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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5,809 comments Add your comment
TnBrian
October 6th, 2011
11:04 pm
First!!!
TnBrian
October 6th, 2011
11:07 pm
Thanks for the late nighter, DOB.
Efrim
October 6th, 2011
11:10 pm
Thanks DOB! Clean, new blog!
RaleighDawg
October 6th, 2011
11:12 pm
On Chipper
“What is he, 39? And did he hit, .270, .280? With 17 homers, 70 RBIs. “That’s pretty good, and he’s taking shots and all kinds of stuff.”
And this sums up why the Braves will never will with current ownership and management….Compentent leadership would be asking the questions: is this worth $14m a season and could that $14m be better spent ?
cabravesfan
October 6th, 2011
11:17 pm
My eyes hurt…but that might be the wine…
Jesus
October 6th, 2011
11:20 pm
It’s been a week and this is honestly the first post Braves season column I have read. Doesn’t make it any easier but I’m glad Wren is showing frustrations as well. Fredi is like a robot. He never says anything different. 2012 is going to be as big as a season in recent memory. Start off slow and everyone will be talking about this Septemer. Start quick and everyone will say were going to collapse again. This still sucks!!!
The A Bomb – OUTCHOKED ®
October 6th, 2011
11:21 pm
Nice blog. And a new one.
A Phillies loss tomorrow and they, too, will have OUTCHOKED the Braves.
As for Gonzalez, maybe he can go to winterball and refine his skills.
A similar team loses 80-90 next season.
ABSOLUTELY IMPROVED TEAMS FOR ‘12: Washington, Florida, New York, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, San Francisco.
INTERLEAGUE: New York (6), Boston (3), Tampa Bay (3).
Carryover from this will be apparent from the start. Tougher schedule. More losses.
Bravofan
October 6th, 2011
11:22 pm
Wow nice DOB good read!!
Now al these people will stop whining thank you!
cabravesfan
October 6th, 2011
11:26 pm
My dog just charged the window to bark at nothing…
stizz
October 6th, 2011
11:26 pm
“It was fairly obvious throughout the season that it wasn’t a good fit.”
Wren isn’t pulling any punches.
Love it.
Chop Chop
October 6th, 2011
11:27 pm
Siddown, Jetah.
veer
October 6th, 2011
11:29 pm
Look at the Yankee fans with their head down. THAT WAS SO CLOSE.
sucks we could have had easy way to world series.
No Yankees Redsox, Phillies and Brewers be elimited
Strikeoutlookin
October 6th, 2011
11:29 pm
Might be a crazy though but what about Chipper as the Player/Hitting coach…. Would be interesting, especially with it being no hidden secret Chipper wants the job when he’s done.. Young guys obviously will listen to him, and Now that Parrish is finally gone, it would be a vertical move.
veer
October 6th, 2011
11:30 pm
I was surprised Tigers didn’t bring in Velverde in the 8th but they survived.
Riveria has to pitch the 9th i think for Yankees
stizz
October 6th, 2011
11:30 pm
A BOMB,
Are you joking? The Mets will be bad if not worse than they are now with the loss of Reyes. Their pitching is decent.
San Fran will lose Beltran and still needs offense.
While Pitt has a good young team, they lack the payroll to add significant pieces around that talent.
TnBrian
October 6th, 2011
11:31 pm
Ya know, this was my first “first”. Nearly 5 years being on here. Call me a minor leaguer getting his first big league hit.
Tom O'Hawke
October 6th, 2011
11:32 pm
I guess even the Braves deserved a proper burial.
Good job, DOB.
Chop Chop
October 6th, 2011
11:32 pm
Thanks for the blog, DOB.
It’s hard to believe that Wren is entering his fifth season as GM here. Time flies when you aren’t winning anything of note.
Cap Tipper
October 6th, 2011
11:32 pm
Sometimes you just have to tip your cap….Oh, wait. We didn’t play today?
TnBrian
October 6th, 2011
11:35 pm
veer, I know,Wren had all the right answers. I also noticed he says Fredi did a “good”, not “great” job like he would always say about. Bobby as I recall. Fredi, just for me, hopefully learns a lot from all this.
10-80
October 6th, 2011
11:39 pm
Thanks much DOB, stellar work as always
N8
October 6th, 2011
11:40 pm
I find it interesting that Wren pretty much mirrored what most of the blog was saying all summer long. The offense was costing us games and eventually would cost the bullpen, by causing them to be oversused.
I really liked his response to being asked about Chipper saying that with a “young team”, etc…. with Wren making sure to point out that plenty of the veterans didn’t do their job either.
Good read DOB.
Thanks.
Who Me?
October 6th, 2011
11:41 pm
Good Stuff DOB, choice bloggage for this late post-season night while watching OTHER teams play. I read a lot of cryin’ in their milk here but I sure would like to see some fire from one or the other of these guys. Hate to say it but LP had his turn and it wasn’t pretty, so I can completely understand that one.
Q: What happens if the same thing goes down next year?
How safe will FG’s job be then?
Here’s to the offseason, may she be kind to us and bless us with more talent, and may the budget boys at Liberty find some extra bucks in our pockets this Christmas…
BFChris27
October 6th, 2011
11:42 pm
Tigers win
stizz
October 6th, 2011
11:42 pm
AAANNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDD THE YANKEES LOSE!
Efrim
October 6th, 2011
11:42 pm
Wow. Big upset. Texas is going to crush them. Just my opinion.
Let’s go Cards and Crew!
Kat
October 6th, 2011
11:43 pm
Oh tomorrow will be a nice day at work with all those Yankee fans
TnBrian
October 6th, 2011
11:44 pm
Way to go Tigers. Gotta root for them all the way now. Tanking out the Banks is always sweet to see.
BFChris27
October 6th, 2011
11:45 pm
I hope post season goes as follows….
D-Backs/Cards – NLCS
Tigers/Rangers – ALCS (just made official)
D-Backs/Tigers – WS (with D-Backs winning
)
Soph
October 6th, 2011
11:46 pm
Me happy.
Thanks for the new blog, DOB.
richie
October 6th, 2011
11:47 pm
Yanks prove again that money cant buy a championship but it damn sure helps. You can also win and be broke (see Rays) or you could have some money and piss it away (see Braves).
Who Me?
October 6th, 2011
11:47 pm
The wonderful thing about Tiggers…….
(with a nod to the Pooh)
Efrim
October 6th, 2011
11:49 pm
As long as the Phillies don’t win, I could care less who wins this thing. Just get Philly out of there.
Actually, I don’t want the Cards to win either.
nolie
October 6th, 2011
11:49 pm
.Compentent leadership would be asking the questions: is this worth $14m a season and could that $14m be better spent ?…RaleighDawg
management, competent or not, has nothing to do at this point. he is signed to a contract. What the devil do you think can change?
Brownie
October 6th, 2011
11:51 pm
Jesus, you say Fredi is a robot. Read his comments again: he levels straightforward comments about McCann, Prado, and that only Freeman and Uggla were hitting anything. He also says that at the end everyone sucked, including himself! How many other managers, other than maybe Guillen, would say that?
He also openly questioned his decisions on Heyward vs. Constanza. Pretty candid, all in all. Face it, you’re not gonna see any manager be completely open with his thoughts.
One thing they talk about: the hitting never seemed to be in sync. I’d like to know specifically what Parrish’s hitting philosoply was, and how the players tried (or didn’t try) to carry it out. LOTS of bad at bats.
All season long, our starters were logging higher pitch counts than our competitors. We never saw anyone totally in control at the plate – we got ourselves out too easily, and the other team made our pitchers work for outs.
Chop Chop
October 6th, 2011
11:52 pm
I’d like to see the Tigers win it all, but I’d settle for the Rangers, Brewers, or D-Backs.
I could live with the Phils winning it.
I will put my head through a wall if the Cards pull it off.
Efrim
October 6th, 2011
11:54 pm
BTW – I really liked Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and Smoltzie’s broadcast. Always been a big fan of Darling, and I like Brian Anderson’s play by play more then EJ Jr.
Efrim
October 6th, 2011
11:56 pm
I want Wren to come out and say I’m bringing back all 25 of em.
richie
October 6th, 2011
11:57 pm
Chipper had his chance to prove that he could still get it done when his team needed him most. We NEEDED him down the stretch. McCann was NOWHERE to be found nor was Prado. Chip had chances to change crucial games we ended up losing. He cant. The leadership wasnt there. Best case scenario is he rethinks and retires. Reality: he will play roughly 100 games. Hit the 15 day DL once before the break and at least twice after, hit about 260 and hit about 15 homers. We wont win with this current nucleus of players (Freeman, Kimbrell, Hanson, Uggla, Bourn) as long as he is here. I just pray we can get Bourn signed to a deal. The only sure thing in our outfield.
Billy
October 6th, 2011
11:57 pm
We don’t have any big needs said Wren. Total BS..does he think all fans are stupid.
Fredi G compared to Francona..what a joke..The Braves are lost in he!! with two idiots running this team…
Go Cards! Go Tigers, Go Diamondbacks…Braves have already gone to pot. Thanks to Fredi & Wrens.
Efrim
October 6th, 2011
11:59 pm
The remaining Alex Rodriguez contract: 12:$29M, 13:$28M, 14:$25M, 15:$21M, 16:$20M, 17:$20M
- $10M signing bonus ($2M paid upon approval, $1M paid each Jan. 15, 2009-2013, $3M paid Jan. 15, 2014)
- $30M marketing agreement based on home run milestones ($6M each for reaching 660, 714, 755 and tying and breaking major league HR record)
rc35
October 6th, 2011
11:59 pm
It was reassuring to get past the cap-tipping and see some real analysis of the season. I appreciate the fact that the Braves don’t rip their players during the season, but a bit more honesty would be refreshing. Thanks for the report!
Tom O'Hawke
October 7th, 2011
12:01 am
Ya know, this was my first “first”. Nearly 5 years being on here. Call me a minor leaguer getting his first big league hit. — TnBrian
Brian, I hope DOB takes your post out of play and gives it to you as a souvenir.
richie
October 7th, 2011
12:01 am
the yanks must be counting on the world ending in 2012 with those contract numbers
Billy
October 7th, 2011
12:01 am
White Sox hired Robin Venture as there Manager.
Hilltopper
October 7th, 2011
12:03 am
It seems the rosey glasses are still on. Chipper should be sent to an AL team where he can be a DH ans stay healthy(ier?) Lowe should be sent home. Saving $28 M on these two could surely buy a hitter or two. As for pitching, why not turn back the clock and let starters go as long as they can instead of automatically taking them out after 6? Remember the old refrain: “Spahn, Sain and a day of rain.” Yeah, I know it dates me but if you got 4 good starters let go every fourth day. It was done for many a year with good results.
Chop Chop
October 7th, 2011
12:04 am
Brian Anderson’s the best play-by-play guy we will hear in the playoffs, Efrim. Victor Rojas is good, too.
Oh, and Joe does a much better job when he’s not playing the homer role.
Doc Holliday (Freeman for Captain)
October 7th, 2011
12:04 am
The Evil Empire is down……..Phillies are next and I´ll be ready for 2012.
bravofan
October 7th, 2011
12:04 am
anyone see Tom Verducci get drenched in champagne/alcohol while interviewing Jose Valverde? It was sooooooo funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!
George Stein
October 7th, 2011
12:07 am
It would help if he emphasized patience and getting on base rather than battling, whatever that means. And I’d love to know what the heck situational hitting is. Why don’t they just instruct the players to hit well all the time?
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:09 am
Good read, DOB.
Eyes didnt quite glaze over, but was long and detailed.
Worth the wait.
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:12 am
The remaining Alex Rodriguez contract: 12:$29M, 13:$28M, 14:$25M, 15:$21M, 16:$20M, 17:$20M
And it was very appropriate that the season ended with him whiffing. Awesome.
Chop Chop
October 7th, 2011
12:12 am
Guys going nuts with the champagne after a postseason series clincher = the Verducci Effect
Doc Holliday (Freeman for Captain)
October 7th, 2011
12:12 am
Yankees look bad this series………not a 200 000 000.00 USD team IMO.
Jeter, Arod, Tex all looked bad.
Posada, Cano and their LF were the only onces that look good.
Martin is a clown.
Tip your hats to the Tigers..they made this Yankee team look very mortal. A Yankee team that went cruising from day one and the only stones they found on the road were the games against the Redsox before the Redsox started their freefall.
I give this series to the incredible knowledge about baseball Leyland has…….this guy is a true manager, man does he knows how to move his pieces around, never panic, be patient, trust your guys………he made everything look so smooth and easy………This guy against Larussa in the WS has to be a memorable WS……..
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:12 am
It would help if he emphasized patience and getting on base rather than battling, whatever that means.
Tomato – To-mah-to.
uga-brave
October 7th, 2011
12:13 am
DOB, great final post to the season.
been said many time before but let me echo, the everday crusading guy is the best in the business.
thanks agian DOB.
Around The Horn
October 7th, 2011
12:15 am
NO MORE RESPECT
I can’t say that I have any respect for what Fredi has to say anymore.
He may be a good and likable person, but he is surely inept as a manager.
And he should be fired!
Come on Frank, bite the bullet and eat the two remaining years left on Fredi’s contract — and FIRE FREDI!
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:15 am
If the Phils lose tomorrow the top 3 payrolls in baseball would’ve been eliminated and no team in the top 9 would remain in the hunt.
tiger297
October 7th, 2011
12:16 am
well the other blog hit 12K…I gotta get up early to fly to lexington so
when its sleepy time down south…
Doc Holliday (Freeman for Captain)
October 7th, 2011
12:17 am
Rodriguez and Tex looked like little bunnies, specially ARod………dangerous he is not anymore.
Gardner had a great series, the guy is a warrior, great ball slapper.
I noticed the incredible great defense both teams have………Braves are not close to them.
Its impossible to get a hit between 1B and 2B…………Cano will get to it and will throw you out at 1B
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:17 am
Well done to tiger, T for and Bat for finishing it up.
Meanwhile all the folks who were waiting in the tall grass just showed up en masse in here.
Billy
October 7th, 2011
12:19 am
Enter your comments here
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:20 am
Watch this blind guy throw a great ceremonial first pitch in yesterday’s NLDS game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv2xtXSMup0
Jb
October 7th, 2011
12:20 am
Same old BS..Fire Fredi.
Peter
October 7th, 2011
12:21 am
Well at least the World Series from Hell has been avoided.
Doc Holliday (Freeman for Captain)
October 7th, 2011
12:21 am
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:15 am
If the Phils lose tomorrow the top 3 payrolls in baseball would’ve been eliminated and no team in the top 9 would remain in the hunt.
´´+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cardinals are No. 6 and Tigers are No. 8 in payrolls.
T for Texas
October 7th, 2011
12:26 am
Nice one, David.
The A Bomb – OUTCHOKED ®
October 7th, 2011
12:27 am
Hey Stizz…
Read what I wrote — IMPROVED TEAMS. NOT world beaters.
New York may lose Reyes but they played with real character after Collins called them out. They get Santana back.
San Francisco losing Beltran? He did crap for them. But they DO get Posey back. They will be improved just from that.
Pittsburgh — good young team and they should be more consistent with the major stumble after the Jerry Meals call.
IN MY OPINION — all those improved teams mean fewer victories for a Braves team that will be reeling most of next season. They won’t recover as long as Gonzalez is at the helm. Add in a brutal interleague schedule and I’m calling 80-90 losses next season — unless either (a) Gonzalez is gone or (b) the roster seriously upgrades. I see neither.
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:28 am
Cardinals are No. 6 and Tigers are No. 8 in payrolls.
I dont know which list this was – but I looked at two CBS and one other and they both showed Tigers at 10 – 105.7M and Cards after them.
Poorbrave
October 7th, 2011
12:29 am
Hire Greg Walker hitting Coach……..that would be a 100% improvementand a great start for need year.
Doc Holliday (Freeman our go to guy)
October 7th, 2011
12:30 am
I would like to see the Tigers go against the Cards on a rematch.
It wouldnt bother me to have ARZ give everybody a surprise, but that aint happening.
Texas is a great team that has worked hard and deserves a ring.
I would be happy for any team but the Phillies to get that ring.
Very good teams all around…………..lots of good baseball still to be played.
Doc Holliday (Freeman our go to guy)
October 7th, 2011
12:32 am
Snotboogie ,
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/atlanta-braves/salary/71601
Ray
October 7th, 2011
12:35 am
Need guys in outfield that can drive in runs like the playoff teams.JJ and Prado for Bruce or Quinitin or Markias.
veer
October 7th, 2011
12:36 am
We could have been in playoffs right now. Sucks to see other teams playing in October. I planned to take time off work and now this sucks.
Bobby cox would have found a way to win us a game.
Troy Glaus would have found a magic to win us a game.
Hinske should been given more playing time.
Snotboogie
October 7th, 2011
12:40 am
Braves $100,716,692
Really?
Ok.
Frediot
October 7th, 2011
12:43 am
Didn’t you all be seeing Prados battling soz muchos out there? this be why I kept him in 2 hole even though his legs were shot. I wanted us to collapsing on my terms.
Around The Horn
October 7th, 2011
12:45 am
WREN’S LINEUP FAILURES
The thing that bothers me most about Frank Wren, as far as the current Braves team and lineup goes — apart from first hiring and now keeping Fredi Gonzalez on as the manager (which remains a woefully bad decision) — are the decisions he made to trade Jeff Francoeur and Yunel Escobar.
Had Wren exhibited a bit of patience both Jeff and Yunel would now be productive Braves players who fill the very spots that Frank, according to his own words, needs to address this offseason.
Tom O'Hawke
October 7th, 2011
12:47 am
These are the payrolls I came up with:
1) Yankees-202.7mm
2) Phillies-173mm
10) Tigers-105.7mm
11) Cardinals-105.4mm
13) Rangers-92.3mm
17) Brewers-85.5m
25) D-Backs-53.6mm
29) Rays-41mm
uga-brave
October 7th, 2011
12:53 am
tiger, your posts on the final page of the last blog were pretty darn good.
Brave4life- tough pill to swallow
October 7th, 2011
12:53 am
Wow, Frank Wren was straight forward
Frank Wren respect level just went up in my book
uga-brave
October 7th, 2011
12:55 am
openining night in the nhl. losing hockey again in atlanta is really gonna hurt this time.
Robards
October 7th, 2011
12:56 am
Enjoyed the blog, DOB. I was at Wrigley on or about 8/25 at the high point, when McCann hit 2 home runs and the Braves extended the lead to 10.5. I was at Busch on 9/9, when Kimbrel blew the save and the lead was reduced to 6.5. And the Cards went on to sweep. Braves don’t need to do much. Just need to remember the season is a marathon. Next year should be fun.
uga-brave
October 7th, 2011
12:57 am
openining new word.
veer
October 7th, 2011
1:09 am
IF Escobar was our shortstop we would have won last years Giants series and we would have made into the playoffs this year.
Just one trade ruined us.
BosnianBaller
October 7th, 2011
1:20 am
I think wren will make a big trade for an outfielder.I sense he his pretty pissed off
Bat Masterson
October 7th, 2011
1:34 am
DOB__
Excellent works as always, thanks
Plenty to mull over, take at face value, read betweens the lines, or blow off there,readers choice
And for leaving that last blog up, whether it just worked out that way, or you did it to let people that like to come talk it out, either way. Kudos
Ward (Enough Of Wren)
October 7th, 2011
1:38 am
Thanks for the article DOB. On Wren , Blah,Blah,blah blah………………..
Ward (Enough Of Wren)
October 7th, 2011
1:39 am
Guy’s don’t get your hopes on Wren too much…….
Ward (Enough Of Wren)
October 7th, 2011
1:45 am
I would go with Carlos Quentin,and Rollins if the Braves can get them both. I know I would try like hell to get them.
extremus
October 7th, 2011
1:51 am
An epic September swoon ended the 2012 season
Let’s hope that typo underneath the picture isn’t a harbinger of things to come; if history does repeat itself this team’s gonna have a fire sale, starting with the manager (who in my humble opinion should already be gone).
Ward (Enough Of Wren)
October 7th, 2011
1:59 am
How about 5 years of Wren,and gone too…..It’s not all Managers fault like most everyone buys into.Wren seems to sway a lot of people with his smooth talk. He should run for office…..
jed
October 7th, 2011
2:19 am
hire francona!
RemoW
October 7th, 2011
2:19 am
Someone suggested a Lowe for Carlos Lee trade. I like that idea. Bad money for bad money. But Lee did hit .275 with 94 RBIs. Regardless of what Shaun says RBIs count.
Ward (Enough Of Wren)
October 7th, 2011
3:14 am
Well all have a good one! I don’t always think I’m right,but I have some strong feelings on what happened last month. What has happened the last five years?Only a Wild Card to show for,and some tough times.I will always have high hopes,and will continue.peace out,and talk tomorrow.
Big Jake
October 7th, 2011
4:10 am
Tonight’s morons seem to have a Chipper fixation
Big Jake
October 7th, 2011
4:12 am
Gotta tell you Ward, I’m getting sort of tired of that foolish Wren rant.
We all know how you feel, many many many times now.
Big Jake
October 7th, 2011
4:18 am
Good night and good luck.
Stinger2
October 7th, 2011
4:29 am
The Braves played like douchebags in September.
Solution: The Braves need an enema.
Method that will work: Put a enema attachment on a douchebag, fill it with epsom salts and open the cutoff.
Stinger2
October 7th, 2011
4:54 am
A question to DOB: FW said “we don`t have that one big need”. Did he forget about the fact that the Braves had no meaningful contributions from either corner outfielders?
I believe there is a need. Your thoughts?
HotSkishkabob
October 7th, 2011
5:17 am
It was a rough ending to a tough year that was always closer than our record showed. We had the wins for a long time, but we were EAKING by the whole season. We need new owners who have a local stake and will offer a bigger payroll, but beyond that I think the organization’s earned a little good faith from the fans. I mean, accusing Wren of holding on to high-priced aging players too long based on Chipper is RIDICULOUS to anyone who remembers Smoltz and Glavine’s unceremonious dumpings. Both of which made me livid at the time, but were good baseball decisions in retrospect (even if they could have been handled better). And we have done nothing but pillage other teams in trades since Wren took over, anyone crying over the loss of Yunel, or Francoeur, or Vazquez (remember him?) are kidding themselves. Tough September, but we’ll be better next year and by the time the next hitting coach’s contract is up, Chipper will be showing the youngun’s how to hammer. GO BRAVES.