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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,363 comments Add your comment
Steve from OH
July 30th, 2009
12:46 am
RG–that’s a good point, and I don’t think they’ll bring them along all together for that reason. I think Freeman will be the last to join us, with Heyward and Schafer coming at about the same time…
The A Bomb
July 30th, 2009
12:47 am
When they are ready, absolutely. . . But I believe Heyward needs to be on the Braves with some of his minor league buddies, even if he’s playing and they’re not. He cannot come up as THE GUY at this point. Way too much pressure.
I also see the Dodgers who had that 100-win Jacksonville (AA) team a few years ago and look what has happened with that team. Incredibly talented.
Roman Gal
July 30th, 2009
12:47 am
Besides, when Heyward does come up, he’ll have Hanson and Medlen as some youngsters to hang out with.
Bay Area Steve
July 30th, 2009
12:48 am
The DVR is a great thing, maybe the best of things, but, on occasion, it F’s you (channel Pesci: they F you at the drive-through). It makes you record stuff you never would’ve watched.
Movie shows up on the guide: Hackman, T.L. Jones, assasination; how bad could it be?
It was worse. It was like a DOB/MIB blog, page 20, with Paul Lentz domination, and no scroll-wheel available. That’s two hours of my life I’ll never get back.
The A Bomb
July 30th, 2009
12:48 am
Steve. . . Schafer in the leadoff spot would be great, assuming he hits.
RHR
July 30th, 2009
12:49 am
RHR
I love the Loaf on a blackberry, btw!
Wayne,
I’m not Loaf on a blackberry anymore. I started it but stopped doing it after someone stole the name.
Steve from OH
July 30th, 2009
12:49 am
What I see happening is (hold the rotten vegetables, folks) is Schafer once again opening the season in CF, barring injury, pushing McLouth to right and using Diaz as the starting LF for now. Heyward in June, McLouth to left. Freeman if CK struggles or if he proves exemplary in AAA.
John
July 30th, 2009
12:50 am
I think …with a wee bit of practice….McCann is fully capable of bunting a ball successfully…when there is nobody on the left side of the infield….except for somebody standing about 2 steps to the left of 2B…PLENTY of room for error….and if it’s foul…big deal.
And what’s this about “getting hurt” while bunting ?….Not sure I see the “danger” involved in bunting down the 3B line for a lefty…guess you could get hurt but… ???
I always found the easiest pitch to bunt was a fastball…even a goofy one (g)…as long as it wasn’t letter-high and out of the strike zone….MAINLY…I just don’t want to see McCann hitting against a “shift” for the next several years….so…as Barney Fife would say…” NIP IT !!…NIP IT IN THE BUD !! “
Bay Area Steve
July 30th, 2009
12:52 am
Anybody know if DOB ever got a taste of those Esco cigars?
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
12:52 am
I still think that sometimes we are too worried about messing up a kid. I think sometimes the opposite is true. I think you can baby them too much.
I don’t think bringing Schafer up this year will do any long term harm to him. If he is going to be good enough to play regularly, we will know soon enough. I don’t think this year messed him up at all. A bum wrist might have done more harm than a month in Atlanta.
If you asked him, he would probably tell you that it was extremely helpful for him to come up and see what the bigs is really all about.
Don’t worry folks. FW and his crew will make the right decision, and if it is to bring him up next month, I bet he does OK. Let the kid play!
Steve from OH
July 30th, 2009
12:53 am
Wayne–I don’t think it’ll mess him up, I just don’t think that the finances are in favor of it and the odds aren’t in favor of putting the hopes of your season on a 20-year old.
Bay Area Steve
July 30th, 2009
12:54 am
How does the guy who stole the “Loaf on a Blackberry” bit not have the balls to man-up, and own it?
Stealing others material is awfully low. Possibly Dane Cook?
Steve from OH
July 30th, 2009
12:54 am
RHR–you did the Loaf on a Blackberry? I loved that segment of the blog!
Come get in my poster, kids! Priceless…
nolie
July 30th, 2009
12:55 am
Heyward is a lot further along than Freeman…and that’s not a knock on Freeman. Jason will be up before Freddie. (RG)
he should come up next week with RS-F, no doubt about it !!
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
12:56 am
RHR
If you keep carrying around that anger, it’ll eat you up inside. You gotta get down to the heart of the matter, when the will gets weak, and your thoughts seem to scatter but I think it’s about, forgiveness….
Gotta move on my friend! (can’t let your fans down, now!)
nolie
July 30th, 2009
12:57 am
This team has ZERO bunting skills. (Superhoo)
since the advaent of the metal bats, less and less of that stuff is taught to kids. it’s not just the Braves who don’t bunt well as a team
Bay Area Steve
July 30th, 2009
12:58 am
Yeah, bro. What Wayne said.
Jordan did not push off.
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
12:59 am
Steve
You really aren’t putting your hopes in him, as much as just giving him the chance to see if he is truly ready. In the perfect world, the $$ part of it should not be considered (though I am a realist, and I know it is).
The A Bomb
July 30th, 2009
1:00 am
Since the Philadelphia series I think the Braves have done a great job with their bunts. . . Except for Diaz, who eventually delivered that 2-run triple. Even Kawakami tonight got it down.
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
1:00 am
BAS
You KNOW he did Steve!!! Heck, I was living in SC at the time, and I KNEW he pushed off!
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
1:02 am
As nolie states, lots of skills aren’t taught like they used to be. So many of these young guys come up with such raw skills, but with a weak foundation in the fundamentals. Is there a team that truly teaches this stuff through out their system. That is the answer. From the instructional league thru AAA.
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
1:03 am
The Governator is on Greta’s re-run. And he did not use the clear OR the cream!
nolie
July 30th, 2009
1:04 am
Movie shows up on the guide: Hackman, T.L. Jones, (BAS)
you talking about “THE PACKAGE”? Cause if so, you’re a doo-doo head.
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
1:04 am
That’s 3 in a row….that’s a sign.
Roman Gal
July 30th, 2009
1:04 am
nolie-
You’re right! Then Spanjer-Furstenburg can show Heyward what a real hitter looks like…
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
1:06 am
That movie was playing on my wife’s TV last night when I went to bed. She was fast asleep. I saw the gunfight in the restaurant, but nothing else. I am usually a big TLJ fan. Should I avoid this one?
Bay Area Steve
July 30th, 2009
1:07 am
I was nolie; it was so bad, I turned it off; and, I don’t turn ‘em off.
John
July 30th, 2009
1:08 am
I promise you…ANYBODY that can “barrel up” a goof 95 MPH fastball…like McCann can.. (did I just say “McCann can ?)…can learn to bunt… with just a wee bit of effort… and practice…
The A Bomb
July 30th, 2009
1:08 am
ST. LOUIS 3 LOS ANGELES 2 F-15
The A Bomb
July 30th, 2009
1:08 am
4 straight losses for the Dodgers
RHR
July 30th, 2009
1:09 am
Wayne, you think I’m angry? lol no…not hardly.
Oh and every know I break out Loaf doing a mark jackson call (come get in my poster, etc) but I dont think anyone got those ‘cept Chop Chop and unfortunately he seems to have disappeared.
Anyway Wayne, angry? No way. I mean, angry people don’t make joke posts during games while 2/3 of the blog is on suicide watch by the 2nd inning. Now Robert? Robert is angry. Coach? Yes sir he’s mad. But RHR is one happy chica.
Doom'n'Gloom
July 30th, 2009
1:10 am
And what’s this about “getting hurt” while bunting (John)
mighta been a reference to the broken face that Frenchy got while bunting in the minors
RHR
July 30th, 2009
1:11 am
When Ryan Dion Von Furstenburger gets to the show the letters that spell his name on the back of his jersey will start at his waist.
John
July 30th, 2009
1:13 am
Anything can happen (especially with Frenchy)….but….not sure bunting…leads the list of… “ways to get hurt” in baseball….
RHR
July 30th, 2009
1:13 am
Hey you know what? It’s 12:15 am and I have to do some laundry, mop my kitchen floor, dry my hair and be up by 5:00 a.m. and then drive to auburn when I get off work tomorrow. WTF. Goodnight y’all.
Doom'n'Gloom
July 30th, 2009
1:13 am
was nolie; it was so bad, I turned it off; and, I don’t turn ‘em off. (BAS)
I liked it, but mostly for the cast.
Jake W.
July 30th, 2009
1:14 am
John it was a reference to two years ago when Mac got hurt trying to bunt early in the season. He hurt his hand and it ended up hurting his swing. And the point I was making is some pitchers are just hard to bunt against, especially when you don’t do it a lot.
John
July 30th, 2009
1:17 am
“My boy” Kelly Johnson …..has GOT to get a bit of “action” in the not-too-distant future….Could be tomorrow….
The A Bomb
July 30th, 2009
1:19 am
Yes John, your boy Kelly will get into the game tomorrow after Chipper gets ejected.
nolie
July 30th, 2009
1:20 am
Yeah, I thought it was pretty decent myself. These youngsters just don’t have the patience to get into character driven movies.
Wayne in Utah
July 30th, 2009
1:24 am
Some nights I need a laugh. Often times I find the “Chick’s Dig the Long Ball” on youtube, but this one cracked me up.
Somebody posted the link a few days ago…the Korean baseball brawl. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7D8aDp3RUs
John
July 30th, 2009
1:26 am
A Bomb
I always said…My boy KJ has a higher “ceiling” that other “unnamed” players…and COULD end
up…in a couple of years… hitting in the 3-hole with a .300 avg and 25 HRs….so…subbing for an ejected Chipper… would give him a chance to practice hitting in that spot….JUST a bit earlier than I expected…
The A Bomb
July 30th, 2009
1:29 am
When Johnson gets in a hot streak he’s as good as anyone. . . Don’t like his 2B play as he’s weak on the backhand. . . Probably best-suited for the outfield. I still like Prado. He woke this team up.
John
July 30th, 2009
1:29 am
Wayne….”Chicks dig” was a good un’ for sure….but…the BEST all-time baseball TV ad was….drum roll….”HE MISSED THE TAG !!!! “….”HE MISSED THE TAG !!!!” (with Mr Baseball)
John
July 30th, 2009
1:34 am
Luvin’ Prado lately…but…it is just SO hard to give up on a 2B (admittedly weak defensively)…that can possibly hit .300 and 25 HR’s….Move him to the OF and he’s just another pretty face….if THAT….I think the Braves “powers that be” just can’t give up on the dream… of goin’ for the cheese… with KJ @ 2B
The A Bomb
July 30th, 2009
1:36 am
Escobar has also elevated his game since Prado has gone to 2B. . . Don’t see Johnson in the plans next year.
John
July 30th, 2009
1:42 am
Yep…Esco is a stud…(assuming there’s no meltdown)….still a long way to go this year….we’ll see about KJ…
jj
July 30th, 2009
2:00 am
Hey,I just want to give some hip hip horay to Andruw Jones for hitting 2 hrs tonite.I still don’t like the Braves givin his #25 to our new LF. Would they do this to Chipper,Glav,or John?I don’t think so and AJ should be getting more respect from a Team that he served sooo well.
THWG
July 30th, 2009
2:19 am
I tried posting this earlier regarding Hohn’s pulling out the lineup card right before tossing Bobby, but I think the blog gods feasted on my post rather than posting it. I’ll give it another go.
I believe the point Hohn was trying to make was that none Bobby’s players were getting hits all night, and that one strike call against Mac wasn’t going to change the game. If this is true, then that is an incredibly low blow from an ump to a manager, basically showing his team up. Then again, I think Hohn has gotten good at blowing things… Check out that ’stache. Reminds me of Ron Jeremy.
Bill M.
July 30th, 2009
3:08 am
Hey Wren, it’s time to shake your tail feathers. Don’t you realize the season is over. It’s been over for awhile. This team is not consistant. You have about five players that could be traded. It’s time to bring up Heyward & Freeman and see what they can do. Treat it like spring training. It will help their development, not hurt. At least they would experience the big leagues and know what to expect. It will not stunt their growth.
The Future
July 30th, 2009
3:10 am
we’ll see about KJ
Don’t act like you don’t already see what’s going to happen. If you can’t, I’ll tell you:
KJ will go on an absolute tear. He’ll win your hearts all over again. You’ll see his mirage of potential. Then, Kelly will pull a 4-40, followed by a brief 6-14, then another 3-32. He’ll lower his average from .300 to .224. The 4 bombs and 10 doubles, and 3 triples he’ll hit in his hot month, will stand for the next 60 games. KJ’s one good month will be overshadowed by 2 poor months, as well as all the fancy that lies within the grasps of hope and fanatical obsession you have for that kind, good hearted white boy. On average, Kelly puts up 2 good months a year. His 4 bad months are, in the words of Kawakami’s interpreter, “pathetic” and gets the team playing pathetically..
The Future
July 30th, 2009
3:12 am
I believe the point Hohn was trying to make was that none Bobby’s players were getting hits all night
Are you kidding? We outhit Florida tonight. Had 10 hits tonight bro….
Mixxo
July 30th, 2009
3:13 am
this just in……
winners get calls…..losers don’t
keep blaming the umps
NO MORE BOBBY
July 30th, 2009
3:20 am
Been away but let me guess we are back to these topics after two Marlins defeats….
TRADE YUNEL
PLAY JOHNSON INSTEAD OF PRADO
WHY IS NORTON ON THIS TEAM?
ADAM DUNN WILL LEAD US TO THE PROMISE LAND
WREN NEEDS TO BE FIRED
BULLPEN IS MISUSED
PHILLIES WON (SCOREBOARD WATCHING IN JULY)
Great to be back!!
Ugh.
July 30th, 2009
3:55 am
Kelly Johnson, Casey Kotchman, Rafael Soriano and Jason Heyward for Adrian Gonzales and Heath Bell
The Odoyles
July 30th, 2009
4:25 am
Odoyle rules
Mama Cox
July 30th, 2009
6:52 am
O. K. boys, DOB says we have a tough task tonight but you know I still love Mama’s boys even if you lose. You know I will be at the end of the dugout yellin’ and hollerin’ for you and takin’ up for you like I always do when them mean ol’ umpires strike you out. Mama fights for her boys so hard cause Mama loves her boys and Mama’s boys love her.
i cant take it anymore
July 30th, 2009
7:08 am
WOW.
if you go to the Braves mlb website, you can see the pitch that the ump called a strike.
It has to be the worst call I have ever seen. You have to see it
The Love Child of Dale Murphy and Johnny Cash
July 30th, 2009
7:11 am
I think Bill Hohn and Ron Jeremy are the same person.
18 Wheels of Love
July 30th, 2009
7:19 am
Someone has posted some pictures of the ‘fist bump’ online. I remember seeing Chipper come out of the dugout last night and thinking someone was showing us up. I’m sure there’s nothing to it but it’s the first time I have ever seen a player make a physical contact gesture with an ump. Really strange for sure.
Here are the screenshots and the one of Chipper coming out of the dugout. I think this would warrant a question or two to Chipper, Bobby, McCann and even Hohn if DOB could get access to him.
http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb125/ahbraves/bill%20hohn/
dragrace79
July 30th, 2009
7:32 am
Went to last night’s game at beautiful Landshark Multipurpose Facility. It was a tough loss in front of the dozens of Marlin’s faithful in attendance. But, there was a silver lining. Nate McClouth ripped a liner foul down the left field line. My buddy, a Mets fan (dressed in full Marlins gear to spite me), reaches up to catch it over his head. It hits his pinky and breaks the finger. A young boy in a Braves hat picks up the ball with a smile. My friend also knocked over his beer in the process. So, if nothing else, we can take solace in a Mets fan’s plight last night. Also, I must say, Kris Medlen scored points in my book last night, not for his pitching either. All I can say was his handling of Marlins fans heckling in the bullpen was priceless. The kid is pretty funny.
Joebrave
July 30th, 2009
7:40 am
If Hohn is umping in this game today, and starts his garbage, Bobby should march right out there, grab the b@stard by his pootytang stache, shake him around a bit then turn around and Donkey kick his ass into next week!
MiltonDawg
July 30th, 2009
7:52 am
The walk off the other day has made the Braves mentally challenged now. Need to right the ship today!! If not, August is going to be very depressing.
This Sorry Government NOT working for Americans
July 30th, 2009
8:10 am
The braves need another bat and thats a fact. The braves done need KK. Hes not any good and while we have Medlen sitting in the pen its a joke. They never should have signed KK in the first place. We didnt need him.
Its funny that its always the same. The braves go throught he first half dead as doornails and then they have one streak and “Hey I really like our team” Heres the real facts. Chipper doe not hit consistent and either does McCann. We need hitters. Home runs are not good on this team. At this point I dont see the braves getting anywhere. Although Anderson is hitting, hes terrible in left field. Our only hope is when the roster expands we will see some improvement.
Hudson comes back and takes over KK’s place (Althought I really dont think he can pitch out of the pen) Infante comes back and Jason Heyward is brought up through expansion. Cox needs to use him to see if he can hit major league pitching on a consistent basis. If he can, then Mclough needs to be moved. Im sorry, I really dont think this team has what it takes. It lacks hitting and once again we are going through a drought of hits. To bad for this pitchers who have pitched lights out more then not. If I were a pitcher, Atlanta is the last place I would sign. Again its all pitching and no hitting.
Offseason – upgrade 1st base, right field, left field, center field, 2nd base. Wow do we have our work cut out for us. And its not going to happen. Trade KK or release him. Hes worthless. Im still waiting on Lowe to pitch all those innings too. Seems hes doing well to get into the 6th. Where is that innings eater.
Jurrjens, Vazquez and Hanson are all pitcing like ACES. Add Hudson to the mix and put Medlin in at #5. Trade Lowe and KK in the offseason for hitting.
David O'Brien
July 30th, 2009
8:12 am
The DVR is a great thing, maybe the best of things, but, on occasion, it F’s you (channel Pesci: they F you at the drive-through). It makes you record stuff you never would’ve watched. — Bay Area Steve
BAS: That’s a Tivo problem, not a DVR problem. I’ve got DVR on my cable box, and it doesn’t record anything you don’t set it to record. So I’ve got series recordings for a bunch of stuff and then add individual programs or games or whatever that I want to record. Couldn’t be easier to set up recordings, and it doesn’t take that next step of recording “like” things that it expects you would want to see.
David O'Brien
July 30th, 2009
8:19 am
18 Wheels: Just so you know, none of the reporters (at least that I know of) who were covering the game were even aware of the fist bump, since we were hurrying to get our first-edition stories filed at last pitch and get the first elevator down to clubhouses. And it was not brought up by anyone we talked to about the umpires and the ejections, etc, so I’m not sure if most players or Cox even knew about it.
But I did see Chipper coming out of Bobby’s office, smiling about something, as a few of us were leaving the clubhouse and headed upstairs to file our write-thru stories with quotes. When I saw later that Chipper had seen the fist-bump, made me wonder if he was perhaps in there telling Cox about it or whatever.
We’ll see today if anyone has any opinions/problems with the exchange (the fist bump), and if so, whether they’ll say so publicly.
Daybed Wagmoe
July 30th, 2009
8:30 am
I can’t take it anymore — I went and watched the clip of Hohn’s called strike on the Braves’ website, and they’ve also got McCann being ejected. Good stuff. I can’t believe that an ump would act that way.
I went back and watched McCann’s at-bat again, after watching it live last night. I also looked at the pitch sequence on Gameday. The first 3 pitches are clearly off the plate, and the 4th one is right on the outside corner.
Bad calls aside, I’m not sure that McCann had a good approach, hitting-wise. Now, I’m no hitting coach, but when the pitcher is pitching you away, it’s a good idea to try to take one of those away pitches and hit it to the opposite field. Mac got a pitch on the outer part of the plate and pulled it, right into the teeth of the defensive shift, and hit into a DP. If he had pushed that pitch to the opposite field, especially with the defense shifted to pull, then he could hit it down the line and we’d have runners on the corners or even runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and Anderson/Escobar/Kotchman coming up.
Braves players, coaches, and fans can play the “blame the umpire for the loss” game all we want, but in the end we didn’t play smart baseball last night when we had the opportunities.
18 Wheels of Love
July 30th, 2009
8:39 am
Yeah, I was completely unaware of a fist bump last night but I did see Chipper come to the top step. Wasn’t until I logged on here did I see anything about a fist bump.
If I’m McCann, I would attempt to fist bump Hohn if he is on base near him.
Philly Insider
July 30th, 2009
8:45 am
Word out of Philadelphia is that the Phils still have enough to get Halladay. They could even do it without giving up Brown. Drabek, Taylor and Happ for Doc. That would give us some pitching for the playoffs and for next year. Pack up shop, Braves fans. See you in 2011.
Daybed Wagmoe
July 30th, 2009
8:46 am
So, apparently there’s an article in ESPN the Magazine entitled, “Why Yadier is MLB’s best catcher.” Since I’m not an Insider, I’m not able to read it online, but if someone with an account is able to paste it here, I’d love to read why Yadier Molina is the best catcher in baseball. Especially better than, say, Brian McCann, Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez, and Jorge Posada.
The Truth
July 30th, 2009
8:52 am
4 games back in the loss column for the WC. 6 teams in front of us. Franklin Wren still has time. All can be salvaged if he does what I say:
TRADE SORIANO
TRADE GONZO
TRADE VASQUEZ
Get back prospects for 2010 and beyond.
Anthony
July 30th, 2009
8:54 am
DOB,
I couldn’t watch the game last night…late night at work.
What’s the fist-bump that we are talking about?
dmack2027
July 30th, 2009
8:58 am
DOB,
Any idea what Hohn was doing when he pulled out the scorecard prior to ejecting Bobby? The TV announcers had no idea. My guess is he is showing Bobby how many guys he has rung up this game.
Would be very interested to hear what transpired. I too saw the fist bump.
I would also like to see BMac lay down a bunt, especially when the game was 1-0 with him leading off the inning.
One more thing, I would like to see the Braves hit and run with Prado more. It is clear he can handle the bat, and I think he would be perfect for this situation.
Daybed Wagmoe
July 30th, 2009
9:04 am
The fist-bump, for those wondering, occurred immediately after McLouth struck out swinging to end the game. Baker, the Marlin catcher, had the ball in his glove, stood up and turned around, and put his fist out for Hohn to bump. Which he did. But none of it was flashy or anything, and it was something that the catcher clearly initiated. Hohn and Baker didn’t hang around chat or anything; they separated immediately after the bump. You can see it clearly if you have MLB.TV.
Lew
July 30th, 2009
9:08 am
Just love reading the overnights in the morning.
Robert-You’e not dumb-you’re just totally anal.
Wayne-If your BABIP works half the time you’re not nearly as old as you claim to be.
Andy C-You need the correct blog terminology and spelling. When responding to an idiotic post (like that by This Sorry Government), it correctly should be “EYE think YOUR AND IDIOT.”
Anyone want to bet that with 5 hits in 6 AB’s since coming back from the DL, with a single, two doubles, a triple and a HR (can the SLG% even be calculated on that?), that KJ starts tonight?
Original Jon
July 30th, 2009
9:14 am
Philly Insider, its been said time and time again that the Phillies are not going to give up Happ AND Drabek in the deal for Halladay, so stop with the nonsense.
Shaun
July 30th, 2009
9:20 am
DOB, how is it handled when an umpire seems to violate standards of what good umpiring should be? I’m assuming Cox or a player or Wren or someone can somewhat easily contact the commissioner’s office, head of umpiring, etc. Just curious on how a team goes about protesting things like this.
My view of the whole situation, for what it’s worth: Obviously there was no reason for the ump to walk over to the Braves dugout and pull out the lineup card. This is blatantly the umpire drawing more attention to himself than the game at hand.
I’ve been saying this for a while now. MLB needs a system to objectively judge umpires so that bad umpires can be sent to the minors when they aren’t performing and good ones should be promoted. Umpires should be held to the same standards as players. I wish I had the resources, time and knowledge to create a website of umpire stats. I think more scrutiny is needed. Not that most umpires aren’t great at their job but, again, I think it’s perfectly fair to scrutinize them like players are scrutinized.
AndyC
July 30th, 2009
9:27 am
Bay Area Steve
DOB is right. There is a setting on your TiVo that records programs that it thinks you will like. You can turn it off. I use to have a TiVo and I had this setting turned on and it recorded one of those Mexican soap operas. It was hysterical. I had never recorded anything close to that before.
AndyC
July 30th, 2009
9:28 am
MLB Trade Rumors is saying that the Yanks are targeting Josh Anderson. Maybe he will get the last laugh and get a World Series ring.
Lew
July 30th, 2009
9:31 am
Shaun-There is Umpire oversight and they do get held to account for their actions. I think what the situation is is that it is not usually made public. Maybe, though there needs to be more accountability. Actually, isn’t that what QuesTec was all about?
I think that if they made it all public or held the Umpiring up to more intense scrutiny that they feel the Umpires wouldn’t be as well able to control games as they currently are-Right or wrong, though it may be.they
Shaun
July 30th, 2009
9:32 am
I don’t know if the fist bump was that big a deal. It was probably just the catcher telling the ump “good job” like many players will do at the end of games. But with all that transpired, it certainly doesn’t look good. I think there needs to be clear-cut rules about such things; not because congratulating an ump on a good game is wrong but because something like a fist bump could be perceived as an ump not being impartial. Perception is as important as reality when you’re dealing with things like this. It could affect how the public views the entire sport. On an extreme level, it could make MLB look like pro wrestling. I know that’s going way too far at this point and this is never been a problem as far as I know but something as seemingly meaningless as this doesn’t look good.
Lew
July 30th, 2009
9:33 am
You aren’t supposed fraternize with the other team during games, but fist bumping an Ump is cool?
Shaun
July 30th, 2009
9:35 am
Lew, I disagree with those who say umpires couldn’t control the games with more intense scrutiny. Everyone realizes no umpire is going to be perfect and that’s fine. But umpire absolutely need to be held to the same scrutiny as players and to me coming up with objective measures to judge umpires as we do players and making them public as players’ stats are made public, would go a long way toward improving the game. And don’t we all want an even better game than it already is?
Anthony
July 30th, 2009
9:36 am
Interesting how that happened. I’m sure we’re making more out of it than need be. I’m sure catchers talk to the plate umpire all the time, even about non-baseball related topics.
Lew
July 30th, 2009
9:39 am
Philly Insider-Even with Cliff Lee, the Phillies really only have 2/5 of a starting rotation (keep hoping Happ stays effective). As long as you have Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton on your staff and are grooming Pedro Martinez to start, you’ll continue to need those 15 run outbursts.
Maybe you’ll get lucky and Rollins will decide to keep playing like recently or Utley’s hip won’t need replacing. I wouldn’t start talking about a dynasty quite yet. Your payroll is stretched to the breaking point and none of your horses are getting any cheaper-much less being able to afford the rest of a pitching staff..
RHR
July 30th, 2009
9:40 am
Bobby sure wasn’t in the mood to discuss the ump last night, I doubt that changes today but the postgame show, (Brian Jordan) made a BIG deal about it. If they hadn’t shown the replay on braves live I never would’ve seen it either. I remember a couple people here saying something about chipper standing out there looking mad (as it happened, i guess) but I didn’t see any of that either. Maybe Chipper will give some good quotes about it, after the boston game he went on 790 radio and, after prompting by the hosts, made comments about Hohn’s “porn stache”…it was pretty funny.
braves4ever
July 30th, 2009
9:42 am
The “UMP BUMP AT HOHN” is not that big of a deal except one thing that could come from it. If Chipper came out smiling and has a little chat with the Boys tomorrow and they go out and just dust the Marlins ,start a 10-2 run the next few weeks ,then we can look back and thank Hohn for being such a horses arsh and giving us a kick.
RHR
July 30th, 2009
9:48 am
Anyone want to bet that with 5 hits in 6 AB’s since coming back from the DL, with a single, two doubles, a triple and a HR (can the SLG% even be calculated on that?), that KJ starts tonight?
He should. I’ve forgiven him for the 2 months of suck that put us in this hole to start with (kinda) … we need all the help we can get. I feel good about Javy being on the mound. But where to put him? I don’t know..Prado and Casey have played well and haven’t gone many games without a hit. Hmmmm can he catch?
David O'Brien
July 30th, 2009
9:52 am
Anthony, very true (9:36).
I’ll bet Hohn wishes it hadn’t happened on camera and all, but in the unusual and sudden event that a catcher turns and sticks out his fist bump, it’d have been almost as awkward for the ump to wave him off and walk away, wouldn’t it? Not excusing Hohn at all, just saying, it’s probably more Baker’s fault for initiating the exchange. You can say all you want from behind masks, tell him good job, say the check’s in the mail (smile) or whatever, and no one will have any idea what’s been said.
But to stick your fist out for a congratulatory “attaboy” makes everyone (well, actually just Hohn) look bad.
Shaun
July 30th, 2009
9:53 am
Interesting how that happened. I’m sure we’re making more out of it than need be. I’m sure catchers talk to the plate umpire all the time, even about non-baseball related topics.
I’m sure you are right and it wasn’t a big deal. But the issue is that it looks like or has a chance to look like the umpire isn’t impartial when he gives a player a fist-bump. That’s a big deal when you want your sport to appear to be on the up-and-up.
RHR
July 30th, 2009
9:53 am
Daybed Wagome – It’s really long (Insider article), i don’t think DOB would appreciate me going all Paul Lentz and taking up the whole page. Got an email address?
wjones
July 30th, 2009
9:53 am
Wouldn’t this be great? Man on first for the Marlins, the next guy hits a single to right. Runner heads to third, and Church fires a strike to Chipper. Hohn, being the great ump we know him to be, sets himself up directly behind Chipper so when he makes the safe call he can honestly say he didn’t see the tag. Just as the ball gets to Chipper, at the last second he moves his glove to apply a phantom tag, causing the ball to hit Hohn in his mustache! Then Chipper could calmly catch the deflected ball off his face.
PWHjort
July 30th, 2009
9:55 am
We lost 2 in a row. We’re doomed. Sell!
stynes
July 30th, 2009
9:59 am
Agreed that more is probably being made of the fist bump than should be, but as an umpire, you’ve got to understand the need to at least appear impartial. For Hohn, given the last 2 games he’d called for the Braves and the 5 ejections, a fist bump to the opposing catcher just doesn’t look good. It’s not in the spirit of professionalism and impartiality, imo.
Rock On....the denizen formerly known as Dadgum
July 30th, 2009
9:59 am
As we approach August some things are instantly clearer now than last week. The Phillies will win the division handily or at least handily over the Braves. Being in 6th place in the wild card leaves only a glimmer of hope and that glimmer could die completely with a series sweep at the Fish.
The Braves will begin some house cleaning to make room for those coming off the DL. Norton absolutely unquestionably has to be moved. He has no offensive or defensive position so this is a no-brainer not even Cox can miss. Next we have to find a home for KJ(probably paired with Medlen) and get a bat in return. KJ is sub-par defensively when compared to Prado, Infante, and Conrad plus his bat is too streaky to wait on the homerun potential. Trading KJ in my mind is again an absolute no-brainer.
Bring back Conrad! Actually he never should have been sent down but that has passed. Even if he doesn’t play much we need another bat and a 29 year old player doesn’t need to be in AAA if he has any value to the big club. Could Conrad be a trade piece? I would rather see KJ moved.
Assuming the Braves don’t trade for a bat, will Heyward be called up before Sept? He is a lock to be called up in Sept but if the Braves have any hope at all (and it is slim)of making the playoffs then they need bats on the bench now or it will be a going-through-the-motions thing in Sept. Oh yeah, don’t give me that “needs AAA seasoning crap” ’cause I ain’t buying it.
And for just about the 1,000th time the Braves are NOT trading Vazquez people. Rest easy on that one.
Lew
July 30th, 2009
10:01 am
Shaun-Dude, Your preaching to the choir on this subject. I think the quality of umpiring this year has been terrible. Just saying what the common thought among those whose opinions count think about it.
ernesto
July 30th, 2009
10:02 am
Saw Kotsay was DFA’s by the Sawx and then sent to the White Sox for a disgruntled minor leaguer. What did we get for him? Anyone remember?
McFann Ô
July 30th, 2009
10:03 am
Uga-Brave 101 games in and neither chipper or macc have 50 rbi.
Blech…please. Like, BMac’s had over 230 men on base in front of him already. I’m not even going to go the whole “Well, if they wouldn’t have called that an error on Utley, he’d have 50″ rout because that would just be stupid…he’s had plenty of chances to knock guys in. He needs out of that cleanup spot. I’m sorry, but he just doesn’t fit there…at least not this year. Don’t know if it’s still his eyes or what, but he just doesn’t seem to be the same hitter this year.
John, you’re really pushing the bunt thing…that would be fun and all, but I know BMac cann get plain hits to the opposite field. At least…he could…like I said, he doesn’t seem to be the same hitter…IDK. But it’s like, he has a really good game, then takes an 0-9? I don’t get it! What’s the deal?
RHR Hmmmm can [Johnson] catch?
Ha…we could put Diaz back there and stick Johnson in the outfield.
AndyC
July 30th, 2009
10:03 am
Shaun
I agree with you. I would like to know if this catcher does that with the ump after every game. It could just be something that he does. I also agree with DOB. It would have been akward if he had not returned the fist bump. I still hate Hohn but what else was he going to do?
ernesto
July 30th, 2009
10:05 am
I really don’t want to see Medlen dealt. I think he’s got some really good upside. If any one’s going to be dealt…and, granted, this is crazy talk, I’d love to unload Lowe’s potentially disasterous contract. He’s been good. He’s been productive. But 2 or 3 years from now? Yikes.