see them? Better than what Prado has done since he became the starter.
.398 BA
.429 OBP
.643 SLG
1.072 OPS
He did all that against expanded rosters iun meaningless games
Goldenglove002
July 23rd, 2009
8:44 pm
This is my first appearance of the day on here, and without reading through everything I haven’t seen all the reactions yet, but I completely disagreed with the move made today. Conrad has been so much better than Norton has, and he was better than Diory also (I’m talking about offensively). Who’s to say Conrad couldn’t back up Yunel at SS? He played 18 games there in the minors last year and didn’t do horribly (I can live with a .940 FP% from the backup who brings a good bat from off the bench). The Braves need the offense off the bench much more than they need a strong defensive backup SS. Conrad could hit the ball and be put in at any position Bobby asked for (he’s played at every position except pitcher and 1B over his career in the minors).
Not only did they miss the opportuntiy to keep a good bat on the bench, they lost the opportunity to let Diory develop more. He obviously is not ready with his bat in the majors, but his minor league numbers make him look like he is close to being a capable utility guy. Give him an everyday job in Gwinnett so he can get more ABs.
I know we will see him up later this year, as there is no way he isn’t called up in september if not earlier. I just hope it isn’t too late
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
8:45 pm
We’ll pray for you Peter Paul
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
8:46 pm
Not a great outing for Hudson. Maybe he tired in the 3rd
Braveheart
July 23rd, 2009
8:47 pm
KJ’s SLG is still 66% better than his AVG. His OBP is still 33% better than his AVG. Right about the same rate it’s always been. His AVG is down because he’s hit into bad luck for the most part. His BABIP is down 100 points from the last two years.
If his SLG in relation to his AVG had dropped, then you’d have more concerns that it wasn’t just a matter of bad luck, but also a declining ability to drive the ball. For example, Francoeur’s BABIP dipped, which indicates some bad luck, but his SLG in relation to his AVG has also declined every year from 83% to 73% to 51% to 50% to 40%. Frenchy’s decline in his SLG in relation to his AVG indicates that it ain’t just a matter of bad luck, but a declining ability to drive the ball, which is something we all could see with our eyes. The stats just confirm that unfortunate reality.
But with KJ, I’m not seeing a declining ability to drive the ball when I’m watching him. Likewise, the stats aren’t indicating that either. Just seems like alot of bad luck in where balls get hit and how they get fielded.
It reminds me of McCann in 2007. His OPS dropped 120 points largely because his AVG dropped 60 points, and his BABIP 52 points. However, his SLG in relation to his AVG remained pretty constant at around 70% better in both seasons, and his OBP in relation to his AVG in both seasons remained around 17% to 18% better. Thus, you could see by looking at his stats that he didn’t really get worse in 2007, he just got unluckier for the most part.
Alot of people make the mistake of regarding AVG as irrelevant especially in relation to stats like OBP, SLG, OPS, ISOP, and so forth when in reality alot of what causes violent fluctuations in OBP, SLG, OPS, and ISOP and so forth is violent fluctuations in AVG. A 100 to 200 point OPS increase or decrease is often mainly caused by a 50 to 100 point change in AVG.
But then you have alot of folks who swear by AVG who foolishly mock BABIP and the underlying concept of it. They say he’s hitting .215, and not .275 anymore, and that’s it, he sucks now, he’s totally lost it. They fail to see that the violent fluctuations in BABIP are causing the violent fluctuations in AVG, and, as a result, the violent fluctuations in AVG caused by the violent BABIP fluctuations are causing the violent fluctuations in OBP, SLG, OPS, and ISOP.
None of these stats should be looked at in isolation. Many general managers certainly aren’t. They are constantly using these stats to crosscheck other stats, to crosscheck their own personal observations in addition to crosschecking the observations of their scouts.
There are quite a few GMs hoping the Braves are as dumb as some bloggers here in believing KJ has just gotten worse instead of just really unlucky. They’re hoping the Braves see the low AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS and just believe he sucks. They’re hoping they can trade nothing for him so that when they get him, he’ll perhaps hit into better luck, and a 60 point raise in the average causes a 150 to 200 point increase in his OPS.
But the Braves likely aren’t that dumb. Chipper even said of himself this year that the difference between this year and last is that the law of averages is working against him, meaning he’s just simply not as lucky, all the hits that fell in last year just aren’t lucky enough to find the same holes this year. When KJ came up in 2005, Cox repeatedly said he was hitting into bad luck when everyone was freaking out about him. And I’m now too tired to write anymore about this subject, and believe it to be a futile post anyway
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
8:47 pm
Norton has been kept over Canizares as well.
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
8:48 pm
Heyward will be here in September, I really believe that
I don’t.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:48 pm
CrimeDog……….I “get” it from remembering how Bobby has used other guys that he “believes” in. Look at Jeff Francoeur. Dude SUCKED A$$ for over 900 at-bats before Frank Wren finally put his foot down and told Bobby “enough is enough” and traded his A$$. I mean, if it was up to some of you on here, Francoeur would have continued to play right field for the Braves for the next 10 years.
I mean if a .240 batting average with 16 homers and 52 walks in over 900 at-bats isnt a TRUE indication of one’s abilities………then I dont know what is. I guess that those stats are “outdated and flawed” right, Steve from OH?
Also……..Pete Orr, Chris Woodward, Ryan Langerhans, Julio Franco (his last stint with the Braves), and now Greg Norton arent RECENT examples of how Bobby will find “extensive” playing time for “his guys”………….then I dont know what else to say to you about that.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
8:49 pm
Kelly Johnson’s problem is he doesn’t know what type of hitter he is. Part of that is because he was never allowed to settle in 1 spot of the batting order. HE needs to decide if he is going to be a patient OBP hitter, or a power hitter.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
8:50 pm
I guess we will see Roman Gal
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
8:51 pm
Braveheart–good post.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
8:51 pm
I don’t
Me neither.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
8:51 pm
As pitiful as it was to watch Stenchy play baseball, they had to trot him out there so someone would actually trade for him. You think teams are lining up to trade their starting outfielders for bench players? Not even Minaya is that dumb. The rest of the guys you mention are the last guys off the bench. There isn’t really a much better option behind them. I know, I know, Reuben Gotay is the reason the Braves finished in fourth last season.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:52 pm
McLouth of the South…………Greg Norton is 37 years old. He looks it too, with how he is playing. Some players lose it at 34, some at 37, some at 40, some not until they are 43 or 44. However from what I’ve seen of Norton………he’s done. Finished.
Uh, by the way, which team signed Tom Glavine after the Braves released him? How well has John Smoltz pitched with Boston? How has Mike Hampton done with the Astros? I was right about the Braves needing to get rid of them. And so far, I’ve been DEAD ON about my position on Greg Norton.
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
8:54 pm
Man it’s COOL that we have a blogger so connected to the Braves. What else do Frank and Bobby talk about? Besides your posts, of course…
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
8:54 pm
Paul-
You were right about Glavine, Smoltz and Hampton…I suppose you also predicted the sun would rise today and will likely set tonight?
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
8:54 pm
Rob from SC – which teams in mlb is KJ a starter (2nd base) for if they had the chance TODAY..
Same Old Stuff
July 23rd, 2009
8:56 pm
01. Call someone a moron or an idiot. – check
02. Instruct readers to go back to a past blog to see I was right. – check
03. Mention that no one agreed with me, but I stood in the face of adversity. – check
04. Regurgitate what other bloggers have written but claim it as my own individual thought. – check
05. Drag out something I could say in two sentences into at least half a page. – check
06. Throw in a few LOLs. – check
07. Stroke ego. – check
08. State my mission (to help the Braves by granting them use of my baseball knowledge). – check
09. Stroke ego once more to make sure everyone knows I’m intelligent. – check
10. Come up with something new and snazzy to keep it fresh (I’ll use suck a$$ for a while). – check
11. Hit submit comment and sit back with smug sense of satisfaction -check
12. Lather, rinse, repeat – check
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
8:56 pm
Steve from OH…………even though I strongly disagree with your accessment of Kelly Johnson being an “above average player”……….I do agree with you that Bobby will give him playing time when Chipper, Prado, and Kotchman need a rest. And he will give him plenty of pinch hitting at-bats……..along with Greg Norton. Both are “his boys” and we all know that Bobby takes care of “his boys”.
However the only “comfort” I can take in all of this is that at the end of the season, I will be able to point to their numbers (I wont include their numbers previous to today, I’ll only use their numbers from here until the end of the season) and show you HOW WRONG YOU ARE. I’m more than OK with sticking my neck out there and saying that their numbers will continue to SUCK.
Goldenglove002
July 23rd, 2009
8:58 pm
Rob from SC- You’re right. Canizares is not up yet and we still have Norton. Not that I dislike the guy, but he was definitely right to expect to be relesed. Why the heck is Norton still in Atlanta.
Players better than Norton not in the majors:
Canizares
Conrad
B. Jones
Blanco
who else?