K.J. is back, Conrad sent down
If you’re Brooks Conrad, you’d be excused today for thinking something like, “Damn, what do I have to do to keep a spot on this team?”
Conrad
Conrad was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett this morning to make room for second baseman Kelly Johnson, who was activated from the disabled list two days before his rehab stint would have expired at Gwinnett.
Conrad, a 29-year-old rookie, hit .344 (11-for-32) with two triples, two homers and eight RBI in 14 games for the Braves. The hard-nosed dude with the shaved head had a .382 OBP and .688 slugging percentage.
When I asked him this morning if he’d been surprised when told he was being sent down, he smiled and said, “Yeah, a little bit. But, you know, it wasn’t that big a deal. I guess it’s a way they can keep everyone.”
Johnson
He meant that the Braves could keep veteran pinch-hitter Greg Norton, plus solid backup shortstop Diory Hernandez, and not use an option to send Kelly Johnson to the minors, which they would’ve had to do by Saturday to keep him.
Some of us thought the Braves might drop Norton, who’s hit .111 (5-for-45) with no homers and four RBI, including 5-for-37 in the pinch-hitting role he’s here for.
Others thought Hernandez might be sent back to Gwinnett, though shortstop is Martin Prado’s weakest position and Yunel Escobar has missed games for a recurring hip-flexor problem and back tightness this season.
I asked Bobby Cox if the decision to send down Conrad was a difficult one.
”Very,” he said. “I thought about it all night. It was a hard one. He did very well. But this way, we keep everybody. Nothing like having a veteran pinch-hitter like Norton, and a backup guy like Diory.”
Cox asked, hadn’t Norton led the league in pinch-hitting?
Indeed, Norton led the majors with three pinch-hit homers and 18 pinch-hit RBIs in 2008, batting .316 in 57 pinch-hit at-bats with the Braves and Seattle Mariners.
All three pinch-hit homers and 17 RBIs came with the Braves after a May 5 trade from Seattle for minor-league lefty Nelson Payano.
He hit .262 overall with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 187 at-bats during the season, and made 27 starts for the Braves including 15 in left field and six at first base.
He hit .323 with five homers and a .462 on-base percentage in 62 at-bats after the All-Star break.
And coming into this season, Norton led major league pinch-hitters with 13 homers and 64 RBIs since the beginning of the 2001 season.
But man, has he struggled this year. Still, Cox (like most managers) has always preferred to have a proven, veteran pinch-hitter, since that is a role that few young players thrive in. Learning to prepare for pinch-hit at-bats and stay sharp while something going days without entering a game, is not easy.
Norton hasn’t thrived in the role this season, but there’s still a lot of season left, and the Braves believe he can still get it turned around and help them for the stretch drive and possibly the postseason.
When I entered the clubhouse this morning, there were only a few players there. The others were already on the field. And in one corner of the clubhouse, Norton was shaking hands with Conrad. The two are similar, both guys who’ve paid their dues, who’be bounced around, and who never take anything for granted.
Honestly, they’re two of the nicest, most-grounded guys you could ever meet in a major league clubhouse.
Loading ...Conrad took the news far better than, say, I would have if I were in his shoes. I know that. He was as impressive in handling this bounce back to Gwinnett as he’s been in everything else he’s done this season, including his spring-training stint with the big-league club and his big-impact production while he’s been up during the Braves’ best stretch of baseball all season.
”I’ll just go down and do my thing and hopefully get another shot up here,” he said. “It was a great few weeks. I was glad I was able to come up and contribute to the team. We played good baseball. It was a great experience.
”It’s going to be an exciting second half for the Braves. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully I can be part of that later on.”
Cox indicated there was a good chance we’d see him again. When I asked him if Conrad had done all he could do while he was here, the manager said, “Yes, he did. He’s a great kid.”
Cox made it clear that Prado would continue as the starting second baseman for now, and won’t disrupt the lineup while the team is surging. The Braves have won 15 of 21 games and six of seven since the All-Star break before today’s series finale against the Giants.
”It’s been the whole ball of wax this homestand,” Cox said. “Hopefully we get the brooms out today and sweep these guys.”
The Braves will try to beat Barry Zito to finish a four-game sweep and 7-1 homestand.
Prado’s been one of the Braves’ hottest hitters, batting .386 with 10 doubles, two homers, 12 RBI, 19 runs and a 1.011 OPS in 20 games since moving into the regular lineup June 30.
The Braves have averaged 5.6 runs in those 20 games, after averaging 3.4 runs during the previous 24 games (9-15 record). Teammmates and Cox point to Prado’s production in the 2-hole, and Escobar’s work, as keys to the turnaround.
♣ K.J. feels rejuvenated: Meanwhile, Johnson is back after hitting .308 with two doubles, two triples, two homers and 16 RBI in 13 games at Gwinnett, where he posted a .339 OBP and robust .596 slugging percentage (.935 OPS).
It was a welcome respite for the second baseman, who lost his starting job to Martin Prado after hitting .214 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 68 games for the Braves and was DL’d (strained wrist) and sent to Gwinnett at the end of June.
”Everything worked out,” Johnson said. “I got to take care of my wrist first, and once I got back, that felt way better and I just worked on some stuff with my swing. I wasn’t feeling good before. I was nice to take some time and kind of relax, and go up to the plate feeling better.”
Johnson said both wrists had been bothering him at times since last season. Not excruciating pain, but nagging soreness, particularly in the right wrist. He got cortisone injections in a few spots in that wrist after being DL’d, then rested for four days before playing for Gwinnett.
He said the wrist problem was alleviated by the rest and rehab.
He also seems to have the right frame of mind coming back, knowing that Prado has earned the right to continue as the regular second baseman unless something changes significantly.
Johnson said he’s not worried about getting at-bats, because he’s seen how Cox has found ways to get playing time for bench players in the past. And with Prado able to back up third base and first base, Johnson knows there could be plenty of playing time at second base when Chipper Jones or Casey Kotchman is out of the lineup and Prado moves to one of those corner-infield positions.
Johnson said he’s also willing and able to play the outfield if Cox needs him to, though he hasn’t worked out there in some time.
”The guys have been so hot, you don’t want to mess with it at all,” Johnson said. Then he joked, “But maybe I’ll slip a laxative into Prado’s coffee once in a while.”
In all seriousness, Johnson said, “I had every opportunity. I’m not making excuses. I wasn’t doing it. I wasn’t right. I had a really bad June. It was a tough month, a tough first half. That’s the way it goes.”
After hitting .333 with three homers and seven RBI in his first seven games this season, Johnson hit just .196 with two homers, 13 RBI and a .267 OBP and .299 slugging percentage in his next 60 games before going on the DL.
That included a .108 average (7-for-65) with one RBI in his last 22 games for Atlanta.
Alright, this game’s about to start. Let’s take it out with the Boss.
“THE WRESTLER” by Bruce Springsteen
Have you ever seen a one trick pony in the field so happy and free?
If you’ve ever seen a one trick pony then you’ve seen me
Have you ever seen a one-legged dog making its way down the street?
If you’ve ever seen a one-legged dog then you’ve seen me
Then you’ve seen me, I come and stand at every door
Then you’ve seen me, I always leave with less than I had before
Then you’ve seen me, bet I can make you smile when the blood, it hits the floor
Tell me, fan, can you ask for anything more?
Tell me can you ask for anything more?
Have you ever seen a scarecrow filled with nothing but dust and wheat?
If you’ve ever seen that scarecrow then you’ve seen me
Have you ever seen a one-armed man punching at nothing but the breeze?
If you’ve ever seen a one-armed man then you’ve seen me
Then you’ve seen me, I come and stand at every door
Then you’ve seen me, I always leave with less than I had before
Then you’ve seen me, bet I can make you smile when the blood, it hits the floor
Tell me, friend, can you ask for anything more?
Tell me can you ask for anything more?
These things that have comforted me, I drive away
This place that is my home I cannot pay
My only faith’s in the broken bones and bruises I display
Have you ever seen a one-legged man trying to dance his way free?
If you’ve ever seen a one-legged man then you’ve seen me
2,241 comments Add your comment
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
1:13 pm
From the last blog…
Infante Comes back soon, What do we do with him…?
I think he will be used as a super sub…starting in Chippers and
Nate-Dawg’s place to give them days off…
He will be used as the main pinch hitter, “Bank On It!” It’s gonna take him 2 weeks to get used to live pitching again, There fore I hope we have some blowout games so that he can get some AT-Bats in meaningless situations…
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
1:16 pm
The Fact That Conrad Got Sent Down Really P..ses Me off…! And It’s not even gametime yet…
Every playoff team needs a player like Brooks Conrad that pulls a hero role out of nowhere to win games…Much like Mike Mordecai did in 1995…
An Unsung hero sort of speak…
KJ will Be traded for a solid middle reliever and a minor leaguer within the next week, “Bank On It!”
Why have they started alternating the camera angles in games…? Anyone know…?
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
1:16 pm
Good blog, great song…GO BRAVES.
NORRIS
July 23rd, 2009
1:17 pm
kawakami mowing them down yet??
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
1:17 pm
I give a Shoutout to our Defense since the All-Star break…
We have made Plays that weren’t made in the first half…
Kamakaze with the walk WTF…?
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
1:18 pm
Thanks for the new blog Dave. Let’s sweep’em fellas!
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:19 pm
T-Hawkin’:
Infante up, Diory down.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
1:19 pm
Instant Replay Please…?
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:19 pm
Kawakami sux
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
1:19 pm
that didnt take long
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
1:20 pm
well, you gotta hold them to one here
and get the damn ball down in the zone kk
The Third Chimpanzee
July 23rd, 2009
1:22 pm
I would like to be the first o thank Paul Lentz for his new bolg.
CVan
July 23rd, 2009
1:23 pm
Was it foul?
dap01
July 23rd, 2009
1:23 pm
Does anyone have a line to online radio for the game?
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
ball boy cost us a run
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
3 out. Seems like the 1st always bothers KK. O well, time to get to San Fransisco’s favorite son, Barry Zito.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
Hopefully the offense can come right back and score here in the first…
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
Dang ball boy.
keylargo
July 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
CameronC
Good post at the end of the last blog. I wish that the one who say they are leaving over something like Conrad being demoted would do so – and stay gone.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
Kenshin seems to be the one weak link when it comes to the starting rotation. I mean, I never feel like its going to be a pitching dominant game when he is in there. When everyone else is in there pitching, I feel like we have a great chance to win, but not when Kenshin is in there.
LT200
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
dap01 try http://www.freebaseballradio.com
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
we’re well on our way!
Daslied
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
“He hit .323 with five homers and a .462 on-base percentage in 62 at-bats after the All-Star break.
And coming into this season, Norton led major league pinch-hitters with 13 homers and 64 RBIs since the beginning of the 2001 season.”
I’m guessing this is why Norton is still here. Regardless of how little he’s produced so far you still need a guy like that.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
Would really like to see McLouth contribute…he has been the one guy that hasn’t really hit in quite a while.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
I guess we’ll need to send that ball boy down to Gwinnett, huh.
Doc
Better enjoy it while you can….
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
Nate McLouth pops everything up
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
…but of course, he doesn’t do crapola.
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
1:26 pm
I predict kawakomi will be erradic and leave in the 3rd inning.
wheelz007
July 23rd, 2009
1:26 pm
How many runs did SF get?
BravesDA
July 23rd, 2009
1:26 pm
…at work. Anyone have the live streaming video/radio link to this game?? Uh-oh bossman comin’
atlbravesfan44
July 23rd, 2009
1:26 pm
Can anyone tell me how Sandoval “doubles on a sharp ground ball to SS Y Escobar”? Are all the outfielders in RF?
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:26 pm
SanFranFan, Only took you 3 games to get a lead, a ONE run lead
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:27 pm
STEP OUT…SLOW Zito down
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
”The guys have been so hot, you don’t want to mess with it at all,” Johnson said. Then he joked, “But maybe I’ll slip a laxative into Prado’s coffee once in a while.”
In all seriousness, Johnson said, “I had every opportunity. I’m not making excuses. I wasn’t doing it. I wasn’t right. I had a really bad June. It was a tough month, a tough first half. That’s the way it goes.”
I hope Jeff Francoeur reads this. Eh…he probably still wouldn’t get it.
atlbravesfan44
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
Thanks for the link LT!
Unknown
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
Ballgame! KK sucks and Prado.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
That was way too easy for Zito…
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
I suspect that if Norton doesn’t get it together in the next 2-3 weeks, he could be waived and possibly send to Gwinnett if not claimed. We have not seen the last of Brooks Conrad. (though if he had ANY kind of a decent glove, he would still be here)
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
wow, that was one ugly inning
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
why they hell would you send CONRAD down?
I hope they are about to tade KJ and that is why he is up…b/c Conrad has been a great addition and the Braves could use that kind of GRITTY SCRAP IRON type player
like I say…maybe KJ is being showcased
by the way ….the Braves look listless already today
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
Original Jon,
I don’t know what gives you that impression or feeling toward Kenshin. He has been just as consistent as of late with his starts as the other pitchers. He is also starting to warm up and get used to the Major Leagues. His recent performances suggest he is going to be a quality starter in this league, regardless of your feelings. I’ll take a pitcher like him on my starting rotation.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
UGH, such a quick inning. Patience!!!!!
cricket
July 23rd, 2009
1:29 pm
DOB,
You should put up a poll asking us who should have gone when KJ was activated – Conrad or Norton.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
1:29 pm
Really??? A 9 pitch inning?
DJ
July 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
video link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/faptv password:mundanetv
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
that double that the Kung Fu Panda hit in the first sure looked FOUL
Unknown
July 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
Original Jon: Wouldn’t you call his games against Halladay, the Red Sox, and the Cubs pitching dominant games for KK?
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
RHR
I think you’re right on Francoeur. If he had gotten it mid 2008, he would have gone down then and been a “good soldier” and would probably still be an Atlanta Brave (maybe).
KK is not fooling anybody much yet.
Bubdylan
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
We need a hot defensive play to wake the Bravos up. C’mon Uribe hit it hard almost right at somebody.
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
KK is definetly the WEAK LINK…the Braves haven’t lost since the last time he pitched!
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
I would consider his games against the Sox, Halladay, and Cubs pretty dominant. He’s a number 5 pitcher and a very good one at that. He has started to perform well lately while getting used to MLB.
Daniel
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
Thanks for the blog Dave.
I wonder how long KJ will be here. Are they just bringing him back to shop him? (besides the obvious reason of using options) I do understand the choice between Norton and Conrad, but like everyone else I was very impressed with Brooks. I hope to see him back up here soon.
Kate
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
atlbravesfan44-
the ball was hit down the third base line and redirected off the ball boy
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
Yeah, I’d rather have a healthy Tim Hudson STARTING than coming out of the pen when Huddy returns.
I know KK isn’t a bullpen guy, but guy’s control is STILL an issue. He was all over the zone in the 1st inning against a free swinging team like the Giants. Not good.
Tim Hudson > Kenshin Kawakami
Rotation after Huddy gets back:
1. Lowe
2. Jair
3. Javy
4. Huddy
5. Hanson
KK to the bullpen. You worry about next year in the off-season (as far as contract length, etc, too many starters all that stuff).
Of course, if the Braves trade Javy Vazquez, none of that matters. Huddy would just take over Javy’s spot.
CameronC
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
Thanks, it just frustrates me to come on here and see everyone complaining, and talking nothing but trash about players just going through a slump, then turn around and love them when they do great. I come on here because I love reading DOBs stories and get his updates. But true fans dont act the way most people here do. And as a TRUE fan it bothers me to see “So-Called” fans complain and B*t*h the way they do. And like I said before, only the people im talking about will bash me for this.
kdbanks
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
No way you can move KK to the bullpen when Huddy comes back. Walks too many guys. Not sure who they could bump from the rotation. Perhaps Huddy goes to the pen?
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
1:32 pm
the Braves haven’t lost since the last time he pitched!
Yeah…they were facing Johan Santana and didn’t score any runs.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:33 pm
Bub
Good to see you back in the saddle!
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
1:34 pm
Dang…Gameday is being sooo sllooowwww
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
1:34 pm
Unknown, because those were only a few games.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:34 pm
“Yeah…they were facing Johan Santana and didn’t score any runs.”
Horrible!!!!
Pierson Brave
July 23rd, 2009
1:35 pm
Radio link: http://player.cumulusstreaming.com/Audioplay.html?WIFN-FM : this link works for me here in Pierson.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:35 pm
Lotta balls close or in the strike zone according to gameday for KK
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
1:35 pm
Roman Girl
Yeah…they were facing Johan Santana and didn’t score any runs.
true…but JJ didn’t seem to have a problem with LINCECUM…why? he threw strikes and didn’t get the Braves behind early
indybravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
1:36 pm
I have zero confidence in KK….he is not good and we should have spent our money on a bat not this guy…send him to the pen…
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
1:36 pm
Thanks DJ!! I was using channelsurfing and p2p4u before..
Daslied
July 23rd, 2009
1:36 pm
Original Jon – Kawakami has allowed 3 runs or less in 13 of his last 14 starts, or something like that. He is good.
DJ
July 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/faptv
video link ^. Password: mundanetv
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
It’s just a run. Jeez does everyone freak out like this every game lol
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
Just added a new POLL to the original blog. Check it out, let us know what you think about whether the Braves need to make a deal before deadline.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
Yeah…they were facing Johan Santana and didn’t score any runs.
They must be terrible!
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
This move is temporary. Wren’s on the phones trying to get something for KJ. So far he’s been pretty good at getting something for players out of options that he’d have to pass through waivers. They’re just trying to hold onto as many players as possible. I suspected Conrad would be the odd man out, but I’d be surprised if KJ is not traded before the deadline….
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
1:38 pm
true…but JJ didn’t seem to have a problem with LINCECUM…why?
No, the Braves offense didn’t have a problem with Lincecum…and JJ is one of our aces. KK is our 5th starter. It’s completely different.
Jeff321
July 23rd, 2009
1:38 pm
There goes that STUD again!
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Yunel Escobar??!!! Are you kidding me?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
You have GOT to be kidding me! This dude is raking!
FaninFaytown
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
So is he going to be player of the week 2 weeks in a row?
Lamar Banks
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Congrats Yunel
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
There’s no stopping this dude. Yunel, have a month, my friend.
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Yunel
CameronC
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
HOLLY SHYT HES HOT!!
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Kawakami has kept us in the game in all but ONE outing since April, and that was the game after he was hit in the neck.
WTG Escobar!
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
There We Go Esco!!!
Maybe he can step up and be our MVP of the second half!
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
let us know what you think about whether the Braves need to make a deal before deadline.
Not really…if they do, I’d hope we don’t move anything of value…
Yunel!
MiamiBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
YESSSIRRRRRR
DJ
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
my goodness
Couch Tater
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Escobar has a bad attitude toward Zito.
Bubdylan
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Wayne in Utah, howdy. I’m supposed to be unpacking boxes, but I can’t miss every game in this hot streak. *looks at score* Uh oh, it isn’t ME, is it? I mean, it’d be cool to find out the world really does revolve around me, but not like that.
Homerun Escobar. This is nuts, his lately play.
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Trade Yunel immediately! He has only hit 4 homers this homestand!
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Yunel is really something folks…
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
I’m not sure why people expect so much from out 5th starter?? Last year we just wished we had a 3rd starter.
Daslied
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
Damn! Yunel has to be in the MVP discussion at this point…
ChurchMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
Ballgame! KK sucks and Prado.
well i’m sure they’ll lose and make you happy, yunel needs to be traded for tying this game up!!!!
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
OMG, is there any hotter player in the league right now???? I dont think its possible.
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
Tim Hudson > Kenshin Kawakami
One year removed from Tommy John Surgery, no promises he will be “greater” than KK immediately. If we forgot, Peter Moylen didn’t come out flashing the bulbs that first month. KK’s in better pitching shape at the moment.
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
Wow. Yunel…I’m not even sure what to say anymore. Kid’s good.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
he might hit 20
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
Wayne in Utah: Exactly.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
MVP=Yunel…if we reach the playoffs…
James is Red
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
Couch Tater – that was hilarious.
Frankie Knuckles
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
Is Yunel for real. Give this guy Rosetta Stone and take him golfing in the off season. He’s going to be a Brave for a while.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
Yunel with the grown man moves already.
nique
July 23rd, 2009
1:42 pm
horrible move sending conrad down and keeping norton in the lineup. who cares if he’s a veteran pinch hitter when the guy can’t hit. seriously our pitchers are hitting better than this guy. and bringing up kelly for conrad who’s been on fire? why not replace sub-mendoza line hitters for each other and keep the guy that’s hot rather than have two guys struggling. bad move.
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
1:42 pm
Homerun Escobar.
Thanks for actually writing what happened, Bubdylan.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
1:42 pm
I used to like the Chewbacca roar until I heard it about 23489787923 times because Turner Field doesn’t use any new material
wheelz007
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Come on guys… Let’s get win #50, and a SWEEP today!
Slugger theweeklyscene.com
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
DJ -
Thanks for the video link, you’re awesome.
Atdhe.net stopped working for me, so this really helps.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
ChurchMan: There’s no reason to even respond to him. A couple games ago he kept saying we lost and that Diaz sucked and then he hit that triple. It was pretty funny.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
1.McLouth
2.Prado
3.Chipper
4.Escobar
5.McCann
6.Anderson
7.Diaz/Church
8.Kotchman
You wanted a RH clean-up bat that’ll be there everyday we got it
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
I think the Mets’ FO has had a bit of a nervous breakdown of late. First, challenging your AA team to a fight (in which you’d probably get your @ss kicked) and now this:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/omar-has-lost-it
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
David Ross strikes out a lot, eh?
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Bird/Indian
Some folks just don’t get it. They think that if the guy isn’t a lights out, top of the rotation starter, he sucks.
Definitely a head scratcher.
Frankie Knuckles
July 23rd, 2009
1:44 pm
“Escobar has a bad attitude toward Zito.”
HaHa – yea he does. Darn troublemaker.
Brooks Conrad | All Days Long
July 23rd, 2009
1:44 pm
[...] K.J. is back, Conrad sent down | Atlanta Braves with David O'Brien By David O'Brien If you're Brooks Conrad, you'd be excused today for thinking something like, Damn, what do I have to do to keep a spot on this team? Conrad. Atlanta Braves with David O'Brien – http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/ [...]
Coldwork
July 23rd, 2009
1:44 pm
The MVP starts and ends with Pujols.
THB
July 23rd, 2009
1:45 pm
A little off topic, but I see Heyward following a similar path as Hanson did, finishing this year in AA, starting next year in AAA and being called up in June. Freeman, on the other hand, I see finishing the year in AA, spending next year in AAA with a September callup and then being our everyday starter come spring training 2011.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:45 pm
Diaz was SAFE
wheelz007
July 23rd, 2009
1:45 pm
Somebody please do play-by-play…..or at least the occasional update.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:46 pm
He sure sounded safe to me……
DJ
July 23rd, 2009
1:46 pm
I got thanked twice..im lovved
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:46 pm
Wayne in Utah: Yeah I know. I don’t see how you can’t be completely satisfied with a number 5 starter as good as him.
Bay Area Steve
July 23rd, 2009
1:47 pm
DJ,
thank you for the link.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:47 pm
The MVP starts and ends with Pujols.
Yeah, I think it’s pretty safe to simply forgo NL MVP voting between now and 2025 and simply award it to Pujols, while re-naming it the “Albert Pujols Memorial Awesomeness” award.
McFann ;Ô;
July 23rd, 2009
1:47 pm
Diaz was so safe…they’da called a Giants guy safe on that play…umps hate us when it comes to SBs…
PS–Didn’t I tell y’all Yunel should bat cleanup?
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
1:48 pm
Dang, it is pouring here right now!
Is it raining at the field?
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:49 pm
wheelz
Esco homers in bottom of 2nd, 1-1 score.
(you can go to cbssports.com/mlb and go to schedule and click on gamecenter)
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:49 pm
No, it looks really sunny at Turner, RG.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 23rd, 2009
1:49 pm
Is Yunel for real…I mean this is getting out of hand…dude is putting this team on his back and playing like a star.
And did anyone read his quotes from his visit to the hospital…I almost had tears…he said his visit is going to make him play harder for the kids…That…my friends is awesome!
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
1:50 pm
I love how we have Cy Young on the left field wall….like he was an important part of our franchise. He only played like 10 games for the Boston Braves.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:50 pm
Steve
Yeah, but is he clean?? (I would love to get a peak at that list that A-Rod showed up on!)
CameronC
July 23rd, 2009
1:51 pm
Frank Wrens on the phone.. wonder.. trade talk maybeeee?
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
1:51 pm
Comparing a reliever’s comeback from surgery of this kind of a proven starter like Tim Hudson is not the same.
Plus Hudson is doing just fine so far. No control lapses, if he keeps this up there is no way he pulls a Moyland first few outings.
I’ll say it again. I don’t care if he’s coming back from more than a year…I’d still take Tim Hudson over KK.
KK has good stuff but he can’t LOCATE. If a lineup is patient with him, he’ll get smacked around.
Tim Hudson is a control pitcher. No reason to think he won’t be one when he gets back up here next month at some point. (mid august for Huddy?)
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
1:51 pm
Good Pick By The Kotchmeister!
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
1:51 pm
Kotchman with a nice dig from Chipper to retire Fred Lewis…2 out..
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
1:51 pm
The APMA
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
I would assume that he bathes regularly, Wayne.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
Frank Wren is ordering a calzone
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
Nova Scotia
Yeah, I was impressed by his humility after the hospital visit.
Casey Kotchman
Are the Kotchman detractors counting how many he digs out for outs for us??? Dude can pick ‘em.
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
Tim Hudson > Kenshin Kawakami resulting in him moving to the pen.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
That dig by Kotchman by Lewis will not get any pub anywhere, but is yet another perfect example of how great he has been. Yunel and Chipper throw him a lot of garbage over there and he makes it look goo.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:53 pm
kinda like the way I used to play first base. Good field, no power.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
1:53 pm
Flows a lot better than MVP
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:53 pm
CameronC: When are GM’s not on the phone?
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
1:53 pm
No, it looks really sunny at Turner, RG.
Well, that’s good. It’s raining cats and dogs now, and thundering!
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
Steve
I deserved that one, huh.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
How far from the Ted are you, RG?
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
Sandoval is so fat
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
I’d Rather Kamakaze give up solo homers than walk the lineup…
Come On!
Bubdylan
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
20+ pitches per inning for KK. Oy.
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
Kawakami walks Sandoval…
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:55 pm
Steve from OH: That was a good one.
Nova Scotia Steve: Yeah that was real good to see. I noticed he’s playing a smile on his face a lot now too.
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
1:55 pm
Molin flies out to McLouth to retire the side…
Bubdylan
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
KK’s pitching: effectively mild?
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
Steve-
About 20 minutes.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
Tomahawkin
Your serious Clark?? (homers vs walks???)
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
KK might go five innings. It’ll be alright as long as he doesn’t give up any more runs though. The BP hasn’t been worked extremely hard.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
Nah, Wayne, I just don’t know about Pujols and I really don’t wanna think that he’s a cheater, and I don’t wanna speculate w/o any reason to do so…
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:57 pm
Time to put it to Mr. Zito.
Couch Tater
July 23rd, 2009
1:57 pm
When Kawakami pitches, Braves fans need to show respect for his homeland and bring the noise like Chunichi fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm37W8MgiHs
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:57 pm
Tomahawkin: If you would rather see solo homers than two walks there is something wrong.
wheelz007
July 23rd, 2009
1:58 pm
effectively mild…..lol.
Good one
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
1:58 pm
I am about 7 miles north of the Ted, there are major clouds moving in that are dark, and it’s getting a bit windy. Still sunny, but it feels like it is going to rain soon.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
1:59 pm
I like Church. He looks pretty good at the plate.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
1:59 pm
Braves haven’t swept a four-game series from the Giants since … 1960. When it was the Milwaukee Braves.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
1:59 pm
Steve
Yeah, I hear what you’re saying. But, there was a lot of talk about him a few years back. I have no problems w/ Pujols. I just doubt everybody anymore. Nothing would surprise me as far as PED’s and players go.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
1:59 pm
I’m pretty sure Chipper comes out to “Crazy Train” sometimes and “Let’s Go” other times
Bubdylan
July 23rd, 2009
1:59 pm
Are the Kotchman detractors counting how many he digs out for outs for us??? – Wayne in Utah
Can’t think of a joke for “Kotch” and “dig.” Hurt my brain trying.
NO MORE BOBBY
July 23rd, 2009
2:00 pm
Me personally would put Yunel in the three spot and Chipper hitting cleanup.
I see KJ is back. RATS!!
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:00 pm
BB to KK
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
2:00 pm
Good to see Escobar stepping up on and off the field. I wonder if we will ever know how close he was to being traded lol.
Church-his at bats are so refreshing aren’t they? compared to what we had anyway
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:00 pm
I wonder what everyone would be saying on here if KK walked Zito.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:01 pm
Walking the pitcher..sounds like something KK might do.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:01 pm
Boy is McLouth in a rut or what?
LOOGY
July 23rd, 2009
2:01 pm
DOB
JULIO FRANCO= “GOD IS IN CONTROL” BY POINT OF GRACE
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:02 pm
Ahhh Nate needs a day or two off. Only if Loaf didn’t have a stiff hip.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
2:02 pm
nate keeps on going 0-fer. He should hopefully start picking it up soon
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:02 pm
Churchie just missed it
Thrillhouse44
July 23rd, 2009
2:02 pm
Conrad got sent down b/c his dipping habit was costing the team too much money
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
2:03 pm
Mclouth looks really perplexed now,he seems really stressed out
Driver8
July 23rd, 2009
2:04 pm
Tomahawkin – The new camera angle was done just recently by Fox Sports South as it gives a better balls to strike result to the TV viewer. Some teams do this and it was brought up in the telecast a few days ago.
Boston has this angle and it seems to be more fan friendly as to what is a strike and what is a ball. That’s what the Joe and Boog said the other night. Hope that answers your question on the earlier post.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:04 pm
DOB
Can you get us a picture of Kotchman with his shirt off?
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
2:04 pm
boy mclouth has been less than average lately.
if he can get back to normal, teams will have their hands full pitching to us.
YE19
July 23rd, 2009
2:05 pm
DOB, It was mentioned by either Mark Bowman or Bradley that one Colorado Rockies player recently asked what season Yunel Escobar hit 30 HR and drove in 100 runs, when referencing the swagger with which Yunel plays. Note to Rockies player and the rest of the league… 2009, my friend – 2009. It’s scary how quickly Yunel is emerging into the soon to be All-Star that everyone knew he had in him.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
2:05 pm
Braves starters moved ahead of San Francisco into the major league ERA lead after last night, Braves starters at 3.64 and Giants starters at 3.69.
Braves’ overall 3.75 ERA is fourth in the majors behind the Dodgers, Mariners and Giants.
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
2:05 pm
kk, get the damn ball down.
he cant keep tossing these belt to letter high cutters and think he’s going to survive
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
2:06 pm
YE19: It was Bowman who wrote that. A Colorado writer told us that a Rockies player said that, didn’t tell us which one said it.
JayDubu
July 23rd, 2009
2:06 pm
I can’t see the game today, being at work, so I need the blog to be my eyes.
KK has a high pitch count after 3 innings…is he struggling, are the umps squeezing him, or are the batters just being patient?
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:07 pm
braveschick: http://multimedia.foxsports.com/m/video/19831815/imow-anderson-s-personality.htm?pageid=15109
She posted that the other night! Loaf talks!! This is pretty interesting.
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
2:07 pm
kk is all over the place, that’s why is pitch count is up
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:07 pm
Church covers more ground than #7
Driver8
July 23rd, 2009
2:07 pm
Hate to say it but it’s going to be a day where the middle inning relief corps are going to have to earn their salary. Way too many pitches for Kawakami, that or he will have to really settle in to get that QS.
atlbravesfan44
July 23rd, 2009
2:07 pm
Is Jim Powell joking when he says he doesn’t know why the Bobby Cox seats are $6? I would imagine he is, but he sure seems lost. Most of the time.
KJ SUX
July 23rd, 2009
2:08 pm
You have got to be kidding,Conrad is a scrappy,energetic player who plays all out.K-JOKE is lazy and does not hustle or care at all. Please tell me they will be trading Kelly.
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
2:09 pm
kj your hate should be on norton
at lest kj can make contact with a fastball
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
2:09 pm
kk is well over 70 pitches already… looks like the bullpen is going to get soem work today.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:09 pm
I love the way Escobaar plays the game.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:09 pm
Escobar
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:10 pm
Wayne In Utah
And The Bird And The Indian…
I was referring to Kamakaze’s season when I stated that I’d rather see solo homers than walks…
And that applies to all pitchers…
Just a generalization…
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
2:10 pm
Now it’s RAINING. Not hard, though. They can play in this.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
2:12 pm
Hey Doc Holiday, did you hear that? Braves starters lead the league in ERA, not the Dodgers.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
2:12 pm
I’m pretty sure Chipper comes out to “Crazy Train” sometimes and “Let’s Go” other times
It’s always Let’s Go now. He hasn’t used the Crazy Train/Ozzy in 2-3 years.
the hopes of the braves nation rest in your hands mr hanson
July 23rd, 2009
2:12 pm
Wayne in Utah,
thanks for the link! im at work and everything i have tried so far has not worked….except for that.
now all i have to do is sit back and watch that, while getting paid and doing no actual work whatsoever! thanks!
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
2:12 pm
Sandoval is so fat
Little boys are fat. Men have girth. Sandoval has girth.
All hail The Panda!
(Get used to it, the dude is now my favorite non-Braves player)
YE19
July 23rd, 2009
2:13 pm
DOB, Thanks for the clarification. Realistically he doesn’t hit 30 HR this year, maybe not ever. But a clutch .300 avg, 25 HR, and Gold Glove defense for hopefully many years to come is outstanding, especially for less than half a million per year.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
2:13 pm
It is maddening trying to listen to this on the mlb at bat app, I have to keep switching between the ATL feel and the SF feed. My little radio’s batteries are dead.
Driver8
July 23rd, 2009
2:13 pm
KJ SUX – If Kelly is going to be dealt for help in whatever area we can get doesn’t it make sense to bring him up now that he is off the DL? Also, he put up more than impressive numbers on his rehab down at Gwinnett. I wouldn’t start him but at least he could get some AB’s and spot start here or there when Chipper has the day off.
Anything we can do to improve the team is just fine by me, If that means bringing up KJ for a spell and trade him thats OK. Brooks will be back up directly when that happens.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:15 pm
Chippers Song Is a edited mix of The “Crazy Train” Intro combined with Trick Daddy’s/Lil Jon’s “Let’s Go!”
Lets just clear that up…
But I miss the Old Crazy train batter intro…
Kellogg is Getting on my nerves!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:16 pm
“Everybody buy a beer”
Great stuff from the beer vendor right after the clap your hands thing…
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:16 pm
RHR
You’re reminding me of the Indians Manager on Major League 2 when we he had to use the transitor radio…!
Kellogg’s Blows!
bravesgrl4life
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
Come on Matty-D. Knock it outta there with 2 on.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
Chipper needs to get his average above .300
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
When I woke up a little bit ago, nstead of allowing myself to slowly wake-up before getting online, I immediately checked to see if a new blog was up.
Instead, I saw that Brooks Conrad had been sent down to make room for Kelly Johnson. What a “great” way to start one’s day off, lol. Worst case scenario. Now we have 2 BUMS on the bench who cant hit worth a lick right now. Either Brooks Conrad did something to really piss Bobby Cox off……or……Bobby just cant get rid of his dependence to rely on “his guys”, even if they SUCK.
I already know what is going to happen next. Jeff Bennett is going to be activated soon and Manny Acosta is going to be sent down. Then Buddy Carlyle will be activated next while either Boone Logan or Kris Medlen is sent down.
We were down to 1 BUM on the roster (1 1/2 if you count the inconsistent Peter Moylan, however at least he has days where he can pitch decent….mixed in with his SUCK A$$ days). Now we have 2 BUMS with the prospect of having 2 more added to the bullpen.
I just cant understand this. Frank Wren does a GREAT JOB cleaning house, starting with the Nate McLouth trade. I cant help but think that he caved in to Bobby’s desire to keep his boy Norton.
If you guys think that I’m being paranoid, then I suggest that you go and look at how Bobby has stuck with “his boys” in the past.
I’m having a really hard time believing that we will be able to sustain the kind of run that we need to play if we are going to challenge for the play-offs………..with these kinds of moves being made. This reminds me of how Bobby benched Matt Diaz while he was in a 13 for 26 stretch, just so he could give Jeff Francoeur some at-bats to “get him going”, lol.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
Is Tim Lincecum the ball boy?
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
Still not raining here and actually looks clearer!
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
Martin and Yunel don’t swing away at every pitch, walks. Chipper doesn’t, Ks
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
RHR- What network are you on? Are you on wi-fi or 3g or edge?
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
Let’s Matty D!
bravesgrl4life
July 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
Okay, I think blog ate my post. I SAID Come on, Matty D. Knock it outta there with 2 on. Would be a beautiful thing.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
BravesFanInPA………..I feel you. I would love for the Braves to get more respect from the National Media. But come on? What kind of respect do you think we can get when we demote a guy who is 14 for 32, batting .344 with 11 hits, 1 double, 2 triples, 2 homers, adn 8RBIs……….while keeping a guy who is 5 for 45, batting .111 with 5 hits, 2 doubles, zero homers, and 4 RBIs? How can you seriously believe that moves like that will garner respect from the National Media?
Is survival of the “unfittest” the mantra here?
Bubdylan
July 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
Pretty smart of Escobar to take ball four after the goofy call on “strike” two. Would have expected a “revenge swing.” Baseball IQ is improving.
Jaglawyer
July 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
wow, just getting in from Court, Conrad sent down???? Are you f**king kidding me?? How is Norton still on this team?????
***shaking head repeatedly***
bravesgrl4life
July 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
Or not, whatever.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
Matty-D is Due To go Yard!
He hasn’t hit a homerun in a Gripp!!!
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
Lew………….there was another reason beside the 3 easy outs that we had in our line-up earlier in the season that contributed to our struggles: Jeff Bennett. Him breaking his hand was a stroke of luck for us. I dont care what his ERA is. He is a BUM. I dont want him anywhere near our pitching staff. Yet, I have a feeling that he will soon be back. And Bobby will not resist using his sorry A$$ in the 6th and 7th innings of games, just like he does Peter Moylan.
Bennett breaking his hand actually helped our bullpen get better. Now his improved health will start the sucking sound that comes when a team starts losing.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
BravoMan: Chipper has the most walks on our team. At least he did but I don’t feel like looking it up. I’m almost positive he does because his OBP is so high.
bravesgrl4life
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
Crud. Kellog is a San Fran plant.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
Kenshin is not getting that call
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
Anders………you cant compare Derek Lowe with Oliver Perez. Derek Lowe never misses a start, he pitches a lot of innings, and he keeps our team in games. Oliver Perez is a 5 inning, high pitch count kind of guy. He is WAY TOO INCONSISTENT. Derek Lowe, over the course of the 4 years that he will be with us, will be MR. CONSISTENCY. He has added consistency and a presence for our other pitchers to depend on.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
HuffBraves……………I’ll answer your the question that you pondered in your 11:26am posting (C’mon guys, is the Conrad demotion really going to make or break this season?).
Sometimes a game comes down to who is available to pinch hit in a key spot. Saturday against the Mets was a CLASSIC example of that. Bases loaded, 2 outs, score 2-1 Mets, bottom of the 8th. Because of Bobby’s mismanagement of the pinch runners earlier in the game……..he only had Great “Mr. .111″ Norton available to pinch hit. I would have MUCH RATHER seen Brooks Conrad up there. He has delivered a couple of times already in his short time with the Braves as a pinch hitter. If he gets a hit there, it’s the ball game because Rafael Soriano comes in to pitch the 9th instead of Manny Acosta.
Brooks Conrad hit a pinch hit 3 run homer in his first at-bat with the Braves to help up win a game. Do you really think that we that game if Greg Norton had come to the plate in that situation?
So to answer your question, a move like that (demoting Conrad instead of cutting Norton) could very easily come back and cost the Braves BIG TIME.
It just isnt one move that is the issue here. It’s a PATTERN Bobby’s guys being given the nod over more productive players. In a few weeks, you are going to see it continue with Jeff Bennett and Buddy Carlyle. I’m only going by the EXTENSIVE track record of what has happened in the past.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
Come on Dave
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
pryguy………..Conrad would have had a few more at-bats if Bobby hadnt given those pinch hitting appearances to Greg Norton.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
Come On D-Ross!
Man, The Braves sure don’t draw fans on these Business-Fans Specials Garbage Promos…
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
real funny….
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
I asked Hanson about his haircut, which makes him look rather straight-laced and younger, compared to the longer, disheveled look he had before.
“About half the people acted mad, and the other half are like, ‘It’s about time,’” he said of the reaction.
When I said it’s probably the girls who acted mad, he laughed and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
When I mentioned this to his pal Medlen, Medlen’s deadpan response was: “What girls?”
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:21 pm
HuffBraves…………Hearing talk like “if we get rid of Norton and he goes somewhere and catches fire, then we will regret it”….. to me, is “coward talk”. I prefer to focus on the positives that keeping Brooks Conrad brings us if we kept him on our bench.
If Norton were to latch on to a team like the Rockies or Phillies, I’d love for him to come up and face us in an important pinch hitting situation. I felt that same way about the Jeff Francoeur trade. After the trade was announced I heard people saying “How could Frank Wren trade him within the division? We will have to face him 18 times a year and he will make us pay for it.
Hell, I want the Braves to face him 18 times a year. I’m looking forward to it. I see no downside to it.
I guess that it comes down to how you see things. Kind of like “is the glass half full…or….half empty”. 2 people can see the same thing, yet come to 2 different conclusions.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:22 pm
David O’Brien………………this should have been a NO BRAINER by Bobby Cox. I would care less about Greg Norton being out of options. The Braves should have cut him and eaten the rest of his prorated 2009 salary (approximately $330,864) and kept Brooks Conrad. I’d rather see the Braves eat his salary……..then keep him and have Norton cost us games because he cant deliver in important pinch hitting situations.
Driver8
July 23rd, 2009
2:22 pm
Paul Lentz – My hope is maybe we can peddle Kelly Johnson off on some team as his DL stint came to an end. I too was a bit taken back on the Conrad/KJ decision but let’s hope this is only for a week and pray less before the trade deadline. Of course that is wishful thinking. As you stated with Bobby Cox and his “Boys” its hard to determine.
I would think this has a lot to do with maybe trying to acquire something for KJ if that in itself is possible.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:22 pm
Paul is clogging up the blogs now.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
July 23rd, 2009
2:22 pm
Just as a help to those of us that can’t get gameday and are stuck at work with no access…
can someone please give a little play by play?
you know… bottom 3rd, batter 1 does this, batter 2 does this. Just a quick inning recap would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
2:22 pm
I’m gonna guess Medlen said that because he probably tells girls “No, really, I play for the Atlanta Braves!” while the girls say to themselves “Aw, how cute, the little 13-year-old thinks he plays for the Braves!”
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
Kotchman, get you 1 hit in a important spot
bravesgrl4life
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
Lets go Kotch!!!! BAses loaded
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
wow Zito never walks anybody
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
Kris Medlen is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
Come On Kotchmeister!!!
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
be great if kotch extends that streak
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
2:24 pm
I’m sure glad I don’t care enough about Brooks Conrad to write six paragraphs about his demotion. I mean that seriously. I guarantee that if Brooks Conrad were replaced on the roster by Jeff Blauser, no one would notice for at least two weeks.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:24 pm
We can’t hit Zito to make him pay for his walks
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:24 pm
bottom 4. bases juiced 2 outs for CK. 1 to 1.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
2:24 pm
Paul is clogging up the blogs now.
No, wait, that’s stupid because his OBP (on-blog percentage) is high. Wait…I’m gonna have to re-think my entire stance on the game.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:25 pm
Could you whiners about Conrad just shut the heck up? Oh, I’m sorry. Frank Wren will probably read the blog and realize the error of his ways, and bring back Conrad and send Norton to Dubuque.
Arm chair or keyboard GM’s are worse than arm chair or keyboard managers.
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
2:25 pm
Barry Zito channeling the inner version of Kenshin Kawakami, throwing tons of pitches and walking the bases loaded.
Looks like both teams will have to use quite a bit from the pens today.
Daslied
July 23rd, 2009
2:25 pm
Bird & Indian – thanks for reposting the link to the GA video. Seems like he’s just a low-key, private guy. I’m cool with it, because I’m constantly ridiculed for lack of any sort of expression. Garrett is my people!
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
2:25 pm
made Kotch look bad there
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:26 pm
That Hurts…I haven’t seen the Kotchmeister look that bad in a Gripp!
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
2:26 pm
Tomhawkin – don’t argue with me when it comes to Chipper LOL
http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Go-edited-album-version/dp/B0011Z10ZM/
I mean, the song samples Crazy Train yes, but the name of the song is Let’s Go.
THWG – I’m on my company’s Wi-Fi … they say we can’t listen to the radio thru our computers but they don’t know it’s the same thing if I listen to the radio thru my iphone lol.
Paul – you posted that on the last blog. Just because nobody responded doesn’t mean they didn’t see it.
Leaving the bases loaded is not gonna cut it, boys.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
No, wait, that’s stupid because his OBP (on-blog percentage) is high.
Yeah, but no RBI (Righteous Blog Input), so that OBP is kinda empty. Can’t blog in the clutch.
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
jeff any online video feeds? channel surf and p24u dont have it
ChurchMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
would be nice to score a few before the SF pen comes in
the hopes of the braves nation rest in your hands mr hanson
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
they left the bases loaded? kotch struck out?
nrtnscks
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
Cox never fails to amaze me with his stubborness. Conrad has been raking and giving us clutch hits, why was he sent back dwn? So KJ can come back and strike out in his place? So Norton can ground weakly to short? Cox has too much faith in players that suck, even when the CURRENT makeup of the team is getting things done fine! WHAT IS UP WITH BOBBY COX’S OBSESSION WITH GREG NORTON AND KELLY JOHNSON????? THEY HAVE SUCKED ALL YEAR!!!!!
Rock On........
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
DOB…..very poor reasoning Cox’s part. Send a hot hitter to AAA to make room for a pinch hitter batting a wrestling weight class of 112. Let’s visit this genious move a few at bats down the road
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
Alright my phone battery warning came up. Y’all please keep me updated better than gameday lol.
NORRIS
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
typical Kotchman. He absolutely cannot hit when we need it!!!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
Braves have only score 1 run now in their last 9 innings…a solo shot by Escobar.
JayDubu
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
McLouth’s having a hard go of it at the plate since the all-star break. He’s 3 for 29 (.103).
Driver8
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
Good point CrimeDog! I guess I would say in Paul’s defense its when things are going good we can nitpick on minor things concerning the roster. I rather like reading those posts than the ones everyone was reading a month ago where it was gloom and doom and BravesNation was about to drink the Jim Jones Juice and end it all.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
scoots, you should know that blogging in the clutch isn’t an ability-driven skill, LOL!
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
We go to the 5th still tied at 1. Kawakami needs to hang in there for 1 maybe 2 more innings.
Jaglawyer
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:25 pm
————————-
Keep that in mind next time Norton whiffs like Biff at 3 straight down the middle fastballs.
I guess Conrad needed to hit .500?
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:29 pm
Supes………….again, there is no doubt that pre-injury, Tim Hudson is a better starting pitcher than Kenshin Kawakami. The question becomes how to get MAXIMUM use out of all the guys we have on our team?
Do the Braves insert Tim Hudson in the starting rotation and move Kawakami to the bullpen, basically making him useless? Or, do the Braves keep him in the rotation and use Tim Hudson to help form a potential lethal 3somes with Soriano and Gonzalez to close out games?
Kawakami will allow some base runners. He isnt the kind of pitcher who will come out and dominate very often. However, what Kawakami is is a “grinder”. It may not look pretty, but he will go 6-7 innings and give up 2 or 3 runs.
Kawakami isnt the problem. What is the problem is wearing out Soriano and Gonzalez.
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 23rd, 2009
2:30 pm
although I would like to of kept conrad I understand once you release a player you cant get him back. Norton could be huge down the stretch with his experience. Not like he will cost us many games.
Marc from FL
July 23rd, 2009
2:31 pm
If Frank Wren would have run into the dugout, took off his shirt, and starting challenging players to a fight like I told him to, this game would have been sealed by now.
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
2:31 pm
0-2 to zito -hit
0-2 to winn- walk
paul
July 23rd, 2009
2:31 pm
bringing kelly back because afraid to use an option was a terrible move… are you saving his options for when he is 34? .308 at AAA is better than he was doing but conrad is a scrapper and he was obviously raking. Seemed to be a solid character guy too. Bad move, really bad move. Bobby gets in his own way sometimes. This rivals in the moves to keep francouer in rf for 2 pitiful years and to keep kelly playing 2b infront of a better hitter/fielder like prado. bobby seems to have a loyal heart but it will probably be what keeps him out of the postseason.
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
2:31 pm
KK has done pretty well not give up more than 1 run so far… but the wheels might be coming off.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:31 pm
This Is exactly what I’m talking about from Kamakaze’s starts this year…
0-2 then he walks him…He does too much nibbling, especially since he pitches in a pitchers ballpark
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
scoots, you should know that blogging in the clutch isn’t an ability-driven skill, LOL!
Can you prove repeatability by its absence, I wonder? Hmmm. A possible white paper for SABR. Must think and ruminate.
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
KK is KILLING HIMSELF
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
Nice though our biggest gripe is about our pinch hitter.
Scuba Steve
July 23rd, 2009
2:33 pm
What’s with all the strikouts all of a sudden!!!!
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
2:33 pm
90 pitches thrown in four innings. Who’s warming up?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:34 pm
It will be great for him to get through 5 innings with only 1 run given up.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
2:34 pm
“KK is KILLING HIMSELF”
[Horrified]
Oh no! We must stop him before it is too late!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 23rd, 2009
2:34 pm
This game is SCARY!!!
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
2:34 pm
Joe Simpson is right…..
KK is Afraid of Contact
that is why, when he gets ahead he throws such crappy pitches
Driver8
July 23rd, 2009
2:34 pm
Paul Lentz – That question was brought up on 680the Fan here in Atlanta the other day with Boog and they all pretty much agreed that if Hudson comes back strong that Kawakami might be relegated to long relief AND split starts with Hudson. What they mentioned is that Kawakami does better with long rest and that too could benefit Hudson as well coming off his rehab starts. Of course that all hinges on what or if Wren does something in the next week.
That’s what was being said on the radio regarding that.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:35 pm
Driver8………..if your reasoning in your 2:22pm posting is correct, then in order for Frank Wren to “showcase” Kelly Johnson for a possible trade……….then Bobby Cox has to give Kelly some at-bats by starting him. And if that is the case, who do you bench in order to “showcase” Kelly? Where do you bat Kelly in order to “showcase” him?
Also, as a Braves fan who hopefully wants to see his team win ballgames…………do you want to risk Kelly Johnson potentially clogging our offense, just to “showcase” him?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:35 pm
One lazy pop fly away from getting out of this….
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.
Marc from FL
July 23rd, 2009
2:36 pm
Come on guys, a win today is a sweep. FYI sweeps are candy, if we get it the we’re lucky, if we don’t then it’s the baseball gods keeping everything in check. If we win then celebrate, but I’m already pleased with a 3-1 series, anything more is candy.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:36 pm
altogether
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
2:36 pm
BOY! The strike zone is not being called the same both ways!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 23rd, 2009
2:37 pm
Big spot in the game
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:37 pm
#7 doesn’t catch that
Nova Scotia Steve
July 23rd, 2009
2:37 pm
YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS……NICE GRAB
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:37 pm
It wasn’t lazy….but I’ll take it!!!
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:37 pm
Phew ‘:}
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
2:37 pm
Man I like Churchy’s! Range! The Goldenboy Would’ve never caught That!
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:37 pm
3 out:)
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:38 pm
KJ pinch hit here?
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
2:38 pm
Church is a pretty solid outfielder, especially when it comes to making plays at the wall. Already had a few nice plays at the wall, including the one in center the other day when he filled in for McLouth. It’s those sliding catches coming in that are a little dicey with him.
Threadkiller
July 23rd, 2009
2:38 pm
Way to go Donger!!
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:38 pm
I am really starting to like Ryan Church. If he continues to cover that much ground in RF, I don’t really care how good he hits. He gets terrific reads on the ball off the bat. AJ like.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:39 pm
Kawakami will be OK in the BULL PEN when Hudson comes back….
Our hitters look CLUELESS against ZITO so far…At least we made him throw some pitches
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:39 pm
Church’s Nuns anyone???
bravesgrl4life
July 23rd, 2009
2:40 pm
Good thing Kotch is good defensively.
Marc from FL
July 23rd, 2009
2:40 pm
Stupid Gameday, no visuals, was it a really a great catch? Put it this way, web gem worthy?
Nova Scotia Steve
July 23rd, 2009
2:40 pm
I was praying Church would catch that…now I think I’m gunna drink a ton of wine in his honor…
Maybe break some bread
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
2:40 pm
Marc from FL
you said:
“sweeps are candy I’m already pleased with a 3-1 series, anything more is candy.”
You CANNOT think like that when you are 5 1/2 games behind
it is okay when you are in the lead but when you have a chance to sweep a team that is front of you for the WC or Division it is NOT ok to be happy with a series win…especially when the Phillies are playing the way they are
If they were happy with 2-1 or 3-1 series wins rather than 10 game streaks etc…the Braves would be tied with them by now
Driver8
July 23rd, 2009
2:40 pm
Paul – Absolutely NOT! I do not want him to clog this offense up as we are on a roll now. I just have to believe that he is the odd man out and if we can get anything out of him I think it looks better if he is on our MLB roster. Either or I don’t think we get much value in the long run.
Prado has proved that 2B is his and KJ will be on the bench. That being said our bench this year has been productive so let’s hope KJ can offer something.
I enjoyed seeing Conrad up here as well don’t get me wrong and hope we see more of him very soon. It’s obvious when Infante comes back we will be too heavy on utility INF’s so i have to think something is cooking with Wren.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:41 pm
Guess not…
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
2:41 pm
I think KK’s shoulder might be bugging him a little bit…
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
2:41 pm
At least we made him throw some pitches
What? Working the count hasn’t led to a blowout yet?!?
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
2:41 pm
THANKS for the UPdates UnCBRAVE. very INFORMATIVE
Nova Scotia Steve
July 23rd, 2009
2:42 pm
Why not use Kelly in that spot?
bravesgrl4life
July 23rd, 2009
2:42 pm
BravoMan, I’d wear a habit for him
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
2:42 pm
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
2:41 pm
I think KK’s shoulder might be bugging him a little bit…
Then put him on the DL
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:42 pm
Looks like it will be O’Flaherty in the 6th.
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
2:43 pm
Zito is owning the Braves.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:43 pm
Very unproductive 5th inning there for the Braves…slow Zito down. Step out….do something.
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
2:43 pm
they are making ZITO (5-10 with 4.84 era) look like CY YOUNG
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:44 pm
bravesgrl4life, I would too if he keeps it up with the glove lol
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:44 pm
CrimeDog………..it isnt so much that I think that Brooks Conrad is the “answer”. It the fact that not only do the Braves get rid of a potentially decent bench player…….it’s the fact that the Braves keep an out making machine like Greg Norton on the team.
Also, even more troubling, this move continues a trend of Bobby sticking with his guys OVER more productive players. It’s a move like this, in conjunction with a few other moves that are sure to be made in the not too distance future (Jeff Bennett being brought back up for example)……..that will end up hurting the Braves.
A series of “little moves” can have big time repercussions. The Braves replaced Jordan Schafer, Jeff Francoeur, and Kelly Johnson with Nate McLouth, Martin Prado, and the Matt Diaz/Ryan Church combo in right. On paper, those moves dont look like moves that the National Media will devote significant time to analyzing. However, the effect that these moves have had on the Braves offense has been significant.
Now, I have a bad feeling that the Braves are going to regress with the next few roster moves that will be made.
Jeffro
July 23rd, 2009
2:44 pm
Online here ….password is mundanetv. Hope it works. I usually watch on channelsurfing.net but those sites took MLB off cause MLB changed the passcodes. I’m sure those guys will figure it out. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/faptv
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
2:45 pm
97 pitches (58 strikes) in five innings for Kawakami. Ouch.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
2:45 pm
Where is our dynamic offense at? Cannot believe we havent scored more than 1 run against Barry Zito.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
2:46 pm
Paul-
You’re talking about starters. I agree, keeping Norton is mind-boggling. But really, does it matter? If keeping Greg Norton over Brooks Conrad ruins the Braves’ season, they weren’t very good to begin with.
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
2:46 pm
Kris is up in the bpen
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
2:47 pm
Well, DOB’s post sums up why I think KK should go to the pen when Huddy returns.
No question he’s got the stuff. Guy can’t THROW strikes on a consistant basis and therefore is only able to go 5-6 innings at the most.
I think once Huddy builds up stamina by september he should be able to go 7-8 innings per start.
Paul Lentz,
It’s 5 inning STARTS by KK that wears out the pen (if you must know)
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
2:47 pm
we haven’t had a lot of quick outs today
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
2:48 pm
seriously playing with fire in this game
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:49 pm
Driver8………..I really believe in this Braves team. We will be a tough team to beat for the rest of the season. However, having a strong bench will be important.
For instance, right now, the game is in the hands of the bullpen. It’s important that Bobby pulls the right strings these last 4 innings. The same thought process has to be applied to who Bobby uses as pinch hitters. I mean, do any of you want to see Greg “Mr. .111″ Norton coming to the plate late in the game where the Braves need a key hit?
fleming
July 23rd, 2009
2:49 pm
ncscoots – What? Working the count hasn’t led to a blowout yet?
Scoots, you’re gonna get a war started with the bloggers who believe you don’t swing until at least 4 pitches.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:50 pm
Folks, lets find out first IF Hudson will be able to contribute this year, and IF he is able to, then let’s worry about him building up arm strength. Remember, the dude just a year ago had his elbow rebuilt.
Some are already putting him in old form in August/September. Give it some time folks.
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
2:50 pm
I told everyone Zito was due. He’s had a great era 2.80 against the braves, so this is exactly what I expected
ChurchMan
July 23rd, 2009
2:50 pm
In the matchup of JJ against Lincecum, 5 runs were scored against these two pitchers.
In the matchup of Kawakami against Zito, a total of 2 runs have thus far been scored …… hmmmm
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
2:50 pm
Wayne,
Im sweating it………. but still pulling for the braves………..LOL
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
2:50 pm
i thought control was one of kawakami’s strong points
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:51 pm
Giants have been on the bases all day…3 walks and 5 hits. Hopefully we can figure out how to keep ‘em from scorin’
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
2:51 pm
It’s those sliding catches coming in that are a little dicey with him.
As long as he doesn’t do this -
http://thesportshernia.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b84f69e2011572264466970b-550wi
he’s golden. He’s golden anyway in my book.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
July 23rd, 2009
2:51 pm
SanFranFan,
What happened to “the freak” last night and his “dominance” of the braves? 4 runs in 5 innings? ouch….
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:52 pm
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy…………I guess that you didnt watch Saturday’s game against the Mets? Go back and check how Norton’s continued SUCKING at the plate cost us a chance to win that game.
I dont get on a player just because he fails to deliver in the clutch. I RIP a player for it if it is a continued pattern of SUCKING at the plate. Norton SUCKS as a hitter. Bottom line.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:52 pm
SanFranFan: You also expected the Giants to sweep the Braves.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
2:52 pm
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an inning like that fourth by Zito — 29 pitches, no hits, no runs, and faced six batters that went: walk, strikeout looking, walk, strikeout looking, walk, strikeout swinging.
Bizarre.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:52 pm
Doc
I was wondering how you were holding out! Hey, all we need is one more run.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:52 pm
3 or 4 runs would be nice.
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
2:53 pm
you can’t keep us down from scoring too long. We will rise to the occassion.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:53 pm
RHR: That is a hilarious picture. What happened there?
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
2:53 pm
medlen is showcasing today
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
2:53 pm
fleming, I will then point them to the research that shows nearly half of ALL appearances are over by pitch 3 or 4, LOL. Not that it will matter, of course, but my evil angel might be winning out today.
brian
July 23rd, 2009
2:53 pm
i hope Conrad going down is just temporary. He was superb for the Braves and fun to watch. Conrad seemed like a great guy to have in the locker room – a guy who will lay it out on the field every night and not afraid to get dirty. He looks like a great clubhouse guy
DOB – we all have seen Conrad on the field, what was he like in the locker room?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:54 pm
Good K there from Kris…
Get me to the Church on time
July 23rd, 2009
2:54 pm
SanFran Fan, Where have you been for the last 3 days Coward ?!!!!
Blog Patrol
July 23rd, 2009
2:54 pm
I love to RIP bloggers who continue to SUCK at blogging.
FaninFaytown
July 23rd, 2009
2:54 pm
… that ball was right at chipper?
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
2:54 pm
The Freak wasn’t as well rested since he started the All-Star game. I think the all the Braves were able to hang out at their ranch or something.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:54 pm
thank you downs…
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
2:55 pm
medlen,kotch,and maybe mid level for V Mart
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
2:55 pm
P Tang
The balls in the MLB are different than KK used in Japan. They are a bit bigger and they are more slippery. The roughness of the balls in Japan made it easier for him to grip and locate pitches. I think he is still on the learning curve.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:55 pm
OK….time to get some runs here men!!!
brian
July 23rd, 2009
2:55 pm
I am impressed by how Kelly has taken his demotion – first to the minors and then as a backup. Big difference between Kelly and Francoeur. Maybe the Braves will hold on to Kelly and put him in Anderson’s spot next year with a platoon with Diaz (if Schafer does not take over CF with McLouth going to LF)
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
2:56 pm
My 2 cents:
1. No talking about playoff rosters until the Braves make the playoffs.
2. Conrad/Norton is the 25th man on the roster, let’s treat it as such!
3. No need to talk about WHERE Hudson should pitch until he is ready to pitch. Remember we have Hanson and JJJ that we need to not let pitch too many innings.
4. I think KK is trying to be too precise with his pitches.
Get me to the Church on time
July 23rd, 2009
2:56 pm
I bet you we get to Zito next inning !!!!!!!!!!!!
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:56 pm
Not sure I would have let him hit….but I am glad he did.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
2:56 pm
Driver8………..the problem with going with a 6 man rotation is that there is one less reliever on the roster (unless you demote a position reserve player when Tim Hudson is activated). I just dont see the Braves going with a 6 man rotation.
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
2:56 pm
Downs? He left his brain in San Francisco (instead of his heart)
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
2:57 pm
Wayne,
Hudson has exceeded his rehab schedule and has shown no signs of setbacks of any kind. He’s never been injured (like that before). I saw the footage shown on the pregame show before the Braves games in Colorado and his “simulated live pitching” against 3 of the Braves hitters, dudes were swinging and missing, he had his control as well.
There is no reason for Tim Hudson definitely by September, for him not to be a valuable member to the starting rotation while giving us at LEAST 6-7 innings per start.
I guess I have faith that Huddy will return strong. Feel free to disagree and MOVE on.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:57 pm
What year did the Braves start playing at Turner Field?
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
2:57 pm
Bird – he said he lost it in the lights and thought it was going to hit him.
Here’s an animated version – http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/144164/failcoeur_duck.gif
Poor guy. I bet he was embarrassed to death.
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
2:57 pm
crickets? lol
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:57 pm
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:57 pm
What year did the Braves start playing at Turner Field?
1997
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
2:58 pm
UNCBrave-
1997
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:58 pm
medlen,kotch,and maybe mid level for V Mart
I’m all for Victor Martinez
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
2:58 pm
Anyone else find it funny they do the Coors Light Freeze Frame while they’re playing “Fire Burning” over the PA?
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
2:58 pm
SanFranFan: Considering that was 8 days ago and he threw two innings, rest had nothing to do with it.
Corey
July 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
Conrad sent down after hitting .344. Norton still on the team after hitting .111. That makes total sense!
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
brian
DOB mentioned in the blog story that both Norton and Conrad were BOTH great clubhouse guys.
Go back and check out the story…..excellent read.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
Chipper better take some pitches this time..
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
Alright Chipper….do something here buddy.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
Ok, Chipper. Make some noise here. Let’s go.
fleming
July 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
ncscoots – fleming, I will then point them to the research that shows nearly half of ALL appearances are over by pitch 3 or 4,
Don’t forget the research that shows BA 0 strikes > 1 strike > 2 strikes
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
That is NOT what I had in mind.
MiamiBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
good call UNC lol
Jeff321
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
Not a very professional at bat there, Chipper!
Rodney Derrick
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
The Giants announcers are impressed with Medlen (I like him too). Remember, for however much some denizens dislike them, they were a good hitter and a good pitcher respectively.
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
Gotta score here…lets go Chip………….is what I was going to type until one pitch later
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
Come on Chipper-he walks Prado and then you swing at the first pitch? your better than that
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
Considering that was 8 days ago and he threw two innings, rest had nothing to do with it.
Not only that but he pitched 7 innings of 1 run ball on the 17th…3 days after the ASG- didn’t seem tired there either
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
RHR: Yikes.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
Chipper in his Jeff Francouer tribute has swung at every 1st pitch
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
This is DEFINITELY a getaway day for Chipper. Geez. Dude just walked Prado on FOUR straight pitches.
JayDubu
July 23rd, 2009
3:01 pm
Was O’Flat not trowing well, that he was removed?
I know that sometimes you ned to play matchup, but you’ve got to let your bullpen pitchers go at least 1 inning, when the games only in the 6th.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:02 pm
CrimeDog………….Again, keeping Norton over Conrad in itself wont “ruin” the season. However, what will “ruin” the season is a continued pattern of managing where Bobby fills his bench and bullpen with “his guys” over more productive players. Remember Jeff Bennett is “due” to come back soon. How “frightening” is that?
Just like a series of little good moves can turn things around……..a series of bad “small” moves can have the reverse effect.
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:02 pm
Chipper must have been in the middle of a game of rummy with Loaf and wanted to get back
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:02 pm
I was hoping Chipper got the day off.
I hope Medlen will stay in for the 7th.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
3:02 pm
Supes
Hey, I am hopefully that Hudson will come back soon and strong. He is a lot like Smoltz in that regard.
BUT, my point is valid. If you don’t expect too much, then if he doesn’t come back as quickly and as well as expected, you aren’t disappointed. Returns from injuries are so hard to predict.
If he comes back strong, then you have a nice problem to work out. Can’t worry about that in July though. This is probably why Vazquez is going nowhere.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
3:02 pm
flange1 – good stuff. I agree with all that.
Whenever I read someone talking about playoffs I immediately do the Jim Mora.
“What’s that? PLAYOFFS? Don’t talk to me about playoffs. Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win (today’s) a game”
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:03 pm
Wow….Blue is everywhere today
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:03 pm
Are you kidding?!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:03 pm
Oy.
Jeff321
July 23rd, 2009
3:03 pm
Anyone have a link to Frenchy losing it in the lights? I can’t seem to find it. Thanks.
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:03 pm
Dang not going well today stealing bases
Gemini
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
This home plate ump is a joke.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
Bobby’s about to get tossed.
Still out there gesturing in ump’s face.
lexbrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
boy the umps are struggling today
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
RHR,
What a great quote from Mora!!!
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
Jeff Kellog’s strikezone today = Eric Greg from the infamous playoff game against the Marlins in 97
FaninFaytown
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
I don’t care if he has called taht high curveball all day. When the catcher catches it above the belt, that thing was NEVER a strike and its stupid of an umpire to call a strike, consistantly or otherwise, that isnt a strike.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
Unbelievable throw by Molina — especially considering he had to throw over Escobar.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
Blue has killed the Braves today. I think Bobby was about to get tossed before the comm. break.
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
You’re kidding me. Kenshin got NO close calls. Zito’s gotten ‘em all.
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
3:05 pm
The strikezone discrepancy is getting RIDICULOUS
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:05 pm
Bobby sticking up for Escobar…Gotta like that. Ball was at Escobar’s letters…
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:05 pm
Supes………..Kawakami has had a number of starts where he has pitched 6 or 7 innings. He isnt going to mow them down every time out. He grinded out 5 innings and only gave up 1 run.
It isnt like our bullpen is being over extended right now. We arent winning right now because we arent getting hits against Barry Zito.
brian
July 23rd, 2009
3:05 pm
that pitch was a ball but haven’t the Braves learned today that if there is 2 strikes and the ball is close, they need to swing. This ump has been terrible – at least 3 strikeouts now on pitches that were clearly balls
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:05 pm
That was a case of the umps sticking it to Escobar and siding with the veteran pitcher
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
3:05 pm
RHR
Mora and Iverson…..great clips.
“Practice, we talkin’ ’bout practice!”
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:06 pm
Bobby stayed out there, kept arguing, crowd got going, and he was signaling that the pitch was high and on and on. Argued all the way through the commercial break.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
3:06 pm
That was no strike. These umps are REALLY annoying.
KT
July 23rd, 2009
3:06 pm
Conrad should not have been sent down. Dang! Johnson had his chance.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
3:06 pm
Bobby pulling a Billy Martin. Gonna light a fire here…hopefully
geauxbraves2000
July 23rd, 2009
3:06 pm
Is there some type of history w/Kellogg and the Braves?
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:06 pm
DOB–I think he did get run…
Random
July 23rd, 2009
3:06 pm
Strike ‘im out, throw ‘im out, toss ‘im out?
FaninFaytown
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
if anyone is listening to the giants announcers, after it showed the replay from the side, that ball never dropped below his belt even after caught.
the hopes of the braves nation rest in your hands mr hanson
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
with Kotchman, does it really matter if he goes on a 15 game hitting streak but rarely comes up with a rbi and rarely scores any runs?
i dont think it matters one bit. over the span of his hitting streak he has zero homeruns, 4 runs and 5 rbi. assuming he played 160 games in a season, at this current pace of “hitting” throughout a full season he would end up with 50 rbi and 40 runs. so i say again, does it really matter if a guy goes on a long hitting streak, yet doesnt score or drive in runs?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
Randy Winn is a Braves killer.
semiballcoach
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
someone needed to hit winn in the wrist monday
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
Damn, Pouring Down Here in Henry County…
Y’all know I got that southside on Deck…
I can’t believe A downpour hasn’t hit the Ted
I’m Getting Tired of Randy Winn
Here comes the Medlen Meltdown!
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
Seriously, ENOUGH of Randy F’n Winn! Dude is a marginal hitter, but he’s Barry Bonds against the Braves. It’s ridiculous.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
Jeff321 – its below the story here http://www.amazinavenue.com/2009/7/23/958855/failcoeur-nationals-3-mets-1
Lamar Banks
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
I hate Randy Wynn
brian
July 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
very unprofessional of the ump to simply say “get the fu#$ out of here”. I hope that this ump gets called out for his terrible game and for his being unprofessional.
I am simply amazed that it took Cox this long to get thrown out of this game. Very one sided with the balls and strikes
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
hahaha
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
Why is Medlen out there???
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
Haven’t told us yet whether Bobby got thrown out
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
UMPS are getting out of control here
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
Out!!
Gemini
July 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
And another blown call.
brian
July 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
another blown call – he was out at 2B
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
Do we have a history with this crew or something? This is horrible.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
3:09 pm
He was just toast at second. Another great call.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
3:09 pm
ARG!!! He was SO OUT!! What’s the matter with this ump??
I never liked Wegner…
brian
July 23rd, 2009
3:09 pm
Kellog did tell bobby to get the f_ _ _ out of here
lexbrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:09 pm
dob – radio says bobby was ejected
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:10 pm
Great job on those two outs for Medlen.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:10 pm
Yunel is all over the place!!
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
3:10 pm
2 out!
Jeff321
July 23rd, 2009
3:10 pm
Thanks, RHR !
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:10 pm
I think he was ejected as soon as he went out, and then stayed to get his money’s worth…
brian
July 23rd, 2009
3:10 pm
can the Braves request to not have this umpiring crew in the near future?
Gemini
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Good job by Medlen.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
All right, Medlen!
Get me to the Church on time
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Ha ! Ha ! To you !! SanFranFan ! Lead off double didn’t score !!!!!!!!!!!!!
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Good job Medlin, and thanks Giants for not bunting-unreal
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
They just now made it official, Cox ejected.
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
come on braves the giants dont want this game take it damnit
MiamiBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
GJ by Medlen
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
I love the decision to leave Medlen in.
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Way to show some grit Medlen
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
what a joke
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
3 out! I take back what I said about Medlen…
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Kris gets out of it…maturing before our eyes?
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Finally Medlen Didn’t unravel with men on base…
Come On Offense…! We can’t waste this game!
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Moylan is warming up in the pen…
abwright
July 23rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Inning should be over now, after that non-call at 2B.
I’m thinking that the umpiring crew is sticking it to Yunel. Strike zone is a little wider for him than anyone else. Close calls at second are consistently going the other way.
And the way the umpires are glaring at Yunel in these situations leads me to believe that it is personal.
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
3:12 pm
Nice 4-out inning there. I guess we had to make an extra out since SF only made 2 fielding outs the past inning.
forget the curveball, Ricky
July 23rd, 2009
3:12 pm
nice job of medlen getting it done, but something needs to be done about kellog…he has a history of trying to dryjam the braves
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:12 pm
Good sign for a guy formerly in doghouse, to have the manager out there arguing for him until he got ejected, and then arguing some more.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
3:12 pm
21 left on base by SF………holy crapballs……
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
3:13 pm
I was all waiting for the Medlen Meltdown!
When does it start? It sure wasn’t in the 7th!!!
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:13 pm
Nice job by Kris Medlen so far.
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
3:13 pm
Missed calls, crazy ump, missed chances, and we’re still tied! …and guess what, we still have Norton ready on the bench! Ballgame!!!!!
Mixxo
July 23rd, 2009
3:13 pm
Nice to see Kris settling down. Good job Meddy!
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
3:13 pm
Nice to hear my boy pitching well today
timthebrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:14 pm
I wish we were facing Lincecum.
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
3:15 pm
Man alive, what a bunch of whining. Umps blew some against the Giants in this series, too; you complain about that and I just missed it? Stuff happens, and, in baseball, it evens out.
lexbrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:15 pm
i don’t care if people are down on holliday, if he gets plugged in behind pujols the cards will be a very dangerous team.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:15 pm
That a kid Ross.
Random
July 23rd, 2009
3:15 pm
the [dumb axe] hopes . . . (July 23rd, 2009 3:07 pm): “with Kotchman, does it really matter if he goes on a 15 game hitting streak but rarely comes up with a rbi and rarely scores any runs?”
Ain’t his fault.
You DO realize he can’t knock himself in, right? (The Braves didn’t get him for his HRs.)
It’s a team game — he’s been doing his part. Quitcher bitchin, why dontcha?
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
3:16 pm
Did Bobby get tossed or no?
Wayne – oh anytime I hear Iverson’s name I hear “we talkin ’bout PRACTICE” in my head. haha
By the way, AI went to the skrip club (thanks pac-man!) with Michael Vick last night. In case anyone was wondering what ol V-Dog was up to these days.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:17 pm
Do any of you guys realize that our back-up catcher has as many homers in 93 at-bats………as Jeff Francoeur does in 341 at-bats?
nrtnscks
July 23rd, 2009
3:18 pm
I don’t care how many singles Kotchman hits, he NEVER comes through with a hit when we need it!
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:18 pm
This ump is calling strikes at the Brave’s ankles
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:19 pm
BLUE is all over the place…UP, DOWN….WTF?
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
3:19 pm
Do any of you guys realize that our back-up catcher has as many homers in 93 at-bats………as Jeff Francoeur does in 341 at-bats?
And will you ever realize that nobody else gives a damn, anymore?
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
3:19 pm
I believe the only recourse the Braves have is to ask the league to review the game film. Otherwise, if you tick off these guys too much, it could come back to haunt you later.
One of the reasons for hoping Escobar learns to settle down a bit. These guys are human, and they DO remember the antics from the players.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
3:19 pm
Yes, Paul. I think you told us that once before…
Casey, your hitting streak! Noooooooooooo!!
Jeffro
July 23rd, 2009
3:19 pm
I hope today’s game doesn’t screw with the offensive chemistry we’ve had goin on.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:20 pm
Paul Lentz: I didn’t know we had a Jeff Francoeur on our team?
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
3:20 pm
More wisdom from Peter Paul…
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:20 pm
whatever happens , this Church at bat is refreshing
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
3:21 pm
Church fightin away
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
3:21 pm
nrtnscks Were you not aware Kotchman is 0-10 against Zito? Dude’s got a career high hitting streak, due for a bad game.
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:21 pm
I suspect by the way Kellogg is calling and the way Medlen looks calm and collective that they puffed a J together before the game
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
3:21 pm
David Ross can stay here and be the backup as long as he wants. Guy is a gamer and can hit.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:21 pm
And will you ever realize that nobody else gives a damn, anymore?
We just have to say it 2,458 more times before he finally realizes it, scoots!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:21 pm
This looks more like the Braves we’re used to….ugh.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
Does Medlen go out for the 8th?
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
What Happened to the offense…
I’d Thought I’d never say It, But I miss Loaf!
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
Yes Paul, you have only told us 50 times in the last 4 days.
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
K but if the Braves hitters had worked Zito like that, he would be out of the game already-(Chipper?)
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
I’ll tell you a mistake: Jeff Francoeur, lol.
Figured I’d beat him to the draw…
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
at least Church saw some pitches… he’s hitting .250 for the month of July
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:23 pm
The home plate umpire is making Barry Zito look like the Barry Zito………… the Cy Young Award winning Barry Zito who was able to parlay his Oakland success into a 7 year, $126 mil contract from the Giants.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:23 pm
106 pitches for Zito…I’d imagine he’s done..Thank god
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:23 pm
Actually to all of you saying Kotchman never comes through, you are wrong. He has a 315. average with RISP and a 430. OBP. With 2 outs and RISP he is hitting 382. with a 523. OBP. Most of you base everything on the last at bat.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
3:24 pm
Jeff Francoeur has hit more homers this year than Duane Kuiper did in his entire major league career!
I thought you all might be curious…..
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
3:24 pm
Damn offense disappeared overnight. I knew once I saw todays lineup that we wouldnt score any runs, and lo and behold, we have 1 run against a guy that came in with an ERA near 5. Stop messing with the lineup Bobby
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
Wouldn’t want to be the ump in Bobby’s face. Breath must be awful and something tells me he’s a spitter…
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
who thinks braves will make another move this season?
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
Why is Gonzo not rocking anymore?
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
Now Wayne that is some information that we have not heard 50 times in the last 4 days!
Thanks!!
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
Well, Steve-OH, at least it won’t be my turn, anymore, LOL.
I hate it when the guy writes a short one; I tend to have read it before I realize who it is, LOL.
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
Whoa is the Snake not doing is wind up dance anymore? I wondered when they would notice his stretch numbers dominate the windup
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
Easy-E Leaving the Game with tendonitis further Necessitates the need for another middle reliever because Easy-E has been abused…
KJ will be traded in a week for a middle reliever and a minor leaguer
“Bank On It!”
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:26 pm
That’s unbelievable. Right off the elbow, it appeared. The surgically repaired elbow.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:26 pm
That was Nasty…Gonzo’s delivery with him falling out of good defensive positioning hurt him on that
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
3:26 pm
Holy chit I think someone thinks they’re a sportswriter
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
Rub some dirt on it, and give him the ball…..
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
Who the hell is easy e? gameday says injury delay but I need a real name please.
BW
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
Buerhle’s perfect through 6 against the Rays.
Gone Viral
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
MLBTradeRumors update on our interest in relievers in 3…2…1…
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
Why not leave Medlen in?
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
Letting runners on every inning. Its only a matter of time, we gotta step up here.
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
“Bank On It!”
Another beauty. What are you, about 3-for-94 on your Bank-On-It calls?
slydog384
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
Am I the only one who questions Bobby’s bullpen usage? Why would he take out Medlan for Gonzalez in a tie game with the pitchers spot due up the next inning, and Medlan having not thrown that many pitches. Moves like this not only increase appearances for guys like Gonzalez who are already tops in the league, but it burns through the bullpen as well. I love the Braves but I keep thinking Bobby needs to take Bullpen Management 101
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
Does anyone else hate that Geico commerical with the terrible music?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:27 pm
Ouch…OK Logan…We’re rootin’ for ya.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:28 pm
Steve from OH……….you got your wish, your boy Kelly Johnson is back, at the expense of Brooks Conrad.
In a month, let’s take a look at Kelly’s numbers (because you know that Bobby will find some way to give Kelly some at bats to “get him going”).
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
3:28 pm
Not trying to sound flippant about Gonzo. The radio guys were saying it was above the elbow. Hope Gonzo will be OK.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
3:28 pm
Ok gameday replaced Gonzo so I’m guessing he’s the one injured. Thanks blog!
wow
July 23rd, 2009
3:28 pm
Hold your breath and hope for the best we need mike thats for sure.
Soph
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
Poor Gonzy. How bad was it?
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
Why would he take out Medlan for Gonzalez in a tie game
Because it’s a tie game, Medlen is a rookie, and not doing that well this year, and Gonzo is, things like that?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
It’s a good thing I don’t “bank on it” every time someone here says to, otherwise I’d have a larger deficit than the US government.
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
RHR,
Looks like Gonzo got hit in the elbow with that “hit”. Looks like Boone Logan coming in.
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
DOB you better get down there and get us a report…ok turn 2 boys..
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
Seriously Paul, let it go. Kelly is here and nothing you write will change that. Not even if you write it 42 million times. Fact.
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
STEVE from OHIO ..yes
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
Jimi Hendrix blasting at the stadium….
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:29 pm
Come On Booney! We Need a DP…
DP’s have helped us a lot over the last 10 games!
ROLL TIDE
July 23rd, 2009
3:30 pm
UGA RULES BAMA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Enigma
July 23rd, 2009
3:30 pm
Boone Logan hasn’t given up a run since June 25. Hopefully, that will continue.
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
3:30 pm
RHR, easy e = EOF
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
3:30 pm
Maybe Gonzo can reinvent himself as a righty…
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:30 pm
Steve from OH……….you got your wish,
Not really. You’re still destroying our collective sanity with your 70,000-times-per-day mentions of Jeff Francoeur.
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:30 pm
Boone looks like CK’s little brother
SoCal Mom
July 23rd, 2009
3:31 pm
Medlen should have stayed in. Pitcher spot up next, a tie game that could go extra innings and they are using up the bullpen. Who can they stretch out if they game goes long????
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:31 pm
Damn, Check Out That M.I.L.F!
Gone Viral
July 23rd, 2009
3:31 pm
“Poor Gonzy. How bad was it?”
I wouldn’t want it to happen to me. That ball was scalded.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
Thanks, flange.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
R U Kidding Me!!!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
Ugh. Ugly.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
bench his ass
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
Rockies acquire Rafael Betancourt from the Indians. No mention of who is going the other way
The Bravery
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
Really
slydog384
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
There was no reason for Gonzo to come in the game, especially not with the pitchers spot due up first next inning.
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
Kotch’s first error? nice timing
kirkinga
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
Maybe Wren will now make a trade for pen help. Hopefully Gonzo is ok, but I think fate might be telling the Braves to make a move already.
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
cabravesfan – I haven’t been pitching well today – oh, wait, you mean Medlen.
Lamar Banks
July 23rd, 2009
3:32 pm
That should be Kotchman’s 1st error
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
RHR
You know Easy-E is O’Flaherty
Braves playing like the first half Pretenders Now…Mental errors occuring!
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
Medlen was pitching so well
Todd
July 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
Should be kotchman’s 1st error…
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
Double switch taking out Prado? BOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Soph
July 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
Damn, what is CK doing?
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
that’s a freaking error on kotchman
Lamar Banks
July 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
This game has a dicey feel to it. Hope I’m wrong
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
3:34 pm
Braves need victor martinez in there lineup
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
3:34 pm
Wayne,
CK just saved my axx .
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:34 pm
Cadahia is an idiot. They are probably going to bunt again and you waste another pitcher here.
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm
VJ-
sorry, dear- maybe if you learn to throw a 90 mph fastball…or if you were from California…
slydog384
July 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm
Is Bobby drunk? Why would he double switch with Johnson, taking out Prado? Why wouldn’t he take out Church, move Diaz to right and put Anderson in left? He’s still going to have to use a pinch hitter next inning. His managing this inning makes NO sense
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm
Cadahia is WORSE than Cox…Should’ve left Medlen in
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm
Johnson sucks
Jeffro
July 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm
We just lost
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm
BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
bravesgrl4life
July 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm
what the hell happened to our defense????
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
3:35 pm
VJ-
nice to see you finally show up by the way. Don’t tell me you actually had to work??
Gone Viral
July 23rd, 2009
3:36 pm
Attention bloggers: put on your flame retardant gear.
kirkinga
July 23rd, 2009
3:36 pm
Kelly’s back!
slydog384
July 23rd, 2009
3:36 pm
er I should say, is Cadahia drunk?
Ramblin Wrecker
July 23rd, 2009
3:36 pm
If I were Frank Wren, I’d be dialing up Minnesota and seeing what they would be willing to part with for Kelly Johnson. The Twins have had terrible production at 2B and while I know KJ had a tough first half, he’s shown big league ability at the plate and he’s healthy now. Could be a good match for a trade. Then the Braves could bring Conrad back up. The deal wouldn’t necessarily have to return someone who is major league ready, just some value at a position they aren’t covered at like 2B is now.
Lamar Banks
July 23rd, 2009
3:36 pm
When did Kelly Johnson get in the game? WTF???
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
3:36 pm
slydog384, maybe cause Bobby isnt running the show .
Jeffro
July 23rd, 2009
3:36 pm
Whats going on with Kotch!!!! and KJ in? God!!!
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
3:36 pm
Ok send KJ back and bring back Conrad.
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
Oh and why does Krotch throw like a girl?
Soph
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
wtf is going on? everything falling apart!
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
Moylan about got him killed with that throw. Or at least about got him broken-armed.
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
game over!
the between the UMPS and the Braves basically spiking themselves…they have looked horrible today
that said
the UMPS are one sided and out of control in this one
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
This inning is going to come back and haunt them. This game feels over already.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
Another bad call.
aswingruber
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
Coincidence that KJ is now in and we are imploding? I think not.
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
here we go again Tht sonofabitch K.J. has got to be the worst jinx ever!!!!!!!!
Jonathan Simeone
July 23rd, 2009
3:37 pm
Wasting a pitcher in an obvious bunting situation. Removing one of your hottest hitters to move the pitcher’s spot two spots in the order; when that pitcher is not going to pitch another inning? Making sure the opposing manager has a couple of left-handed in a row to make his job easier? More great managing!
wow
July 23rd, 2009
3:38 pm
The Giants have tried to give the Braves 2 outs and they refuse to take them resulting in 2 free baserunners and a run and another bunt opportunity sloppy baseball that might cost us an important game.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:38 pm
Cadahia is pathetic…Why put Kelly Johnson in???
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
3:38 pm
Wayne,
How appropriate for KJ to be in the middle of things on the play that saves me……….LOL
Lets hope we can come back though
kirkinga
July 23rd, 2009
3:38 pm
Why are people blaming Chino for taking Medlen out? I’m pretty sure Bobby is close by and still managing to call some shots. Taking Medlen out is classic Bobby Cox.
Mr. Enigma
July 23rd, 2009
3:38 pm
Bobby took Kotchman out because he lolly gagged that throw to first. That’s 100% why he’s gone now.
slydog384
July 23rd, 2009
3:38 pm
What the heck happened this inning? Why did Cadahia make the moves he did?
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
3:39 pm
Major League Baseball needs to do an internal investigation on whether these sorry Umps had a bet on Giants winning this game. They’re pulling a Tim Donaghy on us.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:39 pm
How was that not runner interference?
Get me to the Church on time
July 23rd, 2009
3:39 pm
Bobby is still calling the game from the tunnel people !!!
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
3:39 pm
Bobby’s in his cave and calling all the shots. That double switch was his doing, no doubt.
civilized white trash
July 23rd, 2009
3:39 pm
the bunt can be as deadly as the homer
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
Peter played that bunt like SH**
nrtnscks
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
Braves won’t come back now with KJ in the lineup; we just added an automatic out
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
Just so everyone knows, Prado is at first and the pitcher’s spot is Kotchman’s seventh spot in the order. That spot is due up eighth. Take it easy.
Kurdt Kobain
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
Ok, Kelly Johnson did absolutely nothing wrong on that play. The ball hit the runner. This is all on Kotchman and Moylan.
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
Pretty sad that Zito is gonna have 2 wins out of 6 this season against us. We can knock around Lincecum but not Barry f**king Zito!?!?
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
3 balls in the IF and SF takes the lead…………..insane.
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
KJ is horrible…He should’ve played that like a 1B and stretched out…CHINO CADAHIA is PATHETIC…talk about OVER-MANAGING
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
Steve- Umps will NEVER call interference, even when the rules stipulate that such a play would be interference by rule. Same with obstruction.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:40 pm
There we go Petey. We can come back from this.
wheelz007
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
have the Giants scored yet?
Kurdt Kobain
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
Moylan trying to make up for it though. Nasty pitch.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
walk winn
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
So Kotchman was taken out and Kelly in, Prado to 1st?
wow
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
I hope you all know Booby is still calling the shots in this game hes still giving the orders learn your baseball.
nrtnscks
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
COME ON GET THIS FRIGGING GUY OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bgvt
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
Several people here don’t seem to understand the double switch: the pitcher is now batting 7th (not 2nd).
Taylor S
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
Do you people really think Chino is really the one making all these moves ?
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
yeah thats great. way to fire ur team up u ding bat cox.. the umpires and the braves management decisions in this inning are horendous and simple execution plays. kotchman blows an easy out.. now there losing. but again this is what happens when u mess with the lineup.. Kawakami your job will be taken by tim hudson.. and that should be ur inning.. no one scores .. simple stuff will cost this team this game and after tonight back to 6.5 back.. the phillies will crush the padres…
Mr. Enigma
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
I like how everyone here thinks that hitting against Barry Zito, a guy who, when he’s on, can make his curveball break 9-10 inches. When Zito gets pounded around, it’s because his curveball hangs. It’s breaking today, hence, the good outing. This is what he did all those years in Oakland.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
What an UNREAL course of events. Casey Kotchman makes a terrible throw to first. Then Prado is taken out on a double switch to give Bobby’s boy Kelly Johnson into the game (I knew it, I just knew it). The the INCONSISTENT Peter freaking Moylan comes and and take a page from the Casey Kotchman “school of throwing to first base on a sacrifice attempt” book.
What a potentially nightmare course of events.
Well Steve from OH………your boy Kelly is in the game. You got your wish. The Braves replaced one of baseball’s hottest hitters in the past 40 games with a hitter batting .214, just called up from Triple A.
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
espn gamecast crashed before the run scored
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
Yes, Steve.
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
I’m loving this game. I gave the upms 10 bucks to sway the game today.
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
UGLY
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
its one of those days were every call seems against us…ballgame
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
sometimes you need luck on your side
today the braves didn’t have it.
Mr. Enigma
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
Wow, what a meltdown.
Gone Viral
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
“Ok, Kelly Johnson did absolutely nothing wrong on that play. The ball hit the runner. This is all on Kotchman and Moylan.”
Shhhh. This is a fun way to see who understands baseball here as opposed to who just wants to rant like a maniac.
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
Aww goddammit what the hell are these asses doin
wow
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
hahaha what the heck is up with this team AWFUL JUST AWFUL
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
Why not walk Winn? I said to. And now you really mess up.
coach smith
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
return of the Braves
Kurdt Kobain
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
Bad News Braves out there…
bgvt
July 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
Ugh…nightmare inning.
lexbrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
how to lose a game without a ball reaching the mound
nrtnscks
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RANDY F***ING WINN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
beekay
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
gamecast is down on cbs as well how many in, how many out
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
U-G-L-Y
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
Top 5 ugliest game of season. Just horrible
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
thats ur ball game folks..
Gone Viral
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
Is that Randy Winn or Joe Dimaggio? You be the judge.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
Game Over…!
Braves look like the Pretenders of the 1st half today…Overaggressive At-Bats, Mental and Physical errors on the defense…
At least we took 3 of 4 from San Francisco
Rufus
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
Bad move on the Braves part, they should get rid of Greg Norton, sent Diory Hernandez back to triple A, recall Brooks Conrad, who is better then, both put together, and they bring Johnson back, what morons’.
I have been a baseball fan and seen quite a few games, but it seems like this year the umpire have blow more calls, then any other times, and look for trouble.
Jonathan Simeone
July 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
What a terrible inning this has been. Chipper’s defense has been weak this whole year. They deserve to lose this game.
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
What’s all the fuss about?
The game is still tied 1-1.
*rolls eyes*
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
Hey Paul,
Prado moved to first. Why don’t you shut up until you know what you are talking about?
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
KK needs to be able to pitch further into the game. You can’t ask your bullpen to throw 4 innings of shutout ball.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
Seriously Chipper, if you didn’t feel like playing today just led Bobby know. For cripes sake.
Mixxo
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
Major Meltdown today!
WTF is happening???????
Moylan up to his old tricks again.
So much for the optimism.
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
About the only players who have not done something stupid this inning are the ones who haven’t touched the ball.
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
And get rid of Moylan’s ass at the same time
TennesseePaul
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
Is it just a coincidence that this game tanked as soon as KJ took the field?
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
5-1 ugly game. All on the defense too.
Jeffro
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
I think we all knew KJ would be on the field at some point. Ridiculous. I hope this game does’nt kill the momentum we’ve had. If it does…..
UNCBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
MOYLAN is horrible
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
3:45 pm
I knew it, I told you so. I knew this inning was game over before they even scored a run. Now braves will go quietly in the 8th and 9th.
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:45 pm
6-2 homestand ain’t nothing to sneeze at. Just one of those days today.
wow
July 23rd, 2009
3:45 pm
CAN WE RELEASE MOYLAN PLEASE
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:45 pm
What a meltdown of an inning. Everyone is contributing to the disaster that has become the 8th inning.
This is why I dont want to see Peter Moylan brought into crucial situations. This is the INCONSISTENT Peter Moylan that routinely pops up.
Now we get to see Kelly Johnson stink up the place.
One game isnt going to ruin a season. But DAMN, why screw up a good thing?
Train Wreck Bystander
July 23rd, 2009
3:45 pm
So, have we started burning Kelly Johnson in effigy yet?
Just kidding.
Mixxo
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Moylan’s hungover…..he a big aussie drunk.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Paul would rather spout off like a lunatic than, I don’t know, be correct. But like they say, “don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.”
Jeff321
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Moylan is now officially one of the GIVE IT UP BOYS.
It makes no sense to keep this joker on the team. But, then again, he is one of Bobby’s boys…
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
just pathetic.. …… cant field a bunt blows this game wide open…
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
the team just was not mentally there today. You could tell form Chipper to Kotchman,etc. Total relapse into the team before the break
Ryan's Church
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
…Rally!
Gone Viral
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
“WTF is happening???????”
First, there was a strike called on a 3-2 pitch at a batter’s nipples. A runner was thrown out on the play. It’s been all downhill from there.
CVan
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Is it possible we trade Kotchman as part of a deal for Konerko? I know I am dreaming.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Well…this is not exactly how a 3-1 series win was supposed to go against the Giants.
aswingruber
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Hope this heinous inning isn’t a turn for the worse. Haven’t seen one that bad since the other side of .500
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Damn I hate Moylan, and Wtren if you have any NADS at all Get Johnson the hell out of a Braves Uni NOW!!!
Mr. Enigma
July 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Can anyone here pay attention?
Prado is still in the game. They moved him to first after they took Kotchman out after his pathetic throw.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
Go figure that as soon as Kelly comes into the game that he is involved in a play that lets the first run of the inning in, and then from there, deflates the rest of the team.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
TennesseePaul: Yeah I have to say I found that a bit amusing.
Jonathan Simeone
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
The double switch was still wrong, because now you have weakened your defense and made sure two left-handed hitters will start the next inning.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
Boy, one bad inning and the rats jump off the bandwagon. Or something.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
They were due for one of these games. But geez. To make Zito look like Santana — and then to GIVE the Giants four runs. Just frustrating. But hey, that’s baseball. Keep winning 75 percent of the games and we’ll all be happy.
JayDubu
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
Will some of the bloggers who are watching the game provide some detail to us that are keeping up with the game via the blog?
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
Okay, it WAS tied 1-1.
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
Can we just please DFA Moylan, the guy is a loser.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
What a F’d Up Inning! That just deflated our momentum heading into Milwaukee!
kirkinga
July 23rd, 2009
3:48 pm
Braves have breathed new life into the Giants. They might have saved the Giants’ season with this gift today, because a sweep would have been devastating to a team already a bit on the ropes despite a winning record.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:48 pm
David O’Brien…….would it have been a bad thing if that throw from Moylan had broken Kelly’s arm? We need another self inflicted injury to happen to certain players…..like Jeff Bennett did when he slammed his fist into the wall after giving up that game winning homer to Boston.
Brad Pittman
July 23rd, 2009
3:48 pm
Joe Simpson has ZERO credibility when it comes to questioning calls. He sides with the Braves on every close situation. He is a paid SUCK-UP.
Soph
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Well, that inning sucked big time.
FaninFaytown
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Can someone tell me what kelly johnson did wrong in that inning because it seems like people are ready to crucify him for something, just not sure what?
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Original Jon,
Glad to see your back after the win streak. Figures you’d show your face during/after a game like this. Go root with the fickle Phillies fans if you need a fix. Get out of here.
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Moylan is bloody awful, time to send him a one way ticket back to Australia
Cletus
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Kelly Johnson is cursed. He enters the game and all that we’ve done well since his and Frenchy’s departure is blown to bits.
Frank Wren not trading KJ for a box of balls while he was in Gwinnett will haunt us. Our managers are too stupid to realize how BAD he really is.
JJ
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
So KK pitches and we lose. Go figure. Wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that he cannot get out of the 6th inning and we have to use our pathetic bullpen for more than 2 innings nearly every time he pitches????? HMMM????????????
nrtnscks
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Yeah, one of those days of abysmally poor decisions by our “Hall-of-Fame” manager. Quickly 0-2 to Kelly, here comes strike 3.
Mario Mendoza
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Kelly Johnson is back with the team and bam, Braves lose
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Hey look! Martin Prado is up third this inning! But I thought he was out of the game? I hate Bobby Cox! I hate Peter Moylan! I hate Glenn Hubbard! We don’t we trade Kotchman, Johnson, and Moylan for Pujols?!?!?
Mr. Enigma
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Brad Pittman
Both commentators have been mentioning about the narrow strike zone for both teams. Try again, troll.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Let it hit you Kelly!
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
3:50 pm
Steve from OH How was that not runner interference?
Same way it wasn’t runner’s interference in the Yankees series. Umps hate us…wonder if it was the same crew…
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
3:50 pm
“they took Kotchman out after his pathetic throw.”
A sad ending to a career high hitting streak. With him having no errors, he should have stayed in.
Gone Viral
July 23rd, 2009
3:50 pm
“Can anyone here pay attention?”
Some but not many.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:50 pm
Gonzalez left-forearm contusion. X-rays negative, listed as day-to-day.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
Sometimes I think about 1/3 of you folks just loves to bitch. Also, roughly the same number don’t know sheet about the game either…
Brandon
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
It aint over people…
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
Good job KJ.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
Jay,
A single to start the inning. Two sac bunts the Braves turned into base hits — one that ended up scoring a run when it got away from KJ after hitting runner.
Then two base hits off Moylan and an error — on Church, though it should have been on Chipper — allowed three more runs to score.
bgvt
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
Jonathan –
Given how short the bullpen was getting, some type of double switch was in order. Another possibility was with GA for Church (with Diaz moving to right) but I think he is nursing an injury. Plus, GA is also LH. But — KJ hits LHP better than RHP so your argument isn’t so great.
As I write this, KJ gets a single.
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
Mixxo – uS Aussie drunks resemble that comment !
KJ back and the curse is on… see if we can find an aboriginal to reverse the curse
aswingruber
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
Moylan is a kangaroo f*cker.
moylan needs to go outback
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
Moylan fully deserves the loss for this one. He’s been terrible all year.
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
The Giants deserved this one today. They left over 20 people on base and Zito was lights out. Frankly the Braves were lucky it was close before the meltdown.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
McLouth should have leaned in to that one too.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
KJ.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
Nate??
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
1. Medlen should have never been taken out.
2. I thought Kotchman was still on this team because of his defense………unreal
3. KJ back = back to the old days (1st half)
4. WAYNE IN UTAH, dont worry, we will give it another shot when the time comes,
5. Braves deserve to lose this game, it helps mentally, it will help them understand………..you play stupid ball, you will end up with and L.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
BOOOOOO McLouth…..would have been 1st and 2nd..but no…he couldn’t take one for the team.
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
Nate is killing this team. At least get him out of the leadoff spot.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
pryguy, i have been here every single day posting for the past, oh i dont know, 5 years. Who the hell are you? STFU.
Soph
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
Glad it’s not that serious with Gonzy.
Taylor S
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
Mclouth is terrible.
moylan needs to go outback
July 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
There goes any potential rally on that DP by McLouth, that’s the ballgame.
wow
July 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
Mclouth is killing us 3 for 31 now after the break and two more doubleplays today ouch.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
All four Giants runs in the eighth unearned. Not that that makes the loss any easier to swallow.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
I guess that base hit by Kelly makes the double switch all worth it?
Unreal. That hit will only give Bobby more ammunition to play Kelly even more. That is why I hated to see Francoeur to get a hit before he was traded. It only gave Bobby the same ammunition to keep throwing Francoeur out there in right field.
Same argument with Peter Moylan.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
KJ back = double play…………at least he was not the hitter.
aswingruber
July 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
that would’ve been helpful with a runner on base
Roja
July 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
So we send down a .350 hitter and bring up a .214 and keep .090 something Norton? I guess this is Bobby’s way to insure we finish UNDER .500????
BL
July 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
Hope everyone is well! Haven’t been on the blog since Saturday and we have been winning since that loss so stayed away to keep it rolling. Now that this one is done, glad to be back.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
Prado gets a hit after being pulled by Bobby? Perplexing. Also, the double play was Bobby’s fault, as is global warming and athlete’s foot.
NORRIS
July 23rd, 2009
3:54 pm
WHY IS IT WHEN WE GIVE UP RUNS WE GIVE UP 20 MILLION?????
OUR GUYS JUST SEEM TO FALL APART WHEN SOMETHING DONT GO THEIR WAY.
WE GIVE UP TO EASY!!!
PLUS MOYLAN IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jared
July 23rd, 2009
3:54 pm
Our bullpen outside of Soriano is one major momentum killer. We should have traded Gonzalez already and Moylan has sucked since he blew out his arm.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
3:54 pm
Chipper’s taken a couple of pitches. Nice.
YE19
July 23rd, 2009
3:54 pm
Seems like LEADOFF has turned into the weakest spot in the order on this team. Would be nice if Nate would get it going.
Taylor S
July 23rd, 2009
3:54 pm
Way to hustle Chip …
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
nate sucks
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
Original Jon,
Does blogging on here for 5 years make you reasonable and intelligent? I think it actually might make you the opposite considering the greater numbers of irrational Braves bloggers on here. You being one of them from your recent postings.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
Chipper Pulled His Best Francoeur Impersonation today, Well Done!
THWG
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
This one’s over. I’m going outside to get some work done. Beautiful day out, btw.
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
NORRIS
July 23rd, 2009
3:54 pm
WHY IS IT WHEN WE GIVE UP RUNS WE GIVE UP 20 MILLION?????
OUR GUYS JUST SEEM TO FALL APART WHEN SOMETHING DONT GO THEIR WAY.
WE GIVE UP TO EASY!!!
PLUS MOYLAN IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOUD NOISES!
Roja
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
They might be unearned runs but IF we lose, the loss was definitely EARNED!! Gonzo and Moylan earned it — again!!!!
Mitchell
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
G Damn this S***.
This is a bunch of S*** if you ask me.
Should I say it again?
Jonathan Simeone
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
There’s’ McLouth hitting into a double play. The guy does not hit lefties well. Now with Prado’s hit that play looks even worse. And another at bat trip to the plate from Chipper. He has had a bad day.
nemov
July 23rd, 2009
3:55 pm
I don’t think Nate is a very good leadoff hitter, he’s a better 2 spot guy. We just don’t have a real leadoff hitter on the team.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
3:56 pm
pryguy, hmmm, i think you calling people out on a blog makes you the opposite of reasonable and intelligent. Give me a break man.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
3:56 pm
*sigh*
I promist that I won’t stay mad too long. I promist myself that I will look at the “big picture” and say that taking 3 of 4 from the Giants is a good thing.
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
3:56 pm
KJ must not have any trouble swallowing or he wouldn’t be here…
Gone Viral
July 23rd, 2009
3:56 pm
Okay, so we need to cut Kotchman, Kawakami, KJ, Moylan, Bobby Cox and Cadahia, apparently. I’m very disappointed in the Frank Wren haters for not showing enough imagination to blame him for this as well.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
3:56 pm
I love the people that say Nate is “killing this team.”
Haven’t the Braves won 6 of 8 on this homestand?
That seems OK.
Shamus Thacker
July 23rd, 2009
3:56 pm
“”Prado gets a hit after being pulled by Bobby? Perplexing. Also, the double play was Bobby’s fault, as is global warming and athlete’s foot.”"
Not to mention the size of Schafer’s ears. I’ll have to explain later…
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
3:56 pm
They moved him to first after they took Kotchman out after his pathetic throw.
Did Casey really get pulled from the game for that?
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
3:57 pm
So I guess this little hot streak the Bravos were on was nothing more than another tease. I would understand us losing to Lincecum but Zito? What happened? We better pick it up against the Brewers. If we are indeed buyers at the end of the month, we HAVE to upgrade 1B if we want a chance at the postseason. Definately need to get rid of some dead weight (Kotchman, Norton, Diory, Moylan). There is something criminally wrong with Conrad and Barbaro playing in Gwinnet and guys like the aforementioned remain on this team.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
3:57 pm
I’m Not Hating On Nate-Dawg But He is A totally different hitter in this lineup as opposed to when he first got here…
I think he swings for the fences (especially on this homestand) way too much and therefore pulls off too much…I want to see him going the other way and hitting balls to the gap…
Soph
July 23rd, 2009
3:57 pm
*sigh*
Back to reality.
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:57 pm
My God Please Trade Kotchman, and Gonzalez to the White Sox for Konerko now.
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
3:58 pm
maybe we should move nate down in the order like yunel
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:58 pm
Then trade Kelly, JoJo, and L.Sumoza to baltimore for Sherrill, and Meredith
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:58 pm
You know what? The season is over because Atlanta won 3 of 4 versus the best starting staff (coming into the series) and played one crappy inning the whole series. BTW did I mention the team won 3 of 4 against the Mets and the only loss was to the best left-hander in the game? My goodness, some of you have the mentality of 12 year olds.Get a grip. It is one game.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
3:58 pm
Gone Viral,
Didn’t you know? The Braves were supposed to win every game for the rest of the season and play flawlessly. If they had a good manager they would. We just need Peter Moylan to contract Ebola so Bobby will be forced to keep him out of games (You know, like when Jeff Bennett punched a wall). I’m sure if Frank Wren didn’t physically restrain COx from using Bennett, he would have started games 1, 2, and 3 of this series and been first out of the pen for this one.
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
3:58 pm
Calling you out for your uneducated posts. Maybe cause you have been blogging on here for so long your name just sticks out to me to read. And now I am satisfied to skip over your posts from here on out based on your recent rumblings and grumblings. I am sick even reading the blog after a loss, because the past 6 days of praise all of you have been given to this team, you equal it in ridicule after ONE loss. Gimme a break, we took 3 of 4 off of the WC leaders. Job well done and grind it out tomorrow.
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
3:59 pm
“All four Giants runs in the eighth unearned. Not that that makes the loss any easier to swallow”
Talk about a “painful” loss for Gonzo. Meanwhile for Moylen, no harm done, no loss and lowers ERA.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:59 pm
This blog is oh so sad. That bandwagon got rather crowded but now I’m getting pretty lonely on here. We lose and all of you start overreacting and talking about how horrible we are. Moylan didn’t even get hit hard at all.
Roja: You said Gonzo earned this loss for us? What exactly did he do? He faced one batter and got hit in the arm and then got taken out. Man he had a bad outing!!
sad sad sad sad.
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
3:59 pm
Then move Medlen and Moylan to Toronto for Adam Lind!!!!
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
3:59 pm
N Nine A sad ending to a career high hitting streak.
I agree.
Good news on Gonzo…that it wasn’t broken.
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
4:00 pm
i really dont even like lookin at kelly on this team anymore..trade him
Shamus Thacker
July 23rd, 2009
4:00 pm
First person who calls McLouth “McLouse” is gonna really pizz me off…
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
4:00 pm
Yeah. Sort of weird how this place was a ghosttown while they were beating the best pitcher in baseball. Now, they lose one — in their last five games — and now it’s time to get “rid of the dead weight.”
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:00 pm
And when Chipper don’t want to play, just tell ol Coxie!
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:00 pm
Soph–
Did you say today was your Birthday?
If so, Happy Birthday! Too bad the Braves aren’t helping to make it happier.
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
4:00 pm
Great, now Dentz Lentz is gonna address me in every KJ post he makes, and I think I can be fairly certain that KJ is gonna be his new Frenchy. Do me a favor Paul: don’t. Every one of your posts about KJ makes you sound like and idiot, because it’s pretty apparent you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Mixxo
July 23rd, 2009
4:00 pm
We need to “take it” to the Brew Crew tomorrow night. Keep them in their funk.
bgvt
July 23rd, 2009
4:01 pm
Paul –
No, the single doesn’t justify the double switch. What justifies the double switch is that the game was tied at the time. If you want Moylan in the game, you don’t want him leading off the bottom of the 8th. The only two remaining pitchers were Acosta and Soriano. If you get out of the 8th still tied, pinching hitting for Moylan could leave you with not many pitchers if the game goes 11 or 12 innings. Thus, double switch either for Ross (with McCann), Kotchman (with KJ and Prado moving to 1st) or for Church (with GA).
If KJ had not been activated, would you have been okay using Brooks Conrad in the same double switch?
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
4:01 pm
Nate McLouse
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
4:01 pm
Some players are not bad, but once they get into a game bad things start happening.
Gonzalez………….KJ…………Norton……………..
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:01 pm
Nate McLouse
timthebrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:01 pm
HELP! The sky is falling!!
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
Nice job Acosta
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
I cant get over that Kotchman play. That brought back memories of that Laroche play.
OptimisticInTexas
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
AlabamaBrave,
Perfect description of what happened. But it still sux to know you could have won this game, or it could at least be 3-1 right now… Lets see how they react to this loss…
AZ Braves Fan
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
Buehrle perfect thru 8 at home vs. Tampa. Bottom 8th right now.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
Buerle has a perfect game through 8 innings…
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
Nate McLouse sucks
tralfaz
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
6 & 2 homestand ain’t bad, thats true…but dang it, it should have been 7 & 1, or 8 & 0 if it weren’t for mental lapses
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
3:59 pm
I’m still on the bandwagon with you buddy!
wjones
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
“What a F’d Up Inning! That just deflated our momentum heading into Milwaukee!”
Yeah, I know what you mean. We lost 5-1 last Saturday, and after that disastrous ninth inning we were so deflated we won the next 4 games!
Seriously, if we can do this the rest of the way–you know, win all of the starts that Lowe, Javy, JJ & Tommy start, and just totally meltdown every fifth day when KK starts–well KK might not like it but I think the rest of us would be thrilled.
atlbravesfan44
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
I assume the double switch was employed to be able to keep Moylan in the game since the bullpen was being used heavily. But then Moylan went on to throw 20 pitches in the eighth and the game is no longer close. I guess that’s why Acosta pitched the ninth. Doubt it had that much to do with Casey’s play in the field.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
What a bad loss this will be. I cant help but think that Greg Norton being kept on the roster while Brooks Conrad was sent down had to have some effect on the spirit of the team. Greg Norton? Brooks Conrad contributed in his limited time with the Braves. Greg Norton has SUCKED the whole year.
I cant wait to see Jeff Bennett called back up. Why dont we give Tom Glavine a call and tell him that we were sorry for cutting him and that we want to give him a chance? Or maybe we can call Boston and offer them Tommy Hanson in exchange for getting John Smoltz back? Or even better yet, why not trade Jair Jurrgens to the Astros so we can re-acquire Mike Hampton?
Wait, I have an even better idea. Why dont we trade Yunel Escobar to the Mainers for Ryan Langerhans?
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”.
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:03 pm
And somebody please kick Randy Winn in his ASS on his way out of town!
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
4:03 pm
bgvt-
Your sound logic and baseball knowledge will surely melt Paul’s brain into oblivion.
N Nine
July 23rd, 2009
4:03 pm
Joebrave Then after all that, we trade you to a Metsblog
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
4:03 pm
Hey, it’s not a save situation. Maybe Wilson will let up because of it.
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
4:04 pm
Nate McLouse is cool
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
4:04 pm
Sometimes I think about 1/3 of you folks just loves to bitch. Also, roughly the same number don’t know sheet about the game either…
…and I believe that there may be, just possibly, some overlap in those two slices of the pie chart. Just an eensy teensy tiny little probability.
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:04 pm
N Nine How you get traded to a Nats Blog, TURD LAPPER!!!
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
nice gesture by Esco to give batting gloves to fans
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
Paul are you kidding? You think Greg Norton had an effect on this game? Out of your mind. That’s all I can say.
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
LOL, pryguy, thanks man, but dont do me no favors. What kind of educated posts have you shown over the past few weeks. I stated an opinion about how I didnt like the lineup and felt we werent going to score runs because of it, and then i show my displeasure, on a blog mind you, a blog about the Braves, which is free for anyone to post what they think or feel, about how we didnt score any runs and then i get an idiot like you calling me out for how i feel and think. Thanks man, but please do look over my posts as they are probably TOO educated for you to look at anyways.
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
Steve from Oh,
Did you just say “pretty apparent you don’t know what you are talking about”?
How about COMPLETELY apparent…
Are you some kind of MORON?
And nice hit by KJ!
geauxbraves2000
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
I’ve come to the realization that this team is not going to win every game the rest of this season. I’ll take 6 out of 8 any day of the week though, so even if they don’t come back today, this was a great homestand.
WTGeaux Braves!!
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
Paul you went to far ..pointless
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
123 they go i bet
Joebrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
What a damn wasted opportunity! and the Philthies have the damn Padres tonite!
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
OptimisticInTexas
July 23rd, 2009
4:02 pm
AlabamaBrave,
Perfect description of what happened. But it still sux to know you could have won this game, or it could at least be 3-1 right now… Lets see how they react to this loss…
Well yeah, but 7-3 out of the last 10 ain’t bad at all. They will react fine. Look he is going for the Braves this weekend: Vazquez, Hanson and Lowe. I like their chances to take 2 of 3. As long as they keep winning series, everything will start falling their way standings wise.
Shamus Thacker
July 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
Then move Medlen and Moylan to Toronto for Adam Lind!!!!
I say we move Moylan to Toronto, bury him in permafrost, leave him there for a future generation to discover and hate.
Knowitall
July 23rd, 2009
4:06 pm
You all do realize that the Braves weren’t going to win every game for the rest of the season right?
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
4:06 pm
what is the point of this? McCann pinch hitting down four. Oh yeah, guess Ross might be hurt from that foul ball.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
4:06 pm
This Team looks like they are ready to hit the road…Uninspired play today…The “Business-like” fans at the game reflect that as well
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
4:06 pm
Are you some kind of MORON?
Sadly, yes, just less so than some of our distinguished colleagues here…
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
4:06 pm
Joebrave: I think I’d rather trade you.
Dekaturkingz
July 23rd, 2009
4:07 pm
Kelly Johnson Is Bad Luck.
FaninFaytown
July 23rd, 2009
4:07 pm
let the norton hating begin lol
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
4:07 pm
Our hopes lie with Norton.
atlbravesfan44
July 23rd, 2009
4:07 pm
We’re about to see the “effect” Norton has on this game…
Mitchell
July 23rd, 2009
4:07 pm
I was trying not to get carried away with fantasies of the post-season after the last four games and I still think we going to stay on this little roll but there’s nothing to like about the way they have played in these close late inning games..
It would be bad enough to lose just because it kills the momentum and we could fall back down the standings but this sort of makes you doubt what they’re made of all over again.
I’m not saying this would be a horrible loss, KK’s just not in the same league as JJ or Tommy and you can’t really expect to have a good day when your starter only goes 5.
I don’t know, it’s not a good one. That’s all I can say.
Okay, I’ll say something else: if we’re going to win anything, the Braves need to work on the bullpen. Get somebody in there who can throw strikes and doesn’t suck.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:07 pm
here’s norton lol
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
Gregory!
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
Greg Norton sucks
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
That play by wise was ….well….wow. Preserves the perfect game by robbing a HR.
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
I absolutely find it to be Pathetic when I see fans at our games wearing Yankees Crap. Especially when we aren’t even playing the Yankees…
pryguy
July 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
Original,
Cause there is a day game after a night game. No crap our line up isn’t going to be as strong as we need to rest some bodies. Why don’t you send your resume to Wren to obtain a front office or managing position. Show him your credentials through blogging.
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
I cant help but think that Greg Norton being kept on the roster while Brooks Conrad was sent down had to have some effect on the spirit of the team.
Dear God in Heaven…lost today because the “spirit of the team” was whacked over Brooks Conrad.
Don’t you get tired of the laughter when you undress that skinny little brain in public, man?
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
Dewayne Wise just saved Beurlhe’s perfect game and stole a dinger at the same time!
Mitchell
July 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
Not a strike.
AZ Braves Fan
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
Still perfect, 1 out in 9th — bonus coverage on ESPN
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
Dwayne Wise, the centerfielder for the White Sox, just climbed the wall and ROBBED Gape Kapler of a home run for the first out of the 9th inning. 2 more outs to go for perfection.
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
One to go for Beurhle!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
one out left for perfect game…on espn.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
strikeout for out #2. One out away from a perfect game.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
Hey, my reverse phsy…um…it worked! Sometimes I like to be wrong.
But…I also thought we were going to sweep, so it evened out there, I guess…arg…
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
It would be real hard to choose the “your and idiot” award for today. Just so many candidates.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
Man, Heap brought his extra-base-hitting shoes back from the All-Star break …
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
4:09 pm
Ballgame! What a Snorefest!
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
This is intense!
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
The funny part is, Paul just moves seemlessly onto the next topic without any semblence of transition. He might be “special”
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
El perfecto
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
Perfect Game!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
Perfect game.
Mixxo
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
Oh well…….still a 6-2 homestand. I’ll take that anyday.
The Bird and Indian
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
He did it!!!!!!!!
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
KJ + Norton + Gonzo playing in the same game = Big L.
Let's Go Bravos!
July 23rd, 2009
4:10 pm
Why would they not send Norton down instead of Conrad??? Conrad is hitting over .300 with 8 RBIs and a pair of homers. Norton is hitting about .100 with 3 RBIs 0 homers in about 3 times as many at bats as Conrad. KJ should have replace Norton because he’s as good at hitting lefties as he is righties. (which has not been good for either but better than Norton) Dumb Move…and look what happened, We LOST today!
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
PERFECT GAME by Mark Buehrle. WOW.
fleming
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
The Bird and Indian
With you as well. Been on bandwagon since 60’s
Original Jon
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
pryguy, why dont you get off my nuts? What is your deal with buggin me all the sudden? Who fricking yanked your chain?
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
OK, my scientific analysis:
Chopping cow: Bad luck
Coke bottle: Good luck, enough to overcome bad mojo from cow
JF traded: Very good luck
KJ’s return: ????
Rodney Derrick
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
Former Brave DeWayne Wise just made one of the most incredible catches to preserve Mark Buerhle no hitter for White Sox. One out in ninth
timthebrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
Braves lose….I’m leaving the blog until next game
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
Dangit! At least we won the series…? But dangit, such a cruddy loss!
Reverse psychology! That’s the phrase I was going for!
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
That is the greatest catch to preserve a no-hitter I have ever seen!
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
WOW UNREAL MARK BUERHLE JUST THREW A PERFECT GAME…
Doc
July 23rd, 2009
4:12 pm
Congratulations to Mark Buehrle! Perfect Game!
Nick
July 23rd, 2009
4:12 pm
Norton now batting a robust .109. Congrats to Mark Buehrle.
President Obama
July 23rd, 2009
4:12 pm
How about Beurhle! Go SOX
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
4:12 pm
To Norton and KJ: You have taken half my happiness by being on the roster today!
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
4:12 pm
Wayne,
Bobby Cox is an ·&%$/&%(%&”$·%!%%/
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
4:12 pm
and dewayne wise JUST MADE THE CATCH OF THE YEAR…
Klaus
July 23rd, 2009
4:12 pm
Good lord Norton stays and Conrad walks? Wow. Just wow.
What the heck happened? I leave its 1-1 and now its 5-1?
Why is KJ in the game and Prado at 1B BTW ? Did Kotch get hurt?
Saw KJ bobble a Moylan throw at 1B when it went to 2-1. Not a great way to come back.
Don’t mess with what was working.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:13 pm
ncscoots…………..Uh……werent you one of the posters who felt that Jeff Francoeur’s “lucky underwear” was responsible for us winning 7 games in a row when Francoeur wore them?
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
4:13 pm
BRAVES ACQUIRE VICTOR MARTINEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 23rd, 2009
4:13 pm
He has pitched a no-hitter before too.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:13 pm
Piedmont Blues–
Yeah! Thank goodness…after those first two swings-and-misses I thought we were gonna be lookin’ at another K for a minute there…
6-2 is a great homestand…just hope today’s loss doesn’t kill their momentum.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:13 pm
Don’t be sad, 3 out of 4 ain’t bad. And 6 out of 8 is even less badder.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:14 pm
Perfect game?? Cool! Let’s have one of those, uh…whoever is pitching for the Braves tomorrow!
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:15 pm
It won’t kill the momentum, McFann. We’ll have our regular lineup in there tomorrow night and it will be time to kick butt again.
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
4:15 pm
Scoots,
I am still laughing at the “spirit of the team” post….
Do you think this loss is because of the delayed response to the losses of Branyan Pena or W. Betemet?
And Steve, you are definitely NOT a MORON!
I do question your rooting for that college team though….Michigan right?
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:15 pm
RHR–
Yep!
“Less badder”…I like that!
Mitchell
July 23rd, 2009
4:15 pm
Hey ncscoots, who’s an easier out…
Kelly Johnson and Greg Norton or Martin Prado and Brooks Conrad?
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
4:15 pm
I am stuck in bed with a bad back and watching the 8th inning did not help. All the haters need to relax. Kawakami pitched like a number 5 pitcher which is what he is. We had a bad inning and it cost us the game. Now we have Vazquez, Hanson, and Lowe against Milwaukee. We will be fine. Celebrate a 6-2 homestand.
Salty
July 23rd, 2009
4:15 pm
Don’t be sad, 3 out of 4 ain’t bad. And 6 out of 8 is even less badder.
Ain’t it the same?
Tomahawkin
July 23rd, 2009
4:15 pm
Andrew…
Please, Don’t Post Dumb Trades unless you have a credible source!
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
4:16 pm
Michigan? Seriously? Good Lord, I thought we were friends…
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
4:16 pm
Andrew in P-tang
Nobody likes a smart A$$
Andrew in P-tang
July 23rd, 2009
4:16 pm
but indeed i do tomahawkin
Get me to the Church on time
July 23rd, 2009
4:16 pm
I can’t for the life of me don’t understand why Wren for once, Stand up to Bobby Cox and say no !! I am not going for that !!! Why ! Why ! Why ! Why ! Why ! Why ! Why ! Why ! Why ! Why ! is Kelly and Nortan still on this team ! Why ?!
Couch Tater
July 23rd, 2009
4:16 pm
Knowitall,
Your post was swimming in a pool of piranha.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
4:16 pm
Original Jon
Did you ever think that after having such a great run (hopefully it continues, after today’s loss), that by starting to rant during an inning where the wheels come off, some of us might be a little ticked off at your lack of any faith in the team??
You guys seem to keep quiet until we get a couple of errors, give up a few runs, and then all hell breaks loose. Some of us just get tired of your BS. (not picking on you only, you have a lot of company today)
Just sayin’
moylan needs to go outback
July 23rd, 2009
4:17 pm
It is NOT a coincidence that the Braves have gone back to playing horrible baseball with the return of Johnson and Norton. Every bad player curses the Braves. WHY DO THE BRAVES REFUSE TO GIVE UP ON MEDIOCRE PLAYERS? Yeah Johnson got a hit, and that means he’ll probably be starting tomorrow because that one single will have convinced Cox that Kelly’s out of his funk, which he probably isn’t. And Norton? HAHAHAHAHA!!!! The guy can’t even hit his own body weight! I remember Cox saying something along the lines of, “We need to get Norty in there late to win games for us with his bat.” Bobby has lost it. He has COMPLETELY lost it. HE IS TOO LOYAL TO HIS MEDIOCRE PLAYERS TO EVER WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP!!! That’s why he only won ONCE in FOURTEEN TRIES!!!
Leibrandt facing Puckett in 1991 (and then Dave Winfield the next year) is the most glaring example. BOBBY COX WILL NEVER CHANGE HIS STUBBORN WAYS!!! TIME FOR A NEW MANAGER!!!
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:17 pm
Some of you guys just dont get it. It isnt one loss that gets me so down. What gets me down is a PATTERN of rewarding “Bobby’s guys” with roster spots instead of keeping guys who can contribute and help us win.
I keep saying over and over again. Peter Moylan should not be used in crucial situations. He is TOO INCONSISTENT. It sickens me to see the likes of Kelly Johnson, Peter Moylan, and Greg Norton still on the roster. In a week or two, the Braves will welcome back Jeff Bennett and Buddy Carlyle.
It is that kind of PATTERN that has me sickened by this loss. I see loses like this REPEATING themselves in the future if Bobby continues to get “his guys” back.
If some of you guys cant see that……..then I’m sorry.
wjones
July 23rd, 2009
4:17 pm
“Why would they not send Norton down instead of Conrad??? Conrad is hitting over .300 with 8 RBIs and a pair of homers. Norton is hitting about .100 with 3 RBIs 0 homers in about 3 times as many at bats as Conrad. KJ should have replace Norton because he’s as good at hitting lefties as he is righties. (which has not been good for either but better than Norton) Dumb Move…and look what happened, We LOST today!”
Great points. See, bloggers, we have original thoughts here, not the same old tired stuff that has been posted 17,000 times earlier today. Keep up the good work!
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
4:18 pm
RHR – easy for you to say (Don’t be sad) – I’m going out to beat up little children and kick dogs until I feel better. This is the worst day of my life. This team is the worst team ever.
flange1
July 23rd, 2009
4:18 pm
JEFF
July 23rd, 2009
4:18 pm
and thank you to frank wren and bobby loser cox for killing the momentum this team had. by bringing up kelly johnson and sending down Brooks Conrad someone who has produced for this loser greg norton who has done absolutely nothing. shame on you 2.. thank you both of you.. we win without KJ and now we lose with KJ back in the lineup. thats a sign you betcha.. we were winning without francouer and now with KJ look what happens. we completely fall apart in one inning on 3 balls that never left the infield.. and im sick and tired of watching fat cox just egg the umpires to toss him.. that to mee is why he isnt a true professional. his character and judgement are just wrong..
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:18 pm
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:13 pm
Don’t be sad, 3 out of 4 ain’t bad. And 6 out of 8 is even less badder.
What she said
Get me to the Church on time
July 23rd, 2009
4:18 pm
Andrew ! Stop kidding ! That’s not funny at all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:18 pm
The 8th has got to be the worst defensive inning the Braves have had all year. 3 errors in one inning? And Casey Kotchman must be paying the scorers because that was an error, and that was all on him.
Nate McLouth sure is sucking lately. I’m not sure what the stretch he is in, but it’s gotta be terrible!
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:19 pm
RHR–
This is true.
Mitchell
July 23rd, 2009
4:19 pm
I’m with you Rob.
Let’s just forget about and kick some Brewer ass.
I can’t wait for Tim Hudson, I’ll tell you that. KK needs to throw strikes.
Shoulda coulda won but 6 and 2 is not bad. You don’t like losing the last one but… I don’t know. We’re still on a roll.
Blame it on Mark Bradley.
AlabamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
4:20 pm
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
4:16 pm
Well said Wayne!
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:21 pm
Tough loss today. All you can do is hope the Gonzo thing aint serious and know that you got one of your best pitchers going tomorrow against a struggling Brewers. We’re still in this folks. Chill…
Shamus Thacker
July 23rd, 2009
4:21 pm
Now I’m pizzed.
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:21 pm
McLouth 3 of 30 in his last 8 games…ouch…(5 walks)
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
4:22 pm
ncscoots…………..Uh……werent you one of the posters who felt that Jeff Francoeur’s “lucky underwear” was responsible for us winning 7 games in a row when Francoeur wore them?
Of course not, you cretin. If you weren’t so self-obsessed, you might actually remember what other posters write.
Just so you know, here’s my plan. I’m going to start reading your posts again, when time allows. Each time you post something even more egregiously dumb-azz than usual, I’m going to shred you and your opinion like cole slaw and make you cry like a little girl. It may not be enough to make you leave the forum, but, it might slow down the frequency of your lame, clueless, bum-fuddled posts. Who knows, you might even learn something about the game of which you are so hopelessly and pitiably ignorant.
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:22 pm
I cant help but think that Greg Norton being kept on the roster while Brooks Conrad was sent down had to have some effect on the spirit of the team.
At least Yunel seems to have finally gotten over losing Brayan Pena.
Kurdt Kobain
July 23rd, 2009
4:22 pm
The momentum isn’t gone. The Braves aren’t back to their old ways. All is not lost. And Kelly Johnson is not the devil. I believe he actually got a hit today… Geez.
They weren’t going to go undefeated the rest of the season. 6-2 is an outstanding homestand. Just gotta shake this one off and come out swinging tomorrow.
That catch by Wise in the 9th of the White Sox game was incredible.
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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
monty
July 23rd, 2009
4:56 pm
Team looked very flat today compared to last night. I wonder if BC sending down the wrong guy produced some bad Kharma. I wouldn’t have said that except BC is the one who believes sitting at the other end of the “doughout”(he-he!) will change the teams luck!!
JPS
July 23rd, 2009
4:56 pm
monty
July 23rd, 2009
4:47 pm
BC is looking at KJ right now like a drunk looks at a shot of whiskey!
Great analogy. Bobby is an addict when it comes to KJ the freakin fraud. Wren made Bobby go cold turkey when he traded Frenchy. Maybe he will get rid of The Fraud too.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:56 pm
I keep hearing this argument about what Kelly and Norton did last year. The thing that some of you forget is that something in MLB, a player just “loses it”. 2 classic examples are Dontrelle Wills and Maggilio Ordonez.
Dontrelle was a pitching machine, destined for stardom. Then POOF, he couldnt throw strikes anymore. Ordonez the same way. He goes from hitting home runs for a number of years to being worse then even Jeff Francoeur.
Yet some of you want to keep hoping that the 2008 versions of Greg Norton and Kelly Johnson will return. Wishful thinking.
JayDubu
July 23rd, 2009
4:57 pm
THe Braves are playing .750 ball so far in the 2nd half. They have a lot of ground to make up, and need to string together some winning streaks, but if they can win 3 out every 4, thye’ll be ok.
Just a positive spin on a bad loss.
faninva
July 23rd, 2009
4:57 pm
Hey Paul -
I appreciate your passion for the Braves, I really do. But still – you’ve made the point on Kelly vs Conrad and the fear of Bennett/Carlyle at least 5 times today….we get it.
Cox has lost it
July 23rd, 2009
4:57 pm
Kelly being in in the 8th certaily didn’t help us win. I don’t understand those of you who defend this clown.
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
Here’s what Huddy said on Sirius XM’s Home Plate Channel today. He’s a regular on there:
Tim Hudson: “Right now I’m pretty much in spring training mode. So I’ll go three innings tonight, I’ll have three days off and then I’ll go four innings in Gwinnett. And I think I’m going to work up to six innings and I think my last rehab start is supposed to be scheduled for the (Aug.) 15th. So I’ll be ready to come up to the big club after that, help them out hopefully. The way things are going, I’ll tell you what, man, our pitching’s been really, really good all year. Our starting pitching’s been really great. So it’s going to be a good problem for them to have. Our pitching’s been good. I’m going to be healthy, ready to come back and help us in whatever way they need me.”
groundfog
July 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
Gotta take 2/3 from the Brew crew now
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
Oh and Soph? No Braves fan in the history of Braves fans will get a better braves birthday gift than the one I got.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
jeffrey d–
Oh, I cann totally picture Yunel in a chef’s hat! That is too funny…Chipper in the apron is coming to me…LOL! Good stuff…BMac’s diet is going to be shot for sure!
DOB 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.
Oh, that’s nice.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
Buffalo,
It wasn’t the pitch he was lookign for, cause he was completely off balance. He was fooled. It happens.
And Lord knows Chipper knows more about hitting than I ever will, but even Boog was talking about it after the at-bat — how Chipper will sometimes get into these ruts where he swings at the first pitch every time.
He’s too good a hitter to not make Zito work.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
monty,
“Lose an Andruw gain an Andruw”…lol I’ll never forget that quote from ST awhile back
This Blog is Full of People Who Are Full Of Themselves
July 23rd, 2009
4:59 pm
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.
Yet another example.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
4:59 pm
BravoMan…………I didnt say it was the reason. I said it possibly “set the tone”.
Sometimes a team gets excited when a player returns from the disable list who they know will contribute. Well, the reverse can also happen when someone leaves the team who should stay.
nfieldr
July 23rd, 2009
4:59 pm
And an “ultra slow throw” doesn’t constitute an error… at least according to the rule book.
Doc Holiday
July 23rd, 2009
4:59 pm
I m free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and moaning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
4:59 pm
Wayne- I agree with you, how about that. I thought the same thing. So much being said about Bobby vs Esco, and Bobby comes out of the dugout and argues for Esco on that ridiculous call. It says a lot to Escobar about how Bobby is behind him.
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:01 pm
Besides, today’s game against Zito was VERY winnable. Here’s a guy, who in his last two outings dating back to last year (if Bobby can use Norton’s stats from 2008 to make a decision, I can use them for comparison sakes, right?), has pitched 14 innings allowing 1 ER , and winning 2 games.
Against everybody else? 13-17 with 163 ER allowed in 278.1 IP (5.27 ERA).
I know some guys have teams’ “numbers”, but come on. That’s just bad to not hit this guy.
richbrave
July 23rd, 2009
5:01 pm
N8:
Like your take on KK. Agree. He is not a consistant seven, eight inning starter, at least not to this point. Long relief would be good, or a sixth starter. But the BRAVES really can’t count on him being available for long-relief frequently. And with the way BOBBY burns through the middle-relief corps with those situational match-ups, he’s just not a good fit for the rotation or the bull-pen. Eight million, ouch!!!! That’s pretty expensive iffy middle relief or sixth man in the rotation. But I’d take him over “the CHAW” with the chips down at crunch-time.
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
5:01 pm
N8…
What makes “four games over” a benchmark? Last week it was HUGE to get to .500…
And every team “gives” games away. It’s those who give them away the least who come out on top. Two series after the all-star break, two series wins. Keep that up and we’ll be reminiscing about ‘93.
Hey Frank, where’s our McGriff?
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
5:01 pm
I love how some people are putting a little blame on KJ. You wanna throw Francoeur in there too? Maybe he slipped some laxitive in the Gatorade cooler before the game
Steve from OH
July 23rd, 2009
5:02 pm
Yet another example.
You realize that was an imposter, right? Or is this a reference that is going over my head?
BL
July 23rd, 2009
5:02 pm
DOB or anyone who watches… Sorry I had to watch Gamecast from work but when did BC get tossed and what was the situation?
David O'Brien
July 23rd, 2009
5:02 pm
jeffrey d: Kawakami’s run support, particularly at home, is horrendous. Hard to believe, really, how bad it is. The Braves have scored one or no runs while he’s been SEVEN of his EIGHT home starts. That’s right. Seven of eight. And in five of those, they scored zero runs while he was in.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:02 pm
RHR No Braves fan in the history of Braves fans will get a better braves birthday gift than the one I got.
Yeah…and I thought BMac’s three RBI performance in Filly, which included a 2-run homer, on my b-day was a great Braves gift…course, the Braves lost 12-11, so that put the damper on it.
Shamus Thacker
July 23rd, 2009
5:02 pm
Gotta love Huddy’s selfless attitude…
MFin04
July 23rd, 2009
5:02 pm
A bad throw constitutes an error. So lets call it a bad throw, and make it an error.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
DOB @ 5:02–
That’s disgusting…
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
David O’Brien………….I was VERY ENCOURAGED by Tim Hudson’s “ready to come back and help us in whatever way they need me.” comment in your 4:58pm posting. That gives me a little hope that what I’ve been preaching about the past month and a half concerning what role Hudson should be used in when he comes back……..will happen.
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
Yet some of you want to keep hoping that the 2008 versions of Greg Norton and Kelly Johnson will return. Wishful thinking.
Whereas you, of course, are able to immediately and perfectly evaluate players, based on Norton’s 40+ ABs and a half-season of Johnson. You, of course, are able to see clearly in a relative split-second of a baseball season what others cannot. You, of course, are just short of a couple of firing synapses.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
Paul,
Still you’ve stated it over and over. Enough it set 0 tone today. The players have played with Kelly long before Conrad. If anything they were happy to see him back and he got a hit today so it’s nothing. No tone change didnt effect the game
birddawgbill
July 23rd, 2009
5:05 pm
I cant believe this crud. Because of an innings pinch on my fantasy team I could only use one pitcher today. I chose Haren instead of Burhle. Cost me 113 points! Talk about your sucky luck.
stachemoney
July 23rd, 2009
5:05 pm
JEFF: I have read all of your comments and you are dead on my man. Thank you!
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
5:05 pm
Yeah…and I thought BMac’s three RBI performance in Filly, which included a 2-run homer, on my b-day was a great Braves gift McFann
As I recall, we were also promised he’d do the Electric Slide around the basepaths on that day. My life would’ve been complete if that happened. But nope….
PWHjort
July 23rd, 2009
5:05 pm
You know what? Francoeur’s a Met. We’ll call it even.
Ralph
July 23rd, 2009
5:05 pm
Notice that KJ got a hit today off a left hander, he always hits lefties better than righties but Cox always platoons him against righties, more evidence of Cox’s stupidity.
Cox has lost it
July 23rd, 2009
5:06 pm
To everyone who defends Kelly Johnson because of his stats last year: you do realize that KJ ended last year on a 20-something-game hitting streak! That’s the only reason his BA was .287! I wonder what his average last year would be if you were to subtract that hitting streak! And Norton may have been somewhat dependable last year, but the man can’t even hit half his body weight this year! It’s too late in the season to be waiting for these two to “come around” when it’s obvious they aren’t going to. WE NEED TO BE PLAYING THE PLAYERS WHO GIVE US THE BEST SHOT AT WINNING EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
5:06 pm
Good night I had no idea his run supports was that bad. I was just responding to the guy who noted that both our losses have come when KK started. But 7 of 8? That’s awful. Poor guy…
njbraves
July 23rd, 2009
5:07 pm
I swear to God, some of you are so dumb you shouldn’t be allowed to watch baseball. KJ and/or Norton had zero effect on the outcome of that game. Paul Lentz actually said sending Conrad down “set the tone” for today’s loss?? Really? How about Chipper’s four terrible AB’s? What about KK needing 100 pitches to get through 5 innings? Maybe it was the terrible defensive execution by the Braves defense?? You can’t blame every loss on Cox and Wren. Most of you come across so poorly on here it’s sad.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
5:07 pm
KK should be having a team meeting with his offense. “Come on guys, you have taken away half my happiness today!”
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:08 pm
If Hudson replaces Kawakami in the rotation, the our best hope is that Hudson can go 6 or 7 innings a night. What good will it do for Hudson to pitch 6-7 innings every time out if Bobby is going to keep using Peter Moylan (and soon Jeff Bennett) to relieve him and they blow the lead? How are we going to continue scoring runs like we have been if Bobby insists on getting Kelly Johnson at-bats so he can “get him going”?
Unless some other things changes, Tim Hudson is not going to make a difference, no matter what role he is used when he comes back. You can BANK ON IT.
njbraves
July 23rd, 2009
5:08 pm
It’s funny how all of you whining babies haven’t been heard from in a few days, then the Braves lose a game and you’re here like clockwork.
PWHjort
July 23rd, 2009
5:08 pm
Cox has lost it,
I don’t understand your point. Kelly was part of a double switch.
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
5:09 pm
birddawgbill-
That’s brutal dude. I feel your pain.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:09 pm
njbraves,
Nice to see a sane person on here lol.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
5:09 pm
Buffalo FAn\
I’m not asking you to trust my judgment. I was making a comical statement about Chipper’s over aggressive state when facing LH’s recently. Today and against the LH for the Mets last week. Very unChipper like, thought I’d have a little fun with it. I can call you in some chill pills if you like?
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:09 pm
ncscoots……….I just know that when you have currently HOT HANDS like Martin Prado and Brooks Conrad on your team contributing……….you dont replace them and HOPE that Kelly Johnson and Greg Norton will “return to their 2008 selves”.
PWHjort
July 23rd, 2009
5:10 pm
njbraves,
Nah. It was obviously Conrad. If the front office hadn’t called KJ up Conrad would’ve won the game. Oh wait…
njbraves
July 23rd, 2009
5:10 pm
Lentz….you truly bring nothing to the table. How many times do you need to post the same exact idea. we get it…you want Huddy in the pen. WE GET IT!!!!
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:10 pm
“What makes “four games over” a benchmark? Last week it was HUGE to get to .500…” McLouth of the South
It’s not MY benchmark for them. It’s a benchmark they haven’t been at for some time, other than the first week of the season (on April 12th, they were 5-1). You have to go back to May 29th, of 2008 for the last time the Braves were as much as 4 games over .500 with a 29-25 record. One must learn to crawl before learning to walk. I’m not sure how so many of you just assume this is a playoff team because of a hot 2 or 3 weeks, when it’s been almost 14 months since the team was 4 games over .500 for more than one day?
When they pass that “benchmark” with ease, and continue coasting, get back to me. Until they get there, it IS a big deal.
BTW, if you we’re excited about them getting to .500, you’ve got seriously low standards for this team.
I think this team has ALL the tools to win more games than they lose the rest of the way. But sorry. Not going to be sold on October baseball until they get there.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
5:10 pm
To everyone who defends Kelly Johnson because of his stats last year: you do realize that KJ ended last year on a 20-something-game hitting streak
Wow, sounds like he really sucks
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:11 pm
jeffrey d–
Yeah, I was promised one of those…dang, he’s broken a few “promises” to me this year, hasn’t he?
But he’s doing his best to make up here in this second “half”. Fewer K’s would be greatly appreciated. But I guess asking for 90 RBI might be too much…?
My life would’ve been complete if that happened. But nope….
LOL! Mine, too.
How annoying it is when your bird “bweeps” every time you press a key! Sheesh! I’m right here, for cryin’ out loud…
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:11 pm
BravoMan………….I didnt so much knock the move of bringing Kelly back……..as I did the Braves decision to send down Brooks Conrad INSTEAD of cutting Greg Norton. How can you not understand that?
birddawgbill
July 23rd, 2009
5:13 pm
6-2 Homestand thats a .750 win%. If they can play .750 at home and .500 no the road the rest of the way that should get them in the playoffs so I’m very happy!!!!
me me me
July 23rd, 2009
5:13 pm
njbraves – sad you have to live in that sheethole state
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:13 pm
Yep that’s how most ppl are. I’ve got a friend who’s a cubs fan who only talks to me about the braves when they lose. I jst say ok at least we’ve won the WS in the last 100 years.
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:14 pm
ncscoots, I know your 5:03 wasn’t directed at me. But to chime in (you expected me not to?), it’s more about just going with the hot hand. Or a guy who has recently shown (not against AAA pitching), that he can be useful to the club.
Conrad has. Norton hasn’t. It’s just that simple.
For a team with as little margin for error as we have (in both games themselves, and in the standings – both NL East & WC standings), the bench guys might make the difference in 2 or 3 games, which clearly can be make or break in the WC race.
Conrad has already won a few games for us in recent weeks. What has Norton done?
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
5:14 pm
Paul-
There is no earthly conceivable, rational reason why would have mentioned Brooks Conrad for the 239384th time today. None. Whatsoever. He didn’t play today. How is that different than most of the other games during this winning streak. Brooks Conrad will have as much bearing on tomorrow’s game as he did on yesterday’s. None. We understand. You hate Norton. You love Conrad. Start going to Gwinnett games and be the charter member of “Brooks’ Cooks” and you can wear a chef’s hat and pretend Gary Sheffield is still a Brave. Or jump off a bridge. We don’t care.
BravesfaninWis
July 23rd, 2009
5:14 pm
Bad move by Cox to send Conrad down in favor of Hernandez or Norton.. Conrad had more hits in his couple of weeks here then Norton has the entire season.. I am sure that Conrad will be back up once KJ gets traded though..
Can you guys and girls consider today’s game to be a choke? We were going up against Barry Zito afterall, and the Braves were riding some serious momentum..
DOB, and chance I can meet Joe Simpson and Boog this Sunday when I head to Miller Park to watch the Braves and Brewers? It would be cool to meet Simpson as I have been following him for a very long time, and Boog is a cool guy..
njbraves
July 23rd, 2009
5:15 pm
me me me…sad that all you have to bring to the blog is your meaningless opinion of where I live.
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
5:15 pm
You don’t have to be sold, dude! If we knew what was gonna happen in advance it wouldn’t be any fun to watch… even if the Braves were gonna win every game the rest of the season. Reality is that all these guys, KJ, Norton (one of the better CAREER power hitting PH in the game currently), Conrad, Hernandez, will all have a say before it’s over with. Enjoy the ride no matter how it goes down…
MiaBchBravesFan
July 23rd, 2009
5:15 pm
Sorry, I’m sure it’s been discussed ad nauseum today, but I gotta put in my two cents:
Bobby Cox is a blitheirng idiot, a dolt, a moron, and mentally deficient. Does Gerg Norton have naked picutres (UGH!) of Bobby? Why the hell is Norton still on the club? Conrad had the hot hand!
Bobby Cox has officially lost his freakin’ mind!!!
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
5:15 pm
I hear ya, Paul. Norton is a colder, older, and more expensive option than Conrad. His only upside is he’s a switch hitter. whoooo….
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
5:15 pm
Look out, Bobby…he can get an out from BOTH sides of the plate
TnBrian
July 23rd, 2009
5:16 pm
Call me what you want, I don’t care… Kelly is BAD LUCK! It’s not that we lost this game, just the fact the way we lost brings back haunting memories. Is it a coiencedence that #2 is back? MMMMM…
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
5:16 pm
KK threw too many pitches and worked behind in the count too much but he was robbed of calls that the Giants got all day… some of the Zito strikes on the inner corner were especially egregious !
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:17 pm
Paul…I do understand your thought that not cutting Norton was a bad idea. I agree with you. What I don’t understand is your theory of tone setting in today’s game. We lost cuz of our offense and one bad defencive inning. I don’t remember what else you said so no point in arguing here lol
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
5:18 pm
Or, based on the economy, dress up like bums and call yourselves “Brooks’ Brokes”.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 23rd, 2009
5:18 pm
That eighth inning was brutal! Like they went out drinking last night and the eighth caught up with them. Brutal.
Supes
July 23rd, 2009
5:18 pm
DOB,
Thanks for the update/quote from Hudson. Very encouraging and we can’t wait to get our ACE back on the team in mid august.
Paul Lentz,
If Hudson is back to form and can go 6-7 innings per start, HE HAS TO replace KK in the rotation. It makes perfect sense!
I said it earlier, I’ll say it again.
Tim Hudson > Kenshin Kawakami (who can’t control his pitches like he has to in order to be effective and pitch longer than 5 innings per start before he amounts a high pitch count)
Now if Hudson is having a hard time getting past 5 innings, MAYBE moving him to the pen is an option.
I’d wait and see, but if he’s ready and healthy it’s back to the rotation. Otherwise, how do you know what you’ll have in Huddy for 2010 if he isn’t a starter?
This Blog
July 23rd, 2009
5:18 pm
IS SO NEGATIVE IT’S SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
5:19 pm
McLouth of the South-
I may do that myself. Because I am, in fact, broke.
JPS
July 23rd, 2009
5:19 pm
KJ = Bad Kharma
dogsbrekky
July 23rd, 2009
5:19 pm
We probably need to win 90-91 games to get that wildcard, yes ??
Anyone have projections based on the games played and WC leader at this time
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
5:19 pm
McFann – in case you haven’t noticed, I find picturing ridiculous scenarios quite humorous. Like McCann doing the electric slide around the basepaths, Chipper and Yunel in the doughout, Bobby wearing a sombrero instead of a baseball cap, etc.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:19 pm
njbraves………..while I was disappointed with our offensive effort today, I’m not going to be as critical of their performance……as I will be about that 8th inning and how it was poorly played and managed. Peter Moylan should not have been used PERIOD. He is just TOO INCONSISTENT. How hard is that for some of you who watch the Braves play night in and night out to understand? Our defense didnt help……….yet Moylan was responsible for one of those errors.
Despite the lack of hitting and the error by Kotchman, this was still a winnable game. Yet Moylan makes the error and gives up a number of hits to blow the game.
That is why I said that Conrad being sent down instead of cutting Norton before the game “set the tone” for what happened today. It just continued the trend of Bobby Cox sticking with “his guys” (Peter Moylan for example, 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).
If you cant understand that…….then I’m sorry.
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:20 pm
“I hear ya, Paul. Norton is a colder, older, and more expensive option than Conrad. His only upside is he’s a switch hitter. whoooo…” jeffrey d
So is Conrad.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
5:20 pm
BC coaching methodology: “2 underperformers are better than 1 over performer, any ole day of the week, but at least it was a “hard decision for him.”
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
5:21 pm
PAUL LENTZ-
WHO DO YOU BRING IN INSTEAD OF NORTON THERE? Acosta, who had a horrible inning the other night, or Soriano, your closer? Maybe he should have put in Javy Vazquez. Or Mark Wohlers!
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
5:21 pm
A 200 lb Great Dane just pinned me to the ground and assumed the ‘69′ position then promptly issued a golden shower.
chilidog75
July 23rd, 2009
5:22 pm
N8,
You’re not going to be sold on October baseball until the Braves get there?
Unlike the rest of us, I guess, who have already bought World Series tickets?
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:22 pm
PWHjort……….if Frank Wren had cut Norton instead of sending down Conrad…….then maybe, just maybe, Frank Wren could tell Bobby to not use Peter Moylan in crucial situations as well (I know, wishful thinking, but still one can hope, lol).
However, by sending down Conrad and keeping Norton, that allows Bobby to just keep using “his guys” with impunity. Peter Moylan is one of “his guys”.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 23rd, 2009
5:22 pm
We need to win the Brewers series…
Not sweep but we need a 2/3 effort…
They’re ahead of us and we need to catch em….I think SF and Colordo are going head to head now…So another big series for us.
Pitching matchups are really solid for both sides (Braves/Brewers) too so its gunna be tough…
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:22 pm
Paul, your key words in your last comment was despite the lack of hitting. If the score after the top 8th was jst 2 to 1 Giants. Would we have come back to win???? No way of knowing, but it wasn’t looking promising…
CrimeDog
July 23rd, 2009
5:23 pm
By Norton, I meant Moylan
stachemoney
July 23rd, 2009
5:23 pm
If KJ plays I hope it’s because we are showcasing him to acquire Holliday. Greg Norton was successful last season, but he’s not worth anything to us anymore. Kelly Johnson belongs in AAA so Cox won’t play him. I am sure cox will throw the loser bennett all the time again when he gets healthy. Norton is good for swinging and missing fastballs right down the middle with the bases loaded.
Frank Wren has been the saving grace. He took away Schafer, and got us McLouth…and then Frenchy was dealt for Church.. and then luckily KJ got hurt. This team has been on a roll without these “easy outs” in the lineup. We have been able to put up big innings lately because there is no KJ or Schafer to K, or Frenchy to hit into a DP. Church and McLouth not only get on base, but they give you quality at-bats. It kills your team to see the opposing pitcher get outs on one pitch(Frenchy). McLouth and Church work the counts and take walks. They will at the very least make the pitcher work.
If we don’t make the playoffs it will be because Cox choked us to death.
McLouth of the South
July 23rd, 2009
5:24 pm
Some proof about sample size and that what goes around comes around. The man hit 17 homers in 2006 and hit well for us last year:
On April 30, Norton was designated for assignment despite batting .438 in 16 at-bats. On May 5, Norton was traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
5:24 pm
Put away those brooms braves fans. Zito is the man.
Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009
5:24 pm
N8
I don’t think anybody on here wanted Conrad sent down in the place of Norton. But I gotta tell you, I understand it. I suspect scoots feels the same way.
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
5:25 pm
BravesfaninWis–
That would be kinda cool to meet those two!
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:25 pm
This is just a guess, but if the Braves were intending on having Hudson in the bullpen, I don’t think they’d have his rehab be almost a month long. They certainly wouldn’t “up” his innings to be around 6 or 7 innings at the end of the rehab.
Make no mistake, barring setback, after August 15th, regardless of being in or out of the races, Hudson will be in the rotation. KK will be out of it, unless an injury changes that. Say like, perhaps, the team shutting down Vazquez if he’s still hurting with the groin.
They know what they have with Vazquez. They won’t know what they have with Hudson without seeing hims START games and go through the order a couple of times.
If they were intending on Hudson being in the pen, he’d be back in 2-3 weeks. Like I said. Just a guess, but also using logic and common sense, while making that guess. Which inlcludes realizing that KK almost always needs too many pitches to get THROUGH the 5th inning.
The W-L record is not KK’s fault, due to run support. The strain he puts on the bullpen almost every time out is.
N8
July 23rd, 2009
5:26 pm
“You’re not going to be sold on October baseball until the Braves get there?…Unlike the rest of us, I guess, who have already bought World Series tickets?”
I didn’t even know the tickets were available yet. Good for you guys. Have fun.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:27 pm
CrimeDog,
Agreed, I would have put Moylan in in that situation. Who else??? Not Soriano so who??? Moylan isn’t one of “Cox’s guys” he was, for a long stretch of time, part of the big 3 outta the bullpen. You’re gonna have your crappy days. Moylan’s had his fair share…but mark my words Bennet will not be used over Carlyle in the near future…
Count de Monet
July 23rd, 2009
5:27 pm
Kelly Johnson is one of the “easy” outs Chipper was talking about.
The A Bomb
July 23rd, 2009
5:27 pm
I just went to the medicine cabinet and took my daily dosage of Moylanta. Ugh.
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
5:28 pm
We got back on track today; We still lead the ML in ERA. But it goes to show who has the best shot at the wild card. This is due to the Braves suspect BP and roller coaster offense. Maybe you will get them next year.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
5:28 pm
When Pete Moylan comes into the game strange things happen.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
5:29 pm
Man, everyone needs to take a deep breath and exercise some patience here…
The deadline is coming up. We’re gonna make a move and get a reliever. The moves made today will have no impact on the team heading down the stretch, other than the team didn’t want to option certain players to keep their trade options open. Really people, relax. We’re playing good ball and lost a ballgame. It’s ok to lose once in 5 games, twice in 9, etc…
Nothings changed. Our SP is rock solid and our offense is manageable. We have a good closer, a good long relief guy, but lack a 7th/8th inning guy. We’re gonna get one in a trade, we have Infante and Hudson coming back too. We’re going to be a solid group heading down the stretch. Relax…today was one day.
BravoMan
July 23rd, 2009
5:29 pm
SanFranFan, Yeah good luck with Zito and his contract hope that works out for yeah. Don’t let the door hit you on the way outta ATL. Jeez cant stand that guy…
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
5:29 pm
jeffrey d……….before the month of September last year….Kelly Johnson was 118 for 446 for the season, which translates to a .264 batting average. It was his hot September (when the Braves were far out of it) where his average soared.
That, to me, is a better indication (along with his first half this year where he hit .214 in 234 at-bats) of how productive Kelly Johnson really is.
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.
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
6:33 pm
VJ-
I’d forgotten
I think as of right now it’s JJ on Thurs, Tommy on Fri, KK on Sat. and Javy on Sunday…it depends on if they rearrange it because of the off day…
DirtyDawg
July 23rd, 2009
6:33 pm
Sorry guys and I don’t care if none of us had heard about Conrad before the last few weeks, this guy’s so much better a ball-player than Norton or Kelly Johnson it’s crazy that we would send him back down. OK, maybe they’re showcasing a KJ that’s starting to hit in hopes that somebody might want him, but not Norton. that guy showed me everything I need to know when he swung threw two, straight-down-the-middle, medium speed, fastballs with the bases loaded last week. Let him go.
And while I’m at it, is anybody else ‘up-to-here’ with the jabber of Simpson and whoever his ‘partner’ is? For example, here’s the kid Conrad that’s been to the plate any number of times while they’re announcing (or more accurately talking about something or other that only they’re interested in) and hasn’t used a batting glove yet – and they’ve never mentioned it. Yet you let one SF outfielder come in here and the camera does a close-up of the glove-less hands and they go on about him being a throw-back, hard-nosed ballplayer. Same thing with Kotchman. The guy’s been lolly-popping the ball to the pitcher (covering or returning pick-off throws) on all short throws (other than the ones he does underhanded which he get’s there pretty quickly) all season. He clearly has a phobia about those throws and these guys are just now noticing? Of course, don’t even get me started about why the Braves coaching staff haven’t dealt with it – something’s got to be done.
And for those that don’t think KJ helped botch that play at first today…sure, had Moylan fielded the ball cleanly and fired to first right away there wouldn’t have been a problem, but Kelly failed to get himself positioned properly…to give Moylan a decent target (inside the baseline) to throw to…as a result the throw hit the runner in the helmet and KJ almost got his a** run over.
Bottom line, I don’t blame Conrad for being surprised at being sent down and his comment about their being able to ‘keep all these guys’ says a lot about the one thing that bothers me about Bobby – he plays favorites for reasons that don’t seem to have anything to do with ability.
monty
July 23rd, 2009
6:33 pm
Roger Mcdowell throw away whatever book you have on Randy Winn, he hits the league at a .269 clip and against the Braves he is hitting .434 this year. And historically has hit us well as DOB said.
jed
July 23rd, 2009
6:36 pm
john–KJ should NOT be on the roster. if you like the guy, as i sorta do, it should be obvious to you that he should be in gwinnett, trying to reclaim his career. maybe he can help in september. right now, it’s a disservice to both him and the team to have him in atlanta.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:37 pm
keylargo…………if you take away Prado’s July from his stats this year, he still would be batting .299 for the season. In 2008, Prado batted .320 in 228 at-bats.
So, you might want to do some better research, before you make postings like the one you did at 6:27pm. (you said that Prado would be a .261 hitter if you took away his July).
TommyP
July 23rd, 2009
6:39 pm
Enough about the Conrad move. Geez… This was a way to keep all players in the system so they chose it wisely. If Norton is still struggling come mid-August and the Braves are still strong players for a playoff spot, they’ll make a move for a veteran pinch hitter. If not, they’ll bring Conrad back up.
Braves supposedly sent 2 scouts to the Dodgers AA affiliate to scout some prospects. Could this be a possible Vazquez destination????? What would the Braves want in return??? No doubt a prospect but wouldn’t they get a major league player as well to help them for THIS season?
I wouldn’t mind the prospect being Joshua Bell, a 22 year old big 3B with nice plate awaremess.
What is everyone thinking with a possible Dodgers deal?
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:40 pm
jeffrey d…………….players have to make adjustments in baseball. There are players all the time who cant substain good play over a period of time.
I’ve used this quote before: As the late Bill Walsh said “It is better to get rid of a player a year too early……..then a year too late”. He used this mantra to trade Joe Montana and release Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott, even when they had some “gas left in the tank”.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
6:40 pm
Keylargo,
What did I ask? I forget. I don’t think I asked anything question regarding KJ. I’m actually defending the guy right now and Bobby and Wren’s decision and reasoning.
I know KJ “has potential”. He always has, still might. But I want no part of it. The team is better with a guy who works the pitcher, and that guy is Prado. Hitting is contagious, and the team in general starting getting better AB’s once Martin was inserted into the lineup.
My stance behind giving Martin a chance has always been what Monty posted at the top of the page at 5:35. Go back and read it. It says look at the splits. Bobby, Wren, and the rest of the team know his splits are an issue. Hopefully a team is willing to take a chance that he evens those splits out with them, or goes on another last season surge like he did last September. Like I said, him hitting now, 9 days before the deadline, is a GOOD thing.
We really need a reliever, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed….
John
July 23rd, 2009
6:40 pm
jed
You wouldn’t rather have KJ on the roster …than Norton?…and when you answer “Yes”…tell me who should be on the roster instead of KJ…
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
6:42 pm
Enough baseball talk for one day…I’m gonna start flirting with cabravesfan
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:42 pm
John…………….I said this yesterday. The only way I would be ok with having Kelly Johnson on this roster right now………would be if Greg Norton was released.
However, getting sending down Brooks Conrad, just to make room for Kelly, was a BIG MISTAKE.
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
6:43 pm
cabravesfan – are you still at work? Go home and watch the replays of the perfect game (you could skip our 8th inning).
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
6:44 pm
Bobby’s Cox-
Can’t say how long I’ll be around (leaving work in about 15 minutes for the nice hour long commute home…) but I’m here now
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
6:45 pm
VJ-
almost that time…
SOS
July 23rd, 2009
6:45 pm
Bobby Cox has got to be the stupidist SOB in the game. He kept his boy Norton, brought up his other man crush KJ, and brought in Moylan to blow another game. When will we be shed of this old fool. Its unbelievable.
Mean
July 23rd, 2009
6:46 pm
Yeah Bobby’s! Stick it inerass !!
Braves73
July 23rd, 2009
6:46 pm
It’s really not that surprising that Bobby genius decided to send down the hot hitting Conrad for the not hitting Kelly Johnson. There is not logical explanation for this move other than a “hunch” of Bobby. The real problem with this and the Norton move, is that Bobby will find a way to put Kelly Johnson back at 2nd base and make the “he needs a couple of days off” b.s. The fact is that Prado has completely turned the whole lineup around. He has single handely helped the Braves in wins against the Phillies and Mets and continues to be the table setter at the top of the lineup. This move will HAUNT the Braves because Bobby will find a way to excuse this b.s…see the Mets game in which Norton pinch hit with the bases loaded in a 2-1 game in the 8th only to miss three straight fastballs. THIS MOVE(S) STINKS!
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
6:46 pm
It’s cool cabraves..I won’t be here much longer anyway. I’ll be driving to Pasadena soon.
Sounds like you need an iphone so u can flirt while in traffic…
Random
July 23rd, 2009
6:46 pm
nrtnscks (July 23rd, 2009 3:18 pm): “I don’t care how many singles Kotchman hits, he NEVER comes through with a hit when we need it!”
12 Apr v WAS, Braves up 7-5, bottom 8th, Kotchman singles in Braves’ 6th (insurance) run;
15 Apr v FLO, Braves down 4-1, bottom 5th, 0 outs, Kotchman doubles to drive in Braves’ 2nd run;
19 Apr @ PIT, Braves up 2-0, bottom 1st, 2 outs, Kotchman singles in Braves’ 3rd run;
21 Apr @ WAS, 0-0, top 1st, Kotchman doubles in Braves’ 1st run, scores Braves’ 3rd run;
7 May @ FLO — Braves win 4-2, Kotchman 3 for 4 (1B, 2B, HR), 2 RBIs, 1 R;
8 May @ PHI, Braves down 10-3, top 9th, 0 out, Kotchman hits 3-R HR;
10 May @ PHI — Braves win 4-2, Kotchman 3 for 5 (1B, 2 2Bs), 3 RBIs;
11 May @ NYN, Braves up 3-1, top 7th, 2 out, Kotchman singles in Braves’ 4th & 5th runs;
12 May @ NYN, 0-0, top 4th, 2 out, Kotchman singles in Braves’ 1st run;
19 May v COL, 0-0, bottom 1st, Kotchman doubles, scores Braves 1st run; Braves up 2-0, bottom 2nd, Kotchman singles in Braves 3rd run;
22 May v TOR — Braves win 1-0, Kotchamn 1-3 (1B), 1 RBI;
23 May v TOR — Braves win 4-3, Kotchman 1 for 4 (2B), 2 RBIs;
25 May @ SFN, Braves down 3-1, top 6th, 1 out, Kotchman walks “driving” in Braves 2nd run;
27 May @SFN, Braves down 2-0, top 6th, Kotchman singles in Braves’ 1st run;
28 May @ ARI, Braves down 5-1, top 8th, Kotchman singles in Braves’ 2nd run;
18 Jun @ CIN, 0-0, top 2nd, Kotchman SF “drives” in Braves’ 1st run;
25 Jun v NYA, Braves down 8-1, bottom 4th, Kotchman doubles in Braves’ 2nd & 3rd runs, scores Braves’ 4th run;
2 Jul v PHI, 0-0, bottom 4th, Kotchman homers driving in Braves’ 1st 2 runs.
Never, huh?
Admit it – you are one malicious, mouthy, mouthbreathing, ignorant scum bench, aren’t you?
PS: nrtnscks (July 23rd, 2009 3:49 pm): ”Yeah, one of those days of abysmally poor decisions by our “Hall-of-Fame” manager. Quickly 0-2 to Kelly, here comes strike 3.”
Your and idiot.
PPS: Nick (July 23rd, 2009 3:57 pm): ”If we are indeed buyers at the end of the month, we HAVE to upgrade 1B if we want a chance at the postseason. Definately need to get rid of some dead weight (Kotchman, Norton, Diory, Moylan).”
U2.
PPPS: Kudos to Gone Viral (July 23rd, 2009 3:56 pm), The Bird and Indian (July 23rd, 2009 3:23 pm), N Nine (July 23rd, 2009 3:21 pm) and Wayne in Utah
July 23rd, 2009 2:35 pm).
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
6:47 pm
Bobby’s Cox-
I’ve got one…
Ugh- pasadena- have fun with that one
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
6:48 pm
Bobby’s Cox – way ahead of you
monty
July 23rd, 2009
6:48 pm
“Kelly only had 1 good month in a year and a half”
THat is a complete misrepresentation! He had 2 last year! I believe June and September he hit over .300 with power and a very good OBP. The problem is for 4 months he hit .230 with very minimum pop. Not hit 2 months, hit for 1 month, not hit 3 months, hit for 1 month. If anyone can put up with that Jekyl/Hyde schitzophrenic hitting to come out with a .289 avg. every year, you must like waiting for water to boil or watching grass grow.
Roman Gal
July 23rd, 2009
6:49 pm
I liked it better when the Braves were winning.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
6:50 pm
Cabraves…
it’s against traffic for me…get to drive fast with the radio blasting. Love the drive.
Not sure if you’ve been to Bodega. I’m sure they have some nice Chardonnay….
monty
July 23rd, 2009
6:50 pm
At a (boy)? RAndom!!
John
July 23rd, 2009
6:50 pm
Guys
I THINK…Paul just said that KJ SHOULD be on the roster…and Norton shouldn’t be…please adjust all bad-mouthin’ of my boy KJ accordingly….tia
ncscoots
July 23rd, 2009
6:50 pm
Enough baseball talk for one day
I love ya, man, but you got a real loose definition of “baseball talk”. By the time you roll through all of Paulette’s stuff and the frothing at the mouth brought on by a loss, yowsah.
Paulette Dense: the girl who could be taught more about baseball by the guy who DIDN’T buy “Baseball For Dummies”.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:51 pm
DirtyDawg………..I agree 100% with your 6:33pm posting. It is just DISHEARTENING to see a pattern of playing favorites continue, to the detriment of the team.
We are going to need contributions from ALL 25 guys if we are going to make a serious run at the play-offs. Do you think that the Phillies win the World Series last year without key contributions from Greg Dobbs, Matt Stairs, and Geoff Jenkins off the bench? There were games last post season that Charlie Manuel was able to plug the right pinch hitter and reliever into the game to get a key hit or get an important out.
I believe that Frank Wren wants to put those kind of guys on the Braves, players who can contribute both in the bullpen and on the bench.
But COME ON! Greg freaking Norton? In a play-off game, do you really want to see Peter Moylan, Jeff Bennett, or Buddy Carlyle coming up in the 6th, 7th, or even 8th inning (on nights that Gonzalez cant go) of a close ball game? It’s those kinds of scenarios that scare me.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
6:51 pm
VJ,
yes I’ve noticed. Damn. Don’t you have to go walk your cat or something?
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2009
6:52 pm
I liked it better when the Braves were winning.
I smell a fire sale coming on. And willieg is the auctioneer
Rob from SC
July 23rd, 2009
6:52 pm
Does anyone know why Cory Gearrin was sent down to class A.
JP Swain
July 23rd, 2009
6:53 pm
Just what is that Prado has to do to go from being the starter “for now” to the STARTER? Johnson has had a miserable year, isn’t even remotely consistent, and falls far behind Prado in fielding.
Conrad was far more convincing in his stint than Johnson has been at any time this year.
Bobby needs a bigger set of jacobs when it comes to telling guys they’ve had it with his club.
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
6:53 pm
Bobby’s Cox-
never been there…sounds nice though
(and VJ has a dog…sort of)
Vinings Jim
July 23rd, 2009
6:53 pm
Bobb’s – It’s a dog, damn it!
Mr. Scary
July 23rd, 2009
6:53 pm
The problem is for 4 months he hit .230 with very minimum pop
This is the problem with doing month-by-month splits, “he’s done this since x date” splits, etc–you can skew or misrepresent the numbers any way you want. Facts are, he hit .287/.350/.446 in 2008. That’s pretty good. That’s above-average production. Period, endofstory.
Paul Lentz
July 23rd, 2009
6:53 pm
TommyP……….if the Braves wait until mid August to give Kelly and Greg Norton a chance to “prove that they still have something left in the tank”………we could end up being so far behind that it may not even matter.
I have a bad feeling that our bullpen will continue to blow games. And with Jeff Bennett due back soon, lol, OMG, lol.
Random
July 23rd, 2009
6:53 pm
Thanks, monty!
Jake W.
July 23rd, 2009
6:53 pm
KJ this, Prado that, to take a cue from Lovie Smith, Prado is our 2nd baseman. That’s it right now. Bobby is playing the hot hand. The guy is not about to start playing KJ more, not with what Prado is doing. Our lineup is working right now for the most part. Now we got to get McLouth swinging again but other than that we are fine.
Bobby's Cox
July 23rd, 2009
6:54 pm
Scoots,
who’s this Paulette you’re talking about? I’m not sure I’ve noticed any of their posts. I just see Chinese every so often…could be what you’re indicating no?
cabravesfan
July 23rd, 2009
6:54 pm
Bobby’s Cox/ VJ-
time for me to head home- might be around later if either (or both) of you are here…
Later
McFann :Ô:
July 23rd, 2009
6:54 pm
BravesfaninWis–
Boog is hilarious. I’ve said it before, but I really like his delivery. Just says things in a funny way. Joe does, too, when he’s with Boog.
He and Simpson seem to have a good chemistry calling games together.
They really do.
Here are the instructions on bolding and other stuff. Sorry for the delay.