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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,403 comments Add your comment
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
6:21 pm
MFin04 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
Sure would…
Soph–
Ends too quickly for me, too…it’s like, “No wait! Don’t end yet! Now there’s not enough time to…”
Mac will hit 30 homers, drive in 150 rbi and be named MVP next season. World Series MVP.
World Series MVP…it’d just be great, it’s been my dream!
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
6:22 pm
Oh, and I saw the lineup…
Is that just for tonight?
J-MAN
October 2nd, 2009
6:23 pm
Oh well this season’s over so lets go over to the Falcons and Hawks Blogs although Sekou will at least respond Lettbedder wont even let you know a thing, (Thats why D.O.B. and Mark Bradley are the best journalist when it come to their blogs, their willingness to interact with their readers.) Gonna miss ya til spring training
Carroll Rogers
October 2nd, 2009
6:24 pm
Matt Diaz was scratched because he’s having problems with his right thumb. First jammed it against Cincinnati here in an at-bat vs. Kip Wells. Been nursing it since, but this morning he woke up and it had swollen up. He’s out and Omar Infante is in right field.
That’s because Ryan Church flew to Viera, Fla. this morning to be with his wife Tina for the birth of their daughter.
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
6:25 pm
Congratulations to Ryan and Tina!
Poor Matty…Thanks for the info, Ms. Rogers.
Carroll Rogers
October 2nd, 2009
6:27 pm
J-MAN, DOB will be blogging this winter.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
6:28 pm
Richbrave
Loaf has a way better arm than Pierre, and that’s saying something
DC Braves Fan
October 2nd, 2009
6:30 pm
Braves were penny-wise, pound foolish this year. Had Hanson started with the big club in April, they probably are playing a meaningful game this weekend. I have to think the extra revenue from 2-3 home games in a playoff series — assuming they don’t even go past the second round — would make up a considerable amount of what they’d have had to pay Hanson 5 or 6 years from now (especially factoring the time value of having that money now).
Hope we don’t make the same mistake with Heyward. If you’re the Yankees, you can play those little games. But if you’re in a tight race, every game matters, and keeping your best players out of the lineup ends up costing you lots of revenue in the short term that you could save and use down the road.
Think big, Frank. Your instincts are often good, but you still have to think bigger.
Chipster
October 2nd, 2009
6:33 pm
“it’d just be cool to see Chipper get the 20 homers”
OR, how about I go 0-for-4 and add to my error total? I got paid about 80 grand for such a performance last night, I got a guaranteed contract, why should I risk straining my oblique hemorrhoid?
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
6:34 pm
How many runners has GA gotten this season. It isn’t a great arm, but he is just too slow getting the ball back to the infield.
BravesfaninWis
October 2nd, 2009
6:38 pm
Nice to see that the Braves are optimistic about 2010, because the fans shouldn’t be.. The Braves have to be just to sell some tickets next year.. Truth is, the organization needs to make several moves in order to compete next year.. They have to get a power OF bat, and they need to add better bullpen arms.. It also wouldn’t have hurt if they would have decided to get a new manager, but that is for another time.. While it was nice to see them win 15-17 and 7 in a row, they showed us that they are still the same mediocre team by losing 2 to the Marlins in crunch time, and now already losing a game to arguably the worse team in baseball the Nationals.. Until they make some deals, and then show us next year that they are a better team, they will be no better to me then they are right now, and that is a team headed for home after the season, and not the playoffs..
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
6:41 pm
Ms. Rogers–
Bobby’s not shutting BMac down for the season like he did in ‘07 and ‘08, is he?
Braves Paisan
October 2nd, 2009
6:44 pm
Ms Rodgers: a good friend of mine just flew to Minnesota for the Twin Cities Marathon. Of the dozen I ran, TW was my favorite: gorgeous scenery, thousands of volunteers, great American cities on a number of levels.
Hell, I am thinking we have to have a few topics to discuss in the off-season!
In the meantime:
Elect Laura Nyro to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame NOW !!!!
– BP
Braveheart
October 2nd, 2009
7:02 pm
Think big, Frank. Your instincts are often good, but you still have to think bigger.
Dunno. Read a bunch of people on the blog this morning taking him to task because Wren thought too big last winter. Gets kind of confusing around here
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:04 pm
BravesFaninWis
The Braves Bullpen wasn’t lights out but our bullpen was the best part of the team that went unnoticed
Easy-E and Petey-Pablo both had exceptional years…MFIKY Clowned in the first half was Garbage in the second half, when the games he blew meant more. I think he goes back to setting up next year for the Mets. Gonzo can’t be relied on in big games which is my reasoning that he will be gone as well. I want to see Med’s as our 7th inning guy, Easy-E as the 8th inning man and Petey-Pablo closing next year…
Our Bullpen Overachieved this year, and I’m Proud, because I used to bash the bullpen starting from when Bobby Put Reeksma in stopper/closer role and lets not forget Dan Kolb as well. Our bullpen has made great strides over the last 18 months
But Agreed Bobby’s Cox’s infleuence makes this team dull to watch, especilly a team that keeps getting younger by the year. I’m tired of this businessman style philosopy of baseball crap that has predominated the team since Brian Jordan left…And actually it started when Justice left
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
7:21 pm
How about signing Smoltz to be a reliever. He’s been much better with the Cardinals, and his arm is back healthy. He’ll much, much cheaper this offseason, and it would be a good way of making amends.
BIOMASS
October 2nd, 2009
7:31 pm
Listening to Brain Jordan butcher the English language on a nightly basis makes me want to stick pencils through my ears!
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
7:31 pm
Chipster:
Personal stuff on face-book man O.K.?
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
7:34 pm
Tomas:
I’m hearin’ several of the points you bring up. Maybe a SMOLTZ reprise and MFIKY gone is a possibility. I wonder if the managementr thinks its a good idea?
Jim
October 2nd, 2009
7:35 pm
The problem with the Braves is payroll. Unless you are going to spend 20-30+ million more that their budget is, they are always going to be 1-2 players away from legitimately contending. Unless you are banking on a lot of luck, what they are doing now won’t work.
If you are not going to pay and you don’t have a top bat and pitcher in the lineup, the only option you have is to go young and have a bunch of up and coming players who haven’t hit their first big contract yet. The best way at this point to get there would be to let LaRoach, Hudson, and Chipper leave when their contracts are up. Keep McCann if they believe in has pitch calling. Trade Escobar, Vasquez, & McLouth for prospects that are a few years away. Gear up for 2011-2012 when you can have Hanson, Jurjens, Freeman, Heyward and a bunch of players like that on your team that are taking up minimal salary. Keep guys like Prado, Infante, and Diaz who won’t need to be paid. Mix that in with a few higher priced free agents or trade deadline players and that will enable a serious threat.
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
7:35 pm
It’ll probably require Smoltz to apologize.
MingTheMerciless
October 2nd, 2009
7:38 pm
Bring back Smoltz???? Are you NUTS?? He’s DEAD to me!
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:38 pm
Man, The Blog is dead tonight…! Good to see all the Frontrunners off the Bandwagon know that the season is over
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
7:38 pm
Damn, I wish we had Adam Dunn – imagine how much fun we would have had if he had been 0 for 26 for us during the past couple of weeks…
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
7:39 pm
Carroll:
Did you get to the new facility in GWINNETT this year? I know some said they would kind o’ take up the AAA torch left burning by GIL and I, but I didn’t see much first-hand accounting from the faithful at GWINNETT.
MingTheMerciless
October 2nd, 2009
7:39 pm
Better idea is getting a capable HITTING COACH
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
7:39 pm
My bad – I jinxed it…
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:39 pm
Come On Loaf!
That Should’ve been Caught!
MingTheMerciless
October 2nd, 2009
7:40 pm
“trade Escobar”….yeah, who needs our best player?
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
7:41 pm
Jim:
Are you talking about the PIRATES here? Sounds shaky at best to me.
Brave4life
October 2nd, 2009
7:42 pm
Jim
you are an idiot
Escobar
Mclouth
both are young with very good contracts they put up big numbers. I can guarantee you if we add one more big bat we are a playoff team. According to MLB rumors the braves are serious about acuiring a power bat.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:45 pm
I get So tired of us swinging at the first pitch…
I hope TP gets a managerial job somewhere this offseason or resigns along with Bobby
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
7:46 pm
How about trading for Adam Dunn, he is not that terrible at first base, and he seems to fit in the club house with Chipper and Mac. And his 40 homers come in handy too.
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
7:48 pm
Tomas – see my 7:38 – and, yes, he is that terrible at first base…
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:48 pm
I have no comment with Jim’s post. It’s pure speculation
Carroll Rogers
October 2nd, 2009
7:49 pm
First stolen base for Martin Prado. How can that be?
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:50 pm
Tomas
Dunn is Horrible defensively…
I Think Part of it has to do with the fact the he was a Football Player when he was in College for the most part
He came up as a 3rd/1st baseman in the minors, his defense was so bad they moved him to the OF…
And now that N. Johnson is injured he’s at first again
Nova Scotia Steve
October 2nd, 2009
7:51 pm
I think it’s going to be very intersting to see who is on this team in 2010 and who isn’t.
Can’t “believe” Atlanta Braves baseball is over in two more days…:(
It sucks
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:52 pm
Come To Think of it A. Dunn is the Millenium Version of “Kid” Klesko…
Jim
October 2nd, 2009
7:53 pm
Difference from being a playoff team to contending. Colorado isn’t going anywhere. You don’t want to strive to be them. The only teams in the NL that actually have a chance at the championship are St Louis and Phily. One big bat would probably have gotten us into the playoffs but it wouldn’t win us anything.
McLouth and Escobar are about the only players that we’d be able to get anything for. I’m not saying trade them and try to win next year. I’m saying trade them and shoot for 2-3 years from now making a legitimate run for a title.
The Braves will have a ton of money tied into Chipper, McCann, and probably LaRoach. You can argue that with Escobar, those are their best batters if they are playing like they should. That simply doesn’t compare to the best 3 batters each with Phily, St Louis, Boston, and NY.
The only ways to combat that is to outspend or let them leave and start from fresh.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:53 pm
Dammit!
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
7:54 pm
cabravesfan – I know you’re lurking out there- we need some posts from real (and intelligent) fans to help offset the onslaught of posts from “the others” – cue scary music…
BIOMASS
October 2nd, 2009
7:54 pm
Prado should get some kind of special award. He was able to overcome the booger-picker’s mule-like obstinacy to play Kelly Johnson no matter what. Prado is a rare breed.
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
7:56 pm
Well I don’t really know if Adam Dunn is terrible at first or not, I know he was horrible in the WBC, but at least against the Braves he has caught everything that he’s had to caught.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
7:56 pm
Jim
I gave up on the team in Mid September. 1 of the reasons was that even if we made it into the playoffs we’d lose in the first round simply because we have subpar defense, an inconsistant offense,no shutout closer, no team speed, and no heart to comeback in games
Plus the braves have shown over and over again this season that they can’t handle the pressure of big games…
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
7:57 pm
Wow…that guy woulda been called safe if that woulda been McCann throwing.
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
7:57 pm
Great slide – faked with the left hand, then threw the right hand around…
cabravesfan
October 2nd, 2009
7:58 pm
VJ-
I am not sure the combined forces of all the intelligent folk here can overcome the wave of Stupid that seems to have overwhelmed the blog in recent days
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
7:59 pm
Jim – so you let one of your two best players go for…what, exactly? A hope that in several years we get lucky with a prospect? That’s a good way for Frank Wren to approach job security…
Carroll Rogers
October 2nd, 2009
8:00 pm
RichBrave, there is no substitute for you guys. Maybe you need to move south!
Jim
October 2nd, 2009
8:03 pm
When you think about it more, it’s how the Marlins won championships, how TB made it last year, how Colorado made it the year before.
Pujols is the best player out there. Add some good pitchers, defense, and a few bats and you always have a chance. Look at the past 10 years. Take out the Yankees and Sox. About all the other teams in the world series consistant of a bunch of young up and coming players who had not hit that big contract yet mixed with some contracts including key players that were in their prime.
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
8:03 pm
Am I the only one that felt a more athletic LF’er might have gotton to the homer leading off the second? Didn’t the ball hit on the yellow line or just a foot behind it?
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
8:05 pm
I’m humbled CARROLL. Thank you. I’m sure GIL would feel the same if he sees your comment.
Mixxo
October 2nd, 2009
8:06 pm
That’s how it’s done BMac!!!
Take note!
Capt Caveman
October 2nd, 2009
8:06 pm
I just got back from dinner with several of my friends in the Braves front office. We normally don’t talk about the stupid crap that gets posted on blogs or message boards but tonight we talked about it a lot. I asked them on a scale of 1 to 10 how much credence would you give feedback from this or any blog as far as having any influence on decision making. They told me they couldn’t answer the question. I asked why and they said “because you didn’t include the number ZERO !!!” LOL
However, they did say that they enjoyed the “fantasy league trading” that gets mentioned on here. Next year we are going to enter a team in a local fantasy league and we are going to make EVERY single stupid trade that gets suggested by the local posting “gurus”. We think we could set a record for finishing DEAD LAST in the fantasy league by doing this. I told them we should create a website called dumbassfantasyteam.com so everyone could view what a disaster it would be.
Naturally we would list the team name as a combination of the too most idiotic bloggers here and call it COACH LENTZ !!
As for the rest of the blog, I look forward to some interesting months ahead as we look forward to next season.
GO BRAVOS !!!!
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:06 pm
As Bad as our AWFense has been…
We are probably amongst top’s in the league as far as offensive production goes
Nuff Respect to B-Macc and D-Ross
MingTheMerciless
October 2nd, 2009
8:06 pm
Esco & Infante score, on a Ross hit…hey let’s TRADE these guys!
Vinings Jim
October 2nd, 2009
8:07 pm
How come Ross is not the regular cat – never mind – I just got yelled at by someone who could tell the obnoxious thing I was typing from over the phone – how do women know these things?
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
8:08 pm
“wow… that guy woulda’ been safe if McCANN…” I have thought since last off-season that DAVID ROSS was one of the best moves we made after last season ended. I sure hope he stays.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:09 pm
Sorry, I was referring to our offensive production from our catchers in my last post…I gotta stop chatting on facebook and blogging at the same time
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:10 pm
Sorry, I was referring to our offensive production from our catchers in my last post…I gotta stop chatting on facebook and blogging at the same time
Nice shot by D-Ross
McFanny
October 2nd, 2009
8:11 pm
from the Baseball Analysts
The Braves have had a superb bullpen this year, and their Clutch score might be penalizing them for being equally awesome in both high- and low-leverage situations. Part of the reason for their success was their closer-by-committee tandem of righty Rafael Soriano and lefty Mike Gonzalez. For the following table, I went to Baseball Reference’s splits pages and found how often each reliever the platoon advantage as well has how much better he fared when facing same-handed batters. Baseball Reference calls the split that compares a pitchers production to himself tOPS+, and for pitchers, lower is better, so Peter Moylan’s ptnOPS+ of 65 would mean that Moylan allows an opposing OPS 35% worse against right-handed batters. Therefore, Bobby Cox should try to have Moylan face mainly righties.
Name Throws Ptn% ptnOPS+ Name Throws Ptn% ptnOPS+
Peter Moylan R 61% 65 Eric O’Flaherty L 50% 85
Jeff Bennett R 58% 69 Mike Gonzalez L 34% 78
Manny Acosta R 54% 95
Buddy Carlyle R 53% 114
Rafael Soriano R 52% 49
Kris Medlen R 46% 150
I was surprised to see that Soriano and Gonzalez, who do exhibit traditional platoon splits, have not been given the advantage of facing same-handed batters that often. Instead, it appears that O’Flaherty and Moylan have been used as the righty and lefty specialists while Bobby Cox has opted to allot Soriano and Gonzalez the eighth and ninth innings.
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
8:11 pm
CAPTAIN:
Well if anyone admitted it, they would be suspect as a future BRAVES employee.
Trey06
October 2nd, 2009
8:11 pm
I’m not near a TV so I’m following the game on the computer. It looks like Livian is getting called strikes that are in the opposite batter’s box. Does it look that bad on TV?
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
8:13 pm
McFANNY:
Exactly!!!!
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
8:16 pm
richbrave–
I said he woulda been called safe if BMac woulda been the one throwing. The runner still would have technically been out, but the ump would have called him “safe”.
McFanny
October 2nd, 2009
8:16 pm
David Ross has 1 more left on his contract.
MingTheMerciless
October 2nd, 2009
8:17 pm
“Speed” on the basepaths…what a concept!
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
8:18 pm
http://markbowman.mlblogs.com/
Carroll Rogers
October 2nd, 2009
8:21 pm
Boog is leaving as broadcaster, going to ESPN full-time. Just posted a burst but you guys can read it here too.
By Carroll Rogers
crogers@ajc.com
Braves announcer Jon “Boog” Sciambi is leaving Fox Sports South and Sports South to take a full-time position at ESPN. Sunday’s game against the Nationals on Fox Sports South will be his final Braves broadcast for them.
Sciambi, the spikey-haired redhead with the baritone voice, has called Braves games for the last three years, making his mark for the rapport he developed and sense of humor he shares with longtime Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson.
Sciambi will be calling both Major League Baseball and college basketball games on TV and radio for ESPN, with whom he has worked part-time since 2005.
Sciambi’s departure is just the latest turnover in a Braves booth that has seen its share in recent months, given the retirement last year of Pete Van Wieren and the death of Skip Caray.
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
8:22 pm
It sure will be cool to have a guy like Dunn on the team.
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
8:23 pm
I can’t believe it.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:25 pm
Come On “O”
Game Over!
kirkinga
October 2nd, 2009
8:26 pm
I think upgrading the overall defense should be on the To Do List as well this offseason.
ChurchMan
October 2nd, 2009
8:26 pm
looks like Lowe is making a strong case to be a starter in Atlanta next year lol
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:26 pm
That Sucks!!! Boog is Leaving!!!
Why Sellout to BSPN when You have a loyal fanbase here in The “A”?
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
8:27 pm
Infante is not a right fielder. Can’t Gorecki play RF
O.J.
October 2nd, 2009
8:27 pm
I wonder what could have been if we didnt sign Lowe and used that 15 million on a hitter like Dunn, or a power hitter period. Sucks. Please say we can trade Lowe in the offseason, PLEASE!!!!!
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:28 pm
Oh Gawd! Boog Now Chip Caray will Probably be the next play by play commentator on FSN it wouldn’t suprise me…
Mixxo
October 2nd, 2009
8:28 pm
Gonna miss Boog.
Always liked that guy.
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
8:30 pm
Don Sutton coming back to tv?
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:30 pm
Blog Topic Tonight will be? Who does the braves Play by Play Next Year…?
I just hope They Don’t Bring in Blow Buck…
McFann Ô
October 2nd, 2009
8:31 pm
I’m REALLY gonna miss Boog.
Can’t believe this…
Maybe we’ll be lucky and he’ll do an ESPN Sunday night game that the Braves play.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:31 pm
Don Sutton Did Color Commentary not play by play so I don’t think he comes back on TV
O.J.
October 2nd, 2009
8:32 pm
I honestly wouldnt be surprised to see the Braves end the season on a 6 game losing streak, thats how hot and cold they were all year. Funny thing is, just a few days ago we were fighting for the wild card, now are fighting to stay out of 3rd place, lol. Funny season.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:33 pm
How Did Boog Leaving Didn’t get out to the press/blogs earlier…
It’s amazing that he kept his departure from the Braves telecasts on the D.L.
southern hope
October 2nd, 2009
8:33 pm
I’ve been thinking about how the Braves can make it into the playoffs. See if you can keep up with me on this.
The Braves win the next 3. The Rockies lose their remaining 2. The Marlins lose. The Giants lose.
Now, the Rockies are coming back from Dodgers stadium on the team bus. It crashes. No one expires (that would cause too much grief). But nearly every player suffers a broken limb or cut. None are able to play. MLB looks around, goes to the rule book, BOOM!
World Series.
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
8:33 pm
Capt Caveman… Well, that was a dog bites man post, if I ever read one. Really? The Braves front office doesn’t consult the blog about moves? I just can’t believe it. But thank you, thank you very much, for the information. A real eye-opener.
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
8:34 pm
Saw the HR again. Just too much loft, and it was about two feet back.
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:34 pm
O.J.
“I honestly wouldnt be surprised to see the Braves end the season on a 6 game losing streak, thats how hot and cold they were all year. Funny thing is, just a few days ago we were fighting for the wild card, now are fighting to stay out of 3rd place, lol. Funny season.”
That’s why I didn’t but Into the hype…They c..ck-teased me too much all season so This time it didn’t phase me
Capt Caveman
October 2nd, 2009
8:35 pm
YO Richbrave — are you trying to say that you understood that post by Mcfanny ????
cuz I read it twice and couldn’t stop laughing long enough to finish. Look to me like the cut-and-paste posts we used to get from COACH. LOL
Tomahawkin
October 2nd, 2009
8:36 pm
Where is P-Lentz At…?
I hope he didn’t get Bozo’d before the playoffs…
Since there is no one on the blog tonight I have time to read his essays…
Rob
October 2nd, 2009
8:36 pm
Can we trade Lowe before the season ends?
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
8:36 pm
Bring Smoltz in t do color. Heck, stranger things have happened.
Ryan
October 2nd, 2009
8:37 pm
With Cox back next year I hope we can trade Lowe or else he will be are opening day pitcher you can bet on that.
McFanny
October 2nd, 2009
8:37 pm
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wouldn’t be surprised if the Braves could get a team to pick up Derek Lowe’s contract. The righty has $45MM remaining on the four-year deal he signed last offseason.
Jeff R
October 2nd, 2009
8:39 pm
I think DOB might be onto something… about Lowe.
richbrave
October 2nd, 2009
8:39 pm
McFANNY:
Give him an extension AND a raise.
Capt Caveman
October 2nd, 2009
8:39 pm
YO Jeff R ……. it’s called sarcasm, and it was mostly just a comment to set up the fantasy trade discussion. Are you one of those people who can’t see the humor in that ?? or are you also blogging and chatting on facebook with tomahawkin at the same time ??
Tomas
October 2nd, 2009
8:39 pm
I wish they could trade Lowe away.