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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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IVAN ...
October 15th, 2011
11:28 am
Top of this am to Bro’s of the Brave……
South Carolina Lamecocks and head ball coach full of headlines this week..
Seems Steve/Stephen have cut the cord for good….
Arkansas game looms as biggest threat for a loss to allow Dawgs to gain control of SEC east, providing they win out…..
Acc looks like Clemson/ geek-tek race……
Crimi-NOLES laughing stock of conference…
Watch them struggle vs the ‘Dukkies’ today……
How they ever were ranked in top 50 is a joke….
PALP, baby !!!!!
Bat Masterson
October 15th, 2011
11:29 am
CB_
Thanks for the tip on Cots
monty
October 15th, 2011
11:31 am
See where La Russa is getting alot of accolades for in game coaching decisions. Pulled starters twice in the playoffs with the lead in the 5th in dicey situations. Sometimes your save is not in the 9th.
Bat Masterson
October 15th, 2011
11:31 am
But how much of that is on the hitting coach? Prado’s not an idiot. And he’s been hitting for what…20 years?
I saw Prado sitting beside Heyward several times in the dugout. Heyward’s fault, clearly.
McFann O O o
October 15th, 2011
11:38 am
IVAN Acc looks like Clemson/ geek-tek race……
Hey now…
IVAN ...
October 15th, 2011
11:41 am
Sorry Mc Fann……………
What offended you – Clemson or geek-tek?
IVAN ...
October 15th, 2011
11:42 am
2 weeks will determine ACC front runner…
johnny bravo
October 15th, 2011
11:53 am
Prado wasn’t really good even before he got that infection this season, Lew. Face it, he had a down year and I bet the Braves are somewhere in the back of their minds wondering if Prado did have his best years already. They really need a LF that can hit 3rd in the order, ideally. Wren needs to suck it up and deal one of those untouchable pitchers because offense is the teams downfall at this point. All the pitching won’t mean a thing if their offense cannot back them up. Pitchers cannot continue to feel like they have to throw shutouts just to get a win.
CB
October 15th, 2011
11:56 am
You’re welcome,Bat.
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
11:57 am
I saw Prado sitting beside Heyward several times in the dugout. Heyward’s fault, clearly.
But doesn’t that all tie back to Pendleton?
johnny bravo
October 15th, 2011
11:59 am
I would seriously look into what it will take to get Kemp. Wren can blow them away with a Teheran, Prado and Minor package. An all star OF. After next season if they feel pitching will be a little thin they should have money to sign a decent pitcher to go with a still good rotation.
Chipper is done. It’s over. If he is our number 3 hitter we’re in trouble. I don’t know how in the world they can continue to go into a season envisioning this guy hitting 3rd anymore. He can still hit, but even a healthy Chipper is best suited hitting behind the leadoff hitter. But he will not, cannot, stay healthy.
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:00 pm
johnny bravo, the Braves do need a power outfielder and that might mean we have to trade someone of value. This could be Prado or a pitcher. But I am not worried about that, I trust that Wren will continue to what’s best for the team. I agree that our pitchers shouldn’t have to think they have to throw a shutout to get a win, but they should feel more pressure to get through 6 or 7 innings. How many complete games did our starters have last year?
johnny bravo
October 15th, 2011
12:05 pm
If Chipper is our number 3 hitter again than who in the world replaces him in that spot when, not if, he goes down again? McCann? No way. How many everyday catchers you know hit 3rd consistently? They wear down. Freeman? Yeah put even more pressure on a 21 years old trying to learn big league pitching. Heyward? Shoot, he might start the season in AAA.
Like I said, offensive problems will be there again unless these guys get a top hitter.
Lew
October 15th, 2011
12:07 pm
As for Prado not having even a decent early season – you do realize that for the month of May, right before he was injured, he went 35-117, a .308 Batting Average? Yeah, yeah, Batting average is meaningless. Whatever. He was on track when he got hurt and that’s the plain fact of the matter.
johnny bravo
October 15th, 2011
12:10 pm
When they extended Chipper a few years ago I had a strong feeling it was a mistake. He was coming off a year that he won or came very close to winning a batting title and I thought that was as high as he would get at this point in his career. And it is because of injuries. It is now hampering this team from moving forward. That and the Lowe contract which will hopefully be eased up with a trade this winter.
Bat Masterson
October 15th, 2011
12:14 pm
But doesn’t that all tie back to Pendleton?
The curse of Brad Komminsk, Joe Torre’s fault
johnny bravo
October 15th, 2011
12:14 pm
The plain fact of the matter is that left field is a position in need of upgrade. SS will be occupied with either Gonzalez or Pasornicky and RF is and will be Heyward’s for a while. Prado needs to be traded or back in a platoon type situation.
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
12:15 pm
I won’t argue that Chipper is the healthiest player in the world (even though the only significant time he missed last year was 2 weeks in July), but he put up solid numbers last year. .275 AVG, .344 OBP, .470 SLG, .814 OPS. The Braves could do a lot worse than Chipper.
I don’t get these extended rants against him.
Bat Masterson
October 15th, 2011
12:17 pm
I would seriously look into what it will take to get Kemp. Wren can blow them away with a Teheran, Prado and Minor package. _ johnny bravo
Well one thing it would take is a much larger budget.
CB
October 15th, 2011
12:17 pm
Ha! I had to laugh at DOB’s tweet about Brian Wilson’s Taco Bell commercial. I mean,really, how dumb can a commercial be?
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
12:21 pm
Well one thing it would take is a much larger budget.
Guess we’d have to include Lowe in the deal.
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:23 pm
jeffrey d, Agreed. Chipper carried the team for most of the second half this year. If he had done that for the first half, no one would be complaining. They are basing it on the tangibles (games played) vs what he brings to the team in the club house and the respect he demands from the other teams when he is in the lineup.
Bat Masterson
October 15th, 2011
12:24 pm
That might work. I bet McCourt would enjoy seeing someone sweating more than he is.
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
12:25 pm
Is gold even one of Michigan State’s colors? Why are they wearing these uniforms?
Venice Jim
October 15th, 2011
12:25 pm
Another day, another raft of stories in the LA Times describing in excruciating detail all the steps the Dodgers are taking to try to get someone to take Kemp off their hands…
Webster
October 15th, 2011
12:26 pm
Could Michael Cuddyer be the answer in LF? He has also played a little 1st and 3rd in his career. Then dangle Prado for a 3rd base prospect?
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
12:26 pm
It looks like Oregon’s jerseys and FSU’s jerseys had a baby
CB
October 15th, 2011
12:27 pm
Good one,Bat.
Efrim
October 15th, 2011
12:34 pm
Cuddyer is probably getting a three year deal worth like 10-12 million per year. I don’t think he’s worth that, but a lot of teams need versatile players. I’d like Prado to stick around.
Bat Masterson
October 15th, 2011
12:34 pm
Thanks, CB
George
October 15th, 2011
12:36 pm
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
12:15 pm
I won’t argue that Chipper is the healthiest player in the world (even though the only significant time he missed last year was 2 weeks in July), but he put up solid numbers last year. .275 AVG, .344 OBP, .470 SLG, .814 OPS. The Braves could do a lot worse than Chipper.
I don’t get these extended rants against him.
*******************************************************************
Good afternoon y’ll
Jeffery, for once I AGREE with you.
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
12:37 pm
Wait, “for once”?
George
October 15th, 2011
12:39 pm
Even if we disagree a lot you are on my good list.
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:40 pm
Who wouldn’t love to see Kemp with the Braves? With Lowe coming off in 2013, it could be possible. Wouldn’t need him and Bourn, but what an outfield that would be if you could put it together. Bourn, Kemp and Heyward.
CB
October 15th, 2011
12:40 pm
There is that,jeffrey.
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
12:40 pm
Is this like Santa’s list?
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:41 pm
Of course.
CB
October 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
I would like Pujols,Adrian Gonzalez and Troy T on my team.
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
Either way, don’t be surprised if Wren does make a push for Kemp. He wants a change and is not afraid to shake things up a bit. Just not sure how he relates with the Dodgers.
David O'Brien
October 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
CB, Venice: Those Brian Wilson commercials are some of the worst and most annoying in years, and that’s saying something considering the general awfulness of commercials with athletes (and most commercials, in general). They take away whatever dwindling amount of “mystique” that Wilson still had — admittedly not much — and turn him into a total, non-threatening caricature.
CB
October 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
About the same chance as Kemp.
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
CB, I’m with you on that one, but the only way you will get to see that is in pinstripes.
George
October 15th, 2011
12:46 pm
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:40 pm
Who wouldn’t love to see Kemp with the Braves? With Lowe coming off in 2013, it could be possible. Wouldn’t need him and Bourn, but what an outfield that would be if you could put it together. Bourn, Kemp and Heyward.
****************************************************************
Very good outfield if not for HAYWARDm he is a .230 hitter.
Webster
October 15th, 2011
12:49 pm
How about Brandon inge? I’m trying to think of a LF/3B to basically replace prado, who has more power. Inge can also catch in a pinch
CB
October 15th, 2011
12:51 pm
DOB, yes, would have been much better to put a dog in the commercial than Wilson. My gosh.
McFann O O o
October 15th, 2011
12:53 pm
IVAN—
My Dad went to GaTech…I was just messin’ with ya.
George
October 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
A trade of LOWE and JASON for KEMP would be fine with me.
George
October 15th, 2011
12:56 pm
Outta here to watch some collage ball. Have a good afternoon y’ll.
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:57 pm
Anyway, make your Christmas lists now, you never know when Santa might be listening. No harm nofoul while we are in the slowest time of the season.
cabravesfan
October 15th, 2011
12:59 pm
A trade of LOWE and JASON for KEMP would be fine with me.
I’m sure the Dodgers would jump all over that…
JFP
October 15th, 2011
12:59 pm
George, I don’t feel like Jason will continue to be a .230 hitter. He is too smart and has plenty of talent. I believe that to be about 50 points lower than where he will level out at.
Steve from OH
October 15th, 2011
1:00 pm
They take away whatever dwindling amount of “mystique” that Wilson still had — admittedly not much — and turn him into a total, non-threatening caricature.
He didn’t need this commercial to do that. He’s already done it to himself.
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:02 pm
cab,we just need to add Nate to the deal and DONE.
George
October 15th, 2011
1:04 pm
One more thing, I think JASON will be about a .245 BA lifetime, but with a lot of HRs lifetime he could be close to 400 HRs.
cabravesfan
October 15th, 2011
1:04 pm
CB-
Nah, Nate is too valuable. Maybe Linebrink?
George
October 15th, 2011
1:05 pm
Yup Ccab I would if LAD GM.
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
1:06 pm
Yup Ccab I would if LAD GM.
But you talk like you hate Heyward.
cabravesfan
October 15th, 2011
1:08 pm
George-
Why?
George
October 15th, 2011
1:09 pm
Only drawback LA would not want to pick up LOWES salery.
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:10 pm
We keep talking about trading Heyward, I’m sure there are plenty teams out there who would love for us to give up on him and trade him for not much.
cabravesfan
October 15th, 2011
1:10 pm
Only drawback is LA doesn’t want Lowe. Or to trade Kemp. Other than that…
George
October 15th, 2011
1:11 pm
Jeffery
See my 1:04 post. JASON is a DAVE KINGMAN type player, low ave but with power.
cabravesfan
October 15th, 2011
1:12 pm
So George, if that is true about Jason, why would the Dodgers want him?
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
1:14 pm
I’m looking at your 12:46
Very good outfield if not for HAYWARDm he is a .230 hitter.
monty
October 15th, 2011
1:14 pm
Our pitching in 2011 was better than in 2010, our runs scored was horrible though, one of the worst in the league. For example Braves scored 641 and the teams that made the playoffs were Philly-713, Brewers-721, Cards-762. D-BAcks-731. Our 3,4,5 hitters compared to these other teams were last place in rbi’s, BA, and OBP by quite a significant margin. That is where the improvement is needed. Strength in the middle of the lineup.
The Cards had the worst pitching of all these above mentioned teams and yet they have the best 3,4, and 5 production out of all. Their 3,4,and guys avg. .300 BA and .390 OBP with a slew of power. As much as I like Chipper, he is wrong in laying blame on the pitching staff. Our pitching despite our significant injuries was still plenty good enough to get to the playoffs if the hitting hadn’t collapsed.
We can talk about the peripheal players all we like but the gut of this lineup has to improve in rbi’s BA. and OBP. Not sure as we stand with those guys going into next year, that that’s going to happen. If Prado and Heyward can rebound that helps, but still doesn’t make up for our weak middle.
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:17 pm
Keep it up and you will be off the list.
cabravesfan
October 15th, 2011
1:17 pm
Me??
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
1:18 pm
No, me
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:18 pm
I didn’t know you were on it,cab.
George
October 15th, 2011
1:19 pm
Jeffery
Maybe my 12:46 post was not very clear. What I ment was a outfield of KEMP, BOURN, and someone else would be very good.
cabravesfan
October 15th, 2011
1:21 pm
CB-
I have no idea what list you are talking about…
jeffrey d
October 15th, 2011
1:21 pm
Ah, I see.
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:23 pm
George’s good list.
cabravesfan
October 15th, 2011
1:24 pm
Ah- I will always be on his good list
George
October 15th, 2011
1:25 pm
Like MARTIN if he is not filling in for CHIPPER at 3RD BASE.
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:25 pm
Lucky you.
JFP
October 15th, 2011
1:25 pm
Is George’s list anything like Sheldon’s list?
JFP
October 15th, 2011
1:25 pm
Does he carry it on a floppy?
George
October 15th, 2011
1:26 pm
Yup cab you and Jeffery both because thou we disagree at times your posts are always intelligent.
Playoffs!!!
October 15th, 2011
1:26 pm
monty–you are so right. The heart of our lineup is basically Chipper, McCann and Uggla.
The problem with that is Chipper, at best is good for only 120 games, McCann, being a catcher, starts about 135 barring injury, and Uggla Well, besides his low OBP—he’s too “all or nothing”…
George
October 15th, 2011
1:29 pm
Ok, outta here Peanut needs his walk, then some collage ball. Good afternoon y’ll.
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:31 pm
Hmmm,maybe I need to make a good list. Of course,if you are not on my good list you are automatically bad.
Venice Jim
October 15th, 2011
1:45 pm
CB – I just experienced a very annoying end-of-half reversal – 72 yard TD run gives Tribe a 7-3 lead, New Hampshire goes 90 yards in a minute to take the lead back on the last play of the first half…
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:51 pm
VJ,yes they are tough to handle. I am watching Miami beat up on UNC. Waiting for VT to play Wake at 6:30. I think I told you guys I went to see VT play Miami last week. Great game with a great fan following. I could not believe how much Blacksburg is changing.
Venice Jim
October 15th, 2011
1:53 pm
Last time I was in Blacksburg was probably 1982…
CB
October 15th, 2011
1:57 pm
When I went to school there( grad-1970) town was very small. It has grown to over 40,000 which is a good size for a small town.
Venice Jim
October 15th, 2011
1:59 pm
Some relief here – W&M back up on a 50 yard TD…
Venice Jim
October 15th, 2011
2:12 pm
I suppose this would be the perfect time for padding, if I was that kind of person…
Venice Jim
October 15th, 2011
2:14 pm
Good column by Tom Boswell on the baseball fates catching up with Jerry Hairston on consecutive pitches last night…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/brewers-jerry-hairston-falls-victim-to-cruel-twists-of-playoff-baseball-in-nlcs-game-5/2011/10/14/gIQA5jbJlL_story.html
N8
October 15th, 2011
2:18 pm
“CB, I believe you are right. They didn’t get to this level because of a hitting coach. With all of the effort Prado put into hitting, there is not much a hitting coach is going to be able to do.”
Then why have a hitting coach? If they can’t fix things on the fly, or be counted on to notice flaws or bad habits, then what’s the flippin’ point of having a hitting coach? Has it occured to anybody that Parrish wasn’t that good at his job?
Clearly Wren wasn’t satisfied and when specifically asked about “how” he was going to help fix Heyward, Wren wasn’t happy with the answer, thus he was canned.
I think a good hitting coach with a solid approach that the players buy into can and will get the most out of most guys.
Too many decent hitters had horrible years under Parrish. Not saying it’s all his fault. But clearly he wasn’t helping matters.
LJ
October 15th, 2011
2:21 pm
I live 15 minutes from Blacksburg, even when you are here every day, the change is astounding.
N8
October 15th, 2011
2:22 pm
“They take away whatever dwindling amount of “mystique” that Wilson still had — admittedly not much — and turn him into a total, non-threatening caricature.”
Really? I bet if he was healthy and pitching the way he pitched in 2010, the guys standing in the batters box, wouldn’t care if he did commercials dressed up like Dora the Explorer.
His “mystique” on the mound was gone this year, because he wasn’t healthy enough to get guys out.
Kind of like Kimbrel and Venters the last two weeks of the season.
That being said, I agree with you. The commercials are horrible.
Gordon
October 15th, 2011
2:23 pm
I have been reading where some thought a Derek Lowe money swap for Carlos Lee trade would work for the Braves I doubt that happens if Braves still hold true to their word
Both Schuerholz and general manager Frank Wren said they no longer would deal with players represented by the Wasserman agency, whose clientèle includes Chase Utley, Hanley Ramirez, Aramis Ramirez, Hideki Matsui, Carlos Lee, Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas and Francisco Rodriguez, Barry Zito, Randy Wolf, among others. Paul Kinzer handled most of the Furcal negotiations on behalf of Tellem’s company. I would be interested to know other baseball players Wasserman represents so I can keep from lusting after the Braves acquiring them.
“The Atlanta Braves will no longer do business with that company – ever,” Schuerholz said.
Wasserman Media Group acquired Tellem’s SFX Sports Group and he and Paul Kinzer represent players through Wasserman now.
N8
October 15th, 2011
2:24 pm
“I saw Prado sitting beside Heyward several times in the dugout. Heyward’s fault, clearly.”
Well then it’s actually Chipper’s fault. Heyward probably was so hurt, he shouldn’t have even been in the dugout. But since Chipper “called him out”, he felt obligated.
CB
October 15th, 2011
2:24 pm
N8,actually what he was responding to was pretty much what you said. I had mentioned that a good hitting coach has to see a players flaws and help him and to have a good approach when batting.
CB
October 15th, 2011
2:28 pm
LJ, i think you told me you lived in Radford?
N8
October 15th, 2011
2:28 pm
Gotcha CB.
btw, thanks for pointing out that the Cot’s cite does list who paid for what portions of contracts. I’ll scroll down next time I’m there and check it out.
I usually end up googling the article on certain trades to look for details about money changing hands. Nice to know I shouldn’t have to do that. LOL
CB
October 15th, 2011
2:31 pm
N8,glad if it helped.
N8
October 15th, 2011
2:31 pm
CB, getting back to the hitting coach thing.
I think the biggest equation in a hitter’s relationship with the hitting coach is buying into the system and approach. It’s nothing different than any walk of life when you’re getting “advice” from somebody. If you don’t fully trust that person, you’re going to hesitate and not fully commit to what they are trying to “sell” you on.
From my angle, it doesn’t appear as though anybody bought into what Parrish was selling.
CB
October 15th, 2011
2:35 pm
N8, agree with that. Hitting coach needs to know what he is doing then have the players buy into his teachings. Charlie Lau would be a good example.