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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
696 comments Add your comment
nolie
February 24th, 2010
5:56 pm
Francouer and Davies might have been high on the list of Braves top prospects but there were never even considered one of the top 40 or so prospects in the entire minor leagues. Glen W
let’s not get carried away. Marte was ranked in the top 10 at least 2 or 3 years and BBA ranked Jeff 13th in 2005, most of the rest you are right about.
Just Pat
February 24th, 2010
5:58 pm
DBMJAMS
Boy! Am I ever disillusioned! From what I’d been told about those iPhones, they could “fix” something like that all by themselves without even trying.
hal
February 24th, 2010
5:58 pm
cody johnson srikes out all most as much as that overrated fat bboy playing first for the phluged fills
Just Pat
February 24th, 2010
5:59 pm
DBMJAMS…..doesn’t matter. I’d STILL take one in a heartbeat if anyone gave it to me!
TnBrian
February 24th, 2010
6:01 pm
hal, yes, yes .. you are correct sir. Howard K’s a ton and is, uh, unattractive. And that’s putting it nicely. I don’t judge men’s looks often and I feel odd saying this, but Jason Heyward is a sharp looking young man.
Just Pat
February 24th, 2010
6:05 pm
TnBrian
Careful, careful…..pretty soon you’ll be accused (like DOB) of having a crush on Heyward.
richbrave
February 24th, 2010
6:05 pm
There were a couple of kids in the DOMINICAN summer league that I think might create a stir before the season’s over if they leave DOMINICA, LUIS DE LUNA RHP and EDISON SANCHEZ 3B. Not sure of international players status regarding entry into the BRAVES farm system from abroad, but if it’s the two I remember, they performed pretty well last summer.
TnBrian
February 24th, 2010
6:07 pm
Just Pat, no. I don’t have a man crush on Heyward. I feel secure enough in my manhood to say another guy looks sharp. Not cute,handsome or hot … just sharp. I have a fiancee and she’s the only person I call hot and cute.
Gil In Mechanicsville
February 24th, 2010
6:09 pm
TB… We may not say it but we can be envious. To be 20 years old and have Heyward’s future…
Just Pat
February 24th, 2010
6:11 pm
TnBrian
I was joking because of DOB’s comments about Heyward’s biceps on one of the “blogettes” and a coupla people seemed to take exception to that. Guess HE feels secure enough in HIS own manhood, too.
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
6:19 pm
Glen: Check Chuckie James’ minor league numbers. He was like Dwight Gooden, only short, white, and borderline retarded.
Seriously, Chuckie was the Next Big Thing. And I thought he looked good in Atlanta, too, until he got hurt.
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
6:20 pm
But Brian, you do admit – he’s a handsome man.
Just Pat
February 24th, 2010
6:23 pm
You know what impresses me the most about Heyward? He doesn’t seem overly impressed with HIMSELF. It’s kinda like “this is just what I DO, man”. Like it’s nothing out of the ordinary for him.
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
6:23 pm
Nolie, I’ll accept that friendly amendment on the 162 game thing.
You know, on nba.com, they give 40min averages. Maybe B-R should do a 140 game calculation.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
6:25 pm
I hated Chuck’s mechanics and did not believe he would succeed in the bigs though most thought me crazy. He was awesome in the minors cause he threw a ++ change, a pitch most hitters seldom see below AA-AAA and almost never that good of one.
His mechanics prevented him from pitching down consistantly and his other pitches were nothing special. I figured when he started pitching to MLB hitters he would have trouble.
Actually the Braves have had a number of pitchers who breezed through the minors on slow stuff only to fail in Atlanta.
Just Pat
February 24th, 2010
6:29 pm
OK….guy-o-s……before I open another beer here at the office, it’s time to hit the road for home. It’s COLD here in the FL Panhandle tonight. Glad Lew took some “winter” clothes to ST! Y’all have fun and play nice tonight.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
6:31 pm
Been cold all winter here in SW Fla. Worst winter I can remember in years, so I imagine it’s been cold up there.. Even had a little hail this afternoon.
Eric from MO
February 24th, 2010
6:32 pm
Nolie I didnt think Chuck could suceed as a starter. At best he would make a good reliever, actually said that several times. He only had two pitches and you just cant be a good starter with that. You can get away with it sometimes as a reliever but not as a starter.
jeffrey d
February 24th, 2010
6:32 pm
before I open another beer here at the office
Uh, where do you work??
ncscoots
February 24th, 2010
6:32 pm
It’s kinda like “this is just what I DO, man”.
If he’s still like that when he’s pulling $20MM annually, then, it will mean a little more, LOL. He’s still a rook, and he’ll have to wear a dress on a road trip just like any other rook. Tends to keep you from getting too puffed up. As does looking stupid on a changeup, LOL.
TennPaul, good points at 5:01. The glaring need for some sock the last two years probably blinded me to any other offensive needs.
Roman Gal
February 24th, 2010
6:33 pm
J. Schafer has become serious trade bait
Shut yo mouf, G. Garbage!
Crime Dog
February 24th, 2010
6:33 pm
Just Pat- where in the Panhandle are you?
Just Pat
February 24th, 2010
6:33 pm
nolie
Since we’re right on the coast, we don’t usually have the extremes of hail, etc……just a few minor hurricanes…..like Dennis, etc.!
Roman Gal
February 24th, 2010
6:34 pm
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A MAN, MID-20′S, LARGE TEETH, WITH FRENCH-LOOKING NAME ON THE BACK OF HIS JERSEY. wjones
Calm down. It’ll be ok! We’ll keep him safe, you’ll see!
Braveheart
February 24th, 2010
6:34 pm
Doesn’t it look like Saito and K.K. are lining up a putt?
Either that, or Crouching Tiger Saito is looking for Kawakami’s Hidden Dragon
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
6:35 pm
Nolie, I thought – I really did – that Chuck was a bit of a savant. He pitched up, you’re right, but as long as he had a four seamer with a little hop on it that was in the 91-92 range, he got an inordinate amount of pop ups. He could have used a third pitch other than that sloppy, inconsistent slider. But between the fastball up and the incredible change, he was on his way to being an improbably successful pitcher.
Once he got hurt, lost his location and was throwing 88, all those high fastballs became belt high meatballs and he was getting absolutely killed. But before that he was very effective with a chance to be more.
In the minors and his first year and a half in Atlanta, he had very good control, despite his odd mechanics with the flatfooted follow through. In fact, I recall his K/BB ratio in AA being something on the order of 11-1.
Oh, well. He’s probably done, and if he hadn’t gotten hurt he would have exasperated me with a lack of focus and strange decisions and HR/9. But I thought he was gonna do more.
Just Pat
February 24th, 2010
6:36 pm
jeffrey d
Have our own office/hubby workshop so we can pretty much do as we please. Even bring our dog to work with us, which is nice.
Crime Dog
Itty bitty town with NO redlights, very little traffic…..a place no one has ever heard of…. Carrabelle, FL……
jeffrey d
February 24th, 2010
6:38 pm
Maybe I’ll bring a beer and my dog with me to work tomrrow. See how that goes.
Crime Dog
February 24th, 2010
6:38 pm
Just Pat
Ah OK other side of PC. I’m in Ft. Walton Beach.
Crime Dog
February 24th, 2010
6:39 pm
And you’re right, I had never heard of it.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
6:39 pm
Since we’re right on the coast, we don’t usually have the extremes of hail, etc……just a few minor hurricanes…
I’m right on the water too-well the house is about a mile from the bay- so it is really unusual here too. Most of the country has had a tough winter and we have too, at least relatively. Hail only lasted about a minute and was small.but still surprising.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
6:44 pm
But I thought he was gonna do more. GOV
I’m always pretty skeptical about Braves minor league pitchers cause so many have done well down there and fizzled up here. Some with real dood MiLB stats. IMO when your out pitch is a changeup you need to be real special to succeed. A few do, but most don’t. MLB hitters will eventually adjust to that most of the time. Guy I thought might do a bit better than he did was Kyle.
cabravesfan
February 24th, 2010
6:49 pm
before I open another beer here at the office…
Uh, where do you work??
Jeffrey D-
Last week I opened the door to the refridgerator at my office and all that was in there was wine, beer, and margarita mix (the tequila is in the computer closet next to it)
DMBJAMS
February 24th, 2010
6:49 pm
Just Pat, don’t kid yourself. You need an iPhone. Also, it’s DMB, not DBM. (smile)
I will admit I laughed a little when DOB referred to Jason’s “rippling biceps.” But hey, thats one of the many reasons I love this blog. DOB isn’t afraid to be real. He says they ripple. I believe they do. Id much rather he report what he sees than tip toe around the truth.
ncscoots
February 24th, 2010
6:51 pm
Guy I thought might do a bit better than he did was Kyle.
Man, Grinch used to give me SO much grief for touting Davies, LOL.
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
6:55 pm
Scoots and Nolie, I think Kyle was the embodiment of Crash Davis’ warning: “Don’t think. It’ll only hurt the ballclub.”
Dude came up and was unhittable for four starts. Never saw the strike zone again. And the 25% of the time he actually did throw a strike, somebody hit it hard somewhere, often driving in the two guys he’d just walked.
Glad I’m not a KC fan. And very surprised Francoeur didn’t wind up there.
Danga
February 24th, 2010
7:09 pm
“Also, if anybody has a practical joke you would like me to play on David O’Brien, I’ll be more than happy to accommodate you.”
Ya’ll see this in Schultz’s column?
ncscoots
February 24th, 2010
7:14 pm
Gov, the best talent evaluators on the planet could have a hard time seeing into a kid’s head, I reckon. Failure is the nature of the prospect beast, and prospect-hugging (I’m kinda semi on that, my own self) is built on denial of that very fact, LOL. We’re mostly doomed to disappointment.
But, I’d whole lot rather be often disappointed than seldom hopeful. That ain’t no way to go down the road, I say.
RHR
February 24th, 2010
7:15 pm
All i know is, if a sports illustrated writer/photographer gets anywhere near Heyward, DOB better take one for the team and kick their asses out of the joint.
keylargo
February 24th, 2010
7:16 pm
I’m right on the water too-well the house is about a mile from the bay- so it is really unusual here too. Nolie
I thought you were in Tallahassee?
nolie
February 24th, 2010
7:17 pm
well SCOOTS, I never went so far as touting him, I just thought he’d hold up a bit better than he did. goes to show…even a baseball genius like me misses one once in a while
askinc
February 24th, 2010
7:18 pm
Denizens, Heywerd was seen (by me) shopping for a lamborghini (my wife works for the dealership) about a week ago. The sales manager said he was a very humble guy. Scares the heck out of me that a 20yr. old could be driving that kind of power. I don’t think he can afford one yet but he was impressed as was I when I saw him. He is huge!! Hopefully he will get one one day.
ncscoots
February 24th, 2010
7:19 pm
All i know is, if a sports illustrated writer/photographer gets anywhere near Heyward,
Oh, I imagine that guy will get elbowed out of the way by the Man Of The Year photog from Time. Not to worry.
RHR
February 24th, 2010
7:20 pm
lol scoots you’re on point today. PROPS.
Mekons
February 24th, 2010
7:21 pm
Hope I’m not repeating, but Baseball Tonight, which is a daytime show for now, will be at Dark Star Thursday at 3:30 EST. Which means most of the show will be about the Braves. And hopefully won’t be as cringeworthy as the interview with McGuire and Albert on Tuesday. Shudder. There were about 20 questions, all on the theme of “how awesome are you two?”
I can’t believe the first ST game is only 5.5 days away. This is gonna be a great season.
As for Schafer, Bobby was clearly covering for him. Schafer hid his injury and denied he was hurt even though he clearly could not get around on anything on the inside corner. At least without a lot of pain. I sorta like that he will start out in the minors. That means that Heyward is almost certain to make the team, and if he’s overmatched, he and Jordan can switch places for a while.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
7:21 pm
nope KL I’m over above Ft Myers. was in the bend in early 80s for a while.did some work on a masters in tallahassee. nice town but really hot in the summer with no water breeze, as is most all of central fla
Markus
February 24th, 2010
7:22 pm
Francoeur does have big teeth. I think him and Garret Atkins have the biggest set of dentures in the history of the game.
That Atkins can’t even close his mouth and Francoeur is almost there, not quit though.
ncscoots
February 24th, 2010
7:23 pm
even a baseball genius like me misses one once in a while
Indeed. I know, for me, the infrequency merely exacerbates the shock of the rare event, LOL.
Soph
February 24th, 2010
7:26 pm
Maybe I’ll bring a beer and my dog with me to work tomrrow. See how that goes.
I don’t know about beer but your dog is more than welcome to join me at work. I could use the company.
dpelfrey
February 24th, 2010
7:27 pm
Sorry I started all the arguing over the baby braves. I wasn’t trying to compare them to Hanson and Heyward. I know these two guys are rare prospects that we haven’t seen since Andruw came up. Just trying to say I ran across that list of players and remembered back to how excited I was about the future of the Braves at that time. I would have sworn to you that at least half a dozen of these guys would be long-term producers in ATL. Just gave me some perspective, that’s all.
I thought Lerew was actually going to be the best out of that bunch. Shows what I know.
keylargo
February 24th, 2010
7:28 pm
You probably know where Matlacha is then? I did some work at Pine Island Marina back in about 90 and lived there for awile. I’m certain that place is not the same now.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
7:28 pm
I know, for me, the infrequency merely exacerbates the shock of the rare event, LOL. SCOOTS
so just imagine how big a shock it id to me when I do it. even higher on the Richter Scale
Soph
February 24th, 2010
7:31 pm
Uh oh, Ozzie Guillen opened a twitter account. This should be fun.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4943110
dpelfrey
February 24th, 2010
7:33 pm
The what-could-have-been rotation of the late 90’s and early 00’s. Granted, some of these went on to decent careers elsewhere.
Bruce Chen
Odalis Perez
Jason Schmidt
David Nied
Winston Abreu
Abreu might be a little weak in the 5 spot, but I couldn’t think of anymore stud prospect pitchers off the top of my head. Maybe Terrell Wade instead. Any other ideas?
joerochester
February 24th, 2010
7:33 pm
My advice to you? Get your facts straight!
Jay212033
February 24th, 2010
7:33 pm
richbrave
You left out the best player in the DSL that needs to be watched and that’s ANDY OTERO, LHP. This kid put up crazy numbers down there granted it’s the DSL but he dominated his league.
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
7:35 pm
Sophia, I saw that. +/- for Guillen getting fired for shooting his mouth off in real time: May 31. I’ll take earlier.
ncscoots
February 24th, 2010
7:35 pm
nolie, it does not bear imagining, my friend, LOL.
Soph
February 24th, 2010
7:41 pm
GCT – I say he’ll get canned by June 30 for saying something crazy or insensitive on that thing. We should take bets.
dpelfrey
February 24th, 2010
7:42 pm
Jay, a great stat line from the DSL team…
Jorge Paulino…30 IP, 7 H, 49 K…
Oh, I almost forgot, 28 BB
thinbreakness
February 24th, 2010
7:43 pm
Since I proclaimed the Braves would win 96 games this year I did some research to see when was the last season they won 96 games.
2004 with a starting rotation of: P Byrd, M Hampton, R Ortiz, J Thompson, J Wright.
jeffrey d
February 24th, 2010
7:46 pm
Why would Ozzie get fired for saying something stupid on Twitter? He’s said something stupid in just about every other media and he’s still around
BossLady
February 24th, 2010
7:47 pm
JustPat I remember the days with my first husband owning our business when we threw back many beers. All I can say is that it is probably why he is an EX. I don’t by any means imply this about your marriage. I summed it up with sometimes it is not good to have too much power, money and independence.
joerochester
February 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
I owe John Thompson a lot. He threw a no-hitter for me on ESPN 2K3 (XBOX).
thinbreakness
February 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
2004 bullpen had Reitsma and Alfonseca setting up for Smoltz with no lefties in the pen on opening day.
joerochester
February 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
Err 2K5
Soph
February 24th, 2010
7:50 pm
jeffrey – true, but according to that article the Sox are not happy about him using twitter. And, if goes bananas and says something extra crazy then they might make the move. Who knows.
jeffrey d
February 24th, 2010
7:51 pm
I never liked Ozzie’s “Look at how BA I am – Ican say what’s on my mind and I don’t care what you think” attitude.
joerochester
February 24th, 2010
7:51 pm
Ozzie always goes bananas. The man is the most negative manager.
Jay212033
February 24th, 2010
7:52 pm
dpelfrey
Paulino had great K numbers but his control needs work but that’s key with most young guys. But Otero blew all their numbers away and the thing about him he was one of the youngest guys on the team AND he only 5′9″!!!
thinbreakness
February 24th, 2010
7:53 pm
The Braves used 38 players in 2004 including JD’s brother Tim.
thinbreakness
February 24th, 2010
7:54 pm
jeffrey d-
What if Ozzie is right about Vazquez?
jeffrey d
February 24th, 2010
7:55 pm
Tim Andrew Drew. A little redundant
Goldenglove002
February 24th, 2010
7:56 pm
First base market looks pretty nice next year incase Freddie Freeman isn’t ready. Lance Berkman, Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Adam Laroche, Derrek Lee and Carlosr Pena (hopefully Glaus looks like a good option also, because it means he will have a good year this year)
Rob from SC
February 24th, 2010
7:56 pm
looks like we woke Canada up
jeffrey d
February 24th, 2010
7:56 pm
What if Ozzie is right about Vazquez?
What? That he’s not a big game pitcher? From the looks of last season, it looks like he’s a lot better in less pressure situations
thinbreakness
February 24th, 2010
7:56 pm
Drew Drew
joerochester
February 24th, 2010
7:57 pm
What if Ozzie is right about Vazquez?
Well, he did give up one of the biggest home runs ever in 2004.
Soph
February 24th, 2010
7:59 pm
Ozzie was normal as a player though, right? I may have selective memory here but I don’t remember him being a big talker when he played with the Braves.
jeffrey d
February 24th, 2010
8:01 pm
I may have selective memory here but I don’t remember him being a big talker when he played with the Braves.
I don’t remember much either, but I do remember hearing that he said something funny when someone got his first hit, or finally got out of a slump or something.
thinbreakness
February 24th, 2010
8:06 pm
Preface, I really liked what Vazquez did for the Braves last year, but he did put a lot of our outfielders on the warning track. Almost 50% of the outs he recorded were fly balls. 20 HRs in 219 innings is very good. 10 at home 10 on the road. Who knows, maybe he’ll keep em in the park at Fenway, Yankee and Camden.
Glen W
February 24th, 2010
8:09 pm
About to do an auction style fanatasy baseball draft… too soon? Nahhhh.
Interested to see whay Heyward goes for.
bravofan
February 24th, 2010
8:15 pm
join the group I made on facebook its called thank you bobby cox for all you have done!!
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
8:15 pm
Soph: Nah, Ozzie always ran his mouth. He wasn’t the leader of his organization, though.
Funny how Bobby rubbed off on him not one bit.
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
8:19 pm
Thin, I really think Javi had the perfect storm here – still fly ball prone, but in the right park. He could still be had in the bandboxes. Going to the AL East, I think 35 dingers allowed is a possibility, which will raise the ERA along with the DH.
He was much more valuable here (or a similar home park) than he will be in Bankee Stadium, especially, as you point out, with Fenway and Camden in his division.
Heath
February 24th, 2010
8:19 pm
Rob from SC -
At least they are on the other side of the bracket. Won’t have to face them again until the gold medal game. Assuming, of course, we beat the winner of the Czech Republic/Finland game…
nolie
February 24th, 2010
8:21 pm
hat if Ozzie is right about Vazquez? THICK
right about him in what way? He had a great year going into Sept until Oz started using him on short rest. We have discussed short rest on here many times, the failure raye is about 70 %. So he uses him poorly and then throws him under the bus publicly for not doing well. Total Azshole.Even then he ended up with a league average ERA+ for that park.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
8:23 pm
Well, he did give up one of the biggest home runs ever in 2004. joe
mighty limited ‘forever’ you’re using there joe. Most years some pitcher gives up a huge HR.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
8:24 pm
it looks like he’s a lot better in less pressure situations jeffrey
what does that mean? He pitched the best of the year late when we were in contention.
bravesgrl4life
February 24th, 2010
8:25 pm
Good news. Although Tyler at the Braves Guest Services told me today that tickets were being printed and would be mailed next week, I came home to find my package waiting for me today!!! It’s official – I will be in the stands on April 5!!!!!
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
8:25 pm
Nolie: Yeah, absolutely NOT a fan of short rest. Some horses can do it, but even then it eventually catches up with them (see Sabathia, circa 2008). 95% of the time you’re better off throwing your fourth starter, even if they’re not stout.
nolie
February 24th, 2010
8:26 pm
bah!
GovClintonTyree
February 24th, 2010
8:28 pm
I feel very conflicted about Javi. I understand that last year was a career year and he would have been very unlikely to do it again, but – I probably saw 25 of his starts, and like to think I know pitching a little bit – was so incredibly impressed with his consistency and his stuff and his control. Only time he got hurt was people taking him deep. Man, he was good.
Andrew in PA
February 24th, 2010
8:31 pm
wow this hockey game is getting bad
Andrew in PA
February 24th, 2010
8:32 pm
haha from bad to worse
Rob from SC
February 24th, 2010
8:32 pm
Russia looks lost
Andrew in PA
February 24th, 2010
8:36 pm
malkin,ovie and semin arnt doing anything
thinbreakness
February 24th, 2010
8:39 pm
nolie-
Ha ain’t a Brave anymore. As a Brave fan and hater of the Yankees, I’m dubious about what he did in Atlanta. And since you don’t trust the way the Braves develop pitching prospects like Glavine, Schmidt, Merker, Stanton, Millwood, Bedrosian, P Smith, O Perez, Wohlers, Marquis, Wainwright, Hanson, Medlen, Moylan……oh who cares.
Mixxo
February 24th, 2010
8:39 pm
Schafer’s a joke and a wimp. I knew we screwed up letting Anderson go to Detroit.
joerochester
February 24th, 2010
8:41 pm
Nolie … Put down the scotch. You’re in a drunken rage.