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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,374 comments Add your comment
Slammin' HELMETS, and breakin' BATS!
July 19th, 2012
1:15 pm
I’m just saying, he’s losing some of his natural power by choking up. If he had not been choking up when he hit that line drive, his swing would have produced more leverage, and the ball would have been 10 feet over Belt’s head and down in the right field corner.
BravesQueen
July 19th, 2012
1:16 pm
CaptMudd — When I feel up to it, I wouldn’t miss a chance to come chat with you all.
BravesQueen
July 19th, 2012
1:16 pm
CaptMudd — When I feel up to it, I wouldn’t miss a chance to come chat with you all.
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:16 pm
Nice leaping catch by Belt or Freeman has another extra-base hit. When healthy, he hits. Period.
If we can just get him and Jason going at the same time. Would be a force and what we all dreamed of happening.
LawDawg
July 19th, 2012
1:17 pm
I hope someone puts a 95 mph fastball right in Melky’s earhole. What a POS that guy is. He was a lazy a-hole when he was in NYC and here, and he finally decided to start playing, now acts like he is God’s gift to baseball?
Put him in the hospital and give him some time to think.
BravesQueen
July 19th, 2012
1:17 pm
Oops, McFanned that last one! :blush:
Shaun
July 19th, 2012
1:18 pm
Not to be a Michael Bourn hater.
He’s not the only Brave to have zero clutch hits this season.
Oh, geez. Here we go. So if a great defensive centerfielder hitting .305/ .360/.442 doesn’t get any hits that you remember as clutch, that means he doesn’t have any clutch hits?
Also, if his teammates fail to get on base or it’s not late in the game but he triples, the fact that you don’t consider that hit “clutch” is on him?
And how do you explain .305/.360/.442 if Bourn lacks some sort of ability to come through in the clutch? Is he just good enough to hit .305/.360/.442 against major league pitching but not good enough to do it in those limited situations that you deem clutch? How likely is that?
Browncoat
July 19th, 2012
1:18 pm
You can always count on Melky being a class act.
ncscoots
July 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
Put him in the hospital and give him some time to think.
What makes you believe that Melky can think?
David O'Brien
July 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
In his last 22 games before today, since the day after he came back from finger injury, Freeman had hit .350 with eight doubles, four homers, 17 RBIs and a 1.030 OPS. That was before he homered again today in second inning.
BravesQueen
July 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
Haggard — Well, no matter how much time has passed, I always look for your name when I do visit. I miss you, friend. The days are long for me right now. I’m doing daily chemo, have been since June 4th. My eyes are on the prize though, I should finish this round by September. Its a daily struggle, dealing with all the side effects, but I somehow make it through. In no way does that mean its easy, but I’m surviving. And that’s all that matters, you know? One day at a time…
15 months in a long distance relationship, ehh? Must be pretty special that one. Good for you, friend. <3
LawDawg
July 19th, 2012
1:21 pm
ncscoots: Good point.
TennesseePaul
July 19th, 2012
1:21 pm
Too bad Melky didn’t get to Bourn’s hit….. he could’ve thrown the ball to right field for the Giants, like he did for us
Oh, man, I had forgotten about that play. Thanks for reminder.
Bad Routes. The guy was a disaster for the Braves. On the field. At the plate. At dinner…
Chris from the Rock
July 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
I nearly wet my pants watching that Melky throw into RF again.
Duke
July 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
Why should Freeman quit choking up on the bat? Just because it gives him more leverage? He has plenty of power. No need to change
David O'Brien
July 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
Hudson has thrown 53 pitches through five innings (5 hits, 1 run, 0 BB)
Slammin' HELMETS, and breakin' BATS!
July 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
It’s a wonder what Freeman’s stats would be if he had not had the vision issues and finger injury… he’d easily have over a .300 average, and would probably be on pace for 30 doubles and 30 homers.
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
Nice strong outing from Hudson so far. Be great to grab a game here before heading to D.C. Mets up 5-1 in the 3rd inning.
Duke
July 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
Another run for the Mets! 5-1
ncscoots
July 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
Good point.
Probably worth the possibility, though, to put him on his azz.
phil
July 19th, 2012
1:24 pm
Win the damn game….
Best way to deal with idiots like Cabrera.
Was that Nick guy banned after the horrible stuff he said last night?
Slammin' HELMETS, and breakin' BATS!
July 19th, 2012
1:24 pm
“Why should Freeman quit choking up on the bat? Just because it gives him more leverage? He has plenty of power. No need to change”
As I said, I think he would be even more deadly at the plate.
Steve from OH
July 19th, 2012
1:25 pm
What’s Melky up to now?
Heyward Hater
July 19th, 2012
1:25 pm
“he’d easily have over a .300 average, and would probably be on pace for 30 doubles and 30 homers.”
he is a great player and more valuable than jason heyward or anyone else on the team.
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:25 pm
Mets need a win, badly.
Charlie
July 19th, 2012
1:26 pm
Fredi, (in regard to Worthless Dan’s epic choke at the plate the last 7 weeks)…typical Fredi with his “running him out there..” style of managing. What acouple of jokes. The two Fla. products have surely sucked up the place in Atlanta. Worthless Dan, after 6 at bats, finally, actually put a ball in the field of play. (Of course it was still an out.) I’m sure Fredi feels “that will get Dan going…” Uggla needs to be benched. Put Tyler P. at second. Anyone will be more prouctive than Worthless Dan.
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:26 pm
he is a great player and more valuable than jason heyward
Hater. Oh wait.
phil
July 19th, 2012
1:27 pm
We had to know that Durbin would collapse at some point and give up a few moonshots….
Hopefully he bounces back.
ncscoots
July 19th, 2012
1:27 pm
Why should Freeman quit choking up on the bat? Just because it gives him more leverage?
Probably wouldn’t give him more leverage, actually. More likely is that it would make his swing longer, put his hands in the wrong position to maximize his torque, and cause him to go around the ball more.
They probably didn’t address that in the Tom Emanski video, though.
O.M.G.
July 19th, 2012
1:27 pm
BravesQueen, Will be praying for you. You hang in there. Good to have you on board today.
TuffShhhtuff
July 19th, 2012
1:28 pm
“Browncoat”, Melky is only about 3/5 of the word “class”. You figure out which 3 of the 5. It’s easy.
Tumbledown
July 19th, 2012
1:29 pm
Offseason – Sign Prado to long-term contract. Find sucker to take on Uggla’s last three years. Assuming we pick up a quaility starter, sign said pitcher to a long-term contract. I wish we could keep Bourn as well, but not counting on that.
NO MORE FREDI
July 19th, 2012
1:29 pm
Enjoy today because the real hurt is coming from the Nats this weekend.
LAG
July 19th, 2012
1:30 pm
Slammin’ HELMETS, and breakin’ BATS! – I’m just saying, he’s losing some of his natural power by choking up. If he had not been choking up when he hit that line drive, his swing would have produced more leverage, and the ball would have been 10 feet over Belt’s head and down in the right field corner.
Barry Bonds choked up his entire career. Even in Pittsburgh.
Just sayin’.
BravesQueen
July 19th, 2012
1:30 pm
O.M.G. — Thanks! I appreciate that alot.
ncscoots
July 19th, 2012
1:30 pm
Enjoy today because the real hurt is coming from the Nats this weekend.
Pre-gloom.
ColbyinCalifornia
July 19th, 2012
1:30 pm
That is so weird that he played so poorly in Atlanta. Melky has a gun for an arm. I have seen him cut down runners at the plate with ease, making terrific throws. And he goes back well on the ball and comes in and cuts off hits. Thru translator, I have heard him thank bench coach Ron Wotus for defensive poisition him instead of taking credit for robbing a sure Double. The ball that tipped off Melky’s glove last night was so weird, Mike Krukow & Duane Kuiper couldn’t believe it, they couldn’t remember the last pysical error he had made. He runs the bases well, is super clutch, has power, takes what the pitcher gives, hits to all fields, steals bases, goes 1st to 3rd, doesn’t say a peep in the clubhouse, gives thanks to God, made friends with all 25 guys on the club, and has a championship manager relying on him every day. This is so odd that he stunk it up so badly, and Braves fans are disgusted and think he’s lazy and a worthless punk, when Giants fans love him and voted him to the All Star Game where he was a shining star. Heck, we have people that go the park in costumes celebrating him. So. Weird. The dicotomy here..wow.
phil
July 19th, 2012
1:30 pm
I agree with ridding ourselves of Uggla if we can find a taker….
His unreal inconsistency isn’t worth whatever upside he brings to the table.
These two epic slumps he’s had, along with vanishing last September, is enough for me…
phil
July 19th, 2012
1:33 pm
Colby – You can have him….eventually, he’ll fall back to earth with a resounding thud.
ColbyinCalifornia
July 19th, 2012
1:33 pm
Here comes Melky…it’s currently Melky 1, Hudson 1….
Shaun
July 19th, 2012
1:33 pm
Freeman’s liner to Belt…Exhibit A for those who think defense and chance/randomness/luck/whatever you want to call it shouldn’t be considerations when looking at ERA and WHIP.
Freeman gets a double on that play and comes around to score, Bumgardner’s ERA and WHIP take a hit. Belt makes a nice leaping catch, it improves Bumgarnder’s ERA and WHIP. Bumgardner made the same pitch and allowed the same hard-hit ball, regardless of the outcome. Still believe we shouldn’t take into account the defenses behind Greinke when looking at his ERA and WHIP. Again, I’m sure front offices certainly are.
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:35 pm
A walk to the Melk Man. Sigh.
ColbyinCalifornia
July 19th, 2012
1:35 pm
I don’t think so Phil. He’s just entering his prime and has 4 legit tools. He has friends on this team and he thanks Giants ownership for bringing him here. I think he’s staying, and staring in the NL for a while. Melky 2, Hudson 1
Murph
July 19th, 2012
1:36 pm
Ooooh… crap.
TuffShhhtuff
July 19th, 2012
1:36 pm
“C in C” we know the “real” Melky. He is just putting up a facade for those in CA. Just wait a year or two. Bad habits are hard to break. You are seeing what Melky is away from home now. It’s like when the preacher’s kid goes away on a trip without the parents. What is that question about “true character”? “Character” is what you are when no one is around, or when you’re out of your environment.
ncscoots
July 19th, 2012
1:37 pm
These two epic slumps he’s had, along with vanishing last September, is enough for me…
Yes, and when Heyward hit .200 in May, you were ready to dump him. And McCann in June. Now Uggla in July.
David O'Brien
July 19th, 2012
1:37 pm
Sandoval to the warning track….
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:37 pm
Deep fly?
phil
July 19th, 2012
1:37 pm
Maybe so, Colby….
But normally, the fat and lazy can only hide it for so long, if and when they ever get in shape for once…the pounds come creeping back, the old habits resurface.
We’ll see.
ColbyinCalifornia
July 19th, 2012
1:38 pm
Janish with a tremendous play. Clutch D just as important as clutch hitting
Bob
July 19th, 2012
1:38 pm
You can listen to the game here
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/1570-wcle-am-cleveland,-tennessee
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:39 pm
Yes, and when Heyward hit .200 in May, you were ready to dump him.
Heyward’s July is starting to look a lot like his May – just without the walks………..
the truth...
July 19th, 2012
1:39 pm
@2holehitting
reading your posts and your obvious “man love” for the pig Melkman….. I think you and Melkey’s reference to the “suck it” phrase is evidence of the bond you have with him..
kiss off sucker….hoping after Melkey gets one in the ear that you are next in line…..
Yogi Berra
July 19th, 2012
1:40 pm
Colby we know he is a 5 star player. A free agent to be with something to prove. Maybe Braves sign him?
But he was a bust in 2010 but did hit 255 better that Uggla is hitting.
Al Bundy
July 19th, 2012
1:40 pm
I think the Braves should cut their losses and trade Uggla for 2 unborn children with the hopes they might grow up to be baseball players. Uggla certainly isn’t! What a huge waste of money!
Steve C.
July 19th, 2012
1:40 pm
Any recent update on Peter Moylan? Might be a nice boost to the bullpen suring the stretch drive…
Brian from SC
July 19th, 2012
1:41 pm
Would be awesome to see 8 strong from Huddy, then turn it over to Nintendo.
Random
July 19th, 2012
1:41 pm
Mitchell (July 19th, 2012 2:59 am): “This never seems to go over very well and I don’t know why because, honestly, watching this team the past two nights being made to look utterly incompetent, I would think the one word that comes to mind more than any other for the majority of serious Braves fans is EMBARRASSING.
“Notice I didn’t say “true” Braves fans or “die hard” Braves fans?”
So your definition of a “serious” Braves fan is one who has watched all of two games?
So who would the “die hard” fan be — one who had watched the seven games previous to those two? Were you embarrassed by any of those seven victories?
Mitchell (July 19th, 2012 3:46 am): “I mean it, if somebody finds me still wasting hours at a time in the middle of the night on the AJC Braves blog at the halfway point of this century I want you to shoot me.”
I say, why wait?
RC
July 19th, 2012
1:41 pm
I would think someone who is a big fan of a player would know how to spell his name…
corkymillerlovesbeer
July 19th, 2012
1:42 pm
DOB, do you think braves will sign prado to an extension
ColbyinCalifornia
July 19th, 2012
1:43 pm
Wait a minute tuffshhtuff – I am seeing what he’s like away from home? Dude it’s the 2nd half. He has been going on the road for months of course. I have watched every game, because I live & breathe baseball, and I know 2012 Melky. He has had a ball in every park. I started commenting on DOB’s last blog (from last night) and I was writing about how surprised I am with what is happening here in Atlanta. Anyway, this is not about me..but I’m telling you, Melky is a joy and lots of fans around the league have been celebrating him. How do you explain fans wearing Nats hats in Washington D.C. with “Got Melk?” signs?? I have seen nothing but good. This is like crazy talk to me. Are you guys embellishing????!?
Brian from SC
July 19th, 2012
1:43 pm
Prado now 7 for his last 39 with 1 walk.
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:44 pm
Prado now 7 for his last 39 with 1 walk.
Him and Jason are strugglin’ – although they were due to dip a bit.
phil
July 19th, 2012
1:44 pm
Release someone…
TennesseePaul
July 19th, 2012
1:46 pm
Heyward’s July is starting to look a lot like his May – just without the walks………..
Not far below his April…
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:46 pm
Bumgarner is nasty. Just really tough. Very nice 1-2 punch with Cain and him. Vogelsong is a damn good #3 starter and if Lincecum ever gets his act together…pretty much the formula they used in 2010, although the bullpen just isn’t near what they were.
the truth...
July 19th, 2012
1:46 pm
No excuse for Fredi not to have Janish bunt in the 9th with the winning run 90 feet away….and if Janish can’t bunt….
In the pregame last night the discussion went to bunting and the old way it was taught….Lemmer related how Jimy Williams would insist on bunt practice for EVERYONE every day….and if you didn’t get your bunts down it was subtracted from how many swings you got in BP…..
In other words fundamentals for everyone…. and the bunt is taught in Little League so why can’t everyone at least bunt….
Janish laying one down against a junk ball 80 mph pitcher who struck him out on three out of the zone balls would have been a lot more likely thank his delivering a line drive…
Another lack of leadership on the management level is how Cox allowed both Andrew Jones and Melky to come to camp fat as a pig and out of shape….
They both should have been fined or at least spent the first two weeks of Spring Training running laps, sprints and the like….
TennesseePaul
July 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Him and Jason are strugglin’
So’s Uggla. This team needs all the pistons firing. 3 guys in a slump is hard to work around.
MikeInFl
July 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Shaun, sure defense impacts ERA. Fact is, though, that in 2011 Greinke had the fourth best ERA on his own team, behind Wolf, Gallardo, Marcum. And in 2012, he’s 2nd, behind Marcum (who, granted, only has 13 starts), and only .02 points ahead of Gallardo. I’m assuming that the defense behind him is pretty much the same as the one behind those other guys.
He’s a good pitcher, no doubt. But the question is, is he $15-$20 million good for a team with modest payroll?
David O'Brien
July 19th, 2012
1:48 pm
Bumgarner has retired 7 consecutive Braves via groundout or strikeout since Ross’ 4th-inn. HR.
TennesseePaul
July 19th, 2012
1:48 pm
the truth…
I thought all this guy did was talk about the side effects of tobacco.
ncscoots
July 19th, 2012
1:49 pm
Him and Jason are strugglin’ – although they were due to dip a bit.
Listen, if “struggling” for Heyward is .270/.730 (his July, so far), I can live with that, believe me.
phil
July 19th, 2012
1:49 pm
Colby – This blog is packed full of reactionaries…I’m one of them oftentimes. Melky left town and has met with great success. That alone explains much of the hostility towards him. Nothing more.
As a group, we resent his current success. We aren’t about to celebrate it, as you say others are doing. He was a fat waste of a roster spot here, and we don’t appreciate it.
that said, the best way to deal with people like that is to beat them. We generally role over and let the Melkys and the Bryce Harpers kick the crap out of us. It’s happening again with Melky and likely will this weekend again at the hands of Harper. It feeds our collective need to whine and cry, rather than whip some ass…
TuffShhhtuff
July 19th, 2012
1:49 pm
“C in C” what you are seeing is what happens when a player gets a little “heat” from fans. Some ATL fans booed him in the first game, and the “real Melky” came out and has stayed out for the entire series. He is a “Zambrano-type” that cannot handle adversity.
Arkansas Transplant
July 19th, 2012
1:49 pm
Had to step away, did I miss Melky getting his yet?
David O'Brien
July 19th, 2012
1:49 pm
Prado is 1-for-13 in the series and 4-for-26 on the homestand
tony austin
July 19th, 2012
1:50 pm
I know Uggla can carry this team, but when he is going to start? How long is it going to last? … This team just can’t keep waiting on him to get hot. I know players get hot and they get cold, but his cold streaks are so epic it’s unbelievable. How many good weeks has he had since he’s been a Braves. I don’t know, but I’d dare to say just a few.
Yes he did have 36HR last year with 82RBI. I don’t know how many solo shots, two-run shots and so on that he had, but let’s say they were all solo shots. That leaves only 46 RBI for the entire season. (I know about the RBI argument and I understand it, but, again not knowing the numbers, I think it would be safe to say he came up to bat with more than 46 people on base).
IMO he’s hasn’t been worth the contract he signed. But the Braves have him for prob 3 more years, I don’t see him being traded anytime soon.
On a different note, wow, nice game Hudson. He and the Braves sure needed this.
Efrim
July 19th, 2012
1:50 pm
Not far below his April…
I’ll take a .790 month to start the year after what he went through last year. The dip in May cost him dearly and while I was expecting a drop in production from his out of this world June, I was sorta hoping for an .800 July. Still possible, but the approach was aggressive when he was going ine June and now the balls are finding gloves. I do not believe pitchers are approaching him differently – they have been going right after him in the strike zone, which was leading to a lot of quicker plate appearances. Worked in June. Slowing down in July. Be interesting to see if he can bounce back close to as strong.
TennesseePaul
July 19th, 2012
1:50 pm
Listen, if “struggling” for Heyward is .270/.730 (his July, so far), I can live with that, believe me.
I can’t. I’m not very satisfied with a Right Fielder slugging under .400. Heyward is at .385 right now. Pretty stinking weak.
eskippy
July 19th, 2012
1:50 pm
Mets 9-1 in 4th.
ncscoots
July 19th, 2012
1:51 pm
It feeds our collective need to whine and cry, rather than whip some ass…
phil goes Freudian.
ColbyinCalifornia
July 19th, 2012
1:52 pm
I guess enough about Melky, you guys are done with him. Oh well. Here comes top 7…
The Archbishop of Canterbury
July 19th, 2012
1:52 pm
These are the Atlanta Braves who going back a LONGGGGGGGGG way under Bobby Cox and Leo have never had the guts to play the Retaliation Game. Think about it. The Braves have always been more concerned with the retaliation coming back—probably justifiably so— if they decide to get back at guys who have irked them The guy who has been injured by batting cage richochet and a bed in a Ritz carlton is always the most outspoken in “We will not forget this”, you would think the Bolles School candy Butt would either do something or quit talking about it in this his final year.
By the way, it’s nice to see that I can be off this blog for 9 months and still read people holding out hope that dan Uggla will not end up being one of the worst Braves FA signings of last 20 years.
nolie
July 19th, 2012
1:53 pm
bad tim, bad
iTiSi
July 19th, 2012
1:53 pm
“the truth” speaks the the truth @1:46PM. That’s what I said last night. I was yelling at my TV. Good thing I was “home alone”! If FG causes me to have a heart attack, I have it in writing for my family to sue him!
Yogi Berra
July 19th, 2012
1:54 pm
@1:52 remember Rocker!
phil
July 19th, 2012
1:54 pm
Uggla cannot be counted on to carry this team.
No how, no way.
Now, he might do it at some point here for a time. But it will end with a resounding thud. History teaches us that.
ncscoots
July 19th, 2012
1:54 pm
I can’t.
Hey, then I’m happy for you, however it goes. Maybe, in some season, Heyward will never have a bad week or two and he’ll finally get your approval.
Al Bundy
July 19th, 2012
1:54 pm
“Braves All-Star second baseman is hitting .113 (11-for-97) with one homer, 39 strikeouts and a .277 OBP and .442 OPS in his past 29 games, and .094 (6-for-64) with 30 strikeouts, no homers and two RBIs in his past 20 home games.”
That’s more than a slump! The guy has clearly lost it, but for 13+ million what do you expect.
nolie
July 19th, 2012
1:55 pm
yeah right Lou. 9 months….
Brian from SC
July 19th, 2012
1:55 pm
Give me one more, Timmy!
MikeInFl
July 19th, 2012
1:56 pm
Joey Votto’s slugging .375 in July.
RC
July 19th, 2012
1:56 pm
No excuse for Fredi not to have Janish bunt in the 9th with the winning run 90 feet away….and if Janish can’t bunt….
I don’t think he should have had Janish bunt….too much risk that he doesn’t get it down, or that they are able to make a play at the plate while coming in on the ball.
However, it is inexcusable to not pinch hit Hinske in that situation. You still had Pastornicky on the bench to pinch hit for the pitcher (which he did anyway), and if Hinske does his job then Pastornicky never has to bat anyway. Just a missed opportunity by Fredo.
Bochy’s managing last night was terrible as well, but he played a better game of checkers than Fredo did last night. Too bad most managers play chess.
nolie
July 19th, 2012
1:56 pm
oh yeah, here we go with the multiple avatars hating Uggla
nolie
July 19th, 2012
1:57 pm
such silliness
Yogi Berra
July 19th, 2012
1:57 pm
Fredi said, “got to keep running him out there”.
TennesseePaul
July 19th, 2012
1:57 pm
Maybe, in some season, Heyward will never have a bad week or two and he’ll finally get your approval.
I can handle a bad week or 2. It’s the month long slugging under .400 which you like and I dislike. I still like Heyward, but not his sub-400 slugging, which he did in May and is now doing in July.
bravesgrl4life
July 19th, 2012
1:58 pm
Okay, back from lunch. Don’t know what I was thinking on my phone. I have a radio on my desk :facepalm:
David O'Brien
July 19th, 2012
1:58 pm
Mets lead Nationals 9-1 in 4th inning.
Toynop
July 19th, 2012
1:58 pm
That’s Melky. And that’s why the Braves are chumps.