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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,551 comments Add your comment
Ron in Vegas
September 27th, 2011
3:58 pm
First??
TennesseePaul
September 27th, 2011
3:59 pm
Thanks for the work DOB.
GO BRAVES!!
Last 9 Starts of the Starting 9
_________AVG__OBP__SLG___OPS_wOBA_L9S9+
Bourn__ .158 .220 .184 0.404 .193 ___30
Prado__ .237 .275 .263 0.538 .247 ___72
Chipper .242 .316 .424 0.740 .344 __134
Uggla__ .257 .333 .429 0.762 .335 __141
Freeman .152 .222 .333 0.556 .223 ___75
McCann_ .133 .297 .167 0.464 .229 ___52
Seabass .455 .455 .879 1.333 .556 __315
Heyward .321 .444 .500 0.944 .393 __201
Lowe___ .077 .143 .308 0.451 .157 ___40
Feeach
September 27th, 2011
4:00 pm
Let’s take care of business tonight then crack open a Stroh’s when the Astros beat the cards!
Hillbilly
September 27th, 2011
4:03 pm
And we shall flow a river forth to thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be…
Clayton H
September 27th, 2011
4:03 pm
Come on Braves. Get it done tonight.
Efrim
September 27th, 2011
4:04 pm
Thanks DOB. Is there any chance you can find out why Vizcaino hasn’t pitched in ten days? Thanks!
Herschel Talker
September 27th, 2011
4:04 pm
“Wasted scoring opportunities undermine Braves”
No kidding?!?
Stick a fork in these bums. Another listless performance will ensue this evening. Losers.
FIRE FREDI GONZALEZ!!!
Murph
September 27th, 2011
4:06 pm
How many outs will Lowe get?
abeeeewright: 0
Slim to None: 2
brian: 5
UKUGA: 9
Nate: 10
Murph: 11
Booger: 12
Brava: 13
Snot: 14
Ron: 15
menlo: 16
PT: 17
Jimmy: 18
AT: 19
CraZy: 20
Fish: 21
DAP: 22
Eric: 23
laura: 24
BB: 25
Brave4life: 26
bravo_fan: 27
1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 still available!
Brava
September 27th, 2011
4:06 pm
Thank you DOB.
Gotta go get ready for the game. Later, blog folk.
GO BRAVES!!!
Nittany Lion
September 27th, 2011
4:06 pm
I hope Fredi has a quick leash on Lowe tonight. We will have someone warming up in the third inning.
njbraves
September 27th, 2011
4:07 pm
Prado batting second and Lowe on the mound…the Braves are in trouble and the game hasn’t even started.
KennesawFAN
September 27th, 2011
4:07 pm
Where did Gonzo get the nickname “Seabass”? Is it from “Dumb and Dumber”?
Braves sputter
September 27th, 2011
4:07 pm
Chances not great with Lowe, DOB….would rather have a rookie going tonight.
Baby Gerald
September 27th, 2011
4:08 pm
New Wilco album is solid…
Big game tonight. Go Braves.
McCmann and Aqua Hoss
September 27th, 2011
4:08 pm
man man man man man….
McCmann: Just keep swimming, just keep swimming just keep swimming
AquaHoss: Huh? did you hear that? Just over there!
McCmann: No. NOOOOOO. It cant be. It’s, It’s the playoffs just right around the corner :0
AquaHoss: Yes YES I can almost taste it, taste of bitter defeat.
Herschel Talker
September 27th, 2011
4:09 pm
“How many outs will Lowe get?”
Can I pick a negative number?
Fish Bisch
September 27th, 2011
4:09 pm
Oswalowned
tiger297
September 27th, 2011
4:10 pm
I know our hitting with RISP is awful.
Is there a way to look at runners at 3B with less than 2 outs (or 2nd with no outs) and see how we compare at that. So many nights a hit would be great but one or two fly balls would get in at least one
Fols
September 27th, 2011
4:10 pm
I feel sorry for the staff here……this is the same blog on repeat for a month now!
Come on Braves, turn it around for a day, give us something to look forward to!
Braveheart
September 27th, 2011
4:10 pm
Hopefully Bubba Head taught Derek Lowe how to win this too
T for Texas
September 27th, 2011
4:10 pm
Good work, David. Go Bravstros!
Lew
September 27th, 2011
4:11 pm
It was great that Constanza had that great stretch (July 29-August 22), but the reason we’re not wining right now is NOT because he’s on the bench.
During that stretch, Chipper went 18-48 (.374), Uggla hit in EVERY game and went 31-89 (.348) and Bourn went 25-83 (.300).
Compare that to their last nine (thanks Ten Paul) – Chipper .242, Uggla .257 and Bourn .158 and you might see why we’re not winning and it has nothing whatsoever to do with Constanza sitting on the bench.
Hope Georgie has a future with the Braves, but let’s get real.
richbrave
September 27th, 2011
4:12 pm
A win and the worst the CARDS can do is tie us. COME on guys, put them out of their misery.
Braveheart
September 27th, 2011
4:13 pm
Someone get Lowe smashed before this game. He’s been a little too Fun Bobby this season. Dude needs a drink or two or ten.
richbrave
September 27th, 2011
4:13 pm
LEW:
My daughter says she sent the two shots. Have you gotten any other than the first one?
Mid Town Joe
September 27th, 2011
4:14 pm
DOB You hit the nail on the head! Blown scoring opportunities have been costly. The Brewers and Phillies seem to get it done when it counts. I hope they lock up the WC tonight, but I’m not sure this team can make it past the 1st round of the playoffs.
I'm with Braves (Always)
September 27th, 2011
4:14 pm
Same guys, same lineup and the manager is hoping(????) for different result. Let’s see.
CrαZy
September 27th, 2011
4:15 pm
Something needs to be addressed this offseason… Learn to do a better job managing the bullpen or find a way to get the starters to pitch deeper in games!! Venter’s arm is gonna detach and hit a fan if Fred keeps this up. Venters 163 Appearances in 2010-2011.
MLB Relief Appearances
1. Venters (ATL) 84
2. Veras (PIT) 79
3. Motte (STL) 78
Kimbrel (ATL) 78
Bray (CIN) 78
5. O’Flaherty (ATL) 77
Efrim
September 27th, 2011
4:15 pm
Let’s go Braves!
Jimmy
September 27th, 2011
4:16 pm
Herschel Talker – “How many outs will Lowe get?”
Can I pick a negative number?”
Is that possible? I mean, you are such a positive person.
Lew
September 27th, 2011
4:16 pm
richbrave – In a word, No. The one was it and I saved and printed it immediately so I was certain to have it.
Lew
September 27th, 2011
4:17 pm
And I don’t block emails.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 27th, 2011
4:17 pm
Send these f’in Cardinals packing boys.
Shaun
September 27th, 2011
4:18 pm
I’m not so sure Moneyball (the movie) has much validity when there is no mention of Hudson, Mulder or Zito. Seems to me they were responsible more than any other aspect for any success Beane had.
Lew, don’t know if you saw the MLB Network interview that Bob Costas did with Beane, Michael Lewis, Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. Beane and Lewis address those who discredit Beane for Hudson, Mulder and Zito.
First of all, all three guys were college players and drafting college players was sort of a theme, as college players aren’t as risky and were probably undervalued at the time.
Second, Hudson was drafted in the 6th round and was probably passed up by other teams because he was a short, right-hander. Zito slipped to 9th overall because he was essentially a soft-tossing lefty. Mulder was the one athletic guy that looked the part and was on everyone’s radar, and he went 2nd overall.
So Hudson and Zito definitely fit into the philosophy espoused in Moneyball. Mulder fits in terms of being a college guy.
PMC
September 27th, 2011
4:18 pm
At the plate, the Braves are choking dogs when it matters for the better part of 20 years.
It is what it is, this team cannot hit.
The A Bomb
September 27th, 2011
4:18 pm
Lowe: 5 2/3 innings (as usual), 4 runs (as usual), 9 hits (as usual), 3 walks (as usual)…
Going to the bank tomorrow (as usual).
Herschel Talker
September 27th, 2011
4:19 pm
Jimmy:
I aint positive, I aint negative. All I do is keep it real. We aint got nothing but a bunch of losers on this team right now (and really in the whole city – the Falcons suck, the Dawgs suck).
HT
LivinInAL
September 27th, 2011
4:19 pm
Remember during that short period of time when the Braves were fun to watch ( with Born and Georgie), bunting, moving runners over, etc. Then we moved back to that old tired no brains at the plate formula.
Efrim
September 27th, 2011
4:19 pm
Hope Georgie has a future with the Braves, but let’s get real.
Well said, Lew.
Slim Jim
September 27th, 2011
4:19 pm
Braves got a gift last night from Astros. You know Lowe will lose to Phillies.
phredd
September 27th, 2011
4:20 pm
win win win! at any cost. I’m talkin half the team just lean into pitches to get on base!
PMC
September 27th, 2011
4:20 pm
Still, nothing matters. 162 games come down to the last 2.
All they need to do is win tonight.
Pierson Brave
September 27th, 2011
4:20 pm
OK, I’ll be the downer…. 1 out!
Eric
September 27th, 2011
4:20 pm
What do you guys think about the weather today? Do you think we’ll play a game?
Nova Scotia Steve
September 27th, 2011
4:20 pm
Talk about the pressure released by a wild card (butt) clinch tonight.
DC Brave
September 27th, 2011
4:21 pm
C’MON BRAVES!!!!!!
coach
September 27th, 2011
4:21 pm
Efrim
September 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
Why no Castanza in the lineup? He is the spark we need to score some runs. He should bat second and put Freeman in the 3rd spot in the lineup!
For some reason I started to laugh out loud when I read this. Even now, typing, I am laughing.
It’s like that laugh Mayor Adam West had when he made fun of that kitten named Paul:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrK00l5xXBk&feature=related
September 27th, 2011
3:58 pm
Why no Castanza in the lineup? He is the spark we need to score some runs. He should bat second and put Freeman in the 3rd spot in the lineup!
For some reason I started to laugh out loud when I read this. Even now, typing, I am laughing.
Yeah, it’s freaking hilarious cause they’ve been playing so well since he got benched. LMAO!
September 27th, 2011
4:01 pm
Yeah, it’s freaking hilarious cause they’ve been playing so well since he got benched. LMAO!
No. Actually, that wasn’t the reason I was laughing. You see, OPS is on base plus slug…….ah, nevermind. Forget it!
How about winning = Castanza in lineup, Freeman batting 3rd
Losing = Castanza sprains ankle and never returns to starting lineup
Curious George
September 27th, 2011
4:21 pm
Why is Prado batting second and once again, why is he in the lineup at all?
Lew
September 27th, 2011
4:21 pm
Shaun – I know, but there is no mention of them in the movie. Kind of a glaring omission, don’t you think.
Linebrinks Security
September 27th, 2011
4:22 pm
This game is probably the biggest of the final two and I think their WC chances hinge on this start … only bad thing is that Lowe is pitching and he’s either 1 of two things: pounded and beaten badly or pitches ok with no offensive backing.
Snotboogie
September 27th, 2011
4:22 pm
You don’t think its a slap to the players that this guy is saying hey, they can’t win two over there…
Ptown:
Having seen the way we have been playing, would you give good odds of that happening against the team with the best record in the NL? And Lowe pitching one of those two.
I’m saying it should not be considered a slap.
2012 25-man roster - GO BRAVES!!!
September 27th, 2011
4:22 pm
C McCann
1B Freeman
2B Uggla
SS Gonzalez
3B Jones
LF Prado
CF Bourn
RF Heyward
C Ross
1B/OF Hinske
OF Diaz
SS Wilson
2B Conrad
SP Hudson
SP Jurrjens
SP Beachy
SP Minor
SP Lowe
CL Kimbrel
RP Venters
RP O’Flaherty
RP Vizcaino
RP Varvaro
RP Medlen
RP Martinez
Hanson on DL to start the year.
TennesseePaul
September 27th, 2011
4:22 pm
Payne, your 4:18pm spent 4 paragraphs responding to something Lew didn’t even say….
The key phrase you over looked was “(the movie)”… You even quoted it and then went back to discussing the book and the philosophy and not “the movie.”
Here it is again: I’m not so sure Moneyball (the movie) has much validity when there is no mention of Hudson, Mulder or Zito
CrαZy
September 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
Same guys, same lineup
What did you expect a trade??
Jimmy
September 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
“Stick a fork in these bums. Another listless performance will ensue this evening. Losers.
FIRE FREDI GONZALEZ!!!
We aint got nothing but a bunch of losers on this team right now (and really in the whole city – the Falcons suck, the Dawgs suck).”
And that’s since 4:04
Alright, I was wrong. You are just “being real”.
AB*Nation
September 27th, 2011
4:24 pm
DOB ,,Sept. 7th game for Lowe was at CBP, not Turner. Let’s hope you are right that he makes us all forget about what he did before tonight.
Mixxo
September 27th, 2011
4:24 pm
Hi
Lets Go… for cryin’ out loud.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 27th, 2011
4:25 pm
Linebrinks Security – By the looks of your last post. No matter what Lowe does we still lose.
DUE TO: No offensive backing – LOL.
Efrim
September 27th, 2011
4:25 pm
I don’t know about this Henry Sosa guy. Could be a tough night for the Stros. Gotta grab a win tonight!
oldmike
September 27th, 2011
4:25 pm
with the way they have played since getting swept in Philly why would a rational person expect them to snap out of their funk against Oswalt, and further, expect Lowe to turn it around for one night. Isn’t this the definition of insanity? Lowe has been so bad for so long it’s a wonder he’s even out there every 5th day. Has he made it to the 7th inning more than once since the All Star break? Give him a really short leash. Get him out of there if he struggles finding the plate early on. That’s the harbinger of doom. It’s absolutely incredible that the entire team has stopped hitting. Where’s the hitting coach in all this mess. Their plate discipline has vanished. And we just haven’t taken advantage of Bourne’s speed to manufacture any runs.
Please guys do something good for a change.
Thanks,
OldMike
CrαZy
September 27th, 2011
4:25 pm
C McCann1B Freeman
2B Uggla
SS Gonzalez
3B Jones
LF Prado
CF Bourn
RF Heyward
C Ross
1B/OF Hinske
OF Diaz
SS Wilson
2B Conrad
SP Hudson
SP Jurrjens
SP Beachy
SP Minor
SP Lowe
CL Kimbrel
RP Venters
RP O’Flaherty
RP Vizcaino
RP Varvaro
RP Medlen
RP Martinez
Hanson on DL to start the year.
AB*Nation
September 27th, 2011
4:25 pm
Sorry DOB ,,I meant Oswalt, not Lowe.
Lew
September 27th, 2011
4:26 pm
Braves, Rays and Red Sox all at 89-61 with the Cards at 88-62 with two games left to play.
Guess we now know that 92wins was what would have guaranteed a Wild Card berth this year.
southern hope
September 27th, 2011
4:26 pm
Over at Boston.com, they *wish* they had Lowe pitching tonight and can’t understand why we’re complaining.
Also, I’ll say as I said yesterday….baseball is one odd game….I couldn’t predict where we (or Boston) will be on Thursday.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 27th, 2011
4:28 pm
Some funny stuff going on here this afternoon – I must say.
meh
September 27th, 2011
4:28 pm
I think I’d flip Prado and Bourne. that way Prado could get on Bourne could bunt him over since he’s not doing a whole lot else lately. Anyway, I’m predicting that Lowe has a bounce back game and the Braves win tonight. GO BRAVES!!
ncscoots
September 27th, 2011
4:28 pm
At the plate, the Braves are choking dogs
Gutless, choking dogs. Gutless, spineless, choking dogs. With no heart. Or urgency.
Just want to make sure I get all the pejoratives in there. You know, in a fell swoop. That way, if some in-game blogger forgets one of them, he can refer to this post for a memory jog.
I try to be helpful.
Fish Bisch
September 27th, 2011
4:28 pm
SH, most people here would trade Lowe for whoever Boston is pushing out there tonight though.
Jimmy
September 27th, 2011
4:29 pm
We need this game bad. We don’t want to have to run Hudson out there tomorrow. Like someone said, I hope there is a real short leash for Lowe. Heck, get someone up after he first pitch.
The A Bomb
September 27th, 2011
4:29 pm
With Chipper’s knee publicly ailing how many bunts will the Phils lay down tonight?
Threadkiller
September 27th, 2011
4:29 pm
Why play Constanza tonight? This is a must win game, We need to approach this game with small ball in mind. Get runners on, steal, and bunting runners over. We have to put pressure on and score early. Lowe will be fine. I expect to see more sliders from him tonight.
The A Bomb
September 27th, 2011
4:30 pm
How many outs will Prado make tonight while ahead in the count?
The A Bomb
September 27th, 2011
4:30 pm
How many times will we see Chipper grimace tonight?
P-Town BravEEE ©
September 27th, 2011
4:31 pm
Braveheart-
ncscoots
September 27th, 2011
4:31 pm
why would a rational person expect them to snap out of their funk against Oswalt, and further, expect Lowe to turn it around for one night. Isn’t this the definition of insanity?
Nah. Pretty much the definition of baseball, though.
Chop Chop
September 27th, 2011
4:31 pm
The Braves are a bunch of choking dogs who will win the next three World Series.
Let’s!!! Go!!!
B!!!R!!!A!!!V!!!E!!!S!!!
It's out of here.....
September 27th, 2011
4:31 pm
It’s healthy to just admit the reality of the truth… the are DEAD and DONE.
P-Town BravEEE ©
September 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
A Bomb-
I’ll set the over/under at 7….
Everyone place your bets!
Jimmy
September 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
The A Bomb “With Chipper’s knee publicly ailing how many bunts will the Phils lay down tonight?”
At last, a very good, insightful post. Great point A Bomb.
Efrim
September 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
Over at Boston.com, they *wish* they had Lowe pitching tonight and can’t understand why we’re complaining.
Oh yeah? Want to have him?
Abnerish
September 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
I’ll be interested to see if Chipper can move at all. And I’ll be interested to see if Rollins or Victorino tries to test that knee by bunting. My gut tells me that while they don’t want to give the Braves the game, they are playing with injuries in mind. For example, Pence pulling up on Diaz’s double yesterday or Ibanez not going full speed on Uggla’s 2b in the 9th. So, I think they will avoid plays that will force them to go full speed, like a bunt.
Felix
September 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
Can’t believe that Lowe is starting. Might as well start Linderflunk. No chance, no way the Braves win when you add zero offensive skill with a zero starter. I’ll sum up tonight’s game for you before it even starts:
Start with Lowe who can’t pitch,
Then add in Braves hitters who can’t hit (except Chipper), hell can’t even bunt,
Then add in Braves runners who are too slow, like McCann (except Bourne) and prone to mistakes,
Then add in Braves courage which is zero as they are all time chokers,
Then add in Fredi who can’t manage jack s____,
When you sum it all up—you have another Braves loss.
lexbrave
September 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
should be an exciting scene at the ted tonight should the braves figure out some way to win tonight with everyone sitting around waiting for the outcome of the cards game.
lexbrave
September 27th, 2011
4:33 pm
dare I say it will be a much more interesting scene however on this board, should the braves not find a way to win.
Heisenberg
September 27th, 2011
4:33 pm
Sometimes I swear you can see it in their faces when they come to the plate with RISP and less than 2 outs. Like they wish it were someone else up there with all the pressure. The problems are between the ears. Where is John Smoltz phycho-analysis shrink dude these days?
Henry Sosa
September 27th, 2011
4:34 pm
I am not so sure about this Efrim guy.
coach
September 27th, 2011
4:34 pm
Heyward is an automatic out in the lineup and his defense isn’t that great either. Put Castanza in the lineup for a spark!
Felix
September 27th, 2011
4:34 pm
By the way, someone call Boston quick and tell them we will trade DWI Lowe to them for a bucket of balls.
Whoop
September 27th, 2011
4:35 pm
Fredi is determined he’s going to continue trotting Prado out there, no matter how bad he sucks.
Good grief, at least get him out of the two spot.
Jimmy
September 27th, 2011
4:35 pm
The A Bomb – “With Chipper’s knee publicly ailing how many bunts will the Phils lay down tonight?”
Or they can drop it in front of the plate and let McCann throw it in right field.
Got that out of the way for the Brian haters….
Shaun
September 27th, 2011
4:36 pm
Lew, there was also no mention of Miguel Tejada or Eric Chavez in the movie. It’s been a while since I read the book but I don’t recall Tejada, Chavez, Hudson, Mulder or Zito being central figures in the book either. Probably because both the book and the movie were about finding undervalued players by using different methods than many other teams, so Lewis and the screenwriters are going to focus on the most undervalued players.
In other words, the movie is not primarily a story about the greatness of the 2002 A’s or early 2000’s A’s. It was primarily about how, through ways of looking at the game that were different from many teams at the time, the A’s were able to compete with teams like the Yankees though the A’s payroll was much lower. If the book or the movie were just a profile of the 2002 A’s, then Tejada, Chavez, Zito, Hudson, Mulder would be glaring omissions.
If someone writes a book primarily specifically about the Braves’ methods to finding undervalued players in the 1990’s and those undervalued players, do you think they would focus on Justice, Gant, McGriff and Chipper or do you think they would focus on Greg McMichael, Kerry Ligtenberg, Mike Remlinger, etc.?
ncscoots
September 27th, 2011
4:36 pm
Where is John Smoltz phycho-analysis shrink dude these days?
On this blog, defining character through body language?
Blk09GT
September 27th, 2011
4:36 pm
I believe we will see “playoff” Lowe tonight. Braves win by 5.
T for Texas
September 27th, 2011
4:36 pm
Derek has a good start left in him. He’s just gonna have to dig deep to find one he left in the closet earlier in his career. It will be there, probably with some of his old Sawx memorobilia.
coach
September 27th, 2011
4:36 pm
1. Bourn CF
2. Castanza RF
3. Freeman 1B
4. Uggla 2B
5. Chipper 3B
6. Prado LF
7. McCann C
8. Gonzalos SS
Clarence
September 27th, 2011
4:37 pm
Since Chipper has a sore knee, why not let him be the DH tonight?
JRW
September 27th, 2011
4:37 pm
The A Bomb
September 27th, 2011
4:29 pm
With Chipper’s knee publicly ailing how many bunts will the Phils lay down tonight?
***********************************************************************
None. Not Manuel’s style. Unless it’s a pitcher batting. He still manages AL style most of the time.
Ed Glennon
September 27th, 2011
4:38 pm
I would rather watch Chipper swing the bat in pain than watch some of these other guys swing healthy.
mikey d
September 27th, 2011
4:38 pm
I’m thinking maybe it’s time to drop Prado down and stick somebody in the 2-hole that can hit……….Oh – maybe I was thinking of the Phillies
Whoop
September 27th, 2011
4:39 pm
You pretty much know how Prado’s ABs are going to go.
Take fastball straight down the middle, then swing at garbage and weakly fly out or ground out.