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Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,326 comments Add your comment
abeeewright
February 15th, 2012
3:53 pm
Murph, February 15th, 2012, 3:44 pm … “Now, if only they could teach the kid [Heyward] to slide feet-first…”
I hear they’re working on some Nu Shooz for JHey, called Weebles, that cause him to slide feet-first. Even if he dives, the Shooz will whip his feet around over his head and still have him hit the bag feet-first.
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
3:54 pm
DOB, I know. I was just being contumelious. — ChattTownBrian (CTB)
Contumelious??? Did Moe Berg happen to mention why he stole Brian’s moniker?
Venice Jim
February 15th, 2012
3:58 pm
Not to be a stickler for statistics, but Duke has not lost back-to-back games this season (although they would have had they lost to UNC)…
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
4:11 pm
VJ & Tom KILLED THE BLOG! Bad VJ & Tom!!!
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
4:15 pm
Hi, LAdy.
I guess VJ & I just assume that you won’t let it die. I’m not a stickler for statistics (and neither is Jim), but I do notice bravesone’s numbers.
beekay
February 15th, 2012
4:17 pm
They will never downsize the tournament….they might even make it bigger. It’s all about revenue, more games = more money
ncscoots
February 15th, 2012
4:21 pm
I hear they’re working on some Nu Shooz for JHey, called Weebles,
Jurrjens needs nu shooz, Heyward needs nu shooz, all God’s chillun need nu shooz.
Weejuns for everybody.
Venice Jim
February 15th, 2012
4:22 pm
Jerry Crasnick just posted this on Greg Walker:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove11/story/_/id/7574754/atlanta-braves-turn-new-hitting-coach-fix-their-offense
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
4:29 pm
Hi Tom
I try to do my part
Efrim
February 15th, 2012
4:35 pm
Atlanta has spent just $7.6 million on DeMacio’s two drafts, which ranks ahead of only the White Sox in bonus spending over the last two years.
Disgusting. The White Sox have the worst farm system in the sport and it’s not secret that it’s because they haven’t spent on the draft because Reinsdorf doesn’t believe in it. JS is also at the front of bringing down bonus spending. Almost glad the new rules are in place now because we aren’t at as much of a disadvantage in the new system. Sure hope the player evaluations get better though.
VaBravesFan
February 15th, 2012
4:41 pm
Efrim
The last 2 drafts or so we started drafting more athletic and faster players right? Also we have been taking high floor guys, hopefully we start drafting more high upside guys, cause after all if you draft looking for average major league players your team will just be average.
Salt life
February 15th, 2012
4:42 pm
I really hope they don’t expand the tournament….I can’t stay in Las Vegas longer than five days…..can’t take more time off from work
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
4:44 pm
VJ
If you’re listening to than countdown, I predict, “Everybody’s Everything”, by Santana, will be the next song they play when they come back from the break.
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
4:53 pm
I MEANT right after the Billy Suier song.
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
4:54 pm
Somewhere in cyber space, I have a “q” flying around.
VaBravesFan
February 15th, 2012
5:01 pm
Could we be in the same Escobar/Andrus boat again?
David O'Brien
February 15th, 2012
5:07 pm
Brian McCann on Freddie Freeman after working out throughout the winter with the young first baseman: “He looks good. He’s a lot stronger. He’s gonna be … he’s a beast.”
McFann O O o
February 15th, 2012
5:10 pm
DOB Tweet #Braves McCann on exten. beyond ‘13: “I’m just going to play baseball. That’s all I care about. Anything else, I’m not too worried about.”
Holy [crud], my heart skipped a beat when I read that first part before the quote—thought they gave him an extension…
McFann O O o
February 15th, 2012
5:11 pm
But either way…BMAC QUOTES! YAY!! Thanks, Chief!
ab initio
February 15th, 2012
5:13 pm
Absolutely, positively have to have a good year out of Hanson. If not, the Braves are ska-roood.
ncgary
February 15th, 2012
5:15 pm
Tonmi Lillman Dead: Former Sinergy Drummer Dies Aged 38
TennesseePaul
February 15th, 2012
5:15 pm
Brian McCann on Freddie Freeman after working out throughout the winter with the young first baseman: “He looks good. He’s a lot stronger. He’s gonna be … he’s a beast.”
Back in the days of roids when Players would put on 35 pounds of muscle in 8 to 10 weeks during the off-season, it used to thrill me to hear about… imagining all the HR the guy was going to hit.
Then along came Francoeur with his football workouts and 20+ lbs of muscle added only to become as slow as molasses in the winter and unable to hit a lick. Totally ruined the excitement.
VaBravesFan
February 15th, 2012
5:16 pm
McFann
I contacted Brian McCann on facebook a while back and he actually responded. I told him I hope he follow’s Chippers path and is a Brave for Life, he said “god willing I will be”
McFann O O o
February 15th, 2012
5:20 pm
VaBravesFan—
That’s cool!
Glad to hear it…I was always under the impression that he wanted to stay here…
VaBravesFan
February 15th, 2012
5:21 pm
I asked Keith Law on FB, what kind of season do you see Jason Heyward having? 265/365/475 20 HR 15 SB? he said, “Depends on where his swing is these days. He’s kind of all or nothing – there’s no .210 ISO with his 2011 swing, I love the tools, but he has a mechanical issue he needs to resolve.”
BIG MAC
February 15th, 2012
5:28 pm
I’m MUCH more interested in Heyward getting that giant hitch out of his swing…one of the ugliest chili-dipping, limp wristed, wussy wacking attempts that Larry Parrish ever produced. I hope that the 2 new guys can fix it and save his career.
brian
February 15th, 2012
5:31 pm
if we can fix the mechanics in Heyward’s swing and Hanson’s delivery I could not ask for a more productive offseason!!
VaBravesFan
February 15th, 2012
5:34 pm
McFann
I do think he wants to stay, but it’s gonna come down to when the Braves offer a extension, the longer it takes I think will lower the chances. Also how much is Brian willing to leave on the table to stay in Atlanta. McCann would be a huge upgrade at Catcher for the Yankees and Red Sox to of the biggest spenders. They would certainly be interested and most likely would offer more money and years to sign him, knowing he could DH as well. It could get interesting.
McFann O O o
February 15th, 2012
5:39 pm
VaBraveFan—
Yeah…well, hopefully he has a huge year this season and they extend him before his contract runs out and then we don’t have to worry about it…
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
February 15th, 2012
5:41 pm
Both Freeman and Heyward have awesome potential, we also have what is potentially the worst infield in baseball. Hey, I’m just keeping it real.
Murph
February 15th, 2012
6:04 pm
Both Freeman and Heyward have awesome potential, we also have what is potentially the worst infield in baseball. Hey, I’m just keeping it real.
I like how you take two unrelated things and intertwine them together to make blog poetry. I wanna try.
Coach, your blog posts show you have potential, but you throw like a girl and need to brush your teeth.
Unrelated, yet they help tell the complete story that is Coach.
Murph
February 15th, 2012
6:09 pm
With Hanson’s new delivery and Bethancourt behind the plate, the Braves will be one of the toughest teams to swipe a base against.
2014 is our year.
kenhotlanta
February 15th, 2012
6:20 pm
VJ: Thanks for the link to the article on Greg Walker. Good stuff and hopefully he will get the job done…Charlie Lau (for sure) and Walt Hriniak (probably) are hitting coach legends.
Disco Stew
February 15th, 2012
6:50 pm
I think we have a 40/60 chance at keeping Mac. His defense is likely close to peak and his value will be on an AL team where he can DH.
If the Braves continue to be owned by Liberty and the team moves sidewaysI think the chances fall pretty quickly.
He could sign a 18mm/7yr deal with an AL team if he puts up great numbers the next two years.
The Braves won’t be able to handle that for a catcher. If Bethancourt keeps improving on his hitting he will be the catcher in 2014 if not sooner.
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
6:56 pm
If Bethancourt keeps improving on his hitting he will be the catcher in 2014 if not sooner
Unlikely. Bethancourt is barely 20 and has not played above A ball. Would take a meteoric rise for him to be big league ready by 2014, let alone before that. Also, a lot of folks seem to think Mac will go to an AL team so he can DH- I don’t recall him ever expressing interest in wanting to be a DH. Sure, towards the end of his career, that would probably be an option. But I doubt he will be looking for that next year.
VaBravesFan
February 15th, 2012
7:04 pm
Bethancourt will play a big role with McCann and the future. If Bethancourt continues to improve this season the Braves just might end up doing the option year. The way I see it is if they want McCann long term they will get a deal done instead of just exercising the option. You don’t let players you seriously want test the market. You get a deal done when there part of your team still, or atleast you made a strong effort to get one done. I don’t see McCann being the type of player (regardless of who is his agent is) that is dead set on being a free agent. If he becomes a free agent I highly doubt he stays in Atlanta.
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
7:07 pm
It has become apparent, to me, that people discussing what’s going to happen in 2014, aren’t taking the Mayans too seriously.
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
7:12 pm
Eh, what did the Mayans know?
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
7:16 pm
Probably nothing. Their ‘world’ ended waaaaaaaay before 2012.
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
7:18 pm
That’s what I was thinking too
BFChris27
February 15th, 2012
7:21 pm
Lost a dear family friend today
A member of the fire department my bro was on and like a family member himself.
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
7:22 pm
Sorry to hear that Chris- thoughts and prayers
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
7:23 pm
Is VJ finally putting in an honest days work? What time is he getting home?
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
7:24 pm
Sorry, Chris. It’s always tough losing good friends (besides family).
VaBravesFan
February 15th, 2012
7:27 pm
Wonder how much other team’s would be willing to offer McCann? The best hitting catcher in baseball with one helluva resume at 30 years old. He’d be a massive upgrade to over half the teams in baseball at catcher.
I think the Braves will offer a 5 year 75 million deal with bonus incentives for various awards or milestones. Our payroll will most likely float around 90 million for quite a while you can’t invest but so much into a catcher on the wrong side of 30 years old.
I believe AL teams would be willing to offer more years and money.
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
7:33 pm
Tom-
He will be home at 7 for about half an hour, and then back out until close to 9
David O'Brien
February 15th, 2012
7:33 pm
Those who’ve asked about single-game tickets, our Tim Tucker’s got it covered in story just posted couple hours ago. They go on sale March 5 for general public:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-join-new-trend-1350294.html
BFChris27
February 15th, 2012
7:47 pm
Thanks guys, you’ve all been a great help to me.
Wake is Saturday and Funeral is Sunday.
Trey
February 15th, 2012
7:54 pm
I’m glad to see about Hanson’s new pitching mechanics now. I always knew that his short arm would hurt him. Glad to see it changed before he would really get hurt.
Mitchell
February 15th, 2012
7:54 pm
Javy Lopez wrote a book?
http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Plate-Catchers-Braves-Dynasty/dp/1600786537/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329353440&sr=8-1
Didn’t see that coming.
Might actually be worth a read though.
You have to admit, as good as Brian McCann is, I’m not sure he’s really on Javy Lopez’s level yet.
Javy Lopez was a great offensive catcher and had some big playoff moments. I would say he’s worthy of a number retirement one of these days.
George
February 15th, 2012
7:57 pm
Sure would like to see JEREMY LIN be our SS this comming season. He would have at least 10 walkoff HRs.
George
February 15th, 2012
8:00 pm
Mitchell 7:54
Agreed JAVY was a very good one.
Tomahawkin
February 15th, 2012
8:02 pm
Mitchell…
Lopez could easily make the Braves HOF but he isn’t gonna sniff the team retiring his number…
Tomahawkin
February 15th, 2012
8:06 pm
If Javy were to have his number retired, Then So would the Following Players
Deion
Gant
McGriff
Justice
Pendleton’
A. Jones
S. Avery
etc (Did I miss Anyone who is on the borderline of retirement or is currently retired)
Only The Braves Icons get their numbers retired
Mitchell
February 15th, 2012
8:13 pm
Okay, HOF.
That’s what I meant.
But I was talking about like in 50 years. Not tomorrow.
One day.
Let’s face it, they’re probably going to end up retiring everybody’s number from the ‘95 team. It’s not like we’re going to win the World Series ever again.
Tomahawkin
February 15th, 2012
8:20 pm
ok, I get your drift Mitchell…
Mitchell
February 15th, 2012
8:22 pm
Murph
February 15th, 2012
6:09 pm
With Hanson’s new delivery and Bethancourt behind the plate, the Braves will be one of the toughest teams to swipe a base against.
2014 is our year.
2014? Oh, good.
Can’t wait. By the way, wasn’t last year was ‘the year”?
Mitchell
February 15th, 2012
8:29 pm
Wasn’t last year was “the year”?
Damn it!
I changed it from “I thought last year was ‘the year’?
Stupid, stupid.
Mitchell
February 15th, 2012
8:31 pm
Oh, great.
I italicized the entire post.
Ahhhh.
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:35 pm
I’ve been basing my single-game-tickets-going-on-sale awareness on the Braves this whole offseason. That was dumb. Who knew Red Sox tickets already went on sale and the Braves series is already sold out!
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
8:42 pm
RG! Hi
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:43 pm
I thought last year was ‘the year’?
Let’s be real; every year is “the year.”
richbrave
February 15th, 2012
8:43 pm
Yeah! Demand based tickets. Cuts down on high-demand scalping doesn’t it?
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:44 pm
Hiya, cabzilla!
Moe Berg
February 15th, 2012
8:46 pm
RG–Did you check StubHub? I know that I saw a lot of Red Sox games for sale on there. (And good to see you in a figurative sense.)
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:46 pm
At least there are still some left on StubHub. Otherwise, I’d be hunting those scalpers down…
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:48 pm
Ha. Yeah, it’s a little sad though. I’m used to paying like $8 for tickets at the Ted, but just the SRO Red Sox tickets are like $40. Yeesh!
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
8:50 pm
$40 for Red Sox tickets? That wouldn’t buy a field level ticket for the Dodgers vs. the Astros…
Moe Berg
February 15th, 2012
8:51 pm
Yep. I was looking to take my nephew to a few games when the Braves play up this way–he’s a Philadelphia fan. I’ll take him to a few games but they are so expensive outside of Atlanta–discovered that in Chicago.
Soph
February 15th, 2012
8:51 pm
Are we all roadtripping to Boston? I call shotgun.
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:52 pm
For standing room only seats. The crappy ones, at that…
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
8:52 pm
I think we should road trip to San Diego.
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:54 pm
Soph, I’m not sure how the airplane pilot is going to feel about that. Heck, I’m not sure how the passengers will feel about that…
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:56 pm
True, Moe. When I went to a Reds game I thought I was going to die when I had to pay like $20 for a ticket…
Soph
February 15th, 2012
8:56 pm
tiger can fly us and he won’t mind me riding shotgun.
Moe Berg
February 15th, 2012
8:57 pm
Can tiger stop off to pick me up? I’m on the way. I will call one of my friends in Boston and say we are all piling in on him.
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
8:58 pm
I completely forgot he could fly! Tiger’ll fly us to San Diego so we can visit cabzilla, right?
Tomahawkin
February 15th, 2012
9:00 pm
Highest Ticket I paid was 37 Bucks for an Upper G-Admission ticket at the TED for the Civil Rights Game against the Phillies…It was well worth it with the postgame concert…
I got Hustled…I don’t like paying more than 20 bucks for any kind of ticket….
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
9:00 pm
I hate all of you
Lew
February 15th, 2012
9:00 pm
richbrave – There will be no shortage of ticket scalping as long as their is Stub Hub and they’re sanctioned by MLB – legalized scalping.
Tomahawkin
February 15th, 2012
9:00 pm
Thats why I usually don’t go to concerts, when I can buy the Live DVD’s
Soph
February 15th, 2012
9:00 pm
Maybe he should bring cabalicious to us.
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
9:02 pm
Soph-
He lives on your side of the world. It would take, like, a week to get from there to here to there…and I don’t fly in small planes
Moe Berg
February 15th, 2012
9:02 pm
Lew, Will you go down to any of the games in Boston?
Lew
February 15th, 2012
9:04 pm
Moe – Probably make it over for one of them.
Lew
February 15th, 2012
9:04 pm
And I’ll have to use Stub Hub for the tickets.
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
9:05 pm
tiger can fly us and he won’t mind me riding shotgun.
I think riding shotgun in tiger’s plane is a pretty safe bet, Soph.
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
9:05 pm
I always use Stub Hub. Way too expensive to buy through the Dodgers or the Angels…or the Padres, even- although their prices are much better
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
9:06 pm
I don’t buy expensive seats at Turner Field, but since I’ll be up there when the Braves are I’m willing to spend the money.
Moe Berg
February 15th, 2012
9:07 pm
Lew, Would love to get up there. I have not been to Fenway, since I lived up in Boston in the mid-90s. On that road trip, I will try to get into NYC to see one of the games against the Yankees.
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
9:07 pm
Lew, do you think it’d be better to get the tickets early or wait til closer to game time?
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
9:07 pm
I’m a bit picky about where I sit at games…don’t like sitting in the upper decks and won’t sit in the outfield, unless it is like we did last season- sat in left field at Petco in the first row. That was fun
Lew
February 15th, 2012
9:09 pm
Roman Gal – Where? In Boston? They sell the season out pretty much in advance. Check Stub Hub. I hate it, but there’s always a ticket available.
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
9:13 pm
It probably varies from stadium to stadium, but each section at the Ted has certain stereotypes that sit there. I’m really picky about where I sit, too. I hate sitting in the outfield, because that’s where all the little kids sit. I don’t really like sitting in the Golden Moon Casino level, because that’s where all the snooty rich people sit. People on the lines in the outfield are drunk psychos who get into fights.
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
9:14 pm
Yeah, I was just wondering if you thought it’d be better to get them now or wait until May or June. I’m probably too paranoid to wait that long though.
Moe Berg
February 15th, 2012
9:17 pm
RG–Go ahead and get them. You can have some choice in where you will sit.
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
9:17 pm
At Dodger Stadium, the outfield is where the drunks sit (they had the cheap beer out there- and had $1 beer nights, which they have discontinued, wisely), the very top deck has a lovely view of downtown LA, but you’d be better off watching the game on TV- you can see better, the decks are a random mix of drunk fans that hate the other team, screaming kids, and other folk that can make watching hard. The best place to sit, and to see, is the field level, where tickets unfortunately start at $45. Luckily, I know a guy that has season tickets and knows I love the Braves…he has given us tickets in the good section each of the last 3 years for free
cabravesfan
February 15th, 2012
9:19 pm
RG-
For a game like the Red Sox, I would get them now. The closer you get, the quicker they will go…
Roman Gal
February 15th, 2012
9:20 pm
Thanks, Moe. I’ll go ahead and get them soon.
See, this is why the blog is great. Out-of-town ticket advice.
Tom O'Hawke
February 15th, 2012
9:21 pm
People on the lines in the outfield are drunk psychos … — RG
I could have sworn that T-Hawkin said he hangs at the Chop House.