When Braves strike out, they go for broke
So we ink-stained wretches of the pressbox are watching Ricky Nolasco’s overpowering 16-strikeout performance against the Braves last night, marking each strikeout in our scorebooks while typing away at our stories and making note of the various announcements being made as Nolasco matched this franchise record or that one, or this Braves opposition standard or that one.
And it was announced that Nolasco’s 16 strikeouts tied Sid Fernandez’s 1989 mark with the Mets as the most against the Braves since the team moved to Atlanta before the 1966 season. Impressive, no doubt.
Diaz reacts after making last out of Wednesday's game, ending Braves' rally and any remaining postseason hopes.
But there was one small word that was easily overlooked within that announcement. The “in” Atlanta part of it. And if I’d listened closer, and hadn’t been watching and scoring the game while also writing, I might have objected and said, “Yes, but what’s the record for strikeouts against the Braves since the team moved to Atlanta? Who cares if the mark was set here or in a road game?”
Because if Sid Fernandez ever had the mark for most strikeouts against the Atlanta-era Braves, he only had it for one year. That is, for strikeouts against the Atlanta-era Braves in a game, period. Home or road. And in this case, that’s what really matters, right?
As AJC reader Brian Huber of Atlanta pointed out to me this morning, he could distinctly remember staying up late while in college one night during June 1990 to see whether the Dodgers’ Ramon Martinez might break Roger Clemens’ record of 20 strikeouts, when Martinez was fanning Braves at an alarming rate during a West Coast night game.
Pedro's brother Ramon mowed down 18 Braves in a game
Martinez didn’t break Clemens’ record, but he tied Sandy Koufax’s franchise record with 18 strikeouts in a complete-game, 6-0 win against the Braves and Tom Glavine. David Justice, Odibe McDowell, Jeff Blauser and Jim Presley all struck out three times that day against Martinez, and Dale Murphy and Ron Gant also whiffed a couple of time.
As L.A. Times writer Bill Plasche put it in the next day’s editions, “Like punch-drunk boxers, the Atlanta Brave hitters swung. And missed. And swung. And missed.”
So reader Huber’s alertness got me thinking … and I seemed to remember another pitcher striking out at least as many Braves as Nolasco did last night … in a game during my time covering the Braves since the early part of this decade ….
Ahh, yes. Of course.
None other than Milwaukee’s Ben Sheets. Sheets struck out 18 (and walked one) in a three-hit, complete-game, 4-1 win at Milwaukee.
Among his multiple-strikeout victims that day were Adam LaRoche, J.D. Drew, Johnny Estrada, Andruw Jones and Wilson Betemit (Chipper wasn’t in the lineup that day). Drew, Estrada and Betemit all whiffed three times.
Anyway, just wanted to clarify before we moved forward.
Nolasco’s performance was nonetheless impressive, especially given that he piled up 16 K’s in just 7-2/3 innings, and came within one of Tom Seaver’s major-league record of 10 consecutive strikeouts.
Oh, and Nolasco also did it against a Braves team desperately trying to keep its playoff hopes alive, in a game that meant more to them than it should have meant to the Marlins.
♣ Problems begin at home? Hey, all we’re going to say is this: Since Aug. 14, the Braves are 16-6 with a .270 team average and 3.15 ERA in 22 road games, including wins in the last 10.
During that same stretch since Aug. 14, the Braves are 10-12 with a .251 average and 3.53 ERA in 22 home games.
They averaged barely four runs per game at home in that period, and 5.6 runs on the road.
Why is this? Beats me. We’ve asked, since this was also a problem for a long stretch of last season. We heard theories at that time about how the Braves, especially the younger ones, didn’t focus as much on baseball during homestands, when they had family and other issues to deal with, rather than just waking up in a hotel and heading for the ballpark after watching SportsCenter and maybe getting something to eat.
Don’t know if there’s anything to that, or if they just don’t thrive in the home atmosphere, or what. But it’s something they might want to address in the offseason or before next season, if there’s anything to address. I don’t know. Just pointing it out.
I will add this: For whatever reason, leadoff man Nate McLouth has been particularly bad at Turner Field, compared to his road performance, since the Braves acquired him from the Pirates in a June 3 trade.
McClouth has hit .206 with 11 extra-base hits (two homers), 11 RBI, 18 runs, a .321 OBP and a .312 slugging percentage in 37 games at Turner Field.
In 43 road games, he’s hit .300 with 18 extra-base hits, 23 RBI, 37 runs, a .385 OBP and .483 slugging percentage.
In other words, he’s been exactly the player the Braves hoped they were getting – in road games. But at home, he’s been something else entirely.
While I’ve theorized in recent weeks that his lingering hamstring and back issues might have caused the decline in his performance with the Braves, that wouldn’t explain the great disparity in his home/road stats.
So I just undermined my own previous theory. Because as I noted, on the road he’s been the player the Braves thought they were getting. Well, except for a lack of stolen bases. But otherwise, he’s been solid in road games. Very solid.
That disparity has only increased the longer he’s been with the Braves, too. Since July 1, he’s hit .183 with five extra-base hits (one homer), seven RBI and a .583 OPS in 25 home games.
In that time on the road, he’s hit .305 with 14 extra-base hits (five homers), 16 RBI and an .881 OPS.
Nearly 300 points higher on the OPS on the road than at home since July 1.
♣ One more thing about McLouth: His .357 OBP as a leadoff man this season doesn’t rank among the National League’s top 10. It’s one point behind Stephen Drew and Jose Reyes, who are tied for ninth, and 37 points behind Florida rookie Chris Coghlan, who has a .394 leadoff OBP (and should probably be Rookie of the Year, by the way, if voters are really looking close at his remarkable numbers).
The lowest leadoff OBP among NL qualifiers remains Kelly Johnson’s .274.
The leadoff spot has been an inconsistent component again for the Braves, who got their best work at the spot, in all honesty, from Matt Diaz and Omar Infante in their limited duties there. Granted, they were quite limited in Diaz’s case.
Diaz was 18-for-41 (.439) with a .531 OBP as a leadoff man, and Infante was 30-for-93 (.323) with seven extra-base hits, a .404 OBP and a .441 slugging percentage in his stint there before the broken hand.
With the Braves, McLouth’s hit .259 with a .354 OBP, 28 extra-base hits and a .354 OBP and .403 slugging percentage in 313 at-bats in the leadoff spot.
♣ Etc.
Here’s how far the Mets have slipped. After the Braves swept the Nationals last weekend to drop their record to make the Nationals 9-28 with a 5.68 ERA over 37 games, the Nationals turned around and won three in a row this week against the Mets while holding them to eight runs.
The Mets have averaged 3.5 runs per game during their current 5-17 skid to oblivion … er, toward season’s end.
OK, outta time again. Wanted to throw in some comparisons between Jeff Francoeur and Garret Anderson (overall stats almost identical this year, except Anderson much better with RISP) and some other things, but I’ll do it later. Gotta get to ballpark.
This tune from The Boss seemed appropriate today.
“ONE STEP UP” by Bruce Springsteen
Woke up this morning my house was cold
Checked out the furnace she wasn’t burnin’
Went out and hopped in my old Ford
Hit the engine but she ain’t turnin’
We’ve given each other some hard lessons lately
But we ain’t learnin’
We’re the same sad story that’s a fact
One step up and two steps back
Bird on a wire outside my motel room
But he ain’t singin’
Girl in white outside a church in June
But the church bells they ain’t ringing
I’m sittin’ here in this bar tonight
But all I’m thinkin’ is
I’m the same old story same old act
One step up and two steps back
It’s the same thing night on night
Who’s wrong baby who’s right
Another fight and I slam the door on
Another battle in our dirty little war
When I look at myself I don’t see
The man I wanted to be
Somewhere along the line I slipped off track
I’m caught movin’ one step up and two steps back
There’s a girl across the bar
I get the message she’s sendin’
Mmm she ain’t lookin’ to married
And me well honey I’m pretending
Last night I dreamed I held you in my arms
The music was never-ending
We danced as the evening sky faded to black
One step up and two steps back
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968 comments Add your comment
Tiger Woods
October 1st, 2009
3:05 pm
Hi.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
Thanks for the new blog, DOB.
No way! I love MB
I guess you won’t be joining us then?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
3:09 pm
Joining you? I’ll be up in Mark’s rafters shooting you with my Nerf gun.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
3:12 pm
Although I am relieved that you won’t be beating up McFann.
You are all Cox apologists
October 1st, 2009
3:13 pm
HERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS, Our FREE AGENT OF’S for next year:
Left fielders
Garret Anderson (38)
Marlon Anderson (36)
Jason Bay (31)
Emil Brown (35)
Marlon Byrd (32)
Carl Crawford (28) – $10MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Johnny Damon (36)
David Dellucci (36)
Cliff Floyd (37)
Matt Holliday (30)
Reed Johnson (33)
Jacque Jones (35)
Gabe Kapler (34)
Greg Norton (37)
Wily Mo Pena (28)
Manny Ramirez (38) – $20MM player option
Dave Roberts (38)
Gary Sheffield (41)
Fernando Tatis (35)
Randy Winn (36)
Center fielders
Rick Ankiel (30)
Rocco Baldelli (28)
Marlon Byrd (32)
Mike Cameron (37)
Endy Chavez (32)
Coco Crisp (30) – $8MM club option with a $500K buyout
Darin Erstad (36)
Ryan Freel (34)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (34)
Reed Johnson (33)
Andruw Jones (33)
Gabe Kapler (34)
Mark Kotsay (34)
Corey Patterson (30)
Scott Podsednik (34)
Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (36)
Jermaine Dye (36) – $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Brian Giles (39)
Vladimir Guerrero (34)
Eric Hinske (32)
Geoff Jenkins (35) – $7.5MM mutual option with a $1.25MM buyout
Gabe Kapler (34)
Austin Kearns (30) – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jason Michaels (34)
Xavier Nady (31)
Randy Winn (36)
Soph
October 1st, 2009
3:14 pm
My Nerf gun can take your Nerf gun anyday. Besides, McFann will protect me.
pinkygonzales
October 1st, 2009
3:17 pm
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/
ease19
October 1st, 2009
3:17 pm
Looks like YAACA threw out the all geriatric club…
Chief Nock A Homa
October 1st, 2009
3:18 pm
DOB:
I suggested this on the old one, but would appreciate your thoughts…
You’ve mentioned how difficult it would be to get rid of Lowe’s contract to anyone due to the value vs performance, etc…
And, you’ve mentioned that Vasquez value would seem to be at an all-time high…
What if we took the road of making Vasquez available to teams, but only with Lowe???
Surely there would be some interest and would have to bring home a power bat, and a back end of the rotation SP, etc…, wouldn’t you think???
TnBrian(Vazquez ace 2010)
October 1st, 2009
3:19 pm
There’s so many ways Wren & the Braves can go this offseason concerning the offense. First thing in my mind would be to get that RH power guy. I agree that it’ll come from a trade. I hate Mclouth leading off. Aside from his decent speed, he’s everything a leadoff hitter shouldn’t be… swings for the fences, doesn’t draw nearly enough walks & he K’s way too much. I mean, he’s not going to chop any slow grounders for infield hits because he has an upper cut swing. I like his defense & his occ. power, but I’d like him more batting 7th or 8th.
The Braves home/road records the last few years, especially ‘09, can be summed up in one word… ENERGY. The crowd, or what crowd there is, are lifeless and they don’t have that motivation of spoiling the opposing teams fans. That can give them energy on the road.
You are all Cox apologists
October 1st, 2009
3:21 pm
Top OF options for next year: No, Cox wouldn’t have Manny Ramirez
1. Vladimir Guerrero
2. Jason Bay
3. Matt Holiday
4. Bobby Abreu
5. Marlon Byrd
Dumbfound
October 1st, 2009
3:24 pm
Top of the second, 0-0. Believe !
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
3:26 pm
Former BRAVES on other 40-man rosters
N.L.EAST
PHILLIES:
Paul Bako
MARLINS:
Wes Helms
METS:
Elmer Dessens
Jeff Francouer
Gary Sheffield
NATS:
Willie Harris
Pete Orr
N.L. CENTRAL
CARDS:
Mark DeRosa
John Smoltz
Adam Wainwright
ASTROS
Chad Paranto
REDS:
Corky Miller
PIRATES:
Jose Ascanio
Charlie Morton
Tyler Yates
N.L. WEST
DODGERS:
Rafael Furcal
Wil Ohman
Jason Schmitt
A.L. later.
Dumbfound
October 1st, 2009
3:28 pm
Sorry, still in the bottom of the first.
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
3:28 pm
ROX:
Alan Embree
Jason Marquis
GIANTS:
Edgar Rentaria
D-BACKS:
Blaine Boyer
PADRES:
Henry Blanco
Brian Giles
Brian
October 1st, 2009
3:29 pm
1. Guerrero isn’t playing outfield anywhere next year. He’s a DH. And a Type A free agent.
2. Can’t afford Bay.
3. Ditto on Holliday
4. Will probably re-sign with LA. A statue defensively, and left-handed.
5. Byrd is the only one you listed that is a legit possibility.
Mike Cameron and Jermaine Dye are the two most likely free agent options to me.
Dumbfound
October 1st, 2009
3:30 pm
1-0 Rockies.
CB
October 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
richbrave, Brian Giles not a Brave,brother Marcus was.
Luke H.
October 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
What do you mean, no one has heard of Ricky Nolasco? Where have you been hiding?
Tomas
October 1st, 2009
3:33 pm
DOB, you said earlier that the Braves are looking for a power bat. To play where exactly?
ncscoots
October 1st, 2009
3:33 pm
richbrave, seeing that list reminds me of something: I owe an apology to someone here who knows Wainwright (can’t remember the poster’s name). In a discussion a while back, I said that I didn’t see Wainwright as an ace, the type teams feared facing. It appears I might have been just a wee bit wrong in that, LOL. So, whoever that was, you were right, I was wrong…you got me, LOL.
And, finally, a good word for my boy, Charlie Morton. Since that 10-run debacle in mid-August, he’s averaging nearly 7 IP, to go along with a 3.50 ERA. Not too shabby, for a Dentzian bum. Got to improve his K rate, but maybe he’s on his way.
ncscoots
October 1st, 2009
3:35 pm
Mike Cameron and Jermaine Dye are the two most likely free agent options to me.
Exactly why the team is more likely to opt for the trade route to an upgrade.
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
3:40 pm
Gotta wonder whether not calling up Hanson until June cost the Braves a playoff spot. They were 3-6 when JoJo and Medlen started. They are 12-8 when Hanson starts. Maybe they’d have gone 5-4 or 6-3 if Hanson started in those 9 starts wasted away with Medlen and JoJo. Hopefully, he needed those two extra months of development in AAA. Otherwise Super 2 concerns may have cost the Braves October and who knows when their next best shot will be.
Nova Scotia Steve - Fight Like A Brave
October 1st, 2009
3:42 pm
DOB
I will remain a strong proud Braves fan and will check in from time to time with AJC and on the blog in the offseason.
Just wanted to say Thanks to you and Carroll for some great, entertaining reporting all season long.
Hope you guys are back next season as well!
My Toronto Maple Leaks kick off the regular season tonight…So i’ll be glued to that.
Anyway Thanks again,
Nova Scoita
PS
And everyone on the blog too…even though I disagree with some…still great points/opinions and hilarity
O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
3:43 pm
Since the White Sox picked up Alex Rios from the Blue Jays, maybe they wont want to pay Dye $12M. However, I’m not sure he would be a good fit for the Braves. He’s 36, and may want another long term contract, while we have Jason Heyward who could be our RF as early as June next year.
What the Braves need is a LF. I would say Carl Crawford, but his option is likely to be picked up the Rays. Other than that, I think the Braves best bet will be in a trade. Because they cant afford Jason Bay or Matt Holliday.
Trade Vazquez for a LF, resign Tim Hudson with an incentive laden contract, and resign Adam at 1B.
Brian
October 1st, 2009
3:43 pm
ncscoots, I don’t disagree with you there. It’s just what price are they willing to pay. A Javier Vazquez bat, a Kawakami bat, a Kris Medlen bat…
Shaun
October 1st, 2009
3:45 pm
I just think the home-road disparity is one of those things that there is no explanation for. It’s kind of like trying to explain it if a hitter hit better on Tuesdays than on other days of the week. It just kind of happens that his good games happen to fall mostly on a Tuesday.
Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there is a reason for the disparity. But what do they do about it even if there is? Because if there is a reason, it’s certainly not obvious so it’s probably not something that could be addressed. I mean, they have to try to acquire the best players that fit in to their situation and play those players.
ncscoots
October 1st, 2009
3:45 pm
Hopefully, [Hanson] needed those two extra months of development in AAA.
I don’t know if he needed the entire two months, but, his early-season minor league work seemed to prove out that he wasn’t ML ready on April 1. So, who knows? Maybe he betters the 3-6, if he’s rushed, but doesn’t equal the 12-8 later.
Tomas
October 1st, 2009
3:45 pm
Power hitter that may get traded:
- Dan Uggla
- Adam Dunn
- Carlos Pena
- Carlos Guillen
DAP
October 1st, 2009
3:47 pm
O’brien, i bet dye could play LF.
ncscoots
October 1st, 2009
3:47 pm
It’s just what price are they willing to pay. A Javier Vazquez bat, a Kawakami bat, a Kris Medlen bat…
And that might be a good way of looking at it. Good post.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
3:48 pm
Do any of you read novels for pleasure?
CB
October 1st, 2009
3:48 pm
Braveheart, I am also concerned about them doing the same with Heyward,if he is ready coming out of spring training don’t sacrifice the season for long term extra year. The heck with that.
Jonas
October 1st, 2009
3:48 pm
Colorado 1 BrewCrew 0 2nd
Brian
October 1st, 2009
3:48 pm
O’Brien, I am almost certain Dye will only get a 1-year contract from somebody. He had a rough second half and is a liability defensively. Certainly no more than 2 years. Mike Cameron is only a year older, had a very similar offensive year to Dye (really, the similarity is uncanny), and is light years better on defense.
Chief
October 1st, 2009
3:52 pm
FIRST?
Chief
October 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
JEFF FRANCOUER HAS JUST BEEN TRADED!
wjones
October 1st, 2009
3:57 pm
“JEFF FRANCOUER HAS JUST BEEN TRADED!”
Yeah, to the Mets, good scoop! We get Ryan Church, plus we chip in some salary to the Mets.
In other news, we traded Millwood to the Phillies for Johnny Estrada, and we sent Henry Aaron to Milwaukee for Dave May.
Daslied
October 1st, 2009
4:05 pm
Braves team OPS by inning:
1st – .744
2nd – .819
3rd – .817
4th – .802
5th – .752
6th – .653
7th – .709
8th – .710
9th – .688
That damn 6th inning! They’ve also hit into 22 DP in the 6th, which is the highest total – they don’t have more than 19 in any other inning.
Worst 6th inning offenders (starters):
McCann – .506 OPS in 50 PA
Anderson – .575 OPS in 57 PA
Prado – .488 OPS in 51 PA
Best:
Diaz – 1.013 OPS in 49 PA
McLouth – .965 OPS in 58 PA
LaRoche – 1.704 OPS in 19 PA
Anyhoo…useless stat for the day!
O.J.
October 1st, 2009
4:10 pm
Enter your comments here
O.J.
October 1st, 2009
4:10 pm
3-0 Colorado, bottom of the 3rd, bases loaded 1 out, looks like the season may be over folks, officially
Curt
October 1st, 2009
4:12 pm
Can anybody see us trading for Uggla and moving Prado to first for next year? Uggla would give you a right handed power bat that is virtually a lock to hit .260 with 30 HRs. He would be easy to acquire since the Marlins are likely to not be able to afford him. Sure this means we would have to let LaRoche walk but we are already very left handed and signing LaRoche would only add to that problem. Switch back and forth between lefty, righty, lefty and righty with Chipper, Uggla, McCann and Escobar would be a nice middle of the order. Thoughts?
**DOB, what do you think about this possibility?**
O.J.
October 1st, 2009
4:13 pm
Parra just walked in a run against the opposing pitcher, 4-0 Rockies
Dumbfound
October 1st, 2009
4:13 pm
Still early, I have a good feeling about this.
O.J.
October 1st, 2009
4:14 pm
Curt, I cannot see the Marlins trading within the division, especially not to the Braves
Preston Hannatized
October 1st, 2009
4:14 pm
Dave — If I missed it, my bad, but did the Norton PH at bat come up at Bobby’s post-game? It’s not like it lost the game but you have to know that Braves Nation – what there is of it – cannot believe Norton hasn’t been DFA’d months ago. Bobby has his insanely loyal man-crushes – Keith Lockhart, Pete Orr and now Norton. If the question didn’t come up, why not? Thanks.
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
4:14 pm
I’m just not sure how much trade value Vazquez has. Don’t see trading him to anyone within the NL East. Don’t see trading him to the AL East since the Yanks and Bosox likely think him soft from prior experiences with him in that rivalry, and it doesn’t seem like it makes any sense for anyone else within that division to trade for him since he won’t put them over the top. He’s got a no trade clause to the West Coast. Yeah, he may waive it, but having to negotiate that waiver discounts the value West Coast teams would be willing to offer the Braves to trade for him.
That kind of just leaves you with the AL & NL Central teams. Right off the bat, you can eliminate Cincy, Cleveland, KC, Minnesota, and the Pittsburgh from likely destinations because of money and/or likelihood that acquiring Vazquez will make any bit of a difference in their chances of success, and also remove the White Sox because of his history with that franchise. Maybe also remove the Cubs because of what his rep is in Chitown, and because he just doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would thrive pitching for an ahole like Pinella. That kind of just leaves you with St. Louis, Milwaukee, Houston and Detroit.
O.J.
October 1st, 2009
4:15 pm
Parra just walked in another run, 5-0 Rockies, bottom of the 3rd, season is over folks, unless the Brewers have a miracle up their sleeve.
O.J.
October 1st, 2009
4:16 pm
Preston, why would DOB or any other reporter bring up a non-factoring Norton about just because BLOG central or Braves nation doesnt approve of it??? What an assanine question.
O.J.
October 1st, 2009
4:17 pm
Not Norton about, Norton at bat, sorry, lol
O.J.
October 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
Trade Vazquez to the Brewers for Ryan Braun, problem solved
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
4:20 pm
Soph–
Alrighty…ready? Wish MB would post a new Braves blog for us to jump into. Wanna be sure he’ll see it so he cann defend himself.
And yeah, jeffrey’d Nerf Gun is no match for us.
I’ve got a BMac signature bat, ya know…
MattyRoss
October 1st, 2009
4:21 pm
Well, it was a good ride. Might go to the Dodgers/Rox with my Braves hat this weekend anyway, try to give them a little bad mojo. Now that I’m thinking about it…don’t really want to see the Phils or Cards there either. Or Yanks, Sox, Tigers, or Angels. Uhh…go Dodgers?
YE19
October 1st, 2009
4:23 pm
UGGLA… And you guys thougt KJ was bad defensively? His name is DAAAAAAN UGGGGLAAAA (in the obnoxious Marlins announcer voice). Aside from his incompetence on defense, he doesn’t hit for enough AVG. I’ll take PRADO, thanks.
DAP
October 1st, 2009
4:23 pm
curtSure this means we would have to let LaRoche walk but we are already very left handed and signing LaRoche would only add to that problem.
first of all, we are not to left handed, and second, how would signing laroche add to the problem? he is already on the team. as for your idea, id rather move uggla to first than prado.
AZBravoFan
October 1st, 2009
4:28 pm
Hey DOB,
In light of the Brewers flameout so far today, is there any chance they would shut down Hanson since they’re worried about his arm and innings totals? Maybe let Medlen and/or KK take it?
Tiger Woods
October 1st, 2009
4:29 pm
YE19
Exactly, no defense, it would be like KJ all over again out there. He is pathetic.
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
4:29 pm
CB, I’m kinda concerned that they perhaps already blew it with Heyward. Garret Anderson hit in the heart of the order all darn season, and hit .233 with a friggin’ .626 OPS with RISP this season, plus he played lousy defense, didn’t hustle, didn’t run the bases well. Can’t wait until I never have to see that bum in a Braves uni again. If he just sucked because he was old that would’ve been one thing, but seeing that sorry loaf sit out there in left in Fenway with his hands on his knees refusing to budge to back up the play right freaking in front of him when that ball somehow got between Chipper and Yunel, well, the guy’s a bum forever in my book for that.
An extra two months of Heyward and an extra two months of Hanson may have been what this team needed to overcome what Frenchy, Garret, Schafer and KJ did to cause this team to fall just short. But I understand the highly legitimate financial and developmental concerns involved with rushing Heyward and Hanson to the majors. It’s just that if I’ve got Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry sitting there in the minors, and I’m watching JoJo, Medlen, and Garret Anderson p!ss away my best shot at October in 4 seasons, I’m gonna call up Doc and Straw even if it maybe costs me in the long run.
Efrim
October 1st, 2009
4:30 pm
Trade Vazquez to the Brewers for Ryan Braun, problem solved
Yeah, that’d be nice…..
BravesfaninWis
October 1st, 2009
4:34 pm
Seeing as though the Braves are pretty much out of the running for the playoffs now, I would bench Matt Diaz the rest of the way for that costly mistake he made last night.. If you are that far up the line, go.. The worst thing that could have happened is that he gets thrown out at HP, but then at least he tried to tie the game up.. Instead, he looked like a deer in the head lights and gets thrown out trying to get back to 3rd base.. The sad part about that is, he would have tied the game up had he went to HP and we may have won that game.. Now we are left to wonder what could have been.. The Rockies only need to win 1 game or have the Braves lose 1 game to wrap it up.. While its possible that LA could sweep the Rockies, I see them beating the Brewers tonight to end it all..
BravesfaninWis
October 1st, 2009
4:36 pm
If the Brewers would agree to a Javy Vazquez for Ryan Braun trade, I would do that in a heartbeat.. I highly doubt though they would even consider that trade.. Actually, I think they would flat out hang up on the Braves..
Jonas
October 1st, 2009
4:38 pm
Season Over Folks….Tonight Line up:
1- Gregor Blanco CF
2- Kelly Johnson 2b
3- Martin Prado 3b
4- Greg Norton 1b
5- Clif Sammond C
6- Omar Infante CF
7- Reid Gorecki LF
8- Brook Conrad SS
9- Manny Acosta P
Anders
October 1st, 2009
4:38 pm
Here’s how far the Mets have slipped. After the Braves swept the Nationals last weekend to drop their record to make the Nationals 9-28 with a 5.68 ERA over 37 games, the Nationals turned around and won three in a row this week against the Mets while holding them to eight runs (DOB’s Blog)
Bye-bye Dan Warthen.
DAP
October 1st, 2009
4:40 pm
hey anders, did you hear they are cutting ticket prices at citifield? they must be begging thier fans to come out next season….
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
4:40 pm
AZBravoFan
October 1st, 2009
4:28 pm
KK and Medlen have both pitched in the past 2 days.
BravesfaninWis
October 1st, 2009
4:41 pm
Our season is over, the Rockies are winning 5-0 over the Brewers right now..
Jonas
Who is playing RF for us tonight if Blanco and Infante are both in CF?:)
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
Wow! I didn’t even know we had a guy named Clif Sammond!
Brett Esterson
October 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
BravesfaninWis – season over before tonight. Rockies have a day game right now and up 5-0. Parra walked the opposing pitcher twice, once with the bases loaded.
Anders
October 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
DAP- When they get to 50 % off or a $1 I’ll give you a call. {:
BTW- they sold over 3 million tickets this year. I think they’ll be ok.
Jonas
October 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
Bobby Make a Mistake in the Line Up two CF and the Guy is not in the Roster…The Game will call off for Boby Mistake…national WIN
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
Hey, Rally’s back out.
Jerry
October 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
No free agents needed in Atlanta. We want to trade. We have six starting pitchers, several position players to which we are not married.
Send a package for a package. Wren is going to get dozens of calls.
Anders
October 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
BTW- I’d can Jerry Manuel too. I’d hire Bobby V back and Rick Peterson for that matter. The guy squeezed 15 wins a piece out of Maine and Perez. The man’s obviously a magician!
Let’s get this party started for 2010.
Brett Esterson
October 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
Brewers pitching finally got the pitcher Cook out. Nice work.
Jersey Gil
October 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
Anders: What it the latest on Jose Reyes..Did you think he is lost for 2010?…..
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
I had the worst dream last night. The Braves had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. There was a wild pitch that didn’t go very far from the plate and the runner at third…ah, who cares. It was just a bad dream, right? RIGHT???
AZBravoFan
October 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
Bat Masterson: Yeah, but they each probably have 3 innings in them. Doesn’t really matter who pitches after that.
Icky Thump/WBC
October 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
When the Rox win today and clinch, get ready to see Norton paly out the string at 1st Base.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
Ok, Anders, I have a good one for you – I just got into an argument with a guy in my department. He claimed to be a Mets fan throughout the year. Now, he still says he’s a Mets fan but he’s cheering for the Yankees in the postseason. His reasoning is that whenever teams in New York play against anyone outside of New York he has to cheer for the NY team.
I think his theory is pretty stupid. I argued with him for ten minutes about this. Does this make you sick?
wjones
October 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
“When the Rox win today and clinch, get ready to see Norton paly out the string at 1st Base.”
You may laugh at me, but I think it would have been a good idea to have started him every couple of weeks to give him some ab’s. I think it might have helped his hitting. How many games did he start this year? One? He started several last year, and was a very good pinch-hitter.
Dumbfound
October 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
Braun homerun 5-1
Soph
October 1st, 2009
5:03 pm
McFann – I say we attack tonight. I can pay better attention when I’m at home. I’m glad Rally’s feeling better.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
5:04 pm
Dear Tim and Jim(From the Other Blog), I don’t know if you are kidding, but if you are serious, I would like to tell you Jeremy Hermida could not hit 30 HR’s if they set up a ballpark in the parking lot behind Houston’s Restaurant on Peachtree. In fact Hermida would be hard pressed to hit 30 HR’s if they put an expansion team on the Sea of Tranquility on the lunar surface.
Jeremy Hermida is an underachieving, oafish, plodding, disinterested FLOP. A FLOP, of such proportion, as to bring into question the method of scouting high school baseball players. EVERY scout who ever files a report on a high school hitter will always have the spectre of Jeremy Hermida lurking in the recesses of his mind.
PLEASE!! PLEASE!! Atlanta sign Jeremy Hermida. Maybe he will take a home town discount but just realize in Hermida’s case the discount would not be worthwhile UNLESS it comes with a $3.00 a year price tag.
Anders
October 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
Jersey Gil – No the early reports were wrong. The tendon issue he had is fine. He was running at 100%. He was actually hoping to play this weekend. (Personally I think that would have been crazy)He just pulled his hamstring as you can normally do. It wasn’t the same injury. He’ll be back 100% for spring training is what they’re reporting now. That’s what I heard on the FAN anyway, as much as it pained Fat Francesa to report it as he revels in the Mets misery. (You guys can relate to that){:
Icky Thump/WBC
October 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
wjones,
No, I think you make a good point and if Bobby was intent on proving that Norton could get the job done it may be something he(Cox) should’ve thought of, but he(Cox) didn’t.
Herschel Talker
October 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
DOB:
WE SURE COULD HAVE USED THAT RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 6TH WHEN WITH FIRST AND SECOND AND NO OUTS, COX SENT UP NORTON AGAIN!!! FOR THE LOVE OF THE ALMIGHTY, HOW MANY TIMES DOES THIS MAN HAVE TO SEE NORTON FAIL BEFORE USING KELLY JOHNSON OR BROOKS CONRAD IN THAT SITUATION?
DOB, PLEASE ANSWER ME THIS; I THINK THIS IS A FAIR QUESTION. HOW IS IT THAT KELLY JOHNSON, OF WHOM I AM NOT A FAN, IS IN COX’S DOGHOUSE AFTER HIS POOR PERFORMANCES, BUT GREG NORTON, WHOSE HITTING HAS BEEN FAR WORSE, IS NOWHERE NEAR COX’S DOGHOUSE??? SOMEONE PLEASE THROW OUT SOME IDEAS.
I CAN’T IMAGINE ONE OTHER MANAGER IN BASEBALL WOULD HAVE KEPT SENDING NORTON OUT IN THESE SPOTS. I ALMOST FEEL SORRY FOR NORTON AT THIS POINT (NOT TOTALLY SORRY, AS THE GUY IS STILL MAKING SERIOUS BUCK FOR DOING NOTHING).
THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS WITH COX REGARDING HIS USE OF GREG NORTON: EITHER COX IS A COMPLETE IMBECILE OR COX IS A MENTAL CASE. IN EITHER CASE, HE IS UNFIT TO BE THE MANAGER. WHAT A DISGRACE.
POOR MATT DIAZ, WHO WORKS HIS TAIL OFF, IS GOING TO BE THE BRUNT OF EVERYONE’S FRUSTRATION, BUT THE GUY WAS TRYING TO MAKE A PLAY, JUST MAKE A BAD SPLIT-SECOND DECISION. THE REAL WRATH HERE SHOULD BE VENTED AT THE LUNATIC WE HAVE STEERING THE SHIP. I’D RATHER HAVE THE CAPTAIN OF THE TITANIC STEERING THIS SHIP THAN BOOBY COX.
WHAT A DISGRACE THAT THIS MAN IS GOING TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLUSH 2010 RIGHT DOWN THE CRAPPER ALSO!
N8
October 1st, 2009
5:08 pm
“Gotta wonder whether not calling up Hanson until June cost the Braves a playoff spot. They were 3-6 when JoJo and Medlen started. They are 12-8 when Hanson starts. Maybe they’d have gone 5-4 or 6-3 if Hanson started in those 9 starts wasted away with Medlen and JoJo. Hopefully, he needed those two extra months of development in AAA. Otherwise Super 2 concerns may have cost the Braves October and who knows when their next best shot will be.” Braveheart
Posted pretty much the same thing on the other blog, Braveheart. Somebody had asked for “one good reason” why the Brave will do better and make the playoffs next year, and I said Tommy Hanson. Having him for a full year will be good for this team.
If you “pro-rate” Tommy’s winning percentage over those 9 starts (that Jo Jo and Medlen made), it would come to 5.4 wins. So worst case scenario, we’re still only two back of the Rockies.
Obviously, anything could have happened in those games. Maybe Hanson loses all 9 of them, and his mental well being is ruined like Joey Devine. LOL
I don’t buy that for a minute. But I’m willing to accept that perhaps while saving money in the future as well, those two months in AAA may have jumpstarted Hanson’s career. Gotta say that to myself or I get pissed off thinking about it.
I stated something along the line of thinking that had Prado started at 2B from get go, and Francoeur been benched a month earlier, along with hanson starting from day one that instead of wondering which handful of games cost us the playoffs, we’d all be discussing and arguing who should start game one of the playoffs as Cox set his rotation up.
IMO, Cox’s stubborness (and possibly Wren/Liberty Media trying to save some bucks and retain Hanson for mone more year – who can blame them even if that is the case?), cost us the playoffs this year. It’s that simple.
Sure, I blame the players that stunk, for stinking. But in the end Cox could have shuffled the lineup more and not been so loyal. I think I posted something the other day that Prado had as many hits in July as KJ did up to July (or maybe it was April and May). Either way, having KJ at the top of the order was borderline criminal.
Anyhow. To make a short point long, I agree with you.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
5:08 pm
My Gawd!
How come the Rox are so freekin’ good?
….and we’re not.
Anders
October 1st, 2009
5:08 pm
Soph- There are folks here who have that I’ll root for the NY team mentality when their favorite team is out of it. Trust me I am not one of them. I’m a huge Rangers hockey fan as well. Back in the 80’s when the Islanders played the Russians I used to root for ties and lots of injuries. Does that clear it up for you?
N8
October 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
“5- Clif Sammond C” Jonas
Who the hell is Clif Sammond? Perhaps you should go hang out with your brothers. We’re talking baseball here.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
Dear DOB, You had it right. I NEVER thought they would come this close. They had me scared Blankless. It will be a lot of fun covering them the next few years–Pains me to say that.
I believe you are taking the right tact in mentioning the Braves are going to target right handed hitters WITHOUT naming names. Would not want to aggravate Tim Hudson again. Even if you hear that Holliday is in town to ink a deal and the Braves have him in a penthouse at the Ritz–Don’t Say A Word. Because of course IF he changed his mind it would be your fault.
MAYBE Huddy(Hate silly nicknames) can pitch a year unencumbered and not concern himself with journalistic practices.
jim
October 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
Someone on the last blog suggested using Lowe or Huddy as the closer next year. At this stage of their careers, neither is a strikeout pitcher. Smoltz went from starter to closer and back to starter and flourished in both roles, but Smoltz could throw in the mid 90’s and featured a hard slider. Huddy and Lowe are sinkerball pitchers who get ground balls, but work deep counts with a lot of foul balls and have a lot of base runners. They don’t miss a lot of bats, and they don’t have a lot of short pitch innings that a closer needs if he is to be available on a regular basis. Not the qualities you look for in a closer.
Pete
October 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
Enter your comments here
First, the Rockies are TWICE the team the Braves are. Not even close.
Next, how does any sane person expect the Braves to make it to the post season stranding approx. 1500 base runners over the season.
Beyond pathetic.
TnBrian(Vazquez ace 2010)
October 1st, 2009
5:12 pm
OMG, y’all are still giving updates on Rockies games? Season was over two nights ago when the “believe” boys got home & forgot how to hit.
A guy who might be available is Carlos Lee because the Astros have one of the weaker minor leagues in baseball, so they might finally grasp reality & trade off one of their superstars for propects. He’s 32-33 years old, so I wouldn’t go all out for him, but he’d give the lineup a legit, everyday cleanup hitter. Yes, I’d trade Freeman/ Kawa/ Kj and maybe even Schafer if they threw in a good RP. KK and his $7.3m a year need to go… somewhere.
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
5:12 pm
Soph–
Works for me…During the game we cann alternate between blogs.
And yes, Rally has come back out…he heard about the “attack”, and figured he better be ready…that’s why he’s got his legs spread way out (well, that plus the fact that he’s still nervous).
Piedmont Blues
October 1st, 2009
5:14 pm
Lou Vales would have a cow, but MLBTR linked to an article suggesting that the Marlins might not offer Jeremy Hermida a contract.
Brett Esterson
October 1st, 2009
5:14 pm
The 2 huge differences between the Rockies and Braves:
1) Today through 6 innings, their 3-4-5 hitters are 8-10 with 4 RBI. When was the last time we did that? Would have happened if Escobar and LaRoche moved up in the order but that never happened either.
2) They have 28 homers on the bench with Smith and Gonzales (37 if you add Atkins who started today but sat out most of the year in leiu of Stewart). We have Norton and KJ on ours.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
Would someone provide a list of guys who WOULD NOT look good in Braves uniforms next year. That would simplify the paperwork.
Herschel Talker
October 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
N8 – You are completely right.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
5:16 pm
Pete –
I knew that. I just wanted to hear somebody else finally say it…..w/o the excuses.
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.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
6:33 pm
No, those Rockies fans didn’t steal Believe from us. Well, they can have it.
On a serious note, it’s been a fun ride. I’m extremely proud of the Braves and am looking forward to 2010. It’s gonna be good.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
6:38 pm
Has John Smoltz always whined like this, or am I only noticing it since he left the Braves?
Mark Bradley might say yes.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
6:38 pm
I’ll be rooting for Norton’s 11th.
TnBrian(Vazquez ace 2010)
October 1st, 2009
6:39 pm
I do like CJ campaigning for Javy more than LaRoche. Just sounds better because he’s not huntin buds with Javy. Also like reading where DOB said that the Braves wouldn’t be scared of any backlash if they decide to trade off KK and all that cash needed for a hitter.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
6:41 pm
I picked a good night to be home early – the anticipation of tonight’s game seems to be a bit less than the last few for some reason. On the bright side, for me at least, thanks DOB for One Step Forward – played that as I read the blog and listened to Tunnel of Love, which I had not done recently… I have now wandered into the acoustic version of No Surrender, which is not totally awful, unlike my guy MattE (according to some, anyway)
Joe
October 1st, 2009
6:42 pm
Don’t re-sign Tim Hudson. The money they save by not re-signing Hudson they should use to bring in former braves Andruw Jones and Jermaine Dye. I would like to see Andruw Jones and Jermaine Dye retire as braves.
Joe
October 1st, 2009
6:43 pm
Whatever happen to Chuck James?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
6:45 pm
That reminds me, today is the 1 month anniversary of Greg Norton’s last hit!
Happy anniversary, everybody!!
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
6:47 pm
Thanks for the lineup, Chief. That’s too funny that Bobby had planned to play Church today. Looks bad on the outside.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
6:47 pm
There is no Mark Bradley uprising going on today, RHR.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
6:49 pm
jeffrey d – thanks – I am breaking out some vodka to celebrate…
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
6:50 pm
Joe, Chuck James is at Lowes trying to come up with a third pitch. The only way you see A Jones and Dye back in Atlanta is if they bring back old timer games.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
6:52 pm
Man, here’s some stats:
-Greg Norton got on base 3 times in September.
-Greg Norton last scored a run on August 11th.
-Greg Norton last drove in a run with a hit on August 1st.
-Greg Norton’s last extra base hit was on May 31st.
Good thing he’s the first guy off the bench.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
6:52 pm
Good call, VJ
Chop Chop
October 1st, 2009
6:54 pm
If I were in high school, I would be groaning about that sort of thing, Bat. Hell, if I were of normal college age, I’d be groaning. I’m almost 30 and sort of know enough about the world to appreciate something like a Tom Waits song. Isn’t it funny how that makes a difference?
Trapper
October 1st, 2009
6:55 pm
I BELIEVE “ICE COLD ICE” WAS GREG NORTON’S LAST HIT.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
7:01 pm
jeffrey d – I have to be honest – I had already broken it out, but it’s cool to have a reason to celebrate…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
7:02 pm
Geeze…and Brooks Conrad hasn’t gotten a hit since he was called up. He got on base ONCE in September.
Good thing he’s the second guy off the bench.
Chop Chop
October 1st, 2009
7:02 pm
Congrats to the Rockies for granting us the peace of an October dirt nap. We deserved it. Nevertheless, I’m proud of the guys for putting up a good fight. Let’s hope that next year’s club comes out blazing with full-blown Eckstein-ian urgency.
Tomas
October 1st, 2009
7:02 pm
Ryan Braun for Javy Vazquez, no way in hell that happens, MAYBE Prince Fielder for Jair Jurrjens is more realistic, but that wont happen obviously.
Kenshin Kawakami for Nelson Cruz? Dont think the Rangers would do it straight up.
Dan Uggla for Brandon Jones and Boone Logan, maybe……Well I don’t have a clue of what kind of talent would they ask for Uggla. He could play first base, and he loves playing in turner field.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
7:02 pm
I suspected that was the case, VJ
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
7:03 pm
Hey, I don’t know if anyone from Carrabba’s reads this blog, but on the off chance you do…
I don’t like Italian food. I know that this lack of food taste puts me in the type of minuscule minority usually reserved for Art Bell conspiracy nuts, but there it is. Having said that, I have been so gratified by the overwhelming (and unmistakably sincere) support of Damian Mandola and Johnny Carrabba during all of the Sports South ads that I wanted to offer some sort of business as a way to show my appreciation.
I keep reviewing the online menu for the one here in Knoxville each month in hopes that they will ad something I think I could eat. Since I haven’t been able to show my support of your Braves sponsorship any other way, what I’ve wound up doing is getting Carrabba’s gift cards for friends whenever the opportunity has presented itself and will do this for several casual acquaintances over the holiday season.
This was the best solution I could find to demonstrate how much I enjoy your blending your love of Braves baseball with the marketing of your restaurant chain. If you see this, thank you for making the ads about why you love this team. It’s a breath of fresh air in this day and age.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
7:05 pm
Wow, I’m getting the Braves feed on MLB.com tonight. That’s rare. Listening to the Marlins announcers the past few nights on TV has been torture.
James Earl Ray Jr.
October 1st, 2009
7:06 pm
If Prince Fielder is on this squad next year, I’ll be at the home opener.
P. W. Hjort
October 1st, 2009
7:07 pm
I hope Loaf gets his 2,500th hit and the Braves bench him for the rest of the year. There’s absolutely no point in giving at-bats to him in meaningless September games.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:08 pm
Since we’re mathematically eliminated from the playoffs maybe FOX can give FSN or FSS the Saturday game back. We’ve been tortured enough this week.
WOW
October 1st, 2009
7:08 pm
Yet another disappointing year by the braves. I wonder how long it will be until the braves get back in the playoffs.We aren’t far away but we need some power are we will be in this same spot next year. I think Adam Laroche is someone we must sighn and if we don’t than we will have problems at that position all year. Also if we sighn Laroche we still need a 30 HR bat and i would guess it would have to be the of, i like Uggla but prado has been way to valuable to this team, so that leaves an opening in lf because schaffer proved he isn’t the answer for now anyway.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
7:10 pm
What’s the point of benching Loaf? It’s not like Reid Gorecki is just a few ABs away from becoming a superstar.
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
7:10 pm
We got 17 new HD channels back in July. One of them was supposed to be Sports South HD, but the channel has been inactive the second half of the season. This week, now that the season isn’t all but over, it finally started working. Way to go, Knology!
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
7:10 pm
Braves enter series with 86 wins. A sweep would get them to 90, and flip-flop last year’s 72-90 record.
If anyone had told you in the spring or early season that the Braves could get 90 wins, wouldn’t most of you have been pleased with that? It’s a pretty substantial improvement, regardless of whether they get 88, 89, 90 … once we’re a bit removed from it, that’ll probably seem more apparent. Right now, it’s a little tough to digest, I’d imagine, given how they came so close with the late push, then lost it the past two nights.
OK, getting started here.
Navigator
October 1st, 2009
7:12 pm
It was entertaining for a couple of weeks, but how about the sorry season for the other 5 months, when the Braves could barely stay over .500. Where was the great Bobby Cox, when the team floundered for most of the season. Are we now going to say the team had an exciting but un-fulfilling end of the season. Chipper was a no show for 1/2 of the season, but Cox had him batting 3rd the whole time. How many more games would the Braves have won, if a .300 hitter had been 3rd in the batting order. Two days ago the Braves went with their 5th starter (out for most of the season), rather than going with a 4 man pitching staff with 4 top pitchers. When the Braves were still in the game, Cox brings in Kawakami, who had been demoted for ineffectiveness, and he gave up the winning run. Why not use your best pitcher when the season is on the line. These decisions are examples of what makes some manager great and others not so.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
7:12 pm
Hey DOB,
In light of the Brewers flameout so far today, is there any chance they would shut down Hanson since they’re worried about his arm and innings totals? Maybe let Medlen and/or KK take it? — AZBravofan
I’m thinking probably not (he says, typing as Hanson pitches to the second batter of the game.)
Supes
October 1st, 2009
7:13 pm
DOB,
You are correct about the 90 win situation, I expected 84 wins when the season started out of this team so they’ve already exceed my expectations (for a rebuilding year so to speak, when the season started we had no way of knowning how things were going to turn out with the rebuilt starting pitching rotation).
The Braves need to win this game for Tommy Hanson. He’s got a legit shot at ROY with a win tonight. 12-4 with a good ERA, if they hadn’t blown the game in Houston he’d already have the 12 wins!
RemoW
October 1st, 2009
7:15 pm
I think I would like use to resign Gonzo if he can be had for a fair price. But not as a closer. I will tell you right now that the closer next year is Moylan and why not!
Heyward lovers, I like the guy too. But there is no guarantee that we bring him up and he rakes. None, Loaf for all his faults has been a solid, but not spectacular bat.
My best guess is that we try to trade Lowe. The thought of Uggla at 2nd and Prado at 1st I find interesting.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:15 pm
Why are they still showing this Believe commercial? Ugh.
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
7:17 pm
Soph Since we’re mathematically eliminated from the playoffs maybe FOX can give FSN or FSS the Saturday game back. We’ve been tortured enough this week.
RemoW
October 1st, 2009
7:18 pm
DOB it is tough after the 2 losses. But I am not sure that the Rockies have any chance of losing. I almost prefer to go down this way then run the table and watch the Rockies do the same.
Even with our loses the Rockies have still not lost.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
7:18 pm
My ROY vote goes to Coughlin. Everyday player, can hit like nobody’s business, looks like a pro, etc.
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
7:18 pm
No matter what we do, the upcoming off-season will be so much calmer than the last one.
Signed,
Rafael Furcal’s .707 OPS
Pete
October 1st, 2009
7:18 pm
AZBravofan: “In light of the Brewers flameout so far today, is there any chance they would shut down Hanson since they’re worried about his arm and innings totals?
You have it backwords, unfortunately. The time to shut him down was when Cox pulled him with the Braves needing a win very badly, and TH had an 8 inning shutout gem going (Braves lost about 5 minutes later).
Go figure.
curtis jones
October 1st, 2009
7:20 pm
Can’t figure out why the delicate, fragile, aging Chipper Jones is in the lineup tonight. Wouldn’t it be in Chipper’s, and the team’s best interest, to shut him down and get him healthy for 2010? But then I’m not an HOF manager.
Mr. Enigma
October 1st, 2009
7:21 pm
If the Rockies win two more games, it wouldn’t have mattered if the Braves won all 6 of the last games or not.
Pete
October 1st, 2009
7:21 pm
If there are any betting people on here, I will wager anyone that since the game is meaningless, if Cox needs a pinch hitter he will not use Norton. Any takers?
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
7:22 pm
Shut Chipper down and get him healthy for 2010? LOL. Yeah, those 4 extra days of rest right before he gets 4 months off are sure to make a world of difference.
RemoW
October 1st, 2009
7:22 pm
Chipper is in there for the next 4 games or until he hits 2 more dingers. If you don’t think that he wants the record your nuts!
Jalb3rt
October 1st, 2009
7:23 pm
Matt Diaz should be banned from Atlanta forever! Then the Braves should be banned from baseball for being such a p!ece of $h!t team!
Salamander
October 1st, 2009
7:23 pm
Chipper bringin’ the first-pitch-swinging.
Jalb3rt
October 1st, 2009
7:24 pm
There’s Mr. Larry Wayne Jones demostrating that he can hit Double Plays in every inning and not just in the ninth!
YE19
October 1st, 2009
7:25 pm
Had PRADO had the opportunity last night in the 9th to do what he just did in his 1st AB tonight, then we’d be tied up with the bases still juiced.
But really, deep down I think PRADO had a game winner coming, given the opportunity. I was thinking when McLouth was up, “Please just find a way to get on and give Marteen a shot!”. I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else up in the spot, including RISP-beast Esco. PRADO was due, after being hitless all night; and he handles the bat as good as anyone on the team. I had faith he’d come through. We’ll never know…
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
7:27 pm
90 wins I’ll take it…..
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:30 pm
Oh, McFannnnnn. Don’t think I forgot what we planned on doing. I’m ready whenever you are.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
7:31 pm
Soph,
AIM?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
7:33 pm
90 wins I’ll take it…..
Me too, but that seems really hard to do now…
Are you BAJONES4?
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:35 pm
Yay, Loafy! Congrats on #2500. I’m gonna miss you.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
7:35 pm
Congrats Loaf!
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
7:35 pm
Ye, Anderson’s 2,500th career hit.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
7:35 pm
YEY GARRET!
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:36 pm
And, he smiled! That’s a bingo slot.
Marc from FL
October 1st, 2009
7:36 pm
Yeah, career hit 2,500 for Loaf! Congrats GA now please head back the AL next year for your next 500, or join the Mets or something lol.
RemoW
October 1st, 2009
7:36 pm
This must be how the Giants felt all those years ago when we one out by 1 game on the last day.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
7:36 pm
I hope Loaf’s playing on a winner next year. He deserves it!
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
7:38 pm
Soph–
First I gotta get Joe Simpson. He said ON THE RADIO today that the Braves didn’t have anybody with 20 homers who had been with the team all year.
Only gave BMac credit for 19 homers! DO YOUR FREAKIN’ HOMEWORK, Joe! Sheesh…
Congrats to GA!!
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:39 pm
I just heard Joe apologize about that. It cracked me up.
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
7:39 pm
Oh, and how dare that outfielder catch that ball? Who does he think he is, anyway?
Maybe I should start despising doubles…works for K’s.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
7:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
7:41 pm
Joe Simpson Just a apologized for that, McFann.
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
7:41 pm
Soph–
Yeah…it was kinda funny.
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
7:42 pm
Bat Masterson–
Yeah I know. That’s how I found out about it…I wouldn’t be listening to Joe on the radio that early in the morning.
Tomas
October 1st, 2009
7:44 pm
Pat corrales is on deck
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:45 pm
Nice play, Chipper.
keylargo
October 1st, 2009
7:45 pm
We definitely got Boston in the LaRoche trade, especially since they paid part of LaRoche’s salary. I admit I was no enthusiastic about the trade but it turned out very positive.
Kotchman since the trade: 215 / .287 / .291 / .578
LaRoche: 347 / .423 / .601 / 1.024
You want to cite a reason for the great baseball the Braves played down the stretch, this has to be included.
P. W. Hjort
October 1st, 2009
7:46 pm
Congrats to Loaf. Now shut him down.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
7:48 pm
Boog! Tell us something we DON’T know.
We already know Mac could care less about his glove.
McFann =Ô=
October 1st, 2009
7:49 pm
“Yeah, dude, whatever.”
Ah, Boog and his BMac stories…funny stuff.
So…is MB even on his Braves blog tonight? The one I found seems kinda outdated.
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
“Matt Diaz should be banned from Atlanta forever! Then the Braves should be banned from baseball for being such a p!ece of $h!t team!”
Thank you for your input, rational baseball fan. I also like that your pitchfork is color coordinated with your torch.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
Go ahead, Nate!
Marc from FL
October 1st, 2009
7:50 pm
Way to be clutch Nate!
lawl
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
My reverse jinx worked on McLouth.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
Told ya….we’re out of it so we’ll hit like gangbusters!
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
Congrats to Loaf. Now shut him down.
Whaaaaat?
RHR
October 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
I bet I’m not first but…
Lose an Andruw, gain an Andruw.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
Marteeeeeeen.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
That’s what Martin was gonna do last night…..in the ninth.
StingerSplash
October 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
That this Braves team can even consider reaching the 90-win mark this season is … remarkable. Who would have thought that at any point this season before this month?
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
Chipper said this afternoon: “Prado’s probably our team MVP. He’s the guy who’s really surprised everyone.”
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:54 pm
McFann – the last Braves one Bradley wrote was on 9/30. I think.
We may have to delay our revolt.
RHR
October 1st, 2009
7:54 pm
So…is MB even on his Braves blog tonight? The one I found seems kinda outdated.
Probably not. He only writes about the Braves when the AJC makes him put out 8 blogs a day and he runs out of material so he comes to see what we’re talking about here and writes about that, or when the Braves are playing the Yankees, or when the Braves are in a playoff race.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
7:55 pm
Oh, duh. 9/30 was yesterday. So, he wrote one yesterday.
RHR
October 1st, 2009
7:56 pm
And what’s all this talk about the braves getting a 2B? What else does Marteeeeen have to do? Wear Greg Norton’s number?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
7:56 pm
McRallyKiller!
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
7:57 pm
I agree with Chipper. Prado …..far and away our MVP.
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
Yeah JJ thats me.
Jalb3rt
October 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
Atlanta Braves = Double Play Masters!
P. W. Hjort
October 1st, 2009
7:59 pm
If it were granted that he would never receive an opportunity to manage, do you think Joe Simpson would make a good bench coach somewhere?
RHR
October 1st, 2009
7:59 pm
Damn I missed Loaf’s 2500!? I mean, who would he be without me? I could’ve done one last loaf on a blackberry. Crap. I’m really mad.
Paul Lentz
October 1st, 2009
8:00 pm
Just out of curiosity, exactly what did Bobby Cox do this year as manager that kept the Braves in contention this year? I keep hearing that Bobby deserves credit for “keeping the Braves in contention”……..however, specifically (other than having faith in Peter Moylan) what moves did Bobby make that “separates” him from the average manager? I can list a number of moves that Bobby made that held the Braves back this year.
Players who like to be coddled and not head accountable for their mistakes LOVE playing for Bobby Cox. I’m not “pre-judging”, I’m actually JUDGING by what I see and hear. What I see are silly mistakes made on both the base paths and in fundamentals on defense that cost the Braves a number of games this year.
Also, the only player I ever hear Bobby “disciplining” is Yunel Escobar. I can remember Jeff Francoeur lallygagging down the third base line with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the 15th inning against the Pirates in June on a grounder by David Ross to the shortstop. Only when Francoeur saw the shortstop get to the ball did he finally start running hard. The throw was off target and the Braves won the game.
However, nothing was ever said about it. I feel that players know that Bobby isnt going to punish them for making preventable mistakes. That is why I feel that the 2009 Braves werent mentally tough and sharp enough to make instantaneous sound decisions on defense and on the basepaths.
I’d rather have a hated manager who won……..than have a likable manager who didnt win. It seems like a number of people on here place an higher importance on “likability” than on actually “managing”. I’d take Earl Weaver, Billy Martin, and Tony LaRussa over Bobby Cox any day of the week.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
8:00 pm
You can still do one, RHR. Just surprise us and do it when we’re not expecting it. One mo’ time for old times sake.
Not Armegeddon
October 1st, 2009
8:02 pm
I agree with RHR. When I saw the earlier posts about the Uggla scuttlebutt I was like, “they want to take a productive player and replace his bat with another guy who might have a productive bat?”
I thought the idea was to plug the holes in those positions that weren’t productive and build on the productive players you already have?
Oh yeah, I forgot. Prado isn’t an everyday player. I heard that for a couple of years while I watched Kelly at 2nd.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
8:03 pm
Something to consider in regards to trading a pitcher this winter: While it seems unlikely, to me, that they could get a big bat in exchange for Lowe, keep in mind that other than John Lackey, there really aren’t many attractive free-agent starting pitchers hitting the market. So a team that wants a proven innings-eater, a sinkerballer who’ll probably win 15 or so games, might be willing to pick up Lowe’s contract. You just never know. He’s had a pretty bad season, but has had a lot of solid ones in recent years and is hardly over-the-hill.
By same token, Kawakami has only two years and slightly less than $16 million left on his deal, so he’s not much of a gamble for any team interested. And he’s thrived in big games in Japan and this season, at least in anticipated matchups and games against the best opposing pithers. Keeps himself in good shape, isn’t a power guy so he shouldn’t have big decline, etc.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
8:03 pm
P. W. Hjort –
Absolutely Joe would make a good coach/mgr. I’ve said it for years. Joe has an uncanny sense for baseball idiosyncrasies……and isn’t afraid to speak up either.
J-MAN
October 1st, 2009
8:04 pm
Here’s what we need to do sign Jason Bay probably 5 yr at 16-18 mil per and trade for Adrain Gonzalez, Which means trade Freddie Freeman and another pitcher, dump hudson’s salary and make another move to dump salary, resign either Soriano or Mike Gonzalez or both and call up Jason Heyward and we will win the division and wont have to worry about the wild card and send bobby out on top.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
8:05 pm
lallygagging WTF is that?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
8:05 pm
Yeah JJ thats me.
Daaaaaaaamn!
You are seeeeeexy
Jp.
Bravesman
October 1st, 2009
8:07 pm
DOB
You know your actually right, if the someone told me the Braves would get 90 wins i would have taken it. Chipper is also killing the braves, i am thinking of all those chances that he has had this season, if he was on i say we would be in the high 90’s . You cant have your 3rd hitter batting .275 18 homers. Thats horrible for chipper and he knows it. I wish old chipper is back next year and batting 5th
2010 lineup
Figgins 3b
Prado 2b
McCann C
POWER BAT
Chipper jones 1B
Yunel Escobar ss
McLouth
Matt Diaz rf
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
8:07 pm
cabravesfan – I need you – I really want to go off on your northern neighbor…
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
8:10 pm
Attaway Tommy…..give ‘em right back, you freekin’ HACK!
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
8:11 pm
Our non-hated manager won 14 Division Championships in a row, unlike the others who mimic your personality, Mr. I -Love-To-Hear-Myself-Tout-My-Infallibility
rico43
October 1st, 2009
8:11 pm
My thoughts about things that Bobby gets credit for:
1) Spotting yours that having faith in Moylan (which few here did)
2) Switching out Gonzo and Soriano once it became clear that MFIKY was going to be the more consistent
3) Staying with Prado at second instead of being tempted to platoon
4) Using both the stick and the carrot with Yunel and getting a career year from the mercurial Mr. Escobar
5) Not platooning Diaz and Church once Matt heated up (remember, he slumped badly in midseason)
6) Setting the rotation well (a tricky matter with five righties!)
Am I wrong about any of these DOB?
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
8:12 pm
Those RBI double things sure look like fun…
Soph We may have to delay our revolt.
Guess BMac didn’t delay his, though…
Paul Lentz
October 1st, 2009
8:12 pm
Here is something I would like for someone to ponder: If Bobby Cox had his way and Tom Glavine was called up instead of Tommy Hanson in early June……..what do you think the Braves record would be?
My point is that Bobby Cox was lucky that Frank Wren convinced John Schuerholtz that the Braves were better off calling up Tommy Hanson.
Also, another point overlooked is that there is a chance that the Braves WOULD NOT have been able to make the McLouth trade if Glavine was added to the roster. Glavine was scheduled to earn an automatic $1 mil roster bonus as soon as he was added to the roster, plus another $3-4 mil on incentives, depending on how long he was on the roster. By releasing Glavine, the Braves had the money to pay McLouth. With the way attendance has fallen off this year, plus the fact that the Braves were struggling to win ball games, I seriously doubt that Liberty would have signed off on adding McLouth’s salary if they had to pay Tom Glavine as well. That would have pushed the payroll over $100 mil.
Many of you forget that the McLouth trade was made on the same day that the decision was made public that Tom Glavine would be released. Hardly a coincidence, when the above factors are considered.
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
8:13 pm
JJ
Thanks? :/
Ashley
October 1st, 2009
8:15 pm
Although the season ended this afternoon (or last night, depending on your point of view), I’m still grateful the Braves took the season as far as they did. They could have folded in August, but made it interesting until the end of September. It was a lot of fun.
Thank you Braves!
Columbo
October 1st, 2009
8:16 pm
NICE JOB NATS THIRD BASE COACH! Way to cost your team a run.
FEAR
October 1st, 2009
8:16 pm
Well here is to next year. I’m still going sunday!!!
P. W. Hjort
October 1st, 2009
8:16 pm
Trivia question: How many walks has Javier Vazquez given up this year after getting 2 strikes?
JEB
October 1st, 2009
8:17 pm
DOB
On an extra note concerning Kawakami,
they have basically shut him down early this year.
That should help in healing his shoulder, strengthen it.
That in itself should help attract some interest in him.
OR… make him a very good #5 guy for us next year.
Lowe would be my first option to move.
For a high offence team – he could be a very legit #2 pitcher.
Our problem, we often do not score enough runs to feel safe with Lowe.
If we were the Phillies,with their offence, we wouldn’t worry about him so much!
Just wondering...
October 1st, 2009
8:18 pm
What does DOB do during the off season?
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
8:18 pm
Is it too early to start the countdown to spring training?
J-MAN
October 1st, 2009
8:19 pm
Chipper Jones also needs to take up yoga and extensive strectching activies so he wont have his yearly oblique and hamstring injuries that take him out 40 games out of the year and stop batting him third (Get Bay and A. Gonzalez Frank Wren please!!!!!!)
RHR
October 1st, 2009
8:20 pm
I’ll be rooting for Norton’s 11th.
11th what? Career hit?
Efrim
October 1st, 2009
8:21 pm
Dan Uggla? Did Law suggest that? Or was that Rumor Central? Isn’t Uggla one of the worst defensive second baseman in baseball? I know we need power, but at his salary and with Prado at second, it doesn’t make much sense to me.
BobStevens
October 1st, 2009
8:21 pm
If anybody deserves blame for the Braves missing the playoffs its Bobby Cox. That stubborn mule just refused to intentionally walk Ryan Howard of Philly and look what it cost us? A playoff berth. Had Cox subjugated his ego and ordered his pitchers to intentionally walk Howard, the Braves would have won 16 of the 18 games they played the Phillies. That would have translated to the Braves being in first place the last week of the season and the Braves wouldnt have had to worry about chasing Colorado. They would have already had a post-season berth locked up by winning their 15th divisional title. Cox will be gone after another season and finally that stubborn, senile mule will be of the way for the Braves to flourish.
o-me
October 1st, 2009
8:22 pm
Don’t trade Vazquez! You never get to many pitchers. Braves can get a LF without giving up a pitcher. Braves need to sign a relief pitcher….I don’t trust the onces we got, plus both are FA.
bravesfan54
October 1st, 2009
8:24 pm
Nixxo Mixxo!
LT- A Blogger
October 1st, 2009
8:25 pm
I hate the Rockies. I hate their name. I hate the fact that they have purple on their uniform. I really hate Todd Helton and his Todd Helton Goatee. I hate Jason Marquis. I hate Ryan Spilborghs for being brought up in previous trade discussion. I hate Huston Street because he sounds like a road in Texas. Yorvit Torrealba…….
P. W. Hjort
October 1st, 2009
8:25 pm
I’m glad the Braves didn’t trade Soriano and Gonzalez. Gave Bobby 2 more arms to batter for the final 2 months and the thought of 4 more draft picks is really nice right now.
Paul Lentz
October 1st, 2009
8:31 pm
rico43………your 8:11pm posting conveniently overlooks a number of things.
1. I already said that Bobby Cox was right about keeping faith in Peter Moylan.
2. Going with Soriano over Gonzalez once he established the consistency and dominance early in the season was a NO BRAINER. My question in the posting you responded to was……….”Exactly what did Bobby Cox do to keep the Braves in contention that the average manager wouldnt have done”? Again, I keep hearing that Bobby Cox is a great manager. What is so “great” about going with the obvious choice?
3. Bobby didnt replace Kelly Johnson until the end of June (even when he was SUCKING A$$, both in the field and at the plate). Prado was raking at the plate. Again, what “average” manager wouldnt keep playing Prado after the switch was made?
4. It wasnt like this year was Escobar’s breakout year. Sure, Escobar’s numbers improved, however that expected. He’s a natural talent. Maybe part of the reason why Escobar had a number of base running blunders this year is because the Braves coaching dont do a good enough job of teaching these guys how to run the bases. I seriously doubt that if Bobby Cox hadnt disciplined him……..that Escobar would have had a bad year.
5. Bobby did platoon Church and Diaz for a period of time. Church’s nagging back injury along with Diaz getting hot made the decision a moot point. Also, you seem to forget that Bobby Cox BENCHED Diaz in early July (despite being in a 13 for 26 stretch) so his boy Francoeur could “get some at-bats”. It is VERY CLEAR that Bobby Cox only changes course when he is FORCED TO.
6. Setting the rotation well? What are you kidding? Any MORON can pencil in 5 starters who can pitch and let them do their thing. Setting? How did Bobby “set” the rotation?
Unbelievable.
RHR
October 1st, 2009
8:34 pm
I hate the Rockies. I hate their name. I hate the fact that they have purple on their uniform. I really hate Todd Helton and his Todd Helton Goatee. I hate Jason Marquis. I hate Ryan Spilborghs for being brought up in previous trade discussion. I hate Huston Street because he sounds like a road in Texas.
Damn right!
RHR
October 1st, 2009
8:35 pm
Did Boog and Joe fall in a well or something?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
8:35 pm
Thanks? :/
Just making small talk…
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
8:36 pm
Damn, so I get the Braves feed, now I keep getting a media error and the game is unavailable.
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
8:38 pm
I understand, JJ.
Go after Jason Bay. Bay, McLouth, Heyward/Diaz? Hows that sound?
rico43
October 1st, 2009
8:40 pm
Being called stupid by Mr. Lentz officially makes me a member of this message board. I see some of your points; but unlike you I have the ability to disagree without bad-mouthing the person with whom I disagree. I bet you sucked at debate team tryouts.
RHR
October 1st, 2009
8:41 pm
Wonder if Bobby woulda ben mad if Yunel did what Matt did last night…
RHR
October 1st, 2009
8:42 pm
Why are they so obsessed with setting that poor girl up with Nate Norton?
Keeping It Real
October 1st, 2009
8:44 pm
Joe Simpson is saying that 98% of the Braves would not have scored on the wild pitch last night. That says a lot about the lack of speed on this team. Willie Harris would have scored(ask McLouth). Why did the Braves let Harris go? I assume that it was his hitting although he is hitting only .023 less than McLouth.
J-MAN
October 1st, 2009
8:45 pm
We need hitters (sign Bay and trade for A. Gonzalez) STAT!!!
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
8:46 pm
RHR – there is a difference between a first time offense and a 16th time offense…
Johnny Hazeltine
October 1st, 2009
8:52 pm
CARLOS LEE for DEREK LOWE. Anyone?
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
Joe and Boog trying to make me feel good with that conversation…
Nah, it’s been a pretty good year for my guy, considering. Wish it could end a little better…
J-MAN
October 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
Season Killers- G. Norton, Kelly Johnson (Has a chicks name mabye that explained why he played like a girl this season), Jeff Bennett, Frenchy and Booby cox for keep playing them and running his bullpen into the ground just hope next year he shows some moderation when it comes to his bullpen and let the starters pitch more innings. We should have won 10 more games and we need to know how to beat the Marlins they killed us more than any other team
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Go after Jason Bay
You want ME to?
Idk.
I could give it a shot.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
8:56 pm
CARLOS LEE for DEREK LOWE. Anyone?
Not the Astros, that’s for sure.
rico43
October 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
JH — that’d be perfect. The drawbacks are that he has a no-trade clause and is scheduled to make $18.5 mil for the next three seasons. I see him as being worth it, but it’s Liberty’s money, not mine.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
Kelly Johnson (Has a chicks name mabye that explained why he played like a girl this season)
Not only was that not funny (its spelled “maybe” by the by), it was really stupid..
No disrespect.
Johnny Hazeltine
October 1st, 2009
8:59 pm
With Oswalt’s uncertain future, and only one pitcher slotted for next year’s starting staff, the Astros may have to consider all kinds of options, including shedding Lee’s over-priced contract for a pitcher who can give them QSs and IPs.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
8:59 pm
Hanson gives up a hit – pull him – we don’t want to ruin him for 2017!
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
And we would want Lee’s overpriced contract why, exactly?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
we don’t want to ruin him for 2017!
When he’s “playing in pinstripes?”
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
Ha ha JJ thats funny.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
cabravesfan – I know you’re there – I need some company here, my love!
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
Here is something I would like for someone to ponder: If Bobby Cox had his way and Tom Glavine was called up instead of Tommy Hanson in early June……..what do you think the Braves record would be? My point is that Bobby Cox was lucky that Frank Wren convinced John Schuerholtz that the Braves were better off calling up Tommy Hanson. (LENTZ)
Here’s something I’d like you to consider there Lentz:
What if Bobby Cox got his way and had Tommy Hanson in his rotation from day one? How do you know that’s not what he wanted? How do you know that it’s not Cox who was unlucky because Wren decided to go in another direction with Hanson?
Because, uh, dude, Cox ain’t gonna be around much longer, and he knew that back then, so what the hell did Bobby Cox give a sh!t about whether or not Hanson was a Super 2 in a few years and a free agent 6 years from now when he was no longer here? Unless of course you just think Cox loved JoJo Reyes so much that he just had to have JoJo start the season …………. even though it’s been clear since 2007 that Cox ain’t in love with JoJo.
Johnny Hazeltine
October 1st, 2009
9:02 pm
Because we weren’t smart enough to get Dunn for $11M/year, and we desperately need a power bat in the middle of that line up.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
Because we weren’t smart enough to get Dunn for $11M/year
Of course! It’s so simple now. Gosh, how could everybody except Johnny Hazeltine be so stupid?!
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
VJ-
I don’t know- looks like you have plenty of company to me
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:04 pm
VJ, is cab’s computer okay now?
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:04 pm
Well, I guess it is.
Johnny Hazeltine
October 1st, 2009
9:05 pm
Are you telling me you didn’t beg the Braves to go and sign Dunn? What were you wishing for? Kawakami at $8M/year?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:05 pm
If the Braves don’t re sign Hudson,
I WILL “CAPS” JEFFREY D TO DEATH!!!!!!!!
Tomahawkin
October 1st, 2009
9:05 pm
Just Wondering
D.O.B. is the braves diary as far as 411 goes during the offseason…
Most wise braves fans get their 411 from D.O.B. rather than relying on those Clowns on BSPN, Who only obsess about what the Bankees Red Faux, and NY Mess do in the offseason…
Also he is the only writer that I’ve seen who goes to the AFL and talks about what he see’s. Dude is like a Scout and probably should be considered to be a scout for the braves, even though I thought he hyped up Schafer too much last offseason (No offense) but at the time we were in dire need of a decent CF and Schafer was our #1 option
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:05 pm
Good throw by BMac, but the guy had a better jump.
Erg…just needs to catch one more dude for that career-high.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
I WILL “CAPS” JEFFREY D TO DEATH!!!!!!!!
Why am I being brought into this??
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Brother…and now the batter walks. That is SO annoying.
Tomas
October 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Is mlbtv working for anyone?
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Listening to people whine about how the Braves should have gotten Dunn everytime we play Washington gets pretty old.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Just got home…is Mark Bradley okay?
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:07 pm
Uh oh, Rally’s arms and legs are gone again. At least his head is still there.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:07 pm
Soph-
My personal techno-geek fixed it for me
Johnny Hazeltine
October 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
Soph,
You’re coming in there a bit late, buddy. I was trying to explain to jeffrey d why trading Derek Lowe for Carlos Lee is the ticket to getting the Braves into the post-season. Don’ wanna have to carry you along on a leash, so try an keep up.
Bobby's Cox
October 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
Out of the playoffs, what a bummer, as displayed by the 1st long N8 essay-like offseason post on page 1.
It’s gonna be a long offseason.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
Are you telling me you didn’t beg the Braves to go and sign Dunn? What were you wishing for? Kawakami at $8M/year?
No. I didn’t want another left handed strikeout machine who can’t hit leftys…
Signing KK was good at the time, NO ONE knew Vasquez would have his Cy Young year, There was no Hanson possibilities, our rotation looked like this:
Lowe
JJ
Vasquez
Campillo
Morton
Are you telling me you didn’t want this foreign former Samurai Award winning big game pitcher with great control (as he was advertised)?
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
9:10 pm
How come they don’t light the Chopping Cow better? He just sits over there in a dark corner doing a lazy, slow, seemingly disinterested chop.
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:10 pm
Soph–
Yeah…a certain DP knocked him back in…
jeffrey d–
We’re waiting for him to put up a new Braves blog. We wanna jump on him when he’s actually in the house (last comment on his last Braves blog was at like…4:15 or something).
Tomahawkin
October 1st, 2009
9:11 pm
Carlos Lee for D-LO, I’d Do it…but it won’t happen…but I’d might consider doing KK and Freeman for Lee if they eat 3 mill of his salary…but now it’s just fantasy talk…
Lee may not be Pujols-esque but he has been arguably the most consistant power hitting LF’er in baseball during this decade…I exclude Soriano because he was an infielder from 2000-2004
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:11 pm
Tomas ,
NO! And its pissing me off, it doesn’t work in standard mode, but if you go to NextDef you can see Joe talk about Derek Lowe on loop, for ever…
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
9:11 pm
That’s all for Hanson. Pinch-hitter Conrad to hit.
Be nice to see them score here to put Hanson in position for a 12th win.
Regardless, he’ll finish season with 2.89 ERA. Pretty damn impressive.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:13 pm
Why am I being brought into this??
Because I know who you really are…
Drew Peterson!
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:14 pm
Brooks Conrad…so I guess KJ’s being shut down for the season. Or forever as a Brave.
Tomahawkin
October 1st, 2009
9:14 pm
Soph…
“Listening to people whine about how the Braves should have gotten Dunn everytime we play Washington gets pretty old.”
Sorry, But I’m one of those, not whiners,but venters about not getting Dunn, Ibanez or Abreu
Hoss, Dunn, B-Macc, and Roachy 3-6? Other than Philly who can F with that…
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:15 pm
Thomas,
Close the window, load it again, and play it in standard mode, then don’t mess with the video quality, you should be fine.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
9:16 pm
What do I do in the offseason? Oh, I usually take a round-the-world cruise, return just in time for spring training, and then have someone fill me in on all the offseason moves that the team made.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:16 pm
Johnny Hazeltine -
Oh, my badddddd. You know all the fantasy baseball trade proposals start to run together after a while.
No need to be an ass.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:17 pm
Brooks has been on base once in September.
sigh…..
Tomahawkin
October 1st, 2009
9:17 pm
I was Banking On KJ Getting traded at the trade deadline for a middle reliever because I knew the bullpen was overworked…It didn’t happen and Other than that series at Chivez Ravine, KJ has been dead weight…He will get traded in the offseason or better yet in S. training if he has a good spring his value will go up. Right now his trade value has hit “Rockbottom”
but its too early to speculate…I have the day off tomorrow I have a taste for some Jungle Juice or Hunch Punch…
sidslidkid
October 1st, 2009
9:17 pm
I love the fact we have JJ and Hanson for many years to come.
Mid Town Joe
October 1st, 2009
9:18 pm
Give Tommy a bloggin ovation!
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:19 pm
Soph – why wouldn’t you want someone who strikes out 456 times per year and plays worse defense than everyone on our team combined?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:20 pm
Soph,
GAWD SOPH!
Your so stupid!
Clearly you know nothing about baseball, and Johnny does,
By the By! They’re called “video game trades” and Mr. Hazeltine is FAR above that, he should be your new role model!
Tomahawkin
October 1st, 2009
9:20 pm
D.O.B.
In response to that one question about your offseason, I thought about making some joking post about you Chilling in Ft. Liquordale on A1A doing it big in your pink suits, Sippin on Don P and listen to some old R. Kelly, but I decided to kill those thoughts…lol
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:21 pm
Oh I didn’t even see that.
Johnny – You’re talking like it’s so easy. “Hey! Let’s go get Adam Dunn for $11 million!” The number one priority this offseason was the rotation. Keep in mind before we got Lowe, KK, and Vazquez, our rotation consisted of Jurrjens, JoJo Reyes, Jorge Campillo, Buddy Carlyle, etc.
So yes, I’d much rather have stellar pitching than a fat contract for Dunn.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:22 pm
Oh, but VJ – the best thing Dunn would’ve done for the Braves according to a blogger the last time we played the Nats -
He would’ve ensured that we sold out all of our home games and that alone would’ve paid his salary AND he would carry us to the World Series.
I mean, how could the Braves pass on Superman? What were they thinking?
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:22 pm
Oh and hey–BMac has 299 K’s in his career, and 199 BB. Which will get rounded off first…?
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:22 pm
Johnny Hazeltine – don’t be upset with Soph for not realizing the brilliance of your trade by replying in such a condescending manner – the sheer insanity of that proposal tells us about your likelihood of replacing Frank Wren in the near future…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:22 pm
I mean, you’re talking like all the problems of a 90-loss season could be solved by Adam Dunn. He’s no David Wright, ya know.
N8
October 1st, 2009
9:23 pm
Anybody else having trouble with this worthless piece of sh!t otherwise known as MLBTV??? I’ve logged off 4 times and logged back on, and it keeps taking me to the same spot in the game. Where D-lowe and somebody were talking about the game in the top of the 7th. Every other game on the menu works. Just not this one.
Was about to contemplate buying that package next year, since i could watch on my lap top when out of town. But I’m not paying whatever the hell that package costs in April for it to not work half the time .Was acting up last night too.
And I’ve got a pretty kick ass connection. Can’t imagine what people that don’t have to go through. Get your chit together MLB!!!
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:24 pm
I can’t get over this…what logic goes through Bobby’s head when he’s picking a pinch hitter? Make all the “KJ suxxxxxx!” jokes you want. Norton and Conrad are the two worst hitters on the team (including some pitchers) and yet they’re the first ones called off the bench.
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
9:24 pm
D.O.B. should fight crime in the off-season. You’ll need a quippy yet cowardly sidekick and a hard-nosed editor who acts like they hate you yet semi-secretly loves you.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:24 pm
Come on guys! Johnny “don’ wanna have to carry you along on a leash, so try an keep up.” Dunn & Carlos Lee are the answer!
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:25 pm
cabravesfan – not all of the company welcome, but we have a good representation of the good people of the blog tonight…
And, by the way, four weeks, darling!
N8
October 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
Oh hey. The Nats broadcast is working. It’s FSS’s that isn’t.
Not sure what’s worse. Listening to Rob Dibble, or not getting the broadcast at all? LOL
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
I posted it a few months ago but I could go for it again. Bobby’s mind during games:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Shl2jjob1s
jed
October 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
still feel horrible for matt diaz. tell you what, if it had been anybody else, the ol’ blog would be calling for his head. (can you imagine how mets or phils fans would’ve responded?) glad to see that aint happening. and that’s a testament to how great a guy diaz is. cant believe he actually gave an interview last night on tv after the game. that was a lesson for all in being a stand-up guy–choking back tears and telling the simple truth–so that his teammates didnt have to answer a million questions about him. ah well…if that play happens in june, nobody even thinks twice about it. things like that happen. hope he can shake it off, as he should. ¡viva matt!
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
N8,
I had the same problem…
Close the window, re-load it, then switch it to standard mode, and don’t adjust the video quality, you should be good…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:27 pm
Dunn & Carlos Lee are the answer!
Can you imagine how many strikeouts we would’ve had last night if Dunn and Lee were in the lineup? Probably a hundred.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:27 pm
VJ-
I see you all jumping on some poor misguided soul who was playing armchair GM…funny I don’t recall seeing his name much before tonight
Jalb3rt
October 1st, 2009
9:28 pm
Chipper Jones … please man … RETIRE!!!
jed
October 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
yep, n8, dibble’s a moron in the extreme.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:29 pm
Oh, and by the way – Bradley’s fine, jeffrey. For now.
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:30 pm
The K!! I KNEW it!!
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:30 pm
funny I don’t recall seeing his name much before tonight
And at the rate of our jerkiness, he’ll be gone after tonight.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:30 pm
Dunn & Carlos Lee are the answer!
Ummm, don’t Adam Dunn & Carlos Lee play the same position?
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
9:31 pm
Prado and Yunel better keep their averages over .300. Chipper needs two walks to get to 100 walks for only the second time in his career, and those two homers to get to 20. Ah, yes, it’s pretty up the stats for the back of the Topps card time.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:31 pm
cabravesfan – just jumping him on for jumping on our #2 girl Soph – but, like you, she is better at deflecting morons than I am…
N8
October 1st, 2009
9:31 pm
I wonder if when Chipper looks in the mirror he’d say “lose an Andruw, gain and Andruw” about himself?
That was his “our season’s over and I’ll be hunting soon” approach to that AB. Uuuuugly.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:31 pm
jeffrey d-
if it were that easy I suspect the blog would have about 3 readers
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:32 pm
That’s where you’re wrong, CAB. Adam Dunn is a versatile player. He can play all OF positions as well as 1B, thrusting his value through the roof.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:32 pm
VJ-
it’s a girl thing
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:32 pm
Braveheart Ah, yes, it’s pretty up the stats for the back of the Topps card time.
Guess BMac thinks 35 2B looks pretty enough…
…and that 83+ K’s would look good next to his name.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:33 pm
…and if this game goes into extras?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:33 pm
haha, because about 98% of us are jerks.
Bluestreak
October 1st, 2009
9:33 pm
What do you guys think about the Braves going after Jorge Cantu or Hank Blalock (my pick) for first base, with the intention of moving him to third when Chip retires? That would have an established player on the roster that can move over when Fast Freddie is ready for the big time. That way, a long term deal would make since for a first baseman.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:33 pm
way to make up for lost time, darling!
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:33 pm
Adam Dunn is a versatile player
maybe the scariest words ever written…
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:33 pm
Oh brother…another one of those.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:34 pm
By the way, thanks for jumping in, VJ!
Didn’t mean to be that mean back to him. Just made me mad with what he said in his last post.
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:35 pm
JJ4NLCY …and if this game goes into extras?
Yuck…then BMac will get another AB. Let’s just have a walk-off in the ninth.
Hey…did they just say that Mr. Mauer was stealing signs from the Tigers…?
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:35 pm
VJ-
I missed my computer…a lot
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:36 pm
McFann -
here’s a link for the Mauer thing.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-signstealing100109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
Oh. Nevermind.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
It’s MFIKY….he’s got this.
keylargo
October 1st, 2009
9:38 pm
With extensive accounting skills acquired at UGA, I have calculated what the Braves record would have been if not for Bobby Cox, Kelly Johnson, Jeff Francoeur, Garrett Anderson, Jordon Schafer, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Casey Kotchman, Matt Diaz, Derek Lowe, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Peter Moylan, Adam LaRoche, David Ross, Yunnel Escobar and Nate McLouth.
They would have gone 147 – 15.
If not for the demotion of Brooks Conrad, delayed promotion of Tommy Hanson and terrible injustices done to Martin Prado, the Braves would have been undefeated.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:38 pm
Soph, sweetie – disagreement is okay, condescension is a*#holic…
Chris
October 1st, 2009
9:39 pm
He knew what was coming;)
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:39 pm
Or maybe he doesn’t.
curtis jones
October 1st, 2009
9:39 pm
Anybody else think that Will Ferrell could gain about 30 pounds of fat, and star in “The Adam Dunn Story?”
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:39 pm
MFIKY just destroyed our season single-handedly!
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:39 pm
Am I the only one watching? A month ago if MFIKY blew a save this blog would get 4 pages of comments within the minute.
Nick
October 1st, 2009
9:40 pm
Looks like the Braves are back to that horrible team they were before that streak.
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
9:40 pm
Chipper has 42 walks in 157 plate appearances with RISP, 16 intentionally. He also has a walk rate of 17.1%, the second highest BB rate in his career behind the 1999 MVP season. But he ain’t hitting like 1999, so why are they walking him that much? They’ve clearly not been afraid of what’s coming up behind him.
I think Chipper has actually been a good soldier not talking about how he ain’t getting much good to hit, probably so he doesn’t embarrass Mac or Garrett, but he ain’t been getting protection. There’s been some slippage, but he ain’t getting many strikes, and when he does get a strike, they’ve been giving him stuff that’s hard to drive.
Or at least that’s my hope because, if so, if you get a legit cleanup hitter in here, with Mac looming after the cleanup hitter, maybe you don’t also need to find yourself a new 3 hitter in addition to the cleanup and leadoff hitters were sorely need.
P. W. Hjort
October 1st, 2009
9:40 pm
98 K’s for Soriano.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:40 pm
Now he blows a save and we’re talking about Joe Mauer and CAB’s computer.
Chris
October 1st, 2009
9:40 pm
Pete Orr>Kelly Johnson, or Anybody>Kelly Johnson
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
9:41 pm
Maxwell fails to apply the silver hammer, but Orr advances to third anyway. Potential insurance run for the Natty Nats.
P. W. Hjort
October 1st, 2009
9:43 pm
99 strikeouts for Soriano.
Keeping It Real
October 1st, 2009
9:43 pm
keylargo
That blog is an all time great. LMAO
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:43 pm
jeffrey d – hey, I beat you on denouncing MFIKY!
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:43 pm
jeffrey d-
Come on! I know you’ve missed all my insightful posts and ranting on random subjects
Nick
October 1st, 2009
9:43 pm
Until McCann is hitting 7th and Chipper is hitting 8th, this team will never succeed.
Mr. Enigma
October 1st, 2009
9:43 pm
@jeffrey d
How can you blow a save in a 1-1 game?
Innocent Bystander
October 1st, 2009
9:44 pm
Anybody else think that Will Ferrell could gain about 30 pounds of fat, and star in “The Adam Dunn Story?”
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Adam Dunn could play lead in “The Toby Keith Story”, and vice versa.
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
9:44 pm
i fell asleep. what have i missed?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:44 pm
Noooo, I’m not saying you weren’t missed. Just noting that I miss the days when the blog exploded after a MFIKY blown save. Literally exploded.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:45 pm
Oh hush you know what I meant.
Chris
October 1st, 2009
9:45 pm
Who has better number Happ or Hansen? I assume Happ had much better run support, ala CC Fatassia of NY.
N8
October 1st, 2009
9:45 pm
I hope you’re right Braveheart. I can buy that. But it doesn’t explain how many pitches he’s missed, and how off balance he’s looked for a while now.
Pete Orr, huh? Kind of makes you wish he was still over Norton.
Rob Dibble about messed himself over that first pitch that was called a ball by Soriano. Saying how good of a pitch it was.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:45 pm
Poor jeffrey. Brian Jordan will give you a hug after the game.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
9:46 pm
I feel cheated.
Where’s the respect?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:47 pm
I do not want a Brian Jordan hug.
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:47 pm
Thanks for the link, Soph. Ugh…but those subtitles at the end of the video made me nauseous.
Haven’t read the whole article, though…headache. Hmm…wonder where that came from.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:47 pm
Mitchell, have you been playing any tennis lately?
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
I do not want a Brian Jordan hug.
Ron Gant?
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
jeffrey d-
Maybe a Mac hug?
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
Thank God Nick is here to make sense, as opposed to you morons who actually like the Braves…
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
I blame:
The AWfence for not winning and Bobby Cox and MFIKY for losing…
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
“i fell asleep. what have i missed?”
Jaison on Survivor just wiped the floor with Ben.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:49 pm
Gant, maybe. McCann, definitely.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:49 pm
I’m a whiz at impressions, aren’t I?
Nick
October 1st, 2009
9:49 pm
Jaison is the biggest wimp in Survivor history.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:49 pm
Oh Boog you got my hopes up.
nolie
October 1st, 2009
9:50 pm
No big surprises here, seen it B4. They played way over their heads on emotion and momentum and once it got stopped there had to be a huge emotional letdown. Might bounce back, might not win another game this year. We’ll see.
I also disagree that this is all that promising for a great next season. many youngish teams that over produce one year actually fall back the following year and there are still lots of questions about this team next season despite all the optimism voiced on the board lately. It will depend on what Wren can get done this winter and how Heyward progresses next season. The promising area is the starting pitching of course and if it can stay healthy, it should keep the team from folding badly next year.
C’mon Bravos, lets win a few more this year.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
9:50 pm
Ryan Church?
We can’t give Matty a chance to redeem himself?
F U Bobby.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:50 pm
Is that Cubs game the ONLY time the Braves have had a walk off?
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
9:51 pm
“Ron Gant?”
Just don’t go ATV-riding with him.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:51 pm
Holy doo doo…Mock has had 5 consecutive starts where he’s given up 4 ERs or more.
keylargo
October 1st, 2009
9:52 pm
Come on Church, jack one out. I can’t remember a walk off HR this year?
Random
October 1st, 2009
9:52 pm
DOB (October 1st, 2009 8:03 pm): “By same token, Kawakami has only two years and slightly less than $16 million left on his deal, so he’s not much of a gamble for any team interested. And he’s thrived in big games in Japan and this season, at least in anticipated matchups and games against the best opposing pithers. Keeps himself in good shape, isn’t a power guy so he shouldn’t have big decline, etc.”
Kawakami will not be traded.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:52 pm
Mitchell – good point…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:52 pm
Norton time?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:52 pm
Even in the Cubs game, it was a single
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:52 pm
Yay, Churchy!
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
How will they blow it this time?
Not going to happen.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
Oh they’re gonna leave us in suspense who it is.
JEB
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
Have the last 2 nights been:
a) Good pitching against the Braves
b) Poor at bats against these 2 teams
Enter your selection below.
TnBrian(Vazquez ace 2010)
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
I’m so nervous right now! We need to win… nevermind. Life sucks.
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
“Jaison is the biggest wimp in Survivor history.”
Please do me two favors.
1) Say that to his face.
2) Upload the video of the encounter to YouTube.
Dude is like 6′6″, a world class athlete in a grueling sport and an Ivy League graduate.
nolie
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
Bobby Cox and MFIKY for losing (JJ)
of course you do.it’s always Bobby’s fault, why even bother to mention it. What a board. sigh
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
We should pinch run Diaz at 3rd.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
If Bobby doesn’t pinch hit with Matt Diaz…
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:53 pm
I refuse to do the Tomahawk Chop, if this is the crap they are going to play on the speakers…
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:54 pm
Norton time?
I hope it’s Kelly just so it can make your day.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:54 pm
of course you do.it’s always Bobby’s fault, why even bother to mention it. What a board. sigh
Twas a joke, read my next post…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:54 pm
Man, Bobby even went with Conrad before Diaz. Does he pick his pinch hitters with a dart board?
Nick
October 1st, 2009
9:54 pm
Jaison is a sensitive wimp who constantly complains and does nothing in the challenges.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
9:55 pm
Churchy!
(I wish I could say that with more exuberance.)
Howwwzzabout a comeback?
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
9:55 pm
jeffrey d McCann, definitely.
Well, yeah…
Think he owes me a hug after the way he’s bat on this homestand so far.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:55 pm
Kelly would have to get a hit for it to make my day. If he K’s, I have to live with continually supporting someone that everybody hates.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
9:56 pm
Wild pitch?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:56 pm
Here is the real music!
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
9:56 pm
I’m predicting a warning track shot.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:57 pm
I don’t hate Kelly. I just like Marteen more.
Count de Monet
October 1st, 2009
9:57 pm
Damn why didn’t Bobby use Norton here?
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
9:57 pm
Good eye
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
*sigh* Just missed. Story of our season.
Mixxo
October 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Ugh…
Soph
October 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Eh, what can you do? Oh well.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Most people hate Kelly. See Chris’s 9:40.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Soph,
Diddo.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Bobby cost us the game not using Norton!
Count de Monet
October 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
Nort would have won the game here
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
9:59 pm
HAHA
Braves suck!
No 90 wins for us!
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
9:59 pm
“does nothing in the challenges”
The first thing he did this year was lap a dude in a swimming heat. And there have only been three challenges, so it would be too soon to make that argument even if it weren’t already disproven.
Chris
October 1st, 2009
9:59 pm
Lets go get Zimmerman!
McFann Ô
October 1st, 2009
10:00 pm
That was a boring game.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:00 pm
Nort would have won the game here
Nort could’ve unclinched the Rockies.
jed
October 1st, 2009
10:00 pm
curtis jones–yeah ive been saying that for a few years now! dunn looks just like will farrell–in ricky bobby mode, of course.
A-ville Ranger
October 1st, 2009
10:00 pm
I BEREAVE !!!
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:00 pm
When we go down, we sure nose dive don’t we?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
10:03 pm
Does anyone think the Braves have a legit shot at a WS next year, I don’,t know, I think they could make the playoffs pretty easily, but, I guess we’ll see…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:03 pm
I’d just like to point out that Kelly’s hitting .333 this month.
ahhhhh….learn to talk, Brian Jordan!!
ChurchMan
October 1st, 2009
10:04 pm
the Braves have lost to the Nats which means “Operation: Reverse Our Luck” is still in effect.
will there be any high notes to look back on if they get swept in this final 4 game series?
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
10:06 pm
Devastated…..
Will
October 1st, 2009
10:06 pm
Man i know the Braves are always capable of tank jobs, but i woulda bet alot of money they made this a race at least til the wknd. I BELIEVE this offense is atrocious and im shocked they got back into this race w those bats.
ChurchMan
October 1st, 2009
10:07 pm
silly diluted announcers (they’re all 4 homers so what do you expect …), the Braves inept offense has already cost Tommy the ROTY
lol .. MVP? they lost, nobody should get it
Gone Viral
October 1st, 2009
10:07 pm
Lose out! It will get us a better draft pick!
A-ville Ranger
October 1st, 2009
10:08 pm
The list of free agent outfielders looks outstanding.Has Wren commented on whether he intends to go after one or not ? I’m guessing he’ll wait till off season to comment one way or the other.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
10:09 pm
David O’Brien
October 1st, 2009
9:41 pm
Nice Fab Four play, DOB.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
10:09 pm
Man, FSN & FSS sure know how to outplay a commercial. I love Hansbrough but I think seeing him find that girl’s dog 7 times during a Braves game is a bit much.
Will
October 1st, 2009
10:10 pm
I agree about costing hanson the rookie of the year and i also truly believe this offense cost vazcuez and jurrjens cy young consideration cause there was about a two month stretch those guys didnt get a lick of run support
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:11 pm
That AirTran commercial made me never want to play foosball again.
Ryan
October 1st, 2009
10:11 pm
Hanson pitched 3 gems that I recall Soriano getting the lost. Hope he isnt back next year. Joe keeps saying nice if Chipper hit 2 more HR I dont think he could hit a double right now.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
10:12 pm
Yeah, that one too. And, stupid Carrabbas.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
10:12 pm
Phils announcers just said the top candidates for OF Gold Gloves are Shane Victorino, Michael Bourne, Nate McLouth, and Jeff Francouer…
Brave4life
October 1st, 2009
10:12 pm
still like our chances next year
Brave4life
October 1st, 2009
10:13 pm
QUESTION WHO IS THE LVP ON THIS TEAM
CHIPPER JONES
KELLY JOHNSON
DEREK LOWE
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 1st, 2009
10:14 pm
Words just cant describe what I’m feeling right now….
Brave4life
October 1st, 2009
10:14 pm
I meant like biggest bust, not lvp it makes me sound like a douche
Soph
October 1st, 2009
10:14 pm
Yeah, they can really stop showing that Believe commercial now too.
keylargo
October 1st, 2009
10:15 pm
The list of free agent outfielders looks outstanding.Has Wren commented on whether he intends to go after one or not ?
Remember when Ted T. went after Gary Matthews too soon? Better wait until they are FA’s.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
10:15 pm
Lose out! It will get us a better draft pick!
You have to be one of the worst 15 teams to be guaranteed a pick, besides, they’ll get 4 first picks, I think…
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
10:15 pm
What an absolute disgrace Bobby Cox’s career has become.
He should be fired tonight. Not tomorrow. Not next week. He should be fired. No one should be allowed to return as manager of any team after the performance over the last three nights by the Atlanta Braves.
I have no reason to give this team my support, my time or money as long as he is the Braves manager.
I feel cheated.
7
October 1st, 2009
10:16 pm
Thanks bobby for building us up just to let us down. Man we got alot to look forward to next year with” Miracle Bobby ” leading the cheers. Another wasted year!
retired on the Lake (formerly cityofdecatur)
October 1st, 2009
10:16 pm
exhausted , nice run to make it interesting too little too late. can’t read any more blog till maybe just before spring training . everyone have a GOOD HIBERNATION PERIOD I know I will
bye!
Will
October 1st, 2009
10:17 pm
No chipper is definitely not hitting 2 more HR. He couldnt hit his way out of a wet paper bag right now.
Shamus Thacker
October 1st, 2009
10:17 pm
If we go into next year with McLouth our biggest outfield threat, it’s gonna be an ugly mo-fo of a season. All the affordable FA outfielders are grandpaws.
I still couldn’t trade Vazquez; I just couldn’t…
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
10:19 pm
Man, Bobby even went with Conrad before Diaz. Does he pick his pinch hitters with a dart board?
He picks numbers from his nose , sorry, I mean hat.
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:20 pm
A-Ranger:
Seems to me sometime in the past 24, DOB said that the FA OF’ers were not particularly exciting, and the prices would be sky-high because of their dirth, or something to that effect.
Random
October 1st, 2009
10:21 pm
Tomahawkin (October 1st, 2009 9:11 pm): “Carlos Lee for D-LO, I’d Do it…but it won’t happen…but I’d might consider doing KK and Freeman for Lee if they eat 3 mill of his salary…but now it’s just fantasy talk…”
You got that right, sport — and that’s how it’ll stay.
Empty talk. A fantasy.
Kawakami will not be traded.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:24 pm
See you in 2011, Mitchell…we will miss you so much!
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:25 pm
Pretty obvious letdown, and who among you wouldn’t play hard, but deflated. With no probability of a post-season left, and the extended time when you played inspired ball with hope of making the play-offs. Understandable. 2010 looks a lot better than it did in late June. O.K. Mr. WREN, BC’s in the house for one more. First chore accomplished. NEXT?
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
10:25 pm
Does ANYONE really give a DAMN about finishing 2nd instead of 3rd? I can guarantee if the Marlins sweep a non-motivated Philadelphia and sneaks into 2nd that the Marlins will use that to justify doing nothing this winter. They will talk about how they overcame to almost make the playoffs. I don’t want 2nd place. You take it so they can brag about the 90 wins and what a tremendous improvement it was while not mentioning they played in a division with 2 of the WORST teams in baseball who they played 36 times. Let’s Go Phillies!!
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
10:25 pm
Vinnings Jim, do you mean it?
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:27 pm
WILL:
CHIP’s AND B-MAC’s AB’s looked uninspired I gotta’ say.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:27 pm
Mitchell – did you miss the sarcasm button – damn!
Shamus Thacker
October 1st, 2009
10:27 pm
I don’t remember a worse overall batch of FA outfielders. Seems just one or two have an upside. The rest are ready to sign that last fat contract, then sleepwalk into retirement…
keylargo
October 1st, 2009
10:29 pm
Random
WaynefromUtah said he heard a rumor of KK for Ryan Freel and a PTBNL. Is there any substance to this?
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:29 pm
RANDOM:
Great to see KK will definitely be with us in 2010. What source provided that info?
Bill
October 1st, 2009
10:29 pm
And still ANOTHER year of BOOBY! What a bunch of Maroons!
Herschel Talker
October 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
Vinings Jim – do you think Booby should be canned?
Steve from OH
October 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
Ryan Braun for Javy Vazquez, no way in hell that happens, MAYBE Prince Fielder for Jair Jurrjens is more realistic, but that wont happen obviously.
So you’re proposing two very similar trades, with the one that’s better for Atlanta
being put under the “no way in hell” tab, but the one that helps Milwaukee under the “more realistic” tab. WTF? Are the Braves that dumb or are the Brewers just that brilliant? Inquiring minds want to know.
hymie
October 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
Had enough of Booby Sux Cox? You get another year of the farker.
A-ville Ranger
October 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
RichBrave, I have to disagree with DOB based on the list of fa outfielders posted by a reader on this here blog.Wren wouldn’t sign a 20 million dollar superstar anyway.I believe there’s somebody in there who could improve the lineup and play good defense.
anywhere
October 1st, 2009
10:33 pm
Booby Mothrafarking Cox would have been gone long ago. We get another year of the bastid.
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:33 pm
Bill and hymie:
Yup, done deal. Should we now hold our breath and writh about until 2011?
Steve from OH
October 1st, 2009
10:34 pm
I still couldn’t trade Vazquez; I just couldn’t…
That, my friend, is what separates you from Frank Wren, LOL!
Does anyone else get the feeling that Robert and YAACA continually post the Cox rubbage under different names 24/7? They’re obsessive enough to do it, I think.
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:35 pm
A-Ranger:
He mentioned a trade possibility as a more accurate scenerio, I believe. It’s back there somewhere in this article or the one just before this.
anywhere
October 1st, 2009
10:36 pm
Fark Vinings Jim, Obama voter and all around moron.
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:36 pm
Steve in OH:
I roll with that Steve.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:37 pm
I’m fairly certain that Bill, hymie, and anywhere are the same person.
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:38 pm
anywhere:
Leave VJ out of it. If you’re got more poison to spread around cast a little my way, moron.
anywhere
October 1st, 2009
10:38 pm
We can pray like hell for something to happen to Booby.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
anywhere comes out of nowhere and makes a strong bid for the a****le of the night award- I know the competition is feirce but that was a gem
mudge
October 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
I’m fairly certain that jeffrey d is a putz.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
I understand sarcasm Jim but are you saying you’d be glad to see me go?
You couldn’t have meant that, could you?
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
10:40 pm
read, then proof!! READ, THEN POST, CAB!!
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
10:40 pm
NYTOL, and watch out for the rabid fool or fools posting under BILL, hymie and anywhere. Mindless drivel.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
10:41 pm
and naturally I didn’t read that one either. One day I will get it right…one day
Soph
October 1st, 2009
10:41 pm
I think you can add mudge to the list too.
keylargo
October 1st, 2009
10:41 pm
Which one is CAACA and which one is YAACA?
frak
October 1st, 2009
10:41 pm
cabravesfan needs to learn spelling, or quit typing.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
It’s okay, cab. You got your point across.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
Mitchell – all I am saying is, if you do not wish to support the team, I am sure you could make better use of your time in other pursuits. I hold no ill will against you – I just want you to be happy in your leisure time activities.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
Frak-
hate to disappoint but neither is going to happen any time soon
quiopr
October 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
richbrave is a mindless fool, drinking the Obama Booby Koolaid.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:44 pm
frak – who the hell are you to comment on spelling with a name like that? Or are you a perfect typist? In which case, I can suggest a good job for you…
Random
October 1st, 2009
10:44 pm
keylargo (October 1st, 2009 10:29 pm) –
I like you — yer funny.
semafore
October 1st, 2009
10:45 pm
Hay chorro de nacos kee.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
10:45 pm
Soph-
I know most of you know me well enough by now to overlook my lack of spelling ability
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:46 pm
Mitchell – I am sorry – you are consistent in your views, and I can live with that. I am a bit annoyed now with weirdly anonymous posters attacking regulars. Sorry, buddy!
semafore
October 1st, 2009
10:47 pm
spelling ability=speaking ability=intelligence.
Random
October 1st, 2009
10:48 pm
richbrave (October 1st, 2009 10:29 pm): “Great to see KK will definitely be with us in 2010. What source provided that info?”
It just stands to reason.
Wren-san has some big plans up his yukata.
Steve from OH
October 1st, 2009
10:48 pm
spelling ability=speaking ability=intelligence.
Or, alternatively, spelling ability=typo.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:48 pm
semafore = moron
Hogan
October 1st, 2009
10:49 pm
VJ, get over it! Lots of people don’t agree with you, and don’t care if you live or die, precious snowflake.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
10:49 pm
semafore-
the ability to spell has no relation with the ability to speak
(and by the way it is spelled semaPHore)
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:50 pm
Seriously….Brooks Conrad?
Hogan
October 1st, 2009
10:51 pm
Or , the entire farking planet is stupid just like you and I hate you. Go fark yourself.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:51 pm
Hogan – who the heck are you? – but I like it when you call me precious snowflake…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:51 pm
I’d care if VJ died.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
10:51 pm
I’d care if VJ died too!
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
10:52 pm
By DAVID O’BRIEN
dobrien@ajc.com
Before playing Washington on Thursday night, the Braves knew Colorado had already hammered Milwaukee – the afternoon game was on most TVs in the clubhouse — to clinch the wild card and eliminate the Bravos from playoff contention.
Still, the Braves insisted there was still plenty to play for in the season-ending four-game series against the Nationals. Then they lost 2-1 in the series opener at Turner Field, with ex-Brave Pete Orr driving in the winning run in the ninth against closer Rafael Soriano.
Rookie Tommy Hanson struck out nine in seven crisp innings, but got no decision in his final start.
“Tommy pitched a real nice ballgame; one run to work with is not a lot,” said manager Bobby Cox, whose Braves totaled six hits in their third consecutive one-run loss since a 15-2 surge brought them within 2-1/2 games of Colorado. “We just couldn’t get the hitting going again.”
After they put runners on the corners in the ninth with a walk and Ryan Church’s two-out single, Omar Infante grounded into a fielder’s choice.
Nate McLouth’s third-inning homer provided a 1-0 lead, but the Braves were done scoring.
Hanson, who allowed five hits and two walk, finishes his season with an 11-4 record and 2.89 ERA that should put him in the running for National League Rookie of the Year.
“I wanted to finish off my last game on a good note, and I think I did that,” said the lanky right-hander, who recorded nine outs in the first nine batters before giving up a run in the fourth.
The Braves are an insurmountable five back of Colorado with three to play. They are one game ahead of Florida for second in the NL East.
Garret Anderson had two hits to give him 2,501, the 89th player to reach the 2,500 standard.
“You don’t ever want to give up,” reliever Peter Moylan said before the game. “You want to finish the season strong and use that as motivation for next year…. These guys in here are playing for pride, playing for next year – whatever it is that you have to draw from. I want to finish strong.”
The Braves entered Thursday with an 86-72 record, after going 72-90 in 2008.
“If you told me at the beginning of spring training that we’d win 90 games, I would have said we were a lock for the playoffs,” third baseman Chipper Jones said before the game. “To make that big a jump … gives us a lot of confidence, and should give the fans of the Braves a lot of confidence.
“I don’t think that there’s any doubt in anybody’s mind in here that we’ll be a playoff team next year.”
Diaz revisits The Play
He could have avoided seeing a replay of The Play, if he’d tried. But Matt Diaz wanted to view it, to see what it was that made him think, for a split-second Wednesday night, that he might be able to score a tying run from third on a pitch in the dirt that got away from catcher Ronny Paulino.
Diaz hesitated halfway down the line, and Paulino threw him out to end the game when Diaz tried retreating to third. Wes Helms applied the tag before Diaz touched the base with his hand.
“I read the ball in the dirt; I guess it ricocheted off his foot,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Oh, it stopped too close.’ So I stopped to go back [to third]. But as I’m about to go back, I see that Paulino’s nowhere near the ball. Ergo the stutter step toward home.
“Once I stuttered, it was a foregone conclusion that I was going to be out.”
He it was not third-base coach Brian Snitker’s responsibility to send him or get him back.
“It’s the baserunner’s read,” Diaz said. “The third-base coach, he’ll tell you before a play if you’re going on contact or not. But the only play he really has say over you is a ball behind you that you’re scoring on or coming to third on. If I hit a ball down the right-field line and I’m running hard, I lose that ball coming to second, so I’ve got to look to him.”
In situations like the one Wednesday, Diaz said, “He’ll say, ‘Anticipate a ball in the dirt.’ Certain times, if we’re down three or four runs, he’ll say ‘Be real careful on a ball in the dirt; make sure.’”
Ultimately, a decision to go or retreat is up to the player.
Diaz was out of the lineup Thursday for the first in 14 games, but Cox said it had nothing to do with Wednesday and he had planned to play Church.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
10:52 pm
Me three. I’d definitely care.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
10:52 pm
Thanks Jim.
I feel better now.
Don’t you feel like you’re getting cheated though after what’s happened the last three nights? It’s like he’s the f***ing king of the Braves and we are all to worship him until his unforeseeable demise.
Steve from OH
October 1st, 2009
10:52 pm
One final thought before bed beckons…
I love how Martin Prado (.809 OPS) is a super-human/demigod/MVP-type player but Chipper Jones (.830 OPS) needs to retire/move to 1B/die.
Or ditto for Martin Prado and Brian McCann (.840 OPS) needs to bat 7th/sucks.
You people are funny.
(h/t JC Bradbury)
Random
October 1st, 2009
10:53 pm
Mitchell (October 1st, 2009 10:15 pm): “I feel cheated.”
You were.
At birth.
By God.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:53 pm
Wow – I am as innocuous as it comes – it’s fun to have someone attack me – thanks, Hogan – you are a prince among whatever it is you think you are, genderwise!
Hogan
October 1st, 2009
10:54 pm
who’s the bigger idiot, VJ, you for responding, or me for responding, asswipe.
Steve from OH
October 1st, 2009
10:55 pm
This dude realizes that DOB can see his IP address, right? I.e. the name changes aren’t fooling anyone?
Hogan
October 1st, 2009
10:55 pm
Arguing on the internet is like the special olympics…even if you win, you’re still retarded.
Hogan
October 1st, 2009
10:56 pm
yep, and there are quite a few others who have the same IP.
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
10:56 pm
Hogan-
is there any particular reason you show up at the end of the season and decide to insult everyone or are you just a complete jacka**?
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
10:56 pm
spelling ability=speaking ability=intelligence.
Not necessarily, you must be very young, or very foolish, nicht wahr
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:56 pm
Arguing on the internet is like the special olympics…even if you win, you’re still retarded.
Funny joke. You just think of that yourself?
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
10:56 pm
DOB -I would like you to consider removing the 10:52 post by Hogan, which refers to cabravesfan in an obscene manner (albeit a not-well-known-obscenity)
Mitchell
October 1st, 2009
10:57 pm
You may have a point Random.
Thanks for your insight and wisdom.
Hogan
October 1st, 2009
10:57 pm
Seig Heil!
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:58 pm
Can’t we just go back to the old days of arguing about Charlie Morton?
Soph
October 1st, 2009
10:58 pm
Wow, Dish added ESPNU to my package. They must’ve gotten a lot of complaints after the UGA game last week.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
10:58 pm
Had a few quotes that couldn’t squeeze into one file tonight. Here’s a couple others:
Hanson on Rookie of the Year award possibility: “We’ll see. If I did win the award, it’d be an honor and I’d be happy. But even if I don’t, I’m happy with the season and what I did.”
On what he still needs to work on: “A lot of things,” he said, citing his changeup, holding runners closer to bases, overall pitch command, and he hopes to contribute more with the bat.
He said he was looking forward to having a little more rest this offseason, unlike last year when he headed to the Fall League after the minor league season. But he added that while he’s not as fresh now as he was earlier in the season, his arm still feels good and he felt great on the mound tonight.
I asked him about looking forward to next year’s rotation being strong again, and he said, “It should be very exciting. Hopefully we keep most of our starters, keep us all together.”
Bad Scooter
October 1st, 2009
10:59 pm
wow, how about the news on Letterman? http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/01/2009-10-01_david_letterman_reveals_extortion_plot_con_man_wanted_2m_for_sex_secrets.html
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
10:59 pm
I didn’t think I had ESPNU until I checked last week, HOPING it was there. Sho nuff.
Maybe they just added it too.
keylargo
October 1st, 2009
11:00 pm
Great point Hogan @ 10:55.
Daybed Wagmoe
October 1st, 2009
11:01 pm
DOB — I just read your earlier post about the lack of attractive starting free agents, and how it might make Lowe and Kawakami more attractive trade pieces. Didn’t even think about that, but it’s a very good point.
You mentioned John Lackey, and after, the only names I see that teams might chase after would be Randy Wolf, Tim Wakefield, and maybe Jason Marquis…but while I can imagine that Lackey might top out at $13 mill/year, I don’t think any of those other three would get above a deal worth $10 mill/year. You’re right — puts the Braves in a better position.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:01 pm
Tommy had a great season. I remember during his first game we had people freaking out on here about his pitching capabilities. I’d say it worked out well.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
11:01 pm
And now our boy Hogan getting Nazi on us…although spelling a word wrong…(sieg)
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
11:02 pm
Don’t know how Derek Lowe could win LVP when the team was 21-12 in his starts. Yeah, he got some good run support, but they won when he started. Wish it had been prettier, but still they won when he started, and that’s all that really matters.
Lowe allowed 4 earned runs or more 7 times. Vazquez did it 8 times. Jair did it 5 times. The Braves were 2-5 when Lowe allowed 4 earned runs or more, 1-7 when Vazquez did so. 3-2 when Jair did so.
Lowe allowed 3 earned runs or less 26 times. Vazquez did it 23 times. Jair did it 28 times The Braves were 19-7 when Lowe allowed 3 earned runs or less. 17-6 when Vazquez did so. 15-13 when Jair did it.
Lowe allowed 2 earned runs or less 16 times. Vazquez 20 times. Jurrjens 25 times. 13-3 when Lowe did so. 16-4 for Vazquez. Only 14-11 when Jair did it.
Jair got royally screwed, but Lowe wasn’t really as awful as he seemed to often look or as his overall ERA numbers make him look. But, still, I’d eat $15 mil of the remainder, and trade him away. Surely some other team has got to find Lowe at 3 years, $33 mil attractive enough compared to other free agent pitchers this offseason. Extend Hudson and Vazquez, keep Hanson, Jurrjens, and Kawakami, and just treat those 5 pitchers as if they are each gonna be $1 mil more expensive annually than you’re actually paying them.
Or maybe DOB’s right. You just eat $10 mil or so off Lowe’s remainder. The Braves traded Neagle a decade ago when he was making $4.75 mil annually. That $4.75 mil will be worth $13.5 in the upcoming free agency market. ($4.75*1.1^11). Neagle was 16-11 with a 4.05 FIP the year he was traded away. Lowe was 15-9 with a 3.97 FIP this year. If you eat that $10 mil, the team that gets Lowe would only be annually paying him around $13 mil or so, which is comparable to what Neagle’s $4.75 mil is worth in today’s free agency market when adjusted for baseball free agency salary inflation, and it’s also consistent with what the next highest bidder (the Mets) were willing to pay Lowe last offseason
Daybed Wagmoe
October 1st, 2009
11:03 pm
I read somewhere that the Braves might try to move Jo-Jo Reyes or a similar guy. Are there any plans to have Jo Jo pitch in the Arizona Fall League? Can’t remember where he is with his injury recovery…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:03 pm
I really hope Tommy gets ROTY. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Coghlan got it. The Braves certainly didn’t help Hanson’s case this past week – not getting him the win tonight and padding Coghlan’s stats in the Marlins series.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
11:04 pm
McCann on Hanson: “I hope he wins that Rookie of the Year award. He deserves it.”
“The thing about him, pitchers like him, he can get into a trouble with one out, like he did tonight [after one-out single in fifth] and then he can reach back and blow you away to get out of it. He’s a strikeout pitcher.”
“It’s going to be a pleasure to watch him.”
I asked Mac if he’d noticed Hanson make adjustments during the season.
“Oh, yeah. After the first couple of starts he started to realize who the aggressive hitters were, when to bounce a curveball in the dirt, when not to give in….”
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
11:05 pm
Good night to the good people of the blog (jeffrey, Soph, and many others) – and to the love of my life in LA! It has been an interesting half hour…
cabravesfan
October 1st, 2009
11:05 pm
Good Night VJ
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:06 pm
Night, VJ!
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:06 pm
and to the love of my life in LA!
I love Manny too. Goodnight VJ!
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:07 pm
Yeah, I think Coghlan will get it. What with him being an everyday player and all.
keylargo
October 1st, 2009
11:07 pm
Daybed, I’d look for Jo-Jo to show up in the spring and try to earn a middle relief spot. We’ll have one available and he’ll be making the minimum. I think it would be best for everyone because they won’t get much of anything for him now.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
11:07 pm
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
11:01 pm
I think that was directed at me, VJ.
Vinings Jim
October 1st, 2009
11:08 pm
jeffrey – stop giving away my secrets!
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
11:09 pm
Braveheart: In my comment earlier tonight, I was suggesting that the Braves might not have to eat any of Lowe’s contract, that they might — might — be able to trade him this winter because of the dearth of free-agent pitchers on the market. I hadn’t looked at it closely until today, but really there is Lackey and not much else, in terms of guys as proven as Lowe is.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:09 pm
Arguing on the internet is like the special olympics…even if you win, you’re still retarded.
I’ll take old and overused jokes on the internet for 400, Alex…
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:10 pm
They’re re-districting Gwinnett County schools. I’m sure parents are going to be thrilled about their kids being shifted to Meadowcreek.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:11 pm
That would be incredible if we could get rid of Lowe. I mean, I’ll miss the big sweaty guy, but dumping all that money would be great.
Probably not gonna happen though.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:12 pm
When are they redistricting??
Curt
October 1st, 2009
11:12 pm
DOB
Do you think there is any chance that the Marlins would trade Uggla to the Braves?
Braves could move Prado to first and Uggla would give them the right handed power bat they covet. Think Braves would consider that scenario?
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:14 pm
They’re redistricting this year but it takes affect next year. They’re going to release the maps tomorrow.
I think it mostly affects Meadowcreek and Berkmar. The two best schools in Gwinnett, of course.
Mid Town Joe
October 1st, 2009
11:14 pm
I use to like Letterman, but over the past few years is gotten quite boring. He is too stuck on himself. He’s bashed the polticians way too much for me. Leno is better and funnier. I enjoy the heck out of his new show. I’ve tried to watch Lurch on NBC.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:15 pm
Its become quite clear that Glee is the most popular show in the past few months…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:17 pm
I really want to see Glee, but I’m usually gone on Wednesday nights
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:17 pm
Dacula only has five total schools in its cluster? We must have at least 6 or 7.
Mid Town Joe
October 1st, 2009
11:18 pm
I hope Paul Lentz get his refund.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:18 pm
Yeah when they built Mill Creek it took a lot of our numbers.
Curt
October 1st, 2009
11:19 pm
Did a little research during this boring game tonight regarding the upgrades that have happen at 1B, 2B, CF and RF through out the season. I looked up the WAR aka Wins Above Replacement player for the 2 primary players at each of those positions and what I am about to list is the total up grade that the 2nd player provided over the previous play at that position.
LaRoche was a 1.7 improvement over Kotchman
Prado was a 2.1 improvement over Johnson
McLouth was a 3.4 improvement over Schafer
Diaz was a 2.9 improvement over Frenchy
That all totals up to an extra 10.1 wins over the course of the season if we have all those guys in place from the beginning of the year. Even if you think the stat is some what flawed you guy cut that number in half and we would still be currently tied with the Rockies for the wild card.
Makes you think, huh?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:19 pm
Laughed out loud at that one MTJ
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:19 pm
jeffrey d,
JJ4NLCY to the rescue: http://www.hulu.com/glee
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
11:20 pm
DOB, if they can dump that whole thing, then hell go for it. I think I got confused because you said something about eating $10 mil or so a few days ago, and forgot that you had revised that opinion earlier today.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:21 pm
heyyy…I didn’t know Glee was on Hulu. Thanks JJ…I’ll check it out this weekend
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
11:22 pm
Hey RANDOM:
Your 10:53 p.m. LOL funny. Good ‘un.
Lou Vales
October 1st, 2009
11:22 pm
Shocking quote from McCann–He wants Tommy to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Did anyone else think he wanted Coghlin?
You gotta love Sports Journalism(??).
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:23 pm
heyyy…I didn’t know Glee was on Hulu. Thanks JJ…I’ll check it out this weekend
Thats what I’m here for, sorta.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:23 pm
TPG -
Coghlan will win it, IMO.
Braveheart
October 1st, 2009
11:24 pm
Vales, what’s sport journalism to you?
jed
October 1st, 2009
11:24 pm
curt–if you were to sign uggla, i think you’d move him to LF, keep prado at 2b & re-sign la roche. but there are better options out there–carlos lee being one of them. i really think they should go the trade route, and yes i do think they can trade lowe if they eat a couple million /per on his salary.
richbrave
October 1st, 2009
11:26 pm
RANDOM:
Arigato, sagacious-one. Be cool. ‘Till next time.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:26 pm
DOB,
I’d just like to tell you, you inspired me to join my schools journalism program…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:26 pm
Pee Guy – It’s Coughlan. Just thought you should know how to spell your guy’s name.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
11:26 pm
Leno, funny? How many years ago are we talking? Ten, 15?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:27 pm
JK – It’s Coghlan.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:28 pm
The Daily Show…now that’s funny.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:28 pm
What’s Coghlan’s first name?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:29 pm
Are we testing pee guy, or am I allowed to answer?
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:29 pm
The Daily Show…now that’s funny.
Definitely. I agree with you on that.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
11:29 pm
Lou Vales: “Sports journalism?”
Dude, it’s quotes thrown up on a blog. Not even used in the story, but perhaps something someone on the blog might care to read.
You, sir, have got issues. You need to stop reading blogs, because this is not at all what you’re looking for. I don’t know exactly what that is, just that this ain’t it.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:30 pm
Oh, well I assumed TPG would be the first to answer. I guess you can tell me. Is it Tim? I don’t know why but that’s the first name that came to my head.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2009
11:30 pm
Soph: On that, I think most of us can agree. The Daily Show = Funny.
So is that new show some were referencing, Glee. I like that. And Community. Very funny.
Anyone see the second episode of FlashForward tonight? Gonna go home and watch it if I can stay awake.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:32 pm
Ok, it’s not Tim. Chris. I don’t know why, I always ignored his first name. Just went with Coghlan.
Daybed Wagmoe
October 1st, 2009
11:32 pm
Just went back and saw the highlight of Garrett Anderson’s 2,500th hit cause I missed the game entirely tonight.
Wow. Looks like nobody in the stadium knew what had just happened. The players in the dugout were applauding, but when they showed shots of the crowd, didn’t look like anyone was showing any support, no standing O, nothing. Did they put anything up on the big screen?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:32 pm
Soph – No you’re thinking of Tebow. Coghlan’s first name is Chris.
On that, I think most of us can agree. The Daily Show = Funny
I’ll bet Lentz and TPG and YAACA will disagree with that.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:33 pm
They were giving him the Loaf treatment.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:33 pm
Flashforward’s episode wasn’t as good as the firsts
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
11:34 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4phHwSSing
This guy is funny.
Soph
October 1st, 2009
11:34 pm
Ugh, no I was not thinking of Tebow.
I’ll bet Lentz and TPG and YAACA will disagree with that.
Robert and No More Bobby too, probably.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2009
11:37 pm
On that, I think most of us can agree. The Daily Show = Funny
Well, I do, for one.
Wjones
October 1st, 2009
11:37 pm
“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.”
Uh, guys, please do the math. Take the above winning percentage, use it over the full season, and the Braves win over 100 games. Just how hard is it to please you?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:37 pm
Stephan Colbert:
60% = Funny
30% = Hilarious
10% = Stupid
Mid Town Joe
October 1st, 2009
11:37 pm
Funny Jay Leno clip with <a href="Paris Hilton.
Mid Town Joe
October 1st, 2009
11:37 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbML5fHuVw4&feature=related
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:39 pm
I don’t watch The Daily Show that much, but I happened to catch it tonight and it was fresh on my mind. Jon Stewart is brilliant and has great delivery. He’s a lefty too (I like lefties)
Poorjeff
October 1st, 2009
11:40 pm
Richbrave -Nothing is accomplished. Signing Cox just continues the pain (same BS). Now whats next?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:40 pm
He’s a lefty too (I like lefties)
Im a lefty!
Does that mean you like me?
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:43 pm
JJ – really? Nice. It doesn’t automatically mean I like you (Tebow’s a lefty). But it doesn’t hurt.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:45 pm
And while we’re at it, Letterman and Leno are both lefties too, FYI
Couch Tater
October 1st, 2009
11:46 pm
Tim Tebow update:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/37193/offsides_tebow_looking_terrific
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:50 pm
jeffrey d,
Yea.
I have a shirt that says: “Left handed people are the only ones in their right mind.”
I never wear it, and I’m sure you see why…
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2009
11:51 pm
Tim Tebow’s been mentioned 4 (now 5) times on this page. I can’t help but feel somewhat responsible.
uga-brave
October 1st, 2009
11:52 pm
anyone want a starting point why the braves are not in the postseason?
look no further then then the 3 and 4 hole.
after the all star break hoss hit a mighty .241.
macc hit a mighty .261.
those are the facts. the failure lies on them.
.241 from the three hole follewed with .261 in the cleanup hole with zero power.
great pitching all year, but no thump from our 3 and 4 guys.
not only no thump but .241 and .261 after the all star break
well everyone is gonna say macc is not a four hole hitter right?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 1st, 2009
11:55 pm
If for some reason Jon Stewart show stops getting viewers and he gets offered a job for SNY Broadcaster, he should take it, the man knows a lot about baseball, shame he is a Mets fan.
Doc Holiday
October 2nd, 2009
12:02 am
What about going for Dan Uggla?
Martin for 3B.
Chipper should only play half games at 3b with martin playing the other half and platooning with martin.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:04 am
Doc,
Have to you platoon a successful switch hitter with a righty who hits rightys better than leftys?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:04 am
* How do you
Hogan
October 2nd, 2009
12:05 am
Daily Show=Angry Jews who think they are funny. As an Angry Jew, I know they are NOT funny.
Doc Holiday
October 2nd, 2009
12:07 am
BUT ITS STILL EARLY………..LOL.
Maybe now all the clowns that used to say that sentence in april and may, understand how big those games they said were not that important, really were.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:07 am
Oh goody!
Hogan is back!
Hogan
October 2nd, 2009
12:09 am
Vat iss dis Mann Doink Here?!
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
12:09 am
That would be incredible if we could get rid of Lowe. I mean, I’ll miss the big sweaty guy, but dumping all that money would be great.
Probably not gonna happen though.
http://i35.tinypic.com/24yskea.jpg
Hogan
October 2nd, 2009
12:09 am
Hoooogggggaaaaannnnnn!
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
12:10 am
DOB,
how was the forty watt?
that is the third location since the late 80’s.
the original 40 watt was located across the street from harry bisset’s.
then it went behind the oddysey, the uptown lounge became the 40 watt.
saw so many good bands there.
the plimsouls, dreams so real, the smithereens, drivin n crying , 10,000 maniacs, and the replacements, remember tim.
great stuff, athens had good stuff.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:11 am
RHR,
The good times are over…
Chop Chop
October 2nd, 2009
12:11 am
We can’t trade Derek Lowe.
Doc Holiday
October 2nd, 2009
12:11 am
Jurrjens4NLCY,
Id do whatever it take to keep chipper on the team cause he deserves lots of respect, but his playing time should be reduced. I dont think he is successful against anyone anymore.
Did you ever feel over the course of the season that any team or pitcher ever felt nervous because it was chipper in the batters box? There was no respect showed toward him all season long.
Hogan
October 2nd, 2009
12:13 am
Just a reminder Atlanta != Georgia. The other 4 million inhabitants wish Atlanta would GTFA and STFU.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
12:14 am
you’re right ugabrave, athens once had good stuff. once had herschel, garrison, and knoshown, but now just caleb king and richard samuel.
but at least you’ve got a.j. green, who it pains me to say, is better than julio jones. julio’s been disappointing me.
Hogan
October 2nd, 2009
12:15 am
And UGAY as well. The bigger the G, the bigger the Redneck.
Hogan
October 2nd, 2009
12:19 am
So is O’Brien “Black Irish”?
Hogan
October 2nd, 2009
12:21 am
Black Irish is a traditional term that is commonly used among Irish American communities to describe a dark brown or black hair phenotype appearing in Caucasian people of Irish descent. This can be distinguished in contrast to the (lighter) brown, blond or red hair color variant, the latter stereotypically perceived to personify the look of typical Irish folk.[1] The term itself is rather ambiguous and not frequently used in everyday conversation. As such, the description of those it depicts has been known to vary to a degree in that some have differing views on which physical characteristics (e.g., dark hair, brown eyes, medium skin tone or dark hair, blue eyes, pale skin tone) best define the appearance of the so-called Black Irish.[2]
Inspired by tales which claim the darker features to be of Iberian derivation,[3] researchers have looked to science for answers, often citing genetic studies pertaining to those with Irish ancestry. This is seen as a means of determining what genotypic and environmental factors have contributed to the divergence between the more or less prevalent types found among Irish people.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
12:22 am
what up bravey?
higtower’s injury will hurt. but blackmon is the man.
stop short of saying it, saban is probably the best defensive coach in the nation.
no doubt anymore.
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
12:23 am
The good times are never over in my world, JJ.
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 2nd, 2009
12:23 am
who is hogan?
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
12:24 am
Did you ever feel over the course of the season that any team or pitcher ever felt nervous because it was chipper in the batters box? There was no respect showed toward him all season long. (DOC HOLIDAY)
He walked 42 times in 157 plate appearances with RISP, 16 of those walks were intentional. He walked 98 times this season. Only Pujols, Dunn, and Adrian Gonzalez were walked more with RISP. Only Pujols, Manny, Gonzalez, and Fielder were intentionally walked more than Chipper with RISP this season. Doc, he’s still feared, and has got zero protection forcing pitchers to throw him good strikes to drive
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
12:25 am
rhr,
after reading your posts day in day out, what years were you in athens?
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
12:26 am
Facts will only get you so far with this crowd, Braveheart.
Brandon, my money is on either pee guy or the herschel dude who randomly comes on here and asks for Vinings Jim every now and then for some reason. Must be a history I don’t know about.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:26 am
Did you ever feel over the course of the season that any team or pitcher ever felt nervous because it was chipper in the batters box?
Chipper was once 0 – 0 with 5 BB against the Cardinals this year…
I don’t think Chipper’s time just be reduced without a pay cut…
nolie
October 2nd, 2009
12:26 am
I just read your earlier post about the lack of attractive starting free agents, and how it might make Lowe and Kawakami more attractive trade pieces. Didn’t even think about that, but it’s a very good point. (Daybed)
gee some of us have been saying that for months, buy it only counts when DOB says it? sheesh
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
12:27 am
ugabrave, that hightower injury makes me absolutely sick and angry. it was such a cheap, dirty block.
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 2nd, 2009
12:27 am
Hulk Hogan?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:28 am
The good times are never over in my world, JJ.
We should make more saturday…
Tiger Woods
October 2nd, 2009
12:29 am
Think we will win the last 3??
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 2nd, 2009
12:31 am
Should win the last 3. Do I think the Braves will, I Doubt it.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:31 am
Yes. Hulk Hogan. He is a braves fan, and a stupid one at that…
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:32 am
The good times ended 1/20/09, When Soros Barama Otero was installed as Puppet of the United Commie States.
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:33 am
FYI, all Braves fans are stupid.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
12:35 am
sorry mcfann,
all those walks were because macc hit behind him. macc hit what .210 against lefthanders.
yeah tex had no effect, right?
so chipper approaches.400 with tex behind him.
so now squat.
hey note to all the super genius type bloggers. if tex had been here all year at first base we would be in the playoffs.
fact is we needed a THUG.
as spoken by a great wordsmith named scoots.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:36 am
No. The only stupid Braves fans are the ones that go on a blog at midnight and pretend to be characters from a 40 year old TV show…
Couch Tater
October 2nd, 2009
12:36 am
Patience, Braveheart
I don’t mind being a decoy if it frees somebody else up,” Jones said. “Everybody plays for each other. Everybody’s got each other’s back.
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 2nd, 2009
12:38 am
Well, at least there’s Craig Ferguson on @ 12:38
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
12:40 am
braveheart,
you are on a collision with urban and tebow. if you best lsu, who knows.
same type of showdown as last year in the dome.
saban dont get fooled again. i think he is the best college football coach in the nation.
O.J.
October 2nd, 2009
12:41 am
FYI, all Braves fans are stupid. Klink
Says the man with the moniker of Klink.
Braveheart's right
October 2nd, 2009
12:43 am
First, you’re right BH, after the lazy, pitiful lack of effort in Boston, I have been A), surprised BC didn’t bench him, ala Andruw a few years ago, and B) counting the days until the bum is out of town.
Second, We don’t need anyone but Prado at second, unless it’s Infante at second and Prado at third. Yes, third. At this point, he is superior to Chip defensively AND offensively. Chip’s swing may return, but the glove, never a consistency, is gone. Can he play first? Maybe. Would he try? Who knows? Would Bobby move him down to, say, 6th or 7th in the order? Probably not, but a 270 hitter with no power needs to be moved down in the order. Keep Javy, he’s our ace. Anyone else not named Jair or Tommy is fair game.
O.J.
October 2nd, 2009
12:43 am
Well guys and gals, even though we didnt make the playoffs, I am very happy with the way the season is winding down. Should be a pretty interesting offseason, I am anxious to see if we can unload Lowe or KK and keep Vazquez and pick up a reliever or two and a power bat. But, all in all, its much better than losing 90 games like last year, and the last 2 weeks were very exciting, something that has been missing from Braves nation for 3 years. Glad we had that.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
12:44 am
couch tater, et tu brute.
tater the crimson fans always come out.
hey, i respect saban. georgia just wants kirby smart back.
he is our’s.
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 2nd, 2009
12:45 am
Oh how I wish Kirby Smart was back in Athens……
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
12:47 am
lol you must not read them all uga because i’ve told you a few times before – i was there right out of high school, fall of 88, then transferred to bama in 91 (because uga didn’t have a med school and my hubby got in at bama so off we went). graduated from bama a few years later then got a nursing degree from LSU Shreveport a few years after that.
If I remember correctly from your posts you and I are pretty close to the same age. those were the days in athens. uptown was our favorite spot..rockfish palace, 40 watt…is there a better downtown for a college kid than athens? not that i’ve ever seen. i met the father of my children at rockfish palace during a bbq killers show about a month after arriving in athens. I hope its still as good as it was back then…i bet it is.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
12:50 am
brandon,
either him or will muschamp, but we are saddled with MR. willie martinez.
willie’s best defensive set is back pedal.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
12:52 am
Says the man with the moniker of Klink.
Says the man with the moniker of O. J.
Sorry. Too easy…
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:53 am
No. The only stupid Braves fans are the ones that go on a blog at midnight and REPLY TO SOMEONE pretending to be from a 40 year old TV show…FTFY.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
12:53 am
rhr, i knew there was a reason i liked you.
mitchell scared me off here for a while. really could not take him.
Couch Tater
October 2nd, 2009
12:54 am
uga,
Not taking a shot at your boys. I just like the team concept that’s being preached.
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:54 am
And The only stupid Braves fans are the ones that go on a blog at midnight and REPLY TO SOMEONE that replies to someone pretending to be from a 40 year old TV show…FTFY.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
12:55 am
ugabrave, i don’t think the fault for all those walks for chipper with risp fall squarely on mccann. the guys hitting fifth or sixth weren’t protecting much either. the other teams just weren’t afraid of the chain reaction walking chipper could cause.
think about it. you have chipper and mccann coming up with RISP. With those two guys coming up, the braves have a decent shot of getting the run in. but if you just walk chipper, all you have to do then is contend with mccann because you ain’t afraid of garrett anderson and his .233 AVG and .626 OPS with RISP hurting you. if mccann drives in the RISP, so be it, but you’re not afraid of chipper ever scoring on that walk because you know whoever is coming up after mccann likely ain’t plating chipper and/or mccann as much as they should.
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:55 am
And The only stupid Braves fans are the ones that go on a blog at midnight and REPLY TO SOMEONE that replies to someone who replies to someone pretending to be from a 40 year old TV show…FTFY.
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:55 am
And The only stupid Braves fans are the ones that go on a blog at midnight and REPLY TO SOMEONE that replies to someone who replies to someone that replies to someone pretending to be from a 40 year old TV show…FTFY.
Couch Tater
October 2nd, 2009
12:56 am
RHR,
Did you click the link I posted on pg 7?
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:56 am
And The only stupid Braves fans are the ones that go on a blog at midnight and REPLY TO SOMEONE that replies to someone who replies to someone that replies to someone replying to someone pretending to be from a 40 year old TV show…FTFY.
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:57 am
And The only stupid Braves fans are the ones that go on a blog at midnight and REPLY TO SOMEONE that replies to someone who replies to someone that replies to someone replying to someone pretending to be from a 40 year old TV show who replies…FTFY.
Bobby's Cox
October 2nd, 2009
12:57 am
I think GA was a disappointment because of his .233 with RISP. GA was supposed to be better than that. We signed him to be our clutch hitter. He put up the numbers we thought he would, but the .233 was not expected.
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
12:58 am
Second Verse, same as the first! I’m Henery the 8th I AM, enerey the 8th I am I am
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
1:00 am
bbq killers, really that is up dob’s alley.
i remember seeing posters about those guys at the TATE student center.
granted i was a shallow frat guy. 320 south lumpkin street.
the corner of wray street and south lumpkin street. the house that flew that very large flag every gameday.
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
1:02 am
I love the Urinal Constipation, the pissy little paper that’s full of shat!
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
1:02 am
night y’all. my unc’s having surgery in the a.m. … not looking good. if you pray, say one for him. loves the braves, classic cars, and the tide. biggest bama fan ive ever known. hope he gets to see a lot more saturdays in the fall.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
1:04 am
Klink was the worst character on that show…
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
1:05 am
Jurrjens4 hates Jews.
cabravesfan
October 2nd, 2009
1:05 am
RHR-
Thoughts and prayers for sure! Good night and good luck to your uncle
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
1:06 am
Didn’t see it tater – LMAO i’m sorry but i just can’t…i don’t care. he could save my grandmother from a burning building and i would cuss him out and ask wtf took him so long.
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
1:06 am
cab – thanks sweetie
night.
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
1:07 am
Jurrjens4? I didn’t even know there was a Jurrjens3, or Jurrjens2….
Klink
October 2nd, 2009
1:12 am
cuz you be an uncle tom Jurrjens4NLCY
N8
October 2nd, 2009
1:14 am
Not sure what this has to do with the price of tea in China DOB, but stumbling on the allmusic.com page and managing to start spinning upon tangent after tangent of why I actually went there, I’ve got a piece of trivia for you as a Dylan fan.
Who played bass on his 1988 album Down in the Groove?
Jurrjens4NLCY
October 2nd, 2009
1:19 am
Anyways,
You should be getting to bed, its late and you’ve got the test tomorrow…
Remember: J comes after I, but before K. Also, “a lot” is two words, not “alot”
Tell me how you do tomorrow, ok?
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
1:20 am
EVERYBODY should read braveheart’s 12:55,
spot on. nobody feared whoever we hit fourth, fifth, or sixth.
interchange all of them, would you as a manager really fear that combination.
on top of that there are matchup problems. macc cant hit lefties..
i disagree with braveheart offensively on garrett anderson. i thought he did what he was supposed to do.
Bobby's Cox
October 2nd, 2009
1:26 am
Does anyone else think Leno is starting to look like George Washington, or is this the Sam Adams talking?
Bobby's Cox
October 2nd, 2009
1:43 am
I guess everyone ditched the blog to check in with the Washington look-a-like….
GermanBravesFan
October 2nd, 2009
1:44 am
Too bad the Braves got eliminated… However, there is a lot to look forward to for the 2010 season. GO BRAVES in ‘10!!!!
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
1:49 am
Just a reminder Atlanta != Georgia. The other 4 million inhabitants wish Atlanta would GTFA and STFU.
I like how Hogan speaks for the entire state of Georgia now.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
1:50 am
bobby’s cox.
so maybe for the love that is all sanity mitchell will be gone.
by the way the market made a huge pivot today. we are waiting for a major unemployment report.
the markets are sitting on major 50 day moving averaves.
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
1:53 am
Glad I’m in Atlanta because I wouldn’t want him as my spokesman.
On another note, are we giving more thought to the Derek Lowe sweat fountain project for next season? If we invest in this, we obviously can’t trade him.
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
1:54 am
RHR – If you read this, LOVE the Lowe picture. Also said a prayer for you and your uncle. Let us know how he’s doing.
Bobby's Cox
October 2nd, 2009
1:58 am
Yes! My stock adviser is on….
UGA, what looks promising in the near future?
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
2:03 am
s&p 500, and more importantly the semi conductor index is sitting at 310.
the 50 day moving avearage is at 308. this index is a leading indicator.
much like the transports used to be.
the s&p 500 rallied from 666 on march 9th, to well over 1040. major rally.
think about it. correction from that dead cat bounce is coming.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
2:03 am
I dunno uga. What was Garret supposed to do offensively? If you ain’t gonna have an OBP, you gotta at least have power and/or execute with RISP or at least play good D and run the bases well. He didn’t have an OBP, didn’t have power, didn’t execute with RISP, didn’t field well, and didn’t run the bases well. I guess we got what we paid for, but geez we didn’t get very much. Can’t blame Wren. It was all he had available to him at the time, but it’s just been so painful being forced to watch him all season.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
2:05 am
it all comes down to the number at 8:30 today.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
2:06 am
Tater, I hear ya on Julio, he’s been hurt, and I should be patient, but I’m just dying for him to break out, and am losing patience because I’m watching Green do some breathtaking stuff for UGA at wideout, and since AJ is Julio’s #1 rival, I can’t stand that Green is starting to break away from Julio.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
2:08 am
brayey,
what were the options?
we got shut out. he was bettter then i thought.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
2:11 am
braveheart,
a.j. green is special. he understands how to get space. he pushes off in order to get seppartion.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
2:15 am
we will see,
chad scott is supposed to be the best safety in the conference minus eric berry, they will roll him over in press coverage.
they will take him away. it is up to joe cox to find his other receivers.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
2:15 am
we will see,
chad scott is supposed to be the best safety in the conference minus eric berry, they will roll him over in press coverage.
they will take him away. it is up to joe cox to find his other receivers.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
2:31 am
uga, you’re also gonna need samuel, caleb, and that o-line to suck that safety up and in to the line of scrimmage away from green
P. W. Hjort
October 2nd, 2009
2:35 am
Can’t blame Wren. It was all he had available to him at the time
Sure you can. There were plenty of opportunities to pick up a competent LF’er for a few decent prospects and a few million dollars. Ryan Ludwick, Josh Willingham, Nick Swisher, and Coco Crisp are just a few examples of players that could’ve been has for a few decent prospects and a few million dollars on the trade market this off-season. If someone tries to tell you there was nothing better than Garret Anderson available, they’re insulting your intelligence. Not that Garret Anderson was a horrible pick-up. He’s been pretty lousy, but not too much lousier than his modest $2.5 million salary. And Wren made fixing the pitching staff his priority, something he should have. Which undoubtedly limited his ability to bring in a competent OF’er. But Wren failed in his off-season pursuit of more power in the outfield. And Garret Anderson wasn’t the best option available to fix the problem.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
2:38 am
totally agree, braveheart.
until we establish a running game you are correct.
dont see the two of them doing it.
no latterall movement.
uga-brave
October 2nd, 2009
2:42 am
see ya saturday braveheart. way past sleep time.
jj
October 2nd, 2009
3:17 am
DOB and others,I would like to know why is it that you would rather trade Javy and keep Huddy?Huddy is coming off arm surgery and he is almost in same situation as Chipper.He is a small man that has a lot of innings under his belt.I also think the price that The Braves pay him and the length of the contract is a risk.Javy,to me is a safer pitcher at this time and I believe he might be the better pitcher right now.Oaktown made a decision to trade Huddy and the reason was the strain he puts on his arm because of his small statue would catch up with him.As I said earlier,The Braves made a misstake with Chipper and I hope they don’t make the same with Huddy.Best case would be to keep Javy,sign Huddy to a manageable contract and trade Lowe if possible.I hope they give Javy a home here because he earned it and he wants to stay after years of being traded.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
3:23 am
Nah, PWH, no one told me anything and no one insulted my intelligence until you just did. I actually paid attention to how that all played out last offseason, did you? Garret was all he had available to him at the time. Crisp and Swisher were dealt early in the offseason when they still had dreams of an impact bat, and two or three impactful arms. The asking price for Ludwick was Kelly Johnson, and you’re not gonna trade away a guy who was one of the five best second baseman in the NL at the time for an outfielder coming off a flash in the pan career year. So, none of those guys you mentioned were really ever realistic or reasonable options. You’re not gonna tie yourself down early in the offseason when you have limited financial and labor resources trading away your labor and tying up your money in marginal hitters before you get the arms and bat you desperately need, especially not when there were so many marginal outfielders available on the free agency market. By the time they got done trading for and signing the arms they needed, Garret was all that was reasonable available considering the labor and monetary resources at their disposal.
Mitchie-san
October 2nd, 2009
3:29 am
Here is some humor on a rough night… Its the best balk call ever.
http://www.thefightins.com/meechone/the-most-animated-balk-call-in-the-history-of-baseball/
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
3:33 am
why is it that you would rather trade Javy and keep Huddy?
No one really wants to trade Javy or get rid of Huddy, or keep Huddy over Javy. Most would rather keep both of them, and if it was just about baseball performance as one relates to the other, there are many (not Scoots) who would rather keep Javy over Hudson. The thing is though if you let Huddy walk, what do you get in return for that? Nothing. You just get to keep Javy. But if you keep Huddy, and trade Javy, you get Huddy plus whatever the hell Javy gets you back in a trade. Hudson plus whatever you get back for Vazquez may be more valuable to this team in the present and future than just having Javy. That’s the rationale behind trading Javy and keeping Hudson
Mitchie-san
October 2nd, 2009
3:37 am
I agree 100%, Braveheart.
Wjones
October 2nd, 2009
5:22 am
“Doc Holiday
October 2nd, 2009
12:11 am
Jurrjens4NLCY,
Id do whatever it take to keep chipper on the team cause he deserves lots of respect, but his playing time should be reduced. I dont think he is successful against anyone anymore.
Did you ever feel over the course of the season that any team or pitcher ever felt nervous because it was chipper in the batters box? There was no respect showed toward him all season long.”
Well, he sure drew a lot of walks for someone not respected, and probably would have drawn a lot more if he hadn’t gotten in that mode for a while of swinging at first pitches.
Jay212033
October 2nd, 2009
5:31 am
Braveheart
Very well said! I would rather keep them both and trade Lowe or KK but if we had to trade one of them it would be Vazquez. Hudson would also more than likely give the Braves a “home-town” discount maybe another 4 yr deal but for around 28-32 mil. Javy could net us our power bat or several good prospects.
Mitchie-san
October 2nd, 2009
5:35 am
If the Braves had the money and the chance to sign Bay or Holliday, it would be insane to trade Vasquez. The free agent market gets pretty weak after those two guys. Frank Wren learned his lesson by not getting a premier bat in the line up. It obviously cost them the playoffs. I believe that the only real chance to get that premier bat would be in a trade. I dont think the right peices are there in the minors to pull off another Wren miracle this time. I understand what Javy did this year and it is always tough to find, much less trade away a quality pitcher like him, but in this case I think he has to.
It looks more and more like Hudson’s option will not be picked up and the Braves will negotiate with him on a new (and cheaper) contract. He obviously wants to play here and the Braves would love to have him. They just dont want to pay 12mil for a guy that hasnt truely proven if he can pitch at the top of his game again after surgery.
Its a gamble, but if you can have Hudson at 75% and a premier bat for Vasquez, it seems worth it. The rotation is still going to be strong. It wont be AS strong, but it will be pretty darn good.
The best case scenario would be to somehow dump Lowe and all that money he is owed. That would prove much harder to do and the quality of talent you get back would not be a good as what you could get for Javy. The Braves could get two or three good players for Javy or they could get one guy with a bad contract for Lowe. They might be able to get one decent MLBer and a low level prospect for Lowe, but I am sure that’s if they eat a little of his contract which I dont think they will do.
So, trade Cy Young canidate Javy for a great bat and one or two minor league guys or dont sign Hudson and get nothing for the outfield. The second choice seems like it will be a repeat of this year. Great Starting pitching, but a line up that doenst have a big gun this side of McCann and maybe LaRoche. Chipper cant be counted on to produce his big numbers anymore. Personally I think he had a fluke year and will be fine, but as a GM, you dont really want to keep your fingers crossed all off season.
I am worried that they will have another one year rental like Garrett Anderson. You can take all new factors into account (McLouth all year, maybe LaRoche all year..) and the one year rental and you will have a repeat performance. If the Braves do get rid of a CY Young caliber guy, it better be for a young, controllable star who will help for more than one year. Frank Wren can make this happen, he has the talent to pull off a great trade for Javy and make the line up incredible potent while only denting the rotation.
Oh well. Maybe he can sweet talk to Lberty guys into increasing payroll and just sign Bay or Holliday….
Mahalo
Random
October 2nd, 2009
6:23 am
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.”
Mitchell (October 1st, 2009 6:28 pm): “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.”
Shyeah — right.
If they did that for six months, they’d only finish at 102 – 60.
“Good, not great.”
Right.
And even if they’re “somewhat better” next season (what? 107 – 55? 112 – 50?), still not great.
Just “Good overall, but still not great.”
Yeah, right.
Sheesh.
(Y’all’re blinded by your hatred.)
bravesfanforever
October 2nd, 2009
6:43 am
Thank gawd the Braves lost!
I’ve written about this before… I think it will spur Braves management MORE to build this club up and make hard decisions about reaching the pinnacle rather than settling for “Welp, we made the playoffs! So we don’t really NEED to change the club much.” Uh, yes we do.
We NEED more speed, more power, better relief, and a few players simply have to go–period.
Soriano needs to go. He is only 1-6 people. What is with this guy? He can burn the best one game but then give up a homer in a crucial game the next (?) I say, unload him on someone else. Bring back Gonzo since he is a gamer. I think we have enough parts to make for a decent bullpen. Maybe we can have Gonzo and Moylan share closing duties.
Kelly Johnson, Greg Norton (the worst hitter in all of baseball), Garret Anderson, and Ryan Church all need to be released, not signed, or unloaded on someone else. If nothing else, I think we need to clean out the closet every few months just to prevent Cox from using players like these–BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE WILL.
I think it will be a very fruitful 2010. The team did pretty well considering the circumstances in the second half, we have great pitching, some potentially very good players, Jason Heyward will likely make the team in spring, and you know you have one of the best GMs in all of baseball who is willing to take chances and make hard decisions! Go Braves!
Boog
October 2nd, 2009
7:28 am
Pete Orr, the ex Brave Factor is alive and well
Salamander
October 2nd, 2009
7:51 am
Braves lack of punch in the lineup was probably as evident last night as at any other point in the season. Losing 2-1 to the Nats, and against a starter with an ERA around 6 coming into the game? Just sad.
Wren knows the script. I’m confident he’ll find the right piece to augment the lineup.
Chipper on the other hand… well, he gets bashed enough. I just hope his off-season workout regimen is fruitful beyond hunting and selling videos.
Marc in FL
October 2nd, 2009
7:53 am
I’m glad our offense has hit a slump in a way. Now going into the offseason our line-up struggles will be fresh in Wren’s and Bobby’s minds. Hopefully this stretch will make them more aggressive in finding some solutions.
I don’t like to predict too much cause FO people know so much that we here on the blog don’t, but I’d be willing to bet money we make a push to get Fielder. And imagine this team with Fielder at first the first half instead of Kotchman, I bet Chipper never goes into this slump he’s in with that behemoth behind him.
HoCoJo
October 2nd, 2009
8:05 am
I hope someome has the balls to go after David Letterman. He has made a fortune on other people’s misfortune. I’d love to see a skit with the George W Bush impersonator asking CBS employees if they had sex with Letterman (or something to that effect).
O'Brien
October 2nd, 2009
8:05 am
While I am excited about the Braves for next year (assuming Wren gets a power bat), anything can happen next year, regardless of how good they’ve been since the all star break.
Case in point: Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays went 97-65, winning the AL East division, and making it to the world series. Most of the baseball world thought they would still be very competitive this season. They added Pat Burrel, had the phenom David Price, etc.
But this year, the Rays record is 82-77.
Next year, the Phillies should be just as good (especially if they address the closer situation), the Mets (if healthy) should be better, and the Marlins will be competitive again.
CallUpHeyward
October 2nd, 2009
8:17 am
This is what I had hoped the Braves wouldn’t do. They have hung tough all year when it looked bleak. Now that they’re eliminated, I hope they will hang in there and finish strong. I still give huge applause to this team for what they have done this season.
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
8:18 am
Could be that DOB is giving us a hint. Perhaps, just perhaps, management is considering moving Lowe for a power bat. Not a bad move, considering Lowe is easily the number 4 starter on the staff (behind Jurrjens, Vazquez and Hanson).
If the Braves could clear his contract, that would make room for Hudson, I suppose.
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
8:19 am
The Bravos went streaky on us again – at the wrong time.
Robert
October 2nd, 2009
8:20 am
360-some days until the misery ends. Go Braves in 2011
37YrBravesFan
October 2nd, 2009
8:31 am
Wait til next year!
GO FALCONS!!
One Trick Pony
October 2nd, 2009
8:31 am
360-some days until the misery ends. Go Braves in 2011
What will you post about?
Thrillhouse44
October 2nd, 2009
9:02 am
Man, talk about the silence in the morning. Who thinks Loaf already has his bags packed?
Shamus Thacker
October 2nd, 2009
9:05 am
Jurrjens4NLCY: No. The only stupid Braves fans are the ones that go on a blog at midnight and pretend to be characters from a 40 year old TV show…”"
I’d planned on pretending to be Beaver Cleaver this morning. Folks must really get a kick outa raining on my parades….
Salamander
October 2nd, 2009
9:08 am
I hope someome has the balls to go after David Letterman. He has made a fortune on other people’s misfortune. I’d love to see a skit with the George W Bush impersonator asking CBS employees if they had sex with Letterman (or something to that effect).
I didn’t realize some old guy’s sex life was worthy of eating up airtime on our esteemed media outlets… Oh wait, this is America.
Gossip > the real world
Rock On......
October 2nd, 2009
9:10 am
Jeff R…..I can make a strong case that Lowe is our #5 starter in reality. It also isn’t hard to project Hudson as a #5 starter on our staff if he does stay in Atlanta. Thus I still see no good argument for moving Vazquez for a bat and acquire Hudson’s services. I am not sold on Huddy’s future post-TJ at least not enough to make me feel good about losing Vazquez.
Don’t get me wrong I like Hudson and willing to keep him with a cheaper extension and as a #4-5 type starter knowing anything better than a 4-5 starter would be a bonus.
I think we can get a bat more than sufficient to fill the 4 slot for either KK or Lowe along with some combination of players. Wren has proven he can make some solid moves so I trust the right ones will be made this year as well. I would still make moving Lowe’s contract top priority although granted that will be hard-real hard.
John
October 2nd, 2009
9:10 am
Football season is in full swing but I have a question. Why did the Braves run Frenchie out of town. Chipper hits 10 pts less and leads the league in errors at third. Jones had great years but he needs to go. Give him a small bonus so he can hire an english teacher.
Gamec0ckBrave
October 2nd, 2009
9:22 am
Why does this remind me of a recent ending to Sunny? “Why aren’t the brakes working?” “‘Cause I cut the brakes! Wild Card B!tches!”
Jersey Gil
October 2nd, 2009
9:26 am
Well This Blog is Dead…Here some Important Days for next Season:
Dec 1, 2009 – Last day for Former Club Offer Arbitration
Dec 7-10 2009 – Winter Meeting in Indianapolis
Dec 10, 2009 – Rules 5 Draft
Dec 12, 2009 – Tender Deadline
Well Happy Thanksgiving, Marry Xmas & Happy New Year Guy..”Hasta La Vista”…And 2010 GO BRAVOS…
Master of Karate and Friendship
October 2nd, 2009
9:27 am
DOB.. I gotta think there’s approximately a 1000% chance Mac is getting the day off today despite having success against Hernandez in the past. Si?
Mitchie-san
October 2nd, 2009
9:29 am
It amazes me that everyone can rip on Kawakami all darn year and then think we can trade him for a solid bat…I thought he sucked and is our worst pitcher and deserves to be in the bullpen and is paid waaay too much and needs to go back to Japan. But he has trade value?
( I am NOT busting on you Rock on… just a coincidence. This has been on my mind )
Don
October 2nd, 2009
9:40 am
Is there a Braves fan anywhere who would have continued to hit Chipper 3rd in the order throughout his prolonged slump? How can the AJC writers just ignore this. (And this is just one small example of his continous blunders and terrible actions, and lack of actions. Has there ever been a manager who would make the same mistakes over, and over, and over. Relating the 3rd spot in the order situation on Chipper – The last three losses taking the Braves out of the race were all 1 run losses – with Cox continuing to keep Chipper in the 3rd batting order slot and him going hitless in each game — and the AJC writers just ignore it.
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
9:49 am
1000% that’s pretty likely.
David
October 2nd, 2009
9:51 am
The biggest trick for the Braves will be finding an outfielder with some power. Bay and Holliday will likely sign long-term with their current teams. I doubt the Braves spend more than a few million to sign any veteran free agents, which will exclude guys like Dye, Abreu, Vlad, etc. It’ll have to happen on the trade front, but that could be tricky too looking at the likely candidates being from the 2011 free agent class, which is very weak. The only decent player without an option is Jayson Werth, who I don’t think is a legitimate power hitter if you take him out of the Philly bandbox.
I honestly don’t see any way for Wren to improve the offense via free agency or the trade market. There’s just not many options out there. It won’t be a good offseason for finding guys with power.
Ony two options…pick up another veteran and hope for a pleasant surprise…or throw Heyward out there. I just hope they don’t overpay for someone or trade away key prospects.
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
9:53 am
It amazes me that everyone can rip on Kawakami all darn year and then think we can trade him for a solid bat
I know! Derek Lowe too.
Lowe/KK is pitching today?? BALLGAME!!! They won’t make it out of the 2nd and Booby Cox is an EEEEEDIOT!”
then during the offseason
I’ll bet we can get a good RH power bat for Lowe or KK. KK was pretty good down the stretch and Lowe has been a reliable starter for years! Aheeyuck!”
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
10:00 am
braveheartI actually paid attention to how that all played out last offseason, did you? Garret was all he had available to him at the time.
i think youre wrong on this one. i paid attention to how it played out to, and what i saw was wren having tunnel vision about the pitching staff. he was focused on it, and i understand, i suppose, but having a “dream of an impact bat” was not why he missed out on swisher (because swisher is one) or didnt sign juan rivera or bobby abreu…he didnt get these guys because he was focused on the pitching staff until too late. wren could have had juan rivera (which many of us were clamoring for him to do) for about a mil more than he paid anderson, and on a shrt contract too. juan rivera is a righty posting an .802 OPS with 24 homers. whoops!
David O'Brien
October 2nd, 2009
10:04 am
DOB and others,I would like to know why is it that you would rather trade Javy and keep Huddy? — JJ
I didn’t say anything even remotely like that.
David O'Brien
October 2nd, 2009
10:11 am
uga-brave: I can’t imagine the 40-Watt ever being better than it is now, as far as a music-listening venue. It’s outstanding. Plenty big, but still intimate, with good acoustics. (And there’s a great diner adjacent to it, with a cool Elvis Presley poster in back.)
David O'Brien
October 2nd, 2009
10:12 am
Master of Karate: I have no idea if Mac’s in lineup today. But I’ll let you know when it’s posted in five or six hours.
Lew
October 2nd, 2009
10:16 am
“360 days until the misery ends.”
You mean Robert is retiring along with Bobby Cox?
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
10:16 am
Rock On…… I’m with you.
Reason why some of us discuss the possibility of using Kawakami to acquire a decent power bat is that a lot of other staffs would see him as more than a number 5 starting pitcher. His value is likely higher with teams that have holes in their rotation or are pitching thin.
Now, I think Kawakami would have to be part of a package to get a better than decent power bat. Don’t have a guess what that package would be.
Hillbilly
October 2nd, 2009
10:16 am
Damn, I wasn’t here lastnight for the Maxwell’s Silver Hammer reference. I always miss the good stuff.
Thrillhouse44
October 2nd, 2009
10:17 am
But I’ll let you know when it’s posted in five or six hours.
Some things just don’t change.
Any chance we can trade for Carl Crawford?
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
10:19 am
Any chance we can trade for Carl Crawford?
Or Rocco Baldelli, or Ryan Freel, or Chone Figgins?
I just wanted to get out of the way, all at once, all the names that make my head explode, LOL. DAP has me close to adding Mike Cameron to the list, but, I’ll hold off for now.
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
10:22 am
Braveheart was smokin’ the blog last night; read the previous pages, if only to view those posts. The usual excellent work.
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
10:22 am
John Why did the Braves run Frenchie out of town. Chipper hits 10 pts less and leads the league in errors at third.
hm…. well chipper actually leads frenchie by over 100 points in OPS, this is after a surprising turn around for jeff, and arguably chipper’s worst season ever.
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
10:27 am
Chipper said this afternoon: “Prado’s probably our team MVP. He’s the guy who’s really surprised everyone.”
No bleep, LOL. You mean, I’m not the only one?
Efrim
October 2nd, 2009
10:29 am
Buster Olney has a great blog on potential free agents that will have Type A status. He polled 6 front office executives to see if the current team would offer their player arbitration. Here is what they had to say on Soriano:
Rafael Soriano, Braves — $6.1 million salary. Four of six predicted that the Braves will not offer him arbitration. Said an AL GM: “It will go back to whether they think there are health issues. But if they offer it, they would have to know there’s a pretty good chance he’ll accept it.”
And Gonzalez:
Mike Gonzalez, Braves — $3.45 million salary. Four of six predict the Braves will offer Gonzalez arbitration. “A lot of it depends on what the Braves think his health is,” said a GM. “If they think he’s healthy, why not? He’s pitched pretty well for them, hasn’t he?” Gonzalez has a 2.42 ERA, with 90 strikeouts in and 33 walks in 79 games. “The worst-case scenario would be that you would get a pretty productive pitcher for $5 million or $6 million through arbitration,” said one official. “And that’s probably what would happen, because given his injury history, it’s hard to see a lot of teams being interested in signing him to a long-term deal and giving up the draft picks.”
Personally, I think it’s a no brainer to offer it to Gonzo. One thing Buster fails to point out is that there might be teams picking in the 1-15 range that would jump all over Mike Gonzalez or Rafael Soriano, even if they did have to give up a draft pick. Because the draft pick they would give up is a second rounder(Braves would also get a compensation draft pick in the Supplemental round, after the first round).
Earlier in the season, I felt that they had to offer arbitration to both players. But after looking over the teams that are actually going to address the closer situation, and the availability of so many late inning relief options, there is a good chance that Soriano would accept arbitration and net a one year deal at 8 or 9 million.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
10:34 am
DAP, I think you’re wrong about him having tunnel vision about only looking for an arm. It did seem that way, but the tunnel vision was really about finding impact, whether that was an arm or a bat. Juan Rivera, Bobby Abreu, Nick Swisher are not impact bats. They’re nice complimentary pieces. None of them are the leadoff hitter or 3, 4, 5 impact hitters you need. That’s the kind of impact Wren was looking for. He was looking for top of the rotation arms and heart of the order bats, and was only gonna settle for less once he had purchased the impact arms or bats he needed.
Seriously, oops on Juan Rivera? Will never understand the undying blog love for Juan Rivera. Nice little player, but in 2007 and 2008 combined he had a Francoerish OPS of .722 while Frenchy had a .720 OPS over those two seasons. But, if you believe the blog, Wren was a fool for not acquiring Frenchy’s Latino brother while Wren was also a fool for not getting rid of Frenchy last offseason? It’s nice that Rivera put up an .802 OPS this season, but Frenchy also put up an .824 OPS for the Mets this season. If we’re gonna cry about not getting Rivera, shouldn’t we then also cry about trading away Frenchy?
wjones
October 2nd, 2009
10:40 am
Any chance we can trade for Carl Crawford?
“Or Rocco Baldelli, or Ryan Freel, or Chone Figgins?
I just wanted to get out of the way, all at once, all the names that make my head explode, LOL. DAP has me close to adding Mike Cameron to the list, but, I’ll hold off for now. ”
I wanted to get some of the greatest blog posts out of the way, too:
1. Why is Chipper playing? He is KILLING US!
2. Why is Chipper not in the lineup? What a wimp!
3. When is Bobby going to rest McCann? He is killing him!
4. Why is McCann out of the lineup? Do we want to win?
5. Why is Soriano not in the game? We have a 4-run lead!
6. Why is Soriano in the game? Ballgame!
7. Once again, our starter was left in the game too long!
8. Once again, we took our starter out too early, to kill the bullpen again!
9. Why are we only using Moylan, Gonzo, and MFIKY?
10. Oh, no! Not Acosta! Are we trying to win the game?
11. Another loss! Bobby Cox is the worst manager in the history of the world, and must be destroyed!
12. Thank God we won, despite all the idiotic moves Bobby Cox made! He is worst manager in the history of the world, and must be destroyed!
13. I can’t believe Cox put Norton in again. He is the sole reason we lost the game!
14. I can’t beleive Cox put Norton in again. He would have been the sole reason we lost the game, if we hadn’t have won.
15. We MUST trade Chipper (who has just signed a long-term contract, and as a 10-5 player, must approve any trade).
16. We MUST get rid of Lowe, but we can’t eat any of his contract.
17. We gave up three minor leaguers to get Javy Vazquez, but we can get (insert name of great, powerful slugger) for him if we trade him.
18. Adam LaRoche is a free agent, but he would come back for (insert your lowball salary number here).
19. Why is Kelly Johnson on the team? He SUCKS! He is worthless! Where is Conrad?
20. We need to trade Kelly Johnson for (insert name of competent player you would accept for the worthless Kelly Johnson).
There are more, but those are just my favorites. Admitted dramatic license on a couple.
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
10:43 am
Chipper versus Francouer. Chipper plays third, Francouer doesn’t. Makes Chipper more valuable to the Braves even if his numbers are down.
Plus, though Francouer’s average is up (and in some other categories), he isn’t hitting with much power or driving in many runs.
Francouer is a young guy with a power loss; Chipper is an older player whose power may be fading. Big difference.
Jim
October 2nd, 2009
10:44 am
I guess all this fantasy baseball talk is fun but do you really think the Braves will sign anyone that would block Heyward or Schafer? I personally want to see both those guys in there next year to give us some power and speed. The other reason I think that the Braves signing a big bat for the outfield is fantasy is after they resign Hudson and LaRoche there will not be enough money for a high priced free agent.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
10:44 am
Uga-Brave .261 in the cleanup hole with zero power.
Zero power…I know, right? He only leads the team in homers. 21 homers from your catcher…gyah! No power at all.
Obviously his AVG is not where it should be, and odds are he’d be the first to say as much. Like Joe said last night, BMac’s not gonna be happy that he hit .280 this year.
well everyone is gonna say macc is not a four hole hitter right?
He’s obviously not, that’s the point. His best hitting comes from the five/six holes. Think we all know that by now…
all those walks were because macc hit behind him. macc hit what .210 against lefthanders.
.222…but who’s counting?
I did a survey thingy a while back that hasn’t been finished…but at the time I did it, BMac was hitting like, .600ish when Chipper was intentionally walked in front of him. Teams don’t quite give BMac the respect a four-time All-Star might deserve (obviously Chipper’s been around more and deserves more respect than BMac), and it has cost them at times. I like what Braveheart said…
Anyway, yeah, so BMac hasn’t been a “picture perfect” cleanup hitter this year, he still leads the team in homers, RBI, and extra-base hits (he’s got 57, LaRoche has 62, but Adam’s only hit 24 as a Brave). He did lead the team in doubles, but then Prado went on a doubles binge and BMac forgot how to hit them…now Prado’s got one more than BMac.
35 doubles for BMac after hitting 42 last year.
Too big of a drop-off for me…but then again, I set my expectations to high, I s’pose.
wjones 3. When is Bobby going to rest McCann? He is killing him!…4. Why is McCann out of the lineup? Do we want to win?
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
10:45 am
It did seem that way [too focused on pitching], but [Wren's] tunnel vision was really about finding impact, whether that was an arm or a bat.
Agreed. And several posters here (and I credit TennPaul as an early source) opined that there wasn’t enough gas in the backhoe to fill every hole on the team in a single offseason. That turned out to be correct, and availability of a prime bat (or lack thereof) played more of a role in that outcome than Wren’s focus. It’s not as if he hasn’t tried to fill the offensive void (if you believe the trade rumors about Bay and others), but, he has refrained from moving just to be shaking. That’s OK with me; better the right move later than the wrong move at any other time.
He’s made the moves he could, kept plenty of minor league currency, and built some surplus strength on his ML squad. That’s a pretty good portfolio to have in hand when he gets ready to invest this offseason.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
10:46 am
Meant I agree with what Braveheart said…”liking” what someone said doesn’t always prove anything…
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
10:46 am
Tough way to end this season, 2 close games that just didn’t go our way in the end. I’m pretty excited about next year. Hopefully we can somehow keep Huddy and Javy, add a bat, and salvage our bullpen.
Not sure the $ is available for all of that but it’d be nice if it were.
Great 2nd half of the season, really fun watching this team grow into a competitive team. 13 games over .500 not too shabby after all our early struggles.
brent a.
October 2nd, 2009
10:50 am
“I honestly don’t see any way for Wren to improve the offense via free agency or the trade market.”
That is a pretty limited perspective.
Dorothy Davis
October 2nd, 2009
10:50 am
Enter your comments hereIF ONLY BOBBY COX WAS SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE WHAT PLAYERS CANNOT HIT AT HOME (NATE) AND WHICH ONES CAN (DIAZ) AND EVEN I SAW WHAT A GREAT LEAD-OFF HITTER DIAZ WAS. WHEN ARE THE BRAVES GOING TO GET A COACH THAT ACTUALLY KNOWS HIS PLAYERS, INSTEAD OF BEING STUCK ON A LINE-UP, BECAUSE HE CANNOT REMEMBER WHO HITS BEST WHERE? SO HE JUST CONTINUES TO USE A LINE-UP THAT LOSES GAMES. ALSO WHY ON EARTH WAS CHIPPER LEFT IN THE 3 HOLE, AFTER NOT HITTING THERE AN ENTIRE SEASON? PLEASE WREN, GIVE US A COACH!
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
10:54 am
Hopefully the lineup improvement is more of an Adam Dunn like player and not a Garret Anderson type player. Got to get some more power. Can’t have your catcher carrying the power load. Maybe moving McLouth down in the order may be a good idea. Solo shots only go so far…hard to hit anything but them when you are batting first in the order.
Fence Buster
October 2nd, 2009
10:59 am
Enter your comments here
Would someone please tell Braves Management to move the RF fence in about 10 ft. 390 to the power alley is ridiculus especially with the absence of steroids.
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
10:59 am
braveheart
what impact bats were available? wren had opportunities to get some of the best bats available, and ended up with garret anderson. that tells me he had tunnel vision. even when he was scrambling for a bat finally, bobby abreu was still avialable, and so was adam dunn.
Juan Rivera, Bobby Abreu, Nick Swisher are not impact bats. They’re nice complimentary pieces. None of them are the leadoff hitter or 3, 4, 5 impact hitters you need.
im not sure what your talking about…abreu is basically a career #3 hitter, and this season has a .835 OPS with 15 homers and over 100 RBIs. Nick swisher has 29 homers and an .870 OPS, and everyone knew juan rivera just needed to be healthy to have a good year. all three of these guys are middle of the order hitters, and thats a fact. considering we have had garret anderson batting 3 4 5 this year, i think one of these guys would have been nice.
i love the job wren did for this team, but i really do think he messed up by not getting a better hitter, and i think it happened because he was so focused on pitching.
Bat Masterson
October 2nd, 2009
11:01 am
Jim
October 2nd, 2009
10:44 am
So the Braves have an outfield of Schafer, Heyward and McClouth, then resign LaRoche, If you do the and nothing else you have 5 lefties, 2 righties and a switch hitter.
DawgDad
October 2nd, 2009
11:01 am
Unfortunately I was at the Nolasco-Jones-Diaz fiasco game. Pitiful performance by the Braves offense this week. What’s wrong at home? Well, start by looking at the fences. The Braves are overloaded with hitters with no better than warning track power in this park, and they do not possess the team speed to manufacture runs. They do precious little offensively to stir up the home crowd and put pressure on the opposition.
You want to know why the Braves didn’t make the playoffs? Start at the top of the payroll and work down to the first player on the list, Chipper Jones. He’s brutal right now. Love him for the work he’s done in the past, but he has been HURTING the club over the last half-season. Braves are getting way sub-par production from the 3-4-5 hitters on a consistent basis. Can’t make the playoffs like that.
I fear we have seen the best this group has to offer: Get close then choke, repeatedly (Cincinnati, Florida). Looking ahead, who on this team can we expect any significant IMPROVEMENT from next year? No one, really, unless you bank on Kelly Johnson as a comeback player. Heyward could help, but then, he would have helped THIS year, and can you bank on a rookie to be a productive 3-4-5 hitter? There are relatively big question marks hanging on a lot of key players: Jones, Lowe, Vazquez, Hudson, Kawakami, Anderson(he has to go, or be relegated to Norton’s job), LaRoche, Gonzalez, Soriano, and the manager. Can we expect the same level of quality starting pitching next year? Will we even have a bullpen next year, beyond Peter Moylan? Will the GM have sense enough to dump a .130 pinch-hitter before he screws up another season? This is a team that needs to be busted up and rebuilt Marlins-style, otherwise it will be a long and trying decade upcoming.
Herb in Charleston
October 2nd, 2009
11:04 am
Enter your comments here Maybe there is something about the braves playing at home. I think Francouer has played much better in New York. Whats changed from 5 or 6 years ago and during the strech when we allways won about 2/3 of our home games? Perhaps there is alot more pressure to win the home games.
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
11:07 am
DAP… That pitching carried the Braves through the season. I think Wren was correct to focus mostly on building the pitching staff. Got to have that and defense as your building blocks. And in any given season, there are only so many dollars to go around.
Now, I think the general consensus is that Wren needs to first turn his attentions to bucking up the offense – a power bat, in other words.
And he’ll have some important decisions to make about the rotation and the bullpen.
Here’s a question out of the blue: Does Smoltz have enough left to return to the Bravos bullpen next season? Would he?
Efrim
October 2nd, 2009
11:12 am
You want to know why the Braves didn’t make the playoffs? Start at the top of the payroll and work down to the first player on the list, Chipper Jones
Right, that’s why they didn’t make the playoffs. The guy with the .390 OBP.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
11:15 am
The Braves didn’t make the playoffs because of a combination of things. To start with Chipper is pretty dumb.
6-4-3
October 2nd, 2009
11:16 am
I say roll the dice on Nady.
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
11:17 am
I never understand the Jordan Schafer talk. He proved nothing at the MLB level and he was hurt all year long in the minors, at best we can expect him to have the same type of results he did this year at the beginning of next year. He might be a great leadoff hitter for the Braves, but he was pretty much relegated to whiffing in the 8th spot when he was up with the club. Its a huge jump from 8th spot to 1st spot in one injury-filled season.
dmack2027
October 2nd, 2009
11:18 am
Here is the thing about Vazquez. His stock will never be higher than it is right now. Aside from Hallady, he will be the best pitcher on the market (if the Braves go that route). I think you have to consider it if you can get an OF bat, preferably young and cheap. That said, the Braves need to figure where Jordan Schafer fits into their plans. However, like the free agent pitching market, the hitting market is weak as well.
They also need to determine who will be closing games next year. I assume they will try to resign either Sori or Gonzo, but maybe not.
Then there is the Adam LaRoche quandry. What would Barbaro Canizares do with a full season in the big leagues? His minor league numbers are comparable to Kendry Morales, and he has done a more than adequate job replacing Tex in Los Angeles.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
11:18 am
Today’s Calvin and Hobbes is so fitting for the Braves it’s almost scary…
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
11:20 am
Starting with Chipper, isn’t exactly dumb when he is the highest paid player and had very poor results hitting and fielding. Yeh KJ, Frenchy, Loaf, Schafer, etc sucked, but they also weren’t getting the kind of contract Chipper was.
I like Chipper, but he was a part of the problem, and his salary makes him even a big part of the problem this season.
Bat Masterson
October 2nd, 2009
11:31 am
I will be very interested in what happens with Schafer over the winter. Here you have a guy that was suspended for 50 games last year, gets back on track and makes the big club in spring training. He gets injured right off the bat and tries to play through it, not hurt mind you, but injured, big difference and gets send down. So now he has had surgery on his wrist, and what do you have. This guy is supposed to be the Braves center fielder for the next decade, if his wrist has healed it would be nice to see him get so AB’s somewhere this winter.
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
11:35 am
dmack2027… “What would Barbaro Canizares do with a full season in the big leagues?” Probably strike out a lot. He’s a lug.
You’re right about Vazquez’s value on the trade market, but I think he has more value in the rotation. Counterintuitive here, but if I were Wren, and decided to offer Vazquez, I wouldn’t trade him for just a power. I’d look for a package (2,3) of top prospects, including a power bat.
wjones
October 2nd, 2009
11:35 am
“Starting with Chipper, isn’t exactly dumb when he is the highest paid player and had very poor results hitting and fielding. Yeh KJ, Frenchy, Loaf, Schafer, etc sucked, but they also weren’t getting the kind of contract Chipper was.
I like Chipper, but he was a part of the problem, and his salary makes him even a big part of the problem this season.”
Only thing is that Chipper isn’t the highest paid player. Not even after signing the new deal, which does not go into effect until next year. Lowe is the highest paid player. Will be unless we sign someone more expensive or get rid of him. But Chipper is second now with his new deal. Thanks for playing!
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
11:36 am
NL ERA Leaders
Tommy Hanson (if he qualified) 2.89
4) Jair 2.61
6) Javy 2.87
40th of 48) Derek Lowe 4.55 (OUCH!)
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
11:38 am
wjones – player not pitcher….he is by far the highest paid hitter and it isn’t even close. McCann is at 3.7mil, Chipper at 10, and for LaRoche’s 2nd half we paid…somewhere in the 2-4mil range, can’t remember.
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
11:42 am
Anyone know of a good baseball contract site? The one’s I’m finding aren’t very good…
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
11:43 am
wjones – excellent morning posts!
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
11:45 am
McFann – my mom just came back from their place in gulf shores and the epa or some group like that was behind their house with a nest of sea turtle eggs. The mom dug a hole and left the eggs and the epa people dug out a tunnel in the sand from the nest to the ocean so they would find their way. The epa ppl told them they were going to be born anytime and they had someone staying with them around the clock and wouldnt let any of the houses in the vicinity turn on their outside lights at night. They hatched monday night and mom
and her friends got to see the last of them going out to sea. How neat is that? I’m jealous I didnt get to see.
HoCoJo
October 2nd, 2009
11:47 am
Ted Williams in the news, again.
Daybed Wagmoe
October 2nd, 2009
11:50 am
DOB has piqued my interest regarding the lack of attractive free agent SPs this offseason, thus making the Braves’ starting pitchers more attractive for trade possibilities. This got me wondering, what other starting pitchers might be available via trade? Well, a whole bunch of them, but I specifically wondered which ones will be free agents AFTER the 2010 season, and thus making them more of an option to be traded. Here’s a list of those pitchers:
Josh Beckett
Joe Blanton
Jorge De La Rosa
Roy Halladay
Tim Hudson
Cliff Lee
Ted Lilly
Noah Lowry
Kevin Millwood
Javier Vazquez
The SP trade market may be very active this offseason. That’s 10 SPs that could be traded this offseason in an effort to get something of value in return for them. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Red Sox sign Beckett to an extension, though — with their payroll, they can afford to sign him long-term. There are a couple dozen other SP in the 2011 free agent class, but these are the “good” ones, the ones I would think a team could trade and get some good pieces in return.
Efrim
October 2nd, 2009
11:51 am
Anyone know of a good baseball contract site? The one’s I’m finding aren’t very good…
Google “Baseball contracts site” and select the first one…..
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
11:54 am
RHR–
That is SO cool! Thanks for telling me! I’ve always wanted to see baby sea turtles…they’re so cute!
they had someone staying with them around the clock and wouldnt let any of the houses in the vicinity turn on their outside lights at night.
I’ve heard of people doing that…that’s really nice. Those poor babies cann run into a lot of trouble on their way out to sea.
Glad those people protect them!
HAL
October 2nd, 2009
11:54 am
Enter your comments here read the post above about loaf with interest seems those stats say he wasnt all that proffesional a hiiter and as for defence and hustle the word totally embarrasing comes to mind if hes a major league ball player so am i and im ancient then again hes been ancient for about the last 5 years i watched him in calif wrens worst move by far realease him eliminate that move even with a diaz church platoon and were a contender next year that joke must have cost us 6-10 games with poor base running and no defence plus his lack of hustle had to rub off on some of the younger guys
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
11:56 am
bat, I think Schafer would have to be a fast healer and a great rehabber to get even 50 ABs this winter. Other than facing game speed, I’m not sure what the upside of that few hacks would be. I know he needs plate appearances after a wasted year, but, I kinda lean toward him just waiting it out until ST. Schafer may not think that way, LOL.
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
11:57 am
Lowe – $15,000,000
Jones – $13,000,000
Hudson, if picked up – $12,000,000
Vazquez – 11,500,000
Kawakami – 6,667,000
McCann – 5,500,000
McLouth – $4,500,000
Infante – $2,225,000
Ross – $1,600,000
______________
72,000,000
Jurrjens, Medlen, Schafer, Escobar, Prado and Hanson all at around 500,000
75,000,000
You got LaRoche, Gonzo, Soriano and others
Payroll this year was 94 million.
Something has got to give…
wjones
October 2nd, 2009
11:57 am
HAL, dude, spelling & punctuation–meet it, embrace it.
Also, Anderson is a free agent. No need to release him. Just don’t offer him a contract, don’t offer arb, and he goes away.
RHR
October 2nd, 2009
11:59 am
McFann – she said there were like 200 of them! And they were silver dollar size. Cute!
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
12:00 pm
Efrim – I didn’t like that one. But now I see there is a spreadsheet you can download..hmm…not sure why they didn’t just have that on the front page of the Braves site…
Daslied
October 2nd, 2009
12:01 pm
MFin04 – You know it’s harder to hit in the 8th spot, right? In front of the pitcher you’re going to get nothing to hit. If you’re batting leadoff they’re not going to unintentionally-intentionally walk you, so you’re going to get pitches to hit.
And enough with the “Schafer hasn’t proven anything” stuff – the guy played, what, 50 games at 22 years old? It’s laughable to make a judgment based on that tiny sample size.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
12:01 pm
RHR–
200 babies?? Wow! And so tiny…that is too fun!
Efrim
October 2nd, 2009
12:02 pm
Daybed, good post, but I really don’t see Beckett, Blanton, De La Rosa, Lee, Lilly or Millwood being traded this offseason. It probably wouldn’t be worth it for those players current teams to dangle them, because they have more value to their team than they do on the trade market. Unless of course they are filling a specific need. But among those teams, I’m not sure the Phillies. Red Sox, Rockies, Cubs or Rangers really can afford to trade away one of those guys. Perhaps the Rockies with De La Rosa(selling high), but I’d think they need to keep him based off of his solid performance.
Sgt. Pepper
October 2nd, 2009
12:04 pm
DOB –
Excellent Beatles reference at 9:41 yesterday. I’m just getting caught up on reading so sorry for the delayed reaction.
Lou Vales
October 2nd, 2009
12:06 pm
I have reconsidered. I have been too harsh on 2 Marlin players who will soon be available.
I think Jeremy Hermida would be a wonderful choice for the Braves. Playing close to home may revitalize his career. His swing is just too smooth to ignore. As he grows older he will develop more power and become a legitimate 40 HR a year guy. His outfield defense will improve under the tutelage of Braves coaching. Jeremy will fit in very well as an EVERYDAY player. SIGN Hermida!!
Dan Uggla is another. You must just throw out the .207 average with runners in scoring position. That is just a 3 year aberration. At the very young age of 30 he is just starting to move into his prime. He can learn to become more of a situational hitter under the steady guidance of Braves hitting instructor. Even though his range factor shows him to be a tremendous defensive liability I can vouch for the fact IF the ball is hit right at him he fields it and 90% of the time he can make the throw to 1B. It must be viewed as an accident that 85% of his HR’s are solo shots. I can assume this has nothing to do with that ridiculous clutch hitting stuff, After all how many base runners could he have had on when he only followed a NL Batting Champion, Cantu and a possible Rookie of the Year. Sure he doesn’t steal bases and tends to actually clog the bases but how can you ignore those 31 homers. SIGN Uggla!!
I hope I have made convincing arguments as to why these 2 offensive threats should be part of the Braves continued ascent to an elite power in the NL East.
Efrim
October 2nd, 2009
12:08 pm
And as Braveheart pointed out yesterday, where is Vazquez going in a trade? Milwaukee? Detroit? Minnesota? St. Louis? Houston? With his no trade clause to AL/NL West teams, his reputation with New York and Chicago, and the lack of available funds or need for a starter making 11.5 million on a one year deal, where is the guy going in a trade? I don’t think it’s as easy as some may think. And among those five teams, I’m not really sure I see a match.
CB
October 2nd, 2009
12:17 pm
VJ, saw you were having fun on the old blog last night.Wow. I think it is a no-brainer with a no on arbitration with Soriano,yes with Gonzo. Now if we want to take a chance on a 3yr -16-18m with Gonzo I am for that. Moylan could be a co-closer,would need a new set-up man which could be KK or trade KKfor a setup guy.
Kashi
October 2nd, 2009
12:27 pm
Where we would be today if JAKE PAVEY deal that included YUNEL ESCOBAR were done?
David O'Brien
October 2nd, 2009
12:27 pm
DawgDad: The Nolasco Fiasco. I like it.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
12:28 pm
One more thing about those babies–hopefully they’ll all grow up to be Rally Turtles!
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
12:29 pm
The Nolasco Fiasco. I like it.
I didn’t.
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
12:29 pm
jeff rThat pitching carried the Braves through the season. I think Wren was correct to focus mostly on building the pitching staff.
i agree that the pitching carried us and im glad wren did it, but he didnt have to sacrifice getting a bat the way he did. and that bat, in the end, could have been why we fell short this year. its just my opinion on the subject. i feel confident that wren is going to rectify that this off season.
MFin04, maybe you should say “position player” to avoid confusion. because pitchers are baseball players too.
Efrim
October 2nd, 2009
12:29 pm
Pretty shocking that not one Rome Brave made Baseball America’s Top 20 prospects for the Sally league. Not one. Really expected to see Randall Delgado and/or J.J. Hoover there. Knew Minor wouldn’t qualify because he had only pitched like 17 innings, but again, very surprised.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
12:34 pm
One more thing about those babies–hopefully they’ll all grow up to be Rally Turtles!
I hope not because then they’d spent their entire adult lives being cussed out by me for jinxing my team
CB
October 2nd, 2009
12:42 pm
I think an outfield next year of Heyward,McLouth,Schafer,Diaz and Church would be the way I would like to see the Braves go. This would mean we would need to load up with a power hitting 1st baseman who could be an Adrian Gonzalez type hitter.
rico43
October 2nd, 2009
12:44 pm
efrim, remember that it is a 16-team league and the Braves had two No. 1s in short-season Class A.
monty
October 2nd, 2009
12:45 pm
In the end, the team just refused to hit. What was a potent run scoring juggernaut reverted back to early season form and couldn’t scratch out enough runs to support good pitching aside from Javy’s last performance. A timely hit here or there would have kept us undefeated this week. The Rockies seem to be a team of destiny. Everytime this week when the other team tied them or took the lead and the pressure was on they just kept coming back, playing inspired ball, refusing to lose. Don’t get me wrong the Braves had a nice run but just didn’t have that little something extra like the Rockies seem to have. The losses this week didn’t really matter because the Rockies weren’t about to lose it at the end. We were in need of them shooting themselves in the foot and they refused.
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
12:49 pm
DAP, what you’re basically saying is that you’d have rather had Abreu & JoJo Reyes over Garret & Kawakami.
Efrim
October 2nd, 2009
12:54 pm
remember that it is a 16-team league and the Braves had two No. 1s in short-season Class A.
Yup, but why does that matter?
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
12:57 pm
Braveheart, no, im not. i see your point though.
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
1:02 pm
Remember that fan in Washington who went for a fly ball and flipped over the seat, sending a purse flying and Joe and Boog made fun of him? That was #1 on the “Not Top 10″ plays.
I thought for sure Pete Orr’s spike would make it on there.
P. W. Hjort
October 2nd, 2009
1:06 pm
Braveheart -
Nah, PWH, no one told me anything and no one insulted my intelligence until you just did.
Excuse me? How on earth did I insult your intelligence?
I actually paid attention to how that all played out last offseason, did you?
Uhhhhhh, yeah buddy. I did.
Garret was all he had available to him at the time. Crisp and Swisher were dealt early in the offseason when they still had dreams of an impact bat, and two or three impactful arms. The asking price for Ludwick was Kelly Johnson, and you’re not gonna trade away a guy who was one of the five best second baseman in the NL at the time for an outfielder coming off a flash in the pan career year. So, none of those guys you mentioned were really ever realistic or reasonable options. You’re not gonna tie yourself down early in the offseason when you have limited financial and labor resources trading away your labor and tying up your money in marginal hitters before you get the arms and bat you desperately need, especially not when there were so many marginal outfielders available on the free agency market. By the time they got done trading for and signing the arms they needed, Garret was all that was reasonable available considering the labor and monetary resources at their disposal.
First of all, Swisher was still available after the Yankees traded for him. Secondly, just because the off-season played out like it did doesn’t mean it had to. Yeah, by the time the Braves signed Garret Anderson he was the best thing available. But Frank Wren put himself in that position. There were plenty of opportunities to pull the trigger on a competent OF’er and Wren passed on all of them. Don’t you think this team would be better if he’d pulled the trigger on one of them?
Soph
October 2nd, 2009
1:06 pm
Poor guy. He looked so embarassed when it happened. Boog said he would be on Sportscenter.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
1:19 pm
Oh man, they’re doing the “Not Top 10″ still? That used to be on Saturday mornings…always got a kick outta that.
I watched the replay on line a couple days ago…when it first happened, I didn’t notice that he had that purse hooked to his foot (Boog pointed it out later in the game).
dmack2027
October 2nd, 2009
1:22 pm
One more thing to consider re: keepnig Vazquez. His contract is good through next year. After that he is a free agent. What it basically comes down to is whether you would rather extend Huddy or extend Javy.
If it were my money and I was forced to choose, I would extend Hudson. Over the years, he has been the better pitcher. Also, given that he is coming off an injury, you might be able to get a discount.
Quisp
October 2nd, 2009
1:23 pm
The Marlins series only proves that Bobby Cox can not win games when they matter.
Piedmont Blues
October 2nd, 2009
1:27 pm
PWH,
The player Wren whiffed on was Abreu. The con-wiz was that he was a butcher in the field, but by all accounts he did OK in Anaheim. Having Abreu rather than GA in the OF should have been enough to put the Braves in the postseason.
AndyC
October 2nd, 2009
1:29 pm
McFann / RHR
I was at Pawleys Island, S.C. two or three summers ago and we were walking on the beach and saw some official looking people digging a hole. We stopped and asked what they were doing and they were digging up Sea Turtle eggs that had been laid recently. They said that the location for the eggs was not good so they were going to move them to a better location. This was apparently a volunteer group that monitors that section of the beach for nesting sites. My nieces got to help out by keeping official count of the eggs as they were dug up and there were 100+ eggs. It was pretty cool to see that. If I lived at the beach I would volunteer for a group like that.
Huddy's Ligament
October 2nd, 2009
1:30 pm
What about Milton Bradley?
Yeah, I know he’s a headcase, but problem players typically don’t have their problems in the Cox clubhouse.
Cubs don’t want him and will eat salary.
Huddy's Ligament
October 2nd, 2009
1:33 pm
Two things from the last game against the Marlins:
1. Did Vazquez prove what Ozzie said about him and he’s not a big-game pitcher?
2. Is Matt Diaz an everyday player?
O.J.
October 2nd, 2009
1:35 pm
The Marlins series just proved that they got lucky facing all crap pitchers during that 7 game winning streak. I mean seriously, look at all the pitchers they faced when they won 7 straight, not a single one of them had a winning record and every one of their ERA’s stunk to high heaven. Thats why the Braves won 7 straight, and then boom, they face a pitcher that is actually pretty good and they lose, then another pretty decent pitcher, they lose, the lost the 3rd game in a row because they were already downtrodden so why does it even matter.
Bottom line, they got lucky.
O.J.
October 2nd, 2009
1:37 pm
Huddy’s Ligament, WTF are you smoking, you need to share buddy!!
Daslied
October 2nd, 2009
1:42 pm
Huddy’s Ligament – Kenny Lofton, Gary Sheffield, John Rocker. Rocker was traded while still good, and I don’t believe any effort was made to keep Lofton or Sheffield when their contracts ended.
Anyhoo, Milton makes them all appear sane.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
1:44 pm
AndyC–
How fun! That’s nice of them to move the eggs.
If I lived at the beach I would volunteer for a group like that.
Me, too.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
1:46 pm
OJ I mean seriously, look at all the pitchers they faced when they won 7 straight, not a single one of them had a winning record and every one of their ERA’s stunk to high heaven.
It’s actually pretty amazing that they could win against all those “nobodies”. A lot of times the Braves stink against bad pitchers…
Daslied
October 2nd, 2009
1:48 pm
O.J., what are you smoking? During the 16-3 run (9/8 – 9/28), Atlanta beat:
Roy Oswalt (ace)
Joel Pineiro (3.44 ERA)
Chris Carpenter (über-ace)
Pedro Martinez (3.63 ERZ)
John Lannan (ace, technically)
Anibal Sanchez (decent #2/3)
Daslied
October 2nd, 2009
1:49 pm
What the hell is an “ERZ”?
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
1:51 pm
I mean seriously, look at all the pitchers they faced when they won 7 straight, not a single one of them had a winning record and every one of their ERA’s stunk to high heaven.
So winning seven straight isn’t good enough, you have to win seven straight against Santana, Lincecum, Halladay, and the like?
Brother, this is one tough room, LOL.
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
1:53 pm
MFin04, you have to count arbitration eligible players which are almost impossible to predict. They can’t pick up Hudson’s option if they have any sense in their mind.
- Yunel Escobar – Peter Moylan – Matt Diaz – Kelly Johnson – and Ryan Church are ARB eligible. Kelly and Church are making around 3mill so they’re probably going to get either traded or non tendered, I’d paid them 1.5mill each to be on the bench. Moylan and Yunel are 1st year eligible, and by the kind of years their having thay’ll get a huge raise from 500k, guessing around 3.5 million or a little bit less. Diaz made 1.2 mill, he’ll be around 3mill.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
1:53 pm
Daslied–
Oooo! Thanks for that…nice group of guys they beat! Haha, but who’d guessed they’d beat Anibal Sanchez and not Ricky Nolasco?
What the [heck] is an “ERZ”?
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
1:55 pm
Boog said he would be on Sportscenter.
I didn’t think it was that bad. Certainly not the worst play in all of sports for the past week. I mean, we had a ball that didn’t make it past the mound that scored 2 runs after Pete Orr threw the ball about 4 feet in front of him. Possibly in the same game as that foul ball.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
1:56 pm
I just hope Bobby doesn’t go all 2007 on us and shut BMac down for the final 3 games.
Y’all are gonna have one crabby denizen on your hands if he does.
bravesgrl4life
October 2nd, 2009
1:56 pm
Regardless of being out of contention, I am going tonight to cheer my Braves for a good season. It was so much more fun than the last 3 or 4. To all of you regulars, I have enjoyed blogging with you this season and look forward to a lively 2010 discussion.
McFann, Soph, you ladies are a trip to hang with on here. McFann, get that Rally Turtle in shape for 2010
And, the decision’s been made – jersey is going to be Sunday Red #16 – knew you’d like that one 
GO BRAVES!
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
1:57 pm
I guess it was the fact that he caused a purse to go flying through the air.
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
1:57 pm
I think Matt Diaz has shown that he can be an everyday player. He is a decent outfielder and has put up pretty good numbers playing almost everyday now. Yes he will have some horrible at bats, but he also has the ability to heat up and hit .400 for a month or so. And I think the factor that makes him an everyday player is that he hustles on every single play on offense and defense.
He had one really bad night and lost a game for the Braves, but the night before he hit a 3-run shot that very well could have won us the game. Neither of those plays should define Matty D. He’s been pretty good this year, why not give him a shot at being an everyday player. We gave Schafer, Frency and Loaf those opportunities and I think Matty D was better than all those guys this year.
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
1:58 pm
And what about that ump that called a balk Leslie Nielson style? That was HILARIOUS
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
1:58 pm
jeffrey d–
Certainly wasn’t the worst play…but definitely one of the funniest.
But yeah, poor Pete’s thing shoulda been on there. Maybe it made MLB.com’s weekly blooper reel, but I doubt it…there’s like, never any plays involving the Braves on those things. Off hand I cann think of one, and it was only Chipper missing a foul popup.
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
2:01 pm
McFann I’m still holding out hope that McCann drives in 100. Braves still looking for their first grand slam, that’d get McCann close. He’s going to need a heck of a weekend, and maybe Chipper can get his 2 homers for 20.
Jim
October 2nd, 2009
2:01 pm
Huddy’s Ligament
October 2nd, 2009
1:30 pm
“What about Milton Bradley?
Yeah, I know he’s a headcase, but problem players typically don’t have their problems in the Cox clubhouse.
Cubs don’t want him and will eat salary.”
That is just about the worst post of the season and that is really saying something. Congratulations.
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
2:03 pm
DAP… You’re 12:09 post. Yes, Wren will handle the power bat situation. I agree.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
2:05 pm
bravesgrl4life–
Hope you have fun at the game tonight! Better be an entertaining one…
McFann, Soph, you ladies are a trip to hang with on here.
You, too!
And Rally will be ready for next year, you know that.
Yeah, it hasn’t been a bad year…been quite a ride. In a lot of ways, I’m sorry to see it end. Little worn down emotionally, though, I guess…ya know, what with all the…stuff. But that oughta be gone next year.
Excellent choice for the jersey!
Wear it in good health (for you and BMac, right? 
)
O.J.
October 2nd, 2009
2:05 pm
Daslied, no where did I say anything about a 16-3 run
nscoots, the point i was trying to make is that it would have been more feasible to expect to beat Johnson if we had actually faced some good pitchers during that 7 game winning streak. Those 7 pitchers were like the mini levels you go through before you get to the BIG BOSS at the end of a level.
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
2:07 pm
DAP is not a 12:09 post. The thought of that is absurd.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
2:09 pm
MFin04–
Hey, he just needs 8 more RBI! And when I think of those 3 times he left the bases loaded this week…I…I just wanna…break down. And when he popped up on Tuesday, you better believe I did break down…
He could use a heckuva a weekend…Chipper, too. Wanna see this all end on a high note.
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
2:13 pm
O.J., just for the record, it’s ncscoots, not nscoots. What the hey, any pub is good pub, i guess, LOL.
Re your actual point, I think it’s pretty hard to go 20-over (or thereabouts) without beating some good pitchers along the way. Whether they beat those pitchers during a consecutive-win streak or not is really kind of irrelevant, no?
Mixxo
October 2nd, 2009
2:13 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2009/10/01/when-braves-strike-out-they-go-for-broke/comment-page-8/#comment-327692
Pfft!
He couldn’t carry Phil Lynott’s strap……bass strap.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
2:16 pm
Well, gotta run…be back in a few hours. Hope Bobby sticks with the “A-team” tonight.
RC
October 2nd, 2009
2:16 pm
Why not take a gamble on Xaiver Nady? I realize he’s not in the same league as Holliday or Bay, but he does have the potential to be, and is probably going to be really undervalued next year due to his injury this season. A relatively inexpensive player like him would give you a good right-handed bat in the lineup, and allow the Braves to use their surplus of starting pitching to address the real hole they will have next season: relief pitching.
jeffrey d
October 2nd, 2009
2:17 pm
Mr. T would be interesting at cleanup.
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
2:22 pm
RC i agree that nady could be a good option…but its a risk im not sure i want to take, when its well within the braves’ ability to go get more of a sure thing.
Robert
October 2nd, 2009
2:32 pm
“What will you post about?”
Once Cox leaves, it will be perfectly relevent to consider and discuss things like potential roster moves, minor league prospects, and so on, because at that point those kinds of things will potentially affect whether the Braves succeed or not
Therefore, that’s what I will discuss
MFin04
October 2nd, 2009
2:33 pm
McFann – that’s what I’m worried about, that we will go with a lineup of Brooks Conrad, Reid Gorecki, David Ross, Omar Infante, Ryan Church, etc.
Not that it’s bad, in fact I like the idea of giving those guys some full-game playing time, but it’d just be cool to see Chipper get the 20 homers after a rough year, and McCann drive in 100 after being blind and getting his sweet goggles/glasses
Robert
October 2nd, 2009
2:34 pm
“Has there ever been a manager who would make the same mistakes over, and over, and over”
Yes, plenty of them
Now – Has there ever been a manager who would make the same mistakes over, and over, and over and yet still kept his job? No. ONLY in Atlanta is an idiot manager held totally unaccountable
Herschel Talker
October 2nd, 2009
2:46 pm
Robert:
I think people have finally begun to seen the light regarding what a fool Cox is. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with this imbecile for another year. Surely Norton will be our top pinch hitter again, thank you Booby the moron. You can go ahead and flush 2010 down the crapper. I suspect that it will be the most disappointing season of our lives.
Herschel Talker.
Jim
October 2nd, 2009
2:53 pm
There is not much the Braves can do. The only way to win without being a big spender is to have a young team comprised of prospects that have recently been called up and haven’t had that first big contract yet. Add in a few high paid studs and their you have it.
pryguy
October 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
Disappointing to see the season end as it did. Still have to tip my cap to Bobby and the players putting together a run and giving it an effort. Good to see your favorite team really care so much. Going forward, everyone has to be excited about next year’s chances. We couldn’t have asked for a better pitching staff and it seems as though it will remain in tact…for the most part for next year. Acquiring that big bat will do wonders for this lineup IMO. Chipper will not be expected to carry the load. BMAC can hit 5, Escobar will continue to stroke. As much as it pains me to say it, I’ll miss having Loaf. He is as advertised, a professional hitter. Just not so much fielding. DOB and Carroll THANKS for all that you do during and after the season, excited to continue to read all that may transpire this offseason and it is good to have a place to read all the news from writers like you guys.
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
2:56 pm
I suspect that [2010, with Bobby on board] will be the most disappointing season of our lives.
Perhaps…but I rejoice in knowing that, even in that occurrence, you’ll still be here to deliver your frequent rays of sunshine, LOL.
StingerSplash
October 2nd, 2009
2:57 pm
DOB,
You going to U2 on Tuesday or Metallica on Sunday? Or both?
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
How about these for an offseason….. Let Tim Hudson leave, and keep Kawakami. Sign Adam Laroche to 3 years 25 million. Call up Jason Heyward, and Luis Valdez. Sign John Grabow, and Fernando Rodney to replace Gonzo and Soriano. Let Norton, and Church walk, sign Kotsay, and Baldelli. Let Carlyle walk.
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
Herschel, buddy – how can it be “most disappointing season of our lives” if you’ve already written it off?
ncscoots
October 2nd, 2009
3:09 pm
VJ, re your 3:04, we call that “blogic” around here. Even DOB Math makes more sense, comparatively, LOL.
The Love Child of Dale Murphy and Johnny Cash
October 2nd, 2009
3:10 pm
For those who are calling ‘09 disappointing I would ask that you look up the word realism in the dictionary. The Braves were 72-90 in ‘08 and 34-40 at one point this season. This team will finish at least ten games over .500 and has a very strong base for a championship contender next season. IMO, 2009 has been a very good season for the Braves, in particular Frank Wren. If Wren can turn a surplus of arms into a run producing bat, ‘10 could be special.
MZ
October 2nd, 2009
3:10 pm
DOB ——
If you haven’t gotten Work Progress Administration’s debut album, you should definitely check it out
Soph
October 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
I guess it was the fact that he caused a purse to go flying through the air.
That and the fact that he fell backwards into the row behind him, popped back up in two seconds and sat back down in his seat like nothing happened. Then, he proceeded to hang the purse back up on the seat next to him.
Huddy's Ligament
October 2nd, 2009
3:20 pm
I’m pretty sure that Frank Wren won’t re-sign Greg Norton.
Soph
October 2nd, 2009
3:20 pm
bravesgrl4life –
It’s definitely been fun! Baseball season always ends too quickly for me. I agree with McFann, good call on the red Mac jersey. Who knows, now that you and McFann have joined forces by having the same jersey, Mac will hit 30 homers, drive in 150 rbi and be named MVP next season. World Series MVP.
Daslied
October 2nd, 2009
3:21 pm
O.J., you said they only won 7 in a row because they were lucky. Winning 16 out of 19 is infinitely more impressive that a 7-game win streak, and they beat some pretty dang good pitchers during those 19 games. Hey, even the Nats won 8 in a row (or close) this season.
You can judge a team’s ability a lot better over 19 games than you can over 7. A 7-game win streak might indeed be lucky, but when it’s in the middle of a brilliant 19-game run you have to give them credit for actually, you know, being a good team. Which they actually are.
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
Tomas, im not sure why you want to sign baldelli and kotsay, but other than that, seems fine. we need to upgrade the offense, but also keep the bullpen strong.
MLBTraderumors is saying that Buster Onley thinks the Braves will offer mike Gonzalez arbitration, and it makes sense for him to accept. that would be a start…
Herschel Talker
October 2nd, 2009
3:27 pm
Vinings Jim:
Excellent point. It’s all about expectations. I guess what it means is that considering how we finished the year and considering how much talent we should have assuming Frank Wreck gets us a power hitter, it would still be disappointing even if I assume that Booby is going to train wreck it. And realistically, nothing will ever be more disappointing than 1996.
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
3:29 pm
does anyone think its possible that the orioles trade nolan riemold? he seems to be a pretty good player.
CBS Staff Meeting
October 2nd, 2009
3:32 pm
Raise your hand if you’ve had sex with David Letterman. OK, that’s 1,2,3,…………..4,5…………..6,7. Thank you.
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
3:36 pm
DAP I mean for the bench. Kotsay is a heck of a fielder in first base and the outfield, and a good pinch hitter, plus he loved his stint in Atlanta. And Baldelli would be a perfect platoon guy, he absolutely kills left handed pitching, which could be helpfull given Mclouth struggles at the plate vs the southpaw’s, and if Heyward struggles vs the southpaw Bobby could use Baldelli some games. They’re both cheap options who would be good for the team chem and contribute off the bench.
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
3:38 pm
They should offer both Gonzo and Soriano arbitration. They’re not likely to accept it because they could get multi year deals, and they’ll both be type A FA’s, and if they do accept arbitration then the Braves don’t have to sign other relievers, so they definitely should do it.
DAP
October 2nd, 2009
3:45 pm
Tomas, i see what your saying about kotsay and baldelli. still not the guys i would choose but thats cool.
the braves cant afford gonzo and soriano to both accept arbitration. soriano will probably make to much in an arbitration hearing, so they probably wont risk it, but gonzo’s salary is about half of soriano’s. i wouldnt be surprised if they offered soriano a contract, but i dont they they offer him arbitration at the risk of him accepting.
Carroll Rogers
October 2nd, 2009
3:51 pm
Friday’s lineup:
1. McLouth CF
2. Prado 2B
3. Jones 3B
4. LaRoche 1B
5. Anderson LF
6. Escobar SS
7. Diaz RF
8. Ross C
9. Lowe P
I believe DOB is posting a new blog here shortly. But I’m covering the game. (Don’t ask, just wacky stuff going on.) But if I don’t get to copy this over on the other blog, will someone?
Thanks, Carroll
David O'Brien
October 2nd, 2009
3:57 pm
NEW BLOGGAGE
scott
October 2nd, 2009
4:13 pm
YES, move Chipper to first base…please.Prado at third, Infante at second.
Not hard to figure that one out.
BobStevens
October 2nd, 2009
4:30 pm
No one should blame Matty Diaz for the Braves season ending prematurely. The Braves making the playoffs was an absolute longshot and it was almost an impossible task to pull off considering how much winning the Braves had to do just to put themselves into a mathematical chance of making the playoffs. THE BRAVES ALMOST HAD TO WIN AT A CLIP OF 90% WINNING BASEBALL, WHICH THEY DID JUST TO GET TO WITHIN 2 GAMES OF THE ROCKIES. I knew they would get tired and it was just too much to overcome. Also there was no margin for error because you knew that as soon as the Braves lost, they would soon get eliminated. The problem was that the Braves were running out of games and they waited too long to make their move for the wild card and start winning at a blistering pace. Had the Braves started playing at a high winning percentage earlier; say two months ago when they got swept by the lowly Cincinnati Reds they would have overtaken the Rockies. Of course we all would have preferred if Diaz hadnt got picked off just to see if the Braves could have kept the streak going and gotten the wild card berth. Unfortunately we will never know and it hurts for the Braves to have lost that ball game and get eliminated from post season play. i know this. Had the Brave gotten into the playoffs; they would have won the world series, because they still have the BEST talent in the league and they would have proved it on the biggest stage:the World Series. There is plenty of blame to go around, but I dont think Matt Diaz should be blamed for the Braves failing to make the playoffs. I think Bobby Cox should get blamed more than Matty Diaz. Diaz was careless at third base, but he still helped to get the Braves in a position of contention. Im still happy with the outcome of the Braves season. Im sure the Braces they surprised everyone and they have a powerful team for the forseeable future; not mention having the BEST prospect in major league baseball in their farm season [Jayson Haywood] who will be coming to the big club next year to add to the incredible talent pool that we have. The future is extemely bright for Braves fans and I know a lot of fans are still disappointed with the Braves being eliminated from the post season.
wjones
October 2nd, 2009
4:45 pm
” Yunel Escobar – Peter Moylan – Matt Diaz – Kelly Johnson – and Ryan Church are ARB eligible. Kelly and Church are making around 3mill so they’re probably going to get either traded or non tendered, I’d paid them 1.5mill each to be on the bench. Moylan and Yunel are 1st year eligible, and by the kind of years their having thay’ll get a huge raise from 500k, guessing around 3.5 million or a little bit less. Diaz made 1.2 mill, he’ll be around 3mill.”
Only correction is that Yunel is not yet arb eligible. The rest are, and I pretty much agree with you that Church and Kelly are probably gone, and they will probably keep Matty and Moylan. The weird thing is that Boone is arb eligible this year. I have absolutely no feel about that one. Can’t see him trying to barter much, can you?
DHD
October 2nd, 2009
8:03 pm
Bob Stevens: Who is Jayson Haywood?
Kevin
October 3rd, 2009
8:41 am
Its amazin we losin to a team with over 100 lost’s and are fearless leader captain chipper jones quits….lowe quit and K johnson quit at start of season…and as for TP he should be fired after season over n get gerald perry here as Hittin coach of course Nose picker Bobby cox will not and Wren should say he go are U go…I love see Wren fire both at end season.
Test
October 6th, 2009
2:01 pm
:q:
:huh:
:wtf:
:huh?:
:wtf?:
Test
October 8th, 2009
4:42 pm
:yay:
:yippee:
:whee:
:woohoo: