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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,563 comments Add your comment
.P.a.u.l .L.e.n.t.z
January 6th, 2010
11:10 pm
Tomahawkin………..If Troy Glaus does indeed hit the ball like a man with something to prove this year……..then he could have the impact on our line-up that I feel that Matt Holliday would have (meaning that Chipper Jones would be in line to have a monster year because of the protection behind him).
However, that is a big “IF”.
Canadian Braves Fan
January 6th, 2010
11:10 pm
Braves offense will be better this year with a full yr of Mclouth, Glaus and an improved bench
.P.a.u.l .L.e.n.t.z
January 6th, 2010
11:11 pm
Tomahawkin…….was I the first to use the “PunkTree TV” term on here? I havent seen anyone use it.
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:12 pm
P-Lentz
No Doubt we are gonna compete, but We have to shoot for the WC this year if and only if we get certain players to produce and avoid injury. I’m already calling it that Chipper will suffer some sort of nagging injury in S. training (probably the wrist or oblique)
We have no shot at the Phillies, And I’m in the minority but I think the Melts will bounce back next year and compete for the WC as well
unbelievable
January 6th, 2010
11:12 pm
btw, Hudson is cheaper than Vasquez and where would the money for Bay come from?
Steve from OH
January 6th, 2010
11:12 pm
Glaus – ring
Hinske – ring
Cabrera – ring
A good thing, IMO
For them? Yes, absolutely.
For us? Uh…
Canadian Braves Fan
January 6th, 2010
11:13 pm
Tomahawkin was Vazquez a sure thing to win 15 games again this yr? I don’t think so, plus Hudson is signed fro2.5 mil cheaper
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:13 pm
P-Lentz
I haven’t heard anyone use the team Punk-Tree TV either…
Wait til RHR hears it, she will LMAO
And BTW who replaces Chip in the Punk-tree TV telecasts? I hope its Ron Gant or Don Sutton…
Steve from OH
January 6th, 2010
11:15 pm
RHR is gonna laugh your a## off, Tomahawkin? How’s that gonna work?
David O'Brien
January 6th, 2010
11:15 pm
Glad I could only watch the final seconds of the KU-Cornell game on the TV at the gym, sound off. If I’d been able to watch the entire game, I’d have been a wreck….
I’m just not sure why people feel the need to give you sh*t. Elon Brave
Human nature, Elon. There’s a few in every crowd. You know that. This is a needed outlet for them. Glad to oblige.
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:16 pm
Can Braves Fan
Vazquez would’ve won 20 games last year if he didn’t have garbage run support! He may win 14-16 games this year, but he is guranteed to throw 200 innings and that saves the bullpen from wear and tear
I don’t trust Huddy, especially since he isn’t an ace no more and what happens if he loses velocity on his pitches next year?
tiger297
January 6th, 2010
11:17 pm
so if Wren knew Liberty would be cheap we should have kept vazquez instead of signing hudson…didn’t his choice cut $1.5M out of the 2010 budget
Bay Area Steve
January 6th, 2010
11:18 pm
I suspect RHR’s brand of humor is located a bit higher on her brow. I could be wrong.
Although, to be fair, Punktree TV is Pryor-in-his-prime compared to Corned Beef Hash for Cornell. Seriously, PL?
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:18 pm
Steve From OH
If that’s the case, then “Don’t sing it, Bring it!”
An old quote from Razor Ramon
What do you think of the Hinske deal, obviously you see my vents about it on this page?
The A Bomb
January 6th, 2010
11:20 pm
The past two weeks has made it clear to me…
2010 is not a year designed for us to compete for a World Series title. All the moves made have been designed to garner to most out of the average fan’s entertainment dollar — not for people like us who can figure out the truth. Fielding a competitive team, Cox’s farewell tour, it’s all a smokescreen. We might make the playoffs, we might not. Philly is in the way.
Because while we finish with the equivalent of an NFL team at 9-7 — around 83-84 wins, there will be some VERY important player evaluations going on — both on the big club — those are the IFs we have been arguing about — I brought them up 2 weeks ago — and on the farm.
This team will look far different in 2011 and any vet who’s not on a long-term deal is probably gone. What we MUST hope for is for Lowe to kick A$$ this year so we can get him and his $30 million the heck out of Georgia. We MUST hope Freddie Freeman plasters AAA pitching and is ready (Heyward is a given). We MUST hope Kimbrel can be the real deal. We MUST hope the kid pitchers — Minor, Tehran and Vizcaino — are one step closer to being ready.
Honestly, I think Wren and Co. have more questions to answer with the young guys. They’ve put a nice disguise over what is really going on.
Green Tinted Sixties Mind
January 6th, 2010
11:20 pm
DOB,,, You said last night you liked The Raspberries, I do too. One of my favs from that era was Badfinger, did you like their music? It’s ironic, I never really dug the Beatles, and I know Badfinger was a Beatles production. I actually liked Beatles solo efforts after they split up more.
.P.a.u.l .L.e.n.t.z
January 6th, 2010
11:21 pm
Tomahawkin………..I’ve been thinking about the Vazquez trade/Hudson re-signing. If Frank Wren felt that he couldnt re-sign Vazquez to a contract that would fit into the future budget of the Braves…….then Hudson at $9 mil per year for 3 years was smart. If Vazquez had a good year in 2010, he gets $13-$15 mil a year contract during free agency from some team.
If Vazquez doesnt have a good year in 2010 for us, then we get nothing in return when he walks because the Braves wont offer him salary arbitration after the season.
David O'Brien
January 6th, 2010
11:22 pm
I am not necessarily opposed to the moves Wren made, though I wish we could have added a guy like Damon (DOB really made a good case for him imo). — Mike J
Don’t know if you saw where I said yesterday that the Braves like Damon and would like to have him, but Wren said yesterday at the Glaus press conf, to Bowman and me, that they were getting close to their payroll figure and indicated that they’re comfortable with Melky/Diaz in left if Heyward’s in right.
Hey, was it posturing so that it appears the Braves aren’t trying hard to get another OF like Damon? I didn’t get that impression. But I do know they like him and initially expressed interest in him.
David O'Brien
January 6th, 2010
11:23 pm
Obee: Thanks.
.P.a.u.l .L.e.n.t.z
January 6th, 2010
11:23 pm
Tomahawkin…….well please make sure that I get credit for the “PunkTree TV” moniker. I sure get enough flack for the “bad” things that I get labeled with.
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:24 pm
The A Bomb
Well Said…
The key to the season is that the Braves can’t play to the level of their competition like the did last tear. It is imperative that they beat up on the bottom feeders of the league (which they didn’t do last year)
If we play .500 baseball against the east and .575 baseball or above against the NL central and west then we might have a shot, but as I see it our offense TP and Bobby are gonna cost us a lot of close games next year…
The Lemmer
January 6th, 2010
11:25 pm
Right now our outfield is McClouth, Melky, & Diaz. Not exactly an all star outfield. Heyward & Schafer are unproven, so dont be counting them in for any contribution. Yes we still need a proven bat added & if you think its Hinske the Mets & Phillies are laughing at us, get a real bat in here Frank, this is ridiculous, dont be crying when we cant score again this year & all the good pitching goes to waste!
Steve from OH
January 6th, 2010
11:26 pm
The Hinske deal? It’s hard to complain about any deal bringing in a bench player, dude, from my perspective. I mean, he’s a pretty average hitter overall with above-average pop, and as a bench player/PH guy, that’s hard to argue against. Can play all the corners (and respectably, according to UZR, though I haven’t seen much of him in person to comment), so that’s a plus considering we do have some risk there between Chipper and Glaus.
Bench guys never really rise my ire in either way. In this case, I like the signing, because it gives us good depth and we’re likely to see more value from Hinske than we’ll pay him, so that’s good if you’re a bean-counter. Besides, it’s a one-year deal, so it poses little risk to the club if he gets hurt/sucks/etc.
David O'Brien
January 6th, 2010
11:27 pm
MZ: Coolio would be one of mine, or was back when his album was out. That was easy to listen to. Don’t know if that’s really a guilty pleasure or not, though. He’s not cheesy enough for that.
I do have some, bro. But I can’t share them. I’d get ridiculed too long. Unless someone considers Elvis — and I mean every era, including ’70s chunky Elvis — a guilty pleasure. To that one I will confess wholeheartedly. I like everything Elvis Presley, even the bad movies.
But Huey Lewis? No, I can honestly say, emphatically, no. Never.
Jurrjens4NLCY
January 6th, 2010
11:29 pm
I sure get enough flack for the “bad” things that I get labeled with.
And “Punk-Tree TV” surely won’t be one of them.
(Somewhere jeffrey d, is pissed)
MZ
January 6th, 2010
11:29 pm
DOB —–
Dude … Elvis, in any incarnation, ain’t no guilty pleasure … but you gotta give me at least one … there’s gotta be a Huey Lewis and the News-type in your regular rotation … c’mon, DOB — no fear
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:29 pm
P-Lentz
I thought the Vazquez trade was done with urgency as if Wren didn’t explore any other options. Hell he could’ve done a 3 team trade or something to land us Miggy Cabrera…
I would’ve held on to Vazquez til S. Training and If another teams #1 or 2 pitcher goes down due to injury then we’d have the upper hand…But honestly I’d felt a lot better if we got a bag of baseballs(Joking, I mean better talent) as opposed to the slop we got from the yankees farm system, during the last decade they had the most overrated farm system in baseball thanks to BSPN
The A Bomb
January 6th, 2010
11:29 pm
Actually, I will miss the endless, repetitive 3 a.m. (EDT) debates over Norton, Johnson, Conrad etc….
This group on the pine appears to be a lot better.
David O'Brien
January 6th, 2010
11:30 pm
Blair, Nolie, Shanks a lot, Heath, Medicated Pete: Just got down (or up?) to your comments. Very cool of you all. Not necessary, but thanks.
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:31 pm
The Lemmer
Very Well Said in your last Post
I was on the Phillies Forum earlier and the Hinske signing was ignored by their fans so I guess that’s an indication of how Huge it was…
AdirondackDave
January 6th, 2010
11:32 pm
Speaking of bad movies, DOB, I’m watching a 1932 flick about Rasputin and the tzar. Interesting only because all 3 legendary Barrymores are in it, Lionel, John, and Ethel. May have been the only picture they appeared together.
Steve from OH
January 6th, 2010
11:32 pm
Blair–not malpractice law, I hope?
MZ
January 6th, 2010
11:32 pm
I’ll even throw out some more in an attempt to persuade you to divulge some of yours … Collective Soul (loved em back in the day, and still buy every one of their records the day they’re released, if not sooner … can’t help it) … Fall Out Boy, Train
unbelievable
January 6th, 2010
11:33 pm
would the Braves be willing to trade Melky and taking a flyer on Dye? Seems realistic, just dont know if we want to be in consideration for one of the worst defenses in baseball. Their cost would be similar
nolie
January 6th, 2010
11:33 pm
Glaus – ring
Hinske – ring
Cabrera – ring
A good thing, IMO
pretty meaningless IMO
Andrew in PA
January 6th, 2010
11:33 pm
DOB so are they just handing Heyward the job or what? I mean i dont get it hes 20 years old. Because a outfield of melky,nate and diaz isnt going to scare anyone..not even the nats
David O'Brien
January 6th, 2010
11:35 pm
Green Tinted: I only got into Badfinger way after the fact. Maybe 5-6 years ago, and I don’t even remember what inspired me to buy one of their albums. Maybe heard some of their tunes in a movie or something. But yes, good stuff.
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:35 pm
D.O.B.
You probably not a fan of the old West Coast Rap are you
Like old Too Short, Scarface, DJ Quik, K-Dee, MC Ei8t…Amog others…?
And I’m still laughing about you comment a few weeks ago which says and I quote “T-Hawkin, I know you are kidding because no grown man would listen to New Kids on The Block”" but hey I like that stuff, It’s smooth in some ways. Plus it gets in your head easily and not to mention it was played on Beavis and Butthead
The A Bomb
January 6th, 2010
11:36 pm
Steve from OH and nolie — Always good to have winners in the locker room, guys who have been in big games/series.
Sort of like Pendleton in ‘91.
Great acquisitions? NO WAY
Could it have been worse? YOU BET
unbelievable
January 6th, 2010
11:36 pm
tomahawkin, how do the Braves find a way to afford Miguel Cabrera or Jason Bay? you keep throwing out ideas that arent even close to being realistic
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:37 pm
I have a feeling that Milky Cabrera will be garbage seeing that this is his first time being in a lineup that isn’t filled with all stars, not to mention he won’t be hitting in as many bandboxes as there is in the AL
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:39 pm
unbelieveable
How do we afford Jason Bay or Miggy Cabrera…That’s where I was getting at, L Media is too cheap to invest (Adding 5-6 mill to the payroll to afford a Miggy Cabrera or J. Bay) in improving the offense, therefore we dump payroll and settle for slop, and yet they want people to go to the games this year to watch us lose 3-2
David O'Brien
January 6th, 2010
11:41 pm
Andrew in PA: No, that’s not the impression I get. They’re going to let Heyward show this spring if he’s ready. They’d probably not say it’s his to lose, but I sort of sense that it is. But giving it to him? No. There’s a difference. If he struggles this spring, I think he’ll spend 6-8 weeks in Triple-A to start the season. But if he doesn’t struggle, I think he’s the opening-day RF.
nolie
January 6th, 2010
11:42 pm
would the Braves be willing to trade Melky and taking a flyer on Dye? unbelievable
I’m no Melky fan at all, but I wouldn’t trade him for Dye. His bat was like molasses last year.and he can barely move. can we say…toast?
im4ball
January 6th, 2010
11:44 pm
DOB,
Have you heard or do you have any ideas of who might be in line to replace Cox next season?
and do you think some of the moves that Wren has done or not done is in anticipation of a new manager coming and who might want some different type of players?
nolie
January 6th, 2010
11:45 pm
Could it have been worse? YOU BET A Bomb
sure it coulda been, but having been on a winning team has nothing to do with it, at least IMO.
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:49 pm
D.O.B.
I think Heyward not being able to showcase his skills in the Arizon F. League last year due to injury sets him back…Unless he pulls a 2000 version of Furcal and Bobby thinks he’s more than capable then I think he gets called up in in June
The same same scenario happened last year with Hanson. Everyone on the blog thought that we’d start the season in Philly with Hanson on the roster and he didn’t get called up to midseason. I think the same thing happens to Heyward
But in Late S. Training its a gut call, only time will tell….
David O'Brien
January 6th, 2010
11:51 pm
Tomhawkin: Scarface is from Houston. And he’s always been identified with Houston.
But yes, back when I listened to a lot of hip-hop in the late-’80s/early-’90s, I was into quite a few West Coast acts — N.W.A, Cypress Hill, Digital Underground, Del the Funkee Homosapien, Pharcyde, Ice Cube’s first solo albums, Dre’s solo stuff, Jurassic 5, Snoop’s early stuff….
The A Bomb
January 6th, 2010
11:51 pm
Actually, for those of you complaining about the payroll cut which I saw immediately after the Glaus signing….
WHEN Heyward starts
WHEN Freeman starts
WHEN Minor is up
WHEN/IF Tehran is up
WHEN/IF Vizcaino is up
IF Schafer comes up and can start etc etc etc
Folks — we might be looking at a payroll in the $70 million range — at least for awhile. Minus Chipper, minus Lowe, minus Glaus, minus Wagner, minus Saito, minus Hudson … that’s a lot of cabbage.
We can then lock up some of the young guys a la McCann and go after a big-time 3B in free agency to replace Chipper.
Not bad. But 2010 is an illusion designed for the average fan.
MZ
January 6th, 2010
11:54 pm
Straight Outta Compton remains one of the best hip-hop albums of all-time … The Chronic, as well
.P.a.u.l .L.e.n.t.z
January 6th, 2010
11:55 pm
David O’Brien………I think as the team is constructed now, unless Jason Heyward has a MONSTER Spring Training (and even then, it’s not a sure thing)……I feel that he will start the year in Triple A. Again, he’s only 20 with barely a few at-bats in Triple A. Plus his Arizona Fall League was cut short due to an injury.
If the Braves really intended to have Heyward start the 2010 season as our starting right fielder…..then wouldn’t it have been smart for the Braves to have called up Heyward in September to help him get his feet wet by giving him some at-bats at the Major League level?
With Diaz in left, McLouth in center, and Cabrera in right…….we’ll have an outfield that will probably be better than what we had in the first 2 months of 2009. If anyone gets hurt or flops…….then Jason Heyward can be called up in early June (just like Tommy Hanson in 2009).
MZ
January 6th, 2010
11:58 pm
I predict Jason Heyward will have a rookie season (if he does in fact qualify as a rookie this season) similar to that of Jeff Francouer’s first year in the bigs
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
12:00 am
Hell Yeah MZ
Now You’re Catching on, lol (joking)
DJ Quik was slept on back then but it is good sh..t especially to chill to
And don’t forget about Warren G and Nate-Dogg
MZ
January 7th, 2010
12:03 am
Tomahawkin —-
dude … “Regulate” was what made it OK in my household to like hip-hop music
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
12:04 am
MZ
The Chronic CD is a Classic
Oh yeah, gotta throw in some old Nemesis, Too Short, Spice One, House of Pain, Onyx and Cypress Hill as well…Gawd I miss the days of old MTV
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 7th, 2010
12:04 am
I’ve been coming here for about three years, have always enjoyed it and found DOB very informative and a hard worker.
As for you Robert, you are widely recognized as a royal pain in the arse. Why do you bother to come here? Just to show the world what a lowlife is really like?
Carry on.
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
12:07 am
D,O.B.
I know that Scarface is from Houston…I have several songs he did in collaboration with Pac so I added it to my West/Coast-LBC collection playlist on my laptop…
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
12:08 am
D.O.B.
You are a musical genius! If you know about Scarface then I bet you know about old 8ball and MJG and Bone….
You seriously should have your own sports/music show, That would rule!
David O'Brien
January 7th, 2010
12:10 am
Tomahawkin: Let’s be clear, I’m just a huge music fan. That’s all. I’ve got no musical talent to speak of, other than being a decent singer (at least I think so).
You just mentioned Tupac — now there we have something in common. Seriously strong stuff. Dude was special. To me, most of his stuff sounds as great today as it did when it came out.
Redstick19
January 7th, 2010
12:10 am
<A Bomb and others-
I’ve said this on this blog numerous times: I think too many get too wrapped up in and concerned with how much money the Braves spend or how much they have to spend. Teams like the Marlins and Rays have proven that you don’t need a huge payroll to win. What’s more important than money is developing young talent and hiring coaches that utilize appropriately and motivate. Marlins had just as good a season, or better, than Braves last season… and did it with about $60 million less. Again, it’s not how much a team spends- but rather how they coach and use what players they have.
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
12:14 am
D.O.B.
If You ever watched the old TV show New Yourk Undercover, then you’ll find out where I get a lot of my musical taste from not to mention I had an older sister that got me on the good stuff, and leave it to Beavis and Butthead to teach me about the old rock music…The Mariah, R Kelly, Whitney Houston, Keith Sweat, New kids, etc well that requires a personal taste, because its smooth
And you have about 5 week before Florida right…?
And have you ever been to Fugo De Chao in Buckhead (Brazialian steakhouse buffet)?
Blair
January 7th, 2010
12:18 am
DOB and Co., what’s the story on the Ellis Hotel?
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
12:18 am
“You just mentioned Tupac — now there we have something in common. Seriously strong stuff. Dude was special. To me, most of his stuff sounds as great today as it did when it came out.”
Co-Sign! I get so tired of these kids out here who claim that Lil Wayne is better than Pac, Screw that! Lil Wayne is nothing but Pop-Tart Garbage, or in other words a cartoon, a fad…
I think listening to that crap is bad for your ears so is Jeezy, Gay-Kon (Which Francoeur likes, ouch) Soulja Girl among others….
I’m really suprised you don’t add music insight on the music blogs in the ajc…but I’m pretty sure you probably don’t have the time, especially from Feb thru Nov….
Crime Dog
January 7th, 2010
12:21 am
Dave-
I have inside information that says Bowman was excited about the All-American Rejects postgame concert last summer…care to comment?
Burdell
January 7th, 2010
12:28 am
Don’t know if you saw where I said yesterday that the Braves like Damon and would like to have him, but Wren said yesterday at the Glaus press conf, to Bowman and me, that they were getting close to their payroll figure and indicated that they’re comfortable with Melky/Diaz in left if Heyward’s in right. DOB
Schuerholz also told Wren that the payroll isn’t dropping this year. So either someone is getting paid more than we think, the last year someone was paid less than we thought, or someone has an incentive plan that we don’t know about. Because my figures (which are also Bowman’s figures) have the Braves about $7-9 million under budget, even including the likely including incentives.
Maybe they meant that they were too close to budget to consider Damon (who might have been demanding $10-12 million), but they should still have room to make the guy some sort of offer. Jon Heyman (via MLBTR) doesn’t think the Yankees will go over $6 million, so the Braves should be able to top that.
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 7th, 2010
12:28 am
Tomahawkin
January 6th, 2010
11:29 pm
P-Lentz
I thought the Vazquez trade was done with urgency as if Wren didn’t explore any other options. Hell he could’ve done a 3 team trade or something to land us Miggy Cabrera…
———————
Do you seriously think the Braves want an alcoholic first baseman who is overweight and who costs $20 million a year? Surely you didn’t give this any thought.
I watched him play in Miami and the man could be a real mental case and was innumerable times. They were glad to see him move along. The Marlins put a royal screwing on the Tigers when they traded Miggy and Dontrele to them. Jeeeezzz, I don’t think I’d want anything to do with the Marlins. And for damn sure I would not want Miggy in my clubhouse.
Blair
January 7th, 2010
12:28 am
In fact, could you guys give us some tips on where to stay? Looking like we’ll be in for the Mets short series May 17-18.
Andrew in PA
January 7th, 2010
12:32 am
DOB,so upgrading the outfield is melky? Im sorry i just dont think we are a playoff team. We didnt do enough. Braves are poor.
Nick in PA
January 7th, 2010
12:34 am
DOB,
Have you (or anyone for that matter)had a chance to talk with Melky about his trade to the Braves?
MZ
January 7th, 2010
12:38 am
DOB —–
One more thing about Bingham … apparently he’s in the Crazy Heart and co-wrote a song that Colin Farrell sings (called “Gone, Gone, Gone”) … cool stuff
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
12:39 am
Blair
If your are coming in town for the Melts series, then you better plan ahead and take Marta (The subway)
There are so many Bandwagon Yankees/Melts fans down here its sickening!
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
12:41 am
Andrew in PA
Yeah, My man, I’m not a fan of Milky Cabrera at all, he will be hard pressed to hit over 10 homers in this ballpark
JKOO
January 7th, 2010
12:59 am
Oh DOB is a good singer now!! Of course you are!! LOL. It keeps getting better!! I really wanna see 40 year old DOB riding his Harley and listening to 2pac!! I would probably never stop laughing!! Never! Does anyone else think the sight of that would be hilarious??
Coach (2011 or Bust)
January 7th, 2010
12:59 am
I’m in agreement with O’Brien, Elvis is King. Also, don’t miss the all day 75th Birthday bash for Elvis Presley upcoming on January 8th. I think it’s on the TCM channel (Turner Classic Movies). Yep, just checked the tv listings. All day Elvis movies.
As for our 2010 Braves, I’m not even going to speculate. But I will say this. The pitching is there and the defense is much improved, or it should be if Heyward and Schafer make the team out of spring training. It also seems that much of the blog is unaware of Troy Glaus’s defensive excellence. The bench is deep and versatile. Hinske, Infante, Ross, Thurston and Diaz/ Cabrera give Cox much flexibility.
As for the offense and running game, it’s anybody’s guess. I’ll put in my two cents once more for the Braves to maybe add Rick Ankiel to the outfield mix, as I really like his chances of a comeback season.
JKOO
January 7th, 2010
1:02 am
DOB is that guy doing karaoke at the bar where everyone else is tanked and they are doing it to be funny but DOB is completely sober and serious trying to hit every note with a straight face!! LOL
David O'Brien
January 7th, 2010
1:02 am
JKOO: I turned 46 in November. I wish I was 40.
And unfortunately, many Harley riders, maybe even a majority of us, actually are 40 and older, simply because most of us couldn’t afford one when we were younger.
Couple other 40-something Harley riders you might recognize: Terry Pendleton and Fredi Gonzalez.
And I was kidding about the singing comment, happy guy. Get a sense of humor.
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
1:04 am
Damn D.O.B.
I thought you were 5 years younger as indicated by the picture on the blog…
nolie
January 7th, 2010
1:05 am
JKOO dude, that sounds like some serious jealousy there my man.
Envy is one of the 7 deadly sins, y’know.
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
1:06 am
JKOO
LOL
I like to see D.O.B. dance like 2pac like Pac was dancing in that “I Get Around Video” lol
JKOO
January 7th, 2010
1:16 am
Im just messing with you DOB its great you are riding a harley. much respect for doing what you want in mid 40’s. I could care less if TP and fredi ride harleys those two guys riding harleys make it look less appealing. I like tupac as well. Its hard to listen to todays rap if you listened to that dude. dont be afraid to like some mainstream music. also don’t try to hard to be that guy thats always trying to talk about bands that nobody else has heard of. I myself like bands like interpol, she wants revenge, franz ferdinand, vega, team facelift, astra heights, scissors for lefty etc. but most people i work with and some of my friends have no clue who they are for the most part and Im not trying to tell them everyday about them. they probably could care less. I like the blog at least the braves part of it. kinda wish you had a different one just for music. Keep up the good work.
Andrew in PA
January 7th, 2010
1:19 am
Yeah Tomahawkin these people on here think were ok with what we have now .
JKOO
January 7th, 2010
1:24 am
DOB: Wasn’t trying to be rude or mean I enjoy your blogs a ton Im on it as much as i can everyday at work. Find myself checking the blog at least 5 times a day when i can. I was just saying its funny to me when 45 year old men try and tell everyone how they love to ride harleys and they love music that most people have never heard of. If thats really what you enjoy….Thats great!! Its just when you talk about it to everyone on your blog everyday it looks like you are trying to hard thats all….Like I said I loooove the blog. you’re the best.
Tomahawkin
January 7th, 2010
1:25 am
Andrew in PA…
Agree, a majority of the people on here are content with relying on Chipper to have an MVP season, Troy Glass hitting 30-35 homers as if he can hit that many in our ballpark minus roids, and Hinske having the caliber season that he had when he won the rookie of the year in the last decade when he was on PEDS…
I’m not so sure about Wagner either…
No way our offense can compete with the likes of Philly, the mets (if healthy and that is key), the Dodgers or Cards (for in WC just in case if we are going against them in the WC)
I for one think this offseason is worse than last year’s and last years offseason was pretty bad especially at this time of the year when we had to resort to Griffey Jr or Loaf (G. Anderson)
nolie
January 7th, 2010
1:29 am
Cheer up T Hawkin’. whatever happens you’ll live through it. Remember , that which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Look at it as a year for building character in Braves fans.
N8
January 7th, 2010
1:33 am
“and yet they want people to go to the games this year to watch us lose 3-2″ Tomahawkin
We scored 3 or less runs last year 68 times. The powerful Phillies lineup? 58 times.
The Braves scored 2 or less runs 53 times for the season (Phillies scored 2 or less 38 times – ouch). However, before June 28th (75 games into the season), the Braves scored 2 or less runs 36 of those 53 times. In the next 87 games the Braves scored 2 or less runs only 17 times.
What does that mean? I don’t know. Before June 28th, this team was absolutely horrible at the plate and couldn’t take advantage of some good pitching in June and May. In April the pitching wasn’t all that great either, so the team overall was just really bad.
But after June 28th the pitching stepped it up a notch, and while occasionally the hitting wasn’t as good as the pitching (kind of hard to keep up with one of the best pitching staffs in baseball). But it certainly was good enough to ride that pitching to many more victories than losses.
The question is now whether this offense that Wren has constructed can be as productive as the offense after June 28th of last year. Because I think the pitching will be just fine.
But let me repeat those numbers in case you couldn’t grasp them the first time….
First 75 games, 36 games of 2 runs or less from the offense. Almost HALF!!!
Second 87 games, 17 games of 2 runs or less. Less than 20 percent of the time. Meaning every 5 days or so, the offense ran into a hot pitcher and couldn’t get much done against them.
So the questions to YOU, Tomahawkin are as follows:
Do you think that Melky/Diaz can replace Loaf?
Do you think Heyward will contribute?
Do you think Prado is for real?
Do you think one of Chipper or Glaus will contribute some power numbers at one time or another? Because after LaRoche came back to the Braves, Chipper started his downward spiral (.224 after August 1st). Before LaRoche got to Atlanta and after June 28th (IE: July), the Braves scored almost as many runs as they did per month WITH LaRcoche (139 runs – 5 less runs than August in 1 less game than they played in August). And that was with Kotchman at 1B.
So the way I see it, if the answer to most of those is yes. Than it shouldn’t be too difficult to decipher that our offense won’t be as bad as it was during the time you keep referencing (3-2 losses), earlier in the year. Before McLouth arrived. Before Jeff departed.
If you think the answer to all of those questions is no. Than you better pass along a message to Gulliver that in your opinion, we’re doomed.
I’m not a homer. I’ve always kept it pretty real on this blog. But only a complete idiot, (or perhaps somebody who just LOVES to bitch, complain, whine and moan), can’t see that the offensive core of this team remains from the group that tore up the NL after June went away last year.
Did I mention yet today that the Braves went 22-15 against all of the NL playoff qualifiers last year? If I didn’t yet. They did.
One point I agree on with you though, is the playing to the competition. As my above stat shows, we played the tough teams tough.
When the Braves were winning 90-100 games every year, it was because they absolutely destroyed the have nots, the really bad teams (Pirates, Nats, etc…). Like NOT LOSING to the expansion Rockies in 1993.
That has to improve. But again. After June 28th…. it did.
Can this team play as good (or almost as good) as it did after Hanson and McLouth arrived? There lies the playoff answer, imo.
I think they can, and will.
Mike S
January 7th, 2010
1:36 am
Gotta love old school Cube. Who’d have thunk he’d be doing kids/family movies 20 years later?
Think about Cube and Eddie Murphy 20 years ago, if you told me then that they’d be starring in “Are we there yet?” and “Dr. Doolittle” 20 years later, I’d have called you certifiable! Talk about interesting and unexpected career transformations.
N8
January 7th, 2010
1:39 am
How many of you dill-holes still trying to figure out the “missing money” in the payroll actually read the blog?
For cryin’ out loud, at least scroll the pages and read the text in grey!
DOB stated yesterday, that Wren is calculating in bonuses, buyouts, and with many of the “at risk” players he’s signed this winter, their incentive clauses. He has to.
Can’t max out the payroll, then have Glaus tear it up pushing the total payroll above the self imposed limit, can they? Or would you prefer that ownership would go all “Eight Men Out” and force Bobby to sit Glaus in the pennant drive before he hits his incentive AB’s, to keep the money down?
Actually, never mind. Spend your few brain cells some of you have left trying to figure it out. It’s like watching somebody trying and find the corners in a round room.
How do some of you manager to not only turn you computer on each day, but log on to the internet, let alone find this blog?
It’s not that tough to read DOB’s posts. Most of the answers to ANY question you might have (unless your question is asking what the lyrics to any Whitesnake song is), are going to be found shaded in grey.
So simple a caveman could do it.
JKOO
January 7th, 2010
1:39 am
nolie: iam jealous!! i wish i could follow the braves around and write about them!! i also wish i could afford a harley. LOL. Just hope its b4 im 40 so I dont laugh at myself.
mini-DOB
January 7th, 2010
1:46 am
I don’t know where I’m going
But, I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
But, here I go again
Here I go again
Tho’ I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I’m looking for
Oh Lord, I pray
You give me strength to carry on
Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An’ here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
I’m just another heart in need of rescue
Waiting on love’s sweet charity
An’ I’m gonna hold on
For the rest of my days
Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An’ here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
But here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go again
Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An’ here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
An’ here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
N8
January 7th, 2010
1:46 am
I’m out. Borrowed season 1 of The Shield from my buddy. I know, I know….
It’s a toss-up. Debate whether LM slashed payroll, or watch some highly praised TV on DVD.
Later.
N8
January 7th, 2010
1:47 am
Funny mini-DOB, but that’s likely to get your IP address banned!
nolie
January 7th, 2010
1:56 am
Just hope its b4 im 40 so I dont laugh at myself. JKoo
I was lucky back in my day you could pick up a used one for a grand or two. Course they had just invented the rubber tire shortly b4 that and almost nobody knew how to ride one yet.
Andrew in PA
January 7th, 2010
2:13 am
how u doin nolie,whats your take on glaus and hinske being the 2 sluggers the braves got with the freed up money from javy?
Robin (HOF) Yount
January 7th, 2010
2:15 am
Speaking of young Mr. Heyward…the Braves new RF…no worries people…kid will be fine!
Hell…I had over 900 ML at bats…BEFORE my 20th birthday! Of course, I was playing shortstop and the Brewers were not counting on my bat too much!
Worked out in the end…for me at least!
BELIEVE
UF Brave
January 7th, 2010
2:15 am
Just somethin to think about for you night owls on the ole blog.
The Braves definitely have the edge over the Mutts in starting pitching, and I would argue that they have the edge over the Phils in starting pitching as well. Comparing head-to-head:
1. J. Jurrjens v. R. Halladay
No denying it, as much as I love JJJ, Halladay wins this one.
2. T. Hudson v. C. Hamels
A lot of uncertainty for both pitchers in this matchup, Hudson coming of TJ surgery and Hamels coming of a bad year. We’ll say this one’s a push.
3. D. Lowe v. J. Blanton
He may not be worth $15 million…but if D-Lowe has ANY kind of rebound this season he’ll be better than Blanton. D-Lowe wins this one.
4. T. Hanson v. J. Happ
This may be the most interesting matchup. Happ may have finished higher in the ROY voting, but he doesn’t have overpowering stuff so hitters should fare better against him once they get a scouting report…Big Red is only gonna get better folks! Hanson wins this one.
5. K. Kawakami v. J. Moyer/P. Martinez/???
Kawakami is easily the most under-rated pitcher on our staff. He should thrive as a fifth starter with the extra rest from skipped starts. K-bomb easily wins this one.
Braves 3
Phils 1
Push 1
Now hitting…eh…not so much. Lol!
nolie
January 7th, 2010
2:30 am
Andrew, I been saying all along that I didn’t think they had the money to spring for 7+mil player. I like the Glaus pick up just fine. I’m not a Melky fan but he will do ok as a 4th OFer if Heyward can come up sometime this season and hit ok. I guess Hinske is as good as any other part-timer, I kinda liked huff better cause of his splits, but not mad about Hinske. I think they are some better than the first half club and some worse than the second half club from last season, but there are so many ifs that there is no way we can really know b4hand. I am hoping they come up with somebody better than Conrad or the others we have now-not Infante – as a back up infielder.
Bad Scooter
January 7th, 2010
2:30 am
Just started watching The Middle and Modern Family on ABC recently. Both are hilarious, just a notch below The Office, Always Sunny, 30 Rock, and Curb in my book.
nolie
January 7th, 2010
2:34 am
Bad Scooter have you tried Community yet this year?
Coach (2011 or Bust)
January 7th, 2010
2:40 am
Count me among the confused. Didn’t Frank Wren just sign a big right handed bat to play first base and bat fourth behind Chipper? If Glaus stays healthy just pencil in 25-30 HR’s and 90-100 RBI. His continued health status is the only question mark.
Melky Cabrera adds defense and versatility to the outfield and he’s a switch hitter.
Look at it like this……would you rather have LaRoche and Anderson or Glaus and Cabrera?
The answer is a no-brainer.
nolie
January 7th, 2010
3:01 am
DOB You ever watch Better Off Ted