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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,325 comments Add your comment
Braves Grrrl
July 28th, 2009
1:58 pm
First?
HeywardTheFuture
July 28th, 2009
2:00 pm
Kotchman is killing us.
flange1
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Thanks for the new blog DOB! And did you see Don from Ella Guru’s post?
Riaan Spanjer-
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Furst… enburg?
Roman Gal
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
Riaan Spanjer- Furst…enburg?
Haha…that’s good.
dogsbrekky
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
RomanGal – to your post about Huddy signing for less than $12 to stay a Bravo… I dont think so, Yanks will be in on him for their launching pad park if he returns to near normal health…
Brightside
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
I hope they use Medlin more. Give Moylan more rest. Medlin is doing a very good job.
boutTHATmouf
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
HEY DOB
why you block me cmom man thats not right
18 Wheels of Love
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
“Give it up for the Stroker Ace, Mike Cooley.”
I like hearing we are in ‘hot pursuit’…makes me think of Roscoe P. Coletrane and his trusty sidekick, Flash.
JasonInFL
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
nothing like a fresh blog…on game day…after an off day…let’s go Braves! I will repeat that I hope that Mahay isn’t the “under the radar” reliever that the Braves are in “hot pursuit” of as reported by FoxSports…
LKS
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
Its really sad we now have to go out and spend money on a reliever because Bobby Cox doesn’t know how to manage the bullpen. Pretty sad.
boutTHATmouf
July 28th, 2009
2:05 pm
I dont even get an explanation
rdye826@aol.com
JasonInFL
July 28th, 2009
2:07 pm
18 Wheels of Love, that’s awesome…love the Dukes!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 28th, 2009
2:07 pm
It’s GAME DAY
….So happy to see this new bloggage…and a nice read!
My confidence in this team is growing day by day…but I’m a little worried can we really continue to keep hitting like this??? We need to…badly.
And yes we totally need to keep the pedal to the medal…as long as we keep winning games and series things will take care of themselves.
Is anyone else concerned with Chipper’s power numbers? Is he no longer even a 20 HR guy anymore???
And to anyone who says Kotchman is killing us…you obviously aren’t watching the games…solid average…for a 7 or 8 hitter in the line-up
TheNCBravesFan!
July 28th, 2009
2:08 pm
For all you Haters out there, I guess Bobby Cox looks per-tttttttty smart right about now, doesn’t he??????
Roman Gal
July 28th, 2009
2:08 pm
dogsbrekky-
It’s interesting to think about, though. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he were to sign for less, thus allowing the Braves to keep Javy.
But if I had to pick, I’d say keep Hudson and trade Javy. That way, you get to keep a great pitcher and get some good prospects for another great pitcher.
But hey, I have a solution…it’ll mean we can keep both! How about people start going to the games? Mmk?
Space Monkey
July 28th, 2009
2:09 pm
Medlin needs to get some innings. We’re taking a promising young starter and turning him into a mop up man.
dogsbrekky
July 28th, 2009
2:11 pm
Javier is hot and in a friendly environment for him after some tough years with Captain Ass-wipe in Chicago. We really wanted him in the offseason and gave up young Flowers (was it) for him and now he performs like we expected..
No bloody way we trade him
If we cut our profits and run the losses = Braves LOSERS… no way we ditch him, no way
Cox, Wren and I love the guy and 2 of those 3 kinda run the ship
Andrew in P-tang
July 28th, 2009
2:11 pm
12:59pm: The rays have shopped Scott Kazmir to the Mets and Rangers, according to Joel Sherman. The Rangers turned down an offer from the Rays and the Mets just had initial interest. The Rays would consider dealing Kazmir, Carlos Pena and even Carl Crawford to free up enough salary to make a blockbuster deal for Martinez and Lee.
if they are trying to free up money how much does pena make ..would we perfect fit
Fish Bisch
July 28th, 2009
2:12 pm
closeted fish fan: I’m glad I’m not alone. I was beginning to think I was the lone Marlin fan who frequents this board as well. Go Fish!
Doc Holiday
July 28th, 2009
2:12 pm
Wayne in Utah,
Thnx for the explanation. Actually I saw that play but didnt pay any attention once it ended so bad, so I didnt hear or saw anything after Diory was out at 2B. I read somewhere something about Escobars english, I thought it was related to that play or something, but for what you are saying, it looks like just a missed sign.
cbweatherman
July 28th, 2009
2:12 pm
In honor of the new Land Shark Stadium…
http://www.spike.com/video/land-shark/2802070
BossLady
July 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
The Braves lineup looks pretty good to me too.
N8
July 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
“Kotchman is killing us.”
Really?
Here are his, Chipper’s and Mac’s July stats:
Kotchman: 20 Games, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .313/.421/.469/.890
Chipper: 20 Games, 3 HR, 15 RBI, .294/.414/.500/.914
Mac: 20 Games, 3 HR, 18 RBI, .302/.333/.535/.868
It appears to me, that the ONLY category that Kotchman is lacking from the other two, is RBI. Kind of hard for him to have RBI, when the two of them are cleaning it all up, huh?
Add to that, Kotchman’s defense runs CIRCLES around what Chipper has offered this year, and what Mac will ever have to offer behind the plate.
I’m not sure that in the middle of an 18-7 run, that ANYBODY is killing the Braves right now.
TennesseePaul
July 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
DOB: Thanks for the new blog and the updates.
Loan Shark Stadium. Not a good name at all.
what’s that you say?
Shaun
July 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
They’re jumping on pitchers early and getting runs both by playing better fundamental baseball than they did early (I know, that’s not saying much) and by getting the kind of power they envisioned from a handful of guys.
The biggest difference for the Braves: They don’t have a lot of weak spots, if you take things position-by-position. Sure Kotchman isn’t great but he’s around league average on offense and his glove helps to make up for his offensive shortcomings. Garret Anderson is also a weak spot, but he’s a league average hitter.
The turnaround is mainly because of four things: Schafer getting demoted, the acquisition of McLouth, the trade of Francoeur and Kelly Johnson going on the DL enabling Martin Prado to play second everyday.
If the Braves had their current lineup all season, it’s hard not to wonder where they would be in the standings. They would likely be right there with the Phillies. But hindsight is 20/20.
njbraves
July 28th, 2009
2:14 pm
I am so sick and tired of the bullpen pity party. Yeah, a few guys may be overworked, but come on, it’s not as bad as it sounds. EOF and Moylan have fewer innings pitched than appearances. If they have to come in for one or two batters are they really exhausted the next day?? If they are, that’s on them. I understand that Bobby gets a little crazy with these guys some times, but if you listened to most people on here, you would think these guys pitched every single game.
UNCBrave
July 28th, 2009
2:14 pm
In regards to the Hudson vs. Vasquez. Those saying Vasquez is better (monty included) is just pure crazy. Here are their CAREER numbers:
Tim Hudson- Age 34 146-77 (W-L) Career 3.48 ERA 1.25 WHIP
Javier Vazquez-Age 33 135-136 (W-L) Career 4.24 ERA 1.25 WHIP
However, I’m all for keeping BOTH of them and shopping Kawakami but I have to choose, we keep Hudson and shop Vasquez
*Btw, DOB any word on how the Braves percieved Hudson’s rehab start and when is his next one?
JasonInFL
July 28th, 2009
2:14 pm
let me be the first to mention an ‘ol blog favoriate, Carl Crawford:
“The rays have shopped Scott Kazmir to the Mets and Rangers, according to Joel Sherman. The Rangers turned down an offer from the Rays and the Mets just had initial interest. The Rays would consider dealing Kazmir, Carlos Pena and even Carl Crawford to free up enough salary to make a blockbuster deal for Martinez and Lee.”
I know we are looking at a reliever, but I couldn’t resist…
Daslied
July 28th, 2009
2:14 pm
Pena makes $8MM this year and $10MM next. Slumping a bit this year as well.
njbraves
July 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
I didn’t know any Marlin fans existed. Good for you two…
LKS
July 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
TheNCbravesfan
I wouldn’t go that far. I would assume that a lot of the reasons why this team has gotten better is b/c of Fran Wren NOT Bobby Cox. If it was Bobby’s decision, I am sure Frenchy would NEVER had been traded and kept going out there killing us day in and day out. Glavine would be a starter and we would be losing the majority of those games. Also, lets see how much we use Bennett when he gets back. Hopefully not at all, but I’m sure if Bobby has his way he will be in there a lot. Then there is Kelly Johnson…should take about one more good game before Bobby starts shoving him in there over Prado (Why? have no idea). I would say kudos to Frank Wren for making this the best team it can be.
dap01
July 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
Hey Cox, don’t pitch Moylan or Gonzo when we are up by 4-6 runs.
N8
July 28th, 2009
2:16 pm
“For all you Haters out there, I guess Bobby Cox looks per-tttttttty smart right about now, doesn’t he??????”
Why? Because he’s forcing Wren to look at relievers due to him overusing Moylan, Gonzo and Soriano for the first three months of the year?
Or is it because it only took him 2.5 months to start Prado over KJ?
Perhaps it was waiting until June to give Diaz starts in RF?
Oh wait. I got it. I bet you’re talking about him taking half the season to move Escobar down in the order to drive in runs?
You’re right. Bobby’s a genius. How could I have missed it? (eyes rolling)
njbraves
July 28th, 2009
2:16 pm
Jason inFL….I’m with you on that….I’ve wanted Crawford on the Braves for years. Not gonna happen though.
Closeted Fish Fan
July 28th, 2009
2:17 pm
Fish Bisch–you are not alone (not said in MJ lyrics style).
Taylor S
July 28th, 2009
2:17 pm
Hey DOB …. Think theres any chance the Braves would consider using Hudson in a sort of piggy back role on the days KK pitches? Kawakami goes his usual 5 then Huddy comes in for the remainder.
JasonInFL
July 28th, 2009
2:17 pm
ok, guess i wasn’t frst
Hillbilly
July 28th, 2009
2:17 pm
DOB and 18 Wheels,
Going to see the Truckers in Jackson next weekend. It will be my first DBT show, and I am pumped! “Welcome to the rock show M-Fs.”
njbraves
July 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
N8….as soon as Bobby uses someone else in a late game situation, and that guy gets bombed, guys like you will kill Cox for not having Gonzo in there. Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the rest of the pen is shaky at best.
pryguy
July 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
Thanks for the new blog David. Big 3 game set for us here fellas. Let’s keep this up!
njbraves
July 28th, 2009
2:19 pm
Taylor s….I’ll answer that for ya…NO!
Shaun
July 28th, 2009
2:20 pm
The Bobby Cox bashing continues even though no one has provided an iota of convincing evidence that Cox is a horrible manager.
Daslied
July 28th, 2009
2:21 pm
DOB –
If you get a chance, check out Backyard Tire Fire’s “The Places We Lived”. Good stuff – sounds up your alley.
Doc Holiday
July 28th, 2009
2:21 pm
Wayne in Utah, with your permission………
TheNCBravesFan!.
Bobby Cox now looks more stupid than ever, since it took him forever to notice that Prado was our best option at 2B. It took him forever to get rid of JF. It took an injury sent by the baseball gods for us to get rid of Bennett. It took him more than half a season to understand that our light outs reliever is Soriano and not Gonzalez (and I think he might still be thinking about it).
I have to applaud his “not giving up” attitude on GA, yunel and CK.
Nick
July 28th, 2009
2:21 pm
Carlos Pena is hitting like .145 this month…
JasonInFL
July 28th, 2009
2:22 pm
Shaun, amen!!!
N8
July 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
“njbraves, Fair enough. How about earlier in the year, when he’d have those guys come in for the 3rd game in a row, despite there being a 4 or 5 run lead sometimes?
If Bobby was/is such a genius, he’d find guys that are suitable for mop-up duties in games like that.
We’ve got 3 of the 6 most used relievers in baseball. DESPITE having one of the best starting staffs in baseball, and acquiring two guys to “eat innings” in the offseason.
Plenty of starts early in the year when Vazquez could have gone an inning (or two) longer and Bobby chose to use BOTH Gonzo and Soriano in those games. Same for Lowe.
I said it then, and got BLASTED for it. Lowe and Vazquez are being paid a LOT of money to eat innings. In April, Bobby didn’t allow them to do so, and now his bullpen will pay for it, and Wren will have to “pay” prospects to other teams to acquire more help.
Bobby is notorious for over-using one or two horses in the pen and riding them to death. Don’t act like we’ve stumbled upon something new here.
JasonInFL
July 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
Nick, he also has as many HRs as our entire IF…almost
18 Wheels of Love
July 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
Hillbilly, you will have a blast.
Steve from OH
July 28th, 2009
2:24 pm
Careful Shaun, wouldn’t wanna get hit with a bunch of folksy wisdom from you-know-who.
Eric
July 28th, 2009
2:24 pm
DOB,
Where is Omar “the baby” Infante? Wasn’t that broken hand supposed to sideline him for about two months? It’s been just over two months and I haven’t heard much about him lately. Is he coming back any time soon?
Nova Scotia Steve
July 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
Nick
Carlos Pena has been KILLING me…Have him in my fantasy league
N8
July 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
“The Bobby Cox bashing continues even though no one has provided an iota of convincing evidence that Cox is a horrible manager.” Shaun
Uh….OK. Right back at you:
The support for Bobby (from some) continues, even though no one has provided an iota of convincing evidence that Cox is a great manager.
Doc Holiday
July 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
Chipper on a pace to play in 142 games this season………..not bad if he only misses 20 games. I think he has not started all the games he has played in………maybe as a PH once or twice. But that is still pretty good.
chc4
July 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
UNCBrave — All those numbers were -pre TJ surgery for Hudson. He’s now 34 years old and we all know that it takes most pitchers a full year to be 100% back in form. At his age, he likely will never reach that level again. Vazquez is a horse. I’d take Javy for the next 3 years over Huddy easy.
njbraves
July 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
Braves play poorly=Cox’s fault…Braves play well=Bobby has nothing to do with it and is a terrible manager?? You guys make no sense. The man is a HOF manager…that doesn’t happen by accident. And don’t give me the “he had great pitching..that’s the only reason he ever won anything” routine. Check out every great manager in history…they all had loaded teams.
Steve from OH
July 28th, 2009
2:26 pm
Yeah, RG, I do (vaguel) remember that one time you were nice to me…ah, ’twas a better time. At least we agree on Schafer and RSF, right?
Lamar Banks
July 28th, 2009
2:26 pm
Pena makes $8MM this year and $10MM next. Slumping a bit this year as well.
He may be slumping in terms of avg, but if the Rays are looking to move him the braves should be all over that. He would make a good Clean-up hitter and extended the line-up. I would be willing to move anone in the farm not Heyward or Schafer.
Dr Hoo
July 28th, 2009
2:26 pm
The answer to the innings the bullpen is putting up isn’t acquiring another arm, but letting the starters go deeper into games. If you acquire Wuertz, then you have to send down Acosta or Medlen or Logan. Same as if you promote Carlyle. And the same number of relievers get the same number of innings…and Bobby will still use the same 3-4 guys in all games with a lead, no matter how large, and all games with a close deficit. If, instead, you let Kawakami and Hanson actually pitch into the 7th or 8th inning occasionally, instead of pulling them after 6 innings with 84 pitches, or after 5.2 innings if they allow a single baserunner, then the workload as a whole is reduced. We’re starting to see this with JJ and JV, which is one reason we’re winning more games…let the others guys in the rotation stretch it out those games where they are capable.
Steve from OH
July 28th, 2009
2:27 pm
See what you made me do, RG? I misspelled “vaguely.” Now my feathers are further ruffled.
Max14
July 28th, 2009
2:27 pm
I read somewhere that the Rays would consider trading Crawford in the offseason to see what they could get. I have to at least make an offer.
Eric from MO
July 28th, 2009
2:29 pm
Can somebody give me a good reason why everyone hates Kotchman, other than he doesnt hit a ton of homeruns?
dogsbrekky
July 28th, 2009
2:30 pm
N8 – i FOR ONE love Bobby Cox, you want numbers, read the history books.
Who do you want instead, anyone please post who they want and then we can dump the negatives on them. Hard to fight the negatives.
We were a poor hitting team until recently and some of our “mailed it in” in certain situations. Cox, La Russa and Torre use their BP arms relentlessly and if I am correct all three are superior managers (in historical terms).
njbraves
July 28th, 2009
2:30 pm
N8…I’m not completely disagreeing with you. Moylan has been overworked, I think we can all agree on that. Lowe had a stretch of shaky starts a while back, where he didn’t get very deep into games. I think that contributed to part of this problem. I can’t kill Cox for not letting guys pitch 8 innings in April. My point is, how many times have they had a big lead and seen it evaporate at the hands of Bennett, Acosta, Carlyle, etc. Those are the other options, if he doesn’t use the other, more reliable guys.
dogsbrekky
July 28th, 2009
2:30 pm
meant our BP mailed it in sometimes
LKS
July 28th, 2009
2:31 pm
N8
Agree with you 100% on all the points you’ve made about Bobby.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 28th, 2009
2:31 pm
DOB…Do you think Smoltz is coming to the end of the line with the Red Sox???
He’s gotta have a solid outing very very soon or I think he may be pulled
RHR
July 28th, 2009
2:31 pm
Everyone hates Kotchman? Who knew!
Eric from MO
July 28th, 2009
2:31 pm
NjBraves I was kind of thinking the same thing as your 2:14 post.
DAP
July 28th, 2009
2:31 pm
piedmont in case you care, i responded to your last post on our “80% of tim hudson is tim redding” convo on the last blog.
UNCBrave
July 28th, 2009
2:32 pm
I thought about this today…
Is it possible Bobby Cox pulled starters EARLY the 1st half of the season and over-used relievers so that the starters would be MORE FRESH the 2nd half and therefore the STARTERS could go deeper into games???
Also, I’d like to see MEDLEN go into the game in a MOYLAN situation say ahead by a run or 2 in the 7th….That’s the ONLY WAY we’re gonna know if Medlen can handle the pressure. He’s been pitching well lately IMO
LKS
July 28th, 2009
2:33 pm
I’m pretty sure we have Medlen and we have hardly used him. I would trust Medlin if we were up 4 or 5 runs. But no, he ALWAYS brings in Moylan or EOF. Medlen could also go more than one inning when we have a decent lead in a game
LKS
July 28th, 2009
2:34 pm
re: hardly using Medlen….until a couple weeks ago that is.
Steve from OH
July 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
DAP–copy and paste that stuff, man, I’m too lazy to go to the last blog!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
By the way…does anyone realize the Phillies are 17 GAMES OVER .500….YIKES.
We are 3
Andrew in P-tang
July 28th, 2009
2:36 pm
The Twins and Braves have checked in on Freddy Sanchez, but some executives believe the Pirates will have trouble moving him without contributing to the $8.1MM option for next year that’s likely to vest.
what??
brent a.
July 28th, 2009
2:36 pm
It’s hard to prove whether a manager is good or bad. Wins and losses are the main stat to use in this analysis, but there are variables that people can bring into the discussion; however, the allowance of any one of those variables can be brought up for debate as to whether or not that is a valid piece of data to use in the discussion regarding the quality of a manager.
People can offer up plenty of evidence to support a claim that Bobby is good, or bad, and then people who stand on the other side of the argument simply say the evidence doesn’t really support the argument, or that there were other conditions present, other than the manager, that led to those results.
It’s cute, really. Watching people spin around and around feeling higher and mightier than others who clearly do not have the acute level of understanding that they possess which allows them to determine what makes someone a great manager.
We sat on here 1.5 weeks ago and listened/read while bloggers debated back and forth over whether or not 2-0 was a good count for a hit & run.
(And yes, the other issue, but that issue was much less debatable than what it was made out to be, in fact, I really think there was a side issue there that was driving people’s attempts at defending/crticizing what was clearly a mistake by a player).
Regardless of what you believe on the topic of hit&run on a 2-0 count, or any other of a myriad of other topics that can arise for analysis/discussion throughout a baseball game, you can always hold that your position/opinion is the correct one, and on something so abstract as to whether or not a manager is good or bad, you can always defer to, “I disagree with you on ‘x’ topic”, which allows you to continue to hold your position regarding a manager’s ability, and thus feel confident in claiming that the other
blogger/denizen/human/child of God is an idiot.
DOB discusses the very obvious “heavy use” of our bullpen. Is that evidence of Cox being a bad maanger? Some will say yes, others will say no, at the end of the day, two sides will disagree; but Shaun, will be right, because he’s always right, and if he isn’t, he’ll just change the argument or pretend that you’ve made an argument that you haven’t made so that he can easily refute it.
Go Braves!
Lamar Banks
July 28th, 2009
2:37 pm
Can somebody give me a good reason why everyone hates Kotchman, other than he doesnt hit a ton of homeruns?
Most fans feel power on this team is needed and 1st base should be the source. I don’t think for most its personal against Kotchman just looking for power i.e. HR
Frank Drebin
July 28th, 2009
2:37 pm
Some of my best work folks…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-S-eeInJVk
RICKY IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
July 28th, 2009
2:38 pm
DOB,
RICKY DIDN”T SEE WHAT YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT RICKY’S HALL OF FAME INDUCTION SPEECH. RICKY THINKS YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS OF MY DELIVERY AND DON’T WANT TO COMMENT SINCE RICKY IS THE GREATEST
Wayne in Utah
July 28th, 2009
2:38 pm
I can’t imagine why the Braves would be interested in Freddy Sanchez. Yes, he is a very good hitter, but where would we play him?
Nah…
dogsbrekky
July 28th, 2009
2:39 pm
Rickey would know how to spell his name.
N8
July 28th, 2009
2:39 pm
“i FOR ONE love Bobby Cox, you want numbers, read the history books.”
I have. The recent ones that is. And recently, he has NOT been a great manager. Larry Bird was a great player in past history too. That doesnt’ mean I want him playing for my favorite NBA team NOW.
I’m not a Bobby Basher. I just don’t give him the credit that the Bobby-Lovers do. I hold him JUST AS responsible for their recent failure as I do for their past success. It HAS TO go both ways. The Bobby supporters always want to blame “poor players” or injuries on recent failed/flawed seasons. Then don’t want to give the 3 HOF pitchers (and various other all-stars who’ve been in the everyday lineup along the way), credit for the success.
It CANNOT go both ways.
njbraves, I won’t argue that. My problem, is why wait so long to make changes if you don’t have other options you trust in the bullpen? Why keep a guy like Bennett around so long? Thank god he broke his hand, or he’d STILL be out there.
If you don’t trust those guys, find people you do. If Bobby and Wren were constantly shifting guys up and down from AAA or AA with the rejects in our pen, I’d at least think they were TRYING to fix the issue. But why wast 25 man roster space on guys you are never going to use? Why have a guys like Medlen (at his age) wasting away in the bullpen, only to be used in blowouts?
So, while the arms are partially to blame for Cox only using the good ones, Cox (along with Wren) has assume some of that blame for CHOOSING to have those guys out there in the first place.
Again. It can’t go both ways.
cabravesfan
July 28th, 2009
2:39 pm
Everyone hates Kotchman?
RHR-
Not everyone!
chc4
July 28th, 2009
2:39 pm
Is Cox supposed to leave KK in when he’s thrown 100 pitches thru 5 innings? I was thrilled when he left Hanson in to close out the 7th against SF the other night after he got in trouble w/ over 100 pitches. There’s only so much Bobby can do. KK, JJ, Lowe and Hanson all tend to throw alot of pitches.
Barry (last name not Bonds)
July 28th, 2009
2:40 pm
Tonight’s lineup if Cox was GM
1. Prado (Well, he got this one right)
2. Escobar (An RBI machine, he should have been hitting lower)
3. Jones
4. McCann
5. Francoeur (Yes, Frenchie would still be starting)
6. Anderson
7. Kotchman
8. Schafer (He wouldn’t have pulled off the trade for McLouth)
Cox is loyal to a fault. He is severely inept at judging contributors to success. Why is a guy that’s currently batting .122 on the roster over a guy that was hitting .344? Why Cox? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? I don’t care what he did LAST YEAR.
Roman Gal
July 28th, 2009
2:41 pm
At least we agree on Schafer and RSF, right?
Yessiree! I can’t believe so many people on here are willing to trade Schafer for just about anybody. That haven’t seen what he really has to offer. I remember on a Fox Saturday game earlier in the year, the commentator said something along the lines of, “How can a kid with a swing this pretty be hitting .220?”
Some guys have what it takes to be successful in the major leagues and some guys don’t. I think Schafer has what it takes. He has an excellent eye, a terrific arm, and has big ears that’ll help him parasail to the ball in the outfield. What’s not to love?
RHR
July 28th, 2009
2:42 pm
Not me either, cabraves.
Steve lol @ too lazy to go to the last blog. Reckon how lazy BAS is feeling today.
N8
July 28th, 2009
2:43 pm
What kills me about the Kotchman bashers (due to him not hitting a ton of HR), is that those same people don’t realize that we get a lot more power from B-Mac and the catcher position, than most teams that have a power bat at 1B. So it’s a “wash”, right?
It’s not rocket surgery.
Roman Gal
July 28th, 2009
2:43 pm
Oh, dang…I just found out the tax-free weekend starts on Thursday instead of Friday!
This is GREAT news!
David O'Brien
July 28th, 2009
2:43 pm
boutTHATmouf: How am I supposed to know who you are, your blocked identity, when you’re on here now as someone else?
dogsbrekky
July 28th, 2009
2:44 pm
N8 – there are many intangibles to the hof manager that stats cannot show. I listened up here in “evil empire city” for years about how Torre was a poor coach/manager for tactical miscues etc.
Yet everywhere Torre goes there is a little team that follows and a winning record.
When respected industry sources are asked about the “players” selection for manager it IS ALWAYS BOBBY COX, when media members are asked for best manager it is usually BOBBY COX.
When respected industry analysts are asked (I think Dobi One Knobi has done this many times) if Bobby Cox should be sacked, they laugh and imply that such bloggers are not too real smart.
So can anyone tell me who they want right now to manage the Braves (and please not Ned Bloody I got sacked just b4 playoffs Jost”
Shaun
July 28th, 2009
2:44 pm
The support for Bobby (from some) continues, even though no one has provided an iota of convincing evidence that Cox is a great manager.
Players, coaches, managers, front office personnel, media members, analysts, most fans, etc. view Cox as a fine manager. So the burden of proof would seem to be on those who think he’s not a fine manager.
Eric from MO
July 28th, 2009
2:44 pm
N8 as for taking Cox 2.5 months to start Prado over KJ needs to stop. Cox was already on record for saying he would of done that early if not for Prado having hurt his hamstring or groin.(I dont remember what it was) Also Cox had already started using Infante over KJ before he got hurt. Not Cox’s fault Prado and Infante have been hurt.
Now I will admit Cox misuses a pen, no way to deny it, but for the lineup he has done the best he could. Lets not forget that Kelly had a good May. As for Francouer, Diaz and GA were struggling early and there was no good option. He just had to play him and hope they could somehow trade him, which they did.
As for Lowe and Vazquez going longer, that is just dumb. They are both on pace for over 200 innings. If you used them both longer then they would be tired and we would need starting pitching. Plus if you pitched them another inning and they got shelled you would be one of the first blaming Cox for leaving them in too long.
Dogsbrekky good post at 2:30. Cardinal fans hate LaRussa. Braves fans hate Cox. Yankee fans hated Torre and yet all three are highly successful. Remember how bad Yankee fans wanted Torre gone. What happened? After making the playoffs 11 or 12 straight years, they suddenly miss it. Coincidence? Doubt it.
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
July 28th, 2009
2:44 pm
C. Caveman
I wouldn’t mind the Braves getting Mahay again. I was kinda sad they didn’t keep him the last time they had him.
Barry (last name not Bonds)
July 28th, 2009
2:44 pm
On Casey Kothman, he is a gold-glove caliber first baseman. He HASN’T MADE AN ERROR since joining the Braves last year. The guy is a contact hitter, nothing more. He is an above avergae hitter with little power and a plays excellent defense. I can’t point to any game where I remember him being a main emphasis for losing a game. What are you haters talking about?
Nick
July 28th, 2009
2:45 pm
Andrew in P-Tang: Sanchez has an option year that vests if he gets 600 plate appearances
boutTHATmouf
July 28th, 2009
2:46 pm
this is the same screen name i have used for the past while before that i was superman. This is my work computer… the one that is blocked is at home
dogsbrekky
July 28th, 2009
2:46 pm
N8
July 28th, 2009
2:43 pm
What kills me about the Kotchman bashers (due to him not hitting a ton of HR), is that those same people don’t realize that we get a lot more power from B-Mac and the catcher position, than most teams that have a power bat at 1B. So it’s a “wash”, right?
It’s not rocket surgery.
here here, I laughed a LOT at the last line.
BTW where is our resident liar surgeon Larry the Hater