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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,268 comments Add your comment
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
August 6th, 2009
4:13 am
DOB
Arkansas City Kansas, eh?
That’s cool. My hometown is Newton but I was actually born in Great Bend Kansas. We only lived in Great Bend for like two years after I was born in 75, and moved to Newton in 77 and I lived there all my life up til 2001 when I moved up to Ottawa (up there by Lawrence) for work.
Rodney Derrick
August 6th, 2009
6:12 am
Tonight is a big night for the former Brave’s bearded icon as he starts against the Yankees for the first time in Red Sox uniform. Will his continuing difficulties be the story or will he show he is still the big game pitcher? Inquiring fans want to know. Game live on MLBN.
Paul Wall
August 6th, 2009
6:40 am
Why is it that Happ for the Phillies is pitching better than Hanson?
Vinings Jim
August 6th, 2009
6:55 am
Hanson walked a couple of guys before he settled down, and gave up what is about the shortest home run possible in the National League, while still getting over being sick for a month. Not sure I’d be complaining about how he’s pitching.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
7:31 am
All you Heyward Heads probably already know this but…Wren is traveling with the MS Braves this week.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090806/COL0504/908060348/1287/SPORTS
PWHjort
August 6th, 2009
7:43 am
Why is it that Happ for the Phillies is pitching better than Hanson?
Because Happ has an utterly unsustainable 84.3 LOB%.
Vinings Jim
August 6th, 2009
7:48 am
RHR – thanks for the link – thank goodness Rob from SC isn’t here yet or his head would be exploding.
DP
August 6th, 2009
8:00 am
Thanks for the link RHR. Sounds like Wren is seriously considering calling up Heyward. I suspect he will be starting in right when the Braves are back in town next week against the Nats and the Phillies.
tommy hanson fan
August 6th, 2009
8:01 am
I really hope hanson’s velocity is a result of being sick….he was 88-91 all day..hit 95 once..but his velocity has been pretty suspect the last few outings..has anybody herd of concern over his lack of velocity?
Vinings Jim
August 6th, 2009
8:02 am
Tommy Hanson Fan – he is still 10-15 pounds below his playing weight – it will be okay
bigchiefrg
August 6th, 2009
8:13 am
Hey RHR, thanks for that link. Very interesting to hear how FW waivers back and forth on answers about Heyward.
braves4ever
August 6th, 2009
8:21 am
RHR, thanks for the link that was good and very interesting.
PWHjort
August 6th, 2009
9:10 am
The Braves have signed Mike Minor, this year’s 7th overall pick, to last year’s slot bonus–2.42 million. Largest bonus in Braves history.
PWHjort
August 6th, 2009
9:11 am
Braves sign Mike Minor.
PWHjort
August 6th, 2009
9:12 am
Sorry for the double post, wordpress is screwing with me.
PWHjort
August 6th, 2009
9:21 am
http://tinyurl.com/m69knt
Wes
August 6th, 2009
9:27 am
Bobby, I know you’re still playing the “How many times can I run Moylan, Gonazalez and Soriano to the mound in 1 game” game, but do you have a legit reason why Hanson only threw 72 pitches yesterday? Beautiful weather, his second start after a long break…..WTF?
Heath
August 6th, 2009
9:32 am
How interesting would things be if the Marlins were to some how sweep the Phillies this weekend? ….after both lose today of course.
Heath
August 6th, 2009
9:36 am
Wes -
Regarding your question for taking Hanson out early… if I were to guess, the Braves are probably just being cautious with him since this is his first year in the Majors. You don’t want another Kerry Wood and/or a Mark Prior… better to keep him on a short leash when you can. And yesterday, the lead was, so, no reason to push him.
braves4ever
August 6th, 2009
9:39 am
PWHjort , thanks for the link, I was wondering about Minor and if he was going to get in some action this fall. This dude will also be on a fast track (1 year or so) to the bigs. Could give us 2011 options on who to sign.
Supes
August 6th, 2009
9:44 am
Minor should start with the AA team. I think all those years at Vandy are equal to A Rome or Myrtle Beach as far as the level of competition.
Have him work a year in AA, and after that, if he proves that he can handle that, move him up to AAA.
Gotta remember he’s got more “mileage” on his arm than a HS Pitching prospect.
I hope he can turn into a serviceable number 4 or 5 starter in the future.
Tomahawk1310
August 6th, 2009
9:53 am
How great would it be to see Jason Heyward hitting 450 ft. homers in the Bigs soon. I think that would be the kick in the a#* this team needs for the playoff push. Sounds like it could be happening if Wren is traveling and watching the AA club.
Cdubb
August 6th, 2009
9:54 am
I feel like this has been said a lot lately, but this is a big series ahead of us. If we can have a good showing against the Dodgers and keep it close with the Marlins and Phils, there is a lot of baseball left to make a late season run. We still have three series left with each of our NL east foes. If we can keep up our dominance with the Phils (I know they aren’t the same team as they were earlier this year, but if we can get hot in the first game we play against them we could get in their heads), and win some against the Marlins, we might have a shot.
Rock On......the denizen formerly known as Dadgum
August 6th, 2009
10:06 am
What? And we are to be shocked by how good Prado is playing? Not me, rewind back to say last November. I was saying it is very clear that Prado is overall a better player talent-wise than KJ. Offense,defense,special teams (sorry wrong sport), range, turning the DP. KJ has the speed edge.
Frank Wren is a smart man…he listens to me. Thanks Frank. Seriously, the man has made some very good underrated moves. The LaRoche trade was I felt somewhat headscratching but it has turned out well. Real well. A larger sample will tell but since it has worked out so far props go to FW again. Could LaRoche be the big bat we have been looking for lately? Can’t see any other big bat out there I would trade for that would be doing better than LaRoche. So yeah, until he proves otherwise, his new name is…. THE BIG BAT.
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
10:08 am
Hmm…Randy Wolf tonight, eh? Since BMac played the DGANG yesterday, wonder if he’ll be in there tonight against the lefty…?
Hu-hu…gotta see if I cann find his last hit against a lefty…I think he has a couple since the Break.
richbrave
August 6th, 2009
10:15 am
DOWN ON THE FARM:
Before the arrival of MIKE MINOR, I thought a look at the current DANVILLE (high rookie) roster might be worthwhile.
RIAAN SPANJER-FURSTENBERG 1B. The 6′2″ SOUTH AFRICAN right-hander is enjoying an exceptional season in high rookie ball. With 138 AB’s, he’s generated quite a bit of offense in 35 games. So far he’s carrying a .384 average with 53 H, 33 RBI, 24 R, 81 TB, 10 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 7 BB, and 25 SO. His OBP stands at .429, slugging at .587 and OPS at 1.016. He’s ONLY hitting .330 against righty pitchers, but since the vast majority of his AB’s (109) have come from those, his power numbers are mostly against them. In his 29 AB’s against left-handers, he’s had 17 H and 10 RBI with four 2B and one HR. An all-universe BA of .586 with a 1.373 OPS is nothing to sneeze at. Cracks in superman’s armor have appeared recently however. After a blazing June(.481), his numbers have had a trajectory back toward earth. .378 in July, has lead to a pedantic .231 in August. The book is out on him. He hits across the board on all situations however. .357 with the bases empty, .412 with men on, .367 with men in scoring position, but only one HR in the pressure situations. Also, his SO-BB ratio declines significantly when the pressure’s on. Four BB and 11 SO’s with the bases empty falls to three BB and 14 SO with men on, and two BB and 13 SO. All this it typical stuff for a 21 year-old prospect. But he does need to pick it up a bit in August.
Rock On......the denizen formerly known as Dadgum
August 6th, 2009
10:19 am
The standings say we are 6.5 games behind the Phils. I say it realistically is 7 as we are 8 back in the loss column. Assuming the Phils take 2 of 3 games when we are idle. No question the Braves rose to the occasion by winning 2 straight against the Padres. Now we need a split in LA. That would keep us pretty much in the division hunt.
Looks like the San Fran team and others will keep us out of the wild card. Frankly, I see no reason to monitor the wild card race. We have a worse shot at that as I believe we only play Houston head to head among the wild card hopefuls besides our division. We have more control over what happens in the division and we are battling one team and keeping only one more at bay. Like those odds over trying to leapfrog 5 teams.
tvsportscaster
August 6th, 2009
10:20 am
RHR, Thanks for providing the link, however, don’t read too much into Wren’s visit to Pearl, he said on Bill Shanks’ radio show yesterday that this visit has been planned for a longtime. However, he did reiterate during that interview what he’s said all along and that is that a player will let you know when he’s ready. That being said, it would not shock me, that if the Braves are still in the race in September, Heyward would get a call up.
Brett
August 6th, 2009
10:25 am
we signed mike minor. gave him a 2.42 million dollar signing bonus.which is the highest ever to a seventh overall pick. beating the signing bonus prince fielder got…he better be the next tom glavine or better it hes really worth that much
DAP
August 6th, 2009
10:31 am
dadgumi think your right. the giants right now have the same number of wins as the phillies, and we dont play them at all anymore, so they will be tougher to catch. but, the same thing is always true. just win. if they do that, they still have a good chance of being there in october, based on who they have to play still.
9 games left against the phillies, 10 left against the marlins, and the fish and phils have 6 left against each other, so if we can beat up on them, and take advantage when they beat up on each other, we could do this thing.
i will be pumped-and surprised- if we are able to do it, but all we really need is for the lineup to get hot.
DAP
August 6th, 2009
10:31 am
correction, the phils and marlins have 9 games against each other left.
Rock On......the denizen formerly known as Dadgum
August 6th, 2009
10:34 am
If FW is following the Ole Miss Braves then you can be certain it isn’t because he likes the Mississippi humidity. While Heyward should indeed be called up by Sept. 1st if we are in the hunt, it could very very well be that Wren doesn’t want to chance not having another bat now and risk not being in the hunt by Sept. Thus, bring up Heyward now assuming he likes what he sees and he could make a big impact.
The Braves don’t have the luxury of time at this point if they are going to make a strong move. The Braves are 5 games over .500 since the break but have yet to put a dent in the standings. They are looking for Superman at this p oint and he may well be playing at Ole Miss.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
10:37 am
Jim – I’m sure Rob already knew all about that.
Rock On......the denizen formerly known as Dadgum
August 6th, 2009
10:38 am
DAP….yeah, just win baby. That is all you can do. But even at any realistic win/loss ratio it is simply not going to be good enough to overtake the wild card race. It’s all in the division as you have pointed out and frankly that is the way it should be.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
10:41 am
DOB, is Heyward in tonight’s lineup?
LOL you win, Paula.
Rock On......the denizen formerly known as Dadgum
August 6th, 2009
10:44 am
Just wondering….anyone in favor of moving Norton and KJ off the roster for Conrad and Heyward? Think about that one for awhile. Could easily happen….soon.
Rock On......the denizen formerly known as Dadgum
August 6th, 2009
10:48 am
Only 9 blog pages and posts are getting eaten right and left. Check ya later.
braves4ever
August 6th, 2009
10:49 am
Rock On, Dadgum, looking good all that front but I don’t see Wren making a move unless 2 things happen ,1 someone(s) get hurt like Church this week or slumps, 2 Heyward continues to get it done.
All said I personally say Bring him up for Philly ,maybe he will be the giant killer we need.
flange1
August 6th, 2009
10:49 am
Morning all,
Nice win for Tommy H. yesterday! Good to see the offense rolling too.
I think it is crazy to try to win the division or win the Wild Card and forget the other. The bottom line is you play each series to win the series and worry about the standings in September. If the Braves play great they have a chance to get to the playoffs, if they don’t then so be it.
In terms of Heyward, I don’t want to see him in ATlanta this year. If he has to get called up, my preference is if the team is out of contention. Just don’t want all of the pressure to give the kid trouble. He is too good a prospect to rush and potentially damage.
Play with the folks that you have, pick up a relief pitcher if you can and see how good the team really is.
Folks here forget that you have to win with what you have, you can’t always be looking for someone to come in and save the day.
flange1
August 6th, 2009
10:51 am
Dadgum,
No and No to dropping KJ and Norton for Heyward and Conrad.
Doc Holiday
August 6th, 2009
10:55 am
Paul Lentz,
Im surprised………he was taken out after facing only 2 batters and giving up 1 run? Shouldnt the manager wait until he gives up 5 to take him out?
6-4-3
August 6th, 2009
10:56 am
I have a newfound respect for Garrett Anderson. After the first month of the season when he was battling injuries he was really strugging. But he’s really come around nicely and has been a real steady force in the lineup for awhile now.
I’ve even stopped calling him by his nickname. My young son still likes it and uses it though. He heard me using that name and thought I was referring to him as meatloaf and thought it sounded funny. I guess the name will live on then.
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
10:59 am
Rock On Only 9 blog pages and posts are getting eaten right and left.
Yeah, not sure what’s up with this thing lately.
You all are Cox apologists
August 6th, 2009
11:04 am
Bobby Cox managed a “great” game yesterday. So what that he allowed his BEST TWO RELIeVERS to pitch, he should “NEVER” be questioned. You guys must have forgotten about those 14 straight division titles? Bobby Cox is perfect in every sense. His pitchers never get bunts down while I watch other pitchers consistently bunt their base runners over. This is not Cox’s fault, it’s Terry’s. In regards to stealing bases, why steal when we can just wait on the 3-run homer? We have “great” power in our lineup so trying to manufacture runs goes against his philosophy. You Cox haters should give it up, Cox is PERFECT. The failures in the post season are the players fault, Cox had nothing to do with it.
You all are Cox apologists
August 6th, 2009
11:05 am
If the Braves don’t make the playoffs this year, COX SHOULD RECEIVE NO BLAME. It’s the players fault. So what if Prado should have been the starter, Kelly should have done his job. So what that Schafer was a strikeout machine, Wren should have started the season with a proven CF. So what that Moylan leads baseball in appearances, his arm is NEWLY CONSTRUCTED so he can handle it. Cox gets the best out of his players so it is what it is. Cox got 1 World Series out of 14 so be happy. All the other 13 times, the losses resulted from the players making stupid decisions. Bobby Cox ALWAYS implements the correct lineups, bullpen subs, pinch runners and hitters, etc. By the way, did I say Cox should manage until he’s ready to leave on HIS terms? COX IS PERFECT and he deserves to manage the Braves until he reaches that big dugout in the sky.
wjones
August 6th, 2009
11:12 am
“Bobby Cox managed a “great” game yesterday. So what that he allowed his BEST TWO RELIeVERS to pitch, he should “NEVER” be questioned. You guys must have forgotten about those 14 straight division titles? Bobby Cox is perfect in every sense. His pitchers never get bunts down while I watch other pitchers consistently bunt their base runners over. This is not Cox’s fault, it’s Terry’s. In regards to stealing bases, why steal when we can just wait on the 3-run homer? We have “great” power in our lineup so trying to manufacture runs goes against his philosophy. You Cox haters should give it up, Cox is PERFECT. The failures in the post season are the players fault, Cox had nothing to do with it.”
Great post, though it had almost nothing to do with the game yesterday.
We actually used our 3 best relievers. We only won by 4 runs, so even if that doesn’t qualify as a “save”, a 4 run lead is still something you don’t just play around with when you are trying to stay in playoff contention. I will, however, give you Gonzalez pitching the day before as a little overkill. If Hanson had been stronger physically I’m sure he would have pitched longer, but them’s the breaks.
Tommy Hanson got down 2 bunts yesterday. Watch much?
We scored 6 runs, even though ALL OF OUR HITS WERE SINGLES. There have been attempted steals in this series, and aggresive base running, sometimes costing us, but that’s the price you have to pay. Don’t criticize us when we get thrown out if you were criticizing us for not running before.
Let’s get in the playoffs first, then we can worry about losing them.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
11:13 am
In n Out bURGER reference in the blog, that place is awesome, had one enar my house in Las Vegas, super burgers, best fast food I have ever had !
Rihanna Diane von Furstenburg gets more coverage from bloggers here than Prince William gets in the UK media, is he that GOOD ?
Heyward to be here in September yes ?
fantasy NFL for any DOB followers
espn.com
League = Obi One Knobis Braves
password = mccannrules
will have the draft one night when we fill up, have 4-5 members so far, 10 team free league
Doc Holiday
August 6th, 2009
11:14 am
INF/OF Omar Infante(notes) (broken left hand) went a combined 2-for-6 in the first two games of his rehab assignment with Class A Rome (Ga.). Infante, who has been out since being hit by a pitch May 20, began taking live batting practice only last week, so he is not expected to join the Braves on the current road trip.
Lew
August 6th, 2009
11:14 am
Better to be a Cox apologist than a complete and utter Idiot.
Doc Holiday
August 6th, 2009
11:14 am
RHP Buddy Carlyle(notes) (shoulder, diabetes diagnosis) threw two scoreless innings Tuesday for Class A Rome (Ga.). He gave up one hit, hit a batter and struck out one. Carlyle doesn’t think he needs too many more rehab appearances and doesn’t think he necessarily needs to throw on consecutive days; the Braves will take a conservative approach before activating him.
Steve from OH
August 6th, 2009
11:16 am
Steve…I’ve got an eye on you, too, bub!
Of course you do…my normal-sized ears are quite enticing, or so I hear.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
11:22 am
and instead of bringing in the 3 warhorses to keep us ahead yesterday, maybe Bobby should have let the 2nd stringers come in and walk a few, give up a few easy hits and then with the score 6-4 really put the pressure on Moylan, Gonzo and MFIKY
I just want to win these games and if Pete’s and Gonzos arms fall off, so be it, doubt if we are keeping Gonzo next year anyway
Eric from MO
August 6th, 2009
11:27 am
Flange got to agree with you. No reason ruining a future great bat for one month of play. The Braves wont make the playoffs, with or without him. They just not good enough to catch anyone. Phillie too far out and too many teams in the wildcard have to play bad.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
11:28 am
Eric – I think we need 91 wins so that leaves us some 54 games, 64% winning percentage required.
It is doable but we need to trounce LA this week
flange1
August 6th, 2009
11:29 am
The second guessing here is great! We have heard that bobby should not have brought in the big 2 relievers , but I have yet to read who he SHOULD have brought in.
I agree with dogs’, I’ll take the win!
Doug
August 6th, 2009
11:30 am
After seeing the Minor signing, I looked back at last year’s picks and their bonuses. I didn’t realize that the Braves busted slot on their top three picks, and in the case of Tyler Stovall, pretty severely.
I wonder if they were under any pressure from the commissioner’s office to stay reasonably within the reccommended slot bonuses this year. That would make some of the picks make more sense, since the don’t usually draft as conservatively as they did this year.
Then again, Minor did sign for almost a quarter million over slot. So maybe I’m overstating the influence of Selig and Co.
Lew
August 6th, 2009
11:32 am
flange-It’s a damned if you do damned if you don’t situation. Whatever move makes, it should always have been someone else-especially if it goes wrong. I really wonder how the bullpen would respond if asked whether or not they were overused-as if they had no say in the matter.
Eric from MO
August 6th, 2009
11:32 am
Dogsbrekky see thats where we differ. I think the Phillies will win 94-95 and the Rockies/Cards/Cubs(one will win division) will win 93-94. I think the Braves at best win 90-91. They wont make it.
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
11:34 am
Lew Better to be a Cox apologist than a complete and utter Idiot.
Haha! Ain’t it the truth!
PWHjort
August 6th, 2009
11:34 am
Doug,
He signed for the 2008 slot. I doubt Selig will have any qualms with that.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
11:37 am
Eric MO yes maybe, the baseball prospectus dufuses had us winning 92 and the NL East up to about a week ago and now have the fillies at 92 wins and Braves at I think 89
DAP
August 6th, 2009
11:42 am
eric from mo, dont forget the giants. youre right, the braves would have to get on some kind of streak to make the playoffs. its not impossible, but its improbable.
Lew
August 6th, 2009
11:44 am
McFann-Yeah-as if they keep posting the same old drivel and BS incessantly and with no remorse it’s actually going to change the minds of rational fans or convince the Braves to fire their most successful manager. Isn’t repeating the same failing action time and again while expecting different results an indicator of insanity and mental instability? Well, we could have guessed as much, right?
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
11:45 am
I see us realistically having to crush the fillies in our remaining games and then get lucky in our division. I agree the WC is going to be out of our hands for 09′, too many teams in weak divisions ahead of us and Cards, Cubs and SF would have to collapse terribly
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
11:46 am
Concerning the bullpen….and I’m not taking up for Cox for overusing certain bullpen arms…but hasn’t the Dodgers bullpen logged the most innings this year???
Let’s move Heyward up to AAA. If we’re still in this thing by August 31st and he rakes in AAA, pull him up. Leave Freeman in AA.
Getting excited. Football practice is beginning, baby. Go Dawgs!
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
11:47 am
Wow, how ’bout the $2.42 mill bonus for Minor? Bigger than Francoeur’s previous Braves record $2.2 mill, AND bigger than Fielder’s $2.4 mill in 2002 as largest at that slot.
Sadtoseeitthisway
August 6th, 2009
11:48 am
Watch out for Escobar in the Dodger series trying to outdo Manny being Manny. His antics at the plate have been sending signals. Hello, anybody home?
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
11:48 am
Lew as if they keep posting the same old drivel…incessantly and with no remorse it’s actually going to change the minds of rational fans or convince the Braves to fire their most successful manager.
Uh-huh. Haha, not gonna change my mind! I don’t think I even wanna know who’s gonna replace him…TP? I hope not…
Isn’t repeating the same failing action time and again while expecting different results an indicator of insanity and mental instability?
Sure is.
So…LaRochy gonna bat cleanup tonight?
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
11:49 am
I’m pretty pumped by the Giants doing so well this year as they were my darkhorse team in the NL this year to make the playoffs.
Steve from OH
August 6th, 2009
11:49 am
Wow, how ’bout the $2.42 mill bonus for Minor?
Yeah, I know. The scouting dept. must really like him…
wjones
August 6th, 2009
11:49 am
“Wow, how ’bout the $2.42 mill bonus for Minor? Bigger than Francoeur’s previous Braves record $2.2 mill, AND bigger than Fielder’s $2.4 mill in 2002 as largest at that slot.”
I’m pretty sure that Fielder will always be “largest at that slot”.
Doug
August 6th, 2009
11:50 am
PWHjort
I was just speculating that the bonuses paid last year may have led to a warning from the commissioner’s office about going over slot prior to this year’s draft. And that is one reason the Braves made so many signable selections, which seemed out of character for the organization.
I have no clue how seriously team’s take the reccommended slots, so I could be way off.
Lew
August 6th, 2009
11:52 am
McFann-Eddie Perez or Chris Chambliss. Wouldn’t mind seeing TP given a roving insructor position and Chambliss called up as Hitting Coach. Might be worth a try.
Lew
August 6th, 2009
11:54 am
dogs-You got that right. We have 9 games left head to head with the Phillies. If we post the same 7-2 record as we did in the first nine, we gain five games on the Phillies right there. It’s doable. That is it’s doable if we can keep getting consistent hitting. Without it, nothing but a very good, very frustrated pitching staff.
Doug
August 6th, 2009
11:55 am
DOB
I’m more shocked that no #7 pick has broken Fielder’s record before now than I am at Minor’s bonus. As PWHjort said, signing for last year’s slot is pretty reasonable.
Lunatic Fringe
August 6th, 2009
11:55 am
When looking at our bullpen, everyone mentions the number of appearances, but how does the bullpen compare when using innings pitched as a barametor, and which one is really more important? When they bring up college pitchers they always seem to mention the innings pitched.
Lew
August 6th, 2009
12:00 pm
Lunatic Fringe- I think the biggest objection is that Moylan and Soriano are coming off of less than a year’s rehab from arm surgery.
However, I would imagine that with the numbers MKIFY is putting up, that he’s feeling zero ill effects from his ulnar transposition and probably feels a lot better than at this time last year.
As for Moylan, he has been quoted as saying he considers himself 100% recovered from his TJ surgery and many seem to forget that with his slow, easy sidearm motion, he’s not stressing his arm as much as most think he is.
They could all ask for time off if they felt it was necessary and I would seriously doubt Bobby wouldn’t heed their request.
ColaFan
August 6th, 2009
12:00 pm
That’s Cola as in Columbia, S.C.! Anyhow, DOB, your little reference to Skip Caray reminded me — since there was no comment thread to your piece earlier about how Skip would not be forgotten — to thank you for that story. Still miss him and feel really sad that he’s not around. Not to mention, the new guy seems like a well-meaning doofus. Anyhow, thanks.
monty
August 6th, 2009
12:00 pm
Braves only hope is to put together a string of consecutive wins. Going 6-4, then 4-6 won’t do it. Until we can reel off 7,8,9 wins in a row and hope Phillie doesn’t do the same then we are just playing out the season.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:01 pm
Lunatic – good points, and how many times do the BP guys warm up etc
how many total throws for a year may be a better indicator
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
12:02 pm
I agree, Lunatic. Innings are more important in my eyes.
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
12:04 pm
Monty: I’m with you. A long winning streak and then win series. That’s the recipe.
Lunatic Fringe
August 6th, 2009
12:04 pm
dogsbrekky
what do I need to do to sign up for your FFL? DO I need to register with the ESPN site first? I had clicked on your link previously, and it was kind of vague.
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
12:04 pm
Lew–
You mean Perez as manager? Yeah, that might not be such a bad thing…catchers cann make good M’s.
Chambliss…? He’s one of our minor league coach-dudes, right? (Sorry…)
DAP
August 6th, 2009
12:05 pm
if the braves can win every series for the rest of the season, with no splits, they will will 93 games.
and if the braves are playing well, who they beat is just as important as winning games. 19 games left with the fish and phils, and those 2 teams have 9 games left against each other.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:06 pm
lunatic the link is http://games.espn.go.com/ffl/leagueoffice?leagueId=308800
password = mccannrules
and yes you need to join espn
Lew
August 6th, 2009
12:07 pm
McFann-Yes, as manager when Bobby retires. Chambliss is, I believe, the hitting coach at Gwinnett (though I could be wrong). I think I’d rather see either of them before TP as next Braves’ manager. Maybe Hub could be considered, too, or Ned Yost.
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
12:08 pm
DAP if the braves can win every series for the rest of the season, with no splits, they will will 93 games.
Cool. Let’s do it, boys!
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
12:08 pm
Nice work, DAP. (if your math is right)
I want a winning streak, though. Show me dominance over a short stretch. I know it’s not imperative but I want to see a streak. 7 has always been a number that sticks out for me. If our starting pitching is that great, let’s see 1 and a half times through the rotation without a loss.
wjones
August 6th, 2009
12:09 pm
I keep hearing here about how we would “ruin Heyward” by bringing him up now. How would we do that? Because “he isn’t ready”? Why isn’t he ready? And how do you know he isn’t ready? From everything I am reading, his strike zone judgment is excellent, he seems to be a mature kid, and he is tearing the cover off of the ball in a fairly tough park. We called up McCann and Frenchy from the same place in midseason four years ago. If we “ruined Frenchy” it didn’t take for a while, and he hadn’t come close to giving us the numbers that Heyward has. And if we “ruined” McCann, I will take the same spoilage for Heyward, Freeman, Schafer, Hansen, etc. And again, McCann had not given us the same performances that Heyward has. Another page from the McCann book would be this. Everyone who is so worried about his “clock starting early”? Well, we were preemptive with McCann, signing him up to a long-term deal that bypassed arb entirely. We could do that with Heyward, and get a very affordable power bat for a long time, barring some tragedy. If Frenchy had continued to progress, he would also have been locked up, but his stubbornness at the table and at the plate precluded that. There are just so many signs that I think that org is leaning this way–the trade of Frenchy, the call-ups to Mississippi, Wren’s visit, etc. And guys, whether you are a Bobby fan or not, you know that with the star talents, Bobby does his best to protect them, not putting them in a spot where they can fail. It wouldn’t surprise me if, supposing he did get the call, Bobby put him down in the order while getting his feet wet, so if he did well he could always be moved up. I think either scenario would work with this. If we are in it, Heyward might give us the power we have been lacking, plus some speed and defense to boot. If we are out of it, it would definitely give fans a good reason to show up, plus get his “feet wet”, so to speak, in terms of landing the starting job out of ST next year. I can see Schafer OR Heyward, but not necessarily both, so this could be an interesting thing. I vote for a call-up!
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
12:10 pm
Lew: Not Ned Yost. Trust me on this. Let’s just say I have a “Ruben Amaro” connection here.
Who will be the leading rusher for GA this year?
Which receiver steps up big time beside AJ this year?
Will Cox start every game this year?
Will Georgia prove the general consensus correct with a #15 ranking or collegefootballnews.com with a #5 ranking?
Go to it, Lew.
Heath
August 6th, 2009
12:11 pm
For tonight -
Go Braves!
Go Rockies!
Go Nationals!
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
12:12 pm
Lew–
OK, thanks…hitting coach for Gwinnett, that sounds right.
I think I’d rather see either of them before TP as next Braves’ manager.
Definitely.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:12 pm
wjones – I agree with everything you wrote sir !
if they are “good enough they are old enough”
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
12:13 pm
No wait…Jamie Dismuke is the hitting coach at Gwinnett…Chambliss is somewhere else…
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
12:13 pm
wjones: I echo your sentiments. The AAA stop is not necessary but it would be nice to see him do well there as well. So many journeymen in AAA and a lot of high-talent prospects in AA.
That said….IF we’re within striking distance on August 31st, I pull him up.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
12:14 pm
Rock On Only 9 blog pages and posts are getting eaten right and left.
Yeah, not sure what’s up with this thing lately.
Yeah I posted a reply to la jolla dawg last night that never did show up. Oh well…it probably wasn’t important. Mostly just bragging about how amazing all us UGA alum are.
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
12:15 pm
From story I just filed:
By David O’Brien
dobrien@ajc.com
Los Angeles — The Braves will give a $2.42 million bonus to top draft pick Mike Minor, the largest signing bonus in franchise history for a drafted player and largest ever for a No. 7 pick in the annual June draft.
The former Vanderbilt left-hander will formally sign this afternoon, according to his agent, Bo McKinnis.
His bonus exceeds the previous franchise record of $2.2 million that Jeff Francoeur got as the 23rd pick of the first round in 2002, and also surpasses the $2.4 million bonus that No. 7 pick Prince Fielder got that year from the Brewers, the previous record for the draft slot.
Minor, who was 22-10 with a 3.79 ERA in three seasons at Vanderbilt, will report soon to Class A Rome and likely continue to pitch this fall in either the Arizona Fall League or the instructional league in Florida.
Minor’s signing comes 11 days before the deadline for drafted players to sign with clubs or re-enter the draft. McKinnis said Minor, 21, always intended to sign before the deadline and was thrilled to join the organization he grew up cheering for.
“He was just so excited to be drafted by the Braves in the first place,” McKinnis said. “Being a Tennessee resident, like so many guys growing up in the Southeast he kind of dreamed of playing for the Braves.”
After Minor and Fielder, the highest signing bonuses for No. 7 picks were the $2.3 million bonuses given to the seventh picks in 2004 (Homer Bailey), 2005 (Troy Tulowitzki) and 2006 (Clayton Kershaw).
RHR
August 6th, 2009
12:15 pm
McCann and Francoeur never did play above AA did they? I could be totally mistaken because I have never followed the minor leagues at all, but I’m sure I read/saw that somewhere along the way.
Lew
August 6th, 2009
12:16 pm
TommyP-I haven’t really gotten down to brass tacks with The Dawgs yet. Maybe I need to talk to our Old Buddy The Grinch-he knows as much about Ga. Football than anyone I know. Maybe it’s time to let Caleb KIng run though. He’s been waiting two years and was the highest rated prospect out of HS. Not too sure about the QB situation, but it will be tough for any receiver to out do AJ. Be great to have a couple of breakaway receivers, though. What kind of arm does our potential QB have? Not familiar with him.