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2,168 comments Add your comment
jeffrey d
August 27th, 2009
1:11 am
I’d say in a loss where 15 runs are scored it’s pretty safe to blame the pitching.
Wayne in Utah
August 27th, 2009
1:12 am
Cali
Twenty five years ago, Al Davis was the man. Now he is a shadow of himself. Jerry Jones, in my opinion, is also a joke. He might have a big shiny new stadium, but what has his teams done in recent years?
Paul Lentz
August 27th, 2009
1:13 am
CaliChopper…..actually deals can be done, until Aug. 31st. However a player has to pass through waivers first. I’m sure that the Braves and sent a few players through waivers this month. The question is, did the ones that Frank Wren would possibly be interested in trading pass through?
CaliChopper
August 27th, 2009
1:14 am
Lentz – Don’t be so sure, they seem to be alike in a lot of ways, guessing any year now Jerry will need a drool bib hanging under that plastic enhansed face like Al wears now.
Paul Lentz
August 27th, 2009
1:14 am
jeffrey d………While I appreciate your attempt at humor with your 1:01am posting……..I did preface my 12:59am props posting to larry30 by saying that the day was early, lol.
Hakuna Matata
August 27th, 2009
1:16 am
Paul Lentz,
Jerry Jones did get a palace of a stadium..just forgot to raise that HD Jumbotron a bit so the teams could punt.lol..and he blames the punter…
Paul Lentz
August 27th, 2009
1:18 am
CaliChopper……..while the Cowboys have not had the kind of success in recent years that I would like, it isnt like Jerry Jones isnt spending the money on trying to build a winner. It just hasnt happened.
However, this Cowboys team is pretty loaded. I think that our offense will be loaded this year, even without T.O. Jason Whitten will simply catch more balls. And of course we are loaded with running backs…..led by Marion Barber. And we have loads of speed on defense. The sackmaster DeMarcus Ware anchors the defense.
Paul Lentz
August 27th, 2009
1:20 am
Hakuna Matata……the scoreboard being too low aside…the new stadium is a masterpiece. And the scoreboard is a marvel. The stadium is very fan friendly.
Wayne in Utah
August 27th, 2009
1:20 am
Folks, it time to leave for the night. I know that will disappoint Paul. I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, and wanted to just ask that everyone on the blog that believes in a higher being, to send up a prayer for our men and women in the military. Many of them put their lives on the line every day to help to preserve our freedoms. I hope we can appreciate their sacrifices for each and every one of us.
I have a son in Germany who I worry about every day, that I am very proud of.
G-nite folks.
N8
August 27th, 2009
1:21 am
“It has been said that if a player comes back to the dugout really frustrated with a call, Bobby will tell them “I’ll go get tossed for you!””
Damn. How do we get him to go get in an argument with the Liberty Media execs?
Wayne, ultimately the problem is that he has their backs and they know it. Having their back (IE: getting tossed from a game to save a player from getting ejected), is one thing. But if leaving Francoeur in the lineup is “having his back”, or if leaving Chipper in the 3-hole is “having his back”, or if making Prado sit on the bench while KJ’s defense loses games is “having his back”….. I’d prefer a manager that didn’t have the players back.
I want a manager that is managing like he’s trying to EARN his managerial position (like a guy climbing the ladder in the minors), and who is out to win games, not win friendships and extra “sons”.
Too much is made of how much a player wants to “go to battle” for a manager or certain managers.
Whatever happened to “going to battle” for the owners who sign the paychecks? If I owned a business (actually, I do – but I have no employees – just my wife and I), I couldn’t care less if the employees “liked” the manager or not. They signed a contract, go out and earn it.
CaliChopper
August 27th, 2009
1:22 am
Wayne in Utah – Amen again….
Nate the GR8
August 27th, 2009
1:23 am
Lentz,
The only way Jerry Jones got that stadium built is because of the NFL Network which he has stake in. I mean lets be honest. The cowboys have not won a playoff game going on a decade here. They will never be winners with Jerry Jones breathing down the head coaches back. And especially with Tony Romeo at QB.
N8
August 27th, 2009
1:24 am
DOB serious question here (and I’m looking for attention), has anybody in MLB ever had a contract that stated if “so and so” manager retires or gets fired, they are released from their contract?
Just curious. And if so, do you know of any Braves players that have that with Bobby?
You can either answer it, or perhaps suggest I get a cat. (I don’t like dogs).
Choppinmama
August 27th, 2009
1:25 am
What a couple of massacrees! Our boys are lucky to have escaped with their scalps intact. One more chance at redemption tomorrow night.
The A Bomb: no bobbleheads, but I do have a couple of Charlie Puleo cards I can throw into the mix, sacrifice on the Pyre of Redemption, or whatever we’re hoping will work to change our mojo, ’cause whatever we’re doing now ain’t working.
Chase Headley. Great name for a war-time correspondent, non? “This is Chase Headley, reporting from Berlin.”
Speaking of reporters, au revoir to Dominick Dunne. Loved all your crime stories on the rich and famous. A definite -30- on your last one filed.
The A Bomb
August 27th, 2009
1:27 am
No matter what side of the seemingly endless Cox debate we are all on, we better hope for one thing. . .
That when he leaves, there are LEGITIMATE candidates out there, not just some retreads like Chuck Tanner or Jimy Williams.
I know guys like Oquendo would be a hot candidate now, just don’t think Cox is ready to ride away.
TnBrian
August 27th, 2009
1:30 am
Wayne in Utah, you may be right, but a fan wouldn’t have a pulse if they didn’t read this man’s post game comments after horrible losses to horrible teams and NOT get frustrated by them. Come on man.
Paul Lentz
August 27th, 2009
1:30 am
N8……….how do you think the Braves would have performed with Bobby Valentine as manager of this team this year?
CaliChopper
August 27th, 2009
1:31 am
Lentz – I know and understand the trade dead lines. You said “Major move or 2″, that aint happening this time of year, not really possible. Too easy for teams to block and or make a team pull a player back.
TnBrian
August 27th, 2009
1:31 am
Wayne in Utah, I’ll pray for our troops out there. Hard to imagine how tough that is on those folks. God Bless them all!
CaliChopper
August 27th, 2009
1:35 am
N8 – maybe its late, not sure, but great question.
ccrider
August 27th, 2009
1:35 am
Guys we can Bulls**t all winter over this team, but certain truths remain. We have an aging 3rd baseman drawing $13 million next year, we don’t have anyone that aproximates a true leadoff hitter, Adam Laroche may be signed to play 1st next season, but he will suck the first half(like he does every year) and the 1st half is where we lost a chance at the playoffs this year, Derek Lowe will be paid $15 million next year and will not be worth it and most of all the Braves will still not have a big bat to compete with the Phillies(Utley, Howard), Cardinals (Pujols, Holiday) Dodgers(Ramirez, Either) and no body will come close to being a 100 rbi middle of the order hitter.
Maybe, we should put all the money into pitching, trade for Carl Crawford and play small ball because it sure isn’t working the way it is now!
David O'Brien
August 27th, 2009
1:36 am
N8: I’ve never heard of such a contract with any player in any sport. No Brave has such a contract.
CaliChopper
August 27th, 2009
1:36 am
Lentz – just remember, in a couple of years, you heard it from me first….. “dribble bib”
Wayne in Utah
August 27th, 2009
1:38 am
The Braves would have played worse with Bobby Valentine as the manager. The Braves don’t need an azz whuppin, they need a few better hitters.
TnBrian
I really am perplexed that ANYBODY with any knowledge of Bobby or the way he operates would even pay ANY attention to anything he says after a game. It’s a given. Why would that bother me what he says??? I know what he is doing. To say it makes you mad only says to me you really don’t understand the man or his methods.
And thanks for your prayer for our troops. Much grass! (you too Cali!)
CaliChopper
August 27th, 2009
1:39 am
DOB – Dude, don’t you ever sleep? honestly, gotta respect all you do here.
Will
August 27th, 2009
1:44 am
I was waiting for the braves to play their ” we give up” game and tonight was it! They battled this season and i give them credit for that. It was just another season where they were battling with lackluster talent. I almost laugh everytime i watch phillies highlights and ever thinking the braves could overtake them. Its just time for a new manager and a new attitude for this team. Cox has already lost ATL a few world championships, how many years is he owed for letting his team fade every year as they do anymore. I just hope he retires and saves the team the problem of ever having to take the step to replace him.
Choppinmama
August 27th, 2009
1:45 am
Wayne: my Mom saw my Dad off, and welcomed him home safe and sound from WWII, Korea and VietNam. Don’t know how she did it, and rode herd on us 2, then 4, then 6 kids. Praying your family will enjoy the good fortune we did – and prayers were a big part of the success. Your boy will be in ours.
N Nine
August 27th, 2009
1:58 am
I think EOF was a bit frustrated with that McCann play at home. I like how he’s stirring up some controversy in the clubhouse. He’s been good enough all season where he’s got right to finally speak his mind. Defense looked terrible today. Chipper needs to quit talking and show why he deserves that 3 year extension. Frenchy is catching up with him…that’s how off he has been…(yes, had good swings tonight)
N8
August 27th, 2009
2:17 am
Thanks DOB. I didn’t think so. But thought maybe some free agents would ask for that. I appreciate the attention…. er …. repsonse.
Mike J
August 27th, 2009
3:16 am
I am worried for this team a bit. For as much of a Cox supporter as I am, I am finally willing to admit that his managing style isnt working for this team anymore. How else can you explain a team that shows on some nights that it has the talent to compete with and beat the best, but on other nights that cant hold the worst team’s jock. It mental preparedness, and this team sucks at it. Bobby doesnt swing the bats or field the balls, but he is responsible to get this team fired up and ready to go everyday. During the 90’s we had a team that didnt need that. They were just damn good. Now we have younger guys and a team that needs some fire. Bobby deserves so much credit and thanks for what he and JS did for this town. But it may be time for him to move on.
The other things that worry me are as follows:
Our 2 highest paid players…Chipper and Lowe, are not worth it this year. Chipper is actually looking old and not good, and though Lowe will be solid, he isnt worth what we will be committing to him for the next 3 years.
We have no power, and a weak mismatch outfield. Again this is a problem like last year. Only now we have no more to spend which means that this off-season either our starters or bullpen will have to be sacrificed if we are going to shell out money to get a good outfield bat…which we need.
And finally the Phils are damn good. And they don’t seem to be losing anyone anytime soon. They don’t seem to have a true weakness at any position.
# 31
August 27th, 2009
3:23 am
Nate – I couldn’t agree more about the at the cleanup spot. We needed a right handed slugger and never got one. Thats been the problem since opening day and still is. It didnt have to be a Pujols type. .260/20/90 would have worked fine. It could have even been Francouer, but that didn’t turn out so well. The right hitter in that 4th spot and so many other things fall in to place. McCann bats fifth and gets more days off, Chipper has protection, less pressure on the pitching staff, a stronger back end of the order…on and on.
Shamus Thacker
August 27th, 2009
4:11 am
Pretty much everything I said today has been repeated over and over tonight by other posters.
I was ripped a new a-hole for saying them 12-hours ago. Not one soul stepped-up to agree with me.
That kinda stings for some reason…
Shamus Thacker
August 27th, 2009
4:28 am
The changes that need to be made are more drastic than many (if not most) of you are able, or willing, to fathom. Our team absolutely reeks in lots of ways… It’s gonna take more than a player or two, plugged in here and there, to change things. The whole team chemistry is askew if you ask me. Really, there seems to be no chemistry at all… It’s like we’ve got nine individuals out there on totally different pages.
Random
August 27th, 2009
6:12 am
Shamus Thacker (August 27th, 2009 4:28 am): “The changes that need to be made are more drastic than many (if not most) of you are able, or willing, to fathom. Our team absolutely reeks in lots of ways… It’s gonna take more than a player or two, plugged in here and there, to change things. The whole team chemistry is askew if you ask me. Really, there seems to be no chemistry at all… It’s like we’ve got nine individuals out there on totally different pages.”
Lemme put this as simply as I can — all evidence throughout not only MLB history, but the history of all competitive team endeavors show incontrovertibly the following simple truth:
Winning breeds “chemistry”. NOT vice versa.
Period.
The end.
Show me ONE losing team in the history of all competitive sports about whom it was ever said “How could they have lost?!? They clearly had the best team chemistry.”
“Chemistry” is a post facto rationalization, created from whole cloth solely to hang a story on. 50-50 hindsight. Mythology for the masses.
That’s all. Just hocus pocus.
Etc.
ncscoots
August 27th, 2009
6:43 am
If I could wipe the oozing, dripping angst off the blog for a moment…
Ahhh, you know what? Screw it. I was all set for a good rant about dumb-azz bloggers, but I seem to have lost my sense of urgency.
Ballgame? Pfft. Season? Piffle.
Blog!
Couch Tater
August 27th, 2009
7:01 am
Rockies players don’t disparage Hurdle now that he is gone and are respectful of what he meant to the organization, but they say a change was needed. They needed a different voice.
“They are the exact opposite of each other,” Tulowitzki says.
Hurdle was loud and boisterous, while the raspy-voiced Tracy is soft-spoken.
Hurdle was critical at times, unafraid this year to publicize his frustrations. Tracy has been understanding.
Hurdle made them timid, fearing the consequences of mistakes.
The complete article:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/rockies/2009-08-12-rox-tracy_N.htm
Bill M.
August 27th, 2009
7:12 am
I have been a big Braves fan for years but this team sucks. This season is history. They need to sack BC and several players. If it takes eating Chipper’s contract so be it. What did they mean giving him that contract!!! Everbody has fallen in love with Diaz. He’s nothing but a DH. He couldn’t catch a ball in a 50gal. barrell. There’s only a few day’s left and they need to get rid of as many of these clowns as possible.
njbraves
August 27th, 2009
7:12 am
Good thing they spent all that money on Kawakami……
37YrBravesFan
August 27th, 2009
7:52 am
OMG. This is unbelievable. We are once again playing to the level of our opponents… Maybe next year.
GO BRAVES!!
Mid Town Joe
August 27th, 2009
7:54 am
I would like to put in my 2.5 cents this AM. I think one of the underlying problems with the Braves this season is their lack of leadership. Not just from Bobby Cox, but with the players, too. They have a lot of talent, but most of them seem to be just drawing a paycheck. With Chipper turning down the role as team leader, that leaves McCann. He has enough on his plate.
savannahdawg
August 27th, 2009
8:05 am
Unless they intend on sweeping the Phils and Marlins, it’s over! Good season, over 500 is good, but there will be no playoffs this year. Glad the pitching is back…..now get some good bats.
Shamus Thacker
August 27th, 2009
8:08 am
Random: “”Winning breeds “chemistry”. NOT vice versa.”"
THEN you say:
“”“Chemistry” is a post facto rationalization, created from whole cloth solely to hang a story on. 50-50 hindsight. Mythology for the masses.
That’s all. Just hocus pocus.”"
Random, can’t have it both ways. YOU sir, are and idiot!
I’ve been an AVID sports fan my entire life. Chemistry DOES exist, it’s camaraderie akin to taking a foxhole with someone during war. It’s a trust, a loyalty, an “I’ve got your back” attitude. Teammates don’t have to like each other to have it. It’s the residue of mutual respect, team pride, stern leadership, and a common goal to win at all costs.
lexbrave
August 27th, 2009
8:30 am
some people don’t want to hear any negativity, so here’s a bit of optimism…regardless of if the braves win or lose tonight, after they lose the next 7 games to the phillies and fish (and why wouldn’t they, they can’t beat the padres) then we can finally stop stressing about whether or not they can make the playoffs and start looking forward to offseason moves.
Dan_in_NC
August 27th, 2009
8:34 am
Reality has set in for the Braves..time to call it a season.
I want Jason Heyward on September 1st…lets see if he is ready. If he is, then he’ll be starting in right field on opening day 2010.
I also think reality has set in that Chipper isn’t what he used to be…this should make for an interesting off-season. Frank Wren and Bobby Cox may have to sit down and tell Chipper that…” You’re no longer good enough to where the batting order is catered around you.” Would Chipper accept those terms or would he possibly consider retirement? Our starting batting order for 2010 needs to be as follows…
McLouth CF
Prado 2B
Escobar SS
LaRoche 1B
McCann C
Chipper 3B
Heyward RF
Church LF
Reserves:
Infante
Conrad
Diory Hernandez
Schafer
Blanco
Ross
Bye Bye goes the likes of Kelly Johnson and Matt Diaz…
jacket3
August 27th, 2009
8:51 am
Brain Cramps in the dugout. No rally caps…no spirit…time to go hunting and fishing boys.. No pep talks…just all buds in the clubhouse….don’t worry boys there is always NEXT YEAR…I am even wondering about that now….
Baba O'Riley
August 27th, 2009
8:52 am
I’d like Diaz to play SOME role here next year. All you fans that think “fire” is so important, Diaz should be your guy. “Fire” helps you catch fly balls. “Fire” helps you recognize pitches. “Fire” helps pitchers locate. Yeah, this team needs “fire”.
Fat lady singing
August 27th, 2009
8:58 am
Turn out the lights, the party’s over….
Baba O'Riley
August 27th, 2009
9:00 am
jacket3, are you from Macon?
Pete
August 27th, 2009
9:06 am
Wayne, great post late last night at 1:20 am….and a special thanks to your son from me.
Couch Tater
August 27th, 2009
9:08 am
Baba O’Riley -
You can’t fool me. I know your generation likes to play with fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr81olQ1ibk
Tell It Like It Is
August 27th, 2009
9:13 am
Ten suggestions for for success in 2010:
1.Keep the pitching staff in place as much as possible. Fill any voids that may be created with departures. Do not exercise the $12 million on Hudson for one year with the questionable arm. Use the money elsewhere. Be smart and not sentimental.
2.Get a speedy centerfielder(remember Nixon,Lofton,Grissom,Garr, etc.) who can patrol the outfield gaps and put him in the lead off spot to steal bases with reckless abandon. Move McLouth to left and put him in the third spot in the batting order permanently. Put Heyward in right field and let him play and learn like all young players must do.
3. Find a young third baseman with some pop for an understudy for Chipper. Chipper cannot play everyday at his age.
4. Sign LaRoache for 2010 and make way for Freeman in 2011 if not sooner.
5. Put Prado at second permanently and hit him in the second spot
6. Fix McCann’s eye sight. He is misplaying too many balls behind the plate. Something is not right.
7.Keep Diaz,Infante,Conrad, Church, Anderson(maybe) in the utility roles and pinch hitting. Say bye bye to Norton.
8. Sign a super star if possible to help with the attendance. The team is very lacking in star appeal.
9.Get more spending capital from Liberty Mutual if possible
10. Pray
It IS what it IS.
braves4ever
August 27th, 2009
9:14 am
This morning hurts after that semblance of a Ballgame played by one (we won’t name names) team last night. But I will say this, some of the comments on here last evening and overnight were hilarious, I have almost fell into the floor laughing. Helped with the pain I might add.
DOB, thanks for all you do I know you must feel like a blog master babysitter with all the crying and idiotic comments that come through here daily, especially after last night.
I guess someone said it last night, to adapt the Cubbies saying” next year”. I don’t think that boat is big enough to hold the Braves Nation plus Cubbie Nation.
Sonny Clumps
August 27th, 2009
9:15 am
When we was watching the game last night we was disappointed in the Braves loss. My friends was saying to me, “Sonny Clumps the Braves aren’t hitting the way you taught ‘em.” I said, its ok the Braves was just trying to find their swing and we need to work more on swings instead of going to Wendys.
AndyC
August 27th, 2009
9:15 am
I was watching the local Atlanta news this morning and they gave a traffic warning for the area around the Ted for tonight’s game. I laughed out loud. I really don’t think people need to worry about the traffic around Turner Field tonight. It will probably be a ghost town with those tumbleweeds blowing across the field.
Soph
August 27th, 2009
9:25 am
Brad Penny has been released by the Red Sox -
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4425741
tralfaz
August 27th, 2009
9:27 am
Chipper gets paid more for each game than I make in an entire year. And he’s whining about wanting a day off? .
submariner
August 27th, 2009
9:30 am
Shift to the Falcons people! The Braves are done.
Anders
August 27th, 2009
9:33 am
Jones did not agree with that assessment. At all.
“We didn’t lose any focus through six innings,” Jones said. “Position players didn’t lose any focus. We didn’t lose any focus last night [in a 2-1, 12-inning loss Tuesday]. We battled our tails off.
“I don’t think … .” The veteran paused. “Nevermind.” (From DOB’S Game Story)
Hmmm. Trouble in paradise perhaps? Especially the “Position players didn’t lose focus.” “We battled our tails off.” lines.
Remember all those “dysfunctional” comments about the Mets clubhouse being thrown around on here the last few years? It appears your boys have a case of their own.
Count de Monet
August 27th, 2009
9:34 am
Even if Bobby were to go out to pasture, which he won’t, the guy I would like to see manage them is John Russell. Unfortunately I think they have groomed TP for the job.
Russell needs a good team to manage and the Braves need someone like him. No one can win with that mess of a team in Pittsburgh, but I like what he brings to the table. He’s young and bright and I guarantee he would not have stuck with bums like Frenchy and Kelly Bleeping Johnson as long as Bobby did.
Someone said it last night, The season was lost in the first half of the year. I agree with that and Bopbby sticking so long with KJ, Frenchy and Bennett is the reason they are where they are today.
Anders
August 27th, 2009
9:37 am
Hey, look at the bright side. The WC contending Braves outdrew the Little League World Series semi-final game last night – by 4K!
Of course they had rain a half hour before the LLWS game which reduced the number of fans sitting on the hill in the outfield due to mud.
Andy J.
August 27th, 2009
9:40 am
Now Heyward may be done for the season:
“Heyward will have his bruised heel evaluated Friday, and any concern by Atlanta officials could result in Chattanooga being the final stop of his sensational season. The 20-year-old played in right field Saturday and Sunday at AT&T, but his only appearance after that was a pinch-hit role Tuesday.
“Not to sound like we don’t care, but he’s got bigger things on his plate than to help us win a Double-A ballgame right now. In a couple of years, no one will even remember he didn’t play in these games.”
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/aug/27/braves-score-four-in-eighth-win-7-3/?sports
monty
August 27th, 2009
9:41 am
Some were complaining on here about Schafer hurting the team early on this year. That he didn’t tell BC he was hurt. I say it’s the managers job to evaluate a players performance and say somethings not right,either he isn’t the talent we saw in spring traing or something is wrong physically with the kid and he just isn’t saying. It wouldn’t be the first time a rookie got a nagging injury and didn’t want to come out of the lineup for fear of never getting the chance again.
Tommy Boy
August 27th, 2009
9:46 am
I am NOT going to defend Bobby Cox here, because I believe he has cost us some games this year, BUT …. he only has what he has.
Take a good look at this team. Is it really a playoff contender? During the most critical stretch of games this season over the last week or so we have had an outfield of Matt Diaz, Reid Gorecki, Ryan Church, Omar Infante and Garret Anderson. I would contend that every one of those guys is a fourth outfielder at best.
And we are trying to contend for the postseason with that bunch. There are no flukes in baseball, and flaws will ALWAYS reveal themselves.
On top of that, Chipper is in the deepest slump of his career, Martin Prado is “dizzy” and BMac can’t play every game behind the plate without getting totally exhausted. And that’s what we are asking him to do. David Ross has proven no better than Corky Miller with the bat over the second half of the season.
Not one of our players will finish with 30 home runs this season. Hell, I’m not sure we will have one get to 20. There are only 36 games left, and BMac/Laroche have our highest totals of 16 and 17, respectively?
This team’s makeup is flawed. Period. Our pitching is good enough, but every time it starts to make a little run the offense reveals itself for what it is — an assortment of backups and utility players.
We need a right fielder with pop. That is the biggest deficit this team has and HAS HAD for the last few years. We need somebody to carry the mail for this team and put fear into pitchers. Chipper can’t do that anymore. BMac can’t play 162 games.
This team isn’t as far away as people think. A legit RF has to be at the top of the list and will truly put this team over the hump. Replacing Gonzo and Soriano (or resigning them) has to be a priority as well.
Better days are ahead, my friends, but they won’t come in 2009. Too much mediocrity patrols the outfield each night for that to happen.
Madre Padre
August 27th, 2009
9:50 am
I told everyone yesterday this would happen. Oh it feels good to be a padre fan spoiling other’s post season chances.
McFann Ô
August 27th, 2009
9:51 am
Tell It Like It Is Fix McCann’s eye sight. He is misplaying too many balls behind the plate. Something is not right.
Yah, 2 missed-catch errors in 3 games…ugly. Erg…but that second surgery makes me nervous…
But gee wiz, he’s kinda racking up the errors this month…think that’s at least 4 in August.
Isenberg
August 27th, 2009
9:52 am
Mr. O’Brien,
Do reporters assume that Kenshin Kawakami has no baseball knowledge whatsoever just because he doesn’t speak English? It seems every time he pitches there’s some kind of quote where his response is something like “I’m well aware of…..”
In the latest article concerning last night’s loss, he responded, “I’m well aware of [playoff-race implications], and that’s the reason it’s disappointing that I wasn’t able to perform.”
This leads readers to believe a reporter asked something like “Are you aware of the playoff-race implications?”
If that’s the case, it seems like a stupid question to ask a professional baseball player. Why wouldn’t he be aware of the potential playoff-race implications?
McFann Ô
August 27th, 2009
9:54 am
Tommy Boy–
BMac has 17 home runs…barring something really bad, he oughta make it to 20.
David Ross…um, yeah, he’s been a bit of a disappointment with the bat in the second half. But he’s had what–21 ABs since the Break? For whatever reason, Bobby seems extra-opposed to using him all of the sudden.
McFann Ô
August 27th, 2009
9:57 am
Oh wow, so close–18 AB for Ross since the Break (22 PA). He’s 3-18 (.167) with 2 2B, no homers, no RBI, 4 BB, and 7 SO.
Madre Padre
August 27th, 2009
9:58 am
Mccann’s professional career is over. you can’t play if you can’t see straight.
flange1
August 27th, 2009
9:59 am
Morning all,
Nasty game last night. From DOB’s story, seems to be a bit of disagreement in the clubhouse!
and ’scoots was right this morning, I have just finished reading the blog from last night’s game and had planned on posting a sermon on negative blogging, but like ’scoots, think I’ll let it go.
I will say that I think some of you folks that post during games need to go back and re -read the blog after a game. You will see how absurd you sound.
But that is assuming that you read anything anyway and frankly that is a real push…
dogsbrekky (now it's a real bollocks mess)
August 27th, 2009
10:02 am
Some thoughts on the disaster last night
The Diaz catch – I was thinking when it bounced off his glove that most RF would have caught it (well visions of Bobby Abreu being scared of walls also came to mind), but we have to give Matty the benefit as he hustles so hard, always…
KK – I would have left him in longer, not because of the retrospective knowledge of how putrid O’Flaherty was but because Kenshin had DUG himself out of many recent messes (1st inning etc) quite well..
ACostya needs a decent change-up or other out pitch, otherwise he looks just like a high speed Batting Practise guy
We have only 11 losses left, statistically and practically too tough for this lineup with Hoss struggling
Soph
August 27th, 2009
10:03 am
Mccann’s professional career is over. you can’t play if you can’t see straight.
No props for Madre Padre. Someone hold McFann back.
BravesfaninWis
August 27th, 2009
10:05 am
I have said that I wouldn’t come back here until they turned things around, but that is not going to happen so I decided to come back and put my two cents in before leaving for good until they make some serious changes to this team. By serious changes, I don’t mean removing Greg Norton from the team, I mean overhaul the team. I love what Booby Cox has done for this in all the years he has been here, but he really needs to hang them up and go spend time with his wife. He just doesn’t have what it takes to be a WS contending manager anymore.
While the pitching staff has been better this year, it would have been much better had we had Leo Mazzone instead of Roger McDowell as our PC. Mazzone got more results from lesser talented pitchers over the years and would have done a great job with guys like Jurrgens, Kawakami, and Medlen. To bad another season had to be wasted before management figured some of these things out. I was watching the game last night and thought all was well. Up 3-0 in the 6th against a team like the Padres, you have to be golden right? Last night was a prime example on why this team is headed nowhere near the playoffs. They are simply not good enough. The last two games have been lost by the Braves and won by the Phillies and Marlins. We are done. If you can’t beat the Padres on your home turf, as players you need to realize that your season is done. Have fun hunting guys, because you sure let your fans down again.
richbrave
August 27th, 2009
10:07 am
BOBBY COX:
AFTER this series, move JONES to the 15 day. Have INFANTE lead-off, with PRADO second, plug ESCOBAR into the three hole, keep McCANN in the clean-up spot, put DIAZ at five, LaROCHE at six, ANDERSON seventh and CHURCH to finish out the month and see what happens. You can’t keep the line-up in constant turmoil. It needs to settle in and get some traction offensively. At this point, we have lost control of our own destiny, and must rely on the ROCKIES having a ten game swoon to catch up. MARLINS, GIANTS, CUBS are all right with us. Being five down with more than thirty to play, certainly lends itself to being in the play-offs, but not as things have gone over the past two games. I can’t see where CHIP has helped much in this series. He’s hurt. That oblique is killing his swing. Rest it, and let the chips fall where they may – no pun intended.
Madre Padre
August 27th, 2009
10:07 am
I think LaRoche is hunting for T and A
McFann Ô
August 27th, 2009
10:08 am
Madre Padre (Mother Father?)–
Hey, dude, (dudet?), that’s not even funny…Let’s not even kid about that, OK?
Soph–
Yeah, no props for that…blogger…
Steve from OH
August 27th, 2009
10:10 am
Random, couldn’t agree more re: team chemistry. All the chemistry in the world won’t make up for a lack of good baseball players on your team.
dogsbrekky (now it's a real bollocks mess)
August 27th, 2009
10:11 am
Chipper is NOT DONE, he is having a slump, that is all, whether it is injury related or just a slump, he WILL BOUNCE back, how do we know that, we have 14 years of history to show he will…
we had the same discussions about Garret and McCann earlier this year and they bounced back..
suggesting we eat his contract – YOUR AND IDIOT
Willy Wally
August 27th, 2009
10:15 am
Find me another playoff contending team out there, with it’s oldest veteran lineup guy (Loaf don’t count), battting 3rd in the lineup. Which in most people’s eyes is where you put your best hitter. (N8)
Oh, that team we can’t catch up to, the Rockies, seem to be doing just fine with old man Todd Helton hitting third. And Chipper has been much better than Helton the last few years
richbrave
August 27th, 2009
10:16 am
dogs:
I assume you are not addressing my request of BOBBY to rest JONES for the stretch run. Actually start that 15 day tonight.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
August 27th, 2009
10:17 am
N8 (from 12:04),
Agreed. I look at the Rockies as an example of a team that had to move beyond its franchise icon (Todd Helton) to build a team for the future. When the Rox went to the WS in 2007, Helton was the third- or maybe fourth-best hitter in the lineup, behind Holliday, Tulo, and Hawpe. This season Holliday may be gone, but Helton (who’s having a nice comeback season) has Tulo, Hawpe, Ianetta, and a very strong supporting cast of kids who all contribute.
Heyward may be the guy to carry the club, and I sure hope so. But for the Braves to develop a deep and potent offense, at least one or two other people have to surpass Chipper as the hitter who carries the team.
Shaun
August 27th, 2009
10:18 am
Nasty game last night. From DOB’s story, seems to be a bit of disagreement in the clubhouse!
Funny how that happens when you lose. I think the players were trying to explain something that no one can really explain easily if at all.
richbrave
August 27th, 2009
10:20 am
Braves faninWis:
I’m sure this is patently unfair, but after the publicity COX and his wife have shared, I’m not entirely sure it’s a good idea to put them in the same room together for any extended period of time.
dogsbrekky (now it's a real bollocks mess)
August 27th, 2009
10:21 am
richbrave – no I was just commenting in general, who knows what ails HOSS, if he is injured then he sits as far as I am concerned
McFann Ô
August 27th, 2009
10:23 am
This from ESPN, re McCann:
The home run was his second in three games, and he has nine RBI between those two contests. His value down the stretch will be exacerbated by the lack of good-hitting catchers not named Mauer.
What is that supposed to mean?
"You all are Cox aplogists"
August 27th, 2009
10:24 am
LAST NIGHT WASN’T COX’S FAULT,
Come on now. Sure we will end up losing a series to one of the worst teams in baseball. That’s just fine. You know why? We have Bobby Cox on our side PEOPLE. Cox is PERFECT so you know the Braves will come up “fired up” and ready to go. Cox has never made a mistake in his career so how can any one of you say Cox should retire? I love Bobby Cox, the way he smells, the way he picks his nose, all are just wonderful qualities in a manager.
Have you guys forgetten about those 14 STRAIGHT DIVISION TITLES???
Guys, don’t worry. Cox will save the day “like he always does”.
DAP
August 27th, 2009
10:26 am
piedmont But for the Braves to develop a deep and potent offense, at least one or two other people have to surpass Chipper as the hitter who carries the team.
i think we have two hitters already that can do that, in escobar and mccann. of course, they slump at time too, as we have seen recently.
hopefully heyward can do it as well, but we need one more guy…im no sure how to do it, without signing holliday or bay this offseason and hoping that they continue to be good.
Shaun
August 27th, 2009
10:26 am
Piedmont Blues, I somewhat agree. But a) Helton was never as great as Chipper Jones and b) you can make a convincing argument that McCann and possibly Escobar (if you take position into account) have been more valuable than Chipper in 2009 or are at least about as valuable.
I do think the Braves are in a good position for the near future. The Braves have essentially played as well as all but 3 or 4 National League teams this season and that was with Francoeur and Schafer in the lineup for a significant chunk. I still think they would be right there with the Phillies and possibly leading the Wild Card race if they had this current roster the whole season.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
August 27th, 2009
10:27 am
BTW, Chipper can continue hitting third as far as I’m concerned, as long as he continue to get on base 40% of the time.
Several months ago I think I said the Rockies were probably destined to be a mediocre club because Helton’s contract (22% of team payroll) was an albatross for a small-market team. Doggone it if Dan O’Dowd didn’t work around it and build a team that’s better and deeper than the one from 2007. If they make the playoffs, he has to be executive of the year.
richbrave
August 27th, 2009
10:28 am
A bit thick with the irony today APOLOGIST?
Soph
August 27th, 2009
10:30 am
Well, I looked up exacerbated and it means increase the severity of {insert word}.
I think they mean McCann’s value is going to increase greatly because there aren’t many good-hitting catchers out there (except Mauer, of course).
richbrave
August 27th, 2009
10:30 am
Mention was made of SCHAFER. I am intrigued to see how he performs in the off season. Anybody know his time-table for recovery, and will he be able to play anywhere before next ST?
Anders
August 27th, 2009
10:31 am
Funny how that happens when you lose. I think the players were trying to explain something that no one can really explain easily if at all. (Shaun)
Agreed, but even funnier how when it happened in the Mets clubhouse many on here pointed to it as the “dysfunctionality” that was the cause of their failure. Now with the Braves it will be looked at as an after affect of the losing. Funny indeed.
Wayne in Utah
August 27th, 2009
10:33 am
Last night confirmed my theory that if you want to have any hint of intelligence in blogging, don’t blog during or after a blow out! I knew that, but did not resist the urge, and this morning, I am sorry I made the effort to engage. Total frustration.
Like many of us have been saying, the Braves are a long shot for the playoffs. Lots of positives must happen simultaneously for that to happen, after our lukewarm first half.
I just know that an acquisition of somebody like my man Ryan Freel would have made a huge impact if we had picked him up in April or May, but alas, it was not to be (he says, tongue firmly in cheek).
Guys who started slowly, have picked up (Loaf, Mac, Diaz, Prado, Kawakami), while others have slowed down (Chipper, Ross, Lowe).
Some have been on the perpetual roller coaster. For the most part, most have assumed their career averages. I believe as richbrave has stated, that Chipper is hurting, and it’s not just the dog days of August. I think it is something physical. He needs to be DL’d if that indeed is the case, or rested if he is not hurt.
I liked the analogy of the difference in managerial styles of Clint Hurdle and Jim Tracy, while many are calling for Bobby’s head because he is not fiery enough????
Lets hope that Javier Vazquez returns to form tonight. I would love to see Chipper get a deserved day off too.
I remember 15 years ago, when I was Chipper’s age, and in better shape. I played in a softball league at the time, and after a game a week, I was spent for the next day. I know that being a professional athelete means he should be better conditioned than I was, but between 35 and 40, changes happen. For the rare player who plays into his 40’s, it is usually due to superior conditioning and good luck with the genes.
Enough. Later (or not) folks.
McFann Ô
August 27th, 2009
10:34 am
Soph–
OK…’cause I looked it up and it said, “make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse”, so I kinda got confused…
Thanks.
richbrave
August 27th, 2009
10:34 am
ANDERS:
Buddy. Whaz’ ‘zup in the big APPLE? Any shootings in the MELTS clubhouse yet?
dogsbrekky (now it's a real bollocks mess)
August 27th, 2009
10:36 am
irony – every time I hear that word I think of John Malkovich and Steve Buscemi… !
stynes
August 27th, 2009
10:38 am
N8 – interesting contract question. Closest thing I can come up with is recruits in college. Often they’re released from their letter of commitment if the coach that recruits them leaves for some reason. Never heard of it in the pros, though.
Efrim
August 27th, 2009
10:39 am
Looks like Jason Heyward will be shut down for the remainder of the year(until Arizona Fall League). So much for his September appearance in ATL. Will Rob from SC and KC be okay?!?!?!
McFann Ô
August 27th, 2009
10:39 am
What’s weird is that baseball-reference.com has BMac with no “errors on catches” (their definition of those being “dropped or missed throws”)…apparently they put his last two errors in the “fielding error” category (definition being, “errors made while fielding [catching a fly ball, ground balls]).
Odd…