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Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
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© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
968 comments Add your comment
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.