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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,687 comments Add your comment
Bat Masterson
September 7th, 2009
2:37 pm
Well, John, if we have blame someone it might as well be you, I mean, no way could it be Cox’s fault, right.
The Envoy
September 7th, 2009
2:38 pm
Jurrjens4NLCY,
The idea of this payroll tax adopted by MLB is a joke. If you don’t reloacate existing franchises, then create 2 new franchises. The Players Union would love this, 50 additional players. The only way to attack the huge money difference is to locate another team in the huge money backyard. If the Yankees can have a 260 million dollar payroll they must be making money hand over fist. The YES Network would have to compete with an additional advertising alternative and so down the line with fans etc. Surely the Yankees could still be competitive with say a 160 million dollar payroll. So the new team could spend 100 million if market share in NY were sliced up this simply. Of course, these are all broad strokes and pedantic imaginings of what might be. I speculate that a franchise like the Marlins with great young Latin players could do well in NY or NJ. Imagine what a star Hanley Ramirez or Josh Johnson could be in that city.
Gwegg Nawton
September 7th, 2009
2:40 pm
DOB
Did you see earlier in the week when the Brewers reliever did has Rocker-like run to the mound, and Holliday crushed his 1st pitch into the seats?
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
2:41 pm
TnBrian Compare McCann’s numbers hitting 4th to hitting 5th… was it not obvious to you that he was pressing hitting cleanup. Don’t know why that is but the numbers don’t lie. Would he have struggling hitting his normal 5th spot, maybe, but we won’t know.
Yeah, we won’t ever know the answer to that, but I cann tell you one thing: he’s hit .412 with more walks than K’s (5 to 4) in the fifth spot this year. When he came off the DL and went on a tear, he was batting fifth.
Was that because he could see better? Or was it that plus the fact that he was in a more comfortable spot in the order? He presses too much when he bats cleanup, or at least it appears that way. He takes a lot of “home run cuts” in that spot, like he thinks he needs to hit more homers ’cause he’s batting cleanup.
And I get a load out of you…”[DANG], is he FAT and SLOBBY! I swear he must have put on 15-20 lbs since opening day and it doesn’t look like muscle. His bat is slow and his appraoch at the plate for awhile now has been Frenchy-like.”
Come on, duuude! Try something new. He was heavier than this last year and had a great year offensively. Yeah, I do think he’s added a few pounds since the season began, but give me a break. Ya know what? His bat has been slow, but maybe that’s a product of catching so many games and having a sore right-side. He’s caught a ton of games since coming off the DL. Bowmen writes:
“Dating back to May 8, when he returned from the disabled list with his left eye vision problems remedied, McCann has started 92 of the 109 games played by the Braves. That equates to the expected one day off per week that most big league catchers receive.
But McCann has actually appeared in 101 of those 109 games and been utilized behind the plate in five of those games that he was scheduled to have a day off. Entering Sunday, he had compiled 27 more at-bats than any other National League catcher dating back to May 8.”
And how in the heck is his weight gonna have anything to do with his approach? I will say that I haven’t been enjoying his recent approach, but that’s got nothing to do with his weight.
In short (I know, too late for that), I’m thinking you and Uga-brave must each have one of those TVs that makes everything look wider than it really is…
Efrim
September 7th, 2009
2:42 pm
The thing about Schafer is, I think all his game needs is polish and most of his development is largely complete.
Yup, he needs plate appearances. He hasn’t even really been on the field enough in two seasons. Guy just needs to stay on the baseball field, and everything should work itself out.
Efrim
September 7th, 2009
2:44 pm
trade McLouth and Vazquez for a power OF/reliever and I suggested going after a guy like Figgins who is a more ideal leadoff hitter
I love the trade Vazquez comments. It’s not like he’s been our best pitcher this year, or anything like that.
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
2:46 pm
I got a kick out of The Brewers production at homeplate after C. Fielder’s walk-off.
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
2:48 pm
Fielder’s walk-off (pretty cool)
http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090906&content_id=6823408&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil
Football Fans Are Nuts!
September 7th, 2009
2:48 pm
Football is the big daddy of the American Sports Fans’ mindset. It’s kind of like pro wrestling with pads.
Some on this blog are obviously football fans because they know very well how the scheduling thing works in the NFL.
Those same fans who accept the football scheduling system that rewards bad teams with a weaker schedule, decry any attempt to do the same in baseball. Those are probably the same fans who scream about the steroid problem in baseball yet just want to know how long their favorite teams linebacker is going to be out when he is caught doing roids.
The NFL and it’s players are not held nearly as accountable for anything as MLB and it’s players. How many MLB players do you hear about each season who get into serious legal problems? Very few. How many NFL players? Plenty and it happens year after year. Do the fans scream about it? No they don’t. It’s just the media that seems to care about when football players mis-behave. If anything the NFL is getting more popular with it’s ner do wells and thugs who spend the offseason in strip joints, halfway houses and under arrest!
Barry Bonds, McQuire, Clemens, Sosa, Palmero, the list goes on and on of the players whose names are in the hall of shame because of their involvement with steroids. A couple of years ago Shawne Merriman of the Chargers gets popped using steroids and it’s like it’s no big deal. The fans just can’t wait to get him back and he takes no heat whatsoever! Hell even most football writers say they won’t hold it against him if he ever comes up for vote into the Pro Football Hall of Fame! Talk about inequality!
I’ll just go into semi-hibernation until spring training starts. Of course I’ll hear all the NFL news because it’s going to be screamed at me any time I turn on the TV during the off season. We’ll hear how many bowel movements T.O. has in Buffalo. We’ll know who Tony Romo is rogering now that he and Jessica Simpleton are “off.” We’ll be sure to hear just how great Tom Brady is as he leads the Patriots back to the playoffs……. and oh yeah….. he sleeps with a super model each night as well.
February can’t get here too soon!
The Envoy
September 7th, 2009
2:48 pm
I know I’m beating a dead horse, but there was a time when NY had 3 teams and Boston had 2. Population density, slice the pie where it needs to be sliced.
Football Fans Are Nuts!
September 7th, 2009
2:57 pm
“We’ll be sure to hear just how great Tom Brady is as he leads the Patriots back to the playoffs……. and oh yeah….. he sleeps with a super model each night as well.”
Guess I’ll have to back off on that one. Jeter does ‘em two at a time!
braveman
September 7th, 2009
2:58 pm
the braves arent making the playoffs this year… we have given it a great effort through the majority of the season but just choked it away here at the end with poor managerial decision after another, imho.
the real question is…what can this team honestly do to be better next season?
chances are we will not have gonzo and soriano both back so our bullpen will not be as good or as deep. especially since the braves have been notoriously cheap with regards to the pen. either javy or huddy will have to go, either of which will be a significant loss… no one will want to trade for kenshin due to his contract. what will we do with adam at first? signing him to a long term deal wont make much sense imo, afterall he only plays good ball for half (not even half) of a season. that doesnt help us much… our outfield is very weak, even with the addition of mclouth. matty has been on a tear of late but its not like he is going to hit 20-25 hrs and knock in more than 100 rbi in a full season as a starter. a heyward callup maybe in the near future but he couldnt be counted on to carry this team due to his very young age…
should have just gotten dunn when we had the chance. chipper….jesus christ why did we give this guy an extension before the season started? why god? with our rotation and useless thirdbaseman, we now have hardly any money to go after a power hitting outfielder and first baseman and we definitely dont have any money to spend on our bullpen… i love wren’s aggressiveness and all, but this move along with kawakami move is going to handicap this team for the next two-three years…
regardless of any moves we make it looks as though bobby will be back…
if you thought most of his decisions were questionable…wait until next season when he is a year older. yeah, its going to be a horror show. i appreciate everything bobby has done for atlanta and this team but its quite obvious he has completely lost the ability to manage….
i think new blood as the skipper would spark this team into a playoff run…even with minimal additions. we just have to pray wren and co. has learned from the chipper extension that he is only getting older and getting the job done doesnt come as easily for him as it once it did.
its going to be an interesting offseason for sure…
hopefully during the offseason bama will marching their way to a national championship…
roll tide!
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
2:58 pm
But platooning him with Matt Diaz initially would be a great way to ease his transition back into the game…you could do a Schafer/Diaz platoon with McLouth in left when Schafer starts and in center when Diaz starts.
I like the idea.
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
3:00 pm
DOB
Yesterday’s telecast highlighted all the scouts that were there to watch Hudson. Any feedback in that regard?
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
3:02 pm
HoCoJo–
I like this play better.
kirkinga
September 7th, 2009
3:04 pm
Platooning=Plan B. We need more Plan A, less Plan B’s. That’s the problem. There’s no substitute for having “the guy” at every position.
We’ve had too much 1part-timer + 1 part-timer = 1full timer.
Rick Reilly
September 7th, 2009
3:05 pm
From Rick Reilly’s “People Much Better Than Me,” where Reilly is writing about all the women that Jeter has been linked with.
This Derrick Jeter tidbit is hilarious!
“Lara Dutta: 2000 Miss Universe and current Bollywood star. A few years back, Jeter let me open an entire locker full of his mail. The most interesting letter was from a different Miss Universe, who included a photo with not a lot of clothing and her cell number. When I told Jeter — with astonishment — that he was being pursued with vigor by a Miss Universe, he said, and I quote exactly: “No way, dude. I’m not going down that Miss Universe road again.” I just stared, open-mouthed, at him. Has any man ever uttered that sentence before?”
Hey, You Know Who ... if you are reading
September 7th, 2009
3:06 pm
Spend less time this winter playing Buck Commander and more time strengthening your core … you are 38 years old and you are eating up a lot of payroll dollars that could be spent on someone who is 28 …
Rick Reilly
September 7th, 2009
3:10 pm
Pardon me, it’s Derek, not Derrick.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
3:11 pm
kirkinga–yeah, but if there ever was a platoon man, it’s Matt Diaz.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
3:13 pm
LaRoche dropped back out of Type B status.
brent a.
September 7th, 2009
3:16 pm
Dear “Football Fans are Nuts” @ 2:48 PM,
If you’ll take the time to note, you’ll see that it has been addressed on this blog that only 2/16 NFL games per team are influenced by the team’s previous season finish.
Buster seems to think it is much more dramatic than this, and desires something much more radical for the MLB.
By the way, I’m not a real big fan of the NFL. In fact, I don’t really watch until the play-offs; but, when we’re only talking about 16 games, combined with the ease in which the internet allows someone to review standings and schedules going back for years and years, (it really only takes 2), it’s not that hard to figure out the schedule, which, as has been addressed on this blog by me, earlier today, is pretty much clear cut and straightforward now that the team has an even 32 teams, with 4 teams in each division, and 4 divisions in each conference.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
3:18 pm
By the way, I’m not a real big fan of the NFL.
Well, you certainly seem to know quite a bit about how the schedule works!
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
3:19 pm
Thanks, McFann
Did you see the other bean ball (can’t find it)? Yankees game, I believe.
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
3:20 pm
McFann
I’m 1/2 ‘puter illiterate. How do you reduce the hyper-link?
Rodney Derrick
September 7th, 2009
3:24 pm
Surprised no one has mentioned that Melanie Oudin just made an incredible comeback today against 13 seed Petrova. Perhaps everyone was watching the other day when she defeated the beautiful Maria Sharapova because of Maria’s looks. In any case, that is four Russians in a row for the Marietta Tigeress.
J.J.M.
September 7th, 2009
3:25 pm
Oudin> Braves
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
3:28 pm
HoCoJo–
You’re welcome…no, didn’t see that beanball. Those things are scary…
I have a chart made out that shows how to reduce the links. Hope it cann help. It’s kinda hard to explain with typing…
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
3:29 pm
I dislike football very much…
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
3:31 pm
I told yall the Cardinals have the best 1 – 2 – 3 in baseball…
They are world champs…
Football Fans Are Nuts!
September 7th, 2009
3:33 pm
hey brent a,
Just raggin’ on the NFL mostly. I really don’t care for the idea of scheduling based on previous season’s record. In fact, I don’t like it at all! Never want to see baseball go that route.
The other areas I pointed out in my post, I stand by. I really don’t like the way the NFL gets a free pass from the fans and in some instances by “their” media.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
3:40 pm
Some playoff push by the fellas. (DOB)
It’s all Anders fault. Having a Mets fan hang around so much lately has tainted the Braves and turned them into chokers too
richbrave
September 7th, 2009
3:54 pm
EFRIM:
Agreed on VASQUEZ, but we have him locked for next year under his contract. We can’t move LOWE or KAWAKAMI, and we won’t move JURRGENS or HANSON. HUDSON is still damaged goods. VASQUEZ is the logical move for the big bat. We really don’t have many other options appealing to other clubs.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
3:55 pm
Sorry, Soph…jeepers-creepers! I sounded kinda rude to you! My apologies!
You crack me up McFann. You weren’t rude at all.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
3:55 pm
Platooning=Plan B. (Kirk)
yeah tell that to all those great Yankee and Oriole teams that won year after year with at LEAST one platoon, often more. sigh
McFann
September 7th, 2009
3:58 pm
Thanks for the tips. Here is my 1st attempt at showing the Yankee Bean Ball
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
4:01 pm
Haven’t even had a drink, yet! Sorry, McFann. 2nd attempt
Yankee Beaning
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:02 pm
It’s all Anders fault. Having a Mets fan hang around so much lately has tainted the Braves and turned them into chokers too (nolie)
Really? because when I was last here it was somewhere between the bad umpiring, the terrible middle relief and the disgruntled off season acquired starting pitchers.
But hey, I’ll gladly take the hit.{:
BTW- Just back from Atlantic City. Not much better luck down there for me in September.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
4:03 pm
Well that didn’t take long…
RHR
September 7th, 2009
4:04 pm
Keep the bat signal in your pocket how ’bout it, nolie.
BTW, what time does that game start?
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:06 pm
RHR- What am I going to do? If I can’t come on here when the Braves lose – well you know where that’s going.
TnBrian
September 7th, 2009
4:07 pm
Slumps and injuries that cost the team a chance at reaching the playoffs:
1) Chipper… could it be the end?
2) McCann… not as bad as CJ’s, but definitely hurt the team
3) Prado… maybe the most disappointing seeing as he and Javy were our first half MVP’s
4) Garret… didn’t really “slump”, just wasn’t consistant and played below average defense. Honestly, the way people were bashing his D, he played better out there than I thought he would
5) Bobby Cox… what’s left to say about this man’s mysterious decisions that hasn’t already been said?
Injuries:
1) McLouth… VERY bad timing for him to get hurt
2) LaRoche… didn’t miss any time, but I think his injury played a big part in stalling his hot streak
3) Prado… no doubt, whatever head thing he had screwed up nearly everything he had going before
4) Infante… never came back the same before being nailed in the hand
5) Church… always injured but would’ve helped a lot because he can flat out hit and works the pitcher
Umps:
– Is there any doubt a few umps cost us 3 or 4 games this year?
All this should make us die hard Braves fans feel a little better knowing they had some very bad luck and injuries to key players to lead them back to another disappointing year.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
4:08 pm
you are 38 years old
He’s 37 by the way. Turned 37 in April. Normally I wouldn’t say anything about someone being a year off but a year in mlb is apparently the equivalent of a dog year seeing how I don’t recall anyone talking about how old he was last year when he was hitting .400 in June at age 36.
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:10 pm
TnBrian – Forgive me if I don’t shed a tear over your 4:07.Youknow, the injuries and all.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
4:11 pm
Really? because when I was last here it was somewhere between the bad umpiring, the terrible middle relief and the disgruntled off season acquired starting pitchers (Anders)
not according to me it wasn’t. I’ve been blaming you for months.
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
4:12 pm
Chipper, along with many other professional ball players, but especially baseball, seems to have let his production levels slip once he started seeing the bank account grow.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
4:14 pm
Have the Mets had a lot of injuries this year?
TnBrian
September 7th, 2009
4:15 pm
Anders, how much money sat at home, or on a boat in the Bahamas, this year for your Mets? You’re right, nothing comapres to that teams injuries.
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:17 pm
I don’t recall anyone talking about how old he was last year when he was hitting .400 in June at age 36. (RHR)
Apparently you didn’t hear me screaming “Sell High” all last off season. Of course most on here including DOB said I was just bitter and being vindictive. How’s that look now?
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:18 pm
TnBrian – At one point the Mets had $89 mil on the DL. ’nuff said.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
4:19 pm
Chipper, along with many other professional ball players, but especially baseball, seems to have let his production levels slip once he started seeing the bank account grow. (HoCoJo)
what a laugh. you think the money he’s making this season finally went to his head? Cause all he did the last three seasons was to be first in batting average,second in OBP and third in slugging % in all of baseball.. Get real. B4 PEDS position players regularly started to play much more poorly around 36-37. Go take a stroll through player’s stats over the years, rather than come up with questionable theories like that
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:21 pm
HoCoJo- I disagree with you on Chipper. He may not be a work out maven but I don’t think he ever was. He probably works harder now than he did in his earlier years at least regarding trying to stay healthy. He wants his money sure (he deserves it to) but he doesn’t strike me as the the type to mail it in onve he got it.
He’s just getting old and his body is breaking down. Happens to us all.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
4:21 pm
Chipper, along with many other professional ball players, but especially baseball, seems to have let his production levels slip once he started seeing the bank account grow
sigh….I don’t know why I wasted my time with this, but I did. Chipper’s first big payday was in 2001. He hit .330 with 38 HR and 102 RBIs. Except in 2004, his production’s been pretty solid (and he still hit 30 dingers that year).
Him power numbers have dropped some, but I’m sure that has much more to do with his bank account than his aging.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
4:23 pm
I was just bitter and being vindictive. How’s that look now? (Anders)
about the same. he’s still had a more productive year than most of our hitters, and with his injury history not many teams would have given up all that much for him, and he couldn’t be traded without his consent which he wasn’t gonna give anyway. So yeah, pretty much the same.
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:29 pm
nolie- it was reported (I believe by DOB) that Chipper said he was willing to listen to whatever ideas the Braves had. This was in regards to possibly moving him last off season. Now there’s no way of knowing if he would have definetly accepted a trade. That aside, the Braves did not have to give him a three year extension either way.
BTW- I think he would have had great value to a team looking for a DH and part time fielding player. He can still hit when healthy.DH’ing can only help him stay healthy. His new contract makes him almost untradeable now however.
Shamus Thacker
September 7th, 2009
4:31 pm
Really, the only logical thing to do is start Dale Murphy at lead-off (most possible at-bats) the rest of the year. He needs a couple dingers for 400 and the HOF. We’d also land a top-5 draft pick.
And y’all thank I’m and idiot… Pffft
Robert
September 7th, 2009
4:32 pm
“Being realistic about things Bobby Cox should have been fired two or three years ago”
More like 16 years ago. As far as whether the team should spend money to improve the roster, it all depends on if Cox returns or not. If Cox is gonna be back, then the season is ruined right at the start, and there is no point in investing money in the team.
Boy, wouldnt y’all like to have back the 10 or 12 games Donk has blatantly blown this year?
See y’all again after the season is over
Wait, it was over the day Cox reported to spring training, so change that to – see y’all after game number 162
Doc Holiday
September 7th, 2009
4:32 pm
Im 100% sure braves wont lose today……….Go Bravos!!!
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
4:35 pm
Braves will still lose today, Norton will strike out, and Lentz will say something stupid. Those are things that just happen whether we’re playing or not.
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
4:35 pm
Anders/Nollie
I prefaced my statement with “seems” in regards to Chipper. I’ve been following MLB since the mid ’60s. All I’m conveying is that once these players ink their final fat contract, their production goes downhill. Maybe it’s subliminal. I don’t think it’s a joke. He may be giving 100% of what he has to offer, but it’s around 75% of what he use to be.
Shamus Thacker
September 7th, 2009
4:38 pm
jeffrey d: Him power numbers have dropped some”"
Him been nicked-up alot. That had lotz to do with it.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
4:40 pm
Them nicks are powerful painful.
Shamus Thacker
September 7th, 2009
4:40 pm
Doc Holiday: Im 100% sure braves wont lose today……….”"
Where are you holding them Doc!? Let them GO!!
RHR
September 7th, 2009
4:41 pm
TnBrian-
1) It happens. See McCann. Chipper will still finish the season with better numbers than he did in 2004 when he was 32, did you think he was done in 04 too or were you just not a Braves fan then?
2) See # 1. And yes, he was just as “bad” as Chipper.
3) Prado? Most disappointing? If not for Prado the braves would have been out of it by the trade deadline. If he had started the season instead of KJ they might still be in it. I’m more disappointed that the Braves signed KJ and JF in the first place. The money they gave those two knuckleheads could have been used to sign another FA, instead, Jeff was traded just to get gone and KJ sat on the bench and collected over 3 million dollars.
4. After he recovered from his leg problems I think Loaf added a lot to an offensively anemic team. Worth the money, IMO.
5. I agree about Bobby. He did wear the pen out but whats he to do when our starters can’t get thru 6 innings so often? And then when he leaves them to “get out of it” we have the DLowe vs NY nightmare. I can’t blame him for going to his best guys in the pen, I can’t say I wanted him to call on Acosta instead of Moylan/Gonzo/MFIKY at ANY time. But overall, I do agree it might be time for him to go.
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:43 pm
HoCoJo- Does the fact that they go down hill maybe make it their last contract? You know the chicken or the egg thing. Chipper had plenty of dough before he signed again last year so I think you’re on the wrong track here. There certainly are other players who might be guilty of what you’re talking about (Mo Vaughn comes to mind) but not Chipper. The guys a a HOF pro.
brent a.
September 7th, 2009
4:44 pm
“NFL” @ 3:33 – Gotcha now. Thanks
Anders
September 7th, 2009
4:45 pm
Well, gotta head out to an end of summer get together. Talk to you good folks later or tomorrow.
njbraves
September 7th, 2009
4:45 pm
NEWSFLASH…..get it through your thick skulls…Chipper Jones will play 3rd and bat 3rd in 2010. you might not agree with it, and that’s fine, but it is what it is.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
4:46 pm
How’s that look now?
Just like it did then.
David O'Brien
September 7th, 2009
4:46 pm
HoCoJo: I wasn’t there yesterday, so I don’t have any feedback from scouts. But the number of scouts will probably increase with each of his starts. Most teams with interest in pitching this winter will scout him, since he’s a potential free agent and they haven’t had a chance to see him pitch since surgery until now. So if he’s only got, say, six starts, there will certainly be multiple scouts at each of those games.
Shamus Thacker
September 7th, 2009
4:53 pm
I don’t agree that this applies to Chipper, but there are players who perform at the very tops of their games during “contract years” only. Jeff Blauser comes to mind.
Doc Holiday
September 7th, 2009
4:54 pm
jeffrey d,
Sure, maybe Matt will break his wrist in batting practice or something.
Shamus Thacker,
hey Im positive today, since we are not playing.
brent a.
September 7th, 2009
4:55 pm
“Chipper will still finish the season with better numbers than he did in 2004 when he was 32,”
His slugging and OPS are currently lower than they were in 2004 when he hit 30 home runs, and he doesn’t really look like any of his %’s are going to trend northward down the stretch.
Meanwhile, it’s 5 years later, he’s 5 year’s older, and he’s a far cry form the relative “iron man” DOB wrote him up to be during Spring Training 2007. And in 8 months, when next season begins, he’ll be that much older.
Shamus Thacker
September 7th, 2009
4:57 pm
Andruw got fat and more-or-less quit on the Dodgers after signing big. He wasn’t Willie Mays for the Braves that final year, but even then he was better than his Dodger days…
HoCoJo
September 7th, 2009
4:59 pm
Thanks, DOB.
When Ross hit the go ahead dinger yesterday, Hudson’s reaction was priceless. It’s too bad it didn’t last long enough.
Anders – I would love to see Chipper retire as a Brave, and not get shopped around. BTW Did you see what happened to Richard Seymour of the New England Patriots?
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
5:03 pm
Soph–
Haha, well good. Just wanted to clear the air…I was kinda in a t’d off mood, but not at you…
HoCoJo–
LOL…no sweat. Yikes, that was a scary pitch! That coulda been really ugly…
Of course, the first thing that popped into my head was, “Oh! My nose!”
TnBrian 2) McCann… not as bad as CJ’s, but definitely hurt the team
Let’s take a look at each player’s stats since the end of July.
Chipper Aug. through Sept.: .229 AVG, .354 OBP, .343 SLG, 3 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI 21 BB, and 21 SO in 30 games (29 starts).
BMac Aug. through Sept.: .212 AVG, .254 OBP, .407 SLG, 4 2B, 6 HR, 23 RBI 6 BB, and 21 SO in 30 games (28 starts).
Chipper’s gotten on base at a clip 100 points higher than BMac. But BMac’s had more RBI and extra-base hits.
Whose slump is worse isn’t really the issue, though. The thing is that both players got into one at the same time, and that’s basically killed this team. They both need to break out of this. And tomorrow is as good a time as any (assuming that they’re both able to play tomorrow).
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
5:04 pm
Whoops…had some unnecessary bolding in that last post. “in 30 games (29 starts).……BMac Aug. through Sept.: .212 AVG” was not supposed to stick out that much…
brent a.
September 7th, 2009
5:05 pm
Phillies trying to lose 4th straight in Houston.
If only . . .
Rob from SC
September 7th, 2009
5:14 pm
Today is a sad day in my house. The day I realized that the Braves will not make the playoffs in 2009. To make myself feel better I am thinking about all the things to look forward to in 2010. These are not in any order.
1) We might finally have a new manager and hitting coach
2) A full season of Tommy Hanson
3) The debut of Jason Heyward
4) A healthy Jordan Schafer
5) Yunel Escobar gets better every season and is now hitting for power
6) No more Greg Norton
Feel free to add more.
Rob from SC
September 7th, 2009
5:15 pm
The Reds are on an ass kicking mission
Rob from SC
September 7th, 2009
5:21 pm
Heyward 2-4 2R 1RBI 1BB
brent a.
September 7th, 2009
5:22 pm
Phillies = Swept
Chop Chop
September 7th, 2009
5:25 pm
We’re only 9 back in the loss column!
We’re gonna do it!
Watch out, Philly!
TnBrian
September 7th, 2009
5:27 pm
RHR, been a Braves fan since ‘92.
McFann, nice side by side comparisons to Mac and CJ, but CJ still struggled more in my eyes.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
5:37 pm
nolie- it was reported (I believe by DOB) that Chipper said he was willing to listen to whatever ideas the Braves had. This was in regards to possibly moving him last off season. (Anders)
I think it was more along the lines of an extension and how much that would cost them, not a trade. He has stated any number of times that he wants to retire a Brave, also that he hates DHing. The odds of them being able to trade Chipper last season were very poor and getting enough in return was just as poor.
I said all winter that he was due for a poorer season. I’m sure age is part of it, but regression to the mean after 3 exceptional years in a row is also likely a part.
He may bounce back a bit next season especially if they don’t play him as much as this year. Perhaps not.
Basically I think your suggestion was extremely unlikely to happen and disagree with the strength of your current posts, like it actually was arealistic possibility.
I enjoy your posts and think that most times you try to be pretty unbiased but obviously you know a lot more about the Mets than the Braves which is as it should be.
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
5:39 pm
TnBrian–
Thanks.
CJ still struggled more in my eyes.
OK…You’re entitled to your opinion, and I respectfully disagree. To me, they’re about equal…I did forget to add that BMac has 6 GIDP over that time span to Chipper’s 3.
Rob from SC
September 7th, 2009
5:40 pm
nolie
As a scout, is Chipper in a slump, or do you see serious signs of decline. TO me he seems late on the fastball. Could the bat speed be going away?
TnBrian
September 7th, 2009
5:42 pm
There’s a lot of tension in this place right now. If y’all go back to my 4:07 post and disect it all in then you might loosen up a bit and accept the ‘09 Braves a little better. It sure worked for me…
TnBrian
September 7th, 2009
5:44 pm
McFann, my last post wasn’t directed towards you and most of the other bloggers, just mainly the RHR’s of the blog. But, she’s a Braves fan so I still love her… in fan friendly kinda way.
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
5:44 pm
Dad and I were talking about Chipper and BMac’s slumps, and I brought up BMac’s sore oblique. We were thinkin’ maybe he hurt it from all the swinging-and-missing he’s been doing. I mean, when you swing that hard and miss the ball, that’s gotta feel weird. Haha, I’ve done it in the backyard, and I’m pretty sure I don’t swing as hard as BMac does (and I swing pretty dang hard.
).
nolie
September 7th, 2009
5:45 pm
I don’t think it’s a joke. He may be giving 100% of what he has to offer, but it’s around 75% of what he use to be. (HCJ)
I agree with this, which is a far cry from saying he isn’t trying as hard becasuse of the money.
I think guys often fall off after their final contract cause they are usually getting old. Not saying that none of the slack, but it takes a lot of competitive spirit to become a professional ballplayer and most are too proud to do that on purpose.
as you say maybe some do unconsciously, but knowing a lot of them as they came up and after making it, I sincerely believe it isn’t many of them. Perhaps more likely to happen with a guy finishing off with a poor team, but I really don’t think it’s the case with Chipper.
As I’ve said B4 probably too often, B4 PEDS position players usually went into steep decline in their mid to late 30s.I think we are seeing that return.
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
5:50 pm
TnBrian–
OK, good. ‘Cause I have a hard time loosening up accepting this current turn of events. Just can’t do it.
Hey, my guy hitting .212 is a heckuva hard pill to swallow. Don’t know how I got through 2007 without any “serious breakdowns”…but I also don’t recall him going through this bad of a slump for this long.
(Not to mention I wasn’t as “obsessed” with stats as I’ve let myself get since the start of 2008.)
Random
September 7th, 2009
5:50 pm
HoCoJo (September 7th, 2009 4:35 pm): “I’ve been following MLB since the mid ’60s. All I’m conveying is that once these players ink their final fat contract, their production goes downhill. Maybe it’s subliminal. I don’t think it’s a joke. He may be giving 100% of what he has to offer, but it’s around 75% of what he use to be.”
So in other words, players in their final contracts (at the end of their careers) generally don’t “produce” as well as (a) under their previous contracts (during their peak career years), OR (b) under their first contracts (assuming “production” = performance per dollar).
Great insight there.
Rob from SC
September 7th, 2009
5:51 pm
I think Wren did a great job with part one of his rebuilding effort. It was slowed down by Francoeur and Johnson being terrible and Jordan Schafer being injured.
Next year Schafer will be healthy, We will have McLouth for the entire season and Heyward will make his arrival.
I have faith in Wren to get us the pieces we need to make the playoffs
Just remember that we have two stud pitchers making less than a total of 1 million.
Rob from SC
September 7th, 2009
5:53 pm
Are the Rockies really this much better than us?
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
5:53 pm
HoCoJo–you’re just saying that players decline at the end of their careers, in a round-about way. Of course they decline during their last contract; that’s why it is their last contract.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
5:54 pm
BTW, HoCoJo–new poster? Don’t think I’ve seen you around here before…
nolie
September 7th, 2009
5:56 pm
As a scout, is Chipper in a slump, or do you see serious signs of decline. TO me he seems late on the fastball. Could the bat speed be going away? (Rob)
I haven’t been to any games this year because of health reasons, and I haven’t been able to watch more than a few on TV so it’s hard to say. It certainly makes sense that he would be slowing down. I think they would have been better off to get him some more off days than they did. The last few seasons he tended to go on a tead after missing a few games.
He had a terrible 2004 and bounced back with a vengeance. I’m hoping he can bounce back some next year, but I think he’s nearing the end of an excellent career and the last two years of that contract are gonna be iffy.
NO MORE BOBBY
September 7th, 2009
5:57 pm
Any chance the Bobby statue outside Turner Field will be picking his nose?
Just saying.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
5:59 pm
I heard that they were gopnna have him screaming at an umpire in that statue