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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Dumbfound
September 18th, 2009
11:28 pm
Manny has brought the Dodgers within 1. 4-3 Giants.
Dumbfound
September 18th, 2009
11:30 pm
You have to feel good if the braves are still 4 out after tonight.
RHR
September 18th, 2009
11:31 pm
I’m here, Soph but the bingo card is on my laptop and I’m not.
David O'Brien
September 18th, 2009
11:31 pm
Oh, boy. I’m guessing, before looking at the ol’ blog the past couple hours, that there’s a bit of anger and frustration. Can’t say I blame you.
What a night to make an example out of Escobar, huh? I mean, I get that he’s gotta run hard and Bobby’s frustrated by the series of incidents and occasional “lapses” as Bobby put it, but that’s a tough one, pulling him tonight in such a big game over that incident. When I asked Cox if that was the reason he pulled Escobar, for not running hard, he was candid about it and said yes, it was.
Keeping him in might not have mattered much, not the way the Philllies lit up the bullpen and Howard took Hudson deep twice. Infante did ground into a double play after a McCann leadoff single in the sixth, but who knows what Escobar might have done….
It’s in the game story, but I’ll also tell you this here, too: Cox was resting Gonzo (sore back) and O’Flaherty, and said Moylan was going in if Braves tied or got a lead. When you think of some of those games when the Big 3 pitched with three- and four-run (or more?) leads earlier in the season….
As for Esco: Folks, let’s face it, Cox and other managers and coaches in other sports view old guys with bad wheels differently than in-their-prime dudes, and expect the latter to run out ground balls like that, etc. And really, that’s not too much to ask. Gotta do it, man.
Just don’t know that I would have pulled him for it in this particular game. Got in his face and shouted at him in the tunnel, yes. But pulled him in such a crucial game, when Braves can’t afford to lose many or almost any more? Tough call. But he wasn’t going to stand for it, obviously.
Anyway, here’s game story with quotes, unedited:
By David O’Brien
dobrien@ajc.com
Braves pitchers keep challenging Ryan Howard, and the Philadelphia slugger keeps punishing them for their temerity.
Howard blasted two homers off Tim Hudson to propel the Phillies to a 9-4 series-opening win Friday night at Turner Field, ending the Braves’ seven-game winning streak and almost any remaining hope of catching Philly in the East.
“Just couldn’t quite keep the big fella in the park,” said Hudson, who has given up five homers by Howard in the pitcher’s last three starts against the Phillies. “I made a couple of mistakes, and he didn’t miss ‘em.”
Martin Prado and Brian McCann homered for the Braves, but Howard’s blows put the Phillies ahead to stay. The Phillies added four runs in the ninth on consecutive homers by Jimmy Rollins and Ben Francisco off journeyman reliever Vladimir Nunez.
The Braves’ slim playoff hopes were dealt a blow, and shortstop Yunel Escobar was pulled from the game by Bobby Cox for not hustling on a groundout that ended the first inning, the latest incident where Escobar has run afoul of the manager.
“Just a lapse,” Cox said. “He just has lapses where I think he forgets.”
There were two runners on when Escobar grounded to second and failed to run hard from the batter’s box. The throw was wide and pulled Howard off first base, but he tagged Escobar well in front of the base.
When the Braves went out in the top of the third, Omar Infante was at shortstop. Cox said he waited an inning in order to give Infante time to loosen up, since Escobar had made the third out in the first.
He benched Escobar in a crucial game for Braves, who fell to 8-1/2 games behind the East-leading Phillies with only 15 games left, including two more in this weekend series. They can’t afford to lose almost any more.
Braves fans’ attention can now turn — if it wasn’t already — to the National League wild-card race. The Braves must reel in Colorado, which was 4-1/2 games ahead of Atlanta before Friday, and San Francisco, which was a game ahead.
Whatever the Braves’ scouting report says about Howard, they might want to consider revising it. His 40 homers this season include three two-homer nights in his past five games against Atlanta – all since the middle of August.
“We know what we’re doing with him, but he seems to get us almost every series,” Cox said of Howard, who has seven homers and 12 RBIs in his past seven games against the Braves, and a .342 average with 31 homers and 85 RBIs in 82 career games against them. “We make mistakes [against him].”
After Prado’s third-inning homer off J.A. Happ gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead, Howard answered with a two-run, two-out homer in the fourth, and a two-out homer in the sixth.
The Phillies scored two in the eighth after lefty Boone Logan hit Howard with a pitch to load the bases. The Braves trailed 5-1 before McCann’s two-out, two-run homer in the eighth.
Hudson, in his fourth game since returning from elbow surgery, was charged with three runs and six hits in seven innings, a quality start marred by the towering shots from Howard, who had a three-homer game against Hudson in 2006.
Of the late-innings meltdown, Cox said he rested lefties Mike Gonzalez and Eric O’Flaherty, and didn’t want to use Peter Moylan unless they tied or got a lead.
Heyward receives award
Manchild outfielder Jason Heyward picked up more hardware Friday when the Braves’ top prospect received his organizational player of the year award before the game.
The Henry County High grad, who turned 20 last month, played at three levels this season and hit a combined .323 with 46 extra-base hits (17 homers), 63 RBIs and a .963 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in 99 games.
“It’s awesome,” Heyward said of the visit to Turner Field, where he and 15 other honored minor leaguers toured the clubhouse chatted up Braves during batting practice. “It’s a nice reward. You get to relax with everyone that had a great year, then sit back with the family and watch a baseball game.”
Greg Kimbrel was organizational pitcher of the year after posting a 2.85 ERA with 18 saves and 103 strikeouts in 60 innings with four Braves affiliates.
Heyward, named Baseball America’s minor league player of the year, began the season at high Class-A Myrtle Beach and finished at Class AAA Gwinnett County. He dominated at Class AA Mississippi, hitting .352 with a .446 on-base percentage, seven homers and 30 RBI in 47 games.
Heyward is headed to the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League next month, and is expected to compete for a major league job during spring training.
The Braves also honored a player and pitcher from each minor league affilate, including pitcher Mariano Gomez and first baseman Barbaro Canizares from Gwinnett.
monty
September 18th, 2009
11:38 pm
As I and one other blogger said before the game you just can’t afford to pitch to Howard with men on base and if you do you certainly can’t hang breakers out over the plate. 2 of the worst pitches I”ve ever seen Hudson throw. You could see the life drain out of everyone after that second bomb, totally demoralizing. They were beat mentally at that point, they had seen that script before. Howard against us is a baseball god. Just walk the dude and let someone else beat us for a change.
DAM
September 18th, 2009
11:38 pm
I’ve been a fan of Bobby for the last 5 years while everyone was calling for his head. He has officially lost me this year. I hope he chooses to retire and leave on his own terms because he certainly was a great manager, but he needs to be forced out if he won’t do it on his own.
Mitchell
September 18th, 2009
11:43 pm
uga-brave
September 18th, 2009
10:40 pm
mitchell i very rarely call out other bloggers, there is no point of doing it but you my friend make a numbletard look like a mensa member.
Gee, if only I were smart enough to know what that meant.
Uga-brave, you have my respect for finally summoning the courage to speak truth to power. It had to be done, and you did… it.
Why doesn't Lou Vales pick on his own team's beat writer?
September 18th, 2009
11:44 pm
“It says that we’ve still got a chance,” said Dan Uggla, who drove in the tying run.
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=290918117&teams=florida-marlins-vs-cincinnati-reds
Brett Carroll’s run-scoring double capped a four-run ninth, as the Florida Marlins kept their playoff hopes alive with a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the second of four games at Great American Ball Park.
The win keeps Florida’s fledgling playoff hopes alive, as the team is now 4 1/2 games back of Colorado for the NL Wild Card spot with 14 games to play.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/story/1240971.html
After losing the first game of their series with the first-place Cardinals, the Marlins took the final two and headed off to Cincinnati brimming with confidence even though time is running out on them in the playoff races.
BY CLARK SPENCER
CSPENCER@MIAMIHERALD.COM
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/story/1237077.html
David O'Brien
September 18th, 2009
11:45 pm
Big shocker: Lou Vales returns after Braves lose for first time in a week. Who’d have ever predicted that….
Vales, do you grasp that the Braves entered tonight on a seven-game winning streak and trailing the wild-card leader by 4-1/2 games with 16 to go, when I wrote the blog? Can you wrap your brain around those facts? No? Oh, well, then keep spewing inane points about Hank Goldberg and other items of interest in South Florida and nowhere else, between taking shots at me and telling me to “stop it” writing about the Braves’ slim chances at making the playoffs.
glord1
September 18th, 2009
11:46 pm
Wow tonight was a weird game I was thinking as I was driving home from the park. I just don’t get Bobby. I dont know how he can burn out every decent reliever at the same time. I guess after watching his other bullpen guys throw tonight maybe thats why he only uses 4 guys.
I think Bobby is done after this year. The only thing that is more confusing than his coaching moves is listening to him explain them after the game.
monty
September 18th, 2009
11:47 pm
Would BC have pulled BMac for not bustng it? I don’t believe he would. Not saying he shouldn’t of chewed him out in the tunnel as DOB said, but your back is up against the wall. you find another way to discipline him, Seems like BC just wanted to embarrass him.
O'Brien
September 18th, 2009
11:49 pm
I feel like Howard has hit HRs off every Braves pitcher he has faced.
If the pitchers keep making mistakes to Howard (and he hits a HR), then you have to bite the bullet and walk him, especially with the bases empty.
But as we all know, Bobby Cox is too stubborn. Even if Howard hit a HR every at bat, Bobby would still pitch to him. And that makes no sense to me.
And as somebody else mentioned, two of our hottest hitters are hitting too low in the order. Why, Bobby why?
monty
September 18th, 2009
11:50 pm
Even announcers were all over the fact that Boone Logan hadn’t pitched since mid-August. They said “he was well rested!”
glord1
September 18th, 2009
11:51 pm
On a positive note. Huddy looked like he is back even if Howard crushed two mistakes. He looked like the old Huddy.
I really like this team next year if they can get a LF, resign Laroche and fix the pen. Hayward is a big boy.
As far as Yunel goes he did tank it down the line. He should have gone hard like Prado and Diaz. I still would not have pulled him. He has been hot lately so why punish the team by pulling him. Fine him but play his A$$. It was no worse that GA and Chipper going down the line and I have not seen them pulled.
ryan
September 18th, 2009
11:52 pm
If Cox didnt want to use O Flaherty against Phils leftys why the hell did he pitch him against the mets when we were winning 7 to 2.GO ESCO FIRE COX.
RHR
September 18th, 2009
11:53 pm
On a negative note…. FFS STOP PITCHING TO HOWARD YOU NUMBLETARDS
Yunie
September 18th, 2009
11:54 pm
¡Compraré a Bobby un nuevo John Deere si él se retira!
Danga
September 18th, 2009
11:55 pm
They don’t need a LF. They need a RF. You can send him out there. God bless him, he’ll play his arse off, but Matt Diaz is not a RF.
Jake W.
September 18th, 2009
11:57 pm
“Would BC have pulled BMac for not bustng it? I don’t believe he would. Not saying he shouldn’t of chewed him out in the tunnel as DOB said, but your back is up against the wall. you find another way to discipline him, Seems like BC just wanted to embarrass him.”
I’ve seen Mac dog it a number of times this season and its usually after he gets frustrated after popping up the ball. I’m not going to pick on GA because I know he’s just slow but even my guy Prado had a couple of games this season where he seemed to take some things for granted on the basepaths. He almost got thrown out one time jogging in to third instead of running while the run was tagging up going home. I don’t think he was trying to embaress the guy though. Maybe he thinks Esco is going to be great and doesn’t want him to become another Manny. That whole great talent, great responsibility thing. I don’t think Esco would take that path anyway. Only way I can justify him possibly doing one thing to Esco and not to some others.
Dumbfound
September 18th, 2009
11:58 pm
Dodgers have tied up Giants 4-4. It ain’t over !
RHR
September 19th, 2009
12:01 am
So pissing him off and treating him differently than you treat everyone else will really show him huh?
Jake W.
September 19th, 2009
12:06 am
RHR
I’m not saying its right, i’ve said in other post ealier how I feel about. Just trying to come up with some reasoning why he would do it especially when so many other players on this team not named Chipper and GA (the elder statesman on the basepaths) do it. Thats why i brought up Prado and Mac. I clearly don’t agree with it as I think its hard to respect a guy who seems to have one set of rules for some and different ones for others. I believe you have to be consistent, but then again i’m not bobby and I was just trying to think of some reason why he may be doing it.
RHR
September 19th, 2009
12:07 am
yeah jake i cant come up with any reasoning either..is what i was saying
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:09 am
Good night to give the bullpen a rest, though.
Dumbfound
September 19th, 2009
12:12 am
Diamondbacks lead 6-4.
Danga
September 19th, 2009
12:12 am
Baffling night from Bobby for sure. LaRoche batting 8th. Pulling Esco. Tonight of all nights to give the bullpen regulars a rest.
brent a.
September 19th, 2009
12:12 am
It is true that some coaches pick out certain whipping boys, guys they know can take the heat from the coach and make an example of them.
Phil Jackson used to wear out Horace Grant in his early days in Chicago (the initial 3peat), and did the same with Kobe Bryant during his first stint with the Lakers.
He looks at the make-up of a player, and determines who can take the pressure. Jackson knew that Jordan was too big to be ridiculed, and he also knew that Shaquille O’Neal was too big of a baby to be ridiculed.
During the 2nd three-peat in Chicago, Jackson focused a lot of his negative energy (and the team’s) on Bulls’ GM, Jerry Krause.
It’s a strange psychology, and it in many respects it’s downright mean. But, he feels that it can serve as both a rallying point for the team (especially in the case of ridiculing Krause), while also used as a motivator for the player in question (with Bryant and Grant, it seemed to work, even though Bryant came to despise Jackson over time, but hey, they’ve patched things up, at least enough to re-unite and win aother title).
I also remember a story from the early part of this decade, about how then- Denver Nuggets coach Dan Issel used to berate Raef LaFrentz in practice. Raef didn’t respond well to this type of criticism, and the players told Issel as much, leading Issel to lay off the big man. (Ultimatel, LaFrentz and his bloated contract were pawned off on the Mavericks, but that’s really a different issue, mostly).
With Bobby and Escobar, I don’t think that is what is happening. I won’t write it off as being outside the realm of possibility; but, I’ve never gotten any kind of indication that Bobby plays these kind of psychological games, nor is baseball the same game. For starters, if you bench a guy in basebally, he’s toast and you’ve just shortened your bench to prove a point.
Regardless of what the motivation is, I’m not convinced that Escobar benefits from this kind of teaching/motivation. And, I know for sure that the team did not benefit from it tonight, in this game.
brian
September 19th, 2009
12:13 am
Jake – the only thing i can think of for Escobar is that maybe Escobar does not respond to other means of discplinary action and Cox thinks the only way he can get his point across to Escobar is taking him out of the game. Either that or Escobar has done it so many times he has crossed the threshold of verbal intervention. Beats me.
I just think that in this case Escobar should have been left in the game and disciplined later. Bobby was willing to sacrifice the game and the team to discipline him for not hustling. The only thing that comes to mind is in Little League or even middle school/high school ball games a player gets in trouble with his parents and they “punish” the child by not letting him play in his/her next game. You should punish the child, not the team, for more minor offenses. If the child skipped school, failed classes, got in trouble with the law – by all means boot him/her off the team but otherwise don’t hurt the team to make a point
curtis jones
September 19th, 2009
12:13 am
Only two things went right tonight. It was Chip Caray’s last game of the season, and it was the first time the Braves plunked Ryan Howard. Thank you Boone Logan. See you on the mound again in about 16 days.
brent a.
September 19th, 2009
12:16 am
COL 4
ARI 6
8th inning
Wilson
September 19th, 2009
12:16 am
DOB: I got no problem with pulling Escobar given the situation. Infante has proven to be a more than capable backup, and half-@ssing it shouldn’t be accepted ever. The problem is the management of the bullpen, obviously. I’m not a Cox basher, but his discretion in who he uses out of the pen this year has been terrible for the most part. You rest guys like Moylan, Soriano, Gonzalez, and O’Flaherty in the games you’re winning by 5+ runs not in the close games against your division leader. To rely on Logan in that type of situation when he hasn’t pitched in 22 days is just insane. 22 days!!! Accosta has been a one man rally starter for the opponent all year also. The situation Accosta came into with men on first and third was a prime spot for a groundball pitcher like Moylan to come in and try to induce a double play. That was the some of the worst bullpen management I’ve ever seen.
brian
September 19th, 2009
12:25 am
by the way Jake, catching up on some posts, it looks like your reading skills need a little work as your conclusions do not match what I said. In fact if you look at what DOB said in his post game comments, it mirrors much of what I was saying just in a professional, much better organized post.
I never said that Bobby should save his starters. In fact I said on numerous past blogs that Bobby was an idiot for taking starters out when he did – the most glaring example being Hanson in Houston. I also have criticized numerous times, even in the posts you try to reference, for overusing the bullpen in situations they do not need to be used, thus necessitating relievers rest in crucial situations like tonight. As DOB said, tonight is a good example of when you can really criticize Cox for using the same 3-4 relievers every night, even with big leads, wearing them out so you cannot use them when you really need them.
And yes, many great coaches have disciplined different players different ways. Phil Jackson is a great example of that and somebody has mentioned that comparison earlier. Escobar should have been chewed out for not hustling – just because others do not do it does not mean that Escobar should be let off. I just disagree with hurting the team in trying to get through to Escobar.
My guess is that there is more going on with Escobar and Cox, Escobar and the Braves for Cox to be so swift and severe with Escobar (hadn’t he been doing better lately??) and it does really make me wonder if the Braves will try to trade him in the offseason. His value will be much higher than when they were shopping him midseason. From a strictly performance point of view it would be a mistake to trade him short of getting Clay Buchholz, Andre Ethier, Justin Smoak and another prospect, Daniel Bard and Jed Lowrie, Chris Carter or Brett Wallace and one of the A’s young pitchers, etc.
H.R. PUFNSTUF
September 19th, 2009
12:25 am
Well golly!!!!
brian
September 19th, 2009
12:26 am
well said Wilson
Mitchell
September 19th, 2009
12:26 am
I think taking Yunel out of the game is ultimately a slap in the face to Chase Utley and MVP, Gold Glove winner and a World Champion.
How often does he do that? He’s an All-Star! It was one bad throw out of 50.
Bobby’s acting like Utley’s some kid with with his arm in a sling or an arthritic 42 year old in his final season.
For F’s sake, I could have thrown Yunel out. I may have fainted like a baby goat (they faint when frightened… no really) when he hit it to me but if somebody next to me wants to field it, hand it over, I could probably have thrown him out.
Have we noticed also that Yunel doesn’t run through the bag? He lunges every time. But then of course he gets injured and suddenly he’s faking it.
Bobby is wrong. There’s no debating it. We lost to Houston after Tommy had shut them out through 8, therefore bringing Soriano into the game to close it was a mistake.
I’m not saying I want the Braves front office to start emulating the Yankees or Cubs or Mets organizations, but you know for a fact that anybody other than Bobby Cox would have been fired by now in those towns.
Taking Yunel out is an insult to the Phillies and the results speak for themselves.
Jake W.
September 19th, 2009
12:27 am
brian
I agree that he should have found some other way to get through to him in this game. I’ve never said I disagree with the message. I love the message, I wish bobby would draw such a hard line more than he does. You have to hustle, don’t take anything for granted. But I have seen on many an occasion Mac pop the ball up, sometimes slam his bat, and put his head down and jog to 1st. These are both great talents and they both seem to have these “lapses” some times.
I have heard Joe Simpson go from almost killing Escobar to gushing over him. He has said how much the guy has matured, but it just seems like every time the guy does wrong the hammer comes down on him hard. Call me a fool for believing Simpson and what he has said about the guys maturation. Is it complete, no. But is he maturing, yes. Some people here are just so impatient and will always judge him for his past instead of what he is doing now. They want Esco to act like Jeff Francoeur but he didn’t grow up that way. Just like some who want Heyward here now and not next year or wanted Hanson here at the beginning of the year. Patience is the key. Is it so hard to believe that Esco has gotten better and can we be patient enough to see that maturation continue instead of coming up with trade suggestions every time he has a miscue. Bad habits are hard to break and from what i’ve seen he has already broken quite a few.
Dumbfound
September 19th, 2009
12:30 am
Rockies coming apart, what a waste by the braves and bobby cox ! I am hoping but i don’t see it with bobby cox managing this team !
brian
September 19th, 2009
12:32 am
I agree Jake – Escobar had seemed much more mature and unless if I missed a goof it seemed like Escobar was doing a lot better. That is why I would guess something has to be going on behind the scenes. Otherwise why come down on a guy who had apparently improved so much in the hustle/mental error department who made one slip up? As you said, it seemed that he had made much progress in breaking bad habits and seemed to have matured from the June swoon. One mistake and a quick hook. Doesn’t make sense and definitely hurt the team– offensively and probably in the morale department as well
Soph
September 19th, 2009
12:32 am
Good night to give the bullpen a rest, though.
Geez, are you trying to start a riot?
brian
September 19th, 2009
12:34 am
I agree Mitchell – the mistakes made by the manager this year would have any other manager fired
Mitchell
September 19th, 2009
12:34 am
I think taking Yunel out of the game is ultimately a slap in the face to Chase Utley and MVP, Gold Glove winner and a World Champion.
That was supposed to say “Chase Utley, an MVP…”
How embarrassing.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:38 am
If I wanted to start a riot, I’d say something like “Lentz Rulez!”
Shamus Thacker
September 19th, 2009
12:40 am
I’m very tired and desperately need sleep, but before I retire I’d like to call Bobby and idiot.
I suddenly feel compelled to once again say Bobby is and idiot.
Whenever a Braves pitcher does not intentionally walk Howard, it further solidifies the notion that yes, Bobby is and idiot.
For those of you with ADHD, or just blitzed to the bone like myself, I’ll repeat it one more time; Bobby Cox is and idiot of idiotic proportion. I shall heretofore refer to Robert at Bobidiot Cox.
It takes one to truly know one. Myself being and extreme idiot, I believe I’m uniquely qualified to judge Bobidiot, as he drives the bar ever higher for idiotics everywhere…
Nite Y’all
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:40 am
Speaking of which, I haven’t seen the little bugger around in awhile
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:41 am
And Shamus slams Bobby with an And Idiot Trilogy
Jake W.
September 19th, 2009
12:42 am
brian
I never said that you said bobby should save his starters. Simple as this, I brought up how you seem to agree with Bobby for benching Yunel and disagree with him for using EOF when he shouldn’t have. I’m trying to point out how you and other posters are so hypocrytical in your criticism of Cox. How can you be mad when Cox overuses EOF when he has shown you time in and time out that he is inconsistent in his treatment of his pitchers, especially the bullpen, yet agree with the guy when he has shown that he is inconsistent in his treatment of his position players. How can you applaud the guy for being inconsitent in his punishment with escobar and not punishing other players for the same thing then get mad when he is inconsistent with his treatment of the pitchers by overusing some and saving the arms of others? Its a simple comparision.
Dumbfound
September 19th, 2009
12:43 am
Rockies lose 7-5. Well ?!!
kirkinga
September 19th, 2009
12:43 am
Well I wonder if the Rangers would swap Andrus for Escobar…lol? I wouldn’t even consider trading Escobar but something is amiss. What really puzzles me is that they scouted this guy at least a bit before signing him and then he was in the minors before being called up.
I don’t see how Escobar can all of a sudden run afoul of Bobby. Are we to believe his behavior changed for the worse after we reached the big leagues? I find that hard to believe.The Braves made the decision to trade Renteria and designate Elvis A as expendable. So if Yunel is not turning out as they thought then the organization must share in the blame as they had other viable options to play the position.
So they need to stick with their decision and make it work. No way they get equal value for him in a trade and his departure in no way makes this a better team.
Soph
September 19th, 2009
12:47 am
I think he’s done with baseball this year. Moving on to his precious Cowboys.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:50 am
Poor Cowboys bloggers won’t know what hit em
Soph
September 19th, 2009
12:51 am
They deserve it for being Cowboys fans.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:52 am
Heaven forbid Dallas doesn’t play with urgency on Sunday
Soph
September 19th, 2009
12:53 am
I’m sure the ellipsis and quotation marks would be out in full force.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:55 am
You know without Paul here we have less to agree about on here. I mean, that was the one thing pretty much everybody could hold hands over.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:55 am
Did he use ellipses a lot? I never noticed
Johnny Schuerholz
September 19th, 2009
12:56 am
Rockies lose…still only 4 back…but with now just 15 games for us left in the season. A daunting task for sure. I would say that we still have a chance. ESPN has us with a 4.2% chance of playing post season baseball. I would say it is more like 1 in 10…10%. But, that is just me.
but…do not fret my friends. We are still live to play another day (or 15 or so…). I have taken care of Mr. Cox for the evening. I spiked his geritol with some ex-lax. That ought to get his attention.
I do agree that he did the correct thing with Yunel. Kid needs to grow up. He was jogging out of the box. Sit his butt…however, he should be in the line-up tonight.
Chipper. What a total flop this year. BA almost .95 points lower than last year (…and falling…) and .039 points lower than your career average. I told Bobby to sit you until we lost. Moot point now. So now what?
HAVE TO WIN THE NEXT TWO AGAINST THE PHILLIES…or the fat lady will be really clearing her throat. On top of that…(and winning 2 out 3 this weekend)…we must win 10 + of the final 13 (beginning with the Mets on Monday night)…or we will cheering on our friends over at the Georgia Dome…sooner…rather than later.
I STILL BELIEVE
Soph
September 19th, 2009
12:56 am
Yeah, people have been pretty divided since he departed. Oh well, I can live with it.
Soph
September 19th, 2009
12:57 am
For the record, I still believe too.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
12:58 am
I think we can only lose one more to even hope to make it.
The A Bomb
September 19th, 2009
12:59 am
Tonight wasn’t baffling at all. . .
Cox is acting like a guy who’s on his way out, and “I DID IT MY WAY.”
He’s beaten the bullpen to a pulp because he doesn’t care.
He benched Escobar because he doesn’t care.
He wants to go out on his terms.
Two more weeks of this BS and we can move on.
fastasballs
September 19th, 2009
1:00 am
Well the Rockies just lost so there is still hope, although not a lot. The best thing the Braves can do is put this game to bed & start again tomorrow. Nothing went right tonight at all with the exception of the Rockies losing.
I’m still ticked over Cox benching Escobar. There was simply no sense in it at this point in the season nor at that point in the game. Had Escobar loafed in the 8th down by 5 runs then sit him to prove your point, but not in a 2-1 game with the playoffs on the line.
The other thing I don’t get is Cox said Moylan would have been in if the game was tied or they taken the lead. Was Soriano not available either? If he was the time for Moylan was bases juiced in the 8th when it was still a 3-1 game & Werth coming up.
I’ll never understand Cox’s rationale behind his bullpen handling. We saw guys tonight who have not pitched in weeks, yet are thrown into a pressure cooker of a game. It’s not the best environment for guys who have not pitched in weeks or nearly a month as in the case for Logan.
Not to blame everything on Cox because Gonzalez possibly could have been used tonight if he had said he was hurting the other night before giving up a homer. He’s the guy you want to face Howard, Utley, & Ibanez, sure & hell not Boone Logan. I’m glad he plunked Howard though, about the best moment in the game aside from McCann’s jack.
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:01 am
Still mathematically alive. Good enough for me.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:01 am
Well for the record, Bobby didn’t overwork the bullpen tonight. He just used the worst relievers available in a (once) close game.
And there’s no guarantee he’ll be gone next year either.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:02 am
As much as Bobby gets dumped on here, I think he’s still pretty revered throughout the casual fanbase.
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:02 am
Where is Paul Lentz at…? Did he get Bozo’d again…Most on here don’t agree with him but he does make good points about this dissappointing season
Go Bulldogs!
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:03 am
Nice transition, Tomahawkin
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:03 am
So, T’Hawkin where have you been? It’s been a while.
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:03 am
Cox is a Way different manager than he was during the 91-95 seasons…
Cox needs to resign and Take TP with him. In Boston or New York Bobby would’ve been gone years ago…
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:04 am
What time does UGA play tomorrow? Or, today I guess.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:06 am
I don’t know much about 90’s Cox…I was only 7 in 1991. I hear some people say he was a great manager. Then I hear some people say he did the same things then that he does now.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:06 am
7:45, Soph. Against our old buddy Bobby Petrino
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:07 am
Soph
Our Internet got cut off at the spot due to the fact that 2 of my roommates got laid off from their jobs, So T-Hawkin has been MIA over the last 2 weeks or so…
I will be in what Al B Sure used to say “Full effect Mode” this weekend, “Bank On It!”
Gonna be some good TV this weekend…The Dawgs are in my Town of Fayetteville Ar, that will be a close game
And I want to see the NY Giants Stump Tony Homo and the Cowboys Sunday night
Lane Kiffen is gonna get Clowned at the Swamp, I’m looking foward to that…
Time To Bump some Old New Kids on the Block
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:08 am
T’Hawkin – we were like 7 or 8 in ‘91. I sure as hell didn’t know anything about him then. I mean I liked the Braves but I don’t know how Bobby managed.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:09 am
1984, Soph?
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:10 am
Ugh, Petrino. He’s on my list with Lane Kiffin.
As long as the Falcons win, I don’t care what any other team does.
NKOTB – T’Hawkin?
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:11 am
jeffrey – 83.
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:11 am
Soph
RHR Thought That I had a Serious BF and Threw My Laptop out of the Window…
I took a 2 week break from watching this Cock-teasing team after we got Clowned by the Reds
Plus Football is on Now, I gotta represent my Boyz
I had a Miniature BF tonight, It would’ve been worse had we still been in the race…
Phillies will finish us off this weekend…I want to see them Destory the Cards and their Bandwagon fans in October
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:12 am
oldie
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:13 am
I prefer classic.
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:14 am
Represent 1984 up in here, I was 7 during the 1991 WS
But I have Tapes and old Braves Books that I have collected during the years…
TBS needs to come out with another braves video celebrating our title run
I have the Braves win it all tape from 1995 and that video brings back a lot of Memories
Pointe South Elementary used to be off da chain when the Braves played at the Chop Shop
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:15 am
I had no Idea that Len Pasquerelli (Spelling) used to be the Falcons Beat writer before he went to BSPN…
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:16 am
I have game 6 of the ‘95 WS on VHS.
We used to have Braves Day at school. It used to be so much fun.
Dumbfound
September 19th, 2009
1:17 am
The only logic I see as to why bobby cox is so hell bent on saving the bullpen, Is that Jim Tracy and Joe Torre has told bobby they are going to throw the rest of their games and bobby and the braves would be in. Makes sense to me.
Dumbfound
September 19th, 2009
1:18 am
Sorry, Not Joe Torre but Bruce Bochy !
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:18 am
Oh I was born in early 84. We’re not that old.
I remember when the Braves made it to the World Series one year the middle school band came through the halls in the middle of the day and started playing the tomahawk chop.
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:19 am
I was husky and awkward in middle school. These are some nice flashbacks
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:22 am
Yeah, middle school was not good to anyone.
TnBrian
September 19th, 2009
1:23 am
Cox has more baseball knowledge in his pinky fingernail than most others can only dream of having. So the only reason I can imagine that he keeps making strange decisions is that he’s arrogantly saying to whoever, “I’m Bobby Fu*** Cox and I’ll do what I damn well please”. I understand you can’t go about your business being a manager/coach in a sport and be successful by trying appease the fans, but this man beats all I’ve ever and probably will ever see with his stubborness and loyalties to certain guys.
Artie
September 19th, 2009
1:23 am
If it was the first game of the season and he did it, sure. If Bobby had been taking people out all year when they loaf down the line, sure. But to start doing it now when it had been happening all year with the whole team doing it, it looks like he’s just singling out Yunel.
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:24 am
Early ‘84? So you’re b’day’s close to Mac & Francoeur’s then.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
September 19th, 2009
1:24 am
Who wins a sumo wrestling match between Chino Cadiha and Charlie Weiss?
The winner is proclaimed “Captain Buttfront”
Anonymous Caller
September 19th, 2009
1:24 am
Guys it’s nice to think that every player should be hustling on every single play of the year, but that’s just not the reality of MLB.
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:24 am
Dizam
I think the average age on this blog tonight is like 25-26, a lot of young cats on here tonight…
If I wasn’t broke I’d be at a club right now getting tuned up…
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:25 am
*your not you’re
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:25 am
WOW….I’m going through the wall posts on the blog Facebook group. It’s weird actually seeing people. There’s Tomahawkin, CAB’s dog, Chop Chop…
jeffrey d
September 19th, 2009
1:26 am
Right between McCann and Francoeur actually. 11 days before McCann if I remember correctly (Feb 9th)
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:27 am
I loved Middle School
I was the One who always got in trouble for Laughing out loud in class…
“So Now I pout like a grown jerk, wishing all I had to do now was finish homework”. (Some old Ahmed)
Yunel's Frosted Tips
September 19th, 2009
1:28 am
Oh, sí, Bobby Cox es una grasa, Nosepicker estúpida que necesita ser despedido
Soph
September 19th, 2009
1:28 am
Am I the only one that can’t find the group on FB? What the hell?
Tomahawkin
September 19th, 2009
1:29 am
Jeffrey D
You have a link to that group…?
need to put my old Facebook Picture where I’m dressed up as Tiger Woods at a Holloween party and I’m drunk as Shyt, It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for a while but have been too lazy to do so