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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
670 comments Add your comment
McFann :Ô:
September 15th, 2009
9:39 pm
bravesgrl4life Hanson is a BEAST and Adam LaRoche is the bomb.
LaRoche for cleanup!
TnBrian
September 15th, 2009
9:39 pm
N8, he’s talented? Really?
N8
September 15th, 2009
9:41 pm
“On another note, if the front office trades Vazquez, that will be proof they have no intention of improving this team.”
I’m speechless. I actually have no response for that. The rest of the blog thanks you.
HoCo Loco
September 15th, 2009
9:41 pm
If I were Bobby Cox, I would move LaRoche to cleanup ASAP. Guys a ballplayer.
Steve from OH
September 15th, 2009
9:42 pm
Talented?
McFann :Ô:
September 15th, 2009
9:42 pm
HoCo Loco If I were Bobby Cox, I would move LaRoche to cleanup ASAP.
Hey, there’s an idea…
pryguy
September 15th, 2009
9:42 pm
It could happen….
Great game, Tommy really making a case for that ROY. He deserves it IMO, just been such a dominant pitcher. Hopefully we can re-sign Roachy.
N8
September 15th, 2009
9:43 pm
TnBrian, I don’t know? Isn’t he? Not my cup of tea. But just for kicks, I watched the youtube clip of him and Mike Meyers for the Red Cross, and can tell you this. His speaking skills make Rocky Balboa doing his commercials in Rocky II look well spoken.
HoCo Loco
September 15th, 2009
9:44 pm
Stranger things have happened………
fastasballs
September 15th, 2009
9:44 pm
Great game! Hanson is a beast on the mound right now. LaRoche had a great night as well.
Now they just need a 16-2 finish to hopefully make the playoffs. That sounds crazy, but they have rolled off 5 straight games & still have 12 games with the Nats & Mets. It’s not impossible, but it’s close.
Danga
September 15th, 2009
9:46 pm
I have an idea. Lets give LaRoche a shot at cleanup. I hear he is a scorpio.
And then the Braves should trade for Chone Figgins.
fastasballs
September 15th, 2009
9:46 pm
Let’s hope Zito can carve up the Rockies later tonight & make things a tad more interesting.
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
9:47 pm
TnBRIAN:
So true. Pressure is his fix. To me a great closer doesn’t need that crap. He gets ‘um out 1-2-3. End of inning, end of game, end of story.
Steve from OH
September 15th, 2009
9:48 pm
N8–don’t you know he’s a genius? And he also likes fish sticks…
N8
September 15th, 2009
9:48 pm
Tommy Hanson showing again why he’s going to be the Ace from here on out. Dude’s a machine. I’d shut him down the rest of the year, or limit his innings, giving him a chance to win and win ROY.
Not sure how the blog would respond to his normal slow starts, but there isn’t any denying that LaRoche is a 2nd half player and he really should be re-signed this off-season. If Laroche and Hudson were to get 2 or 3 year contracts worked out, half of Wren’s off-season would be done.
Then only a matter of determining which pitcher to trade, which (if either) of Soriano and Gonzo to keep, which outfielder to go after (I vote Mike Cameron – unless a younger, similar player could be had in a trade of “said” pitcher), and whether or not to count on Heyward on opening day.
I’m going to assume that Adam and Tim will get it out of the way sooner, rather than later. I know the free agent signing period is after the WS ends. But a team can re-sign any of their own free agents at any time, correct? If I’m Wren I get on it now. Lock em down while the mood is good.
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
9:48 pm
I say we up the ante and sign MATT HOLLIDAY for three at 18 or 17 for four.
N8
September 15th, 2009
9:49 pm
How many BB’s did Hanson have? I haven’t checked the boxscore yet.
TnBrian
September 15th, 2009
9:49 pm
But Kanye West isn’t a racist, he’s just an alcoholic that’s suffering from depression. Yeah, right.
richbrave, kinda like Soriano earlier this year when there was no messin around… just go get ‘em.
Mitchell
September 15th, 2009
9:49 pm
It probably never would have mattered what kind of winning streak we got on, we still would have dropped games here and there that we absolutely should have won.
It should be a six game win streak. We should have swept the Marlins. We should have at least won the last game of the Reds series.
We should have won that Saturday game against the Mets after the all star break. We should have won the Friday game at home against the Phillies when Bobby brought Soriano in to face Howard… so on and so forth.
The Braves lost plenty of games on their own but too many have been lost as a result of poor managing.
We’re good enough to beat teams like the Cardinals and Dodgers and when we do it’s like everything falls into place and everybody plays their role to perfection but we’re never going to reach our full potential with Bobby Cox.
That’s as far as I’m concerned.
blazon
September 15th, 2009
9:50 pm
hjort…
tongue IN cheek, please…
P. W. Hjort
September 15th, 2009
9:50 pm
Tommy Hanson now leads NL rookies in ERA, K/9, K/BB, WHIP, W%, and is tied for the lead in Wins. ROY!
P. W. Hjort
September 15th, 2009
9:51 pm
What’d I say, blazon?
N8
September 15th, 2009
9:51 pm
richbrave, I’ve thought the same thing. Wren could trade (he almost would have to), two pitchers to clear payroll, sign Holiday who is clearly a better NL hitter. Then could trade either Schafer or McLouth down the road if both (and Heyward) are all ready to play.
But we definitely need a RH bat to plug into the middle of this lineup. If even for just a year or two, until some other ones come along.
N8
September 15th, 2009
9:53 pm
“….he’s just an alcoholic that’s suffering from depression.”
I’d drink away my depression as well, if I was that big of a jackass! LOL
Eddie Mathews calling Chipper on the psychic hotline...
September 15th, 2009
9:53 pm
Notice how well the Braves are playing without Chipper playing?
Get used to it…even though Prado has not hit too well after coming back from those excursional headaches…rather see him at third now the way Chipper has fielded it this year with 21 errors…thus far.
As it is…just keep winning…makes everyone ahead having too do the same…or else?
Could you see this team still winning 90 games? I do…18 games left…5 with the Mets…3 with Philly…3 with Florida…and 7 with the Nats. Yea. With 14 more wins = 90. I see that more and more a possibility. Just leave Chipper on the pine and let the starters go deeper in the game…Bobby?
Faith…
blazon
September 15th, 2009
9:55 pm
tongue AND cheek, cheers!
Danga
September 15th, 2009
9:55 pm
I think the blog would would see an influx of folks demanding Cox get fired for being too loyal to veteran players after a typical 1st half performance by Rochey.
Holliday makes me nervous. Don’t know why.
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
9:55 pm
TnBRIAN:
Yeah, I guess that’s when he earned the “MFIKY” monniker.
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
10:01 pm
Danga:
Yeah, know what you mean with that six year .319 average and .935 OPS. 151 HR’s, 26 triples, and 225 doubles. Makes me sweat just thinking about it.
HAL
September 15th, 2009
10:01 pm
nelso cruz could play lf with a blind fold better then loaf come to think of it… a blind fold and wheel chair might have helped lol
bravesgrl4life
September 15th, 2009
10:03 pm
Well, guys and girls, I am off to bed. Long day, but hopefully the rainy weather will help me sleep. Have a good one, everybody. GO BRAVES!!!! Sweep those Mutts
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
10:04 pm
N8:
Right on! Let’s clear space and do the deed!
Chris Chambliss, yes, I have 6 world series rings...
September 15th, 2009
10:04 pm
Adam LaRoche…you da’ man!
I still got you beat by 50…185 to 135…in career homers. Of course I did it in 7,571 AB’s…and you still only have 2,813…or something like that. Bottom line…you hit a dinger every 21 AB’s…while it took me 41 AB’s for a long ball. Plus you are a better fileder than I ever thought about…but I do have 6 rings…3 as a player and 3 as a coach (look it up!)…
Wren…sign Adam to at least a two year deal, please?
P. W. Hjort
September 15th, 2009
10:06 pm
My bad, blazon. I’m out of it tonight.
Doc Holiday
September 15th, 2009
10:07 pm
What about 3 games back on thursday morning?
Could that be possible?
Mixxo
September 15th, 2009
10:07 pm
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m46/mixineer/1253060753039.jpg
Roman Gal
September 15th, 2009
10:07 pm
Heh. At least Chip is a UGA grad. RHR
Oyy…don’t remind us.
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
10:08 pm
6 out of 7 against the NATS, 4 of 5 from the METS, two of three each from the FISH and PHILLIES. It’s a tall order, but we can do this.
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
10:10 pm
Oyy…don’t remind us.
Don’t forget Ryan Seacrest.
Doc Holiday
September 15th, 2009
10:11 pm
OMG, I dont wanna be around if we miss the playoff by just 1, 2 or 3 games………..this blog is gonna burn like hell……….I dont think Cox will make it through spring training 2010 alive if this happens………somebody is gonna take care of him.
Doc Holiday
September 15th, 2009
10:15 pm
richbrave,
Thats 14-4.
SF wins tonight we would need the rockies to go 9-9 the rest of the way………….it sure can happen……… but this is just not our year………. too many thing could have gone right and they didnt……… this would be by far, the strangest season of any team I can recall if this happens. It would surpass the muts meltdown.
Roman Gal
September 15th, 2009
10:16 pm
Don’t forget Ryan Seacrest.
100 times better than Chip Caray.
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
10:18 pm
Politics, race, religion….I’ve never seen someone assassinated over baseball though.
JayDubu
September 15th, 2009
10:18 pm
Man, Cox hasn’t let Medlen stiff the mound since he over/mis-used him in the Florida series.
What gives?
P. W. Hjort
September 15th, 2009
10:18 pm
Funny, Mixxo.
Soph
September 15th, 2009
10:19 pm
this would be by far, the strangest season of any team I can recall if this happens. It would surpass the muts meltdown.
Nah, Doc. I have to disagree with that. The Mets collapse was the worst. It’ll never be forgotten.
Wait 'Til Next Year
September 15th, 2009
10:19 pm
Man is Tommy Hanson, well, the man… After another 7 scoreless innings tonight, the dude’s ERA is at 2.64. I wonder how many fools still think dropping Glavine to make room for him was a mistake? (Besides Smoltz.)
Prediction – while Glav and Smoltzie are playing golf next summer, the Braves are going to be following their multiple aces to the NL East and then the Pennant. (The Series? Well, let’s not get carried away… yet…)
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
10:20 pm
Is that it? Chip Caray and Ryan Seacrest? It’s slightly sad that those are the only two non-athletic UGA grads I can think of off the top of my head.
Oh wait…Sonny Perdue too I think.
Steve from OH
September 15th, 2009
10:20 pm
That was pretty good, Mixxo.
JayDubu
September 15th, 2009
10:22 pm
Wow! Former Pirates powered the Braves offense tonight.
Tiger Woods
September 15th, 2009
10:24 pm
When will Bobby get smart enough to put LaRoche in cleanup? Prob never you are right.
Katie
September 15th, 2009
10:26 pm
I keep trying to post something and it won’t show up, now watch this one work
Katie
September 15th, 2009
10:27 pm
great, let’s try that again, not that its really worth it anymore
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs246.snc1/9317_1092130942175_1193550675_30443706_3070562_n.jpg
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
10:30 pm
Katie – that’s how the blog works sometimes. You keep trying to make a point that has no offensive words or phrases, and it’ll keep eating it. Then if you try to post anything else, it’ll go through.
JEB
September 15th, 2009
10:32 pm
Let’s go get some more Pirates this winter!
Nady or Bay.
Katie
September 15th, 2009
10:33 pm
jeffrey d- yeah I changed it a little each time, but oh well, its not worth it
bobby cox
September 15th, 2009
10:34 pm
I wanted to use Soriano tonight, just to get some work in.
I should have pulled Hanson sooner.
Soph
September 15th, 2009
10:36 pm
Kim Basinger & Alton Brown are UGA alumni too.
Huddy's Ligament
September 15th, 2009
10:43 pm
How come nobody mentions Ryan Church as trade bait?
No value?
I like him, but he’s always hurt.
Doc Holiday
September 15th, 2009
10:43 pm
Soph,
Thanks for waking me up………LOL
On other issues…………why the heck was Gonzalez on the mound on a 5-0 against the muts AAA team? I just dont get it. I have not been following lately, maybe thats why I cant understand that move.
Braveheart
September 15th, 2009
10:44 pm
What if we did assume for the sake of doing so that a manager could lose his team 10 games a year? Know who else has lost their team 10 games this year? Ryan Howard, Mark Teixeira, Matt Holliday, Ryan Braun. At least according to the win probability stat fangraphs puts up, that’s how many wins they’ve cost their teams. Of course, that ignores that Howard has won his team 15 games, Tex 13 games, Holliday 13 games, Braun 13 games. Overall Howard has added 5 wins above average to his team, Tex 4 wins added, Holliday 3, Braun 3.
So, please, if you are gonna claim a manager has lost the team 10 games (which is a bit much), at least give him credit for the games he’s won as well. It’s hard to believe any manager could have a worse impact upon a team than Jeff Francoeur did as a hitter last season, and it can only really be said that Frenchy cost his team 4 wins relative to an average hitter last season, having added 10 wins with his hitting, and having lost 14 wins with his hitting.
nolie
September 15th, 2009
10:44 pm
I would say that taking Hanson out after 7 innings with 90+ pitches is completely understandable but wouldn’t you have to say that Tommy is a bit of a special case. He’s not just any young pitcher. (Mitchell)
yeah, neither was Avery. They were talking about skipping a start with him, you have to be smart enough to know they aren’t gonna let him go 9 under those circumstances. Sigh
Doc Holiday
September 15th, 2009
10:44 pm
Giants hammering the rocks in the 1st.
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
10:45 pm
Alton Brown?
Soph
September 15th, 2009
10:49 pm
Alton Brown?
Food Network guy. Has his own show – Good Eats.
Carroll Rogers
September 15th, 2009
10:50 pm
Some interesting quotes from LaRoche to go with his 4-for-4, four extra-base hit night….
on the mindset of the team lately:
“I think it’s there absolutely nothing to lose right now,” LaRoche said. There’s zero pressure on us. We’re in a bad position, and everybody’s going out and doing their thing. Gosh it makes it easy when all you had to score is one or two runs a night to be in a ballgame. That’s what’s going to be so hard if we don’t get in is the fact that with this staff, I feel like we could go a long way in the postseason, a long way. And it’s going to be a shame if we don’t get that chance.”
on his night: “I think I took five swings today, I fouled off one pitch. When you’re doing that it’s just about as good as you can be feeling. And I got some pitches to hit. That always helps.”
on making a case for the Braves to re-sign him:
“It is up to me in some sense in what I do on the field, but when it comes down to it, it’s all what their plans are,” LaRoche said. “I’ve said it before. I love playing here. My family loves it here, which is just as important so if something works out, that would be best-case for me.”
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
10:51 pm
ahh.
Random
September 15th, 2009
10:51 pm
RHR (September 15th, 2009 11:53 am): “has anyone ever told you that you’re like the creepy guy driving slowly thru the neighborhood in the windowless van?”
1. No wonder he’s driving slow, if there’s no windows. I mean, gah!
2. Careful — “If you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”
3. Actually, I was thinking about driving a neighborhood ice cream truck after I retired. I’ve already picked out the music I would play.
CB (September 15th, 2009 11:56 am): “can I ride shotgun?”
Not only that, but you can wear the head mirror! (I’ll wield the spatulum.)
Carroll Rogers
September 15th, 2009
10:52 pm
Hanson on the progress he’s made since he first got called up: “I feel a lot more comfortable and I feel locked in with everything. When to be aggressive, and when to try to pick too. And I think just learning a lot of these hitters has helped me a lot.”
on the nastiness that is his curveball lately (ask David Wright): “I was putting it where I wanted to put it,” Hanson said. “Not burying it, not making it too good of a pitch. I feel like I can put (all of my pitches) where I need to. My curveball last three or four outings has been real good. For a while there I was trying to feel for it a little too much instead of just throwing it, and the last three or four I just went out and threw it, it’s come a long ways.”
Soph
September 15th, 2009
10:52 pm
Thanks for the quotes, Carroll!
Carroll Rogers
September 15th, 2009
10:54 pm
Alton Brown is a personal fave of Mr. Richmond. And part of the reason why I have a great cook for a boyfriend.
Nite all. This 2:27 game is too good to be true. Trying to pack up and be gone before 11 p.m. Off I go. Back to ya manana.
Luman Harris...I could out manage Bobby Cox today...and I have been dead for 12 + years...
September 15th, 2009
10:55 pm
Wish the wild card was around in the late 60’s early 70’s…could the Braves be only 4 back in the loss column after tonight??? (still have the Giants ahead as well…)
Remember, Rockies only have 16 games left after tonight.
Believe. Worked well for Melanie Oudin last week. Even though she only made it to round of 8 / Quarters…and isn’t that what the Braves would like to do…make it to the round of 8!!!
BELIEVE!!!
Soph
September 15th, 2009
10:55 pm
Teenagers scare me these days…
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/police-139390.html
Soph
September 15th, 2009
10:56 pm
Yup, I like Alton too.
Night, Carroll!
TnBrian
September 15th, 2009
11:04 pm
Sorry, Adam, but the playoffs are a real long shot now and I do agree with this rotation we could go deep in the playoffs. Example– Cards series. They’re getting in and probably the team to beat when they do and we shut them down like they were nothing. It is a shame but I already feel real good about 2010.
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
11:05 pm
Mr. Richmond?
P. W. Hjort
September 15th, 2009
11:09 pm
If the Braves could sign LaRoche to a 2 year, $15 million dollar deal, do you do it?
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
11:11 pm
Has anybody noted that Hampton’s out for 2010?
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
11:17 pm
I wouldn’t sign LaRoche…history says he’ll be terrible before the All Star Game. Plus, $7.5 million seems like a lot to spend on a player today.
Then again, who’s gonna play first next year? Freeman’s not ready. LaRoche might be the best option.
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
11:23 pm
Again? Alright then…
Well she was just 17, if you known what I mean! And the way she looked was way beyond compare….take it away somebody!
Pete
September 15th, 2009
11:23 pm
Luman Harris: “…could the Braves be only 4 back in the loss column after tonight??? (still have the Giants ahead as well…)”
Remember, Rockies only have 16 games left after tonight.”
You cant just ignore the wins and focus only on the difference in losses. Lets assume Rockies lose tonight, which makes the Braves 4 back in the loss column. Yes, the Rockies would have 2 less games than the Braves. But they went 2-0 in the 2 more games they played, which is the best you can do.
So Im not sure the point youre trying to make, especially since, as you point out, the Giants are also ahead of the Braves (if Rockies lose tonight, that means the Giants will win; thats the problem when you have 2 teams in front of you, especially in the same division). The WC is history; only slim chance the Braves have is winning the East.
And Slim already left town lol
jeffrey d
September 15th, 2009
11:25 pm
Pete, that’s not how it goes.
TnBrian
September 15th, 2009
11:34 pm
If they sign LaRoche and Hudson then they’re going to have to unload somebody that’s making some big bucks. Shipping KK and KJ for an OF is almost to good to be true, and probably is. All we heard here was how he’ll never be traded because the backlash of possibly signing Japanese players in the future. Hate it, but my gut tells me Javy is gone. Who am I anyways, but it’s my gut telling me. My gut I tell ya.
Pete
September 15th, 2009
11:36 pm
Jeffrey how what goes? Not sure what you mean
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
11:40 pm
GIANTS taking it to COLORADO right now 7-1. CUBS up 13-4, not good. PHILLIES win.
Van the Man
September 15th, 2009
11:41 pm
Giants winning big….
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
11:45 pm
We go 14-4 the rest of the way and anything can happen.
Pete
September 15th, 2009
11:49 pm
Rich very true…..good luck with the 14-4
richbrave
September 15th, 2009
11:49 pm
This team is beginning to look like 1990 edition at this time of the season.
Pete
September 15th, 2009
11:52 pm
pryguy: “Great game, Tommy really making a case for that ROY.”
Indeed he is. Just think how much stronger his case could have been had Cox not removed him after he pitched 8 shutout innings in his last start. Sad.
Doc Holiday
September 15th, 2009
11:55 pm
Rockies are done for tonight…………we are 5 back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SF is on a missing…………..This is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doc Holiday
September 15th, 2009
11:58 pm
missing = mission
P. W. Hjort
September 15th, 2009
11:59 pm
The 19 year old Brett Oberholtzer had an excellent season for Danville, pitching 67 innings over 12 starts with a 2.01 ERA with a 56-to-6(!) strikeout-to-walk ratio. I imagine the Braves will move the lefty to a full-season assignment next year and I hope to see him in Rome.
richbrave
September 16th, 2009
12:00 am
We sign MATT HOLLIDAY for 18 million, trade KAWAKAMI and his payroll which is what 7.2 million? Add 11 million to the 2010 payroll. With raises the payroll should be in the 110-113 million range. Extend VASQUEZ and move LOWE to the back of the rotation. Sign GONZALEZ and let SORIANO go. Sign DIAZ. Give ESCOBAR a raise even though it’s not necessary. Hope PRADO’s family comes back, and that CHIP and BRIEN return to glory. We win the division in 2010.
Doc Holiday
September 16th, 2009
12:06 am
Rockies get matt Cain tomorrow……….we could be 4GB by thursday morning.
tjackson
September 16th, 2009
12:12 am
I read that there is a chance Bobby may elect to retire. We have had ups and downs. Seen players come and go. Some injured some traded. All in all we have had a really good year of Atlanta Baseball. And, yes mathematically there is still a chance for playoffs. Either way, Bobby is our team leader. He is without a doubt the best baseball man this town has seen. I would be the final nail in a coffin that has been three years in the making. I for one hope he will give it at least two more years and that as his youth grows we begin to show that we are a good team made up of quality players. The pitching is here. The fielder are in place. Given time it will all come together!
Doc Holiday
September 16th, 2009
12:13 am
I thought I was the most negative braves fan, but I can hear the crickets on this blog with more than 2 weeks left and 5 GB……..I hope Braves at least make it more interesting. Picking up another game tomorrow could get some adrenaline flowing again.
uga-brave
September 16th, 2009
12:24 am
gotta be bettter then 3 games over .500 at home next year.
jeffrey d
September 16th, 2009
12:28 am
Bradley, Schultz, DOB, and other media talk in the definitive, like “The Braves are out of the post season for 4 straight years now.”
I have to admit, I was talking like that too, only because I didn’t want to get my hopes up. But after tonight we’re only 4 back in the loss column. Anything can happen…I just hope they don’t break my heart again.
Firearm
September 16th, 2009
12:30 am
I really need to be in Target Field for the Braves series. Especially if they happen to be facing Kenshin.