I like how some people are assuming that if we had beaten the Giants, we would’ve defeated the Phillies just like they did. You people do realize that baseball doesnt exactly work that way right?
Anybody here likes Rickie Weeks? He has power(29 homers), kills lefties, has speed……Never did have much of a glove at 2B, maybe he can convert to CF………
DS1, he actually had a pretty decent season with the glove this year with a 980 fielding %, but his career mark is 968…..It’s manageable a little better than Alfonso Soriano was…….He does k a lot but he hits for a decent average, power and gets a lot of walks……Classic slugger.
I guess you could leave him at 2B and move Martin to LF or RF(and Heyward to CF, and have a straight platoon with Mclouth and Diaz……..But with Weeks speed I think he could definitely learn CF.
And I think Schafer gets a good look this year. He will get some time in the spring, and if he is not ready, he will get a full look in the minors. Still way too young to totally give up on.
The folks that want to id him as a PED guy are not recognizing that he has been hurt for the past 2 years. Might never make it, but it won’t be because he can’t take HGH again. He hit pretty darn well right before he was hurt, but my buddie uga doesn’t want to admit that little tidbit.
October 24th, 2010
1:13 am
for crying out loud. we got beat by a better team.
the giants were/ are better. what is so are to understand that?
That’s a fair question uga-brave.
My response is that the Giants were not and are not better and that we didn’t get beat.
If not for two blown saves we would have won 6 of 7 against them in the regular season. For about two thirds of the season we were better than just about anybody in the National League.
Sure, we had injuries but every team has injuries. I still think we were good enough to be beat the Giants. I’m kind of offended by the idea that a team with six All Stars, the Braves, could be considered inferior to anybody. It should be noted that only one of those six (Martin) suffered a season ending injury during the regular season and it was in the last week of the season.
If you are one strike away from taking a 2-1 series lead and you end up losing that game, you didn’t get beat. You beat yourself. I was watching that game with people who never watch baseball and we all said going into the 9th that Conrad shouldn’t have been out there. That was mistake one by Bobby. Taking Kimbrel out for Dunn was mistake number two.
Seriously, there have been managers who’ve been fired for far less. I still cannot believe we lost that game.
That was easily in the top three or four most excruciating playoff losses in Braves history, right there with Game 4 in ‘96.
It’s funny because we were supposedly the better team that year and yet we didn’t win. Imagine that, the weaker team winning in spite of being the underdog.
Even if the Giants were better we still choked and it still bothers me. It’s incredible that the Braves could have the best home record in the majors all year, that they could win all but three series during the regular season and then get swept in their two home playoff games in the first round.
It’s amazing really. You would think it was freakin’ rocket science.
Seriously, if I really felt as you do that the Giants were measurably better than the Braves, is that supposed to make me be cool with losing?
When playoffs started I picked Rangers and Reds in the series. I like the Rangers but Giants seem like they are on a mission and usually after a team knocks off the Yankees, that is their World Series victory. Tough call but I say Rangers in full seven games and TV ratings will be a record low.
Exactly DS1, Schafer was our STARTING CF on Opening Day 2009 and was a STUD (opening day HR in PHILLY) until he injured his wrist. He hasn’t been the same since but should be given another try. Why not?
Bruce Bochy is the difference in the Giants making the playoffs and the Braves sitting at home. He was a master throughout the playoffs and now we can see why the Giants were so aggressive prying him away from San Diego. Almost every move he made paid off the entire postseason so far. I feel quite certain if he were managing the Braves the Brooks Conrad would not have been on the field to loose game 3 in Atlanta for the Braves. After the HInske home run to put the Braves ahead Diory Hernandez would have been playing second base. I’m looking forward to Fredi Gonzalez making in game decisions for this team as Bobby couldn’t get past not wanting to hurt someone’s feelings or confidence yet he kept putting them in a position to fail. He placed that need to be loyal (which is a kind quality) above doing the job at hand and winning ballgames. I’m not saying with the injuries the Braves had (Chipper, Medlin, Prado & the final blow Wagner) we could have beat the Phillies but the decision making had most of us scratching our heads at best in many postseasons. I hope Fredi is watching Bruce Bochy because it’s a blueprint for how the game should be played and managed.
I guess if the Giants had lost Huff and Wilson when we lost Prado and Wagner, they’d have still beat us.
Maybe if they’d lost Bumgardner when we lost Medlen. And maybe if they’d lost Sanchez or Zito when we lost Jurrjens. Or maybe if they’d lost Affeldt when we lost O’Flaherty. Or how about if they’d lost Uribe when we lost Chipper?
Not taking anything from the Giants, but they’d have never made the playoffs if they’d lost anything NEAR what the Braves did.
But the Braves still choked, I guess. Our third string second baseman just wasn’t quite good enough.
If you gave some folks a free Cobra Mustang Convertible, they’d complain because it didn’t have an automatic transimission!
I’m going to enjoy the WS because it doesn’t matter to me who wins. I would rather the Braves have lost to the team that wins the ring, and I thought the Giants were very classy when they clinched the NLDS. And I really don’t want Jeff to stumble into a championship . . . . Well maybe I care a little about who wins. But at least we won’t have the Yankees ads on tv next fall or the Phillies’ fans running their mouths on this blog!!!
So you don’t think Schafer gets an invite to ST? Or gets a legit shot when he is NOT hurt?
I guess he’s been faking it for the past 2 years, since he didn’t think he could play well enough after his lucky first week of 2009. So he faked the hand injury, and has been faking it since that time, knowing that all along it was the HGH that he may or may not have taken that made his numbers so great!!!
c’mon uga, put down the adult beverage and smell the coffee……….
Mitchell……… I totally agree that Bobby lost game 3 at home against the Giants. I left that game with only one thing to feel good about and that was this is the last year Bobby Cox can do that to us. I know there were some years that Bobby got players to play above their abilities because they liked him so much personally. But it’s hard to believe that the top 10 managers in the game wouldn’t have won as many divisions as the Braves with Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz and Chipper, Andrew, Justice, Gant, Sheffield, McGriff, Drew, Javy Lopez,Jordan etc…. I truly believe we would have had more than one WS title with that kind of talent. During the 90’s (Turner Ownership) the Braves were the Yankees of the NL as we signed almost every free agent we went after seriously. It wasn’t until the Time Warner regime that the Braves started to have to operate with mid-league payrolls. I’m with you Mitchell we should have won that game and should probably have advanced to play Philly. If we had won game 3 (1 strike away from being up 2-1) we have another home game the next day and we just might advance. I guess the best news about this is Bobby can go back to what he does best and that’s work in the front office and let the game decisions belong to a new mind.
Forget about Schafer, that wrist seems like is never gonna be healthy again, he needs to have a good year in the minor league’s and when that happens maybe he gets another shot.
DS-1 … The Padres didn’t can Bochy he got out of his contract to go manage the Giants.. The Padres were trying to offer him an extension but he left because he thought he’d have more support from the ownership group in SF.
DS1…… Bochy won NL manager of the year in 2006 his last season with San Diego. The Padre’s offered him an extension and at the same time the Giant’s pursued him. He thought he had a better future in SF and it looks like he was right.
I agree with you that hindsight is 20/20 but I was at game 3 and there were fans all around me who couldn’t believe that Brooks Conrad was on the field after he dropped the pop up that allowed the first Giants run to score. When the 9th inning rolled around these same fans were absolutely shocked that Conrad was still on the diamond. That is not hindsight that’s real time disbelief. And there were many situations like that over the years that even the average Braves fan had a hard time understanding Cox’s decisions as they went down not after they didn’t pan out… Big difference. I think most of America couldn’t believe that Conrad was on the field.
Not trying to make any excuses for Conrad, he had a bad series. But on his first error (no harm done), his view was obscured by the baserunner. Same thing happened to Rollins last night. It happens.
On the pop up, right after Heyward banged the wall, he should have been called off. I have played a lot of infield, and that was definitely Heyward’s ball. Not blaming Heyward, but Conrad was running backward trying to catch that ball with a basket catch, and missed it. He gave it a great try, but I did not blame him for missing a hard chance.
So, we can debate whether he should or shouldn’t have been in the game at the end, but he was. Done deal. That is what Bobby has done all his career. Pulled guys when they are lollygagging, and gives them playing time when they are busting it for him, which Conrad was doing.
And I suspect most fans see it my way. Remember the ovation he got before and during the next game! Most fans understand that he got some bad breaks that night.
So I disagree, most of American didn’t care if Conrad was on the field or not. But most Braves fans who know the way Bobby operates understands exactly why Conrad was in the game that night.
But it’s over. Too bad. It woulda been fun having one more chance against the Phillies.
DS1……. I do agree with you that Bobby will and deservedly so…. go down as one of the greatest managers ever.. The man has so many wonderful qualities and people skills are one of them. If you have read my many posts over the years I think I have fairly tempered my disappointment with some in game decisions with the understanding that Bobby got many teams in the playoffs that probably didn’t have the raw talent to get there and those teams got there because the players would run through a wall for Bobby. Unfortunately there are a lot of decisions that have to be made in baseball game and those decisions become magnified during the Post Season. The results speak for themselves in bot directions… The teams that got there that maybe shouldn’t have because of Bobby’s people skills and the Teams that probably should have won and didn’t because of his in-game decision making…. I love the man Bobby Cox and will miss many things about him and feel like I learned some important things about how to treat people. With that being said I look forward to a new way of thinking in the dugout. No offense intended my friend…
I think you will see that Fredi makes a lot of the same mistakes. Most managers mistakes are noticed, while the good they do seems to go unrecognized, for the most part.
If the play works, it’s the players. If it doesn’t, it’s the managers fault. Kind of human nature, I guess.
The kind of things Bobby did for his clubs are the sort of things many fans will never recognize. I put a lot of stock in what I hear around baseball about the man.
What is the purpose of adding “of hearts” to the phrase “in my heart”? Why do people, many in sports, continue to do that? Saying “in my heart of hearts” doesn’t do anything to aid your point.
DS1…… I agree with you that there is something to be said for going with the guys that are busting it for you… I was sitting in section 107 which you probably know is between home plate and the Braves dugout. From where I was sitting Brooks got booed very loudly twice during that game ( I was quite shocked by this because I have been to Turner field dozens of times and had yet to experience that with anyone but John Rocker) and there were a lot of fans all around me that were calling for him to be out of the game. I promise I’m not making that up. My personal feelings about it weren’t that Conrad should have been taken out as a punishment to him but that his head was so clouded (remember the pop up that landed directly above Derrick Lee at first base that Conrad ran over and called him off? Derrick could have stood still and caught that almost without having to reach) Brooks just seemed so nervous and really overwhelmed that I personally believe it would have done him some good to let him sit and get his composure. That’s just my take but I obviously don’t run the team. You make many good points in my opinion so I don’t mean to be argumentative with you I just had a very different experience in section 107 that night then I’ve ever had at Turner Field.
plenty of players have had great post season series and failed to have a great year the following season. 10 good games does not a star make, and in his first several seasons in Texas he sure has not been a star. He hit 643 this year playing half his games in one of the best hitters parks in baseball. Granted I’d rather have him than Gonzo but not by all that much so far. Get real folks
Just got in from partying my butt off. This is as happy as I’ve been about a series since the 1991 and 1992 World Series. And if any are wondering what about the 1995 World Series, lets just say that 1995 was ruined for me by the 1994 strike. There was very little excitement for me then. Anyway, never have I been so happy to see a team fall flat on it’s face like the Phillies did. I hate their fans so bad because of their trolling and the way they can’t help running their pie holes like they’ve done on our blog. Scumbags is what they are and unfortunately they won’t have the balls to show up now and take their punishment. That’s about all I have to say except I’m rooting for Schafer to make it back to the bigs because I can’t take another year of that piece of shyt McLouth.
Year after year when the Braves choke at the end I wonder what could have been. It seems in either league that its a couple of teams that always flow under the radar and sneak up on everyone. Just wish it could be the Braves. A few years ago it was the Marlins, White Sox, Angels and others but not the Braves, it just makes me sick. Another thing that turns my stomach is whenever we’re rumored to be interested in someone (ie Nelson Cruz, Cody Ross..and they both in WS now) we never jump the gun. We always settle for band-aids. Thats BS!
It’s so sweet to see the Phillies lose. Utley got hit again because the SOB stands on the plate. I wish Bob Gibson from 1968 could face him just once. It would be the end of that nonsense. Wanted Phils to die in 5 games in SF, but it’s so much sweeter for them to go down in front of their own fans, They are the best team in baseball and they came up short. That’s sweet. Cry, Phillies fans, cry.
Jeff Francoeur DID NOT cost himself $20 mil by refusing to sign the Brian McCann type contract that the Braves offered him back in 2007
Dont believe me? Lets look at what their salaries have been since McCann signed the contract:
………………………..McCann……………Francoeur…
2007………………….$500K………………..$427K……
2008………………….$800K………………..$460K…..
2009………………….$3.5 mil………………$3.375 mil.
2010………………….$5.5 mil………………$5.0 mil
2011………………….$6.5 mil………………..(?)
2012………………….$8.5 mil………………..(?)
2013………………….$12.0 mil………………(?)
When factoring in McCann’s $1 mil signing bonus….and Francoeur $25K plate appearance incentive in 2009…..since McCann’s extension took effect in 2007….McCann has earned $2.013 mil more than Francoeur in those 4 years.
My point all along has been that Francoeur’s gamble did not hurt him all that much…so far. Also, Brian McCann undersold himself and took the easy, secure money. Francoeur wanted to get PAID. Sure, us Braves fans want payroll friendly contracts because we know that the Braves are on a budget. However, athletes with true confidence in themselves….are not afraid of going for the big contract. For all of Francoeur’s faults….dude does believe in himself.
So when I hear people talk about how Francouer cost himself “$20 mil”…I cant help but laugh. If the Rangers offer Francoeur arbitration in 2011 (Francoeur has contributed as a Ranger….and you never know what heroics Francouer could come up with in the World Series)……I will stand behind my belief that Francoeur could easily surpass McCann’s $6.5 mil 2011 salary. Less players have been known to “finally get it” and turn into the kind of players they have the potential to be. Francoeur still has time for that to happen (and ultimately get paid as a result of it).
By the way, David O’Brien…arent you the same “David O’Brien who last winter said that the Braves could “easily” trade Derek Lowe and the $45 mil that was left on his contract without the Braves having to eat “too much” of his contract?
I’m still waiting for you “return to the real world from that fantasy land you were in” when you came up with that one, lol!
When did DOB say anything like that? Provide a link to an article and learn to use quotation marks correctly so we can see from where this “quote (that’s a joke) comes. He said the Braves were trying to do that, but never that they “could ‘easily’ trade” Lowe and his contract.
And as for Francoeur, who cares? He’ll make less money than he could have in the long run, but who cares? The only thing I care about Frenchy is that he isn’t making that money off of the Braves.
Christopher- Sorry, but “So Far” is the operative terminology here.
There’is no way on the face of this earth that Francoeur goes to arb this year and makes $6.5 mil this year and let’s just totally forget him ever seeing $8.5 or $12 mil the next couple of years. Just will NOT happen. I’d be surprised if he makes half as much those two seasons, so, maybe he didn’t lose $20 mil, but he damned well lost out on around $12 mil.
Tomas-If Weeks isn;t a very good defensive 2B, then why in the world would you put him in CF? Left maybe, but you want someone who can do more than tie there shoes in Center.
Now the Phillies (as an old friend might have said) – Maybe this will shut their obnoxious fans up for a while and they’ll realize that winning the division does not automatically assure a WS berth (as we’ve found out too many times).
They also proved me right once again – They ARE prone to going stone cold offensively. Next year we just need to take the lead and keep it.
From a NY Times article this morning assessing the past year and the future for the Yankees, I was glad to see that Tyler Kepner recognizes what the trade was abbout:
“The Yankees’ trade for Javier Vazquez seemed smart last December. But looking back, they spent $11.5 million on Vazquez while giving up pitcher Arodys Vizcaino, 19, who had a 2.74 E.R.A. in 17 starts for Atlanta’s Class A teams this season. Vazquez, meanwhile, pitched himself off the postseason roster.”
All that being said, I think many of us here realized that doom would follow Javy’s trade to the Yankees based on his past performance in NY.
If he were cheap enough, I wouldn’t mind seeing him back in Atlanta, where, due to his comfort level, I believe he’d put up good numbers again. I doubt it’s feasible to sign him, but after seeing what can happen to a staff – even one as deep as the Braves were this year – a bit of insurance would make me feel a lot more comfortable. I don’t know if Teherean and Delgado will be ready to step up this year like Medlen, Minor and Beachy did.
If he were cheap enough, I wouldn’t mind seeing him back in Atlanta, where, due to his comfort level, I believe he’d put up good numbers again. I doubt it’s feasible to sign him, but after seeing what can happen to a staff – even one as deep as the Braves were this year – a bit of insurance would make me feel a lot more comfortable
Yeah, maybe they talk to Vazquez, and get a feeling they can sign him for a contract much cheaper than Lowe’s, so they look to trade Lowe. It wouldn’t be much unlike what happened with Vazquez and Hudson last winter. Not much of a dropoff from Lowe to Hudson, and maybe you can pick up a prospect or two by trading Lowe like the Braves did with Dunn and Arodys last winter. Plus, you’d maybe free up $5, $10, $15, $20 million to address other needs.
Braveheart-Acquiring Vazquez and trading Lowe kind of negates the whole “Insurance” thing. I’d much rather leave the pitching as is rather than do a deal like that, which I see as sideways at best.
I’m kinda concerned that Javy might have a shoulder issue of some sort. According to Fangraphs, his average FB velocity went from 91.1mph down to 88.7mph(which jives with what I saw). His entire career he was always around 90.5mph – 91.8mph. So while a move back to the NL would be beneficial, I just don’t think he would be nearly as successful.
Efrim-Shoulder issues aside, I’d use him as a #4-5 starter instead of either Beachy or MInor, neither of whom I feel is quite ready for prime time – though they filled in pretty well, I’d like to see them get another year at AAA.
But, then again, Wren has basically said that Teheran and Delgado would be invited to Spring Training and should start the year at Gwinnett(?), so Beachy and Minor there would either make them one of the best Minor League starting staffs, or redundancy.
Good morning all, So the mighty Phills fell. I am pleased but kinda shocked, when they desided to make run for division they blew right by us like we were standing still. I guess we were.
Yup Mixxo we can forget about Cody Ross too, liberty will not spend big bucks. I have just been looking at Jeff Francouers career numbers. We traded him after only one bad season. If we could get him cheap from Texas he would be better than what we have now in LF since Liberty will not spend to get a Werth or Ross.
Well, I’m much less concerned with the Braves’ pitching (as presently constituted) than I am with the offense. And reading “Rowand” and “Ordonez” thrown around on this blog so much is a downer. I’ve got to believe that Wren can do better than either of those guys when it comes to punching up the offense.
Man, watching Ryan Howard take strike 3 looking reminded me of when Carlos Beltran took strike 3 looking against the Cards a few years back, and the Mets havent been to the postseason since. Lets hope the trend continues for the Phillies.
LTBF-GFet Francoeur again? Do you really have the tolerance for the sh..storm that would erupt?
Seems to me that the Denizens desires for acquistions this offseason kind of parallel what’s happening politically this mid term season – a shift towards the philosophy that everyone here sucks and anyone we get can’t be worse.
This is not a trend I’d like to see either from Braves’ fans or the electorate in general. That way lies total disaster, because what will be discovered is that YES, there can be a worse option – and it’s likely to be the one that many want the most. Brings to mind the old adage about doing anything in haste and repenting at leisure.
I’m afraid there will be way more repentance than any of us are comfortable with – whether or not the new LF practiced witchcraft or not. Sacrifices to Jobu may be in order, though.
OJ – That thought hit me last night, too. Wainwright’s got a better breaking ball, though – and thankfully no fake beard, either. That damned thing really needs to go.
5,393 comments Add your comment
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:18 am
giants in six. i called the giants over the phills. only one.
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
October 24th, 2010
1:19 am
I think the Rangers have an advantage over the Giants right away…
Molina knows ALL the pitchers on the Giants…so he can pass along that infor to his new teammates, so that will be a plus on THEIR side.
Snotboogie
October 24th, 2010
1:19 am
I like how some people are assuming that if we had beaten the Giants, we would’ve defeated the Phillies just like they did. You people do realize that baseball doesnt exactly work that way right?
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:20 am
giants in six. cliff lee wins one. this is done.
Tomas
October 24th, 2010
1:21 am
Anybody here likes Rickie Weeks? He has power(29 homers), kills lefties, has speed……Never did have much of a glove at 2B, maybe he can convert to CF………
Moe Berg
October 24th, 2010
1:21 am
uga-brave, I would like the Giants to win, but I think the Rangers have pitching, plus bats. I hope you are right, but I am skeptical.
Johnny Rocker
October 24th, 2010
1:23 am
I see a comparison between my beloved Braves & the Philles:
1995: Braves World Champs
1996: Braves lost in World Series
1997: Braves lost in NLCS
2008: Phils Champs
2009: Phils lost in World Series
2010: Phils lost in NLCS
Bottom line: IT’S NOT EASIER THAN YOU THINK!!
DS1
October 24th, 2010
1:23 am
uga
I was calling for the Rangers and the Giants as soon as the Braves were eliminated.
I say Giants in 7.
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:24 am
yeah the postseason aint so easy is it philly.
then again robert will tell it is.
DS1
October 24th, 2010
1:24 am
Tomas
How bad is Weeks at second? His biggest wart is he K’s a lot.
Playoffs!!!!
October 24th, 2010
1:28 am
Weeks might not be a bad idea—-he has speed and power; both we need. If he could be converted to the outfield.
Johnny Rocker
October 24th, 2010
1:30 am
Don’t forget about Schafer for CF
Moe Berg
October 24th, 2010
1:30 am
DS1, Weeks’ career numbers are: .253/.355/.429/.784, with a strike out to walk ratio of: 648:303.
Playoffs!!!!
October 24th, 2010
1:31 am
Rangers in 6–print it, save it
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:34 am
schafer will never see center for the braves. the dude is a ped guy.
Tomas
October 24th, 2010
1:35 am
DS1, he actually had a pretty decent season with the glove this year with a 980 fielding %, but his career mark is 968…..It’s manageable a little better than Alfonso Soriano was…….He does k a lot but he hits for a decent average, power and gets a lot of walks……Classic slugger.
I guess you could leave him at 2B and move Martin to LF or RF(and Heyward to CF, and have a straight platoon with Mclouth and Diaz……..But with Weeks speed I think he could definitely learn CF.
jed
October 24th, 2010
1:38 am
uga–wasnt that just hgh, not steroids that schafer was doing? and he’s awfully young…not like a 30 y/o ped case. you sure he aint gonna make it?
DS1
October 24th, 2010
1:38 am
Whether a guy has speed or not, doesn’t necessarily mean he will be able to learn to play the outfield. Doesn’t mean he couldn’t either.
Just one of those things that you don’t know until you try it.
While I doubt we will see Weeks in ATL, my guess is that FW will bring in a player who will surprise a lot of us.
Nite………….
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:38 am
sign werth. that is the guy. right handed hitter. blah this. blah that.\\
werth is the guy we need. no more platoons. werth in left. j- hey in rigth.
DS1
October 24th, 2010
1:41 am
And I think Schafer gets a good look this year. He will get some time in the spring, and if he is not ready, he will get a full look in the minors. Still way too young to totally give up on.
The folks that want to id him as a PED guy are not recognizing that he has been hurt for the past 2 years. Might never make it, but it won’t be because he can’t take HGH again. He hit pretty darn well right before he was hurt, but my buddie uga doesn’t want to admit that little tidbit.
Tomas
October 24th, 2010
1:41 am
uga-brave, $$$, and what about CF?
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:43 am
thomas. want to compete. sign jason werth.
Mitchell
October 24th, 2010
1:44 am
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:13 am
for crying out loud. we got beat by a better team.
the giants were/ are better. what is so are to understand that?
That’s a fair question uga-brave.
My response is that the Giants were not and are not better and that we didn’t get beat.
If not for two blown saves we would have won 6 of 7 against them in the regular season. For about two thirds of the season we were better than just about anybody in the National League.
Sure, we had injuries but every team has injuries. I still think we were good enough to be beat the Giants. I’m kind of offended by the idea that a team with six All Stars, the Braves, could be considered inferior to anybody. It should be noted that only one of those six (Martin) suffered a season ending injury during the regular season and it was in the last week of the season.
If you are one strike away from taking a 2-1 series lead and you end up losing that game, you didn’t get beat. You beat yourself. I was watching that game with people who never watch baseball and we all said going into the 9th that Conrad shouldn’t have been out there. That was mistake one by Bobby. Taking Kimbrel out for Dunn was mistake number two.
Seriously, there have been managers who’ve been fired for far less. I still cannot believe we lost that game.
That was easily in the top three or four most excruciating playoff losses in Braves history, right there with Game 4 in ‘96.
It’s funny because we were supposedly the better team that year and yet we didn’t win. Imagine that, the weaker team winning in spite of being the underdog.
Even if the Giants were better we still choked and it still bothers me. It’s incredible that the Braves could have the best home record in the majors all year, that they could win all but three series during the regular season and then get swept in their two home playoff games in the first round.
It’s amazing really. You would think it was freakin’ rocket science.
Seriously, if I really felt as you do that the Giants were measurably better than the Braves, is that supposed to make me be cool with losing?
I mean, really. “We got beat by a better team.”
Oh, well then it’s okay then. Carry on.
Ray Parker Jr.
October 24th, 2010
1:44 am
When playoffs started I picked Rangers and Reds in the series. I like the Rangers but Giants seem like they are on a mission and usually after a team knocks off the Yankees, that is their World Series victory. Tough call but I say Rangers in full seven games and TV ratings will be a record low.
Tomas
October 24th, 2010
1:45 am
uga-brave, no doubt that would be awesome for the team……but there is just no money
Ray Parker Jr.
October 24th, 2010
1:46 am
Go to bed and church tomorrow you hooligans. Ha!
Johnny Rocker
October 24th, 2010
1:46 am
Exactly DS1, Schafer was our STARTING CF on Opening Day 2009 and was a STUD (opening day HR in PHILLY) until he injured his wrist. He hasn’t been the same since but should be given another try. Why not?
bravesfaninNashville
October 24th, 2010
1:50 am
Bruce Bochy is the difference in the Giants making the playoffs and the Braves sitting at home. He was a master throughout the playoffs and now we can see why the Giants were so aggressive prying him away from San Diego. Almost every move he made paid off the entire postseason so far. I feel quite certain if he were managing the Braves the Brooks Conrad would not have been on the field to loose game 3 in Atlanta for the Braves. After the HInske home run to put the Braves ahead Diory Hernandez would have been playing second base. I’m looking forward to Fredi Gonzalez making in game decisions for this team as Bobby couldn’t get past not wanting to hurt someone’s feelings or confidence yet he kept putting them in a position to fail. He placed that need to be loyal (which is a kind quality) above doing the job at hand and winning ballgames. I’m not saying with the injuries the Braves had (Chipper, Medlin, Prado & the final blow Wagner) we could have beat the Phillies but the decision making had most of us scratching our heads at best in many postseasons. I hope Fredi is watching Bruce Bochy because it’s a blueprint for how the game should be played and managed.
DS1
October 24th, 2010
1:52 am
I guess if the Giants had lost Huff and Wilson when we lost Prado and Wagner, they’d have still beat us.
Maybe if they’d lost Bumgardner when we lost Medlen. And maybe if they’d lost Sanchez or Zito when we lost Jurrjens. Or maybe if they’d lost Affeldt when we lost O’Flaherty. Or how about if they’d lost Uribe when we lost Chipper?
Not taking anything from the Giants, but they’d have never made the playoffs if they’d lost anything NEAR what the Braves did.
But the Braves still choked, I guess. Our third string second baseman just wasn’t quite good enough.
If you gave some folks a free Cobra Mustang Convertible, they’d complain because it didn’t have an automatic transimission!
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:53 am
what part of the equation. that you dont understand?
schaffer is a ped guy.
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:54 am
he aint goming back.
MIBravesFan
October 24th, 2010
1:54 am
I’m going to enjoy the WS because it doesn’t matter to me who wins. I would rather the Braves have lost to the team that wins the ring, and I thought the Giants were very classy when they clinched the NLDS. And I really don’t want Jeff to stumble into a championship . . . . Well maybe I care a little about who wins. But at least we won’t have the Yankees ads on tv next fall or the Phillies’ fans running their mouths on this blog!!!
DS1
October 24th, 2010
1:55 am
Nashville
And if Lincecum had given up a homer to let the Phillies go ahead in the 8th, what would folks be saying about Bochy?
I’m not saying anything bad about Bochy, but hindsight is 20/20, my friend.
If Bochy were such a master, why did the Padres can him?
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
1:58 am
putting the braves out of the playoffs was kinda putting your old dog to asleep.
you knew their was a chance. but you knew the outcome.
Johnny Rocker
October 24th, 2010
1:58 am
What’s not to like about Jordan Schafer? Dude became the 99th MLB player in MLB HISTORY hit a HOME RUN in his 1st at bat. Want more? UGA sucks anyway…
DS1
October 24th, 2010
1:59 am
uga
So you don’t think Schafer gets an invite to ST? Or gets a legit shot when he is NOT hurt?
I guess he’s been faking it for the past 2 years, since he didn’t think he could play well enough after his lucky first week of 2009. So he faked the hand injury, and has been faking it since that time, knowing that all along it was the HGH that he may or may not have taken that made his numbers so great!!!
c’mon uga, put down the adult beverage and smell the coffee……….
MIBravesFan
October 24th, 2010
1:59 am
Good night everyone. Take care all
Johnny Rocker
October 24th, 2010
2:01 am
He then singled in his 2nd AB and – in a show of respect – was walked intentionally in his 3rd AB…against PHILLY!!!
DS1
October 24th, 2010
2:01 am
Though I am not counting on Schafer to make it to the bigs, but I am pulling for the kid.
Same as Teheran, Pastornicky, Delgado, Salcedo, Bethancourt, etc.
bravesfaninNashville
October 24th, 2010
2:04 am
Mitchell……… I totally agree that Bobby lost game 3 at home against the Giants. I left that game with only one thing to feel good about and that was this is the last year Bobby Cox can do that to us. I know there were some years that Bobby got players to play above their abilities because they liked him so much personally. But it’s hard to believe that the top 10 managers in the game wouldn’t have won as many divisions as the Braves with Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz and Chipper, Andrew, Justice, Gant, Sheffield, McGriff, Drew, Javy Lopez,Jordan etc…. I truly believe we would have had more than one WS title with that kind of talent. During the 90’s (Turner Ownership) the Braves were the Yankees of the NL as we signed almost every free agent we went after seriously. It wasn’t until the Time Warner regime that the Braves started to have to operate with mid-league payrolls. I’m with you Mitchell we should have won that game and should probably have advanced to play Philly. If we had won game 3 (1 strike away from being up 2-1) we have another home game the next day and we just might advance. I guess the best news about this is Bobby can go back to what he does best and that’s work in the front office and let the game decisions belong to a new mind.
Tomas
October 24th, 2010
2:05 am
Forget about Schafer, that wrist seems like is never gonna be healthy again, he needs to have a good year in the minor league’s and when that happens maybe he gets another shot.
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
2:05 am
your guy has not hit a lick anywhere. good luck.
bravesfaninNashville
October 24th, 2010
2:08 am
DS-1 … The Padres didn’t can Bochy he got out of his contract to go manage the Giants.. The Padres were trying to offer him an extension but he left because he thought he’d have more support from the ownership group in SF.
DS1
October 24th, 2010
2:09 am
go to bed uga, you ain’t making any sense………
Johnny Rocker
October 24th, 2010
2:09 am
Schafer is OUR guy! Let’s root for him! What’s wrong with you UGA? Sorry that your team sucks this year but…
Johnny Rocker
October 24th, 2010
2:11 am
NASHVILLE: It was the UMPIRES not BOBBY!!
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
2:12 am
rocker, seriously, wow. nate is already better. the guy will never sniff our outfield.
DS1
October 24th, 2010
2:14 am
I stand corrected………on Bochy.
But if you are going to just slam one of the best managers ever in baseball, I have to tell you, we aren’t going to agree on much.
Are you saying that the success of this season did not rest squarely on the shoulders of Bobby and maybe one of his best managing jobs?
Anyways, he’s gone. Be happy. Leave it alone. The more you slam him, the more most of us here will pay you little attention.
But next year is another year. Will the doubters cut Fredi some slack when he makes a move that doesn’t work out? He surely will.
Sure is easy to second guess from the comfort of our keyboards.
Nite Braves fans………
bravesfaninNashville
October 24th, 2010
2:17 am
DS1…… Bochy won NL manager of the year in 2006 his last season with San Diego. The Padre’s offered him an extension and at the same time the Giant’s pursued him. He thought he had a better future in SF and it looks like he was right.
I agree with you that hindsight is 20/20 but I was at game 3 and there were fans all around me who couldn’t believe that Brooks Conrad was on the field after he dropped the pop up that allowed the first Giants run to score. When the 9th inning rolled around these same fans were absolutely shocked that Conrad was still on the diamond. That is not hindsight that’s real time disbelief. And there were many situations like that over the years that even the average Braves fan had a hard time understanding Cox’s decisions as they went down not after they didn’t pan out… Big difference. I think most of America couldn’t believe that Conrad was on the field.
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
2:17 am
yeah georgia just dropped kentucky. 28-3 before the cats knew what was up.
DS1
October 24th, 2010
2:24 am
Nashville
Not trying to make any excuses for Conrad, he had a bad series. But on his first error (no harm done), his view was obscured by the baserunner. Same thing happened to Rollins last night. It happens.
On the pop up, right after Heyward banged the wall, he should have been called off. I have played a lot of infield, and that was definitely Heyward’s ball. Not blaming Heyward, but Conrad was running backward trying to catch that ball with a basket catch, and missed it. He gave it a great try, but I did not blame him for missing a hard chance.
So, we can debate whether he should or shouldn’t have been in the game at the end, but he was. Done deal. That is what Bobby has done all his career. Pulled guys when they are lollygagging, and gives them playing time when they are busting it for him, which Conrad was doing.
And I suspect most fans see it my way. Remember the ovation he got before and during the next game! Most fans understand that he got some bad breaks that night.
So I disagree, most of American didn’t care if Conrad was on the field or not. But most Braves fans who know the way Bobby operates understands exactly why Conrad was in the game that night.
But it’s over. Too bad. It woulda been fun having one more chance against the Phillies.
bravesfaninNashville
October 24th, 2010
2:26 am
DS1……. I do agree with you that Bobby will and deservedly so…. go down as one of the greatest managers ever.. The man has so many wonderful qualities and people skills are one of them. If you have read my many posts over the years I think I have fairly tempered my disappointment with some in game decisions with the understanding that Bobby got many teams in the playoffs that probably didn’t have the raw talent to get there and those teams got there because the players would run through a wall for Bobby. Unfortunately there are a lot of decisions that have to be made in baseball game and those decisions become magnified during the Post Season. The results speak for themselves in bot directions… The teams that got there that maybe shouldn’t have because of Bobby’s people skills and the Teams that probably should have won and didn’t because of his in-game decision making…. I love the man Bobby Cox and will miss many things about him and feel like I learned some important things about how to treat people. With that being said I look forward to a new way of thinking in the dugout. No offense intended my friend…
DS1
October 24th, 2010
2:30 am
Nashville
I think you will see that Fredi makes a lot of the same mistakes. Most managers mistakes are noticed, while the good they do seems to go unrecognized, for the most part.
If the play works, it’s the players. If it doesn’t, it’s the managers fault. Kind of human nature, I guess.
The kind of things Bobby did for his clubs are the sort of things many fans will never recognize. I put a lot of stock in what I hear around baseball about the man.
Let’s just hope Fredi learned well.
DS1
October 24th, 2010
2:32 am
Nashville
And I will admit, some of BC’s tactical decisions leave me scratching my head too.
Good conversation though. later……..
DS1
October 24th, 2010
2:34 am
uga
I have a prediction: Gregor Blanco will never sniff Braves outfield grass again.
Sniffing grass? Isn’t that illegal?
Johnny Rocker
October 24th, 2010
2:35 am
NASHVILLE I do agree with you on some points about Cox…
but the UMPIRES got that call wrong SO many times!!!
Of course more recently in Games 1 & 4 of the NLDS this year, but what about the 1991 World Series & the 1997 NLCS and I can go on and on…
It’s not Bobby’s fault!
D.J.
October 24th, 2010
2:38 am
What is the purpose of adding “of hearts” to the phrase “in my heart”? Why do people, many in sports, continue to do that? Saying “in my heart of hearts” doesn’t do anything to aid your point.
bravesfaninNashville
October 24th, 2010
2:39 am
DS1…… I agree with you that there is something to be said for going with the guys that are busting it for you… I was sitting in section 107 which you probably know is between home plate and the Braves dugout. From where I was sitting Brooks got booed very loudly twice during that game ( I was quite shocked by this because I have been to Turner field dozens of times and had yet to experience that with anyone but John Rocker) and there were a lot of fans all around me that were calling for him to be out of the game. I promise I’m not making that up. My personal feelings about it weren’t that Conrad should have been taken out as a punishment to him but that his head was so clouded (remember the pop up that landed directly above Derrick Lee at first base that Conrad ran over and called him off? Derrick could have stood still and caught that almost without having to reach) Brooks just seemed so nervous and really overwhelmed that I personally believe it would have done him some good to let him sit and get his composure. That’s just my take but I obviously don’t run the team. You make many good points in my opinion so I don’t mean to be argumentative with you I just had a very different experience in section 107 that night then I’ve ever had at Turner Field.
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
2:39 am
wow, i lose. wake me up when schaffer plays for the braves.
uga-brave
October 24th, 2010
2:42 am
wont be the first time. just dont see it.
Big Jake
October 24th, 2010
2:48 am
plenty of players have had great post season series and failed to have a great year the following season. 10 good games does not a star make, and in his first several seasons in Texas he sure has not been a star. He hit 643 this year playing half his games in one of the best hitters parks in baseball. Granted I’d rather have him than Gonzo but not by all that much so far. Get real folks
Paddy O
October 24th, 2010
3:14 am
Braves fans – how do ya’ll like Jeff Francoeur going to the World Series? At least the ATL will be represented in spirit.
RHR
October 24th, 2010
3:16 am
bengie molina has got to be a happy guy tonight. he gets a ring no matter what. the yr of the pitcher. i love it.
RHR
October 24th, 2010
3:19 am
bochy reminded me of bobby when he put lincecum in. i yelled omg you’re overmanaging! get wilson up! at my tv. a few times.
Jerry
October 24th, 2010
3:21 am
Just got in from partying my butt off. This is as happy as I’ve been about a series since the 1991 and 1992 World Series. And if any are wondering what about the 1995 World Series, lets just say that 1995 was ruined for me by the 1994 strike. There was very little excitement for me then. Anyway, never have I been so happy to see a team fall flat on it’s face like the Phillies did. I hate their fans so bad because of their trolling and the way they can’t help running their pie holes like they’ve done on our blog. Scumbags is what they are and unfortunately they won’t have the balls to show up now and take their punishment. That’s about all I have to say except I’m rooting for Schafer to make it back to the bigs because I can’t take another year of that piece of shyt McLouth.
James
October 24th, 2010
3:30 am
Year after year when the Braves choke at the end I wonder what could have been. It seems in either league that its a couple of teams that always flow under the radar and sneak up on everyone. Just wish it could be the Braves. A few years ago it was the Marlins, White Sox, Angels and others but not the Braves, it just makes me sick. Another thing that turns my stomach is whenever we’re rumored to be interested in someone (ie Nelson Cruz, Cody Ross..and they both in WS now) we never jump the gun. We always settle for band-aids. Thats BS!
Couch Tater
October 24th, 2010
6:36 am
Braveheart –
Have a cigar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL4ia37G4Uw&feature=related
space monkey
October 24th, 2010
6:52 am
It’s so sweet to see the Phillies lose. Utley got hit again because the SOB stands on the plate. I wish Bob Gibson from 1968 could face him just once. It would be the end of that nonsense. Wanted Phils to die in 5 games in SF, but it’s so much sweeter for them to go down in front of their own fans, They are the best team in baseball and they came up short. That’s sweet. Cry, Phillies fans, cry.
Jeff R
October 24th, 2010
7:20 am
Good to see the Giants and the Rangers upend the favorite Yankees and Phillies. Should be a fun series.
Christopher Chance
October 24th, 2010
8:27 am
Jeff Francoeur DID NOT cost himself $20 mil by refusing to sign the Brian McCann type contract that the Braves offered him back in 2007
Dont believe me? Lets look at what their salaries have been since McCann signed the contract:
………………………..McCann……………Francoeur…
2007………………….$500K………………..$427K……
2008………………….$800K………………..$460K…..
2009………………….$3.5 mil………………$3.375 mil.
2010………………….$5.5 mil………………$5.0 mil
2011………………….$6.5 mil………………..(?)
2012………………….$8.5 mil………………..(?)
2013………………….$12.0 mil………………(?)
When factoring in McCann’s $1 mil signing bonus….and Francoeur $25K plate appearance incentive in 2009…..since McCann’s extension took effect in 2007….McCann has earned $2.013 mil more than Francoeur in those 4 years.
My point all along has been that Francoeur’s gamble did not hurt him all that much…so far. Also, Brian McCann undersold himself and took the easy, secure money. Francoeur wanted to get PAID. Sure, us Braves fans want payroll friendly contracts because we know that the Braves are on a budget. However, athletes with true confidence in themselves….are not afraid of going for the big contract. For all of Francoeur’s faults….dude does believe in himself.
So when I hear people talk about how Francouer cost himself “$20 mil”…I cant help but laugh. If the Rangers offer Francoeur arbitration in 2011 (Francoeur has contributed as a Ranger….and you never know what heroics Francouer could come up with in the World Series)……I will stand behind my belief that Francoeur could easily surpass McCann’s $6.5 mil 2011 salary. Less players have been known to “finally get it” and turn into the kind of players they have the potential to be. Francoeur still has time for that to happen (and ultimately get paid as a result of it).
By the way, David O’Brien…arent you the same “David O’Brien who last winter said that the Braves could “easily” trade Derek Lowe and the $45 mil that was left on his contract without the Braves having to eat “too much” of his contract?
I’m still waiting for you “return to the real world from that fantasy land you were in” when you came up with that one, lol!
richbrave
October 24th, 2010
8:54 am
48
Home of the Braves
October 24th, 2010
8:56 am
Christopher Chance,
When did DOB say anything like that? Provide a link to an article and learn to use quotation marks correctly so we can see from where this “quote (that’s a joke) comes. He said the Braves were trying to do that, but never that they “could ‘easily’ trade” Lowe and his contract.
And as for Francoeur, who cares? He’ll make less money than he could have in the long run, but who cares? The only thing I care about Frenchy is that he isn’t making that money off of the Braves.
Lew
October 24th, 2010
8:58 am
Christopher- Sorry, but “So Far” is the operative terminology here.
There’is no way on the face of this earth that Francoeur goes to arb this year and makes $6.5 mil this year and let’s just totally forget him ever seeing $8.5 or $12 mil the next couple of years. Just will NOT happen. I’d be surprised if he makes half as much those two seasons, so, maybe he didn’t lose $20 mil, but he damned well lost out on around $12 mil.
Tomas-If Weeks isn;t a very good defensive 2B, then why in the world would you put him in CF? Left maybe, but you want someone who can do more than tie there shoes in Center.
Now the Phillies (as an old friend might have said) – Maybe this will shut their obnoxious fans up for a while and they’ll realize that winning the division does not automatically assure a WS berth (as we’ve found out too many times).
They also proved me right once again – They ARE prone to going stone cold offensively. Next year we just need to take the lead and keep it.
Venice Jim
October 24th, 2010
9:21 am
From a NY Times article this morning assessing the past year and the future for the Yankees, I was glad to see that Tyler Kepner recognizes what the trade was abbout:
“The Yankees’ trade for Javier Vazquez seemed smart last December. But looking back, they spent $11.5 million on Vazquez while giving up pitcher Arodys Vizcaino, 19, who had a 2.74 E.R.A. in 17 starts for Atlanta’s Class A teams this season. Vazquez, meanwhile, pitched himself off the postseason roster.”
Venice Jim
October 24th, 2010
9:30 am
about
Steve McP
October 24th, 2010
9:39 am
VJ – the trade also freed up the money that allowed us to sign Hudson – a benefit few commentators will see, but very tangible for the Braves.
Lew
October 24th, 2010
9:47 am
All that being said, I think many of us here realized that doom would follow Javy’s trade to the Yankees based on his past performance in NY.
If he were cheap enough, I wouldn’t mind seeing him back in Atlanta, where, due to his comfort level, I believe he’d put up good numbers again. I doubt it’s feasible to sign him, but after seeing what can happen to a staff – even one as deep as the Braves were this year – a bit of insurance would make me feel a lot more comfortable. I don’t know if Teherean and Delgado will be ready to step up this year like Medlen, Minor and Beachy did.
Mixxo
October 24th, 2010
9:56 am
F*** Jordan Schafer and the horse he rode in on.
Jeezus!
Mixxo
October 24th, 2010
9:59 am
ask mixxo, he knows all the professional phillies blogs – RHR
Sorry, no I don’t “know” them, never been there. I was pulling for the Giants…..babe.
Braveheart
October 24th, 2010
10:00 am
If he were cheap enough, I wouldn’t mind seeing him back in Atlanta, where, due to his comfort level, I believe he’d put up good numbers again. I doubt it’s feasible to sign him, but after seeing what can happen to a staff – even one as deep as the Braves were this year – a bit of insurance would make me feel a lot more comfortable
Yeah, maybe they talk to Vazquez, and get a feeling they can sign him for a contract much cheaper than Lowe’s, so they look to trade Lowe. It wouldn’t be much unlike what happened with Vazquez and Hudson last winter. Not much of a dropoff from Lowe to Hudson, and maybe you can pick up a prospect or two by trading Lowe like the Braves did with Dunn and Arodys last winter. Plus, you’d maybe free up $5, $10, $15, $20 million to address other needs.
Braveheart
October 24th, 2010
10:02 am
Not much of a dropoff from Lowe to Hudson
Meant to say not much of a dropoff from Lowe to Vazquez (maybe even an improvement).
Mixxo
October 24th, 2010
10:04 am
We can forget about Werth…..no way Liberty will shell out that kinda cash.
Lew
October 24th, 2010
10:05 am
Braveheart-Acquiring Vazquez and trading Lowe kind of negates the whole “Insurance” thing. I’d much rather leave the pitching as is rather than do a deal like that, which I see as sideways at best.
Lew
October 24th, 2010
10:05 am
Mixxo-This is just now occurring to you?
Efrim
October 24th, 2010
10:13 am
I’m kinda concerned that Javy might have a shoulder issue of some sort. According to Fangraphs, his average FB velocity went from 91.1mph down to 88.7mph(which jives with what I saw). His entire career he was always around 90.5mph – 91.8mph. So while a move back to the NL would be beneficial, I just don’t think he would be nearly as successful.
Mixxo
October 24th, 2010
10:36 am
No Lew, I’ve known this all along. I just enjoy toying with some of the idiots here.
Lew
October 24th, 2010
10:36 am
Efrim-Shoulder issues aside, I’d use him as a #4-5 starter instead of either Beachy or MInor, neither of whom I feel is quite ready for prime time – though they filled in pretty well, I’d like to see them get another year at AAA.
But, then again, Wren has basically said that Teheran and Delgado would be invited to Spring Training and should start the year at Gwinnett(?), so Beachy and Minor there would either make them one of the best Minor League starting staffs, or redundancy.
Lew
October 24th, 2010
10:37 am
Mixxo-Kind of like they do to you?
LTBF
October 24th, 2010
10:38 am
Good morning all, So the mighty Phills fell. I am pleased but kinda shocked, when they desided to make run for division they blew right by us like we were standing still. I guess we were.
LTBF
October 24th, 2010
10:48 am
Yup Mixxo we can forget about Cody Ross too, liberty will not spend big bucks. I have just been looking at Jeff Francouers career numbers. We traded him after only one bad season. If we could get him cheap from Texas he would be better than what we have now in LF since Liberty will not spend to get a Werth or Ross.
Mixxo
October 24th, 2010
10:49 am
Lew – Whatever gets their rocks off Lew. I’ve forgotten more about the Atlanta Braves than most of these kids will ever know, but I’m fine with that.
Mixxo
October 24th, 2010
10:52 am
LTBF – Yeah, he’d be better than what we have now, but I’ll pass on Frenchie. Almost anything out there would be better than what we have.
LTBF
October 24th, 2010
10:56 am
Mixxo: Did you notice everyone left afer we showed up.
LTBF
October 24th, 2010
10:57 am
Guess I will go too.
Jeff R
October 24th, 2010
10:59 am
Well, I’m much less concerned with the Braves’ pitching (as presently constituted) than I am with the offense. And reading “Rowand” and “Ordonez” thrown around on this blog so much is a downer. I’ve got to believe that Wren can do better than either of those guys when it comes to punching up the offense.
Mixxo
October 24th, 2010
11:07 am
Guess I will go too. – Yeah same here. Screw ‘em! ….and the horse they rode in on!
O.J.
October 24th, 2010
11:13 am
Man, watching Ryan Howard take strike 3 looking reminded me of when Carlos Beltran took strike 3 looking against the Cards a few years back, and the Mets havent been to the postseason since. Lets hope the trend continues for the Phillies.
Lew
October 24th, 2010
11:13 am
LTBF-GFet Francoeur again? Do you really have the tolerance for the sh..storm that would erupt?
Seems to me that the Denizens desires for acquistions this offseason kind of parallel what’s happening politically this mid term season – a shift towards the philosophy that everyone here sucks and anyone we get can’t be worse.
This is not a trend I’d like to see either from Braves’ fans or the electorate in general. That way lies total disaster, because what will be discovered is that YES, there can be a worse option – and it’s likely to be the one that many want the most. Brings to mind the old adage about doing anything in haste and repenting at leisure.
I’m afraid there will be way more repentance than any of us are comfortable with – whether or not the new LF practiced witchcraft or not. Sacrifices to Jobu may be in order, though.
Lew
October 24th, 2010
11:15 am
OJ – That thought hit me last night, too. Wainwright’s got a better breaking ball, though – and thankfully no fake beard, either. That damned thing really needs to go.
Doc Holiday
October 24th, 2010
11:16 am
ARoid and Howard making last out in their respective series………SWEET.
Victorino being doubled up to kill the rally and a clear momentum for the phillies………..PRICELESS