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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,256 comments Add your comment
ATLiens
April 27th, 2010
5:50 pm
N8. true about the stats but Chipper had had much more professional experience. But atlas, agree to disagree. Chipper had all the protection in the world, Heywards not going to have protection in any spot in the lineup, even from Chipper or McCann. I actually agree that right now he would be an excellent 2-hole-hitter. That sucks since our best hitter is the perfect 2-hole hitter.
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
5:50 pm
Smalley
You attributed this to me:
You made your position clear and that is Chipper should get to play as long as Chipper wants to play even if he can no longer do the job. I don’t buy that.
That was not exactly what I was saying. I said Chipper earned the right to play hurt. Some on here were bitchin and moaning about him not manning up and playing when hurt.
Personally, I don’t think Chipper is playing badly enough to be removed. He is hitting better than everybody but Heyward and Prado.
My point is this: Chipper played cheap for the Braves for many years. Many now think that we are getting screwed because he is either A) in a career decline, or B) playing hurt. He is still the best option we have in the lineup as a legit third slot hitting thirdbaseman. I heard and understand all the defensive reasons for putting Prado at third and Infante at second, BUT, no way do I trade Infante’s bat on a day to day basis for the possibility that Chipper plays somewhat close to his career norms.
That is what I meant by saying he deserves to get to play. If he is hurt, he will be DL’d. If he continues on this slide for a good part of the season, then you will see Bobby resting him more than usual. I just don’t see how at the end of April he comes out of the lineup, considering his Hall of Fame career.
Some folks just don’t get it. The dude might suck at third right now, but do you bench him or release him because he has had a bad couple of weeks in the field?
Like I said, he will be DL’d if that is needed. Otherwise, he will play until he (and Bobby) determine he shouldn’t.
If you think we would be better off with Infante or Conrad in the lineup, then I don’t know why I am even having this discussion with you…..
faninva
April 27th, 2010
5:52 pm
TnBrian -
the older white guy is Tony Kornheiser, former columnist of the Washington Post (read a lot of his stuff – very overrated sportswriter imo), former MNF announcer (even he admitted he was terrible, which doesn’t go far enough as to how lousy he really was) and now current PTI and local radio show host here in the DC area. Never has a man gone so far on being such a tool.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
5:53 pm
Even though Nelson (Nellie) Cruz is injured, dude already has 7 homers…
And I have lusted for us to trade for him for 3 years running, especially since he’d be a cheaper option than Adrian Gonzalez…
If the Rangers are in contention I want us to dump Lowe for Nellie Cruz but its early to speculate on that…
ATLiens
April 27th, 2010
5:53 pm
N8. i think every Braves fan is glad that even despite chipper’s struggles the last couple of years they had him instead of barry larkin jr.
Chris
April 27th, 2010
5:53 pm
Come on Bravos, get it done tonight!
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
5:54 pm
TnBrian
PTI, Mike and Mike, and Firstake are the only shows on BSPN worth watching…
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
5:56 pm
N8
I for one am glad Chipper didn’t turn into another Barry Larkin.
N8
April 27th, 2010
5:57 pm
“I actually agree that right now he would be an excellent 2-hole-hitter. That sucks since our best hitter is the perfect 2-hole hitter.” ATLiens
Yup. Which is why Heyward should hit 3rd. Keep Yunel at the top. Keep Prado in the 2-hole. Heyard 3rd, with Chipper (when healthy) protecting him in the cleanup spot, and Mac/Glaus flipping depending on lefty or righty.
If the Heyward, Chipper, McCann trio of lefties scares you, Chipper has actually been better from the right side the last couple of years. Let them turn him around if they bring in a lefty reliever.
Chipper and McCann get guys on base (as opposed to “guy” – Prado), Heyward gets protected, and the runs would start pooring in. At least from the top of the order. Bottom half might be one big black hole. But with this pitching, the team literally only needs one 3 run rally per night to have a better than average shot at winning.
If those 4-5 guys were clustered together in that order, I bet we’d have a better than average shot at 2 (or more) of those rallies per game.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
5:57 pm
faninva
“April 27th, 2010
5:52 pm
TnBrian -
the older white guy is Tony Kornheiser, former columnist of the Washington Post (read a lot of his stuff – very overrated sportswriter imo), former MNF announcer (even he admitted he was terrible, which doesn’t go far enough as to how lousy he really was) and now current PTI and local radio show host here in the DC area. Never has a man gone so far on being such a tool.”
Yeah, Kornholler is a huge Foreskins fan, and when we was on M Night Football I stopped watching it because BSPN ruined Monday Night Football
faninva
April 27th, 2010
5:57 pm
Tomahawkin – the show NOT to watch on BSPN? Sports Nation with that GOD awful Colin Cowherd. Just…Just…Awful. Ever heard his radio show? Just..Just..Awful.
JC from DR
April 27th, 2010
6:00 pm
I find it so interesting that people call Bobby Cox a great manager just because he won 14 division titles and 1 WS with a bunch of teams full of All-Star caliber players that didn’t even need managing (and when they did, he screwed up with his awful desicions and got away with it). But now that he has to manage an average team with no more than good above average players, he can’t even win games with his awful desicions and STILL gets away with it. Go figure.
Stewart Smally
April 27th, 2010
6:01 pm
No need for conversation then, Wayne. I believe a healthy Infante is better capable of contributing to the Braves lineup than a Chipper who is about 60 % healthy.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
April 27th, 2010
6:02 pm
Kornheiser confused Jason with Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues. Easy mistake for baby boomers…
N8
April 27th, 2010
6:03 pm
Oh I don’t know. Larkin would have had multiple GG if Ozzie wasn’t around. Larkin stole almost 400 bases. Their batting averages and OBP are damn near even. Chipper has a career 946 OPS, while Larkins was .815. So obviously Chipper’s power is/was much better.
But Chipper was touted as a threat to go 30/30 on a yearly basis when coming up. As was Larkin, until injuries gutted his career.
I still think Chipper ends up being more powerful, despite the injury. But I doubt he would have bulked up so much had he stayed at SS. Would have killed his range.
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
6:03 pm
ccrider
I just don’t see us with a total remake of the team like you are suggesting. Even if we do stay in the tank into June or July. We have guys we can’t really unload, so we need to get as much out of them as we can (Chipper & Lowe).
Look at the guys who are struggling: Cabrera, Diaz, McLouth, Glaus, Escobar. Most of them WILL improve as the season progresses. Glaus maybe not? Jury is still out on him.
And all the others, Chipper, Mac and Heyward are up and down so far. Will probably do better. Prado will probably come back down to earth (he is moving towards career norms now).
Our hitting will not be as bad as it has been all season long. Let’s just hope the pitching will still be strong when the hitters get untracked.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
April 27th, 2010
6:04 pm
That gal Beadle is adorable, though. But not enough to get me to watch that show.
J-MAN
April 27th, 2010
6:05 pm
Chipper Jones= Roger Dorn. Brian Jordan is right.
faninva
April 27th, 2010
6:05 pm
That gal Beadle is adorable, though. But not enough to get me to watch that show. – Hugo.
AGREED! what a waste to team her with Colin Cowherd…just…just…awful.
Evan
April 27th, 2010
6:06 pm
It irritates me everyone keeps thinking we would have to trade away all of our top 5 prospects for A. Gon, the Padres GM would not be stupid enough to end talks that quickly. A much more likely package would be Freeman, Yunel, Minor and maybe 1 or at the most 2 more fringe prospects. I am by no means advocating this trade but I’m tired of the psuedo exasperation in the form of a sarcastic post suggesting we would even think about trading all 5 of our top 5 prospects for one player. And I get the mortgaging the future stuff that’s why I said I wouldn’t advocate it (preliminary defense of my post sentence for those who don’t read all of it or read it wrong)
Wayne in Utah (and Infante will lead us out of the doledrums!)
April 27th, 2010
6:06 pm
Omar Infante……………Chipper Jones not quite healthy?
Omar Infante …………..Chipper Jones not quite healthy?
Omar Infante …………..Chipper Jones not quite healthy?
No thank you, I will still take Chipper.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:06 pm
faninva
“April 27th, 2010
5:57 pm
Tomahawkin – the show NOT to watch on BSPN? Sports Nation with that GOD awful Colin Cowherd. Just…Just…Awful. Ever heard his radio show? Just..Just..Awful.”
Cowherd isn’t that bad I catch his radio shown out here before I listen to Baisden in the evenings…
Hugo Z Hackenbush
April 27th, 2010
6:07 pm
Glen W, you didn’t read all of my posts. I said that Chipper wouldn’t leave 28 mil on the table. But the Braves could come up with some phoney baloney job for the next two years (hitting coach?) and compensate him enough to make it worthwhile…unless he has a great season, and then the point is moot.
Dollar Bill
April 27th, 2010
6:07 pm
Someone with a large bank account needs to the buy the team. Plain and simple. It would solve all the problems. Plus, you need to put butts in the seats at home. Its pathetic, Atlanta. Shame on you.
gobravos
April 27th, 2010
6:08 pm
Wow N8, your right man .267 is lighting it up…. Here’s the thing… your a moron dude. You would actually play Elvis Andrus over Yunel Escobar. Escobar was the BRAVES BEST PLAYER IN 2009. Get out of here with your b.s. dude. So I was off by .040 on a BA that’s below .280 to begin with. For a guy that doesn’t hit for power that’s not good. BTW, who takes quotes from other peopless posts and then writes a 3 paragraph critique on it. You must be tiny and living with your mom. PEACE!
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:08 pm
N8
Larkin probably plays a few more years if he didn’t play 85 percent of his career on artificial turf, Ditto for Griffey who played half his career on the artificial surface
CB
April 27th, 2010
6:08 pm
Somebody asked the other day for a translator when ncscoots posts- I understand what scoots says. I need a translator for Tomahawkin.
Saff
April 27th, 2010
6:09 pm
If this lineup has a good night they might bust out and score four runs, but on a typical night proabally 0-1. I guess we could probally expect a shutout which seems more likely than scoring more than a run. Oh yea and Derek Lowe will proball get rocked as usual.
Wayne in Utah (and Infante will lead us out of the doledrums!)
April 27th, 2010
6:10 pm
Evan
I think the Frank Wren mentality vs the John Schuerholz mentality is different. JS would go for it, because he had Turner’s cash for a lot of years. FW I think is trying to build on a foundation. I just don’t see him doing a big deal like that, regardless of how many top players he would have to deal.
I just think the two have different agendas.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:10 pm
Dollar Bill
It just isn’t the braves who are struggling for attendance, word on the street is that the Hawks still have tickets left for their playoff games
CB
April 27th, 2010
6:11 pm
Actually N8 lives with his grandmother.
TnBrian
April 27th, 2010
6:11 pm
faninva, yeah, he’s tough guy alright. He has a fat mouth that needs to be punched …. hard. Whatever, he seems like a joke and ain’t even worth talking about anymore.
jonnyboy
April 27th, 2010
6:12 pm
This just in: The only team the Braves MIGHT be better than is the Orioles and I say might because the Orioles play in the toughest division in baseball. A division that would eat the Braves alive.
Wayne in Utah (and Infante will lead us out of the doledrums!)
April 27th, 2010
6:13 pm
Dollar Bill
I don’t think you (dollars) is the problem with our team. We are a mid market team, and our payroll reflects that. More money is not the way to fix things. We are NEVER going to have the Turner days again.
I think we have to be realistic in our expectations for this team.
J-MAN
April 27th, 2010
6:13 pm
Chipper Jones is no longer Chipper Jones. He has turned into Roger Dorn from Major League. He won’t dive for any line drive and he gets hurt every three days……… Oh wait a tick its about time to a hamstring or oblique to get pulled tonight.
Wayne in Utah (and Infante will lead us out of the doledrums!)
April 27th, 2010
6:14 pm
you “are”
not you “is”
faninva
April 27th, 2010
6:14 pm
Cowherd isn’t that bad I catch his radio shown out here before I listen to Baisden in the evenings… – Tomahawkin
to each his own. i guess for me he’s a bit too condescending to his audience, his sports/sociology “you ever notice” brand of sports talk. now that he’s engaged he can’t go 5 minutes without saying the word “fiancé” every 5 minutes. ya, we get it..congrats dude, but shut up already.
TnBrian
April 27th, 2010
6:14 pm
Colin Cowherd looks like Pee-Wee Herman. The difference is Cowherd is a lot more annoying.
gobravos
April 27th, 2010
6:16 pm
Cowherd’s a Lane Kiffin fan. Enough said on that one.
Wayne in Utah (and Infante will lead us out of the doledrums!)
April 27th, 2010
6:16 pm
C’mon CB, get it right for N8. He lives in his mother-in-law’s basement. (but rumor has it he gets free DSL from the neighbors!)
TnBrian
April 27th, 2010
6:16 pm
jonnyboy, we got it. Now go away and play in the lightning and thunder. Go on, GET! That Braves bashing has gotten so old and silly.
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
6:17 pm
Eight years ago today, Derek Lowe pitched a no-hitter for Boston against Tampa Bay, the first no-hitter at Fenway Park since 1965.
J-MAN
April 27th, 2010
6:18 pm
Dear God, can you get Liberty Media to sell the Braves to Authur Blank.
CB
April 27th, 2010
6:18 pm
Wayne, [cough} doldrums[cough]
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
6:20 pm
Turnip-Green: Kerry Meier’s tough and has terrific hands, I know that. Catches everything he gets his hands on (and he doesn’t play wearing gloves, regardless of weather). He was initially a quarterback at KU.
jeffrey d
April 27th, 2010
6:21 pm
I need a translator for Tomahawkin
Let me take a stab at the first few entries of Tomahawkin-English dictionary…
bumpin: (v) listening to
clowned: (v) to get embarrassed or to make oneself look bad
guap: (adj) a lot
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:21 pm
gobravos
“April 27th, 2010
6:16 pm
Cowherd’s a Lane Kiffin fan. Enough said on that one.”
I’m so glad that talk is over. The guys on 680AM were killing me in their infactuation of him leaving Tennessee
sportsmandh
April 27th, 2010
6:21 pm
someone made a reference earlier in a post about Chipper to Ripken. It had to do with when Chipper will be ready to hang it up. Made me wonder, so I checked stats.
At age 37, which Chipper was last year, Ripken hit:
.270,17 HR,84 rbi,.733OPS
At age 38, which Chipper is now, Ripken hit:
.271,l4 HR, 61rbi, .721 OPS
Last year, Chipper: .264, 18 Hrs, 71 rbi, .818 OPS
scary they are similar to Ripkens at the same age (Chipper still had decent OPS b/c he draws a lot of walks despite his average drop last year)
I’ll admit I expected more from Chipper this year. I thought he’d rebound (and maybe he still will). I didn’t expect much defensively, but I expected a LOT more offensively. Right now you have to admit like a lot of posters he looks brutal all the way around. And now that someone brought up this Ripken idea and I looked at these #s, I’m even more concerned b/c after I thought about it, I think it’s a pretty good comparison at Chipper’s age. So, now I’m not convinced Chipper will rebound to much more than what he did last year.
In 99, when Ripken was 39 and started to only play part time, he then hit .340, 18 HRs, 57 rbi, and .952 in just a little over half the # of at bats of the previous two years. Pretty nice numbers. (After that he played two more years and declined, but at 39 that wasn’t a bad season as mentioned)
Maybe it’s possible Chipper needs to go ahead and become a part time player. Starting sooner than later. Play 2 out of every 3 games or so to keep him fresher. Just a thought. What do you guys think?
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
6:21 pm
CB
Hey, ever since I won that 8th grade spelling bee, it’s been down hill since!
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
6:21 pm
Fear: I had a good pulled-chicken BBQ sandwich at my hotel restaurant. Oh, and some mighty fine banana pancakes and turkey sausage.
Need to get some good toasted ravioli before I leave.
J-MAN
April 27th, 2010
6:22 pm
D.O.B. you should cover the Falcons. That way you can cover a winner like you should.
TnBrian
April 27th, 2010
6:22 pm
I wonder what’s happend with Lowe. Really, he’s had one dominant game as a Brave and that was opening day last year as far as I can remember. It could be the contract he’s trying hard to live up to and it’s playing with his head. Who knows.
jeffrey d
April 27th, 2010
6:23 pm
He has another word for “awhile” as in… “The Braves haven’t hit a homerun in a….”
but I can’t think of it
faninva
April 27th, 2010
6:24 pm
DOB –
did you get back to Lions Choice restaurant? i remember you talking about that place last year. best roast beef sandwich ever.
chris
April 27th, 2010
6:24 pm
everybody, lowe is gonna throw a no hitter today baby! yea!
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:24 pm
jeffrey d
“April 27th, 2010
6:21 pm
I need a translator for Tomahawkin
Let me take a stab at the first few entries of Tomahawkin-English dictionary…
bumpin: (v) listening to
clowned: (v) to get embarrassed or to make oneself look bad
guap: (adj) a lot”
Lol, you’re close partnah!
When I say someone is clowing in a baseball related manner that means doing good or tearing it up (hitting-wise)
And your right a Gripp is a lot (Time-related)
And if we lose tonight I’m probably gonna be rocking some old Henry Rollins, Beavis and Butt-head got me onto that….
Einstein
April 27th, 2010
6:24 pm
The Braves are a simple fix: Get rid of Bobby and Terry (any of the past 3 Marlins managers would be an upgrade and Chipper’s Dad can teach hitting). Retire or trade Chipper and Lowe (may cause a rethinking of a new hitting coach). Trade Escobar for someone with a brain. Send Glaus to the minors for reps and confidence. Admit to the fans that ‘10 is a rebuilding year and bring up our best prospects for 1st base, shortstop, and third base. And last, tell the Braves that they will get a bonus for every single, and that they’ll be fined for every strikeout and homerun. Our team has a lot of talent, but no direction.
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
6:25 pm
sportsmandh
I think Chipper will get his share of days off. I think with the rest of the offense struggling now, it might not be a good time to sit him too much, unless of course he is hurt.
Again, if Diaz, McLouth and Escobar were at career average, Chipper would probably be getting 1-2 days off a week.
jeffrey d
April 27th, 2010
6:26 pm
DOB, your metabolism must be fantastic
ncgary
April 27th, 2010
6:26 pm
mark bradley was right about the braves being magical.
the offense disappeared
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:26 pm
Yeah the Braves have’t hit a homerun in a Gripp let alone win a game for that matter
tashunka
April 27th, 2010
6:27 pm
With Melky and Nate, maybe we should just resign Glavine to play the outfield. Of course, been taking a look at Jeff F. and K. Johnson’s numbers. Add that to Heyward and the Braves would have a good outfield–of course this assumes that TP would not be involved.
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
6:29 pm
TnBrian
If you go back to last year and check his splits, I seem to remember Lowe had a lot of really good games, mixed in with a couple of bad stretches where he got clobbered, often times still winning.
I don’t think he has been as bad as some would think. Granted, I expected and do expect more from him.
MikeInFL
April 27th, 2010
6:30 pm
Bat Masterson
April 27th, 2010
5:49 pm
MikeInFL
I thought about your, Grantland Rice/ from first to worst, post driving down the road today and started laughing out loud, again.
Bat, I laughed about it a couple of times today myself. Hey, I was just working with the material provided to me… I almost cried laughing when I saw that post. poop is crap!
Dollar Bill
April 27th, 2010
6:30 pm
Realistically, they need to get Glaus out of the middle of the lineup. If it is McCann hitting 4th, then fine. They could give the kid a shot at it. He can be clutch. Unrealistically, if they had money, Tex would still be hitting clean-up. The Braves would be a totally different team. One guy can make that much difference.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:31 pm
61 degrees and the wind blowing in…It’s sweather weather feels like Halloween weather
No heavy offense tonight, “Bank On It!” Lowe is gonna have to come correct and go seven strong, plus I think the New Busch stadium is more pitcher friendly than the old one after they renovated it
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:33 pm
Dollar Bill
“April 27th, 2010
6:30 pm
Realistically, they need to get Glaus out of the middle of the lineup. If it is McCann hitting 4th, then fine”
I’m pretty sure you read the blog and I have been saying that all season. We don’t have the 2002 version of Glaus hitting fifth, we have a version of Glaus on offense that is similiar to Loaf
larry
April 27th, 2010
6:33 pm
It’s sad but true, JS made great trades early but he killed us near the end. Wainright,,Tex
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
6:34 pm
This pertains to nothing here today, but just thought I’d point out, lefty hitters are 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts against Jonathan Sanchez this season.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
6:37 pm
I can’t recall and April where it has been this cool so late into the month across the country…
It’s gonna go from Halloween weather to 90 degrees and hot as balls in 10 days, I hate it when the weather fluctuates like that…
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
6:37 pm
Jair Jurrjens and Kenshin Kawakami have the worst and third-worst run support among NL starters this season, 1.57 runs per nine innings pitched for Jurrjens and 2.12 per nine for Kawakami. Lowe has the third-highest at 9.27.
Soph
April 27th, 2010
6:39 pm
I like this weather. Well, the coolness not the rain.
Mr. Enigma
April 27th, 2010
6:40 pm
Just for fun, I decided to go through the 14 division title years and see what their April records were:
1991: 8-10, finished 94-68
1992: 11-11, finished 98-64
1993: 12-13, finished 104-58
1994: 15-8, finished 68-46 (strike shortened)
**due to the strike, only 5 games were played in April 1995, so I am going through May 25**
1995: 17-11, finished 90-54
1996: 16-11, finished 96-66
1997: 19-6, finished 101-61
1998: 18-9, finished 106-56
1999: 15-7, finished 103-59
2000: 18-6, finished 95-67
2001: 12-14, finished 88-74
2002: 12-15, finished 101-59
2003: 17-10, finished 101-61
2004: 11-10, finished 96-66
2005: 14-10, finished 90-72
So as you can see by some of these examples, a poor April does not a bad team make. The bottom line is instead of just one or two guys slumping, everyone is slumping at once. All of these guys aren’t going to hit .200 all season. Nate’s been hitting the ball a lot harder lately, just right at people. Glaus and Cabrera had multi-hit games last night, so maybe they’ll get going. Hopefully the lead-off spot will re-energize Yunel. Maybe I’m just being hopelessly optimistic, but a dissapointing (read: not awful) April does not sink a team, especially in a division as poor as the NL East is starting off to be. It’s been rough for Atlanta but hey, look at the big picture: through it all, they are still only 2.5 back of first place. Amazing.
faninva
April 27th, 2010
6:40 pm
“We don’t have the 2002 version of Glaus hitting fifth, we have a version of Glaus on offense that is similiar to Loaf.” – Tomahawkin
isn’t it interesting that they were both studs with the Angels back in the day. and now…
BraveMan
April 27th, 2010
6:41 pm
J-MAN @ 6:05,
that was funny.
FEAR
April 27th, 2010
6:43 pm
DOB – Sounds pretty good to me. What city has the worst food?
ccrider
April 27th, 2010
6:43 pm
Wayne in Utah: The reason I came up with this suggestion, is that those very players you talk about being hard to move, Lowe and Chipper, are two of the reason this team is playing so poorly. Chipper is hitting alright,but not slugging much, he can’t defend well anymore, this and last year, he can’t stay healthy and stay in the lineup and his contract extension that Frank Wren gave him restricts the moves the Braves can make. I will bet you Chipper is mulling retirement, he is a proud and great player, who doesn’t want to be remembered as someone just hangin on for a paycheck. Lowe has being nothing more than a low quality innings eater. But, a team that had a good defense and offense behind him might be interested at $7.5 a year. A number of teams would be interested in Kawakami at 6.5 for one year.
Cabrera, Glaus and maybe Diaz are gone after this season either way. Saito has some value. Some team will take a chance on McLouth for one year to see if they can fix him.
This idea is just a suggestion of how we could get rid of the non productive players, make room for our young ready to play prospects and add younger proven veteran players, while decreasing payroll.
But, while I think most of it is feasible, it would be a long shot to occur, because Frank Wren would have to admit some of his work did not turn out well, and we know how loathe GM’s are to do that!
Disco Stew
April 27th, 2010
6:44 pm
If Chipper becomes a part time player it will be for an AL team. The Braves cannot afford a 13-14mm/yr guy who plays 3x a week.
Bat Masterson
April 27th, 2010
6:44 pm
isn’t it interesting that they were both studs with the Angels back in the day. and now…
Tomahawkin has a theory about that very thing.
the real Andy
April 27th, 2010
6:47 pm
>>>the show NOT to watch on BSPN? Sports Nation with that GOD awful Colin Cowherd. Just…Just…Awful. Ever heard his radio show? Just..Just..Awful. – faninva
well, that’s one thing we can agree on. i don’t wish harm on anyone, but if i accidentally catch myself listening to that guy, i immediately start thinking about punching him in the face.
Salamander
April 27th, 2010
6:49 pm
I know Soph, can’t beat it. Supposed to be somewhat cool tomorrow as well.
TNBravesfan
April 27th, 2010
6:55 pm
I initially thought the Braves would have a solid outfield. However, I should have known better. Cabrera is a career .266 hitter and McLouth is a career .258 hitter. Diaz is a solid role player and Heyward is gonna be a star, but he is a 20 year old rookie. For all those who blame Glaus for Atlanta’s offensive woes, the outfield is terrible just like it was last year. As a collective group, they are hitting an embarrassing .183 with 5 HR and 23 RBI. 4 of those HR are the rookie’s and he has 16 of the RBI. That means the veterans of McLouth, Diaz and Cabrera are hitting a combined .163 1 HR and 7 RBI. The problem with the leadoff spot is an outfield problem (because these guys have been batting leadoff). I would have to say this is the worst offensive performance I have ever seen from a major league outfield.
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
6:56 pm
I hope Kobe is still pouting tonight! I can’t believe he actually pulls that crap of not shooting, just to punish Jackson and the rest of the team.
What a frickin’ pre-madonna! I don’t wish harm on folks, but a ruptured hamstring or achilles tendon would serve a jerk like Kobe just about perfectly.
carlchamblee
April 27th, 2010
6:57 pm
I will say re: Cowherd he said something pretty insightful the other day regarding baseball. Pointed out that the good baseball teams have the most players in their prime/peak of their careers, with some help from vets/rookies sprinkled in. The Phils are a good example of this as are the Yankees. I know it’s a rather obvious point, but it scares me when I apply it to the Braves. Who is at their peak right now? Franchise player Chipper is past and fading fast. Young phenom not even close just getting seasoned. Glaus is obvious. Escobar hasn’t reached his potential or maybe he has. McCann? Perhaps.
Rabiddawg
April 27th, 2010
6:57 pm
OH, I remember the good ol days, you know way back in early April, 2010. Yup, those were the days when I thought the Bravos could win every game. My how times have changed through the years, wait months, wait weeks!!! what the heck? We’ve gotten this bad in a little over a week. Oh well theres always BAB (Braves After Bobby).
ccrider
April 27th, 2010
6:57 pm
Wayne in Utah: By the Way, I really don’t see it as a major rebuilding as you do. The lineup would under go the biggest change, but CF would have been Schafer’s if he had been able to come back from is injury this spring and Glaus was only keeping 1st base warm until Freeman came up next year. So really it’s just trading out Chipper at 3rd for Cantu and Werth in LF for what would have been McLouth. The rotation would just be moving two young guys (Venters and Medlen) from the bullpen into the starting rotation, while gaining payroll flexability by moving part of two 37 year old starters salaries. The bullpen would only lose Saito, who isn’t under contract next season. The bench would be mostly the same.
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
6:58 pm
Tnbravesfan
Yeah, they have kinda sucked a bit! Ever catch yourself wishing for Loaf or Ryan Church……..or better yet, RYAN FREEL!!!
carlchamblee
April 27th, 2010
6:59 pm
DOB – do you have tonight’s lineup yet? I just took my Pepcid so I’m ready to hear it.
FEAR
April 27th, 2010
7:00 pm
hahaha ryan freel!
JEB
April 27th, 2010
7:00 pm
TNBravesfan:
Have to say I totally agree with you!
At some point – we will REALLY need to get worried about McClouth! (like this week)
DOB wrote about how bad he was in spring training – and now it is the end of April and things STILL have not changed. Wren & BC will need to make some serious decisions about him in the next few weeks if he does not turn it around.
Disco Stew
April 27th, 2010
7:00 pm
TN – spot on commentary.
Wren has a penchant (like JS) to add one impact guy when he needs 2-3. Whether its finances or pollyanna projects of reclamation players this club always seems to be a day late and dollar short when it comes to the OF and the offense.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
7:03 pm
TnBravesfan
“As a collective group, they are hitting an embarrassing .183 with 5 HR and 23 RBI. 4 of those HR are the rookie’s and he has 16 of the RBI. That means the veterans of McLouth, Diaz and Cabrera are hitting a combined .163 1 HR and 7 RBI. The problem with the leadoff spot is an outfield problem (because these guys have been batting leadoff). I would have to say this is the worst offensive performance I have ever seen from a major league outfield.”
Even though Nelson (Nellie) Cruz is injured, dude already has 7 homers…
And I have lusted for us to trade for him for 3 years running, especially since he’d be a cheaper option than Adrian Gonzalez…
If the Rangers are in contention I want us to dump Lowe for Nellie Cruz but its early to speculate on that…
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
7:04 pm
ccrider
At this point, any talk about moving Chipper is pointless. Maybe he retires, but I don’t think so. And to think of getting rid of Lowe is a pipe dream. Last offseason proved that point.
I do expect to see Schafer and Freeman in the lineup by mid year next year (possibly sooner). And as for Werth, get him in a regular ballpark, and maybe he doesn’t hit as good? Just sayin. I think we go with McLouth, Schafer and Heyward in the outfield next year. Melky is a bench guy at best. Diaz will come back and hit.
As for Cantu at third, I would be OK with him, but again, I am not ready to write off Chipper just yet.
And why would you want to unload Kawakami? You wouldn’t get much for him, and he is an excellent 4/5 starter.
I just don’t see it happening.
carlchamblee
April 27th, 2010
7:04 pm
Tomahawk, why do we need Nellie Cruz when we have 3 Nellie Olsens?
braveshoo
April 27th, 2010
7:04 pm
I’m sorry, but we are losing games because of bad coaching. Last night, Hudson pitched a great game, but since his injury, he tires early. Once Hudson gave up the home run in the 5th, Cox should have taken him out. We have a great bullpen. At that point, we are still leading 3-1, and the bullpen likely holds the lead. Instead, Hudson gives up another homerun in the 6th + a single that ultimately scores before Cox takes him out. TOO LATE. The same thing the night before. Mcloth is on 1st, and Hanson fails to bunt. Bad fundamentals-bad coaching. My little league team can bunt. Then with 2 outs, why not steal McClouth. He is not going to score from ist, And we are not going to get two more hits. He is successful 95% stealing. If he steals, He scores on Cabrera’s hit. Instead he dies on 2nd. The next inning, Prado doubles with no outs. Chipper fails to get him to 3rd. Again, bad fundamentals. If Chipper cant pull the ball and get him over, Bunt him over. They walk McCann. Bunt Glaus and get him home. Chipper makes a great stop with 2 outs, and then throws the ball away when he had no chance to get the runner. Hold the ball. Hanson struck out the next batter, and Reyes doesnt score. Final score= Braves-2-Mets-0. The bottom line is that as bad as we are hitting, we still could be winning a lot of these games. Bobby needs to adjust. This team cant win the same old way. We are not going to hit enough, and we definitely are not going to hit enough HRs. We have to bunt: hit and run; steal; and manage our bullpen. And our coaches need to coach baserunning, bunting, and fundamental baseball a lot better.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
7:06 pm
CarlChamblee
“DOB – do you have tonight’s lineup yet? I just took my Pepcid so I’m ready to hear it.”
It was posted on one of the previous pages and it includes Glaus hitting 5th and the Meld-Dud is starting, you might wanna switch to Wild Turkey tonight after watching this offense hit in sweather-weather tonight
Its odd the braves had the best hitting OF in 2003 and now have had the Worst from 2008 to the present
Wayne in Utah
April 27th, 2010
7:06 pm
T’hawkin
In what universe can you see the Rangers taking Lowe, and giving up Cruz? We’d have to throw in a lot of cash and another player.
Hank44
April 27th, 2010
7:07 pm
Hey, we’re lucky to be only 3 games out, especially the way we’ve been hitting. It’s still early, who would have thought we’d have four or five players batting .200 or lower and still be close. Give it time, Chipper and the gang will get it going.
Tomahawkin
April 27th, 2010
7:09 pm
T’hawkin
“In what universe can you see the Rangers taking Lowe, and giving up Cruz? We’d have to throw in a lot of cash and another player.”
If the Rangers are in the NL west race I don’t think they have the veteran starting pitching to hane with the Halos or the Mariners…
Plus Trading for Nellie Cruz would be cheaper than dumping the Farm for Adrian Gonzalez who would be a rental
Plus there are a bunch of teams that are going to be looking ar Gonzalez, but its early
b12 joneal
April 27th, 2010
7:11 pm
the braves are fine everyday people talk bout the team because we r lossing ita not even at the 50 game mark every thing going to be ok