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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,528 comments Add your comment
Murph
December 21st, 2010
6:52 pm
118 – nolie
92 – murph
? – you
jerry
December 21st, 2010
6:53 pm
One WS win in 44 years. Name a 44 year period when the Yankees had only one WS win. Money matters, Mr. Wren, aka House Man.
FEAR
December 21st, 2010
6:54 pm
i’ll go 110
Norcross
December 21st, 2010
6:55 pm
Damn DOB you like Flying Lotus? Awesome man! You ever see him live? Do you like Bassnectar or Pretty Lights? Very diverse list of CDs. Reminds me of my iPod.
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
6:56 pm
“NoBreggie4Dogs
December 21st, 2010
6:32 pm
Dave O’Brien and y’all, I wanted to seriously and sincerely thank you all for the comraderie you have shown me this year in what was a hell of a time for me, if it werent for this blog and some online radio shows I am not sure I could have survived my 5 months in Africa… Have a great Christmas and Holidays and god bless.”
You too!
nolie
December 21st, 2010
6:56 pm
I’m willing to bet that between the two of them they will blow more than 7 saves will not be surprised by double figures
David O'Brien
December 21st, 2010
6:56 pm
Norcross, I haven’t heard of the latter two you asked me about. Haven’t seen Flying Lotus live, either. But yes, very cool CD.
Will
December 21st, 2010
6:56 pm
The baseball world has been so enamored by the Cliff Lee deal, and the likely one-year-only formation of what could be the greatest pitching rotation of the last 50 years, that they’re overlooking the net sum improvement accomplished by Atlanta. They kept virtually the same core players that got them 91 wins the year, added a legitimate power hitter, and will likely be able to cut the teeth of either young power-arm reliever (Kimbrell or Venters) for the closer’s role by mid-season. Philadelphia lost arguably the most versatile bat in a lineup that already has shown a tendency to go into hibernation for three weeks at a time or longer. I think your blog hits those points right on the head, DOB. I like Atlanta’s chances.
David O'Brien
December 21st, 2010
6:58 pm
robb, I didn’t consider any greatest-hits packages. An EP could’ve made it (I liked the Street Sweeper Social Club EP, and Tallest Man on Earth EP); I didn’t get that Cold War Kids EP, because I was so disappointed by the band’s last CD after really liking the previous one. How does this compare to those two disparate CDs?
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
7:01 pm
“Murph
December 21st, 2010
6:34 pm
Anyone want to partake in a pool on how many games Chipper will play this year? Pick your number…
92 games”
122
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:03 pm
Nolie, I am not doing too bad. How hve you been doing? Hell, it’s better to be positive than negative. The Debbie Downers and Negative Nancy’s bring me down.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:04 pm
84 games for Chipper.
Supes
December 21st, 2010
7:06 pm
nolie,
right you move Prado back to 3B…but then u create the whole “platoon muck” in LF…and given that CF is already a potential platoon and weakness for us…it creates possibly another OF performance like 2010.
We are solid with Heyward in RF…but if Prado has to move from LF to 3B….we are right back to platoon 101 with the rest of the OF spots.
Part of the brilliance of the UGGLA deal was not only acquiring a RH stick, but it was strengthening our OF by basically adding an all star type hitter PRADO to LF at the same time.
Which is why everything hinges on Chipper’s health…which is in itself is a far scarier proposition than anything the Phillies might do.
sheeesh
December 21st, 2010
7:06 pm
The Braves bullpen and bench are going to be their weakest links in 2011. Linebrink and Sherrill showed a tendency to get hammered with regularity last year. I foresee a lot of blown leads by those two. Uggla should help compensate for some of that by providing more offense, but losing both the experience and talents of Wagner and Saito (along with Infante) is going to be a much bigger issue than most people think. The ripple effect in the bullpen of losing Wagner and Saito will be painful to watch in 2011. Many may argue that Saito was hurt a lot (and he was late last season), but he provided stability for the first 2/3 of the season.
The strength and depth of the bullpen and bench carried the Braves to the playoffs last season. When players went down or struggled, there were solid players to fill in and a sound bullpen to soften the blow. But with the strict budget with which the Braves operate, the Braves are going to be more exposed in both areas in 2011. Aside from Uggla, the Braves regressed in the area of improving the team via new acquisitions. That said, they can still make a playoff run if they have the same kind of (or better) luck as they had in 2010. I just hope they can beef up the bullpen and/or bench at some point in 2011.
nolie
December 21st, 2010
7:06 pm
Trey?? you talk about being positive and then say only 84 games for Chipper? what’s that all about?
Jbailz
December 21st, 2010
7:06 pm
Murph
115 Games
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:08 pm
Nolie, my realistic thought.
I will go 115 then!
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:08 pm
jbailz, wow I did not even see how many games you said until after I posted mine.
nolie
December 21st, 2010
7:09 pm
Supes, just about every team in baseball has question marks as big or bigger than the ones the Braves have. Sure Chipper is important, but what exactly could be done about it with the current payroll? I’m not sure anything that would be a guarantee of improvement
Jbailz
December 21st, 2010
7:09 pm
Great minds think alike, I’m realistically just hoping he lasts that long. Maybe he’ll surprise us all and go 140…. We could hope!
nolie
December 21st, 2010
7:10 pm
nope stick with your realistic thought.
Norcross
December 21st, 2010
7:10 pm
Cool, DOB. Thanks for the response. I see you listed Plastic Beach also. Great choice. You into MGMT? I can’t say Congratulations was as good as Oracular Spectacular.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:11 pm
Nolie, haha I will then; but he may surprise us and go at least 115.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:11 pm
Nick, how many games do you think Chipper will play?
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:13 pm
Is any team taking a pot shot with Mannywood, havent heard his name mentioned at all in rumors
Any, even a small, sign of sanity is appreciated.
N8
December 21st, 2010
7:16 pm
“I’m willing to bet that between the two of them they will blow more than 7 saves will not be surprised by double figures”
Neftali Feliz blew 3 saves this past year. You know how many people blew double digit saves in ALL of MLB last year? One person:
Tyler Clippard of Washington with exactly 10.
Moylan blew 3. Saito blew 1. Venters blew 4.
So yeah…. if the two of them are combined to be the closer/primary setup guy? It’s likely that they (like every other closer/primary setup guy on every other team) will likely end up with double digit blown saves.
On the flip side, the Braves with the addition of Uggla and the allegedly improved offense should have more save opportunities.
Braves were 11th in all baseball last year with 41 saves (SF had 57). They were 11th in all of baseball with a 71% success ratio in save opportunites. San Fran also led that category at 78%.
So…. the Giants had 57 saves and a success ratio of 78%. Meaning they blew 13 saves.
The Braves had 41 saves and a 71% success ratio. Meaning, they blew 12 saves.
So, just like ERA, I don’t really care how many saves they blow. What is the success ratio and how many opportunities are they given to save games?
Braves might blow 15 saves next year and have a better success ratio. If that’s the case, how do you determine which pen was/is better?
If Venters and/or Kimbrel don’t go all Mark Wohlers circa 1997, they’ll be of great help to this team saving many, many more than they blow though I agree that they’ll blow as many as 10-15 games between them.
But if they mentally can handle it (I think they can)?? I wouldn’t be shocked at a Neftali Feliz type season between them (combined). They’ve got the arms and the stuff to absolutely dominate once they KNOW they are that good.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:17 pm
Enter your comments here
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:18 pm
Nice, considering I did not hit submit on the “Enter your comments here”
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:21 pm
So the Bears clinched their division and they are two games up and still have two games to play. The Falcons are two games up and two games to play; yet they only clinched a playoff spot, but not the division. How is that?
Jbailz
December 21st, 2010
7:24 pm
Trey – It may have to do with their division record.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:24 pm
My guess would be the Bears are holding the tie-breakers, Trey.
doug
December 21st, 2010
7:25 pm
DOB,
Thanks for all you do during the year. I have read this blog since it’s inception, though rarely contribute. I do have a baseball question though. Any talk of a Prado extension? Would love to see him locked up longterm.
nolie
December 21st, 2010
7:25 pm
I certainly hope you are right, but I’m still of the belief that they will be less effective than Wags was
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:26 pm
Jbailz, alright.
Bat, okay. I was just confused about that.
nolie
December 21st, 2010
7:27 pm
now why caint I write pages and pages to say stuff like that?
N8
December 21st, 2010
7:27 pm
Trey, it’s because the Saints already beat the Falcons and if they beat them again, and then end up tied, the Saints would win the division based on head-to-head games.
Just like my Chiefs and the Chargers. Chiefs have two game lead with two to play. They each beat each other once, I think division record is better by the Chiefs, but the Chargers have a better AFC record. If they end up tied, Chargers win.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:28 pm
Trey, it’s because the Saints already beat the Falcons and if they beat them again, and then end up tied, the Saints would win the division based on head-to-head games.
No, no, no…….The Falcons beat the Saints.
Efrim
December 21st, 2010
7:28 pm
Great blog, DOB. Excellent stuff that you got from Wren. I do wonder what he would of said if you had asked him about the draft budget. But my guess is he probably would of said that our current farm is one of the best in the majors, etc. And while that is true, I wonder if they’ll be able to maintain that system depth if they continue to spend as little as they do.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:29 pm
N8, I believe the Falcons actually beat the Saints.
jeffrey d
December 21st, 2010
7:30 pm
Thanks for the new blog, DOB…great work as always.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:30 pm
Oh well all we need is one more win.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:31 pm
The Falcons lost two games early……… Steelers & Eagles………… Beat the Saints on the road and have them in Atlanta next Monday night.
gd from nz
December 21st, 2010
7:33 pm
I think the bull pen is one of the biggest question marks for 2010. I know people will talk about whether Chipper comes back as maybe the biggest question mark but at least this has been addressed and planned for, we have back up options. Obviously the McLouth situation may be a bigger question mark too.
I think not annointing either Kimbrell or Venters is the closer should take the pressure off them and I’m sure both will get chances in the ninth, with others also getting the odd save opportuntity to take the pressure off them.
Surely they will manage Venters appearances this year, or he may be arm surgery waiting to happen.
Can’t wait for the season to start, it will be very hard to win the division/wildcard this year with the pitching the NL is putting up next year, but will be fun seeing how it all pans out.
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
7:34 pm
An increasingly rare event – a Monday night game that might actually be really interesting to watch!
N8
December 21st, 2010
7:37 pm
nolie, as a pure “9th inning” classic meaning of saves? I agree. It’s going to be really hard for either of them or both of them combined to do what Wags did.
But I think in general the bullpen (that actually had 17 blown saves if you count the 7th and 8th inning blown saves), might actually be better suited to shut teams down from the 7th on.
Saito had moments. Obviously once Venters was locked in, he and Wags formed a very nice 1-2 punch.
Add to that, there always seems to be a guy that comes up and surprises and dominates kind of under the radar because he’s not the closer. Slowly but surely putting up mind boggling numbers (like Venters last year).
I guess I could just keep it simple and say that I see very little reason why the overall bullpen can’t have a VERY good season and not be a weakness of the team.
Plus, I think that the semi “platoon” of Venters and Kimbrel might serve them both well when it comes to successfully converting saves.
I really think that at least early on (until one of them shows they are THE MAN), Fredi will pick his matchups when deciding who closes.
If the Phillies have Ibanez, Utley and Howard due up in the 8th inning with a lead? He’ll probably go with Venters in the 8th. If the bottom of the order is due up in the 8th, he’ll probably hold off on using him until the 9th.
But in the end, if they mentally are OK with finishing games, they BOTH have the stuff to get RHB and LHB out. But the safe path, at least initially, is to decide which one to use based on who’s coming up.
Let’s not forget that Moylan and O’Flaherty are both capable of finishing games if needed. Sherril is going to get LHB out, and if Linebrink is healthy, he’s a much better option than say Blaine Boyer or even Farnsworth.
I’m WAY more worried about Chipper, and/or who plays LF when Prado has to move to 3B, than I am about Kimbrel and Venters.
Maybe Wagner and Wren have a Yankees/Clemens type of deal under the table saying if Venters and Kimbrel suck it up, he’ll come back mid-season and “save the day”. LOL! (kidding of course).
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
MIBF_
Maybe so, but an…….. it’s over by halftime, home team blow out win would not hurt mu feelings one bit.
nolie
December 21st, 2010
7:40 pm
you make some good points N8, I hope you are right
N8
December 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
Sorry guys. Forgot that they (Falcons) beat the Saints.
But looking at the next two tie-breakers (division record and conference record), if the Saints win next Monday, they will be tied all the way around in those 2 categories (even though Falcons would still be a one game ahead in standings.
Falcons 5-0 in division (a loss against Saints makes them 5-1), Saints are 4-1 in division (a win against Falcons makes them 5-1).
Falcons 9-1 in conference, Saints 8-2, a Saints win makes them both 9-2.
After their head-to-head matchup next Monday, Saints play Tampa and the Falcons play Carolina.
So, if Falcons lose and Saints win, that makes Saints 10-2 in NFC, and Falcons 9-3.
Saints win the division. Of course, a Falcons win next Monday takes all the guessing away.
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
“Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
MIBF_
Maybe so, but an…….. it’s over by halftime, home team blow out win would not hurt mu feelings one bit.”
I know, but that seems unlikely. A win is a win, especially this late in the season with things like home field advantage at stake.
Vain Jangling
December 21st, 2010
7:44 pm
I’ll just assume it was some kind of typo that left Widespread Panic’s Dirty Side Down off the top of the “best of” album list.
Feeanch
December 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
DOB, this is why this is the best baseball blog around. We are all most appreciate of the exhaustive task the TOP 50 list must be. I am jealous that you had and made the time to go back through so many CDs. The rugrats in my house are kind of a time deterrent to such activities. And first and foremost, the baseball reporting and bloggage go without saying. It’s good to be a Braves fan because of you and the Carroll Rogers Experience (my new favorite band).
By the way, when you were yukking it up in NOLA, the Louis CK show was absolutely the funniest live comedic performance I have ever seen. Can’t wait for season 2. They were filming the concert to use as background for next season.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I’m already jacked up about Feb. 12th and our opening homestand against the Filthies April 8th.
My prediction: 99-63. We win by 2.5 over the Phillies for the division. No clue what happens after that.
Feeanch, The Welder
deadly atlanta
December 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
The payroll will not increase until something is done about the safety around the stadium area. If you make a wrong turn trying to find the interstate hwy, you may end up on a street that ends up in a downtown project. Just too dangerous. I would love to take my grand kids to more games. I only buy tickets that include parking. I made a wrong turn.got lost, tried to turn aroundn and 4 guys ran up to my bmw, Guess they thought I wanted to buy drugs.I sped off like a race track driver.
Billy Jack's Barbecue & Shrimp Co.
December 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
Go Braves. Come eat our beef brisket and brunswick stew. Just installed our bar. You can come over and talk about the Braves with me OR the Red Sox with Keith. Yes, typing Red SOx made my fingers cramp up.
N8
December 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
I hope I am too nolie.
Part of me says it’s common sense (though with young guys – and guys that were possibly overused the season before – you can’t predict what’s really going to happen), the other part says it’s wishfull thinking.
I guess I’m still mad Cox didn’t leave Kimbrel in to finish that game against SF.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:46 pm
N8, actually the Falcons are two games up in first! Thank goodness for that.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
N8, I misread your post. My apology.
N8
December 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
“My prediction: 99-63. We win by 2.5 over the Phillies for the division. No clue what happens after that. Feeanch
Come on man. If you’ve got enough balls to predict that the Braves not only win 99 games, but finish ahead of the Phillies doing so…..
Why not go out on a limb and predict that they steam roll through the post-season then too?
btw, I think you’re close in your 99 wins prediction (I’m thinking more along the lines of 95-96. But I think we still finish 7-10 games behind the Phils.
I think the Braves and Phillies will be the monsters of the NL (the competition will bring out the best of both of them), with the Phillies rotation just being too strong for the Braves to keep up in dominating the crappy teams.
But I’m with you…. once playoffs begin? Game on.
N8
December 21st, 2010
7:51 pm
Yeah Trey, I’m saying if the Saints win next Monday, then it’s down to a game with all the tie-breakers (head to head, division and conference records), even.
N8
December 21st, 2010
7:52 pm
Besides Feeanch, which team (Braves or PHillies) is going to have a game rained out and not made up?
Sorry, but that’s the only way for a team to finish any amount (and a half) game ahead in standings.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:53 pm
the Falcons play Carolina. _ N8
If the Falcons lose to the Saints, then lose to the worst team in the NFL,( both home games) with home-field advantage through out the playoffs on the line, well damn. Take ‘em out behind the barn and shoot them. I know, I know ………. any given Sunday.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
7:57 pm
N8, yeah. Hopefully the Falcons will come out on top.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:57 pm
I know, but that seems unlikely. A win is a win, especially this late in the season with things like home field advantage at stake. MIBF
Yes,very unlikely. The Falcons have several last minute W’s this year. Turning my hair grey.
Russell Bell
December 21st, 2010
8:02 pm
The following 3 lists lay out my favorite 10 albums released in 2010, followed by 5 albums I either unearthed or ‘re-discovered’ that were not released in 2010, and finally, 5 albums released in 2010 that might be good, but just didn’t do anything for me (‘overrated’).
I have listened to all these albums at least a few times all the way through – most were in heavy rotation in my Ipod at some point over the past 12 months. A quick note about my overrated selections – I’m not suggesting that they are bad albums, they just didn’t do much for me, considering the amount of hype they received.
favorite 10 albums of 2010
1. High on Fire – Snakes for the Divine
2. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
3. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
4. Zoroaster – Matador
5. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
6. Forest Swords – Dagger Paths
7. Kylesa – Spiral Shadow
8. Besnard Lakes – …Are the Roaring Night
10. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
5 favorite ‘rediscovered’ albums (non-2010 edition)
1. Eagle Twin – Unkindness of Crows (2009)
2. Unwound – Leaves Turn Inside You (2001)
3. Failure – Magnified (1994)
4. Black Sabbath – Master of Reality (1971)
5. Neurosis – Enemy of the Sun (1993)
5 most ‘overrated’ albums released in 2010
1. Vampire Weekend – Contra
2. Beach House – Teen Dream
3. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
4. Ariel Pink – Before Today
5. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
Russell Bell
December 21st, 2010
8:06 pm
One of my favorite albums didn’t make it past the editing process apparently and was accidentally omitted!
9. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
njbraves
December 21st, 2010
8:07 pm
Wren is so full of crap. The Braves front office determines the budget??? Sure they do, you keep believing that. What do you expect the guy to say, he’s not going to trash his bosses in the media. Liberty Media are crappy owners who don’t care about baseball, they just want to make sure they turn a profit. As long as they are in the black at the end of the year, they will let McGuirk and Wren do whatever they want. It’s a terrible way to run a baseball team. Adding $15-$20 million to this payroll would do wonders, and they have the money, but won’t spend it. Meanwhile, the Phillies get Halladay and Lee in a two year span.
jeffrey d
December 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
Yeah! Those $90 million BUMS!!
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
“Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
7:57 pm
I know, but that seems unlikely. A win is a win, especially this late in the season with things like home field advantage at stake. MIBF
Yes,very unlikely. The Falcons have several last minute W’s this year. Turning my hair grey.”
And that’s on top of all the Braves late inning comebacks this year (and on the flip side, that nightmare in Denver we would all like to forget! No lead is necessarily safe, in any sport, apparently!)
jeffrey d
December 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
I’ll bet there’s gonna be a lot of Liberty complaints based on the title of this blog.
Probably gonna be some “This is baseball, not music, STEWPID!” comments too
Trey
December 21st, 2010
8:11 pm
MIBF, I hated that Rockies game; but I loved it when we did it to the Red. Honestly, I was like I’d hate to be the Reds fans when it happened and I didn’t think it would happen again, especially to us. Boy, I was wrong.
Bravefaninok
December 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
Chipper will play in 136 games…..several of those as a pinch hitter on his off days! my guess is 122 games @3rd base.
DS1
December 21st, 2010
8:14 pm
Now we know the real truth. Thank you so much njbraves for clearning that up for us.
Those tightwad bums! Geez, can you believe they think we can run a baseball team with 80,90,95 million?
So I guess if they pony up another 10-20 million we’d be guaranteed the World Serious.
Thanks again for clearing that up for me.
Newsflash! Salary doesn’t win titles! See the 2010 NY Yankees for latest example.
Soph
December 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
Yes,very unlikely. The Falcons have several last minute W’s this year. Turning my hair grey.
Mine too. I enjoy the close wins but I was very appreciative of them putting it away before the 4th quarter last week. Nice to take a week off from the nail biting.
Soph
December 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
VJ, where are you? I want you to see what’s on ESPNU.
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
“Trey
December 21st, 2010
8:11 pm
MIBF, I hated that Rockies game; but I loved it when we did it to the Red. Honestly, I was like I’d hate to be the Reds fans when it happened and I didn’t think it would happen again, especially to us. Boy, I was wrong.”
That old ABC Wide World of Sports slogan, “The joy of victory, the agony of defeat” sums up those 2 games in a nutshell!
Trey
December 21st, 2010
8:18 pm
Next week is when the real nail biting continues. In football, I hate the Saints nearly as much as I hate the Phillies in baseball.
jeffrey d
December 21st, 2010
8:18 pm
I trust the Falcons…this sandy blonde hair is gray-free
Bravesfan54
December 21st, 2010
8:19 pm
Comments that the Braves are “counting on” or “depending on” Chipper rebounding miss an important point: Chipper IS coming back – but the real question is for how long and what limitations. One answer (lunatic fring keep quiet for a moment!) is simple: $14 million dollars which is what he is entitled to, whether healthy or not. One answer is a bit more complicated, i.e., he attempts to come back and has simply lost too much bat speed, etc., in which case the question becomes one of pride and money. He retires and gives up the money, or stays on the team withouth being able to produce. These last two options, retiring or having a greatly diminished role are rather unlikely. More likely is a healthy Chipper, whose eroding offensive and defensive skills are obviously diminished. While I doubt any serious student of the game counts on more than 120 games, 12-15 HR’s,60 rbi, and nearly adequate defense, those contributions would be indeed significant to this club.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
The best thing Mark Bradley saw in sports this year: Heyward’s opening day, first big league swing homerun. Yep, kind of hard to top that.
Bravefaninok
December 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
njbraves
Adding $15-$20 million to this payroll would do wonders, Ya in a few years when werth(or other overpriced FA) is broken down and unproductive you would want another 15-20 mil.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
MIBF, it was an even harder pill to swallow than thought possible. It was like watching someone driving or flying smoothly, and all of a sudden a couple of bumps here and there, spinning them out of control into a firey wreck. They come out alive and burning up and their suffering just won’t end. That’s how I felt during that game.
Who was pitching that game? Was it Hudson?
Trey
December 21st, 2010
8:23 pm
jeffrey, my hair going gray is a fear that I feel will make me go gray.
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
“Bravefaninok
December 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
Chipper will play in 136 games…..several of those as a pinch hitter on his off days! my guess is 122 games @3rd base.”
Good point about pinch hitting appearances! I assumed Murph meant games started at 3rd base, but he didn’t specify that. And anytime Chipper is in the batter’s box, he’s a threat to the opponent and an asset for the Braves, so those should count, too.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
That old ABC Wide World of Sports slogan, “The joy of victory, the agony of defeat” sums up those 2 games in a nutshell! _ MIBF
That poor skier, ouch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2AZH4FeGsc
sheeesh
December 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
Braves and Phillies will be the monsters of the NL?
The Phillies certainly. Not the Braves. If the Braves are in the playoff race, they will be fighting it out with the top teams in the West and the Central for the wild card. The difference in pure talent between the Phillies and everyone else in the league is too great. The Braves are in the second tier with most everyone else who will compete. They have the misfortune of being in the East with the Phillies which makes it tougher for them because their chances of winning the division are slim. They will likely have to win a more hotly contested wild card race.
2010 was a perfect example of the effect of the Phillies’ superior talent. They were muted most of the season due to numerous injuries. Their depth enabled them to stay within striking distance. When they finally began to get healthy, it was no contest. The Braves could get lucky and the same thing could happen in 2011 . But if the tables are turned and the Braves suffer the magnitude of injuries that the Phillies endured last year, they will be out of the race in a hurry. They don’t have the depth across the board to survive like the Phillies do. That almost happened to them at the end of 2010. If the regular season had been one week longer, the Braves probably would not have won the wild card. The injuries had just about caught up to them eventually buried them against the Giants.
N8
December 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
“Bat Masterson, stranger things have happened then that. It would only be magnified because it’s the last day of the season.
I can remember in 1999 or 2000 for the Chiefs (Gunther Cunningham was the head coach), the Chiefs were playing the raiders for the last playoff spot on the last game of the season. Chiefs win and they’re in.
Seconds left in the game, 4th down for the Raiders, not quite in FG range. They run a play, Chiefs knock the pass down, and begin to celebrate…. game over.
But the Raiders were called for a false start and the Arrohead crowd was so loud, nobody heard the whistle, so the play continued. Add to it, the Chiefs hit the QB (Gannon maybe?) after the whistle and were called for a penalty, so not only did the Raiders get another shot, they got 15 yards, ran another play, spiked the ball and kicked the game winning FG.
Like I said. Strange things happen on the last day of the season.
If I’m a Falcon fan, I’m praying for a win against the Saints, so the last day of the season is meaningless.
Braveheart
December 21st, 2010
8:30 pm
The best thing Mark Bradley saw in sports this year: Heyward’s opening day, first big league swing homerun. Yep, kind of hard to top that.
It will always p!ss me off that I missed that even though I had spent close to $200 on my tix to see that very moment, and was only 4 blocks away when it happened. Should’ve heard the crowd from 4 blocks away. Insane. And when I heard it, I just knew, just friggin’ knew what had just happened. The sound of that crowd was just too unique at that moment for it to have been just another routine Opening Day homer.
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
8:30 pm
“Trey
December 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
MIBF, it was an even harder pill to swallow than thought possible. It was like watching someone driving or flying smoothly, and all of a sudden a couple of bumps here and there, spinning them out of control into a firey wreck. They come out alive and burning up and their suffering just won’t end. That’s how I felt during that game.
Who was pitching that game? Was it Hudson?”
JJ
Justin Townes Earle,,
December 21st, 2010
8:31 pm
has a great dad and somewhat of an Uncle in Townes Van Zandt. I find all three to be original and extremely talented.
As for Liberty Media… I don’t really care for those folks.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
8:32 pm
MIBF, I was hoping you’d say Kawakami. I was hoping for more of a reason to dislike him.
Navigator
December 21st, 2010
8:33 pm
Same song, second verse.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
8:34 pm
If I’m a Falcon fan, I’m praying for a win against the Saints, so the last day of the season is meaningless. _ N8
That’s me in a nutshell.
GT Alum
December 21st, 2010
8:36 pm
Trey -
Pretty sure KK had been banished from the rotation for a while by the time that game was played. He might’ve come out of the ‘pen, though.
Bravefaninok
December 21st, 2010
8:36 pm
But if the tables are turned and the Braves suffer the magnitude of injuries that the Phillies endured last year,
Wow..you don’t think the braves suffered as many injuries as the phils?
Chipper lost for season,Troy Glauss ineffective after the knees gave out.JJJ (ace of the staff in 09) hurt most of the year,McCann was still having eye issues……Mcclouth Never recovered from the J-Hey train wreck in Arizona…J-Hey hurt thumb for 1/3 of the year.
Snotboogie
December 21st, 2010
8:38 pm
Braveheart
Commiserations, man. Your experience sounds about as bad as McFann’s.
Almost like the situation from “Sports night” where Isaac missed the HR.
MIBravesFan
December 21st, 2010
8:38 pm
“Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
The best thing Mark Bradley saw in sports this year: Heyward’s opening day, first big league swing homerun. Yep, kind of hard to top that.”
To borrow a Kirk Gibson description, a “special moment” that I think many people, years from now, will look back on and remember as the beginning of a special career.
Fredi's Fu Manchu
December 21st, 2010
8:39 pm
DOB and I had the same Top 50.
Trey
December 21st, 2010
8:40 pm
GT Alum, you’re right. He had been kicked off the rotation by then. I don’t think that was a game in which he pitched.
Snotboogie
December 21st, 2010
8:41 pm
The Heyward HR was so sweet after hearing throughout ST how he was breaking stuff in Orlando. The ones who couldnt see it were waiting for him to do something special on TV or in person and he didnt disappoint. Didnt waste any time in hitting one 470 ft.
GT Alum
December 21st, 2010
8:41 pm
No KK appearance at all. JJ, Moylan, Farnsworth and Venters were the culprits. That was when JJ started struggling again. Had just gotten his ERA under 4, but this game started it back in the other direction.
Soph
December 21st, 2010
8:43 pm
Jason’s homer is saved and protected on my DVR! Fun times.