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Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,220 comments Add your comment
Moe Berg
April 30th, 2011
10:20 pm
“What did we think of Fredi pulling Kimbrel? I think it was probably the best move, but is that a sign of not having confidence in your young closer?”
Maybe. Or he did not want to decimate his confidence by letting him implode.
jeffrey d
April 30th, 2011
10:20 pm
Guess it’d help if I posted the link…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47665754@N06/5673823753/in/photostream
Trey
April 30th, 2011
10:20 pm
Lew, the records show that Venters got a blown save and Kimbrel lost.
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:20 pm
Chop Chop – If THAT long.
jeffrey d
April 30th, 2011
10:21 pm
Venters came in and gave up a single to a guy hitting .350 something. Other than that, he got 3 outs.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2011
10:21 pm
venters should be the the last guy out of the bullpen.
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:21 pm
Trey – I don’t know how you can blow a save if you didn’t give up any runs. Kimbrel did lose though.
jeffrey d
April 30th, 2011
10:23 pm
I’m not too worried about the bullpen.
Chop Chop
April 30th, 2011
10:23 pm
Venters and Kimbrel are already all-time greats. This too shall pass.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2011
10:23 pm
lew, how is orca? i love those pictures about that snow dog.
Jake W.
April 30th, 2011
10:24 pm
Trey – NO he didn’t – those runs were charged to Beachy. Venters didn’t get credited with a hold.
I believe he gets credited with the blown save too though, right. If its a save situation and you don’t get the hold and surrender the lead, you get the blown save right?
Back to normal (Another feeble offensive performance)
April 30th, 2011
10:24 pm
Sure, the Braves did better this April (13-15) over last April (8-14).
However, guess what? So did the Phillies (18-8) this April vs. (12-10) last April…..AND….the Fish (16-8 with tonight’s game still to be decided) this April vs. (11-12) last April.
You guys keep harping on waiting for our guys to start “hitting better” AS WELL as Moylan being hurt.
Again, guess what? The Phillies arent exactly hitting either…..PLUS their bullpen is in even more disarray than ours. Yet are they B1TCHING and COMPLAINING about their offense and bullpen? Nope, they are going out there doing what it takes to win games.
If the Green Bay Packers ran their team like you guys want to see the Braves run (you know, like making excuses when half your team gets hurt), they would not have won the Super Bowl last year. On top of the plethora of injuries they suffered in the regular season, they lose All-Pro cornerback Charles Woodson and Pro Bowler receiver Donald Driver in the first half of the Super Bowl. Yet did they fold against the Steelers? Of course not.
My point is that injuries are part of playing team sports. Winning teams do what it takes to win. I get ripped for telling it like it is….however, many of you do nothing but make excuse after excuse for why we are losing.
Many of you live in fantasyland if you think that we’re going to contend for a playoff spot (yes even a Wild Card spot) with the roster the way it is constructed. Frank Wren HAS TO MAKE A DEAL ASAP!
carlchamblee
April 30th, 2011
10:24 pm
“I think its fair to say the injuries did us in (2010) more than just the mighty phillies.”
The mighty phillies had more than their share of injuries. Just like other teams get bad bounces and blown calls and long flights before a day game, etc.
The first step is admitting you have a problem and the Braves have a BIG Phillies problem – for several years now. They have been the better team and are again this year, just like the whole division was the Braves beyatch for 14 years.
Not happy about it just sayin’
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:26 pm
ugabrave – He;s doing fine. Got to take him in next week and get him trimmed for the summer – he’s got so much hair he was miserable all last summer. Have to get the Vet to knock him out to do it, though. Takes three adults to hold him muzzled to trim his nails. We’ll do all that and have his teeth cleaned while he’s out cold. Much easier that way.
We’ve finally got green grass and buds on the trees. Now for the pollen deluge.
Trey
April 30th, 2011
10:26 pm
Lew, it’s still a blown save since he didn’t keep the lead. Here’s the box score.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_30_slnmlb_atlmlb_1&mode=box&c_id=atl
jeffrey d
April 30th, 2011
10:27 pm
Hey I have an idea, let’s argue semantics
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:28 pm
Jake- I could be wrong, but I just don’t see how they can charge him with a blown save when none of the runs were his. The runs wouldn’t have scored if Beachy hadn’t put them on.
carlchamblee
April 30th, 2011
10:29 pm
I don’t agree with calling it a blown save when if Venters got out of the 8th inning with the lead it would not have been a save, only a hold.
So why not have a “blown hold stat”?
Jake W.
April 30th, 2011
10:29 pm
The mighty phillies had more than their share of injuries. Just like other teams get bad bounces and blown calls and long flights before a day game, etc.
So correct me if i’m wrong, they kinda sucked when they were injured and played better when they got healthy and the braves did the same, played well when they were healthy, then kinda sucked when they weren’t. I guess the difference is the majority of the phillies injured returned while the braves were hit with quite a few season ending injuries. Not making excuses here, just making sense of why the braves and the phillies both had up and down season last year.
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:29 pm
Trey – Show me the rules. I don’t trust box scores.
Moe Berg
April 30th, 2011
10:29 pm
When Wren made the deal for McLouth, it was generally regarded–both here on the blog and in MLB–as a very early deal. It was the sign of someone taking serious action to rectify an early season problem. That deal was made on June 3rd. I don’t see any May Day trades coming.
Blog monitor
April 30th, 2011
10:30 pm
I think it’s comical Thawk questioning the lack of attendance when he didn’t go to the game..
uga-brave
April 30th, 2011
10:30 pm
lew, got a a old german sheppherd. have to do the same thing. love those old pictures of orca sitting on pile of snow.
Back to normal (Another feeble offensive performance)
April 30th, 2011
10:31 pm
Lew……..the Braves had the lead when Venters came into the game. The runs get charged to Beachy because he put them on base. However, Venters gets the blown save because the Cardinals tied the game when he was on the mound.
T for Texas
April 30th, 2011
10:31 pm
No! Let’s argue whether or not you’re saying the same thing that I am!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
April 30th, 2011
10:31 pm
Bay Area Steve relented = stopped
[Crud]…how embarrassing…
I’m sayin’ I truly miss you complainin’ about it.
Seriously? Wow…I thought it got to be rather obnoxious after a while. But how could I do it this year, anyway? He’s batting .301 and Uggla’s not even at .200 yet…Besides, once Uggla starts hitting, he’ll probably offer BMac the best protection outside of guys like Chipper who aren’t ever getting moved…
(And let me first say, do what you do, young’un. You’re just fine.)
Thanks. But I kinda figgered people were tired of me mentioning Doubles every 5 seconds since those posts weren’t doing anything in the way of striking up conversation…
(And, the third turtle; how can it not be time for the third turtle?)
I dunno…perhaps I’ll add one for the next series—or maybe tomorrow, depending on what time we get home…
jeffrey d—
Yeah, that’s a great shot! Man alive…Nicely done!
Trey
April 30th, 2011
10:32 pm
A blown save (abbreviated BS or B) is charged to a pitcher who enters a game in a situation which permits him to earn a save (this does not include entering the game before there is one out in the 7th inning, although pitchers that enter the game before there is an out in the 7th inning and while their team has the lead are in a situation where they could earn a save by pitching the last 3 full innings of the game) (a save situation or save opportunity), but who instead allows the tying run to score. Note that if the tying run was scored by a runner who was already on base when the new pitcher entered the game, that new pitcher will be charged with a blown save even though the run will not be charged to the new pitcher, but rather to the pitcher who allowed that runner to reach base. On the other hand, a tough save occurs when a pitcher enters a save situation with the potential tying run already on base, but still earns the save. Since this is guaranteed to be a high pressure situation, earning tough saves is the mark of the great closer.[citation needed] Although not commonly cited, the tough save statistic is a criterion when determining the winner of the Rolaids Relief Man Award. In 1974, in fact, tougher criteria were adopted for saves where the tying run had to be on base or at the plate when the reliever entered to qualify for a save (unless he pitched three innings). The rule was relaxed the next year.[4]
Jake W.
April 30th, 2011
10:33 pm
I don’t agree with calling it a blown save when if Venters got out of the 8th inning with the lead it would not have been a save, only a hold.
So why not have a “blown hold stat”?
That’s the way they do it, before the 9th or last inning you can only be credited with a hold in a save situation and get the blown save if you don’t hold the lead.
I could be wrong, but I just don’t see how they can charge him with a blown save when none of the runs were his.
I’m not sure either but it probably has to do with the fact that he’s an late inning reliever and they get brought in a lot with runners on base that aren’t theirs and its their job to hold things right there. That may not be right but its the only way I can make sense of it.
T for Texas
April 30th, 2011
10:33 pm
Uga-brave, I have an eight year old shepherd. They are great dogs, huh?
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:33 pm
ugabrave – He misses his ten foot snow pile. I don’t.
Y’all – re: the blown save – I said I could be wrong. Just don;t understand how you can blow a save without giving up the tying runs – especially, as someone said, he wouldn’t have gotten a save anyway..
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:34 pm
But it certainly wouldn’t be the first weird rule they’ve ever come up with.
Trey
April 30th, 2011
10:36 pm
Lew, the rule does make sense since the pitcher didn’t keep the runners from scoring.
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:37 pm
Trey – Well, as to making sense – even Shaun makes sense to some.
Lew
April 30th, 2011
10:37 pm
I’m out of here- Time for the night shift to take over. See everyone tomorrow.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2011
10:38 pm
t for texas, shepperds are the best. i have had “fritz the dog” for a long time. he is now close to sixteen.
Trey
April 30th, 2011
10:38 pm
Lew, I’d be lying if I said I read Shaun’s posts. Have a good night, dude.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
April 30th, 2011
10:42 pm
Night, Lew!
Moe Berg
April 30th, 2011
10:43 pm
Blown saves are overblown
By Matt Philip
What’s the deal with blown saves? Erstwhile St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin recently blew up on the mound for the fourth time this season, then blew up at fans for booing him. In response, people flamed him on the radio and internet. All this over a few blown saves.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t particularly like blown saves, either. But blown saves are, if you will, overblown. Don’t believe me? The Cardinals, whose relievers shut out the Braves for four innings in their 5-3 win Friday night, lead the National League Central with a 15-11 record. They also lead the league in blown saves.
The reality is that blown saves don’t really negatively correlate with winning percentage. That doesn’t mean they’re good, but it probably means that they’re not an indication that the Mayan apocalypse is upon us. This makes the certain freak out over every last one of them a little tiring. The preoccupation also tends to crowd out other aspects of the game that matter as much or more.
Happily, St. Louis fans will be spared any headlines Saturday about which closer du jour coughed up the lead Friday night. But partisans in Atlanta (Craig Kimbrel), Minnesota (Alex Burnett) and Boston (Bobby Jenks) will be stark-raving mad about their relievers’ blown saves after Friday night. And that doesn’t even include Detroit’s Joaquin Benoit, because in a non-save situation — so he couldn’t get a blown save — he surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Carlos Santana.
All of this is part of the problem. Like its ugly brother, the save, the blown save is a blunt object wielded to bash relievers into easily identified goats.
Consider these weird facts:
A pitcher who enters a tie game and gives up the lead can’t get a blown save.
A pitcher who enters with a four-run lead and gives up the lead can’t get a blown save.
A pitcher can get a blown save if the go-ahead run scores on fielding errors.
A pitcher who blows a save can also get the win.
A pitcher can be charged with a blown save even though a run may not even be charged to him.
A blown save is merely a half-inning sample of a ballgame. That means that a team has at least 17 other half-innings in which to win any particular game. What do you call it when the starting pitcher allows a run in the fourth inning with a 7-4 lead? Or a sixth-inning reliever who comes into the game down 3-2 but allows a run to increase his team’s deficit? We don’t call it anything, of course.
The upside-down world of the blown save was on display during the Cardinals’ mid-week series in Houston. The team’s most dominant reliever, Eduardo Sanchez, pitched notably worse than Mitchell Boggs, the pitcher expected to replace Franklin in the closer’s gig. Yet Boggs was saddled with the scarlet letters “BS,” while Sanchez wore an “S” like he was Superman. To top it off, Fernando Salas “earned” a save Thursday night by throwing a wild pitch (on which the inning ended with a runner tagged out trying to score), then pitching one inning with a four-run lead. “Hey, nice work, Fernando Salas,” quipped broadcaster Dan McLaughlin, we hope mockingly.
It’s no surprise that Franklin, though successful in the past, has had a hard time closing games. It’s because he has had a hard time getting hitters out, relying as heavily as he does on defense and the vagaries of “luck” (with career rates of 4.9 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9, he has one of the highest rates of balls put into play). Regardless of the situation: He has allowed at least one baserunner in every game in which he has pitched this year.
Rather than focus on the non-qualitative blown save, let’s instead take a smarter look at relief pitchers. Until someone determines that saves are a special, repeatable skill — rather than simply a function of opportunities and how good a reliever is in any context — let’s just check out strikeout and walk rates, for starters.
For example, Sanchez entered Friday’s game with 14 strikeouts and one walk in eight innings, and in six minor-league seasons, the 22-year-old posted 9.9 K/9. With dominance like that, he’s going to succeed in relief, whether he enters with a four-run lead, in a tie game or down one run. Sure, he’ll blow a save every now and then, but so does Mariano Rivera
It’s a fact that the top two career leaders in blown saves are in the Hall of Fame. If you don’t believe me, take a trip to Cooperstown, and you’ll see that both Goose Gossage (112 blown saves) and Rollie Fingers (109) got elected. Almost always, more variables explain a team’s lost than a single hapless pitcher’s inability to obtain three outs on a particular night, so try not to attach too much significance to the Blown Save in isolation.
T for Texas
April 30th, 2011
10:52 pm
he is now close to sixteen.
Good for Fritz, that’s amazing. That is one wise ol’ shepherd.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
April 30th, 2011
10:52 pm
Man! The stupid replay of the Braves scoring their runs today is too short—I think it cuts off before it shows jeffrey d!
Ah well, I better shut down. We’re gonna stop at the mall on the way home from Church tomorrow, so I’ll be joining you all some time during the game…you know how those mall things go…
Night, all!
Powderfinger
April 30th, 2011
10:53 pm
I usually just read the blog, rarely submitting a comment, but I can’t help but notice how long the entries are today. It makes keeping up kind of tough…
jeffrey d
April 30th, 2011
10:54 pm
I would’ve thought that’d be the main highlight, McFann
uga-brave
April 30th, 2011
11:03 pm
t for texas, you are right. damn fine dawg..
barely gets up and down the stairs though.
McFann O O
April 30th, 2011
11:12 pm
Me, too, jeffery!
Tomahawkin
April 30th, 2011
11:17 pm
Blog monitor
“I think it’s comical Thawk questioning the lack of attendance when he didn’t go to the game..”
And Where The Hell where you at?
Blog monitor
April 30th, 2011
11:21 pm
Thawk, what difference does it make where I was, I am not the one always complaining about the attendance..
can you just smell the irony in the air..
jeffrey d
April 30th, 2011
11:23 pm
can you just smell the irony in the air..
Oh, that’s irony? I thought it was Trey.
My bad, Trey.
Trey
April 30th, 2011
11:24 pm
Jeffrey, I’ll have you know I showered just last week!
cabravesfan
April 30th, 2011
11:25 pm
Are we still complaining about attendance?
Trey
April 30th, 2011
11:26 pm
cab, is there ever a time in which we don’t?
uga-brave
April 30th, 2011
11:27 pm
bas, come on into town. pretty sure i can show you a nice course or two.
maybe get flange involved?
tiger297
April 30th, 2011
11:28 pm
so should people pick on me? I’ll only make 4 games this homestand
cabravesfan
April 30th, 2011
11:28 pm
Trey-
I don’t know…I thought 30,000 was a decent number
cabravesfan
April 30th, 2011
11:29 pm
tiger-
Maybe they should pick on me…I won’t make it to any home games this season.
jeffrey d
April 30th, 2011
11:32 pm
There were a bunch of Cardinal fans there today.
tiger297
April 30th, 2011
11:33 pm
and here I thought you were making 25% of them
cabravesfan
April 30th, 2011
11:36 pm
tiger-
I was going to, but someone told me the season was over because we lost game 2 to the Nats, so I sold them.
uga-brave
April 30th, 2011
11:36 pm
jeff d, ever been to st. louis?
great baseball town. they love baseball.
Trey
April 30th, 2011
11:40 pm
30,000 is pretty decent. Much better than that 12,000 or 13,000 a couple weeks back.
Mixxo
April 30th, 2011
11:45 pm
lol….just saw the score and read the game recap. This where the nine-game skid happens?
Figured if I work a festival all day and not worry about the game, they’ll win one. Nuh uhh.
That game sounded “painful.”
Snotboogie
April 30th, 2011
11:55 pm
Nice photos, jeffrey. Looks like you had great seats.
Ron Hyatt
May 1st, 2011
12:22 am
The talent is there, but as with all Booby Cox teams, teh atttitude is lacking. Don’t worry, we’ll get em next year.
fuzzmeister
May 1st, 2011
12:24 am
Powderfinger—- Just scroll on by the long ones if you so desire
Mixxo
May 1st, 2011
12:30 am
70-92
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
12:39 am
mixxo, easy number for you? 162?
92-70.
70-92.
stuck on easy ones mixxo.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
12:39 am
Haha, jeffrey, just saw your cap tip on the replay. Good stuff. I saw you during the game, you were sitting next to the guy in the pink shirt, right?
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
12:42 am
mixxo, ward could go 70-92.
then again a hockey helmet to work.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
12:46 am
flange, casting? brother when i duck hook it is nasty.
hard left..
not today though. played cap city. 36.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
12:47 am
uga, how was the beer fest? Went to evos for dinner tonight and saw they were breaking it all down.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
12:48 am
9.5 tit.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
12:49 am
mike you were at the prado today?
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
12:52 am
evos, the place next store five seasons i am a investor.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
12:54 am
you’re an investor at evos or five seasons?
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
12:55 am
went to evos for dinner, but I saw they were breaking down all the tents and everything from the beer fest. It reeked outside like stale beer.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
12:56 am
seemed like a fun event though, just from all the crap they were breaking down. and there were still some folks hanging around or over at taco mac, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. What a beautiful day.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
12:58 am
five seasons
Mixxo
May 1st, 2011
1:01 am
uga-brave – You ballgaming us for five seasons?
Mixxo
May 1st, 2011
1:01 am
The mother of all “ballgames!”
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:01 am
mike, boss bob and david run five seasons.
david is a great cheff. rob and malowe are the best bartenders goiing.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:03 am
mike, cant get a better day.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
1:04 am
nice. i havent been to the one at the prado in years, but keep meaning to go. Go to evos quite often and then always see five seasons across the lot and tell myself i need to get in there. I know the chef, so I’ve been wanting to try it out.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
1:05 am
i bet it was gorgeous out there on the course. especially in the morning, man what a day for golf.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:06 am
mixxo- show up in the five and say you know some idtod georgia braves fan.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
1:06 am
i played last weekend for the first time since last summer. I love playing golf, just don’t get the chance to do it that often…
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:13 am
not tonight, mike s
Ward
May 1st, 2011
1:13 am
Hello every one! Venice Jim our New York Gianst Draft:
1.Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska
2.Marvin Austin DT North Carolina
3.Jarrel Jerrigan Troy
4. James Brewer T Indiana
6. Tyler Sash S Iowa
6.Jacquian Williams LB South Florida
6. Da’ Rel Scott RB Maryland
I’m well pleased with the Draft……..
Ward
May 1st, 2011
1:14 am
Nwe York Giants had a great Draft. I’m very excited……
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:15 am
yooo. mike i know a smart ass when i see one.
Ward
May 1st, 2011
1:16 am
New York Giants answered all their needs. We should do very well. Thats if there is Football?
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:17 am
28 percent.
Ward
May 1st, 2011
1:18 am
Am I the only one happy tonight.! It ’s a wonderful night, and like I would say . in The Music Of The Night……….
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:20 am
bay area, you want to leave, right?
Ward
May 1st, 2011
1:20 am
Jake W. I enjoyed your blogs……..Keep up your writing ,because you make a lot of sense….. Keep being positive too……
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
1:20 am
uga, huh? wasn’t trying to be a smart ass. not sure what you’re talking about. I’m confused.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:25 am
mike, my bad. if i insulted you it was my fault.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
1:27 am
no prob. must have just misunderstood something. it happens.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:27 am
so lets insult sombody. i miss bobby cox already.
uga-brave
May 1st, 2011
1:28 am
HOW do not use venters in the top of the eigghth?
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
1:29 am
how about the frickin umpires? that’s two games in a row they’ve made some poor calls that have hurt the braves pretty big.
Mike S
May 1st, 2011
1:30 am
Beachy was only at 87, uga. He was dealing. Had only given up two hits. Looked strong in the 6th and 7th too.