At Turner Field, Prado is very big
In the large and exuberant throng of baseball fans that surrounded the ESPN broadcast setup after last night’s game at Turner Field – yes, it was a throng, and an exuberant one — there were several handwritten signs proclaiming love for Martin Prado, one suggesting he run for president, and another that said, “The Devil Wears Prado.”
Prado's two-run homer was all the offense the Braves and Jurrjens needed in 2-1 win Sunday.
I don’t know what that meant, exactly — other than the obvious movie reference – but it was cool. And it was fun. And just another symbol of the growing infatuation between so many Braves fans and the selfless left fielder, who has come to represent, for many, the epitome of “team player” in an age when it seems such a species has become endangered.
Throwback player. Old school. There’s no “I” in team – or in Prado. All of it applies, folks. He’s the real deal. No pretense, no hype. His quotes are not carefully worded to mold some impossibly good image of what a ballplayer should be. He is that ballplayer.
In fact, that English is his second language might actually make his quotes all the more honest and real. Because Prado is so passionate and so focused on trying to say what he really means, he doesn’t bother trying to word it in such a way that makes it politically correct or guarded or whatever else we get in sports, from players who are wary of saying what they really mean.
(Although covering a team with the likes of Chipper Jones, David Ross and Eric Hinske, we don’t have any shortage of players unafraid to pull punches and say what they mean.)
Prado, though, is different. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and puts them in just about every sentence in interviews.
He can’t talk about the Braves without saying how much he loves his teammates and how much confidence he has in them, how much they always “battle” and how, even at times like this when the hitters have not been pulling their weight, he’s sure that they will soon and that he just wants the pitchers to keep doing their great work and it’ll all come together and … well, like I said, the guy is passionate.
“Oh my gosh,” he said of hitting a homer last night to at least give the punchless Braves enough offense to give Jurrjens a win. “Well, something is going to happen. Every single guy in our lineup can change the game. We always battle, and that’s what I love about this team. I’m glad I got a fastball and hit it out of the park, and J.J. got the win.”
And he’s driven. No, he’s beyond driven. But you know that, from all that’s been written and said about his tireless work ethic and his spring-training days that lasted a couple of hours longer than almost everyone else’s every day at Dark Star this year when he was getting acclimated to his new position, the position that he was moved to in November without being told about it beforehand.
He said not a word of complaint after being told he would be switched from second base, where he was a 2010 All-Star in his first full season as a lineup regular, to left field because the Braves had traded for Dan Uggla.
Prado’s initial reaction was, well, OK. And after talking to several teammates on the phone, who told him how glad they were to have Uggla in the lineup, his reaction was something along the lines of, that’s all I need to know, fellas. Left field it is. Let’s do this.
Anyway, flash forward to last night’s 2-1 win over Cincy, when Prado and Jair Jurrjens did about as much as two guys can do to win a game by themselves. Prado hit a two-run homer, threw a guy out at the plate to turn away the would-be tying run, and Jurrjens pitched eight innings of one-run ball to whittle his majors-leading ERA to 1.51 and improve to 7-1, tied for the league wins lead despite starting the season on the DL and having only nine starts.
Prado’s one-bounce throw to Ross in the eighth inning was nearly perfect, and ignited a big crowd just as his game-turning homer had two innings earlier. The joy on Prado’s face as he came off the field was matched by the expressions of his teammates – they freakin’ love this guy – and the smiles on thousands of fans who gave him a standing O as he came off the field to a welcome committee on the top step of the dugout.
This is a guy people can get behind, no matter where they’re from or what it is that brought them to the ballpark or put them in front of the TV. The ladies say he’s handsome, the guys say he’s no B.S. and know that he plays hurt and doesn’t show up opponents or act like a star.
He was voted the second-most-underrated player in the majors in a preseason poll conducted by Sports Illustrated, and it should be noted that players couldn’t vote for their own teammates in that poll (I know because I did the polling of Braves players for the magazine).
Chipper's right knee is a bit sore, but he's out of lineup today just for rest.
In other words, all the votes he got came from players other than Braves. And if they could have voted for any player including their own, you can be certain Prado would have had 24 more votes.
So anyway, here’s where we are this season with Prado: After studying the stats this morning, I’m thinking he might be having the best season by any player who ever had 75 percent as many double plays grounded into (12) as walks (16).
That’s the thing with Prado, he doesn’t walk much. So some who place walks and OBP at the top of the criteria for judging players will never put Prado at the top of their list of valued commodities. But other players don’t judge players that way. Neither do most managers, coaches or scouts. Or many of us unsophisticated schlubs of the print media.
Most of us still like to let our own observations and our conversations with players weight into how we judge the value and performance of an individual. And any Braves player will tell you, there is no one more valuable to this team over the past two seasons than Martin Prado.
This season he’s hitting .282 with seven homers, a team-high 32 RBIs, an unimpressive .325 OBP and a .432 slugging percentage. That’s a modest .757 OPS that ranks 80th among 178 major league qualifiers, one spot behind Johnny Damon (.758) and one ahead of Buster Posey (.756.)
It’s down quite a bit for Prado, who had an .809 OPS in 2010, an .822 OPS in 2009 and an .838 OPS in part-time duty in 2008.
But his value to his team isn’t down, and other Braves believe Prado is just starting to heat up at the plate.
“It’s been a weird year for me,” said Prado, who has grounded into more double plays than anyone in the NL except Albert Pujols, who is one of his heroes and is also having an atypical season by Pujolsian standards. “There’s some days that I feel good at home plate, and the next day I don’t have a clue. But I’ve got to get going, man.
“I’ve been working hard, and I’ve got great support from my teammates. I’m always positive. I knew that I hit that ground ball hard, and I’ve been hitting a lot of ground balls hard into double plays. I never give up. I always expect something positive in a game, either defensively or offensvively.”
He might need to get going overall, but at home he’s been going for quite a while now. Maybe it’s the energy, that love affair between Prado and his people here at Turner Field, Whatever the reason, the guy has been doing serious work in home games while struggling on the road.
I’m sure that none of you were aware – because I wasn’t, and haven’t seen it noted anywhere – that Prado enters this Memorial Day game riding an 18-game hitting streak at Turner Field, during which he’s batted .363 (29-for-80) with four doubles, five homers, 19 RBIs and a remarkably tidy .400 OBP and .600 slugging percentage (1.000 OPS). I’m not making that up, those even numbers.
During the same period on the road, he’s hit .216 (.8-for-37) with two doubles, no homers, three RBIs and a .268 OBP and .270 slugging percentage.
The home crowd loves him, for good reason. And maybe he’s feeling it. Or maybe it’s just a flukey thing and soon he’ll be hitting better on the road and it’ll all even out.
But I’m not so sure about that. It takes something special to get an Atlanta crowd to really embrace a player who’s not a superstar, and they’ve done it with Prado.
Workaholic, underdog, tough as hell, always talking about his team and not himself — yeah, that’ll do it.
♣ Digging into JJ’s numbers: Jurrjens leads major league starters with a 1.51 ERA and leads the NL in winning percentage (.875), yet doesn’t rank among the league’s top 10 in opponents’ average (.234) or opponents’ slugging percentage (.331).
He does rank sixth in the NL in opponents’ OBP (.271), but what really jumps off the page of Jurrjens stats is his opponents’ average with runners in scoring position. It’s a microscopic .093 (4-for-43), which would lead major league starters if he had enough opponents’ plate appearances to qualify.
(That’s right, he’s not pitched enough to qualify for some categories, yet is tied for the league wins lead. Says plenty about his performance.)
Four-for-43, folks. That .093 is 32 points better than any qualifying NL starter.
I asked him this morning if that was a reflection of him learning to pitch better in those situations as he’s gotten more experience, or just luck and small sample size, or some combination of the above.
Jurrjens whittled his majors-leading ERA to 1.51 and improved to 7-1 with Sunday's win.
“You’re always going to need luck,” he said. “It’s a little bit of both. I used to be a guy who, when I got in trouble I’d try to do too much and the ball would get flat. And when I got to the big leagues with Detroit, the pitching coach just told me when you get in those big innings try to minimize [damage] and sometimes just try to pitch for outs.
“Sometimes when you pitch for outs, you’re more relaxed and your pitches move more, and sometimes you get a swing-and-miss. Then you get a big out and you can bear down a little bit more….”
Has he learned to do it better?
“Yeah, it’s also knowing who’s coming up behind [a hitter], too. If you have a Joey Votto coming behind, then the guy in front of him you prefer to [make] beat you and you try to be aggressive with that guy and hope they hit a rocket to somebody. And that’s how I go about it, when I’m in certain situations, see who’s on deck and who I want to try to pitch to.”
He’s made nine starts, and in every one of them he’s pitched at least six innings and allowed two earned runs or fewer.
♣ Good matchup today: For this Memorial Day game, we’ve got San Diego’s Aaron Harang (5-2, 3.96 ERA) facing Tim Hudson (4-4, 3.95), who missed his last start while recovering from back stiffness.
Hudson is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his past five starts against the Padres.
Harang is 1-3 with a 4.72 ERA in eight career starts againt the Braves.
♣ Out of time. Let’s get this posted so you can read it before the first pitch. We’ll close with James McMurtry’s great tune about this holiday, which you can hear by clicking here.
Thank you to all the men and women who’ve served or are now serving in our military. We’re forever indepted. R.I.P. to my uncle Wayne, a Vietnam vet who paid a dear price.
“MEMORIAL DAY” by James McMurtry
Mama keeps tryin’ to get the game on the radio
Daddy’s gotta know the score
There’s a big yellow thing on a flat bed trailer
Wonder what that thing’s for
We got towels rolled up in the back seat window
Keeping us out of the sun
Just a hundred more miles and we’ll be at grandma’s
Sure is gonna be fun
Maybe she’ll take us fishin’
Maybe she’ll bake us a pie/Remember like she did that one time
Back before grandpa died
It’s Memorial Day in America
Everybody’s on the road
Let’s remember our fallen heroes
Y’all be sure and drive slow
Ninety eight degrees in the shade of the tool shed
Can’t go back in the house
They’re all in the kitchen yellin’ ‘bout something
Don’t know what it’s about
Joey ‘n Mary said not to worry
Said it’s just the same old figh
tHappens whenever they all get together
Everything’s really alright
It’s Memorial Day in America
This is how it’s supposed to be
Let’s remember our fallen heroes in the land of the free
Daddy’s in the big chair sippin’ on a cold beer
Grandma’s cuttin’ a switch
She overheard Mary cussin’ her brother
Called him a son of a bitch
She got a good green limb off a sweet gum sapling
Man that’s bound to sting
But Mary don’t cry just stands there and takes it
Doesn’t seem to feel a thing
No Mary don’t cry, you know she’s a big girl
Wonder what made her so mad
She takes those licks looking in through the den door
Staring right straight at her dad
There’s a big yellow thing on a flat bed trailer
Daddy nearly hit that bird
They’re both in the front seat
Starin’ right straight ahead
Neither one saying a word
The sun’s going down in the rear view mirror
Gonna be driving all night
Wonder if the neighbor’s fed the canary
Wonder if the cat’s alright
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1,131 comments Add your comment
Fols
May 30th, 2011
1:02 pm
First?
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
1:02 pm
1st, Hopefully, time warp doesn’t get me
Fols
May 30th, 2011
1:03 pm
Lets start the week off right and score more than 5 runs today? Make an afternoon sitting in the office a relaxing one please!
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:03 pm
Strike one from Huddy … BALLGAME!
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
1:05 pm
Lets go Braves!!!!!!!!!!!
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
1:06 pm
I think you need to step away from the radio for a few minutes Fols.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
1:06 pm
Thanks for the blog, DOB!
Awesome, we’re not wearing the milkman hats today.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
1:07 pm
You know someone has mental issues when they blog as 20 different posters just to make it seem that someone agrees with them.
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
1:07 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
ROME
21 year’s old Saturday, AARON NORTHCRAFT [2-0 1.50 ERA, 0.94 WHIP] is kickin’ it so far this season in ROME. Yesterday, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 SO. 2009’s 10th rounder struggled a bit on his promo to ROME last season. He appears quite comfortable now however. Four long-relief stints and a cumulative 1.38 ERA in 13 IP as a reliefer, has lead to his first start and a 1.80 ERA so far. Keep your eye on this kid. He may just have something going.
22 year-old soph [7th round] MATT SUSCHAK [H 1, 7.07 ERA, 2.00 WHIP] takes over NORTHCRAFT’s role with a shut-out inning of work and a base-on-balls.
Followed by 2009’s fifth rounder, reliefer TOM BERRYHILL [H 1, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP] who puts in his first two innings of work in ROME this season. Promo’d to MYRTLE last year, he struggled and is back in A-ball to find his bearings.
2010’s 28th round pick, KYLE MERTINS [SV 4, 2.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP] closes out a spotless ninth with a SO. The 13th appearance for the soph BRAVE this season.
Let’s run the line-up from yesterday as I don’t get to ROME as much this year.
SS MATT LIPKA [.256 BA, ,307 OBP] 1-4, 1 2B [8], 1 RBI [13]. BRAVES 2010 Sandwich pick.
3B ED SALCEDO [.267 BA, .355 OBP] 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB. FA signee BRAVES 2010.
RF DAVID ‘Jim’ ROHM [.250 BA, .294 OBP] 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI [26]. 9th round 2010 BRAVES.
C ‘Big’ JIM GATTIS [37 AB, .432 BA, .475 OBP, .811 SLG, 1.286 OPS] 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B [5], 1 HR [3], 2 RBI [8], 1 SO. 23rd round 2010 BRAVES.
1B JAKE DALFONSO [.311 BA, .361 OBP] 1-3. 18th round 2009 BRAVES.
LF ROB HEFFLINGER [.250 BA, .282 OBP] 0-4, 3 SO. 7th round 2009 BRAVES.
DH CHRIS GARCIA [.329 BA, .389 OBP] 0-4, 2 SO. ANGELS 15th rounder 2007.
2B ELMER REYES [.176 BA, .227 OBP] 1-2, 1 BB. FA signee 2010 BRAVES.
CF HILTON RICHARDSON [.235 BA, .330 OBP] 1-3, 1 R. Pioneer Independent league. Originally drafted by K.C.
jeffrey q
May 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
Good point, jeffrey d. I hated those all white hats.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
LTBF & Trey—
You’re welcome! I do love the Military.
bravesgrl4life When Mac hit that second homer, I had just said, “come on, Mac, tie it up! and he did. That one was for me
Soo-WEET!!
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
Almost.
Fols
May 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
Here we go! Hope we can use that energy from the Sunday nighter.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
1:09 pm
McFann, that’s a good thing!
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
That was not good
geoffrey d
May 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
Me too jeffrey d and jeffrey q.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
Huddy a little rusty out there…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
This is REALLY getting redonculous!!!
I hate stolen bases even more now that BMac’s so much better at throwing!!
Oh, nice, Timmy…
Trey
May 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
Jeffrey, not exactly what I meant, but good try.
Josh.0
May 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
Is Patterson that fast? Or are we just making him look good?
jeffreys d and q
May 30th, 2011
1:11 pm
Thanks Trey
veer
May 30th, 2011
1:12 pm
Conrad can’t field can he?
Fols
May 30th, 2011
1:12 pm
Great……now we need that dreaded 2nd run to win today. This blog is going to turn ugly! haha
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
1:12 pm
Any other secondbaseman in the league makes that play on Patterson leading off the game. That is the lack of range that Uggla has.
veer
May 30th, 2011
1:13 pm
We are down early 1-0. Things don’t look too promising on my hope of sweeping the lowely Padres.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
1:13 pm
Trey—
Yes it is!
JerseyGil
May 30th, 2011
1:13 pm
The Game is on MLB network in this area…
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:13 pm
Braves must be feeling enormously generous after last night’s win. Here you go Padres, it’s a nice, gift-wrapped run.
Single through Uggla, stolen base where the pitcher never looked over, error to third, and run comes home on a ground out when Conrad and Freeman take their time getting the ball around the in-field.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
1:14 pm
Jeffrey, I was actually referring to the people who get called out just to make it look like they have defenders. That Yunel guy on the previous blog, who ended up using my moniker, and is now blogging as some racist on the old blog.
T for Texas
May 30th, 2011
1:14 pm
Great blog, David, thanks. Blessings to all the vets, and active service people.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:15 pm
abwright-
They didn’t exactly “take their time” – The runner went as soon as the throw went to 1st base. He was already several steps down the line to begin with. Not sure what else they could have done to get the runner…
veer
May 30th, 2011
1:15 pm
Dan Ugly Should have made the play on the leadoff hitter. If Prado were at 2nd he would have made that play and thus would have saved us an early 1-0 defecit.
Tadow
May 30th, 2011
1:15 pm
Great read DOB, one of the best!
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
Cant let that run score there, Conrad should have looked a little longer there had plenty of time to throw the runner out.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
Yes, I understand that, Trey. And I was making a joke about it.
RHR
May 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
Great stuff on 2 of the most underrated players in all of MLB.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
Well, too bad Marteen would not have been at 2nd if Uggla had the day off. It would have been Conrad.
Fols
May 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
Uggla is still a Marlin…he’s helping them out more than he’s helping us right now!
IHEARTCARROLL
May 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
It’s good that the Braves fall behind early. Our offense needs a lot of time to catch up.
Josh.0
May 30th, 2011
1:17 pm
What’s the the time warp on the comments? Is that new or has it always done that?
Trey
May 30th, 2011
1:17 pm
Jeffrey, I knew you were making a joke, but I wasn’t sure if you knew what I was actually referring to.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:18 pm
abwright-
I’m going to disagree about Connie and Freddie but agree about Huddy- he doesn’t throw that into center field and this conversation doesn’t happen
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:18 pm
Schafer’s plate approach is improved somuch compared to his 1st season in the bigs.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:18 pm
And of course that posted above the post I was responding too…
RHR
May 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
A 6′7″ 260 lb soft San Diego pitcher on a blistering hot and humid day in atlanta? I like our chances. Make him work, boys. How’s their pen?
Omg I hate u word press. Back to twitter.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
Yes, Trey.
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
Schafer showing some patience
reckingball
May 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
Shafer is looking good.
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
McCann!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
Prado was pissed, i wish they should put the hit and run on sometimes with Prado at the plate, he’s our best contact guy for crying out loud.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
cabravesfan … I think Conrad bobbled the transfer and was focused on getting the runner at first. Freeman seem to be very slow to the plate after catching the ball. It didn’t look like he was prepared to throw home.
Anyway, Hudson’s throwing error was the culprit in that run.
lfo brave
May 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
Schafer doing the job. He looks so much better than spring training. he looks confident
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2011
1:21 pm
Big Mac Attack…..
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
1:21 pm
Schafer’s leadoff walk in this 1st inn. made him 4-for-9 with 4 walks when leading off innings.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:23 pm
And that did too… GRRRRR
abwright- I’m trying to respond…it’s there somewhere
Josh.0
May 30th, 2011
1:23 pm
And Prado hits another double play ball after Schafer gets on. This looks familiar…lucky the first baseman dropped it.
At Turner Field, Prado is very big | Raw Sports - Atlanta Braves
May 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
[...] Atlanta Braves [...]
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
MAAAAAC!!!
MARTEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
YEAH!!! RBI DOUBLLLLLLLLLLLLE!!!
LAG
May 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
Mac’s in a real nice zone right now.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:25 pm
this time warp crap is aggrivating lol
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:25 pm
cabravesfan … your prescience still amazes me. How you can respond to comments before I make them!
I was also alleging in my comments on the Padres’ run, how many things had to go just right for the Padres even to get that one run. Now that McCann has tied it, I think it’s going to be a long day for the Friars.
Fols
May 30th, 2011
1:25 pm
I like the warp, it warped me into my first…first.
Bravo_fan 52
May 30th, 2011
1:25 pm
DOB FYI old blogg has some racist clap-trap on it Great coverage of our Bravos as usuall
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
1:27 pm
RHR, Tadow: Thanks. He’s an easy guy to write about, I tell ya.
lfo brave
May 30th, 2011
1:27 pm
They look like they are playing with more confidance than last week. Maybe the good wins sat and sun will get them on a streak.
Josh.0
May 30th, 2011
1:27 pm
@VaBravesFan
Yes…yes it is…
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:27 pm
I’m trying to embrace the time warp, since it doesn’t seem likely that they will fix it. It’s like doing a puzzle.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:28 pm
abwright-
I keep telling y’all…it’s a gift
One of the few things the Padres do well is steal bases. They have no power and aren’t great at hitting, but when they get on, they can run. They certainly didn’t need any extra help from Huddy. But it is a moot point now
I hope you’re right…
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
1:28 pm
And as I said on the previous blog, every day you leave Uggla in the fifth spot, you take a chance on him being a rally killer.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
1:29 pm
That racist stuff there earlier obviously has no place here or anywhere–yet, I am not naive as to think some individuals wouldn’t deface this blog with that rubbish…all we can do is continue to rebuke it as most sane people do and, really, what worse ‘buzz kill’ exists….go away!
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
1:29 pm
I am glad they scored a run in the first inning, but they have to take advantage of a man at secondbase with only one out. This offense just has to break out and start performing consistently and executing fundamentally.
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
1:29 pm
RHR: While it would be good to get to their pen … it has a really good ERA.
Josh.0
May 30th, 2011
1:29 pm
Is there a pattern to the time warp? Sometimes it does it and sometimes it doesn’t…
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
1:29 pm
When will this guy get out of this funk?! You can tell from the way he’s been pressing that he really wants to be great for this team… but jesus christ!! make an adjustment Uggla!!
corkylovesbeer
May 30th, 2011
1:29 pm
I would like to thank the men and women of the armed services!
Does anyone know the contract situations of JJ and Prado…or when do they become available for FA
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:30 pm
I wish I could remember the entire quote, but after the game last night when they were interviewing Marteen, they asked him why he didn’t complain (seriously) when he was moved to left field. His response?
“I love this game and I love this team…” There was a lot more, but that was the first thing he said. Pretty much sums him up. How can you not love this guy?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:31 pm
Uggla continues to struggle.. its so fustrating to watch.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:31 pm
Joe just put up a quote from AJC/DOB’s blog on Prado’s throw to the plate. I wonder if DOB’s quotage is starting to get used by more than just us denizens.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
1:32 pm
Bravo_fan 52: Gonna need to give me a better idea of what to look for to delete the racist crap and ban the offenders, because we’ve got a game going and I don’t have time to go back and look through every comment to find it. Thanks.
My Cap Has Been Tipped.........
May 30th, 2011
1:33 pm
Uggla needs to go up to the plate with a boat orr and a time warp. That away he can know the upcoming pitch and have a big sweet spot to hit it. This guy looks like a girl trying to hit a soft ball.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:33 pm
corkylovesbeer-
JJ and Marteen both have 2 years of Arb left, if I recall correctly
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:33 pm
Is there a pattern to the time warp?
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
1:33 pm
It’s early, but I’m starting to warm up to Schafer. He looks like he has a good understanding of what a leadoff hitter is supposed to do. He’s having good at-bats and not swinging for the fences like he used to. Plus, he’s an amazing center fielder.
I remain skeptical but hope he can keep it up.
Corbin Clay
May 30th, 2011
1:34 pm
It’s more fraustrating to hear and read the steady drumbeat of how he will shake this. It will be June in 2 days. First we heard a couple of weeks.Then we heard May.Now we are hearing June. Don’t you realize how silly this has become. Nobody knows if or when he comes out of this.Quit reacting to every ground single through the left side as if that is the moment. i know there are a bunch of geeks out there and I have a question.In the last 50 years has any “GOOD” Major League player ever put on a prolonged exhibion like this?Now I know there must have been some bad players who pulled something like this.Of course they all would have been sent down or benched by now. I understand we are powerless to do that with a guy guaranteed over 50 million bucks.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:34 pm
Now that Huddy’s got the rust off, he’s starting to carve up the Padres.
Uggla looked lost in that last AB. Give Harang some credit.
RHR
May 30th, 2011
1:34 pm
I was afraid of that, bgvt. But even still, they’re not used to pitching in this kind of heat. Our boys definitely have the advantage there.
ChrisFromSacramento,Ca
May 30th, 2011
1:35 pm
Hudieeeeeeeeeeee!
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2011
1:35 pm
Tim says nobody can make an error if I just strike em all out.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:36 pm
corky
I think both are under team control until 2013.
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
1:36 pm
Morse takes Halladay deep, Ramos with a single… Wash 1 Phils 0
Fols
May 30th, 2011
1:37 pm
DOB, what’s the probably pitching match-ups for the San Fran series in mid-August? Please factor in all potential injuries, AAA call-ups and trade scenerios. I need this to be bang on for my trip to Atlanta!
Thanks!
RHR
May 30th, 2011
1:38 pm
Marteeeen gets paid next year. He deserves, but won’t get, a contract near or equal to what Danny boy got. I hope the braves do him right.
RHR
May 30th, 2011
1:39 pm
Is someone seriously asking about probable pitching match ups in August? that was a joke, had to be.
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
1:39 pm
To beat the time warp, before you hit submit, cut your comments out, refresh the page, paste your comments and hit delete. The page refresh kind of “resets” the clock.
JerseyGil
May 30th, 2011
1:40 pm
Love Dick Enbert with the padres announc
Bravo_fan 52
May 30th, 2011
1:40 pm
Krusty the Klansman maybe last post before new bloggage uncalled for comments about Fredi sorry to trouble you GO BRAVOS
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:41 pm
A stolen base?!? And then wasted…
My Cap Has Been Tipped.........
May 30th, 2011
1:41 pm
Really Fols…………….. take the schedule and start putting the pitchers on five days then you will get a ballpark average of the three that you would expect to see, I am willing to be 1,000,000 that of the three you come up with one will pitch.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
1:41 pm
Good at bat for Conrad. Stinks Alex got thrown at at 2nd.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
1:41 pm
I’m skeptical of Schafer because he wasn’t hitting too great in the minors. He hasn’t hit very well at any level since that opening series 2 years ago.
corkylovesbeer
May 30th, 2011
1:42 pm
Chip Carey said Chipper is ok…no physical problems? What about the sore knee?
ChrisFromSacramento,Ca
May 30th, 2011
1:42 pm
AGone, nice!
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
1:42 pm
Hernandez with an RBI sac bunt, 2-0 WSH.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
1:42 pm
Count, I’ve found out the hard way that the “cut-refresh-paste” stunt works only part of the time. Which is better than not at all, but still…
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:43 pm
wow Seabass swiping a bag
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
1:43 pm
“I remain skeptical but hope he can keep it up.”
He’s only 24. The hot dog Schafer was 22. He got a taste at least before, so, some of the shock and awe has worn off this time around. I think this is a more mature and humble Schafer and it shows. He also knows that this is a real opportunity and they way he’s playing, Nate has to go to the bench. Nate is a career .251 hitter.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mclouna01.shtml
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
1:44 pm
These baserunning blunders have passed the point of ridiculousness.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
1:44 pm
Dumbo play there Alex
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
1:44 pm
Great job Alex Gonzalez!
You’re the best!!
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
He missed the tag! He missed the tag!
I must be in the front row.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
I think Prado is in line for a 3 year deal for around 21 mil
UKUGA
May 30th, 2011
1:46 pm
I’m sure DS1 is preparing a defense for why Gonzalez getting picked off of 2nd was not his fault and how it didn’t hurt the Braves chances of scoring right there.
lfo brave
May 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
Anybody know why they are wearing uggly caps today? The “a” looks of center even.
RHR
May 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
I Chip Caray 100 times more after following on twitter. He’s funny, self-depreciating, and interacts with fans a lot. I’m not even gonna talk about his cornball comments and annoying calls anymore. Much.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
This Braves team seems determined to intentionally limit themselves to as few runs as possible with all of the fundamental mistakes that are made.
Fols
May 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
Let Harang on base…..he’s gotta be tired from throwing all those pitches. Next inning we score a few runs!
abwright
May 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
The only reason that the occasional blunder looks so bad is because Braves have had so few opportunities. Gonzo was breaking in anticipation of the bunt. If the bunt gets down, he’s standing on third easily. Bad pitch, no bunt, good throw back, umpire misses the call, and Gonzo is out.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
1:48 pm
RHR – I friended him on FB. Here’s Chip as Spongebob
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4816/176/71/649939807/n649939807_2864707_1478413.jpg
UKUGA
May 30th, 2011
1:49 pm
I’m skeptical of McLouth because he hasn’t done anything at all for since 2009.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
1:50 pm
According to Gamecast, the 2nd pitch Huddy through to Johnson was almost down the middle. Certainly a strike. Was that hte case?
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
1:51 pm
A single by the pitcher, surprise.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
1:51 pm
Seems like Gonzo should have fielded the ball off the bat of Harang.
MFin04
May 30th, 2011
1:52 pm
A-Gon was clearly safe at 2nd.
Still don’t get why Chipper wasn’t DLed two weeks ago. He’d be coming back around the time Heyward and McLouth are. I said he should have been DLed then, and since his knee soreness he has been terrible at the plate.
Last 28 days .213.323 /.338. Even worse the last 7 days and 14 days.
lfo brave
May 30th, 2011
1:52 pm
Damnit that sucks
UKUGA
May 30th, 2011
1:52 pm
Speaking of Alex being safe, I heard someone recently (I think it was the Nats color guy, but not sure), talking about the way umpires will often give the defense the benefit of the doubt if everything is in order (good throw, get the tag down, etc.) even if the runner eeks in safe.
He took this point to the extreme, ultimately indicating that he felt the umpire should give this call to the defense in these situations, specifically the play that had just taken place, where the team he was commentating for had made a good defensive play, but the player was correctly called safe.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
1:52 pm
Gonzo also should have fielded that ball from Patterson too. What is going on?
Long Way Home Brave
May 30th, 2011
1:52 pm
Come on Uggla
MFin04
May 30th, 2011
1:52 pm
Uggla blows the double play.
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
1:53 pm
The .180something hitter killing us. 2-for-2 with a run scored. Surprise.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:53 pm
Uggla cant afford to make any bad plays defensivly. It would be ok if he was hitting like we expected. But right now its more fustrating that ever.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:54 pm
They both blew the double play
CB
May 30th, 2011
1:54 pm
JC,put down the gun!
LAG
May 30th, 2011
1:55 pm
Yeah, Schafer shoulda had that one. He had time to plant and double off a 260-lb pitcher.
cricket
May 30th, 2011
1:55 pm
natinals leading 2-0 over philthies
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:55 pm
But mostly Jordan blew the double play
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
1:55 pm
Don’t blame Uggla for not making the double play. The throw was not exactly a good one. It was off target and short hopped.
Blog Monitor
May 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
Uggla 2, Braves 1
MFin04
May 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
Uggla costing the team runs no offense and defense so far today.
RHR
May 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
DOB I’ll give you $1000 to hide all of Uggla’s size 5T jerseys and replace them with ones that fit. His best game this yr was in the loose fitting throwback jersey. Not a coincidence.
Quinn
May 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
I’ve never heard about B-Mac’s wife having the baby. What did they have?
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
Uggla didn’t cost us that run. Jordan’s throw was bad. very bad
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
1:57 pm
That was so awesome.
CB
May 30th, 2011
1:57 pm
I hate this time warp.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
1:57 pm
Shiz.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
1:57 pm
Huson has done nothing wrong in this inning, yet the defense has been awful
choozer
May 30th, 2011
1:57 pm
Both teams with single, stolen base, pick-off attempt at second. Braves throw theirs into CF, costing a run; Padres nail AGon, costing a RISP. Braves giving away runs and giving away chances. Good way to lose to a lousy team.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
1:58 pm
I can and will make the argument that Hudson should have escaped that inning by retiring Johnson, Harang, and Patterson consecutively. Gonzo looked to exhibit poor effort on groundballs up the middle on both Harang and Patterson which ordinarily he fields with ease. Hudson has done his job well today, but the defense fails to comply.
njbraves
May 30th, 2011
1:58 pm
Hits to pitchers, bad throws, dropped double play balls. This team makes things so much harder than they need to be.
MFin04
May 30th, 2011
1:59 pm
How do we allow the worst offensive team in baseball to score two or more runs!?!
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
1:59 pm
Now, Gamecast says the 1st pitch to Logan was way inside. Is Gamecast accurate for those who can watch the game? I may have to break down and get the baseball package.
RHR
May 30th, 2011
1:59 pm
Quinn, they lost it last summer, not long after the ASG.
Blog Monitor
May 30th, 2011
2:00 pm
I wonder where the Braves pitching staff ranks for giving up hits to the opposing pitchers..
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:00 pm
Marteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
2:00 pm
The joy on Prado’s face as he came off the field was matched by the expressions of his teammates – they freakin’ love this guy – and the smiles on thousands of fans who gave him a standing O as he came off the field to a welcome committee on the top step of the dugout.
I saw that smile on his face yesterday. Priceless.
Fantastic blog, DOB – thanks!
eeee’s people, eeee’s. Get it going.
Quinn
May 30th, 2011
2:00 pm
RHR – That’s terrible. Bless their hearts.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
2:01 pm
That was pretty, Marteeen!
Bravo_fan 52
May 30th, 2011
2:01 pm
Marteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!!!!!!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:01 pm
My Marteeeeeen got time warped
carney johnson
May 30th, 2011
2:01 pm
remember when all the middle-aged whiteys on the board wanted kelly johnson over prado? idiots like wayne in utah. bunch of other ones. too funny.
Coldwork
May 30th, 2011
2:03 pm
Padres announcers are terrible
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
McCann Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
Medlen doesn’t want to say it, but sounds as if he’s ahead of sked in his TJ surgery rehab. He could be facing hitters within the next week.
At this rate, I would guess he could be back by beginning of August, instead of late Aug/Sept. But just guessing.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
teeeeeeeeeeen
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
McCann is on fire.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
YES!!! BMac’s on a ROLL!!!
RHR
May 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
Mama there goes that Marteeeeen!
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
2:05 pm
“I think Prado is in line for a 3 year deal for around 21 mil”
If they think he is their third baseman of the future (who else do we have?), he’ll need more years and more money.
Hanson’s long term prospects with the club are looking increasingly suspect, and with Boras as his agent…
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
2:06 pm
Was that Nate McLouth playing RF for the Padres? With as many times as Patterson crow-hopped and refrained from throwing I thought I was watching Nate.
nc braves fanatic
May 30th, 2011
2:06 pm
DOB, best article i’ve ever read on martin prado, and an excellent attempt to redefine what “value” means, both in terms of and in spite of simple stats, to say nothing of advanced metrics. overall, this may be one of your best pieces of writing all year. congrats and thanks.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
2:07 pm
that’s it Mac – make him work.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
2:07 pm
Good stuff on Krissy, can’t wait to see him back out there.
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
2:07 pm
HIS NAME IS DAN UGGLA!!!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:07 pm
MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC!
Long Way Home Brave
May 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
Mac millions
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
Go Mac!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
So cannot wait to see my boy Meds back on the field!
Long Way Home Brave
May 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
The Mac-Teeeen Show
abwright
May 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
Patterson must have taken the “Nate McLouth Throwing to the Plate” correspondence course. Should have been close at the plate if Patterson had let it loose.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
He pulled a McNate
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
Padres 2 MacTeen 2
LAG
May 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
Yeah, I think Patterson coulda had a play on Prado. Good thing he did whatever he did that kept him from throwing.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
Uggla might hit below 200. for the year if he keeps this up. wow. Gameday showe the pitch right out over the middle of the plate up in the strikezone, somethign u would cal the wheel house. Uggla doesnt have one of those anymore tho.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
DOB re Medlen:
Sweet!! Thanks for that!!
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
BMAC!!! Phillies get back-to-back HRs…now tied with the Nats.
Long Way Home Brave
May 30th, 2011
2:10 pm
Just missed it diesel
brian
May 30th, 2011
2:10 pm
Uggla was not even close on that breaking pitch
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:10 pm
Ski just off the end of the bat. And here comes Uggla, which means inning over. At least we got that run back.
Brave4life-We made it, now lets WIN it
May 30th, 2011
2:10 pm
fuggly
RHR
May 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
Lol abwright, that triple clutch non-throw looked eerily familiar.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
Thanks for the news on Medlen, DOB! Good to hear he’s progressing so well.
I hate to say it, but I’m really getting tired of Uggs coming up with 2 out.
Blog Monitor
May 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
carney johnson = paul DENSE
why does the dude continue to return to a place he is despised?
Trey
May 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
blog monitor, I don’t think that is Paul.
njbraves
May 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
Nobody has worse at bats than Uggla. I actually feel bad for him at this point, the guy is completely lost.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
Harang should have walked McCann.
First two times through the order …
McCann drives in Prado
Hinske flies out
Uggla strikes out
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
The Braves have to lead the league in flyballs to the Track/wall. Haha, that is where most of their outs come from.
T for Texas
May 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
cabravesfan, I hope you have that “Martin is not playiong 2nd base” post in a word document someplace so you can copy and paste it, and not have to type it every time.
Joel
May 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
I know Uggla is getting paid a boatload, however maybe its time to put him up for a while. Move Prado over to 2nd for a week or so. Cant hurt.
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:13 pm
Sophee -
Krissy? Who’s she?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:13 pm
65 million dollar mistake so far.. cant blame Frank Wren on this one. How many players have 5 consecutive great seasons and then hit rock bottom? This isnt even decline this is going from 10 to 1. I’m sure the guy will eventually break out, but i’m sick of hearing that line.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:13 pm
Marteeen’s not going to play 2nd this year according to Fredi. Uggla sits, it would be Conrad at 2nd.
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 30th, 2011
2:14 pm
How long till it’s not early anymore and start worrying about Uggla?
choozer
May 30th, 2011
2:14 pm
Uggla has become the biggest head case at the plate since … (McLouth 2010? Jeff Francouer? Fill in the blank?) He has completely lost his recognition of pitches and the strike zone.
Struggla (Russell Bell)
May 30th, 2011
2:14 pm
Read the piece on CAC regarding Uggla’s increased swing rate at balls out of the zone.
Its a succinct breakdown of Uggla’s forgettable first couple months with the Braves.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
2:15 pm
Ok, so maybe Uggs isn’t going to have a good game. I think the thought that he was coming around made have been a bit premature…
Joel
May 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
I’m not saying Fredi is going to make that move. Wishful thinking I suppose. At this point I may take the defensive liabilty though.
brian
May 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
I still would not expect much from Medlen this season. As Hudson showed it will take time to regain the touch on the change up and other off speed pitches. As good as Medlen’s change up was before the injury, I would not expect that pitch back until next year
choozer
May 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
Don’t they have Smoltz’s sports psychologist on speed dial? (now for Uggla)
RHR
May 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
Njbraves- I can think of 5 years and 60 million reasons why you shouldn’t feel too bad for him.
Jeffrey – hilarious spongebob pic.
veer
May 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
Dan Uggla’s struggle continue.
Wonder if this is a slump or this is really how talented he is.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
2:17 pm
blog monitor, I don’t think that is Paul.
choozer
May 30th, 2011
2:17 pm
Looking at the pitch counts, I foresee Mike Minor in this game.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:17 pm
bloggin isnt as fun when your comments get thrown in random areas.
Kathy K
May 30th, 2011
2:18 pm
Why are people feeling bad for a guy who is making in the upper upper 1% of all people in America and all he has done is fail his employer? I really don’t understand this misplaced sympathy.Check out the people in Missouri and Alabama. Feel sorry for them.
Joel
May 30th, 2011
2:18 pm
Ok, Don Sutton has now called Uggla, Utley twice.
Bob the Blogger
May 30th, 2011
2:18 pm
Prado is one of those players who is more valuable than the common stats show. His on-base percentage is pretty low because he doesn’t walk much. He doesn’t have exceptional speed or power. But other than McCann, who would you rather have walking up to the plate with the game on the line?
IHEARTCARROLL
May 30th, 2011
2:18 pm
Glad to hear Medlen is progressing quickly. We could use his bat in the lineup.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
2:18 pm
VAB, when that happens, I just copy and paste it and re-post. Now, I am just cutting and pasting afterwards to see if it works.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:19 pm
65 million dollar mistake so far.. cant blame Frank Wren on this one. How many players have 5 consecutive great seasons and then hit rock bottom? This isnt even decline this is going from 10 to 1. I’m sure the guy will eventually break out, but i’m sick of hearing that line.
Jerry L
May 30th, 2011
2:19 pm
This almost borders on theft.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:19 pm
Corbin
**I’m sick of *using* and hearing that line.**
Corbin Clay
May 30th, 2011
2:20 pm
VA Braves Fan–Why are you using it?
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
2:22 pm
Phillies 3 Nationals 2 top fifth
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:22 pm
Why the Phillies have a better record than the Braves:
1. The Phillies just had 5 consecutive hits: 2 HRs, 1 double, and 2 singles…followed by a successful sac bunt.
2. The Braves have a c-c-c-combo breaker in Dan Uggla in the 5-hole.
Supes
May 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
That 2nd at bat from Dan Uggla was just awful…how can he be so lost at the plate right now…every time it’s 0-2 and it results in a strikeout or some weak ground ball or pop up…
DOB, awesome blog on Prado he definitely is one of my favorite Braves…I hope the team signs him to a long term deal, we’ve seen enough to know now it’s not a one or two year thing with him…he’ll be a good player for a long time to come!
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
Freeman needs to stay in front of Uggla until Uggla gets his head straight.
IHEARTCARROLL
May 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
Has there ever been a game with 8 starters batting less than 200?
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
2:24 pm
Huddy’s pitch count is mounting. I get the feeling that this might be another extra inning game and lots of innings for the bullpen.
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
2:24 pm
I know his average is decent, but I don’t think A-Gonz has gotten a meaningful hit all year.
Good thing he plays D.
LAG
May 30th, 2011
2:25 pm
Freddie’s good cuts continue.
Owl Hunter
May 30th, 2011
2:25 pm
VaBravesFan
If Uggla is still hitting like this at the end of the season, then he will have hit rock bottom.
bill
May 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
I do not tend to be a glass half full guy but in this case I feel if IF Uggla comes around we will be in such good shape because we are maintaining with him in the dumper. You have to believe that no matter when he awakes we can use his normal performance for one or two months. Keep winning and wait for the UG to start hitting. I can not think of anyone with his history forgetting how to play over the winter. He will hit. Go Nationals we need FLa and Philly to lose a few straight
veer
May 30th, 2011
2:27 pm
Nationals aren’t helping us today even after a 2-0 lead.
Earl Williams
May 30th, 2011
2:28 pm
You guys are GREAT!! I mean it!! The 225 or so Marlins followers want to run dogging Hanley and his .210 average out of town and you guys remain faithful,sympathetic and almost as if you want to conduct a benefit.Nice People!! that is why there is New York,Philadelphia Boston and then Atlanta.
Struggla (Russell Bell)
May 30th, 2011
2:28 pm
He needs a vacation from baseball, badly. Get his head straight and come back and rake.
George Stein
May 30th, 2011
2:28 pm
Any news on Heyward’s progress?
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
2:28 pm
Gonzalez and Uggla, Players of the Game for the Padres so far
MFin04
May 30th, 2011
2:29 pm
This ump is terribly inconsistent.
bill
May 30th, 2011
2:29 pm
Iheartcarroll the Los Angeles Dodgers won the world series against Baltimore in 1966 and they hit a fast .166. They did have koufax and drysdale.
choozer
May 30th, 2011
2:29 pm
A little sounds fundamentals on D for Bravos and this is a 2-0 game.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
2:30 pm
Hudson threw 74 pitches through first 4 innings; he got through 5th in FIVE pitches.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
2:30 pm
The Braves players are thinking that since they have met their quota of 2 runs they can sit back and watch Hudson and the relievers go to work today.
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
2:33 pm
All this crying about time warp is kind of funny. For the first 3 or 4 years the blog was online you had to wait five minutes until they showed up.
LAG
May 30th, 2011
2:33 pm
Great inning there by Huddy. Guess he wanted to hurry up and hit.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
2:33 pm
That was a short half-inning.
Maybe the Braves need Cookies Pest Control with Sentricon. Get all those termites out of the bats.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:33 pm
Good, quick inning. Let’s go get some runs!
tempe Zac
May 30th, 2011
2:34 pm
Great start to the inning; I was doubting Huddy too much
abwright
May 30th, 2011
2:34 pm
That’s gonna leave a mark.
Carlsbad Cavern
May 30th, 2011
2:35 pm
Someone asked earlier if it is statistically possible for a “good” Major League player to experience this kind of 200 AB stretch? I don;t know the answer but it’s a great question.If there has never been a Major League player who was considered to be very good who has gone 36 for 210 over a stretch then I would think something is going on.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:35 pm
Seems like we think Uggla is getting ready to come around after hitting some hard hit balls, and then comes out here and looks at a straight fastball over the outside of the plate for strike 3 and swinging threw a slider up and over the middle of the plate for strike 3, basically misses a mistake.
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
Exactly what is Gretchen trying to imply with that trivia question?
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
Okay, had to go say bye to our Florida friends. What were they talking about “playing under protest”?
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
When was the last time the Braves had a comfortable lead of more than 2 runs for an extended period in a game? 2009? 2008? 1995?
George Stein
May 30th, 2011
2:37 pm
I think they’re showing how valuable the save stat is, GT Alum.
P.S. You planning on going down for the regional?
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
2:38 pm
Carlsbad Cavern, the closest thing I can remember is Derek Jeter hitting around .190 for the first two months about six or seven years ago. I think he went like 41 at-bats without a hit at one point.
Struggla (Russell Bell)
May 30th, 2011
2:38 pm
Seems like we think Uggla is getting ready to come around after hitting some hard hit balls, and then comes out here and looks at a straight fastball over the outside of the plate for strike 3 and swinging threw a slider up and over the middle of the plate for strike 3, basically misses a mistake.
CAC (Capitol Avenue Club) has a tidy article that quantifies your observations. His diminished strike/ball recognition is a little unsettling.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
2:39 pm
The entire 5th inning was 13 pitches — 5 by Hudson, 8 by Harang.
1991Braves
May 30th, 2011
2:40 pm
The braves had some weak offensive teams during their 14 year run, but this bunch has to be the worst offensive team the braves have had since 1990. Beginning to think that UGGLY might have steroid issues. The guy is very muscular, maybe he got off the juice after he signed the huge contract.
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:40 pm
bravesgrl4life -
The broadcasters were saying they were filing a protest about the trivia question with the incredibly obscure player as the answer. Nothing to do with the game.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
2:41 pm
nc braves fanatic: thanks much
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
2:41 pm
62 million, but who’s counting?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:43 pm
Carlsbad Cavern
I’m sure there has been plenty of long slumps like this before. Only difference in this case it happens to be our Big Offseason Addition that we dished out 65 million too, that is expected to be a big masher in the middle of the order. Considering the position were in with the lack of offensive output from key players were lucky.
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:44 pm
You planning on going down for the regional?
I might. I’ve actually already got a lot planned for next weekend, but I might squeeze at least a couple games in.
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
2:45 pm
“Maybe we should make Uggla an uber rich minor leaguer”
Maybe he can KK could discuss their troubles together!
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:45 pm
It’s not the time warp that bothers me as much as the “You’re posting comments too quickly” screen.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
2:46 pm
Thanks, GT
MAC with his 2nd double!!!!!
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:47 pm
LOL…although you do have to love the reply showing above the original comment.
Joel
May 30th, 2011
2:47 pm
Maybe we should make Uggla an uber rich minor leaguer.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
2:48 pm
33…32…27…home runs……His name ONCE was Dan Uggla!
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
A buck eighty comes fast….and so regretful in your sixth year
choozer
May 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
Seems like Braves are HORRIBLE at advancing runners.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
I actually feel bad for Uggs. Nice guy, by all accounts. Wants to do well. Seems to be a good teammate. Just plain sucks right now.
Hinske not helping today either.
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
C’mon, Freddie. Get Mac in.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
Uggla’s early suckage is similar to Lowe’s early suckage after he signed the big contract with the Braves.
Braves don’t seem to hand out big contracts all that frequently. If Uggla had signed with the Yankees, his early struggles wouldn’t be that big of a deal.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
I bet Uggla hits atleast 25 homers this season. But atleast 20 of them will be solo shots if he stays on his current track.. lol
Joel
May 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
McCann is locked in folks!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC!!!!
Carlsbad Cavern
May 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
How can he even have the guts to walk back and sit in the dugout?You would think he would have the decency to sit outside like the bat boy he is. GARBAGE!!
Crime Dog
May 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
This McCann dude is unconscious at the plate.
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
He is a doubles MACHINE!
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
Great double by McCann. Glancing down the scorecard. Uggla in the hole. Another chance for a rally to fizzle?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
ANOTHER DOUBLE!!!
I ♥ Harang…
abwright
May 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
McCann doesn’t want this thing to go to extra innings.
I blame McFann for that being a double instead of a home run. She must have been wishing so hard it knocked the ball down.
Bravo_fan 52
May 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
B McC comes trough again
abwright
May 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
If Uggla were playing in NY, he’d be sitting on the bench right now, contract be d—ed.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
2:52 pm
Teams just described as “two run teams”….hence: two peas in a padre.
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
2:52 pm
Uggla is hopeless.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:52 pm
Linebrink for Cy-
The 7 day DL is for concussions.
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
2:52 pm
“If Uggla had signed with the Yankees, his early struggles wouldn’t be that big of a deal”
early struggles, New York ….. lol you really think it wouldn’t be a big deal with the NY Media/Fans? They’ve jumped on allllll their big contract guys: CC, Tex, ARod, Burnett.
What he’s going through now is not a big deal compared to what he’d go through in NY. He’d be booed every single AB he made an out I guarantee.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:52 pm
Crowd starting to boo Uggla.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:53 pm
well idk what to say anymore.
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
2:53 pm
See if you can’t get ahead in the count, please.
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 30th, 2011
2:53 pm
Best 5th hitter on the planet.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
2:53 pm
Don’t leave him there!!!
abwright—
Damn!!
May 30th, 2011
2:53 pm
His name IS FAILURE!! Total and ABSOLUTE FAILURE. All you Kool-Aid drinkers who thinkMuscle Man is going to break out of this are as delusional as the idiots who hired Chip Caray to sit in a broadcast booth because of his father.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
lead off double and cant even move runner over to 3rd in 2 chances. thats sad.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
Hey cab, your gal pal Maria just won another match.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
abwright McCann doesn’t want this thing to go to extra innings.
So true, so true.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
Uggla is so terrible we might as well stop talking about him.
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
He may not be injured or anything but maybe they should put Uggla on the 7 day DL … call it “Fatigue” or something … 1 day off just isn’t going to fix him.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
cabravesfan-
I think that could be arranged.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
abwright
Dan Uggla does.
choozer
May 30th, 2011
2:56 pm
Most guys in our lineup can run the count full. Not Uggla. Not AGon.
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
2:56 pm
Ugh…I like Freddie hauling tail down the line to make the C throw him out, though.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
2:56 pm
then Freeman swings at ball 4.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
2:56 pm
What a terrible inning. A team needs to cash in a leadoff double everytime. Sadly, this team consistently fails to string together fundamental plate appearances.
njbraves
May 30th, 2011
2:56 pm
Another great inning frI’m the offense. These sure are fun to watch.
StingerSplash
May 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
As bad as Struggla is right now, what are the Braves options? Move Prado back to second and start an outfield of Hinske-Schaefer/McLouth-Heyward? Then what do you do with Struggla? Can’t have that much salary picking splinters out his backside. Can’t trade him anywhere.
creepyemissary2
May 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, http://GoGetBids.com
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
My last darned comment just climbed two flights of stairs…WTF????
abwright
May 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
VaBravesFan … I think Uggla wants about 10 ABs today to work on his swing.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
Linebrink for Cy-
The 7 day DL is only for concussions
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
Fredi not going to let Huddy go over 100 today?
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
Braves’ Uggla 0-for-3 with 2 K so far today, makes him 4-for-47 (.085) w/ no extra base hits and 1 RBI in past 14 games
PROCTOR to pitch 7th for Bravos
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
2:58 pm
Okay … perhaps Linebrink for Cy was suggesting someone hit Uggla in the head.
The A Bomb
May 30th, 2011
2:58 pm
What will be worse than this year is hearing Wren justify the 1,000-strikeout contract during the offseason.
Brutal.
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
2:59 pm
Well .. this game is in the bullpen’s hands now. A bit better defense today and this game would feel a lot better.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
2:59 pm
Anybody else see Napoleon Dynamite eating ice cream during that song?
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
2:59 pm
Even Nick Esasky can’t believe how big of a bust Uggla has been.
George Stein
May 30th, 2011
3:00 pm
Did you pay for that ad, creepy?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:00 pm
abwright
He’s trying to make it 0 for 10 with 7 k’s 2 popouts and a double play. While stranding 6 or more runners.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
3:00 pm
Hudson: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 7 K, 0 BB. Threw 93 pitches (61 strikes).
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:00 pm
I hope it’s the big black guy from the ASO singing “God Bless America.” He can really nail that last hight “HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME” note
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
Does anyone think this one is going to end after nine today?
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
Nats 4 Phils 3
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
At least the Nats are up on the Phillies again.
njbraves
May 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
Nats jut took a 4-3 lead on Halladay and the Phils.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
Ump’s crotch is wet
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
3:02 pm
My last comment appeared at the dawn of time.
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
3:02 pm
dang, before today Halladay had only given up 2 homers on the year … up to 3 so far today
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
3:03 pm
They can’t do anything with Uggla but he should have been moved down in the batting order A LONG time ago.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:03 pm
I’m gonna go out on a very long limb and make a bet that I know I will lose and say Dan Uggla wins the game with a solo shot in the bottom of the 9th.
Filly Fanatic
May 30th, 2011
3:03 pm
How in the Hell are you guys going to react IF Ugly eventually hits a homer in the bottom of the 9th to win a game??/ Will you actually be on here saying “Where are all the Uggla bashers now?” or would your reaction be maybe he is being paid 60 million to once in awhile hit a homer to win a game?
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:04 pm
My last comment appeared at the dawn of time.
Frank Wren's Gilhooly
May 30th, 2011
3:04 pm
cabravesfan, May 30th, 2011, 2:57 pm … “The 7 day DL is only for concussions”
Just tell me what time Dan’s going to be working out and a concussion can be arranged.
StingerSplash
May 30th, 2011
3:05 pm
TruthSeeker,
Hey now, Esasky was coming off a pretty big year for the Sox, signed with the Braves and got a heaping helping of vertigo that essentially ended the big fella’s career. Struggla has no such malady to contend with. Not as far as anyone knows.
Maybe time for someone to “drop” a weight on his toe in the weight room. Maybe he can pull a Al Czervik from “Caddyshack” — “ooh, ooh, my arm, I think it’s broken.”
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
3:06 pm
McCann has 7 hits inc. 4 extra-base hits in his past two games.
Uggla has 4 hits (no extra-base hits) in his past 14 games.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:06 pm
Into the Padre’s bullpen. McCann drops an F-bomb now that Harang is out of the game.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:06 pm
Hate this umps strike zone…
Scott from Fairburn
May 30th, 2011
3:06 pm
Dan needs 15 days off – oblique? strained throwing shoulder?
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:07 pm
@VaBravesFan…..Re: 3:03…..I think you are correct but he needs, as stated earlier, at least 10 ABs–so the game and his heroics will eventually come to pass later….perhaps much later, than you have predicted.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:07 pm
Yay! He’s back!
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
3:07 pm
I’ll admit that I thought Proctor was done during spring training, but he has done pretty well since being called up.
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
3:07 pm
This is “doze off baseball” at it’s best.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
3:08 pm
Enter your comments here
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:08 pm
Captain
your right.. what was I thinking???? lol
I forgot all about Uggla needing 10 practice ABs.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
3:08 pm
Ump’s crotch is wet — CaptainMudderland
And you not only noticed, but felt compelled to point it out.
lfo brave
May 30th, 2011
3:09 pm
Agon doen’t even care what he swings at.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
3:09 pm
Simply beautiful
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:09 pm
Yeah Timothy Miller!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
That man has an absolutely AMAZING voice.
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
That’s a generous corner.
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
That was a beautiful rendition of it from Timothy Miller
The A Bomb
May 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
Maybe that singer can blow the cork out of Uggla’s hindside.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
I like how his jaw moved horizontally while holding out some notes
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
I wish the blog could time warp Uggla to 2010.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
By ERA, the two best bullpens in the NL are now facing off. Who blinks first?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
I say give Venters,EOF,Kimbrel the day off today. We cant run those guys out there every flippin game cause we can never get a lead of more than 2 runs. Good inning by Proctor we needed it.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:11 pm
I feel like Captain Nemo…..my submarine comments will not stay below the waterline.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:11 pm
VaBravesFan-
Then who starts tomorrow?
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:11 pm
Extra Innings today? Probably
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:13 pm
jeffrey-
Minor’s been with the team for a week now.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:13 pm
I say give Venters,EOF,Kimbrel the day off today. We cant run those guys out there every flippin game
Venters and EOF didn’t pitch last night.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:14 pm
I say run Mike Minor out there and let em pitch until the game is over. If it stays tied that is.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
3:14 pm
What, no sac bunt?
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
3:15 pm
Can Marteen do it again?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:15 pm
jeffrey
yeah i know give em another day off. they need it.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:15 pm
Vocal tribute just outstanding….and, I want to say: Thank You to our service men and women.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
With all the exploding bats, it seems that “corking” the bat has come to an end.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
I say run Mike Minor out there and let em pitch until the game is over. If it stays tied that is.
Can Minor make it up 85 by the top of the 8th?
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
Wow, three posts in a row with no time warp. Have I got it figured out?
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
Phils back up…
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
cab
oh you read my mind I see lol :p I didnt know Minor was starting tomorrow.
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
3:18 pm
This could go on a while with two great bullpens and two anemic offenses.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:18 pm
Two more stranded and I am beside myself—game should be 8-2 Bravos by now–okay, that’s it there will be no intimissimi tonight unless they win.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:18 pm
idk i thought DOB said Minor was called up and could be used in relief, maybe i’m mistaken from a earler time
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:18 pm
Hugo Z Hackenbush-
It decided to time warp mine instead
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
3:18 pm
Go Jordan
COME ON MARTEEEN!
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:19 pm
Another good AB by Schafer to keep the inning alive and bring The Prado to the plate.
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2011
3:19 pm
Nice AB Jordan….
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:19 pm
Prado in another big spot.
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
3:19 pm
EOF and Venters didn’t play yesterday and had Monday and Thur off last week at least. Those were off days and I don’t know if they pitched or not the other days.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:19 pm
VaBravesFan-
Minor filled in for Huddy last week and stayed up. He was available in those extra inning games if they needed him but he is going to start tomorrow
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
Come on Prado. The Braves needed a better atbat than that.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
That flare was a little too well hit.
The A Bomb
May 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
Thus far Schafer 2.0 seems to make us more competitive.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
Cab, did you notice I said that your gal pal Maria just won her match?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
cab
oh ok gotcha.
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
3:21 pm
lol Washington, you’ve scored 4 runs off Halladay!!! Can’t you tell your pitchers he doesn’t do that very often and this is a game you could win?
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:21 pm
He gone
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
3:21 pm
VBF -
Minor was available yesterday because it was his day to throw between starts. If he pitched today, it could impact his ability to make his next start.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:22 pm
Hugo Z Hackenbush-
Must have missed it…she’s getting some luck too, playing girls that are either young and froze up at the big moment (Garcia, who should have won that match) or vets that are not known for their mental strength (Radwanska, who should have at least won that 2nd set)
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:22 pm
My prediction could come true, Uggla is due up in the 9th.. It might actually be better for him to lead off the 9th than him batting with runner’s on in the 8th. pretty sad. Either way he has a chance to win the game for us soon.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:24 pm
Uggla getting a walk off hit would prolly turn his season around. I hope it happens.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:25 pm
VaBravesFan-
Uggla won’t get the chance. Mac will break the tie in the 8th
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:26 pm
Must have missed it
It was the dreaded time warp that puts your comment at the end of the previous page.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:26 pm
cab
How about a double by Mac and then a game winning Gapper by Uggla? I think it would be better for the team, somthing like that could get Uggla going.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
Lovin’ me some Cory Gerrin
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
CoryGearrin!
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
Cory…welcome back,good job rook.
LAG
May 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
Gearrin’s still got it.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
@cabravesfan…..MAC, today? Yes–co-sign negotiated herein and thereafter—no brainer there girl.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
VaBravesFan-
Uggla is due up third in the 8th
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
VaBravesFan-
I wouldn’t mind. Just my Mac Bias showing
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:28 pm
Good work by Gearrin in the 8th inning. The Braves would really help us out by scoring about 5 in the bottom of the 8th inning.
TnBrian
May 30th, 2011
3:28 pm
Enter your comments here
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:29 pm
it would be awesome to just blow it wide open right here with 4 or 5 runs
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
3:29 pm
well unless they bat around in this half inning, Uggla won’t be batting in the bottom of the 9th.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:29 pm
Capt’n-
It really is a no brainer. I think Mac’s going to win it for us every day
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:31 pm
There goes the Braves chances of winning soon with Mac’s flyout to LF.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:31 pm
McCann got a pitch to hit there and missed it for the first time today.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:31 pm
Ok Uggla will do something to help the team this inning. Something good could be striking out with a runner on 1st instead of hitting a inning ending double play and then Freeman gets the big hit. that’ll work too haha.
Just Sayin'
May 30th, 2011
3:31 pm
good job Uggs!
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
3:31 pm
Uggla takes a walk!
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:31 pm
@DOB….yes, ‘crotch comment’ was over the top…my bad!
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:33 pm
Well, it’s up to Uggla this inning…
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:33 pm
C’mon Uggs
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:33 pm
Good AB for Freddie. Unfortunately, we’re playing station-to-station in this inning.
At least we clear “The AGon” for the ninth.
Seth
May 30th, 2011
3:33 pm
Sigh…Uggla.
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
3:33 pm
Get ahead in the count Dan
Brave4life-1995 all over again?
May 30th, 2011
3:33 pm
For Uggla, when its bad it terrible
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:34 pm
solo shot? it is about time for one aint it.
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
3:34 pm
Free swing this into an RBI AGon!
Trey
May 30th, 2011
3:34 pm
At least Uggla hasn’t forgotten how to run the bases.
lfo brave
May 30th, 2011
3:35 pm
Take the bat away
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
3:35 pm
Well, at least it wasn’t an out for Uggla at this one.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:35 pm
That will work…thanks for the memories Dan
lfo brave
May 30th, 2011
3:35 pm
Progress ! Go Freddy
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:35 pm
Holy crap, Uggla got on base!
LAG
May 30th, 2011
3:35 pm
Probably one of the best AB’s Uggla has had in a while. Especially since he would normally have swung at a couple of those down-and-away pitches.
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
3:36 pm
Gapper, Freddie. Roll it to the wall
njbraves
May 30th, 2011
3:36 pm
Another terrible AB by a Brave in a big spot, surprise, surprise.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:36 pm
Good approach by Uggla there. That is a small victory for the team.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:36 pm
Scott from Fairburn-
Who would you recommend closing the game if we had scored there?
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2011
3:36 pm
Uggla walked….That has to be a good sign.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:37 pm
Let’s see if Gonzo can actually hit with 2 outs and RISP for the first time this season.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:37 pm
Yes….let’s go…rally a bit….Freeman awesome the past few games.
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2011
3:37 pm
Freddie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think that was 13 ! just for the whiners.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:38 pm
Good too see Uggla is tired of swinging and missing.
Scott from Fairburn
May 30th, 2011
3:38 pm
And Jonny Venters is up in the pen … Fredi, Fredi, Fredi. You are going to have to develop bullpen package B or Jonny, Eric, and Craig will be on the shelf with arm injuries
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
Alex Gonzalez = anti-clutch.
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
2-outs RISP … A Gon is gone.
Brave4life-1995 all over again?
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
Maybe Chipper can hit a PH HR in the next inning
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
And, of course, 0-2 lives up to his nickname.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
Good thing Alex plays pretty good defense
LAG
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
Annnnnnnd we got Alex’ed.
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
annnd he free swings into a K
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
Uggla has a good AB and laid off the junk outside.
Gonzalez seems to have inherited the “swing at the pitch waaaay outside” bug from Uggla.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
Gonzo has the worst approach. He has to know that pitchers usually waste pitches when they are ahead in the count, but he continues to swing wildly. Worst man to have at the plate in a key situation with two outs. Frustrating.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
That’s 6 hits off Venters in his past six outs, after he’d given up no hits in 12 innings over 10 appearances
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
3:40 pm
Is there any company advertising now on TV more irritating than AT&T? Ski Lift, Dancing in the Train Station and the most obscene, Diner Kills Tarantula with Shoe. Any of those make me change the channel.
Mrs Uggla
May 30th, 2011
3:40 pm
All you idiots who have been knocking Dan, what do you think now? Think you’re so good why don’t you get out there and play. Dan didn’t swing at any bad pitches and then he ran to 2nd after the hit. He can’t help it that nobody drove him in.Why don’t you blame the shortstop who struck out?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:40 pm
might as well leave Venters out there until his arm falls off.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
3:40 pm
Gonzalez struck out to make him majors-worst 0-for-18 with 5 K and 1 W (intentional) w/ RISP and 2 outs
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
Scott –
Jonny was up in the bullpen in case the Braves took the lead in the bottom of the 8th. I expect that Kimbrel gets the day off and Venters is the “closer.” At this point, he might pitch an inning since the Braves will not have a save opportunity today. As Shaun would point out, this might be one of those times to use your best reliever.
Scott from Fairburn
May 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
bgvt – I’m well aware why Jonny is up and why Fredi likes to use him.
This is 30th game in two months. Something has to give.
Based on the first two at bats … what do you think?
Linebrink for Cy
May 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
when you add his Toronto and Atlanta K totals from last year, AGon wiffed almost 120 times. He’s only at 41 right now …..
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
GT Alum … yeah … it just looked like Uggla got his shot of penicillum but Alex “just said, no.”
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
Reach, hack….etc.,etc……nail biting drama forthcoming—but I really hope this thing doesn’t go–for the sake of the ‘pen,’ anything like 12 or 13 frames.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:42 pm
bgvt-
pitcher’s spot is due first in the bottom of the 9th, so for sure this is Jonny’s only inning
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:42 pm
I eat my beans from a cantu….
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
3:42 pm
abwright -
AGon hasn’t inherited anything. He’s had the Vlad/Andruw/Frenchy strike zone at least since he became a Brave.
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
3:42 pm
Uh oh.
shmoe
May 30th, 2011
3:43 pm
alex gonzalez is so unclutch
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
3:43 pm
Time for a GiDP here — though I expect the Padres to bunt.
Joel
May 30th, 2011
3:43 pm
Venters, best pitcher in all of baseball right now. Period
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:43 pm
That was close…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
Beautiful!!
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
Mather up to bat first then Schafer and Prado.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
Fabulous Freddie.
Good job, boys.
bgvt
May 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
Jonny has so many nicknames … Vulture, Everyday Jonny, Here’s Jonny …. can we add Houdini for getting out of two situations like that one within a week?
Joel
May 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
Best pitcher in baseball right now
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:45 pm
Venters was due for a rough outing where he allows some hits and some runs.
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
3:45 pm
We’re going to have to rally off Heath Bell. That sounds promising.
College Pitching Coach
May 30th, 2011
3:45 pm
Way to go Fredi.Keeprunning Venters out there.
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
Whats Up all?
What did I miss?
No Hitting Goons
May 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
Who thought that Gonzalez would strike out in that situation. All you have to do is throw the fool 3 curve balls outside.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
I eat my beans from a cantu….
Elonbrave
May 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
Venters looks tired… his body language, the lack of movement on his sinker….
TxB
May 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
Team has been playing with Fire all season. It’s about time our bullpen blows up
Seth
May 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
Venters is off today.
Joel
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
When was the last time the braves won by 3 or more runs?
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
Venters is amazing.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
That works
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
Venters got the DP.
Elonbrave
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
Not that it matters, I guess..
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
BEAUTIFUL DP!!!!
BFChris26
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
Nice Double Play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LAG
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
Well done by Venters and Freeman.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
That was a thing of beauty! Inning ending Freeman to McCann to Freeman double play.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:48 pm
Excellent and very timely guys…now let’s have a great walkoff experience.
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2011
3:48 pm
That was well executed…..Now get a damn run.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
3:48 pm
Johnny Freaking Venters. The Vulture. Wow.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:48 pm
Venters gets outta it. phew.. Good to see his arm is still attached to his body.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
3:48 pm
Opponents are 0-for-6 against Venters with bases loaded. Ridiculous.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
Awesome 3-2-3 DP, some runs would be amazing in the ninth inning.
keylargo
May 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
Double switch lets Mather lead off.
No Hitting Goons
May 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
Our only hope is a walk off home run. We cannot put three hits together in one inning. No way. Especially with no-clutch Gonzalez. Auto out Uggla and popup McAnn.
Scott from Fairburn
May 30th, 2011
3:50 pm
Way to go Jonny, now go ice your arm and take a handful of anti-inflammatories …
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:50 pm
A big fly here and Chipper can get his 13th game ending hit.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
3:50 pm
Chipper’s due isn’t he?
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:51 pm
I have mixed feelings here. I want the Braves to score and win the game, but if they do we’re in for at least a month’s worth of Shaun explaining why SD should have gone with Heath Bell.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:51 pm
BOB-
That is a rather impressive stat.
Joel
May 30th, 2011
3:51 pm
Heres a stat for you, last time braves won by more than runs, May 8th, more than three May 6th
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:52 pm
*DOB
Autocorrect fail…
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
3:52 pm
Schafer draws a 2-out walk in 9th, Prado up with a chance to be a hero 2 nights in a row….
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
Another blown call.
LAG
May 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
Weak call. Schafer was in there.
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
David O’Brien
“Gonzalez struck out to make him majors-worst 0-for-18 with 5 K and 1 W (intentional) w/ RISP and 2 outs”
UGGH! That has to be wearing on him? Gonzo is what he is, A streaky .240 hitter who plays gold glove defense. Any production from him is a bonus. Ditto for Fab 5 Freddie…
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
Did Jordan come off the bag during the slide? Because his hand beat the throw.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
He was so safe. Guy was too busy digging the ball out to tag him.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
Did Uggla really say that he is struggling because of the pressure?
TxB
May 30th, 2011
3:54 pm
Pitcher’s will be throwing it on the outside corner every time until Chipper can prove he has the knees to hit iit with power. Chipper (mr 3 dimentional) has become one dimentional. Get the surgery Chipper!!!!!! NOW!!!!!!
LAG
May 30th, 2011
3:54 pm
Wordpress time warp…
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
3:54 pm
They need to bring someone in to work with Schafer on the base stealing. He’s quick enough, but just not very good at it.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
3:54 pm
Did Uggla really say the pressure is getting to him here?
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:54 pm
I don’t know if I’d call Alex Gonzalez “streaky.” He’s pretty consistent at not getting on base.
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
3:54 pm
@Jeffrey D
jeffrey d
“I don’t know if I’d call Alex Gonzalez “streaky.” He’s pretty consistent at not getting on base.”
lol, No Diggidity No Doubt…
I just think people he way to high expectations on Gonzo because of what he did in Toronto last year…He is the least of our offensive woes…I think I’m gonna take a nap, I’m still recovering from last nite/this morning
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
3:55 pm
wow, jumped a good 20 spots there… impressive.
TxB
May 30th, 2011
3:55 pm
Shaefer Walks you HAVE to let him steal
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
3:56 pm
If Schafer goes yard here, I’d like to see him give a “suck it!” to McLouth as he’s rounding the bases.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:56 pm
When did Schafer get this disciplined at the plate?
Everyone else seems to be swinging at the junk and Schafer lays off.
count_schemula
May 30th, 2011
3:56 pm
What him hit a home run here…
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
3:56 pm
That’s why you don’t send Jordan.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:57 pm
Extra innings, here we come!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
3:57 pm
HE WAS SAFE!!!
StingerSplash
May 30th, 2011
3:57 pm
Chipper’s average is now .250. It was .291 on May 6.
TxB
May 30th, 2011
3:57 pm
Worst team in Braves History!!
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
3:57 pm
He was safe by a long shot there. Another extra innings game.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:57 pm
He was there before the tag
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
3:57 pm
Another extra Innings game, Bleh! You can take it to the Bank that the Braves lead the majors in extra inning games this year, it seem like we have one of those every other night. I know that sucks for D.O.B. having to meet deadlines. I bet he cusses out the offense more than we do for all the extra inning games
Joel
May 30th, 2011
3:58 pm
Dont expect Fredi to stand up for his players…
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
3:58 pm
cabravesfan-
Scaher was safe. He got his left hand under the arm and on the bag.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
3:58 pm
Extra baseball on that caught stealing.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
3:58 pm
Seriously. Rickey couldn’t steal if he was on this team. There is something about wearing the Bravs Uni nowadays…the T-Hawk must weigh to much and slow people down.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Schafer looked safe there. Ridiculous how many extra innings games the Braves have played and how poorly the Braves run the bases.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Ump’s view was blocked, he was way safe.
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Terrible call.
Just Sayin'
May 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Well, the old Sherrill showed up, just as Freddy started to believe in him.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Fredi. Go argue. Just once. I want to see if you have it in you.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
We got robbed bigtime
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
This, unbelievably, is the 8th extra-innings game in the past 18 for the Braves.
Sherrill to pitch 10th, Chipper at 3B, Prado back to LF, Hinske back to RF.
TxB
May 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Fredi Gonzolaez may not be Bobby Cox but Dang!!!!!!!!!!!! Stick up for what is right!!
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
Just had to know that this game was ultimately going to be decided on a solo homerun
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
Fredi. Go argue. Just once. I want to see if you have it in you.
He did…
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
Ruh roh
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
Cool way to lose, Braves.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
Maybe the umpires see the Braves caught stealing stat and just buy into the hype.
“He’s running. He must be out.”
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
Well, and it just went south. Dang it
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
There’s the game…
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
ArkBravesFan-
Doesn’t matter. He was called out and left Marteen standing at the plate. Hey, I’ve got no problem trying to get this team to run more, but Jordan, with all his speed, is not a great base stealer. And I really don’t like him trying to steal with 2 out in the ninth inning of a tie game with our best hitters coming up.
I Gave Her Undertaker eyes
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
game over now people can go home and get out of this hot sun
Mike
May 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
Why is it that this team cant get it going on offense. With all the extra inning low scoring high pressure games, our pitching staff is going to be shot by the time the offense gets it together.
Well….ball game. Thanks Sherrill. It was only a matter of time.
LAG
May 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
According to Chip, Fredi did go out to argue. But they won’t keep the cameras on at the end of the inning.
Sherrill, Sherrill, Sherrill…
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
Putrid down-the-pike so-called fastball
StingerSplash
May 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
Struggla is a giant, gaping hole in the lineup.
Gonzo’s great … unless there are ducks on the pond and two outs, and lately, there seem to be a lot of ducks on the pond and two out with Gonzalez up.
Chipper’s colder than the last girl I dated (no, sorry … the one before her. Now, that girl was icy).
Any wonder the Braves have scored 2 or fewer runs eight times this month?
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
He did go out there to argue, they went to commercial break though.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
cabravesfan-
I agree that he is not a great base stealer. But if he is called safe like he was, a base hit from Prado wins the game instead of needing McCann to save the team. I guess we’ll never know how it would have played out either way…
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
Jeffrey, when? Just now?
veer
May 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
WE JUST LOST THE GAME. WOW JUST WOW TO THE PADRES?
DID WE JUST LOSE TO THE PADRES?
AM I DREAMING OR IS THIS REAL?
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
Thanks Jeffrey and Sopheee…
abwright
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
Sherrill must have plans for this evening. That’s one way to end it, hang a curve ball.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
4.5 out again.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
Ump was screened. It happens. Braves caught a couple breaks last night in a 1 run game.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
Jason, he did once. I forget which series we were playing, but it was the day Carroll said that Ochocinco was at the game.
phil
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
FF
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
guess i can find something else to do now.
LAG
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
abwright
Maybe the umpires see the Braves caught stealing stat and just buy into the hype.
“He’s running. He must be out.”
Elonbrave
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
I always check mlbtraderumors.com and a few other sites every day to see if there’s talk about the Braves making a move but I’ve gotten to the point where I just don’t think a move needs to be made. Rather the team just needs to start performing. McCann looks like he could be heating up, but I just don’t think he can really carry the team like a vintage Chipper, or a should-be Uggla, or Heyward could.
Maybe we just wait it out?
njbraves
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
Who didn’t see that coming? When you let bad teams hang around, you usually lose.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
DID WE JUST LOSE TO THE PADRES?
…..no.
veer
May 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
We lost to the team with the worst offense in the entire MLB and team with one of the worst records. This game we should have won. No excuses. We can’t go on playing games scoring just 2 runs.
I want to see Dan Struggla be the last out in the bottom of the 10th so the fans can BOO him
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:03 pm
Jason, he did once. I forget which series we were playing, but it was the day Carroll said that Ochocinco was at the game.
Ochocinco and jeffrey d. It was the Saturday game against the Cardinals.
Bravo_fan 52
May 30th, 2011
4:03 pm
comeback
Jake W.
May 30th, 2011
4:03 pm
I always check mlbtraderumors.com and a few other sites every day to see if there’s talk about the Braves making a move but I’ve gotten to the point where I just don’t think a move needs to be made. Rather the team just needs to start performing.
Bingo, fact is even with the recent injuries this team has had to much talent this season to perform the way they have offensively. Pitching has been great with a few exceptions but you can’t expect them to be perfect all the time. Braves offense needs to figure it out now, they’re the one thing holding this team back, not starting rotation, bullpen, bench, defense, but offense. One aspect of the team and a very big one at that.
smallmouth6
May 30th, 2011
4:03 pm
The Braves need to hit better, no doubt. But this has been one of the poorest umpiring crews I have seen in a while. No excuse at that level to miss a call you’re standing on top of.
College Pitching Coach
May 30th, 2011
4:04 pm
Hey Fredo,Can’t send Venters out there every inning>I can see why you would like to.Now when you have Venters’ torn ligament on your conscience will you Tip Your Cap?
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:04 pm
we just got beat by a backup catcher that was hitting 165. or something. And it was a LH vs LH too.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
4:04 pm
Prado and McCann up in the bottom of the tenth. I wouldn’t ball-game it til those two are out.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:04 pm
Jeffrey, you were at that game? I thought it was the Cardinals after I posted, but I wasn’t 100% sure. Thanks.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:05 pm
Also Schafer was safe big time, he beat the tag clearly.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
4:05 pm
It happens.
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
4:05 pm
We Will lose, Bank on it! (tear)
too many wasted chances against a AAAA Team
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:05 pm
I say Uggla takes it with a walk off.
But that’s just me.
Elonbrave
May 30th, 2011
4:06 pm
Would it be better in the long run to win this game in deep extras like we have been or to lose it in the bottom of the 10th? If we have more games like this we gotta pull up some minor league arms to give our guys some breaks.
MariettaDerek
May 30th, 2011
4:06 pm
So frustrating. Another good outing from a starter ruined by not enough offense. Uggla is almost a joke by now.
So NOT DOUBLE PITS TO CHESTY!
And Sherrill looked like Matt Young on the mound there… and we all know Matt Young is not a major leaguer.
As Jed Clampett Would Say--"PITIFUL.Just Pitiful."
May 30th, 2011
4:07 pm
Elon, Please tell me you just didn’t pull a Caray/Simpson and say “It looks like Ugly is starting to heat up??” Elon, The Phoenix will rise out of the sand before you see that whack job with the silly haircut heat up.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
4:07 pm
Course, Bell could intentionally walk Prado and McCann and get Hinske, Uggla, and Freeman to all strike out.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:08 pm
Yes Trey. Can’t see what’s going on too well, but that’s Fredi storming off after getting ejected as McLouth and Hinske look on.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248036_10100481854766030_4907817_62231035_5788222_n.jpg
Mike
May 30th, 2011
4:08 pm
And the Phils are winning which means the ground we gained yesterday will no be lost less than 24 hours later. This team just feels hopeless. I know we took 2 out of 3 from the Reds, but the pitching staff has been scuffling and we scored all of 4 runs off guys not name Aroyo in 3 games.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:09 pm
abwright
walk the bases loaded and get the easy triple play with Uggla batting. Too much pressure for the millionaire.
Just Sayin'
May 30th, 2011
4:09 pm
DOB,
The Braves score so few runs, doesn’t matter who the pitcher is, that every game is close. 29 of the Braves 54 games have a run differential 0f 2 or less runs.
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
4:09 pm
Elonbrave -
I was thinking about that with people talking about trading JJ yesterday, and I’m just not sure who the Braves would trade for. Chipper and Uggla aren’t going anywhere. It’d be pretty much impossible to upgrade over McCann. Freddie’s honestly holding his own pretty well for a rook. Prado and Heyward are the corner OFs for this year.
That leaves the same old suspects, CF and SS, but CF would mean sending Schafer back down and putting McLouth on the bench. And big hitting SS still aren’t easy to find, and most would be a defensive downgrade.
I would be inclined to leave Schafer in CF even after McLouth gets healthy, but I think we just need a healthy Heyward and to find the Dan Uggla that played for the Marlins, and this team will be in good shape.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
4:09 pm
Good reflexes.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
4:10 pm
Braves are 6-5 in extra-inning games before this one
abwright
May 30th, 2011
4:10 pm
That last pitch to Marteeeen was roughly the same hanger that the Padre player hit out.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
4:11 pm
Go pee, maybe something good will happen
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:14 pm
All this Coke Zero is getting to me. If I miss anything…..
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:14 pm
Jeffrey, that’s awesome. I wish Fredi would do that more and be more aggressive.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:15 pm
Ug, well tomorrow.
veer
May 30th, 2011
4:15 pm
I want to see Uggla at Bat with a runner on.
Let’s see what he does for us
GT Alum
May 30th, 2011
4:15 pm
Well, that was rough.
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2011
4:15 pm
I think Brian McCann is by far the best player on this team.
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2011
4:16 pm
We need some hitters.
LAG
May 30th, 2011
4:16 pm
Well, that’s today’s game.
I’m out of here before the Negative Nancies come crawling back. The last two days were nice…
abwright
May 30th, 2011
4:17 pm
Braves had some pitches to hit off Bell. They just missed them. Last strike against Hinske looked like a generous call.
Get’em tomorrow.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:17 pm
Nothing. Sorry guys.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:17 pm
Well, at least the bitchers don’t seem to be too bad today.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:18 pm
My comment that I apparently posted at 4:19 instead of 4:21 spoke too soon.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2011
4:19 pm
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
4:19 pm
B.O.B.
njbraves
May 30th, 2011
4:19 pm
Another good pitching performance, another terrible day for the offense. This has become beyond frustrating.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
4:19 pm
aww
StingerSplash
May 30th, 2011
4:19 pm
Well, that was disappointing.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:19 pm
thats the ballgame folks. another piss poor offensive showing.
ArkBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:19 pm
Looks the the Braves are destined to be 4.5 GB
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2011
4:20 pm
Well, that stinks.
CaptainMudderland
May 30th, 2011
4:20 pm
Weird game but we are a better team and we’ll get ‘em tomorrow.
Just Sayin'
May 30th, 2011
4:20 pm
Didn’t you just know that the Braves would not score in the bottom of the inning? Who on the blog expected different?
brian
May 30th, 2011
4:20 pm
pitchers held the Pads to 3 runs in 10 innings which is close to our season ERA. Unfortunately we still can’t hit. Hats off to BMAC and Prado who were the offense today
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 30th, 2011
4:21 pm
Absolute garbage this line up is!!!!
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:21 pm
Well Uggla improved only struck out twice and had a walk…..
Fols
May 30th, 2011
4:21 pm
Why the year I plan a trip to Atlanta does this team look so brutal with a bat in their hand? It’s scary that I joked earlier about scoring some runs…….it’s now hard to watch this team at the plate.
Hats off to the pitchers…………Again………..
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
4:22 pm
Sooner or later you know that statistically things should turn around for this ballclub, but so far nothing is clicking. This literally is the worst offense I have ever seen and that is no exaggeration in the least.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:23 pm
I mean 4:17 on my apparent 4:18 comment.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:23 pm
Kinda like having 4 or 5 pitchers hitting in the lineup. Actually the pitcher batting might be better than Uggla.
TJ
May 30th, 2011
4:23 pm
This Team is in DEEP DEEP DEEP trouble. The Pitching has kept us in most games with the hopes that the O will get better. Even with a little talent we should have won a few on offense alone. This team has consistantly faultered offensively. I expect us to be 8-10 games out by the All-Star Break. We will be sellers by the trade deadline due to the horrible owners the Braves have. We are the Paders of 2010. However, we will miss the playoffs unless we make a trade and quickly.
Logan
May 30th, 2011
4:23 pm
Fireworks after the game?
Fols
May 30th, 2011
4:25 pm
We need to keep Jordan lead-off since he’s doing alright and hopefully get a little more comfortable. Prado/McCann is a good one-two punch but we really need to find a 3rd bat.
Chipper is not that anymore and Uggla just didn’t show up this year Nate 2010 style. Heyward is injured and will probably injure himself again trying to get back into the line-up. This team needs a pulse.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:25 pm
TJ, we still have more wins than losses.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:25 pm
Logan
there should be, Uggla did reach base.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:26 pm
I think we’ll be ok, but i’m still gonna give Uggla and this offense plenty of crap.
Mrs Uggla
May 30th, 2011
4:27 pm
Well Daniel did his part. He reached 2B that one time and then in the 9th you got those bums Prado, McCann and Hinske going down 1,2, 3. All Daniel needed wasa shot. I think he should renegotiate.
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:27 pm
No team should have to depend on 21 year olds so much in my opinion.
Joe Torre
May 30th, 2011
4:28 pm
This is Fredi’s fault.Venters was good for at least 2 more innings.We are almost into June.It’s time Fredi starts stretching Venters out a bit.Just so he’s out there tomorrow if we need him.
Jake W.
May 30th, 2011
4:30 pm
Given the way this team has hit for 2 months now, being only 4.5 back in the division and 2 back in the wild card is not bad at all. It could and probably should have been much worse than that. Nobody is running away with anything in the NL so braves have been lucky so far. They have time to turn it around with the bats and of course fans want it to be sooner rather than later but realistically they aren’t in that horrible a position to end May no matter how awful they have looked at times. They are literally right in the thick of things.
I’m not saying its not frustrating to lose games like this but at the end of the day there are 4 months left and I look up and see we are literally in striking distance of a playoff spot so i’m not going to panic, hopefully it turns around soon.
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
4:35 pm
Sopheee
“B.O.B.”
You know that is the name of a good ass old Outkast Song! Probably my Favorite Song from Outkast behind “Rosa Parks” I lost my voice jamming to that last nite at 3AM
Priscilla
May 30th, 2011
4:36 pm
Mrs Uggla-I don’t know if you are really Uggla’smother or wife but you know nothing about the game if you are going to blame Prado, McCann or Hinske for the loss.I’m not going to criticize anyone playing for my Braves but Dan just has not been hitting that well.Please keep your comments to yourself.They are all Braves and nobody should be blamed for anything.
jim
May 30th, 2011
4:36 pm
Venters is running on fumes. Kimbrell and EOF have almost as many appearances. The bad back has saved EOF about 3 or 4 times in the past few days when he would have been used some more. The Padres have little offense, but you’d better be ahead by the 7th inning if you are likely to beat them.
Dadgum.....
May 30th, 2011
4:40 pm
McLouth now looks to be totally out of a roster spot. Shafer keeps piling on the stats in his favor not to mention he is so much better defensively than McLouth with a much stronger arm. McLouth I am certain is being shopped and the Braves may add him to the bench so he can be shopped after the DL. Schafer will keep his spot the rest of the year and plug the big hole the Braves have had for years at the top of the order. Now if we can just get Uggla……..
The Braves got what they deserved today. Stole one yesterday scoring only two runs. Regardless they are doing very well for the run production they are putting up. It will be interesting to see the w/l splits vs runs scored at the July break. They may be looking good but shouldn’t tempt fate for the whole season. Just score 4 or more.
Rock on…… Remembering the Veterans for sure. Thanks!
VaBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
4:40 pm
Venters arm will fall off and he’ll never be the same again. When you have a great pitcher like Jonny you take care of him. You dont abuse him. I dont care if he had yesterday off. he needs his rest.
Joe Torre
May 30th, 2011
4:40 pm
FUMES??? What are you talking about.Keep giving Venters the ball.What is the worst that can happen?
Skillet
May 30th, 2011
4:43 pm
For all those that say Uggla will be fine, when exactly do you think that might happen? Another terrible day for a guy that obviously shouldn’t be in the starting lineup, but because the Braves wasted so much money on Uggla, they have to start & play him. Uggla is a bum.
D. Ugga
May 30th, 2011
4:44 pm
Hey MARCEL . . . Watch this!!! Whiff, whiff, whiff.
jim
May 30th, 2011
4:47 pm
The top pitchers in the Padres bullpen are all RH. There is no need to bat Uggla in between Hinske and Freeman with a RH starter going today.
Even if Hinske gets McCann to 3B with 1 out you rely on Uggla to get him home with a hit or productive out. He has had neither for a long time. Freeman struck out on a 3-2 pitch, but even if he had walked, Gonzo is not the batter you want to see in that situation. I would much rather see Freeman hitting with a runner on 3B and 1 out than either Uggla or Gonzo.
TruthSeeker
May 30th, 2011
4:48 pm
Dan Uggla’s disappearing act, along with Jason Heyward’s endless string of nagging injuries, have completely crippled this offense’s ability to function. So far this season, the Braves have gotten above-average production at one position (C), average production at two positions (3B and LF) and below-average to terrible production at five positions (1B, 2B, SS, CF, RF). No wonder they can’t score.
Unfortunately, I don’t know what Wren can do to fix it this year. Freeman’s not going anywhere. Uggla is immovable. Chipper is immovable. A-Gonz likely won’t be replaced because despite his awful hitting he’s still one of the few reliable gloves on the team. The only position I can see us potentially upgrading at the deadline is center field, and I don’t know of any bats who are available at that position that could improve our offense significantly.
Unless Uggla and Heyward start producing like they’re supposed to, this offense will continue to be wretchedly bad. Get used to the 2-1, 12-inning snoozefests, because they’re here to stay.
Woody Woodward
May 30th, 2011
4:50 pm
We’re going to have close ones. This was a close one. But we can’t afford mistakes like Shafer’s blown throw. This one’s on Shafer, no two ways about it.
Eerie
May 30th, 2011
4:53 pm
Uggla has 37 hits in 208 AB’s.I believe he is getting a hit every game and a half. Has there ever been a guy in Major League history who has been so well compensated for numbers like this? It is numbing.A hit every game and a half.Is it possible he would be allowed to play almost every game and get 114 hits in 600AB’s? Thta’snot possible is it?
jch
May 30th, 2011
4:54 pm
DOB, make it easy on all of us and just repost one of the recent blog comments section from just about any recent game; your choice.
Mrs Uggla
May 30th, 2011
4:56 pm
Woody, Thank you. You know Dan had nothing to do with this loss.I appreciate your intelligence.
Perlo
May 30th, 2011
4:56 pm
Can you imagine how Uggla would be treated in a city which has more of a baseball tradition-NY, Philly, St. Louis.
The boos would be deafening-which might be what he needs to wake him up. It is absolutely astounding that Fredi rolls him out every day.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
4:57 pm
O’Flaherty should be fine to pitch Tuesday, Braves’ Fredi G. said. His back is better, and they’d have used him today if game had gone longer (say, 12-14 innings).
Carlsbad Cavern
May 30th, 2011
4:58 pm
Do you think there will be a Dan Uggla Bobblehead Night? It probably should not be scheduled on a Bat Night because all the pieces of those dolls would create problems for the clean up crews.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
4:58 pm
Did Uggla say the pressure is getting to him down here?
Woody Woodward
May 30th, 2011
4:59 pm
No, this one’s on Shafer. The fellas in the booth said it: you can’t give any team an extra out. And you can’t expect Uggla to make that play at second. It was a poor throw, a one hopper way off the bag. On defense, you have to make the plays that come your way and Shafer had one handed to him. He blew it.
Now, in the long run, if Uggla and Heyward don’t hit, we’re in trouble. I ain’t panicking yet.
Carlsbad Cavern
May 30th, 2011
5:01 pm
PERLO-If Uggla was pulling this crap in a real baseball city he would have his picture posted on the front page of every day’s Sports Section with a special comment. Luckiest man in the world that he is doing this in Atlanta.
Skillet
May 30th, 2011
5:02 pm
DOB, your thoughts on Uggla? You think he’d be sitting if the team was healthier?
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
5:03 pm
Schafer was stealing on his own in 9th, had green light, took it. Fredi G. had no problem w/ it (replays appeared to show was safe)
Mrs Uggla
May 30th, 2011
5:04 pm
This Woody Woodward is the only person on this blog with any sense.How can you blame Dan for this loss.Dan didn’t give up the 3 runs, Dan didn’ make any outs in the 9th inning.Woody is correct.It’s that Schaefer person he mentioned who lost this game.
farmer
May 30th, 2011
5:04 pm
well we can thank Hudson for that stupid error he made to let Patterson get to third in the first inning and them scoring that stupid unearned run on another dumb error, no offense again, Uggla’s sorry butt not hitting AGAIN, Schafer making a pathetic throw to second and not getting a fat 6′7 pitcher to get a double play and the Padres getting another run, UGGLA SWINGING AT EVERY DANG PITCH AND GETTING OUT! McCann gets a leadoff double in the 7th and they don’t move him anywhere.. the offense is ridiculous, pathetic, awful, etc. it is a bunch of nonsense. Venters is heading for Tommy John surgery, mark my words folks. another stupid loss. should have won this game 2-0. at least. another game slips by and another game loss the standings to Philly.. the Padres said thank you to the Braves for this one.
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
5:05 pm
Trey
“TJ, we still have more wins than losses.”
True, but the Awfense has underachieved so much so far…Especially Struggla, I’m glad I was to hungover/occupied to go to the game today…
Mrs Uggla
May 30th, 2011
5:05 pm
Dan does not feel pressure. He is doing fine.
Woody Woodward
May 30th, 2011
5:06 pm
If Shafer went for the steal on his own in the last inning with Prado at the plate, it was a bonehead move. Even if he’s safe, it’s a rookie play. We’ll get that with him the rest of the way if he wins the job. Maybe his production at the plate or his defense will make up for those kind of mistakes, but I’ve got my doubts.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
5:08 pm
Uggla, Dan can barely hit.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
5:09 pm
T’, honestly, it doesn’t matter if the Braves win 10-0, or 1-0, only one win goes on the standings. I mean, even with overpaid Uggla we are still able to win most of our games.
jim
May 30th, 2011
5:09 pm
The Braves need an upgrade at 2B (or LF) and 3B. The future is invested in Heyward and Freeman and it is way too soon to say that that investment is not well spent. Schafer has had an impressive week, but if it continues he has the tools the team needs in its lineup. Chipper is giving the impression of the old vet who has the occasional brief moments, but is no longer a middle of the order hitter. He may lead the team in RBIs, but the bulk of those came in April before the grind of the season started taking its toll. Uggla is giving the impression of never recapturing his Florida days, and could be a 60 million dollar albatross around our neck for years. I don’t see this team falling completely out of the wild card race by July. If we are sellers, the only commodity we want to unload that might draw interest is Lowe. (Whoever suggested trading JJ is bereft of reason. He’s the only pitcher in the rotation that keeps the pitch count down and gives 7+ innings every start.) Nobody wants McLouth or KK, and Hinske or Sherrill could only bring back a mid level prospect. We’d be even more foolish to trade one of the good young pitchers to add somebody when the positions that need an upgrade are effectively blocked.
Trey
May 30th, 2011
5:10 pm
Mrs Uggla, you consider batting sub .180 fine? If he is feeling pressure he can take anxiety medication.
Brave New World
May 30th, 2011
5:10 pm
The way things stand now, the 2011 Braves need to find a line up that can generate about 4-5 runs per game, and they will win 90+ games. The Phillies have that kind of line up and that is why they have the best record in baseball. Both teams have pitching, the Phils with the edge on starting pitching and the Braves with the edge on overall pitching staff.
rc35
May 30th, 2011
5:12 pm
How could Fredi bat Uggla FIFTH? He’s the black hole of the lineup–absorbing all rallies and letting nothing out. He should never bat higher than 7th until he actually gets his average over .200. Look at today’s boxscore–imagine if Freddie Freeman had been ahead of Uggla and his 0-fers.
jim
May 30th, 2011
5:13 pm
It does make a big difference whether the team wins 10-0 or 1-0. In a 10-0 game none of the top 3 guys in the bullpen picks up a baseball. In a 1-0 game, at least two of them have probably pitched in the game. The lack of any 10-0 (or even 5-1) games is helping kill our bullpen.
jerry
May 30th, 2011
5:15 pm
If you think the offense is bad now, wait until Nate and Jason return.
Skillet
May 30th, 2011
5:17 pm
1/3 of the season gone, and Uggla still hasn’t showed up…Heyward being an automatic for the HOF last season, may have been a huge bit premature. McLouth being on this team because he was able to hit spring training pitching, is ridiculous.
MikeInFl
May 30th, 2011
5:17 pm
This literally is the worst offense I have ever seen and that is no exaggeration in the least.
Well, only if you’ve just been watching a few years.
Remember June of 2006? Braves scored just 94 runs in 27 games, and won 6, lost 21 games.
This May, we scored 102 in 27 games, and won 17, lost 10.
Goes to show what good pitching will do for you. If we ever get to scoring 4 1/2 runs/game like we should be, we’ll be tough to beat.
BTW, that 2006 team went on to score an impressive 171 runs in just 24 games in July of that year; so it’s not impossible for an offense to turn it around big-time.
George
May 30th, 2011
5:17 pm
How lucky we are to have the $16 million dollar .178 hitter…DAN UGLY !!!
jerry
May 30th, 2011
5:18 pm
Woody Woodward @5:06…actually the replay showed Schafer beating the throw. Not much one can do when the ump blows the call.
Larry
May 30th, 2011
5:19 pm
who can we get that can hit? anybody please
Woody Woodward
May 30th, 2011
5:19 pm
jerry–i don’t care if he’s safe–bonehead play with Prado at the plate and two outs. If freddie called it, bad call.
jim
May 30th, 2011
5:21 pm
We have no right to complain about a missed call at 2B after the call we got at home last night. I like the idea of Schafer stealing in that situation, but should have waited for the 2nd pitch. They would not be likely to pitch out 2x in a row or if the first pitch were a ball.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
5:23 pm
Hudson on his and Schafer’s bad throws to 2nd base: “Another one of those games where we felt like we should have won. A couple of bad throws to second base, one by myself and one to try to double off the pitcher right there, pretty much cost us the game.”
Mrs Uggla
May 30th, 2011
5:24 pm
Dan does not need any meds.You are all jealous of his bank accpount. Why can’t you just be happy for a guy dreaming the American Dream? They don’t get mad at guys who bring down stupid old brokerage houses or other financialinstitutions,so why be mad at Danny.he signed the deal and that is that. He had a fine lawyer and it does not matter what he does for the next 5 years.You are all jealous fools who need a chill pill.Why does dan have to be nervous? Think he is missing any bill payments? Average! Smaverage! Who cares?
Skillet
May 30th, 2011
5:27 pm
Larry, if the Braves were to sign Mike Hampton, and let him DH for Uggla, he’d automatically be the 3 or 4th best hitter on the team. That’s assuming that Hampton is not at the hospital begging for more surgery because a sneeze went wrong.
jim
May 30th, 2011
5:27 pm
The 2 bad throws did not help, but neither did the hit that put the pitcher on base to start. What really cost the team the game was the inability to score more than 2 runs off a mediocre Aaron Harang. Hudson not being able to go more than 6 innings with a tired pen behind him did not help either. Hudson should not be throwing Schafer under the bus there. He could have picked up the kid by getting the next guy out.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
5:29 pm
Really we can talk about the offense all we want, but until the Braves are able to execute and do the little things like play defense, move runners over, run a little bit, and work counts, they will continue to be a mediocre offensive club. I am pleased that they are still 5 games over .500 and I have a great deal of confidence in them, but fundamentally they are seriously lacking.
Larry
May 30th, 2011
5:30 pm
anything is better than what we are doing now besides Mcann
chatt matt
May 30th, 2011
5:30 pm
Bad call on Schafers steal hurts the braves today.Also the bats need to pick it up.Do the Braves need to send Ugggla to the minors like they did Ron Gant back in the day to get his mojo back just a thought.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
5:31 pm
Venters already had TJ surgery…
Tomahawk Mafia
May 30th, 2011
5:31 pm
MikeInFl
Yeah, I remember those days and the offense has been pretty bad for stretches before, but this seems to be worse. It probably is just my perception though.
Skillet
May 30th, 2011
5:38 pm
Personalized license plate recommendations for Dan Cooley Uggla:
CANT HIT
PAID FOR
RISP RIP
LOL@BRAVES
LOL@MARLINS
LOL@FANS
IMRICH
Tip Of The Cap
May 30th, 2011
5:39 pm
This offense is horrible and Braves can’t keep saying it’s early. The ultimate revenge on Phillies would be to hire Milt Thompson from Astros farm system. We need to do something. Parrish is not working out. Braves have that good ol boy system and won’t do anything I’m sure.
Tip Of The Cap
May 30th, 2011
5:41 pm
Uggla as a Brave: Epic FAIL Mr. Wren.
SCBravesFan
May 30th, 2011
5:42 pm
sometimes it takes more than 2 runs to win a game…
LOL
May 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
Losing to the Padres
What a bunch of losers!!
Worst hitting team in all of baseball!
Jeff
May 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
Let’s trade Uggla for Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford.
Ok, not funny. But seriously, did John Coffey (Like the drink, only not spelled the same) suck the black flies out of McClouth and blow them into Uggla?
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
5:45 pm
Link to QUOTAGE
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/05/30/braves-quotes-after-monday-loss-to-padres/
farmer
May 30th, 2011
5:47 pm
the way Fredi is using him so far he’s going to have it again McFann, that’ what Im saying. he leads the league in appearnces and Kimbrel is 2nd. by the end of the year they will both be toast. and here is a big “DUH” to Tim Hudson saying his stupid throw and Schafer’s stupid throw “pretty much” cost them the game.. pretty much? yeah I say it did.. both of those throws led to 2 runs the Padres wouldn’t have scored.. great logic on your part Hudson. this offense has got to be the worst offense I have seen in a while. we are paying Uggla 60 million for hitting .170? great job Wren.. by the way, how is Infante doing? hitting over .300 is he? why yes is !
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
5:51 pm
Actually, Omar Infante is hitting .247 with a .591 OPS.
Tip Of The Cap
May 30th, 2011
5:53 pm
Dedicated to Uggla.
http://youtu.be/YgSPaXgAdzE
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
5:53 pm
Tim Hudson On his throw to second base: “It was nowhere in the same area code as Gonzo.”
Timmy has such a way with words.
Earl Williams
May 30th, 2011
5:55 pm
Do you actually think Fredi has enough sense to realize he is playing with fire when it comes to Venters?If I was in that dugout and I had that kid and Kimbrall in my bullpen I would protect them like my own kids.You may have 2 of the best young bullpen arms in the last 25 years and he is treating them like one of these morons in college would treat a senior reliever in a Super Regional. College Coach with an earlier post nailed it.
How can you mess with Johnny Venters? He will throw him again tomorrow.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2011
5:55 pm
farmer—
Is it even possible to have TJ surgery twice in the same arm…?
Deep breaths, deep breaths…
LOL
May 30th, 2011
5:55 pm
This team is a disgrace to the game of baseball, what a bunch of losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A big choke against the stupid Padres!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loseeeeeeeeeeeers!!!
ray k.
May 30th, 2011
6:02 pm
Mrs. Uggla is right. We are jealous.
Jealous of teams with a 2nd baseman hitting above .200.
ray k.
May 30th, 2011
6:09 pm
Missed the game today (mercifully), but I just started laughing when I saw extra innings again. The outcome is almost irrelevant at this point. The offense is simply incapable.
Lew
May 30th, 2011
6:09 pm
Not until we figure out what a managar is.
ab initio
May 30th, 2011
6:09 pm
“Fireworks after the game?”
Ought to be fireworks in the clubhouse, followed by some swift kicks in the butts. Unfortunately, there aren’t any leaders here, either on the player’s side, or the manager.
Time to stop talking about what the problem is and start taking steps to solve it.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
6:10 pm
Lew-
I was wondering what a loosing managar was…
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
May 30th, 2011
6:10 pm
Coming over 2 my side?
dre
May 30th, 2011
6:11 pm
Sitting watching a boring pro baseball game in the sun in 95 degree heat with no breeze….priceless.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
6:14 pm
What’s a Managar? And how can it be loose? Get a wrench and tighten it up.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
6:18 pm
Offense is down throughout baseball this year. Folks need to recalibrate.
Braves have several starters on the DL … McLouth, Heyward, might as well be Chipper.
Schafer is doing a good job covering for McLouth. But, Hinske is starting to be over-exposed and Conrad is no Chipper.
Uggla is probably trying to do too much to cover for the other woes. He’s never been the greatest hitter anyway – trying to be something he isn’t is making that even worse.
Until folks start coming off the DL, Braves are going to have to maximize runs scored.
farmer
May 30th, 2011
6:23 pm
actually McFann, it is.. Chris Capuano, the pitcher for the mets, has had it twice. I still say that Fredi onzalez is not major league manager material, never has been, never will be. he will to do to Venters and Kimbrel what Dusty Baker did to Wood and Prior. I hope not, but the way it’s going, I wouldn’t be surprised a bit. I still don’t like him, and I won’t until he shows that he actually knows what the hell he is doing.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
May 30th, 2011
6:23 pm
Talk badeball insted of makin fun of me OK?
Chico Escuela
May 30th, 2011
6:31 pm
“Badeball been bery bery good to me.”
Moe Berg
May 30th, 2011
6:32 pm
Duke Professor Don Taylor contemplates the significance of BBQ. Excerpted from a longer piece “The economics of barbecue”: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/the-economics-of-barbecue/
“I think feelings are so strong about barbecue because feasts around pigs were infused with meaning since they represented shared experiences with loved ones and friends in both good times and bad. So these meals of both celebration and lament, centered around cooking a pig, became culturally meaningful in a way that make me interested in disagreeing with others about the best type of sauce to put on your barbecue. Because these events are important, it makes the way barbecue is prepared and served, important. Even if you are many generations away from a farm, I suspect this is the basic reason that many people have such strong feelings about barbecue.”
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
May 30th, 2011
6:40 pm
Baseball pleez Moe
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
6:42 pm
Blog rules clearly stipulate we can freely discuss BBQ. Sorry.
RHR
May 30th, 2011
6:43 pm
Managar… I think that’s one of those prehistoric fish.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
6:55 pm
Pretty sure he’s talking/spelling like that on purpose
abwright
May 30th, 2011
6:58 pm
Minor versus Latos tomorrow. Does good Latos show up? Does good Minor show up? Don’t expect the Bravos to score alot of runs … again.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
7:01 pm
jeffrey d, May 30th, 2011, 6:55 pm … “Pretty sure he’s [managar's] spelling like that on purpose”
Then s/he must expect the ridicule.
Jeff
May 30th, 2011
7:03 pm
A managar is the result of crossbreeding the manatee and the gar. They’re best served deep fried with a side of okra.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
7:04 pm
Moe Berg, May 30th, 2011, 6:32 pm … “Duke Professor Don Taylor contemplates the significance of BBQ.”
In the sciences, we’re being pushed (hard) to show commercial relevance to everything that we study. Ah, for the days when you could publish a learned treatise on belly-button lint.
(FYI … there are learned treatises on belly-button lint and how it forms. Quite fascinating when you get down to it.)
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
7:07 pm
I’m getting Clowned on the Phillies Forum, Ouch! They are having a Field day about Struggla…
njbraves
May 30th, 2011
7:10 pm
Today’s loss, like almost every loss so far this season, is on the offense. Game after game, it’s the same ole story. the way this team has pitched, they should be in first place.
LTBF
May 30th, 2011
7:13 pm
When oh when will Braves average 4.5 or 5.0 runs per game? They we not be contenders till they do. Heck they would be nothing[ a loseing record] if it were not for the fine pitching.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
7:14 pm
Just like we used to do with Nick.
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
7:14 pm
Today was another one of those games where we played down to the Level of our opposition while the Phillies did what they always do and that is beat teams that they are supposed to beat…This team especially the Awfense is so frustrating to watch because we all know that this team is a lot better than they have showed so far…
Jeff
May 30th, 2011
7:15 pm
Speak for you s/yourself
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
7:17 pm
Then s/he must expect the ridicule.
S/he is baiting, and s/we are biting.
LTBF
May 30th, 2011
7:17 pm
Tomahawkin 7:14
You are so right, I don’t understand why we play well against teams with better records and let down against s**t teams. Some of that must fall on the MGR.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
7:19 pm
Today was another one of those games where we played down to the Level of our opposition while the Phillies did what they always do and that is beat teams that they are supposed to beat
Like yesterday when they lost to the Mets 9-5? Everyone loses. It happens.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
7:20 pm
Yes, s/he’s like a Nick who acts like s/he can’t spell.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
7:24 pm
Some of that must fall on the MGR.
You put everything on the MGR.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
7:25 pm
I’ll bet the MGR is in the clubhouse right before games
“You know what guys? The Padres don’t have a very good record. Why don’t you guys take it real easy today. Ready? BREAK!”
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
7:25 pm
Heck they would be nothing[ a loseing record] if it were not for the fine pitching
Most teams would.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
7:26 pm
Of course we can fire Fredi, but it would be stupid to fire him after 2 months.
LTBF
May 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
We can’t fire Fredi because of his three year contract, but please get rid of the old guy with white hair on his chin. We need for this team to start scoreing runs. I can not remember a worse hitting Baves team and I have been following them since the mid 1980s.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
7:30 pm
VJ didn’t come down from his pedestal to blog with us today?
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
7:31 pm
but it would be stupid to fire him after 2 months.
This winning record of his is inexcusable. Whatever it takes.
LTBF
May 30th, 2011
7:32 pm
Sopheee 7:24
Do you really think Fredi is doing a good job? Do you want the season to continue the way it is going now? The season is slipping away. This team was supposed to contend for 1st with the phills. We are 30-25 only because of our pitching and Fredi is wearing out the pen Venters not as sharpe as he was earlyer.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
7:34 pm
He had to get a new sash made.
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
7:36 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
As we speak JULIO TEHERAN is on the mound for the G-BRAVES. Down 0-2 in the top of the second.
ARODYS VIZCAINO due to toe the rubber in thirth minutes.
Big night tonight.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
7:37 pm
Sopheee-
VJ has been working all day. He was here this morning and for an hour after the game but he’s gone again until 6
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
7:39 pm
jeffrey-
He doesn’t wear a sash. But his crown could use some polish. It’s hard to get it off his head, though
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
7:39 pm
SCOTT POSEDNICK vying against TEHERAN at the moment 0-3 PIGS, ooh, SP grounds into a twin killing. End of a half inning.
Tomahawkin (In Pain)
May 30th, 2011
7:40 pm
brb, time to watch old New York Undercover
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
7:40 pm
LTBF – you blame Fredi for EVERYTHING. When we win, you make comments that suggest the Braves won in spite of him. Yes, I’ve questioned decisions he’s made but to constantly advocate for his firing 2 months into his first season and blame him for every loss is ridiculous, imo.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
May 30th, 2011
7:41 pm
Laff at me but I will be laffing cuz I told U so. The Braves will be in lost place by they all star brake.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
7:42 pm
Thanks, keep us updated, Tomahawkin.
Tomahawkin
May 30th, 2011
7:48 pm
jeffrey d
[Today was another one of those games where we played down to the Level of our opposition while the Phillies did what they always do and that is beat teams that they are supposed to beat]
“Like yesterday when they lost to the Mets 9-5? Everyone loses. It happens.”
True, but my man, we have to Clown the bottom feeders if we are gonna win 93 games and get the Wildcard…The 90’s Braves teams always made the playoffs because they beat the crap out of the bottom feeders…I mean look at it the 1993 Braves went undefeated against the Rockies that year, If they had lost 1 game to the Rockies that year, they wouldn’t made the playoffs…
And look at the 2009 Braves Squad? If they Had taken care of Biz-ness against AAA teams like Pittsburgh that year they would’ve made the playoffs…but Like I have been saying my man, This team has been seriously frustrating to watch so far, because we all know that they are better than their record indicates…Gotta get back to watching old New York Undercover
abwright
May 30th, 2011
7:48 pm
Tomahawkin (In Pain), May 30th, 2011, 7:40 pm … “brb, time to watch old New York Undercover”
When the commercials come on in Spanish, are you going to come onto the blog and try to get us to diagnose the problem?
abwright
May 30th, 2011
7:50 pm
I’ve got to take out the trash, rewire the telephones, finish this grant proposal and … oh yeah … Get back to watching old Laverne and Shirley.
Tomahawkin
May 30th, 2011
7:51 pm
Jeffrey D…
lol, you know I got those Updates “On Deck!” unless I’m at a party
Rought Night Last Nite…So-Co and Karoke for me do not mix…and I sucks that I lost my voice because I can’t mellow out to my old TLC and Vanessa Williams today…Bleh
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
7:53 pm
GWINNETT
TEHERAN not sharp tonight. Just walks a batter, then picks him off first.
LYNCHBURG
Loss 6-7 this afternoon. Newbie relief closer MATT FREVERT [BS 1, 1-1, 15.43 ERA] 0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R/ER, 2 BB, 0 SO is anything but as he is savaged by SALEM bats.
CHRIS MASTERS [ND, 3.00 ERA] experiences control problems this start. He lasts 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, BUT 6 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR.
Middle relief HAYNES [BS 2, 4.85 ERA] ineffective through 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 1 SO. Too many walks again.
Hitting decent 10 hits including four doubles, but because of ineffective pitching HILLCATS lose.
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
7:58 pm
‘CY’ BONINE mowing LAWRENCEVILLE club members down.
Tomahawkin
May 30th, 2011
7:58 pm
abwright
lol, Speaking of Spanish informercials…I actually asked D.O.B.if he used to kick it at Salsa Bars down there in S. Florida or listen to any Reggaeton music. There is nothing better than Salsa Dancing to some Pit Bull/J-lo, but Salsa dancing is hard, but it does make you lower body firm, trust me
And The Latina Chicks Down in Ft Liquordale are on point, Too bad I was a Nerd when I played baseball in College down there, Oy….! D.O.B. knows what I’m talking about
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
7:59 pm
MATT YOUNG singles. RAMIREZ up.
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
8:02 pm
RAMIREZ down on strikes.
LTBF
May 30th, 2011
8:02 pm
Last year and I would think every year the players liked and had respect for Bobby because they knew he always had thier back. He always could be heard in dugout encourgeing the hitters and on closes calls he would be on field to argue. Of course that is not all there is to be a MGR,but it sure helped. Bobbys record speaks for its self. This years team on paper is better than last years. I think if there was a way Bobby could came back and finish the season things would get better in a hurry.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
8:19 pm
Rought Night Last Nite…So-Co and Karoke for me do not mix
T – This Saturday night my band is playing at a restaurant outside and they’re having karaoke inside. Check out my FB page for details.
Kat
May 30th, 2011
8:32 pm
Not that I have anything to add to it or anything but its a slow night on the blog. I enjoy skimming through and reading whats going on w/ ppl’s lives outside of the Braves. But it seems tonight everyone’s away from their keyboards…which can be a good thing…I did that all day today and it was nice.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
8:33 pm
Kat
I’m still here
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
8:35 pm
Kat-
I’m so bored right now I’m watching Underworld and refreshing every 2 minutes just to see if there is someone I can talk to
Kat
May 30th, 2011
8:37 pm
cab we’re all lurking w/ nothing to say haha.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
8:39 pm
Just waiting for someone else to break the ice.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
8:40 pm
and I’m hungry
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
8:41 pm
20 more minutes until VJ’s off work.
Tonight’s macaroni night, right? So I’ll bet you’re looking forward to that.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
8:43 pm
jeffrey-
Nope. We are having more Tri Tip. Which is good because I love it.
Kat
May 30th, 2011
8:45 pm
I’m relaxing outside on my patio…it’s so nice out.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
8:45 pm
Tomahawkin, May 30th, 2011, 7:58 pm … “… Ft Liquordale … “
I would love to see “Tomakawkin’s Map of the US.” You have some colorful descriptions of many of the places you have been.
Tomahawkin, May 30th, 2011, 7:58 pm … “… when I played baseball in College down there, …!”
Did you go to school in FL? Or just visiting? I thought you were a Razorback at some point.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
8:48 pm
cabravesfan, May 30th, 2011, 8:35 pm … “I’m so bored right now I’m watching Underworld …”
Maybe someone will show up with a surprise stake.
cabravesfan, May 30th, 2011, 8:40 pm … “and I’m hungry”
Maybe someone will show up with a surprise steak.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
8:49 pm
First you have steak to mess with Spaghetti Sunday tradition, and now you’re messing up Macaroni Monday?
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
8:49 pm
abwright-
abwright
May 30th, 2011
8:53 pm
cabravesfan, May 30th, 2011, 8:49 pm … “…steak…surprise…”
I now have an image of a steak, a fifth of vodka, and a blender.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
8:54 pm
Please tell me Tortilla Tuesday is still in tact for you and VJ
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
8:54 pm
jeffrey-
No, dear. I would eat steak every night if i could. Well, steak or pizza. Which is what we had on Friday and Saturday. And what I will have tomorrow while VJ is working
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
8:55 pm
It’s Taco Tuesday.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
9:00 pm
abwright-
That sounds good, but we don’t have any vodka. (I assume you didn’t mean to put the steak in a blender…)
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
9:02 pm
(I assume you didn’t mean to put the steak in a blender…)
That’s what I thought he meant. Steak Surprise.
Bravissimo
May 30th, 2011
9:02 pm
DOB…Ive always enjoyed your writing style and your candor.
Cant say Ive ever thought of you as an “unsophisticated schlub”.
Whatever that is…lol
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
9:02 pm
I would never ruin a good steak by running it through a blender…
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
9:05 pm
What if your teeth fall out?
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
9:06 pm
jeffrey-
I would get false ones or find something else to eat. The idea of pureed meat is a little unpleasant.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2011
9:08 pm
For those who missed game story, here’s link:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/punchless-braves-lose-another-962250.html
Bravissimo: Thanks for the kind words.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:13 pm
If you combine a steak with a fifth of vodka in a blender and drink it, I don’t think you would care whether you had teeth or not.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:17 pm
DOB … instead of “punchless,” you might want to use words like “impotent” or “droopy” to describe the Braves offense. I think they have passed beyond “punchless.”
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:22 pm
cabravesfan, May 30th, 2011, 9:06 pm … “The idea of pureed meat is a little unpleasant.”
It really is.
Still, what’s the difference between blending your meat and wine and drinking it versus chewing your meat and washing it down with a glass of wine? You’re just combining the two tastes and swallowing.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:23 pm
I think this lyric describes how the WBB feels about the Braves season so far …
“So much for the golden future, I can’t even start
I’ve had every promise broken, there’s anger in my heart
You don’t know what it’s like, you don’t have a clue
If you did you’d find yourselves doing the same thing too”
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
9:24 pm
abwright-
The difference is that the meat is not pureed first. You chew it and swallow it and THAN drink the wine.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
9:24 pm
CAB and VJ are pirates?
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
9:25 pm
We might not have vodka, but there is a lot of rum…
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:29 pm
cabravesfan … I get that. Just don’t see what’s so important about chewing. I know it is. Like I said, I find the “steak surprise” revolting too.
VJ … I think if you substitute rum for vodka in “steak surprise” and add a little pineapple, you get “Polynesian steak surprise.”
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
9:31 pm
abwright-
I think it has to do with the whole not choking to death thing but I could be mistaken
jeffrey-
Sometimes
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
9:32 pm
Or you can use tequila and salt and have “Margarita Steak Surprise”
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:33 pm
If you don’t cook the steak, you would get “steak surprise tartar,” an Ethiopian delight.
You might also get a stomach parasite if the alcohol doesn’t kill it.
So, use lots of alcohol in your “steak surprise tartar” … it’s sanitary.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:34 pm
For the love of God, would someone come up with an actual topic of conversation!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2011
9:35 pm
abwright-
We only have you to thank for the current topic
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:36 pm
jeffrey d, May 30th, 2011, 9:32 pm … ‘Or you can use tequila and salt and have “Margarita Steak Surprise”’
I once knew a Margarita Steak. Nice girl, although of course she was a vegetarian.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:37 pm
cabravesfan … I know and I am regretting it with every response I type.
Tomahawkin
May 30th, 2011
9:40 pm
abwright
[Tomahawkin, May 30th, 2011, 7:58 pm … “… Ft Liquordale … “]
“I would love to see “Tomakawkin’s Map of the US.” You have some colorful descriptions of many of the places you have been”
Tomahawkin, May 30th, 2011, 7:58 pm … “… when I played baseball in College down there, …!”
“Did you go to school in FL? Or just visiting? I thought you were a Razorback at some point.”
Both, In my Freshman year of College I played baseball at Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton Fl- Glades Road), Transferred to the University of Arkansas Sophmore year, Didn’t play baseball there…But I miss hanging out with Darren McFadden and Ronnie Brewer….
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
9:44 pm
I liked the putting steak in the blender talk.
If you want I can go find Shaun to lecture us on bullpen management again.
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
9:47 pm
Sorry for disappearing for a few minutes – needed to wash dishes before I cook dinner – trying to let cab rest after her trying day of baseball watching and blogging while I’ve been goofing off working…(at least I got to listen to Boog while allegedly tutoring)…
Woody Woodward
May 30th, 2011
9:49 pm
Just cause…Howlin Wolf “Smokestack Lightnin’”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1FK620bS7A
Fish Bisch
May 30th, 2011
9:49 pm
Cheryl stinks
Woody Woodward
May 30th, 2011
9:50 pm
Fish stinks I thought.
abwright
May 30th, 2011
9:51 pm
Tomahawkin … I thought you had said sometime that you had transferred to UofA, didn’t know it was from FAU. It’s cool that you got to play a year of college ball.
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
10:06 pm
Into the top five of the album countdown with which I’ve been obsessed all weekend – Sgt. Pepper…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
10:09 pm
Sherrill stinks
Worthless bum has now given up runs in 3 of his 21 appearances…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
10:24 pm
Apparently it’s finally holiday time on the blog…
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
10:27 pm
He said Cheryl. Maybe he was complaining about a neighbor
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2011
10:28 pm
My guess is everyone rushed out to try some steak and vodka
Sopheee
May 30th, 2011
10:33 pm
Fish, I can’t take you seriously when you forget to use a sad face in your posts.
tiger297
May 30th, 2011
10:33 pm
VJ – you got a good point there…its obviously fredi’s fault for not knowing which pitcher to use today
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
10:41 pm
He said Cheryl. Maybe he was complaining about a neighbor
Apparently my paste/copy auto-corrected…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
10:43 pm
#4 – Led Zep IV
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
10:45 pm
Jo-Jo Reyes throws a one-hitter. Teheran allows five runs in six innings. It’s the bizarro world…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
10:49 pm
Hugo – 8 hitter, one run…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
10:52 pm
#3 album coming up – the clue clearly indicates it will be Abby Road…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
10:55 pm
What a moron – “Abbey”
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
11:01 pm
I am clearly too drunk to post.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
11:03 pm
#1 should be “Vincebus Eruptum” by Blue Cheer. If not, it’s a fraud.
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:03 pm
I guess it’s not too late to make a bid for most posts on the blog – although I can surmise who probably leads the way…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:14 pm
Sorry, Hugo – the time warp struck – was Summertime Blues on that album?
Tip Of The Cap
May 30th, 2011
11:15 pm
Braves Offense – nonexistent
Fredi Gonzalez – boring
Liberty Media – cheap
Dan Uggla – fail
Go Braves!
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:16 pm
I am theorizing that the top 2 will be Hotel Buckhead and Dark Side of the Ted…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:17 pm
And that was worth interrupting my stream-of-consciousness?
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 30th, 2011
11:17 pm
Correctamundo.
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
11:19 pm
MISSISSIPPI
Bad news at Black Rock……..ARODYS VIZCAINO [0-1, 6.43 ERA] has his clock cleaned in his first start in AA. 7.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R/ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 3 HR. PEARL RIVER loses 14-0. Worse than my grandson’s walkover victory today in the regional playoffs here in central Virginia 17-6 and that was gruesome.
‘Reliefer’ RICHARD SULLIVAN [6.84 ERA] follows in the eighth and can’t get anyone out as he surrenders five more runs – all earned, on four hits and a walk.
ELIECER CARDENAS [54.00 ERA] comes to SULLIVAN’s rescue???? No outs, 6 hits and four earned runs and a base-on-balls later the devastation is complete.
LUIS AVILAN [5.40 ERA] finishes the game with no further damage except a single hit.
The offense is shutout on three hits. WILLIE CABRERA [.258 BA], DONEL LINARES [.293 BA], and ‘Sweet’ JESUS SUCRE [.235 BA] tally the only markers all singles. SUCRE draws the lone BB against the club’s six SO’s. ROCKET’s gonna’ have to spin this one for some serious damage control..
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:21 pm
#2 – Hotel California…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:24 pm
Not exactly our forte…
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
11:26 pm
Hey VJ. Your old alma mater wants my grandson bad…….this via the grape-vine of course. My grandson wants to study engineering.
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:29 pm
Tine warped you, rich…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:32 pm
Relax, said the night man, we are programmed to receive…
richbrave
May 30th, 2011
11:32 pm
98
Chop Chop
May 30th, 2011
11:32 pm
Let’s face it. None of this matters if the Braves win the World Series.
If they don’t win it, it all matters.
All or nothing, folks.
All or nothing.
Embrace it.
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:37 pm
cab and I having a discussion on drummers singing lead for groups after hearing Mr. Henley – thinking Phil Collins, Levon Helm (at times)…well, a few times Ringo…
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:40 pm
All or nothing.
Embrace it
Stupid me – sometimes I am happy when the Braves win a game – I suppose I have to wait until the end of the year to see if I was really happy or just drinking the friggin’ kool-aid…
noleee
May 30th, 2011
11:41 pm
Chop Chop
May 30th, 2011
11:45 pm
The only joy I’ve gotten out of the Braves over recent years has been derived through schadenfreude.
In my opinion, the only redeeming qualities this team has are Prado and McCann. Everybody else can stick it.
noleee
May 30th, 2011
11:50 pm
None of it matters much at all. If they win the WS you smile for a few hours, if they don’t you frown for a few hours.
Ain’t gonna make any difference to the world nor to anybody’s life to any extent at all.’
Enjoy the games as they are played, don’t invest your ego into a team so that you need it to win so you can feel better about yourself. That’s sad.
G’nite
Chop Chop
May 30th, 2011
11:54 pm
My self-worth is dependent on championships.
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2011
11:56 pm
Whatever the heck Chop Chop said
I am pleased that you find some pathetic sense of self-worth in your ability to enjoy being miserable…
abwright
May 31st, 2011
12:20 am
Just finished my roast chicken, rice, peas, gravy, and bourbon shake. Took a while to get it all down, both times.
Can’t wait to hear who the #1 album is.
I’m holding out for the Bangles’ “Inner Light.”
Ward
May 31st, 2011
12:26 am
Tought I would drope in for a few. Had a good Memorial Day Weekend. The game is what I thought it would be today close, and Tight……Padres won barely,so I can’t copmlain.Life moves on, and so does the the world. We will get them tomorrow.Gettysburg is on again tonight for the Civil War fans out there like me, and tomorrow on The History Channel Lee,and Grant. I would like to take a few seconds to thank our Troops for the work you have done. Well done, and talk tomorrow, and peace………
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
12:26 am
Dark Side of the Moon was #1 – not exactly what I would have picked … (that would have been #16 – Brought Into this World to Jog Extremely Fast)…
abwright
May 31st, 2011
12:27 am
Ringo sang lead for the Beatles on a couple of songs.
Night Ranger was another group whose drummer was its lead singer. I think they also had two drummers. I’m not proud to know these facts.
abwright
May 31st, 2011
12:31 am
“Dark Side” beats out “invisible Touch.” I’m crushed.
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
12:41 am
abwright – Abacab was in the countdown…no reason to be sorry about Ringo – This Boy, Yellow Submarine, Octopus’s Garden…
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
12:42 am
Ward – thanks for reminding me to record Gettysburg – I have had many memorable visits there…
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
12:48 am
So I end a four day weekend in which I averaged more working hours per day than my usual work week…but that work week number is growing, and, starting tomorrow, I add grading an Algebra test online, which means I should theoretically be working every waking minute of the day…not that I am complaining at all – much better than spending hours on the blog and not making money…
abwright
May 31st, 2011
12:51 am
VJ … ABACAB is a very good album. Invisible Touch … not so much.
Did any Whitesnake make the cut?
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
12:57 am
I am looking to invest my ego….suggestions?
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
1:03 am
Sorry – no Whitesnake – here’s the list:
http://thesoundla.com/
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
1:13 am
Ken – Born to Run – 16 (much to my chagrin, being so low)…Exile – #36 – the whole list at the link I just posted…
kenhotlanta
May 31st, 2011
1:14 am
V J: Where was Exile on Main Street and Born To Run? TY.
kenhotlanta
May 31st, 2011
1:17 am
Sorry, just saw the link. I don’t agree with many on that list, but they are always interesting.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
1:47 am
l knew that already CC
noleee
May 31st, 2011
1:54 am
Yankees should do it for you Capt….
give you the best odds over the years to boost your self concept….
noleee
May 31st, 2011
1:54 am
No Whitesnake???
DOB will be devastated
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
1:58 am
@Noleee….Excellent choice, and I’ll go back on pastrami on rye sandwiches to boost my physical appearance while nurturing my sport psychosis.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
2:00 am
Also: all this classic musak being discussed….does this discussion have a specific theme currently?
noleee
May 31st, 2011
2:05 am
excellent plan Capt. I see good things for you in the future. enjoy
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
2:18 am
Like Aimee Mann…”I’m Calling It Quits.” Goodnight to all!
Powder Blue
May 31st, 2011
2:19 am
JoJo Reyes won today.
AZBravoFan
May 31st, 2011
2:21 am
Watching some D-Backs this weekend. Those guys haven’t looked back since they swept the Braves. Kirk Gibson really has them playing some exciting ball. Stealing bases, taking extra bases, hitting balls in gaps, hitting home runs. And their bullpen has been almost as good as ours. Making me feel a little wistful. Braves ball is like watching paint dry. And while the close games are sometimes exciting (Sunday), they are usually downright excruciating (Monday). These guys need a spark so bad. They need Schafer trying to make something happen. But other guys need to help out too. Martin should never be hitting into double plays because Schafer should be on second before he gets a chance. And if either Shafer or Prado is on in front of Chipper, that should be a hit-and-run almost every time. You don’t want to be desperate, but after 2 months the approach has got to change some.
TnBrian
May 31st, 2011
6:32 am
AZBravoFan, you really think that’ll last? D-Backs playing like this? LOL
richbrave
May 31st, 2011
7:43 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
I put up the results from yesterday for MISSISSIPPI and LYNCHBURG already last nightr. Here’s GWINNETT.
BRAVES lose to PHILLIES farm-hands 2-12. Puke!
‘45′ GOMEZ blasts a solo shot [10] for one run [36]. STEF GARTRELL plates another [25] with a single. There’s the offense in a nut-shell folks. JULIO TEHERAN [.250 BA] goes 1-2 and scores one of the two runs.
TEHERAN [4-1. 2.36 ERA] gets his eighth start in AAA where he’s been pretty dominant, and is pummeled last night for five runs – all earned, on nine hits in 6.0 IP. He surrenders a gopher ball and two walks while striking out just three. His normal ratio is more like four to one, strikes over BB’s.
At any rate, JUAN ABREU [2.19 ERA] relieves, and is greeted by a blizzard of hits. He lasts only two outs while giving up four hits, one a yard-shot, and five runs [1 earned] along with a strike-out.
Mercifully ROWDY HARDY [0.00 ERA] finishes out the game with 2.1 innings of three hit, two run ball [Zero earned] with a BB, and three SO’s. HARDY was in his third game after being called up from PEARL. 1B ’45’s [third error of the season] and ROWDY’s fielding figured prominantly in the landslide of runs if not the final outcome.
richbrave
May 31st, 2011
8:10 am
ROME
‘LOS PEREZ [3-6, 5.68 ERA] is not standing tall, looking good. He up and down, all over the place. Lots of potential, but consistancy has not been found at this point in his career. Yesterday, he goes 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO.
TY STOVALL [5.31 ERA] relieves with 2.0 innings of two-hit, two-run [both earned] ball, two BB’s, and 2 SO’s.
Normally reliable DAVID ALVAREZ [3.18 ERA] is called upon to finish out the game and is savaged. He goes 2.0 IP with five hits, three runs [all earned], one BB, and a SO.
Final……another blow-out loss [10-3] which seems to have been system-wide yesterday. I can hear the 5th Dimension crooning in my mind, “When the moon is in the seventh house, and Ju-pi-ter aligns with Mars……….” One MEMORIAL DAY to forget if you’re a BRAVES farm-hand fan.
Offensive offense. DH ‘Big’ JIM GATTIS [.439 BA] provides a round tripper [4] and single in four AB’s. CF ANTOAN RICHARDSON [.239 BA] goes 1-3 and lifts a long-fly [2] as well with one on, but that’s the extent of the scoring. Sound familiar? Not exactly station-to-station baseball is it? Oh, players had hits, in fact the good guys totaled six…..wow!. LF ROBBY HEFFLINGER [.250 BA] even had a double [9], but the dingers aside, the others all came to naught.
Kat
May 31st, 2011
8:16 am
Medlen and Moylan will be on The Regular Guys this morning…
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-regular-guys-radio or http://widget.newsinc.com/_cfvp/radio_player.html?freewheel=90059&sitesection=cumulusrock1005_rad&vid=82917
richbrave
May 31st, 2011
8:17 am
Dang, even down in the DOMINICAN Summer League, the BRAVES lose 0-4. Thank goodness the APPY and GULF COAST ops aren’t rolling yet.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
8:52 am
Earlier in the season, the Braves weren’t hitting much but were unconscious with RISP. Now, they’re getting a dozen base-runners a game and can’t get any of them across the plate.
The point is that, sooner or later, all this stuff evens out. Sooner or later, they’ll hit for average AND with RISP. They’ll look as good then as they look bad now, and neither appearance will be an accurate reflection of the team. Just the normal ups and downs of a season.
Besides, even with all this bad stuff, a win today gives them an 18-win month, and 18-win months are gold. A few of those means the playoffs.
LWB
May 31st, 2011
9:17 am
Ive said it before about Uggla and I’ll say it again…….the fact that we have him for 5 years is scary. If you can’t stop being a child and trying to hit a home run every at bat to justify your salary, then you clearly have a mental problem, and if you can’t overcome it for several months and just keep hacking away, then you are useless. He signs a big contract, then can’t even hit .180………..in Atlanta? What a joke he is.
DAP
May 31st, 2011
9:25 am
cant always expect the bullpen to be perfect, but boy did sherrill hang that curveball. whats his face hot it like he knew it was coming…
DAP
May 31st, 2011
9:29 am
i suffer from chronic typos.
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
9:29 am
Wow – very rare to refresh the blog in the morning and see only 17 comments since my last post…
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
9:31 am
VJ, considering the quality of the comments before your last (the few I read, anyway), I’d call the low count a good thing.
CB
May 31st, 2011
9:32 am
Nobody knew how to follow you,VJ.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
9:35 am
I don’t remember last when we had a team that has struggled as badly as this team to compete game in and game out, much less win the game.
monty
May 31st, 2011
9:37 am
Another frustrating loss to a weak team. It won’t get any easier today with Lactos.
Dadgum.....
May 31st, 2011
9:40 am
I guess someone’s top 5 albums depends on their taste in music. For me, I would never have a Beatles album in my top 10 let alone top 5. I’m old school classic rock to the core but appreciate other genres and opinions. Also, I tried to write down my top 100 songs of all time. Tough task. Top 5 albums…..I guess is easier. Led Zep 1, Elton John Goodby Yellow Brick Road, Eagles Hotel California, Jethro Tull Aqualung, The Who Who’s Next.
I feel fortunate to have missed the steak and blender bantering. I’m on the BBQ circuit now. Stops in exotic locales like Parker’s, Lexington#1, Q, Pierce’s, Buz and Neds not to mention any other mom and pop joint that looks tasty and undiscovered. One thing I do know is that you can get by with passable BBQ so long as you have great hushpuppies and sweet tea. Live baseball, golf, road trips. The season is in full swing now. Heading to the ATL soon.
Rock on…….you gotta feel for McLouth. Maybe the Braves can work a trade to find him a good chance to play by the break.
Coach ( 2011 Fredi G. a Go!)
May 31st, 2011
9:42 am
Slumps are to be expected but Uggla just looked absolutely lost at the plate yesterday. Over matched would be an understatement. Dude needs to watch some video and ask for some help or just sit. He’s killing the offense.
Danga
May 31st, 2011
9:42 am
It won’t get any easier today with Lactos.
It can’t possibly get much worse, can it?
Danga
May 31st, 2011
9:46 am
I would never have a Beatles album in my top 10 let alone top 5.
I probably would, but I think I’d go with the White Album as my favorite Beatles record.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
9:52 am
I don’t remember last when we had a team that has struggled as badly as this team to compete game in and game out, much less win the game.
You guys, LOL. You only have to go back to last year, and you can read the same comments about a completely different team. Pick any year in the last three or four, and you’ll find some period of time with the same comments. Which is why I don’t get wired up about it, anymore. The nature of baseball is streaks and slumps, and the nature of this blog has become to be blind to that very thing.
You can’t blame a dog for being a dog.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
9:54 am
Good morning all
The bolg has been so slow, seems a lot of you good bloggers have given up on the braves you have so little to say, I can’t blame you the way they hane been playing. I read last nights posts and overnights. The discustion on what VJ cab were haveing for dinner was kind of interesting.
Coach ( 2011 Fredi G. a Go!)
May 31st, 2011
9:55 am
2.97 team ERA……..Fantastic, otherworldly, incredible and best in the N.L.
3.85 runs per game…..Awful, horrid, brutal and I’m not sure how much worse it can get.
28 errors, 131 double plays, .987 fielding percentage in 55 games…what a massive improvement from 2010.
10 stolen bases with 15 caught stealing…embarrassing, insulting and unprofessional.
God how I love watching half a baseball team trying to play competitive baseball.
Dadgum.....
May 31st, 2011
9:56 am
If we can get Heyward to return to form and injury free and Uggla to respond to shock treatments this team will be rolling heading into the break. Heyward is needed badly in that 6 spot. Now that we have Shaefer at leadoff/cf and Prado at 2 that glaring hole has been filled. Everyone else just needs to perform closer to standards. Run production will increase then. Other than JJ we can’t get a starting pitcher a win. Hell we can barely get them through enough innings to qualify for a win.
Dadgum.....
May 31st, 2011
10:00 am
Average runs scored makes no difference at all. What we need to consider is how many times we scored 4 runs or more. Also of importance is the number of runs scored while the starters were in the game. To date, not having looked it up yet as the sample is small, I would guess that the Braves record is better than normal when scoring under 4. We are in a pitchers era so that is why I say that.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:01 am
He shuffled into the scattered chalk box outline wearing a bicycle helmet, holding a piano leg, shirt partially unkempt. He stared into the luxury box ahead of him, three stories up in the stands, as if he was trying to decipher exactly who was on the other side of the tinted glass. Slowly he began to acknowledge the man in blue sporting a face mask and a double-pouched fanny pack stuffed with baseballs standing right in front of him. Uggla nodded at him and sat down, absolutely lost at the plate…
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
10:03 am
ncscoots, I would tend to agree with you if we were already about 1/3 of the way through the year. This team struggles in every game, they can’t continue to go the way they are going if they expect to be in the playoffs.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
10:04 am
I am so tired of haveing the Braves score two or three runs a game on a regular basies and a lot of the time have to play extra inns to do even that. Guess I was spoiled by all the good years, even the off years 2006 to 2009 did not seem this bad. I expected so much more this year.
DAP
May 31st, 2011
10:04 am
coach, thats weird. you cite the basics of baseball, hitting, pitching, defense….and add stealing bases? doesnt it seem wrong to you that you are sort of SB with team ERA?
by the way, the braves have won 4 of 6, and with 30 wins, only 3 teams in the majors have more. this is not a pitiful team. this is a good team with an unfortunate but fixable problem with scoring runs.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
10:05 am
Uggla shouldn’t be hitting anywhere near the top 2/3rds of the lineup. He’s an automatic out if there ever was one.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:06 am
Let’s see if this one catches on…
Uggla still has options right?
flange1
May 31st, 2011
10:06 am
I don’t think any real Braves fans have given up at all on the 2011 Braves.
I think there is not a ton to discuss right now. Guys have to hit the ball. Talking about why they aren’t and who’s fault it is a real waste of time.
Get Prado and BMAC hot and folks will be talking about All Star appearances.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:06 am
Scoots my thoughts exactly. I used to post all the time, now rarely. It seems the new goal is to make the craziest, the world is ending post. It has ruined this blog. Hell, the quote you used is the Braves struggle to compete in every game. Really, most of their games are decided by one run.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:09 am
LTBF you really think 06-09 was better? You would rather be below .500 then have the third most wins in baseball. Not to even mention scoring runs in baseball is down across both leagues.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
10:09 am
This team struggles in every game, they can’t continue to go the way they are going if they expect to be in the playoffs
Except that they didn’t “struggle” the first half of the month, and went 12-4. So, I guess the question is whether you expect the current lack of scoring ability to be a true barometer of the team, or not? If so, then you’re right to worry. If not, then, not.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:11 am
AT they can plan on going into the playoffs with the best rotation, best pen, and third most wins in the NL and right behind the other two. I guess you could concentrate on the negatives.
DAP
May 31st, 2011
10:11 am
arkansas t This team struggles in every game, they can’t continue to go the way they are going if they expect to be in the playoffs.
actually, maybe they could. they are 30-25 and in pretty good shape in the standings. only 2 NL teams have more wins.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
10:12 am
T.P. 10:01
That was funny, would be funnyer if not so true.
Dadgum.....
May 31st, 2011
10:13 am
Pitchers always have the advantage over hitters which is why good pitching will always beat good hitting. Baseball is in a serious pitchers era right now. Scoring is indicative of that. It is of great importance to manufacture runs, take the extra base, be a patient hitter, draw walks. A’s Buck Showalter opined, there aren’t any fastball counts anymore. Pitchers are developing confidence in 3 pitches they can throw for strikes at any time. I agree. Perhaps it will be tougher for Uggla to break out.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
10:14 am
Uggla still has options right?
Five years of service time.
Dadgum.....
May 31st, 2011
10:15 am
Damn spellcheck has as= A’s. Obviously Showalter is with the Orioles.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
10:15 am
DAP, are you saying that 90 and 72 will get them into the playoffs then? Those 2 NL teams with more wins happens to be in the same division.
brian
May 31st, 2011
10:16 am
exactly AT and we have done that with a mediocre Chipper and no production from Heyward or Uggla. Not bad at all
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:18 am
AT you are saying there is no time for the Braves to get better and increase their win total? I guess you are right, only 100+ games left. No chance to make up three games for the wild card. No chance to make up 4 games for the division. Maybe 2012???
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
10:18 am
There are 5 teams with better winning percentages then the Braves in the NL.
richbrave
May 31st, 2011
10:18 am
A win tonight will improve our sour mood. Later.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
10:18 am
Eric 10:09
I said it did not SEEM as bad. Time heals all things.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:18 am
AT, how many of them have played as many games as the Braves?
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:20 am
Kevin Towers, who took over as the Diamondbacks’ general manager last September, learned during his days in San Diego how to build a contending team. Towers can appreciate how statistical reports can provide supplemental information for decision making, but he’s not wedded to the point of overlooking the human factor that is a part of performance.
And though Arizona manager Kirk Gibson is filing out lineup cards for the first time on a non-interim basis, he brings with him a pedigree as one of the most hard-nosed competitors to have played in the big leagues. Gibson understands that mental commitment is as critical as physical ability.
Now, the season is only about a third of the way over, so it’s far too early to declare as cured everything that ailed the Diamondbacks under the control-freak mentality of the previous administration. That, of course, included a general manager who micromanaged to the point of overseeing lineups and who bought into the silly idea it was no different for a pitcher to get the 27th out of a game than any of the 26 others.
–Tracy Ringolsby
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
10:20 am
Dadgum, you can bank on the fact that he’d never option him. Shoot, he won’t even move down to hitting 8th, truth be told, I’d prefer seeing a pitcher hitting instead of him right now.
Dadgum.....
May 31st, 2011
10:21 am
Tennpaul…. I don’t think Uggla can be optioned. Unless on a rehab stint. Never looked into it really. Just going on what was told to me. Doubtful Fredi would make that move even if he could be optioned.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
10:22 am
We are on a pace to win 88 games, not playoff worthy.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:24 am
LTBF and no time to better that.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:25 am
LTBF also make sure you let the 06 Cardinals know that and they may show you their ring.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
10:25 am
Uggla is just about worthless to this club. You can’t tell me we couldn’t do better then running him out there night after night giving up outs.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
10:26 am
LTBF 8:02PM
Repost from last night.
Last year and I would think every year the players liked and had respect for Bobby because they knew he always had thier back. He always could be heard in dugout encourgeing the hitters and on closes calls he would be on field to argue. Of course that is not all there is to be a MGR,but it sure helped. Bobbys record speaks for its self. This years team on paper is better than last years. I think if there was a way Bobby could came back and finish the season things would get better in a hurry.
CrαZy
May 31st, 2011
10:27 am
Poor Thrashers fans I really do feel bad for all 5,000 of them.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:28 am
LTBF I guess that means the pitchers didnt think Bobby had their back and now Freddi does? Im glad that deserved a repost.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:29 am
Dadgum, it’ll catch blog fire nevertheless. Fan the flames. Give it room to breathe.
flange1
May 31st, 2011
10:32 am
Never going to happen LTBF.
You are wasting your time thinking about it.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:33 am
I gues Troy Glaus only thought Bobby had his back for a month and a half last year.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
10:33 am
Dadgum, it’ll catch blog fire nevertheless. Fan the flames. Give it room to breathe.
TennPaul going rogue, LOL. Not enough that you have to display Tracy Ringolsby’s disdain for unconventional bullpen management…
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:34 am
One more for ya scoots…
Wasn’t this the time when the Braves were going to make up ground in the division? Phillies were finally going to play some tough teams, Braves were going to play the push-overs? Instead the Braves have dropped back to 4.5 games out?
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
10:38 am
Tracy Ringolsby is essentially Murray Chass without dementia.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:39 am
There’s one. Knew I could get that one awake…
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
10:39 am
flange 10:32
I know that, also there is no way money wise that the Braves could fire Fredi to replace him with anyone because of that stupid three year contract.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
10:40 am
flange1 Get Prado and BMAC hot and folks will be talking about All Star appearances.
BMac’s 9 for his last 13 with 3 Doubles and 2 homers…That’s pretty hot!
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
10:40 am
Yup McFann. No way Brian can be blamed for low run production.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
10:41 am
You can’t tell me we couldn’t do better then running [Uggla] out there night after night giving up outs.
But does the team have much playoff future if he doesn’t recover? Sitting him short-term isn’t going to get him fixed for the long-term.
The man blows right now, and that’s a fact. But the team is unlikely to go far without performance from him, and it’s unlikely they could fill his lineup slot with anyone who could make up for a lack of that. Might as well play him and pray he gets well.
SidBream'sknees
May 31st, 2011
10:41 am
Bring back Omar Infante!
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
10:42 am
Instead the Braves have dropped back to 4.5 games out?
Actually, they picked up 2 games during that 20-game stretch. And yes, I thought they would pick up more ground than that.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:46 am
The man blows right now, and that’s a fact. But the team is unlikely to go far without performance from him, and it’s unlikely they could fill his lineup slot with anyone who could make up for a lack of that
I’m not worried about it. Look, the line of logic still holds right? The Braves 2011 offense was/is going to be good compared to the 2010 because essentially you are replacing Melky/McLouth 2010 with a healthy productive 30 HR hitting second baseman. The 2010 Braves made it to the post season, so certainly the 2011 Braves, with a better offense and even better pitching will make it.
So it turns out the team just moved the production of Melky/McLouth 2010 to second base and improved the outfield. The 2010 team still made it to the post season, so certainly this team will make it to the post season.
carlchamblee
May 31st, 2011
10:47 am
Don’t think you can do anything w Uggla right now except cross your fingers and hope his girlfriend accepts his marriage proposal so he can stop getting on one knee every AB
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
10:48 am
If you think the chump change (by major league standards) a team pays a manager is a real deterrent for firing them, you just are not very attentive.
Let’s see, the Braves have lost some games they should have won, won some they should have lost, Playing with a gimpy Chipper Jones, an absent Jason Heyward and a clueless Dan Uglla. All and all, I think their record is pretty remarkable.
I hated as much as the next Braves’ fan losing yesterday’s game but I saw it coming when the Braves failed to score even with multiple opportunities.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
10:48 am
No reason to believe Uggla’s hitting will improve by sitting him and he MUST start hitting soon for us to win often.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:51 am
Actually, they picked up 2 games during that 20-game stretch
Sh!t. It’s been 20 games since that period began!? Where does the time go? I’m exhausted. Had a busy weekend. Came in here, pushed all the buttons right off the bat to learn that… I don’t know what that does to my time/space recognition. I feel like I’ve been blog-warped. Feel a bit lost. I think I see Uggla.
Don
May 31st, 2011
10:51 am
Without question, Pitching is the most important factor, and the Braves Pitching may really be great — BUT even so, it is going to be difficult with only one regular hitting above .280, and only three regulars hitting above .255. Remember how some of you ridiculed some of us during the off season for questioning the Braves potential offensive problems.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:51 am
By the way, was that one yours scoots? I thought that was a focal blog topic from last week. All these topics from prior times popped into my head this morning. Thought I’d lay them all out and see what happens. A few of the ones I typed in blog-warped to entirely different blogs and I’m too tired to go find exactly which ones.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
10:52 am
Regarding Ringolsby’s piece, it’s full of assumptions that confirm his biases.
“In trying to ensure the development of Justin Upton, called up while he was still a teenager, Melvin felt at one point that Upton would benefit from being sent to the minor leagues to remind him that the effort he was giving wasn’t good enough for a big league player. The previous administration looked at Melvin like he had a third eye and expressed concern that such a move might hurt Upton’s feelings.”
Let’s see. Upton, in his 152 PA’s in his age 19 season, was below average. He hasn’t been a below average offensive player in any season since. And here are his OBP in every season since, starting in 2008, his age 20 season: .353, .366, .356, .341 this season. If it is true that Melvin wanted to send Upton down, clearly that seemed to have been misguided. There was clearly nothing left for him to prove in the minors.
Ringolsby assumes the decision to keep him in the majors was about Upton’s feelings. Probably had more to do with the fact that Upton was clearly ready for the majors and there was no need for him to go to the minors. If there was a lack of effort, certainly it certainly didn’t show up in his performance.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
10:52 am
Isn’t the team 17-10 in May? I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that there are quite a few teams in the league who would have killed to go 17-10 this month.
The offense at times is abysmal, Uggla looks like a Rule 5 player finally, Heyward and Chipper have been almost nonexistant in the Braves’ offense… and they still went 17-10. Not too shabby.
If the offense picks up then this is a team that could just take off. As they are right now, though, they’ll never be able to put together the 7 or 8 wins in a row run that it’s going to take to get a lead in one of the toughest divisions in baseball. They just don’t have the punch.
I think it’s time to seriously consider benching Uggla for longer than a single game. There’s obviously something not right with his swing, and he’s not getting any better being run out onto the field every day.
I also wonder if Chipper is hurt worse than has been indicated. His average seems to be going down down down this month and he’s taking some pretty awkward swings. If his knee is hurting they should just get it scoped, move Prado to 3B, and keep Schafer in the leadoff spot once Nate returns.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
10:53 am
At some point, one has to wonder what it is about Atlanta that causes a player to become a black hole when it comes to RBI production. Fat Andruw Jones, flailing Jeff Francouer, old Troy Glaus, wacky Yunel Escobar. There always seems to be somebody who becomes the “out” opposing pitchers are looking for. Maybe one of the stat guys on the blog will look it up but over the last few years, has any team failed to score after having the bases loaded more than the Braves? I sure can’t remember any other team suffering from such futility.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
10:54 am
Murph, I just hope when our offense decides to come around and look more like a major league team and less like a high school team that our pitching doesn’t decide to take time off.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
10:55 am
You do not want to mess with Gibson.One of the few guys in the game that most players would be intimidated by.
I know the stalker and my good buddyyy will be upset by this post but what the Hell. When you can read comments about why one of the teams you are in a race with CAN’T win, that should be a good thing. I’ve been saying the Marlins are capable of staying in this ONLY if Johnson comes back quickly. The Marlins and their pitiful minor league system can’t bring up a Teheran or Minor to make spot starts. Instead they have to treat a regular season game like a Grapefruit League game and use 6 pitchers.Well,they won the battle and lost the war.the relief corps is devastatedI nothing on the horizon AND also the spectre of Hanley being in full DOGGIE mode with his back injury.Hanley is so toxic–and especially in a young clubhouse–as to FINALLY be expendable before his trade value bottoms out totally. Every movement Hanley makes related to a baseball action results in a grimace or a wince. I can already see him attributing this putrid .210 batting average to an injury that he hid for last 2 months.Now even if this is somehow true, what kind of Phi Beta Kappa hides an injury for 2 months and results in numbers comparable to some other players who are having “difficulties.”
Anyhow sorry for the long post, I really didn’t see it as a Marlins post as I realize some of you have seen them as a season long threat. That ain’t happening. You only have to beat the Phillies and after watching snippets of their late inning rallies in 3 of the last 4 games, I can only say that BLANK can’t last much longer. You will get em.
I’m going to go hit some golf ball so if my obsessive compulsive stalker wants me to read his comments, it would best serve him to wait until after 11:00 PM because that’s when I’ll be back on here, and I ain’t reading 10 pages of blog entries.Sorry.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
10:58 am
TennPaul-Instead the Braves have dropped back to 4.5 games out?
Werent they 6-6.5 games out? I thought 4.5 was moving forward. Im so confused.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
10:58 am
Isn’t the team 17-10 in May?
Yes. And after tonight, they’ll finish the month 18-10. Which also is a pretty good month.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
10:58 am
Sorry.One last thing. Would you guys RIGHT NOW trade Uggla, Minor and McClouth for Ramirez?? Right Now!!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
10:59 am
Sorry.One last thing. Would you guys RIGHT NOW trade Uggla, Minor and McClouth for Ramirez?? Right Now!!
Manny? No.
Alexei? Probably not.
Hanley? Possibly.
Aramis? Maybe.
Ramon? Nuh uhh.
Wilkin? Already got him.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
10:59 am
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that there are quite a few teams in the league who would have killed to go 17-10 this month.
You bet. 18-win months are basically two-outa-three for the entire month, get three of those in a season and you’ll be pretty stout. You can play .500 for the other half of the season and be 25 over at the end. That’s usually good enough.
CB
May 31st, 2011
11:00 am
TP,so I can go ahead and lay a big bet on the Braves tonight?
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:00 am
EricMO. I think I’m more confused. Ha! I could have sworn that topic was from last week when the team was 3.5 games out. 20 games went by way to fast.
Interestingly though, 20 games ago the Phillies had a 3 game lead on the division and the Braves were 3.5 games out… 21 games they were 4.5 out.
28 games ago they were 6 out, the furthest out they’ve been all season.
Still though, I’m not saying all that because I’ve given up on the team. I think they’ll end up making the post-season. But I do rather enjoy the occasional bear poking and prodding.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
11:02 am
LTBF—
Yep! After going 7-42, he’s really gotten it back together, even if it’s “only” been for 3 games so far!
His AVG’s gone up 30 points over that span (was .274 before the game on May 27th, now it’s .304!)
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
11:02 am
The reason we are 30-25 is the pitching. And how long can the pitching hold up the way it has, it is bound to slip some. So something has to be done about the offence. What can be done? Who knows? I sure don’t.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
11:04 am
Gil In Mechanicsville, the Braves have been one of the top offensive teams in the NL since about 2002. So, without looking it up, I seriously doubt they’ve failed more often than other teams with the bases loaded. When you only watch the Braves and the standard is perfection, you are going to find weaknesses with the offense. Any rational person will realize the Braves have had a good offensive club for about a decade. That was all Terry Pendleton’s fault that the Braves had such a good offensive club.
Regarding the players you mentioned, And
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
11:05 am
Regarding the players you mentioned: Andruw obviously didn’t age well, Escobar was probably never a great hitter and Francoeur clearly was never more than a platoon player (the team just failed to recognize it, for some reason).
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:05 am
CB: Certainly.
David O'Brien
May 31st, 2011
11:05 am
Tracy Ringolsby is essentially Murray Chass without dementia. — Shaun
And I’m sure both of them care deeply that you feel that way.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
11:06 am
TP,so I can go ahead and lay a big bet on the Braves tonight?
Latos vs Minor… I’d stick to friendly bets and keep your money in your wallet if I were you.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
11:06 am
Ha! I could have sworn that topic was from last week when the team was 3.5 games out. 20 games went by way to fast.
Fast even by blog-warp speeds, LOL.
The 20-game stretch to which I’ve always alluded was from May 6-24 for the Phightens.
Braveone
May 31st, 2011
11:09 am
From the previous blog which had 1,164 comments, VaBravesFan led the way with 64 posts. There were 156 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 VaBravesFan 64
2 Tbraves 48
3 BFChris26 43
4 Tomas 38
5 count_schemula 37
6 jeffrey d 36
7 cabravesfan 31
8 Lew 30
9 Tom O’Hawke 29
10 noleee 29
11 shmoe 28
12 David O’Brien 26
13 kwajbraves 26
14 LTBF 25
15 Trey 23
16 CaptainMudderland 22
17 JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____) 21
18 McFann :Ô: :Ô: 21
19 cricket 21
20 Eric from MO 19
21 Venice Jim 19
22 Bay Area Steve 18
23 Bravefaninok 17
24 Woody Woodward 17
25 GT Alum 16
Danga
May 31st, 2011
11:09 am
Latos vs Minor… I’d stick to friendly bets and keep your money in your wallet if I were you.
Pads triple slash vs lefties: .228/.296/.334
MLB ranks 30/30/29,
DAP
May 31st, 2011
11:09 am
arkansas transplant DAP, are you saying that 90 and 72 will get them into the playoffs then? Those 2 NL teams with more wins happens to be in the same division.
no, the marlins have 30 wins, just like the braves.
will 90 wins secure the playoffs? i dont, know, maybe. if things continue like they are going right now, then probably yes. my point is, the braves are right there. its not unreasonable to think this team, as it is, will make the playoffs.
by the way, NL teams with more wins than the braves are the phillies and cardinals.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
11:10 am
And I’m sure both of them care deeply that you feel that way.
Well, they’re just “ignorant BBWAA geezers”, after all.
David O'Brien
May 31st, 2011
11:10 am
Wasn’t this the time when the Braves were going to make up ground in the division? Phillies were finally going to play some tough teams, Braves were going to play the push-overs? Instead the Braves have dropped back to 4.5 games out? — TennPaul
Well, one of those was supposed to be Arizona. Little did anyone realize they’d be the hottest team in baseball in late May — they’ve won seven in a row and nine of 10. And the Angels are 6-4 in their last 10 and a game out of 1st. Even the lowly Pirates are 5-5 in their last 10, still only a few games below .500 at a point when they’re usually about 10-15 below.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
11:14 am
A healthy Heyward would go a long way in boosting the Braves offense but until Uggla starts producing, the Braves are going to continue to meander they way through the season.
Hanley could be a great player if he wanted to be but like many players blessed with great talent, he does not think he has to also work at it too. At least Jeff Kemp of the Dodgers finally got it that he could be a good as he wanted to be. Too bad he realized that later rather than sooner
Nope, wouldn’t make that trade…. One head case at shortstop was enough for me….
On Uggla, to be honest, he has put so me good swings on the ball of late, just too many times of late he has been unproductive in crucial spots.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
11:14 am
I read that it is a sad day for ATL Hockey fans. We also lost the Flames years ago. It is sad for the fans that have supported the Thashers.
David O'Brien
May 31st, 2011
11:14 am
We are on a pace to win 88 games, not playoff worthy. — LTBF
As of today, Florida would be the wild-card leader, one game ahead of San Francisco. The defending World Series champion Giants are 1/2-game ahead of the Braves, who’d be third in the wild card standings today, 1-1/2 games behind Florida.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
11:16 am
The Phightens managed to play .500 through that stretch, and I didn’t think that they had a prayer of doing so. You gotta (dare I say it?) tip your cap.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:16 am
The 20-game stretch to which I’ve always alluded was from May 6-24 for the Phightens.
That would have been a good stretch to pounce… The Braves were 4.5 games out heading into May 6. Phillies had a 2 game division lead. At the end, the Phillies had a 1 game division lead and the Braves were 3.0 games out.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
11:16 am
Well, one of those was supposed to be Arizona. Little did anyone realize they’d be the hottest team in baseball in late May — they’ve won seven in a row and nine of 10. And the Angels are 6-4 in their last 10. Even the lowly Pirates are 5-5 in their last 10, still only a few games below .500 at a point when they’re usually about 10-15 below.
There’s nothing like a series with the Braves to break a sub .500 team out of their funk and get them going.
lexbrave
May 31st, 2011
11:17 am
buster posey goes down on a clean play and all of a sudden players are calling for protection for catchers. nobody seemed to get so bent our of shape when darrin erstad ran out of the baseline just to put a forearm shiver into the head of johnny estrada in ‘05, effectively ending his career.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
11:18 am
Man, the time-warp thing really is a little disconcerting, isn’t it? Gives you a Linda-Blair head-spin.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:20 am
DOB, Little did anyone realize they’d be the hottest team in baseball…
I like this because I’m nearly positive there was some gnashing of teeth prognosticating that such a thing would occur simply because the baseball gods are against the Braves (despite the the favorable season record). But yes, the Braves ran into all the lowly teams right when those teams got hot… Or maybe that says something about the Braves? We’ll know at the end of the season when all the dust has settled.
David O'Brien
May 31st, 2011
11:22 am
Let’s see if this one catches on…
Uggla still has options right? — TennPaul
Let’s see if this one catches on: Take all the time you want, and find one player, just one, who has ever been optioned to the minors in the first year of a multi-year contract even remotely comparable to Uggla’s $62 mill deal. Just one player who was ever optioned to the minors (not sent for an injury, but just for poor performance).
Again, take all the time you need.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:22 am
You gotta (dare I say it?) tip your cap
Yup. That team has swagger I tells ya.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
11:22 am
On Uggla, to be honest, he has put so me good swings on the ball of late, just too many times of late he has been unproductive in crucial spots.
3 hits, 1 walk, 0 runs in his last 10 games…. not exactly filling me with much hope.
Although, I was actually surprised to see he’s only struck out 8 times total in those 10 games. I would have guessed twice as many.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
11:24 am
Last night nothing much on tv, so I watched the Reds defeat the Brewers 7-3. It was fun to see teams score some runs. Not saying I don;t like pitching duels at times.
monty
May 31st, 2011
11:25 am
Phillies on pace to win 101 and the Braves 88. So much for them falling apart, bad bullpen, body parts falling off with age, etc..etc.. I said at the begining of the season Phillies win 100 games, most everyone laughed. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t, but the point is unless they lose Howard, Hamels,Lee, or Halladay, they win the East. That is, unless Uggla has a banner 2nd half and Heyward returns healthy enough to resemble something of his 1st half 2010 self, our pitching holds up and no major injuries from here on out to any key people. Lot of hoping and crossing of fingers there. Realisticly were are going to fight the Marlins for the WC. I’m OK with that.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:27 am
Again, take all the time you need.
Don’t need to. Uggla doesn’t have options left. He’s past that point of ‘return. There was such vitriol and bile all over with Uggla as the main chunk sitting in the center of it all… It had gone from “drop him in the order” to “bench him”, options seemed a logical, natural, even organic, stage 3 venting point.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
11:29 am
said at the begining of the season Phillies win 100 games, most everyone laughed.
monty, I would never laugh at you. Laugh with you, maybe, but not at you.
“Phillies win 100″ does get a silent eyeroll, though.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
11:29 am
No way we send Dan to G Braves. He has to work it out here and he has to play to do it.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:30 am
Although, there is a guy finishing out a $23M contract in the minors for the Braves. And the Yanks spent $46M (posting plus contract) to option Igawa to the minors. Which is pretty crazy to think of it. Two pitchers and nearly $70M total. #flopsandbusts
monty
May 31st, 2011
11:32 am
Murph-”There’s nothing like a series with the Braves to break a sub .500 team out of their funk and get them going.”
Have to admit that thought crossed my mind. Ailing pitchers and hitters get healthy all of a sudden against us. LOL!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
11:34 am
No way we send Dan to G Braves. He has to work it out here and he has to play to do it.
Just playing devil’s advocate here, but… he’s started every game but one this month… and his average continues to go in the wrong direction.
How long do you give him a chance to “work things out”? There has to be a limit, no matter who the player is. July? What if he’s hitting .150 in August and the Braves are still in the race?
When do you pull the plug on an unproductive player in favor of some sort of production?
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:36 am
to be followed shortly thereafter by the put-him-out-of-his-misery-like-a-broke-down-nag stage 4.
Isn’t that the full version definition of “trade him for batting practice balls”?
monty
May 31st, 2011
11:37 am
Scoots- Thanks for the vote of confidence.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
11:38 am
It had gone from “drop him in the order” to “bench him”, options seemed a logical, natural, even organic, stage 3 venting point.
…to be followed shortly thereafter by the put-him-out-of-his-misery-like-a-broke-down-nag stage 4.
The stages of baseball grief.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:40 am
Nice! Blog-warped that two comments and 2 minutes ahead!
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
11:40 am
When do you pull the plug on an unproductive player in favor of some sort of production?
After a Heyward collision, LOL?
monty
May 31st, 2011
11:41 am
Have they ruled out sessions with sports psychologist?
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
11:43 am
TennPaul, now that I think about it, trade-him-for-a-bag-of-balls is probably stage 4. Mine is probably stage 5, since shooting him is probably a little bit final.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:44 am
Have they ruled out sessions with sports psychologist
Seriously? Haven’t we covered this already? The guy is in the big leagues. He doesn’t need a psychologist. If he did, he’d have never made it to the big leagues.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
11:44 am
A Heyward/Uggla collision would create a shockwave that would turn Nate’s hair red and cause Schafer’s balls to finally drop.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
11:44 am
I said he had some good swings on the ball, those don’t always result in hits. Much like all those at’em balls Marteen was hitting early in the season. Pop ups and weak ground balls and strikeouts reveal flaws in a swing. Hitting the ball on the screws but having it caught is just part of the game. That said, Uggla is really pressing right now, trying to hit 5 run homers every at-bat. Reminds me of McLough last season. Sometimes a hitter has to be willing to punch the ball the other way, otherwise, pitchers are going to continue to expand the strike zone. A major league ballplayer cannot continue to keep doing the same thing over and over in the hopes a pitcher is going to make mistakes.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
11:46 am
Aramis Ramirez has two HR so far this year – guess there’s not a Ramirez out tyhere we’d make the deal for – IF any other team were dumb enough to want to, anyway.
Gil – Yesterday on the AB where Uggla walked. Dude had to physically restrain himself from swinging at every pitch of that AB. That’s part of his problem – no attempt at pitch recognition – he’s swinging at everything. He really needs to get much more selective and do what Chipper has done for years – wait on his pitch and then drive it.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:47 am
Mine is probably stage 5, since shooting him is probably a little bit final.
Could be, but I think missed the denial-relapse/last-positive-hope stage in there some where.
The Victor-Zambrano/Scott Kazmir stage: Distraught fans irrationally believe they can trade him straight up or package him with another failure for a truly great on-the-verge prospect…
monty
May 31st, 2011
11:47 am
I liked how the Fox guys were ribbing Huddy about him having trouble with Uggla in the past and that maybe Huddy should throw some batting practice to him to get him going again. I had already thought something similar.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
11:49 am
Oh well, little we can do but hope at some point Dan will get it. At least Freddie Freeman has played gold glove defense and his bat has warmed up. .250 is a very respectable average for a 21 year old fist year rookie. He will only get better.
Chipper has looked like he has been playing hurt for a week now. Power is down and I can’t remember when I have seen him take so many pitches down the middle for called strikes. Perhaps his knee is more of a distraction than he lets on.
monty
May 31st, 2011
11:50 am
You might think Uggla would shorten his swing temporarily to try to make consitent contact then when he got his confidence up he could start unleashing everything. Hard to watch a guy struggling so mightily when he goes for the downs on every swing. Like maybe try hitting it back through the middle.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:51 am
I liked how the Fox guys were ribbing Huddy about him having trouble with Uggla in the past and that maybe Huddy should throw some batting practice to him to get him going again. I had already thought something similar.
It’s true. Usually by this time in the season Uggla has blasted the Braves pitching to get on a hot streak… (bing)… Now he no longer gets to face the Braves.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
11:52 am
Murph 11:34
No way we send Dan to G Braves. He has to work it out here and he has to play to do it.
Just playing devil’s advocate here, but… he’s started every game but one this month… and his average continues to go in the wrong direction.
How long do you give him a chance to “work things out”? There has to be a limit, no matter who the player is. July? What if he’s hitting .150 in August and the Braves are still in the race?
When do you pull the plug on an unproductive player in favor of some sort of production?
I understand your post and at some point in time you are right, a desision will have to be made on what to do with him, don’t know if just sitting him with Brooks at 2nd long tirm is the answer.
Felix Millan
May 31st, 2011
11:55 am
My family and I were at the game yesterday. I wanted to comment on the great job the Braves did before and during the game of recognizing our service men and women, past and present.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
11:58 am
To tired to really dig in, but it’d be pretty funny if every time he did start mashing was right when he met up with Atlanta.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
11:59 am
I meant to come on and post this on Saturday: I’m sure that deep flyball that Uggla crushed to left-center in the 10th didn’t leave the ballpark simply because of the pressure Uggla is under. Everyone knows pressure causes a hitter to barely miss pitches, causing deep flyballs instead of homeruns.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
12:00 pm
LTBF 11:54
Repost from bottom of last page. Hate when that happens.
Murph 11:34
No way we send Dan to G Braves. He has to work it out here and he has to play to do it.
Just playing devil’s advocate here, but… he’s started every game but one this month… and his average continues to go in the wrong direction.
How long do you give him a chance to “work things out”? There has to be a limit, no matter who the player is. July? What if he’s hitting .150 in August and the Braves are still in the race?
When do you pull the plug on an unproductive player in favor of some sort of production?
I understand your post and at some point in time you are right, a desision will have to be made on what to do with him, don’t know if just sitting him with Brooks at 2nd long tirm is the answer.
Sox FAN
May 31st, 2011
12:01 pm
As a Die Hard Red Sox fan, and someone who thoroughly represents Red Sox Nation, sans the thundersticks, cowbells, gimmicks and Neil Diamond, let me say, that this Veteran’s Day, let us take the time to fully appreciate what America really means to..all of us.. To be more specific, what defines sports.
I think that all of us, as Americans, know, that the Boston Red Sox define baseball and on a larger basis, sports. There is just something so special, so magical, when a Red Sox player steps up to bat. It’s completely different when say someone from the “Colorado Rockies” or the “Toronto Blue Jays” steps up to bat. Those teams do not matter, they don’t know what it’s like to play baseball, their fans don’t know what it’s like to experience pain, loss, heartache, constipation, or pain.
Let’s say for instance…. There is a 25 year old Brewers fan…. Let’s compare him to a 25 year old Red Sox fan… Just by definition the 25 year old Red Sox fan is entitled to revel in more wins, more success and more happiness because his franchise has experienced just soooo much pain…just sooo much heartache… He has just been through so much, he remembers 1918, his grandfather cried over Bucky Dent, He almost sawed off his arm over Aaron Boone… My point is…as a Red Sox fan, he is just such a special guy…he “gets” it… as Red Sox fans we “get” it… you don’t know what it’s like to grow up in New England…it’s like nothing else… …………..nothing……….else….
In conclusion, every team in baseball deserves to be contracted except the AL EAST because we are what it means to be sports fans. Did you guys know that the Bruins were one of the first hockey teams and they are in the finals now? Isnt that amazing? Remember when the Red Sox came back from down 0-3? Boston sports just makes me appreciate being a human being…
YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKK
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:04 pm
Shaun, don’t try stirring the pot when everyone on here is doing fine this morning. Are you not getting enough attention?
monty
May 31st, 2011
12:06 pm
Is it just me or does anyone else see how Chipper is really struggling power wise? He seems to have become just a mistake hitter and an a base-on-balls kind of guy. I can’t remember the last time he really hammered a pitch that wasn’t a mistake. Not saying he doesn’t have value but he has to be one of, if not the least slugging 3 hole hitters in baseball.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:07 pm
Murph, you know everything he says is to draw attention to him.
LOOK AT ME…. LOOK AT ME!!!!!
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:07 pm
himself.
monty
May 31st, 2011
12:09 pm
Sox Fan–uh, that was random.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
12:09 pm
Ugh. It’s too early for the Crazy…
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
12:10 pm
Wonder if Chipper will give it a try on his bad right knee tonight? Hope but not sure things will be ok with him. His past two weeks have been rough. Something not right with him.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
12:10 pm
Murph and Arkansas Transplant, you and others constantly attack me directly more so that providing logical arguments to refute my comments. So if anyone is drawing attention to me, it’s you. You want to make me more invisible, try providing logic and reasoning to refute me instead of attacking me…unless of course you can’t refute me with logic and reason, and all you have are personal attacks.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:10 pm
Uggla needs to be batting 9th.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:11 pm
Played any RttS lately AT? I spent my precious few gaming minutes this weekend playing Red Dead Revolver… watched Tombstone Friday night, couldn’t pass up some Red Dead multiplayer afterwards.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:12 pm
The Red Sox define baseball and sports in general? When did this happen? After they finally won a WS after 85 years? What exactly, did they define prior to that? Futility?
Dude, they define nothing except in your own mind.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:12 pm
Poor, poor Shaun. I think he’s getting ready to cry. C’mon cry baby, cry for me! C’mon… cry!
You know, points or no point, you’re dead meat.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:13 pm
Shaun, been there and done that… It’s not my fault you can’t understand logic. It’s impossible to debate logic with an illogical individual.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
12:13 pm
Check top of page. Sad for Thasher fans.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
12:14 pm
Good morning Lew
How are you? On Red Sox you will have to admit they have a good win, loss, record every year always in the hunt, also they have great fans.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:14 pm
Murph, I think I may have played one game last week of RttS but here lately there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in a day do get everything done.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:15 pm
Shaun – If you truly understood logic, you’d realize that Logically, most here view you as an arrogant, opinionated, person with a superiority/obsessive/compulsive complex.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:16 pm
Bah, I get one chance a day to use a Karate Kid quote and I screwed it up. Son of a…
Anyways, just ignore him AT. Let’s talk about something more interesting than Shaun. For instance… I cut my toe nails this morning. And I drank a bottle of water on my drive in to work. I keep it in a fridge in my garage.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:18 pm
Lew, I keep lots of things in a fridge in my garage. Water… toe nails… people… Dr. Pepper… you name it.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:19 pm
Murph – You keep your toe nails in a fridge in the garage? Do we really want to know why?
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
12:19 pm
I hate golf!!!!
I want to save people time on looking for people who have been optioned with the type deal that Uggla has. there have been none!!! Since we are asking questions find one player with a comparable deal—taking into account the advent of free agency when the dollar amounts were obviously different—who has gone 37 for 208 to start a season OR even any time in a season without being benched or sat for at least a little bit.
I know I said I would not comment on Uggla any farther but when I read something that patently silly you just must say something.
By the way, take as long as you want.37 for 208 AND 16 RBI’s in a third of a season while following a dynamic offensive force in the 4 spot and a Future First Ballot Hall of Famer in the 3rd spot.
Take as long as you want.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
LTBF – Yeah, they have great fans since they started winning.
Hillbilly
May 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
Dude, they define nothing except in your own mind.
They define “bandwagon” impeccably. It’s tragic to see, actually.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
How about we talk about Dan Uggla and pressure? Oh, you can’t without trashing me, so that spoils your plans.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
DOB, has anyone been able to get the AJC IT guy on the phone regarding the time warp issue? Is this the AJC IT guy’s busy season or something? Is the Lifestyle page causing him issues or something?
Phils
May 31st, 2011
12:21 pm
Great comeback win today, guys! I believe McCann wanted to win that game!
Since your game is over, I thought it would be nice to invite all of you to join us on our Phillies board as we cheer our amazing Phillies on to victory. Tonight is pretty much an easy win for the Phils, with most experts already putting this game in the W column for them, but there will still be plenty of excitement as we watch to see how many runs the Phillies score in this expected blowout.
Hope to see you all there!
GO PHILLIES!!
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:23 pm
Murph, I thought you were quoting The Christmas Story line.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
12:23 pm
Outta here for a while, hope to be back beore gamestart. Have a good afternoon y’ll.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:24 pm
You’d better watch out cutting your toe nails.. those things can put an eye out!
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:24 pm
Hillbilly – Forgot to mention some music to you the other day.
Ever heard a late 90’s cd by Paul McCartney called Run Devil Run – a collection of Old rock and roll covers (Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, etc) plus some new tunes written by McCartney. His back up band is David Gilmour on guitar and Ian Paice of Deep Purple on drums. You might enjoy it.
Eaglemasterbrother
May 31st, 2011
12:28 pm
I apologize my dearest Braves fans. It appeared Milky was actually not over the “incident!” We can only hope he recovers for his next start, but until then we have Lamar’s Phillies coming to Turner….speaking of Turner…the front office actually offered to change the stadium name to suit my demands in hopes of keeping me from leaving in pursuit of my modeling career. Teddy and I are grand companions and he was supposedly in favor of the change, but I just couldn’t for my mind was set!! Anywho yes, Lamar’s Phillies have come to town and my sources tell me our great Braves will take all 3 competitive matchups!! This is all I can give as of now…I must depart and visit Mother in the hospital. She broke her pelvis late last night!! I do not have a clue what could have happened, but she remains constant in saying, and I quote, “It was worth it!” Father also seems at ease with the recent injury and told my sister today “That this was all his doing”…and then gave a small chuckle!! I reckon he has pushed her down the stairs again…it seemed as if Mother had broken something odd each month when I was younger. An ear, a tooth, the hole in her neck from the years of smoking… Oh well I must depart!!
Sincerely from a concerned son,
eaglemasterbrother
Eaglemasterbrother
May 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
As of this morning my resignation letter to our great organization has been granted its request to for your Atlanta Braves and I to part ways. This is an extremely complex and difficult decision for me my friends. You all hold such a dear section of my heart and as of this moment I cannot bring myself to post details of the affair. I feel at this moment in my life I am called for greater things and the Atlanta Braves and I are hurt that I need to leave so close to the season’s start. I have spoken to players, coaches, and front office members individually and each has respected my decision. I promise to give you all details of my new endeavor soon but alas at this time it proves to tough a task. So long till the time arrives!!
Sincerely from a hurt yet true to himself Braves, no longer front office member, but fan
eaglemasterbrother
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
How about we talk about Dan Uggla and pressure? Oh, you can’t without trashing me, so that spoils your plans.
We covered that last week, made you look dumb, and moved on. Feel free to go back and reread all of the comments… the rest of us have more interesting topics to discuss, like:
Washed my car yesterday. Went to one of those self-serve places where you exchange quarters for high-pressure water. It was actually well worth the $5 I dropped vs washing it in my driveway. I have a major brake dust issue due to the Brembo brakes I have and it causes my driveway to turn completely black. I let my girls wash them once and it turned them completely black too. A high-pressure stream of water made my wheels look like new. It was awesome.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
Let me put Dan Uggla in perspective. He has 37 hits in 208 AB’s. If he had only 18 more hits, that’s 1 hit EVERY three games, he would be hitting .264 with 7 HR’s one third of the way into the season. Coupled with his vastly better defense than he was thought to play and Braves fans would be talking about what a great trade Frank Wren made by only giving up Infante and Dunn to get Uggla.
18 hits is all that separates him from the people that want to release him and call him worthless. His stats in his career are remarkably constant. He WILL be as big of an asset offensively as he has been on defense.
Eaglemasterbrother
May 31st, 2011
12:30 pm
Oh I do declare the Atlanta Braves must have the most intelligent fans in all of Major League Baseball. You all are correct in that each of the names mentioned is indeed linked to trade talks for our Atlanta Braves. Frankie and the remainder of our great front office worked diligently and acquired Alex Gonzalez, who we all felt would be an improvement over Yunel Escobar. Mr. Escobar was a grand player with his flashy way of playing, although sadly was not producing at a pace we would have liked and even more sadly had an attitude that was not on tract with the traditional Atlanta Braves way of playing and presenting ourselves. I did enjoy Yunel during his stay in Atlanta and one memory that comes to mind was the time myself and Big Peter(Peter Moylan….the name is an entirely different story) bribed Yunel’s hairdresser into coloring his hair lime green! Oh the expression on his face I will never remember…yes remember…because once Yunel found out I was behind the scheme he attacked me with a blow dryer. We eventually made up and I bought him a wig, which he wore until just recently when his hair lost its green tint. Anywho as all of you are correct with the names mention I will leave you with the words once yelled by Mr. Kevin Garnett, “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!”
Speaking of Kevin Garnett I cannot find my jersey that he personally signed for me. The last time I saw it Yunel had just trapped me in the corner of my closet threatening to “blow my face off.” Wait A Minute that flashy, hair coloring son of a gun stole my jersey and took it to darn Canada knowing I’m not allowed to enter that country since I attended that Justin Bieber concert!!
Sincerely from a man who has multiple restraining orders
eaglemasterbrother
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
12:30 pm
keylargo, yep. Uggla’s results are most likely due to bad luck and a little age-related decline. Very likely nothing more than that. If it were something more, there would probably be underlying signs that he is indeed performing as poorly as his results indicate. Most of the underlying indicators suggest that he’s not all that far off from a typical Uggla season.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
12:33 pm
seriously. Crazy is out in full force today. Did I miss the memo?
Sam1
May 31st, 2011
12:33 pm
Very entertaining eaglemasterbrother….lol
Hillbilly
May 31st, 2011
12:33 pm
Lew, I would enjoy Gilmour on guitar if he played on a fluffin’ Color Me Badd album. The dude is second to none, but you already know that.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
12:34 pm
As of right now, the NL East is the only division in baseball with more than 1 team with 30 or more wins… and the NL East has 3 such teams.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:35 pm
Alright, heading to lunch. When I get back we can discuss the merits of Burger King vs McDonalds vs Wendys and pressure each is under to perform now that the burger monopolies they have formed are under attack from upstarts such as Might Fine Burgers, 5 Guys, and In-and-Out.
I look forward to a raucous debate with you all!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:37 pm
Uggla’s results are most likely due to bad luck and a little age-related decline
Before I go to lunch, let me add that you are dumb. See last week for a more thorough explanation.
The Honorable Voice of Reason
May 31st, 2011
12:39 pm
I am a better poster than all of the parties arguing, explained in the following.
Number One-I know more about advanced statistics.
Number Two-I understand that trends are more important than career accomplishments.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
12:39 pm
Check top of page. Sad for Thasher fans.
I blame
BobbyFredi for that.Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:40 pm
Hillbilly – Actually, it’s a good CD. One of McCartney’s best efforts since Jimmy McCullough died and took Wings with him.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
12:41 pm
I knew we couldn’t have a serious, intelligent discussion about Uggla without someone trashing me. Shows who is probably right and who is probably wrong.
DAP
May 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
SOX fan let me say, that this Veteran’s Day, let us take the time to fully appreciate what America really means to..all of us..
ok, we’ll keep that in mind in november, when veterans day rolls around…
DAP
May 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
monty, almost all pitches that get hammered are mistakes.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:44 pm
Shaun – You and that freaking age related decline at age 30.
I guarantee I will laugh my fat, freaking behind off the day you have your first arthritic twinge and are reduced to laying on the floor writhing and howling like an injured dog, pleading for ibuprophen to a largely unsympathetic world.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
12:45 pm
there would probably be underlying signs that he is indeed performing as poorly as his results indicate.
I’m late for lunch… anyone else want to point out how idiotic this statement is or should I save it for my return?
benchwarmer
May 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Prado plays like a kid, he LOVES it! Uggla? Anybody have a real clue. He’s heading for 0 for season at this rate.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Murph, get a burger from each…. sample size… remember?
DAP
May 31st, 2011
12:49 pm
keylargo 18 hits is all that separates him [uggla] from the people that want to release him and call him worthless.
i know the point you are trying to make, but 18 hits is actually alot. no way around it…he has been awful.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:51 pm
DAP – Yeah, he has been awful – Thing is, he knows it and it’s weighing on him to the point where he’s almost jumping out of his skin in an attempt to hit every pitch..
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
However, what I find interesting is that when McLouth struggled, many here were more than willing to believe he’d come back after having had ONE good year, yet so many are certain, that despite FIVE good years, Uggla is toast.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
12:54 pm
keylargo, did you happen to watch the game the other night when AGon made a great stabbing play at short and turned to throw it to 2nd to get the out except there was no one covering? Uggla never moved from his position to cover the base. It doesn’t go down in the books as an error but it was most certainly an error.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
12:54 pm
Did someone just say that we should arbitrarily say “IF a guy had an additional 18 hits over 208 AB’s his BA would be significantly higher?”
So can we assume that someone who had 150 hits in 500AB’s can just maybe be assumed to have 18 more hits which would bump his average from .300 to .336??
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 31st, 2011
12:55 pm
I kinda like Five Guys, although they’re a little pricey. You get what you pay for.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
12:57 pm
Lou/Earl – We get it. You detest Uggla – just like Robert hates Bobby Cox, Shaun can’t stand anyone disagreeing with him and .don hates everything . You can stop now.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
OH, great. Time-warp PLUS getting “Your comment is awaiting moderation” appended to my moniker, LOL. Get some Twinkies and Mountain Dew to the IT folks, stat!
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
1:01 pm
AT did you see Uggla standing on second to take the throw from the pitcher only to have Agon cut across and completely screw up a double play?
All players make errors both physical and mental. Your parents are examples of this.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
1:02 pm
18 Hits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so unbelievable. Over 500 AB’s!! Not 208!!! that is a difference of an added 36 points.from.244 to.280 from .320 to 356. from .190 to .226.
That’s a lotta difference.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:03 pm
Favorite players, in order of most favorite: A-Gon, Uggla, McLouth, Lowe, Schafer……….
I love to pull for the underdogs.
And anybody that doesn’t attribute pressure as having a huge affect on Uggla’s hitting is living in some other time warp/dimension.
Hello Braves fans! (been kinda busy working in the basement and not much time for blogging, but listening to the games none the less)
I am thinking that one day this offense is going to bust out and go bonkers for about 3 weeks…………
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
1:03 pm
Keylargo, wake up and get a clue… oops sorry. Forgot about the size bus you ride.
DAP
May 31st, 2011
1:03 pm
lew yet so many are certain, that despite FIVE good years, Uggla is toast.
success breeds success, right? he needs a 4-4, and he’ll be ok, i imagine. i thought he had that game on may 15th, when he scored all three runs to beat halliday, but then he was right back into his slump. no one can fix this but him, though. he has to find away to put everything that has happened so far this season behind him. i have seen him take some good swings on pitches, and make an out anyways, and thats ticking him off. i feel really bad for him…gonzalez and the team need to find a way to take pressure off of him, by winning games and scoring runs, and i think he will snap out of it.
it seems weird, but i think that if the team starts to roll, uggla will come around. can the team roll without uggla coming around? eh…not sure.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:10 pm
it seems weird, but i think that if the team starts to roll, uggla will come around. can the team roll without uggla coming around? eh…not sure.
I don’t think that’s weird, at all. Not in the slightest. And there’s plenty enough offensive depth in this lineup to carry Uggla, if some of the other guys get loose. One of the points of getting the guy, bringing up Freeman, and like that, was to provide some offensive margin. Right now, it’s just one those things where the team has used up all the offensive cushion…not enough guys going well enough to carry too many guys going bad.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:12 pm
Lew, most players start to decline at around 30. And “decline” doesn’t mean a player is in a wheelchair and a nursing home. “Decline” means a player’s performance is a little worse than at its peak. Players gradually decline generally starting around 30 and it’s rather gradual. Players don’t become like old men at 30. If you are more a visual person, imagine a downhill slope. That’s how players’ career paths usually go once they are around 30. Not a sharp drop-off, like a cliff. Trying to put this simply since you obviously don’t understand what decline means.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
1:12 pm
yet so many are certain, that despite FIVE good years, Uggla is toast.
And when you’re going bad line drives find infielders, outfielders make those diving catches, the warning track is where most of your fly balls go to die.
Schafer is up and people are thinking he is the new CFer. He’s going good and you can tell it by the two fly balls he hit yesterday that would have been outs in Little League but fell just over the second basemans head. Uggla is simply not getting those type of hits now. He will though because his 5 year numbers say he will.
We’ve got a .500+ record now and it’s going to get better when Heyward is well and Uggla is doing what he’s done for 5 years.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
1:12 pm
I am sure many have it marked down as an event that happens every year/season. Here it is for 2011.
Frenchy hitting in
Last 7 days: .174/.200/.174
Last 14 days: .213/.269/.277
Last 28 days: .220/.287/.330
Precipitous fall. Where’s Polly Dense now to claim he will make more money than Mac?
And Kelly Johnson is on one of his white hot streaks.
Last 7 days: .417/.440/.958
Last 14 days: .347/.385/.796
Last 28 days: .278/.314/.557
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
1:13 pm
Lew–You the new moderator?You’re not a flat out idiot like the Stalker.In fact you are an intelligent guy. Can we please stop with the “hate Uggla” BS?? Someone just said he would be fine IF he had 18 more hits. Now being a man of good sense you could have responded to that idiocy but instead you get into my “hatred of Uggla”, we also have a guy who should know better calling for examples of anyone with an Uggla type deal being sent to the minors, now as a guy with a sound sense of logic you could have said “There probably has never been a guy with a deal like Uggla who has ever got off to such a horrific start and IF there was such a guy he would have been sat for just awhile.” Lew,isnt that true?? Do I hate Uggla for calling that out. I have not mentioned the travails of Dan Uggla for over a week but surely abject stupidity on this blog should give me the right to offer a rejoiner. You don’t sound like you’re under 30 so I’m sure you are not one of these FANaticS with a Chipper Jones poster over your bed therefore I can’t believe you keep up with this “hate uggla”nonsense. He and hanley ramirez have both moved into unchartered territories for formerly quality players. Every single writer in South Florida has realized this is something really BAD. they don’t mention how “he will come out of it”, “he will hit what his baseball card says he will”–None of that lunacy. These may both be HORRIBLE years for 2 guys that nobody would have expected it of? Maybe SOMEONE at the AJC might mention that.Maybe someone at the AJC could get an off the record comment from an advance scout about what he and others see in ramirez and Uggla. Maybe if you read it from someone you believe you would put credence in it.
Do I hate Hanley Ramirez too??
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:13 pm
Yes – I OBVIOUSLY don’t know what decline means. You arrogant jerk.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:16 pm
And Kelly Johnson is on one of his white hot streaks.
Well, there you go, then. Uggla for Johnson, straight up. LOL
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:17 pm
How about Mike Napoli as a right-handed bench bat that can spell Freeman and allow Ross to pinch-hit more? That’s worth exploring.
There are issues. Napoli’s under contract through next season. In theory, Freeman will be better and will deserve to play more. Napoli obviously isn’t playing over McCann and the Braves already have the best backup catcher in baseball. So would it be worth giving up what it would take to acquire Napoli when he would essentially be more or less a platoon type player this season and get even less playing time next season?
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:18 pm
Snotboogie
Clearly your numbers must be wrong. Frenchy has “found” it, and obviously KJ is NOT a good hitter!
Go and get your facts straight!!!
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:19 pm
I predict Uggla will start on an incredible hot streak today. (if he doesn’t, I reserve the right to predict the same thing tomorrow….)
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:19 pm
Lou – Can we stop with it? It’s not me that needs to stop with it, it;’s you. You really should hear yourself. You’re as obsessive as Robert and don.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:22 pm
SB, ooh, ooh…since we’re going retro-Braves, what’s Escobar doing?
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
Lou – First I’ll be sixty in two weeks. Second, I didn’t respond to the “18 hits thing” because I understood exactly what he was saying. Third- Am I the moderator? Well, I’ve been around damned near since the beginning of this blog and have paid my dues, so yeah, sometimes I think I am – or have as much right as anyone other than DOB or Carroll to moderate upon occasion..
As for hearing it from someone I believe and put credence in their opinion? Since damned near everyone has commented on his wretchedness and I DO watch every game, I would like to think I’m as aware of his futility (to this point) as anyone here. As for taking your word for it – it would be easier if you didn’t ram it all into the ground at every available opportunity.
Now as to
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:24 pm
Yunel is looking GOOD with his frosted tips!!!
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
Lew, you are acting as if I’m saying Uggla belongs in a nursing home or something. Age-related decline doesn’t mean a guy is like a 85-year-old man and can’t play major league baseball anymore. Age-related decline means Uggla’s best days are behind him. He can still play in the majors and be productive. He’s just not likely to have a career year while with the Braves. And his age along with bad luck are the main reasons his stats look so bad so far. The bad luck will probably end and he will be a very good player at some point soon. But, at his age, he’s probably not the player he was at his peak. That’s about as clear as I can make it.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
Wayne, I was thinking more with the stick than coiffure.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
Shaun – Maybe that’s because you give them impression that 30 is the new 85.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:26 pm
Lew, I think we are probably on the same page as far as Uggla still likely being a very productive player. My point is that his age and bad luck mostly explain his numbers so far. Take the bad luck out of the equation, because of his age, he’s not quite the same guy he was in Florida, but he’s not all that far off. Maybe your Uggla fandom is clouding your interpretation of the point I was making.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
1:27 pm
Everybody on this board is giving an opinion of the Braves second baseman. Most think he will be fine. Do you think your fixation on my commenting about Uggla just might be a reaction to my having called this somewtime around March 30. Go back and look. I have not mentioned the man’s name while he has been eviserated on this Blog. The ONLY reason I mentioned him today was because someone thought it was okay to go ahead and say he would be fine if he had 18 more hits in 208 AB’s.
And you’re complaining about me. Do you have a favorite charity? I do.How about we both pick a batting average for dan Uggla and the person coming closest to that batting averag has the loser donate $500.00 to the winner’s favorite charity.The check could be made out to the charity and mailed to Carroll at the AJC and she could verify she has received it and mail it in. A copy of the cancelled check would also be sent to Carroll to make sure there was not a Stop Payment put on it.
Let’s trade the names of charities and make sure we both approve.At least an organizaation will benefit and both of us will show we believe in what we are saying.It will be like Governors betting on the Super Bowlwhere the loser sends some goodies to the winner. You in??
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
1:27 pm
scoots
Esco is having a pretty decent offensive season overall: .293/.368/.429 and has a May OPS of .848. – increase of ~100 points from his April OPS. 5 HR, 19 RBI and grounding into only 7 DPs all season. Nothing particularly streaky stands out.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:27 pm
Transplant – Doesn’t bother me a bit. I’m used to it.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:28 pm
Shaun – Maybe that’s because you give them impression that 30 is the new 85.
Lew, where? Where have I ever given that impression? I would love to see one example.
I can’t help it that you don’t understand what I mean by “age-related decline.”
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
1:29 pm
Age-related decline means Uggla’s best days are behind him.
Really? And here we were, thinking that he had gone so senile that he couldnt remember where first base was.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:29 pm
Yes Shaun – The answer is anything except you’re full of crap about age related decline, right?
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
1:29 pm
Lew, your a popular person this morning.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
1:29 pm
You know what folks, after all is said and done, the Braves are not in all that bad of a position. After all, it only takes one month of hot at bats to turn a season around. Look at what happened with Glaus last year.
On pressure being a reason for long fly balls…. I think it has a little more to do with hitting a round ball with a round bat.
EW Golf is a wonderful game as long as you don’t keep score…. A wise fellow once told me that shooting a round of golf and breaking a hundred is a really good score for someone who only plays once a week. It is not a game for folks who cannot handle failure. For sure, it is much harder than it looks….
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:33 pm
SB, thanks for not making me look it up my own self.
You’re a good man.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
1:33 pm
That 30 is the new 85…
That was a good one, give me a good chuckle but isn’t that the truth.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
1:34 pm
You’re welcome scoots. I had B-R already open.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:34 pm
Age is a huge factor (or the magical “30th” birthday) for some folks. Andruw Jones being the first that comes to mind. Dale Murphy had a big drop off in his early 30’s too. Some might include Chipper in the 30 drop off list.
Others thrive for years into their 30s. Of course in the steroid era, it’s hard to know why for some players. Barry Bonds had a good time in his late 30’s, but we think we might understand that one.
I think it is way too early to identify Uggla’s cold streak as somewhat age related. It could be, but it is entirely possible that it is not age related at all.
Most of us tend to attribute it to the pressure of the new team and the big contract. Anybody that’s ever been put in a similar situation can identify.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:35 pm
For anyone who cares about the evidence regarding how players generally age:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9933
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/how-do-baseball-players-age-part-1/
There are some nice graphs that make it rather easy to grasp that generally players decline rather gradually, starting somewhere around age 30 or slightly before.
Note that there are no graphs that indicate that generally players drop off a cliff at age 30…it’s a little more gradual than that, for those who want to equate declining with free-falling to support their biases and own points of view.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
1:35 pm
Let’s try to have a disparity in the numbers.Don’t want either one of us to say something like .197 and the other guy says .198.There should be a significant difference in numbers based upon our comments.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
1:38 pm
Isn’t it odd how a great golfer like Tiger Woods goes ballistic when someone snaps a camera shutter as he approaches a tee shot while folks expect a baseball player to be able to hit a ball with a round bat while said ball is moving and 50,000 fans are screaming at the top of their voice…
I really, really wish the Nationals would put up more of a fight against the Phillies….
Danga
May 31st, 2011
1:38 pm
Age-related decline means Uggla’s best days are behind him.
This is probably true. The season he had last season was damned good, and it will probably be the best one he’ll ever have. I don’t think anyone believed that the end of the his best days would be so dramatic though.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:42 pm
Danga, well, my whole point (before it was misconstrued) was that the decline isn’t as dramatic as it seems. Bad luck is another significant factor. Obviously Uggla can’t get younger but eventually his luck will probably turn.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:44 pm
Anybody that thinks that bad luck and age are the only factors that could be affecting Uggla’s hitting problems have obviously never experienced a pressure situation.
Now, what are the stats behind bad luck???? Can a player be snake bitten ALL year? Or for two entire months??? I sure don’t think so.
Now, with my “bad” luck at reading the future, Uggla will probably never hit another dinger, and will retire on August 1st because he can’t shake the bad luck!
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:45 pm
think it is way too early to identify Uggla’s cold streak as somewhat age related.
Of course. Unless one subscribes to the theory that last year, at age 30 and beyond his “prime”, he still had enough left in the tank to have his career year, but, six months later, entered his “decline phase”. And that would have been a fairly sharp decline, seeing as he wnet .300/.850 in the last stinking month of the season.
In other words, balderdash.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:45 pm
Anybody that thinks that bad luck and age are the only factors that could be affecting Uggla’s hitting problems have obviously never experienced a pressure situation.
Wayne, please do not mention the p-word in mixed company. No good can come of it.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:46 pm
Uggla has struggled because his mechanics are all screwed up and he’s trying to put every pitch into the stands and ends up lunging at outside sliders in the dirt and trying to jack pitches at eye level. He has exhibited no patience and little pitch recognition. The longer the slump goes, the more his head enters the equation. As someone mentioned, what he needs is a 4-4 game to set him straight and renew his confidence in his swing.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with age related decline. The Dude is in excellent physical shape and players skills don’t just drop off the table like that just because the calendar turns over a year.
And don’t point to Andruw Jones as an example.And Andruw was injured. His elbow was messed up and his knees shot to hell from wear, tear, diving for balls and bouncing off of walls for ten straight Gold Glove seasons – most without much time off. Pretty much the same for Murphy.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
1:49 pm
We are on Page 12 of this Blog.I’ll assume if an answer to “Charity Contest” has not been posted by the end of Page 12 that we are just not going to do that.I’ll read Page 12 tonight.In the meantime I’ll again try real hard to be the only person not allowed to comment on Number 26,however, if I do read something along the lines of “He would be hitting a lot better if the balls dropped in”, I will still try to restain from commenting but it might be difficult.
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
1:49 pm
new blog is up!
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
1:49 pm
Boy, I’m glad my San Francisco 49ers didn’t get rid of Joe Montana & Jerry Rice when they turned 30!
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
1:50 pm
Three of Chippers best OPS years were after age 30
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
1:51 pm
Didn’t Chipper win a batting title after age 30?
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:53 pm
Lew
In an indirect way, that IS age related. Those sort of injuries tend to appear or get worse with age. Not like a 22 year old blowing out his ACL. Those guys generally come back. The old aged injuries tend to never completely go away for some players.
Andruw’s biggest issue I think was his weight. He got progressively heavy, which makes for a tough time with the knees. And it got worse as he got older/fatter!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
1:53 pm
Bad luck is another significant factor.
So is Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
Bad luck is an excuse. It’s make believe. There is no such thing. It’s about as real as your imaginary girlfriend.
What happens, happens. There is no mystical force that applies to some players but not to others. If a player hits a ball that is caught at the wall it has nothing to do with luck, it has to do with physics. If a ball hits a rock and bounces over a glove it has nothing to do with luck, it has to do with physics.
For example, if I dragged you up to the top of a building and held you over the edge while AT drove a truck full of mattresses and feather pillows below, me pushing you and you going splat on the pavement below isn’t bad luck, it’s just physics.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
1:57 pm
I guess it was all luck that I made it to the Major Leagues! Darn!
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:57 pm
DS1- Well, if Andruw’s problems were because of not staying in shape, what is the reason for Uggla’s? His fitness certainly isn’t an issue. Plus, Andruw had played around twelve seasons by the time he turned 30 – Uggla, five.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
Unless one subscribes to the theory that last year, at age 30 and beyond his “prime”, he still had enough left in the tank to have his career year, but, six months later, entered his “decline phase”. And that would have been a fairly sharp decline, seeing as he wnet .300/.850 in the last stinking month of the season.
ncscoots, that’s oversimplifying things. Decline due to age is a significant factor but it’s not the only factor. Bad luck is likely another huge factor in why his stats are far off his norms.
Last year, at age 30, his skills probably weren’t the same as they were a year or two earlier but he was luckier. There is actually a strong indication that he was quite lucky last year, and he wasn’t far from his peak, which resulted in a career year.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
2:00 pm
Murph, if you think bad luck isn’t real, call it something else. Crushing a ball right at the secondbaseman or a grounder that finds a glove instead of a hole in the defense is something.
Bobby Hill
May 31st, 2011
2:02 pm
Uggla doesn’t profile as a guy who is likely to age gracefully. Based on his body-type and limited athleticism compared to most middle infielders you can probably expect him to age quicker than most second basemen. At age 30, his best years are obviously behind him, but its hard to say his current slump is age related, and its not like the guy came to camp overweight or out of shape.
Wren trading for Uggla was masterful. But signing him to a huge extension before he had ever played a game for the Braves was a mistake. What was the hurry? Why couldn’t it have waited at least a few months? Sometimes teams/ players / coaches / cities just don’t mesh.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
2:03 pm
Murph, Luckily I ran out of gas on my way to the building.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
2:07 pm
Bobby Hill..”Sometimes teams/ players / coaches / cities just don’t mesh” This is an excellent post!
DS1
May 31st, 2011
2:15 pm
Lew,
I think we are on the same page. I think Uggla’s issues are pressure and a new contract. I think Andruw dropped of the table due to his getting old fast. (or better stated, the effects of age)
Now if Uggla never comes back, then it was mostly age. Just way too early to determine.
Folks, I like most of you a lot. But this is some seriously boring shyt! I think I’m going to head out and get some shrimp taco’s!
Later, maybe………
Bo Graves!
BravePack
May 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
It’s amazing to me how some people continue to be negative and rip on a guy who everyone knows is struggling but not from a lack of trying. I’m sure Uggla is his own worst enemy right now and why would we as fans rip on the guy who needs all the support he can get right now. Everything I’ve seen from Uggla tells me he leaves it all out on the field every play, every game so why in the world would we as fans ever rip on a player like that. Guys like Escobar, who take plays off, most definitely. Do those of you on here ripping Uggla really think that hey maybe if I write something negative and say the sucks he’ll actually might start playing better? Braves need Uggla to get it going sooner rather than later and I bet that is going to come really soon and when it does the Braves offense will as well.
Walter3
May 31st, 2011
3:02 pm
Lew
Lew
boo
hoo
monty
May 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
DAP
May 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
monty, almost all pitches that get hammered are mistakes.
Not exactly, I will agree that most are. But how many times have you heard someone described as a mistake hitter? I have alot. Meaning that if you make a good pitch you get the guy out. Don’t leave one hanging over the middle. Chipper used to hit good pitches for hard singles and doubles in the gap. But kinda of my whole point was he’s not a guy who can hurt you anymore if you make a decent pitch to him. For example Votto can hit your really good pitches pretty often, and do so with authority. Chipper still demands respect, but he isn’t anywhere near the threat he used to be. Unless you make a mistake.
richbrave
May 31st, 2011
7:42 pm
Bobby Jindle