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3,409 comments Add your comment
DAP
February 4th, 2010
10:57 am
ok, so im trying to figure out who i think the braves biggest competition in the NL is, so i wrote down all the team, and went ahead and crossed off the ones that i am positive the braves are better than. there were only 6 teams that i dont think will interfere with the braves making it to the play offs, they are the reds, astros, brewers, pirates, padres, nationals.
i am on the fence about adding the cubs, dbacks, mets, and the giants to the list.
who do you guys see as our biggest rivals in the NL? who do we have to worry about?
Daslied
February 4th, 2010
11:00 am
Rockies, Phillies, Mets, Marlins and one of St. Louis, Chicago or Milwaukee.
David O'Brien
February 4th, 2010
11:00 am
Just read Frank Wren’s monthly Cop Talk colmumn and I can tell you that the Braves are perfectly comfortable going into the season with the pieces we already have… — Lew
Lew, maybe they are. But if they weren’t, do you really think Wren would say anything otherwise in his column in the fan publication, with spring training two weeks away? Can you imagine him writing, “We like our team. We’d rather have better [fill in the blank] or less questions at the [fill in the blank] position, and we’d have a better shot at reaching the playoffs if we had [fill in the blank], but we like our team.”
DAP
February 4th, 2010
11:02 am
daslied, what about rockies, dodgers?
i dont think the brewers have anything for 2010. the cardinals are by far the best team in that division.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
11:02 am
DAP-
No team in the NL has more pitching depth than Atlanta. If the Braves stay healthy offensively, FEAR NO ONE.
Lew
February 4th, 2010
11:03 am
DAP-I think there are the proverbial “question marks” for all the NL teams. The Cubs probably aren’t any stronger than the last couple years and they showed nothing much then.
The Cards are no stronger than they were at the end of last season and may actually be weaker with the loss of Pinero. Can Carpenter remain the pitcher he was last year or revert to the injured version? Definitely questions, though they will have an offense with Holliday and Albert.
The Dodgers got no stronger over the winter and may actually be weaker. They are certainly no lock for the playoffs, as Colorado (the REAL West powerhouse to my way of thinking) should be better and the DBacks definitely will be stronger (even with Kelly Johnson).
I guess you’d have to include the Phillies as the best in the Division, but as previously discussed-they have questions too in their bullpen, enndurance and whether or not Hamels will step up and Blanton will continue to be solid.
Other than the Phillies, the Cards and the Rockies, I’m just not worried about anyone else-except maybe the Nationals, Pirates and Reds, who seem to have our number no m,atter how badly they suck at any given time.
RHR
February 4th, 2010
11:05 am
The new Corrine Bailey Rae (”The Sea”) is really, really, really good. Really good – not at all what I expected.
I love her voice….I’ll have to check that out on itunes. She and Adele are 2 of my favorite modern blues singers.
DAP
February 4th, 2010
11:05 am
daslied, if we assume the phillies, dodgers and cardinals will win their divisions, then i guess we are talking about beating out the cubs, rockies, dbacks, giants, mets and marlins. i am pretty confident about being better than the cubs and mets.
Arkansas Transplant
February 4th, 2010
11:06 am
Great thing about baseball, as the season progresses the needs of clubs change. That’s how the Braves could trade Damon.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
11:06 am
Lew-
Agree. I still contend that pitching wins, and no one has more of it than us.
Lew
February 4th, 2010
11:06 am
DOB-Just saying what the Man wrote-though he did add that they were open to any deal that might make them stronger.
Dude, you’re really pushing this Damon thing. I wouldn’t mind having it happen (actually think it would be a good move), but I’m not at all certain it’s a deal that will come to fruition and I’m also willing to roll with what we have-I think it’s a good lineup with an incredible pitching staff top to bottom.
GovClintonTyree
February 4th, 2010
11:09 am
DAP, you’re right, runs scored is somewhat dependent on the quality of the lineup you lead off. So Damon’s 1320 runs in the last twelve years are somewhat dependent statistics. How about his 2102 hits in that same 12 years? Not overstating it, that’s consistent excellence over a long period of time without any real sign of drop off. People who are saying he’s slowing down – where is it? The 12 SB last year (0 CS, BTW) instead of his usual 27? He didn’t lead off, Jeter did. I think if he leads off, he goes back to 27.
Wanna bet he scores 100 runs if the Braves sign him?
Yes, he has a popcorn arm. So what? That’s why God made LF.
$11m for 2 years? Take the deal. Trade Cabrera. Versatility is nice, but I’d rather have Damon, McLouth and Heyward for 140 games each and Diaz to handle the rest (maybe Hinske/Infante have a part in that). Versatility also means he (Cabrera) isn’t really good enough to put him somewhere and start him for 140 games.
Damon at $10m is not a good use of scarce resources. Damon at $5m is. Bring him in, deal Melky. I’m sure Liberty can live with the $2.4m bump.
Lew
February 4th, 2010
11:09 am
Arkansas Transplant-But do you seriously sign Damon with the intention of trading him? Sounds to me like something Oakland would do, but not many sensible clubs.
DAP
February 4th, 2010
11:11 am
lew ’m just not worried about anyone else-except maybe the Nationals, Pirates and Reds,
they seem to give us fits head to head, but there is no way they have a better record than the braves…obviously the key is just winning our games, but im just thinking about who else we have to think about winning alot of their games, too.
thickfreakness FEAR NO ONE.
i like that. good idea.
i think ive narrowed our wild card challengers down to marlins(no defense), dabcks (no offense?), rockies (great all around team), giants (no offense).
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
11:12 am
How could you not think Kansas is legit as number 1 if you watch the games? You could argue a few other teams but you can easily argue Kansas too.
Nick Shay
February 4th, 2010
11:12 am
DOB – Have you listened to the new Midlake album yet? I read a very negative review of it and decided to put off picking it up, but I’d be interested in hearing what you think of it.
StingerSplash
February 4th, 2010
11:13 am
Most pollsters are probably paying closer attention. — DOB
Hmmm. Don’t know about that. With teams playing 2-3 games a week, that’s tough to do, especially since most of the voters are on deadline about every night. It’s no piece of cake to do that with football and it’s gotta be tougher with basketball, given the number of games per week and the number of teams in D-I.
Lew
February 4th, 2010
11:14 am
DAP-Whether or not we have better records than the Nats, Pirates or Reds seemingly makes little difference in how they play us. Maybe we shouldn’t “FEAR” them, but recent history shows they kick our Atlantan asses with too large a degree of regularity-for whatever reason you might attribute.
GovClintonTyree
February 4th, 2010
11:15 am
Lew, of course you’re right about the pitching. I’m guessing Braves fans are hypersensitive to the lineup because it’s been so spotty and because by the time Frank made the necessary moves to hit critical mass in the lineup last year, they had 34-40′d themselves right out of the race. I’m not a big fan of leaving question marks in the offseason and seeing if you can fix them midseason. I’d rather try and set it up, spend the whole wad, and make adjustments midseason if best-laid plans don’t work out.
Even if they don’t bring Damon in, it’s a pretty stout lineup, if not from a raw power standpoint, from a consistent production standpoint. Even if Melky gets a bunch of at-bats, they still won’t be dragging Francoeur, slumping KJ and Kotchman around, so most of the job is done.
BravesFanLostInOhio
February 4th, 2010
11:16 am
DOB, thanks for the link on the Javy interview! I always thought the press made too big of a deal about who was whose personal catcher.
Also, about Javy’s attempted comeback, I wonder in retrospect if Wren would have rathered have Javy than Corky…
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
11:17 am
DAP to answer your question I would have all the teams you have about not having to worry about. I would then add the Mets.
I wouldnt add the Dbacks simply because they have two aces in Haran and Webb. They get any suprises they could be in it. Cubs were pretty good two years ago and not a whole lot has changed from that team. To me the Giants are where the Braves were last year going into the season. Great pitching not much offense. Everybody else I think have questions(all teams do except the Yankees maybe)but if things go right for them they could be in it.
DAP
February 4th, 2010
11:17 am
govclinton tyree i dont disagree damon is a good, constant player. i just dont think we should measure it by runs scored. if he hits leadoff for the braves, i do think he will score 100, but i dont care. runs scored isnt what we should look at is all im saying. look at hits, like you did. OBP, ect.
he scored runs because he is good at getting on base and had good hitters behind him. see what im saying? his skill is getting on base, not scoring runs.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
11:19 am
DAP-
I think Hinske will prove to be a huge pickup. I really like the bench: Infante is solid, Ross has power and above avg defensively, Hinske has power and plays both corners of the inf and of, and our 4th outfielder ain’t bad either. Wren tried to cover injuries w/solid players. Medlen or Redmond if a starter goes down. 40 man roster is the best in years, lets play so it can be proven.
Daslied
February 4th, 2010
11:21 am
DAP – the first club I listed was the Rockies. The Dodgers aren’t intimidating, and as other have said didn’t improve over the offseason.
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
11:22 am
DAP I wouldnt assume any of those teams will win their division. All have question marks. I would pick those teams but wouldnt assume them. Many assumed Cubs last year, or Tigers in 08. There is a reason games are actually played. Honestly I think the Braves could win the division(which I havent thought since 04). I think it will come down to head-to-head matchups with the Phillies and actually beating the Pirates, Reds, and Nationals.
Daslied
February 4th, 2010
11:23 am
RHR – definitely check out the C.B. Rae album. It’s a mix, I suppose, of neo-soul and indie pop. It’s outstanding.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
11:23 am
Daslied-
I’m not impressed with the Dodgers or Rockies pitching.
David O'Brien
February 4th, 2010
11:27 am
daslied, RHR, here’s another great young female voice I think you’ll like, Melody Gardot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Eb651s_o1Q
MFin04
February 4th, 2010
11:28 am
Any news on the Johnny Damon front? Just sign him and deal with having too many outfielders later. Last year we wasted lots of rosters spots, why not have productive guys sitting the bench.
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
11:28 am
GovClinton I agree with you at 11:15. I think we already got a top 5 NL offense(rusns scored) easily. We had three huge holes in our lineup last year that has been fixed. We were the top scoring offense last year in the 2nd half and that started a whole month before we added LaRoche. Not to mention McCann and Chipper struggled in the 2nd half last year. The only weak part of our team I really see is power(which should be made up by overall solid hitters at all positions) and defense. Damon solves neither of these, which is why I dont think the Braves really need him.
GovClintonTyree
February 4th, 2010
11:29 am
DAP, I’m with you. I put a little more emphasis on runs scored than you do, is all. I think you can have two guys (hypothetically) leading off the same lineup with the same number of hits and one will be more effective than the other, because of smart baserunning decisions, taking walks at opportune times, things like that.
Damon’s double steal in the World Series last year, for instance, is hard to quantify but made a huge difference in that game and that series. He just has a knack. I guess I’m trying to quantify intangibles, which is always dangerous business.
DAP
February 4th, 2010
11:29 am
daslied The Dodgers aren’t intimidating, and as other have said didn’t improve over the offseason.
i honestly think the didgers are a very good team, and i dont really understand the thought that maybe they arent. kemp, eithier, manny in the middle of your lineup is pretty solid, with martin, blake,loney filling out the lineup. thier defense is pretty solid, they have a very good closer in broxton, and two very talented young pitchers in billingsly and kershaw.
the dont look to be a powerhouse or anything, but certainly a very solid team, right?
Arkansas Transplant
February 4th, 2010
11:31 am
Lew, I won’t go into the Damon signing with only the intent of trading him but you really don’t know how the season will unfold. But the option would be there if need be is all I’m stating.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
11:33 am
GovClinton-
Why are intangibles dangerous when players like Mike Devereaux become NLCS MVP or Lonnie Smith ressurects a career or Mike Remlinger or Kerry Lightenberg get it later rather than sooner? Just sayin, its Baseball.
David O'Brien
February 4th, 2010
11:33 am
Dude, you’re really pushing this Damon thing. I wouldn’t mind having it happen (actually think it would be a good move), but I’m not at all certain it’s a deal that will come to fruition and I’m also willing to roll with what we have. — Lew
I’m not at all certain it’s going to happen, either. And I’m not just willing, but ready, to cover whatever team they roll out there.
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
11:33 am
ThickFreakness I agree. I think our bench is pretty damn good too. One of the best all around teams we have had in awhile.
GovClintonTyree
February 4th, 2010
11:34 am
Eric from Mo, I see what you’re saying. The only thing I would argue if that if you have a strong 1-8 it’s better than having a strong 1-7. I don’t consider Cabrera to be a good offensive player. I do consider Damon to be one. Cabrera is a stronger defender, but I don’t think that matters more than about a run every two months. As the statheads say, Damon is a 3-win player. He would make us better enough to make the deal that we’re hearing would get it done.
DAVBRAVES
February 4th, 2010
11:34 am
GO BRAVOS
GovClintonTyree
February 4th, 2010
11:36 am
Thickfreakness, LOL, no doubt. BTW, you’re right about HInske. He could really be key for us this year. In fact, we have a megasolid bench all the way around, no matter who the fifth player is.
RHR
February 4th, 2010
11:36 am
Who else giggles like a 12 year old at the daily Wang headlines on MLBTR?
Nats could make run at Wang
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
11:36 am
DAP I am with you at 11:29. They may not of added much but they didnt lose much either.
Daslied
February 4th, 2010
11:36 am
DAP, I think the Dodgers are good, but not scary. Ethier, Kemp and Manny are the only ones that scare me in that lineup, and Manny not so much anymore.
Daslied
February 4th, 2010
11:38 am
Who else giggles like a 12 year old at the daily Wang headlines on MLBTR?
Yes. I only wish he was a Cuban defector, and there was a smuggling joke. Of course, him being on the Yankees was pretty funny.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
11:39 am
Eric-
Since no one is certain of the 24th and 25th players, although I think Heyward will be the 24th, I think our 23 right now stack up with any 23 in the NL.
Daslied
February 4th, 2010
11:39 am
DOB – thanks for the Melody Gardot link. Checking for her on Rhapsody now…
Thrillhouse44
February 4th, 2010
11:39 am
Who else giggles like a 12 year old at the daily Wang headlines on MLBTR?
The Dan Patrick Show used to always play a clip of him saying “I love Wang”. Got me every time. In fact, I’m smiling right now.
MFin04
February 4th, 2010
11:39 am
The Braves are a better team with Melky and Damon then just Melky. They wouldn’t necessarily have to get rid of anyone if they signed him for 3-5 million. If Damon sucks and gets hurt, you still have Melky and you just go back to the original plan A.
It costs you 3 to 5 million to add a true leadoff hitter. If it doesn’t work out you put Nate back up there leading off, and plug Melky into left field. Not too expensive and you’ve made your bench and lineup deeper.
David O'Brien
February 4th, 2010
11:40 am
Any news on the Johnny Damon front? — MFin04
Yes, we all just agreed not to report it until after we’ve had a nice lunch.
MFin04
February 4th, 2010
11:44 am
I knew, you’d like that!
Well ya’ll have a nice BBQ lunch and report some good news! 
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
11:45 am
Mfin the Braves are at the payroll capacity. If you add Damon even if it is 3 to 5 million then you would at least have to get rid of Melky or Diaz.
ncscoots
February 4th, 2010
11:45 am
Yes, we all just agreed not to report it until after we’ve had a nice lunch
EX-cellent choice. Now, if you could just make that “a nice lunch next December”, I’d be good to go on all the news I need about Johnny bleepin’ Damon.
RHR
February 4th, 2010
11:47 am
DOB – I like…thank for the tip. Just put her name in the notepad on my phone so I can listen to more later, from home.
Glad I looked at the notepad too, there is a wine I noted at a restaurant the other night that I had forgotten about. Must have been good.
Hillbilly
February 4th, 2010
11:47 am
So many potential Wang jokes out there. Let’s just hope the Yankees plan to re-sign him.
Yanks extend Wang?
Thrillhouse44
February 4th, 2010
11:48 am
I’d be good to go on all the news I need about Johnny bleepin’ Damon.
Forget who it was, but someone made the excellent comparison of this year’s Damon hunt to last year’s Peavy chase.
Daslied
February 4th, 2010
11:50 am
This is just sublime, considering the story behind it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZfp7Txyk_Y
Bill
February 4th, 2010
11:50 am
Thanks Darren. I will check it out buddy…..Seasick Steve.
Arkansas Transplant
February 4th, 2010
11:51 am
DOB,
what would be your take if they actually signed Damon. Would they in fact trade Cabrera or would they just break camp without Heyward? Or possibly would they carry 5 outfielders? Just looking for your opinion on this.. I would figure if Heyward was outstanding in ST they would trade Cabrera before carrying a 5th outfielder.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
11:52 am
What I think is lost in the Damon talk is that Wren has put himself in a position where he is not compelled to add the guy to the roster. Unlike last year (Anderson, Griffey), he does not have a glaring hole in the OF. It may not be the dynamite OF fans want, but it is a very capable OF that will compliment the overall team. Let us not forget about a healthy Shafer – I’m convinced we did not see the real Jordan.
Arkansas Transplant
February 4th, 2010
11:54 am
Can’t really consider Schafer at this time, I really doubt we’ll see him in Atlanta this year unless it’s when they expand the rosters in Sept.
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
11:54 am
Thrillhouse I wouldnt compare this to Peavy at all. The Braves actually wanted Peavy.
MZ
February 4th, 2010
11:54 am
HIllbilly —–
reminds me of an actual headline I saw here in Mississippi when Bobby Cox got a contract extension a couple years back
RHR
February 4th, 2010
11:54 am
Thrill – is the Dan Patrick show good? I’ve never listened to it. I’m always looking for a good sports talk show to listen to online from work. Rome is good most of the time, but it starts late in the day on the station I found to listen online. Loved when Tony Bruno was in L.A., it would be on when I got to work and then after lunch Petros was on. I think that whole station closed and both are gone on to other things now.
toga party
February 4th, 2010
11:56 am
Speaking of great young female voices, I’m going to see Brandi Carlile tonight at a great venue in Albany, NY affectionately known as “The Egg”. Her live shows are simply outstanding, and a great reminder of how powerful the human voice can be.
Her version of Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is amazing, and probably my favorite. She does a kick-azz version of “Folsom Prison Blues” too.
Granted, she’s no Neko Case, but she’s definitely worth checking out live if she ever makes her way down south.
MFin04
February 4th, 2010
11:56 am
If a team isn’t willing to spend 3-5 million extra dollars to try and win, they aren’t worth following. That’s absolutely ridiculous. And realistically there is no such thing as payroll capacity. If they are that strapped for cash they could have a Braves car wash and some bake sales. Heck they could have a phone-a-thon for Johhny Damon’s salary, see how many Braves fans can pitch in.
Arkansas Transplant
February 4th, 2010
11:57 am
Another reason you can’t compare this with the Peavy situation is the fact Atlanta was going to have to give something up in the way of talent. That’s not the case with signing Damon.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
11:59 am
Looking at all the Tea Party signs: “No Socialism”. I bet they don’t even no what it means. Socialism is the ownership of domestic production by it’s government. That’s all Socialism is, they still have elections, civil rights etc. etc. Today, right now, the US Federal Govt owns less than 1.5% of Companies operating in the US.
lexbrave
February 4th, 2010
11:59 am
dave,
according to seth davis (assuming he knows) the voters are supposed to vote each week based on the team’s performance that week, not their entire body of work. so whether or not kansas dismantled an unranked mizzou team in week 11 isn’t supposed to be considered in the week 13 vote.
i’ve probably paid more attention than most of the voters who seem to base their entire polls on nothing more than wins and losses.. tell me that kansas has been more impressive in two overtime wins over kstate and colorado than say kentucky has been beating two ranked teams by double digits this week? think the voters will put kentucky back at number one or will kansas remain #1 until they slip up and lose regardless of how they played… why? because they don’t watch as closely as you suggest, they just look at whether a team lost or won. fact is if not for a possession arrow favoring kansas and not kstate we might not be having this converstation right now.
i think that the fact that you pointed out that kansas missed half of its freethrows only further proves my point that they haven’t been playing like a #1 team right now. which was all i suggested.
i’ve actually watched kansas play every game that has been televised nationally this year, so no i haven’t watched every game, but they’ve struggled to win each of the 4 or 5 games i have seen.
but your suggesting that kansas is the clear #1 because they played poorly and narrowly defeated a less than mediocre colorado team but kentucky is clearly not because they played poorly and narrowly lost to a less than mediocre south carolina team?
“two weeks ago I would’ve had Syracuse and Kentucky ahead of Kansas. But not after the blowout against Mizzou and the win at K-State.”
surely you aren’t suggesting that kansas blowing out #35 mizzou and beating kstate because they blew an easy opportunity to win was more impressive to you than kentucky blowing out #20 vandy and then another double digit victory over #25 mississippi are you? maybe you are the one who’s not watching very closely.
i do agree with you however that come march it will all mean nothing..it’s just frustrating that people act like kentucky is overrated because they lost by 6 on the road because they missed 5 layups on the road in a hostile environment, but kansas isn’t because they keep narrowly beating teams they just as easily could have lost.
PhuturePhan
February 4th, 2010
12:00 pm
What would it take to sign Damien from “The Omen”? Opposing players would be devoured by dogs, impaled on broken bats, etc.
ncscoots
February 4th, 2010
12:00 pm
Another reason you can’t compare this with the Peavy situation is the fact Atlanta was going to have to give something up in the way of talent. That’s not the case with signing Damon.
‘Course, they were going to get some talent BACK with a Peavy trade, too, LOL.
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
12:00 pm
Mfin guess its pretty easy to spend somebody else’s money.
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
12:02 pm
Thick cant talk about that here
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
12:04 pm
Eric-
No doubt and I apologize.
unbelievable
February 4th, 2010
12:05 pm
why dont you folks quit asking about Damon until either DOB says we’ve made an offer or until you see a rumor somewhere saying he’s about to sign? Another thing – adding a player like Damon gives us depth. Id sure rather have Damon, Daiz, Melky, McLouth, and Heyward battling each other in ST than just the latter 4 mentioned. Someone can always be traded if we need to fill another hole.
Eric from MO
February 4th, 2010
12:06 pm
No problem, I really dont care and enjoy talking about it, but just figured I would say it before some of the others who really get mad about it.
Daslied
February 4th, 2010
12:07 pm
Corrine Bailey Rae covering the incredible “Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin. Love how she quotes part of the guitar solo on the “from 7 to 11 line”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MAAFqYXx4g&feature=related
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
12:07 pm
Anybody like Mogwai?
MFin04
February 4th, 2010
12:08 pm
Yeh, it is easy to spend someone else’s money, but to some extent that money is the fans money as well. We pay for hats, jerseys, tickets, MLBTV, etc and we expect in return, the team does everything in their power to win ball games.
If they Braves don’t think signing Johhny Damon makes them a better team, than I’m ok with that. But they had better be willing to have Jason Heyward in RF from day 1 of the season unlike the whole Tommy Hanson debacle. The Braves may have saved money in salary from not playing Hanson, but they lost playoff revenue by not starting him off with the Braves from the beginning of the season when he was ready.
RHR
February 4th, 2010
12:10 pm
unbelievable – you new here?
Mitchie-san
February 4th, 2010
12:10 pm
I made the Damon/Peavy comprarison. What I meant by that was the effect they have on this blog. Lots and Lots of talk that most likely will come to nothing.
And I do think the Braves want Damon, i just think they dont want to pay him what he wants. You can be assured that if his price comes down to a reasonable (by Braves standards) level, they would be stoked to have him.
I just hope he faxes the term sheet.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
12:11 pm
MF-
The Braves are not forcing people to patronize their product.
RHR
February 4th, 2010
12:11 pm
I mean, I expect people to start asking him for the opening day lineup any minute now.
David O'Brien
February 4th, 2010
12:14 pm
<em?it’s just frustrating that people act like kentucky is overrated because they lost by 6 on the road because they missed 5 layups on the road in a hostile environment, but kansas isn’t because they keep narrowly beating teams they just as easily could have lost. — lexbrave
But didn’t lose. Unlike Kentucky, which did lose to South Carolina after ascending to No. 1. If could-have’s and should-have’s mattered, Memphis would’ve won the national title two years ago instead of losing to Kansas in overtime, and Kansas would’ve won the national title in 2003 when the Jayhawks went 12-for-30 at the free-throw line in an 81-78 loss to Syracuse in the title game.
In retrospect, nobody cares about would-have’s and should-have’s. Just the W or the L. (Unless you’re talking about college football, where style points and preseason rankings and all that are actually important because of the system in place. Not in college hoops, where it’s all decided on the court in March … well, and the first week of April.)
i’ve probably paid more attention than most of the voters who seem to base their entire polls on nothing more than wins and losses.. tell me that kansas has been more impressive in two overtime wins over kstate and colorado than say kentucky has been beating two ranked teams by double digits this week? think the voters will put kentucky back at number one or will kansas remain #1 until they slip up and lose regardless of how they played… why? because they don’t watch as closely as you suggest, they just look at whether a team lost or won. — lexbrave
Sounds like if being No. 1 in late January was so important to you and/or your Wildcats, then you should’ve just beaten South Carolina to keep the No. 1 ranking when they had it.
Next.
Jeff R
February 4th, 2010
12:17 pm
You’d think that reading the comments that signing or not signing Damon is make or break for the ‘10 edition of the Braves. Damon’s bat might be a nice addition, but I don’t think he brings so much to the table to be a season-changer for the Bravos.
Look, it’s pitching, defense and clutch hitting. The pitching is good, though there are ifs. The defense is generally solid. The hitting may be good but has ifs as well.
Generally, the Braves are relying on a group of older players who are coming off injuries (Wagner and Hudson and Glaus) or have injury histories (Chipper and Glaus) or are expected to rebound (Lowe) to make it to the post season. Damon, given his general decline (at least, according to reports)adds another if to the mix, should Wren sign him, which I doubt is going to happen.
Th walking wounded vets may all have good seasons and push the Bravos over the top. I hope so. But Damon has little upside left and could be another if on a team with plenty of ifs already.
jeffrey d
February 4th, 2010
12:17 pm
If he can name me the closing day lineup…then I’ll applaud
Venice Jim
February 4th, 2010
12:22 pm
RHR – I am a big fan of the Dan Patrick Show – they do a good job of having fun, and not being overly serious and boring – in fact, watching the replay right now on Direct TV…
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
12:22 pm
Jeff R-
Don’t understand why everyone is DL’ing people before it happens. Young guys get hurt just as easily and as often (Shafer, Heyward, Gonzalez, Soriano, Prado, McClouth) Wren has been very creative in adding quality to the 40 player roster. If there has ever been a team to go 162 games without injury, please let me know.
Lew
February 4th, 2010
12:24 pm
DOB-It goes without saying you’ll cover the team they field. Never doubted it. I was just telling what Wren said. His words and not mine (except for the paraphrasing). As usual, I can make a case for it going either way, will be happy either way, but wouldn’t mind having Damon – or not.
GovClintonTyree
February 4th, 2010
12:25 pm
Jeff, I think Damon is two wins better than Melky. If that’s the difference between 90 and 92 wins and the wildcard is 91, don’t you do the deal?
You wouldn’t buy Damon for upside, you’re buying what you know. He’s played 140 games and scored 110 runs for 12 years. I don’t care if he improves on that; it’s worth $5m to my team for him to do it again.
Reports of his decline are greatly exaggerated. There’s no offensive decay whatever. The guy can’t throw, is all. That’s why he’s in LF, not CF.
thickfreakness
February 4th, 2010
12:27 pm
Lew-
Agree. But Wren doesn’t have to overpay. I think we will see a trade at the conclusion of ST, not big, but a trade that will make us even better.
SoWeGa Fanatic
February 4th, 2010
12:30 pm
Girardi yanks Wang.
Lew
February 4th, 2010
12:32 pm
MFin04_what Hanson debacle? His 12-4 season with an ERA under 3? What makes you so certain he would have put up those numbers without a couple months in AAA? Not to mention the Super Two thing. What would your reaction (actually, don’t bother answering, we can figure that out) have been three years down the line when we had to drop a player you felt integral to our success because Hanson cost that extra several mil?
As for TRYING to win. Why do you think they won’t with the team we have? Dude, you have zero basis for saying that.
O.J.
February 4th, 2010
12:33 pm
Lew, sorry, but it was 11-4
Lew
February 4th, 2010
12:33 pm
thickfreakness-Wren won’t overpay. If he were willing to do so, Damon might already be a Brave.
MFin04
February 4th, 2010
12:33 pm
Loaf couldn’t catch, throw or run in LF, so Damon is a great upgrade in LF over Loaf last year.
Lew
February 4th, 2010
12:34 pm
OJ-Wishful thinking?
darren
February 4th, 2010
12:34 pm
David O’Brien,
Try Seasick Steve, some of the best pick’n the blues you haven’t herd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi_0k3hzNS4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMf-em-56Mc&feature=related
O.J.
February 4th, 2010
12:37 pm
Lew, LOL, it definitely could have happened, matter of fact, it should have.
But I understand what MFin04 is saying, I think he meant the whole not letting Hanson start the year with the Braves instead of down in AAA.
MFin04
February 4th, 2010
12:39 pm
You can’t continue to Super 2 every player based on being cheap. When you get one in a million guys like Heyward and Hanson, that every scout continues to preach are ready, you can’t hold them back just because of money if you are trying to win today. That is all I am saying.
Hanson was worth another few wins last season. You can’t allow money to be an obstacle to winning. Especially 5 million dollars or so.
The Braves very well could win with the team they have now, but why would you not want to go out and get another guy to help solidify a couple more games?
Lew
February 4th, 2010
12:40 pm
OJ-I understood exactly what he was saying. However, like I said-how do you know he would have put up similar numbers early in the season. He had control issues for a while at Gwinett and may not have been quite ready. Besides, also like I said-in two years we’ll be thrilled he isn’t a Super Two and is still affordable. In keeping with the cinematic theme of the past couple days, as Orson Welles might have said , “Serve no pitcher (or outfielder)before their time”.
Nick in PA
February 4th, 2010
12:42 pm
What do Pennsylvania and a Kardashian have in common?
We’re both getting 12-18 inches this weekend.
ZING