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Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,791 comments Add your comment
DAP
March 2nd, 2012
1:33 pm
murph Yes, Diaz had a good season in 2009… as I’ve acknowledged several times in the last few days. However, much as you tell me not to railroad him for one bad season, you also should not put him on a pedestal for one good season. One good season out of his last 4 seasons. The other 3 seasons… out of the last 4 seasons… not including this one good season… not all that great.
you are relatively new here, so maybe you dont realize that matt diaz is a bit of a fan favorite.
that said, the last 4 seasons you referenced, diaz was hurt in 2 of them, and one where he was really good, and then had last year, where we have heard the pirates messed him up. he’ll be fine.
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
1:34 pm
DWW, Lipka has a ways to go. This coming season will be his age 20 season. In his previous 2 minor league seasons, at Rookie and Class-A, he’s posted a .316 OBP with 107 SO and 57 BB in 179 games.
Way too early for doom and gloom but he definitely looks like he won’t be ready for at least another 2-3 more years.
B_F52
March 2nd, 2012
1:34 pm
nolie
March 2nd, 2012
1:31 pm
I didn’t put him on any pedestal, i simply said that just be cause he had a bad 2011 is not proof that he will be worthless this season. he may indeed be, but he also might bounce back and be an ok 4th OFer
just like bob dylan nolie is usually right on target and so direct
George
March 2nd, 2012
1:35 pm
Are the BRAVES ready to play a game tomorrow? I think they need more lessons on how to play baseball because they totally forgot how game is played last Sept and it is the same team less HUDSON, LOWE, and A-GON. Worse yet same manager who does not have a clue on how baseball is played.
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
1:36 pm
Didnt Lipka get moved to CF? How is he progressing and could he be an option there as soon as next year?
Lipka’s barely past potty-training age. He’s a ways off.
nolie
March 2nd, 2012
1:37 pm
and BTW in college testing I was in the top one tenth of one percent on comprehension and retention and even at 66 I still have an awesome memory
and I will post this just as soon as I remember which button I’m s’posed hit….
man , now I’m sounding just like that nolie guy
nolie
March 2nd, 2012
1:39 pm
yeah Va if the OBP stays up he has some offensive value , but I’d rather have 50 homers than 50 steals
George
March 2nd, 2012
1:41 pm
Yup nolie a HR is a run a steal is not a run.
DWW
March 2nd, 2012
1:42 pm
I didn’t realize he was so young. Seems like the front office should adress this before they have to compete in free agency for the three guys mentioned earlier.
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
1:43 pm
I think I need one of you to come over and stand behind me while I sit here and scream at me over and over until I get something done…
Ease
March 2nd, 2012
1:44 pm
a HR is a run a steal is not a run.
It must be catching…I had forgotten.
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
1:44 pm
nolie
Well of course, I’d rather have the homers too. lol But each player does something well. Would we rather have Adam Jones or Michael Bourn?
Soph
March 2nd, 2012
1:47 pm
I was anticipating a petrel sighting right about now.
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
1:47 pm
Seems like the front office should adress this before they have to compete in free agency for the three guys mentioned earlier.
Blame Jordan Schafer’s broken wrist.
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
1:47 pm
SOPH!
How did you quit your Randoms?
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
1:49 pm
Also when looking at Bourn, he’s gonna score from 1st base on a double and from 2nd base on a single way more often than others. His speed makes a huge difference and also his defense. The whole package makes him a very good ball player.
flange1
March 2nd, 2012
1:50 pm
B-F,
Thanks for the suggestion! An ode to The Staples Singers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebj_e4VagcA
Soph
March 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm
CAB!
Go to the homescreen where all the games you’re currently playing are listed then swipe your finger from left to right where it has the status of the game. It should turn red and say delete. I quit them all yesterday.
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
This is a really exciting part of the year, The NFL offseason is starting to heat up with free agency and the draft, and baseball starting up.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
March 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
SEASON! Oh, we aren’t playing right now? Well when we do and when we lose a game or two there will be the “SEASON” people screaming around here.
flange1
March 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Ry Cooder and David Lindley doing “All Shook Up”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjPKFeHDaeM&feature=related
B_F52
March 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Ken Lofton was a good leadoff batter
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
YAY! Although that’s a really stupid way to set up delete options…
Did you ever figure out what that blob was?
Murph
March 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
That’s awesome nolie. In the first grade I tested in the top one percentile for my scissor skills. Hearts, snowflakes, people holding hands… could do it all.
Funny thing is, much like your memory, my ability to cut fantastical shapes has dulled as the years have passed.
Soph
March 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
No, I forgot to check before I quit. Weirdos.
B_F52
March 2nd, 2012
1:55 pm
flange1
March 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Ry Cooder and David Lindley doing “All Shook Up”
The spirit of Elvis lives on in Ry and Dave
DWW
March 2nd, 2012
1:56 pm
Scoots
If you could have him back right now for Bourn, would you take him?
B_F52
March 2nd, 2012
1:57 pm
Good material on the blog this fine meteorillogical spring day
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
1:57 pm
VaBravesFan, I’d rather have Adam Jones. Jones turned 26 last August and he has more upside. Bourn is probably about as good as he’s going to be. Jones and Bourn aren’t far apart now but Jones is more likely to improve some.
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
1:59 pm
Sad…now we will never know what the Big Black Blob really was… I will never recover.
I will always have my golden jail waffles to remember…
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
If you could have him back right now for Bourn, would you take him?
Lofton, you mean? With someboy else’s head and personality, sure.
Lofton had a great OBP, as I remember. Good hitter, too.
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
My hair is still wet from yesterday afternoon…
Soph
March 2nd, 2012
2:06 pm
Ha, I should’ve sent a message before I quit. Just two words.
You. Suck.
Bay Area Steve
March 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
Enter your comments here
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
2:08 pm
I caught that you wrote something to me on one of the drawings- it disappeared before i could read it…?
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
2:09 pm
I love my company’s new system for web editing- it took me literally 30 seconds to edit something that would have taken 20 minutes with the old one. And I have nobody to share my joy with so y’all get to be part of my joy
Samantha
March 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
Hi, Cab
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
Hi Samantha
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
nolie, I know you’re not a basketball fan, but, a great comeback from your boys last night. I had already ballgame-ed that sucker, came back from the laundry room, and they were up three with a second left. Awesomely awesome, is what I’m sayin’.
jeffrey d
March 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
Yup nolie a HR is a run a steal is not a run.
Unless you steal home
Ease
March 2nd, 2012
2:12 pm
Whew!
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman
#Braves agreed to terms with all of their players with 0-3 yrs of service. Tommy Hanson’s contract was unilaterally renewed the past 2 yrs
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
2:12 pm
Shaun
I rather have Adam Jones when you factor in age and contract/control. But what we know right now is that Adam Jones would only be a upgrade in the power department, Bourn is better at OBP, stealing, baserunning and defense. But I do think Adam Jones and BJ Upton are huge break out candidates.
Soph
March 2nd, 2012
2:12 pm
cab, that was probably the one I sent with an apology because it was awful.
cabravesfan
March 2nd, 2012
2:12 pm
soph
i got it though
David O'Brien
March 2nd, 2012
2:13 pm
Braves agreed to terms on one-year deal with all 24 of their zero-to-three (non-arbitration eligible) players, including Heyward, Freeman, Hanson. They had unilaterally renewed Hanson each of the past two years, so this year is progress in that regard.
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
2:14 pm
Tommy Hanson’s contract was unilaterally renewed the past 2 yrs
Cue the posts that Hanson is only biding his time until he can bolt the Braves.
Shanks probably already has it out there, as a followup to his “Jason Heyward doesn’t like baseball” note.
MLB to Fans: Gimmie Five! (Probably) | Augusta Blog
March 2nd, 2012
2:20 pm
[...] background,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Dave O’Brien writes. “Did we mention he is 25 and was out of baseball for nearly four years? Who is this guy? Gattis himself is just starting to figure that [...]
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
March 2nd, 2012
2:22 pm
Watching The 1996 World Series on the MLB Network is Brutal to Watch!
Gawd I hate Smut Yankees Fans!
Tomahawkin (The Godfather)
March 2nd, 2012
2:26 pm
Yankees were outhit, outhomered, and outscored in the 1996 World Series…Atlanta was Just Outexecuted…
That was the beginning of the Curse
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
2:28 pm
I would have rather had Justice and Grissom for a few more seasons than Lofton and Embree. Not that I think there was anything wrong with Kenny Lofton at that point in his career. It’s just that Justice was outstanding and a more complete hitter in that he was a very good on-base guy and a good slugger. Plus I would have rather the Braves had Grissom than a relief pitcher.
If we break it down, I think Justice was the better player of the Justice-Lofton side of the deal. And I think Grissom was the more valuable piece of the Grissom-Embree side of the deal. I think Justice was a very under-appreciated player, maybe one of the most under-appreciated of the last 25 years
Bravofan
March 2nd, 2012
2:30 pm
MLB alters playoffs 2 wild card teams added!
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
2:34 pm
VaBravesFan, I agree. I think if Upton signs with a team that plays in a more favorable park for hitters, everyone will notice what a solid player he is. Sure, he’s not an MVP type or a superstar. But he’s a very good player.
I think Jones having a fairly big edge in the power department and his age are somewhat significant separators for me, because I don’t think he’s all that far behind in other categories.
For just 2012, I don’t think you can go wrong with either guy and it’s really close. But for the next 3-5 years, I think Jones is the fairly clear choice.
tiger297
March 2nd, 2012
2:34 pm
and BTW in college testing I was in the top one tenth of one percent on comprehension and retention and even at 66 I still have an awesome memory
please nobody correct his tense of have to had and remind him he is now actually 96…
David O'Brien
March 2nd, 2012
2:35 pm
Among Braves signings today, NL Rookie of Year Craig Kimbrel got about $590K (new MLB minimum is $480K). Jonny Venters got $533K
LJ
March 2nd, 2012
2:36 pm
bigger need to win the division
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
2:41 pm
Great. Teams now are rewarded not solely for winning games but divisions. The luck of being in the right geographical location and the right division plays a fairly big factor.
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
2:42 pm
bigger need to win the division
Yep. Doesn’t matter if the Braves would be clearly good enough to win every other division but their own or if they are 20 games better than the 2nd wild card. They will be forced into a one-game playoff in that scenario.
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
2:46 pm
I think the new playoff format is a joke.
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
2:47 pm
Yep. Doesn’t matter if the Braves would be clearly good enough to win every other division but their own or if they are 20 games better than the 2nd wild card
Absolutely correct. Because they will have proved that they are not the best team of a group of teams that have the same competitive opportunity. You don’t get that, I understand. But I figure as long as you want to completely chew the cud of teams-as-wild-card-martyrs, I’ll continue to make the other point for those readers a little more open-minded.
nolie
March 2nd, 2012
2:47 pm
sorry tiger I forgot how old I am….
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
2:47 pm
IMO it has to be at least a 3 game series.
Murph
March 2nd, 2012
2:49 pm
The Braves will end up paying about $4500 per Kimbrell K… and about $30k for each Diaz single.
New Mexico Lee
March 2nd, 2012
2:51 pm
Good point scoots
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
2:52 pm
If there is going to be 2 wild cards with a 1 game playoff they should just get rid of wild card all together. It was fine the way it was. Why change something that works. Easy fix about the schedule and such is to shorten spring training.
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
2:53 pm
Winning enough games to make the playoffs is no longer enough. Now teams have to worry about winning games and also whether they are in the right division.
I’m not so much worried about what it does to wild card teams (although I do think it’s unfair that a 95-100-win wild card team is disproportionately disadvantaged in the playoffs). But, okay, I can accept giving wild cards a disadvantage in the playoffs.
But I’m more annoyed that a fairly mediocre team that wins a weak division will be disproportionately disadvantaged in the playoffs compared to a clearly superior team in a strong division that doesn’t win the division.
DWW
March 2nd, 2012
2:53 pm
The playoff format hasn’t really changed. They added one game. Get over it
ncgary
March 2nd, 2012
2:53 pm
yeah murph but the dodgers paid over a million dollars for each of andruws hits
B-F_52
March 2nd, 2012
2:54 pm
It is what it is Go Bravos
Samantha
March 2nd, 2012
2:54 pm
Hi Murph,
DWW
March 2nd, 2012
2:57 pm
AND… we might need that second wc spot.
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
2:58 pm
ncscoots, that’s the problem. Some teams have have a better competitive opportunity. Teams like the Brewers and Reds will likely have a much easier time winning their division than a team like the Braves. So even if the Braves outplay the Brewers and Reds and finish in second place, the Braves get punished, simply because they weren’t far enough in the middle of the country to be in the weak NL Central.
VaBravesFan, the problem with doing away with the wild card and having the two worst division winners play that one-game playoff is that MLB doesn’t make as much money with 6 playoff teams as opposed to 10. That’s the bottom line.
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
2:58 pm
DWW
Alright well when we our the 1st wild card team that is like 5+ games better than the 2nd wild card team and we lose that 1 game don’t complain, Baseball is a team game, but only 1 starting pitcher will determine if we move on in the playoffs. A 1 game playoff only makes sense for tie breakers.
ncgary
March 2nd, 2012
3:00 pm
32 million dollars for 31 hits
nolie
March 2nd, 2012
3:01 pm
thanx scoots, they did show some grit last night.
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
3:01 pm
DWW, they’ve just increased the chances that a fairly mediocre team can win the World Series even more so than it was under the 1995-2011 system. They’ve just increased the likelihood that a playoff edge will be given to the fairly mediocre winner of a weak division.
New Mexico Lee
March 2nd, 2012
3:03 pm
Murph, you playing hard to get? Say hi already.
ncgary
March 2nd, 2012
3:03 pm
i think the focus is more towards keeping interest during the season,
to keep attendance up.the more teams chasing a playoff spot , the more fans
remain interested.
tiger297
March 2nd, 2012
3:03 pm
scoots – unbalanced schedules take away that competitive balance there can be significant differences in strength of schedule between teams. – if not for that I would agree with you.
That being said once we understand that the world series is not in fact designed to crown the best team in MLB in a given year the discussion really loses relevance to me.
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
3:04 pm
and we lose that 1 game don’t complain
I won’t. Why should I? Both teams have the same opportunity, to win or to lose. They have already had the same opportunity to make it a moot point, by winning a division.
These two teams are already getting a pass, by simply having an opportunity to win a WS without first having won anything. A playoff opportunity, of any kind, one game or whatever, is a gift. If it turns out to be a lump of coal, so be it.
tiger297
March 2nd, 2012
3:04 pm
man nolie I was hoping the loss of eyesight would cause you to overlook that post
by the way I no longer consider 66 old
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
3:04 pm
VaBravesFan, yep. If the Phillies win 100 games, the Braves win 95, the NL Central winner wins around 88-90, the NL West winner wins around 88-90, and the Braves are forced into a one-game playoff with an 85-win team I don’t want to hear it from the folks who like this new format.
B-F_52
March 2nd, 2012
3:04 pm
wrong can of worms wait wait don’t say it don’t step in it
I totally agree its just not fair live with it
Murph
March 2nd, 2012
3:05 pm
Murph, you playing hard to get? Say hi already.
Don’t wanna.
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
3:05 pm
There not giving the wild card “team” a chance to play a series. Say Hudson starts the game and now Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens will have no impact on the team going forward, just sit the bench and hope you get a chance to show what you can do if we win and move on. That goes for alot of teams.
DWW
March 2nd, 2012
3:05 pm
VaBraves
Alright well when the braves are the second wild card team and win the one game playoff and make it to the world series dont celebrate. Complain about the format.
tiger297
March 2nd, 2012
3:05 pm
samantha is here
tiger297
March 2nd, 2012
3:05 pm
how you dooing?
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
3:05 pm
they did show some grit last night.
I just like the fact that Leonard Hamilton looks like Bunny Colvin from The Wire.
DWW
March 2nd, 2012
3:06 pm
Shaun,
Does that winner of the weak division gain an advantage over other division winners?
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
3:08 pm
I won’t. Why should I? Both teams have the same opportunity, to win or to lose. They have already had the same opportunity to make it a moot point, by winning a division.
ncscoots, not all teams in the playoffs will have had the same opportunity. That’s what you seem to be overlooking. The Braves won’t have an opportunity to play in a weak division and win that division in order to get a pass in the one-game round. That’s what you’re missing.
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
3:08 pm
I don’t want to hear it from the folks who like this new format.
You won’t. There won’t be enough space on the forum to make a post, in between the wailing and gnashing you’ll be doing.
New Mexico Lee
March 2nd, 2012
3:08 pm
OK LOL
tiger297
March 2nd, 2012
3:09 pm
I’m guess I’m confused on the point of the world series now. I thought it was generating maximum revenue for players/owners/league.
What the heck was I thinking.
Or did I miss something and we time warped back to the ’60s?
VaBravesFan
March 2nd, 2012
3:10 pm
DWW
Regardless of what the Braves do I’ll stick with the new format is a complete joke.
Samantha
March 2nd, 2012
3:10 pm
I am OK Tiger, Just come on to say hello to everyone.
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
3:11 pm
The Braves won’t have an opportunity to play in a weak division and win that division in order to get a pass in the one-game round
And in your opinion, relative strength of all the divisions is baseball is immutable, and thus are destined to remain as they now are, forever more?
Bubba, please.
dogsbrekky
March 2nd, 2012
3:14 pm
Brilliant read. Amazing how people end up where they do. Thanks for the bloggage Dobi
ncgary
March 2nd, 2012
3:14 pm
what you’re missing shaun is this. divisions arent always the strongest top to bottom every year. so the east is strongest this year, 4 years from now it could be the weakest.
ncscoots
March 2nd, 2012
3:14 pm
Regardless of what the Braves do I’ll stick with the new format is a complete joke.
Hey, I’m good with that, LOL. The best compromise is the one that tends to p*** everybody off, remember?
Shaun
March 2nd, 2012
3:16 pm
DWW, MLB opens the possibility that the winners of weak divisions gain an advantage over superior teams, that could have won that weak division much easier had they merely been lucky enough to play in the right geographic location to be in that weak division.
I guess what die-hard Braves fans should pray for this year is an earthquake that somehow puts Atlanta in the middle of the country so they can play in a weaker division, win it more easily and get a bye in the one-game round.