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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,530 comments Add your comment
Chipperchop
October 20th, 2009
12:07 pm
Heyward seems to get injured alot. I hope this isn’t going to be Hampton or Chipper part deux.
Lew
October 20th, 2009
12:08 pm
Anders-Couldn’t resist. I’m thinking, at the very least, that DelGado will not be brought back. What’s the prognosis on Reyes? Seems they waited awfully late before having the surgery done. Do they seriously think he’ll be back to normal speed and range in 2010-at least early in the year?
Anders
October 20th, 2009
12:08 pm
Well, the Dodgers look like a team that’s not quite ready to win and the Phils look like a team that expects to win. Sometimes when you have the horses that little difference is all it takes.
The Phils always appear to have flaws but they always show up and fight. They’re a real good club. I don’t think they’re getting the respect nationally they deserve. Maybe this year they will.
Jeff R
October 20th, 2009
12:09 pm
PWHjort… Gotta say I share your concerns about Gonzo’s and Soriano’s history of arm problems. From what I’ve read, Wren signs one but not both, likely Gonzo.
Soriano had his best season as a Brave in 2010, but he also had lapses. I’m not thinking he’s worth the contract he’ll expect.
Gonzo was a little better, to my thinking. And Wren needs to know he’s got one experienced go-to guy.
RemoW
October 20th, 2009
12:09 pm
I have to agree with Rico Carty. I have made the same statement a couple times in the past on the blog. Justice was one of those those guys, the bigger the moment the better he got. Heck even in the playoff with the A’s his last year or so. A’s needed a hit and he comes old man Justice to deliver. (I think it was a double)
He just lived for big situations.
Compare and contrast that to the extra inning game we played against the Astros and all the Braves player comments after the game about how tried they were. I wanted to throttle Andruw. I swear he was giving his ABs away towards the end of the game. It was like they were office workers and it was after 5 and the boss asked them to work late.
That is the problem with the button down approach that the Braves take. You got to have a hitter with Justice or Gonzo type mentality. They want to be there and the bigger the situation the more they want to be the guy.
As much as I loathe the Yankees Do any of you think for a minute a Yankee would have come out after a loss like we had in Houston and talked about how tired the were. Sorry, would not happen. I HATE to say it but there is something to Yankee pride. I am convinced that Jeter has never given away an AB in the post season or even ARod for all his early struggles, dude never gave one away.
You have to have a heart guy on the team. Chipper was that guy for the Braves in 1999. It seemed like every time we needed a big hit, there was Chipper. We just don’t have that at the moment. I see signs in McCann and Gonzo. I think Francouer has that in him before he lost his way in Atlanta.
Got to have that burning desire.
bravesgrl4life
October 20th, 2009
12:10 pm
I miss baseball
I miss blogging on a regular basis, but if I change jobs, that may change anyway. I hope all of the denziens of the DOB Braves blog are doing well.
Jeff R
October 20th, 2009
12:11 pm
Anders… Good take. I think Philly is underrated. A Yanks-Philly series would be great. When was the last time those two clubs squared off?
Daslied
October 20th, 2009
12:11 pm
I’m not opposed to trying Moylan as closer, even considering the 2009 LH split.
Career against lefties:
2009 – .309/.436./.415/.851 (119 PA)
2008 – .273/.333/.273/.606 (12 PA – surgery)
2007 – .242/.351/.328/.679 (151 PA)
2006 – .192/.276/.308/.584 (29 PA – RHH had .867 OPS in 39 PA)
He’s going to walk lefties – I don’t think that’ll stop. But pre-surgery he was effective enough, or at least nowhere near as bad against LHH. I know they say TJ surgery takes 18 months to fully recover from, and he’ll be there by next season.
In 2009, his fastball was down about 3 mph, and his slider and curve didn’t move as much (according to Fangraphs). Hopefully, if he’s fully recovered, and able to get those pitches back where they were pre-surgery, he’d do well as closer.
Lew
October 20th, 2009
12:14 pm
Anders-The thing that scares me about the Phillies is that they have an excellent GM that has seemed to make the right moves since taking over last year. I thought he was insane picking up Lidge, Ibanez and Pedro. Looks like he knew much more than I did. He also held out on Halladay and picked up Leee for what amounted to a steal. If they are allowed any kind of salary room with that team, they could be big for several more years-at the very least. Scary with that core of mashers and a pitching staff that was so much better than I ever thought they COULD be.
Jeff R
October 20th, 2009
12:16 pm
Might just give the edge to Phillies’ pitching in a series with the Yankees.
Steve from OH
October 20th, 2009
12:17 pm
There’s got to be a happy medium in the relievers debate. Both sides have valid points, and if you adhere too stringently to one or the other you’re going to get burned.
monty
October 20th, 2009
12:17 pm
Rock On
I posted on here down the stretch, whenever we played the Phils to just walk Howard (like teams did Bonds) but of course BC didn’t and we got burned. I agree, make someone else beat you.
flange 1
October 20th, 2009
12:19 pm
Playoff baseball is great to watch. I have enjoyed every game so far and have really been impressed with the Phillies.
It is hard to argue with the impact of the first 4 Phillie hitters. Rollins and the Reaper (thanks McFann) get on base, steal bases and have power, Utley is a great hitter and Howard is a beast.
Then you add Werth, Ibanez and Feliz as complimentary players and it is an excellent offensive team.
When u try to compare them to the Braves, it seems that we have too many complimentary players that should hit 6th or 7th and very few impact players to fill out 1-4.
Anders
October 20th, 2009
12:19 pm
Lew- I don’t see Delgado coming back. They either get a big bat 1st baseman or bring Murphy back and get a bat for LF (my preference). They project Reyes to be back running full speed by January. Honestly, who knows? Plus he’ll be questionable at least until he plays a couple of months imo. He went through this early in his career and then played about 160 games a year for 5 years – we’ll see.
I’m not that gung ho for Holliday. Gonna cost a fortune. Boras has already attached him to Tex in context. Depends on what the options are I guess. If the Mets are willing to spend big time money get me Halladay first. Whatever it takes. They play in a pitchers park now. Build accordingly. Pitching, speed, defense, gap power.
DAP
October 20th, 2009
12:20 pm
dasliedI’m not opposed to trying Moylan as closer, even considering the 2009 LH split.
i dont think its a good idea to give it to him with no one else there…maybe in certain situations, but coming into close a game out vs. utley, howard, ibanez? heck no. not that that is a walk in the park for anyone…
Lew
October 20th, 2009
12:31 pm
Andrs-Yeah, I see Holliday going for around $18 mil per season-out of the reach of the Braves and the Mets in all likelihood. I could, however, see the Yankees picking him up and trading off one of their outfielders-maybe Swisher.
dap01
October 20th, 2009
12:32 pm
I agree, the Braves are built around complimentary players. The problem is they have no one to compliment. There is no speed threat, there is no power threat.
Anders
October 20th, 2009
12:32 pm
Steve from Ohio- Relievers are a strange breed. I think all you can do is lock down the best closer you can (Not meant to be self serving, I swear) and then you roll the dice with the rest. Other than the closers many relievers just seem to be hot and cold from year to year. I think this is the area most GM’s dread. You just never know what you’re getting until the season unfolds. So you stockpile arms right down to AAA in case you need a live one and maybe you catch lightning in a bottle.
dmack2027
October 20th, 2009
12:32 pm
In my opinion, with regard to the starting pitching situation, the Braves have one question they need to answer. Would they rather have Vazquez or Huddy long term? This presents them with two options. 1. Trade Javy and sign Huddy at a “hometown discount.” You would get a nice piece (or 2, or 3) for Javy on the trade market. 2. Let Huddy walk and keep Vazquez. You get nothing for Huddy, and then are almost obligated to sign Javy to an extension or he walks next year. This second option does not present the Braves with much bargaining power.
Apart from the fact I like Huddy more moving forward, and Javy’s value will never be higher, it seems the best answer is option 1. You get something of value for Javy and resign Huddy. Kill two birds with one stone type thing.
If the Braves could swap Derek Lowe for another high priced bat, that would be the best option (Carlos Lee). However, it might be difficult to find someone to dance.
jeffrey d
October 20th, 2009
12:33 pm
And Dunn….that’s how Wickman lost his job.
Steve from OH
October 20th, 2009
12:35 pm
A take on Mike Minor:
http://www.scoutingthesally.com/
F. Wren
October 20th, 2009
12:37 pm
Some have indicated here that they would keep Heyward down (even if ready)just for the arb-eligible issue alone even if it meant sacrificing a few wins a month. Rock on
One of your dumbest comments ever. Do you really think a rookie who has never had an AB in MLB would be better by “a few wins a month” than say Matt Diaz?
To bring up Heyward in April would expose him to the same problems that Schafer bombed on.
To bring up Heyward in April would deprive him of valuable AAA experience that J. Francoeur didn’t have.
To bring up Heyward in April (instead of June) would cost the Braves apprx. $5 million in 2013.
To bring up Heyward in April (instead of June) would cost them a FULL YEAR of arbitration.
Your attitude of not being able to do what is best for the organization in the long run would eventually ruin the Braves record of excellence. You don’t win your division fourteen years in a row by not keeping an eye on the future as well as the present.
Anders
October 20th, 2009
12:38 pm
Lew- Yep, the Yanks have $32 mil coming off the books just for Damon, Nady and Matsui alone. They don’t need any of those guys and that free’s up the DH spot for Posada on a more regular basis. Holliday is a perfect for for the Yanks. (sigh)
DAP
October 20th, 2009
12:41 pm
how much is too much to pay the starters? im asking because before when we talked about this, someone was pointing out the braves cant keep all 6 because thats too much money tied up in those guys…what if huddy is signed to a $9mil per year contract? does that change things? does it then become reasonable financially to keep all 6 of them? im thinking all 6 would be about $43mil of payroll, with both KK and huddy taking a cut from last year…is that to much?
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
12:42 pm
DAP -
i also wanted to point out that gonzalez and soriano’s average innings pitched in a season is actually 63 IP and 79 IP respectively
Your math is not correct.
if you dont see the difference between mike gonzalez or rafael soriano and chris reitsma
Fair point. But I don’t see how Soriano and Gonzalez are more of a sure thing than B.J. Ryan or Brad Lidge or Matt Capps or Chad Cordero or Kerry Wood or, well, you get the point.
Preacher Roe –
Obviously some people fail to see the point. Good for you if you do, no need to be a jack@ss.
The irony of it all is you don’t sound any different. Though throwing a few personal attacks and seemingly witty insults in there demonstrates your immaturity. You sound like an overeager high school student trying to score a few e-points by making it known to everyone you that understand something they all do and making yourself look cool with a shade of arrogance.
Anders
October 20th, 2009
12:44 pm
Lew- The one caveat I would offer about the Yanks is that Jeter’s deal expires after next year. No way the wait so they’ll have to do something with him this off season. That said, I could see them agreeing to some deferred lifetime type deal so he gets huge total $’s but lightens the immediate impact. One of Jeter’s rare stated individual goals was to have ownership in a team someday so he’s gonna want his cabbage – he just doesn’t need it all now.
flange 1
October 20th, 2009
12:48 pm
Steve,
Thanks for the Minor report at 12:35. Liked seeing the change being nasty and the slider being pretty good.
This guy thinks he will be in ATL by 2012. I am thinking 2011. What do you think?
Anders
October 20th, 2009
12:51 pm
DAP- If Hudson takes the discount deal I’d expect it would be for 3 years. So let’s say it’s at the $9 mil you stated. That’s $38 mil per year for the next three years in Chipper, Lowe and Hudson (7 games off of TJ surgery). Bit of a risk imo considering the other two didn’t exactly shine this year. How many guys can they roll the dice on?
Why not just extend Vasquez and be done with it?
Steve from OH
October 20th, 2009
12:51 pm
flange, I agree on the slider. I liked what I saw, but then again, I really don’t know what I’m seeing.
Still think he’s a no. 3 starter, and he’ll probably be 2011 ready, yes.
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
12:52 pm
TnBrian –
The transitions didn’t make a whole lot of sense. And I really don’t feel like he finishes any of his points.
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
12:55 pm
Steve,
Scouting the Sally is absolutely one of my favorite sites.
David O'Brien
October 20th, 2009
12:58 pm
I agree, the Braves are built around complimentary players. — Dap01
With all due respect, please elaborate.
I mean, are you saying Brian McCann, the best hitting catcher in the NL, a four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger at 25, is a “complimentary” player? Wow.
Yunel Escobar is a complimentary player? Chipper Jones, who hit over .340 with one of the highest OPS in baseball over a three-year stretch before last season, is a complimentary player?
So basically, are you saying that anyone who doesn’t hit 35 homers or drive in 120 or more runs is a complimentary player?
DAP
October 20th, 2009
1:01 pm
pwhjortYour math is not correct.
actually, yeah it is.
your numbers were misleading. its unfair to average in season when the guys were out with tommy john surgery. im sure you used 14 innings as a full season for gonzo, where i used his 162 game average. in other words, how much he pitched when he was actually on the roster.
i know your point was to say they have been injured, but many many pitchers have had tommy john and come back strong, and there is no reason to mark that missed time against them. especially not for gonzalez and soriano who just completed full very successful seasons.
But I don’t see how Soriano and Gonzalez are more of a sure thing than B.J. Ryan or Brad Lidge or Matt Capps or Chad Cordero or Kerry Wood or,
i agree on ryan and wood, but they are overpaid…even i dont like to pay closers $10mil per. i think they are important, but i wouldnt ever go that high. lidge has a history of being very inconsistent, capps is a decent example but doesnt nearly have the experience gonzo or soriano have, and cordero is a good example though injured.
really, ever player is a gamble year to year, arent they? rollins, chipper, ordonez, zito, ect. you never REALLY know what you will get. but you take your chances on guys who could be big for your team, and a closer can be huge. like i said, i wouldnt break the bank for one…but i also dont mix and match and hope someone sticks. the braves, and every team should plan out their bullpen just like they do every other part of their team. its not like the old days where you just throw your extra pitchers in the ‘pen. this is a big part of the team.
Steve from OH
October 20th, 2009
1:03 pm
I wonder which DOB/MIB blog commenter this is?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzY5i4A1zgA&feature=related
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
1:06 pm
your numbers were misleading. its unfair to average in season when the guys were out with tommy john surgery.
Why is that unfair? It actually happened. My point wasn’t that they’re incapable of pitching a full load when they’re healthy, it’s that they’re not always healthy.
DAP
October 20th, 2009
1:08 pm
anders
youre just saying that because you want huddy. im not falling for that!
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:10 pm
“bobby doesnt run much because he has nobody to send.”
Actually, Bobby doesnt run much because his knees are for s^^t
But he never played the speed card to its fullest, even when he had legitimate speed studs like,just as maybe the best example, Kenny Lofton (who went from averaging over 60 steals a season from 1993-96 down to 27 with the Braves in 1997
Playing small ball would require too much strategizing for Cox. His philosophy is basically – “you listen to BIG Donk -you go up to plate, you swing’em hard and try hit ball far far – you hit big home run you make Donk very happy and get extra ice cream after game”
DAP
October 20th, 2009
1:13 pm
pwhjortMy point wasn’t that they’re incapable of pitching a full load when they’re healthy, it’s that they’re not always healthy.
dude…not trying to be a jerk…but thats stupid. so is every pitcher who ever had tommy john surgery excluded from consideration? every player who ever pulled a hamstring or an oblique? who is ALWAYS healthy? very few.
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:17 pm
“What, exactly, does the “captain” of a baseball team do?”
That very much depends on who the captain is and who the manager is
The way it’s supposed to work, the captain is a leader – a motivator, a teach, an example-setter
On teams like the Braves, being captain just tells everyone that you are the manager’s pet
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
1:18 pm
Kenny Lofton (who went from averaging over 60 steals a season from 1993-96 down to 27 with the Braves in 1997
Of course he got caught 20 times that year (which led the league, by the way), so Bobby was pretty much right to not send him as much. He also only hit 4 triples in 1997, the fewest he had ever hit and would ever hit (equaled only once again, 2001). He just generally wasn’t as fast in ‘97 as he was in the preceding and succeeding years. I don’t know if it was injuries or something else, but I have a theory. He was 30 years old for the first time in 1997 and his athleticism started to decline. Having realized this after 1997, he made a better effort to stay in shape.
Lofton’s SB numbers in 1997 are a product of him having a down year. Nothing to do with Bobby.
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:18 pm
And before anyone tells me that the manager doesnt elect team captain, I tell you that on a Bobby Cox team, nothing happens that he doesnt sanction – you do it Donk’s way or you go far far away all of a sudden
F. Wren
October 20th, 2009
1:19 pm
Assuming everything we know to date and his continued progress this ST there is every reason to project Heyward as the starting RF. Rock on
Everything, huh? The only everything I know is that everything you say is idiotic.
There are no reasons, as of this date, to start Heyward in AAA? How about what’s best for him – to bring him along gradually so that he can learn the lessons JF missed out on. How about if he comes up in June, the Braves control him an extra year? Do you really want to trade April and May of 2010 for the entire season 2016?
It’s sort of like putting money away in your IRA. Yeah it would be more fun to spend it now, but I want to enjoy my retirement.
I really just wish you would quit making self serving, idiotic statements based on hoping the reader is as stupid as you are.
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:20 pm
“Of course he got caught 20 times that year (which led the league, by the way), so Bobby was pretty much right to not send him as much.”
No, he got caught because Cox only let him run when the other team was expecting it – so they were ready for it. Predicatbility is how he manages a game is a Cox trademark.
Steve from OH
October 20th, 2009
1:20 pm
No, he got caught because Cox only let him run when the other team was expecting it – so they were ready for it.
Oh dear God…
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
1:21 pm
dude…not trying to be a jerk…but thats stupid. so is every pitcher who ever had tommy john surgery excluded from consideration? every player who ever pulled a hamstring or an oblique? who is ALWAYS healthy? very few.
Plenty of relievers are perfectly capable of averaging 70 innings a season. But, DAP, enough. We’ve made our points. At this point it’s pretty clear that we’re not making progress and I’m sure we can agree to disagree.
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:21 pm
“He just generally wasn’t as fast in ‘97 as he was in the preceding and succeeding years”
Yeah, he slowed down all of a sudden and then just like that went right back to being a speedster with over 50 steals in 1998. Musta been the water – lord knows it had nothing to do with how his manager made used of his skills set, right?
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:23 pm
“Plenty of relievers are perfectly capable of averaging 70 innings a season.”
There’s a big difference between 70 innings and 70 appearances.
Context
Efrim
October 20th, 2009
1:24 pm
The Phils always appear to have flaws but they always show up and fight. They’re a real good club. I don’t think they’re getting the respect nationally they deserve. Maybe this year they will.
Great point, Anders. I was one of them. Until now that is. That teams has enough offense and starting pitching to overcome any flaws that may appear from that bullpen…..and that pen has some great arms anyway, just poor command.
CB
October 20th, 2009
1:25 pm
Steve from OH, maybe that was BAS on a good day.
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:25 pm
“Yunel Escobar is a complimentary player? Chipper Jones, who hit over .340 with one of the highest OPS in baseball over a three-year stretch before last season, is a complimentary player?
”
Yes and yes. Or are you telling me that a team whose best player is Yunel Escobar or the 37 year old version of Chipper is gonna be a threat?
Now, you get enough complenmentary guys together and sometimes you can make something happen.
But on the other hand, when you have a manager who uses complementary players (like the aging Chipper and like Frenchy) as if they were team carrying studs – now you got a problem – like turning a 95 win roster into an 86 win season
CB
October 20th, 2009
1:26 pm
Just kidding,BAS.
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:26 pm
Chipper WAS a stud for a long time. He is a now a copmplementary player. A manager needs to understand that, and act accordingly
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
1:26 pm
There’s a big difference between 70 innings and 70 appearances.
HUH?!?!?
Robert
October 20th, 2009
1:27 pm
“There’s a big difference between 70 innings and 70 appearances.
HUH?!?!?”
Cox doesnt kill his relievers so much with innings loads as with appearances, and back to back appearances.
Preacher Roe
October 20th, 2009
1:33 pm
Is PWJHORT talking about Lofton’s 1997 season in a theoretical sense, as if he was too young to remember Lofton that season? And this kid wants us to take him seriously, with that absurd authoritative tone of his?
Daslied
October 20th, 2009
1:35 pm
DAP, how many closers, facing Utley/Howard/Ibanez, would you feel safe with?
I agree that, if Moylan closed, there’s a need for a backup. But, finances being what they are, a closer is pretty far down the list of priorities.
DAP
October 20th, 2009
1:35 pm
pwhjort ill be interested in hearing from you for the rest of the offseason with players who have never been hurt. and we better replace pretty much everyone on the braves right except for lowe and vazquez. wait, vazquez missed a start. ship him off too.
Steve from OH
October 20th, 2009
1:36 pm
And this kid wants us to take him seriously, with that absurd authoritative tone of his?
And this is relevant because…?
Bay Area Steve
October 20th, 2009
1:36 pm
CB,
I knock your smilies one time, and that’s what I get, huh? OK, fair enough.
Not to mention, it mighta been me had dude been reaching for whiskey. I can’t imagine how much Bud Light I’d have to drink…
I’m guessin’ Shamus, after an all day barbecue.
Bobby
October 20th, 2009
1:37 pm
PWH-Kelly and Church probably come in closer to $2.4M for 2010.
Steve from OH
October 20th, 2009
1:38 pm
BAS–yeah, if the dude had stumbled in looking for cheap whiskey, we woulda had no doubt who it was…
Preacher Roe
October 20th, 2009
1:43 pm
I’m guessing that the guy in the video is PWJHORT after having his mind blown by the brilliance of a common sense article written by Dave Cameron.
Daslied
October 20th, 2009
1:44 pm
2001 D’backs – Luis Gonzalez + complimentary players
2002 Angels – Glaus, Loaf + complimentary players
2002 Giants – Kent, Bonds + complimentary players
2005 White Sox – Konerko, Dye + complimentary players
2005 Astros – Morgan Ensberg (??) + complimentary players
2006 Tigers – Magglio + complimentary players
2006 Cardinals – Pujols + complimentary players
What did they have? 1 or 2 really good players, a handful of solid players and a couple of good starters. Atlanta’s not that far off…you don’t have to be the Phillies to win it all.
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
1:45 pm
Robert,
We’re not doing the “Cox bullpen usage debate” (a subject that I’d probably agree with you upon).
Bay Area Steve
October 20th, 2009
1:45 pm
Anders,
disappointed to miss Lundqvist. I think it woulda been a heckuva game if he goes the whole way. Your backup keeper’s glove side looked pretty weak. And, who’s this Del Zotto kid? I’d never heard of him. Looked like the Rangers best skater, both ways.
Johnny Vander Meer
October 20th, 2009
1:48 pm
There’s only room for one mildly obscure pitcher from the 40s here.
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
1:49 pm
Preacher Roe,
Is it that hard to spell my name correctly?
I’m sure it is, actually, but it’s written right there. You can just copy and paste.
I have no interest in getting into some sort of war of words with you. If you want to keep insulting me, go ahead. I don’t care. But you’re just looking for satisfaction and I refuse to oblige.
tiger297
October 20th, 2009
1:52 pm
absolutely impossible for me to type that name…i think its why most of us use PWH
Bobby
October 20th, 2009
1:57 pm
PWH-In your dream roster for 2010, what do you assume the Braves get for Lowe?
TnBrian
October 20th, 2009
2:01 pm
Yeah, I don’t get at all how someone could say that Atlanta is built around complimetary players. I think somebody has been watching too much Phillies games because that lineup just isn’t normal. I mean, how many guys have 25 plus HR’s in that lineup & 90 or more ribbies? Hey, more power to them, but injuries are bound to happen to one or more of their guys & maybe, just maybe, a guy or two will actually go in to a prolonged slump one of these days. Luck can’t last forever & that mamoth Howard has DH written all over him in the next few years.
McFann Ô –[brr!]
October 20th, 2009
2:02 pm
Rock On…–
Yeah, it’s all good. Just a little good-natured rivalry.
Course I do kinda pull for VT when Tech’s not playin’ ‘em…I mean, if the game’s on.
bravesgrl4life–
Hi! Wassup? Hope all is well!
flange1 Rollins and the Reaper (thanks McFann)…
You’re welcome! That’ll be five cents, please.
McFann Ô –[brr!]
October 20th, 2009
2:04 pm
DOB I mean, are you saying Brian McCann, the best hitting catcher in the NL, a four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger at 25, is a “complimentary” player? Wow.
Yunel Escobar is a complimentary player? Chipper Jones, who hit over .340 with one of the highest OPS in baseball over a three-year stretch before last season, is a complimentary player?
So basically, are you saying that anyone who doesn’t hit 35 homers or drive in 120 or more runs is a complimentary player?
Yeah…I’d say that boy’s cheese done slipped off his cracker.
TnBrian
October 20th, 2009
2:04 pm
Daslied, yeah, but you’re going to have to beat the Phillies to win it all. They disgust me & unless they fall to earth a little next year, the Braves will have their hands full with that group.
TnBrian
October 20th, 2009
2:07 pm
PWHjort, I meant “mammoth”, not “mamoth”. Just please don’t take more than 15 points off of my grade.
Daslied
October 20th, 2009
2:10 pm
TnBrian, you can hope that the Phils get knocked out in the first round by someone else.
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
2:12 pm
Bobby,
Nobody of use in 2010.
TnBrian,
See me after class!
Anders
October 20th, 2009
2:18 pm
youre just saying that because you want huddy. im not falling for that!
(DAP)
Oh, I know I couldn’t float that past you. I’m just hoping Wren is sitting at his desk eating lunch and perusing the old blog. “Hey, this Anders makes a good point. Give Huddy the $1 mil and send him on his way.” {:
flange 1
October 20th, 2009
2:22 pm
Preacher Roe,
PWH is a college student at Ga Tech. I for one enjoy his posts and have even gone to other blogs to read his stuff.
He does tons of research, loves baseball and adds tremendously to our discussion here. He presents his thoughts and then backs them up with research.
He may have a tone issue at times, but that does not diminish what he is saying.
If you want to disagree with him, that is fine, but he does not deserve to be abused for being young and for speaking his mind.
ugaaccountant
October 20th, 2009
2:22 pm
I’ll take one step at a time. Make the playoffs first, then try to win them. With Vasquez, Hanson and Jurrjens I’d like our chances in a playoff.
The happy medium to our bullpen situation is obviously keep 1 of Gonzalez & Soriano and let the other walk.
Why does MLB cater to teams who offer arbitration by giving them extra draft picks? Why isn’t it based solely on the value of the player lost? MLB already assigns them A or B priority based on how good they are, so why make teams play russian roulette to claim the pick? We’d love to keep Soriano, but simply can’t afford to pay him 8 million a year. We’re losing his value as a player and it would be nice to get like pick #50 in the draft to replace him. Sure there would be a lot more supplemental round draft picks, but so what. The drafts already huge, what’s the harm with adding a few more picks to help out teams that are losing impact major leaguers? Just seems like a broken system all around, because a team that wants to sign a free agent has to weigh that against giving up a draft pick. I don’t like it at all.
Anders
October 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
BAS- Yeah, I was dissappointed at no Henrik too. But the Rangers plan to rest him a lot this year because of the Olympics and all. Their backup keeper may be a problem. He’s looked real good the last couple of years but that was in Renney’s old defensive system. Toterella’s more offensive style requires more athletic goaltending. Not Valiquette’s strength. He’ll either adjust or Torts will replace him. He’s a no nonsense coach which I love.
Del Zotto sure does look real good for a 19 year old. He kind of reminds me of Zubov who the Rangers were never able to replace. A guy who can carry the puck out of the zone, play the point on the PP and score from the wide slot when it presents itself. Still a kid though. I expect he’ll hit the wall around Christmas. Almost all do. The NHL is quite the grind.
ugaaccountant
October 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
“tone issue” – The appropriate tone for a blog is always i’m right and f you. Otherwise you come across like a wimp.
David O'Brien
October 20th, 2009
2:27 pm
Happy birthday to Wanda Jackson (72), who rocked long before it was deemed acceptable for women to do so, and to Snoop Dogg (38).
Anders
October 20th, 2009
2:34 pm
Word up this way is there’s a video going around showing the great Mariano Rivera spitting on the ball last night. Has anyone seen this? Could you imagine he’s been cheating all these years? Talk about Christmas in October. Drinks would be on me for sure!!
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
2:36 pm
Rivera spitball video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-KGmVqN-kA
It’s not real, though. He’s been cleared.
Preacher Roe
October 20th, 2009
2:36 pm
I was tempted to buy a steak, but then I thought if I buy peanut butter and jelly, I’ll never go hungry. So, I go PBJ, and I never go hungry, but every meal sucks. PBJort wants PBJ relievers.
Anders
October 20th, 2009
2:39 pm
P.W. Hort to Anders at 2:36. “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”
Wayne in Utah
October 20th, 2009
2:44 pm
flange1
Yes, we do love and appreciate PW Hjort here on the ole blog, but he is a “pre-madonna” for sure.
(sorry, couldn’t resist!)
Anders
October 20th, 2009
2:45 pm
Preacher Roe – I thought you had a guy on staff who could multiply stuff like bread and wine or maybe even steak to give you all that’s needed? Why don’t you just give him a call and then nobody has to eat PB&J?
flange 1
October 20th, 2009
2:46 pm
Wayne,
That goes without saying!!!!
Wayne in Utah
October 20th, 2009
2:54 pm
You’d think if that DOB was worth his salt, he woulda gotten someone to talk from the meetings of last week, huh?
Supes
October 20th, 2009
2:54 pm
Sporting News names J.A. Happ NL Rookie of the year over Tommy Hanson.
Just damn, only if the Braves could have held on for a couple of more wins for Tommy to get that award…he was just as deserving as Happ.
Godon Beckham wins the AL Rookie of the year with some pretty solid offensive numbers. He’ll be a good one. Too bad the Braves didn’t have the draft position to land that guy, we could use a RH hitting infielder with power (and moxy).
Preacher Roe
October 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
Anders, I’m a Brooklyn Dodger, not a Bible Beater. A real New Yorker would’ve known that.
Johnny Vander Meer, from the looks of it, I’d say we’ve got more than enough room on this blog for long since forgotten pitchers of the 40s, but I can’t be so sure. We’ve actually got authoritative voices on here who talk about Kenny Lofton’s time as a Brave in a theoretical sense, as if that was too long ago for them to remember. Geez, Louise, if they’re too young to remember really famous hitters from the 90s who played for their favorite team, I don’t want to know what they’ll think of two pitchers from the 40s.
Travis
October 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
I read this blog very often and have to say that some who are regulars do seem to have the “Skip Carey syndrome”. Any question or comment made that isn’t 100% logical or perfectly thought out is the rantings of an idiot. Tone down the holier than thou attitudes and maybe more people would lend their two cents. This blog isn’t just for the connected few.
CB
October 20th, 2009
2:57 pm
PWH,it is dangerous to express an opinion on this blog- vultures are waiting to pick your bones! ( wish I had a vulture emoticon for BAS,McFann, work on that)
P. W. Hjort
October 20th, 2009
3:00 pm
Preacher Roe -
I was tempted to buy a steak, but then I thought if I buy peanut butter and jelly, I’ll never go hungry. So, I go PBJ, and I never go hungry, but every meal sucks.
Continuing the metaphor. If you buy a steak, you may have a better meal. But then again, it may be full of parasites and could kill you.
e’ve actually got authoritative voices on here who talk about Kenny Lofton’s time as a Brave in a theoretical sense, as if that was too long ago for them to remember.
Why do you keep saying this. I remember Kenny Lofton.
Jake W.
October 20th, 2009
3:01 pm
Supes, I am actually surprised to hear that. I guess it probably helped him being on a team that made the playoffs. His numbers are not at all that different from Tommy’s. Especially when you consider that Tommy put those numbers up having no prior big league experience. I thought Couglan would win it though. I forget when they called him up so maybe that went against him. It just seemed like he would be the favorite based on some of those numbers he was putting up. They were all good though.
Jeff R
October 20th, 2009
3:03 pm
Steve from Ohio… Thanks for posting that analysis of Minor earlier. What do you think about the expalnation of the Braves’ draft strategy given by the writer? Makes sense, but I wonder if that what management was thinking at the time.
Wayne in Utah
October 20th, 2009
3:06 pm
I guess we are all just a bunch of “pre-madonnas”.
Bay Area Steve
October 20th, 2009
3:07 pm
Hey, I like the “rantings of an idiot.” I’m the poster boy for rantings by an idiot. But, on occasion, someone’s post, on its own, warrants them being called an idiot. Or, more often, it’s the totality of posts.
OK, so didn’t sound like it, but, I agree, Travis. But, I reserve the right, until my inevitable banning, to call others idiots, to be a vulture, as CB phrased it. For instance, Robert is an idiot.
Travis
October 20th, 2009
3:08 pm
Bay Area Steve …Ok, with that I do agree.