Heyward taking too many pitches? Watch your tongue
ST. LOUIS – In case you’d been away awhile and weren’t fully informed regarding Jason Heyward’s popularity in Atlanta and across Braves Nation, check the volume and tone of comments on this blog and elsewhere since Bobby Cox commented late Tuesday night that Heyward is taking “way too many pitches.”
You would have thought he said Hank Aaron and Dale Murphy were overrated, judging by the indignation and outrage that so many fans expressed since Cox’s comments hit this space near midnight, after the Braves’ seventh consecutive loss.
To me, the reaction of fans to Cox’s comment was not just a reflection of people’s genuine adoration of the franchise’s budding superstar, but also the disappointment and anger that many have over the current losing streak, the Braves’ longest since a 10-game slide in June 2006.
When subject is Heyward, be prepared for debate. Braves fans don't take kindly to criticism of phenom.
Expectations and hopes were so high after Heyward and Co. led the majors in several offensive categories during spring training, then pounded the Cubs in a 12-run, 16-hit offensive burst on Opening Day that included a three-run homer by Heyward on literally his first major league swing. By the way, that homer came on a 2-0 pitch from Carlos Zambrano, who’s since been demoted to the bullpen.
How many 2-0 counts has Heyward faced in the past couple of weeks? Not many.
I think that’s the point that Cox was trying to make last night. It’s not that the Braves want Heyward to lose the patience that is one of his greatest assets and one of the things that got him to the majors at age 20, with only about 200 plate appearances above A-ball.
It’s not that at all. It’s that they don’t want him to be exploited by pitchers who know he’s so patient that he won’t swing at many first-pitch strikes, at anything that’s not over the plate. And they also know that, regardless of how much respect Heyward already has around baseball, most umpires are still going to treach him like a rookie – i.e., he’s not going to get some of the close calls that a Chipper Jones might get on a pitch a half-inch off the plate.
Pitchers have learned that Heyward is going to lay off the first pitch. He has swung at only eight of 81 first pitches, a lower rate (9.9 percent) than the entire National League except for Martin Prado (7.7 percent), David Eckstein (8.3) and Chase Utley (9.6).
Heyward has taken 65.1 percent of the pitches he’s seen, eighth-most in the NL on a list that notably includes only established veterans ahead of him.
Getting behind in counts on a consistent basis is not something that works for many top hitters, so it’s a fine line of being patient and taking a lot of pitches, and being patient but swinging at some hittable strikes early in counts, or protecting the plate with two strikes and an umpire that’s probably not going to give you many calls.
Ask Kelly Johnson about how the disciplined, ultra-patient approach worked for him as a rookie. I can remember a conversation with him about this same scenario, where he was so frustrated because he kept getting rung up on called third strikes that were pitches he’d seen called balls against Chipper, sometimes in the same game.
Kelly Johnson was an ultra-patient Braves rookie hitter who found out he wouldn't get many close calls.
Patience is always a positive for a hitter, but that fine line must be worked out. Because getting behind in counts again and again, that doesn’t work for many top hitters. Prado is an exception, not the rule. Utley is Utley, an established star.
By the way, in two-strike counts Prado is hitting .304 (14-for-36) with 12 strikeouts and an .833 OPS. Heyward is hitting .111 (5-for-45) with 25 strikeouts and a .349 OPS in two-strike counts, including the bases-loaded strikeout looking to end the seventh inning Tuesday night with the Braves down 5-4.
If you missed the comments from Cox, and the subsequent comments from Chipper defending Heyward, here’s the link to the story I posted after last night’s game: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/04/28/cox-heyward-taking-way-too-many-pitches/comment-page-3/#comment-506429
Nobody in the Braves organization wants to reshape Heyward and have him up there hacking away at most first pitches. But if he sees a down-the-middle fastball on the first pitch, or a first-pitch, get-me-over breaking ball, a hanger over the plate, they think it might help him to be ready to swing.
Right now, pitchers are fairly certain he won’t, and they don’t fear throwing those pitches. Later in counts, on 2-2 or 3-2, they have a pretty good idea he’s not going to swing at, say, a fastball knee high on the outer part of the plate.
They’ve made adjustments, and now it’s time for Heyward to adjust, which the Braves are certain he can and will. He did already once this year, when Giants pitchers got him to fish for a lot of breaking balls in the dirt and pitches out of the zone.
He responded to an 0-for-5, four-strikeout game April 9 at San Francisco by hitting .429 (9-for-21) with two homers, seven RBI, five walks and five strikeouts in his next six games, for a .538 OBP and .810 slugging percentage. The Braves won four of those six.
However in 10 games since then, he’s 3-for-29 with one homer, four RBI, seven walks and 12 strikeouts, for a .297 OBP and .207 slugging. The Braves have lost eight of those 10.
During the current seven-game losing streak, Heyward is 1-for-20 with four walks and eight strikeouts.
It’s not fair to put so much on a 20-year-old rookie, but it really does seem, so far at least, that as Heyward goes, so go the Braves. Because they’re not getting much except good OBPs from Chipper and even from Brian McCann, as of yet.
So until one or both of them step up, and/or Troy Glaus and Melky Cabrera begin to even remotely resemble the players the Braves thought (hoped?) they were getting, and Nate McLouth starts to play more like the 2008-vintage McLouth and less like the one the Braves have had since trading from him, well, much is going to fall on the ample shoulders of Heyward.
Speaking of slumping players, I asked GM Frank Wren this afternoon if he cared to comment about the likelihood of making a move anytime soon, since so many readers here have asked me. His answer was exactly what I thought it’d be, and what I’ve told e-mailers and commenters here who’ve asked me my opinion. In a nutshell, oo early.
Wren responded via e-mail: “It’s unlikely any team would make a major move at this time with their roster. It’s just 20 games and there are alot of players well under their norms and other players well over. We will continue to watch and look to improve our club whenever possible.”
He added that he wished the Braves had a couple of those producing above their established norm right now.
It’s worth noting, for all the discussion and hand-wringing, Heyward still leads the Braves with 16 RBI, five more than any other major league rookie, and still leads the Braves with four homers, more than any other rookie.
He’s really good. Was, is, and will be.
Just one other thing: Remember the talk this winter and spring about having Matt Diaz and Cabrera in the lineup together some days against particularly tough or tricky lefties, to give Heyward a break now and then? We didn’t make that up; it was discussed. Only it hasn’t happened, surely in large part because Diaz and Cabrera have been so bad and Heyward so dynamic.
Still, it’s worth noting that Heyward has played every game and faced more lefties than anyone on the team. He’s batting .182 (4-for-22) with four walks and 10 strikeouts against lefties. (Cabrera is 2-for-22 against them; like I said, there’s a reason Heyward’s playing every day.)
♣ Bow to the great OBP: All those who point to on-base percentage as being so much more important than batting average and RBI and just about everything else, I’ve got a question. Does Chipper’s .420 OBP indicate he’s having a good season?
♣ Spring sprung, averages plummeted: Remember way back in March, when the Braves were tearing up the Grapefruit League, leading the majors in several offensive categories and running out lineups with a handful of guys hitting .400 and higher?
Well, the Braves’ lineup Tuesday had position players with these averages: .191, .392, .255, .255, .210, .234, .175 and .159.
Like an old scout told me in my first year on the baseball beat, never put much stock in stats for spring training or September callups.
“WHAT YOU IS” by Robyn Hitchcock
You might have been a villain
with a capital ”V”.
You might have had a plane to catch
and left your family.
♦
It doesn’t matter what you was,
it’s what you is.
And what you is
is what you are.
♦
You might have been a midwife
trying to help somebody in.
You might have been a Cardinal
with an A to Zed of skin.
♦
Open up your window…
…honey let me in
♦
You might have been Columbia
releasing orange 45s.
(”Hot As Steeeeeeeel”)
You might have been the empress bee
in her furry little hive.
(”Buzz Buzz”)
♦
All the other bees:
”It doesn’t matter what you was,
it’s what you is.
And what you is
is what you are.”
♦
Well you’ve got to come from somewhere
but you don’t have to go back there…
…anymore.
♦
Hey!
♦
You might have been the police
knock knock knocking at the door.
You might have been a nice young man
on a nice young floor.
♦
It doesn’t matter what you was,
it’s what you is.
And what you is
is what you are.
♦
One more, yeah.
♦
It doesn’t matter what you was,
or what you is.
And what you is
is what you are.
♦
You might be looking innocent
mmmm…deep inside you’re not.
You might be feeling guilty
just a little not a lot.
♦
It doesn’t matter what you was,
it’s what you is.
And what you is
is what you are.
♦
Yeah!
Hey…hey, hey.
Hey…hey, hey.
Hey…hey, hey.
Hey, hey.
1,801 comments Add your comment
CraZyTRaDeMaN
April 28th, 2010
4:32 pm
hey hey
Soph
April 28th, 2010
4:33 pm
Thanks, DOB – nice blog.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
4:34 pm
Reposting from previous blog:
NY-CITI,
I’ll say it again. The Mets have had a serious advantage in that they have done little traveling. They have played 6 whole games on the road, and they were back-to-back series in STL and COL. To compare, the Phillies will play their 15th road game tonight.
CITI field neutralizes the power that other teams have and makes the Mets, without much power a more competitive team. It’s great when you can make your ballpark work in your favor. But, gee, I wonder what’s going to happen when the Mets take that pitching staff on the road and when the Phillies take their lineup back to their bandbox of a stadium.
Don’t get too excited. The Mets are playing their 11th game in a row at home today… a huge advantage especially early in the season.
FYI, the Mets have allowed 4.5 runs per game on the road compared to 2.8 runs per game at home.
ManOfTeal
April 28th, 2010
4:36 pm
Overrated…..clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. The Braves and the Mets are having opposite streaks. Braves = EPIC FAIL!!!!
McFann Ô
April 28th, 2010
4:38 pm
Perfect timing on the new Blog–thanks, Chief!
Because they’re not getting much except good OBPs from Chipper and even from Brian McCann, as of yet.
Tell me about it.
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
4:40 pm
Does Chipper’s .420 OBP indicate he’s having a good season?
Yes. That and his .866 show he is having a good offensive season. Not great league wide, but 2nd best on the team to Prado and realistically good measured against most peoples definition of “good”. For instance his OBP and OPS are higher than McCann’s for one.
Jeremy
April 28th, 2010
4:41 pm
I think it would serve Heyward well to get tonight off against the lefty…especially because tomorrow’s game will begin about 14 hours after tonight’s ends!!!
And while we’re on the subject of the struggling outfield, why haven’t Eric Hinske or Omar Infante gotten a shot in LF yet? They’ve both played there in recent years. I would LOVE to see Infante out there against lefties (LIKE TONIGHT!) and Diaz in RF.
LC
April 28th, 2010
4:42 pm
My problem with Cox’s comments is that I didn’t see the need for him to make them publicly. They have talked so long about how young he is and how they don’t want to put him a position to fail regularly. So they bat him 7th when there is perfectly good reasoning to put him higher in the lineup, but then he publicly calls him out for taking too many strikes.
If Cox was a manager that did this regularly, it wouldn’t be an issue. However, he rarely rarely says anything about a particular player’s production or lack there of. To do so with just a 20 year old kid is just inexcusable to me and completely unnecessary. Call him into your office and let him know you want him to be more aggressive, but don’t tell the media he’s taking too many strikes.
If you’re going to do that, why not call out McLouth and Melky for very rarely making solid contact, or McCann for barely producing so far out of the cleanup spot. I just think they make all this fuss about how he is a 20 year old kid, and I don’t understand how this is helpful in the least to his development. Cannot wait to see Cox and the rest of this administration go. What this franchise needs is some new blood in the dugout and the front office.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
4:42 pm
Damn, I just looked up all the different muscles in the body and Chipper has way more new muscles to tear or pull before he’s got ‘em all covered. If I were a betting man, I’d say he gets to more than half of those before he retires. He’s already torn, ripped or pulled most of them. You can do it, Gimper.
McFann Ô
April 28th, 2010
4:44 pm
LC or McCann for barely producing…out of the cleanup spot.
Hey, I got that one covered ALL by myself…
Marc in FL
April 28th, 2010
4:44 pm
Cox didn’t even say anything negative about Heyward, he was just pointing out the obvious like he does everything else. Jesus you people are slow.
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 28th, 2010
4:44 pm
DOB,
The .420 OBP is good, but obviously you’d like to see more power from him. He’s hitting a lot of line drives, though. Maybe those will start falling/finding gaps soon to increase that slugging percentage. I think he can still get to 20 homers if he stays relatively healthy. I don’t knowwhy we should expect much more than that, though. He hasn’t hit more than 30 in almost 10 years.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
4:45 pm
LC, if Heyward gets so affected by Bobby publicly saying he needs to be more aggressive on K’s, than he’s a lot softer than what 99% of people thought he was. And I doubt all those people are wrong on his mental toughness. God, find something else to whine about people, like CJ. He’s always a good target these days.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
4:45 pm
I would also point out that other teams that are supposed to contend are having issues that are going to persist longer and manifest themselves in some potentially tough ways.
The Rockies have put Hamel and de la Rosa on the DL and Greg Smith got hit hard today. That’s going to be a pretty tough problem to solve.
The Dodgers have lost Padilla and Ramirez to the DL.
A team that has a talented, completely healthy pitching staff is going to win plenty of games over the long just on that advantage alone.
If we start hitting at all, the wind will start coming.
N8
April 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
I think it’s really sad to the state of the rest of the lineup, when you can clearly see that he’s had his hand in (either way) the wins or the losses.
All winter, I stated that the Braves would go as Chipper goes. Never really thought that each game would hinge on our 20 year old 6th place hitter.
Come on veterans! STEP YOUR GAMES UP!!!! Give the kid a break.
Lew
April 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
It’s long been said that the first pitch you see may be the best one you’ll see all at bat. Can’t let that fat pitch down the middle ride – though I’ve seen Nate do just that at least twice recently.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
*If we start hitting at all, the wins will start coming.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
Who bats cleanup right now if not McCann? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
RC
April 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
In the last blog, All Seeing Eye pointed out that McCann’s defense would keep the Braves from winning a World Series because a team can’t win the WS with a defensive liability at catcher, in his words.
To that I respond:
Jorge Posada
Andrew
April 28th, 2010
4:47 pm
Jordon Shaffer started out just like heyward did, Having hot numbers then he started to fall apart just like Heyward is doing. So whats the difference??? When Shaffer started falling apart everyone wanted him to be sent down to AAA but with Heyward struggling everyone is still on him like hes the rookie of the year!! Come on people, Get a life.
Braves fan in Duluth
April 28th, 2010
4:48 pm
OBP is by far the most important statistic that is still easily trackable(which is why OPS is flawed, OBP is more valuable than slugging so putting them on the same scale makes no sense whatsoever. the triple slash should be used instead)it’s just that nobody is doing anything behind Chipper to get him in. He gets on base all the time putting us in a good position to score, but the guys behind him can’t bring him in. OBP measures the effectiveness of a hitter to NOT make an out which in effect is the best possible outcome. Don’t lose faith in OBP because our lineup has been horrible for the first part. I enjoy reading your blogs though, DOB!
N8
April 28th, 2010
4:49 pm
It’s a fine line Lew. Obviously, it required the hitter to remain balanced and have a good idea of the strike zone. Otherwise you risk becoming Francouerian at the plate.
Anybody want a friendly wager, that with the national coverage, and Cox’s comments, that the first pitch Heyward sees tonight is a breaking ball well out of the strike zone?
Not a chance in hell, he gets a “grooved” fastball, or a “get over” breaking pitch for strike one. Or do you think otherwise?
RC
April 28th, 2010
4:49 pm
ugaaccountant, I agree that Chipper’s stats would indicate he’s having a good hitting season, when in the game. If he’s not having a good season it would be due to a)missing games due to injury and b)poor defense, neither of which is measured by OBP, or should be. If everyone one the team had a .400 OBP, the Braves would definitely be scoring more runs than they currently are.
ncscoots
April 28th, 2010
4:49 pm
So whats the difference???
Other than a broken wrist and 40 pounds of muscle, LOL?
Lew
April 28th, 2010
4:50 pm
Lc – Kind of funny, actually. Just watched the past tqo nights on Cardinals’ TV on Extra Innibngs. Both nights Al Hrabosky has been bitching and moaning about how BObby needs to bat Heyward 7th or 8th because 5th is too much pressure.
No matter what Bobby does…….. There’s always going to be someone complaining (nt that I’m saying that’s what You’re doing). What’s obvious to one is a mystery to others. Probably why Bobby does things the way he does them and probably doesn’t listen to the furor over his decisions.
LC
April 28th, 2010
4:50 pm
Don’t get me wrong, I would love a manager that called out his players more often. But Cox never has, so why start now with a 20 year old kid who has been one of your best hitters this year. Without Heyward we’d be sitting at 5 or 6 wins instead of 8.
If Cox did this consistently, I’d have no problem with it. I just don’t see the need to do it with Heyward. He will be fine. If they want him to be more aggressive then just let him know behind closed doors. Obviously it may not affect him negatively, but even if it doesn’t, it was still unnecessary to make the comments to the media.
Like I said, I would love it Cox would finally call out McLouth, Melky, etc. But he never will, so why even create the possibility of fan anger and Heyward pressing by saying this publicly.
Also, DOB, even vintage Nate McLouth is only a .240-.250 hitter with medium power. That still won’t help much.
Shaun
April 28th, 2010
4:50 pm
“All those who point to on-base percentage as being so much more important than batting average and RBI and just about everything else, I’ve got a question. Does Chipper’s .420 OBP indicate he’s having a good season?”
DOB, I don’t know about good but it’s certainly not a bad season or even a mediocre season.
What is making it sub par (for Chipper) is not the OBP, it’s the SLG. Just because OBP is more important than pretty much any other single stat out there that’s easily accessible and easy to understand, doesn’t mean it’s the only stat that matters. There is a difference between importance and completeness. OBP is not the complete measure of a hitter but it is the most important (as far as easily accessible stats go) . But there are other important stats.
Batting average is someone important and telling but it’s not close to OBP or SLG. Actually it basically only measures a single aspect of OBP and assumes all hits are equal in terms of bases gained.
You can just about throw RBI out the window. They are like wins or saves for pitchers. They are a stat that tells us more about opportunity than ability.
To sum it up, Chipper is doing okay and would be doing better if he was hitting for more power.
RC
April 28th, 2010
4:51 pm
Ryan Howard just caught up with Heyward in HR for the season
Seemed worth pointing out.
Roland Office Worker
April 28th, 2010
4:52 pm
I have to agree with LC. I am sure Heyward can handle the publicity but it is so out of character for Bobby Cox to air out these type of things in the press. You think maybe he is feeling a little pressure too?
Lew
April 28th, 2010
4:52 pm
Nathan – You’re likely right. Dude may not even see a fastball all night.
ncscoots
April 28th, 2010
4:52 pm
Not a chance in hell, he gets a “grooved” fastball, or a “get over” breaking pitch for strike one. Or do you think otherwise?
If not, then Bobby’s ploy has worked, LOL, and Heyward is ahead in the count.
But I’d bet he gets one in the first pitch of the second AB, or third. Teams aren’t going to throw away the scouting report until Heyward soils it.
Realist
April 28th, 2010
4:53 pm
How many 2-0 counts has Jason Heyward seen? Well, DOB, you could look it up, or you could just ask rhetorically and assume the answer is “not that many.”
The answer is 17 since his first at bat. That’s 17 in 80 plate appearances, or 21% of the time, and it’s ELEVENTH-BEST in the National League. Heyward is getting good counts and that means he will get good pitches to hit, which over time will be a good thing.
N8
April 28th, 2010
4:54 pm
“Jordon Shaffer started out just like heyward did, Having hot numbers then he started to fall apart just like Heyward is doing. So whats the difference???”
What’s the difference? Schafer couldn’t make contactt and had horribly weak swings due to his broken hand (that nobody knew about). Heyward is taking too many pitches, and has only once (facing Tim Lincecum), looked brutally off balance and bad at the plate.
Schafer looked bad for almost a month. To the point of feeling sorry for him, more than being angry. He looked lost.
Do you really think Heyward looks lost? His greatest strength (his patience) is killing him right now.
I’ll tell you what the difference is. He was light years ahead of his competition in the minors. He could afford to get behind in the count against minor league pitchers that were intimidated of HIM. Big League pitchers aren’t that easily scared. As DOB stated. They’ve adjusted (something I’m guessing he didn’t see too much of in the minors)…
Now it’s his turn to. I suspect he’ll be A.O.K. when all is said and done.
What’s the difference. he he… What’s with this friggin guy? (typed in a horrible Philly accent)
Lew
April 28th, 2010
4:54 pm
Nathan – Or is that about to become McLouthian (sounds kind of like a Scottish district).
DAP
April 28th, 2010
4:54 pm
DOB Does Chipper’s .420 OBP indicate he’s having a good season?
id answer that by saying, its REALLY hard (probably impossible) to have a BAD season if you are OBPing .420.
Shaun
April 28th, 2010
4:54 pm
Here’s a thought: For those who want to play around with batting orders, why not Chipper batting second or even leading off. I know it will never happen but you know he’s good for a .400+ OBP. And his power has dropped off quite a bit since Opening Day of last year.
All Seeing Eye
April 28th, 2010
4:54 pm
To that I respond:
Jorge Posada
The Yanks had a much better team w/Posada than the Braves do now.
dap01
April 28th, 2010
4:54 pm
Does anyone have any confidence in any coach from the Braves giving advice? We suck!
nelson
April 28th, 2010
4:55 pm
fire cox,trade escobar,melky, lowe and mc clouth ,glaus u sucks
Suicidaire
April 28th, 2010
4:56 pm
Im not giving up on the season, and I don’t Heyward should change his approach, but you’re absolutely right. As Heyward goes, so goes the Braves. He doesn’t need to be Frenchy aggressive, but he does need to destroy pitches that are over the plate; even 1st pitches. Punish pitchers for trying to slip in a cheap strike.
Oh, and go get Adrian Gonzalez and lock him up! I’m sure a package of Freeman and a pitcher or 2 would get him.
N8
April 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
“Oh, and go get Adrian Gonzalez and lock him up! I’m sure a package of Freeman and a pitcher or 2 would get him.”
Yup. You’re right. I’m sure Freeman, Hanson and JJJ would do the trick just fine.
Uh…. no thanks.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
4:58 pm
LC, Bobby deosn’t call out Nate or Melky because he knows they suck. Heyward is a special player and he knows he can handle anything already at the age of 20. Nate or Melky, especially Nate Dawg, will probably go cry in a corner somewhere bumpin some Britney Spears so help console him.
bruce mac
April 28th, 2010
4:58 pm
Uncle Festiss needs to worry about that overpaid fat azz Glaus and The Milk Man and the mental error waiting to happen Escobar. McClouth’s pitiful approach at the plate. Then get the boys out and teach them some of the fundementals like tagging up on fly balls, hitting the cut off man, throwing to the base on steals, hit and run, basic bunting skills, etc. Uncle Festiss is too busy giving Albert a $50 Million a year recommendation. The year is over, Braves Suck, period.
N8
April 28th, 2010
4:59 pm
Shaun, I’ve been bringing up chipper batting 2nd for almost 6 months and NOBODY wants to hear it. Hell, if Chipper, Glaus, McCann and Escobar were hitting for power, I’d be for batting Heyward leadoff to get this offense rolling.
Keep fighting the good fight though… I APPRECIATE IT.
Realist
April 28th, 2010
4:59 pm
Also, DOB, I can’t believe you used Kelly Johnson as an example after the results he posted in ATL. As commented on your other blog, KJ’s pitches per plate appearance went down every year in atlanta, and so did his OPS. Now he goes to Arizona, he is tearing it up, and his pitches/PA are at an all-time high. KJ is the poster child for why you shouldn’t ask a patient hitter to swing more.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
5:00 pm
But Melky has looked pretty good the last few days, so maybe the word suck shouldn’t apply to him right now. My bad.
LC
April 28th, 2010
5:01 pm
That’s my problem TNbrian. Heyward is a beast and will be a beast no matter what Bobby Cox has to say. So why say anything at all when you do nothing with the players that have been consistently awful all year.
He’s never called out Chipper for struggling at the plate, and we can both agree that Bobby doesn’t know that Chipper sucks.
brian
April 28th, 2010
5:01 pm
Heyward is going to be fine. I have no doubt about that. Great blog by DOB.
Heyward just needs to adjust. Once he crushes a first pitch a couple of times the pitchers will be hesitant early on in the count. Then Heyward and his great eye can use patience to get ahead in the count for once. Heyward probably does need to mildly expand his strike zone to meet what the umps are calling on him, especially with 2 strikes. The last thing Heyward needs to do is to press and start free swinging/swinging at bad pitches. Once Heyward sends a first pitch strike 450 feet and then another one off the wall word will get around.
Baseball is a game of adjustments. Heyward has all the talent in the world and has shown that he can make adjustments in the past. He will now and in the future
Jay
April 28th, 2010
5:01 pm
i like J-Hey just as much as the next Braves fan. However, it’s hysterical that our fans are so quick to dismiss decades of experience (and winning) on Cox’s part, as soon as he dares criticize the latest savior of the organization (although, obviously Heyward is in a completely different class than Franceour). What makes the fans’ reaction so humorous is that Cox was right according to most impartial observers. I hate to mix knowledge with opinions, but anyone who hasn’t opened their eyes during Heyward’s at-bats can just read this:
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=nl&qual=y&type=5&season=2010&month=0
Some of the anger of Braves fans is justified when it comes to the anemic offense. I just wish everyone would remember that it’s April. Last year in April the Rockies looked like non-factors – how did they end up? The Braves (and Heyward) will be alright, they just may not be good television for a little while longer…
DAP
April 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
N8 Anybody want a friendly wager, that with the national coverage, and Cox’s comments, that the first pitch Heyward sees tonight is a breaking ball well out of the strike zone?
which might be why bobby said it.
glove51
April 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
DOB: Chipper’s .420 OBP indicates he’s NOT having as bad a season as some would have us believe. His power numbers aren’t good and he hasn’t driven runners in like he needs to. I’d submit, that if he continues to get on base 42% of the time, he’ll end up having a pretty good season at worst.
Joe Fan
April 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
There are normally only 1 or 2 very hitable pitches per at bat and Heyward needs to be ready to attack them and that goes for the rest of the team too.
cricket
April 28th, 2010
5:05 pm
Yup. You’re right. I’m sure Freeman, Hanson and JJJ would do the trick just fine.
Yeah, that should get AG and I’m sure a mere 6yr/170M would make sure he signs the extension …
D'oh
April 28th, 2010
5:05 pm
That first game was actually a 12-hit, 16-run offensive outburst, not the other way around.
Realist
April 28th, 2010
5:07 pm
Records held by Bobby Cox:
- Most years managed in the majors with only 1 World Series title
- Most games managed with only 1 World Series title
- Most postseason appearances with only 1 World Series title
- Most pennants won (in the modern era) with only 1 World Series title
No one has done less with more opportunities than Bobby Cox. All of his “peers” in terms of longevity, postseason appearances and wins have won at least 2 World Series titles. Connie Mack won 5, John McGraw won 3, Tony LaRussa has 2, Joe Torre 4, Sparky Anderson 3. Only the famous loser Leo Durocher is even close to Bobby Cox’s win total with only 1 World Series title.
Put simply, no one has ever managed this long and only won it all once. If you are even mediocre, but you last 30 years, you should win more than once.
Bay Area Steve
April 28th, 2010
5:07 pm
LC,
love the two posts.
All Seeing Eye
April 28th, 2010
5:08 pm
Why would Adrian Gonzalez want to leave a losing team to join another one? Isn’t the object still to win the world series? Btw, how is our ‘great clubhouse chemistry’ translating to play on the field?
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:08 pm
Shaun – Chipper’s skillset today screams 2nd. Just not going to happen since we’re a team full of 2nd, 6th, & 8th hitters and he’s held that 3 hole for most of 2 decades.
Suicidaire
April 28th, 2010
5:09 pm
Obviously, we’re not giving up JJ or Hanson. We have arms on the farm that the Pads would take since Gonzalez is leaving as a free agent anyway.
The guy is a difference maker and we need all the offense we can get. Plus it ends the Glaus experiment which is crucial to any postseason chance we might have…
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
5:10 pm
All Seeing Eye – the Padres are currently on pace to win 100 games.
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
Suicidaire – The padres won’t be desparate to trade A. Gonzalez now as
1) they have 2010 and 2011 still under contract
and
2) they are playing well. Staying in contention this year can easily make a huge difference in their teams fortunes and standing in fans eyes.
Suicidaire
April 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
Absolutely. If the Pads are still in it come July, he’s not going anywhere. But, honestly, does anyone see the Pads being in contention when the Dodgers get hot and with SF having all that pitching? Let’s not forget Colorado.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
Tough for Chip to drive in runs when the 9 spot and 1 spot are on base less than 10% of the time. It all starts at the top. Top of the order gets on base, it creates movement and more holes in the field for our big boppers to find gaps.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
My preseason prediction was a fourth-place finish. I didn’t count on the Nats overachieving.
Oh well huh.
FJR
April 28th, 2010
5:17 pm
I don’t think Bobby is asking Heyward to go up there hacking away on the first pitch. I think he just thinks there are times on the first pitch when Heyward isn’t going to swing NO MATTER WHAT. I think Bobby is just saying to look for a first pitch fastball in a certain half of the plate more often. Right now Heyward treats the first pitch like it’s a 3-0 pitch in a tie game with the bases loaded and the pitcher has been having control issues, I think Bobby is just saying “keep your same basic approach, just approach it more like a 2-0 pitch.”
tampabrave
April 28th, 2010
5:19 pm
So no one thinks Podsednik would be a great addition to our lineup if it still stinks come June?
Bob
April 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
Hahahaha – Realist – your argument is incredibly self-defeating. In your list of Cox’s peers, you listed hall of famers – which points to what kind of manager he is right of the bat. Even more illogical is your point that Cox is mediocre b/c he’s lasted 30 years and hasn’t won more than 1 World Series. Cox has only lasted 30 years b/c he’s anything BUT mediocre. Mediocre managers get fired after a couple years of not making the postseason. Baseball history is filled with so many of them that there’s no point in naming any.
That Cox has lasted 30 years, most of them with the Braves already proves that he’s been exceptional.
Then to say that nobody has done more with less… wow. Again, you really didn’t think that one through too well. The fact that he’s been to the postseason all those times and gotten the chance to lose proves your point wrong.
I don’t see how Cox could be responsible for Jack Morris’ brilliance in ‘91, or Wholers’ changeup in ‘96 (?), or even Gary Sheffield’s forgetting how to hit in ‘03 (?). Managers have a lot more to do with regular season success than postseason success – where exceptional performances by players usually carry the issue.
I’ll just stop there and let you reevaluate how to argue against your scapegoat.
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
“Suicidaire
April 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
Absolutely. If the Pads are still in it come July, he’s not going anywhere. But, honestly, does anyone see the Pads being in contention when the Dodgers get hot and with SF having all that pitching? Let’s not forget Colorado.”
They have him under contract for next season as well. They’ll be factoring in how their players are developing as a team for this year and next year vs. what prospects they could get. He could get traded, sure. But it won’t be cheap.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
5:22 pm
tampabraves – I like that you are being realistic about what we might be able to add without mortgaging the farm. But I don’t think Podsednik would solve our biggest problem.
get a clue
April 28th, 2010
5:23 pm
If anyone thinks that Gonzalez will not test the free agent market after what Howard signed for is clueless. Wishful thinking on your part. IF he was traded here, it would be the Tex scenerio all over again.
Move on. It ain’t gonna happen.
Brad from AL
April 28th, 2010
5:24 pm
DOB you missed the point. Not that Cox called Heyward out, but that he always defends the losers on the team. Call out some of the “All Stars” that we have on the team for not doing what they should. Make the adjustments with the rookie, who has been producing more than most, behind closed doors.
MaryAnn
April 28th, 2010
5:24 pm
The Braves are just another third-rate team, have been for several years. Everyone gets all excited in the Spring, then reality sets in.
This team is at best 3rd place in the division, so don’t get excited or worrisome over a losing streak.
Loyal Homer
April 28th, 2010
5:28 pm
I support J-Hey. I support Bobby also. I did not get offended at Bobby’s comments. Here are my thoughts on J-Hey.
http://thesportsdebates.com/2010/04/27/the-mlb-phenom-call-up-debate%E2%80%A6-the-future-is-now/
Loyal Homer
April 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
Yet here is a conflicting opinion on Heyward.
http://thesportsdebates.com/2010/04/27/the-mlb-phenom-call-up-debate%E2%80%A6-better-later-than-now/
Thinking Man's Game
April 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
Enter your comments here
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
5:30 pm
A serious slugfest underway in Colorado.
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:31 pm
“tampabrave
April 28th, 2010
5:19 pm
So no one thinks Podsednik would be a great addition to our lineup if it still stinks come June?”
Hmm, lot’s of plusses and minuses here.
34 year old speedster who’s 50 for 68 in SB’s since 2008. Low 700’s OPS for most of his career with a .340’s OBP for his career. Sounds McLouth like to me, except heading downhill from here.
But, he’s cheap as dirt. Under 2M for this year and club option for 2M next year.
If he stays this hot, KC wouldn’t likely trade him. Or would ask for too much for him.
But if he’s doing more his career norms, maybe he would be available and could fill a role.
But, I prefer to promote from within as opposed to trading prospects for non-impact players. I’d rather use Jordan Schaefer.
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
I’ll be interested to see if Cox goes with the same lineup. The Braves haven’t scored more than four runs since April 16th.
Chip
April 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
Realist, I agree with, and I’ve said all along that Bobby Cox was the benefactor of having great talent. How many championships did Phil Jackson win at Chicago without Jordan?
Bobby had great talent during the Ted years but more importantly, Ted $$$ was able to retain that talent. Bobby did a pretty good job with it, but only 1 WS championship with all that talent was ridiculous.
I like Bobby, but he can definitely be replaced, and whoever replaces him may very well be able to do a better job under the current regime.
Bayou Brave
April 28th, 2010
5:34 pm
DOB,
Another reason to ignore Spring stats:
Jesse Chavez
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
5:35 pm
O.K. it’s ARODYS VIZCAINO, JULIO TEHEREN, and FREDDIE FREEMAN for ADRIAN GONZALEZ, oh, and we give up our first next year. Then we get the rights to negotiate with him beyond 2011. What a deal!!!!!!!!!LOL
Most Runs Wins
April 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
Maybe, just maybe, Bobby is going all psychological/Phil Jackson on the media and the umpires. The fact that he is almost never this public leads me to believe he has a bigger agenda, like, getting HeyJesus some calls. As one poster mentioned, HeyStar isn’t likely to see first pitch strikes tonight. Bobby tells him to be patient, and HeyHero starts some counts 1-0. So, maybe, all those folks with years of Bobby watching and bashing experience could should really think about what this unusual and uncharacteristic public comment is about. Or you could just bash him for calling out a 20 year old rookie. I ain’t a big Bobby fan, but I can take a second to think about what he may be doing.
Supes
April 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
N8,
I suggested batting Chipper 2nd last year and was blasted by blog “vets” such as Eric from MO and a few others.
My take is this, with his declining power numbers, but still relatively high on base percentage (via the walks he gets), it makes him the ideal number 2 hitter, plus he is a good situation hitter, hit and run etc, you need a vet in that spot.
If Chipper is going to play now, I would bat him 2nd in the lineup.
Curious George
April 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
How is THIS Terry Pendleton’s fault?
Why would Cox throw Heyward (the future) “under the bus” before Pendleton (the (soon-to-be) past)?
John
April 28th, 2010
5:37 pm
Idiot fans wants Penelton’s head but cries when the chosen is given tips. If we had a team of Pentelton’s on the team we would never lose.
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:38 pm
Then we get the rights to negotiate with him beyond 2011
The rights to pay him over 25 million a season, since the consensus is that he’s a better overall 1b than Howard and better positioned to sign a big contract? That right is worth nothing to the Braves with an 85 million payroll, a ton of which is tied up.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
5:38 pm
This is actually pretty hilarious. Everyone always complains that BC always says how great every one is doing and never talks honestly about how the team is doing.
And then one, barely constructive comment and every one freaks out about how BC shouldn’t have said it.
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
John – A lot of us like the way Heyward is approaching his at bats. I am 100% pleased with the beginning of his career.
Lawton
April 28th, 2010
5:40 pm
N8:
I can’t remember, if you hit Chipper 2nd, who would you want to hit 3rd?
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
5:40 pm
Bobby did a pretty good job with it, but only 1 WS championship with all that talent was ridiculous. -Chip
I would say, unfortunate.
willie g hates losers
April 28th, 2010
5:41 pm
this team is awful you really think they have dug themselves a grave just like the last 4 years ,and they wont get out this team is worse than the last 4 years.
Salty
April 28th, 2010
5:41 pm
Like an old scout told me in my first year on the baseball beat, never put much stock in stats for spring training or September callups.
Sheesh, DOB….if not for putting stock in Spring stats, the “I toldyaso’s’ couldn’t
bitchgripe all season long, and the wearers of the ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ line of clothing wouldn’t have reason to check out next year’s wardrobe!Lawton
April 28th, 2010
5:42 pm
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
John – A lot of us like the way Heyward is approaching his at bats. I am 100% pleased with the beginning of his career.
two things are true of the elite hitters in the game over the last 20 years:
1. they refuse to swing at pitches out side of the strike zone
2. they are not afraid to take a called 3rd strike
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
5:43 pm
POST THE LINEUP YOU LAZY HACK!!! WE ALL KNOW IT IS POSTED…DO YOUR JOB!
Salty
April 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
Hey, Lew (been meanin’ do to do that for a long time!)! McLouthian…is that a scotch I’ve not yet tried? Certainly haven’t heard of it!!
McAllan…a fine man!!
Tim Tebow's Tears
April 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
Braves SUCK
Ted Williams Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
Without clouding the issue, I have and continue to go record as saying I agree totally with Bobby Cox on this one. Heyward takes too many pitches. He’s often forced to swing at borderline pitchers pitches later in the count because he TOOK a hitters pitch early in the count.
Heyward is still going to be a superstar and if he had ANY offensive support from the so called “established stars” on this team, his rookie shortcomings might not be so obvious.
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
IS HEYWARD PLAYING?
WHO HITS LEADOFF?
WHO BATS 4TH WITHOUT MCCANN?
WHERE IS THE LINEUP?
WHERE IS DOB?
Chip
April 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
DOB,
Don’t laugh, but is there any chance of the Braves hitting a home run tonight?
Who do we have that can actually leg out a triple without stopping to rest between 2nd & 3rd?
How much does beer cost at the Ted?
Is Don Sutton’s hair for real?
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
5:45 pm
How knows what Bobby Cox is up to. Other than what he has to say to umpires, I would say he is a man that taste his words before he speaks. Maybe he will write a book one day and everyone that is interested will find out.
Herschel Talker
April 28th, 2010
5:45 pm
Cox sucks. He can go to he11.
Pete
April 28th, 2010
5:45 pm
SUPES, could not agree with you more. Of all the issues the Braves have now, Id say Chipper is the #1 issue. Not only his many injuries, but if he keeps hitting like this, there is no way he should stay in the #3 hole. Id suggest bat him 2nd and if that wont work, then he needs to drop to 6th. But its highly unlikely Cox will move him to 6, so 2 may be the best option.
Dont care if he has a .420 or .620 OBP, his job in the #3 hole is hit for average and power. Hes not doing either of that, so its time for a move pretty soon.
willie g hates losers
April 28th, 2010
5:46 pm
uiwill win again tonight this team may go on a incredible long losing streak they will lose the 2games in st louis , then they get roy oswalt , and rodriguez who pitches like warren spawn when he pitches against atlanta if they dont win one of the 3 against the astros they go on the road for 2 weeks wow icant wait to make more money one these losers.
Paul in Richmond
April 28th, 2010
5:46 pm
Come on guys..surely you remember how Bobby lambasted Andruw when he slumped in the 4 spot for weeks and weeks. Oh..thats right. He didnt. Well, how about when French stunk up the place hacking at every pitch…no..nothing there either.
HEY – maybe Bobby likes guys who hack at the ball. And maybe guys looking for HRs get too selective and drop their batting averages huh?
Chip
April 28th, 2010
5:47 pm
Bobby Cox, The Zen Master
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
5:48 pm
2.5 HOURS TO GAMETIME…BUT WHERE IS DOB? NOT HERE!
WHERE IS THE LINEUP? NOT HERE!
WITHOUT A LINEUP AND DOB WE ARE ALL HOPELESS!!!
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
5:48 pm
Boomerang Dave, I think they could have a lineup of Pujols’ right now and still couldn’t squeeze out enough runs for a win. If I had to guess, Bobby goes with this lineup tonight–
SS/ Escobar
2B/ Prado
3B/ Jones
1B/ Glaus
LF/ Diaz
RF/ Heyward
CF/ Cabrera
C/ Ross
Philly is on their way to another loss. They can’t hit right now either.
Different year, same story.
April 28th, 2010
5:48 pm
“Maybe, just maybe, Bobby is going all psychological/Phil Jackson on the media and the umpires. The fact that he is almost never this public leads me to believe he has a bigger agenda, like, getting HeyJesus some calls. As one poster mentioned, HeyStar isn’t likely to see first pitch strikes tonight. Bobby tells him to be patient, and HeyHero starts some counts 1-0.”
Nice nicknames. Though, too bad he’s been more like a Hey Loser lately.
ccjacket
April 28th, 2010
5:48 pm
Bobby retired 10 years ago. He loves baseball, and he loves sitting in the dugout with his spikes on, getting paid.
Don’t get me wrong; Bobby’s great and we’ll all love him for what he’s meant to the Braves and to Atlanta. But it’s like another Bobby further south; FSU fans loved their Bobby, but he overstayed his usefulness.
Ditto Bobby Cox.
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
5:49 pm
FINALLY:
1. Escobar
2. Prado
3. Jones
4. Glaus
5. Diaz
6. Cabrera
7. Ross
8. Infante
9. Kawakami
willie g hates losers
April 28th, 2010
5:49 pm
DOB IS PROBABALY GETTING A DRINK TO CALM HIS NERVES!!!!!!
Suicidaire
April 28th, 2010
5:50 pm
Alright, Gonzalez is a pipe dream. Just bring up Freeman, get rid of Glaus and prepare for the future.
Clearly, we have no chance this year according to many on this board.
Morbid
April 28th, 2010
5:50 pm
Does Chipper’s .420 OBP indicate he’s having a good season?
Yes. That and his .866 show he is having a good offensive season. Not great league wide, but 2nd best on the team to Prado and realistically good measured against most peoples definition of “good”. For instance his OBP and OPS are higher than McCann’s for one.
And since Chipper has earned the right to play hurt, as someone on the blog suggested yesterday, he cost the Braves a game last night because he was slow to turn a potential double play. Three runs scored and the Braves were done! Thats not MY definition of good.
I would say Chipper is having a FINE season!
DAP
April 28th, 2010
5:51 pm
i think everyone would agree that chipper is a pretty patient hitter…yet he often swings at the first pitch….IF its hittable. thats a good kind of patient. you swing at hittable pitches, no matter the count….you dont swing at unhittable pitches…where its gets tricky with that is that you want to be able to spoil some pitches that are unhittable but might be strikes, if youve got 2 Ks already.
willie g hates losers
April 28th, 2010
5:51 pm
the mets are in first what a joke this whole season is a joke.
Suicidaire
April 28th, 2010
5:52 pm
With that pathetic bat speed, Glaus couldn’t hit in MY league.
Slider speed bat + inability to hit breaking balls = wasted ABs.
Pete
April 28th, 2010
5:53 pm
MORBID, Chipper may be having a fine season for a rookie or someone batting 2nd or 6th, but he is having a poor season for someone counted on to provide power and RBI’s from the #3 hole. You have to compare his season against what is expected from him, and he falls far short on that standard.
DAP
April 28th, 2010
5:54 pm
hm…no heyward. interesting. alot of folk have suggested batting prado leadoff, and others have said chipper 2nd. what if we did both of those things? take the guys off the top and stick them at the bottom, and move everyone up one.
THe MASKED ASSASSIN
April 28th, 2010
5:54 pm
bobby needs to retire now before he really gets embarrassed
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
5:55 pm
Boomerang Dave
Is that the lineup
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
5:55 pm
Heyward getting his first night off?
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
5:56 pm
I almost had the actual lineup correct. I figured McCann would get the night off against a LHP, and though it was possible Heyward would, but.
YIKES, I hope Diaz has a big night because if he does we have a good shot.
Morbid
April 28th, 2010
5:56 pm
Pete,
if you read the entire post and my opinion that Chipper cost the Braves the game last night, I would hope you would notice the sarcasm when I said he was having a FINE season.
Bobby's Cox
April 28th, 2010
5:56 pm
So the blog imploded huh? Hard to believe.
The pitching will carry the team. This team is capable of winning 7-10 games straight. It’s the hitting holding the team back. Stating the obvious, you have to look at the hitting coach.
What alarmed me is DOB’s tweet the other day, promoting the blog TP frustrated, looking for answers. How can a hitting coach be looking for answers? The answer is clear, these hitters need a new approach, new direction, a new coach.
Seriously, these guys aren’t going to hit a lot of homeruns, but they’ve been swinging like they are. These hitters need to put contact on the ball, guide the ball into the gaps, the OF, away from fielders. It’s really that simple.
Watching the Mets, Dodgers game today, the Mets scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning by slapping a few extra base hits. Pagan slapped a 2 run triple, then Cora slapped a opposite field double to cap the inning.
The Braves problems at the plate for years has been taking too big of swings. This happened even in the 90’s. It’s the reason why the team didn’t win more than 1 WS. These hitters aren’t power hitters, and so they shouldn’t have that approach. We need a speed guy, and we need the rest of the team to make more contact, with purpose.
Stop swinging so damn hard. And if TP can’t relay that message, get rid of his ass.
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
5:57 pm
I LIKE YOUR STYLE DAP!!!
PRADO 2B
JONES 3B
HEYWARD RF
MCCANN C
GLAUS 1B
CABRERA LF
ESCOBAR SS
MCLOUTH CF
VERY INTERESTING…ISN’T IT???
THE TRUE PROBLEM HOWEVER IS WE DON’T HAVE A TRUE #1, #3 OR #5. AND THAT IS A PROBLEM EVEN THE GREAT DOB SIMPLY CANNOT SOLVE!
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
5:57 pm
I take it Diaz is playing RF tonight. Oh s***! Hopefully nothing gets hit to him.
THe MASKED ASSASSIN
April 28th, 2010
5:58 pm
put the braves on the first bus to richmond, get rid of players that dont GIVE A RATS AS A A S about winning you dont make mistakes like they have the past 2weeks a survive a season.
Braves One
April 28th, 2010
5:59 pm
Bring Brett to the Braves…
Seems like the Braves are doing well at jump starting struggling teams (we got the NY Mets on a roll), struggling starters (we made Jamie Moyer look like Tim Lincecum) and struggling hitters (too numerous to mention).
There is still time left to turn it around, not much, but still time.
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
5:59 pm
IT’S LIKE PLAYING GOLF WITH ONLY A DRIVER AND A 9-IRON AND A PUTTER. WE SIMPLY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH CLUBS TO COMPETE!
WE HAVE AN AWESOME DRIVER (starting pitching) AND 9-IRON (bullpen) AND OUR PUTTER IS SOMETIMES CLUTCH, SOMETIMES NOT (heyward)! BUT THAT’S ALL WE GOT!
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
5:59 pm
Bobby’s Cox, the other night Kyle Loshe said after the game that it was pretty clear Braves hitters were trying to get the ball in the air. Obviously trying to go for the long ball. Same old crap they’ve been doing for the last few years and it doesn’t work.
Bye TP … we won’t miss you.
DAP
April 28th, 2010
6:00 pm
bobbys cox Pagan slapped a 2 run triple, then Cora slapped a opposite field double to cap the inning.
in my mind, you dont “slap” doubles or triples, most of the time. youve got to hit ‘em pretty hard.
THe MASKED ASSASSIN
April 28th, 2010
6:00 pm
and survive a season , this season is over bring out the popper scooper, sweep them up they are not major leaguers ,they suxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
6:00 pm
You guys finally caught on that Bobby and his coaches can’t keep blaming players and not taking some blame too. Where were you three years ago? Ha! We might not have to be dealing with this crap if more of you would have joined the dark side with me back then. Oh well…. Nice to see the numbers growing though.
Ted William's Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
“Lawton
April 28th, 2010
5:42 pm
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
John – A lot of us like the way Heyward is approaching his at bats. I am 100% pleased with the beginning of his career.
two things are true of the elite hitters in the game over the last 20 years:
1. they refuse to swing at pitches out side of the strike zone
2. they are not afraid to take a called 3rd strike”
Then I suppose that Nate McClouth must be an elite hitter. He took called strike 3 last night with the pitcher on deck trying to draw a walk instead of trying to drive the run in from 3rd himself. He had so much cofidence in his own hitting ability he preferred to let Lowe try to drive in the run!
That’s pretty weak.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
6:02 pm
Bucs top my hated Brewers in 14. yay!
Bobby's Cox
April 28th, 2010
6:03 pm
DAP,
No, they were pretty much slapped. Go to MLB.com’s multimedia page and watch the swings those guys put on the ball. You don’t have to hit the ball hard, you just have to put the head of the bat on the ball. Just like playing pepper.
THe MASKED ASSASSIN
April 28th, 2010
6:03 pm
i only watch the masters and the great phil mickelson.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
6:05 pm
Sad thing about this TP guy is that the announcers said he’s been working endlessly with the hitters. I probably wouldn’t want that leaked out if I’m Terry, just makes him look worse.
Ohnobraves formally known as gobraves
April 28th, 2010
6:07 pm
the best thing about this season is that i know FOR A FACT that fan superstitions in no way affect the game. no matter what i do they are awful lol
Ted William's Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
6:08 pm
“two things are true of the elite hitters in the game over the last 20 years:
1. they refuse to swing at pitches out side of the strike zone
2. they are not afraid to take a called 3rd strike”
so let us go back further than 20 years just for fun and not make absolute statements like the one above, ok?
Bad-ball wonders: Vlad, Ichiro hit everything
by Tim Kurkjian
ESPN The Magazine
Yogi Berra, Roberto Clemente, Kirby Puckett and Tony Gwynn were all bad-ball hitters. They’re also all Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers. All but Berra won a batting title and all but Clemente were relatively low strikeout guys….
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
6:08 pm
Ted William’s Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
” All men are mortal: Socrates is a man: therefore, Socrates is mortal”.
By your logic:
“All men are mortal: my kids hamster is mortal: therefore, my kids hamster is a man”
Thomas Freeman
April 28th, 2010
6:09 pm
Great idea Bobby, Heyward should absolutely start swinging at the first pitch so he can hit weak grounders to the shortstop like the rest of our hitters do. God forbid anyone tries to work a pitch count so they can get a decent pitch to hit.
Pete
April 28th, 2010
6:10 pm
Thanks Morbid I didnt catch the sarcasm now it makes sense!
Bobby's Cox
April 28th, 2010
6:11 pm
TN Brian,
Exactly dude. Same stuff since the 90’s in my mind.
Pitchers are pitching the team pretty good, but taking the swings we’re taking is making it easy on them. You put good swings on good pitches, then pitchers start getting frustrated then start making the mistakes. They’re not now, because these Braves hitters aren’t hitting worth a damn.
It would help if we weren’t so station-to-station also. We get runners on, we should be hititng and running cuz we can’t steal worth a damn. We put no pressure on pitchers or defenses. Been saying that for years now. It’s no coincidence we make every pitcher “look like Cy Young” (most frequented blog quote). But, you can’t hit and run with the guys taking swings like they are now. The batting approach on this team is so messed up, it’s a joke.
We were lucky to score 4 last night.
Stewart Smally
April 28th, 2010
6:11 pm
Everyone says it’s too early to panic.
What I want to know is, when will it be the right time to panic? I don’t want to miss it!
Jason Heyward needs a group hug!
Gary O
April 28th, 2010
6:11 pm
Mets win. And Nationals Win. Phills tied with the Giants in the ninth.
If the Braves lose tonight, they will be 5 games behind the Mets, and 4 games behind the Nationals…
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
6:14 pm
OH MY GOD…DOB IS GONE. EVEN HE JUMPED SHIP. WHO WILL BE OUR NEW CAPTAIN?
THE BRAVES SEASON IS SO OVER THAT OUR FEARLESS LEADER HAS ABANDONED US!
WHAT WILL WE DO NOW?
NEWSFLASH: Everyone chill out…it’s still early…continue laughing at what I’m typing as I sit in the library of my university attempting to study for a law final that I know I’m about to fail. That’s right…YOUR LIFE IS BETTER THAN MINE! CONGRATS!!!
Ted Williams' Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
6:15 pm
“Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
6:08 pm
Ted William’s Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
” All men are mortal: Socrates is a man: therefore, Socrates is mortal”.
By your logic:
“All men are mortal: my kids hamster is mortal: therefore, my kids hamster is a man”
Wow, when did I say that? First time I’ve ever had a quote attributed to me that i did not make.
Need to work on your “copy and paster” there a little bit, Bat!
Einstein
April 28th, 2010
6:16 pm
The truth is that the Braves are average…their manager (who was once above-average) is now also average. Our pitching is average, our hitting is below average, and our relievers are what they are. I hope you enjoyed the wonderful 14 year streak, because it ain’t gonna happen again until we get 4 HOF pitchers, excellent hitters & fielders in their prime, and a manager that knows how to handle them. With the teams we had back then, even Dave O’Brien could have been a great manager. BTW, Dave, thanks for a good article.
Thomas Freeman
April 28th, 2010
6:16 pm
Also, if Cox is so concerned with Heyward swinging more, why doesn’t the idiot move him up in the lineup so there is a possible threat behind him. That way, he might actually see better pitches. As it stands now, what’s a pitcher’s incentive to pitch to Heyward? Go ahead and walk him, then let Nate/Melky/Diaz/Ross hit into a DP. Cox needs to be fired immediately before he loses this team; I’d rather not spend all summer hearing rumors that our best players want to be traded to get out of BC’s clubhouse.
Benjamin
April 28th, 2010
6:16 pm
Good blog, DOB.
First things first, Chipper’s OBP: I’m not as impressed by his .420 OBP as I am disappointed in the fact that injuries have caused him to miss three different sets of games already.
I’m a little worried about Heyward, not going to lie, and it’s for the reasons I’ve mentioned in past blogs; he’s a 20 year old kid, and I want to know that he can handle the heat. Not a knock on him, because as I’ve mentioned before, I’m not sure how I’d respond to Tim Kurkijan telling the world that, were God to make a baseball player, he’d make me. That stuff is dangerous on a lot of levels to the mentality of a 20 year old athlete. I hope he can stay grounded through this slump and put up 20 years of productivity. Time will tell.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
6:17 pm
Braves 2011 batting coach should be Dale Sveum from the Brewers! Can we steal him away?
Ohnobraves formally known as gobraves
April 28th, 2010
6:19 pm
wren told me that corky miller is going to be the braves new hitting coach next year
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
6:21 pm
Why are people comparing Heyward to Schafer. There is no comparison. One’s a really good and is performing better than the rest of our team in HRs and RBIs, and the other, IMO, has been a major disappointment. After being one of out top prospects, Schafer gets suspended for 50 games. Then he stinks it up in the majors. If the defense for his bad numbers is that he was playing hurt IDK. He should have gone to management and said I’m hurt and its hurting this team, which it did. How many games did Schaffer win for us last year? How many has Heyward won for us this year? So please don’t compare that mouth-breathing, disappointment to Heyward.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
6:22 pm
Boomerang Dave – I don’t think DOB is jumping ship. Its more like you can only sugar coat a turd long enough before people realize it’s a turd. Braves fans have caught on.
Ohnobraves formally known as gobraves
April 28th, 2010
6:22 pm
i love when wren says that its to early to make a move….its been years i think it is to late
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
6:22 pm
Corky Miller is currently riding the pine for the Single A Florida Marlins affiliate: the JUPITER HAMMERHEADS! LOL
Lawton
April 28th, 2010
6:23 pm
Ted William’s Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
“Lawton
April 28th, 2010
5:42 pm
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
John – A lot of us like the way Heyward is approaching his at bats. I am 100% pleased with the beginning of his career.
two things are true of the elite hitters in the game over the last 20 years:
1. they refuse to swing at pitches out side of the strike zone
2. they are not afraid to take a called 3rd strike”
Then I suppose that Nate McClouth must be an elite hitter. He took called strike 3 last night with the pitcher on deck trying to draw a walk instead of trying to drive the run in from 3rd himself. He had so much cofidence in his own hitting ability he preferred to let Lowe try to drive in the run!
That’s pretty weak.
yeah, cause that is totally consistent with what I said. Did I say every one who takes called third strikes is an elite hitter? No. The inability of some people on this board to have a logical conversation amazes me. I guess I should stop being amazed by now.
Ohnobraves formally known as gobraves
April 28th, 2010
6:25 pm
man i miss corky miller that guy was so bad it was comical…these guys are depressing
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
6:25 pm
Aren’t these people questioning Heyward now the same one’s who saying things like the kid’s a god a week ago? I mean come on people. Did you honestly think he wouldn’t go through slumps his first year. He’s still learning, and he has to play because the Braves don’t have any other options.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
6:25 pm
Frozen Head Dude – did you see how far off the plate that pitch to McLouth was last night? It was a bad call. What dod you want Nate to do? To be able to predict when the umpire is going to call a pitch 4 inches off the plate a strike so that he can know he needs to swing at it?
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
6:26 pm
excellent point about players playing above their norm. plenty of players start hot but fall back to earth, you can get swindled making a trade too early in the season *ahem* i’m looking at you Nate Mclouth. Remember Adam Jones’s start in Baltimore last year, what if a team had given up the farm for him when he was that hot, then ended up with just an above average player in the second half.
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
THIS BLOG WILL SOON BE SHUT DOWN…
NO DOB + NO WINS + NO GOOD COACHES + NO HITTING + NO POWER + NO DEFENSE + NO ABILITY TO COMPETE WITH PHILLIES = NO BLOG!!!
GO HOME PEOPLE…THIS SHOW IS OVER!
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
Ted Williams’ Frozen Head,
No I don’t think I do, it’s just a logical deduction, followed my a none logical one, Nate is not an elite hitter, he’s a hamster.
If you has used an actual elite hitter that hits pitches out of the strike zone I would not have said anything.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
I love the Heyward is a patient hitter and you know he’s gonna see alot of pitches. But what i dont understand in the last 10 games, he’s looked at alot of pitches grooved right down the middle for a quick strike. Why not swing sometimes on those? And when he was coming up he was known as a guy that doesnt strikeout alot and has a great eye and has had more walks than k’s. Yes the majors are a big ajustment, but i didnt invision this many strikeouts and definitly not this many with the bat on his shoulder looking at strike 3….. but i think he’s being to patient at the plate, be nice to see him drive a 1st pitch to make pitchers think they cant just get a easy 1st strike on the kid down the middle. Cause right now he’s a easy out to a oposing team, they know to go right after him cause he’ll take 2 strikes. and when he’s behind in the count its easier to get fooled. And it seems that when he’s taking strike 3 its like he’s thinking a certain pitch and if its not what he guessed he isnt gonna swing. cause he’s looked at some good ones….. Heyward will figure it out tho, i hope soon cause know one else is steppin up.
Ohnobraves formally known as gobraves
April 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
Boomerang Dave
that was good, i laughed for the first time on this blog today
Marc D
April 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
Pirates OF Brandon Jones has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis.
PDub
April 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
Wow, the blog seems to have gone off the deep end.
Is the barn on fire or something?
Marc D
April 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
Phillies now lead the Giants 5-4 on a wild pitch
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
Giants had a 3 run lead with 2 outs in the ninth…..and blew it.
Phils 5
Giants 4
Top 10th
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
6:31 pm
DOB – you didn’t address in your blog one major reason that people are upset w Bobby re: Heyward. Cox made his concerns public. Right or wrong (and I say wrong) the advice Bobby has for him should be private. Bobby famously protects his players, even ones who obviously are performing poorly, to the point his postgame statements often sound out of touch w reality. So why bring this out to a reporter after the kid has played only 20 games? People see hypocrisy and a manager who protects certain underperformaing players while calling out others. Also we don’t want Bobby ruining this kid at the plate given the track record of this team not producing good hitters out of the farm until they go elsewhere. And players with dads as coaches don’t count. Chipper Jones had it right – the kid is fine he needs to see the pitchers once or twice. Taking a lot of pitches will help him do that soon. Becoming overly aggressive will wreck him.
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
6:31 pm
PDUB…THE BARN IS ON FIRE AND THE ANIMALS ARE SCREAMING!
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE!
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
6:32 pm
Other teams have issues too. The standing will reflect that as teams try to solve issues.
Brewers: closer (the all time saves leader) has given up 6 HR in 9 IP, 3 saves, 4 blown saves. ERA of 13.00.
Rockies: two SPs on the DL, Greg Smith has an ERA of 7.33.
Dodgers can barely find someone that can take the hill to begin the game.
Etc.
Relax, its early. No one has a bullet proof roster.
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
6:32 pm
Ted Williams’ Frozen Head
I meant for the header to apply to you, it does look confusing, I apologize for that.
DMBJAMS
April 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
Boomerang Dave, I suggest you not use all caps on your law final. You’ll fail for sure.
DOB, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King? Not yet?
Go Braves!
Ohnobraves formally known as gobraves
April 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
well…..we see now what happens when a team goes into a season with more “ifs” than players
chris
April 28th, 2010
6:36 pm
no one wants brandon jones
Ohnobraves formally known as gobraves
April 28th, 2010
6:36 pm
DMBJAMS
not sure if you have heard it but check out a song called cornbread with him and tim reynolds…i just heard this song for the 1st time last month and i thought i had heard all Dave songs
Roja
April 28th, 2010
6:38 pm
One indisputable fact: You can’t hit a pitch if you take it.
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
6:39 pm
DMBJAMS…I LEARNED HOW TO USE ALL CAPS FROM YOU!!!!!!!!
PLUS I SOUND ANGRY AND PISSED OFF IN CAPS SO IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO MOCK EVERYONE WHO IS JUMPING SHIP BY SOUNDING ANGRY WHEN I AM JUST REALLY BORED!
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
6:39 pm
Glen W, thank you, and all these Mets lovers need to also realize that they’ve had an advantage in playing a lot of these teams that are struggling. A lot of teams are having issues right now, and the NL looks really weak this year. The Padres are winning their division, as are the Mets. I would be willing to put big money on the fact that neither of those teams will make the playoffs. Same goes for Oakland in AL West.
PassBall
April 28th, 2010
6:41 pm
One of the biggest differences between the 50’s and 60’s and now, was if a rookie stuggled than, he was sent down for more seasoning. Now, the mere thoughts of sending them down is considered unacceptable. Frenchy last years demotions was treated as if the team threw him under the bus. It’s become like social promotion in high school. Once promoted, it’s too late to reassign them for further education.
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
6:41 pm
Just got back from clubhouse, which is a pack-a-lunch hike (and long, slooow elevator ride) from the pressbox that’s high atop Busch Stadium.
Anyway, posted lineup on Twitter from clubhouse (you gotta either sign up for Twitter, which don’t cost nothing, or at least keep track of my posts as they pop up in the lower right corner of this blog, where we have our Twitter posts).
Anyway, Heyward’s getting his first night off. Tough lefty, but he just needs a day, period. Cox said his shin splints have been hurting all season, won’t heal with a day off but he wants to give him a rest. Said he might end up getting in the game.
I talked to Heyward 10 minutes ago, which is why I couldn’t get up here earlier to let you know what was going on. Had to wait for him to finish watching Giants-Phillies game in players’ dining area.
He fully understands what Cox is talking about with the take-fewer-pitches suggestion, and his comments to me (which I’ll write in a story shortly) were much the same as Chipper’s last night, about how it’s his first time through and he’s learning pitchers’ and umpires’ tendencies, etc.
He didn’t take any offense at all to what Cox said.
McCann’s also getting day off.
Here’s lineup
1. Escobar sS
2. Prado 2B
3. Chipper 3B
4. Glaus 1B
5. Diaz LF
6. Cabrera RF
7. Ross C
8. McLouth CF
9. Kawakami
gayle
April 28th, 2010
6:41 pm
Realist @ 5:07pm, I could not have said it better. Never has a manager done less with more. And the manner in which Cox is held as some kind of diety in this city is really insulting to the fans here. It’s as though being mediocre is as good as winning. Well, it isn’t. And 14 Division titles just don’t hold up to World Series Championships.
And even if those Division Titles did mean something, what have you done for me lately? You lost in the first round in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 – usually having the pleasure of watching the visiting team celebrate in front of your home town fans.
And in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and…………… the team never even got that far.
Talk about a guy and a regime that has overstayed it’s welcome.
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
6:42 pm
DMBJAMS: Not yet, and I dare say, not ever. Just not my thing.
BillM
April 28th, 2010
6:43 pm
The Dodgers are down on Kemp. Package Escobar, Lowe and Melky, with Braves paying part of Lowe’s salary.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
6:43 pm
gobraves, the mets have also played 16 games at home versus 6 on the road.
Roja
April 28th, 2010
6:44 pm
I would have to agree that it is pretty difficult to get a hit if you just stand there and take a pitch.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
6:45 pm
BilM – so who plays shortstop?
Ted Williams' Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
6:45 pm
Bat,
Make an observation, disagree, assume that I must feel a certain way. I really don’t have much of a problem with any of that.
But your posting was not confusing, Bat. You directly attributed a quote to me that I did not make so therefore I must assume you are a liar.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
6:45 pm
No McCann, No Heyward… No chance of winning tonight. Look for me this weekend in Atlanta, I will be the one wearing a paper bag over my head once our losing streak reaches double figures.
Boomerang Dave
April 28th, 2010
6:46 pm
WELL LOOK WHO IT IS…DAVE O’BRIEN! NEVER HAVE I BEEN SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU
Roja
April 28th, 2010
6:46 pm
However, there are (Cubs) some teams (Cubs) that haven’t (Cubs) even played one (Cubs) World Series Game (Cubs) in 65 years. But I won’t mention any names.
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
6:48 pm
Braves had voluntary early batting practice today, and the entire team showed up. They all hit at 2:30 p.m. here. Now they’re on the field taking their regular batting practice.
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
6:49 pm
Ted Williams’ Frozen Head
April 28th, 2010
6:45 pm
No I only meant for the header to apply to you, as I have said. Just like this, the rest was mine.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
6:49 pm
Great, double dose of BP means they will be twice as tired tonight.
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
6:49 pm
Boomerang: Unlock the caps key. I can’t read all caps. Hurts my head.
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
6:50 pm
The Braves are more talented than the Marlins, always have been, every year, even when the Marlins win. Imagine what Freddi Gonzalez could do with this team, with Heyward in his second season.
Different year, same story.
April 28th, 2010
6:50 pm
The Mets are playing good baseball, the Braves aren’t. Plain and simple.
So stop making up excuses.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
6:51 pm
No McCann or Heyward
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
6:52 pm
@Chucktown
how do you figure no chance Heyward can’t hit a beach ball right now and do you really think with the way Mac has been hitting that Ross is at all a significant down grade. The line up tonight may actually be BETTER than the one we have been sending out there
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
6:52 pm
“Boomerang: Unlock the caps key. I can’t read all caps. Hurts my head.” -DOB
And sober up while you are at it. Geez.
TennesseePaul
April 28th, 2010
6:53 pm
Nathan: What’s the difference? Schafer couldn’t make contactt and had horribly weak swings due to his broken hand (that nobody knew about)…Schafer looked bad for almost a month. To the point of feeling sorry for him, more than being angry. He looked lost.
As I posted earlier. Through the first 81/82 PA of their major league career, spanning “almost a month”
Player__PA_AB_BB_SO__AVG__OBP__SLG__OPS
Schafer 82 66 16 23 .224 .415 .439 .854
Heyward 81 67 13 25 .224 .358 .448 .806
Do you really think Heyward looks lost?
As I pondered last night. This team sucks to watch on paper
I wish I could see him. But alas, NC blocks MLB for some stupid reason. So I see very little of the Braves. I hope he looks better than his box score. But looking at his numbers, he looks worse than Schafer.
Pete
April 28th, 2010
6:53 pm
BillM…..LA down on Kemp? Hes among the leaders in RBI HR’s and runs scored so maybe you have the wrong guy or did I miss another sarcastic comment?
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
6:55 pm
More teams with problems… the Phillies only have one SP with an ERA under 5.00 and he is on pace to throw more than 300 innings.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
6:55 pm
Look Chippers banged up, strugglin on D and not producing much at he plate, but its hard to drive in Runs with no runners on, (Lead off Hitters are like pitchers hitting) even a hurt and slumping Chipper helps this lineup, teams are still pitching around the slumping and hurt Chipper to face Brain McCann. That explains his good OBP.
Mitchell
April 28th, 2010
6:56 pm
You know, I was going to come on here before I have to leave and say “I can’t believe Bobby is sitting Heyward and not Glaus.”
But then I saw the headline and now I’m having an even harder time comprehending the fact that Braves bloggers are making news.
That is a first, at least in Braves Country.
In case you’d been away awhile and weren’t fully informed regarding Jason Heyward’s popularity in Atlanta and across Braves Nation…
DOB, haven’t you noticed the new logo on the right center field fence at Turner Field? How could you confuse the new Braves marketing campaign so soon? It’s “Braves Country” not “Nation”. See, it’s the south so it’s got to be Country. We’re country folk and we love our Braves.
Git r done, or so the saying goes.
Come on Braves fans, get a win for me. I must be leaving now.
I can’t say I’d be disappointed in you though if you don’t come through what with a line-up sans J-Hey and BMac.
Oh well.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
6:56 pm
To tell you the truth, it doesn’t matter what lineup we put out there. This pitcher is going to shut the entire team down tonight. Braves lose 7-1. At least McCann and Heyward were batting in the .200’s. Ross has played OK, but Diaz sucks (ugliest swing in all of baseball). Ross’ defense will definitely be an upgrade though.
Mitchell
April 28th, 2010
6:56 pm
So long.
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
6:58 pm
Is Don Sutton’s hair for real?
No. it’s memorex.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
6:58 pm
LC, I feel the same way about the Cox/Heyward thing. That Bobby did it publicly is the prob.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
6:58 pm
chucktown brave – My prediction was 6-1, not that it matters. And yeah, Diaz is a joke with that swing.
More Wisdom Pearls From the Blog
April 28th, 2010
6:59 pm
From earlier:
“You can just about throw RBI out the window. They are like wins or saves for pitchers. They are a stat that tells us more about opportunity than ability.”
Uh – I thought they largely measured a hitter’s ability during run – scoring opportunities. I thought that was why certain hitters are referred to as “run – producers” because they display abilities during these opportunities.
This ability seems pretty important to me.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
7:00 pm
Maybe Bobby addressed J Hey privately a couple days ago, but J-Hey is not willing to make the adjustments… so Bobby lit him up in front of the press. Haha, no one really knows. If it helps J-Hey hit better, I am all for it.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:00 pm
TennesseePaul, what about homers, RBIs, and game-winning or saving hits?
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
7:00 pm
Hey Mixxo, we will compromise. Braves will lose 7-1 (7th run will be unearned)
Steve
April 28th, 2010
7:02 pm
Mixxo, Diaz sucks? Besides this season, he has been fantastic. Check your stats genius.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
7:03 pm
well actually giving more AB’s to the players we want gone or on bench (Melky, Glaus) the more they play and the more they do bad quickin’s that action. They wont run Melky and Glaus out there anymore if there hitting under 200. in June would they?? wow lol
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:03 pm
Shouldn’t the bigger concern be with the guys who aren’t rookies that are under-performing on a daily basis?
crabapplejoe
April 28th, 2010
7:04 pm
Jay wrote: “(although, obviously Heyward is in a completely different class than Franceour).”
Yep, different class indeed…Heyward’s hitting 50 points below Francoeur and the Mets are on a 7 game winning streak instead of a 7 game losing streak. And did I mention that Francouer has a much better arm.
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
7:04 pm
I only got 1 thing to say about Bobby’s comments.
We had a player that didn’t take pitches, his name is Jeff Francoeur, he may run like Hayes, but he hits like s***. No matter what he’s done in NY, he’s still got so much messed up with him.
We have a player that takes pitches, his name is Chipper Jones.
Ahem, need I say more. I’d rather Heyward take too many pitches, then see only 4 a game.
Bobby's Cox
April 28th, 2010
7:04 pm
The last time we won, didn’t we have zero batting practice?
Ralph Garr Fan
April 28th, 2010
7:04 pm
DOB – I read the blog daily but this is my first time to post. Please excuse the wordiness I will do better in the future. I believe there are three good reasons for the Braves being where they are in the standings and that they will not be a consistent playoff contender until these items are corrected.
1) Since moving to Atlanta in 1966 the Braves have relied on basically the same formula to win games — pitching, defense, and timely home runs. This has resulted in good teams that reached the post season a high percentage of the time, but only one WS Champion. We all know that pitching and defense are two items you must have to win. However, in the post steroid era the timely home run part of the formula needs to be altered to read two speed demons (CF and either 2B or LF with Prado playing the other) and timely home runs. Currently, the Braves require three singles before three outs most of the time to score. Of course, there is the occasional extra base hit included, but not often enough to be consistent winners. I went to a AA game in Tennessee last weekend and watched a 5’ 7” center fielder that could fly basically win a double header by himself by bunting, slap hitting, stealing bases, and staying in the head of the opposing pitcher and catcher. Bear Bryant used to say that when you throw the football two of the three things that can happen are bad. Well conversely, when you attempt to steal a base two of the three things that can happen are good (safe, out, or defensive error).
2) I have never watched a professional baseball team that is any worse at taking throws and tagging runners at second, third, and home. Prado, Escobar, Hoss, and McCann insist on taking the throw in front of the base and then trying a desperation sweep tag (I suppose to avoid injury). Since little league I have known that the ball travels faster that the hand. Therefore, you should take the throw even with the bag and go straight down for the tag. Again, reaching out for the ball and coming back to the base is very slow and fundamentally unsound. Case in point, last night Pujols was several feet from third when the throw arrived and he was able to avoid the tag because of the Braves technique. Also, McCann seems absolutely terrified to block home plate even with his left foot. He could save us several runs a year by using the tools of ignorance to inflict some pain on the opposition.
3) Lastly, when a pitcher is working low and away and misses his spot it usually results in a ball, single, or maybe a double. When working inside and a pitcher misses his spot is usually results in a home run. I know that a pitcher must come inside some to keep the hitter honest, but I believe that we rely on it way to much. Especially with Lowe and Hudson throwing sinkers that get hammered when they are up or in too much.
Summary, until we add speed to our lineup and manufacture at least some of the necessary runs required to win a game we will continue to struggle. An obvious exception to this would be if Hoss, McCann, and Glaus return to their power hitting ways which seems extremely unlikely. J-Hey is going to be a GREAT player if everyone allows him the necessary time for on the job training. The one thing I would change with him is that I would turn him loose on the bases since he does have some speed. Also, I would go ahead and bring up Freeman (could he be any worse?) and let him get his rookie season out of the way now.
My Lineup:
Schafer or new guy with speed 8
Prado 4 or 7
Heyward 9
Hoss 5
McCann 2
Escobar 6
Freeman 3
New guy with speed 4 or 7
Pitcher 1
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
7:05 pm
Factual predictions for toinight’s game:
SS/ Escobar 1-4, 1 K, 0 RBI, O BB, 2 LOB
2B/Prado 2-3, 0 K, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 0 LOB
3B/ Jones 1-4, 2 K,. 0 RBI, 0 BB, 2 LOB
1B/ Glaus 0-4, 2 K, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 4 LOB
RF/ Diaz 1-4, 2 K, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 1 LOB
CF/ Cabrera 0-4, 3 K, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 1 LOB
C/ Ross 0-3, 1 K, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 0 LOB
LF/ Infante 1-4, 0 K, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 LOB
Braves lose 4-1
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:06 pm
Kind of ironic that the Braves are struggling to hit the long ball and KJ is leading the league in homers…
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
7:06 pm
Wow- Still an hour away from first pitch and my brain hurts already…not a good sign
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
7:07 pm
Wheels are coming off for the Giants.
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
7:08 pm
gobravos
Like he’s gonna lead the league at the end of the season.
New life, new ballpark. Guy plays inside.
Just a few things. KJ could hit, fielding and drastically streaking hitting was his problem. I’d take him over some guys we have now, but not as our 2nd baseman.
Steve
April 28th, 2010
7:09 pm
I love all of you who bash Bobby Cox and say he “sucks.” He is only the 4th most winningest manager of all time and won 14 straight division titles. Oh and how many 100 win seasons does he have? He has no control over the payroll and the players the Braves get. Any one of us could manage the Yankees with the talent they have. Cox has done amazing things with the players he has been dealt to work with. The Braves terrible batting Cox has no control over. He does a better job of any of you would.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
7:10 pm
I think I was the one that said Diaz sucks, Mixxo just agreed that he has an atrocious swing. Yes, I am saying he sucks this year. Haven’t looked at his splits, as to whether he was just feasting on left handed pitchers in previous years… or maybe his stats are so awful because we haven’t played the Marlins yet.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
7:11 pm
lineup looks especially bad which means we will probably score 8 or so…
Mets finished a 9-1 homestand and have WON 7 in a row…depressing days indeed.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
7:11 pm
Steve
I Agree.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:11 pm
bravos2249, yeah there is absolutely no way he continues that. I’m just amazed is all. When you see his name on top of that list you have to do a double take. I don’t think he should have ever been moved from LF.
Couch Tater
April 28th, 2010
7:11 pm
Anyone else just see Velez of the Giants drop the ball in LF? 7 -5 Phillies bottom 11
McFann Ô
April 28th, 2010
7:13 pm
DOB McCann’s also getting day off.
Murph
April 28th, 2010
7:13 pm
It may sound like giving up, but with the current leadership in the Braves clubhouse, I sure hope they don’t trade away a bunch of prospects for a temporary big bat. It would be better to try and minimize the damage and get through the season… Cox and TP will be gone, and then, and only then, can the Braves really start to rebuild.
I got used to the Braves winning division championships, now I’m used to them not being in contention. They’ll win again someday, just not this year.
Ron
April 28th, 2010
7:14 pm
My statement in 2005 that “Booby should quit now while he’s ahead, and 5 years from now we’ll be talking about how great he was” is looking more and more prescient.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
7:15 pm
Kelly Johnson homers in the top of the 10th to put the Diamondbacks ahead. Unreal.
Dan in NJ
April 28th, 2010
7:15 pm
Pete, You think Chipper isn’t hitting because maybe B-Mac and Glaus aren’t protecting him right now? If he’s getting on base via the walk, then that means he must not be getting any pitches to hit don’t ya think? I don’t know. Just asking. Besides he was hitting 300+ right before B-mac and company went in to a slump, if I recall correctly.
Just tired of people getting on Chipper for EVERYTHING. He can only do so much right now while everyone (except Prado) are in a season long slump.
BTW…hate seeing Melky batting in front of Nate. Gotta give Nate a lil more time to prove (or not prove) he can become the Nate of 2008.
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
7:16 pm
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:11 pm
He was moved because of an arm injury.
drummerdad
April 28th, 2010
7:17 pm
Gayle,
I’ve rooted for the Braves for 44 years. Saw Henry, Eddie Matthews, Joe Torre and all the crowd that came from Milwaukee. Blah, Blah, Blah. I agree that Bobby could have gotten more out of the talent and money he had to work with. Comparing the Bravos with the Cards since the year 2000, the Cardinals have the same number of Div. titles, 1 Wild Card, 2 WS appearances with 1 championship. On top of that, it looks like they’ve done it spending about 6.5 million dollars less per season (on average) than the Braves in that 11 year span.
BUT, That 14 year stretch of Division titles and WS appearances means everything to Atlanta sports history and pride. It’s quite an accomplishment for any organization in any sport, but in Atlanta where fan apathy and fickleness reign on high, it’s HUGE. I dare say it’s why any of us care to say something. I yearned for that kind of Braves prowess since I was a kid. For that reason my hat is off to Bobby and in the same token I have been consistently frustrated since the 2005 playoffs.
Glen W
April 28th, 2010
7:18 pm
An example of a trend that couldn’t possibly continue. Kelly Johnson has 20 hits… 16 of them are extra base hits. 8 doubles, 8 homers.
Its weird sport sometimes folk. Keep watching.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
7:18 pm
Some players just need a change to succeed, but its not like we gave up on him he lost his own job. If the Braves kept him i’m pretty sure his stats wouldnt be anything to talk about. And we replaced him with Prado who has continued his tear into this year and is our starting 2nd baseman cause he earned it. I’m sure Prado wont hit like this all year, and I’m sure KJ will fade and be a average player, just like Frenchy playing great for the Mets and then returning to his below average form.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
7:19 pm
sign Barry Bonds…(:
I kid, I kid…
Steve
April 28th, 2010
7:19 pm
Maybe it’s TP we should say sucks instead of Cox.
Gil Garrido
April 28th, 2010
7:20 pm
Chipper hitting #2 would be a commendable idea considering his loss of power and his high OBP, but he couldn’t be counted on to hit and run for two reasons, both sadly true: Bobby’s not going to utilize the hit and run very often, and Chipper would miss even more time with pulled muscles from running.
And Roodge Owns
April 28th, 2010
7:20 pm
The guy who was getting the Hewyard Advice about taking so many pitches this time last year… just took over the National League HR lead. KJ’s 8th. Clutch, too.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
7:21 pm
Dan in NJ
“BTW…hate seeing Melky batting in front of Nate. Gotta give Nate a lil more time to prove (or not prove) he can become the Nate of 2008.”
Hell i think right now we all would be happy with a 2009 McLouth lol.
Heywardville Knockahoma
April 28th, 2010
7:21 pm
DOB,
You see these headlines that you are creating? Major clubhouse drama. I’m sure most of the guys in that clubhouse have seen these blogs. I know you’re trying to stir the pot by getting everyone blogging, but could you pick a better time? Or, maybe try to find a positive? I realize that they are all professional’s and most will simply shrug it off and realize it’s just media, but those guys need positive thoughts running through their minds right now.
Love the coverage, but I’d like to try and find something positive. This is Bobby’s Farewell year…not Bash one of the games greatest manager year.
Damn.
Steve
April 28th, 2010
7:22 pm
Next 6 games are against Houston and Washington. Things could turn back around fast. The Mets won’t keep this up. Same with Washington. Philly’s pitching is terrible. Too early to give up.
Dan in NJ
April 28th, 2010
7:22 pm
I know Kelly Johnson is / was a streaky hitter and all, BUT I really believe that he was never fully healthy and very comfortable. He was being moved around often in the lineup and I believe he had to look over his shoulder if he went into a slump and worry about losing his job (which he did). Last thing is, he couldn’t get in much of a rythem by being benched because of a lefty pitcher, which we know he hit better then rightys. I blame BC if he does turn out to be an above average 2B.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:23 pm
I don’t think anyone is saying we should have kept KJ. I was merely trying to point how crazy it is that he is leading the league in homers while we can’t buy a homer. Yes baseball is weird. Point in fact: Tommy Hanson has one win and a sub- 3.00 ERA and D-Lowe has 3 wins and an ERA approaching 6.00.
Pete
April 28th, 2010
7:24 pm
McFann sad or happy make up your mind cant be both lol
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:24 pm
Dan in NJ, KJ’s only 28 and could definitely turn it around. The change of scenery was needed. Same goes for Frenchy.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
7:25 pm
How many runs does KK give up and over/under on innings pitched? does he make it through 6? I think he is going to come up and have a great game. We need it. Need a pitcher to step up and be dominant to stop the skid…that’s how it is done and how we have always done it.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
7:26 pm
The way we’re going right now with the bats, I’d have to go with these final numbers at the end of the season:
Prado– .312 9 HR 48 RBI
Escobar– .283 10 HR 52 RBI
Jones– .302 15 HR 78 RBI
Glaus– .246 12 HR 50 RBI
McCann– .284 20 HR 83 RBI
Heyward– .272 15 HR 64 RBI
McLouth– .242 9 HR 45 RBI
Cabrera– .250 4 HR 28 RBI
Diaz– .272 8 HR 37 RBI
Ross– .258 7 HR 26 RBI
Starters:
Lowe– 12-9 5.20 ERA
Jurrjens– 9-6 3.28 ERA
Hanson– 9-7 3.32 ERA
Hudson– 11-9 3.70 ERA
Kawakami– 8-9 4.82 ERA
Wagner won’t get near the 30 saves he’d like, not with the way it’s looking right now. All that can easily change if we start playing better. It’s possible.
Pete
April 28th, 2010
7:26 pm
DAN, good question and Im not really sure the reason. My concern is he is coming off a very poor (for him) 2009 season as well, which makes me more concerned. Im just suggesting that he cant keep the #3 hole the way hes going, dont you agree or no?
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
7:27 pm
Steve – Next 6 games against Houston and Washington? Houston is 1/2 game better than us… Washington is 3 games better. What makes you think this will be a time for us to gain some ground. Both of those teams are playing better than we are.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
7:28 pm
Couch Tater – Yeah I saw it.
Double :facepalm:
ABravesFan
April 28th, 2010
7:28 pm
Yes, Chipper is having a good season offensively. However, his defensive value so far has probably offset that, unfortunately. RBI is highly dependent on other players. If Chipper bats more often w RISP and still post a similar OBP, than his RBI will naturally go up. Sadly, it’s fairly obvious how Chipper has a ultra-aggressive mode where he try to ambush the first pitch…I need to look up the numbers but I dont’ think his BA on the first pitch is all that great.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
7:30 pm
Over/Under on Kawakami
IP is at 5 2/3
Runs is at 3
Got that feeling
April 28th, 2010
7:30 pm
Braves win tonight. Bats will come out early and KK shows why he is one of the better #5 starters in the league.
I’m telling you……I’m even feeling not 1, but 2 homeruns tonight.
Braves win 7-3.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
7:30 pm
Steve
I agree again… lol
Those 6 games are crucial. They gotta atleast win 4 of 6 and get back on track against some of the weaker teams. Regardless of how there playin they are weak teams, Our team is considered a wild card contender and its better to have a really bad stretch early than later in season…. they can turn this around, most of our players will get to there norm,
PDub
April 28th, 2010
7:30 pm
DOB All those who point to on-base percentage as being so much more important than batting average and RBI and just about everything else, I’ve got a question. Does Chipper’s .420 OBP indicate he’s having a good season?
Well, a .420 OBP is pretty useful. In fact, in order for it to not be useful, it’d have to be accompanied by nothing else remotely positive.
If a 3B had a .420 OBP, but a 0.000 batting average and a 0.000 slugging average (or, his only offensive contribution is to walk in 42 per cent of his PA’s), and played bad defense (~ 7 runs below average), he’d be a replacement level player. Basically, a .420 OBP is so valuable, it’s worth a roster spot even if it’s the only contribution the player is capable of bringing to the table.
Chipper has brought more to the table. He’s stolen two bases (caught zero times), he’s hit 8 singles, 4 doubles, and 2 homers. Yes. Chipper Jones is having a very good season. He’s got a .865 OBP-heavy OPS. That is WAYYYYYYYYY above average for a 3B.
I see no rational argument Chipper isn’t having a good season.
gayle
April 28th, 2010
7:31 pm
Steve – at last a Cox apologist appears. No one here is claiming to have the skills to manage a major league baseball team – but what kind of defense of this idol is that? “Can you do any better?”
This is just the kind of nonsense that has brought this team to this place – where mediocraty is accepted.
It is naive of you to think that BC has NO influence over what players are chosen to play for this team. If he is the great manager that you and others claim he is, wouldn’t it be wise to call upon his vast experience to help mold a roster? Can you think there were others that wanted Greg Norton to stick around?
I’m not sure that I could even manage the Yankees, but clearly Bobby could not achieve success with the Braves even when he had 3 future HOF’ers in the rotation.
Just for the record, here is what the Great Cox did with the Braves those years the team won 100+ games in the regular season. He got booted in the playoffs every time. One of the worst post season managers in baseball
1993 lost to Phillies in NLCS
1997 lost to Florida in the NLCS
1998 lost to San Diego in the NLCS
1999 swept by the Yankees in the World Series
2002 lost to San Francisco in the NLDS
2003 lost to Chicago in the NLDS
Right, great manager he is.
Steve
April 28th, 2010
7:32 pm
Chucktown, Houston and Washington are nothing like NY and St. Louis. You should know how bad Houston and Washington will end up. I remember last year when Kansas City got off to an amazing start and ended up being terrible. VERY early. Philly is almost at .500, do you think they are that bad?
Pete
April 28th, 2010
7:33 pm
Also will add that the Braves horrific performance from the leadoff spot doesnt help Chipper stats either
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
7:33 pm
JasonInFL,
Maybe if the defense steps up behind him.
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
7:35 pm
At the beginning of the season, I predicted here that Glaus would finish 2010 with 10 HR, and 75 RBI.
DOB shot back with something like, “Look at Glaus’s history, and you’ll see he’s never had a season like that.” You are so right DOB. And those numbers look like wishful thinking now, huh?
Steve
April 28th, 2010
7:35 pm
Gayle, what manager at least got the Braves to the playoffs those years? Would you rather them just not even go? No excuse for 1998 though. When I said he has no influence I meant regarding the payroll. Do you really thing if he called Wren and said, “Hey Frank, do me a favor and go grab Howard and pay him $25 million a year. Thanks!”
Dan in NJ
April 28th, 2010
7:35 pm
gobravos,
maybe you are right, but I the reason I stated above to why it might’ve affected his game. As for Frenchy? He had all the time and chances anyone could ever ask for to prove himself and failed.
Pete, I do agree to a point, but til others step up and give him some protection we will never know if he can still handle that spot. Plus, who on this team is worthy of that spot right now? Nobody is proving they are worth being in the 3 hole.
Got that feeling again
April 28th, 2010
7:36 pm
You guys going to be bashing the Braves when they go on a 7 game win streak? If the Mets can do it, the Braves can surely do it.
Stop bitching and go to a game and be supportive.
All you bashers need to find a new team. Seriously, you probably don’t go to the game and supoprt them anyhow. Too busy waiting for a new blog to post FIRST.
Losers.
DMBJAMS
April 28th, 2010
7:36 pm
DOB, your superb taste in music is why I’ll never give up on you. There’s plenty of time.
(just kidding, kind of)
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
7:37 pm
I was searching the TV listings tonight and noticed that Kawakami is pitching for the Braves. My wife said, “I think we’ve seen this show before. Isn’t it the one where Kawakami gives up a run or two in the first couple of innings, then settles down for a while, the Braves tie it, and then Kawakami gets tired in the 6th, Cox waits too long to take him out and the Braves lose?”
I said, “Yes dear, we’ve this one over and over.”
Pete
April 28th, 2010
7:39 pm
PDub, Chipper’s .865 OPS is way below his career average. Other than last year, he hasnt been this low since 2004.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
7:39 pm
Just trying to be objective. How can I honestly say to a Nationals fan, that I can’t wait to play them in a week or so, because we should be able to take 2 of 3. We have the worst record in the National League, (2nd worst in the majors). We can’t base our expectations on our pre-conceived notions about a team. Coming into the season, most talking heads around baseball predicted the Mets to finish last or 4th in our division, and here you are touting that we have an excuse because we just ran into the buzzsaw that is NY and St Louis. We are not very good (right now). Until we show some signs of improvement, I will not expect to win another series.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:40 pm
Gayle, save your energy on the Cox criticism on this blog. These guys just don’t get it. Atl fans are infatuated with Cox, and they’re the only ones. If he managed in any other town he would have been fired years ago for his teams under-performing in the playoffs. It really is that simple. Braves fans will always love him for 1995, and smart Braves fans will always despise him for every other year he managed here. Guy had 3 HOFers on his staff for many years and only got 1 ring? Hmmmm….
Dan in NJ
April 28th, 2010
7:41 pm
I also like the idea of Chipper in the 2 spot, a switch hitting vet that can handle any sitution, such as pulling a ball or going the other way, and moving runners over and so on. Also having the power to hit one out if needed.
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
7:41 pm
Heyward’s average is down to .224 with a still-solid .358 on-base percentage, fourth-best among Braves regulars behind Prado (.433), Chipper (.420) and McCann (.405).
Heyward’s four homers and 16 RBIs are only one fewer homer and two fewer RBIs than those three hitters combined.
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
7:42 pm
I was watching the Twins play on ESPN for a little while. But all this mauer gushing is irking my nerves. About how he gets calls other catchers get, and how the guy on the mound struggled when he didn’t throw to Mauer and how Umpires say they love to be behind the plate when he catches.
That last one had me going WTF. FREAKY
Got that feeling again
April 28th, 2010
7:42 pm
20 F’in games into the season guys. Way to early to give up on this team. Let’s wait until Memorial Day and see where we are at that point.
Losers.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:43 pm
Exactly DOB, but If some of the people on this blog ran our team he would be in Gwinett right now.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
7:46 pm
PDub
I agree, Chipper’s having a decent year so far. Just being a presence in the lineup helps the team, Health issues and Defense is whats geting him so much crap. even if’s he’s hitting well people still bash him. He cant drive in runs with out runners, and he isnt gonna extend his strike zone trying to get it done he’s gonna take his walks. and give the team a chance with McCann coming up behind him, instead of chasing pitches and pressin leading to lots of outs. He played injured and wants to be in there and play. Remember people he’s 38 he’s not a power guy anymore. He is the Face of the Braves and is still considered the “Guy” we depend on, but he shouldnt be that anymore the team failed to bring in a long term middle of the order hitter over the past few years.
Pete
April 28th, 2010
7:46 pm
Dan: “I also like the idea of Chipper in the 2 spot, a switch hitting vet that can handle any sitution, such as pulling a ball or going the other way, and moving runners over and so on. Also having the power to hit one out if needed.”
We both agree so Ill ask you the same: who goes to the #3 hole? Id give it to Prado if Chipper moved to 2
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
7:48 pm
Side note… I am a huge FSU fan. It is uncanny how eerily similar the Braves and FSU football compare. Tremendous success in the 90’s, Should have had more than 1 Title, Rapidly declining in the 2000’s, Fans calling for elderly coach/manager to retire to enable to franchise/program to start fresh, Coach holding on for dear life to his job for one more year thinking this was going to be the year it would all turn around.
Doc Holiday
April 28th, 2010
7:48 pm
Our problem is not our team but the ownership. Just think for a second. How real is their desire to make this team a winner when:
1. You address your OF/power numbers by adding Nate last season and Melky this season, whom has never hit more than 13 HR.
2. The address their clean up hitter problem by adding a guy that since 2003 only once has he driven in 100 or more runs.
3. Are paying 15M to a washed out pitcher like Lowe and 8M to some unproven pitcher from Asia.
4. Are keep Chipper in there as part of heart of the order. A guy that hurts himself by watching teammates warm up.
5. Put their season in high risk by making Saito and Wagner their premier setup and closer respectively.
6. Keep Cox around when it is clear that he has shown that his magic trick was called Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz
Do they really care?
Wheres the help they got to fix our 2009 problems? Glaus? Melky?Well at least Hinske is making them look good, but that was an easy one.
Did they really thought a team could win when their corner IF are plagued with injuries and trying to comeback?
How do you address one of the worse OF in 2009? by adding melky and a rookie? Even if it is JH, he is nothing more than a rookie and playing from day 1 its going to be extremely tough for the kid.
Finally I want to predict that soon this team will win 3 in a row or maybe 5,gain some ground on other teams, just to fall 4 or 5 times in a row next to that. Thats how they have been doing it last 4 seasons………..win 4 lose 5 win 3 lose 2 win 5 lose 4 and so on.
If any of you was counting on October baseball, I sadly inform you that all the October baseball you are gonna get is a boring 3 game series against philly. Boring because philly will already be in and we will already be out of it.
Couch Tater
April 28th, 2010
7:49 pm
TennesseePaul –
Thanks for the numbers on Schafer and Heyward. Although they are frightening, Heyward does appear to be more confident in his approach and not guessing like Schafer seemed to be. We’ll see…
big Jake
April 28th, 2010
7:49 pm
este equipo de béisbol es realmente malo
gayle
April 28th, 2010
7:50 pm
Steve – you make my argument. What is the point of getting to the playoffs when you get spanked every time? You have to shake your head and wonder how a competant – likely HOF – manager could go into a short series with Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux in the rotation – and lose?
He was out-managed – that’s how.
He’s staid, stubborn, loyal and not aggressive. He waits for the 3-run homer and ignores small ball, team speed and patience at the plate. He keeps pitchers in too long and plays percentages when the game dictates quick thinking.
You could write off a year or two that you caught a team that was on fire – but when you bring home a title just once in 14 years?
McFann Ô
April 28th, 2010
7:50 pm
Pete sad or happy make up your mind cant be both lol
Well, I’m happy because that puts at least his slump on hold for one night, but I’m sad ’cause now we have to wait a whole nother day for him to break out of it.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
7:50 pm
Got that feeling again – Let’s just wait until August to evaluate our team. At this pace, we will be 12 games out of 1st by Memorial Day… and we usually suck in June, interleague play?
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
7:52 pm
Got that feeling … they gotta win one game first. They’re finding ways to lose and it’s some bad luck involved. It really is. But, they’ve shot themselves in the foot more than once on this losing skid that’s made the bad luck they’ve run into not as obvious. But, it’s there. So true that in this game you need some luck and sometimes a lot of it to get where you want to go.
Nothing should surprise anybody anymore after what we’ve all seen just from our team the last few years.
I Hate Liberty Media
April 28th, 2010
7:52 pm
Cox deserves it. As do Liberty Media, Frank Wren, Terry Pendleton, and the players. The fans need to send a message loud and clear that mediocrity is intolerable. Fielding a team of cheap hacks should lead to an empty stadium for home games. Hit ‘em where it hurts – the pocketbook.
McFann Ô
April 28th, 2010
7:52 pm
Doc H. 2. They address their clean up hitter problem by adding a guy that since 2003 only once has he driven in 100 or more runs.
And he’s not even batting cleanup.
Ya know, everything was hunky-dory in Spring Training when Glaus was batting cleanup and BMac was batting fifth. But I know! I know!
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
7:54 pm
Also Schafer batted 8th and was walked alot so his OBP is shouldnt be a factor, also Heyward’s showed game winning heroics, being a run producer and having long good AB’s. why even compare the 2?
Doc Holiday
April 28th, 2010
7:54 pm
I Hate Liberty Media,
I agree……… and send Cox home with the most memorable season he can get………
Pete
April 28th, 2010
7:55 pm
GAYLE (7:50), I could not have said it any better than that!
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
7:56 pm
Doc Holiday, awesome! The line about Cox’s magic trick had me rolling man. I might have been able to manage a team to 100 wins with those three anchoring my staff in their prime. Does anyone care to mention the fact that in half as many games played Heyward has like twice the homers and RBIs as Schafer did in all of 2009. Oh you don’t. That’s probably because that would contradict the Schafer and Heyward are turning out to be the same guy argument.
Doc Holiday
April 28th, 2010
7:56 pm
Hi Mc,
How are you?
We are having the most painful season in a while……….mediocrity is piling up. 5 years and counting.
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
7:59 pm
JJ better be making some voodoo dolls, that’s his only chance in hell he’s gonna win tomorrow.
Colin
April 28th, 2010
7:59 pm
I hope everyone will enjoy the game tonight..I expect a 2-0 lead to be blown. and maybe a win tonight..idk if its in the books but maybe.
JEB
April 28th, 2010
8:01 pm
Bobby showed himself as a players coach last night – with his comments about Heyward.
Up until those comments were printed by DOB, the love for Heyward had begun to turn. I would say 50% had began to make negative comments about Heyward (go back through the blogs last 2 days).
So, BC makes that comment and now everyone is back in love with Heyward and mad at Cox.
I would say BC’s plan worked!
Also, I’m sure he did not say something that he had not already talked to Heyward about.
Sgt. Pepper
April 28th, 2010
8:01 pm
The answer to all of our problems is bringing back Greg Norton and Dan Kolb.
Doc Holiday
April 28th, 2010
8:01 pm
gobravos,
Just sick to watch (well I dont even watch anymore), year in year out and LOL that some keep saying that Cox is the best manager ever………..pathetic. It is a joke how he cant put the same lineup in back to back games………..Sure its about trying to adjust, but, everyday? LOL. IMO it only tells me he has no clue on whats best for the team……..thats why he keeps shuffling them around. I wouldnt be surprised to see Mc leading of tonight and Melky batting clean up.
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
8:04 pm
Dan in NJ, that’s exactly what the problem was with Kelly, we just didn’t have a manager creative enough to know how to use him when he came back from his injury. He showed us ALL what he was capable of doing with the bat, over the last 2.5 months of the 2008 season. In 2009, he started slow, but was also hurting so bad that he needed 3 cortisone shots to get any relief. However, when he came back, Prado had been playing so well that there was no way Kelly could unseat him, even though he showed over the first week back after getting healed up (remember the HUGE HR he hit in extra innings, against the Dodgers?). But why couldn’t Kelly or Prado play LF/RF after he returned? It’s not like Kelly hadn’t already played a full season in LF when he first got the call to the majors. For the same reason Hinske is sitting on the bench everyday even though he’d be the ultimate platoon partner for Diaz in LF. #6 isn’t anywhere near creative enough.
I saw a pitcher play LF and not embarass himself a few weeks ago. It really doesn’t take the utmost athleticism. Besides, was GAndy really tearing up the OF defense a year ago? What about Diaz or Cabrera this year?
The best thing that ever happened to Kelly Johnson was to get out of Atlanta. To be honest, it’s the best thing to happen to Prado, because had Kelly come out hitting this way at the beginning of last year, instead of struggling some then dealing with an injury, we’d have NEVER known how good Prado was.
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:07 pm
Sgt Pepper
I like the way you think
MZ
April 28th, 2010
8:08 pm
Sgt. Pepper ——
And Chris Reitsma
Colin
April 28th, 2010
8:09 pm
I want Jennie Finch to anchor our rotation.
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
8:10 pm
You don’t have to have LF next to your name on the roster to actually be able to play LF. I can’t see rationalizing why you’d play Garrett Anderson out there every day, & not at least give Kelly a try back out there, to get one of your better pure hitters some PA’s. It’s not like Garrett was giving us anythign offensively, & he was a statue in the OF. We’ve never been able to use a guy like a “super utility” guy before though, ask Mark DeRosa.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:10 pm
mets go from 6-9 to 13-9…nice
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
8:10 pm
Doc, agree with your thoughts on lineup, too. I was talking with my Dad, who is a St. Louis native and subsequently watched a lot of good teams over the years, and he pointed out that the Braves problems start with Bobby changing the lineup around everyday. He then, of course, stated that LaRussa never changes the lineup much except with the pitcher, and that that is why the Cardinals will always be a winning team with him around.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
8:11 pm
Dan Kolb’s Mom – Those bright yellow capri pants you have on………you know what to do.
Chris from the Rock
April 28th, 2010
8:12 pm
All of these ex-Braves doing so well is like pouring salt on our wounds. KJ with 8 HRs, Andrew with 6 HRs, LaRoche (who usually is awful in April) is batting .280, Renteria is hitting .320, Davies is 2-1 with an ERA of 3.65. Heck, even Bruce Chen is tied with Billy Wagner for saves. That hurts…
AZBravoFan
April 28th, 2010
8:14 pm
DOB:
Any word on whether Heyward has dialed up Dave Justice yet?
Could we get one more cook into the poor guy’s kitchen?
Chris from the Rock
April 28th, 2010
8:14 pm
What’s next, Charlie Morton winning a Cy Young?
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
8:15 pm
Updated story on Heyward out of lineup and his thoughts on going through the league the first time, learning pitchers and umps, etc. New quotes from him, Pendleton and Cox.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/04/28/heyward-out-of-lineup-for-first-time/
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
8:15 pm
Chris from the Rock – As someone mentioned a few days ago, can’t wait for Jason Heyward to get out of here so he can really succeed. We’re killin him.
Colin
April 28th, 2010
8:16 pm
hey at least the Mets are winning..errr wait.
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:17 pm
geez Mixxo
not even a score yet
*slightly loosens pants*
Ok i’m ready to rock
Efrim
April 28th, 2010
8:18 pm
Good for BC to rest McCann tonight, as oppose to tomorrow against Wainwright. Same with Heyward. He needed the rest. Watching the game from the bench for a night might be good for him.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:19 pm
Here is the Stat of the Day… Braves pitcher were hitless in our first 17 games. Pitchers have had a hit in the last 3 games since. Of course we are still 0-3 during that span.
McFann Ô
April 28th, 2010
8:19 pm
Hiya, Doc H.! Haven’t been too bad, how ’bout you?
Yeah, this season has been a toughy…and is it still April? Dang! Opening Day feels like it was eons ago…seems like this month just will not end…
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:20 pm
Wow, forgot we had to face Adam W tomorrow…swept?
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:20 pm
Prosebleed Blog has given Garcia a new nickname
Jaime “The Taint” Garcia
http://ijustwanttofitin.com/?s=Braves&searchsubmit=
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:21 pm
After Glaus strikes out next inning, we will have 5 out the 8 position players in the lineup batting under .200…WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:21 pm
maybe we just have a streaky team. granted, we haven’t witnessed the matching 7 game winning streak yet.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:21 pm
Sweet, looks like that extra session of BP is going to work wonders tonight.
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:22 pm
i need a birthday win from the braves today to break this streak!
keylargo
April 28th, 2010
8:22 pm
Martin Prado’s last 10 games:
BA.263/OBP.326/SLG.342/OPS.668
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n1=pradoma01&t=b&year=2010&share=2.43#269-278-sum:batting_gamelogs
Chris from the Rock
April 28th, 2010
8:22 pm
Peavy is getting knocked around again…He’s killing my fantasy team.
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:23 pm
and here we go
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:23 pm
Well, KK isn’t going to pitch a no-no…(:
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:23 pm
Chris from the Rock – I know, I finally decided to bench him this week in hopes he figures it out soon.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
8:24 pm
is anyone going to Gwinnett to get a Heyward bobblehead. If so Is anyone willing to sell it
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
8:24 pm
nice braves. really nice.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
8:24 pm
Got to get in front of that ball
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:24 pm
And thats how you start an inning!
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
hey, some on here will argue that paying your #5 starter 8-9% of your payroll was a wise move. Me? Not so much.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
HBD shmoe!
Hopefully.
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
You can’t make this stuff up. You really can’t.
This team is playing like they want the season to end already.
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
ball game
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
Here we GO!
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
how many do they score?
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
Errors on back-to-back plays. Nice start, eh?
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
1st inning, and you’ve got yourself an 8 game losing streak
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:26 pm
KK Already getting Slapped
Anyone wanna fill me up to speed?
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:26 pm
ballgame?
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
8:26 pm
We haven’t even gone through our order and it’s over.
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:26 pm
Hahahahaha, hilarious!
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:26 pm
wow, nothing new again tonight , we get 3 quick outs and now were losing already and havent even recored one out….
big Jake
April 28th, 2010
8:26 pm
I am a huge FSU fan. It is uncanny how eerily similar the Braves and FSU football compare. Tremendous success in the 90’s, Should have had more than 1 Title Chucktown
how great a fan can you be if you think the Noles only won one title? riddle me that Chuck
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
8:26 pm
Well let’s see. McLouth/Diaz didn’t catch a catchable ball, a boot at SS, and a boot in the OF…STL 1 BNB 0.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
“KK Already getting Slapped
Anyone wanna fill me up to speed?”
Soon as I posted that bI saw D.O.B.’s comment about the errors, not Good!
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
World Series, here we come! It’s a pleasure to see such a well-oiled machine grinding up the competition game after game.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
we giving up already we cant even play efense, man this team is far from breaking this slump…
cricket
April 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
2 errors and not one out, niceeeeeeee
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
2 hits allowed and 2 errors in first 3 batters… ouch
Colin
April 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
I LOVEEEEE FSU..and I agree big jake, shoulda had plenty more.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
Game Over. Folks, you don’t lose 7 in a row when you are good. We have lost 7 in a row and it will most likely hit 9 if we lose tonight. Hey, we suck. Still have a bright future and some young studs. Still think it is too bad that you have over 40% of your payroll tied up in Lowe, Chip, and KK. Actually, it sucks.
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
pitching him tough
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:28 pm
This team always finds ways to make errors even before the get a hit! Unbelievable!
According to Chipper Jones, they have being playing good Defense. OK.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
8:28 pm
Good time to visit the “library.”
BRB.
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:28 pm
all that was in a 4 pitch span
big Jake
April 28th, 2010
8:28 pm
had two, not all that bad
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:29 pm
holy sh*t an out
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:29 pm
Looks like Meds is gonna be pitching by the 6th
Offense needs to come out and get their sh..t together
MZ
April 28th, 2010
8:29 pm
ain’t life grand
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
8:29 pm
“it’s only April” , ‘”they’re only 3 games out of first place”
braves70
April 28th, 2010
8:29 pm
Yoo-hoo!!! I feel 8 in a row coming tonight. That will put us about half-way to our 17 in a row back in 1977. Come on boys. You can do it.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:30 pm
“According to Chipper Jones, they have being playing good Defense. OK.”
Bobby said the same thing an hour ago on 680AM
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:30 pm
another way besides having one of these ace like pitchers step to end the streak is…hey, field the damn ball. honest question…are we the worst defensive team in baseball? not only with the errors, but with the amount of balls our corner infielders don’t get to, the amount of dropped balls at home, etc? man, if we didn’t have esco out there…
Decker
April 28th, 2010
8:30 pm
This is getting ridiculous. No, not the way the Braves are playing, but their idiotic decision to let Peachtree TV (or whatever it’s called) broadcast the games. News flash – If you live outside the perimeter, they don’t broadcast in HD.
I’ve seen others on here comment about this, and I want to add my voice. EVERY other game on MLB Extra Innings is in HD EXCEPT the stupid Braves. Come on, do they want me to become a Mets fan? At least their games (and every other team’s games) are in HD. If they’d let me, I’d watch the Cardinals broadcast in HD but, of course, that’s blacked out. I’ve been following the Braves for 30 years and have been to over 100 games at Turner Field & Fulton County Stadium, and I’m about fed up with this organization. If you can’t put a decent product on the field, at least recognize that you better put on a decent broadcast if you want to keep ANY audience at all. F’ing Jerks!
bigrob97
April 28th, 2010
8:30 pm
Tomahawkin, on your “Roger Dorn” reference last night, in the words of the great Harry Doyle, “atleast he didn’t spike himself.”
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:30 pm
my bad big jake… in all of analogies between the 2 programs I must have had a typo…. Trust me I am a huge fan… for all 3 of FSU’s titles j/k
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
jesus christ.
Daybed Wagmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
Wow. Kickin the ball around.
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
Well damn there goes Ross too,.
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
we strike out a guy and they score on it. yeah this is gonna be a great year. FML.
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
Wainwright will win tomorrow, so I think it’s best if we end this streak tonight, eh?
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
good d? holy cow, that’s like saying Chipper is dependable
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
This Team Stinks!
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
Wow, just wow.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
I hope we have a whole new coaching staff next season.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
if KK gets out of this only allowing 1 run i might keep watching gameday
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
Welcome to clown show
Nate from NCState
April 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
Wow.
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
I live outside the perimeter and my broadcast is in HD
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
Can we sacrifice a Live Chicken tonight to get this team going…?
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
It was those dang losses to Miami in the late 80’s/ early 90’s that kept them from winning more (field goals, anyone?)
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
yup, definitely the worst defensive team in baseball
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
what’s don baylor up to these days?
Frumpy
April 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
who would want to be a pitcher for Atlanta this year? If your a guy like JJ or KK, they dont give you any run support and now they cant even field routine plays.
Just seems there is no confidence in this team, hitting like it and now fielding like it
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:33 pm
If i’m LaRussa i’m pissed right now, all my guys have to do is put ball in play and there a good chance they’ll reach 1st base. The Pop out was automatic cause of infield fly rule lol
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:33 pm
get rid of the chik-fil-a cow!
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:33 pm
you know it is going bad when the NATIONALS’ closer has 2 more saves than your team has WINS…ouch
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
8:33 pm
The only player that has been playing good defense the past 2-3 games are Escobar, Prado, and Glaus…until Esco’s miss on that ball.
But hey the guy who got the first hit should have been caught,then the error? that was a tough calle, and then error by McLouth fielding and then the runner scoring on a WP.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:33 pm
Maybe we need to go back to just wearing the Gray Road Unis…
The Blue Ones have been bad luck since we started rocking them in 2008
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
8:34 pm
The thing is, two fifths of our starting staff are terrible. So this idea that we have elite starting pitching, well it just isn’t true. So add to it that our offense is in a rut and the defense is terrible, which it will be all year, and this team is just poorly constructed.
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:34 pm
Tomahawkin – This team would need a Live Elephant.
MrBrave31
April 28th, 2010
8:34 pm
Great start to this game. Should’ve had 2 outs and nobody on for Pujols, then a wild pitch on a
strikeout lets in a run. Finding new ways every night to make it tough to win. So frustrating.
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
8:34 pm
The braves need to have a seance and burn their gloves and bats and just start over.
Chris
April 28th, 2010
8:35 pm
If we could just score some runs we would be okay, pitching is fine, save JJs start in San Diego.
Colin
April 28th, 2010
8:35 pm
I enjoy losing so much, 8 games in a row is fine by me.
brian
April 28th, 2010
8:35 pm
with 20 errors in 21 games, extremely poor hitting, and numerous mental errors I have to question the players focus/desire as well as the coaching
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:35 pm
this is gonna be rough. i’m gonna go drink a whole bunch of gin. brb.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:35 pm
What a Garbage Inning….
Speed Kills so does booting the ball around….I’m almost tempted to go to little league games instead of watching this
braves70
April 28th, 2010
8:35 pm
Don Baylor is batting coach for the Colorado Rockies who he once managed.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
8:36 pm
¿juego ha terminado?
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:37 pm
Tomahawkin – get that chicken here NOW!
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
tomahawkin — we ARE watching little league baseball; atlanta style….
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
Best Thing about Cardinals Fans is their Chicks, Nothing like chicks that know the game other than the star players
Stewart Smally
April 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
(finger one inch from big red button)
Is it time yet? Is it time to push it? I don’t want to miss it!
Time for another big group hug!
nolie
April 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
It was those dang losses to Miami in the late 80’s/ early 90’s that kept them from winning more (field goals, anyone?) Chucktown
they won two championships, not one
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
Braves have 20 errors in 21 games, Cardinals have 12.
bravefaninok
April 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
I like the look of the road blues but…..maybee there cursed.
Decker
April 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
Sorry, if you live in the 706 area code, you can’t get the Braves in HD when they play on Peachtree TV. Or maybe it’s just my house. All I know is that I don’t get the games in HD and I saw someone on here say the line of demarcation was the perimeter. Yeah, yeah, yeah, life is hard, I know. But if I’m going to watch this train wreck of a team, at least let me enjoy the picture.
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
8:39 pm
Decker, I’m outside 285, and I’m getting a HD feed on Comcast. I do agree PeachtreeTV sucks bigtime in general.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
8:39 pm
chuck, you guys also ran into the real UT in 1998. I can still see Peerless Price run for 6
braves70
April 28th, 2010
8:39 pm
When we lost 17 in a row back in 1977, Ted Turner took over as manager for a game. I think we have a far less manager now than we had that day in 1977.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
8:39 pm
Too early to Ballgame it?!?
I Hate Liberty Media
April 28th, 2010
8:40 pm
Another Glaus strikeout. Shocking. That guy is the posterboy for retroactive abortion.
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:40 pm
maybe another no hitter against us tonight!
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:40 pm
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
“tomahawkin — we ARE watching little league baseball; atlanta style….”
“Welcome To Atlanta, Where the Players play like Double A players Every Day” had to quote one of Jermaine Dupris old songs, even though the stuff he produces now is garbage
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
8:40 pm
Has anyone ever seen anything like this? Can a team with such high expectations have such a bad April?
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:40 pm
another Strikeout for Glaus no surprise there…. blows a low 90 mph fastball right by him……
nolie
April 28th, 2010
8:40 pm
oh well at least troy made him work. that’s about as good as a Braves at bat gets anymore
Brava
April 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
Glaus is not the only one who strikes out, but he sure gets more recognition for it than anyone on the team.
Frumpy
April 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
.189, .197, .195, .179, .149. How can you win with these batting averages? who is to blame?
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
whiff!
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
Matt Diaz always seems to have his head down this season.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
HAHA Diaz is terrible he can make any pitcher look great……
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
We used to have the Mondesi line for our hitters when Mondesi was here, What do we call it now…?
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
Braves now have 5 guys, not including the pitcher, batting below .200 in the lineup tonight.
By comparison the worst team in the league, Baltimore, has only 2 guys batting below .200
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
On to more important topics: Have the Braves worn their gray road uniforms this year? It seems like most of the games have been in the Blue?
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
8:42 pm
good one!
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
8:42 pm
5 game hitting streak and a 0.179 average! It really IS that bad, friends.
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:43 pm
woo hoo! i reverse jinxed us
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
8:43 pm
Broke up the No-No!!!! WOO HOO!!!
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:43 pm
Tomahawkin
The “Frank Wren” Line ????
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:44 pm
Anyone wanna Bank on the Braves having more errors than runs tonight? I know our offense isn’t gonna go out like that!
Colin
April 28th, 2010
8:44 pm
I love Jamie Garcia pitching against us, he is going to make my ERA go into the ground tonight
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:44 pm
Martin Prado passed the torch to Cabrera, now he’s the one who’s hot! I wonder who’ll be next once he cools off?
bruce
April 28th, 2010
8:44 pm
something negative about the braves
brian
April 28th, 2010
8:44 pm
Diaz has a terrible swing working now. He pulls his head out like me on my golf swing. His last swing looked like a 2 handed forehand in tennis trying to put topspin on the ball.
Glaus, well I do like Glaus, but another strikeout. Ouch
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
8:44 pm
Tomahawkin – I was about to post the same question, lol. That’s bad…
Ry
April 28th, 2010
8:45 pm
This has to be the worst fielding team the Braves have put on the field in a long time. It is painful to watch. Long term, I think that is a bigger issue than hitting. The hitting will come around at some point, but the poor defense is alarming.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:45 pm
MFin04
I haven’t seen the Gray road unis all year…In think its time the team burn the road blue unis and go back to the greys…
Just keep the Blue Unis for the fans who buy it
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:45 pm
good thing chip didnt have to throw that one
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
8:46 pm
The “Frank Wren” line is right.
braves70
April 28th, 2010
8:46 pm
Cardinals honoring Bobby Cox……. for all the games he has lost to LaRussa I guess.
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
8:46 pm
Good thing the masterminds thought bringing in Glaus was a solution at 1B. Seriously, how much “special” talent is required to field a total crap baseball team?
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:46 pm
MFin04
Not to mention I think we brake out the throwback powder blue unis for tomorrow’s day game
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:46 pm
Yeah, yeah… If we would have Chris Weinke for that game, things would have been different for UT
N Nine
April 28th, 2010
8:46 pm
I support Frank Wren.
Glaus and Melky are key assets. KJ is way too streaky and I’m going to pretend I didn’t see Damon’s 15 game hitting streak.
WTG WREN!!!! ^^
chipperchop
April 28th, 2010
8:46 pm
This pitcher for the Cards has some serious movement on his pitches. May well be a no no tonight.
N Nine
April 28th, 2010
8:47 pm
Oh! Look- KJ just hit another HR.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
8:47 pm
May well be a no no tonight.
Except for the fact that we have a hit…
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
8:47 pm
Kawakami has looked better already this year than he did most all of last year. He has to be one of the better #5 in the game.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
8:48 pm
Wow, I just looked at the G-Braves BA’s to see if there were any diamonds in the rough on that team, but their BA’s are just as bad…. Except for Clevlen.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:48 pm
.189
.362
.255
.197 (told ya he would k)
.190
.191
.250
.149
.000
Plus, a pitcher with a 5.00 ERA and a D that has committed 20 errors in 21 games. Doesn’t paint a pretty picture now does it? Maybe a change in how spring training is conducted is in order? Even when the Braves were winning pennants, they often started out slow and then went on a run in June.
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:48 pm
They wore the greys back in NY.
Crockett
April 28th, 2010
8:49 pm
Can anyone remember a more frustrating stretch being a Braves fan. 2008 was bad, but until Kelly Johnson dropped a pop up in early June, we were 2.5 games out of first place.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:49 pm
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
8:47 pm
“Kawakami has looked better already this year than he did most all of last year. He has to be one of the better #5 in the game.”
Too bad his record doesn’t indicate that since the offense is garbage in 85 percent of his starts where KK gets the shaft
shmoe
April 28th, 2010
8:49 pm
kk on a mission. it should be 0-0
bruce
April 28th, 2010
8:49 pm
good inning KK
Brava
April 28th, 2010
8:49 pm
KK seems to have settled in.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:49 pm
Speaking of No hitters has a team ever been no hit twice in one season?? cause if not i think the braves have a chance to do it if this trend continues
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
8:50 pm
見逃し三振！
(Trans: Struck out looking!)
(Pron: minogashi sanshin!)
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
8:50 pm
I hate when the camera points at Yunel when talking about defense. Like it was his fault the guy hit a tricky lazer at him that he couldn’t field. Most ANY, if not every SS in the game would’ve been ate up by that. Back off Esco!
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:50 pm
June 2006 was awful… I think we were 4-22 that month (including a 10 game losing streak)
N Nine
April 28th, 2010
8:50 pm
Even the dragonslayer himself stands no match with this offense.
I Wonder
April 28th, 2010
8:50 pm
Why is it that Kelly Johnson changes teams and suddenly he is hitting like everyone in Atlanta predicted he could? I mean all he did was change teams. Why is that? Why did that happen? Is this not the same Kelly Johnson? Is it not the same player who played for Bobby Cox and TP?
I’m confused! Why is this happening?
Frumpy
April 28th, 2010
8:50 pm
This Brendan Ryan looks like he could be a braves player, maybe we should trade for him:
.164 average, would fit right in, maybe trade him for Prado, who is overacheiving with a .362 average.
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
8:51 pm
Kawakami is doing pretty darn good despite Bobby’s attempts to undermine him.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:51 pm
“Can anyone remember a more frustrating stretch being a Braves fan”
Losing 10 in a row in 2006 was just as bad because it happened in June, I was reminded of that a few nights ago on here
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:51 pm
exactly what we needed. i think KK is overpaid as a #5, but have to give him credit since i point out his salary so much…a quick 10 pitch inning was awesome there.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
8:51 pm
Kawakami has looked better already this year than he did most all of last year. He has to be one of the better #5 in the game. TnB
KK was better than all #5 and most #4s last season.
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:51 pm
KK will settle down and pitch well giving the team a chance but still recieves no support, you know when Lowe isnt pitching for sure….
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
8:52 pm
Hah, keep telling yourself that Chuck. Our D would have owned Weinke the way we owned the rest of your team that game. Al Wilson was out for blood in that game. It was never close. Peter Warrick was supposed to light us up and he didn’t do squat. We had Tee Martin playing QB plus Jamal Lewis was out for the season. I think Jamal was a little better of a player than Weinke. Our team didn’t make excuses, though. They just went out and won a NC after losing their best player for the year.
Roy Hobbs
April 28th, 2010
8:52 pm
Thank goodness Melky ruined the no hitter. Now someone spoil the shut out please!?
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
8:52 pm
not hitting, not playing d = big, fat losing streak
april is a little early to start playing out the string.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
8:53 pm
well so much for swinging at the first pitch
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
8:53 pm
and he was paid like it…
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
8:53 pm
There’s a girl at the mall here in Chattanooga that used to date one of the current Braves players. My brother-in-law told me he forgot the players name, but I’m going to find out. He said she still talks to him all the time.
I know, random, but still kinda interesting.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:54 pm
If This is the Cards Team I see us playing in the NLDS this year, then we got our work cut out for us, they have a lot of pesky players on their team who do what it takes to win game, a perfect example of that is Yadier Molina
braves-gamecock
April 28th, 2010
8:54 pm
I said Cox should have retired three years ago, but Cox is right on this, and if if he isn’t, I pray J-Hey doesn’t read this blog.
Dave From Ohio
April 28th, 2010
8:54 pm
5 players in tonight’s lineup that are batting less than 200 (NOT counting the pitcher!). It is too SAD!
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
8:54 pm
agree to disagree, gobravos… haha
how bout that Lane Kiffin? j/k
braves70
April 28th, 2010
8:55 pm
1960 Phillies were no-hit twice by the Braves. Lou Burdette on August 18 and Warren Spahn on September 16.
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
8:55 pm
Yo DOB were both Card runs in the first unearned?
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
8:55 pm
nolie, maybe, but I think he’ll be more recognized this year one of the better back-end starters.
I Wonder
April 28th, 2010
8:56 pm
“TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
8:53 pm
There’s a girl at the mall here in Chattanooga that used to date one of the current Braves players. My brother-in-law told me he forgot the players name, but I’m going to find out. He said she still talks to him all the time.”
It’s probably Chipper. She work at Hooters at the mall?
keylargo
April 28th, 2010
8:56 pm
I’ve seen others on here comment about this, and I want to add my voice. EVERY other game on MLB Extra Innings is in HD EXCEPT the stupid Braves. Decker
You can get the Braves in HD by watching the Cardinals feed.
Colin
April 28th, 2010
8:56 pm
lets go garcia
!!!!! I need fantasy help
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
8:56 pm
1-2-3, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3… Go Braves! Our offense rocks!
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:56 pm
This Offense Stinks! They are not even hitting balls hard, CY Garcia looking Good…
It might be time to break out the Fred McGriff/Tom Emanski videos tomorrow morning before the game
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
8:57 pm
Alright about time to fire one of the coaches. Either Bobby or TP. Don’t care either way, but someone has to take the fall when an offense starts off the season this flat. If the Manager wasn’t Bobby Cox, his job would be in jeopardy. And some of the announcers believe the manager in waiting is TP. Which would make him off limits to fire as well. Absurd…but true.
Frumpy
April 28th, 2010
8:57 pm
what will cox have to say if we keep hitting like this, be something like this:
‘we hit some hard balls today, just right at fielders. we will be alright’
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:57 pm
This Canadian weather down here and watching this team play is making me yearn for some College Football
nolie
April 28th, 2010
8:58 pm
the question is do you REALLY want to watch all the mistakes in HD? cloudy foggy low D might be better
VaBraveFan
April 28th, 2010
8:59 pm
braves70
good info! i should have known that being a braves fan but i’m only 22 so i dont know much about back n the day
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
8:59 pm
Chuck, one of the worst hires in UT sports history, which says a lot. If it weren’t for Bruce Pearl, then Mike Hamilton would no longer be AD at UT. I like Dooley, though. He will be a much better fit for UT and SEC.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
8:59 pm
No, the girl works at Verizon.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
8:59 pm
Question of the Night?
Which was worse our Putrid pitching staff of 2008 or this Awfense…
I say 2008, because walks and blowgames by that Blowpen over and over was more rough than this
I Wonder
April 28th, 2010
8:59 pm
“the question is do you REALLY want to watch all the mistakes in HD?”
Excellent point, nolie.
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
8:59 pm
hey kids, remember next inning it’s the Wendy’s “Hit it Past the Mound” inning, for every Braves player who hits one past the mound you can get an ice cold frosty at Wendy’s.
Remember, you can be cool as the Braves’ Bat with a Wendy’s Frosty!
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:00 pm
we always start out slow…even when we are good…which has been a while, but still…could it be that it has something to do with ST?
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:00 pm
KK WTF….
chucktown brave
April 28th, 2010
9:00 pm
Dooley seems to be a standup guy
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
9:01 pm
You know I really thought KAWAKAMI was going to be better with a year under his belt. I guess familiarity breeds contempt where opposition hitters are concerned.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:01 pm
“hit it past the mound inning” —-funny!
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
9:01 pm
Braves taking too many pitches today – Bobby “Ty Cobb” Cox
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:02 pm
That Runs Via Homer stat was Nasty and whats even more Cold Blooded is that J Hey has 4 of the homers
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:02 pm
This Is Not Good
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
Has KK really looked all that much better? I think he is terrible and so is Lowe.
Eric
April 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
Ballgame
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
yup, that 4.74 era (and about to go higher) and 1.40 or so WHIP is outstanding!! well worth the money!
Frumpy
April 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
Grand Slam anyone?
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
Better hope to Gawd we get a DP here otherwise its “Game Over!”
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
grand salami time!
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
For all the cats bashing KK, At lease he isn’t Making the Money of Lowe and Chipper
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
How I get Cardinals banking?
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
looks like ill be getting a W tonight..thanks Braves for being inept in everything you do…does anyone feel that this losing streak could go 15 or 20 games?
I Hope
April 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
I hope none of the Braves player is getting sex. They really don’t deserve any perks that life has to offer.
Mitchie-san (Chipper needs yoga)
April 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
I am about to give up….for real!
N Nine
April 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
Unbelievable.
Pip
April 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
Bad News Braves?
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
Game OVER
Come on D-Ross don’t give me this Olay BullSh. +!!!
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
pathetic
OzzyBraves
April 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
Who’s taking too many pitches now Bobby? Apparently Heyward isn’t your scape goat. So which one of our wonderful hitters is it this time? Maybe Pendleton can tell you.
Cox and Pendleton need to go. They are past their glory days, well Pendleton’s actually never had a glory day as a coach.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
T-Hawkin…but he is a #5 starter making that coin…like I said combine the 3 you mentioned and you have over 40% of our payroll!!
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
nolie:
Juego ha terminado – Ay dios mio
keylargo
April 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
the question is do you REALLY want to watch all the mistakes in HD? cloudy foggy low D might be better Nolie
You always have the option to drink that HD fuzzy.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:06 pm
Yunel!!
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:06 pm
Our Team Defense Blows!
And Now its Rossy, this team catching a Klob is killing Me!
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:06 pm
Jimmy Joe, I’d be willing to bet most any pitcher is going to start feeling the heat when every start they feel the need to be perfect. That’s the case with KK. Too much pressure for most any pitcher, I’d think.
Brava
April 28th, 2010
9:06 pm
Oh, this is ugly.
bravos2249
April 28th, 2010
9:06 pm
Ok. Now whose fault is that that runner was right behind him.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:06 pm
Heckuva stop by Yuni.
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
9:06 pm
No, this team has set an all time mark for disgusting play. And this is the same fan base and players that make fun of the Mets for all of their problems. Puh-leeze.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:07 pm
T-hawkin: true enough. KK is the least of my worries on this team of overpaid underachievers.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
KK will be out by the 5th, “Bank On It!”
We gotta score some Effing runs because I can taste a loss against CY Wainwright tomorrow
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
For all the cats bashing KK, At lease he isn’t Making the Money of Lowe and Chipper
“Yeah, that’s good news” – STRIPES
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
Well, you can’t blame KK, two errors in the first inning by our (in the words of the great Cox and veteran Jones) good defensive ballclub. And the AWfense is already in the back of our pitchers minds everyday.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
KK got a break on that call, bout time
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
All of these runs are not earned. To call any of these runs earned is ridiculous. Should be at least 3 errors on the Braves so far.
I Hope
April 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
“Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
Game OVER
Come on D-Ross don’t give me this Olay BullSh. +!!!”
He actually learned that move from Mac when Mac takes the throw on a play at the plate and dives at the runner with an empty glove as the ball skips all the way to the backstop.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
The Atlanta Braves, The New Jersey Nets of the MLB?
Kris
April 28th, 2010
9:09 pm
Maybe if the Braves get the absolute crap kicked out of them it will jolt them into playing better baseball….oh wait that already happened by the worst offensive team in baseball (SD). This team sucks – I watch baseball because it is a nice break from the grind, but watching the Braves just gets me pissed off. I hate this team.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
9:09 pm
no puedo creerlo es basura
StingerSplash
April 28th, 2010
9:09 pm
To reiterate the point, five of the eight regulars in the lineup are below the Mendoza Line, including three straight hitters in the order.
You know where batters are running up to the plate to take hacks at a pitcher offering up meat? Do pitchers run up to the mound to mow down the sacrifice of the lambs?
At least the Canadiens-Caps game is entertaining. I’d sooner watch American Idol than this crap right now.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
9:10 pm
The Major League references on this blog are awesome
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:10 pm
Does Frank Wren really work for Goldman-Sachs? Hmmmmmm. . .
Dan Kolb's Mom
April 28th, 2010
9:11 pm
oh wow outs
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:11 pm
still say they should have brought Wags in last night for the 4 inning save…hell, he won’t have to pitch again for a week or so… (:
Ernest T Bass
April 28th, 2010
9:11 pm
I wudn’t waste one of my pressus roks on dis sheet
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:11 pm
Nice DP, but game over! We will score 2 in the 9th, Watch!
Dan in NJ
April 28th, 2010
9:11 pm
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
The Atlanta Braves, The New Jersey Nets of the MLB?
HEY HEY HEY. Stop that. NO need for that at all.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:11 pm
Thank God!!
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:11 pm
Well KK still pitching great. Hasn’t given up a legit earned run yet.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:11 pm
Or is there hitter’s Kryptonite in Stone Mt. every time the Braves sign a hitter?
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:12 pm
Sweet! Don’t bash KK, seriously.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:12 pm
Dan Kolb’s Mom – lulz!
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
9:12 pm
I’d love to celebrate, but the Cardinals have already scored enough runs to win, so none of this really matters.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:12 pm
who thinks we score this game?
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:12 pm
hey at least were 1 day closer to September 12th and the start of the run for the Cowboys to play in the super bowl in the Jerry Dome
!!!!! at least they have talent and use it to the full of their abilities.
No Tools
April 28th, 2010
9:12 pm
No pride, no guts, no character, no leadership.
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 Atlanta Braves!
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:12 pm
LOL – Sorry, Dan, no harm intended.
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:12 pm
Why is Peachtree showing us close ups of the Nissian SUV in the parking lot?
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:13 pm
No problem VaBraveFan. Others to be no hit twice were the 2001 Padres, 1977 Angels, 1971 Reds, 1965 Cubs, 1923 A’s, 1917 White Sox (on back-to-back days), 1898 Braves (known as the Beaneaters back then), 1885 Providence Grays, 1884 Pittsburgh Allegheneys.
I would save the 2010 Braves are a candidate to smash the record of 2 in one year.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:13 pm
Is this where we break out?
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:13 pm
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
9:10 pm
“The Major League references on this blog are awesome
It’s comic relief for watching the Crap happening in the Louie,I’m about to get Clowned on Facebook by a bunch of bandwagon Cards fans that I went to school with
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:13 pm
On the bright side: Uh… No racist idiots on this thread?
Dan in NJ
April 28th, 2010
9:13 pm
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:14 pm
Molina impersonating Troy.
Soph
April 28th, 2010
9:14 pm
Is this where we break out?
Yes.
Jimmy Joe
April 28th, 2010
9:14 pm
Kawakami is not pitching great, MFin04. Not at all. 2 wild pitches, 3 walks, and a few hits…..in three innings. That’s great?
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:14 pm
Things the Braves need to get rid of (not in any order)
Chip Carray
The Cow in LF
Bobby Cox
Terry Pendleton
Derek Lowe
Chipper Jones
Melky Cabrera
Nate McLouth
JJ from Peach Tree
Soph
April 28th, 2010
9:14 pm
Bank on it.
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:14 pm
Honestly, Is there anyone in this lineup that would you would consider intimidating?
You can see the smirks on these pitchers faces the last few days when they play the braves. They are laughing because this team is a joke. We absolutely have nothing in this lineup!
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
9:15 pm
no winner yet, in the Hit It Past The Mound Inning, sorry fans
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:15 pm
The Capitals are about to lose in the opening round
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:15 pm
Listen to Smoltzie….’something….gotta do something.’
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:15 pm
Damn I think Georgia Tech could Clown this Braves team as poorly as we are playing on all sides of the game
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:15 pm
Let me start designing my brown paper bag headwear in preparation for the Bravos visit to SoFla. My bag will have the (real) tears drawn on it. Yes, DOB, when you are THIS inept, there is crying in baseball.
Kris
April 28th, 2010
9:15 pm
Please Colin – nobody cares about your cowboys and the clown you have as a QB. Just shut up.
FEAR
April 28th, 2010
9:15 pm
Yeah this team is pretty bad
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:15 pm
I like the cow!
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:16 pm
Rifled!!
Soph
April 28th, 2010
9:16 pm
Glaussy
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:16 pm
OMG, i went to the bathroom, when i came back there were 2 outs already! LOL
Ernest T Bass
April 28th, 2010
9:17 pm
I’d thro roks at the cow
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:17 pm
GO HABS!!! Beat the Capitols.
Pip
April 28th, 2010
9:17 pm
a break? it’ll be our hearts next
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:18 pm
At least I’m not looking stupid picking up Troy Glaus in fantasy to back up my corner infielders.
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:18 pm
Diaz crushed that ball.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:18 pm
Ill take that we need to Capitalize, No DP’s!
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
If the Braves had “Chico’s Bail Bonds” night – with the yellow and white uni’s – I’d go.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
Sure am glad Chipper is playing through pain and really helping this team out offensively and defensively. I think he’s trying to get his average below .200 like everyone else.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
Fail
Kris
April 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
Man we suck.
JasonInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
how long\will the streak go?
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
Glaus is on fire, better lead him off.
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
Oops.
Frumpy
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
even when we get hits, we get them with 2 out and they are singles only. Some wild pitches may have helped, cant the cardinals return the favour?
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
Go Habs! At least one of my (pseudo)-teams is playing well
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
braves will lose 10 in a row
FEAR
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
17 gamer? like the 70s?
Kris
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
I’m thinking Chipper Jones is going to be retiring after this season. Sure wish Derek Lowe would go with him.
MikeInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
Not to worry. We’ve got the gall bladder of the order coming up in the 5th.
Salamander
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
Colin
So not only are you annoying, you’re also a Cowboy’s fan.
You’re what – 17 years old? Are you PL’s lil’ bro?
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
I don’t know what to say to my friend in Japan (who was raised near Baltimore) who is going crazy over this Caps game. I kept telling him “Curse of the President’s Trophy” when they won it, but…
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
Rob from SC: May I add Frank Wren, Terry McGuirk, and Liberty Media to your list?
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:21 pm
Most important stat for the Braves:: RBIs
2nd Most important stat for the Braves: HRs
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:21 pm
I say 12 and thats tops..I dont think they would lose 15 or more..thats a lot of games.
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:21 pm
you can see the pure fear in each one of the braves players. they are holding back tears because they know what is happening.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:21 pm
“Man we suck”
No, “we” don’t suck. The Braves suck. I’m cool, man. Watchu talkin bout?
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:21 pm
Not to worry. We’ve got the gall bladder of the order coming up in the 5th.
So is the bottom of the order the pancreas? Or something I can’t say on this board?
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:22 pm
I think the Sopchoppy Swamp Retards could take two of three from the Bravos.
FEAR
April 28th, 2010
9:22 pm
so if were this bad by trade deadline. Is there even anyone worth dealing?
Frumpy
April 28th, 2010
9:22 pm
woohoo, only 3 batters under .200 now, Glaus and Diaz now crucshing the ball at .209
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
9:22 pm
no run support JJ will try to prevent the sweep tomorrow? I don’t see that working in his favor.
and the weekend Astros series will probably be “Braves Borefest 2010″
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:22 pm
I think we can make it to 17 losses in a row. Ya gotta believe!
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
Diaz almost booted that Sunday hop.
FEAR
April 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:21 pm
“Man we suck”
No, “we” don’t suck. The Braves suck. I’m cool, man. Watchu talkin bout?
hahaha. good one brian
MikeInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
So is the bottom of the order the pancreas? Or something I can’t say on this board?
I decided to keep it “clean.” But it wasn’t easy.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
SIGN RAUL MONDESI!!! Oh. . .
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:20 pm
Rob from SC: May I add Frank Wren, Terry McGuirk, and Liberty Media to your list?
Yes you can, my bad… And since our should be ace is pitching against us tomorrow can I add Schuerholz
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
deal anybody and everybody.
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
I am not 17, and who is PL?
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
I feel your pain Tomahawkin. My dad is from St. Louis and moms from Dalton. My two brothers are Cards fans and I am a Braves fan. We are a house divided this week, and they’re all letting me know how terrible the Braves are right now. It sucks b/c we usually play the Cards pretty well.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:24 pm
I know you guys have noticed this, but it’s worth saying … notice how DOB has barely peaked his head around here during games lately? I don’t blame you, DOB. What’s to say anymore?
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
9:24 pm
Botelo en basura. Los BRAVOS son los peores de todos. Arriba-abajo.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:24 pm
Does Schafer even need Minor League time… he could hit .200 without going to Gwinnett
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
9:24 pm
“so if were this bad by trade deadline. Is there even anyone worth dealing?”
only guys worth trading are the ones they need to keep: JJ, Hanson, Prado, Heyward
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
9:24 pm
Colin I’m a Cowboys fan too
And you had one of my all timr favorite posts “why does Jesus hate my teams”. Oh man another singlaus and no rbis
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:25 pm
Schuerholz is added. I wonder if he even watches this trash these days?
FEAR
April 28th, 2010
9:25 pm
TnBrian – oh it’s not the crap team. It’s the “haters” brian.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:25 pm
We suck so bad right now, I don’t even want to play MLB The Show.
I might need to call up Schafer and Freeman
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:25 pm
Braves 15th in RBIs and 15th in HRs in the National League. Last in batting average. That makes for a terrible offense.
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
9:25 pm
I forgot to pat Bobby on the back for keeping Infante on the pine. Another good job, Bobby!
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:26 pm
Rob: Schafer apparently has a bad wing, can’t play on account of his trick wrist.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:26 pm
braves70
In all fairness, Schuerholz was very human without Turner’s money
Braves2010.
April 28th, 2010
9:26 pm
I will ride the wave of losses, its only April..April showers bring May flowers…maybe…
bgvt
April 28th, 2010
9:26 pm
If you think there might be help at AAA, you will be unhappy to discover that the G-Braves are being no hit through 7.2 innings.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
MiaBchBravesFan
I wonder bad wrist and all could he hit better than McLouth and Cabrera
Least Runs Loses
April 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
I can’t decide which is worst–a barely over .500 club that possibly/maybe put together a run that will eventually fall short OR this horrible club that is presently the laughing stock of major league baseball.
My worst fear is that we are getting set up for both– a laughingstock that gets competitive only to eventually fall short.
Why did I think this team had a chance? Enron stock, Bear Stearns account, and now this. Just not that smart, I guess.
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
it almost takes effort to stink this bad
keylargo
April 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
The Braves should look into acquiring Brendan Ryan.
Kris
April 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
Maybe I suck for thinking this team was going to do something this year. This team is making me depressed.
Salamander
April 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
I am not 17, and who is PL?
My bad, 18.
PL is an ‘old friend’ of many bloggerites. He loves the Cowboys.
A team from Texas? Whatever.
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
Minogashi SANSHIN!!!
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:28 pm
Melky wins tonight’s Tin Slugger Award for not striking out – like Glaus and Diaz did.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:28 pm
Bye Bye Capitals
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:28 pm
haha thanks Carl and I am glad your a Cowboys fan too your cool in my book, I really do think he does
, I mean its common knowledge he is a Cowboys fan, I mean thats what the hole in the roof is for..but as for the Braves, Knicks, Redbulls, Rangers..hatred for me.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
9:28 pm
estoy de acuerdo contigo
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:28 pm
Rob, you ain’t kidding.
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:28 pm
its not that they are in a slump. they really arent any good.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:29 pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HABS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:29 pm
There will have to be a team desperate enough to trade for Kawakami around the deadline right?
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:29 pm
“In all fairness, Schuerholz was very human without Turner’s money” Rob
Uh, ya think. Blunder city right there.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
Braves need to start a fight. Something to get their blood circulating..
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
will anyone get the ball in the air this inning?
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
I hope the Braves wear their old Boston Beaneaters uniforms sometime this year because their lineup is full of beans.
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
not 18 either sir, sorry man..I am sorry I like the Cowboys…I didnt know it was a crime.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
KK might be undefeated on a team with a decent offense.
Dawg'88
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
8 in a row….unbelieveable…but why? Seriously! Why are these guys so bad? What is wrong? I am not looking for snide remarks and sarcastic comments…What is the problem?
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
Ross – McLouth – Kawakami : The Abyss II.
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
Caps show signs of life!
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
now Washington scores
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
9:31 pm
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:29 pm
“In all fairness, Schuerholz was very human without Turner’s money” Rob
Uh, ya think. Blunder city right there.
what do you mean?
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:31 pm
braves70: no, the Braves SMELL like what beans normally do to us all.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:31 pm
maybe I should start watching the hockey playoffs…
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:31 pm
”it almost takes effort to stink this bad”
LOL!
Pip
April 28th, 2010
9:32 pm
SIGN BARRY BONDS!!!
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:32 pm
Or maybe not…
Least Runs Loses
April 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
This team is near the league lead in scoring less runs than the other team.
N Nine
April 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
Tonight’s CY candidate: some dude name Garcia.
Tomorrow’s CY candidate: Wainwright
That’s ballgame folks.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
We are getting the Ric Flair’s but not when we hit with R.I.S.P.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
McOut gets a hit. Halelujah!!
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
To me, this is why the Braves are in one of those awful bad luck spells … Nate FINALLY gets a hit and who’s up? The pitcher.
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
Our pitchers can’t bunt.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
No DP’s Please
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
Braves get more singles than Tiger Woods at a mixer
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
Maybe DOB is drinking away his anguish of having to watch/cover this team, and at this point is too drunk too type? I know I might be soon…
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:35 pm
KKs game logs
6ip 2 ER
5ip 3ER
6ip 3 ER
4ip 2ER (which aren’t really earned with the way Ross is playing behind the plate)
Wow, he really is terrible isn’t he? Gives us no chance of winning.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:35 pm
I have a bad feeling about this AB
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
9:35 pm
carlchamblee, AWESOME!
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:35 pm
Yeeek- Caps almost scored an empty netter there…that would have been bad
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
nice job kk.
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
We are getting the Ric Flair’s but not when we hit with R.I.S.P.
Too bad the only thing of Braves property that can be considered Stylin’ and Profilin’ is Kenshin’s Maserati.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
Another 2 out situation hitting R.I.S.P
Do we score? Here
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
or maybe it was the Habs…you can see how much hockey I’ve watched lately
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
That effing Yadier Molina is a vacumn behind the plate
Least Runs Loses
April 28th, 2010
9:37 pm
Hey, Esco can’t hit into a DP this AB! Well, I suppose he could find a way to get two outs, and apply the second one to the next inning.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:37 pm
5ip 4ER* sorry.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:38 pm
What happened to going to rf Esco?
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:38 pm
HABS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!! HABS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HABS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HABS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:38 pm
If the Braves feel of themselves the way I and most everybody here feels about them … God Bless them! They’d need a psychiatrist.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:38 pm
Marteeeen will deliver.
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
9:38 pm
Look, you guys are being overly negative. It’s plain to see this restrained powerhouse of a team will burst through its bindings and soar to the top of the standings at any moment. HOF manager, farm system, corporate deep pockets, etc.
MikeInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
That effing Yadier Molina is a vacumn behind the plate
Yeah, he sucks. (ba da boom)
Soph
April 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
What a bs strike.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
MAR-TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
G-Braves one out away from getting no-hit.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
I’m getting tired of these F-Up calls against us!
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:40 pm
Yer right Soph, that was no strike!
bruce
April 28th, 2010
9:40 pm
marteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen
JEB
April 28th, 2010
9:40 pm
Kelly Johnson will win the Home Run Derby this year.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
And there is the no hitter. At least we know there isn’t anyone we can call up to help the MLB team.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
The baseball Gods hate us.
Least Runs Loses
April 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
Braves effort is about as ugly as the Cardinals’ fans.
brian
April 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
keylargo
April 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
The Braves should look into acquiring Brendan Ryan
if Ryan comes with Colby Rasmus for Yunel – giddyup
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
Soph!
You still around? I was beginning to wonder if you had run into that wall one too many times
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
if those “just foul” balls become fair I believe the Braves luck would change
as it stands they just can’t buy a hit with runners in scoring position
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:42 pm
Game Over!
Offense will take the rest of the night off, they have to be up early in the morning
Salty Dawg
April 28th, 2010
9:42 pm
Braves need to start a fight. Something to get their blood circulating..
Yeah, with each other. A la Major League.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:43 pm
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
“Soph!
You still around? I was beginning to wonder if you had run into that wall one too many times”
She’s glued to the Hawks game…
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:43 pm
marteen
Eric
April 28th, 2010
9:43 pm
5th inning blowup incoming from KK
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
9:43 pm
What’s the problem(s)? Two WP, two E, 0-2 RISP.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:43 pm
J-Hey, it’s that bad luck thing again.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:43 pm
Boy! We’ll be some grisled old fans when or if we come out of this funk huh?
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:43 pm
marteen didnt even try on that last swing.
looks like another shut out.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
9:44 pm
RIP no RISP
Crime Dog
April 28th, 2010
9:44 pm
Salty Dawg-
I was thinking more along these lines:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLMl0CLIDLg
brian
April 28th, 2010
9:44 pm
Rome Braves – gave up only 4 hits and one earned run tonight against the last place Greensboro Grasshoppers. Unfortunately they had 3 errors that led to an additional 4 unearned run while mustering only 3 hits and no runs themselves. Sound familiar???
Soph
April 28th, 2010
9:44 pm
cab, I’m here but barely. Headache from running into the wall for the past week.
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:44 pm
ATL = All These Losers … dont know how to win!
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
Terry Pendleton is the best hitting coach in the world. If you want an average of 150
Ernest T Bass
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
Braves cudn’t hit da rok if i put it on Barney’s head wich i aint gonna doo
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
When I saw tonight’s lineup, I was appalled, pizzed-off, mortified, petrified, horrified, disappointed, demoralized, and debilitated.
May have to attend losing-streak counseling.
I’ve been a Braves fan since the late 60s, and Heyward’s arrival is one of the five-most exciting thing to happen to this team since. I puked a little when I saw he wasn’t in the lineup.
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
man Jamie Garcia is making me look like a stellar GM
!!
Braves One
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
Does Kawakami ever get run support?
Moot point perhaps since we aren’t scoring for anyone.
dogsbrekky
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
Dobi – I love you mate but if anyone in the ATL criticizes a gungho 20 year old with the batting patience of Methusala and the highest rbi on a crappy… I mean really effing foooooking crappy team then they suk dead dogs old fellas…. but hey that is just moi
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
We are losing because we have not had Chip Carey around. He is our good luck charm?
brian
April 28th, 2010
9:47 pm
let me get this straight – Glaus, Cabrera, Diaz, and McLouth all have hits and we still can’t score. What are the odds that those 4 would have a single hit apiece by the 5th inning in the same game this year?
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:47 pm
She’s glued to the Hawks game…
They haven’t been eliminated yet? Wow
Soph-
I know the feeling…
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:47 pm
That Effing Pujols!
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
This isn’t good for the sphincter.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
Need I ask why Chipper is still in this game giving away runs? He has cost us 4 or 5 runs the last few games. This is getting absurd.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
Dorn could’ve had that shyt! If he can’t dive then he needs to be on the DL
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
chipper fail
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
Hay! What a play by our hands of stone 3B there.
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
E5
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
Not the worst thing that could happen when it’s Pujols on a 3-1 count. Dude’s effing scary.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
That cool, calm and collected Chipper Jones look don’t look so cool when he and the team are playing like this, does it?
Braves One
April 28th, 2010
9:49 pm
Here comes the hook…
Brava
April 28th, 2010
9:49 pm
Is Chipper being paid by the Cardinals?
Soph
April 28th, 2010
9:49 pm
They haven’t been eliminated yet? Wow
Ha, cab. Nope, still alive but them blowing a 2 games to 0 lead + the Braves scoring woes have made me one cranky ATL fan.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:49 pm
What the hell is Bobby doing? Pujols hits a weak ball past Chipper that should have been an out. Then he intentional walks a guy to set up another DP, and then he goes to the bullpen? What for?
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:50 pm
I think it is a cruel trick on Bobby. Ashton Cutcher is about to come from the dugout…
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
9:51 pm
I think it is a cruel trick on Bobby. Ashton Cutcher is about to come from the dugout…
The whole season so far for the Braves is playing out like an episode of Punk’d.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:51 pm
braves70 – We are losing because we have not had Chip Carey around. He is our good luck charm?
You might be right. I mean, nothing’s been “Belted!”, Rifled!” or even “Fisted!”
4williec
April 28th, 2010
9:51 pm
Chipper muffs a play….Bobby takes KK out…okay.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
9:51 pm
Can Ashton Cutcher hit?
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
9:51 pm
But, Chipper has about $15M to not give a crap what any fan blogging thinks of him, so …
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:52 pm
Vinnie, COME ON! We need a DP
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
9:52 pm
Time for the Slapping!
4williec
April 28th, 2010
9:52 pm
Brilliant move Bobby….simply brilliant. Game over….again.
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
9:52 pm
I can’t stand how calm Cox is.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:53 pm
once again, baseball gods hate us.
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
9:53 pm
You cant’ say these guys don’t look like a last place team
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:53 pm
YES! Love it when Mr. Cox looks like an idiot!
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:53 pm
bad thing about starting out this bad is nobody is going to want to go see a bunch of losers and then we not only have a bad team but a team with no revenue
MZ
April 28th, 2010
9:53 pm
now I know what it feels like to have been a Texas Rangers fan circa 2003
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
9:54 pm
Love is with you tonight JC
Ernest T Bass
April 28th, 2010
9:54 pm
I bet Chipper give a crap ifn I nail him tween the eyes nex time he duz that
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
9:55 pm
This Kawakami experiment is really working out well. I hope Wren was smart enough to lock this guy in for a long time!
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:55 pm
heard they will now have a support group for braves fans.
its called the philadelphia phillies
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:55 pm
LaRussa must be laughing histericaly inside!
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
9:55 pm
Dear Braves: Flatt & Scruggs called. They want their banjos back.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
Well, I said 6-1 earlier.
fastasballs
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
Well that series of decisions didn’t pan out so well for Cox & the Braves. KK wasn’t getting beaten around & three of his walks were IBB. He can’t help the pitiful defense that’s behind him & the putrid offense that can’t muster a run.
MikeInFL
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
Wow, Venters brought his F game tonight.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
wow.
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
What have the braves come to?
braves70
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
Now our cigar-store Indian of a 1B lets a couple down the line. Marvelous!
4williec
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
The problem is not KK…not even close!
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
8 in a row lets make it 9 tomorrow
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
Lord I pray that you remove the curse that is upon us. Forgive Frank Wren of his sins and lead us not into last place but deliver us from the cardinals soon.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
9:57 pm
Cards have as many INT walks as Braves have hits tonight. Not good
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
9:57 pm
OMG! Bobby, you’re definitely a HOF manager!
Roy Hobbs
April 28th, 2010
9:57 pm
Is it to late for a countdown? 12 outs from another shutout!
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:57 pm
If it weren’t for bad luck, we’d have no luck at all. . .
Gloom
Despair
and Agony on us-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s. . .
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
9:58 pm
I have a feeling that next home stand the seats are going to be empty
Brava
April 28th, 2010
9:58 pm
They got cursed when they did that thing in the tunnel instead of going out on the field when Nate hit the walk-off. Pissed of the baseball gods.
Colin
April 28th, 2010
9:58 pm
I am done with the Braves for a week or 2..have fun everyone watching this team…I just dont care anymore.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
9:58 pm
Bobby sure doesn’t know what the hell he is doing does he?
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
9:58 pm
gonna be a long year. I say make some trades and look at next year. get some new blood.
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
9:59 pm
We need a whole new lineup
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
9:59 pm
Alright Jonny, a DP!!!
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
10:00 pm
happy retirement bobby, stay another year huh?
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:00 pm
Does Bobby Cox do anything well besides rack up victories behind the greatest trio of HOF pitchers there have ever been?
braves70
April 28th, 2010
10:00 pm
If we can lose tomorrow, the Lastros will be in for 3 this weekend. With any luck we will have 12 straight loses by Monday and well on our way to the 17 straight of 1977.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:00 pm
WE WANT CAÑIZARES AT 1B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
Words can’t decribe how bad I feel For KK
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
When Cox said this would be his last year as manager….did he mean the WHOLE damn year?
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
fellas another shutout
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
It’s Troy “just shy” Glob.
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
warning track power right there, that man is dangerous!
NORRIS
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
I hope we can beat the record of 17, I say this team has potential to hit 20
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
Damn That’s a 390 foot homer By Glaus if it were 6 years ago….
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
Chipper is getting closer to that .200 goal he set….
Troy Glaus can’t get anything to drop or get out…always in between.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
I’m feeling a little Tom Petty. . .
FREEEEEEEEEEEE, FREE – FALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
groundfog
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
This is a sad sack of ball players. Can’t hit, can’t throw, can’t catch
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
It’s getting hard to defend Bobby at this point. I love the guy, but he’s a terrible in-game tactician. Always has been.
The argument that we should have several world championships with the talent we’ve had, is absolutely correct. Who was the common denominator through it all?
Jeremy
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
Just the worst…
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
I was optimistic during spring training
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
Can Chipper Jones hit anything but his pathetic weak tapper to 2B?
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
Brava – Thought about that too. That’s when everything changed.
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
Troy is almost there. He will be going out of the park by next week.
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
This sucks.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
Glaus > fungo bat
groundfog
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
WTF happened to Diaz, did TP mess withhim in spring training? geez
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
Matt Whiffer!
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
inb4 Chipper’s nightly miscue that costs this team a bunch of ru….oh, wait! damn!
The hopes of the braves nation rest with Heyward
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
quick question:
what happens when we get back home and the stadium is empty? …then it remains that way the rest of the season? liberty will be slashing payroll at year’s end. if you think this is bad… just wait.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:04 pm
groundfog: we need to hire the manager from Bull Durham so he can do his shower speech scene.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:04 pm
What is the logic behind having your starter at 83 pitches and who has done well to limit damage in the previous 4 innings, not getting a shot to do it again with a potential DP?
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
10:04 pm
Does Louisville Slugger manufacture bats in “boat paddle” size?
Crockett
April 28th, 2010
10:04 pm
Norris, good point about the revenue. This is going to really hurt attendance for the entire season and that could affect 2011.
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
10:05 pm
Guys, it might be my fault for KK’s season so far. I picked him up in fantasy (just because I wanted both former Dragons on my roster).
BraveMan
April 28th, 2010
10:05 pm
wow. this team is past pathetic.
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
10:05 pm
At least Cox can’t blame this one on J-Hey!
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:06 pm
I just don’t understand Cox. He whole team is sucking up offensively and defensively… and the ONLY player that he publicly disses is the poor rookie who is taking is first time through the league. This is the guy who wouldn’t through Greg Norton under the bus for all of 2009.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
10:06 pm
Glaus but no cigar
braves70
April 28th, 2010
10:06 pm
Hopefully small crowds will force Liberty to speed up the sale of the team to someone who cares.
groundfog
April 28th, 2010
10:06 pm
MIaBchBravesFan….
Or how about the Preacher from The Natural…Losing is a Disease…..
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
10:07 pm
I just cant believe how bad the team is right now. WTF happened. its not one players is the whole lineup.
BraveMan
April 28th, 2010
10:07 pm
braves70,
before they do that, that will cut payroll in half. its about to be a dark time for baseball in atlanta for years to come it seems…
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
2011 Braves
C – McCann
1B – Freeman
2B – Prado
SS – Dominican SS Dude Recently Signed
3B – Escobar
LF – Any Young Guy We Get Will Do
CF – Schafer
RF – Heyward
Torch The Barn, Kill The Rats!!!
Tomahawk Mafia
April 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
This team gets more difficult to watch every game. It is almost like they deteriorate a little more each game. I would love to see a little enthusiasm out of this team at some point in time, however I have been looking for that since the 1990s.
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
“What is the logic behind having your starter at 83 pitches and who has done well to limit damage in the previous 4 innings, not getting a shot to do it again with a potential DP?”
Who knows? It feels kind of like, we’re all watching one game, and #6 is watching something completely different. Does he think that it’s KK’s fault our defense can’t make routine plays or every time a ground ball goes towards 3B, but not right at our 3B, the hitter winds up at 2nd? From the way I see it, it really doesn’t matter who’s on the mound.
4th place at best
April 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
When the theme song comes on the t.v. now, I sing along to the words “The Braves lose here”.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:09 pm
Totally lost track of the game there for a moment…looks like I didn’t miss anything
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:09 pm
Ok… Cox takes out the veteran KK who has shown he can get out jams and is leaving the rookie who can’t throw strikes in the game. Maybe he figures the game is already over, but come on Bobby Cox…
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
10:09 pm
This is way ugly.
DJ
April 28th, 2010
10:10 pm
DOB, are you at liberty to discuss how much your blog page views drop when the Braves go on a losing streak like this? Judging by the number of responses I would assume a considerable amount, but that could be totally backwards. Does the number of fans that lose interest (stop reading) outweigh the number of sky-is-falling fans and competitors’ fans laughing at the Braves?
Thanks for your continued coverage. I hope you get to cover a winning team at some point in the next month.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
10:10 pm
ugly is right
MZ
April 28th, 2010
10:10 pm
If this kind of play continues, what does Wren do? Start trading pieces away and start rebuilding? Who would he even consider trading? Yunel? Prado? JJ?
I mean, seriously … does he just do what the Indians have been doing the past few years, and hope to get some solid talent in return?
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
10:10 pm
Bobby cox isnt a great manager, anybody could have won 14 straight when you have
Maddux
Glavine
Smoltz
young Chipper
young Andruw Jones
Javy Lopez some great years
Braves One
April 28th, 2010
10:10 pm
I can hear Don Meredith beginning to sing …
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
Cox what is your deal??? Act, Man!!! Do something crazy…. Your leaving in your rookie to get smashed by Pujols?
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
5th Place, behind the gNats :-O
Firearm
April 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
Hadji, yeah, when you have those guys you should be able to win more than 1 WS. (I think my Twins might have had something to do with holding the Braves to 1, though.
)
I Hate Liberty Media
April 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
I think the Atlanta media should bluntly ask these hacks whether they believe their performance is worthy of the fans’ hard-earned dollars.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
This is our “character building” stage y’all, just relax.
TNBravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
Man I never imagined this team would be this bad. This is terrible and hard to take…it looks like baseball season may end for me in mid May.
groundfog
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
Losing is a disease……as contagious as Bubonic Plague
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
braves 70, Brave Man…. I really hope y’all are wrong
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
Hopefully small crowds will force Liberty to speed up the sale of the team to someone who cares.
As opposed to all the people who have been going to the games the last 2 years?
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
A DOB BLOG SIGHTING!!!
OzzyBraves
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
DOB,
You think.
I got the theme song for the Braves in 2010: “All by myself, don’t wanna be all by myself”
Sing it Braves fans, they are all by themselves…in last place.
Ernest T Bass
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
who u caulin ugly
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
finally, some good luck
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
Lol, better to be lucky than good. Pujols does make outs 50% of the time too….
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
Can I get a “build this!?” lolz
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
Hadji… through in Dave Justice, Fred McGriff, Andres Galarraga and so many more.
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
I hope someoneis keeping a suicide watch on Jurrgens and Hanson. Poor, unlucky bastards.
fastasballs
April 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
I seriously doubt Liberty will slash the payroll even if the Braves stink it up the remainder of the season. They have 40 or so million tied up in three players whose contracts go for a few more seasons. If they plan on selling the franchise in the future they will want to keep the value up & putting an inferior product on the field isn’t going to achieve that.
Not saying we are not watching an inferior product right now, but just saying. The smartest thing they could do to increase future value is to lock up Hanson, JJ & Heyward. Within a few years Chipper & Lowe will be gone so there will be plenty of money to spend on other talent. Their payroll is not that low compared to many MLB teams, but the problem is most of the payroll money is locked into aging, declining players & 1 overpaid 5th starter.
Desibrave
April 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
All this started after that “silent treatment” given to McLouth after that walk off. Looks like that was the jinx. Braves will break that jinx with a walk off win against astros and then celebrating as if they won the WCS..
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:14 pm
MiaBchBravesFan – It’s even getting to our fearless leader.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:14 pm
Firearm…. Maybe, or maybe lonnie smith did.
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:14 pm
Way to recover, Venters!
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
10:14 pm
Plain and simple Bobby Cox was spoiled. Now when you have a mediocre team cox cant do anything
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:15 pm
OK, this is where we win this thing!
Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:15 pm
Blessing in disguise…rather be out of it in May so we can dump players than be teased in September and trade away young talent for a ‘playoff run’ over-priced old ass free agent
Tomahawk Mafia
April 28th, 2010
10:15 pm
Does anyone feel that a change of some sort, now matter where it is needs to occur?
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
“This is way ugly.”
I think I had that on Sports South the other day, part of a Braves promo
“This is way ugly. This is your 2010 Atlanta Braves!”
“great seats still available for the upcoming homestand”
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
Way to make him work, Melky.
MZ
April 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
only guys I see that are untouchable if Wren decides to start moving some people are Heyward, McCann, and Hanson (and maybe JJ) …
Hudson, KK, McLouth, Diaz, Lowe, Moylan, O’Flaherty, Yunel, Prado … they’re all tradeable
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
somehow, I think wren is feeling pressure whether we can see it or not.
Braves One
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Down six and we’re first pitch swinging…
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Liberty doesn’t give two flips over how many people come to the ballpark or how many losses this team piles up.
Didn’t you guys get the memo? The Braves are a tax shelter for them that they use to offset some of their profits. It’s a loophole they’re using to their advantage. That’s why they’ve followed the “rules” so far that were assigned by MLB (when they purchased the team) to a tee.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Roll: nopers. Liberty will gladly slash payroll, Marlins-style, and wait until the economic climate gets better. Then, they’ll hose Arthur Blank for big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$’s. Liberty is not desperate to unload; the Braves are a speck on their portfolio. . .
Unless Chipper starts to do porno on Spectravision.
TennesseePaul
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
This team really is sending the old man out on top…
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Tomahawk Mafia, YES, do SOMETHING, anything… just don’t let the status quo continue.
Bradford
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
I love the Braves, but damn this is gettig painful to watch.
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
MZ
i like Escobar, that is one guy that i know will pop out of this funk.
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
They’ll sell the team off as soon as it is no longer beneficial for them to own, which will most likely still be several years.
Hadji
April 28th, 2010
10:18 pm
Never even heard of this pitcher,
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:18 pm
And to think I was complaining about living out of market. damn.
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
10:19 pm
Hopefully small crowds will force Liberty to speed up the sale of the team to someone who cares.
Yes, this is all Liberty’s fault…
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:19 pm
Wow.. showed a lot of life that inning.
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
10:20 pm
This team is an out machine.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:20 pm
Looks like the Braves hopped the hot-tub time machine back to the ’80s
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
10:20 pm
at least we had Dale Murphy in the 80s…………
Stoph in Marietta
April 28th, 2010
10:21 pm
It’s time for Cox to bow out somewhat gracefully. I LOVE Bobby, but he’s not the skipper of the future and thanks to Frank “WRECK” he’s got a .500 club at best. Chipper is OLD, Glaus sucks (aka Garret Anderson last season), and the team needs a few more studs to drive in runs. The pitching, other than that lousy import, will be fine in time. It’s time to face it Braves fans…the team will NOT compete until wholesale changes are made. Bye Bye Bobby, Glaus, Chipper, & Wren-wreck!
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
10:21 pm
0 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors. Yes, J-Hey looking at too many pitches is the problem. Are you kidding me?
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:21 pm
@Burton…. touche’
Stoph in Marietta
April 28th, 2010
10:22 pm
PS – J-Hey SHOWS more PASSION and SKILLS than 99.9% of the team over the past (when did they last appear in the playoffs?)…
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
10:22 pm
Good thing “the hitting wizard” Bobby Cox has now had time to counsel Jason Heyward. We all should expect great things in the near future.
Supes
April 28th, 2010
10:22 pm
I can’t watch anymore of this garbage tonight…time to stop changing the channel. Hawks vs Bucks a lot more interesting.
Braves One
April 28th, 2010
10:22 pm
Switched over between innings to check on the Reds & Astros, in time to hear the announcer say the Braves are on their way to their eighth straight defeat. It’s no secret.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:23 pm
gobravos….I don’t think Bobby ever said Heyward’s looking at too many pitches was THE problem, but Heyward is the highest profile player right now. He’s been the talk of the town for awhile.
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:23 pm
I didn’t read that Cox said the team’s problem was Heyward looking at too many pitches. I thought he said that was Heyward’s problem. And he’s right.
Change Turner Field to Aaron Stadium
April 28th, 2010
10:23 pm
As a real baseball fan, you wait all off-season, you follow all the trades and signings. You count the days until Spring Training. You get pumped up for Opening Day. And you hope, just hope that your team can get off to a good start. And then…they lose eight in a row, get shut out mulitple times, including a no-hitter at home and are five games under .500 and in last place with the second worst record in baseball. Simply put, this sucks!!!
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:23 pm
@Braves One….Damn! it’s out now!!
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:23 pm
Nice DP.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
10:23 pm
Nice DP!
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:23 pm
Nice DP.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
10:24 pm
Great DP. Middle infield is a keeper. Corners are wretched maybe worst in baseball
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
10:24 pm
Prado!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:24 pm
What usnavy said…
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
10:24 pm
Highlight of the Night
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:24 pm
How many games have the Braves had more errors than runs? Bet it’s a lot.
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
10:25 pm
We’re taking Bobby’s comments way out of context (Us? Take things out of context?
What Bobby said was that Heyward was taking way too many STRIKES and that he was constantly hitting with a 2-strike count. It’s true.
But apparently what some people heard was “Everything that’s wrong with baseball and global warming is Jason Heyward taking pitches.”
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
10:25 pm
Come On Easy-E Shyt!
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
10:25 pm
usnavyvolfaninva, WHAT?
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:25 pm
jeffrey, you’re still awake? I’m shocked.
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
10:26 pm
Soph
Nice DP.
Tomahawkin
Nice DP!
Mixxo
Nice DP.
Triple jinx
MikeInFL
April 28th, 2010
10:26 pm
Pretty sure that Liberty signed an agreement when they purchased the Braves that they’d keep the management structure in place, and that payroll would be at least maintained in the same general vicinity of where it was at the time of purchase. (that might be why MgGuirk was so insistent that payroll had not been slashed this year – because they are contractually bound to maintain it)
Also, agree with fastasballs that they are better served by maintaining a quality product. I don’t think they’re gonna cut payroll dramatically no matter what happens on the field for a year or two.
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:27 pm
Triple jinx
I was just about to say it but you beat me to it.
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
10:27 pm
Soph – just got home…the only thing worse than seeing the Braves score was seeing my fantasy score. Yikes
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:27 pm
No one heard that, jeffrey d, just odd that were in the middle of a 7 or 8 game losing streak, and that’s what Bobby chooses to talk about, and the only person he calls out. It’s not the only thing wrong with the world, but at least it’s fun to watch Heyward even when it’s strikes out, but tonight Bobby has even denied us that privilege.
Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:28 pm
hawks up 4…2:50 to play
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:28 pm
jeffrey d –
Spooky isn’t it?
Maybe we’ll score 6 here.
Tomahawk Mafia
April 28th, 2010
10:28 pm
I see the problem being the front office’s refusal to utilize advanced statistical metrics to their advantage similar to other teams like the Mariners, or Athletics, or Red Sox. Atlanta acquires guys because they are “good in the clubhouse” and because they have been good in the past. That is the most frustrating element of the construction of the roster, nobody brings a well-rounded approach to the game.
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
10:28 pm
Let’s guess–When is the “next big series the Braves need?” I say it will be designated in next 3 days. Of course we all SHOULD know that is horse hockey and especially people who are paid to know should be aware of that.
Remember I HATE the Braves and the Clara Barton they have “some times” playing 3rd but they are just too good to be buried in THIS garbage division in this weaker league.
You will be fine–and I hate to say that.
Seriously. Does it bother anyone who follows Atlanta pro teams that the Braves, Falcons, hawks and Flames/Thrashers have been here since 1966 and combined they have 1 less World Championship than Florida Marlins who have been in existence 27 fewer years?? That doesn’t make you question IF you are just a bunch of Cub FANaticS on a more macro level??
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:28 pm
it’s times like this I really miss Skip.
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:28 pm
At least the Hawks are winning…for now. They’re in the midst of one of their 4th quarter meltdowns though.
MikeInFL
April 28th, 2010
10:28 pm
And I’m surprised everyone thinks Bobby did KK wrong by pulling him. I really think he did him a favor.
Jake W.
April 28th, 2010
10:28 pm
Well, I decided before the games even started that I would just really be watching the Hawks game and not really paying attention to the braves. Looks like I made the right decision. This is a must win for the Hawks. Don’t know what to say about the braves right now. Its a simple game. You prevent runs and you got to score some yourself.
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
Hi TPG.
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
bravesfan – Bobby always says a lot of things about a lot of different players. He said other things during that interview…that’s just getting the most attention
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
Heyward is the only reason that i bought MLB extra innings
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
St. Louis and their Big Macs.
Crime Dog
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
bravesfan-
You do realize that Bobby made those comments in response to some kind of question right? He doesn’t just sit there blurting out whatever is bouncing around in his head.
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
Yes, this is all Liberty’s fault…
Who’s fault is it then? Why did we have to go get a 1B to hit in THE MIDDLE OF OUR ORDER without being able to spend more then $2MM? Why else did we have to trade our best pitcher from a year ago for a prospect and a 4th OF, who we have to use on a daily basis b/c we couldn’t afford to spend any money on a REAL LF? Why else did we have to trade away our slugging 1B, who we gave up 4 highly rated prospects for, for a guy like Casey Kotchman?
Until we have an ownership willing to put money into the team, the team’s not going to do anything on the field, and the fans aren’t going to show up & support them. Considering where this franchise was 10 years ago, that’s an absolute crime.
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
Ya think I can sue the Braves for false advertisement? I waited through the free Extra Innings first week trial to purchase it. I was going to base it on the Braves’ performance.
Glad I get to eat $150.
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
Is Friday night’s game sold out, yet?
N8
April 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
Just got home. How pathetic is this bunch?
I wonder if firing a HOF manager in April of his “grand finale” tour would wake this bunch of losers up?
Heyward’s not in the lineup? Hmm. No real reason for me to fire up the mlb.tv then, is there?
Enjoy.
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:30 pm
I honestly would like to see a shutout, and see what Cox would say about the game.
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
10:30 pm
N8,
I could’ve written almost your exact same post.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:30 pm
Martin Prado is an All-Star this year. Really hope he gets there. He deserves it, especially on this team.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
Yunel!!!
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
when doez foootball seeson start guys?
GO UGA!!
RollBravesRoll
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Weren’t the Hawks just up by like 10?
Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Keep waiting for the NWA trailers to pop up…RocknRoll Express and Dusty Rhodes….at least this team is a throwback to another era
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
N8, in no way am i defending Bobby, but you got a 20 year old, lefty hitter who’s in a real bad slump. There’s a tough lefty on the mound. Not hard to see why he’s not playing. Same goes for McCann
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
It’s almost official. It’s Baltimore then us.
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Don’t look now, but the Hawks are choking away a crucial Game 5. And, the refs are sort of helping.
Fear the deer . . . and David Stern’s lynch men.
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Dammit Hawks. This 4th quarter ridiculousness drives me crazy.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Bucks up 1
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
You know, I feel for these guys. Look how badly Yunel’s face is broken out when the camera pans in close. That is stress, people.
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Even one run represents a moral victory at this point.
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Only thing good about the Braves goes as follows:
1. Heyward
2. McCann
3. Hanson
4. Jurrjens
5. Prado
6. David O’Brien
Tell me I’m lying. Heck, maybe Wagner is worth watching since he can light up the radar gun, but nothing else, really. Chipper and Bobby need to ride off into the sunset together. They really need a new infusion of blood on this team. It’s painfully obvious.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
13-0 run for Bucks
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
BUT, you must know, what difference does it make if the Hawks win an opening NBA series?/ So what?? I’ve followed the Pistons since 1957 and I can guarantee there is very little difference between playing for Conference Championships that you realize you are not good enough to win and being a lottery team. After AWHILE theteam you follow SHOULD win a BIG PRIZE to make you fell good about time you are investing. After Florida’s success do you think followers give a rat’s rectum about going 10-3? Georgia brags because they average 10 wins a year, but that ain’t getting you any crytal bowl in the trophy case.
What’s so hard about this??
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
It is kind ironic how much we are paying for our 4 hitter in comparison to other teams in the division. Aka Ryan Howard, Jason Bay, Adam Dunn….
Anyone want to find their salary differences between Troy Glaus?
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
Im callin it DP from Chipper
Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
ouch..hawks down 4…1:00 left
Tomahawk Mafia
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
A look, an unproductive out by Chipper Jones
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
Hawks down by 4 with 1:16 left.
Ohhhhh Atlanta……
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
If people think the Braves and Cox are exempt from ridicule for this b.s. excuse of a season you are wrong. Who cares what they did in the 90s? The Braves and Cox are quickly becoming the joke of baseball. Their like the 2008 Mariners. everybody thought that team would make the playoffs too, but they ended up sucking like the Braves do now.
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
Mfin04
Brian McCann is our usual 4 hitter
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
Commenting on Heyward being out of the line-up does not necessarily have to be viewed as a criticism of Cox.
It’s just that for some, the only real excitement in this season right now is watching Heyward bat, and hoping for something amazing to happen.
As Heyward goes, so do the Braves.
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
This 4th quarter ridiculousness drives me crazy
At least it (hopefully) cements that Woodson won’t be back.
Crime Dog
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
Haha Hawks about to lose. I hate sports.
Braves One
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
News break … Yunel tagged up on a fly ball … didn’t score but he tagged.
Tomahawk Mafia
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
About time to leave another two runners on base
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
Chipper the HOFer
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
Cletus!! Cletus!! Almost on cue. You are waiting for a football season that has not culminated in what really matters since last year of James Earl Carter’s Presidency. Break your addiction to this crap.
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
chipper! putting the team on his back and takin’ them to the loss column.
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
I think we should evaluate the third base coach.
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
Keep swingin’, Troy, maybe you’ll give ‘em a cold
I Hate Liberty Media
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
Troy Glaus with three more LOB.
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
There is absolutely nothing, NOTHING, Bobby Cox or Terry Pendelton can do to improve a hitter’s performance. Nothing. I hope Jason puts cotton in his ears.
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
Wow, what a night. Hawks sucked, Braves sucked, Southpark sucked. I need a shot
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
Unsure how to pronounce Troy’s last name. Is it Gloss as in “loss” or Glouse as in “louse?”
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
Whiff
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
10:36 pm
fail fail fail fail fail
braves70
April 28th, 2010
10:37 pm
It took some work but we avoided a run there. Good work Chumper & Glob.
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:37 pm
Pschhh, it’s like the sports WEEK from hell!
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:37 pm
I would say Glaus sucked but we all know that
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:37 pm
we left 9 on base
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:38 pm
This is the worst offense I can ever remember. It’s almost time to panic. Annnnd hawks lose
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
10:38 pm
Didn’t UGA win an NCAA Baseball Championship??
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:38 pm
J-Craw has not lived up to expectations in the playoffs so far.
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:38 pm
when you have your 3-4 hitters up. typically you get one run out of it in this situation.
N8
April 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Wes, I’m not saying fire Bobby because Heyward isn’t in the lineup. I don’t even think Bobby deserves to be fired. What I’m saying is that these guys allegedly live and die for Bobby Cox. Allegedly they were all going to play harder for him. yadda blah, yadda blah, yadda blah!!!
Fire the old man. Maybe someobody will get mad enough to actually do something on the field. Hell, maybe Chipper and Lowe will be so mad they both demand a trade, and Wren can rid himself of those salaries, even if he has to eat some of them.
My comment about Heyward was nothing more than a comment stating that if Heyward isn’t in the game, there isn’t ANY reason for me to tune in, at ALL. Not tonight anyhow. Certainly not worth having the Braves feed lock up on me and spinning me into another dimention of pissed off.
Back to firing. I don’t even think TP deserves to be fired. But SOMEBODY’S head should roll. Because apparently nothing is going to wake this crew up. Perhaps the guilt of a friend losing his job (cry me a river, he’d still get paid), and the threat of other coaches getting the ax would cause some focus.
Then again, probably not. They more than likely all just suck.
Isn’t that how the complaining goes these days?
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Glaus doesn’t suck any worse than anyone else. There’s a communal suck going on with this team.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Can’t imagine being a fan of Hawks and Braves tonight!
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
good point at 10:35, UKUGA.
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Wow Hawks about to get beat by a joke team without their best player and Braves have a really good chance to lose 9 in a row against wainright
curtis jones
April 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Dear Bobby: I’ve passed you by.
Signed,
The Game
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Brave4life – 9 men on? So you’re saying this is a light night
Crime Dog
April 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Lou Vales-
Yes in 1990.
Does ATL have a WNBA team still?
Chris
April 28th, 2010
10:40 pm
Glaus’ bat “speed” is awful.
chip carey's eyebrows
April 28th, 2010
10:40 pm
south park did not suck.
MikeinDC
April 28th, 2010
10:40 pm
Is the Glaus experiment at 1st over yet. All he doesis strike out. Why not play Hinske their, at least in the short term, until something gets figured out, but this is getting ridiculous. I know the whole team is in a slump but Glaus has killed this team with RISP….And how about the Caps… Out in the first round.
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:41 pm
I think if we’re going to lose like these, they should bring back Pete Van Wieren to tell some good stories about the losing years in the 70s and 80s. They would at least be interesting to watch.
Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:41 pm
I felt that breeze in my living room…thanks Troy!
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
10:41 pm
Lou Vales,
For some people, it would at least be interesting to see the Hawks play Orlando in the 2nd round.
Yes, Orlando has dominated Atlanta for the last 3 seasons, but the Celtics dominated them in 2008, as well, but the play-off series b/w Atlanta and Boston was pretty entertaining nonetheless.
Some of us like to watch sports and be entertained, regardless of the outcome.
Additionally, how the Hawks fare this off-season could impact their off-season. Does Joe Johnson stay, or go? Are the Hawks better off with him, or without him?
If the Hawks win a round, and play Orlando tough, and then Lebron leaves Cleveland this summer for a Western Conference team, where do the Hawks rank among the East contender’s next year?
2nd, 3rd?
It’s progress for a team that won 13 games in 2004.
Just because the former genius that was Joe Dumars has ruined the Pistons doesn’t mean that you have to come in and question why people might enjoy watching play-off basketball, even if they don’t expect the Hawks to win the championship.
Sorry that Bird stole the ball from Isaiah.
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:41 pm
Chip’s Eyebrows:
I thought it did. I was expecting them to come out making fun of what happened last week. It was ok but maybe me being in a bad mood hindered it a little.
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
10:42 pm
Seriously, we have to be the worst team in baseball – all of baseball – at the moment.
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:42 pm
Chris,
Thats wut happens when you go off them steroids
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:42 pm
N8, I absolutely think TP needs to go. Look at this friggin offense since he took over! It’s a laughing stock. An absolute laughing stock. You think on a good team with tout like the Braves had…..if this crap happened for this long, they wouldn’t change the hitting coach (at the very least)?
Cards are up. At least I have a chance to see some offense
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
10:42 pm
I’d be embarrassed if I were Chipper right now. It’s not, “hey, you’re a future HOF, former NL MVP”, it’s, “what have you done for me lately”. Chipper needs to show some self pride and ride the bench for a while.
Who’s have thought out of all the playoff-less years that this group would turn out to be the worst? It looks very, very possible at this point. I don’t know what else to say other than I can’t see them digging out of this hole with this group. Not enough talent or grit/fight in them.
Roy Hobbs
April 28th, 2010
10:42 pm
Come on, one run………….please?
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
10:43 pm
180!!!!! years of pro sports teams AND 1!! World Championship.That is a lot of time to “irrigate” away.
Well, at least there is always CLEVELAND!!!
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:43 pm
Greg Norton
Haha, hilarious last comment
Chief
April 28th, 2010
10:43 pm
Why does Brian Snitker hold escobar there? Does he not realize we are not scoring runs and need to be aggressive. He would have been safe on both prado’s hit and chipper’s fly ball
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:44 pm
It could be worse, Cards left 21 men on base
Doc Holiday
April 28th, 2010
10:44 pm
I miss Orr, woodward, Norton, Wickman, Corky and Redman………they played like champions compared to this group of losers
Chris
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
True Brave4life, plus hes in his mid 30s
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
Why? Why? Two WP, two E, 0-3 RISP, 1 BB, 6 SO, 6 H-7 TB, 9 BB by our pitchers-5 K’s. The reasons are endless. Poor baseball.
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
DOB, you still awake?
I Hate Liberty Media
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
Troy Glaus brings no value to this team. I hope the folks who do pay to attend the next homestand boo him mercilessly. And Melky, McLouth, Diaz, Chipper, and Bobby.
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
9th inning .. rally time!
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
doc hooliday
true, at least they got a hit here and there
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
89-87 Bucks
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
Right on, Chief at 10:43.
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
Well, at this point I’ll settle for just getting on the board so we don’t look like mega-losers.
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
10:46 pm
He CERTAINLY did STEAL THE BALL!! and that really drove it home for me as a guy who follows a few teams—If they don’t win a Championship once in awhile, what the Hell am I doing??
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:46 pm
Horford’s taking 3’s now?
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:46 pm
:09 left
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:46 pm
Can’t wait to see what kind of crowd turns up at Turner field, after this road trip. Braves aren’t helping themselves
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
10:46 pm
So Cox muses all the time on players’ perceived faults when interviewed after the games? Other than Escobar and Heyward? Can someone please provide me a quote during this losing streak or even this entire season proving such? ‘Cuz all I’ve heard other than publicly criticizing Heyward’s plate approach is defend defend defend the players’ bad defense hitting mental blunders etc.
I really want proof of otherwise if anyone has it. Because I think he threw Heyward under the bus
usnavyvolfaninva
April 28th, 2010
10:46 pm
Bucks win 91-87
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:47 pm
Why is my city cursed with sports????!!
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:47 pm
Brave4life – You have to look at team LOB not individual LOB.
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
10:47 pm
scrub closer is good enough to take down the braves.
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
10:48 pm
three stikeouts for Diaz. Back to his old ways.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
10:48 pm
Diaz looks like crap
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:48 pm
Mfin04
i know braves left 9 cards 22
Roy Hobbs
April 28th, 2010
10:48 pm
Maybe the fans have to speak for Liberty to realize this group cant compete?
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
10:48 pm
Milwaukee was called for 21 fouls, and Atlanta shot 17 free throws.
Atlanta was called for 24 fouls, and Milwaukee shot 29 free throws.
I’m always fascinated how one team manages to foul so much more “intelligently” than the other.
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
10:49 pm
“Well, at this point I’ll settle for just getting on the board so we don’t look like mega-losers”
umm they already … are
James
April 28th, 2010
10:49 pm
Hawks just choked at home.
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:49 pm
Melky is fast becoming our best player. Whodda thunk it?
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:49 pm
Brave4life – Nope try 7 for Braves and 9 for Cardinals
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
10:49 pm
I really, really need liquor right now
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
10:49 pm
First the Braves (seemingly) extend their streak to 8, now the Hawks?? I don’t know whether to cry or vomit
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:49 pm
an early highlight of melky’s braves’ career
fastasballs
April 28th, 2010
10:50 pm
This is beyond sad anymore. I didn’t have high hopes of a great start, but was hoping for a .500 April becase of the schedule & so many question marks at the start of the season. Just a little over a week ago that seemed to be a reality, but now the season seems to be slipping away as April ticks away.
It’s not even losing the 8 straight that has me feeling that way, but how the games have been lost. The pathetic defense, bad baserunning & absolutely no timely hitting, heck no hitting period, are the reasons.
If it were not for Heyward this team would only have 4-5 wins right now. I was really shocked to see Cox make public statements about the kid taking too many pitches. This after years of blowing smoke up reporter’s azzes defending every player from Pete Orr to Greg Norton. If Cox expects that much out of the kid then sit him down in private, tell him what he needs to do & move him up in the order so he can do the most damage. I guarantee Heyward will make the adjustments needed as the season moves along.
I’m just really disappointed right now in this team. We as fans are getting an inferior product, I’m not pointing fingers to the reasons because I don’t have that many fingers.
BurtonCustom
April 28th, 2010
10:50 pm
does anybody remember what a braves home run looks like?
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
10:50 pm
Chamblee, you are right. Yunel and Heyward, that’s it.
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:50 pm
Mfin04
no, http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_04_28_atlmlb_slnmlb_1
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
10:50 pm
carlchamblee, you are on target with your 10:46 comment. He definitely through young Heyward under the bus… only he and Escobar are targets. Everyone else is… “He had some good swings tonight.” “He hit the ball on the hard.” “He saw some tough pitches.” Defend, defend, defend.
J-Hey
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
sweep!!!!
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Well that was dumbfounding.
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
and that’s that
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Braves leading the league in shutouts now?
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
carlchamblee, exactly, man. Then again, he also said the Braves have been playing good defense, so who knows what team Bobby’s been watching this year.
I Hate Liberty Media
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Braves suck.
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Way to go, Rossey!
Soph
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
First the Braves (seemingly) extend their streak to 8, now the Hawks?? I don’t know whether to cry or vomit
How about both? At the same time.
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Thank goodness that’s over with.
Better luck in a day game maybe?
Sheeesh!
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Mfin04
who cares braves lost
Scott from Fairburn
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Look at the bright side … at least we have a bunch of great guys in the clubhouse
OzzyBraves
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Game. Set. Match.
Back-to-back sweeps for the Braves? Meh, why not?
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
10:51 pm
Unknown Hinson, Throw off the yoke(or is it joke??), you don’t have to follow this crap. It’s not like the guys who constitute the Atlanta Braves roster would call an ambulance if they saw you in the road–Well, a few of them might call an ambulance but they ain’t inviting you over for dinner.
Ryan Howard now makes 150,000 a game and yet there are morons in Philly who care way more than he does when he leaves bases juiced in the 9th.
People are strange.
braves70
April 28th, 2010
10:52 pm
Good job. We worked hard to get shutout for the 5th time already. Early game tomorrow. Get some rest boys so we can keep the streak alive and have a shot at 17 in a row just like 1977.
BIOMASS
April 28th, 2010
10:52 pm
Hanson’s thinking, “how do I get out of this chickensh|t outfit?”
Brava
April 28th, 2010
10:52 pm
Yep, sweep. No way we win tomorrow.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
10:52 pm
Its classic Cox. He used to always go after Andruw and Klesko, too. Heyward and Escobar are no exception.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:52 pm
Brave4life – scroll down and look for TEAM LOB….not individuals LOB totaled.
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:52 pm
can wait to read Boobys comment today
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
10:52 pm
If the Braves lose tomorrow, will the fans (both of them) boo the team as it takes the field on Friday night?
Play The Youth!
April 28th, 2010
10:52 pm
Forget the old has beens. Lets see the young Braves play now! For anyone who watched the Braves in 1990, we had hope in the future watching all that young talent. Right now there is no hope. Let us at least have that for 2011 by watching them this season. I don’t care about Glaus, Melky, Chipper or even Diaz.
PLAY THE YOUTH!
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:53 pm
Mfin04
oh yeah my bad thanx
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:53 pm
1 hit. 1 god damn hit
Mixxo
April 28th, 2010
10:53 pm
…I’m not pointing fingers to the reasons because I don’t have that many fingers. – fastaballs
lol….(why am I laughing?)
Brad in AL
April 28th, 2010
10:53 pm
Time for some heads to roll. You cant look this bad without someone being on the ol chopping block. Starts with TP.
Wes
April 28th, 2010
10:53 pm
we could prolly get texeira and vazquez for hanson
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:54 pm
we have the worst record in the NL
Play The Youth!
April 28th, 2010
10:54 pm
April 1980? Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!
James
April 28th, 2010
10:54 pm
To those who say that its just another game and tomorrow is a new day and the Braves will end the streak, how log will you keep thinking that. I’m now prepared for a loss, I just want them to keep losing so that something will be done to right this sinking ship.
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
10:55 pm
Will this be a CRUCIAL SERIES this weekend?? Last September the Braves were 6 out and CRUCIAL SERIES were being played then. Could anyone explain?
It Tom’s in Boca still open??
glord1
April 28th, 2010
10:55 pm
As far as the Cox comments about Heyward alot of you people are taking them way to serious. It is just him stammering and muttering but because he is still the Braves manager the media has to write it down. It does really mean anything relevant. He is just talking out loud again.
Typical Cox comments
Got to tip your cap to that pitcher with the 7.00 ERA who shut us out. He was really tough tonight.
I know we left 13 on base and got shut out but we really hit the ball hard at people.
DLowe is our Ace. He really threw the ball better than the 7 runs he gave up show.
Why take him serious?
lexbrave
April 28th, 2010
10:55 pm
baltimore should be worried. the braves could make a serious run at worst team in baseball.
N8
April 28th, 2010
10:55 pm
“Can’t wait to see what kind of crowd turns up at Turner field, after this road trip.”
Considering there wasn’t much of one before the road trip, I’m going to go with the theory that it gets worse before it gets better.
MFin04
April 28th, 2010
10:56 pm
Its kinda fun to watch this team lose now. I mean having no expectations for runs or hits no less wins, makes the game interesting again.
Whats more exciting than figuring out how Chipper Jones is going to give away at bats and give away runs in the field.
Or figuring out how a team can leave the bases loaded with no outs, and score 0 runs in 9 innings.
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
10:56 pm
Don’t look now, but April is almost over. I guess the next sentiment will be that its only May, and then, oh wait, we’re way out of it now. Come on man! You play to win the game!
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
10:56 pm
What an awful night…tomorrow I’ll probably wake up to find that don is the new head coach of the Falcons.
“Good” night everybody…
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
10:56 pm
I don’t think even Freddie Freeman could turn this thing around.
Play The Youth!
April 28th, 2010
10:56 pm
And this is not TP’s fault why?
Brave4life
April 28th, 2010
10:57 pm
wes
yeah right
braves70
April 28th, 2010
10:57 pm
Let’s see who was the Braves manager in April 1980?…….. Oh yeah that Hall of Famer, Bobby Cox.
StingerSplash
April 28th, 2010
10:57 pm
Braves as a team: 12 homers.
Kelly Johnson, castoff second baseman: 8 homers.
Holy. Cornelia.
Wes
April 28th, 2010
11:00 pm
i wasn’t serious. we’d have to throw melky in, too
Brad in AL
April 28th, 2010
11:00 pm
Time for Chipper to retire. I was a big fan, but this is too much. He looks like Joe Pa and Bobby Bowden trying to coach. Heck add Bobby Cox to that list. They dont know when its over.
Wes
April 28th, 2010
11:00 pm
i wasn’t serious. we’d have to throw melky in, too
Play The Youth!
April 28th, 2010
11:00 pm
Crazy how Cox is totally screwing with Heywards head this early in his career. Calls him out in the press yesterday and then sits him next game. Nice!
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:00 pm
its still april folks, NAH j/k, this team is awful. Pitching is good, but pitching doesnt win games anymore. We are on pace to be shutout over 35 times this season. Pretty much in the bottom (25th or lower) in every hitting category possible. Bad defense, poor managing, bad baserunning, no speed, no power, bad averages. This team will finish last in the division and will at least get a good draft pick if they have the $$ to sign anyone decent.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:00 pm
número ocho se ha ido, número nueve, es muy pronto
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
11:01 pm
Dude, I could make it to the Hall of Fame if you gave me a decade with Glavine, Smoltz, and Maddox. Not to mention that some of those years we had a pretty solid Denny Neagle and Kevin Millwood. Not to mention Crime Dog, Young Larry, Andruw, Gant, Justice, Nixon, Deon, Gallaraga, Lofton-rental, Lopez, etc.
Stan
April 28th, 2010
11:02 pm
Any takers for Damon now? He’s hitting almost .330 for Detroit. I’d wager that adding .200 to our (combined) leadoff batting average would compensate for a minus throwing arm in left field.
Soph
April 28th, 2010
11:02 pm
Night, jeffrey. Try not to cry and vomit in your sleep. We’ll win again…someday.
atljohninstl
April 28th, 2010
11:02 pm
WE gotta get out of this place, if it’s the last thing we ever dooooo.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
11:02 pm
You’re kinda right, glord! Prolly what you’d hear in the halls of any nursing home. He also thought out loud that Ryan Howard is half the player Pujols is. That should help Howard and the Phils from destroying us again this year.
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:02 pm
you folks are making too big of a deal out of Cox comments on Heyward
Play The Youth!
April 28th, 2010
11:02 pm
Hawks and Braves both lost tonight. Where the heck is Dale Murphy and Dominique Wilkins when you need them?
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
11:03 pm
I remember this game well . . .
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260623130
I thought some of you might find it interesting how we managed to snap our last “longest losing streak”.
This particular game story doesn’t reveal the details behind the double-steal, but at the time (I’m guessing in the AJC) it was revealed that it was Francoeur who signaled to the dugout to try a double-steal.
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:03 pm
I predict we have less than 48 before Chipper draws attention to himself again by proclaiming that if his teammates don’t start playing better he will threaten to retire at the end of the year. Watch. It will happen after Wainwright shuts them out tomorrow night.
CVan
April 28th, 2010
11:03 pm
Who should we draft next year with the #1 pick?
K_chub
April 28th, 2010
11:03 pm
That’s it I’m done!
Lou Vales
April 28th, 2010
11:03 pm
Es verdad como siempre. No comprendo siempre, pero sigo trabajanco. Roberto Cox le hace falta en su cabeza coma mi suegra y muy gordo tambien.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:04 pm
actually Cox was praising him since he is really only about a third of the player AP is
Eleth
April 28th, 2010
11:04 pm
DOB, I have a suggestion for tomorrow lyrics, courtesy of Sugarland
…”Now it is poor me, why me, oh me
Boring the same old worn out blah blah story
There is no good explanation for it at all
Ain’t no rhyme or reason
No complicated meaning
Ain’t no need to over think it
Let go laughing
Life don’t go quite like you planned it
We try so hard to understand
Irrefutable, indisputable
The fact is
ssshhh
It happens”
Just a thought;)
Play The Youth!
April 28th, 2010
11:04 pm
unbelievable – Maybe so but isnt that something that could have been had between him and Heyward in private instead of in the press? Remember the kid is 20.
Roy Hobbs
April 28th, 2010
11:04 pm
Late August lineup?
CF – Jordan Schaefer
3B – Martin Prado
RF – Jason Heyward
1B – Freddie Freeman
C – Brian McCann
SS – Yunel Escobar
2B – Omar Infante
LF – Gregor Blanco
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
11:05 pm
DOB, I am looking forward to your assessment of the team after tonight’s loss.
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
11:05 pm
Lou – no tienes que orinar?
Mutts
April 28th, 2010
11:05 pm
Hate to say it but, it may be time to clean house after 2010 when Bobby retires. That would certainly include Pendelton, Sntiker, and Chipper.
Bobby Cox
April 28th, 2010
11:05 pm
This season is over unless Cox resigns.The team is so screwed up, I can’t see a tired old BC saying the same tired old things inspiring these walking zombies.
quickwitt
April 28th, 2010
11:05 pm
Well, another shutout but at least the Braves got a few hits. This is hardly entertaining baseball and the brass ought to be concerned. I for one have no plans to trek to Turner Field then pay to watch this brand of baseball. Someone wake me when there’s some semblance of consistent offense and if there are any games left in the season, I’ll saunter down to the Ted. I’m not holding my breath, so Frank Wren, you keep on looking while doing nothing to improve the offense – be it by finding a competent hitting coach who can effect positive change or finding a competent hitter or two. As for Bobby Cox, I wish you would have quit awhile back so you could have gone out on a better note. Such is life when you hang on for too long.
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
Thank soph…I’ll try. Although when you word it like that you make it sound like I have a drug problem
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
After watching Cox handle the bullpen and bench (Norton) last year I just think of him like he is my Grandpa telling war stories at Thanksgiving whenever I hear him interviewed.
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
its pretty hilarious how everyone here was so ready to ship KJ off. He just like Andruw wasnt the problem. The problem is the hitting coach and we have 9 (Diaz/Melky) of our regulars hitting under .245. Its not that contagious and we’ve seen it long enough
brian
April 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
WRen has to be eating the Tums now. Any other team with this start after high hopes and a great spring would fire the manager to shake things up. Wren cannot fire Cox but pretty soon somebody is going to have to be a fall guy. I would love to see Ned Yost added to the staff – he evidently can get on people and tighten things up.
THe Braves look out of shape, poorly prepared, and basically like they are going through the motions.
Cox is a players manager but I am afraid that as he has aged that quality has magnified and has crossed the line over the past few years where the Braves are not sharp.
This team is way more talented than they are playing. They have no excuse for the lack of hitting, the errors, the mental errors, and the losses. Something has to change in their play and soon. How many players are having the worst season of their career hitting? How many starters are hitting below .200 each and every night? It has been 20 years since I have seen something like this in Atlanta and the amount of talent on this team far, far exceeds the Braves of the late ’80s.
CVan
April 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
Maybe we can bat Heyward lead off tomorrow.
Joshhh...
April 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
My God, 8 straight…
jeffrey d
April 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
This season is over unless Cox resigns Bobby Cox
Those are some strong words from Bobby Cox
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
11:07 pm
I haven’t bashed Bobby this year . . . , because why? What has changed?
I still say he should’ve retired after 2004. It just felt like it was evident that the Braves were on a decline, and he’d shot all his bullets.
MikeInFL
April 28th, 2010
11:07 pm
I’ll saunter down to the Ted – quickwitt
Huh?
brian
April 28th, 2010
11:07 pm
bring in Ned Yost with Mike Maddux as pitching coach
Moe Berg
April 28th, 2010
11:08 pm
I am slightly afraid to ask…What happened tonight? Missed the game completely. Anyone willing to give a summary without vitriol?
Soph
April 28th, 2010
11:08 pm
I think it’s bedtime for me too. I can’t take much cuckoo today. G’night all.
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
11:09 pm
People are strange. Lou Vales
Example A _ Lou Vales
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:09 pm
I think Lou is saying Bobby is fat empty headed and then there is something about eating someones mother. potty mouth
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
11:09 pm
6-0? But didn’t Kelly Johnson hit a HR? … Oh, wait..
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:10 pm
Ned Yost was fired for a reason – he’s not a good coach either. This team needs good players and the coaches wont be an issue. Tony La Rusa doesnt have to manage that much when Albert, Holliday, and Ludwick are hitting balls 25-30 rows deep, same with Charlie Manuel
MikeInFL
April 28th, 2010
11:10 pm
Ned Yost… NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
11:10 pm
Cox just doesn’t have the fire the Braves need.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
11:11 pm
hasta manana fanaticos de los bravos
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:11 pm
Mike Maddux? – I see no problem with the pitching coach we have? The Braves starters era is under 3.00. McDowell is the only thing I like on this staff.
Unknown Hinson
April 28th, 2010
11:11 pm
I’m going to go chug an old bottle of wine. I’ll have to check DOB’s response tomorrow.
MK
April 28th, 2010
11:12 pm
Did the Braves play tonight?
Bravesfan2010
April 28th, 2010
11:12 pm
I’m not sure which team is more pathetic, the Hawks or Braves ?
fastasballs
April 28th, 2010
11:12 pm
Those of you wanting to play the youth: there isn’t any. With the exception of Freeman there really isn’t any position players anywhere near ready. Hicks has a great glove, but can’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag.
The farm is flat loaded with arms, but most all of the position players with a lot of upside are in the low minors. Hopefully Freeman can play well enough to be here next season. Sooner or later the Braves might be swapping some of those young power arms for some position players or go the free agency route to fill the needs at 3B & at least 1 outfield spot, maybe two.
It wasn’t long ago it seemed the Braves could turn out position players from the farm by the dozen, but rarely developed any strong pitching prospects, but it’s the other way around now with the exception of Heyward/Freeman. Also the young power arms are at the lower levels so I doubt any of them will be ready for several seasons, but you have to think at least 1 maybe 2 will make an impact in the majors some day.
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:12 pm
I am slightly afraid to ask…What happened tonight? Missed the game completely. Anyone willing to give a summary without vitriol? – Moe Berg
sure, Ill give it a shot. Two runs scored on wild pitches, two balls were hit past Chipper at third, two balls were hit past Glaus at 1st. All lead to runs and we only had one xbh and a couple of singles mixed in. Pretty easy to describe
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:12 pm
Moe, they got beat…again
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
11:13 pm
I agree… don’t really see any issues with the current pitching coach.
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
11:13 pm
The Mets are alone in First plate and the Braves Last… Ironic isn’t it?
ryan
April 28th, 2010
11:14 pm
If we had a owner Cox TP ANd Roger would be gone.Time to trade guys on are 25 man roster for players. This team is bad with one of are worst drafts last year. we dont have about 3 or 4 players at triple A. Bring on Ned Yost.
Moe Berg
April 28th, 2010
11:14 pm
unbelievable and nolie, Thank you both. I am impressed with your restraint. How many in a row is this now?
braves70
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
Good work unbelievable. I could not have described it without a few swear words I am afraid.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!
jay dubu
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
Enough of this!!!
The Braves have been shutout 5 times in 21 games. After all the talk about the Braves pitching, they have a grand total of zero, zero, I say, shutouts.
No on in this lineup scares the opposing pitchers. It’s time now for each of the players to look in the mirror. Cox and Pendleton can’t do it for you!
braves70
April 28th, 2010
11:16 pm
8 in a row Moe. We are halfway (almost) to our record 17 in a row in 1977.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
11:16 pm
Everyone freaking out and I called this end of last season when they announced he was coming back.
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
Some of us NO MORE BOBBY, have been saying this since 1991.
Dave
April 28th, 2010
11:18 pm
You just have to fire Pendleton, don’t you?
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:18 pm
SIUYA NMB
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
I actually liked the guy up until 1999. Been ready for change since the Yankees swept us that series.
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
You just have to fire Pendleton, don’t you? – Dave
No, you fire Snitker and move TP to third. Then find a hitting coach.
JC from DR
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
”Cox thinks Wainwright’s dynamite”… Funny statement from the old donkey… against the Braves, who isnt?
Moe Berg
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
braves70…1977. My first year in Atlanta. I was in first grade. Probably, was another year before I made it to a game, so I did not see that slide, but went to very many losses in the 70s and 80s.
What has happened? They were so impressive in spring training? Everyone was so hopeful. I am not writing them off. They lost six in a row to finish up last season after having the best record for the second half of the season. Still, it is getting worrisome.
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
The Braves are producing position players pretty regularly. You forget that they have traded a fair amount away including Elvis Andrus and Tyler Flowers. Flowers has 16 RBI and a .919 OPS in Triple A. Could he have played first base in Atlanta?
Bravesfan2010
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
Moe, so you’re saying the Braves are 8-19 going back to the last 6 games of last year ? That’s horrible !!!
The Ghost of Greg Norton
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
When Bobby is making quotes like he made this afternoon, “It’s hard to say we’re playing real good baseball, but we are,” it’s difficult to take him seriously. If this “real good baseball,” I’ve been missing something over the years.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
that’s the way the ball bounces Moe
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
What has happened? They were so impressive in spring training? – Moe Berg
no more ST fastballs is what has happened
Tom O'Hawke
April 28th, 2010
11:22 pm
Roberto Cox le hace falta en su cabeza coma mi suegra y muy gordo tambien. — Lou Vales
translation: Robert Cox is missing in your head eat my mother and very fat too.
It’s good to see that Lou makes more sense in spanish than he does in english.
Moe Berg
April 28th, 2010
11:23 pm
Bravesfan2010–Yes, but going back to the All Star break last year, they still look good.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:23 pm
Tom-
That was the first time I’ve laughed since the game started…thanks
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:23 pm
that’s why talent evaluators pay a lot less attention to ST and Sept callup time. course Sept callup time seems to be fading away due to costs
PDub
April 28th, 2010
11:24 pm
I’m not referring to them as the Braves until they win again. Until then, they’re the Catatoniots.
uga-brave
April 28th, 2010
11:25 pm
said it bfore spring training, this team does not have the power to compete. their .slg % is downright putrid. the .ba will improve but not the power.
there is no way this team can compete with the current combination of melky, diaz and nate in left and center.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:25 pm
good name PD
Robert
April 28th, 2010
11:26 pm
” Does Chipper’s .420 OBP indicate he’s having a good season?”
There’s a question Shaun would love, cuz it’s completely out of context.
Is Chipper having a good season? Not particularly. But – here’s context – given how the lineup around him has performed, how good could his numbers really be?
So, in context,I’d say that Chipper’s .420 OBP is an indication thaat he has not abandoned good fundamentals at the plate and that Chipper’s offense is not near the top of the list of what’s wrong with the Braves
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:26 pm
best thing this team can hope for is that some of these guys wake up or Schafer and Freeman progress faster than normal. I think the latter is a big stretch
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:28 pm
who cares about Chipper’s OBP? Im more concerned with his lack of range in the field, his errors, and his slg%’s. We need him and McCann to square up some of the pitches that they are missing and to vastly improve their defense
Tom O'Hawke
April 28th, 2010
11:28 pm
cabravesfan, as I’ve said to VJ more than once, I’m here for you. (unless I’m somewhere else)
jay dubu
April 28th, 2010
11:29 pm
When Wren said last season that the Braves were going to get a big right handed bat, I thought he meant it. Instead, he got rid of Vazquez, for nothing in return. I realize it was a corporate move to cut payroll, but just say that. Don’t try to sell us on how high the scouts were on a young pitcher in the Yankees A ball system.
If you look at the end of last season, it was obvious that this team needed some intestinal fortitute, starting at the top of management.
Who’s Cox going to attack in the post game tonight. Did Heyward take too many pitches again tonight? Don’t want to hear Cox talking about how the Cards’ pitchers just pitched a great game. Figure out what your team needs to do, and do it. Cox has seen too much baseball, to not know what is wrong with this team.
Just go ahead and say what all the fans know already. You just don’t have the offensive talent necessary to compete!
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:29 pm
anyway Bonds trainer can come work with these guys for a couple of months?
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
11:30 pm
1980 BRAVES V/S 2010 BRAVES
Miller cf
Royster 2b
Matthews rf
Horner 3b
Chambliss 1b
Murphy lf
Pocoroba C
Gomez ss
Niekro P
Cabrera lf
Prado 2b
Jones 3b
McCann c
Glaus 1b
Escobar ss
Heyward rf
McLouth cf
Lowe p
I say 1980 team rips current Braves team apart head to head.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:31 pm
Tom-
You need to be here more to save me from the Crazy and the Stupid!
PDub
April 28th, 2010
11:32 pm
I know I’m not being completely fair, here, because Ross grounded into the double play. But…. Jason Heyward and Brian McCann didn’t get to hit against a RHP in favor of Matt Diaz, Melky Cabrera, and David Ross.
Perhaps Bobby was resigned to losing at that point, and I really don’t blame him if he was. The whole team was pretty much catatonic tonight. Hence, they’re the Catatoniots.
Moe Berg
April 28th, 2010
11:33 pm
cabravesfan–I understand the sentiment. I have been very busy lately and thus not on the blog much. I check how the team is doing and can’t decide if i should stop by, or not. I know that it has to be scary.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
11:34 pm
Losing is keeping bloggers away DOB. Better speed up that demand for change article or you might be delivering the AJC to survive.
bravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:34 pm
Is LaRussa right to bat the pitcher 8th in his lineup?
Eric C.
April 28th, 2010
11:35 pm
Is it possible for your team to lose so many in a row that you actually enjoy the streak? Thank you, may I have another.
Seriously, I remember when the Giants lost 8 straight in 1993 and that allowed the Braves to catch them…of course, that Giants team still won 103 games – streaks happen. The 1998 Braves started 6-6 and still won 108 games…just a little perspective.
However, this is one pathetic looking line-up right now…looks like road kill.
Mike
April 28th, 2010
11:35 pm
They say the same thing about Joe Mauer not saying Heywards Mauer but he’s good at what he does and I see no reason why Jason cannot be sucessful Cox just needs to be quit and stop making idiotic comments.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:36 pm
Moe Berg-
Stay Away! Stay away before the Evil sucks you in!!!
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:36 pm
Roger Dorn’s stats for the year.
On Pace for 48 RBI and has a .912 fielding percentage. Thats 9 for 10 folks…… not good.
uga-brave
April 28th, 2010
11:37 pm
offensively these are the braves best bets,
petition the league for four outs an inning…
petition the league to move in the fences 30 feet when the braves are at bat…
when the braves draw a BB the batter immediately adavances to second….
might actually avoid a shutout.
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
11:38 pm
Enter your comments here
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:39 pm
“Dorn?” ” I didn’t think we had any high priced talent”.
“That is because Dorn is just high priced”
Robert
April 28th, 2010
11:39 pm
Whats truly sobering is to realize that save a pair of fortunate 9th innings, the losing streak would be at 11.
This team is way more talented than their play indicates.
Tom O'Hawke
April 28th, 2010
11:39 pm
Tom-
You need to be here more to save me from the Crazy and the Stupid!
LAdy, as much as I’d love to help you out, I can’t take the disharmony of this blog during a game. Instead, I’ve found a much more peaceful place to go. Afghanistan.
ernesto
April 28th, 2010
11:39 pm
the 8 game shame
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:40 pm
Losing is keeping bloggers away DOB. NMB
BS, losing brings haters like you out in droves. The worse the Braves play, the more you guys post, the more page hits he gets. I figger he bribed some players to play this bad just so you and your ilk would bring the total up.
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:40 pm
pretty sure that Tillman pitched a no hitter against Gwinnett tonight. Who was the last mlb team and their AAA affiliate to have a no hitter thrown against each of them in a two week span?
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:40 pm
UGA Brave – You forgot one. Glaus gets a ground rule double if the outfielder catches the ball on the warning track.
uga-brave
April 28th, 2010
11:40 pm
braves 2010 slogan, “our numbers are deceiving.”
BraveMan
April 28th, 2010
11:41 pm
Dave,
Terry pendleton is about to get the axe for sure. someone in that clubhouse has to be fired… he is the only logical choice. someone has to pay for this and something has to be done to shake things up… we cant make a trade this early as other clubs are standing pat. so, someone losing their job is the only step to take. terry has to go.
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:41 pm
Tillman did pitch a no hitter. In typical Braves style “you just have to tip your cap to him”.
Anders
April 28th, 2010
11:42 pm
What’s up Braves fans? You guys lost – again? Wow!
Shut out -again? Double Wow!
Great game at the Verizon center tonight. Absolutely electric.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
11:42 pm
No More Bobby
I hope you are not going to the game this Weekend…?
I spent way too much money 2 weeks ago to see us get not hit
I’m not going to another weekend game til August…
gobravos
April 28th, 2010
11:42 pm
So what positives are you guys finding in the Braves current state of play that we’re all so foolishly missing with our negative comments?
Bat Masterson
April 28th, 2010
11:43 pm
Jeez, what a mess, just unbelievable. I would hate to be the one to have to make the decision on Woodson and Joe Johnson. I think they may have peaked, but damn, I remember Leeman Bennett and the Falcons.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:43 pm
Tom-
I hear it is quite lovely there this time of year…
PDub
April 28th, 2010
11:44 pm
jay dubu (April 28th, 2010 11:29 pm EST): When Wren said last season that the Braves were going to get a big right handed bat, I thought he meant it. Instead, he got rid of Vazquez, for nothing in return. I realize it was a corporate move to cut payroll, but just say that. Don’t try to sell us on how high the scouts were on a young pitcher in the Yankees A ball system.
Umm, I really don’t know what to say. Do you think Frank Wren is lying when he says something like “our baseball operations department–specifically the talent evaluation staff–is really high on Arodys Vizcaino”? He’s not, they are. Yeah, sure, the Braves traded Javier Vazquez to save money, but that’s only half the story. Arodys Vizcaino is an elite prospect, regardless of how frustrated you or I or anyone else is with the big league team’s offense.
If you look at the end of last season, it was obvious that this team needed some intestinal fortitute, starting at the top of management.
No, no, no, no. It doesn’t work like that. You can’t just say “it was obvious that this team needed some intestinal fortitude”. You have to say, “this team needs some guts because of this, for this reason, as a solution to this problem, et cetera”. Why do they need intestinal fortitude?
…I’m going with they need to play better defense and to hit more homers, and it has nothing to do with guts or grit or passion or whatever amateur psych evaluation we want to offer…
Who’s Cox going to attack in the post game tonight. Did Heyward take too many pitches again tonight?
If you’ve been following the Braves for any significant period of time, you’d know Bobby very rarely attacks players publicly. I’m guessing he had a very good reason for saying what he said about Heyward. Or his intentions were good, at least.
Don’t want to hear Cox talking about how the Cards’ pitchers just pitched a great game. Figure out what your team needs to do, and do it. Cox has seen too much baseball, to not know what is wrong with this team.
They don’t play good defense or run the bases well or hit enough homers and they’ve got five regulars that are getting extraordinarily unlucky with respect to hits on balls in play. The last thing has nothing to do with Bobby (or anyone in the organization), and what, exactly, would you have Bobby do about the first three problems?
Just go ahead and say what all the fans know already. You just don’t have the offensive talent necessary to compete!
By mid season the Braves will have above-average hitters at at least 7 positions, I guarantee it. They will be fine.
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:44 pm
UGA Brave try this one. Braves baseball – We are playing better than it seems. The other teams are just playing better than that.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
11:44 pm
I’m ready for the fans on 680 in the morning…This team playing flat like this on both sides of the ball is getting irritating
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:45 pm
some folks need to whine or rant Go, some folks don’t.
LT-A Blogger
April 28th, 2010
11:45 pm
This wholly sucks. This team seems done/white flag and all, and I just had to put my cursor over the time to make sure it’s April
No seeming leadership. No hitting. No hitting. No hitting. Did I mention……. Plenty of good pitching wasted.
At least there’s the WC, then football, and Pavement at the Tabernacle.
Moe Berg
April 28th, 2010
11:45 pm
cabravesfan–I think you may be right. Perhaps being swamped in other parts of my life is actually a good thing.
uga-brave
April 28th, 2010
11:45 pm
this goes deeper then the current major league payroll.
back in 2003, in order to save money they slashed their scouting department in half.
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
11:45 pm
I think by “we”, Bobby means the collective group of major leaguers. He’s comparing the Majors to the Japanese leagues.
Moe Berg
April 28th, 2010
11:47 pm
nolie, How are you feeling about the team and its prospects? I know that things can be turned around at any time? How do you evaluate them now?
uga-brave
April 28th, 2010
11:47 pm
anders, how about the habs goalie. stopped 131 out of the last 134 shots. talk about standing on your head.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:48 pm
back in 2003, in order to save money they slashed their scouting department in half. UGa
yeah and since then they got Hanson in a DFE and Heyward lower than anybody expected. Cutting that staff still left them with one of the best in the majors. Kind of a stretch there big guy
Anders
April 28th, 2010
11:48 pm
this goes deeper then the current major league payroll.
back in 2003, in order to save money they slashed their scouting department in half.(uga-brave)
Are you blaming the scouting department for Glaus, Lowe and Chipper’s extension? I’m not sure you have a grasp on where your problems in 2010 lie.
unbelievable
April 28th, 2010
11:49 pm
good news is that we get Wainright for a day game in which he’s a little worse, bad news is he’s got a career 1.50era against the braves and we couldnt hit Tony La Rusa if he was pitching
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:49 pm
I think we need to put out a contract on all of them Moe
4th place at best
April 28th, 2010
11:49 pm
N8 ” can’t wait to see what kind of crowd shows up at the Ted after this road trip ? Considering there was as many Phillies fans as Braves fans last week at the Ted, I wonder how well Astros fans travel ?
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
11:49 pm
I am going actually. Have tickets behind home for Fridays game (losing = cheap tickets on Ebay). I still like to go watch my Braves and just baseball period.
UKUGA
April 28th, 2010
11:49 pm
I could be wrong, but i think there were a lot more posts in the first hour after last tuesday’s game than there have been in the hour + since tonight’s game ended.
If we keep losing, the blog will die.
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
11:49 pm
When was the last braves Homerun 75 days or innings ago?
Anders
April 28th, 2010
11:50 pm
uga-brave – The abs goalie is playing unconscious hockey. When he wakes up they will fall hard. Happens all the time in the NHL playoffs.
uga-brave
April 28th, 2010
11:51 pm
glord1, come to turner field, chicks dig the small ball.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:51 pm
Moe Berg-
The way I see it, you have one of two options…keep busy with real work or start drinking heavily…your call
PDub
April 28th, 2010
11:51 pm
The good news is if we keep losing at this pace, MATT PURKE HERE WE COME!
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
11:51 pm
SHYT, just dumped an hours worth of minors wrap-up and highlights, or in ROME’s case low lights. Sorry folks. Not tonight.
Tom O'Hawke
April 28th, 2010
11:52 pm
Tom-
I hear it is quite lovely there this time of year…
Ahh, cabravesfan, compared to here during the game, it’s like tip-toeing thru’ the tulips. (Just have to remember to duck when you hear, “INCOMING”.)
Tomahawkin
April 28th, 2010
11:52 pm
“If we keep losing, the blog will die.”
Nope, Not by a longshot,. The 1992 braves were in last til late May, so once this team wins 2 series in a row the Frontrunners will be back
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
11:52 pm
Sorry, I know everybody has their own thing when it comes to a hobby … but hockey? I’d rather watch college hoops and that’s saying something.
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:53 pm
PDub – much of what you say is true. Here is my problem. The players are not held accountable for poor fundimentals and their appears to be very little attention to detail. Some of the guys are getting unlucky but to continue to have men at third with less than two outs and NEVER get them in is poor hitting fundimentals.
I do not believe this team will be fine but they will improve offensively. Their track records and law of averages say they have to. Some is not Bobbys fault but here is what is.
Having Moylan pitch to a lefty when they are hitting .375 off him. Continuing to run up Norton last year in crutial situations. And generally making stupid game decisions.
One thing to ponder. What manager in MLB has the longest tenue without making the play offs at this time? Yep you guessed it.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:53 pm
Tom-
I can live with that
(totally random question, but I remember you saying your father was from Montreal- you wouldn’t happen to be a Habs fan would you?)
uga-brave
April 28th, 2010
11:54 pm
anders, nothing like a game seven in the nhl.
well i am probably one of the few that can say i attended both playoff games in thrashers history, albeit both losses to your rangers.
nolie
April 28th, 2010
11:54 pm
actually Moe I don’t see them as much different than b4 but I wasn’t one of the guys predicting 90+ wins either. They had a lot of questions with possible good upsides, so far that ain’t happened. One thing is for damned sure we aren’t gonna have 5 guys hitting under 200 forever.
You know that this place is hysteria central when any thing goes wrong. always has been to some extent, always will be. though I can remember a day when we weren’t as overrun with emotional wingnuts as we are now.
richbrave
April 28th, 2010
11:55 pm
uga-brave
April 28th, 2010
11:51 pm
glord1, come to turner field, chicks dig the small ball.
“Chicks dig me because I rarely wear underwear and when I do it’s something fairly unusual..” STRIPES-BILL MURRAY.
Moe Berg
April 28th, 2010
11:55 pm
cabravesfan–Perhaps, I will try both.
Tom O'Hawke
April 28th, 2010
11:56 pm
cabravesfan
Last week, VJ was lamenting about how he may have to work during Braves’ games, as the new Director of the Mathnasium.
Is he looking to hire any help?
TnBrian
April 28th, 2010
11:56 pm
We can rant and rave until our faces turn blue … ain’t changing a damn thing. There’s so much wring with this team right now that I wouldn’t even know where to start. It’s literally overwhelming. Just April my white ass! Bad thing is that even last year at this time Chipper was pretty good at the plate and half decent in the field. He’s BAD early on this year. Imagine how bad he’ll be as the season wears on?
Get ready for a looooooooong and rough ride Braves fan.
Anders
April 28th, 2010
11:56 pm
TnBrian- Broaden your horizons young man. Go to an NHL playoff game. I’m telling you there’s nothing like it. Especially a game 7. Granted it’s not like watching 48 cars go around in a circle for 200 or so laps but it’s not a bad hobby.
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:57 pm
Moe-
I would suggest calling in sick and sticking a straw in whatever bottle is closest but that’s just me
cabravesfan
April 28th, 2010
11:58 pm
Tom-
No idea…if he ever comes home I’ll ask him
glord1
April 28th, 2010
11:58 pm
Sorry Purke is draft eligible after the 2012 season. He is a college freshman and I beliive not eligible until after his junior year.
Rob from SC
April 28th, 2010
11:58 pm
I think the losing streak is my fault. We have not won since I lost my wedding ring
Anders
April 29th, 2010
12:00 am
uga-brave – Nothing personal but I think the NHL needs to eliminate Atlanta, Tampa, Florida,Pheonix and Nashville immediately. Nobody cares in those cities anyway – why bother?
nolie
April 29th, 2010
12:01 am
Well at least your wife didn’t break your other shoulder for doing that Rob
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
12:01 am
cabravesfan–I am having a scotch but will have to go in for at least a bit tomorrow. By the time I am able to check in tomorrow, the game should be over. I guess that means it will be time for another scotch.
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
12:01 am
I can remember a day when we weren’t as overrun with emotional wingnuts as we are now.
Sign of the times every nut job in the world can go somewhere to be heard, or at least shout.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
12:02 am
Anders, maybe if the Thrashers had a good team people would care about them.
4th place at best
April 29th, 2010
12:02 am
TnBrian, Anders is right. Hockey is a sport that is SO much better live ! like NASCAR, once you see it live you’re hooked.
cabravesfan
April 29th, 2010
12:02 am
Moe-
I like your planning
nolie
April 29th, 2010
12:02 am
I see for the first time in a while that ol’ Anders is here on a regular basis. Wonder why that is? Are the Mets winning?
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
12:02 am
Folks, it’s time to get ready for football season cause the falcons are the only team worth watching in Atlanta.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
12:03 am
nolie
I had it sitting on the bean bag chair for a few days. I knew just where it was. THen my wife says you better move it before it gets lost and now I have no idea where it is. I haave searched everywhere. moved furniture, checked the vaccum and garbage. It’s gone
I know the ring doesn’t mean anything, but I really feel sick without it
braves70
April 29th, 2010
12:03 am
Anders, I live in Nashville. I wish hockey would leave. It takes up time on the sports talk when we could be discussing football & baseball. The people in Canada want hockey but the league will not let folks in Hamilton or Saskatoon have it.
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
12:04 am
Rob from SC–I don’t think that counts. My dad lost his some time back, and they made it to the World Series. We have to find something else to blame it on.
uga-brave
April 29th, 2010
12:04 am
anders, maybe but tampa has won a cup and florida has played for one.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
12:04 am
You know things are rough when I want KElly Johnson back
nolie
April 29th, 2010
12:04 am
maybe she hid it to try to make you feel guilty for allowing it to lay around?
Tom O'Hawke
April 29th, 2010
12:04 am
I remember you saying your father was from Montreal- you wouldn’t happen to be a Habs fan would you?
LAdy, no. My father let me make my own decisions about everything (damn him). I was into hockey for only a short time of my life. While I followed the Braves, as he did, I was a Ranger fan. That was the only NY team I ever rooted for. Oh, and yes, he had me skating as soon as I could walk, and he was a Montreal fan in hockey.
When I was a kid, he took me to the “Garden”, on a few occasions to watch our teams play. For whatever reason, I just enjoyed baseball, then football, a lot more than hockey.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
12:05 am
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
12:04 am
Rob from SC–I don’t think that counts. My dad lost his some time back, and they made it to the World Series. We have to find something else to blame it on.
It is really sad to watch this team
Anders
April 29th, 2010
12:05 am
Anders, maybe if the Thrashers had a good team people would care about them (Bravesfan2010)
Tampa and Carolina both won the cup and nobody cares about those teams now. In the NHL you need the fans to come out even in the down years. They don’t have any TV money to speak of. Bettmans “sun belt” experiment has been a bust. Break it up and move on.
glord1
April 29th, 2010
12:06 am
I agree Rob its got to be some other fans fault. Anybody else do or not do something over the last 8 days?
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
12:06 am
nolie
I thought so too for the first few days, but it has been over a week. She knows how upset I am
UKUGA
April 29th, 2010
12:06 am
T-Hawkin,
How was the blog in 1992?
I still remember Terry Pendleton’s homer on June 2nd that year off Mitch Williams?
Started the resurgence.
I didn’t mean that the blog could not be resuscitated, I just meant that people will quit coming here and arguing all hours of the night if the Braves don’t win soon.
Especially if this carries through the week-end.
I sure hope I can find something better to do than talk about Braves losses on the internet this week-end.
Anders' Mom
April 29th, 2010
12:07 am
So proud of ya, Son. No girlfriend, no life, no manners, no subtlety. But at least your scuzzy, wish-they-were-Yankees ugly stepbrother, dysfunctional ballclub is temporarily in first place. Now run along to the blog of some other team and strut around some. Gooooood boy! That’s my baby. Now, come give big mama some shuuuuugerrrrrrr. Fuggin’ loser.
cabravesfan
April 29th, 2010
12:08 am
Tom-
Of course he had you skating and Of course he was a Habs fan! He was from MONTREAL! Isn’t it against the law to NOT be a fan? Never been to the Garden, of course, but I was still sad to see they tore it down and replaced it with…whatever is there now (or did they “remodel” it? can’t remember)
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
12:08 am
I just noticed the Trashers were 3rd from last in attendance this year. Pretty pathetic. I don’t think it’ll be much longer before the Thrashers leave Atlanta.
glord1
April 29th, 2010
12:08 am
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
12:04 am
You know things are rough when I want KElly Johnson back
I dont want Kelly back. If he was on tis team he would be hitting .220 at best. I believe at this point Pujols could not hit .250 wearing an A on his cap.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
12:08 am
It’s so bad, even our AAA team got no-hit
Anders
April 29th, 2010
12:08 am
Nolie- You saying I’m only here when the Mets are rolling – like last year?
BTW- I was here all last week BEFORE the Mets/Braves series. Remember that? When the Braves were like 3 games in front of the Mets. You sound as desperate as your beloved team.
uga-brave
April 29th, 2010
12:09 am
anders, current ownerhip in atlanta is the reason for the thrashers demise. they just dont have the finances. second lowest payroll in hockey.
UKUGA
April 29th, 2010
12:10 am
braves70,
IIRC, the presence of the Predators is what cost Nashville a chance at the Grizzlies a few year’s back (2003?). Some issue with the arena lease, and inability to work two team’s schedules into the aren