(Staff writer Carroll Rogers is filling in for David O’Brien today.)
So I had to dig through my sports page to find the Braves game story today, which means a) it’s that time of year where college football takes center stage and b) this is not a good time for four consecutive losses. Perhaps the editors, anyway, think the Braves’ six-game gap in the wildcard with 26 games to play is a bit much.
I think it’s looking that way myself. But hey, they pay me to keep on covering the team and see what twists and turns might be in store these last four weeks.
So today, we get Tim Hudson on the mound for his first start at Turner Field since his Tommy John surgery. Maybe that will give the Braves a spark they need to stop the bleeding in this Reds series.
I know the atmosphere has got to be a little more uplifting for him than when he made his return Tuesday in Florida against the Marlins. He had to wait out a three-hour rain delay, and only his wife Kim was there to witness it from his family (and she got major wife points for sitting out the delay and then having to catch a 5:30 a.m. flight back the next morning.)
Hudson gave up two runs on six hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings that game. It was wobbly early, as he gave up doubles to the first two batters before settling in. I think he’s looking for bigger and better things today, even though that was a nice start considering the circumstances.
It also happens to be the last time the Braves won.
CHIPPER OUT, NEW-LOOK LINEUP
Chipper Jones was out of the lineup today with a sore abdominal muscle. Brian McCann is getting a day of rest. Brooks Conrad is getting his first start at second base since his September call-up. And Yunel Escobar is still nursing the injury he suffered Friday night, though after taking batting practice Sunday he’s said he’s thinking probably Tuesday.
Frank Wren said the injury has migrated from his ankle to his heel. Escobar said it didn’t bother him taking groundballs but did bite him some at the plate taking bp, when he loaded up his weight on his back leg.
The Braves are 11-10 in games without Chipper in the lineup, not nearly as lopsided as last year, so it’s not all gloom and doom to have him out, necessarily. (Pause here for comments from the peanut gallery.)
Lineup:
1. McLouth CF
2. Prado 3B
3. Anderson LF
4. LaRoche 1B
5. Diaz RF
6. Conrad 2B
7. Infante SS
8. Ross C
9. Hudson P
Chipper said he was told the sore spot in his abdomen was another part of his oblique muscle. But unlike the area he hurt a few weeks back, which was more to the side, this is right under his ribcage in the front.
“I started feeling it a couple days ago and it just gradually got worse,” he said. “It was sore. When (the trainer) was poking and prodding on it last night, I almost came out of my chair.”
Chipper was not expecting to be available to pinch hit today. He thinks with the off day on Monday and then the night game Tuesday in Houston, he’ll probably be back ready to go.
“I’ve never had pain in the front part of my abdomen before,” Jones said. “We’ll see what a couple days do for it.”
I asked him about his experience on the GameDay set yesterday, he said he had a blast. I didn’t see the whole thing, just a snippet on YouTube, but I did hear that he picked against a certain local team….And yeah, that’s looking pretty good about now. (He picked Oklahoma State if you didn’t know.)
Chipper said he had 17 text messages by the time he got off the set at Centennial Olympic Park.
“Georgia made me look good,” the well-known Gator fan said with a grin. “I honestly didn’t feel like they were going to win the game. I knew I was going to take a bunch of guff for it, but when you go up on stage and on national TV and pick eight games, why wouldn’t you want to go 8-0?”
He said he missed on Illinois, Oklahoma and Wake Forest. He’s waiting on Miami-FSU.
Chipper, who as we know, is a natural-born quote and fits right in in that setting. He said broadcasting does hold some interest for him, but not the kind that forces you to travel with a major league team 81 games a year.
“I might,” Chipper said when I asked him if he had some interest in broadcasting some day. “It could be something that bridges the gap between playing and coaching. I don’t want to get into coaching when I’m done playing right away because I don’t want big league travel. But if I could get on the air a couple times here at home, where I could actually spend some time at home until the kids are up and out, then maybe I might go into that. (Beyond that) I might want to be a hitting coach one day.”
The more I hear him talk the more I think he’s serious about wanting to be a hitting coach some day.
ACOSTA BACK, VALDEZ DOWN
The Braves re-called reliever Manny Acosta from Class AAA Gwinnett as they told him they would once his 10 days in the minors were up. Acosta appeared in three games for Gwinnett, giving up one earned run in 5 1/3 innings.
They also sent Luis Valdez back to Gwinnett, even though they didn’t have to because major league rosters have expanded. But Gwinnett clinched a playoff spot on Saturday, so that played a part.
“Give them their closer back for the playoffs,” Wren said. “And give him a chance to pitch more than he would here. Then we’ll re-evaluate.”
So yes, Valdez could come back once the playoffs are over.
RALLY HEAD
Stay tuned for Peter Moylan hairstyle updates. He still had the “rally head” Smoltz-look working this morning but said it might be time to shave his head completely if the losing streak continues. The Braves were 0-3 heading into Sunday. He said he was going to let Hudson weigh in on that.
1,687 comments Add your comment
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
1:08 pm
Good move sending Valdez back down for Gwinnett. Their season is more important than Atlanta’s at this point.
hoho
September 6th, 2009
1:13 pm
crickets….
Bravissimo
September 6th, 2009
1:13 pm
That rally head is hilarious!..I hope Smoltz enjoys it!
Urban Meyer
September 6th, 2009
1:16 pm
dawgs sure are quiet today. wonder why?
Elbravox(ebx)
September 6th, 2009
1:21 pm
Whatever, just saying…
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
1:22 pm
Brooks! Brooks! Brooks!
So on and so forth.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
1:22 pm
Maybe because you’re looking on a baseball blog, Urban.
bruce
September 6th, 2009
1:23 pm
Not sure how many in a row we would have to win to dig out of this hole… but it seems very unlikely which is discouraging
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
1:23 pm
I don’t think Kelly’s ever going to play again
kirkinga
September 6th, 2009
1:24 pm
Well if history is any guide, the Braves should bounce back to day. They obviously were not mentally prepared to handle a hot Reds team after two devastating losses to the Marlins.
I don’t know how the two leaders of the team could be made to take today off, with avoiding a sweep on the line and an off day tomorrow, but I guess this team just isn’t healthy and I imagine that should they not make the playoffs, we’ll here about that ill health all offseason long.
As big a game as it is for the team, it is just as big for Hudson who in just his second game back, must show that he is still capable of being an ace. He’s got an 3.10 ERA against the Reds the last 3 seasons so the Braves are going to have to start scoring today.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
1:24 pm
JJ.Strokenhomers
Classy.
Urban Meyer
September 6th, 2009
1:25 pm
jeffrey d – try again amigo. lots of dawg talk before the game at osu. not much after. just wondering if everyone is hung over. you should have scheduled a cupcake like we did.
liz
September 6th, 2009
1:29 pm
They gave up after the last Philly series. The level of play in the Florida and Cincinnati series has not been that of a team in contention.
I am glad Huddy is back and looking promising. I’d like Bobby & co. to bring up some more minor leaguers to see what we’ve got.
They gave it a good ride since the AS break…imagine if they play that way a whole year!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
1:30 pm
I don’t think Kelly’s ever going to play again
Tell me about it – he can’t even get into the game with the B-lineup. Geez.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
1:30 pm
Urban – well first off, I still insist that a baseball blog isn’t the best place to look for college football talk. Second, I just checked out the UGA blog and surprise….there’s UGA football fans there. Third, what are we supposed to say? “Go Dawgs! Beat the Cowboys!!!”?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
1:31 pm
With a couple of exceptions, I see the blog regs have accepted that the Braves are done for 2009. In recent memory, I do not recall a lineup that has so poorly supported this good a pitching staff on any MLB team. From one through eight, these guys are pitifully inept.
With all due respect, Chipper has got to go. For the salary he takes up, he will never be a 30-100-.300 guy for the rest of his career. He needs to go NOW, and the Braves need to get a real #4 bat. Matt Holliday has to be gone after with the same fever they went after Derek Lowe last winter. McCann is a five-hole hitter, and will need more breaks next year that he had this year, or his career will end by 2011.
If Frank Wren thought he had problems last winter, wait ’til he sees the mess he created:
-Now he’s gotta have Cañizares play half or two-thirds of next season until Freddie Freeman is ready to take the 1B job.
-He’s gotta find a SS or 3B, depending on where he wants to place Yunel Escobar. Escobar is not speedy by any measure, and would be better served by playing third, where his gun of an arm would be still useful. You think Wren and JS still wish they would’ve just held Elvis Andrus back in that crappy Teixeira trade, not making it the total rape it was of our farm system?
-Jason Heyward is the new RF by default.
-Nate McClouth is a gamer; Nate McClouth is expensive; Jordan Schafer has to be the answer in CF next year.
There is a YAWNING canyon in LF that HAS to be filled by a legit 30-100-.300 bat, no cheap rent-a-crap player.
That is why McClouth has to go, Clint Sammons has to be the (inexpensive) backup catcher, and either Soriano or Gonzalez must go.
JJ.Strokenhomers
September 6th, 2009
1:32 pm
I just aint drinkin the cool-aid that this team serves mitchell…er dumbass!
bulldog bubba
September 6th, 2009
1:32 pm
Hey “Urban” the dawgs know we are bad so why bring it up on a baseball blog? Lets talk about a poor no enthusiasm team like the Braves.Watch them sit on the bench with no emotion while Greg Norton blows another opportunity to get a run across.When are they gonna get excited about what they do?Chipper is “suppose” to be the leader but he acts like a washed-up veteran on his last leg.At least they have sat Kawakami down since every game he pitches leans toward a loss rather than a win. The fans pay for better results than what they get.Its time to sit some of these losers down and bring up the AAA guys!!!
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
1:33 pm
I mean, remember when everybody accused Kelly of being Bobby’s boy (and race even came into it)? He was hitting .220 with ease but he was still leading off for weeks.
Now even Norton is getting pinched before him.
Skeezix
September 6th, 2009
1:34 pm
This feeble Braves offense was one hit by a pitcher who hadn’t won since the first gulf war.
Plus another great performance by J.J. squandered.
—Going backwards with 26 games left….is that gagging I here?
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
1:35 pm
MiaBchBravesfan–how do you get the tildae over the n?
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
1:35 pm
Chipper took the lineup card out today….
Soph
September 6th, 2009
1:35 pm
Where’s Mixxo?
I’m highly disappointed in one of his posts from the last blog -
Falcons will go 5 – 11 this year.
AND, he said Go Yankees? I thought we were friends Mixxo. I hardly know you.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
1:36 pm
It’s gonna take some bizarre 3-way collision between Infante, Conrad, and Prado for Bobby to even consider playing Kelly.
Bobby: Kelly, I need you….
KJ: Yeah???
Bobby: To go tell the ump we forfeit. Got nobody to play second.
KJ: oh…
aswingruber
September 6th, 2009
1:37 pm
We had a glimmer of hope when we were up 3-1 against the Marlins in the last game of that series. Then Bobby decides to bring in Medlen for his third straight appearance the night after he got shelled. Medlen proceeds to let all inherited runners score and a couple more to boot. Expanded rosters are supposed alleviate overuse of the pen. Someone forgot to tell Bobby though. Just one example of the many games Booby’s helped give away. How much closer in the race would we be without him? It probably will never happen but the Braves need to wise up and can him.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
1:37 pm
Ball on the ground, 6-3, first out, what you like to see for Huddy
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
1:39 pm
OH Steve – ALT-164
JJ.Strokenhomers
September 6th, 2009
1:39 pm
What’s with all this love for Kelly Johnson? he is total crapola just like Schafer, Anderson,Jones,and that turd Norton!!!!
Supes
September 6th, 2009
1:39 pm
Lets see, Braves major league lineup couldn’t get it done the past 2 days, why not give the AAA lineup a shot?
Biggest thing will be to watch this game to see how Tim Hudson does in his 2nd start. It would be encouraging to see good action on his pitches, and hope he goes at least six innings.
I’m sure KK isn’t happy that he’s not starting right now, but the braves organization needs to see what they’ve got in Hudson for 2010. It’s a huge roster/financial decision and I’d rather they see Hudson pitch right now than Kawakami (who’s already shown what he’s got).
Vinings Jim
September 6th, 2009
1:40 pm
Good start, Tim!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
1:40 pm
Good inning Huddy!
kirkinga
September 6th, 2009
1:41 pm
MiaBchBravesFan , you can forget the “trade Chipper” argument. I believe someone tried to make that case last week and got shot down quickly.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
1:41 pm
Oh right….the game’s on
Supes
September 6th, 2009
1:41 pm
Also, if money is an issue as far as payroll in 2010…The more I think about it the more Javy Vazquez being traded (and his 12 million dollar salary) would make more sense than trading KK and his (6 million dollar salary).
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
1:41 pm
Anybody have an opinion on Conrad and Prado… say if Conrad plays like he did last time he was here and Prado keeps struggling the rest of the year, think Conrad should be the favorite for our 2nd baseman next year. To me, it just seems Prado will break out of it and get back that line drive type swing, but I do like what I see from Conrad.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
1:42 pm
JJ.Strokenhomers
What the hell are you talking about? I’m not telling you to drink anything.
But if you’re going to work “blue”, why don’t you try coming up with something better than “prostitutes on peachtree street”?
It was a little tacky and not really funny. Sounds very specific though, like it’s based on a personal experience.
That’s all I was saying.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
1:42 pm
If Chipper wants to coach he needs to remember one thing, just b/c you were a HOF hitter doesn’t necessarily make you a good teacher & hitting coach. They are 2 completely different things.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
1:45 pm
Owch. Poor Marteen.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
1:46 pm
Anybody have an opinion on Conrad and Prado… say if Conrad plays like he did last time he was here and Prado keeps struggling the rest of the year, think Conrad should be the favorite for our 2nd baseman next year. To me, it just seems Prado will break out of it and get back that line drive type swing, but I do like what I see from Conrad.
You’re crazy. Kelly Johnson is, and always has been, the answer at 2B. If they don’t need him more in LF.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
1:47 pm
GA’s really bringin’ it lately.
Well done sir.
kirkinga
September 6th, 2009
1:47 pm
Wow, Chipper is 8-66, it doesn’t seem that bad.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
1:48 pm
I think Prado will head into next season as the starter at 2nd. He has earned his shot at being the starter for a full season I think if Conrad plays well the rest of the season and has a good spring, he has a shot at making the team as a reserve next season.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
1:49 pm
OH-MY-GOD! This team takes suckeness to a new level with each passing game. Hey, it’s good for a laugh though.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
1:50 pm
kirkinga: bad bunions, chronic pec pulls, a cranky surgical knee. Chipper will never be a 30-100-.300 guy again. For the $11 millions-plus he’s getting paid, that is money the Braves cannot afford to waste when you potentially have a rotation of Vasquez, Hudson, Lowe, Jurrjens, and Hanson – with Medlen waiting in the wings.
Yes, KK has to be traded. Love the guy, but he’s a good #4-#5, nothing more. Matt Holliday has to be the bat Wren has to go after this winter.
Jones has to go.
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
1:50 pm
Laroche sure does have a pretty swing when he whiffs.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
1:51 pm
Don’t make MattyE mad gosh darn it!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
1:54 pm
Nice play Omar.
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
1:55 pm
Omah!
Jalb3rt
September 6th, 2009
1:55 pm
Hahaha, omg this team is fantastic!! They find a way to $uck more and more every night!
Diaz is a DORK
September 6th, 2009
1:56 pm
Gosh dernit to HECK, Cueto! What are you doing big guy?? Can’t you see me in the box, I mean, GEESH! FUDGE TO POOEY! Do it again and I’ll…. oh, you just don’t and we’ll be fine, STINKIN PITCHER!
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
1:56 pm
I hear crickets.
Jeff321
September 6th, 2009
1:56 pm
Does Chipper make that play? Hell NO!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
1:57 pm
Go ahead Marteeeeeeen. Great D, so far.
John
September 6th, 2009
1:57 pm
The comments on the blogs have been up and down all season , depending on whether the last game was an up or a down. The fact remains that the Braves management and owners never put the team in a position to win, and no surprise , they are losers again at the end.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
1:58 pm
Hudson is getting NAILED this inning.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:02 pm
Who is this a-hole sprinting to first base on a walk?
Give me a break.
Sarah Palin-Joe the Plumber 2012!
September 6th, 2009
2:03 pm
For a second, I thought that said seven homeruns for Corky Miller. Then I realized it was seven RBIs. I was about to say: “WTF!”
RHR
September 6th, 2009
2:03 pm
My laptop charger is broke and trying to read the blog on an iphone is just too annoying plus it sucks my battery down quick.
Good notes on Chipper, Carroll. It’ll be what? 15 years before Chipper’s youngest is “up and out” dang he’ll be an old man by then lol but would still make a fine hitting coach.
Can’t see the game from in here so I’m out..
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:03 pm
Poor Kelly. What is that on his head?
Jeff321
September 6th, 2009
2:03 pm
“That was right down the middle.. Corky Miller left at the doorstep.”
-FSO
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
2:05 pm
What’s with all this love for Kelly Johnson? he is total crapola just like Schafer, Anderson,Jones,and that turd Norton!!!!
Ok, now you’ve gone and done it!!
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:06 pm
Another hard hit ball by Brooks and another out.
I like it but I don’t like it.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
2:07 pm
Brooksie with a hit!
Insert “if Bobby had sent Norton down instead of Conrad the Braves would be the favorites to win the world series” comment here.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
2:07 pm
Oh it was an out? See this is what happens when I’m listening from the other room.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
2:08 pm
Sounds like even Joe and Boog have finally accepted that the Braves are out of the race….talking about next season.
Sarah Palin-Joe the Plumber 2012!
September 6th, 2009
2:09 pm
Brooksie with a hit!
Uh…he didn’t get a hit. Another “BUT IT WAS HARD HIT!!!!1″ crap out like we heard with Francoeur.
FlaReptile
September 6th, 2009
2:10 pm
MiaBchBravesFan you made some good comments. If Chipper does not take a pay cut he may need to go. Unless he’s “seriously injured” he looks like he is done. KK has not been that bad his last 4 or 5 starts he may turn out to be ok. The offense needs speed and power. They also need a manager who will let them steal bases.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
2:10 pm
The only playoff baseball in Atlanta in 2009 will be by the G-Braves.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:12 pm
I love that organist.
Very creative.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:12 pm
This looks like Cueto’s day, just like it was Arroyo’s and Wells. A sign of very bad hitting and brain dead pitches by our guys.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:13 pm
not looking good here
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:13 pm
Are you effing kidding me?
Come on!
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
2:14 pm
Why do announcers always think that if someone makes an out and the next batter gets a hit that it would have happened the same way. Don’t they know that the situation at hand dictates the way a batter is pitched to?
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
2:14 pm
If we don’t win…!
*Angrily shakes clinched fist at world*
JJ.Strokenhomers
September 6th, 2009
2:14 pm
Hopefully Boog,Joe and Chip will be replaced as well as Chipper,Cox,Schafer,Anderson,Johnson,and that,human gas can Mike Gonzalez, add in carlyle,Acosat,and Crampillo, and maybe they can save a few bucks and seel us a different brand of cool-aid next year
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:15 pm
Does McLouth ever try to throw home
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:15 pm
Get over it Joe Simpson.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:16 pm
It’d be very nice to see them trade Chipper in a few months. But would Wren be willing to take more of a beating from certain morons like he did with Glavine and Smoltz? Lets hope so.
kirkinga
September 6th, 2009
2:16 pm
Um, Joe calling out someone other than Yunel, that’s refreshing.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
2:16 pm
Rob from SC
No, because he has a weak arm
DOB Braves Blog
September 6th, 2009
2:17 pm
(Crickets)
Mike J
September 6th, 2009
2:17 pm
Wow…why did he not throw home? Looks like a real fight to win.
Mike J
September 6th, 2009
2:17 pm
NO ONE ON THIS TEAM IS IMPRESSING ME NOW.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:17 pm
That was one ugly swing
JJ.Strokenhomers
September 6th, 2009
2:18 pm
Chipper+ Anderson=LOAF!!!!
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:18 pm
You said it Soph.
Worst swing I’ve ever seen in my life by apparently their most dangerous hitter.
This guy scares me… as a hitter, not for any other reason.
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
2:18 pm
Nobody’s going to take “Buck Commander” unless the Braves pay most of his salary.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:19 pm
Tomahawk Mafia
I really believe Wren wants Schafer and Heyward in the opening day lineup. I would not be suprised to see McLouth traded this offseason
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
2:19 pm
Classic Braves inning, Hudson has given up three hits on 0-2 counts, and they were bleeders that barely found a hole.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:19 pm
Good job Rossy & Marteen.
Mike J
September 6th, 2009
2:19 pm
They are not trading Chipper. They just gave him a huge deal, and half a bad season/slump doesnt make you decide to trade a veteran and one of the best hitters in the league.
JJ.Strokenhomers
September 6th, 2009
2:19 pm
Team full of gutless quitters!,Besides what do you expect when you go out and acquire Pitsburghs trash!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
2:20 pm
I would welcome a trade of McClouth, good guy, good piece to have, but no primary star.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
2:20 pm
BMac, are you taking notes? That’s how you throw out a baserunner.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
2:20 pm
If these hitters watch video, they sure don’t know what they’re looking at. No discernable pitch recognition. Everybody is pull happy. With the exception of Matt Diaz, nobody else hits to the ooposite field with any consistency. Just pitch the Braves away, and they’ll roll a weak grounder to short or strike out. Watching these guys try to hit makes me puke!
All season long; these guys suck!
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:20 pm
CJ would have made that tag on the runner and adventure, unlike Prado who made it look natural. Just another reason why trading huntin boy is a good idea.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:20 pm
Speaking of 2010, the Cubs will have a lot of work to do in order to make the playoffs. I don’t like that team at all for some odd reason.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
2:20 pm
There is a big damn difference in Glavine and Smoltz who were both coming off surgery and both over 40 years old and Chipper who is 37, played in more games than anyone else on the team, and is in a slump.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
2:21 pm
Mike J: ???????????????????????????????????
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
2:22 pm
Strokenhomers, that was harsh.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
2:22 pm
By your logic, TnBrian, we should also trade McCann. I mean if a tired 37 year old HOF’er isn’t allowed to slump then why should a 25 year old all star be allowed to slump? Trade McCann too! Clint Sammons is just as good!
Idiots.
BravesfaninWis
September 6th, 2009
2:22 pm
Question here.. If you buy something from a store and it doesn’t work, you can take it back and get your money back right? With that said, I am going to call Direct TV and ask if I can have a refund on my MLB Extra Innings package because the Braves don’t work properly. I highly suggest that you Atlanta season ticket holders do the same..
I was watching the game trying to support them but then Hudson gives up a leadoff hit to the damn pitcher who has like 2 hits all season long after having him down 0-2 in the count.. Then he proceeds to give up 2 more hits in a row to give the damn Reds the lead with still 0 outs.. That is where I turned the game off.. I can’t handle this team anymore.. They totally gave up on the season plain and simple.. Its not like they were out of it when they started playing poorly, they just have no heart and can’t get it done.. Maybe when April comes around I will have interest in this team again, because right now I have none.. If they don’t get rid of Cox, I will be saving some money next year that’s for sure.. I refuse to spend money on anything related Atlanta Braves until some big time changes are made..
JJ.Strokenhomers
September 6th, 2009
2:23 pm
shoulda kept Salty for 1b,Elvis for ss, and moved Yuni to 3b and sent the Hiiters hunter packing!Gutless quitters
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:23 pm
Mike J, I never said they WOULD trade CJ, I said it would be nice if they did and there’s more than one reason why. But, these are the conservative Braves, so you’re probably right.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:24 pm
Isn’t Salty having arm issues right now? Numbness or something?
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
2:24 pm
Does McLouth ever try to throw home
About as often as Loaf does…
RHR
September 6th, 2009
2:25 pm
Good luck with that, BravesfaninWis.
I suggest you become a Brewers fan.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
2:25 pm
I would welcome a trade of McClouth, good guy, good piece to have, but no primary star.
No, but he’s an above-average regular signed for a pretty cheap rate and you need some of those solid players in your supporting cast if you want to win. He’s not a cornerstone offensive player but you don’t have 9 of those either.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
2:26 pm
Remember that Chipper has the power to veto any trade with being a 10-5 guy and all.
Honestly, the only and do mean only way I can ever see Chipper Jones traded is to the Yankees or the Red Sox. One of those teams. I’m leaning Yankees b/c they’ll be able to “eat his contract” and he can DH there in the AL and focus only on his hitting. With the bandbox that is New Yankee Stadium, Chipper could be a good DH. Matsui won’t be around much longer. If Chipper went to the Yankees he would be an upgrade over “Godzilla” as their DH.
Still, I don’t see Chipper wanting to leave his family and home, unless he caught the John Smoltz syndrome of wanting a chance at a ring. It would seem NY would be his best shot if that was his number 1 goal in his career.
I don’t believe he’ll stick around long enough to see the Braves return to being a regular NL Playoff conteder year in and year out.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
2:26 pm
“McDunnah”. No, it’s “McDonough.” Mac-don-uh.
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
2:26 pm
I know it ain’t easy, but the Braves sure make it look hard.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
2:26 pm
Look at the ball boy down there. He didn’t want any part of that ball. Coach him up, dammit.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:27 pm
RHR, you obviously don’t see a broken down, tired swing when you see Jones at the plate for the last few months. He says he’s healthy which is more worrying. McCann is a completely different thing… he’s 25 and he catches, so his bat will slow down during the course of the season. Watch who you call an “idiot” because if you think I was comparing Jones to Mac then you are the true idiot.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:27 pm
Great at-bat by Nate.
Irrational Blog
September 6th, 2009
2:27 pm
Chipper Jones sucks and is done and everyone knows it; let’s trade him for another team’s best prospects!
Chipper Jones in his worst season can take his .839 OPS and shove it. We want Martin Prado, who has broken out in a big one with a .794 season OPS.
Vinings Jim
September 6th, 2009
2:27 pm
What’s the over/under on how many more times BWisc will announce that he is done with the team for the season?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
2:27 pm
RHR: Chipper’s played in games b/c who the hell will supposedly hit for power in this lineup? He’s hasn’t been doing it now for several seasons. Man, it hurts to see this guy play! He is a physical train wreck. He hasn’t been healthy in close to five seasons. He can’t hit for power anymore. His slugging pctg. isn’t anywhere near what it used to be. He can’t run to save his life.
If he were a horse, he’d be sent to the glue factory for fear that if he goes to stud, he’ll pull a pec and strain a hammy.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
2:28 pm
I know Hudson gave up 1 run the previous inning, but he’s looked good so far. I’ll be more curious to see if he can finish a full six innings today than anything. Sinker is on, his pitches have plenty of movement. Velocity is in the low 90’s as usual.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
2:28 pm
I’m sorry Steve, but you’re wrong. Anyone who doesn’t have, at the very least, Albert Pujols numbers, at every position, is completely unacceptable. The Braves owe me that because I bought mlb extra innings, dammit! Free will does not exist! They made me! And they’re making me keep watching! FML! I hate everything!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
2:29 pm
Good point, Steve from OH, if the Braves can bring in some additional players so McClouth can be that solid supporting player, that would be fine. However, counting on McClouth to be the savior, or the primary piece of an offense spells bad news.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:29 pm
Good luck with that, BravesfaninWis.
I suggest you become a Brewers fan.
One can only hope. He’s come on here everyday for the past month and announced how he’s done with the Braves, not gonna watch anymore, blah blah.
I’d love for Random to pull up all his posts in the past month and paste them on here.
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
2:30 pm
Now, boys.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:30 pm
Chop Chop for ball boy!
Vinings Jim
September 6th, 2009
2:30 pm
Marteeen!!!
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
2:30 pm
RHR: You love the guy? Great! Buy all his bubble gum cards. Stick a fork in him; the guy is DONE!
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
2:30 pm
Prado just made the Chipper-play…better than Chipper has recently.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:31 pm
Nice play again Marteen. Good stretch Roachy.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:31 pm
Martin, just a bit better than Chipper at just about everything these days.
Pirates Win in '10
September 6th, 2009
2:31 pm
Your team STINKS!
Supes
September 6th, 2009
2:32 pm
Steve from OH,
I think a lot on what Wren does as far as the OF situation, who comes, who goes, who ends up starting, etc will depend on what route he takes with resolving our surplus of starting pitching.
If he trades Vazquez, will he want proven major leaguer(s) in return or is he willing to settle for a prospect or two?
If he lets Hudson walk…he’s freeing up 11 million dollars on the payroll to address the OF situation.
At any rate, also what is going to end up happing with Schafer? Can he become our “stud” defensive type CF who will turn into a good lead off guy, or will he be a “bust” b/c of his inability to put the ball in play and handle the high and in fastball?
To me Schafer’s development goes hand in hand with McLouth’s future as a Brave. If Schafer proves that he can start opening day 2010 in CF, I believe McLouth becomes expendable. We all know Heyward has RF locked up. If the Braves go out and sign a RH power bat to play LF…McLouth becomes the odd man out. He’s too expensive to simply be a backup type player.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:32 pm
Keep ‘em coming Steve from Ohio and RHR because all view points should be written and argued. We’re all Braves fans and just want the best out of our team. It’s all good.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
2:32 pm
Chop Chop for ball boy!
Heeyyyy I think you’re on to something!
Hire Chop Chop!
gayle
September 6th, 2009
2:32 pm
TnBrian – who would take Chipper and that salary? 2 years at $28 mil for a DH? Wren was right on Smoltz and Glavine, but I think he was wrong on Chipper.
And let’s face it Braves fans – only the real crazies now harbor a notion of a post season appearance for this team. They have played out just as I thought – good pitching, poor hitting, no speed, poor outfield defense – a .500 team.
And once more I will remind the Cox enablers that it is so past time to clean house – and lose the chop too! That is so 1991!
This will be the fourth year in a row that the Braves will fail to reach the post season. And in the five years before that, they only won one series – the NLDS against Houston (after which they were dispatched by the Diamondbacks).
I just leave you all with this question – what is it going to take? How many more years without October baseball is it going to take before this team cleans house? No playoffs for 4 years and no playoff wins since 2001.
Has anyone heard anything from Liberty about selling this team lately??
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:33 pm
Stick a fork in him; the guy is DONE!
Fork, you’re needed in aisle one.
Chipper Jones
September 6th, 2009
2:33 pm
Does this sore on my lip look like cancer or is it just herpes again?
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
2:33 pm
MiaBchBravesFan-
You’d better watch it or she’ll crawl out of Chipper’s poster and come after you…
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Hudson looks good, doesn’t he?
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Jeff Francoeur 2009 Mets wOBA: .331
Ryan Church 2009 Braves wOBA: .357
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Or, Chop Chop for ball boy’s coach! (the Braves should create this position for him)
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
2:35 pm
I will say that I think McLouth’s best defensive position is LF, in which case it gets a bit more dicey because his bat doesn’t play as well there. If he sticks at CF, he’s a plus bat so in that regard he’s a great piece for the club. I would say that if Schafer can come back up and start hitting well then it would be fine, because the offensive deficiencies would be mitigated by the excellent outfield defense that we’d have–but we’d also need Heyward to step up big and have a big bat at 1B.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:35 pm
I HATE THIS COMMERCIAL.
HE’S NOT EVEN REALLY TALKING. I HATE IT.
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Nova Scotia Steve
September 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
Hellloooooooooo…..Helllloooooooooo….Helllloooooooo
Echo effect…Can’t even get a hit again today huh
ryan
September 6th, 2009
2:37 pm
Sure nice to see Braves playing pranks in the dugout dont see them getting a run today. Reds have a pitcher going today oh well maybe we can catch Nats.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
2:37 pm
Salty is nothing more than a back up catcher. He is hitting .233 this year with an OPS of .661.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:38 pm
Here’s a thought: stop hitting it to that guy.
Terry Pendleton
September 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
Loafy smoked that ball. why 20-30 feet either way and it’s a hit.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
Steve from OH,
So if Schafer can come back strong, and can prove that he can handle the CF starting duties in 2010, you’ll put McLouth in LF, Schafer in CF and Heyward in RF (july call up?).
In that case, where is our big RH power cleanup bat going to play? 2B? 1B?
Thoughts?
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
Thanks Roachy, needed to get that outta the way.
Next – runs please!
Miracle Whip
September 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
We will not tone it down.
Donny Corleone
September 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
This high-powered Braves offense is really puttin’ on a show today
jcfromut
September 6th, 2009
2:40 pm
Carrol in your opinion does Bobby come back next season? has there been any talk of him returnung or retiring? Also do see any other shake ups in the coaching staff?
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:40 pm
Matt, get on base for Brooks.
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
2:40 pm
Salty is nothing more than a back up catcher. He is hitting .233 this year with an OPS of .661.
He’s 24 years old, buddy.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:41 pm
Somebody please try to defend Matt Diaz to me?
That guy gets on my nerves.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
2:41 pm
Just throwing out there. Has anyone seen the Braves collective Ultimate Zone Rating? They rank near the bottom of Major League Baseball in defense at -25.3. That means they have cost themselves 25 runs this year based on their poor defense.
http://www.fangraphs.com/teams.aspx?pos=all&stats=fld&lg=all&type=0&season=2009&month=0
Sad Truth
September 6th, 2009
2:43 pm
Brooks Conrad is the new Jeff Bennett. Old minor league journeyman who experiences a little success in a very small sample size, causing this blog to go insane with declarations of great player, only inevitably to flame out and have everyone here turn on them.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
2:44 pm
P. W. Hjort
I stand by what I said. His numbers are actually worse than last year. He is regressing, not showing growth or improvement.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
2:44 pm
you’ll put McLouth in LF, Schafer in CF and Heyward in RF
That’s what I’d do unless Wren could find a good solution for left field…I wouldn’t put it past him, either.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
2:45 pm
You know where the ‘Guru of Good Times’ wouldn’t be now? Turner Field.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:45 pm
If they trade McLouth and another piece for a power righty for LF/RF then I’m all for it. Schafer is better defensively and could bat 8th and who knows, maybe he could turn it around at the plate next year. There are a lot of options the team can turn to.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
2:45 pm
Supes–yeah, unless we decide we’ve got the cash for a big bat in LF. If not, that’s our optimal alignment in the OF using in-house options IMO. There are a lot of ways to go because we’ve got interesting prospects and should (should) have enough cash to be in on one big acquisition. I dunno, maybe once the season’s over or if I’ve got time I’ll do a rundown and see.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
2:46 pm
pretty nice pickin going on by the left side of the Braves infield
Supes
September 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
Roman Gal,
That would be fine by me, but you’ll have to get a RH power hitting cleanup type player at 2B or 1B in that case or we will still have to rely on Brian McCann to do that in 2010. I think if anything is proven about Mac, is that he performs better batting 5th in the order, plus you don’t have to rely on a guy who is going to miss 20-30 games a season due to the position he’s playing in having to sit games out to rest.
Terry Pendleton
September 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
Man, Marteen & Omar are using the glove today.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
Everyone is saying that the Braves should do the same thing with Heyward that they did with Hanson. The big problem with that is Heyward is an everyday player. Can we really just wait untip June to call him up?
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
I wouldn’t put it past him, either.
I wouldn’t put anything past that man. That’s why I get a kick out of people saying he won’t trade KK because of the Japanese connection…if he’ll let Smoltz and Glavine go in one season, he’ll have no trouble letting him go.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
2:48 pm
yes, i think Bobby will be back if he wants to be.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:48 pm
If you package Vazquez and McLouth, you should get a really good player in return
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:48 pm
Defend Matt Diaz? Why? He is what he is… one of those hitters that goes on terrors in spurts then looks like Corky Miller at the plate the rest of the time. Plays below average defense and has an arm like a 5 year old girl.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:49 pm
Heyward with his first AAA hit and RBI
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
2:49 pm
I stand by what I said. His numbers are actually worse than last year. He is regressing, not showing growth or improvement.
So you’re declaring him a back-up catcher based on the fact that he’s shown regression from his 23 year old season to his 24 year old season? That’s your argument? That’s it? You’re claiming to know better than the Texas Rangers? Give me a god damn break.
tralfaz
September 6th, 2009
2:49 pm
dam, who coaches hitting on this sorry team? I could do better batting with my schlong, and I never use Igor to swing at things in the dirt!
Supes
September 6th, 2009
2:49 pm
Supes–yeah, unless we decide we’ve got the cash for a big bat in LF. If not, that’s our optimal alignment in the OF using in-house options IMO. There are a lot of ways to go because we’ve got interesting prospects and should (should) have enough cash to be in on one big acquisition. I dunno, maybe once the season’s over or if I’ve got time I’ll do a rundown and see.
***************************************
Alright then, we’ll save it for the off-season blogs.
I know the Braves will be out of the playoffs this year, but unlike last season, I’m actually looking forward to the off-season and seeing the type of moves we’ll make to return back to contention in 2010. We are not that far off. Exciting time to be a Braves fan.
Hudson so far 5 innings and only 1 run given up. Problem is, Braves offense deciding to take the day off as usual.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
2:49 pm
I’m a girl.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
2:49 pm
T-Hawk Mafia:
We’re also 23rd in defensive efficiency. Heyward and Schafer (if they’re both on the team) will really help that though.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:50 pm
Steve from OH
I think Wren will try to trade Lowe as well. There might be a team willing to take him on. You don’t know unless you try. Wren is not afraid of backlash and I am grateful for that.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:50 pm
These dribblers make me want to throw something at the tv.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:50 pm
I am really impressed with Huddy, looks real good
CopenhagenBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
2:51 pm
Are you guys aware of the Expected W-L standings as of today:
Phillies: 75-58
Braves: 74-62
Marlins:68-68
Mets: 62-74
Nationals: 56-80
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
2:51 pm
I could do better batting with my schlong
WTF? Why you giving us that mental image?
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:52 pm
Anybody else’s blood start boiling when they point the camera to Chipper in the dugout maunching on… sunflower seeds, chewing tobacco, gum, toenail, fingernail, LaRoche’s goatee and whatever else he can fit in his mouth?
Supes
September 6th, 2009
2:53 pm
yes, i think Bobby will be back if he wants to be.
*********************
Then by all means, let us hope he decides to just go away and do some farming or whatever it is that he does in his spare time.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
2:53 pm
Are you guys aware of the Expected W-L standings as of today:
Again, another season well under-performing the team’s pythagorean record. Eventually you blame the manager.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
2:54 pm
Votto tried to help us out there.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:54 pm
Sorry spuds. You probably have a better arm than Matt “GOLLY GEEE, MR.PITCHER” Diaz.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
2:54 pm
Typical sacrifice bunt attempt by the Braves
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
2:54 pm
Wren just has a way or making things work out. Considering this year was supposed to be a “rebuilding” year, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well they’ve played, and we’ve got Wren to thank for that. I won’t put anything past him, and I have complete faith that he’ll do what he needs to to make the Braves legit contenders next year.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
2:55 pm
If you package Vazquez and McLouth, you should get a really good player in return
**************************
Rob from SC,
Haven’t thought about that. It’s definitely a good suggestion/possibility.
Again, all of this proven that Schafer is back to 100% health and can prove that he can hit on a consistant enough level, put the ball in play to stay in the major leagues. He’s already there defensively.
Tell It Like It Is
September 6th, 2009
2:55 pm
Steve from Ohio,
Do you really believe that McLouth and Schaffer are even worth the print? The Braves need trade both of them for future draft choices if allowed in MLB. They both stink. Also, they do not need to sign Hudson for $12 million. Come to think of it, the only keepers on this team are Prado, Infante, McCann, Escobar,Diaz(pitch hitting only) and the whole pitching staff. It IS What It IS.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
2:56 pm
Again, another season well under-performing the team’s pythagorean record. Eventually you blame the manager.
You weren’t around when they out-performed their pythag for something like 15 years then, I take it?
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
2:56 pm
P. W. Hjort
You are obviously looking for an argument and this is a pretty pitiful argument to have about a player that doesn’t play for the Braves. Just go look at his stats and you tell me that he is an everyday player. He has struck out 97 times in 283 AB’s and has an OBP of .290. Does that sound like a major league starter to you? I’m done with this argument. I’m trying to enjoy the game.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Brad Lidge blew another one last night, and the batter actually got a base hit.
All we can hope for is for him to make an error on a bad bunt.
Speaking of bad bunts. You know, I’m having a hard time pointing the finger at Bobby Cox for the last two games but if the Braves can’t finish above .500, he needs to go.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Sorry spuds. You probably have a better arm than Matt “GOLLY GEEE, MR.PITCHER” Diaz.
And I have bud light.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Roman Gal: if Chipper leaped out of his poster to come after me, he’d be on the DL (not b/c I did anything).
Pick an injury. Any injury.
Vinings Jim
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Great hustle, Martin!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Do you really believe that McLouth and Schaffer are even worth the print?
[looks at Roman Gal]
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Anybody else get that head first slide? Aren’t your legs longer than your arms? Good hittin though!
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
That’s right, Joe. Such great hitting by Prado. The ball was right down the middle. If he can’t hit that, he shouldn’t be in the bigs.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Marteeeeeeeeeeen!
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
What do you get when you add Greg Norton + Corky Miller? A very mediocre big league batting average.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
Holy SHI* we scored
Keeper
September 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
Hey Carroll, how ’bout them Spiders? No dishonor losing to the only Div. I school to earn its championship via playoff last year. (Certainly not as bad as, say, losing to Kip Wells. Ouch.) As noted earlier, you’ll have a better shot against the Heels.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
Do you really believe that McLouth and Schaffer are even worth the print?
Yes.
The Braves need trade both of them for future draft choices if allowed in MLB. They both stink.
Not allowed. Oh, and they don’t stink. Prove that they do.
Also, they do not need to sign Hudson for $12 million.
Why not? Prove it.
Come to think of it, the only keepers on this team are Prado, Infante, McCann, Escobar,Diaz(pitch hitting only) and the whole pitching staff. It IS What It IS.
It is what you think it is.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
Anderson has been useless the past week.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
Time for the Reds to score a few runs. Huddy needs to be taught a lesson for stealing Kawakami’s rotation spot.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
Mets coming to town to face the Braves. That series is about as meaningful as a Pirates/Nats series.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
What the f*** was that sh**?
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
That’s right, Joe. Such great hitting by Prado. The ball was right down the middle. If he can’t hit that, he shouldn’t be in the bigs.
Joe Simpson really has a hardon for Prado, Infante, Blanco. I think it must be a latino thing with him.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
Good atbat by Garret Anderson, has he ever gotten a basehit on an offspeed pitch? Has he ever laid off of an offspeepd pitch? I’m glad the season is almost finished and he is playing his final few lifeless games as an Atlanta Brave.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
That’s Esco’s stance.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
(fainted b/c Braves got a run on a {gasp!} homer. . .)
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
Here we go with the 6th, how many runs to the Reds score? I say 3.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
Here comes the 6th.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
They both stink.
Yeah, you just keep tellin’ yourself that, sunshine.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
Heyward stole a base and scored a run too.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 6th, 2009
3:04 pm
Huddy was here long before KK….He didn’t steal any rotation spots either!
Terry Pendleton
September 6th, 2009
3:04 pm
Give me a year with Loaf and I’ll turn him into a hitting fool.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:04 pm
The Reds aren’t exactly making Huddy work hard today.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:05 pm
Anyone got Bud Light?
Old Fashioned
September 6th, 2009
3:06 pm
Since Chipper gave up his steroids,it’s been one “injury” after another—-hangnails,falling hair,runny nose. Poor guy’s a physical wreck. I guess they don’t pay him enough to play through such painful injuries. If only some other team would take the sorry-a$$ screwoff!!!!!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
3:06 pm
I just fell out of my chair, did the Braves really post a scoreless 6th inning? Somebody pinch me.
Terry Pendleton
September 6th, 2009
3:06 pm
Spuds, my boys have Light Bats. Is that close enough?
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
3:07 pm
80 pitches for Hudson through six innings, 56 for strikes….he said he thought he could do better than that start Tuesday night. he was a man of his word.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:07 pm
Ballgame.
Mark this one as a W for the Braves.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
MiaBchBravesFan-
I didn’t say Chipper would be jumping out of the poster, RHR would be.
Classified Ads
September 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
For Sale : Playoff hopes, slightly crushed. Can see at Turner Field.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
You gotta wonder how the Braves get away with doing the Bark in the Park thing. If someone were bit by one of the dogs wouldn’t they be liable for it or if a fight broke out between some of the dogs? Sounds like a big risk to me. I don’t know.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Why are they just now mentioning Bark in the Park?
I didn’t know that. They haven’t said anything about it.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
Moylan up in the pen
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
That Adam LaRoche guy kinda sucks.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
any realize that LaRoche has struck out 34 times in 33 games with the Braves?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Diaz’s hot streak is over.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:13 pm
Spuds, my boys have Light Bats. Is that close enough?
Yes, it has about the same effect on my short-term mental thought-processing abilities.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:13 pm
Wren’s got an illegal dog-fighting ring set up in the 755 Club. We have a Bark in the Park whenever he has a big fight card lined up.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:13 pm
Could Huddy not possibly go one more?
Do we really need to hit up the bullpen already?
God I hate Matt Diaz.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
3:14 pm
Diaz has struck out an alarming 11 times in his last 6 games.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:14 pm
I say we retaliate. Yeah Cueto, it’s your bad.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:14 pm
Diaz is not an everyday player
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
3:14 pm
Ouch. That looked rather painful.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
3:14 pm
Mitchell: b/c Bark @ The Park is an everyday event with Braves’ hitters. They’ve played like mangy dogs all season.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:15 pm
retaliate
The Braves? LOL
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
3:15 pm
Keeper, I’m not proud. I listened on the radio as I watched the Braves and it didn’t sound pretty….two missed FGs. a ton of incomplete passes. I know we’re not going to be a running offense but a draw play every once in a while would make me happy. …
Mikey Vick
September 6th, 2009
3:15 pm
I told them to keep the bark in the park quiet dogs. Man, now da popo gunna show up and ruin it.
Tell It Like It Is
September 6th, 2009
3:15 pm
Steve from OH.
I have watched McLouth and Schaffer play. They stink. No proof needed.
Why throw away $12 million on a pitcher with a bad arm. That stinks also. No proof needed.
How long do you have to look at this team and not conclude that they do not have the talent to be more than a 500 team? If they do not make major changes in team make up in 2010, the results will be the same and you will be back here on this blog generating more of your infinite wisdom. It IS What It IS.
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
3:16 pm
AndyC,
My point is you don’t relegate a 24 year old to anything. His peak is 5 years away. Yeah, he’s been pretty bad this year. Hope endures, though. The Rangers obviously think he’ll get it together. And there’s absolutely no evidence that he won’t.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:16 pm
The dogs at ‘Bark in the Park’ are such weenies. A Poodle, a Boston terrier, a Chihuahua and a Welsh Corgi? WTF is that crap?
Where are the Rottweilers, German shepherds, Dobermans and those good big-dog breeds that seem to all come from Germany? Even a Shiba Inu would work.
slippy r
September 6th, 2009
3:16 pm
i seriously have no idea why there is so much Chipper Jones hate going around on every single braves blog. He’s exactly ONE season removed from winning his first batting title at 36 years old. Now he’s 37 and finished? We’re 6 out of the wildcard in septemeber…that dude needs to start winding it down…taking these off days when he doesn’t feel so hot.
He may not be the same guy who can carry a team and be the 3 hole hitter every night, but chipper is a career .310 guy. I’m not one bit worried about him, or all the money we’re giving him. He earned it. by A) Re-working his contract to get Hudson in a braves uniform and B) the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:16 pm
I know Rob. I realized after I typed it that the word retaliate probably isn’t in the Braves vocab.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:16 pm
Found this on Baseball America about Luis Valdez
Luis Valdez, rhp, Braves
At first glance, Valdez’s transaction history would make it appear that he’s a minor league veteran getting a callup as a reward for a solid Triple-A season. He’s 25, older than most prospects, and after spending seven seasons with the Pirates (never advancing past high Class A), he came to Atlanta as a minor league free agent. But Valdez isn’t just a minor league lifer. He has elite stuff, including a 94-95 mph fastball and a wipeout slider. With the Braves still in the pennant race, he could provide immediate help in the bullpen and should be a regular member of the 2010 relief corps.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
3:18 pm
with some help from Braves assistant PR man Adam Liberman we figured out Chipper went 3-3 in his picks yesterday. with two games yet to play…He picked Miami in Miami-FSU and Rutgers in Rutgers-Cincy.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
3:18 pm
I have watched McLouth and Schaffer play. They stink. No proof needed.
This is classic. Who are you, Paul Lentz?
Why throw away $12 million on a pitcher with a bad arm. That stinks also.
And your criteria for having a bad arm are…?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:18 pm
slippy r
don’t forget that by re-working his contract his two option years became guaranteed. Work out well for himself
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:19 pm
Carroll Rogers
Chipper picked Oklahoma didn’t he?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:19 pm
Steve from OH
Just look at how he spelled Schafer?
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
3:19 pm
Diaz is not an everyday player
Neither are Omar Infante, Martin Prado, Garret Anderson, Brooks Conrad, or David Ross. The only position players in this line-up who are good enough to be every-day players on a good team are Adam LaRoche–a free agent after the season–and Nate McLouth.
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:21 pm
I would say that Hudson’s “option” is going to get picked up, huh?
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:21 pm
Wow. Brooksie. Wow.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
3:21 pm
Conrad showing the leather!
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
3:21 pm
Hey, look at the bright side of Diaz’ struggles lately… at least Wren won’t be duped into thinking he can be a big contributer in 2010 like he though KJ would in ‘09. See, there’s usually a silver lining in everything if youy search for it.
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:22 pm
…. with some help from Braves assistant PR man Adam Liberman we figured out Chipper went 3-3 in his picks yesterday.” Carroll
Good to see that he’s still capable of going 3 for 3 at something.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:23 pm
GJ Huddy!
Great defense today too. Excellent.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:23 pm
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:22 pm
…. with some help from Braves assistant PR man Adam Liberman we figured out Chipper went 3-3 in his picks yesterday.” Carroll
Good to see that he’s still capable of going 3 for 3 at something.
Best comment today on the blog. I love it man.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
3:24 pm
REHIRE HUDDY!
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
3:24 pm
I think Huddy has to be done. Hopefully they can score a run for him and give him a chance to win.
varoadrunner
September 6th, 2009
3:26 pm
I have to agree that time has run out – but I think it ran out a long time ago for our Braves. Just not the team this year to win even a wild card.
We need some additions, of course! BUT until we have a new manager, we will not win. Loyalty to players is wonderful but when it becomes a detriment to team performance, it’s a bad thing. And for Atlanta fans that pay BIG bucks to attend games, it is unfair. Bobby has been a great “player’s coach”, but when he had 3 Cy Young pitchers and other pitchers like Millwood, Schmidth, Avery, etc, I COULD HAVE WON division titles. Even this year with, at the very least, adequate ptiching, we have not been able to win consistently. I know we harp on Norman, KJ, Frenchy, etc, but it’s TRUE. Norman shouldn’t be on this team! KJ should be in LF or traded to get something and Frenchy needed a new team. The High School phenom needed to get out of Georgia. But Bobby continued to do the same ole thing over and over expecting different results. We all know what that is…….Insanity. Not that Bobby is insane, but he clearly would not look at the handwriting on the wall.
His time has long since gone.
Mr Wren, Please get us some offense and a new manager. Maybe a new management staff is necessary as I still have no confidence in TP as a hitting coach. He might be a managerial candidate, but not a hitting coach.
For the most part, we in this blog are loyal Braves fans and will continue to watch our Braves, but YOU, Mr Wren, have an obligation to US. Put the best team you can on the field every day. In the past few years, we have not done that!! Someone needs to be called to task for that and with the exception of having the best individuals on the team (your job), playing our best is on the manager and Bobby has not had the clarity of mind to identify (on a timely basis) our best team.
We have the foundation for a winner in 2010, please help us by allowing Mr Cox to retire with respect THIS YEAR!
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:27 pm
Huddy can go one more inning. He’s been solid all day long and hasn’t thrown a lot of pitches.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:27 pm
Will Gonzalez and Soriano even want to re-sign knowing how bad Cox abuses them
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:28 pm
If I were Bobby, and I’m not, I would let Huddy bunt if Ross gets on base but he never does that does he?
A Greggy Johnson pinch strike out is the way to go.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:28 pm
Time to open up a big can of whoop a$$ on these Cincinatti clowns.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
3:29 pm
Fire Heap!
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
3:29 pm
Ross!
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:29 pm
Because Stone Cold said so.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:29 pm
Rossyyyyyyyyyy!
Yay!
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:29 pm
Wow, we have a catcher that can hit. (sorry McFann, I was just kidding)
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
3:29 pm
The freakin’ marlins are leading 2-zip. If you would’ve told me last Tuesday night/Wednesday morning at 1:00 AM that we’d lose four straight and fall out of the Wild Card after Hudson’s performance. . .
Frank Wren is a hitting idiot.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:30 pm
Nice pitch.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:30 pm
I’ve been waiting for one of those signature David Ross solo shots.
Where you been all my life Rossy?
Here comes an out.
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:30 pm
Thanks Rob. But that one was too easy. Carroll deserves and “assist” for the set up. The “Teller” to my Penn impersonation, if you will.
Nice job Ross. Just another notch in the “why the hell does Bobby still use Norton, with a 3rd catcher on the roster” belt.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
3:30 pm
Come on Kelly!
varoadrunner
September 6th, 2009
3:30 pm
Good for HUDDY/ROSS
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
3:30 pm
That ball was crushed by Ross….against his former mates.
The Rally Booger!
September 6th, 2009
3:31 pm
Hi folks! Allow me to introduce myself! I’m The Rally Booger!(or Boogie as Bobby Cox calls me). I’m here because rally caps are so passe’.
Sometimes, in the late innings when we’re down by a six pack or so, Bobby will bring me out to rally the troops! That’s what he’s doing when the camera zooms in on him and he has his finger up hil nose and that vacant look on his face! Sometimes he gets so intent on what he’s doing that all he has time to say is “Norton, grab a bat” and he is back hard at work with me! So remember kids, with me at hand the game is never out of reach! I’m The Rally Booger!
varoadrunner
September 6th, 2009
3:31 pm
Kelly just doesn’t look comfortable
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:31 pm
Wren doesn’t get enough credit for bringing in a capable backup catcher to replace the worthless Corky Miller from last year.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:31 pm
Ok, that was the most excited I’ve seen the Braves in a while. Fun stuff.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:31 pm
David Ross > Corky Miller
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
Fans, meet David Ross. What, you haven’t heard of him? Oh he’s that guy that the HOF manager never uses as a pinch-hitter so that Greg Norton can flail helplessly at the plate.
varoadrunner
September 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
OK KELLY
U go dude
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
I figure we’ll have a 7-1 win today.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
Nice pitch.
Come on Chop Chop. Give props to Ross. Props to Kelly too.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
Kelly just doesn’t look comfortable
I just microwaved a plate full of crow. Want some?
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
That pinch hit single for Kelly Johnson snapped an 0-for-20 streak.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
Make KJ the starter again!
varoadrunner
September 6th, 2009
3:33 pm
Maybe we should find an infield position of McCann and keep Ross in the lineup. Seems he always gets the big hits
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
3:33 pm
Pete Orr just got a hit; Pete Orr is hitting .360 this season as a PT player for the gNats.
We have Greg Norton.
Bobby Cox is a hitting idiot, too.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
3:33 pm
Seriously, varoadrunner, I do agree with you. He doesn’t look too comfortable. I think he would if he got regular AB’s again.
Old Fashioned
September 6th, 2009
3:33 pm
Carroll Rogers—how many incomplete passes in a “ton?’ Tell me and I can figure out the number per pound. English and Journalism have bottomed out,probably never to rise again.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:34 pm
That’s disappointing.
I wanted to make fun of Kelly.
I’ve had so many opportunities to call him Nancy Johnson lately but I keep forgetting. I pulled that one out a few times in ‘08 I did.
Tell It Like It Is
September 6th, 2009
3:34 pm
Rob from SC.
The mispell was deliberate. I just wanted to see who would pick up on it. It looks like you are the winner. Congratulations!!!
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
3:34 pm
Make KJ the starter again!
Or just a starter. Somewhere. Just get his bat in the line-up somehow.
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
3:35 pm
Did DOB and Hudson ever shake hands and make up?
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:35 pm
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
3:33 pm
Seriously, varoadrunner, I do agree with you. He doesn’t look too comfortable. I think he would if he got regular AB’s again
That’s because Corky told him to be ready for the K-Y ball from Burton.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:35 pm
Soph,
If he hadn’t hit that ball out of the park, he wouldn’t be worth much. A belt-high first-pitch fastball to a guy who likes to hit belt-high fastballs.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
3:35 pm
Just look at how he spelled Schafer?
Anyone who misspells his name loses any credibility with me.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
3:36 pm
Did DOB and Hudson ever shake hands and make up?
Does DOB or Hudson or anyone else care? Well, at least the first two don’t.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:36 pm
I don’t give out props so easily, Soph. Agree with me next time. You’ll get some props.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
3:36 pm
Line on Hudson, 7 IP, 4 hits, one run, it was earned, one walk, six strikeouts. 90 pitches, 65 for strikes.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:36 pm
I wonder what Wren thinks about keeping Cox as manager. You know Bobby was pissed when Wren let Smoltz go to Boston, and then releasing his love child Glavine.
But from Wren’s point of view, he gets a above average backup catcher so McCann can get more rest, but Bobby keeps abusing McCann by playing him almost everyday.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:37 pm
Who knew Georgians all like little pathetic dogs to keep in their manbags and purses.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:38 pm
Roman Gal
Just imagine if Ryan Spaerognregneqjlg nelrnwreln ever gets called up? People can’t spell Medlen, Schafer, Hanson, or Heyward right.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:38 pm
Good job Nate.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:38 pm
Chop Chop, I just want to see you give props to someone again. It makes my day.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
3:38 pm
Well, he hit it hard.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:39 pm
Line on Hudson, 7 IP, 4 hits, one run, it was earned, one walk, six strikeouts. 90 pitches, 65 for strikes
********************
If this keeps up, I can’t see a way where the Braves or Hudson will part ways.
It’ll be good if the Braves and Hudson can workout a contract extension in the off-season to keep Tim here for the rest of his career.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:39 pm
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:37 pm
Who knew Georgians all like little pathetic dogs to keep in their manbags and purses.
Funny coming from a little pathetic dog.
Threadkiller
September 6th, 2009
3:39 pm
Where’s all the “Experts” who said “Move Hudson to the pen’? Where’s the “Experts” That said “Let Hudson walk and pay his buyout”? Further proof that 95% of the posters on here know nothing about the game of baseball!
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:40 pm
Great job Braves.
One run lead, that’s more than enough.
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
3:40 pm
McLouth is not a leadoff man. He is a .250 hitter with decent speed, average range and a weak arm.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:40 pm
Marteeeen! Oh wait….
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:40 pm
Supes,
What if Huddy gets bombed in his next two starts?
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:40 pm
I’m convinced that if McCann is moved to 1B, he will have better all around numbers offensively, and if David Ross is our starting catcher in 2010, he’ll hit 20 HR while batting a respectable for a catcher .250 or there about.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
3:41 pm
Watch. The moment KJ is banished from Atl., he’ll blossom into a good hitter, like the no. 1 pick he was supposed to be.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:41 pm
I don’t give out props so easily, Soph. Agree with me next time. You’ll get some props.
Ok, Chop Chop – I do. Where’s my props?
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:41 pm
Funny coming from a little pathetic dog.
Hey, did you see all the women and beer I had?
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
3:41 pm
Rob-
With some names, it’s to be expected. But Schafer is easy to spell.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:42 pm
Soph…………………………….thanks for the “props”
I always like to recognize people who give me props, so props to you for giving me props. I know I deserve them.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:42 pm
Chop Chop,
What if he doesn’t? That’s the whole point. They benched KK (or sent him to the pen, whatever you’d like to use in that case) to see what they’ve got in Hudson to make a decision on 2010 starting rotation, (who is in or out). It also depends on “how he looks” while getting shelled if he does indeed get rocked. One can’t just look at a scoreline and determine keep or turn him loose.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
3:43 pm
He is a .250 hitter with decent speed, average range and a weak arm.
Right conclusion, wrong way of getting there. .350 OBP from leadoff spots is good, but he has a lot of power and would probably be better in the middle of the order.
Batting average and throwing arm strength (WTF?) are irrelevant to his batting leadoff ability.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:44 pm
Now batting, Corky “I shoulda been a porn star” Miller
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
3:45 pm
Kelly Johnson is a leadoff hitter.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
3:45 pm
SC Rob: Hell, Bobby had to play McCann everyday because nobody else on the lineup could hit. If Francoeur could’ve hit and Chipper could have one healthy season for the rest of his life, Cox could’ve afforded to rest McCann.
Now McCann is worn out like my lounge chair.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:45 pm
Sit the F down Corky.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
3:45 pm
Was Corky this fat when he played for the Braves last year? I remember him being big, but not THAT big
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
3:46 pm
As long as Corky Miller has a job in the big leagues, there’s hope for my Aunt Elsie. She’s 71 and overweight, but still.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:46 pm
Umps cheating Corky.
Typical umps.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
We all know what that is…….Insanity
head explodes.
And i was just getting ready to fire chop chop when he had to go and say something good. Huddy looks great today but the smart thing to do is to make a decision after seeing all his starts and not make a decision after one good one or one bad one. Very impressive today.
Omg what was that
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
HE took Loaf out, that is why Anderson doesn’t hustle
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
People just try to do too much with Schafer. Like throw in an extra ‘e’
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
I think Boog just wet himself.
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
Supes & Threadkiller at 3:39, couldn’t agree more. (also you 3:40 Supes)
“What if Huddy gets bombed in his next two starts?” Chop Chop
You mean like Vazquez did in his last outing?
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
Holy crap! I thought Loaf was dead!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
Fudge, McLouth. It was Loafy’s all the way.
Geez. I hope they’re both okay.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
Loafy needed a hug.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
GD it you idiots.
WTF!
RHR
September 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
Fire mclouth!
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
I hope McLouth is OK. Running into a statue’s gotta hurt.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
We might need to call Heyward up with the way our Outfielders keep going
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
but the smart thing to do is to make a decision after seeing all his starts and not make a decision after one good one or one bad one
Not on this blog. You’re as good as your last pitch/AB
The Rally Booger!
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
Bobby will probably bring me out today even if we’re ahead! He likes to go to me as much as he does Moylan!
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
I hope McLouth is OK. Running into a statue’s gotta hurt.
Good one. I’m still laughing.
Rodney Derrick
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
That collision was caused by the long record this season of Turbo being so nonchalant. But great play by him holding on to the ball and smiling afterward
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
That ball was tattooed.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
Fire gonzo!
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
Wat to go Gonzo. You suck.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
WTF? I was replaying the collision and the dude hits a homer?
Seriously?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
If we do re-sign Gonzalez, we better put in his contract that he can’t use that stupid windup. enough with that crap already
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
Gee I thought that big lead would hold up. We didn’t need McLouth to execute the sac bunt anyway.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
Running into a statue’s gotta hurt.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
That Just For Men hair color commercial where the guy’s two little daughters pimp dad out so he can go on a date b/c “it’s time” and he’d be “a great catch”. . .
Really creeps me out.
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
And with that pitch by Gonzo, welcome back to the rotation of 2009 Mr. Hudson.
It’s a good thing we’re not still in the race, or Bobby’s overuse of Gonzo, Moylan and Soriano might actually matter. But as it stands, it doesn’t really matter much, does it?
kirkinga
September 6th, 2009
3:50 pm
And who will be next year’s closer…lol?
The good news may be that Gonzo’s price continues to drop!
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:50 pm
Threadkiller,
That was our esteemed “blog expert” Paul Lentz who wanted Hudson to pitch the 6-7 innings out of the pen. He was the most vocal about it. There were a few others. Yeah, they are nowhere to be found now.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:51 pm
I think Gonzo is pitching his way out of Atlanta. Braves will offer arbitration b/c they want the sandwich pick, but someone else will sign him long term. Just not the Braves.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
3:51 pm
(Bad News Bears them song plays in the background. . .)
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
3:51 pm
Bobby Cox the wonder manager does it again. Somehow we don’t get the runner from first over with 0 outs. McLouth doesn’t get him over, and then for some reason, we don’t move the runner over with Prado, and instead we hit away and get the double play. Boggles the mind.
If you are going to take Hudson out, which we shouldn’t have, then you have to atleast play to score the run. Which, of course, we didn’t
Makes no sense. Let Hudson pitch the 8th. He was dealing…
RHR
September 6th, 2009
3:52 pm
Condider rehiring Gonzo!
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:52 pm
There has been a lot of talk about Boston being willing to trade Papelbon. Vazquez for Paps.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:52 pm
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:50 pm
Threadkiller,
That was our esteemed “blog expert” Paul Lentz who wanted Hudson to pitch the 6-7 innings out of the pen. He was the most vocal about it. There were a few others. Yeah, they are nowhere to be found now.
Supes,
It couldn’t have been Paul Lentz. I mean, he is right 99% of the time isn’t he? He must be ’cause he said he was.
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:52 pm
“Huddy looks great today but the smart thing to do is to make a decision after seeing all his starts and not make a decision after one good one or one bad one.” RHR
Oh. It all comes clear now. It makes perfect sense. Bobby and Wren want to see ALL of Norton’s PH AB’s before making a decision on whether to bring him back next year.
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
3:52 pm
The good news is….this game has been extended. Greg Norton will be called upon to provide a much needed breeze, 3 times at home plate. The HOF manager can’t wait. Everything is going according to plan.
Roja
September 6th, 2009
3:52 pm
Anybody think we have a “closer” on this team?
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
3:52 pm
Jeff Francoeur 2009 Mets WAR: -0.2
Ryan Church 2009 Braves WAR: 0.6
varoadrunner
September 6th, 2009
3:52 pm
I hatre that look Gonzales gives us whenhe’s blown another game – POOR HUDDY – he pitched really well. Hope Mr Wren decides to keep him.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:53 pm
MFin04
Hudson is still recovering from TJ surgery. It was the correct move to take him out.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
3:53 pm
Or, consider it if you dont have a lisp.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:53 pm
but the smart thing to do is to make a decision after seeing all his starts and not make a decision after one good one or one bad one
**************************
I completely agree, but so far so good. He’ll have several more starts to show that he’s back and worthy of signing to a contract extension to end his career as a Brave.
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:53 pm
“I mean, he is right 99% of the time isn’t he?” Stone Cold
Actually, no. Similar to Sex Panther, 60 percent of the time, he’s right every time.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:53 pm
What is that, two career homeruns?
F that. I knew that would happen. Gonzo is done for the season. These guys have nothing left.
I’m so sick of this BS. This is what happens when you don’t let your starters go over 100 f***ing pitches and have no complete games. I realize you don’t want Huddy to put any extra stress on his arm but maybe if Bobby f*ing Cox hadn’t ruined his pen this wouldn’t happen.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
3:53 pm
I see retarded trade proposal season has started early this year.
Roja
September 6th, 2009
3:54 pm
The only guy we’ve ever had that has proven he can close a game is pitching for the Cards
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
3:54 pm
Why did Jo Jo get pulled after 3 innings. Does anyone know?
Ross
September 6th, 2009
3:54 pm
The return of Gomer La Roach has killed all my interest in the Braves. He and his ranching buddy are competing for max suckage and disinterest in playing baseball. Let them go circular deer hunting on their combined 13,000 acres.
I’m more than happy to watch mediocre players who want to compete. These clowns are do bored by the whole enterprise that one wonders what they actually get out of life.
Sayonara Braves.
-drl
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
3:54 pm
It couldn’t have been Paul Lentz. I mean, he is right 99% of the time isn’t he? He must be ’cause he said he was.
No, he’s right 100% of the time. Self-proclaimed, of course.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:55 pm
Here comes another Matt Diaz strike out.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
3:55 pm
Hudson was fine, he was at 90 pitches, he could have gone one more inning. The correct move, wouldn’t be Gonzo giving up the homer either…
Roja
September 6th, 2009
3:56 pm
To quote Bobby after the game, “Gonzo really had good stuff. Just good hitting from a solid home run guy”
RHR
September 6th, 2009
3:56 pm
Lol n8 shut it. Besides, ive been
on the fire greg norton commitee longer than any of you. I wont bring up the july game vs the mets again but dont think im over it. No sir.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
3:56 pm
That is the gayest commercial in the history of television.
N8
September 6th, 2009
3:57 pm
“Anybody think we have a “closer” on this team?” Roja
Yes. We do. Derek Lowe. Only problem is he’s being paid 15 million for the next three years to start.
If I’m Wren, I seriously consider asking him if he wants to close. It seems steep. But nobody’s taking that contract off his hands. Might as well put him where he might be best served to help the team.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
3:58 pm
We need Rally McTurtle/McBooger/McHead to get it going.
Keeper
September 6th, 2009
3:58 pm
Actually, I can’t blame Duke much for trying to throw first – despite the FCS scholarship limits, our linemen were bigger and more experienced than Duke’s. Nine starters returned to a Richmond defense that finished sixth among FCS teams in scoring defense (15.6 ppg). We only lost two ends – one of whom, Sidbury, is now getting high marks for the Falcons – and we had experienced seniors ready to step into those two slots.
UVA losing at home to W&M, on the other hand – now that’s humiliating!
Supes
September 6th, 2009
3:59 pm
Hudson was fine, he was at 90 pitches, he could have gone one more inning.
**************************************
I think it’s only b/c he’s coming back and maybe hasn’t built in the stamina/endurance to go deep into games yet. Personally, I would have liked to see him go one more inning due to the fact he wasn’t at or above “the gold standard of 100″ pitches.
kirkinga
September 6th, 2009
3:59 pm
There has been a lot of talk about Boston being willing to trade Papelbon. Vazquez for Paps.
No way! If people can’t handle Yunel, they sure as heck aren’t going to be able to take Papelbon. The Braves have options, I’d like to see Soriano and Gonzo back, but that may be difficult to do. I think either would be ok as a closer if used as such. I think limiting their appearances is the key.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:00 pm
N8
When was the last time Lowe had a 1-2-3 inning. He would scare the hell out of all of us if he was the closer. I am getting Dan Kolb/Chris Reitsma flash backs
Vinings Jim
September 6th, 2009
4:00 pm
Keeper – hey, watch the William and Mary bashing – it might be a very important I-64 Bowl this year.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:00 pm
kirkinga
Paps does seem to be a bit of a headcase.
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
4:00 pm
Remember when Braves games in September used to mean something? If Carroll had trouble finding the Braves on the back page today, just wait until the NFL cranks up. You’ll be lucky to find the box score.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:01 pm
Tim Hudson better be a Brave next year, his two starts have just been superb. 1-0 (if Gonzo didn’t suck, 2-0) with a 2.19 ERA.
Not sure what you do with all the pitching, but you figure that out later.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:01 pm
Why are people so surprised by Matt Diaz going hitless?
Who do they think he is, Ty Cobb? Give me a f-ing break.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:01 pm
I hope so, supes. I love huddy.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:02 pm
I don’t have a very good feeling about this.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
4:02 pm
What we need are hitters. (gNats just tied the fish, but got caught in a 2-out rundown, in typical gNats fashion).
Roja
September 6th, 2009
4:03 pm
Unless something happens in the off season, our starting pitchers will all have to go 9 innings every game next year and drive in at least 120 rbi’s
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:03 pm
Hudson 55-38 career with the Braves with a 3.5+ ERA. He sure does look like he is back to himself.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:04 pm
One would guess in the bottom of the ninth Boobie will pinch hit Chipper, NOrton and Goreki and if anyone doesn’t strike outand gets on base(like an HBP) Ricky Escobar sprained ankle and all can pinch run
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:04 pm
Votto – that’s what I do after I drink too much. Hey pass me a slice of that – Vottttto – burp…pizza.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:05 pm
I feeling extremely cynical and jaded about the Braves but I hope Brooks hits a bomb on the first pitch.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:05 pm
Brandon Phillips bunting in the ninth with one out?
Yuck. He’s 0-for-2 with 2 Ks in his career against Soriano, but how could he bunt when he might be able to run into one? Strange.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
4:05 pm
Isn’t Huddy’s option a mutual one? Meaning that he can decided to decline? If he pitches like this the rest of the season he may decide he can go elsewhere and get a multi-year deal. It may force the Braves to give him a new multi-year deal, which I don’t think would be a bad thing.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:06 pm
damn. Conrad started and we still can’t score? Amazing, I thought sure this one was in the bag with him in there
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:06 pm
Rehire MFIKY!
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:06 pm
Let’s win this in the 9th, I don’t want to spend all day watching this team struggle to score runs in extras.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:06 pm
Enter your comments here
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:07 pm
I love huddy.(RHR(
me too
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:07 pm
It was snitker’s fault, nolie. Or bobby’s. Or maybe TP’s.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:07 pm
Heck, if Chipper gets a multi-year deal, and Lowe gets a multi-year deal, and Hampton gets a multi-year deal, we sure as heck better try a multi-year deal with Hudson.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
4:08 pm
AndyC,
it’s a mutual option. Player and Team both have to agree.
Bat Masterson
September 6th, 2009
4:08 pm
AndyC
No
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
Shut up Boog. Damn.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
We almost had “BROOKS WAS HERE” flashing on the scoreboard.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
F!
What a f***ing ripoff!
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
Oh baby! I thought that was out.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
Big Tease
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
Lmao that would have been too perfect.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
Chop Chop, that was going to be my line right there.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:10 pm
but I hope Brooks hits a bomb on the first pitch.
me too. in fact I’ll settle for him hitting one out on any pitch
The Rally Booger!
September 6th, 2009
4:10 pm
I’m ready Bobby!
N8
September 6th, 2009
4:10 pm
Warning track power. That could be the subtitle of the Braves 2009 season.
Bat Masterson
September 6th, 2009
4:11 pm
Wrong Bat.
if club exercises 2010 option, Hudson may void and forfeit buyout
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:11 pm
Boobie. They have a starter in and we have used up our “closers” Out managed again.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:11 pm
What a bunch of s***.
How are we going to lose this one?
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:11 pm
Oh so thats why corky miller still plays. Ive been wondering about that. Thanks joe!
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:11 pm
Free baseball, free bloggage
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
4:11 pm
Anyone get tired of Jim Powell getting excited on the radio about flyballs to the warning track? He has gotten my hopes up about 5 times in this series, and all those balls were caught. He should know that when the Braves hit a flyball that appears long enough to leave the park it is merely a ball to the warning track.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:12 pm
Heyward 2-4
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:12 pm
It was snitker’s fault, nolie. Or bobby’s. Or maybe TP’s. (RHR)
thanx hun, I just knew it couldn’t be Brooksie’s
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:13 pm
I love National League baseball and I hate the DH, but man the National League must suck this season. First it was Smoltz, then Penny, now even Jose Contreras is looking like a good pitcher.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:13 pm
Is it wrong to ask Boog for a pick?
The Rally Booger!
September 6th, 2009
4:14 pm
There’s Pete, how ’bout me!
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:14 pm
Nick Johnson bites his old club in the a**. Two-run single puts the Fish up 4-2 in the top of the ninth.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:14 pm
Why the hell does Marquis get all the credit for the Rockies. Has the media ever heard of Ubaldo Jimenez. His stats are much better.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:15 pm
My mistake the announcers on the radio claimed Owings was pitching that whole inning. they finally now own up that it was not Owings. That’s a mistake Boobie could make.
I think we are about to wear out the Aussie. Nice work for the year Pierre, but you just can’t pitch every wingle friggin day
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:15 pm
I think Moylan shaved the rest of his hair. Huddy must’ve made him do it.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
4:16 pm
I love huddy RHR
Me too. He’s my favorite, and he should stay until he’s not my favorite, or he retires.
fork
September 6th, 2009
4:17 pm
Stick me in the Braves post-season hopes.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:17 pm
Brooks Conrad continues to prove why he should have been our pinch hitter off the bench all year long. He’d probably have 30-40 RBIS this year if put in the positions Norton has been in all year long.
N8
September 6th, 2009
4:17 pm
Rob from SC, good point. I just don’t see a spot for him on this team next year. Can’t have a 15 million dollar long relief/spot starter.
And as much as I wanted him last off-season (and he has provided what we needed – innings, reliability), it’s going to come down to money. Money LM more than likely won’t pony up to do what is right. Which would be to go with a rotation of:
Hudson, Vazquez, JJJ, Hanson and KK
Wren’s job is to put the best 5 out there. Unfortunately, money is going to come into play.
I guess the other option (without a trade or two) is to make KK the closer. With him warming up in the pen, perhaps we’ll get a glimpse of what he might be able to do out there. He’s got the stuff. And 6-8 million for him as a closer, is a helluva lot more acceptable than as a spot starter.
The question (without trades coming into play), is how is the team better? With Lowe in the rotation, and KK in the pen, or the other way around.
One could argue, that the rotation might be better with KK in it. But, one could also argue your point. That Lowe might be disaster out there, but as a 5th starter he would be MORE than adequate (if you can get by the 15 million dollar salary).
But I can’t see how Hudson is NOT in this rotation next year, if healthy I’d take him over Vazquez. That’s been my stance for 9 months. I’m not changing now.
fork
September 6th, 2009
4:17 pm
Stick me in the Braves’ post-season hopes.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
4:18 pm
AndyC,
I don’t think, no matter how well Hudson pitches, he can become more financially secure by voiding his option and taking a $1 million buyout. And even if he could, I think he likes it here and wouldn’t void the option if the Braves exercised it.
The Rally Booger!
September 6th, 2009
4:18 pm
Moylan looks like a wacked-out Mennonite.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:19 pm
Why not just re-sign Soriano?
C-Note
September 6th, 2009
4:19 pm
Stop the insanity, and quit paying these players for past performance. It’s time to start paying for production incentives. I’m sure some of the faithful brethren can come uo with a formulation.
Example:
Single = $1000
Double = $2000
Triple = $3000
Dinger = $5000
Strike out = minus $2000 (looking $2500)
rbi = $3500
GWH = $5000
WALK OFF = $10,000
START GAME = $6000
ERROR = MINUS $3500
PINCH HIT = $8000
ETC
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:20 pm
I love Marteen.
Marteeeeeeeeeeen.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:20 pm
Looks like Martin Prado is our starting third baseman next year.
N8
September 6th, 2009
4:20 pm
MFin04, couldn’t agree more with your 4:17. How many times has Norton failed to make contact when doing so would have meant a run, and possibly a different outcome for those games?
Too many. That’s how many.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:21 pm
Looks like Martin Prado is our starting third baseman next year.
Wait, what? WTF?
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
4:21 pm
Nats win on Zimmerman walk off
confused again
September 6th, 2009
4:22 pm
Will Hudson provide a spark? Not unless he can hit and drive in 3 or 4 runs, something the other eight guys in the lineup can’t do…………..4 runs, in three days, against the REDS?????
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
4:22 pm
But I can’t see how Hudson is NOT in this rotation next year, if healthy I’d take him over Vazquez. That’s been my stance for 9 months. I’m not changing now. N8
Good post, and I agree. I like what Vazquez has done for us this year, but if it’s really going to come down to Huddy plus the prospects we get for Javy, or Javy, I’ll take Hudson every time.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:22 pm
Yeah. Impressive pitching by Leo Nunez today. It only took him five pitches to lose the game for the Fish.
Leadoff HR for Willie Harris, single for Guzman, two-run walk-off shot by Zimmerman.
Bat Masterson
September 6th, 2009
4:23 pm
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
4:18 pm
He gives up the 1 million if he voids the option.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:23 pm
Wait, what? WTF?
I know Steve. Just scroll past it – I did.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:23 pm
When’s the last time we’ve had a walk-off win? Was a white man in office?
C-Note
September 6th, 2009
4:24 pm
Enter your comments here
C-Note
September 6th, 2009
4:24 pm
Enter your comments here
C-Note
September 6th, 2009
4:24 pm
Enter your comments here
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:24 pm
Chipper vs Prado
Chipper
16
63
.272
.394
.446
Prado
9
41
.299
.350
.444
And apparently Prado is a far superior third baseman than Chipper Jones.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:24 pm
C-note how about a few more minuses like for losses, blown saves, caught stealing, failed bunts, home runs in blow out loses, strike outs with runners in scoring positioin, GIDP, GITP. GIFP, bases running mistakes. Best part would be the rebates, fans would receive for loses. Bet attendance would be up and management would have some incentive to make the guys hustle. Fans would have the option not to take the rebate if the guys played with some heart.
P.S. Nice shot Bmac. Minus $200.00
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:25 pm
jeffrey d – Was a white man in office?
Was a white man on this continent?
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:25 pm
I wonder when they’re going to figure out the trying-to-hit-a-homerun thing doesn’t work.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:25 pm
And C-Note fails twice….ouch
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:25 pm
Excuse me….C-Note fails thrice
N8
September 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
“Why not just re-sign Soriano?” Steve
Totally agree with you, if money isn’t an option. But it will be, unless Wren does a Houdini act with the roster.
You’ve got D-Lowe at 15 Million dollars. You’ve got Vazquez and Hudson at around 12 million each. You’ve got Chipper’s ill-advised contract extension (13 million in 2010). McCann’s salary goes up from 3.5 million to 5.5 million, and we are in dire need of adding some offense.
I’m not sure how Wren can afford to re-sign either Gonzo or Soriano and improve the everyday lineup at the same time.
You have any suggestions?
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
C-Note wins the Triple Crown of posting
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
Blasphemy warning:
Jesus f***ing Christ.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
Stone Cold – probably not. It was when the Braves (the original Braves…the Cherokees) played the Aztecs.
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
N8, I know Lowe’s contract isn’t pretty but I think some teams may be willing to listen for a trade like say Boston where they have the money and the history with him and they could use a reliable starter. Thats a longshot so I think its more likely that it is one of thr trio of Hudson/Vazquez/KK that won’t be here next year.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
The exercise in futility continues…by the Braves offense.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
Yeah guy, I don’t think you had to slide to catch that. Showoff.
I’m just mad.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:28 pm
N8,
Chipper’s getting $14 million each of the next three years. He has a $3 million signing bonus that is being paid out a million per season.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:28 pm
Delow to the gNats for Atom Done,
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:28 pm
You know, I’ve seen far fewer cries for TP’s head during our current offensive woes than during our offensive problems at the beginning of the season. I wonder why that is?
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:28 pm
So your point is that even though Chipper is in a very down season and he’s still OPSing 50 points more than Martin, he should no longer be our 3B? Are you trying to make my point for me?
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:29 pm
Prado is making 400,000 and Chipper is making 10-12 million? Obviously Chipper is a better player than Martin, but looking at offensive and defensive production this year and including salary…you have to laugh at Chipper’s numbers, they are just terrible in comparison. And Chipper has played the worst third base I have ever seen
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:29 pm
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
Stone Cold – probably not. It was when the Braves (the original Braves…the Cherokees) played the Aztecs.
I knew it had been awhile.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:29 pm
Look Bobby caught up. Now both teams have starters in there. But theirs can hit. At least we still have NOrton on the bench—-he shold be in the stands
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:30 pm
Never mind the stupidity of actually thinking the FO will dump Chipper. Do you really think anyone other than Chipper Jones will be the everyday 3B next year? Do you?
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:30 pm
Gee, who knew the Reds had such a GREAT pitching staff?
bigdave
September 6th, 2009
4:31 pm
thanks Matt.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:31 pm
What an idiot.
Good for little.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:31 pm
I don’t even know what to say.
I’ll start with dammit!
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:31 pm
Matt Diaz is the worst outfielder I have ever seen.
So we have the worst RF, LF, and defensive 3B in the game. And Kelly Johnson was at 2nd this year, he has to be top 5 worst 2nd baseman. Wow…
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
YES!!!
bigdave
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
great stuff…
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
Too easy for Nate there.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
NO!!! MCLOUTH HAS A WEAK ARM!!!! I READ IT HERE!
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
Thank God.
Let’s get a damn run.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
McLouth!!!
I had my doubts but he made a decent throw!
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
Thataboy Nate McLouth, not much or an arm, but from shallow center, he sure does have a cannon
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
The Reds had to try it, though.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
Hay if we lose 3-2 Boobie can point out the improvement.
I am not a big fan of bringing the ifield in
Outfield assist to preserve the tie plus $142,303
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:33 pm
Brooks Conrad continues to prove why he should have been our pinch hitter off the bench all year long (MF)
Bat Masterson
September 6th, 2009
4:33 pm
Cannon arm, Nate
Supes
September 6th, 2009
4:33 pm
Nate McLouth has been “saving his arm” all season long to make that throw today!
It’s the only explanation for him not attempting throwing home for the past 2 months that he’s been a Brave.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:33 pm
Yeah Stone Cold. If I recall, Chief Norton hit a walk off sac fly against Montezuma.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
4:33 pm
Weak arm, but at least it came up big here, and in the 2008 All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.
N8
September 6th, 2009
4:33 pm
Jake, let’s hope that’s the case. As for KK? I wasn’t sold on him early, but at 6.6 million next year, I think you have to keep him. He’ll give us what we’ll get out of Vazquez or D-Lowe (with in a half run ERA wise, imo), and going to cost half as much as Vazquez and less than half of Lowe.
So, he’s gotta stay, IMO. Of course, in terms of trade value, that salary makes him more tradable and might net us more in return. Where if somebody is going to take Lowe’s salary on, they might not give up as much. Just my guess.
WOW!! A strong throw and a catcher that blocks the plate AND hangs onto the ball?? Amazing.
Chop Chop, thanks for the clarification. That actually makes it a worse contract than I originally thought.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
4:33 pm
nolie,
Brooks came a lot closer to getting a hit than Norton has in recent months of walking and striking out.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:35 pm
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:33 pm
Yeah Stone Cold. If I recall, Chief Norton hit a walk off sac fly against Montezuma.
You sure it wasn’t a pinch walk walk off?
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:35 pm
“He’s 0-3 what kinda proof is that may I ask?”
He’s hit 2 balls that very well could have been homeruns. And both would have been sac flys, something Greg Norton has consistently failed to do in HUGE situations where we only needed one run. That’s the proof. Not to mention his 3-run homer earlier this year.
Spuds MacKenzie
September 6th, 2009
4:35 pm
That is the funny to me.
Chipper Jones: “Oh he sucks. Worst season on his career, he’s done. Trade him. Waive him. Release him. Fire him.”
Martin Prado: “Oh he’s amazing! Marteeeeen! So scrappy. Breakout year. Amazing. Replace Chipper with him.”
2009 Chipper= .837 OPS
2009 Prado= .794 OPS
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:36 pm
Can we please win this game sooner rather than later? I enjoy watching KK pitch, but…
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
4:37 pm
“Prado is making 400,000 and Chipper is making 10-12 million? Obviously Chipper is a better player than Martin, but looking at offensive and defensive production this year and including salary…you have to laugh at Chipper’s numbers, they are just terrible in comparison. And Chipper has played the worst third base I have ever seen”
We are trying to improve our offense. How is putting Prado at third going to do that next year? The truth of the matter is that neither Chipper nor Prado should be seen as stars in our offense, they should be seen as supporting cast members especially at this stage in Chipper’s career. If we are trying to improve this offense its by addition and not rearranging at this point. We know where we need improvements.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:37 pm
I love those people who sit behind home plate.
Yeah, don’t bother to move or stand up or react to a play at the plate or anything whatsoever.
You wouldn’t want to over exert yourself.
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
4:37 pm
Martin Prado saved Chipper at least 3 errors today.
Mitchell
September 6th, 2009
4:38 pm
Why would you swing at that!?
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:39 pm
Why would you swing at that!?
Cuz he’s Matt effin Diaz.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:39 pm
Prado’s salary is the prime reason he should be the 2B next year over Kelly, not the 3B next year over Chipper.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:39 pm
Brooks Conrad continues to prove why he should have been our pinch hitter off the bench all year long (Stop)
you do know that is against the rules right? so why bother suggesting it?
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:39 pm
Does Gorecki stay in to play first, or does Matty come in to play first, or does the cripple come in and play third and Marteeeeen plays first? S**t I’d a left Adam in and made sure Hubbs gave him good directions on which way around the bases
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:40 pm
Questioning Matt Diaz is like questioning Bobby Cox…it is useless….but sometimes they give you pleasant surprises…Matt more than Bobby.
C-Note
September 6th, 2009
4:40 pm
triple posting crown = $15,000
Firearm
September 6th, 2009
4:40 pm
Come on Braves, sayonara run’s at first with 1 out, give Kenshin a win here!
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
4:41 pm
We better win it here. If Owings gets to bat, we’re toast.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:42 pm
Yeh, Braves better not have to pitch to Micah…
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:43 pm
Nice job Matty D!
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:44 pm
I hope Cox pinch-hits Norton for Conrad here.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:44 pm
Micah Owings is impressive, isn’t he?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
4:44 pm
The gNats beat the phish, 5-4.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:45 pm
I was going to say the same thing Steve
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:45 pm
Norton is so good he can pinch hit for himself
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:46 pm
At least Norton wouldn’t have made contact.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:47 pm
Fire Brooks Conrad!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
4:47 pm
Wow, it’s like the Braves go out of their way to be unproductive with runners on base.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:47 pm
Stupid ole Donker shoulda used Norton, I’m tellin y’all. I know this because my hindsight is always 20-20.
njbraves
September 6th, 2009
4:47 pm
Spuds….That’s how it works around here. This blog has a soft spot in it’s collective heart for guys like Prado and Conrad. It’s dumb, but it’s true.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
4:47 pm
Prado’s salary is the prime reason he should be the 2B next year over Kelly, not the 3B next year over Chipper.
And the discrepancy between Chipper and Prado’s defense at 3B is the reason Chipper should play 1B and Prado 3B next year.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:49 pm
Its casue Marteeen and Brooks are more like me and youo. Slobs just trying real hard to do a good job and maybe win a ball game. Not guys making bou coup millions and not really giving a crap if they win or lose
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:49 pm
That is some…not good hitting.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:49 pm
Did Corky just throw up a whatever sign?
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:50 pm
*sigh*
*even bigger sigh*
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:50 pm
Not good…
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
4:51 pm
Infante is showing why he is a nice utility player rather than a productive starting player
the anti-clutch
September 6th, 2009
4:51 pm
Braves arer not a playoff team because they are awful in the clutch. Norton haters-how clutch was your hero Conrad there?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:52 pm
As much as I like Vazquez, it is hard to overlook the tank job he has done in the most important games of the season. Maybe he is not a big game pitcher.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:52 pm
Norton was using a sun dial to figure out when he last got a hit.
Bat Masterson
September 6th, 2009
4:52 pm
Mike Schmidt G BA OBP SLG OPS
37 yrs 147 .293 .388 .548 .936
38 yrs 108 .249 .337 .405 .742
39 yrs 42 .203 .297 .372 .668 retires during the season
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:52 pm
And the discrepancy between Chipper and Prado’s defense at 3B is the reason Chipper should play 1B and Prado 3B next year
A) I don’t think Chipper’s defense this year has been representative of his defensive ability
B) 1B would be very hard on Chipper’s knees
C) The discrepancy between their offensive levels as I perceive them over a full season is bigger than the current value. I don’t think Prado is any more than a .775 OPS hitter over 600 PA, whereas Chipper is at least an .850 OPS hitter, with the ability to be a .900 OPS hitter. We need offense, and, like Jake said, rearranging our current offensive pieces will do nothing for us. We’ve gotta stick with our best offensive pieces and build around them. Chipper is a better piece than Prado, no question.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
4:52 pm
Stupid ole Donker shoulda used Norton, I’m tellin y’all. I know this because my hindsight is always 20-20. Steve from OH
Be careful what you wish for.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:52 pm
Norton’s going to try and lose games with his glove, this should be interesting.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:52 pm
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 6th, 2009
4:47 pm
Prado’s salary is the prime reason he should be the 2B next year over Kelly, not the 3B next year over Chipper.
And the discrepancy between Chipper and Prado’s defense at 3B is the reason Chipper should play 1B and Prado 3B next year.
One of Yunel Escobar’s would kill Chipper
Soph
September 6th, 2009
4:53 pm
Oh my. Norton at first?
[looks at bloggers]
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
4:53 pm
Braves arer not a playoff team because they are awful in the clutch
Not true…McClouth and Loaf did just fine in their clutch earlier
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
4:53 pm
At last. Nort gets a chance to flash that leather.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:53 pm
Conrad popped out to SS? WTF. I thought that would be a lock. I think some of youse guys are lying to me about what a great player he is. I’m starting to have my doubts.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:54 pm
Chipper’s defense is probably indicative of the fact that he is getting older and is going to have a defensive decline similar to Loaf in Left.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:54 pm
I’m surprised Norton remembers where first base is.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:55 pm
I’d love to have the resources to keep Kelly and Prado just in case but I don’t think that we do without payroll expansion from Liberty…which is why we’re probably gonna have to put our eggs in Prado’s basket at 2B, for better or for worse.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:55 pm
We don’t need to worry about the rotation. Frank Wren will trade either Vazquez, Kawakami, or Lowe.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:55 pm
Roachey would’ve gotten him.
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
4:55 pm
Even if we win this, we can’t be proud of our performance
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:56 pm
Wait? Brooksie didn’t win the game?! I banked on it and changed the channel.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
4:56 pm
Brooks came a lot closer to getting a hit than Norton has in recent months of walking and striking out. (Supes)
close only counts in horseshoes hand grenades and hydrogen bombs my friend.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:56 pm
I thought he got that one
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
4:56 pm
Damn. I wanted that one out of the park. Oh, well.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:56 pm
The wind must be blowing in today, lots of balls dying in the outfield at the fences…
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:57 pm
Lazy ass Gorecki
RHR
September 6th, 2009
4:57 pm
Chipper woulda had him!
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
4:58 pm
WOW, we might be looking at a sweep at the hands of the Reds…can’t believe I just wrote that.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:58 pm
Reid fell asleep on that play. Of course, Loaf wouldn’t have gotten to the ball quick enough to throw him out….so it’s a wash
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:58 pm
I think it’s more of him being a rookie than lazy.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:58 pm
Schafer still has more walks than Anderson
bigdave
September 6th, 2009
4:58 pm
” a little flat footed…”
no he didnt hustle…!!! call it like it is…
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
Chipper’s defense is probably indicative of the fact that he is getting older and is going to have a defensive decline
I disagree. Is one year of age enough to take Chipper from a +7.5 UZR/150 to a -15.8? I don’t think so. I think it’s due to the fact that he’s just having a really bad year. He’s made a lot of errors on easy balls that I don’t think are indicative of a decline in skill…they’re just that–errors. I think he’ll rebound nicely across the board next year. Besides, 3B isn’t as important of a defensive position compared to 2B or CF or RF/LF IMO.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
4:58 pm
I think it’s more of him being a rookie than lazy.
that is no excuse. They go first to third in the minors as well
Mixxo
September 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
C’mon Redlegs, lets end this thing!
Lets go Balenteeny!
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
No matter what, the Braves will continue to get KK loses not matter how well he pitches, lol.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
I guess there’s nobody in our minors that are better than Gorecki. If so, the future might not be as bright as a lot of us think. That guy is BAD in all aspects of the game.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
Rob–really?
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:00 pm
So right now we have a lineup without: Chipper, McCann, Yunel, Loaf, and LaRoche
And with: Norton and Gorecki.
Yeah, I like our chances.
CopenhagenBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
5:00 pm
“think it’s more of him being a rookie than lazy.”
- you are not allowed to go first to third in the minors…!?
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:00 pm
Chipper has thrown away 3-5 games with errors this year in the 8th, 9th, extra innings.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
5:00 pm
Steve from OH
I understand you are a stats guy. But you have to admit, you can’t be 100% sure Chipper is not seriously declining. He is 37 years old. In all likely hood he will never again reach those 2008 stats.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
5:01 pm
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
Rob–really?
About Schafer and Anderson?
RHR
September 6th, 2009
5:01 pm
Steve – do you have to ask? LOL
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
5:02 pm
Guess we got this set up for Owings to be a hero. Hasn’t he already hit a slam against us last year?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
5:02 pm
I would take Owings right now for LF
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
5:03 pm
I hope he is ok, Kawakami you suck
bigdave
September 6th, 2009
5:03 pm
wow.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:03 pm
Bout time we hit someone….
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
5:03 pm
Norton can’t even do that
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
5:03 pm
Jesus…
nolie
September 6th, 2009
5:03 pm
BaLlGamE!!!! bOOBy bOOger gaVe Up a WalK % a hIT! Dumm bUNnie! FirE bOOby, Free Freeman!!! Wher’s My remOTE? Oh YeaH, I goTTa BreaK OUt anOTHer case Of TheM. Good ThinG I Cand Buy tHEM By the Gross EveRY SPRinG. AlMOSt Out AnyWay. Damm.
C-Note
September 6th, 2009
5:03 pm
sweep
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
5:03 pm
Right in the ear hole. What are the fans cheering about? He hasn’t moved.
bgvt
September 6th, 2009
5:04 pm
MFin04 –
You are a sorry individual.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:04 pm
That is why looking good in those helmets, and feeling good in the other helmets…is a stupid argument…
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
5:04 pm
Good grief. How many more ways can we find to lose?
the anti-clutch
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
Only the Mets could fold worse than this in September-good job Braves
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
Hey lets just call it a game and go home.
Cnote. How much for a game winning boink in the head bone?
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
Wow, this is bad, Owings produces another huge RBI against the Braves and he will earn another win against them. Unbelievable how good some players are against the Braves.
ChurchMan
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
They nearly got swept by the Padres and since the Reds are better than the Pads it makes sense that the Reds would be able to complete the sweep.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
Good grief. How many more ways can we find to lose?
Just catcher’s interference and I think we’re covered.
Stone Cold
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
5:04 pm
Good grief. How many more ways can we find to lose?
You really shouldn’t ask
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
Rob–he’ll never get to his 2008 stats. His only peripheral I’m seriously concerned about is the big dropoff in his ISO. He’s walking a lot more than he ever has, and if his BABIP normalizes a little bit, he should easily get back to .290 AVG and maintain his .400 OBP. Seriously folks, his OBP is just short of .400 this year. That’s good. Really good. I see no reason why he cannot maintain that portion of his game. And if he does, he’ll still be an incredibly valuable player. His power rebound is iffy, but his SLG can reasonably be expected to be around .450 or so. He’ll be a really good player for that.
Hope Owings is ok.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
we keep finding new ways to lose
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
And that is why KK’s gotta go. He’s a starter, not a bullpen guy. He’s a #5 with a 4.00-plus ERA. This is what happens. . .
nolie
September 6th, 2009
5:05 pm
HeY KK suXXX aS A ReliEVER. Hes TRYinG to ShOW he BelonGs in The ROtatiON. I bET Hes Made @ bOOby bOOGer!
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
5:06 pm
Steve from OH
But if he continues to struggle, teams will stop pitching around him and his walks will go way down. That .450 slugging is not ok if he keeps hitting third.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:07 pm
Chipper’s walks had a lot to do with no one hitting behind him early on….people were merely pitching around him with no McCann.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 6th, 2009
5:07 pm
and to make matters worse Corky Miller produces an run with a Sacrifice fly
the anti-clutch
September 6th, 2009
5:07 pm
If mediocrity had a picture in the dictionary-it would be a team photo of your 2009 Atlanta Braves.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
5:07 pm
Shameful…no other words to descibe how the Braves are. I’d be humiliated to be a Brave player right now. It’s hard enough to be a fan of this joke team.
Keeper
September 6th, 2009
5:07 pm
Vinings Jim, I was just trying to mollify Carroll. W&M got absolutely shafted out of a playoff spot last year – they’re legit, and just pulled off what we should’ve done but failed to achieve in C’ville last September.
B&tB ain’t good enough to win in Richmond, mind you, but they’re good enough to make noise along the way. CAA is gonna be brutal this year.
SRF
September 6th, 2009
5:08 pm
a new high in sucking
ChurchMan
September 6th, 2009
5:08 pm
I knew it wouldn’t be just one run they’d have to overcome, it’s never just 1 run
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:08 pm
Way to ruin our season, you stupid chink.
Yes, that was the one play that killed the season. Before that pitch, EVERYTHING was going our way.
Quit trying to get attention by acting racist. It just comes off as annoying and stupid rather than offensive.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
5:08 pm
That was a really scary moment. You just hate to see it.
Mixxo
September 6th, 2009
5:08 pm
Told ya they’d sweep us.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:08 pm
And as Chipper Jone’s “renown” goes down, his walks with go down as well.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
5:08 pm
Rob–yeah, on Anderson/Schafer. Wasn’t aware of that.
And I thought Heyward was our new no. 3 menace? If Chipper continues to OBP .400, there’s no way we cannot have him in the lineup, plain and simple. And right now there’s no reason to think he won’t.
Wren In Doubt
September 6th, 2009
5:09 pm
14 hits in the 29 innings of this series. One team had more than that today, two others came within one. To quote a great American – the problem is obvious
N8
September 6th, 2009
5:10 pm
Bat Masterson EXCELLENT post at 4:52.
George Brett’s numbers pretty much did the same thing at the same ages. It’s time for reality to set back in. With the seemingly dropped number of players juicing up, guys will again begin to have their careers deteriorate after the age of 36 and 37.
Not saying they can’t be productive after 37. But not “14 million per year” productive, on a team with payroll issues. As far as I’m concerned Chipper will (and should) always have a spot on this team and within the organization.
But mark it down, his 14 million dollars will hinder this team from fielding a complete team (barring Schafer, Heyward and Freeman LIGHTING UP THE SKIES with their bats at the league minimum in the next two years).
Just so we’re clear. I’m not anti-Chipper Jones. I’m anti-Chipper Jones making 14 million dollars with a 100 million dollar total payroll, at the kind of production I believe he’ll provide (both with his bat and his defense).
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:10 pm
Kawakami really didn’t even pitch that badly. The Braves get that pickoff at first and get Votta at third, he is out of the inning rather easily.
The inning before if Diaz doesn’t screw up in right, he has another rather productive inning.
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
5:10 pm
“And that is why KK’s gotta go. He’s a starter, not a bullpen guy. He’s a #5 with a 4.00-plus ERA. This is what happens. . .”
KK isn’t the problem with this team, a blind man can see what the problem with this team is. 1 run first game, 1 run the second game, and two runs in extra inning ball to this point. The guy supposedly has a tired shoulder or arm and you want to pitch him out the bullpen, doesn’t make much sense to me.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:11 pm
Carroll can we do something about 3r4v3z (at 5:05 and 5:07)?
People acting racist or bigoted to get attention really bother me.
Bruce's Pearl
September 6th, 2009
5:11 pm
The sad truth is this team was never a contender from day one…Pretenders but not contenders.They wasted a starting rotation capable of winning with a triple A outfield and a lack of intensity in the first half.And I am sure we will hear some kind os spin from FW how close we are.But truley this franchise is a long way from truly contending.I hope for the good of the franchise Bobby Cox will retire so we can rebuild without the pressure of “sending Bobby out on a high note”.
beachcomber
September 6th, 2009
5:11 pm
jeffrey d – Thank you for a pertinent remark and some humor at the same time.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
5:12 pm
3r4v3z = gutless
Darrel Chaney
September 6th, 2009
5:12 pm
We didn’t suck this bad in ‘76.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:12 pm
It’s hard to win games with the “B” lineup we sent out there today..but they’ve scored the same amount of runs as the “A” lineup in the first two games of the series combined.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
5:13 pm
N8 – gun to your head….Chippers 14 million or Lowe’s 15 million? QUICK!
RHR
September 6th, 2009
5:13 pm
And just a one word answer would suit me fine LOL
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:13 pm
Chipper
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:13 pm
MFin04 – when you take LaRoche and Anderson out of your lineup, I think that goes to an F lineup.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
5:14 pm
Oh, how I hate that redneck bitch Chipper! Blowin bubbles in the dugout right now. Hate him, can’t explain it enough.
the anti-clutch
September 6th, 2009
5:14 pm
Cox and Pendleton must be held accountable for this September collapse. It is safe to call this team now a bunch of heartless chokers.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
5:15 pm
Ouch.
MFin04
September 6th, 2009
5:15 pm
It did bother me that McCann, Chipper and KJ were all screwing around in the dugout putting tape on KJ’s head without him knowing it, while they are the main reasons this team is losing…
Virginia Ranger
September 6th, 2009
5:15 pm
You really think a team that scores 4 runs in 29 innings agains the Reds can score two in one inning. Never mind
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:15 pm
So now we’re just fighting for a good draft position?
RHR
September 6th, 2009
5:15 pm
The sad truth is this team was never a contender from day one…
What an astute observation on Day 136.
ChurchMan
September 6th, 2009
5:15 pm
I think the Braves will be under .500 by the end of next weekend
Gwegg Nawton
September 6th, 2009
5:16 pm
When is fan appreciation night?
MJ
September 6th, 2009
5:16 pm
That loss & sweep hurts. Badly. Really badly.
AndyC
September 6th, 2009
5:16 pm
Wow. Who would have thought that our goal now would be to finish the season above .500. Pretty sad.
paul
September 6th, 2009
5:17 pm
MFin04 they could less about the game their making their millions regardless if they make the playoffs!
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
5:17 pm
won’t stand for that racist crap. I’m not sure if I deleted him for real, I hope so, but as soon as I figure out how to do it, that guy is gone.
curtis jones
September 6th, 2009
5:17 pm
Well you gotta tip your cap. And the ol’ cap-tipper did just that. Nicely done sir. .500 is within reach.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:17 pm
MF – what do you want them to be doing in the dugout? Reading books on hitting? I like seeing teammates staying loose and having fun with each other.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:18 pm
But he’s not really racist…he’s just trying to generate a buzz
StingerSplash
September 6th, 2009
5:18 pm
Fork, meet Braves. Braves, meet fork.
Swept by the Reds. Not the Rose-Perez-Morgan-Gullett Reds. Not the Davis-Sabo-Dibble-Browning Reds. Not even the Walker-Householder-Oester Reds.
My legitimate question is under what terms do the Braves have Garret Anderson’s contract? Because if it’s anything beyond this season, they’ve been robbed. This might be the most empty .281 batting average ever. He’s a liability in the field. He’s had few notable key hits.
He’s a complementary player, not a hired bat who can drive in runs and carry a team. And right now, I have very little complimentary to say about him — or the Braves period.
Gwegg Nawton
September 6th, 2009
5:18 pm
jeffrey d
I’m having fun, too!
RHR
September 6th, 2009
5:18 pm
Good job, Carroll.
cabravesfan
September 6th, 2009
5:19 pm
Keeper-
Vinings Jim is unavailable but says thanks for the W&M love- he was gald to see fellow FCS teams have so much success against (alleged) D-1a teams this weekend- Good luck againt Delaware next weekend
(the “alleged” is my contribution to the conversation…not sure Temple counts as a D-1 team
)
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
5:19 pm
Hoosiers on Versus; I’d rather see winners. . .
Giggles
September 6th, 2009
5:19 pm
HeHe!!! Look Chipper I put tape on Kelly’s hat…he doesn’t even notice.
Yeh, Brian that is hilarious.
KJ – You guys its not as funny as how $hitty both you guy’s production has been in the 2nd half.
Lou Vales(The Pee Guy)
September 6th, 2009
5:19 pm
You guys were so nice last night(late) that I’m not saying a word. I got enough problems with my team.
I feel dirty about this(have not followed them all year)but I think I’ll turn my attention to the Tigers who I followed from 1956-2ooo.
If they could somehow beat the yankees in the playoffs this season would be salvageable.
Would not surprise me if the Rockies take it all the way again.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:21 pm
Greg, sorry you didn’t get to hit today
Mixxo
September 6th, 2009
5:21 pm
That’s 5 folks. I hope the ‘Stros ream us a new one too.
Cards will kill us! Oh wait, we died long ago.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:21 pm
Well…I’m not sorry, but I feel bad for you.
ernesto
September 6th, 2009
5:21 pm
absolutely pathetic.
Pete from Cincinnati
September 6th, 2009
5:21 pm
You won’t believe how much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I made this weekend betting on the Reds!
Been waiting for this score all season!
RHR
September 6th, 2009
5:22 pm
jeffrey – players are not allowed to smile, laugh, talk, or do anything other than frown and look serious or they don’t care about the team not going to the playoffs. Unless it’s Garret Anderson and he must smile or laugh all the time because his frown and serious expression means he doesn’t care and doesn’t want to be in Atlanta.
Got it?
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:22 pm
Wow, Pee Guy is old.
bulldog bubba
September 6th, 2009
5:22 pm
look out Mets here we come!!!
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:23 pm
Got it.
The A Bomb
September 6th, 2009
5:23 pm
The Braves will have Fan Appreciation Night against the Nationals.
Question is. . . Who will be the fan?
RHR
September 6th, 2009
5:23 pm
And sometimes if they don’t talk and laugh with each other then there is a clubhouse chemistry problem. Different frowns and smiles have different meanings on different days.
Tiger Woods
September 6th, 2009
5:23 pm
We suck. Hopefully next year we can figure out how to play baseball. Prob not buts a good thought. Time to see if Bobby is to stay or go. We need to pick up Huddy’s option and trade Javy no brainer for me. You know what you are going to get with Huddy. Javy gave us one good year now he must be traded for someone that can actually hit. Maybe like a Nelson Cruz from the Rangers they need pitching we need some of their hitting. Ho hum……
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
5:24 pm
Who answer’s those stupid ‘MVP of the game’ polls, especially when we lose? There is no MVP.
long time reader
September 6th, 2009
5:24 pm
good Ichiro story:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090906&content_id=6827058&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:25 pm
Don’t start talking about chemistry…Lentz’s ears will perk up and he’ll be here in no time.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
5:25 pm
KJ – You guys its not as funny as how $hitty both you guy’s production has been in the 2nd half.
Ohhhh so thats why they were laughing! Thats a good one coming from you, KJ! I laughed too!
StingerSplash
September 6th, 2009
5:25 pm
Hal McCoy had a great line not long ago about two things he’d never thought he’d see. One was something the Reds did (I forgot what it was). But the other was Pete Rose signing an autograph for free.
Baseball will miss Hal McCoy even more than he will miss baseball.
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
5:26 pm
Feel bad for KK. Put in a position you aren’t use to and really feel bad for our pitching as a whole. They’ve done it all year long. If they give up 1 run they have really hurt this teams chance of winning. Shouldn’t be that way. Good pitching always gives you a chance against the good teams because they keep you in the game but on the flip side of that bad offense brings you closer to the bad teams becuase they don’t have the firepower to seperate and put away these teams. Thats the truth of the matter right there. We can compete with almost anyone. Just not good enough to put the hammer down on the lesser teams. Reds didn’t blow us out the water and neither did the phillies. Pitching kept us in every one of those games in each series but offense at the end of the day is what only got us one win between those two series. Not the name on the front of the jersey. Phillies or Reds we had a chance to win both series.
garyfrombham
September 6th, 2009
5:27 pm
Pitiful. Pit-eee-ful. Sigh.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
5:27 pm
Fred Hickman thinks it’s important to talk about positives. I don’t. I think that we’re at the point of the season where taking positives out of losses is a colossal waste of time. We don’t have a bunch of kids up here. We have a bunch of vets who are crapping the bed.
R Rob
September 6th, 2009
5:29 pm
This team added their shoulders and right arm up their a$$ today.
This team plays like they don’t worry about a payday tomorrow and the nose picker
will just “wait for next year”.
“it’s just disheartening the way played today!”
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:29 pm
I’ll get the bedpans
bulldog bubba
September 6th, 2009
5:30 pm
MVP? SHould I pick Kawakami, or Norton, or G.”aNdrew” Anderson. Maybe the Reds got a good look at Norton and he can join Corky with them next year.
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
5:30 pm
RHR, seems like the true leaders and guys that are contributing to wins, etc. on other teams are the one’s doing the joking and pranks. Not the guys that normally sit with their thumbs up their butts and are contributing to losses. If the problem is offense, and it is, and your two “best hitters” are choking game after game then NO fan should want to see them joking and playing pranks.
The A Bomb
September 6th, 2009
5:30 pm
Here’s today’s Braves iPod music quiz. . .
Which Brave listens to AXXIS on his iPOD?
Answer: ALL OF THEM!
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
5:31 pm
Let ‘em stew in it, jeffrey d.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
5:32 pm
I stepped away when Micah got hit. Was he ok?
long time reader
September 6th, 2009
5:33 pm
It’s early yet
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:33 pm
*puts bedpans away*
Sorry guys.
Hawksfan
September 6th, 2009
5:34 pm
Have the Braves swept anybody this year?
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:34 pm
Soph – he was on the ground for awhile, but was able to get up and gave a thumbs up sign as he went off the field.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:35 pm
Have the Braves swept anybody this year?
Yes. That was easy.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
5:36 pm
That’s good. He owns us with the bat but you don’t wish that upon anyone.
Chop It Up All-Star
September 6th, 2009
5:36 pm
The Braves are battling an uphill battle to make the playoffs and are lacking a few good men.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
5:36 pm
R.I.P. 2009 Braves season
Soph
September 6th, 2009
5:37 pm
TPG is here?
Keeper
September 6th, 2009
5:37 pm
Thanks, cabravesfan – if UMass had finished the drill at K State, would’ve been a perfect opening weekend.
Eight of the CAA’s 12 teams in the top 25, four in the top 8 – the coaches who voted App into the top spot over UR must be smoking crack.
And back to the subject matter at hand – I see the Reds finished off the sweep. Actually, talking football is a lot less painful.
JayDubu
September 6th, 2009
5:39 pm
Wait till next year!!! The Braves will be B-A-C-K!!!
monty
September 6th, 2009
5:40 pm
You knew the deal was sealed when Owings walks the 1st 2 batters in the 11th and we don’t score. You can bank money that any decent team is going to score a run in extra innings when that happens, but not the Braves. It was a good ride while it lasted, 7 games out in the WC. We’ve lost the last 7-9. We played our worst ball when we had the biggest chance. Chipper playing like a wuss killed us as much as anything.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:40 pm
Pee Guy was here. Said he was gonna follow the Tigers again, then he left.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
5:40 pm
Three sweeps for (Nats, Jays, Phils) and three sweeps against (Marlins, Giants, Reds) in 2009.
I Want To Know
September 6th, 2009
5:40 pm
Obviously, this is a mediocre team. Not an indictment of anyone’s manhood or character….. just a fact this team isn’t a playoff team.
Since this isn’t a playoff team as it’s constructed, who should stay and who should go during the offseason so that the team might become a playoff team?
bulldog bubba
September 6th, 2009
5:40 pm
Is Ned Yost available next year?I love Bobby Cox but I think it is time for a change.He could relate to our players and knows the organization. We DO NOT want Pendleton as manager!!!!
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:42 pm
Obviously, this is a mediocre team
hmm, now that you mention it, they do seem mediocre. What a great observation. I think you’re the first person to associate these Braves with the word “mediocre”
Mike R
September 6th, 2009
5:42 pm
Watching Chipper the 2nd half of this season has reminded me of watching Willie Mays in 1973, (rembered how bad the greatest outfielder in history looked on simple fly balls in the 73 WS). I know Chipper just signed a 3 yr extension but hopefully he has enough pride and integrity to go ahead and retire. Then he can let all his “sore” muscles heal while he sits in a rocking chair. He has become a cancer to the team. Escobar needs a veteran to teach how to play with injuries and Chipper is certainly not teaching that to anyone. (Does anyone actually think Cal Ripken would have missed any games with the “injuries” that Excobar has layed out with.) Chipper’s salary could be used to sign a real hitter that actually wants to play while keeping the starting pitching intact.
I suffered through some terrible Braves teams in the 70’s and most of the 80’s but this team is the most frustrating one I can remember. The earlier teams I spoke of had very little talent. This one has talent but is full of “choakers” that can’t hit with runners in scoring position. At times it appears that the starting pitchers are the only players that even care if they win or lose.
The A Bomb
September 6th, 2009
5:43 pm
Another wasted quality start.
Boy — have the Braves defied the odds this year.
82 quality starts — 70 wins.
AWFUL.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:45 pm
I bet we lose tomorrow. And Norton K’s.
bulldog bubba
September 6th, 2009
5:45 pm
Mike R – Amen!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
5:47 pm
I bet we lose tomorrow. And Norton K’s.
Don’t you already owe JJ $100 from yesterday? I’ll take you on this bet though.
I Want To Know
September 6th, 2009
5:47 pm
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:42 pm
Obviously, this is a mediocre team
hmm, now that you mention it, they do seem mediocre. What a great observation. I think you’re the first person to associate these Braves with the word “mediocre”
Actually Jeff mediocre is respectful and kind compared to what most here throw at the team. Many toss around terms like, stink, suck,chokers, losers and the like.
I’m comfortable with mediocre.
ryan
September 6th, 2009
5:48 pm
Braves suck today was my last game this year or next year to if that loser Coxis back. TP has the best job in the world. Ever notice every time we walk a leadoff batter to start an inning he scores.Holliday tomorrow an off day they should make them take 8 hours of batting pratice.Have Gonzo pitch that will get are homerun swing back.
I Want To Know
September 6th, 2009
5:49 pm
I rest my case.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:50 pm
I’ll give it to him next time I see him
BartMan
September 6th, 2009
5:51 pm
Time to get in that “wait till next year” mode… Even Diaz’z bat has gone quiet….well, since he was dropped from the leadoff spot…strange.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
5:51 pm
Look out front office….ryan won’t be going to any more games. And he’s taking his horrible grammar with him.
the real Andy
September 6th, 2009
5:53 pm
well, this is not what i had in mind when i said the braves needed to put together a streak.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
5:54 pm
Dude, commas are your friend.
N8
September 6th, 2009
5:59 pm
“N8 – gun to your head….Chippers 14 million or Lowe’s 15 million? QUICK!” RHR
That’s a tough one. They are both horrible contracts, made out of desperation.
With Lowe, Wren was desperate to add as much pitching as possible, not knowing that we’d miss the playoffs anyway, and have Hanson and Hudson ready to lead the rotation in 2010.
With Chipper, he was desperate to ensure that Chipper remains with the Braves to the end, unlike Smoltz and Glavine. But in fairness to Wren, Chipper did win the batting title last year, so perhaps, he thought he was getting a deal.
But with a gun to my head? And who I think has a better shot at being worth the contract? In the end, I’ve gotta go with the guy that consistently is on the field.
Derek Lowe will live up to his contract when all is said and done. There. I said it. Let me have it everybody.
Carroll well done with the racist.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
6:00 pm
I was told Micah received four stitches in his left ear, and can’t hear out of that ear at the moment, at least not well. But he’s going to be OK. He met with the media after the game. He’s not going to be able to fly for a couple of days so he’s going to stay home with his family in Gainesville. His mother was at the game and apparently pretty upset as you can imagine.
brent a.
September 6th, 2009
6:01 pm
Here’s a vote for Lowe’s $15 million.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
6:01 pm
Derek Lowe will live up to his contract when all is said and done. There. I said it. Let me have it everybody.
D-Lowe pitched much better than his ERA showed this year, anyway.
N8
September 6th, 2009
6:02 pm
What I should have said, is that Lowe will live up to his contract MORE than Chipper will. Derek Lowe will NOT be worth 15 million dollars by year 3 of that deal, and certainly not in year 4.
But without steroids, pitchers (especially ground ball sinkerballers), have a better shot at a career around age 40, than everyday players that have been beat up already in their mid-30s.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
6:02 pm
Scary stuff for Micah. Glad he’s going to be okay though.
Stumpknocker
September 6th, 2009
6:02 pm
I agree with you ryan. Following this team for over 40 years, but I’ll be dad-gummed if I follow-em through the “dark ages” again!! If Cox and his bunch are back next year, there’s gonna be a new hobby to take up my time……
N8
September 6th, 2009
6:04 pm
“D-Lowe pitched much better than his ERA showed this year, anyway.” Steve
Totally agree with you. As did KK after May 1st. Did you ever answer my question about the payroll and what you’d do about Soriano and getting help for the lineup? If you did, I missed it.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
6:05 pm
Yeah I missed it N8 I’ll look for it later tonight after I get some work done…I’ve spent too much time here already, LOL!
N8
September 6th, 2009
6:08 pm
Steve, that’s cool I’ve gotta get some work done too. My answer was at 4:26.
the real Andy
September 6th, 2009
6:15 pm
i’ve followed the braves my whole life, and i’ve done some griping about bobby over the years. but i never really considered what it would be like to have a different manager until a few nights ago.
after norton was put in with two outs, down by one in the ninth against Lidge, I almost freaked out. But putting him in there against Florida in the seventh inning with the tying run on third may have been the final straw. A switch flipped, and I began to actually consider what it would be like to have a manager who makes sound, in-game decisions.
the last few days for me have been like the guy who finally sees that his life might indeed be better if he dumped his nagging girlfriend, or told his overbearing boss to go eff himself. The possibilities for the future do seem a little brighter.
Between his gross mismanaging of the bullpen this year, and the ongoing Norton debacle, I think it might be a sign that Bobby is through. I love the guy, and am not a mindless, knee-jerk hater like a lot of the folks on here, but it might be time for a change.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
6:15 pm
From Hal McCoy’s story, my Cox guru and friend.
A groggy Owings stood near his locker after the game and when somebody said it was a tough way to win a ballgame, he said, “It was. But I’ll take it, any way we can win a ballgame.”
Owings is from nearby Gainesville, Ga., so his mother (Danise), father, sister and brother-in-law watched the ball carom off his helmet and his mother was in tears.
Owings, though, didn’t lose consciousness or his sense of humor. When he finally got to his feet, he told manager Dusty Baker, “I was going to cut loose on one. I was going to hit one out.”
Owings did not accompany the team to Denver after the game because he was advised not to fly for a couple of days.
“As soon as I went down, I saw the sky, so I was never out cold,” he said. “Even without the shadows, I doubt if I could have gotten out of the way. I barely saw it out of his hand.
“I’m not in pain, it’s just numb and I can’t hear out of my left ear,” he added. “Caught me off guard. I’m a pitcher, so I know it can happen, the ball can slip out of your hand.”
richbrave
September 6th, 2009
6:16 pm
What can I add to recant the misery I’ve been reading here? Absolutely nuthin’. It was an interesting season fellow bloggers. Off-season looms and obviously most of the players are ready for it.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
6:23 pm
Everybody, let us travel through Transverse City and find some Sentimental Hygiene. Hurry home early cause Boom Boom Mancini s’ fight’n Bobby Chacon.
BELOW .500
September 6th, 2009
6:24 pm
I SEE TOMAHAWKS IN MY FUTURE……….
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
6:24 pm
Do the Braves offer Garret Anderson arbitration this off-season?
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
6:26 pm
P.W.Hjort,
Really?
Lou Vales(The Pee Guy)
September 6th, 2009
6:27 pm
Have to make a decision–Bobby Cox or Bobby Bowden and if you choose Bowden he must be involved and not listen to Lawrence Welk on his headset during the game??
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
6:28 pm
My Grandparents loved loved Lawrence Welk. We watched that after Hew-Haw.
ltdbrave
September 6th, 2009
6:31 pm
Braves just plain suck. Trade Chipper and Gonzalez. They sure do not deserve a playoff spot. What a pitiful team
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
6:37 pm
ltdbrave,
Who would have them , if not us?
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
6:37 pm
The Envoy,
I don’t understand. He currently projects as a Type B and if the Braves offer him arbitration and he signs elsewhere they get a draft pick. Is it worth the risk of him accepting? There’s not an obvious answer here I don’t think.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
6:47 pm
ltdbrave,
No offers left to right: G Anderson, R Church, M Diaz, K Johnson, A LaRoche, G Norton, R Soriano, M Gonzalez, B Carlyle, J Campillo.
Money saved $27,975,050.00
bravesfanforever
September 6th, 2009
6:47 pm
Wow, what a bunch of whiners. What did you expect from this team anyway when you look up and down that line up??? I figured that the team wouldn’t make the playoffs in spring training given 1) There would need to be too many changes to make this team good, 2) Management spend too much money on pitching so there wasn’t much left for the offense, and 3) it wasn’t likely that Chipper was going to be able to carry this club anymore.
There you go. ‘Nuf said about that.
Now, everyone should look at this season in a positive light. Do you think Wren and Co. would have lifted a finger if the team would have made the playoffs? I think they would have said, “Huh, look at that, they really improved the second half and that’s likely to carry over to next season.” Well, now that they have tanked and Chipper ain’t the answer, there will be more emphasis on improving the offense.
Could we get a new left fielder? Could we get some more speed? Everyone would have to admit this is an incredibly slow team. Pretty pathetic really. Of course we need more power.
Hopefully Heyward will provide some power in RF. I think it should be plainly obvious to anyone that he is going to be the new right fielder next season given that he’s been moved up to AAA. He may spend time there in the beginning or he may make the team outright in spring training–either way, he’s going to be in Atlanta in 2010.
So, feel good that the team has tanked. Get ready for a great off season and an even better 2010. Guess I won’t be watching many more Braves games ’til next year.. These past 5 have been too much to take. Geez, talk about pitiful.
About Lowe… I agree that he could pitch until 40. Frankly, I think he could pitch longer than that given that he has never been injured. However, I think he really needs an off speed pitch. It seems like he mostly pitches with one speed, tries to hit the corners, and hopes someone hits a ground ball. Everyone needs to make an adjustment as they get older so they continue their careers. Nolan Ryan came up with a fantastic change up seems like about half way through his career and it only got better. Not like he really needed it given he had a great hook but it was so good he used it all the time as he got older and he continued to strike guys out. Lowe could use something like this and I think it would really benefit him given that his ball already drops down. Guys would be thinking it’s the sinker but then the bottom drops out.
Anyway… Not like he’s going to listen to me…
I’ve already said that Chipper needs to use a lighter bat. He’s not a kid anymore. Man, talk about hard headed. I swear some guys are so arrogant they will go about the same thing over and over thinking I’m the same guy. Well, Chipper, you are officially OLD. Get over it. Start making adjustments. You wanna help this team? Then do a make over. It’s painfully obvious what you are doing isn’t working.
Okay, I’ve said what I’ve had to say. Good bye for now!
(I usually don’t stick around for comment)
Braveheart
September 6th, 2009
6:51 pm
Just got back from the Gwinnett game. Saw Heyward. He got two infield hits that they didn’t field real well, and that he legged out with his hustle and speed. Just routine plays while in the outfield. Didn’t look as physically imposing as I thought he’d look. Well, at least when he was standing around. When he started running around the bases, that’s when his physicality could be seen.
It was funny though before the game when he was standing around the outfield warming up, Matt Young was standing right next to him, and I swear Matt Young only comes up to Heyward’s waist. Don’t know how anyone throws that Young guy a strike he’s so darn short. Young seems to be a good looking hitter though. Heyward and Brandon Jones seemed to be bonding, talking, joking and swapping sunglasses with one another while they were warming up. For a while there I was afraid Brandon Jones and Van Pope were gonna need to get a room for some private time with all the hugging and laughing they were doing together. Van Pope seems to like talking and joking with everyone on the field before and during the game.
Heyward has really good speed. You can really see his speed and physicality on the basepaths. He stole a base and scored from second on an infield single by Matt Young. Heyward dove headfirst to home to score and looked like some five star wideout diving for the pylon. He’s definitely built different than the rest of them. He looks like a wide receiver or shooting guard.
Heyward’s also the best dressed guy on the field. Dude looks sharp and cool in his uni. Part of that may be the way he is built. When you got a great build, you’re gonna look sharp almost no matter what you wear. But it’s also the way he wears his uni. He wears it right. He wears his shirt tightly tucked into his pants. None of that untucked or poorly tucked baggy billowing going on. He also wears his pants up to his knees, showing all of his socks and calve muscles. It’s silly but I like that look. Much to the chagrin of Scoots, I always thought Frenchy started going wrong when he ditched the high socks and arm bands on his forearm look. Heyward also has a cool looking batting stance.
I got a pleasant surprise at the game in that my boy Wilson Betemit was playing first base for Charlotte. Well, it wasn’t so pleasant. It was kinda sad and he didn’t look very good. It was interesting though when Heyward got to first to see him and Betemit standing next to and talking with one another, one being the former crown jewel of the farm finding himself still in AAA in his fourth organization all these years later, and the other being the current crown jewel making a temporary stop in AAA hopefully on the way to stardom.
You’d think Heyward would have created the biggest buzz in the crowd, but that wasn’t so. The biggest buzz was reserved for Craig Kimbrel. That dude’s fastball is just WOW! He hit 100 mph on one pitch, and almost every other pitch was 97, 98 mph. His fastball is an awe inspiring beauty. He did walk two batters, which, looking up his stats, seem to be a problem for him. But if he ever cuts them walks down, Kimbrel could be the closer someday. On a few of his more errant pitches, it looked like he was gonna knock the glove out of the hand of the catcher. The radar readings were out in left on the wall behind Brian Barton. I noticed Barton peeking over his shoulder after every pitch to see how fast each one of Kimbrel’s pitches were.
JoJo also looked good in his 3 innings, but doesn’t he always look good in AAA?
Heyward’s walk up music was Red & Meth’s Rockwilder:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBwtqE3AZxo
Alright, that’s my one and only minor league report of the season
RHR
September 6th, 2009
6:52 pm
Let me have it everybody.
Wrong answer. *BANG*
Shoulda known better than to mess with a friend of MFIKY.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
6:53 pm
And an insult shot to the groin just for using more than one word. Sucker.
bravesfanforever
September 6th, 2009
6:56 pm
Given that Tom Glavine was ousted and John Smoltz was left out to dry, two of the greatest Braves players ever, who are both surefire Hall of Famers, what are the chances that Bobby Cox is asked to retire in the off season?
Think about it…
I agree with everyone. I’ve been a huge Cox fan over the years and I’ve supported him to the end but this annoying reliance on some guys who will “hit their way out of it” is just not the way to run a ball club when you are fighting for a spot in the playoffs. Frankly there is no reason for this club to be slightly over .500. They are better than that!
The player’s manager mentality only goes so far. May work for a team of veterans when you are at the top of the division for 14 years, but with a hodgepodge team of vets and do-nothings, it just does not work.
Bobby Cox for the Hall of Fame, luv yah My Man, but please retire to Boca Raton.
GO BRAVES!
(in 2010 that is…)
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
6:58 pm
bravesfanforever,
You are on the right track. As I mentioned we can save almost 30 million with players we do not need if Heyward and Shaefer are ready. Moylan can close (no issue facing R or L handed hitters). Can not keep Church (too many LH outfielders) Risky letting Diaz go, but there has to be a veteran RH OF with better defensive skills and similar offensive production. I keep either Hudson or Vazquez, not both. Vazquez has greater trade potential. (We need a left handed starter, so hopefully a 23 year old Minor is the anwser). I think Dunn might be had for an exceptional LH pitching prospect, Teahren.
bravesfanforever
September 6th, 2009
7:02 pm
Braveheart… Stop with the “physicality” thing. It’s not a word. LOL
Does anyone think that Kimbrel is going to be an Atlanta Brave next year? He was in freakin’ A ball at the beginning of 2009 and how he is in Gwinnett… Absolutely amazing. I have a feeling that Braves management thinks they can tame that fastball and get it over the plate, and he will be taking either Soriano’s or Gonzo’s spot. You know one of them is not going to be a Brave after this season.
If I had my druthers, I’d rather keep Gonzo because he doesn’t seem to break down like Soriano seems to every single year. Soriano obviously has electric stuff but man, he always has that second half spell where he gives up game winning homers. I just don’t trust him. Plus, Gonzo only seems to be getting better and better since the surgery.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
September 6th, 2009
7:03 pm
I think Chipper may be a guy who’s effective for 120-130 games a year and no more. He’s been “healthy” this year but probably worn out. At his age, given his historyvof injuries, you can’t expect him to be productive for 150 games. Cox or whoever’s managing next drain should plan to give him a day off every week so that he’s not toast by mid-August.
I actually believe he’ll be worth the contract if he’s given enough time off to stay fresh. But you’re just not going to get 650 plate appearances a year from him anymore. (Or if you do, his final 200 PAs will be lousy.)
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
7:04 pm
Shoulda known better than to mess with a friend of MFIKY.
Guess Boyer wasn’t MFIKY’s friend. Otherwise there’d be no more National League.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
7:06 pm
He also wears his pants up to his knees, showing all of his socks and calve muscles.
Oh, I’m gonna like this Heyward fella. Socks up? That’s my kinda guy.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
7:06 pm
RHR,
This guy is the real MFIKY.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
7:08 pm
Piedmont Blues,
I agree with you regarding Chipper. That was the plan before Infante went down (to give Chipper rest). However, I did not really see Cox emplot this plan. Same with Ross (38 HR in 535 AB past 2 seasons) and McCann.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
7:09 pm
That’s how I hope to go.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
7:10 pm
Braveheart,
careful there you are getting a man crush on Jayson Heyward from that description of the dude. Well you can join Rob from SC in that department, he’s always demanding that Heyward be “set free”.
OK seriously, good job with the minor league report.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
7:11 pm
Yup, Braveheart – great report. Thanks!
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
7:12 pm
I am a huge fan of Bobby Cox, but I’m glad Freddie Gonzalez kept his home and family in Atlanta. I hope he moves back for employment.
StingerSplash
September 6th, 2009
7:12 pm
No offers left to right: G Anderson, R Church, M Diaz, K Johnson, A LaRoche, G Norton, R Soriano, M Gonzalez, B Carlyle, J Campillo.
Money saved $27,975,050.00
Keep Diaz — he can hit. Keep Soriano. Just don’t pitch him four days in a row. Keep LaRoche, if Freeman isn’t ready.
The rest? Adios. Gonzo may have sealed his fate with the gopher ball to Drew Stubbs today.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
7:14 pm
Heyward could’ve done what Church did at the plate, but his defense would’ve shamed everyone but McClouth.
StingerSplash
September 6th, 2009
7:15 pm
It hasn’t helped that Prado is 13 for his last 62 and Infante is 2 for his last 21. They have gotten cold at the absolute worst time.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
7:17 pm
Everybody knows Tarantino stole the idea for Jules Winifield from a real life meeting with MFIKY.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czb4jn5y94g
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
7:17 pm
Stinger Splash,
Like LaRoche, but if Dunn could be had – then he gives you what LaRoche might give you.
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
7:29 pm
“The rest? Adios. Gonzo may have sealed his fate with the gopher ball to Drew Stubbs today.”
Yeah because its not like Soriano ever gives up homers.
Soriano 2.43 ERA with 5 homers given up
Gonzo 2.49 ERA with 6 homers given up
Almost identical numbers. For me I want Gonzo, feel he could be cheaper and he’s left-handed. That pays dividends in this division.
southbeachdietfreak
September 6th, 2009
7:29 pm
Season ticket holder = sucker
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
7:30 pm
RHR–ah, Jules Winfield. LOL! Did you ever see this?
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
7:31 pm
Jake W.
Lidge 10 Blown Saves
Soriano 4 Blown Saves
Gonzalez 4 Blown Saves
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
7:38 pm
The Envoy
I feel we need to keep one. If I had my choice it would be Gonzo over Soriano just because I believe Soriano will be the harder of the two to keep plus Mike’s a lefty. I don’t trust Moylan closing not because he’s not good but then who takes his spot. Moylan is a great setup guy. Medlen is young and really as we have seen this year outside of those three we really don’t seem to trust anyone else except maybe EOF and he is really just your lefty matchup guy.
Don’t know what your exact point is with the blown saves compared to lidge but i’m guessing you are trying to prove that those two together have blown less saves than Lidge, I don’t know.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
7:39 pm
(I usually don’t stick around for comment) (Bravesfanforever)
can’t say as how I blame you
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
7:44 pm
Jake W.,
I guess my point is: Lidge 11.5 million
Soriano 6.00 million
Gonzalez 4.25 million
Lidge 11.5 for 10 blown saves
S/G 10.25 8 blown saves
Who’s the wiser? Money that could be spent to win games.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
7:47 pm
Braveheart, I enjoyed your one and only minor league report of the season. Let us know if you want to cover the playoffs…
nolie
September 6th, 2009
7:49 pm
Everybody knows Tarantino stole the idea for Jules Winifield from a real life meeting with MFIKY (RHR)
he also based Ordelle Robbie’s character on MFIKY
Nova Scotia Steve
September 6th, 2009
7:49 pm
Shut Chipper down for the rest of the year…Same with Hanson (which I know they won’t)…and start giving MacCann more rest…its time to pack it in…
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
7:50 pm
KK and David Ross on the pitch that hit Owings:
“The sign was a two-seamer inside, and he held up his glove high, so I tried to jam him,” Kawakami said through an interpreter. “I knew he was a guy who was going to come up swinging.”
“I saw some blood and it’s the worst place to hit a person, in the head,” Kawakami said through an interpreter. “So yeah, of course, I was very scared for him.”
“We were trying to go fastball up because he swung through the one before, and I think it just ran on him, ran up and in,” David Ross said. “Right out of his hand, I was screaming ‘look out.’ It was coming right for him. There was nothing he could have done.”
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
7:50 pm
Jake W.,
I happen to like both Soriano and Gonzalez very much. Both are very good. Most men don’t need 2 d!cks. A cheaper d!ck is Moylan.
Carroll Rogers
September 6th, 2009
7:52 pm
And how about this from David Ross, including a word I wouldn’t use in print:
“We sucked for three games, period,” Ross said. “We’ve got to hit better, play better defense, score more runs. Four runs in a three-game period, that’s not going to cut it…. We go to Houston and St louis to play two very good teams and we just got swept by a team that’s mediocre. We’ve got to change something.”
Nice little jab at his former team.
And from Chipper: “The finished product may not look to people out there like we’re doing our job but sometimes this game has a way of humbling all of us, and it’s humbling all of us at the same time right now.”
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
7:55 pm
That comming from a man pulling down 14,000,000.00 annually. I wish I could be humbled.
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
8:00 pm
“I happen to like both Soriano and Gonzalez very much. Both are very good. Most men don’t need 2 d!cks. A cheaper d!ck is Moylan.”
Well me I prefer to stick to baseball talk. I’m not talking about keeping both, I said one. I believe Gonzo could be the cheaper of the two but I could be wrong. I also know Moylan has had like 1 game in the closer’s role so it would be very unwise just to assume the guy will handle the role with no problems. Madson was a shutdown setup guy for the Phils when Lidge got hurt and look how he did. Not to mention if you make Moylan the closer, who’s the setup guy. You are talking about just letting two very good closer/setup men just walk. Thats two key parts of our bullpen gone. Where would we be now if we didn’t have those guys, hate to think where we would be next year. Easier to replace one instead of two.
Doug
September 6th, 2009
8:04 pm
Chipper has proven to be a genuine leader. When the Braves lost two unproductive players from the lineup (Francoeur and Johnson), he stepped right up and filled in for both! Can we just give him a very nice retirement party and move on? The man is quickly losing his physical skills and we need to upgrade significantly before next season is lost as well.
Doc Holiday
September 6th, 2009
8:09 pm
Sweep sweep sweep sweep!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh wait, whos sweeping who?
Oh no………..its our circus falling 3 straight against the reds………..WT·%·$%%&%(&$·”!
RHR
September 6th, 2009
8:16 pm
That comming from a man pulling down 14,000,000.00 annually. I wish I could be humbled.
Play for 15 years while winning numerous awards and putting up a .310 career batting average and you can too. I mean, it’s easy, right?
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
8:18 pm
Jake W.,
Soriano: 8-16, 2.82ERA, 319IP, 227H, 98BB, 347K
Gonzalez: 12-16, 2.56ERA, 270IP, 204H, 124BB, 319K
Moylan: 11-6, 2.48ERA, 171IP, 145H, 65BB, 130K
I think Moylan can close effectively, and save the team 7 million dollars. Surely we can find an effective setup man for half what we save. Biggest point: Moylan just broke the great John Smoltz record for innings without giving up a home run. And this is a huge point given that Soriano and Gonzalez have a knack for giving up the long ball!!
Supes
September 6th, 2009
8:22 pm
Well, since DOB and Carroll won’t say it…Mark Bradley said it on his blog.
It’s over. 7 back at the Rockies with 25 to play. There will be no miracle finish from this offensively inept bunch with the A on their caps.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
8:23 pm
David Ross telling it like it is. 4 runs against the sorry a&& Cincy Reds Pitching staff who is at best middle of the road…yeah that sucks big time.
Supes
September 6th, 2009
8:23 pm
I fully expect the troll Anders to be here on Monday gloating and baiting folks like Lew and others into “debates”.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
8:24 pm
Oh we need someone to tell us its over? I didn’t realize or I would’ve waited on the official word.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
8:25 pm
RHR,
I am well aware of Chipper’s career. Me and my son were at Cooperstown 3 months ago and I marvelled at his name being listed as a leader in all active categories (Hits, HRs, Batting Avg. RBIs). I’m just frustrated at his present performance and realize he should be rewarded for his past contributions with his present salary.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
8:26 pm
Steve – yes I’ve seen that. Hilarious.
Necromancer
September 6th, 2009
8:28 pm
Well, 1st post on here in several days..and all I have to say is…
Damn……
richbrave
September 6th, 2009
8:29 pm
bbraveheart:
Thank you for your GWINNETT report. Much appreciated.
bravesfanforever:
SORIANO stays because WREN asnd COX are afraid he will break out the MFIKY move on them if he’s not offered.
Doc Holiday
September 6th, 2009
8:32 pm
Why didnt Norton PH today……….is he sick or something?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
8:32 pm
McCann needs to go on a serious diet and stay on it. The more weight he loses the better he will feel throughout the long season. I love McCann, but he is overweight
richbrave
September 6th, 2009
8:33 pm
I’ve been laying for ANDERS to show his MELTS head. I need to know his fav N.Y. blogs. I want to go on his favorite venues and return his favors which he deposits here.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
8:34 pm
Braveheart–97-100 for Kimbrel, huh? Wow. He’s really added some velo since turning pro. What did you think of his slider?
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
8:35 pm
RHR,
Along with MVP, Chipper should also have an ROI trophy. He was defeated by the Tommy Lasagna machine so a 28 year old professional pitcher got the award.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
8:37 pm
Doc – Norton played first base for an inning (possibly 2, I wasn’t paying attention).
Lou Vales(The Pee Guy)
September 6th, 2009
8:43 pm
Dearest RHR( I Love My New Tone), Would you please name one other entity(besides NBA) in America that not only utilizes long term GUARANTEED contracts that continue even after person is not able to continue at job he was signed for(injury) OR is no longer as effective at what he does but continues to be rewarded at same level of compensation even when it becomes apparent that he will not return to former level of expertise.
I bet that many people who throw the word “socialism” around have no trouble at all with rewarding a Major League Baseball player for PAST performances EVEN when the reduction in productivity is having a deleterious effect on his employer NOT ONLY because of the diminished ability but also because scarce resources are being allocated to a dysfunctional former COG that means resources are not available for improvement in other areas
Thank You Very Much.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
8:45 pm
Band of Brothers on Spike tv btw…great show.
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
8:46 pm
The Envoy, you seem to be missing a big part of the puzzle that is the bullpen. Whether you think Moylan can close or not, where do we find two setup/closer bullpen arms to replace what Moylan gave us when he was a setup guy and what Soriano and Gonzo gave us as setup men/closers. You are creating two huge voids in your bullpen. You will have to fill them somehow and you are going to have to spend money to do that.
Oh and i’m glad you feel Moylan can close effectively, me I will believe it when I see it. Have seen plenty of times where guys have had great numbers setting up and been just horrible as a closer. You bring up the fact that Gonzo and Soriano have 4 blown saves each, well Moylan has 5 of his own. Moylan pitches more to contact. For your closers most would prefer a guy who has a higher strikeout rate so if they do get into trouble they aren’t soley relying on contact and their defense to bail them out. Soriano has 84 strikeouts, Gonzo 79, and Moylan 48. We have a good thing in Moylan as a setup guy. Why mess up a good thing? Also with Gonzo and Soriano while they do have 8 blown saves between them, only one is with a lead of more than one run and thats the two run lead Soriano blew in L.A. Some of the most overused arms in the game because they double as both setup men and closers yet those are pretty good stats considering there use.
Just don’t think the braves can go into next year just relying on Moylan to be closer without a bcakup plan for a guy who has never had the job before. We knew this year if Gonzo or Soriano didn’t get it done we had a backup plan. We would be leaving ourselves in a very bad position if we were to do that next year.
Doc Holiday
September 6th, 2009
8:51 pm
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
8:45 pm
Band of Brothers on Spike tv btw…great show.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nothing better, Ive seen it like 5 times, every minute of it.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
8:53 pm
Chipper, the best you can come up with is “humbling”?
The reason why you and John Smoltz never got along was because you could never tell it like it was when you were going bad. When you were going good, it was easy for your to rip into LaRoche or Francoeur.
For five seasons, you have been perpetually injured, bringing speculation about how you did it when you were at your best. A litany of pulled muscles, aches, and pains speaks to a ballplayer who “used” in the past; now drug testing has been tighter in the past several seasons. Coincidentally, your spate of injuries began to become a deluge of missed games.
Until this year, you batting eye was on par with the best in the game. However, in the past two seasons, your power numbers have dropped like a rock, further supporting the contention mentioned above.
Nothing personal (it never is), m’boy. It’s just that you are not worth the money the Braves are paying you. In two seasons, you have become very slow, very weak, and very old, right before our very eyes.
The classy thing would be to further defer your salary – as the Braves will surely give your a front office job in the future – so you may be traded to a Texas team that can readily use you as a DH.
The only truly humbling thing going on is that your contract will hamstring any attempts the Braves may have this off-season in trying to obtain a younger power bat.
Matt Holliday, anyone?
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
8:54 pm
Steve from OH,
The most heart wrenching series. Huge fan, Huge fan of Band of Brothers. Tocoa, Ga. Pardon me, too much Modelo especial. I think Paul Lentz is my brother who teaches History at the University of Memphis.
Braveheart
September 6th, 2009
8:54 pm
Steve, I couldn’t tell the break on Kimbrell’s slider because I was up the left field line, and not behind home plate. He seems to love throwing it, and threw it quite often, and they were all between 86-88 mph according to the gun readings posted. They didn’t seem to do much with it. Maybe the gun was fast there? I dunno. But even if the readings were fast there, it doesn’t change the fact that the ball looks more powerful coming out of his hand than the other guys who pitched today
IlliniBrave
September 6th, 2009
8:57 pm
Great quote(s) from Ross! How many guys would be that honest to say – we sucked bad these past few games? We need to keep him if for nothing else than his totally refreshing frankness.
Question now is, do we start auditions for next year? I say hell yes, nothing to lose at this point.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:01 pm
That’s what I look for in a championship team. Frankness.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
9:02 pm
Jake W.,
Do I think the team as presently constructed without Soriano or Gonzalez would survive? The anwser is no. Do I think saving 10.25 million dollars in salary between these two players could help? The anwser is absolutely yes. Do I think Moylan could be a closer? The anwser is absolutely yes.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:04 pm
Sure Pujols is a lock for MVP. But is he frank?
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
9:04 pm
Well it’s not too far from the most recent report I read that said he touches 97-98 with his FB. I saw a video of his from college and he was consistently 92-94 but I think he was starting then too. Great to hear.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
9:05 pm
I would call Brandon Jones up to play LF, and use Luis Valdez late in the ballgame. Time to prepare for 2010. Leave Heyward at Triple A.
I say we begin a collection to hire bodyguards to keep Terry Pendleton the hell away from Schafer, Heyward and Freeman.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:07 pm
I say we hire a juggler to distract Rob during baseball games.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
9:07 pm
Dearest RHR( I Love My New Tone), Would you please name one other entity(besides NBA) in America that not only utilizes long term GUARANTEED contracts (LOU V)
what difference does it make? They have the strongest union in sports, maybe in America now and it ain’t gonna change. Why waste energy writing volumes about it, let alone antagonize others on the subject. Certainly there is something in the world that could be changed that you can pontificate about?
TnBrian
September 6th, 2009
9:08 pm
Gonzalez or Soriano… whoever comes the cheapest. That’s what the Braves will look at, I’m sure. Ideally, it would be nice to get a speedy leadoff guy and add a power hitter. I don’t think McLouth is much of a leadoff hitter at all. He’s a run producer with a low average. GOTTA get some sort of speed in that lineup next year to go with some power. How in the world does Wren fix those two holes and the closer situation? We’ve got a few months to discuss all of this because ‘09 is toast.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:11 pm
pontificate? That sounds like a school word!
RHR
September 6th, 2009
9:12 pm
Has Chipper recently tested positive for PED? I like how it’s become a foregone conclusion here that Chipper used PEDs. I like how all those other big name players name were leaked or tests were positive but I guess they’re protecting Chipper.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
9:12 pm
Nolie,
Well said. I myself am a Union man so I can relate to Chipper. Take the money, you deserve it. My only problem is guys like Smoltz. He made 14,000,000.00 for 4 starts and 2 relief appearances. Don’t whine when you’re not even sure what you got.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
9:13 pm
By the way, Band of Brothers gets my vote for greatest mini-series ever.
The last episode alone – priceless.
Jake W.
September 6th, 2009
9:15 pm
Well i’ll leave it at that then Envoy. You are convinced the braves will do better without Soriano and Gonzo because their combined salary is a little over 10 mil but you can’t seem to figure out they will have to fill those voids somehow and they will cost money anyway you cut it. If you want good pitching you are going to have to pay for it. Besides they aren’t some package deal. I’m talking about keeping one of them. Your statement doesn’t make much sense to me but then again a lot of the stuff posted on this blog doesn’t make much sense. I’ve said my part and i’ll move on.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
9:15 pm
Randall Delgado turned in a fine start in his season finale: 6 IP, 1R, 0BB, 5K. Over the second half he’s brought his ERA down from near 6 to 4.35.
Braveheart
September 6th, 2009
9:15 pm
Steve, yeah, you know I don’t follow the minors much at all. I’d rather just be surprised when they come up. I’ve seen you mention his name a few times, but never really bothered to look up his stats and how he was doing. When he came in to warm up, I remembered his name from you mentioning him, but didn’t really know what I was in for. He’s not that tall, and I kinda thought he might be one of those guys you have to watch for a bit to get a good feel for and to appreciate. But as soon as those warmups were over and he started throwing for real, and the crowd around me started buzzing, you just couldn’t avoid moving up in your seat to see that heat.
HAL
September 6th, 2009
9:19 pm
chipper played more games with less results hmmm im thinking old man syndrome here lol
HAL
September 6th, 2009
9:20 pm
i noticed many proffesional outs by our new three hole hitter i thought it would be impossible for anyone to suck worse then hoss in the 3 hole ok i was wrong lol
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
9:21 pm
jeffrey d
What the hell did I do to deserve a juggler
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
9:21 pm
HAL–what?
Shamus Thacker
September 6th, 2009
9:22 pm
Chipper’s been such a huge cog for so long that it’s hard to imagine him somewhere else. But, it appears that the AL is best suited for him at this point. His body can’t take playing both-ways for an entire season anymore. He can hang around for years as a DH.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
9:23 pm
Jake W.,
I’m convinced. I was just trying to get your goat. It might be foolish to let both go. I have a preference for Gonzalez because he’s left handed and maybe cheaper. As you said, he can dominate left handed hitters which is crucial in our division.
Shamus Thacker
September 6th, 2009
9:25 pm
Yesterday, the Pee Guy, today The Juggler? Where y’all hangin out? Little 5-Points? lol
chip off the ol block
September 6th, 2009
9:25 pm
the pitching has been there every game but the batters have seem to given up earlier this week
all our our guys are healthy right now but doing absolutely nothing
the offense has thrown away our season this week
I dont kno who we’re going to get or lose in the offseason, with as much money has we have, and figuring out…
the Hudson situation (personally i think we should let him go and sign him to a cheaper contract for a few years, his stuff is very good since he’s been back)
the closing situation: Gonzo and Soriano may be leaving us, who to keep or who to let go? or maybe let KK be the closer? we’ll see, but i think we’ll probably sign someone, there are plenty of big name, quality closers in FA this year
power: this can come from many places, I’m not sure who’d we sign, cause probably Bay will stay in Boston, and i dont really want Holliday but my guess is he’ll bolt for the biggest paycheck, we could go for power in the 1B also, maybe a trade? or resigning Roachy? i like Adam alot, but is he the answer to our power problems, as we see this year, no. maybe a trade for a big power 1B?
I’m pretty sure that Heyward will be starting for us next year, seeing as how he’s n AAA ball now, with a good spring training he’ll be in RF/LF, but we still need some power, cause right now our run production is pathetic
speed: we dont desperately need speed but it would be very good to have, a speedy OF, or 2B can do nothing but help us, but who would we get for our speed? the OF will be crowded as is, but if we could get someone like say Andrew McCuthen from the Pirates? I’d jump all over that, or someone like Crawford, but i doubt we’ll have room in the OF for speed, really just think of the outfield of McLouth in LF, McCuthen n CF, and Heyward/big FA in RF, very nice… and 2B up for grabs, Prado is great, but we can do better
this past offseason Frank Wren pulled some stings and filled our big holes, SP, this year we need some offense I know he will come through for us this year also
but we need to make something happen to make us better, cause right now i’d rather watch the AAA Braves
Go Braves
Soph
September 6th, 2009
9:25 pm
Commas really are your friend.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:28 pm
And capitalization.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
9:33 pm
-It’s Gonzo or Scowl – can’t keep both, might lose both.
-McClouth, Church, Diaz, LaRoche, Ross, Anderson, & Norton have to go. They have to be replaced by Schafer, Brandon Jones, Heyward, Cañizares (until Freeman is ready), Sammons, KJ, and Conrad. Their combined costs will help to pay for that LF power bat.
-KK has to be traded in order to justify keeping Hudson. It’s an elbow, not a shoulder; Hudson is back. In 2011, Hudson and Vazquez are gone; Medlen can take one of the two spots.
-Lowe, Vazquez, and Hudson have to stay because the salvation of next year’s bullpen will rely on those three, plus JJ and Hanson, pitching 190-200 innings. KK cannot do that.
-Chipper has to be traded in order to help pay for that LF’er, Vazquez, and whoever plays SS/3B (Escobar needs to move to third).
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
9:34 pm
1. Shaefer Cf, 2. Prado 2B, 3. Escobar SS, 4. Dunn 1B, 5. McCann C, 6. Jones 3B, 7. McClouth LF, 8. Heyward RF
I think HAL is malfunctioning again..
September 6th, 2009
9:35 pm
“Open the pod bay doors HAL”… Im sorry Dave im afraid i cant do that.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:39 pm
When did we get Dunn? And for the love of Francoeur, Teixeira, and Saltalamacchia, can we please learn to spell Schafer??
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
9:43 pm
I think Kimbrel has the best arm in the system. Followed by Teheran and Delgado.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
9:44 pm
jeffrey d,
Sorry, never really knew what the kids name was after 60 strikeouts in 50 games. I think Dunn could be had for a can’t miss lefty like Teahren(sp again). The Nats could sell to fans since Dunn would be in a contract year.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
9:44 pm
Well, Envoy, at least you have Escobar batting in the right slot.
Your sixth slot left blank would be better.
Matt Holliday in LF would be a better choice than “The Strikeout Donkey” playing 1B. Two-thirds of a season dealing with Cañizares would be a better deal, especially with Freeman waiting in the wings.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
9:47 pm
PS – Schafer needs to play some Winter ball in the D.R. He needs AB’s.
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:47 pm
Envoy – so you don’t like strikeouts but you want Dunn?
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:48 pm
Shaeyefer is shut down until spring training. No winter ball.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
9:49 pm
When did we get Dunn? And for the love of Francoeur, Teixeira, and Saltalamacchia, can we please learn to spell Schafer??
Roman Gal would be very proud of you for taking a stand, jeffrey.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
9:49 pm
Does anyone know if Heyward and Freeman are going to play in the Arizona Fall League?
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:50 pm
Matt Holliday? Adam Dunn? Was Frank Wren planning on winning the lottery this offseason?
brian
September 6th, 2009
9:50 pm
Since all we can do is think about next year, Wren will have big decisions to make. I bet he fields offers for both Kawakami and Vazquez and see who is offering what. Kawakami should do well in a big market or out west. Seattle may be a good place for him if they have tradeable pieces and if Seattle is willing to take his contract. Unfortunately it may be Vazquez that gets us the big bat we need – either LF or 1B. It is too bad that we can not swing a trade with Texas with Vazquez and Freddie Freeman for Nelson Cruz and Justin Smoak as the centerpieces. I assume the Braves would probably trade Lowe if someone would take his contract (?LA Angels, ?NYY) then keep Hudson, Vazquez, JJ, Hanson, and Kawakami as the 5th starter.
Hudson has looked very good – I assume the Braves will pick up his option and I hope that Hudson does the same. Frank Wren has to ask himself if he would like to lock up Hudson for another 2 years or so after the option. It would be a good time to talk extension now.
The Braves also need to decide what to do with LaRoche. He was huge for the Braves this second half and is great for the clubhouse. Would he take a 1-2 year deal until Freddie is here? Are the Braves willing to suffer through the first half swoons? The Braves need a power bat at 1B and LF and one of them needs to be right handed. LaRoche’s future with the Braves may hinge on what they can do in LF either through trade or the free agent market.
Finally there is Bobby Cox. I assume that he can return if he wants but does he really want to? Frank Wren has not been afraid of being decisive in regards to Smoltz and Glavine so he may treat Bobby the same way. If Bobby wanted to return would Wren make Bobby add Yost as bench coach and successor. Would he make Bobby replace TP?
The Braves may look very different next year or they may try smaller changes. If it is the latter the OF will be McLouth LF, Schafer CF, and Heyward in RF with Diaz rotating in frequently probably platooning some with Schafer (McLouth could rotate to CF). Chipper, Escobar, Prado, LaRoche, McCann.
SP: Lowe, JJ, Hudson, Hanson, and Vazquez or Kawakami (one will probably be traded but what a rotation!)
RP: Medlen, Moylan, EOF then a lot of question marks. Closer could be Gonzo or Soriano but one will be gone
Bench: Conrad, Infante, Ross, ????
jeffrey d
September 6th, 2009
9:51 pm
I’m just tired of extra E’s always being thrown in his name. I learned to spell Teixeira, Francoeur, and Saltalamacchia. Schafer’s not that hard, people…
Soph
September 6th, 2009
9:59 pm
Braveheart’s report made me want to go see the G Braves. I think I might catch the game tomorrow.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:00 pm
jeffrey: Wren has to go after Holliday like he went after Lowe. After the Teixeira debacle, the Braves CANNOT afford to trade their organizational depth.
Especially if Vazquez and Hudson are gone in 2011. Remember, they have to sign JJ and Hanson long-term in the next couple of years.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:03 pm
N8–regarding your 4:26, here are the Braves’ 2010 payroll obligations:
Pitchers:
Lowe-15MM
Vazquez-11.5
KK-7.334
Hanson-400K
Jurrjens-400K
Total: ~35MM
Infield:
Chipper-13
McCann–5.667
Prado-400K
Yunel-400K
Total: ~20MM
Outfield:
McLouth-5
Diaz-Arb (~3MM?)
Total-8MM
Bullpen:
Moylan (arb, ~1.5MM?)
O’Flaherty-400K
Medlen-400K
Acosta-400K
Logan–400K.
Total: ~3MM
Bench
Infante: 1.85
Ross: 1.6
Total: ~3MM
Others:
Hudson-1MM buyout, 12MM option
The only arb eligibles I included were Moylan and Diaz because I’m pretty sure they’re coming back. So overall, that’s about 72MM (give or take) committed, not including Hudson, Gonzo, Soriano, Church, etc. We need to fill 2 OF spots, 1B, 4 bench spots, and 2 relief spots. The bench spots should be relatively easy–Diaz could move to the bench upon a Heyward/Schafer promotion and/or a free agent signing. Schafer could fill in as a 4th OF for the league min, or Jones or Blanco. So I’ll count that as 400K. That leaves 3 more. One will (I assume) be Conrad at 400K. Diory could fill another at the league min. The last could be B. Jones or someone like that at 400K. So I’ll count the 4 bench spots at 1.6 MM overall. This brings our total to 73.6MM and our openings are LF/RF, 1B, and 2 relief spots.
This gives us (if our payroll is 100MM, for ease of math) 26.4 MM to fill those 5 openings. Obviously, someone’s gonna have to fill in for the league min there. Heyward is an obvious choice for RF if he proves himself worthy. Now we’ve got 26MM to fill LF, 1B and 2 relief spots. Here’s where we have a lot of options. We could platoon Jones and Diaz in left, at negligible cost. We could sign Bay or Holliday for 16MM (or so), leaving 10MM left. We could make a trade for an OF of lesser cost. If we made a trade for, say, Paul Konerko, we’d be left with 14MM to spend on LF and 2 relievers.
Either way, we definitely won’t have enough money to re-sign both MFIKY and Gonzo. We also won’t have enough money to get a big bat for 1B and LF. We could trade Nate-Dawg to free up 5MM which gives us a little more breating room. If we pick up Hudson’s option and trade KK, we would have about 21-22MM to spend on those spots. If we rid ourselves of both, we’ll have upwards of 30MM.
Given that McCann and McLouth will make a combined 3MM more in 2011, and Moylan and Diaz and Yunel and Prado and Jair will be arb-eligible in 2011, it is imperative to me that we stay away from long-term contracts if possible and attempt to give Heyward and Schafer an opportunity to establish themselves in the OF. I think Paul Konerko would be a great fit, because he’d reasonably fit our needs and approximate our budget while giving Freeman one full year of development and not being under long-term contract. He may not be the optimal solution, but he sticks out to me. I’ll gladly accept better ideas, LOL!
I guess this points out that spending on 2B is a bad idea because we won’t have the cash to pursue Figgins or O-Hudson. Spending on the rotation is a terrible idea. Spending on one reliever is probably a good idea because we don’t have a lot of depth there without one, but this will make our options for 1B/LF more limited.
Thoughts?
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
10:03 pm
Does anyone know if Heyward and Freeman are going to play in the Arizona Fall League?
Yes. Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman are both playing in the AFL. Along with Craig Kimbrel, this year’s first rounder–Mike Minor, Brandon Hicks, Lee Hyde, and Jeff Lyman. The Braves sent Tyler Flowers and Tommy Hanson last year. And I think this is the best group that’s ever been sent. By anyone.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:06 pm
Dunn: 9 seasons 4333AB, 313HR, 764RBI, 900BB, 1409k
Laroche: 6 seasons 2781AB, 132HR, 449RBI, 294BB, 661K
Laroche makes 7 mil, Dunn makes 10 mil
Dunn is better than LaRoche because he has walked 600 more times than LaRoche, Dunn has homered 180 more times, Dunn has driven in 300 more runs.
Adam has 748 fewer K’s and 606 fewer BB’s (a wash given svc. time)
8 mil for what might happen – LaRoche
10 mil for what will happen – Dunn
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:10 pm
OH Steve: read my 9:33
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:11 pm
Of course it is idiotic to assume we could get Dunn. And I’m sure many here would find Dunn objectionable. I think the power outage needs to be addressed somehow.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:13 pm
Envoy: LaRoche will never see $8 million per year ever again in his career.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:15 pm
MiaBchBravesFan,
I do not doubt that (LaRoche). Agree with you about Esco to 3rd, but he is such a good shortstop.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:16 pm
So if you rid yourself of McLouth, Chipper, KK, Diaz and Ross you cut down about 30 MM in payroll (and add 5.5 in Hudson) from the 73 to get down to near 50MM in obligations. We don’t need to cut down that far to get a LF. Plus, the players you suggested won’t give the same performance as that group so it’s a net loss. Plus, you’ve gotta spend now to fill 3B when we’ve already got a perfectly good one in Chipper. I’ve got no problems moving some of them, but I think Chipper and Diaz aren’t going anywhere and shouldn’t go anywhere. We can’t place our faith in all of those rookies and expect to win realistically. We need integration, not a mass imposition.
Vinings Jim
September 6th, 2009
10:17 pm
RHR – if you’re still out there, I absolutely loved your analysis of the appropriate usage of smiles and grins and serious faces. Sometimes I get confused…
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:19 pm
It’s really hard to keep this all organized in blog format…
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:19 pm
Escobar’s gun will be equally useful at third. He’s slow. We need another SS. Would’ve been nice to have kept Elvis Andrus.
And yes, Chipper has to defer money and leave.
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
10:21 pm
What if we just did nothing.
SP – Derek Lowe $15,000,000
SP – Javier Vazquez – $11,500,000
SP – Tim Hudson – $12,000,000
SP – Tommy Hanson – $400,000
SP – Jair Jurrjens – $400,000
RP – Peter Moylan – $1,500,000
RP – Kenshin Kawakami – $7,333,333
RP – Manny Acosta – $400,000
RP – Eric O’Flaherty – $400,000
RP – Kris Medlen – $400,000
RP – Boone Logan – $400,000
RP – Craig Kimbrel – $400,000
C – Brian McCann – $5,666,666
1B – Martin Prado – $400,000
2B – Kelly Johnson – $3,750,000
SS – Yunel Escobar – $400,000
3B – Chipper Jones – $13,000,000
LF – Nate McLouth – $5,000,000
CF – Jordan Schafer – $400,000
RF – Jason Heyward – $400,000
BC – David Ross – $1,600,000
IF – Omar Infante – $1,850,000
IF – Brooks Conrad – $400,000
OF – Matt Diaz – $3,000,000
OF – Ryan Church – $3,750,000
Total 2010 Payroll: $89,750,000
I would flip flop Chipper and Prado, but that’s not a bad club.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:21 pm
Steve from OH,
Why would we want to rid ourselves of McClouth or Ross or KK for that matter. All have performed according to what they are paid.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:24 pm
MiaBchBravesFan,
You are right on. Wish we could do a doover on the Tex trade.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:25 pm
Envoy–yeah, I really like all three of them. I wouldn’t part with them unless I had to. PWH’s post was much more organized than mine…I like it. I would trade/non-tender Kelly and trade for Konerko though…we’d have the cash at that point. Or if we don’t upgrade there, use the remaining 10MM to re-sign MFIKY. Or we could lose Kelly, KK, and Church and free up 15MM–leaving 25MM if we’ve got a 100MM payroll…enough for a bat and MFIKY.
Thanks for that, PWH.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
10:26 pm
Escobar’s gun will be equally useful at third. He’s slow. We need another SS. Would’ve been nice to have kept Elvis Andrus.
I doubt they would move Esco anywhere else on the field. And, slow how? On the bases?
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:28 pm
P.W.Hjort,
Healthy raises to Johnson, Church, Diaz. How can one justify paying 4 times the salary than guys that play everyday. Norton didn’t make that much.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:29 pm
Esco’s not a fast runner but his range is fine for SS and his bat plays much better there. He’s a plus-plus SS, but as a 3B he’s moving closer to “eh” territory (but still good, mind you).
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:30 pm
Steve: You have to think near long term.
-They have to sign JJ long term
-They have to sign Hanson long term
-They have to sign Escobar long term
That’s going to take big $$$’s. They lucked out with McCann/yes and Francoeur/no. That helps. They have to keep the starting rotation intact for 2010 b/c it’s their only chance to contend. Chipper is NOT a perfectly good option at third by any stretch of the imagination. His bat and his salary are a burden to this ball club.
This club cannot afford keep an expensive bench. You have to rely on your farm system for that. That’s the new landscape for teams pinching pennies like the Braves. Options like Sammons, B. Jones, and Conrad are not significantly lesser than the mediocrity/garbage (KJ / Norton) that we saw from this year’s bench (with apologies to Infante, the only guy I would keep, at a bargain price, might I add).
Steve, gotta save $$$’s. For the LF’er this winter. And for JJ, Escobar, and Hanson. That moment is coming sooner than you think.
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
10:34 pm
The Envoy,
They work into your platoon matrix and add value that way. Plus, these guys are the sort of players teams like the Red Sox salivate over having on their bench (see Kotchman), especially Church. If you want to trade them, you can get value.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:37 pm
They have to sign JJ long term
-They have to sign Hanson long term
-They have to sign Escobar long term
Yeah, but you don’t have to do it right away. You can worry about buying out JJ and YE’s arb seasons next winter. They’re not going anywhere so why waste a year of paying them the league min? Ditto for Hanson–he’s got the league min for a while yet.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:37 pm
Vazquez and Hudson come off the books next winter as well so that’s when we can consider using Medlen and perhaps Minor in the rotation if need be.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:40 pm
The Braves are officially irrelevant (according to FoxSports).
-They lead with SF-MIL (awesome walk-off celeb. @ home plate w/ Prince F. – y’all gotta see it!!!).
-They followed with COL-AZ.
-They followed with FLA-WASH.
Then the U.S. Open. . .
‘Nuff said.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:42 pm
Steve, just remember when they signed McCann. Gotta do it early, or there is no love. . .
And they leave. That’s your future core. Gotta do it sooner than later.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
10:42 pm
Someone needs to seriously start taking some paycuts…
*ahem* Chipper!
Seriously, if he would say, “Look, I know I’m not a great as I used to be, I’m a liability in the field, I no longer hit the HRs or bat for a high average like I used to, so I will be willing to work for 1 million or so because I have made $117,552,133 in my lifetime and there are people out there surviving on 20K a year. And above all this, I want to win,” he would be the greatest Atlanta Braves ever.
Shamus Thacker
September 6th, 2009
10:43 pm
Take away the pitchers, Yunel, B-Mac, and Heyward, and we couldn’t trade our WHOLE TEAM for Pujols.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:43 pm
P.W.Hjort,
I would agree 100% if we could have a payroll of 135 million like the Red Sox. Wren doesn’t have that luxury. Epstein is a genius because he can afford mistakes (he paid Renteria’s salary and gave us LaRoche for what Kotchman cost). Our General Manager is the real deal. He scouted and drafted players for Montreal in the late 80’s and early 90’s, many of which became all stars. There is no comparison between our Organization and the one in Boston.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:44 pm
Jurrjens–it’s not that easy. The Players Union would never allow it.
O'Brien
September 6th, 2009
10:44 pm
If Chipper played today, I think he would have an error on that play that Prado made.
Adam Dunn is due to make $12 mil next year, and I think thats out of the Braves price range (plus what would we trade to the Nats? Tim Hudson?). I dont think the Braves should be concerned about his defense/strikeouts, because what does Loaf do out there?
Just think. The Braves could have signed Ilbanez for 3 years, $30 mil.
The question now becomes, is there any productive outfielder out there the Braves can sign or trade for (that’s within their budget)?
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:46 pm
The Envoy–that just emphasizes my point that Wren has some room to be creative with this team. Church doesn’t necessarily have to stay, neither does Kelly, and there are options abound with Hudson/KK/JV. There isn’t a clear cut course of action and no one should pretend as such.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
10:47 pm
Jurrjens–it’s not that easy. The Players Union would never allow it.
Oh don’t get me started on the players union! Hell, don’t get my started on any union.
monty
September 6th, 2009
10:48 pm
I wonder if Diaz can get Bmac on the PX90 program in the off season to firm up that pillsbury dough look? He needs to come in 10 lbs. lighter next year.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:48 pm
Ibanez has a .679 OPS in 45 games since coming off the DL.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
10:50 pm
I dont think the Braves should be concerned about his defense/strikeouts, because what does Loaf do out there?
Adam Dunn is perhaps the worst fielder in the history of sports…
Yea, that bad.
Just think. The Braves could have signed Ilbanez for 3 years, $30 mil.
No one saw Raul having the year he had, hell, I think most Philly fans didn’t even know who Ibanez was… I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know who he was until I got his baseball card last offseason…
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:51 pm
O’Brien: Ibañez hit what he hit this year for two reasons:
-Utley
-Howard
You honestly believe Ibañez would’ve given the Braves at The Ted what he gave the phils up in their shoe box this season?
Especially since he has been a zero in the second half?
No, thank you.
Shamus Thacker
September 6th, 2009
10:51 pm
monty: He needs to come in 10 lbs. lighter next year.”"
Per foot?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
10:52 pm
I believe the Braves will non-tender Ryan Church and Kelly Johnson if they can not trade them. I would let LaRoche walk as well.
What happens if the Braves get Konerko and sign Figgins andgo with a lineup of
C – McCann
1B – Konerko
2B – Figgins
SS – Escobar
3B – Jones
LF – McLouth
CF – Schafer
RF – Heyward
Will that be enough offense with Infante Ross Prado and Diaz coming off the bench.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
10:52 pm
Monty,
McCann lost weight this offseason, and I think it cost him his power… I’d rather order him a Pizza Hut Bread Bowl every Friday than have him lose more weight…
He should shave his beard though, freakin Grizzle Adams at backstop
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
10:53 pm
Shaeyefer is shut down until spring training.
How exactly is that name to be pronounced?
-Shay-eye-fer?
-Shuh-eye-fer?
-Shay-eey-fer?
-Shayee-eefer?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
10:54 pm
Schafer said he plans on playing the tail end of winter ball if he is healed enough. I think that is a bad idea. Take the winter to heal.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:54 pm
I’m sorry to be angry about the financial descrepencies in baseball. It is obvious, as the country goes so goes baseball. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburg, Kansas City old franchises with rich histories devastated by the loss of good blue collar jobs. New York, amid financial scandal can afford 2 stadiums costing 1 billion apiece. The Yankees with a 260 million payroll. WTF! WTF! WTF!
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
10:55 pm
What happens if the Braves get Konerko
Konerko hits 2HRs and a .240 batting average at the Ted.
Chiggins is a good idea!
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
10:55 pm
LOL – R Gal, yer a trip!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
10:55 pm
He should shave his beard though, freakin Grizzle Adams at backstop
He looks like a little kid without his beard. At least he did before.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
10:56 pm
Jurrjens4NLCY
Figgins would be my number goal. He can play multiple positions as well
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
10:56 pm
The Envoy,
Yeah, Bud Selig is a scumbag, He is one of the people I wouldn’t be sad if died.
I don’t know if you feel the same way.
Shamus Thacker
September 6th, 2009
10:56 pm
Roman Gal, I pronounce it Shah-yee-fur
Easier though, than Rastus Sponge-Bobfurgerburg
Soph
September 6th, 2009
10:56 pm
lol Roman Gal, jeffrey was being funny when he spelled it that way. He had just gone off on someone for spelling Schafer incorrectly.
Swamp Retard
September 6th, 2009
10:57 pm
Ain’t Chiggins whut yer huntin’ dawg gits?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
10:57 pm
Heyward and Schafer will add badly needed speed to this team. They can score from first on doubles. Something only McLouth seems capable of doing.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
10:58 pm
Easier though, than Rastus Sponge-Bobfurgerburg
lmao Shamus.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
10:58 pm
I’d look at players like Figgins as secondary to our main need–a power bat. If we get that bat and have got money left, great. If not, I want that power, LOL!
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
10:58 pm
Rob from SC,
Great call on Shawn or is it Chone like the cone, either way I’d like to see him in a Braves uni.
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
10:59 pm
There would not be to many outfield hits with McLouth-Schafer-Heyward running around out there. The arms in CF and RF would be great as well.
Keeping teams from taking the extra base can help win a lot of games.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
10:59 pm
He looks like a little kid without his beard. At least he did before.
And your point is?
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
10:59 pm
I wonder if the Braves could ship off a fringe prospect to Cleveland for Kerry Wood and get Cleveland to cover 1/2 his salary. I mean, it’s $5 million saved for them (and they’re losing money) and he could be a nice buy-low proposition. Coming back to the NL would help too. Provided his fundamental skills are as good as they were in 2008 (i.e. he can cut down the HR’s and BB’s).
Soph
September 6th, 2009
11:00 pm
And your point is?
And, your point was?
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
11:00 pm
It is going to be hard to find that power. I am just saying that if we do sign Figgins. He, Schafer, McLouth and Heyward can use their above average speed to force teams into mistakes. Watch how the Angels play. They drive you crazy with all their motion
Rob from SC
September 6th, 2009
11:01 pm
P. W. Hjort
Why have a good pen when Cox is still running things?
njbraves
September 6th, 2009
11:03 pm
MiaBch Braves Fan….you win today’s award for dumbest poster. Congrats. Not one single thing you posted has any chance of happening. You might as well just post blank entries…it would be the same thing.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
11:04 pm
Kerry Wood???
Are we serious???
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
11:04 pm
Jurrjens4NLCY,
The only thing I know about Bud is that his childhood team was the Braves, has always loved the organization and missed them when they left Milwaukee. I suppose his love of Baseball is one reason Milwaukee has a team again. The only solution to the Yankees is to put a major league franchise in New Jersey. It would be as 5 times difficult as the one that went to Washington, DC.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:04 pm
He, Schafer, McLouth and Heyward can use their above average speed to force teams into mistakes. Watch how the Angels play. They drive you crazy with all their motion
I’m sorry, but speed just doesn’t have as big of an impact as you think. It just doesn’t. Great team defense will have a huge impact, but Figgins won’t impact that very much in the OF compared to our in-house options and not at 2B (his UZR there is not good). We don’t need speed as much with Schafer and Heyward in our lineup. Whiteyball ain’t gonna win the NL East up against the Phillies.
Braveheart
September 6th, 2009
11:05 pm
I’d rather my catchers look hairy like Thurman Munson than pretty like Javy Lopez
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:07 pm
Easier though, than Rastus Sponge-Bobfurgerburg Shamus
You mean, “Riastus Sponge-Bobfurgerburg”, right?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
11:07 pm
njbraves: you disagree, make an argument. I never get personal with anyone on this blog, bud.
Go take a jump in some toxic waste.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:08 pm
Give this a read, Rob:
http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9493
Never ask the baserunning game to do the heavy lifting of the ability-driven hitting game.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
11:09 pm
Braveheart,
I’d rather my catchers not die in plane wrecks.
The Envoy
September 6th, 2009
11:10 pm
njbraves,
I’m for putting a team in NJ to compete with the Yankees. Would you cheer for the Newark Mudcats?
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
11:10 pm
MiaBchBravesFan,
Kerry Wood???
Are we serious???
Why wouldn’t I be?
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:11 pm
Braveheart-
Great job with your only minor league recap of the season, but you’re just gonna cause more Heyward-obsessed fans break out into a cold sweat and start speaking in Tongues. We’ve already got Rob from SC foaming at the mouth here…we don’t need anymore of them doing it.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
11:11 pm
Oh, Chop Chop. No props for that one.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
11:14 pm
P.W.: No offense, but might as well sign Danny Kolb. Just b/c Smoltz, Contreras, and any other AL pitcher comes to the NL and has one-two good starts does not mean anything. Wood is done, sadly.
Braveheart
September 6th, 2009
11:14 pm
Something else I wanted to know after watching today’s Gwinnett game, what’s the deal with Juan Perez? I guess he walks too many, but, man, when you see a lefty reliever who throws 94 mph, and strikes out alot of batters, but who’s 30 years old and been stuck in AAA for 5 years, you gotta ask what the hell is the deal with that dude?
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:15 pm
I’m sorry, but speed just doesn’t have as big of an impact as you think. It just doesn’t. Steve from OH
That may be true, but it certainly has been hard to watch every other team consistently go first to third and score from second on base hits while we hardly ever do it. I don’t think it’s utterly important for every member of the team to be speedy, but it would be nice to have more than one.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:15 pm
I think the Braves need to understand their potential. If you played small ball properly, you could score 5 to 6 runs a game, maybe more. The offense is well built to play small ball but tries swinging for the fences. A part of that is because you have too many problematic big name players like Chipper Jones (slump/old), Brian McCann (slump), Garret Anderson (old), Adam LaRoche (Big name), who you could theoretically NEVER ask to lay a bunt down. When in reality, if they did, we would be better off. Guys like Nate McLouth, Ryan Church, Matt Diaz, Yunel Escobar, Omar Infante can play ball the right way. (Not to say Chip, LaRoche, McCann, Anderson can’t).
SCENARIO:
McLouth, Church, Infante are due up in the inning.
McLouth starts with a leadoff single.
Church bunts him over to second, 1 out.
After Infante works the count in his favor, Nate steals while Infante bunts the ball to third, however Nate doesn’t stop and continues home while the unknowing third baseman throws to first, run scores, 2 out.
It works a lot, I do it all the time on The Show 09.
Furthermore, In 2010, I want to see more bunts, more squeezes, and more hit and runs!
Shalamadingdong!
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:17 pm
That may be true, but it certainly has been hard to watch every other team consistently go first to third and score from second on base hits while we hardly ever do it.
I’d say that this has less to do with overall speed and more to do with intelligent baserunning. This team does not run the bases well. Speed is obviously a component to it, but not the only variable. There’s no reason Yunel, Chipper, Prado, Diaz, Church, and McLouth should not be able to go 1st to 3rd IMO. Schafer and Heyward will only help that figure.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:19 pm
My favorite memory of Kerry Wood is when he missed a few weeks of stretch baseball because he had a bo bo on his wittle finger…
Soph
September 6th, 2009
11:19 pm
It works a lot, I do it all the time on The Show 09.
I’m biting my tongue on this one.
Shalamadingdong!
Slamalamadingdong?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
11:20 pm
JJ CY: if you can’t afford power like the Braves can’t, that’s a good idea. Unfortunately, there are no McCutcheon’s in our minors, and the days of an OF that covers more grass than kudzu are a distant memory.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:22 pm
Soph,
1. The Show comment was a joke.
2. jeffrey d told me that was my new catchphrase…
Braveheart
September 6th, 2009
11:22 pm
Small ball as a strategy is a miserable failure if your goal is to score 5 or 6 runs a game. Small ball as a situational tactic is great for stealing a critical run here or there late in games.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:22 pm
Unfortunately, there are no McCutcheon’s in our minors, and the days of an OF that covers more grass than kudzu are a distant memory.
What do you mean? Schafer and Heyward are both plus defenders at their positions, and McLouth would be an excellent defensive LF.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
11:23 pm
I mean really, I would love to see the Braves built like the Cardinals from the mid-80’s, where practically everyone in the lineup was a blur. At The Ted, they’d be a sight to see.
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
11:23 pm
P.W.: No offense, but might as well sign Danny Kolb. Just b/c Smoltz, Contreras, and any other AL pitcher comes to the NL and has one-two good starts does not mean anything. Wood is done, sadly.
You’re badly mistaken. Kerry Wood may not be 2003 Kerry Wood, but he’s still a very valuable reliever. If he can cut his walk rate back to 2008 levels (when he posted a 2.21 FIP and 3.12 xFIP) he could be one of the best relievers in the game. Even if he can’t, his 4.08 xFIP this year and 10.34 K/9 would play very well in the NL.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
11:23 pm
You are convinced the braves will do better without Soriano and Gonzo because their combined salary is a little over 10 mil (Jake)
If they re-signed next season it would come to a lot more than 10 mil. I’d like to keep both, but I will be amazed if they do that.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
11:23 pm
Oh, I forgot jeffrey took you under his wing. Carry on then.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:24 pm
I mean really, I would love to see the Braves built like the Cardinals from the mid-80’s, where practically everyone in the lineup was a blur.
Aaaarrrghh!
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:25 pm
JJ CY: if you can’t afford power like the Braves can’t, that’s a good idea. Unfortunately, there are no McCutcheon’s in our minors, and the days of an OF that covers more grass than kudzu are a distant memory.
But see, thats the thing, we can do that. We have the power! If Bobby (and I hate to say this) could manage more small ball plays, we be great.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:26 pm
You’re right. Schafer and Heyward will help. Actually, I think Kelly Johnson should host a Baserunning Clinic for the team. Despite Nate’s stealing ability, I think Kelly is the best baserunner. Early in the year, bad baserunning cost us a bunch of runs. I think it’s something that needs to be addressed in the offseason, even if it’s just letting Anderson walk away and having Schafer or Heyward up to start the year.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:27 pm
Small ball as a strategy is a miserable failure if your goal is to score 5 or 6 runs a game. Small ball as a situational tactic is great for stealing a critical run here or there late in games.
I disagree. And if the casual baseball fan wasn’t in love with homeruns, and teams played more small ball, you would too.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:27 pm
Actually, Steve, as acting President of the Kelly Johnson Fan Club, you should probably help him coordinate such an event.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:27 pm
Roman Gal–agreed!
nolie
September 6th, 2009
11:27 pm
Chipper’s been such a huge cog for so long that it’s hard to imagine him somewhere else. But, it appears that the AL is best suited for him at this point. His body can’t take playing both-ways for an entire season anymore. He can hang around for years as a DH. (Shamus)
why do y’all keep posting this? THe man has said numerous times that he hates DHing, has taken financial deals to stay a Brave and can’t be traded without his consent. And just what team is supposed to be willing to pay 42 mil for a 38YO DH anyway?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
11:28 pm
Braveheart, I beg to differ. The Angels are scoring runs in bunches because they run like gazelles every chance they get. With the exception of Pujols, not that many HR’s in the League this year. With drug testing, that’s gonna continue to drop.
Soon, it’ll be like the 70’s and early 80’s, where 30-35 HR’s will get you a league HR title. Without PED’s, speed is the new power. The Pirates look like they may break their string of futility soon. Power is expensive; speed is cheap.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:28 pm
RG,
Kelly Johnson or Matt Diaz… Matty always busts it out of the box.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:29 pm
I disagree. And if the casual baseball fan wasn’t in love with homeruns, and teams played more small ball, you would too.
Sorry, but this topic is not one that is ambiguous in nature, and whether or not teams do it or don’t do it has no bearing on the fact that bunting (i.e. giving up outs) lowers your expected runs. Plain and simple. There’s no ambiguity in that–it is what it is.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:30 pm
speed is cheap
I see you’ve never been to 36th and Clarence…
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:32 pm
And if the casual baseball fan wasn’t in love with homeruns
I don’t think it has anything to do with the fans. Homeruns and power are a big part of the game right now because they help you win more games…more so than “small-ball” anyhow.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:32 pm
Steve from OH,
Bunting is “giving up outs”?? No no no, my friend, its making productive outs. Something this team fails to do.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
11:33 pm
I think Dunn could be had for a can’t miss lefty like Teahren(sp again). The Nats could sell to fans since Dunn would be in a contract year. (Envoy)
more utter nonsense. They passed on Dunn for just money last year but now they are supposed to give up a can’t miss prospect in addition to paying him more than they were willing. I got news for you, Dunn is not the type of player that Bobby has any use for so he ain’t coming here as long as Cox is around. Wren is a tad more into newer stats, but like Bobby he values defense and batting average so it’s unlikely he wants him either. Dream what you will but don’t hold your breath.
Doc Holiday
September 6th, 2009
11:33 pm
Steve from OH,
Whiteyball might not win games 1-0 or 2-1 in the east, but it can sure win them 8-7. Braves are 68-109 in 1 run games since the beginning of 2006…….. You think Speed could have not saved us at least 33% of those 109 loses? that would give us 104-73 record in 1 run games on that 4 year span. I think speed helps you win at least 10 games you would have lost during the season compared to your record if you are a team as slow as the bravos.
Bobby loves playing AL type of baseball with a NL type team………….double check that, Braves are not even a good NL type team, since they dont know how to bunt, how to advance runners and how and when to use their PH adequately.
Rock On........
September 6th, 2009
11:33 pm
Another nice trip to Atlanta. Unfortunately the Hokies lost but albeit to a better team. Been to a lot of football games folks but nothing topped the noice generated in the Dome last night.
Oh yeah, caught the Braves Friday night. Walking into the stadium the Tomahawk girls asked if I played golf. Got to go up against Brooks Conrad and a couple of other fans in a closest to the pin contest. Luck was on my side and the rest need lessons. Conrad is a good dude and funny. Was standing next to Medlen. The guy will be carded for ever. Saying he looks like he is in high school doesn’t do him justice.
Watching the Braves, the same thought popped into my head all weekend, how long can they keep Chipper and be a serious contender? The Braves may have to make a move there post 2010. Will the Braves move Chipper? Four runs in three games at home to the Reds and get swept is embarrasing.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:35 pm
Speed is absolutely useless if you cannot get on base and cannot hit for power. If you look at the 3 Herzog clubs that won the NL in the 80’s, all three lead the NL in OBP and one lead the NL in OPS, while the other two were never worse than average in adjusted OPS. Speed is an excellent secondary weapon, but all good offenses are build around the ability to get on base and the ability to accrue total bases.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:35 pm
JJ-
Kelly, by far. Matty always hustles, but Kelly hustles and he’s actually got good speed.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
11:37 pm
Kelly, by far. Matty always hustles, but Kelly hustles and he’s actually got good speed.
And, Kelly doesn’t make many mistakes when on base. At least from what I remember…
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:37 pm
Bunting is “giving up outs”?? No no no, my friend, its making productive outs. Something this team fails to do
Bunting is absolutely giving up outs and your team expects to score less runs with a runner on second and one out than with a runner on first and no outs. Them’s the facts, no two ways about it.
Braveheart
September 6th, 2009
11:39 pm
MiaBchBravesFan, what the Angels are doing isn’t small ball. They lead the majors in batting average, have the second highest OBP, above average isolated power, and the third highest OPS in the majors
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
11:40 pm
Hopefully, Schafer will be a fine CF, but he’s no Lou Brock or Rickey Henderson, let’s not get crazy here. Heyward is a star-in-waiting (we hope), but he’s not going to be stealing 30-40 bases anytime soon with the Bravos. The kind of small-ball JJCY is talking about would require a complete organizational paradigm shift.
The pitching is better than fine. However, I don’t know that J.S., Frank Wren, and Bobby Cox are prepared to face the future, given their financial restrictions and what they need to put at positions 2 through 9 in order to win.
I mean really, take away just two people from the past 20 years – Andres Galarraga and Fred McGriff – and ask yourself how vastly different the legacy of the Braves would actually be.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:40 pm
So, I thought it was interesting today that Joe kept talking about the “good defense” and how our “good defense” today was amazing. Sure, there were good plays, but I actually think our defense is what cost us the game. Nate’s not throwing home allowing the first run to score, and Gorecki slowly getting to the ball allowing Votto to get the third.
Oyy, I really don’t like Joe. He just gets on my nerves.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:43 pm
but I actually think our defense is what cost us the game
Our defense has been a big part of why we’ve lost as many games as we have. When you think about it, we have a lot of bad defenders–Anderson, Chipper, Prado/Kelly are all below-average. McLouth is not good according to UZR and I do think his range is lacking. Francoeur didn’t wow in his time here and Diaz is average at best out there. Yunel is above-average IMO and so is Church but that’s not a lot. This team needs a defensive overhaul.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:43 pm
And, Kelly doesn’t make many mistakes when on base.
Kelly is the best baserunner, Nate is the best basestealer.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:43 pm
all good offenses are build around the ability to get on base and the ability to accrue total bases.
Tell me,
Whats the difference between an infield single by Gathright and a single ripped into the gap by Dunn?
Or a single, stolen base and a double?
Sure you could say a lower SLG%, but the only thing that matters is winning.
Someone like Gathright/Pierre/Gomez can hit singles and steal second more than Dunn/Howard/Thome can hit doubles.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
11:43 pm
What if we just did nothing.
SP – Derek Lowe $15,000,000
SP – Javier Vazquez – $11,500,000
SP – Tim Hudson – $12,000,000
SP – Tommy Hanson – $400,000
SP – Jair Jurrjens – $400,000
RP – Peter Moylan – $1,500,000
RP – Kenshin Kawakami – $7,333,333
RP – Manny Acosta – $400,000
RP – Eric O’Flaherty – $400,000
RP – Kris Medlen – $400,000
RP – Boone Logan – $400,000
RP – Craig Kimbrel – $400,000
C – Brian McCann – $5,666,666
1B – Martin Prado – $400,000
2B – Kelly Johnson – $3,750,000
SS – Yunel Escobar – $400,000
3B – Chipper Jones – $13,000,000
LF – Nate McLouth – $5,000,000
CF – Jordan Schafer – $400,000
RF – Jason Heyward – $400,000
BC – David Ross – $1,600,000
IF – Omar Infante – $1,850,000
IF – Brooks Conrad – $400,000
OF – Matt Diaz – $3,000,000
OF – Ryan Church – $3,750,000
Total 2010 Payroll: $89,750,000</i
nolie
September 6th, 2009
11:44 pm
So if you rid yourself of McLouth, Chipper, KK, Diaz and Ross you cut down about 30 MM in payroll (STEVE)
I don’t know if you are responding to a previous post, but I hope everybody knows that they ain’t getting rid of most of those guys let out all of them. In fact I’ll wager that no more than one would leave if that, unless 2 went in a blockbuster trade of some kind
Rock On........
September 6th, 2009
11:45 pm
Nolie, don’t know all the aspects of Chipper’s contract but obviously he goes nowhere else unless he wants to. Question is will he be willing to ride off into the sunset if he is not the everyday 3rd baseman?
RHR
September 6th, 2009
11:46 pm
I’m gonna need DOB to go ahead and give me the ability to edit my posts so I can fix my mess ups. I think I’ve earned it.
Jim – glad you found my explanation of the meanings of various facial expressions at various times helpful. I am good at these things. Just let me know if you have any other questions about smiles/frowns/jokes/laughs/clubhouse chemistry.
P. W. Hjort
September 6th, 2009
11:47 pm
Bunting is “giving up outs”?? No no no, my friend, its making productive outs. Something this team fails to do.
What he’s saying is that choosing to make a productive out, even if you execute the play perfectly every time, slightly lowers your expected run production because it decreases the probability of a big inning. Of course, the fact that teams–the Braves in particular–are extremely bad at executing these “small ball strategies” only decreases your run expectancy (and increases fan irritation), but that’s a different issue all together. The fact is, every time Bobby tells Diaz or Prado or anyone to sacrifice themselves and make a productive out rather than try to get on base, the Braves cost themselves runs. Giving Bobby more motivation to do so would be a colossal mistake.
nolie
September 6th, 2009
11:47 pm
And yes, Chipper has to defer money and leave (MiaBch)
that ain’t happening.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:47 pm
On-base percentage and slugging percentage (and as a result, linear weight stats such as EqA) have a very strong correlation with run scoring. Stolen bases have no such correlation.
Stolen bases are not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, but stolen bases are useless if you’re not getting on base at a good rate and even more so if you’re getting caught a lot. SB% is waaay more important than the sheer number of SB. If you don’t steal at more than a 75% ratio, you cost your team runs. That is a big gamble to take considering that fate lies solely within the two eyes of the 2nd base umpire.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
11:47 pm
And, Kelly doesn’t make many mistakes when on base.
Getting to the base is the problem.
*ducks*
nolie
September 6th, 2009
11:48 pm
I gotta say that the full of them tonight.. I’m reading some mighty silly posts here.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:48 pm
Bunting is absolutely giving up outs and your team expects to score less runs with a runner on second and one out than with a runner on first and no outs. Them’s the facts, no two ways about it.
Hmm,
Man on second, one out. It would theoretically take a 1 base hit to score the run in 2 chances. Man on first, no out. It would take 2 hits in 3 chances. You do the math. You also have to avoid hitting the ball on the ground in the later scenario, however with a man on second, a ground ball is productive…
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:49 pm
nolie–yes, was responding to another post. Not my idea!
Soph
September 6th, 2009
11:49 pm
I have one RHR, and it’s going to require your expertise. It’s a question about a specific player. Why is Chipper not allowed to chew bubblegum in the dugout when he’s not playing?
I mean some of the posts on here today crucified him for smiling, laughing, and gosh forbid chewing stuff while on the bench during the game.
Rock On........
September 6th, 2009
11:50 pm
Steve….and this team can have bases loaded and no outs and not score.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
11:51 pm
Getting to the base is the problem.
Touche. I’m mad at myself for not thinking of that when I was typing my post about his baserunning.
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:51 pm
This team needs a defensive overhaul.
Agreed. The thing that bothers me most is when the opposition takes extra bases when some good, aggressive defense would’ve prevented it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve yelled at the tv when Nate or Garrett didn’t attempt to throw out a runner even when they had a play.
Chop Chop
September 6th, 2009
11:51 pm
Soph,
I’m mad at Chipper because he wore a Tebow jersey. I’d trade him for a Francoeur rookie card right about now.
jcfromut
September 6th, 2009
11:51 pm
Is there any chance Lowe is the closer next season? It would free up some money not resigning either Soriano or Gonzo and free up a rotation spot.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:52 pm
Is there any chance Lowe is the closer next season? It would free up some money not resigning either Soriano or Gonzo and free up a rotation spot.
Not for 60M dollars…
Rock On........
September 6th, 2009
11:52 pm
Chipper has already deferred money once before. Ain’t happening again nor should it.
RHR
September 6th, 2009
11:53 pm
Just think. The Braves could have signed Ilbanez for 3 years, $30 mil.
Are you one of those Fire Chipper! people? Please tell me that you are…
Roman Gal
September 6th, 2009
11:53 pm
Getting to the base is the problem. RHR
That’s obviously what Greg Norton is for…
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:53 pm
You do the math.
It’s already been done! What, do you think I’m making this sh#t up? I don’t know what else to tell you.
The A Bomb
September 6th, 2009
11:54 pm
Two speed guys at the top of the lineup work — if they get on base.
Worked with Nixon and Sanders for awhile…
Works with Reyes and Castillo (when healthy).
Works with Rollins and Victorino.
But Furcal and Pierre only worked when both hit.
Only combo I don’t understand being broken up was Pittsburgh with McCutchen and Morgan. I know they’re both CFs but that would have been dynamite.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:54 pm
Roman Gal–oh yeah, Garret frustrates me to no end in the OF. Nate-Dawg too.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:54 pm
PWHjort,
If anyone thinks the Braves are capable of creating a big inning, they are delusional and in denial.
Soph
September 6th, 2009
11:54 pm
I’m mad at Chipper because he wore a Tebow jersey. I’d trade him for a Francoeur rookie card right about now.
Ok, Chop Chop. I give you permission to be mad at Chipper for that. But, a Francoeur rookie card? Let’s not get too hasty here.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 6th, 2009
11:55 pm
Nolie: LOL – if the Braves are stuck with C. Jones for the rest of his contract – the most expensive bat in their lineup by a mile will never be healthy enough to play in 150 games and hit 30-100-.300 ever again for the life of his contract, plus is a zero at 3B – the Braves will never win a division while he is wearing our colors.
That’s how costly a mistake re-signing Jones long term is. His desire to retire a Brave will cost this organization dearly.
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:56 pm
Here’s an example of such a table from 2005:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/expected_runs_matrix2005.premium.php
The numbers from other years do not vary significantly, and the trends hold as far as I’ve investigated. This is also the basis for why stolen bases are overrated.
jcfromut
September 6th, 2009
11:57 pm
Lowe is going to be paid the same amount wheather as the closer or a starter. he might as well be used in a way that would best benefit the team.
The A Bomb
September 6th, 2009
11:57 pm
Oh BTW when Nixon stole 6 bases against Montreal in 1991 Braves lost that game.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:57 pm
Steve from OH,
All I have to say is playing small ball all the time is going to create more runs than praying for a 3 run homer…
long time reader
September 6th, 2009
11:58 pm
Fill in the blanks:
The Braves __________
Bobby Cox _____________
Chipper__________________
Greg Norton ________________
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:58 pm
An example of how the run-expected matrix is used for stolen base calculations from Baseball Prospectus:
Think of stealing bases as a bit like one of those commercials for breakfast cereal. You know, the ones where they say it takes 14 bowls of Cereal X to equal what you get from one bowl of Cereal Y. In this case, it takes three stolen bases to equal one walk of shame back to the dugout. If you’re stealing at less than a 75% success rate, you’re better off never going at all.
Consider the run-expectation table from 2003:
Bases Outs
0 1 2
————————————
empty 0.5219 0.2783 0.1083
1st 0.9116 0.5348 0.2349
2nd 1.1811 0.7125 0.3407
1st 2nd 1.5384 0.9092 0.4430
3rd 1.3734 1.0303 0.3848
1st 3rd 1.8807 1.2043 0.5223
2nd 3rd 2.0356 1.4105 0.5515
1st 2nd 3rd 2.4366 1.5250 0.7932
A runner on first with no one out is worth .9116 runs. A successful steal of second base with no one out would bump that to 1.1811 runs, a gain of .2695 expected runs. If that runner is caught, however, the expectation–now with one out and no one on base–drops to .2783, a loss of .6333 expected runs. That loss is about 2.3 times the gain.
I hope this shows up in the right format, but in any case, here’s the full text:
http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2607
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 6th, 2009
11:59 pm
Lowe is going to be paid the same amount wheather as the closer or a starter. he might as well be used in a way that would best benefit the team.
Good idea, but never going to happen…
long time reader
September 6th, 2009
11:59 pm
A Bomb
They’re still looking for the 1st base line from that game, too!
Steve from OH
September 6th, 2009
11:59 pm
All I have to say is playing small ball all the time is going to create more runs than praying for a 3 run homer…
And the numbers say you are wrong. That’s all I have to say.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:00 am
what the Angels are doing isn’t small ball. They lead the majors in batting average, have the second highest OBP, above average isolated power, and the third highest OPS in the majors (BH)
finally ! an intelligent post. Is this kiddie night?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
12:01 am
Fill in the blanks:
The Braves __________ need a lineup enema.
Bobby Cox _____________ may need to retire.
Chipper__________________ must defer more and leave.
Greg Norton ________________ SUCKS!!!
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:02 am
RHR
Where’s MFIKY?
Probably playing for the Cubs. And the Braves got the Cubs 1st round pick for it!
And Gonzo?
Also elsewhere, also netting the Braves a 1st/2nd round pick.
Who is the closer? You must be thinking KK since you have his 8 million dollar salary in the pen?
Sunk cost fallacy. You use your pieces the best way you can regardless of salary allocation once you’re committed to them. I was thinking Moylan, Kawakami, and Kimbrel could handle the duties throughout the year, though.
And who is Craig Kimbrel?
One of the Braves’ best prospects. He started the year at High-A, got demoted to Rome, went back to high-A, got promoted to AA, and is now on his 4th MiLB team this season with Gwinnett. He should be making his MLB debut at some point in 2010. He features a mid-90’s fastball that sits 92-95 but he has touched triple digits and a power slider that scouts figure is a true out pitch right now. So far he has a 157-to-58 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 94 and 1/3 minor league innings with a 2.00 ERA.
And why would we pay KJ 4 million dollars again?
Kelly Johnson WAR by year:
2005 – 1.7
2007 – 3.1
2008 – 2.1
2009 – 0.6
Clubs paid ~$4.5 million per WAR in 2008. I’m far from ready to give up on Kelly Johnson. He’s a good player who has stumbled on some bad BABIP luck this year, but he’s still very capable of contributing to a MLB team. And I still believe he’s more than a 1 win player. That’s all he has to do to be more than worth his salary.
And where was I when Schafer transformed himself into an MLB CF’er while spending the season on the DL?
Well, you’re right. There’s not much evidence that Schafer is ready for MLB. So you use McLouth in center and Church/Diaz in left until he is. Though I think if he has another good spring he’ll be given another shot. In the same breath I say there’s no evidence he’s MLB-ready, there’s also no evidence that he’s not MLB-ready. So I won’t rule out the possibility that Schafer starts out the year with the big club. Or starts in the minors. Either way, the team is equipped to get by with or without the presence of Schafer.
Why would we voluntarily cut payroll?
So we can spend on the draft and have flexibility to add payroll mid-season.
Rock On........
September 7th, 2009
12:02 am
When you put up FOUR freakin runs in 3 games against the Reds that is small ball enough for me.
Roman Gal
September 7th, 2009
12:02 am
Is this kiddie night? nolie
Maybe we should start sharing bedtime stories.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
12:02 am
How are people so sure that Lowe will be lights out as a closer?
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:02 am
Steve from OH,
What does that have to do with bunting?
Chop Chop
September 7th, 2009
12:05 am
One of the problems that statheads run into is the absolute arrogance that some take in their beliefs. Statheads who permeate blogs like this one don’t put the numbers together. They do not compile the stats. When statheads on such blogs quote some stats as Gospel truth, they drive people damn near insane. I understand why people get completely frustrated with some nerd shoving numbers in their faces and telling them that their viewpoint is incompatible with the numbers. It’s annoying. I like to check out stats. I like the defensive metrics. I think many of the offensive metrics are overkill. I think the people that quote them are looking for a reason to pass themselves off as some erudite baseball connoisseur. Unfortunately, many of those people just come across as pompous asses who are merely a rung or two below Lentz on the Prick-O-Meter.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:05 am
And the numbers say you are wrong. That’s all I have to say.
Wheres Billreef? Oh wait, wrong blog.
Supes
September 7th, 2009
12:05 am
It is going to be hard to find that power. I am just saying that if we do sign Figgins. He, Schafer, McLouth and Heyward can use their above average speed to force teams into mistakes. Watch how the Angels play. They drive you crazy with all their motion
**************
Rob from SC,
I agree but look at who the Braves manager is presently. Bobby Cox. He doesn’t want “speed” and doesn’t use “speed” like a Mike S. does with the Angels. Bobby Cox rather wait for the 3-run HR, except we don’t have many guys who hit many 3-run HR on a consistant basis right now.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:05 am
Big innings don’t have to come with home runs. They can come by virtue of 6 singles. Or a few walks and a few singles. It’s tougher to score runs without the aid of instant offense because it usually takes 3 “events” (hit, walk, error, wild pitch, etc.) to score a run with a singles-hitting club, but I would argue big innings happen just as frequently for both types of clubs. I would say that OBP correlates more with big innings than HR, SB, or anything else.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:06 am
What does that have to do with bunting?
It has everything to do with bunting! For example, with a runner on 1st and no outs, you expect to score about .9 runs. If you bunt successfully, you’ve got a runner at second and one out. Your run expectancy is now about .7 runs. Which odds do you want to take?
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:07 am
Baseball drives statistics, statistics don’t drive baseball…
The A Bomb
September 7th, 2009
12:07 am
Speed works when the speed guy hits/walks/gets on base.
Look at Furcal — .255 BA with a .319 OBP.
If he was hitting this year with those guys behind him he would lead the world in runs scored.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:07 am
Chop Chop–you like UZR? I’m not that big a fan…
long time reader
September 7th, 2009
12:08 am
I still say the Charmin moment of the season was in game 2 when Lowe got his arse picked off 2nd base by the catcher.
Braveheart
September 7th, 2009
12:08 am
Do you dolts understand a darn thing about contracts? He’s only making $50 MIL from 2009 through 2012. This is what he has to do to satisfy that contract:
(1) 2800 plate appearances with a league average OPS (.750) or so with an average glove
(2) 2800 plate appearances with an .800 or so OPS if he is a -10 defender
(3) 2100 plate appearances with an .800 or so OPS if he is an average defender
(4) 2100 plate appearances with an .850 or so OPS if he is a -10 defender
You get what you paid for. The salary terms of his contract told you what the Braves and Chipper were expecting from 2009 through 2012. They factored in a reasonable expectation of decline into the salary terms.
If he meets any of those scenarios above, he has repaid the team on the field what they have paid him. PUHLEEZE study up on contracts and make yourself somewhat familiar with how teams, agents, and players are coming to the financial terms they come to before you speak about the terms of the contract.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:08 am
It has everything to do with bunting! For example, with a runner on 1st and no outs, you expect to score about .9 runs. If you bunt successfully, you’ve got a runner at second and one out. Your run expectancy is now about .7 runs. Which odds do you want to take?
I’ll take the man in scoring position. And you said nothing about a man on second with one out…
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:08 am
One of the problems that statheads run into is the absolute arrogance that some take in their beliefs.
As a stathead, I know exactly what you mean and resent it. And I hope you don’t think I’m one of the arrogant ones.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:10 am
Question is will he be willing to ride off into the sunset if he is not the everyday 3rd baseman? (Rock On)
He will continue to be the starting third bseman for a while and he has said that he detests DHing, and I doubt he will just walk away from 42 million dollars.Chipper might actually bounce back a bit next season.Age is part of this year obviously, but part is likely regression to the mean.Remember I said all winter and spring that he was due for an off year. He might be more productive if they limited him to 120-130 games tops. Anyway it is too early for them to be willing to give up on him, especially considering he is stll having one of the better hitting seasons on the team despite his tailoff
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:10 am
Baseball drives statistics, statistics don’t drive baseball…
C’mon, dude. I can see arguing a specific player, because it’s very difficult to integrate offense, defense and baserunning, i.e. placing an appropriate value on each and effectively quantifying them, but in this case…the numbers are pretty clear. If you play for one run, that’s all you’ll probably get.
a643dp
September 7th, 2009
12:10 am
So is Smoltz pitching on Sunday cbssportsline says he is?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
12:11 am
Oh, and by the way, Braveheart et. al.:
League Leaders in Stolen Bases
1. Rays – 170
2. Angels – 132
3. Rangers – 127
Ask Mike Sciosia and the other two managers if they did not have those numbers, would they still be competing for a division or a wild card? Esp. when two of the three are “small market” teams?
C’mon, fellas. Takes a man to admit when they’re wrong. . .
RHR
September 7th, 2009
12:11 am
Why is Chipper not allowed to chew bubblegum in the dugout when he’s not playing?
Oh that’s easy. Because he sucks. Sucky people don’t get to do anything except sit around and look like they’re sorry about sucking. Personally I think he should hold up signs in the dugout, Manny style, except Chipper’s signs need to say “You’re right, Rob. I suck and I’m sorry” and “Yes MiaBravesFan, I should ride off into the sunset, thanks for the idea!” and “I really wanted to go 0-fer today, I’m so proud of myself!” … you know, stuff like that. He needs a dry erase board so that he can have a new message up every time the camera shows him.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:12 am
And I hope you don’t think I’m one of the arrogant ones.
I don’t.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:12 am
PWH–don’t forget that playoff teams pay more per marginal win than non-contending clubs. For example, a club will pay more to get from 89 to 90 wins than to get from 72 to 75 wins. Also, for individual players, I’ve got it on (what I feel to be) fairly good authority that the WAR/pay scale increases on a curve as opposed to linearly, so you’ll pay more per win as a player becomes worth more wins.
Chop Chop
September 7th, 2009
12:13 am
I like UZR better than Plus/Minus when UZR confirms my theories about certain players. Of course, either one is perfectly acceptable if a particular rating can be used to wallop a fellow blogger upside the head for cheap points. That makes me look smart.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:15 am
Chop Chop–no need to be a smartass. There’s a time for that and a time for legit disussion, dude.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
12:15 am
That makes me look smart.
So, that’s how you manage to rack up all those props, Chop Chop.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:15 am
C’mon, dude. I can see arguing a specific player, because it’s very difficult to integrate offense, defense and baserunning, i.e. placing an appropriate value on each and effectively quantifying them, but in this case…the numbers are pretty clear. If you play for one run, that’s all you’ll probably get.
I think you’re mostly right. In general you’ll score more frequently but the possibility of scoring multiple runs in the inning is diminished to the point that your overall run expectancy decreases. However, it can be used effective situationally. Like, when 1 run is all you need. Or when the guy bunting can’t hit (pitcher). Research shows that with runners on 1st and 2nd with a pitcher up and nobody out it’s actually better to have your pitcher bunt in most cases (depending on the quality of the leadoff hitter and the pitcher’s hitting ability). So 1-run strategies shouldn’t be completely done away with. Just used less frequently. Like when McLouth gets on and Prado bunts him over in the 1st inning–that’s misuse. That annoys me to no end.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
12:16 am
Thanks for the clarification, RHR. I may have some more questions for you later. Props for the info, by the way.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
12:17 am
Fill in the blanks:
The Braves are who we thought they were!
Bobby Cox Sucks and picks his nose and needs to retire.
Chipper is old and sucky and needs to retire.
Greg Norton is an overachiever.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:17 am
However, it can be used effective situationally. Like, when 1 run is all you need. Or when the guy bunting can’t hit (pitcher).
Oh yeah, absolutely. Not arguing that point at all. Like you said–early in games and with your good hitters–terrible strategy. Bunting is great when you need one run. Not when McLouth is on first with no one up and Prado batting in the 3rd inning.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:19 am
Like when McLouth gets on and Prado bunts him over in the 1st inning–that’s misuse. That annoys me to no end.
How about when Nate gets on and Prado ground in a double play, or in the beginning of the season when Johnson got on and Yunel GIDP…
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:20 am
Man on second, one out. It would theoretically take a 1 base hit to score the run in 2 chances. Man on first, no out. It would take 2 hits in 3 chances. You do the math. You also have to avoid hitting the ball on the ground in the later scenario, however with a man on second, a ground ball is productive (JJ)
seems like it should be that way doesn’t it? But it isn’t. Aman on second with one out vs aman on first with no outs acyually has been proven to cause less runs to score. It is a decent strategy when you absolutely need one run late in a game but not an efficient one to use throughout a game as the core of your offense.As far as SB is concerned, remember a few years ago the Mets stole 200 bases which is very unusual nowdays and the Braves stole 66 or so but still outscored them for the season. It’s true that these things can be effective in isolated instances, and the Braves doing them so poorly has hurt in some cases. But ever since the use of metal bats has overtaken amateur ball, allplayers have become less proficient at bunting in particular. It isn’t just the Braves who have trouble, but most teams in the MLB are not very good at them.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:20 am
PWH–don’t forget that playoff teams pay more per marginal win than non-contending clubs. For example, a club will pay more to get from 89 to 90 wins than to get from 72 to 75 wins. Also, for individual players, I’ve got it on (what I feel to be) fairly good authority that the WAR/pay scale increases on a curve as opposed to linearly, so you’ll pay more per win as a player becomes worth more wins.
Yes, because a roster of 25 1-WAR players nets you 74 wins but it’s hardly worth $112 million. The roster spot is worth something too. That’s also why people sometimes over-value the effectiveness of a platoon. If you can put together Ryan Church and Matt Diaz and come up with Carlos Beltran, you haven’t come up with Carlos Beltran. You’ve come up with 2 halves of Carlos Beltran occupying 2 roster spaces as opposed to one. The whole is worth more than the sum of the parts.
Keith
September 7th, 2009
12:21 am
Trading Chipper is like trading the Pope of Atlanta but it has to be done. Chipper would be a solid DH. He is good for 120-130 games at 3B or 162 as a DH. Boston?, New York? Texas? We better trade for a AA or AAA 3B who can hit .280/25/90. More than an adequate replacement. He can be gotten by trading Chipper, Lowe, or Vazquez.
Braveheart
September 7th, 2009
12:22 am
Steve, I used to like UZR alot more than I have this season. I just don’t agree with alot of the numbers this season. One problem is that it ain’t even the real UZR. But this version of UZR that we are seeing on fangraphs is the one that is publicly available and accessible. Dewan’s may be better, but there are two problems with it. You have to pay for it, which most people won’t, and the website that it is on is so poorly constructed that it’s way too difficult to access the stat. It’s just too much of a darn hassle to go find.
I’m not convinced that any of them are better than the other. I’d much rather just have access to about 5 or 6 defensive metrics and just add them all together to come to a number that makes sense. Perhaps I’d weight some more than others based upon my own preference, or I’d just take the 6 of them and disregard the outliers at the two extremes – the one that says the guy is awesome and the one that says he sucks and just take the average of the other 4.
Most importantly though you gotta base it upon observation first. I think Yunel is a very good defender from what I’ve seen, but not great. So when I see Dewan rate him a +12 last season, and +9 this season, that makes sense to me. When I saw the other version of UZR rate him similarly last winter that made sense to me. When I saw this other fangraph version of UZR say he was just average last year and -3 this season, that just doesn’t make sense to me
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:23 am
Wheres Billreef? Oh wait, wrong blog.
HAHA. I’m not a fan of that guy.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:23 am
Yes, because a roster of 25 1-WAR players nets you 74 wins but it’s hardly worth $112 million.
Yep. But keep in mind that those values are calculated from free agency, so 4.5 isn’t really what is paid per win–it’s just what is paid on the free agent market. Good post.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:23 am
Maybe we should start sharing bedtime stories. (RG)
sure. your bedroom or mine. OMG Ronnie was right, I am lewd!!!
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
12:24 am
However. . .
When your number three hitter just isn’t what he used to be and probably refuses to move down in the lineup so the SS can move to the three hole and your cleanup hitter is a beat-up catcher who is rarely rested and constantly has to clear the fog out of his goggles. . .
Then McClouth getting on base and what Prado does becomes a moot point.
NO MORE BOBBY
September 7th, 2009
12:24 am
I say we begin a collection to hire bodyguards to keep Terry Pendleton the hell away from Schafer, Heyward and Freeman. – ROB FROM SC
AMEN TO THAT!!!
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:25 am
Nolie,
Bottom line: Braves scored 4 runs against the Reds. A little bunting and stealing ain’t gunna hurt anyone.
Chop Chop
September 7th, 2009
12:25 am
Steve,
In the interest of legitimate discussion, I think that UZR/150 and Plus/Minus are both useful. I think I’ve read that some people are trying to figure out a way to get the outliers in both systems to be a little closer in their measurements. Defense is the one area where scouts are damned accurate in their assessments of players, so tying the metrics, scouts’ reports, and any other measuring tools together would give any GM a highly accurate take on how a player fields at a particular position.
Of course, I don’t have the independent knowledge to be able to thoroughly praise or ridicule either of those metrics. I’m just reading stuff.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:25 am
Dewan’s may be better, but there are two problems with it. You have to pay for it, which most people won’t, and the website that it is on is so poorly constructed that it’s way too difficult to access the stat. It’s just too much of a darn hassle to go find.
You’re speaking of two different systems. John Dewan’s +/- is different from UZR. The real version of UZR is publicly accessible on fangraphs. +/- is sort of accessible on fieldingbible.com. But the detailed numbers are available only to billjamesonline.net subscribers.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:26 am
HAHA. I’m not a fan of that guy.
Is anyone? I saw that dumb-bass talking about Francouers RBI today…
Classic.
Mitchell
September 7th, 2009
12:27 am
F the Braves. F Bobby Cox. F Frank Wren if he doesn’t fire him sometime in the calender year.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:27 am
BH–my big beef with UZR is that it doesn’t account for positioning, at least in the version I read about. I realize that the math attempts to take out some of that (like the avg. SS catches .33 balls in zone x when a RHH is up and a runner is on 1B, etc.), but bad positioning can severely hurt one’s UZR and good positioning can artificially inflate it (I’m thinking of those 2 ground balls Chipper hit last night right over 2B where the SS had him played). Likewise, the talent around you can have a big effect. For example, if you’ve got Willie Mays in CF catching balls in the LF’s or RF’s zone, their UZR goes down…
Finally, there’s some subjectivity in the people grading out whether or not the ball is hit hard, medium, soft, etc. Can’t like that in an “objective” stat. I know they try to make it as uniform as possible, but problems exist.
But it is still a good approximation, because it does tell you how many plays a player made, regardless of positioning etc. There is value in that.
NO MORE BOBBY
September 7th, 2009
12:29 am
I will be a Braves fan for life but gave up on them after the first loss in this Reds series. Came home from being out all day and see that we got swept. I actually laughed.
On one hand we have some great talent this season and it sucks to lose but on the other I feel like this is what Wren needs to finally get rid of Bobby.
2010 – THE FANS WANT CHANGE
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:30 am
Chop Chop–thanks! I do enjoy hearing your input on those things. For the record, I always try to read as much as possible about a stat so I know the benefits/drawbacks of it, and know how it is calculated. Like you, I prefer scouts’ assessments to metrics and I think most front offices do too.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:31 am
I will be a Braves fan for life but gave up on them after the first loss in this Reds series
This is rich. We’ve got a pretty good discussion going tonight about a lot of things and then this guy drops that gem. Dude, try some new material?
Roman Gal
September 7th, 2009
12:31 am
nolie, nolie, nolie…
[shakes head]
NO MORE BOBBY
September 7th, 2009
12:31 am
Where is Wayne in Utah and all the other Bobby lovers?
Not much to say now is there?
Braveheart
September 7th, 2009
12:32 am
PWH, that ain’t the real version of UZR on fangraphs.
NO MORE BOBBY
September 7th, 2009
12:35 am
Sorry Steve from OH. Im not here to drop “material”.
Im on here to vent just like everyone else. Sorry my choice of hate words were not up to your expectations.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:35 am
All this talk about UZR and +/- is crazy…
I use the fielding rating in the scouting report on the back of players baseball cards on MLB The Show 09…
There, I’d thought I through Soph a bone before I went to bed…
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:35 am
Braveheart,
Yes it is. It isn’t Dewan’s UZR, because Dewan isn’t directly responsible for the creation of UZR. Dewan’s brainchild is +/-. But as far as UZR goes, Fangraphs has the real deal. And I will agree with you, I prefer +/-.
Roman Gal
September 7th, 2009
12:35 am
Not much to say now is there?
Not much to say about what?
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:36 am
Im on here to vent just like everyone else.
You’re the only one venting here, big guy.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:36 am
Bottom line: Braves scored 4 runs against the Reds. A little bunting and stealing ain’t gunna hurt anyone (JJ)
whatever dude.In case you don’y know it, absolutely anything can happen in a short series in baseball. It has nothing to do with what might happen another one.
Re the difference between statophiles and statophobes:
Stuart Chase once said
“For someone who believes no proof is necessary.For someone who doesn’t believe no proof is possible”
applies to a lot of things in the ol’ world
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:37 am
Back page blues » Comment Page 11 | Atlanta Braves with David O’Brien
You want the Braves vent… here you go: http://projects.ajc.com/vent/sports/braves/2009/09/07/#606646
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:38 am
NO MORE BOBBY,
Here to Vent are you? Because I hear we have a “Vent” for that.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:38 am
I like +/- better as well…but I think the “perfect” defensive metric would use vectors to chart how far (and fast) the fielder moved and how fast and on what trajectory the ball moved. But then again, I’m terrible at math…
Chop Chop
September 7th, 2009
12:38 am
For someone who vacillates between belief and unbelief, the proof is in the pudding.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
12:39 am
There, I’d thought I through Soph a bone before I went to bed…
Unfortunately, I’m just as lost as you. So, I can’t do anything with the bone.
Braveheart
September 7th, 2009
12:39 am
PWH, I am well aware that +/- and UZR are two different systems. Are you aware that there are actually different UZRs? The one that MGL keeps to himself, and the one he licenses to fangraphs?
And, dude, I know Dewan’s numbers are accessible on billjamesonline. I’m a subscriber. The point is that it is pointless to cite the stat if over 99% of the baseball fanbase ain’t gonna pay bill james money to go to his site. And being a subscriber to his site, I don’t see the point of paying for it. It sucks. It’s so poorly constructed. It just takes far too much work to get what you are looking for, and to use it make comparisons other players and so forth.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:39 am
Im on here to vent just like everyone else.
You want the Braves Vent, here: http://projects.ajc.com/vent/sports/braves/2009/09/07/#606646
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:40 am
Damn you Steve from OH and PWHjort!!!
I had it! I beat you, but then I screw up! GRRR!
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:41 am
Unfortunately, I’m just as lost as you. So, I can’t do anything with the bone.
I’m not lost… What ever happened to our quarrel?
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:41 am
By the way, the “I’m not here to drop material” line is just put on a tee for jokes.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
12:42 am
I’m not lost… What ever happened to our quarrel?
You quit, remember?
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:42 am
For someone who vacillates between belief and unbelief, the proof is in the pudding. (CHOP)
most on here are either one or the other not some vascillating agnostic. Vanilla or chocolate pudding?
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:43 am
You quit, remember?
…No.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
12:43 am
Did someone say material?
Walaa! Here I am!
Uhh…
Chop Chop
September 7th, 2009
12:43 am
Chocolate vanilla swirl, nolie.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
12:43 am
Tapioca?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
12:44 am
Braveheart: somewhere in the middle of the numbers you quoted in your 12:22 post and everyone’s observations on this blog is the truth:
Yunel Escobar is a good SS, not great. He is a big-bodied kid whose getting bigger as he grows older. His range is good, not great. He makes the plays he’s suppoosed to make; he doesn’t make plays. Lots of hits have gone up the middle, plays that the Omar Vizquel’s, Jack Wilson’s, and, now, Elvis Andrus’ make. Escobar has a great gun, which will prob. better serve him at third. Third will spare Escobar injuries; his distaste for turning the DP is very well-documented.
Fans tend to base fielding opinions based on SportsCenter highlights. One of the most overrated SS’s is Derek Jeter. He has never had Escobar’s gun, is slow, not quick. . .
He makes all the plays he’s supposed to make. Since he plays for the Yankees, he’ll naturally go to the HOF.
He’s a winner, and a solid hitter, not great. No one will confuse him with Omar Vizquel. If Omar Vizquel would’ve been a Yankee, he would be annointed The Greatest SS Of All Time. . .
Somewhere between the #’s and what we see (that includes scouts), is the truth. The truth is Escobar would better serve the Braves as a 3B (as soon as Chipper is gone) and either find or grow an Elvis Andrus-type SS that makes plays and saves pitching staffs.
(And yes, Escobar’s slugging is good enough to play 3B if Freeman becomes the man at 1B.)
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:45 am
Chocolate vanilla swirl, (CHOP)
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:45 am
Jurrjens–in a nutshell, UZR breaks the field up into a bunch of little zones and has people (”stringers”) at the games classifying batted ball type (LD, GB, FB, and hard, medium, soft velocity). UZR quantifies how many balls were turned into outs in each zone on average by a given position. For example, major league SS converted x% of balls in zone y. They also add in various factors, such as handedness of batter, baserunners on, etc., so the real calculation looks like:
The average ML SS converted x% of balls in zone y when a RHH was at bat and runners on 2nd and 3rd, and so on for each situation. Each fielder’s total is compared to this average figure for each zone and they are mathetized together.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
12:45 am
…No.
Well, I thought you did. You said you hated me then disappeared. And, you said I was 30 which I’m still mad at you about.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:48 am
At least, that was the vibe I got while reading MGL’s explaination. It could very well have changed since the articles publication, which IIRC was in 03.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
12:48 am
Hey do any of you statty people ever wish we played in a small park? Sometimes…like when I watch a Yankees game…I wish the Braves played in a small park.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:49 am
(”stringers”) at the games classifying batted ball type (LD, GB, FB, and hard, medium, soft velocity). (Steve)
one of my main complaints about it. adds too much subjectity. none of those people are gonna make the same decisions all the time. Stringer A might see one play one way while stringer B might see that play another.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
12:49 am
And isn’t Yunel like 27? When will he stop being “young” and “kid”?
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:50 am
Well, I thought you did. You said you hated me then disappeared. And, you said I was 30 which I’m still mad at you about.
My laptop broke…
Well than how old?
Here, I’ll give you a clue about my age…
I’m old enough to know were babies come from but not old enough to have sex with Jennifer Aniston…
GAH! (**Slams hand on desk**) Someday…
…someday.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
12:50 am
Hey do any of you statty people ever wish we played in a small park? Sometimes…like when I watch a Yankees game…I wish the Braves played in a small park (RHR)
I love high scoring games, but prefer the Braves play in a spacious park.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:51 am
nolie–yessir. I said as much at 12:27.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
12:52 am
JJ dude, everyone already knows you’re still in high school.
nolie – if only we had retractable seats – out when the braves hit, in when the other team hits LOL
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:52 am
How much money are we going to get from shared revenue?? Seeing as how ESPN hates us…
Braveheart
September 7th, 2009
12:52 am
No, MiaBeachBravesFan, when I say Escobar is a very good defender, but not great, I mean he is an above average defender. He actually saves his team runs compared to the average shortstop. Makes about 15 more plays a season than the average SS and saves his team 10 to 15 runs because of it. If I mean to say he was an average defender, I would’ve just said he was good, but not very good. I really don’t know how you could claim to watch the games and think he’s just an average defender. By the time he becomes a defensive liability that needs to be moved to third, he’ll likely be turning 30 and the Braves will likely just let him walk in free agency.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:54 am
if only we had retractable seats – out when the braves hit, in when the other team hits LOL
So THATS how the Astros beat us in 05…
Soph
September 7th, 2009
12:54 am
Here, I’ll give you a clue about my age…
8 year olds know where babies come from these days.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
12:54 am
I’m glad ESPN hates us. Sure wouldn’t want to hear what they’d have to say about this blistering 5 game losing streak.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:54 am
The one that MGL keeps to himself, and the one he licenses to fangraphs?
Are there significant differences? And no, I wasn’t aware that there are two versions.
I too am a BJOL subscriber, and I don’t really mind the site, though it is a bit clunky. I think it’s well worth it. Of course, I’m kind of weird, and I feel like that site is best enjoyed by people who are just a bit weird with regards to their interests. It’s not my favorite subscriber site. I prefer Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America, though BA’s interface drives me insane, too. I think the people who enjoy BJOL the most are the ones who spend the most time in the interactions section. “Hey Bill”, “Reader Posts”, “Polls and Arguments”, and even the Articles rather than the statistics. The statistics section is weird and quirky. I like it, but the rest of the site is more enjoyable, I think.
Steve from OH
September 7th, 2009
12:54 am
I don’t think Yunel’s hip flexor problems have helped him at all this year either…and those tend to stay with you a while.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:55 am
8 year olds know where babies come from these days.
Thats hot.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:56 am
I’m glad ESPN hates us. Sure wouldn’t want to hear what they’d have to say about this blistering 5 game losing streak.
If ESPN liked us, they would great pitching and how its like the mid 90s all over again.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
12:57 am
8 year olds are hot? Gross.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:57 am
Oh. and before Soph goes off and thinks I’m a pervent, I was being being sarcastic…
Soph
September 7th, 2009
12:58 am
jeffrey, please take him under your wing. He needs help.
Headed in the wrong direction…
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
12:58 am
Back to rosters. I think the Konerko thing is a good idea. I don’t know if it could be accomplished. A few reasons. 1st, Konerko is a 10-and-5, he’d have to approve the trade. 2nd, I don’t know if the White Sox would even look to trade Konerko. They don’t seem to have anyone who could take that position in his absence. But FW and KW get along well, so maybe.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:58 am
Oops, this time it was jeffrey d.
Sorry Soph, I undermined you again
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
12:59 am
Oops, wait Soph. I was right about you all along…
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
12:59 am
How does ESPN hate us again? Because they’re not covering an average team with a so-so fan base that’s quickly fading and embarrassing itself? Yeah, what jerks.
Besides, they’ve only given us the Sunday night game for what seems about 2 straight months now.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
1:00 am
Braveheart: I see the games, and Escobar is closer to average than above average. He doesn’t throw his body around, and while he is good going to the hole (b/c of his gun), he is average on balls that go to his left. Lots of hits have gone up the middle to the left of the bag because my Cuban buddy doesn’t want to get his uni dirty.
Apparently, we agree to disagree.
Roman Gal
September 7th, 2009
1:00 am
I’m glad ESPN hates us.
Blasphemy! If we had ESPN’s approval, we’d be the best team EVER! Wait…maybe we just need to take matters into our own hands.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:00 am
Oops, wait Soph. I was right about you all along…
So, you think you’ve got me all figured out, huh?
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:01 am
Soph,
Yeah. I do.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
1:01 am
I know he bats left-handed, but if the Rays are still looking to move Carlos Pena he may be a fit.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:02 am
JJ,
No, you don’t.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:02 am
Soph,
I predicted your move didn’t I. If we were playing Chess, you’d be a goner…
Good for you were not playing Chess.
Roman Gal
September 7th, 2009
1:02 am
I don’t think Yunel’s hip flexor problems have helped him at all this year either
Good point. They take a lot of rest to completely heal. He’ll need to take it easy for a while when the season’s over.
jeffrey d, Reigning "Headed in the Right Direction" Winner
September 7th, 2009
1:03 am
I think I’ll stay away from this one.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:03 am
I know he bats left-handed, but if the Rays are still looking to move Carlos Pena he may be a fit.
Been there, discussed that.
RHR
September 7th, 2009
1:04 am
Uhh Jerry Lewis just dropped a GD bomb on the telethon. I was so surprised I had to rewind to make sure thats what he said.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:04 am
jeffrey, you have to honor your award by helping out a person in need. By the way, please tell me you really didn’t tell him to use the catchphrase, shalamadingdong?
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:04 am
I think I’ll stay away from this one.
jeffrey d, Reigning "Headed in the Right Direction" Winner
September 7th, 2009
1:05 am
Well I didn’t think he’d actually use it
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:06 am
I think I’ll stay away from this one.
There we go!
RHR
September 7th, 2009
1:06 am
Your boat?
oh wait…I know this one…TIDE!
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:06 am
Yeah, he used it and more than once too. And, he told everyone you told him to use it.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:07 am
Well I didn’t think he’d actually use it
OH PLEASE! Gimme a break…
Jurrjens4NLCY reigning "Best Braves Blog in all of MLBlogs in the month of August!"
September 7th, 2009
1:08 am
No Respect, ehh, I tell ya, No respect
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:10 am
No Respect, ehh, I tell ya, No respect
I swear, I’ve heard that one before.
Roman Gal
September 7th, 2009
1:10 am
This photo cracks me up.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
1:10 am
Chris Berman sucks! When he makes his cheesy music references, he sucks even further.
O'Brien
September 7th, 2009
1:11 am
I agree that Ilbanez numbers this season have been inflated because of the Phillies lineup, and playing in a sandbox. But From 2004-2008, Ilbanez averaged 22.6 HR, 97.8 RBI.
Although Ilbanez has sucked the second half, if we had anyone that put up anything close to his first half numbers, the Braves would be leading either the division or the wildcard. Unfortunately, early in the season, we were stuck with the likes of Schaffer, Frenchy, and KJ.
If the Braves got production similar to Ilbanez’ average from LF, they would have been thrilled. (I will ignore Dunn’s numbers, because you guys are right. His defense is atrocious, and he probably strikes out 160 times for the year).
I hope that Frank Wren will be able to fix the offense like he fixed the pitching.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
1:11 am
1B: Name – 2009 SLG%
Albert Pujols – .678
Prince Fielder – .591
Kendry Morales – .588
Ryan Howard – .566
Derrek Lee – .561
Miguel Cabrera – .561
Kevin Youkilis – .559
Adrian Gonzalez – .552
Mark Teixeira – .538
Carlos Pena – .538
Joey Votto – .532
Justin Morneau – .525
Russell Branyan – .520
Todd Helton – .502
Paul Konerko – .496
Lance Berkman – .492
Jim Thome – .491
Adam LaRoche – .479
Lyle Overbay – .474
Billy Butler – .469
Hank Blalock – .466
Jorge Cantu – .443
Ryan Garko – .434
Fernando Tatis – .423
Chris Davis – .416
Nick Johnson – .411
Daniel Murphy – .404
Casey Kotchman – .396
Aubrey Huff – .394
Travis Ishikawa – .390
James Loney – .387
Jason Giambi – .365
Chad Tracy – .361
NO MORE BOBBY
September 7th, 2009
1:11 am
Is this better for you guys?
Wow! We really had a shot today if those two great players didnt run into each other.
Maybe we should try and sign Dunn. He hits a lot of homers!
Hope Bobby comes back next year. He has earned the right to stay as long as he wants. Forget winning. He reminds me of my granpa. I love my grandpa.
I like fast teams. Wish we had speed on this team. But thats ok. We will sign Dunn and everything will be ok next year.
Did anyone take their dog to the game today. I love dogs.
Everyone want to meet back here tomorrow and discuss the same crap we have been tlking about since May? Swell. See you tomorrow Braves buddies.
GOODNIGHT LOSERS!!!!
Jurrjens4NLCY reigning "Best Braves Blog in all of MLBlogs in the month of August!"
September 7th, 2009
1:12 am
RG,
Now thats what I call California Lovin’…
HI-YO!
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:12 am
That pic makes it look like we just clinched the division.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:12 am
This photo cracks me up.
The two pics after that are funny too.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:12 am
GOODNIGHT LOSERS!!!!
Night!
Braveheart
September 7th, 2009
1:14 am
PWH, here’s a discussion on the difference between sUZR and bUZR:
http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/suzr_v_buzr/#comments
And I get what you are saying about billjamesonline, but the way I like to use these sites is that when you are engaged in a conversation like this one, I like to be able to wheel around the site real fast to find the evidentiary support I’m looking for and be able to cite to it. It helps for the information and site to be easily available, accessible, and formatted such that people who aren’t familiar with the site don’t want to run away when you cite that site. I really don’t like taking 30 minutes to find what I’m looking for when engaged in a blog debate, especially when the information I’m working way too hard to find can’t be accessed by the people I’m getting the information for
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:15 am
This time I beat jeffrey d to the punch, with a funnier joke too, I feel so proud.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:16 am
Soph,
Lets finish this…
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:16 am
TPG didn’t come back tonight.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:17 am
Finish what?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
1:18 am
Niters, NMB (ROTFLMAO)
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:19 am
TPG didn’t come back tonight.
Guess that means he’ll be doing laundry in the morning
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:21 am
Maybe he remembered to set his alarm though!
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:22 am
Well I took his abscence to mean that he didn’t set his alarm.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:24 am
It’s possible. He was actually pretty nice the last few days. I’m still confused about why he was painting scenarios with me and you as coaches for UGA though.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:24 am
How’s he gonna talk about finishing something and then up and disappear without finishing it?
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:26 am
Maybe he’s teaching by giving us hands on experience. He’s probably monitoring us right now.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:26 am
Wonder if JJ fell asleep
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:27 am
Headed in the wrong direction…
Awards Show was right.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
1:28 am
O’Brien:
Garrett Anderson hit 12-51-.281 for $2 million
Question: if Ibañez averages 23 homers and 98 RBI’s, would you pay an extra $8 million for 11 homers and 47 RBI’s?
Neither would I.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
1:28 am
Looking at the 1B list, say you cut it off at Butler for the caliber player you want. Of those, only LaRoche, Thome, and Branyan are scheduled to hit free agency. I believe Branyan will sign an extension with Seattle and his defense sucks. Thome almost can’t play 1B, much less play it well. And LaRoche is the best FA 1B on the market and his first time hitting FA, so he’ll likely be looking to cash in on a huge FA contract. I don’t see a solution via free agency.
That leaves trades. Taking the players that will have 1 year left on their contract, you have (with their 2010 salary):
Derrek Lee – $13 million – RH hitter
Carlos Pena – $10.125 million – LH hitter
Paul Konerko – $12 million – RH hitter
Lyle Overbay – $7 million – LH hitter
Prince Fielder is signed for 2010 at $10.5 million and will be arbitration-eligible in 2011. He’s the only one with 2 years left on his contract in that group.
If the Cubs were willing to trade Derrek Lee or the White Sox were willing to trade Konerko and he would accept a trade that would be, I think, the Braves’ best option at 1B. If not, maybe a deal for Pena or Fielder could be swung, provided the Braves would be LH-heavy again. Overbay would remind everyone of Casey Kotchman at 1B (with slightly more power), but he’d be effective and he’s fairly cheap. Though he doesn’t fix the Braves biggest systematic weakness. But it looks a bit rosier than sticking Prado at 1B and KJ or Conrad at 2B. Or depending on Canizares at 1B.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:31 am
At least McFann had a halfway decent weekend with Tech winning.
The rest of us…not so good sportswise.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:33 am
The rest of us…not so good sportswise.
Between the Braves and high school and college football, I’m 0-7.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:34 am
A Georgia win would’ve negated all of that, but alas…
man, looks like we really killed the conversation.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:36 am
I went 0-6. Although I counted GA State not having a football team yet as two losses.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:37 am
I’ll use my Roman Gal call. ahem…
Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg and Jordan Schayfer are the two stupidest and ugliest players in the history of baseball.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:39 am
I’m seriously picturing JJ having fell asleep at his desk.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:40 am
Haaaa. You didn’t even have to say anything bad about them. Just spelling his name Schayfer would’ve done the trick.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:41 am
Past his bedtime so I wouldn’t be surprised.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:43 am
Oh screw you Soph, I was watching Futurama…
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:43 am
But it’s not a school night….oh well. Little tyke’s probably exhausted.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:43 am
oh he woke up cranky
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:45 am
PWHjort,
Derek Lee would be great, but I think we need another Lefty, no seriously…
Check our record against rightys… Thats bad…
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:46 am
With half the team already left-handed, and with Schafer, Heyward, and Freeman also left-handed, I wouldn’t say we’d need another lefty.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
1:46 am
Enter your comments here
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:46 am
Little tyke?
Phht. Anti-Semite!
This blog has no place for racism…
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:47 am
But most of our leftys kill leftys… And most of our rightys kills leftys, see the problem?
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:47 am
oh he woke up cranky
Tell me about it.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
1:48 am
Bender & Beck – LOL
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:50 am
Young isn’t a race.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
1:51 am
Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony (I am not making this up!) in stores on Oct. 29th.
The apocalypse is closer than I thought. . .
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
1:54 am
Staying young is.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:54 am
This thing acts up late at night. Eating posts, left and right.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:56 am
It just acts funny when not a lot of people are posting.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:56 am
Guess it’s my turn to head out. ‘night everyone
Soph
September 7th, 2009
1:57 am
Night jeffrey!
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:59 am
But before I go, I’ll do my Lentz call. ahem….
This Braves team sure is playing with a lot of heart and passion. And I think Tim Hudson should move to the bullpen.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
1:59 am
MiaBchBravesFan,
I know, That looks hilarious.
jeffrey d,
Tyke sounds a lot like ky*e, hence the pun, dumb-bass…
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
1:59 am
hmm, looks like “Futurama” came on again. That, or JJ just had a tall glass of warm milk.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
2:00 am
I’m a dumb bass?
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
2:00 am
Bender: the most corrupt cartoon character of all time.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
2:00 am
The thing is, I’m not so sure our lefties will kill lefties anymore. McCann has been bad against lefties this season. Schafer is noticeably worse at hitting lefties. Kotchman is gone and he always hit lefties alright. Chipper has been better from the right side for most of the season, will that continue? The only players we’ll have next year that mash lefties are Prado, Diaz, David Ross, and possibly KJ.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:01 am
I used to say dumb bass when I was little so I wouldn’t get in trouble for saying the real thing. Those were the days.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:07 am
Soph,
Its a blog, with kids younger than me, I’m being respectful…
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:08 am
PWHjort, It seems Im going to play devil advocate against myself here but: GA has hit better against leftys and he sure as hell isn’t sticking around…
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:09 am
Oh, I didn’t mention that to make fun of you or anything. It just reminded me of when I was younger, that’s all…
MiaBchBravesFan
September 7th, 2009
2:09 am
G’night all.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
2:10 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq0mrk9c15w
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:11 am
Is there a human being alive that is trashier than Michael Moore?
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:13 am
Blah. In high school, I used to work at a place that sold those singing bass fish – scarred me for life.
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
2:15 am
Just makin a point. I ain’t no dumb bass.
I’ll leave you two alone now
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:16 am
Oh, I didn’t mention that to make fun of you or anything. It just reminded me of when I was younger, that’s all…
Oh, its just, you make it seem like I’m 11 or something…
Refering back to my “thats hot” remark, I wanted to discuss a problem in society… Kids are doing older things at a much to young age. I started cursing in 3th grade. And I feel like kids are being robbed of their childhood because of that.
I didn’t go into drugs and sex because those are private things…
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:18 am
Night again jeffrey.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:19 am
If the Nats offered Stephan Strasberg and Ryan Zimmerman for Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, and Chipper Jones (taking all of his contract), would you take it?
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:22 am
Oh, its just, you make it seem like I’m 11 or something…
I’m sorry, I’m just teasing you.
I didn’t mean anything by my earlier post about you heading in the wrong direction either. I was just poking fun.
And, the dumb-bass thing – I really was referring to how I used to say that when I younger to my brothers. It brought back memories when you said it.
I am sorry though.
P. W. Hjort
September 7th, 2009
2:22 am
If the Nats offered Stephan Strasberg and Ryan Zimmerman for Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, and Chipper Jones (taking all of his contract), would you take it?
I’d take it. Though the Nationals would have to pay the remainder of Strasburg’s bonus and contract.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:25 am
Soph,
Oh. its just, you now make it seem like I’m sensitive…
By the by, you can never win.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:28 am
I’d take it. Though the Nationals would have to pay the remainder of Strasburg’s bonus and contract.
Really? I know it would look good, but Jair and Tommy can accomplish more than Stephan, and probably in less money…
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:28 am
I know you’re not sensitive. But, I wanted to apologize anyway.
By the by, you can never win.
I already did. Remember, you quit and you said I was 30. You were wrong.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:30 am
No, I said I hated you, and that you were 30…
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:35 am
I know and…
a. you never said why you hated me
b. Like I said, I’m not 30.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:44 am
Nice. On FB, now they have an app where it calculates the top 25 people that stalk you by viewing your profile on a daily basis.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:48 am
I think it was because of something you said, and then I said, “what are you like 30?”
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:50 am
Nu uh. I didn’t say anything to you that day. You were mean to me for no reason.
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
2:54 am
Yea! Award show said I loved you and then you said something REALLY snarky, and I said I hated you
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:57 am
Just for fun -
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4442296
Soph
September 7th, 2009
2:59 am
What did I say?? I don’t even remember saying anything about that. I gracefully ignored that award, thank you very much. Then, all of a sudden you’re all “I hate Soph”. And, you didn’t say it in your usual jokey way either.
Soph
September 7th, 2009
3:03 am
Ugh, this blog’s killin me with the deleting posts. JJ, do you have AIM or yahoo im?
Jurrjens4NLCY
September 7th, 2009
3:07 am
Yeah, um my aim is knoble429
Soph
September 7th, 2009
3:11 am
sophiatbs – add me. I don’t think you’re on it though.
nolie
September 7th, 2009
3:45 am
f the Nats offered Stephan Strasberg and Ryan Zimmerman for Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, and Chipper Jones (taking all of his contract), would you take it?
only a moron would give up Hanson & Jurrjens for a totally unproven draft pick. So I’m sure someone on here will agree to that deal.
uga-brave
September 7th, 2009
3:47 am
aint nothing better then watching your three and four hole hitters hitting .150.
macc cant wait to eat a twinkie. macc is killing the team in the cleanup spot.
no way he is a cleanup guy. the guy cant wait to go krystal.
uga-brave
September 7th, 2009
3:52 am
quality srart after quality start. great offensive perfomance.
N8
September 7th, 2009
4:03 am
nolie, well considering that the odds are Hanson will come damn close to what Strasberg will do, and won’t cost us anywhere near that kind of money (for a while), why on earth would somebody agree to that trade? Add to that, JJJ likely will match what Strasberg will do over the next few years (not saying Strasberg is going to bust, or won’t end up being great, he more than likely will anchore the Nats rotation for a while), but again? Why on earth?
If Wren were to be silly enough to dangle JJJ and Hanson out there, I’d hope we’d get a helluva lot more than a guy with a huge contract that has never pitched an inning of ML baseball.
Vinings Jim
September 7th, 2009
8:39 am
Wow – a very busy overnight, followed by four hours of dead air. A post from me won’t to anything to keep the air from being dead, either. Very bizarre to wake up on a holiday with no game to be played – even more bizarre is that I have to go out and teach a class this afternoon for three hours to some Henry County football players (while some of us plan to go to Disneyland
).
long time reader
September 7th, 2009
9:20 am
Ah, Henry County. Home of Jayson Heyward.
long time reader
September 7th, 2009
9:31 am
possibly a distraught Braves fan:
http://www.ajc.com/news/clayton/guns-stolen-from-clayton-132784.html
jeffrey d
September 7th, 2009
9:40 am
sophiatbs – add me. I don’t think you’re on it though.
You uh, really like the Superstation there, Soph?
Vinings Jim
September 7th, 2009
9:51 am
jeffrey d – good morning – I enjoyed reading the late night posts as my morning entertainment.
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
9:59 am
I KNEW IT! Ha! Do I know my guy or what? I’m like, “He doesn’t slump this bad for no reason…something’s wrong with him…” And I was RIGHT!
I hate it when I’m right.
I see there was no mention of it on here, but Bowmen has a piece about it: link
Just “peachy”…expected to return on Tuesday, though. As much as I’m t’d that there’s no game today (it’s Labor Day! C’mon! There’s s’posed to be a game on in the afternoon!), maybe it’s a good thing.
Rob from SC Wow, we have a catcher that can hit. (sorry McFann, I was just kidding)
“Haha”, yeah, I hear ya…hey, been a heckuva long time since ssoR hit one out. Was his last one in Baltimore? Guess it’s ’cause he doesn’t play much…
Soph At least McFann had a halfway decent weekend with Tech winning.
“Halfway”? Try “Fourthway”…Maybe even a smaller fraction than that.
Well, we did have fun staying at Grandma and Grandpa’s house…
Ah, dry up, Uga-brave.
James
September 7th, 2009
10:00 am
Chipper probably needs to get the rest of the year off. Also, is the anyway the Braves can keep Hudson for next year….maybe if they can rework his contract. I wonder if we could get anything for KK.
McFann Ô
September 7th, 2009
10:05 am
Sorry, Soph…jeepers-creepers!
I sounded kinda rude to you! My apologies!
Yeah, sport-wise my weekend was a third of the way decent.
monty
September 7th, 2009
10:08 am
WOW! Kendry Morales, thats a name that surprised me that you don’t hear about every day.
Rock On........
September 7th, 2009
10:16 am
James…..between Hudson,Vazquez, and KK you can bet one will be gone. Actually I would prefer it be Lowe and his 16 mil contract bur can’t see that one playing out.
Jim Craig
September 7th, 2009
10:17 am
The Atlanta Braves have become the old St. Louis Browns. Just like the Browns, they have an occasional good pitching performance, but somebody needs to teach them how to hit. Putting in a pinch-hitter with .145 BA is not going to produce much, is it Bobby?