Braves’ quotes after Friday loss at Florida
BOBBY COX
On Kawakami
“He just couldn’t get in a groove, to locate his pitches. He just never got in a rhythm tonight.”
“That’s the worst I’ve ever seen him.”
KENSHIN KAWAKAMI
On whether he thinks he’ll get another start
“It’s not about me and keeping my position in the starting rotation. It’s really [about] how much I want to contribute, and the fact that I wasn’t able to today was pretty shocking.
Anything specific causing most of problems tonight?
“From the beginning of the inning, just walking the first hitter of the game. Just lack of control today.”
MATT DIAZ
On Andrew Miller
“What he did tonight was a good job of damage control. We got our hits — most of them were singles, and their hits were doubles. That was the difference. They had a ton of extra-base hits and we didn’t have many, and when we got a runner on he made a good pitch.”
On getting Miller’s pitch count over 100 in five innings, with only one run
“Yeah, we’ve done that a couple of times this year. It’s frustrating. That means you’re putting together some good at-bats [but not getting the big hit]. They played some great defense behind him. It just wasn’t our night, that’s for sure.”
How much did it take out of you, falling behind early, etc.
“Long innings are never fun, whether they score or not. When we had a chance to score in the first and we didn’t, obviously as an offense you want to get back in there as quickly as possible. You feel like there’s some unfinished business.”
DAVID ROSS
On Kawakami saying he just couldn’t locate pitches
“Yeah, I thought his stuff was OK. He had some good stuff, but everything was up and middle. We didn’t go strike 1 enough. That kind of stuff gets you in trouble. I know they’re not in first or second place or anything, but they have a really good lineup. And he just didn’t locate very well. He hit it right on the head [with that assessment].”
They can make you pay for mistake pitches?
“They can. Especially if you get off to a slow start, and you start nit-picking the corners. It’s just tough. You’ve got throw strike 1 on this team and get them aggressive, then get them to expand the zone. Because the more they’re able to shrink the zone, they’re really, really dangerous.”
How tough to have long innings like that early, when you’re in field?
“Yeah, the innings were just too long. There was no pace, we didn’t have a good pace to the game. We had a lot of stuff in-between pitches, guys stepping off. Even the clean innings we had, they took a long time. It’s always tough on position players, me as a catcher I felt like the game was about 5 hours long. When you’re doing that stuff, if you don’t have a good pace of game in this heat, it beats you down a little bit. That’s something we can definitely work on, from a standpoint of, tempo of the game is a big thing. It makes the other hitters more aggressive, when I get in the box and that pitcher is ready to come right at me, I don’t feel as comfortable as I do when they’re taking time.”
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157 comments Add your comment
stachemoney22
September 3rd, 2010
11:23 pm
I really don’t see how KK can be allowed to start another game. Dave is the man.
Heyward Man Crush
September 3rd, 2010
11:24 pm
Get it together Braves!!!!! This is getting ridiculous!!!! Man up and take whats yours!!!!!
Trey
September 3rd, 2010
11:25 pm
So sad.
Mr. Enigma
September 3rd, 2010
11:27 pm
Phillies are now just 1 game back of Atlanta. They haven’t been 1 game back since June 1.
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
September 3rd, 2010
11:27 pm
Bye-bye NL East. The Braves don’t deserve to win ANYTHING.
I Miss Ted Turner (formerly I Love Derrek Lee)
September 3rd, 2010
11:27 pm
No more starts for KK. And Liberty Media, please spend some money on some real hitters…or sell the team.
Dan-82ndAirborne
September 3rd, 2010
11:32 pm
kk, The fact that you weren’t able to pitch well tonight was shocking? Maybe to you, but not to any of us. GTFO
Atl Native
September 3rd, 2010
11:33 pm
At least we have D. Lee pounding in runs….
Oh wait..
NM
Jerek Deter
September 3rd, 2010
11:36 pm
KK won’t be starting another game for the Braves this year. However, a semi-injured Derek Lowe (now with bone chips!) will be starting (though certainly not finishing) every fifth game. This would be a good time to look at a prospect or two from the minors…if the Braves weren’t in a pennant chase.
stachemoney22
September 3rd, 2010
11:40 pm
I mentioned on a previous blog that it would be nice to claim ted lilly and work out a deal with the dodgers(after we received word of a possible injury suffered by Lowe on Sunday.) How nice would it be to have the vet crafty lefty now….Hopefully, Christian Martinez gets a shot at making a start or two, if we need someone to fill-in.
Largo
September 3rd, 2010
11:41 pm
You can’t expect much from a bad pitcher on a not so good team.
Baldemar Huerta
September 3rd, 2010
11:56 pm
How nice would it be to have the vet crafty lefty now
I read that as “have the vet put the lefty down” at first.
Brian H.
September 4th, 2010
12:05 am
Two things…KK better not get another start for the Braves, EVER. I have not missed watching many Braves’ games on TV this year, but I WILL NOT watch another game in which KK is the starting pitcher. Come on Braves, figure out how to win on the road. You will not win the NL East of you can’t figure out how to win on the road. Heck, you may not even be in first place after this weekend.
PhillyCheeseSteak
September 4th, 2010
12:05 am
The Braves are toast ! Face it Atlanta losers, this aint your year….AGAIN !! The Phillies will win their 4th NL East Division title in a row !!!!!!!!!!!!!
E-6
September 4th, 2010
12:06 am
Does Bobby’s “worst I ever seen him” translate into we’re never going to see him again? Silver lining – three off days later this month where we can skip that spot in the rotation.
Baldemar Huerta
September 4th, 2010
12:08 am
Regardless of what happens, “Mr. Ineffective” is gone at the end of this year. Good Riddance, long overdue.
braveguy
September 4th, 2010
12:10 am
I’d rather have Rick start with KK in CF than KK on the mound with Rick in center.
los phillies
September 4th, 2010
12:11 am
Enter your comments here
E-6
September 4th, 2010
12:12 am
There should be several “Mr. Ineffectives” gone after this season – by number – 11, 24, 25, 27 and 53 for starters. And if Billy Wagner is serious about not coming back, there’s a guy in Florida who wears that #13 who would be a great, albeit expensive fit.
los phillies
September 4th, 2010
12:13 am
the bravest are done
los phillies
September 4th, 2010
12:15 am
It’s inevitable _ the juggernaut is bearing down on you
phils
September 4th, 2010
12:18 am
Let’s go phillies
mikeDW
September 4th, 2010
12:22 am
I’m just glad we have KK and McClouth both in for the stretch run. Damn it Bobby.
truefan
September 4th, 2010
12:29 am
So we lost a road game with KK on the mound. No suprise. Phillie fans are all excited, but end the end its one game. It took the Phils a month to make up on game in the standings and now that they’re close they’re making a big deal. But it will still come down to the two series between them this month, which has basically been the case since mid-July.
Ron H.
September 4th, 2010
12:34 am
The Braves can’t win on the road…not even close to .500.
We’re not going far if we make the playoffs…We HAVE to be able to win in somebody elses house!
Darnit, Braves!
The Truth
September 4th, 2010
12:41 am
KK is done, no reason with the expanded rosters for him to pitch again this year….Braves gotta ball up and win on the road. This crap has got to stop. Needs to be a team meeting or something and let Mac or someone with credibility say enough is enough, lets finish out strong on the road starting today. No reason for it, and no reason to continue it. This whole “take the series” crap has gotta stop too. From here on out, they need to win every game. I know they can’t but winning every series from here on out (save the Phillies series) might not be enough. There is going to have to be some sweeps and settling for less as an excuse for poor play gets old. It’s one thing in July, it’s now Sept., we got a 1 game lead, screw winning series, take every damn game.
hootdaddy-16
September 4th, 2010
12:41 am
Just interview TP about tonight’s hitting performances. Put him on the spot about the lack of hitting. Ask him why such inconsistency.
Buzz
September 4th, 2010
12:42 am
I know he has not started all year, but why not Venters? He is a starter and can go 4 at least … and making him a starter would prevent Bobby from using him every darn day.
Buzz
September 4th, 2010
12:43 am
Also, how did the Diamondbacks get Mike Hampton and not us? I’d rather take a chance with him for a few innings than Kawakami. At least Hampton has the will to win.
scottbravesfan
September 4th, 2010
12:53 am
kawakami should just retire and go back to Japan and pitch. No need to be away from your family and embarrass yourself anymore.
Evo621
September 4th, 2010
1:04 am
Tick tock tick tock tick tock…
Braves time atop the NL East is drawing to a close. Phils about to reclaim what’s rightfully theirs. In the words of Slick, “It’s time to pray….the party’s over.”
braves70
September 4th, 2010
1:28 am
The fact that the Braves were in 1st place so long is a real indictment of how poorly the Phillies have played. The Braves lost their star 3B, have two scrap heap retreads at 1B, lost one of their top young starters, have a veteran starter who is damaged goods, and have a collection of 4th and 5th OFs (except for Heyward).
With all of that, it still took the Phillies all season to catch up to this point. The Phillies with all stars at nearly every position and a payroll about $60 million above the Braves have been massive underachievers to trail this rag-tag but gutsy group of Braves for so long.
Bruce Mac
September 4th, 2010
1:53 am
Where are all the idiots that thought KK was as good as JJ and D Lowe. If BC starts KK again you can be assured he is either senile or on the take from the Phillies. Mark Bradley, you should no better than to jinx this team much less make ignorant statements like “I have a feeling this team is special”. You are paid way too much money to act like a fool. Please move or at least learn to keep it shut.
I'm with Braves (Whatever & Wherever)
September 4th, 2010
1:53 am
I would wait till October 3 to say season a toast……….
tyler nj brave
September 4th, 2010
1:58 am
McCann cannot be sitting 2 times in 4 games…..nothing against Ross because he’s solid but we need to have (arguably) our best hitter in the line up.
Justin
September 4th, 2010
2:32 am
I love how ignorant the fan base of my favorite team is. Luckily the people who post on this articles don’t run the team or else they’d really ruin the Braves.
Cole
September 4th, 2010
3:38 am
Whatever! To win games you have to
score runs!and who did that KK!
Lowe wouldn’t have and we still would have lost
prado and heyward didn’t even.how can you win if nobody scores
don’t just blame the pitcher
Lobosolo
September 4th, 2010
3:53 am
Every one of you a-holes with your negative comments should quit talking the talk and start walking the walk… You’re not Braves fans so just F-off and get outta here… You don’t like the Braves or the way they’ve played? P-off and go root for someone else…
Sean
September 4th, 2010
4:45 am
Kawakami probably won’t get another start thank the lord…but if he does, it will be against the Pirates. Bottom line though, we didn’t get the clutch hit. Only hit with RISP was Kawakami with 2 outs. And on the bright side, Braves are still 4 games ahead of the Giants. There’s a month left in the season, the Braves need to keep the losing streaks to a minimum. Have faith instead of all the negativity.
RomeDawg
September 4th, 2010
5:43 am
Where’s Albie Lopez when you need him?
computer guy
September 4th, 2010
6:02 am
I understand that KK set the tone of the game. Yes we were down by 5 runs EARLY…but good teams SHOULD be able to come back.. a lot of time to make up those runs…It ain’t over till its over. This is what hurts…. >>> (This is a pitcher who was 1-8 with a 6.01 ERA in 18 starts in Double-A this season, but Miller limited the Braves to one run and seven hits in five innings, with three walks and six strikeouts) I wonder when Bobby or for that matter, anyone notice that KK didn’t have it..first, second, third inning?
LivinInAL
September 4th, 2010
6:04 am
When Mr. Positive, Bobbys Cox says,”That’s the worst I’ve ever seen him” things are bad. Sadly, KK needs to retire with Bobby at the end of the year.
Bob
September 4th, 2010
6:25 am
KK has had enough chances, time to pull plug. Wren has it admit mistake sighing KK and move on.
Reggie
September 4th, 2010
6:42 am
Ok there’s good news and bad news. Bad news is i don’t think we can hold off the Phillies…Good news is we don’t have to. As it stands today we have a 4 game advantage on San Francisco in the wildcard with 27 games left to play. If and i do mean IF we go can go 14-13 the Giants will have to go 18-9. So all we have to do is play .500 baseball to end the season and we will be fine. That should be easy…right? Right?
Sam
September 4th, 2010
6:49 am
Gonzo, Lee, Ankiel. I was really hoping one of these pickups would boost the club in a BIG way. Outside of a few nice hits they just have not panned out. Maybe it isn’t the Braves year afterall. Beating the Mets 3 of 4 is no that big a deal this year. The road woes are just continuing and a sweep is a distinct possibility.
computer guy
September 4th, 2010
6:53 am
We are all getting the bobby cox attitude…
Reggie 6:42
As it stands today we have a 4 game advantage on San Francisco in the wildcard with 27 games left to play. If and i do mean IF we go can go 14-13 the Giants will have to go 18-9. So all we have to do is play .500 baseball to end the season and we will be fine. (I understand what you are saying)
We should be going for the prize..win the division…. I have a checking account to pay my bills (1st place) I also have a savings account if necessary (wildcard) don’t want to depend on savings
braveshoo
September 4th, 2010
7:02 am
KK should not have pitched last night or ever again for the Braves. He is terrible, and I think it hurt the morale of the whole team. It should be Christian Martinez, not KK or D.Lowe. And the D.Lee experiment has to stop too. Try Glaus against LHs and Hinske/ Freeman against RHs. Finally, Ankiel just cant hit LHs at all. Melky has to play against LHs, even though he is not very good in CF. We need every hitter we can get right now. We need 5 runs a game; not 12 one night and 1 the next.
computer guy
September 4th, 2010
7:03 am
It is the intensity in which the Braves play that bothers me. It either comes from the mgr or the club house.
More games than not, this year we have faced opposing pitchers that we SHOULD beat. guys with ERA’s in the 6’s. Triple AAA guys with no major league experience. and for some reason we allow them the confidence to go six innings and give up 2 hits. We should be more aggressive. One other thing while I’m venting.. We have runners on 2nd and third no outs..a pitch count of 3-0. Bobby ALWAYS has the batter stand there and let the best pitch of the night go right over the middle of the plate (probably good enough to plate two runs) I know the book says “take a strike” but does it have to be every time a batter faces 3-0. How about mixing it up on occasion. Surprise someone don’t be so predictable.
Reggie
September 4th, 2010
7:04 am
@computer guy were on the same page but i think you know like i do that the Braves winning the division is more of a curse than a prize. Lets just get in the post-season anyway we can and go from there. I don’t want to see Bobby burn out Tim Hudson,JJ and the bullpen (even though he already has) trying to win a division when there’s a easier route to the playoffs.
what do I know?
September 4th, 2010
7:13 am
Frank W has a six million dollar race car called KK. He has had it at the track and lost 10 times yet he still keeps putting it out there because he paid 6 million for it. hopes that something will change.
Del
September 4th, 2010
7:15 am
There is one positive change that should be made immediately. Sit D.Lee and play Freeman. Lee is killing us with the number of runneras he is leaving stranded. WHAT ABOUT IT bOOBY?
Charlie
September 4th, 2010
7:19 am
Enjoy Saturday. It will be the last day that the Braves are in first place by themselves. KK has been the biggest bust in Atlanta, since Lem Barker. We have another $11 million to eat of his salary next year. Nice job, Frank. Derrek Lee is offensively worthless. I’m sure though, that Bobby will keep trotting him out there in the 4 or 5 spot. So much for runners getting on a head of him. He’ll do nothing. Another lousy pick-up. Might as well give Freeman the at bats, for next year. He won’t be any more of a bust than Lee is. How about our girl in center field (ANN KIEL)? 4 strikeouts last night. Can you spell “CHOKE”? ANN KIEL now hits like she used to pitch. Farnsworth…decent last night, in a meanless inning, leaving with his Atlanta ERA hat just under 8. All the moves for post season help have failed. And then there’s Melky. Too bad he can’t at least hustle a bit. Of course maybe the games aren’t important to Melky this time of year.
It’s no fun watching this team spit it out at the end. It has been a fun run, end of May, to now. Too bad Atlanta doesn’t have a team that finishes. Bye bye Bobby. I wish that KK and the others would be joining you.
Reggie
September 4th, 2010
7:20 am
I agree Freeman should get the nod over both of the stiffs playing first…also Ankiel should be a late game defensive replacement for Gregor Blanc…..wait never mind.
jase80
September 4th, 2010
7:29 am
Lets Just Keep fighting Every one. That is what We are Looking for. LETS STAY IN THE FIRE TILL THE END!!!
Kyle
September 4th, 2010
7:49 am
How could you be serious about winning the division and even have a dream about starting Kawakami much less really doing it in the last month of the season. That move right there shows you don’t deserve it and it looks like you don’t even want it.
Mutts
September 4th, 2010
7:51 am
There’s 27 games to go, and all that matters are the standings at the end of the season. Many of the “Chicken Littles” that blog here don’t have the stomach for a pennant race.
avocado
September 4th, 2010
7:55 am
Once again, folks, some of us want to see:
Javier Vazquez, pitcher, in the Braves lineup.
We remember that he did extremely well with Braves last year
as a standout pitcher,
and, was quoted as saying he would like to stay in Atlanta,
for more pitching, and as a good team player,
Wren the Wrecker never contacted his agent, never!
So, due to unforseen circumstances, wear, tear, all the usual stuff, the rotation begins to look somewhat inadequate and shallow for the long run,
when we need pitching…
Javier Vazquez was/could be again, a good fit in our rotation.
And, lessee, do the Braves need a pitcher now?
Javier Vazquez could be part of our solution.
Mitchell
September 4th, 2010
7:57 am
los phillies
September 4th, 2010
12:15 am
It’s inevitable _ the juggernaut is bearing down on you
Wrong. We’re giving it to you. Last time I checked you guys have won one game in the past two series.
Why don’t you actually try to win a few games off us before talking like that?
Let's Go
September 4th, 2010
8:18 am
Derek Lee has now been on the team for 2 weeks so his honeymoon is officially over. Produce or sit, it’s that simple. I don’t know if Freeman is the answer and maybe Glaus is still in his slump but between the 3 of them Bobby has got to find a run producer and stick to it.
The Braves need to go ahead and give KK his release and just suck up the money because no one is going to trade you for him in the off season and there is no way he is on this team coming out of spring training next season.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2010
8:26 am
So the D-Lee honeymoon is “officially over” after two weeks? OK. How ’bout the Ankiel honeymoon? Is it “produce or sit” for him, too? So who plays 1B and CF, assuming you’re not going to find a better option via waiver trade at this late date, and even if you did that person wouldn’t be eligible for the postseason roster, so then you’d have to revert to someone in the organization once the playoffs begin a month from now.
Let's Go
September 4th, 2010
8:37 am
avocado
Sorry but this is no longer your daddy’s Braves. In case you haven’t noticed Ted Turner sold the team out when he decided to try and take over Time Warner about 15 years ago and for the last 10 the Braves have had to operate with a budget. Yes having unlimited spending like the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, & Mets would be nice but the facts are what they are and this organization has to try and do more with less and keep their spending within a budget. A lot of people like to bash Frank Wren and when you bring up Nate & KK you have every right to but you can’t bash the guy or the team for choosing to go with a long term deal with Tim Hudson over Javier Vazquez. When you have to work within a budget you have to think about tomorrow as much as today and I think with Vazquez deal the Braves did a great job of providing for future Braves teams.
BravesFan1
September 4th, 2010
8:46 am
Are we trying not to make the playoffs? I can’t believe we threw KK on the mound it’s like an instant loss. Wasn’t it Bobby Cox that said a couple of months ago that tryouts were over?
Let's Go
September 4th, 2010
8:48 am
DOB
I really hope Derek Lee is the answer the Braves need for a power bat in the middle of the line-up but so far he has not done that. I equate some of his struggles to being on a new team, new town, new club house but after 2 weeks he’s needs to settle in and be the force in the middle of the line-up that we need. As far as Rick Ankiel goes, I guess the reason he is still starting is because he is the best CF we have because other than that he has been a major disappointment.
Let's Go
September 4th, 2010
8:52 am
DOB
Wasn’t Rick Ankiel linked to the Mitchell Report or tested positive for PED’s or HGH? Maybe the guy turns out to be another player who can’t hit the long ball without the juice.
bobbymahlon
September 4th, 2010
8:53 am
How about putting Omar in center until late in the game,Glaus at third Prado at second, platoon Diaz and Hinske in left and the same at first with Freeman and Lee. Just a suggestion.
BravesFan
September 4th, 2010
9:00 am
Play Freddie Freeman! He is young hungry and not hurt. D Lee and T Glaus are just black holes in the lineup. Play the kid and watch as he drives us to the playoffs!!!!
what do I know?
September 4th, 2010
9:00 am
September 4th, 2010
8:53 am
How about putting Omar in center until late in the game,Glaus at third Prado at second, platoon Diaz and Hinske in left and the same at first with Freeman and Lee. Just a suggestion.
Don’t be making comments that make sense ..Bobby doesn’t read this blog….. What are you trying to put the best team on the field?
Marvin Mangrum
September 4th, 2010
9:03 am
Thank you so much for having this space! First the person who traded for Kawakami and then gave him a major league only contract ought to be fired. Then he ought to have to pay back this contract. And then the person who keeps putting him in games with less than 30 to go ought to be fired! Hall of Fame, my rear! Can no one with the Braves see that he is worthless. Now on Lowe! His arm fell off but we gonna use him every five days, cause we need him. If you do not have a pitcher who is good then that is what you should do, because in all seriousness somebody has to loose and it may as well be us. I wouldnt do what these folks are doing in Little League. And talk of hiring Pendleton as manager to get some more of this magic. You know, since 91, one World Championship, now thats scary. One!
Navigator
September 4th, 2010
9:16 am
Another automatic loss for Kawakami, and Cox, who can’t help himself by putting the guy in the bull pen and leaving him there. Where Florida is building a team from inside to make another run, the Braves trade their youth away for has been (or never been) players from other teams. We see the end now with Philly making the run, and Braves are starting to fold, the correct ending for having the same of leadership and weak front office. Maybe the next manager will look at the youth they have starting and bring up the best from the minors and start the weading out process. Next year, no Wagner, no Kawakami, no Glaus, no Lee, no Lowe, no Farnsworth, no Gonzalez, no Cabrera, no McLouth, no Ankiel, oh yeah no Cox. They desperately need another starter, so one of the two kids (Minor & Medlin) will have to step up to full time #3 & #4. They won’t do anything this year, so maybe Wren leaves for a better job somewhere else, because he’s made nothing but bad decision here.
Saint Richt
September 4th, 2010
9:17 am
Bobby Cox should be fired for starting KK. If he sees the field for the Braves again I will be sick…….I know it costs $, but release him, you have NO shot to win last night…….
riggo
September 4th, 2010
9:17 am
Bobby lost this game for starting Kawakami. You’re in the middle of a pennant race, you can’t start your worst pitcher in any game. Also it’s better for the Braves if Lowe doesn’t pitch.
Peter
September 4th, 2010
9:21 am
Wren got us this ” Talent ” ???????? Ankiel, Lee, KK, Farsworth…….. He’s gotta GO !
bebopdeluxe
September 4th, 2010
9:23 am
To braves70…
The Phillies had SIX of their starting eight on the DL this season, as well as two of their starters, their 8th inning set-up guy and their closer. Please don’t cry about the Braves and their injuries, because the Phillies have dealt with injuries all season long. The only difference is that the Phillies are now all virtually healthy, and with Utley, Madsen, Ruiz and some of the guys who usually get run down by the end of the season fresh, they are ready to go on their usual September run.
The Braves have had a great season and should still be playing October baseball, but what is happening right now is pretty simple – the cream is rising to the top. And in October – where starting pitching tops all – the Phillies’ H2O (Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt) is leading the way. Looking forward to that Oswalt/Jurrjens matchup…
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2010
9:25 am
Peter, he’s got to go, huh? He’ll get plenty of votes as NL Executive of the Year. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
DaveinNEPA
September 4th, 2010
9:31 am
I thought Cox should have pulled Kamakaze after the 1st inning, it was obvious he had absolutely nothing.
Starting Kawakami, leaving him in waayy too long, holding bullpen tryouts, leaving McCann out of the lineup because of the lefty and compounding it by having Ankiel in the lineup facing a lefty, Cox managed that game as if it were a spring training game.
We have enough decent players here to win this division, but…….the manager HAS to use his head for something besides a place to park his hat!
I really can’t wait for Cox to be gone from this team.
Tim
September 4th, 2010
9:32 am
Honeymoon has been over for Ankiel. The guy couldn’t get a hit if he was play T-ball. Heck, he’d probably still stike out then too. D. Lee may be the nicest guy in the world, but he looks washed up, evenmore than Glaus. It may be Liberty’s fault, but Wren tried to improve this team with bailing wire. KK may be on waivers, but who would want to pick him up?
Peter
September 4th, 2010
9:38 am
Yes Dave……. he gets vote…….BIG DEAL…… Lowe and KK cost us how much a year ?
Perhaps he is getting votes because the other guys like other teams, and we don’t have the money to do other things like get REAL players.
We pay Lowe a #4 a #1 salary, and what is KK a 3 & starter ?
Tell me Ankiel is a starter where ? How about Farsworth ? How about Nate ?
Please the guy has done a lousy job…….. Tell me when Lee is going to produce ? After his back heals next year ? Or is he going to retire ?
Please tell me something he did that has been great ???
We have the slowest team in the league…… You can say what you want, but if it hadn’t been for 22 miracles this year we would be right where the Met’s are NOW !
what do I know?
September 4th, 2010
9:40 am
The experiment is over.. KK shouldn’t start any games… Use him when we need to finish a game loosing 12-2 in the 8th inning. Not kk’s fault. he lost his confidence. He has not been able to regain it. wish it had worked out for him. He looked like he was worth SOME money when we signed him. These ridiculous contracts are just that RIDICULOUS. Contracts should have a reasonable base and have added incentives for achieving certain goals PA’s RBI’s, HR”s innings pitch ERA etc. etc.
How many times do we see (not only Braves) when I guy gets a great 5-6 yr. contract and then fizzles out… First if he earns it by performance then great he EARNED it. If he doesn’t achieve the club is only going to pay what he was worth to the team. But then again. the word players AGENT
changes everything.
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE LIVES IN THE ATL
September 4th, 2010
9:44 am
I WISH THIS SEASON HURRY UP AND END SO BOBBY NO COACHING COX CAN GET THE HELL ON,PEOPLE HERE IN GEORGIA THINK GUYS LIKE BOBBY AND MARK RICHT DESERVE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY ARE NICE AND CHRISTIAN,BEING NICE DOES NOT BRING IN TITLES PEOPLE!
P.S. BRING IN JOE TORRE TO COACH THE BRAVES,AND BRING IN KIRBY OR MUSCHAMP TO REPLACE MARK RICHT!
Peter
September 4th, 2010
9:46 am
Hey Dave go to Wikapedia…….. read about Frank Wren…..here is a quote…….
Baltimore Orioles
When Pat Gillick resigned as GM of the Orioles at the close of the 1998 season, Wren was recruited as his replacement. But the 1999 Orioles were a major disappointment. The club finished six games under .500 despite one of the highest payrolls in the game and the signing of free agent slugger Albert Belle to the most lucrative contract in baseball at the time. During the season, Wren and the team were criticized publicly by Baltimore owner Peter Angelos, and after just one season, the owner replaced Wren with veteran executive Syd Thrift.
He signed Albert Belle to the Most …..What did it say ?
” the most lucrative contract in baseball at the time.”
Look at Baltimore today……. See the Braves Future…….. Look at the Contracts for KK and Lowe……look at Nate….. sorry you can’t see the Big Picture.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2010
9:58 am
Peter, I don’t much care what’s written on Wikipedia about Wren’s tenure with the Orioles a decade ago. Sorry, got more pertinent matters….
Curse of David Justice: Thanks for the ALL CAPS. As we’ve said before, makes it easier to know what we can skip over.
Dr Huer
September 4th, 2010
10:00 am
Time to call it quits with KK.
Reminds me of what Earl Weaver once said about an O’s player: “I gave him more chances than I gave my first wife.”
NickGranite
September 4th, 2010
10:06 am
In the space of a year, the Phillies buy and swap aces (Lee, Halladay and Oswalt) like we flip minor leaguers between double and triple A. The underachievers went and got Oswalt when it was caving in on them. Basically, they are an American League East team, spending there way to championships while we fight and claw with the scrap from the journeyman junkyard, a rookie and a few players who emerged out of nowhere (Prado and Infante). We lose Medlen (himself a kid) and a suddenly hot Chipper. We are the scrappy braves and we’ll go down fighting and remember all this smack talk when we have a line-up that starts Infante, Prado, Jones, Heyward, Freeman, McCann next year.
Ill-a-delph
September 4th, 2010
10:12 am
The calendar has turned to September and the Phillies are doing what the Phillies do…
Alan 10
September 4th, 2010
10:14 am
Good morning CRY BABIES, I hope you have a field day for the rest of the month, one thing for sure you must not have an ounce of Braves blood in you because you don’t stand by the team.
HOPE YOU THE REAL LOSERS HAVE A GREAT LABOR DAY WHINNING. !!!!!!!!!!!!
Ill-a-delph
September 4th, 2010
10:14 am
All of the Phillies talent, with the exception of Halladay and Oswalt, is either homegrown or rule 5, savvy pickups like Victorino and Werth, Victorino was discarded by the Dodgers and Werth was a former 1st round pick, with injury history, that was given up on by the league – the Phillies are a CLASS organization, anything to the contrary is said out of ignorance
Ill-a-delph
September 4th, 2010
10:17 am
…and as another poster said, the cream is rising to the top and the pretenders are falling off – the Phillies are healthy for the first time all year, its not an excuse, its just a fact – in the end no one will remember that the Braves were in first place for the whole summer, just that the Phillies won their 4th straight NL East crown – sorry to burst your bubble bravos fans, I almost feel bad for you…
Ward
September 4th, 2010
10:19 am
Go back and read bobbymahlon again folks…that was “reality” using best available “tools” for scoring runs. To leave a”slug” in the lineup for the one time per game you need his arm seems shortsighted.I would rather have Glaus take four AB than see what “the best arm in baseball” did last night.
This is a pennant race and it will kick us in the gut….but at least we are playing meaningful games in September…Remember: last WS was 1999, last NL pennant effort was 2001 and we were kicked out 4 years in a row in the 5 game series….I am willing to watch the 2010 effort for the possibility we can go somewhere with this interesting group.
Just DO NOT start KK again this season.
Ill-a-delph
September 4th, 2010
10:20 am
I’m really sensing a lot of despair and frustration from the braves fans, funny thing is, the whole summer as we trailed, and continue to trail by 1 game, the braves, you heard nothing but confidence and bravado from the Phillies fans, because we know how good our team is, we know their track history of September baseball, we KNOW how this will turn out (while the braves fans just HOPE how it will turn out).
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE LIVES IN THE ATL
September 4th, 2010
10:29 am
TRUTH HURTS DONT IT DAVID?
P.S. SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN MANNY,I THOUGHT DERRICK LEE WAS THE ANSWER? NOT
coachk
September 4th, 2010
10:35 am
Well the good news we are still in first!! the bad news is we look tired. I truely believe in team chemistry and did not like the ankiel or lee deals. glaus just needed some rest and we could have brought freddie up and used hinski. we have less than one month and can I get someone on this team to get the f@#k fired up!! we are not doing the little things. Move Prado back to leadoff, put omar 2nd, heyward 3rd, mac, glaus,cabrerra,lee,ankiel pitcher. Yes glaus at 3rd, omar at ss and prado at 2nd lee at first, gonzales is useless and wish we still had Escobar, he was a player, yes with attitude, guess what we need some not the layback crap that Bobby uses. Time to man up and take what is ours. Its why this team only has 1 championship, no guts,we play like no worry we got tomorrow ilnstead of taking today.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2010
10:36 am
Curse of David Justice: In all CAPS or in the conventional way most people type, Derrek Lee’s name is spelled Derrek, or DERREK, but not DERRICK.
jim
September 4th, 2010
10:50 am
Some of these posts are just angry vents with no coherent thought. Some criticism of mgt is justified.
Cox should not have started KK — Who should he have started? The decision to send Martinez down after the 4 inning stint last Sunday was probably made because he was unavailable for a few days and the team needed another arm in the pen, but with Lowe unable to start, it stripped the team of the only other viable choice for tonight’s start.
Starting Ankiel in CF — not to get his bat in the lineup, but to cover the ground in a big CF. Didn’t we see how Melky is able to play CF in the last Met game?
Management bears some blame for the Ankiel and Lee trades and the way it has handled the movement of pitchers between the Braves and AAA. We don’t get Kimbrel and Martinez back for another few days and they should have been kept on the roster before Sept 1. The office outwsmarted itself with those moves.
The Braves were the most patient team in the league, still drawing the most walks, but since the trades, this lineup is no longer that group. Ankiel, Lee, and Infante are much less patient hitters than the players they replaced, Blanco, Glaus, and Chipper (Particularly the first 2). If we had kept Blanco, Chavez, and Collins, we would have a better OBP in CF, a bullpen arm they might have sent to AAA instead of Martinez to add Kimbrel for one day, and a promising reliever that just might contribute something in a game like last night right now.
I have seen enough of Lee — He can’t catch up to a good fastball and the lacksidasical play at 1B when Huddy raced over to field a ball before it rolled foul — He is not an upgrade over Glaus offensively, and a platoon of Glaus and Freeman gives us a better option than Lee.
I am not a critic of Wren. The fact that a team that had the 6th worst record in MLB 2 years ago is now fighting for a division crown is a testament to the fact that he must have done a lot to make that happen, But the pre/post deadline deals were not the wisest moves when the internal options were better.
dave
September 4th, 2010
10:52 am
A 5.11 ERA for KK? I didn’t realize it was that low.
JEE
September 4th, 2010
11:05 am
Cox is loyal to a fault, but really look what he has done with a 3 man pitching staff the rest are stiffs. 2 ex utility infielders, a worn out 3rd baseman, retread 1st basemen, and with the exception of J-Hey, a lot of number 4 or 5 outfielders.
Keith
September 4th, 2010
11:07 am
Would it be beneficial for us to just cut KK? What would he be guaranteed if we did?
DOB, yes, seriously. DId you know that just about anyone can post on Wikipedia?
jim
September 4th, 2010
11:11 am
I assume Lowe is one of the stiffs, but which of the other 4/5 is the second stiff? Hudson, Hanson, JJ, Medlen/Minor?
Keith
September 4th, 2010
11:15 am
Re: ill-a-delph
No knee-jerk reactions here.
I know how good and resilient this team has been this year. And it’s going to come down our matchups vs each other in 6 games…if there’s a clear winner from those series, then we’ll probably have a good idea who will clinch the division. If we come to a draw, then it will be one heck of a race.
Only thing I was frustrated about was pitching KK last night. But I’m glad he bombed, because I think it was bad enough that we won’t pitch him again.
AdirondackDave
September 4th, 2010
11:21 am
David Ross seems to be smart and a guy with a really good baseball mind. I wish Mac had another position to play so Ross could be first string behind the plate. I know, not going to happen.
Brava
September 4th, 2010
11:23 am
The gloom and doom here is stifling. Hey Braves fans, why don’t you get a little optimism here and stop feeding the Phillies’ nasty trolls. The more you post about how the sky is falling, the more they enjoy it and rub in your faces.
Seriously, though, if I were a Phillies fan, I certainly wouldn’t be here gloating when my team won by one run at home against a pitcher with a 4.62 ERA and a team with a .463 record. I’d be a bit worried and certainly wouldn’t be bragging about how great they are and how “the cream is coming to the top” or they are “taking what is rightfully theirs”.
No, as a Braves’ fan, I have a lot of humility. We don’t have superstars who should consistently slug homers, we seldom field the same lineup from one day to the next, our starting pitching is showing signs of fatigue, and we’ve struggled all year on the road while maintaining the best home record in baseball. Should the Braves be where they are, contending for a run at the post-season? The odds would say, no, but, they are. I don’t know about the rest of you, Braves fans, but I’m proud as hell of that.
Dave Justice
September 4th, 2010
11:32 am
I hate those travel uniforms. They look like they’re wearing tee-shirts!
Rooferdawg
September 4th, 2010
11:39 am
Wow! I have never seen Dave so touchy. Seems like some of you are getting to him. Not to worry, both phils and Braves will make playoffs, ten anything could happen!
Rooferdawg
September 4th, 2010
11:40 am
*then
sid's bream
September 4th, 2010
11:41 am
bum ba bum bum, ba ba ba bum bum ba bum.
(funeral dirge)
The End Is Near
September 4th, 2010
11:46 am
Oh, oh…..don’t look now, but I think I just saw the Grim Reaper come out of the visiting team’s clubhouse.
Mutts
September 4th, 2010
11:46 am
27 games to go, but if it was over now The Braves would be NL East champs.
Greg Olson
September 4th, 2010
11:47 am
They sure don’t play much like our ‘91 team.
Mutts
September 4th, 2010
11:47 am
Braves have 6 head-to-head games to knock the cheese steak out of the Phillies.
Mutts
September 4th, 2010
11:49 am
It’s cute that the Philly fans with their storied history of losing view the Braves as the top of the mountain – that explains why so many of these losers blog on our Braves sites.
Largo
September 4th, 2010
11:49 am
At one time Ankiel couldn’t find the plate with the ball. Now he can’t find the ball with a bat.
Ted Turner
September 4th, 2010
11:50 am
Bring back Ted Turner!
rekingball
September 4th, 2010
11:51 am
All of these negative comments makes me wonder, if any of these so-called “fans” know anything about baseball, or keep up with the Braves at all.
Not really, because I don’t believe, that they do, and I don’t consider them fans.
Ill-a-delph
September 4th, 2010
11:52 am
I could care less if it was the braves, the mets, or the marlins in our way – it just happens to be the braves, and you are about to get steamrolled….
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2010
11:52 am
Rooferdawg: You needn’t worry about me. I’d post a photo of the beach from this hotel room I’m sitting in, but I’d prefer you envision me all seething and upset over comments about the first-place Braves (smile).
Philly Dilly
September 4th, 2010
11:55 am
How do you spell “loser”? B-R-A-V-E-S!
jim
September 4th, 2010
11:56 am
KK was dreadful, but Bobby could have pitched Greg Maddux or Warren Spahn last night, and if they didn’t get the RBI hit they would have lost against a AAAA pitcher and a weak pen. The offense the last 2 nights has been bad, and D Lee has been particularly conspicous in his lack of production. Over the time frame of the Lee trade, Ankiel has grossly underperformed, but he has produced more hits, and a dramatic win, than D Lee. Lee and Glaus have to exchange their current roles, and Freeman needs to see a lot more playing time!
Bob Horners Broken Wrist
September 4th, 2010
11:57 am
I’ve been as critical as any about the play of the Braves, but the truth is if we continue to win 2 out of 3 we should be in good shape. We may not win the East but given what we have to work with I think they are doing the best they can. Give the Phillies credit, they got through that brutal west coast trip in remarkable shape. You can’t fault the Braves for that. The problem is our pitchers are in a mini-slump at the wrong time. Its going to happen, look at San Diego. The Padres may not even make the playoffs the way they are playing right now. The key for the Braves is for them to take care of their own business and if that isn’t good enough, you have to tip your cap to the other team.
Mutts
September 4th, 2010
11:59 am
How do you spell team with worse record than Braves? P-H-I-L-LI-E-S!
rekingball
September 4th, 2010
12:00 pm
Sil-a-Delph@11:52……..Philadelphia might have the better team, and they may win the East(although, they are still in 2nd this day).
But we still have about 5 million better looking ladies, than the prettiest woman in Pa.
jim
September 4th, 2010
12:05 pm
The games against the Marlins and Cards are tough and just as important, as are the games against the rest of the remaining schedule. If we don’t win these games, the Phillie series won’t matter much either. It’s too bad we get to face Johnson and Sanchez this weekend and the Phils are going to miss them. The Phils have 7 games left with the Marlins, and they look to be the toughtest matchup before the Braves.
Ill-a-delph
September 4th, 2010
12:09 pm
The phillies are in second as of right now, thats okay, its a methodical push to the top for the phillies – just going to work everyday, taking care of business
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE LIVES IN THE ATL
September 4th, 2010
12:09 pm
STOP PLAYING DERREK LEE AND PUT GLAUS BACK IN,WE WERE IN 1ST PLACE BEFORE WE GOT LEE,AFTER WE GOT LEE,WE ARE 1 GAME UP ON PHILLY!
P.S. LONG LIVE THE CURSE,TED TURNER PLEASE BUY THE BRAVES BACK!
Bob Horners Broken Wrist
September 4th, 2010
12:12 pm
What I find funny about the Philly fans is that they just get on the blog to say, we’re done….which is just ludicrous when we’re winning at a .600 clip AND in 1st place still. Yes the Phillies are playing very well but YOUZ GUYZ aren’t even in 1st place. They kind of forget they got swept last week by Houston and that could happen again anytime. The last week of the season will tell the tale of who the better team is.
rekingball
September 4th, 2010
12:33 pm
And we still have better looking women.
Bob Horners Broken Wrist
September 4th, 2010
12:54 pm
ANother funny thing??? THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE!!!! Dude, you are funny….as in weird. If anything its THE CURSE OF BOBBY COX!!! The worst post-season manager in the history of baseball!!! Little league teams bunt better than the Braves and if it isn’t in THE BOOK, he ain’t doing it. The only problem with Bobby’s book is that it is missing all the chapters about how to manufacture runs in a pitching duel, when to take out a pitcher and how to effectively manage your bullpen.late in the season and post season. But then again that what you get when you borrow from the library.
I know…I know….I’m not as smart as Bobby Cox blah, blah, blah. However, anybody with a brain knows those are Bobby’s biggest faults and he can’t or won’t learn from his mistakes.
Greatest regular season manager ever…when he has three or more All-Star starting pitchers….not so great otherwise.
Brava
September 4th, 2010
12:54 pm
…And our players take showers and wash their hair every day, rather than every three days. Also, when our fans barf, it’s because the Phillies smell so awful and they do it in a toilet, not intentionally on eleven year old girls.
Bob Horners Broken Wrist
September 4th, 2010
12:58 pm
I would like to see Troy play a game or five if they aren’t going to play Fab Five Freddie. Dude raked when he was healthy and he should be feeling pretty good, although we all know how Bobby is. Bobby won’t take out the starter unless they have a bullet lodged in their carcas or ask to come out.
Annoying.
Brava
September 4th, 2010
12:59 pm
“Greatest regular season manager ever…when he has three or more All-Star starting pitchers….not so great otherwise.”
_______
Um, excuse me, but who exactly are the THREE All-Star starting pitchers playing for the Braves this year? I mean, they are sitting on top of the NL East, so I’d call this a great season for the Braves and Bobby Cox.
“Anyone with a brain” can see that you have no clue what you are ranting about.
nolarw
September 4th, 2010
1:00 pm
Thing was . . . KK looked terrible in minors. It is as if Cox didn’t have a clue as to what to expect. And, do you HAVE to have a five man rotation when the pennant is on the line ??
ijudgenot
September 4th, 2010
1:05 pm
Wren could have gotten a big bat but that would have meant giving up Teheran, Viscano, or Delgado. I am glad he did not. The Braves don’t have the cash to buyout a high priced players contract from a team so they have to giveup talent,i,e the Tex trade.
Bob Horners Broken Wrist
September 4th, 2010
1:08 pm
Brava, please go take a seat on the short bus….3 All Stars — do I really need to give you a history lesson??? They aren’t neccessarily on the All Star team all in the same year but the point is the QUALITY OF THE PITCHER. Avery, Glavine, Maddox, Neagle, Smoltz, Hudson, JJ, Lowe and pretty soon Hanson and Minor.
If you really think Cox is that great, by all means enumerate all the great decisions he has made in the playoffs….I for the life of me can’t think of any. Bonehead moves? They are legion.
Joe
September 4th, 2010
1:12 pm
“He just couldn’t get in a groove, to locate his pitches. He just never got in a rhythm tonight.”
Saying he couldn’t locate was an understatement, he was all over the place. The guy has some good stuff it’s just he has no idea where to throw it. If he’d attack the strike zone some more he might actually be able to get someone out. Truthfully most of the pitches the Marlins swung at were balls; I’m not even sure he threw a pitch in the zone the whole night.
I don’t like seeing the Phillies this close (even 2 or 3 games back) but that being said I still have a lot of faith in this team. It’s not made up of superstars and I believe some of the moves that Wren has made have been bad but I still believe in them. We have 6 games left against the Phillies. All the Braves have to do is play good solid baseball same as they’ve been doing all year.
BTW although I think Lowe is overpaid I really respect the guy for going out there and pitching in pain and I hope that this fuels him and the rest of the guys to play harder. We all need to remember he came to us as the “BIG GAME PITCHER” maybe this bone chip will motivate him to pitch that way. GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe
September 4th, 2010
1:14 pm
PS I do agree with some of the comments to let Troy Glaus play first. He’s rested and he has something to prove LET HIM PLAY BOBBY!!!!!!
para brave
September 4th, 2010
1:15 pm
Earth to Bobby KK hasen’t been in his groove or been able to locate a pitch for the last two years. Time to send him down for good. And take McOut with him
Brava
September 4th, 2010
1:16 pm
Read your own statement, idiot Horner. I can read, so you get on the short-bus and take all the other Cox haters with you, please! Then ask the driver to careen off a cliff.
zenman
September 4th, 2010
1:37 pm
Being from the filthadelphia area, I feel I can report with some accuracy your town and many of your spots fans, lack any basic knowledge of any of your sports, and are without question are the most obnoxious fans of any city. The definition of a cheese steak~horse meat on a stale roll, covered with cheese wiz. It is as gross as many of your fans. It’s a dirty town with with only one good thing and that is WXPN. The best city in Pa. is the home of the Steelers. Leep your mouths shut, you are the city of loosers. Oh! How is your college football doing again this year? An other joke.
zenman
September 4th, 2010
1:43 pm
To all you Brave fans who praise them when they win and bitch after every loss. Shut the hell up.
Skeezix
September 4th, 2010
1:43 pm
1. Why in this whole wide world did Bobby start K.K. last night? There had to be a better option.
2. Derrek Lee has been no help to this offense.
3. Are the Braves batters tensing up from the heat the Phils are applying?
4. The Phillies definitely have momentum–Braves need to put the brakes on this slide right now.
Evo621
September 4th, 2010
1:59 pm
I’m the only person in my family tree to be born and raised in Philly and not Georgia and Louisiana. I made multiple trips down South every year of my life, and attended UGA undergrad. From that perspective, I make the following observations (disclaimer: I am a die-hard Philly pro sports fan) to give you a primer on Philly fans as this rivalry is here to stay for awhile:
- Atlanta pro sports fans are, overwhelmingly, terrible. Terrible in terms of passion, attendance, and dedication to their franchises. Reason? Atlanta is flooded with Northeast transplants that has diluted out any die-hards, making it Phoenix-South or Tampa-North. Philly maintains a core of born and bred people, and has exploded in a population rebirth from suburban flight the last 10 years, all of whom are brought up worshipping our pro teams.
- The only true Georgia sports fans are ones who follow GA college sports, and primarily just football. Philly has terrible college football; any college passion goes towards our fairly good college basketball. However, to understand the Philly fan, you must realize that we follow our pro sports teams (all four of them…e/c the train-wreck Sixers at the moment) with the ferocity of UGA football followers.
- Women: the Southern beauty contention is (unfortunately for all men) a myth. Having attended UGA, there is absolutely no shortage of gorgeous women, assisted by the skewed women to men ratio (at least when I was there). However, one stroll around Penn State or Villanova or even some PA state schools will make you realize that the Southern beauties line is just a myth, and go toe to toe with any Southern campus in terms of beauty. I did find Southern girls more approachable, but that’s the only edge I would objectively give them.
- Outside of college campuses, the hotness ratio is about the same, or dare I say, Southern non-coeds are on average fatter (the Southern diet catches up with all the women eventually).
Hope that clarifies things guys. Two solid contending teams, I only wish this rivalry contained two ravenous fan bases (a la the Eagles-Giants, Phillies-Mets when the Mets are actually good), and not just one.
jim
September 4th, 2010
1:59 pm
What other option did Cox have last night?
Martinez is in the minors, and going with a 4-man roation is almost as ridiculus as the 63 Phils running Short and Bunning out every other day. The young arms like Minor and Hanson need less work, not more if they are going to survive into and through the playoffs, and even Hudson is piling up innings after not pitching for about 2 years. By the time the KK/Lowe start comers up again, Martinez and KImbrel will be added to the pen, and then Cox will have other options.
jim
September 4th, 2010
2:21 pm
Exactly what bonehead errors did Cox make in the playoffs?
He did not get deeked at 2nd on Pendleton’s double or pushed off first base. He did not bobble the DP grounder before the Leyritz HR, or decide to throw the slider to Leyritz. He did not get interfered with by the RF ump to allow the Jeter foul fly to drop. He probably didn’t order a bunt to end the ‘92 series or hit the shot off Maddux’s leg in the Philly series. He didn’t get suspended for drugs before the playoffs.
In hindsight one can find fault with a few of lineup moves that did not work out like pitching a double-digit winner Liebrandt in the extra inning game with the twins, but they were not the glaring errors like leaving a tired Pedro in to pitch to Matsui, or not putting in a defensive replacement for Buckner. Managerial decisions get second guessed because they were studip (Pedro) or because they didn’t work out (Liebrandt). What stupid Cox decisions cost us WS titles? (Does Cox get credit for pinch hitting Cabrera?)
Somebody
September 4th, 2010
4:20 pm
All you idiot fairweather fans who can’t spell to save your life, do us all a favor. Get out of Atlanta and become Yankee fans. Good riddance!
Somebody
September 4th, 2010
4:23 pm
Oh and you bandwagon Philly fans better leave too, before I taze you.
Ill-a-delph
September 4th, 2010
4:38 pm
what a post by Evo621 – I love it man
I’m the only person in my family tree to be born and raised in Philly and not Georgia and Louisiana. I made multiple trips down South every year of my life, and attended UGA undergrad. From that perspective, I make the following observations (disclaimer: I am a die-hard Philly pro sports fan) to give you a primer on Philly fans as this rivalry is here to stay for awhile:
- Atlanta pro sports fans are, overwhelmingly, terrible. Terrible in terms of passion, attendance, and dedication to their franchises. Reason? Atlanta is flooded with Northeast transplants that has diluted out any die-hards, making it Phoenix-South or Tampa-North. Philly maintains a core of born and bred people, and has exploded in a population rebirth from suburban flight the last 10 years, all of whom are brought up worshipping our pro teams.
- The only true Georgia sports fans are ones who follow GA college sports, and primarily just football. Philly has terrible college football; any college passion goes towards our fairly good college basketball. However, to understand the Philly fan, you must realize that we follow our pro sports teams (all four of them…e/c the train-wreck Sixers at the moment) with the ferocity of UGA football followers.
- Women: the Southern beauty contention is (unfortunately for all men) a myth. Having attended UGA, there is absolutely no shortage of gorgeous women, assisted by the skewed women to men ratio (at least when I was there). However, one stroll around Penn State or Villanova or even some PA state schools will make you realize that the Southern beauties line is just a myth, and go toe to toe with any Southern campus in terms of beauty. I did find Southern girls more approachable, but that’s the only edge I would objectively give them.
- Outside of college campuses, the hotness ratio is about the same, or dare I say, Southern non-coeds are on average fatter (the Southern diet catches up with all the women eventually).
Hope that clarifies things guys. Two solid contending teams, I only wish this rivalry contained two ravenous fan bases (a la the Eagles-Giants, Phillies-Mets when the Mets are actually good), and not just one.
zenman
September 4th, 2010
4:53 pm
The only female beauty on the campus of Villanova most likely is from out of state. Penn state is not Philadelphia. Their female volleyball team does rule. Most Philadelphia residents are too dumb to move from the ass hole of the world. The Main Line is not Phia. Phila is bombing Move, a judge at football games, pissing on fans at football games, and much more. Oh, and we have west Phila, north. Phila, and more beautiful, safe, and thriving areas. Give me a break, the only nice areas are outside the city limits of Phila. St. Joes being the exception, and it is barely in the city. If you love Phila, you’re too stupid to know better.
57Braves
September 4th, 2010
5:19 pm
Win or lose, this will be an exciting month. It will be Bobby’s last September in a baseball uniform. Let’s all hope he gets to keep wearing it in October.
bubba
September 4th, 2010
5:38 pm
It’s all or nothing. Just use 4 starters :Hanson,Hudson,Jurrjens,Minor. Need a long reliever.
bubba
September 4th, 2010
5:41 pm
Moylan will just have to pitch better or just give the ball to Farnsworth and say screw it..
bubba
September 4th, 2010
5:43 pm
Move Lowe to bullpen as possibly a long reliever since he wants to pitch hurt. He’s only hurting the team.
tim scott
September 4th, 2010
5:43 pm
Thank God college football season started!!!! As ugly as it was the Gators won it was painful watching but not as painful as watching the Braves down the stretch. Ankiel can you a joke, KK should HAVE NEVER been signed, Milk Dud I think that says it all, and finally D Lowe another over priced waste way to go Frank you did great on your signings. Lets focus on next year get Freddie signed so he can begin putting his staff together that hopefully will not include TP,Chino,or our pitching coach whats his name
coachk
September 4th, 2010
5:50 pm
quit winning Braves fans, haven’t been to the post season in yrs and we will this yr in spite of Bobby. All we need is just one player to show little emotion and lets go take this thing
Merlin
September 4th, 2010
6:19 pm
I seem to remember a lot of people on the blog begging for KK to start instead of Lowe. I suspect there are none who would admit it now. Memories are short when convenient and long the rest of the time.
The Marlins have always been our nemesis much as the Astros have been to the Phillies. They play us tough and we have trouble living in that salad bowl of a stadium. In spite of all those folks defending his signing KK is and has been a disaster. Jorge Campillo could have done as much and cost less.
Lilly was claimed and pulled back by the Dodgers he isn’t available. That dream is a fantasy. Young Martinez certainly deserves the start for all the good work he did in long relief. . Whether he gets it or not is another story.
Bobby Cox is a Hall of Fame manager. You don;t become the 4th winningest manager of modern times without knowing how to manage. Longevity does not come without talent. His handling of pitchers has always been less than sterling I agree and I have criticized him for it in the past. But he’s a winner. If you don’t like his management style find a manager you like and support him. calling him names is childish and serve no purpose except mindless venting. Bobby was the GM that built the team that started the 14 year run. He left the front office to manage it and won. Even the Yankees with their bottomless pit of money haven’t matched that run. Before someone says any manager could have done that with all those all stars I;d suggest you check the record books. Lots of teams have had multiple all star pitchers, none did what Bobby has done,
Bobby will never satisfy those who want him to throw a player under the bus like Ozzie Guillen. Bobby respects and supports his players too much to do that. That’s why when players are asked which manager they want to play for Bobby’s name is first on the list. In private I am sure – from interviews and articles by former Braves – that he tells them exactly how he feels. In public he has their back. His comment about KK is a rough as he gets. Good managers in every industry know that’s the right way to lead.
KK pitched badly and our bats did not come through with RISP. We have to correct that if we are to continue our pennant run. Everyone in a Braves uniform is doing their absolute best to do that. No one is out there dogging it and trying to lose. The Padres and Giants have similar issues as do the Phillies periodically or they wouldn’t be in 2nd place now. The Reds are the only team hitting consistently with RISP. If we find our bats we will win this division and in the playoffs. If we don;t we won’t.
Mike
September 4th, 2010
6:36 pm
Hey all you Phillie fans, granted you have a good team probably better then ours. Remember though, the so called better team doesn’t always win. We can attest to that. Don’t predict a division tiltle, pennant or WS win just yet,
robdawg08
September 4th, 2010
8:59 pm
How much will you decide that you want to contribute Kawacan’tpitchme ? Very little obviously…
rekingball
September 4th, 2010
11:08 pm
EVo621…….If you think Pa. women are prettier, then you must be a horse lover.
BRAVES FAN 1966
September 4th, 2010
11:51 pm
wow hwere should i start ? oh yeah here we go! peter and the curse of david justice[wtf kind of a name is that? david justice had more class]you sound like COMPLETE IDOTS [CAPS ARE FOR YOU CURSE]you sound like a couple of band wagon jumpers so do that jump on a wagon any wagon and ride the hell on out of here
BRAVES FAN 1966
September 4th, 2010
11:55 pm
well said reking ball