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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,067 comments Add your comment
Steve from OH
February 21st, 2010
3:53 pm
22 to 26 HR from Glaus, along with a solid OBP, would be a huge improvement for this team, Tomahawkin. Remember Casey Kotchman’s play last year? You bet you do. Having good 1B play from day 1 will make a world of difference for us.
TnBrian
February 21st, 2010
3:55 pm
Andrew in PA—
– MLB TheShow, ‘07, ‘08, ‘09
– Okami
– Jaws Unleashed
– Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
– Madden ‘10
– Resident Evil 4
Hey, those games aren’t cheap, so I can’t afford all the cool ones. LOL
I can always go over to my buddies house cause the guy has tons of PS games.
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
3:56 pm
SwGaFanatic
I’m Banking on Esco to come out Snortin and Clowning this year. My Athlon Sports Magazine claims that he may have been the teams MVP in the second half with is high average hitting R.I.S.P.
I expect him to top that for a Full season, and Show Those Clowns in Philly that Esco is now a man not to be —— With…
Puma
February 21st, 2010
3:57 pm
I really hope someone on the team is ripping on Wagner for wearing that stupid bluetooth thingy, especially considering his head gear.
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
3:58 pm
TnBrian
I suprised Your Arent into The Rockband/ Guitar Hero Scene…?
Now that stuff is Expensive!
I used to have Lazy Roommates w/o a job who would play that mess all day, unless it was a Friday/Sat Night when we’d have to many people over…
Matt the Brave
February 21st, 2010
4:00 pm
Horse, nothing, he should ride one of his alpacas. Ok, not as intimidating, but at least he could say he’s raised it himself.
joerochester
February 21st, 2010
4:06 pm
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/mlber-actually-cares-about-new-gun-policy.html.php
Ryan Franklin wants to bring guns to the workplace.
SoWeGa Fanatic
February 21st, 2010
4:07 pm
Thawkin, I said dream a minute . . . that means if there is slim/no chance of it happening, it still could. I bet you didn’t have any make believe friends growing up.
As to Glaus’s defense, I believe it will be adequate in April and get better as the year progresses (really, not dreaming now . . . I hope).
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
4:10 pm
Steve From OH
“22 to 26 HR from Glaus, along with a solid OBP, would be a huge improvement for this team, Tomahawkin. Remember Casey Kotchman’s play last year? You bet you do. Having good 1B play from day 1 will make a world of difference for us.”
Oh Yeah, I liked the Kotchmeister and gave him the benefit of the doubt thinking that he was gonna start hitting from gap-2-gap, however he only turned out being only a singles hitter… Ditto for Loaf
I had High Hopes for him because he had a lot of hype when he came-up with the Halos (I invested in his rookie cards because of the hype from Beckett)
He is about a big a bust as Traavis Lee
SoWeGa Fanatic
February 21st, 2010
4:11 pm
“If you grew up around it, being in the outdoors and stuff, I was taught as a young kid to respect firearms,” Franklin said after a Saturday workout. “First of all, you don’t get stupid with it. Always treat a gun like it’s loaded. That’s what I taught my son and daugthers. There’s a place for them. … If it wasn’t for the NFL guy a couple years ago brining a weapon to a nightclub … you’ve just got to be smart.”
Franklin didn’t say anything about wanting guns in the workplace.
joerochester
February 21st, 2010
4:13 pm
I guess I read the reporters’ remarks too much. They said he had a dissapointed face.
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
4:15 pm
SwGaFanatic, okay The 40 homers from Glaus jumped out at me
As for the make Believe Friends…Uggh No, I had Animals to take that role, A hampster, lizard, crawdads, tropical fish (Swordtails) etc
I wanted aSnake but Moms would’ve dis-owned my yellow carcas if I brought one of those into the house….
Time to watch the Sunday Movie “Life” I haven’t seen that movie in over 10 years and it is still classic LMAO material
SoWeGa Fanatic
February 21st, 2010
4:25 pm
We were so poor, if we had toys, we had to have make believe ones. Well, it wasn’t quite that bad.
drumzalicious
February 21st, 2010
4:26 pm
Hey DOB, any thought that medlen could go to AAA to develop as a starter if proctor and other guys look ready? If guys like Dunn, Kimbrel, Hyde, Chavez etc all have great ST then there should be plenty of flexibility to have medlen start in AAA
jeffrey d
February 21st, 2010
4:27 pm
You know what this team needs? A good rally song. I’m working on a remake of Boston’s “Tessie” called “Bessie” – dedicated to the rally cow
Heath
February 21st, 2010
4:27 pm
jeffrey d -
I saw nothing “wrong” at all.
I can tell ya hocky and the NBA is boring. But, you knew that anyway. 
No. Ga. bob
February 21st, 2010
4:29 pm
Bullpen looks to be in the best shape for years. How about 3rd base! Has Chipper developed any new aches or pains? If he can resist the pain of a “hangnail” do you think he will contribute more than he did last year? Reality questions! Come on Chipper….look at Lindsey Voon! She’s crashed at least 3-4 times but she keeps picking herself up and trying again. Be a man Chipper and play for what they’re paying you for.
Chopdawg
February 21st, 2010
4:29 pm
Bet it ain’t any nicer in central FL than it is in NW GA this afternoon! I’ll be out on my deck, with a beer & my Baseball Prospectus.
Hope Cody Johnson gets a chance to show off his HR power in a big league ST game…dude has more power than anybody I’ve seen in Rome the past seven seasons, including Heyward, Freeman, Milligan, anybody. Of course, he still strikes out way too much…
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
4:36 pm
SwGaFanatic
I remember those those days, Other than The old School Ninga Turtles, Had my Legos to get me through…! I could build little league ballparks with those as well as my skyscraper…I just hated stepping on legos with bare feet…
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
4:38 pm
Bob in N Ga
Don’t we say that every year?
Best bullpen saw was 2002 with Remlinger, Hammond (Both Career Years) and Smoltz…That Bullpen was cold. back then games were automatic for us getting W’s…
Alaska Braves Fan
February 21st, 2010
4:40 pm
I’m going to post these numbers a few times so everyone can see them. I think they are interesting.
Likely lineup with career averages. Averages for HR and RBI are simply career number of each divided by number of years played. That may not be a good measure, but it’s easy to do.
BA HR RBI OBP OPS
1 CF Nate McLouth .260 14 46 .342 .796
2 2B Martin Prado .307 4 23 .360 .810
3 3B Chipper Jones .307 27 90 .406 .947
4 1B Troy Glaus .255 25 73 .359 .856
5 C Brian McCann .293 18 78 .356 .853
6 SS Yunel Escobar .301 10 55 .375 .801
7 RF Jason Heyward N/A
8 LF Matt Diaz .310 5 23 .358 .817
Melky Cabrero .269 7 46 .331 .716
ABF
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
4:40 pm
Bob in N GA
Don’t we say that every year about the bullpen?
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
4:42 pm
I don’t know about anyone esle up in this piece?, but I want to see Mitch Jones make the team as a bench player. Dude hade 32 homers at AAA Albquerque last year (even though that is a hitters league) but he can’t be and I mean can’t be no worse than Dorky Miller and Greg Naw-ton…
Winterville
February 21st, 2010
4:43 pm
Just got back from seeing “Shutter Island.” DOB, you may not have had a chance to see it yet but it was awesome. I highly recommend it. Very cool idea for a movie.
Moe Berg
February 21st, 2010
4:45 pm
Did you see the plans for the new reality show with the White Sox Managment: Guillen, Williams and Reinsdorf?
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/21/sports/AP-BBA-White-Sox-Start.html
Chuck James can Potentially be Solid until the 6th again!!!
February 21st, 2010
4:48 pm
TnBrian
Hey man do you know the release date for MLB The Show?? I still play every week online and it’s getting old playing LaRoche at 1rst, Loaf in LF, no Infante at all, Church, Norton and Kelly Johnson off the bench closing games with Soriano and Gonzo and one of the options in the bullpen consist of Buddy Carlyle… I’m sure you know this… Can’t WAIT for the new game!!
Andrew in PA
February 21st, 2010
4:51 pm
All the Braves really need is for Chipper and Glaus to reach there career average totals and have the rest of the younger guys to continue to do what they do and get better and better everyday.
nolie
February 21st, 2010
4:52 pm
of course ‘thingy’ is a word. it’s all over the internet. I use it all the time, and I would never use a nonword.
TnBrian
February 21st, 2010
4:55 pm
Chuck James, it comes out March 2nd. Yeah, you really need to update!
MattyRoss
February 21st, 2010
4:56 pm
I’m alright with Bloggage being a word. Hell, we don’t have it so bad over here. This is what Bowman thinks constitutes a sentence:
“Then as Kawakami continued to reintroduce himself to an environment that seemed so foreign at this time last year, Kawakami drew greater comfort from the fact that he’ll be spending this year’s journey with fellow Japanese hurler Takashi Saito, who was signed in December to serve as the Braves’ new setup man.”
Commas – 3
Times identifying the subject without use of a pronoun – 2
Paragraphs – 1
Periods – 1
Good Lord.
nolie
February 21st, 2010
4:57 pm
I’m not getting too excited about the Pen as of yet. T’Hawkin’
not a bad idea. they are relievers for a reason and that’s cause even the better ones are not good enough to be anything else. Tremendous change in personal each year and tremendous change each year from the same personnel. That’s why nobody spends a lot on most relievers, cause you never know for sure what they Are gonna do. We just hafta hope they decide to live up to or exceed expectations this season.
Steve from OH
February 21st, 2010
4:57 pm
Are we really arguing the merits of “bloggage” as a proper word?
It really is time for baseball season, eh?
TnBrian
February 21st, 2010
4:57 pm
Hey Chuck, McFann’s main man Joe Mauer is on the cover of TheShow ‘10.
TnBrian
February 21st, 2010
5:00 pm
We’re fixing to go out to eat … anybody ever eaten at Genghis Grill? Mongolian food, but it’s really just Japenese to me. You make your own bowl thing. It’s pretty good.
Andrew in PA
February 21st, 2010
5:00 pm
Does anyone who plays The Show online for PS3 get a bad lag during gameplay? Ive played every sports game online and other games and never got the consistant lag i get during playing The Show.
Andrew in PA
February 21st, 2010
5:05 pm
mlb the shows graphics are amazing
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/105/1055962p1.html
Razorback Red
February 21st, 2010
5:05 pm
Andrew, Yes. And it’s supposed to be fixed in 2010 the show.
Chuck James can Potentially be Solid until the 6th again!!!
February 21st, 2010
5:07 pm
TnBrian & Andrew in PA
Yeh, I just googled it, saw the trailer, March 2, yesssssssss. What do you mean I need to update? Isn’t that up to the people who moderate online play to do? I can’t personally update the Braves roster because everyone I play has the same thing. We’ve all been playing with old teams. Wagner and Saito on Red Sox, Kotchman on Red Sox, Lee on Indians, Damon and Matsui are Yankees, Glaus DeRosa and Smoltz are Cardinals etc. etc. etc. I remember in The Show ‘08 the online moderators for the game updated rosters and call-ups at the end of like every week… Guess they got lazy?
Chuck James can Potentially be Solid until the 6th again!!!
February 21st, 2010
5:07 pm
Andrew
No never had a problem with lagging. Only when the other person has bad connection then I request friendly quit….
Chuck James can Potentially be Solid until the 6th again!!!
February 21st, 2010
5:08 pm
Andrew
Maybe I misinterpreted… What do you define as lagging?
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
5:11 pm
Nolie
Good Post! That’s exactly where I was getting at. “Sometimes you have a way with words”-Quote from Beavis on a Vanilla Ice Video…
Andrew in PA
February 21st, 2010
5:11 pm
Lagging like not smooth gameplay (glitching) making if very difficult to get your timing down while hitting.
Andrew in PA
February 21st, 2010
5:12 pm
If anybody wants to add me as a friend its ajheater10
Couch Tater
February 21st, 2010
5:15 pm
nolie,
I tried to find you in the Library of Congress. Just kidding, but looks like something you’d like.
The15 Spalding’s Official Base Ball Guides included in this online collection were published between 1889 and 1939.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/spalding/
David O'Brien
February 21st, 2010
5:23 pm
Tim Hudson is 56-39 with a 3.76 ERA in 128 games (127 starts) since being traded to the Braves in December 2004, after going 92-39 with a 3.30 ERA in 183 starts for Oakland.
jeffrey d
February 21st, 2010
5:28 pm
So Huddy only needs to go 36-0 to match that record
Andrew in PA
February 21st, 2010
5:29 pm
DOB, do you think the braves got enough in return for javy v?
TommyP
February 21st, 2010
5:31 pm
DOB: So what you’re saying is Huddy is due for a 36 game win streak, right?
Takes a lot for me to chuckle out loud (sorry, laugh out loud is so old) but the guy suggesting Wagner enter the game on a horse was pretty good.
Let’s add a little Wyatt Earp Tombstone dialogue as he trots in as well….
“So run, you cur… RUN! Tell all the other curs the law’s comin’! You tell ‘em I’M coming… and hell’s coming with me, you hear?…
Hell’s coming with me!!!!!!”
Yeah….that’d work.
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
5:31 pm
Andrew in PA what do you think about the Vazquez deal?
jeffrey d
February 21st, 2010
5:33 pm
but the guy suggesting Wagner enter the game on a horse was pretty good.
That wasn’t a joke
Andrew in PA
February 21st, 2010
5:35 pm
Tomahawkin,im not really sure what to make of it, i just think that we could have gotten i better ready to play now guy.
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
5:35 pm
D.O.B.
I think Hudson’s better success in Oak-Town had a lot to deal with playing in a weak AL West during his whole duration there…Plus back then he played on some really offensive A’s teams there (obviously not in the Playoffs)…
Not to Mention That the Oak-Alameda Colisseum (McAfee, whatever) was a more of a pitchers park at night than Tooner Field…
Which led to his success out there, or at least that’s what my Big Boy Gut Tells Me…Time to fry up some Tilapia…
nolie
February 21st, 2010
5:35 pm
TOMMY P how about I’m your huckleberry
nolie
February 21st, 2010
5:38 pm
Thanx Tater I liked that, but what an I gonna do for info about all the players I watched b4 1889 who ain’t in that book?
TommyP
February 21st, 2010
5:40 pm
jeffrey d: Didn’t have to be a joke. Just the thought of that happening is hilarious.
For some reason, I JUST don’t see Selig allowing that.
What would be next? Reliever gets chased from the game and that Showtime At The Apollo clown ushers him off?
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
5:40 pm
Andrew In PA…
Straight Up… WhineBrenner and Cashman really screwed Wren in that over the last decade With a few Exceptions The Yankees Farm system is sooo Overrated by BSPN its Ludacris!
Joba =’s Overrated,, Ian Kennedy, Overrated, Brett Gardner, Overrated…!
I said it before and I will say it again, I would’ve felt a lot better if we got a bag of baseballs as opposed to the Slop we got in the Vazquez deal! Wren got Violated by Cashman and WhineBrenner. When I heard about that deal at the store I about threw my phone…
And I forgot to mention….Ooooohhhh I hate The Yankees!!!!
TommyP
February 21st, 2010
5:41 pm
nolie: I think the length of Wyatt saying all that would equal the trip in for Wagner. “I’m your Huckleberry” would be over as fast as a Wagner heater.
nolie
February 21st, 2010
5:45 pm
yeah you got a a point thar Tommy
drumzalicious
February 21st, 2010
5:50 pm
Speaking of line ups I would love to see bobby experiment during ST
Like
McLouth LF
Prado 2B
Heyward RF
Chip 3B
Glaus 1B
McCann C
Escobar SS
Schafer CF
Elon Brave
February 21st, 2010
5:52 pm
DOB, would the Braves consider letting Kimbrel get that last spot just so he can learn from Wagner throughout the season?
Rob from SC
February 21st, 2010
5:54 pm
For any baseball fan, go read the article about Angel Guzman on cubs webpage at mlb.com
csg
February 21st, 2010
5:57 pm
getting a top notch prospect plus two fillers for a #3 pitcher getting paid $11mil in the final year of his contract is a good return
Couch Tater
February 21st, 2010
5:59 pm
nolie,
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/robinson/jrgmabout.html
ncscoots
February 21st, 2010
6:00 pm
The best pitching news of the spring would be that Hudson can again throw his splitter with bad intentions. That was the pitch that elevated his arsenal in Oakland, but I doubt he’s been able to throw it much in the last couple of playing years (somebody could check fangraphs, I guess. Not me, but somebody).
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
6:01 pm
CSG
Yankees Prospects in the last 10 years have always been overrated busts (with a few exceptions) Thanks to BSPN
Plus, you never know how prospects will pan out in 4 years (injuries, inability, etc)
nolie
February 21st, 2010
6:03 pm
Thankx again Tater. That one will cover them all, even I don’t go bact to be 1860.
ltdbrave
February 21st, 2010
6:04 pm
When hasn’t Cox been impressed with the Braves. He is always impressed. If the team impresses him that much, then why isn ‘t he winning divisional and World Series titles?
nolie
February 21st, 2010
6:04 pm
ain’t no #3 pitchers have a ten year average ERA+ of 117.
thickfreakness
February 21st, 2010
6:05 pm
Just returned from local watering hole. The proprietor and a friend of mine sez: The economy still sucks; Hopey, Changey, Thaaangy are solid; Glauss is a stud, but he’s not sure; Chipper will rebound; the govt taxes him too much; Doesn’t trust anyone who spells optomism this way(T-Hawk).
jeffrey d
February 21st, 2010
6:06 pm
Thanks to BSPN
Because “BSPN” has been overhyping Arodys Vizcaino for awhile now.
csg
February 21st, 2010
6:06 pm
tomahawkin, agree with you 100% on Yanks prospects being bust. I dont mind adding 19yr olds with big arms to our farm system though. I loved Vasquez as much as anyone here, but I had my doubts about him being able to repeat his 09 performance. If he repeated the numbers we wouldnt have been able to afford him after the season anyways
joerochester
February 21st, 2010
6:09 pm
98% of us probably hadn’t heard of Arodys Vizcaino before this trade. I was pleasantly surprised to hear how hyped he was.
Tomahawkin
February 21st, 2010
6:17 pm
CSG Agreed
But looking at the Yankees lineup, Vazquez will win 16-19 games with that all star lineup around him, “Bank on It”
Vazquez has struggled in the AL before but in that Corporate Bandbox they have in the Rotten Apple, Wazquez will have an era a run higher but his offense will bail him out over and over. I wish our offense could’ve bailed him out, then he would’ve been the 2009 Cy Young winner…
csg
February 21st, 2010
6:22 pm
our offense shouldve bailed out JJ and Vasquez more than they did. Both shouldve had 5 more wins and been in the CY young talk more
thickfreakness
February 21st, 2010
6:22 pm
joerochester-
ROGER THAT! but I’ll take a chance on a 19yo RH that throws 95-98 mph, a 24 yo LH that throws 94-96 and 1/3 of the defending Champions OF for a guy with 1 year remaining on his contract comming off a career year.
Gibby
February 21st, 2010
6:24 pm
I have to say I spend a lot of time reading the sports pages of other teams this time of year as I get ready for fantasy baseball. No other team has the type of coverage the AJC and D.O.B has given us. We have had five updates today on the braves. I read up on 12 other teams today and there was barely five stories combined writen today. Thanks D.O.B.
thickfreakness
February 21st, 2010
6:25 pm
Dan, you do a helluva job, thanx man.
nolie
February 21st, 2010
6:29 pm
who’s Dan?
joerochester
February 21st, 2010
6:29 pm
It will be interesting to see what the rotation looks like in 3-4 years.
thickfreakness
February 21st, 2010
6:32 pm
nolie-
How are you, Isn’t Dan the guy that writes the stories, Who is this DOB guy? DOB-you know I’m kidding and very obnoxious.
nolie
February 21st, 2010
6:34 pm
good dig Thick
Dan will appreciate it.
thickfreakness
February 21st, 2010
6:38 pm
nolie-
Come on man! even if a reliever is sh!tty SP, we got some real good
sh!tty SP’s in camp.
David O'Brien
February 21st, 2010
6:42 pm
Gibby: You’re welcome. Thanks for the kind words.
Thinbreakness: No problem.
keylargo
February 21st, 2010
6:45 pm
Tim Hudson is 56-39 with a 3.76 ERA in 128 games (127 starts) since being traded to the Braves in December 2004, after going 92-39 with a 3.30 ERA in 183 starts for Oakland. DOB
Hudson is also 106 – 2 when given a 3 run lead in his career. We had a debate about this last year with some people saying it was meaningless and others thinking it was fantastic. To me it means if you give him the lead, he ain’t giving it up.
David O'Brien
February 21st, 2010
6:45 pm
Tater, AZ Brave Fan: You’re welcome. I appreciate the kind words and especially the participation.
thinbreakness
February 21st, 2010
6:48 pm
In your honor DOB, This is a great blog and I know you’ve worked hard to make it so.
VaBraveFan
February 21st, 2010
6:52 pm
I’m sooo ready for baseball!!!
Cooper
February 21st, 2010
7:12 pm
Ah, what a great weekend. Pitchers and catchers have reported, the weather was spring like all weekend, and my oldest son and I got out and got him practicing t-ball in preparation for his first baseball playing experience.
I think the Braves will be very good this year. The bullpen sounds like it has some depth to it and Hudson looks to be back on track. I think we’ll see the Hudson that we all thought we would be getting back in 2005. If Glaus gives us between 23-27 HRs then I will take it. Chipper bouncing back will be helpful, but the continuing development/improvement of the younger guys like Mac, McClouth, Yunel, Prado, and of course Heyward will be the thing that puts this team over the top. A great mix of vets and young guys will be fun to watch.
DOB thanks for the best baseball blog around and it will fun following you along with the Braves this year.
McFann
February 21st, 2010
7:18 pm
DANGIT! I should get ostracized for taking this long, but…a belated Happy Birthday to BMac!
And I call myself your biggest fan…
jeffrey d
February 21st, 2010
7:20 pm
DANGIT! I should get ostracized for taking this long
I think you should have to change your name to NortFann.
cabravesfan
February 21st, 2010
7:21 pm
McFann-
At least you didn’t have a momentary lapse in sanity and think his birthday was in APRIL
bigchiefrg
February 21st, 2010
7:22 pm
So we need to get billy boy a new entrance song. He cant do the same as Mo and Pappelbon. He needs something different. I think Headstrong by Trapt. Any other suggestions?
"Chef" Tim Dix
February 21st, 2010
7:23 pm
Sports writer’s around the world can agree on one thing: The Lane Kiffin card is a slow news day writer’s best friend.
jeffrey d
February 21st, 2010
7:24 pm
Any other suggestions?
Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy. And he’ll come out in chaps and spurs. Of course, he’ll waste all his warmup time taking those off, but it’ll be worth it.
McFann
February 21st, 2010
7:25 pm
jeffrey d–
I said “ostracized”, not “humiliated”.
cabravesfan–
Now that would be frightening…I think I’d need psychiatry for that.
McFann
February 21st, 2010
7:26 pm
bigchiefrg Any other suggestions?
How about, “Hello! I’m Mister Wagner!”?
Bravissimo
February 21st, 2010
7:52 pm
If Saito works out…how about “Godzilla” when he comes out of the pen?
Andrew in PA
February 21st, 2010
7:56 pm
Anyone have comcast cable with MSNBC HD? I cant belive i have to watch this hockey game in standard def. it looks terrible
hal
February 21st, 2010
8:05 pm
i watched glaus in toronto before he got hurt and hes totally capable of 40 hr’s in a line up with out vernon wells protection lol
bigchiefrg
February 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
I have DTV and it is standard def here too. It is aweful.