Slumping McLouth remains positive, but….
St. Louis – Say this for Nate McLouth, he’s a pleasant guy who’s always upbeat, always looking at the positive side of things. In times like these with the Braves, that’s important.
Did I mention that McLouth is hitting .160 with one homer, three RBI and 17 strikeouts in 50 at-bats for a Braves team that began Thursday on an eight-game losing streak, in last place in the NL East, and ranked last in the league with a .227 team batting average and tied for last with a .337 slugging percentage?
“Everybody’s kind of in a rut,” McLouth said when I talked to him in the clubhouse this morning. “And it’s tough, especially when … it’s just tough.
“But it’s part of baseball, unfortunately. It can kind of go one of two ways — you can’t let it ruin your season, or you can learn from the tough times and ultimately it can make you better.”
Before we go any further, I should say if the Braves are going to end their skid today and avoid going winless on this seven-game trip, they’ll have to beat ex-Braves prospect Adam Wainwright, who’s become a stud pitcher and has never lost (4-0, 1.50 ERA) in seven games against Atlanta, including four starts.
Oh, and they’ll have to do it without Chipper Jones, who’s not injured — have to clarify that these days — but is out of the lineup, as is first baseman Troy Glaus. Bobby Cox is playing Omar Infante and Eric Hinske for this 12:40 p.m. (Central Time Zone) series finale.
Infante was at third base and Martin Prado at second in the original lineup, though Bobby told me in the dugout before the game that he might flip-flop those positions if Infante and Prado want to (Prado’s best position is probably 3B, and Infante’s is 2B).
- Cabrera LF
- Escobar SS
One more thing: I asked Cox the Prado leadoff question, since a lot of folks here believe the Braves’ only consistent hitter this season – Prado’s still hitting .361 with a .426 OBP – should bat in the leadoff spot that’s been a black hole for the team all season.
Personally, I think Prado’s been so good in the 2-hole that Cox probably wouldn’t want to mess with the one position in the lineup that’s been consistently productive. But the manager sort of shrugged and said it didn’t matter where he hit, and added that if Prado did hit leadoff, “Then who’d hit second?”
(Prado’s hitting third today because Chipper and Glaus are out of the lineup.)
Which was a good point, considering that Yunel Escobar, who’s been a good No. 2 hitter in the past, is hitting .197 with a .282 OBP, no homers and a .532 OPS entering today’s game. Those numbers are waaaay down for the shortstop.
Speaking of no homers, the Braves haven’t hit a single one during their eight-game skid, which is pretty amazing. They’ve gone homerless in 10 of their past 11 games, while hitting .207 during that stretch. That’s crazy-bad, folks.
The last home run they hit was McLouth’s 10th-inning walk-off shot on April 20, which gave the Braves a win against the Phillies and a first-place tie with them in the NL East. Seems like an awfully long time ago, doesn’t it?
The Braves haven’t won since then, and the first-place New York Mets have a seven-game winning streak.
“You never want to lose eight in a row,” said McLouth, who knows plenty about losing, having come to the Braves from the Pirates. He said there’s a difference between how this skid feels and how so many of them felt in Pittsburgh.
“There’s hope here,” he said. “It’s been a tough stretch. It’s been a bad stretch. But again, you can learn from it and get better, and when these tough times go away it’ll make you appreciate the good times even more.
“The way I look at it is, it’s going to happen, so professionally it makes me better, because learning to deal with the tough times is kind of what defines you.”
Here’s a few things that a lot of Braves fans want to know, though: Are offseason acquisitions Glaus and Melky Cabrera going to be much more than they’ve been so far? If not, they’re busts. And should the Braves have made a one-year offer to Adam LaRoche, who ended up signing a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Arizona with a $7.5 option for 2011 and a $1.5 million buyout?
(Incidentally, part of why they didn’t pursue LaRoche, in addition to their tight budget and early reports that he was seeking a three-year deal worth about $9 million annually, was the Braves’ knowledge of his pattern of slow starts and strong finishes after the All-Star break. Wouldn’t you know, this looks like the year he might break that pattern? After going 0-for-12 with six strikeouts in the first three games for Arizona, he’s hit .333 with six doubles, two homers, 12 RBI and a 1.021 OPS in the past 15 games.)
One other thing that a lot of fans want to know concerns McLouth. Specifically, is he ever going to be anywhere close to the player for the Braves that he was with the Pirates in 2008, when he hit .276 with a league-leading 46 doubles, 26 homers, 94 RBI and 23 stolen bases, all while winning a Gold Glove?
This is a good time to point out that McLouth, whether because of injuries or last season’s vision problems or whatever the reason or reasons, has simply not been much of an impact player for almost a full calendar year now.
Are you ready for this? In 116 games since May 19, 2009, McLouth has hit .235 (102-for-434) with 23 doubles, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 61 walks, 99 strikeouts and 14 steals (in 20 attempts).
He has a .337 OBP and .394 slugging percentage in that span, for a .731 OPS. Again, that’s for 116 games and nearly a full calendar year. And it began two weeks before the Braves traded for him.
After the June 3 trade, McLouth hit .282 with five doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and a .346 OBP and .479 slugging percentage (.825 OPS) in his first 17 games for the Braves.
In 86 games since, he’s hit .236 with 17 doubles, nine homers, 29 RBI, nine steals (in 14 attempts), and a .346 OBP and .381 slugging percentage (.727 OPS).
In his past 16 games before today, he’s hit .143 (6-for-42) with three RBI, four runs, six walks, 13 strikeouts, no stolen-base attempts, and a .245 OBP and .262 slugging percentage.
At least he remains optimistic. That’s important in times like these, right?
“I’ve definitely made some adjustments, and I’ve been making better contact and seeing a lot more pitches and seeing the pitches better,” he said this morning. “It’s a process. It’s coming.”
The Braves and their many concerned fans hope the same can be said for the team.
OK, we’re about to start here, so let’s wrap it up with a tune from the Pixies. Here’s a video for it.
“DIG FOR FIRE” by Charles Thompson (Pixies)
there is this old woman
she lives down the road
you can often find her
kneeling inside of her hole
and i often ask her
“are you looking for the mother lode?”
huh?
no.
no my child, this is not my desire
and then she said
♦
i’m digging for fire
i’m digging for fire
i’m digging for fire
i’m digging for fire
♦
there is this old man
who spent so much of his life sleeping
that he is able to keep awake for the rest of his years
he resides
on a beach
in a town
where i am going to live
and i often ask him
“are you looking for the mother lode?”
huh?
no.
no my child, this is not my desire
and then he said
♦
i’m digging for fire
i’m digging for fire
i’m digging for fire
i’m digging for fire
1,468 comments Add your comment
Firearm
April 29th, 2010
1:54 pm
初ポースト！ (Trans: FIRST!)
csg
April 29th, 2010
1:55 pm
HR’s must be nice
Nick in PA
April 29th, 2010
1:55 pm
JJ might wanna get that shoulder reexamined
Mitchie-san (Chipper needs yoga)
April 29th, 2010
1:56 pm
Crikey.
FEAR
April 29th, 2010
1:56 pm
Man we are jobbing like Barry Horowitz anymore.
Nick in PA
April 29th, 2010
1:56 pm
and McCann may wanna get those eyes reexamined ha
steve h
April 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
Boy, talk about bad luck. Three-run homer from Cards rookie Freese on a wind-swept foul pole homer.
Nick in PA
April 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
Medlen up in the bullpen….thats not a good sign
Don't-win-it-4Bobby-but-4the-FANS
April 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
Is JJ hurt?
Craig
April 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
Something is terribly wrong with this team. Not just that they are bad, but something is going on behind the scenes.
You guys really think they’ll score 4 runs today, especially off Wainwright? Uh, not a chance in hell.
9 in a row and counting…….
chin music
April 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
already down 3-0. uh-oh.
Firearm
April 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
Man we are jobbing like Barry Horowitz anymore.
I was always partial to Iron Mike Sharpe.
Nick in PA
April 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
12 pitches in 2 innings for wainwright…yikes
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
1:58 pm
Yeah, same ole story. Jurrjens is hurt, I don’t care what anyone says.
MamaDawg
April 29th, 2010
1:58 pm
From the tail-end of the previous blog……If the Braves didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck at all. What a way to start off this game! Go ahead and give a 3-spot.
RC
April 29th, 2010
1:59 pm
Glad to see the team took the message about “not watching too many pitches”. That’s certainly paying off early in this game….
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
1:59 pm
Strained left hamstring for JJ.
MamaDawg
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
Uh-oh! JJ out of the game…Medlen pitching!!
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
JURRJENS out with STRAINED LEFT HAMSTRING
Don't-win-it-4Bobby-but-4the-FANS
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
Just heard it on the radio: Strained left hamstring.
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
Wainwright’s thrown 12 pitches. Through 2 innings.
FEAR
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
Firearm – maybe they could all wear casts and claim to all have broken arms………….for 5 years
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
Sigh…
Nick in PA
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
hamstring injury for jurrjens…least its not the shoulder
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
When Wainwright gets board facing this lineup, he just might start pitching left-handed to challenge himself. Perhaps some under the leg “fast-pitch softball” type pitches.
This season hinged on 3 things imo:
JJJ being helthy…. call me crazy, but I’m not buying that he is.
Chipper being helthy and ripping the ball….. yeah right.
Hanson not having a sophomore slump….
Hey. 1 out of 3 isn’t bad, right?
And now JJJ is out. I guess that answers #1, huh?
Start making phone calls to sell Mr. Wren. If JJJ is out, this team is DONE.
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
April 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FEAR
April 29th, 2010
2:01 pm
Great JJ is gonna be down………. dont forget to purchase some orange drink for the long ride home
Gonna get swept (again)
April 29th, 2010
2:01 pm
…so how’s that grand “Speech” working out, eh?
Ow! My Oblique!
April 29th, 2010
2:01 pm
Down 3-0 to Wainright. This game is over.
steve h
April 29th, 2010
2:02 pm
Well, Medlen is going to get his first start this season minus one inning.
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
2:02 pm
Man, as if this stretch of the season couldnt get any worse, one of our young guns goes down. Lets hope not for too long.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:02 pm
Perhaps appropriately, there is Shea-quantity trash blowing on the field. Been that kind of trip for Braves.
Matt
April 29th, 2010
2:03 pm
3 runs down already, it’s over!!!!!
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:04 pm
Gonna get swept: Did you actually think the Braves were going to use my Teddy Roosevelt speech suggestion? You didn’t, right? It was made in jest, and no Brave has mentioned anything about a speech of any kind this week. Just FYI.
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:04 pm
It doesn’t matter what Medlen does (though I’m glad for him he’s actually getting to pitch & maybe he’s lights out today and that forces Lowe or KK to the pen….), but this team is NOT going to score 3 runs off of Wainwright.
Only 8 times in his last 38 starts has he given up more than 3 ER. And not once since June 21st of last year.
Call me pessimistic…. but this is NOT the offense that is going to buck that streak.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
2:04 pm
This will be 9 in a row boys and girls. Well on the way to that big 17 straight form 1977. Maybe they should have a 1977night at the TED.
Boonie
April 29th, 2010
2:04 pm
Does anyone have an online link to the game for us folks stuck in the office?
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:05 pm
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
Thanks for mussin’ up my blog, visually. Douche.
TennesseePaul
April 29th, 2010
2:06 pm
Dig for Fire…. Possibly my favorite Pixies song.
Matt
April 29th, 2010
2:06 pm
For the fans, if there are any left, who attend the game tomorrow night, boo this team as they go on the field and let them know how pathetic they are!!!!
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
2:07 pm
Is football season getting close?
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:07 pm
I agree with N8. Can we get that post deleted so that things go back to normal?
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:07 pm
I wonder if Brian Jordan will rip on JJJ for not stretching enough?
DAP
April 29th, 2010
2:08 pm
DOB no Brave has mentioned anything about a speech of any kind this week
on sunday, the ESPN guys were talking about a closed door meeting that bobby called. did that happen?
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:08 pm
Hahaha, how’s that for “taking the bat off your shoulder”?
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
2:08 pm
Nick in PA and McCann may wanna get those eyes reexamined ha
Tss!
(ITS)
Dick Doss
April 29th, 2010
2:09 pm
way to go j-hey
Brian D
April 29th, 2010
2:09 pm
Heyward – base hit! (something positive)
Now, can we just avoid the double play?
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
2:09 pm
Brian Jordan didn’t rip Chipper. He just didn’t phrase his suggestion well.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:09 pm
Jurrjens could use the rest on the DL. I’m serious. If it’s “tired shoulder” that is bothering him, than fine, but 4-6 weeks on the shelf might be a good idea, seeing that he just doesn’t look the same out there.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
2:09 pm
Boonie – this one is working for me:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/1570-wcle-am-Cleveland,-tennessee
N8 – you’re pessimistic. Incredibly so.
Tim
April 29th, 2010
2:10 pm
Call me crazy, but this team has surprised me before and rocked a few Ace’s. Im thinking we will at least tie this game today, and maybe win it. The law of averages has to kick in sometime and give us some timely hits.
MikeInFL
April 29th, 2010
2:10 pm
Boonie, I’m getting it at http://listen.mediatechusa.com:8080/wada.
C's
April 29th, 2010
2:10 pm
Boonie: http://mvpcast.com/index.php/sports/7704-MLB—Atlanta-Cardinals-140EST.html
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:11 pm
I’m not buying the “back of the bubblegum card” BS from Chip. I don’t care what their averages were before. How do they LOOK right now?
Chipper batted almost 100 points less from 2008 to 2009 with no real injury issues. Everybody kept waiting for him to “snap” out of it.
There is nothing in one’s past that GUARANTEES they will repeat it.
Gotta love Heyward getting on base with Nate and Medlen on deck.
Nice job Bobby.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
2:11 pm
DAP: That was just a chew-em out speech. Not a motivational one.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
2:11 pm
I’m really sick of watching McLouth just stand there as strikes whiz by.
C's
April 29th, 2010
2:11 pm
Mine is video though. Not sure if you can watch it at work.
Dick Doss
April 29th, 2010
2:11 pm
nate just keep watching them strikes go bye
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
2:11 pm
PS–I hate this camera angle.
njbraves
April 29th, 2010
2:12 pm
Of course no Brave has made any type of speech, I’d be shocked if anyone did. This team has limited talent, no guts, and no heart. Watch good teams play ball and tell me anything you see that reminds you of the Braves. They say all the right things, but that’s where it ends. It’s sad to see what this franchise has become……heartless and mediocre at best.
Matt
April 29th, 2010
2:12 pm
Are you serious Tim? Have you been watching any games the past couple weeks?
Deep into my Cap
April 29th, 2010
2:12 pm
The lineup the Braves are putting out there today is a joke. Hinske, Infante and Diaz are merely fill-in players. The Yankees would have driven Cabrera to Atlanta they were so happy to dump him. Nate is not what he was. McCann is a good solid player but he’s no 4 hitter. Escobar and Prado are solid. Heyward is a reach to expect him to carry all this dead weight. This is a 75 win team.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:13 pm
Wren needs to be blamed for some of this. He traded for McLouth, signed Glaus, Lowe and Kawakami. Some of this is his fault.
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
2:13 pm
“I’m really sick of watching McLouth just stand there as strikes whiz by.” – Brava
Seconded.
Do you think he would have 8 hr by now if he was a Diamondback?
PMC
April 29th, 2010
2:13 pm
hey, McClouth played well enough for long enough to get out of Pittsburgh so he’s got to be happy about that.
Oh well, nice to have baseball on during work.
Ralph Garr Fan
April 29th, 2010
2:14 pm
Reposted from previous blog — Comments anyone
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
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:14 pm
The Yankees would have driven Cabrera to Atlanta they were so happy to dump him.
I don’t like Melky, but it’s worth mentioning that Yankees fans were chanting “We want Melky back!” during Vazquez’s starts this year.
Mitchell
April 29th, 2010
2:14 pm
Bobby Cox has made a mockery of this team and this city. We were a joke before, we’re a joke now.
This can’t end soon enough. You can’t expect any goodwill when you win one playoff series out of seven in ten years.
Not even in the top ten of all-time managers.
Sorry.
Gotta go.
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
April 29th, 2010
2:15 pm
N8
I know you are yelling the same thing, rusty k*nt.
OUCH!!!!!!
April 29th, 2010
2:15 pm
Dear Lord, Please hurry these hurry these next 4-5 months up and bring on Football season, hopefully the Falcons can bring some glory back to the city!!!
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
Lowe has been a debacle. I make it a point to miss his starts. Don’t get me started on that smirk he gets on his face when he implodes and gives up 5 ER in the 3rd inning.
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
I agree McFann. I wish my angle had TWO good teams on the screen.
Seriously though… I agree. Where’s the camera located at Milwuakee?
Brava
April 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
God, what a horrible call!
ernesto
April 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
how about a game without an crooked number of errors – that’ s not asking too much, is it?
ContactBuzz
April 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
They don’t need the Roosevelt speech. They need the psychologist from ‘The Natural’ and his losing is contagious speech
Brian D
April 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
More clutch hitting by the Braves. Strikeout to end the inning with 2 RISP.
Jonathon
April 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
Are Jordan Schafer and Freddie Freeman ready yet? : )
Dear Frank Wren, if this losing stretch continues, please blow up the roster and play the kids.
I hope JJ’s injury is nothing serious.
MamaDawg
April 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
What the heck was Escobar squatting away from?? It was nowhere near him.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:17 pm
Mitchell…don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Larry Jones
April 29th, 2010
2:17 pm
What’s the record for fewest runs scored by a team in a 162 game season?
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:17 pm
This can’t end soon enough. You can’t expect any goodwill when you win one playoff series out of seven in ten years.
Can you expect any goodwill when you get to seven playoffs in ten years? Or is that the players, and not the manager? Because you really can’t have it both ways.
Dick Doss
April 29th, 2010
2:17 pm
how many called third strikes must we look at this is a sad year to be a braves fan
Tim
April 29th, 2010
2:18 pm
Im serious. Baseball has taught me one thing. High peaks, and low lows. A major league team just cant continue to hit .200 and score less then 2 runs a game. Somewhere this streak will snap, and it really wont matter who is on the mound. If they had a batting coach teaching them to hit where the ball is pitched, it would help tremendously
Brian D
April 29th, 2010
2:18 pm
Correction: 2 LOB.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
When was the last time this team scored more than 4 runs in a game? Was it really game one against the Rockies on Friday, April 16th?
The Ubaldo no-hitter really shook this team up. It could be worse, if not for two late game heroics. This losing streak could be at 10 games right now. 11, after today.
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
“God, what a horrible call!”
Are you serious? That ball caught plate. The only thing horrible about that call, is that Wainwright got it wearing a Cardinals uniforma and not a Braves one.
Don’t worry. JD Drew will get the rally started next inning for us….. what’s that…..?
Oh. Never mind.
J-MAN
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
Frank Wren must go. TP must go and this season needs to end so Cox can go.This team needs new blood and the status quo is no longer working and the arrogance on the front office and Cox’s part asstounds me……….. YOU DO KNOW YOUR IN AN 8 GAME LOSING STREAK!!!!!!!!! MAKE THAT 9 GAME LOSING STREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andy
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
If the Bravos lose today…which seems likely. They will at best be tied for the second worst record in baseball only behind the lowly Orioles who have only won 4 games through yesterday. Disaster.
ChrisfromSacramento,CA
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
Last week I posted three times JJ’s velocity was down 4 mph. Come on his hamstring is not hurt. The man’s shoulder is messed up. He looked flat again and i bet is heading to the DL.
This team sucks. Sorry Bobby, to bad for your last year. PLEASE FIRE PENDELTON AND CUT GLAUS.
RHR
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
Holy crap just started listening and heard “Medlen has retired all….” and it’s the 3rd inning. Yikes. gotta catch up what happened.
Bat – from the last blog. No, not really. But my parents house is bad.
Falcon Josh
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
Do you think the lady on I-75 who shot herself was listening to Braves game?
Kelly Leake
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
Yeah, Bobby Cox made a mockery of this city. How long have you been a Braves fan? Were you here when the most exciting thing was a garden growing in the bullpen? How many network games were the Braves on before Bobby came?
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:20 pm
I like what Medlen’s doing. Nothing to lose…just go out there and pump strikes in there.
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
April 29th, 2010
2:20 pm
I quit, just like all the Braves players and coaches not named Heyward. I switched to Judge Alex on mute, I’m leaving to pump Red Hot Chili Peppers and smile. F this team. F Wren. And I’m not talking about his first initial. I’ll be back if they ever reach .500. Who the hell would pay to see this? GD!
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:20 pm
Wainwright took 21 pitches in the 3rd, compared to 12 across the first 2. At least we are starting to get some looks at him.
Lost Bravo
April 29th, 2010
2:20 pm
Mitchell….Cox will go after the season is over and his final season ledger will be about 60 W and 102 L which is a fitting record for the bum that he is
Penis McFlanagan
April 29th, 2010
2:20 pm
Oh my Gawd we are awful. If we dont take at least 2 from Houston I am done with this team. This is beyond pathetic.
MattyRoss
April 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
Tim, there’s no way you’re wrong about the streak snapping at some point. The issue becomes the longer the low lows continue, the more sustained the high would have to be in order to get our heads back above water. While the odds are against this level of play continuing, they might be even more against a long streak of great baseball.
That’s not to say I won’t be there rooting for it…
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
Kelly Leake…
Bye.
TennesseePaul
April 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
I don’t like Melky, but it’s worth mentioning that Yankees fans were chanting “We want Melky back!” during Vazquez’s starts this year.
Might have more to do with Vazquez’s reproducing the infamous “First Tour in NY” on his second time through.
Kyle
April 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
DOB- how did jj hurt his hamstring?
chc4
April 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
This nucleus needs to be blown up. Chipper is done. Even the effective vets like Hudson are being wasted. I say trade them all and start over. Only keepers are McCann, Heyward, Hanson, Prado, Jurrjens and a couple of the cheap bullpen arms. Everyone is should be on the block soon including Yunel.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
Medlen can pitch. I think he’d better than Lowe or Kawakami over the course of a full season.
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
If half the people who “quit” on the blog actually left, this would be a much happier place.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:22 pm
Whoops, not you Kelly Leake. Sorry.
Matt
April 29th, 2010
2:22 pm
And the beatdown goes on, and on, and on, and on………….
Could be actually be WORSE than the Pirates this year?
Good thing that the Braves have “Bark in the Park” scheduled for Sunday, cause so far this year, they’ve played like dogs.
WTF
April 29th, 2010
2:22 pm
Raise ya hand if you wished we had Vazquez now?
Scott from Fairburn
April 29th, 2010
2:22 pm
Folks, I’m afraid that this is more than a rough patch the team is going through with ‘patience’ as the prescribed cure … either they are not very good (raw material) or not being ‘coached’ up (performing below norms). While it’s obvious they are not the ‘27 Yankees, I’m leaning to the latter.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:22 pm
RC, tell me about it.
Ron H
April 29th, 2010
2:23 pm
Wow…I have never seen a team just give up like this…I’m just speechless.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
2:23 pm
Disagree, N8. Looked high to me.
DAP
April 29th, 2010
2:23 pm
does anyone believe this is the 2nd worse team in the majors? that what the record says. they certinly are not the 2nd worst team, and youve got to believe that the record will eventually show that…but its really getting discouraging.
jimmy joe When was the last time this team scored more than 4 runs in a game? Was it really game one against the Rockies on Friday, April 16th?
no, it was tuesday.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
2:23 pm
Good lord, DOB’s blog is the equivalent of a beautiful woman with toilet paper hanging out of her dress.
Some of you people are just hilarious, and I suspect you don’t actually like baseball, much less the Braves. This blog has to lead the internet in “Called it!”, “I told you 3 months ago…” and amateur psychology. The ‘net is great and all, other than providing every uninformed, trash-talking, low self-esteem-having jackass an outlet to say things they wouldn’t have the gall to say in person.
I feel better now.
JTH
April 29th, 2010
2:23 pm
Medlin looks good so far. If JJ goes on the DL Medlin probably gets his spot in the rotation until he comes back.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:24 pm
Before the game, a local writer told a few of us (including Bobby Cox) about how attendance is down here, how they’re “only” getting c rowds in the mid-30,000s. It was all any of us could do to keep from laughing.
This place is mostly fully for a Thursday afternoon game at 12:40 — in April.
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:24 pm
chc4,
Aside from the Florida Marlins, name me a team that has “blown up the nucleus” recently and had success doing so?
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:24 pm
This team is like the Cleveland Indians of 2008 minus the previous years ALCS appearance. Everyone expected them to soar after getting to the ALCS against Boston. They ended up falling on their faces.
Matt
April 29th, 2010
2:24 pm
McFlanagan, how do you take more than two games from a team you’re only playing twice?
Lost Bravo
April 29th, 2010
2:24 pm
The team is not concentrating because this is Donk’s last season
LWB
April 29th, 2010
2:24 pm
3-0 and JJ is out with an injury? Wow. Just when you think things can’t get much worse. This team could possibly lose 95-100 games this year while Wren sits on his hands mumbling….”They’ll come around….career averages……they’ll come around……”
01HAWK
April 29th, 2010
2:25 pm
Why doesn’t BOOBY COX have the guts to send DLOWE to the bullpen for Chris Medlen. Maybe he would be better in middle relief.
Penis McFlanagan
April 29th, 2010
2:25 pm
Well people come to watch baseball teams that, you know, hit the baseball and score runs. Foreign concept I know.
Roger Dorn
April 29th, 2010
2:25 pm
Hey even I didn’t pack it in like Chipper and this team
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:25 pm
no, it was tuesday- DAP
MORE than four runs? I seem to remember the Cardinals beating us 5-4. 5 is MORE than 4.
ChrisfromSacramento,CA
April 29th, 2010
2:26 pm
JJ is my favorite pitcher, sad day. I think his shoulder is not well. The way this team is snake bitten, I see JJ going down for a long time. His fastball topped out at 87. Not good.
HAHAH THE METS OWNED YOU!
April 29th, 2010
2:26 pm
HAHAHAHHAHA All you dumb braves fans out there! You idiots are to dumb to close an umbrella much less Win a ball game… Has any team ever went 8-154??? Bc yall are about to! And that kunt pitching sqaud blows worse! Yall suck! Watch a real team do work. GO METS WS 2010!
MikeInFL
April 29th, 2010
2:26 pm
ChrisfromSacramento,CA
April 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
Last week I posted three times JJ’s velocity was down 4 mph.
Maybe if you posted fact instead of fiction, someone would take it to heart. According to fangraphs, JJ’s fb is down slightly, from 91.2 mph to 90.5 (90.8 according to pitchfx). Where do you get 4 mph?
Kelly Leake
April 29th, 2010
2:26 pm
DOB- If you run into a Cardinals media guy named Chris Tunno (Brian Bartow’s assistant), tell him the biggest Braves fan he knows from Jupiter says “hello”.
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
April 29th, 2010
2:26 pm
Last comment, I have taken trips down to ATL from NJ for 9 out of the last 12 years. Would hang at the players lot and get my bat signed. Only guy I ever talked trash to face to face was Dan Kolb in ‘05. I gave it to him, lashed him out so bad (good thing there is that tall green steel fence). He wanted to murder me. Anyway point is, I want to go back, simply to ask Chipper, “Are you retiring so we can sign AGON long-term? Also, you do realize you’re a #6 hitter at best not a player the lineup should be built around right?”
However, I love Chipper and don’t want any beef with the man. Life would not be the same. This is like being a Yankee fan watching Mantle fall from grace, sans the alcohol.
DJ
April 29th, 2010
2:26 pm
On a positive note, the Braves have now made it over 9 consecutive innings without an error.
How sad is it that that’s surprising?
Penis McFlanagan
April 29th, 2010
2:26 pm
Matt
We play them Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Based on my calculations, that is 3 games.
Falcon Josh
April 29th, 2010
2:27 pm
We will be 8,000 strong for Friday Night Fireworks!!!
Jonathon
April 29th, 2010
2:27 pm
Kris Medlen making a case to crack the rotation. He’s really made strides since his first few appearances last season.
Roger Dorn
April 29th, 2010
2:27 pm
This team is as bad as Major League 3 with Scott Backula and Ted McGineley
cricket
April 29th, 2010
2:27 pm
If half the people who “quit” on the blog actually left, this would be a much happier place.
Yes, but that will bring down number of pages. Crazies are good for blog page count.
just wondering
April 29th, 2010
2:28 pm
Hey DOB, was the local scribe Joe Strauss? He used to be at the Gwinnett Daily News years ago.
Spider29
April 29th, 2010
2:28 pm
Gotta say, I can’t blame Yunel for not swinging at the third “strike”.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:29 pm
Just had a veteran baseball writer tell me he’s never seen a Bobby Cox team look this dead.
Todd
April 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
Ron H-
If you’v never seen a team give up like this, check out the Hawks…
RHR
April 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
A POINT!
Eric
April 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
Finally a run!!!
Roger Dorn
April 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
We need “Wild Thing” Ricky Vaughn and definately need Willie Mays Hayes
Soph
April 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
Yay Marteeeeeen & Omar!
Brava
April 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
Yay, we’re not shut out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RHR
April 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
PROGRESS!
DAP
April 29th, 2010
2:31 pm
thank you infante. dont quit now, braves.
Penis McFlanagan
April 29th, 2010
2:31 pm
Holy hell we just doubled our average offensive production. A veritable explosion of runs.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:31 pm
0-2 pitch? Interesting…finally a break.
Renegator
April 29th, 2010
2:32 pm
OMG – a run!
J-MAN
April 29th, 2010
2:32 pm
How D.O.B. now you can cover Cricket
Youngerthan Thatnow
April 29th, 2010
2:32 pm
Things aren’t going good for the Braves, that’s for sure. There could be some changes coming, but that’s not a guarantee. But when things are bad, or really bad every mistake, defensive or offensive, magnifies itself a whole lot. And this is a much better team than this losing streak indicates, that’s a fact.
But booing at games and all of this negative energy from “fans” of the Braves is definitely NOT helping any at all… AND THAT’S A FACT!
Some of you people need to find another team to support… a perfect one in every aspect.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:32 pm
I said, hey, considering they’ve lost their last eight games, I’m surprised it’s taken this long for them to look so flat. Most games this season they’ve not done anything offensively, but I wouldn’t say they looked lifeless or dead. I don’t know, what do you guys think?
No Way
April 29th, 2010
2:32 pm
Extra Base Hit! And it scored a run. Must be in the Twilight Zone…
DAP
April 29th, 2010
2:32 pm
my bad, jimmie joe. i misread you.
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:33 pm
The Russian is cut! The Russian is cut!
cricket
April 29th, 2010
2:33 pm
Will Tony take Wainwright out now?
braves70
April 29th, 2010
2:33 pm
Did that writer say “never seen a Bobby Cox team so dead” or was it “i did not know Bobby Cox had died.”?
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:33 pm
The worst part about this team is the idea that the offense is the only problem. JJ, Lowe and Kawakami have ERA’s over 5, yet everyone blames the offense.
Matt
April 29th, 2010
2:34 pm
Youngethan – how is that a fact? Players going to get their feelings hurt?
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:34 pm
Might be time that we start seeing Hinske play more at 1B. I know it’s not even four weeks yet, but Hinske’s been too solid to not be in the lineup somewhere for a team with this many guys slumping.
nique
April 29th, 2010
2:34 pm
I miss Bobby’s mismanagement of the bullpen being the biggest concern!!!
cricket
April 29th, 2010
2:35 pm
D.O.B. now you can cover Cricket
he can start tomorrow in west indies with cricket T20 world cup
joedirt
April 29th, 2010
2:35 pm
wish braves had a leader to step up and light a fire in these guys. its about pride, you cant just stay back and do nothing and keep this losing streak goin. 4.5 games back is nothing since there is like 140 games left in season. you never know
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:35 pm
I think any team would look dead after losing 8 in a row. It’s downright depressing, for them and for us. They need something, anything, to happen to give some kind of spark. That’s why I was hoping for a surprise win today. A miracle comback this afternoon would do the trick, perhaps.
More than anything, they need to run into a pitcher with an ERA closer to 6 than 1, and have a day offensively. Just one, to snap em out of it.
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
April 29th, 2010
2:35 pm
DOB
That shot in the dugout when Chipper didn’t advance the runner one of the games this week and Escobar staring him down hard across the dugout as Chipper stared at the ground and everyone else held their heads. That’s when I knew they were dead, flat. If dead and flat mated and had 25 children, it would be the “Atlanta Braves”. Cox’s whole act is worn out, it’s sad and hard to say it, but it’s true.
Hank Steinbrenner
April 29th, 2010
2:35 pm
David could you write an article about how Liberty Media is keeping costs down so they can live like fat cats off the revenue sharing $ I am providing them?
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:36 pm
“Raise ya hand if you wished we had Vazquez now?”
Why? Can he play 3B, LF or 1B and provide anything above a .250 average?
Brava, if that ball was high, don’t you think Bobby would have been out barking at the umps? Today would be the PERFECT day for him to go off on the umps to try and spark his team to any sort of pulse.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
2:37 pm
ESPN’s Gametracker is showing a lot of pitches in the middle of the strike zone called a ball so far today. Weird.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:38 pm
Why? Can he play 3B, LF or 1B and provide anything above a .250 average? – N8
I get what your’re saying. But the starters don’t have a sparlling ERA any longer.
Bradford
April 29th, 2010
2:38 pm
It seems to suck the energy out of me just watching the team play this year.
Al for ATL
April 29th, 2010
2:38 pm
I’m looking for the silver linings here, but all I’m seeing is a cloud. Good teams just do not go on losing streaks like this. It feels like the season is done, and that’s not panic or alarmist talk – I’ve watched baseball for decades and know how things can turn. But a team that can play this badly from top to bottom for such a long stretch is grim stuff.
I was pretty optimistic about this team coming into the season, but the beginning of this year looks even worse than the beginning of last year when Schafer and Frenchy were the only ones killing us. Now most of the team is killing us.
I fully understand the Vazquez move and how that could not be avoided, but the fact that the Braves did not follow LaRoche’s negotiations and jump in there was something that puzzled me at the time and now looks like a monumental mistake. He was one of the main reasons we had a chance at the end of last season after our offense stunk it up early.
JTH
April 29th, 2010
2:38 pm
Yeah I was thinking the same thing about Hinske DOB. The few times he’s played he’s looked more comfortable fielding and hitting. Give him more chances, it can’t hurt that’s for sure.
Andy
April 29th, 2010
2:39 pm
I don’t blame them for looking dead. Lost 8 in a row. Down 3-0 after the first inning and your stud young starting pitcher leaves the game with an injury.
Jonathon
April 29th, 2010
2:40 pm
Until last night, the Braves lost a pair of 1 run games in this series that they were 1 clutch hit away from winning. I think they’re still fighting, but the frustration is mounting.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
2:40 pm
Will it ever end?
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
April 29th, 2010
2:40 pm
Also, to all of you even keeled minded gentleman who are all greater than thou out there that refer to some people as crazies (minus PL, he is a crazy). It must be great to have no family. Because some families look forward to Braves baseball every day/night. So when a team shows up and lies on the floor, you tend to get pissed off and angered. Isn’t that what being a FANATIC is all about???? We are ALL FANATICS, otherwise we wouldn’t be here.
RHCP time, I’m out.
onebravosfan
April 29th, 2010
2:40 pm
I would like to see Hinske in the lineup on a much more regular basis. Regarding the Braves’ effort, it has looked pretty good to me. Just a few bad mistakes here and there have really cost us, which of course, makes the losing streak even more frustrating.
Jonathon
April 29th, 2010
2:41 pm
C’mon, Medlen. Gotta bear down here.
ChrisfromSacramento,CA
April 29th, 2010
2:41 pm
MIKEINFL, maybe if you watched the games or knew what you were talking about you would know what im talking about.
JJ’s fastball was 92-94 last year and coudl hit 95 when needed. The past two starts he has been 86-89 and topping out at 90.
I am a college pitching coach and pitched in college and in Independent ball. I had rotator cuff surgery. I see he arm speed is down and the ball is flat and not doing anything.
He is not right, his shoulder was already hurting. I bet it is worse. DL will be comming. It sucks because I think JJ is a really good pitcher.
SO MIKEfromFL, pay attention.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:42 pm
So much for Medlen………
wheelz007
April 29th, 2010
2:43 pm
What’s the score? 3-1?
bigrob97
April 29th, 2010
2:43 pm
The cardinal radio broadcast has to be the worst in the Majors.
RC
April 29th, 2010
2:43 pm
The 2006 Cardinals lost 8 in a row at one point, and won the WS. So it’s not unprecedented for a good team to have a bad streak.
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
2:43 pm
Soph, by Oct the 3rd, at least
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:44 pm
“I get what your’re saying. But the starters don’t have a sparlling ERA any longer.”
Then entire staff could have an ERA of 2.00 and this team would STILL be on an 8 game losing streak. Dude… even IF Jurrjens is down for a while… pitching is NOT the problem.
Now my tone of this next question isn’t meant to sound rude… or pompous. But you DO know the difference between regular innings and “high stress” innings for pitchers, right?
This pitching staff is on about it’s 130th “high stress” inning in a row… NOTHING has come easy for this staff.
Can’t win if you don’t score. No matter how many runs you prevent the other team from scoring.
How about the defense? Or lack there of, I should say? Chipper NOT starting that double play was an error that was not called an error. Making all those runs earned on the pitcher.
Not only can you not place all the blame on the pitchers, I’m not sure if you can place ANY of it on them during this stretch.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:44 pm
The 2006 Cardinals lost 8 in a row at one point, and won the WS. So it’s not unprecedented for a good team to have a bad streak. – RC
The Braves are not making the playoffs with 83 wins. It just isn’t happening. Not with a goliath like Philly in our division.
LWB
April 29th, 2010
2:44 pm
Just as soon as they get a run (finally), pitching gives it right back. Good grief. Does that writer really wonder why this team looks flat DOB? NOTHING is going right.
bigrob97
April 29th, 2010
2:45 pm
DOB. I like Henske at 1st. Don’t know why Troy Glaus could provide anything like his Angel years.
I Hate Liberty Media
April 29th, 2010
2:45 pm
This team doesn’t care. All they care about is collecting their paychecks. Thanks, Liberty, Frank and Bobby. Losers.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
2:46 pm
The Braves are on pace to get 2 runs this game, and don’t forget, we’ve got Chipper & Glaus available to pinch hit into double plays.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
2:46 pm
The 1977 Braves lost 17 straight on the way to 101 loses. It’s not unprecedented for bad teams to have bad streaks.
N8
April 29th, 2010
2:46 pm
“So much for Medlen………”
Really? Allowing 1 run in 3 innings (when he likely didn’t have a clue he was going to pitch before the 5th or 6th inning) now sucks, huh?
MikeInFL
April 29th, 2010
2:48 pm
Chrisfromsac, I’ll just give you a link to respected stats on Jurrjens’ velocity and leave it at that.
faninva
April 29th, 2010
2:48 pm
yes yes yes…Hinske for Glaus full time, even against left-handers. He’s the only one who doesn’t look like part of the walking dead collective.
Peter
April 29th, 2010
2:48 pm
Ok down 4-1 and we don’t need to worry say until we loose at least 15 games in a row……..
My girlfriend who is a bigger Braves fan than I am said the other night, “we better not watch them, because when we do they loose” …… SO much for real logic there……
Well I wonder if folks will turn out at Turner Field, because she also mentioned…. ” I wouldn’t spend my hard earned dollars to watch them play ! “……..
So who is going to pay hard earned money and watch the “Bad News Bears” as she called them ?
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
2:48 pm
I think we don’t realize that the Braves look dead because we’ve been watching them play at a mediocre at best level the past few years.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
2:49 pm
Really? Allowing 1 run in 3 innings (when he likely didn’t have a clue he was going to pitch before the 5th or 6th inning) now sucks, huh? – N8
Relax. As for my point about the pitchers, that might not be the main problem, but they haven’t exactly been the best staff in the league, like many bloggers were saying prior to the season.
RHR
April 29th, 2010
2:50 pm
That damn wind!
Arkansas Transplant
April 29th, 2010
2:50 pm
The one that really stands out is Total Bases. Especially when you were suppose to have fixed the lack of power and extra base hits from last year.
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
2:50 pm
But I think this is a new low for the Braves- not counting the teams from over two decades ago
FUWren
April 29th, 2010
2:51 pm
When our pitchers give up 1 run it does make it seem like they suck, because being 1 run down to a Braves fan is like 3 runs down to fans of every other mlb team. If you look at this roster and think it’s a good team then you need to pick a new sport.
Chris
April 29th, 2010
2:51 pm
DOB, who did we get when we traded Wainwright way back when?
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
2:51 pm
We got JD Who, I mean Drew.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
2:51 pm
Nothing against Hinske playing 1st base as much or more then the washed-up Glaus, but there we go again, making utilty players, everyday players…..Not cool.
carlchamblee
April 29th, 2010
2:52 pm
I’ve seen a lot of “deadness” out there DOB. May be a chicken-or-egg thing with the losses, but waaay too many lapses in the fundamentals such as bloops dropping between fielders, errors, bad situational hitting etc. Beyond just the obvious weak bats it hasn’t been good baseball on a regular basis. We get a lot of singles, well not a lot, but compared to extra base hits. Haven’t seen many steal attempts or hit and run calls. Why not it’s worth a try to shake things up
brian
April 29th, 2010
2:53 pm
a big comeback against Wainwright would do wonders for the Braves psychie and for our season
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
2:53 pm
RHR
Glad to hear about your house, hate it for your parents though…… ill wind, the storm, not the game it’s only been ill for the Braves, so far.
ernesto
April 29th, 2010
2:54 pm
brian – yeah, and a million dollars would make me a millionaire.
but good on ya for the optimism.
Evan
April 29th, 2010
2:54 pm
Chris,
We got JD Drew and Eli Marrero
MikeInFL
April 29th, 2010
2:55 pm
Baseball teams losing almost always look lifeless. Teams that are losing usually are not hitting real well, or are not pitching well; they aren’t doing a lot of high-fiving, or smiling, etc. Every time the Braves lose a couple of games, some bloggers start proclaiming that they need to “play with passion” or some such nonsense.
RHR
April 29th, 2010
2:55 pm
Don Sutton: “Heyward could run on broken glass and never cut his feet”.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
2:55 pm
“a big comeback against Wainwright would do wonders for the Braves psychie and for our season”
brian, There’s no room in this blog for optimism….Now move along.
Chris
April 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
Thanks guys.
jay dubu
April 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
You know, DOB, you should pose the Hinske playing time question to Cox, because I suspect that he’ll have Troy right back in there tomorrow.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
As Dandy Don Meredith always said: Were ifs and buts candy and nuts, we would all have a Merry Christmas.
I Hate Liberty Media
April 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
And Kelly Johnson is 2 for 2 today.
PDub
April 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
David O’Brien (April 29th, 2010 2:32 pm EST): I said, hey, considering they’ve lost their last eight games, I’m surprised it’s taken this long for them to look so flat. Most games this season they’ve not done anything offensively, but I wouldn’t say they looked lifeless or dead. I don’t know, what do you guys think?
I’m with you, DOB. Last night they looked pretty dead, for sure. Before that, though, they looked like a good team playing pretty well and catching a bunch of bad breaks.
That happens sometimes.
ernesto
April 29th, 2010
2:57 pm
we could high-five hitting the ball past the mound.
making contact’s another high-five opp for the Braves these days.
Remembering to tag up – double high five!
carlchamblee
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
I got no problem w Hinske playing more instead of Glaus. But did I miss something he did today or the last few games?
faninva
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
first my crapitals lose last night, now this…or…a continuation of this.
Magic Man
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
They need to get home and hopefully get something going against the Astros. If they get some confidence, then they might be able to put something together. The good news about everyone slumping at the same time is the possibility of them all being on fire at the same time as well. If we can get there, we might have something.
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
Neight I agree McFann. I wish my angle had TWO good teams on the screen.
Ha! Seriously…
Where’s the camera located at Milwuakee?
Well I’m…not sure…
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
I’m telling you, the best thing for Kelly’s is career is gettin’ as far away from the Braves as possible
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
Medlen pitched well (again), and it’d be a shame if Chavez came in and let this game get completely out of control. Bit situation after this intentional walk loads the bases….
Where is your Prado now?
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
Kelly Johnson leads the NL in homeruns.
Wren and a few nitwits here said he sucks. We ditched him for Martin Phony.
Good call there, mini-GMs.
MikeInFL
April 29th, 2010
2:59 pm
scoring a run – chest bumps all around!
carlchamblee
April 29th, 2010
3:00 pm
Prado-bashing? Wow
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
3:01 pm
Backbreaker, and almost a grand slam.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:01 pm
Some folks here would bash George Washington if he was still around.
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
ballgame
faninva
April 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
Nick
April 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
It sucks when your team’s season is over before May. Now we gotta wait out the season and next offseason. Bummer. At least we will get to see them break the W-L record. I’m changing my prediction from 70-92 to 52-110. Ballgame! 9 in a row!
scaredbravesfan
April 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
3 run homer from nate mclouth. We are now leading a game!!
Kris
April 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
Seriously – how can you bash Prado??? He’s the only offensive player that’s performed at or beyond expectations this year.
Dick Doss
April 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
we suck
Don't-win-it-4Bobby-but-4the-FANS
April 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
David O’Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
Medlen pitched well (again), and it’d be a shame if Chavez came in and let this game get completely out of control. Bit situation after this intentional walk loads the bases….
There we have it!
Kris
April 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
and now it’s officially over…just in case anyone here was holding out hope.
scaredbravesfan
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
Sorry I was dreaming!!!!
ernesto
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
walking? High five.
Playing 9 innnings without pulling a hammy running to a base or coming out of the dug out? High five.
Not getting shut out? High five!
Not getting caught by the camera picking your nose? High five
Taking an 8 pitch K? The silent treatment – followed by multiple high fives and good natured
jock-ularity.
there are tons of things for these guys to get excited about, c’mon Braves.
Falcon Josh
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
Great!!!! Now im just going to watch that ass Rick Sanchez because it’s better than this $h*t.
Chris
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
Its seems as though there are no weak teams in the NL, or maybe we are the weakest?
Dan in NJ
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
Chip, I was just about to say that. Braves UTILITY players are becoming everyday players. Which leads me to believe even more that B.Cox must be smoking some laced cigars. I don’t think he should rest two or more players on the same day, such as yesterday (b-mac and heyward) especially while on an 8 game skid.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
brian, how bout that comeback?
Brian D
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
LOL Braves. Intentionally walk a guy to load the bases, so you can face a guy hitting over .300 and who is 2 for 2 today with a home run. Shockingly, he doubles, scoring three runs, and is now a triple away from the cycle.
Great job.
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
Chip said, “Trouble in River City”…
Yes. “Trouble with a capital ‘T’ and that rhymes with ‘D’ and that stands for David Freese!”
njbraves
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
This team is a joke. Stop blaming the manager and his coaches. These are well paid professionals, they shouldn’t need to be motivated. This has been a problem for years now, these guys just don’t seem to care. Talk is cheap.
Chris
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
My god throw Freese inside, the dude loves going oppo, thats all he does.
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
mixxo, it was ballgame after the first inning.
WTF, I mean, they have done all this damage with 2 outs.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
The Jesse Chavez from Spring Training came to play today.
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
And that pretty much wraps things up
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
I predict you’ll see some quick at-bats from the Braves the rest of the day. They’ll want to get home as quick as possible, with their tails between their legs.
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
Man this is bad. I don’t know whether to commend the optimistic one’s in here or call you insane, but I’m starting to lean towards the latter.
faninva
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
oye
Efrim
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
Yeesh. Nine straight L’s?
Freeman
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
This is beyond stupid. Braves have no pride and less soul. I hope we lose every game until Bobby, Wren and Tp are put where they are supposed to be the unemployment line.
SoCal Mom
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
WHY did they pinch hit for MEDLEN. He was not haveing any problems.
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
And let the meltdown (in real life & on the blog) begin….
But seriously folks. It’s all icing for the Cards at this point. The second that 3rd run crossed the plate on the HR in the first inning…. the game WAS over.
3-1, 2-1, 6-1, 7-1, 94-1…. it was going to be a loss either way.
Y’all didn’t actually think we were going to score 3 or 4 runs off of Wainwright today…. did you???
StingerSplash
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
What’s beyond sad? Because this is reaching that level very, very fast. Pitiful? Pathetic?
Daybed Wagmoe
April 29th, 2010
3:04 pm
Wow. I really don’t want to go ahead and say 9 in a row, but down 7-1 — now make that 8-1 — and we’re not even through 5 innings, against this pitcher, and with this offense, who am I kidding?
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:05 pm
I’m pretty sure that Bobby Cox will say that the Braves played well today.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:05 pm
There were plenty of folks in his day who bashed George Washington. He got egged by the public at one event.
Texas Dawg
April 29th, 2010
3:05 pm
Game over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
eric
April 29th, 2010
3:05 pm
embarassing, pathetic, depressing, deflating, unbelievable, f-ed up, someone put me out of my misery
Chris
April 29th, 2010
3:05 pm
Enter your comments here
Daybed Wagmoe
April 29th, 2010
3:05 pm
StingerSplash — humiliating? unbearable? painful? ashamed?
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:05 pm
If this continues much longer the Braves need to make a change. We can’t fall much further behind and have a shot at playoffs. Something gotta give.
Nick
April 29th, 2010
3:05 pm
The Braves are embarrassing themselves and their fans.
Chris
April 29th, 2010
3:06 pm
4 runs, all with 2 outs.
Supes
April 29th, 2010
3:06 pm
If the Braves can just “surrender” this game to the cards and pack their sh*t and just get back home, it wouldn’t be the worst thing. Save the bullpen at least.
Time to light a fire under this bunch…something drastic has to be done. Does Wren have the guts to do it…probably not. Worked for the Colorado Rockies last year…
Eric
April 29th, 2010
3:06 pm
Why are we struggling to close out an inning? We get first 2 outs and then everything goes wrong
steve h
April 29th, 2010
3:06 pm
9-1 Cards — Stick a fork in this one, it’s done.
jz23
April 29th, 2010
3:07 pm
Sheesh. All in 10 days this team’s made Jonathan Neise, Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer look like Cy Young. Now they’re making David Freese look like Albert Pujols. Something tells me this Braves team will show up in a lot of video for arbitration hearings.
Freeman
April 29th, 2010
3:07 pm
Braves are just Goldman Sachs.. Giving everyone a Sh*tty deal!
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:07 pm
I’m pretty sure that Bobby Cox will say that the Braves played well today. – chip
I am pretty sure you are wrong.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
3:07 pm
I feel like I’m in a really bad recurring nightmare.
iowabrave
April 29th, 2010
3:07 pm
Chris—-Its seems as though there are no weak teams in the NL, or maybe we are the weakest?
You know the saying about sitting at the poker table, “If you sit down, look around and can’t find the fish, you’re the fish”.
Mr. Enigma
April 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
This entire team is a piece of crap.
Is it 2011 yet?
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
its 8-1, not 9-1. get it right, lol
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
David O’Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
Medlen pitched well (again), and it’d be a shame if Chavez came in and let this game get completely out of control. Bit situation after this intentional walk loads the bases….
And the curse of DOB rears its ugly head again.
I dunno, it must be something supernatural going on. I can’t remember a Braves team like this myself…not even late 80’s.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
Chris April 29th, 2010 3:05 pm
Enter your comments here
The most positive thing said on this blog today.
Tommy
April 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
i hate this team. They have given up on themselves… Its absolutely sickening
faninva
April 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
did that 4 run outburst begin with 2 outs and no one on?
Brava
April 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
O.J.
Give it a minute.
GermanBravesFan
April 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
From what it sounds like, I should wait until I buy the MLB.com package… Until the Braves turn this thing around a bit…
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
This entire team is a piece of crap. – Mr. Enigma
Profound and insightful.
Innocent Bystander
April 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
What’s the saying? Too little too late?
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
Wonder how many people show up at next home game
Brian D
April 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
This should make for an epic showdown this weekend between two teams that have already lost nine in a row this season. Unfortunately for the Braves, the Astros are playing much better ball right now. But then again, so are the kids at the park down the street.
J-Hey
April 29th, 2010
3:09 pm
so uh .. two sweeps in a row
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
Man—-You guys SUCK
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
N8 – No.
If we win 70 games this year, I’ll consider it a successful year for this organization.
Bobby Cox
April 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
Am I mandated to watch this till October? I’m ready to retire now…right now.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
Yep, 3 in the first, 4 in the 5th…all after there were 2 outs and none on.
FEAR
April 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
well with all this 80s nostalgia. Braves are just being trendy
faninva
April 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
Don Sutton – “time to chip away.” I’m assuming he’s advocating for Chip Caray’s firing.
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
Wow, if something doesnt happen soon, either someone gets fired or let go or something, then this team is just going to continue to spiral down. I mean, you could feel the punch in the chest knocking the air out of the team after that stupid homer in the 1st
Daybed Wagmoe
April 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
faninva — yes, it did. chavez got 2 very quick outs, and then said, “this is too boring. i want to stay on the mound for a while longer.” so he did.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
McClouth is 0-2 today…This blog is about about him remaining positive, right?
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
The ‘Stros will kill us this wknd.
Arkansas Transplant
April 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
David O’Brien
April 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
Boy did you ever jinx him.
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
I love all the “ballgame” and “Game Over” calls NOW. Cracks me up.
Now all the homers will say “see, they can hit off of Wainwright”, now that Escobar and Prad start the 6th off with back to back hits.
This is the very definition of a LOW STRESS inning for Wainwright. Team just dropped 4 runs on the Braves to make it 8-1. Dude is going to take the short part of the park away and throw strikes and let them get themselves out…. which they will do.
Freeman
April 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
Seriously did i fall into the hot tub time machine. Where’s terry forester?
Innocent Bystander
April 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
Juuuuuuuuuuuust a bit outside. And a strike.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
METS MADNESS
You do realize that just by coming on this blog, you have cursed your team to lose their next 10 games, right?
Dan in NJ
April 29th, 2010
3:12 pm
DOB, Honestly wondering if and when some changes will be made? Whether its BC, TP, FW and so on. I know its “only” April 29th but how much worse does it have to get before something (someone) goes down?
RaiderNowandForever
April 29th, 2010
3:12 pm
Fire Trey Now!!!!!!
RaiderNowandForever
April 29th, 2010
3:12 pm
sorry terry
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:12 pm
Glen W, it’s pretty obvious that you don’t keep up.
Cool Dude
April 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
I say it after every game recently but I mean it this time. I AM NOT WATCHING THIS TEAM FOR A WEEK.
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
Do I have to change my name now, or wait till the game’s over? There’s still a chance he’ll get anoth AB with RISP…
Brava
April 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
Hinske rocks!!!
Mark
April 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
Someone mention Hinske?
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
too late now
faninva
April 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
woohoo. yep, Hinske FULL time.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
The Braves could lose their next 50 games and they wouldn’t fire Cox or Pendleton. Y’all might as well get over it. And it will be at least the end of May before the Braves are able to make any sort of major player personnel, so you better get used to the roster, too.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
I guess there is a chance that Cox could take a medical leave of absence. What brilliant coach would we have to take over though?
RC
April 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
Eric Hinske, why have we not played you more? Want to start in LF tomorrow?
chucktown brave
April 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
Hinske > Glaus… Glaus experiment must come to an end!
Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout
April 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
I wish Kelly Johnson was still on this team so I could bench him against lefties like I did between 2007-2009.
Mr. Enigma
April 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
Anyone shocked Infante and Hinske drove in all the runs so far? Not me.
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
Great. Here comes the wrath on Jesse Chavez. People will say:
“See.. I knew we could get to Wainright and if it wasn’t for Chavez, we’d be down by 1 run”
StingerSplash
April 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
Watching the ESPN GameCast. They have St. Louis as a 97 percent chance of winning.
They also listed the Braves’ chances of scoring a run with runners on second and third and one out at 77 percent. Thank God Hinske came through.
By their stats, McCann is now 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. That’s when you know things are bad.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
Geez, I keep stepping away and coming back to the Cards multiplying their lead.
At least we scored some runs. That’s 3!
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
Ummm…I hope Omar was bunting for a hit there.
faninva
April 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
‘The Braves could lose their next 50 games and they wouldn’t fire Cox or Pendleton.”
agreed, though i do think TP should be gone after the season. As much as I’ve tried to support him, this IS getting stupid ridiculous.
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
Glen W, it’s pretty obvious that you don’t keep up. -chip
Oh that’s right. And this on the blog where everyone complains that BC only says good things about his players then rips him for a barely constructive reamrk about Heyward.
I keep up. Don’t worry about me.
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
Or…a sacrifice is better than a DP. F!
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
Curse me kilts…but at least we got two more.
bobby's cox
April 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
Kelly Johnson sure would look nice in LF. One less hole..great trade Wren!! Can’t remember who we got in return- oops, nevermind we released him, got a bag of chips and a diet coke for Wren. I am SICK of all the holes in the Braves lineup. In honor of Atlanta. We will rename the lineup Bobby trots out as the A-HOLES…Where HITS go to die and Double Plays stay alive..
J-Hey
April 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
“Eric Hinske, why have we not played you more?”
…
“This here’s a team a quitters! We don’t need any winners on this team!!”
MZ
April 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
DOB ——
I mean, I read the blog you posted late last night with Wren’s comments about how there are no imminent moves, but I can’t be convinced that what I was suggesting in the main blog on here last night isn’t, at the very least, in the back of his mind … it can’t not be …
this Braves team is down, and you know, that’s OK because it happens to everybody … and, OK, yes, it’s early … very early …
that being said, if he and/or the rest of the front office aren’t already at least considering trading away some of the more valuable pieces if this team doesn’t pull a complete 180 within the next 2 weeks to a month, then something ain’t right …
if the Braves are sitting 10 to 15 games under .500 at the end of May, and Wren isn’t shopping guys like (and note I said, “guys like” … not necessarily these exact players) Esco, Prado, Diaz, McLouth, Hudson, Kawakami, etc., then we’ve only seen the beginning of the troubles this franchise will face over the next several seasons …
of course, as I type, these guys start chipping away … ha
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:16 pm
Put Infante in CF and Hinske in LF and call it a lineup.
Brian D
April 29th, 2010
3:16 pm
Yay – another double play! As long as we keep getting no closer than five runs down, we should keep the streak intact.
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
3:16 pm
Wait it out McFann, stranger things have happened.
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:16 pm
Oh great. the “from Blackberry in dugout” posts are back!!! That’s my favorite part of the blog.
How’s Loaf doing with his blackberry?
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
3:16 pm
Brava —— You must be confusing the Mets with your braves. Check the score and the standings
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
If the Braves are sitting 10-15 games under .500 at the end of May (that is highly unlikely, btw), then obviously they will be looking to start selling off some players. Any team would.
Let’s let it get to the end of May before we actually start talking about doing it, though.
itcouldbeworse
April 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
shocker a mets fan that thinks the season ends in april
itcouldbeworse
April 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
just wait until july mets madness when your entire team is on the DL again
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
bobby’s cox
I don’t mean to be the one to break it to you, but playing at the Ted with Bobby as his manager and TP as his hitting coach, KJ wouldn’t be doing a damn bit of anything for the Braves. If you think otherwise, you didn’t watch him (or any of the other hitters), very close the last couple of years.
Why
April 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
All I have to say is whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy………are changes not happening. I am all for saying it’s only been a month, but something needs to be done. I don’t believe it’s going to get better until there is a big move.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
Braves got any home runs yet today with the 3 runs on the board? Obviously they’ve been pretty explosive.
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
“shocker a mets fan that thinks the season ends in april”
Ours has the past 3 seasons.
Craig
April 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
Why do you people still watch this crap? Really would like an answer because I quit long ago. I just happend to see the score on the homepage and was laughing my butt off. They are absolutely embarrassing and painful to watch, yet you all sit here and analyze everything that goes on during games. Why?
itcouldbeworse
April 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
N8 we were still in the hunt for the wild card going into the last 2 weeks of the season last year…as close as 2 games near the end
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
itcouldbeworse ——- Consider YOUR season over in April
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
Craig Kimbrel time
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
LOL!!!
Bruce
April 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
tell skip this is a braves broadcast
RemoW
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
Wow. This is like watching the Braves circa 1988.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
Craig: Probably the same reason folks look at car wrecks or train wrecks. The carnage. Oh the humanity!
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
Craig, you’re so insensitive. We do it because we care.
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
Maybe the bullpen said hell if they aint hitting we aint pitching
Why
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
At least the Halo Reach beta comes out on Monday!!!!
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
Gawd, this team sucks. Chavez sucks!!!
Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
Terry you’re doing a heck of a job.
StingerSplash
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
N8,
Loaf and his Blackberry are removing splinters from his backside on the Dodgers bench. He’s tearing it up with a torrid .135 clip with 11 Ks in 37 ABs. That’s the Loaf we all know and loathe.
Freeman
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
LaRoche Just hit a 3 run shot… Wren must go!
Tommy
April 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
Mets Madness- We suck, we know. But go f!@!# off and go back to your scum of the earth Mets fans blog
PDub
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
Everyone on this blog that suggests someone needs to get fired is a f****** amateur. Period.
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
This is bad folks.
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
Craig – the door is on your left.
Bruce
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
chip
MZ
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
brian from SC —–
how exactly is this Braves team being 10 to 15 games under .500 “highly unlikely”?
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
Brian from SC – LOL “…..highly unlikely?”
WTF are YOU smoking?
Craig
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
DOB– why don’t grow a sack and drill the hell out of that sorry ass Wren for putting this garbage on the field. I f not you than somebody needs to do it and quickly. He’s a joke of a GM, that’s why they ran his sorry ass off in Baltimore.
Sorry ass Pendelton sucking on lollie pops while GM Wren does absolutely nothing to improve the team.
Poor Mr.Cox. That’s all I can say right now.
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
Freeman, Did you really want Laroche for 3 to 4 years?
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
“It’s hard to say we’re playing real good baseball, but we are.” – Bobby Cox.
Hahahahaha! He should be a comedian!
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
3:23 pm
itcouldbeworse —– Yes our whole team may be on the disabled list in July and even with our bench and minors called up would STILL beat your a-s-s. You team sucks pal.
Kris
April 29th, 2010
3:23 pm
There you go Chavez…we have to keep this one from getting too close. Gotta make sure there is zero chance of us climbing back into this one.
Dan in NJ
April 29th, 2010
3:23 pm
Not sure how good or bad Hinske is in left field, but I have been saying that he should start in LF over Melky or Diaz. The way I look at it is, if we could give Diaz, GA, Melky and so on a chance, why not Hinske? Besides that, didnt Hinkse come up from the minors with lots of “potential”? Maybe he’s a late bloomer. Guess we’ll never know. Obviously Melky put up great #’s with the Yanks, so he deserves the starting job in left.
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:23 pm
Craig: A true fan lives and dies by his team. Just because they suck something terrible right now eventually it has to turn around
Why
April 29th, 2010
3:23 pm
It would be nice if the Ted was empty this weekend. I’m a huge braves fan, but can’t justify spending money, to watch this team play.
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:23 pm
“N8 we were still in the hunt for the wild card going into the last 2 weeks of the season last year…as close as 2 games near the end.”
Yeah. The reason we were in the “hunt” rather than the owners of a 4-5 game lead in the wild card hunt, was because of poor decisions coming out of spring training, too much patience in guys that didn’t deserve it, and guys just flat out stinking in the first couple months of the year (3 months to be exact).
So I’ll give you that. Maybe the season didn’t “end” in April. But the Braves “broke ground” on the hole they failed to ever climb out of in April and kept digging until June before they decided to try and patch it up.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:24 pm
I don’t see this team doing that badly against a very easy May schedule. I would be extremely surprised if the Braves played under .500 ball in May.
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
3:24 pm
Tommy —- Three words…..I Will Not
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:25 pm
Glen W, coherency is not your strong suit, is it?
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
3:25 pm
The other guy on the radio (Jim Powell?) just said that Wagner told him he’s without a doubt retiring after this year. Had some pretty interesting things to say, apparently – hopefully it gets circulated somewhere.
itcouldbeworse
April 29th, 2010
3:25 pm
I’ll take our starting 5 any day over your’s…our catcher, our RF, our 2b, our 3b, bullpen, our GM, our coach, and most of all our FANS..
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:25 pm
Mets madness… you guys are not even a .500 team this year… you have had one road trip and played 6 games on the road… big advantage early in the season. I hope you are still courageous enough to show up here when you guys are 5 games under .500 a month from now.
MikeR
April 29th, 2010
3:25 pm
I’ve been a Braves fan since they came to Atl in 66. My son has asked “what was it like to have to watch when they were so sorry during most of the 70’s and 80’s?” Now he will find out. This team is very similar to the 1985 Braves. They were expected to contend but ended up last. I will argue that Cox is a great manager but this ‘lame duck’ thing is not working. The team is dead, they know he is gone with no idea who will manage next year. Wren is a terrible GM, the Jurriens trade is the only move he has made that has worked. Its a shame but BC will get to end his career with a 100 loss team and I place 99% of the blame on Wren. Expect a sell-off in June/July. Hopefully the Braves can dump Lowe & KK. They won’t get anything but some salary relief. Wren has doomed the Braves to several years of rebuilding. Wonder what Liberty will do when attendance falls to 5,000 per game like it was during most of the 70’s & 80’s?
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
Bat M. Wait it out McFann…
Yeah…don’t wanna spoil my name any sooner than I have to.
…stranger things have happened.
Nope, I can’t think of a one.
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
Stinger,
That’ll play in left field right now for us! He and Mclouth can watch runners round third while they lob the ball into Yunel.
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
Chip – help me out then… educate me. What is your great insight?
Freeman
April 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
We didn’t need to sign him for 3 or 4 yearsr..Laroche only signed with AZ for one year. Master negotiator Frank Wren could get him to budge..
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:27 pm
cut Wren some slack. Money was tight
brian
April 29th, 2010
3:27 pm
never mind about that comeback.
carlchamblee
April 29th, 2010
3:27 pm
Hinske answers my query w a two run single. That settles it he stays at first and Glaus can take up three seats on the bench
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
3:27 pm
well, I think its early to say the season is over, but this sure isnt helping matters much. This team is just flat out awful
Brava
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
METS MADNESS, you sound like an eight year old. Did school let out early today?
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
“The other guy on the radio (Jim Powell?) just said that Wagner told him he’s without a doubt retiring after this year. Had some pretty interesting things to say, apparently – hopefully it gets circulated somewhere.”
Daslied, he said that for realz?
Kris
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
Brian from SC,
So let’s assume the Braves finish April with an 8-15 record and then in May they play .500 ball. That would put them at 22-29 for the year…what then? If that is their record at the end of May – then it’s fire sale time.
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
Anybody remember the video for the old Tubes tune “She’s a Beauty”??
I think there was a kid who got on a carnival ride and at the end of the video he was an old man…
Well, I realize that Bobby is already kind of old, but he’s going to look like the Tales from the Crypt guy by the end of this season.
Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
Chip Carey is the greatest announcer in the history of Braves baseball.
Tommy
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
You feel like a big man coming on a Braves blog to make yourself feel better?
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
Craig,
He’s already answered several versions of your question. Grow a sack? How about grow up dude.
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
Mets Madness is a HERB. Please ignore the geek and he’ll walk.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
METS MADNESS, you sound like an eight year old. Did school let out early today?
carlchamblee
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
too nice out to watch this anymore. y’all have a good one see you at the ted tomorrow w paper bags
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
“The other guy on the radio (Jim Powell?) just said that Wagner told him he’s without a doubt retiring after this year. Had some pretty interesting things to say, apparently – hopefully it gets circulated somewhere.”
Daslied, he said that for realz?
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
I thought Billy Wagner was already retired. We have not seen him in so long. We never have a late lead.
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
MikeR – I think Nashville wants a big-league club.
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
Boy KJ is on fire this year. 2-2 today
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
Glen W —– And what if there not below .500 a month from now? Can I still come back?
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
lefties don’t bother him
Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
Boy KJ is on fire this year. 2-2 today
Wish he was here so I could bench him for Prado.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
J-HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
Hey somethin good happend
Bruce
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasn
No Way
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
Has anyone noticed that we hit more groundballs than any other team in the league. I don’t know where you could find that stat, but we have to be first in groundballs. If I have noticed this, then TP should have noticed this. Where are the adjustments? I am not one to fire a coach mid-season or early in the year, but this team needs a new direction in the hitting department.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
Gee, too bad the “old man” called out the rookie and didn’t get any results…
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
Heyward’s back!
Dan in NJ
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
K Johnson 2B 3 0 3 0 0 0 .315 .414 .753
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
Was that HR on the first pitch? I was too busy bashing the team, I wasn’t paying attention.
brian
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
PDub – if Bobby Cox was not the manager then someone would get fired. This start is horrendous especially in light of preseason play and expectations of at least a wild card. Not just the wins and losses, but the way we have played suggests something needs to change – attitude adjustment or change in personnel.
To call everyone a bleeping amateur who suggests that says more about you than the other bloggers.
Debate on the blog. Don’t call people names
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
Glen W- He won’t be because he knows the Mets are gonna get on their knees and do what they do best.
Ron Roberts
April 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
DOB I’m with ya on Hinske playing more, but is it just me, or is Glaus actually making solid contact – just right AT people? Don’t get me wrong, I’m sick of the K’s with 2 out and RISP, and the rally-ending DPs, too, which he seems to be prone to (hell, who on the team hasn’t been?), but when he connects, he DOES seem to be hitting the ball hard – just right at people.
I think something has to give, and soon, though; the fact that Yunel’s struggling – and for THIS long – tells me something. That guy’s not been “long-slump” material at all until this snide. The fact that McCann’s having his issues, too… that Heyward’s hit a wall… who are all of these guys going to for advice at the dish? TP isn’t helping. Yeah, he was the hitting coach when the team hit well SEASONS ago, but this squad’s offensive struggles were only interrupted late last year – mostly when a piping-hot Adam LaRoche came in (fresh from working on other squads with other hitting coaches) came to the team.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
At least they ended the HRless streak there. GO Heyward!
I Hate Liberty Media
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
I really think the fans should organize a boycott and maintain it until the front office gets the message. No tickets. No merchandise. Nothing.
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
HANGEMANDBANGEM!
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
22-29 at the end of May would not justify a fire sale, IMO. I personally think the Braves will play several games over .500 over the next month. I know today’s a bad day to say that, but one game’s not enough for me to change my mind on that.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
J-Hay! Thank you for caring enough to perform for us. Wish the others cared.
brian
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
agreed about Hinske – should at least be a platoon now. Can readjust the platoon if glaus ever picks it up
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
I can’t even get excited over that.
…and I used to hang on his every AB earlier this year.
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
TP should of been fired over a year ago. Bobby doesn’t have the nuts to do it so TP will be around the rest of the year.
Why
April 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
I thought the Braves could have signed Laroche to a one year deal with an option for 2011
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
Chip – yes, he said that.
brian
April 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
even 20 year old studs benefit from a day off now and then
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
Shoot stick Hinske in left. Glaus is still out performing 3/4 of the outfield.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
Heyward homered to right on a 1-1 count
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
You guys really think Bobby can fire people?
BuckheadBrave
April 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
FIRE BOBBY COX!! My dad said hey, remember the 05 Astros, or the Rockies last year? I reminded him they had the luxury of firing their manager. For us unfortunately this is as good as its going to get unless Bobby graciously steps aside early.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
Looks like a day off did Heyward some good. That, or he’s just really, really good. Or both.
Bruce
April 29th, 2010
3:32 pm
wow matt diaz has larussa intimated to make a pitching change with no one on base and that lead. a fine compliment to diaz
Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout
April 29th, 2010
3:32 pm
Kelly 3-3 today? .700 slugging? But, but, what about the consistency of Prado?!?!?!?!?!!?!1111one
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:32 pm
There goes LaRussa again…good Lord, he has to micromanage every game.
N8
April 29th, 2010
3:32 pm
Thanks uga
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:32 pm
He needs to bat third
Why
April 29th, 2010
3:32 pm
Can anyone tell me why Heyward is not batting higher?
ChrisfromSacramento,CA
April 29th, 2010
3:33 pm
thanks for the link MIKEfrFL, i take it you never played. You must be some stat or computer geek. I bet you play fantasy baseball as well. I can see for myself. JJ is not even close to the same guy.
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
3:33 pm
Bruce, no, thats just LaRussa’s dumb M.O. He has to do the righty righty, lefty lefty match up, no matter what.
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:33 pm
Mets Madness, I am all about inclusion… would never tell someone they are not allowed here. And if they are over .500, you’ll have every right to point out that I was wrong. I am secure enough to admit when I am wrong.
But we’ll see. I would be excited too, if I was a Mets fan. I wouldn’t show up on other teams boards getting pleasure from another teams’ fans watchign their team go through a horrible stretch.
But, I’ll give you that. No reason to not enjoy a 9-1 run. I just think they’ve had a big advantage not having to travel early in the season.
chris
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
hey thats five homeruns for heyward, three more than anybody else on the team
P'cola Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
Daslied
Bobby, Wren, whoever. TP needs to go. I dont give a damn who does it.
Freeman
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
Wren said Laroche wanted 3 to 4 years… obviously he was lying or inept.. i’m hoping the later.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
Cardinals pitchers hadn’t allowed a homer in 98 innings at home this season before that Heyward homer
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
carlchamblee:
Hinske in 22 ABs: .318/.375/.500 AVG/OBP/SLG. This is why he will see more time on the field.
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
Ron Roberts,
Escobar .400 OBP and his usual good defense on this road trip. He might be coming around.
wheelz007
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
what’s the score?
9-4????
O.J.
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
First pitch swinging, good job Matty, $@$#$
Youngerthan Thatnow
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
Matt
April 29th, 2010
2:34 pm
Youngethan – how is that a fact? Players going to get their feelings hurt?
Matt…
I’m really not trying to be contrary or pick an online fight… that’s not my nature, but these are grown men… I’m not talking about anybody getting their feelings hurt. It’s just human nature. If you were in their position would you be encouraged after hearing “your home fans” boo you? And I suspect at least some of the players read these blogs… as much of the blog as they can stomach.
It’s just not my nature to be so negative and posting some of the garbage that is posted here… that’s all.
OzzyBraves
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
Great HR on a losing effort today Heyward…at least you came to play.
FEAR
April 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
this is gonna be like ‘90. ROY for us and a losing record…..which leads to the WS the following year
ChrisfromSacramento,CA
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
Kelly and Adam are doing well. TP just makes hitters worse. Nate cant see the ball at all.
Good for Kelly getting away from TP.
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
The Prado bashing is unbelievably ridiculous.
Braves One
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
I think the pitch under McLouth’s chin was intentional…I think some “chin music” is in order when we take the field.
RC
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
Bruce, no, thats just LaRussa’s dumb M.O. He has to do the righty righty, lefty lefty match up, no matter what.
It’s because he’s the smartest man in the history of baseball! (or at least because he wants everyone to THINK he is)
Will
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
Heyward is luckily too young to have gotten caught up in this teams rolling over approach that they have perfected the last few years. Those veterans and Bobby better have a talk with him and let him know that hitting homeruns is just unacceptable and makes the rest of the team look bad!!
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
Will Melky homer this year?
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
Remember after the loss to the Padres in 98, Schuerholz made the choice to clean house not cox
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:36 pm
Braves One
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
I think the pitch under McLouth’s chin was intentional…I think some “chin music” is in order when we take the field.
Cox doesn’t like that
DAVBRAVES
April 29th, 2010
3:36 pm
This sucks PLEASE STOP the loosing streak or its going to ruin my weekend
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
3:36 pm
I’m sick of the M&M’s….Matty, McLouth, Melky, etc., etc.
AL Hbrosky is a no talent bum
April 29th, 2010
3:36 pm
This is so painful to watch. I can’t say I am surprised. No bats in left,center,Ist base, and lets not forgot the golden boy at third. I know he wasn’t in lineup today ,I am so tired of his act. Trade anyone over 28 start over.
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
Freeman, he did. And then we signed Glaus.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
Wren also said that LaRoche was a lefty and we had to many left hitters. He wanted a righty so he got us the incredible Glob.
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
Dub Raves:
I have to agree about Yunel. Leave him in the leadoff slot, he seems to like the top half of the order, and I think he will come back strong. Besides I don’t hink we have anyone else who can handle the leadoff slot mentally.
OzzyBraves
April 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
Get your brooms out for the second series in a row boys!
I Hate Liberty Media
April 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
Why,
Perhaps because Bobby Cox is a retard.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
I’ll give the hitters credit…I thought they would lay down after going down 8-1, but they haven’t done that. Maybe they’ll get some positive offensive momentum going into the weekend.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
I’m sick of the M&M’s….Matty, McLouth, Melky, etc., etc.
But not Marteeeeeen!
JohnR
April 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
Time to start rebuilding. Start with Frank Wren first
Stupid Point
April 29th, 2010
3:38 pm
“Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout
April 29th, 2010
3:32 pm
Kelly 3-3 today? .700 slugging? But, but, what about the consistency of Prado?!?!?!?!?!!?!1111one”
But what about the idiocy of a blogger named Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout on this blog? He’s so dumb he doesn’t realize that if the Braves had kept KJ, he could have played left field. This Cox on Blackberry is so stupid, he would have the best offensive player the Braves currently have riding the pine instead of using he and KJ together!
What an idiot Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout is! Have to be an idiot to slam Prado right now, especially when your “stars are hitting .250 and .240 respectively.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:38 pm
Daslied, sorry for the redundancy, I know this will be hard to believe, but my gas operated computer makes me look not so smart sometimes. I scored somewhere in-between Vince Young & Tim Tebow in the Wonderlic test.
bravos2249
April 29th, 2010
3:38 pm
I called it about 3 nights ago. Heyward broke the drought..YES
Will
April 29th, 2010
3:39 pm
Oh and also, anybody who thinks Kelly Johnson is gonna be hitting like this all year is nuts. Year after year after year there are always a few players that come out of the gates in april hot as hell and then disappear for the rest of the season. I think KJ is the number one contender for that distinction this season.
Duke
April 29th, 2010
3:39 pm
this is bad
Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout
April 29th, 2010
3:39 pm
Think Terry Pendleton is an amazing hitting coach? Wait until he replaces me next season! You ain’t seen nothing yet.
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
3:39 pm
Brina from SC:
What is your thought on Yunel hitting leadoff?
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
3:39 pm
Or Brian from SC….
RC
April 29th, 2010
3:39 pm
I’m sick of the M&M’s….Matty, McLouth, Melky, etc., etc.
Not exactly Mantle and Maris, is it?
monty
April 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
KJ has been known to have a hot month before. Just one though.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
For the record, Heyward’s homer came on a 1-1 slider, after he took a first-pitch fastball for a strike and a slider for a ball.
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
Really, this should be the third series sweep in a row. We got some Madson luck thrown our way by Charlie Manuel.
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
I think at this point it’s time to try anything and everything at leadoff. Escobar has his chance now (I imagine he’ll be back there tomorrow when Chipper gets back). The ideal candidate for the spot based on their stats this year is really Chipper, but that won’t happen for obvious reasons.
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
LaRoche goes yard again
Bruce
April 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
rasmus reminds me of jason werth
Dan in NJ
April 29th, 2010
3:41 pm
Roachy with 2nd HR of the day
Renegator
April 29th, 2010
3:41 pm
Can anyone tell me why Heyward is not batting higher? – Why
Because Bobby Cox is the manager.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:41 pm
I think it’s pretty obvious that Bobby’s little talk with J-Hey did the trick.
I Hate Liberty Media
April 29th, 2010
3:42 pm
I bet Glaus will be striking out and hitting into double plays again tomorrow.
Freeman
April 29th, 2010
3:42 pm
We’ve allowed the Braves to sow the seeds of mediocracy for the last few years. we can’t complain about this years crop. It’s like when someone bitches about the service at Mellow Mushroom… it’s a drug themed restaurant.. you get what you deserve. Move on.
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
3:42 pm
Glen W — I visit many blogs, Mets Yankees, Braves, Phils…..It’s interesting to interact with fans from all over the country. Just having fun…….
RC
April 29th, 2010
3:42 pm
rasmus reminds me of jason werth
I can see that. Just left-handed, younger, cheaper, and a better defender. But they do play a similar style of ball.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
3:43 pm
Adam LaRoche was saying all over the media that he didnt want to sign a short term contract, he wanted a long term. He wanted 3-4 years, and Braves wouldn’t do that because of Freeman. Then LaRoche went and signed a 1 year deal with AZ. That was not Wren’s fault, LaRoche is an AH.
Lost Bravo
April 29th, 2010
3:43 pm
Yeah…that was a really clutch HR by Heyward
PDub
April 29th, 2010
3:43 pm
brian (April 29th, 2010 3:29 pm EST): PDub – if Bobby Cox was not the manager then someone would get fired.
Yeah, because that’s what you see all the time. A team catches a few bad breaks, goes on a losing streak, and the professional, competent leadership decides to fire the manager. That’s exactly what happens.
This start is horrendous especially in light of preseason play and expectations of at least a wild card. Not just the wins and losses, but the way we have played suggests something needs to change – attitude adjustment or change in personnel.
BS. Total BS. Save the freshman psych evaluations for someone else.
Anything can happen in 21 games. Usually not a pretty good team turning into a really bad team or someone needing an “attitude adjustment”. The Braves will be fine.
To call everyone a bleeping amateur who suggests that says more about you than the other bloggers.
That I have a level head and don’t jump to rash conclusions after 21 games?
Innocent Bystander
April 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
Technically those stats were differentials, not ratios.
North Dakota Brave
April 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
I actually thought Glaus is starting to turn it around a little bit. Granted his strikeouts haven’t declined, but he has hit some balls pretty hard lately. Hinske has but together very productive at-bats though and I agree that he needs to be in the lineup somewhere….
Snotboogie
April 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
Laroche must like playing for the D’Backs. 2 HRs today.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
Will – KJ could revert to a .250 hitter with 10 homers the rest of the year and he still would have been the best LF we could buy with our budget.
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
B from SC:
With as many pitches as they both take, and as many BBs, is there any merit in having Prado and Heyward in the top 2 slots?
Braves One
April 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
Is it proper to call Braves management team a”braintrust”?
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:45 pm
Mets Madeness – that’s cool… all good. Just not my style, but that’s just me. Nothing wrong with it. if that’s the worst thing you do… you’re a pretty good dude.
RHR
April 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
Bobby Cox on Blackberry in Dugout
April 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
I wish Kelly Johnson was still on this team so I could bench him against lefties like I did between 2007-2009.
Thank dog no one will think I wrote that.
And either I got bozo’ed by DOB or something is wrong with the blog. It keeps asking for me to enter my name and email to submit a comment but my name and email are already there.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
April 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
You have to love Mets fans! They win a few games and they act like they actually won something over the past 25 years. Most Braves fans hate Mets fans, I don’t. Quite frankly when I see those fat arrrsses at games with hair coming out from under the back of their tank-top and I’m talking about the women Mets fans they make me feel better about myself. Wow to be a Mets fan……. I’d rather stab myself in the eye with a soldering Iron.
Freeman
April 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
Yes it is Wren’s fault if the Braves truly wanted him as soon as he was about to sign a 1 year with AZ. We could of pulled a Furcal on them.. oh yeah only Frankie is foolish enough to fall for that one.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
what is wrong with Moylan
Brian from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:47 pm
Prado and Heyward in the top two spots wouldn’t bother me. But I can see why Bobby hasn’t done it (yet). Heyward is really the only power threat in the lineup right now, and you’re sort of neutralizing that when you bat him 2nd.
When you bat your two best hitters (perhaps) 1-2, you’re pretty much putting them in positions where they don’t have many guys on base when they’re at the plate. Since Chipper is getting on base, but not driving the ball, I think he’d be the ideal leadoff hitter right now. But I still wouldn’t do it if I was the manager…he’s earned that #3 spot, and he’s comfortable there.
brian
April 29th, 2010
3:47 pm
I do like the idea of Escobar hitting 2nd, Prado 3rd, Chipper 4th, BMac 5th, Heyward 6th, Hinske/Glaus 7th
I know Chipper feels more comfortable in the 3 hole but based on our personnel he needs to be cleanup
NEW CARS
April 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
Taken individually, the components of this team aren’t bad. We just seem to be jinxed right now….We can either go the Bull Durham direction and we run down to Turner Field tonight and turn on the sprinklers so we can have a rain day tomorrow…Or we can do the Major League thing and kill a chicken and offer it up to JOBU to change our luck….Which way do we go, DOB?
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
Of Heyward’s five hits off lefties, two were homers.
BuckheadBrave
April 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
I will be at at least one game this weekend just to boo them, including Bobby Cox
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
Mets fans are like Gators fans, except they never win. Let them gloat. Their Mets fans. This winning thing is new to them.
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
3:49 pm
Braves One
April 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
I think the pitch under McLouth’s chin was intentional…I think some “chin music” is in order when we take the field.
Cox doesn’t like that Rob from SC
I remember a story about Maddux not long ago. Somebody drilled a Brave hitter and Cox said someone has to make him pay. The next time they met that team Maddux asked Cox if he meant what he said, Cox said yeah and Maddux went out and drilled the guy. But Cox does not go for that, right.
PDub
April 29th, 2010
3:49 pm
ChrisfromSacramento,CA (April 29th, 2010 3:35 pm EST): Kelly and Adam are doing well. TP just makes hitters worse.
Do you have any empirical evidence this is true? If not, could you stop saying it? I don’t mean to pick on you, everyone seems to be on this irrational management hate train right about now. Just because you’re frustrated with the team, though, doesn’t mean changes need to be made. And unless you have empirical evidence they do need to be made, you’re just talking out of your ass.
Nate cant see the ball at all.
Nate’s degenerative cornea disease is somehow TP’s fault? Good god, man.
Good for Kelly getting away from TP.
It wasn’t really his choice.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:49 pm
Don’t know about the rest of y’all, but with the 4 runs scored today, I’m gonna call this a moral victory.
McLouth tracker 0-3
Seen this one before...
April 29th, 2010
3:49 pm
Boy KJ is on fire this
yearmonth.Fixed.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 29th, 2010
3:50 pm
crazy trademan…
Nice Christopher Walken at the end….
I wish people wouldn’t resort to namecalling in reference to Cox. We can complain (maybe justifiably so) about how he’s running the team or whatever, but to say Cox is a retard. Really? Let’s grow up a little.
The Mets will be good for a month or two, then they’ll choke like they always do.. I am happy for Frenchy, though.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 29th, 2010
3:50 pm
KJ may be looking at NL player of the week.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
3:50 pm
Pete has not been sharp his last couple of times out.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
BUckhead Brave…. but you’re still supporting the team by buying a ticket. So way support the team just to show you don’t support them?
Chris
April 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
I could not of said it better myself gobravos
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
Hah, Kelly Johnson never put up these kind of numbers in a month when he was a Brave. So, no, I don’t think we’ve seen this before.
Space Monkey
April 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
Why is Chavez on this team. He sucked in the Spring. So he makes the team. WTF.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
I remember Maddux drilled Jim Leyritz in (1998?) for the show he put on after hitting that HR in the 1996 World Series.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
What the hell? I’ve been listening to the game the whole time through one of the links that was posted on here earlier and they just interrupted the Braves game to broadcast some middle school little league championship.
Haaaaaa.
Chris
April 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
On the bright side, we have Hansen and Heyward for years to come, or at least I hope mgmt locks them up,
lalalala
April 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
DOB — Know any good Cuban restaurants in or near Ft. Lauderdale?
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
10 runs for the Cards so far…Pujois must be putting on a show.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
3:54 pm
Ok, someone please be nice and give me another link where I can listen to the game online. I know we’re losing but what the hey.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
3:54 pm
So in perusing the game tracker, I noticed the words Rasmus scored 4 times. Anybody know the story on how we missed out on him in the draft? We have his brother as a pitcher in the minors and he’s from columbus. Given we’ve often been very lucky and good at drafting local kids I wonder how we missed on him?
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
Adrian Gonzalez’s suddenly giddy agent John Boggs on the Ryan Howard contract: “I’m very happy for Ryan Howard. Obviously this bodes well for Adrian Gonzalez because it validates the fact that he’s worth that kind of money or more.”
Boggs noted that Howard was a controlled player not eligible for free agency until November 2011 — same as Gonzalez.
From our notes network correspondent Tom Krasovic: Obviously Howard is the more accomplished slugger, by far. Gonzalez, however, is 30 months younger than Howard. He’s also the better defender. The two play in vastly different ballparks. Gonzalez’s home yard is the worst in baseball for hitters.
The Padres, according to Boggs, haven’t approached him about an extension for Gonzalez. Padres players have framed it this way: If they can stay in playoff contention through the July 31st trade deadline, the Padres will be far more likely to keep Gonzalez..
So far, the players are doing their part to keep Gonzo around. The Padres (13-8) lead the National League West.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
All right! The incredible Glob to pinch hit…. er pinch strike-out.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
why is Moylan even pitching in this game
MiaBchBravesFan
April 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
Memo to Frank Wren (and I paraphrase): It’s the philosophy, stupid.
This is not a great team that is having a slump. This is an average team that would’ve had to play B+ overachieving baseball in order to even win a W-Card spot. Like last year’s team, there were WAY too many answers going into the season, hitting-wise. Years of signing aging/failing/recovering bats that were once great for $2 million took its toll on a lineup that has not has a single All-Star caliber hitter string together two seasons of All-Star numbers since the heyday (yeah, I said it) of Chipper and Andruw back in the first third of this decade.
Since 1991, the Braves have been characterized by great pitching and passable hitting. Since Cox and JS took over – and with the exceptions of A. Jones, C. Jones, Javy Lopez, and, to a lesser extent, David Justice – there has been very little hitting development in the organization. Remember, we are talking about twenty years! Now, two decades of poor position player development, as well as putrid hitting evaluations, have led to the seeming demise of this once-proud franchise. What does it say to the average Braves’ fan that the only remnant left from the mid-decade “Baby Braves” is Brian McCann?
This failure rests on JS’s and Frank Wren’s heads. As I’ve said before, the mythology that was the greateness of the Braves was built exclusively upon three arms: Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz. The further that memory seems to us all, the starker the truth becomes.
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
B from SC:
See your point. But it also seems like there have been many RBI sittuations for the top 2 spots in the order here early in the season. I don’t know. Would be nice if Chipper would realize that the power seems to have faded in the last 3 years. If he could come to grips with that and go back to spray hitting like he did when he won the batting title, he could be the kind of impact leadoff hitter that Jeter is for NYY. And with Esco limping off the field…. But, I know, Chipper will only bat 3rd.
BuckheadBrave
April 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
I have season tickets, already blew that cash might as well go vent my frustrations
Why
April 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
Chris
April 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
On the bright side, we have Hansen and Heyward for years to come, or at least I hope mgmt locks them up,
You can bet that there would be a riot if those two weren’t locked up!!!!!
Hugo Z Hackenbush
April 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
Interestingly, all of the teams that you’d think would be contenders in the NL this year (not including the Mets) increased their payrolls this year…except for the Braves, who sliced theirs by around 13%. Bucking a trend like that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be left in the dust, but it increases the likelihood…
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
usnavyvolfaninva – read this and tell me he isn’t a retard:
“It’s hard to say we’re playing real good baseball, but we are.” – Bobby Cox.
So…
Todd
April 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
If Glaus was running, he could have beat that out. That would require hustle though.
BuckheadBrave
April 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
i said from the get go that we have the hardest April schedule but even i thought we’d be .500
braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
ugaaccountant: I think Chip said on the TV that we selected Joey Devine just before Rasmus was taken.
Glen W
April 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
Gobraves, KJ’s OPS right now is 1.167. In April of 2007 its was 1.066. In Septemeber of 2008 it was 1.071.
Kawakami's Interpreter
April 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
Kenchin just asked me to give a shout out to all his homeys-
Red Sunday jerzeez 4 lyfe YO!
Nova Scotia Steve
April 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
….
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
3:58 pm
On the Howard contract: Interseting article from FanGraphs. Caliing it worst contract ever. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/what-are-the-phillies-thinking/
Nate from NCState
April 29th, 2010
3:58 pm
Glaus is about as athletic as I am.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
3:58 pm
What happened to Escobar?
jay dubu
April 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
Not able to watch the game, but the box score looks hopeful. Escobar has a couple of hits, Heyward has a couple, and Hinske has a couple of RBI.
If Cox will play Hinske, and Heyward, Escobar, & Prado hit, withy Chippa & Mac, I think the Braves can get through this, and break out a winning streak equaling the losing streak.
I see the real Chavez suited up for the game today!
Chip
April 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
JC…. look, I’m not saying I don’t agree w/you that bobby is somehow off the mark; I don’t know why he has said some of the things he has said, but to call a guy who’s been managing for 30 years a retard seems a bit juvenile… but, hey, if you want to keep doing so, it’s a free country.
MamaDawg
April 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
Well, there goes Escobar…he’s outta the game now too. Anyone else?
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
Oh fine!! NOW you get a hit! Thanks a lot…
J-Hey
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
Mac avoids an 0-4 day
jay dubu
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
@T for Texas
I thought Soriano with the Cubs had the worse contract ever…
MiaBchBravesFan
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
lalalala: good Cuban restaurants do not exist in Ft. Laud. Gotta travel south, my friend. If you eat Cuban in FtL, you’ll think it sucks.
RHR
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
Translation:
Adrian Gonzalez’s suddenly giddy agent John Boggs on the Ryan Howard contract: “I’m very happy for
Ryan Howardme. Obviously this bodes well forAdrian Gonzalezme because it validates the fact thathe’s worthI’m going to make enough money to buy a small country with this guy!Nate from NCState
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
JC from DR… looks like a groin pull
Also, how about this. The trade with NY hasn’t worked for anyone. How about we just redo it? I would find it hard to believe the Yankee fans wouldn’t welcome Melky back at this point.
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
This hurts, people…this hurts BADLY!!
ronaldh
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
This is just a bad team. Why did anyone believe they would contend. Judging from the makeup of this team and the type of “deals” Wren has a history of making, it’s going to be quite a while before the braves contend again. I’m talking about several years. You can spin this piece of crap called a baseball team anyway you want. It’s still a piece of crap.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
Will B-Mac steal?
Innocent Bystander
April 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
Yes, but now most of the “big market” ballclubs have 1B locked up for awhile. NYY have Tex, Philly has Howard, Boston has like 10 first basemen, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gonzalez doesn’t get a whole lot, simply because the big market clubs won’t be bidding on him.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
Oh fine!! NOW you get a hit! Thanks a lot…
AHHHHHH!
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
JC: Escobar pulled something making a play in the last inning.
Nova Scotia Steve
April 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
Escobar’s hurt like Jo Jo Reyes knee is “really bad”
faninva
April 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
McMauer –
so, am I to assume that Rally McTurtle was put on waivers?
usnavyvolfaninva
April 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
@RHR: LOL
bronkelliott
April 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
What the Braves need right now is to play against a team worse than them.. Any takers?
Frankie Knuckles
April 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
Freeman, did you see the offer from the Giants he turned down? Come on little guy. Grown men are talking.
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
Yunel too!? OMG!
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
4:02 pm
Hinske’s at third now, Infante at short.
faninva
April 29th, 2010
4:02 pm
RHR – classic. well done.
Josh from NY (not NYC)
April 29th, 2010
4:02 pm
Its easy to bash TP right now with no one hitting, but he can’t be out on the field making them swing at pitches. These guys take more pitches in a game then some teams take in a week.
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
4:02 pm
jay dudu: Read article–may change your mind.
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
4:02 pm
Is Escobar injured?
Rawdog
April 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
Trade loser Melky back to the yankees for Vazquez. Leave Glaus in St. Louis. Give McClouth back to Pittsburgh. Find some winners that at least can hit .250. How many postseason teams have ever gone on a now 9 game losing streak. I bet none. Funny how Kelly Johnson is tearing it up. He alone has almost as many home runs as the braves entire team.
SC Ace
April 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
If I was Bobby Cox, I’d break out the “Send a Message” lineup: 1. Brooks Conrad (2B), 2. Martin Prado, (3b) 3. Omar Infante (CF) 4. Brian McCann (C) 5. Eric Hinske (3b); 6. Yunel Escobar (SS); 7. Jason Heyward (RF); Matt Diaz (LF)
Do Melky and/or mcLouth have options?
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
Looked like a left groin strain for Yunel, but no word yet.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
usnavyvolfaninva – That was my first time calling him a retard. I used to like him a lot, used to be my favorite manager. But seriously, the guy lost all of the brain cells that he had left, and i think it was around 2005.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
4:04 pm
Ryan Howard’s career OPS+: 142.
Adrian Gonzalez’s career OPS+: 135
Howard, last 3 years: 131
Gonzalez, last 3 years: 154
Since Opening Day 2008, Gonzalez has clearly been the better player. I’d rather have had Gonzalez the last two seasons, I’d rather have him this season and I’d rather have him over the next 6 or 7 years…and it’s really not even close.
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
4:04 pm
Soph–
Hey, I’m no welsher…but I wish I was.
faninva–
Nah, he’s still here. I need to have some piece of the old me…
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
4:04 pm
does this team care?
chucktown brave
April 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Seriously what are you guesses for our record on this homestand?
W.Rodriguez (1-2, 3.65) vs Hanson (1-2, 2.14)
B. Myers (1-1, 3.81) vs Hudson (1-1, 3.28)
B. Norris (1-2, 5.60) vs Lowe (3-2, 5.79)
Any wins?
Mitchie-san (Chipper needs yoga)
April 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Infante now too?
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Alright! Another error.
McFann Ô
April 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Hey! I just thought of something! Maybe they’ll have a big rally in the top of the ninth and BMac will—
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Kimbrel seems ready, switch out him with Chavez. We need pitchers with K potential
Jinx
April 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Someone needs to talk me off of this cliff, and fast….
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
4:06 pm
Yeah, yeah, I know, I know…
bravos2249
April 29th, 2010
4:06 pm
OMG hell has frozen over..”McMauer Ô”
jay dubu
April 29th, 2010
4:06 pm
What makes a schedule hard? All of the teams playing are major league, and all of the players are compensated. The Braves are playing the same teams that every other NL team has or will play.
Win the games, and don’t make excuses. “In order to be the man, you have to beat the mann!”
Kawakami's Interpreter
April 29th, 2010
4:06 pm
Kenchin said to tell everyone he’s laughing in Japanese…
had 50 billion Yen on the Cards today! DOMO ARIGATO TP!!
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
Yunel got hurt? Will someone please post a radio link online so I can listen?
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
How many postseason teams have ever gone on a now 9 game losing streak Rawdog
How much?
faninva
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
who do we lose to next?
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
we found our new third baseman
bronkelliott
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
I can see the Houston Astros Salivating right now in preparation for this team. They must be fist pumping and saying bring on the Braves. Finally a team we can beat.. Wow our Braves are really sinking fast here.. I hope for a miracle somewhere down the line or these blogs will get worse each day.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
Hinskie just made that play better than Chipper ever does.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
“braves70
April 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
ugaaccountant: I think Chip said on the TV that we selected Joey Devine just before Rasmus was taken.”
Ok, I like Joey Devine. Getting a major leaguer in the draft can never be graded below like a B. We rushed him. We knew it at the time and we did it anyway. Which is why I don’t want to see Kimbrell or Freeman until our team has stabilized itself and they are doing really well and consistent in AAA.
Joey was in line for a big breakout year in 2009 as a closer that was wiped out by injury.
So of all the ways to not get Rasmus, I can understand this one. But man would he look nice in CF!
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
bravos2249–
Yeah, I think I cann smell the hot-coco.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
Hinske moves well for a big guy!
J-Hey
April 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
“If The Braves Become Sellers:
you have to think the Braves would like the flexibility of ridding part of the three years and $45MM owed to Derek Lowe. Similarly, the Braves could free up cash by dealing Kenshin Kawakami, owed $13.33MM over 2010-11. What about Nate McLouth?”
“Billy Wagner would be an attractive trade candidate. Takashi Saito would be expendable”
“Other rentals include Troy Glaus, David Ross, and Eric Hinske”
some team would actually want to rent Glaus?
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
chucktown,
3-0
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
I bet none. Rawdog
Whoops, still how much?
Mitchie-san (The whole team needs yoga)
April 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
Another strain?
RC
April 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
Heyward with the 6-run HR here?
TennesseePaul
April 29th, 2010
4:09 pm
10 runs for the Cards so far…Pujols must be putting on a show
That would be the lone redeeming factor of the game, if Pujols was even in the line up.
Unfortunately the Braves are getting blasted by the b squad.
This team really is terrible.
faninva
April 29th, 2010
4:09 pm
Soph –
http://www.freebaseballradio.com/Atlanta.html
choose WFIS. it always works for me.
Nick
April 29th, 2010
4:09 pm
This team might just lose 120 games….seriously.
Nova Scotia Steve
April 29th, 2010
4:10 pm
Rob from SC – I think that it was evident while the team was in New York.
Remember on Sunday’s ESPN game when the look Yunel gave towards the camera in the dugout…it really said a lot about the team’s care factor at that point…maybe it was the lack of offense, the rain, the losing streak but it was a disturbed by it.
He may also have been directing it towards Chipper who had a poor AB and was standing in the same line of the camera.
This team needs a break in the worst way…i thought the road trip may help…but not so much.
Short answer…at the moment it looks like they don’t give a sweet f&ck.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
4:10 pm
Attention Braves fans…..Do not boo the Braves players at the next home game. It hurts their feelings.
McLouth is up this inning.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 29th, 2010
4:10 pm
Frankie-boy, start making trades and let’s begin the youth movement. Let’s become the Atlanta MarlinRays. I’ve got no problems with that.
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:11 pm
McMauer! LOL McFann, you get your old name back right now. Win or lose, suck or champs, gotta be true blue.
J-Hey
April 29th, 2010
4:11 pm
“Heyward with the 6-run HR here?”
If he can hit one that knocks over the Arch, I say give him the 6-run shot
CraZyTRaDeMaN
April 29th, 2010
4:12 pm
This team has me scrolling MLBtraderumors.com at my offseason pace. (About once an hour)
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:13 pm
Thanks faninva! Much appreciated.
Nick
April 29th, 2010
4:13 pm
At this point, they need to trade or release everyone on this team except Heyward, Prado, Hanson, and Hudson. Mac and JJ alone could bring us a ton of prospects.
FEAR
April 29th, 2010
4:13 pm
CraZyTRaDeMaN – hahaha. same here
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:13 pm
lol RHR, what the hell is that next to your name?
TennesseePaul
April 29th, 2010
4:13 pm
So is the scouting report on Heyward: “Steps in the box, down 0-2, doesn’t swing until maybe the third pitch…”
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
4:14 pm
Confirmed — groin strain for Escobar (called a left adductor strain). Day to day. Like this team. And me after this trip. Although I must say, I just ate one of the finest BBQ smoked brisket sandwiches I can recall. Grilled right here by an old dude in a chef’s apron, and they called it an “Atlanta smoked brisket sandwich” because they have a battle-of-the-sandwiches concession where they have a local sandwich (today it was some Italian meat sandwich of some sort) against a so-called specialty of the opposing team’s city.
I Hate Liberty Media
April 29th, 2010
4:14 pm
2 HR, 5 RBI for LaRoche today. So glad we got rid of that dead weight & replaced him with Glaus.
bravesgirlnc
April 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
AAA team right now…
Hat Land Dub Raves
April 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
This.sucks.
Nick
April 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
9 in a row. Looking like at least 12 in a row.
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
RHR–
Oh, I’m true blue…but unfortunately, I’m also stupid.
Innocent Bystander
April 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
phew… at least today’s misery is over
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
Its my new game face, Soph. -_-
FEAR
April 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
Atlanta smoked brisket sandwich – I’ve never heard of that. Brisket ain’t much of a southeast thing. That I know of.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
sigh
Come on home, Bravos.
double sigh
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
All right nine in a row. Bear down boys we are over half way now to that big 17 straight from 1977. We can do it.
Chip
April 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
McClouth Tracker 0-4
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
You’re not stupid, change it baaaaaack.
Renegator
April 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
DOB:
Any word on the severity of JJ’s injury yet?
bravesgirlnc
April 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
LaRoach is 3/4 with 2 HR and a double
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
Yeah, McFann – change it back. It just ain’t right.
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
Come on home boys, no pressure to win there huh?
0-13…..on the waaaaaaay!
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
McMauer Ô
Not stupid, kiddo.
gobravos
April 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
Well that was disappointing. Again…..
Brava
April 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
I could really give a flip less and am tired of hearing how Kelly Johnson, Adam Laroche or Jeff Francouer are hitting. Don’t their teams have blogs where you can cheer them on?
Homer
April 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
Fire DOB’s belly.
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:18 pm
Is “LaRoach” back with the braves? If not…who cares?! Adam “looking for 36 million dollars” LaRoche can KMA, quite frankly.
RC
April 29th, 2010
4:18 pm
We could be the Cubs….they losing 8-1 against Ian Snell and the D’backs.
cabravesfan
April 29th, 2010
4:18 pm
McFann-
Change it back! For the love of all things sacred CHANGE IT BACK!!!
Mixxo
April 29th, 2010
4:18 pm
Ok, my bad ……..0-12.
David..(Athens, AL)
April 29th, 2010
4:19 pm
Agrre with you Brava …
I Hate Liberty Media
April 29th, 2010
4:19 pm
Brava,
If you don’t like it, don’t read it. I’m not going anywhere.
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:19 pm
Hey, look at the brightside. The next series is with the Lastros.
Oh wait…
MDBraveFan
April 29th, 2010
4:19 pm
I know it’s statistically impossible for them to lose the rest of their games, but it sure “feels” like we are bucking the odds. If this keeps up, I hope instead of trying to find patches that Wren brings up whoever is close and just lets them play. TX has 3-4 of our prospects now who could be doing just as bad or better than what is happening now. Feel sorry for Cox though – shouldn’t have to go thru this in his last year. Hope the players get some intestinal fortitude (aka “pride”) and do whatever it takes to turn this around. And worse part, they have worse record than the Nats for goodness sake! Was looking forward to seeing Heyward in person next week but don’t think I could take them losing to Nats. {Sigh} Ok, heart of tennis season is approaching, so that’s something….
chucktown brave
April 29th, 2010
4:20 pm
Hot Land Dub Braves… Very optimistic of you. I want to think that we can win 2 of 3, but that just seems unthinkable.
Fun Fact – We are undefeated if we score at least 5 runs (5-0). Unfortunately, we are 3-14 if we don’t.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:20 pm
No problem Mixxo. I am sure they will make it to 0-13 and beyond!
Stephen
April 29th, 2010
4:20 pm
I called for Cox’s head after he blew the ‘96 series!! Now I can say, I TOLD YOU SO!! to all the fans who said he is a great manager. Whatever, now all you bandwagon fans are finally agreeing with me after the Braves have been consistent at one thing, COMING UP SHORT. Sure it takes good pitching and defense, and in the 90’s we always had good pitching. PROBLEM is we have never had good hitting or aggressive managing. U see, after the regular season is over, you have to play teams that ALSO have good pitching, hence the reason they are in the playoffs too!! Until we put together good pitching with some good hitters, not recycled trash from other teams, we will never be a true contender. We may fake it by making the playoffs again, NOT this year, but we will not be in the W.S. anytime soon. It’s time for a major change!! Get rid of COX, CHIPPER, T.P., GLAUS, WAGNER and quite possibly WREN. He is a little Schuerholz who so far has not impressed!! We need someone who can think outside the old Braves box of doing things!!
J-Hey
April 29th, 2010
4:20 pm
yep, the Astro series could be a sad sight … but hey maybe they’ll be able to pull out a 1-0 win for one of the games.
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:20 pm
Losing streak will end at 10. One more to go.
GermanBravesFan
April 29th, 2010
4:21 pm
Wow… when was the last time the Braves had a losing streak like this? Must’ve been back in the 80’s…
Brava
April 29th, 2010
4:21 pm
Well, the bright spot for me in this game was Eric Hinske. Hope to see him in the lineup somewhere after today.
AZBravoFan
April 29th, 2010
4:21 pm
Once again, I’m gonna lay this on the pitching staff. Forget about the first inning. If the bullpen comes in and does their job, Heyward hits another game-winner and we’re all happy. Can’t think of anything worse for a struggling offense than every time you score the pitchers cough it right back up the next inning. And good lord this defense is getting frightening. You notice the Cards made EVERY defensive play including some pretty spectacular ones. And while the Braves turned in a few nice ones, the giveaways just can’t keep happening.
Jinx
April 29th, 2010
4:21 pm
McMauer. I love it. Let’s all bail on these bast@rds. I want to break something.
T for Texas
April 29th, 2010
4:21 pm
Good game face RHR.
DJ
April 29th, 2010
4:22 pm
‘06 Mr. Deutschland. 10 games.
faninva
April 29th, 2010
4:22 pm
‘Wow… when was the last time the Braves had a losing streak like this? Must’ve been back in the 80’s…”
the radio guys said 2006.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:22 pm
Hey the Bobby Dews special is on again. It’s pretty good for those who have not seen it yet.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
4:22 pm
Well, i’ll go on record right now. I’ll be at Turner Field tommorow to cheer for the team. Our ace is going and I have complete faith Hanson is going to end this tommorow.
onebravosfan
April 29th, 2010
4:23 pm
Personally, I think a return home is just what the Bravos need. I like our odds in all three games. It’s not suppose to rain on Friday so Hanson will roll. Hudson should be his normal self. I wish I could be more positive about Lowe but I will just keep my fingers crossed on Sunday.
MiaBchBravesFan
April 29th, 2010
4:23 pm
After today’s slaughter, I’ll call it first:
Bravos take two of three from the Asstros (all low-scoring affairs).
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:23 pm
Yeah, it was 2006. Oh and Jeff, Kelly, and maybe even “LaRoach” were on the team then. For those keeping score at home.
AZBravoFan
April 29th, 2010
4:23 pm
German Braves Fan: It was summer of ‘06, when the fortunes of the organization started to go south. Someone can correct me, but I feel like we lost at least 10 in a row that June, starting with an awful 4 game sweep at the hands of my D-backs.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:24 pm
GermanBraveFan: We have to make it to 17 straight losses like we did in 77.
Joe
April 29th, 2010
4:24 pm
Pendelton has got to go….. Someone has got to get fired over this crap and it sure can’t be Bobby since its his last year anyway… These bastards just plain stick on ice…..
RC
April 29th, 2010
4:24 pm
Wow….KJ just hit his NINTH HR of the year…
Youngerthan Thatnow
April 29th, 2010
4:24 pm
Generally speaking here… the same peeps that are posting every Kelly Johnson & Adam LaRoche stat were the ones calling for their heads last year. Some things never change… it’s human nature to want something that you don’t have.
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
4:25 pm
Bat M.–
I was stupid enough to sucker myself into this dumb bet. But I was sure he’d get a hit! Or at least not come up with RISP…
Soph, cabravesfan–
Yeah, I’ll prob’ly change it back tomorrow. At least Mauer didn’t play today, though.
Braves One
April 29th, 2010
4:25 pm
DOB…Atlanta got ’smoked’ alright, but it wasn’t brisket.
BamaBrave
April 29th, 2010
4:26 pm
Here’s what I hope Frank Wren and the ownership management suits understand… Neither I nor anyone I know is going to make the trip to ATL to watch this team. For 15 years I’ve gone to at least 6 home games. Not this year. I’d have a glimmer of hope if I thought Cox would light a fire under these guys, but I just don’t see him doing that. Pathetic.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:26 pm
Well played McMauer! lol
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:26 pm
Whenever the Braves win again, I’d like to see Rally’s party it up like it’s 1999.
MZ
April 29th, 2010
4:27 pm
glad KJ’s on my fantasy team
Rawdog
April 29th, 2010
4:28 pm
These guys are great they got nothing to be ashamed of. Watching the Braves is like watching the movie Major League. At least none of them spiked themselves today. Can’t wait to hear the boo-birds at home tomorrow. Should be easy to move down to the Sun Trust seats.
braves70
April 29th, 2010
4:29 pm
Not sure who is on Bobby Cox’s fantasy team. He seems to be in his own world these days.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:29 pm
The Braves have to go 82-58 the rest of the year just to win 90 games !!! And most likely it will take at least 90 wins to make the playoffs.
RC
April 29th, 2010
4:30 pm
glad KJ’s on my fantasy team
For the first time in about 4 years, he’s not on mine. Excuse me while I walk into traffice…
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
4:31 pm
2 HR, 5 RBI for LaRoche today. So glad we got rid of that dead weight & replaced him with Glaus.
First of all, it’s one game. Second, if the Braves had signed LaRoche, most of you complaining about Glaus would have complained that the Braves blew their money on a second-half player.
YE19
April 29th, 2010
4:31 pm
Not only 9th homer for KJ, but he’s 4-5 on the day.
chucktown brave
April 29th, 2010
4:31 pm
I will still make it to several games this year (about a 4.5 hours trip)… but that is only because my friends and I go to get hammered and make a weekend out of it. Something tells me that I am going to need the alcohol to make it through a 9 inning game with this bunch.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 29th, 2010
4:32 pm
@Nick… they’re not going to lose 120 games. They didn’t lose that many in ‘88 when they hit rock bottom.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:32 pm
Seriously folks, was Glaus an upgrade over LaRoche ?
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
4:33 pm
“Generally speaking here… the same peeps that are posting every Kelly Johnson & Adam LaRoche stat were the ones calling for their heads last year. Some things never change… it’s human nature to want something that you don’t have.”
1st – I disagree regarding KJ. You either loved him or hated him. Most people don’t change their mind regarding him.
2nd – Nobody was “calling for Laroche’s head”. He was awesome last year.
And to the people saying we shouldn’t discuss them, I can’t imagine why not. We’ve only got so much to discuss here, and players who used to be Braves certainly have a lot more relevance than discussing Brett Anderson’s injury in Oakland.
usnavyvolfaninva
April 29th, 2010
4:33 pm
@YE19… really? 9 already? Dang! I love hearing how the former Braves are doing!
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:33 pm
Even if the Braves play .500 the rest of the year, which may be very optimistic, their record will end up being 78-84.
Coach
April 29th, 2010
4:34 pm
Kelly Johnson leading off today for Arizona
3 for 4
We have only had 3 hits by a lead off hitter all year.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
4:34 pm
I called for Cox’s head after he blew the ‘96 series!! Now I can say, I TOLD YOU SO!!
Help me out, people – this is the dumbest thing ever said here, right?
Back-stabber
April 29th, 2010
4:34 pm
How cute, McFann has a crush on the handsome MVP Mauer.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
4:35 pm
I love when I mess up code while calling someone else dumb.
Coach
April 29th, 2010
4:36 pm
Correction 4 for 5 for Kelly
We Scored Less, Part IX
April 29th, 2010
4:36 pm
Every summer I expect the Braves to supply me with a mediocre, but vaguely hopeful baseball experience.
These guys owe me mediocrity. Anything less is fraud–like calling GLost a first baseman.
RC
April 29th, 2010
4:39 pm
Seriously folks, was Glaus an upgrade over LaRoche ?
No, but he was roughly 1/8th the price of LaRoche
Coach
April 29th, 2010
4:39 pm
At least we’re not the Orioles!
Hillbilly
April 29th, 2010
4:39 pm
We lost 10 in a row in “The June from Hell” back in 2006. Went 6-21 in that month. The 10 games were against Houston, Florida, Boston, and Toronto.
Enter Bob “The Hut” Wickman. The Braves went on to put up winning records in each of the following months that year, but June had already sunken {sank?} that ship.
Shaun
April 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
The Baseball Prospectus projections now have the Braves losing 88 to 74 games, depending on which projection you look at on their site. Obviously the chances of them making the playoffs are under 10 percent. But you never know. Stranger things have happened.
Crazy Trades McGee
April 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
Where are the aliens that took all of the Braves player’s powers and stored them in a louisville slugger so that they could dominate a cartoon baseball game somewhere? You think R-Kelly will sing the theme song for this sad saga?
F%^K Libery
April 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
” No, but he was roughly 1/8th the price of LaRoche”
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
RC, Are you saying the Braves owners are cheap ?
Coach
April 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
Wait a minute, wasn’t Frank Wren the Orioles GM also.
good grief
April 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
at least DOB had a good sandwich!
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
Oh has anyone heard how KJ did today? I can’t seem to find any information about how he’s doing.
-_-
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:42 pm
I seriously wonder if 4 or 5 years from now the Braves will be able to afford Hanson and Heyward. Both will probably command a lot of money by then and the Braves won’t match what the Yankees or Red Sox would offer them.
F%^K Libery
April 29th, 2010
4:43 pm
Cheap owner did it to us again.
We Scored Less, Part IX
April 29th, 2010
4:43 pm
It pains me to say it, but I don’t think we are scoring enough to really win many games.
Reaction?
Wren Too Bad for Orioles
April 29th, 2010
4:43 pm
Kelly Johnson and Adam LaRoche have 13 homeruns combined.
The entire Braves team this season currently has 13 homeruns.
Good job there, Wren.
Greg Norton
April 29th, 2010
4:44 pm
How much is Arizona loving Wren…Kelly went yard again (4 for 5), Laroche bombed 2 more…KJ – .320 9hr 18 rbi…LaRoche-.300 4hr 17rbi
Washington Nationals
April 29th, 2010
4:44 pm
At least we’re not the Braves!
Crazy Trades McGee
April 29th, 2010
4:44 pm
Bump…
Where are the aliens that took all of the Braves player’s powers and stored them in a louisville slugger so that they could dominate a cartoon baseball game somewhere? You think R-Kelly will sing the theme song for this sad saga?
There is no other explanation…
CB
April 29th, 2010
4:45 pm
Bravesfan2010,you worry about 4-5 years from now. I worry about whether I am going to make it to the bathroom on time.
chucktown brave
April 29th, 2010
4:45 pm
We could really Pedro Cerrano’s bat and Willie Mays Hayes’ speed this year.
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:45 pm
Thanks for the update, Greg Norton!
I hadn’t heard that.
ncscoots
April 29th, 2010
4:45 pm
You need only know that he’s got his hitting Weejuns on, and those suckers fit goooood, LOL.
Man, just my luck to take a glimpse this afternoon (not realizing it was an afternoon game, thus an in-game blog, thus…well, you know.) I know it’s white-jacket for you when I start seeing posts on “gotta go 90-2 the rest of the season” and the like.
Too bad Lent is already gone, some of you could have given up baseball, LOL.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
4:46 pm
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:42 pm
I seriously wonder if 4 or 5 years from now the Braves will be able to afford Hanson and Heyward. Both will probably command a lot of money by then and the Braves won’t match what the Yankees or Red Sox would offer them.
I can’t envision a scenario where Heyward and Hanson are healthy, successful, and receiving paychecks from Liberty Media in 2016. We’re going to need an ownership change.
TN Stone
April 29th, 2010
4:46 pm
How long before McLouth is sent to the minors for a few weeks to get right? His contact has improved but hes still not getting on base, maybe he need to step back for a few weeks.
yeah c'mon
April 29th, 2010
4:46 pm
I seem to recall the reason for signing Glaus was to have a power hitting right handed batter to put between Chipper and McCann in the line up. I don’t think he’s been between Chipper and McCann in the lineup all year. Maybe that would give better pitches to hit being in front of McCann. I don’t know. Just thinking out loud.
robbiemac
April 29th, 2010
4:47 pm
Did anyone see the line on Adam LaRoach and Kelly Johnson today? So now those two players alone have as many home runs as the entire Braves team. Will someone please explain how Terry Pendleton continues to have a job?
And why the Braves didn’t combine the heaps of wasted cash they gave to Lowe and Kawakami as free agents and sign Sabathia instead? What if they had Wainwright and Davies in those spots in the rotation? Then where would we be? And can we please give the Yankees Cabrera back and throw Lowe in the deal to get Vazquez back? Pretty please.
Coach
April 29th, 2010
4:47 pm
When do the Falcons open traing camp?
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:48 pm
While our offense has been bad, our pitching hasn’t been great by any means. The whole team is struggling right now, even most of our pitchers.
Kawakami = 0-4, 5.48 ERA
Jurrjens = 0-3, 6.38 ERA
Lowe = 3-2, 5.79 ERA
Hudson and Hanson have been our only good pitchers this year.
RC
April 29th, 2010
4:48 pm
RC, Are you saying the Braves owners are cheap ?
I am not saying that. I’m just saying that while LaRoche is likely a better player, he’s also a more expensive player, and there are not limited resources with which to build a team. I don’t think LaRoche is 8 times better than Glaus, so from that perspective Glaus is a better “value”. However, if the difference between Glaus and LaRoche proves to be what keeps this team out of the playoffs, then I think it was a very poor allocation of resources. Personally I think we should have signed Johnny Damon instead of bringing back Melky in a trade.
stupid echo
April 29th, 2010
4:49 pm
Has anyone seen that Laroche and K Johnson have hit as many homers as all the Braves combined? What an idiot Frank Wren is for letting them go.
cabravesfan
April 29th, 2010
4:49 pm
I’d love to know how many of the people who keep pointing out how great KJ is playing were among the many that were screaming to get rid of him last year…
Renegator
April 29th, 2010
4:51 pm
Atlanta Braves: From America’s team to America’s embarrassment
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
4:51 pm
This 0-7 trip was the worst by any Braves team in more than six decades, since the 1949 Boston Braves went 0-8 in a two-city trip to Philly and Brooklyn.
Escobar said “maybe a few days” (through team spokeman) before he can play.
Jurrjens hopes to make next start, but didn’t sound overly optimistic.
RHR -_-
April 29th, 2010
4:51 pm
Did anyone see the line on Adam LaRoach and Kelly Johnson today?
NO! Noone saw that?! Tell us about it.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:51 pm
cabravesfan, I admit I wanted to get rid of KJ last year but I did NOT want to get rid LaRoche. I knew getting rid of him was a mistake.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
4:52 pm
RC – We should have either Damon or Laroche on this team. That 8 million should not have been flitered away on a Glaus here and a Melky there and a nice bonus plan for Saito and Wagner that they won’t both reach but we’re still saving for, and a rainy day fund for later in the season. Our rainy day fund should have been minor leaguers being called up.
Mr. Enigma
April 29th, 2010
4:53 pm
When the free agency period started, LaRoche’s agent was adamant about a multi-year deal. The Braves were only interested in a stop-gap 1B because they thought Freddie Freeman would be ready for 2011. When LaRoche finally realized he wasn’t going to get more than a one-year deal, the Braves had already signed Troy Glaus.
OMFG!!
April 29th, 2010
4:53 pm
Trade Glaus and Melky for KJ, Laroche, and prospects.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:54 pm
The madness around here cracks me up sometimes.
OMFG!!
April 29th, 2010
4:54 pm
Trade Wren, Cox, and TP for anything moving.
stupid echo
April 29th, 2010
4:54 pm
Yes, Mr. Enigma, but did you hear that Laroche and K Johnson have hit as many homers as all the Braves combined? And that Frank Wren is an idiot for letting them go?
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
4:54 pm
I called for Cox’s head after he blew the ‘96 series!! Now I can say, I TOLD YOU SO!!
Help me out, people – this is the dumbest thing ever said here, right? Daslied
As dumb as that is, it still has a way to go to be the dumbest . lol
Coach
April 29th, 2010
4:55 pm
We could have had Andrew Jones playing left, he is batting .275 with 6 homeruns.
faninva
April 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
KJ looks like he’s hepped up on goof balls. Maybe that’s why he’s doing so well.
http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=430637
Marc in FL
April 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
Laroche and KJ are both benefiting from a very friendly hitter’s park as well. Don’t assume they’d have that same production in a Braves Uni at the Ted.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
You’re probably right, Bat. Justice after 14 years is still justice.
Mr. Enigma
April 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
I know everyone wanted Adam LaRoche to stay, but there were a lot of people on this blog that were quick to show Kelly Johnson the door after Martin Prado emerged that are severely eating their words now.
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
Daslied,
That may not have been even the dumbest sentence in that rant. lol
Greg Norton
April 29th, 2010
4:57 pm
@ cabravesfan….
good point, not sure…but most would agree that KJ was out of place at 2b…should have been moved back to LF where he started, its not like we had any offense from our OF anyway
300
April 29th, 2010
4:57 pm
You think this is madness?
THIS. IS. SP(ir)A(lingb)R(avesofa)T(lant)A!!!!!!!!
ScottBravesfan
April 29th, 2010
4:58 pm
Everyone wanted to get rid of Kelly Johnson and now he’s killing the ball. Unbelievable.
How about a trade to get Josh Willingham?
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:58 pm
Marc in FL, LaRoche hit .325 in Atlanta last year. Would you consider Turner Field a hitter’s park ?
Soph
April 29th, 2010
4:59 pm
Where’s my handy dandy brick wall when ya need it?
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
4:59 pm
The Braves were just dumb to get rid of LaRoche. They should have signed him to a long-term contract. He’s a solid hitter.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
5:01 pm
Yes, we could’ve had Andruw. We also could’ve had LaRoche, Johnson, Wainwright and Vazquez. If we drafted right, we could’ve had Santana, Halladay, Pujols, Howard, Gonzalez, Jeter, Cobb and Ruth.
BUT WE DON’T. Get over it. Go back to lamenting M.A.S.H. being canceled, or whatever the hell started your obsession with what you no longer/never did have.
DOB, can you change the name of the blog to “Woe Is Me”?
OMFG!!
April 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
Wren: Get– Melky, Glaus. Keep– Lowe, Chipper. Dump– KJ, Roache, Vazquez. Play ball.
Laroche and KJ
April 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
Hey Braves fans. Have you heard that we’ve hit as many homers as your entire team combined? Wasn’t Frank Wren an idiot for trading us?
cabravesfan
April 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
Soph-
I’ve got a brick wall with a side of “crazy freaking wind blowing everything into your face and freezing your body parts off” if you are interested…
(Oh, and I will throw in “dog that doesn’t like strangers and will claw your face” for nothing! I think it’s a great deal
)
CB
April 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
Soph,it worked for me.
Greg Norton
April 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
“Hey Frank, Diamondbacks here…say, you got anymore players on that team you want to get rid of…I don’t know say Heyward,Prado, or maybe Hanson give me a call back buddy! Thanks again.”
cabravesfan
April 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
Hey LaRoche-
You weren’t traded!
Youngerthan Thatnow
April 29th, 2010
5:04 pm
ugaaccountant
I agree with you totally. Personally, I like KJ and AL, then and now, and hope they do well just as I hope Jeff Francoeur does well… individually. I won’t pull for the Mutts as a team, but I have watched nearly all of the Arizona games this season because I like KJ and AL (and hope Boyer does well too) and I know Stephen Drew and the rest of his family personally. I have the DirecTV MLB pkg and always watch the Braves live and record the others… usually DB’s first, and then the Cubbies if possible. Today I got the DB’s and Cubbies in one fell swoop, and I’ll watch and record other games later tonight. I am passionate about the game itself first, and the Braves, secondly, and then the DB’s, Cubbies and Boston. But first and foremost is the game… I love it.
I was speaking in general terms (as the first 3 words of my rant indicate) and used them as an example to say that it’s human nature to want something that you don’t have… that’s all. I’ve seen your other posts here and generally like what you have to say and ask, like earlier today.
No foul or bitterness on my end. Not talking about you here, but I don’t like “fair weather” or “band wagon” fans. I’m the same way about the Dawgs, my pastor, the mayor, governer and president (eh… usually). Even if I don’t agree with them, or vote for them, I recognize that it’s the hand I’ve been dealt and it’s my duty to support them and pray for them… even if it’s to pray that they’ve had their time and it’s time for them to be replaced.
… just saying, my Dawg brotha!
CB
April 29th, 2010
5:05 pm
MASH was canceled?
John, Ducktown
April 29th, 2010
5:05 pm
JULIO FRANCO FOR HITTING COACH! He’s the oldest man to hit a HR and Steal a Base- We need hitting and good base running. Think I’m kidding? How could it be worse?
Everything that can go wrong is going wrong. How many “doubles” down the line did we miss by an inch this series?
What’s really sad?
Pitcher A: 3-1, 5.79 ERA- 28 innings pitched
Pitcher B: 1-3, 9.00 ERA- 20 innings pitched
A= Derek Lowe who has 40% of the Braves’ victories
B=Javier Vasquez- who has been awful- and all but one start has been on the road- away from Yankee stadium
How’s that for finding a needle in a haystack?
Soph
April 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
cab or CB – I’m not home at this very moment so I don’t have access to my brick wall. May I borrow one of yours, please?
JeanE
April 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
SC Ace: Yes!!! I love that lineup, I think that lineup would definitely play with some fire however, it will NEVER happen. Fun to think about, though!
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
5:08 pm
BOBBY COX on the 0-7 trip: “I don’t think I’ve ever been on one like this. Probably have, but it’s not going to be in our memory, that’s for sure. It was a lousy trip. We did some things great but we didn’t get one win, so…. Horrible, horrible experience to endure.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
5:08 pm
(Oh, and I will throw in “dog that doesn’t like strangers and will claw your face” for nothing! I think it’s a great deal)
Yikes, I’ll pass but can we have her (I’m 99% sure your dog’s a she) attack the next person that says we should’ve kept KJ or LaR?
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
Wow…
KJ: .320 9hr 18rbi
LaRoche: .300 4hr 17rbi
Long live Terry Pendleton!!
OMFG!!
April 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
OMFG!! Wren blows my socks off. And, this blog is turning nuts, just like me. Go Dbacks!!!
Mitchie-san (The whole team needs yoga)
April 29th, 2010
5:10 pm
Are the Braves using those bats Javy Lopez was hawking or did Chipper give the last good bat they had to Jimmy Rollins?
faninva
April 29th, 2010
5:10 pm
I am so happy for KJ, he seems like a great guy, but folks, a few things. He is very very very STREAKY hitter. do you all not remember that? Secondly, almost everyone wanted him gone and run through a thresher after he cost us the game after dropping that foul ball that would have ended the game – against the phillies if i recall. Let’s be happy for him, but enough with the crocodile tears about not having him now.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:11 pm
faninva, and what about LaRoche ? What is your excuse for the Braves letting him go ?
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
5:11 pm
Cox on CHAVEZ: “He got two outs on three pitches. Took him 42 to get four outs. Three pitches, two outs, nobody on, they get four runs. Go figure.”
OMFG!!
April 29th, 2010
5:12 pm
The only thing Wren missed out on was that Peavy trade. You get em next time.
AZ Fan
April 29th, 2010
5:13 pm
Wren you fucin moron.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
OMFG, Peavy would fit right in with the Braves this year as badly as he’s pitching.
njbraves
April 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
No heart, not much talent= exactly what we’ve got. I fell for all the hype too, but looking at it now, I can’t say I’m shocked. Take a good look at this lineup and compare it to teams that win. It’s pretty weak. It amazese that TP gets to keephis job. I’m notevwn putting all theblame on him, but something needs to be done.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
faninva, and what about LaRoche ? What is your excuse for the Braves letting him go ?
I’m not faninva and I don’t mean to butt in but money maybe? Oh, and the fact that he’s usually a second-half of the season guy.
And, yes before you throw the whole “well I’m sure he’d be a lot better than Glaus!” in my face…I’m well aware. But like I said…money.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:15 pm
nj, i think TP is keeping his job because he’s next in line to replace Bobby Cox.
Greg Norton
April 29th, 2010
5:15 pm
THis just in: Oil spill will not hit shore, moving back out to sea thanks to strong winds generated by Troy Glaus’ bat during St. Louis series
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:16 pm
Soph, the Braves payroll is like $40 mill less than the Detroit Tigers. Surely the Braves have more money to spend than the Tigers do !!! The Braves are not even in the top 10 in payroll and I know they are one of the 10 biggest baseball markets.
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
5:17 pm
9 straight losses……OUCH!! OK braves fans, stay away from from the following: Sharp objects, High elevations, prescription medicine and ropes until further notice.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:17 pm
Greg, that is hilarious.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
5:17 pm
Bobby Cox on the awful road trip: ”We did some things great”.
I would love it if he tells us what he’s talking about?
faninva
April 29th, 2010
5:18 pm
faninva, and what about LaRoche ? What is your excuse for the Braves letting him go ?
was i giving excuses for the Braves letting KJ go? did you read it? no, i was merely pointing out that a lot of you bloggers wanted him gone. As for LaRoche, many on this blog have said what is true – he wanted a long-term contract and the braves wouldn’t give him one. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, only I’m sick of hearing from monday morning quarterbacks who wanted KJ gone last year to now cry that he’s having success on another team. Be happy for him and move on.
cabravesfan
April 29th, 2010
5:19 pm
Soph-
Only if they are close by…my dog has inherited my fear of flying (and yes, she is a “she
)
Soph
April 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
Bravesfan2010 – I’m pretty sure LaR wanted a long term deal too which of course the Braves didn’t want to do a la Freddie Freeman.
Daslied
April 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
JC – Nobody died, for one thing…
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
5:21 pm
Daslied – Oh! Well… thats gotta be something.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
5:22 pm
Anyway, I’m not getting sucked into the whole why we didn’t we keep LaRoche and KJ thing. I really don’t care at this point – reality is they’re gone and aren’t coming back.
Soph
April 29th, 2010
5:23 pm
cab, I’m willing to transport her via boat if necessary. I’m desperate.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:24 pm
Freddie Freeman is hitting .232 in AAA. What’s so good about him ?
NewsflashforWren
April 29th, 2010
5:24 pm
Kelly Johnson and Adam LaRoche have hit as many home runs as all the Braves this year.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
5:25 pm
Adam LaRoche said (all over the media) that he wanted a long term contract, he was not going to sign a short term deal, so the Braves, because of the 1B position’s future with Freeman, didn’t want to offer that kind of deal… SO, Mr. LaRoche went and signed a 1 year deal with AZ… That’s on LaRoche, he’s an AH. Is not Wren’s fault.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
5:26 pm
ERIC HINSKE: “It’s been a bad travel schedule this first month for us. [But] you can’t blame it on anything. We’re just not playing good baseball right now. That’s the bottom line. Every good team I’ve ever been on, every team goes through this. Maybe it’s a good thing we’re going through it in April rather that September. Try to take any positive out of it, I guess.”
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:26 pm
Is Freddie Freeman the next Albert Pujols or something ? If not, then I don’t see why the Braves couldn’t sign LaRoche to a 3 or 4 year contract.
AZ Fan
April 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
“Is not Wren’s fault”
It’s all his fault, he signed Glossy poo.
SMARTY PANTS
April 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
THE BRAVES COULDN’T HIT OIL IF THEY FELL OUT OF A BOAT!
Soph
April 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
Bravesfan2010 – I don’t know, I’m not the Braves management or the Braves scouting department. Maybe someone with more knowledge of the minors can let you know that.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
If Freddie Freeman was that good, his butt would be called up already because obviously we suck at 1st base.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
5:28 pm
Hey, when Eric Hinske, the WS charm, talks, I listen. Makes me a bit less demoralized.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
5:29 pm
Eric Hinske: ”We’re just not playing good baseball right now”
Dear Eric, that’s not what Bobby said.
cabravesfan
April 29th, 2010
5:29 pm
Soph-
It might be a little tricky getting a boat from here to Altanta
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
5:29 pm
HINSKE on whether he’s seen any encouraging signs: “I think so. We’re starting to swing the bats a little better. For a while there, we weren’t getting any hits or timely hits. We’d get some guys on and hit into a double play or not drive in any runs. I think we’re making strides. Bottom line, we’ve got to play better baseball as a team. That’s it.”
Soph
April 29th, 2010
5:30 pm
If Freddie Freeman was that good, his butt would be called up already because obviously we suck at 1st base.
Okee, that does it for me, I give up. Apparently, we have armchair scouts now too. Later people.
Jason Heyward facts
April 29th, 2010
5:31 pm
http://sportscrack.blogspot.com/2010/04/tp-is-for-bungholes.html
Speaks volumes on TP.
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:32 pm
So Hinske says every good team he’s been on has went through something like this ? He played on the 09 Yankees and 07 Red Sox teams. Somehow I don’t think those teams ever lost 9 games in a row !!
Brava
April 29th, 2010
5:33 pm
Oh yes, I’m going to go read something called TP is for bungholes. Can’t wait for the enlightenment.
faninva
April 29th, 2010
5:34 pm
Oh yes, I’m going to go read something called TP is for bungholes. Can’t wait for the enlightenment. – Brava
funny! ya, i saw that too…no thanks.
csg
April 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
Heyward 5HR’s in 71AB
Rest of the team 8HR’s in 643AB’s
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
Three things
1) This is Liberty Media’s fault. They don’t care about winning. They lower the payroll so we are reduced to crappy players
2) Pendleton needs to go if for no other reason to get a new voice.
3) Chipper is no longer a feared slugger. Cox doesn’t know this
4) We need to rebuild completely
Hanson ends the streak tomorrow
Gary O
April 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
One reason the Braves did not want Roachy is because of his slow starts, and the money he was looking for.
But another reason the Braves let Roachy go is because he wanted a multi-year contract, and the Braves only wanted somebody for one year. That way, Freeman could be brought up next year if he was ready.
If Adam had told the Braves that he would be willing to sign for 1 year at $4.5 mil, a second year at $7.5 mil, with a $1.5 mil buyout, the Braves might have signed him.
DOB,
I hope Bobby gives Hinske more starts, because Glaus has not played well, and all HInske has done is hit whenver he is called upon. Unfortunately, Bobby is always too slow to make a move.
I dont understand how Bobby keeps talking about we;re playing well. What game is he watching? I’ll say this.
If the Braves play this bad for the whole season, I wonder if Bobby would want to come back next year with a chance to go out on better terms (nobody wants to go out a loser).
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
5:37 pm
I thought Kelly couldn’t hit leadoff
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
5:38 pm
And someone needs to be held accountable for this crap. Cox or Wren
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:38 pm
Why can’t Arthur Blank buy this team ? He has a ton of money and he cares about winning !!
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
5:39 pm
The Rockie catcher passed a kindey stone during the game and stayed in there.
Chipper should be laughed at
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
Gary, if the Braves have a bad season this year, even if Cox wanted to come back would the Braves let him ?
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
5:41 pm
Why can’t Arthur Blank buy this team ? He has a ton of money and he cares about winning !!
Arthur Blank has a ton of money because he makes good business decisions…which doesn’t include buying an entire baseball team on a whim
CB
April 29th, 2010
5:44 pm
jeffrey d, does Bravesfan2010 remind you of anyone else?
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
5:47 pm
braves70 Well played McMauer!
What was?
Soph Whenever the Braves win again, I’d like to see Rally’s party it up like it’s 1999.
Oh, he’ll be dancing alright! Just hope he remembers how…
Back-Stabber McFann has a crush on the handsome MVP Mauer.
Don’t be disgusting!!! I lost my own bet, that’s all.
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
5:48 pm
Nine losses in a row. 81 runs scored in 22 games. 16 of those runs on opening day.
That means this team has scored 65 runs since game #2 of the season. 65 runs in 21 games equals out to …
3 freaking runs a game!!!!!!!
3!!!!!!!!
Not that I think it’s his fault, but how does Terry Pendleton have a job still? Fire him to get some fire under these guys arses.
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
5:50 pm
He reminds me of a lot of people…is there one in particular?
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
5:51 pm
Is Freddie Freeman the next Albert Pujols or something ? If not, then I don’t see why the Braves couldn’t sign LaRoche to a 3 or 4 year contract. Bravesfan2010
He does not have to be the next Pujols, just better than LaRoche.
CB
April 29th, 2010
5:51 pm
Colin.
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
5:53 pm
Take a good look at this lineup and compare it to teams that win. It’s pretty weak. It amazese that TP gets to keephis job.
So what you’re saying is the talent he’s working with sucks, so fire the coach.
Do you also fire the special ed teacher because her kids can’t somehow get into an Ivy League school?
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
5:55 pm
Good call CB
cs95
April 29th, 2010
5:57 pm
while the offense has stunk the SP hasn’t really lived up to my expectations either: 9 quality starts out of 22 games. other than hudson the rotation as been kinda bad. lowe crappy again (go figure), KK and hanson have been okay, but both taxed the pen and JJ has just not looked good this year (two starts of only a couple innings and an ERA over 6)
Dallen
April 29th, 2010
5:58 pm
This team is a joke. The Braves have been the softest team in the majors for years, this is the worse ever. Hate that Cox is going to go out in a trainwreck of a season but maybe he is one of the issues
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
5:59 pm
(Freeman) does not have to be the next Pujols, just better than LaRoche.
you meant to say cheaper than laroche
JasonInFL
April 29th, 2010
6:00 pm
Folks, Wren and company put this team together with the mindset that scoring 4 runs is the problem. We aren’t going to end the streak with a lot of runs, imo, we are going to end it with a GREAT pitching performance…which is why we never went on such a losing strea back in the day (Maddux, Smoltz, and Glav…We built this team around pitching…we have to win when we score 3 or 4 runs. Have to…now, today, JJ left with an injury. But, still…
Bravesfan2010
April 29th, 2010
6:02 pm
cs95, Hanson has been OK ? His ERA is 2.14 !!! By far the best out of all the starters.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 29th, 2010
6:04 pm
I agree with Bobby, we’re playing great baseball.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
6:04 pm
This team certainly has the talent, you saw it on Opening Day, you saw it on the come-from-behind win against the Phils. This is a team with 8 position players capable of taking anybody deep. Capable of taying any game. They have the talent to be one of the most powerful lineups in the league. What they lack is leadership and a good coach and manager to guide them. This team need Toilet Paper to be fired, just like the Rockies did last year, it worked for them….
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
6:05 pm
In sports, you know you have good coaches, assistants, and coordinators when people are interviewing them and trying to hire them away from you. We used to have former or future managers on the coaching staff. When’s the last time anyone (legitimately) interviewed or tried to hire away Chino, Hubbard, Snitker, or Terry? When have any of them made anyone’s managerial short list?
BraveMan
April 29th, 2010
6:05 pm
we should have done this 4 years ago… and i know bobby is not going to want to do it now, but its time to rebuild. its time to sell off anyone and everyone not named heyward, hanson or mcann… i know that doesnt leave much but we could some decent prospects in return for our veteran relievers and should be able to get a phenomenal haul for escobar. mclouth might have some trade value as well… its just finally time to blow this thing up and start over. if we would have done this nearly five years ago, we might be fielding a good team right now…
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 29th, 2010
6:06 pm
That’s funny Braveheart
LWells2000
April 29th, 2010
6:06 pm
Stop the freakin’ bleeding NOW…replace Glaus, McLouth, Cabrera before it’s too late~
Jack
April 29th, 2010
6:06 pm
It is time to get rid of TP
He brings nothing to this team in anyway to help them
I wish we had a real media that would press the team and coaches
but they are like the fans at the Ted
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 29th, 2010
6:07 pm
The “cheaper” comment
cs95
April 29th, 2010
6:08 pm
bravesfan, my mistake i didn’t see his era. i was remembering his inability to get through more than 5 innings.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
6:08 pm
Wow, my typos are incredible…
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 29th, 2010
6:11 pm
I don’t worry much about typos, considering the population will outgrow the fresh water supply by 2031.
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
6:12 pm
if we would have done this nearly five years ago, we might be fielding a good team right now…
What, kept 3 players? Yeah, why didn’t JS or FW think of that?
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
6:15 pm
f Freddie Freeman was that good, his butt would be called up already because obviously we suck at 1st base.
he’s 20 friggin’ years old, for crying out loud. in fact, I think he should be in AA. I think they’ve rushed his development. He’s not exactly a fast track prospect like a Heyward, but for whatever reason they rushed his development anyway. He likely should have spent a full year at each level. he should have been arriving when he was 22 or 23, but they seem hellbent on rushing him up at 21, or maybe even younger
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
I don’t worry much about typos, considering the population will outgrow the fresh water supply by 2031. Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
Troubling thought, but a healthy perspective.
NRBQ
April 29th, 2010
6:19 pm
Stat of the Day:
K Johnson and A. LaRoche, 7 for 9, two HR, 8 RBI.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 29th, 2010
6:20 pm
Braveheart, you are a beacon of good-reason, and exactly right.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
6:20 pm
Freeman is holding his own at AAA. WOuld like to see more walks but that is not his game
Eric
April 29th, 2010
6:21 pm
DOB any update on Salcedo?
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
Ain’t that Amanda Knox’s boyfriend?
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
Reaching for answers, feeling depair, feeling alone……Call 1-800-chop-this. Counslers are standing by waiting for your call to guide you through this difficult time. don’t delay……Call NOW!!
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
He’s in prison.
ernesto
April 29th, 2010
6:25 pm
Stat of the Day:
K Johnson and A. LaRoche, 7 for 9, two HR, 8 RBI.
Isn’t that more offense than our entire team has mustered in a week?
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
METS MADNESS – Enjoy it, you will be crying in september
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
Damn, it’s harry caray time.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 29th, 2010
6:28 pm
How many more nails will this coffin hold?
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
6:32 pm
JC from DR —– From here to there you guys will have used up all the kleenex. We’ll have to wipe off the tears on our sleeves.
JasonInFL
April 29th, 2010
6:37 pm
Roachy and KJ driven in more runs today than our starting position players have in about 9 games.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
6:37 pm
Is Escobar really hurt, or is this just an excuse to get out of the lineup while things are going poorly? Seems like he has had injuries like this in the past………..
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
6:39 pm
METS MADNESS – Actually no, that’s the difference between Mets and Braves fans. We are not crying little girls who go to another team’s blog to talk excrement to other fans while your team is winning, but start crying like chickens in the morning when your team chokes and are nowhere to be seen. Good luck wiping your tears with your sleeves in september, you will be needing a LOT of jerseys
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
6:40 pm
Wayne – Yeah, it’s an excuse, he learned that from Chipper.
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
6:42 pm
The people that continue to blame Laroche for not being in Atlanta need to give it a rest. He started out seeking a multi-year deal (think it was at least 3 years). Wasn’t this his first shot at FA? Of course he needed to shoot for his best contract ever.
However, as time went on his demands dropped down to two years. Wren refused to give him more than 1 year and so we never even entertained the thought of adding him. If we would’ve jumped back in on a 2 year offer and negotiated a little, well, you see what he got and you see what we ended up with.
We ended up with Rico Brogna/BJ Surhoff/Robert Fick/Julio Franco/Casey Kotchman……errr, Troy Glaus.
Like I said in January, Wren had a vintage Pittsburgh Pirate offseason of the past 15 years. (until the past 2 years under new Pittsburgh leadership)
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
6:45 pm
JC from DR —– You’ll have to pardon my ignorance but I’ve never seen chickens crying. As for the “Little Girls crying”…..I don’t know JC, but there’s a lot of little girls crying right here.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
6:46 pm
“It is time to get rid of TP”
HA, like that’ll happen anytime soon. Bobby’s boy ain’t going nowhere in his final season.
Rob, correct on Chipper. Actually, aside from Heyward and McCann there aren’t any feared hitters in this lineup. All they do is pitch around Brian anyways, so that leaves Heyward. Prado, as good as he is, isn’t a HR threat and he’s a #2 hitter.
You’ll literally drive yourself crazy watching this group try and create something during an inning. Painful and pathetic. How many times have they strung more than one hit in an inning? Well, they’d probably better learn seeing as how this lineup doesn’t have but one true slugger and he’s a 20 year kid. Whatever anybody thought of before the season that could go wrong has gone wrong.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
6:48 pm
Tommy P
Yeah, I think it is easy for us to go back and second guess any moves Wren did or did not make last winter, especially considering how badly our team is suffering now.
But, I would agree that even he might be regretting not pursuing LaRoche a bit more vigorously at this point.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
6:49 pm
METS MADNESS, what are you gonna do when your team starts to fall apart? You still gonna come around other teams blogs?
Big Jake
April 29th, 2010
6:49 pm
kill ‘em all, let the baseball gods sort ‘em out !!
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
6:52 pm
METS MADNESS – Oh im sorry, i should’ve known. Given your ignorance, i should’ve said ”like screaming/chanting/singing/crying chickens in the morning” for you to be able to understand it.
Whatever you say dude.
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
6:52 pm
we should have done this 4 years ago… and i know bobby is not going to want to do it now, but its time to rebuild
They’ve been rebuilding for about 5 years. What’s the hope of your rebuild at this time? To come out on the other side with a 26 year old catcher and second basemen, a 27 year old shortstop, a 28 year old centerfielder, a 20 year old rightfielder, a 25 year old utility outfielder, a 28 year old utility infielder, a pair of aces aged 23 and 24, a 24 year old swingman, a 23 year old centerfield prospect, a 20 year old first base prospect, a potential closer in AA who throws 99 miles an hour, and then supplement those guys with veterans?
Castrologist
April 29th, 2010
6:53 pm
I was quite happy that the Braves signed Billy Wagner. Too bad he’s had to scratch his ass all game long for a week and a half because we can’t get a lead. This team isn’t a joke like many commenters have said, but this IS becoming a little embarassing. I don’t want for the Braves to be in the Hall of Shame for the longest losing steak ever. You’d figure we could take the Astros and the Nationals, but then again, a little league team could kick our ass right now.
On the brightside, we scored, what, 4 runs today? I think that’s better than our average. Baby steps.
castrologist.tumblr.com
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
6:53 pm
TnBrian
While it is true that we have quite a few hitters underperforming, I think the biggest issue is Chipper’s lack of hitting leadership at this time. No doubt that in the past, he has carried this team on his back for a week to ten days.
I hope he still has something left in the tank, but I am not sure he does. Without him, who leads by example? Mac? Maybe. Everybody else we have are followers.
Maybe in the future, Heyward takes that role, but not at 20 years old.
If Chipper can’t pull it together, we might be doomed. Bobby is the team leader, but he doesn’t go out and play every day. Few successful teams do it without an on-field leader.
Just my observations……
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
6:53 pm
TnBrian —- Well you tell me. What are you doing while the braves a falling apart?
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
6:55 pm
I meant “Are” falling apart……Gotta get that in there before the Grammer police catch me.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
6:56 pm
WW
Agreed. Our biggest obstacle with adding a player or two at this point, is the salary issue. Maybe LMC will pony up for a small investment? We need a Braves stimulus package fore shore!
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
6:57 pm
Wayne in Utah: It’s been easy for me to 2nd guess Wren all winter. I absolutely blame Wren for a lot of stuff, not Laroche. That was my point.
Cutting Kelly Johnson? Just seemed crazy to me. Of course, I backed that thinking up by making him my middle infielder on my fantasy squad.
When your home team isn’t producing, fall back on your fantasy squad.
Cabrera? Glaus? Saito? (I could end up being wrong on that one but my contention was backing up your old closer with someone that is almost as old)
And though nothing will be done this year, Pendleton isn’t doing a damn thing.
nolie
April 29th, 2010
6:58 pm
yeah ripping Chipper, the guy with the third best OPS on the team makes a lot of sense. forget about the whole pile of guys @ 600 and below
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
6:58 pm
“Has anybody checked out LaRoche and Kelly’s stats” “They have as many HR as the whole Braves team” “We should kept both around” “What will we do”
Uh, Kelly sucked so bad last year (offense/defense) that I thought he’d end up on Unsolved Mysteries because a fan was going to decapitate him. LaRoche wanted BIG time money and by the time he was rejected by SF and Arz had already signed him cheap, Atlanta had signed Glaus to the $1.5 m deal.
Shutup.
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
6:58 pm
I forgot to add the failure to add someone as a future Chipper replacement. We KNEW he would be out a ton.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
6:59 pm
I stand behind my earlier ascertion that Chipper deserves to stay in the lineup (so long as he is not injured) until he thinks he can’t do it anymore; but that time might be approaching.
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
7:02 pm
TnBrian: By the time it was clear Laroche wasn’t getting “big time money”, Laroche’s demands had dropped considerably, both in years and $. A 2-year deal would’ve gotten it done but Wren would not give that to him.
And even if the Braves had signed Glaus for $1.5, that shouldn’t have precluded them from adding a cheap Laroche.
nolie
April 29th, 2010
7:02 pm
an OPS over 800 but the time might be coming? hmmm
too dam bad the all don’t have an OPS over 800, we’d be leading the league
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
7:02 pm
nolie
What do you think about my thoughts of not having a team leader on the field? You can tout OPS all day, but Chipper’s OPS ain’t getting it done.
I have been a huge CJ fan for a long time………but what I see on the field and at the plate is not encouraging.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
7:03 pm
METS MADNESS, aw, Bless your little heart. Tell ya what, when that squirrely little s*** Reyes goes through a year without tearing up another muscle in his scrawny ass body and when/IF your overpaid CF gets back to form, then you can talk smack. Boy, you have some nerve to talk crap to ANY team.
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
7:05 pm
The old baseball axiom to “wait ’til Memorial Day” to assess your team is what Wren is going to do but he may want to act about 2 weeks earlier than that. Mid-May and if we’re still playing, let’s say .400 ball, then it’s time to seriously shop for prospects that are close.
But it won’t happen ’cause of Bobby’s last year. Sad.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
7:05 pm
Tommy P
I was a KJ fan too, but I understood that move. He would have gotten over 3 million in arbitration if we had kept him around. I am happy for him. Also, the D’back’s park is perfect for him.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
7:07 pm
This losing is real contagious. It sucks. We have good players who are struggling. I just think we need that one catalyst who will get us headed in the right direction.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
7:08 pm
Tommy P, I’m not saying Wren did his best work over this offseason. In fact. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fired at some point if things don’t turn around. If the guy has a pulse, he’s feeling a ton of heat right now. I don’t care how he’d try and play it off. It’s been a disaster.
But, LaRoche is doing something he’s never done in the 1st half … hit a baseball hard. There were a ton of fans saying the exact same thing that you’d only get half a year from him anyways.
keylargo
April 29th, 2010
7:10 pm
In sports, you know you have good coaches, assistants, and coordinators when people are interviewing them and trying to hire them away from you. Braveheart
Fredi Gonzalez (Marlins) and Ned Yost (Brewers have been hired off of Cox’s staff as head coaches in the 2000’s.
Pendleton got his first coaching job in November 2001 as the hitting coach of the Atlanta Braves.[20] It is a position he holds to this day. In 2006 he was on a short list of people to replace Frank Robinson as manager of the Washington Nationals, only to withdraw himself from consideration a few weeks into the process.[21][22] He was also reportedly one of the frontrunners to be the next St. Louis Cardinals’ manager before current manager Tony La Russa decided to stay with the Cardinals.[23] He is currently the frontrunner to replace Bobby Cox when the esteemed Braves manager retires at the end of the 2010 season.[24] Wikipedia
It was rumored in the media in 2006 that TP was “Coach in Waiting” as soon as Cox retired, which, if true, would explain the lack of short lists TP has made since.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
7:10 pm
Wayne, Hinske would be a good start getting the team in the right direction. Awesome attitude and he can play some baseball. Glaus should sit a while, or if Bobby feels the need to play the vet, put Hinske in the OF somewhere for a while. Makes no sense to not play this guy everyday, especially right now.
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
7:12 pm
Wayne in Utah: Good point on the arbitration but we shaved his $3 mil, Javy’s $11.5 mil, Laroche’s $8 mil, Gonzalez/Soriano’s mucho mil (can’t remember…LOL) and ended up with Glaus from Dollar General, Melky, Wagner and Saito.
Hey, Wren admitted in Schultz’s column that we have money to spend right now.
At the end of the year, Cox retires, TP goes his way and Wren gets the boot so we can completely start over.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
7:13 pm
TnBrian
We did so much hit and running in the spring and it worked well. Why do we continue to stand around and wait for a 3-run homer. Move Heyward to 3rd. Go Esco-Prado-Heyward-Chipper-McCann and the runs will come. Time for old man Cox to get creative.
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
7:13 pm
C’mon TnBrian……You would love to have Reyes as your lead off hitter. Be honest. Secondly, even without Beltran the Mets find themselves in FIRST PLACE. Your team on the other hand is on a 9 game losing streak and in last place. The Mets have a better 25 man roster than the braves and as the season progresses it will be quite obviouse to you if it isn’t already…….
monty
April 29th, 2010
7:13 pm
believe it or not Houston has struggled more offensively than the Braves.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
7:14 pm
TP might make a good manager. I would hire Gonzalez or Perez myself.
JasonInFL
April 29th, 2010
7:15 pm
Odds that we finish in last place?
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
7:15 pm
METS MADNESS, the Mets are in 1st. We’re in last? Come on, I didn’t know that. Dude, it’s not even May yet and you’re creaming all over yourself. Calm down, son.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
7:15 pm
METS MADNESS
Our pitching is better
Our bullpen is better
And when Cox finally gets the lineup right we will be better period
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
7:16 pm
METS MADNESS – You should be a comedian.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
7:17 pm
TommyP
Braveheart already made the point that we are already in a rebuilding mode. What else are you going to do? Wagner might be the only player we have that has any real street value that is over 30ish.
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
7:18 pm
Hinske is a band aid, not the solution.
And Laroche had a .916 OPS in April last year so it looked like he was beginning to solve the early season struggles. The year before he had a really good May.
It’s called evolving as a player.
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
7:18 pm
JC from DR —– You find those crying chickens yet?
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
7:19 pm
Rob, they’re pressing like some MF. Everyone of those hitters is pressing trying their best to get something going. They aren’t waiting for the ball to come to them. A few guys in the lineup stay back consistantly and that’s Prado and Chipper. The rest are jumping at the ball and Nate’s the worst at this. My God he’s awful!
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
7:19 pm
METS MADNESS – Haha, you see? A great comedian you would be.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
7:21 pm
MUTT FANS, I would sit around here and chat with ya, but I have way more important things to do like take the dog out to crap and see what he’s been eating.
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
7:21 pm
Wayne: This isn’t rebuilding mode. Hudson, Lowe, Chipper, Glaus, Wagner, Saito…. That’s not rebuilding.
If it is, it’s yet another thing Wren has fumbled.
The plan has been to transition slowly as a team with a mixture but, well, what’s left to say right now? Ticking us all off right now.
Wake Up
April 29th, 2010
7:21 pm
Long time reader, first time poster. And to quote a cinema legend, I’m mad as hell and I just can’t take it anymore…
You guys do realize that you can quote chapter and verse about what KJ and Laroche are doing now and how great it would be to have that in our line-up…but I hope you can also peel the onion a bit deeper to understand that their numbers would be nowhere near what they are now if they were still Braves. You do know that, right? Upton, Reynolds, Young, Drew, Jackson when he was healthy…you know what they equal? The threat of power AND speed. Which translates into more fastballs for KJ and Rochey.
You know what does NOT equal that combination? Any aspect of this Braves offense. I love Bobby, and have since I was a little kid growing up in Hawaii watching the Braves lose 100+ a year (despite 4 HR games from Horner). But the one thing he has never cultivated in his squads is a focus on running to create chances and make things happen. I don’t know if he’s afraid of pulled hammys or bad groins, but if that’s the case, get a better strength and conditioning coach. Prado, Esco, McClouth, Cabrera, Heyward (especially)…these are all guys that can swipe a bag for you and place pressure on the pitcher. The last time I looked around baseball, offensive catchers were in favor…meaning daily defense has suffered, meaning you can probably run at a 75% clip. Along the way to that goal, you can develop a reputation for that, and now pitchers around the league have to be on notice (slide steps + fastballs = mental stress, otherwise known as deeper pitch counts and more opportunities for you). Now, they don’t care…because we’re a station-to-station team, nothing more. And we don’t have the thunder to be that type of team. The last time I checked, we weren’t sending at least three of the following to the plate each night: Sheffield, Lopez, Galarraga, Klesko, ‘Druw (good ‘Druw, not bad ‘Druw), a juiced up Bret Boone, or J.D. Drew to complement the HOF-version of Chipper (a.k.a. sub-37 Chipper).
Let’s get this out of the way right now: Chipper, great player, great legacy, yadda-yadda. Favorite player throughout the 90s. But when your franchise player doesn’t commit himself to fitness, that trickles down through the organization. When our players marvel at how hard Prado works at his game, my next question is this: “Why?” EVERYONE should have that type of work ethic. Talent, luck…to a certain extent, you either have those or you don’t (given that everyone is talented at the ML level; I’m talking about transcendant talent). The only thing you have complete control over is your daily personal effort. BP is one thing; fitness levels and flexibility are another. You need to work at that, daily…that only goes in one direction as you age. The aches, pains, strains…no excuse for that. Look at the teams we play against, from a body composition standpoint. These guys are in the weight room, they’re doing cardio, and you can tell they do that by appearance. Look at our guys. It’s palpably different. I’m not going to single any individual out (too easy) because it’s a group trend. That’s personal laziness, and I can’t tolerate it. It needs to become an organizational philosophy. Fire TP? How about firing the conditioning coach for not being able to get through to people, or hiring one if we’re somehow the last organization in professional sports that hasn’t caught on to the fact that this is a non-negotiable. Or how about getting the face of the franchise to buy in to less bulking up and more cardio so it trickles down to the rest of the team? I’m so sick of hearing about the one time he decided to ‘commit’ himself before he made the move to left, and how he hurt himself working out (the innuendo being that it caused his foot problems). Rationalize it any way you want, but realize that those comments hurt the organization because they give people the ability to point at the lead dog and say, “He’s not doing it, why should I?”
Bottom line: this team lacks the personality to pull out of this slump because it lacks a top gun with fire. Chipper only knows one style in that arena: leading by example. He’s not doing that now, so we’re adrift (am I the only one that feels like he’s aged 10 years in the past 9 months?). Heyward can become that guy, though for obvious reasons he’s not comfortable speaking up now. If Chipper wants to help this franchise, he need get Heyward or Prado ‘over’, so to speak, ASAP (or voluntarily renegotiate his contract and move to the 2-hole, but that’s another story for another day). David Justice…Brian Jordan…Smoltz…say you want about some of the things they’ve done, but one thing is clear: they lit a fire when a fire needed to be lit. They got people in the workout rooms together over the summer.
Hanson will stop this tomorrow, because he’s that kind of a player. He will become more vocal as the season wears on. But organizationally, as sad as I am to see Bobby go, my hope is that our next manager has fire, loyalty AND a commitment to the physical preparation it takes to compete with your best 25 over the long haul. When you have a guy like Chipper who can fall out of bed in his early 30s and hit .330, and Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine, fine…play all the golf you want. But absent four sure-fire HOFers, you control the only things that are controllable: CONDITIONING and DRILLS. You develop a culture of competition and success, not one based on blind loyalty. Tampa Bay, St. Louis, the Yankees to a certain extent (even with the crazy $$$s, so you can’t blame complacency): they have that.
We, on the other hand, have a bunch of prom queens that were the hottest things on the planet in high school. They never learned to work out, because they didn’t need to….and at their 20-year reunions, they’re still cute…just ’softer’. In the meantime, you’re going nuts at the bar fawning over the plain-jane girls and the ones that had great ‘personalities’ back the day who’ve spent the last 10 years in the gym, learning how to dress, waiting for their night in the spotlight.
They put in the work. Right now, our organization doesn’t…and it’s inexcusable.
nolie
April 29th, 2010
7:22 pm
i think team leader and most other intangibles are for the most part an exaggeration of the press and the fans. there is no way in hell this team will win with 5 guys hitting around 200 and below no matter what any “team leader” does or no matter how the other three are doing, just too many outs in the lineup right now and the pitchers are feeling the pressure.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
7:23 pm
TnBrian – Can i go with you?
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
7:25 pm
TnBrian —— You’re right, I am getting ahead of myself. I’m aware that’s it’s early. I guess I’m working on my Sh–it talking so I’m ready for later in the season.—- Rob from SC, the stats don’t agree with your assessment of the Mets and braves pitching. The Mets ERA is a full run better than the braves and that doesn’t even count TODAYS game………TRY AGAIN
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
7:27 pm
METS MADNESS
Talk to me in a month
METS MADNESS
April 29th, 2010
7:32 pm
what’s wrong with today Rob from SC?? Re-checked those stats buddy??
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
7:34 pm
Wayne, don’t you get it? To them, a true rebuild is burn down the city, tear up all the infrastructure, bomb the bridges, blow up the subway, torch all the buses and cars, destroy all the crops, slaughter all the livestock, kill the educators, and start all over again, and let nature take its course.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
7:35 pm
I can’t believe we went out like this!
I mean we just got Clowned to the point that I can’t even get P’d off no more…Keep the Faith, the 1992 Braves were in last place until mid May…
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
7:39 pm
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
“METS MADNESS – Enjoy it, you will be crying in september”
Damn That! He will be wearing a Yankees hat in September “Bank On it!” Most mets fans do that
RKZ
April 29th, 2010
7:40 pm
OK, bad (make that terrible) streak. But, you have to consider that the Cardinals may be one of the best if not the best team in baseball. Never good to lose, but realistically, you’re not going to have much of a chance against the best pitching rotation (sorry San Fran) in baseball. Do we have a problem, yes, but lets realize that we’re not facing STL every game, thank God. We ran into a great team who is hot. Any opponent would have struggled. It’s not as bad as it looks right now!
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
7:41 pm
How long do you think Maine will hold up. You faced us three times, that is why your ERA is so good.
Fred
April 29th, 2010
7:42 pm
What about promoting Gregor Blanco to leadoff and play CF? I know he’s not the best hitter, but he has speed and can’t be any worse than Melky or McLouth.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
7:42 pm
What Gets Me about todays Loss is that Pujols was out and we still got Clowned! That team showed me this series that they are the Truth. Usually when we sit one of our big hitters (or lack thereof) we lose
LaRussa and Their hitters out-executed us the whole series, I hope TP was taking notes…
haggard
April 29th, 2010
7:43 pm
David O’Brien—–April 29th, 201011:22 am
“I’d love to see what could happen again in Atlanta if/when the Braves get back to being a perennial contender. Not saying it’d be St. Louis, but I do believe it’s a good baseball town that’s craving a winner again.”
I like your tune on that post, David, and I agree one-hundred percent. In fact, I’ve called a friend in Atlanta, and am making the two hour drive down to the Ted tomorrow where we’ll meet at the Niekro statue and formulate a plate to circumvent anymore of this,……uh……..foolishness.
Duane Allman was once asked, “What are you doing for the peace movement?”.
He replied, “I’m eating a peach for peace”.
Tomorrow night I’m eating two dogs for the team!
haggard
April 29th, 2010
7:44 pm
McMMMMMMaaaaauuuuuu—-I can’t bring myself to type it! hang in there!
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
7:45 pm
WW
I suppose!
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
7:45 pm
I want a trade for Andrew McCutchen NOW! Since the braves trade with the pirates all the time McCutchen will be the Next pirate to dawn a braves uni…After Mike Gonzalez, Nate Dawg and LaRoche…
I think Bobby and TP may’ve screwed Nate Dawg up because I thought Nate-Dawg was gonna clown for us hitting leadoff after the first 2 weeks he was here last year…but what happened, he has hit Rock-Bottom!
haggard
April 29th, 2010
7:45 pm
Gotta go early and rest up for tomorrow night’s game. See you folks later.
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
7:47 pm
This isn’t rebuilding mode. Hudson, Lowe, Chipper, Glaus, Wagner, Saito…. That’s not rebuilding.
So you get rid of them. Who are they blocking? Dying to see Van Pope or Wes Timmons at third with a rotation of Hanson, Jurrjens, Minor, Vizcaino, and Teheran with Kimbrel at closer this soon, huh? Or do you propose one or both of Hanson and Jurrjens go so that we can get a good, ugly look at how Delgado would fare in the majors at this point?
If you didn’t notice, the Gwinnett Braves got no friggin’ hit last night. No hit in AAA. Let’s truly rebuild and call them guys up. This will be one helluva fun rebuild. Good luck getting the fans to ever remember your team plays in this town over the next 10+ years ….
If you want to watch a rebuild, go watch our 26 year old catcher and second basemen, our 27 year old shortstop, our 28 year old centerfielder, our 20 year old rightfielder, our 25 year old utility outfielder, our 28 year old utility infielder, our aces aged 23 and 24, our 24 year old swingman, and then head over to Gwinnett, Mississippi, Rome and Myrtle Beach to watch the other parts of the rebuild.
Who you gonna trade Glaus for? A dozen donuts? Glaus’ fat arse would likely eat those dozen donuts on the way out of the door.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
7:49 pm
Tomahawkin – As soon as Nate gets traded, he will be doing the same thing KJ is doing right now, for another team, with the help of another Hitting Coach, a real one btw.
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
7:50 pm
You know what happens in a rebuild? You call up 18 kids. 5 years later, only one remains (Brian McCann).
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
7:51 pm
Aces missed for Chipper
Lincecun
Wainwright
MZ
April 29th, 2010
7:55 pm
DOB ——
If/when you get a few minutes, you should give this a read …
http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/american-aquarium-returns-to-form-quietly/Content?oid=1396670
TommyP
April 29th, 2010
7:56 pm
Braveheart: You can paint it any way you want but the Braves are not rebuilding. This is a transition period we’re in.
Rebuilding? Not one person with a hint of respect in the majors would suggest the Braves are rebuilding.
That’s pretty over the top, man.
keylargo
April 29th, 2010
7:57 pm
Has anyone noticed that when they show the computer generated graphic of the strike zone that it is the same one for everyone? David Eckstein and Troy Glaus – same strike zone? I mean Glaus will get mid shin strikes called and Eckstein will get strikes eye high if they ever use that to call balls and strikes.
monty
April 29th, 2010
7:59 pm
I love what CJ has meant to this team and I understand he’s ailing, but let’s face it he has nothing batting LH. I don’t recall seeing him lace even one ball to RF. If he could bat RH against LHP all the time then he’s still dangerous but for whatever reason batting LH. he’s an easy out if you throw him inside.
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
8:00 pm
haggard I can’t bring myself to type it!
I wasn’t too thrilled about it either…Thought for sure I’d win that “bet”. Dang…ya just never cann tell, cann ya?
hang in there!
Yeah…I sorta feel like a branch on the banks of a raging river. But we’re gonna get through this!
Can’t wait for Saturday–my old pal Brett Myers is coming to town! But I guess I shouldn’t get too excited…that always comes back to bite me in the butt.
Braveone
April 29th, 2010
8:03 pm
Here’s a good stat of the day for you: The 1977 Atlanta Braves started the season 8-5, same as the 2010 version. Then they reeled off 17 straight losses with the last loss managed by Ted Turner. The 2010 Braves have are over half way to matching that 1977 team!
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
8:03 pm
Bobby and the Braves’ losing streak is the focus of Yahoo’s Create-a-Caption
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Create-a-Caption-What-I-d-really-like-Red-and?urn=mlb,237724&post_comment=1&success=1
jeffrey d
April 29th, 2010
8:03 pm
Sorry I missed it, but what was the McMauer bet?
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
8:05 pm
McMauer
No You Just did not Change your Name…?
Come on? Whats your take on B-Macc does he need to be moved out of the 4 hole when “Hoss is hitting 3rd…Pitchers are gonna to pitch around him all season knowing that Glaus is hitting behind him…
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
8:06 pm
TommyP
Call it what you want….rebuild, retool. You don’t totally blow it up when you have the core players and pitching staff we have.
Not saying you can’t deal a few guys if you think you are not gonna compete, but what are you going to get for them? Not a heckuva lot.
Braveheart
April 29th, 2010
8:09 pm
Tommy, it ain’t over the top. They’ve been rebuilding. I guess you just don’t care to notice. What’s a true rebuild to you? Escobar, McCann, Prado, Freeman, Schafer, McLouth, Heyward, KJ, Frenchy, Hanson, Jurrjens, Medlen, and Kimbrel surrounded by guys who should never appear on a major league roster? Or are those guys too good for you to be included in a true rebuild? You really just want to see merger of the best of the Mississippi and Gwinnett teams in Atlanta?
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
8:14 pm
As much as it scares me, I think our stimulus might be our 20 yr old firstbaseman in June.
monty
April 29th, 2010
8:18 pm
In 2007 Chipper Jones was one of the top 4-5 LH hitters in the game.
.378,.472,.699,.1.171, 218 total bases, 22HR’s, 30-2b,74rbi
So far this season, .231,.412,.308 ouch!, .719, 0 HR, 3-2b.
Joltin Joe has left and gone away!
keylargo
April 29th, 2010
8:21 pm
To change the subject, I’m watching the movie BLOW with Johnny Depp. It also stars Penelope Cruz in one of the only roles that she’s not overwhelmingly beautiful. She plays Depp’s wife who gets addicted and it really turns ugly from there. Sorry DOB.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
8:23 pm
The season is full of ups and downs in any given year. If you don’t have injury issues, and you have a good core group of players, then a team can normally edure some slumps along the way.
The fact that all our players except Prado and Hinske are playing below career norms is unusual.
As much as my friend nolie disagrees with me, I still think here is something to the team “on-the-field” leader setting the tone. To be honest, our success this year was largely predicated on Chipper returning to something close to career norms.
If that doesn’t happen, I don’t think we are better than a .500 team overall.
Gary O
April 29th, 2010
8:27 pm
Bravesfan2010,
If Bobby wants to come back next year, I am not sure if Wren would let him come back. Wren was not very tactful about releasing glavine and smoltz.
But at the same time, I just can’t imagine the braves pulling a Florida state and forcing him out if he wants to come back.
Hopefully Bobby will retire and make it easier on Wren.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
8:28 pm
You look at our team and it’s obvious there is no leadoff hitter. What down at AAA right now that could leadoff in the near future? None that I can think of besides Schafer, but I wouldn’t count him for that. Braves get a leadoff hitter before too long. Wren has to know that’s a big thing missing here. Look what Furcal did for the lineup when he was a Braves. 35-45 SB a year. Pitchers just stay in a groove the way our lineup is right now.
Heyward is the slugger for Wren. McCann and Chipper will be his protection. No money in the bank for a slugger and he’s obviously not trading young talent to get one. And he shouldn’t. I think though he’ll be forced to deal one or two for a proven leadoff guy before long. This is getting rediculous. Bobby can’t be juggling around 5 different guys at the top of the lineup and expect consistancy.
Efrim
April 29th, 2010
8:31 pm
There is no reason to rebuild, tt’s freaking April 29th and we are 22 games into the season. I hate to say it…..again, but the hits will fall in for this team. The offense will get out of this rut and score more runs.
In other news, Julio Teheran continues to pitch well for Rome: 5 IP 3 hits 1 ER 0 BB’s 7 K’s and Randall Delgado pitching well for the Pelicans: 6 IP 4 hits 2 ER 2 BB’s 7 K’s….
Salty Dawg
April 29th, 2010
8:34 pm
There is no reason to rebuild, tt’s freaking April 29th and we are 22 games into the season. I hate to say it…..again, but the hits will fall in for this team. The offense will get out of this rut and score more runs.
I’m finding it harder and harder to tow that line. I mean, at what point exactly should we begin to worry? May 5th? June 14th? The problem is, this team is playing horribly. Not just bad and not just catching some bad luck, but horrible. The errors alone are enough cause for concern. MLB players don’t play that poorly on such a consistent basis.
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
8:42 pm
They should have started worrying when Bobby Cox said: ”next year is my last, I’ll manage the Braves for one more year”.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
8:44 pm
I wonder what Elton John has to say about the current Braves losing streak? LOL
Lou Vales
April 29th, 2010
8:45 pm
NONE of this stuff matters. As I’ve said you have way too much talent for this to continue and your hitting and pitching is still scary. I can easily see you winning this thing, HOWEVER, realize these are the Atlanta Braves who have won 1!!!!!!!! less World Series than the Florida Marlins since 1958, with that in mind UNDERSTAND you ain’t winning what teams ULTIMATELY play for. So relax!!
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
8:47 pm
Dawg
The losing is contagious. But then again, if something sparks somewhere, it could just as easily turn around. I think mid June is the time to worry, if we aren’t playing 500+ ball at that time.
To truly contend, we need our folks to get back to career norms. We could deal with a failed chemistry experiment on Glaus if all others were hitting close to career norms. Again, I think Chipper is the key.
TnBrian
Our leadoff hitter is hitting eighth right now, when he is playing. Nate has got to get it together so he can be moved back to leadoff. I know he is not the proto-typical leadoff hitter, but he is the best we have, short of Schafer coming around.
The errors in the field are worrisome to me. I harken back to the first basemen we have had for the past few years, saving quite a few errors in the infield. I don’t see Glaus or Hinske being that sort of defensive player.
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
8:47 pm
jeffrey d–
The other day I said that if BMac didn’t get a hit with RISP for the rest of the roadtrip, I was gonna change my name to “McMauer” until he got a hit with RISP. And today, he hit a freaking dribbler that barely got past homeplate with runners on first and third. Yeah, it moved the runners up for Hinske, but…
Tomahawkin No You Just did not Change your Name…?
It’s only temporary (I hope)…course I might change it back when DOB posts a new Blog tomorrow…but I don’t know, a bet is a bet, and I don’t claim to be a welsher (yet)…
Whats your take on B-Macc does he need to be moved out of the 4 hole when “Hoss is hitting 3rd
He needs to be moved out of the 4 hole no matter who’s batting third…but I know! We’ve got no one else to bat cleanup. Ha, well McCann isn’t exactly doing a bang-up job there. Last year he just slid by…87 RBI in 114 games in the cleanup spot. Eh, not horrid, but…he hasn’t exactly seemed the same since he got stuck in the cleanup spot. I don’t know if he presses too much or what…
He’s a number 5 hitter all the way. And he has a big enough “sample size” of PA’s from both spots to prove that.
Pitchers are gonna to pitch around him all season knowing that Glaus is hitting behind him…
Hmm…how true. But it’s not like McCann’s doing much hitting even when he does get pitched to…though in ST, when Glaus was batting in front of McCann, they both had high AVGs…
Efrim
April 29th, 2010
8:49 pm
Salty Dawg, unfortunately, I really don’t know the answer. Gotta think they’ll win two out of three this weekend at home against the Stros. I mean, they aren’t going to go 8-154.
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
8:49 pm
TnBrian I wonder what Elton John has to say about the current Braves losing streak?
“It’s like the sun…goin’ down…o-on…meeee!”
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
8:49 pm
TnBrian
You exaggerated those Furkey SB numbers a lil bit…
After 2002 Furcal thought he was a power hitter…I don’t know what happened to Nate-Dawg stealing bases…As for J-Hey I think Bobby and TP are gonna make his running game non-existant
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
8:51 pm
Lou Vales – I said earlier today too, you just have to look at what they did on Opening Day and the come-from-behind win against Philadelphia. They have the talent to destroy opponents, they’re just going through a deep slump for trying too hard to win it for the old man and/or trying to take the team back to the ’90s routes.
Salty Dawg
April 29th, 2010
8:54 pm
Rebuilding? Not one person with a hint of respect in the majors would suggest the Braves are rebuilding.
More of a bridge than a rebuild if you ask me. It’s not like they pulled a Marlins on us, but they are plugging holes waiting for the opportunity to make over the team.
Within two years Freeman should be manning 1st and Chipper may very well have retired allowing the Braves to move Prado to 3rd. They’ve got Edward Salcedo in the minors and if he turns out to be the player everyone expects he could be ready by then. Assuming they haven’t had enough of Yunel by that time, you’ve got Salcedo and Yunel up the middle with Prado and Freeman on the corners. That sounds like a pretty damn good infield to me. By that time Mac should be in his prime and Heyward should be settled in a little better. We all know they’ve got some fantastic young pitchers and a few more brewing in the minors. So you’ve got a lot of young, quality talent very close to being ready to go. And most will still be in arbitration or pre-arb, so there should be a lot of payroll flexibility with Lowe coming off the books in the next year. Enough at least to sign a true power hitting left fielder. Mark my words, in 2012 or 2013 the Braves will be a force to be reckoned with. The problem is, as a fan, waiting that long to see them turn things around.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
8:55 pm
Wayne, Nate ain’t even a MLB hitter right now, much less a table setter at the top for a team that is desperate for a spark. I get what you’re saying, but reality is one ugly sumbi!!!! right now.
Tomahawkin, the rookie, 2nd year Furcal is the one I was talking about. I was fixing to say earlier that the guy got little man syndrome and wanted to be a HR hitter later on though.
Salty Dawg
April 29th, 2010
8:55 pm
And I forgot to mention Shafer, who the Braves seem to put a lot of stock in for the future in center field.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
9:00 pm
In a perfect world Turner Field would have 52,000 loud fans supporting their guys out there through this tough time come tomorrow night. Reality though is that it’ll be 20,000 people yawning and just waiting on the fireworks.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:00 pm
Salty Dawg
I always figure about 1 out of 4 or 5 of our prospects will ever become what we think they will be. Let’s hope some of these guys make me wrong.
Salty Dawg
April 29th, 2010
9:01 pm
I said earlier today too, you just have to look at what they did on Opening Day and the come-from-behind win against Philadelphia. They have the talent to destroy opponents, they’re just going through a deep slump for trying too hard to win it for the old man and/or trying to take the team back to the ’90s routes.
If you look at it objectively, that opening day breakout was against a struggling pitcher who has since been demoted to the bullpen. So the only thing we have to hang our hat on is one come from behind win and one 3-game stretch out west in 20+ games.
NOTHING BUT COX APOLOGISTS
April 29th, 2010
9:01 pm
MAN OH MAN,
I thought the Braves could compete but I had no idea they would be this bad. COX SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED AFTER WE WERE SWEPT BY THE CARDINALS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2000 PLAYOFFS. How is it that none of the members of the AJC have a piece on Cox? This is purely POOR COACHING and POOR MANAGEMENT, clearly. How can these guys be this bad? I am 25 years old and this is the worst Braves team I’ve saw. WOW!
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
9:03 pm
TnBrian
The 2000 Furcal Clowned on the bases…And he was starting to get Hot in 2001 before he dislocated his shoulder im June of 2001, which cost him the season….
I know its early but I want Andrew McCutchen…An Of with McCutchen and J-Hey woulde be Nasty!
BRB, Gotta go back to getting Clowned on Facebook by a bunch of Bandwagon Cards fans that I used to go to school/party with…This was their NLCS
Salty Dawg
April 29th, 2010
9:05 pm
I always figure about 1 out of 4 or 5 of our prospects will ever become what we think they will be. Let’s hope some of these guys make me wrong.
True, but I’m sold on Heyward based on what I’ve seen so far and I saw that kid Salcedo hit-WOW! I can’t say I’m sold on Schafer yet, but even if just Heyward and Salcedo do their thing and Prado keeps it up, the future will be bright for the Bravos. As for pitchers, I really think JJ and Hanson are future all-stars. With the two of them out in front of the rotation, we’ll be better off than most teams.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:05 pm
What would it take to pry Kemp from the Dodgers? Probably would never happen…… I can’t believe how they were ripping him a while back.
Escobar, Viscaino and Schafer for Kemp and DeJesus?
Probably never happen.
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
9:09 pm
No Wandy Rodriguez tomorrow (back)
Myers will go instead
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:10 pm
Dawg
Yeah, I am hopeful for Schafer and Milligan and a handful of the pitchers, but until it happens in the bigs, they are still another Wilson Betemit, Andy Marte or Brad Komminsk.
For sure Heyward is the real deal. Let’s hope his buddy Freeman is too!
ALL CAPS COX HATER
25 years old! Dude, you don’t know bad!
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
9:11 pm
TnBrian
“Tomahawkin, the rookie, 2nd year Furcal is the one I was talking about. I was fixing to say earlier that the guy got little man syndrome and wanted to be a HR hitter later on though.”
I call it the Willie Mays Hayes syndrome, Why do so many of our players have to resemble the roles of the guys on Major League?
JC from DR
April 29th, 2010
9:12 pm
Salty Dawg – They could have beaten Halladay if it were’nt for the D behind him. They had a 7 run inning earlier this year. It doesn’t matter if Zambrano is struggling this season, they have faced worst pitchers and not done anything against them… if struggling pitchers was the cased, we should be 14-8. This team, for the last couple of years has had the worst luck i’ve ever seen in sports history to go along with the worst manager (at making in-game desicions that is), For the last couple of years the Braves have played against struggling teams/hitters/pitchers, but somehow, those struggling teams/hitters/pitchers always get their sh!t together while facing the Braves, thats something frustrating! The talent IS there this year, and i hope it surfaces soon!
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
9:12 pm
If we are going against Brett Myers Tomorrow then thats a good thing, Dorn and B-Macc have killed him over his carreer. Plus it’s supposed to be Hot as balls tomorrow which means that the ball will carry. Offense will snap out of it soon….
NOTHING BUT COX APOLOGISTS
April 29th, 2010
9:15 pm
What will the Braves attendance numbers be for Friday, 4/30 VS. Astros?
A) Less than 10,000
B) Less than 15,000
C) Less than 20,000
D) Less than 25,000
E) 4858, Braves boycott begins
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
9:16 pm
I believe that the blog comment about that poor lady that committed suicide on I75 in Atlanta was in such poor taste and just horrible.
I would certainly hope that no one ever became that distraught about the Braves that they could think of something so horrible.
Maybe Bobby’s last year will bring about a change where he actually start to call out poor performance. He spent his career being the player’s coach so now he will be a coach’s coach. LaRussa walked to the mound so much i thought he was the pitching coach. He allows no one player to get in his way. He always said that no one’s job was secure on his roster.
Glaus I think is the downer and other players cant get over how bad he is in the line up. Like a house full of children, if he can get away with it why not me. There could be jealousy since Heyward is getting all the press nationwide and they have worked so hard then why should they do anything. If Chipper and McCann have been the face of the Braves when a rookie comes in and takes the glory they will just let him win the games.
I don’t know, I am just dumbfounded that everybody on the team runs cold at one time. Prado seemed to just fell in the mess with them.
If it is a popularity game in the clubhouse they need to just damned get over it.
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
9:18 pm
TnBrian I wonder what Elton John has to say about the current Braves losing streak?
“It’s like the sun…goin’ down…o-on…meeee!” McMauer Ô
TnBrian tees it up and McMauer Ô/ McFann hits it out of sight! Well done, kiddo.
NOTHING BUT COX APOLOGISTS
April 29th, 2010
9:20 pm
Only a MORON would defend Cox and say he is blameless for this MESS. I don’t HATE ANYONE.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
9:20 pm
Oh yeah, you know a lot about the Old School songs. Good response.
richbrave
April 29th, 2010
9:21 pm
Back from my grandson’s latest bash party, a single and home run in three AB’s. Hey BRAVES sign him up. I’m betting he could bat .160 in the bigs right now.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
9:28 pm
Ode to Wren
You looked straight in my face and lied, straight lied. You saw me wanting to believe. I tried to believe just to believe. But you lied straight lied.
We did not put the best team on the field to win…….
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:29 pm
YELLING COX DISLIKER
Actually, I shouldn’t have assumed you hated BC. But count me as one of the “morons” who will defend Bobby.
Bobby has always been an average strategic manager, not unlike Joe Torre. But he has always been respected by his peers and by his players; and don’t give me the bs “they like him because he is too easy on them”.
For certain, I am not going to change your mind, but I do think that anybody who thinks this is mostly BC’s fault is not a serious student of the game and the Braves.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:30 pm
Boss Lady
For the money he had to work with, he did.
Hindsight is always 20/20, my friend.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
9:31 pm
I can’t believe that everyone is calling out the FO after the Slop additions (excluding Hinske) over the offseason, its coming back to Bite us now
I don’t mind Glaus but he should have never been hitting fifth unless he started the first 15 games like KJ has….
Know What Crazy Is?
April 29th, 2010
9:31 pm
Know the Craziest thing I’ve seen on the blog the last couple of days? The fans screaming for the Braves to fire Cox or TP? Nope. People suggesting that Wren should cut every player the Braves have and start over? Nope. Folks saying that Wren should be fired immediately? Nope.
The craziest thing I’ve seen here are some of the regular folks acting like wacko’s because they think that the blog shouldn’t be so negative! Some suggest shutting the blog down because people are saying so many bad things.
Geez nutjobs, get real! This team just lost 9 in a row and suffered their worst road trip in 60 years!
WE’RE TALKING HISTORICAL SUCKING HERE! HISTORICAL! Yet some here are so hurt and even offended that some would say nasty things about this team.
You don’t have to chime in and curse this team, but some of you are livin’ in a dream world if you think that this team isn’t going to hear it over their play thus far this year.
I bet there will be a few people at the Ted tomorrow night who actually bought tickets so they could go and boo the Braves.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
9:33 pm
On the field is my point.
ryan
April 29th, 2010
9:36 pm
Cox please retire and get ready for the Hall OF Shame.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:38 pm
Know What
I have never advocated shutting down the blog because of the folks I refer to as fair weather fans. A true fan can get down on his team. I have no problem with that.
But there are some “fans” here who I consider to be “fantasy league fans”, as they seem to turn on every change in the wind.
I have been a fan since the Braves came to Atlanta, and while I don’t like the current losing streak, I will endure it because I am a true fan.
Now, go back to your fantasy baseball blog and enjoy the rant.
Reality - 50 game mark
April 29th, 2010
9:39 pm
8-14
3 vs. Astros – 2-1
9 @ Washington, Philly, and Milwaukee – 5-4
7 vs. Arizona, New York, and Cincy 4-3
6 @ Pittsburgh and Florida 4-2
3 vs. Pittsburgh 2-1
Best case scenario is above and that’s 25-25 through 50 games.
How many Braves fans would sign for that at this point?
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
9:39 pm
My tickets are usually $55 or $65 since at my age I need to sit where I can see and possibly be close to concessions. I would just not use them for these games. I would chuck them like I would out to dinner or shopping spree. Once money is spent, It Is Gone, so what does it matter
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:41 pm
ryan
And go back upstairs, your mama is calling you.
Boss Lady
What would you change, if you were making the calls? (personally, I would bring in Hank or Dale or somebody who has hit, and have them travel with the team for a week or two to help Nate, Yunel and the others out some.)
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:42 pm
Reality
I would be good with 500 after 50 games!
The A Bomb
April 29th, 2010
9:43 pm
Someone push the button so I detonate.
First post of 2010. Last post of 2010.
There’s nothing left to say.
5…4…3…2…1…
RJ
April 29th, 2010
9:45 pm
Enter your comments here
RJ
April 29th, 2010
9:45 pm
Frank Wrenn should be fired
Jimmy Joe
April 29th, 2010
9:46 pm
This team is not going 17-11 in the next 28 games. It isn’t happening.
RJ
April 29th, 2010
9:46 pm
Quite frank Im pissed
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
9:47 pm
Wayne in UT
I have been a fan since the Braves came to Atlanta, and while I don’t like the current losing streak, I will endure it because I am a true fan.
Me Too, bro, but I think many of these fans especially the Frontrunners are not used to the braves playing back in time…
I’m just living up to the hope that the 92 Braves were in last til late May, even though that was a different division back then….
Every knows that This blog will be off the Chain, filled with the frontrunners who have already given up if the braves make a surge….
Frogberg
April 29th, 2010
9:48 pm
Can we take Troy Glaus back to the store and get our money back?
J
April 29th, 2010
9:49 pm
Frank Wadell
))))))
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:50 pm
T’hawkin
Amen brother…..
It’s a marathon, not a sprint!
McMauer Ô
April 29th, 2010
9:51 pm
Thanks, Bat! I was pretty proud of it…
MYERS IS GOING TOMORROW?? Seriously??
Oooo…I better not get my hopes up too high…
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
9:52 pm
I suggested Ron Gant and got run off of here. He was a “control hitter” and when you need to roll one down first or down third he could do it effortless. If what he needed to do was hit one right or left in the short left or right he did just that. I think Ron Gant is the one to teach them how to bunt and control what the situation required for that play. BTW. Brian Jordan should just STFU.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:52 pm
Froberg
We didn’t pay much at the store. I think they will say it was one of those “no money back” deals.
To be honest, we took a shot with Glaus. While it so far hasn’t worked out, what if the guy turns it around and hit 250/20/80? Would you be satisfied then? He will get a few more weeks to work it out, then if he is still hitting poorly, Wren will be shopping for a short term replacement.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:54 pm
Boss Lady
Anybody might help. Gant, “the Hammer”, Murph, heck even Biff Pocoroba??
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
9:54 pm
FrogBerg…
I like that Glaus suggestion…but that post should’ve saved for Lowe…
Like I said Before Glaus is off the roids/HGH and is a singles hitter now, he should be batting no higher than fifth. If he was making Lowe’s amt. of money then it would be all hell up in here!
Soph
April 29th, 2010
9:56 pm
Wayne, I may be adopting your Jazz if my Hawks don’t get it together tomorrow vs. the Bucks. So disappointing…
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
9:57 pm
Wayne In UT
T’hawkin
“Amen brother…..
It’s a marathon, not a sprint!”
Co-sign! Even Phillies Fans think its football season with the posts I’ve seen on their board
I’m still Banking on us making the WC and facing the Cards in the NLDS
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
9:58 pm
If I weren’t 2000+ miles away, I would give you a few bucks for those tickets. Heck, I gotta drive to Denver, SF or Phoenix to catch a game. Already missed SF, so I am scheming to figure out how to get to AZ in June or Denver in August…..
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
10:01 pm
My husband and I drove 70 miles to Pocoroba business in Lilburn, Ga. Some years ago it was called “Sausage World” to get the best in Italian sausage and he would leave it so we could get to it and leave him a check (a check?) He owned it but the money was not his priority obviously. Today, on 680 they spoke of Furcal, Grissom and JD Drew who stole bases.
The Braves need some help…..Gant can do it!
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:02 pm
The Stros and the Nats are what we need…
Last year we played like Crap against good teams, maybe we destroy the garbage teams and end up at .500 or above against .500 teams….
BRB gotta watch some old ESPN Playmakers…
I haven’t seen that show in a Gripp! Can’t believe its on Youtube now…
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:04 pm
FEAR – You picked the wrong team to sweep.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:04 pm
Soph
Come on board, all good fans are welcomed. But be aware, there are idiots out here who don’t like Jerry Sloan (sound familiar?) too. I call them the yuppie fans, that can’t appreciate old school b-ball.
Problem is this though: with Okur out for the rest of the playoffs, and Kirilenko being a huge question mark w/ his bummed calf, we might not get past the Lakers in the next round, assuming we can put away the rejuvinated Nuggets.
What I love about this team is the unselfish nature of the players. J-Slo is the reason. He doesn’t take any crap. No thugs on the team. No headbands or any of that other individualistic bs. Just good fundamental hard defense and working the offense.
D-Will might be the best point guard in the league right now, not dissing Nash or Kidd or Paul. When he is on, he runs a tight ship.
We just need 1 or 2 more bodies though.
But, I hope your Hawks get to the next round though. I was a Hawk fan in the days of Sweet Lou Hudson, so I still have a slight pull to the team.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
Tomahawkin – Going to any games this weekend? Im going tomorrow night and watch the streak reach ten.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:06 pm
I just thought of the fact that J-Hey has been going up against Yadier Molina and Carlos Ruiz who are among the top 3 defensive catchers in the NL as to the reason why J-Hey hasn’t been attemping to steal…
Can we bring Otis Nixon back to teach this team how to read pitchers and steal bases…He did it with Deion in 1991-92…This team needs him in an advisory role since the days where the braves had 4-5 20-40 homer hitters in the lineup are long gone…
That will be the best thing about Bobby retiring! No more of that Earl Weaver Station-2-Station crap….
brian
April 29th, 2010
10:09 pm
on a brighter note, I was very impressed with Teheran today. He looked like a man amongst boys. Routinely hit 93 on the radar gun. Great curveball too that often made knees buckle. He struck people out swinging as well as looking (these low A hitters just stared at his curve). 6.1 innings I believe – only 1 earned. 8 strike outs. Of course he took the loss as the Rome Braves were shut out again. This time by a mediocre pitcher. Rose had another couple hits – went the other way with his first hit (he was picked off first that first hit but did have a SB). Bethancourt looked good behind the plate and had a hit
Basically Teheran really stood out. After watching a lot of minor league low A ball he distinctly stands out as a top prospect. Last year I only saw 2 pitchers in his league – Martin Perez (Texas Rangers) and Christian Friedrich (Rockies) – and Teheran’s arm was by far better.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:09 pm
Sucks but Hawks are going to be knocked out tomorrow. The games against Knicks this season gave me no hope for our playoffs. Looks like no more Woodson as well. Have to admit Im very excited for both Braves and Hawks seasons next year.
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
10:10 pm
Please riddle me this: Since Terry Pendleton took over as hitting coach in 2001, is there a hitter that he’s actually improved or been able to help? — Scott
I’m not here to defend Terry, but how ’bout Prado? Compare his minor league and major league numbers. He’d tell you Pendleton has helped him.
Again, you asked for one, and that’s the one that immediately comes to mind.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:13 pm
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
Tomahawkin – Going to any games this weekend? Im going tomorrow night and watch the streak reach ten.
I don’t Plan on it…:Little Andy Goldstein is having a Party tomorrow so I gotta make a Cameo
but there is this cat that I know from the bar that I kick it at who wants to go to a Sat or Sunday game, I will have to see what My Gut Tells me Tomorrow night as wheater or not should I go…
Not to mention There won’t be a lot of College Cats out there this weekend “Bank On It!” Its Finals time
I went to that Ubaldo Jiminez no-no on a Saturday and there were nothing but kids there, I was looking for D.O.B. by the Dugout during BP, so I could sing some old Mariah/New Kids on The Block to aggrevate him (He would’ve known it was me)
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
10:13 pm
I am watching a film right now about the Indian women’s national field hockey team. They are in much worse shape than the Braves, but I know that they will go on to win the world championship. The turn around starts with a brawl that is just getting underway. Perhaps, we should seek one out–get hit by a pitch and empty the dugout to build team solidarity.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:14 pm
Wayne in Utah – Did you live in Atlanta during the 70s Braves baseball? That can be the only reason you have so much patience with present team. Those 70’s teams look like they were really really bad. But in a way, I bet it was cool to go to park and see all the empty bright orange seats, Chief Knockahoma and those cheesy Ted Turner PR stunts. Good times!
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:14 pm
NO MORE BOBBY
Come on, no more of those negative waves, man.
(what movie?)
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
10:16 pm
Dont start with who has been fans longer. We were taken to games all the way back when the only team we had was the Atlanta Crackers at the old Ponce deLeon ballpark and there were no Braves. When they came to town and built “The Atlanta Stadium” (no F Co) and all of the great old players did their jobs. When they changed the stadium it was strictly financial and Fulton County saved our collective behinds.
Fortunately, Ted Turner came along and made a Historial Business. Then all of the scrubs came along and jumped on the bandwagon.
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
10:18 pm
Chak de India
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:19 pm
Funny how a nine game losing streak runs off the dude posting BELIEVE.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:19 pm
NO MORE BOBBY
Was a kid in upstate SC in the 60’s. Saw Bob Gibson throw a gem against the Braves. Saw 8-10 games over a 8 year stretch. (we were poor folk, still are I guess)
Actually, I sneaked in my transistor radio into school during the ‘69 playoffs against the Mets, and heard Hank hit a homer in each losing effort. Hid the earphone wire under my shoulder length hair, and listened during classes.
When I left in ‘74 to go to work for my favorite uncle, I remained a Braves fans, and thanks to Ted and TBS, I saw a lot of games over the years. Became a Giants fan from 75-90, but never loved them like I love the Braves!
I was not so patient when I was younger.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:20 pm
Wayne in Utah – Braves baseball in the 70s was negative. I was just curious if you lived here back then. No offense but you seem old school.
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
10:21 pm
“No offense but you seem old school.”
What constitutes ‘old school’?
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:21 pm
Damn BossLady
You Went Back!!!
Most of The De-Generation X (Young) braves fans don’t know about old Ponce De Leon Park…I’m glad That I majored in Architecture in College and specialized in pro stadiums otherwise I wouldn’t know that…
I have about 10 books of stadiums past and present in my room…Good Toilet Reading
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:22 pm
BossLady
You got me beat all to heck! (is that good, or bad?)
Nothing wrong with getting older though…………beats the heck out of the alternative.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:22 pm
Gotcha! So you grew up in Candlestick watching the Giants. Very cool. I think the old stadiums including Fulton were amazing. I liked how they were about the game and not a million billboards all over the park. I know they had advertisers but nothing like it is today. You cant get hit by a foul ball without it being sponsored by somebody. Ha!
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
10:23 pm
Nah, most of these fans did not live here. Atlanta was a smaller built town inside the perimeter. There was no 285 so the ones outside did not come in here.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:24 pm
NO MORE BOBBY
In the dictionary, under “old school”, there is a big picture of BossLady and a half a dozen others…….I am just a footnote.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:25 pm
Wayne through out a Hawks player name by Sweet Lou something and Ive never heard of the guy. Kinda took that as he was from an earlier era of Atlanta sports.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:25 pm
Moe Berg
The term Old School and Ol School gets flopped around to much…
D.O.B. is like 44 or 45 (guessing) but I wouldn’t consider him old school. Maybe because I know a lot of the songs he post on hear or have heard of them
What gets me is the Youtube kids who call songs from 5 years ago old school…That drives me bananas…
And Dammit just by saying that I have that stupid Hollerback Girl by Fergie, Gawd I hate that song! Her voice is like Nails to a Chalkboard….
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
10:26 pm
Tomahawkin–How would Old School apply to baseball?
Richie
April 29th, 2010
10:26 pm
Does anyone think the Braves should target Kevin Long as their hitting coach next season? His contract is up at season’s end.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
10:27 pm
Stop Wayne, I was only attempting to give Atlanta history. I dont usually get in with this back and forth.
Born in West Atlanta and came from a Big Braves family, Sorry
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:27 pm
NO MORE BOBBY
I hated Candlestick! Cold as heck, and windy. I sat in the upper deck CF seats one summer game, and watched the same damned hotdog wrapper for 9 full innings, hovering about 15 feet above me.
I did get to see the Jerry Reuss no-hitter there in ‘80. The new park in SF is WORLDS better than the “Stick”.
I grew up in SC, and went to CA for Uncle Sugar in 1975.
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
10:28 pm
“Does anyone think the Braves should target Kevin Long as their hitting coach next season? His contract is up at season’s end.”
We will have to have a manager before other coaches have offers. The manager will get to build his own team.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:28 pm
Wayne in Utah – Gotta give me credit man. I have chilled from two years ago on here with my comments. I guess going into a season with no expectations and also knowing its you know who’s last season helps. Still love the Braves and baseball in general but 2011 is going to be an exciting time for this city again if we hire the right manager and staff. Plus all the young talent like 1991 all over again! That’s what gets me excited and in line for season tickets next year. (I passed on them this year)
David O'Brien
April 29th, 2010
10:28 pm
Dave, Doesn’t it get old and boring to create stories to divert our attention from a sorry, mismanaged baseball franchise? K.J. at 10:22
You mean like chronicling the worst trip in team history, writing game stories about nine consecutive losses, about how they are a last-place team in a division where everyone else is .500 or better? Stories about how the offseason pickups (Glaus and Cabrera) have been busts to date, and how McLouth hasn’t been the player the Braves thought they were getting, and has been pretty mediocre for nearly a full year now? Or how a team broadcaster calls out the team’s iconic 3B for not preparing and working enough to stay healthy, and getting said player’s response to those comments? Stories about how the old-school manager wants the rookie phenom to take more pitches, and how the rookie comes back from a day on the bench to hit his fifth homer on a team that has only 13 including none in the past eight games?
Stories like that “divert” you from, well, what?
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:30 pm
BossLady
If you ever get out this way, you gotta look us up……
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:30 pm
“I liked how they were about the game and not a million billboards all over the park.”
Yeah and the Kiddie video boards…
Don’t be suprised if the Jerseys and the ball has ads on them 5 years from now like NASCAR
And I love the old Multipurpose stadiums, especially how they did the electronic configuration switch from BB to FB in Minutes
There are only about 5 of them left in the league now…
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:30 pm
Uncle Sugar – That is a great name for a band!
NO MORE BOBBY
April 29th, 2010
10:32 pm
Have a goodnight you guys and lets go for ten tomorrow!
BELIEVE
(Im still a smart A. That will never change.)
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
10:33 pm
Hey DOB, how do you decide which dumbass question to respond to, god knows you have a lot to choose from ?
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:33 pm
NO MORE BOBBY
I know some of you folks are excited about the prospects of next year getting a new manager. I am curious, but not excited to see Bobby go. I honestly don’t think he is the problem.
I would be willing to bet a couple of bucks, that if he decided to come back next year somewhere else, he would have 3-4 offers to choose from.
Just sayin………
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:34 pm
Yeah, Uncle Sugar was quite a band alright!
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:36 pm
Moe Berg
“Tomahawkin–How would Old School apply to baseball?”
My Bad, I should’ve put OT at the beginning to that post
Brava
April 29th, 2010
10:40 pm
Tomahawkin
Hollerback Girl is by Gwen Stefani, but yeah I agree that it’s an irritating song to listen to.
SeATLite
April 29th, 2010
10:40 pm
Wake Up gets my vote for best first post ever. Agree with all of it, especially the part about Chipper’s “lead by example” style being clearly insufficient. We need a David Justice. I hope Heyward becomes it; in the meantime, Brian McCann has the status to fill in.
All I have to say is, we did have a nasty schedule the first month. As a result, our sked is going to start getting easier. I don’t know if it will be enough to get us back into the think of things, but stranger things have happened.
It certainly can’t get any worse.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:42 pm
Brava
I especially hate that part where she says “This is bananas or whatever that crap she says”
Never been a fan of her or the Black Eyed Peas…
Bat Masterson
April 29th, 2010
10:43 pm
It certainly can’t get any worse.
Don’t tempt the baseball gods. lol
Soph
April 29th, 2010
10:44 pm
That shiz is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:45 pm
Heyward, Prado, Medlen and Escobar (before going down) were some bright spots this afternoon.
What is the story with Escobar? Is he soft? For such a young guy, he seems to miss a lot of games year to year for lesser injuries. Don’t know if he’s ever been on the DL, but he has missed enough games to give me some concern.
If he had a better history of having a more positive disposition, I might not be as concerned.
Love his game when he is on though………
MFin04
April 29th, 2010
10:45 pm
I don’t think Bobby is THE problem with this team, but he is part of the problem. He is over-loyal to a fault, and it has hurt this team over long stretches the past few years. There are parts of Bobby that will be missed, his mismanage of the bullpen won’t be, but every interview of him is always positive and upbeat, and in a game where you fail 70% of the time, I bet its nice to have a manager who is positive.
But this losing streak cannot be pinned on him. I would love to do so, but when you have this many guys hitting .200, it is on them. Especially when the pitching has been relatively great so far.
At some point someone has to take the blame and right the ship, and TP probably should go just to shake things up. See if another hitting coach would help. You have to try something, because switching the lineup up isn’t working.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
10:48 pm
Lay off DOB! He’s one of the only bright spots for the Braves we have left. At least so far.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:50 pm
Soph
“That shiz is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.”
Don’t Do That! lol, It would be my luck that D.O.B.’s next blog page would be named that topic because he knows that song drives me crazy…
I used to hear that crap at parties and it would kill my buzz…
richbrave
April 29th, 2010
10:54 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM:
ROME: JULIO TEHERAN gets the start goes 6.2, gives up ONE EARNED RUN, and gets collared with the loss lowering his record to 1.2. He walks one while striking out eight on four hits, and drops his ERA to 1.03 and his WHIP to 0.84. You have got to be frickin’ kidding me. I think I would hurt some offensive players, seriously. LUIS AVILAN goes1.1 in relief giving up his first earned run of the year on a gopher ball. Another run scores on TWO fielding errors in the third, and there’s your ballgame.
0-7 RISP, 10 SO’s, only 2 BB. And this from a trio of bloated ERA’s in GREENSBORO uni’s. PHEW!!!!!!!
Exempt lead-off CF KYLE ROSE from your wrath. He has a nice evening going 2-3 with a walk. Just what the lead-off man is supposed to do. His season’s average now at .365 in 74 AB’s. RF CORY HARRILCHAK also has a multi-hit night going 2-4.
MYRTLE BEACH: FREE BASEBALL in BIRD-LAND. R.I.P.-SKIP. PELICANS and CANNONS locked up 2-2 in the 10th, but WAIT!! BRAVES reliefer VAN POPE is striving mightily to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory tonight as he hits, walks, and wild pitches enough batters to allow one run to score on a ground force-out. RANDALL DELGADO starts and has a superb performance going 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER with one yard-shot, 2 BB, 7 SO, and is mercifully off the hook for the win or loss. ANGELO PAULINO comes on in relief goes two and gives up nada on two hits and three SO’s. Nice. Then the do-do hits the fan as normally reliable JAYE CHAPMAN allows two earned in 1.0 IP and o-o-o-h, gets a blown save, his first of the year. Followed by VAN POPE who is successful in garnering a loss (0-1).
The offense has one multi-hit player, 1B GERARDO AVILA who goes 2-3 including a yard shot with two RBI and a run scored plus two BB and zero SO. Great work at the plate tonight for AVILA. But the team not so much, 1-9 RISP, 4 BB, 7 SO.
MISSISSIPPI: RICHARD SULLIVAN goes 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, one a round-tripper, 0 BB, and 4 SO, and his record drops to 1-1 and the PEARLS lose tonight 2-1 to JACKSONVILLE. Tough luck son. I’ll handle your case for non-support. Report to Superior Court in the a.m. BRANDON BEACHY finishes up with blanks in the eight, to no avail however as the offense never shows.
The PEARLS are four hit, but SS LUIS BOLIVAR continues his tear through the league going 2-3 tonight and is now at .294 for the season. LF CODY JOHNSON touches them all for the fourth time this year and has a decent night (1-3) with 0 BB, and only 2 SO. His BA now at .231.
Same misery otherwise, 0-3 RISP, 1 BB, 8 SO. Ouch.
GWINNETT: G-BRAVES and RESOP bring home the bacon 6-1 tonight against the TIDES. Another solid line from CHRIS, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 8 SO, ERA 1.40 and WHIP 1.40. Lots of zeros thrown up by MIKE DUNN (H,3) and CRAIG KIMBREL in three innings of excellent relief. Both ERA’s looking strong. DUNN 0.87 with a WHIP of 0.97 and KIMBREL 1.54 with a WHIP of 0.86. Sweet!!
MITCH JONES goes yard (2) with 3 RBI and two players have multi-hit games. 1B FREDDIE FREEMAN has a great night at the plate going 2-2 with an RBI, a run scored, two BB and 0 SO. His average climbs to .250. C CLINT SAMMONS goes 2-4 with two runs scored, but he’s still short of the mendoza line average-wise. An-n-n-d that’s all she wrote folks.
TnBrian
April 29th, 2010
10:54 pm
I’ll still be surprised if Glaus is the only one getting boos from the fans this weekend (lets hope it doesn’t come to that though). That’s weird to me since he hasn’t been THAT bad. My god, Braves fans are weird sometimes. If you have to boo, boo on Nate or even Chipper for cryin out loud.
Myers going instead of that lefty is a good thing, I agree with that. If I remember right, the Rodriguez guy was tough on us last year.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:55 pm
Soph
“That shiz is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.”
And while were at it… You need to hang out with me more often, I will get you onto that old G-Funk rap, ya know, the old stuff that “Mainstream America” used to hate because they didn’t know nothing about it…
You got me into a mood singing the lyrics to that Horeback Girl…
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
10:57 pm
MFin04
Bobby’s loyalty has also been an incredible positive for many players over the years. If you look at his track record, I would dare say it has served him fairly well.
The Braves issue over the past few years has been in some way attributed to the lack of total commitment (read $$) from ownership to do whatever is necessary to improve the team. Now, we are in the same boat as about 80-90 percent of major league baseball; we have a budget.
I would agree with Bobby’s faults, but I think he is not given enough credit for his positives by folks on the blog.
BTW, his loyalty seems to extend to his coaching staff too. I too am not a fan of TP.
Tomahawkin
April 29th, 2010
10:58 pm
TnBrian
I love Chipper but the Roger Dorn Role he has been playing the last 2 weeks deserved to be booed. He isn’t Brett Favre…He can’t lead this team 1/2 injured, we need to DL him NOW and keep him at least at 85 percent by August…I wonder how that hip of his was feeling today because we all saw it on the plays at third that hip injury is disabling the little range he has…
Rob from SC
April 29th, 2010
10:58 pm
Heyward and Hanson will lead an assault on the Astros tomorrow night. We WILL sweep them.
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
11:02 pm
Rob from SC–Let’s set the goal as a series win. A sweep will just be a piece de resistance.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:05 pm
richbrave
Thanks for the most excellent minor league report. You are a gem, my friend!
What is the story with this SS Bolivar? Slick fielder? Hitter?
T’hawkin
If Chipper Dorn is indeed injured, I too would love to see him get the proper DL rest.
TnBrian
Love that optimism!
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:07 pm
Rob in SC
Mistook you for TnBrian. Blame it on advancing age!
Love that optimism. A sweep sounds good to me! Is Mike Hampton pitching?
MFin04
April 29th, 2010
11:07 pm
I agree with others on here that your two leaders on this team are Mac and Chipper and they aren’t setting a great example. Not playing well defensively or offensively.
I just don’t know how long you can stick with TP. Whether or not he is the problem, he is the only person that can be legitimately fired. Perception is key when firing a coach, and it looks as though TP is doing a bad job, whether he is or isn’t I’m sure can be debated. Bottom line is a lot of guys are leaving here and playing well and it reflects badly on TP. When you have the worst team batting average in the NL it reflects badly on the hitting coach.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
11:09 pm
Wayne, my children all went to ski in your area, I think they are crazy.
I wont be there sorry but I did everything I should in my young days and promise to you I did not miss anything. Now, I have Belevedere
The Braves need to release Glaus. That is my thoughts.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:10 pm
“Giant Raccoons Invade Chicago”
Now I have heard it all!
Tennbravefan
April 29th, 2010
11:11 pm
Just for the record, in his last 10 games Freeman is hitting .405 4 HR and 11 RBI. His OPS during that time is over 1.000. Another 10 games like that (and continued terrrible play from Glaus)we may see Freeman in Atl sooner than expected.
MFin04
April 29th, 2010
11:12 pm
I understand the strong negative feelings towards Glaus, but shouldn’t those be directed to other plays playing just as poorly and making more money? I mean if we released everyone who deserved to be released at this point in the season…we’d have Martin Prado and Eric Hinske? I mean even Heyward might get released.
And of all the players who have had bad luck and have hit the ball hard, it has been Glaus. The others have just hit terribly.
Brava
April 29th, 2010
11:12 pm
Maybe I’m delirious, but I think Glaus is going to come around, and soon.
richbrave
April 29th, 2010
11:12 pm
WAYNE in UTAH:
Definitely NOT a slick infielder – 18 games 10, that’s TEN E. Yeooow!!!! 0 HR, 2 3B, 3 2B, .347 OBP, .385 SLG., .732 OPS. Doesn’t sound like a savior for ATLANTA, but stranger things have happened. Folks didn’t give MARTEEEEEEEN a lot of shift either ’till he got to the HOTLANTA.
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
11:13 pm
Wayne in Utah–I don’t know how giant they are, but I have certainly seen raccoons here. None scared me like a skunk a came across in Boston years ago. I was walking home late at night and there was a skunk in front of me on the sidewalk. I stopped, stared as it turned its back to me. I walked through the middle of the road to avoid it.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:13 pm
Belevedere??
I think Glaus gets a couple of more weeks, then he is gone if he doesn’t improve. Just my guess……
Skiing is great here in Utah, lots of dry powder (when you fall down, you don’t get soaked as badly). I haven’t ski’d in more than 25 years though. Bum knee.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
April 29th, 2010
11:15 pm
So much angst, so many targets…but there’s only one villain here…Liberty. When you slash the payroll from 97 mil to 84 mil when everyone else is spending more, it’s tough. Glaus and Cabrera were always going to be a gamble…and it hasn’t paid off. This is a transitional period, and if they’re not willing to spend, it’s going to take awhile.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
11:16 pm
Yeah, STFU too shows that I have some right? right?
wes covington
April 29th, 2010
11:17 pm
Chipper Jones can no longer carry a team like he use too. Troy Glaus doesn’t look like he’ll ever be the same player again while teams are pitching arounf McCann. McLouth, who I like, lets too many called thrird strikes go by and Melky seems to be a 200 ave singles hitter. We need a jump start. Isn’t it time for Freddie Freeman?
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
11:17 pm
Belvedere? Of which one do we speak? The vodka? The estate in Kolkata where the National Library sits? The hotel in Baltimore? The Vatican garden? The palace in Vienna? And I am sure many others?
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:18 pm
Marteen has certainly blossomed since getting to the bigs. I just hope he keeps up the pace. Nothing like a home grown 300+ hitter!
I too hope Glaus picks it up. But then again, I am the eternal optimist.
What I hope MORE is that Chipper picks it up on offense and defense.
Choppinmama
April 29th, 2010
11:18 pm
Whoa…….glad I missed this one today.
Moe Berg: a good fight, that’s what they need to get those competitive juices flowin’ again. Seems like they’ve tried everything else. Can anyone come up with some real or imagined Astro’s slight, disrepectin’ or b!tch slap that we need to address at the next game? Or maybe somebody better do some b!tch slappin’ in our clubhouse?
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
11:18 pm
Hugo Z Hackenbush–How did you decide on this Groucho character? Is ‘A Day at the Races’ your favorite Marx Brothers film? I think ‘Animal Crackers’ is my favorite.
richbrave
April 29th, 2010
11:20 pm
What I hope MORE is that Chipper picks it up on offense and defense
That may be a forlorn hope. More and more, CHIPPER’s looking his age.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
11:20 pm
Glaus looks at the plate, like He feels the pitcher should have grooved him one. So now he looks like the the ajc jagoff he is
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
11:20 pm
Choppinmama–Lance Berkman took out a Pirates pitcher last week. There is so much movement between the Pirates and Atlanta, perhaps we could take offense at that. If not, we should just hit two of the Astros batters in a row, prompting their benches to clear and ours in return. Our brawl and a new start to the season.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:20 pm
Hugo
I am not about to run the numbers, but I dare say the decrease was not as drastic as you state. Besides, don’t you think FW held a little back for a mid season addition or two?
I don’t think money is the problem.
richbrave
April 29th, 2010
11:22 pm
Gotta’ retire like BC’s gonna’ do in……………it looks more and more like regular rather than post-season.
richbrave
April 29th, 2010
11:22 pm
NYTOL.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:23 pm
richbrave
If CJ is NOT hurt, we could be in big trouble. Wonder how serious he was about retiring if he can’t regain the magic?
Either way, I think he is in for a pound this year.
Robards
April 29th, 2010
11:24 pm
The Braves were going to have a stretch where they won 8 out of 22. Most teams go through a slump like that. It looks bad because it’s the first 22. What were the Rockies last year at one point? Something like 20-33, I think. Maybe the Braves will pick up just a couple of games on NL East teams in May? Let’s look at the standings on Memorial Day. My guess is that the Braves are around .500 and about 3 games out.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
11:25 pm
The vodka. I got it from GENUINE the R & B group ya know
BOOTY shakin like Hell yeah they drank it in Brooklyn after a concert ever since
Choppinmama
April 29th, 2010
11:25 pm
Wayne in Utah: Last summer here in FL, we had a houseful of people. About midnight we heard the most awful screaming and yowling coming from outside, between us and the river. A few (B)rave souls went out into the yard and located a couple of raccoons up in the trees, maybe fightin’ over some female. I would have sworn it was a handful of cats mixing it up!
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
11:28 pm
I answered you Moe Berg, but I am not a scholar as yourself. I have been in sales for 24 years and earned my million I hope you too will.
Choppinmama
April 29th, 2010
11:29 pm
Moe: sounds good to me. I nominate Glaus to throw the 1st punch = opponent damage, a Braves rally starter and it will force Bobby to bench him for a number of games due to his suspension by MLB!
MFin04
April 29th, 2010
11:31 pm
You know your team is playing well, when you start talking about skunks and mating raccoons on the team’s blog.
I wonder if the Braves can find a way to get Hinske and Glaus in a game at the same time. I’d like to see Glaus get things going, but also would like to see Hinske get some more at bats. Maybe Hinske in LF?
George from NC
April 29th, 2010
11:31 pm
Braves sweep the ’stros this weekend. It’s time we turn this season around and get things rolling…
N8
April 29th, 2010
11:31 pm
Damn. Not tonight I guess.
I was just hoping I’d log on and see a big headline stating Bobby doesn’t want to go out like this and feels bad for the city, the fans and the players, and he’s hanging em’ up early.
Maybe tomorrow.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:32 pm
Choppinmama
Them ‘coons can be some mean sumbeaches!
Last year about this time, a mama raccoon had some babies in our chimney. At the time, my wife’s sister was living with us, and was pretty sick w/ the Big C. She could no longer go up and down the steps, so we set her up a room in the family room, right by the chimney.
When they are babies, they sound like birds chirping for their mama. After sis passed on, about a month later, I researched how to get rid of chimney raccoons. I read that if they were over 6 weeks old (they had been there 2 months at the time), you could smoke them out.
Well, we tried that one Saturday…….and ended up cooking 4 babies. You could hear ‘em screaming out in the street. Broke my heart, as I am not an animal killer by nature. Ended up with one seriously pizzed off mama raccoon who layed up on our roof for a day, just glaring at us.
We named her “Stephanie” after our middle son’s ex. Now, anytime I see a dead raccoon on the roadside, I text my wife and tell her “another dead Stephanie” today!
Ted
April 29th, 2010
11:35 pm
Braves 13 HR’s this year. Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson 13 HR’s this year.
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:35 pm
N8
Don’t hold your breath, man.
BossLady
Will you adopt me?
brian
April 29th, 2010
11:37 pm
thanks for the update richbrave-
I was at the Rome Brave game. I strongly recommend to any Brave fan (or any baseball fan for that matter) to see Teheran pitch. Amazing for an 18 year old. It was obvious to everybody that he is a step above other pitchers at this level. Hitting as you describe and was very Brave-like. The fielding woes in the 2nd (and 3rd too I think) were terrible – 2nd baseman didn’t get in front of a ball and then didn’t get the glove down. LF booted a ball and then did not hustle to get the ball in allowing the runner to get to 3rd. I was impressed with Bethancourt behind the plate (he also had a hit)
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
11:37 pm
BossLady–I am not much of a scholar and doubt I will make my million (at least not from the day job–maybe one of the stocks I choose will be a winner). I was just pulling different Belvedere’s I have seen out of my —.
Choppinmama–I agree. I think Glaus is a good instigator. Others, who might be good…I think Hinske might work okay. Despite being a brick house, I think Heyward is too polite to inflict much. Escobar has enough attitude (if he he doesn’t worry about his hair), to fight. But otherwise, I don’t see a lot of street fightin’ men. (Wagner might surprise us.)
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
11:37 pm
Oh, we talking crazy. Then Chipper who always look like he just got out of a bar fight, will hit McCann. Since he knows its unfair he hits Prado. Prado hits Infante and Hinske cause they should have his back and I know they will jump on Glaus and McClouth
I am dead drunk and Good Night, Outta here
Choppinmama
April 29th, 2010
11:39 pm
MFin04: No, you read wrong. We were blogging about the skunks and mating raccoon ON the team!
Moe Berg
April 29th, 2010
11:40 pm
BossLady–I am well on my way to joining you in drunkenness (albeit with Johnnie Walker and not Belvedere). Love your scenario of crazy. Good night.
Choppinmama
April 29th, 2010
11:45 pm
Wayne in UT: wow! I will hear those baby ‘coons screaming in my dreams tonite. Thanks for the images this late. Hope poor McFann isn’t reading this late. I think she would be slightly more traumatized than me. Are you still looking over your shoulder for Mrs. Raccoon’s Revenge?
How’d you end up in UT anyhow?
N8
April 29th, 2010
11:46 pm
“Braves 13 HR’s this year. Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson 13 HR’s this year.”
I’m sure if you ask Smoltz, it’s probably because the baseball gods are punishing Wren for the way he treated him and Glavine.
Wayne, I’m not going to. Just as other fans shouldn’t hold theirs waiting for this 25 man roster to turn it around.
Something’s gotta give.
Choppinmama
April 29th, 2010
11:55 pm
I’ll catch up with you all tomorrow. With visions of sugarplum offense and echoes of screaming baby coons dancing in my head, I bid you all adieu.
unbelievable
April 29th, 2010
11:55 pm
The Stros and the Nats are what we need…
Last year we played like Crap against good teams, maybe we destroy the garbage teams and end up at .500 or above against .500 teams…. – tomahawkin
funny, i was just thinking that the Braves were the garbage team
Wayne in Utah
April 29th, 2010
11:56 pm
Choppinmama
Lived in a lot of places since my youth in SC. Uncle Sam took me on an adventure to Calyfornia in the 70’s. Stayed 15 years. Have spent time in Texas (twice), Mississippi, Illinois, SC (three times) and Utah since.
I miss my mama and the south, but I love the west. Moved out for a job, and have been here for 8 years now.
N8
While I am the eternal optimist, I am also a realist, and know that the stars will have to align for the Braves to make it into October.
I think Chipper is going to make or break us this year.
BossLady
April 29th, 2010
11:58 pm
Sure, I will adopt you
TnBrian
April 30th, 2010
12:03 am
Brava, I can see Glaus as a help to us more and more as the season goes on, so long as he stays healthy. As awful as he’s been with guys on base and his low HR so far, I have been impressed with his eye at the plate. His power should come eventually.
Glaus ain’t the BIG problem with this team. I can say that for sure. He hasn’t exactly been a MVP type guy early on, but he shouldn’t get as pointed out like he does around here.
Rob from SC
April 30th, 2010
12:04 am
There is nothing wrong with Chipper Jones. He just old. It is a natural progression. The problem is that Bobby Cox and company think he is still the 2008 Chipper. Heyward needs to be put in the 3 spot and grow. Time for CHipper to remember 1995
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:05 am
N8
We took a flier on Glaus, that so far hasn’t worked out. Chipper has been our team leader for so long, I can’t blame BS/FW for betting on him one more time. Just not sure how that one’s going to work out though.
The fact that everybody except Hinske and Prado are below career norms is puzzling. I was thinking it might be a lack of on-field leadership, but nolie doesn’t think that is a valid proposition.
I like some of our guys like McLouth, Escobar, and Diaz. I think they will rebound. Mac will be OK, as will Heyward.
I just think we have two starting outfielders, and two 4th outfielders. Melky has been a huge disappointment. I never expected much, but I did expect a 250/270 average and some decent D.
Escobar seems to rise when things are going well, but falter when the going gets tough. I think he is a softie. Just a hunch. Pre-madonna. It’s a crime shame too, as he is stellar when he is on.
The pitching is deep enough, and the pen is going to be OK this year, I think.
TP might be a culprit, but it is hard to say. BC would blame himself, as that is the type guy he is. I think he could do better with the lineup, but who am I to say. I would leave Nate in the leadoff spot until he got straightened out. I think we have moved them around too much already.
Schafer might come along and give us some help, as could Freeman; but they are long shots to do so.
I think it comes back to Chipper’s on field performance, in the end. Not sure if the old man can keep it up though. I hope he is hurt, as that would tell me he might get better.
whatchathink?
Brava
April 30th, 2010
12:06 am
This streak of crap ends tomorrow! Braves are coming home to whup some serious As*-tros!
TnBrian
April 30th, 2010
12:06 am
Braves are going to win tomorrow night. Myers? Please … even they can get some runs off him. Hanson will be lights out, just needs to watch his pitch count. The pen is worrying me lately.
Can they blast out 6 wins in a row? They can.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:08 am
BossLady
I used to be a millionaire, until my mother threw away all my old baseball cards when in went in the service!
Now I am a couple hundred-thousandaire……….depending on how the market swings!
MFin04
April 30th, 2010
12:09 am
TnBrian – The pen will tend to give up a lot of runs when they are pitching 8 innings in a game, lol. I think if the starters can get back to going 6 or 7 innings the bullpen will be fine. And it would be nice if the guys in the bullpen could start pitching with a lead, instead of trying to keep the game within 1 or 2 runs for this anemic offense.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:09 am
Does anybody know what happened to Joe Crede? I know he has had a bad back, and is a Boras client. I wonder if he still has anything left in the tank?
Ryan
April 30th, 2010
12:10 am
DOB, I’ve been wondering if the team chemistry that everyone talked about being so strong in Spring Training has dissipated at all with the losing streak? Not that everyone hates each other but losing takes its toll. Do you think it’s a group that will stick together through adversity? Do they have a leader on the team (other than Mr. Cox) that will step up vocally if needed, calling players out for sloppy play?
Rob from SC
April 30th, 2010
12:15 am
What did we do wrong with Kelly
He is hitting leadoff fine in Arizona
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:16 am
TnBrian/MFin04
I am not too worried about the pen, what with Kimbrel, Proctor, Dunn and Resop dealing in Gwinnett. And have you seen Marek’s numbers in Mississippi?
I think the pitching will be OK. But, with injuries, you never know.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:19 am
Rob
I think it’s called the Marteen Prado syndrome. He had someone pushing him, and we didn’t give him a chance after he returned from the DL and the stint in the minors. I think we kept moving him around too much in the order. Shoulda just left him in 1 spot.
Kinda like what is now happening with Mclouth.
MFin04
April 30th, 2010
12:20 am
I wouldn’t change one member of the bullpen right now, and that is saying something. No Acosta, Bennett, Boyer, etc back there. Everyone has done a great job. Sure they are bound to give up some runs here and there, but the starters have to do a better job of going deep into games, and the Braves need to give the bullpen a cushion once in a while.
I just don’t know what in the world you do about this offense. I mean even if the team had a guy like Pujols hitting 4th lets say, its that the other 6 or 7 guys that aren’t hitting. The team as a whole needs to starting hitting better and driving in runs when the opportunities present themselves.
David O'Brien
April 30th, 2010
12:20 am
Couple of quotes from Hinske that I didn’t get in any of my stories today:
“It’s been probably the worst road trip ever. Go home for a couple of games, we’ve got Tommy Hanson on the mound tomorrow, just try to get a win tomorrow. Anything to stop it.”
Asked him if he’s seen any signs at all of the team breaking out of this huge slump:
“I think so,” he said. “We’re starting to swing the bats a little better. For a while there, we weren’t getting any hits or timely hits. We’d get some guys on and hit into a double play or not drive in any runs. I think we’re making strides. Bottom line, we’ve got to play better baseball as a team. That’s it.”
Brava
April 30th, 2010
12:23 am
Wayne, I respectfully disagree. McLouth has had more than enough chances to show that he can not fill the leadoff role this season. Good lord, he is batting .148! Do you really want him leading off? An automatic out? He’s struggled since ST with zero improvement.
nolie
April 30th, 2010
12:23 am
Half the team is hitting under 200 but Chipper is gonna be the one who makes or breaks us?
Wayne, Wayne one player doesn’t make or break a team, that’s why they call it a team, y’know.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
April 30th, 2010
12:26 am
Moe Berg, it was just the first one I thought of. I would give “Horse Feathers” a slight edge over the others, but you can’t really go wrong with any of the first seven.
David O'Brien
April 30th, 2010
12:31 am
The throw that Robinson Cano made tonight … remarkable.
MFin04
April 30th, 2010
12:35 am
Just watched that throw…thats unreal. I don’t know how you get anything on that throw, nevertheless right on target as well!?!
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
12:36 am
it ended the day when we setttled for troy glaus.
how many teams call a press conference for a 1.5 million guy?
it ended when melky was our third outfielder.
it ended when 15 million was tied up in a pitcher that has a 5.79 era.
and his subserviant has has the same.
great pitching right? how many have entered the eighth inning?
zero.
TnBrian
April 30th, 2010
12:36 am
DOB, I saw that from Cano too. Mercy!
I think I ran off that Mets troll from earlier. Only a fool would do what he was doing, especially with that teams track record.
Drawyeh_Nosaj
April 30th, 2010
12:40 am
Someone needs to take one for the team and find a slump-buster.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/iphone/#search/define_json?term=slump%20buster
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:40 am
nolie
I hear ya, I just think that Chipper is the bus driver…….he takes us where we want to go. Right now, he is DUI. A shell of his former self.
Kelly Johnson thoughts:
Last year, after he came back from the DL, he hit (I calculated this on a napkin, so don’t crucify me if I am a tad bit off) 261/362/492 for an ops of approximately 854 from then until the end of the season. Not far from his numbers in 07 and 08. Problem was, we had Prado tearing it up ahead of him.
I love Prado, but was hoping against hope that there was someway to keep KJ on board. I said over the winter that I would not be surprised if KJ had a better year than MP, but I don’t expect him to keep up this sort of pace. Besides, he is streaky as heck.
McLouth WILL come around, unless there is something wrong with him. He is too decent of a player to stay in this drought.
Besides, he only has 50+ AB’s so far.
It’s just perplexing that so many players are doing so poorly at one time.
Heck nolie, you may be right. But Chipper is the straw that stirs the Atlanta drink!
TnBrian
April 30th, 2010
12:41 am
uga-brave, come on. You seriously believe that if these guys had the support from their own offense that 1 or more wouldn’t have gone to the 8th inning or even a complete game yet? Damn, I’m tense just watching them pitch because you can see they’re trying to be perfect out there. If I am, I can’t imagine how they feel.
I hate this line, but it is early. Not even May yet. What could go wrong, has.
And Glaus? He hit 27 bombs and drove in damn near 100 runs in the last year he played healthy which was just the year before. Those are solid numbers, man.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
12:42 am
dob, you watched the series. st. louis trotted out hitters.
we responded with what, jason and the midgets.
sorry guys matt diaz is waht is wrong with the braves.
he does nothing well.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:44 am
uga
Come on, our offense sucks. At least let us think our pitching is decent.
When I talk about our pitching being strong, I am referring to the staff as a whole. Lowe might suck right now, but he has 3 wins. If he won 20 games with a plus 5 era, I wouldn’t complain too loudly.
TnBrian
April 30th, 2010
12:46 am
uga-brave, the whole doom and gloom thing is depressing. Facts are facts and you’re right– this team and Wren’s moves have blown up. But as quick as it got bad it can get good.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
12:46 am
matt diaz defines how bad the braves are. does he hit for power? no
does he run well?
he defines the the diffence. many of you love him. he defines medioricty.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:47 am
306/354/453
We need more guys who do nothing well.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
12:49 am
Matt is a damned good platoon/4th outfielder…….just not so far this year!
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
12:51 am
you morons want to blame cox, serious?
talent, talent.
actually those morons on this current roster should wake up and love the fact they are playing for bobby cox.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
12:56 am
hey all you super genius types realize that none of our great starters have seen the eigth inning?
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
12:59 am
kk, lowe, jjurens are sporting a sweet 5.79 era.
Brava
April 30th, 2010
12:59 am
This is truth. A team can be no stronger than its weakest member. That’s where the fix has to happen.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:00 am
uga
What’s your point? How many major league starters have seen the 8th inning, not named Halladay? Not too darned many to be sure.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:02 am
and Martin Prado is hitting .360……
again, what’s your point?
A lot of Atlanta Braves are struggling so far this year.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:03 am
it is over,…
until till you realize that the man named mcqirk. is a corporate lackey.
Moe Berg
April 30th, 2010
1:06 am
Hugo Z Hackenbush, I have to agree on the first seven. Just always had a soft spot for Captain Spalding, the African explorer.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:06 am
We need a dose of a healthy Jordan Schafer in Atlanta. That puts Melky and Diaz back where they belong, on the bench.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:08 am
wayne, serious.
our pitching was supposed to be our stength?
look around. plenty of pitchers run the tables.
our great pitchers have not seen the eighth inning.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:08 am
I have never seen McQuirk strike out with the bases loaded yet. I don’t think he is the problem.
Our problem is 260 hitters hitting 160, and 300 hitters hitting 220.
Nite all.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:12 am
it is over, sorry wayne. color it up. even if the averages come up it is over.
no way back. no power.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:13 am
it is over wayne, it will get worse.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:15 am
Plenty of pitchers run the tables……damn uga, your reliving the 60’s or the 70’s.
Phil Niekro retired a long time ago.
In 2009, Halladay completed 9 games. Next closest was Greinke with 6. After that it was a handful with 4.
Yes, a lot of guys are running the tables for sure.
You been drinking too much tonight, my friend.
MFin04
April 30th, 2010
1:16 am
I must have not seen the same Jordan Schafer that some people on here saw. I saw the one that couldn’t field his position and struck out almost every at bat? Is there another Jordan Schafer out there?!?
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:18 am
I don’t necessarily think we will have a great year, but it sure as heck ain’t over. Not with our arms. Unless 2-3 guys get hurt.
We will finish over .500 for the year. Power or no power.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:18 am
wayne, hate to break the news, lowe and kawkami dont miss bats.
neither does hudson.
the latter hanson and jjj, are our hope.
different year, same story
April 30th, 2010
1:21 am
So we’re hoping that Schafer is going to be an upgrade? This team really has hit rock bottom.
BlueDevilBrave
April 30th, 2010
1:21 am
I’m so glad everybody criticized Bobby for loving KJo so much. He’s really proving that he couldn’t hit in the majors at all. Bobby is such a HORRIBLE hof manager that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about? Kelly seems to be talking plenty in Arizona. He’s going to outhomer everyone on our team this year. Awesome….
jed
April 30th, 2010
1:22 am
it’s a mess, i’ll tell you that much. never seen anything like it. all you can do is wait and see which players finally decide to show up this season, and which arent gonna make it. you’ve got to play them until june to make that determination. by which point, yes, we could be toast. gotta figure this losing skid is the result of the mets getting hot, the cards being a good team, and us just misfiring left and right, and that that misfiring will right itself soon enough. and if it doesnt? if glaus, melky, mclouth turn out to be total busts? well, there’s nothing you can do about it until june at the earliest anyway, b/c no team’s gonna be making trades. so just stretch yourself out on the ol’ rack and enjoy the clusterschmuck.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:24 am
MFin04
I saw the guy who K’d a lot. I also saw the guy who hit 2 dingers in the first series, before getting hurt.
And I for damned sure didn’t see the Schafer who couldn’t field his position. Are you sure you weren’t watching Garret Anderson or Gregor Blanco.
The kid was doing a pretty decent job in CF before being sent down.
Without a doubt, he K’d a lot though. I will give you that. But heck, so has Heyward so far. Heyward has 25 in 71 AB’s. Schafer had 63 in 167 AB’s. Not too much of a difference.
Not saying Schafer will ever be a decent regular, but I am not about to write him off after an injury plagued first year. Kid just looks like a ballplayer to me.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:27 am
so in the infinite wisdom we did not need a leadoff like johny damon.
well that worked.
smilin frank, gave us glaus.
he of 90 at bats and 3 extra base hits.
BlueDevilBrave
April 30th, 2010
1:30 am
Go Braves!!! Woohoo. 9 game streak! Oh wait… it’s a losing streak….
MFin04
April 30th, 2010
1:31 am
Made a lot of “errors” in CF. Couldn’t track balls well, lots of goofy plays. Lots of outs turned into doubles and triples. He misplayed a lot of balls. And the two homers were more of a curse than a gift. After hitting those he ended up striking out all the time looking to crush every pitch. He is a long way from the majors after his injuries.
Schafer had lots of terrible at bats while Heyward has had a lot of great at bats. Thats the difference between a Rookie of the Year and a guy who won’t be in the Bigs for at least a year or two. He definitely would not be an asset for this years team. Maybe in the future, but I’d like to see him get some at bats in the minors before we proclaim him anything but a minor leaguer.
If he could get things together, I like his speed at the top of the order and I think he probably can play a great CF once he gets used to judging balls hit in MLB parks.
All that being said….if this team ends up 60-102, I’ll still watch just to see Heyward play. The kid really is a joy to watch at the plate. Very patient and has great at bats. The hits and rbis will come.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:32 am
Now exactly how does missing bats equate to wins and losses? Last I remembered, Odalis Perez missed a lot of bats. Jake Peavy misses a lot of bats too.
Kawakami K’d about 100+ in 150 innings. Did he not miss enough bats with his 3.86 ERA?
Dan in NJ
April 30th, 2010
1:34 am
Wainwright beats Braves, praises Cox, for the lineup he ran out there tonight, AND for shipping him out to a better team.
BlueDevilBrave
April 30th, 2010
1:34 am
Break your wrist, don’t tell anybody about it, and then see how well you bat in the majors. You guys are so fickle.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:37 am
so a twenty year old has five dingers.
put a twinkie on the plate an our all star catcher might respond.
Moe Berg
April 30th, 2010
1:37 am
In a Panglossian, Leibnizian ‘best of all possible worlds’, what do we expect? Seriously. Win every series? Entirely unrealistic. Lose every series? Equally unrealistic. So somewhere in between. Where in the middle between winning every series and losing every series, do we hope to perform. The last two series are not acceptable. Then, what is?
BlueDevilBrave
April 30th, 2010
1:40 am
Everybody is so high on Heyward (don’t get me wrong, I am too), but you really can’t say anything until you see Schafer with a real chance. Not a PED chance or a broken wrist chance or an immature flashy youngun’ chance. A legit chance to prove himself.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:41 am
MFin04
Damn, your hard on a guy who got hurt a few games into the year. I don’t know if that was a big reason he stunk it up at the plate. But you are WAY over exaggerating the defensive misplays. There might have been a few, but not anything like you are carrying on about.
Most players have to adjust to playing in the majors. Heyward has misplayed a couple of balls, as I remember. If he plays major league ball, I think Schafer will end up being the better defensive outfieler.
And that’s not to take away anything from Heyward, he is special.
So, you can get all sideways about Schafer and talk a bunch of crap that ain’t all true, or you can give the kid a chance later this year. I don’t think anybody is counting on him for anything. Wishful thinking on my part. But hey, I am the optimist.
You seem to be more interested in looking to rip someone if they don’t exceed all initial expectations.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:42 am
never seen a catcher that is terrified of the plate.
swipe tags, always.
mike scciosia, is embarassed.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:43 am
BlueDevil
And see, I thought all Blue Devil folk were to be disliked!!!
(Clemson Tiger alumni here!)
BlueDevilBrave
April 30th, 2010
1:44 am
Thank you Wayne. At least somebody thinks the same as I do. He hasn’t even had a real chance to prove himself. Scafer WAS everybody’s Heyward last year….
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:44 am
it is over, smilin frank. smilin frank.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:46 am
uga
Besides Hanson and Jurrjens, do you like anybody on the Braves team?
Nobody has proclaimed McCann as a gold glove defender. Dude calls a good game, and is a very good major league hitter. I guess you’d rather us deal him and keep Ross behind the plate?
Again, I think maybe you’ve had enough to drink tonight……just wondering.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:47 am
Blue Devil
Hey, thank you. Kid hasn’t had a real shot yet, and some folks are ready to write him off. Yes, I’m a homer and damned proud of it.
Nite folks. (I think I said that once already)
BlueDevilBrave
April 30th, 2010
1:48 am
Haha Wayne… don’t worry I’m from SC (unfortunately brought up a USC fan) and NEVER in my life thought I’d end up at a place like Duke. But I’m here and getting an education and dealing with it somehow.
TnBrian
April 30th, 2010
1:50 am
uga, agreed, Mac ain’t a good catcher. About as bad as you can get blocking the plate. His throwing arm is strong with not much accuracy. He’s been everything but clutch for us this year and stunk many a rally’s himself at the plate. He’s another culprit to the team slump going on, no doubt about that.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:50 am
wayne, stupid is as stupid does.
but the eye test stinks. zero talent i some serious positions.
first base, left field.
Youngerthan Thatnow
April 30th, 2010
1:51 am
Wayne in Utah… I had a twin and we were separated at birth… might you be him?!? LOL! Just joking on that, but you make a lot of sense to me. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a post of mine… I enjoy DOB’s behind the scenes info, enjoy good and realistic debate and recognize that everyone is entitled to their opinion… but if you’ll look back at them, we are close in our thoughts about this team. And your earlier post about the ‘69 playoffs and the radio, I could have written a lot of that myself. I’m just not the type to go back and forth with some of these pundits… many who should have turned in many drinks ago.
Keep the faith… this too shall pass!
GO BRAVES!
TnBrian
April 30th, 2010
1:53 am
Oh, Mike Scioscia should be embarrassed … all the great teams he’s had and he’s pulled more Cox’s than anybody else. First Round Playoff Knockouts!
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:53 am
wayne, you clemson guy, i feel for bobby cox. he has crap.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
1:54 am
Hang in there Blue. There is still hope for ya!
( I grew tired of hearing about how great Duke was from my wife’s half sister about 25 years ago, so I have been marred since.)
Why don’t we deal McCann away for a prospect and a bag of balls…….no good can’t block the plate all star catcher! How dare him have a slump!
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
1:58 am
love the big mac eater, but he is terrified of blocking the plate.
he loves the swipe tag.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:00 am
Younger
I have been on for a few years now, but I have tuned out as more dip sheets have joined the blog. My appearances are more rare than before.
Besides, I ticked off a lot of my blog “friends” back about 5-6 months ago with some political posts………….not a smart thing to do. So, I come on and read a lot more than I post.
I think that you have to live through the good and the bad to appreciate what we have in our team sometimes. I am puzzled at the number of folks who don’t see the brilliance in Bobby Cox.
I refer to them as the fantasy baseball fans. What have you done for me in this inning kinda folks.
I will look for you in the future. Do you always post under this moniker?
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:01 am
uga
There are about 25+ teams in baseball that would love to have our catching problem.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:02 am
I think some home cooking and Houston Astros are just what the doctor ordered for this sick team.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
2:04 am
tn brian, if you knew how to drop the the tools of ignorance.
Youngerthan Thatnow
April 30th, 2010
2:06 am
I agree Wayne… and it’s a reflection of life these days… the “what have you done for me lately” types.
Yeah… I always post with this moniker… here and occasionally on Bradley’s column as well.
I think our main difference is you were in upstate SC… me in south Georgia. But I did work that territory for a few months for a rep who was down and ill for a while. Long ride for me but I was glad to help out.
I’ll keep an eye open for ya from here out…
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
2:07 am
left foot, toe out.
Youngerthan Thatnow
April 30th, 2010
2:09 am
And… I’m not on a lot either, and usually it’s at odd hours… it’s 2:08 AM here in the flatlands.
I do have another life… not much to some, but me and mama are having fun in our empty nest.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
2:14 am
wayne, i would take mauer, the molina brothers, and posada.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:15 am
Younger
Hey, you should see my territory……Utah, Idaho and half of Wyoming. Used to cover 3/4 of Nevada.
A few years back, I was a sales trainer and my territory was everything Colorado and west. I was on the road 3/4 time, but dang the eating was excellent!
For a year, I covered Montana, western Wyoming and Washington state…..out of Utah. That year mama didn’t see me much at all.
Still have a senior in the house, and a son and daughter in law in the basement. I think I might be parenting until the day I die.
Later…
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:18 am
Mauer yes, Molina’s maybe. Posada…..too old. Maybe Wieters?
But the thing is this, what do you do with Mac? At first, he is less valuable. Do you hold him until a stud catcher develops, and then move him to first, or deal him? He might best end up in the AL, though I dread the thought of that day.
Play The Youth!
April 30th, 2010
2:20 am
PLAY THE YOUTH!
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
2:21 am
wayne, good luck jazz, the braves are done.
dont come back from this. said it when they signed glaus.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:21 am
In baseball these days, you can’t carry more than 1 or 2 weak links, if you expect to compete. Lots of teams have a weak catcher. With Mac, we have the luxury of having a strong bat at the C position.
Makes it easier to carry a weak corner outfieler or corner infielder.
I remember the day when WS teams would have 2-3 weak hitting players at key positions. Remember the Miracle Mets? And the O’s of the late 60’s and early 70’s. Andy Etchebarren and Mark Belanger! Not today!
Youngerthan Thatnow
April 30th, 2010
2:22 am
I always heard that when the left that they were coming back… and bringing more with them!
Guess it’s true…
I changed planes in SLC once on our way to Tahoe… I think we lapped the lake like cars at Daytona for an hour and I was on the ground… maybe 30 minutes.
I think the kid from Athens is…
1) slipped downstairs after mommy and daddy fell asleep
OR
2) just getting in from a frat party where he leaned to heavy into the keg
I’m out tonight as well… til then… have a good one.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:23 am
PLAY THE YOUTH
If it is OK with you, can we wait until June or July and we are truly out of it first? To be honest, if we are playing .400 ball in mid June, I will agree with you.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:26 am
uga
Bobby Cox is the second best manager/coach today……J-Slo of the Jazz is the best, hands down. Dude and I are brothers from a different mother!
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:26 am
Enter your comments here
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:27 am
Michael Jordan pushed off!
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
2:28 am
wayne, until he he takes condtioning serious he is a battery.
he cant get around a high fastball.
he gets jammed up the middle. he can drop the bat. on the low stuff.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
2:32 am
wayne, nice bantering with you.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:36 am
And Dick Bavetta’s calling off Howard Eisley’s 3 pointer (that definitely HAD left his hands before the shot clock expired) also cost us 3 points.
Jordan pushed off.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:37 am
uga
Hey, your ok too, no matter what your mama says!
braves70
April 30th, 2010
2:39 am
With the Dodgers equal to the Braves with both being 8-14, could it be a signal that older managers like Bobby Cox and Joe Torre simply do not fit in the modern version of Baseball?
uga-brave
April 30th, 2010
2:41 am
wayne, nice to see a friend. we always banter, but you always have my respect. good night.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:53 am
braves70
Are you kidding? What does age have to do with anything? The last time I looked, the rules of the game were the same as they were 30 years ago, and neither manager has had to take a swing or throw a pitch for their respective teams.
Exactly what is “modern” about baseball? The advertisments in the parks? The stadiums are newer? The players still run, hit and throw the ball.
That is so silly, it is almost funny.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:53 am
uga
take it easy friend……..
Mitchell
April 30th, 2010
2:56 am
So I just spent the day on the set of the what will be the Farrelly brothers newest film, in Norcross. If you ever want to or are forced to spend any time in Norcross, that would be the way to go btw.
Owen Wilson and SNL’s Jason Sudeikis are both in it and they are total douches who don’t talk to anybody or associate with the crew unless it is somehow called for.
You know who’s not a douche? Stephen Merchant, creator of the Office; JB Smoove who’s on Curb Your Enthusiasm; Larry Joe Campbell of TV’s According to Jim and well, the Farrelly brothers themselves who some of you might know as the directors of There’s Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber etc.
And last but not least, Jenna Fischer (aka Pam Beesly), who I talked to and joked around with and who I’m now officially in love with. As if I wasn’t before.
So anyway, not trying to show off or anything. Just wanted to say though before I go that, yeah, I could care less about the Braves at this point. Or is it couldn’t care less?
One or the other.
I honestly don’t know what they could do from here onward that would make me give a **** about them at this point. I want to give a **** but I don’t.
It’s a first.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
2:56 am
Utah Jazz over the Nuggets tonight! The Delta Center (er, Energy Solutions Arena) is one of the loudest places to play.
I was there last Friday night with our crew. WOW!
I wish I had the cash to go tomorrow night, but will enjoy it from the living room couch instead.
Best sign of the night at Sunday night’s game: “The Jazz eat McNuggets for breakfast, with Carmelo Sauce on top!”
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
3:02 am
Mitchell
I only recognized one of those names you threw out….Owen Wilson. Just goes to show I am an old foggie, I guess.
Hey, just enjoy the game of baseball. Give it some time. The Braves will right the ship in due time. We have a decent team, just struggling mightily right now.
Sounds like a fun day for you.
This chick, Jenna Fischer. Is she truly a hottie? I will go now and google her.
I still love to look at the pretty girls, but Ms. Wayne still has me smitten after 34 years!
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
3:04 am
Yeah, she’s pretty hot. (kinda like I envision all the blog ladies……..definitely all beauties, plus big sports fans!!)
(a little blog sucking up)
Mitchell
April 30th, 2010
3:16 am
Wayne, I don’t blame you for not knowing those people but what you should know is that they are all very cool, down to earth people and are very gracious.
Owen Wilson though really seems like an @hole. I was not surprised to observe that though. I used to be a big fan of his.
Used to.
Jenna Fischer is really nice though for lack of a much better word. I had my camera there and I ended up having my picture taken with her which I would never have asked to do and did not really want to do. I was trying to downplay being around all these people who I’m big fans of. I didn’t want to take pictures with them and get autographs like some groupie but it happened anyway.
Oh well. What’re you gonna do?
Mitchell
April 30th, 2010
3:18 am
“I was trying to downplay being around all these people who I’m big fans of.”
Perhaps “A big fan of” would have been better.
Wayne in Utah
April 30th, 2010
3:23 am
Yeah, I hear what your saying. You were kinda jazzed about being around them, but wanted to be cool about it too.
That’s the way most ladies are around me……it’s so hard for them to keep their cool when they see what an incredible hunk of masculinity I am. Then when they realize I am totally off the market, it is usually a downer for them.
I try to always let them down easy!
Now, if you have a moment or two, I have a bridge I wonder if you’d be interested in??
G’nite!!
njbraves
April 30th, 2010
3:52 am
Can’t believe I’m gonna say this, but I love Hinske.
Braveheart
April 30th, 2010
3:53 am
Wayne, you’re a sick man killing those baby coons that way. You might be another Dahmer.