Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5,443 comments Add your comment
birddawg
January 9th, 2010
12:59 am
right there with you on the bye week crap. maybe the nfl like the whole-never had back-to-back winning seasons- thing.
really need to step up against the magic
The A Bomb
January 9th, 2010
1:00 am
Carter hurt tonight for Orlando. We need Collins to come in tomorrow and hack the crap out of Howard. He killed us on Thanksgiving like Ryan Howard does to the Braves regularly.
Falcons should NEVER have approved the schedule they got. Hope they learned.
Brandon from Warner Robins
January 9th, 2010
1:00 am
This Craig Ferguson guy is pretty funny.
BRAVEFANINOK
January 9th, 2010
1:01 am
Define( Choke )……just so nobody can misunderstand the terms of this wager…
birddawg
January 9th, 2010
1:02 am
lakers, yankees, bama so far. seems like a dallas kind year. guess kentucky will take it in the tourney also. not sure who the hockey equivillent is…
birddawg
January 9th, 2010
1:05 am
bandwagon paradise
P. W. Hjort
January 9th, 2010
1:08 am
glord1 (January 9th, 2010 12:19 am EST): I think by the AS break when Hudson has 8 wins most people are going to understand 3 years at 27 mil was a pretty good deal for a 33 year old pitcher with a lifetime 148 – 78 record.
Hell yeah they will. I mean, I’d choose a different statistic than wins, but, yeah, Hudson at 3 years and $28 million is a steal. They’re basically paying for about 9 wins vs. replacement from him over 3 years. He averaged 4.2 win vs. replacement from 2002-2008, which includes missing a big chunk of ‘08 with surgery. Furthermore, I think he’s the type of pitcher that’s valued artificially low by advanced stats because he’s able to influence the field-ability of balls (3.79 career FIP, 3.49 career ERA, don’t think that’s an aberration), so he’s even more valuable than that, for me.
The Braves really got their money’s worth. They used the fact that he’s coming off an injury and willing to take a home town discount to their advantage. They signed Hudson to an extremely club-friendly contract. If he’s a free agent, I bet he gets 4 years and $40 million. Steal of a contract.
BRAVEFANINOK
January 9th, 2010
1:20 am
P. W. Hjort
I agree with everthing you just posted about Huddy and would add The Ace factor,Tim is the real deal, The guy is a winner.(not to mention He will literally pitch for Bobby till his arm falls off)
ColoradoBravesFan
January 9th, 2010
1:38 am
Wow… Did you guys/gals realize how solid Kris Medlen was after the all-star break last year? 2,80 ERA, 26 games, 35.1 inns, 39K/10BB. A 2.80 ERA and over a K per inning is really really stout stuff. All I could remember were the 2 games in Fla where he got knocked around. Surprised when I was checking to see what to expect from him this year.
Does Bobby use him more this year and lessen the stress on Moylan and Saito? Hopefully Medlen, and Chavez put up some solid innings for us this year. GO BRAVES
Kid Rock...
January 9th, 2010
1:43 am
I say you can never beat WAFFLE HOUSE…and did I forget to mention…they never close. Always a fun place to stop after partying all night. Never know what may happen or where you will end up afterwards…
BELIEVE
Andrew in PA
January 9th, 2010
1:57 am
so what does bobby rotation look like?
BravesAC
January 9th, 2010
2:23 am
TO ALL BRAVES FANS, WHAT WAS THE BEST GAME OVER THE LAST DECADE THAT YOU WATCHED OR CAUGHT HIGHLIGHTS OF??????
I don’t think it was the best but I sure enjoyed that first Phhilies game of 2009. The rookie hitting one. We sure looked good that night and it made it semm like the season and Shafer(sp?) were going to be something.
ccrider
January 9th, 2010
2:40 am
P.W.Hjort: You still around, What do you think about the Wommack firing?
David O'Brien
January 9th, 2010
2:48 am
I forget who it was on here who recommended that I watch “In The Loop” w/ James Gandolfini, but you were right — great movie. Saw it tonight. That moves into my personal top 10 films of 2009.
Freakin’ hilarious. You just don’t see satire executed that well very often. Last time I can remember it done as well was probably Thank You For Smoking a few years ago….
Oh, and saw the LeBron talk earlier. He’s a terrific player, but he’s not Jordan. No one is likely to be in my lifetime, I’d guess. But this John Wall kid is awfully special and someday … well, you never know. Waaay too premature to predict that.
I’d say the closest we’ve had to Jordan is Kobe. Such a natural.
Bad Scooter
January 9th, 2010
3:10 am
DOB, I saw you talking LA and San Diego restaurants earlier. I just landed in LA a few hours ago, my first time out here, and I am going to San Diego for a couple days as well. Any good places you recommend to eat?
jeffrey d
January 9th, 2010
3:11 am
That’s because I haven’t had time to get warmed up yet! I’m here to wreak havoc on BBQ Roman Gal
I’ve had the opposite happen to me
Andrew in PA
January 9th, 2010
3:23 am
Bad Scooter, Taco Bell.
uga-brave
January 9th, 2010
3:23 am
watched the unrated version of the hangover tonight on demand. gotta profess that it did not live up to all the hype by many of you.
entertaining definetely but laugh out loud not so much.
as for lowe gotta be worried about that whip. i really think him and nate are the keys for the braves this season.
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
3:25 am
Just visited the “Bears” web page. Was impressed by the banner “Liberals feel, Conservatives think”.
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
3:27 am
Colorado Brave-
The guy can pitch. Check out his minor league numbers, they were more impressive than Hansens’.
CharlieAlphaBravo
January 9th, 2010
3:32 am
That team in Filly is unbeatable, probably one of the greatest teams in the history of Baseball. They’ll probably win 120 games this year, what with that lineup. Tom Waits/Redwing
Ummm… I hope this was sarcasm.
The Philthies won 96 games last year. So far this offseason they’ve traded Cliff Lee and some top prospects for Roy Halladay, picked up Polanco, Baez and Gload. You really think that makes them 24 games better?
Adding Halladay would improve any team, but by giving up Lee they’ve managed to minimize the impact of his addition. They essentially marginally improved their pitching in one of five games, and had to give up some of their best prospects in order to do it.
So now they’re one of the greatest teams in the history of baseball? Sure, that Philthies lineup is good, but they’re no ‘27 Yankees. Hell, they’re no ‘09 Yankees…
Once again, I hope for your sake that was sarcasm…
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
3:45 am
CharlesAlpha-
Of course it was. I think the 07, 08 and 09 Fillies have been successful in a weakened NL, namely the Braves and the dysfunctional Mets. They have a 38 y.o. in steep decline in RF, a Rule5 flea in CF, Polanco playing 3rd, a 1B that can’t hit lefties, a sh!tty Bullpen and 2 maybe 3 legitimate SPs. And people say the Braves have ifs. Every team has ifs. Let me clarify the “flea” description – Victorino’s numbers are a result of the team he plays with, he ain’t that good. Rollins will be distracted because he knows the Fillies have no interest in resigning him, and he was not that good last year.
uga-brave
January 9th, 2010
3:57 am
actually waits that 38 year old you speak of plays left field. werth plays right and might be the best right rielder in the nl if you look at his numbers. victorino is no slouch. rollins struggled early last season but he rebounded.
sorrry but the phils have the best 1-7 lineup in the n.l.
CharlieAlphaBravo
January 9th, 2010
3:58 am
Right on man… I figured you’ve been too reasonable otherwise for that to be serious. Plus, I really dislike the Phillies. I mean, really dislike.
CharlieAlphaBravo
January 9th, 2010
3:59 am
and the worst 2-5 pitching…
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
4:01 am
uga-brave-
Shane benefits greatly playing in “the best 1-7 lineup in the n.l.” IMO
Do you think Werth, Rollins and Ibanez duplicate 2009 in 2010?
Butch from The Cape
January 9th, 2010
4:03 am
“There was never no water under the bridge to begin with”. Yeah right! Anyone believe that one?
Next thing he’ll say is that there was never any water under the Brooklyn Bridge either.
uga-brave
January 9th, 2010
4:04 am
tom, pretty sure werth, utley and howard will all hit 30 plus. gotta hunch that rollins and ibanez will combine for at least 40.
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
4:06 am
CharlesAlpha-
Absolutely can’t stand the Fightens. 140 million dollar payroll for all these pretenders, it don’t get more gaudy.
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
4:09 am
uga-brave
How’s that pitching in Filly, they did add Baez to their pen and traded a really good lefty for a really good righty?
Is Hamels still tired? Is Happ better than Hansen?
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
4:11 am
uga-brave
I guess they can no longer count on the can’t miss P-Drabek or
OF-Taylor.
uga-brave
January 9th, 2010
4:13 am
happ pitched pretty darn well against us. halladay is a difference maker. he misses bats. cliff lee will be missed, but halladay is nasty.
uga-brave
January 9th, 2010
4:17 am
yeah tom, but they can count on utley, howard, werth, rollins, and ibanez.
look prospects are prospects, some work out others go the way side. kinda like thorman, kelly, mcbride, james etc.
not saying the phills are a lock, but they have the better offensive nucleus.
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
4:20 am
Halladay, yes he is nasty and we still beat him last year. I appreciate your admiration for Filly. I just think they are one of the most overrated teams that ever took the field, especially with that payroll. Simply my opinion. I put them in the same category as the 07 and 08 Mets. The Braves were just severly weakened by injuries and questionable trades the past 3 years. Absolutely I am Braves-centric.
Butch from The Cape
January 9th, 2010
4:23 am
Derek Lowe’s should go to Home Depot and fix the leak on his sinker because it sure didnt sink very much in 2009. Kind of reminds me why Boston made him a reliever to begin with years ago.
Lowe’s should have thought about the phony sale of goods that he promised the Braves when Scott Borat fleeced Frankie Wren into bidding against themselves for a sinker baller who left his sinker with the newscaster that he was sinking it to in LaLa Land before he signed with Atlanta. Now he wants to play like he’s Patty the patsy because the Braves wanted to dump his rear end after one year? There’s no crying in baseball Lowe’s. If it’s so tough on you, tell Borat to let you out of your contract so you can sign with another team.
Mitchell
January 9th, 2010
4:27 am
Face it, we’re an even lesser team than the one that threw in the towel in the final six games of the 2009 season and without Vazquez, we’re a .500 team at best.
Of course, as long as Bobby Cox is managing, we’ll surely continue to underachieve. We’re so average at that.
Screw it.
Butch from The Cape
January 9th, 2010
4:32 am
Micah Owings (7-12 with 5.34 ERA) beat the Braves last year. I guess that means that Cincinnati will finish with a better record than Chief Can’t_knock_a_homer?
uga-brave
January 9th, 2010
4:32 am
yeah we beat halladay, but i believe we beat him 1-0. look i have zero love for the phillies, but them the facts.
used to dislike them a lot more when bowa was in the dugout. same as the mets when bobby v. was there.
JOE
January 9th, 2010
4:37 am
DOB, I’m excited about this season. I really like the energy Melky gives us. Living in NY i am surrounded by Yankee fans. (Very sickening) My best friend is one of the only ones i respect. He’s a NL guy at heart. He really liked melky a lot so i heard quite a bit about him for the past few years. I’m curious to know what to expect in left field as far as playing time goes for Cabrera and Diaz. I’m assuming that Heyward gets the nod in right. (Which is not certain by any means but as most everyone else is saying its more than likely, so will I) As for LF, will there be a strict platoon? Will Cabrera get the starting nod with Diaz coming off the bench as a fourth outfielder? Or vice versa? I’m not very vocal on the blog, i spend most of my time reading the points and not too much commenting. Just wanted to let you know how grateful i am for all that you do for us here. Discovering this blog has really brought my braves obsession to a new level.
Butch from The Cape
January 9th, 2010
4:39 am
What good is it to beat halloffameday if your team can’t be Alf Perez?
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
4:43 am
uga-brave
I stand corrected. We did not beat Halladay, 7IP 0R 5H. We beat the reliever that came in for the 8th.
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 9th, 2010
8:17 am
$$$$Paul$$$$Lentz
January 8th, 2010
11:39 pm
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum………are liberals allowed to express their views without being attacked on your blog?
——————-
$$$$Paul$$$$Lentz
January 8th, 2010
11:47 pm
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum………..in response to your 11pm post, didnt you say that all was welcome and that people are treated like next door neighbors in a previous post?
I have no problem with one saying “all conservatives welcome” or that “if you are a liberal, expect the majority conservative board to give you a hard time”. However it’s kind of cheezy to come across like “all is welcome” when in fact if one starts talking about supporting Obama, he gets ripped a new one by the majority on the blog.
——————-
Paul, many liberals have gone there but only a few survived. They are generally unable to debate in a civil manner and cannot resist the temptation to take a swipe at the first conservative they see.
And our members will fight back. There are one or two confirmed libs there but they learned how to play the neighborly game. For some reason (I wonder why) I doubt you will survive more than a post or two.
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 9th, 2010
8:22 am
LENTZ
I clearly stated the board is a conservative one. Liberals go there but only a few survive. Most cannot resist the urge to attack the first conservative they see and they are plentiful on my blog.
For some reason (I wonder why) I doubt you will make it past one or two posts.
http://gbu.yuku.com/directory
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 9th, 2010
8:24 am
Sorry about the double but when I posted the first it didn’t show. So I typed in the second and both appeared.
Lew
January 9th, 2010
9:00 am
TomWaits-Re:Your 3:25 post-That’s only because it’s easier to feel than to think with your head up your……
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 9th, 2010
9:05 am
Tom Waits wears Redwing boots
January 9th, 2010
3:25 am
Just visited the “Bears” web page. Was impressed by the banner “Liberals feel, Conservatives think”.
Link Report this comment
—————-
Glad you liked it.
Lew, try it some time, you might like it, thinking i.e.
Just ribbing you a bit.
Lew
January 9th, 2010
9:11 am
Bear-Obviously you missed my point-that being that both sides (especially the extremists on either aisle) all have their heads up their …. and whether or not the end result is thinking or feeling, it’s all coming from somewhere quite smelly.
38YearBravesFan
January 9th, 2010
9:14 am
THE BEAR… Thanks for posting the site.
GO BRAVES!!
glove51
January 9th, 2010
9:18 am
DAve, I was the one who recommended In the Loop. Really good satire and some classic expletive ridden British monologues!
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 9th, 2010
9:19 am
Lew, you are right. I did misinterpret your meaning. Sorry about that.
—————
38YearBravesFan, you are welcome.
glove51
January 9th, 2010
9:22 am
DOB, Re John Wall. Yeah he is great, but your own Xavier Henry ain’t no slouch. Wall came reasonably close to coming to my beloved Oklahoma State. We are headed over to watch the Cowboys play Texas Tech this evening. Cowboys are goign to be a bubble team most likely, but coach Travis Ford did a marvelous job of turning things around and getting us in the NCAA last season.
TennesseePaul
January 9th, 2010
9:37 am
The Braves signed Troy Glaus, which makes sense, as the one thing between them and glory was clearly a 33-year-old who played 14 games last year and can be expected, if at the top of his game, to be an average hitter for his position.
–Tim Marchman
nailed it.
dogsbrekky
January 9th, 2010
9:42 am
The Loop – thanks for the reco… will watch it later today in this 8 degree heat !
Love English humor
Dobi – thanks for the story on Lowe… I for one, am a big supporter of the big man and am confident he will have a monster 2010 year… but will be happy even if he JUST WINS 15
dogsbrekky
January 9th, 2010
9:46 am
Bear – what is your webpage.. I would like to read it and print some stuff out to show my NYC Central Park brethren… me being the only non-liberal it appears in the area
Efrim
January 9th, 2010
9:55 am
nailed it.
He certainly did.
McFann
January 9th, 2010
10:09 am
Roman Gal I’d equate it with McFann meeting Clint Hurdle.
So……kind of like a pack of wolves against a deer, then.
Soph you assist us with Petrino and we got your back with Hurdle.
OK, uh…who’s Petrino?
10Paul you don’t want to waste BMac… (think Russ Martin after Joe Torre got a hold of him).
How ’bout Russ Martin after Clint Hurdle got a hold of him…
John
January 9th, 2010
10:09 am
This is my first blog of the year and the last. The Phillies spend money and get stronger, the Mets spend money and get stronger. The Braves shed payroll and get weaker. WTF!!?? Same old , same old middle of the pack from start to finish.
ugaaccountant
January 9th, 2010
10:30 am
Why is anyone trying to think we can contend with the Phillies in 2010?
Hamels isn’t going to quit the game or anything crazy like that. His talent didn’t disapper, it was a motivation issue. He just needs to have some sessions with a sports psychologist. I’m pretty sure the phillies will send him to a few sessions, like we did with Smoltz back in the day, and all will be right.
Haap will never be as talented as Hanson, but that doesn’t mean he’s not good enough to win alot of games in that lineup.
Ibanez is old. Yes, but he also was an MVP frontrunner until he had an injury. He’s recovered from that now.
Lidge had a bad year. He’s done it before and bounced back. Do you really want to bet he stays that bad?
Werth might be overrated? Well he’s going into his make or break contract year that could put him into the upper reaches of salary. Staring at that, perhaps he actually has the best season of his career which happens pretty often when the financial motivation is there.
Drabek and Taylor weren’t going to contribute much in 2010 anyway. Hurts majorly in 2011 and beyond of course, but we’re normally talking 2010 on this blog.
And finally adding guys like Polanco, Baez and whoever the pinch hitter they added can’t hurt since they replaced lesser players.
Frankly, this 2010 Phillies team is deeper and better than the past 2 years world series participant.
TnBrian
January 9th, 2010
10:34 am
Is uga-brave just annoying to me or does anyone else want to call him up and tell him to use correct punctuation and quit downing on the Braves? DAMN, I think he’s drunk posting on here at all hours of the night and the guy sounds so certain with his claims that you’d think he’s a bit arrogant.
NO, uga-brave, the Phills aren’t THAT great. They’ve been one of the luckiest groups on a ball club to have not had a bad case of the injury bug. My God, when was the last time you saw someone other than Howard play 1st, Utley play 2nd, Werth play right, and on and on? We know uga, “smilin Frank” is a joke and he’s running this org. into the sh***. Whatever man…. whatever.
TnBrian
January 9th, 2010
10:36 am
ugaaccountant, maybe my last post can go to you too. Not the arrogant part, but how Philly has been some lucky dogs.
P. W. Hjort
January 9th, 2010
10:42 am
ccrider,
Don’t really know enough about football coaches to make a comment on Wommack’s firing.
Flatbill Kid
January 9th, 2010
11:07 am
MLBTR says mets are looking at Smoltz for a rotation spot. Bahahahahahaha. Sorry. Baaaaahahahahahaha. Sign him mutts.
The Grinch
January 9th, 2010
11:11 am
I don’t care for the Vasquez trade. I understand in was necessary after we signed Hudson and nobody would take Lowe, but we shouldn’t have signed Hudson. If we’d let him walk, we could have used his option money to sign the big bat we needed and kept a fine rotation in place. I think there was a bit of miscalculation about the pitching market, and we put ourselves over a barrel for no particular reason.
However, we do undoubtedly have a stronger bench. I just don’t much like the idea that our team may be a good bit better overall or a good bit worse, and we won’t know ’till it plays out. I don’t see why we didn’t go the shorter, more solid route.
The Grinch
January 9th, 2010
11:13 am
Good lord, I hope the Mets sign Smoltz to a rotation spot. I hope he keeps playing ’till he’s 60; he can’t possibly embarrass himself enough for me. What an arrogant tool.
DAP
January 9th, 2010
11:16 am
uga-brave38 year old you speak of plays left field. werth plays right and might be the best right rielder in the nl if you look at his numbers. victorino is no slouch. rollins struggled early last season but he rebounded.
sorrry but the phils have the best 1-7 lineup in the n.l.
yeah, they do, but let me play devils advocate.
that 38 year old hit .232/.326/.448/.774 after the all star break. feeling his age maybe? werth ha a career year and there is no way he repeats that. subtract about 10 homers. hes a goodplayer, but not that good. victorino isnt any better than nate mclouth. lets not over hype the flyin’ hawian. the phils and the braves have virtually the same CF. ill give you rollins. we will likely rebound in 2010.
ugaaccountant
January 9th, 2010
11:19 am
Tnbrian – believe me, I wish what you were saying was true. I wish the Phillies were due some bad luck, but the phillies weren’t all that lucky in 2009.
They lost Ibanez to injury that basically slowed him the rest of the year. He was on MVP pace before, pretty much sucked afterwards.
I don’t remember if Rollins was an injury or not, but he sucked early in 2009. I think it was a nagging injury that he played through like Schaefer did for 2 months. Anyway Rollins was brutal in the first part of the season.
Then they had two headcases in Hamels and Lidge. Hamels apparently wasn’t motivated and Lidge tensed up once he blew a game or two.
Plus, while the 2009 Phillies weren’t very deep, the 2010 phillies have added some depth and would be in a little better position to plug any holes.
To me, that’s 4 key badluck situations in 2009, which is probably a normal amount.
I think we as a fanbase need to focus our rivalry on the Mets and whomever else is wildcard contenders this year.
ugaaccountant
January 9th, 2010
11:21 am
Ibanez was having the best season of his career, gets injured, and then when he comes back isn’t good and sits out alot of days. He also has always been a reliable everyday performer.
To me, i’m chalking that up to injury, and expecting he makes a big comeback after an offseason of rest. He’ll be one of the better #6 or #7 batters in the NL next season, even if he’s not quite what he once was.
JasonInFL
January 9th, 2010
11:28 am
every movie you recommend on here goes in my NetFlix queue DOB…keep ‘em coming…(:
Eric from MO
January 9th, 2010
11:29 am
TnBrian your not the only one. Actually everybody who says the season is over pretty much annoys me. We have the best starting pitching in all of baseball. Argueably the best and deepest bullpen in all of baseball. Arguably the best and deepest farm system in all of baseball.
Our only weakness is offense. However, I believe this offense is just as good as the one we had last year. Our only losses were Church and LaRoche. While Glaus isnt as good as LaRoche was in the 2nd half, Melky(as much as some hate his guts) is better than Church. Plus Heyward will be up by June. Plus McCann shouldnt have eye problems so Im sure he will be back to where he was and Chipper may not be an MVP candidate anymore but I gurantee he bounces back and has a nice year. So our offense is probably as good as the one that finished the season last year. You know the one that lead the NL in scoring the 2nd half of the season. Even with its two best hitters slumping.
So if your going to assure all of us that the season is over, before pitchers and catchers even report,even with all of this, then you obviously are just an unhappy person. I dont know if your laid off, have no friends, or what, but something must be wrong. Hope you all seek help.
rpw
January 9th, 2010
11:31 am
Carrying a grudge?
Dude, when you make that much guaranteed $$$ for doing what you love…why does it even matter where you do it?
Dave, Get over yourself!!!
Sounds like you are bored!!!
Slowhiteguy
January 9th, 2010
11:31 am
The Braves have a much better chance of competing with the Phillies this year as opposed to last year. I think as Braves fan, that’s all I can ask for. A very good friend of mine is a scout for the Phillies and he tells me that the Phillies know the Braves are coming and their window is closing.
Eric from MO
January 9th, 2010
11:32 am
*I meant the offense is as good as the one that finished the season last year.
Mr J
January 9th, 2010
11:40 am
Grinch,
I’ll take the other side on the Vasquez trade. I think Wren’s calculation is that, based on their respective records, three years of Hudson at 9M/yr (wasn’t that what he signed for?) was going to be a better deal than either 3 years of Lowe at 15M/yr or 3 years of Vasquez at whatever it would have taken to sign him to an extension. Lowe was the first choice to be traded because savings would be maximized, but the Braves could find no takers. So, Vasquez goes.
Everybody loved Javy, and he did a super job, but is there anything in his track record that makes you think that he could repeat last year’s results? Did he all of a sudden find the answer under the benevolent gaze of Bobby Cox? Well, maybe, but I think Wren made the safer bet.
chem
January 9th, 2010
11:41 am
I blame Schultz for blowing this thing up. No player wants to be shopped around, but the Braves never HAD to do anything. It’s not the job of the local newspaper to ratchet up the tension between the teams players and front office.
flange1
January 9th, 2010
11:44 am
You know it is really funny when a poster like TnBrian says he does not like the posts of uga-brave who has had substance to his posts since he started posting over here.
TnBrian, have you EVER had a post with substance?
No, I did not think so…
Grinchy, good to see you back!!
Eric from MO
January 9th, 2010
11:45 am
chem actually bowman reported it first.
chem
January 9th, 2010
11:50 am
I said “ratchet”
The Grinch
January 9th, 2010
11:51 am
Mr J, yes I do. This was the first place he’d pitched in where he was comfortable with both the manager and the dimensions of the ballpark (check everywhere else he’s pitched), plus he was closer to his family. I think he would have hit a stride here and kept it. He’s always had the talent, and he’s been wanting to play for Bobby since he was in Canada.
I’m the last person to completely second guess Frank Wren; I think he’s an excellent GM who does the best he can with his resources and is sometimes forced to roll the dice. I just didn’t much care for this particular move. I’d be less sanguine about it had we got a bat in return. Melky looks awful funny with the seed box on his head but his massive 13 HR’s last year is gonna drop to about 6 in Turner Field.
bvillebaron
January 9th, 2010
11:52 am
Ugga:
Maybe you could enlighten me and tell me who the Phillies #5 starter will be. There is no question that the Phillies lineup is better than Atlanta. However, the Braves’ rotation is better than the Phils even with Halladay. Barring injury, the Braves have a better and deeper bullpen than the Phillies as well. I am old school and believe that you build a team in this order: (1) starting pitching; (2) strong closer and build the bullpen backwards from there; and (3) offense. Seems to me that is the approach that Wren is taking. To say that the Braves have no chance to compete with Philadelphia before the season even begins is ludicrous. I am a long time Braves fan who has lived about 1 hour west of Philadelphia all my life. Many of my friends who are Phillies fans feel that the Braves could be a real threat to them this year.
Eric from MO
January 9th, 2010
11:54 am
I know, but I would consider Bowman blowing it up first.
The Grinch
January 9th, 2010
11:54 am
And no, I’m not forgetting the other two players…it just seems to me we could have gotten more.
Howdy Flange; good to be here. If for no other reason than to give an alternative taste in music.
P. W. Hjort
January 9th, 2010
11:54 am
I think the Braves should give Brandon Hicks a chance to win the 2nd utility infielder job. Better him than Diory Hernandez, Brooks Conrad, or Joe Thurston.
David O'Brien
January 9th, 2010
11:54 am
Glove51: agree on X. Henry. Surpassed my expectations for first half of what will (unfortunately) probably be his only season. Hey, maybe he’ll have such a great time that he’ll come back for another year. But if season ends the way they (and us alums) hope, he won’t come back.
As for Wall, I was talking more about big picture, what he could become. Again, way too early to know, but he’s special. So fast, explosive, and can really shoot. Xavier, too, is going to be a really good NBA player because he’s got great size for such a fine shooter.
Hey, your ‘Pokes are tough. But they and every other Big 12 team is going to have a grind most nights this season. Conference is loaded, and my guys are going to have a tough go again rival K-State this season. And vs. Texas, of course, and Mizzou, and Texas Tech…
To me, Big East is only conference on a level or perhaps slightly above Big 12 this season, in terms of depth and elite teams.
TennesseePaul
January 9th, 2010
11:55 am
Melky(as much as some hate his guts) is better than Church
Church had a 99 OPS+ for the Braves with a career 107 OPS+. Melky had his best year last year with a 99OPS+ to go with his career 88OPS+.
If Church were relaibly healthy and less expensive, he’d be the better option. He isn’t though, but that doesn’t mean Melky is an upgrade over Church. Melky is just more consistant at being less productive. Not awful, so long as the team doesn’t view him as anything more than a 4th outfielder.
Eric from MO
January 9th, 2010
11:58 am
bville that is what I think about these bloggers. If you think Phillies are better, ok. I would pick them to finish above the Braves, but to say it is over? Thats silly.
David O'Brien
January 9th, 2010
11:59 am
Glove 51: How ’bout the Malcolm character in In The Loop? Terrific. That scene between him and Gandolfini’s character .. “I’ll hit you so hard in the face you’ll be s***ting teeth.”
KC
January 9th, 2010
11:59 am
“if at the top of his game, to be an average hitter for his position.
That’s got to be the dumbest rationale I’ve ever heard for diminishing the value of a player. Concerns over his health, though he’s healthy right now, are valid. But trying to make a case against him because, if he’s at the top of his game, he’ll be “average for that position” is inane.
Who gives a flying F*** if 27 HR’s and 95 RBI is average for 1B?? I’m not sure that IS average, but even if it is, who the hell cares?? That in no way diminishes the impact of those numbers on this lineup.
IF 27 HR’s and 95 RBI is average for 1B, then average is exactly what the Braves need.
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 9th, 2010
12:01 pm
dogsbrekky
January 9th, 2010
9:46 am
Bear – what is your webpage.. I would like to read it and print some stuff out to show my NYC Central Park brethren… me being the only non-liberal it appears in the area
—————
http://gbu.yuku.com/directory
David O'Brien
January 9th, 2010
12:02 pm
The BEAR, laying down a gauntlet (8:17 a.m.) for our agitating friend. BEAR, I think the guy only likes it if he’s head agitator, and if he’s doing it in a place like this, where most don’t come to debate those issues.
Lew
January 9th, 2010
12:04 pm
DAP_You seriously would take Rollins over Yunel? Why? Let’s do some comparison here.
Jimmy Rollins-(09) .250BA, .296OBP, .423 Slg%, .719 OPS
Yunel Escobar -(09) .299 BA, .377 OBP, .436Slg%, .812 OPS
Jimmy Rollins-(career) .274 BA, .329OBP, .439Slg%, .768OPS
Yunel Escobar-(career) .301 BA, .375OBP, .426Slg%, . .801OPS
Doesn’t matter if you take their career numbers or their 09 numbers. Yunel is a superior player than Rollins, hands down and 4 years younger, too -not to mention their salaries are a bit lopsided. Rollins made $8.5 mil last year and Yunel made about $450,000.
Sorry Dude, but I’ll take Yunel over Rollins any time. It isn’t even a contest.
MZ
January 9th, 2010
12:04 pm
DOB —-
good call on that Roman Candle … you heard Brendan Benson’s latest solo release (My Old, Familiar Friend)?
DAP
January 9th, 2010
12:08 pm
KC
i was thinking the same thing. after kotchman, id love to have average.
Eric from MO
January 9th, 2010
12:08 pm
KC not to mention that would be one hell of a deal if he hits 27 homers and 95 rbis. Doubt he has those numbers, but that would be a deal.
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
January 9th, 2010
12:14 pm
David O’Brien
January 9th, 2010
12:02 pm
The BEAR, putting down the gauntlet for our agitating friend. BEAR, I think the guy only likes it if he’s the head agitator, and if he’s doing it in a place like this, where people don’t come to debate those issues. Know what I mean?
—————-
I know exactly what you mean. That guy is “unusual” to say the least. I don’t think he’ll last long on my blog where people are called to task for personal attacks….and I do mean “called to task.”
I have always tried to play by the blog master’s rules wherever I go. Some folks just can’t seem to get that message. I have even resorted to banning an IP a few times although that is taking a chance of shutting out someone else you want on your board. So I do it very seldom.
I do enjoy your blog as it is full of info and that is true because you interact with your members. Nothing will surpass that. And I think that is the reason other blogs pale when compared to this one.
Try not to freeze up there in my old home town. My daughter in Kennesaw says it is really bad there today.
You will be shocked to learn that they are forecasting “BLACK ICE” road condidions as far south as Vero Beach tonight. It is supposed to hit 30 here in Stuart tonight and 26 at Lake Okeechobee. That is getting cold my friend.
Lew
January 9th, 2010
12:14 pm
Eric-I’m thinking that people are discouting a motivational factor this year-both for Vhipper and for Glaus. Chipper is highly motivated to prove that last year was a fluke and not indicative of a general decline in ability (which I doubt it is-he DID hit .300 for more than half the season). Glaus is extremely motivated to prove that-at his age-he has another good strong contract in his future.
Do not discount theses motivational factors. I’m thinking we’ll all be quite pleased with how good they both are. Do not discount Bobby’s last season as motivation, either.
Mr J
January 9th, 2010
12:15 pm
Grinch,
In his 11 seasons Vasquez posted an ERA under 4 5 times, and has not had two in a row since 2003, so I don’t like the pattern. But let’s suppose you are right, and if he stayed with the Braves he finishes 2010 with an ERA under 3.50. What do you suppose it it would take to sign him to an extension mid-year if he’s going that good? Probably close to the same 15M/yr Lowe’s making. Wren clearly thinks (with justification IMO) that the Braves will get similar results from Hudson for much less.
As for what we got in the trade, well only time will tell. Maybe he could have gotten more, or maybe not, I’ve got now way of knowing. But the return on the trade was not what was driving the action. it was a disciplined financial calculation of cost/benefit.
DAP
January 9th, 2010
12:17 pm
lew DAP_You seriously would take Rollins over Yunel? Why? Let’s do some comparison here.
um…no, i wouldnt. why would you ask me that? did an imposter take my screen name and post something like that? because i have never said anything like that.
id say yunel is better, but you have to qualify that they are very different. rollins does things that yunel cannot do. yunel hits for average and gets on base better, but rollins has more power and has the speed to add another facet to his game. both are excellent defensively.
by the way, welcome back, grinch. weve missed you.
klaus
January 9th, 2010
12:17 pm
The Braves payroll is somewhere between $87-90mm today, not $96.7mm. It also only appeared to be $96.7mm in 2009 b/c they were collecting insurance on Hudson. So the 2009 payroll increase was an accounting illusion.
Liberty has essentially moved payroll from the mid-80s to about 90-91mm (more like 87mm if Glaus, Saito and Hinske don’t make their incentives and or they don’t have to pay all 40 men on the roster at least a min of 400K – supposedly what they are accounting for in the 90+mm payroll number).
Hardly a ringing endorsement or a indicative of a owner who is investing.
Also MLB told Liberty they could not cut payroll from where it was at the time of the asset transfer from AOL/TW.
That number btw was ~87mm.
So Liberty is doing the bare minmum payroll wise if they hover between 87-91mm. This is no accident IMHO and why the team struggles to address both pitching and offense in any given year.
Liberty is a media company focused on media businesses. The Braves are an asset they had to acquire in the TW deal.
Liberty is not a bad company and they clearly are not gutting payroll like TW/AOL did or wanted to do to ATL. But the fact remains they didn’t seek out the Braves they had the Braves fall into their lap as part of a stock swap with tax implications driving much of it.
It is likely as not that when they can sell the team (starting in 2011) they will unless we have a double dip recession. Liberty can put the $500+mm the Braves would net them to far better use in the media industry than carrying this asset on their books for another 5yrs. They know this and I would bet they have a plan for that money already in place.
The Braves under a Blank or Cuban ownership group will be much better off and the unbalanced team we keep fielding every year will give way to a more consistent and playoff architected group than anything we have seen over the past 10 years of corporate ownership.
Payroll has only crept up. The Braves are 16 years removed from a WS ring, 11 years from their last WS appearances and 5 years from the playoffs. Attendance that avg’d over 3mm in the 90s is running at 2.5mm more less in the 2000s with 2009 being the worst in some time.
I see very little in this combination of data points for Braves fans to be happy about in terms of the impact of corporate owners. Now to be fair it takes two tango and we can put some of the blame on ill conceived trades, bad contracts and the proverbial baseball gods turning their back on ATL but not all of it.
In terms of the “poor” teams – It is far worse to be a few feet from being a great team only to have a corporate CFO put on the brakes (in the same year btw that Liberty dropped $250mm into Sirius XM radio and $800mm into a German cable company) versus a teams with 30-60mm payrolls who know where they stand.
The Braves are in a sort of purgatory and have been for a long time. Good, not great – close enough is good enough. That is their reality.
Rookies will help. More bad contracts falling off the books as well but ultimately you will need a baseball focused ownership group to get this franchise back on track.
That day will come possible as early as 2011 regardless of the comments by McGuirk re: Liberty’s intentions re: the Braves.
Liberty is no worse than most corporate owners but they are not the long term answer for what ails this club.
David O'Brien
January 9th, 2010
12:17 pm
Next thing he’ll say is that there was never any water under the Brooklyn Bridge either. — Butch from The Cape
There’s not. It’s sludge.
(Kidding, kidding. They’ve actually cleaned up the waterways around NYC a lot in the past decade or so. To the point where they’re probably cleaner than the ones that flow through many or most cities now. But I couldn’t resist, since it was on a tee.)
Nick
January 9th, 2010
12:18 pm
Escobar > Rollins
Chipper > Polanco
McCann > Ruiz
Glaus < Howard
Prado < Utley
McLouth = Victorino
Melky/Heyward < Werth
Diaz Phillies bullpen
The rotations are too close to call but I’ll give slight advantage to Braves.
With all that said, the Phillies will win 100 games and the Braves will win 75-80.