McLouth, Jones out of lineup, Braves go for series vs. Marlins
(Staff writer Carroll Rogers is filling in for David O’Brien this series.)
Miami – So welcome to the rubber match today, oh wait, rubber game, of the Marlins-Braves series where we will surely see something crazy, given the results of the first two games in this series.
I never really thought of this place as a big hitter’s park but after the last two nights here, I’m changing my tune. As Bobby Cox explained….
“It’s like pulling teeth for both teams, trying to get a win,” he said. “It’s hard. The ball goes pretty good here, No. 1 and it’s a pretty fast infield and it’s a pretty good hitters’ ballpark. Both teams have pretty dang good hitting and they can come back.”
I know the left field fence looks short and inviting, there’s that nook in left center field that can send balls all over the plate at funny angles for extra bases and judging by where Dan Uggla had Brian McCann played at one point last night – shallow left field – I gather the infield is fast.
So what’s in store today with Jair Jurrjens vs. Chris Volstad? You have to like the Braves chances given what Jurrjens has done since his return. He’s 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA in four starts since his two-month DL stint with a hamstring strain. He’s allowed more than one run in only one of those outings – he gave up three to the Phillies on July 6.
Volstad is 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA in four career starts against the Braves. Three of them have been quality starts until his outing against them last August, when he gave up three runs in four innings of a loss, including a pair of homers.
Volstad was just called up from Triple-A New Orleans to replace Nate Robertson, who got designed for assignment after he gave up eight runs in a 10-0 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday. Volstad, who is 6-foot-8 (hey I forgot he was so tall), gave up 13 hits in 17 innings during his three-start stint in Triple-A but only six earned runs. He went 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA.
Jones, McLouth out of the lineup
Let me get to that quickly here. Looks that Brooks Conrad got himself a start at third base today after his pinch hit grand slam. Chipper Jones gets the day off. Nate McLouth is also out of the lineup. He’s 1-for-12 in his return from the disabled list, including 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in the last two nights. Here goes:
1. Prado 2B
2. Heyward RF
3. Hinske LF
4. McCann C
5. Glaus 1B
6. Gonzalez SS
7. Conrad 3B
8. Cabrera CF
9. Jurrjens P
BMac and the Hit by pitch
A friend of mine, and he knows who he is, made a nice point to me last night about how important that hit-by-pitch was that McCann drew to load the bases in the eight-run eighth inning. How by leaning in (hey, just a tad) to take a breaking ball off the back of the arm from left-hander Taylor Tankersley, McCann ended the night for the sole left-hander in the Marlins’ bullpen and set things up nicely for the Braves.
That left 21-year-old Juan Marinez in with the bases loaded to face Troy Glaus (who walked) and then the left-handed hitting Eric Hinske, who sent a two-run, game-tying single through the right side of the infield.
McCann has been a real headache for the lefty Tankersley. He hit a three-run home run off him to tie the game (momentarily) Friday night on the first home run Tankersley had given up to a lefty all season. In fact it was the first home run he’d given up to a lefty since 2007. He was out all 2009 season (stress fracture in his elbow), but Tankersley had not given up a homer to a lefty in 25 at-bats in 2008 or 22 this season. He’s now allowed lefties only a .120 average (3-for-25) this season.
Minor update
Speaking of lefties, Mike Minor took his first loss for Gwinnett last night, but still had a quality start in the 3-2 loss to Louisville. He gave up four hits and three earned runs in six innings with seven strikeouts. That makes him 3-1 now with a 2.55 ERA in four starts in Triple-A. Not too shabby.
Neither is this streak for Stephen Marek. He pitched a scoreless ninth last night to extend his scoreless streak to 22 innings. He’s got an 0.84 ERA in 31 games for Gwinnett, striking out 36 in 32 innings, while walking 11.
Huh?
Do you know how when you make travel plans for something and then you get to the actual date, you wonder how you’re really going to pull it off and why you arranged things as you did? Well today, I’d need some help with the weather and the pace of the game to make a flight I scheduled for tonight. For some reason, when I made my plans, I thought it would be a good idea to break up my trip to DC (yes, you’ll be with me for three more games on this trip) since I had to fly through Atlanta anyway, and sleep in my own bed tonight, water my geraniums, do a little laundry.
My point is that if I actually have a chance to make my flight, things will be really rushed after the game and I might not be able to post postgame quotes right away, just the gamer and notes. But you have my word, I’ll get them up tonight at some point.
If the quotes are up soon after the game, that probably means I’m spending another night in South Florida. Probably should have to begin with. OK, enjoy the game folks.
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5,366 comments Add your comment
I cant take it anymore
July 25th, 2010
10:52 am
me?
Bravo
July 25th, 2010
10:52 am
Top 5 baby!
rharling
July 25th, 2010
10:52 am
Thanks for the new blog Carroll.
curtis jones
July 25th, 2010
10:54 am
Great Sunday lineup! We’ve got production in the 3-hole, some defense at 3rd base, some pop in the 7-8 spots, and McLouth hopefully tied to a chair in the locker toom.
Boo-Boo AKA Tomahawkin
July 25th, 2010
10:56 am
I’m Not First but I’m “On Deck!”
Randy
July 25th, 2010
10:57 am
Winning lineup today. My only tweak would be to have Gonzales and Hinske flipped in the batting order.
And McLouth still sucks. One hit since his glorious return…only because his bat broke or it would have been another “can of corn” fly ball OUT. And in yesterday’s game, with a runner in scoring position with one out, how the hell can he TAKE a strike three pitch with the pitcher due up next. Did anyone notice his totally confused, deer-in-headlights look as he walked back to the bench. What a waste of a roster spot.
Go Braves!!!
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
10:57 am
Apparently they tied Nate to a chair in the basement next to Mitchell.
Randy
July 25th, 2010
10:58 am
If anyone hears the Bravo’s run out of rope, I will gladly run out to Home Depot and buy more!!!
Steve from OH
July 25th, 2010
10:59 am
Nice blog, Carroll! Good read.
As far as in house options go I’m beginning to believe Gregor may be our best everyday CF. He plays acceptable defense and isn’t an automatic out
Me too. Gets on base more than either Melky or Nate, and really, coupling his on-base ability with his defense (which is a little above average, but above both Nate and Melky) he is the best candidate for an everyday spot. Long-term I like him a lot as a 4th OF type of player, but right now I think we gotta play the man. Nate has maybe got one or two more starts and I’m betting he’s done one way or the other.
Barack Obama
July 25th, 2010
11:00 am
Has anyone seen my jeans? i look so good in them and want to be ready to throw out the first pitch at Turner Field for game 1 of the World Series.
Boo-Boo AKA Tomahawkin
July 25th, 2010
11:00 am
Early Morning Humor
Beavis and Butt-head’s Suckiest Music Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N08MXHtHu1w&videos=Ta56w9R3D2g
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:00 am
Randy – wWth a hangman’s noose at the end?
curtis jones
July 25th, 2010
11:00 am
Two of the loneliest guys in the clubhouse: Chino Cadahia, because he doesn’t have to be a babysitter any more, and Kawakami’s interpreter, because no one ever talks to him. In fact I think he may be hidden in the Federal Witness Protection Program.
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:01 am
Steve-Get real.
curtis jones
July 25th, 2010
11:02 am
Regarding Kawakami and McLouth, I mean I hate to be greedy, but it would be nice to have 25 major leaguers on the roster.
McDawgsBreggy
July 25th, 2010
11:02 am
Well LLLicky Boobby
curtis jones
July 25th, 2010
11:03 am
Kawakami struggled last week on 20 days rest, so the HOF manager is giving him 30 this time.
Steve from OH
July 25th, 2010
11:03 am
Whaddya mean, Lew?
mike
July 25th, 2010
11:03 am
3 hours watching the game, plus several hours during the day reading about the previous/next game. I am much more productive when the Braves are out of it…
I would honestly feel better if Francisco Cabrera was at bat rather than Nate.
braveslifer
July 25th, 2010
11:03 am
Great blog
Greg White
July 25th, 2010
11:04 am
Put me in coach! Look at me, I can be… centerfield.
Chip's Mama
July 25th, 2010
11:06 am
Randy @ 1057am….What are you doing, using my boy’s patented “can of corn” reference.
The next thing you know, you’ll be using his “the batter chased home the runner”.
.588
July 25th, 2010
11:06 am
I prepared grilled fish (Salmon) last night. Little did I know how prophetic that delicious meal would be…..for the first few innings anyway.
His name is……….Brooks………..CONRAD!
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:07 am
At this point in time, likely I could hit better than Nate., even with a broken leg. Melky is hardly a superstar, but has hit a steady .260 (minus April, so the rest of the season is + .260) and played a decent CF.
Blanco has done a fine job (in an extremely limited capacity) since called up (but had tailed off considerably). However, the Dude is not a full time option, has even less power than Melky and when given the chance to play full time, hit even less than Melky is at the present time.
Yet another case of a scrub filling in and having a few good games, but hardly likely to sustain the performance. Better than Nate? Who isn’t. Face Facts. Blanco just isn’t much more than he’s ever been. Enjoy what he’s shown. Full time play will witness the disappearance of those few games.
Again – McSheeeeeeeeeesh.
Delbert D.
July 25th, 2010
11:07 am
That’s the lineup we need.
Rodney Derrick
July 25th, 2010
11:08 am
Hey Carroll– Perhaps you will get the same choice I had last Monday in the Fort Lauderdale airport when returning through Atlanta for Durham from diving in Key Largo on a long weekend– a Delta $400 voucher toward future travel. Sad to say I turned it down as I had to be in Durham by early morning the next day and that was impossible. Does AJC let you keep frequent flyer points and/or bump vouchers, which are two of the redeeming aspects of the negative flying experiences these days?
Barack Obama
July 25th, 2010
11:08 am
I need a sushi chef- is Kawakami busy?
Steve from OH
July 25th, 2010
11:10 am
Blanco just isn’t much more than he’s ever been.
I agree wholeheartedly with this. However, I think that he brings more overall to the table than Melky. Runs better, plays better D, gets on base more. Three good core qualities to have in an up-the-middle player, especially when he’s just a fill-in. Like I said, long-term he’s a 4th OF or even less, but right now, I think he’s our best option.
Just not a Melky fan, sorry.
McDawgsBreggy
July 25th, 2010
11:10 am
siskel – shouldn’t you be preaching in CHURCH right now
Chip's Mama
July 25th, 2010
11:10 am
siskel@ 1107……you say that like going raw is a bad thing.
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:10 am
siskel-Yeah, Chipper gave him the Name because he hits with no gloves. Not really that big a deal and I’m guessing they know exactly what the implications are.
mike
July 25th, 2010
11:11 am
I would feel better with Rufino Linares at bat than Nate.
DiamondbackMac
July 25th, 2010
11:12 am
Funny story from the Ashville Citizen-Times:
Want that signed, you jerk?
Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy had an amusing tidbit about the late Ted Williams in a column about how today’s athletes are too chummy. Williams, who played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox, is in the Hall of Fame.
Here’s what Shaugnessy wrote:
“There’s a great old tale about an exchange between Ted Williams and a kid pitcher from the Washington Senators named Pedro Ramos. In one of his first games in the bigs, Ramos struck out Williams. Ramos saved the baseball and a few days later went over to the Sox dugout to ask Williams if he would sign the ball for him.
“The Splendid Splinter unloaded on Ramos with both barrels, signed the ball and told him to take a hike. A few weeks later, Williams hit a prodigious homer off Ramos, and as he was rounding first base hollered, ‘I’ll sign that (ball), too, if you can ever find it!’”
Donny Corleone
July 25th, 2010
11:13 am
Yeah. Ted was as cold then as he is now.
Jeff321
July 25th, 2010
11:13 am
For the older generation that may not know exactly what it means to go “raw dog”, its a reference to having sex without a condom, same thing as going bareback.
Sounds sorta like people calling themselves “tea baggers” with no idea what it actually means.
.588
July 25th, 2010
11:13 am
…For the older generation that may not know exactly what it means to go “raw dog”, its a reference to having sex without a condom…. – siskel _god
Really?
I did not know that…..really, I didn’t.
Blame it on Chipper then, he’s the one who stuck him with it.
Braveheart
July 25th, 2010
11:13 am
The Big Unit? Was that offensive to you too? Going deep into the hole? Offensive as well? Jerking one? Offensive?
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:14 am
Steve-Melky fan or not, don’t buy into the prevailing (for as long as I’ve been here) Fantasy Baseball philosophy that claims anyone with a five game hot streak should start over anyone else. That road leads to nothing bu total disappointment. I’ll take steady anyday over a few good games by a scrub.
BTW-Cornerstone is apparently working on a new CD- The singer has recently played with a band I need to check out, but which both of us should like – Tank – a Next Wave of European Metal band
61 year Braves Fan
July 25th, 2010
11:14 am
I love Greg White’s comment. I think John Fogerty could hit better than McL-OUT. Time to replace
Nate, KK, & Chavez on the roster with Blanco, Steven Marek, & Mike Minor. Can’t understand why
Cox has been playing McL-Out when an all star like Infante sits on the bench.
.588
July 25th, 2010
11:14 am
I know what tea-bagging is though.
Chip's Mama
July 25th, 2010
11:14 am
That is, a great story.
Randy
July 25th, 2010
11:14 am
It’s 11:15. Do you know where your kids are? OH, and Nate still sucks.
Sopheeeeee
July 25th, 2010
11:15 am
Well, you learn something new everyday.
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:16 am
Donny-At least he’s no longer a hot head.
Thank You. I’ll be here all week.
Chip's Mama
July 25th, 2010
11:16 am
Again, raw dogging, is a bad thing?
.588
July 25th, 2010
11:17 am
Guess I’m too focused on baseball when it’s on. I can easily separate sexual connotations from baseball jargon.
WWBBD? What would Bill Brasskey do?
Donny Corleone
July 25th, 2010
11:17 am
Looks like Mclouth’s head will roll also.
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:18 am
61 Years Braves Fan-I wouldn’t be quite so quick to dump Chavez. Dude will be fine. He’s got a good arm and good stuff – just needs to become a bit more consistent. He’s really only had several bad inningswhich make him look worse than his entire record does. He’s pitched pretty damned wel this week.
Jeff321
July 25th, 2010
11:18 am
After the trade deadline I fully expect for KK, McClouth, and Chavez to be off this team. Now, if these jokers are still hanging out then is it fair to say the Braves don’t have the “best 25 available” on the team?
Right. So, then I’d assume one of the astute AJC reporters/beat writers will then grill Cox & Wren?
Chip's Mama
July 25th, 2010
11:18 am
Angel Hernandez is a walking and talking raw dog.
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:19 am
Donny-But do we really want him cryogenically preserved? Wouldn’t it have been better (in hindsight) to do that after the 08 season?
Boo-Boo AKA Tomahawkin
July 25th, 2010
11:20 am
Enter your comments here
Donny Corleone
July 25th, 2010
11:20 am
You’d have to offer a ton of gold bullion with Mclouth and Kawakami in order to get anybody to take them.
Braveheart
July 25th, 2010
11:21 am
Blanco has a .361 OBP in 633 plate appearances as a major leaguer, a .368 career minor league OBP in 3827 plate appearances, a .367 OBP in 1442 AAA plate appearances, a .379 OBP in 788 plate appearances in AA. Dude can get on base. Bat him 8th, he might get on base even more. Like Steve said, not a long term solution, but a nice OBP band aid for the time being.
Chip's Mama
July 25th, 2010
11:21 am
Chavez does show promise.
Jeff321@1118……Do you propose cutting McLouth and KK, and eating their salaries?
mike
July 25th, 2010
11:22 am
“That’s what she said”
Drew
July 25th, 2010
11:22 am
Carroll, if Uggla was playing McCann in left, then he’d be playing him to hit oppo. I don’t think that was the case. Learn your left and right field then start writing again.
Tim Tebow
July 25th, 2010
11:22 am
Who said my name???
“Sounds sorta like people calling themselves “tea baggers” with no idea what it actually means”
vermont 39
July 25th, 2010
11:23 am
Too bad nate couldn’t have boosted his value…0-5 with runners in scoring position warrants a rest…a looooong rest…bye bye Nate!!!!
shmoe
July 25th, 2010
11:23 am
chavez hasn’t been too bad lately. or am i forgetting something?
Mitchell's Mom
July 25th, 2010
11:23 am
Forgive Mitchell for all of his stupid comments on the blog, last night. He is a borderline moron/idiot ‘tard. After we cleaned him up from his poo finger painting and shaking hands with the bishop, we taped his wrists and locked him in his closet.
Looks like the little turd got out, so do not be surprised if he has some more whiney, ignorant comments today. Hopefully, McLouth is still tied up, the little bi*ch.
Big Time
July 25th, 2010
11:23 am
Nate McLouth has to go. Seems as if every time he comes to bat we have men on base and he does not deliever. he does not even hit the ball hard. He has lost his confidence and in baseball if you lose that you can forget it. We won’t get much for him but lets trade him for prospects and call Blanco back up if we can’t get Cody Ross or B.J. Upton or Carl Crawford, etc.
McDawgsBreggy
July 25th, 2010
11:23 am
Perhaps we could do a reverse Ankiel with McLouse and turn him into a pitcher… guy knows a lot about missing bats and easy outs
Danga
July 25th, 2010
11:24 am
My opinion on Gregor is based largely on the assumption that we simply aren’t going to be able to get a slugger play CF. In this case I am content playing the guy who provides the best defense and isn’t a liability at the plate. In 204 career major league games Blanco’s career OBP is .361 which is real close to his minor league OBP of .368. Now Blanco doesn’t hit for power at all, but Melky doesn’t hit for a whole lot more. Adding all this up I’ll take the guy who is less likely to make an out and plays above average defense over the guy who is slightly more likely to hit a ball over the fence and plays below average defense.
shmoe
July 25th, 2010
11:24 am
Drew, give Ms. Carroll a break. She does a great service for us.
STYLIN
July 25th, 2010
11:25 am
Hey, isn’t it time to give MEEKLY Cabrera a permanent seat on the bench….or better yet send him off to some other team that is DESPERATE to take anybody? What has he contributed since arriving here? Not a d@#$ thing in my book! He has meek swings (thus my name for him) and strikes NO fear in any opposing pitcher. I sense this is a magical year for the Bravos and we don’t need MEEKLY!
Show him the highway!!!!
Donny Corleone
July 25th, 2010
11:25 am
Mcleeeeeew, Right now Nate stinks on ice.
Chip's Mama
July 25th, 2010
11:25 am
Is my boy doing the play-by-play today?
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:26 am
Donny-I’d still like to see if Siberian exile would help.
mike
July 25th, 2010
11:26 am
I would feel better with Mike Lum at bat that Nate.
shmoe
July 25th, 2010
11:26 am
Thinking like Bobby Cox here, but man it would be a shame to see Nate go and turn it around somewhere else. He can be a force of a player. Yes, I know he hasn’t been in some time now. Maybe we could keep him in the minors for the rest of the season. I dont know, I like the guy.
Jeff321
July 25th, 2010
11:26 am
Do you propose cutting McLouth and KK, and eating their salaries?
I propose trying to trade ‘em by eating half their salaries. If that doesn’t work then yes just release them outright. The money is gone and they suck. Plus, the Braves make more money and have a better chance at the World Series title the further they get.. So, what’s the point going in with 2/3 useless guys?
Donny Corleone
July 25th, 2010
11:27 am
Nate’s like Esco. He ain’t doing it here. Let him go somewhere else and excel.
Salty Dawg
July 25th, 2010
11:28 am
“The Splendid Splinter unloaded on Ramos with both barrels, signed the ball and told him to take a hike. A few weeks later, Williams hit a prodigious homer off Ramos, and as he was rounding first base hollered, ‘I’ll sign that (ball), too, if you can ever find it!’”
That’s pretty damn funny. Thanks for sharing that.
on the Raw Dog (Dawg)
Hey, words and phrases get re-purposed all the time. I think it’s a great, and fitting, nickname.
on today’s lineup
I have to say, I’m quite pleasantly surprised to see McLouth left off of today’s lineup. I thought for sure Bobby would roll with him for several weeks at least. Any chance on God’s green earth he was left off the card because there is a trade in the works? Nah, too good to be true. Anyway, you can’t ask for much more than going with the best you have available. So unless (until) the Braves make some kind of acquisition, a platoon of Melky and Blanco is about the best we can hope for.
shmoe
July 25th, 2010
11:28 am
Corleone,
Just make Nate an offer he can’t refuse!
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:29 am
Re: Jesse Chavez – Dude has given up 23 ER this season and 16 of those runs have been in four appearances and the two five run outings he had were prior to the middle of May.
Like I said – I would throw him on the trash heap quite yet.
Braveheart
July 25th, 2010
11:29 am
Hell, if Blanco can get on base at a .360 clip with little power, I’d be tempted to do the crazy Larussa thing and bat the pitcher 8th, and Blanco 9th. The two best hitters are batting 1st and 2nd right now on the Braves. By batting Blanco 9th, you essentially make Prado a 2 hitter and Heyward a 3 hitter in every plate appearance except for the first plate appearance. The batting the pitcher 8th thing is kinda meant for guys like Blanco who get on base at a good rate, but don’t have power.
Jeffero
July 25th, 2010
11:29 am
siskel god-
They definitely know what raw dog means. That’s why it’s so hilarious. Simpson’s laughing as hard as Chip about it, he loves saying it on air.
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:29 am
Excuse me. – I meant wouldn’t throw him on the scrap heap.
Salty Dawg
July 25th, 2010
11:30 am
I propose trying to trade ‘em by eating half their salaries. If that doesn’t work then yes just release them outright. The money is gone and they suck. Plus, the Braves make more money and have a better chance at the World Series title the further they get.. So, what’s the point going in with 2/3 useless guys?
Amen!
Danga
July 25th, 2010
11:30 am
I’d be tempted to do the crazy Larussa thing and bat the pitcher 8th, and Blanco 9th. – BH
I like it.
jeffrey d
July 25th, 2010
11:30 am
I don’t get why you just don’t send McLouth to the minors. He’s hurting the team where he is, his trade value is down the toilet, and if you release him, you’re eating millions of dollars. But if he’s in Gwinnett or Mississippi, he can work things out out of the spotlight and you can be hopeful that he returns to his All Star form.
Braveheart
July 25th, 2010
11:31 am
Perhaps we could do a reverse Ankiel with McLouse and turn him into a pitcher
But McLouth is already afraid to throw the ball to the plate like Ankiel was
Salty Dawg
July 25th, 2010
11:31 am
Just make Nate an offer he can’t refuse!
You mean like Nate McLouth sleeps with the fishes?
shmoe
July 25th, 2010
11:31 am
If Billy Wagner believes in Chavez, I believe in Chavez.
TampaGator
July 25th, 2010
11:31 am
Man….I watched McClouth stand there between pitches and practice his upper cut swings…and “I says to myself”….this boy doesn’t have a clue! Then he gets in the batter’s box and proves it. It is hard to give up on a players potential…but the Braves should give up on McClouth (release him or send him to AAA) and bring Blanco back up. He is a better option in the #8 hole than McClouth…and a better fielding OF. Platoon him with Milkey. I thought McClouth would have altered his swing during his time off…but that would have been the smart thing to do…and I guess he isn’t.
shmoe
July 25th, 2010
11:32 am
lol @ braveheart
Chip's Mama
July 25th, 2010
11:32 am
McLouth…$5 million 2110, $7 million 2011?, around $11 and half in 2012?-or a buyout in 2012 for one and a half million? Is that correct?
Donny Corleone
July 25th, 2010
11:32 am
shmoe, I’m afraid after being around Nate I couldn’t hit anything either.
snowball's chance
July 25th, 2010
11:32 am
Enter your comments here
TnBrian
July 25th, 2010
11:33 am
Yeah, Jesse Chavez has been alright lately. Some people around here seem to think you should have All Stars all over your team, even a long relief man is supposed to be dominant. Nope, he’s long relief for a reason and he’s fine for that job.
Good blog, CR. Good lineup. Good W today … yeah, I’m callin it.
jeffrey d
July 25th, 2010
11:33 am
I like how yesterday everybody was saying “Bobby is going to keep McLouth in the lineup forever! He doesn’t have a clue!!!! FIRE BOOBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!”
And the very next game Bobby takes him out.
TampaGator
July 25th, 2010
11:34 am
shmoe…
you know who believes in Chavez…NL hitters who pound him. You know who doesn’t believe in Chavez…the Tampa Bay Rays….who dumped him on the Braves. I believe the later.
Salty Dawg
July 25th, 2010
11:34 am
I don’t get why you just don’t send McLouth to the minors. He’s hurting the team where he is, his trade value is down the toilet, and if you release him, you’re eating millions of dollars. But if he’s in Gwinnett or Mississippi, he can work things out out of the spotlight and you can be hopeful that he returns to his All Star form.
I’m not an expert on the rules by any means, but I don’t think they can just send him to the minors. But even if they release him, what difference does it make. The money is spent and all they are getting for it at this point is an albatross around the neck of a team trying to make the post season. He’s a liability and a detriment to the team. The money is gone one way or the other, so why not cut bait and minimize the damage.
shmoe
July 25th, 2010
11:34 am
tampagator,
i’d imagine it’s kinda hard to come back and know that you have 1 week to reverse all the suckiness of the season. it’s one thing to come back and feel like, hey i just gotta fit in. it’s another to feel like i’ve gotta gap up some balls, hit a couple homers, go 3 for 4 every night so my team won’t trade me. all in about 25 at bats.
BobtheBlogger
July 25th, 2010
11:34 am
Jeff321: OK, what’s a tea bagger? I know what a two bagger is.
TampaGator
July 25th, 2010
11:35 am
Jeffery…
just proves it… you should be the manager of the Braves!
jeffrey d
July 25th, 2010
11:35 am
Holy cow…since giving up 2 hits in his first win on June 26th, KK’s pitched once. He’d been pitching pretty well too
McLeeeeeeeeeew
July 25th, 2010
11:35 am
Chip’s Mama -Yeah, they owe hi around $10 mil. They won’t cut him owing him that kind of $$$$. We’re pretty much stuck with him
Re: Kawakami – they could likely trade him without eating salary (or damned little) – he’d be a decent #4 starter for a lot of teams and $6.6 mil isn’t all that expensive in the scheme of things. He’s pitched better than his record indicates, but is our least best option. That wouldn’t be so for many teams.
Jeff321
July 25th, 2010
11:35 am
I’d love for one of the aforementioned ACJ reporters/beat writers to ask Cox why his boy Nate won’t try to throw anyone out. I mean, is he hiding an injury or does he just not want to embarrass himself? Either way, do you want someone that can’t throw or hit on the team?