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Piedmont Blues
October 1st, 2009
5:16 pm
Of course, Hermida’s a lefty, so that doesn’t fill the need. And he’s awful.
Brett Esterson
October 1st, 2009
5:16 pm
Season officially over now…Brewers just walked Cook for the 3rd time today (second time with the bases loaded. Score now 7-1. Maybe next year our boys will win 100 games so we are not rooting for teams like the Brewers the last few games.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
5:17 pm
Lou Vales –
Anybody on my All-fielder roster.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
5:18 pm
Anders -
Yup, it makes sense to me. I know you highly dislike the Yankees so I figured you weren’t one of those people that cheered for all things NY. Honestly, I don’t think I would either if Atlanta had two teams in each sport.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
5:19 pm
You leave Mark Bradley alone
Icky Thump/WBC
October 1st, 2009
5:19 pm
10Brian,
I’m tired of trading our minor league talent for the immediate gratification of a 30 something making 12 million a year. Everyone should understand that without the pitching this team wins 70 games this year. The everyday 8 are not that good. Suffer 2010 without the hindrance of inescapable multi-year deals for washed up players and keep the pitching together til the studs in the minors arrive.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
5:20 pm
Dear Piedmont, It has been a done deal for months that Marlins would not tender the Marietta Mope. In fact Fredo was even instructed not to give the guy too many AB’s after August. The Marlins were internally disgusted with THEMSELVES for having believed he could turn it around coming into 2009. They once again were deceived by that beautiful swing. Many men have been deceived by a beautiful swing, in the case of Jeremy Hermida of Marietta, GA and Wheeler High School, the swing was destined to never provide any satisfaction to the person employing it.
jim
October 1st, 2009
5:21 pm
The Rockies are doing it with a lot of home-grown talent: Tulo, Helton, Hawpe, Ianetta, Adkins, Smith, Spillbourghs, Jiminez, Cook, Barmes, Gonzalez, Stewart. There farm system has produced a lot of good young talent over the past few years (plus some older talent like Helton), and they got better after trading their biggest star over the winter. We did a marvelousd job going from a 70 win team last year to an 86+ win team this year, but I don’t think getting a BIG BAT within the financial constraints that places on the rest of the roster is going to put us over the top (make us better than the Phillies, Dodgers, Cards, and Rockies). We need to secure our younger core (McCann, Hanson, JJ, Escobar, and Heyward) and build a winner around that.
ABravesFan
October 1st, 2009
5:22 pm
Now that the playoff push appears to be over (Rockies leading 7-1 in the 7th), we Braves fans have to see this late surge as nothing but a very pleasant surprise. I think it will be a good learning experience for the team for next season. It was a bit surprising to me but most of the team this year was not around for the last playoff appearance. If Heyward has a good Arizona Fall league and we can land another good bat, I see the Braves being a popular pick to win the NL pennant next season.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
5:24 pm
Assuming the Marlins didn’t let finances enter into it(It’s just a fantasy) what would the Braves give up for Johnson and Ramirez to make the deal doable for BOTH teams?
bravofan
October 1st, 2009
5:25 pm
Well fellow Braves fans the season will be officialy over in a couple of minutes when the final out of the rockies brewers game is recorded it was a great run while it lasted then the Braves were just the…..Braves.
njbraves
October 1st, 2009
5:26 pm
Season’s over, so I guess it’s time for ridiculous trade proposals and “never gonna happen signings?”
pinkygonzales
October 1st, 2009
5:26 pm
we’re gonna post this one more time. it’s important to temper or disgust with love.
Why did Matt Diaz stray so far off of third base in last night’s climactic 9th inning and get picked off to end the game with the bases loaded in 5-4 game? Why does Greg Norton ever get an at-bat, let alone with two-men on and nobody out? He’s hitting .133 for Christ’s sake (the lowest average of any non-pitcher on the Braves roster. Hell, Javier Vasquez has a better batting average than he does.) How in God’s name do you strike out 16 times against a pitcher that nobody has heard of (Ricky Nolasco)? We know that you all want to make a big play and want to get the offense jumpstarted with one swing of the bat. But swinging at pitches out of the strike zone will not your cause (we’re talking to you, Nate McClouth.)
read our take at:
http://acasualfan.com/
Anders
October 1st, 2009
5:26 pm
N8- That 5:11 made me chuckle. You’re on a roll today.
N8
October 1st, 2009
5:26 pm
“why would DOB or any other reporter bring up a non-factoring Norton (at bat)” OJ
Really? You don’t think that PH with 2 on and nobody out in a game we lost by one run and wiffing “factored” into the outcome? Had Norton NOT hit .167 (10 for 67) as a PH this year, NOBODY on the blog asks DOB to ask about using Norton in that spot.
But he did. So some did ask. The question about Norton is more a sum of the whole season of using Norton, rather than just that moment.
He had Church on the bench who as a PH was 4 for 10 (.400) and even KJ, who as a PH was 5 for 17 (.294). Why not one of them?
Let me repeat that. In 27 PH AB’s for Church and KJ this year, they combined for 9 hits and 6 walks in 34 PA’s (.333 BA / .441 OBP). Norton did walk 19 times this year and had an OBP of .345.
But for those two to combine to get on base 15 times in 34 PA’s, combared to Norton getting on base 21 times in 87 PA’s. There no logical explanation of why Cox would continue using him. None. Nada. Zilch. Zip.
If anybody can give me a logical explanation, besides “he was a good PH last year”, I’ll never discuss this subject again. But I’m not worried. Because there isn’t one.
njbraves
October 1st, 2009
5:28 pm
Cox apologists…..You prove how little you know about the game almost every time you post. You really think Vlad is the best OF’er available this offseason?? He never plays the field anymore and gets hurt more than Chipper. Good call.
Piedmont Blues
October 1st, 2009
5:28 pm
Lou Vales,
My guess is, Uggla may be the Marlin who’s available. Acquire him early, expect him to play LF in winter ball, and plug him into the lineup every day. An OF of Uggla/McLouth/Diaz would be just dandy until Heyward’s ready. Then you figure out how to parcel out the ABs.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
5:29 pm
You leave Mark Bradley alone
Make us.
N8
October 1st, 2009
5:29 pm
Thanks Anders. Forgot what it was and had to go back and look at it. I chuckled upon reading it myself.
I can understand spelling names wrong (half the time I spell Francoeur incorectly – might have just done it again – I stopped caring a while ago).
But to get BOTH the first name and last name wrong, add to that, I’ve never seen anybody spell Cliff “Clif”. So it just cracks me up.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
5:29 pm
Dear ABravesFan, Go back ovewr the last 30 years and find ONE instance where a closing kick that was not quite good enough had ANY carryover to next season. A HUGE flop can hurt you going forward, but a surge is not indicative of much, and in fact it can distort what you really need. The Braves got to close(and I’m not begrudging them this) against some bad and/or flat teams. I’m hoping the Marlins don’t sweep the Phillies AGHAIN which would give an enhanced perception of the team to management–The “OLD” “Well, we only finished 5 games out”
BobHornersCast
October 1st, 2009
5:30 pm
Could the time between batting practice and first pitch be throwing off the offense? Is it possible to flip the order or is that a league rule?
rammerjammer
October 1st, 2009
5:31 pm
Hanson – won’t be traded, too cheap and good.
Jurrjens – see Hanson.
Vazquez – risk of returning to form, and only signed through 2010.
Hudson – risk of NOT returning to form
Lowe – you have to ask?
This is why Kawakami is most likely the guy who’ll get us the right-hand hitting outfielder. He’s reasonably priced, under contract two more years and consistently offers quality starts. I think he’s an attractive, low risk for other GMs.
Now we need to make a match for a similarly priced outfielder. Nick Swisher, perhaps? Can also play first base. Pedestrian batting average but 30-HR power and reasonable OBP. Also signed through 2011 with a 2012 club option. Only 28 years old. Might have to throw in Schafer or that von furstenburg dude in Danville. (ducking behind desk)
Bobby Coccyx
October 1st, 2009
5:32 pm
Thanks for playing, everybody! See ya’ll next year for one last go ’round.
Icky Thump/WBC
October 1st, 2009
5:33 pm
Taking nothing away from what the braves accomplished this month and I know I’ll be lambasted for this one but 9 of the wins v. Mets, Nats and 3 against what is surely a team struggling in Sep(Cards). Loss’ to Phils and Marlins. I believe in the upside of not making the playoffs. No sentimental attatchment to the players that are not that good.
Anders
October 1st, 2009
5:33 pm
Must see TV tonight? Watching Clint Hurdle squirm while they review the Rockies come back from oblivion to the WC. You know if it was any other manager or he wasn’t on the staff they would talk about the managerial chnage incessantly. But there’s always this awkwardness where they all kind of stare at him when the Rockies come up.
Think they’ll have old Clint interview Jim Tracy on the air? That’d be interesting.
Mid Town Joe
October 1st, 2009
5:35 pm
ESPN360 is in the house. Just started today. Anyone seen my wife?
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
5:36 pm
Piedmont, You watch Uggla chase sliders in the dirt as he drops to one knee, watch him hit solo home runs and hit.207 with runners in scoring position, watch himdemonstrate the range of Roseanne Barr after a big meal, watch him demonstrate no situational hitting approach—Piedmont, TRUST ME those 31 home runs aren’t all they are cracked up to be. Sit dead red on EVEREY single pitch you see and IF you have power you will hit some home runs but the attendant offensive production will be abyssmal. The Braves want NO PART of Dan Uggla.
Ramirez, Maybin, Cantu, Ross, Coghlin, Baker, Gload, Helms, Johnson, Nolasco, Nunez,Sanches—ALL Else is in play. They basically did what they did with only these guys contributing.
Icky Thump/WBC
October 1st, 2009
5:36 pm
Enter your comments here
ronaldh
October 1st, 2009
5:37 pm
Talk about left field all you want, I’m very concerned about third base. This year is all the proof I need that it is high time to have a “Chipper Jones Night”. Give him a cadillac and a rolex and say thanks for the memories. Do whatever it takes to encourage him to retire. Please, writers for the AJC, no more defending Chipper. Look at his numbers, both hitting and fielding.
Ken Griffey Jr.
October 1st, 2009
5:38 pm
Chief Noc a homa
What team do you think would take on 26 million next year for two(career stats) slightly above average pitchers, while given up a big bat and another pitcher?
N8
October 1st, 2009
5:40 pm
“Might have to throw in Schafer or that von furstenburg dude in Danville. (ducking behind desk)” rammerjammer
Great points. I forgot that Swisher was a switch-hitter. Not a bad fit. Most of his power is LH, so worst case scenario, he could platoon with Diaz when Heyward comes up. Or, as you said, play some 1B here and there.
Make it happen rammer. Every time I see your moniker, I think of Black Betty. When you are typing, do you pound your foot on the ground, like the kick drum does at throughout that tune? And do you hit a gong when you click “submit comment”?
I thought last year that Swisher would have been a nice fit. But many argued. We could have used some of that pop early in the year when he was on fire (7 HR, 19 RBI in April).
Capt Caveman
October 1st, 2009
5:40 pm
As a former catcher/third/and first baseman i have seen many plays like what happened to Diaz. I wouldn’t consider it a “bad” mistake on the level of say Lonnie Smith’s baserunning in the WSeries, but rather a mistake made b/c of the level desperation to score that last tying run. 8 out of 10 times the ball scoots away far enough to score, but then sometimes you get caught in no-mans land where a moments hesitation is the difference between out and safe.
Have to give the catcher credit for making a good throw there too. Lot of times after the ball gets away the catcher will make that throw and watch the ball sail into the outfield. Diaz has played too well and been such a big part of the Braves success that he shouldn’t be defined by that.
Overall I’m still enjoying the Braves recent run and definitely like the way they came back in each of the last 2 games to have a chance at a win.
N8
October 1st, 2009
5:41 pm
Rammer, forgot to add the reason I quoted your comment at the top of my last post. Frickin’ hilarious. Actually laughed out loud and made my wife ask what I was laughing at. Well done.
Dumbfound
October 1st, 2009
5:41 pm
I admit I was wrong !!!! Thought they had a chance with a Brewers victory.
Icky Thump/WBC
October 1st, 2009
5:41 pm
The Braves have the anwsers inside the organization.
Anders
October 1st, 2009
5:43 pm
This year is all the proof I need that it is high time to have a “Chipper Jones Night”. Give him a cadillac and a rolex and say thanks for the memories. (ronaldh)
Yeah, nothing says Chipper Jones to me like Cadillacs and Rolex watches. Now he’ll have plenty of time to roll with P Diddy and da fellas.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
5:44 pm
ESPN360 is in the house. Just started today. Anyone seen my wife?
Careful with these guys…kinda setting yourself up there
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
5:44 pm
Rox are putting an exclamation point on this one.
Owwwwww….my caboose!
Daybed Wagmoe
October 1st, 2009
5:46 pm
Just saw on ESPN that there’s a Rumor Central idea that suggests Uggla going to the Braves. I’m not a subscriber — would someone who is mind copying and pasting here?
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
5:48 pm
Mid Town Joe –
She’s good chief, we’re down here at Smokes having a coupla cocktails and commiserating over the season. She said she’d be home soon…….and she’s bringing dinner with her.
Hang tight!
wjones
October 1st, 2009
5:49 pm
No way, I am sure to confirm this, but is the lineup tonight contingent on the score of the Colorado game? IOW, if Colorado clinches before we start, do we pull some guys (McCann, Chipper, Loaf, etc.)?
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
5:50 pm
Lou Vales, why do you always mention what town and high school Hermida is from? What purpose does that serve? It’s fine to say he sucks, but when you repeatedly name his town and high school, it seems strangely personal, like you want his friends and family to know you think he sucks. I don’t get it. Just says he sucks, but don’t get weird about it when you say it.
Icky Thump/WBC
October 1st, 2009
5:50 pm
The Braves finished the month of September 17 – 10. A good, not great month of Baseball.
Anders
October 1st, 2009
5:50 pm
The Rockies can still catch the Dodgers. Could you imagine that? And maybe home field in the first round. Thoughts Mr. Hurdle?
Steve from OH
October 1st, 2009
5:51 pm
Daybed–here ya go:
“The Braves have been on a run that will almost surely leave them just a breath away from the playoffs, and also wondering this: were we this good all along?
Yes AND no seems to be the answer. Surely they were this good a staff all along. The team has assembled a starting staff nearly any team in baseball could envy in terms of diversity, and particularly, at the youthful end with Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson. On the other end, they may not be a top flight offense. Chipper Jones is aging — he has openly discussed retirement — and they still seem like a team that’s a piece or two away. Well, they realize this as well. As AJC Braves beat writer Dave O’Brien suggests, “They’re serious about getting a right-handed bat, from what I hear.” He adds that they want power, not just a good swing.
So who could that be? They could go second base and aim for Dan Uggla, move someone to second and aim for Miguel Tejada. The options, they are many. We also asked Keith Law to chime in.
Keith Law
Don’t forget the bullpen
“Atlanta will get one boost to their lineup next year from Jason Heyward, but are probably at least one more bat short of a contending lineup, particularly in the power department. They also need some kind of solution at second base, and with Mike Gonzalez headed for free agency, they’ll need to add to their late-game relief corps.”
N8
October 1st, 2009
5:51 pm
Here you go Daybed….
“The Braves have been on a run that will almost surely leave them just a breath away from the playoffs, and also wondering this: were we this good all along?
Yes AND no seems to be the answer. Surely they were this good a staff all along. The team has assembled a starting staff nearly any team in baseball could envy in terms of diversity, and particularly, at the youthful end with Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson. On the other end, they may not be a top flight offense. Chipper Jones is aging — he has openly discussed retirement — and they still seem like a team that’s a piece or two away. Well, they realize this as well. As AJC Braves beat writer Dave O’Brien suggests, “They’re serious about getting a right-handed bat, from what I hear.” He adds that they want power, not just a good swing.
So who could that be? They could go second base and aim for Dan Uggla, move someone to second and aim for Miguel Tejada. The options, they are many. We also asked Keith Law to chime in.
Keith Law
Don’t forget the bullpen
“Atlanta will get one boost to their lineup next year from Jason Heyward, but are probably at least one more bat short of a contending lineup, particularly in the power department. They also need some kind of solution at second base, and with Mike Gonzalez headed for free agency, they’ll need to add to their late-game relief corps.”"
N8
October 1st, 2009
5:53 pm
Dammit Steve! LOL
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
5:53 pm
Been down in clubhouse, where the TVs all have the Rockies-Brewers game on. Not the morgue atmosphere you might suspect. Guys seem to be more encouraged by the team’s finish and the promise of next season than saddened by coming so close. At least that’s how it seemed talking to several of them.
DIAZ isn’t in lineup, but he and Cox both laughed at suggestion (made in jest) that Diaz was benched because of last night’s final-out play. Cox said he’d planned to play Church today.
LINEUP
1. McLouth
2. Prado
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. Anderson (needs one hit for 2,500)
6. Escobar
7. LaRoche
8. Church
9. Hanson
Daybed Wagmoe
October 1st, 2009
5:54 pm
Keith Law’s Braves-related comments on his chat today…
Mark (Philadelphia) Mr. Law, Who is your NL rookie of the year? Happ or Hanson. Keep hearing people saying its Happ, but I like Hanson over Happ. The Braves have been in love with him since they called him up and he’s been money. He’s beat the Saux and The Yanks. Any reason why he wont get it?
Klaw (1:05 PM) Happ may very well win it, but it would be a mistake on multiple levels. I’d still vote for McCutchen over Hanson.
Jeremy (California) I know you’re not going to reveal your Cy Young ballot before the results are announced, but will you reveal it after the fact? I’m really curious. I know how I’d vote, but honestly I would be neither surprised nor angry at any three of Lincecum, Vazquez, Haren, Jimenez, Wainwright, and Carpenter, in any order.
Klaw (1:11 PM) That’s pretty much my view. It’s not a 3-man race; it’s at least a 4-man race (Vazquez) and you could make a serious case for Haren.
Nice to see Vazquez getting some love. I don’t think that he win the Cy Young, but the possibility of him finishing in the top 4 is great to hear.
Steve from OH
October 1st, 2009
5:57 pm
To add to what Law said, I think trading Garret Anderson’s lousy season’s worth of PT for Heyward will be worth at least two wins over a full season, meaning that we’re likely playoff contenders at that point (and we already kinda
arewere this year). However, I don’t think we’re WS contenders unless we get a good RH bat in the cleanup spot while keeping one of Soriano or Gonzalez. From what Schuerholz/McGuirk say, payroll isn’t going down (might go up a very small amount if necessary I’d think), so we might be able to do this if Wren uses his assets correctly. We’ll see.Kevin
October 1st, 2009
5:57 pm
Season endin when we lost to reds n padres n fish to…and now its over col. rockies under a new manager is back in wild card could give phillies grief.so no matter who Phil vs rockies n La dodgers vs st.louis in best of five…
Marc in FL
October 1st, 2009
5:58 pm
After Hawpe put the Rockies up 9-1 with a two-run homer in the 8th I turned on Wordgirl on PBS, awesome show…
Tomahawk Mafia
October 1st, 2009
5:59 pm
Braveheart,
I agree whole-heartedly agree with your point about Garret Anderson being a bum. I was alarmed at his ungodly lack of range from the first serious of the year against Washington when he dropped two flyballs in one game. I’ve hated him ever since then and felt like he helped cost the Braves quite a few games with his defense. For example, he cost the Braves on Tuesday night by failing to catch that ball of the bat of Coglin in the 7th inning that fell for a double. He also cost the Braves that game in Miami when he lost a ball in the lights and had it land on the warning track to knock in two runs. That is the game where Gload hit the walk off bomb against Soriano. Thankfully we only have to look at that wretched old lazy bum for a total of 4 more games.
Daybed Wagmoe
October 1st, 2009
6:00 pm
Steve from OH and N8 — Wow, thanks!!!
Chop Chop
October 1st, 2009
6:00 pm
Awwww, the team’s happy with the run and looking forward to next season.
This run guarantees nothing for next year. There will be several new players in that clubhouse. As we all know (or should know), every season is different and presents unforeseen complexities. I’m glad the guys feel a little better about their ability as a team, but this campaign is over and is, alas, a failure.
BravesfaninWis
October 1st, 2009
6:01 pm
Enter your comments here
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
6:01 pm
DOB –
Censoring posts now are we?
Mike J
October 1st, 2009
6:03 pm
So I guess we arent going to win the WC. The Rox are up 9 to 1 in the 9th. Needless to say they made it happen in the end, and we didnt. Here’s looking forward to next year!
Marc in FL
October 1st, 2009
6:03 pm
Now Clifford is coming on. I never realized how disturbing this whole story plot is. How high was the guy that thought “yeah, I’ll make a story about this red dog that grows to be 4 stories high and plays with a little girl all day”.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
6:03 pm
Anders, funny comment about Chipper.
And by the way, whoever suggested having that Chipper Jones night to begin with, you left out the part about them cutting him a check for $42 mill along with that Caddy and Rolex.
Because if he doesn’t decide on his own to retire (which after talking to him while ago, no longer sounds at all like it’s in his plans), then they’ll owe him every cent of the $42 mill guaranteed in the three-year contract extension he signed that begins in 2010.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
6:05 pm
Mixxo, don’t know what you’re talking about, and don’t much care. If it was the Japanese comment, yeah, I censored it.
BravesfaninWis
October 1st, 2009
6:05 pm
Our season is officially done.. The Rockies are up 9-1 in the top of the 9th.. Maybe had Diaz not been so dumb on the base, we could still have a outside shot with a win tonight.. Now a win only means that we can finish with a much better record then we did last season.. We went from 4th in the division to 2nd so that is a improvement.. Now get a legit power bat for LF or RF next year and we will be a better club.. Plus who knows how many more wins we will have next year with Laroche (if he is brought back) McLouth (instead of Schafer) for a full season, and Prado (instead of Johnson) for a full season.. Unless they get a true offensive powerhouse for the outfield next year, this will all be a moot point anyways..
wjones
October 1st, 2009
6:06 pm
OK, let’s pretend that a new rule was put in that allowed play-off bound teams to take 5 players of their choosing from the next best team in the division and put them on their playoff roster. If you are the Phillies, which 5 Braves would you take? Now, the thing is to match Phillies needs with what the Braves can provide. Here are my thoughts:
1. Soriano–Phillies definitely could use another closer option in the playoffs.
2. McCann–A catcher with a bat. One can never have enough offense.
3. Vazquez–A pitcher, coming off his best year, and durable, good control, lots of K’s. Never can have too many starting pitchers.
4. Prado–Good RH bat off the bench, as well as injury insurance at three infield positions.
5. Diaz–Good fourth outfielder, could spell Ibanez against tough lefty. Great RH bat off the bench, good speed. Bet he doesn’t get picked off third, though.
Thoughts?
gayle
October 1st, 2009
6:07 pm
This team is 2 years away from possibly contending. Next year will be the same ownership and the same management and the same result. When the ownership’s goal is a tax deduction and not a title, the status quo is just fine, thank you very much.
So all you Braves fans here can ponder Dey or Uggla or Holiday, Hallady, Bay, et al. The reality is that you can put Howard at first, ARod at third, Jeter at short – anybody your fantasy league can wish for – until this team is sold and until the relic is gone from the dugout – nothing with change, not a thing.
Different year, same result.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
6:07 pm
Yeah, I don’t give a flyin’ f*** as to what you have to say either…..so we’re even.
Marc in FL
October 1st, 2009
6:07 pm
I don’t know BravesfaninWis…
If Prado, McLouth, and Diaz are our regulars from day one, we probably win another 5-6 games over the course of the season and maybe go into the playoffs this year. I agree we need a bigger bat in left (no offense to Loaf, but he’s a singles machine).
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
Daybed, in regards to Vazquez getting some national attention, I agree with you wholeheartedly. That’s good to hear, about others recognizing that he deserves to be near the top of ballots for Cy Young. Should definitely finish in top four, perhaps top three.
By the way, you should have heard Chipper just now, when I asked him how important Vazquez has been to the team. He said huge, not just for what he’s done on field but for his influence on other pitchers and particularly on Jurrjens.
Chipper said he isn’t going to play GM, but that he and all his teammates would be disappointed if Vazquez is not back with the Braves in 2010.
rms
October 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
Aw man we are stuck we Chipper Jones for three more years. He’s needs to retire. We need a steady young 3B that can stay healthy and hit the ball well.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
Mixxo: fair enough. just keep coming back.
BosnianBaller
October 1st, 2009
6:10 pm
I guess Soriano anf Gonzo won’t be back.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/09/stark-on-braves-hardy-uggla.html
StingerSplash
October 1st, 2009
6:11 pm
And the run ends … now. Not with a bang, but with a sigh, the slow, exasperated release of air for what might have been.
BTW, WTF is that thing posing as a Rockies mascot? Some sort of Satanic H.R. Pufnstuf?
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
6:11 pm
How are they two years away from contending when they actually contended this season?
Chop Chop
October 1st, 2009
6:12 pm
DOB,
You oughta do some offseason podcasts. Every couple of weeks or something, you know? Hell, you could play a few tunes. The key would be to find someone to pay you enough to make it worth your while. Seems like it would be easy money, though. I’m sure you’d have some folks around here who would check it out.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
6:13 pm
Braveheart: I was wondering the same thing. And how are they another bat away from having a contending lineup (in addition to Heyward, he said), when the lineup this season was a “contending” lineup — by that I mean, it was the lineup of a team that was 2-1/2 games behind the wild-card leader in the final week of the season.
Chipster
October 1st, 2009
6:14 pm
42 mill buys a LOT of ammo, Haw-haw…and besides, I ALMOST got that grounder…and I got “good wood” on a couple, except for the strikeouts…so all you Poor People can just kissit! (But keep spending your grocery money to come watch me play a kid’s game like an old man)
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
6:14 pm
Chop Chop: help set it up, and I’m ready. I’ve got no idea how to go about that kind of thing.
gayle
October 1st, 2009
6:16 pm
Can I be the first to officially announce that the season is finally over? Do you all still Believe?
When the Rockies had to win a game, you didn’t see the opposing pitcher set a record for strikeouts.
Adios, Braves Nation. Have a nice off season.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
6:16 pm
BravesfaninWis – you must be extremely fortunate – given your denunciations of Matt Diaz, you have apparently never f&%$#d up in your life. I congratulate you on living such a perfect life…
Chop Chop
October 1st, 2009
6:18 pm
As I walked into the building for my music appreciation class today, I could hear that my instructor had Tom Waits’ “Dirt in the Ground” blasting from the classroom’s speakers. Not exactly the kind of thing you expect to hear at 9:30 in the morning, but it was kinda cool.
Marc in FL
October 1st, 2009
6:19 pm
I origonally called a Rockies / Red Sox rematch, but I dunno, Holliday carried the Rockies to the WS in 07′, but he’s with the Cards now, so I’m calling a Cards / Tigers rematch instead.
And my scientific explainations cannot be denied!
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
6:19 pm
Clint got some air-time and some props.
BosnianBaller
October 1st, 2009
6:19 pm
Yeah the season ended,but I’m exited for the offseason and the start of next season.I figure Kawakami is gone.Heyward will be brought up and a power bat will come our way in LF (Carlos Lee)
Can’t wait til offseason!!!!!!
ppaddy123
October 1st, 2009
6:20 pm
Nick Swisher would be a great addition to any ball club. However, I can’t see The Yankees letting him get away. He’s basically their version of Matt Diaz (he keeps everyone loose and plays his butt off) Frank Wren has demonstrated, to me at least, he will TRY to make this team better. How he’ll get us some right handed power remains to be seen. I DON’T think he’ll trade our starting pitching. It’s the reason we made a strong push for the playoffs. I think he’ll try to structure deals for Vasquez and Hudson. JJ and Hanson are probably untouchable. Lowe’s numbers weren’t good enough this year to move. KK is affordable, but I think it’s in the Braves best interest to keep him. I imagine they sell a few MLB licensed products in Japan because of KK.
So where does that leave us? We have a center fielder that can’t hit at home. Another in the minors that seems to be a “head case”. A guy at first base who will be a Class B free agent. Some want to re-sign him, but we all know he’ll have a slow first half. Garret Anderson will be going back to DH in the AL. Ryan Church can’t get any playing time (has he been hurt?) Could our power hitting right handed bat be Jason Heyward? He’s produced everywhere he’s been. I know he’s young, but it DOES solve a HUGE PROBLEM for The Braves if he can produce.
rammerjammer
October 1st, 2009
6:20 pm
N8, thanks for the love. DOB, that’s interesting about Chipper’s commments on Vazquez. Javy has been too good to even think of dealing him now.
Like I said, it’s Kawakami who’s most likely to move on.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
6:21 pm
Tigers (as much as I like Leyland), can’t stand toe-to-toe with My Yankees.
Nuh-uhh
SouthernBelleBrave
October 1st, 2009
6:21 pm
With the Braves officially eliminated, maybe they can all relax and just play baseball, having no stakes in contention. Funny thing is…doing it that way, they’ll probably win like 15-1 or something, kwim?
Already looking forward to what the Winter Meetings bring to Spring Training.
N8
October 1st, 2009
6:24 pm
I have a question to ask all you guys talking about Vazquez getting Cy Young “love” (and he should be getting plenty of it).
Why no mention of JJJ anywhere in the discussion. Not by Law, not by bloggers happy to see Vazquez mentioned, and not even by DOB??
Vazquez: 32 starts, 15-10 record, 219.1 IP, 238 K’s, 22 Quality Starts (hate that stat).
Jurrjens: 33 starts, 14-10 record, 207 IP, 143 K’s, 24 Quality Starts.
Vazquez has him by 12.1 innings, and 100 K’s. But JJJ’s ERA is better.
How can you mention one without mentioning the other? Damn near the same season save the K’s.
CCjacket
October 1st, 2009
6:24 pm
Has John Smoltz always whined like this, or am I only noticing it since he left the Braves?
http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/904791.html
good grief….
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
6:25 pm
Pressure’s off!
We’ll appear unbeatable tonight.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
6:26 pm
Dear Braveheart, I mention the hometown and high school because WHEN he was seen as a potential All-Star one COULD NOT read an article without it mentioning these details. I’m sure that there is not a person alive who reads the AJC Sports who has not known since 2005 where the guy attended high school. I mention that info once in a while in a facetious manner because people who read these Blogs constantly get hit over the head with the Hometown Hero crap. I foolishly thought it would go both ways. If this offends you, I will NEVER again mention it.
I will not stop saying IF this guy had provided ANY semblance of production following Coghlin, Ramirez and Cantu in the batting order that it would not have been the Atlanta Braves the Colorado Rockies would have been concerned with.
13 Home runs from a RIGHT FIELDER AND 4!!! of those came in a 3 game series against the Nats in the first week and a half of the season when the Nationals had NO pitching. He also drove in about 10 runs in those 3 games. take away that early weekend and guy hits less than 10!! homers and less than 50 RBI’s–That is MYSTICAL!!! It’s almost impossible when you consider who he followed in the batting order.
His town NEVER gets mentioned again!! AND I hope no potential super star gets his high school and home town in every story in the future–Possible??
N8
October 1st, 2009
6:26 pm
Forgot to add the ERA’s of each pitcher in my last post.
Vazquez: 2.78
Jurrjens: 2.61
Kind of an important number in the conversation.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
6:28 pm
Icky Thump/WBC
October 1st, 2009
5:50 pm
The Braves finished the month of September 17 – 10. A good, not great month of Baseball.
Exactly! And next year, with some young players coming up and a big bat hopefully, will be somewhat better than this one. Good overall, but still not great.
As long as Bobby is here, we should only expect the Braves to meet expectations, not exceed them.
Daybed Wagmoe
October 1st, 2009
6:29 pm
So, it’s over. Can’t say that it doesn’t suck that we got so close to the playoffs and blew it these last two nights, but I gotta say, damn, am I proud of this team. Even if the Nats sweep this series, they’ll still finish with their best record since 2005, when they went 90-72 (which they can match with a sweep of the Nats). After going 72-90 last year, that’s quite a turnaround.
Won’t talk about how much of a let-down this team was this year, cause they weren’t one. Yeah, there were a handful of specific games that we should’ve won this year (Hanson’s 8-inning mastery of Houston, the games against the Marlins and Dodgers that Soriano blew), but games like those are virtually inevitable. In a schedule that has 162 games, those things are going to happen. And since offense was the problem this year, hopefully Frank Wren, who did a helluva job this past year, already has a good idea of what he wants to do this offseason.
What I like about this year’s Braves team is that they went a combined 22-17 against the 4 NL playoff teams, not to mention the heart they showed in September after that 1-6 skid.
Tonight’s game is meaningless for the standings, but still important to finish the season on a strong note and to get Tommy Hanson the ROY award that he deserves. So, LET’S GO BRAVES!!!
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
6:29 pm
Chop Chop
October 1st, 2009
6:18 pm
When I was in high school, many years ago, I had a Lit Teacher that was more than a little different. I walked in one morning to find we were having Aretha Franklin day. She is one, of only a couple, of Teachers I remember.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
6:30 pm
Tigers (as much as I like Leyland), can’t stand toe-to-toe with My Yankees.
Screw both of ‘em.
RHR
October 1st, 2009
6:30 pm
I’ll be rooting for loaf’s 2500 and chipper’s 20th. Watch ‘em go 4-0 to close out. Would be a fitting end to the 09 season.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
6:30 pm
Mixxo, I grew up in Detroit and followed them passionately UNTIL I started pulling for the 32 million a year guys. I still pull for them and I can promise you that it will be a Major Upset if Tigers win one game against the Yankees. In fact, I’m not conceeding the Tigers get in. The White Sox play the Tigers very well, Twinkies are closing out the Dome–I don’t see the Magic Number of 2 being easily obtained.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
6:32 pm
I wonder if Uvalde Slim and Simpson mention the size of the “crowd” tonight?
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
6:32 pm
ppaddy123
October 1st, 2009
6:20 pm
Heyward is a lefty.
RHR
October 1st, 2009
6:32 pm
Hows the MB uprising going? Im on the iphone from the hospital so i’ll just watch lol.