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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,133 comments Add your comment
Matt Berliner
February 16th, 2010
10:43 am
Hey DOB – How come the Braves don’t have a DVD of any kind available? Are there any documentaries or specials in the pipeline that you know of? Surley the 90’s gave us some great material that would be worthy of a DVD release. 1991/92 World Series, 1995 world series. Anything.
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
10:44 am
When DOB is not on the blog, is it ok to assume he may be taking a shower,brushing teeth,clipping toenails,paying bills?
No. Because that would envisioning The Notorious One doing the mundane, instead of marrying Latin American beauties, snowboarding at Christmastime, and leading a magnificent carefree life in general. Who needs that bleep, LOL?
Besides, I for sure don’t want to think about him clipping his toenails. Holy Cornelia.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
10:45 am
M-I can pretty much predict with certainlty that any pitcher that might get dded comes from within the organization. They’re not going looking for FA pitchers when they have Medlen, MInor and JoJo as potential number five starters – or for that matter, if another of our incredibly deep minor league pithers show’s they are ready.
Riding the Pines
February 16th, 2010
10:45 am
Hey, Frank. Now don’t you feel like an idiot, not re-signing Mike Hampton?
JJ is going to be lonely on the bench this season. At least Hampton could have kept him company.
CB
February 16th, 2010
10:48 am
Would it have been better if I had said a Latin American beauty was clipping his toenails?
MFin04
February 16th, 2010
10:49 am
I wonder how much the offense will affect the wins and losses of this years pitching staff vs the lack of offense affecting last years pitching staff W/L.
If you look at losing Vazquez’s ERA it hurts the team, but if you look at W/L you are only losing a 15-game winner, which Derek Lowe was. And by adding an offense behind these guys, you would think Hudson, Jair, Kawakami, Hanson, could all win 15 or at least produce at last year’s level over a full season.
So the starting rotation should be better off this year in the W/L column, one would think…
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
10:53 am
Would it have been better if I had said a Latin American beauty was clipping his toenails?
You bet, LOL.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
10:56 am
And feeding him grapes
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
10:56 am
Wonder if JJ was to miss extended time if the Braves will look for someone else to bring in? maybe Lowry or someone else.
P'cola Brave
February 16th, 2010
11:03 am
I’m sure if JJ has to miss an extended period they will bring someone in. But if its just for a little while I’m sure they’ll be content with Medlen or Reyes.
Matt Berliner
February 16th, 2010
11:03 am
How about Javier Vasquez?
M.
February 16th, 2010
11:04 am
lew thats what i said. if you put medlin in rotation who takes his spot in bullpen? will u put luis valdez? minor? crimbrell? will you have alot of confidence in them
MFin04
February 16th, 2010
11:05 am
Who is “Javier Vasquez”?
P'cola Brave
February 16th, 2010
11:06 am
If Medlen fills the rotation spot then I’m sure Reyes will throw long relief.
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
11:09 am
I’ve was thinking the same about a short period of time missed would allow them to have Medlen fill his spot but I wasn’t sure what they may do if it’s a prolonged period of time. I really think however that Medlen could very well take a spot in the rotation and hold it down quite easily.
DAP
February 16th, 2010
11:10 am
dont be a spelling snob, MFin.
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
11:10 am
I don’t think it would be that hard to fill Medlen’s spot in the bull pen we’ve got a lot of options there.
M.
February 16th, 2010
11:12 am
Thats what im saying. medlen has gotten better he could hold down the fort until jurrjins gets back. but then our bullpen needs that long reliver that medlen was. and sorry but Jojo reyes had his chance and now he flat out sucks to me. someone else needs that spot. that why i think they need to add someone via free agency
MFin04
February 16th, 2010
11:12 am
Just spell players names right and we won’t have a problem. I don’t care about typos, but spelling guys names wrong is ridiculous. Medlin, Gonzales, McClouth, Hansen, Vasquez.
Lets all try to work on these and make this blog a better place. That’s all I’m asking for!
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:13 am
The pen is extremely deep – especially since there may be a few pieces like the reliever we got in the Vazquez deal and in a little while, Scott Procter – should be able to contribute. We also won’t need a fifth starter much the first month. The pen is fine and the least of our worries. Remember the Braves/Frito Lay Relief Mantra – Use all the relievers you want. We’ll get more.
MFin04
February 16th, 2010
11:14 am
I’m not really sure Medlen is the answer, but I’d be willing to give him a shot at starting. He had some huge mental lapses when he started, but if he could get over those…he might very well be a good starter.
But lets face it, replacing Jair would be nearly impossible. He is one of the top 10 if not top 5 pitchers in the NL.
StalinBrave
February 16th, 2010
11:15 am
We need to re-sign Javy Lopez. simply because we need someone named “Javy” on the team. And if you don’t like my screen name, I’ll have you purged,comrade.
P'cola Brave
February 16th, 2010
11:15 am
M.
Heres the problem with adding someone via free agency. What do you do with them when JJ is back. Were only talking about Reyes filling the Long relief spot if its for a short period. If JJ ends up missing a lot of time then you can go and add another starter if need be but it makes no sense to add another pitcher if JJ misses a very short time.
ozzie
February 16th, 2010
11:16 am
Where is one reputable link indicating its all but official re: Damon to the Tigers? Lord if I had a nickel for every time someone quotes Fox only to find out they are full of bs.
Anyone at Fox and all people named Jon Heyman are the worst sources of information in the biz. Quoting them or relying on them for fact based or even legitimately sourced info is folly.
According to the Fox & Heyman brain trusts Damon should have signed a two year $14mm deal with Detroit last week.
Guess what he didn’t b/c there wasn’t one offered. The 1 yr 7mm bit is also likely to be hooey yet people are still reading Fox baloney and quoting it as gospel.
He may go there or to Toledo Mud hens
for all I care but can we accept the fact that every iota of dollar info, years and how things were going down (last week & now) were fabricated noise created by Boras.
Heck Olney say over the weekend he had never seen this kind of blatant spin and story telling on a player. He said people were told to leak a fabricated 2yr deal to get teams to move.
Fox fabricates stories and Heyman is a mouth piece for Boras. That is why Damon is not signed to a lucrative deal b/c there is not one on the table.
If he wants to win he should come to ATL if he wants to con a foolish owner into spending $7+mm and be slapped around by the Yankees and RSox never mind the Twins and CSOX he is welcome to it.
He needs ATL more than ATL needs him. I just hope he signs anywhere so we can move on.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:16 am
And y’all are also assuming that JJ will actually miss time – much less significant time). Wren has built an extremely deep team. He already covered all the bases. Go look at the Gwinnett roster. There are relief options.
M.
February 16th, 2010
11:17 am
so then ur saying braves eat up that money and not do anything with it. take the risk that we will be fine with pitchers come start of season rotation,bullpen and all. and hope that heward is the star right out of spring training.
P'cola Brave
February 16th, 2010
11:22 am
If JJ misses a short time then no theres no problem in using Medlen in the rotation. The fifth starter isn’t used much at the beginning anyway. Reyes can hold down the long relief because lets face it the only time you’ll see him is if were losing or getting shelled anyway.
As for Heyward having to be a star this year, I dont know why you think that. Our offense is so much better than the beginning of ‘09. Our offense wasn’t the problem in the 2nd half last year and its virtually the same. This team is far better off than it was last year at this time. To make my point theres no reason to go blow money when you don’t need to.
Julio Franco
February 16th, 2010
11:24 am
Stalin Brave: I agree I wish we had Javy too
M.
February 16th, 2010
11:26 am
i just hope everyone produces on offense and stays healthy. if the dont, we will be screwed
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
11:28 am
Wonder if JJ was to miss extended time if the Braves will look for someone else to bring in?
If Jurrjens is to miss time this season and it is known this early, the Braves list of possible targets will begin, and most likely end, with any available former “All-Star” tossing batting practice to his neighbor’s kids and working out in the basement of his home.
DAP
February 16th, 2010
11:30 am
MFin04, I don’t care about typos, but spelling guys names wrong is ridiculous.
i think its ridiculous to call out someone for using a “s” instead of a “z” on a freaking blog.
yeah, its a much better place with you doing that. thanks.
M.
February 16th, 2010
11:32 am
when is he schedule to do his mri? friday? anybody know
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:34 am
Re: Bullpen options – Y’all need to do some research every now and then.
How about Jose Ortegano with a minor league ERA of 3.25 (starting AND relieving) with 313 IP, 274K and 80BB?
How about Jon Huber with 42K in 42 IP and only 7BB.
How about Craig Kimbrel with 103K in 60IP (yes, I know he walked 45, too).
Or Michael Dunn, Scott Proctor, Luis Valdez, James Parr, Todd Redmond?
How about the Dude we got for Soriano- Jesse Chavez?
Point is that we are stocked with arms – though some are up and coming or somewhat untested. There are options without looking outside of the organization.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
11:36 am
I’m glad the Braves are taking a look at Jurrjens this early. The MRI is perfect. There were several times over the previous years where they didn’t even look. Just went in for a check up with the team staff, put ice on it and called it a day. It is in those situations that Jimmy Joe’s scenario goes down.
Here’s to hoping that if they do find some “slight” or “minor” or “probable” injury or concern that they address it to the fullest of extent to enable him to heal. He’s so young. There are plenty of years ahead of him to see a return on the investment. Plus, when a shoulder goes, a labrum in particular, and requires surgery the pitcher is finished. Best to prevent that from happening to a kid as young and talented as Jurrjens.
Julio Franco
February 16th, 2010
11:43 am
JJ will be a ok
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:44 am
TenPaul-Seems I remember Kevin Millwood returning well from shoulder surgery and quite a few others (their names escape me – I AM over 50). Not so sure why you think pitcher’s careers end with shoulder surgery.
P. W. Hjort
February 16th, 2010
11:44 am
The sky is falling! The barn’s on fire! Quick, ma, let’s make a run for the storm shelter!
Smitty
February 16th, 2010
11:44 am
MFin04 : the funny thing is your complaining about misspellings or players names and you can’t even spell their names right! It’s McLouth not McClouth and its Hanson not Hansen…if your going to call someone out for misspellings make sure your correcting there misspellings not misspelling the names again.
UKUGA/brent a.
February 16th, 2010
11:45 am
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/schedule?team=atl
By my calculations, the Braves won’t require a 5th starter until Saturday, April 24th @ NY.
By my other calculations, that is 67 days away.
So long as we don’t hear “minor tear”, “surgery”, “shut down” or “midnight train to see Dr. Jim Andrews”, I think we’ll be okay.
That said, who wants another slow start, followed by a minimum of 6 weeks of debate regarding the length of the season (still 162 games, I think), not being able to win a pennant in April, but being able to lose one, etc., etc.?
CB
February 16th, 2010
11:46 am
Lew, are you going to blog with your blackberry next week?
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
11:46 am
Jose Ortegano: as a reliever 64 total innings, 1.13 WHIP, 7.73 K/9 and 2.25 BB/9
Jon Huber: as a reliever 221.7 total innings. 1.40 WHIP, 7.5 K/9, 2.1 BB/9
Craig Kimbrel as a reliever 100.3 total innings. 1.11 WHIP, 14.5 K/9, 5.6 BB/9
Michael Dunn as a reliever 122.3 total innings. 1.23 WHIP, 11.4 K/9, 4.8 BB/9
Nate from NCState
February 16th, 2010
11:46 am
DOB, and most of you guys I think would really enjoy this. I have a newspaper writing class this semester, a fill-in elective, and it is actually a lot of fun. However the teacher loves his journalism and also loves his music. Every morning he shows music videos before class starts. Last week it was Prince, today – Neil Diamond.
I can’t help but think this would be DOB in the classroom.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:48 am
Ten Paul- Just read the results of a Hanneman Hospital (Drexel U in Philly) study done in 08 using 26 MLB pitchers with Labrum surgery. There was little to no change in ERA and WHIP upon their return (for at least three years), though there was a decrease in IP the first year for those able to return.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
11:50 am
Lew: Because it has a very low success rate for a pitcher returning, much less to the form he once had…
This is an older article, but it paints the pitcher well.
The San Francisco Giants’ Robb Nen, one of the best relief pitchers in baseball, had off-season surgery in 2002 to “clean up loose particles” in his shoulder. What Nen didn’t know is that he had a torn labrum, the fearsome modern baseball injury that strikes down pitchers quickly, stealthily, and painfully. Eighteen months and three surgeries later, Nen is still waiting to throw his next major-league pitch. The leading minds in baseball medicine are flummoxed by the labrum. Doctors can’t agree on how to detect a tear, don’t know the best way to fix one, and aren’t sure why, almost without fail, a torn labrum will destroy a pitcher’s career.
Leading baseball surgeon Dr. James Andrews estimates that 85 percent of pitchers make a full recovery after an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, aka the once risky Tommy John surgery. (USA Today has even called the surgery the “pitcher’s best friend.”) But if pitchers with torn labrums were horses, they’d be destroyed. Of the 36 major-league hurlers diagnosed with labrum tears in the last five years, only midlevel reliever Rocky Biddle has returned to his previous level. Think about that when your favorite pitcher comes down with labrum trouble: He has a 3 percent chance of becoming Rocky Biddle. More likely, he’ll turn into Mike Harkey, Robert Person, or Jim Parque, pitchers who lost stamina and velocity—and a major-league career—when their labrums began to fray.
–Will Carroll
P. W. Hjort
February 16th, 2010
11:51 am
Lew -
I think that all the pitchers you mentioned in your (February 16th, 2010 11:34 am EST), along with the usual suspects–Manny Acosta, Jo Jo Reyes, those guys–and a few other young’uns, Lee Hyde in particular, will be competing for that 7th bullpen role. I imagine they’ll head north with the following in the bullpen:
1. Billy Wagner
2. Takashi Saito
3. Peter Moylan
4. Eric O’Flaherty
5. Kris Medlen
6. Jesse Chavez
7. One of the ones you or I mentioned or the bajillion we probably neglected to mention that pitches the best that Spring.
Scott Proctor is probably out until May, FYI.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:51 am
CB-I don’t have a Blackberry. Haven’t even used my cell phone for two years (last time I was at ST). Don’t need them up here. I work within arms’ reach of a free (thanks to Comcast) land line and have On Star in the car.
I may blog some from my son’s computer, though.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:52 am
PW-Knew about Proctor, but keep in mind we won’t need tht fifth starter for most of April, so a May return would be fine. I’m just not overly concerned about the availability of arms – either for the rotation or the pen.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:54 am
TenPaul-I’m certain we could use dueling studies all day long and find examples on both sides of the argument. Maybe we should wait and see if the Kid is ll right before we start speculating about career ending surgery.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
11:54 am
The diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain in baseball players can be a challenging undertaking. Early recognition of a problem is an important responsibility of coaches and parents. Once a problem is recognized, diagnosis and treatment should be sought from a physician. Beginning with the history, physical examination, and findings from imaging studies, a working diagnosis can often be made and a treatment plan determined. Rest and physical therapy are the mainstays of treatment, with surgery reserved for those who do not improve with nonoperative treatment. Surgery is directed at repairing the injury and restoring the normal shoulder anatomy.
Champ L. Baker, Jr., MD, and
Andrew W. Ayers, MD
Columbus, Georgia
Besides… My point was I’m glad they are going in early to find out and hopefully prevent it. I don’t want to runt he risk of a major labrum problem, even if the statistics on recover have improved some in the last five years.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
11:58 am
James Parr could handle the long relief, too, should Medlen move to the rotation. I’ve also been following Ortegano for some time and I think he may be an extremely good pitcher for us.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
11:59 am
There are three words that no pitcher or general manager ever wants to hear: Torn rotator cuff.
“It’s frightening to hear those words,” Houston general manager Tim Purpura said. “The first thing you ask is to what extent? Sometimes it can be tendinitis in the rotator cuff, sometimes it can be bursitis. It can be a lot of things before a rotator cuff tear. But when I hear rotator cuff tear, obviously you get really worried and you’re concerned about a guy’s future. It’s definitely a very severe injury now as much as it was in the past.”
Kansas City GM Dayton Moore is also among those who dread hearing a pitcher has a torn rotator cuff.
“The statistics show pitchers often don’t return to their customary level,” Moore said. “The success ratio of Tommy John [elbow ligament replacement surgery] is certainly much better, but with today’s technology and the great work that so many physical therapists do and the intensity level that athletes have, they can get back.”
They can get back, but in many cases they are never the same pitcher.
–Jim Molony, MLB June 2007
Guess I was thinking more along the lines of a rotator cuff injury than a labrum… At any rate, I don’t like to hear that a pitcher has any sort of shoulder issue. And with Jurrjens so young, I see an MRI is the exact right thing the team should be doing. If it take longer rest and rehab than we would like, but extends his career while maintaining his capabilities, I’m perfectly fine with it. I’ll still hope that it is nothing. But I’m glad the team is looking into it now.
DAVBRAVES
February 16th, 2010
12:00 pm
Anyone going to see the Crazies,thinking about seeing it this weekend that or edge of darkness. Hope jj and the braves are just doing this mri to be on the safe side
DAVBRAVES
February 16th, 2010
12:04 pm
Damon hasnt signed yet because he dont want to play for the tigers, hes waiting on the bravos
CB
February 16th, 2010
12:06 pm
PWH,I enjoy reading your Capitol Avenue Club- you do an excellent job.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
12:10 pm
since there may be a few pieces like the reliever we got in the Vazquez deal and in a little while, Scott Procter
Are you trying to tell me that we got more than Melky in the deal?
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
12:11 pm
DAVBRAVES, it has been said many times that that is why they are doing the MRI, to be on the safe side, come on man.
monty
February 16th, 2010
12:11 pm
Anyone know the details of what JJ was doing when he got hurt? Kind of sounded like he was playing in a pick-up game in his home country. Anyone know what kind of preparation he was into or what? Was he throwing too hard, too soon(invincibility of youth)? Or just a freak accident kind of thing. I seem to remember Ron Gant hurt himself on a dirt bike in the off season.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
12:11 pm
Anyone going to see the Crazies
Who needs to pay to see that when you’ve got the crazies right here on the blog
Markus
February 16th, 2010
12:14 pm
Braves are screwed if Jurrjens is out for any significant time. Medlen isn’t that good, at least as a starter, and Reyes has proved to be nothing but garbage for the most part.
The offense will in all probability struggle to give the pitchers enough runs and the pen, regardless of what a lot of you think, is suspect with two keys members(Saito/Wagner) pretty high injury risks. Pete Moylan has logged a ton of innings, especially last season, so we will probably witness signs of wear down.
Face the facts fellow Braves fans— our boys just don’t have the goods to compete with the Phillies and will be EXTREMELY lucky to beat out another team for the Wild Card spot for the 2010 campaign.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
12:14 pm
I’m not playing in a “pick up” game of baseball if I have to face Jair Jurrjens
CB
February 16th, 2010
12:16 pm
jeffrey d, were you looking in a mirror when you typed that? Although I think there is hope for you if you continue to watch Leave it to Beaver.
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
12:16 pm
We don’t know how long JJ will miss, but if it’s an very long extended amount of time. We’ll find out just how deep this team actually is.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
12:17 pm
Braves are screwed if Jurrjens is out for any significant time
I wouldn’t call Hudson, Hanson, Lowe, and KK 1-4 being “screwed.” Remember when our rotation had Jorge Campillo, JoJo Reyes, and Jeff Bennett in it?
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
12:17 pm
I think Medlen is quite capable of becoming a reliable starter.
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
12:20 pm
It’s just a little premature to already write Medlen off as a starter after just one season. Have you forgotten? He was the best pitcher in the minors even including Hanson at the time. Just remember, he got the call first.
Piedmont Blues
February 16th, 2010
12:21 pm
TennPaul and Lew and PWH continue to be the voices of reason (ahem) here. Markus, et al., get a life. Spring Training hasn’t started yet.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
12:22 pm
CB – I’m talking about guys like NO MORE BOBBY, YAACA, rookie ObamaBrave, or all the makers of those ridiculous trade proposals and lineups. I may not always make the smartest comments, but I’d like to think I’m pretty rational.
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
12:23 pm
I’m hearing that the only reason that Damon hasn’t jumped at the Detroit offer is because he’s not that thrilled about going to that club. Detroit hasn’t exactly impressed anyone with their roster makeup for this year.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
12:25 pm
Markus_ have you chosen your method yet? Hanging? Poison? A bridge, perhaps. Don’t let that falling sky give you a cerebral hemorrhage.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
12:26 pm
Can you imagine how bad that would make the Tigers look if Damon rejects their huge offer and signs for a lot less to play elsewhere?
CB
February 16th, 2010
12:26 pm
jeffrey d, I knew. I just couldn’t pass up the chance to give you a little dig.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
12:28 pm
You never do
VOR
February 16th, 2010
12:28 pm
TennPaul and Lew and PWH continue to be the voices of reason (ahem) here.
Huh? Wha? Somebody call me?
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
12:29 pm
When was the MRI planned for JJ, has anyone heard?
brian
February 16th, 2010
12:31 pm
all this doom and gloom on the blog today. No reason for it right now.
The Braves are being conservative with Jurrjens as they should be. Twinge in the right shoulder should get their concern and get a further work up. If the reports of a normal shoulder evaluation by the trainer and doctor is accurate that is reassuring. Hopefully the MRI will be clean at which point the Braves will probably shut down Jurrjens for a few weeks, have him do his PT, and then resume throwing slowly. If he is not ready for the start of the season so be it. It is not worth pushing Jurrjens right now. I for one am counting on him pitching in October!
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
12:32 pm
Lew-
Admire your determination, but if a pitcher’s name isn’t a household word, many here will think we are doomed. You’d think no ML player has ever gotten hurt according to many here.
Rebel Fan
February 16th, 2010
12:32 pm
I hear all this talk about Heyward and rightfully so. I saw him play at Mississippi last year and he can flat out play. My question is what do they do with Freddie Freeman? Will they trade him? or bring him up the same time they bring Heyward up, that is , assuming he is in AAA?
brian
February 16th, 2010
12:35 pm
I would be surprised if we get the results of the MRI today. More likely we will get that tomorrow. The radiologist will read it and probably also review it with one of the shoulder guys at Piedmont ortho (or another office).
As much as I respect Dr. James Andrews, I have no desire to see his name mentioned in the same sentence with any Braves pitcher
bravefaninok
February 16th, 2010
12:35 pm
Smitty
February 16th, 2010
11:44 am
MFin04 : the funny thing is your complaining about misspellings or players names and you can’t even spell their names right! It’s McLouth not McClouth and its Hanson not Hansen…if your going to call someone out for misspellings make sure your correcting there misspellings not misspelling the names again.
you missed it then ….he spelled every name wrong.
Jimmy Joe
February 16th, 2010
12:36 pm
all this doom and gloom on the blog today. No reason for it right now.
He has a history with shoulder issues. Not an extensive one, but he has had shoulder ailments in the past. That is why there is doom and gloom. Is he done for his career? No, of course not. But shoulder injuries for pitchers are terrible things, and for one as promising as Jurrjens, this is upsetting for Braves fans.
Call it what you will, but it’s not a good day to be a Braves fan.
bravefaninok
February 16th, 2010
12:37 pm
Medlin, Gonzales, McClouth, Hansen, Vasquez.
Shanks A Lot
February 16th, 2010
12:41 pm
Methinks he spelled them wrong on purpose.
Jimmy Joe
February 16th, 2010
12:41 pm
And I’ll add to it that this is beyond concern for the 2010 results. The kids promising future is on the line here, well beyond 2010. Like I said before, could just be tendinitis as a initial diagnosis, but then we’ll see worse performance, and that usually means there is something more. By continuing to pitch, he could make the situation worse.
Markus
February 16th, 2010
12:43 pm
I admire some of you guys’ optimism, but the main thing I don’t like is the offense. Troy Glaus is going to be heavily relied upon to be the slugger that I just don’t believe he is anymore. Remember this, he had shoulder surgery and that isn’t good because it hampers the bat speed.
I’m also not so sure about Chipper. Folks, he looked old in ‘09 and you really believe it was just bad mechanical habits? No, he’s just naturally getting slower and as the season wears on the more old he feels these days.
18 Wheels of Love
February 16th, 2010
12:45 pm
If Damon was waiting on us then he better be prepared to wait a lot longer. I imagine Wren is waiting until after the MRI to see what his next move will be.
N8
February 16th, 2010
12:46 pm
Lew, very sound post at 10:00. I agree.
I think with Chipper and Glaus having monster years, the rotation can survive and compete. Certainly if Lowe and Hudson rebound nicely, we will be just fine, with Hanson and KK rounding it off. That’s still a deep rotation, as you said.
I just like our chances of doing something if the Braves get to the post-season, a lot more with JJJ part of that rotation.
I just think he grew into a big game pitcher last year, and showed it with his best ball in September when the Braves had little margin for error while chasing the wildcard down.
This team can survive without him, but needs him if they are serious about contending.
I’m with you on the Smoltz thing too. As much as I’d like to let that guy toil in his own ego on the sidelines somewhere, if the guy can help, I think Wren has to ponder it at the very least.
But as I stated last night, Medlen might be better suited to do the same thing, at a cheaper rate.
For me, if JJJ goes down, I’d rather have Medlen in the 5th spot of the rotation and Smoltz out in the pen, than leaving Medlen out there, and counting on that elbow in the rotation.
I also think that with this possible injury to JJJ, Minor WILL get a longer look than he was normally going to this spring.
Should be interesting either way.
But you nailed the keys. Chipper, Glaus, Lowe & Hudson. If that quartet has season’s like they are capable of having, all will be well in Braveland.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
12:47 pm
Markus-
Come on Dude, really, you know this?
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2010
12:50 pm
Nate from NC State: That sounds like more fun than I had in most of my journalism classes (don’t know if your prof is any good, but at least he sounds like he makes it enjoyable).
Markus
February 16th, 2010
12:52 pm
Lew– I ain’t gettin in any argument over who’s positive and who’s “doom and gloom” as you say. The fact is this team has many more concerns on it than the Phillies(the face of the NL East these days) and the Braves haven’t played the lesser team very well in recent past….the Nats and Marlins.
As far as the Wild Card is concerned, I just don’t see where there is enough offense and whether Wagner/Saito/Moylan can be counted upon that far in the season to make a serious push towards achieving a WC spot.
That’s not “Doom and Gloom”my friend– those are just some pretty dang valid arguments.
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
12:52 pm
Arkansas Transplant, not sure where you are hearing that Damon is not thrilled to go to that club when its been said over and over that they are swapping figures at the moment and that is why Johnny hasnt signed yet. Scott Borass thinks he can still get more money from the Tigers than the two proposed deals they have already have in place. Not sure how the heck Scott can think that when its practically Tigers bidding against themselves at this point.
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
12:55 pm
brian, seeing as how he wont have the MRI until the END of this week, you are right in your assumption that we wont get the results today.
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
12:56 pm
bravefaninok, I am pretty sure MFin04 spelled all the names wrong on PURPOSE, its called sarcasm
unbelievable
February 16th, 2010
12:58 pm
dont think Damon will get an improved offer from Wren no matter what the verdict is on JJ
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
12:59 pm
N8-
Injuries will continue to occur. I think Wren has done everything he can to cover for them (Bench verstility yadda, yadda, yadda). It’s a no brainer if JJ can’t pitch – Medlen becomes your 5th. If it is discovered that JJ misses the season then Medlen has 6 weeks to prepare himself for this role, preperation that will greatly enhance his potential for success. Last year, even when he was called up, his role was tenuous (Glavine – Hanson – Bullpen). Of course, all of this is ridiculously premature. And I couldn’t agree with you or Lew more about the position players production if the team is to be successful.
Markus
February 16th, 2010
1:00 pm
Want to talk positive? Well, here’s something positive for you— Jurrjens will be fine. I really believe it’s just some inflamation from getting out of a routine he normally is very strict about in the offseason.
He’ll be fine.
The offense and the pen? Yeah, I’m just not so positive about.
Wilson
February 16th, 2010
1:02 pm
Buzz Killington
February 16th, 2010
1:02 pm
Wow, I see the homerism is in full effect this morning. The Braves WILL NOT be okay if Jurrjens going down for an extended period of time. This team is NOT as strong as some Braves fans seem to think. They cannot take anymore hits to their starting rotation.
It’s easy to sit there and type “Oh, if Chipper, Glaus, McCann, Escobar, Hudson, Lowe, Kawakami, Medlen, ALL have ‘monster seasons’ this team will be okay!!” There’s no guarantee that’s going to happen and I’m willing to bet most of it won’t. So just pray that JJ is okay.
Wilson
February 16th, 2010
1:03 pm
I wrote the Braves’ new theme song….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGakNOdoJcY
DAP
February 16th, 2010
1:03 pm
rebel fan My question is what do they do with Freddie Freeman?
freeman will spend the next year in the minors and then his progress will be evaluated. he isnt as close as heyward is. itll be 2011 at the very earliest for freeman.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
1:11 pm
Buzz-
You don’t think the Phillies are thinking the same things: At 38 will Ibanez be the 1st half or 2nd half guy, can Polanco match the production of Feliz, will Rollins OBP improve from a horrid 2009, Is Utley’s hip sound, Is Hamels healthy, Is Lidge in decline, Will Baez be an effective set-up guy, Will we get more offensive production from our catcher, Can we really rely on a 48 yo 5th starter?
WTF – Dude, no one is bullet proof.