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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,671 comments Add your comment
noliee
August 30th, 2011
6:13 pm
I see there are a gazillion new names parroting each other. what does that mean????
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:13 pm
Hey, as frustrating as D. Lowe has been at times, anybody still wish we had gotten A.J. Burnett?
That’s a really interesting question.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
August 30th, 2011
6:16 pm
Braveone 9 McFann :Ô: :Ô: 29
Wow, exactly 100 fewer posts than the last count! Give it up for me!
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:17 pm
Braves who are headed to Arizona Fall League:
LH Sean Gilmartin
RH Billy Bullock
RH Erik Cordier
RH JJ Hoover
C Christian Bethancourt
2B Phil Gosselin
OF Todd Cunningham
Thanks Carroll!
Wow. Bethancourt headed to the AFL. That’s aggressive, but I like it. Three potential bullpen arms in Bullock, Hoover and Cordier. Two solid position player prospects in Cunningham and Gosselin. Our best starter prospect not part of the Big three+Minor in Gilmartin. Good group.
Bobby's Chauffeur
August 30th, 2011
6:19 pm
Shaun
August 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
phil, I don’t really see enough information in batting average or RBI to make a judgement on a player. Batting average doesn’t take walks or total bases into account. RBI are highly dependent on opportunity and context. What are you seeing that I’m missing? Please explain “clearly” since it’s so clear.
————————————————————
Y’all know Shaun is just pulling your chain? No one can be that subtle argumentatively day after day,day after day,day after day,day after day,day after day,day after day.
Grizzled Veteran
August 30th, 2011
6:20 pm
Ed Glennon – There are some memories that stay with you forever-especially if you are a baseball fan. Over 50 years ago (in 1958, I think) your Dad took the time before a game to introduce himself to a boy sitting behind the dugout at Rickwood Field and ask him who his favorite player was. I was that boy of course, and when I told him who my favorite player was, he called the player over so I could meet him and have him autograph my glove.
My conversation with the player lasted a few minutes and when it was over, I looked around and your Dad was gone. I never got to thank him. I’ve never forgotten that meeting with the player and I’ve never forgotten your Dad for his generosity in setting it up.
noliee
August 30th, 2011
6:20 pm
I saw it as a kinda weak group Efrim
Snotboogie
August 30th, 2011
6:24 pm
Does this finally legitimize Eric Cordier as a prospect or is he still a Redmond kind of guy? I’ve been wondering if he will turn that corner, ever.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
August 30th, 2011
6:24 pm
Efrim Wow. Bethancourt headed to the AFL. That’s aggressive
I know, right?? What are they trying to pull, anyway?…
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:26 pm
I saw it as a kinda weak group Efrim
Well, hell nolie.
I like Bullock more than most and was ecstatic that we got him for Scott Diamond. All three of them(Cordier, Hoover, Bullock) are future relievers, imo. Gilmartin is a back end guy, from everything you here. A poor man’s Mike Minor with a high floor. Cunningham is a potential 4th outfielder and Gosselin a potential utility infielder. Bethancourt the highest upside of the bunch.
There. That’s my 2 pennies.
I can’t remember who we sent last year: Pastornicky, Minor, ??? Don’t believe we sent Freeman or Beachy, although I could be wrong.
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:27 pm
Does this finally legitimize Eric Cordier as a prospect or is he still a Redmond kind of guy?
Reliever with more big league upside than Redmond. Big velo in short stints if he is healthy. I don’t think Redmond is more than a Four A guy.
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:28 pm
I know, right?? What are they trying to pull, anyway?…
End of 2013 can come faster than you know it…….
JOKING!!!
noliee
August 30th, 2011
6:29 pm
I see Pastor ans Minor as strongeer than any of those I guess
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
August 30th, 2011
6:29 pm
Efrim—
Yes. You are joking.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
6:31 pm
Bing!
Soldier____
(Waving Arm!) Get Out The WAYYYYY!!! (Boom!) Pretty Boy Coming Through! Me And My Crew! We Swaggin In The Room!
What’s Up All…?
noliee
August 30th, 2011
6:31 pm
and sending three relievers a low level catcher and a brand new draftee says something about our position players IYAM,
Chop Chop
August 30th, 2011
6:31 pm
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/index.php?cyear=2014&team=ATL&pos=
What a greedy b*stard.
Ed Glennon
August 30th, 2011
6:32 pm
Grizzled Veteran
Thank you so much for the kind words about my dad. I was the batboy on that 1958 team. I remember that year very well. By the way my favorite player on that team was Steve Demeter.
Thanks so much for sharing that story. I means a lot to me.
keylargo
August 30th, 2011
6:33 pm
Hey, as frustrating as D. Lowe has been at times, anybody still wish we had gotten A.J. Burnett?
That’s a really interesting question.
Efrim – take your time thinking about it. Burnett is under contract for $16.5M in 2013.
Snotboogie
August 30th, 2011
6:34 pm
Reliever with more big league upside than Redmond. Big velo in short stints if he is healthy.
That’s not a bad return for all the patience through his injuries and considering whom we got him for. Hope he gets a chance in the bigs next year.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
6:34 pm
The Braves Will Lose 2 out of 3 this Series! Bank On It! We are due for a dismal series! After leaving the Windy City Feeling Good, Pretty Boy Flexing
Plus The Bats will be cold after the Break. It will take a series for our hitters to get their timing back
And Most Importantly! We Have Always Made the AAA Nats Look Playoff Caliber in Late August/Sept Games since they moved to DC and more-so Since 2009
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:34 pm
I see Pastor ans Minor as strongeer than any of those I guess
Totally agree. I just don’t remember liking a few of the pitchers we sent last year: Kyle Cofield and Michael Broadway. Never liked Harrilchak either.
I guess Freeman and Beachy did go. So yes, much stronger group last year although I think Freddie went home early or didn’t make it through because of injury.
Slowhiteguy
August 30th, 2011
6:34 pm
Freeman was at AFL last year for a bit…was actually at the game where he hurt himself. Pastornicky and Harrilichuk, Pruneda and Cordier off the top of my head were also there.
Slowhiteguy
August 30th, 2011
6:36 pm
I think Gearrin was there as well?
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
6:37 pm
I won’t be mad losing this series. Honestly I’m Bored having a Lead in The WC this Large, This Early, Bring on the Games in Philly, I can get riled up for those. It will be a bad thing if we clinch the WC with 10 days left in the season. If that happens we will Roll in Flat against Milwaukee in Choptober. It will remind me of those braves teams that used to clinch 2 weeks early and roll into October play flat and get upset….
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:38 pm
and sending three relievers a low level catcher and a brand new draftee says something about our position players IYAM,
I would of liked to see Adam Milligan go. Must still be hurt, which has always been the norm for him. I personally see Hoover and Cordier as relievers. Hoover is transitioning to the role because of the depth in the farm. They would of sent Clemens and Oberholtzer, which was our starting depth that we dealt. I don’t have a problem sending a draftee from this year, he was a first rounder and a ACC guy. He should begin next year at Mississippi and finish in Gwinnett, imo.
noliee
August 30th, 2011
6:38 pm
yeah I guess I wasn’t thinking just last year either. we have sent some pretty big names at times. just mirrors the poorer state of our farm to my mind
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:40 pm
Among the seven, I like everyone except for Gosselin.
Snotboogie
August 30th, 2011
6:42 pm
yeah I guess I wasn’t thinking just last year either. we have sent some pretty big names at times. just mirrors the poorer state of our farm to my mind
A couple of years ago, wasnt Charlie Morton our headliner? That seemed to be a weak bunch.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
6:42 pm
Get Ready For Nasty Attendance at the Ted the next 3 nights…Especially with SEC Football Beginning this weekend! And a Falcons Preseason game Thursday night
Go Dawgs!
Geaux Tigers!
Efrim
August 30th, 2011
6:42 pm
just mirrors the poorer state of our farm to my mind
I think it’s in the 5-7 range. Just wait until Teheran, Delgado, and Vizcaino graduate in 2012 assuming they get enough for 50 total major league innings.
Back half org.. 15-20 range, at best.
Mitchell
August 30th, 2011
6:43 pm
You mean it’s back?
Braves baseball is really back?
Oh, what news!
Heath
August 30th, 2011
6:47 pm
Almost game time…
Fols
August 30th, 2011
6:51 pm
I like this line-up….I had a feeling they wanted Chipper up a slot…….I think this works. You know they were going to slide him up when the post-season comes around anyways.
Go Braves!
Bat Masterson
August 30th, 2011
6:54 pm
Grizzled. Veteran @ 6:20
Thanks for sharing that story, man.
Chop Chop
August 30th, 2011
6:56 pm
Roy Clark did a hell of a job with our minor league system.
Snotboogie
August 30th, 2011
6:57 pm
Grizzled. Veteran @ 6:20
Thanks for sharing that story, man.
Seconded – always good to read stuff like that.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
6:58 pm
GameTime!
It’s Goin Down!”
noliee
August 30th, 2011
6:58 pm
Technology transforming player evaluation
August, 30, 2011
By Jim Bowden ESPN Insider
When I was first named general manager of the Cincinnati Reds on Oct. 16, 1992, I was proud of the computer databases we had developed and all of the information we had accumulated from our scouting reports, statistical analysis, medical information, financial history and personal background on every player in professional baseball.
It was amazing to see how far the industry had moved forward since my first year in a major league front office in 1984, when I worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates. At that time, there were no computers or video. Rather, there were just filing cabinets filled with years of scouting reports and handwritten paperwork. “The Baseball Register” was the general manager’s source of statistics and his window to what other teams were doing. Between 40 and 50 newspapers were delivered and clipped by interns to get the latest rumors, injuries and insight from each team’s beat writer. It was life before computers and the Internet.
Call me Fred Flintstone, but now looking back at 1992, and the progress that I thought the industry had made, reminds me of my childhood, when my parents tried to explain to me what life was like with black-and-white television sets, no microwave ovens or even refrigerators (they had iceboxes, or so my mom tells me to this day).
As Jayson Stark writes today, technology has truly changed the way front offices operate. In a short period of time, clubs have developed their own private metrics and complex algorithms, and more in-depth and detailed statistics, including Sabermetrics, have been added to conventional baseball statistics. Stats like OPS, WAR, VORP, WHIP, runs created, PECOTA, BABIP and DIPS have become the normal way to analyze and evaluate what players have accomplished, which way they’re trending and what their future holds
The last significant innovative statistic that arrived in front offices was the defensive metric ultimate zone rating (UZR), which was the first defensive metric accepted by baseball front offices. However, scouting reports are always needed to corroborate this metric because even though it remains the best new stat available to value defensive ability, it still can’t offer an accurate assessment of a player’s reaction time, jumps, angles and range to all sides.
While UZR might be relatively new and sexy, it could soon become obsolete. New video technology called Field f/x, a camera-based tracking system that was developed by Sportvision, finally allows for quantitative metrics of defense. In order for this technology to work, cameras are placed all around the ballpark, and every player’s every movement on the field is tracked. The software then takes all the moving data and is able to deliver a measurement in term of jumps, angles to balls, reaction times, speed, velocity and arc of the ball. This technology is not used by all 30 teams yet, but it is on the way.
Further, SPI Realtime software, designed by GPSports Systems in Australia, as well as emerging local position measurement (LPM) software, works off GPS satellite tracking systems rather than in-park cameras. These types of new technologies have been used in other sports such as soccer and hockey and are in the final development stages for baseball. When fully developed, these technologies will allow baseball evaluators to finally prove why Peter Bourjos and Austin Jackson get to more balls than any other center fielders in baseball and break down their quick reads, jumps, angles, first-step quickness and range off the bat. It will allow teams to really dissect and rank the defensive ability of every player in the game in a way that’s never been done before.
Until now, teams have made defensive conclusions based on scouting reports, defensive metrics, old-school statistics and personal evaluations. It was just three years ago that Nate McLouth won a Gold Glove with Pittsburgh. I remember that season and in the games that I watched him in person, he looked like an average center fielder. In studying all of the scouting reports, not one scout had him listed as a Gold Glove defender. When I viewed the more advanced defensive metrics, they also didn’t give him high grades. How did this happen? The fact is, to really evaluate a player defensively at the major league level, you have to watch him on a daily basis, and Gold Gloves are voted on by coaches and managers who don’t diligently scout the opposition. Though a statistic like UZR helps, and is the best defensive metric available, in the near future, technology, especially video, will improve our ability to truly evaluate the complete defensive abilities of players.
Indeed, the biggest overall change in technology during my 15-year career as a GM has been the advancement and availability of video for every at-bat and every pitch of every player in baseball. Bloomberg Sports has been at the forefront of this movement, as it created a program that allows execs, coaches and players to watch any at-bat on their computer. If the scouting reports say the hitter has a long swing and can’t hit a good inside fastball, all a general manager has to do is go to the computer and call up every 93-plus mph fastball that was thrown in on his hands and watch the results himself. If the scouting reports have a conflict of opinions on a pitcher’s delivery, a general manager can call up the video from every appearance and then video conference in all of the scouts and pitching coaches to dissect the pitcher and make sure the organization makes the correct determinations collectively. Bloomberg has an iPad app it will personalize for players that allows them to have every one of their plate appearances available at any moment.
Technology now allows general managers to view video of a high school outfielder playing in Billings, Mont., a shortstop at the University of Texas and a catcher playing for the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League on a nightly basis on their iPads and compare the three swings of all three on split-screen monitors. Most baseball operations conference rooms, suites and offices are equipped with HD flatscreen TVs with DVR capability. Indeed, every player in almost every game is now under the microscope, giving general managers the best and most accurate information ever available to make decisions on trades, signings or the amateur draft.
Technology has come a long way in the past few decades, and for baseball general managers and their fans, the best news is it will keep getting better and better.
Bat Masterson
August 30th, 2011
6:58 pm
Yep mitchell, the Braves are back. Kepp your kleenex handy.
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:00 pm
Mitchell is a party-pooper
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:01 pm
No Chip Caray? Nice!
Snotboogie
August 30th, 2011
7:02 pm
Mitchell is a party-pooper
Ok. Something more rugged than kleenex, then.
Sophee
August 30th, 2011
7:03 pm
The past three days once again reminded me about how boring November – February are going to be.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 30th, 2011
7:03 pm
It is good to be back; it has been a while.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:03 pm
Watch Out For Rick Stankiel!
Literally, He Only Hits When He Plays Against Us!
Chop Chop
August 30th, 2011
7:05 pm
The past three days reminded me of how ready I am for football to kick off this weekend. It is time for baseball to fade into the background. Thank you, sports gods. Thank you.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:05 pm
Sophee
“The past three days once again reminded me about how boring November – February are going to be.”
Agreed But I will Have My Football Thurs-Sat and Sunday, and I will be outside more. I don’t do hot humid weather. Thats why I don’t go to games past June
Sophee
August 30th, 2011
7:07 pm
Naw, baseball first, pointy ball second.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
August 30th, 2011
7:11 pm
Let’s get this thing STARTED!!!
Stizz
August 30th, 2011
7:11 pm
Just keep winning Arizona. Keep San Fran out postseason and I would gladly like for us to face you guys rather Milwaukee.
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:12 pm
OMG am I soon gonna hafta wade through multitudinous mentions of pointyball and bounceyball again soon? I might just slit my wrists……..
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:14 pm
Stankiel is Pumped Up, Not Good!
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:15 pm
@Chop Chop
Co-Sign!
Baseball games the last two years have been so boring w/o the roids, but with that said this has been the most exciting Braves team to watch since 2003
Tomahawk Mafia
August 30th, 2011
7:15 pm
Thanks for posting that Bowden article, Noliee. That is some good stuff.
Venice Jim
August 30th, 2011
7:15 pm
Good start…
MIBravesFan
August 30th, 2011
7:15 pm
A good start by JJ.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:16 pm
@Nolie
At least we are not Talking about The National BS Association??? AKA The NBA
Tomahawk Mafia
August 30th, 2011
7:16 pm
Jurrjens’ offspeed pitches looked pretty good in that inning.
TnBrian
August 30th, 2011
7:17 pm
Nice start for JJ, but I spotted one of his fastballs at 88 mph. From 93-95 mph to what he is now is still a little weird to me
keylargo
August 30th, 2011
7:18 pm
First commercial between innings was none other than the beloved confused AT&T Dancer.
God help us if we have to watch make up commercials.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:18 pm
Money Mike!!!
Nice!
Snotboogie
August 30th, 2011
7:19 pm
Nice start for JJ, but I spotted one of his fastballs at 88 mph. From 93-95 mph to what he is now is still a little weird to me
It’s because of “The JV” sinker, possibly.
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:19 pm
da nada Mafia. I thought it was interesting.
Pretty soon all the old f@rd stats luddites like Lew and others will disappear off the face of the earth and it will be as if they never existed.
Stats will rule supreme and every blogger will be Shaun Jr…………….
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:19 pm
TnBrian
I rarely saw Double J throw 95
At his best I always saw him from 92-94??? Maybe My Memory is F’d Up?
Tomahawk Mafia
August 30th, 2011
7:20 pm
Pardon my frustration, but Prado has just about become useless in the Braves lineup.
Stizz
August 30th, 2011
7:20 pm
What on Earth has happened to Martin
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:21 pm
there will be plenty of boring NBA crap to wade through too T’h. Bounceyball sux but a lot here talk about it like it was a great sport like baseball……..
Rilo
August 30th, 2011
7:21 pm
so…fastest guy in baseball and the slowest pitcher and we don’t steal a base. I see.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:21 pm
Gawd I thought They Stopped Playing That Autotune Pop-Rap Garbage B-Macc Comes Out To?
That Music he comes out to is Awful! I Think Its Bad for the TV when They Play Stuff Like That? I think it messes up the Tint?
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:22 pm
I thought having all that speed leading off was gonna stop double plays????
Tomahawk Mafia
August 30th, 2011
7:23 pm
I also disagree with the decision to slot Prado in the second place spot in the order. He just fails to reach base frequently enough.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:23 pm
Tomahawk Mafia
“Pardon my frustration, but Prado has just about become useless in the Braves lineup.”
I dunno, I hope Martini Is saving his best for last (October)? He Ain’t goin out like That!
Snotboogie
August 30th, 2011
7:23 pm
Stats will rule supreme and every blogger will be Shaun Jr…………….
Talking of slitting wrists….
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
August 30th, 2011
7:24 pm
Dangit…a little too under that pitch…
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:24 pm
that’s true some Mafia, but he is still a big improvement over Gonzo there
Michael
August 30th, 2011
7:25 pm
great f’in job prado, hey fat freddi, can we steal borne early in the count please
Venice Jim
August 30th, 2011
7:25 pm
Grrr…..
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:26 pm
Dammit!
That Just Landed On My Porch here in Loganville GA!
Elonbrave
August 30th, 2011
7:26 pm
My God, Morse hit that FOREVER.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 30th, 2011
7:27 pm
That ball was absolutely crushed.
Stizz
August 30th, 2011
7:27 pm
JJ is really becoming a slop ball pitcher.
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:27 pm
BALLGAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bat Masterson
August 30th, 2011
7:27 pm
“Every blogger will be Shaun jr …….” Nolie
I’ll have moved on by then.
Elonbrave
August 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
Lucky that hanger to Nix didn’t go out…
The A Bomb
August 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
Batting practice Jurrjens has returned.
TnBrian
August 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
How far? I’ll guess 430 footer. JJ gettin hit again. Yawn, no surprise. Kid wears down too fast during a season. Can’t handle the long grind it looks.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
Not a Good inning for Double J so far…
Rilo
August 30th, 2011
7:29 pm
JJ….heading down the Jorge Sosa career Path.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 30th, 2011
7:30 pm
I said Jurrjens looked pretty good in the first inning, but the second inning is the complete opposite.
TnBrian
August 30th, 2011
7:30 pm
Yeah get to the fat ass pitcher so he can slap a 2 run double.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:30 pm
We Need a DP bad Here!
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:31 pm
this might be the guy who Detroit thought they were trading away
Dennis Reynolds
August 30th, 2011
7:32 pm
Who’s been worse the 2nd half so far?
JJ or Braves fans?
Pathetic crowd. Embarrassing.
Venice Jim
August 30th, 2011
7:33 pm
Better than it might have been…
bigbrave
August 30th, 2011
7:33 pm
Why can’t Jurrjens wear his hat straight? Have a hard time taking him serious with a crooked looking hat.
TnBrian
August 30th, 2011
7:33 pm
Check Livan’s back pocket. Thought I saw a chicken wing.
Tomahawkin
August 30th, 2011
7:33 pm
Good Recovery Double J!
noliee
August 30th, 2011
7:34 pm
thank God the pitcher hits in the NL
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
August 30th, 2011
7:35 pm
BMac slipped as he was getting up for that grounder…glad apparently nothing happened…