Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,326 comments Add your comment
Ward
February 16th, 2012
4:23 pm
Seriously, before I go. Don’t know if Pastor will get Rookie of The Year,but I will say he will finish in the top 3 for voting,and don’t expect him to the God of the team,but I’m confident he will put up a good year. Peace Out,and Talk tonight.
raleighbravefan
February 16th, 2012
4:37 pm
JoeFan – You are wrong (both times you said it).
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2012
4:42 pm
But I think Freeman may be able to dispense with his pre-game stretching, with The Rev slingin’ ‘em from the hole.
Perhaps he should work on his ups. Rookie kid working fast, bound to be tossing them high and long. Furcal did and he had a cannon arm. Freeman needs to get a good 82inch vertical leap.
One-Eyed Mac
February 16th, 2012
5:12 pm
I am sorry to say that ESPN is reporting that Gary Carter has passed away following his battle with brain cancer. What a sad story!
Ray
February 16th, 2012
5:13 pm
Gary Carter passed away after a long struggle with brain cancer. He was only 57. One of the Great Expos.
ncgary
February 16th, 2012
5:19 pm
rip gary carter
he was an outstanding expo
McFann O O o
February 16th, 2012
5:19 pm
Aw…RIP, Gary Carter…Brain cancer—yikes!…
McFann O O o
February 16th, 2012
5:20 pm
raleighbravesfan Color AG = No Barney Fife = Not funny. Not quite first to worst scenario, but close to it.
How true. The Barney ones was some of the funniest TV ever…
Patio Daddio
February 16th, 2012
5:21 pm
The Braves will look at Bethancourt as McCanns replacement in two years, rather than extendinmg McCann. Given the Braves business plan, they aren’t going to throw millions upon millons at McCann if a better and cheaper option is available, but in the 4th inning, during a game in 2014, Bethancourt breaks his leg in 3 places and is expected to miss 2 years.
Steve from OH
February 16th, 2012
5:24 pm
I am sorry to say that ESPN is reporting that Gary Carter has passed away following his battle with brain cancer. What a sad story!
Sad story indeed, but what is more sad is the amount of treatment that poor man went through. Dunno what was the cause (unrealistic expectations on one side or the other, I am sure), but very unfortunate.
BFChris27
February 16th, 2012
5:27 pm
R.I.P – Gary Carter
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2012
5:42 pm
Gary Carter was a genuinely nice guy, always greeted you with a smile and cared about people. Got to know “The Kid” when he was a Marlins broadcaster, and you’d never know he was one of the best and toughest catchers of his generation, because he had such humility and a gentle nature off the field.
R.I.P., Gary.
Efrim
February 16th, 2012
5:46 pm
Victor Martinez at 31 years old signed a 4 year 50 million deal with the Tigers.
We really have to figure that McCann’s deal will be much bigger.
Sure. Instead of a 4 year, 50 million dollar deal worth 12.5 million a year – give him 5 years with a 6th year option, for a guaranteed dollar amount of 75 million….max. I’d say that’s “big-ger enough”.
I could see them easing Bethancourt into the majors as a back up initially.
Same. His bat is a ways away. You can’t be an auto out and Bethancourt hasn’t shown that he can be better than that in his regular season minor league career. He needs to progress quite a bit with the bat, imo. Now, I’m sure he won’t be the backup through 2017 or 2018, but you can figure out that stuff later. McCann is the better player now and very, very likely to be through at least 2016ish.
Efrim
February 16th, 2012
5:46 pm
RIP Gary Carter.
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2012
5:48 pm
I clearly remember great plays and run/game changing plays day in and day out by him. But throughtout the offseason I see places like CAC suggest he was below average. — ATL For Life
You’ve got to understand, you see those arguments from people who would never trust what they see or their own evaluation abilities when it comes to baseball, but rather recite everything that defensive metrics tell them. Of course Freddie Freeman was a good defensive first baseman last year. As anyone who saw him, played alongside him, or played against him would tell you.
Venice Jim
February 16th, 2012
5:50 pm
Whenever I saw that it was Gary’s birthday it reminded me that I’d be catching up to him in 2 1/2 months…
nolie
February 16th, 2012
6:11 pm
you see those arguments from people who would never trust what they see or their own evaluation abilities when it comes to baseball, but rather recite everything that defensive metrics tell them. ..DOB
yeah right
ncgary
February 16th, 2012
6:19 pm
the three saddest things are the ill wanting to be well, the poor wanting to be rich and the constant traveler saying “anywhere but here” ee cummings
McFann O O o
February 16th, 2012
6:29 pm
Gary Carter and I share a birthday…
Different years, though, of course…
Tomahawkin
February 16th, 2012
6:32 pm
Found This on a Undercover Phillies Forum…
9 Suggestions to Improve the Game: Matt Snyder from CBS Reports
Matt Snyder with a few suggestions for improving the game of baseball…your thoughts?
——————————————————————————–
“We’re just a few days until all 30 teams will have had pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Just like any true baseball fan, I’m giddy with excitement.
Just like with anything, the major-league level sport could use some improvements. While MLB was tied with college football for the second-most popular sport in a Harris Interactive poll, the demographics show that baseball is in danger of drastically losing popularity, as the study showed most baseball fans are older than 50. Now, obviously that gives a solid 20-year window before doomsday really hits, but baseball still needs to be cognizant that growing the younger audience is key for long-term growth.
That means baseball needs to be a little more Blackberry/iPhone and a little less rotary phone. Remember, not all change is bad. At one point in time, it was a home run when the ball bounced over the fence. I wonder what the “purists” thought when they changed it to a ground-rule double? If you wanna call me names and claim I’m not a purist, below you’ll find several targets. But make no mistake about it, I’m trying to find ways to make the game more exciting for the next generation. In this century, things move faster and people have less time to pay attention. Adapt or die, as “Billy Beane” said in “Moneyball.”
So here are nine things I’d change about baseball in order to make it better suited for the next generation. Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section and make this an interactive discussion.
1. Put in a pitch clock. I’m dead serious — put it up like basketball has a shot clock. Not only is it, you know, a freaking rule that pitchers have to throw a pitch within 12 seconds of getting the ball, but this would add some drama for many younger fans. The best reason, obviously, is that the umpires would actually be forced to enforce the rule that they so often just ignore. The rulebook (Rule 8.04) states “The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball.”
Has anyone ever watched Josh Beckett (pictured right, surely finding a way to avoid throwing a pitch within the first 20 seconds he has the baseball) pitch? I bet he’s had outings where he never once threw a pitch within 12 seconds. It makes me feel like I’m watching Steve Traschel all over again … well, except that Beckett’s actually good. I’m not blaming Beckett. The umpires let him do it and he’s not alone at all (Vicente Padilla also comes to mind). Just using him as an example.
2. Get someone with some common sense to rework the blackout rules. I’ve covered this before, so just click through and see how amazingly stupid it is. Bud Selig needs to hire someone to do something about it. Hell, I’ll throw my hat in the ring and volunteer.
3. More Saturday day games. Sunday is fine, because everyone plays a day game with the exception of the ESPN Sunday Night Game. And I understand weekday games needing to be at night. But on Saturday, we usually get about three afternoon games and the rest are at night. This is the best time for families to get their kids to the game and many families don’t like to have their kids out at the ballpark late Saturday night for many reasons. Why not just start the Saturday games at 1:00 p.m. local time? Especially when school is in session. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Game 3 of the World Series falling on a Saturday afternoon. It’s not like Saturday night is prime for TV ratings.
4. Expand replay to everything but balls and strikes. Why does someone like Ron Kulpa or Jim Joyce have to be burdened with an honest missed call for the rest of his life? The Joe Wests of the world are in the minority here, as most of the umpires are honest, hard-working guys who just want to get the call right. As the fast motion and without the benefit of multiple camera angles, calls are going to get missed. The insane thing is we have the technology to show they were wrong within seconds, yet don’t allow the umpires to use it. Why not just have a centralized review office at the MLB headquarters where one replay official watches every game? You don’t need to give the managers challenges or have the entire umpiring crew go underneath the stadium for 15 minutes. Let’s just use some common sense and start getting every call correct. It’s very possible.
5. Make the DH universal. I’ve written about this before and the reasons are very simple. First of all, it’s insane that a professional sports organization has a different set of rules for two leagues, especially when the leagues play each other during the regular season and decide a champion by facing each other in the World Series. So you either have to take the DH away from the AL or add it to the NL.
And here’s where the purists freak out and start calling me names, since I say add it to the NL. I wouldn’t be averse to taking it away from the AL, just as long as the same rules are applied to both leagues. But adding to NL makes more sense here. The first reason is that the players union would obviously never allow the DH to go away, as it would cost jobs to veteran players. The second reason is it’s better for offense, and we’re trying to get kids to watch the games, remember? Plus, pitchers suck at hitting. We’re supposed to be watching pro athletes at their best … also realize teams don’t have to use a DH. So if the Marlins want to bat Carlos Zambrano, for example, more power to them. Just don’t come with this “baseball is meant to be played both in the field and at bat” junk. Pitching is a specialization. You don’t make a quarterback play defense in football anymore.
6. Out with penny-pinching owners. Among the many complaints I’m waiting on in the comments section is that I didn’t mention a salary cap. Here’s the deal: With baseball’s system, players are under team control for six years. That’s a lot longer than other sport. And with the revenue sharing system, many small-market clubs are making hefty profits. Take 2010 (Forbes.com hasn’t released the 2011 numbers yet). Did you know three teams lost money that season? The Red Sox, Mets and Tigers. Large markets. Guess who had the highest operating income? The Padres, who made almost $40 million. And after the season they traded superstar first baseman Adrian Gonzalez for prospects because they couldn’t “afford” to sign him long term.
The problem with the difference in payrolls is mostly on these tight-fisted owners from the old boys club of owners. Just over a week ago, Joe Sheehan of SI.com wrote an excellent article about how owners like the Royals’ David Glass, Athletics’ Lew Wolff, Pirates’ Robert Nutting and Blue Jays’ Rogers Corporation are pocketing millions upon millions while crying that they can’t afford high-priced talent (though I’d probably cut the Jays out there, to be fair).
The money is there, so it should be spent on improving the on-field product, not the bottom line of a billionaire. The fans of these teams and others deserve better. There should be more George Steinbrenners — who would rather lose money while the team wins than vice versa — not less.
7. Shorten spring training. The always-entertaining Brandon McCarthy, A’s starting pitcher, wrote the following about spring training last week for SI.com’s Hot Clicks: “It’s so, so, so LONG: It’s six weeks of practice and pretend games. It just never seems to end. It’s like our version of Oregon Trail. By the time camp ends, someone’s died of Dysentery, there’s a bunch of new kids that have been born, and your feet are killing you.”
He’s right. How many fake games do you need? Cut out two weeks and …
8. Start/end the season earlier. The reasoning is two-pronged. The first prong is that baseball in cold weather isn’t near as enjoyable as baseball in warm weather. With the World Series creeping up on November, there are just too many chances for weather issues during the most important games of the year (remember Game 5 of the Phillies-Rays series). If spring training was shortened, the season could begin the third week of March. Yes, weather is bad for the first several weeks of the season in many parts of the country, but the scheduling is easier then. There are enough warm-weather and retractable-roof teams to cover the first month. The games aren’t nearly as important as the playoff games and in the playoffs you don’t get to choose the venue (how about a Minnesota vs. Chicago World Series in the first week of November? Shivers everywhere). So you’d start the playoffs the third week of September and the World Series would be over in the middle of October. The second prong is you cut away time in competition with the NFL. Sorry, the NFL is a monster and there’s no changing that in the near future, so don’t compete with it anymore than necessary. Two less weeks of facing off against the NFL would be great for the sport of baseball.
9. Blackball Jose Canseco. Oh wait, I guess he claims that already happened. Whatever, just please go away, Jose. Take Lenny Dykstra with you. #4TRUTH. Yes, I realize this doesn’t have to do with MLB, but I just can’t stand these guys. The game is much better without having them around it. “
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2012
6:33 pm
Pretty telling stat on Gary Carter’s toughness: He caught at least 90 percent of his teams games in five seasons. That’s more than 145 games. And a lot of those were on the rock-hard turf at Montreal.
McFann O O o
February 16th, 2012
6:36 pm
DOB—
Dang…that’s impressive!
Tomahawkin
February 16th, 2012
6:36 pm
I like All Points Except number 1 and number 9
Tomahawkin
February 16th, 2012
6:38 pm
@D.O.B.
Great Stat abt G. Carter, Not Only Montreal but back then 75 percent of baseball teams played on either sh.t.ty fields or Astro Turf…
Just Imagine The Careers of several hitters/athletes whose careers were destroyed by The Artifical surface….Athletes today are pampered
McFann O O o
February 16th, 2012
6:39 pm
Tomahawkin Athletes today are pampered
True that…
nolie
February 16th, 2012
6:44 pm
mostly because athletes these days are worth insane amounts of money
Venice Jim
February 16th, 2012
6:47 pm
Unfortunately, that lack of pampering led to averaging 101 games his last 6 years, .234/.299/.336 (ages 32-38)…
trheel
February 16th, 2012
6:47 pm
Braves still have 4 open spots on the 40 man roster. Not sure why he wasn’t on the 40 for insurance if nothing else. They obviously must not think much of Gomez.
Lew
February 16th, 2012
6:50 pm
Yep – Just what MLB needs – a pitch clock. I bet they’d spend way more time enforcing the damend clock than they would if they just let the pitcher pitch.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2012
6:50 pm
both are shows about picking up and moving on to new, better lives… much as BMac will when his contract runs out
No, I’m not that clever
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2012
6:52 pm
A pitch clock would be interesting. Probably’d shorten games too
cricket
February 16th, 2012
6:53 pm
Athletes today are pampered
everyone today is pampered compared to the past, not only athletes
Lew
February 16th, 2012
6:55 pm
I’ve never udnerstood this need to shorten games. NFL games take over three hours. NBA games take over three hours and so do NHL games.
If they truly wanted to shorten games, they could always dump the DH and no longer have extra innings. If tied after nine, they could put a pitching coach in there and have a HR derby for an inning or until it’s decided.
Or they could just leave it alone and play ball.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2012
6:55 pm
everyone today is pampered compared to the past
When I was growing up, we had to sleep with a wolverine in our bed.
Tomahawkin
February 16th, 2012
6:56 pm
I’m opposed to Pitch Clocks…If a Fan is Gonna spend 120 bucks at a game for a Saturday outing, Games that take only 2 hours Piss Fans off and is bad for team sales/revenue during games…
Just Pat
February 16th, 2012
6:56 pm
cricket
Hear, hear!!!!! (Try working with a coupla early 20s (who act like 16 yr. olds) every day!)
Lew
February 16th, 2012
6:57 pm
jeffrey d – You lived in Michigan?
Just Pat
February 16th, 2012
6:59 pm
Tomahawkin
I think the fans booing the pitcher who takes too long should be enough of an incentive for him to follow the 12 second rule stated above.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2012
7:00 pm
The main time I hear fans boo in relation to the pitcher taking too long is when the catcher or pitching coach comes out
Tomahawkin
February 16th, 2012
7:04 pm
I’m Not gonna Lie…
I Boo my Ass off at pitchers who throw to first repeatedly when there is a Slug of a baserunner at 1st-base
Also I boo, or Say WTF at the TV when a pitcher does the fake to 3rd/throw to first move….I’ve only seen it work once and unfortunately it was at our expense a few years ago…
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2012
7:09 pm
So you’re saying you get emotional during games
Just Pat
February 16th, 2012
7:10 pm
jeffrey d
If you don’t get emotional…….why watch?
Just Pat
February 16th, 2012
7:14 pm
I remember scaring my cat…..AND my nephew to death…..with my “exuberance” when Heyward hit his very first home run.
Philly Fred
February 16th, 2012
8:05 pm
RIP Gary Carter
Braves are still a suckazz tram!
flange1
February 16th, 2012
8:06 pm
RIP Gary Carter, a class act!
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2012
8:07 pm
Well the Phillies are a suckazz rickshaw
Philly Fred
February 16th, 2012
8:08 pm
I could name a few self righteous sockcuckers here that are about as or lower scum than the Braves but VJ ans a few others will show their face soon enigh
Philly Fred
February 16th, 2012
8:09 pm
And right on question silly lips shows up…
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2012
8:10 pm
Silly lips? Well you’re a silly brain
Philly Fred
February 16th, 2012
8:11 pm
Hoq bout them out of shape sweathog Braves.. and like most of the female pop u nation in Atl with them hairy ass arm pits
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2012
8:14 pm
Hoq bout spelling?
nolie
February 16th, 2012
8:18 pm
can we get this guy deleted??
George
February 16th, 2012
8:21 pm
RIP GARY CARTER. I used ti live in NJ and watched him play many a game with the METS. A heck of a ballplayer and a fine person.
George
February 16th, 2012
8:24 pm
Fred get lost.
Soph
February 16th, 2012
8:31 pm
Still say it’s a regular.
Soph
February 16th, 2012
8:32 pm
A bored one too.
Soph
February 16th, 2012
8:33 pm
Let’s see if I can pull 32 posts in a row a la cabalicious when she has no one to talk to.
McFann – I finally tried the Berry Burst Oreos you told me about months ago. They were okay, not my fave.
Soph
February 16th, 2012
8:44 pm
JoeBrave?
cabravesfan
February 16th, 2012
8:53 pm
Nice try Soph. Not even close
Soph
February 16th, 2012
8:56 pm
I stepped away for a few minutes and JoeBrave broke my streak dammit.
Soph
February 16th, 2012
9:00 pm
Well, cab’s technically a west coaster so she’s not beneath you – more to the left.
Soph
February 16th, 2012
9:02 pm
Translate please.
Ray
February 16th, 2012
9:04 pm
I see thimble thinker made an appearance. I am guessing he is probably banned from his own team’s blog.
nolie
February 16th, 2012
9:20 pm
Philly is known as one of the top three or four most obnoxious places in the US because of AHs like Fred
Ray
February 16th, 2012
9:24 pm
apparently he is sad because he must have read the story that R Howard’s leg is not healing properly.. has had a major set back.
Philly Fred
February 16th, 2012
9:24 pm
Eho is this cripple brain?? Ever been to Philly fool? What a dipsquat
Moe Berg
February 16th, 2012
9:25 pm
Hope this wasn’t tiger: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57379808/pot-laden-plane-blows-into-obamas-air-space/
Ray
February 16th, 2012
9:29 pm
Nice spelling there.. so pf what are you guys going to do with Howard out til July at the earliest?
nolie
February 16th, 2012
9:30 pm
Unfortunately I have dipstick, far too often. The rest of us Pennsylvanians think of it as a disgusting cesspool
Ray
February 16th, 2012
9:32 pm
nolie,, you are spewing facts again.
ncgary
February 16th, 2012
9:35 pm
give obama a urinalysis
Hugo Z Hackenbush
February 16th, 2012
9:37 pm
Alcohol abuse is a terrible thing. Slow down Freddie…you’ve destroyed enough brain cells already.
ncgary
February 16th, 2012
9:38 pm
we can give obama a urinalysis and give that to pf tell him its a scotch and let him analyze it
Ray
February 16th, 2012
9:39 pm
Hugo,, when you take zero from zero.. guess what you still get zero.
Kat
February 16th, 2012
9:39 pm
For those not on twitter…
@FreddieFreeman Have arrived in Orlando! Spring training starts tmrw for me! #braves2012
Tom O'Hawke
February 16th, 2012
9:42 pm
Moe Berg
I was trying to tell you, last night, very unsuccessfully I might add, that I hope we can get together for a game or two against the Mets. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any of my comments to touch down, safely.
If the Mets have as poor of a season as expected, from my experience, good seats should always be available.
nolie
February 16th, 2012
9:44 pm
a constant failing of mine Ray
Ray
February 16th, 2012
9:48 pm
I figured I would jack with PF.. he probably went into a drunken stooper trying to find a story about ryan howard’s leg.
cabravesfan
February 16th, 2012
9:49 pm
Tom-
That sounds much more reasonable
nolie
February 16th, 2012
9:49 pm
in 1878 everybody in Pa got together and took the nastiest, most worthless miscreants in their bailiwick , rounded them up and dumped them inside the Philly city limits with dire threats should they return. genetics took care of the rest and now we have something like our own little Australian colony in our otherwise really great state…
McFann O O o
February 16th, 2012
9:51 pm
Soph I finally tried the Berry Burst Oreos you told me about months ago. They were okay, not my fave.
Oh! I forgot all about those!
I don’t think we ever found those…I know we tried the Orange Cream and the Neapolitan…Sorry they weren’t too great…
McFann O O o
February 16th, 2012
9:52 pm
Soph JoeBrave?
Filly Fred Do people that post here all day actually work?
No, I think it’s keyLargo…
Tom O'Hawke
February 16th, 2012
9:53 pm
Tom-
That sounds much more reasonable
…AND, it made it through.
Moe Berg
February 16th, 2012
9:55 pm
Tom O’Hawke–I am just running to get dinner. But lets definitely plan on some Mets games. Definitely think there will be some seats. Will look at the calendar and try to make some plans.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
February 16th, 2012
9:55 pm
Moving along….
tiger297
February 16th, 2012
9:56 pm
nolie – what are your ties to PA?
nolie
February 16th, 2012
9:57 pm
born there
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
February 16th, 2012
9:58 pm
Gary Carter….gone far too soon. It was a privilege to have seen the man’s baseball career.
Life is short, play hard.
Soph
February 16th, 2012
9:59 pm
McFann – the berry leaves a weird aftertaste. I’ll have to see if I can find the Neapolitan. Sounds yummy.
tiger297
February 16th, 2012
9:59 pm
ahhh didn’t realize that…
ncgary
February 16th, 2012
9:59 pm
how bout that wolfpack . up by 16 against the dookies at half time
Tom O'Hawke
February 16th, 2012
10:00 pm
Sounds good, Moe Berg.
tiger297
February 16th, 2012
10:00 pm
wait gary had 16 wolves take a dump in his yard?
tiger297
February 16th, 2012
10:01 pm
I can’t wait to hear the stories of tom & moe at a phillies mets game…
cabravesfan
February 16th, 2012
10:01 pm
nolie – what are your ties to PA?
born there
This explains A LOT…
McFann O O o
February 16th, 2012
10:02 pm
Soph—
Aw, that’s too bad…I cann see where it would do that, though…
Yeah, the Neapolitan are yummy—it’s like a club sandwich: vanilla cookie, chocolate frosting, vanilla cookie, strawberry frosting, vanilla cookie…
tiger297
February 16th, 2012
10:05 pm
man I musta been raised wrong I’ve never eaten a club sandwhich with any kind of cookies and frosting
nolie
February 16th, 2012
10:05 pm
yeah i’m a damn yankee, and onea them know it all virgos to boot. now you know why…….
tiger297
February 16th, 2012
10:06 pm
nothing wrong with being a virgo…
ncgary
February 16th, 2012
10:07 pm
you could be close to right on that tiger, ive had a passle of dogs over the years and they probably had some wolf blood in them