Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,333 comments Add your comment
trade schultz
July 26th, 2009
3:45 am
hey frenchy went 2-4 yesterday for mets has hit better….see i told u TP was cause of franceor mess and the atlanta folks with pressure on him to….frenchy will be a met next 4 years enjoy it
The Bird and Indian
July 26th, 2009
3:52 am
Bear: I’m really not kidding about Paul at all. You can search him. He always talks about his poker tourneys so one day I looked it up and he plays online everywhere.
Yeah he also works for the Braves org. and if he wins a tourney he will buy us Pujols I hope
About the Glaus thing, I just have seen it on the rumors sight and Olney talking about it. I don’t think we will get Glaus either personally.
The Bird and Indian
July 26th, 2009
3:55 am
Bear: Last post was great.
Sadtoseeitthisway
July 26th, 2009
3:57 am
Don`t know about you, but I`m still steaming over the way the Braves handled (MISHANDLED} Brooks Conrad. The guy got called up, gave a great effort, put up great numbers, proved he deserved to stay in the bigs. How do they reward a guy like that? He gets sent back to AAA. And worse, the guys they bring back, Norton&KJ, dont belong here over what we saw out of Conrad. The point here is this! Sending down Conrad sends this message to all the players in the Braves farm system. You get your chance and you come through in great fashion. That doesn`t change our plans. We`re gonna bring our favorites back no matter how well you played. This kind of move just rips up player moral. The guys on the farm see this and think of what lies ahead when their call-up comes. Not a pretty sight. You better believe these guys are watching how the big league club conducts business. Brooks Conrad, you are our kind of player, and YOU deserved a whole lot better.
Bear
July 26th, 2009
4:07 am
Bear: I’m really not kidding about Paul at all. You can search him. He always talks about his poker tourneys so one day I looked it up and he plays online everywhere.
The Bird and Indian, actually, I never doubted he plays. Anyone can play. I doubt that he wins. He strikes me as a character that would have so many “tells”, that even Stevie Wonder would be tipped off. Of course, online, you wouldn’t see that, would you? When he goes to “Vegas”, however, he would be exposed. I just wonder, as I’m sure many do, what this goof does for a living. If it wasn’t for his constant, redundant posts, I wouldn’t really care. But when you’re trying to scan through the blog, to catch up to what’s going on, man, the 100’s of Lentz posts, everyday, really piss you off.
Bear
July 26th, 2009
4:13 am
Bear: Last post was great
The Bird and Indian, thanks, I really appreciate that. Uh… next time, if you don’t mind, would you mind putting that in “bold”. Uh, … maybe capitalize?
Bear
July 26th, 2009
4:21 am
Sadtoseeitthisway
Hey man, we all appreciate the job that Conrad did. But don’t look at this move as being a permanent one. The Braves did it this way because it was the only way to keep all of their personell. If the “hot” Conrad stayed up here, he really wouldn’t have that many AB’s. Where would he play, regularly? This way, by sending him down, it gives some of the past performer’s, a chance to redeem themselves, without losing a player. At the same time, it gives “our man Conrad”, a chance to get some AB’s. One way or the other, we”ll see him in September.
nolie
July 26th, 2009
4:31 am
At the same time, it gives “our man Conrad”, a chance to get some AB’s. One way or the other, we”ll see him in September.(Bear)
that was a MUCH nicer answer than the one I posted which seems not to have gone through.
Bear
July 26th, 2009
4:44 am
that was a MUCH nicer answer than the one I posted which seems not to have gone through.
nolie, I really have to get to sleep, but now you have my curiosity peeked. What the hell could you have posted? It’s OK, you don’t have to tell us. (just tell me)
Bear
July 26th, 2009
4:57 am
Hope to see you guys after a Braves win, later on. Goodnight.
ncscoots
July 26th, 2009
7:17 am
It’s just nice to know the future is getting closer & closer. We are getting a nice dose of it this season with Tommy Hanson.
Agreed. And Heyward’s immediate pounding of the most advanced pitching he has seen to date do make the enthusiasm bubble. However, we might also remember the blinding contrast of Hanson’s dominating AAA performance and his early ML performance. Even Hanson, as good as he is, showed that it’s a big step up in class to the bigs, and rooks seldom come in with guns blazing. And rookie position players are more likely to falter than rookie pitchers.
It just seems unlikely that Heyward can come to the bigs late in the year, go through an adjustment period, and still provide enough impact over the current roster and in the number of games remaining to him, to justify the callup. Not impossible, just unlikely.
The kid sure is tugging at his harness, though, and that’s a fact.
ncscoots
July 26th, 2009
7:39 am
This kind of move [sending Conrad down] just rips up player moral.
Yes, I’m pretty sure there was a players-only meeting, after the move, to quiet the rising mutiny over Conrad’s ouster from the last spot at the end of the bench.
The guys on the farm see this and think of what lies ahead when their call-up comes. Not a pretty sight. You better believe these guys are watching how the big league club conducts business.
I don’t know if other minor league players, hoping for a call to The Show, really much give a hoot what happens to Brooks Conrad, or anybody else other than themselves, for that matter. And they certainly don’t spend their time in the clubhouse nattering about the Braves’ FO philosophy. Assuming some of them can spell “philosophy”, LOL.
CB
July 26th, 2009
7:45 am
Ah, the power of the internet. We read people ranting,cursing,he sucks, they suck, fellow blogger sucks,acting like they would never act if they were in a personal conversation looking somebody in the eyeballs. The internet allows cowards to hide behind monikers cursing Bobby,Chipper, and others hiding their own inadequacies and jealousy. It makes a person want to give up this blog, but then you are able to share opinions with wonderful, intelligent baseball-wise people like nolie,Random,ncscoots and others and you can’t give it up. It makes it all worth while and still enjoyable.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 26th, 2009
8:09 am
CB, very true. In fact, I refer to this medium as the “CB” radio of the new mellinium.
curtis jones
July 26th, 2009
8:13 am
It’s hard to score runs when you have only 6 offensive weapons in your lineup. If some of those 6 have an off-game, and then you have automatic outs in the 7-8-9 holes, you’re out of luck. I wish the Braves’ first baseman and right fielder had as much life in their bats as Brewers pitcher Gallardo does.
Fortunately for Gallardo, the Braves like to keep Diaz on the bench, and Conrad in AAA, so their offensive options are limited. And then they bring Norton off the bench to provide a little breeze for the ump.
Joebrave
July 26th, 2009
8:45 am
Very well put curtis jones! this team gels, gets on a run. and meshes well, then the great mind of Bobby cries out in the night for Wren to give him back his stooges(K.J,Nawton,and very soonCarlyleand Bennett)!!! Mediocrity at it’s best!
Random
July 26th, 2009
8:47 am
The A Bomb (July 26th, 2009 12:03 am): “Funny — when we face a top notch pitcher — Santana, Oswalt, Peavy, Lincecum etc. . . Cox always seems to play small ball early, bring the infield in a lot earlier in those situations because runs are at a premium. Cox better start putting Gallardo in that category. Doesn’t seem like we will be lighting him up any time soon. . . Better take that attitude against Josh Johnson next week as well.
“It’s not playing scared — it’s playing smart.”
Bunting in the first inning last night would have been playing scared.
The Braves had no reason going in to be playing scared — they were on a winning and offensive roll, and Gallardo was 0-3 in 4 July starts, giving up in his last 3 games 3, 5 and 4 ERs.
And Gallardo’s first pitch was a 91 mph fastball way outside. His second? A 91 mph fastball which McLouth converted to a solid single to center.
There was no reason at that time to give up one of your 27 outs for a single base.
Rarely does a single run stand up in that stadium, even if a first inning bunting strategy had worked.
Is a 4-1 loss somehow better in your eyes than a 4-0 loss?
David O'Brien
July 26th, 2009
8:50 am
I just opened my door, going to go to the lobby to get coffee, and who’s walking past at that very moment? Rickey Henderson. Turns out he’s staying in the suite next to my room. He was wearing shorts, an untucked polo shirt with collar turned up, and no shoes. He went up the wide, wood stairs to the landing between our third floor and the fourth floor and sat on a bench there, by himself. Still there when I came back with my coffee. I’m gonna guess he’s thinking about his speech.
A speech which, I hope, will be made outdoors. But right now, the forecast, a 50-percent chance of rain/thunder storms, doesn’t look too great….
Another pretty surreal night Saturday. After another cocktail reception and dinner on the hotel lawn and in the big, main dining room, they had a fleet of trolleys take us all to the Hall of Fame for a private thing there, where desserts and drinks are set up throughout the hall. It’s an annual big deal, the arrival of all the Hall of Famers at the Hall with a couple thousand fans crowded outside to cheer as the players exit the trolleys and have their names announced as the cameras click and flashes go off. It’s like a Hollywood premiere, complete with red carpet from the trolleys to the front door of the Hall.
We got off the trolley behind Robin Roberts and right before Phil Niekro and Goose Gossage. They all got thunderous applause. We acted as though it was applause for us (smile).
Then for the next few hours we hung out in the Hall, looking at the exhibits (including the new Hank Aaron exhibit) and the hundreds of placques. There’s something very odd and very cool about literally looking at the placques of the players on the wall as the players themselves are walking and standing and looking at the placques themselves.
I mean, it’s like, ”Hey, look, there’s Babe Ruth’s placque. Wait, you can see it as soon as Dave Winfield moves out of the way…”
Unreal.
I was in the gift shop at the Hall (again, keep in mind the Hall’s only open last night to the invited guests with our badges, etc) and I bumped into a guy who politely says, ‘Excuse me.’ I say same and look up and it’s … Reggie Jackson.
And he’s on his way to talk to Willie Mays, who’s standing about 10 feet away, in that Giants ballcap with the cursive G that he always seems to be wearing. He’s the only guy I saw wearing a ballcap at any of these functions. Had his glasses up on his forehead, as you also often see him do these days. He’s still about 2 inches taller than Reggie, who’s about 5-10, possibly 5-11, these days. (Honestly, it’s more like 5-10). Winfield just towers over Reggie.
JasonInFL
July 26th, 2009
8:55 am
Cool stuff, DOB…keep the stories coming!
TommyP
July 26th, 2009
9:04 am
Throughout yesterday and the past week, really, I’ve found it interesting that each person that has said Philly doesn’t have the rotation to do this and do that never acknowledges the Phillies lineup.
They each compare rotations as if that’s the only variable in determining the better team.
18 Wheels of Love
July 26th, 2009
9:10 am
Tell Jim Ed Rice I said hi. He went to my high school well before me but the stories of his home runs and where they landed are local lore. Same with his swings on the driving range. I remember being in high school and running into him at a local golf shop – I just stood there and stared.
dogsbrekky
July 26th, 2009
9:10 am
Dobi One Knobi – excellent. I just hope Ricky does his speech in 3rd person, that would totaly crack me up.
“Ricky has a great career, Ricky call steal those bases etc etc”
Someone before mentioned we are in on Danys Baez… and I was also thinking I would prefer Joan Baez circa 1969 cause I hear her fastball has lost some velocity and the changeup just sucks nowadays !
dogsbrekky
July 26th, 2009
9:11 am
jeez I just read what I wrote… spellchecker anyone
brent a.
July 26th, 2009
9:12 am
Rickey should just repeat his speech from the day he broke Lou Brock’s record.
Lew
July 26th, 2009
9:12 am
I went to see the Braves.Twins in the HOF game a couple of years ago. Every fan should go see the Hall sometime as it’s quite an experience. There weren’t lots of HOFers around that weekend, but I did get to spend about five minutes talking to Fergie Jenkins. Great guy. Think I’ll go over for the Induction weekend next year (five hour drive). Guess I’d better make reservations for a hotel early, or just stay a ways down the road at the Colgate Inn-a nice old establishment a few miles down the road next to the Colgate campus.
Scoots-It still beats hell out of me that there are so many people upset that a nine year career minor leaguer, with a .261 BA in almost 4000 minor league at bats gets sent down after a never before seen performance in 32 AB. You’d think we just axe murdered The Bae or something instead of sending the 25th man a half hour away.
Lew
July 26th, 2009
9:13 am
Should have read axe murdered The Babe (keeping with the HOF theme).
Lew
July 26th, 2009
9:14 am
I wonder how many times Ricky will mention the name Ricky in his speech?
brent a.
July 26th, 2009
9:14 am
One good thing about Danys Baez, is that we know he’s no longer a risk for appendicitis.
TommyP
July 26th, 2009
9:15 am
Regarding Norton, I think he has a little while longer before he gets released. Braves just chose the path where they got to keep all 3 players.
dogsbrekky
July 26th, 2009
9:19 am
Lew – I wonder if Rickey speaks to himself in the 3rd person when he is going to the bathroom.
Guy has always cracked me up.
Lowe gets his chance today to show us some consistency and Looper has always been quite hittable event though he has a decent W/L record this year. He gives up a lot of hr in that place so let’s hope the boys are wielding a hot stick today
Random
July 26th, 2009
9:21 am
CB (July 26th, 2009 7:45 am) –
Damn, CB, thanks.
It honors me beyond my worth to be mentioned in the same breath with nolie & ncscoots, an honor I’ll endeavor to fully earn.
Thanks.
Piedmont Blues (x-BFIR)
July 26th, 2009
9:22 am
Morning Lew,
Just sent you a remembrance of Hank. Thanks again for spearheading this project.
Vinings Jim
July 26th, 2009
9:29 am
CB – nice post at 7:45, especially considering what followed shortly thereafter.
DOB – just read your post to a friend over the phone – we both enjoyed it a lot. Have an awesome day – I am sure it will be.
Supes
July 26th, 2009
9:30 am
ncscoots,
I don’t get all of the bloggers clamoring for bringing up Heyward up in september of this year. He isn’t going to help us this year, if he were ready by September, why not bring him up in August? Does one month make all the difference? Of course not, he can simply be a september “call up”, well I don’t believe we should distrub his progress just yet.
Not everyone (good player on the way up to the bigs) will have the exact same minor league track of progress, but I think the Tommy Hanson track would make perfect sense for Heyward.
Have him finish AA this year, then the AFL, have him play more in spring training (against ML pitching), then have him start the year off in AAA. In July, call him up (just like Tommy to ensure one more full year of arbitration elligibility)
Braves can “do without Heyward” until July of 2010.
I believe Church and Diaz can be serviceable until then.
We are not “one Jayson Heyward” call up away right now from overtaking the Phillies in the east, or the teams ahead of us in the WC race.
Also, last night we’ve gotta just say that we got beat by a pitcher who just KNOWS for whatever reason how to pitch against us. Everytime I see the Brewers on the schedule (well before this year, I’d check to see if we were facing Ben Sheets, who used to own us. Now it’s another dude, same team). Tommy Hanson had a gritty performance. It’s not like they “beat him up”. A chopper and a 40ft infield roller had him down 2-0. While Tommy lost, he pitched yet another quality start. 7 innings to boot. Good job mr. Hanson!
Supes
July 26th, 2009
9:35 am
Wanna add that I like our chances today, to go out and for the offense to do enough to help D-Lowe get the win and for the Braves to take the series 2-1. They’ve just gotta keep winning series right now to stay in contention and play relevant games in late August and September.
DOB,
Another awesome blog from you sir, thanks for sharing your experience during the HOF weekend.
One more thing, it appears that some of you are getting owned by Paul Lentz, checking on the dude’s background? That’s just creepy and wrong. It’s JUST A BLOG fellows, let it be. Paul does have valid points MOST of the time, it’s the manner in which he presents them (I get it, he’s went after me before with the whole MORON deal).
Just move on.
Steve from OH,
RIGHT on about “the fraking updates on FRANCINE” Who gives a FRAK? I’m with you, I don’t care an I won’t care. It’s all the jock worshippers of his that still can’t let go and insist on posting here when he does get a hit or a HR.
UNCBrave
July 26th, 2009
9:49 am
Get MARK KOTSAY and release NORTON
UNCBrave
July 26th, 2009
9:59 am
Baez gave up 5 ER in a 1/3 of an inning against Florida…Can’t we get a better reliever???
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=276056
Piedmont Blues (x-BFIR)
July 26th, 2009
10:09 am
Supes (9:30),
Agreed. Schafer will be back next season, too. And I would not at all be surprised if the Braves picked up another GA-style stopgap — but a better defender, please — who would relieve some of the pressure to rush Heyward to the majors because there aren’t enough warm bodies to man the outfield in case of injury. Be nice if it were a right-handed hitter …
RHR
July 26th, 2009
10:14 am
The HOF induction is going to be shown live on the MLB network and mlb.com in case anyone didn’t know.
Count de Monet
July 26th, 2009
10:19 am
Supes
Have him finish AA this year, then the AFL, have him play more in spring training (against ML pitching), then have him start the year off in AAA. In July, call him up (just like Tommy to ensure one more full year of arbitration elligibility)
Lik Brett Favre I am conflicted too (about Heyward).
What if they call him up in Sept and he struggles like Schaefer? It could hurt his progress.
What if he goes to spring training and crushes ML pitching with several home runs and say a .400 BA? Do they bring him up then?
I want to do what’s best for the kid. I don’t want to set him back like I think they did with Jordan S.
Lew
July 26th, 2009
10:20 am
brent a-your 9:14 gave me a good laugh. THanks.
My wife has a business trip to Oregon the next few days. ON her flight from Burlington to Chicago (first leg of the trip) this morning, she sat two seats back from Tony Shaloub and his wife. Didn’t even recognize Monk until the Flight Attendant asked for his autograph.
BFIR-Thanks for the contribution. I’m afraid the response to the “SAned a Note to Hank Aaron” project has not gone so well. Don’t know if it’s the newer format that leaves posts behind in the dust or the fact that many here haven’t seen Hank play, but I was hoping for a LOT more responses. Time’s not over yet, though. If anyone else wants to write a couple paragraphs about what Hank Aaron has meant to you as a BRaves/baseball fan, send them to me at LewHartman@cmcast.net
This was supposed to be from the blog. Participation would be nice. If not……. Whatever. I think we’re better than what I’ve seen so far.
Piedmont Blues (x-BFIR)
July 26th, 2009
10:21 am
UNCBrave,
Don’t see how Kotsay is an upgrade over Norton. Or at least not enough of one to consider giving up a spot on the 25-man roster for him. He’s had a brutal year offensively and is apparently still having back trouble.
If you wanted to add him to the 40-man in September, maybe.
(Of course, if it were up to me, I would have kept Conrad instead of Norton when Kelly was activated, but still …)
Braves73
July 26th, 2009
10:40 am
I realize that the Braves got out dueled last night by Gallardo. I am still a little confused on how anyone can defend the move in the bottom of the 8th last night. I had no problem with Bobby bringing O’Flaherty in, the problem is that he put him in a situation of failure. You can’t conceivably leave him in the inning once two batters have been walked, and then hang him out to dry by allowing another walk. The challenge with that move is that the next pitcher brought in is in a no win position (which occurred with two additional runs scoring). You can argue the point that “they didn’t score any runs so it didn’t matter anyway”, but the reality is that Bobby gave his team ZERO chance to come back in win with that move.
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
10:45 am
Good stuff, Chief!
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
10:47 am
Be int’resting to see the lineup today.
Oh, and Loafy never returned my call to tell me why McCann [stinks]. No prob…I cann take a hint…
Count de Monet
July 26th, 2009
10:50 am
Braves 73
You are correct Sir.
I realize they can’t/won’t fire Bobby. We can only hope that they find a way to have him “retire” at the end of the season. Somehow they need to to make him the figurehead when it comes to pitching. Let McDowell make the pitching decisions.
Also let TP make up the lineup. I guess they are grooming TP to replace Bobby, so lets see what he can do.
dogsbrekky
July 26th, 2009
10:55 am
Lew – emailed you my thoughts on Hank.
Braves73 – sometimes you have to “hang someone out to dry”, to see how they handle certain situations.
I have some thoughts on Schafer and Heyward. With everyone worried about the mental fragility of these young men, have they also thought that the grit needed to become a major league player can only be learned through success and failure.
We have a saying in Australian sport. “If you are good enough you are old enough”.
Now I am not sure if Jason H is good enough yet but if he continues in his current vain we may have trouble holding him back.
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:03 am
Why did you have to make fun of the new guy? The Bird and Indian
It’s an initiation?
Lew
July 26th, 2009
11:06 am
Dogs-Thanks Dude. I appreciate it.
It’s interesting. They talked on the Broadcast last night about Del Crandall bringing up a 19 year old Robin Yount all those years ago. Don’t know that Heyward ill ever turn into a HOF player, but it is certain that the promotion to AA was not too much for him to handle. I’m kind of 50/50 on a September call up for him, but it would seem that he’s better than the level where he’s now playing-that’s for sure.
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:08 am
Loved those unis. Steve
Oh, brother…Did you see Casey Kotchman, Nate McLouth, Prince Fielder, etc…? They looked like parachutes with little butt flaps! Terrible, I tell you!! Terrible!!
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:09 am
Ah, man…there’s a mention os RSF in my ChopTalk! Did he play for the WBC?
Steve from OH
July 26th, 2009
11:10 am
RG–that wasn’t me that late. That was waaay past my bedtime. The name theif <em[coughUnkowncough] is back at it I see…
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:11 am
McFann-
No. He was on the roster but ended up not playing.
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:11 am
*of RSF.
Braves73
July 26th, 2009
11:12 am
dogsbrekky – I can certainly appreciate your post in regards to “seeing how they handle certain situations”, I just don’t understand it. Here’s what I mean, the Braves are in contention for a wild card spot & slim chances at the division. Is it safe to assume that they have VERY little margin for error and “seeing how they handle certain situations” is not an option (if they are to win a spot in the post season). I am not HATING on Bobby, I just wish he managed with a little more sense of urgency and not “seeing how they handle certain situations”…after all, Bobby is paid to win, not to hold auditions & or play favorites.
Lew
July 26th, 2009
11:12 am
RomanGal-I had one friend who thought Fielder looked like he was going parasailing. Probably would have had to have been one hell of an updraft, though.
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:12 am
Steve-
Ok, good! I thought we were going to have to work on your fashion sense…I don’t think many people here would appreciate that.
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:12 am
Roman Gal–
Ah…Why didn’t he play?
Steve from OH
July 26th, 2009
11:13 am
My fashion sense? What’s that?
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:14 am
Lew-
It would’ve taken an F5 tornado just to have any hope of getting him off the ground for a few seconds…
dogsbrekky
July 26th, 2009
11:15 am
F5 – Roman Gal, now we are talking, Air Power
but I think Prince may need a Starlifter to lift that girth
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:16 am
Steve from OH–
Bet that was Unknown posting as “Loafy” last night…he told me to give him some cold, hard facts as to why McCann didn’t [stink]. I gave him a handful, asked him to give me some that say McCann does [stink], and he vanished! Guess he went to get that “r” key fixed…
My fashion sense? What’s that?
Haha…hey, you’re stylin’ with the shades, though!
Lew
July 26th, 2009
11:17 am
Braves73-And who would you have pitched in that situation? Gonzo who is out with a bone bruise? Moylan who has already pitched way too much already? Soriano who you save in case we come back? Medlen is the only long reliever we have at the moment, so you probably don’t use him. How about another LH, Boone Logan to pitch to the RH hitters? Kind of leaves Acosta, doesn’t it? That’s who he brought in to bail out EOF.
Don’t know what moves you’d make when the options are limited like they were last night. One pitcher down and everyone pissing and moaning about BP overuse.
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:17 am
McFann-
He was only on the provisional roster.
Lew
July 26th, 2009
11:18 am
Now Now RG-You exaggerate terribly. You know a Category Three would have achieved lift off.
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:19 am
Steve-
After those comments last night, I imagined you dressing something like this!
Steve from OH
July 26th, 2009
11:19 am
McFann–yeah, he’s a real MORON, isn’t he? Maybe he went off to learn the difference between “your” and “you’re?”
hey, you’re stylin’ with the shades, though!
You know it!
Piedmont Blues (x-BFIR)
July 26th, 2009
11:19 am
My thoughts on Heyward:
If the Braves are at all worried about rushing him, then you call him up only if the Braves are out of the race in mid-September. It’s a no-pressure situation for him. He gets a taste of major league pitching (checking the schedule, however, the only games that month that might matter are the 18th-20th vs. the Phils, so he may not be seeing much major-league pitching after all).
If the Braves think he’ll not be overwhelmed in The Show, however, they might call him up at the end of August. That way he could be on the postseason roster …
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:20 am
Lew-
I doubt it. An F3 might Bobby Cox up, though…
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:21 am
I think it would be impossible to get Chino up…
Sorry, pal, no parasailing for you!
Braveheart
July 26th, 2009
11:21 am
So, let’s see how this all works. If Bobby leaves a starter in instead of trusting a reliever, he’s a fool. If he uses Soriano or Gonzalez, he’s a fool because he’s burning them out. If he uses Moylan, he’s a fool. If he uses Acosta instead of Moylan, he’s a fool. If O’Flaherty faces a righthander, he’s a fool. But if O’Flaherty just dominated two lefties and Bobby yanks him to have a righty face a righty, Bobby’s a fool for not staying with the hot hand. If Bobby uses Medlen in a high leverage situation, he’s a fool for doing that with a shaky rookie. But if Medlen pitches well in the middle innings and Bobby yanks him in the high leverage situations, he’s a fool. If Bobby ever pitches Jeff Bennett, he’s a darn fool. But if Bobby uses Buddy Carlyle, he’s a damn fool just the same.
Lew
July 26th, 2009
11:21 am
RG-Now now yet again. You know many here already think Bobby Cox is over the Rainbow.
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:22 am
Braveheart-
Ya got that right!
Lew
July 26th, 2009
11:23 am
Braveheart-Exactly.
FEAR
July 26th, 2009
11:23 am
Can anyone give a serious and legitimate answer on why Conrad was sent down and activating Norton?
Steve from OH
July 26th, 2009
11:23 am
Haha RG, but it’s more like this…hey, I’m tryin’ to get in N8’s band, what else can I do?
TnBrian
July 26th, 2009
11:24 am
Didn’t that Looper pitch well against us last year? I know there was one game in Atl. when he was with St.Louis and he pitched lights out but can’t remember his other starts against us.
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:24 am
Roman Gal–
Gotcha.
Steve from OH–
Big time.
Maybe he went off to learn the difference between “your” and “you’re?”
Haha! Or in his case, “youf” and “you’fe”…
You know it!
You know I know it.
Braves73
July 26th, 2009
11:25 am
Lew – I certainly agree with your position on available pitchers. My only bone of contention, is that Bobby needed to pull the trigger (on that move) one batter sooner. I was ok with O’Flahery being in the game in the 8th, I was not ok with hanging him out to dry (therefore giving Acosta an impossible situation). Every run, pitch, move, counts. The Braves have NO margin for error.
Steve from OH
July 26th, 2009
11:25 am
BH–right on…
TnBrian
July 26th, 2009
11:25 am
FEAR, because Norton is a switch hitter… oh, nevermind. Really, I can’t think of one logical reason why Norton over Conrad happend.
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:26 am
Braveheart–
Brilliant. That’s exactly the way it is!
Piedmont Blues (x-BFIR)
July 26th, 2009
11:26 am
FEAR,
Conrad’s a career minor leaguer who got hot when he was called up in an emergency. Norton has been one of the top pinch hitters in the majors for several seasons (including 2008), and having an experienced pinch-hitter was what Cox and Wren think is a bigger need. Besides, Conrad’s a quick phone call away.
I don’t agree with the decision — Conrad gives the roster more flexibility — but I understand it.
Piedmont Blues (x-BFIR)
July 26th, 2009
11:27 am
Enter your comments here
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:27 am
They went with Norton over Conrad because you don’t keep a rookie on the team just to let him sit on the bench. Those guys need to play as much as they cann. Didn’t we go over this when they kept Corky over Sammons when BMac recovered from his concussion?
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:28 am
I love it there! Shamus
Me too! It really is beautiful…too much deer poop (Don’t eat the coffee beans!!), but that’s managable. The girl to guy ratio is a little sad, though…
Carroll Rogers
July 26th, 2009
11:28 am
UNCBrave, from what I hear Kotsay is having issues with his back. ….and aren’t I nice to respond to a Tar Heel?
Lew
July 26th, 2009
11:28 am
FEAR-The only thing I can think of is that were they to release Norton (who DID have a great PHing year last year) he would be gone, whereas Conrad still had options and is only at Gwinnett (where he’s 1-10 since going down there).
People also need to realize that in almost 4,000 minor league at bats, Conrad posted a .261, .343, .4something SLG-hardly tearing it up for a minor leaguer. Maybe they felt that the NINE YEAR minor league record (or the .158, .158, .218 he put up in Oakland his only other time up in the bigs) was more an indicator of future performance than the 32 WAY over norm AB’s he put up in Hotlanta.
Paul Lentz
July 26th, 2009
11:32 am
Lew………..the Brooks Conrad demotion is just a “symptom” of the problem that is plaguing the Braves. While I was disappointed to see Conrad sent down (I feel that he could contribute more than either Kelly or Norton), I am not going to sit here and way that sending Conrad down was the “move” that “killed our season”.
In early June, Frank Wren made 2 moves that started what I thought was the “true beginning” of his blueprint to exert his authority. Trading for Nate McLouth (sending Jordan Schafer to Triple A in the process) and releasing Tom Glavine to make room for Tommy Hanson…..were strokes of genius. Even though the “fruit” was slow growing (primarily because we still had 2 easy outs in Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson), the seeds were being planted.
When Martin Prado emerged and “forced” Bobby Cox to play him over an injured Kelly Johnson (which in turn brought Brooks Conrad to the roster, enabling him to establish that he could be a decent contributor of the bench), combined with Jeff Bennett breaking his hand in Boston, and culminating with the Jeff Francoeur trade to the Mets……..it seemed like the pieces were in place to turn around the offense and make a second half run.
However, right after the Jeff Francoeur trade, Frank Wren called up Greg Norton and sent down Gregor Blanco. While Blanco cant be counted on to deliver much on offense, he as the speed and bunting ability to contribute off the bench (while Greg Norton is pretty much useless as a hitter).
Norton’s call-up basically rendered Brooks Conrad useless (Bobby Cox using Norton as his primary pinch hitter off the bench resulted in Conrad getting only 2 at bats in the 7 games after the All-Star Break before he was sent down on Thursday). So when you logically look at it, when Norton was added to the roster, the Braves got rid of Blanco and Conrad (because Bobby quit using Conrad).
Bobby’s mismanagement of the Saturday game against the Mets…..and his handling of the bullpen in the last game of the Giants series, prevent the Braves from being in a position of having an 8-0 home stand. 6-2 is nice. However, when the Braves are trying to climb out of the whole they dug themselves earlier in the season, EVERY WIN IS IMPORTANT.
Just as I feel that the “fruits” of the McLouth trade and adding Tommy Hanson didnt result in wins right away………I feel that the “negative” impact of the Norton situation didnt start turning “sour” right away as far as losing was concerned (our offense was so hot, it didnt matter). However, as some of these games tighten up (after all, our offense will fall back down to earth), the impact of some of these recent decisions will come back to “bite us in the A$$.
And that is sad too because Frank Wren was really making some things happen. It’s just disappointing that he had to give in to Bobby Cox on “his guys” (Greg Norton, Kelly Johnson……Peter Moylan still being used in crucial late inning situations). And lets not forget what lies ahead with some roster moves that will need to be made concerning some players rehabbing in Triple A right now (Jeff Bennett, Buddy Carlyle).
Lew………if you unable to see that there is more to this then the Braves “just demoting Brooks Conrad”, then you I dont know what to say.
nolie
July 26th, 2009
11:35 am
Baez gave up 5 ER in a 1/3 of an inning against Florida…Can’t we get a better reliever??? (UNCBrave)
I agree entirely. another one that you never know from day to day what you are gonna get out of him, and trading for relievers is chancy enough when you get a good one. You know how many innings he has actually pitched in games, but who knows how much real use he has had warming up and not getting in. The only guy out there who interests me a lot is Qualls and I think they want too much likely. Sherill is streaky but not too bad but again I hear they want a lot. getting close to THAT day though and interesting to see if anything happens, no doubt.
Piedmont Blues (x-BFIR)
July 26th, 2009
11:36 am
… and the Lentzmeister returns …
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:36 am
OK…my thing won’t refresh, so I need to type something random…uh…
McCann only went 0-5 twice in ‘06. He’s done it 3 times this year, including the 0-6.
Carry on…
Carroll Rogers
July 26th, 2009
11:39 am
Just got the lineup. No Chipper. Not sure what that’s about. Seems strange for a day game after a night game if the Braves are off tomorrow, but I’ll check. Kelly is in at second, Prado moves to third.
1. McLouth CF
2. Prado 3B
3. Escobar SS
4. McCann C
5. Anderson LF
6. Diaz RF
7. Kotchman 1B
8. Johnson 2B
9. Lowe P
nolie
July 26th, 2009
11:39 am
You can’t conceivably leave him in the inning once two batters have been walked, and then hang him out to dry by allowing another walk. (Braves73)
go look at what LaRussa did last night in the game log.Unless you have two guys warming up, it takes a while, and with all the use, we don’t need to have two guys up every time we relieve.
Roman Gal
July 26th, 2009
11:41 am
I like Escobar hitting 3rd when Chipper is out.
DukeBoy
July 26th, 2009
11:41 am
Duke > UNC……
Piedmont Blues (x-BFIR)
July 26th, 2009
11:43 am
Hope Chipper’s OK.
DukeBoy,
How many Final Fours have the Dookies been in the past five years? How many titles have Coach K’s boys won recently? Hmmm?
(crickets…)
Sadtoseeitthisway
July 26th, 2009
11:44 am
Can`t somebody get through to Prince Fielder about the sloppy look? Trying to appeal to inner-city slackers just doesn`t get it. This guy`s
just got so much talent and real goodness to him. Why would that look be any kind of an asset to any active major league player?
McFann :Ô:
July 26th, 2009
11:44 am
Thanks for the lineup, Ms. Rogers.
Church isn’t playing either? Thought today was a righty…I like Matty, though.
nolie
July 26th, 2009
11:44 am
(Braveheart)
yup, that’s Bobby. Just a damn fool no matter what he does. Everybody knows that.