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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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IVAN ...
June 26th, 2011
7:50 pm
LEW………
Take it easy, you knew the crazies would be out in force….
We almost pulled it off…..
Damn, Venters is ALWAYS automatic……
Bet you had a good shot of ol ‘Jim Beam’ after dealing with ‘Earl (the squirrel) Williams this morning……..
Talk to you next Sat. morning……….
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
7:51 pm
“Someone credited Hudson for a quality start.”
I did. Hudson put his team in a position to win, and the offense couldn’t produce.
Ebenezer Snerdberg
June 26th, 2011
7:53 pm
Bobby Sux’s main problemo was he couldn’t manage a bullpen. Fredi Cox being his carbon copy does the same. Time to clean house. Hate to say it, but TP should’ve been named skipper!
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
7:53 pm
Whenever Martin does come back I think the easy decision is Nate over Jordan. Yes, Jordan’s speed is alluring but he just doesn’t get on base enough and for a team that struggles with that he’s got to pick it up to make an argument for his self. He’s had some tough luck this last week, for the teams sake I hope he does pick it up.
Mac sits out one game and the everyday player with the next best average is Freeman. Its been said numerous times but this team has to do better offensively. Most assumed coming into this season that Freeman would have some time to figure things out and come along slowly but as of now with Prado out he’s our second best hitter in terms of average. I didn’t see that coming. Good for the rookie, but not a good sign for how things have gone offensively this year for this bunch of hitters.
Mudge
June 26th, 2011
7:54 pm
Jurrjens averages 6.8 innings per start, the best on the Braves. Hamels, Lee and Halladay all average 7 or more innings per start. The Phillies have 8 complete games, the Braves 2. All of this means that the Braves require more bullpen help than the Phillies. It can be argued that the Phillies starters are overworked, time will tell, but the Braves bullpen will have a heavier load than the Phillies pen. It also has the potential for being overworked.
jim
June 26th, 2011
7:55 pm
The Braves offense was terible, but the San Diego pitching was also very good. The umpire was squeezing the pitchers, but there were not a lot of hittable pitches thrown by the Starter and the lefty reliever. I thought Heyward got a couple of pitches to hit with Schafer on 3rd, but he took the two fastballs and committed to the slider at his ankles. Before people freak out about loosing 2 out of 3 to the Padres, remember that the Red Sox just lost 2 out of 3 to the Padres at Fenway. The Mets, Nats, Padres, and Pirates are not as lousy as some on this blog like to think.
Ebenezer Snerdberg
June 26th, 2011
7:55 pm
Jim….AMEN!
Mudge
June 26th, 2011
7:56 pm
jim..The Red Sox lost those games in Pittsburgh, not Fenway..still..
Mudge
June 26th, 2011
7:57 pm
The Padres did win in Fenway.
Doc Holliday
June 26th, 2011
7:58 pm
I seeing todays game, no wonder why Martin “is not ready to get back into action”, SD freakin Padres, LOL.
Same story as always………….pirates, nats…………Im pretty sure O´s are gonna sweep us. Only requirement to beat the braves is to be at the cellar of your respective division.
Rilo
June 26th, 2011
7:59 pm
Mudge…no…Fenway…and the Padres. Last series, not this one
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
8:00 pm
The padres are a lot like the braves, Good pitching overall but an offense that is offensive. Makes you thankful for the braves record because things could be much worse, we could be the Padres.
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
8:02 pm
Main problem is I think Frank is feeling the pressure now and he’s been so snakebitten by Norton (OK that’s a reach), McLouth, Kawakami, Lowe and now Uggla I think he’s gun shy and I am starting to believe this horrible offense is what we’re going to have to live with.
It’s been all downhill for ol’ Frank since the JJ heist.
Our minor league/draft scouts truly outperform the major league guys by a longshot.
groundfog
June 26th, 2011
8:03 pm
Just got back, glad I didn’t watch this one. Venters was bound to let this happen. When you can’t hit it’s just too much on the pitchers, even ours. Got to take 2/3 from Seattle now and just forget about this one.
George
June 26th, 2011
8:03 pm
Braves could easlly be sweeped in SEA, we never do well on west coast. Why did we get stuck with three trips out there this year?
jim
June 26th, 2011
8:08 pm
Chipper has his days, and I realize that he is leading the team in RBIs and hitting over 400 with runners in scoring position, but there are more days when he seems to be feeling for the pitch — no bat speed just trying to put the ball in play and hitting weak grounders or popups.
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
8:08 pm
“It’s been all downhill for ol’ Frank since the JJ heist.”
Apparently you and I are the only people who think so.
Ernie Hudson
June 26th, 2011
8:14 pm
I know Fredi and Bobby share a lot of the same traits, but at least Bobby wasn’t afraid to chew ass and hold closed door meetings every now when the players were under-performing.
I’ll never forget him going nuts during a post-game interview after a loss when Eddie Perez failed to throw out the final batter (who struck out swinging at a ball in the dirt, but made it to first on his throwing error).
dogsbrekky
June 26th, 2011
8:14 pm
GOD himself would have signed Fuggly to a great deal and even his son wouldn’t have forecast this pee poor performance at the halfway mark… I cannot blame the Cobra for that deal…
jim
June 26th, 2011
8:18 pm
Dogsberry
I thought God was omniscient. FW unfortunately is not and made a deal and signing that was wildly applauded on this blog at the time.
Ernie Hudson
June 26th, 2011
8:18 pm
Good God. People here continue to stick up for Chipper like he’s having an all-star season. He’s probably the least productive three hole hitter on any winning team right now. The only reason he leads the Braves in all these categories is because he bats 3rd every game. Think about it people. Of course he’s gonna have all the stats.
AtlYnkHtr
June 26th, 2011
8:20 pm
DOB, I don’t understand the logic behind using Pujol’s injury to suggest there would not be a health advantage, not saying he would be better offensively, to playing McCann at first. If one example, or a few others, is proof against, then wouldn’t the examples like Posey and Fosse and the countless examples of knee and back problems prove the opposite?
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
8:20 pm
“FW unfortunately is not and made a deal and signing that was wildly applauded on this blog at the time.”
Applauded or not, at some point he’s got to be held accountable for the lousy contracts to which he’s committed this organization over the years (Lowe, Kawakami, Chipper, Uggla, et al.).
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
8:24 pm
I despised the Uggla deal mainly because of the defense but crazily enough, that’s the one area in which he’s been pretty solid.
Wren MUST be held accountable for sitting around. Not because we are 9 games over — that’s a miracle considering what a BUST this offense is. But because he’s letting winnable games go down the tubes when the only team with a better record just happens to be in our division.
Blog Monitor
June 26th, 2011
8:24 pm
yeah, you mental giants keep suggesting they move McCann to first (or third like another suggestion), I’m sure they’ll get right on it..
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
8:34 pm
Applauded or not, at some point he’s got to be held accountable for the lousy contracts to which he’s committed this organization over the years (Lowe, Kawakami, Chipper, Uggla, et al.).
Oh Yeah, that 10 year deal he gave to, wait, none of those. Longest deal is Uggla’s for 5 years, the rest are 3 and 4 year deals where the end of the road can be seen. Never mind him resigning Huddy for a very reasonable price and trading Javy who apparently gave the braves the best of what he had left for a top prospect. He acquired Uggla without selling the farm, Uggla who despite his struggles this year is exactly the bat the braves had been missing for years, a righthander with power. He acquired JJ for Renteria and etc. He acquired an all-star at center field when we had a weakness there with Schafer and his struggles.
For a money conscience team like the braves he has held on to the best of our farm talent which provides cheap production and signed some vets to some reasonable contracts that do not tie us down or hinder us for years. Its all in the eyes of the beholder I guess. The San Fran GM might be looked at like a genius for getting a world series win by getting great production from sub par players while Wren is bad for getting crappy production from good talent. I’m sure though if he could have predicted that some of these guys would be a bust he never would have signed or traded for them.
dogsbrekky
June 26th, 2011
8:35 pm
powder – The Lowe deal was fine at the time it was made, we had zippo pitching at the end of that truly wretched season and he had to pay up for someone… can’t say I disagree about paying Chipper for 3 years after his 1st big down year and who is Kawakami again?
Also, since the Cobra came in we have gone from 72-90 to a winning (make the playoffs) team in 2 years… once Fuggly gets it right we MAY be happy with the other 4.5 years of his deal but given the truly offensive offense (laughable numbers for some time) it is great that we are the WC leader and only 5 games behind the greatest pitching/ greatest fielding and super hitting filthies… truly remarkable we can stay with a team sure to win 110 games
Padres Fan
June 26th, 2011
8:37 pm
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
8:00 pm
The padres are a lot like the braves, Good pitching overall but an offense that is offensive. Makes you thankful for the braves record because things could be much worse, we could be the Padres.
*************************************************************************************
Please dont try to compare your mediocre team with ours. We just won weekend series. LOL
dogsbrekky
June 26th, 2011
8:37 pm
Then again I have 110,00 hectares of once useless outback land, (now a lake), for sale, if the Cobra is feeling further philantropically inclined.
timboy6
June 26th, 2011
8:39 pm
This loss is on Fredi. Should have never pitched Johnny last night with that big lead. He’d have been much sharper today without pitching 3 days in a row.
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
8:40 pm
“I’m sure though if he could have predicted that some of these guys would be a bust he never would have signed or traded for them.”
What he’d do if he knew how these deals would play out is irrelevant. Most haven’t paid off, and he’s the man who pulled the trigger on them. At some point, even with an ownership whose ultimate goal arguably falls short of winning championships, there has to be a bottom line.
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
8:41 pm
Please dont try to compare your mediocre team with ours. We just won weekend series
True, but I will definitely take our record. Padres are a team with a lot of good pitching even with the struggles of Latos. To much like the braves though in that they just lack the offense. Trading away your best player and an all-star will do that though.
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
8:41 pm
“Then again I have 110,00 hectares of once useless outback land, (now a lake), for sale, if the Cobra is feeling further philantropically inclined.”
Ha!
jeffrey d
June 26th, 2011
8:42 pm
I was skimming through the post-game craziness, and at first this was going to be my favorite comment
F****ING FREDDY GONZALEZ LOST THIS GAME FOR US. YESTERDAYS HE USED VENTERS WHEN WE HAD A 9 RUN LEAD… WHAT THE f*** WAS HE THINKIGN???
WHAT THE F***!!!!!!!!!? I MEAN IF VENTERS DIDN’T PITCH YESTERADY HE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE TODAY. GONZALEZ SHOULD BE FIRED. veer
But then veer tossed up another little nugget of headscratching advice
Fredie and Alex Gonzalez need to be deported to Florida.
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
8:44 pm
“True, but I will definitely take our record.”
I’ll take our unis, too.
jeffrey d
June 26th, 2011
8:44 pm
He’d have been much sharper today without pitching 3 days in a row.
It’d only be 2 days in a row. And if Venters hadn’t pitched yesterday, today would’ve been his first time pitching in 4 days. Then people would be complaining that Fredi let him get too rusty.
jeffrey d
June 26th, 2011
8:45 pm
Venters struggled. It happens. Let’s get back to winning tomorrow, k? K.
Dennis Reynolds
June 26th, 2011
8:49 pm
He’s going to make a great manager someday
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
8:52 pm
What he’d do if he knew how these deals would play out is irrelevant. Most haven’t paid off, and he’s the man who pulled the trigger on them.
All in the eye of the beholder I guess, I would say most have paid off. Despite all those complaining about Lowe, he has been a winner every year he’s been here except this one, has he been an ace, no but he hasn’t been a bust. Call that one a wash.
The negative is 2 bad years of KK, McLouth, and .5 bad years from Uggla. I’m not sure I would call Chipper a bust either as i’m not sure what the alternative to him is, not exactly many 3rd basemen on the market.
The positive, JJ, Hudson, the Javy trade, signing Wags and Saito, not trading the farm for Uggla, Hinske, resigning Ross.
Coach (2011 Fredi G. a go!)
June 26th, 2011
8:55 pm
My Atlanta Braves……….
The best 2nd place team in baseball
Doc Holliday
June 26th, 2011
8:57 pm
Truth is Phillies always find a way to win, no room for mistakes against them. You can sense they want it bad. They take care of business, do what it takes.
Braves……….you can give them 5 chances during a game and they take advantage of none. Once the game starts, you can sense they are thinking hard about the excuse they will tell once the game is over. Its amazing can this offense be so damn low. K after K, pop up after pop up. Pitching has carried them for 3 months, they will get tired eventually. To much pressure on them. They better start scoring. Pitchers feel every pitch has to be perfect cause their offense will not be backing them up in case of a mistake. Too much pressure on the staff IMO.
Uggla, Jason………….wake up guys, the pitching staff needs you BADLY.
jeffrey d
June 26th, 2011
8:58 pm
I’m not sure I would call Chipper a bust either as i’m not sure what the alternative to him is, not exactly many 3rd basemen on the market
Chipper is 2nd among NL 3B in SLG, OBP, and OPS
njbraves
June 26th, 2011
8:58 pm
If this team wants to catch Philly, games like today need to be won. Like it has all year long, the pressure is on the offense.
Doc Holliday
June 26th, 2011
8:59 pm
Man does this weekend loses hurt……Im in pain.
And the lucky phillies match with the struggling redsox………..hope they wake up in time for the series.
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:03 pm
Hello every one tough loss! We had trouble against a 3.23 Pitcher again. That says some thing about our offense. One day we scored 10 runs, and 1 run today. Lack of offense puts presure on pitching,and defense.I’m still saying speed would help. It shows when you can’t hit a 3.23 pitcher. Speed could generate runs in tight games like this. We are still in good shape,so I’m shaking it off, and we will go get Seattle tomorrow.
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
9:04 pm
Forgot to mention the alternative to signing Lowe. AJ and CC signed with the Yanks. Perez and Lowe were seen as the best pitchers left in free agency that year I believe. And then there was that trade talk over Peavy and some of the names rumored to be wanted by the Pads were Yunel and chiefly Hanson but Wren balked at trading the young prospect who had a ceiling to be an ace. Some of the best deals are the ones you don’t make. Given what happened with Peavy and Perez, i’d say Lowe doesn’t look to bad.
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
9:06 pm
I still say Frank’s so stung by this Uggla thing right now he might be a little gun shy.
I would be too if I wanted to keep my job.
No way as constructed is this a championship ballclub. No way.
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:07 pm
I think it’s time to bench Agone.It’s Lugo time! Lugo batting 1st followed by Schafer 2nd.
space monkey
June 26th, 2011
9:08 pm
Fredi has got to stop using Venters in blowouts like last night. He’s clearly showing some fatigue.
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:09 pm
It’s not all Uggla’s fault. Every one can’t hit much. It takes a team to win the game.
Doc Holliday
June 26th, 2011
9:10 pm
I still think we dont need outside help. It would be nice of course, but no urgency for that. Heres why:
There is no other spot in the lineup to introduce any help but CF. They have already signed Lugo, so I dont think they will replace Alex. Plus Alex has hit lots of HR. Think about it. Where else but CF would we be inserting outside help? Only CF. And Im pretty sure it would had to be a high impact CF in order for him to really change this offense as we know it. I mean………Beltran, Granderson, not just some guy with a .280 BA and a .320 OBP and .450 SLG. We would need a superstar or someone close to it. It would cost too much (farm) and will not wake anyone here.
The only way out IMO is for them to start clicking as a team.
Freddie has to play Eric more often. If Jordan is slumping, play Eric a little more, give the kid some breathing room.
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:11 pm
It not Venters ……..It’s the hitting…….. We plain simple got to hit…….. I say fire the hitting coach……………….. It hasn’t worked out. Hire Chris Chambless.
Ernie Hudson
June 26th, 2011
9:13 pm
No way in hell we catch up with Philly. Do you think those guys are gonna go on a losing streak with that pitching staff? Cliff Lee has been virtually perfect the past month or so and shows no signs of slowing down. Roy Halladay has been pitching like Roy Halladay. And Cole Hamels is a quality starts machine.
The NL East title may as well be dead to the Braves. No way Philly is gonna blow a 5 or 6 game lead, especially when they’re gonna add a quality bat to their lineup soon.
Our numbers are nearly identical to San Diego’s. Except San Diego steals bases. Yet somehow SD has a terrible record and the Braves are in 2nd place. We’ve just gotten lucky all season. Our luck is gonna run out unless we start hitting.
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:13 pm
Alex, is a half glass, and half full player. I would be done with him. A true wasted player.
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:15 pm
We could still catch Philly with a trade,but we have the Wild card right now, and thats good with me.Just need some tinkering.
Bat Masterson
June 26th, 2011
9:15 pm
I think it’s time to bench Agone.It’s Lugo time! _ Ward
Somehow I don’t think the Braves are going to bench Saam Gonzalez, Ward.
Doc Holliday
June 26th, 2011
9:16 pm
BTW, there a little ex brave doing very well for I thought he could do.
Middle IF .271 .368 .514 .882 + 7 HR, 15 RBI in 107 AB AND 6 SB
His name………….BRENT LILLIBRIDGE
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:18 pm
I would bench Agones sorry ass!Bench him for a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bat Masterson
June 26th, 2011
9:18 pm
We are still in good shape,so I’m shaking it off, and we will go get Seattle tomorrow. _ Ward
Thats the spirit, Ward. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and post some High Hopes! comments.
Go!!! Braves!!!
Ernie Hudson
June 26th, 2011
9:20 pm
Alex isn’t bad. He’s constantly making great plays in the field. So I don’t get too upset when he isn’t producing at the plate. It’s the rest of the lineup’s fault for putting more pressure on him to drive in runs. He wasn’t brought here to be a major run producer.
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:21 pm
I guess I will cool off too! We get Seattle tomorrow! Baseball should be fun ,anD I will stick with it.
Bat Masterson
June 26th, 2011
9:23 pm
Ward_
Have you been to the Little Bighorn battlefield?
Doc Holliday
June 26th, 2011
9:23 pm
Somebody said that Wren has gone downhill since getting JJ. Id say thats not true. He brought Sherill, Linebrink, Proctor, Uggla, Agon, Eric H., Lugo…………….All of them are good moves…………plus he has been able to keep great youngsters on the organization Heyward, Freddie, EOF, Venter, Kimbrel, Hanson, Medlen, Teheran and Minor………………thats a hell of a core of youngsters any GM would die for having.
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:23 pm
Just thought I would bring in some points.I’ll talk later…..
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
9:23 pm
Gonzalez has struck out 24 times this season on 3 pitches.
Add that to all the popups and he has been an offensive liability because very few of his outs have any production value.
Ernie Hudson
June 26th, 2011
9:23 pm
Looking forward to the Seattle series… although we may get our asses handed to us by that pitching staff. I love the Mariners ballpark and the fact they are owned by Nintendo.
Bat Masterson
June 26th, 2011
9:24 pm
Gonzalez has struck out 24 times this season on 3 pitches.
Hence the name Saam
Ward
June 26th, 2011
9:25 pm
Bat Masterson: The Big Horn Battle field was great! Yes…..
Bat Masterson
June 26th, 2011
9:26 pm
Ward_
Okay, thanks.
David O'Brien
June 26th, 2011
9:29 pm
Link to QUOTAGE
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/06/26/braves-quotes-after-sunday-loss-to-padres/
Doc Holliday
June 26th, 2011
9:34 pm
The A Bomb,
Alex G. is 6th in SLG among NL SS ahead of Rollins, 3rd in HR. You are right he has not doing very well, but he is not on this team for his offense. As this team is built up, he should be hitting 8th and his numbers would be good for an 8th spot hitter. Problem is the stars of this team are on vacation and that situation over exposes the mediocrity of Alex in the batters box. But he the rest of the guys were doing the job they were supposed to, Alex glove and bat would be a luxury for what the braves are paying him, plus we wouldnt be worrying about his struggles because he was hitting 8th and producing enough for his spot..
David O'Brien
June 26th, 2011
9:34 pm
Hitters were 2-for-32 with runners in scoring position against Venters before Padres got 3 consecutive RISP hits in 8th inning.
All three RISP hits off Venters came with 2 outs; before today hitters were 1-for-14 against him w/ RISP and 2 outs.
Doc Holliday
June 26th, 2011
9:35 pm
Ernie Hudson,
Co-sign
David O'Brien
June 26th, 2011
9:40 pm
Link to GAME STORY with quotes
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/padres-get-4-against-988887.html
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
9:40 pm
Looking forward to the Seattle series… although we may get our asses handed to us by that pitching staff.
We thought the same thing when we headed to San Fran. This series will come down to which pitching staff makes the most mistakes to these sub-par offenses or whoever gets the most bloop hits.
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
9:42 pm
“No way as constructed is this a championship ballclub. No way.”
Couldn’t agree more.
David O'Brien
June 26th, 2011
9:49 pm
Before today, Venters last allowed more than 2 ER on 8/25/10 at COL (4 ER, 1.2 IP).
Since then, he had posted a 1.11 ERA in 62 games, with 73K in 65 innings.
Jake W.
June 26th, 2011
9:50 pm
We had one good stretch of offensive production. No surprise we were more patient at the plate and got on base more. I get when offenses slump the idea is to hit your way out of it but at this point a walk is a rally. The braves need to get on base by any means necessary.
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
9:51 pm
Problem is, Doc — he’s not hitting 8th. He’s been hitting 6, 7, and 2 for the most part.
I can handle him at 8 if he continues to field the ball.
But Wren has yet to take steps to deepen the lineup and make us more righthanded — and contact-based.
MariettaDerek
June 26th, 2011
9:51 pm
The Braves seemed to forget to get DOUBLE PITS TO CHESTY with it today. Go figure.
tony austin
June 26th, 2011
9:51 pm
Lead off walks always seem to lead to trouble. But, as good as Venters has been for the Braves, he gets a pass in my book. That inning could have been a whole lot different, but it is what it is. Get ‘em in Seattle boys!
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
9:54 pm
“But Wren has yet to take steps to deepen the lineup and make us more righthanded — and contact-based.”
I’m sure help in the form of Derrek Lee or some other broked1ck is on the way.
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
10:10 pm
Amazing how little things add up…
Last year we had Infante and Diaz who no doubt would have played on a day like today. Diaz mashed lefties.
This year we start 4-5 lefties — including the 1-2 hole — against tough lefthanders and like the 1st inning today…. KC, KC, KC.
We are just not there yet. Every time we catch a spark it fizzles. And I have doubts whether Wren is going to pull the trigger on anything.
Too bad, because hitting opens up the game, and when it comes time for free agency, no one wants to pitch for a team with no run support. This season offensively has been the worst in my memory, which goes back to 1966. Even the 100-loss teams had some offense (just no pitching).
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
10:12 pm
BTW even worse for you DOB, you have to leave SoCal. We’ll keep the weather good til next season — and next year when you’re in L.A. I gotta suggest Lucy’s El Adobe which would combine 2 of the blog favorites….
The legendary BBQ beef tacos.
Steve from OH
June 26th, 2011
10:13 pm
Hey man, Derrek Lee OPSed .850 for us last year. Certainly wasn’t chopped liver.
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
10:14 pm
“Even the 100-loss teams had some offense (just no pitching).”
At least we had Dale Murphy in his prime to watch in the 1980s.
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
10:16 pm
Horner, Chambliss, Burroughs, Wynn, Garr, Oates, Williams, Evans, etc….
We just had horrid pitching.
Jim
June 26th, 2011
10:20 pm
Freddi Cox manager of the year ////////////
Jim
June 26th, 2011
10:24 pm
For all his greatness, Venters has walked the first batter he has faced too many times. He did it last night and again today. It finally caught up with him this afternoon. Agree with earlier comment that he did not have to pitch last night.
Whether we are talking about McLouth or Jordan S – whoever wins the CF battle when Prado comes back – we are woefully deficient in CF this year. It should be the signal focus of any trade efforts – a RH bad would help here, too. I’d send Jordan back to AAA and let McLouth be the sub for the rest of the summer if we could accomplish such a trade. For the present, Jordan seems to offer a bit more than McLouth – fielding, speed on bases – but he’s not a real winner this year.
What to offer in trade? I’d sooner offer Lowe than any of our next generation of pitching superstars. How much would Soriano (not a CF) cost for rest of year? .269/.310/.509 – 14 HRs. (Heyward would have to play CF). Pence and Bourne would require prospects to be included in package including probably Jordan S. and one of our next generation of star pitchers,
Venice Jim
June 26th, 2011
10:24 pm
My heartfelt condolences to everyone who had to suffer through today’s game sitting in the comfort of your home…
Steve from OH
June 26th, 2011
10:28 pm
All our needs are right in the clubhouse. If anything, I’d like to see Frank acquire a shutdown reliever to take some pressure off of Venters and O’Flaherty. No need to trade for a bat. Let the boys play.
We can deal Lowe in the offseason for prospects or simply salary relief; it doesn’t matter. Acquire a good SS from somewhere, and be ready to acquire a LF and slide Prado over to 3B when Chipper retires (hopefully not soon!).
Done.
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
10:29 pm
Actually Venice Jim — I feel pretty good that I resisted the temptation to drive down the 5, even if I could have seen one of my sons.
After Anaheim I said I’m not spending another dime on the team UNTIL a commitment is made to improve this ridiculous offense. I even had been toying with the idea of going to Safeco until the Angel series. Money’s in the bank collecting interest (not much, but it’s better than nothing.)
TnBrian
June 26th, 2011
10:29 pm
Nothing about this offense tells me it’ll improve this season, at least not much. Prado comes back and it’ll only help, but it was struggling with him in there before. Sure, Heyward is in there now and doing okay, but he’s also shown,like so many other regulars in our lineup, that he’s definitely prone to the cold streak.Uggla is what he is – all or nothing and it’s mostly been nothing. Still can’t hit a LHP. Chipper has the inconsistant disease as well.
McCann is in another world from these guys. He and Prado are your only consistantly tough outs in our lineup and one of them is battling what appears to be a nasty infection. Hope he’s not rusty or even weakend any by all the meds he’s apparantly having to take.
‘Silly’, ‘Stupid’, ‘Unecessary’ are words I’d use to describe Fredi’s use of the golden arm of Venters. Not today, but yesterday in a blow out. Even through his battles today I’d have taken him out and used Sherrill who’s looked good lately.
But see, I think most managers are stubborn like this from so many things I’ve seen and read. I’ll never really understand. You won’t hurt the guys feelings, he’s a big boy.
What the hell though. I’m just a fan here in north Chattanooga,Tn recovering from a plate of cheap canned spaghetti.
David O'Brien
June 26th, 2011
10:30 pm
The A Bomb, where is Lucy’s El Adobe? In L.A., you’re talking?
Powder Blue
June 26th, 2011
10:31 pm
“And I have doubts whether Wren is going to pull the trigger on anything.”
He won’t for an offensive player of any significance. I blame ownership more than Wren for this. There’s simply not a firm commitment to winning championships. Someone commented earlier that Philadelphia wants it more than Atlanta. I don’t think that’s necessarily true of the players, but it is clearly the case with regard to each team’s respective ownership. It starts at the top. While I don’t want to be a carbon copy of the Yankees in terms of the way the organization is run, “standing pat” while trailing Philadelphia is tantamount to throwing in the towel as far as the division is concerned.
Steve from OH
June 26th, 2011
10:32 pm
Hey Dave, question for you:
My kid brother wants to be a baseball beat writer…any advice on how to actually get a job like that? I’m assuming it’s pretty competitive. He’s writing high school sports articles for a local paper now as sort of an intern thing while he’s still taking college classes.
Thanks.
No More Juice
June 26th, 2011
10:32 pm
Forgot what page it was on but someone earlier mentioned New York Times article about aging. Went out and read it and it made a lot of sense. Certainly explains what has been going on with guys suddenly losing it because of the frequent checks for steroids.No more Fountain of Youth.I was surprised to read that players can actually be expected to start losing ability at 30. I always thought peak was 28 to 32 for baseball. Article seems to prove 26-30. We don’t have any deals like the Mets do with Bonilla, do we?? Paying him until he is about 80.
Steve from OH
June 26th, 2011
10:34 pm
“standing pat” while trailing Philadelphia is tantamount to throwing in the towel as far as the division is concerned.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this blog, it’s that division titles are worthless and give you no chance to win a World Series.
Seriously though, we don’t have to win the East to make a deep playoff run. This team will make the playoffs, barring more injuries, etc.
CaptainMudderland
June 26th, 2011
10:34 pm
“I spent four lonely days in a brown LA haze and I just want you back in my sight,” the Braves offense tonight rests not knowing when it might steer clear of those one run days.
The A Bomb
June 26th, 2011
10:35 pm
DOB — Lucy’s is on Melrose across from Paramount Studios. It’s been around for years…. probably the most famous during Jerry Brown’s 1st term as governor when he and Linda Ronstadt were an item….they were always there together….
But the BBQ beef tacos ….. and the salad dressing! My mouth is watering!