Braves aim for flourish finish to strong month of May
(Staff writer Carroll Rogers is filling in for David O’Brien today.)
So here we are, May 31st – welcome back to the daily grind for those of you coming off a nice, long Memorial Day weekend break.
The Braves started the month of May so well, 12-4 including two series wins over the Phillies. Then came that 1-4 west coast swing that seemed to put a damper on things.
The Braves have won two series in a row over the Pirates and Reds, yet losing yesterday to the Padres 3-2 in 10 innings had to be deflating. The offensive futility is starting to wear on this team some. It’s like the Braves need one of those days where hits come easy, just to take some of the pressure off.
Even when the Braves win, they’re not scoring runs. They’re getting incredible pitching efforts, like from Jair Jurrjens on Sunday night. (More on Jurrjens in a second.) The Braves’ 2.83 ERA in May leads the major leagues. And let’s not forget yesterday when reliever Jonny Venters got another one of his bases loaded, less than two-out, double play balls to keep the Braves in the game.
Jurrjens could kiss all the competition goodbye for NL pitcher of month
But the last time the Braves scored more than two runs in a nine-inning game was on May 16 against the Astros. And that was a whopping three runs. The last time the Braves scored more than three runs in a nine-inning game was on May 14 against the Phillies in a 5-3 win that Saturday afternoon game against Joe Blanton.
The next day was Dan Uggla day, when he hit the game-winning home run in a 3-2 win off Roy Halladay and scored all three Braves’ run that day. Since then, Uggla is 4-for-47 (.085) with no one RBI in 13 games. He has no extra-base hits in that span and nine strikeouts.
Despite it all, the Braves are still 17-10 in May, second in the National League only to (oddly) the Arizona Diamondbacks and in the majors to the Boston Red Sox, who are finally playing like everybody thought they would.
May records
Red Sox 19-9 .679
D-backs 19-9 .679
Braves 17-10 .630
Giants 16-11 .593
Brewers 16-12 .571
Phillies 16-12 .571
Cardinals 16-12 .571
The Braves have to win tonight and tomorrow night against the Padres to take the series, but it’s something they’ve done before. After dropping the series opener in San Diego on April 25 5-3 in 13 innings, they won the next two by a total of 15-2. One of the pitchers they beat in those last two games was Mat Latos who is pitching tonight against Mike Minor.
On paper, you figure advantage Latos, the big ol’ 23-year-old with the nasty stuff, but he’s only 2-6 with a 4.08 ERA this year. He is coming off eight innings of one-run ball against the Cardinals and a 3-1 win, but he’s allowed four runs in two of three starts prior, and if he keeps with the “every other” theme, he’s due for another four tonight.
Minor pitched well in his return to the rotation Wednesday in Pittsburgh, looking much more poised and in control while holding the Pirates to one run in 5 2/3 innings. Still would be nice to see the Braves get a little cushion for him. That’d be nice for any of the starters right now.
Pitcher of the month?
Jurrjens makes a nice case for NL pitcher of the month while going 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA in May. The Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo is 5-1 as well but his ERA is 2.25, not shabby, but not Jurrjens.
Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz has 11 saves with 13 scoreless innings this month. But do you go there when you have somebody allowing only eight runs in 43 2/3 innings?
Jurrjens is on the kind of roll that should land him on his first All-Star team. Another month close to this, and maybe he even starts for the National League. Hey, you never know.
Overall on the season, Jurrjens is 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA, which leads all qualified major league starters. There’s a seven-way tie for the major-league lead in wins, of well, seven, and what’s not to like about the symmetry there?
Jurrjens is having a historical start to his season, all while missing the first couple of starts with an oblique injury. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jurrjens is only the fourth pitcher in major league history to begin a season with nine consecutive starts of six or more innings, while allowing two or fewer runs in each game. The only others to do it are Lefty Gomez in 1937, Randy Johnson in 2000 and Ubaldo Jimenez in 2010.
Short hops
Chipper Jones told me yesterday about a conversation he had with Jordan Schafer in spring training, laying out to him that he needed to play like a leadoff hitter if he wanted to get back up here, using his speed and putting the ball in play, etc. One quote I didn’t use and thought I should have is below, about how sometimes frankness can go a long way. And it’s something Schafer wanted. He’s the one who asked Chipper what it would take to get to the big leagues again.
“I think I just told him something that nobody else would,” Jones said. “I think sometimes you take it for granted that a guy knows he’s going to be a leadoff hitter in the big leagues, or a 1 or 2 hitter, and they just automatically know what to do.”…
The Braves played their 12th extra inning game of the season Monday in their first 55 games. They had played four to this point last season and 13 all last season, if that helps put it in perspective a little…
Our congratulations to Blue Jays left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes, who pitched his first career complete game yesterday in an 11-1 win over the Indians, to win for the first time in almost three years. He broke a streak of 28 winless starts since he beat the Dodgers on June 13, 2008 as a pitcher for the Braves….
Check out reflection in Heyward's glasses. Photo by Pouya Dianat, Braves
Yesterday was a pretty special setting for Memorial Day, when the Braves held a moving on-field ceremony before the game where active members of the military lined the infield with players from both the Braves and Padres. There was a ceremonial first pitch by Maj. Gen. Robert Brown, commander of Ft. Benning, a video presentation and a 21-gun salute.
The Braves hosted 1,353 members of the military and their families over the weekend as part of a promotion to give free tickets to military personnel and half-off to their family members….
We close by acknowledging it’s a sad day for hockey fans in Atlanta and that we just got one professional sports franchise lighter here in the big city. I’ll save the politics and comments about ownership etc and just say thanks for the memories to some of the great players we saw over the years here – Kovy, Hossa, and a personal favorite because he was such a nice guy and gutsy goaltender, Moose (Johan Hedberg). Those guys and others were awfully patient with a sportswriter trying to figure out something about their game on the fly a couple years back as a fill-in over there.
More from Turner Field in a little while.
1,397 comments Add your comment
We_Run_This_Country
May 31st, 2011
1:52 pm
Dan Uggla should be hitting 7th or 8th today….let’s see what Fredi does.
John Galt
May 31st, 2011
1:59 pm
First, let me say that Schafer is the only POTENTIAL leadoff hitter on the roster. If Chipper had to tell him what I already knew- hit the other way. put ground balls to the left side, etc., etc.,- who in the heck is coaching these people?
Kurdt Kobain
May 31st, 2011
2:03 pm
Jurrjens has been straight up dominant. I can’t remember being so confident the Braves were going to win on days when a certain pitcher pitched.
stevie zero
May 31st, 2011
2:06 pm
love to see some smallball today. hey uggla, look for a breaking ball ang go to right field for the love of pete
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
2:07 pm
Thanks for the work CR.
GO BRAVES!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
2:12 pm
Taken from the other blog:
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.
Ok, I’ll call it “what actually happened” instead of “luck”.
The pitcher throws the ball and sets into action a series of physics-based events… the spin of the ball, the velocity it’s thrown with, the point of contact with the bat, the speed of the bat, the angle of the swing, the elevation, the humidity, the wind speed… they all affect where the ball is going to go.
There isn’t some magical hand reaching down from the heavens guiding a bat or keeping a 2nd baseman from starting his dive for a ball up the middle until it’s too late. There’s a guy with a bat swinging at a ball.
Belief in luck or that some outside mythical force dictates where a hit ball goes is just dumb. Especially for someone who spouts stats all day like they are gospel… to then profess your belief in luck in the same breath just makes your arguments all the more hypocritical and baseless.
Next.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
2:13 pm
Lew, I have to agree with you on Uggla’s mechanics. He is such a strong guy, you would think he would realize he has enough power to hit the ball a long way with those massive forearms of his. He has become almost Scott Thorman like in the “big whooshing” sound his bat makes with that long swing of his.
Carroll, thanks again for all your good work. Yes, it is a sad day when you lose a franchise but it is the way of the world. Follow the money. Got to remember, the Braves were once in Boston, Milwaukee.
I still miss hockey but then, I miss watching the Braves minor league players as they develop too.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
2:13 pm
Thanks for the new Blog, Ms. Rogers.
Since then, Uggla is 4-for-47 (.085) with no one RBI in 13 games. He has no extra-base hits in that span and nine strikeouts.
Only 9 K’s in 13 games…? Wow…not nearly as many as I would have thought.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
2:13 pm
Murph – But when all of those physical forces come into play in just the right way, you’re a lucky person.
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
2:14 pm
Murph
Bravo!
Nick N Richmond
May 31st, 2011
2:14 pm
I agree that Uggla needs to be lower in the lineup. I think hitting him 8th for a few days may help. It worked for Nate, so who knows.
Brave4life-1995 all over again?
May 31st, 2011
2:15 pm
Remember fellas
Vote Dan Uggla for all-star………..
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
2:15 pm
Belief in luck or that some outside mythical force dictates where a hit ball goes is just dumb
Sheeeesh! The baseball gods are going to be angry with you Murph.
Brave4life-1995 all over again?
May 31st, 2011
2:16 pm
Hit Uggla 4th
Surprising he has like a .300+ avg. hitting there.
Bobby Coccyx
May 31st, 2011
2:17 pm
Maybe Uggla can hit tenth.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
2:17 pm
The Braves offense needs a prescription for some 36 hour Cialis injected into it….because it is pretty impotent.
the truth...
May 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
Mr. Galt…..
…to answer your question, perhaps NO ONE is coaching these guys….OR… perhaps those coaching (can you spell hitting coach?) don’t have any more of a clue than the players who are struggling…
…or another possibililty is that the staff is just incompetant…..
…or that the players are the problem…….
hmmmmmmmmmm…..wonder if that might just be the case here?????
Lee in S GA
May 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
Before the season began some thought, including myself, Jair Jurrjens may be trade bait during this season. Now I would say he is untouchable for this season anyway. If the Braves do decide to move him next season (which I hope they don’t) because of his agent or whatever other reason his trade value should be sky high.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:19 pm
If Chipper had to tell him what I already knew- hit the other way. put ground balls to the left side, etc., etc.,- who in the heck is coaching these people?
Probably folks who know that there is more to life than being Juan Pierre.
Bill Malone
May 31st, 2011
2:19 pm
Something to ponder while waiting for tonight’s first pitch…
In yesterday’s game, when Huddy made the throwing error to second base that ultimately led to a run scoring, should that still be called an unearned run?
It’s not the same as when a position player makes an error and it leads to a run scoring. The pitcher had nothing to do with the play so it should properly be called an unearned run.
But in this case, it was Tim’s fault – and he’s the pitcher – shouldn’t he be charged with the run?
I’m just sayin’…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
2:19 pm
Braves4life Hit Uggla 4th Surprising he has like a .300+ avg. hitting there.
Our last couple of managers haven’t really been into the whole hit-him-in-the-spot-in-which-he’s-done-much-better thing the last few years when in comes to the cleanup spot…
But I’m not complaining about what BMac’s done lately…
Couch Tater
May 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
Nice camera reflection in Heyward’s glasses. I didn’t know Roseanne Barr was at Turner Field, yesterday.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
Headline after yesterday’s game: “Once again, Atlanta’s inability to muster offense proves the difference in loss to San Diego.”
Headline for today’s blog: “Braves aim for flourish finish to strong month of May”.
Sounds like a Chip Carey soundbite: “McCann’s throw was on time, but late”.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
Well, got to admit that limp bat syndrome hasn’t been mentioned before. Hell – at this point………….maybe anything’s worth a try.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
Murph, just in case you didn’t catch my comment on the last blog…
Luckily my truck ran out of gas before I could arrive at the building.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
2:21 pm
Unfortunately, if they get into a hot streak offensively for more than four hours……
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
2:22 pm
It’s only a matter of time before our bullpen starts to really break down health wise. Every game (even the ones we lose) are low-scoring, nail biters. If our impotent, limp noodle offense doesn’t find a way to get aroused…..dont be surprised to see Venters or Kimbrel wake up one morning with tendinitis in their shoulder or elbow.
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
2:22 pm
McFann
You’d be surprised how often YOUR name comes up at our house during the Braves games when BMac doubles or homers. Hubby is starting to feel like he “knows” you a little.
Bill Malone
May 31st, 2011
2:23 pm
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:19 pm
If Chipper had to tell him what I already knew- hit the other way. put ground balls to the left side, etc., etc.,- who in the heck is coaching these people?
Amen to that… even our high school kids know that stuff – it’s Baseball 101, for Pete’s sake!!
Lew
May 31st, 2011
2:24 pm
Just Pat – Yeah, McFann is even mentioned in my will.
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
2:26 pm
Lew
Welllllll……haven’t gone quite THAT far!
O.J.
May 31st, 2011
2:26 pm
McFann, with the way Mac has been hitting, its all the more reason to hit Uggla in front of him, so he gets better pitches to hit.
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
2:28 pm
No, no, no….like Lew’s “limp bat syndrome” MUCH better than limp noodle.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:29 pm
Bill, that wasn’t my comment, my friend. It was made earlier, and I was responding to it. In fact, disagreeing with the earlier assertion, in a way.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:29 pm
Dan needs to shave the faux hawk and have the rest of the guys that have followed him like sheep to shave theirs as well. That will break the jinx.
As good a move as any. Carroll, please pass that along to the clubhouse. Remind them that live chickens may be next, if this doesn’t work.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
2:30 pm
Bill Malone………havent you been on here long enough to know that according to many on here….a Braves manager’s job isnt to teach the fundamentals of the game to Major League players. It’s to make sure that there is good chemistry in the clubhouse.
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
2:30 pm
Bill Malone
I think CR kinda, sorta covered that in the blog with Chipper’s comment about everyone “assumes” a lead-off or #2 hitter “knows” what they should do (plus somewhere along the line referencing JS’s tendency to get a little home run crazy every once in a while after his first major league at bat). They probably should, and probably DO know, but get sidetracked by their call up, maybe.
Joe
May 31st, 2011
2:31 pm
Dan needs to shave the faux hawk and have the rest of the guys that have followed him like sheep to shave theirs as well. That will break the jinx.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
2:33 pm
Joe…..perhaps what these guys collectively need to do is arrange a “slump buster” to entertain them for the night. I’m sure that there are some heffers on this blog who would gladly volunteer for the “honor”.
StingerSplash
May 31st, 2011
2:33 pm
Struggla needs to be hitting for the Thompson’s Sporting Goods team right now, not in the 7 or 8 hole for the Braves.
Time to move Prado back to second and put either Hinske, Mather or Heyward (whenever he’s ready) in the corners. If Struggla showed any signs of snapping out of it, maybe you let him swing his way back into a groove. But there are no such indications. Fraudi has to make a difficult choice and soon. Because the longer this team goes without scoring runs, it’s not the starters who will suffer, it’s the bullpen, because they will log more and more innings in more and more extra inning games.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
2:34 pm
Murph, okay, so don’t call it “luck.” Call it something different when bounces don’t go your way. Also, no one said it was some mystical force. Luck is simply a term for things out of a player’s control. If you don’t like the word “luck,” call it something else.
But crushing a ball right at a fielder or hitting grounders at fielders instead of right out of there reach isn’t make believe. Sometimes a player does what he should and ends up making an out and vice versa. That happens. I understand it’s not some magical, mystical force (who said it was) but it does happen.
That’s a lot of what’s going on with Uggla. Just like age, that’s not the only reason his stats don’t look so good, but that’s a significant factor. Call it what you will. Just please don’t put words in my mouth about “luck” equaling a magical, mystical force because I never said anything of the sort.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:35 pm
Dentz, get a new IP, did you?
Lew
May 31st, 2011
2:35 pm
scoots – Strange how it only takes a single post to recognize that particular misanthrope.
Juan Pierre
May 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
So,mr. ncscoots,have you made millions in your career?
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
I hear you ncscoots and others, but what if the faux hawk is working for players other than Uggla? Schafer is having a good start. Chipper and Martin have a game-winner apiece in the last few days
Murph
May 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
Did Bill use the dreaded “I’m just sayin” at the end of his post? Good thing DOB has the day off or he’d hit you so hard you’d wake up as a Mets fan.
Heisenberg
May 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
Braves have 4 legit allstars: Prado, McCann, Venters, JJ. There should be a congressional inquiry if any are not on team.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
Anyone seen Ward lately?
TJ Lambert
May 31st, 2011
2:37 pm
If I was manager for a day I would:
Realize that second base has been troublesome for the Braves ever since they traded Kelsco to the Padres for a second baseman they released in less than one season. Guiles was on roids, Johnson couldn’t hit, Prado was an all-star and they moved him to left, Infante was an all star so they traded him, Conrad could not catch and now Uggla cannot hit.
It is simple, move the only complete second baseman they have Prodo back to second and give Uggla a chance to recover his mojo in left field. Maybe the move will take the pressure off. It is sad to see them pitching around everyone to get to Uggla.
I would also get thrown out of the game it worked for Bobby.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
2:37 pm
I guess Hank Aaron was lucky to hit all those home runs! I guess Maddux and Glavine were very lucky to win 300 games!
the truth...
May 31st, 2011
2:39 pm
Joe’s right !!!…..
…let’s hear it for an unemployed barber to have free reign in the clubhouse!!!!
Go barber!!
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
2:39 pm
I think you folks would be really surprised at what professional baseball players don’t know. Little things like throwing to the wrong base or forgetting how many outs there are or what good fundamental baseball is really all about.
A lot of these kids are used to being the best player on the field, a lot of them are stunned to learn there are other guys just as good or better than they are playing the game.
I have seen more than my fair share of minor league games and the two things that always struck me as being the biggest difference between minor league and major league games are 1) pitching 2) the speed of the game and 3) the quality of the umpiring. That last one seems to be leveling out as more and more major league umpires appear to get it wrong. Of course, getting to see a play in super slo motions 10 times from five different camera angles might have something to do with that.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:39 pm
So,mr. ncscoots,have you made millions in your career?
Indeed, I have. I doubt I’ve made as much as Juan Pierre, but I’ve got a better arm and probably can still out-hit him.
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
2:39 pm
Joe
Freddie Freeman was one of those who “followed” him. Want HIM to shave, too?????
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
2:40 pm
Murph, also, I think people who have an in-depth understanding of stats understand more than perhaps any group of fans how randomness and luck play a role in sports. Stats are there to give you an idea of a player’s skills. They can’t tell you how or when the skills are going to lead to good results. I realize to a large portion of the baseball and sports fan base a player can perfectly control when he succeeds and fails. To a large portions of sports fans, success always equals doing something right and failure always equals doing something wrong. There is no randomness. If a player puts a perfect swing together and hits the ball really hard, right at a fielder and makes an out, he was obviously doing something wrong…that’s the way a lot of sports fans, perhaps most, look at things.
Danga
May 31st, 2011
2:40 pm
In fact, disagreeing with the earlier assertion, in a way.
I cringed a little when I read it. At one point in his career, Jordan showed some decent power potential, and I hope he hasn’t give up on that completely. In the few times I’ve been able to see him in this most recent call up, I have been impressed with his ability to work his way on base. That walk the other day in front of Prado’s HR was damned impressive, but I would certainly like to be impressed with a few more doubles and such as well.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:42 pm
For the record, Juan Pierre has been paid (notice, I did not say, “earned”) $46MM over his ML career. I’m probably short of that, just off the top of my head and without checking all my tax returns.
onebravosfan
May 31st, 2011
2:43 pm
I agree a leadoff hitter with power would be nice but mostly I just want the leadoff hitter to get on base. We have had so many solo home runs that would be especially nice if someone was on base to increase the run total and try to avoid these two run affairs.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
2:43 pm
Okay, that was three… see how easy it is to lose track. I rest my case…
Sweet Old Buck
May 31st, 2011
2:43 pm
I applaud Schafer for asking and Chipper giving it to him straight. I wonder if anyone is volunteering tough love talk instead of waiting for someone to ask. Seems like its needed, as in Fredi to Uggla.
Juan Pierre
May 31st, 2011
2:44 pm
46 big ones,mr scoots. Don’t you forget it either. No porn involved like your “career”.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
2:45 pm
Danga – Schafer’s problem wasn’t having power hindering him as a lead off hitter, it’s swinging for the fences instead of just letting the power happen that makes the difference.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
2:45 pm
“Luck is probability taken personally. It is the excitement of bad math.”
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
2:47 pm
I was listening to the comment about how Wilpon was dissing David Wright. I think he would be a great addition for the Braves to take Chipper’s place. Too bad the logistics of it all will not work out.
It’s going to be tough for Marteen to score enough votes to make it to the All-star game as an outfielder but I wonder if Bruce Bochey would consider him as the “super utility guy”?
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:47 pm
46 big ones,mr scoots. Don’t you forget it either. No porn involved like your “career”.
Well, I never judge a man by what he does for a living, Juan.
Bob the Blogger
May 31st, 2011
2:48 pm
@John Galt
I agree with your comment. Although hearing it from Chipper may carry more weight than a coach or manager, their should have been (and maybe there was) a conversation between Schafer and his AAA manager outlining exactly what he should work on in order to make his way back to the majors.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
Yeah, what Uggla needs is Fredi walking up to his locker – in front of the entire team- and telling Dan that he sucks and better get his sh!t together.
Somehow, – just a thought here -I think Uggla’s already aware.
jim
May 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
I don’t buy into the idea of people hitting better in one place in the order than another. Many of the stats are for too small a sample space to be regarded as meaningful. The idea that McClouth hits better in the # 8 spot than elsewhere is based on a 2 week hot streak once he moved there. Since that time his average has again declined independently of where he was batting. There is a big difference between what is expected of a leadoff hitter and a number 4 hitter, but the difference in what is expected from a 4, 5, or 6 hitter is pretty much the same thing. Uggla’s relative success as a #4 hitter is probably due to the fact he hasn’t hit in that spot very often. Given his current approach, a location in the batting order is not going to mgically correct his swing.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
Heisenberg, as much as we all love Prado there is no way he is an All Star and rightfully not.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
Just Pat—
Well, I’m certainly flattered!
Honored to be mentioned in Lew’s will…though that isn’t something I think about constantly… Obviously I don’t mean that in a mean way…
O.J.—
Interesting point…and it’s weird, ’cause when we got Uggla, I wanted him behind BMac to give Brian good pitches to hit…
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
2:50 pm
scoots
Porn????? Hmmmmmm….what ELSE aren’t you telling us?
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
2:51 pm
Just Pat, I believe Juan was mistaken in his assumption, that’s all. Probably not all that familiar with the porn industry, given his arm strength and all.
Tim
May 31st, 2011
2:51 pm
You answered my question about the number of extra inning games the Braves have played this year before my asking it. Thanks! This must be some kind of record in the making…
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
2:51 pm
Schafer off to a good start? What’s the definition of a good start? Other than his .433 OBP (which I would consider good)……he has 1 extra base hit in 24 at-bats (.333 slugging pct), while being 0 for 2 in stolen base attempts.
Juan Pierre has a career .364 slugging pct. If Schafer is off to a “good start”….then what will his stats be when he starts to struggle?
Other than being able to draw a walk, he has almost as many walks (6) as hits (7)…..I dont see Schafer doing anything out of the extraordinary. That throw he made yesterday trying to double the Padres runner off 2nd was McNoodle like….as well as the throw he made to home trying to nail that same runner on the base hit.
I dont know about some of you….but my definition of “good” or “great” differs from what’s being said about Schafer so far. It’s like some of you are so desperate to believe in any kind of savior for our erect-challenged offense.
Urbs
May 31st, 2011
2:51 pm
I’ve said it 500 times now… This team needs S – P – E – E – D. The post-’roid age in baseball now requires turning walks and singles into doubles and triples by stealing bases. The Braves can no longer wait for the 3 run blast to save them anymore.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
2:52 pm
McFann – Just as long as you don’t use your Baby Sitting money to hire a hit man.
Braint
May 31st, 2011
2:53 pm
Uggla – .178, 7 Hr, 15RBI…….KJ — .224, 9 HR, 22 RBI……Maybe AZ would like to swap out 2nd baseman. (Just kidding but all I’ve heard the first 2 months is how badly KJ has been in AZ. Could you imagine how many more runs or wins we’d have if Uggla added .50 points to his BA and a couple more HR and RBI?
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
2:54 pm
Definition of a “good start” is dependent upon what is expected of you. For a lead-off guy it would be On Base Percentage. Schafer has certainly performed in that department. It is going to be tough for McLouth to win his spot back. For some reason Nate looks lost when playing left field and does not have the arm to play right.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
One Time’s got no case, BTW, Ed Whitson got better after age 32!
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
I think that Jordan being compared to Nate was the meaning of being off to a great start. (But guess I shouldn’t put words into another poster’s mouth.)
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
Dan Uggla could very well be our Ed Whitson.
zookey
May 31st, 2011
2:56 pm
Baseball prospectus/Marc Normandin August 8,2007
Dan Uggla was a surprise to basically everyone who heard he was the Marlins starting second baseman at the outset of 2006. He has managed to outperform expectations two years running, and given his ability to hit for power, may continue to do so for a few more years. No matter what happens, Uggla has already turned a poor minor league career into two productive years in the majors filled with bigger paychecks and deserved recognition. Whether that will last much beyond age 30 given his skill-set is another issue, but knowing the Marlins and their frugal ways, at least it won’t be their issue to deal with.
Speaking of seeeing into the future…
Braint
May 31st, 2011
2:57 pm
One Time — Schafer off to a good start? What’s the definition of a good start? Other than his .433 OBP (which I would consider good)……
.433 OBP good? Uh, yea, that’s really really good. His job is to get on base and score. Period.
Larvell Blanks
May 31st, 2011
2:58 pm
Bill Malone: “In yesterday’s game, when Huddy made the throwing error to second base that ultimately led to a run scoring, should that still be called an unearned run?”
I’ve often asked myself the same question. The best response is that ERA is supposed to be a measure of how well you pitch, and the fact that you make an error doesn’t affect that. Of course, ERA is a completely imperfect measurement of how well you pitch — frequently, it depends on how well the guy AFTER you pitches after you get yanked with the bases loaded. And if a fielder makes an error on the third out, you could give up 10 home runs in a row and they wouldn’t count against you (although wouldn’t you just have given them up the next inning?). For a starter, however, there’s the expectation that, over the long run, these types of things even out, and ERA is a reasonably good (though maybe not the best) indicator of your effectiveness.
Now for relievers, especially the kind who don’t pitch complete innings at a time, I think ERA is almost meaningless. You could give up inherited runners every time you come into the game, and have an ERA of 0.00.
Braint
May 31st, 2011
2:59 pm
Great stuff Zookey. Chilling actually.
Braveone
May 31st, 2011
2:59 pm
From the previous blog which had 1,125 comments, abwright led the way with 61 posts. There were 174 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 abwright 61
2 cabravesfan 57
3 VaBravesFan 52
4 jeffrey d 49
5 CaptainMudderland 29
6 Venice Jim 28
7 Tomahawk Mafia 27
8 David O’Brien 26
9 TennesseePaul 25
10 ncscoots 25
11 LTBF 24
12 Trey 24
13 ArkBravesFan 22
14 Arkansas Transplant 21
15 GT Alum 20
16 Lew 20
17 Sopheee 19
18 Murph 18
19 Shaun 18
20 McFann :Ô: :Ô: 17
21 bravesgrl4life 17
22 TruthSeeker 15
23 Hugo Z Hackenbush 14
24 LAG 14
25 richbrave 14
Hard-headed
May 31st, 2011
2:59 pm
Chipper’s comment surely means that he finally was a “player” voice telling him what no one else was. I’m going to assume the coaches know enough to have been harping on that already. It’s a little self-indicting that Schafer wasn’t listening to them. Suddenly Chipper states the obvious, and it sinks in? Sounds to me like Jordan was a little immature and hard-headed about his game.
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
Has Hinske become over exposed playing regularly. Last 10 games .216 BA 1 HR 2 walks 2 RBI
MFin04
May 31st, 2011
3:01 pm
Anyone know the time frames on Moylan, Heyward, and McLouth? When are these guys due back?
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
3:01 pm
One Time’s got no case
The kid has 24 ABs…. I like his approach he’s shown so far. Getting On Base is priority for him to stick. He needs to get more comfortable in his role before the power will come most likely. Let him get more than 24 ABs.
count_schemula
May 31st, 2011
3:03 pm
“Seems like its needed, as in Fredi to Uggla.”
Uggla does not need a tough talk, he needs to be dropped in the order.
count_schemula
May 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
I went to my first Hockey games EVER this year. Enjoyed it. Oh well.
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
The post-’roid age in baseball now requires turning walks and singles into doubles and triples by stealing bases.
While the Braves turned walks and singles into outs 15 times. Yeah stealing bases really helps score a lot of runs.
timthebrave
May 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
I’m so ANGRY about the Thrashers. I just lost my 3rd favorite team behind UGA and the Braves. I will now be boycotting anything to do with the Spirit Group
Big JAM
May 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
Ok… when do we throw Parrish under the bus as the hitting instructor??
The last few years, if the Braves even had a few game slump, everyone was ready to throw TP under the bus and drive the bus themselves.
T for Texas
May 31st, 2011
3:08 pm
NO ONE has mentioned how improved the infield defense is this year under Pendleton
Did you mean Freeman or Pendleton?
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
VaBravesFan……….the “let him get more than 24 ABs” works both ways (meaning, before anointing him as being off to a “good start”).
Do you like his approach to stealing bases( 0 for 2)..or his approach to making noodle throws botching an easy double up to second like he did yesterday…..or his McNoodle like throw trying to nail that same runner at home on the base hit? A good throw on EITHER of those plays prevents that second run from scoring….meaning that the Braves would have won the game.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
3:10 pm
Big JAM, I think the folks on here will throw Larry Parish under the bus after the Braves are the fourth-best offense in the National League over a 9-season stretch.
wjones
May 31st, 2011
3:11 pm
“Big JAM
May 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
Ok… when do we throw Parrish under the bus as the hitting instructor??
The last few years, if the Braves even had a few game slump, everyone was ready to throw TP under the bus and drive the bus themselves.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
True. Also, absolutely NO ONE has mentioned how improved the infield defense is this year under Pendleton. It is, you know.
BRAVESFAN
May 31st, 2011
3:12 pm
Good thing for the players they are not getting paid per hit. If they were they could move the team to Canada too!
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 31st, 2011
3:12 pm
Congrats to Jo-Jo. Always pull for former Braves, and man, he needed one.
Wow...
May 31st, 2011
3:12 pm
Yeah, let Schafer get more than 24 ABs before we deem him the Braves savior.
truth
May 31st, 2011
3:13 pm
Braveone,
Are you bored? Did you really count the post of each person
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
3:13 pm
Lew—
No worries! I don’t even have anyone to Baby Sit…
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 31st, 2011
3:14 pm
Infield defense? Wonder if FF instead of Troy and Gonzo instead of the HotDog has anything to do with it.
MatthewH
May 31st, 2011
3:16 pm
Congrats to the Hammer on his Honorary Degree from Princeton!
DAP
May 31st, 2011
3:16 pm
im with scoots on this schafer thing. taking walks and slapping the ball is working fine right now, and ill take it, but as soon as we get a guy who can slug a little bit, thatll be the end of schafer. i think he is easing himself back into things up here right now, which is great. i love to see him taking his walks, but id rather those big swings he takes to be doubles or homers instead of ric flairs (whooo!) just over the infielders.
honestly, i think some of his slugging will return eventually, but im not gonna get all excited because we have a guy who can bunt for a base hit, if he cant also put one in the seats.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
3:18 pm
Getting On Base is priority for him to stick.
Certainly, “sticking” is what he wants to do; if sapping his power is what he thinks will do that, that’s what he’ll do.
Over time, though, that’s another thing. You pitch differently to guys who can’t hurt you and to those who can. The former, you’re more aggressive in the zone, less fine, fewer mistakes, all of which just increase the edge the pitcher already owns. Sooner or later, the secondary skills of a no-lumber player get eroded by that extra pitcher percentage.
Schafer doesn’t have to get pull-happy, or stop bunting, or stop being selective, or stop doing any of the other things that he thinks are necessary to being what the Braves want out of him. But he can’t just toss aside pitcher fear, either.
But maybe that’s for another year.
nashvillewill
May 31st, 2011
3:20 pm
Doing the same things over and over when you get the same results is a definition of insanity or of Bobby Cox managerial style. I thought and hoped FG would be different, but so far am disappointed. Uggla has not merited any place in the order than 8th or 9th and should be relegated there without further ado until he earns a higher position. Chipper should also be moved down, since his contributions are few and far between. Move Freeman up in the order since his approach is improving daily and so are his results. I like the suggestion to move Prado to 2B, since he can excel anywhere. How about a trade for a LF? or play Ramirez or another callup there. Try something different! This lineup cannot produce as constituted.
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
3:21 pm
you are right “Lee in S GA” Jurrjens is UNTOUCHABLE!!!!!!!!!
if the braves want to trade someone in offseason,,,well trade Lowe…is good pitcher …but he’s near to 40 and expensive player …
im sure any team who want starters pitchers been happy to take Lowe (Yankees for example)
trade Derek Lowe in offseason in exchange for Brett Gardner and other player.
CB
May 31st, 2011
3:21 pm
I guess we all as fans tend to get upset easily when we think our team is better than they are playing. Pitching has been even better than advertised,dang offense gets turned around and lets get a winning streak started and a lot of wrongs can be made right. Nice 8 game winning streak would be the medicine to get the season back on track.
Kevin
May 31st, 2011
3:21 pm
Schafer is the lead off hitter we’ve been missing for a long time now. No disrepect to Prado, but Prado is more of a #2 or #3 guy in the lineup that can drive in those runs. Schafer is the only one in the lineup right now that has any speed period besides Heyward.
Instead of everyone swinging for the fence play a little small ball. Lead off single, bunt over to 2nd, and have 2 guys that have the opportunity to score the guy with a single. Even when we do get homeruns most of the time they’re solo shots too.
wjones
May 31st, 2011
3:21 pm
“SoWeGa Fanatic
May 31st, 2011
3:14 pm
Infield defense? Wonder if FF instead of Troy and Gonzo instead of the HotDog has anything to do with it.”
Sure does. So I guess if we’re playing good defense, it’s because the players are doing well, and if we are hitting poorly it’s because the coaches aren’t doing their job. I think I understand now. Hypocrisy, right?
Mudge
May 31st, 2011
3:22 pm
Seems to me the Braves can overhaul the Marlins in the next 2 weeks. The Braves (after the Pdres) have 10 road games against the Mets (not playing so well), the Marlins and the Astros (pitiful) and three at home against the Mets. The Marlins (after finishing their away series wiith Arizona), play 10 at home against the Brewers (not bad), the Braves, the Diamondbacks (hot) and then visit the Phillies. We’ll see what they are made of playing consecutive series (15 games) against the Brewers, Braves, Diamondbacks and Phillies, all teams above .500.
Danga
May 31st, 2011
3:23 pm
Prado is more of a #2 or #3 guy in the lineup that can drive in those runs
Or hit into more double plays.
FEAR
May 31st, 2011
3:24 pm
Hey yo!
Kevin
May 31st, 2011
3:24 pm
When McLouth comes back at this rate he’s going to be a late inning defensive replacement like last year. He’s going to be let go at the end of the season so if there’s anyone in need of an OF you can also trade him too and get a prospect for him. When Heyward comes back the lineup should be….
1. Schafer CF
2. Prado LF
3. Chipper 3B
4. McCann C
5. Heyward RF
6. Uggla 2B
7. Freeman 1B
8. Gonzalez SS
Also, moving Heyward down to 5 or 6 you got another guy in him that’s got the speed to steal 10-15 bases. Either way we’re in a good situation. The pitchings been great and once the hitting picks up we’ve got a serious contender.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
3:25 pm
Schafer is the lead off hitter we’ve been missing for a long time now.
I agree… but what happens when McNate and Heyward come back?
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
3:25 pm
hey people….what about to trade Lowe for Gardner and other player after this season????
Gardner: lead off hitter….good contact ,, super speed,,,very good defensive player i think the 2012 CF in opening day
kelevra
May 31st, 2011
3:27 pm
remember when frency and mccann came up and frenchy was superstar cant miss prospect and mccann was the just good young player with potential…..as iv watched heyward and freeman i sometimes wonder if freeman wont be the better player….he just seems more consistent…even when jason is healthy he is an extremely streaky hitter and right now just an average defender, while freeman is an exceptional defender and doesnt seem to go through the extreme high’s and lows that jason does…….just food for though. both still 21 so anything can change and go look at joey votto’s first few years in the big’s before becoming mvp
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
3:27 pm
Schafer is not the answer to our lead-off problems. Let’s see how he hits (I mean, how often he walks) after MLB pitching makes the adjustments that routinely occur.
With this offense, we are not going to the playoffs. Chipper Jones has 1 home run, 8 RBIs and is slugging .341 for the month of May. Dan Uggla is showing NO SIGNS of ever breaking out of his season long slump. Eric Hinske is not an every day player (great guy on the bench, good pinch hitter, spot starter, etc…..but not an every day player). Our clean-up hitter has to have scheduled days off because he catches for us.
Philly is getting healthy, it’s a matter of time before they put SIGNIFICANT distant from us in the standings. Other teams competing for the Wild Card are going to make trades (Milwaukee, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Colorado, St. Louis will all be players at the trade deadline).
Yet many of you on here either dont want to see the Braves do anything at the deadline….or……you want to see the Braves improve the team WITHOUT giving up our best prospects or adding payroll.
Well, here’s a news flash: You cant lose weight UNLESS you give up something that you value (in the case of many of you on here…..junk food and laying in your Easy Chair) and start eating healthy AND exercising. Going to the gym and slowly peddling on the bike while reading Good Housekeeping or Guns & Ammo isnt going to do much to help you lose weight. AND expecting to get “Cash (a difference maker on offense) for Trash (our garbage) isnt going to fly.
Let's Blame Pendelton
May 31st, 2011
3:28 pm
Now who you gonna blame for bad hitting? All last year many wanted to dump on TP. It just go to show how much they know about baseball. The team is not built to score runs(or should I say Manufacture runs). Freddi will have his team ready by the end of this year with more speed so we wont have to depend on the long ball or situational hitting so much…. Go Braves!
FEAR
May 31st, 2011
3:30 pm
One Time’s got no case –
nice name. Sir mix a lot fan?
alex
May 31st, 2011
3:31 pm
Zookey: can you spell hgh
Shaun: with all this statistical gibberish does uggla have a “fat tail” or is it simply that he can’t hit a Kaplan-Meir curve?
Kevin
May 31st, 2011
3:32 pm
Bravesfan54,
Where are you getting your information from? Heyward stole 11 bases on 17 attempts last year and is 3 for 4 this year. He’s got the speed to easily steal 10-15 bases per year.
FEAR
May 31st, 2011
3:33 pm
Schafer has been impressive…….but let’s see how long he can keep it up
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
3:33 pm
Schafer is the lead off hitter we’ve been missing for a long time now.
Sign up now –
All those who think Schafer will have as good of numbers (BA, OBP SLG, OPS) in his next 24 AB’s as his first 24. All those on record will win a free Coconut if he does. You must be on the list and pick up your coconut in person.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
3:33 pm
One Time, That’s the reason a JJ trade is interesting..JJ could bring us a huge return! Lowe..Not so much
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:34 pm
keylargo
No
bravesfan54
May 31st, 2011
3:35 pm
Jason’s speed alone will not help him steal bases. Small sample I know but his total professional career number are 2SB’s and 3CS’s. He’s obviously not worked on improving his technic regardless of his perceived speed. Stealing bases successfully doesn’t require great speed, but a rather a keen observation of pitching “tells” and attention to defensive indifference or lassitude.
FEAR
May 31st, 2011
3:36 pm
Trade JJ……yeeeshh.. What could we get for him and from whom? I think we should hang on to JJ.
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:36 pm
bravesfan54
That’s 14 an 7 on Jason
Murph
May 31st, 2011
3:38 pm
I will go on the record and predict that Schafer’s next 24 AB’s have better results than his first 24. No coconut needed.
Mudge
May 31st, 2011
3:38 pm
JJ for Carlos Quentin of the White Sox.
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
3:38 pm
“threadkiller” : but are you sure to trade Jurrjens??????? the best pitcher in MLB right now!!!!!
ok you trade JJ for a good OF but you stop to win at least 14-16 games
and who says the return in JJ trade not go to be like UGGLA????
mmmmmmm …… JJ is the next ace in our rotation…UNTOUCHABLE….
Yankees need pitchers …trade Derek Lowe for Gardner and put him in CF
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
3:39 pm
i never trading JJ to any team —- i first trade uggla or heyward
Hillbillybrave
May 31st, 2011
3:39 pm
Photo of Uggla says it all. Look at his swing at point of contact. Right hand is below the bat. Thus a pop up. Hand should be behind the bat. I know I know if I was that good, I’d be getting paid to do it. Even if I was, orthopedics pays better. But I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night, (and I had some pretty good hitting instructors in college – Memphis State.) OH NO Mr. Bill, yep I was a team mate of Danny U. and he’ll come around but take a look at the photo and hold your arms out and mimic that swing then move the hand slightly and pretend it is behind the bat. Look what it does with your shoulder and eliminates the minor up swing. Toodaloo!
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:40 pm
Murph
Hard for anyone to maintain a .433 OBP much less improve on it.
Roman Gal
May 31st, 2011
3:40 pm
I got an email this morning from the Thrashers thanking me for my support.
Blast them! I just discovered how fun hockey games were this season!
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
3:40 pm
I love seeing my name on the top 25 poster list.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
3:40 pm
Fear, You test the waters with JJ. JJ for Kemp and a prospect? Or JJ and McLouth to the White Sox for Quinton, Dunn and pitcher Jackson? JJ is an Ace right now! We could really get someting in return for him
Let's Blame Pendelton
May 31st, 2011
3:41 pm
why is everyone harping on hitting? No teams in the Majors are hitting this year! its the post steriod era get used to it….in the mean time teams that can put pressure on defenses are the ones that will go far…
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:41 pm
Let’s Blame Pendelton
–Arizona DiamondbacksL –
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks
New York Mets
. Washington Nationals.
Houston Astros
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
3:42 pm
FEAR……..I love me some Sir-Mix-Alot, lol. Everyone thinks of his “Baby Got Back” song…however I love the intro of his “One Time’s Got No Case” song:
Mix-Alot: “Whatch you pulling me over for MR. OFFICER”?
Officer: “I’ll be the one asking the questions LEROY”
Mix: “Man, my name aint Leroy, man”.
Office: “Huh, all right JEROME, out of the car”
Mix: “Man why I gotta be Jerome man, why cant I be Tommy or Philbert or something”
Officer: “Just put your hands on the hood MOHAMMED”…………….
AZBravoFan
May 31st, 2011
3:42 pm
Hopefully like KJ and that other high-profile free agent Carl Crawford, Uggla will start tearing it up soon. Crawford’s start was almost as bad as Uggla’s and Sox Nation was really giving it to him. Now the dude is on fire.
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
3:43 pm
Adam Dunn? Do you have any idea what he has done this year?
mathman
May 31st, 2011
3:43 pm
Someone said of McLouse batting 8th, “it worked for Nate”. Heck, he is hitting .238 following a year below .200. I wouldn’t say, it worked for Nate. Might have gotten him over .200 but come on. A major leaguer who can’t throw and can’t hit over .238 is not a major leaguer.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
3:44 pm
Murph, If Uggla is still underwhelmingly as bad as he is now when Mclouth and Heyward come back. I say move Uggla to the bench and play Prado at second, Mclouth in LF and keep Schafer in CF.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
3:45 pm
VJ, Yes I do..The first year in the AL has been unlucky! Get him back to the NL where he is more comfortable!
FEAR
May 31st, 2011
3:45 pm
One Time’s got no case
good tune. so is swap meet louie and seattle aint bullSh!ttin’
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:47 pm
Let’s Blame Pendelton
Screwed that up!!
Top five staeling teams in NL this year –
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks
New York Mets
Washington Nationals.
Houston Astros
DAP
May 31st, 2011
3:47 pm
scoots, i think you are right on at 3:18. i believe for now, its ok for schafer to just slap the ball and try to take walks, but eventually, some of that slugging has to be there.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
3:47 pm
Threadkiller…………there is NO FREAKING WAY that I would trade Jair Jurrjens this year. If there is a trade to be made that will really help improve our offense….I see it being done in two ways.
1. Trade Derek Lowe to a team like the Yankees or Red Sox who will be in the market for some starting pitching that can HANDLE pitching in those high profile markets (a bat off the bench or another arm in the bullpen would be acceptable in return).
2. Be willing to trade our top prospects like Teheran and package them in a trade for a Jose Reyes like bat.
Unless we make a move that significantly upgrades our offense…….our starting pitching and Johnny Venters will keep us competitive. However, once the injury bug hits our bullpen due to overuse because our offense cant “get it up” with any consistency……then we’ll be a .500 or at best 10 games over .500 type of team (which wont come close to making the play-offs).
FEAR
May 31st, 2011
3:47 pm
dunn is batting worse than uggla
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
3:48 pm
I’m just saying..JJ is an Ace! He will be a free agent in a year and a half I believe. Plus he is a Boras client. I’m just saying..What “If” what would we accept for JJ. We could solve our offensive troubles for sure. What team would be a good trading partner for what we need?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
3:49 pm
3 months of Reyes is NOT worth Teheran.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
3:49 pm
JJ for Kemp and a prospect? Or JJ and McLouth to the White Sox for Quinton, Dunn and pitcher Jackson?
The Dodgers probably wouldn’t give up Kemp straight up for Jurrjens. It would have to be more like Jurrjens and a prospect for Kemp.
If we’re considering salaries, why would the Braves want to give up Jurrjens for Quinton, Dunn and Jackson? And if the White Sox are willing to cover the salary deference (highly unlikely), why would they trade 3 players they are counting on for one pitcher? Granted Jurrjens has been great but no way the Sox would trade three talented players for him and pick up the salary difference.
CB
May 31st, 2011
3:50 pm
I would rather have Michael Bourn than Reyes,same type of player except under contract.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
3:50 pm
OK, a Reyes trade tout confirms: new IP and moniker for Dentz.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
3:50 pm
Also, just out of curiosuty, where would Adam Dunn play on the Braves?
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:51 pm
Reyes career – .288 .338 .437 .774
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:52 pm
Not worth the money he will be getting
FEAR
May 31st, 2011
3:52 pm
Dunn could be our DH when we make it to the WS! HAHAHAHAH
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
3:53 pm
But he can’t just toss aside pitcher fear, either
He can’t toss it aside because he never had it.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
3:53 pm
One Time’s got no case
Are you crazy? Top prospects for Reyes? no way.
There’s really only a couple of players I’d take from the yanks for Lowe also.. Maybe a Lowe for Nunez and Nik Turley or Banuelos. That would suit me fine. We’d get our SS backup and another good left handed pitching prospect.
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
3:53 pm
ncscoots
The capitalization and ignorance gave him away first post
ellabell 1
May 31st, 2011
3:53 pm
I know this won’t happen but the best thing to do with Uggla is send him to the minors and let him work out his hitting problems. The main one seems to be that he wants to pull everything pitched to him.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
3:54 pm
cabravesfan , Or Quinton or who ever..Right fiels..Move Heyward to center, Martin stays in Left..If we were able to get a big bat
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
3:54 pm
The capitalization and ignorance gave him away first post
Fleming, I was leaning that way, also. But the first post wasn’t just gratuitously stupid, so there was an infinitesmal chance it were not he. You have a better eye for such than I.
Hillbilly
May 31st, 2011
3:55 pm
Congrats to the Hammer on his Honorary Degree from Princeton!
Lesson #1: Why it sometimes pays to read closely instead of scan:
I saw this post earlier and have spent nearly an hour now trying to figure out how this was allowed to happen. Finally I scrolled past it again and noticed “THE” in the sentence.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
3:55 pm
Nashville moving Prado to second is stupid. Sorry no other word describes it better. How is Uggla going to get out of his slump on the bench? Also how far do you think the Braves will go without Uggla? We need him to get going and he cant do it sitting on the bench. Exactly why major league teams dont hire fans to run baseball teams.
jim
May 31st, 2011
3:55 pm
“We could really get something in return for him [JJ]” -
yeah — trade the only pitcher that consistently goes 7+ innings and what we will get in return is a lot of sore arms in the bullpen — already in danger of that.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
3:56 pm
I’d be pretty happy if Schafer put up around these numbers.
270. 340. 420.
Wow...
May 31st, 2011
3:58 pm
Let’s trade McCann. THINK OF WHAT WE COULD GET FOR HIM!!!!!
Baseball 101
May 31st, 2011
3:58 pm
“Amen to that… even our high school kids know that stuff – it’s Baseball 101, for Pete’s sake!!”
Someone call me?
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
3:58 pm
Driving me insane with the inanity.
Especially since baseball is a game in which you do the same thing over and over, expecting different results, because you GET THEM. The game is practically built on that premise.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
3:59 pm
The Braves should make no trades. We’ve done this well with a terrible offense thats bound to get better. Keep our Prospects. Trade Derek Lowe this offseason.
count_schemula
May 31st, 2011
4:00 pm
“Doing the same things over and over when you get the same results is a definition of insanity”
For the love of $&^##%, stop with the freaking definition of insanity. Freak. Driving me insane with the inanity.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
4:01 pm
Threadkiller
Wait, you’d put Dunn in right field? Really? And he’s not exactly that “big bat” anymore. He (as a few people have mentioned) is having a worse season then Uggla and is due $14 million next year and $15 million the 2 after that (which is more than Uggla is…). Quinton, fine. But not in any way would I make a trade for Adam Dunn
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
4:01 pm
Fleming, just quit while you are ahead.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:01 pm
I’d be pretty happy if Schafer put up around these numbers.
270. 340. 420.
That’s an AVG+/OPS+ of 108/115 compared to the league and 105/107 compared to the position.
Just Pat
May 31st, 2011
4:01 pm
I’m outta here before McFann explodes due to Wow’s post @ 3:58! Y’all take care and play nice.
count_schemula
May 31st, 2011
4:02 pm
“as soon as we get a guy who can slug a little bit, thatll be the end of schafer.”
No.
We will stick that person in LF or RF.
Skillet
May 31st, 2011
4:02 pm
Starting position player grades on offense after a 1/3 of the season.
B Prado…Good season so far, but needs to do better than .280.
D Heyward…Too many injuries for a young man. Having a horrible year.
C Chipper…Still pretty clutch, but it’s easy to see that he doesn’t have much left.
A B-Mac…Dude is awesome.
F Uggla…It’s getting ridiculously bad for him.
C+ Gonzo…I thought he’d have better numbers
D- McLouth….Nate should be considered a utility player, and nothing more.
C- Freeman…About what we expected for a rookie.
Gordo
May 31st, 2011
4:02 pm
I think the Bravos should target Pence & Keppinger of the Astros for a trade.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
4:03 pm
Gonzo is playing the best defense in the NL at SS and only Troy Tulowitzski has a higher Fielding %. Gonzo has 1 fewer HR’s than Reyes has triples (6)
Gonzo makes $2.5 M; Reyes $11 M
Gonzo would love to come back as a Brave in 2012 for about $3M
Reyes would probably settle for Uggla money but would be POed he wasn’t making more.
And you’re having trouble deciding which SS you want?
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
4:06 pm
I’d take Gonzo just based on salary. He’s a better defensive player over Reyes in my opinion as well. Gonzo actually is hitting over 270. this year, what sticks out is his 0 for with RISP on the season.
Atlanta should bring him back next year.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
4:06 pm
Thread you want to trade the best pitcher in baseball? Then our rotation is no longer that g ood. Hudson isnt an ace anymore. ERA over 3. Hanson struggles to get deep in the game. Lowe is no more than a 5 or 6 inning pitcher. Beachy, Minor, and Teheran are all young and unproven. Our great bullpen will be killed with not getting days off when JJ pitches. We suddenly lose our edge on other teams and our lineup is slightly less worse. Yeah lets trade the best pitcher in baseball!!!!!!
DS1
May 31st, 2011
4:06 pm
VaBravesFan
My money says no trades, unless the hitting stays sporadic deep into June. By then we should know a couple of things: if Heyward is returning to his norms of early 2010, if Uggla is coming out of his bad stretch, if Chipper’s knee is going to need fixin, and if Schafer is the real deal (or McLouth comes back strong.
If we get a couple of no’s out of my list, then it might be time to deal for a bat.
But I also think Lowe stays around to complete his contract. Not sure what kind of value he’d have on the open market unless he has a killer year. But if he does, then why would you want to deal him.
At least we have some starting pitching depth coming along (Medlen, Teheran, Minor, Beachy, Delgado, etc).
CB
May 31st, 2011
4:06 pm
Trade proposal day! I love it!
Bobby Hill
May 31st, 2011
4:07 pm
The Braves aren’t going to trade Jurrjens during the season. Teh Braves won’t trade Lowe during the season unless they fall out of contention. The only pitcher who might get dealt during this season is Minor.
Losing Minor wouldn’t significantly effect the Braves chances of making the playoffs this year, and if he were to bring back a decent outfielder I can see the braves being tempted.
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 31st, 2011
4:08 pm
wjones
May 31st, 2011
3:21 pm
“SoWeGa Fanatic
May 31st, 2011
3:14 pm
Infield defense? Wonder if FF instead of Troy and Gonzo instead of the HotDog has anything to do with it.”
Sure does. So I guess if we’re playing good defense, it’s because the players are doing well, and if we are hitting poorly it’s because the coaches aren’t doing their job. I think I understand now. Hypocrisy, right?
******************************
Nope, I didn’t say that. I totally agree the hitting sucks. But, I wasnt crucifying TP last year either. I’m a huge proponent of it’s usually the player’s fault. If the coaching was so important in the game/stats, the coaches would be making $15 mill a year. They can certainly help (or hurt), but it boils down to largely who is in that lineup.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
4:09 pm
Bobby Hill
Mark my words, if Minor shows them he’s ready to take over full time, it could very well mean that Lowe could be moved by July 31st if we thought we were getting a good deal in return.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
4:09 pm
Pretty interesting article on http://capitolavenueclub.com/ regarding the increase in swing percentage of balls outside the strike zone for uggla and the decrease in swing percentage on strikes. Now I don’t know what all that means but it sounds pretty bad (he says in his best tom cruise impersonation). Anyway, probably the best example I have seen that shows uggla’s struggles are between the ears.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
4:10 pm
Thread how will JJ be a FA in a year and a half?
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
4:10 pm
CA but we would be getting rid of the best pitcher in baseball for Dunn. Why would we want to keep the best pitcher?
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
4:11 pm
Eric, Just throwing big bat names out there..Nothing specific..Just what kind of package could we get right now for JJ is probably a better way to re-phrase. I thought I read some where that JJ will be a free agent in 2013? Not sure I remember correctly. But talking trades is way better than listening to Shaun in my opinion!
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
4:11 pm
Trade proposal day! I love it!
Kee-rist, why not, LOL? We finished the last offseason a whole two months ago.
SoWeGa Fanatic
May 31st, 2011
4:11 pm
Folks, this entire lineup is underperforming. It is a collective team slump, althought they have actually improved team BA over the last 2-3 weeks. A team getting 8-9 hits and 3-4 BB’s should score more than 1-2 runs. This one isn’t. I will be the first person on the Slog to admit, I just don’t know. Now, Man up!
BravePack
May 31st, 2011
4:11 pm
Hey maybe Uggla should pull a Heyward and say he’s hurt and has had nagging injuries since the season started and that is why he is slumping. It seems to get everyone off the phenoms back.
DAP
May 31st, 2011
4:11 pm
CB I would rather have Michael Bourn than Reyes,same type of player except
using a very wide margin per “type” of player. to me, its more accurate to say jose reyes is the type of player michael bourn wishes he was.
I’d be pretty happy if Schafer put up around these numbers.
270. 340. 420.
oh heck yeah. ill be honest though, batting leadoff with his speed, id sacrifice 20 slg points for 20 OBP points.
CB
May 31st, 2011
4:12 pm
Conrad playing 2nd today instead of Uggla.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
4:12 pm
keylargo
You think Gonzo would re-up for 3 million for a year? That might be kinda low for what he is doing.
If I’m the Braves, I’d offer him a 2 year extension for about 7-8 million, and then give the youngsters a little more breathing room in the minors.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:13 pm
if Heyward is returning to his norms of early 2010
OK. I like Heyward. I have hope for the kid, but really? All this talk of sample-size, 2-month-into-the-season analysis etc from Payne, and statements like this get nary a response from him? Really? Do this with any other player and the auto-response is “Can we really say that is his ‘norm’….” Of course, proclaim Heyward’s norm is the early part of 2011 and you’ll get that response. Double standards are biased that way.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
4:13 pm
DS1
I really think Lowe is gone after this season, there’s no reason to pay him 15 mil when we have younger options that are ready. With a rotation of Hanson JJ Huddy Beachy and having Medlen,Minor,Teheran as compete for the 5th spot.
But right now Lowe is key to winning this season. We only trade Lowe before the deadline if we totally fall apart.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:14 pm
The Braves won’t trade Lowe during the season unless they fall out of contention
well it’s good to see Lowe’s trade value is starting to rebound after his DUI was tossed out.
CB
May 31st, 2011
4:14 pm
TP,most of us ignore Shaun.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
4:14 pm
10-Paul
And that was a lot of wishful thinking on my part, or maybe better stated, prospect hugging???
But then again, I think McLouth hits better the rest of the year, Uggla gets out of his funk, and Schafer is the real deal. Glass half full guy, I’d say!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
4:15 pm
JJ for Rasmus, straight up.
Call up Teheran to take JJ’s spot. Move Prado to 2B, move Nate to LF, move Uggla to the bench. Fire TP, offer Don Baylor 100x his current salary to jump ship and come to the Braves this season.
Cut ticket prices in half. Offer free hot dogs and cotton candy to everyone, all-you-can-eat.
Go back to the old chop music, and for the 7th inning stretch, go back to Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
Did I mention fire TP?
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
4:15 pm
10Paul, don’t you have to factor in his minor league stats/age? I think that is what people do when they say they expect a player, who has still only played ~150 games, to be better/worse than what he is currently doing.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
4:15 pm
I’d move Lowe to the Yanks for AGon’s possible replacement in Nunez, then pick up a filler with Nik Turley if not Banuelos instead. I’d do that trade any day of the week.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
4:16 pm
Rookies and second-year players don’t have “norms”, only “expectations”. They start getting “norms” about the time they become arb-eligible. Sooner than that, is just hope.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:16 pm
Anyway, probably the best example I have seen that shows uggla’s struggles are between the ears.
AtlYnkHtr, did they break it down by close and late situations, because if you do that you will find that it is clearly not related to anything between his ears… so leave the faux-hawk alone.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
4:17 pm
Murph, you forgot about bringing Chief Knock-a-homer back.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
4:17 pm
DS1
I dont know about giving him a 2 year deal. I say a 1 year 3.5 mil with a team option for 2013.
RH
May 31st, 2011
4:17 pm
I’ve looked over the internet and cannot find any info on Liberty Media putting the Braves up for sale. I read a rumor a few months ago about this but nothing since. I know this is about the time their tax breaks would be ending so I was wondering if this might be a possibility. Has anyone read or heard anything about this.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
4:17 pm
Murph goes scorched-earth, at 4:15. Pillage and plunder; hiding the women is futile.
DAP
May 31st, 2011
4:18 pm
VaBravesFan I really think Lowe is gone after this season, there’s no reason to pay him 15 mil when we have younger options that are ready.
no reason to pay him $15mil except that the law demands it. he’s under contract. i just dont think we can assume that some team will want to scoop him up.
AZBravoFan
May 31st, 2011
4:18 pm
Just remember that all last year everyone gushed about the Giants’ unbelievable pitching staff but wondered how they were ever going to score runs. They picked up Cody Ross off the scrap heap and people scratched there heads. I think we all know what happened next. Lotta ball still to be played…
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:18 pm
CB, I’d like to believe it, but that stats say otherwise. Besides, even when you don’t respond to him, he’s still very capable of filling up a good 5 or 6 pages on the blog discussing the matter rhetorically.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
4:19 pm
You/’re right AT! Bring back the chief! And have Otis Nixon come in and instruct the youngsters on how to do a proper flying kick to the chest… then have one of them go out and pick a fight.
That’s what i’d do to get a spark lit under this team.
Mike
May 31st, 2011
4:20 pm
I’m still going to watch every game but wow it is getting brutal. I’m yawning by the 5th inning. Tired of seeing pop outs and ugly strikeouts.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
4:20 pm
Folks,
I can see the other teams lining up now to give us a prospect so that they can pay Lowe 1 million bucks per W next year.
Just don’t see there being a lot of interest. I’m not complaining about his contract, since the fact is when we signed him, we REALLY needed him badly. But at 15 mil per, he’ll be hard to move at his age.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
4:20 pm
DS1 I think Lowe might get traded in the offseason unless he has a horrible year. It will probably be a deal similar to the Vazquez deal. On how good the prospect will be, will depend on how good of a season Lowe has.
Bobby Hill, I bet you are right on the only pitcher that might get traded this year will be Minor. Unless there is a big trade and you may see Vizcaino or Delgado getting thrown in.
CB
May 31st, 2011
4:21 pm
DAP,I agree Reyes is the better overall player with more power. I was referring to the speed factor and a better contract situation.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:22 pm
oh heck yeah. ill be honest though, batting leadoff with his speed, id sacrifice 20 slg points for 20 OBP points.
That’d notch him a point higher compared to the league and position in park adjusted league rates.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
4:22 pm
Murph
I would have pulled the trigger on a JJ for Rasmus trade before the season.
MikeInFl
May 31st, 2011
4:23 pm
I agree that we’ll trade Lowe after this season, if we can get a reasonable offer.
For all the talk about our pitching depth, if we can’t replace one middle of the rotation-quality starter in 2012, something’s wrong. And the freed up cash, even if it’s only 9-10 mil instead of the full 15, would help a lot.
I think that if we trade him, it’ll likely be for an established player who’s making some money, maybe $5-8 mil a year. Few teams are gonna want to take his full salary on without shedding some of their own.
Someone like a Marlon Byrd (I’m not suggesting him, just someone in that skill/salary range). That would give us a competent OF plus free up about $9 mil for other porpoises.
Mike S
May 31st, 2011
4:23 pm
Sweet! Just secured a ticket for tonight’s game 3rd row section 110 behind Padres’ dugout for $9 on Stubhub!! (well $19 after the fees, but still, what a deal!)
Mike
May 31st, 2011
4:23 pm
Our ‘Guaranteed’ 30HR 100RBI guy has 7HR 16RBI on May 31st.
Ralph
May 31st, 2011
4:24 pm
For all those wanting Uggla to be droped to the 8 hole I agree whole hartedly but it ain’t gonna happen, Bobby Cox wouldn’t have done it either, he was as stuborn as a Mississippi Mule and Fredi is trying his dammedest to be just like him, Bobby was senile and stupid, Fredi is just plain stupid.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
4:25 pm
I don’t think it’s so much a matter of giving up on the team as it is many of the more reasonable posters just getting tired of all the negative crap, and the “I can top your end of the Braves world whine” attitude. Every summer there are a lot of folks who drift away especially during and after the games.
Plus all those low scoring games are incredibly BORING!!!!!!!!
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:25 pm
AtlYnkHtr, certainly, but with a grain of salt.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
4:27 pm
10Paul, I think his track record in its entirey points more toward last year’s numbers than this years. However it also shows he may never play in more than 130 games.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
4:27 pm
would have pulled the trigger on a JJ for Rasmus trade before the season…. Va
nobody was gonna trade a major player for JJ until he proved he was back from the injuries and the poor year, which he has with a vengeance obviopusly, but GMs are not gonna take that kinda chance when it involves a talent like Rasmus
Mike S
May 31st, 2011
4:28 pm
Wow, no Uggla tonight. Conrad getting the start…
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
4:29 pm
Shaun. Please help Uggla out..Get him a rabbits foot!
DS1
May 31st, 2011
4:30 pm
nolie
A 10-3 blowout would cure a lot of ills four shore.
Hillbilly
May 31st, 2011
4:30 pm
Odd AA debut for Arodys Vizcaino yesterday. Struck out the side in the 1st inning. Gave up 3 bombs and 5 runs in the 2nd. Then allowed only 1 base runner in the next 5 frames.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
4:30 pm
OK. I like Heyward. I have hope for the kid, but really? All this talk of sample-size, 2-month-into-the-season analysis etc from Payne, and statements like this get nary a response from him? Really? Do this with any other player and the auto-response is “Can we really say that is his ‘norm’….” Of course, proclaim Heyward’s norm is the early part of 2011 and you’ll get that response. Double standards are biased that way.
TennesseePaul, I have no idea the context of this discussion. I do think it’s fairly obvious that Heyward is very likely to outperform his 2011 early season numbers from the point he’s healthy to the rest of the season.
I think Uggla is very like to get better because he should hit into better luck.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
4:30 pm
Mike
I think the Braves could get all 15 million off the books if they accept a very small return. I think I rather have the money to use for FA signings and extensions anyways.
We have to think the Braves wont let Gonzo leave, so SS is filled, were finding out what Schafer’s all about right now, but fair chance CF will be a need, and then we have Chipper who could possibly call it quits. Taking even more money off the books. I love Chipper and dont want him to retire, but imagine trading Lowe and Chipper salary off the books. almost 30 mil right there. plus 15 mil more with Nate and KK, Jurrjens could get a contract to lock him up into a few of his free agency years.
Ralph
May 31st, 2011
4:32 pm
Isn’t Lowe’s contract up at the end of the season?
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
4:33 pm
Well,it looks like no money for charity. The good thing is I would have needed to post a batting average that would have just aggravated people.
Opposing N.L. Pitchers
May 31st, 2011
4:34 pm
Enter your comments here
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:35 pm
AtlYnkHtr, I’d agree. But it’d be hard to expect the kid to stink as bad as he has this year. You’d have to be a real Met fan to expect that. But after his 180+ games in the majors I don’t expect it to be the .301/.421/.596/1.017 line he posted through May 29th of 2010 either. And his career line of .264/.378/.445/.823 is a bit less than I had hoped based on his minor league line of .318/.391/.508.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
4:36 pm
Sorry. Folks on here don’t like the term “luck.” They think it means something magical.
What I mean is that Uggla’s batted balls will probably start finding more holes in opposing defenses. Hopefully he’ll also get a little more patient at the plate.
BravePack
May 31st, 2011
4:37 pm
Yeah Fredi sitting Uggla on the bench again will certainly cure Uggla of his slump and give him confidence. I’m telling ya Dan just say you’ve been hurt all year with nagging injuries and just never said anything. It works for Heyward and gets everyone off your back.
Dan Uggla to Fredi
May 31st, 2011
4:37 pm
No, Fredi, I’ve never been to Mississippi. Why?
extremus
May 31st, 2011
4:39 pm
The simple reason the Braves have been in so many extra-inning games so far is that their mostly stellar pitching has been offset by absolutely inept hitting. Our pitchers know going out to the mound that giving up even 1 or 2 runs may end up losing them the game, and that HAS to be deflating for them as well, though they’d likely not talk about it. If this team was hitting with any consistency whatsoever the extra-innings figure would be MUCH lower…and that situation taxes our pitching staff as well as the hitters.
Octavius
May 31st, 2011
4:42 pm
Yeah! Bring back Chief Knockahoma!!
noleee
May 31st, 2011
4:42 pm
onliest way ol’ Dan goes down is for an injury rehab…
Ralph
May 31st, 2011
4:43 pm
Hugh improvement tonight, Uggla batting .178, Conrand battion .179.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
4:43 pm
Bring back Terry!!!!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
4:43 pm
Isn’t Lowe’s contract up at the end of the season?
Ralph-
No- He’s got one more year
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
4:44 pm
The thing that made [Kansas City Royals' closer Joakim Soria] magical, though, was that he succeeded subtly. Mysteriously, even. There was no OBVIOUS or BLATANT reason why he dominated hitters. He did not throw his fastball in the mid-to-high 90s like other dominant closers. Often, he did not even throw his fastball in the low 90s. He did not have a Mariano Rivera cutter or a Trevor Hoffman changeup or a Bruce Sutter split-fingered fastball. He did not have a wild-man act, did not stomp around the mound or glare batters down or intimidate in the slightest. He mainly looked like he had just woken up from a particularly refreshing nap.
Joe Posnanski
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
4:46 pm
onliest way ol’ Dan goes down is for an injury rehab…
Is there a medical term for “malfunctioning”, LOL?
Poor Uggla. Even I’m making jokes at his expense, now. Surely, this is rock bottom for him and he’ll soon turn it around.
Danga
May 31st, 2011
4:49 pm
That lineup ain’t real pretty.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
4:49 pm
Be willing to trade our top prospects like Teheran and package them in a trade for a Jose Reyes like bat.
What sort of a nincompoop proposes such a trade?
I know – a complete delusional d’nozzle who has a giant crush on Reyes.
(And he claims he is the only one on here who wants the Braves to do well)
Murph
May 31st, 2011
4:49 pm
Have you guys ever seen the movie “Sideout” with C Thomas Howell? The basic premise is that he’s a lawyer intern who discovers one day that he has potential as a beach volleyball player. His coach, a former beach volleyball legend turned squatter, teaches him to free his mind by yelling out math problems during the match. Rather than over-thinking the play at hand, the lawyer volleyball player must think of the answer, which results in much better play in the beach volleyball matches. They win the tournament and the lawyer gets the girl.
If any of you are at the game the next time Uggla is playing, try yelling out some complex math problems (complex for Uggla at least) when he gets up to bat. “2+2!” or “5-1!”.
bravofan
May 31st, 2011
4:50 pm
anyone have an ipad ? any suggestions for some apps??
Thanks
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
4:50 pm
I think Jordan could match Bourn’s batting line and have better slugging as well. Schafer would be making around 500k and Bourn will make close to 6-7 million next year. Bourn does have elite speed/sb ability and elite defense tho. But If Schafer is solid and can swipe around 20 bags and hit for more power is it really worth all that extra money for a unneeded defensive improvement and 30 more sb’s?
Murph
May 31st, 2011
4:51 pm
scoots, don’t act like you haven’t seen Sideout.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
4:51 pm
Have you guys ever seen the movie “Sideout” with C Thomas Howell?…They win the tournament and the lawyer gets the girl.
Are you now admitting, in public, that you have actually watched this film?
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
4:52 pm
10Paul, yeah I get your point. I don’t have proof but its my gut feeling that if he were ever 90% healthy (no thumb or shoulder injury) he would be a .900+ OPS guy and perhaps have a couple of seasons with MVP type numbers.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
4:52 pm
Just Pat – McFann
You’d be surprised how often YOUR name comes up at our house during the Braves games when BMac doubles or homers. Hubby is starting to feel like he “knows” you a little.
Same at my house
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
4:52 pm
Murph, Didn’t Jake Taylor give Rube a Playboy to get the same results? Maybe Dan needs to subscribe to Playboy!
Larvell Blanks
May 31st, 2011
4:52 pm
This blog is priceless. Everybody’s been wanting to trade Jurrjens for the last couple of years. A 25-year-old who’s consistently top 5 in ERA when healthy — yeah, I can’t see why anybody would want to keep someone like that. It’s not like pitching matters very much.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
4:53 pm
bravesgrl4life—
DS1
May 31st, 2011
4:54 pm
VaBravesFan
A lot of folks want to deal Lowe to clear up salary space. Not sure that salary is an issue today. I don’t have a strong feeling that the Braves would turn around and invest everything that they might save in new acquisitions anyway.
I do think some of the current players would get offered long term deals (Jurrjens, Hanson, Gonzo, Prado….) but I don’t see us being players on the big Free Agent market. More likely some lesser FA’s would be in play.
No, I just don’t see us dealing Lowe to clean $ space. Maybe if they thought we were overcrowded with starting pitching, but I suspect a lot of folks would be disappointed that we didn’t turn around and try to sign a Reyes type player.
Sure does look like Crawford has been a huge success for the BoSox (though I do think he will turn things around).
Now is that one pressure, bad luck or old age setting in???
Nick n Richmond
May 31st, 2011
4:54 pm
I think some “shakin” needs to go on in the clubhouse. That worked the last time the bats were slumping. Ross needs to get things going in there ha.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
4:56 pm
RH, there has been talk from them about not being in any hurry to sell the Braves. They might hang on to them for years.
not sure if that is good or bad, but the devil that you know is often better than one that you don’t….
DAP
May 31st, 2011
4:57 pm
larvell This blog is priceless. Everybody’s been wanting to trade Jurrjens for the last couple of years.
no, “everybody” has not.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
4:57 pm
scoots, a “pre-madonna” AND a movie snob too???
I bet you would diss on “Xanadu” from 30 years ago too!!!
noleee
May 31st, 2011
4:58 pm
) he would be a .900+ OPS guy and perhaps have a couple of seasons with MVP type numbers. …AtlYnk
dreamer
more an 800 hitter than a 900 if he can even average that every year
not that there is all that much wrong with an 800 hitting CFer now days
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
4:58 pm
scoots, don’t act like you haven’t seen Sideout.
Murph, honest, I somehow managed to miss it.
Probably just a personality flaw on my part, though.
Bill Malone
May 31st, 2011
4:59 pm
Larvell Blanks
May 31st, 2011
4:52 pm
This blog is priceless. Everybody’s been wanting to trade Jurrjens for the last couple of years. A 25-year-old who’s consistently top 5 in ERA when healthy — yeah, I can’t see why anybody would want to keep someone like that. It’s not like pitching matters very much.
You are right on the money, Larvell!
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
5:00 pm
There’s no way the Braves trade for Reyes…… We shouldnt trade for anyone.
If the Braves offered Julio Teheran straight up for Reyes they would prolly jump all over that deal.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
5:00 pm
I don’t have proof but its my gut feeling that if he were ever 90% healthy (no thumb or shoulder injury) he would be…
We can hope. I’d love to see what he does healthy for a full season, but I don’t know that he had one of those in the minors either. It’ll be exciting to watch if he ever does.
T for Texas
May 31st, 2011
5:00 pm
That comment paired with the right quote is certainly more clear, SB.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:01 pm
Let me get this straight: Jose Reyes is “overpaid” ($11 mil) and a “bad influence” despite hitting .335 with 17 doubles, 8 triples, 1 homer, 17 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, (18 walks, 19 strikeouts) .382 OBP, .493 Slugging, .876 OPS in 227 at-bats while hitting lead-off for the Mets.
Yet Chipper Jones is a great value ($14 mil) and a great influence in the locker room despite only hitting .250 with 16 doubles, 1 triple, 4 homers, 29 RBI (only 8 in the month of May) 0 stolen bases, (27 walks, 32 strikeouts), .344 OPS, .413 slugging, .757 OPS in only 184 at-bats?
In 43 more at-bats, Reyes has struck out 13 times less than Chipper. Chipper only has 12 RBIs more and 3 more homers than Reyes.
My point is that many of you are blind as to what a Jose Reyes could do to our line-up. So what if Teheran and Alex Gonzalez are packaged in a trade with other Braves prospects to get Reyes from the Mets. I’m not sold on Teheran anyway. All I’ve seen is someone who throws pretty hard, but with little movement on his fastball. That homer that Howard hit off him still hasnt landed. Even if Reyes walks at the end of the year, what he could do as far as helping us get to the playoffs in 2011 would be worth the risk.
I think that many of you are still shell-shocked over the Tex trade with Texas. Despite Texas getting the better of the deal, the Braves franchise hasnt crumbled…the Braves franchise wasnt set back 10 years as a result of the trade. John S. took his shot and missed. It happens. I’d rather have a GM who will roll the dice and try and win TODAY when he has a team that is capable of doing damage in the playoffs.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
5:01 pm
Be willing to trade our top prospects like Teheran and package them in a trade for a Jose Reyes like bat.
From twitter. Odd that he’d prepare as a starter when there is probably a higher need for a reliever and gets him ready earlier. Wouldnt he be the potential number 7 as a SP?
noleee
May 31st, 2011
5:01 pm
Now is that one pressure, bad luck or old age setting in??? DS1
waay overrated in his contract year
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
5:01 pm
nolie: …wrong with an 800 hitting CFer now days
We were speaking of Heyward… I may be watching the wrong team, but I don’t think he’s a center fielder…
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
5:02 pm
Drat! Meant to paste this one:
Medlen threw 90 pitches in bullpen ; next step live bp in extended spring training. Fredi said he’ll build up as starter w option to relieve
John Galt
May 31st, 2011
5:02 pm
IAm I the only person that think’s that “One Time’s got no case” must of caught Schaffer in bed with his wife or daughter?
He really hates that guy, doesn’t he?
Am I the only guy who remembers Matty Alou? All he could do was slap the ball and run, and he won a few batty tiltles and led the league in runs scored a few times as well. An for that matter that approach sometimes defines Ichuro as well. The approach couldn’t hurt Jordan.
24 bats is an awful short time, and he may flop, but I like his approach this time around. He has only 2 measuring sticks in my book- OBP and runs scored. So far, so good.
I wouldn’t pass on the right trade for a LO hitter and CF, but there is no category in which he doesn’t outshine McLouth, so far.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
5:04 pm
I didn’t get the entire lineup from the tweet in the sidebar……
Can somebody repost it???
Thanks in advance.
NorCal Brave
May 31st, 2011
5:04 pm
My wish for tonight is that Conrad plays nice and loose, makes all the plays at 2nd, gets a knock or two, and leads Fredi to wonder if he should maybe sit Uggla for a while longer.
Piedmont Blues
May 31st, 2011
5:05 pm
ncscoots,
Unless the Braves plan to blow up the roster, I’m with you. What benefit would they get from a trade right now? If you look at the lineup, C, 1B and Prado (3B or LF) are set. Schafer is doing what you want from a leadoff hitter and playing outstanding defense in CF. Between, Heyward, Hinske, and Mather you have very serviceable corner OFs. Gonzo doesn’t get on base enough, but provides enough power and plenty good defense that it’s difficult to contemplate upgrading that position unless you pay a lot more.
That leaves you with Chipper and Uggla. Chipper may have to miss time to clean up the knee, but Prado can fill in very nicely there. So there’s Uggs. Other than moving him to the 8-spot in the batting order, what can you do other than hope that he returns to his career norms?
There are no easy fixes. Again, unless you blow up the roster, and you don’t do that in late May when you’re 4 or so games out of first.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
5:06 pm
nolee, CFer? now who is dreaming? you ever watch him track balls in RF?
southern hope
May 31st, 2011
5:06 pm
somebody said that the score could be 10-3 tonight (us! LOL)…and I can’t help but agree….just a feeling (of course, I thought the same thing was going to happen yesterday…before my family of 4 brought tickets to the game and sat there….)
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
5:06 pm
I didn’t get the entire lineup from the tweet in the sidebar……
Just click on the title which says “My latest tweets” and it’ll actually take you to the twitter page with updated tweets.
FWIW:
#Braves lineup: 1. Schafer CF, 2. Prado LF, 3. Jones 3B, 4. McCann C, 5. Hinske RF, 6. Gonzalez SS, 7. Freeman 1B, 8. Conrad 2B, 9. Minor P
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
5:07 pm
What benefit would they get from a trade right now?
Perhaps a deeper bench or some relief help. Starter wise, I don’t see a logical fit for them. Starters (pitchers or fielders) would cost more financially and prospect wise.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
5:07 pm
Don’t worry scoots, when you come hang out in Austin we’ll watch Sideout together… It’s “The Natural”, only with beach volleyball as the centerpiece rather than baseball.
When we’re done watching that we’re going to watch “North Shore”, an inspirational movie about a surfer from Arizona.
And finally, Project X. Just because I like the monkeys.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
5:07 pm
sorry i thought y’all were talking about Schafer for some reason
kirkinga
May 31st, 2011
5:08 pm
….Everybody’s been wanting to trade Jurrjens for the last couple of years….
Only the severely misguided have proposed trading Jurrjens.Even if the Braves were in position to make such a trade (they’re not due to payroll constraints), you just don’t trade young, cheap 1-2 starter on an All-Star trajectory for anything less than an established All-Star.
TheAntiMe
May 31st, 2011
5:08 pm
Go, Carroll, go! Maybe the Braves can pick us up tonight after such a cruddy day on the hockey scene. Totally depressing. Oh well, nobody’s EVER going to get their grimy little paws on our Braves. Go Bravos!!!
Larry
May 31st, 2011
5:09 pm
trade Hanson for Rasmus straight up
KK
May 31st, 2011
5:09 pm
Uggla should be batting 8th unless Hudson is pitching, then he should bat 9th
Bill Malone
May 31st, 2011
5:10 pm
One Time’s got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:01 pm
One Time’s got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:01 pm
My point is that many of you are blind as to what a Jose Reyes could do to our line-up.
You make some great points. Reyes has plenty of talent, but he still scares me… seems to have that “attitude thing” going on and we don’t need another Yunel on the team – especially for 11 mil.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:10 pm
John Galt………I dont hate Schafer. I just dont think that he has it in him to consistently hit MLB pitching. Also, his arm in center hasnt impressed me either. Even McLouth throws werent as bad as those 2 that Schafer made yesterday against the Padres.
I find it amusing that many of you are saying “Shafer’s only had 24 at-bats” when I’m critical of him. Yet, you guys say “I like his approach this time…..or…….he’s off to a good start”.
Seems like many of you want it both ways: Using his lack of at-bats to thwart off criticism…yet using those same lack of at-bats to give him praise.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
5:11 pm
I agree that there is a possibility that Heyward might hit 900ish some years, but unless he changes his mechanics some I think he might always be kinda streaky
DS1
May 31st, 2011
5:12 pm
TheAntiMe
So there are folks out there that give a damn about hockey, huh?
I learn something new every day……..
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
5:13 pm
So according to the AS voting update Mac is 2nd behind Posey. I took a look at NL catchers and their ranks.
Mac’s ranks:
Avg – 2nd.
OPS- 3rd.
HR – tied for 2nd .
RBI – 1st.
Chris Iannetta and Miguel Montero are closest to him when you consider all these categories. I think Mac should beat them out but 2nd place will be close.
Brave New World
May 31st, 2011
5:16 pm
How about David Wright for Chipper and a few young pitching prospects (not Teheren) along with all Braves’ bloggers with IQ’s less than 80? We get Wright at 3rd base for the next few years, and the Mets get Chipper, pitching for the future and 40,000+ “fans” to fill their near empty new ball park in Flushing.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
5:17 pm
yup Wayne, there is crazy folks everywhere
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
5:18 pm
McCann (633,987) trails injured Giants C Buster Posey (785,314) in first update of All-Star balloting….You figure McCann makes it either way. And Bochy would start him, but c’mon….
Patrick
May 31st, 2011
5:18 pm
Ridiculous that McCann is even trailing Posey in All-Star votes
Trey
May 31st, 2011
5:19 pm
soxfan, if you are still reading this blog possibly to brag some more about your Sox, just learn the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
RemoW
May 31st, 2011
5:19 pm
Has anyone else noticed that Chipper in the last month or so has a taken a bunch of called 3rd strikes? I have watched him since his rookie season and I could not recall more then 4 or 5 times when he took a called 3rd strike. Lot of him swinging and missing but looking almost never?
Any ideas why this might be happening. It has to be a large reason why his average has tailed off lately.
John Galt
May 31st, 2011
5:20 pm
One time-
We must agree to disagree- I am taking a very small sample to see potential, you are taking a very small sample to find shortcomings. My OPINION is that he looks better- I didn’t see the throws yesterday but I believe that he is faster than McLouth, covers more ground, is more disruptive on the bases, can throw better, has a much larger upside due to his age, and played injured for most of his career before 2011. The FACTS are that he is less expensive, younger, and was one of the most ballyhooed prospects in baseball before his long undisclosed injury occurred.
Only time will tell, but there does seem to be a little bit of irritation created in you whenever someone speaks optimistically of Schaffer. And one thins is certrain- I have seen a plenty-sufficient sample of McLouth to opine that he is NOT the answer.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2011
5:20 pm
no worries nolee. I had a feeling you were thinking Schafer and I just wanted to clear my name of any such unfounded hype on the kid.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:20 pm
Having a low payroll isnt necessarily a bad thing. However, when you’re paying $14 mil to an over the hill, aching knee #3 hitter who hasnt hit for power this year…..$15 mil to a #4 starter…..$9 mil to 2nd baseman who makes Greg Norton look like a contender to the batting crown…..$6.5 mil to an injured centerfielder who up until recently made Rafael Belliard look like a home run champ……and $6.67 mil to a starting pitching to waste away in Double A……….then you better hope that your cheap youngsters are picking up the slack.
While Jair and Hanson have picked up the slack from a starting pitching standpoint………Heyward and Freeman havent done the same offensively. Sure, they are basically at the beginning of their careers. However, given the fact that our highly paid offensive “stars” have been pretty much impotent so far in 2011…….we have no choice but to hope that Heyward and Freeman can pick up the slack, SIGNIFICANTLY. So far, that has been far from the case.
2 months is a LONG TIME to be slumping offensively. At some point in time, reality has to set in that for whatever reason, those guys arent going to turn it around. The question that should be asked is “do we want to potentially waste a great pitching staff’s performance and risk injuring the bullpen…..hoping that the offense will turn it around as it is”…..or…….”Do we make a trade and bring in someone that will help breathe some life into our impotent offense”?
Perlo
May 31st, 2011
5:21 pm
Fredi’s heartwarming interview with Joe Simpson has been shown umpteen times, and it’s pretty apparent that Fredi is a nice, not very innovative guy, kind of a bozo. It’s pretty clear the Braves management did not want anyone the least bit controversial who might actually kick some ass and fire these zombies up.
Chipper, who’s obviously on his last legs as a player, seems to have taken over the surrogate role of coach and manager. Perhaps the management should have given more thought to Chipper as player-manager so he could have retired as a player in a more graceful manner. At this point, the guy is just a shell of his former self.
MikeInFl
May 31st, 2011
5:23 pm
On trading for relief pitching… by the time teams are ready to deal (late July), won’t Moylan and Medlen be either back or very close to it? If Fredi can avoid dismembering the top 3’s arms til then, help is on the way. (and I don’t blame Fredi too much for his bullpen use… job one is to win baseball games… but I sure hope he’ll do his best to spread the work out a little more.)
noleee
May 31st, 2011
5:26 pm
I think it’s interesting that a number of folks here rag on Jason’s defense, but most all the metrics and Fielding Bibles’ 10 man voting panel full of well known baseball folks ranked him so highly last season.
Bob
May 31st, 2011
5:27 pm
Thanks Carroll…good article. Uggla should not be hitting 7th or 8th, he should be down at AAA for a week getting his confidence back. Anyone who has seen his past at-bats can clearly see it’s mechanics and confidence. Using the Bobby Cox approach by keeping him in the lineup will only delay his recovery. Or, maybe this is what we got for a zillion dollars. Shaffer was almost ruined by TP, and should listen to Chippah.
John Galt
May 31st, 2011
5:31 pm
I leave today with optimism!
Uggla HAS to get better.
Our starting pitching is strong and deep.
Moylan and Medlen will deepen the bullpen before season end.
Heyward could heal and come back strong.
Schaffer is showing the only potential (though unproven) to be a quality LOH, the first since Furcal.
We have TWO of the best 10 catchers in all of baseball.
Prado’s versatility makes our depth greater than it appears.
Freeman is hitting OK, will probably hit better, and looks like Wes Parker around the bag.
Gonzo is playing gold glove defense.
Chipper’s and Lowe’s money may be available next season.
We is gonna be awwright.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
5:32 pm
We have TWO of the best 10 catchers in all of baseball.
You should have said “THREE”… Ross is so awesome that he counts twice. Once because he’s on the Braves, and once because he’s not killing the Braves by starting for any of the other 34 teams in the league.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:33 pm
John Galt……..I never said that McLouth was the answer either. I’m saying that Schafer simply hasnt shown me anything that will suggest that he’ll be anything other than a 4th outfielder, pinch runner type of ML player.
Many on here rip Barry Bonds for taking steroids…yet where’s the uproar over Schafer and his suspension in the Minors over taking HGH? The same people on here who are so quick to forgive Schafer….are the same ones still hating on Bonds.
I could care less about Bonds taking HGH. What matters is that he could rake at the plate.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:35 pm
MikeInFl…..trading for bullpen help isnt going to help too much (unless we go for the “let’s throw shutouts every single game” strategy from here on out).
What we need is OFFENSE. We need hitters who arent impotent at the plate.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
5:35 pm
Well we are paying less than 500k for each of Hanson,Heyward,Beachy,Kimbrel,Venters,Freeman. Venters is no doubt the best reliever in baseball and he makes less than 500k. Be happy.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
5:36 pm
Is the blog ususally filled with this much inane rosterbating? I mean trade proposals where one guy is on the DL and the other is a HOF’er in his 17th season with the same club. What color is the sky in the world where this is even worth discussing on any serious level?
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:37 pm
VaBravesFan…….we’re getting about $500K production out of both Heyward and Freeman from an offensive standpoint.
I know, Freeman’s got a great glove. However, from an offensive standpoint he isnt doing very much….especially from a position that is traditionally a power hitting position. Heyward is chronically hurt. Uggla is just plain UGLY at the plate. Chipper is a shell of his former self.
If this was the best that the Braves could do, then I’d be happy. If we were overachieving, I’d be happy. However, this team is capable of MUCH BETTER. We have a deep bullpen AND starting pitching to make a run at a World Series. However, if Frank Wren waits for our impotent offense to turn it around….he risks injury to the bullpen due to overuse. Venters isnt Superman. He cant keep pitching the 8th inning every single day because our offense cant blow a team out every so often.
If our bullpen melts down, then it’s over with as far as seriously contending in 2011.
Johnny Beach
May 31st, 2011
5:38 pm
Braves might want to let some of the pitchers pinch hit for him if he keeps this up. LOL Send this man on a much needed vacation away from baseball for crying out loud.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
5:38 pm
If Schafer took HGH, instead of merely associating with those that did, as has been reported, why didn’t his head grow to adult size?
noleee
May 31st, 2011
5:38 pm
Yes AtlYnk it is. It’ll get a lot worse during game time especially if we are losing.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
5:39 pm
Impotent at the plate? Hell of a place to have sex.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
5:40 pm
maybe it did and his head was even smaller b4, or maybe it just made his ears grow
Bigwheel
May 31st, 2011
5:41 pm
Carroll, you know its a popularity contest. I like how this team flies under the radar, but we have espn to thank for that
Lew
May 31st, 2011
5:42 pm
noleee- Didn’t think about the ears.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
5:43 pm
seriously head growth is a long term affect for the most part, if Jordan did take it he prolly didn’t take it all that long.
I might be mistaken but I don’t think there are any rules about who you can or caint hang with if that is your onliest crime….
Lew
May 31st, 2011
5:45 pm
noleee- I think he didn’t report them – that was what got him in trouble. He never tested positive.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
5:45 pm
Great day to be on the blog today. We’ve had Shaun,Earl/Lou and Polly Dentz – the delusional trifecta. Someone go get Robert and we’ll hit the jackpot.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
5:46 pm
Bigwheel……if our own fans were to fill out Turner Field like fans of the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies do…then I could see ESPN giving the Braves more coverage. However, we dont.
Let’s face it, offense sells….especially offensive stars. Who do we have that is really considered an offensive star? Sure, Prado is consistent. However, I wouldnt consider him to be a “star”. Heyward’s pretty much been all hype so far. When it comes down to it, very few people get excited about watching Sportscenter if the Braves are the leading story.
If the Braves organization wants to be the lead story on ESPN instead of the Yankees, Red Sox or Phillies……then they need to put a freaking product on the field that will generate excitement. If the Braves organization wants Turner Field to be filled with fans…..then they need to put a freaking product on the field that will make fans want to fork over hard earned cash for tickets.
Instead, many of you just expect to see ESPN to give the Braves air time because you think it would be fair….just as many of you expect Braves fans to fill Turner Field and fill the coffers of Liberty….before expecting Frank Wren to fork over the cash to improve the Braves.
FlaBraves Fan 1
May 31st, 2011
5:48 pm
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
5:49 pm
One Time
Ok who do we realistically go out and get? What are we willing to trade away? Are you wanting a rental player or someone that can be here a few years? If we do trade for a player it has to be someone that can hit and be able to play CF. Schafer is getting his shot now, we have questions with Heyward performance and being healthy and Chipper could go down at anytime taking Prado away from LF. We need a OFer. But its hard to go out and trade for someone with no for sure spot open. If we add a bat in a corner spot and Heyward reutrns to norm and Chipper stays healthy it doesnt make sense. Our option are limited, a trade doesnt make sense right now.
Bill
May 31st, 2011
5:50 pm
One Time’s @ 5:33..agree on Schafer and Bond comparison.What’s the d@#$ difference.
Bama Brave
May 31st, 2011
5:50 pm
The slowest team in mlb. Now thats sad!
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
5:50 pm
Since today is all about trade proposals, one that makes sense would be to move Ross. He is on pace for like 120 ABs (that is if McCann doesnt get hurt obviously) and has much more value for a team that would play him every day behind the plate.
Or he should start taking groundballs at 1st to at least spell FF vs Lefties. This is guy is our 4th or 5th best hitter and he is wasting away on the bench getting 5 ABs a week. I understand the value of having a great backup, but its a luxury you cannot afford when you have so many holes in the lineup.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
5:51 pm
No one is going to trade an outfielder who will turn our offense around for David Ross.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
5:52 pm
Ms. Rogers McCann (633,987) trails injured Giants C Buster Posey (785,314) in first update of All-Star balloting….
By a freakishly wide margin, too! Good golly…
You figure McCann makes it either way. And Bochy would start him, but c’mon….
Yeah…Posey’s just getting the pity-votes right now…But BMac’s heating up!
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
5:53 pm
Or he should start taking groundballs at 1st to at least spell FF vs Lefties.
You’ll find that Freddie actually has a higher OPS against LHP. And he’s just getting into a groove these last few weeks – dont want to sit him at all if possible.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
5:56 pm
David Ross in his 10 seasons in the bigs has never played any other position on the field.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
5:56 pm
David Ross should be the starting catcher in the all star game… he’d single handedly guarantee home field advantage for the NL.
It would be in everyone’s best interest, giants fans, braves fans, phillies fans, etc to vote for him.
Bill
May 31st, 2011
5:57 pm
Trade Ross and MaC would go down (our luck) and then we’d be up the creek……..
Bob
May 31st, 2011
5:57 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if we could just chalk this season up to getting experience and playing all our young talent, preparing them for a title run in 2012. And why not? Who thinks we’ll finish any higher than 3rd in the East this year? I bet the fans would pack the stadium to see the enthusiasm and energy and effort. Just my opinion.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
5:58 pm
David Ross is a great backup player. Much like Eric Hinske. When over exposed, I would think his numbers would come back down to earth, much the same way Hinske’s does.
Let’s just be thankful we have him.
Ross was a starter for several years, and while he had some pretty OK years as a starter, he is much better suited for his present role. I think he probably knows that too, or else he woulda bolted instead of resigning.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
5:58 pm
snot, yeah you are right but <50 ABs. My fear is that the league might be getting a scouting report on his inability to hit breaking balls from lefties. He swings and misses at 50% of all lefties breaking balls. By far the hightest percentage around.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
6:00 pm
He swings and misses at 50% of all lefties breaking balls. By far the hightest percentage around.
Okay.I think he is capable of making adjustments given time. But in general I am against sitting the guy for 2 reasons – dont want him to cool off and his defense at 1B seems to bail out us out on several occasions.
abwright
May 31st, 2011
6:01 pm
Braveone, May 31st, 2011, 2:59 pm … “From the previous blog which had 1,125 comments, abwright led the way with 61 posts.”
Back in first! A few Performance Enhancing Posts, a little steak-and-vodka shake inanity, and it’s straight to the top.
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
6:01 pm
I’m still of the mindset that a veteran durable and dependable late inning reliever is needed more than an offensive piece. Why? Well, for one, Braves are only 4 games behind 1st place and they’ve done it with the offense they have now along with excellent pitching. So when the offense starts clicking, then that area will be absolutely fine, wouldn’t need a big piece unless an injury occurs to one of the regulars for a long period of time. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but the point is still there and clear, once the offense gets clicking, there really wouldn’t be any need for offense, well, another solid bench option would suffice, but as far as regulars, I don’t see it.
With saying that, it comes back to why do Braves need bullpen help from my point of view. Well, it’s quite simple, while Braves are only 4 (4.5 or whatever) games behind 1st place and that’s due to the excellent pitching keeping the games close and ability to win when there’s a lead more often than not, if the offense doesn’t start getting more consistent soon, that will put more wear and tear on the bullpen. Some may say well, just wait till Moylan and Co. come back. Well, if you wait that long, Braves could either be out of it or still in the thick of it, but some of the other bullpen pitchers are hurt or ineffective because of the over use.
That’s where getting a veteran late inning (not necessarily closer type, but some experience would help to give Kimbrel/Venters some rest here and there) would come in handy. It would add another reliable, durable and effective arm till the others get back. I know there’s Proctor who is doing good and there’s Sherrill and Linebrink who have been better recently, but still, how long can they continue to be just that? Proctor while doing good, is still uncertain to sustain it due to injury past record. Sherrill and Linebrink are give or take, not sure who’ll you’ll get appearance by appearance. Can’t have the uncertainty of which side of Jeckyl/Hyde you get night in and night out. While Gearrin is showing glimpses of being good, he’s still young and not experienced.
So say a good, reliable, durable and effective late inning arm is traded for and gotten. What happens with Moylan and Co. come back? Easy, instead of them coming back as the help because of say someone becomes ineffective or hurt, which will put added extra pressure on them coming back from injury themselves, it will instead be them coming in as an addition to an already sturdy bullpen. Which in turn would ease them back into the game without them having to put the load on themselves.
That way toward end season, the bullpen could look like this….
Martinez (or Medlen)
Sherrill/Linebrink/Proctor/Gearrin
EOF
Moylan
Late Inning Guy
Venters
Kimbrel
That way you can take out the question marks of the Linebrink/Sherrill/Gearrin/Proctor (winner of battle keeps the spot), but you add extra security to the bullpen for when the ones who are injured can come back.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:02 pm
VaBravesFan……..when McLouth gets activated, Schafer will be sent back down. Bank on it. The Braves arent going to pay McLouth to sit on the bench (if they were, they would have brought up Schafer earlier in the season).
So if McLouth is going to play center (again, the Braves arent going to sit him…nor do I see anyone trading for him)…if Heyward is going to play right when he gets healthy….Prado plays left as long as Chipper stays healthy…..the Braves arent going to trade for a second baseman and bench Uggla…….nor are the Braves going to trade for a power hitting first baseman (unless they decide to include Freeman in the package, which I doubt they are going to do)…..and McCann is going NOWHERE.
So if those 7 above players are entranced in their positions…..then that leaves ONE POSITION that an offensive upgrade makes sense to be made: Shortstop. Sure, Gonzo is having a great year at shortstop. However, it isnt like Reyes is chop liver at short. What really separates Gonzo and Reyes is the havoc that Reyes can cause hitting lead-off.
It isnt like I’m down on Gonzo. I like what he is bringing to the team….especially defensively. What I dont like is our offense. Gonzo is in the last year of his contract. He would be a serviceable replacement for the Mets…and the Mets would be very interested in Teheran (who I’m not sold on) and whoever else the Braves are willing to give up.
Sure, the Braves risk him leaving as a free agent. However, perhaps he’ll want to stay if the Braves show that they are serious about contending.
Tell me, if the Braves keep Gonzo and dont consider trading for Reyes….then what would you suggest that they do? How would you suggest that the Braves improve the team via trade? Who in our line-up (including McLouth and Heyward when they come off the DL) currently becomes the “odd man out”?
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
6:03 pm
VABravesFan, oh I see what you are saying that means he cannot. Someone tell Prado, since he had played 4 games total in the OF coming into this year, he has no business being our best defensive OF’er.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
6:04 pm
Bob
were still a top 10 team….
noleee
May 31st, 2011
6:04 pm
was there even a reliable reliable HGH test at that time IIRC Lew, since it does occur naturally in the body?
heck if they could suspend you simply for not telling, 90% of all players at that time would have gotten suspended.
I know that is what has been said, I guess I’m just too cynical to believe its the whole twuth and nuttin’ but the twuth, though it might be
Spider
May 31st, 2011
6:05 pm
May 28. Braves up 5-0 in third inning only to give up 5 runs in the top of the fourth.
abwright
May 31st, 2011
6:06 pm
Although it’s been nice to see Schafer’s contribution, I would like a little more than six-seven games to evaluate him. I suspect that Schafer will stick when McLouth comes back and the outfield will be some combination of Prado, Schafer, and McLouth. Hinske can go back to the bench.
By the time Heyward is ready to come back, it should be obvious which of McLouth and Schafer needs to go back down.
Regardless, Schafer has probably done enough to justify a call-up in September and some time as a defensive replacement.
count_schemula
May 31st, 2011
6:07 pm
“Has anyone else noticed that Chipper in the last month or so has a taken a bunch of called 3rd strikes? I have watched him since his rookie season and I could not recall more then 4 or 5 times when he took a called 3rd strike. Lot of him swinging and missing but looking almost never?”
I think the knee has him defensive. He came out of ST on the attack. He’s not like that of late.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
6:07 pm
AtlYnkHtr
I didnt say he couldnt, I just went and looked to see if he has played there any and stated he hasnt played any other positions. Doesnt make much sense to ask a lifetime backup catcher at the age of 34 to run out there and play 1st base. Yeah I like his bat, but he is good in his role and shouldnt be messed with.
Prado has played plenty of OF in other leagues.
Trey
May 31st, 2011
6:08 pm
Nolie, looks like yours and Jeffrey’s buddy is back.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
6:09 pm
nolee- No, at the time, I don’t think they had a reliable test at that point, though DOB says they do now. It’s my understanding (but you know how we older Stooges can be) that he never popped a positive on a test and he claims he never did it – kind of hard to do with a positive test – though I suppose he could claim that Palmiero gave him some B12
Bob
May 31st, 2011
6:10 pm
VaBraves…yeah, but I’d rather see us contend forthe WS. A top ten looks good only on your resume’.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
6:12 pm
Bob
were top 10 right now with one of the worst offensive performing teams. the bats will come around.. this team is good.
abwright
May 31st, 2011
6:12 pm
I have a feeling that Schafer will never be a “banger” and his home runs will be rare. I haven’t seen him hit with the authority that would give him a lot of doubles and a few triples. If he only has Belliard-power, he will probably not stick around for long.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
6:14 pm
Flourish finish.
Struggling Uggla.
Carroll’s on a roll.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
6:15 pm
Bing!
Soldier_____
“Get Out The WAYYYY!!! (Boom!) Pretty Boy Coming Through! Me And My Crew! We Swaggin In The Room!!!
Girls On Me Heavy Cause I look so Sexy! Yellow Diamond Shawty In The Club Straight Flexin, Soldier____!
What’s Up All?
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
May 31st, 2011
6:16 pm
call me crazy..but I see some Brett Butler “swagger” in Schafer…maybe he should choke up on the bat..?? I’d stick w/ him as the lead off guy…I know, we’ve been down that road before..but I’m insane
Bob
May 31st, 2011
6:16 pm
Hope you’re right VirginiaBraves, but I’m getting tired of all the excuses each year about our hitting. What if we don’t get our offense perfroming? Our best hitters are getting older. Hooray for our pitching; however, what are we going to do for relievers in August/September?
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:16 pm
BFChris26……….we’re only 5 games out of the loss column because the Phillies were RAVISHED by injuries earlier this year. Utley (who just came back), Lidge, Contraras, Blanton are significant parts of their team. Blanton and Ruiz both have spent time on the DL. Ibanez had a 0 for 37 stretch earlier this year.
With Utley back, the Phillies already are scoring more runs then they were before. Since Utley was activated last Monday, the Phillies have scored 49 runs in 8 games, going 6-2. We’ve scored 45 runs in our last 16 games. Utley’s presence in the line-up has jump started the Phillies offense (even though he’s only hitting .208 with 1 homer and 2 RBIs since his return).
If Utley’s presence, despite his lack of production so far, can help the Phillies offense…..what do you think that Jose Reyes, whose raking at the plate so far in 2011, can do for the Braves offense?
Wait, Reyes is a bad influence. We cant tolerate that! But we can sure tolerate an impotent offense as long as we have good clubhouse chemistry.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
6:16 pm
One Time
well your part of the 1% that would trade Teheran. Dont get me wrong tho, If I knew we could sign Jose Reyes to a extension and he continues to play like he’s doing I would do a Teheran for Reyes trade. But Reyes is playing for a contract, he’s had injury issues. I’m not a fan of dealing a possible future ACE for a few months of a great leadoff man.
CB
May 31st, 2011
6:17 pm
My scroll button is going to wear out at this rate.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
6:19 pm
we’re only 5 games out of the loss column because the Phillies were RAVISHED by injuries earlier this year.
One would think that a guy who calls everyone else dumb, would at least be able to write decently. Terrible.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:19 pm
VaBravesFan………..Teheran is no more a “future ace”, then Brad Kommisk was the “future Dale Murphy”.
count_schemula
May 31st, 2011
6:20 pm
“VaBravesFan……..when McLouth gets activated, Schafer will be sent back down. Bank on it.’
Nah.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
6:21 pm
Teheran is no more a “future ace”, then Brad Kommisk was the “future Dale Murphy”.
What sort of sophisticated scouting methods did you adopt to come up with that? Watching Braves games on TV, I suppose.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:22 pm
Snotboogie…….what was so “terrible” about that post? We ARE very fortunate to be only 5 games out of the loss column.
If the Phillies WERENT ravished by injuries earlier this year….we’d be A LOT MORE than 5 games out of the loss column. What is so hard about that to understand?
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
6:25 pm
Lew I’m not convinced that Palmiero didn’t truly believe it was a B12 shot, he was pretty adamant about it. Remember it was Tejada who allegedly gave him the shot and Tejada denied it at first only to recant when evidence to the contrary was made public. A lot like Bonds telling Sheffield it was flax seed oil he was giving to him.
Oh well, like Forrest Gump’s momma said, “stupid is as stupid does”…
Dumbfound
May 31st, 2011
6:25 pm
Wow…
May 31st, 2011
3:58 pm
Let’s trade McCann. THINK OF WHAT WE COULD GET FOR HIM!!!!!
And you will draw the wrath of McFann !!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
6:25 pm
Ravished by injuries? Players entranced in their positions? We’re getting some golden quotes out of One Time this afternoon.
Bob
May 31st, 2011
6:26 pm
One Time…the current Braves ownership is going to spend just enough to keep them pretenders, not contenders. That’s why there is so much optimism on these blogs. Just be glad the ASG doen’t own them.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:26 pm
Snotboogie………I base my analysis on watching Teheran on watching him pitch two games where he wasnt fooling anyone (only 2 strikeouts in 9 innings pitched)….as well as how hittable the strikes he threw were (Howard’s and Upton’s homers still havent landed).
Again, you cant have it both ways. Saying that Schafer has shown you a lot in only 24 at-bats….yet saying that I’m harshly judging Teheran based on only 2 starts….isnt very consistent.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
6:30 pm
I base my analysis on watching Teheran on watching him pitch
You watched Teheran watch himself pitch? Like, on TV or something? That’s amazing.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:31 pm
Assuming that the Braves dont stay pat with this impotent offensive bunch……what do the Braves do to improve themselves via a trade? Who becomes the odd man out…and why?
Dumbfound
May 31st, 2011
6:32 pm
One Time’s got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:02 pm
VaBravesFan……..when McLouth gets activated, Schafer will be sent back down. Bank on it. The Braves arent going to pay McLouth to sit on the bench (if they were, they would have brought up Schafer earlier in the season).
Not necessarily. Remember 2010 when the Braves sent the 8 million man Nate McLouth down to AAA ?!?! And oh !, Do you remember the other 7 million dollar man KK ?!?! He’s at AA. McLouth is not getting his job back.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
6:32 pm
Assuming that the Braves dont stay pat
This, boys and girls, is why you should stay in school.
N8
May 31st, 2011
6:32 pm
Either the blog has gotten dumber in the past 5 years, or just gotten younger. Because there is truely some amazingly ignorant posts happening today.
No need to single people out. But COME ON!!! Step your game up people.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
6:32 pm
Snotboogie………I base my analysis on watching Teheran on watching him pitch two games where he wasnt fooling anyone (only 2 strikeouts in 9 innings pitched)….as well as how hittable the strikes he threw were (Howard’s and Upton’s homers still havent landed).
That’s the sum total of your scouting? 2 games started – one of which was his ML debut in Philly? And “ravished” was terrible. Keep talking – you are making yourself out to be a bigger fool with every nugget of yours (and I didnt think that was possible).
Again, you cant have it both ways. Saying that Schafer has shown you a lot in only 24 at-bats….yet saying that I’m harshly judging Teheran based on only 2 starts….isnt very consistent.
When did I say anything about Schafer? You cant take someone else’s and assign it to me for the sole reason of making sample size look better.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:32 pm
Murph………..I guess you’ve never heard of typos.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:33 pm
Snotboogie……….Heyward comes out and hits a homer on Opening Day last year, and is proclaimed a future Hall of Famer. Teheran struggles against the Phillies on Opening Day, yet you chalk it up to “ML debut jitters”.
Again, I saw nothing that he threw that made me go “wow, this kid is going to be a future ace”. He’s very hittable. Just like Mike Minor.
Nothing by hype by Braves management and the ajc….which most of you have drunk like Jim Jones kool-aid, lol!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
6:33 pm
I actually wasn’t planning on drawing any attention to that guy who said we should trade BMac…that’s just too outrageous to dignify. (And he was prob’ly just trying to get attention…)
Murph
May 31st, 2011
6:34 pm
Oh, I’ve heard of typos. I’ve also heard of teams being ravaged by injuries, players being entrenched in their positions, and organizations that stand pat or stay put rather than making roster changes.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
6:34 pm
Somehow Prado is showing up twice on my All-Star ballot’s little side-bar thingy that shows who I’m voting for…I only clicked on him once…I wonder if he’s getting double votes…?
Bob
May 31st, 2011
6:35 pm
Keep McCann, Prado, Freeman, Heyward, Shaffer, let Chippah retire, and we’re stuck with Uggla, and trade everyone else. Keep all our pitchers.
JoeBrave
May 31st, 2011
6:36 pm
Folks! It’s all about guts! Ted Turner had guts, his kid does not!, Bobby cox had guts!, this team as constructed has no guts, no fire, no passion, no intestinal fortitude!
Wren, is a puppet for a Corporate entity, nothing more, nothing less!,Oh!how I wish David McDavid had purchased the Hawks,or better yet the Braves, but alas we get hosed time after time! What really should happen at the moment is Beau Turner, and Rutherford Seydel,Ted’s two irrelavant bast@rds! just bow your @sses the !-!ell out of the Atlanta Sports scene!go where someone likes you two ingrates! I am a Southerner and d@mn proud of it!Long live the Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and Thrashers!
abwright
May 31st, 2011
6:37 pm
noleee, May 31st, 2011, 6:04 pm … “heck if they could suspend you simply for not telling, …”
There are so many things about the Schafer suspension that don’t add up. It’s hard to know what to believe.
The substance that he was allegedly involve with didn’t have a reliable test. So, the suspension was given for associations. As a condition of the suspension, records are sealed and Schafer is forbidden from talking about it.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
6:38 pm
Murph………..I guess you’ve never heard of typos.
Typos are minor mistakes in typing – say a missing letter or even a word. You on the other hand consistently use the wrong words and bad grammar while painstakingly capitalizing them at random. You just arent smart.Big difference.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
6:40 pm
Lew I’m not convinced that Palmiero didn’t truly believe it was a B12 shot, he was pretty adamant about it …..Gil
I had scouting friends tell me 15 years ago that Palmiero was using since Texas. Looks like they were right. He’s not the only one who has adamantly denied using and they said that Clemens was too, and I posted that here way b4 either one was named in any papers or reports
N8
May 31st, 2011
6:40 pm
Case in point….. Joe Brave’s comment below:
“Bobby cox had guts!”
Really? I can’t possibly think of a manager who thought more INSIDE the box than others out there. Why do you say that?
His penchant for going with young guys over veterans that he fell in love with? Or was it his multpile ejections?
Exactly why did Boby have “guts”. Please explain.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
6:40 pm
Again, I saw nothing that he threw that made me go “wow, this kid is going to be a future ace”.
Yes but you know nothing.
SCBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
6:41 pm
“I really think Lowe is gone after this season, there’s no reason to pay him 15 mil when we have younger options that are ready…”
VaBravesFan,
Well, the Braves are not going to release him and there aren’t many teams that are in a finaincial position to take on a 14-15M salary for an aging starting pitcher who doesn’t go deep into games and is about a .500 pitcher, in the last year of his contract.
Yeah, the Braves could move him, IF they are willing to pick up a big hunk of his salary…but I just don’t see that happening.
And I’m not saying that you are guilty of this…but the people on the this blog who want to trade all our “problems” whether they are talent problems, salary problems, health problems, or age problems to someone one who will give us their best player (and someone we just happen to need), at a good salary, and is under contract for the next serveral years…it just makes my head hurt.
Doc
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
6:41 pm
pre game root beer float. Yum
Larvell Blanks
May 31st, 2011
6:41 pm
“Only the severely misguided have proposed trading Jurrjens.”
Well, it’s not like they’re underrepresented on this site.
N8
May 31st, 2011
6:41 pm
“this team as constructed has no guts, no fire, no passion, no intestinal fortitude!”
Kind of like JS’s last 2 or 3 squads he “built” and Bobby led to battle?
Next.
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
6:42 pm
N8 I am going with dumber. I actually think some of the younger ones on here are more intelligent that the ones in their 40’s however I dont know everyone’s age. Seems like alot of these bloggers have reached a point in their lives where they realize their own life sucks and is meaningless so they make any idiotic post they can think of to bash the Braves that they are “fans” of.
N8
May 31st, 2011
6:43 pm
“Again, I saw nothing that he threw that made me go “wow, this kid is going to be a future ace”
Funny. Glavine’s first couple of years I thought the same thing.
Next.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
6:43 pm
I’d love to stay pat but I’ve got a stake at home with my name under it. Time to watch Minor watch Minor pitch on the television set. He’s hoping the Braves absolute ravish the hapless… excuse me… hatless Padres tonight!
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
6:45 pm
Well done Murph.;-)
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
6:45 pm
Who the heck is “one time” P.L.?
Murph
May 31st, 2011
6:47 pm
Well done Murph.;-)
It’s a lot like teaching reading and writing to a 4 year old. Just sound it out… just sound it out.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
6:47 pm
Nolie
didnt Palmerio lead the league in singles in his 1st season and then the next season have like 45 bombs or something? LOL
N8
May 31st, 2011
6:49 pm
Eric, there is just not much conversation worth joining in on these days. I still check in and read the blog most days. Sometimes I scroll through 2 or 3 times a day. Especially at night after the games.
It’s down right sad.
When I first started coming on here, there was true debate and Braves fans with knowledge of the team. Now guys can’t even spell half of the names correctly.
I’ve seen 2 or 3 posts in the past day or two stating that the Braves should “FIRE TP!!!”.
Never in my lifetime of watching baseball have I heard of a team turning their season around because the first base coach was replaced midway through a season.
The only logical explaination is that some of these bloggers are too stupid or lazy to actually follow the team year round and realize that TP is no longer the hitting coach, and secondly it tells me that they haven’t watched many games, so their opinion is pretty much worthless without actually seeing what’s been going on.
There are a handful of bloggers on here now that make Robert and Dentz seem like good conversations.
But hey….. if firing TP doesn’t turn it around, Fredi could always fire Clarence Jones, right?
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
6:49 pm
noleee your point is well taken.
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
6:49 pm
cabravesfan
pre game root beer float. Yum
I’m with you on that (clink glasses) I made one as soon as I read your entry. I have been addicted to these things since I was a child.
Mudge
May 31st, 2011
6:50 pm
I am not sure Teheran has value in a trade for an established major leaguer, Jurrjens does. Lots of teams would love to have Jurrjens as their #2, Detroit comes to mind. I’m not sure Lowe has value except as a desperation #3, but more likely a #4 for a marginal contender, say Cincinnati, who need pitching. They do not have a veteran starter like Lowe and can hit the cover off the ball. You won’t get too much for him, maybe Johnny Gomes, who has been in Uggla territory all year.
Earlier this year, Raul Ibanez went 0-35..he has hit .406 since. Uggla is no Ibanez, but that kind of recovery is possible and would really spark the Braves. Meanwhile they are winning more than they are losing. If they want to improve the offense with a good player, they need to part with a good pitcher, which they have in some abundance. I’m not sure they can steal a hitter from anyone. Too bad Omar Minaya isn’t still in NY.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
6:50 pm
“one time” whoever you are. Jordan S brings some excitment to the games and the Braves need that.
JoeBrave
May 31st, 2011
6:50 pm
N8, just when did you star partaking Cox run Braves Baseball?,Smoltz,Avery,Glavine,Lilliquist,Gant,JusticeGiles,Chipper, and starting a 19 year old in a World Series! I’d say the ol codger had a d@mn huge set of brass balls!
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
6:51 pm
VA I agree with at 6:16. I would be willing to trade Teheran for Reyes if we could sign him but I doubt we could and I wouldnt give up the second right handed pitching prospect for a half season of reyes.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
6:51 pm
Mudge
When its arguably #1 pitching prospect in all of baseball, the Mets would take it.
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
6:51 pm
Hope Chippers right knee is ok, but watching him play I have a feeling it is not.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
6:52 pm
N8
And I too log on to check up on things, many times without posting. But some days, I do make a post or two just to do my part in lowering the overall blog IQ factor!!
Happy to be of service!
Bo Graves!
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:52 pm
I just dont think that the Braves should sacrifice this year (if you think that we’re going to the playoffs with this bunch on offense, you’re out of your freaking mind) and hold onto our so called prospects.
If our prospects can get us some offensive help in a trade that will help us make the playoffs THIS YEAR…I say go for it. Too many of you are shell shocked over the Tex trade.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
6:52 pm
N8 while I am not 100 percent sure about the “fire TP” comments, my take was it was tinged with sarcasm…
Dumbfound
May 31st, 2011
6:53 pm
Frank Wren just told us that if Billy Wagner wanted to come back they would look forward to it…imagine Kimbrel, Venters & Wagner NOW!
Hugo Z Hackenbush
May 31st, 2011
6:54 pm
Nothing more exciting than to have somebody come on the blog to whine about the level of discourse here. Lead, follow, or get out of the way. If you don’t like what you see, don’t let the door hitcha where the big kahuna splitcha.
JoeBrave
May 31st, 2011
6:54 pm
Shuerholz, is the baseball image of Bill Clinton, JS reaped Bobby Cox hard work and effort, much like Clinton reaped from the seeds Reagan planted!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
6:54 pm
N8, I’m pretty sure that anyone who suggested firing TP was doing so sarcastically.
Pretty sure.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
6:54 pm
Did Anyone catch Rossy on the Buck and Kincade Show earlier today? He was on point in saying that the Braves are 5 games over and have not played their best baseball yet, and I think that so many fans on here are still waiting for that to happe…
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
6:55 pm
Good to read old Pauly going to his Greatest Hits Collection with the attendance and Reyes’ posts…
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
6:55 pm
I see the warp is still with us.
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
6:56 pm
LTBF………oh yeah, you’re right about Schafer bringing excitement to Turner Field. All 25K (how many of them were military giveaways and heavily discounted tickets to their family members) fans came out to Turner Field on a holiday to watch the excitement that Jordan Schafer brought yesterday.
What’s the over/under for the number of fans who come to tonight’s game to see the excitement that Schafer brings?
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
6:56 pm
Mudge you dont think the 2nd highest right handed pitching prospect has any trade value? Not to mention he is only 20. Most aces at the age 20 were either in single A or still playing JUCO. Then again compared to the best pitcher in baseball he probably doesnt have as much trade value. Just dont understand why anyone would trade the best pitcher in baseball, especially since he makes less than 4 million.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
6:56 pm
Dumbfound
That’d be a heckuva a crew of lefties in the pen with Wags, Venters, O’Flaherty and Sherrill!
Dumbfound
May 31st, 2011
6:57 pm
@JimBowdenESPNxm
JIM BOWDEN
Frank Wren just told us that if Billy Wagner wanted to come back they would look forward to it…imagine Kimbrel, Venters & Wagner NOW!
Sorry about that post @ 6:53 pm. Here’s the source from above. What do yall think ?!?! Wagner thinking about coming back after the Allstar break !
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
6:57 pm
There’s some serious temporal displacement going on here.
Murph
May 31st, 2011
6:58 pm
One Time, they said yesterday that only about 1500 of those in attendance were military personnel. Regarding tonight… is school still in session in Atlanta or are kids done for the year? That usually is a factor in mid-week attendance.
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
6:58 pm
Good anticipation, Wayne…
Dumbfound
May 31st, 2011
6:59 pm
DS1
May 31st, 2011
6:56 pm
Dumbfound
That’d be a heckuva a crew of lefties in the pen with Wags, Venters, O’Flaherty and Sherrill!
The Braves would salivate over that pen. And so would I !!!
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
6:59 pm
Murph – please don’t keep him going on attendance…
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
7:00 pm
cabravesfan
Amazing coincidence, I’m also having pizza. I’m also experiencing about a 4 minute temporal displacement with my posts.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
7:00 pm
DiamondbackMac-
So have I. It should be just enough to tide me over until I can eat my pizza for dinner
N8
May 31st, 2011
7:01 pm
“N8, just when did you star partaking Cox run Braves Baseball?,Smoltz,Avery,Glavine,Lilliquist,Gant,JusticeGiles,Chipper, and starting a 19 year old in a World Series! I’d say the ol codger had a d@mn huge set of brass balls!” Joe Brave
I’ve been watching the Braves since around 1980, how about you?
Every single one of those guys you mentioned were the BEST options on the 40 man roster to have an impact.
Smoltz, Lilliquist, Avery, Glavine, Gant and Justice?
The Braves were 100 game losers the first couple of years those guys were regulars. Real “guts” on the manager to let the kids play for a team that was a lost cause two weeks into april, huh?
Chipper, seriously? The dude was the #1 overall draft pick in 1990!!! It’s a testament to HIS ability that they were going to move him to LF to get his bat in the lineup in 94 when Gant went down, before Chipper went down himself.
TP was washed up. So they put a 23 year old rookie (again…#1 overall draftpick) into the lineup at 3B to replace him. Then batted him 3rd in the lineup (provided, he was surrounded by allstars everywhere, but…). If you think going with Chipper was gutsy? That’s laughable at best dude.
As for Andruw? If you recall, Justice’s injury FORCED them to go with Dye and eventually trade for Hard Hittin’ Mak Whiten. When he failed miserably, they called up a 19 year old kid who had gone basically gotten better at each level that he stopped at that season (A-AA-AAA), ending up with 34 HR and 92 RBI while slugging around .700 with an OPS over 1.100 in 136 minor league games.
Again. Really big gamble there, huh?
Nope. If Cox had “guts” he would have started Andruw in CF in 1997, when it was pretty clear that he was the better defensive CF over Kenny Lofton, and shifted Lofton to LF.
As for Giles? Quilvio Veras had to suck ass for 2 months before they made that move.
Besides. Since when does the manager make decisions on roster moves, like releasing a guy like Veras to make room for Giles?
Those all sound like moves by a GM who had “guts” and followed what his minor league coaches and scouts told him about his young players.
McCann NEVER gets called up in 2005 if Estrada isn’t blasted by Darin Erstad at home plate. Francoeur doesn’t get the call if Brian Jordan and Raul Mondesi even remotely do the job they were signed to do.
All of the “gutsy” moves you’ve mentioned were moves that were no-brainers after the veterans had failed.
Guts would have been batting Heyward 3rd last year when he was hot. Guts would have been sitting Troy Glaus sooner and letting Hinske play 1B.
The ONLY move that I can think of where I have thought that Cox showed some “guts”, was keeping Kelly Johnson in the lineup after he started his season 0 for 30 or whatever it was. Then again, that might have just been stupid instead of gutsy.
You’re going to have to do much better than show me a bunch of gutsy roster moves JS made, to prove to me that Cox had guts with his lineups.
Hell, Fredi has sat his boy twice in the past week. Do you think Cox would have done that?
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
7:02 pm
JoeBrave………let me get this straight: Reagan planted the seeds (he was out of office in Jan. of 1989)…..Bush Sr. presides over a recession economy during his 4 years….yet you contend that Clinton reaped the rewards during the boom of the 90’s?
Bobby Cox the manager rode on the coattails of Bobby Cox the general manager (who drafted Avery and traded for Smoltz). Glavine was drafted in 1984, prior to Cox becoming GM in 1985. John S. tried to give Cox the kind of players who’d help us win a World Series. Cox just mismanaged one important game after another.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
7:02 pm
VJ
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Stupid is as stupid does (opps, somebody already flew that one) and Life is hard; and it’s even harder when you’re stupid!
And Dense still is………..
How you and cab been?
LTBF
May 31st, 2011
7:03 pm
Almost gametime so outta here. Hopeing for better things tonight. Have a good one y’ll. DO IT BRAVES
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
7:05 pm
DiamondbackMac-
Great minds think alike
One Time's got no case
May 31st, 2011
7:05 pm
Murph……….dont kids go to school in Boston and Philly? If so, then why do they always sell out? After all, it isnt like they have Chevron giveaway packages like the Braves do.
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
7:05 pm
If Wagner would come back, that would be the ideal situation. You get the veteran reliever without having to give anyone up. On days that Wagner needs rest, you can put Venters or Kimbrel there. Plus, having 4 lefties would be awesome.
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
7:06 pm
That’s it, tomorrow morning I start blogging stock tips to myself.
N8
May 31st, 2011
7:06 pm
Sorry for the all italics. Apparently I’m just as stupid as everybody else.
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
7:06 pm
Thrashers owner fake crying on the news, do us a favor. Sell my Hawks, they still have a chance here to be successful. Folks complaining about Liberty Media should thank there lucky stars that ASG never got a hold of the braves.
Braves formula to win tonight and every night, score runs. No long diatribe needed. Score runs and just win baby.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
7:06 pm
Game-Time!
“All Da Way Turn’t Up!”
My Big Boy Gut Tells Me that Struggla wins the game in a Pinch-hitting at-bat, we need it bad to turn his season around
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
7:07 pm
One Time’s if you think this offense is going to stay this bad your out of your freaking mind. I am not against trading for help, but I have yet to hear one that makes sense or see a trade that makes sense. Gonzo is solid at short. Unless Chipper goes on the DL before the tradedeadline they wont get a 3B and I dont know who they could get even if he did. Prado is great in left as is McCann behind the plate. Like it or not Uggla is the 2B and the only way he is getting out of this slump is playing. I dont care for McLouth and am not sold on Schafer but what CF is out there? The best one that I heard makes sense would be Ludwick but mark my words if we get him he will be another Ankiel. That leaves RF and 1B. I am not against getting a RF and sending Heyward back to the minors but I doubt the front office will do it. As for 1B I am fine with Freddie. He has nothing left to prove in the minors and he is solid at the plate and I think most youngsters make their share of mistakes when they come up. As for defense improving I give most of the credit to FF. He has saved several errors a week with his glove.
Also when was the last team with a sub 3 ERA miss the postseason?
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
7:08 pm
Murph……….dont kids go to school in Boston and Philly? If so, then why do they always sell out?
All 100 plus years they have had sellouts, that really is amazing.
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
7:08 pm
Of course the warp discontinued itself as soon as I posted that idea.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
May 31st, 2011
7:09 pm
@ BFChris6…best post in he last 30min… wags retirement has cost us 3 wins….maybe 4
TheAntiMe
May 31st, 2011
7:10 pm
Wow, all I have for gametime is vodka. At least I do have some nice cold Budweiser to wash it down with. And I’m supporting the Braves by patronizing a sponsor. Go Braves!!!
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
7:12 pm
With all of the video sources available, can Uggla not figure out that he keeps chasing changeups and breaking balls off the plate. If he can’t see that then he has bigger problems
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
7:13 pm
Murph
“One Time, they said yesterday that only about 1500 of those in attendance were military personnel. Regarding tonight… is school still in session in Atlanta or are kids done for the year? That usually is a factor in mid-week attendance.”
Its The Padres Playing, Thats all that needs to be said, lol. No one is gonna Play with FUB’R Atlanta Traffic in this economy to see a team like the Padres…But with that Said, I think they are doing 2 for one tickets tonight or is The 5 Dollar Buck Belue promo going on tonight? That promo marks 20+ dollar terrace level (OF) to 5 bucks each…Fans save around 15 bucks off of what they really cost (17-22 bucks)
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
May 31st, 2011
7:14 pm
@ jake…you r correct..I saw no tears…how do u know he didn’t “break down” after the cameras weren’t on him…..( I NEED to know..I have a teenager)
DS1
May 31st, 2011
7:15 pm
VJ
Gonna depart in a few…………time to listen to the Braves and watch the Heat go down (hopefully!).
Later folks.
MikeInFl
May 31st, 2011
7:16 pm
The Mets would maybe take Teheran and Freeman (although Ike Davis looks promising) for Reyes, but not straight up. – Mudge
You think?
Mets would jump on a Teheran for Reyes trade in heartbeat. Or faster.
Mudge
May 31st, 2011
7:17 pm
VA Braves Fan and Eric. I’m not arguing Teheran’s rating, but he has not shown much yet against high level competition. I obviously am no general manger, but there are few circumstances in which I would trade an established, productive major leaguer for an untested phenom. Most such trades involve multiple minor leaguers, to increase the odds of finding someone useful. The Mets would maybe take Teheran and Freeman (although Ike Davis looks promising) for Reyes, but not straight up.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
7:17 pm
RobSC, yeah he sees it and knows it he just cannot recognize the pitches. He is taking fastballs down the middle thinking they are curves and swinging at the curves. Its totally mental it reminds me of Franceour when he was trying to be patient and taking pitches right down the middle.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
7:17 pm
stoled
DS1
May 31st, 2011
7:18 pm
WOW, if you think our offense is bad, take a look at the Padres’ starting lineup!
Ouch!
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
7:18 pm
DS1 – I’ve been keeping busy – will be keeping up with most of this game via text…
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
7:18 pm
Teheran AND Freeman for 3 months of Reyes??? Seriously? *sigh
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
7:19 pm
Snotboogie, it was a stretch for a little alliteration in the headline there….I’m a bad headline writer, just no way around it! (smile)
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
7:20 pm
@ jake…you r correct..I saw no tears…how do u know he didn’t “break down” after the cameras weren’t on him….
Knowing the Spirit this whole display has been just odd. They want sympathy and not to be the bad guys in a fiasco they created themselves. Admittedly I am more of a Hawks fan then Thrashers but I am over these owners and the fact that they just don’t know what the heck they are doing. Arthur Blank has shown what a good owner can do for a franchise and i’m hoping my Hawks get the chance to experience that, just a shame for the Thrasher fans that they never got that chance.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
7:20 pm
I can only imagine the FUBAR line up the Braves might have if some of the trades posed on this blog were only remotely considered.
Wagner in place of Sherrill, what’s not to like?
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
7:20 pm
Mudge making it to the majors as a pitcher at age 20 is showing something in its own. Only one in recent memory doing it that young is King Felix and that was like 5 years ago. Im sure there was another one or two in that span but I cant think of them.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
7:21 pm
Eric from MO
“One Time’s if you think this offense is going to stay this bad your out of your freaking mind. I am not against trading for help, but I have yet to hear one that makes sense or see a trade that makes sense.”
That post was On Point. Its Too early to talk about trading for Player X…We have not seen what this offense can do when The Full Metal Jacket (All Healthy lineup) Starts Poppin…Usually it takes around 45 games to evaluate the offense, but this year has been baffling since this is the least productive lineup I have seen since 2001. But even the 2001 team Started Clowning in June when that team Swept Philly in 4 games, so I feel it coming, Trust Me
Add to that I will not start talking trades until after the All Star Break, I think its a waste of time unless D.O.B. posts a rumor that is hot on the streets
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
7:22 pm
There goes chipper’s quad
Murph
May 31st, 2011
7:24 pm
Murph……….dont kids go to school in Boston and Philly? If so, then why do they always sell out?
Based on the people I’ve met from both cities… no.
Mixxo
May 31st, 2011
7:24 pm
Minor & the non-existent Braves offense vs. the good road team-Padres??
This could get ugly quick.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
7:24 pm
The timing of these posts is annoying as hell! Can somebody fix that???
Holy moly!
POSTED at 5:24PM
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
7:24 pm
Mudge
The Braves would be bonkers to deal Freeman and Teheran for Reyes.. If we did the Mets wouldnt take long to say yes. The Mets need young talent, there slashing payroll big time, they either trade Reyes or get draft picks. Same situation we had with Mark Texiera, we only got a minor league reliever and a AAA 1st baseman…
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
7:25 pm
We can always count on Mixxo to bring a little sunshine to the blog, can’t we?
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
7:25 pm
Time warping sucks
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
This is what role players do when you over play them. They get exposed.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
I would not deal Freeman and Teheran for 3 years of affordable Reyes!! No way!
WTG Mac!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
Mac still rolling merrily along…
Kat
May 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
I hope Chipper is good to go…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
ANOTHER DOUBLE!!! He may get #200 by the end of the week!!
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
Bet They Don’t Score Here! Watch
We are the slowest team on the basepaths, Time to DL Chipper! That was Brutal
Come On SKE!!!
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
Testing….1,2,3….testing [just want to see if sequencing issues a still present]
Mudge
May 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
cabravesfan ..lol..I am assuming they would sign him. Renting him for either is lunacy.
Eric from MO..perfectly true, but many other have as well. David Clyde anyone? The question is what does it take for you to take a chance? These days, a total rebuilt from the bottom up. The Mets are better than that. Established major leaguers are valuable.
Mixxo
May 31st, 2011
7:27 pm
I bring the TRUTH. It often hurts. I can’t help that.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
7:27 pm
Oh yes you cann help it. You must help it.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
7:27 pm
The Mets would maybe take Teheran and Freeman (although Ike Davis looks promising) for Reyes, but not straight up.
Yikes! You think they would maybe also take Kimbrel and Venters and for K-Rod?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
7:27 pm
Mudge-
Reyes is supposedly looking for a 6 figure deal. No way the Braves do that
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
7:29 pm
Nobody on this team can hit except Mac and Prado. It’s really sad.
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
7:29 pm
Three doubles in McCann’s past six at-bats….
DS1
May 31st, 2011
7:29 pm
Mixxo
Truth? So that’s what you call it. In my neighborhood, we have a different name for it………..
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
7:29 pm
Bet They Don’t Score Here! Watch
Good call – you must be so happy now…
Mudge
May 31st, 2011
7:30 pm
cabravesfan-I know Reyes wants big money and I know the Braves won’t pay it. My comment presumed they would. Otherwise make do with what they have. Venters and Kimbrel for K-Rod is a bad deal, as you well know. In my opinion almost any deal for K-Rod is bad.
But on to the game..enough about trades..good night
DS1
May 31st, 2011
7:31 pm
Later folks……….
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
7:31 pm
This is what happens when you over play role players. They get exposed.
MikeInFl
May 31st, 2011
7:31 pm
Some of you guys are WAY overestimating what the Mets are gonna get for 3 months of Jose Reyes. If it was a year and a half (like Texeira) the haul would go up some. But it’ll probably be something along the lines of a couple good, but not “best player in the system” prospects.
If the Braves wanted to pursue it, I’d suggest something like Pastornicky and a couple from among a pitchers like Hoover or Oberholzer.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
7:32 pm
Congrats to Jo-Jo!
Mixxo
May 31st, 2011
7:32 pm
Anybody else intimidated by the way Cantu wears his helmet all low n’ stuff?
I know I am.
Mixxo
May 31st, 2011
7:33 pm
Later DS1…………..I’m out too. This game is over. I’m getting in the shower and going downtown to see my son play.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
7:34 pm
Mike
finally someone see what i’m talking about. You gotta remember we Traded Mark Texiera to the Angels for a non hitting Casey Kotchman who started the year in AAA for the Rays and Stephen Marek who has yet to play in Atlanta. Were talking about one of the best 1st baseman in baseball. Thats all we got… There’s no way Reyes has more value.
VaBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
7:34 pm
AtlYnkHtr
True, but looking back we would have been way better off with taking draft choices. lol
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
7:36 pm
Do they ever get a big two out hit anymore?
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
7:37 pm
Mudge I told you, knowing we could resign him. Which we wouldnt be able to.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
7:37 pm
VA some of that had to do with the common knowledge that Tex was gonna wind up in BOS/NY and his agent.
Mudge
May 31st, 2011
7:38 pm
Can’t resist..first basemen are a dime a dozen..good shortstops ( strength up the middle) are not. Comparing Reyes to Texiera is silly. It’s not that Reyes has more value anyway..it is that Texiera has NO value to the Braves right now. And the Braves could use some attitude and some speed.
Jay Dubu
May 31st, 2011
7:39 pm
Any chance Uggs sitting on an injury that the Braves think is minor (a la Heyward)?
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
7:40 pm
Was that our friend tiger chatting it up with Eddie near the bullpen?
Eric from MO
May 31st, 2011
7:40 pm
VA I do have to point out a big difference in Tex and Reyes. If the Mets dont sign Reyes they WILL off him arbitration giving them two picks if he turns it down. If we didnt trade Tex, there was alot of speculation that the Braves would not offer arbitration. Afraid we would get stuck with a huge one year deal we couldnt afford. I agree that Reyes asking price will not be as high as some think but it is a different scenario.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
7:40 pm
The Texas Rangers lineup is a joke. Everyone is slugging over .400 and everyone but 2 are slugging over .450. Must be their ballpark.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
7:42 pm
I despise you, time warp. One day, you will be defeated.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
7:42 pm
Y’all keep me in your thoughts tonight. Our downstairs air unit went out today and my upstairs is hot as blue blazes. Me and heat are not friends.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
7:44 pm
VA yes I agree, often teams devalue those compensation picks. Hopefully the rays way of doing it starts to rub off on ATL and they dont feel pressured to take the best deal available.
Mudge, I think you can compare Tex and Reyes, your point about different positions is a good one, but Tex is/was a top 3 1b and so is Reyes (when healthy). I do think a Reyes type player is needed but couldnt disagree more that Tex has no value to ATL. Maybe I am misinterpreting that but if you mean because we have FF then you are just wrong.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
7:44 pm
bravesgrl4life—
Oh, I feel for you! So, SO sorry!! I. HATE. HEAT!!! Hey look—hate and heat have all the same letters…
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
7:46 pm
Thanks, McFann. And it follows a rough day at work in a hot office. Tonight would not be a good time to make me mad, so hubby’s letting me watch baseball down here since the upstairs is hotter than down here. We may just drag the mattress off the guest bed and lay it on top of the air mattress in the basement and sleep down there tonight. That’s why they put alarms on cell phones.
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
7:47 pm
I swear I’ve seen tonights game before.
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
7:50 pm
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
The Miami Heat? LOL
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
7:51 pm
It’s the same every night good game by starter and offense BLOWS!!!
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
7:52 pm
I swear to God, this team plays the same exact game every night.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
7:52 pm
Capt’n-
VJ’s working- he has students at 5 so he’s probably not around anymore
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
7:55 pm
Hey—how you doing Venice Jim: did you do 10 big ones today?
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
7:55 pm
Minor getting it done homself.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
7:55 pm
Walk does come back to haunt us. We just can’t catch a break.
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
7:56 pm
Well, that sucked.
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
7:56 pm
Hey Braves that’s how you score with two outs!!!
Bravo_fan 52
May 31st, 2011
7:57 pm
A minor mistake by Minor
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
7:57 pm
I think everyone on here hates the Heat (Both the team and it being hot as balls outside). I can’t stand that team of Prima-donnas…
Whats the over under on runs scored by the Braves tonight? I’m banking on 3…
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
7:57 pm
some 0-2 damage there vs. Minor….first he has Bartlett 0-2 and walks him. then Headley hits an 0-2 fastball to left center for the 1-0 lead…..10-game hitting streak for Headley
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
7:58 pm
@cabravesfan….thanks….okay you will do for now!!! I forgot he was supposed to be grading math test or similar discipline?
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
7:58 pm
It looked like Minor was going to have a good quick and clean inning, but he lost his concentration and then moments later it is back to the same script the Braves have been playing with in 2011. Trail early and squander opportunities at the plate.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
Minor with his first big league hit
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
First major league hit for Minor goes for naught there on a 1-6-3 DP
DS1 we’ve notified IT again about the timing problem
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
There’s the Braves offense in a nutshell. Unreal.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
Hey Braves that’s how you score with two outs!!!
Yep. Good things happen when you put the ball in play instead of strikeout or DP like Schafer did.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
And it gets erased
Mudge
May 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
AtlYnkHtr: Texiera HAD value, he has no value now. About Texiera, do you take him or Pujols, Howard, or Fielder? Give me a shortstop, maybe Tulowitski, you’d take over Reyes? If the Braves really felt they could make the postseason with a rental of Reyes, do they give up some value, or say..wait’ll next year…or the year after..this management waits. And waits.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
They need to show that minor vid about 20X to our potential hitters–yes, a solid baseknock!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
Capt’n
Apparently they are not actually ready to start that yet, even though they said they would be…
Bravo_fan 52
May 31st, 2011
8:01 pm
NATS 5 PHILLS 0
Mixxo
May 31st, 2011
8:02 pm
72-90
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:03 pm
I guess Schafer has been talking to Larry Parrish because he has seen 3 pitches tonight in 2 atbats.
One-Eyed Mac
May 31st, 2011
8:03 pm
Bobby Cox is not a Hall of Fame manager for nothing…it’s time for Fredi to steal Cox’s signature go-to maneuver…moving to the other end of the dugout!
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:03 pm
two outs walk maybe we can mimic the Padres and score 1 run.
TNScott
May 31st, 2011
8:04 pm
It would be nice to see us move a runner every now then, but oh wait I forgot Fredi was virtually picked by Bobby so what was I thinking anyway.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
This is not an offensive slump we just can’t hit. Too many one-dimensional hitters in this team. It is a shame because the pitching staff deserves better.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
Chipper should have taken a strike there instead of hitting into the 3rd out.
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
Atta boy Chipper. Stay hot.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:06 pm
I hate outs made on 3-0 counts. They are such a gift to an opposing pitcher. Nobody in this lineup needs to be swining 3-0. This team needs to take as many pitches as possible and work the pitcher.
Kat
May 31st, 2011
8:07 pm
Bravo fan thanks for the score update.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
8:07 pm
Hat down all business and, no I’m not eating my beans tonight out of a cantu.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:09 pm
I hate swinging 3-0
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:10 pm
since nobody can hit, you would figure they would try to draw walks
Moe Berg
May 31st, 2011
8:11 pm
“Nobody in this lineup needs to be swining 3-0.”
Wait until the game is over to eat your pulled pork.
TJ
May 31st, 2011
8:12 pm
two weeks ago this was laughable…..It’s no longer laughable. Right now it’s sad. Two weeks from now, it’s going to panic. two weeks after that…it’s too late.
abwright
May 31st, 2011
8:12 pm
Late May reminds me of April 2010. I would usually tune into the game in the second inning to find that the Braves had gone 1-2-3 in the top of the inning and the opponent had scored a run (or more).
I can’t wait for the offense to get it going and rack up some victories in the early innings.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
8:14 pm
I am trying to enjoy this game…however, watching it in the friendly confines of my crib feels, abstractly, like a continual case of hiccups.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
8:15 pm
Phillies Fans are Killing Lee on their Forum, Ouch!
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:15 pm
McCann vs The World
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:15 pm
Minor looks good tonight, but those hits allowed on 2-strike counts are a bit frustrating.
Couch Tater
May 31st, 2011
8:17 pm
Larry Parrish has been
helping the IT Department with
t
heir timing.
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
8:17 pm
Last year everyone blamed TP for lack of hitting, I think we should just face it this team is just a poor hitting team!!!
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:17 pm
Break. Hinske is so slow that they need to take his time to first with an hourglass clock.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:19 pm
bunt
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 31st, 2011
8:19 pm
Yeah Fredi, don’t you dare bunt with Popzalez!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:19 pm
bravesgrl4life—
Oh jeez…well, that’s nice of hubby!
Hope you’re able to get it fixed quickly, ’cause VERY SADLY it’s not cooling off any time soon… 
BRAVES FAN IN NJ—
Haha, no…I’m not into basketball. But if I was, I’d prob’ly hate that team just for their name.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
8:21 pm
woop woop
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:21 pm
Finally… Good job FF
Bravefaninok
May 31st, 2011
8:21 pm
Fredieeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:22 pm
why not bunt?
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
8:22 pm
Mudge, oh definitely you go after Reyes and deal from a position of strength. They have 8/9 mlb level pitchers it makes no sense to keep all those guys while you have offensive holes and avg or below avg hitters at 5 of the spots in the lineup.
I would take Tex over Fielder, his body type makes his numbers not sustainable. Howard its close just bc Tex is older. I would take Tex over Howard for 3 or 4 years but prolly not after that. So Tex had value but does not now. Why not? I would take Hanley over Reyes.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:22 pm
bravesgrl4life-
I guess it’s not the best time to mention that I’m wearing a sweater and slipper socks because I’m cold, is it?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:23 pm
why not bunt?
We don’t exactly have blazing speed on the base paths…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:23 pm
FINALLY!!! JEEZ-alou! This thing is giving me FITS tonight!
Good AB, BMac!! Yeah, Eric!
abwright
May 31st, 2011
8:23 pm
If Freddie gets on here, you may have the three slowest guys in baseball on the base-paths.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
No, cabravesfan, that would put you in the doghouse with nolie
TNScott
May 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
Are we sure that Bobby isn’t managing this team by proxy?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
FREDDIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
Fab 5 Freddie!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice!!!!!!!!!
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
great piece of hitting
Kat
May 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
Braves take the lead! Thanks Frederick.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
Fab 5 Freddie!!!!!
Mixxo
May 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
You kidding meeeeeeeeeee?
Offense????
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
bravesgrl4life-
Glad I didn’t mention it then
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
Awesome!!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
Yay, Freddie!
abwright
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
Yay! Freddie getting ‘r done. Once Hinske got moving, he wasn’t going to stop til he crossed home plate.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen: Your 2011 Braves offense–capable but rather implausible
Bravo_fan 52
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
Freddieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
abwright
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
If cabravesfan gets sent to the same doghouse occupied by Nolie, whom she herself sent there and who’s been there long enough to be paying Non-Resident Income taxes by now, can the Apocalypse be far behind?
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
Some insurance runs would be excellent right here.
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
oh thanks god!!!!!!!! the rookie hit a 2-run double
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
…
Moe Berg
May 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
“If Freddie gets on here, you may have the three slowest guys in baseball on the base-paths.”
Didn’t Medlen last year refer to McCann, Glaus and Hinske as the tractor trailers?
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
Of course that posts in the right place and time
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
cabravesfan—
We cann trade…I’d freaking LOVE to be cold…
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
Hey Mike Minor… there are your runs. Better make sure they hold up..
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
Aw, Uggla!
ChrisfromSacramento,Ca
May 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
Runs, more lord runs. Wooooohoooo
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
McFann-
Sorry. I’ve got pizza in the fridge and I don’t like being hot either…
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
5-2 Nats
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
Wow, didn’t realize Chipper’s BA was all the way down to .249. Nice hit by FF. Can’t wait to get J-Hey back healthy and for Uggs to start hitting. If that happens, this team can be really dangerous at the plat. I would lead JS at the top and Prado in the 2-hole.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:29 pm
Schafer rocketed a gb that should have been a basehit. Pitcher got lucky… How does that suck?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:30 pm
bravesgrl4life-
hey, you’re more than welcome to come hang with me, VJ, and my dog
Bring your recipes. 
ChrisfromSacramento,Ca
May 31st, 2011
8:31 pm
Get to this guy more. 80 pitches through 4. Their pen is very good.
abwright
May 31st, 2011
8:31 pm
Wordpress is definitely trying to take me down off my perch of most comments on the blog with its “You’re posting too quickly.” BYTE ME WORDPRESS!
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:31 pm
Crap that is always the way. A player laces a big hit and the Braves have an opportunity to do more damage, but the subsequent hitters are retired in order.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:32 pm
Smell like xtra innings again. Sigh!
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
8:32 pm
That’s why she lives in CA, McFann. But I’m with you, lets go tackle her and send her to GA and we’ll stay in nice, cool Cali.
abwright
May 31st, 2011
8:33 pm
Now the WBB can complain about how the Braves ‘pen won’t hold the lead.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:33 pm
cabravesfan—
We’ve got Klondike bars……
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:33 pm
A shutdown inning here by Minor would almost be as good as more runs.
ChrisfromSacramento,Ca
May 31st, 2011
8:34 pm
Ya Chipper is rolling over and pulling off everything. Even his game winner was a weak rollover. He needs to go the other way, they are pounding him away. He looks bad and tierd. More days off are needed and his knee fixed, but most of all needs to go the other way like Chipper used to so well.!!!!!!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:35 pm
bravesgrl4life-
My response time warped to 8:30ish
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:35 pm
Way to hold them Minor.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
8:35 pm
Crapo…can we not handle these awesome Padres?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
McFann-
I already had a root beer float. I’m good
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
fok!!!!!!!!! you are a moron Minor who is Denorfia????? lead off double crap!!!
fredi gonzalez call to the bullpen and put Martinez to warming up
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
Darn. Come on Minor let us enjoy the lead for at least 1/3 inning.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
Not a very good job there, MM. The Pads are awful…we should be hammering them. But, alas, our offense couldn’t hit a good high school pitcher right now.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
RobSC, in a zero sum kinda way I would agree.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
bravesgrl4life—
AND we’ll get pizza!!!
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
just keep from allowing the Padres to take the lead.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
Man, how about a game that we win like 10-1 or something.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
I will take it
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
beachy we need you!!!!!!!!!! Minor is AAA pitcher only!
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
Tied eeks.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
I will sic my dog on you both!
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
mmm pizza
abwright
May 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
That was prolly the best you could hope for on a 3-1 count to a decent hitter.
Mixxo
May 31st, 2011
8:39 pm
Minor getting hammered now.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
8:39 pm
We had tequila lime chicken from Applebees. No way I was heating up the kitchen to cook tonight.
ArkBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
8:39 pm
That lead didn’t last…extra innings anyone?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:39 pm
mmm pizza
Sopheee-
Just gotta wait a little longer so I can enjoy it
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:39 pm
chief noc-a-homa
You are a negative poster. Have faith
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
cabravesfan—
Dangit…wull…I’m sure by the time you got out here you’d want one!
AND I AM NOT POSTING TOO QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
GIDP scores run and after that first pitch and hit by Ludwick god!!!!!!!!!!
if the braves want to win this game need to change the pitcher in 6th inning
Martinez for Minor
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:41 pm
Good job minimizing the damage there from Minor. Time for some more magic from the offense.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:41 pm
AND I AM NOT POSTING TOO QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!
McFann-
Dude, relax! I never said you were!
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:42 pm
Larry Parrish: “Jordan, I have noticed that you have been working the count, taking walks and getting on base. That is nothing that we need on this club.”
Jordan Schafer: “I thought I was supposed to take pitches as a leadoff man.”
Larry Parrish: “I will tell you what I have told the rest of your teammates. I want you making outs early in the count because walks are for girls.” The only way we will win if we hack at every pitch in the zone.
Jordan Schafer: “I understand, thanks for the talk.”
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:42 pm
cabrvaesfan—
Ah, Nala would love me…I have a way with animals.
This Blog is being a butt, BTW…
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:42 pm
Schafer hitting the ball hard at least
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:43 pm
cabravesfan—
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:43 pm
McFann-
I never said she’s eat you. More likely she’d jump on you and lick your face
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
8:45 pm
Where, oh where, did our offense go?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
8:46 pm
cabravesfan—
Naturally.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:46 pm
chief noc-a-homa
I never said the Beachy and Medlen were not better than Minor. However they are both injured and not available. Everything you post is negative. How does that make me an idiot
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
8:46 pm
Chief, you may not be negative but your foolish
Moe Berg
May 31st, 2011
8:46 pm
“BEACHY and MEDLEN ARE 1000000% better than Minor…..”
Yes, and they are both on the DL. Minor is available.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:47 pm
Amazing that people still pitch around Chipper
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
8:48 pm
Chief, you realize the number you types is a million? They aren’t a million % better than Carl Lewis.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
8:48 pm
Too bad Freeman didn’t bunt in the 4th inning!!!
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
8:51 pm
Can they score in more then one inning a night? 2 runs in each of the last 3 games not going to cut it!!!
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
8:52 pm
This team is so frustrating!!!!
abwright
May 31st, 2011
8:52 pm
When is McLouth due to come off the DL? Looks like they might be running Chipper out there til they can get someone else to play the outfield. Then, scope the knee, heal the groin, and get back to being Chipper.
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
8:52 pm
Happy now fire TP gang, you got what you wanted and we are not the better for it.
Rehire TP!!!!!
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:53 pm
DS1
we wanted gonzo to bunt
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
8:54 pm
“2 runs in each of the last 3 games not going to cut it!!!”
Going by Braves numbers, the Nats have scored 5 games worth of runs in just two games … against Halladay/Cliff Lee
NO MORE BOBBY
May 31st, 2011
8:55 pm
We have 2 runs tonight. So unless they magically remove a run from the Padres we are losing this game.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
8:55 pm
Minor still needs a third pitch
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:55 pm
VJ-
Am I still texting?
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
8:56 pm
Minor dont have out pitch only throws fastball ,,,, Beachy have a very good curveball and changeup among with fastball…Medlen a nasty change up and nice curveball among with fastball
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
8:56 pm
Great 6th inning by Minor which may allow him to work into the seventh, but Fredi might want to lift him for a PH if his spot comes up.
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
8:56 pm
Linebrink for Cy
Going by Braves numbers, the Nats have scored 5 games worth of runs in just two games … against Halladay/Cliff Lee
That may indicate declining pitching rather than hot bats.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
8:56 pm
Good inning for MM.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
8:57 pm
VJ-
You might have to fend off Bravesgrl4life and McFann for it…
chief noc-a-homa
May 31st, 2011
8:57 pm
for first time you writes a sense post ROB FROM SC
ArkBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
8:58 pm
@chief noc-a-homa
I don’t care how negative or ignorant you want to be, just use correct grammar!
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
8:58 pm
Chief, Oh OK then that seals it they are one million times better, I didnt realize they had those among with fastball.
RobSC, we are all idiots for having to suffer his comments.
Venice Jim
May 31st, 2011
8:59 pm
I’m still almost three hours from the pizza…
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
8:59 pm
6-2 Nats. Alex Gonzalez swung to a pitch that was outside the batting box.
abwright
May 31st, 2011
9:00 pm
Tomahawk Mafia, May 31st, 2011, 8:56 pm … “but Fredi might want to lift him [Minor] for a PH if his spot comes up.”
His name is … Ugglaaaaaa!
Bravo_fan 52
May 31st, 2011
9:00 pm
Charlie to cliff Lee go find a bar of soap and a towell you cant find the strike zone
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
9:01 pm
Rob From SC
Co-Sign on your 9:02 post…
abwright
May 31st, 2011
9:02 pm
DS1 … A-Gon actually squared the bunt on the first pitch.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
9:02 pm
Time to move Freeman up in the order
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:02 pm
Somebody let the Braves know it’s OK to score more than 2 runs.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:02 pm
It baffles me how wildly Gonzo swings. Strikes 2 and 3 were nowhere near the zone.
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
9:03 pm
Does AGon ever not swing at 1st pitch? 4 F-ing hits tonight simply horrible!!!
DS1
May 31st, 2011
9:03 pm
rob
Why would you want Gonzo to bunt? Wasn’t there no outs? And a runner in scoring position already? Bunt and you have 1 chance to hit a fly?
Bunting is way overrated.
Jerry
May 31st, 2011
9:04 pm
I think someone should tell Conrad that just because he is taking Uggla’s place tonight, that doesn’t mean he has to hit like him too. Two strikeouts and a pop up. Damn good work.
ArkBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
9:04 pm
@Tomahawk Mafia
Did you watch the game yesterday? That’s all Gonzo does…
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:04 pm
CAB – did I read correctly? You put your pizza in the fridge because it’s too hot and you like it cool to warm?
Or am I the only one?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
9:04 pm
V. Jim—
She’s right, ya know.
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
9:04 pm
ArkBravesFan
I don’t care how negative or ignorant you want to be, just use correct grammar!
Give him a break. It would appear that English is not his native language.
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
9:04 pm
Braves feel the need for another extra inning game tonight it would seem.
Low Country Brave
May 31st, 2011
9:05 pm
Is it possible to relegate the entire team to AAA for week?
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:05 pm
These losers just can’t lay off a breaking ball in the dirt.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:06 pm
How can one team be so consistently bad on offense?
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
9:06 pm
DS1
Because McCann and Hinske were on base. Mac usually doesn’t score from 2B on a single. Fiqured since AGon loves to K and pop up why not get 2 in scoring position.
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
9:06 pm
7 F-ing SO !!! UGH!!!
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 31st, 2011
9:06 pm
Kool-Aid!!!
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:06 pm
Somebody let the Braves know it’s OK to score more than 2 runs.
Two runs is what the players union allows the Brave to score. I guess they are saving those runs for AUG and September.
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
9:06 pm
Oops, McFanned that one.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
9:07 pm
Go get Wilson Betemit and a reliever
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:07 pm
ArkBravesFan
Yes, Sadly I have watched Gonzo do that since he was acquired last July.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
9:07 pm
Okay, Carroll or DOB, time to ban chief noc-a-homa. Please see post at 9:05 p.m. No excuse for even mispelled bad language.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
9:08 pm
MVP thus far=Freeman…rookie—how about some vets coming thru now?
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:08 pm
There can’t possibly be a more frustrating team in baseball than the Braves. Night after night, it’s the same damn thing.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
9:08 pm
smaller zone for Minor?
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:08 pm
Normally I would be happy to see the starter leave the game but the Padres bullpen is nasty. This probably the only team that we are in disadvantage at the battle of the pens.
BRAVES FAN IN NJ
May 31st, 2011
9:08 pm
How the hell did they go from having two excellent shortstops in the system and they end up with AGon? Horrible general managing!!!!
Jerry
May 31st, 2011
9:08 pm
Quite frankly, watching both these teams try to hit is something like watching a monkey eff a football.
ArkBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
9:09 pm
@chief noc-a-homa
If you would have read my comment, it clearly said I don’t care how negative or ignorant you want to be. A lot of people (myself included) post negative and sometimes ignorant comments. I’m just tired of scrolling and seeing your gibberish. People will respect whatever you have to say a lot more if you take the time to type correctly so it makes sense.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:09 pm
Great, walk the leadoff PH. He must be gettin tired as well.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:10 pm
CAB – I posed 3 questions to you that were time warped to the bottom of the last page….
CHIEF NOC-A-HOMA
May 31st, 2011
9:10 pm
diamondbackmac?????? are you a d-backs fan???? what are you doing here?????
oh yes and one more thing…d-backs not make the playoffs this year ….final standings in the west
GIANTS
ROCKIES
DBACKS
DODGERS
PADRES
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
9:10 pm
meh
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:11 pm
Hopefully we win one tomorrow. Leadoff walk. SB. Hit. See, SBs are NOT a meaningless stat.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:11 pm
Bad walk to Patterson to begin the seventh. That could turn out to be troublesome.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
9:12 pm
jeffrey-
ummm, no. Well, yes, I have pizza in the fridge. I do not like to be hot (me, not my pizza. I like my pizza hot)
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
9:13 pm
What will ever do without Chief’s insightful and calculating analysis? Truly a sad day. I weep for our youth.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
9:13 pm
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!! NO MORE FRIGGIN’ STEALS!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:13 pm
Here comes the 3-2 loss.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:13 pm
There can’t possibly be a more frustrating team in baseball than the Braves
You know the Twins are almost 20 games under .500?
N8
May 31st, 2011
9:13 pm
Two things….
1) If you’re going to send Minor out there to start the 7th inning and allow him to possibly be “on the hook” for the loss if he lets the leadoff guy get on, don’t you have to let him face the next guy to see if he can get out of his mess?
2) Where are all the jackasses that keep telling me and others that stolen bases aren’t a good tool to have (especially for teams that don’t hit)?
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
9:13 pm
CHIEF
No dude, it’s just an old nickname from the Marine Corp. That one comment of yours was quite offensive though. Please refrain from such language in the future.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
rob
Wasn’t that the inning that Freeman (and not Gonzo) knocked both runners in with a double? Why are we talking about Gonzo bunting them over. Freeman was on second when Gonzo was hitting, I think.
I’ll tell you who loves the bunt. The other teams manager. It’s a free out for his team!
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
Nevermind, I guess I read it wrong.
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
BALLGAME >_>
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
Too bad to lose to these freaking bums. I just don’t get this team. They are just putrid on offense. Down right awful. But, I guess we all know that. I just keep thinking they are going to break out of it at some point and that they can’t be this bad on offense. But, they are.
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
On cue. Ballgame.
DAVID JUSTICE
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
you are right tomahawk media!!!!!!! 3-2 padres
Jerry
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
AGon choked on that grounder
tony austin
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
What in the world is going on? This offense cannot be that bad.
I guess I can hope the players will end the season around their career average, which means the having a few weeks of the opposite end of this horrible team wide slump.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:14 pm
More of the same here. A nice L tonight.
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 31st, 2011
9:16 pm
Oopsie!!!
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
9:16 pm
Game OVER!
Playing down to the level of our opposition again…This will be another one of those series losses that will bite us in the Ass in September
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
9:16 pm
DMac, how dare you let your buddies in the Marines give you a nickname for a team that probably didn’t even exist when they gave it to you. How shortsighted of you and your friends.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:16 pm
Look how easy it is for opposing teams to steal bases. That would be so refreshing for this offense, but it has been a long time since the Braves had someone who could easily swipe bags.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:17 pm
Sigh! I want to say game over but I still have faint hope. Let’s go Braves!
Kat
May 31st, 2011
9:17 pm
Nats up 6-2 on the Phillies bot 7th.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:17 pm
Oh my goodness, the world just ended. Time to overreact, everybody!! And don’t forget to use many cliches
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:17 pm
I’ll say this, McLouth should never play CF again. Schafer is pretty darn solid out there.
GT Alum
May 31st, 2011
9:17 pm
Based on that graphic and what I’ve seen, the Braves and Padres sound like similar teams. Good pitching, light hitting, and whatever scoring they do tends to be late in the game.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:17 pm
Yeah, this crap got old and ugly about three weeks ago. Something needs to change.
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
9:18 pm
Padres have won 6 in a row when they’ve scored 3 or more runs
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
9:18 pm
I Just Turned This Trash Off!
UGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
9:19 pm
Get him out of there Roger
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 31st, 2011
9:19 pm
They can overreact all they want. It’s their damn life. Let them be.
DAVID JUSTICE
May 31st, 2011
9:19 pm
sad!!!!!!! the phillies trails 6-2 in 7 inning
braves need to win …sad very sad
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:20 pm
Jeffrey d… You’re right, let’s just keep tipping our caps and talk agaIn when they’re 10 games out of first. Get a clue dude, this team has major problems.
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 31st, 2011
9:20 pm
You’re right, let’s just keep tipping our caps and talk agaIn when they’re 10 games out of first. Get a clue dude, this team has major problems.
There’s some sort of retarded code of conduct around here, where it clearly states (apparently) that you can overreact or even get worried, or feel frustated as long as there are other teams with worst records.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:20 pm
Game over!!!
tony austin
May 31st, 2011
9:20 pm
Knowing the Phillies, they’ll come back and win that game.
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
9:20 pm
Pads going for the sweep tomorrow? I’ll say there’s a 80% chance of that being the case
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
9:21 pm
Remember when all those bloggers were railing with indignation when Gearin was sent down, demanding that Linebrink be released?
WTF are you doing now? Where are you?
TruthSeeker
May 31st, 2011
9:21 pm
What a joke this team is.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:21 pm
Now, other than CAB, who on here seriously thinks this team can overcome a 2-run deficit this late in the game? Seriously thinks they can?
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
9:21 pm
ok, make that a 90% chance now ….
Black Frenchy
May 31st, 2011
9:21 pm
Way to go Braves! Going 17-10 in May gives you an excuse to continue your exercise in offensive futility! Playing all these one run games and extra inning games is surely not going to eventually take a toll on the pitching staff. (especially overworking the pen)
Hitting and scoring runs like you are is going to lead to a post season berth for sure!
Kat
May 31st, 2011
9:21 pm
I look up from my laptop and every time there’s a hit. I think I need to continue looking down and never watch the game and maybe just maybe their bats will die.
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:22 pm
Somebody wake up our stupid manager and let him know his pitcher is getting shelled. God, I hate Fredi Gonzalez.
N8
May 31st, 2011
9:22 pm
WHY ON EARTH has Ryan Ludwick not seen a pitch in his ear-hole after the first two AB where he swung at the 1st pitch?
This offense is awfensive. Ridiculous.
On a side note…. Gearrin is NOT Peter Moylan.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:22 pm
Quit worrying about the Phils. We ARE NOT catching them. We are not the same caliber team. They are getting healthy and playing even better.
tony austin
May 31st, 2011
9:23 pm
Not be negative, but this should just about do it. It took the Braves 2 games to score 5 runs, I’m not thinking they can it in a couple of innings.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
9:23 pm
Exactly what is it that Gearrin is doing that makes Fredi and Roger think he should still be pitching after 4 hits in 5 batters???
C’mon guys. 3-2 is not too hard to overcome. 5-2, and even I want to call ballgame……….
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:23 pm
I guess no is just as good a time as any for Gearrin to take his lumps
Reds Fan
May 31st, 2011
9:23 pm
Worth repeating: “Gearrin is NOT Peter Moylan”
Jerry
May 31st, 2011
9:23 pm
Okay, I think that pretty much signals the end of this game and the loss of this series. It’s fitting though because the Phillies are losing and we just can’t seem to win when they lose. Gearrin sure has stunk it up tonight an guaranteed that Minor loses another big league game.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
9:23 pm
McLouth should never play CF again. Schafer is pretty darn solid out there.
Remember that easy double play Schafer blew yesterday with the pitcher standing between 2nd and 3rd? Where he just had to toss the ball to Uggla? You know the one where his bad throw let the runner get back and score on the next play? You know, scored the winning run? WAFI
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:24 pm
Looking at the Braves body language they are conceding this game already.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:24 pm
Still think people are overreacting Jeffrey D?
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
9:24 pm
Ugh at least two runs off some combination of adams/bell/frieri
keepinitreal
May 31st, 2011
9:24 pm
Parrish needs to get the ax TONIGHT. Hitting coaches are replaceable anyway. Enough is enough.
Reds Fan
May 31st, 2011
9:24 pm
Oops-forgot to change my name back from the Reds series!!
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:24 pm
Get a clue dude, this team has major problems.
Yeah, I’ve got a clue champ. You said there’s no more frustrating team than the Braves. All I said was that the Twins are almost 20 games under .500 for perspective. But apparently what came out was “The Braves have the greatest roster ever assembled.”
DS1
May 31st, 2011
9:25 pm
Jason
I think they can come back. But then again, I ALWAYS think they can come back.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:25 pm
The Padres have swung the bats well in this series. I am starting to think that the Braves are having trouble at home. They have been outplayed way too much at Turner Field.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:25 pm
Still think people are overreacting Jeffrey D?
Yes.
N8
May 31st, 2011
9:25 pm
I’m not sold on Fredi at all. Dude’s gotta go. Probably the ONLY guy that would make me remotely wish Bobby was back.
Then again, with the walking wounded horse-sh!t everyday players Wren gave him to work with, I’m not sure any manager would make the difference.
But Fredi’s not the right guy for the job. That much is becoming evident with each passing game. But the Marlins (you know…. the team just ahead of us in the standings?) could have told us that last June.
If only somebody would have clued Wren in on that.
Johnny from ohio
May 31st, 2011
9:25 pm
oh my god! why Gearrin and not Christian Martinez? Gearrin is a rookie and blow the game one more time and now Sherrill takes the mound WOWWW nice move!
now i understand why the marlins fired fredi glez and i dont understand why the braves hired him!
ArkBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
9:25 pm
Fredi has already made the comment before that the Braves had no business being “in” a game earlier this season. I’m pretty sure he’s given this one up, which is probably why he left Gearrin in.
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 31st, 2011
9:25 pm
There’s some sort of retarded code of conduct around here, where it clearly states (apparently) that you can’t overreact or even get worried, or feel frustrated as long as there are other teams with worst records. First it was the Red Sox (”at least we’re not the Red Sox”), now the Twins.
And some nights, when the Phillies end up losing their games too, they go with ”At least the Phillies lost”’.
LSU Baseball Coach
May 31st, 2011
9:26 pm
Fredi, Stop this!! Get Venters in there.In fact just put Venters in every game at the first sign of trouble. What’s the matter with you??
jeff
May 31st, 2011
9:26 pm
we already scored our runs for the night> bravo to the braves once again for losing a series to the Padres who are 8 games under 500. so that makes the Padres, Nationals, and angels who all are below 500. Frank Wren Bravo for a job not well done.. this offense just sucks.. game over and goodnight..
BIOMASS
May 31st, 2011
9:26 pm
crap, the mighty Padres are beating up the Braves. Again.
DiamondbackMac
May 31st, 2011
9:26 pm
AtlYnkHtr
How shortsighted of you and your friends.
Mea culpa sir or madam. (Pick whichever applies. I guess, of course, in some cases, both could apply.) You are correct in assuming that the nickname was bestowed upon me before the Diamondbacks came into existence. (20 odd years before in fact.)
rc35
May 31st, 2011
9:27 pm
Hey! No extra innings tonight, at least!
DS1
May 31st, 2011
9:27 pm
We don’t need any more arms in the pen. What we need is probably one more bat. (and for about 3-4 other hitters getting their act together…)
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:27 pm
God bless you, DS1. I wish I believed this team could come back, but not the way they swing it.
Jeffrey, you are still crazy then.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:27 pm
Thankfully Sherrill ends an awful inning.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
9:28 pm
N8
Co-Sign on your 9:22 post!
This loss was more on the offense. Our pitchers both starters and relievers feel like they are pitching on eggshells. They all can’t hold opponents to 2 runs or less for 10-11 innings everynight, Gearrin was due to get Slapped, and it happened…
We are still above .500
jeff
May 31st, 2011
9:28 pm
they are not scoring a run and getting a hit against the Padres Bullpen .
Ron Hyatt
May 31st, 2011
9:29 pm
Hey Wren, why don’t you stop by my house. I’ve got this sweet FIAT convertible I’ll sell you.
keepinitreal
May 31st, 2011
9:29 pm
Agreed with Jerry. This team is comatose, and it’s not surprise when the manager just sits there like an emotionless lump. I’ve never seen a team with so little energy.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
9:29 pm
The Angels are 2 games over .500, jeff.
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
9:29 pm
Hitter’s can’t hit and its Fredi’s fault……
Facts are is that no manager ever gets it 100 percent right, most that are considered great had the great talent to go along with them. No one is a miracle worker, the braves don’t score much which make every move or lack there of by Fredi get magnified. You can either blame the manager or blame the rich athletes getting paid to do their jobs who aren’t doing it. I choose the latter.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
9:29 pm
Marlins did not really fire Fredi.He was nearly orgasmic to take over the Braves his entire tenure.They basically got sick of his Atlanta act and just gave him what he wanted. It’s not like they were losing Miller Huggins.Watch the look on Fredi’s face at certain times of tension. Bambi showed more guts after his mom got whacked by that hunter.
BIOMASS
May 31st, 2011
9:29 pm
i was just thinking the same, rc35. no extra innings
Jerry
May 31st, 2011
9:30 pm
Just a hunch, but even as cheap as the front office and Liberty is, I really don’t see Fredi Gonzalez lasting to the end of his contract if he doesn’t show a little life. Is it any wonder that this team looks so lifeless most of the time? Look at the manager. He looks like a friggin statue in the dugout. I guess you never know what you have until it’s gone, and Bobby Cox had his faults but he at least showed some life in every single game I ever saw. Missing Bobby Cox!
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
9:31 pm
something tells me if the Braves had scored back in the first, they’d be leading and the Pads would be scoreless right now.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:31 pm
Sometimes I think some of you are rooting for the Braves to not score because you’d rather have something to complain about than see the Braves do well.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:31 pm
And the always scary Diory Hernandez pinch hits. Lol.
Fols
May 31st, 2011
9:32 pm
I get my best shut-eye when the Braves are batting……….this is the most rest i’ve ever gotten during the season. Why you guys so angry?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
9:32 pm
they are not scoring a run and getting a hit against the Padres Bullpen .
One hitter and you are already half wrong…
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:32 pm
And right on cue…
Bravefaninok
May 31st, 2011
9:33 pm
Diory is becoming a hitter…..He has had a good approach his last few AB’s
SHEfer
May 31st, 2011
9:33 pm
I will never hit in the majors.
BravesFAN
May 31st, 2011
9:33 pm
The Braves offense is an absolute joke. Either make some trades to bring in a guy or two with a big bat or just two guys who can actually hit the freaking ball or trade Lowe and get your young pitchers a chance to get some experience and look forward to the future. Either pick up some guys who hit or scrap this season. Because the guys we have can’t hit and won’t get us to the playoffs. It’s a joke how bad this team is on offense I feel sorry for our starting pitchers they’re so good and NEVER GET ANY HELP FROM OUR PATHETIC OFFENSE. WREN TRADE FOR SOME REAL HITTERS OR BRING UP THE DOOKIES AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. NOBODY WANTS TO WATCH THE BRAVES SCORE 2.5 RUNS A GAME THE REST OF THE SEASON POINT BLANK PERIOD…
N8
May 31st, 2011
9:33 pm
Didn’t Bobby always say that you really didn’t know what you had as a team until June 1st?
OK Wren….. get on the phone. Because what you’ve put together is one of the most putrid offensive units in the history of Atlanta Braves baseball. Even the late 80’s teams could score runs with the likes of Ozzie Virgil, Gerald Perry, a young Ronnie Gant and the fading Dale Murphy….
Time to use that pitching surplus and get some guys that can hit.
tony austin
May 31st, 2011
9:34 pm
These past few games are not on the bullpen. They are not on the starters and they are not on Fredi. The offense is not recognizing pitches or the situation. They are swinging at balls in the dirt and a foot out of the zone. They need to be patient. This will get turned around, the career numbers of these players is going to make that happen.
I don’t think they are in the same league as the Phillies for the division title, but if they can get this turned around and start a playoff run, their pitching is good enough to win it all. It just depends on which offense shows up.
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
9:34 pm
YAY Chipper.
Still not getting excited >_>
Fols
May 31st, 2011
9:34 pm
Complain Complain Complain….then we ripp off a bunch of wins and it’s a lovefest.
Troubled times with a bat no doubt…..but this team is still sitting pretty good.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
9:34 pm
As badly as the offense is doing so far this year, the fact that we have the third best record in baseball in May has got to be a plus. That says a lot about our pitching staff.
Now, if we can just bunch up a few doubles and launch a few three run dingers…………….
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:34 pm
What has gotten into Schafer tonight? No semblance of the approach he had in his previous several games.
Nick
May 31st, 2011
9:35 pm
The Braves have the worst offense in baseball, no doubt about it.
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
9:35 pm
LH Relievers from other team usually is kryptonite for Braves LH Hitters, especially late in the game.
TNScott
May 31st, 2011
9:35 pm
Some of the boneheaded batting practices are beginning to rub off on Schafer
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:35 pm
Chipper ground out to 2nd?
JC from DR! (You gotta tip your cap to ____)
May 31st, 2011
9:36 pm
Sometimes I think some of you are rooting for the Braves to not score because you’d rather have something to complain about than see the Braves do well.
Maybe thinking is not something you’re good at
Bobby Hill
May 31st, 2011
9:36 pm
We stink!!
Nick
May 31st, 2011
9:36 pm
The Braves need to DFA Conrad immediately after the game. He brings nothing to the team.
ryan klesko fansclub
May 31st, 2011
9:36 pm
lol very funny earl williams !!!!!!!! lol BAMBI hahahahaha lol
I begin to believe the braves not advance to the playoffs this year
is sad have the second best ERA in all MLB and play very awful
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
9:36 pm
Oh look, Nick’s here! Hi Nick! What a surprise to see you…
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:36 pm
I think Fredi and LP must have talked to Logan and told him his approach didn’t fit with the team.
Ron Hyatt
May 31st, 2011
9:36 pm
You never wanna be the guy following the “legend”. Just axe Scott Howard
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
9:37 pm
Jerry, yeah thats what we need life from the manager. Someone let Torre and Larussa know they will never be successful.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:37 pm
Well, we can’t blame Uggla tonight.
BIOMASS
May 31st, 2011
9:37 pm
yeah, Bobby did pick a booger or fifty.
Not missing Cox!
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:37 pm
Ah, my bad njbraves. Still don’t think that’s a legit reason to call a stranger a “dope” but whatever.
Anyway, call me clueless if you’d like, but I’m still pulling for my team and not harping on the negatives.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
9:38 pm
@Jeffrey D
“Sometimes I think some of you are rooting for the Braves to not score because you’d rather have something to complain about than see the Braves do well.”
lol, There are knee-jerk fans everywhere, Believe me the fans on here have nothing on the cats on the Philly.com forum as far as the knee jerk posts…But this team especially the offense is too damn talented to be getting punked by the AAA Padres…
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:38 pm
Freaking time warp…how much longer is this gonna go on? It’s pushing 2 weeks now.
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
9:38 pm
Ugh it’s saddening.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
9:38 pm
Mac ground out to 1st?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
9:38 pm
And there’s the run we were not going to score…
BravesFAN
May 31st, 2011
9:38 pm
WHAT A JOKE I BET WE GET SWEPT AT HOME BY SAN DIEGO. ONE OF THE WORST TEAMS IN BASEBALL..HAHA WERE A PATHETIC JOKE ON OFFENSE.,MAKE TRADES TO GET REAL HITTERS IN HERE OR FORGET THIS SEASON SCRAP HALF THIS TEAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. What were doing now is pointless…Make moves to actually be good or scrap this yr and let the rookies play!!!!!!
Nick
May 31st, 2011
9:39 pm
Good AB Fat @ss. Sometimes I think these losers don’t care. Why should we? Braves finish the season in 4th place and 20 games under .500.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
9:39 pm
Thank you, Chipper!
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:39 pm
Jeffrey d… I was commenting on your overreaction post you dope. Like I said before, get a clue.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
9:39 pm
Curse me kilts, a lefty…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
9:40 pm
Hey, you dumb ump!! Why not try calling that BEFORE the catcher goes to the dugout!! And it was barely even a FRIGGIN’ STRIKE, you freaking ump!!!
Not. Cool. That really TICKS ME OFF!! I am SO ticked!!!!
Bravefaninok
May 31st, 2011
9:40 pm
HaHa The ole man comes through and Diory Scores ……The Pads Bullpen is very good ,but they are due to give it up .
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:41 pm
The Braves just broke topped their average amount of run output.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:41 pm
njbraves – I responded to you at 9:37 if you’re interested.
one fan
May 31st, 2011
9:41 pm
strike one strike two and strike three ,,,,McCann vs LHP = .000 avg
McCann kills the “rally”
all nights the braves fans pray for a MIRACLE
Offensive Inburst
May 31st, 2011
9:41 pm
“Sometimes I think some of you are rooting for the Braves to not score because you’d rather have something to complain about than see the Braves do well.”
Actually… you’re only half right. The reason some are rooting for the Braves to not score is because the random offensive outburst gives Wren and management the false sense that this offense is going to be good enough to get the job done. It isn’t. An 8 run performance by the Braves will surely be followed by a half dozen games where they score 1, 2 or 3 runs. Really doesn’t matter though. This team is pretty much going to sink or swim with the bats they have. Mid-season addition to jump start the offense? The money for that is sitting on the bench tonight hitting .170 with a 60 million dollar contract.
Kat
May 31st, 2011
9:43 pm
Nats now up 9-2 ..bot 8th
Perlo
May 31st, 2011
9:43 pm
Changing the subject-Glavine was a great pitcher, but…….someone needs to tell him to stop talking so fast and to project his voice-he mumbles too much and is really hard to understand at times.
And we’re not all deaf in my house.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
9:44 pm
Tomahawkin
I wish you would cut & paste some of the stuff on the Phillie blog instead of just telling us how stupid and crazy they are.
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:44 pm
Let’s be honest, Wren isn’t making any trades any time soon.
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
9:45 pm
“Well, we can’t blame Uggla tonight”
so far the blame can be placed on (obvious) the pen or offensively, the top 2 of the order who are 0-7
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:45 pm
I am unsure if acquiring a hitter to insert into this lineup would really be that beneficial because the fact remains that their approach is just putrid at the plate and besides, they did acquire Dan Uggla and that has failed to work out that well. In fact, none of their recent offensive acquistions over the past few years have worked out all that well.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
9:45 pm
That looked like the perfect time to put the “Kent Hrbek” move on Alberto Gonzalez. Conrad missed his chance.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
9:46 pm
Nothing turns me off like bad K calls……especially when it makes for his second K of the night…and he’s been going so good…oh my gosh, I’m so agitated…
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:47 pm
Watching this 2011 Braves team give me new appreciation for what Mariners fans have had to endure for the past year and a half. Seriously, it could be worse than this team because the Mariners are awful at the plate.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
9:47 pm
McCann vs. LHP = .273 AVG.
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:48 pm
Jeffrey d…. It’s all good man. I pull for these guys every night and I’m just sick of watching them not get it done. Didn’t mean to jump On ya.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
9:48 pm
Its Time to DL Chipper especially when Nate Dawg Comes Back…
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:48 pm
We just can’t finish out hitters with an 0-2 count tonight.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:49 pm
Let’s be honest, Wren isn’t making any trades any time soon.
I agree with your comment and if we do get a player it won’t be an impact player either. This team would have to do it with pitching, defense and timely hitting.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:49 pm
No worries
Jerry
May 31st, 2011
9:49 pm
In regards to what’s gonna happen when Nate comes back from the DL. Schafer could be hitting .300 and it won’t matter in the least. I’d bet even money that Fredi puts him back in centerfield and Schafer more than likely will get sent back to Gwinnett. Just a hunch.
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:50 pm
It’s about the Braves winning, not McCann.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:51 pm
@ Tomahawk Mafia. Thanks for the info.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
9:52 pm
The Freddy with life
Jay Dubu
May 31st, 2011
9:52 pm
Freddy replaced Uggs .179 BA with Conrad’s .179 BA, and expected what to happen?
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:53 pm
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
9:48 pm
We just can’t finish out hitters with an 0-2 count tonight.
That actually has been a bit of a trend for the past few years. I checked some stats a couple of weeks ago and found that the Braves have actually allowed the most hits on 0-2 in the league and over the past few years they have been near the top.
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
9:53 pm
fourth career three-hit game for Freeman
Bobby Hill
May 31st, 2011
9:53 pm
If we exclude Uggla, what was teh last significantly positive offensive piece the Braves have added from outside the organization.
I don’t think you can call the Yunel / Seabass trade a positive offensive upgrade. Acquiring McLouth has not worked at planned. Hinske has been good but he’s a bench player.
Do we really have to go back to the Tex trade to find an instance where the team has significantly upgraded the offense by acquiring an outside piece?
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
9:54 pm
Bobby Hill
Exactly, people that come over here since the Tex trade are largely disappointments. Morever, the Tex trade failed to exactly work out as planned, although he did produce good offensive numbers during his time with the team.
braves
May 31st, 2011
9:55 pm
i miss early 90’s
NIXON – SANDERS CF
BLAUSER SS
PENDLETON 3B
GANT CF
JUSTICE RF
BREAM 1B
LEMKE 2B
Piedmont Blues
May 31st, 2011
9:56 pm
Something tells me this is a headline we’ll never read about Fredi …
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110531&content_id=19822416¬ebook_id=19829072&vkey=notebook_mil&c_id=mil
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2011
9:56 pm
njbraves It’s about the Braves winning, not McCann.
Who are you talking to?
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
9:56 pm
Good to see Fredi turning it around, why don’t a few more braves hitters join him.
Bravefaninok
May 31st, 2011
9:57 pm
Freddie comes through……Brooks Make Nick eat some Crow ,Please.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
9:57 pm
Time warp’s even more frustrating when we’re losing.
Bravefaninok
May 31st, 2011
9:57 pm
DS1
You are probly correct
CHINO CADAHIA
May 31st, 2011
9:58 pm
i dont understand why C.Martinez dont replaces Minor in 7th inning and now in the 9th inning take the mound in lost game :S
Christian is a long reliever really? SAD TEAM
DS1
May 31st, 2011
9:58 pm
fan in OK
Nick never eats crow. When the Braves do well, he disappears. Personally, I think he is one of the somewhat regulars that just likes to stir the pot.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2011
9:59 pm
Something tells me this is a headline we’ll never read about Fredi …
“Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage”
I think you’re right, Piedmont Blues.
Tomahawk Mafia
May 31st, 2011
10:00 pm
Piedmont Blues
Preach it brother. Little good can come from such an aggressive approach at the plate. It is like Parrish and Gonzalez and Wren eschew more contemporary baseball knowledge in favor of outdate traditional teachings and approaches. I for one find that to be frustrating.
Piedmont Blues
May 31st, 2011
10:01 pm
N8,
It’s a putrid offensive team and some of the blame goes to the top. Gonzalez and Parrish preach aggressiveness at the plate, discipline be cursed. A veteran like Chipper or Heap or even Hinske will let such garbage go in one ear and out the other. Who knows how those lessons might mess up younger players, though? It’s like having a lineup full of Frenchies. Quick innings; other team’s starters going deep into games; your own pitchers not getting rest between innings. It’s a recipe for disaster.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
10:01 pm
You left out Derek Lee. We would have kept him if not for Freddy. It was hard to tell what he had because of the injury he had but “Freddy was Ready”.
Kat
May 31st, 2011
10:02 pm
Phillies lost.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
10:02 pm
Chino, yes he is the long man. Or was that rhetorical? If so first time I ever saw someone ask themselves a question and answer with a rhetorical question. Question is did you answer said rhetorical question? OK maybe Rickey Henderson did that one time. Rickey that you?
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:02 pm
Minor will be a good #4 starter.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:03 pm
Didn’t Fredi tell Jason to be more patient at the beginning of the year?
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:04 pm
I HATE the Heat. Loathe them.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
10:04 pm
I have never been one to be too critical of the manager. I believe that the difference between the great managers and the worst managers is only a few games a year.
But Fredi seems to baffle reason with more moves than I am used to seeing. I was a huge BC fan, but realized he was more of a leader than a tactician. Fredi, at this point in the season, is NO Bobby Cox.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
10:05 pm
JasonFL, oh wait he wont be one of the two or three most winnigiest coaches in all time? We should always replace our HOF coach with another HOF coach. How stupid!!!!
BRAVESFAN
May 31st, 2011
10:06 pm
Bottom of the ninth, do you know where your offense is?
uga-brave
May 31st, 2011
10:06 pm
he could of done the same thing in the top of the seventh when he brought in gearrin.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:06 pm
Fredi will NEVER be as good as BC.
ncbravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:06 pm
So much for the “flourish” finish to the “strong” month of May. Way to take charge against a last place club, Bravos!
DS1
May 31st, 2011
10:07 pm
Your second baseman ends the inning. You bring in your long man, and you don’t do a double switch but have Martinez up first in the 9th. Why not run Uggla in to the 9th slot, so that if you tie it in the 9th, then you can leave C-Mart in for at least one more inning???
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:09 pm
Fredi doesn’t think that far ahead, DS1. There have been a couple of times this year that a double-switch was the right play. That’s one thing Bobby never seemed to get wrong. Bobby was a better strategist than he is given credit for and certainly didn’t miss a beat when it came to that type of stuff.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
10:09 pm
Bell is due to blow a save but I got a feeling that it won’t be tonight.
ncbravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:10 pm
No chance here – Heath Bell could save this game with his eyes closed.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
10:11 pm
….Joyful and high-spirited; we approach the ninth with great vigor–inspired in part by our general…our leader, Fredi {American Dream} Gonzalez.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:12 pm
AtlYnkHtr, why shouldn’t we want to? My comment was more directed to the many people on here who say that Fredi is an extension of Bobby. Not really.
BravesFAN
May 31st, 2011
10:12 pm
This Braves offense is so pathetically putrid its embarrassing. They should give back some of the money they make because they don’t deserve it.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
10:12 pm
JasonFL, of course you WANT to, the braves WANT to pick ALLSTAR players every time they draft a guy. The reason its very unlikely to replace a HOF manager with another HOF manager is that the first HOF manager is in the HOF because there are not many guys who could do what he did. See how that works? To recap they WANT to but complaining that they did not is just sorry to say stupid.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
10:13 pm
fan in OK
Good points on the double switch.
Looks like we need some Marteeeen magic tonight!
The A Bomb
May 31st, 2011
10:14 pm
Well….good news…..
With Mather’s popup the Braves have taken the NL lead in F Bombs.
Bravefaninok
May 31st, 2011
10:15 pm
DS1
May 31st, 2011
10:07 pm
Your second baseman ends the inning. You bring in your long man, and you don’t do a double switch but have Martinez up first in the 9th. Why not run Uggla in to the 9th slot, so that if you tie it in the 9th, then you can leave C-Mart in for at least one more inning???
Actually there are 2 reasons ……You really want uggla facing Bell here?
If we tie it Kimmie pitches the 10th.Generally you use your closer when tied @ home.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:15 pm
And people say we overuse Kimbrel…4th day in a row for Bell
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:15 pm
Let’s get a runner on to at least make it interesting!
Kat
May 31st, 2011
10:16 pm
/>|>\>|>/>|>\>|>/>… trying here folks …lol
Kentavo
May 31st, 2011
10:17 pm
Good; now we can lose by 1-run again…
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:17 pm
Ask and you shall receive, Jason.
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
10:17 pm
Old man!!!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:17 pm
4th day in a row…
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
10:18 pm
Bell is been possed by Kimbrel’s spirit those pitchers were not near the plate.
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
10:18 pm
I’m calling for mandatory furlough days for non-hitting types.
Mike
May 31st, 2011
10:18 pm
Chipper just did that so we could lose another one run game.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
10:18 pm
(From last page)
JasonFL, of course you WANT to, the braves WANT to pick ALLSTAR players every time they draft a guy. The reason its very unlikely to replace a HOF manager with another HOF manager is that the first HOF manager is in the HOF because there are not many guys who could do what he did. See how that works? To recap they WANT to but complaining that they did not is just sorry to say stupid.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
10:18 pm
And people say we overuse Kimbrel…4th day in a row for Bell
You can count Bell’s ribs. Well, maybe those are rolls of fat.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
10:18 pm
kwajbraves
Bell is been possed by Kimbrel’s spirit those pitchers were not near the plate.
Possed? You don’t say? Oh and all pitchers start at 60′6″ the only variance is due to the length of their stride…oh wait.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:18 pm
Where’s DK’s mom been lately? We need some pants-removing action.
BRAVESFAN
May 31st, 2011
10:19 pm
Don’t hit in the double play
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
10:19 pm
Maybe he is human after all. Please take a strike Prado.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 31st, 2011
10:19 pm
Don’t know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but Schafer has reached base every game this season.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:19 pm
No e’s for you, Prado!
BFChris26
May 31st, 2011
10:20 pm
Shame.
njbraves
May 31st, 2011
10:20 pm
A little excitement just to make the end result more painful.
Offensive Inburst
May 31st, 2011
10:20 pm
The “there must be a pony under all this horse ****” crew of announcers on TV and radio are pretty funny with this team. To hear them tell it the team is just hitting in tough luck or just a dribbler or two away from going on an offensive tear!
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:21 pm
AtlYnkHtr, pot meet kettle. Kettle, meet pot. Somehow, I don’t think I am going to lose a lot of sleep over you thinking I am stupid. Again, my comment is directed to those who think Fredi is basically Bobby. Do you comprehend that?
The A Bomb
May 31st, 2011
10:21 pm
Hey — 2 F Bombs — 1 inning.
The swagger is back. Not.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:22 pm
Nice, one mo’.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:22 pm
What are the chances Mac hits a walk-off, 2-run HR to make people like me look even more foolish than usual? Nah, I was dreaming there for a minute.
ncbravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:23 pm
Nice, Bravos. Way to back up the 2-1 series vs. Cincy with a pathetic series loss to the Padres.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:23 pm
Hard to hit a home run on a ball 8 inches outside
Kat
May 31st, 2011
10:23 pm
Damn
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
10:23 pm
and the Padres will go for the sweep tomorrow
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:24 pm
Ugh.
Bah.
Fudge.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:24 pm
Ok, Soph…Mac, hit a HR!
ArkBravesFan
May 31st, 2011
10:24 pm
At least Cronrad is helping Uggla feel better about his low batting average.
1957 Braves Fan
May 31st, 2011
10:24 pm
I can’t wait for the after loss quotes.
BIOMASS
May 31st, 2011
10:24 pm
no extras
Bobby Hill
May 31st, 2011
10:24 pm
yuck
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
10:25 pm
Rollicking time had for all? Yes, I enjoyed my 4-meat pizza, thank you!
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
10:25 pm
JasonFL, when they say that they mean he manages like him, same style. I hardly think anyone means he will be as successful. I said your comment was stupid not that you are that would be unfair of me to think you a moron just because you make moronic comments.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2011
10:25 pm
Another 1 run loss, bleh…
uga-brave
May 31st, 2011
10:25 pm
we might not be hiiting but we are definetely dropping some serious profanity at the plate.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:25 pm
‘Teeen needed to take a pitch there. Oh well, we always suck against the bad teams. I don’t get it. But, this team just doesn’t have it right now. They have the talent, but they need to find “it” and put it all together. But, it’s not April anymore…
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:25 pm
Haha, sorry Jason. 1 out of 2 ain’t bad.
N8
May 31st, 2011
10:26 pm
Glad Fredi left Gearrin in to give up the 3 runs.
Well done.
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
10:26 pm
Heath Bell, 4 days = 4 saves
Kat
May 31st, 2011
10:26 pm
haha uga I noticed that too.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:26 pm
Nite all. I seriously don’t sleep as good when the Braves lose. This team is just too damn good to play this damn bad on offense. I hope they get it straightened out soon.
BRAVESFAN
May 31st, 2011
10:27 pm
It’s okay, everything will change tomorrow because it’s June.
GaryinBham
May 31st, 2011
10:27 pm
This is a frustrating team to watch. They can’t seem to beat what is unarguably one of the 2 or 3 worst teams in baseball. The Pads can’t beat their way out of a wet paper bag, but they beat us twice at home. New meaning to “punchless.” Bummer.
Jerry T
May 31st, 2011
10:27 pm
Ugly has found his niche.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:28 pm
And we need to get our mojo back at home. We played great at The Ted last year…not so much this year. That was huge for us last year.
TruthSeeker
May 31st, 2011
10:28 pm
I’m not even gonna get upset about it anymore. This team is what it is. Great pitching, zero offense. Every game is going to be close. Whether or not we win or lose is basically a crapshoot on any given night.
AtlYnkHtr
May 31st, 2011
10:28 pm
JasonFL, might I suggest commenting on the other braves stories where the first five posts are the idiots posting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. You might find you are a bit more comfortable and among your peers. Post rational, sane comments for two weeks in a row and we can call you up to the bigs.
Moe Berg
May 31st, 2011
10:28 pm
Well, we broke the 2-run mark. Not quite enough tonight, but maybe we can start getting a few more runs.
BIOMASS
May 31st, 2011
10:28 pm
i think i need to find something else to do besides watch the Braves. A colossal waste of time.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
10:29 pm
1-0 AZ. Go DBack beat the Fish. Roger out.
william maier have actually won the game
May 31st, 2011
10:29 pm
it is a good thing we save martinez to pitch the ninth instead of in the key seventh, or that oflaherty didnt pitch the 7th we might have actually won the game
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2011
10:30 pm
AtlYnkHtr, thanks for that tip…I will sleep on it and hope I wake-up ready for the challenge to post with big leaguers like yourself.
N8
May 31st, 2011
10:30 pm
“It’s okay, everything will change tomorrow because it’s June.”
Cool. We must be getting a new manager in June. Link?
Trey
May 31st, 2011
10:30 pm
Braves lose and Thrashers get sent up to Canada. Just a dandy day.
N8
May 31st, 2011
10:31 pm
“You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.” automated blog police
Well let me type it S-L-O-W-L-Y for you then….
F#!k off!
ncbravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:33 pm
Pumped about tomorrow’s game! Hopefully the offensive explosion (4 runs) will carry over to tomorrow and we can avoid getting swept by the Padres AND have a 3-3 homestand.
Jake W.
May 31st, 2011
10:33 pm
On the bright side, big arms in pen get a rest, a good thing because if and when the offense finally shows up, maybe these guys won’t be completely gassed. Also doesn’t hurt that no one else is really dominating in the NL right now so braves still defying odds during 2 month stretch of offensive ineptitude and are still in the thick of things in the NL playoff picture. Things could really be worse but they are not.
Trey
May 31st, 2011
10:35 pm
F*** this crap. The blog is still messing up with the comments.
Trey
May 31st, 2011
10:35 pm
uga-brave, what are you going to do since we no longer have the Thrashers?
Supes
May 31st, 2011
10:36 pm
So much for “finishing strong” in May :rolleyes:
It’s getting so freaking exhausting watching this team lose the close ones…or the inability to score runs when you are consistently getting good to excellent starting pitching efforts.
N8 is right on…Fredi should have pulled Gearing earlier than he did…but should have could have never won a ball game…so dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t.
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
10:36 pm
Considering the negatives of both teams, the Braves next series vs the Mets should be an interesting one … and the Marlin series after that might be painful one since it seems like the Fish always play the Braves like they win something every game they beat them.
james pittman
May 31st, 2011
10:37 pm
freddie gonzalez is not the manager bobby cox was, but he is doing a good job so far, pitching has always been very good, the hitting will come around and when it does this team could go very far. agree the braves need more speed.
bravesgrl4life
May 31st, 2011
10:37 pm
Well, that well and truly stunk. And with that, I’m heading up to the hot upstairs for a cool shower and maybe bed. Night all.
keylargo
May 31st, 2011
10:38 pm
Braves win 8 -1 tomorrow and use Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s runs in the process.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:38 pm
Do they know the blog is still messing up?
TJ
May 31st, 2011
10:39 pm
This team is done. Unless something major happens this team will be 10+ games out by the All-star break. I have no confidence in thsi team at all.
Trey
May 31st, 2011
10:40 pm
Sopheee, CAB put in a word to Carroll and I believ Carroll let them know. It’s on their IT department.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:42 pm
Sopheee-
Carroll mentioned tonight that she has told the IT people the problem is not fixed.
ncbravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:42 pm
The bigger problem is that the 25 men on the roster and the coaches have no confidence in the team either. The lineup knows that they can only count on B-Mac and occassionally Prado. The starters know that they have about a 1 to 2 run margin of error or they’ll lose. And the bullpen will be done by the All Star break because of overuse.
As constructed, the Braves are a 84-85 win team at best. Uggla’s been a bust. Heyward a disappointment. Chipper’s too old. They’re too slow. They don’t do the little things well enough.
The pitching has carried the team to a 30-26 record, but let’s not fool ourselves. There is no way this team is competing for a playoff spot unless they go out and get two or three dependable bats to help out McCann and Prado. And that’s not going to happen … not with this ownership.
Kentavo
May 31st, 2011
10:42 pm
Hmmm; so I thought Padres had the worst offense in the league…
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:45 pm
I thought they contacted cab after that to let her know it was fixed but of course it’s not so just wondering if they’re aware it’s not actually fixed.
Linebrink for Cy
May 31st, 2011
10:46 pm
“so I thought Padres had the worst offense in the league…”
the D’Backs were also 5 games under .500 before they faced the Braves. They’re now 6 over and in first place
Sopheee
May 31st, 2011
10:47 pm
Aha, good to know, cab. Gracias.
Trey
May 31st, 2011
10:47 pm
They probably don’t realize it. Either that, or it messed up a short while after. It doesn’t seem as bad as it was, but it still is on occasion.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:50 pm
In case anyone’s interested, from Carroll’s tweet:
Chipper tweaked his groin. Fredi said might sit tomorrow so he can get back-to-back days off with Thurs off day
ncbravesfan
May 31st, 2011
10:51 pm
Matt Young’s back!!!!! Our offensive woes are through!!!!!
noleee
May 31st, 2011
10:55 pm
Is it safe yet??
MariettaDerek
May 31st, 2011
10:55 pm
Another horrible, frustrating game!
Appropriate that right after Dan Uggla enters the game for the first time, we lose!
Gonzo, nothing! Conrad, nothing! Bullpen, stunk!
SO NOT DOUBLE PITS TO CHESTY!
noleee
May 31st, 2011
11:00 pm
guess not really….
ncbravesfan
May 31st, 2011
11:00 pm
Guessing tomorrow’s Chipper-less lineup will look like this …
CF Schafer
3B Prado
C McCann
RF Hinske
1B Freeman
2B Uggla
SS Gonzalez
LF Young
Looks like a winner to me! IF Hanson throws a shutout and knocks in the winning run himself!
alex
May 31st, 2011
11:01 pm
Team was built with a great deal of hope that ff would do well,jh would be good again, uggla would hit, gonzo would field , chipper would have a final hurrah, mcclouth would return to 2008 form, prado would continue to be the spark, and mccann would cont. to be solid and very good.All these everyday players dreams plus a good-very good pitching staff would translate into a highly competitive team as fg matured as a manager .
Thank goodness for the pitching, mcann,prado, and shaefer hasbeen exciting; the rest has not panned out and the players are quite frankly 2nd tier mlb’s-nothing terrible(x uggla)
“we are who we were worried we might be”
MariettaDerek
May 31st, 2011
11:01 pm
Also….
MATT YOUNG: not a major leaguer!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
11:02 pm
Again via twitter, Chipper doesn’t want to sit:
Chipper says he doesn’t want tomorrow off despite his sore left groin. “We’ve got two many guys out. I’m gonna ride it ’til she bucks me”
Coach ( 2011 Fredi G. a Go!)
May 31st, 2011
11:02 pm
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
11:03 pm
And where did someone see anything about Matt Young? Just wondering…
MariettaDerek
May 31st, 2011
11:03 pm
Matt Young must be thinking to himself, “WHEEEE! I get to try to hit major league pitching and running from home plate to 1st occasionally! Plus, all the bbq sunflower seeds I can eat! WHEEEE!”
‘
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
11:03 pm
Braves optioned Minor back to Triple-A Gwinnett after the game and recalled OF Matt Young. the expectation is Minor will return June 11 if he continues to pitch well….
Chipper tweaked his groin going first to third in the first inning, and while Fredi seemed to watch to play it cautious by giving Chipper Wednesday off (with an off day Thursday that would be 2 days in a row) but Chipper wants to play through it.
“We’ve got too many guys out,” Jones said. “I’m gonna ride it ’til she bucks me.”
ncbravesfan
May 31st, 2011
11:04 pm
That a boy Chipper! We need that .257 average and declining power in the three-hole!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
11:05 pm
Ask and you shall receive…
(sorry for stealing your quotes, Carroll!
)
wow
May 31st, 2011
11:08 pm
When does JJ pitch again? Thats pretty much the only time the Braves have a chance at winning
noleee
May 31st, 2011
11:10 pm
maybe we could trade Minor for Melky??
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
11:10 pm
@cabravesfan…..I imagine they accepting applications @Atlanta.com….go for it cab!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
11:13 pm
noleeee-
COME BAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
11:14 pm
Udonis Haslem and Juwan Howard making an offensive contribution for Heat!
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
11:17 pm
Capt’n-
But I rather like living in California
noleee
May 31st, 2011
11:17 pm
That a boy Chipper! We need that .257 average and declining power in the three-hole!…nc
let me get this straight, the guys drove in two two-out ribbies tonight and he’s the guy you are gonna freakin’ rip?
where do some of you people come from??
sigh
Jim
May 31st, 2011
11:17 pm
Thats my last game going for awhile until I see this crap turn around. I told my friend Minor was going to walk Patterson and he would steal right again. Unless Uggla can start hitting and give us help. Gonzo sucks at the plate swings at anything I dont think Schafer will hit because he only hit 256 at Gwinnet. Matt Young back thats a joke dont see Hanson winning tomorrow with the way they steal bases.
brian
May 31st, 2011
11:19 pm
ncbraves fan – we can have Chipper in at 3rd or Matt Young in LF. Hopefully that means the Braves can rest Uggla again giving him multiple days off and then see what he has on Friday
noleee
May 31st, 2011
11:21 pm
bye Jim
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
11:22 pm
@Noleee…..There used to be a phrase, “Lovetron,” although obviously fictional….perhaps Dawkins was on to something–and judging some of the thunderous commentary herein; I suppose that place there could very well exist.
rob from sc
May 31st, 2011
11:24 pm
Wait until we get our players healthy… Everything will be ok
monty
May 31st, 2011
11:24 pm
I appreciate Chippers bravado but if us fans have to think “big picture ” and are accused(some anyway)of being myopic then Chipper needs to realize it’s a marath0n. We don’t need for him to pull his groin and be out for the rest of the season.
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
11:26 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/05/31/braves-postgame-quotes-following-tuesdays-loss-to-padres/
postgame quotes are up….
CaptainMudderland
May 31st, 2011
11:27 pm
@Jim….c’mon Bud….let’s blow it ‘all’ now…..let’s tip our brew to Alex Gonzo’s hack at the hotdog wrappers…..alright!!!
Mark
May 31st, 2011
11:29 pm
Where is Heyward at? He still big leaguing it with that shoulder. Someone need to let him know that you don’t get the big contract until you can put the numbers up over a full season and not whine and make excuses. Doesn’t matter what you look like…You have to be on the field and produce. Maybe Daddy should have let him play football so he could learn something about toughness…Even though it may not be the smartest thing, I admire Chipper for wanting to be in there…Something he hasn’t always done in his career (Just ask John Smoltz).
FEAR
May 31st, 2011
11:30 pm
Can we just clone prado and mcann?
noleee
May 31st, 2011
11:30 pm
yeah monty, pretty much my thought too
noleee
May 31st, 2011
11:33 pm
I was thinking more along the lines of Idiotopolis Capt, but you might be right
J Dawg
May 31st, 2011
11:33 pm
Tomorrow’s lineup vs the lefty…Book it!
1. Hernandez 3B
2. Prado LF
3. McCann C
4. Uggla 2B
5. Freeman 1B
6. Gonzalez SS
7. Mather RF
8. Schafer CF
Inside Fredi’s mind…”Chipper’s gotta sit, get him two days off and think about the rest of the season…Hernandez has been hitting off the bench so get him in there…You gotta remember Hinske is a bench player, he’s been playing a lot, doing a great job but I’ve gotta get him a break. Just can’t do take Schafer’s glove out of the lineup, he’s in there against the lefty, hitting 8th but he’s un there…”
monty
May 31st, 2011
11:34 pm
It’s pretty rare when a picher has as many balls as strikes and keeps a team to just a couple of hits, but “tip your cap” as Chipper said about Latos.
Has there been am opposing starter in recent memory who didn’t keep the Braves to 2 runs or less?
Tom O'Hawke
May 31st, 2011
11:36 pm
nolie
I often wonder why you communicate with and idiot like me. However, now that I see you communicated with ncbravesfan, I guess I’m not that bad.
Hi, LAdy.
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2011
11:37 pm
Hi Tom!
You may be and idiot (I don’t think so, but who am I to question it?
) but you are a happy and positive and idiot
noleee
May 31st, 2011
11:38 pm
looks like you got that manager thinkin’ down pat J Dawg
JoeBrave
May 31st, 2011
11:38 pm
crap~total crap this team is awful, suck to the extreme!
Tom O'Hawke
May 31st, 2011
11:39 pm
I’d accept that as high praise, nolie, except that I’m aware of the competition, “around here”.
noleee
May 31st, 2011
11:41 pm
cripes Tom, around here you pretty much qualify as a certifiable genius.
Tip Of The Cap
May 31st, 2011
11:48 pm
McCann might have the bat of Johnny Bench but the defense of Dale Murphy (catcher era).
Ugly Is As Ugly Does
May 31st, 2011
11:51 pm
The Braves are Latos intolerant.
Supes
May 31st, 2011
11:54 pm
The Braves are Latos intolerant.
********************
I got a chuckle out of that one:)
Matt Young being called up is a joke…he’s at best a pinch runner on this team.
Tip Of The Cap
May 31st, 2011
11:54 pm
I bet we have the highest paid pinch runner.
richbrave
May 31st, 2011
11:55 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
13 hits with two doubles and two home-runs spells relief against the PHILLIES AAA affiliate.
Four players with multi-hit games.
LF WILKIN RAMIREZ [.264 BA] 3-4, 1 R, 2 RBI [18].
C WILKIN CASTILLO [..257 BA] 3-4, 2 R, 1 2B [4].
3B SHAWN BOWMAN [.252 BA] 3-3, 2 R, 1 HR [6], 2 RBI [13], 1 BB.
RF STEF GARTRELL [.290 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR [8], 3 RBI [28], 1 SO.
CF MATT YOUNG [.273 BA] 1-5, 1 R, 1 2B [6], 1 SO.
1B ‘45′ GOMEZ [.328 BA] 1-4, 2 SO.
JOSE ‘Victor’ LUGO [ND, 2.63 ERA] starts and goes 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 3 SO.
ANTHONY VARVARO [1-5, 2.96 ERA] 3.0 IP, 2 BB, 4 SO.
Lefty BEN SWAGGERTY [H 1, 0.00 ERA] 0.2 IP, 2 SO. Strikes out the first two batters he faces in AAA. Just promo’d from PEARL.
JAIRO ASENCIO [SV 5, 1.62 ERA] 1.1 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO.
kwajbraves
May 31st, 2011
11:59 pm
“I bet we have the highest paid pinch runner”
Yes we do and his name is Dan Uggla.
CaptainMudderland
June 1st, 2011
12:01 am
Dan was wearing his Latos stockings tonight…
tiger297
June 1st, 2011
12:02 am
blog settled down yet…I’m scared to look
monty
June 1st, 2011
12:02 am
Big Ben Swaggerty, gettin his swag on I see.
The A Bomb
June 1st, 2011
12:04 am
It would be great to hear Don Sutton’s take on how this horrid offense compares to the 1966 Dodgers.
This team just loves to get itself out….see Chipper (3-0 count) and Prado (3-1 count) tonight.
Feels like we’re 20 under, so I guess there’s hope. Guys are really making poor decisions at the plate — across the lineup.
brian
June 1st, 2011
12:08 am
Lynchburg also bringing the offense richbrave!
tiger297
June 1st, 2011
12:08 am
what a great baseball game tonight…loses are always frustrating but this was a very competitive baseball game
CaptainMudderland
June 1st, 2011
12:09 am
ATTN: Look for Matt Young to step up nicely….5′ 4″ in heels.
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:17 am
This team just loves to get itself out….see Chipper (3-0 count) and Prado (3-1 count) tonight. A Bomb
Again, the guy drove in a two-out ribbie twice and you morons are ripping on him?
WTF are you thinking?
richbrave
June 1st, 2011
12:18 am
MISSISSIPPI
RANDALL DELGADO [4-3, 3.77 ERA] 6.0, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 4 BB, 4 SO. goes down to defeat tonight making it a two-night sweep for our big three starters. Unlike yesterday this one was a tight tilt however. PEARL RIVER Bandits lose 1-2.
YELIER CASTRO [3.18 ERA], BENINO PRUNEDA [2.95 ERA], and BILLY BULLOCK [5.49 ERA] combine for three innings of no-hit, one-walk relief, but to no avail as the offense is shackled by the opposition pitchers.
Seven hits including three doubles are not quite enough tonight.
Multi-hit games for
LF WILLIE CABRERA [.266 BA] 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B [6], 1 SO.
C MATT KENNELLY [.298 BA] 2-4, 2 SO.
3B DONEL LINARES [.297 BA] 1-4, 1 2B [9], 1 RBI [33], 1 SO.
The final double belongs to MARCUS ‘Bob’ LEMON [.229 BA] 1-4, 1 2B [3], 2 SO.
Earl Williams.
June 1st, 2011
12:22 am
Let me understand this. You are complaining about your lineup and I guess your bench and the befuddled Marlins finally stop the D’Back Freight Train with a bench consisting of 4 players.here are those 4 players(LOL):
Hanley Ramirez–UNAVAILABLE–He Is A Dog
Scott Cousins—can pinch hit(well he really can’t hit)but his foot makes it unlikely he can play in the field.
Wes Helms—Who can only be on a Major League Baseball team because of a possible stash of pictures.
Brett Hayer—Actually a good young player who should be playing in place of the regular,Buck.
There is YOUR Florida Marlins’bench. ONE GUY!!! And a 13 man pitching staff because they can’t find a replacement for johnson and Volstad remains inept.
This is the “team” you trailby 2 1/2 games.Now onviously it won’t end this way but to have gone this far into a season and trail this disaster in progress is a disgrace.the only thing the Marlins have going for them in comparison between pitchers and position players is the presence of Fredo Gonzalez in the dugout. John Cazale could not have played Fredi Gonzalez as well as he played fredo Corleone because NO actor could portray Fredi and really do him justice.
capt stalker,better hurry because I’m signing off right now!! And i’m feeling a little nasty so I’ll add–Nice pinch runner you got there.Later Boss.
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:23 am
Tomahawkin (THE END IS NEAR!)
We will miss you terribly…enjoy the company of such good fans as Braves can’t Wren for Losing…
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:24 am
If you really pay attention you can see how this guy is essentially the same as Yunel Escobar. Tomahawkin whatever
so how does that equate to a corvette for Fiesta swap if the are both the same? and if so what the hell difference does it matter which one we have? At least bitch about something that makes a bit of difference, which by your own words this can’t.
tiger297
June 1st, 2011
12:24 am
nolie – I think they are thinking anything short of OBP of 1.000 is failure
The A Bomb
June 1st, 2011
12:25 am
THEORY: Braves knew they were hiring Gonzalez last summer so they pulled the plug on Yunel so he wouldn’t have another Hanley situation.
And you won’t believe how bad Alex Gonzalez’s swing is until you slow it down in TiVo. Anything inside locks him up. Anything outside he tries to pull.
Popup. Blank stare. Bat throw. More stare.
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:26 am
Yes we all want Yunel back, but we are stuck with Gonzalez.
You certainly do not speak for ALL of us… of course, Yunel Escobar 5 at bats, 3 walks, 2 hits, 1 homer is the textbook example of small sample size (sorry, jeffrey)…
tiger297
June 1st, 2011
12:27 am
a bomb – you do realize fredi & seabass had a run in when both were with the marlins right
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:27 am
If we got Yunel back, would the team give him a standing ovation??
cabravesfan
June 1st, 2011
12:28 am
hey, a-hole that stole my screen name (12:24)- it’s not cute, it’s not funny and it can get you banned.
Can We Get Some Viagra In Here.
June 1st, 2011
12:28 am
You morons are worried about other morons stealing your screen names.I can just see you fools on an island with Beyonce desperately blogging Dave for a McClouth injury update.
CaptainMudderland
June 1st, 2011
12:30 am
I’ll be serious now….had enough of goofing off in the wake of this disappointing loss, re: Gonzo….rob from sc and Trey—I always thought of Escobar as a kid with potential, who, just happened to not please his manager enough…he was kind of unfocused and such…I did really believe he would come around. Gonzalez, although a great fielder is just not what the Braves need at the plate and I would think his time there is limited…I have never seen him make contact or guess right on a 3-2 count.
Tom O'Hawke
June 1st, 2011
12:30 am
Carroll
We have impostors @ 12:23 (me), and 12:24 (cabravesfan)
Would you please let us know who it really is?
tiger297
June 1st, 2011
12:30 am
oh come on nolie you know how it works…you get to pick the stats that support your theory and ignore anything else
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:32 am
is Carroll still around??
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:32 am
And I hope no one thought that I would be speaking ill of T-h… oh, wait, never mind…
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:33 am
you don’t think 53 games is a small sample size?
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:34 am
If only Alex played a minimally acceptable defensive shortstop, it would not be such a deplorable situation, but he makes 6 errors every game…at least, it seems like it…
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:36 am
Trey – do you have a sample size on his intellectual ability to play the game without being an extremely negative influence in the clubhouse?
Can We Get Some Viagra In Here.
June 1st, 2011
12:36 am
Hopefully poor Carroll has enough of a life to no longer be worried about someone wanting to be “cabraves fan”,do you guys or whatever have significant others? Is this the sum total of what you are to be worried about screen names? This is dangerous stuff.it really is.
tiger297
June 1st, 2011
12:36 am
VJ – be fair its not his errors as much as his lack of range that is the problem
The A Bomb
June 1st, 2011
12:38 am
Smoak’s 3-run HR in the 8th beats Baltimore….Mariners 2 games over.
EXCITEMENT IN SEATTLE. FAN BASE ELECTRIFIED.
Chipper’s groundout on a 3-0 pitch highlights 5-4 loss to San Diego. Braves 4 games over.
SNORE. FAN BASE ELECTROCUTED.
Eddie Haas 2.0 has injected exactly ZERO fire into the Braves. Going to be a long, boring summer.
Mixxo
June 1st, 2011
12:39 am
Not “good team” caliber play right now folks. That’s all. Heyward & Uggla are busts, pen is getting worn out, just one big clusterf***.
Sad.
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:39 am
Can We Get Some Viagra In Here.
Wow – can someone say supersized moron?
(You might need to go back and read “The History of the MIB Blog”)…
tiger297
June 1st, 2011
12:39 am
hopefully poor carroll has enough of a life to not care about people breaking the rules in the arena in which she makes her living? That is really your position.
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:40 am
tiger – let’s not forget his noodle arm, as Sir Paul called someone else earlier…
Mixxo
June 1st, 2011
12:40 am
Wonder where this post will show up.
CaptainMudderland
June 1st, 2011
12:40 am
I am signing off now because OMD is waiting.
Uggla, I Mean Really Uggla!!
June 1st, 2011
12:40 am
Got home late.what did Uggla do?
tiger297
June 1st, 2011
12:41 am
yawp
well after a short stint on the blog this evening I must go to bed…I wish the good people a good night and the rest I only hope your misery be short lived
cabravesfan
June 1st, 2011
12:43 am
first, it’s “cabravesfan” all one word. Second, I know everyone wants to be me, but there is only one me and I’d kind of like to keep it that way. Third, and perhaps most importantly, I would prefer not to have some jerkish nutbag post under my name and have his words attributed to me. So yes, something that needs to stop. (and yes, I have a significant other. You may know him. He often posts on the blog)
Can We Get Some Viagra In Here?
June 1st, 2011
12:43 am
Tiger 297,Maybe if you were ever in a POSITION,you would not be worried about some poor woman at 12:40 checking out the terrorist who stole your screen name. Child.
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:44 am
you need to lern a bit more about stats reliability. 53 games is damn near worthless as a predictor Trey.
guys have complete seasons on 160 games that are outliers from the rest of their careers.
I mean I guess its ok for you to think that, if you wanna think wrong….
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:44 am
Hey, I don’t want to be her…
Can We Get Some Viagra In Here?
June 1st, 2011
12:46 am
Nobody knows your identity.you are using a fictitious name.You can’t be incriminated using a made up name.If you post as Cotton Mather people will know you are not Cotton Mather.Leave Carroll alone and watch a Bill Maher episode.
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:48 am
Can We Get Some Viagra In Here?
Thanks for bringing a sense of inanity to the blog which we haven’t seen in dozens of minutes…it takes a certain swagger to say such provocative things in an anonymous manner…
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:49 am
the childishness is in stealing someone’s name, not in being unhappy that it happened
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:50 am
idiots abound
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:50 am
who is pretending that?
Wow...
June 1st, 2011
12:52 am
Yunel Escobar’s career line .290/.366/.402, small sample size indeed.
Compared to Gonzalez’s .249/.294/.401
But yeah, let’s keep pretending that Escobar isn’t a great player. Or at the least, a much much much much better one than Alex Gonzalez
Trey
June 1st, 2011
12:54 am
@ nolee
Your logic is flawed because the average player doesn’t play 162 games a season. How is it a small sample size? The guy is putting up his career average as we speak! It’s not as if he is hitting .400/.800/.1200 over the course of the first week of the season. It’s June 1st and barring significant injury, he’s going to continue to produce at this level. Is 53 games too small a sample size for Dan Uggla? Everybody on this blog seems to think he’s going to continue hitting under .200 for the rest of the season… There are too many variables to suggest a player will continue his success over the course of the season, but when his career averages are .289/.365/.400 and he’s putting up .300/.382/.450 it’s not a small sample size. It’s playing to your career numbers! End of discussion!
The A Bomb
June 1st, 2011
12:55 am
Well, Toronto’s in here in a couple of weeks. Should be interesting.
Can We Get Some Viagra In Here?
June 1st, 2011
12:56 am
The childishness lies in giving a crap that someone might decide to call himself “Can We Get Some Viagra In Here, after you laid claim to the honor.”
Nolee,you still respond to me.The intellectual acumen of a piss ant.
Good Night!! Earl
noleee
June 1st, 2011
12:57 am
Your logic is flawed because the average player doesn’t play 162 games a seaso Trey
it has nothing to do with how many games a player plays in just one season, the sample size grows from year to year.
go study some theory rather that say my logic is flawed, because it ain’t
you really aren’t even making any sense
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:57 am
Trey – I’m too tired to bother responding – as a regular, I would think that you have read everything DOB has written for an entire year (and way more) about what a low opinion the team had of Yunel. Your post is [words deleted so as not to offend someone I like], comparing isolated incidents to the whiny, crybaby things that Yunel did over the years. If you are not [words deleted so as not to offend someone I like] to have gotten it by now, there is nothing I can say to show you the light…
By strange coincidence, we are listening to Peter Gammons on Dan Patrick’s Show this morning talking about how Bautista took Yunel aside in Spring Training and talked to him about a showboating incident he had…
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
12:59 am
It’s easy to impress people with absurd rebuttals if the impressed person agrees with absurd reasoning…
Tom O'Hawke
June 1st, 2011
1:00 am
I let both, DOB and Carroll, know via e-mail, that the blog-terrorist was back and using everyone’s moniker. Poor Trey, everyone likes to use his.
Earl Williams
June 1st, 2011
1:01 am
That was hilarious.I told two peole in LA to check out the Blog.They told me”No Way.The Stalker would see right through it.” i said”Nah.It does not involve Uggla.”
More and more people are joining the blog due to the pompous attitude of the control freaking monitors who see this space as their territory
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:02 am
Can We Get Some Viagra In Here yeah I would say that pretty much describes the level of your posts guy….the intellectual acumen of a pissant . but hey nobody’s perfect. you prolly beat your dog too and that makes up for a lot of faults..
Earl Williams
June 1st, 2011
1:03 am
Did you like my “Latos intolerant?”
Earl Williams
June 1st, 2011
1:04 am
I do think it wrong to steal people’s names because I understand how much you have invested in the status you have built up by brilliant posting. It would be wrong for anyone to be “Nolee”, Nolee is YOUR name,your identity and probably your substance. Don’t mess with that.
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:05 am
same guy has stolen Trey’s name too I bet. Carroll sic ‘em girl.
and multiple posts to pat yourself on the back?
extremely pathetic looser
Earl Williams
June 1st, 2011
1:06 am
By the way—.223,74 RBI’s and 22 HR’s.Enjoy!!
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
1:09 am
Trey – are you really Trey – what pictures did I send you last year?
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:09 am
DOB looks like we got asswipe back in about 3 0r 4 different names at least.
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
1:11 am
A moral victory, we scored 4 runs and Chipper playing hurt went 2 for 3 with 2 BB AND 2 RBI.
OH MY GOD I SOUND LIKE FREDI.
Earl Williams
June 1st, 2011
1:12 am
Now we are bothering dave.is this a matter of national security?Dave has the night off.Leave the man alone.
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:13 am
pretty sure who he is Jim, and it’s likely not Trey or any of the other names he is using and stealing all in one evening. Talk about childish
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
1:14 am
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
1:08 am
@ Trey
Well the Braves like to keep things quiet and hide behind the media. Yunel is the better player and never really had a chance in Atlanta. He’s doing great in Toronto and the Braves are left with a dinosaur at SS.
I must be turning schizophrenic
DOB/CARROLL
Rampant Name stealing going on – sorry to trouble you about ten-year olds playing on the blog…
Earl Williams
June 1st, 2011
1:14 am
I give any and all the permission to be Earl Williams.I trust in the mental capacity of 90% of you to know when it’sme and when it is an imposter.
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:16 am
BTW “TREY” you are the one who brought up 53 games as a sample size
that was my exact point that it is much more than 53 games, it encompasses his career.
53 games by itself is way too small to be meaningful, but I guess you were just too pissantish to understand it.
Tom O'Hawke
June 1st, 2011
1:16 am
Venice Jim & nolie
What? You guys just read the impostor’s comments?
I let both, DOB and Carroll, know via e-mail, that the blog-terrorist was back and using everyone’s moniker. Poor Trey, everyone likes to use his. (ME @ 1:00)
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:18 am
who in the hell would want to be Earl Williams after you have had your way with the name?
C’mon man get real, nobody with any sense is that desperate
Lou Vales
June 1st, 2011
1:19 am
Oh that would totally destroy me.I would hire a team of lawyers to determine the perpetrators of such a hideous act.Every body I know reads this crap just to see what I can stir up.Should I be the “Pee Guy” again??
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
1:19 am
noleee – imagine if someone posted as Lou Vales…
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
1:20 am
Wait a minute – why am I complaining – what better way to pad my posts than to have some moron do it for me after I go to bed (which I am about to do)?…
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:20 am
how did this become about me Earl, when a number of others have complained about their(not mine) names being stolen. more of your “logic” I guess.
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
1:23 am
By the way – I apologize to the real Trey for not realizing immediately that wasn’t him – still not sure whether that was a fake cab…
Tom O'Hawke
June 1st, 2011
1:23 am
Good night, LAdy. (screw the rest of them)
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
1:25 am
The blog is to much for me tonight with all the name stealing BTW this is me.
A moral victory, we scored 4 runs and Chipper playing hurt went 2 for 3 with 2 BB AND 2 RBI.
OH MY GOD I SOUND LIKE FREDI.
cabravesfan
June 1st, 2011
1:25 am
I’ve neverade a trade proposal on the blog and I don’t intend to start now. Have fun walking home from work in the morning!
Good night all!
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
1:27 am
We know that’s you, LTBF, since you got an anti-Fredi comment in…
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
1:27 am
Thank you V.J. now off to bed. Outta here, have a good one or two tonight y’ll.
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:29 am
moral victories are better than nuttin’
Venice Jim
June 1st, 2011
1:30 am
Good night, Tom and nolie and…
noleee
June 1st, 2011
1:32 am
nite y’all
including tonight’s nine-headed hydra
Tom O'Hawke
June 1st, 2011
1:33 am
Later, VJ.
Tom O'Hawke
June 1st, 2011
1:34 am
‘Nite, daddy.
Serbok
June 1st, 2011
1:37 am
For “Pete’s Sake?”
Just WHO is the fella Pete? Anyways?
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
1:38 am
Blog has signed out for the night -30-
Serbok
June 1st, 2011
1:39 am
Ahhhhh!
I “THINK” I get it now?
Pete is all the “Yahoo’s” That cant go by one “Screen Name?”
People who post with multiple user names? ARE ALL FRIED CHICKENS!
This Post was authorized by Fog-Horn Leghorn!!!
‘Course he’s a rooster~ that probably~ eats Fried chicken?
Bravo’s WILL be IN the Playoffs!!!!!!
Call it? “Uggly’s Revenge”
Tip Of The Cap
June 1st, 2011
1:40 am
Did anyone notice how lazy (and old looking) Parrish was tonight in the dugout? When someone scored he barely got off the bench, patted them on the back and then sat right back down. This dude sucks!
Tip Of The Cap
June 1st, 2011
1:43 am
Still think Milt Thompson would be a good fit for Braves and a slap in the face to Phillies. He could also let our pitchers know Philly batters weaknesses. Can you tell I’m not a Parrish fan?
Ward
June 1st, 2011
2:09 am
Hows it going every one? Good thing is Phillies lost to Nationals 10-2. Which is very funny. To ice the cake Cliff Lee was pitching. Wow….. Your opinions to me is like when I take a dump in the toilet.Wow….. you are meaningless………Escober would’ve have made no difference.Wow……..Your team looked pahtetic tonight, and I just wanted to share my deepest feelings to you. Isn’t it funny when your team looses……… I think so! Yunel is not what the Braves need. We need a Coco Crisp or a Reyes, and I will say it again……
Ward
June 1st, 2011
2:14 am
Good thing is we are still within reach of the Phillies,and 1 game from the Wild Card…….
Big Jake
June 1st, 2011
2:27 am
Whats up with the Pars and D’backs getting so hot at the same time?
CaptainMudderland
June 1st, 2011
2:27 am
Just got back on…been listening to music since all the bizarre name swiping began back around 11:30…..yikes, @Ward…how you doing? I can’t believe we let the Padres get it last night and failed again to gain on Philly.
Big Jake
June 1st, 2011
2:28 am
Pads and D’backs
Big Jake
June 1st, 2011
2:29 am
Tip I believe it might be hard to find anybody who is an actual Parrish fan at this time.
Ward
June 1st, 2011
2:31 am
Captain Mudderland: Games like these can drive you nuts,but I believe the Braves will win tomorrow. Check out Lee and Grant on the History Channel. It’s real good……
Big Jake
June 1st, 2011
2:35 am
ah well, here we go again.
Its time to say
Good night and good luck.
Ward
June 1st, 2011
2:39 am
Another windbag………….With a whole lot of crap to say. Very Intertaining…….Big Jake have a good one . One Time’s got no case. Has no case……….Case closed, and Court ajourned for tomorrow…….Next Case please……
dummie
June 1st, 2011
2:42 am
I’m so grateful that you explained that metaphor for all us dummies Paul
CaptainMudderland
June 1st, 2011
2:43 am
I’m gone…..multi-sectional recants are not my gig at this hour….nor is fictional reading material which is grounded in unremarkable ‘retakes.’ Cheers!!!
Ward
June 1st, 2011
2:47 am
One Time’s got no case: Your cased is closed !Go away…….
Mike S
June 1st, 2011
2:52 am
You guys are pathetic. We haven’t played close to our best baseball yet, two of our best hitters have done hardly anything, we’ve been battling injuries, and we’re still 30-26!!!! We’re still in great shape, for when things start breaking our way a little bit. It will happen, I just wish some of you could realize this is a 162-game season and get a little perspective. Alas, I know what the odds of that happening are…
Ward
June 1st, 2011
2:55 am
What ever!!!!!!!!!!! We are in good reach ,and still not out of it……..I believe we will be in the Play-Offs…….I’m not pleased with our hitting either,but I believe that it will turn around. Uggla will hit. New team,and once he gets comfortable every thing will follow……Well, I will talk tomorrow, no time for nonsense. “Go!!!!!! Braves!!!!!!!” Night All……
Mike S
June 1st, 2011
3:08 am
It’s true that we should expect some regression from the pitching staff. It’s been too darn good to sustain quite at this level. But I personally think it’s a lot closer to where it will be over the long haul as opposed to the offense. JJ and Venters are the only ones that are putting up otherworldly numbers that are unrealistic to sustain, but it’s not like this is coming out of nowhere for them. They should still finish strong, even with some regression. But the offense, I really believe they will get much better than they’ve been so far, simply because they are almost universally playing below their career norms (and in two cases WELL below). With simply finishing the season near career averages for Uggla and Heyward, this offense would be plenty good enough.
Mike S
June 1st, 2011
3:14 am
And to be clear, I mean playing the last 4 months at career averages, not playing way above the last 4 months to make it be a career average year by the end of it.
Mike S
June 1st, 2011
3:16 am
I think that’s a reasonable expectation.
Mike S
June 1st, 2011
3:56 am
Uggla and Heyward will be fine. I’m not worried. And I don’t expect Chipper to hit at career norms. If he continues close to where he is now, that’ll work.
Michael
June 1st, 2011
3:58 am
Why dont we try giving Uggla some protection and move him up to the 2,3,or 4 hole with prado or mccann hitting behind him? He would see better pitches, I mean come on enough is freakin enough fredi gonzalez, shake the lineup around
Michael
June 1st, 2011
4:02 am
oh and I truly believe, and I would love to hear people give logical reasons for this not to be the case, that Fredi Gonzalez is the worst manager we have ever had in Atlanta.. How the hell is Conrad a better option at 2nd.. please, somebody sell that to me.. He is hitting .160 with like one homer and sucks D at defense
Mike S
June 1st, 2011
4:02 am
Lentz, check his last two starts since he was called back up. Much improved over his first start way back in the first week of April.
David O'Brien
June 1st, 2011
4:06 am
Just got on blog and noticed the comments about the imposter. He used five or six or four regulars’ IDs tonight, including the ones you mentoned and a couple of others, like rob from sc’s for one comment.
Anyway, he’s gone now. He’ll have to get another IP address to get back on, and I’m sure that if/when he does, he’ll do the same thing and it’ll be obvious once again that he’s co-opting others’ names in order to stage a faux conversation in an effort to get attention or advance his agenda, as he did with the Yunel subject Tuesday night.
Anyway, if it happens again, we’ll add his new IP address to the banned list, too. Oh, and all the comments are gone, so no sense looking for them now.
Thanks.
Mike S
June 1st, 2011
4:17 am
Lentz, we’re talking about a rookie 5th starter. Yes, that is pitching well.
noleee
June 1st, 2011
4:23 am
Trey…………Damn dude, you hit your 12:45am post so far out of the park, that it caught up with both the Howard and Upton homers that they hit off of Teheran. OTGNC
give me a break, it wasn’t Trey and we all know who it was.
Ward
June 1st, 2011
4:25 am
I decided to come back on. Mike S. No use in talking with Lentz. He has his thinking ,and only his. Escobar is not what the Braves needed ,and he’s not doing a whole lot for the Blue Jays.What the Braves need is a Coco Crisp or a Reyes……….Piss on Escobar……
noleee
June 1st, 2011
4:28 am
Lentz abides
Ward
June 1st, 2011
4:29 am
Right now we need hitting ,so I’ll go with another Matt Young call up!
Ward
June 1st, 2011
4:39 am
Mike Minor has been pitching well. Just been over shadowed by lack of offense.Heyward has a sore shoulder, and once his shoulder heals. Heyward will be back to the old . hitting ,with power!Any one who thinks Uggla wont ever hit. Please stay off the weed……
Ward
June 1st, 2011
4:41 am
Uggla haters please stay off the weed……
Ward
June 1st, 2011
4:44 am
All have a good one ,and peace…….Talk tomorrow,and “Go!!!! Braves!!!!”
Jeff R
June 1st, 2011
7:38 am
The Braves are proving so far to be one streaky team.
Bobby's chauffer
June 1st, 2011
8:15 am
The bloggers have all the answers to run this team..yeah and I have Ted Turner’s money. Uggla should have been in the game last night. This talk of sitting him down.or sending him down to Gwinnett is all counter productive. The only one that can “fix” Uggla, is Uggla. He will work it out on his own. The more talk about sit him or send him down stuff only prolongs the time before he masters his stroke. He is a team player and not doing what he is being paid to do, is putting a lot of pressure on him. Second is pride, not producing is devastating on one’s ego. He will help this team win. Let him be. everything else in counter productive.
wow
June 1st, 2011
8:27 am
Escobar’s not doing much? Try looking at his numbers, idiot
Dadgum.....
June 1st, 2011
8:28 am
Have to say I really enjoyed watching the Nats just pound Clif Lee last night. When Strasburg returns that team is gonna be very tough to beat.
Again another game where the starter was pulled without getting to the 7th inning. Our starters are solid enough to get into the 7th inning or 8th so it would be wise for Fredi to let them. Minor threw maybe 95 pitches last night. Regardless of how good our bullpen is the Braves won’t win a ton of games when the starters don’t get to the 7th or later. Can I get an amen!
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
8:35 am
The reason I occasionally scan the in-game stuff is that you can sometimes find a nugget that just makes you laugh out loud at the pure inanity of it (I know, that’s going some to find one inanity that peaks above the masses, but there you go).
My favorite from last night was a post that derided the team for not recognizing pitches for strikes and balls, and then implored them to be patient at the plate (!).
The poster did not explain the methodology for not swinging at pitches out of the zone when you can’t recognize such pitches, but I see that as a minor omission.
Dadgum.....
June 1st, 2011
8:35 am
Uggla can’t be optioned. Can go down if on injury rehab. I think the Braves will call up Young or Hernandez.
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
8:43 am
Escobar’s not doing much? Try looking at his numbers, idiot
Just coming back to his norms after an off year, that’s all. Frankly, if the guy had not had a down year offensively, I doubt he would have been traded at all. But he did, and he was, and that’s that.
At least we can now maybe dispense with those posts rationalizing the trade by comparing offensive numbers of the two players, LOL. Gonzalez’s value is in his glove, and the Braves have so far gotten every nickel of value from that.
coach
June 1st, 2011
8:53 am
Uggla has only hit well in the 4th spot. Can’t get any worse so try:
1.Schafer CF
2.Prado LF
3.Jones 3B
4.Uggla 2B
5.McCann C
6.Mather Rf
7.Freeman 1B
8.Gonzalos SS
At least this way you have a good bat in front and behind him. Maybe that would help get him going. Tampa Bay put Longoria in the leadoff position to jump start him.
coach
June 1st, 2011
8:54 am
When will Heyward be able to start again and when will Beachy return?
coach
June 1st, 2011
8:58 am
I just saw where Chipper may not play today so here is my adjusted lineup:
1.Schafer CF
2.Prado 3B
3.Freeman 1B
4.Uggla 2B
5.McCann C
6.Mather Rf
7.Gonzalos SS
8.Young LF
Dadgum.....
June 1st, 2011
9:04 am
Heyward could well be headed to the 30 day DL. They aren’t rushing him back and he claims that his shoulder isn’t allowing him to work on his swing. Not a good thing. Beachy could be back for the next 5th spot start.
Furman Bitcher
June 1st, 2011
9:08 am
who am I?
STATS BA HR RBI OBP SLG
2011 Season .300 6 20 .382 .450
Career .290 39 219 .366 .402
Furman Bitcher
June 1st, 2011
9:15 am
ncscoots I agree completely. Too bad Yunel didnt work out here.
ncbravesfan
June 1st, 2011
9:15 am
Mike S……….we need MUCH MORE from Chipper Jones than a .257 batting average and 4 homers hitting in the #3 hole….that is if we’re going to contend come September. – One Time’s got no case
That was my point exactly and I got blasted for it. Chipper came up a couple of times where we needed a blast and gave us singles. Good for him but not for us. He is simply no longer a #3 hitter. Unfortunately, I guess Fredi has no choice since Heyward and Uggla have not pulled their weight. If they were hitting as expected, then Chipper could be moved down in the order and we’d be better off. However, that is not the case and we are stuck with a lineup of bench players, no true leadoff hitter, and a bunch of 7 and 8 hitters.
Lew
June 1st, 2011
9:24 am
With attendance already down in MLB, I seriously doubt that bandwagoners like Jim overnight would be missed by the Braves if they just took their disaffection and left. If it’s so painful to watch the Braves, then why bother to do so, much less comment on it.
If you keep it up, you might just start being compared to the supreme disaffected idiot Dentz – back again in yet another incarnation.
Mixxo
June 1st, 2011
9:26 am
Big Jake
June 1st, 2011
2:28 am
Pads and D’backs
Don’t forget the Nats.
OWNED!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
June 1st, 2011
9:31 am
ncbravesfan we are stuck with a lineup of bench players, no true leadoff hitter, and a bunch of 7 and 8 hitters.
McCann, Prado, and even Chipper at this stage of his career are neither bench players nor 7 or 8 hitters. But I guess it’s true they’re not lead-off hitters, though Prado’s not terrible there…
Lew
June 1st, 2011
9:32 am
Y’all do realize that right before this current (not quite) tailspin, that the Braves started the month going 12-4 – without Heyward hitting, without Uggla hitting, without Nate doing much, without Freeman hitting – etc. Just as possible that they go back to that level of winning as having a protracted losing streak – which they really haven’t done despite all the moaning and groaing to the contrary.
Dadgum.....
June 1st, 2011
9:33 am
We have not had a true leadoff hitter since Furcal’s first two years. Scoring runs starts at the top. Schaefer appears capable of producing numbers at least no worse than McLouth with twice the defense McLouth can play. Unless Wren happens upon a must-do trade, I expect to see Schaefer at leadoff and McLouth platooning the OF as needed.
Nobody expects big power numbers from Chipper any longer. If he even approaches 15-20 homers that is great. He is still a good 3 hitter though when he is in there. Until Heywars starts rounding into shape we don’t have much of an option there. Maybe Freeman can handle the 3 spot but fredi ain’t bumping Chipper for Freeman. No way.
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
9:38 am
McLouth platooning the OF as needed.
Platooning where? Heyward is a lefty, Schafer is a lefty, so there’s no platoon advantage.
The Braves are not going to sit McLouth on the bench 5 days a week. They aren’t going to trade him and hand over CF to Schafer, with no safety net, based on 50 ABs. So what’s left? If Nate’s healthy, he plays. Schafer goes down to keep playing every day.
That’s what I’d do, anyway. Always possible the FO sees it differently.
DAP
June 1st, 2011
9:39 am
dadgum… We have not had a true leadoff hitter since Furcal’s first two years.
there is no definition of “true leadoff hitter”. people still say it over and over.
Lew
June 1st, 2011
9:39 am
Dadgum – I get the feeling that the Chipper can’t hit contingent gets their wish tonight and will see someone else hitting third and playing 3B – Chipper looks like he’ll get day off. He was hobbling a bit last night and Simpson ket saying it looked like he’d suffered a groin strain.
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
9:41 am
Good morning all
The Braves went 17-11 in May. They must have done it with smoke and mirrors. NOT They did it with great pitching, but how long will that hold up? The lineup must produce.
Dadgum.....
June 1st, 2011
9:43 am
In this era of lower scoring games and pitching prowess, the Braves can be right there at the end but our starting pitching must get deeper into games and start getting some w’s. If not the bullpen will get hit more than Chuck Wepner in an Ali fight. Folks, that’s a ton.
Lew
June 1st, 2011
9:44 am
Maybe Yunel just likes paying taxes in two countries? Maybe the dome on the Jays stadium blocks the cosmic rays which cause him to lose focus? Maybe he likes turf? Maybe he finally realized he’d better change his evil ways, baby?
Who knows. He ain’t a Brave anymore.
CaptainMudderland
June 1st, 2011
9:44 am
Way to go DOB….keep the blog clean and free of those people or that person responsible for assuming blog monikers and upsetting the ebb and flow.
MikeInFl
June 1st, 2011
9:44 am
Strange to say, but as modest as Chipper’s numbers have been, you could make a case for him making the all-star team at 3B.
Just going by OPS, Ryan Roberts (ARZ) is the clear leader at .851; then Chipper is tied with Palanco at .772; He’s also 2nd in SGL among NL 3B, and first in RBI with 31.
I’m not so much singing Chipper’s praises as pointing out how weak the NL 3B position is this year. Wouldn’t mind at all seeing the old man make the AS team once (or twice) more, though. It wouldn’t be without merit, at this point.
(a couple of guys, Dobbs at FL and Wigginton at CO are having pretty good years but not enough PA to qualify; still could make the AS game, though)
Coach ( 2011 Fredi G. a Go!)
June 1st, 2011
9:45 am
2010 Braves……overachievers. In the playoffs.
2011 Braves…..underachievers. No playoffs.
Enough said.
Dadgum.....
June 1st, 2011
9:45 am
Lew..yep, if Chipper is hurt that changes things. As we have opined many times, Chipper might only play 100 games. Right now, I am betting that when Heyward gets back Chipper goes on the 30 day DL and has miniscus surgery. He is playing hurt now and any tweak at all he won’t be able to get another cortisone shot. He is gutting it out for the team now but I think the Braves will sit him down through the all star break to get the knee scoped. We will need Chipper in the 2nd half.
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
9:45 am
I’m still not sold on the “year of the pitcher” thing. When temps start going up, so does scoring. If the leagues are still being offensively challenged in July, maybe I can get behind the idea.
MikeInFl
June 1st, 2011
9:47 am
dadgum, no such thing as a 30-day DL, I don’t think. 15 or 60.
Mixxo
June 1st, 2011
9:50 am
Coach ( 2011 Fredi G. a Go!)
June 1st, 2011
9:45 am
2010 Braves……overachievers. In the playoffs.
2011 Braves…..underachievers. No playoffs.
Enough said.
No truer words.
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
9:51 am
One Times got no case:
I read the overnights and he knocks every one, no wait to be fair think he used the word “outstanding” for the pitching. I think he must be the dreaded “Paul”.
Lew
June 1st, 2011
9:52 am
MikeinFl- They mentioned last night that Chipper was currently second in the All Star voting to Polanco and McCann second to Posey.
Lew
June 1st, 2011
9:53 am
Mixxo – You and Coach would say the same thing if the Braves had a ten game lead. Y’all’s glasses aren’t constantly half full, they’re usually empty.
Lew
June 1st, 2011
9:54 am
LTBF – Yep, he’s baaaaccck.
MikeInFl
June 1st, 2011
9:55 am
’scoots, I don’t think it’s “this year.” It’s a trend. Scoring has dropped every year since 2006.
2006 4.86
2007 4.80
2008 4.65
2009 4.61
2010 4.38
2011 4.22 (so far)
I agree it’s likely to rise some with the temps, but I do think we’re in a low-scoring era (if five years can be called an “era”)
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
9:55 am
Dadgum 9:45
AGREE CO-SIGN. Chipper not the slacker a lot of bloggers were saying last year and some this year. He is giveing to his all and I think he has done so his whole career.
Coach ( 2011 Fredi G. a Go!)
June 1st, 2011
9:57 am
Lew
June 1st, 2011
9:53 am
Mixxo – You and Coach would say the same thing if the Braves had a ten game lead. Y’all’s glasses aren’t constantly half full, they’re usually empty.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wrong again my friend. This team should be in first place right now. Not third place and that’s the truth that your rose colored glasses can’t see.
Shaun
June 1st, 2011
10:01 am
MikeInFl, I think thirdbase is an odd position and has been throughout the history of baseball. If a guy is a really good fielder with a strong arm, he plays shortstop. If he’s a really good fielder with a weaker arm, he plays second. If he’s a big-time hitter who can play infield and/or is left-handed, he plays firstbase. Thirdbasemen are usually the guys who are better infielders than firstbasemen, have stronger arms than secondbasemen but don’t have as much range as second and thirdbasemen. So the guys that end up at third have sort of an odd combination of defensive skills, which probably explains why there are so few who have that combo and are also great hitters and why there are fewer thirdbasemen in the Hall than other positions. Just a theory and a thought.
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
10:05 am
I agree it’s likely to rise some with the temps, but I do think we’re in a low-scoring era (if five years can be called an “era”)
Mike, I can probably go along with “lower-scoring”.
But some folks here seem to think we’re destined for early-60s, Gibson-Koufax stuff, and I don’t consider a 4.5 runs average quite on that level. A couple-three years below 4.5, and I might start relinquishing my death-grip on three-run-homers, LOL.
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
10:09 am
I do not beleave Jordan S will ever be a “great” player, but he sure plays the game hard. I hope he hits well enough to stay in CF after Nate comes off the list. The kid has a arm, Nate does not.
DAP
June 1st, 2011
10:12 am
shaun, one other ingredient important to 3rd baseman (and 1st baseman) : good hands. it really takes alot of skill to catch a ball the right way as a corner infielder. your point is right, just thought id add that…good hands and a strong arm is why chipper makes a good 3rd baseman.
Furman Bitcher
June 1st, 2011
10:13 am
.400 OBP says Schaffer will stay in the line up.
MikeInFl
June 1st, 2011
10:14 am
Boy, just reading at MLBTR about the Cubs and their trade options now that they’re pretty much out of it.
Talk all you want about wanting a bigger payroll, but that is one mess of a roster at $135 mil. I’ll take Liberty, McGuirk and Wren over that bunch any day.
Arkansas Transplant
June 1st, 2011
10:15 am
Minor deserved a better fate lastnight.
monty
June 1st, 2011
10:16 am
WOW!
Currently on pace at 3.9 RPG to score 632 runs for the season! That would be a record low for the past 20+ years not counting shortened seasons. I think we all new it was bad, but not this bad. The good thing(light at the end of the tunnel) is that our pitching is on pace to allow fewer runs than even in the age of the Big Three. Will either of these numbers hold up? I wouldn’t bet on it. But with 1/3 of the season on the books it is an indicator that this team is headed towards the recent record books as being the worst offensive team in quite some time. What a shame we can’t couple even avg hitting with our great pitching. If the offense doesn’t correct, it will undoubtedly put too much pressure on our pitching for it to possibly sustain itself in current fashion.
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
10:17 am
.400 OBP says Schaffer will stay in the line up.
He’ll need more than bunts and bingles to OBP at .400, though. Pitchers will dare him to swing if they begin to think he can’t hurt them.
DAP
June 1st, 2011
10:18 am
MikeInFl, i was telling my buddy who is a cubs fan a couple days ago…and i tell him this often…the cubs are going to suck until at least after the 2014 season. this is when alfonso soriano’s contract expires. that team has a high payroll, but is so top heavy with mediocre players, they cant win anything. soriano and zambrano head that list. the cubs have to cleanse the roster if they are ever going to do anything.
monty
June 1st, 2011
10:19 am
Way too early IMO to draw conclusions about Schafer’s career, either way. Whats he had, a handful of major league games?
Dadgum.....
June 1st, 2011
10:21 am
Ncscoots…..It will be interesting to see the splits at the all star break. Right now I am guessing the Braves are ahead of the curve when scoring less than 4 runs in a game. If pitching continues to dominate we will see more than our share of 1-run and extra inning games. For the Braves to be successful in that realm the starters must pick up wins getting deeper into the game.
Schafer is faster, stronger arm, better defensive, equal or better bat than McLouth. Absolutely no way he is sent back to Gwinnett in favor of McLouth. Sans injury of course. It is a fact McLouth is gone next year and we have a young better option this year. Give me one good reason to start McLouth over Schaefer day in and day out. Not saying he can’t help us off the bench and not saying Schaefer has an ideal resume for leadoff given the small sample, but without a trade Schafer is the Braves best option in CF right now. Without question. Also I wouldn’t be shocked to see Wren trade McLouth and a lower level pitching prospect before the deadline to help this club in the 2nd half.
Murph
June 1st, 2011
10:22 am
This offense is muy bad. Muy, muy bad.
3 years of high school spanish at work there.
Lew
June 1st, 2011
10:22 am
Coach – Wrong as usual (not overly surprising). I don’t wear rose colored glasses – I’m fully aware of exactly what’s going on with the Braves, considering I haven’t missed a game in several seasons.
I just realize that it’s only a third of the way through the season – there’s still 106 games left – and that Uggla won’t hit .178 for the entire season.
The major difference is that I put yesterday behind me, look forward to the next game and at season’s end, I wait eagerly for the next season. You, on th other hand, cash your chips in at the first sign of bumpy waters.
You do realize we have a winning record, just finished a winning month, we’re still in the race and that there’s lots of time left to catch the Phillies and Marlins?
CrotchetyOldMan
June 1st, 2011
10:23 am
Show of hands, please: When we didn’t sign Ankiel and Melkey during the off-season, who thought we’d miss their bats?
Dadgum.....
June 1st, 2011
10:25 am
Minor was average at best last night. Allowed 12 baserunners at almost 100 pitches over 6 innings. Don’t let the two runs allowed fool you. It could have been worse.
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
10:27 am
Lets see I have commented on 3rd base and CF, might as well do the rest, might stir some folks up.
C] Brian, can’t do better, best in league.
1stB] Freddy, he has done about as expected as a rookie, very good in field, saved a lot of errors.
2ndB] Dan, he must hit for us to win much.
SS] Alex, Better than Escobar
LF] Martin, haveing a slightly off year hitting, needs rest of season to be like last year.
Rf] Jason, still think he is a Kingman type hitter, not near as great as his hype.
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
10:29 am
Also I wouldn’t be shocked to see Wren trade McLouth and a lower level pitching prospect before the deadline to help this club in the 2nd half.
That would show an awful lot of confidence in a player who has barely been on the field in the last two years, one who has changed his offensive game radically, with no record of sustainability for success with that change.
I’m a Schafer fan and I’ve seen him play a lot in the last five years, not just his relatively small ML contributions. Still, I wouldn’t be comfortable banking on him in a pennant race, not just yet. As I said earlier, the FO may think differently.
TennesseePaul
June 1st, 2011
10:30 am
At least Schafer has actually played a game or two to get this praise. The pre-Spring Training hoopla over him was ridiculous enough. All that took was DOB saying Schafer smiled today when he first stepped into the clubhouse and everyone was all over the kid proclaiming him the next Willie Mays.
A good reason not to play Schafer every day? He’s “slugged” .286. Another? I refer you to the previous few months discussion of sample size.
The kid is great on defense though. I’ll give him that. It’s like you got a center field version of Raphael Belliard. No stick, all glove.
Lew
June 1st, 2011
10:30 am
Dadgum – Actually, it was worse. MInor gave up three runs – it’s why he got the loss. Gearrin just put it a run out of reach.
CrotchetyOldMan
June 1st, 2011
10:31 am
I think we should lay off the pitching staff. It’s the best in the NL, 2nd best in the Majors, with an ERA of 3.05. We should be a .750 team with that kind of pitching. Wren, call Vanna and tell her you’d like to buy an “O” and take us to the World Series.
TennesseePaul
June 1st, 2011
10:33 am
I’m a Schafer fan and I’ve seen him play a lot in the last five years
Easy there scoots, no one has seem him play “a lot” in the last two years. You saw him play a lot 3,4 and 5 years ago.
Ray Jr.
June 1st, 2011
10:34 am
That guy was right about Uggsly not hitting .178.As messed up as he is now the basement is the limit and he could pull out a Ray Oyler year and hit around .138.Tigers won the World Series with a .138 hitting SS.Why not a ,138 hitting second baseman.
David O'Brien
June 1st, 2011
10:35 am
World Baseball Classic expanded from 16 to 28 countries for 2013. Be still , my beating heart…
TennesseePaul
June 1st, 2011
10:36 am
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Wren trade McLouth and a lower level pitching prospect…
So there’s a need out there for McLouth? Reading this blog I got the impression he was finished as a player. I’m curious who McLouth would bring in to help the team and what team would view 3 months of McLouth as worth giving up some who could help…
Arkansas Transplant
June 1st, 2011
10:37 am
I don’t think Minor was all that bad lastnight. What hurt him was the walks, 2 came home to score.
TennesseePaul
June 1st, 2011
10:38 am
I’m pretty excited about the WBC. I know it isn’t a popular topic hear, but I’ve been to the first two… enjoyed every minute of it. It didn’t hurt that they were in San Diego, one of my favorite cities in America.
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
10:38 am
Easy there scoots, no one has seem him play “a lot” in the last two years. You saw him play a lot 3,4 and 5 years ago.
Cumulatively speaking, LOL.
LTBF
June 1st, 2011
10:40 am
DOB 10:35
With 28 teams there sure will be a lot of real bad ones in tourament.
ncscoots
June 1st, 2011
10:41 am
What hurt him was the walks, 2 came home to score.
Two-strike failures hurt at least as much as that. Rookie-ness. Not fatal, luckily, just mildly incapacitating.
Shaun
June 1st, 2011
10:41 am
Dadgum….., I’m not convinced quite yet that Schafer is the better option over McLouth this season. I think he’s better defensively but I don’t think it’s at all clear that he’s better in any other important aspect of the game.
Schafer hasn’t shown any slugging potential in his two major league stints. He hasn’t on-based over .306 or slugged over .400 in any of his last three minor league seasons, including so far this season. Maybe a call-up to the majors has suddenly changed him into a .400 OBP guy, but if he can’t post an OBP much above .300 in the minors, I have my doubts he can do it in the majors over the course of several months.