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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,563 comments Add your comment
NO MORE BOBBY
January 8th, 2010
2:43 am
HOW MANY OF THE FORMER ANGELS SIGNINGS HAVE WORKED FOR US IN THE PAST?
IDIOTS!!!!
uga-brave
January 8th, 2010
2:46 am
we dont have that goon that can breakoff pitches.
Bay Area Steve
January 8th, 2010
2:48 am
Man, I hate when they delete posts; I saw it, Tom. And, really wish I’d have seen N8’s imposters’.
Speaking of Irish Whiskey: uga, someone earlier called Irish Whiskey drinkers girly-men. Not sure who it was, but as a whiskey drinker, I was a bit offended. I need 40% myself, but I gotta support my fellow whiskey-drinking Braves fans.
Second speaking of whiskey: I think there was something earlier about McFann and two dogs named Whiskey and Brandy. I thought that was cool. If I ever get a dog, Whiskey’s a tough name to beat. (And, if they ever genetically engineer a dog that I can walk without having to pick up excrement with a plastic bag, I may actually get a dog.)
Tom O'Hawke
January 8th, 2010
2:51 am
“Tom O’fart………….there is nothing creative about your stupidity.” —- ,$$Paul,$$Lentz
With a comeback such as that, I can see that I’m doomed. By the way, your moniker is seems different again. Did you get banned again? I’m losing count. Is this number 4?
uga-brave
January 8th, 2010
2:56 am
lowe, jjj. and hudson are not strikeout guys. maybe hanson.
love pitchers the give me a whip.
we traded away a guy that a that a huge whip. second in the national in strikouts. for what melky.
well smillin frank gave all that money to lowe and the donger.
22 million.
CharlieAlphaBravo
January 8th, 2010
2:58 am
Things I learned from todays blog:
$.L.e.n.t.z.$ will argue with people for days on end even if threy’re not present and without actually reading any of their posts (or postings, if you prefer).
N8 is actually capable of positive analysis of the Braves if he is happy with the team’s direction. Go figure. All this time, I just thought he was a well informed negative Nancy.
DOB loves Mountain Dew.
(I’m not entirely sure about that last one)
Bay Area Steve
January 8th, 2010
2:59 am
uga,
you say gold is falling, but I’ve noticed silver has been trending upward lately. I only own silver, in any quantity, and’ve been considering selling since I saw $18. Your thoughts on silver, and how closely the two are related? Also, gold’s up pretty good the last coupla days; further thoughts? Selling is always tough, because of the 10% rake…
uga-brave
January 8th, 2010
3:01 am
smilin frank was trying to give away lowe. nice job 15 million a year..
add that to the donger, no doubt why we cant get it done.
Bay Area Steve
January 8th, 2010
3:05 am
BEAR,
Latin Illegitimate Conundrum, or whatever that moniker is, I’d like to second that other dude’s request that you post the link to your blog; I’d like to read it.
Bay Area Steve
January 8th, 2010
3:08 am
uga, stop with the donger. Or, at least, explain it to me. I wanna laugh too, if its funny. As far as his numbers, a whole lotta the cats here have got me hoping for an even better year from the dude (and I understand their rationale). But, based on his stuff, I’m thinkin’ the best we can pencil is the same production.
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
January 8th, 2010
3:10 am
N8
Now, now…..you be nice to ole Dense…(LOL)
He can’t help it…he’s an azz..(LOL).
uga-brave
January 8th, 2010
3:10 am
bay area,
metals are always a hedge againts the dollar. silver,copper or gold.
the dollar has been moving up. heck it cant go much lower.
look at the other coomos.
look at companies like mosaic, or other fertilers compnies.
uga-brave
January 8th, 2010
3:12 am
bay area,
want the truth, gold always ends in a trail of tears.
Tom O'Hawke
January 8th, 2010
3:16 am
Bay Area Steve, I’m no expert, but before you sell all of your silver stock, keep in mind that it is used in a lot of hi-tech electronics. For the most part, these are not renewable. I would suggest that you do a little more research before you make a decision on selling. Here’s something to give you a head start.
http://www.silverinstitute.org/electronics.php
uga-brave
January 8th, 2010
3:17 am
plenty of miners, au, placer dome, never saw people get rich off of gold.
you are there in silicon valley, invest in cisco or oracle. cisco esapecilly. their network products are off the chain.
Bay Area Steve
January 8th, 2010
3:19 am
Man, someone is going a long way to delete Lentz’s posts. I sure hope it’s not ‘OB. I’d hate to think that the time dude puts in, either ’cause he just enjoys the blog or actual work responsibility, is being watered down because he’s forced to moniter us like we’re eight-year-olds. I’m sorry for my part.
Now, of course, I can’t stop myself, because I’m purty sure I’ve the mind of an eight-year-old. At least by midnight, anyway.
Bay Area Steve
January 8th, 2010
3:26 am
‘Preciate the insight, fellas, and the link, Tom.
I think I’m just antsy ’cause I bought at $11, and I’ve been able to buy at $12 and sell at $20 a coupla times. I’m starting to think I can do that indefinitely; obviously not true, but I’m a gambler at heart. Plus, I can always use extra whiskey money.
Tom O'Hawke
January 8th, 2010
3:33 am
“Man, someone is going a long way to delete Lentz’s posts. I sure hope it’s not ‘OB”
BAS, I’m thinking that Anders is, somehow, behind all of this.
“I think I’m just antsy ’cause I bought at $11, and I’ve been able to buy at $12 and sell at $20 a coupla times. I’m starting to think I can do that indefinitely; obviously not true, but I’m a gambler at heart. Plus, I can always use extra whiskey money.”
Steve, you can always sell just some of your stock, and then buy whiskey with the rest.
Bay Area Steve
January 8th, 2010
3:48 am
I love Costco.
Just throwin’ that out there.
Braveheart
January 8th, 2010
4:37 am
No, Lentz, did YOU watch the game?
With Ingram out, did the true freshman Richardson sh!t the bed like the Texas true freshman?
With Ingram out and a true freshman in, did the Alabama running game become as nonexistent as the Texas running game?
Here are the second half drives:
Three and out with Ingram in.
Three and out with Ingram and Richardson in.
Three and out with Richardson in (2 passes, only 1 rush).
Then on the next drive, Bama went from their own 6 to the Texas 34 with Richardson in the game. Richardson accounted for 30 yards from scrimmage. Saban then acted like an idiot and attempted a 52 yarder. Bama easily could’ve pinned them within the Texas 10 if they had just punted like they would do on the next drive with Ingram in.
On the next drive, Bama went from their own 35 to the Texas 37 with Ingram in the game. Ingram accounted for 28 yards from scrimmage. Saban smartened up and punted, pinning them within the Texas 10.
On the next drive, Bama gets the ball on the Texas 3, and it takes Ingram 3 carries to get the TD
On the next drive, Bama gets the ball on the Texas 27, and it takes Richardson 3 carries, and a 5 yard penalty, to get the TD.
Second half totals: Ingram, 9 carries, 27 yards; Richardson 12 carries, 39 yards
Lemme guess. You got all geeked up because Ingram is the Heisman winner, and because Musberger was doing his thang, and suckered you into believing you were seeing something you weren’t, right? You entire perception of what was going on was skewed. you got duped by the Heisman and Musberger. I was like that when I was 13 years old too.
richbrave
January 8th, 2010
5:46 am
TOM O HAWKE:
Sometimes the filter kicks in because of a key word. I’ve forgotten whose exact name I was using, but try names in a different spelling. May work.
TnBrian
January 8th, 2010
7:29 am
I just can’t get over how unhappy Bobby looked during that Glaus press conf.
Saw where “JJNLCY” was bragging about all the in. of snow that fell where he lives. Who the hell wants all that mess unless you’re planning on building yourself a snowman? I’ll be glad when the half inch we got melts away and I don’t have to drive 10 mi. under the speed limit because of ice. COME SPRING! Baseball, warm weather and bikinis!
Rodney Derrick
January 8th, 2010
7:42 am
A gift for DOB– the entire script of “The Big Lebowski” as a work by William Shakespeare– http://www.runleiarun.com/lebowski/
TennesseePaul
January 8th, 2010
8:48 am
Piece: I’d start with Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Summerteeth albums. Both great. I agree with Rhett’s recommendations on the Mermaid Ave. albums, though some of Wilco’s fans don’t see them as true Wilco albums. Hey, I just know they’re both really, really good, particularly since I also love Billy Bragg’s music. Wilco’s live album, Kicking Television, from a couple years back is also one of the better live recordings in several years.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Sky Blue Sky are my top two. The live DVD Ashes of American Flags is spectacular. The Mermaid sessions are good, but pure Wilco they are not… if you’re in for learning Wilco their other work would be the best place to start. But for background The Loose Fur recordings are interesting. Those consist of only a few members of the current Wilco line up. It was this lineup that inspired the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and that much can be heard on the first Loose Fur release. Wilco (the Album) was strong, but not their best. Though the song and album title were clever; inspired by Joe the plumber.
brent a.
January 8th, 2010
9:01 am
A few things,
Congrats to Braveheart and all the true BAMA fans who are celebrating #13.
1) I wouldn’t expect a freshman running back to melt down the way a freshman QB would, so a RB-QB comparison is not completely fair. Very different roles and responsibilities.
That said:
2) A completely different game once McCoy goes down, but certainly not something that should lead people to conclude that Texas wins with McCoy.
It was a different game w/out McCoy. That’s all we can say, for sure.
With McCoy, perhaps Bama doesn’t get a 24-6 lead; but, without a 24-6 lead and a freshman QB wetting himself on the other side, BAMA doesn’t go into ultra-conservative-nearly-blow-a-national-championship-mode and fail to get a 1st down in the 3rd quarter.
We don’t know what would have happened had Colt McCoy played that game.
It would have been different. You could easily argue that if McCoy had played the entire game, UT’s offense would’ve had a similar performance to what it had against Nebraska.
Or, you could argue that if he played, Texas would’ve managed the game better with it’s hurry-up offense, and found a way to pull this out.
What you cannot CONCLUDE w/out a shadow of a doubt, is that UT wins that game w/McCoy playing. You can’t simply take the game, where it sat (24-21 with 3+ minutes to play) and give UT extra points for having Colt McCoy, it’s a different game.
Alabama has been the best team in the country since Labor Day week-end. Nothing last night showed me that they weren’t the #1 team in the nation on Jan. 7th.
Texas and that Frosh QB, the defense, and Jordan Shipley have a lot to be proud of. They put up a valiant effort after falling behind 24-6.
Once the kid got pick-sixed to end the 2Q, I wanted to see him make a comeback. I no longer enjoy watching kids melt down and lose big games with the entire nation watching, it’s just not fun – unless they are Duke University basketball players.
Before Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, one of the CBS announcers was commenting on how the 76ers had an advantage with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (ankle) out of the game.
Bill Russell, the color commentator, and the man for whom the NBA Finals MVP award is named, commented that, “the 76ers have to beat THIS LAKERS TEAM.”
One of the most subtle, yet profound statements ever made by a commentator. Validated by Magic Johnson’s MVP worthy performance of 42/15/7, leading the Lakers to Game 6 (and series victory) on the road, in Philly.
Jay212033
January 8th, 2010
9:16 am
My hometown Valdosta was well represented last night in the championship game. Both teams defensive coordinators Smart(Alabama) and Muschamp(Texas) coached at Valdosta State University! TitleTown Baby!!!
Daniel
January 8th, 2010
9:17 am
TNPaul- I agree with your assessment of Wilco’s stuff. I agree that Yankee Foxtrot and Sky Blue Sky are the best. I would reccomend Summerteeth as well for someone new to Wilco to get a sense of the whole of their musical journey. And to go outside Wilco, I would reccomend getting Uncle Tupelo’s Anodyne.
Daniel
January 8th, 2010
9:18 am
TnPaul- What were your favorite albums this year?
DAP
January 8th, 2010
9:29 am
norcal
Jack Cust = .240BA, 25HR, 70RBI, .356OBP, Bats Left, Age 30
Adam LaRoche = .278BA, 24HR, 80RBI, .357OBP, Bats left, Age 30
cust just turned 31…cust is also a DH (or a very bad outfielder) with declining numbers, especially in the power dept and a .239 career BA.
laroche is an excellent defensive player at his position, with very steady production, and .274 career hitter that, despite the stat you showed there, out OPSed cust by about 70 points.
laroche’s price may be coming down, but i think its kind of a weird comparison between him and cust. they arent all that similar.
GermanBravesFan
January 8th, 2010
9:33 am
I’ve been reading through some posts from last night and one might think that two grown men (if that’s what they are…) – N8 and PaulLentz – could do better things at 2 a.m. than argue with each other on a blog….
TennesseePaul
January 8th, 2010
9:34 am
Daniel: Uncle Tupelo is a fine place to go to see the real far back background. That’s diving in deep though. Summerteeth is a solid album but honestly I have a hard time choosing between it and a.m. when I want to listen to old Wilco.
As for my albums this year?? I haven’t picked up a 2010 album, but for 2009… I don’t splurge as much as DOB. It’d be nice if I could, but the few albums I did buy in 2009 over lapped with some on DOB’s list. The Flaming Lips and Avett Brothers were up there. I enjoyed the Bronzed Chorus. I found Lonnie Walker’s new album interesting. Fieldings’ lastest, with the entirely new line up was very good, but very depressing. Two Guns put out a solid debut. M.Ward, Mason Jennings. And an older album that I picked up in 2009, The Shaky Hands who were incredible live.
There are others I enjoyed by can’t think of now.
David O'Brien
January 8th, 2010
9:37 am
Daniel, I really like the Loose Fur album, but to me, even better was the Down With Wilco album they did with The Minus 5 that same year (2003) when they were splitting with their former label. And how ’bout Golden Smog Weird Tales album (also Wilco representation, along with a handful of other great bands) a few years later? Great stuff.
I love all of Uncle Tupelo’s limited output. Shame they split, because Farrar and Tweedy together, if they could have co-existed, might have made some unbelievably great stuff.
Farrar has made a couple of solo and Son Volt albums that, to me, are as good or better than almost any of the Wilco stuff except Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which is the best in my opinion.
But Son Volt’s Wide Swing Tremolo? That’s as good as any of the rest of the Wilco albums, for me. And I love Farrar’s live greatest hits solo thing, too, though not comparing it to those other top Wilco and Son Volt albums, or Uncle Tupelo. It’s great, however (and he recorded a couple of the tunes at the Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kan.)
David O'Brien
January 8th, 2010
9:39 am
GenrmanBravesFan: You’re only seeing the stuff that was fit to leave up. At least 30 comments were removed. It was the most embarrassing cat-fighting performance we’ve ever had here, I dare say. At least in terms of length and level of profanity. Definitely bannable stuff said by both. Some at paper are looking into it, to do what they can.
richbrave
January 8th, 2010
9:41 am
I see BRAVES baseball is about talked out. When do the pitchers and catchers report?
6-4-3
January 8th, 2010
9:44 am
My confidence in this team is actually rising again. Although I didn’t like the Vazquez trade, the other moves made of Glaus, the re-inforcing of the bullpen (Wagner, etc.), and the bench moves (primarily Hinske, but also Mekly in a smaller sense) have solidified this team. Not sure if they can take the next step, but they’ll be right there. If not the division, which I’m not totally ruling out, then definitely the wild card is a good possibility. It hasn’t been a great offseason by any means, but it hasn’t been awful either. This team has a shot.
Thrillhouse44
January 8th, 2010
9:45 am
Venice Jim, if you’re out there, the CAA just got a lot tougher with this Richmond news: http://www.thecollegianur.com/2010/01/07/usc-qb-to-transfer-to-richmond/
GermanBravesFan
January 8th, 2010
9:45 am
DOB: I don’t post that often, but when I saw those two guys’ posts, I was wondering if they didn’t have better things to do. Perhaps, they will calm down after some stern warnings – unless it is beyond that point. I obviously didn’t see the posts you are referring to. Overall, though, the blog has been a lot of fun. Thanks for your hard work (and putting up with some of the people…).
Daniel
January 8th, 2010
9:51 am
Dave- How could I forget Weird Tales- Love that album.
TnPaul- Not familiar with Two Guns, I will have to check them out.
We get some new releases next week which could be good: Spoon, Eels and Vampire Weekend are both putting out new records next week.
Dave- I gotta say I was dissappointed that you didn’t have Manchester Orchestra ranked in your year end review. I know that in the 1000’s of posts you get you clearly memorize mine, but I hope you caught my list. A couple of others you may have missed were: Real Estate, Girls, Cornershop and Miles Anthony Benjamin Robinson(although you may have had his ranked). I will say that the more I listen to Raekwon’s Only Built for Cuban Linx II the more I love it. I think I ranked it too low at 7 or 8 (behind the blueprint III). I think you had that one right on the money.
Daniel
January 8th, 2010
9:53 am
6-4-3: I think I share your sentiments. The Melky move troubles me the most. I just don’t see where he can help us; maybe Wren is going to use him as a trade piece?
Daniel
January 8th, 2010
9:54 am
TnPaul: I meant are all putting out new albums next week.
tiger297
January 8th, 2010
9:58 am
I’m upset I missed out on the Wilco and Owl City presales and since they both go on sale Saturday AM I probably can’t get tix for both shows…man I gotta get my priorities straight
6-4-3
January 8th, 2010
9:58 am
Daniel – I agree, like most people do, that Melky is the weak link here. I would also prefer that he be moved, but if not, I’m hoping that he can at least be useful for us.
Nova Scotia Steve
January 8th, 2010
9:58 am
WOW…Some interesting stuff on here this morning…LOL
Sweet Jesus…
raleighbravefan
January 8th, 2010
9:59 am
I hate name calling and personal attacks. I disagree with many opinions on this blog, but we should all debate the facts and opinions, not attack and name call the poster. The whole purpose of the blog is to exchange ideas, and maybe even learn something. If you disagree with someone, refute it with logic and facts. To call someone and idiot, or much worse, because you disagree with thier opinion is childish. (for example, I’m sure Don is not an idiot, he is just wrong, in my opinion, about Bobby Cox) N8 and Paul need to grow up. Until they do, they should be banned.
raleighbravefan
January 8th, 2010
10:04 am
Daniel – agree with most you say. I believe once Hayward comes up, Melky will become OF back-up, bench, or traded.
CB
January 8th, 2010
10:07 am
N8, I was bragging on you yesterday on the quality of your posts, you appear to be very a very smart guy in your discussions about the Braves. Why would you sink to the level you did last night I do not understand- you are smarter than that. When you lay down with dogs,you get fleas. I have seen better conversations and less childishness in small children.
Mikeyc588
January 8th, 2010
10:07 am
DOB –
Did you happen to catch Son Volt at the Variety Playhouse a few months back? I love Son Volt’s stuff and I’d put Route and Wide Swing Tremolo up there along with anything by Wilco (except maybe Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which got me through high school) but I wasn’t too impressed by Farrar live. Just not a lot of energy, I didn’t think. But maybe you or someone else who has seen him live more than once has a different opinion. Let me know. Thanks.
Daniel
January 8th, 2010
10:07 am
raleigh- It seemed to me from their posts that the energy was too charged to just be about baseball. What other energy was involved?(I don’t know) but you can probably guess.
Daniel
January 8th, 2010
10:10 am
Mickey and Dave: I fall squarely on the Tweedy side of the Farrar/Tweedy split. Now, talk about stirring up the controversy.
Buster Onley still has the Braves interested in Damon. I don’t make much out of that, but just an interesting note.
Mikeyc588
January 8th, 2010
10:11 am
And by Route, I mean Trace.
DAP
January 8th, 2010
10:14 am
heres a blurb from MLBTraderumors:
Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog hears from people connected to the Mets that they are interested in John Smoltz. The NL East is all over Smoltz – the Phils and Nats have interest, too.
i dont know if i can handle seeing smoltzie in a mets cap. please dont do it, smoltzie.
Daslied
January 8th, 2010
10:17 am
Agree with the Ashes Of American Flags DVD by Wilco, but mainly because it came with a link to download audio to two full concerts. Absolutely outstanding! As far as a studio album, I have to go with Summerteeth.
Daniel
January 8th, 2010
10:18 am
tiger- let me help you with your priorities. Forget Owl City(Postal Service) and get Wilco tickets.
Tom O'Hawke
January 8th, 2010
10:19 am
“TOM O HAWKE:
Sometimes the filter kicks in because of a key word. I’ve forgotten whose exact name I was using, but try names in a different spelling. May work.
richbrave, the key name, in this case , was Paul Dentz. I think that he got DOB aggravated enough that whatever variable of his name he used, DOB wouldn’t allow it. It would show briefly, but Dave would later delete it. In the interim, I would copy and paste his post, attach his moniker, and then bust his buns. However, because I had the “moniker to be deleted later”, in my post, the baby was thrown out with the bath water.
Mikeyc588
January 8th, 2010
10:20 am
Daniel,
I mean, here’s my take. I think Wilco maybe has put out better MUSIC (certainly more popular and accessible, I’d say) over the last decade and a half or so, but I think Farrar is the better songwriter. I wouldn’t take anything away from Wilco at all. Give Tweedy props for sure. I just prefer the alt-country style of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt on most days.
Arkansas Transplant
January 8th, 2010
10:20 am
geez, it’s cold here!! It was 6 degrees on my morning commute to work. Don’t think I’ve ever seen this temp at 8 o’clock in the morning.
Efrim
January 8th, 2010
10:27 am
Buster Olney:
I showed off the first Hall of Fame ballot I received after it landed in the mailbox a few years ago. It felt like some artifact from another universe had been sent in the mail to me, and I treated it like a moon rock.
I made copies of the ballot and passed them around to interested neighbors — “Check it out! A Hall of Fame ballot!” — and I drove the original back to Vermont to show family members (although now I can’t imagine why, other than to brag, because my parents and siblings just don’t care about baseball). I loved being one of the 500-plus writers who vote on Hall of Fame candidates.
And now I’m convinced that the baseball writers shouldn’t be involved in the selection of Hall of Famers at all — a belief I’ve written about before, a belief reinforced by the most recent round of voting.
First and foremost, it’s a clear conflict of interest. As a writer, I should be reporting on the news and not making it. It’s Journalism 101 (I assume, since I was a history major). It’s not my place, as a reporter, to determine whether Andre Dawson is inducted into the Hall of Fame, no more than it would be for a Capitol Hill reporter to cast a vote on health care legislation while reporting on it.
The Baseball Writers’ Association hands out annual awards for the MVPs, for the top pitchers, top managers and top rookies. But there is a subtle difference between those votes and that for the Hall of Fame, because while those elections have blossomed into something very important, the awards are the property of the association. This really is no different than Time magazine picking its Person of the Year.
The Hall of Fame voting, on the other hand, is done at the behest of the Hall of Fame, naturally; the writers are providing a service for the Hall.
But really, the most important reason why the writers should not be voting is that it has become increasingly evident that the voters, as a group, don’t really have a clear understanding of what the standards for the Hall of Fame are, particularly in this time, as the ballot gains more and more players touched by the steroid issue.
Some (not many) don’t vote for any candidate in their first year on the ballot, although the rules say they can. Some don’t vote for candidates because they didn’t like them, personally, or because they didn’t like how they played.
Some haven’t voted for Mark McGwire because they view the possible use of performance-enhancing drugs as a disqualifying issue of morality; others (like me) don’t regard the possible or even certain use of PEDs as a disqualifying factor.
Ty Cobb was, by most accounts, a hated teammate who was suspected of gambling on baseball games. None of this disqualified him. Gaylord Perry admitted to cheating, by loading up the baseball with foreign substances, and for this, he was glorified, and not disqualified. Mickey Mantle had a serious drinking problem that likely affected his day to day preparation and performance, and this does not disqualify him. There are presumably many Hall of Famers who presumably used performance-enhancing drugs, in the form of amphetamines, and for this they are not disqualified.
Are those who won’t vote for McGwire right? Am I (and others who vote like me) right? I don’t know. But I’m sure that the writers who cover the sport should not be making those decisions; we shouldn’t have the responsibility of coming up with a fair and defensible standard for baseball greatness, with or without the morality clause enforced.
The Hall of Fame should form its own committee that determines who gets a plaque, who is inducted. The plaques should include information, written in neutral language, about feats and achievements, and about bans and suspensions and admissions.
I don’t think this will ever happen. Keeping the writers involved, and keeping the annual debates alive, fuels interest and exposure for the Hall of Fame. For the rest of our lives, the validity of players like Pete Rose or Mark McGwire should be argued robustly. All year ’round, you will read columns about the Hall of Fame voting and its merits.
The ballot will continue to drop in the mail every fall, and so long as the Baseball Writers’ Association deems it a good thing for us to vote, I will do so. But I hope there will soon come a day when some other body makes the choices.
Daslied
January 8th, 2010
10:27 am
David O’Brien (January 7th, 2010 6:00 pm)
jalapeno ketchup (hard to find these days)
DOB, I went to a place in NYC a month or so ago that was outstanding. It’s called “Pommes Frites”, and they have nothing but French Fries and crazy condiments. I had the curry ketchup, and they have something called Mexican Ketchup, which might be similar to the jalapeno you referred to. Anyhoo, since you get to NYC for the games a few times a year, maybe you can head down there if you have time – down on 2nd Avenue, a block or so from Katz’ Deli. Pick up a pastrami and pickles, and get some fries at the other place.
I believe you can buy a bottle of any of the sauces they sell.
http://www.pommesfrites.ws/menu.htm
McFann O
January 8th, 2010
10:30 am
Bay Area Steve–
Brandy is bravesgrl4life’s dog (Whiskey was her dog before Brandy).
Hope she doesn’t mind that I posted her pictures.
Noah
January 8th, 2010
10:35 am
Interesting piece on Kotchman. I don’t remember hearing such detail about his personal situation with his Mom in late 2008. His numbers have certainly fallen though, especially his OPS.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2010737972_mari08.html
Chris from the Rock
January 8th, 2010
10:50 am
I like most of the moves that the new GM is Seattle has made, but he’s gone a little overboard with his defensive-minded strategy. There’s noboby on that roster that’s capable of hitting more than 25 HRs.
Nova Scotia Steve -
January 8th, 2010
10:53 am
Two nice pictures of the dogs!
brent a.
January 8th, 2010
10:54 am
Beautiful work by Buster Olney.
I’m not even gonna give my take. Good work.
Hillbilly
January 8th, 2010
10:55 am
Happy birthday to Stephen Hawking. Time to go put on some Pink Floyd–”Keep Talking.”
CB
January 8th, 2010
10:56 am
brent a.,best writer in baseball.
Fred
January 8th, 2010
10:59 am
DOB, I’m glad the AJC is looking into banning those guys. The immature catfighting tarnishes an otherwise exceptional blog. The most offensive post I read was Lentz saying that Jimmy the Greek’s racist comments that got him fired were “right.”
Radio Cure
January 8th, 2010
11:00 am
DOB,
Have you heard the second Loose Fur record, Born Again in the USA?
David O'Brien
January 8th, 2010
11:02 am
The thought of Smoltz in a Mets cap is, indeed, almost beyond comprehension. Then again, so was the thought of Glavine in one, initially….
Mikec588: I agree with your 10:20 post regarding the Wilco/Son Volt, Tweedy/Farrar debate. Wilco the better overall band, Farrar the better songwriter. And I put more emphasis on songwriting, and like you love the alt-country stuff more than Wilco’s experimental stuff. But again, the musicianship in Wilco is terrific….
Speaking of musicianship, it’s pretty cool to be watching WeatherChannel and hear them play REM’s “So. Central Rain” and Allman Brothers’ “Blue Sky” as background music on the local forecast. Quite a turn from the old elevator-music mellow jazz they used to play on the station all the time….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1jpQu6qR1E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIMhBTDVx38
Tom O'Hawke
January 8th, 2010
11:04 am
Good Morning, McFann O, I hope you are well. The word on the street (and around the pond), is that Rally McTurtle is planning a vacation to the Galapagos Islands. I think that is a very appropriate place for him to visit, especially during the off-season. Are you planning on going too, or do you two need a little time apart?
David O'Brien
January 8th, 2010
11:04 am
Arkansas Transplant, I just went out to run an errand, could barely make it up the incline of my driveway when I returned. It’s not that we got a lot of snow, it’s just that it’s still so cold here that everything’s still icy unless it’s in direct sunlight….
MFin04
January 8th, 2010
11:07 am
Anyone who cheats at the game of baseball should not get into the Hall of Fame. Especially those who use PED’s. If you can’t take away their records, you can at least keep them out of the HOF.
Anyway, is this Braves roster pretty much complete? Would have liked to have done better than what we have, but it is an upgrade on last year’s opening day roster, not sure about an upgrade on the end of last year’s roster though.
Arkansas Transplant
January 8th, 2010
11:09 am
Something that you might find a little disturbing. We’re so bored here at work we’ve turned the water hose on and we’re covering one of the trucks with ice. It’s warmed up a bit though, looks like we’re at 10 degrees now… double digits… yeepee.
TennesseePaul
January 8th, 2010
11:12 am
Efrim: It’s the same thing every year. Before the vote tally is released every writer writes about who should get in. After it is released, the most vocal of writers who’s top picks didn’t make it say the system is broken. If you ask me, it’s working great. It takes a ton of people to agree to get a guy in. And you have 15 years to get everyone to agree. Keeps the riff-raff from really stinking up the joint.
However, some of the reasons not to vote for McGwire are baffling. I could understand the PED issue. But when I read some writers reason a few weeks ago it made no sense. In essence it he stated “I don’t vote for McGwire, not because of the PED’s, for it if that were all it was, then I’d still vote for him, but because he is the same player as Roger Marris, a 1-D power hitter with a brief power surge, and Marris isn’t in.”
Terrible reason. McGwire was way more of a power hitter than Marris. He holds the highest (or lowest, which ever way you view it) HR/AB ratio in history. He hit 49 HR in his rookie season (would have been more but took off the final 3 weeks to be with his new born son). In his healthy seasons he mashed at a rate never before seen in the history of the game. He did it in his “youth” and he did it in his “old age.” When he was a skinny little kid and when he was a hulk. That was not Marris in any way.
David O'Brien
January 8th, 2010
11:14 am
Good stuff in a story Bill Ballew had today at Baseball America, about the Vazquez-to-Yankees trade:
While the Yankees also received lefthanded reliever Boone Logan, who spent most of last season in Triple-A, the Braves obtained righthander Arodys Vizcaino and lefthander Mike Dunn. Of the two, Dunn is closer to pitching in the big leagues, but Vizcaino’s ceiling is as high as that of any hurler in the Atlanta organization.
Dunn, 24, made his major league debut in 2009 while going 4-3, 3.31 in 38 relief apperances between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Drafted by the Yankees in the 33rd round in 2004 out of the CC of Southern Nevada, the lefthander spent two years as a position player prior to moving to the mound after the 2006 slate.
According to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, Dunn was coveted by the Tigers during trade talks for Curtis Granderson. The southpaw has a 93-96 mph fastball and a low-to-mid 80s slider, offerings that can make him overpowering in short stints. Dunn’s biggest problem has been control, with the lefty issuing 46 walks in 73 minor league innings last year.
The 19-year-old Vizcaino is even more intriguing. Signed by the Yankees out of the Dominican Republic in 2007 for $800,000, the righthander has an electric arm and an advanced feel for pitching for his age. He went 2-4, 2.13 in 10 starts for short-season Staten Island last summer. He struck out 52 and walked 15 over 42 innings.
Vizcaino has a mid-90s four-seam fastball and a plus-plus curveball. He has made impressive strides with his changeup and the development of a two-seam fastball. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, he has solid projectability, so much so that Cashman admitted, “He’s the guy that could really come back to haunt us in this trade.”
David O'Brien
January 8th, 2010
11:16 am
Also from BA today, check out what a couple of Braves minor leaguers have done with Navojoa in the Mexican Winter League: OF Matt Young ranked among league leaders in several offensive categories, hitting .316/.437/.530 with eight homers, 32 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. And RH Tim Gustafson was 5-1, 2.93 in 10 games (nine starts).
Chris from the Rock
January 8th, 2010
11:17 am
The ‘pen looks to be very deep this year. Bobby’s going to have a hard tell telling Valdez, Hyde, and others they’re being sent to Gwinnett. But Acosta’s out of options, right?
DAP
January 8th, 2010
11:17 am
i think the mariners can be a pretty fun team to watch, especially if milton bradley’s power returns a bit. they get on base, run really well…hit a few homers to. lopez hit 25 last year, gutierez 18, and if bradley rebounds, they have another guy with decent power. and, they are really gonna play some defense…figgins, wilson, lopez, kotchman on the infield? that is impressive. they have some pitching to, felix hernandez and cliff lee is a great 1-2 punch. they may give the angels a run for it this season.
P-Town Brave
January 8th, 2010
11:22 am
Lets just say it for what it is at this point…
Smoltz will go to whoever pays him the most money and lets him start.
N8
January 8th, 2010
11:22 am
“You’re only seeing the stuff that was fit to leave up. At least 30 comments were removed. It was the most embarrassing cat-fighting performance we’ve ever had here, I dare say. At least in terms of length and level of profanity. Definitely bannable stuff said by both. Some at paper are looking into it, to do what they can.”
I’m not going to argue that the argument didn’t go on to long, or that it was silly to begin with. I got suckered into sinking to his level of stupidity.
To the rest of the blog, I apologize for that.
But, if the comments of mine that you deleted, are out there still floating around. Please email them to me DOB. Because I didn’t type anything more offensive than I usually do. Went out of my way to watch how I phrased things, and the words I used to keep it “un-bannable”.
If the AJC wants to ban me. So be it. But at least let a guy know what has taken down, and why. But before you do so, since there was an imposter making posts late last night, you might want to check and make sure all the stuff you’re assuming was me, was actually.
But either way. Heading out of town for the weekend, so the break from the blog will do me (and others) good.
Later.
BamaBravesFan
January 8th, 2010
11:23 am
DOB and everyone else…you need to read this article.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/01/08/alabama-title/index.html?xid=si_ncaaf
Mikeyc588
January 8th, 2010
11:24 am
With regard to Vazquez trade, you gotta love that quote from Cashman. I wonder if Dombrowski thought the same thing about the Renteria-Jurrjens trade. Remember when people thought we were angling for Nate Robertson!? Haha. I think the Braves scouting department is one of the best in the bigs (and a big reason the Rangers have the majors’ top farm system). I think Vizcaino might turn out to be a steal. Can you imagine a rotation including Hanson, Jurrjens, Vizcaino and Teheran in 2013? Doesn’t do much for us in 2010, but I love the long-term outlook for the club and it’s nice to see them getting back to focusing on starting pitching as the first key to success.
David O'Brien
January 8th, 2010
11:31 am
Happy birthday not just to The King, Elvis Presley, who would’ve been 75 today, but also to David Bowie (63 — yikes), Jenny Lewis (36) and Tift Merritt (35). And a couple others some of you have probably heard of: Stephen Hawking (68) and Jeff Francoeur (26).
Venice Jim
January 8th, 2010
11:32 am
Thrillhouse44 – heard the news about Corp on the radio early this morning – cabravesfan is very excited that he’s leaving USC – it will be interesting to see how he does at UR…
TennesseePaul
January 8th, 2010
11:35 am
Happy birthday not just to The King, Elvis Presley, who would’ve been 75 today
Sacrilege! The King IS 75 today. And he doesn’t look a day older than 40
Salamander
January 8th, 2010
11:40 am
Bowie is only 5 years younger than Hawking? Damn.
David O'Brien
January 8th, 2010
11:41 am
Speaking of David Bowie, I like this version of Nirvana’s cover of The Man Who Sold The World, even more than the great unplugged version that Kurt and Co. did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KGKe-E3dUI&feature=related
cabravesfan
January 8th, 2010
11:42 am
Thrillhouse44-
I really do hope Corp works out better for you then he did for my Trojans…although not to well (Go Tribe!
)
Lew
January 8th, 2010
11:44 am
Arkansas Transplant-That’s about a normal winter day in Vermont (Buster Olney lives down the street). We’ve had snow every day this year. This weekend we’ll hit around 10 below and there is not a temperature above 28 degrees in sight over the next ten days.
Hillbilly
January 8th, 2010
11:46 am
Keep Talking – Pink Floyd (featuring Stephen Hawking)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS-qsh6eTik
CB
January 8th, 2010
11:47 am
VJ, sounds like you have converted cab to W&M. Now convert her to VT and she will be worth keeping.
jeffrey d
January 8th, 2010
11:47 am
This weekend we’ll hit around 10 below and there is not a temperature above 28 degrees in sight over the next ten days.
It flurried for a couple hours here and now all the convenience stores are out of canned goods.
Lew
January 8th, 2010
11:48 am
DOB-What is the general level of players in the Mexican Winter League? Is it just prospects, or are there ML players, as well? How much credence should be put on the numbers those two Braves posted this year?
cabravesfan
January 8th, 2010
11:49 am
CB-
VT as in Virginia Tech? Umm, not going to happen, buddy! Nothing is going to pry me away from my Trojans
Venice Jim
January 8th, 2010
11:49 am
cabravesfan – Thrillhouse is a JMU grad – you have to get all of the CAA fans straight
STEELY DAN MAN
January 8th, 2010
11:49 am
- wjones …… excellent & stimulating post ( 1/6 – 12:21pm )
cabravesfan
January 8th, 2010
11:50 am
VJ-
I have to figure out the teams first!
Thrillhouse-
My bad! Sorry about that
jeffrey d
January 8th, 2010
11:51 am
Nobody likes Virginia Tech, CB
Elon Brave
January 8th, 2010
11:55 am
Man, I hated to see JV go, but I get pretty excited thinking about some of the prospects we have.
CB
January 8th, 2010
11:56 am
jeffrey d, you are not playing nice. Go to your room.
Elon Brave
January 8th, 2010
11:57 am
I would love to see some stud 3B or SS chomping at the bit though. I’d feel a lot better about the Chipper situation.