Braves’ postseason hopes take hit

Let’s call this one “A wake up call” blog.

My left cheek stings…8O

Face cheek that is

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Maybe we shoulda traded Chipper for Roachy and kept Kotch

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I could’ve been first but I waited. For some reason I figured it meant more to others…silly gooses.

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Dang, I had a nice rant that got cut off by the old blog. Oh well.

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Will the real K.K. stand up?

When he is on, he looks great and makes Wren look like a genius.
When he is off, I bet some of those kids in that picture could go yard on him.

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Dave: Following the Braves is like being married to a woman with a split personality. I can hit / I can’t hit. I can play heady ball/ I can forget how many outs there are. I am a hall of famer/ I studied hitting at the Rafael Belliard school of “Hard Knocks”, I am a Hall of Fame manager/ I like to leave my struggling staters in until they give up 8 runs or the lead.

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Let’s vote. Next Braves manager:
1. Fredi Gonzalez
2. Terry Pendleton
3. John Smoltz
4. Don Baylor
5. Someone else

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i betcha its tp

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i vote for someone else

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you’re probably right, phizzle

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Shaun…………in theory, winning 2 of 3 is playing good baseball. However, the problem with having the “2 of 3″ mentality is that you’ve already prepared yourself to lose one game in the series. That leaves the other 2 games. Well, if the other team knows that they are going to be “given” one game of a series against the Braves…..then all they need to do is win one of the remaining 2 in order for them to take “2 of 3″ themselves.

Do you really think that the Rockies went into their 4 game series with the Giants, being happy with a 4 game split (particularly after they lost game 1 on Friday)? Hell no. They promptly went out and won the last 3 games of the series. On Saturday, there were behind 6-1 in the bottom of the 6th……came back and won. On Sunday, they were behind Linecum 2-0 going into the 6th…..came back and won. On Monday, they were behind by 3 runs going into the bottom of the 14th inning……….came back and won.

Now if that isnt playing with a “sense of urgency”…….I dont know what is.

Also, I dont see this Rockies team being happy with only taking 2 of 3 against the Dodgers either. They see this series as an opportunity to catch the Dodgers and tie them for first place by sweeping them. It’s called TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR HEAD TO HEAD MATCH-UPS within your division.

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Outstanding Starting Pitching…..Decent Bullpen…..Seriously retarded offense! Garret Anderson….bottom of the ninth….runners in scoring position….Swing the damn bat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You get paid to drive in runs, not look for a walk!

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Shaun………your 2:51pm posting is missing the point. As good as the Rockies have been playing…….this Braves team should not be 5 1/2 games out of the Wild Card. Our starting pitching is the ace in the hole.

I’m saying that it’s the mentality of the offense that is ok with a few good productive nights…..only to slack off like they did last night. Or when they “quit” hitting when they went up 4-0 and had Oliver Perez on the ropes last Tuesday night. Falling behind 8-4 with 5 more cracks at the Mets pitching should not have been the end of the world.

For whatever reason, the Braves offense isnt mentally ready to play every game like it is a MUST WIN. Last night is a perfect example of that.

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submariner,

Swinging at ball 4 is always worse than taking it. Just some insider baseball for ya!

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I would love to see Eddie Perez managing this team somewhere down the road.

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When ya couple Chipper’s paltry stats since June 10th with his team leading errors total.. What do ya get?

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Marc, not when your getting paid 2 million dollars in my book. His first pitch was right down the pipe and he didn’t even offer at it. If your the number eight or nine batter, I’ll give it to ya, but this guy is in the heart of the order!!

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submariner, really, you wished Garrett would have swung the bat? Whats wrong with getting on base when you can?

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Teams that make it to the playoffs win tight games like the one last night. That’s why we probably won’t make it this year. We just don’t have enough clutch plays to get us over the hump. Chipper slumping at this moment could not be worse timing for this team. His slump has probably cost us several games if not more in the standings.

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David O’Brien………the reason why Garret Anderson would have been out by 30 feet if he tried to score was because not only was he loafing around the bases…..but instead of looking at the 3rd base coach, he looked back and slowed down when he rounded second to see if the right fielder caught the ball.

If Vazquez was busting his tail upon contact and ran the bases like he was capable of, then I feel that he scores on that hit by LaRoche.

We will never know for sure. However, it was a GIVEN that Garret was in no shape to score on any type of double. By not making a move to pinch run for Garret, Bobby Cox did not put the Braves in the best possible position to win the game in that 9th inning.

Also, you forget that when Garret drew the walk, there was only 1 out. You have to pinch run for Garret to help prevent the double play in that situation. Escobar struck out, making the double play a moot point. However if Laroche had hit a gapper to the wall (which he is capable of doing), Garret still does not score.

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Now is as good a time as any to give Chipper a few days off. Let Martin play 3rd, put Infante at second and if Church is ready, put him in center.

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leaving 8 men on in the 8th-10th was brutal.

Diaz has been hitting everything so hard lately, he should have known his bunt would be the same way. just kidding. while i was shocked and a little disappointed that he didn’t swing away, I can’t blame him.

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No you win by scoring more runs than the other team.

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Anderson had to know that the righty, lefty match up was better than Bell facing Escobar. He had to make it happen, which he didn’t, splendidly.

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the offense is pathetic and Chipper is one of the top reasons. honestly I don’t care for the “I’m tired” excuse. How long have you been playing ball? So you should know how long the season is and properly prepare your butt to play most of the games. Only person on that team that should be suffering fatigue is McCann and I’m not sure how you get around that.
Also what’s up with the broadcast cameramen last night? Were the two overly tanned girls in blue the only decent looking girls in the house? It seemed like they came back to them every half inning.

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top three hitters … 0 for 16 … that contributed greatly to the loss …

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PWH, Excellent choices. Leave Snitker on 3B and tell Chino to not let the screen door hit him in the fanny on the way out.

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I’m starting to get that little tingly feeling. Shaun and Dentz arguing a point, LOL.

Dentz can throw all the long-winded and obfuscating “you’re missing the point” posts he wants, Shaun can take it…and come right back with the same post and point made 20 times earlier, LOL. This could be one for the ages, folks; toe-to-toe, and so forth. We rest best move aside.

Except for the propping props-givers and their respective props-ees, natch. Props to them.

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Paul, since the Rockies wouldn’t let San Diego hold them to only 1 run, then I guess the May 5 Pads 2-1 victory and the July 18 3-1 Pads victory should be stricken from the record books like a Bobby Bowden win.

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oldschool, Cox, like all Braves coaches, is on a one-year contract every year. Cox will be here as long as he wants to keep renewing that one-year contract. There’s been no indication he won’t be the manager next year.

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submariner, you would have had Anderson try to swing and hit pitches out of the strike zone rather than take a walk? Yeah, there’s a good strategy.

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faninva

the usual lol

i never caught were you said you live

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So DOB how’s that trade you whined for all winter looking now ???

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Tomas………….I agree with your 3:27pm posting. If Chipper really needs a couple of days off, this is the series to do it. If we cant be the Padres the next 2 games without Chipper, then we do not deserve to make the play-offs anyway.

If giving Chipper a few days off will help him be ready for the Philly series this weekend, then I’d support Bobby resting him the next 2 games.

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Re: Last night – has anyone suggested that perhaps, as dominating as he was, and having only thrown 10 pitches, maybe Soriano could go another inning, before settling in on Medlen for the long haul?

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Mmmmk. Not addressing this at anyone in particular *ahem*…

But “playoffs” is one word. Just one. No hyphens. No ampersands. No elipses. Playoffs. This has been a public service announcement.

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I think Fredi Gonzalez is doing a very good job, but let’s not just blow the roster off as a “crappy payroll”. He’s got a good collection of talent to work with…they just haven’t hit free agency yet so they don’t make any money. As soon as they do, they’re gone. Give credit to the Marlins’ scouts and development people…they always have great young talent.

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I say in about another week or so lets start thinking about 2010. Cannot believe we are still close especially with the recent injuries. Our offense is really bad if you think about it. Jason Schmitd no hit us for 5 innings throwing 80 mph and the Braves had the same batting approach last night, not working the count and swinging for the fences. It seems like about every 10 days they have a game like this. Good comments about the dugout thing. I saw little or no emotion from any one but that is Bobby ball and everyone is happy (so they say). This has got to be the most boring Braves team in the last 10 years. Hopefully the hitters will snap out of it tonight.
E Perez is my vote for manager next year.

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I think at the beginning of this 15 game stretch that ends in two games DOB said the Braves needed to go 11-4. I’ve been tracking that and hoping with a sweep we would make that mark. Unfortuantly it’s not going to happen. Two losses to the Phillies. The Cox/Lowe 8 run meltdown against the Mets. A loss to the Fish, and a loss to the Padres. Good teams lose games from time to time, but the Braves are average. The team just doesn’t hit well enough to win more than half the games.

The best we can hope for in that 15 game stretch now is a 10-5 record.

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YellerJacket

The Marlins may have a crappy payroll but they have 2 things the braves don’t have. That is Speed and Heart…

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Brian, well said. I didn’t so much mean the players themselves, as the total payroll number the team has to work with.

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This is perhaps the stupidest statement in the history of baseball commentary.

Nah. I can think of a dozen more worthy of the characterization, in this season alone, on this blog alone, LOL.

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Situation called for it dude….learn something about the game.

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This team isn’t making the playoffs. Dreamers like Leo Mazzone on 680 can keep trying to convince themselves otherwise but doesn’t change the facts. This team simply isn’t good enough.

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” Leave Snitker on 3B ”

Mr. Stop-and-look-both-ways-before-crossing? No, thank you. Maybe he fits somewhere else, but it KILLS me to see how many times we stop the runner from second at third on a single!

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That was cold, Tomahawkin. Speed, I agree with, but heart? Other than Chipper and GA I think we have a group of passionate players. Did anyone see Jim Tracy celebrating with his team when the Rockies beat San Fran on that walk-off grand slam the other night? BC would barely crack a smile if that happened. Maybe we need some managerial heart.

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680 rippin Greg Norton…

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Thanks, yellerjacket. I should have phrased my statement a little better. What I meant to say (not just to you, but in general), was that we should be careful not to equate a low payroll with a lack of talent a manager has to work with. Usually there’s a strong correlation between payroll and talent, but the Marlins are always somewhat of an exception. So are the Mets. Had to get that in.

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“The Marlins may have a crappy payroll but they have 2 things the braves don’t have. That is Speed and Heart…”

Yeah, you gotta have Heart. Miles and miles and miles of Heart.

On the other hand, Speed will get you a 50-day suspension, if you test positive.

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submariner, so the situation last night called for a groundout? That’s odd…

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For whatever reason, the Braves offense isnt mentally ready to play every game like it is a MUST WIN. Last night is a perfect example of that.

Paul, how do you know their mental state? That’s a huge assumption considering major leaguers have every incentive to try to do all they can to win every game. Therefore I seriously doubt the Braves were shutout because they weren’t mentally ready to play or because they have the mentality that it’s okay to have off nights.

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Just to be a picky SOB, the verb “play off” is two words. The noun and adjective forms are one word.

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Depends on where you went Shamus. Sometimes I’ve been tempted to drive to Greenville, SC for BBQ from Smokin’ Stokes on Augusta Road. Anyone?

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Hearing that Diaz is leading off tonight and Church will be playing and batting 8th.

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HAL, let me guess. English major?

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English major at UGA, maybe. Just kidding fellas, don’t go apey on me.

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Bilbo’s in Bremen, yellerjacket. The Four-Seasons of Q.

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Shaun…………after the 8 game home stand coming back from the All-Star Break……many people on here (and on the Braves team) were happy with winning 6 of 8 against the Mets and Giants. Many choose to conveniently forget that we gave away those 2 losses.

With our starting pitching………THERE IS NO REASON why we cant put together a winning streak of longer than 5 FREAKING GAMES all year long.

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I’ll look in to that, thanks dude.

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Braves Lineup according to Mark Bowman

Diaz 9, Prado 4, Chipper 5, McCann 2, Anderson 7, Escobar 6, LaRoche 3, Church 8, Kawakami 1

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Paul Lentz
Do any of you think the Rockies would let THIS PADRES TEAM come INTO THEIR HOUSE (Coors field, not Petco Field) and hold them to 1 run in 12 innings?

How many teams have been held to one run in any game in Coors field. Petco Field compares more to Turner field (pitchers parks) than Coors does to Turner and the Padres held the Rockies to 1 run at Petco not only once but twice. Once on July 18 which wasn’t that long ago.

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Anders, if you’d seen him gloving balls for the latter part of the season, you might not say things like that. (Reduced range aside)

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wow, diaz leading off?? i’ll give it to bobby, not afraid to try anything at this point.. simply put, if you can’t beat the padres, you don’t deserve to be playing in oct.. nuff said..

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BTW- If you guys want to trade us Chipper for Tatis, Hojo said he’ll take a look under the hood and have him hitting again by Labor Day.

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Anders How did HoJo do with Tatis

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Shaun…………after the 8 game home stand coming back from the All-Star Break……many people on here (and on the Braves team) were happy with winning 6 of 8 against the Mets and Giants. Many choose to conveniently forget that we gave away those 2 losses.

Paul, what’s your point? That still says nothing about the “mental state” of the offense or the team in general. After the fact people were okay with 6-2 (and why shouldn’t they have been?). But I guarantee you the Braves didn’t go in to that stretch of games thinking, “we’d be okay if we could only win 6 of 8.” I find it very unlikely that players think this way at all. It’s much more likely that their thinking goes something like this: “We are going to try are best to win today…then again tomorrow…then again the next day…” Why do I believe this? Because the players have every incentive to think this way and absolutely no incentive to only try to win 6 of 8 or 2 of 3 or whatever. The “mental state” of all players is to try to win every game they play (unless it’s Gary Sheffield in Milwaukee or Shoeless Joe in 1919).

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Soph, with a mouth fulla delicious pit-cooked poke ribs, I agree. lol

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DOB: Pre-series blog: Braves should sweep ’cause of the starters SD is sending out.
After game 1 blog: Braves better win tonight because Clayton Richard is going tomorrow. (after commenting that Latos isn’t bad in the blog)

So which is it?

And Stauffer hasn’t been that bad.

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Paul Lentz
I’ve watched a lot of baseball over the years. I pay attention to stuff like that.

You might actually try playing the game sometimes instead of just watching.

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So now Paul is pissed about a winning percentage that would result in 121 wins. Maybe next year the Braves should shoot for an entire season of shutouts. Of course, Paul will still bitch about the run differential.

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no worries about chipper, he has dad on the way…you know, since TP don’t really help much.

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play-offs???…did some say play-offs???

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fleming – Hojo’s been a little busy fixing that mess TP made of Frenchy.

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Lets put this into perspective, braves are a good side of mediocre team. Last year they stunk bad, this year they are….well almost good, almost…..and next year..well, that will be our year with the talent we have. Think medium term, braves are actually OK. However, enough losing to the Padres. That is what last year’s team would have done.

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Some like a Mets fan is in their manic stage of that disorder. Nice to see Bobby switching the order up, but why isn’t Adam hitting clean up? Needs it. Oh and Mets fan, have fun with that geriatric “core” when their healthy.

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THAT LINE UP IS PATHETIC. MY GRANDMA HAS A BETTER SLUGGING %.

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Sounds like

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cabravesfan My dog loves birds! (OK, by “love” I mean she wants to hunt them down and eat them but she does love them

Haha, then we could never introduce her to Petey–he’s…well, he’d make a nice meal for some hungry animal. (Sorry, Bird!)

The spiders hang in front of your door?? Oh my gosh…I’m avoiding all doorways for as long as possible…

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Boog coming up on 680..If anyone is interested

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Oh and Mets fan, have fun with that geriatric “core” when their healthy.
(Frankie Knuckles)

??? Wright, Reyes and Beltran? I’ll give you Delgado but when he’s healthy he’ll either be somewhere else or on the beach in Puerto Rico. I mean, it’s not like we signed him to a 3 year $40 mil deal when he turned 37. I mean even Minaya wouldn’t make that mistake.

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Sorry, I thought he was busy earlier in the year making a mess of Church.

Haaaaaaaa.

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unless it’s Gary Sheffield in Milwaukee or Shoeless Joe in 1919)

You can leave Jackson out of your squabble. You might want to check his performance in that WS before saying he tanked.

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AndyC Yeah, Bobby will try anything with the lineup except for putting LaRoche in the cleanup spot and hitting BMac 5th.

Ye-ep. He’s kinda stubborn that way.

But whatever, just so long as everybody’s hitting. Next year they better have a differ’nt cleanup hitter, though. Like, with BMac fifth and everything…

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Maybe I can’t judge everyone’s body language, but I do know this, the Braves put forth a gutless offensive performance last night. You IDIOT apologists can sugar coat things all you want. How are you not motivated??? The Braves were just going through the motions. If there were only 15,000 fans at the game last night, you can’t whine about it. The Braves deserve lackluster crowds for their lackluster effort. Until Cox is fired or he is encouraged to retire, the Braves will NEVER reach their potential as they are currently constructed. Now watch, I will get blasted by IDIOT after IDIOT who will try and tell me I’m crazy or SHUT UP. Screw all of you. I want COX to retire or be fired and if you don’t like it, go to hell and take Cox & Norton with you!!!!!!!!!!!

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why isn’t infante playing 3B and chipper on the bench!? give him a rest before the phils series… if the braves cannot win two games against the padres without him then they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs anyway.

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Paul Lentz pays attention to every game he watches and thinks he sees the Braves not trying to win every game. There we have it. No reason to think any differently in spite of the fact that they have every incentive to try to win every game and that many others see things differently when they watch the same games.

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Black Moon singing Who Got Da Props? for ole Scoots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7hbmWJLRo0

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Willy Wally – That 4:11 is classic. Talk about ironic. Only would have been funnier if Andruw uttered it.

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Thanks, Willy Wally, I LOVE it, man!

Oh, and…props to you for that.

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Unless upper management changes, TP will be next manager. Ned Yost may get some consideration.

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Shaun…………first of all, while I disagree with your position on the “sense of urgency thing”, I respect how you have engaged in this discussion. I actually feel that debate is a healthy thing. Even though I feel I am right, I like the fact that you are challenging my position on this. After all, if I’m right, what is wrong with me having to “defend” my position (in other words, prove why I feel the way I feel). I feel that others with sense may see the reason in my argument.

Many people on here feel that if you challenge their position, then it is like punching them in the face and they end up getting their feelings hurt.

So again, I give you props for the way you have been engaging in this debate with me.

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241 AVG with a .384 SLG in 62 games? Lose a Frenchy. Gain a Frenchy. – Willy Wally

I was thinking the same thing but didn’t have the stones to say it. Kudos.

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Mr Lentz- If you can spare the time would you mind taking a look at my Mets? I think they’ve lost their sense of urgency and aren’t trying either.

Thanks,

You pal,

Anders

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OK, who else wants props? I got some extra lying around.

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Scoots, props to your 3:27 posting. I do hope you see my props and give me props back for propping.

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Chipper makes me tired looking at him. Can’t wait for another version of “good old Braves, tip your cap, friendly baseball tonight.” We either lose or win by 6 or more. All or nothing with this group

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Anders – yeah, Chipper’s extension might be painful in a few years. But it’s really more of saying “thanks” for staying here your whole career for way less than you’ve been worth. His career earnings through 2012 will be about $175MM. Not bad, when you consider what an amazing 20-year career he’ll end up with.

Now, it’d definitely be brutal if he had, say, season-ending surgery in the 2nd year of a $137.5MM contract. Whew, that’d look like a dumb signing!

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Shaun

I guarantee EVERY MEMBER of the Rockies wasn’t on their fat arss in EXTRA INNINGS last night. We were…

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RHR, big beaucoup mucho props to you, naturally. You’re a propper’s propper, best darn props on the forum. If anything, I get no props for not propping you earlier. So…props.

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Or are you claiming Lentz as the blogger to be named later in the Frenchy deal, Anders?

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Paul -

If you’d be a little more respectful of other posters like your 4:19 post, and not use caps all the time, you might find that defending your positions might go a little smoother. As it is, you usually defend your positions by getting in peoples faces by yelling all the time. A strong person can defend his or her position by not screaming.

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Daslied

The Braves should have insurance on Chipper. So if he had, say, season-ending surgery in the 2nd year of a $137.5MM contract the insurance would pick up.

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I know summa y’all think I don’t love the Braves. You couldn’t be more wrong, I assure you.

I’m just not nearly as as happy with our everyday lineup as most of you. I’m not nearly as optimistic about next year as most of you either. Does that make me care less about the Braves? Certainly not.

Just look at a few positions. 3rd-Base: Chipper is obviously in decline, nuff said. Outfield: Do we have a true-blue major league caliber outfielder on this team? Even McLouth is more suited to 4th outfielder. 2nd-Base: KJ is way too inconsistent, offensively and defensively. Prado, IMO, has played way over his head but is settling back to earth. 1st-Base: LaRoche has been a great pickup, but we all know what we’ll get from him the first half of next season. I’m happy with B-Mac at catcher, cause I know he’ll B-Bac eventually. Heyward will be here sometime next year; unfortunately baseball is a team game.

If Vazquez is traded for hitting, the pitching will suffer, especially if Huddy has arm difficulty or is less effective. Liberty Media is not gonna cough-up funds for much FA activity. Where does all this leave us? Y’all tell me? Please?

When is Liberty Media’s ownership time-requirement fulfilled? Arthur Blank, where are you?

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Only this Braves offense could make the Padres look like a World Series caliber team. Felt bad for J.J. and the other pitchers who pitched their guts out.

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Now, it’d definitely be brutal if he had, say, season-ending surgery in the 2nd year of a $137.5MM contract. Whew, that’d look like a dumb signing!

Or, say a team picked up an option on a certain 37 year old first baseman for 12 mil and the guy only played 23 games the whole season. I mean, that would be a complete wash!

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Anders……….just like the 2008 Braves, there is no hope for your Mets. Injuries killed their year, just like it killed ours last year. No other way to say it.

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Shamus – you’re the good kind of crazy. Pay no mind to the haters. Props to you for doing your thang.

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Shamus – all that with Q on your fingers…..

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diaz makes the bunt he is a hero good for him to try

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going 1 for 25 makes a guy look like a DH? how is that? (DAP)

Playing the field takes it’s toll. Especially on the legs. Otherwise, why does Chipper DH every chance he gets in interleague?

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Paul
However, losing last night to the Padres hurts more, given our position in the standings.

Didn’t realize that games in August count more than games in May and July. My mistake. What happens? Win a game in August and gain 2 games and lose a game in August and lose two games in the standings

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Oilver Perez – Out for season with knee surgury -

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Survey, how many blog denizens read Paul Lentz’s post, just curious.

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Bat Masterson – Survey, how many blog denizens read Paul Lentz’s post, just curious.

who?

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faninva……I use caps to highlight and put emphasis on certain points, not to yell.

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Shaun: “I watch the games too, and I don’t see what you see nor do I have any reason whatsoever to believe the Braves mental state is something other than going out there to win every game.”

Thinking and doing are 2 different things.

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<—– pining for scoots’ props.

Great stuff on the blog today, folks, even if I’ve mistakenly caught a whiff of the occasional Dentz post.

Tomahawkin,

don’t know that I can respect a man who mixes Patron…are you a girly-man?

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well, he doesnt DH every time he gets in interleague. and im not sure its chipper’s legs that are his problem. if its anything physical, i think its his oblique…but none of us really know what the problem is.

yeah, anders.

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Remember that hour PL got banned? Props to DOB for that.

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fleming…..the thing about having insurance on a players contract is that you cant make a claim until after the season is over with, because there is always a chance that he will come back early. Insurance companies just dont pay out millions of dollars until all the documentation is in.

For instance, look at Tim Hudson. The Braves had no way of knowing when Hudson was going to come back for sure. They were optimistic he could have come back in early August. However, he could suffer another setback and not come back at all.

So in other words, when Frank Wren made his budget for this year……..he had to factor paying Hudson his whole salary because he didnt know how much the insurance was going to pick up on it. That money wont come in until sometime after the season is over with. And the documentation will have to be in place and the insurance company will need time to process the claim. And when it comes to multi-million dollar claims, they arent exactly in a rush to “cut the check”.

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Props to BA Steve, best damn drinkin’ man on the forum!

You woulda gotten them sooner, big guy, had I known you were. Your mere appearance generates props, LOL. And the occasional prosit.

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RHR, was it an hour? Seemed like a minute. But, props to you for bringing it up, anyway.

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Thanks so much RHR!

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Cs95, crazy Bobby won’t rest Chipper is beyond me too. LaRoche batting 7th is insane!

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Anders,

I don’t think Chipper likes to DH. Some do and some don’t. It helps some to keep their head in the game and stay looser while playing the field.

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HAs anyone heard anything about Chipper’s dad coming to work with him on hitting. THat’s his hitting guru as most of you know. If not, that means that Chipper is playing hurt.

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fleming……….when you lose games early in the season, you have time to “make up for the losses” (you know, by playing better and elevating the level of your play).

However when teams are close and battling for a spot in the playoffs, the losses this time of year are more magnified because there are “less games” left to make up ground.

Also, managers manage differently in the early part of the season then they do late in the year when they are contending. The NBA is a classic example of that. A team may have a 10 man bench during most of the regular season. However as the playoffs are nearing and teams are battling each other, a lot of teams will “tighten up” their bench and play with only an 8 or even 7man rotation.

In baseball, in early May, a manager may stick with a starting pitcher who is trying to get out of a jam in the 7th inning………in August and September, he may give him a quicker hook, because they need that win.

So yes, a loss in August and September is WORSE than a loss in May. Pressure is an intangible that can be counted on to affect pennant races. Some teams crack under pressure while other teams elevate their level of play in crunch time. You cant tell me that the Mets didnt crack under pressure at the end of both 2007 and 2008. What were the differences between the last 17 games of 2007 and the first 17 games of 2007 for the Mets?

The Phillies, on the other hand, elevated their play in the last parts of both 2007 and 2008.

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fleming- there comes a time when the question is no longer between DH’ing and playing the field but is between DH’ing and not playing at all. You’d be surprised at how many guys suddenly take a liking to DH’ing at that stage of their careers.

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Paul – using CAPS in blog-land is the equivalent of yelling. I really thought that was common knowledge – well, cheers – you know now.

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Lentz – when you lose, you lose, early, late, there is no making it up, Just like lost time. nuff said, the rest is all blah, blah, blah

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Some teams crack under pressure while other teams elevate their level of play in crunch time. (Mr. Lentz)

Mr. Lentz- So are you saying that the Braves cracked under pressure 13 out of the 14 years they went to the playoffs and fell short?

Your wondering pal,

Anders.

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Paul

A lose is a lose is a lose. Believe me if you play the game and are competitive it hurts just as much to lose the first game as it does the middle or last, whether you are 10 games up or 10 games behind.

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submariner He had to know that Bell needed to get ahead. He’d just walked McCann! How hard is it?

What is this person talking about in that post? BMac hit a single off Bell last night…

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How about GA just sit his crippled ass out for the season and they bring up B.Jones. I don’t care what DOB or anyone says about Jones and his numbers in the minors right now, he can at least run good and doesn’t let bloops fall 2-3 ft in front of him. Also, from what I’ve seen of him he puts up good at bats. Besides, if Dipper hits like he should, GA isn’t so critical. If Dipper continues this BS, we aren’t going to the playoffs anyhow.

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Giggidy!

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once again the Braves have a let down in the first game of the series making game 2 and game 3 crucial to our playoff hopes. Anyone else getting tired of this pattern? I just hope Kawakami doesn’t mind the pressure because this has to be at least the 3rd time he is in the position of having to give us a huge game.

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Quagmire- Maybe Ozzie Guillen knows of what he speaks. Just sayin.

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monty………I’m not faulting Garret for not scoring on that hit. Given his condition, there is no way he scores.

What I have been saying is that if Bobby pinch runs for him, the runner scores on that hit. When you combine how slow Garret is, with the fact that he slowed down even more when he looked back at the right fielder while rounding second…………it isnt a stretch a pinch runner being close to home while Garret is just rounding into 3rd.

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Whoops, sorry keylargo! I’m and idiot.

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Tomahawkin (August 26th, 2009 3:18 pm): “Then After we lost I lost It and had a B.F. that I’m just recovering from…”

Ahhh, that’s sweet.

What’s your BoyFriend’s name? How long y’all been together?

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Paul Lentz: “Pete…your 4:42pm posting is a little confusing.

My point was that there was NO REASON for Garret to turn and look to see if the outfielder caught the ball when he rounded second.”
I thought thats what I said, especially because there were 2 outs. Youre not supposed to look no matter how many outs, but with 2 outs, it makes even less sense.
I also agree with the attempted bunt by Diaz because of where the infielders (right side) were playing. It was a reasonable strategy that unfortunately just didnt work cause he bunted too hard.

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Pete………if Bobby pinch runs for Garret, then perhaps it would not be a stretch to imagine a pinch runner like Javier Vazquez running faster and not looking back on that hit by LaRoche.

Factoring that in, I feel that Vazquez could have scored on that hit. However, we’ll never know because Bobby left Garret in the game.

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Paul Lentz – I agree with you in regards to Bobby not pinch running for Anderson…the problem is that BLUNDER has no bench to use (which he did to himself). It would be nice to have Blanco, Brandon Jones, or even Brooks Conrad on the roster…guys those fine moves are paying off for our team.

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Hell Yeah!

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Folks, I’m telling you…Bobby’s act just doesn’t work any more. Hooray for all his championships, but the game has passed him by. We have too much talent on this team that we should score at least 3 runs every game…at least 3 runs! Bobby is not, and has not been, making sound decisions for the past 4 years. And folks, guess what…Chipper has been breaking down for the past 4 years, too. Where does it say we have to reward past performance with current compensation? Trade his sorry, broken-down, steroid-consumed, pious-a** to the AL so he can play every 4 or 5 days as the DL and actually contribute. The Braves have paid him extremely well for all these years. And, if any of you “kool-aid” drinkers for TP want proof, look what the Mets’ hitting coach has been able to accomplish with French. Memo to all: The Braves are not a retirement home for has-beens! Peace.

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So, no sweep…but we need to win tonight so that we have a chance at a series win… Oh, and think the Diaz choice for lead-off is very interesting.

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Paul, Im just speculating that Bobby didnt want to remove GA (after removing McCann) from a potentially extra inning game given his weak bench, and the fact GA was on 1st. However, Im again speculating that had GA advanced only to 2nd instead of 3rd on LaRoche’s hit, then Cox PR’s for him at that point. Ive watched many instances where a manager (not just Cox) will leave a runner on 1st and then if/when he does advance to 2nd, PR for him.

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for example:

1) batting the only serious power threat you have in the 7th hole?

2) continued to play the likes of Frenchy/KJ over the much better Prado/Diaz

3) won’t rest the ailing Chipper against the lowly Pads(guy needs his baby rest for the upcoming Phillies series)

4) continues, and I do mean CONTINUES, to over use key guys in his pen when the game is pretty much in his teams hands or vise versa

5) Conrad is in AAA?? WAIT…. Conrad is in AAA and Greg FU**** Norton is still getting at bats on a MLB team in the thick of a playoff chase? That really explains this man’s insanity and absolute stubborness to change for the good od the Braves

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Tomahawkin – Prado went 0 for 6 in the two hole last night. You want to add the preasure of being lead off before he’s even really back?

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Funny, CW

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ncscoots, you’re exactly right, Cox is our Omar Minaya. Just because you were lucky doesn’t mean you’re qualified. I bet Ned Yost would have this team (and talent) in first place. When these primadonna managers work for incentives, maybe you’ll see differnt results. Bye Bye Chipper, Bobby, TP, and Mr. .128 Norton………………..

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This blog is cool, but for those who think Cox and kk are the problem…you need to pay more attention to the game than on your keyboard bloggin. Jones is and has been a bargain for many years.

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Ned Yost or Willie Randolph for next manager.

I wanted Smoltz but it seems Wren is not a big fan of Johns. I think Randolph would bring the excitement and energy these young players need to get winning baseball back in Atlanta again.
Yost might be Bobby Ball over again. I have always said that if TP is manager I really would consider following another team. I dislike him that much.

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NO MORE BOBBY – I’ll be the Braves next manager before Willie Randolph.

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One thing I’ve noticed based on reading this and other baseball blogs, the opposing team has heart and the home team doesn’t.

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You know…last night sucked we all know that….but the boys on the field know their backs are up against the wall..and we need these next two games of the series…It sucks…but its the way it is.

We’re 5 1/2 out of the wild card with a game in hand on the Rockies…

If we can shave a couple games off that lead…Be it the Rockies or Dodgers…say 3 1/2 games by the middle to end of the first week in September…I like our chances…

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I would agree that hitting LaRoche 7th with as hot as he is against a RHP does not make much sense

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DOB- I’m feeling a thaw here. Huh? Stay in touch.

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Less than 15K tonight? Wow, that would be embarassing. The Brewers got 29K last night for a game against the Reds so let’s not get into this whole market thing.

Like Frenchy said, ” After we won so much for some reason the fans stopped coming to the games.” Apparently the players notice.

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Enter your comments here

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Diaz leading off? Guess Bobby and the coaching staff have early dinner reservations …

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BMac is hitting .500 with a homer, 5 RBI, and a .556 OBP during his current 2-game hitting streak.

Keep it up tonight, my mann!!

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McFann -

post that devils-face the Padres way – after last nights loss, we shouldn’t take any chances.

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“??? Wright, Reyes and Beltran? I’ll give you Delgado but when he’s healthy he’ll either be somewhere else or on the beach in Puerto Rico. I mean, it’s not like we signed him to a 3 year $40 mil deal when he turned 37. I mean even Minaya wouldn’t make that mistake.”

Anders, Moises Alou sends his regards…

OK–time for a blog time-out:

1. Chipper has just been signed to a long-term deal. Chipper has been in the league for over 10 years, and with the same team for over 5 years. As such a player, he cannot be traded without his consent. So all of this talk about trading Chipper is just a finger exercise.

2. Ned Yost has never won anything. His last managerial stint ended very badly, and only after he was FIRED did Milwaukee advance to the playoffs, despite getting Sabathia for the stretch run. He is known as a pitcher abuser and had communication issues with the players. So if you are pining for him to manage the Braves, I might suggest you will experience future disappointment.

3. Anyone realize that this year’s Braves are only 6 wins away from equaling the win total of the 2008 Braves?

4. Anderson probably can not run very well (duh!) because of the hip thing, which probably would be aggravated by sliding, if I were to guess. So yes, a pinch runner would have probably been the way to go there, maybe more so than for McCann. I’d have to feel that right now, especially with Anderson’s injuries, McCann could probably outrun him.

5. I have gotten to the point where I seethe whenever one of our runners is stopped at third, even when it is probably the right thing to do. It makes me want the team to go out and get about 7 sprinters for the stretch run just to be inserted in as pinchrunners.

That’s all for now. Continue to blindly post, without regard for the truth.

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Dentz, you capitalize for emphasis? Doesn’t repeating your post 5 times a day do that?

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I just wanted to give my opinion regarding whether the Braves are under or over achieving this year. Personally, I actually think we are slightly overachieving. This lineup has serious flaws, including little power (including no true #4 hitter), little speed, and too many left handed hitters. This has been an issue all year but all of the position players Wren has acquired in 2009 are lefties (Church, LaRoche, McLouth, signing Anderson in spring training). However, we obviously have a great pitching staff that is keeping us in the playoff hunt. I worry about next year because Soriano and Gonzalez are free agents and we still need a big right handed bat. As much as I hate to admit this, I have to agree with those who don’t think the Braves will make the playoffs (although I certainly hope I am wrong).

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Finally, a Garrett Anderson video!

I’ve been waiting my whole life for that. Or like two months.

I love that guy. I also would have loved it if he got a hit last night but whatever.

I didn’t even know if he was capable of speech. It turns out, he is.

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I get excited everytime we play well and playing against team like Padres we need to bring our energy so that we can possibly sweep a team like Padres. We have 37 games left folks. With Rockies playing like they are right now and we have to make up 6 games. I’m a die hard Braves fan and I want to believe that we can make it to PO but as of right now that chance is real slim unless we post record of 27-10 or better

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I want to add that I don’t blame Cox for the Braves difficulties this year because he was given a very flawed offensive roster, as described in my earlier post.

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Im pretty sure Wren and Liberty Media are aware that fans are staying away this year.
Even more proof that change is needed for the Atlanta Braves.
Same tired played out Bobby Ball = losing money = Liberty Media not happy.
Bobby could screw things up in the past and as long as fans came out Liberty pretended not to notice some fans were upset with losing.
I called it back in June that Turner would look like Fulton County late 80’s in September.

Sad.

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Should Bobby have pinch run? Probably. But there’s no guarantee than anyone who could have come in to pinch run would have scored. Like someone said last night, I believe it was DOB, instead of getting thrown out by a mile, they might have just been thrown out by a few feet.

If Jurrjens hadn’t been the starter in the game, he would have been a great pinch running option because of his great speed. But he started. So, I dunno. Its not like a good managerial move will get any compliments from the people dying to see him fired.

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Fred – You are a loser. Im sure at work they run all over you and your wife talks down to you in public while you do nothing to defend yourself. All the Bobby lovers always have some lame excuse why its not his fault we are losing. Last year it was we can not win with players hurt and these bench players filling in. Then this year when those same bench players got hurt everyone wanted them back and said we cant win without them. Dude your pi$$ing me off!!! This team sucks because of Bobby Cox and all his supporters suck for wanting him to stay because he won one freaking series FOURTEEN YEARS AGO!!!

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So, the only categories Chipper leads the team in is OBP, BB’s, Errors, and K’s, eh?

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NO MORE BOBBY – rant all you want, Liberty Media could careless about the Braves, they were a biproduct of a deal with Time Warner. I’m betting they have to hold their stake in the Braves for tax reasons. As long as LM keeps the Braves top managment the same, Bobby stays as long as he likes, so get over it already.

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thanks, McFann!

I think we’re good to go.

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DOB–

Wow…didn’t realize Schafer had been passed yet…sheesh, poor guy.

64 K’s…that’s how many BMac had all of last year. Gonna surpass that this year–unless he manages only 6 K’s or less for the rest of the season, which seems rather unlikely at this point…

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You’re welcome, faninva.

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Thanks for finally admitting the problem…Mr Bobby Cox and his gang of idiots. As I’ve said from time to time, “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is INSANITY”. How about a three run homer in the ninth to win, by Bobby Cox. So long Bobby and thanks for taking all the credit from our Cy Young, HOF pitchers, and great hitters in their prime. Homer Simpson could have won more World Series with this group. Anyway, just my opinion…Peace.

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Thanks Kurdt for that post. I will say that our organist Matthew Kaminski needs to work on the traditional stuff some. He has the weird rock classics down though. Smoke on the Water? Nice!

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That’s been their problem all along. They play a team that you could get 11 guys out of midtown and they would bring them down but the Braves can make them look like the ‘27 Yankees. A real playoff team would never go to extra innings with a San Diego or a Washington but we sure find a way.

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NO MORE BOBBY, I understand you disagree with my opinion, but there is absolutely no need for those personal attacks. For your information, I work at an alternative school for emotionally and behaviorally disordered adolescents. Trust me, nobody runs over me at work, as my students and co-workers would attest to. Nobody could work in that environment for 11 years without a strong sense of discipline. And you have no right to criticize my wife without having met her (or me, for that matter). She is one of the nicest people around and she never “talks down” to me, in public or private. Just stick to baseball, my man.

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Guys, spare me the sense of urgency/grittiness/jump-up-and-down-and-cheer crap. Jesus. If there’s one thing I’ve noticed while watching both this blog and baseball, it’s that a team’s heart quotient closely parallels the team’s win%. If a team is winning, they’re scrappy! They play with heart! They care. However, the non sequitur of the group is saying that the grittiness causes the winning. No. Being good causes winning. Lack of heart does not cause losing. Being bad at baseball causes losing.

Case in point: when Manny was with Boston and they were winning the WS, his antics were “fun,” analysts said. He really lightens up the clubhouse, blah blah blah. When they’re losing, he’s the cancer. His behavior didn’t change, but the team’s record did, and his perception did as a result.

When we’re winning, Nate McLouth is a scrappy white guy CF that is speedy and a good hitter making diving catches all over the place! (etc. etc.) When we’re losing, he’s a sh!tty 4th OF that can’t hit or play D, and really has no business even calling himself a baseball player. Passionless.

When we’re winning, Marteen Prado is, quite simply, God. When we’re losing, he’s just some Venezuelan guy playing over his head.

When we’re winning, GA is a professional hitter, an RBI/BA/clutch/old-timey baseball fan’s delight!. Losing? He’s a Loaf, a crappy defender (he’s that when we’re winning, too), etc.

When we’re winning, Yunel is a charismatic SS that gives the team a sense of hard-nosey type baseball whatevers. When we’re losing, he’s an airheaded hot dog that knows less about ‘ball then any of the multitude of Cox detractors (who, of course, know everything).

When we’re winning, the team plays with heart and they’re scrappy and whatever and so on. When we’re losing, we get days like today. Folks, “think” with your “brains.” Please. For the love of Marteen.

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Soph, I’m just gonna go ahead and give myself props. I’ve been taking lessons from Paul Lentz. Hey guys! Did you read my postings! They’re really….good?

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Steve from OH–

You summed it up perfectly. Well done.

But no matter what, win or lose, BMac still belongs in the fifth spot.

Please. For the love of Marteen.

Very clever touch. Props!

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I actually like Diaz in the leadoff spot.

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Well, Steve props to you for giving props to yourself. Hell, props all around people – great blogging today! (Except for when everyone was cranky earlier, of course)

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Sign Will Ohman!

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ncscoots OK, who else wants props? I got some extra lying around.

Save ‘em and I’ll get in touch with you next time I put on a play…

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Props to McFann for giving me props!

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CaliChopper
August 26th, 2009
6:09 pm

I’m betting they have to hold their stake in the Braves for tax reasons.

You would win that bet, they have to hold for 2 or 3 years. Can’t remember of the top of my head.

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Last night was tough, but it was also different. It just felt so….lackluster. For a team that is supposed to be making a playoff push, the only enthusiasm or passion I saw was from that guy in the crowd with the dry-erase board. Braves need to wake up and look alive out there. You dont win games by playing half-ass, and you dont win friends with salad.

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Steve from OH – Damnit, knew he was blowing something… Thanks for clearing that up. More props for you

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For what its worth, I was glad to read that JJ was mad about losing last night. Told it like it was.

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Braves aren’t really that hard to watch right now. It’s been much better since I’ve accepted the fact that they aren’t a real playoff team.

You might say, “But what about winning all those series lately, having one of the best records in the NL since the break…..and on and on…” It’s the key games that are the tipoff. Like last night. Playing a last place team, a chance to make a statement to themselves, a chance to put another W up there and make a charge. They haven’t done it all year.

This is a decent team, but not a playoff team. Don’t get your hopes up and you won’t be disappointed when they play to their actual ability.

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I can’t believe we’re actually talking about this guy going tomorrow for the Padres.

Did we not beat Tim Lincecum in convincing fashion last month? Didn’t we just beat Santana for the second time in three chances this year?

We didn’t exactly knock Roy Halladay around but he did get outpitched.

I just don’t get these cycles the Braves get into where they can’t hit anything and start worrying about some wanna be.

How they can go from scoring seven runs one day to one the next I can’t understand.

They just need to execute. They get down by a run and you could see them all with that look like “I have to hit a homerun… I have to hit a homerun… no, I have to hit a homerun…”

Mental toughness and patience last night was in short supply.

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With more run support, Jurrjens and Vazquez would be in the hunt for the Cy Young. Overall, both have been outstanding.

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Mcfann- that sounds delicious. but “you dont win friends with salad” was a simpsons reference

I thought you people understood me!!!

/cries

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I read the BC quote of yesterday on Chipper taking a day off. Something very close to “if you sign on, you play”. Well, that’s one way of looking at it. Another (more rational way) is to see a very tired, slumping, 37 year old, who’s always played hard and is worn down. Bobby doesn’t see that man, Bobby misses a lot. I wish Bobby would go away for all of his excellence, he is not “the man for all seasons” – they came and went, now he’s gone, too.

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Loafy! I see you in a whole new light now.

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Paul Lentz: “However with the double play being a possibility, Bobby should have pinch ran for Garret.”
I can certainly understand the arguement that Bobby should have PR for Garrett, but not for the reason you state. Keep in mind probably 75+% of the time a DP is unsuccessful is due to the batter beating out the relay throw (or a mishandling while throwing to 1st), and not the runner going to 2nd beating the throw. The first part of a DP is the easy one; making a smooth turn and throwing to 1st is the tough part.
So even if Cox had PR for Garrett and Esco had hit a ground ball, most likely the out at 2nd would have been made anyway, regardless of who was running. Now if Deion Sanders were on the bench its a different story, but the Braves didnt have that kind of speed available.

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Dan Kolb’s Mom–

Oh, it’s one of the better foods in life…after pizza, of course. (But doesn’t everything come after pizza?)

but “you dont win friends with salad” was a simpsons reference

Oh! I thought it was just a saying…never watched the Simpsons…

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Keep in mind that it was Wren (the front office) who signed Chipper to a new multiyear contract, and, by Braves standards, for serious money.

Management isn’t apt to sit Chipper down, given the investment. Might be wise to spell him, but I’m guessing that management thinks that Chipper will play his way out of the slump.

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Soph Loafy! I see you in a whole new light now.

Did you watch his “Know Your Braves” thing?

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McFann: The pasta salad we’re having for dinner tonight is pretty amazing stuff as well…”"

Throw in some Q and it’ll be amazingly amazing stuff~!

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I’m blaming Chipper.

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Damn…… Soriano can talk!

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Gotta little Metallica goin…yeahhhhh baby

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Damn…… Soriano can talk!”"

How else could he communicate MFIKY?

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Anders – so all of Chipper’s errors and his, what, .938 fielding average (ok, that was 2 weeks ago, are negotiated within that reduced range. My first disagreement with you, dude, but it is slowed reflexes, not reduced range, causing the errors. Balls o/s of his new, shall we say, more limited, range, don’t show up anywhere. Chipper is not stellar in the field at this point in his career. (As Yogi says, “you could look it up!”)

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refresh, por favor.

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Braves aren’t really that hard to watch right now. It’s been much better since I’ve accepted the fact that they aren’t a real playoff team….. – I Watch When I’m Bored

Pretty much feel ya there. I felt an uncomfortable comfortable “ease” after last night’s debacle.

….and woke up today with this song in my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KKIRrQWVa4&feature=related

Coincidence? Maybe.

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Jeff – With more run support, Jurrjens and Vazquez would be in the hunt for the Cy Young. Overall, both have been outstanding.

With a better manager this team would be in the hunt for a World Series appearance.

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Technically, this team IS in the hunt for a World Series appearance.

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sorry about my long absence from the blog.

any word on the official attendance?

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Kurdt Kobain – Chipper misses Shea Stadium.

Braves miss Chipper.

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Hey DOB – Adventureland came out on DVD yesterday.

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“Braves miss Chipper.”

Nice! and true…

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or should I say “props”…

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I think I just had a dream where I saw Soriano smile. But here’s the thing, he wasn’t killing anyone…it had to have been a dream, right? Right?!

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Zeke Spruill has returned from the abyss of the GCL to start for Rome tonight.

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Hate to be the sour apple but ask Jason Giambi, Slammin’ Sammy, Big Papi, A-Fraud, and Manny why Chipper can’t hit all of a sudden. It’s called being off the “cycle,” new to the PED lexicon after Manny got caught. It’s simple. Start your “regimen” again, and your average jumps .40 points. All is well. Stop your “cycle,” for whatever reason, and you become your true self. A .270-.280 hitter with poor and varying swing mechanics to make up for your signifigantly slower bat through the zone, becoming a fairly easy out for pitchers who know what you’re all about. About 2 years ago, I saw this guy hit a 410-footer WITH ONE HAND!!!! You know, the kind of shot that Barry would casually slug, and the announcers pause and look at each other. I was convinced then. How else does effortless bombs with the flick of a wrist that fly over Ted’s center field wall all of a sudden turn into pop-outs and embarrassing swinging strikeouts? The same way Andruw Jones hit 51 homers to carry us to the postseason and increase his contract value, only to have the Dodgers beg him to play for his Little League National Team.
I don’t dislike nor like Chipper. I have always been indifferent towards him because while putting up unprecedented numbers for a switcher, he never struck me as a 5-tool player (the players I value most), nor is he the most charismatic fellow.
A batting average dip like the one Chipper is experiencing from last year to this one shouldn’t be a big mystery, and cannot be explained or excused by what he says. Do you really believe a guy with over a decade of professional service who hit .360 for most of last year all of a sudden is second-guessing himself and blaming his age and injuries on his .80 point drop-off? He thinks we all are morons, and I resent that fact. Trust me, people. The bomb is coming sooner than later.

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Steve-

What do you know about Spruill? He pitched at the same high school that I played at (after I left) and I saw him pitch a couple times in high school. He wasn’t very impressive. Has that changed? It would be cool to see him rise through the ranks.

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Tim Timmons. I’d hate to have the initials TT…kids can be cruel. I should know, I was!

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I think it’s funny that they still had Spruill’s promotions airing at the Rome Braves games even while he was gone.

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1st?

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DOB,

I also think Chipper should be dropped in the order (and given a day off too). The problem is Bobby Cox. How long did he bat Andruw Jones in the same spot when he was struggling mightily (and should have moved down in the order)?

How many games did Bobby Cox let Corky Miller play when he sucked? What about Chris Woodward (sp?). Bobby was slow in dropping Frenchy in the order too.

My point is, Bobby Cox has a habit of leaving guys in a certain spot in the batting lineup, regardless of what their current play dictates. And thats why he’s a players’ manager. He gives you every opportunity to succeed. Unfortunately for the Braves, we dont have the talent that works with Bobby’s style of managing (in my opinion).

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Couch Tater -

Trut so pure!

Lubs me some JJ Cale too.

…and on the game…..here. we. go. again.

My Gawd!

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Ben Hill’s Own
August 26th, 2009
7:12 pm

You are a moron. Ever heard of a guy named Eddie Mathews.

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A-gon was trying to make it 3-0 there.

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Good to see KK going after people. Not falling behind. Just unlucky here in the 1st.

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Steve-

Thanks man. That was a cool link.

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come on battle back KK!!!

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nolie……….scoring 1 run in 12 innings against a bad pitching staff isnt indicative of a team trying to win every game.

is the offense calling it a night after scoring 4 early runs off a wild Oliver Perez. The last 6 innings of that Mets game didnt indicate that the Braves offense wanted to win that game.

I’m not saying that the Braves players are trying to lose games. I’m saying that one’s mental approach, the sense of urgency that is needed this time of year…….is lacking in some games with this Braves team. It shows on the scoreboard in games we should win.

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Confirmed?

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A double play home to first would be great right now!!!

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metsmania

you’re being mean.

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I’m not going to like this ump.

Where was that?

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eeeeeeeeeep

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this is gonna get bad real quick…

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I think I just heard the crowd.

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KK pitching against the Padres is not exactly a big game situation (for him anyways) so I don’t expect him to do well, 3-4 earned w/ 5-6 innings

*Church is back and yet Chipper is playing over Infante today (Bobby: Slump, what slump? This is the best hitting I’ve seen out of Chipper in a long time)

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Ha, that boy didn’t run on G-Anderson? He must not be in the KNOW!

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lol… what is Cabrera doing? Doesn’t he know who’s in our outfield?

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dang, i better change my name if we get one more out.

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Nice throw Loaf!

:facepalm:

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Come on KK.

They’re still the Padres.

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Chop Chop

LMAO thats great just sitting there afriad to run on Loaf

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[exhales]

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good work KK

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great work from KK…he’s proved alot so far this year.

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Kawakami, you’re my hero.

Let’s get some runs for our best pitcher.

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this could get ugly fast here…

this is gonna get bad real quick…

Good calls!

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well that just shows how bad the padres are…I mean the bases loaded no outs for the middle of your order and you get 3 lazy popouts

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Glad you pitched outta that one, KK!! Would’ve been a bad way to start this one…from behind.

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Based on what I saw in that inning, Everth Cabrera doesn’t have any heart. In fact, I’d say that Headley, Venable, and Kouzmanoff have no heart.

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Vinings Jim- only way to assume that it was gonna be bad quickly with no outs and bases loaded after the first three batters in the game right?

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I ain’t did nothin to em but count dis money and put my team on now my whole click stunnin.

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That last inning for the Padres felt eerily familiar. Like deja vu…no?

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ONLY one that couldn’t score from 3B on that throw by Loaf….would be….Loaf

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