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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,655 comments Add your comment
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
5:03 pm
And how many hits did the Tigers have? Oh by the way I guess 2-3 at bats completely sets the season. Those are the ones that would be saying just that if the Braves had multiple hitters go 2-2, 2-3 blah blah blah.
Bier Breth
March 3rd, 2012
5:10 pm
Why is it that when someone expresses displeasure with a subpar performance, they have their fanhood called into question? I think that disappointment burns most brightly in the passionate fan. I’ve been bitching about–and watching every game of–the Braves since 1968. Go ahead and question my fanhood if you like. It only makes YOU the one with questionable judgement. Simply not being one of the sheeple who rah rah everything means nothing in regard to who may be the biggest fan. Can we all just express our feelings as we see fit? Thanks for listening…
Bravesgirlnc
March 3rd, 2012
5:10 pm
Watchin 100 best right now on MLB network. They have Avila and Molina ahead of B-Mac. What???
VaBravesFan
March 3rd, 2012
5:10 pm
I was expecting too see more than 1 hit, but that’s baseball. It a marathon a long season. That’s why a 1 game playoff for the wild cards is a complete joke!
VaBravesFan
March 3rd, 2012
5:12 pm
McCann will always be overlooked. I just don’t understand it. I guess winning a silver slugger and going to the All Star game every season means nothing?
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
I am sorry I upset Bier Breth. You have the right to your opinion. I am truly sorry
Bat Masterson
March 3rd, 2012
5:18 pm
I’ve been bitching about– and watching every game of –the Braves since 1968 Bier Breth
Really? Since ‘68 …………. Where did you watch all those games?
Bier Breth
March 3rd, 2012
5:18 pm
@Samantha: not upset. Not at all. Just puzzled.
Bier Breth
March 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
@Bat: Fulton Co stadium, the old WTCG Channel 17, TBS for many years. Okay, so to satisfy your need to nitpick, maybe I’ve only watched 92.4 % of them. The rest I listened to on the radio…
VaBravesFan
March 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
MLB Network has McCann ranked the 4th best catcher in baseball, which is pretty solid considering how little he gets mentioned on ESPN and so on. But IMO he is the best overall catcher in baseball right now.
JoeFan
March 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
The Braves are willing to gamble that Bethancourt is the real deal rather than tie up millions in McCann as he ages and becomes less productive. (See Chipper Jones) The Braves are a business first. Sentimentality want get you to the World Series.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
5:25 pm
Bier, I think it is safe to say that everyone on here would have liked to see a better performance. But its the ones that oh the braves are going to win 60 games tops and garbage like that. The ones that show displeasure I get that. I would have liked to have seen more than 1 hit. Anyone with a touch of knowledge knows that the first couple of weeks, pitchers have a huge advantage.. and actually that carries into the first couple of weeks of the regular season.
Tom O'Hawke
March 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
Go ahead and question my fanhood if you like. It only makes YOU the one with questionable judgement. — Bier Breth
Who are you talking to, BB?
Mixxo
March 3rd, 2012
5:28 pm
phil -
it must be in the Ga. water with the chokes.
can’t BUY a championship.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
5:28 pm
Not making excuses. And everyone is entitled to their opinion. That is what makes this blog great. You or myself or anyone for that matter will have displeasure throughout the season. But at the same time there will be a lot to cheer about too. Hopefully more of the latter than the former.
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
5:29 pm
Come on guys play nice.
Brad
March 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
Braves just can’t hit consistantly. not when you have too many pull concious hitters and guys like Uggla who wants to lift and seperate. Heyward has fallen victim to this method already and him being injured so much is tough. Freeman and Chipper are your two best hitters. BMac is also pull happy at times and whilePrado does provide professional at bats when he’s healthy, he also doesn’t walk enough and doesn’t hit for the power you want out of that OF position.
Bat Masterson
March 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
@ Bier……….. 92.4 huh …. So over 6,400 games …….. Okay, cap tip to you then.
VaBravesFan
March 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
Mike Napoli is a powerful hitter but is below average behind the plate. He also see’s plenty of time at 1st base and DH (not better than McCann)
Yadier Molina is the best defensive catcher in baseball, but is coming off his best offensive season which is still worse than McCann worst season…. Also Molina owns a 707 career OPS… (not better than McCann)
Alex Avila has been a full time player for 1 season. Had a really great offensive season and is solid behind the plate. But were talking 1 great season… (Not better than McCann)
Buster Posey didn’t even play last season. But he was the ROY in 2010, Very good hitter and defender. But only 1 season! (Not better than McCann)
Joe Mauer is the highest paid catcher in baseball. But after suffering the major injury he really isn’t a catcher anymore. He’s seen time at 1stbase and DH, has seen his amazing numbers drop a ton. (He was better than McCann, but not anymore)
Miguel Montero is a very solid all around catcher. Coming off a all star season, but is he even close to McCann’s level? I dont think so. He’s only been a everyday player for 3 seasons and 1 of them he missed half the season. (Not better than McCann)
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
Ray: did you not read my comment that we were joking?? Lots of snippety folks on here today.
The Bravenator
March 3rd, 2012
5:31 pm
One ST game is hardly sufficient to render final judgment on a season yet to be played unless it’s for a Braves team owned by LM that no thinking person would pick to finish higher than third and, more likely, fourth in the NL East. Wonder what’s the over/under on the number of times this season the Braves offense will waste a strong effort by the pitching?
Mixxo
March 3rd, 2012
5:32 pm
Samantha -
We’re playing nice now, but wait till the reg. season.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
5:34 pm
ken no i didn’t. My apologies on that part. I was actually talking to a friend of mine that is from va and their kid pitches for the yanks. Another words I was multi-tasking.. and we all know us guys don’t do that well. hahaha
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
5:35 pm
If it is that bad maybe I do not be on here at regular season.
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
5:35 pm
Ray: no problem.
Brad
March 3rd, 2012
5:36 pm
One ST game or not, half the game played by subs and scrubs or not, this team has been offensively challenged for quite a few years now, so it’s understandable why any fan would chime in and make comments on the one hit shutout on this squad.
I love the fact BMac came clean and took a lot of the blame on that collapse they had last year. Watching a guy who was supposed to help lift his team out of the pits continually choke at the plate was tough to watch. At least he realizes how important his collapse was in his teams last September.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 3rd, 2012
5:37 pm
Samantha—
Oh, it gets nasty on here during games sometimes…
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
5:38 pm
Except maybe for Mixxo…he kinda swings both ways some days.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
5:38 pm
Victorino and Rollins went 0-4 combined. oh good, we know now that we do not have to worry about those 2 because they can no longer hit.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
5:40 pm
Samantha, you will learn to gloss over a lot of the comments. Other’s you will read and then you will comment on others.
Mixxo
March 3rd, 2012
5:40 pm
Victorino wants a 5 year deal.
Open up the checkbook Frank!!!!
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
5:40 pm
Hi McFann, Glad to hear from you. How are you?
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
5:42 pm
kenhotlanta, Did I answer your question to your satisfaction?
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
5:42 pm
Does anyone know how Minor and the other pitchers looked?
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 3rd, 2012
5:42 pm
Hi, Samantha! Pretty good, thanks. Just tired from last night…How ’bout you?
Bier Breth
March 3rd, 2012
5:43 pm
Bat: okay, you got me; only 6311 games. Wow, is MY face red.
Fols
March 3rd, 2012
5:43 pm
I couldn’t give a crap about the outcome of these games…just nice to know they are out there warming up for the season! Here we go!
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
5:46 pm
Victorina,, wants a 5 yr deal but he is more concerned about staying in Philly.
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
5:46 pm
Samantha: Yes you did and I said “Thank You”. When did you move to Georgia? I’ve never been to Montana but I’ve heard it is beautiful up there. It’s the final destination in my all-time favorite book “Lonesome Dove”.
Bat Masterson
March 3rd, 2012
5:46 pm
The Godfather Saga on AMC is bullsh*t. Why not just show the movies?
Jimmy
March 3rd, 2012
5:47 pm
Hey people. Game one of ST. No problem. It is not who wins the games, it is about getting a look at the wanna-be’s and getting some reps for the starters. Wins and losses doesn’t matter much at all. Go check out who had the best record in ST and how the season turned out for them.
Samanhta – Glad to se you are back and posting. One word of warning – the in-gamers are ridiculous. Especially, when the season begins. Welcome aboard. This is my second full season.
Triple header on MLB on Dishnet 153 tomorrow. Gonna watch some baseball after church…on the coach. Starts at 1 EST.
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
5:48 pm
I am OK McFann just got to go to work in a little while and do not want to, but got to get money for school.
bustersonly
March 3rd, 2012
5:50 pm
This team looks just like last years team, Hey, wait a minute, it is last years team!
Fols
March 3rd, 2012
5:50 pm
I love reading the in game comments….people will literally crawl out of a cave, log on to post, blast everything Braves but start off by saying they are HUGE fans and then disappear back into a cave. It’s a sight to be seen!
Jimmy
March 3rd, 2012
5:50 pm
Bat – You got the storms yet?
We had a tornado about ten miles from the house. We’ve had over 3 inches of rain so far and it is still raining.
Should push through Florida tonight / in the morning.
nolie
March 3rd, 2012
5:52 pm
I think that disappointment burns most brightly in the passionate fan…
BS, some can handle it maturely and some whine and cry like a baby. don’t flatter yourself that your childish actions make you a bigger fan cause that is crap
Rubin Hood
March 3rd, 2012
5:52 pm
Braves start 2012 Grapefruit League like they finished in 2011, NO HITTING! Isn’t hitting supposed to be ahead of pitching the first several weeks? GET READY FOR A LONG SEASON BRAVES FANS.
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
5:54 pm
kenhotlanta, I moved here the 15th of Feb, where I could find work before school starts. Montana is the most beautiful place in the world. God lives there. Did not really want to, but because of some bad situations and wanting to go to Georgia Tech. I had to.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 3rd, 2012
5:54 pm
Samantha—
Ah, yeah…Money always comes in handy…
Fols
March 3rd, 2012
5:56 pm
The people that complain about the first ST game…are the same idiots that believe that they really are the Lucky Visitor to visit this web-site and love to hear that CONGRATULATIONS YOU WON!
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
5:56 pm
Samantha: good luck to you, I hope everything works out and enjoy the blog.
Bat Masterson
March 3rd, 2012
5:57 pm
Jimmy_
Well I’m glad to hear it missed you. These storms have been hell on people. Yeah the rain started getting heavy before dawn, I had to drive over to Destin this morning to meet my brother and I could barely see. Still raining………. Keep your head down.
Jimmy
March 3rd, 2012
6:01 pm
Fols – Yeap, they are Huge Brave Fans, aren’t they?
I like reading them too…the next day. During the game I get to pi$$ed off if I’m involved. That’s must games, mind you.
Some games I am on here until it gets too stupid.
The game is on when Fish Bisch does her “owns us” thing. That’s when I go to TV..if at home.
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
6:03 pm
Bat: Hey, good to see you again. I hope your family is better, my prayers are with them.
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
6:03 pm
I really want to tell everyone here how appreciative I am. I landed here with a broken heart and no friends and everyone of you have made me feel better.
Jimmy
March 3rd, 2012
6:05 pm
Bat – Yeah, the twister hit near a small town called Lakeland. I hear no one was seriously hurt, but some home destroyed and local hospital damaged.
Bryce Harper 1-3. I think he makes the Nats out of ST this year. If he can produce, why keep him down/ His age?
Yount was playing at 18.
Bat Masterson
March 3rd, 2012
6:06 pm
Ken_
They are much appreciated. Things are better, thanks. Good to see you all, too.
Fols
March 3rd, 2012
6:07 pm
This blog has a lot of regulars…but during a game…I think they know not to bother! lol
Scottbravesfan
March 3rd, 2012
6:07 pm
Tony LaRussa,
Fangraphs have McCann as the second best defensive catcher in baseball behind only Molina. They take into account blocked balls and don’t just rely on throwing runners out which is mostly pitcher dependent.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
6:08 pm
I think they will keep Harper down til I think its May 25 only because this buys them an extra year before free agency.
Bat Masterson
March 3rd, 2012
6:08 pm
I read someone comparing B. Harper to Al Kaline the other. Something about Kaline winning a batting title at 20, I think.
bustersonly
March 3rd, 2012
6:09 pm
Bryce Harper equaled the braves entire output today.
Jimmy
March 3rd, 2012
6:09 pm
Samantha – FF is my favorite Brave too. Different reasons maybe, but of all the Braves, he’s my favorite.
Anyone have a MLB (153) schedule and know when the Braves might be on? The thing about ST, most games are day games. I can only catch them on Friday-Sunday. Still, watched some of the Phils-Yanks game today. Not impressed…but it is baseball.
bustersonly
March 3rd, 2012
6:10 pm
Ray, you sound like Wren and Co, Nats won’t do that.
bustersonly
March 3rd, 2012
6:13 pm
Jimmy, braves won’t be on until Mar 9th, must be a day off for the Yankees.
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
6:14 pm
Samantha, good rule of thumb: Never blog or even read the blog in-game…it’s a whole different world filled with folks who only come out of their house once a year for county fairs and Walmarts. I did it today just as a lark.
Jimmy
March 3rd, 2012
6:14 pm
Ray – Yeah, I read that too. I think the date actually changes on a percentage basis. I really don’t understand how that works, but that May date is the basis.
Still, if he is producing, I’d play him. We all know he will be a Yankee at first chance. At least, that is what he wants. Heard him say that during an interview.
Of course, he is just a kid. I’m glad no one has any quotes from me when I was his age.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
March 3rd, 2012
6:15 pm
The M’s and Orioles will finish with better records this year than our no hitting Bravos.
nolie
March 3rd, 2012
6:15 pm
hey, I ♥ WalMart….
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
March 3rd, 2012
6:17 pm
FIRE THE ENTIRE BRAVES TEAM!
Bat Masterson
March 3rd, 2012
6:17 pm
So was Heyward’s first ab a rope to second or a bloop?
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
6:18 pm
I hate Walmart, but sometimes I am forced to shop there.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
March 3rd, 2012
6:19 pm
Wal Mart is awesome! You might actually count a full set of teeth in that place on a late Wednesday night.
Jimmy
March 3rd, 2012
6:20 pm
busteronly @ 6:13
You are so right. I honestly can’t believe the opener in the Mariners and the A’s in Japan.
I can envision a Red Sox – Yankees opening series at Wembley in a few years (if Wembley can be converted for baseball). I know the Red Sox and Liverpool F.C. are owned by the same group. Mega fallout for ESPN / YES / NESN / Sky Sports.
nolie
March 3rd, 2012
6:20 pm
I fail to see why so many hate WalMart, in a small town a Super Styore is the cat’s meow. huge selection, cheaper prices. Just go early in the am or late at night
iTiSi
March 3rd, 2012
6:21 pm
The Boston RedSox beat Northeastern U today 25-0, and unlike the Braves sounds like they were mad and out to prove something BY AT LEAST HITTING THE STUPID BALL!!!!!!!!! The Braves were the only team with just one hit in all the games today. NU EVEN GOT 3 HITS OFF BOSTON!
FG apparently forgot to tell the Braves this was a spring training game, and not the last game of the season.
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
6:21 pm
Especially the ones in the North Georgia Mountains.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
March 3rd, 2012
6:21 pm
I love Wal Mart except the ones in north Ga, ken. Those people are eerie looking.
Jimmy
March 3rd, 2012
6:21 pm
Catch you good folks later. Be safe and good. (or choose one).
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
March 3rd, 2012
6:23 pm
ESP, ken. We’re thinking exactly alike. Scared yet?
Samantha
March 3rd, 2012
6:24 pm
OK,everyone, time to eat and take a long hot shower and head that way. Hope I will have your friehdship tomorrow. So long for now. Have a good nite everyone.
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
6:26 pm
nolie: with me, it’s personal. I owned a business many years ago in a small town, and then Walmart opened and put most of the Mom and Pop stores like mine out of business within 6 months. It’s what they do and one reason for their success, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. They were selling the same thing as me for about 1/2 of my costs, and they normally did not sell many of those items at all, and when I closed my business, they quit carrying those specific items. Cutthroat at it’s worst.
Stinger2
March 3rd, 2012
6:28 pm
Why would anyone who knows the least bit about MLB make such negative comments because the Braves lose the first ST game. My answer is they either just like to be a wise …, or just want someone to take time to reply to their silly comments, may like to make real fans mad or finally, just want to sound stupid. Can anyone think or other reasons?
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
6:28 pm
Brian: That’s my family you’re talking about. We know where you live on top of that mountain.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
6:31 pm
buster, don’t be surprised if the Nat’s do that. Have the kid down for approximately 40 days and then bring him up. This is the same team that says right now that once Strasberg hits his innings limit they are shutting him down for the rest of the year no matter where they are in the standings.
UKUGA
March 3rd, 2012
6:31 pm
I think know is a good time for that Ricky Henderson quote about the bubble gum card.
http://www.listafterlist.com/tabid/57/listid/12401/Sports++Recreation/Opening+Day+Baseball+Quotes.aspx
UKUGA
March 3rd, 2012
6:32 pm
You know, 25 years ago, pretty much no one knew anything about what happened in the first spring training game of the year.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
Ricky might have been the first athlete to talk in the 3rd person. My goal is to come up with a way to refer to myself in the 4th person.
kenhotlanta
March 3rd, 2012
6:37 pm
nolie: Do you get the feeling that every time someone throws her some rope, she comes back with a snare trap? I would be careful, very careful.
reckingball
March 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
Walmart is the Evil Empire.
Ralph
March 3rd, 2012
6:40 pm
I see no reason to beleive the braves will do any better this year than last year since the have the same team and the other teams in our division have gotten better, might as well get use to one hit shut outs now instead of waiting until september.
Disgusted
March 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
“This year would be the time to trade McCann. There’s no way the Braves can or should re-sign him. You use the player on the roster with the biggest trade value and shore up the other holes in the lineup. They have David Ross as the stop gap. And this year’s team will not finish higher than 3rd, at best.”
Interesting points Harry Doyle–I might think of doing that if its around the July 31st deadline and the Braves are ten games out. Perhaps B Mac brings in a decent return. If they are in contention, forget it, you go for it and pursue being the best you can be for now.
Ross is an excellent number 2 man, but as the everyday catcher in a position to catch 125-130 games, that is asking too much. Bettancourt is not ready and might not be until 2014.
I would rather lose him for picks than make another move like Texiera for Kotchman and Marek.
Sadly, this organization is probably not going to keep and pay anybody.
The pressure is on the system to keep them competitive and fortunately, there are young pitchers who will be under team control and keep this team from falling totally into the sewer.
How much longer the system can sustain this, anybody;s guess. And they have developed two young players in Heyward and Freeman with possibly Pastornicky making this a third yr a rookie cracks the lineup.
This development must be sustained with Liberty Media around.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
6:45 pm
How funny and annoying would be if a mlb player in an interview at the end of the game talked like a nascar driver. yeah I felt pretty good today going 2 for 3 with the Louisville Slugger 33 inch and franklin batting gloves and was able to make some pretty good defensive plays with the Spalding Pro Model Series glove. I want to thank the entire team, New balance spikes and Nike wrist bands. Today was a pretty good day. I felt good at the plate.
ncgary
March 3rd, 2012
6:47 pm
well we start the season off on a sour note
but things could be worse, we could own a
100 billion dollar international space station
and lose the security codes for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW8vRFJ-qJw
Larry
March 3rd, 2012
6:47 pm
Get used to games like today. When you have a manager that adds another free swinging guess hitter (Diaz) in a starting lineup of mostly free swinging guess hitters you will get many “0 for’s” in many games. Then every or then these guy’s bats will find the baseball in a game or two and all the pork rind goobers on here will jump with joy and spill their Schlitz Malt Liquor on their key boards telling us how great they are.
Fruiti had it right for about a month last season when he had both Bourne and Costanza in the lineup every day. But then Costanza hurts himself hustling to first base (Chipper does this once or twice a year) and Fruiti never lets him back in the lineup–see September results.
I can’t wait for the 2013 Spring Training when after finishing 3rd or 4th we get a MLB quality Manager.
And who wants to bet now that Chipper knows he can get paid another year he will play in 123 games to trigger the automatic renewal? He now has an incentive to suit up and play with an ingrown toenail.
reckingball
March 3rd, 2012
6:50 pm
I thought that it was the 1st pre-season game.
Ralph
March 3rd, 2012
6:52 pm
You got it right Larry!
Ralph
March 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
No reckingball, it was a re-run of the last game of last season.
Ralph
March 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
No reckingball, it was a re-run of the last game of last season.
Ray
March 3rd, 2012
7:03 pm
Wow.. .way to kill the blog with your over the top negativity