Skid over, but now important work begins for Braves
Not much time to crank out a blog today, so here are a few observations and facts while thinking how good the Braves must feel knowing they just endured an eight-game losing skid, and have hit just .183 with 29 runs in their past 11 games, yet are still just three games out of first place in the toughest division in the National League and one of the two toughest in the majors.
Home runs by Bourn and Uggla (right) fueled the 5-4 win Tuesday that snapped Braves' eight-game losing skid.
Yes, every team in the NL East has a record above .500 right now, with the Phillies bringing up the rear at 26-25. The Braves are 27-24, three games behind division leader Washington (29-20) and with three games awaiting against the Nationals this weekend in D.C. Three games against the team that just swept them in three at Atlanta.
It goes without saying, there may never be a better time for the Braves to show they can beat a tough division opponent, especially without Chipper Jones in the lineup, than this weekend. Nothing short of a series win is going to sit well with the Braves and their followers, who know the Nationals are even more beat up than the Braves, in terms of key players out for extended stretches.
The Braves should have Freddie Freeman back in the lineup for that series and possibly as soon as tonight against St. Louis, depending how today’s batting practice session goes with the big first baseman wearing his new goggles that were due to arrive today.
Fredi Gonzalez said it might take a day or two for Freeman to get used to hitting in them before he plays a game, but I’ve got to think Freeman, as frustrated as he sounded yesterday by his recent slump and then absence from the lineup for a dry-eye condition that’s rendered his contacts useless for baseball purposes, will try to talk his way into the lineup tonight so he can attempt to help the Braves capture a series win against the Cardinals after being swept by the Reds and Nationals and before they have a day off tomorrow to rest in D.C. before facing Washington.
How much have they missed his bat? Very much. That .183 average in the past 11 games has as much to do with Freeman’s troubles as it does with the absence of anyone including Chipper.
The Braves need a series win at D.C. before they head to Miami for their first series at the Marlins’ new ballpark. In case you’ve missed it, the Marlins (28-22) are are a league-best 20-8 in May and tied with the Mets – the Mets! – for second in the East, only 1-1/2 games behind the Nationals.
Oh, and the only other division in baseball with every team above .500 is the AL East, with Boston in last at 25-24 but only 3-1/2 games out of first. And guess who the Braves face after this tough six-game trip against the Nationals and Marlins? Why, the AL East, of course. They’ll have home series against Toronto, the Yankees and Baltimore, then a road trip to the Bronx and Boston. Fifteen games against AL East teams before getting back into NL play against Arizona on June 26.
The Braves made it through an eight-game skid without losing much ground. But now they’ve got to pick up their performance in every area before this six-game trip followed by 15-game interleague stretch against the other toughest division in baseball.
Even with all the injuries and illness, it’s hard to fathom how the Braves have hit .183 while going 2-9 in their past 11 games, with nary a double-digit hit game in that entire stretch, and three runs or fewer in eight of 11 games. This after they had hit .282 with 202 runs while going 25-11 in their previous 36 games (5.6 runs per game).
And their .183 average in the past 11 games includes 13 hits by Martin Prado. Prado has hit .333 in that stretch, while the rest of the Braves have hit .163. One-sixty-three!
Last night’s 5-4 win, fueled by homers by Michael Bourn and Dan Uggla (a three-run shot) overshadowed the fact that Atlanta had just five hits in the game, to the Cardinals’ 10. The Braves have hit .149 in their past three games, with five hits or fewer in each.
BRAVES LINEUP
- Bourn CF
- Prado 3B
- McCann C
- Uggla 2B
- Freeman 1B
- Heyward RF
- Constanza LF
- Wilson SS
- Hudson P
• Reconsidering Durbin… If you’re one of those who still says “game over” or “waving the white flag” when Chad Durbin enters a game, it’s time to put a moratorium on that until further notice.
Because the simple fact is, he’s been one of the Braves’ top relievers for a while now. Seriously.
Some can’t get past the fact that Durbin, a late addition to the team at the end of spring, gave up nine hits, six runs and three homers in 3 innings in his first three appearances through April 15.
After giving up a homer in each of his first three appearances, Durbin has been solid over his past 20 for the Braves.
But folks, since then Durbin has posted a 2.93 ERA and .170 opp average in 20 appearances, allowed nine hits and five runs in 15-1/3 innings. Yes, as many hits in 20 appearances as he allowed in his first three.
In his past nine scorless appearances, Durbin has allowed just one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts and .053 opponents’ average in 6-1/3 innings.
Big Three update: Closer Craig Kimbrel gave up a run in three consecutive appearances April 29-May 4, but has been back to his overpowering self since. He has allowed no runs, one hit and two walks in seven scoreless innings since then, including including four perfect innings with five strikeouts in his past four appearances
Eric O’Flaherty has allowed no hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 3-2/3 innings over his past five scoreless appearances.
Meanwhile, Jonny Venters has a 6.75 ERA in 13 May games after allowing another run on three consecutive singles Tuesday night. For the month, the lefty has allowed 21 hits, 10 runs (eight earned), three homers, four walks, four HBPs and a .420 opp average with nine strikeouts in 10-2/3 innings.
Last May Venters had a 0.47 ERA in 16 games, allowing 10 hits, one run, seven walks, two HBPs and a .164 opponents’ average with 16 strikeouts in 19 innings.
• Uggs through 51: Uggla’s three-run homer Tuesday was his eight of the season and third with a runner or runners on base. So where do Uggla’s stats stand compared to the same point last season? Glad you asked.
Uggla has hit .262 with a .379 OBP and .454 slugging percentage, with eight homers and 30 RBIs in 51 games.
A year ago through 51 games, he hit 180/.250/.335 with seven homers and and 15 RBIs.
The strikeouts/walks totals are interesting: He has 34 walks and 56 strikeouts through 51 games this season, after totaling 17 walks and 43 strikeouts at the same point a year ago.
The Braves were 28-23 through his first 51 games last season, and 27-24 this year.
• OK, out of time. Let’s close with a classic from Dire Straits, which you can hear by clicking here.
“SULTANS OF SWING” by Dire Straits
You get a shiver in the dark
It’s a rainin’ in the park, but meantime
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
A band is blowin’ Dixie double four time
You feel alright when you hear the music ring…
And now you step inside but you don’t see too many faces
Comin’ in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down
Competition in other places…
Oh but the horns they blowin’ that sound
Way on down south, way on down south London town
You check out Guitar George, he knows all the chords
But he’s strictly rhythm he doesn’t wanna make it cry or sing
They’ve said an old guitar is all he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing
And Harry doesn’t mind, if he doesn’t make the scene
He’s got a daytime job, he’s doin’ alright
He can play the honky tonk like anything
Savin’ it up, Friday night…
With the Sultans… with the Sultans of Swing
And a crowd of young boys they’re fooling around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
They don’t give a damn ’bout any trumpet playing band
It ain’t what they call rock and roll
And the Sultans… yeah the Sultans, they play Creole
Creole baby
Uh huh
And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
‘Goodnight, now it’s time to go home’
And he makes it fast with one more thing
‘We are the Sultans… We are the Sultans of Swing’
by David O’Brien, Braves/MIB blog
2,420 comments Add your comment
brimetime
May 30th, 2012
3:13 pm
go braves!
Jeff R
May 30th, 2012
3:16 pm
Number 2 but I try harder?
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2012
3:17 pm
Thanks, DOB!
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:18 pm
DOB,
Any whispers about thoughts of change at the SS position? Whether it be Wilson getting more PT, or Simmons called up?
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:21 pm
Personally, I hope Freeman gets in the lineup tonight, whether or not he feels 100% comfortable at the plate, if only to get his glove on the field.
brian
May 30th, 2012
3:21 pm
top 10?
Jimmy
May 30th, 2012
3:22 pm
The smell of a fresh blog….and a win.
Where’s Fish Bisch ownage?
Jeff R
May 30th, 2012
3:22 pm
jeff r I think Heyward has to do more than contribute to ” run creation and run prevention” if he wants to be Brave next season. I think Wren expects the same.
maybe you meant to say, jason needs to contribute more on the run PRODUCTION side if he wants to stay.
DAP correct, and I was responding to Shaun’s earlier wonkish post on the previous blog.
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:23 pm
A win tonight would be nice…carry some momentum into the MUCH-NEEDED off-day, and get back to work in Washington.
kdawg1017
May 30th, 2012
3:23 pm
call up simmons
flange1
May 30th, 2012
3:25 pm
Thanks for the new blog DOB!
Let’s kick some Cardinal butt tonite guys!
Blazerpunter
May 30th, 2012
3:25 pm
DOB, are the records for last year and this year swapped in reference to Uggla’s first 51 games?
Great blog, and I would love for the Braves to win 6 to 2 with 12 singles up the middle and maybe mix in a long home-run from Freddie on his return to the line-up!!
Go BRAVES!!
StingerSplash
May 30th, 2012
3:26 pm
Lady Writer on the TV is better.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2012
3:26 pm
But folks, since then Durbin has posted a 2.93 ERA and .170 opp average in 20 appearances, allowed nine hits and five runs in 15-1/3 innings. Yes, as many hits in 20 appearances as he allowed in his first three.
In his past nine scorless appearances, Durbin has allowed just one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts and .053 opponents’ average in 6-1/3 innings.
Ruh roh, looks like we’re on the verge of going out of business, Hillbilly.
JoshTown
May 30th, 2012
3:28 pm
Hopefully the bats start picking up tonight. Good win to hold on last night. Let’s jump out in front early and never look back. Go Braves!
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:28 pm
Freeman’s in. Great!
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
Thanks, David.
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Tonight’s lineup vs. STL (7:10, SPSO/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Prado 5 McCann 2 Uggla 4 Freeman 3 Heyward 9 Constanza 7 Wilson 6 Hudson 1
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Braves lineup: Bourn CF, Prado 3B, McCann C, Uggla 2B, Freeman 1B, Heyward RF, Constanza LF, Wilson SS, Hudson P
phil
May 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
3:25 pm
And, regrettably, Heyward doesn’t stack up either way. He’s been mediocre, at best, since his rookie campaign.
He stacks up fine. He just might not be what some one expects him to be and he’s not a star player but he stacks up just fine with major league rightfielders. That’s the issue. Folks don’t realize he hasn’t been all that much of a disappointment at all. But people expect a guy who gets called up to the majors as a number one prospect to be an all-star caliber player right away. Add to that the fact that some people are over-reliant on stats like batting average and strikeouts and don’t pay as much attention to defensive value as they should, he is even more of a disappointment to some people.
But in reality the Braves can’t ask for much more from a 20-22-year-old, unless they expected him to be one of the very best 20-22-year-olds of all-time. That doesn’t mean he’s been a star. It just means we need to take a step back and realize he hasn’t really been that much of a disappointment at all.
********************
Shaun – You’re hopeless. I’m sorry your signed Wayward shirt, bat and ball are worthless these days, but you wanting to make him not be disappointing won’t get it done.
DAP
May 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
jeff r, i figured as much, and i totally agree. we need him OPSing in the .800s.
Abnerish
May 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
Simmons needs to be our starting SS by June 1st. Unfortunately, I think we saw the best Pastornicky has to offer. Seems like a great kid, but he has limited range, limited arm, and limited skill.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
Fredi Gonzalez is a very mean person.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
[No] Thanks for the lineup, V. Jim and Chief…
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
“Ruh roh, looks like we’re on the verge of going out of business, Hillbilly.”
Never sell low. Give it time. Though, I will say adding Livan to the masthead could be profitable.
phil
May 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
We’re getting the pieces back….someone wake Heyward up and maybe we’ll start tearing it up again.
monty
May 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
The Durbin/Medlen connection isn’t so far fetched after all.
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
McFann, he’s the best hitter we got right now. C’mon. I know he ain’t ideal, but he’s the best we got. I’m goin’ with a “thanks for the lineup, and how ’bout two or three RBI doubles.”
Freeman's White Cane
May 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Freddie, if it sounds like a strike, LET ‘ER RIP!
DAP
May 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
its worth mentioning about heyward, that as late as may 11th, he was OPSing .856. his average was down, but he was getting one base and hitting for power. in 18 games since he has OPSed .571. pretty bad slump.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
Come on, BAS. Wade in on Heyward.
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Wondered the same thing, 4shizzle. Does it have to do with not wanting Wilson to hit 7th? I like Constanza in the 9th spot.
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
3:38 pm
RC, great line earlier that shoulda got more play:
“In other words, every single person who ever speaks in absolutes is a complete idiot. Always.”
Best thing ever posted here. Absolutely.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
Bay Area Steve he’s the best hitter we got right now.
Uuuuuhh…Prado’s AVG is almost 100 points higher than BMac’s…and BMac’s got a career .211 AVG in 67 games (65 starts) oughta the 3 spot…
Freeman was doing fine in the 3-spot until his eyes freaked out, PUT HIM BACK!!!! Great jumpin’ gosh almighty…
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
Friend of mine on FB posted a pic of Freddie in the new glasses. He has a big grin on his face and Mark Bowman tweeted that Freddie came of the field smiling saying “I can(n) see!”
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
3:40 pm
MikeInFl
I put my glasses on last week on the golf course, for the first time. Didn’t help.
I couldn’t read putts before glasses… I think I’d loose a few strokes without glasses. Plus I’d become the most annoying golfer in the world… I’d constantly be asking “did you see where it landed” “where did it go” “is it in the fairway” “it felt good did it go good”!!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
3:40 pm
So I’m still going with “[no] thanks for the lineup, and how about 2 or 3 RBI Doubles”…or and RBI Double and two singles…an RBI Double and one single…and RBI Double and a WALK, I don’t care!!!…
phil
May 30th, 2012
3:42 pm
Let’s hope he can hit too…
archie
May 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
Are we supposed to celebrate the fact that Uggla has gone from awful last year, to mediocre this year? As I recall, he’s paid to be damn good. And a full-season projection of .262 with 24 HR, 90 RBI for an everyday right-handed clean-up batter is not pennant-caliber.
I’m not even talking about his lack-of-range, scatter-arm defense.
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
For a guy like McCann, hitting at a certain spot in the order shouldn’t affect him. And it doesn’t.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
Simmons needs to be our starting SS by June 1st.
No if hes going to be called up they’ll wait until mid June so we’ll have one more year before he can hit arb.
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
3:44 pm
You’ve nailed it, Bat. Forget in, forget the other way. He’s missing middle-middle, straight, 90mph fastballs right now. That means the issue is correctable. We have to keep believin’ in what scoots saw for years, try not to get irritated that it’s not happening immediately, and hope to the baseball gods he figures it out. If he doesn’t become a star, soon, this franchise is in real trouble.
And, of course, we can continue to laugh at Shaun’s assertion that “he hasn’t really been that much of a disappointment at all.”
Ridiculous. Does his OBP keep him from being horrible? Sure. Does his defense elevate his WAR enough that he’s respectable (or top-14, as sad as that is)? OK. But, corner OF is about offense. His hype was about offense. Broken bat doubles and walks are not enough. We need the guy to pummel fastballs. Soon.
phil
May 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
Nicklaus won the ‘86 Masters and couldn’t see the greens from the fairways….
It’s not the eyes.
If I wore 5 pairs of glasses and took lessons daily for 5 years, I’d still stink….
Venice Jim
May 30th, 2012
3:46 pm
Are we supposed to celebrate the fact that Uggla has gone from awful last year, to mediocre this year?
Yeah, just think how much we would have won by if we hadn’t had to deal with his horrible fielding last night…
phil
May 30th, 2012
3:46 pm
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
For a guy like McCann, hitting at a certain spot in the order shouldn’t affect him. And it doesn’t.
*************
Correct…
Because he isn’t hitting at all basically.
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
Thanks for the work DOB.
GO BRAVES!!
Last 9 Starts of the Starting 9
_________AVG__OBP__SLG___OPS_wOBA_L9S9+
Bourn__ .194 .237 .611 0.848 .341 __173
Prado__ .344 .432 .500 0.932 .410 __220
McCann_ .250 .333 .375 0.708 .319 __144
Uggla__ .240 .472 .680 1.152 .476 __289
Freeman .135 .179 .243 0.423 .188 ___43
Heyward .194 .265 .355 0.620 .300 __110
Biff___ .200 .200 .200 0.400 .241 ___39
Wilson_ .171 .194 .171 0.366 .150 ___29
Hudson_ .077 .077 .077 0.154 .130 __-46
flange1
May 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
BAS at 3:44 is dead on….
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
Good report, bg4life. I feel better already.
Give it 10 days. Freeman has another POW, 10’s back, McFann’s happy ’cause her man is down two spots (and hitting), and we’ve all forgotten about these horrible 8 days. Sure thing, right?
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
That link doesn’t have anything about a Dempster/Minor trade.
phil
May 30th, 2012
3:49 pm
I’ve been ok with Dan this year….
After last season’s overall showing, especially the first three months, he looks fine to me for now.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
3:49 pm
BAS, you are right. And the ones on here saying “season over” type stuff will be denying they ever said it.
doc
May 30th, 2012
3:49 pm
hmmm, one win equals skid over? must have been a copy editor making that byline.
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:50 pm
24 HR and 90 RBI is pretty darn good. Remember, the steroid era is over. 30 HR and 100 RBI guys don’t grow on trees anymore.
phil
May 30th, 2012
3:50 pm
Take Prado out of the mix, and the last 9 starts of the starting 9 have been….
Not too good.
Murph
May 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
Man o’ man, if it weren’t for Prado and Uggla, where would this team be? Maybe Uggs and his new found ability to take walks should be hitting higher in the order with Prado there right behind him to knock him around the bases.
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
.620 gets you a 110+. I guess it really is all relative.
And, equal parts awesome and worrisome that Bourn’s at .237/.611.
chc4
May 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Friday’s nights pitching matchup in Washington is Strasburg vs Minor. Sooooooooooooooo that’s a loss. Over/under on Minor gopher balls served up is 4. Sadly it requires alot of thought and consideration.
phil
May 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Some would say that BAS is a hater for being “critical” of the golden child…..
Agree that the 3:44 is an excellent take.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
Nicklaus won the ‘86 Masters and couldn’t see the greens from the fairways….
It’s not the eyes.
If I wore 5 pairs of glasses and took lessons daily for 5 years, I’d still stink….
I went from a player that consistantly shot between 76-85 to a player that has shot anywhere from 72-80 since getting glasses, but I guess if I had caddie with me to read my putts like he did I wouldn’t need them either! Enough with the golf talk anyway
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
May 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
Fredi going back to pitcher hitting 9th, because Huddy can hit and is a better RBI choice than Constanza or Wilson.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
I had heard that they were going to skip Minor’s start on Friday and pitch Beachy (I think)
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
Only five players in the entire NL are on pace for 30 HR and 100 RBI.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
3:55 pm
Whatever…but just for the sake of comparison, Prado has a career .281 AVG in 61 games (50 starts) in the 3rd spot…
And besides, Fredi G. SAID Freeman was gonna be the #3 batter for the foreseeable future. Chipper SAID Freeman was gonna be a good #3 hitter (IIRC). So WHY did he take Freeman out of the #3 spot????
Gosh, I’m sorry, but it bugs the c**p outta me…
Kentavo
May 30th, 2012
3:57 pm
Fredi also said Prado wasn’t going to shuffle between 3B and LF, but he has.
Murph
May 30th, 2012
3:57 pm
Over/under on Minor gopher balls served up is 4
Under… only problem is that all 3 will be with the bases loaded.
I think Minor has 2 more starts and then we won’t have to worry about him for a while.
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
“Enough with the golf talk anyway”
No way. What’d you shoot this weekend, flange?
And, Brian, you play much, or just makin’ a point earlier? And, don’t lie: you know your scramble percentage, don’t you?
Brandon
May 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
About Heyward: I’m still rooting for heyward. At the plate, he still looks much better than he did last season, even though he hasn’t been able to square up on the ball the way that he did in his rookie campaign. He still has the most plate discipline on the team( with the exception of chipper and maybe prado) What he needs to learn is how to drive that inside pitch over the wall. A pitcher should be afraid to go inside on a power hitter. Either way, I’m sure he’ll figure it out, and it seems more like a timing issue than anything else.
Brian from SC
May 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Probably because Gonzalez isn’t quite sure about Freeman’s comfort level at the plate, so he kept him lower to avoid putting any 3-hole pressure on him for tonight.
Roman Gal
May 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
They’ll tell you the metrics clearly show he is and always has been one of the Braves’ best 3 players, regardless of any archaic or “arbitrary” stats us mere laymen might present, or regardless of what your eyes and brain perceive when you’re watching the games.
That’s an interesting point, because honestly when I watch Heyward I get the impression that he’s playing better than his stats show. When I saw his average the other day, I went all teenybopper and was like “Say whaaa?!”
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Kentavo—
That’s true. We cann hardly believe a word he says about that sort of thing…
Rufus
May 30th, 2012
3:59 pm
Is it just me, or do the Braves have a disproportionate number of players with eye issues? First McCann, now Freeman. Weird, but glad Freddie’s doing better with the new specs.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
3:59 pm
BAS _
Good stuff @ 3:44.
Watching Shaun tie himself into knots trying to justify his various positions on Heyward has been cracking me up, too.
Jack Dennis TN
May 30th, 2012
4:00 pm
Love Mark Knopfler’s distinctive and under rated guitar.
Murph
May 30th, 2012
4:00 pm
So WHY did he take Freeman out of the #3 spot????
Probably because this is his first game back, wearing new glasses, and hitting from the 3 spot will most likely result in him getting at least one extra AB. They probably don’t want to push things until they are sure that the glasses are a viable solution.
Makes sense to me.
Sitting in CF
May 30th, 2012
4:01 pm
I was at the game last night and I have these observations. Freeman coming back can’t be soon enough. Hinske is great off the bench, but he is barely serviceable at first and the steady diet of offspeed stuff is making him look really bad. I’ll also agree with the assessment of Pastornicky. His bat really is not bad (he’s hitting .105 the last week but so is the whole team) because I wasn’t expecting much, but he doesn’t seem to have good SS instincts. From CF, it appeared as if he should have stepped on the bag instead of flipping to Uggs on one double-play grounder. One sharp hit grounder looked to have taken a bad hop but he wasn’t in good position. The 2nd base hit grounder up the middle off Venters seemed playable but he didn’t get a good jump on it or he didn’t react very quickly (I haven’t seem replay so I might be mistaken on this one). Anyone else see this and have a different view??
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:02 pm
72-80….
That ain’t too shabby, Crazy.
A 106 for me these days is worthy of a quick dance…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
4:02 pm
Brian from SC Probably because Gonzalez isn’t quite sure about Freeman’s comfort level at the plate, so he kept him lower to avoid putting any 3-hole pressure on him for tonight.
I cann accept that. But then why does he shove a guy coming off a week-long fluvirus, who still prolly didn’t/doesn’t have his feet completely under him yet and has been in a slump most of the year, into the 3-spot? He playin’ with a full deck up there?…
I’m way too analytical or something…or maybe even take out the ytical……
raleighbravefan
May 30th, 2012
4:03 pm
McFann – Maybe it has something to do with Freddy’s eye problem?
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
4:04 pm
“Is it just me”
Not just you, Rufus. And, can you imagine being a successful MLB position player, and waking up not being able to see? And then, the docs can’t make it right? The stress, the anxiety they must feel, if only for a short while… Fact is, ’til you can see again, you gotta wonder. That’s why I love bg4life’s report. POW, here we come.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
4:04 pm
Murph—
I’m sure that’s what it is, but…well, see my 4:02 post to Brian from SC…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
4:05 pm
raleighbravefan—
I’m sure…see my 4:02…
Bay Area Steve
May 30th, 2012
4:05 pm
“I’m way too analytical or something…or maybe even take out the ytical……”
Awesome. Knew I loved that girl. She might be growin’ up though. A little.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
4:07 pm
Ha! Thanks, Bay Area Steve…had to check the spelling to make sure it would work…
She might be growin’ up though. A little.
A little.…
raleighbravefan
May 30th, 2012
4:09 pm
McFann – I understand your angst. I like McCann at 5 as well. Problem is, with Chipper out, and FF eyesight, not many better options. Temporary, I hope.
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
4:09 pm
Payne, you are an idiot and you keep showing it over and over again. Post another list of “right fielders” showing Ben Zobrist as a qualified right fielder again. Do it. It makes me laugh. The guy played second base in 2011. He had a grand total of 144 plate appearances in right field last year.
I see you’ve also changed your parameters, yet again, when defending Heyward. Your initial attempt at this ranking a week or so ago was 1,000 PA for a right fielder, now it is 600 and you still include second basemen in the group.
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
4:09 pm
ut you wanting to make him not be disappointing won’t get it done.
…
Ridiculous. Does his OBP keep him from being horrible? Sure. Does his defense elevate his WAR enough that he’s respectable (or top-14, as sad as that is)? OK. But, corner OF is about offense. His hype was about offense. Broken bat doubles and walks are not enough. We need the guy to pummel fastballs. Soon.
It depends on what you expected. There are very few players who have accumulated as much value through age 22 and Heyward is still 3 months away from 23. Just because he’s not a star and hasn’t been one of the best rightfielders doesn’t mean he’s a disappointment. That’s a separate discussion. How good has he been and is he a disappointment are two different questions. I would say a) he’s been pretty much an average major league rightfielder, overall and b) he’s far from a disappointment, given his age and the skills he’s displayed.
Most do not see it that way. Most see top prospect, should be one of the best at his position every season as soon as he’s in the majors.
Since Bryce Harper was a top prospect and one of the most hyped prospects in history, if he isn’t one of the top handful of outfielders in the majors this season, next season and the season after that, he should be considered a disappointment, in the minds of some of you. And if he’s a disappointment, he therefore belongs in the minors or traded. It doesn’t matter if he’s just fine for a major league outfielder.
Murph
May 30th, 2012
4:09 pm
why does he shove a guy coming off a week-long fluvirus, who still prolly didn’t/doesn’t have his feet completely under him yet and has been in a slump most of the year, into the 3-spot?
Not many other options, unfortunately. Do you want Heyward getting that extra AB or two a game? I know I don’t.
I’d rather see BMac getting the extra work to help get him back on track because I know he’s get-back-on-trackable. Heyward left the tracks a long time ago and most of the other guys don’t even know where the train station is.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
4:10 pm
Just because Freeman and McCann have been out of the lineup for a while I’d be tempted to go with:
1.Bourn
2.Prado
3.Heyward
4.Uggla
5.McCann
6.Freeman
7.Wilson
8.Pitcher
9.Cantstandya
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
4:10 pm
TennesseePaul, change the parameters to whatever you like, within reason. It doesn’t change any of my points whatsoever.
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
4:12 pm
30 HR and 100 RBI guys don’t grow on trees anymore.
They never grew on trees. There was a time when you could pick one up at the local pharmaceutical lab though.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
4:12 pm
For a game I wouldn’t mind seeing wayward hitting in front of an actual big league hitter for a change.
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
4:13 pm
Bat Masterson, I have various positions on a lot of players, maybe every player, depending on what we are assessing or trying to answer about a particular player. I know that difficult for some of you to wrap your minds around…you know, nuance and complexity.
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
4:13 pm
It doesn’t change any of my points whatsoever.
It changes one massive point. That of right fielders vs. second basemen vs. a guy who got a couple of plate appearances late in the game at the position.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
4:14 pm
raleighbravefan—
Yes—better be temporary…
Murph—
I thought Bourn-Rev-Prado had possibilities…but I guess Fredi’s not a huge Rev fan…
I’d rather see BMac getting the extra work to help get him back on track
Not too sound like a buttface, but he was getting back on track when he was batting fifth (.324 with 2 2Bs, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 0 K’s in 6 games)…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
4:15 pm
CrαZy—
I like it, I love it, I want some more of it…
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:16 pm
I hate Mac at 3 too….
Way too slow on those double play grounders he’s so well known for!
raleighbravefan
May 30th, 2012
4:16 pm
Man, the blog has taken aim at Heyward today. I believe it’s a combination of inexperience/youth, injuries leading to bad habits, and mostly, unreasonable expectations. I believe he still has plenty of talent, and will have an above average career….maybe even exceptional. Of course, many here have the patience of a 2 year old. Just my opinion.
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:19 pm
It’s baseball, Shaun.
A child’s game played sometimes by adults.
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
4:20 pm
TennesseePaul, take out Ben Zobrist and the other guys who didn’t get a lot of playing time in rightfield. Do you really think that drastically changes the argument?
Do you consider Torii Hunter a disappointment? Do you consider Torii Hunter an awful player? Would you be calling for Hunter to be sent away if he was the Braves’ rightfielder at the same cost as Heyward?
If you answered “no” to any of these questions and you think Heyward is worthless and should be sent packing, you need to rethink your views of the game. These two players have been equal in value since the start of 2011.
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:20 pm
I do NOT have the patience of a 2 year old!!!
I want my blankie!
BravesWin
May 30th, 2012
4:20 pm
Not to excuse poor performance on the the field, but you gotta figure the 20-consecutive game stretch is taking its toll. Nice scheduling, MLB.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
4:21 pm
I know that difficult for some of you to wrap your minds around…you know, nuance and complexity. _ Shaun
And you have no idea just how funny that is coming from you, Shaun.
raleighbravefan
May 30th, 2012
4:24 pm
Shaun – If by “equal value” you mean WAR…well, I think WAR is way over valued…but then I managed to avoid Viet Nam and “dodge” the draft by being in college.
MikeInFl
May 30th, 2012
4:24 pm
Crazy – Enough with the golf talk anyway
Agreed. I try never to talk golf with guys who shoot 72 – 80. (good for you, though).
dvainer
May 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Hey Dave could we get an update on Chipper and whether or not it looks like he will be ready to play on June 8?
ncscoots
May 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
I don’t want to go all martyr here, but do you guys have any idea of how hard it is for me to speak as glowingly of Heyward as I did earlier, knowing that, within minutes, Shaun would be able to bust up any good karma generated thereby, LOL?
raleighbravefan
May 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
BravesWin – I agree about the schedule…killer 20 game stretch, followed by tough series vs Nats, then the toughest interleague play in MLB. I think someone is still punishing us for the TBS connection, and for the 14 titles.
Arkansas Transplant
May 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
Has Gattis been playing lately or is he hurt? Does anyone know?
Murph
May 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
Not too sound like a buttface, but he was getting back on track when he was batting fifth (.324 with 2 2Bs, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 0 K’s in 6 games)…
Those were pre-flu games, though.
Besides, as Shaun has said, it shouldn’t matter to the hitter where they are hitting. A professional should be comfortable hitting 1st, 3rd, 5th, or 8th.
oxo momwow
May 30th, 2012
4:28 pm
First!
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
4:28 pm
I am convinced that MLB and ESPN hate the Braves. With ESPN’s lack of coverage and MLB’s murderous scheduling, what else can you think?
Arkansas Transplant
May 30th, 2012
4:29 pm
What date is Chipper available to come off the DL?
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
4:30 pm
Reasonable Expectations Cont…..
Alex Remington, March-2010: I think he could well hit 20-25 homers with a .280-.300 average and a .850+ OPS. Everywhere he has played, he has been an incredibly tough out. I don’t think that will change now that he’s earned a full-time role with the big boys.
Scouting Report, Top 50 Prospects – 2010: There’s little Heyward can’t do. He’s got great bat speed, with the ability to hit for average and power. He has an excellent knowledge of the strike zone. He’s got a plus arm from the outfield, runs well and is an excellent base-runner. His makeup is off the charts. Oh, and he’s only 20.
Keith Law – 2010 Top Prospect: Jason Heyward. Heyward’s ascent to the top of these rankings was swift and unimpeded, and his path to the majors appears to be much the same, as he’ll have a good chance to win the every-day right-field job this spring. Heyward will be a middle-of-the-order bat with power and patience while playing above-average defense in right with a plus arm….Everything else here points to stardom.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
4:32 pm
Murph—
True. But for whatever reason, 5 has (almost) always been his best spot, and third has always been his weakest…But, I also know that I have a tendency to overreact to practically everything, especially if it’s BMac-related…
So whatever. Hopefully it doesn’t stick and
you don’t have to keep hearing me whine we don’t have to keep talking about it…McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
4:33 pm
Stupid formatting…[garble garble curse words]…
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
4:34 pm
Of course, many here have the patience of a 2 year old. Just my opinion.
Wait now… I’ve got a 2 year old and she…. ok yeah now that I think of it you’re right!!!
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
4:35 pm
Do you really think that drastically changes the argument?
You are showing rankings Payne. Speaking not of Heyward, but of the theory of rankings… If you list the qualified right fielders and find a guy at the bottom of the list, then it shows he’s not particularly seen or definable as a top right fielder. But of course, if you throw in other position players to pad the list, refuse to acknowledge as much and just toss the ranking about it sounds pretty nice.
ncscoots
May 30th, 2012
4:35 pm
Reasonable Expectations Cont…..
TenPaul, where’s the one that said what Heyward is doing now would be a reasonable expectation? That one’s there, right?
brian
May 30th, 2012
4:35 pm
I see Fredi is again tonight putting the weakest hitter in the lineup in the 8 spot in the lineup
Atlrf44
May 30th, 2012
4:36 pm
Dave…why Constanza and not the RH OF from Gwinnet with 11 HRs down there??it’s only for a short time anyway and the Braves certainly do not need a weak hitting LH hitter..enuf LHs in line up already…and notice how well Carlos Quentin is doing!!!
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
4:36 pm
Shaun’s just being his usual tool self, scoots.
For some reason it drives him crazy to acknowledge that circumstances change things. In last years spring training he was adament that Heyward hit second because he was the best hitter on the team. Not some 21 year old kid we should not expect too much from.
Hell that’s okay, I thought and said I would have hit him second, or third, flipping with Chipper. Then things went horribly awry.
Gimper & McError
May 30th, 2012
4:36 pm
If McCann is so great he should be able to hit in any slot. But, the only thing McCann is hitting lately would be the six pack of mayonnaise in the fridge.
Lew
May 30th, 2012
4:38 pm
Shaun – Which WAR are you citing? The One Baseball reference made up or the one Baseball fangraphs invented?
Lew
May 30th, 2012
4:39 pm
By either (or neither), Heyward has been disappointing. No matter how often he walks.
Fredi
May 30th, 2012
4:40 pm
Well you gotta tip yer cap to the Cardinals…uh, wait – we won!?
Ok…as I was saying, we are eyeballing a pennant and got the W as expected.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
4:42 pm
What’s up, jeff?
Got anything else to add. Maybe he should get up in front of the class and apologize.
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
4:42 pm
Heyward sucks.
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:42 pm
Based on his SI cover or covers, Heyward has been a shining success….
Ship Heyward to AAA (Rob from SC)
May 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
I love Heyward…But that plus bat speed disappeared with the thumb injury and has never come back. He can’t catch ujp to an average fastball. Let him go to triple A and hit like he did in April 10
ncscoots
May 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
Hell that’s okay, I thought and said I would have hit him second, or third, flipping with Chipper. Then things went horribly awry.
Oh, man, you weren’t alone. As I remember, uproar ensued when Fredo first talked about tentative lineups during the offseason of his hire. Heyward at 6? Is the man kuh-ray-zee? and like that.
Fish Bisch
May 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
Go Barves!
Brave New World
May 30th, 2012
4:45 pm
Jason Heyward has all the tools to be a star. Right now, all the tools are on his case. GO J-Hey, and GO BRAVES!
Ryan
May 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
Wish the Braves would give Gerrin the chance they gave Durbin he would of been sent down. sick of hearing Moylan tweets just another surgery away for getting paid on the DL. Same as Livan they say he can give you multi innings but they dont say how many runs.
Arkansas Transplant
May 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
Are we talking War and Peace?
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:47 pm
And right now, Brave New World is living in Never Never Land mentally…..
ncscoots
May 30th, 2012
4:48 pm
Let him go to triple A and hit like he did in April 10
This probably saddens me as much as anything about Heyward. Rob was ready to bring him up to the bigs practically out of rookie league, LOL, and now is ready to ship him out.
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
4:48 pm
Can we give Heyward a break already?? The kid is struggling…we know it, the Braves know it, and he knows it. From all accounts it’s not a lack of effort or an unwillingness to work, so how about we not cast aside a 23 year old because he hasn’t figured out MLB yet.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
4:50 pm
Rob has gone from “is Heyward hurt, DOB?” to send him down.
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
4:50 pm
TennesseePaul, most understand that not all prospects, most prospects, are not going to fully realize their potential at ages 20-22. Is that really so difficult to understand?
.253/.357/.426, 114 OPS+ with above average defense at ages 20-22 is on the right path.
If a player doesn’t hit 20-25 homers with a .280-.300 average and a .850+ OPS or isn’t a middle-of-the-order bat with power and patience while playing above-average defense in right with a plus arm in his first two seasons and two months at ages 20-22, doesn’t mean he’s already fallen short of reasonable expectations. It’s a little more complicated than that. I know it’s difficult for some to realize players’ production doesn’t plateau as soon as they reach the big leagues and remain constant every season, from season one to season 15 or 20 or however long they play. But believe it or not, there is a general aging pattern for position players: Offensively, they get better through their early-to-mid 20’s, peak in their late 20’s and start to decline in their 30’s. Perhaps there is a graph somewhere online if you are more visual, so that you can grasp this a little easier.
Threadkiller
May 30th, 2012
4:50 pm
Lew, You crack me up! That’s one of the main reasons i come on this blog. And the other reason is to see all the stupidity that comes out of the morons mouth!
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
4:50 pm
why is Heyward STILL in the lineup? After that crap he pulled against Washington, being lazy with that ball hit by Harper, I dont see why Fredi hasnt sat him yet like he did Hanley when he was with Florida. Not to mention the fact that hes doing nothing at the plate lately. I can almost guess the way his at-bats are going to end every time. Pop up to the third base side, weak grounder to the first base side, or a big fat strikeout.
Brave New World
May 30th, 2012
4:51 pm
No Phil, just a Braves fan.
DAP
May 30th, 2012
4:51 pm
again, heyward really started struggling on may 12th. before that, he was OPSing over .850. he has had a long, bad slump, but that first month and a half might be more telling than the last 2.5 weeks.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
4:52 pm
Heyward needs to start pitching better!!!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
Like Bill Shanks said, Heyward had potential before he was brought up, now he has been in the big leagues for 2 and half seasons and still cannot make adjustments during an at bat.
Shanks is a total idiot who champions every prospect like they were the coming of Ted Williams and throws them under the bus for a newer prospect as soon as they have a few years in the bigs. Total freaking prospect-hugger without an ounce of actual baseball knowledge in his brain, he simply parrots what he hears the Braves saying
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
4:48 pm
Can we give Heyward a break already?? The kid is struggling…we know it, the Braves know it, and he knows it. From all accounts it’s not a lack of effort or an unwillingness to work, so how about we not cast aside a 23 year old because he hasn’t figured out MLB yet.
***********
I thought it wasn’t from a lack of effort either UNTIL I saw the lazy play on Harper’s hit.
At that moment, I was and remain no longer sure.
Lew
May 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
Threadkiller – Did you see his declaration yesterday that two different kinds of WAR were no different than two scout having somewhat differing opinions. And then he proceeeded to try and convince us he’d never been totally derogatory and dismissive to scouts’ evaluations in ther past?
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
4:55 pm
Brave New World
One can be a Braves fan and be critical of the team. The best can be both critical of the team yet still be 100% into whoever is currently wearing the jersey. I might not think he needs to be on the roster (I’m not talking about J-Hey) but as long as he is I’m pulling for him!!
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
4:56 pm
“At that moment, I was and remain no longer sure.”
That’s what did it for me, too.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
4:56 pm
Those figgers must be wrong Davis, Lou assured us last season that Uggly was toast, and Lou always knows whereof he speaks ya know….
ncscoots
May 30th, 2012
4:57 pm
But believe it or not, there is a general aging pattern for position players…Perhaps there is a graph somewhere online if you are more visual, so that you can grasp this a little easier.
Believe it or not, exceptionally gifted players don’t follow general patterns. But I don’t think some graph is gonna help you grasp this any easier.
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:57 pm
Never being critical or having an opinion does not = being a “true” Braves fan, except in the tiniest of minds…
UKUGA
May 30th, 2012
4:59 pm
Hopefully, Huddy will fix those 2 pitches that cost him 7 runs last game and get the shut-out tonight.
Go Braves.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
4:59 pm
thats what did it for me too. and frankly, im tired of seeing it night after night.
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
4:59 pm
Later folks. On my way home.
phil
May 30th, 2012
4:59 pm
That general aging pattern for human beings in general sure doesn’t explain all those centenarians stumbling around out there either…
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
5:00 pm
Like Bill Shanks said, Heyward had potential before he was brought up, now he has been in the big leagues for 2 and half seasons and still cannot make adjustments during an at bat.
He might have a point if age wasn’t also a factor to be considered. Does he realize how long it took Furcal to put up back-to-back solid offensive seasons? It wasn’t until 2003-2004, his age 25-26 seasons, that Furcal put up consecutive seasons of at least a 95 OPS+.
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
5:00 pm
“thats what did it for me too. and frankly, im tired of seeing it night after night.”
And year after year.
Threadkiller
May 30th, 2012
5:00 pm
Lew, I also liked how he uses WAR to project Heyward as #14 in the league. Not mentionin that WAR has him top 5 in defense, which means offensively Heyward is around # 26..That’s bad! But I for one believes that everyday expeience will help him improve and get more confident.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:00 pm
Can we give Heyward a break already?? The kid is struggling…we know it, the Braves know it, and he knows it.
phil knows it too but he thinks nobody else is aware of it so makes sure he says sumthang about it at least 37 times every day just to clue us in….
smallmouth6
May 30th, 2012
5:01 pm
Keep Constanza in the lineup.
phil
May 30th, 2012
5:01 pm
Crazy – amen to your 4:55….
I’m still pullin for em even if they’re 0 for their last 50.
bruce
May 30th, 2012
5:01 pm
Ah the Sultans…. maybe they can wake up the bats
Ship Heyward to AAA (Rob from SC)
May 30th, 2012
5:01 pm
I just want Heyward to get his confidence back
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
Tough crowd.
No doubt Heyward was lackadaisical on that one play. He also had some good hustle play in that same game. The next day he almost beat out a rountine grounder to short. Probably went every bit as hard as Charlie Hustle Bryce Harper would have.
phil
May 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
thanks for chiming in, nolie….I’ve left it alone most of the year.
Lew
May 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
I certainly wouldn’t say he was always showing a lack of hustle, or even that it was all that pervasive in his play, but I do recall thinking when I saw that play, that it was pretty similar to the one that got Andruw yanked in the middle of an inning.
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
Anyone else here listen to Lucero?
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
I don’t think much of Bill Shanks… I stopped reading his stuff a few years ago!!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:05 pm
if that is your version of leaving it alone…………..
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
5:05 pm
Whoa, what happened to striking through Charlie Hustle?
McFanned it
RHR
May 30th, 2012
5:06 pm
Heard Chipper isn’t going on the road trip to DC and MIA. Is that normal for a player on the DL or is something else going on?
phil
May 30th, 2012
5:06 pm
maybe not totally….
Trader Jack
May 30th, 2012
5:07 pm
DISAPPOINTMENT – the feeling of dissatisfaction that follows the failure of expectations or hopes to manifest.
Kinda sums up Heyward to date
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:08 pm
yeah it was a bad, lazy play, that Harper took advantage of that prolly most players would not have. No excuses, he shoulda hustled more, hopefully he learned something by being shown up. In general I have never considered him a slacker personally
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
5:08 pm
phil….he made a lazy play, totally agree. To me, it doesn’t mean he’s lazy, just had a mental lapse and got caught. I think he will be a heck of a player one day, just appears that day won’t come as quickly as many expected.
phil
May 30th, 2012
5:09 pm
Reading between the lines on Chipper, he had a procedure for something akin to compartment syndrome in that lower leg. That’s bad business there.
He needs to stay off of the leg and take steps to avoid infection.
He can’t go on the road trip. He won’t be back in any 15 days either. Maybe a month?
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
5:09 pm
and freakin fell down the night after? hes not great defensively, thats all there is to it
Lew
May 30th, 2012
5:10 pm
RHR – Not overly surprising given the nature of Chipper’s injury and the way his legs tend to swell while flying. As for whether or not it’s normal? I’d say it depends entiely on the injury and whatever they might be doing to rehab it.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:11 pm
Chipper is known in baseball for bouncing back quicker than expected most times, but I agree that there is a good chance he will not be ready when the DL stint is up
Shaun
May 30th, 2012
5:11 pm
ncscoots, so if a player isn’t putting up really good numbers by age 21-22, we should assume he’s never going to be all that good and, if people thought he was going to be good, he’s therefore a disappointment?
You know the type players that put up well-above-average seasons in their very early 20’s? It’s mostly just the all-time elite type players. I don’t think a player is necessarily a disappointment if he doesn’t end up being A-Rod, Griffey, etc.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
5:11 pm
njbraves Can we give Heyward a break already?? The kid is struggling…we know it, the Braves know it, and he knows it.
Look who’s talking…
(ITS)
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
5:11 pm
Let’s just hope the problem doesn’t spread to Chipper’s eyes.
phil
May 30th, 2012
5:12 pm
To be clear, the Heyward Harper play just caused me to instantly wonder….
Is this guy giving it his all or not? It ticked me off to see that when he hasn’t been hitting for 3 weeks.
In fairness, when Martin loafs out of the box now and then, I get ticked at him and probably shouldn’t. When Hinske loafs down the line, same thing.
That’s all I mean about Heyward. When you have those expectations following you around and this kind of scrutiny, don’t EVER get caught loafing, especially when you’re struggling. If you do loaf, an angry blogger or two might get ya!
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
5:12 pm
I think he will be a heck of a player one day, just appears that day won’t come as quickly as many expected.
Shaun is not one of those people though, oh no, he’s right on track with Shaun’s expectations.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:13 pm
his feet went out from under him and he tore up divots. That is not all that uncommon, especially with a big guy like he is. trying to stop and turn creates a lot of friction. Overall he IS a pretty good defensive RFer. Just look at Bourn’s coupla plays to know that they all make mistakes at times
D.A. Nuggla
May 30th, 2012
5:14 pm
Mighty nice of DOB to NOT mention Constanza at all, and he got a hit and scored a run without which it would have still been 4-4. Several of us have been calling for “the robot” FG to call him up days ago. He comes up, helps the team, and gets no credit whatsoever! At least he did go 0-4 like both Hinske and McCann did, and leave 5 runners on base. He made a big difference last year when he came up(then the whole team went to sleep) and provided a spark last night, which was badly needed. GIVE THE POOR GUY SOME CREDIT WHEN IT IS DUE!!!!!!!!
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
5:15 pm
where’s the one that said what Heyward is doing now would be a reasonable expectation? That one’s there, right?
Unfortunately no, scoots. All these quotes I’m posting where projectiongs/expectations/scouting reports for what the reasonable expectations where for Heyward going into the 2010 season. They all estimated he would do those things that year and going forward. I didn’t find in any of them a caveat stating he’d be a .230/.330/.395 guy for about 5-7 years in the majors, then hit his prime and post .280/.390/.460 numbers.
beachcomber
May 30th, 2012
5:15 pm
To put everything in perspective. Driving home this afternoon: Phils fan on MLB Radio says fire Manual, Dubee and Amaro. This from a fan whose team has won five straight divisions. All baseball towns are the same just change the name of the manager, pitching coach and GM or any pitcher or position player.
Good win last night out of our #4 starter, a follow up by Huddy tonight would great.
Oh and one last thing – NBC cancels Harry’s Law but Two Broke Girls lives on. Nothing to do with baseball – just had to vent.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:15 pm
I think its fine to “get” on him about that play, a time or two. after that it’s just pilin’ on..
CMC
May 30th, 2012
5:15 pm
DOB,
Sultans of Swing is in my Top 5 all-time songs. Thanks for the lyrics.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
i know what happened, im just saying it seems like its always one thing after another that just was a “freak” play and such. hes clumsy. and where i cant fault him for being lanky bc thats how the good Lord created him, but i can question the fact that he really isnt anything but an average defender
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
believe it or not, footwork IS a part of the game.
Lew
May 30th, 2012
5:17 pm
Credit where credit is due? OK.
He hit a single and scored a run on a wild pitch.
This was perhaps worthy of more than a sideline in the box score?
bruce
May 30th, 2012
5:17 pm
Dave, enjoyed the tunage, brought back some fine memories. first time reading the words…
Dire Straits: good name for a band, sad descriptor of a team’s status,
Sultans of Swing: great song title, great description for a group of power hitters.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
5:18 pm
Yay for Biff!!
Lew
May 30th, 2012
5:18 pm
Or a one line mention in the game summary saying “He hit a single and scored a run on a wild pitch.”
nolie
May 30th, 2012
5:18 pm
Oh and one last thing – NBC cancels Harry’s Law but Two Broke Girls lives on. Nothing to do with baseball – just had to vent…Beachcomber
amen brother, I will miss Harry and the guys. There were a number of my shows cancelled this year and a bunch of crap kept.
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
5:18 pm
if people thought he was going to be good, he’s therefore a disappointment?
Maybe this will help you out with the answer you seek Payne…
Dis-ap-point-ment (disəˈpointmənt): The feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations.
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
5:20 pm
Scoots, And change all those “where” uses to “were”…
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?
Jimmy
May 30th, 2012
6:55 pm
Nolie – I think it is closer. Right up the Interstate. But I come down from South Georgia.
Anyway, I love that ball park. Also got to go to the old park. Aaron played there.
CraZy has something to work with now.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
6:56 pm
The new twitter chick is pretty hit. Yummy
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
6:56 pm
chc4 @ 6:49
An
idioticastute analysis. CongratsCrαZy
May 30th, 2012
6:57 pm
Thanks Bat…. I’ll keep that in mind when we go to Gulf shores later this year.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
6:57 pm
pretty hit?
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
6:57 pm
Wahoos ………. The yahoos are in the stands
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
6:57 pm
Tues. night was first time Venters has pitched before 8th inning w/ a lead this season (he did it two other times recently when Braves trailed)
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
6:57 pm
Hot
Jimmy
May 30th, 2012
6:58 pm
SEND WAYWARD DOWN TO AAA!!!
You are welcome lower case.
Got to go. Game time crew should be here in a minute. Not up for it tonight.
See you good folks later.
Go Barves!!
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
6:58 pm
Sure thing, Crazy
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
6:59 pm
Gotta admit nolie, she is pretty hit.
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
6:59 pm
I’ve yet to go to a Blue Wahoos game. Although when Mississippi comes back in town, I’ll round up some money to go.
Sup everyone, I’ve had net problems (cable modem fried) past few days, now that I got a new one, things are fast
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
7:00 pm
Jupiter is 200+ miles from St Augustine… and Jacksonville is about 30 minutes. I think I’ll head to Jacksonville…
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
May 30th, 2012
7:00 pm
i just hope they can get more than 5 hits tonight!!! cards doubled us in hits…if it wasn’t for bourn/uggla last night…we’re looking at 9 game losing streak. hopefully the new goggles will help freddie.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:00 pm
Brad Pitt in upcoming zombie movie….
Lew
May 30th, 2012
7:01 pm
Some version of WAR. And you wonder why some of us are more than skeptical of some of the new metrics. Extra crispy and original recipe. Paper or plastic.
Whatever.
CrαZy
May 30th, 2012
7:02 pm
Have a good night enjoy the game!!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:02 pm
like I said, I’m not all that familiar with te East side, for some reason I thought St Augustine was further south I guess
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
7:03 pm
Beltran out tonight
chc4
May 30th, 2012
7:03 pm
CraZy — you live in St. Augustine? Love it there. I have a vacation condo on Anastasia island on the beach between Oasis and Salt Water Cowboys. Absolutely love it there. Good place to live?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:05 pm
CTB McCann better watch out, McFann might just have a new crush.
No offense to Freeman, but……that ain’t happening…
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:06 pm
WHY DOES GAMEDAY ONLY WORK SOMETIMES???? I HATE that stupid thing!!……
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:09 pm
which site do you use McF?
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
7:09 pm
I know, McFann! Half the time I can’t get gameday to work and sometimes when I go to look at videos, they don’t work either.
Kat
May 30th, 2012
7:10 pm
Sultans of Swing.. great song choice David!
Frankie Wren
May 30th, 2012
7:11 pm
Lohse a free agent after season? Always liked him.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:11 pm
Georgie saved the game!!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:12 pm
nolie—
The Braves’ website…
bravesgrl4life—
OK, it does that to you, too? Does it to me all the time, almost…sometimes I can’t even look at photos…
And the game has STARTED…I WANT GAMEDAY!!!!
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
7:12 pm
Nice play, Biff
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:12 pm
ESPN and FOX both have a version I think
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:12 pm
Summer of George has begun
B_F 52
May 30th, 2012
7:13 pm
One of the best concerts I ever saw at the Fox no opening act just Dire Straights doing their first album and leaving it was awesome
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
7:15 pm
It would have been real discouraging if Freddie ran over to the rail for that foul ball and was looking up in the stands and it landed a few feet behind him.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
7:16 pm
Yeah I guess so, key
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
7:16 pm
McFann, gameday seems to be working on google chrome. At least for me it is.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:17 pm
nice play …for a fattie
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
7:18 pm
Hudson won’t complain about Beltran not being in lineup: Beltran is 26-for-74 (.351) with 4 HRs against him.
Beltran has a sore right knee, nothing major but sitting today gives him 2 days to rest (team’s off tomorrow).
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:18 pm
that guy is huge
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
7:19 pm
Marteen
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:21 pm
Yadier looks to keep his right foot a bit back more than most
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
Wow…
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
McCann 2-run HOMER
bravesgrl4life
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
MACTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
BMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC!!!
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
McCann
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
That was…unexpected
MAAAAAAAAC
Brava
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
BMac with da Bomb!!!!
cricket
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
typical no. 3 hitter
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
Mac with another meaningless rally-killing homer….
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:23 pm
McFann…and you were saying something about BMac in the three hole?
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
7:23 pm
Shift that!
GO BRAVES!!
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
7:23 pm
Wow…… MLB.com is way behind
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:23 pm
that’s the way BMAC
MikeInFl
May 30th, 2012
7:23 pm
McFann, gotta wonder if you don’t need to update the Flash Player plugin for Chrome. Not gonna try to talk you thru it, but you might want to google “flash update for chrome” or some such thing, to see if you can find any help on it (gameday uses Flash, and I’d guess that’s where your problem is…just a guess, tho…
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
7:23 pm
2-0.
B_F 52
May 30th, 2012
7:24 pm
B Mc Bomb
Trey
May 30th, 2012
7:24 pm
Goodness McCann, what a show off.
JeanE
May 30th, 2012
7:24 pm
Whew yeah, way to go Mac!!! I just finished reading the blog, and totally agree (knock wood) that Durbin has been great lately, I’ve been saying that myself. He kind of looks like Eric Dane the actor. Keep it up Bravos!!!!!
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
7:24 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.”
In other words, “Let me posit a strawman and then wail upon him.”
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:25 pm
bravesgrl4life—
I use Google Chronium now…but I’ve got the game on the TV now, so I’m good…
Joe—
Whatever works…I still like him fifth…
Gone Viral
May 30th, 2012
7:25 pm
What happened to Beth Keener? She was good for a couple of laughs a game. Not intentional ones but still.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2012
7:25 pm
So is Mac a full time head shaver now?
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
Freddie saw that one
cricket
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
UA or Oakley?
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
how bout them glasses?????? Welcome back Freddie!!!!!
Trey
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
Freeman, you call that a homer! This is a homer!
Brava
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
Freddie with da Bomb!!!!!
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
…..guess I’ll have to ask that again in a minute
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
Freeeeeeeeeeeeman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One Big Dummy
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
FREDDIE!!!!!!!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
ok well that one will kill the rally fer shur
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
“Four Eyes” Freddie Freeman
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
Obviously the goggles don’t work…send’em back…
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
love the comments “you can see” with the hand demonstrations
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
Nice Freeman!!
Great, now Fredi’s gonna stick with this lineup…
JeanE
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
Way to go Specs, yeah baby!!!!! Keep it comin! LOve it
Mixxo
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
We’re BACK!!!!!
Told ya!
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
annnnnd Heyward comes back to kill the excitement
Brava
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
Jason with da F-Bomb.
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
now do not walk the first batter Huddy!!!
quick inning here and lets get our bats back up
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
The tv guys were talking about Freeman needing time to adjust to hitting with the glasses on. Before they could finish, boom
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
MikeInFL—
Thanks! I’ll try that tomorrow…
B_F 52
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedie!!!
cricket
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
1 more run needed for Huddy’s guaranteed win cut off
Trey
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
Jeffrey, McFann will respond to you in a second.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
Goggles did the trick. Nice shot Freddie.
Tim Hudson
May 30th, 2012
7:28 pm
now do not walk the first batter Huddy!!!
Thanks, brian. Any other advice? Should I try not to give up runs? Make sure to wear my glove on the correct hand?
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
7:28 pm
It’s our turn to HR away!!! Hello blog people…and DOB!
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:28 pm
Man..still hard to see JHey missing pitches right down the middle…just like you said earlier BAS..
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
7:28 pm
Here they go winning again. What will we have to talk about now?
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2012
7:29 pm
Freddie looks so relieved…Every blogger who called him soft should have to get in the box blindfolded.
Tim Hudson
May 30th, 2012
7:29 pm
whoops…GTG
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:29 pm
Maybe Heyward needs some goggles…
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2012
7:29 pm
OK, 3 run lead, put in Kimbrel.
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
7:29 pm
…………and Tim Hudson has a 3 run lead. 127 – 2 record when he gets a 3 run lead.
Kat
May 30th, 2012
7:29 pm
I’m a little late because I was eating dinner but awesome job by Mac and Freeman!!
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
7:30 pm
Spectacles!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:30 pm
blog talking about Tyler’s D today and tonight Jack is in there. Freddie must be peeking…
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:31 pm
quick prediction…Huddy goes into the 8th tonight..only gives up 1. Bravos win 5-1.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:32 pm
Tyler Greene just missed that one…whew.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:32 pm
you caint pay any attention to what BAS says………….
Mixxo
May 30th, 2012
7:33 pm
‘quick prediction…Huddy goes into the 8th tonight..only gives up 1. Bravos win 5-1.’ – SoCal Joe
I’ll take that!
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:33 pm
nolie..your right those NorCal guys “caint” be trusted et all.
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
Nolie – Doesn’t Ross usually catch Hudson and have Wilson at SS? Seems like that has been the lineup the last few Hudson starts?
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
Heyward is still struggling. Thats good news for us bloggers. Got to have something to talk about.
Stupid Heyward! Frenchy part two!
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
Whole different lineup with Mac and Freeman in there.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
again i say…Summer of George has begun
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
blog talking about Tyler’s D today and tonight Jack is in there. Freddie must be peeking…
Yup- I’m sure it has nothing to do with Huddy pitching
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
can Georgie steal home from first???
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
Georgie Boy , nice slap.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
you caint pay any attention to what BAS says…………. . _ nolie
You can when the first thing he says is, “you nailed it, Bat”.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:35 pm
@nolie, apparently Lohse/Molina thought he might
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
7:35 pm
You know, I’m starting to like this raccoon
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
7:36 pm
I just stopped liking that raccoon
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
7:36 pm
Heyward and Wilson are literally a bloggers dream.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2012
7:36 pm
can Georgie steal home from first???
I don’t think they’ll let you run the bases in reverse order
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:36 pm
oh yeah! Huddy’s pitching :slaps forehead:
Fols
May 30th, 2012
7:37 pm
I promised McFann a HR yesterday….will she forgive me? I was one day off?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:37 pm
Constanza with the meaningless single. if he was any good at all we woulda scored
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:38 pm
Whoa…Constanza’s haircut – did he lose a bet? Or did Bryce Harper cut his hair?
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
7:38 pm
I really think Bourn has 20 inch wheels
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:38 pm
Huddy playin the game right…mov’em over..wish more of the guys could catch on to that.
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:38 pm
I would love to quote major league and say that seeing ain’t that important in response to Freddie’s glasses but he looks sharp – I wouldn’t mind a pair of those though I cannot imagine what they would cost
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
7:39 pm
Constanza with the Peabo Bryson look
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:39 pm
Well Joe….P’nicky certainly has the bunting thing down, but he’s about the only other person on the team we can say that for
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2012
7:39 pm
I could’ve had a V8!
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:39 pm
Fols—
You’re absolved…
Mixxo
May 30th, 2012
7:39 pm
Wilson has more “gamer” in his pinky than Heyward will ever realize.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:39 pm
looks like something from “The Puppet Masters” settled on his neck, I noticed that last night.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:41 pm
got a feelin the pitcher is about to break up the no no
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:42 pm
Man..it feels absolutely weightless in here tonight…like if I put my milky way bar down it would just float off..funny what a few runs early can do to the ol’ blog.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
7:44 pm
Nice, Timmy
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:44 pm
not to mention a friggin machine on the mound…lovin it.
ColoradoBravesFan
May 30th, 2012
7:45 pm
I wish Wilson would of bunted and let Hudson try to drive in Georgie. Seems Hudson is a better hitter these days than Wilson.
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:48 pm
Have game Bmac…c’mon now!
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:48 pm
Agree, CoBF. I’ve also never been a fan of the sac bunt with 1 out…even if Huddy grounds into a DP, at least you have your leadoff guy coming up next inning.
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:49 pm
dang three hole…killin him. that and those darn low changeups.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:49 pm
Wait, Uggla didn’t pull a ball? AND got a hit?
:FACEPALM:
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
Gonna have to call Uggla “wheels” tonight…wow.
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
wind must be wreaking havoc on the field
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
COOL!! That’ll work…
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
I don’t think anyone can question Dan’s hustle…
Brava
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
WTG, Danny!!!!!
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
Freeman!!!!!!!
2K91
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
Dan Uggla always hustles!!!
TNScott
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
WOW!!! Nice base running, Dan!!!
Fols
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
I think he can see.
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
huge baserunning by Uggla there – if he wasn’t at least half way busting it, no run
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
Just checked a site marketing the Under Armour eyewear and am surprised how reasonably priced they are–not saying these are the exact kind Freddy got, however, they are very similar–pretty cool assortment indeed.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
Never quit, Dan
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
what kinda craziness is that..FF makin up for lost time..
TennesseePaul
May 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
Spectacles!
Uggla!
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen, that is why you run them out. You never know.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
Say what you want about his strikeouts, but you know he brings it every night
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
do their sound people not listen to what they are putting out? Every night they screw up the audio several times.
Great hustle by Uggla on the meaningless score
B_F 52
May 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
Freeeeediiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Jimmy
May 30th, 2012
7:53 pm
Dan Uggla is a gamer. Wow!
Always hustles.
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:53 pm
good eye Heyward. Way to be patient. Heyward could easily have tried to hit one of those pitches that were close but no way he would have done anything with them.
cricket
May 30th, 2012
7:54 pm
looks like home wind advantage so far
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:54 pm
well I guess we can take a walk here…not the worst thing that coulda happened.
2K91
May 30th, 2012
7:54 pm
I stand corrected – Uggla did not hustle on that pop up by FF.
Fols
May 30th, 2012
7:54 pm
Ditched the contacts…I can blog better in these glasses? IT WORKS!
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:54 pm
bat at bat for Constanza here
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
7:54 pm
Uggla on the ‘warpath.’
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
Georgie with an RBI? We can’t be stopped!!!
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
Summer….of…..George
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
Uggla hustled/ran on the pop up but he did not Bryce Harper like bust it
cricket
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
Biff for president
Brava
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
WTG Georgie!!!
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
nolie
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
Does Georgie walk on water too?
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
there we go Constanza
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
Man this looks and feels like it should
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
yes brian, terrible at bat
Jimmy
May 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
OK, back to watching the game.
See you good in-gmaers tomorrow.
As I type, Constanza drives in another run.
Someone owes Murph $1!
JNick
May 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
Georgie is a good luck charm…
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
OK..there’s my five…now lets just fast forward to the 8th
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
If Wilson gets a hit here I think Lohse should pretty much retire
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
So far, so good and I am glad the new goggles are working for Freeman.
Braves need this one, and a two game win streak helps replace the stench of that nasty losing streak.
A two out rally — Nice. And we are seeing the good Hudson so far tonight.
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
Wilson got all of that one
B_F 52
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeorgie!!!
Trey
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
Wilson is probably our weakest link tonight. Fredi should have put him behind Hudson.
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
Simmons probably needs to be called up before the charter leaves for Washington.
Frankie Wren
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
Georgie reminds me of Castilla when he was with the Marlins. Little pesky waterbug that don’t think will hurt you but can.
Rick
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
“Does Georgie walk on water too?”
No but I heard he works as a marine biologist in the offseason.
Fols
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
This game is really pissing off the trolls……it’s even got Disgusted posting pleasant thoughts. Holy crap!
cricket
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
never thought Cards would be a team to provide solution to braves’ blues
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:58 pm
brian, exactly who are you trying to start crap with…and why? cheer on or get off moron
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:58 pm
ohhhhhhhh yeah – when did I complain about an at bat before your comment???
kevkat
May 30th, 2012
7:58 pm
brian
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
Wilson got all of that one
lol…yep
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
7:58 pm
For all his critics, Constanza has a place as a role player.
Look what he did last yr (I know he tailed off at the end but so did almost everybody else in September).
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
7:58 pm
Haha get ‘em Biff
cricket
May 30th, 2012
7:59 pm
great chance to gain on 2 division teams again
BBQ MAN
May 30th, 2012
7:59 pm
ok where are the doomsayers now crying about how bad we are.? such whiners we have in this city
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
7:59 pm
At least Wilson holds his own in the field. I thought he would hit at least .200.
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
7:59 pm
Uggla hustled/ran on the pop up but he did not Bryce Harper like bust it
We’ll see how Mr. Harper is doing when he’s 32 and not 19.
Trey
May 30th, 2012
7:59 pm
Man, Freddie’s glasses actually look pretty cool. Vance Worley’s look like sh*t.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
7:59 pm
how about the pitch Georgie swung and missed on when you decided to say bad at bat before it was over, then he knocked an rbi single up the middle
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:00 pm
don’t get what you are talking about ohhhhyeah………….
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
8:00 pm
Disgusted….right now you should be at least..”slightly miffed” or perhaps..”kinda perturbed” but definately not digusted. not tonight.
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:00 pm
Well, BBQ Man, we were bad for a week plus & there is still the stench of September that won’t go away till they make the playoffs whenever they are good enough to do so.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:01 pm
you need to reread ohhhhhhyeah – didn’t say a word until the single and then said way to go Constanza.
Maybe you need some of Freeman’s glasses to read
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:02 pm
That was a good play by Freeman. Almost had him at 2nd.
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:03 pm
Time to take back first!
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:03 pm
Joe in So Cal–I have had the Disgusted name since September and will keep it until they are back in the post season.
Do not have to win in post season, but at least get there.
Might still keep the disgusted name due to the Thrashers story, and that is a long long story, one yr anniversary we got shafted tommorrow nite.
Rooting for Kovalchuck, Moose and Boulton though.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:03 pm
i see what you are talking about – typo- i thought i said big at bat by Constanza – RISP, 2 outs, etc.
I like Constanza, always have though of course I don’t think he walks on water.
Settle down there a little bit
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
8:03 pm
brian @ 754
perhaps you meant to say BIG at bat for constanza, but i was assuming you meant “bad” since i saw it right after he swung and missed. if so, my apologies
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:04 pm
Hack Wilson can’t even catch the ball anymore…
Sigh.
Nice start though! Well done mac, fred, uggla and georgie…
Fols
May 30th, 2012
8:04 pm
Us here in Winnipeg kinda like the Thrasher story though?
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
8:05 pm
alright there’s the one…half way to the 8th. workin like a charm.
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
8:05 pm
I’m not a big Constanza fan, but I gotta say that he is a sight better defensively than the others we’ve had out there. Not saying anything against Prado in left, but I’d rather have him at third.
Kat
May 30th, 2012
8:06 pm
Interesting stat from ESPN:
@ESPNStatsInfo
Heading into play this evening, every team in the AL East and NL East is above .500; according to #Elias, this is 1st time this has happened
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:07 pm
@Brian–I don’t think that anyone thinks that Constanza walks on water but I do think you do agree that as a role player, the Braves have had worse come through here. And he is a veteran minor leaguer who will accept that role.
You need vet bench guys around, even at the AAA level just in case. If he alternates between the G-Braves and here and helps for s short stint in a piinch, that is an assett to have around. A guy like he will never complain about playing time.
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:07 pm
Bourn back under .300….
DFA the bozo.
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
8:07 pm
Disgusted..I hear ya..somethin’ bought this team feels a little different. seems a little more resilient. perhaps they learned a little somethin last year.
Fols
May 30th, 2012
8:08 pm
No we love him again…..300!
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
8:08 pm
BBQ Man
STFU and enjoy the game.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:08 pm
“No but I heard he works as a marine biologist in the offseason.”
Not as an architect?
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:09 pm
@Fols—If you are in Winnipeg than you should.
That is a nucleus of a team you got from us and they developed and scuffled learning the game on our watch.
And we are NOT getting a team back. Not for a couple of generations anyway. IF the league expands to 40 plus teams well, never know but there is not enough room to do that.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:10 pm
that Prado at bat sukked big time. take two great strikes and swing at one a foot outside
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:10 pm
Keep Bourn!
Keep Mac!
Keep FF!
Cut someone else!
Fols
May 30th, 2012
8:11 pm
Yeah no Winnipeg knows the deal…we’ve been in that boat, Atlanta ownership was a mess. That team had enough talent over the years to work and they just did a terrible job putting it all together for the fans to enjoy it.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:11 pm
cut Chipper
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:11 pm
@nolie, maybe someone bet Prado that he couldn’t do a Heyward impersonation…?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
8:12 pm
Those hits with RISP/2 outs are gonna come…I cann FEEL it!!…
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:12 pm
Hockey talk has reminded me there is a game on tonight…if they ever get around to playing it instead of all the recapping and other needless filler…
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:13 pm
@Joe in So Cal—The one area why I think this team will still fall short is thet they are depending on very young SP’s who are still in their learning curve.
Minor–yes he has to be better, and he might be sooner then later but he is raw, and Delgado has been up and down and Beachey, still very young, can he keep that pace all yr at this stage in his career.
Hanson is pretty much a mid rotation guy. Its still a team with alot of guys in their learning curve so that is why I still think they fall a little short — again.
But a couple of good games in a row is nice to enjoy for now.
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
8:13 pm
The “Fan of the Game” fat kid needs to dance more often. He’s gonna be a huge lard ass when he grows up.
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
8:14 pm
Thrashers were a tough sell…no one knows much about hockey in the south..this is football country for the most part. Remember we tried with the Flames long ago. same thing. crickets most nights.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:14 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere where folks obsessed so much about fat…..
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
8:15 pm
cabravesfan—
Hokey over Braves??
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
8:15 pm
Love that Freeman defense!
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:15 pm
@Disgusted, agree – to make it thru the playoffs, they need 3 solid starters. Right now, they have two, at best
On another note…holy smokes that was a hell of a play at first by Freddie….
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
8:15 pm
nolie—
Yes. It is so beyond annoying…
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:15 pm
This is the best sports time of the yr, from April to June.
NBA and NHL playoffs, MLB and the NFL draft and off season.
Forget March madness, this is my favorite time. I can take or leave College basketball, more of an NBA guy
Can take or leave College Fotball too. Pros over college any day.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:16 pm
McFann-
1. I didn’t say that
2. Stanley Cup Finals
3. I have Picture-in-Picture
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2012
8:16 pm
How would x-ray glasses help Freddie?
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
8:17 pm
Huddy is dealin tonight..back to the ol’ ways.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:18 pm
Heyward has picture in picture of Fredi which is why he is still starting….
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:18 pm
Best sports time of year is anytime when basketball isn’t being played…can’t wait for that crap to be over.
Fols
May 30th, 2012
8:18 pm
This Canadian would take a Braves game over hockey any night!
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
8:19 pm
FF needs a triple right here… then an easy single for the cycle. i know..a miracle…i’ve seen him run the bases.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:21 pm
FF needs a triple right here… then an easy single for the cycle. i know..a miracle…i’ve seen him run the bases.
With the way Holliday plays left field, anything is possible
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
8:21 pm
cabravesfan—
Ah, picture-in-picture! Well, that’s different…
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:22 pm
I think Lohse should throw the rosin bag up there to see if Heyward would swing at it.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:23 pm
McFann-
Also, that’s what commercials are for. Flip on PIP during breaks in the Braves game- Hockey game has not started yet (just about to drop the puck)…
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
8:23 pm
Heyward looking very bad folks.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
8:23 pm
At least Heyward is in mid-season form
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:24 pm
“Thrashers were a tough sell…no one knows much about hockey in the south..this is football country for the most part. Remember we tried with the Flames long ago. same thing. crickets most nights.”
Most of the problems withh both teams was ownership–Note that the Flames were averaging around 10 k and they did outdraw the Hawks each yr but the last one. It was the Cousins who sold out due to the real estate problems they were having at the time.
In the 70’s ten thousand was not bad, it was better than some teams were doing at the time.
The Thrashers were building a fan base but the Spirit was not committed to maintaining it. And the salaries were going up and they did not want to pay to keep the better players.
There is a hockey community that was dedicated and it was not all just transplanted Northerners. When I was going to the games there were people with Southern accents and I was encouraged to see some African American fans show up in the stands as time went on. Hey, hockey IS for everybody.
Our sports talk madia did us no favors, the paper was not bad, but the moneyed establishment that had the means had no desire to step up and save the team—In essence we lost on that one.
That Balkan turned out to be fools gold. I do think there were people in the talk media that sort of wanted them to go away because they did not want to do their homework on another sport. Not the local paper but on our sports jock shows (I do not even call them talk shows).
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
8:24 pm
how happy would everyone be if JHey could just hit .260 -.270. I’d take it.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
8:24 pm
cabravesfan—
This is true. Although whenever we try flipping between two things, they’re always on commercials at the same time…
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:25 pm
I think Heyward really does just wander up to the plate sometimes with no plan, no idea who’s pitching….just get it over with and go sit down.
That AB was awful.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:25 pm
McFann-
That’s the glory of PIP- no need to actually flip unless something is on
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:27 pm
announcers are quoting Card guy that players today are too fit and that causes injuries. shades of Whitey Herzog…
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:28 pm
Nice play by Jack to get one…nice stretch by Freddie
Joe in SoCal
May 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
Disgusted…ownership can kill a team thats fo’ sho’…(ala our Bravos).
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
Commercials are BUMBS!!!!!
They deserve to be Booed.
jeffrey d
May 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
announcers are quoting Card guy that players today are too fit and that causes injuries
Then shouldn’t McCann be injury-free?
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
Too fit?
Is that some kind of joke?
Sure, some overdo it but it cuts both ways….
Mister Frisky
May 30th, 2012
8:30 pm
Georgie to RF,Heybust to the beer league.
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:30 pm
Gah, bean Furcal and get his punk ass out of the game.
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:30 pm
Another seeing eye single….
Yank Hudson!!
Joe in SoCal (slightly perturbed)
May 30th, 2012
8:31 pm
dag gummit…ruined my prediction right there…now I’m slighlty perturbed.
2K91
May 30th, 2012
8:31 pm
I miss Gonzo at short.
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:32 pm
@Joe—Liberty won’t kill our Braves though—MLB is too strong in Georgia for that and our kids play the game at the youth level and play it seriously and well
And they are likely to be gone in time.
We are STUCK with the Levinson/Geron cluster for some time I think. They got what they wanted. They wanted the rights to the arena and the Hawks–If they cannot make money and build a serious winner on this arraingement they are total fools.
TNScott
May 30th, 2012
8:32 pm
Oh, to have Nolan Ryan or Bob Gibson pitching for us to Matt Holliday.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:32 pm
no it isn’t a joke. very old school though. like I said Herzog daid the same years ago. Same thing happened in football decades ago, players got bigger and more muscular and injuries, often joint injuries went up. Being overly fit when it’s not necessary can cause more problems than the bloggers here think. baseball has actually always been anti-workout
kevkat
May 30th, 2012
8:33 pm
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
7:59 pm
At least Wilson holds his own in the field. I thought he would hit at least .200.
Hmmm…normally
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:33 pm
Adams sure isn’t fit!!
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:35 pm
As for players being too fit, you can make that point about NFL players too. Those guys are walking (or running) missels at top speed.
There might be too much training in sports as we know it today.
And for all the training and pitch counts intended to save pitchers, guys are still blowing out their arms like they did in the sixties and 70’s and yrs before and after.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:36 pm
oh c’mon Huddy. we stopped scoring, you can’t give up a buncha runs
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
sumbatch
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
this game is getting way too close
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
I agree completely, nolie….just not with baseball players as so many are so clearly not fit that it doesn’t apply. Some are so unfit, i think they get hurt for the opposite reason.
Of course for the too fit in baseball, same deal.
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
Yikes, this has gone down hill quick!
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
Hudson is just not as good as he used to be and he is showing his age–fact.
Turned out to be not such a good start.
TNScott
May 30th, 2012
8:38 pm
When Huddy goes, he goes quickly.
Cap: Where's My Tip
May 30th, 2012
8:38 pm
come on Huddy, what’s happened here?
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:38 pm
that’s alright Huddy
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
8:38 pm
Too bad when we need a starter we can’t go out and sign one like the Rangers.
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
8:38 pm
Walks hurt the Braves once again. Terrible job by Huddy…you get a 5-0 lead you need to make it hold up.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
8:38 pm
cabravesfan That’s the glory of PIP- no need to actually flip unless something is on
That would be cool…
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
Should we bring back Hudson for next yr? Its to the point where it might be time to move on.
Second bad start in a row.
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
Well hell, it appeared the Braves would cruise, but not in this reality. Now Venters will come in and try to do something he hasn’t done in a while, and that is not give up runs. Stay tuned.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
in my day in baseball,and b4 that, it was very poorly thought of to work out and build muscle mass
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
Hudson is too fit.
Joe in SoCal (down right miffed)
May 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
now that just makes me down right miffed…c’mon Huddy what the ‘ell happened.
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
Gosh, whadda bum, Hudson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ric Flair to Right
May 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
Were are all the “huddy is a number 1″ now?
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
the way our pitchers struggle the 2nd and/or 3rd time in the order makes me wonder if an assistant pitching coach who was a starter would help our rotation. Seems to me that either a starter or reliever can teach fundamentals of pitching, watch tape, make adjustments in mechanics. Just seems to me that a coach with starting experience would help the starters more than McDowell with strategy going through the lineup multiple times
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
Venters in the 6th now. how the mighty have fallen
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
I’m kinda tired of Venters out there.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
big appearance by venters here – big for the team and big for his confidence
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
I step away for 10 minutes and look what’s happened….
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
F*** Venters.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
BALLGAME!!!!!
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
couldn’t type fast enough
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
Were are all the “huddy is a number 1″ now?
Because no No. 1 has ever struggled?
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
Venters is not too fit and can’t come close to fielding his position….
Sigh.
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
What a surprise…Venters gives it up.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
We have no pitching. Hopeless feeling.
Joe in SoCal (down right miffed)
May 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
and just like that….c’mon venters.
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
It seems like evers hit Venters gives up goes right up the middle.
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
*every
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
And Venterbumb does it again—he needs to be DFA’ed.
Worst reliever in baseball.
BTW–Three bad starts by Hudson in May. Both deserve to be Booed. This is a choke team and here is another losing streak in the making. Worst team in all of proffessional sports.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:43 pm
Simmons might have had that ball at SS…
1957 Braves Fan
May 30th, 2012
8:43 pm
Our pitchers sure give up a lot of multiple run innings.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:43 pm
Venters has lost velocity and movement on his pitches.
Subtle change in mechanics? Dead arm? Injury? It is more than simply the hitters making adjustments to him
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
8:43 pm
Number 1’s struggle…Huddy still isn’t one though.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:43 pm
man that sukks
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:43 pm
Disgusted, you sure get the award for “Most Extreme Posts”
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
And Hudson heads for the showers….
Oh well.
Dbo
May 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
Need to get rid of McDowell and Freddie G, not getting it done.
Another big lead blown.
What do you think DOB?
Cap: Where's My Tip
May 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
5 ER in 5+ innings for Huddy ( and 12 ER in 12 IP past two starts). Maybe next outing he’ll get back on track
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
Worst team in all of proffessional sports.
I’m sure the Hornets would beg to differ.
Or the Sacramento Kings
Or the Astros
Or the A’s
Or the Twins…
TNScott
May 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
Phil- John Kruk looked like he could take down an “All You Can Eat Buffet” with all the ferocity of a member of the Donner Party, but he was a career .300 hitter for his 10 year career.
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
Hudson can’t lose but he sure blew the chance to win. Venters is the only one who can win this game now.
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
…From the laundry room…had to do those jeans and such…I heard a distant voice say 5-5 St. Louis bats around….in the??? 6th…Oh boy–enjoy!
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
Disgusted…you need to be DFA’d you idiot.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
I’m disgusted with Disgusted, he deserves to be booed….
Joe in SoCal (down right miffed)
May 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
ugh misery! that dang airy feeling just got sucked right outta here.
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
It’s the late movement that’s missing from JV’s pitches….
Fire Roger McDowell!!
smallmouth6
May 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
Lot of worm-burning seeing-eye hits. That’s baseball, especially for a struggling team.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
Freakin’ Venters, probably spent the whole offseason working out with weights
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
Hudson is number one–As number one candidate to sign his retirement papers.
Don;t you get tired of the “he threw a good pitch” card these announcers try to throw at you. If the pitches are so good why can’t he get one more stinking out. Rotten effort by Hudson tonight.
Its about results man. And results are something we NEVER get.
This is as bad of a Braves pitching staff we have seen since the late 80’s. Thesse pitchers stink.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
if Georgie was worth a damn, we’d win this game…
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
Disgusted, you’d have a field day if they ever had battery day at the park, wouldn’t ya?
tommykk
May 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
Hudson was only at around 75 pitches too..very discouraging
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
nolie, I blame the posters.
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
10 year career….
Not 15, 18 or so….
Too dang fat.
BravesFanForever
May 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH VENTERS! I swear last year his stuff was unreal. Looking at his pitches I had to say WOW, how can anyone hit that? This year his stuff doesn’t have nearly as much action. Literally his stuff in 2011 was like Greg Maddux of 1995–absolutely unhittable. Maybe he has a tired arm, a small tear, lost his edge, lost the grip on the ball, lost his wind up, whatever–he is not the same pitcher–not even close.
Brava
May 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
Go Georgie!!
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
Maybe ice…but not expecting a lukewarm shower at this hour??? Still love Huddy, and, I am real surprised he didn’t go……..ok now let’s get a few more guys.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
speed, speed and more speed.
Love it Constanza
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
Summer…of….say it with me…GEORGE
Ralph
May 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
I wonder if Frank realizes yet how bad we need Simmons at SS.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
Or “Dozen Egg Night” lol
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
njbraves–Go on and apologize for Venters the way he is pitching he needs to be sent down and shown a lesson for being such a lousy pitcher.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
don’t get greedy wilson – sac bunt not bunt for a hit
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
smallmouth6
May 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
Lot of worm-burning seeing-eye hits. That’s baseball, especially for a struggling team.
*********
exactly.
tommykk
May 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
EOF is back to shutdown mode. FG screwed that one up by putting in Venters
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
Man, Jack Wilson is one goofy lookin’ sumbich…
Rick
May 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
“Need to get rid of McDowell and Freddie G, not getting it done.”
How many runs did they give up tonight?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
some questionable calls from this ump all night.
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
Jack Wilson has no business in the major leagues.
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
What is Hack doing?
Sigh.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
I seem to have missed some of you here yesterday…why is that?
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
Wilson is a very bad hitter. And I wouldn’t call him a “hitter”, more like somebody who stands there and makes outs.
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
If I had my way Venters would never throw another pitch in a Braves uniform again.
let the BUMB go to the Mets so we can take BP on him wearing that uniform.
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
Send that umpire to Miami and let him get eaten by cannibals
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
@Disgusted….you are aware of my position on ‘free speech,’ but I happen to think the world of Huddy and I disagree with you on that retirement statement….let’s stay real guy.
Dbo
May 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
Where Is DOB? No where to he found when the chips r down.
Typical:)
Doesn’t address any real topics.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:50 pm
speed – like the sparkplug
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:50 pm
Give georgie a few more days and reality shall return…
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
8:51 pm
Disgusted….you think sending Venters down will teach him a lesson?? What’s the lesson?? Pitch better?? The guy isn’t pitching poorly on purpose you dummy.
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:51 pm
Man, I love Constanza’s speed.
Rick
May 30th, 2012
8:51 pm
“EOF is back to shutdown mode. FG screwed that one up by putting in Venters”
Who would you have pitch the 7th and 8th if you wasted EOF for the one out?
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
8:51 pm
Jack Wilson is a roaming raccoon
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
Wilson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
Oh look, Jack drove in the go ahead run…
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
Hack delivers!!
Wonders never cease.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
Jack is my hero!!!
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
Oooooh, a run!
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
that run is Constanza – speed to get to second and the speed to score after that ball dropped
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
Like I said Wilson can get a hit once in a while if you’re patient.
Brava
May 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
Woohoo! Wilson!!!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:53 pm
sukk on that haters……
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:53 pm
Outstanding at bat by the vet
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
8:53 pm
Jack Wilson….professional ball player.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
8:53 pm
welp, that run was ALL constanza
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:53 pm
GD MLB.tv is effing up on me right now. I’m missing the rally!
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:53 pm
that was a good at bat by Wilson – he worked the pitcher hard making him throw a bunch of pitches.
Joe in SoCal (down right miffed)
May 30th, 2012
8:53 pm
wow…i was just about to order a Fedex ticket to South America for Wilson…and up jumped a rabbit!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
way to go to the right side Matty
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
Good at bat by MattE too
Trey
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
Nice one, Diaz.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
good at bat by diaz – inside out swing to put that ball on the right side of the infield. Good fundamental at bat by Diaz there
B_F 52
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
Well I’ll be jacked and hacked
SMOLTZ 29
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
“Everyday” Johnny means he allows at least a run every day! MERCY
chokeartistbraves
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
can someone PLEASE tell me why constanza hasn’t been here the whole season. makes me wonder about the judgment in the club house.
Rick
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
“welp, that run was ALL constanza”
Yeah Wilson totally didn’t hit a double to drive him in.
2K91
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
If you look past the failed bunt attempt it was a great AB by Wilson – followed by a very good AB by Diaz!
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:54 pm
suicide squeeze with Bourn??
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
8:55 pm
Thats ok.Martin will get him in.
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:56 pm
nice contact by Bourn – great defense by that pitcher.
Wilson should never have been so far off the base but great job by Wilson to somehow make that a longer rundown
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:56 pm
walk Marteen
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:56 pm
way to come back to earth, Wilson…
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
8:56 pm
Chicken shi*s
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:56 pm
take it personally BMAC that they are walking someone to get to you – make them pay for it
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:56 pm
Another pathetic failure by Boras, er, Bourn…
Sigh.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
8:56 pm
because choke, we have Heyward……..dont you see how much more Constanza brings than Heyward? So the obvious choice is to keep Heyward
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
8:56 pm
The crappy thing about the way the game is now is that if the Braves keep the lead, Venters will be the winner. Talk about non deserving.
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:57 pm
Once again, cannot get the run in.
Poor Charlotte Bobcats, they got screwed in the NBA draft lottery. Not the first time its happened.
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
8:57 pm
All this trash talk from our negative bloggers who don’t realize as of now -
1) Venters – winning pitcher
2) Georgie – scored winning run
3) Jack Wilson – game winning hit and rbi
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
8:57 pm
McCann will hit another homerun here.
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:57 pm
Notice Mac’s red cheeks….
Mister Frisky
May 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
Georgie the new RF.Enough of Heybust already.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
Yadier showing Mac how NOT to playcatcher
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
for all the flak that McCann takes here, Molina has really struggled this series
kevkat
May 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
As bad as he’s been lately, Venters could actually be the winning pitcher if this lead holds. This crazy game!
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
Way to go, Molina, you gold glove catcher…
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
He did do that rick. But it was Constanza who beat out the infield single, Constanza who took second on a ball in the dirt IN FRONT of the plate, and Constanza who was speedy enough to score on that after holding at second to see if the ball was going to drop. Thanks for playing
1991 braves
May 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
Same old song and dance. Fred Flintstone leaves in a starter too long, and then he brings in the worst option available in bullpen. The homers on braves t.v. need to brag about how wonderful Hudson is with a 5 run lead again. LOL!! Hudson is done, his E.R.A. is going to be close to 5 after tonight. The guy looks like a batting practice pitcher. Another one of Wren’s pitiful moves. Signing an over the hill pitcher to 3 year contract after he was coming off of surgery. Now, he is coming off of surgery again, and he is done. Yet the braves are stuck with his big contract the remaining of this year. His E.R.A. will be worse than Lowe’s was last year. So that makes 3 over the hill guys(Hudson, Jones, and Lowe) that the braves are paying over 33 million in salary thanks to Wren and his boneheaded decisions.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
MAC
brian
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
great job McCann!!!!
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
Now when Mac makes out, it will cost us 2 runs….
I hope i’m kidding.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA…shift that, Cards…
JipWiz
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
YEAH BABY
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
Nice!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
Mac beats the shift. Who is that Molina fellow???
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
HECK YEAH, BMAC!!!
Brava
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
WTG BMac!!!!!
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
McCann again
JNick
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
Phil with the reverse psychology…lol
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
I like Hudson too capt Mudd, but come on, the results are notthere anymore. You have seen his May record, he cannot even get through 6 anymore.
2K91
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
So Mac can hit a grounder go the left side!!!
phil
May 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
Yes sir!!
He beats the shift. Nicely done.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
keylargo – Venters will get the vulture nickname with this win if we hold the lead – he let the tying run score on a single
Joe in SoCal (down right miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
thatta boy Mac…have a game buddy! Make’em pay.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
I believe this is the first time all year that both McCann and Uggla have opposite-field base hits….
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
B-Mac beat the shift there, that’s for sure.
Frankie Wren
May 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
What the Braves were doing when on nice streak. Get ahead, other team scores, come back and put more on board.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
the speed Georgie brings is huge. Hope he can stay healthy this season
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
UGGS!!! :COOL:
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
Uggla with a rope there
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
I hate the term “crooked numbers”. So overused.
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
njbrave–Its not that Venters is pitching lousy in purpose, the bottom line is that this loser is costing the Braves every time he shown his tail out there—He cannot get the job done.
Bring in a guy who can do the job–look who is calling someone a dummy.
That statement from you was the dumbest I have seen on the board.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
Chew on that, Mac haters!!!
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
Our boys want this bad.
Joe in SoCal (not as miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:02 pm
alright Bravos…way to respond right there..
Veer
May 30th, 2012
9:03 pm
We won yesterday because of Conztanza and today Conztanza’s speed started the rally. If we had Fransisco then none of this would have happend. I think when Chipper comes back then you have to either release Wilson or get rid of Fransisco. We need a SS so Fransisco’s days are probably over
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
9:04 pm
I oughta fling a fit and carry on about BMac’s batting spot more often…
Disgusted
May 30th, 2012
9:04 pm
“As bad as he’s been lately, Venters could actually be the winning pitcher if this lead holds. This crazy game!”
I never liked the idea of a relief pitcher who blows a lead getting a win.
But Hudson really does not deserve to win the way he let it get away. Just hope they hold on–until they get to Kimbrell will be antsy.
Rick
May 30th, 2012
9:05 pm
“I like Hudson too capt Mudd, but come on, the results are notthere anymore. You have seen his May record, he cannot even get through 6 anymore.”
He’s pitched 7 or more innings in 3 of his 7 starts and only one start was less than 6 innings.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
9:05 pm
Fact….if we win tonight, we are 2-0 so far this season with Constanza, along with what he did for us last summer. Pretty sure its no coincidence
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:05 pm
Releasing Francisco will not provide Constanza any more playing time because Marteen would be in left, with Chipper at 3rd. Constanza would maybe get 1 game a week with an extra one here and there to give Bourn or Jason a break. Mostly, he’d be on the bench…no place to play him
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:05 pm
Durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrbinator.
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
9:07 pm
brian – I guess it’s better Venters than Hudson who gave up that 4 run lead. If Venters got the out, Hudson would still be the pitcher of record.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:07 pm
Easy with those facts, Rick….
Known to confuse many.
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
9:08 pm
The Braves might need to start shading Furcal up the middle. That’s twice that he’s hit the ball in the same place and just outta the reach of Wilson.
Rick
May 30th, 2012
9:08 pm
Actually, 2 starts under 6 innings including tonight. Point remains though.
Joe in SoCal (not as miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:09 pm
positives for Huddy…last game two big innings…this game..one big inning..next game..no big inninngs…improvement people…recognize.
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:09 pm
Good work Durbinator!!!
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:10 pm
Durbin Deep
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:10 pm
Dbo
May 30th, 2012
9:05 pm
Finally DOB pipes up, boy you sure r selective:)
*********
announcing the arrival of another of the mentally unstable…
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:10 pm
Man, Durbinator is on FIRE…believe that makes 10 appearances in a row w/ no runs. Might be 11. Anyway, since May 7th…
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
9:11 pm
Veer – your and idiot, as the old blog saying goes. Francisco is not going anywhere, Wilson is not going anywhere and no Uggla is not going to play LF so they can call up Simmons and move Pastornicky to 2nd.
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
9:11 pm
Durbin has been great lately…gotta give the guy credit.
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:12 pm
@DOB….you rack your brain to come up with creative and interesting ideas/strategies for stories….not easy to accomplish–hard work–much appreciated.
Joe in SoCal (not as miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:12 pm
JHey needs a meaningless hit in the worst way right now.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:12 pm
time for Heyward to do something tonight
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
9:13 pm
Durbin is growing on me, he can stay, for now
All kidding aside, it’s great to see him step it up when he’s definitely needed.
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:13 pm
C’mon Heyward make some hay for the poor little herd
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
9:15 pm
The answer to the trivia question should tell you all need to know.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:15 pm
Another fastball right on by Wayward…
When he swings, it’s waaay late….
Hands fidgeting on the bat….
Rolls over one to first.
Same ole thing, thereby forcing me to dwell on it.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:15 pm
speed – Constanza hit that ball hard and right at Furcal. even with furcal’s great arm, he still almost beat it out
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:15 pm
A transpire sky….going down, down, down, down, down…..going down in Durbin deep…..
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
9:16 pm
J-hey, its time to say G-bye
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:17 pm
@phil….sounds like you’re philled up with Heyword
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
9:17 pm
Do any of you “Brain Surgeons” like Veer remember Tim Hudson had two vertebrae fused in the off season, had no Spring Training, started the season on the DL and made his debut April 29?
I didn’t think so.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:18 pm
@NCBravesFan – Oswalt won 20 games a few times in that span – not really saying much since the NL is full of young starting pitching now, and very few pitchers have been in the NL since 2005….
Says something about Hudson though, having missed an entire season, plus some, and still at #4 on the list.
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
9:18 pm
Oswalt missed his fair share of time as well.
Joe in SoCal (not as miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:19 pm
agree key…he’s just gettin into game form…bodes well for our future.
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
9:19 pm
And his ability to pitch was the least of the Braves front office worries. The only problem was the $$$$
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:19 pm
@keylargo…..did you suffer any residuals from your long {recent} trek south?
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
The excuse last year was his shoulder….
What is it this year?
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
Oh I agree. Unfortunately, we’re handcuffed by payroll.
I’m curious who #2 and #3 were on that list…
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
9:22 pm
Why is the velocity down on all of our pitchers with the exception of Captain K?
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:22 pm
Glad Mac and FF are back….
Huge lift.
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
CaptMudd – the bike ride? No, I ride daily so it was just a long day of riding.
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
@phil…re: Hedgewerd…..he be overmatched at the plate guy–that be da problem
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
JNick-
Yeah no leverage with payroll really sucks, especially when the Braves are a team that could win a NL crown with a few additional pieces.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
that was just terrible Uggla
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
Choke but he’s our Uggla
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:24 pm
Horrid infield D…..
Ric Flair to Right
May 30th, 2012
9:24 pm
You gotta believe the braves brass are considering sending down Hey-Bust…what would it hurt
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:24 pm
double play here would be nice
phoenix
May 30th, 2012
9:25 pm
Words you’ll never hear in the same sentence: “Dan Uggla” and “Gold Glove.”
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:25 pm
Yes, he’s overmatched.
But why?
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:26 pm
Dan Uggla will never win a gold glove.
Ha
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:26 pm
@KeyLargo…I used to ride alot years ago prior to my knees going completely out–love it–grew up in Ormond Beach, FL and would {in my thirties} ride from Grenada Blvd. to Daytona Beach Shores–Dunlawton approach and back every saturday–loved it and the scenery was delightful of course.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
9:26 pm
well here we go again. what ever has happened to the big three, minus kimbrel, i would like for it to be undone
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
Dan and EOF trying to give it away….
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
Eric’s velo also down 4-5 MPH. What the heck. Come on, we need a DP!
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
Looks like EOF joining the ranks of the relief challenged
GBI
May 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
I remember last night one of the “rocket scientist”contributors here saying he had to go to gameday to see that Venters only allowed one run because reading entries here he thought Venters was giving up 7! His take was that people were over reacting to Venters performance.
Time some of you idiots get this: A bullpen pitcher in Venters role is to come in and allow ZERO runs, not “no big deal, it’s only a couple.” Tonight is another good example. He comes in to get one out and preserve the lead and he promptly gives up a hit and the tying run scores.
Venters has been a heck of a pen arm for a couple of years now, but due to overwork or head problems, he is currently no more than a mop up arm. Maybe he will get it back. Maybe he won’t. Perhaps “everyday Jonny” took it’s toll. But until he gets it back (if he gets it back) he should not be relied upon in a game where the Braves lead or are close.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:28 pm
The big three a mere shadow now…..
Pitiful.
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:29 pm
Only gold uggly will get is by way of retail sale
Cap: Where's My Tip
May 30th, 2012
9:30 pm
dang, that’s 2 runs after the error
nolie
May 30th, 2012
9:30 pm
what a buncha crap
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
9:30 pm
What the hell is there left to say?
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:30 pm
Ruh Roh.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:30 pm
I do not want to face Furcal here
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
Do we have a damn pitcher who can field the position? An IF other than FF?
Good grief!
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
shaky bullpen
tmc
May 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
What the hell is wrong with EOF?
and why is he still on the mound?
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
Man, how things have changed when we have more faith in Durbin than JV or Eric O…oy.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
I cant stand Furcal
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
What the hell is there left to say?
We’re still winning.
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
Whew! Edge of your seat stuff there.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
Just get out of the inning with the lead. Captain K will take care of the rest.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
huge strikeout there
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
9:33 pm
Might need Craig to get a 4-out save.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
9:33 pm
Going to the 9th with the lead…that’s a good thing!
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
9:33 pm
We might be getting a top RP somewhere before all is said and done. Everybody as been average or below other than Kimbrel.
TBbravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:34 pm
think we are guing to have to score 9 or 10 runs every game to maybe win.
kirkinga
May 30th, 2012
9:34 pm
Losing Furcal is still hurting the Braves.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:34 pm
That was close….
Nice job, EOF?
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:34 pm
@cabravesfan…How you doing tonight? Tough one fro Huddy, but Braves win will be soothing.
GBI
May 30th, 2012
9:34 pm
I was screaming for Durbin’s head after the first couple of weeks of the season. He was pathetic! He was a rally for the opposition when he entered the game!
Hate to say it but I agree with Jason. Durbin is pitching pretty well of late while Venters is pathetic and EOF is up one day and down the next.
njbraves
May 30th, 2012
9:35 pm
This entire pitching staff sucks right now.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:35 pm
CaptMudd-
I’m OK. Tired. How ’bout you?
Jerry
May 30th, 2012
9:35 pm
yeah cab, we are still winning, however tedious that might be.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
9:36 pm
Where is Cory Gearin? I liked that dude, he was pretty good most times. Nothing all that special, but had a lot of Moylan in him and thre harder. Oh and he’s from my parts
Rick
May 30th, 2012
9:36 pm
The last time EOF gave up a run was on May 7th.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:36 pm
Our pitching really has gone to hell this season.
Just not used to seeing this yet.
Hope Kimbrel is Durbinesque tonight….lol
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:37 pm
How is winning tedious?
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:38 pm
@cabravesfan…yea, tired due to overwork at the new house and, of course, the southern heat/humidity.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
9:38 pm
i hope kimbrel is kimbrelesque
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:38 pm
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:39 pm
CaptMudd-
That’s a good reason to be tired
I was up all night with a crying dog
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:39 pm
bunting Bourn here is huge. Pastornicky is fast but with Bourn running to first the fielder has really no time to try and decide to throw to first or make an attempt at second
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
9:39 pm
CaptMudd – the only thing between me and a knee replacement is 25 miles a day on my bicycle. I can feel the stiffness and range of motion reducing after about 2 days of not riding.
I went for a month last year to New Smyrna Beach. I bought a month pass to Cape Canaveral National Seashore and rode that entire park area every day. That is one of the most undiscovered parts of Florida I can think of. All of that land around Cape Canaveral is obviously undeveloped but then you have Mosquito Lagoon and Merritt Island to name a couple.
I’ll go back there again late this fall to enjoy some temperature changes.
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:39 pm
Applesauce dude has loose start
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:39 pm
of course walking Bourn was nice as well
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
Gearrin and his 0.91 ERA are stuck at AAA.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
I love Fredi bunting Prado there and Prado’s willingness and ability to bunt. Perfect
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
bases loaded 1 out. Got to get something here
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
Ah, boo!…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
goin’ for the Uggla DP
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
Gearrin has struggled int he majors at times, but I’m thinking he will be called up after the Nats series when the team sends Boscan back down…
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
that will do just fine!!!
way to go Uggla
2K91
May 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
Why do you bunt the first pitch after 8 straight balls?
At least take a strike.
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
Productive Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
Yay! Sac fly!!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
That will work…getting that run in is the most important thing
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
Ok, what happeend to the real Uggla…he goes oppo-field again???
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
@Key…sounds very stimulating and, a boost to your cardio training program I would assume–challenging:)
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
Freeman went for HR number 2 there. Felt the breeze in NC with that swing
nolie
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
opposite field fly ball by Uggly to foil their dastardly plan
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
Uggla tries to make up for the goof up….
Good job.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
Why do you bunt the first pitch after 8 straight balls?
Yeah- I mean, it’s not like it was flawless or anything
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
Fred-EEEEEEEEEEEE
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
2K91, bc it got two runners into scoring position, both of which have now scored
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
single works well to Freddie – great to have him back!!!!
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
Freeman!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
Love it!!! Our team is back.
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
And now comes Wayward, the rally killer
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
shows how strong freddie is there – inside pitch, hands pulled in and still got it out into RF
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
Kudos to the Skipper
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
I think any questions about why Freddie was struggling after the Colorado series have been answered.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
Chip couldn’t even tell it was a hit til it bounced….
Must be into the booze.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
looks like a good crowd there tonight. What is the attendence – I missed it?
ncgary
May 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
series
Joe in SoCal (not as miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:44 pm
Freddie..just a triple shy tonight..welcome back kid.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:44 pm
Wayward to kill the rally….
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
9:44 pm
Called it!
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
@Brava…Bravo, we are back and, we got this one.
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
Heyward is awful.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
I hate it when folks pile on, but even I gotta admit that Jason looks really lost in a lot of his at bats
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
Indeed, Capt.
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
Well done, FF.
We sure need him and Mac to help fill in the cavern in the lineup that is Jason…
Nativebird
May 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
Three words: Jason Heyward: Bust.
ncgary
May 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
someone had to make an out there so kimbrel gets the save
David
May 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
Would Jason benefit from a AAA stint? He looks lost.
Joe in SoCal (not as miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
nice inning by the bravos right there…put the heat right back on ‘em.
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
@cabravesfan….What happened to the pooch which led to this episode you spoke of earlier via post?
Rilo
May 30th, 2012
9:47 pm
no walks please….no walks
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:48 pm
We are “Free–Man” of that poor streak…onward Bravos, onward with vigor!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:48 pm
CaptMudd-
Just an upset stomach – VJ, God bless him, took her out twice at 4:00 & 5:00 this morning…I was up from around 2:00 until about 6:00 and had to be up at 7:15 to go to the gym…long night
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:49 pm
Kimmie knew that was a strike
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:49 pm
Oh sit down Freese, that pitch was right in there….
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
Kimbrel…froze him…he be Freesed!!!
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
1 more Kimbrel – looking great so far
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
Kimbrel is nasty again tonight…
Ric Flair to Right
May 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
Hey-Bust has to have to the biggest hole in his swing I’ve ever seen…then top it off he might have the slowest bat in the bigs…I just dont see him being anymore than a bench player…hopefully I’m wrong and he figures it out
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
Kimbrel is a beast.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
Minor versus Strasburg – why should I be concerned?
Joe in SoCal (not as miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
thats the kid we know and love…put this baby to bed!
2K91
May 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
OYEAH
I agree with the bunt but lets make the pitcher finally throw a strike – he might have walked Prado which would have also moved the runners into scoring position without giving up an out.
Prado could have bunted after the pitcher threw him a strike.
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
That slider should be outlawed…that was wicked…lol
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
Wow- the Mariners are up 17-0 (NOT a typo) over the Rangers in the 5th inning
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
I will say it again – stick with the heater!!
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
Way to field that one with your purse, Hack…
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
who is at SS now??? Seriously?? Come on Jack
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
Again, why do we even bother to run Pastornicky or Wilson out there?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
If this is not the worst defensive infield that I have ever seen, it sure does a great impression…
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
that;s OK Kimbrel – I know you wanted to strike out the side!!!
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Send Kimbrel to AAA….
Stretch him out.
Start him every game. Complete games. He can do it. No one else seems to be able other than Durbin.
TNScott
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Calling Andrellton Simmons!!!!
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Minor is getting skipped over last i heard
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Braves win! All is right again in Braves Country.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
he bailed us out there – that was ball 3
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Hack looks at the ground as if the ground caused that pathetic play at short…..
Give us a break.
BFChris27
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Braves WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe in SoCal (not as miffed)
May 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
ballgame…nice job takin the series…
JNick
May 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
Starting to agree with that statement, TNScott…
Bravefaninok
May 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
WTG Bravos!
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
A win! 2 straight.
Nice job boys
David
May 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
6 more and we could erase that 8 game um…misstep.
B_F 52
May 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
Young M.R. K
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
Some of you make it sound like Simmons would get to every ball and never make an error…
Brava
May 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
Minor needs to be skipped over. Why let him pitch with the off day? That would be dumb.
brian
May 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
great job by the bats tonight – Freeman’s return obviously huge for this lineup – I also like him hitting in the 5th spot. McCann coming to life also big.
Don’t forget the sparkplug Constanza. Great game. Makes us better defensively in the OF and the team is much stronger with Prado at 3B and Constanza in LF than with Prado in LF and Francisco at 3B
go-BRAVOS
May 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
I hope I read on here about everyone bad mouthing Wilson after tonight’s game. That’s 2 errors on him in the game. Everybody likes to talk smack about the rookie Rev and his defense so I expect the same for has been Wilson.
Go Braves!
keylargo
May 30th, 2012
9:57 pm
Georgie has good instincts and covers some ground with his speed in LF. I’m not a big fan of his but he played this same ball last year until he sprained his ankle. Maybe he deserves another look while we’re winning with him in the lineup.
JMO
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:57 pm
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
Wow- the Mariners are up 17-0 (NOT a typo) over the Rangers in the 5th inning
********
guess Oswalt isn’t ready after all….
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
9:57 pm
Whew! That was a VERY good win, boys!! Our pitchers need to calm down, but so glad the offense bailed them out!…
Good game for BMac, too—hope it continues…
phil
May 30th, 2012
9:59 pm
Good night all…
cricket
May 30th, 2012
9:59 pm
character building win today…may be some here are beyond it, though
DZ
May 30th, 2012
10:00 pm
@DOB – will you please ask Fredi why he keeps putting this anchor called Jack Wilson in the lineup?
BravesFAN
May 30th, 2012
10:01 pm
Jason Heyward has not had a multi hit performance in a nine inning game since April 19th. More than 37 games have gone bye and Jason Heyward has YET to have a TWO HIT GAME since April 19th.
Since April 20th Jason Heyward has gone 24 for 122 that’s a .196 average!!!!!!
For the month of May Heyward has hit for a .209 average and a .321 OBP. PATHETIC!!!!
brian
May 30th, 2012
10:01 pm
yes McFann- a very good night for BMAC. I am hoping that the time off due to flu like illnes let some of his other ailments heal up while also giving him some time for some tee work
Powder Blue
May 30th, 2012
10:02 pm
http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12563591
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
10:02 pm
other teams must chuckle when they see Braves highlights {vid}…re: SS/3B with the renowned combo of Franscisco/Pastor/Jack….just not smooth…a bit rough in the trenches as you are aware.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
10:04 pm
brian—
Yeah, hopefully! Prolly so glad to have tomorrow be a complete day-ff, too—haven’t been many of them…
BravesFAN
May 30th, 2012
10:05 pm
DOB – Over nearly 40 games Jason Heyward has hit under .200 and we haven’t heard a word about it in your blog. Can we get an update on your thoughts about Heyward at the plate? He has looked terrible since April 20th hitting for a .196 average over 37 games yet he continues to start every game. Your the beat writer you report on everything that is Braves baseball and we’re trotting out a guy that’s hit .196 for the past 37 games now and you haven’t reported much of anything on Heyward’s struggles at the plate….
Darth Obama
May 30th, 2012
10:05 pm
Hey BravesFAN,
We won the game, be happy:)
cricket
May 30th, 2012
10:05 pm
so after today’s rough day in field, wilson is suddenly a POS defender? this place is really unbelievable, can cover any silver cloud with a dark lining.
TNScott
May 30th, 2012
10:07 pm
JNick-If Furcal can make the leap from High A ball, Andy should get a shot. It surprised me in a way that Andy’s defense wasn’t the deciding factor in choosing him over Rev considering the Braves history of winning on pitching and defense. Then you have essentially two rookies starting in the back half of the rotation where they need all the defense they can get. A bit puzzling.
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
10:08 pm
Woah, Elizabeth!!! First time I’ve got a glimpse of her.
Mister Frisky
May 30th, 2012
10:08 pm
Heyward is what he is.230 to 250 that’s it.Not exactly your face of the franchise for the next 15 years.
CaptMudd
May 30th, 2012
10:09 pm
Classic retrospective Keenerism by Lizzy!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:10 pm
And on to hockey…
brian
May 30th, 2012
10:11 pm
Heyward is just 22 and still has a high ceiling. He should though, be on notice, with Constanza’s success in the lineup. It would be really easy to move Constanza to RF, Prado to LF, and Chipper to 3B when he returns with Chipper inserted into Heyward’s spot in the batting order.
If that happens it would be interesting to see if the BRaves consider sending him down for some low pressure batting work for a couple of weeks
Moe Berg
May 30th, 2012
10:14 pm
cab–I am guessing you are for the Kings? Never been much of a fan of hockey but have been to see the Devils with friends, since moving here to NJ. So I guess I will go for them. Once, when I lived in Boston, I was invited to go to a Bruins game with a group of Catholic priests. Had a conflict and so did not go. Think it would have been an interesting sociological experience.
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
10:15 pm
DZ: Jack Wilson got the game winning hit, what else do you want?
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:16 pm
Moe-
been a Kings fan off and on for years…I find it hard to find the time to watch during the regular season (too much else going on) but I love play-off hockey, no matter who is playing. The Kings having this magical run is just icing on the cake for me
ohhhhYEAH
May 30th, 2012
10:17 pm
actually wilson put us back up 6-5, the score was 10-7, so had that been the last run, we wouldve lost
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:17 pm
Devils just tried to cheat a goal…
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:18 pm
refs got it right, even if the fans boo
Moe Berg
May 30th, 2012
10:20 pm
cab–I think I will never be more than a playoff fan. It is fun to see live but not as much on t.v. I have lived in Boston, Chicago and now New Jersey, but I have never paid much attention. Hope the Kings do well.
Going to head off to dinner.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:21 pm
Moe-
Play-off hockey is great because there are few stoppages and pretty much zero commercials during play.
Enjoy dinner!
BobDawg
May 30th, 2012
10:22 pm
NOW DON’T ALL YOU BAND WAGON FANS JUMP BACK ON THE BRAVOS BANDWAGON NOW???!!!! This Division will go to the wire unless the Phils come back strong with Utley and Howard which I’m not seeing yet…
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
10:24 pm
Chip and Joe just said Wilson’s hit was the turning point and the key hit in the game. So, he got a clutch RBI…is that better?
I personally think Freeman’s return was the high point to the game and the spark we have needed and missed. And Georgie did OK too, as much as it pains me to say, but he seems to make the most of his chances, at least for awhile.
Moe Berg
May 30th, 2012
10:26 pm
cab–that makes sense about play-off hockey. Have a good night. Off to dinner.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:26 pm
Moe-
You have a good night as well
Moe Berg
May 30th, 2012
10:28 pm
Thanks, cab. Talk later.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:29 pm
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
#Braves have optioned SS Tyler Pastornicky to Triple-A Gwinnett. No announcement yet if Simmons is coming up.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
10:30 pm
Pastornicky optioned to Triple-A.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:30 pm
(Sorry for stealing your thunder, DOB!
)
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
10:31 pm
Oh crud…poor Rev…
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
10:33 pm
Whoa ………. I wonder what’s up
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:33 pm
Cue the tsunami of comments…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:35 pm
pitcher got tired of his D?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
10:36 pm
Bat M. Whoa ………. I wonder what’s up
Fredi hates Rev!!!
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
10:36 pm
maybe he is medlen’s personal shortstop?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:37 pm
Meds prolly needed someone to carry the My Little Pony case down there…
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
10:38 pm
Surely a relief pitcher is not coming up and Wilson takes over at short for now?
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:39 pm
They aren’t using the My Little Pony bag this year- there was a suitcase (seriously- one of those roller carry on sized ones) that Kimmie broke and now he has a giant cooler looking backpack looking thing…
brian
May 30th, 2012
10:39 pm
keeping 3 catchers but just Wilson at SS……..
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
10:39 pm
McFann _
Yeah, old Fredi is one heartless cat
Mister Frisky
May 30th, 2012
10:39 pm
Go get ya shine box kid.
Kat
May 30th, 2012
10:39 pm
From Twitter:
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Roster Move: T. Pastornicky has been optioned to Gwinnett. The contract of A. Simmons has been purchased from Mississippi, will wear #19.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:39 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Roster Move: T. Pastornicky has been optioned to Gwinnett. The contract of A. Simmons has been purchased from Mississippi, will wear #19.
(and the backpack is a bullpen thing anyways
)
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:40 pm
Does that make Boscan the SS sub too?
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
10:40 pm
Roster Move: T. Pastornicky has been optioned to Gwinnett. The contract of A. Simmons has been purchased from Mississippi, will wear #19.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
May 30th, 2012
10:40 pm
Well, I’m glad they sent Pastornicky out…….but I don’t think 10 years in AAA will make up for tools he just don’t have…….he doesn’t have the arm or the range to be an everyday major league SS….don’t even think his glove is good enough to be a backup infielder……that’s a shame….he had shown some flashes of potential at the plate…
brian
May 30th, 2012
10:40 pm
I like Pastornicky – hopefully he can work on his defense and possibly start work on being a super utility guy- starts at SS, 2B and CF at AAA
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
10:40 pm
So who’s the backup at short?
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
10:40 pm
Bat M.—
He is!
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:41 pm
Wilson still, I assume Bat
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 30th, 2012
10:42 pm
Oh well, time to shut down. Good win, int’resting move—this has to have been one of the strangest weeks+ of Braves-related…whatever in my time as a fann, anyway…
Night, all!
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:43 pm
Not sure if they will throw Simmons out there on Friday against Strasbourg…look for Wilson to start that one, at least (just my guess…)
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:43 pm
not bringing a kid in the middle of his development up to spend a lot of time on the bench, at least I wouldn’t think so
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:43 pm
Night McFann!
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
10:43 pm
The contract of A. Simmons has been purchased from Mississippi, will wear #19
Well damn, how about that. Never say never, baby
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
10:43 pm
obviously Ross would be backup SS – but he should be starting there as well
Mister Frisky
May 30th, 2012
10:44 pm
I’m sure Simmons will be fine.Then Braves will let him go like Furcal,Escobar,and Andrus.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:45 pm
BTW, if anyone likes great play-off games, take a look at the Kings-Devils game…intense, well played, tied game headed to OT
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
10:46 pm
my guess is he…well I agree with nolie. would be stupid to make the move today and not start him tomorrow. He could have just as easily flown to washington saturday am for that start (and the braves never do anything stupid).
or maybe they will use him as a defensive replacement for wilson
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:46 pm
Furcal left on his own
Escobar drove himself away
Andrus was traded for someone the team was hoping would push them to the playoffs…
Brava
May 30th, 2012
10:46 pm
Can’t say this move surprises me. Rev is a huge defensive liability.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:47 pm
nope, we already had a coupla “nevers” this week, Meds to start and AlBaby up to the bigs…
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:47 pm
tiger-
If they start him tomorrow, there is a problem- they are off tomorrow
Kat
May 30th, 2012
10:48 pm
cab.. for what it’s worth, which could be nothing lol, Bowman tweeted that “He will start at short on Friday night in D.C.”
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:48 pm
a day off? what in the world is that? are you certain???
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:48 pm
tiger-
Also, it’s probably easier to make the move while at home, with a day off tomorrow to let everyone settle into new roles.
MikeInFl
May 30th, 2012
10:49 pm
If they start him tomorrow, there is a problem- they are off tomorrow
ah, the old tell-the-rookie-he’s-starting-then-don’t-even-have-a-game trick. They fall for it every time.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:50 pm
Kat-
Not sure how Bowman would know that, since the lineups are a good 36 hours from being posted
(Bowman has been cheerleading for Simmons for a while now…to the point of annoyance, at least for me)
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:50 pm
I resent it that all the lil’ birdies on tweeter get the nes first. we have been forlorned
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:51 pm
nolie-
I know- it’s been a while. But they actually have 2 in the next 5 days…and there are much worse places to have a day off than Miami…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:51 pm
news first
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:52 pm
I resent it that all the lil’ birdies on tweeter get the nes first. we have been forlorned
Or you could just get a twitter account…
MikeInFl
May 30th, 2012
10:52 pm
Didn’t see the game tonight – the summary reads like our pitching was more unlucky than bad. 7 runs, 5 earned, and no extra base hits… just 10 singles, and almost all of them ground balls. But, maybe I’m just reading into it what I want to believe…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:52 pm
Bowman was born annoying, cried the whole time….
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:52 pm
Billy Bullock @BillyBullock
Congrats to Simba makin his big league debut tom! Gonna miss him playin behind us!! Guy can pick it!
Ok, they call Simmons “Simba”- Awesome. We need to jump on that…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:53 pm
if God had meant for folks to twitter he woulda given us beaks……
Kat
May 30th, 2012
10:53 pm
cab … that’s the ‘for what’ it’s worth’ part lol. Things change so much.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
10:54 pm
I’ve had a twitter account for several years, doesn’t mean diddly…….. I never even think to turn it on
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:54 pm
infield is so short of range that ground balls keep leaking through, several woulda likely been handled by a decent infield
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:56 pm
Kat-
Oh, I have no problem with you! It’s Bowman…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:56 pm
well Martin does have a bit more range than Chips or ‘cisco
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
10:56 pm
This should quite all the Wren haters (a minute or 2) for doing nothing…he’s changed the starting rotation and our shortstop in less than a week. Medlen and Simmons are hopefully better options than what we were using.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:57 pm
Matt Kemp hurt himself again…
Steve from OH
May 30th, 2012
10:57 pm
Feel bad for the Rev. Guy was cannon fodder from day 1.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
10:57 pm
Heyward better watch his ass or he’s next. Surely there’s a 19 year old kid somewhere in the lower minors they can call up.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
10:57 pm
ah he’ll just get more hate for not doing it sooner if it’s an improvement
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
10:58 pm
Not too surprised to see Simmons get a shot. Hope Rev does well in AAA.
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
10:59 pm
cab – was thinking simmons was in AAA and they are already here so mighta been a little more difficult.
Either way DOB says making his debut Friday that typically means playing no?
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
10:59 pm
Feel bad for the Rev. Guy was cannon fodder from day 1.
So do I. Seems like a good kid, earned the job in Spring, did it as best he could. Maybe a step back will clear his head a bit and help him out
Steve from OH
May 30th, 2012
11:00 pm
Heyward better watch his ass or he’s next. Surely there’s a 19 year old kid somewhere in the lower minors they can call up.
Ha! Haven’t read the blog hardly at all but it appears Heyward is still no better than dirt to most here?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:00 pm
is Parraz hurt?
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
11:01 pm
Wow, didn’t know I could see into the future haha…
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
Simmons probably needs to be called up before the charter leaves for Washington.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:02 pm
tiger-
Not necessarily- Simmons will be with the team on Friday- no guarantee he will play. If it were me, I may not let him make his MLB debut against a guy like Strasbourg, but it’s not me, so we shall see…neither he or Wilson are going to be big bat guys, and both are good with the glove, so not sure it would make a huge difference if he starts Friday or Saturday…
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
11:02 pm
Yeah he was, Steve. The kid struggled with the glove more than I thought he would though.
I’ll tell you one thing, I think a hell of a lot more highly of what Uggla said about the behind the back flip the other night than what Fredi did. Been through the fires vet takes the heat. Bush league comment from the manager.
MikeInFl
May 30th, 2012
11:03 pm
From all I’ve read, Simmons is not just “good” defensively. He’s spectacular. Great range, instincts and huge arm (97 mph fastball when he was pitching). Hopefully he can hit a little too, but it should be fun (and different) watching him play D.
Sopheee
May 30th, 2012
11:04 pm
Fun times at the ballpark. You’re welcome, McFann.
I was camp-Simmons in Spring Training but still feel kinda bad for Pastor. Best wishes to him.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:04 pm
Strasburg has had a few non-Strasburgian outings lately, might as well start Al right off
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
11:04 pm
Bat: I don’t use my Twitter, either. I have email, Facebook, this blog, texting, eBay, LInkedin, etc. All that crap steals way too much of my time, but how else you gonna keep up?
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
11:04 pm
If Fredi is in anyway like Bobby Cox in this aspect, the kid will be in the lineup Friday. Bobby was always good about if a guy was called up, he was in the lineup that next night.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:05 pm
is Parraz hurt?
Yes- he appears to be on the DL
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:05 pm
minor getting not scheduled to get skipped plus medlen getting stretched out makes me think frank is shopping…I hope they dont want kris
CSMF
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:05 pm
Bat, couldn’t agree more. I said the same thing as soon as I read it. Couldn’t believe it. #6 never would have done it.
David O'Brien
May 30th, 2012
11:06 pm
Braves bringing shortstop whiz Simmons from Double-A to replace Pastornicky, shipped to Triple-A
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/05/30/simmons-coming-from-double-a-pastornicky-to-triple-a/
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:06 pm
Parraz has been on the DL since May 8th with a left hand injury
veer
May 30th, 2012
11:07 pm
This is wrong. How can you option Pasternicky to Minors? The guy was hitting the ball good. Simmons will be a Jack Wilson with bat. Pasternicky move is a shock. Wasnt expecting this. Total Shock.
Kat
May 30th, 2012
11:07 pm
cab I know
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:08 pm
I missed Fredi’s comment on Tyler I guess. That the reason he’s gone yathink?
One Big Dummy
May 30th, 2012
11:09 pm
Well, hopefully the Rev can shore up his defense a bit and make it back.
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:09 pm
holy smack the kid OPS over 1000 last 10 PA’s…maybe we are counting on his stick as well looking for a hot bat LOL
(I know its AA)
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:10 pm
Nolie, I think it signaled that Fredi didn’t have a lot of confidence in The Rev.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
11:12 pm
Love the move. Who cares if he hits. He saves your ass with that glove and you know our pitchers are secretely high fiving each other.
Except Venters. Nobody could get to those lazers hit off him.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:13 pm
KINGS WIN!
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
11:15 pm
nolie: I missed Fredi’s comment on Tyler, too…what was it? The only positive I saw from the Rev was the couple of games he batted 2nd…I think that was a good spot for him with his speed and he certainly got better pitches to work with. But his arm and skills are just too weak, at least at this point.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:16 pm
I don’t know what Fredi said, ken. and I gotta admit that I was disappointed in Tyler’s D, he looked better in HS than he did up here almost
veer
May 30th, 2012
11:16 pm
Pasternicky should alteast been with the ballclub over Jack Wilson. This is wrong.
Anyways I feel this move serves multiple purpose.
a) See if Simmons can play SS and hit if he does then you
b) release Wilson by doing this
c) you keep Constanza when chipper comes back.
This move enables us to get rid of Wilson and keep Constanza.
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
11:17 pm
Yeah, I hear you, ken. That said, I can’t remember the last time I logged onto Facebook. I thought about it today and decided I didn’t want to wade through all that bs.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:18 pm
they are not gonna play two kids on the same position, that would be stupid. Tyler will go down and try to regroup and hopefully develop some more
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:18 pm
Why would you keep Constanza as a 5th outfielder instead of Wilson as a back up SS with a good glove (which is why they wanted him in the first place)- With Chipper back, Constanza is not going to get much playing time (as I said in my previous response)
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:20 pm
none of that more or less instant/constant communication appeals to me. I only answer my phone when I know who the caller is b4hand
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:20 pm
Fredi’s comments:
“He walks two guys and then we don’t help him behind him. We make a play that … we’ve got to get an out. Outs at the major-league level, you can’t give them away. You have to get 27 outs. If you make those 30 outs, they are going to make you pay for it. That is a young shortstop trying to make something out of nothing. It’s not a real good play. Get the out at first…”
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:21 pm
any good shows on at all now?
count_schemula
May 30th, 2012
11:21 pm
“Well, hopefully the Rev can shore up his defense a bit and make it back.”
What we’re about to see from Simmons is not learned…
Wish Rev the best, but, utility IF is on his wall, he did not seem like a .290 15HR kinda guy, so… I think we saw the last of a starting Pastornicky.
Logan
May 30th, 2012
11:21 pm
Texas needs two touchdowns to tie.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:21 pm
More Fredi:
“Danny didn’t know that ball was coming. It was behind-the-back type pass. It’s one of those plays where if it works, it’s great and it’s on the highlights for a week. But if it doesn’t you put your starting pitcher in a bad situation.”
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:21 pm
gonzalez: On if Pastornicky’s momentum was carrying him toward first and Uggla wasn’t expecting throw:
“Danny didn’t know that ball was coming. It was behind-the-back type pass. It’s one of those plays where if it works, it’s great and it’s on the highlights for a week. But if it doesn’t you put your starting pitcher in a bad situation.”
DAN UGGLA
On the play at second:
“Rather than just concentrating on getting one, I was going to try and be quick and get two right there but I whiffed at it, one of those plays I made nine times out of 10. It was one of those freak things. You learn from it.”
On taking responsibility, didn’t think Pastornicky should go to first?
“It’s totally on me. Tyler made a great play. That stuff happens sometimes though.”
Stammering Hank
May 30th, 2012
11:22 pm
Do not perform the Heimlich maneuver on a Braves player who is unconscious.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:22 pm
thanx Jason, Bobby woulda never said it publicly like that. he woulda given him some hell in private though
ncbravesfan90
May 30th, 2012
11:22 pm
Constanza could take playing time away from Heyward when Chipper comes back, if things continue.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:22 pm
Uggs comments:
“Rather than just concentrating on getting one, I was going to try and be quick and get two right there but I whiffed at it, one of those plays I made nine times out of 10. It was one of those freak things. You learn from it.”
On taking responsibility, didn’t think Pastornicky should go to first?
“It’s totally on me. Tyler made a great play. That stuff happens sometimes though.”
veer
May 30th, 2012
11:23 pm
Sad feeling to see Pasternicky demoted. I normally dont feel sad but in this case i do. I guess this is like a shock. Although his defense was the best I didn;t think this move wud be made. Not yet atleast.
Uggla made the mistake other day and Paster pays for it?
The guy wasnt that bad.
veer
May 30th, 2012
11:24 pm
cabravesfan,
If u have Simmons who has glove why would you need Wilson? who can’t hit lick?
Why Keep Constanza? He is the reason we won last 2 games. He can do alot of things. He has speed and speed kills.
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:25 pm
nolie – twitter has its uses-for example imagine a blog just like this where you can control who you see and who sees you
plus a bunch of ones that likely dont apply to you
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:26 pm
having seen him as a HS prospect and then reading most of the fairly positive remarks about him by scouts, it seemed to me like being in the bigs got into his head a bit maybe
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:27 pm
AJC could set this blog up like that if they wanted to tiger
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
11:27 pm
Bat: I don’t do eBay on Facebook, it just didn’t work. (However, Pinterest is looking real good for marketing.) I use FB for family and my old classmates…we are quite active and it gives us a great venue to stay in touch a lot more that emails and phone calls.
count_schemula
May 30th, 2012
11:28 pm
“This is wrong. How can you option Pasternicky to Minors? The guy was hitting the ball good. Simmons will be a Jack Wilson with bat. Pasternicky move is a shock. Wasnt expecting this. Total Shock.”
He would have to hit the ball a lot gooder [sic] to stick. Give Simmons a couple of weeks and see if he’s not an upgrade. I think he will hit a lot better than Wilson.
MLB is a big jump from AA but he has not been useless with the stick. They will stress that he is here for his glove and arm and that will be worth a lot more than his hitting.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=simmon002and
I’m only shocked that Pastor did not make it past the All-Star break without Simmons touching AAA, but I think I always felt like a team trying to make pitching work, was going to need a strong SS to help out. We had a very porous infield with Chipper/Juan, Pastor and Uggla.
It also looks like an end to most of the Francisco experiment.
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:28 pm
dont need them
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
11:30 pm
Yeah I agree, Jason, Cox would not have done that.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:30 pm
I’d kill for an ignore button
count_schemula
May 30th, 2012
11:31 pm
Uggla was just covering the rookie. I think that’s pretty obvious.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:31 pm
not sure how it is the end to Francisco, I think they will still wanna see about him as a possible for next season.
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:31 pm
yeah I use facebook for close friends/family and twitter for more casual acquaintances.
and I don’t mean to imply I’m trying to start a blog in another location…but I have lots of braves fans who I’m friends with on twitter and when the ingame gets out of hand i have an alternate location to keep my conversations going without dealing with the schmucks
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:32 pm
it was about as much Dan’s fault as it was Tylers
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:32 pm
veer-
Where do you play Constanza? He’s not going to play LF over Marteen, he’s not going to play center over Bourn, and he doesn’t have the arm strength to be an everyday RF…he’s a 5th outfielder (and I do like him)…Wilson has more value overall than Constanza does. Simmons is not a big bat- Wilson is not a big bat. But Wilson IS a veteran, and you really don’t want 2 rookies playing a key infield position for a playoff contender…
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:33 pm
Actually, I think the play is on Uggs at least as much as Tyler. I mean, it hit him in the glove.
count_schemula
May 30th, 2012
11:33 pm
Looks like Prado will cover for Chipper when Chipper is on the shelf. At least based on this week and Fredi saying Prado was not going to go back and forth.
Juan will be reduced to spot starts and days off. Prado will cover DL stints.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:33 pm
hey, us schmucks resemble that remark
count_schemula
May 30th, 2012
11:35 pm
the ball did hit him in the glove, but, unless my angle was off, they were really close to each other… that makes it a pretty tough toss.
It was an error, but it just highlighted the fact that that 2b/SS/3b combo was extending innings, regardless.
Danga
May 30th, 2012
11:36 pm
Looks like Prado will cover for Chipper when Chipper is on the shelf
And be called on to bunt with a runner already in scoring position following two consecutive walks even when he is swinging one of the hottest bats in the NL.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:37 pm
yeah it was tough but it was doable, just not on the same page all season to some extent. Simmons should definitely improve the situation some, though the other guys are still animated fence posts
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:37 pm
Many, many 2B make that play though, Count. That’s the point. Actually, the point is Fredi shouldn’t have thrown Tyler under the bus like that publicly, IMO.
Danga
May 30th, 2012
11:39 pm
You guys think Uggla finishes his time in Atlanta as a 2b?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:39 pm
prolly will Danga
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:40 pm
I don’t think you are putting him anywhere else, Danga.
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:41 pm
tomorrow is the last day of training classes at 6AM (up at 4:30)…so I can start a regular work schedule (although friday I start with a new group and have to go in the office so I’ll still be up at 5)
hope I get a few nights blogging in before the hammer drops
veer
May 30th, 2012
11:41 pm
carebraves,
I think you just dont like Constanza personally. I don’t see any other reason you would opt to stay with Wilson over Constanza. you can call him a 10th OF but the bottom line is that he helped us win last 2 games.
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
11:42 pm
nolie: Almost nothing to watch right now, they start up in June and July. Common Law on USA is OK only because I dig Sonya Walger (Lost). I am enjoying Hatfields and McCoys, but that is about it. Watching a lot of movies.
Some interesting looking new shows: The Newsroom (HBO) 6/24, Longmire (A&E) 6/3, and TwentyTwelve (BBC America) 6/28.
Returning: Falling Skies 6/17, Burn Notice 6/14, Louie 6/28, Covert Affairs 7/10, Breaking Bad 7/15, Weeds 7/1, and True Blood 6/10.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:43 pm
Veer-
I like Constanza a lot. Don’t know him personally. But they play totally different positions and I don’t see how Constanza would help the Braves while sitting on the bench.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:43 pm
yeah that cab is an infamous hater of players
Bat Masterson
May 30th, 2012
11:43 pm
was just covering the rookie. I think that’s pretty obvious.
I don’t think it was obvious at all, and Uggla should have made the play, but he does not have the softest of hands either. Even if he was it was a lot more classy than what the manager said. I don’t bash Fredi but he often says some dumbass things.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:44 pm
Bottom line, the team needs a back up SS, and Pastornicky is not it right now. Wilson is a better glove and a vet. So he gets my vote over Pastornicky if we are talking back ups to Simmons. Constanza is simply the odd man out at the moment. Or whenever they make that move
Danga
May 30th, 2012
11:44 pm
prolly will Danga
I must say that I like Uggla a lot more than I thought I would when the Braves traded for the guy. Hard not to like a guy who gives that kind of effort and all of those hugs. But if the Braves do intend for Uggla to remain a 2b, I think it only highlights the need for some kind of defensive whiz on the infield to help make up for some of Uggs defensive defincies. Let’s hope Simmons lives up to his billing.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:45 pm
the first epi of Continuum was promising if you like sci-fi/crime ken. and yeah Common Law is ok. Is Fairly Legal over now?
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:47 pm
actually I see that there is a Fairly Legal on the 1st
Danga
May 30th, 2012
11:47 pm
I don’t think you are putting him anywhere else, Danga.
The only real option would be LF. He probably wouldn’t be great out there either, but defensively it is less important.
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:47 pm
I agree with that post Danga
cricket
May 30th, 2012
11:48 pm
Pastor will be traded to mets
count_schemula
May 30th, 2012
11:49 pm
I project Simmons as equal to the most dazzling Yunel, while being a lot steadier day in and day out than Yunel.
Yunel boned a lot of routine plays.
I think we will be singing Simmons’ praise in the field in short order.
JasonInFL
May 30th, 2012
11:49 pm
Night all
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
night Jason
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:51 pm
hope so, but at the best this year we are likely back to a Gonzoesque situation
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:51 pm
nite Jason. take care
richbrave
May 30th, 2012
11:52 pm
SIMMONS ready with the glove. Not ready with the bat……JACK WILSON II????
veer
May 30th, 2012
11:52 pm
Well carebraves,
Either way Constanza should be on roster. Release Fransisco then.
Conz is guy we have 2 wins
TheOnlyBravesFan
May 30th, 2012
11:53 pm
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
#Braves have optioned SS Tyler Pastornicky to Triple-A Gwinnett. No announcement yet if Simmons is coming up.
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved Pastornicky. what do I do with the jersey now?
Wishing Rev the best, hope he gets his defensive skills worked out, or learns to play CF. As for Simmons, good luck up here, hope you can hit at least .200, or some people here will be pissed.
I’m gonna go cry now….
cricket
May 30th, 2012
11:53 pm
at the best this year we are likely back to a Gonzoesque situation
without power potential
veer
May 30th, 2012
11:54 pm
Pasternicky and Minor are trade candidates now.
Medlen is training to be a starter
Pasternicky is done as a starter at SS for Braves.
They are both expandable.
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
11:54 pm
nolie, sorry, I missed both of those and where is Continuum? I totally missed it. I am excited about The Newsroom, that looks really good, but Sorkin’s shows usually get the shaft and don’t last. Sports Night (?) was really good, too.
cabravesfan
May 30th, 2012
11:54 pm
veer-
Again, different positions. Constanza is not going to play 3rd, is not going to play the outfield when Chipper comes back. there is simply no place to play him. they are not going to release Diaz or Hinske…
nolie
May 30th, 2012
11:54 pm
Constanza sukks….
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
not worried about simmons in the field…
I just hope he is cocky enough that his sub 500 OPS for the next month doesn’t bother him.
or maybe his bat is so hot right now he will still be seeing beachballs from the pitchers and even moving 2 levels up won’t miss a lick
play the game with fear and ignorance
count_schemula
May 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
Simmons looked ok early in spring. Useless, but, people were like, hey, he might make the team. Not looking totally overmatched for an A player.
If he can keep the ball on the ground, he can beat out some hits, and he put up decent numbers in the minors. ~.270 ~.300+ and ~.290.
Gonzo had a tendency to fly out going for the homer or strike out.
Not bad K rates…
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=simmon002and
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:56 pm
Pasternicky and Minor are trade candidates now.
Medlen is training to be a starter
Pasternicky is done as a starter at SS for Braves.
They are both expandable.
the damn fat braves syndrom strikes again
count_schemula
May 30th, 2012
11:57 pm
“I just hope he is cocky enough that his sub 500 OPS for the next month doesn’t bother him.”
.700 to .800 in the minors…
“play the game with fear and ignorance”
Wish Heyward played that way more. He goes into thinking mode or something.
kenhotlanta
May 30th, 2012
11:57 pm
veer: George only has speed going for him…he has no arm, no power, and not that great of a hitter. He seems to provide a quick spark and then tails off. He wasn’t even having a good season at Gwinnett.
cricket
May 30th, 2012
11:58 pm
people may crib if simmons doesn’t hit enough but his defense will not be criticized. his defense is supposed to be spectacular and any minuscule number of misplays will be blamed on uggla anyway.
i’m glad uggla got his money, no way he ever gets any respect at least on this blog.
tiger297
May 30th, 2012
11:58 pm
one day I’ll learn (take the time might be better phrase) to do that italics stuff so people know I’m quoting someone
richbrave
May 30th, 2012
11:59 pm
Why am I thinking the PASTOR makes his comeback at SS this season due to an injury, or next year in the outfield with BOURN gone, and PRADO to third?
veer
May 30th, 2012
11:59 pm
Why the hate for Constanza? Any of you Conztana haters watch the last 2 games?
Why such hate towards him? He has ess value than Fransisco who will hit .190 or Wilson who will hit .179?
I think it’s because he don’t speak english thats why he isnt given the same love as Wilson.
I mean Conz carried us last year for 3 weeks. People have short memories
N Nine
May 31st, 2012
12:01 am
What are the odds/ probabilities of having all 10 EAST teams over .500? Crazy stuff indeed.
cricket
May 31st, 2012
12:01 am
He seems to provide a quick spark and then tails off.
to be fair, last year he tailed off after his ankle injury
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2012
12:01 am
I don’t hate Constanza. I like him. I just don’t know where he fits in when Chipper comes back. We need a back up SS. He can’t play there. It’s that simple. Why don’t you understand that??
richbrave
May 31st, 2012
12:02 am
cricket
May 31st, 2012
12:01 am
He seems to provide a quick spark and then tails off.
“…….to be fair, last year he tailed off after his ankle injury…….”
Yes.
Danga
May 31st, 2012
12:03 am
I would expect Simmons to be much better than Wilson defensively at this point in Wilson’s career if this kid is as advertised. Below is a blurb on Simmons from a fangraphs article in Spring Training. If this is true, the Braves are immediately better. They were already getting nothing from SS offensively. May as well have the D
Simmons, though, is an exceptional defender. He has one of the best shortstop gloves in the minor leagues. His instincts in the field border on other-worldly. He has a tremendous first step that helps his solid foot speed play into at least plus range. He has outstanding hands and the footwork to pull off just about any play. If there’s a fault in Simmons’ defensive game, it’s that he thinks he can make every play and he’ll sometimes force the issue, which can lead to unnecessary errors.
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:03 am
is chipper going to do a rehab stint somewhere this time?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2012
12:03 am
Frankly, I don’t give a damn if a player speaks English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, or any other language, as long as he does his job.
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:05 am
His arm is supposed be a take notice thing… Freeman may need a helmet to go with the glasses after catching weak tosses from Uggla and Pastor all year.
kenhotlanta
May 31st, 2012
12:05 am
veer: no hate, just facts. Look at what he did last year and he will repeat that this year, too, prolly. But I am very happy he has had a couple of good games and helped us win. He is what he is and that’s not likely to change at this point in the big leagues.
Bravo Nam
May 31st, 2012
12:05 am
Three positives to add on to the Bravos last two victories.
1. The Bravos have played all their games for the year against NL centrals two best teams, Reds and Cards.
2. The Bravos have 5 days off between now and mid-season.
3. The Bravos still have 7 games against San Diego.
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:06 am
count…yeah but it took him a while to bring that up (at least at AA IIRC)
David O'Brien
May 31st, 2012
12:07 am
QUOTAGE
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/05/31/braves-quotes-after-wednesdays-win-over-cardinals/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:08 am
I can’t wait to see a rich special on the new kids stats
jed
May 31st, 2012
12:08 am
braves have got to move uggla to LF after this season. he has no range, cant throw, and has an iron glove. the only justification for keeping him at 2b is to keep him happy. maybe that was wise for his first year, but there are no more excuses. he’s proven himself a defensive liability. he’s getting paid huge money–he needs to do what’s best for the team.
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:08 am
sumbitches took away my Harry’s Law…..
kenhotlanta
May 31st, 2012
12:09 am
cricket: you are correct about the ankle injury. But, if he was ready for prime time, he wasn’t showing it at Gwinnett so far this year.
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:09 am
prolly be a liability in LF too
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:10 am
even after his ankle got ok he stunk
jed
May 31st, 2012
12:10 am
true, but will cause less damage out there.
Bravo Nam
May 31st, 2012
12:10 am
What on earth has happened to Heyward??
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:11 am
is it easier to find an 830 OPS in LF/3B or 2B?
cabravesfan
May 31st, 2012
12:12 am
Calling it a night
Later, blog
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:13 am
later, gator
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:13 am
No prescription sunglasses like these?
“Not yet.”
I hear some marketing teams pinging their developers right now
the question is with multihundred millions in budget how quickly can these be created/delivered to him? my guess is less than a week
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:14 am
People carping on Wren…
JJ failed to perform? Sent down.
Minor and Pastornicky not getting it done? Meds to stretch out. Pastor sent down.
He still has the trade card to play.
kenhotlanta
May 31st, 2012
12:14 am
tiger297: me too on the italics and quoting. I tried to follow the instructions, but they just didn’t work. I keep forgetting to take the time to practice.
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:14 am
l8r cab
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:15 am
word
no spaces in the aligator teeth parts though
em = emphasis
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:15 am
lol, I guess you can have spaces in the aligator teeth parts…
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:16 am
just an i inside < and its opposite at the beginning and an /i to turn it off at the end. same with b dor bold and del for delete
thusVeer
May 31st, 2012
12:16 am
It sucks to see that in Conztanza you have a hard working player who gives it 110 percent. Stays in the minors and grinds it out and yet some people don’t want to give him a shot. They would rather stick with some fat lazy overweight strikeout machine with no defensive range in Fransisco and a weak hitting automatic donated out in Wilson over a guy like Constanza
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:17 am
Enter your comments here
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:17 am
count – i’m afraid the trade card includes medlen…get him stretched out he comes back and pitches well for what 7-10 starts before the trade deadline and we get…whatever greatest need is
I sure hope I’m wrong
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:17 am
b = bold
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:18 am
trade Meds??? sacrilege
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:19 am
even tiger can handle that…..
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:22 am
“Kemp, who broke a bat over his knee in the dugout before heading to the clubhouse, will undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury.”
No 50-50 this year…
kenhotlanta
May 31st, 2012
12:22 am
veer: You are talking apples and oranges…Francisco and Wilson are infielders and George is an outfielder. When Chipper comes back, where do those 3 slot? George goes back up I-85, unless they have given up on Francisco, and I don’t see that happening yet.
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:22 am
mcfanned it (can I say that b4 I screw it up?)
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:23 am
nolie –
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:23 am
pays to keep a cool head. ask Kemp and Harper.
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:24 am
nolie –
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:24 am
0-2…see I’m switching bats now
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:25 am
actually Kemp re-pulled his hammy scoring from first and was mad about it…
but, yeah, breaking a bat just makes you look silly like… David Ross.
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:26 am
insert inappropriate comment here regarding my lack of sympathy for the dodgers/kemp…
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:26 am
worse it can injure you and your team has to pay for your anger. not cool or fair
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:26 am
regardless of how it happened
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:28 am
so I started watching in the bottom of the 7th…replay is on the 6th now…I hear its gonna be a tough 1/2 inning to watch (although much easier when I know the final score)
ATLiens
May 31st, 2012
12:29 am
Some of you people overrate sample size like Maxim outrageously overrated Amanda Bynes’ hotness. Georgie’s had a nice couple of games, but as we saw last season BEFORE he got banged up, he isnt an everyday player. Heyward has been really poor for a while at the plate, but he’s still a top 20 outfielder in fWar. He’s one of the best defensive right fielders in the game.
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:30 am
worse, it wastes a bat made of ash which is wasteful and makes a mockery of our natural resources while people starve to death
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:30 am
I gotta say matt holliday is rapidly climbing my shane victorino list – he may be #2 now
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:31 am
guess I’ll go. y’all take care.thank you for your kindness buddy
count_schemula
May 31st, 2012
12:31 am
Amanda Bynes is dumb and pig faced. She embarrassed herself so bad when she was getting chopped down by Kid Cudi that even he had to walk away…
nolie
May 31st, 2012
12:32 am
let them eat ash, or maple if ash runs out
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:32 am
night nolie I’m on my way out as well…NP
kenhotlanta
May 31st, 2012
12:33 am
ATLiens: good points.
tiger297
May 31st, 2012
12:33 am
when its sleepy time down south…
David O'Brien
May 31st, 2012
12:41 am
McCann, Freeman lead Braves past Cardinals 10-7 (updated game story with quotes)
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/05/30/freeman-mccann-lead-braves-past-cardinals-10-7/
Efrim
May 31st, 2012
12:41 am
At an airport in Maui, needed to check in as the honeymoon is ending……
2-8 since I left for Hawaii. At least they grabbed the last two. This year certainly isn’t going as well as I would of hoped – majors or the minors. I’d say Andrelton Simmons and J.R. Graham are the only two prospects that have had good seasons to date. Gattis too, of course.
Majors wise, starting pitching has been subpar aside from Beachy. Hanson has been okay, although I think it’s safe to say the shoulder has limited his velocity now 11 starts through. Maybe it’ll come back as the season continues but I doubt it. Fan graphs has him at 89.7mph on his fastball which I suppose is a bit better as the season has gone along. Oh well….
Haven’t been able to watch games, but I’ve checked box scores…..has he been as terrible as his stats suggest? Since April 20th, Heyward has hit .197/.300/.352 in. 140 PA’s, and that was before today’s 0 for 4 with a BB. and he’s been awful vs. LHP. First 14 games were great, then the next 36 have been awful. Just hoping for some sort of hot streak….tough to watch for a big Heyward supporter such as myself.
keylargo
May 31st, 2012
12:45 am
Nolie – I ‘m not scout, but I swear the first miinute my TV was on, the first time I ever saw Pastornicky, I knew he was not going to be the answer. Instead of taking a circuit route and making the throw on the run, Pastornicky goes right at the ball with all his momentum taking him away from first. He backhands the ball, plants his foot and obviously puts 100%+ on the throw. The throw is short and also pulls Freeman off the bag a couple of feet.
So, in one play, he approaches the ball in the wrong way to make the play and shows not only a weak arm, but a weak inaccurate arm. He never did anything to offset that one play in my mind, especially the weak and inaccurate arm.
But it is time for Simmons. My choice was Jack Wilson and he looked awful tonight. He’s going to stick around but he’s going to have to get a hit or two. He did drive in Georgie with the go ahead RBI tonight.
Efrim
May 31st, 2012
12:46 am
Sean Gilmartin and Zeke Spruill have been good too. Cody Martin has been okay.
Good thing Teheran is only 21…..having a less than dominant 2nd stint in Triple-A. I like the Medlen move, although I wish it was done a while ago. I felt he was better suited for the starters role…
Efrim
May 31st, 2012
12:48 am
Heyward has had 5 multi-hit games this year now almost a third through the season….
Efrim
May 31st, 2012
12:50 am
Really happy to see Prado having a great year. Hoping they lock him up to be Chippers replacement over the next few years.
keylargo
May 31st, 2012
12:53 am
Efrim – about 1984 I took a wild trip to Mexico down on the Yucatan Peninsula. I got the news that Bob Horner had hit 4 HR’s in one game but the Braves had lost, somehow. Back then you just had to let it go and let curiosity win.
Efrim
May 31st, 2012
12:54 am
Mike Minor has definitely shut up all of the draft gurus……
…they were wrong that he’d be a solid mid-rotation starter…..
Seriously though, I still like the kid as the above. Just needs to get confidence back. He has the stuff,I think.
Efrim
May 31st, 2012
12:57 am
Keylargo – yeah, she let me check the box scores and every day except for the last two it was followed by a r u kidding me?
Efrim
May 31st, 2012
1:00 am
Simmons up. Pastornicky down. Medlen to replace Minor or Delgado. Hope the moves work. Simmons will probably be a .600 hitter like Tyler was, so the upgrade with the glove will work. Like I said, happy to see Meds in the rotation.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
May 31st, 2012
1:01 am
Two wins in a row, which is great news and a winning streak too boot.
The bad news….Medlen moving back into the rotation and Pastornicky replaced by Simmons. Two moves which in my opinion should have happened right out of spring training. Simply stated, my confidence level in Frank Wren is at an all time low.
Efrim
May 31st, 2012
1:05 am
Lastly, Giancarlo Stanton has hit .327/.411/.735 in his last 129 PA’s. That was before his home run tonight.
Sigh…..
Sorry for the bowl of sad, folks. But that batting line is salt in the wound for Jason Heyward fans….
Peace.
Jarryd
May 31st, 2012
1:47 am
DOB, and others…
I’ve seen you mention Charles Bradley, and who doesn’t love some good soul music…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL1TpVYDuS4
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
1:48 am
I got the news that Bob Horner had hit 4 HR’s in one game but the Braves had lost, somehow. Back then you just had to let it go and let curiosity win.
I remember that game, I was driving up to Augusta from Albany, listening to the game on the radio.
Ward
May 31st, 2012
1:59 am
Hello everyone! Nice win, but still work to be done. Pay back time with the Nats. Like the call up with Simmons, and speed, which I love in the line – up. Still liked the Rev, ad feel Jack Wilson should’ve been waived, and went with both “The Rev”, and Simmons at SS. Like Simmons a lot in the Line – up.
Ward
May 31st, 2012
2:00 am
I like Simmons “D” A whole lot………
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:02 am
Peace, Efrim
Hello, Ward
Ward
May 31st, 2012
2:06 am
Bat – Good win, and like the calls. Wish they would call up Todd Cunningham too, but I’m O.K. with the moves.
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:10 am
Yeah it was a good win, Ward.
I hope the best on Wren’s moves. Seems the consensus on Simmons is he’ll play outstanding D.
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:12 am
I don’t know about you, Ward but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings none if Heyward would start to hit some.
nolie
May 31st, 2012
2:16 am
Bat becomin’ a “hater” I see….
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:17 am
Yeah, he’s about wore me down, nolie.
Ward
May 31st, 2012
2:18 am
Bat – Concerned about Heyward a little bit, but he still is young, and has potential, so I guess patience on him. Don’t want to trade him ,and have him do well the following year, and be burned by it.
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:18 am
Looks like Ward didn’t want any company tonight.
N Nine
May 31st, 2012
2:19 am
Remember our speed 2 years ago with umm, Cox?? Look at us now!!!!
Bourn
Constanza
Simmons
Heyward
Even Prado is a running freak right now!!
I’m lovin’ it.
Ward
May 31st, 2012
2:21 am
Not sold on Constanza, but will give him a chance, because I’m a big fan of speed. It creates runs.
nolie
May 31st, 2012
2:21 am
I feel sorry for the kid, cause that’s what he is, a kid. I feel sorry for the rest of us cause we expected more. He looks lost a lot of the time, not jus his mechanics but dealing with having so much trouble too
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:21 am
Yeah, that would pretty much suck, Ward.
Ward
May 31st, 2012
2:22 am
Now all we need Wren to do, is trade for Dempster, or Zack G.
Ward
May 31st, 2012
2:24 am
Bat – Glad to be talking to some one than to my self……..little humor.
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:25 am
Yeah, I know, nolie. I’m not down on Heyward, really, I was kidding around some.
What really stinks about it is up until about three weeks ago he looked pretty good. I mean damn close to being locked in. I think he’ll be all right as long as he can tough it out.
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:29 am
Ward_
Earlier I would have said no way on those trades, now I’ll go with never say never.
Ward
May 31st, 2012
2:30 am
Heyward, will snap out of it, once he figures it out. Man I would not want to piss him off!
Ward
May 31st, 2012
2:31 am
Bat – The Braves are sure one wacky team, you don’t know what to expect?
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:35 am
Wacky? Yeah that works for me.
Heyward is a big old dude all right, Ward.
nolie
May 31st, 2012
2:36 am
yeah I fiddered, its not your style. but I do feel bad about it for all parties. but I am soooo sick of reading Hey hate
nolie
May 31st, 2012
2:39 am
I am always typing ds for gs
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:41 am
Yeah, most of it seems mindless to me. It’s not like most folks care to understand or try to figure out what is going on or happened before.
I thought it sucked when they were booing him the other day.
nolie
May 31st, 2012
2:45 am
well off to bed I guess. take care bro. seeya
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:46 am
People talk about the impression Heyward made over his first 46 games. It he but up a damn fine slash line over his final 71 that year, in a race for the playoffs, with Chipper gone and Prado, too.
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
2:46 am
See ya
Ward
May 31st, 2012
3:00 am
I feel Heyward is one step away, and we need to back him all we can, because of the haters on this blog. I think he could hit .280, 38 homers ,95 RBI’s a year. If he could find himself? Once he does look out……..
Ward
May 31st, 2012
3:08 am
All, I’m going to call it night to. Simmons your next Furcal………Peace my friends….Talk tomorrow, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
Bobby's Cox
May 31st, 2012
3:17 am
Re: Simmons
I understand the Braves need more defense in the middle of the diamond, but to me, Simmons will be less offensive than Pastornicky. Way more potential IMO than the Pastor, but at this point, we’re taking a hit in the lineup, and I say that knowing Tyler’s stats. Pastornicky hasn’t been a detriment to us defensively. Few errors here & there, but not bad. Also, Simmons is a rookie also. Even Furcal made tons of errors as a rookie.
Oh Ya… GO KINGS GO!!
Bobby's Cox
May 31st, 2012
3:20 am
Re: Heyward
Give it a rest people. No MLB player is a star their first few years in the league. As much as we’d like guys to be immediate All-Stars, it takes seasoning at the MLB level. Let the kid mature. And that goes for Simmons and Pastornicky. If you think Simmons is going to be that much better than Tyler at this point, you’re mistaken. Maybe marginally, but not much, especially offensively.
Couch Tater
May 31st, 2012
6:19 am
We just felt like right now, we needed a little more and so there’s some areas he could stand to improve. We think he’s got a real good chance to be a real good major league player but right now we think he needs more work. – Frank Wren.
Frank –
So, are you rushing Simmons to make up for the mistake of rushing Pastornicky? Most here knew SS was a concern, last Winter. Didn’t you?
…and fwiw, most here know 3B will be a concern, next year.
Couch Tater
May 31st, 2012
6:37 am
OBP: Heyward is 14th of 18 NL qualifiers for RF. Pastornicky is 13th of 17 at SS.
TheOnlyBravesFan
May 31st, 2012
6:48 am
I bet Frank is looking to trade my Pastornicky…. especially if he’s not going to play CF at AAA. I was scared that this would happen ever since they traded Sutton….
Good luck Andrelton Simmons, hope your D stays great, and that you can hit adequately.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 31st, 2012
6:52 am
Couch Tater, yeah I know, I thought exact same thing when I read that. He should’ve gotten a vet SS who could hit, unlike Jack. But, Simmons is here now and he is an exciting player. Root or toot for him is all thats left to do I guess.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2012
7:18 am
Just Let Simmie hit .270 and don’t waste at-bats…
Say what you want about his D but we got more Productive at Bats by the Rev in 2 months than we got all of 2011 from Alex Gonzalez
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2012
7:20 am
I have been saying it for 5 weeks now that Vennie-Macc is Injured…I’m so worried I might start Smoking Cancer-sticks!
Who knew that Gas Can Durbin would be a better pitcher over the last month than Vennie-Macc…
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2012
7:22 am
Wonder if Jack will still be Huddy’s personal SS now that Simmons is up?
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2012
7:23 am
I’m worried about my Boy Easy-E as well
I called it in S. Training that none of the O-vent-brel Triple team wasn’t gonna repeat their dominant seasons from a year ago because its damn near impossible, thats how sick they were…but Its alarming that something that was damn near automatic Last year has been seriously inconsistant this year
Getting Petey-Pablo (Moylan) back in 6 weeks is gonna be huge, I’d assume he is gonna take Little Big Man MED’s Role???
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2012
7:24 am
I am confused at why so many of our pitchers have lost velo, especially if they aren’t inured. Eric hit 92 a couple of times last night. JV used to hit 97 consistently; he was hitting 93 consistently a couple of days ago.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2012
7:25 am
@JasoninFl
I honestly still don’t know why Wilson is still on the team, I called for him to get Ol Yellered 2 months ago…
If Simmie Struggles, Take it to the Bank that Wren will be looking for a SS at the Trade deadline….
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2012
7:27 am
Nah, Peter has allowed a .406 OBP against lefties for his career compared to a .303 for Meds. Meds has that change-up that was effective against lefties. Peter will have to get lefties out more consistently to be used in a role similar to what Meds was performing.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2012
7:28 am
T-Hawkin – the famed veteran presence and defensive replacement. I, too, would like someone who can at least hit off the bench. Now that we have Simmons, there would seem to be less of a need for a defensive SS that can’t hit taking up a bench spot.
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2012
7:31 am
For Meds career, lefties have a .677 OPS while righties have a .744. Moylan has allowed a career OPS of .786 to lefties compared to .576 to righties.
Tomahawkin
May 31st, 2012
7:32 am
What Happened in Huddy’s Implosion Inning Last Night? I had to give the Dog a Bath When I called BallGame after we were up 5-0
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
7:33 am
Brian from SC called this one: Simmons coming up, Pastornicky down.
A defensive upgrade, for sure. But offensively? Is Simmons ready?
JasonInFL
May 31st, 2012
7:41 am
I think Simmons will give the team a spark…
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
7:46 am
A spark from Biff
A spark from Simmons
Where’s the rudder?
richbrave
May 31st, 2012
7:59 am
Trying to keep his leg from falling off BAT.
richbrave
May 31st, 2012
8:00 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
MISSISSIPPI
Postponed.
squeezeplay
May 31st, 2012
8:01 am
I’ve been a staunch defender of Jason Heyward in terms of his [so far] being unable to live up to the unfair hype that was heaped on him before he ever played his first major-league game. However, until Mr. Heyward can figure out that he might need to actually adjust his approach at the plate, he’ll never become above-average, let alone a superstar.
Y’all gave me crap last week about Constanza getting a chance in LF. Well, he might be a flash in the pan again this year, but he had 3 hits last night, and he brings solid defense and more speed to the lineup. Let’s see what happens!
Brian from SC
May 31st, 2012
8:06 am
Simmons could hit .160, and he would be an improvement over Pastornicky overall. I don’t think he will hit .160…in fact I think he’ll hit better than Jack Wilson. And I think he will dazzle with the glove.
Nobody is happier today than the Braves pitchers, I promise you.
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
8:09 am
Yeah, I reckon so, rich
phil
May 31st, 2012
8:10 am
Just saw where Rev was dumped to AAA.
Had to be done. The poor kid can’t field even the simplest of grounders. Might as well give Simmons a try. If he can defend, it will certainly be a help.
Couch Tater
May 31st, 2012
8:14 am
October 13, 2009. Frank and Jamie McCourt separated. Roy Clark and the Braves separated.
Andrelton Simmons (2010) will be the first player to make the majors drafted by Director of Scouting, Tony DeMacio.
DeMacio signed Chipper Jones. Jamie signed David Boies.
Brian from SC
May 31st, 2012
8:16 am
Interesting nugget, Couch Tater.
Couch Tater
May 31st, 2012
8:23 am
Haven’t been able to watch games, but I’ve checked box scores..
BAS – Yeah, I read Efrim’s honeymoon comment. So many responses…
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
8:28 am
Good stuff this morning, Tater.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2012
8:31 am
Nobody is happier today than the Braves pitchers, I promise you.
Let’s hope they remain so every time Simmons strands a RISP.
It’s quite likely to be often.
The kid definitely showed some signs of improvement with the bat (from his numbers this year, anyway; I haven’t seen him this season) in terms of plate discipline. Might be some hope there. On the other hand, he’s got just a handful of ABs above high-A and he’s about to see stuff from pitchers that he hasn’t envisioned even in nightmares. He’s a player who should, in fact, be given a “reasonable expectation”, LOL. Not that he will be, of course, not here.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
8:35 am
I think Simmons is being rushed. Not thinking he’s ready to hit major league pitching. If D’s the problem, use Wilson. Simmons may surprise at the plate. I hope so.
flange1
May 31st, 2012
8:35 am
Morning All,
Gotta at least commend FW on being aggressive and making some internal moves to hopefully help the team.
Sorry to see the Rev get dropped, he seemed to be working on improving.
It seemed to me that he was rushing everything he did in the field and that he always tried to throw the ball to first at 120%.
I think he can improve his defense at AAA. Hopefully he will be able to help the team in some way going forward.
Good game last night, the team seemed to have a different attitude with FF in the line up.
The pen will be OK, we just need another decent arm to help. And FW will address that soon….
Brian from SC
May 31st, 2012
8:37 am
Jeff R, I think the Braves clearly view Simmons as better than Wilson, particularly with the glove. They wouldn’t call him up from AA if they didn’t think he was an important piece for them winning games right now.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2012
8:47 am
Good game last night, the team seemed to have a different attitude with FF in the line up.
I don’t know about “attitude”, though I’m sure everybody was gald to be able to get back to their standard sans-Chipper lineup. Stretching the lineup is bound to make those middle-order guys a little looser. Uggla might get a pitch to hit, even.
Missing Chipper is one thing; missing three guys from the middle of the order would be tough for any team. But they seem to have survived it. Even with an eight-game furball, they still managed a 14-15 month and two games out of first.
Ease
May 31st, 2012
8:49 am
Wilson is good enough defensively to where he won’t be a liability, but he is nothing more than a backup. And as people like to say, playing everyday, or even every couple of days exposes that fatc, just like with the other bench folks…
Calling up Simmons is the right move, let him have a chance to prove he can be here. If not, the recall Pastonicky and no harm done. I think here the gains justify the means…
keylargo
May 31st, 2012
8:50 am
I just fail to see all this offense Pastornicky produced over what Gonzalez did not
.248 .281 .324 .605 with 1 HR – Tyler Pastornicky in 12 with Bottom 10% defense
.241 .270 .372 .642 with 15 HR – Alex Gonzalez in 11 with top 10% defense
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
8:53 am
Tyler’s numbers would look better if not for all those productive outs he made.
Ease
May 31st, 2012
8:54 am
Here is an interesting story on Manny’s return to baseball…
A’s Sign Manny Ramirez
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2012
8:55 am
Bat M. Tyler’s numbers would look better if not for all those productive outs he made.
True that. ONLY issue with productive outs…
Ease
May 31st, 2012
8:57 am
Although it was pretty awesome last night to see both Pastornicky and Bourn on the bases with Prado up…Key point in the game…exception being the Delivery Guy…
ncscoots
May 31st, 2012
8:58 am
I just fail to see all this offense Pastornicky produced over what Gonzalez did not
I imagine that’s why he went down. With the fact that there is absolutely no range on this IF, at all, I’m sure the thinking was that better offense from that spot was the way to offset an overall poorer defense. Even a magnificent defender at SS can only affect the balls in his zone, after all. Not much impact on the balls hit to the other three guys.
In any event, I’m guessing The Rev would still be up, if he were raking. He didn’t, so down he goes.
Couch Tater
May 31st, 2012
8:59 am
Good game last night, the team seemed to have a different attitude with FF in the line up
Awww, come on Flange. Faster than a speeding bullet, more comments than Lentz’ loco motive, able to leap tall fences for balls HR bound, it’s..CONNNNSTANZA!!
Playoffs!!!
May 31st, 2012
9:02 am
Would like to have seen the Braves give Pastornicky a shot at playing third base. I like his bat in the lineup.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:02 am
Brian from SC, I’m sure they do believe that. If this is for defensive purposes mainly, the move works.
I’m just not for rushing key prospects. I really don’t see Simmons impacting the Braves’ fortunes that greatly. The key for the Braves is getting their starting pitching back on track and their bats going again. Those are the difference makers, I believe.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:06 am
I just fail to see all this offense Pastornicky produced over what Gonzalez did not
Wait a minute. I think Shaun’s metrics could easily prove that Pastornicky has had a significant impact on ” run creation and run prevention.” All right, then, run creation.
flange1
May 31st, 2012
9:06 am
Couch,
I have to admit that Biff was pretty fun to watch last night.
Props to Murph for telling us Bill would contribute last night, and he did!
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2012
9:09 am
I just fail to see all this offense Pastornicky produced over what Gonzalez did not
That’s just odd. I got blasted when I suggested such as a possibility before the season…
I don’t think Simmons is going to offer more than Pastornicky did with the bat. My reasonable expectation is even worse production offensively from short stop, but a flashy glove. If he has a 48 inch vertical leap and the means to cover practically the entire infield single handedly, that should even out the bat.
CrαZy
May 31st, 2012
9:12 am
I’m not sure why some people question sending Rev down instead of Wilson? Why keep a young player on the bench when he can go to Gwinnett and work on his d and get more AB’s to build his confidence. I’d like to see him play some SS, 2B and OF. Maybe the guy can make a living as a utility player in the big leagues instead of a starter. I like all the moves the Braves have made the past few days.
flange1
May 31st, 2012
9:12 am
And if Simmons really is as good as we hope, and will take the SS position for a long while, should the Braves front office start letting the Rev play multiple positions (including all 3 OF positions) so he could be useful to the team as a utility guy ASAP?
I mean in the long run having a guy that can run, can hit for a decent average and play 3B, SS, 2B, and the outfield would be helpful, right?
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2012
9:13 am
It was good to see Freddie Spectacles Freeman back in the line up. And to see him mash too was very promising.
Did you know, Heyward has a higher strikeout rate than Freeman? 1 K per 4.5 plate appearances (1 K per 4 at bats) vs. 1 K per 4 plate appearances (1 K per 3.5 at bats)….
keylargo
May 31st, 2012
9:15 am
Flange1 – last night was a strange game.
Hudson – blows a 5 run lead but is not involved in the decision
Venters – allows inherited runner to score but is the WP
Georgie – scores go ahead run and has an RBI
Jack Wilson – game winning hit and RBI
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2012
9:18 am
Why in the world is Heyward so far back in the batters box? Did anyone notice where he set up after fouling that ball off his foot? He was basically standing outside the box, there was no way he was going to reach that outside pitch. You could watch them dictate what they were going to do to him. That was a horrible approach at the plate.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:18 am
I think the Braves owe it to Pastornicky to give him a chance to develop at other positions, where he could help the team longer term. Or trade him, which, I think, is more likely to happen down the road.
Ease
May 31st, 2012
9:18 am
I saw frustration from Heyward last night…especially in that last at bat.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2012
9:19 am
Pastornicky was young… people fret over “rushing prospects” with Simmons coming up. Simmons is older than Pastornicky….
This Braves team as a whole is pretty young. Simmons, Heyward and Freeman are all practically born within a month of each other.
Freeman's White Cane
May 31st, 2012
9:20 am
I can honestly say I have been spoiled the last few years watching Braves shortstops. Furcal, Gonzo and yes, even the crazy kid that we sent to Toronto for Gonzo. I took the position for granted so much that I sometimes complained when those guys didn’t come through with the bat. That has changed. I’ll be happy with defensive stability at the position and take offense as gravy.
I held my breath every time a ball was hit to Paster. He’s well below an average big league shortstop. Contrary to what some here have said, he made some boots this year that hurt the team. Some of those boots in fact may have changed the complexion of the game when they happened.
I think Paster will be a major league player one day. I think he has a great head for the game and I like his approach at the plate. Unfortunately, defensively he is playing one of the most important positions on the field. You can’t hide him.
I think everyone knows the Braves get an instant upgrade in the field with Simmons and surely he can out hit Jack Wilson immediately!
I think someone suggested Paster as a utility guy or even second sacker going forward. I can believe that but he ain’t no shortstop.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2012
9:21 am
Pastornicky I think would be better served at 2nd. I think he would develop quite well there and in the mean time be a very productive utility guy at the major level for us. Possibly even doing some time in the outfield.
CrαZy
May 31st, 2012
9:21 am
10Paul….
It’s not like Pastornicky was ever lighting the world on fire with his bat. I think Simmons can do the situational hitting job we need him to do and he seems to have a good eye at the plate so hitting in front of the pitcher should be something he can handle. I think there will be drop off with the bat, but from things I’ve read he’ll be one of the best defensive SS in the league from day 1.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:24 am
Pastornicky was young… people fret over “rushing prospects” with Simmons coming up. Simmons is older than Pastornicky….
This Braves team as a whole is pretty young. Simmons, Heyward and Freeman are all practically born within a month of each other.
Freeman came up through the system, given full seasons in AA and AAA.
Heyward, in retrospect, may well have been rushed up. The guy has floundered the better part of two seasons.
Simmons couldn’t hit during his trial run in the spring with the Braves. Seven weeks later, he’s going to start popping the ball in the MLB? Maybe, but…
CrαZy
May 31st, 2012
9:25 am
Pastornicky I think would be better served at 2nd.
I agree, I’d love to see him playing SS, 2B and some OF while back in Gwinnett.
keylargo
May 31st, 2012
9:27 am
Would like to have seen the Braves give Pastornicky a shot at playing third base. I like his bat in the lineup.
I think the Braves owe it to Pastornicky to give him a chance to develop at other positions,
The Braves gave Pastornicky 52 games at SS and he gave them .248/ .281 /.324/ .605 with 1 HR, no range and no arm at SS. I don’t think anyone is owed anything.
CrαZy
May 31st, 2012
9:27 am
Seven weeks later, he’s going to start popping the ball in the MLB? Maybe, but…
but……. (i’ll finish that for you) but at least he won’t let slow rollers in the hole get to the OF.
flange1
May 31st, 2012
9:28 am
KL,
How true, it was a strange game.
After 3 I thought Huddy might have a no-no or at least a shut out, then the seeing eye singles started.
Reid in EAV
May 31st, 2012
9:28 am
Gosh I love the lyrics to that song. Knopfler really knows how to paint a picture.
Freeman's White Cane
May 31st, 2012
9:29 am
“My reasonable expectation is even worse production offensively from short stop, but a flashy glove. If he has a 48 inch vertical leap and the means to cover practically the entire infield single handedly, that should even out the bat.”
48 inch vertical leap? Paster has a 12 inch vertical leap on a good day and he also has the timing of spastic snail. It was almost comical to see him try to time soft liners over his glove. He would leap too early and be back on the ground before the ball cleared him. He would leap too late and the ball would be in the outfield grass before the left the ground. His range? He has none. Where others playing his position would glide over, snag and throw to first, balls up the middle…. Paster would either not get there at all or just dive on it and smother it to keep it in the infield.
Again, I can see him as a big leaguer, just not a shortstop.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:32 am
Well, “owed” might be the wrong word. But Pastornicky has talent; he’s was a solid hitter last year at Mississippi and, then, briefly, at Gwinnett. The kid needs an route now that he’s out at short. If I’m Pastornicky and his agent, I’d be asking Braves’ management: “What next?”
And whether Pastornicky has ready for prime time is another question.
Freeman's White Cane
May 31st, 2012
9:34 am
Correcting myself. Pastor, not Paster
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:34 am
CrαZy… note my earlier comments about Simmons’ defense. Not questioning his talents one bit.
I just don’t see Simmons as a game-changer for the Braves. Improving the the team’s middle D is a very good thing, but it fails to see the real problem during the Braves’ slump: pitching and hitting went show.
Fish Bisch
May 31st, 2012
9:35 am
Trade Simmons for Derek Jeter.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:36 am
How about went “south!”
CrαZy
May 31st, 2012
9:36 am
I don’t think the Rev has the type of arm to play 3B, but he could be a Omar Infante type utility player in time. Maybe not quite the level Omar is today, but that type of player.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2012
9:38 am
Again, I can see him as a big leaguer, just not a shortstop.
I don’t disagree with that, but he isn’t nearly as feeble at the position as you make out.
Folks here have a tendency to get a little hyperbolic in their criticism of a departing player. Seems that it’s not enough to send the player away by trade or demotion, but the player must be made to appear worthless, to boot. I’ve never quite understood that.
Juan
May 31st, 2012
9:39 am
IMO…The Braves make a Mistake from Spring Training to pick The Rev as a SS.
Simmons play better, show a better Range and strong accurate arm in ST. The only reason that the Braves pick the rev was that he hit 300 in the minor with few game at AAA.But Simmons look more mature for a second yr minor league player.
He remind me at Furcal
CrαZy
May 31st, 2012
9:39 am
Jeff I think the biggest problem durring the slup was “Health”.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2012
9:39 am
Kind of annoying that the Braves didn’t have a single day off for 20 days, and now they have two in a span of 5 days. Lousy scheduling. Could have used one last week when people were sick and everything (not that the scheduler knew that would happen)…
Freeman's White Cane
May 31st, 2012
9:42 am
“Heyward, in retrospect, may well have been rushed up. The guy has floundered the better part of two seasons. ”
That’s a valid point, but I think expectations for Simmons and for Heyward were/are different. I think the roles they are expected to play are different as well. If Simmons doesn’t hit a lick, I don’t expect his defense will suffer and in this situation, it’s obvious he’s being called up for his glove.
Heyward is a corner outfield. That equals offensive expectations. He hasn’t met those. He can make 3 great plays a night and he will still be judged by his bat. (btw… Heyward’s defensive abilities were oversold to the masses) Simmons can make three great plays a night and not hit and if the team wins, he will be lauded for his contributions.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2012
9:42 am
He remind me at Furcal
I believe Furcal was ROY, wasn’t he? I don’t know if that lines up with “reasonable expectation” for Simmons, LOL.
Ease
May 31st, 2012
9:42 am
No one would dare give him any respect, especially after two wins, but I think Fredi has done a great job of managing the last couple of days. And even during the slump…I don’t think there was anything else he could have done to bust it up…
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:43 am
CrαZy… the starting pitching wasn’t exactly gangbusters. Hudson was tagged again last night. Braves’ bats are waking up, though. I think Hudson, Beachy and Hanson will right themselves. Better days ahead.
jeffrey d
May 31st, 2012
9:43 am
Jeff I think the biggest problem durring the slup was “Health”.
Don’t tell that to George
Couch Tater
May 31st, 2012
9:44 am
I have to admit that Biff was pretty fun to watch last night.
I thought so, too. And, he adds an element of blog comments which has been in muddy waters. Should increase his blOOZ (blog out of zone) rating. blOOZ with feeling.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:45 am
Freeman’s White Cane… good points about expectations at 9:42 am.
CrαZy
May 31st, 2012
9:48 am
Jeff R….
Health and overall pitching were the cause IMO. I’m really not worried about the bats!! I’m more concerned about the pitching specifically the Starters and Venters.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2012
9:49 am
And, [Constanza] adds an element of blog comments which has been in muddy waters
And we haven’t had much CBI action this year, either. At least, not enough to really make the needle move. I suspect that will change with Jorge around for a few. Good to know. Looking forward to it.
Frankie Wren
May 31st, 2012
9:49 am
Only one game, but what they did last night was occurring often when they were playing good baseball. Putting up a couple runs after the other team puts up a crooked number is huge. Sign of a good team, hopefully it continues.
J Hey 1 multi-hit game in May is just hard to believe. Still if the offense resembles somewhat what it was before the slide, you can live with him in the 7 slot. With him struggling and Simmons not setting the world on fire, it’s imperative that Chipper stays in the 6th slot for some balance down in the order.
keylargo
May 31st, 2012
9:52 am
Heyward, in retrospect, may well have been rushed up. The guy has floundered the better part of two seasons.
Heyward was rushed up, without a doubt. He was the answer to Frank Wren’s 2010 “I’m getting a corner outfielder this winter” annual ritual. He not only rushed Heyward, he cost him a year of club control by jamming him into the starting lineup in April of 2010.
I personally think Jason will come around to be something close to what was projected for him. I’m just scared he will be an ARB II or ARB III when he does.
PS – He did exactly the same thing to Pastornicky this year. Except Pastornicky may never come back.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2012
9:52 am
Last season the team had a short stop with a slick glove who posted .241/.270/.372/.642. This offseason every one bemoaned the idea of having an all glove no-stick short stop.
“Even if Pastornicky isn’t getting to all the balls in the field, at least he will get on base more than Sea Bass and that will improve the offense dramatically.”
That was the line repeated all during the off-season. Every now and then I’d toss in the following: “Could be he isn’t any better and by June the team is seeing Wilson with more playing time or an even weaker hitting short stop… at that point the team actually would be going backwards compared to 2011.”
The retort was something along the lines of me being a Braves hater, neg-head, yadda-yadda-yadda. So this current situation just cracks me up.
Personally, I think Simmons might be coming up too quickly. But he’s up. So we’ll find out. I just don’t expect it to “improve” the offense any and I’d be a bit surprised if it makes a significant impact overall.
From short stop this year the team has received .230/.257/.291/.548 overall compared to last year (.237/.267/.357/.624). Crazy isn’t it? Last year had Julio Lugo for a stretch. But also it didn’t have Wilson for extended periods like this year…
Pastornicky provided .248/.281/.324/.605 (45 games) compared to Sea Bass’s .241/.270/.372/.642 (149 games). Just two weeks ago the rookie was hitting .274/.308/.363/.671 and then the entire team went into a slump. So he completely fulfilled the off-season wish of “at the least he will get on base more than Sea Bass.” Apparently, as it turns out, that actually wasn’t enough for some.
All things considered, I wasn’t terribly disappointed in Pastornicky. Perhaps because of my reasonable expectations. I think he might have pulled out of the hitting slump given time. But whatever.
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:55 am
Keylargo, Venters had an exceptional season last year, and, I think, that’s become the yard stick to measure him by. I think he’ll pitch consistently better as the season progresses, but might not be nearly as dominating as he was in ‘11.
Bat Masterson
May 31st, 2012
9:55 am
I don’t know about you guys, but I first became convinced Heyward was rushed to the big leagues when he came in second in the ROY voting.
Freeman's White Cane
May 31st, 2012
9:56 am
“Folks here have a tendency to get a little hyperbolic in their criticism of a departing player. Seems that it’s not enough to send the player away by trade or demotion, but the player must be made to appear worthless, to boot. I’ve never quite understood that.”
Hyperbole is when something is overstated. It wasn’t hype that I held my breath on routine ground balls to short, something I didn’t do with Furcal, Escobar or Gonzo.
I suggest if anything you are the one guilty of hyperbole when you said “but the player must be made to appear worthless, to boot. I’ve never quite understood that” when you answered my post.
You even used my quote, “Again, I can see him as a big leaguer, just not a shortstop”
If I were giving him a rating of “worthless” as you say, I wouldn’t have made the statement that I can see him as a big leaguer. Hype much yourself?
On the part about him not being as feeble at short as I made him out to be, I suppose we will just have to disagree about that. I think he’s pretty feeble. His shortstop rating at least indicates that he is the most “feeble” shortstop in the big leagues.
TennesseePaul
May 31st, 2012
9:56 am
I’m just scared he will be an ARB II or ARB III when he does.
He won’t be. He’ll go through the process as a normal player. Hit his arbitration at the normal time.
The special arb players come into play when a team is seeking to get what amounts to about 7 years of control over a player instead of 6. They bring them up mid way through the year so they’re clock is set different. Then they get 6+ full seasons with the team. Heyward will only get 6 years.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 31st, 2012
9:57 am
Sopheeee You’re welcome, McFann
What do you mean? He didn’t hit an RBI Double!!…
Jeff R
May 31st, 2012
9:58 am
Well, something happened to Heyward after that ROY vote, huh? And I don’t think it was just injuries. Pitchers got the book on the kid and he’s been struggling to adjust ever since. I still think that more seasoning in the minors could have really benefited Heyward, but kinda moot.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2012
9:59 am
Well Heyward stands a mile from the plate.. makes it hard to reach and catch up to that outside fastball.
Sopheee
May 31st, 2012
9:59 am
Hope O’Vent (or Vent’O these days) recaptures some of the magic from last season. Way too nerve-wracking to watch at this point.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2012
10:00 am
neg-head
I like “neg-head”. It’s not quite as humorous as “doodie-head” and seems more appropriate if I want to be derogatory towards some poster with whom I haven’t had previous conversations.
I’m also adding “reasonable expectation” to my fave-phrases category, along with “reckless narrative” and “ignorant BBWAA geezer”. I think it’s been used enough now that it deserves a shot at the title.