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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,718 comments Add your comment
Jimmy
July 17th, 2012
1:06 pm
Kimbrel = “BallGame”.
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:07 pm
Felix Hernandez and Giancarlo Stanton aren’t going anywhere. Rididculous to think otherwise.
ChattTownBrian
July 17th, 2012
1:08 pm
Nah phil. Hinske is a vetran and more proven. Would you trade a well aged bottle of wine for a 2 or 3 year old bottle? Get serious.
phil
July 17th, 2012
1:10 pm
Our trade scenarios for Giancarlo have legs….
I’ve got that on good authority.
DAP
July 17th, 2012
1:10 pm
steve from OH Of course Frank is gonna say that. If we acquire a pitcher at the deadline, Frank is gonna say he considers that guy a “top-of-the-rotation” starter,
my point exactly. just because thats what is being said, doesnt mean wren wont try to get dempster or garza or mccarthy, ect. also, just because he said on 680 that sheets is the guy, doesnt mean he isnt still looking. maybe nothing will end up happening, but i dont doubt wren is looking under every stone, and i do think something needs to happen, even if its not a starter.
phil
July 17th, 2012
1:11 pm
I don’t drink much at all anymore so yeah, I’d probably trade Heavy for Giancarlo….
Even though GS doesn’t hold a candle to our boy.
ChattTownBrian
July 17th, 2012
1:12 pm
And there’s Efrim to “nerd and serious” any light commenting up. We’re just messin around on a stinkin blog. This place is silly a lot of times. No wonder David left.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:13 pm
y’all are doing your best to jinx Kimbrel into a terrible second half aintcha?
ChattTownBrian
July 17th, 2012
1:17 pm
Sorry Efrim. That was a tad mean.
Braves Fan in Maine
July 17th, 2012
1:17 pm
what else did wren say on air on 680….. my boss was by me and couldnt turn on the radio…. ugh…… I would be happy with a top of the rotation starter but not as a rental and trading the farm away… GO Braves!
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:17 pm
And there’s Efrim to “nerd and serious” any light commenting up. We’re just messin around on a stinkin blog. This place is silly a lot of times.
Your “silly” doesn’t equal my “silly”. Brian. You’re not really that funny and talking about Felix and Giancarlo being traded is sorta the stupid kind of silly, know what I’m saying?
No wonder David left.
If he left because of the “serious” ones here, than so be it. But my guess is he left mostly because of the garbage that’s spewed here by you and others. Not the regs, bro.
Fly on the Wall
July 17th, 2012
1:18 pm
Kimbrel is ROY
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
July 17th, 2012
1:18 pm
Wild card berths aren’t what they used to be, as the value of a Wild Card berth has diminished under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement. Especially when taking into consideration the one game winner take all scenario.
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:18 pm
Sorry Efrim. That was a tad mean.
S
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:19 pm
Sorry Efrim. That was a tad mean.
So was my1:17. However, you should start thinking more before you post.
Murph
July 17th, 2012
1:20 pm
I don’t think Kimbrel’s nickname has to be based on what kind of stats he puts up… that’s boring. Craig “Low Opponent BA” Kimbrel is lame.
I wouldn’t use Nintendo, either. That name is becoming more synonymous with crappy, gimmicky game systems than anything cool or special.
Wasn’t my idea to give him a videogame nickname, I just threw some terms out there. I don’t care if y’all call him Craig “Doctor” Kimbrel or Craig “Kimmy” Kimbrel, so long as he keeps doing what he’s doing.
Personally, when he comes into the game and mows guys down 1-2-3, I don’t call him anything. I’m too speechless and in awe to mutter a nickname.
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:20 pm
Ike Davis got [Kimbrel] for a single.
…which got him a 10-year, $320MM contract. Alderson commented, “Got a hit off Kimbrel, didn’t he? ‘Nuff said.”
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:21 pm
maybe nothing will end up happening,
Would be incredibly disappointing if Wren didn’t make an acquisition for pitching.
Brian from SC
July 17th, 2012
1:21 pm
I don’t believe in jinxes. I will always post good stats if I find them, without fear.
DAP
July 17th, 2012
1:21 pm
i call him Blitz-Craig.
Trader Jack
July 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
Like all good GM’s Wren will talk, but end up saying very little
Frank Wren
July 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
J.S. told me we need another pitcher. Oh dear! Maybe I’ll try the Japanese league again. Derek Lowe is cute but I traded him away already. Oh gee. What do I do? I wonder if Blaine Boyer is available?
I hate it when I have to think. I am so confused.
CB
July 17th, 2012
1:23 pm
Liriano or Vargas are your top of rotation possibilities.
ChattTownBrian
July 17th, 2012
1:25 pm
Hard to be funny through typing. Ya can’t imitate people which I love to do. George Dubya is my best I think. Also Tom Brokaw, Obama (the whistling through his teeth and just about all friends and family.
phil
July 17th, 2012
1:29 pm
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:13 pm
y’all are doing your best to jinx Kimbrel into a terrible second half aintcha?
***************
Not me.
I never fully enjoy sustained greatness until it’s sustained through crunch time….Kimbrel has yet to pass that test.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:30 pm
there is always a lot of talk this time of year, but not all that often that the Braves have done a big deal. I won’t be too surprised if we end up with just tweaks
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:30 pm
I never fully enjoy sustained greatness until it’s sustained through crunch time….Kimbrel has yet to pass that test.
You really can’t get past September, can you?
David O'Brien
July 17th, 2012
1:31 pm
Zito is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in five starts vs. Braves, including 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA and .178 opponents’ average in four at Turner Field. Much of that success came against previous incarnations of the Braves, not the current lineup. But he had 10 strikeouts in seven innings of his last start against the Braves in August 2010 in Atlanta.
Right-handers are hitting .268 with an .812 OPS and 10 homers in 284 at-bats against Zito, while lefties have a .193 average and meager .552 OPS and two homers in 88 at-bats against him.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:32 pm
lotsa folks here caint get past September….
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:33 pm
Zito owns us. BALLGAME!!!!!
tony austin
July 17th, 2012
1:34 pm
Just add Zito to the long list of under achieving pitchers that seem to own the Braves.
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:35 pm
lotsa folks here caint get past September….
I guess. Seems to me the current team is trying to rip the last remaining shreds of it from the clammy grasp of the clutchers, though.
Same folks as the ones who still whine about Teixeira, probably.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:36 pm
more than likely are scoots
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:36 pm
Just add Zito to the long list of under achieving pitchers that seem to own the Braves
Getting in a little pre-hate, LOL. Or pre-gloom, maybe. Pre-BALLGAME! There we go.
phil
July 17th, 2012
1:36 pm
Scoots….I’m pretty much past it, but Kimbrel melted like butter under the white hot glare of the spotlight in huge games two straight years, not just last year.
I fully expect him to shine when that chance comes around this year. But until he actually does, I’m not gonna pretend he has it in the bag based on what he’s done this year to date.
I’m cautiously optimistic, you could say…both that he’ll succeed and that the team will get him to that opportunity again.
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:38 pm
I won’t be too surprised if we end up with just tweaks
It’d be a shame given the landscape of the National League and the current state of the farm system. I’m sorta of the opinion that when you don’t have a ton in the minors, go the route of Milwaukee and trade for a couple of postseason runs(Brett Lawrie for Marcum, Odorizzi, Escobar Cain for Greinke – not saying those were the right deals to make).
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
1:39 pm
Any chance we pick up Kyle Farnsworth for the 3rd time at deadline?
Kidding
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:39 pm
I’m cautiously optimistic, you could say…both that he’ll succeed and that the team will get him to that opportunity again.
Well, damn, that’s good, at least. You had me a little worried for a minute.
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:40 pm
And while I understand we have a young roster, the NL stinks and we can take this sucker….
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:41 pm
https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/225275562904649730
Jon Morosi
@jonmorosi 33m Follow Following Unfollow Blocked Unblock Pending Cancel #Braves looking at bullpen upgrades, in addition to rotation, source says. (Jonny Venters on DL.)
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:42 pm
Braves on MLB TV tonight?
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
1:42 pm
“And while I understan”d we have a young roster, the NL stinks and we can take this sucker…. ”
By adding a starter and perhaps some bench help.
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:43 pm
And while I understand we have a young roster, the NL stinks and we can take this sucker
In fact, I foresee this year as the first opening of a rather wide window of opportunity, assuming the team can avoid catastrophic occurrences in the near future and can make a couple of judicious acquisitions in the next year or two.
Bat Masterson
July 17th, 2012
1:44 pm
I don’t believe in jinxes. I will always post good stats if I find them, without fear. _ Brian from SC
No problem, Brian, I believe enough for the both of us and then some. I’ve been making sacrifices to the baseball gods like crazy since this all started this morning. If so I’m afraid they will come for their due and it’s gonna be ugly.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
starter,reliever,bencher
Brian from SC
July 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
ERAs away from home from Giants starters this series:
Zito 5.19
Vogelsong 3.59
Bumgarner 4.43
Steve from OH
July 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
It’d be a shame given the landscape of the National League and the current state of the farm system. I’m sorta of the opinion that when you don’t have a ton in the minors, go the route of Milwaukee and trade for a couple of postseason runs(Brett Lawrie for Marcum, Odorizzi, Escobar Cain for Greinke – not saying those were the right deals to make).
I’m right with ya, but I think this is the year Wren makes a big splash. The pennant is there for the taking, we’ve got a strong, strong club excepting one or two holes, some of our big prospects haven’t developed as we’d like, and (for sentimental purposes) it’s Chipper’s last year. A postseason run coupled with that with Chipper’s farewell tour=big, big bucks for the Braves I think.
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
Braves looking at bullpen upgrades, in addition to rotation, source says.
Wow. Newsflash. Source could be Ward, for all the insider-ish-ness you need to make that particular call.
Braves Fan in Maine
July 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
Nolie….. yep thats how I get to watch them….. im pumped
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:46 pm
If so I’m afraid they will come for their due and it’s gonna be ugly.
We ain’t shook.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:47 pm
well if ol’ Brian is gonna keep that up, we need to dispatch my buddy Tonya that way….
phil
July 17th, 2012
1:47 pm
We don’t need any other players….
We’re good!
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:49 pm
In fact, I foresee this year as the first opening of a rather wide window of opportunity, assuming the team can avoid catastrophic occurrences in the near future and can make a couple of judicious acquisitions in the next year or two.
Agreed. If Carp was healthy and Miller made the progress we all thought he would – then we could be looking at a back to back.
However, that didn’t happen and Brian Sabean made the mistake of trading Zack Wheeler for 2 months of Beltran – so we’re all square heading into the final 3 months of 2012…..
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:50 pm
all this unbridled optimism is totally foreign to me, am I in the right blog I wonder or did a buncha Pollyanna aliens take over?? where is Bitchell when you really need some perspective???
keylargo
July 17th, 2012
1:50 pm
Kimbrel – not nintendo – Wintendo
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:51 pm
I’m right with ya, but I think this is the year Wren makes a big splash. The pennant is there for the taking, we’ve got a strong, strong club excepting one or two holes
Perfect time indeed to make a splash. Chipper and most likely Bourn gone after 2012. We have a dominant closer, a deep lineup and a great defense once Simmons gets back. Some depth in the rotation would be nice and it’s time to get a starter…..
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
1:52 pm
Reds, Nats, Braves and Cardinals. 4 top teams in NL. Who stays healthy and picks up help next two weeks, represents NL in Series.
Bat Masterson
July 17th, 2012
1:53 pm
If so I’m afraid
Even so ……… sigh
Murph
July 17th, 2012
1:53 pm
all this unbridled optimism is totally foreign to me, am I in the right blog
The Braves will enter August having only made one move… which will be acquiring Jamie Moyer.
Brian from SC
July 17th, 2012
1:54 pm
The Giants have a 7.31 ERA in their last 11 road games. The Braves have scored 5.5 runs per game in their last 13 home games.
Brian from SC
July 17th, 2012
1:54 pm
Frankie, or it could be, whichever team gets a hot pitching staff for two weeks in October…
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
1:55 pm
Reds, Nats, Braves and Cardinals. 4 top teams in NL. Who stays healthy and picks up help next two weeks, represents NL in Series.
I’d add the Giants in there. But I do believe that those five teams will be the ones at the end. Not sure of the playoff positioning, but those five teams are it.
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
1:55 pm
all this unbridled optimism is totally foreign to me, am I in the right blog I wonder or did a buncha Pollyanna aliens take over??
Blame me, I reckon. I started the day off with a call for the team to be in first place by August 1. Then, O’Brien and Brian (not the law firm, the other guys) started some bally-hoo over Kimbrel’s wicked-sick numbahs, and there you have it. Optimism unleashed, happy times abound, even a “cautiously optimistic” from phil (and, yes, that may have tipped us over into happiness goo).
Brian from SC
July 17th, 2012
1:57 pm
I don’t know about you guys, but at this point I’m thinking the Braves are not going to lose another game this season.
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
1:58 pm
Not sure I am buying the Giants but who knows, maybe the Freak gets hot and dominates like he did in 2010.
Friggin St Louis worries me. Just hanging around, not doing much and starting to get healthier. They need to pick up a arm like us but that offense can be terrific. I like Matheny as a manager as well, think he will be a good one. They very well can make it back.
Bitchell
July 17th, 2012
1:58 pm
y’all are nuts. The players stink, the manager stinks, the GM stinks, the entire Braves stink and we will be lucky to win 75 games this year. Bank on it!!!
Brian from SC
July 17th, 2012
1:59 pm
The Cardinals still have the best run differential in the National League. They are dangerous.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
1:59 pm
St Louie is always worrisome
Ward
July 17th, 2012
2:00 pm
Hello everyone! Sorry no source came from me, and funny…….I think the Braves should still get Liriano, or Dempster. Still think Dempster could sign with Braves, and yes I would sign a 3 year deal . Imagine Dempster, and Ben Sheets. Pitchers who can pitch back to back. It would be great…….Veterans……
ncscoots
July 17th, 2012
2:01 pm
St Louie is always worrisome
Scroom.
And, yes, this is called “belligerently optimistic”.
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
2:02 pm
I think I like the Giants because if their starters, Posey and Brandon Belt. Sandoval is solid too. Their outfield is interesting. Wow. Is that team going to have some offensive holes next year or what?
C Posey
1B Belt
3B Sandoval
Cabrera, Pagan and Blanco are free agents. The Brandon Crawford experiment at SS has to be over. I guess they have Gary Brown in the minors, but he hasn’t had a good year at all.
Bat Masterson
July 17th, 2012
2:02 pm
I don’t know about you guys, but at this point I’m thinking the Braves are not going to lose another game this season.
Me too, Brian.
Just ignore that short position I just took out.
Ward
July 17th, 2012
2:02 pm
Rotation
1. Huddy
2. Ben Sheets
3. Dempster, or Liraino
4. J.J.
5. Hanson. Play -Offs, and deep into October.
Arkansas Transplant
July 17th, 2012
2:03 pm
I’m not convinced we really need to make a move for bullpen help if they feel Venters will return healthy. I’m just not convinced what we’d get and have to give up to get it would necessarily be an improvement above and beyond what we already have, taking into consideration the cost.
Ward
July 17th, 2012
2:04 pm
Dempster, and Liriano would more likely fit Wrens’ profile.
B_F 54
July 17th, 2012
2:04 pm
This year I call CK
young mr K
hopefully in a few years we can call him mr K
nolie
July 17th, 2012
2:04 pm
‘cuse me I gotta go take a shot, the blog is so sweet on the Braves today it jacked my blood sugar up big time
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
2:05 pm
AT-
I agree, that’s the last of priorities IMO although another reliever wouldn’t hurt at all. Venters has to come back though and Medlen really has to be huge for them the last couple of months.
Wish we could get Kotsay.
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
2:05 pm
San Francisco Giants starting rotation will cost them 69.033 million in 2013 – Lincecum, Cain, Bumgarner, Vogelsong, Zito.
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
2:08 pm
holy shyt,
Nats now interested in Dempster
tony austin
July 17th, 2012
2:08 pm
ncscoots – I’ll rephrase: Just add Zito to the long list of under achieving pitchers that used to own the Braves, now the Braves will dominate Zito and the rest of them!
I just looked at the Braves remaining schedule and I honestly don’t see another loss
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
2:09 pm
Boy the Cubbies really sitting pretty listening to all the teams that want their arms.
Arkansas Transplant
July 17th, 2012
2:09 pm
If the Nats truely plan to shut down Stras, then basisly Dempster would replace him down the stretch.
Ward
July 17th, 2012
2:10 pm
Nats – Must have a stimulas package from Washington. The tax payers money…..little humor. Nats go away…..
nolie
July 17th, 2012
2:10 pm
I just looked at the Braves remaining schedule and I honestly don’t see another loss…
funny I see another 7 gamer coming up almost immediately
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
2:11 pm
Boy the Cubbies really sitting pretty listening to all the teams that want their arms.
Drafting Almora and signing Soler and Theo has already rebuilt their system. Javier Baez is a really solid SS/3B prospect down in Low-A. They’ll probably be able to add a few more prospects to that list with Garza and Dempster.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
2:13 pm
Theo rules!!!
phil
July 17th, 2012
2:14 pm
LOL at scoots, referring to me as though I’m anywhere close to being as negative as many are on this blog!
We’ve got this thing in the bag…
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
2:14 pm
Add Rizzo to that and Theo might replace Harry as the Mayor of Rush St in 3-5 yrs.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
2:15 pm
I think there are a lot of folks here who see you as very negative phil
brian
July 17th, 2012
2:16 pm
I could easily see Liriano being the #2 option behind Greinke
B_F 54
July 17th, 2012
2:16 pm
We could call him smoke or smok cause he usually ends things with a K
Frankie
July 17th, 2012
2:18 pm
We could call him smoke or smok cause he usually ends things with a K
I think Juan Francisco chews(in fact a lot)
Brian from SC
July 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
I think Juan Francisco probably chews a lot of things, very often. Potato chips, for example.
Memphis
July 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
Efrim,
I disagree on Felix. I know he’s signed for a couple of more years, but with Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker, and James Paxton all lineup the Mariners would be foolish not to listen to a prospect laiden deal for King Felix. They are going no where the next few years, and when he becomes a FA he’s likely out anyway.
nolie
July 17th, 2012
2:20 pm
Francisco usually ends things with a K too….
TennesseePaul
July 17th, 2012
2:20 pm
Seems to me the current team is trying to rip the last remaining shreds of it from the clammy grasp of the clutchers, though.
The Braves are currently 49-39 and in second place, 2.5 back.
Last year on July 17th the Braves were 3.5 back and in second place with a 56-39 record.
Last year, through the first 88 games played, the Braves were 3 back and in second place with a 52-36 record.
This team still has the rest of the season to go before it officially “gets over” last September (whatever that means). As it is, they are playing behind the 2011 team at this stage of the season. I do not think it unreasonable for people to be of the frame of mind to wait and see after what happened last year.
Personally I’m hopeful for this year. Alas, there is a long way to go and I’m not going to be satisfied with merely not collapsing in September. This team needs to go deep into the post-season. I’d like to see a WS run out of it. It’s been over a decade since this team was even in the NLCS.
Sopheee
July 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
Francisco’s venturing into Melky territory with me.
Efrim
July 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
jaysonst Jayson Stark
An exec of one team talking to the #Cubs said today they’re working hard to move Ryan Dempster “by the end of the week.”
Makes sense. Dempster 10 days before the deadline. Garza 5 days before the deadline.
TennesseePaul
July 17th, 2012
2:23 pm
the Mariners would be foolish not to listen to a prospect laiden deal for King Felix
If the Mariners are going to listen, they’ll only listen to prospect laden deals that include hitters. They haven’t had a good hitting team in ages.