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Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,127 comments Add your comment
ncscoots
June 19th, 2012
5:03 pm
Harper hasn’t even been once around the league, yet. If folks think that Bryce Harper can’t be pitched to, or that ML pitchers won’t figure out how to do so, they need a new book.
Slurvy
June 19th, 2012
5:03 pm
Is there a precedent somewhere in recent baseball history for me to base my hopes for JJ to come through with a turnaround in the majors after pitching so poorly in the minors?
Frankie Wren
June 19th, 2012
5:03 pm
“Frank needs to admit the terrible moves he has made, KK, DLowe and hiring Fredi just to name a few.”
Does he do this at confession? Go on Oprah?
David O'Brien
June 19th, 2012
5:05 pm
Braves play to DH Chipper tomorrow, for those wondering. Fredi hopes that McCann will be able to catch tomorrow, with day off Thursday.
Frankie Wren
June 19th, 2012
5:06 pm
“Harper hasn’t even been once around the league, yet. If folks think that Bryce Harper can’t be pitched to, or that ML pitchers won’t figure out how to do so, they need a new book.”
Let’s review that one next year around this time. I’m inclined to think his numbers will be better than what he’s produced so far. The guy has a incredible baseball IQ already.
Sopheee
June 19th, 2012
5:06 pm
Anybody other than me want to ask bravesgrl4life if Tomahawkin has a yellow behind? Just kidding
I know you really want to know if he does, CB.
Hi by the way! Long time no see.
Nerdville
June 19th, 2012
5:06 pm
Liberty Media Moguls keep putting the same AA/AAA product on the field year and year cause they know you saps will keep falling for it. Don’t you suckers ever get it? Turner is gone, ain’t coming back. The team is probably controlled by some mid-level corporate budget manager and his budget spreadsheets working out of a cubicle at Company headquarters in Colorado.
Lew
June 19th, 2012
5:06 pm
jzdc – NO, actually, you don’t have to watch any of the remaining games if it pains you that badly.
phil
June 19th, 2012
5:07 pm
ncbravesfan90
June 19th, 2012
5:02 pm
Heat advisory for New York City…95 degrees tomorrow for a day start should feel nice haha
************
Guaranteed day of for Mac then….sigh!!
And yes, Efrim…you can bet your ass the blame will be the eyes and the fingers if FF tanks.
Remember Heyward and the shoulder, thumb and whatever else could be drummed up?
MD Braves fan
June 19th, 2012
5:07 pm
In a brilliant move by Frediot, the coldest hitter on team ( which is sayin somethin) Hinske is DH tonight. Fire Frediot!!
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:08 pm
people are still saying Heyward is a bust? lmao you don’t know what you are talking about! He’s gonna be a 5 WAR player this year at 22!!! that’s pretty amazing stuff.
By the time he’s 24, he will probably be a 7+ WAR player, and that’s MVP territory
Shaun
June 19th, 2012
5:08 pm
ncscoots, Harper will have struggles perhaps for a few more seasons. But only the most unreasonable expect a prospect to be a superstar from day one, in every single case, even in the case of the most talented prospects in recent memory.
George Stein
June 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
Freddie has gotten a complete pass, Efrim, and I’m okay with that. He’s 22, and he’s been hurt this season. But, he has got to stop hacking at entry pitch he sees. Even with the injury, or perhaps even because of it, he should be more selective.
TheOnlyBravesFan
June 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
BREAKING: Phillies 2B Freddy Galvis suspended 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance.
Sucks… wasn’t he on DL and about to come back? They need Utley, and fast…
ChattTownBrian
June 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
Harper is playing like a mad man right now, but let’s wait a few years or less to see if it continues.
ncbravesfan90
June 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
What is going on with the weather up North? Suppose to be 101 in Boston tomorrow, thats crazy!
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
Probably not what you remember.
That Heyward was a once-in-a-generation talent and then you followed that up by saying a 97 OPS+ that he’s provided the last two years is “reasonable expectations” – of course, I was on my honeymoon when the comment was made, and by the grace of god I was allowed to see it.
David O'Brien
June 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
DOB: Why do your blogs differ from those of MB and JS? There seems to be an afternoon gathering of mostly chit-chat among a regular group rather than the normal posts on other Braves blogs. — No. 1 Braves Fan
I bring out the chit-chat in people, I guess.
CB
June 19th, 2012
5:10 pm
Hi, Soph.Thanks and I hope my friend is well. Beat The Petrel!
LakeDawg
June 19th, 2012
5:11 pm
The Braves have hitters? BTW I didn’t think Chipper was retiring until the END of this year. What gives?
George Stein
June 19th, 2012
5:11 pm
Bingo, NickB.
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:12 pm
And yes, Efrim…you can bet your ass the blame will be the eyes and the fingers if FF tanks.
Remember Heyward and the shoulder, thumb and whatever else could be drummed up?
I guess that’s my point. You feel like it was drummed up and not the truth. Will you feel the same about Freddie Freeman? Drummed up lies?
HAL
June 19th, 2012
5:12 pm
if fredis brain tears bad enough his cap will tip into the crevice created lol
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:13 pm
Is he really on pace to be a 4-5 Win player? Good lord, I haven’t been on Fangraphs in ages.
Lew
June 19th, 2012
5:13 pm
ncbravesfan – No idea. It was a high of 68 and a low of 38 here in Vermont two days ago and it’s supposed to be 97 tomorrow and back to the mid 70’s by the weekend. Go figure.
Mitchell
June 19th, 2012
5:14 pm
I HATE how this team is full of wusses who sit out half the season with “dry eyes, a stomach bug, and a bruise” like the 3,4, and 5 hitters in our lineup did earlier this year. Its disgusting, and EVERY single one of them with the exception of Bourn and Prado is underperforming severely.
Booyah!
Word of the day.
Word to your mother.
But you know what f’ing p*sses me the f*** off are guys like Gregor Blanco, Melky Cabrera and Wilson Betemit filling significant roles for teams not only in contention but with better records and with greater probability of being in the race for their respective divisions or the wild card at the very least when September rolls around.
How does it also go completely without mention in the media that for the first time in five seasons the Phillies are out of the playoff picture almost completely and the Braves are still only good enough for second or third place?
Somehow that’s not the kind of relevant storyline on sports radio as it would be in almost any city in the country where the media actually gives a sh!t about the baseball team and doesn’t constantly make excuses.
Contrast that with the Falcons where all you hear is that if they don’t win a playoff game the season is a complete disappointment.
There’s no standard the Braves have to either meet or exceed therefore they accomplish nothing.
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:14 pm
Okay, forget it: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=rf&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0
phil
June 19th, 2012
5:15 pm
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:12 pm
And yes, Efrim…you can bet your ass the blame will be the eyes and the fingers if FF tanks.
Remember Heyward and the shoulder, thumb and whatever else could be drummed up?
I guess that’s my point. You feel like it was drummed up and not the truth. Will you feel the same about Freddie Freeman? Drummed up lies?
*************
Nah….I’m sure Heyward had his actual issues.
FF’s have been easier to “see” though…well, not his eyes…
Hell, i don’t know. I just want to win some ballgames.
Shaun
June 19th, 2012
5:15 pm
That Heyward was a once-in-a-generation talent and then you followed that up by saying a 97 OPS+ that he’s provided the last two years is “reasonable expectations”
Efrim, I don’t remember saying that he was a once-in-a-generation talent but maybe I did. So, are these two things mutually exclusive? Can a player not be a once-in-a-generation talent (or something fairly close to it) and also post a 97 OPS+ in a two year stretch before turning 23?
If Bryce Harper and Mike Trout post 97 OPS+ in two year stretches before they turn 23, I would not change my long-term views of them as rare talents, provided they don’t all of the sudden become hackers with absolutely no power or something like that. But as long as the underlying tools and skills appear to still be there, I think age 22 and younger is a bit too early to completely change long-term expectations.
Mitchell
June 19th, 2012
5:15 pm
I bring out the chit-chat in people, I guess.
No chit.
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:15 pm
Heyward has been more valuable than Giancarlo Stanton according to WAR…….
njbraves
June 19th, 2012
5:16 pm
Complaining about payroll is getting old. Do the Yankees have an advantage, absolutely. But what about TB, Minny for years, and a few others. If you construct your team properly and get a little lucky, you can win.
Murph
June 19th, 2012
5:16 pm
Who was the last MVP to hit .240-something?
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:16 pm
@ Efrim
yep he’s at 2.2 WAR through 64 games, might even push 6 depending on the 2nd half
Freeman is who worries me, his BB% isn’t very good and he swing at too many first pitches
ncbravesfan90
June 19th, 2012
5:16 pm
Lew-
I guess summer is officially coming in with a bang tomorrow for the North. Tomorrow is first day of summer.
Lew
June 19th, 2012
5:17 pm
“Word to your mother. But you know what f’ing p*sses me the f*** off…”
Do you actually talk to your mother like that? Or anyone’s mother, for that matter?
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:18 pm
@ Shaun
exactly, most Big OF’ers (Parker Winfield, Rice…etc) didn’t really develop their total game until age 24. I reckon by 24 Heyward will be in their league if not better.
CB
June 19th, 2012
5:18 pm
Efrim, maybe we need to call Miami.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 19th, 2012
5:19 pm
Lew
June 19th, 2012
5:01 pm
Coach – Maybe that time in AA helped Simmons be as successful as he has in the bigs. You can’t really say that Pastornicky playing for a couple of months was a mistake cause you just don’t know.
>>>>>>
Um, I know that defense is just as important as offense if not more so. Which is something that the vast majority of baseball fans will never understand. Yours truly included.
As for Fredi Gonzalez, the man is stubborn as a damn mule.
Look no further than his line up card. Uggla hasn’t moved from the four hole in the last 36 games while batting .224 with 7 HR’s and 22 RBI. Meanwhile Jason Heyward is hitting .320 in the month of June and yet he’s consistently hitting seventh, which is of course a waste of talent and ability.
I’m a big proponent of….if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it. However, something is clearly broken and Fredi keeps running virtually the same middle of the batting order out there every game.
Lew
June 19th, 2012
5:19 pm
ncbraves – Must be our proximity to :”America’s Stonehenge” in New Hampshire. It’s also Midsummer Eve coming up. The Druids are restless.
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:20 pm
BTW, making the wild card is enough , the evidence is that once you make the playoffs it’s really a crapshoot on winning the world series these days. (as opposed to back when only the best record or 2 best records in each league made it) Being the best team in baseball rarely directly translates to a World Series win anymore. Thank you Bud Selig………….
ncscoots
June 19th, 2012
5:20 pm
Efrim, I don’t remember saying that he was a once-in-a-generation talent but maybe I did.
The archives are just over on the right, and can be accessed at any time.
Can a player not be a once-in-a-generation talent (or something fairly close to it) and also post a 97 OPS+ in a two year stretch before turning 23?
No. Doing so turns the player from a generational talent into merely a player with promise.
George Stein
June 19th, 2012
5:21 pm
The bigger for Freeman is that he plays 1B, NickB, where the offensive standards are higher than any other position on the field.
Lew
June 19th, 2012
5:22 pm
Simmons was also injured at the end of ST Coach. It did him no harm to spend some time at AA. And the Braves won at a pretty good clip while The Rev was up. Much ado about nothing – as usual.
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:24 pm
@ Coach
Yeah, I’m a big proponent of Heyward in the #2 spot and Prado at #3 then just slot everyone down one spot.
as far as why did Simmons not make the big club? His AB’s in the latter stages of spring training did not look good at all. He was flailing away and not making much contact except straight up in the air. They sent him down so as to get some AA AB’s (generally AA is the biggest leap in pitching quality young hitters face in the minors) so he could settle in. It apparently worked, a I doubt that Simmons we saw in late March would have hit as he is hitting now. (not that he will sustain this hitting level, but he’s obviously better in his plate approach than he was before)
Tana
June 19th, 2012
5:24 pm
Trade McCann for a pitcher and a bat. Easy…saves money and gets rid of a slacker who is starting to feel his age.
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:24 pm
Shaun, I guess my point was that, you believe that the organization shouldn’t be surprised(reasonable expectations) that he has posted a 97 OPS+ in his age 22 and 23 seasons. And I think that’s sort of insane given his minor league track record. And well, why in the world would the organization of brought him up at age 20 if they felt that he was going to OPS+ 97 over years 2 and years 3. Just my opinion.
faninva
June 19th, 2012
5:25 pm
Lew- as always, thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check it out!
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:27 pm
No. Doing so turns the player from a generational talent into merely a player with promise.
Ah, as usual, scoots frames it up perfectly.
The bigger for Freeman is that he plays 1B, NickB, where the offensive standards are higher than any other position on the field.
Pretty much my only issue with Freddie – and it’s not his fault at all. Really, really hard to be a star at 1B. You have to never stop hitting, which is kind of hard for most humans.
Frank Wren
June 19th, 2012
5:27 pm
To address the recent hitting slump I have another a third hitting coach. His name is Greg Norton.
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:27 pm
OPS+? to hell with that lousy stat, use RC+ , he was 134 (100 is avg) in 2010, 98 in 2011, and 114 right now, he’s doing rather well
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 19th, 2012
5:28 pm
Lew
June 19th, 2012
5:22 pm
Simmons was also injured at the end of ST Coach. It did him no harm to spend some time at AA. And the Braves won at a pretty good clip while The Rev was up. Much ado about nothing – as usual.
>>>>>>>>>
Lew – hot air and full of it, thanks for calling the kettle black.
1991 braves
June 19th, 2012
5:29 pm
The braves payroll would be fine if it wasn’t for a mindless G.M wasting half of it on terrible long term contracts for players that aren’t on the team, or aren’t pulling their weight. Take the $15 million to the pathetic Larry Jones, the $10 million to a worn out pitcher Lowe, $8 million to another worn out pitcher Hudson, another $7 million to K.K., and add to that $4 million to Hinske and Diaz, and you have $45 million wasted. And all of these wonderful contracts were negotiated by the G.M of the year Wren. No G.M. in his right mind would have given Larry Jones, Hudson, and Lowe 3 year contracts, when all 3 were at the end of their careers, or coming off of surgery. And no G.M in his right mind would have resigned Hinske and Diaz to add depth to an already depleted bench. Add that to the fact he hired Fred Flintstone, and that is all there needs to be said about the state of this franchise. This franchise is on very shaky ground, and there are no studs in the minors or in the last draft to help. The future for the braves is looking very bleak, and with Liberty Media running the show, there is no light at the end of this tunnel
DAM
June 19th, 2012
5:30 pm
NickB, I agree, it’s time to move Heyward up in the order. I think his numbers would go up because he would see more pitches to hit by not having the 8/9 hitters behind him. I’ve argued all along that since he is so selective at the plate he is actually harmed by hitting down there. He waits to see a really good pitch, but the pitcher has no reason to throw him a good pitch hitting there, and he often winds up digging himself a hole. Freeman would be better-suited to the 7 hole with his free-swinging style.
Fredi G.
June 19th, 2012
5:30 pm
I didn’t put Simmons on the roster at the start of the season because Frank thought we needed to let him ’stretch out’ in the minors for a while.
George Stein
June 19th, 2012
5:30 pm
Agreed, Efrim, except that he needs to stop channeling his Jeff Francoeur.
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:31 pm
OPS+? to hell with that lousy stat, use RC+ , he was 134 (100 is avg) in 2010, 98 in 2011, and 114 right now, he’s doing rather well
Too much work. However, I do understand that it devalues on base percentage. Still going to use it.
Doofus(Goober and Gomer's Smart Brother)
June 19th, 2012
5:31 pm
You know how bad things really are when you have to use someone like Henske as a DH. If he was halfway hitting right now I would understand, but he’s not. I think I would even use anyone before him.
Can a hen ski? Nope, and he can’t hit a baseball either!
Efrim
June 19th, 2012
5:32 pm
Agreed, Efrim, except that he needs to stop channeling his Jeff Francoeur
I really think he will over the long haul this year.
shorty
June 19th, 2012
5:34 pm
Fire Fredi..hire Joe Torre
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 19th, 2012
5:35 pm
Simmons defensive impact in his fifteen games so far:
Braves team ERA before: 4.24
Braves team ERA after : 3.29
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:36 pm
@1991 Braves
lol, you don’t know wtf you are talking about
#1- Hudson was a bargain, an absolute steal
#2 You pay your aging stars , it’s just the way it goes, and considering all the things Chipper has done for the team it was hardly a terrible deal
#3 Lowe WAS a mistake, but at least it wasn’t AJ Burnett
#4 KK was a risk, and they knew that, but ALL Japanese pitchers are a crapshoot, ask Boston about the $100+ they paid in posting fees and contract for Dice-K
#5 Diaz is hitting against lefties, his power isn’t what it used to be, but he does the job pinch hitting against them , Hinske struggled this year, but he was great last year, I guess Wren was supposed to be psychic and see that Hinske would struggle in 2012? That’s unrealistic whiney baby talk
#6 I guarantee you that EVERY GM in the game would have given Lowe, Chipper and Hudson 3 year deals. To think otherwise is just silly , absolutely silly
MR
June 19th, 2012
5:36 pm
This team is not close enough talent-wise to need a rent-a-player for a top prospect for a chance at the post season this year. This team is a couple years away pitching wise. The problem is that when this team’s staff gets seasoned enough to seriously compete Liberty Media will not sign them and thus will begin the never ending cycle of the Braves becoming a farm team of sorts breaking in young talent for the big guys to actually pay to play. I have no faith in Liberty Media at all, nor do I give them my money. BTW, firing Fredi is a no-brainer… fire him already, but the team should go the extra mile and fire Frank Wren too. Frank’s a born loser and a should never be allowed to make another decision for the team.
Bat Masterson
June 19th, 2012
5:38 pm
Efrim, I don’t remember saying that he was a once-in-a-generation talent but maybe I did. _ Shaun
What you did say was Heyward was the best hitter on the team and should hit second. You said it in the spring of 2011, repeatedly, unequivocally.
Not that he might one day be….. IS
Your expectations for Heyward at 21 years old were on full display. Best Hitter On The Team
Period ……. End of story ……. BHOTT
iTiSi
June 19th, 2012
5:38 pm
At the rate it’s going half the Braves team will either be in a physical rehab center or the old folk’s home before the season is over! As for FG, probably Milledgeville by the all star break(those in GA know what that means).
Heisenberg
June 19th, 2012
5:38 pm
Is there a precedent somewhere in recent baseball history for me to base my hopes for JJ to come through with a turnaround in the majors after pitching so poorly in the minors?
*******************************************************
Roy Halladay comes to mind. When he went down the minor league pitching coach suggested an adjustment to his arm slot to get better movement and the rest is history. Cliff Lee is another.But both cases invloved healthy pitchers that needed to work on fixing something. JJJ can trace his problems back to leg injuries which it is unclear he has recovered from physically or mentally. So it can be done but you gotta be healthy and given Braves recent trend on diagnosing injuries, I am not having high expactions for JJJ this year.
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:39 pm
RC+ is basically to wOBA what OPS+ is to OPS , it just uses weighted on base avg instead of OPS as a basis. I think it’s better as wOBA is a bit better than OPS.
It’s park and league adjusted…. just like OPS+ too
Disgusted
June 19th, 2012
5:39 pm
My emotions are worn out with this team, just have to look at this year as the kind of yr where if something can go wrong, it will
Biggest disappointments are the bench, the deterioration of JJ, the Beachy injury, and the swift abrupt decline of Venters.
Hopefully with Venters he will be himself next yr. EOF, he too is a big Q mark and you do not know the seriousness of his injury.
Have to have faith in Brandon that he will do the work necessary and be ready and totally 100 pct for 2014. By ‘14, Heyward and Freeman should be further along in their development curve
Minor just might be a solid mid rotation guy then and Teheran should be ready to be a help by then.
I am not looking at seeing real progress until ‘14, very young team.
Forget about anteing up a deal and $$$$$$$$$$$ for Dempster or Grenke, it is not happening with this team. Its not $$$$$$$$$$$ smart.
Another $25 mil to the payroll would help big in this division, maybe another half million butts in the seats can help some.
As for Liberty, I don;t see them doing anything till after the election, when they get a better grip on what kind of cap gain tax rates they can predict. They are a holding company and we will be flipped at some time, when is when its advantageous to them.
Its going to be a tough rest of 2012 and likely a tough 2013.
Shaun
June 19th, 2012
5:41 pm
ncscoots, just because a player doesn’t fulfill his promise by age 22-23, doesn’t mean he’s not talented and will never fulfill his promise. Most players are in Double-A at 22. If a player can hang in there in the majors but isn’t a star, that’s no indication he will never become a star.
Efrim, I honestly think the Braves brought up Heyward simply because they felt he was ready to be a major leaguer, and he’s shown that he is, even if he hasn’t become a star or superstar. I would guess most teams don’t expect any player to be stars or superstars in their early 20’s. If they do, obviously that’s gravy. But I honestly think all the Braves were hoping for was that he would be at least an adequate major league rightfielder for the first few years of his career so they didn’t have to go out and try to find one and pay one and/or trade for one.
Going back to Harper. If the Nationals were called him up expecting him to be Reggie Jackson or something this season or even next, that is stupid of them. I suspect they called him up because they think he can handle the big leagues, has nothing to prove in the minors and was a good option for them. But if he has 2-3 more years of something like a 97 OPS+, as long as his underlying skills aren’t completely in the toilet, as long as he’s drawing some walks and has some idea of the strikezone and is hitting for some power, there’s no reason for Nationals fans to flip out. Just like there is no reason for Braves fans to flip out because Heyward has a 113 OPS+ for his career and 98 OPS+ since Opening Day of last season.
Disgusted
June 19th, 2012
5:42 pm
I do hope the Braves do renew the option on Hudson cause at $9 MM a yr he is still a bargain.
He was a dollar smart deal, too bad about the heel and back this yr but there is something left. I hope he can be around in 14 as an elder statesman anchor as the younger pitchers hopefully get better.
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:43 pm
Venters’ peripheral stats show that his luck of last year has run out really, it’s called a regression to the mean. With his wildness, he SHOULD have given up more runs than he did last year. Now, he ran into a little mechanical trouble and he started giving up the runs that last year were outs. Granted, it won’t continue at the rate it has been, but this happens in baseball with relievers who are wild. They can have wild swings of amazing production followed by mediocrity,
I reckon he will be okay
Long time fan
June 19th, 2012
5:43 pm
I have been a Braves fan since the early 1970s and I guess I will root for the club until I die. I am very frustrated because the way things have gone for me personally they are all that I have in my life. It is frustrating to watch Heyward whiff three times in a game or something else that happens. I can almost predict what happens. Braves lose then the guys at 790 trash everything about the club and then the DOB blog has 80 zillion pages with more criticism. To the radio peeps find something else to talk about. To the bloggers (in a lot of cases the pseudo-fans, root for another team. Enough is enough. By the way if you buy from QVC then you need to stop. Same owners. I want to watch the game but if they lose the same postgame mess will happen.
Shaun
June 19th, 2012
5:45 pm
Bat Masterson, yes, but just because he didn’t turn out to be the best hitter on the team in 2011 doesn’t mean a 98 OPS+ since Opening Day of 2011 or a 113 OPS+ for his career so far is a disaster. I don’t think we should be shocked by a 98 OPS+ or a 113 OPS+. I don’t think it spells doom and gloom for a player in his early 20’s. Just like if Harper, Trout, whomever, name your prospect, is around that area of offensive production, I don’t think it means they are a major disappointment and destined to be the next busts.
Heisenberg
June 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
What I have noticed with Venters (besides being high in the zone) is hitters are laying off pitches outside the strike zone more this year than last and he is pitching behind in the count more. Guys were flailing at that sinker away last year and now not so much.
oasisbraves
June 19th, 2012
5:48 pm
The worst thing for me was and is…the 4th and 5th innings, 2 on, 0 out…and they dont bunt. Instead they ground out left and right and cant even pony up a run. I dont blame the offense too much, and what’s been happening to our pitching isnt anything new that other clubs dont deal with all the time. It comes down to coaching and management. I think its time for a change. The hitting coaches are fine, but the manager and the pitching coach should go.
Shaun
June 19th, 2012
5:49 pm
Ben over at CAC had a good Venters post. Something he pointed out is that Venters was probably over his head the past couple of seasons. So he’s not likely to get back to that point but he is likely to be better, based on the information we have, and he’s still likely to be a fine late-inning reliever.
phil
June 19th, 2012
5:50 pm
Long time fan
June 19th, 2012
5:43 pm
I have been a Braves fan since the early 1970s and I guess I will root for the club until I die. I am very frustrated because the way things have gone for me personally they are all that I have in my life. It is frustrating to watch Heyward whiff three times in a game or something else that happens. I can almost predict what happens. Braves lose then the guys at 790 trash everything about the club and then the DOB blog has 80 zillion pages with more criticism. To the radio peeps find something else to talk about. To the bloggers (in a lot of cases the pseudo-fans, root for another team. Enough is enough. By the way if you buy from QVC then you need to stop. Same owners. I want to watch the game but if they lose the same postgame mess will happen.
************
Don’t say they’re all you have in life…someone will make fun of you and belittle you.
Sorry it’s that way for you right now. Things will turn back your way.
nolie
June 19th, 2012
5:52 pm
I’ll take OPS+ over RD evey day of the week and thrice on Sunday. It is just as informative and easier for non-staties to understand
nolie
June 19th, 2012
5:53 pm
RC not RD
nolie
June 19th, 2012
5:54 pm
Something he pointed out is that Venters was probably over his head the past couple of seasons. So he’s not likely to get back to that point but he is likely to be better…Shaun
you needed someone to point that out for you?
TheOnlyBravesFan
June 19th, 2012
5:55 pm
WOW!
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
This says plenty about both the season Bourn is having and #Braves offense: He leads the team in slugging percentage (.456)
jim
June 19th, 2012
5:56 pm
The poster calling him/her self Andrelton Simmons made a good point –
Choosing the last 8 games rather than the last 10 or the month of June painted Heyward’s recent stats in the worst light. Hitting 7th behind the likes of Diaz and the recent Uggla and Chipper Jones does not translate into many RBIs, but he has been scoring more than 1/8 of the team’s runs since Simmons arrival. The blog obsesses over Heyward’s problems, but his numbers for the year are as good or better than McCann’s and Freeman’s, and, before the end of the road trip, Chipper’s. He had a rough night against CC last night, but so did McCann (not to mention the right handed hitters), and he got a hit, as he did against Chen and Gio in other recent starts against lefties. Harper had 5 K’s against Pettit on Satureday. If Heyward were hitting higher in the order, his walks and RBIs would go up and he would be more valuable on the bases.
Bat Masterson
June 19th, 2012
5:57 pm
Bat Masterson, yes, but just because he didn’t turn out to be the best hitter on the team in 2011 doesn’t mean a 98 OPS+ since Opening Day of 2011 or a 113 OPS+ for his career so far is a disaster. _ Shaun
Not what you said, Shaun. You now say Heyward’s performance is within reasonable expectations.
Fine
Just say your expectations in spring of 2011 were unreasonable and I’ll leave you alone. BHOTT
NickB
June 19th, 2012
5:57 pm
Well, I expect Heyward to pass him pretty soon, his SLG% in June is .540 and rising
Heisenberg
June 19th, 2012
5:58 pm
GA400 looks as bad as Braves hitting stats. Taking the alternate route. Bye all.
nolie
June 19th, 2012
5:58 pm
hell I expected 200…….
nolie
June 19th, 2012
5:59 pm
well… I wanted 200 anyway
NickB
June 19th, 2012
6:00 pm
anyone who expected Heyward to be putting up 8 or 9 WAR seasons at at ages 20-22 was being unrealsitic and doesn’t understand player development. Like I have said, look at similar players who became great and were of similar build, their age 24 year was when they went from being just good, to magnificent. in fact Heyward is looking to be ahead of the curve because of his amazing defense and baserunning skills.
Bat Masterson
June 19th, 2012
6:03 pm
I’ve argued all along that since he is so selective at the plate he is actually harmed by hitting down there. He waits to see a really good pitch, but the pitcher has no reason to throw him a good pitch hitting there, and he often winds up digging himself a hole
Yeah you might think so. Although it was pointed out here recently that Heyward was swinging at the first pitch above league average.
CB
June 19th, 2012
6:03 pm
Long time fan, sorry about anything in your life that makes you so down. Hang in there.
Lew
June 19th, 2012
6:07 pm
Coach – Just because you’re an overstuffed windbag with little comprehension of much of anything, doesn’t really extend to thoise who comment on your baseless ASSertions.
nolie
June 19th, 2012
6:08 pm
who swings at the first pitch above league average?
nolie
June 19th, 2012
6:08 pm
CB, hi there. how you been?
D.A. Nuggla
June 19th, 2012
6:10 pm
This is probably the Yankees reaction when they saw the lineup with Hinske at DH: Lots of laughter long and hard!!!!! It’s a shame Hudson is pitching or he could DH. Medlen is another possibility.
tired of the Atl
June 19th, 2012
6:11 pm
i honestly hope the braves go in the tank the second half so there is no false sense of hope like with Falcons,Hawks, and UGA, only to get blown out in the playoffs by a superior team. Let Chippah have a victory lap, trade Bourn while you can, shop McCann to an AL team looking for a future DH before he falls off the cliff, and let Prado, Freeman, Heyward, and Simmons have this team. Put Helicopter Dan in the 6 hole and let him whiff 150-200 times a year. And get a manager a pitching coach that knows what the heck they are doing to develop the team while we are at it.
NickB
June 19th, 2012
6:12 pm
Hitter K’s don’t matter if the hitter is productive and Uggla has been productive to the tune of the 2nd best second baseman WAR in all of baseball.
George T
June 19th, 2012
6:13 pm
First, change the management both GM and Field along with coaching staff. This will cost almost nothing to do. If a culture change does not occur clean house. What do you have to lose; this team is going nowhere. I am too old to wait on the prospects to come along in 2017, 2018 or whenever.
Brave New World
June 19th, 2012
6:13 pm
If everything were “perfect” in 2012, we’d have had Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, Beachy, and Delgado as our rotation, with one of the best bull pens in baseball. A lineup of Bourn, Prado, Chipper, Uggla, Freeman, McCann, Heyward, and Simmons. Alas, not many things happen the way one wants them to happen. GO BRAVES!
Bat Masterson
June 19th, 2012
6:13 pm
nolie
Heyward, although I may not remember that right.
jim
June 19th, 2012
6:15 pm
The high school hitters in the 2007 draft that were selected before Heyward — Vitters, Dominguez — are still in the minors. Wieters was the highest college hitter in that draft, he is just beginning to live up to to expectations.