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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,070 comments Add your comment
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
11:10 am
BTW- As I’ve been telling you guys, it’s only a matter of time before they consider adding another WC team to each league or something. The WC was originally added to allow teams a second way into the playoffs, especially those that didn’t want to spend like the Yankees. This was the trade off for no salary cap. Now that the AL has two teams in one division spending big $’s (Yanks and Red Sox) they’ve frozen out certainly the rest of the AL East for the most part as well as other AL teams not in first(Last year was a one in 10 shot for the Rays). So now there’s barely a WC race. Teams will start to complain. Could you imagine being an Oriole fan? They have no shot – none. Playoff expansion is coming imo. Too much money for these greedy owners to pass up.
Tomahawkin
September 23rd, 2009
11:11 am
Given the fact that Petey-Pablo hasn’t given up a homer all season…
Does anyone want to make him the closer next year and let both Gonzo and MFIKY walk…?
Use Easy-E as the 8th inning man and do auditions for the 7th inning man in S. Training, even though I think Booney can be fit for that job
David O'Brien
September 23rd, 2009
11:13 am
Talk about edgy television … Gadhafi speaking at U.N. for past 10 minutes or so. Frightening is the word that comes to mind. And unhinged.
bravesgrl4life
September 23rd, 2009
11:13 am
McFann =Ô=
September 23rd, 2009
11:16 am
bravesgrl4life Of course, I really would have liked to see Hanson in the speedo
And after mentioning that you’re gonna go eat?
See ya when you get back!
Lew
September 23rd, 2009
11:19 am
Tomahawkin-If Moylan were made the closer, it sure would be an inexpensive solution to the closer issue. It would save us over $8 million, which we could spend on a power bat and maye not be forced to trade pitching.
However, many here pointed out that Moylan’s LH/RH splits aren’t that great. His BAA is .75 more against LH hitters and his OPS is 225 points higher against LH hitters. He strikes out four times as many RHers than Lefties. Given that we have so many LH hitting rivals (Utley, Howard, Beltran) he might not be our best option. Might be worth a try, but if it wasn’t a successful move, we wouldn’t really be able to remedy the situation after the season starts.
Salamander
September 23rd, 2009
11:20 am
A potential announcement regarding Bobby’s future when the Braves get back to Atlanta?
From latest Bradley column:
“We’ll probably have an announcement when we get off this road trip.” [Bobby Cox]
DAP
September 23rd, 2009
11:22 am
lew, thats an amazing stat, and shows how awesome the braves pitching has been. it almost makes me sad to think about this season being lost because of the offense. im excited to see what wren does to fix the lineup like he did the pitching last year, and i really think the braves are right on the edge of being the class of the NL.
McFann =Ô=
September 23rd, 2009
11:24 am
Anders [The Mets'] announcers really speak well of the Braves and their organization.
True…I mean, I only watched a little 1 1/2 clip of them, but one of ‘em did call BMac an “Iron Mann” behind the plate.
DAP
September 23rd, 2009
11:26 am
i think if they lengthen the playoffs, they need to shorten the season.
tomohawkin Given the fact that Petey-Pablo hasn’t given up a homer all season…
Does anyone want to make him the closer next year and let both Gonzo and MFIKY walk…?
no, because lefties have really hit moylan well this season. i would not be comfortable with him closing games for us.
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
11:26 am
DOB- Regarding Gadhafi – Let’s just pray he never gets his hands on the things we all know he should never possess.
Frightening, unhinged + radical = Extremely Dangerous.
You in Manhattan today? If you are and you take a walk go over by the Four Season the Waldorf or any of those high end hotels their in the 50’s – 60’s streets. With this whole UN thing going on I guarantee you’ll see numerous black SUV convoys come and go all day with swat teams in full regalia (Masks, vests, automatic weapons). They shut down about half a block while moving these digniteries in and out of the hotels. You can stand and watch from about 100 feet.Kind of like you’re own scene from “24″. It’s funny to watch the NY’ers take it in stride like it’s no big deal.
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
11:28 am
McFann- They always say that McCann is the best catcher in the NL. Hernandez loves the way he hits. Say’s when he’s going right he’s stroking the ball to left center. That set’s him up to turn on the ball and go deep.
McFann =Ô=
September 23rd, 2009
11:29 am
DAP i think if they lengthen the playoffs, they need to shorten the season.
Speaking for catcher-fans everywhere: Totally!
Poopy Pants
September 23rd, 2009
11:33 am
Anyone have ESPN Insider and mind posting Buster Olney’s article “Baseball could soon lose a giant”? I would appreciate it. Thanks
Shaun
September 23rd, 2009
11:34 am
DAP and Lew, I don’t think Wren has far to go. As I’ve said before, I suspect if McLouth and Church had been with the Braves all along instead of Francoeur and Schaefer, they would be right there with the Rockies and possibly right there with the Phillies.
groundfog
September 23rd, 2009
11:34 am
We are going to miss the wildcard by 4-5 games. I can think of at least 7 games cox blew just by his overuse of the bullpen and utter miusmanagement of the pitching staff. I hope he walks away.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
September 23rd, 2009
11:35 am
So, what do you guys think of the reported rift between Wren and Cox? I say its 100% true! I think Cox was never on board for the trading of Frenchy and if it had been up to him Smoltz and Glavine would be part of the rotation and Tommy Hanson would still be toiling in triple A.
I think Wren has the guts to do what JS didn’t and that is tell Cox that some of his ways are archaic and that his loyalty to some guys (Norton) is just asinine.
I think there is a 60/40 chance that Cox doesn’t return. Wren said the report was “inaccurate”. In other words it was true but maybe not in the way it was written.
McFann =Ô=
September 23rd, 2009
11:37 am
Anders …McCann is the best catcher in the NL.
That is a fact that no one cann deny!!
Seriously, though, good for them…sound like good announcers!
Hernandez loves the way he hits.
Then it musta been him who was saying the stuff in this clip about that swing he took just before the bunt–how it was a really long swing, and you don’t usually see McCann swing like that (he’s so right, too…only when there’s something not right do you see BMac take that kind of a swing).
BMac does have a really nice swing…even if I wasn’t his #1 Fann, I would still love his swing.
Says when he’s going right he’s stroking the ball to left center. That sets him up to turn on the ball and go deep.
Ye-ep…he’s only got 15 completely opposite field hits this year, but he has just as many hits towards center (57) as he has pulled.
DAP
September 23rd, 2009
11:37 am
as far as closers go, there are really alot of guys on the market, and i dont think it will be as hard to get one for a good price as people think. i think we could get soriano back with a very modest raise on his $6.3mil salary. but also out there is gonzalez, gregg, hoffman, rodney, valverde, and wagner, plus several other guys with closing experience, like brandon lyon, danys baez, chad cordero, isringhousen, percival, putz, saito, ect.
anyways, considering who is available and the teams who even need closers, the market is deep.
Will
September 23rd, 2009
11:42 am
DOB dont know if you saw this but looks like there is some tension between the KU football and basketball players….http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4496695
Rob from SC
September 23rd, 2009
11:43 am
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
All I can say is thank goodness Cox is not the General Manager. We would have the oldest team in the majors. Cox needs to realize that it was time for Smoltz and Glavine to move on. Then again Cox thinks Norton is a top pinch hitter
Poopy Pants
September 23rd, 2009
11:45 am
Hello? Is this mic on?
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
11:49 am
Didn’t Bradley report that the Braves were possibly going to make an announcement regarding Cox when they return from this trip? If so, there’s no way they announce now that he’s retiring. They could still be in this thing, why would they want that distraction? I would say it’s more likely they announce he’s coming back for one more year just to put this all to rest. They have to say something as it’s now getting National attention.
They may announce who the manager in waiting is too since there may be numerous openings this off season and they may want to lock that guy up too.
Shaun
September 23rd, 2009
11:49 am
We are going to miss the wildcard by 4-5 games. I can think of at least 7 games cox blew just by his overuse of the bullpen and utter miusmanagement of the pitching staff. I hope he walks away.
I love this kind of analysis. Why don’t you list those games?
Also, let’s assume it’s true that Cox’s decisions with his bullpen cost the Braves runs. I would assume that the games were close, since the games were supposedly decided by the bullpen. Well, why point to Cox’s decisions with the bullpen as games he blew? Why not point to the Braves not scoring enough runs to that point or allowing too many runs to that point? Why not point to a play here or a play there that may have gone differently for one reason or another before that point?
Also, I’m assuming there were decisions Cox made that probably helped them win; at least a few. So don’t we have to determine how many good decisions Cox made if we want to get an accurate picture of whether he should stay or go.
I’m not pretending Cox is perfect, that I know how many good and bad decision he made or even that he should or shouldn’t stay. But I think evaluating managers is a lot more complex than folks on the blog would have us believe.
All I know for sure is that the Braves are going to end the season pretty close to where prognosticators who use tons of data in their projections had them at the start of the season. The Braves have neither underachieved nor overachieved relative to preseason projections. So I’m not sure Cox has cost the team a ton of games.
Daslied
September 23rd, 2009
11:53 am
DOB – one summer when you’re not busy (hah!) go rent every season of Lost. As a fellow Arrested/Sunny In Philly fan, I assure you that it’s not time wasted. It’s almost worth it for the music alone in the earlier seasons – obscure Willie Nelson, Blind Boys, Patsy Cline…excellent taste. AD is my all-time favorite comedy, by a mile, and Lost is my all-time favorite non-comedy.
Katie
September 23rd, 2009
11:58 am
This may have been talked about earlier, but what did those of you who watched the House premiere think of it? I don’t know if it was worth it to only have him in the loony bin for one episode, but I still liked it. And about True Blood, I tried to jump in this season and had no idea what was going on.
TnBrian(Vazquez ace 2010)
September 23rd, 2009
11:59 am
Shaun, you’re right. In 2010 Bobby will need CJ/Mac to be at their best, plus a guy that mashes the fu** out of the ball hitting between them, plus the starters to duplicate what they have done this year, plus the tired pen arms that he abuses to have rubber arms to get to the playoffs again. As you know, strategy ain’t Bobby’s game.
Poopy Pants
September 23rd, 2009
11:59 am
Dexter is hands down the best show on television. Blows True Blood out of the water (especially after TB’s awful 2nd season). You can find the first episode of Dexter’s 4th season online, and you’ll be hooked even if you’ve never seen the first 3 seasons
abwright
September 23rd, 2009
12:00 pm
David O’Brien, 9:38 am … “you don’t wait around and talk to him after one-third of the team’s games, to get him to say things such as “well, I did my job and they didn’t get any runs” for a quote that adds nothing to the game story.”
I can imagine that such a story would sound like Arnold Rimmer describing a Risk game.
And Wright hit a routine grounder to first which LaRoche fielded and stepped on the bag. Then Jurrjens threw a ball. After a strike, he threw another ball. And then, the real exciting thing happened. McCann went out to the mound for a chat. And so on, and so on, …
Poopy Pants
September 23rd, 2009
12:02 pm
True Blood’s first season was entertaining, but its 2nd season got way too weird and dragged out the Maryann storyline wayyyy too long. Got too hokey for me But Dexter is always bad ass
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
12:04 pm
abwright – What happened after McCann went out to the mound to chat? I’m sitting here waiting.
McFann =Ô=
September 23rd, 2009
12:06 pm
Anders What happened after McCann went out to the mound to chat? I’m sitting here waiting.
Me, too! He was just getting to the good stuff…
O.J.
September 23rd, 2009
12:06 pm
Hey DOB, did you ever get a chance to watch the season premiere of House?? What did you think about it?
richbrave
September 23rd, 2009
12:09 pm
BRAVERS pull even with SAN FRAN and one ahead of MARLINS in the loss column. Unfettered with pretenders. Now the BRAVES can concentrate on the brass-ring and winning five more than the ROCKIES do from here on out. Isn’t it great to be interested in the season at this point! Even if our chances are four per-cent. I’ll take it.
O.J.
September 23rd, 2009
12:10 pm
Richbrave, wouldnt they have to win 6 more than the rockies do? Winning 5 more would only tie them up right?
Daslied
September 23rd, 2009
12:11 pm
I might be cool with Moylan closing.
Supposedly it takes 18 months following TJ surgery to fully heal and regain velocity, and he’s obviously not there yet. This year his fastball averages 89.3 mph, but in 2008 (before surgery) it was 92.6, and 92 the year before. I remember him touching 94-95 pretty often, but he hasn’t gotten back there yet. His slider is moving horizontally almost half as much as 2007 (and less than last year), and his fastball is moving a little less as well.
Given less velocity and less movement (especially in to lefties), the drastic difference against lefties (.778 OPS vs. .549 RH isn’t surprising. For his career (.702 LH vs. .575 RH OPS) there’s not as much of a difference.
He’s certainly got the personality for closing…
abwright
September 23rd, 2009
12:12 pm
Anders, 12:04 pm … “abwright – What happened after McCann went out to the mound to chat? I’m sitting here waiting.”
He rolled two sixes and took Kamchatka.
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
12:13 pm
He rolled two sixes and took Kamchatka (awbright)
Huh? Come again?
Jeff R
September 23rd, 2009
12:14 pm
Geez, adding another wild-card team to the playoffs without reducing the regular season means baseball in November or starting the season in March.
It’s crazy that the season goes as far as it does into the autumn. The game was never meant to be played in cold rain or with fans bundled up.
Expand the playoffs, fine. But cut the season back to 154 games, which is what it was prior to the 162 game schedule.
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
12:15 pm
Jeff R- Kill the All Star game while we’re at it. Complete waste of time imo.
RHR
September 23rd, 2009
12:15 pm
So DOB, now that Teixeria is gone was he really as bad as I’ve heard?
and did Leo really get a retire/quit/or fire ultimatum after the 05 NLDS?
Just kidding…
Anyway, Dexter is great, I don’t get Lost or why people watch it – way way way too far out there for me, and Poopy Pants, I have insider, I’ll go check it out.
Pete
September 23rd, 2009
12:15 pm
Interesting how the Braves are the only team still involved in the WC race in both leagues to have less than 40 wins at home. Seems as if thats been a problem for the last couple years now (relatively poor home record), and its pretty unusual.
Any ideas why, DOB or anyone? I have none.
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
12:17 pm
Pete- One idea comes to mind for me. They play well in front of large crowds. {:
Jake W.
September 23rd, 2009
12:17 pm
Anders, to your 11:10 post i’ve been thinking the same thing. Of all the major sports the mlb has the least amount of teams that qualify for the postseason. NBA has the most so they are able to keep the attention of more than half of their teams for most of the season. The NFL has two wild cards and no division has more than four teams. There are 4 playoff spots in the AL and the Yankees with their payroll have almost always assured themselves a spot. A team like the orioles almost always have to think wild card but even that is hard because they have another high payroll team like the red sox to compete with and their division play is much tougher than the teams who play in the al west and al central.
You got to find a way to keep the interest in these teams longer. I think mlb needs to make some changes. The gap between the higher paid teams and the lower ones has become so large. The gap between the number 1 and 2 teams in payrolls in the mlb is almost as large as the gap between the highest paid team in the nba and the lowest. Its something that needs to be looked at if the mlb is looking for a little more parity instead of most of the same teams every year.
DAP
September 23rd, 2009
12:18 pm
anders He rolled two sixes and took Kamchatka is a risk reference. you know…the joke was describing everything like its a game of risk. ever play risk?
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
12:18 pm
Jake W – Don’t get me wrong. I’m not in favor of it. But I do think it’s coming.
Jeff R
September 23rd, 2009
12:19 pm
Anders, I’m with you. When I was a kid, the All Star game was special. It meant watching players face off who might never do so in a World Series. But with interleagure play now, it’s really taken a lot out of the All Star game. But it’s another revenue generator, so I doubt MLB would end it.
Poopy Pants
September 23rd, 2009
12:19 pm
I think Moylan has been fairly consistent all year, but at .250 BA against him doesn’t really get my loins moist if he came in the 9th inning.
Call me old school, but I think a hard thrower (95+) closer seems to work best. Look at Papelbon and K-Rod. After a starting pitcher’s stuff rarely is that fast on a consistent basis and their fastball slows down more and more the longer they are in the game, having a crazy side-arm setup guy with Moylan would perfectly fit with a hard thrower that will blow away guys at the end who have been used to swinging at pitches under 95 mph all game.
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
12:19 pm
DAP – Got it. I haven’t played risk in a very, very long time.
Katie
September 23rd, 2009
12:21 pm
Anders- I agree about the all star game, I hate the way it’s set up now. If they’re gonna have it count for home field, then I think the players and managers should vote for the starters and the fans can vote for reserves. Then they should get rid of the stupid rule that each team has to be represented
Jeff R
September 23rd, 2009
12:22 pm
Jake W. I think the NBA and NHL seasons are too long as well. Too many playoff teams, too many rounds. It goes on and on. I like hockey. Follow it. But a Stanley Cup in, what, late May, early June? Hockey’s a an autumn/winter game.
But, yes, it’s all about revenue, and a lot of fans like the longer seasons. But not me.
David O'Brien
September 23rd, 2009
12:24 pm
Pete, only Braves (39-35) and Marlins (41-36) don’t have much better home records than road records among remaining playoff contenders in both leagues. I don’t know why. The Marlins, I can understand — it’s a dreadful environment with tiny crowds. But Braves attendance hasn’t been so low as to eliminate the home-field advantage, or at least I wouldn’t think so.
Oddly, most of the AL contenders have far greater disparities in home/road records than NL contenders. For instance, Philly has a surprisingly modest 42-32 home record (45-29 road), while teams such as the Yankees (52-23 at home, 43-33 road) and especially Red Sox (52-22 home, just 37-38 road) have huge differences in home/road records. (AL records are before yesterday’s games, I’m glancing at my pregame stats package from last night).
Even the Cardinals, with their huge crowds and ever-supportive fans, are only 46-32 at home, which is hardly better than their road record.
White Blood Cells
September 23rd, 2009
12:24 pm
DOD,
Regarding your 10:54 post. Your explanation is not necessary, but thank you. I enjoy reading your coverage of the Braves. It’s kind of astonishing that people think you could report everything said. They must forget these players are human with careers to consider. My brother was a beat writer for a Major League team and he has told me many things that would never make a paper.
Pete
September 23rd, 2009
12:25 pm
Anders good point lol besides that, it just seems pretty strange to me. If memory serves me correctly (which is very questionable lol), its been that way for last 2-3 years.
Jeff R
September 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
At one time, fans didn’t vote. As I recall (I was a kid), the managers picked the teams. And there was no “eavery team needs to be represented” stuff. It was all about the best. Somke teams, by today’s standards, were over represented. Some All Stars never left the bench or the bullpen. Those guys played for keeps. The game was taken much more seriously.
David O'Brien
September 23rd, 2009
12:27 pm
Anders: All-Star Game is a cash cow. No way they kill it. If it makes money, and the TV networks pay big dollars to show it, it stays. All about money. Everything in regards to scheduling, playoffs, etc, is about money. Always. Every time.
RHR
September 23rd, 2009
12:27 pm
I’m guessing DOB doesn’t want me copying and pasting insider blogs in here so whoever wants it leave your email address and i’ll send it when I get back from lunch in 30 mins.
Pete
September 23rd, 2009
12:27 pm
DOB thanks I noticed that also, and correct me if wrong but hasnt it been that way for Braves last couple years? My point is if Braves played just a little better at home this year, we’d be about 2 games back instead of 5.
bravesgrl4life
September 23rd, 2009
12:29 pm
Back from a great lunch, but gotta get some work done. Probably will have to watch game on GameDay tonight. Hubby gets off at 6 instead of 9, which on one hand is a good thing . . . Hopefully GameDay isn’t slower than molasses in winter. I might be back on in a coupla hours. Hope all are having a good “Hump Day!”
Poopy Pants
September 23rd, 2009
12:30 pm
Am I blocked on here? Test test test
Jake W.
September 23rd, 2009
12:31 pm
“But, yes, it’s all about revenue, and a lot of fans like the longer seasons. But not me.”
Thats what i’m talking about. Not necessarily the length of the seasons but how long you keep the interest of fans in the various. I think you keep their interest longer the longer they are involved in a playoff race, not how long the seasons are. I think the seasons can be shorter but you are right, they make more money with more games but if your team is out of it prior to the all-star break in baseball whats to keep the interest in towns like pittsburgh, kansas city, and baltimore. MLB has the most teams that are seemingly out of it every year and for a good length of time. I just think the league needs more parity personally.
David O'Brien
September 23rd, 2009
12:31 pm
Will, if KU hoops players were fighting other KU hoops players, or fighting the townies or other students in general, I’d care. But fighting football players? I’d say that’s probably actually a good sign. Probably means we’ve got a tough hombre or two on the hoops team that won’t back down.
Not a concern, to me. Now, if Sherron Collins or Cole Aldrich or any other key players gets hurt fighting in the middle of the season, I’d care. But a hoops player gets a dislocated finger punching a football player in September? Nah, not worrying about that. Call me jaded. But I like having some tough dudes on the hoops squad.
GboroBravo
September 23rd, 2009
12:34 pm
DOB I will be heading up to DC this weekend to catch the Friday and Saturday games, what are some good places to eat around DC?
abwright
September 23rd, 2009
12:37 pm
Tomahawkin, 11:11 am … “Given the fact that Petey-Pablo hasn’t given up a homer all season…”
Am I the only one last night who wanted to slap Boog for going on, and on, and on about how Moylan hadn’t given up a homer allllllll season long. Talk about trying to jinx the guy. Why not shut up about it til he’s finished pitching the inning.
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
12:38 pm
DOB- I agree. That’s my point. Selig and his band of thieves are killing this game. They’ve added WC, the WBC, an All Star game that is played as an exhibition but determines home field for the most important series of the year, interleague play, ignored the steroid issue. All in the last 15 to 20 years! What won’t these guys desecrate for a buck? More playoff teams will be next.
I think the baseball owners made an egregious error putting one of their own at the helm. There are no checks and balances to their thought process imo. I’d like to see one major decision Selig has made in favor of the best interest of the baseball rather than lining the owners pockets. Selig is operating like the Captain of the Titanic who ignored his insticts when faced with the pressures ownership put on him.
GboroBravo
September 23rd, 2009
12:39 pm
Another show you should look into DOB is Fringe…sorta of Xfiles feel to it.
Run Heap Run
September 23rd, 2009
12:39 pm
Meh…there isn’t anything in that insider piece that you haven’t already read elsewhere. Its just the lead story of a very long blog that includes a bunch of non-braves and non-baseball stuff.
Baseball could soon lose a giant
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry
Bobby Cox first mentioned walking away from baseball in the spring of 2008, and when word of this reached Gene Michael, a former teammate and longtime friend of Cox, Michael burst out laughing. “He’s not going anywhere,” Michael said. “He’s a lifer. What else is he going to do?”
Cox signed with the Dodgers in 1959, reached the majors in 1968 and played for a couple of seasons, and incredibly, this is the 29th year that Cox has managed a major league team. There will be a day when he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. For those almost three decades’ worth of seasons, players have heard Cox cheerily call to them from the dugout and encourage them. He has always been known as a great manager to play for because he is supportive and positive and consistent, and his players feel like he treats them with respect, and doesn’t overwhelm them with rules or his own ego.
What has enabled Cox and Joe Torre to last as managers, I’ve always felt, is that they like players; they like people. They aren’t overwhelmed by any anger or bitterness toward the players that are increasingly younger than they are.
But it turns out that Gene Michael might be wrong.
For more on Bobby Cox, notes on the pennant races, the Greinke-Hernandez Cy Young battle, and much more, you must be an ESPN Insider. Insider
It is apparently possible that sometime during the postseason, Cox is going to walk away after 2,407 victories (and counting) as a manager. His contract is set to expire and he has declined to answer questions about whether he will be coming back for 2010. Braves general manager Frank Wren also declined to address Cox’s future over the phone on Tuesday evening, saying that there will be a discussion about the topic after the season, and then an announcement.
And if Cox walks away, baseball will lose a giant, no matter the circumstances. Only three managers have won more games — Connie Mack, John McGraw and Tony La Russa — and Cox has managed in more postseasons (15) than any other manager (Torre has 14 and almost certainly will tie him this offseason).
David O'Brien
September 23rd, 2009
12:40 pm
Anders, I’m not in Manhattan today, but stayed at Eastside Marriott during G8 thing a couple years ago, so I was directly across the street form Waldorf-Astoria and could watch that scene from my 10th-floor window, not to mention every time I went outside and walked in any direction. There were black SUVs and security dudes in suits and sunglasses and earpieces everywhere you turned.
Anders
September 23rd, 2009
12:42 pm
DOB- Staring you up and down – right? Kind of shows you the world we live in unfortunately.
abwright
September 23rd, 2009
12:42 pm
Anders, 12:13 pm … “Huh? Come again?”
Returning to the Arnold Rimmer, Red Dwarf reference from my earlier post.
No, it was probably not very funny unless you had seen the episode where Rimmer describes a Risk game in excruciating detail.
David O'Brien
September 23rd, 2009
12:42 pm
Poopy Pants: Why would someone calling himself or herself Poopy Pants be blocked? I mean, it’s just adorable.
RemoW
September 23rd, 2009
12:44 pm
DOB has a good point. It is all about generating dollars. That being the case I am surprised that commissioner Selig is against expanding the playoffs. Even if just by 1 team.
Look at the excitement about this Braves team. Realistically we don’t have a great chance to make the post season. But if we win 5 and the Rockies lose 4. (Not saying that will happen) It gets real interesting.
So expanding the number of playoff teams would up attendance and add some more drama to the post season.
Imagine 1 more spot for the post season (2 wildcard teams) you have a 3 way race with the Giants, Marlins, and Braves. Plenty of excitement to keep that fans into baseball instead of losing them to football.
Run Heap Run
September 23rd, 2009
12:46 pm
I’ll just put this link in here without comment -
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2009/09/23/2009-09-23_jeff_francoeur.html
McFann =Ô=
September 23rd, 2009
12:46 pm
jake W When I was a kid, the All Star game was special. It meant watching players face off who might never do so in a World Series. But with interleagure play now, it’s really taken a lot out of the All Star game.
Yeah, I agree…How ’bout they kill off inter-league play instead? I can’t stand it…
Tomahawkin
September 23rd, 2009
12:49 pm
Or to add a little bit more Fuel to the Mix…
Have KK close next year if he is open to it, but I have red flags about that Idea, since he isn’t a strikeout pitcher and tends to give up a lot of walks but we have to do something with his contract and it sucks but its a good luxury to have and that is too many good starting pitchers and not enough offense
Make KK the Closer and Petey-Pablo can be the 8th inning man and have Easy-E as our 7th inning specialist
KK has looked nice in the pen so that is why I’m harping on this idea
abwright
September 23rd, 2009
12:50 pm
Jeff R, 12:14 pm … “Expand the playoffs, fine. But cut the season back to 154 games, which is what it was prior to the 162 game schedule.”
I think the baseball season goes on too long as it is, especially with expanded spring training coverage (the best part of baseball). Even if my team makes the playoffs, I find playoff baseball to be excruciating to watch.
Pitch, wait, walk around the mound, pitch, wait, …
I like 2.5 hour games. Not 3.5 hour playoff games.
I much prefer Spring Training + 140+ games. I have to deliberately cut off a week here and a week there so that I can pace myself for the current season.
I also hate the five game series in the first round. The seven game series makes is really, really likely that the best team will win the series.
The next expansion of teams (who knows when that might come) would probably expand the divisions to four divisions, thus eliminating the wild card. If there are two wild cards, then an expansion to four divisions would probably mirror the NFL playoffs, where the best two division winners get to skip the first series.
DAP
September 23rd, 2009
12:52 pm
it isnt KK’s lack of strikeouts that makes me weary of him closing, its his walks. plus, being a starter his whole career, i would wonder if he could handle the rigors of closing, have to pitch several nights in a row at times.
Katie
September 23rd, 2009
12:52 pm
Run Heap Run-
I think we all saw it coming that Frenchy and Wright would be new bffs, lol
Tomahawkin
September 23rd, 2009
12:53 pm
RHR
is back with her Rookie name, I’m pretty sure that most people (the New Cats on the blog) didn’t know what RHR stood for
KC
September 23rd, 2009
12:53 pm
DOB: “There were black SUVs and security dudes in suits and sunglasses and earpieces everywhere you turned.”
You’re not supposed to remember anything after they flash that little light in your eyes.
Anyway, sorry about that. My security detail is supposed to be more discreet.
Soph
September 23rd, 2009
12:54 pm
Awww, is Francoeur trying to make Mac jealous with his new BFF?
Run Heap Run
September 23rd, 2009
12:56 pm
Put me on the don’t like the ideal of KK as a starter list. He kinda takes some settling in when he starts. His 1 and 2 innings are dicey but then he’ll settle in about the 3rd and be solid for 3-4 innings. Not exactly the kind of guy you want coming in to close a game. I think he’s best used as a starter but he certainly did well in long relief behind Lowe so that could be his 2nd best fit. Closer would be the last place I’d use him.
HoCoJo
September 23rd, 2009
12:58 pm
Poopy Pants
Do you mean blocked or blockage? Either way, maybe you should call yourself “Wished I had Poopy Pants”
Run Heap Run
September 23rd, 2009
12:58 pm
Tomahawkin – i’m just on the netbook in the cafeteria. the name was already filled in, when I get back to my desk or any of my other computers it’ll be the other. I didn’t care enough to change it, just wanted something to read while I ate my cheese sammich.
abwright
September 23rd, 2009
1:00 pm
McFann =Ô=, 12:46 pm … “Yeah, I agree…How ’bout they kill off inter-league play instead? I can’t stand it…”
I usually take my week off from baseball during inter-league play.
Maybe they can keep inter-league but not count those games in the standings (that was a joke, never going to happen). I think that fans that follow the season generally hate inter-league. But, casual “fans” pay to go to inter-league games in droves. Those same fans would just as likely go to an exhibition game.
Or restrict inter-league to those city versus city rivalries (NY, LA, OH, FL) and perhaps let the previous year’s playoff contenders from each league play each other.
I think inter-league play has greatly reduced the wow factor of the world series.
TDub
September 23rd, 2009
1:04 pm
Hey – remember earlier this year in spring training, when we had all the Mets trolls on here breaking down our team versus theirs and insisting we would be shaking in fear at their mighty NL East-winning lineup? Good times…
Marc in FL
September 23rd, 2009
1:07 pm
METS
My
Entire
Team
Sucks
Ha!
Jake W.
September 23rd, 2009
1:07 pm
abwright , I think that if they are going to keep interleague that they actually need to move away from the “natural” rivavlries. I think they need to do it where one year the nl east plays the al east, then the next year the al central, then the next al west. Marlins and Mets are in the same division and compete for the same spot but the marlins get to play the rays twice a year and the mets get the yankees twice a year. Outside of last year the yanks have seemingly always been good and the rays not so good. That may come down to being the difference in the division title.
McFann =Ô=
September 23rd, 2009
1:16 pm
abwright I think that fans that follow the season generally hate inter-league. But, casual “fans” pay to go to inter-league games in droves.
Exactly…that’s where the problem starts. Hmm! Why should the casual “fans” get their way?
Seriously, though…interleague play does take away the fun of the ASG and the “wow factor” of the World Series. “Oh…we’re playing the Red Sox in the World Series? But we already played two series against them this Summer…”
Obviously there’s been interleague play ever since I’ve cared about baseball (when did it start, anyway?), so it’s not like I know what the ASG and WS were like before that…but still; it takes away from all that. Besides, I hate the AL…the less I see of those teams the better (once, in October, would be cool we me!).
Bobby's Belly
September 23rd, 2009
1:21 pm
A KU alum dismissing a fight is not a big deal. However, I would hope a KU alum w/ a forum as well read/respected as this had not read TyShaun Taylor’s posts. Glancing over such ignorance and not denouncing it only enables the idiot.
From ESPN:
On his Facebook page, Taylor admitted he threw a punch.
“I got a dislocated finger … from throwing a punch, so don’t let the newspaper gas ya all up, aite,” he posted after midnight, according to the Kansas City Star.
Taylor’s earlier posts indicated there may have been some tension among the athletes on campus. On Tuesday morning he wrote, “keep my name out ya mouth for you get smacked in it.” A half-hour later, a posting read, “never get outta character … I’m always a G about it.”
Later that afternoon, Taylor posted, “n—–s be muggin me … you know I’m mugging back.” The altercation occurred about two-and-a-half hours later, the Journal-World reported.
Kansas, the prohibitive preseason No. 1 team, is scheduled to begin its season on Oct. 16 with “Late Night at the Phog,” its annual opening practice. The Jayhawks’ first game is Nov. 13.
Taylor averaged 9.7 points and 3 assists as a freshman.
Dana O’Neil covers men’s college basketball for ESPN.com.
bravesgrl4life
September 23rd, 2009
1:22 pm
Marc in FL – now that was funny, dude
Jonas
September 23rd, 2009
1:27 pm
This are the change i make in MLB NL League in the Future:
1-Cut regular season to 150 Games
2-Has 4 Division (Atlantic,North,Central,West)
Atlantic: Fla,Phil,NYM,Wash
North: Mil,Cub,Pitt,Cici
Central: Atl (yes the Bravos), Stl,Colo,Houston
West: SF,LAD,SD,Ari
3- Playoff:wild Card two team best Record non Division Winner, the best Record Diviosn Winner has a bye first Round, The WC winner play with the second beat record div winner, the Third best record play with
the Bye team.
4- DH’s in the NL league..yes is time now..every International tourney has the DH….
Couch Tater
September 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
RHR, So you’re an Advertiser-Gleam insider?
hee, hee
Facts Please
September 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
Cox is to much of a players manager and it tore up this team. Leaving Johnson in while Prado sat, big mistake. Then he lets Chipper go on and on and on with injury after injury and not hitting. You know this is a team and sitting on one player who is a big impact to let him get over his stuff, not a good move. Take him out, like I said, last time I looked it was a team, not a single player. Cox has hurt us over and over again this year. I really believe his managing days are over. When you let a closer load the bases and you just sit there and watch, somethings wrong. Im sorry I love Cox but I have lost all faith in him. It started the last few years when Franco was still here. Even though he was not hitting and was not the one that got us in the playoffs, Cox sat the starter and put in Franco. Take one for the team Cox. You have taken plenty of wins this year and turned them into losses. Not the players alone, but Bobby Cox and his inability to reason and replace players in time of need.
Facts Please
September 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
Cox is to much of a players manager and it tore up this team. Leaving Johnson in while Prado sat, big mistake. Then he lets Chipper go on and on and on with injury after injury and not hitting. You know this is a team and sitting on one player who is a big impact to let him get over his stuff, not a good move. Take him out, like I said, last time I looked it was a team, not a single player. Cox has hurt us over and over again this year. I really believe his managing days are over. When you let a closer load the bases and you just sit there and watch, somethings wrong. Im sorry I love Cox but I have lost all faith in him. It started the last few years when Franco was still here. Even though he was not hitting and was not the one that got us in the playoffs, Cox sat the starter and put in Franco. Take one for the team Cox. You have taken plenty of wins this year and turned them into losses. Not the players alone, but Bobby Cox and his inability to reason and replace players in time of need.
RHR
September 23rd, 2009
1:36 pm
Couch Tater – too funny. of course i subscribe to the gleam, i live in Gville, you know. Most hilarious/interesting newspaper ever.
Daslied
September 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
Rob from SC – you do know that Bobby, when GM in the late 80s, brought in Glavine, Gant, Chipper, Avery and Justice? I believe it was also his idea to stress the importance of scouting and player development. I’m not sure why people think he only likes veterans.
Steve from OH
September 23rd, 2009
1:42 pm
Baseball America ranked C Christian Bethancourt the top prospect in the GCL today. P Caleb Brewer was no. 17, featuring a 91-93 FB (touching 95) with a “downer” CB.
Shaun
September 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Shaun, you’re right. In 2010 Bobby will need CJ/Mac to be at their best, plus a guy that mashes the fu** out of the ball hitting between them, plus the starters to duplicate what they have done this year, plus the tired pen arms that he abuses to have rubber arms to get to the playoffs again. As you know, strategy ain’t Bobby’s game.
I’ve said this before, what makes you think that the bullpen arms are abused? There are several pitchers in the majors who have thrown about as many innings and/or games and have not performed as well as Atlanta’s top relievers.
Cox’s use of the relief corps could be seen as a strength. Basically the best pitchers have, for the most part, thrown the most innings. Isn’t that how you’d ideally want things?
Rock On......
September 23rd, 2009
1:44 pm
Anders…..I agree with you that Cox would not announce he is retiring after the road trip. My guess is that Cox and Wren are talking some details now on a 1-year extension to bring Cox back for a 30th year as manager. Assuming those “details” can be worked out I really have a feeling that he will announce that next week as opposed to prolonging it into the World Series/playoffs etc. Not saying I want him back at all just teh way this thing is looking to me.