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
2,620 comments Add your comment
Venice Jim
April 14th, 2012
11:31 pm
Mathematically, it’s obvious…
Snotboogie
April 14th, 2012
11:35 pm
did you notice that Medlen’s 2nd inning a few days ago was not as good as his first?
Well, EOF’s first inning was all that good the previous time either. So if we are going by the pattern of just 1 previous appearance, its a silly point.
Didnt Fredi go to lengths to explain Medlen’s bullpen role as being important because of the multi-inning thing? Abandon it because of 1 bad inning!
Larry
April 14th, 2012
11:40 pm
Gotta go pinch a loaf. I’m out…….
nolie
April 14th, 2012
11:42 pm
not sure how many times Meds is gonna pitch multiple innings with Livan and Durbin on the roster. I’m sure some, but with Viz gone I expect to see Meds be the guy who gives O’VB a break when needed
Venice Jim
April 14th, 2012
11:51 pm
No, it’s not a silly point. If you are bringing him in within a couple of days it is foolish to expect two innings. I expect you to be less foolish than that…
Venice Jim
April 14th, 2012
11:52 pm
Two inning appearances spaced by a number of days are fine – not something any manager with a modicum of sense does the first week…
uga-brave
April 14th, 2012
11:54 pm
mike minor was awesome tonight. played pitch and chacth.
uga-brave
April 14th, 2012
11:55 pm
catch.
uga-brave
April 14th, 2012
11:57 pm
mike minor was awesome tonight.
Carroll Rogers
April 14th, 2012
11:59 pm
postgame quotes are up
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/04/14/braves-postgame-quotes-after-saturdays-win-over-brewers/
Carroll Rogers
April 15th, 2012
12:04 am
nite good folks.
cabravesfan
April 15th, 2012
12:07 am
Thanks Carroll! Good night!
2011 again?
April 15th, 2012
12:17 am
I know its early and I hope not but is Freeman this years Heyward? He is striking out a lot…
Venice Jim
April 15th, 2012
12:21 am
Absolutely – within 8 games everything for the rest of the year is incredibly clear…
2011 again?
April 15th, 2012
12:24 am
I dont mean it as he wont be a good player.. Just the Braves are so cheap and put a lot of pressure on these young kids to produce.. Heyward looks so much more confident this year so far!!!
The A Bomb
April 15th, 2012
12:29 am
Minor’s location tonight was spot on… worthy of a No. 1 pick. Probably never will be the ace of the staff, but a solid 3-4 guy and if you get this out of Minor 5-7 times a year it will keep the Braves in contention.
Woody Woodward
April 15th, 2012
1:25 am
Can O’flaherty duplicate last year’s performance?
keylargo
April 15th, 2012
2:25 am
It’ll be a while until he gets that ERA under 1 again.
richbrave
April 15th, 2012
2:26 am
Yeah. prolly into next season
Mitchell
April 15th, 2012
2:40 am
Sorry to my fellow bloggers for being away Opening Night on Friday but the world’s biggest Braves hater had to go support his team.
So there.
And we got a win, and unfortunately I missed tonight’s (last night) game but I did see the 9th which sucked and then became awesome.
Can’t believe I missed a Braves pitcher go more than six innings. That’s like a once in a lifetime occurance.
Mike Minor’s my boy though. Hopefully we see more of that in the near future.
Safe to say, disaster effectively diverted. The Braves were perilously close to disqualifying themselves for the playoffs. For real though.
Two more losses and it would have been ovah! No team has ever overcome an 0-6 start and made the playoffs.
Zero. Doesn’t matter how good the Red Sox were for the majority of the 2011 season.
Didn’t make it.
The Braves odds have gone up considerably.
Winning is better than losing. That’s just me right there.
richbrave
April 15th, 2012
2:55 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
MISSISSIPPI
Oh drat. BISCUITS win in 13 – 4-3.
SS AL SIMMONS 2-6, 1 RBI [1], 1 BB, 2 SO.
C MATT KENNELLY [.267 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI [3], 1 BB.
3B BARRETT KLEINKNECHT [.133 BA] 1-5, 1 2B [2], 1 RBI [2], 1 BB, 1 SO.
2B PHIL GOSSELIN [.289 BA] 1-5, 1 BB, 1 SO.
CF L.V. WARE [.273 BA] 2-6, 1 CS [1].
DH JOE LEONARD [.282 BA] 1-5, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB [3].
LHSP CHRIS MASTERS [4.82 ERA] 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 HR, 3 R/ER, 3 BB, 2 SO.
RHRP GARY MORAN [0.87 ERA] 5.0 IP, 3 H, zeros, 1 BB, 4 SO. Marvelous job in long relief.
RHRP CORY RASMUS [0.00 ERA] 2.0 IP, pristine with 4 SO. RASMUS has been dominating in early season going.
LHRP CHRIS JONES [L 0-1, 5.68 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R/ER, 1 SO.
richbrave
April 15th, 2012
2:57 am
MITCHELL:
Correct-a-mundo there chief-a-rooney! “Winning is better than losing.” BULL DURHAM.
richbrave
April 15th, 2012
2:59 am
Too early in the a.m. for an old man. SIMMONS .400 BA currently.
Longarm
April 15th, 2012
3:01 am
Great looking uniforms. They need to wear them full time.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
April 15th, 2012
3:03 am
The A Bomb
April 15th, 2012
12:29 am
Minor’s location tonight was spot on… worthy of a No. 1 pick. Probably never will be the ace of the staff, but a solid 3-4 guy and if you get this out of Minor 5-7 times a year it will keep the Braves in contention.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Another sad underestimation of the talent garnered in Mike Minor. As Minor’s best pitch is still his fastball at this point in his career. His heater regularly sits at 91-93 but it’s Minor’s pin point control and accuracy, which distinctly reminds me of another young underrated lefty early in his career.
That kid’s name…..Tom Glavine. Although, Glavine’s best pitch was his change up at the start of Tommy’s pitching career. So their repertoire is different. However, the similarities are startling. Both are of course lefty’s, both feature solid command of four pitches, both have that stone cold demeanor on the mound, and last but not least. Excellent command of the strike zone.
Neither Glavine or Minor throw particularly hard and they don’t have too, as both rely on their ability to paint the corners. Which is why Glavine was underrated at the start of his career, and so is Minor.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
April 15th, 2012
3:08 am
And before anybody gets excited…..may I remind you of our 4-4 record. Zero is where we are at in reality. Winning later on today is imperative, as getting over the .500 hump and staying their only gets more difficult.
richbrave
April 15th, 2012
3:23 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
LYNCHBURG
A winner 6-4.
RHSP J.R. GRAHAM [W 2-0, 4.09 ERA] 6.0 IP, 4 H. 1 HR, 3 R/ER, 4 BB, 6 SO. J.R.’s young and wild, but he’s got the goods.
RHRP ANDY WILSON [H 2, 1.69 ERA] 2.0 IP, 4 SO. ANDY has been outstanding this season in four relief appearances.
LHRP MATT CHAFEE [SV 2, 16.88 ERA] 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 SO. He’s struggling, and last night’s work didn’t help his era much, but he’s a lefty so the BRAVES will cut him plenty of slack.
2B TOMMY LaSTELLA [.357 BA] 2-4, 1 2B [2], 3 RBI [12], 1 SB [2]. Unconscious at the plate this season. Leads all minor league BRAVES in RBI to this point. The straw that stirs LUIS SALAZAR’s drink.
RF KYLE ROSE [.286 BA] 2-4, 2 R, 2 2B [2], 1 SO.
SS NICK AHMED [.303 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI [3], 1 SB [5].
Lead-off CF MATT LIPKA [.265 BA] 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR [1], 1 RBI [1], 1 SO.
LF ROBBY HEFFLINGER [.429 BA] 1-4, 2 SO.
veer
April 15th, 2012
3:50 am
Minor is a very good pitcher and a lot of you here don’t belive that because of how the management handled him over the last few years. He was constantly being sent down and brought up and this created an illusion that he wasn’t good enough. He also had to battle last year and this year for starters spot. He shouldn;t have been battling Teheran or Delgado. Those two are not even in the same league as Minor. You can undersand why Minor wanted a trade if he wasnt going to make it as a starter this spring. The guy knows he is good and I always belived in Minor
He has a ceiling of being a number 2 starter. Minor probably has same ceiling as Tommy Hanson.
richbrave
April 15th, 2012
3:52 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
ROME
Loss 5-8.
LHSP CARLOS ‘Wild-Thang’ PEREZ [L 0-1, 7.04 ERA] certainly lived up to his rep last night. He gave up 9 H, 6 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 SO in 3.2 IP.
RHRP and DSL grad ERNESTO SILVERA [2.75 ERA] 3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 4 SO. Not terrible, not great. BRAVES management many have found his limit in long relief at three innings because he breezed through three.
RHRP COLE ROHRBAUGH [0.00 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H and clean. COLE is finally injury free and showing it. Outstanding relief work to this point in three outings.
RHRP WILSON RIVERA [6.00 ERA] 1.0 IP, zeros 2 BB, 2 SO. Nice outing.
Lead-off 2B LOGAN ROBBINS [.286 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB [4], 1 CS [1].
3B KYLE KUBITZA [.250 BA] 2-5, 1 3B [2], 1 RBI [5], 1 SO.
1B ‘Billy Beck’ BECKWITH [.313 BA] 2-4, 1 2B [3], 1 RBI [5].
RF CHASE LARRSON [.280 BA] 1-4, 1 R. Steady at the plate and in the field all season.
CF FELIX MARTE [.286 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B [2], 2 SO.
SS FERNANDO de los SANTOS [.150 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR [1], 3 RBI [3].
richbrave
April 15th, 2012
4:28 am
“So I gotta’ get up early in the morning…….” The GAP BAND
Red Wolf
April 15th, 2012
7:01 am
3 stars of the game: 1 – Mike Minor for pitching a gem, 2 – Juan (not to be confused with Don) Francisco for hammering the game-winning double, and 3 – Umpire Bill Welke for his kick save (and a beauty) allowing McCann to chug home. As for the offense, once again MIA (and I don’t mean weekending in South Beach).
Couch Tater
April 15th, 2012
7:29 am
“They say you’ve got to have 30-plus starts before you can become a major league pitcher, and he’s getting close now and you’re seeing that.”
I guess, this is why it’s hard for me to get enthused about prospects. I would like to see the “before 30 /after 30″ stats. What about batters? When are batters iced? Twice through the league? Thrice? Qui..Quai…uh..4?
bravesgrl4life
April 15th, 2012
7:49 am
So glad the game is on FSS today so I can watch. I am really hating on Peachtree and Dish right now. But hubby says no to a switch to DirecTV. There is a ceiling of 2 months – those two don’t get it worked out, and I will be switching. Especially if I can’t get Peachtree on an antenna out here in Dville (I live in a valley area of my ‘hood, so it might not work). Would switch to Xfinity, but while their online chat computer tells me that it confirmed service is available in my ‘hood, their phone sales staff says no.
athensmatt
April 15th, 2012
8:30 am
DOB,
Do you think Kimbrel will be made unavailable this afternoon? Considering that he’s pitched four games in a row, his performance last night included two walks and a hit (along with a well-hit ball by Corey Hart for the first out), the Braves have already won the series, and the Braves don’t have a day off for another week and a half, I think Fredi should give him a rest. It’d be nice if the offense can make it a non-save situation. Thanks.
don sutton's poodle perm
April 15th, 2012
8:49 am
fire fredo
fandom
April 15th, 2012
8:50 am
kawakami will not be traded.
ARE U KIDDING ME????
April 15th, 2012
9:07 am
Enter your comments here
Lew
April 15th, 2012
9:08 am
Don’t care what rationale the scorers used – That unearned run was Venters’. He put that partiular runner on base. Period. Moot point maybe, but let’s get it right. The Dude Minor put on was already out a play before that Fielders’ Choice – no way it could belong to MInor.
ARE U KIDDING ME????
April 15th, 2012
9:12 am
why put up with another might/maybe/hope-so/i think-he-might/can he?/please play/my toe hurts/gotta hang nail/ hemmroids hurt/hang-nail hurt/ toe boken/ maybe pinch-hit ……….
You get the picture.
They need to go ahead and stuff Chipper now. I mean come on.Get out on the field or call it quits.
Time to move on.
Lew
April 15th, 2012
9:26 am
Yet another damned fool idiot who seemingly does not realize that if they release Chipper they are still on the hook for his entire salary. But why let facts get in the way of a rant?
Disgusted
April 15th, 2012
9:39 am
If Oswalt is keeping in game shape to sign with someone before the end of the season he might be worth it, but they would have to do their homework.
We really do not know what we are getting from Jurrjens now. And U cannot trade him, other GM’s were probably lowballing Wren this off season, can you imagine what they would be lowballing him now.
By mid season, perhaps we get a consistent six plus IP our of guys like Delgado. Minor was fine last night, the first game was an aberration we hope.
I am not worried about Hanson yet, but he, Huddy and Minor will have to be studs this yr.
And Freeman is a worry right now, hope he is not a soph jinx, but if he does not get it going soon, I don’t know. I am pleased with Heyward to this point.
If these bums had just won two out of three to the lowly Muts they would be 6-2 and looking pretty good.
Every game is a must win. That is what they are paid for, and no matter how good it gets, September should always be in the back of their minds for motivational purposes.
Disgusted
April 15th, 2012
9:44 am
Chipper is still darned good, he cannot play as much as he used to, but he is really not all that far away from what he was a few yrs ago skill wise.
I still say that had he not torn his ACL in 2009 he would have would up with power numbers similar to last yr, maybe even had 20 HR.
If the Braves get what they need from Hudson amd Hanson with development from Minor, there is no neeed for Oswalt.
Just not sure about Delgado yet, but if he given em 150-160 IP with 10 W and a sub 4 ERA, that is about as good as you can expect.
Disgusted
April 15th, 2012
9:52 am
Coach—I don’t know if Minor will have the success Glavine had, but Minor has a better fastball than Glaving had even when Tommy G was young.
The comparision is lofty and understandable but if Minor become a solid number two or three guy I will be happy with him.
The W-L record might not be comparable because of the way the game is managed this day in time, hey, 15 wins is the 21st century version of 20. Guys just do not get the decisions they used to get.
And, Tommy had better teams to work with. Tommy was not quite as good as a Met, though not quite as bad as some NY fans would make him out to be.
ncgary
April 15th, 2012
10:03 am
thank you alex
i will take cookies and cream for a 1000
spread me apart lick me with your tongue,
grab me by my sides and eat my cream.
what did the oreo cookie say to the little boy.
thats correct and that sound means this rounds over
ncgary
April 15th, 2012
10:03 am
thank you alex
i will take cookies and cream for a 1000
spread me apart lick me with your tongue,
grab me by my sides and eat my cream.
what did the oreo cookie say to the little boy.
thats correct and that sound means this rounds over
VaBravesFan
April 15th, 2012
10:21 am
Great to see the Braves battle back going 4-1 in there last 5.
DS1
April 15th, 2012
10:50 am
Not to correct you VA, but I like 4-0 in the last 4 games better!
Actually, we scored an average of 2.5 runs per game in the first 4 games, and since have averaged 6 runs per game. Shows overall what a little runs support will do for you.
Looks like Niese pitched a gem last night for the Mets. Glad we will probably miss him in ATL next week.
Question: What will Sea Bass name his little one? Guppy? Crappie? Bream? Small Mouth Bass?
Russell Bell
April 15th, 2012
10:51 am
I’m hoping that ‘lesser’ arms mop up the late innings of a big Braves win today. Let Kimbrel and Venters get the day off.
Venice Jim
April 15th, 2012
10:55 am
Not to mention 4-0 in their last 4…
David O'Brien
April 15th, 2012
10:56 am
Hey Carroll, if you’re keeping up with the genius comments on here…why can’t you have your own blog? Seriously, we like you a lot and the homophobics among us don’t need to see that picture of DOB on here. — Larry
Now that’s some high-brow commenting right there, folks.
Venice Jim
April 15th, 2012
10:56 am
Sorry – I must not have refreshed as recently as I thought, and Wayne beats me handily…
David O'Brien
April 15th, 2012
10:57 am
Nothing against DOB, but why can’t Carroll get her own page/picture/blog? Really… — Larry
No need to add the “really.” By this point, I think we know you’re serious about this pursuit.
DS1
April 15th, 2012
10:57 am
Whether you liked the 70’s Disco music or not, the reports on Robin Gibb are hard to hear. Hope he pulls through……..
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
April 15th, 2012
10:57 am
DOB, I thought you were married once, to a woman?
DS1
April 15th, 2012
10:58 am
VJ
Just a couple of kool aid drinkers, eh?
Jeff R
April 15th, 2012
11:03 am
the homophobics among us don’t need to see that picture of DOB
– Larry
My unprofessional opinion is that Larry’s phobias range far and wide while his brain ranges short and narrow.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
April 15th, 2012
11:04 am
I’m glad they didn’t trade Minor. I have no clue what he’ll end up being as a big league pitcher, but if you can shut down a lineup like the Brewers for 7 innings …
Bat Masterson
April 15th, 2012
11:04 am
If you are bringing him in within a couple of days it is foolish to expect two innings. I expect you to be less foolish than that…
It may very well be foolish, but at a quick glance, Cox and Fredi both did it several times on back to back nights and several others skipping one day. That’s just Medlen and Venters ……… Maybe it’s a lesson learned deal with Fredi, maybe it’s just after 8 games and means nothing
Samantha
April 15th, 2012
11:05 am
Just popped in to ask a question? This will be my first live game that I have actually been in the park. What do I expect different?
nolie
April 15th, 2012
11:05 am
Minor probably has same ceiling as Tommy Hanson….Veer
ridiculous
Richie
April 15th, 2012
11:06 am
And many people said the Braves should have traded him for Beltran, or a bag of baseballs. I am not surprised how good this kid is becoming. Can’t wait to see more from him. Great start tonight Minor….keep it going kid!
Webster
April 15th, 2012
11:06 am
how close is matt liptka to the bigs?
Venice Jim
April 15th, 2012
11:07 am
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Today’s lineup vs. MIL (1:35, FSS/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Prado 7 Jones 5 McCann 2 Uggla 4 Freeman 3 Heyward 9 Pastornicky 6 Beachy 1
Lew
April 15th, 2012
11:09 am
JeffR said it as well as can be said – but for my two cents? Larry is a freaking moron.
Lew
April 15th, 2012
11:10 am
Really.
JasonInFL
April 15th, 2012
11:10 am
Larry, simple solution really…why don’t you find a different blog?
JasonInFL
April 15th, 2012
11:10 am
Nice, Chipper is in!
nolie
April 15th, 2012
11:11 am
Beltran was a FA, any blogger who talked about trading anybody for him would have been a total idiot dontcha think richie?
Samantha
April 15th, 2012
11:12 am
VJ Can you answer my question? Then I promise I will leave.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
April 15th, 2012
11:13 am
Why is that rediculous, nolie? Damn, a lefty who can throw 93 with a much improving changeup is some good stuff. Hanson is better and probably stays better than MM throughout their careers, but it’s not rediculous to think Minor’s ceiling is same as TH. TH throws 88-90 fastballs now, sometimes, rarely, reaching 92 mph. Not saying velocity is everything, but still. Makes you wonder.
Venice Jim
April 15th, 2012
11:15 am
I haven’t been to Turner Field for four years…
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
April 15th, 2012
11:16 am
Heyward should be hitting 3rd. He’s a perfect 3 hole hitter, especially now that he looks himself again in the box. CJ is fine there though. Old turd can still hit anybody.
brian
April 15th, 2012
11:17 am
DOB – it looks like Carroll has a not so secret admirer
Samantha
April 15th, 2012
11:18 am
I just wondered what to expect different Thanks anyway, GO BRAVES
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
April 15th, 2012
11:19 am
Turner Field in the summer is miserable. No wonder attendance isn’t great. Who wants to sit in a oven and sweat like a hog for 2-3 hours? They should open up the stadium somehow to get some ventilation in there.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
April 15th, 2012
11:22 am
Which makes what McCann does even more special. How in the world does he squat like that with all that gear on through those humid summers in that oven like that?
Chris from the Rock
April 15th, 2012
11:22 am
Fredi’s going for the proverbial jugular today. He’s penciled in the A-squad today. No Diaz, no Ross.
Lew
April 15th, 2012
11:23 am
TnBrian – Got to admit that’s the most unique suggestion to improve attendance – circulation.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
April 15th, 2012
11:30 am
Lew, it being next to the interstates and all the traffic would blow some air in that place. We went to a game last July and I got real light headed sitting there. Of course we were behind their dugout so the sun was right on us. I had to get up and get in the shade or I was going to pass out. My shirt was soaked with sweat. I’m not overweight either. It was redculous how closed in that place is. I’m sure it’s much better than Fulton County stadium was though. That sucker was a round pit with no openings.
nolie
April 15th, 2012
11:36 am
It’s ridiculous
bravedsgrl4life
April 15th, 2012
11:38 am
I try not to go to afternoon games at Turner Field during July and August – the two hottest months of the year. But night games aren’t too bad unless we have 100% humidity. It should not be bad at all today. The huidity is up, but the temps are not too bad.
Lawton
April 15th, 2012
11:42 am
Heyward has certainly shown some good signs so far. But, it his second to last at bat last night, he started pulling his head off the ball and struck out. Did the same thing in his last at bat and popped up a pitch on the outside corner. Nothing to freak out about, but something to keep an eye on.
bravedsgrl4life
April 15th, 2012
11:53 am
Wow, blog is slow leading up to today’s game. No comments in 9 minutes?
cabravesfan
April 15th, 2012
11:54 am
Morning blog
cabravesfan
April 15th, 2012
11:54 am
Bravesgrl4life-
There is a typo in your name, girl
DS1
April 15th, 2012
11:55 am
It’s always cool at Turner Field……………
VaBravesFan
April 15th, 2012
11:56 am
Here is my beef, if Heyward can’t bat 3rd yet, why the hell is Freeman in the spot? He’s clearly gonna have a 2nd year struggle. 33 ABs most on the team BTW, with 13 strikeouts….
bravesgrl4life
April 15th, 2012
11:56 am
Thanks, cab. Trying to type and eat at the same time, I guess. I had to clear my Internet history this morning and it wiped out my name.
DS1
April 15th, 2012
11:57 am
An hour and a half till first pitch………….. sucks waiting. But I am down with my dad in SC and at least I can watch the game on the tellie……….
Last day for free MLB TV for my sons in UT though.
Carroll Rogers
April 15th, 2012
11:58 am
Chipper’s back in today, as you surely know. 1. Bourn CF, 2. Prado LF, 3. Jones 3B, 4. McCann C, 5. Uggla 2B, 6. Freeman 1B, 7. Heyward RF, 8. Pastornicky SS, 9. Beachy P.
DS1
April 15th, 2012
11:58 am
VA
Obviously, the brain trust (hard to write that about Fredi) thinks that Freddie can handle it, and not so sure about J-Hey yet.
Give him time. If he is still hitting in late May, he’ll move up in the lineup.
Lew
April 15th, 2012
11:59 am
TnBRian – Yep, summer in the south can be a bot hot and muggy – no doubt about it. They could put some ceiling fans in under the overhang of the decks, but still…..WTF, the revenue from cold drinks is a positive.
Powder Blue
April 15th, 2012
12:02 pm
Love the new unis. Amazing performance by Minor. Happy belated birthday to Greg Maddux and David Justice.
Lawton
April 15th, 2012
12:14 pm
Freeman is off to a slow start, but, IMO, he does have a more consistent approach at the plate than Heyward. When Heyward is playing well, he is a very high on-base guy which usually equates to a top or middle of the order hitter, but I can understand Fredi having a bit more faith in Freeman at this point. I wouldn’t automatically assume a sophomore slump for Freeman.
VaBravesFan
April 15th, 2012
12:16 pm
When I look at the roster only 2 guys should be batting 3rd and thats Chipper or Heyward, McCann is the 3rd option but we all know his numbers are much better batting 4th or 5th.
interested bystanderss
April 15th, 2012
12:16 pm
Kimbrell pulled a glavin put the big bats on and struck out the others
Lew
April 15th, 2012
12:17 pm
There’s only on thing about Freeman that truly concerns me. The reason I never figured him for a Sophomore Slump was his ability to hit to the opposite field – keeps the pitchers honest. However, IF it is true that they are trying to get him to pull the ball a lot more to gain some extra power, it throws the entire equation out of whack.
Leave the Kid alone – no reason whatsoever to change the way he hits – and let him do what he does well and seemingly comes naturally.
DAM
April 15th, 2012
12:19 pm
I would go ahead and move Heyward up in the order and show him that we have confidence in him.
VaBravesFan
April 15th, 2012
12:21 pm
In 3 of the last 4 games Freeman has K’d 3 outta 4 times at the plate. On the season he’s K’d in almost 40% of his At-bats. Sample size of course, but last season he only struck out 24% of his ABs.
Lawton
April 15th, 2012
12:23 pm
Lew, that is a good point about Freeman working up the middle and to the opposite field. But my hunch is that they want him to stay up the middle but to also have an answer when they pitch him in under the hands consistently.