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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,178 comments Add your comment
Trey
January 27th, 2011
4:37 pm
SoWeGa, no, he died of cancer.
Trey
January 27th, 2011
4:38 pm
McFann, they really do. They are some gorgeous birds though. Just don’t go getting their eggs to make your breakfast or you may lose your eyes.
SoWeGa Fanatic
January 27th, 2011
4:38 pm
CraZyTRaDeMaN,
Sure, send me the bill… I’m in the book.
Shaun
January 27th, 2011
4:38 pm
The largest differential in Francouer’s performance in high-leverage situations versus overall was in 2009 when he performed much worse in high-leverage than he performed overall.
P'cola Brave
January 27th, 2011
4:39 pm
There went the Caminiti- Olson collision. I forgot how violent that was.
SoWeGa Fanatic
January 27th, 2011
4:39 pm
o.
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
4:39 pm
This is a pretty cool take on Smooth Criminal:
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/dueling-cellists-play-michael-jackson/1jr57l8rk?q=Michael+Jackson&rel=msn&from=en-us_msnhp&form=msnrll>1=42007
CraZyTRaDeMaN
January 27th, 2011
4:40 pm
I’m in the book.
I didn’t know they still made those?
keylargo
January 27th, 2011
4:41 pm
TN Paul – Greg Olson just made another tag and held on to the ball. This one was vs. Ken Caminiti.
SoWeGa Fanatic
January 27th, 2011
4:43 pm
CraZyTRaDeMaN
January 27th, 2011
4:40 pm
I’m in the book.
I didn’t know they still made those?
************************
Good point. I don’t know. I only use a cell. Fraid you’re out of luck then.
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
4:45 pm
Glenn Hubbard had a higher lifetime feielding % then pendelton .983 vs .957. So why the switch? Come on!
TennesseePaul
January 27th, 2011
4:46 pm
When was Francouer ever a good hitter?
(sigh). Here we go again, splitting hairs to define the term “good hitter” when that term was never listed in the previous post by me. Payne, I’ve read your rants on OBP. I don’t need a refresher on those rants. Quite frankly, they are boring. But, Francoeur maintained his level of hitting for a few years, and then that deteriorated to total crap. By “his level” I mean specifically, his own level, not Pujols level… his level… which happened to be exactly league average.
Over his first three seasons (two full, one half — 2005-2007) he hit .280/.319/.463/.782 for a 100 OPS+ he averaged 61 XBH a “season”.
Since then (in the same number of plate appearances) he has hit .256/.301/.389 /.690 for a 83 OPS+ and averaged 43 XBH a season.
And as for this: Those first 70 games in 2005. That’s about it.
Well if you count that then let’s continue the jest… he is just great at first impressions…
His first 70+ games in NY: .311/.338/.498/.836 for a 120 OPS+
And his first impression in Texas: .340/.357/.491/.848 for a 124 OPS+
So he should look great in KC for about a month and then fall apart again. Or who knows, maybe Dayton knows exactly which switch to flip to turn Francoeur on for a whole season.
McFann O O
January 27th, 2011
4:48 pm
Trey—
I love Brown Thrashers. And their babies? Wow…freaking adorable!
keylargo
January 27th, 2011
4:48 pm
TN Paul they just said Dan Gladden was the other player who ran over Greg Olsen. Olsen held onto both of them though.
McFann O O
January 27th, 2011
4:50 pm
Hey, they could show BMac’s collision from this past playoff series—when Pat Burrell rammed into him but BMac held onto the ball and got him out? Beautiful…He also had a good one with Ruiz(?) during the regular season. He made some other great plays at home to get guys out, but they weren’t really “collisions”.
DAP
January 27th, 2011
4:55 pm
cabravesfan, that awesome.
DAP
January 27th, 2011
4:55 pm
hm…i meant that WAS awesome. the cellos.
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
4:59 pm
DAP-
I thought so
It does help that I really like that song, too
BravesFanChris26
January 27th, 2011
4:59 pm
I just saw that Justin Maxwell was DFA’ed by Nationals. I think he’d be nice to take a flier on if he were to become available.
Shaun
January 27th, 2011
5:00 pm
TennesseePaul, okay, so let’s assume that Francoeur’s overall hitting skills have deteriorated. Allow me to grant you that point. So that still doesn’t suggest that he has or ever had some repeatable clutch-hitting ability.
You see, when looking at clutch, it’s appropriate to compare a player’s performance in high-leverage or clutch situations to his own overall performance. Because if a player is outstanding overall and he’s merely good in high-leverage situations, does that really indicate he has positive clutch skills?
So when comparing Francouer in high-leverage situations to Francouer in the clutch, if his skills have deteriorated, that will be taken into account.
Snotboogie
January 27th, 2011
5:03 pm
Almost anything on Cellos sounds awesome. I dont know why.
Try listening to ” Yo yo ma plays Ennio Morricone” – an entire album with everything from Ecstasy of gold (the best rendition ever other than Morricone’s) to The Untouchables. Brilliant stuff.
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
5:05 pm
Almost anything on Cellos sounds awesome
Totally agree
David O'Brien
January 27th, 2011
5:06 pm
Glenn Hubbard had a higher lifetime feielding % then pendelton .983 vs .957. So why the switch? Come on! — O’flarity’s water bottle
And fielding percentage is usually a determining factor when hiring first-base coach/infield instructors, right? Just like batting average is a priority when hiring hitting coaches, and ERA is extremely important when hiring pitching coaches, and overall success as a player is crucial when hiring managers and bench coaches, right? Right? (eyes rolling)
MikeInFl
January 27th, 2011
5:06 pm
HERE is a pretty good article on “clutch”. It’s on espn.com but is excerpted from Baseball Prospectus.
They conclude that there seems to be some extremely slight evidence of clutchness and list the players who seem to have it (the article is from 2006).
Their conclusion: Producing wins at the plate is about 70 percent a matter of overall hitting ability, 28 percent dumb luck, and perhaps 2 percent clutch- or situational-hitting skill.
(kind of lame that they conclude by throwing around ballpark percentages that have no basis, to summarize an article so based on precise numbers. Oh well…).
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
5:07 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTozgoj9OQ
"Possibly Turning The Corner" P-Town Brave ©
January 27th, 2011
5:09 pm
DOB-
Yeah, thats a dumb statement…
Some of the best players were the worst managers, and some of the best hitters couldn’t teach someone else how to hit…
Some are teachers and some are do’ers….
Many simply can not do both…
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
5:10 pm
@TennesseePaul
January 27th, 2011
4:46 pm
The facts are you have a highly talanted football player that sux at basball.
Just Pat
January 27th, 2011
5:11 pm
McFann & Trey
Talk about vicious birds……blue jays!!!! Which is probably why my cat doesn’t bother my birds at all come to think of it.
Trey
January 27th, 2011
5:13 pm
Just Pat, those things are crazy. They probably have a nest near by though.
McFann O O
January 27th, 2011
5:14 pm
Just Pat—
Oh, Blue Jays are bullies! And they’ll imitate hawk calls to try to scare other birds away from the food…
Just Pat
January 27th, 2011
5:14 pm
Not sure who I’m gonna miss seeing the most this year…..Cox or Hubbard. Hubs was my favorite player back in the 80s. Talk about a gritty little second baseman.
TennesseePaul
January 27th, 2011
5:16 pm
Payne: so let’s assume that Francoeur’s overall hitting skills have deteriorated. Allow me to grant you that point.
You see, let’s assume Francoeur’s clutch hitting abilities have deteriorated. Then that would mean he had them at one point, then did not have them because (gasp) they deteriorated.
it’s appropriate to compare a player’s performance in high-leverage or clutch situations to his own overall performance
It could be, but then, since we enjoy splitting hairs, please define “high-level” or “clutch”… for instance, is it “clutch” to get a hit off Mark “The Tee” Redman with a runner at third in the late innings? I’d say no.
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
5:17 pm
David O’Brien
January 27th, 2011
5:06 pm
Glenn Hubbard had a higher lifetime feielding % then pendelton .983 vs .957. So why the switch? Come on! — O’flarity’s water bottle
And fielding percentage is usually a determining factor when hiring first-base coach/infield instructors, right? Just like batting average is a priority when hiring hitting coaches, and ERA is extremely important when hiring pitching coaches, and overall success as a player is crucial when hiring managers and bench coaches, right? Right? (eyes rolling)
Dave, terry was better than larry at batting average lifetime, so whats your point? Mabye tp cant coach. I want to be a fomula one driver, doesnt mean i can be. The where there a will, theres a way! addage sux. He is wasting everyone time and money. Would you do the same thing Dob? That you be like if you had no talent for writting and you became a beat writer for the braves? Oh you are….
David O'Brien
January 27th, 2011
5:19 pm
o’flarity’s water bottle: I’m sure there was a point in there (5:17). I’ll read it a few more times and try to find it.
Just Pat
January 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
Except DOB actually HAS talent.
"Possibly Turning The Corner" P-Town Brave ©
January 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
DOB-
I think Robert or PL better watch out…
He’s trying to steal their thunder
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
5:21 pm
Who’s o’flarity?
Trey
January 27th, 2011
5:21 pm
DOB, I have no idea his point, either.
"Possibly Turning The Corner" P-Town Brave ©
January 27th, 2011
5:22 pm
BTW, who is this “O’Flarity” guy he is talkin about…
Does that guy know Logan Schaeffer’s bottle too?
How about Nate McClouth’s or Chris Medlin’s?
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
5:23 pm
My point dob is this. How many positions of coaching are we going to give tp until he can coach?
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
5:23 pm
That totally cleared it up…
Murph
January 27th, 2011
5:23 pm
That you be like if you had no talent for writting and you became a beat writer for the braves?
That you is, that you was, that you will be. Dat is da question.
Danga
January 27th, 2011
5:25 pm
What would TP have to do in order to prove to you he can coach? Just curious.
Just Pat
January 27th, 2011
5:25 pm
P-Town Brave
*giggle* Points!
"Possibly Turning The Corner" P-Town Brave ©
January 27th, 2011
5:26 pm
Just Pat-
Thanks…starting to feel a bit better…
BTW, how long have you been blogging…?
Can’t say I recall seeing your name for very long…
Just Pat
January 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
Ditto, MURPH!
David O'Brien
January 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
My point dob is this. How many positions of coaching are we going to give tp until he can coach? — O’flarity’s water bottle
Ohhh, so it’s a riddle? Let me think about it.
Murph
January 27th, 2011
5:29 pm
The only true way to measure if TP can coach is to let him coach until the all star break, then fire him. This would create as accurate a comparison as you’re going to get… Season A and Season B, if you will.
If Season A’s performance in the areas that TP affects daily is better than Season B’s performance in the same areas, then TP can coach. If Season B’s is better, then he clearly cannot.
It’s a win win win for TP, the team, and the fans, and will finally put an end to the debate that’s swirling around TP and his coaching abilities.
Carroll Rogers
January 27th, 2011
5:30 pm
Who was it who wanted Vlad? ….Rosenthal just reported he wasn’t too pleased with 1-yr, $3 million offer from Orioles. So hopes not up, right?
Just Pat
January 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
P-Town Brave
Been here for a while. Had to take a hiatus when I broke my hip back in July. When I was in the office, it was for a limited time, so couldn’t come on here. And, I READ a lot, don’t necessarily comment a lot. Especially when talk goes to stats, data, etc……don’t feel “qualified”.
Danga
January 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
I’m glad we got rid of that bum Hubbard. He has been doing nothing but holding us back with his terrible first base coaching. And he had all season to turn brooks conrad into a decent infielder and he failed miserably. Now that he has finally moved on, I’m sure the Braves will win 27 more games.
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
i think that someone in this organization likes TP alot and will not let hime go. I liked him as a player. I think if he could teach batting, how can he teach fielding?
"Possibly Turning The Corner" P-Town Brave ©
January 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
Murph-
In English this time please…
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
sorry for my typos
Snotboogie
January 27th, 2011
5:32 pm
cab
Which came first – the Apocalytica version or the Symphony and Metallica.They both sound good. I like the S&M version since it also has the vocals.
Danga
January 27th, 2011
5:32 pm
the areas that TP affects daily
But what are these?
Arkansas Transplant
January 27th, 2011
5:34 pm
and now he apologizes?
Danga
January 27th, 2011
5:34 pm
By the way. my post about Hubbard was not at all serious.
Just Pat
January 27th, 2011
5:34 pm
P-Town Brave
Lets put it this way, been here long enough to know who you’re referring to when you say PL and Dentz and Robert.
Lew
January 27th, 2011
5:34 pm
First base coaches hold runners on, tell them to run and hold all the excess batting equipment. I’m just not seeing how TP hurts the team over there. He might actually be able to hold more equipment than Hub.
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
5:35 pm
Carroll Rogers
January 27th, 2011
5:30 pm
Who was it who wanted Vlad? ….Rosenthal just reported he wasn’t too pleased with 1-yr, $3 million offer from Orioles. So hopes not up, right?
Do you like vlad?
Arkansas Transplant
January 27th, 2011
5:35 pm
Danga
You know, opposite the ones he use too… Being in the cage, talking, laughing, and just having a good time.
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
5:36 pm
What coaching job teaches fielding? TP should do that!
Snotboogie
January 27th, 2011
5:37 pm
ward wanted Vlad.
I’m sure he will stumble across the news sometime tonight or tomorrow.
I cant think of anyone else who wanted us to sign Vlad.
Murph
January 27th, 2011
5:40 pm
Murph-
In English this time please…
I apologize, sometimes my scientific brain gets carried away when I’m chasing a new hypotenuse and I forget to break things down for those who are less scientifical than I.
Basically, fire TP at the All Star Break, and if the team sucks worse than before, then it proves he can coach.
O'flarity's water bottle
January 27th, 2011
5:42 pm
680 compared d.murphy to a.jones and a.jones had better stats, it was amazing for me to here them.
Bat Masterson
January 27th, 2011
5:47 pm
Someone else was advocating for Vlad at the end of last season. Big argument, who was it?
Arkansas Transplant
January 27th, 2011
5:49 pm
Bat, are you sure it was about Vlad or are you thinking about the big Berkman debates?
Bat Masterson
January 27th, 2011
5:51 pm
Vladimir Guerrero. That is the Vlad being discussed, right?
Bat Masterson
January 27th, 2011
5:52 pm
I think I remember who it was, too.
Venice Jim
January 27th, 2011
5:55 pm
Bat – thanks for setting me straight – I thought Vlad Horowitz was a little past his prime…though he was great until the end…
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
Snotboogie -
Actually the Apocolyptica version came first (1998 vs. 1999)- they have several albums of Metallica cover songs- that’s how they started out. But I have always loved the version with the SF Symphony- it’s pretty much my favorite version of that song
Carroll Rogers
January 27th, 2011
6:03 pm
O’Flarity/O’Flaherty, I liked him in his heyday with the Expos and Angels. I didn’t see enough of him last year to know. But I personally think the Braves need somebody who can play center field, not another corner guy.
Yep it was ward.
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
6:03 pm
I see someone wasted little time jumping on the blog after I dropped him off at work
Just Pat
January 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
cab
Now, if you can just remember to PROOFREAD and not type goon when you mean good……:-)
Bat Masterson
January 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
My first thought was Guerrero, VJ. Second was Vlad The Impaler, though that seems a little dark for ward.
Bat Masterson
January 27th, 2011
6:11 pm
It was ward today.
Before the World Series it was ……………….
Robert!
David O'Brien
January 27th, 2011
6:12 pm
Baseball America that came to my house today has NL Central teams’ Top 10 prospects, and I just noticed Gorkys Hernandez is no longer in the Pirates’ Top 10.
cabravesfan
January 27th, 2011
6:13 pm
Just Pat-
I’ve pretty much given up on the proofreading…I think I’m a lost cause
TnBrian
January 27th, 2011
6:14 pm
A few of those new fantasy/prediction magazines hit the shelves for the upcoming season and not a ton of love for our pitching rotation besides Hanson. Hudson looks like a health risk and won’t repeat his 2010 numbers and he’s really just a solid #2 starter, Jurrjens 2009 was a major fluke and Lowe is no more than a back-end starter who will only go south each year of his remaining contract. They love Hanson and maybe Minor could surprise.
I agree that Hudson probably won’t repeat what he did last year. Jurrjens seems to put a batter on base every inning and Lowe is so inconsistant, but it’s still a solid staff. The defense is what worries the hell out of me. Lord have mercy all those groundballs these guys give up and what’s behind them is frightening. You also think when Hanson starts using more of his pitches he’ll give up more ground balls too.
Snotboogie
January 27th, 2011
6:14 pm
Mine too, cab.
Listening to that album now.
CB
January 27th, 2011
6:16 pm
Did anybody notice how thin McCann’s hair is on the Caravan? I hope he is not like Sampson and loses his power,might be more singles this year,McFann,instead of doubles.
Steve McP
January 27th, 2011
6:17 pm
DOB – I think Gorkys got injured last season (broken hand maybe?) and did not play much, probably one of the reasons he slipped out of the rankings.
TnBrian
January 27th, 2011
6:18 pm
They also see Venters as “not burned out…. yet”. They did use the hell out of this kid last year and that has to be put into consideration.
Snotboogie
January 27th, 2011
6:21 pm
TnBrian
What magazines are these exactly? Names please.
JohnFlaBrave
January 27th, 2011
6:22 pm
Ben 1:46am
Great blog my friend…..The truth shall set you free
jeffrey d
January 27th, 2011
6:24 pm
I hope he is not like Sampson and loses his power,might be more singles this year,McFann,instead of doubles.
Remember when he shaved his beard over the summer and started sucking?
David O'Brien
January 27th, 2011
6:24 pm
TnBrian: Who is the “they” you’re talking about? The team previews in those annual baseball mags are free-lance stories written usually by either a team’s beat writer (if they can pay enough to hire one to write it) or a writer with little or no info on the team other than what he or she gathers by Googling offseason articles and working off last season’s results.
CB
January 27th, 2011
6:25 pm
Looking at his head he should have glued it on top.
David O'Brien
January 27th, 2011
6:27 pm
Steve McP, Gorkys got hurt last year, but played 92 games and hit .266 with a horrid .668 OPS, 11 doubles and 2 homers in 414 plate appearances, in his second season in Double-A.
TnBrian
January 27th, 2011
6:29 pm
DOB, rotowire, yahoo and another one was “Lindy’s” I believe. I don’t agree with everything they wrote and most of it is stuff me or another blogger here could’ve written. I’m just conversating.
TnBrian
January 27th, 2011
6:31 pm
Besides, did any of these “experts” predict SF to win it all this time a year ago? There are bits and pieces of what they write I agree with.
Murph
January 27th, 2011
6:35 pm
Anyone going to start an AJC fantasy league?
Snotboogie
January 27th, 2011
6:38 pm
TnBrian
Also a lot of these fantasy baseball rankings are more useful for playing fantasy baseball only. For example they might value Hanson more because he provides the right combination of Ks and ERA. Hudson’s groundballs have very fantasy little value and if they think he cant replicate his low ERA, they shun him. JJ, well he is a bit of neither so it’s no surprise if they dont value him at all.
Snotboogie
January 27th, 2011
6:40 pm
Murph
There were at least two league last year – one started by jeffrey (I think) and another by DAP.
jeffrey’s league had trophies and the whole shebang.
jeffrey d
January 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
I’ll be continuing last year’s, Murph
jeffrey d
January 27th, 2011
6:43 pm
The trophies were all RHR’s work.
Murph
January 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
How does one secure a spot in the league, if there are any remaining? I’d love to play
CB
January 27th, 2011
6:46 pm
jeffrey,does the winner get free tickets to the carnival?
CB
January 27th, 2011
6:47 pm
Or a job.