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Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,829 comments Add your comment
Tomahawkin
February 20th, 2012
9:54 am
Good Quote by Rossy D.O.B.
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô; ;ô;
February 20th, 2012
9:56 am
DOB—
The Sunrise photos are gorgeous! My if I swipe some to watercolor?
Venice Jim
February 20th, 2012
9:56 am
All those hours discussing “P” songs and no one came up with Panama Red by New Riders of the Purple Sage?
We were guessing what songs the radio station would play next, and I guess we were not expecting that to be played (and, I’m sorry to report, it was not)…
Bayou Brave
February 20th, 2012
9:58 am
Tomahawkin and Lew,
I didn’t read any other posts about Chipper’s mid-February physique in my casual scan of the weekend comments that’s why I was asking DOB about it.
O’Brien has talked about Heyward losing 20 lbs and still looking ripped, Freeman adding somewhere around 20lbs of muscle, Hanson adding about 7lbs of muscle and hair. I’m just curious about what kind of shape Hoss is in. From a couple of the weekend pictures you can clearly see a small gut on him. I certainly wasn’t ripping him, if that comment was directed at me.
Lew
February 20th, 2012
9:59 am
VJ – Yeah, no reason a station would play a song about cheating lovers, right?
RHR
February 20th, 2012
10:00 am
Just filled out my leave request for Opening Day.
Lew
February 20th, 2012
10:00 am
Bayou Brave – You mean you missed Ahole Ranger’s comments?
RHR
February 20th, 2012
10:00 am
It should be recognized as a religious holiday…
Bayou Brave
February 20th, 2012
10:01 am
Yes.
RHR
February 20th, 2012
10:02 am
Chipper has had a gut for a while now, this isn’t new.
VaBravesFan
February 20th, 2012
10:03 am
Chipper is still gonna put up solid production.
Lew
February 20th, 2012
10:05 am
Bayou Brave – Around 8 this morning. Honestly, I missed your comment completely.
MFin04
February 20th, 2012
10:08 am
Chipper is really the least of the Braves problems at this point. Really need increased production out of Bourn, Prado, Heyward, Freeman, Uggla and McCann. Whatever Chipper brings at this point is bonus.
Tomahawkin
February 20th, 2012
10:09 am
RHR
“Just filled out my leave request for Opening Day. ”
Opening day for the Braves is at Bailout Ballpark…
Are you going to be spending that weekend In The Rotten Apple?
Ray
February 20th, 2012
10:09 am
Vabrave you are correct. IMO this is where the AL has an advantage over the NL. They can add guys like that to their bench/DH. If you are a good hitter but questionable in the field you can go to an AL team and get an avg of 20-25 AB’s a week. You are not going to sign with a NL team because they are not going to pay you what an AL team can for let’s say 10-15 AB’s a week.
VaBravesFan
February 20th, 2012
10:09 am
My biggest concern is if any of our everyday players struggle big time or go down with injury and we have 4 players with legit concerns. Were fine with our pitching, yeah were gonna have some concerns with hanson, jurrjens, huddy going forward no matter what IMO, but with so much depth were fine. Prospects cant be prospect forever they should get opportunites this season for sure.
Tomahawkin
February 20th, 2012
10:09 am
Lew
“Bayou Brave – You mean you missed Ahole Ranger’s comments?”
OUCH! LOL
Lew
February 20th, 2012
10:10 am
When I was at UGA in 1980, I had the opportunity to interview Pete Rose in the Phillies’ clubhouse at the old Launching Pad. Dude had a 40 or more inch waist at the time – looked like a tree stump. He lead the Phillies to a World Championship that year and the weight really didn’t seem to influence his performance.
No way Chipper is anywhere close to weighing whar Rose did at that time.
Lew
February 20th, 2012
10:11 am
THawkin – I didn’t mean that as a rip on Bayou Brave. I don’t read all comments when I log on in the morning – I just kind of scan the overnights and early morning posts. Just happened to miss that particular post – not as if I scroll past what he says or anything.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
February 20th, 2012
10:12 am
Glad to see Chipper showed up in shape for spring training, after spending lots of time sitting in tree stands hunting bambie
Lew
February 20th, 2012
10:12 am
But, yeah, someone should be feeling some pain.
VaBravesFan
February 20th, 2012
10:13 am
Ray
Exactly, but still an AL team doesn’t rely much on the bench, guy goes days and days without getting into a game. The NL is a chess match with the pitching having to bat. Kinda shocked at how much the Yanks are putting into the bench while the Braves are really really rolling the dice and banking on rebounds and staying healthy with the lineup regulars.
Lew
February 20th, 2012
10:17 am
Of course, Coach feels nothing on a regular basis.
Tomahawkin
February 20th, 2012
10:17 am
Don’t Worry…Chipper will drop that weight once the Humidity hits….
Bayou Brave
February 20th, 2012
10:22 am
Lew,
No worries. I just went back and saw the Ranger’s comments. (Apparently my casual scanning sucks.) Yeah, that was a bit over-the-top/fanatical/delusional.
Obviously there have been plenty of great players throughout history that weren’t shredded their whole career.
I just wonder about any player that starts a new season who doesn’t look as in shape as they were the previous season. Miguel Cabrera added body fat in recent years and it hasn’t slowed his hitting any, but he’s a good bit younger than Hoss. (And I’m not sayinng Chipper has added near what Miguel added.)
Maybe Chipper uses Spring Training to lose some weight/gain muscle every year, I just don’t remember ever hearing that in the past.
RHR
February 20th, 2012
10:23 am
Opening day for the Braves is at Bailout Ballpark…
I know, I checked the schedule.
Are you going to be spending that weekend In The Rotten Apple?
No, I will be at home in front of my tv. Gonna try to grab a few tix to the braves home opener but thats on a Friday, and I’m not required to work on Fridays.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
February 20th, 2012
10:23 am
Peanut gallery alert!
Lew
February 20th, 2012
10:24 am
Bayou Brave – In years past, Chipper has been an adherent of the Mickey D’s Diet. He’s always lost it in the past. I also believe that most players lose weight over the course of the season (absent eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games).
Ray
February 20th, 2012
10:27 am
VaBrave, You are partially right. When guys will get 20-25 AB’s in a week, many don’t view those guys as bench players. You will have a couple of guys 2-3 that will share the DH role and on occasion will play 1-2 games in the field, getting those AB’s. You are right in the fact that some guys just sit on the bench for the most part unless there is an injury. The NL has more of bench players, coming in to pinch hit late in games for the pitcher. IF you were a DH type, you would probably stay in AL because you get more AB’s and more money.
Bayou Brave
February 20th, 2012
10:33 am
And it is no where as bad as this…
In the case of CC Sabathia, success is a weighty issue. By late last season, Joe Girardi and the Yankees were insisting that our eyes were deceiving us, that [Sabathia] wasn’t as overweight as he looked. Now we know better. It wasn’t just that Brian Cashman revealed on Sunday that he arranged a sit-down with Sabathia over the winter that included Girardi and trainer Steve Donahue to talk about the lefthander’s weight. It was also that he called the undertaking of such a task “tough” and “awkward,” making it clear just how important he felt that it be done. … [You] got the feeling that Cashman was awfully tempted by September of last season to confront Sabathia and demand to know if he was back on the Cap’n Crunch.
New York Daily News
Bayou Brave
February 20th, 2012
10:36 am
Lew,
Thanks. Now that you mention it I do remember Chipper talking about eating a super strict diet one year and still getting hurt so he decided it would be okay to eat at McDonalds every now and again. 6 weeks is plenty of time to get into shape.
monty
February 20th, 2012
11:01 am
I liked what Huddy had to say about Medlen in the article about him and JJ. “As good as anyone they had.” THat’s how I had been seeing it and why I believe at the end of the day, Medlen will be a starter. Sure he makes the pen better, but his greatest value will be as a starter, whether for the Braves or someone else. RIght now I’d say he’s ahead of any of the AAA guys and Minor. Let the gnashing begin in ..3..2..1…
Billy
February 20th, 2012
11:04 am
I missed the photos of Chipper, with his shirt off, making a few here develop wild imaginations of Chipper having a Prince Fielder like body.
Spring Training is a time for players to work on details of their game, get into shape after time away from the game, continue to recover from aches and pains, get their mind and body back into game ready condition for the season that begins early in April……which is still 6 weeks away, give or take.
Reasons Why Some People Criticize:
Some People criticize because they have critical minds and spirits
Some People criticize because they don’t know the whole story
Some People criticize because it makes them feel better about themselves
Some People criticize because it is easier to complain about problems than solve them
Some People criticize because the person they are criticizing has achieved what they cannot or could not
Some People criticize what makes them feel inferior meaning it makes them feel superior
Lew
February 20th, 2012
11:05 am
monty – No gnashing here. I agree – Medlen will take Hudson’s place and do a good job of it. Wren has made comments this winter indicating they viewed Meds for that role.
CB
February 20th, 2012
11:08 am
Billy speaking true words this morning.
BraveDan
February 20th, 2012
11:08 am
Fattest i’ve ever remembered seeing Chipper this time of year.
BraveDan
February 20th, 2012
11:10 am
It isn’t because of any bad camera angle either, lol. That’s the ultimate excuse.
jfp
February 20th, 2012
11:11 am
DOB or anyone else, did anyone hear them interview with David Ross on xm? They were supposed to ask him questions regarding Gary Carter. I missed it and was hoping someone got a chance to catch it.
BraveDan
February 20th, 2012
11:12 am
I’m really shocked. I expect Chipper to lead by example. He always talks the talk; but, to this point, he isn’t walking the walk.
jfp
February 20th, 2012
11:12 am
The interview not them. Might need to proof read before I hit submit.
Bravofan
February 20th, 2012
11:14 am
Bruce Bochy has told Buster Posey to no longer block the plate.
http://m.espn.go.com/mlb/story?storyId=7593956
Venice Jim
February 20th, 2012
11:25 am
Wow, my eyes must be really bad – could someone please explain to me how I am missing the rolls of fat in this photo?:
http://twitpic.com/8mgk89
Bravofan
February 20th, 2012
11:26 am
Anyone know where to get a 1995 world series hat unsigned?
Bravofan
February 20th, 2012
11:29 am
VJ: you see the dip can? Ha my friend refers to him as Chipper the Dipper!
TennesseePaul
February 20th, 2012
11:31 am
Cool pics DOB. Just flipped through them. Thanks for the work.
raleighbravefan
February 20th, 2012
11:32 am
VJ – The Chipper Haters have to have something to complain about. A lot of assumptions being made (as usual).
Wow
February 20th, 2012
11:34 am
Check out those photos of Chipper–looks like he’s been smoking and drinking beer on the couch for the last 4 months.
Mixxo
February 20th, 2012
11:34 am
Nice pics but, WTH is Heywould doing in this camp????
Elonbrave
February 20th, 2012
11:36 am
Wish I was there watching Heyward take BP. Watching it two years ago was a religious experience.
raleighbravefan
February 20th, 2012
11:36 am
Are there pictures besides the ones DOB posted…because I’m not seeing a lot of extra fat on Chipper. I don’t get it, unless you are just looking for something to be critical about.
Wow
February 20th, 2012
11:37 am
Come on Raleigh, poor ol’ Chipper looks like the Michelin man in those photos.
David O'Brien
February 20th, 2012
11:45 am
Just up from the field. Don’t know if you saw my Twitter feed, but I posted a bunch of photos including shots of Heyward, Freeman, Chipper and others taking BP. Heyward just crushed a few bombs in BP, one about 3/4ths of way up 60-ft wall just to right of straight CF.
http://twitpic.com/8mgolw
cabravesfan
February 20th, 2012
11:45 am
IT’S MAC’S BIRTHDAY!!!!!! (no wonder it’s a national holiday
)
ncscoots
February 20th, 2012
11:46 am
Come on Raleigh, poor ol’ Chipper looks like the Michelin man in those photos.
It’s February 20. Who cares what he looks like six weeks before the first pitch of the season?
I mean, do some people really think that Chipper, or any other player, can’t get into shape by Opening Day? Geez. It don’t count until the games count…anything else is prelude.
ND Brave
February 20th, 2012
11:47 am
Hey, DOB, how does Prado look? Really glad the Braves didn’t trade him and hope he has a nice bounce-back year. I know he’ll be working hard trying to earn it…
David O'Brien
February 20th, 2012
11:48 am
Bunch of other Blackberry photos of Chipper, Hinske, Venters in PFP, etc.
http://twitpic.com/8mgiz2
http://twitpic.com/8mgiz2
http://twitpic.com/8mgnuu
http://twitpic.com/8mgkp7
http://twitpic.com/8mglu8
http://twitpic.com/8mgk89
http://twitpic.com/8mgi4m
Bravofan
February 20th, 2012
11:51 am
DOB: awesome pics!!
kenhotlanta
February 20th, 2012
11:51 am
Mixxo: “Nice pics but, WTH is Heywould doing in this camp????”.
This camp is for pitchers, catchers, and any players who were injured last year. That includes Chipper, Marteeen, Hayward, etc. Try to keep up.
MFin04
February 20th, 2012
11:51 am
Anyone know when the first Spring Training game is? Or at least the first one on TV?
Lew
February 20th, 2012
11:53 am
Yeah – I’m not seeing Nutrisystem in Chipper’s future.
Lew
February 20th, 2012
11:53 am
MFin04 – I believe it is on March 3.
raleighbravefan
February 20th, 2012
11:58 am
Wow, et al – I’m just not seeing it. Not exactly Prince, or Albert, even. Of course, if you want to look for something to hate on Chipper about, I guess anything will do.
Juan
February 20th, 2012
12:01 pm
First TV ST Game
Wednesday, March 14 vs. Washington 6:05 PM FSS WFOM 1230
Tomahawkin
February 20th, 2012
12:06 pm
I won’t be able to watch the games but I will sure as hell be listening to Boog Powell and Don Sutton on the radio…
Tomahawkin
February 20th, 2012
12:07 pm
Thanks for the 411 Juan…
ItsGood that we get a Night game that will be televised
Tomahawkin
February 20th, 2012
12:08 pm
Chipper doesn’t look overweight in that one picture of him swinging…?
Wheres The Love people?
Tomahawkin
February 20th, 2012
12:12 pm
Opening Day of Spring Training which is a Holiday and Buck and Kincade are starting their show talking about the 1 and done Falcons
SMH
BOO!
Mitch "wild thang" Williams
February 20th, 2012
12:14 pm
another year of the worst baseball commentator in history, please get rid of don sutton….
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:16 pm
With any kind of Run support? we have the potential to have 4 starters win 14-16 games…
CB
February 20th, 2012
12:18 pm
Says the man with the Mitch Williams moniker.
Billy
February 20th, 2012
12:22 pm
Thanks for the photos showing Chipper in great shape, while hitting, proving the other photo was wrong. Maybe, it was very windy that day, a gust blew his shirt to give an unflattering appearance, to all you muscle men, physical specimen types, who are Greek Gods, in your own minds, being the legends, you believe yourselves to be.
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:23 pm
“another year of the worst baseball commentator in history, please get rid of don sutton….”
No Way, I love Don Sutton…He should be an MLB Pitching coach or a Manager….
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô; ;ô;
February 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
cabravesfan—
Yeah, no mail for BMac day!
And Oreos timed their BDay Cookies perfectly… 
Apparently you and I are the only Bloggies who care, though…
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
cabravesfan
“Vegas is about 4 hours from us. I’m not much of a gambler either (although I do like Roulette every now and then) but I love just walking and people watching and hanging by the pool and eating (the food is SOOOOO much better now than it used to be). I try to go about once a year- we are headed there in a few weeks for a short vacation to celebrate my birthday”
Be careful not to run into ol P___ L_entz. Word on the street is that he is a Huge Gambler….
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
Damn that! Give me some Girl Scout cookies! Those things are addictive!
Soph
February 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
Love the sunrise photos – tradition now.
This tweet made me grin -
Martin Prado enters #Braves clubhouse and is hugged and/or handshaked (sic?) by EVERYONE from minor leaguers to elder veterans. #popular
Soph
February 20th, 2012
12:28 pm
Girl Scout cookies are great but Oreos with a glass of milk are the best. Yum.
CB
February 20th, 2012
12:29 pm
But did he get a standing ovation?
Venice Jim
February 20th, 2012
12:31 pm
Second track released from new Springsteen album:
http://www.backstreets.com/news.html
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:31 pm
No Comprende
Milk…? Yuck!
ncscoots
February 20th, 2012
12:32 pm
But did he get a standing ovation?
Implicit for Prado, I think.
cabravesfan
February 20th, 2012
12:32 pm
T-
I get the feeling Reno would be more to HIS liking. Much more…sketchy
Soph
February 20th, 2012
12:32 pm
This one was funny. -
Jurrjens busted on #Braves manager Gonzalez for saying at team meeting that players use a “Walkman” in no-music clubhouse. #GenerationGap
Fredi’s a few electronic devices behind in times.
raleighbravefan
February 20th, 2012
12:32 pm
Tomahawkin – I don’t know how he would be as coach or manager…but I agree that he is AWFUL as a radio commentator.
cabravesfan
February 20th, 2012
12:33 pm
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Tommy Hanson was involved in an auto accident around 7 am. He came to the stadium and then chose to go to the hospital for evaluation.
Sounds like Tommy will be OK, but still scary…
Soph
February 20th, 2012
12:33 pm
I wonder if the Brewers are gonna give A-Gon a standing O when he arrives in camp.
ncscoots
February 20th, 2012
12:35 pm
Tommy Hanson was involved in an auto accident around 7 am. He came to the stadium and then chose to go to the hospital for evaluation.
Driving with the bad shoulder, LOL. Doomed, Gulliver!
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:35 pm
raleighbravefan
“Tomahawkin – I don’t know how he would be as coach or manager…but I agree that he is AWFUL as a radio commentator.”
I have listened to Sutton for 20+ years, his voice never gets old or stale, plus That Throwback Compton Curl he has is dope, brings back Memories…
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:36 pm
I’m too young to have never owned a Walkman…I did have a Throwback Boom-Box…
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:38 pm
Doesn’t suprise me about what happened to Big Red…That Sucks…
I bet the Traffic is FUB’R in the Orlando Area with all the toll roads, tourists, etc..
MFin04
February 20th, 2012
12:44 pm
“Martin Prado enters Braves clubhouse and is hugged and/or handshaked by EVERYONE from minor leaguers to elder veterans.”
Well, that was the same greeting that A-Gon got and look how well that turned out.
Career .277 OBP with the Braves
So first game is March 3rd, sounds like fun!
Billy
February 20th, 2012
12:47 pm
Bowman
Chipper has been in a great mood. He’s happy to come to camp healthy for the first time in the last 4 or 5 yrs.
DOB
For what it’s worth, longest ball hit in that BP session by Braves was Chipper’s over one of the “Heyward Tents” beyond right-center field
When asked about his belly, aging Redskins Quarterback Sonny Jurgensen said, “I don’t throw with my stomach” and went on to have a nice year.
“My problem was I didn’t have a good enough tailor — I picked my uniforms out off the rack,” Jurgensen said. “Vince Lombardi was the only coach I had who didn’t mention my weight; every other one did. They’d ask me how much I weighed, and if I said 215, they’d say they wanted me to play at 210. If I said I weighed 210, they’d say they wanted me to play at 205. I never understood why it was so important to look good in your uniform — you don’t throw the ball with your stomach, you throw it with your arm.”
So if Chipper doesn’t hit with his stomach?
You haters are going to have to find another Chipper hate topic
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
February 20th, 2012
12:48 pm
Oh well, Time for A Conference Call….
Shaun Should be entering the Room sometime…I will let him take the Mic…
cabravesfan
February 20th, 2012
12:49 pm
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Hanson’s accident was a 1-car accident. Blew a tire and bumped his head. They checked for possible concussion. No word yet.
George
February 20th, 2012
12:52 pm
Looked at DOB’s pics posted on this page. CHIPPER did not look in such bad shape, but FREDDY like wow did he get big, hope it is not fat, sure hope he can still swing the bat. Sure wish players would work out a little all year round. With the money they are paid it would not hurt them to do so.
Billy
February 20th, 2012
12:52 pm
I hope Hanson replies, “they didn’t find anything”, if asked about a head examination.
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô; ;ô;
February 20th, 2012
12:54 pm
Good grief…hope Tommy’s OK!…
RC
February 20th, 2012
12:55 pm
Thanks for the pics DOB.
Nice to see so many position players already in camp, since they aren’t required to report yet. I’d ask who’s there, but it might be easier to ask who’s NOT there already. From the pictures it seems like the only guys likely to make the team who don’t appear to be there yet are Pastornicky, Bourn, Uggla, Wilson, and Diaz. Are any of them in camp, just not in the pictures?
David O'Brien
February 20th, 2012
12:57 pm
Tommy Hanson being checked for concussion after blowing a tire in one-car accident on way to ballpark Monday morning. No cuts or other injuries, just didn’t feel good so they sent him to doc to get checked for concussion.
RC
February 20th, 2012
12:58 pm
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Hanson’s accident was a 1-car accident. Blew a tire and bumped his head. They checked for possible concussion. No word yet.
Hope he’s ok. Now for the joke at his expense:
I’m not suprised that he had tire trouble, since back in the caveman times when Hanson is from they hadn’t invented the wheel yet.