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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,801 comments Add your comment
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
8:42 am
I think Gwinnett got no-hit last night.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
8:42 am
bravofan – I really wanted KJ for left field myself but was shouted down about how dumb that was.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
8:43 am
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
8:42 am
I think Gwinnett got no-hit last night.
So you’re saying they are about major league ready? Since they are emulating the big boys now?
Kelly Johnson
April 29th, 2010
8:44 am
Just checkin’ in. Long time no see!
So what’s been happening with you guys? Nothing much going here. It’s hot and the air is dry, but other than that…..
Oh yeah, guess what? I’m hittin’ lots of homers and scorchin’ the ball! Sorry I couldn’t stay in ATL and do that but you know how it is…. Just wasn’t a place for me there. Martin has played great and still is. I know, I know, some thought I could play the outfield, after all, I did that before and it worked out. Had arm surgury so no reason I couldn’t have played out there again. But hey, like I’ve heard it said before on this blog by the so called experts….
“The Braves see his value as being an infielder.” Funny… I thought someone’s value was based on helping a team score runs and win games, not on what some GM or scouting person sees on a piece of paper. Besides…. you were going to get a power hitting outfielder. What? You didn’t?
I suppose affordability might have had something to do with cutting me loose. But maybe not. After all, Wren and McQuirk said the team wasn’t cutting payroll. Let’s see, Javy gone saving 11 million, not picking up my contract nor offering arbitration saved some money….so I guess you guys were able to take those dollar savings and invest them in….what? You got nothing for those savings? No offensive help? But Wren and Terry said……..
At any rate, alls well that ends well. Hope everything works out for you guys like it’s worked out for me.
We’re still working at ironing some things out her is AZ but hopefully we’ll get there. Maybe we’ll meet up with you guys in the playoffs. Playoffs? No! You said your record is WHAT?
Thrillhouse44
April 29th, 2010
8:47 am
Good news: Pujols is only 2 for 10 against JJ, with an OBP of .273, OPS .573. And current Braves Slayer, Molina is 2 for 9, .222 OBP, .444 OPS.
Yay!
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
8:48 am
The AA Braves are next
Kelly Johnson
April 29th, 2010
8:49 am
“ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
8:42 am
bravofan – I really wanted KJ for left field myself but was shouted down about how dumb that was.”
Hey I would have played the outfield, but Wren said he was going to get a power hitting outfielder this Winter so they didn’t even consider me. So lets see, no big hitter for the outfield, no cutting payroll.
Did someone lie?
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
8:49 am
how many times has it been said here, the only reason KJ has 8 homers is where he plays? Chase Field has yielded the most homeruns so far this year. And of those 8 homers, 7 of them have come at home in Arizona. So now, the only way KJ would have had that many homers playing for the Braves is if Atlanta were located in Arizona.
THATS IT!
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
8:50 am
Actually, Kelly was let go because of his inconsistencies at the plate, they gave him numerous chances and he never succeeded.
monty
April 29th, 2010
8:52 am
Not aquiring a lead-off hitter, or a sure power bat(Glaus was a wish and a prayer) in the off season has killed this team. No speed, no HR power, no defense, can’t count on Chipper to be a HR threat, to old or injury prone(take your pick), has put pressure I believe on the guys that would normally hit 10-15 HR’s to try to hit HR’s. BMac gets pitched around or has to become hyper aggressive to try to put the team on his shoulders. THere were too many “if’s” coming into this season,(if Chipper retuned to his old form,if Glaus could return to 25-30 HR’s, if McLouth could return to form and hit leadoff) FW much like he did with relying on on the old pitchers year before last rolled the dice this year hoping all the ifs would work out, guess what? None have so far. Except for the pitching. Bullpen looks good, but the positional players mentioned are a mess.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
8:52 am
Yeah, Johnson is hitting .148 on the road. The homer last night was his first on the road, and it was at Coors Field in a 12-11 game.
Least Runs Loses
April 29th, 2010
8:52 am
I am so sad.
Reality
April 29th, 2010
8:52 am
Don’t worry, Kelly, I’ll be calling you back to earth soon enough.
LWB
April 29th, 2010
8:54 am
It’s good to see the Braves really going for it though isnt it? I mean, if your gonna do something….anything………do it with all you’ve got. And I think they are really taking this losing streak seriously. They are doing all they can to keep it going
That’s the kind of heart and fighting spirit that made this team great in the 90s! Go team!
Seriously though…….might be time to start over after Cox leaves. Let chipper retire, find a way to get rid of Lowe…..eating most of his salary, find a new hitting coach and just move on.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:01 am
Go figure:
Group A: Chipper, McCann, Heyward, Prado
Group B: Glaus, Cabrera, McLouth, Escobar, Diaz
Through April 23rd, Group A was hitting .310 and Group B was hitting .165.
In the last 5 games, Group B is hitting .303 and Group A is hitting .148.
Couch Tater
April 29th, 2010
9:01 am
JasonIn
MEFL –As I recall, Wren was twixt a rock and a hard place when Kawakami and Lowe were signed in the Winter of ‘08. Overpaid? Probably, but the other teams who were rumored to have interest in those two guys were large market teams who could more afford to make a fiscal mistake.
Some here wanted to sign Oliver Perez…
Jeff R
April 29th, 2010
9:02 am
monty… “Not aquiring a lead-off hitter”… It isn’t much discussed anymore, but the Braves’ losing Furcal to the Dodgers years ago was a real blow the offense. The Bravos’ haven’t had a bona fide lead-off guys since Furcal.
Don
April 29th, 2010
9:02 am
Being patient, being selective, working the count, making the pitcher throw some pitches – This approach to hitting is what will make Heyward a great hitter – and this approach to hitting is the absolute necessity for any player being a great hitter and for a team getting maximum run production and having consistant run production. True, he may be taking too many pitches right now – but getting this right will come wiith experience and maturity. Failure to teach, emphasize, and demand this approach to hitting (being selective/working the count/makign the pitcher throw some pitches) has been Bobby Cox’s greatest weakness as an offensive manager – and is the reason that he has been so ineffective in the development of youung hitters and even in getting good production out of most veteran hitters – and has had a terrible effect on Braves run production over the years. Point is, that making this kind of statement (”taking far too many pitches”) to a 20 year old rookie could change this great and mature approach to hitting that he has developed on his own and cause him to revert to the Bobby Cox style – and completely ruin his future development. Best thing that could happen right NOW to protect Heywards futrue develpment as a probable star is to IMMEDIATELY send Heyward back to AAA for the remainder of the season to get him away from the influence of Cox and Pendleton.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
9:04 am
If a player is inconsistent his first few years, but has tools, you dang well ought to be able to coach that out of him as he reaches his late 20’s. I’ve never heard any rumors of KJ being petulent or hard to deal with. Again, it goes back to good consistent coaching, putting guys in situations they can succeed, and preferably the fans not acting like sharks when they see blood in the water. I hope you’re enjoying Melky, we could have had KJ for the same price to play LF and also slot into 2b when needed for infield injuries.
Thrillhouse44
April 29th, 2010
9:04 am
I hate it when I refresh the page and the only new comment is from Don.
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
9:06 am
I liked KJ and wish he could’ve stayed, but I completely understand why the Braves let him go. He had potential, but was too big of a risk and not a big enough reward for the kind of money he would have made.
bravofan
April 29th, 2010
9:07 am
ugaaccountant: I sure would have been nice if we have him
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
9:07 am
Couch tater – Wren double signed. He needed to acquire two good options and had already got Vasquez. He should not have signed both Lowe and Kawakami. You don’t spend 7M on a 5th starter which was what we signed Kawakami to be. If you give me that **** about not knowing if Hanson was ready I’ll laugh out loud at how you bought the company line hook, line and sinker.
bravofan
April 29th, 2010
9:08 am
Jeff R: That is dead on Furcal was a stud at leadoff
Jersey Gil
April 29th, 2010
9:09 am
“No moves imminent to improve offense”…this team is dead in the water, HELP…From where?…There AAA Team Gwinnett? Batting worse than the MLB Team…Yesterday has a Not Hit,No Run…Freeman Batting 232…So the Headline say it all “No MOVES IMMINENT”.
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
9:10 am
I hate it when I refresh the page and the only new comment is from Don.
It’s like opening your fridge and only seeing cauliflower. Yeah it’s there, but what’s the point?
bravofan
April 29th, 2010
9:11 am
through Raffy’s five seasons with the Braves he never hit under .275 for a career avg.
bravofan
April 29th, 2010
9:12 am
jeffrey d.: Nice on your 9:10
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:12 am
At this point in the season, the only changes possible would be internal changes, unless they go out and sign some free agent that no one has liked for the last seven months (there’s a reason they haven’t signed yet). There are no players available for trade yet.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:17 am
I don’t think it’s that accurate to say Kawakami is the most expensive 5th starter in baseball. He’s really only a 5th starter because the Braves have four (three?) better than him, not because he’s bad. He’d be a 3rd or 4th starter on a lot of teams.
Also, I don’t like it when people compare salaries across the board like that. Kawakami’s salary is very reasonable for his performance. Last year he was worth more than his salary, according to Fangraphs. Hanson and Jurrjens are two of our best pitchers, and they’re making the MLB minimum. That’s just the way the system is set up. Should we praise Wren for getting such a bargain with Hanson and Jurrjens?
bravofan
April 29th, 2010
9:18 am
did anyone else know DOB isn’t a fan of the Braves? in a response to a blogger saying something to the effect of him getting paid to cover the Braves and being a fan Dob’s response was im just getting paid to cover them
Jersey Gil
April 29th, 2010
9:19 am
Brian….and the sad story is the Braves no have anyone in the Minor to replace Our Third Basemant or we don’t have anyone in the Outfield with power or Speed in the Minor….Cody Johnson?….Maybe…What we have is good Young Pitching coming in the Pipe…
Don
April 29th, 2010
9:19 am
Saying this another way:
What kind of dumb axx would make this kind of statement to a 20 year old and take a chance on ruining what is basically a great, and mature, and necessary approach to hitting if he is indeed going to develop into a great hitter. (True, right now he may be taking too many pitches in certain situations – but corrcting that will come with experience – not Bobby Cox making a dumb statement like that and taking a chance on ruining his entire approach to hitting.)
Soph
April 29th, 2010
9:19 am
I got nothin’.
Go Braves.
I’ll add…please win.
bravofan
April 29th, 2010
9:20 am
brian from sc: I say we should until. He saved money so he could spend it elsewhere it will be interesting to see what kind of salaries those guys command in the future
Arkansas Transplant
April 29th, 2010
9:22 am
The way the team is playing would be funny if it wasn’t so utterly pathetic!! You’d think, since I’m not hitting I’m going to make sure my defense is superb but they aren’t even doing the fundamentals correctly.
Jersey Gil
April 29th, 2010
9:22 am
bravofan…a beat writter is not a fan, he follow the team and report,Good or bad…DOB was with the marlin before he start cover the braves for his Newspaper (AJC), he don’t work for the Braves.
Daybed Wagmoe
April 29th, 2010
9:24 am
Brian from SC — Jermaine Dye would be that kind of agent that’s still out there and unsigned. I don’t necessarily think that he’s the answer, although compared with what we’re playing with right now, I don’t think it’d be much worse.
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
9:28 am
We’re going to talk to him. He’s taking way too many pitches for strikes. He’s getting one pitch to swing at right now Bobby
Am I the only one who thinks Bobby’s comments were no big deal? Some people talk like he called a press conference to throw Heyward under the bus. Wasn’t he just making his normal postgame comments and he responded to a question about Heyward? And it’s not even that bad…it’s true. He’s taking a lot of strikes
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:29 am
LOL…why would anyone think DOB is a Braves fan? I have never once thought that.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
9:29 am
DenizenofDay (9:23 a.m.): So you’d have the Braves make it right with the baseball gods by, what, doing a full-on, over-the-top home-plate celebration after a walk-off homer, maybe something like the absurd Prince Fielder-and-bowling-pins choreographed celebration the Brewers did?
(Actually, that’d be hilarious if they did it and you were right, they then reeled off a 10-run winning streak. That’s assuming they have another walk-off sometime soon, though. Might want to just celebrate a simple win with some sort of choreographed madness, perhaps topped by bringing out a microphone and having Jonny Venters croon a couple of tunes with Tomahawk Team members dancing like Vegas showgirls around him.)
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:31 am
jeffrey d, that’s what I’ve been trying to say. When I first saw it, my reaction was “Yeah, good point. Now let me see how the relief pitchers did last night.” It is really surprising to me how much press it has gotten and how many fans are up in arms about it.
Ingles
April 29th, 2010
9:33 am
Jersey Gil has a third basement?
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:33 am
If Jermaine Dye would sign form about 800,000, I bet the Braves would take a shot at it. But the buzz is that he’s rejected deals in the 2 million dollar range, so it’s his own fault he’s not signed.
I predict some AL team will get him as a DH soon, though. He’s just not worth much for an NL team because of his horrid defense.
Ingles
April 29th, 2010
9:35 am
A man with a third basement might be a serial killer
MikeInFL
April 29th, 2010
9:35 am
Brian from SC and Jeffery: not only that, but if you read Heyward’s “response” comments, it certainly sounds like he understands and agrees with the advice. He said:
Against Miller, I saw all two-seams [sinkers], sliders and curveballs, and then he threw a four-seam [fastball]. I hadn’t seen a four-seamer from him…. My mindset should be to go up there and swing, versus take. Go up there and swing. So my only decision should be to not swing. Be ready to hit in any situation. But that takes time to get into.”
Sounds like mgr and player are on the same page, and there’s nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Couch Tater
April 29th, 2010
9:37 am
ugaaccountant – I just go by what I read. Now, I gotta go make some Kool-aid, ’cause it’s getting close to my tee-time. lol
If the Braves could land [Kawakami], they’d still lack an ace, but would presumably have three quality starters in Jair Jurrjens, Javier Vazquez and Kawakami, with the last couple of spots up for graps among the likes of Charlie Morton, Tommy Hanson, Jorge Campillo and, if he returns to pitch and returns the Braves, John Smoltz by perhaps May or June. And also, if he pitches again, Tom Glavine.
I still believe they really need to do all they can to get an ace, whether that’s Jake Peavy (which seems increasingly unlikely), or Lowe, or someone who might be available that we don’t even know about yet. – December 22, 2008, DOB
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
9:38 am
jeffrey d: that was hilarious at 9:10 a.m.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:39 am
I like how Heyward put that: “My only decision should be to not swing.” The best hitters should go to the plate looking to hit, and based on their pitch recognition, perhaps decide to take the pitch.
Some guys seem to be the other way around. The appear to go up there looking to take, and then if they happen to see a pitch they like, they make the decision to swing. That’s how you get rung up on a lot of borderline pitches.
Arkansas Transplant
April 29th, 2010
9:39 am
I think the whole team should shave their heads.
Arkansas Transplant
April 29th, 2010
9:41 am
or maybe color their hair purple or something like that.. anything to get their mind off of baseball. Maybe they would begin playing better.
Space Monkey
April 29th, 2010
9:42 am
Let’s burn those damned blue uniforms. Team hasn’t played worth a crap since it dropped its traditional road gray.
Nick n Nash
April 29th, 2010
9:42 am
I am boycotting watching/reading braves games/news until I find out they won a game…..that’ll stick it to Liberty Media lol
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:44 am
An unexpected win today would do wonders for the team’s psyche, IMO. Then it’s on to the easiest month of the season, schedule-wise. Hoping they can make a run.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
9:45 am
I shouldn’t speak for other fans, but probably only a few saw what Cox said as criticism (at least nonconstructive criticism) and were upset by it. Do I think it was the best thing for Cox to say to anyone in the media? Probably not. But I can understand where he’s coming from and why he said it. There are parts of Heyward’s game that need to improve and almost certainly will but he doesn’t really have far to go. Heyward’s struggles have been overblown, mostly by passionate fans, because they seem to be overlooking the fact that overall he’s done the important things quite well at such a young age.
Also, last night’s game was indicative of a problem that no one is fond of discussing because there is no scapegoat for it. That problem is luck. I can’t remember too many games in which there were so many hits just inside the third and firstbase lines.
Yes, it’s true players are struggling. Yes, we have every right to point out in which areas the team is not performing. But a team with this kind of talent rarely loses 8 in a row without bad luck being a fairly significant factor. But people are uncomfortable with that kind of analysis because we are all control freaks to a certain degree.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:46 am
I’d give Chipper a day off today and plug Heyward into the 3 spot.
raleighbravesfan
April 29th, 2010
9:47 am
Don – I believe what Bobby actually said was that JH is taking/looking at too many STRIKES (especially early in the count is implied). I agree with that.
NY-CITI
April 29th, 2010
9:47 am
I’d like to thank the braves for helping the Mets get back on track with a 9-1 homestand and getting us into first place……now it’s on to philly.
Kelly Johnson
April 29th, 2010
9:47 am
“OJ
Actually, Kelly was let go because of his inconsistencies at the plate “
So what…. couldn’t find a way to let go of the other 10 hitters on this team who are inconsistent at the plate?
With each passing day and each “look out for our fraternal brother” defense of Terry Pendleton by SOME (not all) of the media, broadcasters and other Braves cronies, it becomes painfully more evident that someone HAS to be let go. The Braves have tried pep talks, extra hitting and who knows what else, but the fact remains that inconsistent offense and approach have become the hallmark of this team. I like the example given here that Braves fans shouldn’t panic, look at how bad the Rockies started last year and they recovered and went to the playoffs! Most convieniently leave out that the Rockies Fired Clint Hurdle and replaced him and thats when they took off! ( I know Bobby isn’t going to be fired so relax)
This team is like an old chair that just feels good. Every time you turn around the fabric is ripping so you try to sew it up. Every day it’s stained a little more and now it’s starting to smell, yet you try to hold on to it hoping no one will notice. Well guess what? People are noticing. Cox, TP, Chipper and a few others are the old chair. It ain’t gonna do nothin’ but get older and more broken down. It’s gonna keep smelling worse and worse. But it’s comfortable. Don’t want to make waves. We won a World Series once. How many years ago now? 15? We were in the playoffs every year! How many years since that happened? 4? 5?
But we’re comfy, why change?
Lost Bravos
April 29th, 2010
9:49 am
If Heyward is taking too many pitches, move him to leadoff
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
9:52 am
GermanBravesFan–I was referring to Ribery’s three game suspension.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
9:52 am
Brian from SC, I don’t think there are many major league hitters that go up to the plate looking to take. Maybe some do on the first pitch. Julio Franco is an obvious example. But I think most major league hitters, especially in this day and age, look for a pitch they can drive and the best ones take pitches they can’t drive. The mediocre or worse hitters are the ones who don’t know which pitches they can and can’t drive so they just swing without a clue or they are the ones who can’t generate the bat speed to drive the ball past or through defenses. The approach of looking for a pitch you can hit hard and take the rest is the ideal approach. Sure, it’s easier said that done. Obviously figuring out which pitches you can drive is very hard at the major league level, even for the best hitters. That is why there are not many elite hitters.
18 Wheels of Love
April 29th, 2010
9:53 am
Riddle me this:
Bobby is gone at end of year
TP is probably not going to be manager
New manager will probably want to pick own staff
TP out the door
Bats continue to struggle
Wren said he can’t make moves this early
Why not let the shakeup be getting rid of TP now rather than at seasons end? If he is potentially gone anyway, why not start fresh now – maybe with someone from the farm (Wellman) or an ex-player looking to coach in the bigs (Colbrun)?
Soph
April 29th, 2010
9:55 am
It’s like opening your fridge and only seeing cauliflower. Yeah it’s there, but what’s the point?
This cracked me up.
I agree with you about Bobby commenting on Heyward. I didn’t think it was a big deal either. For the people that do say it was a big deal – I can see their point but me personally…it wasn’t that serious.
18 Wheels of Love
April 29th, 2010
9:57 am
Prado/Chipper/Heyward/Glaus/McCann/Escobar/Diaz or Melky/McLouth
18 Wheels of Love
April 29th, 2010
9:59 am
Chipper is not a #3 hitter any more. The OB% from walks would be better in the 2 holes. And I don’t know how his demeanor looks from the booth or from the stands, but I can tell you, on TV, Chipper has never looked more rickety and hobbled in his entire life…offense and defense.
Boonie
April 29th, 2010
10:01 am
Bet Wainright is licking his chops about now. This Brave’s offense would make Albie Lopez look like Cy Young….
3 Wheels Of A Tricycle
April 29th, 2010
10:03 am
18 Wheels of Love is actually onto something.
If the Braves replace TP with a high school baseball coach, do you expect the offense to struggle worse than it is now? Point being, can’t do any worse so saying no one is available to be the hitting instructor is b.s. The important thing is that it IS NOT TP!
What’s that? What might it do to morale if TP is let go? Who gives a Rats Azz what it might do to morale! These guys suck but have a great clubhouse! If looking like this team is the price of having a “great clubhouse,” then someone should turn a troublemaker loose in the clubhouse! It’s a baseball franchise guys! Not a college fraternity! If you had performed, then TP’s butt wouldn’t be hangin’ out! But you suck, so he should get the axe!
To heck with feelings, fraternity and comfort. Go in and take names and kick azzes. Make some people uncomfortable. Hurt some feelings.
What? Results could be worse if management went this route? Now that’s a joke!
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
10:05 am
jeffrey d It’s like opening your fridge and only seeing cauliflower. Yeah it’s there, but what’s the point?
raleighbravesfan
April 29th, 2010
10:05 am
18 Wheels – I agree that TP needs to go and probably will after this year. However, you would want the new manager, if he is worthy of hiring, to put together his own coaching staff. Therefore, you would likely be hiring a temporary coach for the rest of this year. I wonder if Don Bailor would come in under those terms.
Don
April 29th, 2010
10:07 am
Johnson is off to a good start. Surely no one thinks that this would have necessarly been true had he stayed with the Braves under Cox and Pendleton.
Don
April 29th, 2010
10:08 am
If you think that things are bad now — What if we only had an average pitching staff instead of a good pitching staff – and still had Bobby Cox as manager??
CB
April 29th, 2010
10:09 am
Don- {knocks head on wall until he bleeds]
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
10:13 am
18 Wheels of Love, where is the evidence that TP is the problem with the Braves offense? Check out where the Braves rank in runs scored since TP became hitting coach. If he’s the problem, why doesn’t it show up in the numbers? No one has provided sufficient evidence that TP is the problem since the whining about him started.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
10:13 am
Don’t do that CB, you’ll just have a headache later. Trust me, I know – It’s been a regular habit of mine for the past week while reading the in-game blog.
Tommy T
April 29th, 2010
10:13 am
Fire Don
Baseball is for the WESTERN Hemisphere
April 29th, 2010
10:16 am
KK won’t see the demotion to the AAA coming. You know, slanted eyes and all.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
10:17 am
Braves teams that have ranked in the top 30 in franchise history in scoring while Pendleton was the hitting coach: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2004, 2005, 2008
The Braves franchise has had 135 seasons. Under Pendleton, they’ve had six seasons in their top 30 as far as scoring runs goes.
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
10:18 am
18 Wheels,
I’ve been thinkning he should move up to #2 as well. Only problem is, who hits 3rd on this team?
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
10:19 am
If Pendleton is so bad, why have the Braves been so good at scoring runs in a lot of his seasons?
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
10:20 am
Canadians are terrible bloggers.
raleighbravesfan
April 29th, 2010
10:20 am
News Flash – It was revealed this morning that Don is actually a trained parrot which squawks the same drivel over and over again. Although this is unremarkable, what makes this a news story is that the deranged trainer was able to teach Don the parrot to type.
Rock On.......
April 29th, 2010
10:20 am
Well if anyone is taking Frank Wren at his word that no changes or additions are forthcoming I say don’t eat that grandma! It’s bull….sheet! To Cox and Wrens very words they said we would know what we have after about 40 games. True, it is about halfway to that point but like last year it can be successfully argued that this is exactly where the Braves lost their playoff chances.
My thinking is that last year is too fresh in Wrens mind to stand pat with a losing hand. That is of course the ineptness continues. The moves Wren has made with Glaus and Melky don’t scream genius just yet although I will give him his 40 games before any pulling of the plug is needed. There is an eternity to go but I liken the Brave’s scenario to a golf tourney . You can’t win it on the first day but you can sure lose it there. Wren would be wise to make changes early and hope for a course record down the stretch.
Heyward is suppose to have some early struggles. I can remeber back to what we were thinking would be good numbers for him this year .275/60/20. Very attainable. The Braves were never going to make Heyward the cure. That falls to a revamped Chipper, rejuvenated Glaus, and a make-em-forget- Vazquez in pitcher Hudson. Throw in the Milkman and that was the answer to the Phillies. Again I will wait the 40 games and hope it ain’t too late but if someone from among McLouth, Cabrera, or Diaz isn’t traded I will be shocked.
Rock on….when you are having as many errors as runs that is not a good sign.
CB
April 29th, 2010
10:20 am
Well,I see our Asian hating,racist bigot is back.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
10:21 am
If Pendleton is so bad, why do they rank 4th in the NL in runs scored from 2002-2010?
richbrave
April 29th, 2010
10:21 am
DOWN ON THE FARM:
I had just finished the defensive stats last night for the G-BRAVES and the rest of the minor clubs when I accidentally dumped the whole speil by switching back to previous comments on this blog. Anyway here’s the offensive info for GWINNETT last night………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………oh, BRENT CLEVLAN had a BB, almost missed that stat. Three errors? Wow.
ROME: DITTO……….. three hits, zero runs, three errors, one BB, three SO. What exactly is the “BRAVES WAY” again? May be time to rethink the whole operating system for the organization.
Actually two excellent pitching performances were wasted by the offense. Defensively the pitching was excellent. CHRIS MASTERS falls to 0-2 pitching in hard luck once again. 5.0 IP, 4 H, 5 that’s FIVE runs, ONE EARNED, three BB, and five SO. ERA now down to 1.17 and a WHIP of 0.87. And PAUL CLEMONS was even better going 3.0 in relief giving up nada, and striking out two. His ERA also at 1.17 WHIP 0.85. CLEMONS is from little COLUMBIA, N.C. and LOUISBURG COLLEGE between RALEIGH and RICHMOND. Brother DAVE knows where that is, I’m sure.
Salamander
April 29th, 2010
10:22 am
Surely no one thinks that this would have necessarly been true had he stayed with the Braves under Cox and Pendleton.
I don’t even really maybe know what this necessarily means, kinda, but absolutely.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
10:22 am
If Pendleton is so bad, why have the Braves been so good at scoring runs in a lot of his seasons?
If Pendleton is so bad, why do they rank 4th in the NL in runs scored from 2002-2010?
Two simple questions I’m guessing none of the Pendleton haters will even try to touch. Or even try to answer in some logical and rational way, because it’s impossible to do so.
Supes
April 29th, 2010
10:23 am
Jeff Schultz calling out Wren with a good piece today…about darn time. One month is enough…I don’t buy the “Memorial Day” deadline from other local sports guys like John K. on 680thefan.
18 Wheels…careful with pointing out that Chipper isn’t a number 3 hitter anymore, you may get blasted for it (although not likely now…that crowd is a lot less vocal when he’s struggling).
ccrider…if this keeps up, you made an excellent post on the previous page…I do hope they go with a youth movement by summer. Bring up Schafer (if he’s healthy), and call up Freeman (if he keeps playing well in AAA).
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
10:24 am
“Asians are the biggest joke in baseball; an even bigger joke than Toyota.”
Ichiro Suzuki? Last years World Series MVP–Hideki Matsui?
BL
April 29th, 2010
10:24 am
To quote the famous Braves saying…”You just have to tip your cap to the other team the last 8 games!”
18 Wheels of Love
April 29th, 2010
10:24 am
Shaun, my eyes are my evidence. And throw in the fact that some players do better when they leave. I’m just saying, if he isn’t going to be back next year, then there isn’t much risk to get rid of him now if you have a viable replacement option. For gods sake, Mark McQwire never coached a day in his life and seems to have the Cards doing well across the board. TP is not irreplaceable.
I would put Heyward in the 3 hole and see what happens.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
10:25 am
Oh, I’m sure Pendleton had nothing to do with all those high-scoring seasons, just the low-scoring ones. Just like Bobby Cox had nothing to do with all the Braves’ wins, just the October losses.
I agree that Cox and Pendleton had little to do with all those high-scoring seasons and all those wins, relative to the players. But I also believe they had little to do with the low-scoring seasons and the October losses. It works both ways, folks. Anyone with a clue would understand this.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
10:28 am
18 Wheels of Love, while my eyes and the statistical evidence say your eyes are wrong.
What players do better when they leave? I’m sure you have an extensive list and have looked at what every player does when they leave the Braves. I’m sure you know how many perform better and how many perform worse. I’m sure you have their batting average, on-base percentages and slugging percentages of every Braves player that has left under Pendleton and has come in under Pendleton and have made the comparisons needed to make a judgement on Pendleton. Let’s see your research, since you are so sure of yourself.
cricket
April 29th, 2010
10:29 am
It’s like opening your fridge and only seeing cauliflower.
Come on guys, don’t compare my favorite veg to the troll. You can make great cauliflower curry using Indian recipes. Try Aloo Gobi Masala from this list -
http://www.indobase.com/recipes/category/cauliflower-50.php
Lew
April 29th, 2010
10:30 am
I think it’s been apparent (to anyone who actually views baseball realistically and not from a Fantasy viewpoint) that the Braves weren’t going to make wholesale changes aat this point of the season. They weren’t going to dump Melky. They weren’t going to trade Yunel. They weren’t goiung to acquire an expensive (especially after the Howard contract) first baseman from a team that, unlike us, is OVER achieving.
Maybe. Just maybe, if Glaus continues his slide (and it has been bad, no doubt) and Freddie Freeman keeps his hitting at the current level, then maybe they will release Glaus and call up Freeman.
Other than that? Not at this point in time.
And I also seriously doubt that Sigmund Freud ever used the term ” quivering bowl of jelly”.
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
10:30 am
Wow. MLBTR is already talking about the Braves as potential sellers. Seems a little harsh, when we are still in April.
Lew
April 29th, 2010
10:31 am
cricket-Cauliflower curry? Seriously? That ain’t happening either.
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
10:32 am
Lew–It is very good. I have it in some form of Indian dish at least once a week.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
10:33 am
And throw in the fact that some players do better when they leave.
Actually, what does that mean? I’m sure some players do better when they leave but what does that mean? I’m sure some players also do worse.
In order to know Pendleton’s impact, you need to look at a large sample of players who’ve come to the Braves and who’ve left and what they did after they left, what they did before they came and what they did while they were with the Braves under Pendleton. Oh and you also need to take into account age, ballparks, environment, possibly skill sets. I’m sure all you who are so adamant that Pendleton is the reason for Braves’ offensive struggles have done all that, since you are so adamant.