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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,420 comments Add your comment
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
5:20 pm
Mike Trout is 20.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:22 pm
yeah, he’s been a disappointment to some extent, life if full of the damn things…..
Murph
May 30th, 2012
5:25 pm
Or a one line mention in the game summary saying “He hit a single and scored a run on a wild pitch.”
Given how the team has played over the past 2 weeks I’d say just about every run is something to celebrate.
When they get back to scoring 8 or 9 a game, then it’s ok to take them for granted. Right now, though? Gotta hoot and holler for every run scraped, scratched, and clawed together.
Murph
May 30th, 2012
5:26 pm
Dis-ap-point-ment (disəˈpointmənt): The feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations.
All this time I thought my mom was complimenting me.
Thanks.
willie g hates the barves
May 30th, 2012
5:26 pm
the next losing streak starts tonight!
beachcomber
May 30th, 2012
5:27 pm
Nolie – There were a number of my shows cancelled this year and a bunch of crap kept.
Same here, but losing Harry hurt the most.
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
5:27 pm
.253/.357/.426, 114 OPS+ with above average defense at ages 20-22 is on the right path.
Then he is headed in the wrong direction…
_____J.H_G.S
2010 131 118
2011 094 141
2012 105 151
Totl 114 135
Giancarlo Stanton was expected to be less than Heyward by all the reasonable people. Stanton is the same exact age as Heyward.
willie g hates liberty media
May 30th, 2012
5:28 pm
this team needs to just pack its bags and move to lost vegas
Lew
May 30th, 2012
5:28 pm
Yes, by all means, let’s turn it into a headline.
“AAAA player hits single and scores on a wild pitch. Braves win for first time in nine games”
And, of course, we’ll just forget about the two Home Runs that contributed 4/5 of those runs that we are hooting and hollering for.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
5:28 pm
nolie yeah, he’s been a disappointment to some extent, life if full of the [dang] things…
Right. Like when you’re going to get a rent-a-car, and you’d REALLY LIKE it if they gave you a Honda CRV, but instead you ride home in a Nissan Altima…
(Not that the Nissan was a bad car, mind you, but Honda CRV’s are just so…SHARP looking…like, they’re just sitting there, shouting, “Learn how to drive already so someday you cann own me!!”…)
Anyway…
willie g hates liberty media
May 30th, 2012
5:29 pm
freddie gonzales needs to be FIRED! HE WONT TAKE UP FOR HIS PLAYERS !
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
5:30 pm
Freeman in his much-chronicled new glasses, which have correction all the way to the edges for good periphery vision when hitting. Yet won’t fog like goggles would in heat and humidity here.
http://yfrog.com/estkgvnj
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
5:30 pm
now we know what to get mcfannfor her 16th birthday
haha
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
5:30 pm
McFann _
You still don’t have a drivers license?
Fredi
May 30th, 2012
5:31 pm
As long as the guys wait until the postseason to start swinging at pitches in the dirt, I’m good.
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
5:32 pm
Gosh, I’m always elated to get an Altima when I rent a car. I usually get some sardine can made by Ford or Chevrolet.
JustSayin
May 30th, 2012
5:33 pm
Lew 5;17
JustSayin
May 30th, 2012
5:33 pm
Lew 5;17
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
5:34 pm
TennesseePaul, you want to bet who ends up having the better career? Because it’s still way too early to say Stanton will, especially considering that they haven’t been all that far apart in terms of overall value. In fact, some metrics have Heyward as more valuable so far in their young careers. Oh, but that’s only those metrics that actually measure things related to outs, bases, creating and preventing runs, the type stuff that pretty much all front offices pay attention to these days. They aren’t the stats that are spoon-fed to us on the backs of baseball cards and on TV graphics.
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
5:35 pm
scoots,
I call your CBI, and raise you a Posnanski:
“the stuff, the guts, the pluck, the spirit, the moxie, the cojones, the courage, the bravery, the backbone, the grit, the fire, the fearlessness, the toughness, the determination, the audacity, the boldness, the spine, the mettle, the heroism and the nerve”
Murph
May 30th, 2012
5:35 pm
Lew, I’ve got $1, that’s right, a whole dollar, that says Constanza does something to help the team win again tonight.
In fact, I’ll bet $1 for every night he’s in the starting lineup that he’ll do something on offense to help the team win.
Like him or not, when he’s in the starting lineup, he somehow manages to figure out a way to do something productive, despite his lack of ability.
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
5:37 pm
Let me guess what’s coming next: “I can’t trust any stat that indicates that Heyward has been better than Stanton so far in their careers.”
Yes. Just like I can’t trust anything that indicates I don’t look like Brad Pitt and am married to Angelina.
Don’t work backwards based on the results you want when looking at metrics. Look at the ones that measure things that are meaningful to baseball.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
5:37 pm
Braves plan to keep extra catcher through Nationals series, then replace with a pitcher (provided Ross has no setbacks).
Delgado will be available out of bullpen at Washington, and if Braves use him they’d skip his scheduled turn Tuesday at Miami (which they can do with the off day in schedule Monday).
As for skipping Minor on Friday, I asked Fredi and he said wasn’t discussed because they planned to give starters an extra day of rest. (But if they use Delgado this weekend out of ‘pen, that plan is altered.)
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
5:37 pm
Credit where credit is due? OK.
He hit a single and scored a run on a wild pitch.
I’ll give him more credit than that. He advanced to second because the pitcher was worried about him stealing second and made a bad pickoff throw. Constanza to second on that play. Bourn hits a normal fly ball to CF. Constanza tags up and moves to third. He then scores on the wild pitch/passed ball.
How many other Braves have that skill set?
Oh, and the Braves won by one.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
5:37 pm
What are the stats that measure whether, or not, a guy hurts his shoulder? Screws up his swing? Gets it back? Or not?
Murph
May 30th, 2012
5:39 pm
TennesseePaul, you want to bet who ends up having the better career?
I do! Name your price, any price, and I’ll take that bet.
Stanton my not turn out to be a HoF player, but I’d be more than willing to bet he ends up with better numbers at the end of his career than Heyward.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:40 pm
the pitchers will start pounding him with fastballs and he’ll go down in flames again just like last season, or not. Who knows?
flange1
May 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
I can see Shaun as he pulls into the drive way at night saying to his lady:
Yep, showed those stone age throw backs a thing or two on the old blog today!
Won another 5 debates! I am teaching these Neaderthals so much, if they will only listen..
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
Murph, are we talking actual performance or pure numbers? Because I don’t know that I want to bet who will rack up the most RBI or homeruns. I know what kind of f-ed up numbers most of you value and many of them do a horrible job measuring performance and actual value.
John
May 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
DOB
Thanks for all of your great work.
RHR
May 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
4:50 pm
Rob has gone from “is Heyward hurt, DOB?” to send him down.
No way! Wow. Things really have changed here.
My 2 cents – JHey is still very young. I still think he’s a few years away from his best years.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:44 pm
actual performance of course not including meaningless homers and ribbies….
RHR
May 30th, 2012
5:45 pm
Lew 5;17
Is that a bible verse?
Murph
May 30th, 2012
5:46 pm
Shaun, we can keep the bet as simple as you’d like. Pick a few raw stats that you think are good measuring sticks for a player’s career… no percentages or anything that has to be figured out with multiplication/division/square roots/etc. Just some pure, raw stats. Hits, walks, total bases, whatever.
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
5:47 pm
Good stuff here: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/24975/24975
Franchise Player Draft: 2011 in review from ESPN’s SweetSpot Blog
“The question is simple: If you were starting a franchise and could pick any player in baseball, who would you pick? Ignore contracts, current or future. Ignore current team. Think only of ability, position and age. Who do you build around?”
MikeInFl
May 30th, 2012
5:47 pm
Shaun, it’s all so simple but you must complicate it.
Heyward was great his rookie year, but in 650 or so plate appearances since then, he has been mediocre at best. And yes, that’s disappointing from a guy who had (has) star potential written all over him.
Yes, his overall value has been similar to that of Stanton, but they’ve been going completely opposite directions since the start of 2011.
I’m a Heyward fan and defender, and am perfectly willing to be patient while he (hopefully) develops into more than a middle-of -the road RF … but I’m not so blinded as to ignore the fact that since his rookie season, his performance has been disappointing.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:49 pm
but percentages are what really count,counting numbers are too easily affected by outside influences….
gotta go OPS, thats what the real GMs use so the armchair GMs should follow suit
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
5:51 pm
I can see Shaun as he pulls into the drive way at night saying to his lady:
Not sure what’s more unrealistic Shaun having his own driveway and not living in a basement or him having a lady!!
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
5:52 pm
Murph, some version of WAR is probably the best way to go, to account for every aspect of the game, but also find a way to take into account peak versus career value. It’s sort of ridiculous to say a guy who hung around for 5-10 mediocre-to-below-average seasons and racked up value that way would be better than a guy who was better throughout most of his career and had better peak seasons (ahem…Pete Rose).
Disaffected Braves Fan
May 30th, 2012
5:54 pm
Excellent essay, DOB. And props to you on calling out CAC earlier today. A friend of mine from J-school writes for them and he’s the nicest dude you’d ever want to meet, but too much of their staff comes off as very arrogant and dogmatic. They have some worthy ideas and concepts, but, like too many in the SABR community, they allow their salient points to be obscured by a know-it-all-attitude that turns a lot of people off, I think.
As for Durbin, there’s no question he’s pitching some solid ball right now. However, my fear is Fredi is going to fall in love with him and continue to ride him hard even after he returns to his established career norms. This is a 34-year-old with a career 5.10 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. Sometimes relievers can pitch above their heads for a year or two, but it’s more likely that Durbin will come back down to earth very soon. I hope the Braves view whatever they get from Durbin, but the impending move of Medlen to the rotation is at least an indirect vote of confidence in Durbin going forward, IMO.
No. 1 Braves Fan
May 30th, 2012
5:54 pm
The people posting on DOB blogs seem to be a different crowd from the folks who respond on Braves blogs by Bradley and Schultz. It seems to me that many of the DOB people talk like they are an inner circle and have back and forth posts that are not related to the subject of the blog. I am not complaining just making a personal observation. Would someone tell me if I am right or wrong?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:54 pm
Shaun owns a mansion and is secretly married to Yvonne Strahovski
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
5:54 pm
From what I’ve read, many teams have their own proprietary metrics for players, so they wouldn’t use “Fangraphs WAR” or “Baseball-reference WAR”. In essence, they have their own WAR, and they don’t divulge with the public. I don’t know if the Braves are one of those teams.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:56 pm
who cares No 1?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
5:56 pm
Bat M. You still don’t have a drivers license?
That is correct. And I’ve been old enough for quite some time now (heck, so long, now my Sister’s almost old enough!…). Driving scares the [crud] outta me. I feel I’m WAAAY too easily distracted…scatter-brained, or whathaveyou…
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
5:57 pm
Franchise Player Draft: 2011 in review from ESPN’s SweetSpot Blog it’s 30 picks, 30 players
30 picks, 30 player but Heyward ain’t 1
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:57 pm
Braves are pretty low on the stats vs scouts totem pole, but they do have their own sabergeek, so surely he must have invented his own models, right?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
5:59 pm
Powder Blue I’m always elated to get an Altima when I rent a car. I usually get some sardine can made by Ford or Chevrolet.
Well, yes, I am glad we didn’t have to swap our ride for a Ford……
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
5:59 pm
Would someone tell me if I am right or wrong?
You’re not wrong…. see we are simply better people than those you’ll find on those other blogs. What’s those guys names…. Slutsy and Bwadly
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
6:00 pm
Hudson 0-2 w/ 7.41 ERA, .338 opp average in past 3 starts vs. Cardinals, , including two in ‘11 (none this season). He’s 3-4 w/ 5.59 ERA in 11 career starts against them.
Beltran is 26-for-74 (.351) with four homers against him, Molina is 6-for-12, and Furcal is 7-for-23 with a homer.
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
6:00 pm
The Jamie Moyer experiment is over. DFA’d.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:01 pm
Beltran is 26-for-74 (.351) with four homers against him, Molina is 6-for-12, and Furcal is 7-for-23 with a homer…DOB
BALLGAME!!!!
Murph
May 30th, 2012
6:01 pm
No. 1, the other blog comment sections are kinda like the AJC’s version of the minor leagues. Some come up to big leagues of DOB’s blog and do well, others like Dennis Reynolds are cast off from whence they came ASAP.
I personally skipped the minors and went straight to the bigs. Some, like nolie, would consider me an AAAA commenter, but that doesn’t stop me. I might swing and miss a lot, but when I make contact……. yeah, I usually pop it up. But that STILL doesn’t stop me.
Mister Frisky
May 30th, 2012
6:04 pm
Skid may be over,Braves just resemble a skid mark.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
6:04 pm
McFann_
One of my nephews is about 18 and does not know how to drive. He’s not making any effort to learn either. It seems to scare him, too, which I don’t get at all. Shoot by the time I got a learners permit at 15 I had been driving for years.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:04 pm
nah I think you’re a replacement player…..
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
6:05 pm
Lohse is 1-0 in past three starts vs. Braves despite 5.52 ERA and .365 opp average (two starts in 2010, one in 2009).
Prado 4-for-11 against him, Uggla is 4-for-12, homer, Hinske 6-for-19, and Bourn 6-for-31 (.194). The DL’d Chipper is 6-for-13 w/ a homer.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
6:05 pm
Molina is 6-for-12
Here’s an idea… Don’t throw him a first pitch strike. Throw it in the dirt , throw it above the strike zone hell hit him in the ribs just don’t give him something to hit on the first pitch!!!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:08 pm
no matter when it comes you still hafta throw him that first strike
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
6:13 pm
DOB, are the records for last year and this year swapped in reference to Uggla’s first 51 games? — Blazepunter
Thanks, man. Yes, they were reversed. Should’ve been 28-23 through 51 last year, 27-24 this.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
6:15 pm
Just not on the first pitch of an AB and not a FB.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
6:16 pm
Bat M.—
The intersection down the street from our neighborhood is a nightmare, for one…Also too many wackos on the road—don’t need to add one more!…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:16 pm
so Uggla has actually cost us a game this year. Lou was right, guy is toast……
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:17 pm
Also too many wackos on the road…McF
but, I’m down here in Fla, you are safe from me…
Jim
May 30th, 2012
6:19 pm
Watch JH tonight. Tell me he’s keeping his eye on ball through the swing. It is basic. He does not have to hit the ball to RF to hit it out; he’s strong enough to hit it out to any field – as long as he masters the fundamentals of eye/hand coordination.
Murph
May 30th, 2012
6:20 pm
nah I think you’re a replacement player…..
Damn skippy, and I don’t care who I replaced or who I stepped on to get my spot on the roster.
Time to make my nolie’s 3rd wife and leave. Have fun on the blog tonight!
Go BARVES!!!
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
6:20 pm
Yeah, much different for me McFann.
Country roads, old cars, pick up trucks, driving dune buggies across fields, like that. Good times for a kid.
Murph
May 30th, 2012
6:21 pm
crap… whiffed just like a replacement player would.
Time to make like nolie’s 3rd wife and leave. Like, dammit, like.
Oh well.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
6:23 pm
nolie—
Hmm, that’s true…
Bat M.—
Sounds great…World’s too messed up these days…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:23 pm
AAAA afterall
cowdogit
May 30th, 2012
6:23 pm
Every time they start moving Prado around his batting average takes a nose dive.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
6:23 pm
Where’s cabravesfan, anyway?…
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
6:26 pm
Anyone know what the closest Minor league team to St Augustine FL?
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
6:30 pm
Tonight is where we get swept!
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
6:33 pm
Sure Shaun. It’s just that 2/3 of Heyward’s WAR was achieved in his rookie year, while Stanton has actually gotten better each year. — MikeInFLA
Thought balloon: Hmmm …. how to spin to convince them that the first 46 games of his career and the period four times as long since then are not really much different, or at least that the difference is not important? Oh, I’ve got it. Say those are “arbitrary end points.” Accuse person of “cherry picking stats.” Two of the talking points we discussed at today’s meeting….
Jimmy
May 30th, 2012
6:35 pm
My gosh. I left work two hours ago, got home, checked out the old blog, and Shaun is still at it. I mean…at the same dang thing.
CraZy – Jacksonville Suns. Excellent ballpark. Try to make several games each year.
phil
May 30th, 2012
6:36 pm
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:56 pm
who cares No 1?
*********
nolie is so considerate of the meek newcomer, just trying to stick a toe in the boiling cauldron that is this blog….never to return!
Bryan
May 30th, 2012
6:36 pm
Maybe it’s time to send Fredi down to Gwinnett and see what we can scrape up for the big league team!
Jimmy
May 30th, 2012
6:37 pm
CraZy – I meant “I try to go make several games each year.”
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
6:37 pm
Freddie the nerd. Freakin nerd. Remember Chris Sabo?
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
6:37 pm
McFann-
I’m here…been busy today
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:38 pm
Team City (all in Florida) Stadium Affiliate
Bradenton Marauders Bradenton McKechnie Field Pittsburgh Pirates
Brevard County Manatees Viera Space Coast Stadium Milwaukee Brewers
Charlotte Stone Crabs Port Charlotte Charlotte Sports Park Tampa Bay Rays
Clearwater Threshers Clearwater Bright House Field Philadelphia Phillies
Daytona Cubs Daytona Beach Jackie Robinson Ballpark Chicago Cubs
Dunedin Blue Jays Dunedin Florida Auto Exchange Stadium Toronto Blue Jays
Fort Myers Miracle Fort Myers Hammond Stadium Minnesota Twins
Jupiter Hammerheads Jupiter Roger Dean Stadium Miami Marlins
Lakeland Flying Tigers Lakeland Joker Marchant Stadium Detroit Tigers
Palm Beach Cardinals Jupiter Roger Dean Stadium St. Louis Cardinals
St. Lucie Mets Port St. Lucie Digital Domain Park New York Mets
Tampa Yankees Tampa George M. Steinbrenner Field New York Yankees
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:39 pm
meek newcomer my arse, guy was asking a stirring-the-pot question and knew it
Jimmy
May 30th, 2012
6:40 pm
Nolie – No Jax Suns on your list?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:40 pm
Jupiter maybe CraZy?
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
6:41 pm
See – Chris Sabo. Wasn’t just me
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
6:42 pm
Those specs aren’t bad looking to me. Stylish nerd I should say.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:43 pm
Jax is a different league and not all that close to St Augustine IIRC. I thought one of the other ones might be closer. Not all that familiar with the East Coast.
there is also a Pensacola team I think
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:44 pm
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
6:45 pm
Jimmy just looked and saw Jacksonville is playing the Mississippi Braves the week I’m in St Augustine…. To bad they’re playing in Mississippi though!!!
phil
May 30th, 2012
6:46 pm
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
5:56 pm
Bat M. You still don’t have a drivers license?
That is correct. And I’ve been old enough for quite some time now (heck, so long, now my Sister’s almost old enough!…). Driving scares the [crud] outta me. I feel I’m WAAAY too easily distracted…scatter-brained, or whathaveyou…
*********
hmmmmm
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:47 pm
Is Jax closer than Jupiter?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
6:47 pm
Hi cab! Figgered that was it…
chc4
May 30th, 2012
6:49 pm
Are people actually trying to ignore how disappointing Heyward has been? Up & in fastballs and down & away breaking stuff = easy out. He takes good pitches and swings at garbage. And on the few occasions he gets a fastball in the zone he’s always late. And then the loafing in RF. He’s been a huge disappointment. I don’t get how anyone can argue that. It’s not like he’s a newcomer. He’s had alot of ABs at the major league level. Opposing Ps know how to get him out and he hasn’t adjusted. And it’s been too many ABs to just brush it off as him being young.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
6:49 pm
When we go to Daytona we go to the cubs games, that’s a neat park very old and run down… exactly what a minor league park suppose to be right?? I liked to go to Myrtle Beach to see Pelican games, but when the Braves moved the affiliate to Lynchburg I lost interest in going to Myrtle Beach so we’ve been going to different places in FL the past few years.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
6:50 pm
Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Reds affiliate
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
6:50 pm
Freddie looks sharp in those news glasses. McCann better watch out, McFann might just have a new crush.
phil
May 30th, 2012
6:50 pm
I see all that Heyward hate you bums started earlier today has died down some….
Finally.
Veer
May 30th, 2012
6:54 pm
Minor should be skipped for next start. Gerrain should be up.
We win today then we take momentum into Washington down by 2 games and then we play the Marlins. If we play good in next 7 games then i can see us being tied for the division lead.
Mets I wouldn’t worry about. Cheer for them to win aganist other NL opponents because Mets simply don’t have the talent to finish on the top. Their record is suprising.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:54 pm
Wahoos or Yahoos?