Braves look to Minor to keep good homestand going
(Staff writer Carroll Rogers is filling in for David O’Brien today.)
So Chipper Jones said after the Braves completed their three-game sweep of the Phillies on Sunday, that he’d be disappointed if the Braves didn’t finish out this homestand at 8-2.
That seemed like a big number, but after a 3-0 head start, he must have been figuring the Braves should win both series against the Marlins (3-1) and Astros (2-1). They have a chance to take three of four from the Marlins tonight with left-hander Mike Minor on the mound.
Minor pitched eight innings vs. Phillies on Saturday
Last night’s 4-2 loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Braves. But Ben Sheets still had his fourth quality start as a Brave. The offense couldn’t rally for him, after going 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine runners.
But the streaky Braves team of earlier this season, the one which followed a six-game losing streak in early June by losing seven of its next eight, seems to have steadied itself from the extremes of late. Starting pitching has everything to do with that.
Sheets has a lot to do with that. So does Minor.
The young man (as manager Fredi Gonzalez would say) is 2-1 with a 1.98 ERA in his past four starts. He’s allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of those four starts, while going six or more innings in all of them. He’s figuring some things out, things he can only have learned from getting out there and pitching at the major league level.
Minor is still home-run prone – he gave up one home run in each of those four starts – but he hasn’t let them get into his head. He’s settled down afterward and continued to pitch with conviction.
His last start on Saturday was a prime example. Minor gave up a home run to Chase Utley in the fourth inning but came back to strike out Ryan Howard, gave up a single to Hunter Pence, and struck out Ty Wigginton to get out of the ining. He retired his last 13 batters in a row and pitched eight innings for only the second time in his career. (He pitched eight innings in a 10-2 win at Arizona on April 19.)
I thought he said some things that were pretty telling to our Chris Vivlamore recently about the strides he’s making mentally.
“To be honest, I used to feel – and it goes all the way back to Little League – whenever one run or two runs scored I felt like I’m already losing,” Minor said. “I felt like I’m already down. When really if I go six innings and give up three runs that is considered a good start. To me, I didn’t realize that. When I was down two runs in the third inning, I felt like I lost the game already when I really didn’t. We were right there in the game. But to me, that was what my feelings were.”
He’s facing the Marlins’ right-hander Nate Eovaldi, who is making his second start since being traded from the Dodgers in the Hanley Ramirez deal last week. He gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings in a win over the Padres on Saturday to equal his win total in 10 starts this year for the Dodgers.
Minor, 24, is two years older than Eovaldi, 22, and has 42 major league starts to Eovaldi’s 17.
Lineup watch
Last night’s loss snapped a streak of three straight games the Braves hit a home run and was only the second time this homestand they didn’t go, uh, yicketty?
Getting Brian McCann back in the lineup tonight after a day of rest should help with that. McCann has hit five home runs in his last 10 starts dating back to July 18 against the Giants, the night he switched to an ash bat. He finished July with a .296 batting average, nine home runs and 21 RBIs. This is after he combined to hit .226 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in the first three months of the season combined.
Now that the Braves have Reed Johnson to plug in at any of the three outfield spots, Gonzalez had suggested he might rest Michael Bourn (which he did last night) and Jason Heyward soon. He might re-think that tonight, though, and give Martin Prado a break after he went 0-for-5 last night, hit into two double plays and committed an error in left field allowing a run to score.
Prado is hitting .211 in 22 games since July 5 (20-for-103), while his average has fallen from .325 to .298. His average dipped under .300 for the first time since May 14.
Eye on shortstop
Andrelton Simmons is supposed to get his cast off tomorrow, and then will probably need two more weeks to build back the strength in that right hand, play some rehab games, etc.
Great diving play by Janish Wednesday night. Courtesy of Getty Images.
In the meantime, just looking ahead a bit, after watching the kind of defense Paul Janish is playing, I’m wondering if he won’t be the guy the Braves keep as the backup shortstop when Simmons comes back over Jack Wilson.
Janish got himself a webgem last night with a heck of a play to backhand a pop-up on a diving play just foul of the left field line. He’s made all the plays at shortstop, looking as sure-handed and confident as the Braves have gotten used to seeing around these parts between Simmons and Alex Gonzalez the past two years. So that’s something I’m sure the Braves will keep in mind.
Janish also went 2-for-3 with a double last night as well to raise his average as a Brave to .200. He’s played a little second base (12 games) and third (21 games) with the Reds as well.
Wilson, 34, looked a little out of sorts defensively in the rare playing time he got since Simmons arrived at the end of May, and he has hit .169 in limited action off the bench.
Granted, Wilson was put in a tough spot, not playing any at shortstop until after Simmons’ injury and then asked to play second base a time or two, which isn’t his comfort zone.
Right now he’s on the DL and rehabbing a dislocated pinky finger, which he suffered that Friday nght, fielding a ball that got past second past. He was just cleared by the doctors yesterday to start playing in the field soon. Up until now it had been just DHing in Triple-A.
Anyway, it’s something to keep an eye on.
Minor league update
Speaking of keeping an eye on – young converted left fielder (and former catcher) Evan Gattis is back in action in Double-A Mississippi after missing six weeks recovering from a wrist injury. He hit a two-run home run on Tuesday night, along with a run-scoring triple, to make him 6-for-13 with three extra-base hits in his first three games back from the DL. (He went 0-for-4 last night.)
One of his biggest fans – manager Fredi Gonzalez – is keeping a close eye on his progress down there. He was asked if Gattis had a shot at being a September call-up, to which Gonzalez said: “I think if he wouldn’t have had injury I would have probably said yes for sure. We’re still a month away. We’ll see. I don’t think about starting the (arbitration) clock and that kind of stuff.”
It was a big week as well for last year’s first-round draft pick Sean Gilmartin, who made his Triple-A debut for Gwinnett Monday night, allowing four runs (three earned) in seven innings. He gave up five hits, walked three and struck out four in that game.
I had a couple, um, scouts there to watch him, since he happened to be pitching in my hometown of Charlotte. My mom and sister reported back that they saw 88 mph on the scoreboard.
Gilmartin warming up Monday in Charlotte. Photo courtesy of Happy Rogers, a.k.a. Mom
And that’s about right for Gilmartin, whom Gonzalez said normally sits about 88-89 mph and occasionally hits 90 mph.
“What makes him interesting is his makeup and he’s got command of all his pitches and he competes,” Gonzalez said. “He repeats his delivery and his command of all his pitches is real good. He gets it. He gets the mental side of pitching. Stuff doesn’t seem to rattle him. Maybe a little more mature than the guys out of second year.”
Braves lineup:
1. Bourn CF
2. Johnson LF
3. Heyward RF
4. Jones 3B
5. Freeman 1B
6. McCann C
7. Uggla 2B
8. Janish SS
9. Minor P
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1,078 comments Add your comment
Matt
August 2nd, 2012
2:25 pm
Great column Carroll. Hope the loss last night was just a blip on the radar and not the recent trend we have of losing streaks following winning ones.
Joe
August 2nd, 2012
2:28 pm
First!
Clayton
August 2nd, 2012
2:29 pm
Need a win today. Go Braves
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
2:35 pm
Keep the roll going minor.
brian
August 2nd, 2012
2:36 pm
great column Carroll – thanks.
JoeyBagOBravos
August 2nd, 2012
2:36 pm
Need the big win today for sure.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
2:37 pm
Gonzalez had suggested he might rest Michael Bourn (which he did last night) and Jason Heyward soon.
Rest Heyward next week(Tuesday) vs. Hamels. Let him feast on RHP’s the next five days.
Gustopher
August 2nd, 2012
2:37 pm
Great blog Carroll. Nice of you to give your um scouts a shout out.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
2:41 pm
And that’s about right for Gilmartin, whom Gonzalez said normally sits about 88-89 mph and occasionally hits 90 mph.
Sigh…
brian
August 2nd, 2012
2:43 pm
makes Minor look like a fireballer
Murph
August 2nd, 2012
2:45 pm
Hi Carroll. How are you?
Patty
August 2nd, 2012
2:45 pm
Photo credit to MOM. Sweet! Go Braves!
Braint
August 2nd, 2012
2:47 pm
They’ll get the Fish tonight! You can’t win ‘em all.
brian
August 2nd, 2012
2:48 pm
I still can’t believe the Indians DFA Derek Lowe.
Murph
August 2nd, 2012
2:49 pm
Are we done with statement games/series for a little while? Haven’t heard anyone call for one lately.
The Phillies are playing their best ball of the year right now, despite being depleted by trades. Told you guys they wouldn’t just roll over for the Braves or Nats. Told you.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
3:00 pm
Murph – The “statement series” will be the 2012 World Series, when we break the Ranger’s hearts.
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
3:00 pm
carroll, your mom’s name is happy? thats pretty cool.
Shaun
August 2nd, 2012
3:00 pm
Yeah, where are those few who wanted Lowe back with the Braves after his first, what, three starts?
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
3:00 pm
Thanks for the work CR.
GO BRAVES!
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
3:01 pm
brian, i was also surprised lowe got CFAed, but understood once i saw his numbers. boy did he implode after his good start.
Murph
August 2nd, 2012
3:01 pm
Yeah, where are those few who wanted Lowe back with the Braves after his first, what, three starts?
Ward took care of them a long time ago. It was on the news, even.
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
3:01 pm
i was also surprised lowe got CFAed,
ahem, pardon me. DFAed.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:04 pm
makes Minor look like a fireballer….brian
that’s why the Minor lite tag. though I like Minor minor myself.
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
3:05 pm
So where does an minor league player go to play on a rehab assignment before returning to action? The local beer softball league?
bigchiefrg
August 2nd, 2012
3:08 pm
Love the name Happy Rogers. That is AWESOME. Is Happy real-name or nick-name?
REMLEY
August 2nd, 2012
3:09 pm
Thanks for the photograph Mom
Chiricahua Brave
August 2nd, 2012
3:09 pm
Heisenberg – Gulf Coast League
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
3:09 pm
Why would the Lowe DFA surprise anyone? Braves are picking up 10 mil of 15 mil salary so Tribe is only on hook for less then 2 mil for balance of season. So much for that fast start. Myself and others predicted this would happen.
CB
August 2nd, 2012
3:10 pm
I was afraid to ask what they do to a player when they CFA him.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
3:10 pm
Payne, 1:04 on the last blog. I can live with that. But I still think one must also include in their gleaning, the published conversations of management on the situation. Those conversations tend to refute the premise in the following statement: “Guys thrown in to leftfield in Double-A from another position are likely there because they don’t really have a position.” The conversations tend to imply that he was moved to a position that would allow him to reach the majors faster, as catcher was blocked by McCann, and then by Betancourt. I will grant that those conversations could also be a means of “hyping” the guy. But such situations don’t really revel themselves until the guy being hyped is dumped in a trade a-la Tyler Flowers and countless others.
Chiricahua Brave
August 2nd, 2012
3:11 pm
So the Braves only owe Lowe about 4 million more right?
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
3:14 pm
So the Braves only owe Lowe about 4 million more right?
They’re done paying their part. This is all on the Indians now.
Jeff R
August 2nd, 2012
3:16 pm
In the meantime, just looking ahead a bit, after watching the kind of defense Paul Janish is playing, I’m wondering if he won’t be the guy the Braves keep as the backup shortstop when Simmons comes back over Jack Wilson.
No knock on Jack Wilson, but Janish is young and a strong glove guy. I think the Braves may keep Janish, though, on the other hand, they may like Wilson’s experience down the stretch.
coastalbrave
August 2nd, 2012
3:17 pm
1. Michael Bourn (L) CF
2. Reed Johnson (R) LF
3. Jason Heyward (L) RF
4. Chipper Jones (S) 3B
5. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
6. Brian McCann (L) C
7. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
8. Paul Janish (R) SS
9. Mike Minor (R) P
chas
August 2nd, 2012
3:19 pm
if the umpire had made the right call on benefacio in the first inning, the braves would won that game. why fredi does not complain about bunters stepping out of the batters box is beyond me. is he really afraid of the umpires!!!!!!!!!!
space monkey
August 2nd, 2012
3:20 pm
Carroll: I was at the Gilmartin start as well. 87-89, decent breaking stuff, good poise. VERY HITTABLE. The last thing the Braves need is another pitcher who can’t break 90. I think we currently have the largest collection of finesse guys in the Majors. As for Janish vs. Wilson. Janish is the clear choice. Better defender by a mile, marginally better bat.
CrαZy
August 2nd, 2012
3:23 pm
VERY HITTABLE. The last thing the Braves need is another pitcher who can’t break 90.
Just because a player doesn’t throw 90 + doesn’t mean they’re hittable!!!
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
3:24 pm
Imagine if we had a rotation that had Lowe and Jurrjens. We made a good move in getting rid of Lowe and DLing Jurrjens.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
3:25 pm
Last 9 Starts of the Starting 9
_________AVG__OBP__SLG___OPS_wOBA_L9S9+
Bourn__ .175 .195 .250 0.445 .214 ___23
Reed___ .351 .368 .568 0.936 .423 __157
Heyward .286 .350 .571 0.921 .430 __152
Chipper .313 .395 .531 0.926 .377 __155
Freeman .345 .500 .414 0.914 .425 __157
McCann_ .273 .351 .697 1.048 .434 __185
Uggla__ .103 .257 .207 0.464 .231 ___31
Janish_ .231 .375 .269 0.644 .314 ___82
Minor__ .000 .056 .000 0.056 .036 __-83
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:26 pm
Just because a player doesn’t throw 90 + doesn’t mean they’re hittable!!!
if you can’t ever throw 90, you are gonna have a hard row to hoe
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
3:27 pm
Getting Reed Johnson was probably the worst thing that could have happend to the Braves. Now you will see Bourne Prado and Heyward taking turns in getting daysoffs and add to that Chipper who plays 5 days a week only and Mac who all of a sudden can’t play 3 straight games and what will you have? OFFENSE THAT WON’T BE ABLE TO SCORE RUNS.
cricket
August 2nd, 2012
3:30 pm
And that’s about right for Gilmartin, whom Gonzalez said normally sits about 88-89 mph and occasionally hits 90 mph.
Sigh…
sigh indeed but seems to be acceptable for LHP
faninva
August 2nd, 2012
3:30 pm
awesome read, Carroll. thanks!
Fols
August 2nd, 2012
3:31 pm
I don’t know Veer, I always felt that way with the Diaz types because it would shuffle the entire line-up card.
Reed is a baller, and if he’s taking Prado or Bourn’s place, they don’t have to shuffle anything because he fits in nicely at the top of the order.
I think this addition could very well save us in the end.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:32 pm
The Phillies are playing their best ball of the year right now, despite being depleted by trades. Told you guys they wouldn’t just roll over for the Braves or Nats. Told you.
What? So you’re saying they will challenge for the wild card or even the division? Please.
Puma
August 2nd, 2012
3:32 pm
There have been many many very successful pitchers who regularly threw in high 80’s. Its all about location and changing speeds. Obviously if you can get it up there at 95 it helps, but its not everything.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:32 pm
Reed Johnson was a great pick up. Finally got my wish
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:33 pm
name 50 Puma
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
3:34 pm
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
#Braves lineup: 1. Bourn CF, 2. Johnson LF, 3. Heyward RF, 4. Jones 3B, 5. Freeman 1B, 6. McCann C, 7. Uggla 2B, 8. Janish SS, 9. Minor P
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:35 pm
sigh indeed but seems to be acceptable for LHP
Maybe Gilmartin will have a great spring training and get the #5 starters job. Maybe, if we’re all so lucky, our 3-4-5 in 2013 will be Mike Minor, Paul Maholm and Sean Gilmartin……
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
Eric (Atlanta)
What’s your take on J.R. Graham’s ceiling? Starter or reliever in the bigs?
Klaw (1:17 PM)
Probably a reliever, but greater chance to end up a starter now than he had coming out of Santa Clara.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
name 50 [successful pitchers who regularly threw in high 80’s]
And short. They have to be short.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
3:37 pm
Reed Johnson might be a baller but there is a reason as to why he has been a bench player all his life. I don’t mind him getting occasional starts but seems like to me that he will be an everday player now. He will take turns replacing Heyward Bourn Prado. Bourn Heyward and Prado have been allstars before. I like Johnson but as a pinch hitter.
cricket
August 2nd, 2012
3:37 pm
good to see Prado getting rest, he looked like he could use it.
off course some here will skewer fredi for “not fielding all best players every game”..
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
3:38 pm
Maybe, if we’re all so lucky, our 3-4-5 in 2013 will be
Efrim, do not post this again. You’ll worry yourself into a sickbed, LOL.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:39 pm
maybe we can trade for Brian Johnson too Ef
cricket
August 2nd, 2012
3:40 pm
if we’re all so lucky, our 3-4-5 in 2013 will be Mike Minor, Paul Maholm and Sean Gilmartin……
glad lefty heavy braves’ lineup won’t have to face that buzzsaw
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:41 pm
Kyle Kubitza down to .229/.341/.394 for Low-A Rome as a 22-year old Texas State college hitter.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
3:41 pm
maybe we can trade for Brian Johnson too Ef
and Vargas.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
3:41 pm
Phillies are just reloading. They cleared dead weight in Pence and Victerino and now will upgrade themsleves with some high priced offseason signing of say a Hamilton or a Bourn and guess what they also got prospects in return. They have their key 4 pitchers intact so they are the early favs to win the East in 2013.
Pence is a Futre Franceour. Giants made a big long term mistake with thim. He isnt worth 13-14 Million. He is a guy that wont have high OBP and will probably not hit more than 23 homeruns starting next year and a guy who won’t hit over .260. Phillies made a great move. They saved 13 million and will use that towards Hamilton
joe
August 2nd, 2012
3:42 pm
The Phillies are playing their best ball of the year right now, despite being depleted by trades. Told you guys they wouldn’t just roll over for the Braves or Nats. Told you.
Winning 2 games in a row is playing best ball of season? Gee great call.
cricket
August 2nd, 2012
3:43 pm
seems like to me that he will be an everday player now.
yep, he gives Bourn only 2nd day off all year, gives Prado a much needed day off (0-5, not sharp as usual in field – clearly tired) and that off course means he’s going to play everyday
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:43 pm
You’ll worry yourself into a sickbed, LOL.
That, and me seeing Robert Stephenson touch 100mph for Cincy’s Rookie League team.
One. Pick. Away. And they stole home from us and we end up with “Signable’s Minor minor”
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
how in God’s nakmcane anybody compare Pence to Francoeur, even Veer?
Juan
August 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
Report from Philadelphia that the Phillis put Clif Lee on Waiver.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
They saved 13 million and will use that towards Hamilton
Can you identify, even in the vaguest terms, one single reason why Josh Hamilton would sign in Philadelphia over Texas? Or another AL team?
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
and Vargas.
Hanson to Seattle for Vargas and prospects.
Teheran to Minnesota for Denard Span.
Evan Gattis promoted to the big club to play LF.
2013: Hudson, Vargas, Minor, Maholm and Gilmartin. – Delgado in the pen.
Yup. That would do it for me. What’s the fastest way to the roof of this building?
squeezeplay
August 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
Jair Jurrjens to the 15-day DL – pulled right groin from his relief appearance the other night. Might be a blessing in disguise.
OldFan
August 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
Can’t win ‘em all. Sure would be a good thing, though, for the Braves to avoid the multi-game downturn that seems to follow a nice run. Really pulling for them to get a big win tonight.
squeezeplay
August 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
Jair Jurrjens to the 15-day DL – pulled right groin during his relief appearance the other night. Might be a blessing in disguise.
squeezeplay
August 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
Didn’t mean to re-post – computer is wonky.
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
name 50 [successful pitchers who regularly threw in high 80’s]
******************************************
You could start with a lot of guys prior to 1990 who are in the HoF. Used to be anything over 90 was a flamethrower. The Nolan Ryan / Roger Clemens types were the exception.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
this time of year a whole lotta players hit the wire for one reason or another
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Report from Philadelphia that the Phillis put Clif Lee on Waiver.
Tons of guys go on waivers at this time of the year, Juan, especially big-contract players. Doesn’t really mean much. These are recallable waivers, meaning that teams can recall the player from the waiver wire, if claimed. They can also say, “you want that contract? It’s all yours” or they can recall the player and work out a trade.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Rough start of professional ball for 16th rounder Fernelys Sanchez – 26 strikeouts in 46 at bats. Did hit his first home run today. Recovering from a broken fibula that he suffered in March and is a 18-year old switch hitter. Plus speed, though and the player development department is in love with speed – Lien(12), Black(4), Sanchez(16) in this past draft.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
Yup. That would do it for me. What’s the fastest way to the roof of this building?
By following me?
coastalbrave
August 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
The Phillies have placed Cliff Lee on waivers, Yahoo’s Jeff Passan reports (on Twitter). The Phillies were expected to waive Lee this month, when waivers are revocable. Teams routinely place high-profile players on waivers in August to determine other teams’ interest. Executives expect the left-hander to clear waivers Friday afternoon, Passan reports.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
baloney, I’ve been watching baseball for 60 years and there have always been a lot of players who hit the 90s regularly. many moreso than not
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
Well Nolie Pence isnt a good ball player. You will see in the coming years and realize he isn’t much better in years 2013 2014 2015 then Franceour was in 2011.
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
3:51 pm
faninva – Royal Thunder.
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
3:52 pm
“Report from Philadelphia that the Phillis put Clif Lee on Waiver”
************************************
This also just in…….The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:52 pm
bullcrap Veer, Frenchy’s biggest failing was his low OBP, Pence is much better
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
3:53 pm
Veer (or veer, whichever it is today), meet REALITY. REALITY, meet Veer. You two should really get to know each other.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
3:54 pm
Texas Rangers would have signed Hamilton to an extension if they could have so Rangers arent getting Hamilton back. Of all the teams the Phillies have 3 OF spots open for 2013. Phillies need an OF to anchor them for future. Phillies and Hamilton are perfect match. You go team by team and the needs and dollars then you will see that Hamilton is a perfect fit for the Phillies. Trading Pence simply cleared salary for them to do this. Would you rather have Pence at 13 Million or Hamilton for 8 million more
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
3:54 pm
EF:
Yup. Speed. When my grandson ran a sub 6.6 60 the scouts took notice down in East Cobb last month.
Juan
August 2nd, 2012
3:55 pm
ncscoots…..I know all the player are put in waiver in Aug, but let see this scenario…. if the Wash Nat claim him, that the Braves block that claim?…
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:56 pm
Hunter Pence is a lot better than Jeff Francouer. He may look awkward doing it, but he’s productive.
13-14 million that he is going to make next year in his 4th year of arbitration is a bit much, but the Giants desperately needed sticks.
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
3:57 pm
Wouldn’t be surpirsed if the Rangers tried to pick Lee up off of waivers – especeially with Feliz down for surgery.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
3:57 pm
BOURN on waivers? Heh!
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
3:57 pm
When my grandson ran a sub 6.6 60 the scouts took notice down in East Cobb last month.
Glad to hear it richbrave, hope DeMacio took notice.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:57 pm
6.6? pretty decent rich
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
3:57 pm
How about LUIS AVILAN for real?
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
3:58 pm
Naybe. He got a standard form letter.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
Braves would not know that the Nats would claim him and they would not put themselves in that position. no way
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
why Josh Hamilton would sign in Philadelphia over Texas? Or another AL team?
Mo money.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
Would you rather have Pence at 13 Million or Hamilton for 8 million more
You missed the point, bubba. Hamilton has zero reason to sign with a team in the other league, a team that will finish last in its division this year, a team that will have much less of a supporting cast for him next year. That the Phillies might want him isn’t the determining factor.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Bethancourt is the guy we so desperately needed
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
if the Wash Nat claim him, that the Braves block that claim?…
Too late by then, Juan. You block another team from claiming by making an earlier claim. That means the Braves would have to claim the guy. And his contract. Don’t think so.
cricket
August 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
are we in bizzaro world? am i sorta agreeing more with veer compared to scoots? someone please wake me up..
IMO if phillies offer him more money than rangers, hamilton will sign with them and their place in division and supporting cast won’t matter.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
anything under 7 is more or less acceptable, under 6.7 is always interesting
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Baseball scouts care about 60 yard times? I would think how fast someone can run 90 feet would be a good stat to have.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Giants, Nationals are going to be in on Bourn – as will Texas if they lose Hamilton for some reason. Boras always finds a team no one knows or thinks is in the running to pay big for his client. And I can’t see Wren waiting until Christmas for Michael. He hasn’t been the patient type and want to play that game.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:04 pm
Giants, Nationals are going to be in on Bourn – as will Texas if they lose Hamilton for some reason. Boras always finds a team no one knows or thinks is in the running to pay big for his client. And I can’t see Wren waiting until Christmas for Michael. He hasn’t been the patient type and willing to play that game.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:04 pm
let him sign with Philly. he will be outta baseball within a year or so in that town with no built in support system.
Bayou Brave
August 2nd, 2012
4:05 pm
TennPaul @ 3:59
Exactly.
unbelievable
August 2nd, 2012
4:06 pm
Would you rather have Cliff Lee for 3/$75 or Greinke for 6/$120?
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:07 pm
60 yards is the normal sprint distance used in baseball because that is a double. Times from the box to first are also measured and compared, Heisenberg
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
4:08 pm
nscoots, As much as I hate the Phillies I have to say that they will be a very competive team next year. They have Hallady Lee Hamels and Worly all capable of winning 15 games or more.
They sign Hamilton and another offensive peice and boom they are right there. Anoher thing is Hamilton will sign with the Astros even if they paid him the most. Its all about the money and the Phillies have the money and Hamilton needs as much money as he can get inorder to buy 30 years supply of weed. The guy smokes weed at a higher rate than you You or I breathe in a daytime. So Hamilton needs the cash and the Phillies have it
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
4:09 pm
ive seen some really hittable pitchers who threw well over 90. the gas is nice, but not a must.
scoots Can you identify, even in the vaguest terms, one single reason why Josh Hamilton would sign in Philadelphia over Texas?
$$$. that was easy.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:09 pm
IMO if phillies offer him more money than rangers, hamilton will sign with them and their place in division and supporting cast won’t matter.
The guy is gonna make bank, regardless. He’s just been to the WS twice (maybe three times, if this year pans out). I’m pretty sure that he can find a team willing to pay him market value and give him a competitive situation. I doubt he is so foolish as to have all the personal problems he’s had and WANT to go to Philadelphia to be the main lightning rod for that fanbase. Not when he can probably keep going to the playoffs and be paid the same coin, elsewhere.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
4:10 pm
Good discussion by the guys on XM radio baseball channel this morning on Josh Hamilton…Their opinion…Tons of talent, but VERY high risk. He’s in a hell of a slump (he did have a “personal” setback earlier this year) I love the guy…Raleigh boy, and all…went to HS with my neice. But boy does he have …just say challenges. Their conclusion…no way do you give him a mega year contract, but someone will. That team will probably regret it eventually. Texas says his current problems are not INJURY related, with no additional clarification.
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
Heisenberg – 60 yards is home to second base.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
yup I agree DAP, over 90 is no guarantee either. in fact, like crying, there are NO guarantees in baseball either
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:12 pm
let him sign with Philly.
I can’t let him do that. He’s a North Carolina boy, born of some fine parents. Philly might kill him, and I can’t have that.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:13 pm
I really don’t think the Phillies are going to invest 20m+ in another 30 year old+ player. Even if they trade Cliff Lee and get the team to eat all of the cash(seriously doubt it), they might go after a player like Michael Bourn. Might.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Esocobar takes slack for being a bad clubhouse guy and not a good character yet Hamilton is always praised by ESPN. Him being on drugs is like some come back story for the people and thus they root for him. Such hypocracy. Fact is Hamilton is a weed addict and the national media make him out to be a hero while Esocbar for example is characterized as “cancer”?
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Here’s an explanation of radar guns in use now – most stadium guns are JugsGuns and probably set a bit high for fan appreciation.
There are two basic models of radar guns used to clock the speed of fast balls. The Jugs Speed Gun (Fast Gun) will pick up the speed of the fast ball after it has traveled 3.5 feet and the Raglan (Slow Gun) will pick up the speed after the ball has traveled 40-50 feet. A fast ball will lose 8 mph from the time it leaves the pitchers hand to the time it crosses home plate. The JUGS speed Gun is usually 3-4 mph faster than the Raglan.
The average major league fast ball is 88-89 mph on a JUGS Speed Gun and 84-85 mph on the Raglan. Scouts will rarely if ever sign a pitcher who does not throw at least 85 mph on the JUGS Speed Gun.
CrαZy
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
If Hamilton goes to Philly he’s destined for a relapse…. no one willingly wants to live in Philly, and if you do you’ll instantly regret it and turn to boos to help ease you’re pain!!!
space monkey
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Believe me, Gilmartin has a long way to go. When he throws fastballs he’s very vulnerable. At 87, batters can tune him up. The Knights did just that. If it wasn’t for some spectacular plays by Durango in CF, the game would have been a lot worse. There’s only about a 6 mph difference between his slider and his fastball. If he got either one up in the zone, it went for a ride. That’s the big difference for finesse guys: They don’t intimidate batters and they can’t make mistakes. Read Smoltz’s book. He says and I think accurately that finesse starters can get you into the playoffs but to win consistently against the best hitters, the most disciplined hitters in the postseason, you need power pitchers. That’s why I dismiss the value of adding another finesse guy to our collection. Of course, the chances of getting into the playoffs next year without Bourn and Chipper are slim.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Phillies will pay Hamels 20.5 million in 2013. So it’s another backloaded deal.
CrαZy
August 2nd, 2012
4:16 pm
booze**
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
4:16 pm
And this:
The four-seam and two-seam fastballs are the cornerstone of a pitcher’s repertoire. According to Terry Bahill, in the Major League Baseball, the range of speed varies between 85 and 95 mph. The average maximum speed in 2008 — based on all the fastballs pitched throughout the full season — was 90.9 mph; the average speed at the plate was 83.2 mph.
So, to me an 89-91 fastball pitcher is average – if he has control, above average.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
Being an addict is a little different from being an ***hole. From some reports, Yunel is not yet even a recovering ***hole.
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
i wouldnt put it past the phillies to try and land hamilton at all. they are going to want the biggest free agent hitter they can, and i think thats hamilton. doesnt mean he will go there, but i bet they offer.
all their pitchers cant win 15 games each if they cant score, and right now, it looks like their problem is going to be scoring runs, because that rollins/utley/howard combo aint what it used to be. i think they made a mistake by trading pence.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
nolie:
His time was 6.9 as a rising soph, and that time was disseminated throughout the internet in 2010, but he was only eighteen months removed from a serious football injury. He’s pretty much back up to speed now, but hasn’t had any special conditioning to increase his speed yet, so we’re hoping he might get it down to 6.5 or close to that. BTW he stole 20 bases, and was caught once.
Juan
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
For those savy on Baseball, How the Giant knew that the Padres going to Claim Ross.
“We have also seen teams make waiver claims to block rivals from obtaining a player for the stretch run”.
Looking back at the Giants’ claim of Cody Ross, they liked the player, but they also did not want the then division leading Padres to get him. It turned out to be a great move by the Giants.
Nevada Roy
August 2nd, 2012
4:18 pm
Keep Paul Janish as back-up! If you didn’t catch it the Indians after a strong start but recent collapse have designated Derek Lowe for assignment. I’m glad we didn’t get Dempster or Grenke.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:18 pm
Of course, the chances of getting into the playoffs next year without Bourn and Chipper are slim.
Impossible to say. We are gearing up for the most busy Braves offseason in perhaps the last decade, and absolutely the most busy in the Frank Wren era. Who knows what the 25-man 2013 roster will look like?
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
4:22 pm
OBP .625 this season.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:22 pm
Long term contracts for McCann, Prado, Heyward, Freeman…….. Michael Bourn………. Starting rotation beyond Tim Hudson. …………..Bullpen beyond Craig Kimbrel……….. 13.2 million in guaranteed dollars on the books for a consistent 90-92 million dollar payroll team…….. Holes in LF and CF….
Busy as hell.
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
4:23 pm
60 * 3 = 180, 90 feet between bases, 180/90 = 2
Makes sense now. I must not be smarter than a 5th grader.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
i wouldnt put it past the phillies to try and land hamilton at all. they are going to want the biggest free agent hitter they can, and i think thats hamilton
I did hear Ruben Amaro Jr. on ESPN radio this morning say the moves they made and contracts they didn’t complete for their current players(Pence and Victorino) will make them players in the free agency market this winter. I’m not sure why he hasn’t learned, but I guess he understands that he’s just trying to keep the good times rolling in Philly with the park selling out every night.
And of course, Amaro may as well tattoo on his arm “Those contracts are the next GM’s problem”.
Fols
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
I would give Freeman a contract and the keys to the city, he’s going to be consistantly awesome for a long time.
I think he’s going to end up being the Justin Morneau the Twins thought they were signing.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
too there is a difference between where a pitcher normally sits in speed and what he can top out at if needed.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
4:26 pm
I was looking at COT’s today, and it appeared 62-63 mill minimum was coming off the books.
Of course you have to resign folks like HUDDY and B-MAC, and then there’s some keepers who hit ARB after this season. Yeah, it shapes up to be a pretty busy season.
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
efrim, i think this off season could be very busy with trades for alot of teams, because there doesnt seem to be alot of really good free agents out there. if a team really trying to make a splash, they almost have to do it with a trade, outside of a few key players.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
Makes sense now. I must not be smarter than a 5th grader.
You probably don’t think of baseball in terms of “yards”, is all. I believe it would have come to you.
faninva
August 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/derek-lowe-designated-assignment-cleveland-indians-fan-154000464–mlb.html
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:28 pm
135 million in guarantees for the Phillies in 2013. They could afford a player like Michael Bourn in CF.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
4:29 pm
Veer – Yeah, Hamilton and Escobar make a real “apples to apples” comparison. I realize that you are one of the only people who couldn’t understande why the Braves didn’t want Esco on their team, but it’s a TOTALLY different situation. A bad attitude IS a cancer on a team. If there’s one problem Hamilton DOESN’T have, it’s attitude.
No team will support Hamilton like Rangers do…but then, the manager tested positive for cocane.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:29 pm
I think he’s going to end up being the Justin Morneau the Twins thought they were signing.
Good comp, but Freeman has a better glove abd maybe a bit less power.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:31 pm
I’m not sure that “afford” is going to be a term of operation for the Phightens next year, Efrim. I think they have to spend whatever it takes. To heck with budgets, luxury tax, whatever. They’re already too deep in with contracts to worry about a few more.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:32 pm
i think this off season could be very busy with trades for alot of teams, because there doesnt seem to be alot of really good free agents out there. if a team really trying to make a splash, they almost have to do it with a trade, outside of a few key players.
Take a look at the following years free agent class, DAP. It’s even worse, man. Boras wasn’t joking when he said that Giancarlo Stanton was the next great power hitter to hit the free agent market. Teams absolutely look ahead – even if they have no idea how it’s going to pan out. Gotta take the time to forecast, even though it could get turned around pretty easily.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:32 pm
depends on which average they are using : mean, median or mode. most use the ‘mean’ which means it was dragged down by a bunch of replacement level fodder. it does not mean that the average good quality successful pitcher throws 89
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
4:33 pm
I think I could break 7 seconds from home to first and my fastball tops out in upper 60s. Just waiting on Frank Wren to call.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:33 pm
To heck with budgets, luxury tax, whatever. They’re already too deep in with contracts to worry about a few more.
And there just isn’t a lot available in free agency the following year. Jacoby Ellsbury…….
and that’s about it.
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
4:33 pm
Faux Frank Wren @fauxfrankwren
The Braves Facebook page was not hacked to show embarrassing pictures of Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen. They are real. http://pic.twitter.com/0wkXdMu1
Wow…
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
Sidd Finch was clocked at 168 MPH on his fastball. You whippersnappers need to bone up on your Baseball history, y’all don’t know squat.
Walter Johnson probably threw over a 100, but they didn’t have radar guns back then. (And that’s a fact that could very well be true, but we’ll never know for sure…unless nolie or scoots saw him back in the day).
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
Looking back at the Giants’ claim of Cody Ross,…Juan
because Juan was affordable to them if they got stuck with im, so yeah good idea. not the same as blocking a high dollar contracy out of your price range
cabravesfan
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
The Braves Facebook page was not hacked to show embarrassing pictures of Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen. They are real.
They are also from a few years ago as part of rookie hazing… (just to put them in context)
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
sorry, because Cody was affordable……….
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
Didn’t Feller have some publicity stunt showing he could a baseball faster than a speeding train? Or am I thinking of something else?
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
cabravesfan
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
The Braves Facebook page was not hacked to show embarrassing pictures of Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen. They are real.
They are also from a few years ago as part of rookie hazing… (just to put them in context)
Every bit as funny now as they were then…..
Murph
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
The Braves will be lucky to have $25mil to spend in the offseason, regardless of what money is coming off the books after this season.
If they spend more, I’d be very, very surprised.
cabravesfan
August 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
Bravefaninok-
Oh, absolutely
I especially love the look of total confidence on Meds’ face. Nothing bothers him at all
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
4:39 pm
Sidd Finch, Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, leprechauns, tooth fairy………
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
4:40 pm
I would give Freeman a contract and the keys to the city, he’s going to be consistantly awesome for a long time.
Yes. He’s a real solid ball player. No reason not to try to keep the kid around. And Justin is a solid comp hitting wise. I think Freeman will be in between him and Konerko, though I don’t think Freeman will ever hit 40HR in a season. But the .500 slugging, .350 OBP range, yes.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
4:44 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
AARON NORTHCRAFT and the HILLCATS take it on the chin from the KEYS last night when 3 unearned runs are scored against him, and the offense is offensive….but not in a good way.
RHSP AARON NORTHCRAFT [L 8-9, 3.74 ERA] 6.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO.
RHSP ANDY WILSON [1.76 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, zeros, 2 SO.
RHRP RYAN WEBER [4.60 ERA] 1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R/ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.
RHRP JUAN JAIME [3.69 ERA] 1.0 IP, zeros, 3 BB, 3 SO.
Three hits, two doubles included not nearly enough offense as the HILLCATS succumb 1-7 to the baby GNATS.
ss NICK AHMED [.272 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B [32], 2 SO.
1B CHRIS GARCIA [.303 BA] 1-3, 1 2B [19], 1 BB, 1 SO.
Lead-off CF MYC JONES [.257 BA] 1-4
And that a wrap for the hitters.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
4:45 pm
scoots: I remember watching Feller on You Asked For It when I was a kid. He was pitching on a field with several tall posts between him and home plate and the camera was up high overhead. The purpose was to show in slow motion how the pitch “curved” around the posts on it’s way to home plate, thus “proving” the ball actually curved when thrown.
I wonder if it’s on You Tube, I haven’t seen it since then.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
4:47 pm
Heisenberg: Bah Humbug! Killjoy.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:48 pm
The Braves will be lucky to have $25mil to spend in the offseason, regardless of what money is coming off the books after this season.
Funny, as that really is what they will have to spend if they exercise options and pay players their arb. numbers sans Jurrjens.
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
4:48 pm
Looking back at the Giants’ claim of Cody Ross
that claim probably hurt the braves more over the following 15 months than any other team. we wanted him too.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:49 pm
Yes. He’s a real solid ball player. No reason not to try to keep the kid around. And Justin is a solid comp hitting wise. I think Freeman will be in between him and Konerko, though I don’t think Freeman will ever hit 40HR in a season. But the .500 slugging, .350 OBP range, yes.
What about Jason Heyward? What are your thoughts on that young ballplayer, TenneseePaul?
[he says with a smirk on his face]
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:51 pm
I’d still take Jason over Freddie if I could only have one
Murph
August 2nd, 2012
4:52 pm
Funny, as that really is what they will have to spend if they exercise options and pay players their arb. numbers sans Jurrjens.
You’re assuming a $90mil payroll? Have they actually been at or near $90mil the last 2 seasons?
Like I said, they’ll be lucky to get what we expect them to get… in other words… I wouldn’t count on it.
If I were to guess I’d say that Wren spends $15mil this offseason and keeps the rest for all of those big acquisitions he likes to make at the deadline.
Shaun
August 2nd, 2012
4:52 pm
MLB just needs to change the name of the revocable waivers. Or just do everything to make sure that “revocable” part is in there when a player is placed on revocable waivers.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
4:53 pm
nolie @4:51 – Now there’s something we can agree on…and the good news is that we don’t have to choose between them.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:54 pm
I’d still take Jason over Freddie if I could only have one
Would not think twice about it. It’s just not easy to be a first baseman. Those jerks at fangraphs with that “Wins Above Replacement” garbage just made it difficult for anyone to love “good” first baseman……
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:55 pm
I wonder if it’s on You Tube, I haven’t seen it since then.
ken, I remember that vaguely, also.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
4:56 pm
I expect a big increase in the payroll…the results of all that post-season revenue, on the way to a WS title.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:57 pm
from your keyboard to God’s eyes raleigh….
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:57 pm
Heyward 8th in WAR in ALL of the National League and Freeman…… 41st???
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=nl&qual=y&type=6&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
Just don’t like it at all.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:58 pm
range kills Freeman
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:58 pm
You’re assuming a $90mil payroll? Have they actually been at or near $90mil the last 2 seasons?
I think they’ll go to 95 next year, in whatever bizarro form of accounting they use. Whether that means more actual cash, I don’t know.
A tickling synapse makes me want to say they showed an operating profit of around $20MM or so last year, so they might have a tiny bit of wiggle room, anyway.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:59 pm
You’re assuming a $90mil payroll? Have they actually been at or near $90mil the last 2 seasons?
Yes, they have been. At around 92 million this year. And while Lowe’s 10 million isn’t on the field for us, they are still paying his salary.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:00 pm
What are your thoughts on that young ballplayer, TenneseePaul?
Comps? no idea. Not the elite walker/once in a generation type. Very solid ball player. I don’t see him hitting for as high of an average as freeman, largely because he hasn’t. Probably similar OBP/SLG though.
When they were both coming up, I thought they’d both hit for average and Heyward would have the higher OBP. The slugging would be very close, though I thought Heyward would excel there. But after watching him play in the majors, I think he’ll be closer to Freeman in both OBP and Slugging, just won’t hit for average.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:02 pm
range kills Freeman
Can there be some sort of adjusted WAR for first baseman? I guess it works as a model for all ballplayers – but 1.9 wins to date for Freeman? I guess you just have to absolutely destroy the ball to be a star at first base.
However, teams can just simply evaluate them among their peers at the position, and given his age – Braves gotta be excited about Freddie right now.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
5:02 pm
Jason more exciting player by far IMO
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
5:03 pm
Murph – yes I read just before the trade deadline that the Braves’ Payroll this year is $92.4M – that included money paid to other teams.
I know the Cubs gave cash in the trade – not sure how much though – the Braves may be below the 90 now.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
5:03 pm
where is Votto and Pujols on a good year?
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
Can there be some sort of adjusted WAR for first baseman?
And catchers.
But I don’t particularly want to start dealing with FG WAR, BR WAR, x1B WAR, and xC WAR.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
Wilson, 34, looked a little out of sorts defensively
Indeed…. looked like Rev without the bat
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
But after watching him play in the majors, I think he’ll be closer to Freeman in both OBP and Slugging, just won’t hit for average.
Just obsessed with the hitting side of the game and no view on the baserunning or defense. For shame.
I think when Heyward puts it all together(no idea when that will happen), we could see his OBP back at what it was in 2010. Not sure Freeman can get to that level. Career wise, I don’t see that thing being .390+, I mean, that would make him elite all-time, period.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
where is Votto and Pujols on a good year?
Dominating.
I love Freeman, but he is neither of those guys. Perhaps he could surprise, but that would be a massive surprise. Massive.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
WAR sukks anyway,no way we need more than two, which is two too many
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:07 pm
Comps? no idea. Not the elite walker/once in a generation type. Very solid ball player.
Whoops. Forgot this question. You’d take Freeman going forward, I assume, yes?
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:07 pm
Just obsessed with the hitting side of the game and no view on the baserunning or defense. For shame.
They play different positions… for a reason. Why would I compare the speed of a first baseman to that of a right fielder? I never thought Freeman would be Jeff Bagwell, stealing bases all the time.
GWD,sc
August 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
Yunel is not even a recovering ***hole. Now that was funny!
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
Jason more exciting player by far IMO
He can run. That helps…..a lot in this game.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
WAR sukks anyway,no way we need more than two, which is two too many
Sometimes, I think that giving advanced statistics to some particular folks is like giving them a gun and saying, “You pull this thing, and the bullet comes out this end.”, and that’s all you give ‘em. They don’t know how to strip it, clean it, or load it, they just know how to point it at somebody.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:09 pm
You’d take Freeman going forward, I assume, yes?
Take him where?
Fortunately I have them both on my favorite team. I don’t have to “take” them anywhere. But they have to take me places… preferably the elation and excitement of watching my favorite team win the world series… repeatedly.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:10 pm
I think when Heyward puts it all together(no idea when that will happen)
That will happen at the same time Freeman “puts it all together.” It’s called “peak years.”
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:11 pm
Why would the Braves not spend in the low-90’s next year? They have basically been around that for a while…
Shaun
August 2nd, 2012
5:12 pm
I guess you just have to absolutely destroy the ball to be a star at first base.
I think this is pretty much true. Freeman is 9th among the 24 qualifiers in wRC+ and 10th in wOBA.
13 qualifying firstbasemen have an OBP .340 or higher. 12 have a slugging .460 or higher.
11 are at least 20 percent better than league average offensively, according to wRC+.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:13 pm
I like Paul Konerko for Freeman. He hits for solid average. Gets on and slugs well. It isn’t flashy out there. He certainly isn’t Pujols or Votto or Fielder, but he’s as good as any and better than most.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:14 pm
Why would the Braves not spend in the low-90’s next year? They have basically been around that for a while…
They’re agreement with MLB is up. They can spend whatever they wish next year.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:16 pm
That will happen at the same time Freeman “puts it all together.” It’s called “peak years.”
Ah, yes. But I like Jason’s “all together” more, I guess.
Take him where?
Let me rephrase: If you could only have one player, which would you want to keep on your beloved Braves moving forward? noles chimed in with Jason and I agreed, which is why I was asking the question. But you don’t have to answer, if you don’t want to. Was just askin. Didn’t mean nothin by it….
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
I don’t know why I’m so bad with the there, their, they’re. I do it all the time.
And for some reason I toss in through and threw mix ups.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
They’re agreement with MLB is up. They can spend whatever they wish next year
I still think they’d stick near 90-95 mil… no need to drop it if they’ve been fine with it as it is. Now if only they”d raise it….
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
Whatever the comps, a pitcher having to go through Heyward, Chipper, McCann, Freeman, and Uggla better pack a lunch. And hope Bourn and Prado don’t scramble his eggs for breakfast.
I don’t think folks actually get how tough this lineup can be.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
I couldn’t find the Feller video on You Tube, but it could be there, searching that place is hit and miss sometimes. I did find a Walter Johnson pitching video…he threw sidearm from a double windup and his arm looked like a big whip. He must have been terrifying for right handed batters. If I had a time machine, I would spend all of my time going back to watch old time baseball games and players like Johnson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe, etc. We’ll never know if they could compete today and at what level.
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
5:20 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knbsYEA0Eu0
Bob Feller before radar guns.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:20 pm
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&stats=bat&lg=nl&qual=y&type=6&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
You couldn’t pay me enough to take Goldschmidt over Freeman moving forward. I know it’s just this year though.
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
5:22 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMPxpOapRuU&feature=related
Bob Feller clocked@98.6 on an army ordinance speed measuring device.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:22 pm
They’re agreement with MLB is up. They can spend whatever they wish next year.
What was teh agreement again? Had to keep it above 85 million?
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
5:23 pm
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
I couldn’t find the Feller video on You Tube, but it could be there, searching that place is hit and miss sometimes. I did find a Walter Johnson pitching video…he threw sidearm from a double windup and his arm looked like a big whip. He must have been terrifying for right handed batters. If I had a time machine, I would spend all of my time going back to watch old time baseball games and players like Johnson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe, etc. We’ll never know if they could compete today and at what level.
That would be way cool….and you could grab one of them sports alminacs and get rich too.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:23 pm
scoots – did you see my post earlier about Heyward swining and missing at balls within the strikezone a bit more this year? Could just be me though….seems like it’s happening more.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
If you could only have one player,…
My jury is still out on this. I’m waiting for a full season.
As a note, personally I don’t take much pleasure in watching the greatest ball player ever sit on the DL frequently when he’s young. I loved watching Chipper, Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and so forth because in their 20’s they played every day. And they played very, very well. And that sentiment is spoke from a fan/spectator of the game. I like watching guys play the game every day. I grant that there are some players who can play so well, that even when they miss half the season, they produce more than other good players. I just don’t take pleasure in waiting around to see which half of the season they’ll play.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
Had to keep it above 85 million?
Something like that.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
Bob Feller clocked@98.6 on an army ordinance speed measuring device.
I bet it was scarier for hitters not knowing how hard he threw, LOL. Verlander might sling it at 97, but you can see the radar gun reading on the Jumbotron, and know kinda how much you have to gear up. Before the gun, not so much. Other than, “I gotta start swinging yesterday.”
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
Glad to see that Prado is getting a night off. It was difficult watching him play last night. Probably the worst he’s played all year in every aspect. But as I said last night, he’s entitled to have that kind of game every now and then. Hope we get back to winning tonight.
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
5:27 pm
I wonder if maybe Gattis gets a resonable shot to make the team out of spring training next year. Could be a huge addition if Prado moves to third.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:28 pm
I’m waiting for a full season.
Fair enough. Let’s hope they both have great August and Septembers to make your decision a little tougher.
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
5:28 pm
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
Bob Feller clocked@98.6 on an army ordinance speed measuring device.
I bet it was scarier for hitters not knowing how hard he threw, LOL. Verlander might sling it at 97, but you can see the radar gun reading on the Jumbotron, and know kinda how much you have to gear up. Before the gun, not so much. Other than, “I gotta start swinging yesterday.”
His wind-up and delivery is scary enough in the video,i couldn’t imagine standing in the batters box against him.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:31 pm
Glad to see that Prado is getting a night off. It was difficult watching him play last night.
He hasn’t been injured this year, but I do wonder if he can make it through a full season without hitting the disabled list for some reason. I think some were throwing about 12 million a year over five years for Prado, and I thought that was absurd. He’s a good player – and I still want to extend him at seasons end – but for the three years, 27 million range on top of around 7 million he’ll get in his third year arb. so the total value is around 34 million. That’s at least what I’m hoping for.
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
5:32 pm
Legend has it that an umpire once called a strike on a hitter with Feller on the mound. The batter turned to the ump and said “It sounded a little high”.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:32 pm
David Wright at .334/.427/.557 for the season. Great player. Mets need to lock him up. Hot topic this offseason here in the Northeast.
AshevilleBrave
August 2nd, 2012
5:33 pm
What will 2013 look like? I believe pretty similar to this year. I really believe we resign bourn. Despite what it’ll cost he is a MUST. Unfortunately I think that will mean a fill in type at third or left with Prado at other. We will most likely move Hanson potentially looking to get that guy aka a sub left fielder or third baseman. Also he will be due a big raise this year. I think we bring back Sheets on a one or two year deal and re up Huddy with the last three spots being taken by a combo of Medlen, Minor, Delgado, Teheran. 2014 will be the year I think we make a splash with a big bat or ace pitcher with Hudson and Mac off the books. Your thoughts?
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
5:35 pm
I would be shocked if Huddy & Mac are off the books in 2013 and Bourn is.
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
5:36 pm
Ben Ingram @IngramRadio
From what I can tell, this is Martin Prado’s 1st off day since May 4th. In 77 straight games, he’s hit .306, scored 41 runs with just 33 K’s
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nolie
August 2nd, 2012
5:37 pm
that lineup is a lot tougher against pitchers who are not pounding strikes all the time
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
5:44 pm
that is one thing that I miss about the old days, all the great wind ups.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5553509/alibi_ike_movie_trailer/ at about 1:11
cricket
August 2nd, 2012
5:45 pm
Bruce Bochy is hilarious -
On whether he thought Sandoval’s risk would go up playing first base: “No, really, I didn’t. It’s usually where like in Little League, you put the fat guy over there and you didn’t worry about injuries. But he did a pretty good split. I guess anytime you make a change with a player, there’s a slight risk there.”
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
5:46 pm
Bravefaninok: Thanks, I could spend all day on You Tube looking at those old videos.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
nolie, that was funny. Seems like Clem Labine of the Dodgers had a long convoluted windup.
cricket
August 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
Talk about strict parenting.
New Zealand kayaker Mike Dawson made the semifinals of the kayak slalom at the Olympics despite being given a two-second penalty by his mother Kay — who is a judge at the games.
Dawson touched the fifth gate when going down the 18-gate Olympic course on Sunday, and his mother didn’t hesitate to penalize her son. It was one of two two-second penalties Dawson received, but he still advanced to the semifinals.
Dawson joked that he was tempted to get his coach to put in a protest.
That would have made dinner time at the Dawsons even more awkward. His coach is his father, Les.
Dawson says his mother’s penalty shows that she’s not biased. And he says, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
5:46 pm
Bravefaninok: Thanks, I could spend all day on You Tube looking at those old videos.
We have the same problem,I watch the video I went to see then the links on the right take me to a bunch of stuff that looks even more interesting.
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
I think some were throwing about 12 million a year over five years for Prado, and I thought that was absurd. Efrim
I agree with you. That’s a lot of money to throw out to a young player like Prado, especially when he’s in his arb years. No point in rushing into anything yet.
AshevilleBrave
August 2nd, 2012
5:59 pm
Heisenberg
Buddy and Mac off the books AFTER next year. We aren’t giving eighteen mill a yr for a catcher in the NL who will be 31
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
5:59 pm
Jerry – This is Prado’s final arb year – if signed to a four year deal, he’ll be signing away an arb year and three FA years. Now is definitely the time to sign him.
AshevilleBrave
August 2nd, 2012
5:59 pm
Huddy not buddy ha
Bobby H
August 2nd, 2012
6:00 pm
For anyone that may be concerned…
Tonight’s game is free on MLB.TV
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
6:00 pm
By his final year I mean 2013
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
6:02 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
ROME
The Legion make merry headed by a two-homer game by my man ROBBY HEFFLINGER and squash the AUGUSTA insects in a 10-run hit-fest.
Lead-off CF TONY MUELLER [.268 BA] 2-4, 1 SB [24], 1 SAC.
2B FERDIE De Los SANTOS [.240 BA] 3-4, 1 R, 1 RBI [19].
C RYAN QUERY [.211 BA] 2-4, 2 R.
RF WIL SKINNER [.253 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO.
DH BRANDON DRURY [.225 BA] 1-5, 1 CS [3].
RHSP GREG ROSS [W 4-7, 4.89 ERA] 7.0 IP, 10 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 SO.
RHRP NATHAN HYATT [1.42 ERA] 2.0 IP, no-hits, 1 BB, 1 SO.
NAT is having an outstanding rookie season in A-ball so far.
LF ROBBY HEFFLINGER [.268 BA] 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR [7], 5 RBI [36], 1 BB, 1 SO.
SS ELMER REYES [.263 BA] 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B [24], 2 RBI [33], 2 SO.
1B ‘BillyBECK’ BECKWITH [.307 BA] 2-42 R, 1 2B [20], 2 RBI [64], 1 BB.
Bozo ( The Clown )
August 2nd, 2012
6:03 pm
hahaha anyone see melky drop the easy fly that scored 3
Bozo ( The Clown )
August 2nd, 2012
6:04 pm
he did have 3 hits tho… this guy just ridic
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
6:05 pm
Bobby H
August 2nd, 2012
6:00 pm
For anyone that may be concerned…
Tonight’s game is free on MLB.TV
MLBN?
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
Is it possible to have the BRAVES on TBS or ESPN. Anyone other than N.Y., BOSTON, or PHILADELPHIA?
Braveone
August 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
From the previous blog which had 1,257 comments, TheOnlyBravesFan led the way with 56 posts. There were 180 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 TheOnlyBravesFan 56
2 nolie 53
3 ncscoots 52
4 Mark 45
5 Efrim 44
6 brian 39
7 CraZy 36
8 Pace 36
9 TennesseePaul 36
10 ACE 31
11 ChattTownBrian 27
12 Tomahawk Mafia 26
13 Veer 25
14 ncbravesfan90 23
15 Bravefaninok 21
16 Big Nick 20
17 David O’Brien 20
18 LOL 20
19 raleighbravefan 20
20 Ward 19
21 Gone Viral 16
22 Shaun 16
23 DAP 15
24 MikeInFl 15
25 veer 15
raffy
August 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
It’s time to bring Lowe back and let JJ go! Lowe can help the bullpen depth.
Bobby H
August 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
Richbrave
Not the TV network – the one offered on computer.
kelevra
August 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
without looking give me your best guess at how many wins the mariners have…
Happy Beaneater
August 2nd, 2012
6:14 pm
It is pouring at the Ted.
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
6:16 pm
In his last start for the Indians, Lowe gave up 7 runs in 2.2 IP. Since the end of May he has fuve starts giving up 7 or more Earned Runs. No way we want him in the pen or the rotation.
brian
August 2nd, 2012
6:17 pm
trade JJ for Lowe – we are already paying him $10 million for the season. Throw him in the bullpen unless he is a clubhouse distraction
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 2nd, 2012
6:20 pm
Jack Wilson, thanks for playing Dude. Paul Janish is now our back up SS, and for reasons which will escape most. First of all, Janish can cover SS and 2nd base, even 3rd if need be. Wilson’s a SS. Janish can at least hit his weight, which we can’t say about Wilson.
Which leads me to the million dollar question…..why was Wilson our back up in the first place?
As for our offense. Feast or famine. Go deep or go home. When will Fredi G. and his players learn? They have played some really good fundamental baseball at times, moving runners over, stealing bases, drawing walks but it seems Fredi’s troops get enamored with the long ball a little too much.
Off the beaten path………WTF? The Pirates have a better record than our Braves, not to mention being better than twenty-five other teams. The last time the buco’s won, Bonds was a Pirate.
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
6:22 pm
The Pirates have not had a winning season since Sid Slid.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 2nd, 2012
6:25 pm
Walter Johnson’s fastball was legendary. History has it that his heater topped out of one hundred miles an hour, combined with his side arm delivery it was unhittable.
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
6:25 pm
Nothing wrong with small ball.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 2nd, 2012
6:27 pm
Why is it raining at Turner Field but not where I live? Boo…
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
6:29 pm
Lew,
Yeah, I misread what I was looking at. I thought we had Prado for 2 more years of arbitration, but you are right. Next year is his last year. And I would be willing to bet that before his final arbitration hearing comes up next year, he will sign an extension. That is unless he just wants to explore the free agent market, and we have no idea what he’s thinking in that regard.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
6:30 pm
Coach: Strongly disagree on Wilson, but agree on Walter Johnson and I already posted those facts, but that’s OK. I made peace with ACE and I’m trying with you, too. FWIW.
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
6:31 pm
I am east of Atlanta and it’s thundering and lightening to beat the band here. It’s always like this during the summer. So hot and muggy during the day and late in the afternoon, these cloudbursts pop up. And then, as soon as they come, they are gone.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 2nd, 2012
6:33 pm
Derek Lowe is toast, JJ is injured. There’s a difference. Lowe is 39, JJ is 26. You do the math.
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
6:36 pm
Just looked at the radar and there are strong thunderstorm in Atlanta and just south of the city. The problem right now is that they don’t appear to be moving away because there is no wind movement.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
6:36 pm
We’re facing a guy we’ve never faced. BALLGAME!
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 2nd, 2012
6:37 pm
Well the reality is, Jack Wilson can’t hit the ball through the infield anymore, at all. As evidenced by his three extra base hits including last season. Janish already has three doubles in fifty-five at bats.
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
6:37 pm
Small thunderstorm over Atlanta. If it’ll just move east just a little bit, that should be it for awhile.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
6:38 pm
1 TheOnlyBravesFan 56
2 nolie 53
3 ncscoots 52
What the…. I try to post less and I still lead… I just can’t “win”
Also, rain at the Ted and not near me…. boo… Northern Cobb Co. needs the rain.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
6:39 pm
Jerome J. has weird eyes. Scares me.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 2nd, 2012
6:40 pm
At any rate, I can’t wait until Simmons gets back.
around the MLB
August 2nd, 2012
6:45 pm
Hi Carroll or DOB ,,,any chance of the braves take D-Lowe ??? I mean the braves are paying 2/3 of his sallary,,so at least use him in our bullpen and not in other team…..
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
6:45 pm
Ken, at least we can make peace over women. Don’t have to agree on everything with our braves except that we want to see another WS win. Those guys last night were way over the top. VJ took them out with the garbage.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
A name like “Coach” screams “LISTEN TO ME, I AM KNOWLEDGEABLE”.
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
Some team will pick up Lowe for bullpen help etc.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
I think the return of Simmons will make a huge difference for the big push to the playoffs.
me
August 2nd, 2012
6:49 pm
@Lew: remember Lowe performance is better early in the season and in mid-august and september..
Take Lowe for our bullpen ,,they are paying 2/3 of his sallary!!! Play him here!!!
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
6:49 pm
ACE: as T’Hawkin says, co-sign.
Ralph
August 2nd, 2012
6:50 pm
Just keep running Uggla out there, to hell with a Division Championship/
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
6:51 pm
Brian:
jeffrey d
August 2nd, 2012
6:51 pm
Who decided that bright green shirts would be a good idea for Jerome and Brian?
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
6:57 pm
Since May 26, Lowe is 2-9. He has given up 7, 8, or 9 runs in five of those starts – two of which he gave up either 7 or 8 ER in less than 3 IP.
His ERA is about where it was when everyone wanted him ridden out on a rail last year.
Are y’all masochists or just delusional for refusing to see that he’s done?
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
6:59 pm
Ralph – You did see that Prado – supposedly the one who would replace Uggla at2B is getting the night off? With Reed Johnson here, Prado will give Uggla a day off, too. Just not tonight.
Bobby H
August 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Who do y’all want to replace with Lowe, anyway?
jeffrey d
August 2nd, 2012
7:01 pm
Why are we discussing Derek Lowe anyway?
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
The 15 million that Lowe is making should make him feel better.
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
Apparently, some refuse to remember the travesty that was Derek Lowe last year when we couldn’t but a win. I’d be comfortable with Gearrin instead of going down that road.
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
Lowe did eat up some innings and win some games but for the most part he pitched great in sept 2010 for 60 million.
Bobby H
August 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
Why are we discussing Derek Lowe anyway? — jeffrey d
Probably because they feel it’s too ridiculous to discuss McLouth.
jeffrey d
August 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
Here’s a topic of discussion – and I’m just throwing this out there – Craig Wilson.
Go!
kelevra
August 2nd, 2012
7:07 pm
phillies lineup looks a little different
Nerdbucket Moylan
August 2nd, 2012
7:08 pm
If you had to pick your 1-3 starters in the playoffs what order would it be? Put aside the 1 game wc playoff game.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:15 pm
It is good to be back in the top 25.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
7:18 pm
ncscoots – 4:17 pm – “Being an addict is a little different from being an ***hole. From some reports, Yunel is not yet even a recovering ***hole.”
No more true words were ever written (sorry, but I just got online). As for Lowe, why are so many keystrokes still being wasted over him? There’s so much better stuff to move onto…
jeffrey d
August 2nd, 2012
7:19 pm
ha….We Three Kings playing for Jose “Reyes”
Bama Brave
August 2nd, 2012
7:19 pm
Good Start Mike
DiamondbackMac
August 2nd, 2012
7:19 pm
Efficient pitching.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:20 pm
That was a nice inning for Minor. Good to have an easy first inning for a change.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
7:21 pm
Nerdbucket
IMO
Hudson / Sheets / Minor
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
7:22 pm
Get some early runs.
Bama Brave
August 2nd, 2012
7:23 pm
REED!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:23 pm
Michael Bourn has really struggled lately. I hope he can avoid repeating his August/September of 2011 with the Braves.
Bama Brave
August 2nd, 2012
7:24 pm
JHEYYYYY!!!
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
7:24 pm
I loves me some trade deadline additions. Can’t wait for Maholm’s start…and I can’t wait for a certain side-armed Aussie reliever to return…
brian
August 2nd, 2012
7:24 pm
love the hit by Reed Johnson to right center then taking 3rd on the Heyward single (way to go J-Hey)
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
7:26 pm
Great half of the first for Minor and it’s looking good so far in the bottom.
CHIPPER
AshevilleBrave
August 2nd, 2012
7:26 pm
Bring back Lowe?? Are ya’all insane??? He is AWFUL. Since mid may he has an era over 10!! Why the he!! would we want that, in the bullpen or anywhere near Atlanta. And apparently you don’t recall the rift between he and Wren. Never ever ever will it happen
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
7:26 pm
Old Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
7:26 pm
OLD MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bama Brave
August 2nd, 2012
7:26 pm
OLDDDDDDDDMANNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brian
August 2nd, 2012
7:27 pm
great job in the 1st. After a loss last night best thing possible. Get the Marlins quickly and then score some runs.
I will miss watching that left handed swing of Chipper
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
7:27 pm
Great start!!
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
7:28 pm
around the MLB, no.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
7:29 pm
We’ll all miss a lot about watching Chipper (even some who won’t admit it at this time)…
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
7:30 pm
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
that’s a lovely inside out swing for Chipper Jones, good for a double and a 2-0 #Braves lead
*******
It’s easy to tell when it’s Carroll tweeting (lovely) :LOL:
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:30 pm
Awesome piece of hitting by Chipper and a good at bat by Freeman. Good start.
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
7:30 pm
I think Happy is a pretty cool name for my mom too, DAP! She has just the personality for it too. Sweetest person know.
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
7:32 pm
Joe Simpson’s glass is WAY over half full
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
7:35 pm
Uggs!!!
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
7:35 pm
That’s my boy Uggla!
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
7:35 pm
Uggla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is heating up!
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
7:36 pm
Uggla is coming around folks!
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
7:36 pm
Really nice swing by Uggla – didn’t notice much uppercut at all. .500 for the month of August
brian
August 2nd, 2012
7:36 pm
August
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:36 pm
Uggla with the single! Wonders never cease.
Hmmmm
August 2nd, 2012
7:37 pm
Uggla now has at least 1 RBI in 4 of his last 5 games
brian
August 2nd, 2012
7:37 pm
Janish is looking solid
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
7:37 pm
Janish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:37 pm
I love the way the Braves have been grinding out at bats over the past few weeks. They have been pretty patient all year, but recently their quality of at bat has improved a great deal.
keylargo
August 2nd, 2012
7:38 pm
That’s a hit and an RBI in three of the last four games for Uggla.
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
7:38 pm
Good God! Right now I’m starting to believe that we have two of the best shortstops in baseball.
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
7:38 pm
Janish is hitting alot lately….
Nerdbucket Moylan
August 2nd, 2012
7:39 pm
Mark,
Agreed. I’d go Hudson, Sheets, definitely 1-2. The third slot is definitely up for grabs the rest of the way.
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
7:40 pm
33 pitches for Eovaldi in the first inning. 8 for Minor.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
7:40 pm
I don’t buy all that Joe was talking about.
2 outs and the pitcher coming up I think you need to take a chance and send him and make them make a play at home
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:40 pm
I hope Minor goes out and shuts the Fish down. No need to let this momentum subside.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
7:40 pm
I don’t buy all that Joe was talking about.
2 outs and the pitcher coming up I think you need to take a chance and send him and make them make a play at home
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
7:40 pm
We get 3 runs on 5 hits in the first and yesterday the Marlins also had 3 runs on 5 hits in the first.
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
7:40 pm
So 38 pitches for him – Braves showed good patience at the plate – worked him for one walk and got 5 hits. Keep the pressure on!!!
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
7:40 pm
Great start. Take this series and nove on to the Astros
Ryan Dempster is a giant douche
August 2nd, 2012
7:43 pm
Come on Minor keep dealing
Busch Leaguer
August 2nd, 2012
7:44 pm
Chipper should reconsider ,he could take Hinskie’s role as the left handed bat on the bench. Start a game maybe once every two weeks.
ncbravesfan90
August 2nd, 2012
7:47 pm
2 hits this inning due to pitching behind..You have to pitch ahead or you’ll get hit.
keylargo
August 2nd, 2012
7:48 pm
You’re right ACE. Win tonight and we’ve got a great chance to catch the gNats in the next two weeks. We play Houston, Philly, Mets, and San Diego the next four series. Time to make a move.
Busch Leaguer
August 2nd, 2012
7:48 pm
Chipper should reconsider his decision about retiring ,he could take Hinskie’s spot as the Left handed bat off the bench.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:48 pm
Trouble Brewing.
DiamondbackMac
August 2nd, 2012
7:49 pm
Gameday showed that pitch to Dobbs being low and away. Looked like a great pitch.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
7:49 pm
Buck really rippin this year.
169
2K91
August 2nd, 2012
7:49 pm
I agree with you Mark – you should make them make a good throw, catch, and tag.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:51 pm
Buck is terrible, but he always worries me a bit when he is at the plate with a couple runners on base.
ncbravesfan90
August 2nd, 2012
7:52 pm
0-2 to a walk…
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
7:52 pm
That looks like Eldrin Bell sitting behind home plate.
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
7:52 pm
That was a strike…
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
7:53 pm
I hate walks and hits allowed after being ahead in the count 0-2
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
7:55 pm
Kept them off the scoreboard, but not a very good inning after getting 3 runs. Braves need to add on now – beat the rain!
keylargo
August 2nd, 2012
7:56 pm
2 outs and the pitcher coming up I think you need to take a chance and send him and make them make a play at home
If it would have been Bobby Cox coming around third, I’d have sent him. But not the guy that was running in this case.
Kat
August 2nd, 2012
7:58 pm
Thanks for the new blog Carroll.
Nerdbucket Moylan
August 2nd, 2012
7:59 pm
Put Uggla on waivers and hope that someone claims him
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
7:59 pm
Thank you, Carroll for an excellent column with REAL good info, including Gilmartin’s first AAA start. He will be an excellent addition to the rotation down the road. Fredi’s not the only one, as I am a HUGE Gattis fan. Kid’s a great story, and that is exactly the kind of guy you want making it – especially with the Braves. I feel bad for Wilson, but his active days are quite over; however, I am sure he will be an excellent bench presence, but little more.
brian
August 2nd, 2012
8:00 pm
got toget some runs here. 2 on and nobody out in the second
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:00 pm
keylargo—”If it would have been Bobby Cox coming around third, I’d have sent him. But not the guy that was running in this case.”
What? No response from certain lady blogger?
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:00 pm
Dang rain!
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
8:01 pm
JHey – taking that pitch the other way – nice RBI!!!!!
brian
August 2nd, 2012
8:01 pm
great at bat by Jason. Love it Heyward!!!
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
8:01 pm
J-Heyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:01 pm
make that “a certain lady blogger”…
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
8:02 pm
JHey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kat
August 2nd, 2012
8:02 pm
If people didn’t already know today’s game is FREE on MLB.tv
http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?c_id=mlb
B_F 54
August 2nd, 2012
8:02 pm
J Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:02 pm
OK, weather mavens, what does Doppler have to say about the rain around the stadium tonight?
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:03 pm
keylargo
Then that would mean you and Joe think alike!
Just kidding there now
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
8:03 pm
Nice insurance run for Heyward.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:03 pm
Hate to say it, but they really need to stop this game…
ncbravesfan90
August 2nd, 2012
8:03 pm
Let’s just say if this game was playing in Gwinnett the sun would be beaming down and no threat of rain at all. Just one cell over top of the metro right now..
keylargo
August 2nd, 2012
8:04 pm
Powderfinger – she’s not here or she would have let me have it by now.
brian
August 2nd, 2012
8:04 pm
old man did not miss that by much
T-Dawg
August 2nd, 2012
8:04 pm
Would have been ball 4 and we would have had bases loaded no one out.
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
8:05 pm
From my viewpoint of the radar, if there is a delay, probably no longer than an hour.
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
Freeman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
Freddie!!!!!!!!!!
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
Freddie – SOLID contact – nice swinging for the kid lately.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
HAMELS STINKS MAN!!!!!!!! HE CAN’T HELP US??
SO MUCH FOR AN ACE PITCHER A 23 MILLION DOLLAR MAN??
WUT THE HELL IS HE DOING MAN?
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
Nice job, Freddie!!
T-Dawg
August 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
Nice smooth stroke by FF!
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
Heyward is gonna be tired as hell after all the running he’s doing tonight.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
keylargo—She’s probably at some Burger King batting her eyelashes so she can obtain a free slurpee…
B_F 54
August 2nd, 2012
8:07 pm
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedie!!!
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:08 pm
In my fandom, the Braves are my # 1 love. Unfortunately, I have a football mentality that does not jibe well with the baseball vibe. That said, after last night’s crappy hitting debacle, I love what the Braves are doing now – slaughtering an inferior team like the rotting pieces of fish they are.
AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
(I need a cool drink.)
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
8:08 pm
I liked how Reed Johnson tagged up to go to third on that one play.
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
8:08 pm
60 pitches already? BP for the Braves
brian
August 2nd, 2012
8:10 pm
FF is money.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:10 pm
This guy is throwing some 93 – 94 mph BP.
Must be straight as a string!
LAG
August 2nd, 2012
8:10 pm
*as McCann flies out to LF Greg Dobbs*
Chip Caray: “Line drive to right…”
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:13 pm
Gotta be Smoltz for the trivia answer…
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
8:14 pm
What if this game gets rained out before 5 innings ? then we will be scr*ed.
brian
August 2nd, 2012
8:15 pm
great job to the rowing women’s 8 – solid gold!!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
8:16 pm
This game has been pretty fun to watch so far.
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:16 pm
By the by, and pardon the lack of info, but how exactly did Matt Diaz hurt the thumb? Was it a HBP?
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:17 pm
Diaz apparently still has a palm frond embedded in his hand and causing an infection. Same problem as a year or two ago…
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
8:17 pm
The answer to the trivia question might be Russ Ortiz in 2003. I will have to look it up to confirm. Also, it looks like Gorkys Hernandez has no bat at all. The Braves were probably wise to package him in that deal for McLouth back in 2009.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:18 pm
Miss the pre-professional olympics. Just can’t get into it anymore.
brian
August 2nd, 2012
8:18 pm
that is how you follow up a 3 run inning. Love watching Minor develop
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:19 pm
Bullpen chum – YUMMM.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:20 pm
If we gave up a blind watch dog it was to much for McOut
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
8:21 pm
Yeah, the answer to the trivia question is Russ Ortiz with 21 wins in 2003. John Smoltz tied for the league league in wins with 16 in 2006.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:21 pm
Really, who could have predicted the decline of McLouth? That trade looked good at the time…
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:21 pm
“Miss the pre-professional olympics. Just can’t get into it anymore.”
I miss the pre-pro, COLD WAR olympics, for those of us in the room old enough to ‘member. Those were intense, good times.
LAG
August 2nd, 2012
8:21 pm
Powderfinger – Gotta be Smoltz for the trivia answer…
Nope. Russ Ortiz. Last 20-game winner we had, back in 2001 (I believe).
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:22 pm
As I rise from my seat, I stand corrected…
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:22 pm
Wish Bourn would be more selective and even take a borderline pitch occassionally when he is up 1-0 or 2-0.
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:22 pm
Carroll,
You mentioned “Happy” as a good name. That’s what we named a black lab mix dog we found running in the middle of our street. We called him that cause he remained happy and sweet even though he was riddled with fleas.
Happy would also be my affect as a Braves fan right now.
Go BRAVES!
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:24 pm
Mia
Very correct.
Especically the basketball and boxing!!!!
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:26 pm
Nothing worse, I think, than doing play-by-play and color for a sad-sack group of losers. I am watching the game down here on the Marlins’ Fox feed. I am bored to tears with their senseless yammering, but the MLB radio does not synch with the game action, so…
phil
August 2nd, 2012
8:26 pm
I checked the box score….
Mac is 0-1…
Why is this bumb playing?
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:27 pm
phil—You are such a troublemaker…
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:27 pm
JeeeeZus, Mike, THROW STRIKES WITH A SIX RUN LEAD!!! Let’s get to the fifth!!!
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:27 pm
Cmon Mikey
Clouds rolling in, other team can’t hit, just throw strikes
keylargo
August 2nd, 2012
8:28 pm
The Marlins must be less than thrilled with Eovaldi (the pitcher they gave up Hanley Ramierez for) tonight. Of course the Marlins are paying Eovaldi $15M a year less than Hanley, so it doesn’t hurt that bad.
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
Phil:
Please be sure to check out his last 15 games: avg, homers, rbi, etc.
I’m sure you will change your tune of a bum. You must be a Philly fan in disguise.
ACE
August 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
rain delayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
phil
August 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
I never incite trouble….
Ever. Not phil…..
Sigh.
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
Damn – rain delay.and it may be for awhile. So, Minor is done, more work for the bullpen tonite if the game goes on.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
Please don’t play the Justice interview again!!
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
DAMN IT DAMN IT. THERE GOES MINORS WIN AND MAYBE OUR VICTORY.
THIS GAME BETTER NOT GET RAINED OUT
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
8:30 pm
Well, that sucks. Minor probably won’t be the pitcher of record in this game when the game is restarted.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:30 pm
Sorry, phil. Perhaps you like to only prompt a spirited reaction?
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
8:31 pm
Oh goody – get to see how they do a broadcast. Don’t they have more than three shows they can put on during delays???
phil
August 2nd, 2012
8:31 pm
Keith – i don’t let stats, facts, data and crap like that ever get in the way of a good chance to bash a bit….
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:31 pm
Rats.
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
hopefully, rain delay will be short so Minor can finish a couple of more. I suppose if it goes past 30 minutes, he probalby won’t continue.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
These rain delays are getting old.
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
Would it be ok to rename you to…
Philly Phil?
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
Boo, rain delay. Hope it’s not a long one…
phil
August 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Nah, powderfinger….just being silly.
But 0-1 is a decent reason for a DFA, ya know…
LAG
August 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Oh, Ortiz in ‘03? My bad, I thought it was earlier.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Boy do we need Jurrjens now in this rain delayed game. Who is going to pitch the blow out 9th when we are up by 9-1 score?
phil
August 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
Keith – i detest the phillies with a deep passion….
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
Ok,
Just Troll Phil then.
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
Now the comedy part. During the rain delay, they show “Inside the Marlins: Marlins Park”, with many interviews of players that have since been traded. I think I will do a drinking game. Every time I see a Marlins player during this show that’s been traded, I will do a shot of Jack…
You’ll forgive me if I am BOMBED in half an hour!
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
MiaBchBravesFan:
That is actually pretty fun.
The parody, Miami Marlins.
Can you believe that team? They dealt for Carolos Lee just a few weeks ago…then firesaled the best part of the team. If I was a fan of that team, I’d be pissed.
brian
August 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
I should know this but what kind of routine do the Braves do during the rain delay? Will Minor try to simulate a quick inning or two down below to stay loose without wearing himself out??
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:—Where have you been? Better check your wallet, ’cause we had a laugh at your expense a little while ago…
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
After a new owner, a new manager who is a basketcase, and new uniform, new stadium….and
A SELLER at the deadline. Wow.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
ok atlatians are we gonna lose this game to the weather?
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
Hamels is a disgrace
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
Re: Nolie
I highly doubt it. They will almost always try to get in a game….even sometimes after 2-hour rain delays…
It would have to be a significant storm or weather pattern that would delay them for a few hours before they usually call it. Haven’t looked at the radar or forecast but..
MPJ
August 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
My wife is distantly related to Nate Eovaldi. Her maternal grandfather is an Eovaldi and verified the connection through some geneology research. He even emailed Nate when he was with the Dodgers. Wife’s family was looking forward to this game. But luckily she is still rooting for the Braves tonight!
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
Constanza had to leave the game in Durham in the sixth after getting hit by a pitch. haven’t heard anything official here but folks on twitter are saying he got hit in the knee. Any of my Durham peeps out there know the deal?
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
yeah radar was what i was wondering about
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
That’s funny Pace, I was thinking after I tweeted that how girlie it sounded.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm
not finishing this would be a bummer
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm
Carroll – your ’scouts’ aren’t at the game tonight?
George
August 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm
Wish those damn Umps would have let us play one more inn.
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm
Looking at radar, the cell should be over by 9PM EST.
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:44 pm
CONSUME!!! (hic!)
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:44 pm
Carroll,
An interesting question I just thought of:
When was the last time the Braves cancelled a game mid-play due to rain?
I am thinking like 2010 but I’m not sure.
Go BRAVES
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
8:45 pm
Maybe a repeat of ther Justice interview would not have been so bad after all.
This crap is brutal!!!!
“Opie the Bird Man”, “Gomer joins the Marines” or “Barney buys a Car”…
George
August 2nd, 2012
8:46 pm
I just don’t get it some games the Umps let them play in worse rain than other games.
Keith
August 2nd, 2012
8:47 pm
Re: George
I guess the main concern is that injury risk increases with the wet ground…
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
8:48 pm
lightning might have played a part in the decision George
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:49 pm
CONSUME!!!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
8:49 pm
The Radar over Atlanta appears favorable.
cabravesfan
August 2nd, 2012
8:49 pm
Not sure if this has been noted, but Richie Justice had a good article on the Braves today (except he should have substituted EOF for JV):
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120802&content_id=36013308&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_36013308
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:50 pm
CONSUME!!! (I am stopping now…)
George
August 2nd, 2012
8:51 pm
If they call the game at this point, do they just throw out all that has happened? or do they pick it up a point it was stopped later?
George
August 2nd, 2012
8:52 pm
the point*
brian
August 2nd, 2012
8:54 pm
they will get 5 innings in tonight. They are very close. Minor needs to get 1 more out this inning. Then the Braves hit then 3 more outs and we have an official game unless the Marlins score 6 runs
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
8:54 pm
It’ll get played. Cell’s passing through with clear skies ahead.
ncbravesfan90
August 2nd, 2012
8:55 pm
They won’t call this game, rain has probably stopped at the Ted now according to radar.
Venice Jim
August 2nd, 2012
8:55 pm
I apologize – I posted the story under cab’s name in an unforgivable example of name stealing…
Venice Jim
August 2nd, 2012
8:56 pm
Texas teaching C.J. Wilson a lesson…
SNEAKY PETE
August 2nd, 2012
8:57 pm
throw it all out and start over I think
ncbravesfan90
August 2nd, 2012
8:57 pm
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
Tarp is coming off
Venice Jim
August 2nd, 2012
8:57 pm
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
Tarp’s coming off…looks like we should have baseball again shortly
Dan Uggla Clusters
August 2nd, 2012
8:59 pm
Just wait till my next at bat…………then you will see a real rain maker.
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
8:59 pm
9:10 restart
ncbravesfan90
August 2nd, 2012
8:59 pm
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman
Going to try to get started again at 9:10 p.m. ET
phil
August 2nd, 2012
8:59 pm
We lost last nite…
Did a head roll?
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
9:00 pm
phil—My head rolled as I sat in bed trying to stay awake as I watched the proceedings…
tiger297
August 2nd, 2012
9:01 pm
brian – mute point and all but if the home team is winning you only need to get through 4 1/2 innings (since the bottom of the inning wouldn’t mean anything). I assume thats why they were trying to get through the 4th (minors fault for that darn walk
)
MiaBchBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
9:02 pm
Gonna go to a local watering hole and watch the rest of the game. Cheers!
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
9:02 pm
9:10PM EST Restart
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
9:03 pm
Martinez up in the pen
tiger297
August 2nd, 2012
9:03 pm
9:10…so I can be there by 9:30-should I head out for the end of the game?
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
9:03 pm
Bummer about Martinez up in the pen. I would have loved to have seen Minor qualify for the win.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
Seriously. Our announcers can’t kill 10 minutes talking baseball instead of starting another program that we’ve seen a million times before and won’t be finished?
Venice Jim
August 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
Perfect timing on the restart for me as that is when I need to head back out to work…
Hmmmm
August 2nd, 2012
9:07 pm
thanks to the rain this was just a long relief outing for Minor …. he should be plenty rested for his next start
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
9:08 pm
Powder
Agreed. They should be able to wing it for that long without all the rehearsed stuff we had to watch before Bobby Dews repeat
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
9:10 pm
Not even 10 minutes. Wow…
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
9:10 pm
Poor Mike Minor – only 55 pitches, ERA stuck at 5.01 till his next start – could’ve gotten another win and pitched well into the late innings.
Break was only a little more than 30 min though right? Why can’t he pitch?
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
You would think a guy like Minor could stay warm under the stadium with 10-15 pitches every 10-15 minutes if a look at a radar showed a delay would be relatively brief….that probably requires too much creative thought for most organizations, however. And i mean a situation like this where a guy is so close to a win. Let him get his 5, yank him….
Oh well. No biggie i guess. Maybe Martinez won’t blow this….
brian
August 2nd, 2012
9:14 pm
I don’t see why they couldn’t have had Minor pitch 10-15 pitches game simulation down below every 15-20 minutes or so to keep him warm so he could go through 5
brian
August 2nd, 2012
9:14 pm
uh – I agree with phil
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:15 pm
What i won’t give for numerous repeats of the Bobby Dews torture show…..
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
9:15 pm
Phil & Brian – that was my point too – I could look at the radar and see the delay would be less than 45 minutes – gonna need those bullpen innings later – could’ve let Minor go again.
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
9:16 pm
Line on Minor: 3 2/3 IP 0 runs, two walks, one K. 55 pitches (31 strikes)
bravesgrl4life
August 2nd, 2012
9:16 pm
Evenin’ Braves fans.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Lol at brian! You said it better than me!
Thing is, they could do it. No one uses their damn head in a situation like that though, I guess.
He’ll be fresher next time, in theory, though.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
9:18 pm
Reed Johnson sucks
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
So this is Reed Johnson….
My first chance to see him. Thought it was Uggla….
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
Can’t let them have to stay loose in the tunnel.
Gotta give em a days off because they’re tired
Really?????????????
Nah, I really agree with pulling Minor. Not worth risking an injury to return to this game. Plus, they had no way of knowing how long the delay would last so you don’t want one of your starters running his pitch count up in the tunnel.
Just my opinion though.
Now the resting and missing games for position players is over the top in a pennant race.
Again, just my opinion
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Jason Hey to Ward; dude did you see me hit that one…..just ck in talk later 3:00 am ok….thanks.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
They keep saying Heyward was injury-riddled.
I say bull…
Was in over his head and now he’s growing up and improving. Great to see!
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Invisible bats!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:25 pm
Atta boy, Chipper!
Play on….
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
9:25 pm
Carlos Lee looks like he has a good time out there playin!
Always talking it up with whoever gets on.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
9:25 pm
Yay, Chipper.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
Freeman sucks!
brian
August 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
tiger297 – getting through 4 and 1/2 innings means finishing 4 innings and then getting the visitors out in the top of the 5th
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
Re: valuable (fresh) knowledge during rain delay: I never knew Bobby Dews wrote a book about Kangaroos!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
9:28 pm
Mark
I was thinking the same thing about Carlos Lee. He seems to enjoy playing first base so he can chat with the players that reach base.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
9:28 pm
“Yay, Chipper”
Yes. Yay Chipper. Now I wonder is he could let me borrow about a million bucks? Well, not really borrow, but ya know, be a good citizen …
CRM300
August 2nd, 2012
9:29 pm
Freeman sucks?? Kidding, I am sure!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:32 pm
Chipper loves to chat em up on base….one of the things i really like about the guy.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
9:33 pm
Good play by Heyward going back on the ball.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
9:36 pm
multiple walks by Mac tonight is good.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:36 pm
Twitchy Dan…
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:37 pm
Mac still 0-1…
Unacceptable level of failure.
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
9:37 pm
Awww, look at that useless popeye smashing his bat against the ground… how cute!
Hmmmm
August 2nd, 2012
9:39 pm
Dempster currently with a 15.75 ERA (7 hits/7 runs in 4 IP) with the Rangers
Couch Tater
August 2nd, 2012
9:39 pm
Diaz apparently still has a palm frond embedded in his hand and causing an infection. Same problem as a year or two ago…
A frond with weeds is a frond indeed.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:40 pm
Dumpster…..glad he’s not our problem.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
9:41 pm
Couch Tater—Not too shabby…
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
9:41 pm
Still say they need to fine these guys about 5 grand for throwing out the F Bombs. Drop in the bucket I know but its the principle of the thing. Kids are in the stands.
Could give the money to the Boys Clubs or something.
Call it the Grown Men Behaving Poorly Charity Account.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:42 pm
Apparently Reed Johnson is no defensive whiz….
Trey
August 2nd, 2012
9:42 pm
Ug, Martinez.
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
9:42 pm
Has Uggla’s BA increased exponentially and, if not–get the overpaid bum outta there…..what has become of this great game when hovering around a buck fiddy earns a guy a trip to the All Star game and a New York Times Best Seller List book on how to become a multi-millionaire swinging at hot dog wrappers. Kick the bum off the team and get it over with.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
9:43 pm
That looked like a poor route to the ball that Johnson took.
Trey
August 2nd, 2012
9:43 pm
Mark, no they do not need to be fined for that.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:43 pm
Heyward’s excuse for a slump is now in place….
Maybe.
bravesgrl4life
August 2nd, 2012
9:44 pm
Fans would get asked to leave for dropping F-bombs in the stands.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
9:44 pm
Remember about 2 weeks or so and most on here was carrying on about how we had to have Dempster…
New Nickname should be “Way over-rated at the Deadline Dumpster”
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:45 pm
Luckilyy, he seems ok.
TBbravesfan
August 2nd, 2012
9:46 pm
Mark-
I will 2nd that.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:47 pm
Or luckily….sigh.
Not me on Dumpster.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
9:47 pm
Guidry was tough now. But, anybody who watched him throw new it woiuld be a short ride for him b/c he was little and used every fiber in his body on every pitch. But, during the short ride, he was tough!!!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
9:47 pm
Darn shutouts are so elusive this season.
Halbert
August 2nd, 2012
9:48 pm
I don’t find it amusing at all that Dempster is getting creamed in his first start with the Rangers. Nope. Not in the slightest………
Felix
August 2nd, 2012
9:50 pm
Dang Austin Kearns. That’s quite a gut you got. Man, looks like you’ve been woofing down a few too many cheeseburgers and fries. Drink a few more large shakes and you just might tip over.
Jerry
August 2nd, 2012
9:51 pm
hahaha. So far, Dempster’s ERA in the American League is 15.75 through 4 innings.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:52 pm
Need Johnson…sigh.
Can’t think of a decent moronic, childish nickname for him.
Busch Leaguer
August 2nd, 2012
9:54 pm
15,75 and rising fast .
Dan Uggla Clusters
August 2nd, 2012
9:54 pm
Only someone with my massive forearms can slam a bat in that particular fashion.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:56 pm
15,75?
Jk
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
9:56 pm
Yawnish is getting to rather Yawnish. He makes plays look ho hum
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:57 pm
Pathetic play, jason….catch the ball!
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
9:58 pm
Did Chip just say he tips his d*** to Chad Gaudin?
phil
August 2nd, 2012
9:59 pm
At least chipper catches the ball, jason….
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:00 pm
Maybe Johnson can beat the Nats but thats their on;y chance I think.
Unless, Johnson decides to rest 2 or 3 guys one night.
Powderfinger
August 2nd, 2012
10:01 pm
I really don’t harbor any ill will toward Dempster, as he was apparently worried about his geographic location in regard to a special needs child. But if I were a Cubs fan, I’d be pissed. That team was screwed once his feelings were known. The Dodgers had ‘em over a barrel and refused to cave. Hope he likes that Texas heat…
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
10:03 pm
The Houston Astros have a 3-28 record since June.
I bet they’ll play their best baseball this weekend…
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
10:03 pm
Blog goes silent when the Braves are winning.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:04 pm
Should have never listed the Braves with the Dodgers as the teams he’d go to.
But hey, I’m glad he did it. OVER-Rated – However, not so much in Texas after tonight
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:04 pm
Big third out….keep it mostly hopeless.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:05 pm
Has a lot to do with the Marlins. They are bad. Astros are worse though
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
10:06 pm
JC Brave
3-28 since June!? Wow. I was unaware of that. They only have 10 wins on the road all season, so the Braves better take care of business.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:07 pm
Dumpster has a career ERA around 4.50…..
Never understood all the fuss about the guy.
And PLEASE. We know about his child and are concerned for her well being.
Kat
August 2nd, 2012
10:07 pm
Not sure if it was posted but Nationals win 3-0.
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
10:08 pm
HEYWARD SUCKS! KOOL-AID!
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
10:09 pm
Heyward has his first three-hit game since June 24 at Red Sox with seventh inning single
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
10:10 pm
Very good swing by Chipper on that line drive – Just hit it to the wrong spot.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
10:11 pm
Chipper and Heyward have made some nice contact tonight.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:11 pm
Man that was a rope by Chipper. This is the time to let guys rest.
I’d get Chipper and Mac out of this game after this half and let Ross and Flabby get some time on the field.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:11 pm
Chipper only 2-4….
Weak for a 40 yr old.
CRM300
August 2nd, 2012
10:12 pm
Chipper squaring up everything!
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
10:12 pm
I agree w/resting Chipper the last couple of innings – plus he fouled that ball off his foot/leg – Juan can use a little work.
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
10:12 pm
Get Wayward out of there. He sucks!
Gone Viral
August 2nd, 2012
10:14 pm
I think that’s the first time I ever registered on Rank Poster Frequency since the inception of the premise. Hooray for short blogs!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:14 pm
The right shoulder…wish we knew exactly what it is.
Cuff? Acromion? Tendonitis?
Something is bugging him and it’s getting gradually worse.
DAM
August 2nd, 2012
10:15 pm
Breaking news: watching the Summer Olympics is just awful.
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
10:16 pm
Honestly when….
1. You limit the amount of moves Gonzalez has to make…..
– and –
2. You take Joe West out of the equation….. hardest thing he had to do this series was call a rain delay….
You’re going to win most of the time. Braves taking care of business.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:18 pm
Nice pick by Freddi!!!!!!!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:18 pm
Gone Viral
August 2nd, 2012
10:14 pm
I think that’s the first time I ever registered on Rank Poster Frequency since the inception of the premise. Hooray for short blogs!
*********
post more crap like I do….all it takes!
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:19 pm
That one bout nicked that gut when it went by
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 2nd, 2012
10:19 pm
Powderfinger Where have you been? Better check your wallet, ’cause we had a laugh at your expense a little while ago…
I’ve been around, just not Blogging. Not much to contribute apparently…
What were y’all laughing about…?
TNScott
August 2nd, 2012
10:20 pm
Another great inning, Cory!!!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:20 pm
There’s a reason i watch very little of the summer games…
kevkat
August 2nd, 2012
10:21 pm
I was hoping we could still pick up a good middle reliever at some point..just don’t trust Gearin and some others in a close game
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
10:21 pm
Cory Gearrin has been impressive over the past few days.
TNScott
August 2nd, 2012
10:23 pm
Cory is similar in delivery to Peter Moylan.
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
10:23 pm
Uggla has to love these at-bats when he can swing from his intestines.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:24 pm
Is Joe trying to be sarcastic toward Uggla.
Last at bat it was Dan hitting 500 in the month of August.
This time 333 the month of August.
Ok for us but the announcers??
kevkat
August 2nd, 2012
10:24 pm
does anyone know the last time Uggla homered?
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
10:24 pm
Awww, come on Uggla! Smash your bat again!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:24 pm
Chipper is 65th all time in hits now.
When you consider that those 65 couldn’t complete three 25 man rosters, for just one season in over a hundred years of baseball, it’s dadgum impressive.
Missed isn’t the word for what he’ll be…
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
10:25 pm
KevKat – well, he had one in July, so……..
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
10:25 pm
ok must keep Uggs….greaty fielding and Freddy too….got to get some real Uggla real soon–but, heck, he’s a keeper. Forget my earlier post–must be demetia setting in.
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
10:27 pm
I believe Uggla hit one two nights ago………………… playing Xbox in the clubhouse.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:28 pm
Joe’s math t’aint so good….
He had Uggly at .500 when he was 2-5…..
Got it right last time at .333.
kevkat
August 2nd, 2012
10:28 pm
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
10:25 pm
KevKat – well, he had one in July, so……..
Ok..cool..seems longer than that for some reason..
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
10:29 pm
Was told that had game been called after five innings, Minor could have qualified for win if he’d gone 4 innings. Either way he went only 3 2/3, but you get the idea.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:32 pm
As long as the team wins, Minor will live….
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:32 pm
Umm
THat don’t surprise me about Joe.
Dudley Dooright
August 2nd, 2012
10:32 pm
Dempster gave up 8 runs in 4.2 innings.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…..and he’s stuck in Arlington, Tx. which is one hot hell hole in the summer (even at night). Snicker, snicker. Tee hee.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 2nd, 2012
10:34 pm
I really would like to know what’s up with BMac’s shoulder, BTW…
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
10:37 pm
I like this Reed Johnson guy – seems like he’s a tough player – like to hear his post game comments after being hit by 2 pitches tonite.
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
10:38 pm
Johnson has been pretty good at getting on base thus far.
Joe Simpson
August 2nd, 2012
10:38 pm
Trust me. Any day now Dan Uggla will go on a long hitting streak. I know I have been saying this since May, but just trust me. Any day now.
Before I came to the Braves I use to sell used cars.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:38 pm
After Ozzie walked off they probably said “that joker is crazy”
tiger297
August 2nd, 2012
10:38 pm
mcfann – I don’t want to know and hope it stays insignificant enough that I never need to know
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:40 pm
“Any Day Now when the clock strikes…something, I don’t remember
Who sung that????
WBuckATC
August 2nd, 2012
10:41 pm
Minor has picked it up lately.Pitching like he did in Spring Training when it looked like he had put it a together.
He is the only stating pitcher who started the season in the rotaion and who still remains.
JJ, Beachy, and Hansen are on the DL, Delgado is in the minors and Huddy started the seasn on the DL.
Wish we still had Beachy.
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
10:42 pm
And Kimbrel to get in his work – I don’t care for this either – he’s gotta keep the pitch count low – probably won’t need him this weekend, but…..
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:42 pm
When mom got sick…
Boys in the hall….
Aaaaaarrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
10:42 pm
A four-hit game from Heyward would have been nice to see instead of one of those weak dribblers to the right side.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:42 pm
Pitcher has nobody to blame there but himself. Taught to go to and stay on the inside of the bag or you get stepped on.
Ozzie G.
August 2nd, 2012
10:42 pm
Memo to Fidel: My team really sucks. Could you loan me a few of your baseball players?
Your Good Friend,
Ozzie
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
10:43 pm
Heyward crushed that ball…
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:44 pm
Ronnie Milsaps
I was just thinking of that song.
Uncany….
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 2nd, 2012
10:45 pm
tiger297—
Ha, well, yeah, that’s for sure…I hope it’s nothing, but it’s really seemed to bother him a lot more lately and I’m starting to get slightly more than a little concerned…
But other than an occasional mention by Joe and/or Chip, I haven’t seen it brought up by anyone covering the team…
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:45 pm
Ata boy
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:45 pm
Not only uncany, Mark, but damn amazing actually…
gcs
August 2nd, 2012
10:46 pm
Normally, I do not like using a closer in a non-close situation but Kimbrel has not pitched since last Saturday and the Astros’ AAA team is coming into town.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:46 pm
That was a nasty slider when you’re geared up for 97
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:47 pm
It’s time it was brought up, McFann….
I’m guessing something like tendonitis that the trainers are managing….maybe.
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
10:48 pm
It could be worse–if a deal for Dempsta had been consumated vis-a-vis Mr. Wren’s business acumen….and, he did likewise his first outing….fans on blog would be in a twist for sure….perhaps never again subject to ‘hat tipping prerequiste’ and because of his forsaken temperment–the D-Man saved us the doom of witnessing his bad luck…..in all due respect, I never liked the potential of his coming to Atlanta–at such an inflated cost. Amen!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:48 pm
I detest seeing Kimbrel out there right now.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:48 pm
Joea at 10:38 got me thinking about it
Been kinda boring game to me. Marlins are so bad. Never heard of but a couple of them.
ATLcracker
August 2nd, 2012
10:50 pm
None of the three are suited to be the BACKUP infielder. Pastornicky can’t field well enough or hit well enough to be a bench guy yet. At this point in his career he should be in the minors playing everyday. Yanish is perfect while Simmons is out because you have to have the everyday defense but when Simmons comes back that backup guy needs to be able to pinch hit. Neither Wilson or Janish can play that role. I can’t think of another team that keeps a purely defensive player in that role if the starter has good/great defense. They need a hitter in that role (average or less than average defense is OK). Keep thinking of Prado as the backup infielder even though he stays in left field until needed and find a hitter – infielder or outfielder doesn’t matter.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:51 pm
They are awful…
That silly song has rattled around my head all day…why i thought it was amazing it would come up now. A 30 yr old country song….relatively obscure.
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
10:51 pm
@McFann….I haven’t heard a word of criticisim directed at Mac….no macaroni n cheese jokes, nothing—funny how that stuff goes or better, comes and goes–I am glad he’s currently on a tear.
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
10:53 pm
Kimbrel in a non-save situation is a complete mess…
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:53 pm
This is absurd….
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
10:54 pm
Been kinda boring game to me. Marlins are so bad. Never heard of but a couple of them.
I still haven’t been able to get over how they lost against this sorry team last night…
BFChris27
August 2nd, 2012
10:54 pm
Braves WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:54 pm
Buffet Brian?
Attaboy, Craig! Hope your arm doesn’t fall off.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:55 pm
Heres another one then
“By the way Glenn Miller played…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 2nd, 2012
10:55 pm
phil re BMac—
I agree…
I’m guessing something like tendonitis that the trainers are managing….maybe.
Could be…Just wish it would go away!
I’m sure it’s getting treated, whatever it is…
Ah, good win!! Great to beat the Marlins. Night, all!
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
10:56 pm
26 pitches for Kimbrel – guess he got his work in
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 2nd, 2012
10:56 pm
Capt.Mudd—
Yeah, they’ve definitely chilled on the hate lately!…Always good…
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:58 pm
No idea on that one!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 2nd, 2012
10:58 pm
It is good to have a series win and to avoid letting lastnight’s loss become a losing streak. Now they need to take advantage of the Astros coming into town and work toward catching the Nationals.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
10:59 pm
26 pitches….good grief.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
10:59 pm
JC
Those like last night are the kind you remember in a situation like last year where we miss out by 1 game.
I know I’ve harped on it but no way the regulars that are our best players sit out – little slump or not.
I look at it this way, if we have to have a one game playoff for gm 163 because we’re tied nobody will take off and they’ll all be tired. A game is a game no matter what point of the year it comes.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
11:00 pm
Misleading – Not a song, lead in song for a show
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
11:01 pm
Brian Jordan with a very deep interview. Extremely enlightening.
B_F 54
August 2nd, 2012
11:01 pm
60 wins
Go Bravos
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:02 pm
We’re dominating the fish this year. Unusual in recent years and good to see.
Astros will be ready….can’t overlook anyone, especially the likes of that bunch.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:02 pm
Kimbrel could get a 6 year, $72 contract in FA right now easily. Maybe more because how dominant and young he is.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:04 pm
Jordan does his best…
He’s not gonna ask Chipper how’s the wife.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:04 pm
A Bomb, he sure is enlightening. Well his shirt is anyways.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
11:04 pm
Brians green shirt done got dingy!
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:05 pm
Jerome’s shirt is the color of highway workers.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:06 pm
What the heck color is that shirt jurrenovich is wearing?
Monkey vomit green?
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
11:07 pm
They need to let her start interviewing the players. They’d pay attention better
JC Brave
August 2nd, 2012
11:08 pm
Those like last night are the kind you remember in a situation like last year where we miss out by 1 game.
This is a great point, because it is exactly how I see it in the long run. Games like last night’s loss are frustrating, but they become fatal when you fail to reach the playoffs by the minimum at the end of the season, like last year.
It really wasn’t a matter of who was not in the lineup and how many of the Braves’ best guys were sitting on the bench; they’ve won games like that before, and against better teams.
It was all about poor performance all around the lineup by everyone.
But of course, some things just didn’t go the Braves’ way no matter what; like Freeman’s bases loaded rope right at the RFer.
They could have taken advantage of such a bad team like the Marlins. They would’ve been 1.5 games out tonight.
But oh well… they won tonight, and they have a 6-1 homestand going so far, which is AWESOME!
Go Braves!
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:08 pm
jordan is at his best when the Braves are struggling. He seems more relaxed and he’s truthful. I like the guy more than Gant, thats for sure.
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
11:08 pm
Damn Jordan…reading questions off teleprompter while interviewing Chipper–I mean, heck, he could have just written them on his wrist like everyone else….”insight must be right!”
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:09 pm
Twitter Beth is missed compared to this stand in twitter person….
I need a life, clearly.
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
11:10 pm
@Phil….They call that one….The 1970 Plymouth Duster Lime, minus the black trim.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:11 pm
Chipper looks like a moody person, always has. I am too sometimes though, so that’s being hypocritical. Just an observation.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:11 pm
We’ve won 8-9 but it’s not good enough for some….
Sigh.
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
11:11 pm
Love seeing Chipper talk out of the side of his mouth like the WWE’s Jim Ross.
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
11:12 pm
Holy cow! I didn’t see Jerome before…..is he going to lay cones on the freeway after the game?
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
11:13 pm
Phil and Mark, re Any Day Now: The original hit version was by Chuck Jackson and it was more of a soul song. I prefer Milsap’s version, it was one of his best songs. I miss him still having hits.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
11:14 pm
“Tip your hat off” to those guys this time.
Thats a little different from his regular tippage quote
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
11:14 pm
Prudent…Prudence?/? Fredi has been in the Urban Dictionary….where his “tip the hat” is defined as giving one his do…or just kissing tuchus.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:14 pm
I agree on Chipper being moody….
Part of the reason he’s successful, though, I suspect.
Moody, arrogant, smart but just humble enough to get away with it all. In baseball at least. Maybe not so much so in life away from the park.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
11:15 pm
Like he’s had a stroke.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:17 pm
phil, spot on on Chipper. Perfect way to describe his character in this game and what’s probably helped him with his play and us fans who love the guy.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
11:18 pm
Ken
I never knew that. Thought it was his original. Thats interesting.
Nobody knows to what show this was the lead in to – By the way Glenn Miller played
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:19 pm
Didn’t know that, Ken. My folks had the milsaps 8 track way back, so that’s where i heard his version. Not a country fan at all beyond milsaps and alabama and maybe a random tune here and there.
Love will let me down, cause you won’t be around…
Heck, i feel that way with it around.
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
11:20 pm
Day By Day….Godspell…………………
Day by day, day by day oh dear Lord three things I pray….
To see Elizabeth more clearly
Follow Bravos more dearly
Take Fredi’s ‘Tip’ sincerely……..Day by day……..
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:22 pm
I’m moody as heck but it is what it is. Can’t seem to fix it.
But i could never hit a lick.
But the moodiness helps me at times…strange how that is.
The A Bomb
August 2nd, 2012
11:22 pm
That’s what happens during winning streaks….Cap-tipping addicts can’t help themselves. We just had a cap tip after a win.
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:23 pm
What?
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:26 pm
Mood swings are usually a sign of depression. It was for me and there are times when the depression symptoms rear its head, but way better now.
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
11:27 pm
Mark – Boy the way Glen Miller played? All in the Family
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:28 pm
Oh yeah. Depression thing is there at times. Another is what it is. I do far better without any meds actually…i recognize it for what it is and know it will pass. Not easy but oh well.
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
11:29 pm
Pace got it!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:29 pm
That’s it, Pace! Good job.
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
11:29 pm
Yeah – my dad watched that show every Monday night ( I think it was Monday) – I grew to like it
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
11:30 pm
DOEWN ON THE FARM
MISSISSIPPI
In a disgusting turn of events, the Bandits are used as sandwich spread by the BISCUITS 8-3.
RHSP ZEKE SPRUILL [L 7-11, 3.96 ERA] 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 HR, 7 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.
ZEKE has not progressed well in AA this season. Of course, tonight’s five unearned didn’t help any.
LHRP MIKE TARSI [2.35 ERA] 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO.
Marvelous middle-relief stint by TARSI tonight.
RHRP MARK LAMM [3.77 ERA] 1.0 IP, perfection, 2 SO.
The soph has had his comeuppance in AA this season althought tonight’s work went well.
Eight hits including a double, triple, and HR plate three, but two critical errors lead to six unearned, and that’s the margin of victory for the BISCUITS.
DH JOE TERDO [.310 BA] 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR [3], 1 RBI [34], 1 BB.
RF TIM SMITH [.284 BA] 1-4, 1 3B [1], 1 RBI [22].
3B AL CARRITHERS [.270 BA] 2-3, 1 2B [5], 1 RBI [8], 1 BB.
C MATT KENNELLY [.245 BA] 2-4.
1B JOE LEONARD [.270 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB.
‘Big Jim’ has a quiet 0-4 night with a ‘K’.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:30 pm
Clever one though, Mark…
ChattTownBrian
August 2nd, 2012
11:30 pm
Bourn is talking like a guy who is still bit by last years collapse. He keeps saying not to take any team lightly. I think at some point late last year the Braves let their guards up and out of nowhere things spiraled out of control and they got f***ed.
Dan Uggla Clusters
August 2nd, 2012
11:30 pm
Hey, I give you guys one good hit and you gotta have two. If I get two hits you gotta have three. If I hit a home run, you guys want another. You are never satisfied – and I even threw in a free bat slam tonight…golly geesh all you guys do is complain. Now say goodnight to my two big brothers: Fore and Arms.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
11:32 pm
NYTOL Early in the a.m.
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:32 pm
6 unearned is pretty dadgum awful…oh well! Thx for the update…
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
11:33 pm
Gerrian is the real deal. He should now not be doing mop up duties instead should be our 7th inning set up guy.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
11:33 pm
Interesting SONNY. You admire UGGLA?
Mark
August 2nd, 2012
11:34 pm
Yep. Work day tomorrow.
Fun night bloggin. Enjoyed it
Say your prayers and take care
Its a good night when the Braves Win!!!!!!!
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
11:34 pm
Veer:
Gear
throws similar to WALTER ‘Big Train’ JOHNSON. Sure would love similar results.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
11:35 pm
Gotta’ go. But I’ll be b-a-a-a-c-c-k-k!
phil
August 2nd, 2012
11:35 pm
Good nite all who remain…
Capt.Mudd
August 2nd, 2012
11:37 pm
It’s great to ‘tip’ currently—-however, just think 20 years from now there will be no ‘tippage.’ Due to Global Warming they’ll be wired-up with computer generated ‘frost strips.’ This innovation will work much like a car’s rear defroster….horizontally mounted, etc. And it will be called strippage, i.e., a strip of the head.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
11:39 pm
Ah, richbrave…finally somebody who saw Walter Johnson pitch. The dude was fast, wasn’t he.
Danga
August 2nd, 2012
11:42 pm
Gerrian is the real deal. He should now not be doing mop up duties instead should be our 7th inning set up guy.
As long as only RH batters are allowed to pitch in the 7th.
SNEAKY PETE
August 2nd, 2012
11:43 pm
where are all the ranters?
Danga
August 2nd, 2012
11:44 pm
*to bat that is.
ahem.
Disgusted
August 2nd, 2012
11:52 pm
Minor comes up good again but he weather gave him a bad break in the personal W-L record tonight.
Impressive relief work and Braves still playing solid ball, and will have to keep it up in this more competitive league to keep a playoff spot.
At least we are seeing Uggla show some signs of being the good Dan Uggla again.
15 over .500, highwater point so far. We have to be happy the way things are going as of late.
uga-brave
August 2nd, 2012
11:53 pm
anyone that has never been to turner field should realize there are no outfield lights.
it is real different.
at some point someone out there is going to get hurt.
real hard to pick up the ball.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
11:55 pm
Gerrian has learned to get lefties out. Look at his AAA numbers vs Lefties. Guy is a talent.
With Kimbrel EOF Gerrian and Venters we are set although Venters hasnt pitched in a while? Maybe he is injured?
Carroll Rogers
August 2nd, 2012
11:56 pm
postgame quotes are up:
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/02/braves-postgame-quotes-after-thursdays-win-vs-marlins/
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
11:58 pm
Anything less than a sweep vs the Astros will be a disappointment.
Nationals are playing the Marlins but look Johnson and Beurle are going for the Marlins both starters well capable of shutting down the Nationals. We should gain a game this weekend. As long as we stay close we have a shot because Strausberg will be shut down after probably 4 more starts.
I don’t want the one game wildcard show down. The new playoff format has been a big disadvantage for the Braves because we probably would have won the wildcard outright and been playing in NLDS
Disgusted
August 3rd, 2012
12:03 am
Freddie Freeman > than the stupid WAR stat.
I really don;t get how he is a minus defender, he is not that bad. Great hands.
Now leading first basemen in RBI’s. Now, that is how you win games.
Disgusted
August 3rd, 2012
12:05 am
The way things are going as of late the “Tip Your Cap” is a tip to our own guys.
That is a good thing.
Disgusted
August 3rd, 2012
12:07 am
I would like the wild card play in to be a best of three.
Also, keep the league division series and LCS to five games and have the WS the traditional 7.
The 5 game LCS and LDS won;t happen cause of $$$$$$$$$ but it would be the right thing to do.
Veer
August 3rd, 2012
12:09 am
Make the NLDS 7 game series. Dollars there as well.
a 5 game NLDS has cost us in many years because 2 pitchers got hot and beat us in a 7 game nlds we would probably had few more world championships.
Venice Jim
August 3rd, 2012
12:10 am
where are all the ranters?
Sorry, just got home from work…
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
12:12 am
Anything less than a sweep vs the Astros will be a disappointment @Veer
better get ready just in case, though from your posts you seem happiest when they play poorly and fulfill your gloomy predictions
Bravefaninok
August 3rd, 2012
12:14 am
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120802&content_id=36013308&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl
Nice story by Richard Justice on MLB.com
Disgusted
August 3rd, 2012
12:15 am
Even in the 90’s the Braves would lose a game to one of the dog teams once in a while.
I do expect a series win though vs Houston. They and the Cubs have been pretty much stripped to nothing.
Venice Jim
August 3rd, 2012
12:16 am
Bravefaninok – except for naming Venters instead of EOF (or even Durbin)…but it was well done…
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
12:16 am
how in the world does he think Chipper has a shot at 20 homers?
Bravefaninok
August 3rd, 2012
12:17 am
Strausberg will be shut down after probably 4 more starts.
On Sportscenter they said 7 more starts about september 9th.We will see……
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:23 am
where is JV, seriously i expected him to pitch the 9th tonight.
Carroll Rogers
August 3rd, 2012
12:24 am
Final gamer is up! C-Viv will be with you guys tomorrow…..See you in Philly!
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/02/braves-beat-marlins-6-1-move-to-6-1-on-homestand/
Capt.Mudd
August 3rd, 2012
12:25 am
Another hate-free blog…..void of the typical negativity; I commend the medical profession and am delighted to know that odern medicine is a friend of the Braves.
Venice Jim
August 3rd, 2012
12:27 am
Thanks, CR!!!
Venice Jim
August 3rd, 2012
12:28 am
uga – I didn’t realize JV hadn’t pitched since Sunday – surprised they did not get him in somewhere…
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:32 am
vj, me too.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:35 am
i thought tonight in the 8th or 9th.
either way c’mart is earning his money. the guy has a sweet change.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
12:35 am
I hope Jonny is OK
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:40 am
gotta give credit. smilin frank has graduated to grinin frank.
tough to bang him,
hardest thing to build at the end is a bullpen.
we dont have a single guy out there earning serious money.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
12:43 am
Just don’t tip your cap to him, uga-brave.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:43 am
time for some of you guys to lay of mcdowell.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:48 am
BH, missed your point there.
Venice Jim
August 3rd, 2012
12:48 am
The Angels and Rangers might be interested in helping their bullpens after this week…
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
12:48 am
McDowell and Walker are doing a great job, IMO. I like the Braves’ coaches.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:49 am
the braves bullpen has been outstanding.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:51 am
how good is mike trout?
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
12:52 am
BH, missed your point there.
Sorry, uga-brave, after I read it I figured that it could be taken different ways.
I like Wren, I have since he took over for JS. It’s the term, tip your cap, I’m a little tired of.
Previously, on here, it was mentioned a few times (as it is every night), so I was just kidding around about you saying it.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:54 am
when trumbo and trout have been more productive or at least as good as Albert. scary.
the angels.
weaver, greinke.
the middle of that order.
only thing they miss is the bullpen.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
12:56 am
how good is mike trout? — uga-brave
If he peaks when most players do, in their later 20’s, the sky is the limit. Ted Williams???
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
12:59 am
BH, i am now a fan of Wren. been a critic. he is working under a monster constraint.
you realize the cash he got back from the cubs pays almost all of johnson’s and malmolm’s salary the remainder of the season.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:02 am
you realize the cash he got back from the cubs pays almost all of johnson’s and malmolm’s salary the remainder of the season.
uga-brave – No, I didn’t know that.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:04 am
BH, unlike many here i watch other teams games. the dude has that quick twitch monster torso.
hard to take your eyes off that guy.
ncscoots, is still mad about it.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:07 am
Why is scoots mad about it – did you beat him to the punch?
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:10 am
so the braves have to figure out how to keep bourn.
i know everyone says this is his peak year. blah, blah.
the guy can hit. he plays a great center and he plays everyday.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:12 am
Trout, was scoots guy and efrim’s guy before before trout was trout.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:13 am
I think one of Wren’s priorities is to keep Bourn, if possible. He’s good for several more years.
Don’t know who the Braves will put in CF if Bourn goes. Cunningham is only in AA. Heyward in CF? Who plays RF… Johnson?
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:18 am
so if i remember correct, we chose to accept kotchcman instead of the sandwich pick.
we also got andy marek. i think.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:20 am
You going back to the residuals of the Tiexiera trade, uga-brave? Nothing good ever became of that. JS’s parting shot…
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:20 am
braves if smart will buy out all of heywards and freemans arb years.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:21 am
That doesn’t look right, is it Teixeira? I should just refer to him as TEX!
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:23 am
Heyward & Freeman could be the modern-day version of Aaron & Mathews.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:29 am
looking at macc’s career numbers vs. lopez.
lopez career .,828 .ops.
macc career .837 .ops.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:31 am
that is way ambitious. not doable.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:31 am
uga-brave
Are you taking any points away for steroids?
ACE
August 3rd, 2012
1:32 am
Speaking of cap tipping. Fredi said tonight that you have to tip your cap to the bullpen. For once I agree with him.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:34 am
that is way ambitious. not doable. — uga-brave
You’re taking it too literally. I don’t expect Heyward to be the next HR king.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:35 am
ACE – It’s nice to see the ol’ cap tipped in our direction, once in a while.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:38 am
javy on roids?
all i remember of him was getting huge hits in the post season.
against the cubs, ask the cards in the nlcs.
then ask the indians in the series in game two.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:39 am
javy on roids?
Didn’t he admit to it?
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:40 am
pretty sure old javy killed the cards in that series we fell behind 3-1.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:47 am
well he has the 1996 NLMVP trophy.
and world series ring..
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
1:51 am
uga-brave
I’m not trying to knock him… I liked Javy too. It’s just when you are comparing him to McCann’s stats, that should be taken into consideration, IMO.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
1:58 am
when was it proven javy was a juicer?
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:01 am
either way the guy always came up big when it mattered.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:01 am
uga-brave
This is from a David O’Brien interview in 2010:
Lopez was then asked flatly if players were looking at steroids as an option and using them.
“Uh, yes,” he said. “In my opinion, yes…. I mean, how can I explain this? It’s like if you’re going to race cars, if you’re going to race a car and some people are using nitro in the fuel [Lopez laughed], and you see them winning all the time, and you’re using regular gas – you know what? If they’re using nitro and they’ve been winning, well, I’d be stupid enough not to use nitro, too.”
I can’t call this a smoking gun, but… c’mon!
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:07 am
we got a stud in right field right now. this guy is about to light it up.
get ready for it. he is now realizing how god he he is.
scum stanton. this guy will be better.
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
2:11 am
Hello everyone! Great job by Minor, and he’s starting to grow on me……Great job by the Braves too.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:12 am
BH, okay.
andruw, , javy, and chip were my guys.
whether he juiced or not.
get ready for some great things out of rightfield gotta a hunch heyward is about to explode.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:12 am
uga-brave
I agree, but we also have a stud at first! Take away that freak thumb injury on his slide, and his McCann-esque eye problems…..
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:14 am
uga-brave
I loved all of those guys, too. But we have new players that should give us a lot of baseball thrills for quite some time, also.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:15 am
uga-brave
How ’bout Andrelton?
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:16 am
he is finally in the right slot in the batting order. wasting his speed on the bases down the order is no more. he is about to go in beast mode.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:19 am
BH, loved the jabber. got to hit the hay. unemployment report looms.
good banter.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:23 am
uga-brave
I enjoyed it also. Have a good one… and Go Braves!
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:23 am
first friday of every month we have to look at this same old drivel that comes out every month.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:29 am
uga-brave @ 2:23 = ChattTownBrian… correct?
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:30 am
… or were you just finishing your 2:19, uga-brave
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:31 am
oh by the way the company knight capital group that directs all your trades at e trade or ameria trade just had a 440 million dollar hickup.
pretty sure unless a white night does come along they are screwed.
largest market maker out there other than arca.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:33 am
uga-brave
If you’ve got another minute, where’s your buddy, Bay Area Steve? He used to be on a lot at these late hours.
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
2:34 am
I expect Heyward build up his home run ratio every year, and he could be a 35 to 38 home run type player in a couple of years.
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:35 am
bas, only dances in the pale moonlight. gotta ask him.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:37 am
BAS isn’t around much to ask, uga-brave.
Ward, I’ll never argue with that!
uga-brave
August 3rd, 2012
2:38 am
BH, ever watched the flinstones?
sometimes you call out the great Gazoo.
sometimes he shows up.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:39 am
Ward
However, I like Heyward’s longevity better if he stops sliding head first.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:40 am
I’ve never heard the term, the great Gazoo, but at this time of night, it made me laugh like hell.
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
2:46 am
Bobby H – I was just having some fun with that clown last night. He should repect peoples opinons even if he finds fault in them. That guy last night was some thing else.
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
2:49 am
Bobby H – I have no problem with players sliding head first. Just know when your going to slide, and do it right. Don’t half slide, cheese slide it.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:51 am
Ward
What guy last night was that? I only stopped in for a few minutes.
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
2:52 am
No need to argue, and don’t like to argue much , so every thing is cool.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:57 am
Ward
You know, there are some, maybe MANY, that come on here just to be a pain in the ass.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
2:58 am
I still don’t know who you’re talking about, though. Do you remember the moniker?
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
2:58 am
King of Carrrots, or some thing like that…….Anyway it’s all in the past.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
3:02 am
Ward
Oh yeah, I remember seeing that name. That’s just someone purposely being a hemorrhoid.
Or…. just is one and doesn’t realize it. Too bad, either way.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
3:15 am
Ward
It’s always best to ignore a new moniker, especially when it looks like they just want to stir up stuff. However, there are a few, creative authors, on here that come up with some doozies, though.
King of Carrots is pretty weird. But my favorite is, Enemas for Easter.
If you gave me a month to come up with the craziest moniker I could, I’d never think of anything like, Enemas for Easter.
I probably should be thankful for that.
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:23 am
that guy last night was the same one who comes here regularly under different names and eventually attacks nolie. He has done it a dozen times over the 4+ years I have been here. Sick motha. Looks like he is starting to obsess on Scoots too now.
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
3:24 am
Bobby H – I agree there have been some strange ones…….
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
3:25 am
Sneaky Pete – That’s why I had some fun with him……Give him a little dose back.
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:27 am
great game, glad it did not get called . we need all the wins we can get. Pittsburgh is hanging in there better than I thought they would
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:29 am
good for you Ward, but if you get him mad he might start targeting you too. I’m sure that many of the strangest ones that have come here are really the same poster
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
3:30 am
I’m excited Maholm pitch soon. He seems to like being a Brave, and that’s good to see.
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:34 am
I like the Maholm pickup, but I’m not looking for him to be great, just better than JJ and Delgado have been most of the time. Anything above that is gravy
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:36 am
Looked like Johnson got his baptism into the weird lighting situation in the Ted tonight.
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
3:36 am
I hear Braves could still pick up some one this month? Any ideas who they could pick up?
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
3:37 am
Looks like he is starting to obsess on Scoots too now. — SNEAKY PETE
Man, I was making a polar-opposite comparison, using scoots as the 10, on a scale of 1-10, on someone I thought was using a fake moniker last night.
I noticed that nolie (shortly afterwards), and Lew (in the am), didn’t seem to get my sarcasm.
I wonder if that’s why….
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:39 am
not really. if they get someone I would guess a pen pitcher. He would have to get through waivers so it is hard to tell
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:41 am
I would think nolie is getting tired of it, he did seem sort of angry last night. I know that I would, very quickly. that is probably why Bobby.
Ward
August 3rd, 2012
3:41 am
Good talking, as always…….Enjoy coming on the blog.Peace my friends, and”Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!” Talk tomorrow some time……
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:44 am
Good night Ward. You take care.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
3:45 am
See you, Ward… & peace.
SNEAKY PETE, I’m not sure why anyone hangs around the in-game blog, especially on a losing night. That’s when all the horror creatures come out.
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
3:51 am
I had better call it a night too. I promised myself I’d be out of here by 1:00 am, PDT.
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:56 am
That is true Bobby, I seldom do it either.
It is a shame because it was not always that way. We have lost a lot of good posters because of how many ranters have become participants.
I think it should be a place where we can enjoy the good times together and commiserate with each other on a bad night, instead of a site filled with anger directed at the team and players all the time when something goes wrong.
I miss the old days
Bobby H
August 3rd, 2012
3:59 am
Well said, Sneaky Pete!
Have a good night, I’m sure I’ll talk to you soon.
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
4:02 am
good night Bobby
Brave4life-1995 All over again
August 3rd, 2012
4:16 am
Colorado have a few interesting arms in the pen, I wish we could have scooped one of them up But I cant say I havent been impressed with Chad Durbin and the rest of the pen as of late
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
7:48 am
The Braves have outscored the Marlins 67-25 this season. That +42 run differential is the biggest in the major leagues by one team against another this season. Only three times in the last decade have the Braves finished the season with a run differential so large against one team:
2009 vs. Mets, 110-60 (+50)
2007 vs. Nationals, 95-53 (+42)
2004 vs. Expos, 128-55 (+73!)
Before that, the last time the Braves did it was in 1993, when they swept the expansion Rockies in 13 games, outscoring them 106-50 (+56).
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
7:52 am
My boy Minor put in a good outing yesterday, shame he got rained out… he deserved the win.
Anyway, it’s Star Wars night at the Ted…. gonna be interesting
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
7:56 am
Crack-head Schafer back in town… who does better this series, him or Bourn?
I say Bourn, by a longshot.
Jeff R
August 3rd, 2012
8:04 am
Uggla – slowly, patiently raising his batting average with a hit last night. At this pace, he should finish the season with a robust .220 average.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
8:08 am
Matthew Kaminski @bravesorganist
#Braves vs. #Astros – Puff the Magic Dragon for Schafer
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
8:11 am
Puff the Magic Dragon for Schafer
Yes…
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
8:14 am
You know the Astros are in bad shape when you see a commercial advertising…. Jordan Schafer and the Houston Astros come to town to take on you’re ATL Braves!!
Really….. is Jordan the most marketable player they have now?
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:16 am
No, they have Altuve, and J.D. Martinez is probably fairly popular down there. Schafer must be highlighted because of the Braves connection.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:23 am
The Astros really are in shambles. Wandy Rodriguez, Carlos Lee, and Chris Johnson were traded away. Jed Lowrie and Jason Castro are on the DL.
You’re left with Jordan Schafer, Jose Altuve, J.D. Martinez, Brett Wallace, Brian Bogusevic, Steve Pearce (Gamecock!), Marwin Gonzalez, and Chris Snyder. And J.D. Martinez, their RBI leader, has missed the last few games with a shoulder…don’t know if he’ll be in there.
Hopefully the Braves will take advantage and keep rolling.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:27 am
The Astros are 2-24 in their last 26 road games, dating back to June 12th. They are 10-44 on the road overall this season with a 6.00 ERA.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:31 am
Since May 26th, the Astros are 13-48 with a 5.93 team ERA.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
8:31 am
Braves have four game lead on St. Louis for that 2nd wild card spot.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
8:31 am
If we don’t sweep, it’ll be a disappointment. It’s a Statement Series!!!
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:33 am
If we don’t sweep, it’ll be a disappointment. It’s a Statement Series!!!
I wouldn’t say that…you can run into a pitcher on any given night. I’ll say like Chipper says it…we should win the series. That would give, at worst, an 8-2 homestand.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
8:33 am
Since May 26th, the Astros are 13-48 with a 5.93 team ERA.
Their roster is a AAAA team. It’s as bad as I’ve seen in a while. Mark Appel in 2013.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
8:33 am
Braves have four game lead on St. Louis for that 2nd wild card spot.
Not big enough…. need to make it 11.5, cuz ya know, historic collapses/comebacks happen annually.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
8:35 am
I wouldn’t say that…you can run into a pitcher on any given night
I know, I’d be happy with 2/3… their pitchers really suck, but who knows, they could throw a gem. I was attempting a tomahawkin.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
8:35 am
Just win the series. Any team can beat you on a given night.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
8:37 am
Bud Norris and Lucas Harrell aren’t terrible…..
But they aren’t good.
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
8:39 am
It would be nice to sweep the Stros and have a 9-1 Homestand.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:41 am
Tim Hudson is 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA against the Astros in his career, but I don’t think it matters much. He’s barely faced any of the guys that will actually be in the lineup.
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
8:43 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
GWINNETT
G-Men four hit and lose on an unearned run 1-0 despite excellent pitching by three BRAVES hurlers.
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.307 BA] 1-4, 2 SO.
SS JACK WILSON [.212 BA] 1-3, 1 2B [2]
2B/3B RUSTY RYAL [.231 BA] 1-3, 1 SO.
3B TERRY TIFFEE [.356 BA] 1-1
JOSE CONSTANZA’s fielding error allows a runner to advance to third. On the next at bat, old buddy BROOKS CONRAD grounds into a double-play scoring the runner from third. What a bite!
LHS/RP YOHAN FLANDE [L 5-8, 3.96 ERA] 6.0 ZIP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO.
The BULLS manage to get hits back-to-back once and win the game on an unearned run. Jeeze!
RHRP BILLY BULLOCK [11.21 ERA] 1.0 IP, no-hits, 2 BB, 1 SO.
LHRP COLE McCURRY [4.42 ERA] 1.0 IP, 2 H, zeros, 1 SO.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
8:44 am
I know ERA doesn’t tell the whole story, but Harrell had a 3.03 ERA in July, Norris had a 5.34
Hitters hit .225/.341/.369/.710 off of Norris in July, and hit .263/.328/.333/.661 off of Harrell.
Also, looking at BABIP, balls put in play are more likely to turn into a hit on Harrell.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
8:44 am
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
not sure anyone did a better job than the #braves in july. signed ben sheets, then recovered from dempster to add maholm.
Sweet!
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:47 am
Eventually the Braves will cool off a little, and the Astros will put a couple of wins together. I just hope it doesn’t happen at the same time this weekend.
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
8:49 am
Brian from SC:
Agreed! let’s get out the brooms for a 9-1 finish to this home-stand. GO BRAVES.
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
8:52 am
Another triumph!
Jeff R
August 3rd, 2012
8:53 am
Speaking of Dempster, nice outing last night against the Angels. Eight earned runs in 4.2 innings. Very, very nice.
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
8:54 am
Mark Appel in 2013.
Think he’ll actually sign? Does he know the new system doesn’t get him a big contract?
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:55 am
The Braves have allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in 10 consecutive games. That’s the longest such streak for Atlanta since a 12-gamer in 2002.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:57 am
The Braves have allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in 10 consecutive games. That’s the longest such streak for Atlanta since a 12-gamer in 2002.
In addition, it’s tied for the longest such streak in baseball this year, with the Reds (July) and Angels (May).
I have a strong feeling this streak will continue another game.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
8:58 am
Speaking of Dempster, nice outing last night against the Angels. Eight earned runs in 4.2 innings. Very, very nice.
Indeed. I gotta say, I took a little pleasure in seeing that line out of him… also, the fact that he’s in the AL, in a hitter’s division is gonna hurt is FA stock. Me gusto.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
8:59 am
Heyward scored from first two more times last night…that’s a thing of beauty.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
9:02 am
Heyward scored from first two more times last night…that’s a thing of beauty.
Here’s a shocker…do you know who leads the NL in most times scoring from first on a double? None other than Dan Uggla, with 8.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
9:07 am
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
How the #Braves nabbed Ben Sheets – and why they may have his 10-year-old son to thank. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/atlanta-braves-pitcher-ben-sheets-great-under-the-radar-acquisition-080212
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
9:09 am
None other than Dan Uggla, with 8.
HUSTLE! That man makes every bit of his speed work.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
9:10 am
HUSTLE! That man makes every bit of his speed work.
Absolutely…also plenty of opportunities. With all the walks, he’s been on first base a lot, and he’s hit ahead of guys like Freddie Freeman much of the year.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
9:15 am
Think he’ll actually sign? Does he know the new system doesn’t get him a big contract?
It’s another down year in the draft so he’ll go #1. He has to sign this time, doesn’t he?
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
9:17 am
Braves are 18-6 in their last 24 games with their next 13 games against sub-.500 teams(Houston, Philly, New York and San Diego).
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
9:18 am
60-45 through 105 games.
30-27 in the remaining 57 games gets the Braves to 90 wins.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
9:19 am
He has to sign this time, doesn’t he?
I believe so…. does that mean that he has just about no leverage?
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
9:20 am
I know Fredi wants to rest Heyward, but please, keep the kid in there until Tuesday vs. Hamels. This makes the most sense. Heyward is hitting an absurd .303/.385/.552 vs. RHP’s this year.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
9:21 am
30-27 in the remaining 57 games gets the Braves to 90 wins.
Wow, that’s all? 95 wins seems a little more possible now
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
9:23 am
If the Braves win this series vs. the Astros, they will be 62-46 through 2/3’s of the season – on pace for a 93-69 record.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
9:29 am
Marlins and Nats play two in DC today. Johnson vs. Lannan, Brad Hand vs. Gio
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
9:30 am
Marlins played a late game last night, of course, and have a 4:00 start today. Hope they can find a way to bother the Nats this weekend.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
9:36 am
I think the Marlins can win the 1st one, not so sure about the 2nd…. would love their help though.
paul maholm @paul_maholm
What a game last night. Lil rain delay but worth it. The bats were at em and then pen finished it. Looking forward to watching huddy tonight
monty
August 3rd, 2012
9:36 am
I never liked all the …”all we have to do scenarios” last Sept….some people thought it garaunteed the playoffs and it seems it’s inevitable that it starts up again, (nothing I can do to stop it) but I still don’t like it. Like counting chicks before they hatch or like saying “all I have to do to pass the test is score an 80.” Seems easy enough but it still takes some study, and of course, you could come down with mono the week before or something. Besides that, I don’t think the baseball gods like it.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
9:46 am
I devised a rating system based on the performance of the teams and their strength of opponents.
The formula is:
(normalized win percentage) + .3333*(normalized opponents’ win percentage) + .1111*(normalized opponents’ opponents’ win percentage
I did the same exact thing again, but with run differentials instead of win percentages.
In both the W-L record system and the run differential system, the Braves are now 3rd in the majors in my ratings.
In ratings based solely on W-L:
1. Yankees
2. Nationals
3. Braves
4. Rangers
5. Reds
6. Orioles
7. Rays
8. Angels
9. A’s
10. Tigers
In ratings based purely on run differential:
1. Yankees
2. Rangers
3. Braves
4. Angels
5. A’s
6. Nationals
7. Cardinals
8. Red Sox
9. White Sox
10. Rays
The Braves have the 6th best winning percentage, against the 13th toughest schedule according to W-L records (that schedule is 2nd toughest in the NL, behind the Mets).
They have the 7th best average run differential, with the 12th toughest schedule according to run differential (also 2nd toughest in the NL, behind the Cubs).
monty
August 3rd, 2012
9:48 am
Meant to say ..pass the course.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
9:50 am
Buster Olney:
There is zero deferred dollars in Cole Hamels’s new contract with the Phillies, meaning it was a total white-flag surrender by the team in these negotiations. Last fall — just nine months ago — the Phillies had hoped to sign Hamels to a deal in the Jered Weaver range of about $85 million, and instead, Hamels gets a deal that could pay him $162 million. The specifics of Hamels’s deal are here. He gets a $6M signing bonus, payable in 2012, and the year-by-year salaries look like this:
2013 $19.5 million
2014 $22.5 million
2015 $22.5 million
2016 $22.5 million
2017 $22.5 million
2018 $22.5 million
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
9:51 am
ROME
The Legion make merry headed by a two-homer game by my man ROBBY HEFFLINGER and squash the AUGUSTA insects in a 10-run hit-fest.
Lead-off CF TONY MUELLER [.268 BA] 2-4, 1 SB [24], 1 SAC.
2B FERDIE De Los SANTOS [.240 BA] 3-4, 1 R, 1 RBI [19].
C RYAN QUERY [.211 BA] 2-4, 2 R.
RF WIL SKINNER [.253 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO.
DH BRANDON DRURY [.225 BA] 1-5, 1 CS [3].
RHSP GREG ROSS [W 4-7, 4.89 ERA] 7.0 IP, 10 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 SO.
RHRP NATHAN HYATT [1.42 ERA] 2.0 IP, no-hits, 1 BB, 1 SO.
NAT is having an outstanding rookie season in A-ball so far.
LF ROBBY HEFFLINGER [.268 BA] 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR [7], 5 RBI [36], 1 BB, 1 SO.
SS ELMER REYES [.263 BA] 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B [24], 2 RBI [33], 2 SO.
1B ‘BillyBECK’ BECKWITH [.307 BA] 2-42 R, 1 2B [20], 2 RBI [64], 1 BB.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
9:51 am
The Yankees are #1 by a significant margin in both systems.
In W-L, they have the 3rd best record against the 2nd-toughest schedule
In run differential, they have the 2nd best RD against the 3rd-toughest schedule.
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
9:55 am
MISSISSIPPI
In a disgusting turn of events, the Bandits are used as sandwich spread by the BISCUITS 8-3.
RHSP ZEKE SPRUILL [L 7-11, 3.96 ERA] 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 HR, 7 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.
ZEKE has not progressed well in AA this season. Of course, tonight’s five unearned didn’t help any.
LHRP MIKE TARSI [2.35 ERA] 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO.
Marvelous middle-relief stint by TARSI tonight.
RHRP MARK LAMM [3.77 ERA] 1.0 IP, perfection, 2 SO.
The soph has had his comeuppance in AA this season althought tonight’s work went well.
Eight hits including a double, triple, and HR plate three, but two critical errors lead to six unearned, and that’s the margin of victory for the BISCUITS.
DH JOE TERDO [.310 BA] 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR [3], 1 RBI [34], 1 BB.
RF TIM SMITH [.284 BA] 1-4, 1 3B [1], 1 RBI [22].
3B AL CARRITHERS [.270 BA] 2-3, 1 2B [5], 1 RBI [8], 1 BB.
C MATT KENNELLY [.245 BA] 2-4.
1B JOE LEONARD [.270 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB.
‘Big Jim’ has a quiet 0-4 night with a ‘K’.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
9:55 am
What Hamels deal really is….
2013 $20.5 million
2014 $23.5 million
2015 $23.5 million
2016 $23.5 million
2017 $23.5 million
2018 $29.5 million
What it could be if he stays healthy….
2013 $20.5 million
2014 $23.5 million
2015 $23.5 million
2016 $23.5 million
2017 $23.5 million
2018 $23.5 million
2019 $24 million
Jeff R
August 3rd, 2012
9:55 am
Hamels gets a deal that could pay him $162 million.
All for 200 innings a year – maybe.
tiger297
August 3rd, 2012
9:59 am
brian-do you create a model to forecast the rest of the season based on your results?
I create one every july but its not nearly as detailed as yours from a performance perspective.
I think top 20% of teams perform fairly similarly against each other (and against the bottom 80%).
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
10:00 am
By the way, Bryce Harper is down to .258/.332/.420 on the year.
Since June 5th, he’s hit .240/.304/.351 in 51 games – 227 plate appearances.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
10:00 am
Brian, i can appreciate your efforts, but are we gonna win the games we have to win to accomplish something or not?
Time will tell….
Jeff R
August 3rd, 2012
10:00 am
I think the Phillies make a concerted effort to unload Cliff Lee this winter.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
10:01 am
If you simply add the two ratings together, giving them equal importance, you get this ranking:
1. Yankees
2. Rangers
3. Braves
4. Nationals
5. Angels
6. Reds
7. A’s
8. Rays
9. White Sox
10. Red Sox
11. Tigers
12. Orioles
13. Blue Jays
14. Cardinals
15. Mariners
16. Pirates
17. Mets
18. Diamondbacks
19. Giants
20. Dodgers
21. Indians
22. Brewers
23. Twins
24. Phillies
25. Royals
26. Cubs
27. Marlins
28. Padres
29. Rockies
30. Astros
See how low the Cardinals, Pirates, Giants, and Dodgers are. The Cardinals and Pirates have played the two easiest schedules in baseball, while the Giants and Dodgers have played pretty easy schedules, while also not outscoring their opponents by much.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
10:02 am
brian-do you create a model to forecast the rest of the season based on your results?
No, the only numbers I have are for what has happened so far. Nothing about future opponents or results.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
10:02 am
I think the Phillies make a concerted effort to unload Cliff Lee this winter.
To the Braves and they cover 60-70% of salary? We just send “Salary Relief”…. ah, well, I can just keep dreaming.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
10:04 am
The Giants actually have a negative run differential on the season now.
CB
August 3rd, 2012
10:06 am
Phillies would be wise to unload that contract of Lee, if somebody was to claim him I believe they would let him go.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
10:07 am
Nobody will claim Lee off waivers, meaning they may trade him this month if they can get a taker.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
10:10 am
I’m very encouraged by what we’re doing of late. I think we’ve got to overhaul the Nats though to have a decent chance in the playoffs. No way i want a one game, do or die to start out with our tendency towards inconsistency, though even that is improving.
Injuries. We’ve got to avoid em. Worries me more than anything going forward.
Murph
August 3rd, 2012
10:13 am
If Sheets has another couple of good games, anyone think the Braves will try and wrap him up for a couple of more years?
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 3rd, 2012
10:18 am
Since lately Fredi’s been into that Hudson-Ross battery again, I wonder—is he gonna start Ross again tonight? I mean, he just gave BMac a day off on Wednesday, so it seems to me BMac should be good to go tonight…Unless his shoulder really is bothering him, in which case I hope somebody tells us!!!…
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
10:19 am
Wait til year’s end Murph. Patience lol…. wanna make sure he can get through the season first, imo.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
10:22 am
I wouldn’t be against a Ross/Huddy battery… gotta keep Mac fresh down the stretch and get Ross some more ABs.
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
10:24 am
By the way, Bryce Harper is down to .258/.332/.420 on the year.
Since June 5th, he’s hit .240/.304/.351 in 51 games – 227 plate appearances.
So, the question is, is the kid just tired, or did the league adjust to him making it harder for him to get on base?
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
10:26 am
Since June 5th, Mike Trout has hit .353/.424/.627/1.050 — 229 plate apeparances
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 3rd, 2012
10:26 am
TOBF—
Yes, but Ross has had a bajillion ABs lately and ever since he’s starting playing more, BMac hasn’t been as hot!…
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
10:27 am
Besides, BMac is hitting .207 in his last 10 games, 8 of which were starts. He needs some rest
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
10:28 am
And before June 5th…
________PA__AVG__OBP__SLG__OPS
Trout. 156 .331 .385 .547 .931
Harper 137 .288 .380 .542 .922
phil
August 3rd, 2012
10:29 am
Sheets might be worth the gamble….i say year’s end too but he sure has been a lift for us. Probably no coincidence that we’ve gone on a great run since he arrived. The guy may just have a teamwide Midas touch we’ve been lacking.
And here’s hoping Maholm can help us too…
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
10:31 am
So, the question is, is the kid just tired, or did the league adjust to him making it harder for him to get on base?
I say tired… he plays “too hard”…
McFann: Meanwhile D. Ross has hit .261 in his last 10 games, 6 of which were starts. I say start D. Ross and Mac to backup catcher.
(sarcasm)
Oh, and btw, both Mac and Ross have 2 HR in their last 2 games.
CB
August 3rd, 2012
10:33 am
Best to wait to end of season on Sheets, then as always it should be about the Benjamins.
Juan
August 3rd, 2012
10:34 am
looking at the Rain delay lately and the Heat during Day Game, i think Atl need a retractable cover stadium like miami.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 3rd, 2012
10:34 am
TOBF—
But the more rest BMac has been getting, the lower his AVG is getting…
Oh, and btw, both Mac and Ross have 2 HR in their last 2 games.
Do you mean combined? ‘Cause BMac has 1 homer in his last 2 games…
Oh well, gotta go—see ya later!…
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
10:35 am
Oh, and btw, both Mac and Ross have 2 HR in their last 2 games.
Do you mean combined? ‘Cause BMac has 1 homer in his last 2 games…
Whoops, I meant 10.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 3rd, 2012
10:35 am
(One last thing…about BMac’s AVG—it’s a pretty small sample size…I mean, it’s not like he’s back down in the .220’s for the season or anything…)
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
10:35 am
So, the question is, is the kid just tired, or did the league adjust to him making it harder for him to get on base?
I don’t know, but a .655 is pretty bad production for a third of the season. Is Mike Trout a “once in a generation” type talent like Bryce Harper was called….and Heyward was called….. by “Mr. reasonable expectations”?
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 3rd, 2012
10:36 am
Ah, gotcha…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 3rd, 2012
10:36 am
Actually, BMac has 4 homers in his last 10 starts…
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
10:37 am
Ben Sheets has thrown like 24 innings over 4 starts – can we please wait a little more before wanting to sign him to a one year or, my god, a two year deal?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
10:37 am
last ten games, and that’s each one by themselves.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
10:38 am
Buffet Brian has to eventually decide if he’s gonna get in shape or not. I know many think i’m out to lunch on his weight, but honestly….
I’m not trying to knock him. It concerns me as a fan and for his life. Besides, he could be a HOFer if he can play long enough. Not gonna happen if he doesn’t shape up. I’m tellin ya…..
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
10:40 am
Polished in his last 10 appearances: 58.2 IP, 42 hits, 9 HR allowed, 20 ER, 23 BB’s, 48 K’s, opp. slash line: .201/.279/.378, 3.07 ERA.
keylargo
August 3rd, 2012
10:41 am
The Braves should be in first place withing two weeks with their schedule being so weak. We just finished going 3-1 vs the #27 Marlins and the next 4 series are against:
Astros 30
Phillies 24
Mets 17
Padres 28
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
10:43 am
What Sheets has brought to the table to this point has been great – no doubt about it – but I’d agree that waiting until after the season’s results are in bfore re-signing him is definitely the way to go.
However………If he continues close to what he’s shown so far, he should definitely be offered a one year deal. Not so sure I’d go two with his injury history. Feeling optimistic, though.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
10:44 am
can we please wait a little more before wanting to sign him to a one year
Wait until after the season… If he finishes strong then it would be great to see him here next year… but if he signs somewhere else it’s not the end of the world!!
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
10:45 am
efrim Bryce Harper is down to .258/.332/.420 on the year.
Since June 5th, he’s hit .240/.304/.351 in 51 games – 227 plate appearances.
reasonable expectation for a once in a generation talent.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
10:48 am
No doubt the Braves are in the soft underbelly of their schedule. And so far, they are taking advantage. Very important for playoff teams to do that, and tread water against the good teams.
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
10:50 am
juan i think Atl need a retractable cover stadium like miami.
maybe in about 50 years. turner field aint going anywhere.
Trader Jack
August 3rd, 2012
10:54 am
TennPaul
Re: Harper – I think the latter, that the league has made adjustments. However, The Nats have some bigger problems than Harper’s lowered numbers
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
10:56 am
Think about this: when we talk about the easy portion of our schedule, getting a series against the Astros and Padres…consider that the Pirates, Cardinals, and Reds will all play 14-15 games against the Astros and Cubs, while the Dodgers, Giants and D-Backs will get 18 games against the Rockies and Padres.
The bottom of the NL East is not as bad as the bottoms of the other divisions.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
10:57 am
Bryce Harper is down to .258/.332/.420 on the year.
Boy…. I wish Andrelton could’ve stayed healthy!!
Juan
August 3rd, 2012
10:57 am
Ok…DAP…can we put a roof at Turner Field?
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
11:00 am
If Sheets is going to stay healthy and put together another 10 or so starts that make his totals above average, the Braves will not be the only team to go after his services.
He’s another option, just like Paul Maholm’s 6.5 million dollar club option is another option for our 2013 rotation….
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:02 am
If the Braves decide to bring back Sheets, you would think that at least one of Minor, Delgado, and Teheran would become expendable. Maybe even two.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
11:03 am
Juan a few rain delays doesn’t make it worth spending the money for a freaking roof!!
In 16 years at Turner field they’ve only had but a handful of rain outs.
CB
August 3rd, 2012
11:03 am
I do believe attendance would go up if Braves played indoors, heat is horrible to bear during summer months.
Bayou Brave
August 3rd, 2012
11:05 am
Brian from SC @ 8:27 am
The Astros are 2-24 in their last 26 road games, dating back to June 12th.
O_o
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
11:05 am
If the Braves decide to bring back Sheets, you would think that at least one of Minor, Delgado, and Teheran would become expendable. Maybe even two.
Teheran+ for Myers from KC, or Delgado+ for Headley (if Prado doesn’t go to 3B). Oh, and since we’ll be getting Greinke (hint hint, I hope) we can more reasonably let both go
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
11:07 am
Boy…. I wish Andrelton could’ve stayed healthy!!
Wade Miley has to be the favorite for Rookie of the year.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
11:07 am
Boy…. I wish Andrelton could’ve stayed healthy!!
Wade Miley has to be the favorite for Rookie of the year.
Murph
August 3rd, 2012
11:08 am
If the Braves decide to bring back Sheets, you would think that at least one of Minor, Delgado, and Teheran would become expendable. Maybe even two.
I dunno… right now, assuming the team drops JJ and picks up Sheets for another season, you’re looking at:
Hudson
Hanson
Maholm
Sheets
Minor
Given that Hudson, Hanson, and Sheets all have a history of injuries, I wouldn’t want to send Delgado or Teheran anywhere. Chances of them being needed are pretty high.
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
11:08 am
With Prado available at third, no way I’d trade Delgado for Headley.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
11:09 am
Brian… I think 1 or 2 are already expendable if you plan to replace both Bourn and Chipper and have plans to add a top SP. Signing FA’s would just be too expensive, but trading for a player or 2 that have a few more years till free agency might be the way to go.
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
11:09 am
7 man rotation
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:10 am
I kinda agree, Murph, which is why I would lean toward the Braves not bringing back Sheets. Hudson and Maholm would be on their last years, and Sheets would be a short-timer as well. The 2014 rotation will look much different, and you’d like to have those young guys to rely on.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:11 am
I agree Crazy…would not be at all surprised to see one of Minor, Delgado, or Teheran traded this off-season for a hitter. That’s regardless of what happens with Sheets.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
Will someone please explain to me why people want Chase Headley so bad? Doesn’t seem worth what some people are willing to give up to me.
keylargo
August 3rd, 2012
11:16 am
Rainouts are a lot more common in the NE than the south or Miami. Like yesterday, we get a thunderstorm coming through but it usually clears up in an hour. Boston leads MLB in rainouts in the last 10 years.
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
11:16 am
crazy – I wonder the same thing. Headley looks to be a solid offensive player, but hardly spectacular and not as good offensively as Prado.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:17 am
Headley is in his prime, controlled, and a solid hitter at a position where it’s not always easy to find one. His numbers would (and do) look much better away from PetCo, which is death for hitters.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:18 am
His OPS away from PetCo this year is .891, which would be better than anyone on the Braves except for Chipper.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
11:20 am
I just think we have a better chance to improve the team by putting Prado at 3B and finding an OF in the trade market vs having Prado in LF and Headley at 3B.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
Either way we would be fine. I guess I just don’t think it’s worth what the Padres will want for a player that’s under control for 2 more years.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
Gotta disagree with that Lew…Headley is a better hitter than Prado. His overall OPS is 30 points higher than Prado’s this year. His OPS away from Petco is 130 points better. His career OPS away from Petco is 45 points higher than Prado’s career OPS.
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
Turner Field is hardly an offensively inclined venue – - more neutral than anything. What makes you think that he’d OPS .891 here?
Headley’s numbers aren;t as good as Prado’s. Maybe he would be worth giving up pitching for if they decided to leave Martin in LF, but honestly, I’d rather sign Reed Johnson to play LF full time, move Prado to third and keep the pitching.
Good offensive third baseman might be hard to find, but why look when you already have one?.
CB
August 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
I wouldn’t have a problem with trading Delgado for Headley, get him out of Petco and he should be a 25HR guy with solid defense.
MikeInFl
August 3rd, 2012
11:24 am
With Prado in LF we have the best defensive OF in baseball. With Headley at 3B and Simmons at SS, best left side infield in baseball. And not a single hole in the lineup.
I think it would be much better than sticking some lamp post in LF. But, doubt it will happen…
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:24 am
What makes you think that he’d OPS .891 here?
Well, that’s his OPS in every other park besides Petco, including hitters’ parks, pitchers’ parks, and neutral. The only park excluded is the park that is far and away the most extreme pitcher’s park in baseball.
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
11:25 am
Prado at 3B and look for LF and CF as Bourn will be gone or live with Reed Johnson in CF.
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
11:26 am
lew With Prado available at third, no way I’d trade Delgado for Headley.
headley doesnt have to supplant prado at 3rd. he was a starter in LF until this season.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
11:28 am
Good offensive third baseman might be hard to find, but why look when you already have one?.
I know, Juan is such a good player, why would we think of replacing him.
(sarcasm Lew)
I think that if you can get Headley out of that massive stadium, he can hit 25-27 HR for us, with good defense, at a reasonable cost. He plays good defense as well. Getting Headley doesn’t mean we get rid of Prado.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
11:29 am
If the rest of Baseball and Padres are as high on Headley and think as much of him as some of you… wouldn’t it probably cost more than just Delgado?
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:29 am
Not exactly true, DAP…he has been a full-time third baseman for three years…left field for two years before that. He is a very good third baseman…not a good left-fielder. He’s a third baseman, and if he was a Brave, he would play there, with Prado in LF.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
11:30 am
Crazy…yes it definitely would cost more than just Delgado.
I’m not saying Headley is the best option for the Braves…I have said all along I want Prado to man third next year. But it is an option, and it is surely one the Braves will look into.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
11:30 am
I’d rather trade Delgado and Teheran for Headley than have Juan as the starter next year that’s for sure!!
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
11:31 am
I wouldn’t have a problem with trading Delgado for Headley,
Yes! I have validation. My idea wasn’t so horrible. I’m starting to get the hang of this place and trade proposals, I think. This blog is great.
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
11:32 am
I have absolutely nothing against Headley and I suppose he might be an option. Guess we’ll see. I;d imagine they’d want a good bit for him and I still am reluctant to trade Delgado.
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
11:33 am
and i dont know what id be willing to trade for headley, i just know id like to have him.
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
11:35 am
brian from SC Not exactly true, DAP…he has been a full-time third baseman for three years…left field for two years before that.
i stand corrected. still, he CAN play left, if folks want prado at third.
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
11:36 am
I’m starting to get the hang of this place and trade proposals, I think
ok, let me try. JJ, Pastor, Wilson and Constanza for Headley. padres can’t say no to 4 for 1 deal, can’t they?
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
11:37 am
crazy If the rest of Baseball and Padres are as high on Headley and think as much of him as some of you
i think headley was considered the best position player available at the trade deadline. yes, i think most of baseball realizes he is a good player.
CB
August 3rd, 2012
11:37 am
Lew, like most trades what you have to give up for a good player is what hurts.
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
11:37 am
Boy…. I wish Andrelton could’ve stayed healthy
I’m fairly certain the league would have caught up to Simmons as well. Over his last 21 games he hit .274/.295/.384/.678. His defensive value makes him awesome, but I have my doubts that he’d OPS over .750 for a full season.
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
11:38 am
I’ve never been as down on Delgado and Minor’s potential as some here have been. I think Minor’s doing a pretty good job right now of proving he’ll be a good addition to our rotation and I believe that Randall is on the cusp of being a damned good pitcher, too.
As someone pointed out earlier, Hudson is at the end of his career and we only have Maholm through next year – likely Sheets as well IF he were to be re-signed. We’re going to need that good, young pitching, especially if Hanson shows no improvemen or actually takes a turn for the worse.
Keep the pitching. We’ll be much happier in the long run if we do.
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
11:39 am
he CAN play left, if folks want prado at third.
I’d rather have Chase at third, if Chase were on the team. I’m not as sold on Chase as many seem to be. I think he’s good, better than Prado, but not up to all the drool
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
11:40 am
CB – I’m aware of that. I just would rather keep the pitching.
CB
August 3rd, 2012
11:43 am
Lew,great thing about baseball is a lot of different ways to build your team. I am sure Wren will have a lot of options on the table.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
11:44 am
ok, let me try. JJ, Pastor, Wilson and Constanza for Headley. padres can’t say no to 4 for 1 deal, can’t they?
Bad deal, cuz my Rev’s in it. Other than that, it’s great!
CB – I’m aware of that. I just would rather keep the pitching.
Unfortunately, all we have to trade is pitching. If we had any hitters worth anything, they’d be on the fast track to the Majors.
UKUGA
August 3rd, 2012
11:45 am
Dempster’s next start is @ Fenway.
Then, @ Yankee Stadium.
Good luck with that, champ.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
11:47 am
Dempster’s next start is @ Fenway. Then, @ Yankee Stadium. Good luck with that, champ.
Serves him right! Oh, wait, wrong attitude…. I’m sorry Dempster. Good luck to you though.
UKUGA
August 3rd, 2012
11:48 am
Drool is bad for you.
http://www.wtvm.com/story/19152216/ga-woman-sickened-by-dog-saliva-bone-marrow-weakened-by-cancer
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
11:49 am
Only Braves – Well, seems we might have some cash avaiable to fill needs this winter, too. I don’t see that it will be necessary to trade all the pitching to fill two outfield spots.
George
August 3rd, 2012
11:51 am
Good day all
Good win last night, to bad the rain, kept MIKE from getting credit for win. Again CHIPPER with timely hit. We need to keep winning big so FREDI has fewer chances to make mistakes.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
11:53 am
All this continuing trade talk makes my head spin!
Let’s just trade Heyward and FF for Derek Jeter and be done with it. Jeter can man first for 3-4 years til he’s 42 and reed johnson can play RF…
As for pitching, it’s overrated.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
11:53 am
This is the list of available CF and LF at year’s end…. not that promising. If we can bring in a 3B and leave Prado in LF, i’m for it. (I do prefer Prado at 3rd though)… unless we can convince KC to trade Myers to us, I don’t see a lot of good OF options.
Left fielders
Jay Gibbons (36)
Jonny Gomes (32)
Scott Hairston (33)
Josh Hamilton (32)
Willie Harris (35)
Brad Hawpe (34)
Eric Hinske (35)
Conor Jackson (31)
Reed Johnson (36)
Andruw Jones (36)
Austin Kearns (33)
Mark Kotsay (37)
Carlos Lee (37)
Fred Lewis (32)
Ryan Ludwick (34) – mutual option for 2013
Juan Pierre (35)
Juan Rivera (34) – $4MM club option for 2013 with a $500K buyout
Delmon Young (27)
Center fielders
Alfredo Amezaga (35)
Rick Ankiel (33)
Michael Bourn (30)
Melky Cabrera (28)
Mike Cameron (40)
Curtis Granderson (32) – $13MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Scott Hairston (33)
Angel Pagan (31)
Corey Patterson (33)
Cody Ross (32)
Grady Sizemore (30)
Ryan Spilborghs (33)
B.J. Upton (28)
Shane Victorino (32)
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
11:54 am
king is back on throne
American League in OPS dating back to May 15:
ALBERT PUJOLS 1.060
Mike Trout 1.043
David Ortiz 1.028
Miguel Cabrera 1.023
Robinson Cano 1.010
Jose Bautista 1.004
UKUGA
August 3rd, 2012
11:55 am
I hope everyone (Braves included) has a great week-end.
I keep thinking we’re gonna face the Pirates in a one game play-off in October. It seems fitting, 20 years after Sid slid.
I criticize that division for being week, but the Reds look great, the Pirates look solid, and it’s hard to write off St. Louis.
Go Braves!
UKUGA
August 3rd, 2012
11:55 am
*weak*
MikeInFl
August 3rd, 2012
11:55 am
Over his last 21 games he hit .274/.295/.384/.678. His defensive value makes him awesome, but I have my doubts that he’d OPS over .750 for a full season.
I agree… though he might go on a track similar to Elvis Andrus, and settle in around that .750 mark within a couple of years. Like you said, his value is in his defense, and as long as he’s not a black hole in the lineup that’s fine.
George
August 3rd, 2012
11:57 am
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
11:53 am
Most of the LFers are old guys.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
11:58 am
I dunno… right now, assuming the team drops JJ and picks up Sheets for another season, you’re looking at:
Hudson
Hanson
Maholm
Sheets
Minor
Getting a top of the rotation starter needs to be priority #1 this offseason, imo. We have plenty of guys for the 3-4-5 slots and Hudson is an acceptable #2 starter.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
11:58 am
That list of OFers is rather aged….
Even Upton is pushing 30.
No wonder Bourn is about to make out like a bandit when he ditches us. He looks young on those lists.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
12:01 pm
Most of the LFers are old guys.
That list of OFers is rather aged….
Indeed. Which is why I wouldn’t totally be against Headley for 3rd and Prado staying in LF.
George
August 3rd, 2012
12:02 pm
Read the post game comments. CHIPPER’s comments sound more like a big league MGR than FREDI’s.
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
12:03 pm
Each team, most games played at third base for the National League
_____________AVG__OBP__SLG__OPS_OPS+
Wright..... .333 .426 .556 .982 170
Chipper.... .316 .391 .513 .904 141
Freese..... .313 .381 .506 .887 139
Sandoval... .299 .352 .491 .843 138
Headley.... .273 .372 .431 .803 126
A.Ramirez.. .291 .354 .503 .857 125
Zimmerman.. .275 .343 .463 .806 116
Alvarez.... .235 .306 .480 .785 115
C.Johnson.. .279 .329 .428 .757 104
H. Ramirez. .245 .323 .427 .750 100
Pacheco.... .307 .333 .405 .739 087
Rolen...... .234 .313 .375 .688 081
Roberts.... .250 .306 .357 .663 074
Stewart.... .201 .292 .335 .627 071
Polanco.... .255 .300 .328 .628 069
Uribe...... .193 .252 .293 .545 050
The Dodgers signed Uribe on purpose. To a multi-year deal. They owe him $8M next season.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
12:03 pm
This is just me but….
I keep JJ and run him in from the pen in long relief. It’s worth it to see if something with him can be straightened out. Maybe not, probably not, but even as awful as he’s been the last 12 months, it’s just hard to imagine DFAing a guy who was an allstar just a yr ago.
Why not long relief? It can’t hurt. Maybe it’s what he IS now. Just a thought.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:03 pm
Keep the pitching. We’ll be much happier in the long run if we do.
They have to get a #1 or #2 somehow and it probably isn’t going to be cheap. They just traded Delgado for 2 months of Ryan Dempster, I really believe that Frank Wren is comfortable trading Delgado + for another starter this winter and going with that starter, Hudson, and a mix of Minor, Maholm, Medlen, Teheran or even Gilmartin for the final three spots.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
12:06 pm
I’d keep an eye on the trade market as much or even more so than the free agent market. In addition to Headley…Corey Hart? Denard Span? Shin-Soo Choo? Could go in all kinds of unpredictable ways.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
12:06 pm
I’ve maintained all along that Chipper is basically calling the shots….he’s a player-coach for sure, even though it’s wholly unacknowledged, aside from the hitting advice he gives.
Must be secretly painful for him to endure some of the FG bonehead act….
At least Fredi is showing some more passion of late…
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:06 pm
Wright….. .333 .426 .556 .982 170
Chipper…. .316 .391 .513 .904 141
They are both awesome. I doubt Wright will be as awesome when he is 40 years old.
Maybe not, probably not, but even as awful as he’s been the last 12 months, it’s just hard to imagine DFAing a guy who was an allstar just a yr ago.
Jair Jurrjens is not worth keeping around for 7 million and like 6% of our payroll.
Murph
August 3rd, 2012
12:08 pm
Getting a top of the rotation starter needs to be priority #1 this offseason, imo.
So the offseason shopping list is:
#1 SP
3B or LF
CF
Those are 3 very, very expensive holes to fill… or, expensive if you want to fill them with non-rookie quality players.
Considering aces are going for $20mil+ per year and the Braves have around $25mil to spend, it’s going to be a tall order.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:10 pm
Denard Span is up to .296/.359/.401, 110 OPS+ for the year.
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
12:11 pm
Considering aces are going for $20mil+ per year and the Braves have around $25mil to spend, it’s going to be a tall order.
Murph, get with the program. Pitchers will sign with the Braves for much less than that… then they will be called aces.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:12 pm
Those are 3 very, very expensive holes to fill… or, expensive if you want to fill them with non-rookie quality players.
Indeed. Good thing they have assets to trade and money to spend. I think Wren will figure it out. He could go cheap on one of them – I prefer it to be the outfield over the starting rotation which is ranked 12th in the horrid National League this year. Isn’t Turner Field more of the pitchers park anyway? How much worse does that make this rotation look?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
12:12 pm
Denard Span is up to .296/.359/.401, 110 OPS+ for the year.
And much much worse on the road… his road splits sukk.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:14 pm
And Tommy Hanson is an asset to deal, so long as he can get back here and produce a slightly sub-4 ERA without walking the ballpark the last six weeks of the season.
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
12:14 pm
Well, except they didn’t trade Delgado for Dempster.
DS1
August 3rd, 2012
12:15 pm
I think some folks might be thinking that our only avenue for filling LF and CF next year is via free agency. My guess is we look at free agents, but also pursue the trade market.
Who is out there that is available? Not who has been paraded over the airwaves, but which players play for a team that would trade that player if the conditions were right?
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:15 pm
Well, except they didn’t trade Delgado for Dempster.
Wren has shown his hand with him. Doesn’t mean he is going to be traded for garbage – but he was dealt away for 2 months of a pitcher and that same need is in place this offseason.
Murph
August 3rd, 2012
12:16 pm
It’s going to be a fun offseason… trades, signings, shake-ups, shake-downs… can’t wait! The Winter Meetings is one of my favorite times of the year.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:16 pm
Who is out there that is available?
Not going to try and guess. Never thought we’d ever trade(or offer) Randall Delgado for 2 months of Ryan Dempster and also never thought Paul Maholm would be a Brave for Arodys Vizcaino.
Lew
August 3rd, 2012
12:18 pm
Whatever. Dempster is losing games for the Abgels and Delgado is still pitching in our system. A deal ain;t a deal until it’s a deal and Wren doesn’t discuss specifics.
ACE
August 3rd, 2012
12:19 pm
DOB is AWOL
ncbravesfan90
August 3rd, 2012
12:19 pm
“Not going to try and guess. Never thought we’d ever trade(or offer) Randall Delgado for 2 months of Ryan Dempster and also never thought Paul Maholm would be a Brave for Arodys Vizcaino.”
Let’s not forget Reed Johnson, big part in that trade already, as we’ve seen.
Veer
August 3rd, 2012
12:21 pm
I think the Marlins sweep the double header today. Josh Johnson is an ace and then Gio I expect him to walk the ball park tonight. Anything less than a Rookie league Astros team will be unaceptable.
ncbravesfan90
August 3rd, 2012
12:22 pm
Hudson going for win #100 tonight as a Brave
ncbravesfan90
August 3rd, 2012
12:24 pm
In Washington:
Game 1: Hand vs Lannan
Game 2: Johnson vs Gonzalez
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:25 pm
Whatever. Dempster is losing games for the Abgels and Delgado is still pitching in our system.
Who are the Abgels, and I thought Dempster was a Ranger?
A deal ain;t a deal until it’s a deal and Wren doesn’t discuss specifics.
He traded 5 years of Randall Delgado for 2 months of Ryan Dempster, Lew. The trade needed approval of Dempster and he denied it. It certainly wasn’t because he thought Frank Wren was overpaying for his services, but the offer that was accepted by Epstein/Hoyer was Delgado for Dempster’s remaining 2012 rights.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
12:26 pm
In Washington:
Game 1: Hand vs Lannan
Game 2: Johnson vs Gonzalez
They must have switched it from when I looked earlier.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:26 pm
Let’s not forget Reed Johnson, big part in that trade already, as we’ve seen.
Yes. I think I was more just talking about Paul Maholm – never really thought of him as a target and never really thought Arodys would be dealt with his value so low.
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
12:28 pm
MLB Network guys still like St Louis more than Atlanta.
Braves may need to think outside the box on LF. Maybe there are some players who can hit, and would be serviceable defensively. remember last year when we were convinced berkman would never make it through the season playing RF? he was fine until he moved back to the infield!
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:29 pm
Edward Salcedo is down to .250/.305/.394 for the year. 5 for his last 38 with 16 K’s and 1 BB. Just when you thought he was going good after the first half of July – he goes right back to awful and produces a .138/.154/.184 line in 40 plate appearances.
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
12:30 pm
No one is trading DELGADO. He’s the last man standing amongst the big three. And with JJ and HANSON, god knows we need him.
HUDSON
MINOR
DELGADO
SHEETS – maybe
HANSON – maybe
MAHOLM – maybe
TEHERAN – ????
BEACHY for next year – ????
JURRJENS – prolly waived in the off-season.
In regard to our future pitching staff, I’d say:
If if’s and but’s were candy and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas! ‘Dandy’ DON
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:31 pm
I could see a one year deal for Lance Berkman to play LF. Whatever free agent contracts he hands out, I hope they are of the short term variety.
abeeewright
August 3rd, 2012
12:32 pm
If Sheets pitches well down the stretch, he’s going to get some FA bank.
Hudson
Hanson
Maholm
Minor
Delgado
Teheran
Medlen
are your 2013 controlled pitching assets, assuming JJ is nontendered in the off season as he should be.
If you add a FA starter (eg Greinke or Sheets) pitching is OK on depth. Prolly trade a guy (Hanson/Delgado) and hope the young’uns progress.
Obviously, Hanson would be the better guy to trade, due to injury, years of control, and salary.
So, Hanson for Headly might be a good starting point for a trade.
Sign a FA pitcher and CF … done. 2013 WS, here we come.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
12:33 pm
Berkman hitting .267/.389/.467 in the small sample of 90 plate appearances this year. He’ll be 37 years old next year.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
12:36 pm
Efrim – rest of this yr with JJ, not next yr too unless something miraculous happens before oct 1.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
12:37 pm
I thought Berkman tore an ACL?
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
12:39 pm
EF:
Yes. There was a four-five week period in May and June when I thought he had corrected some things in his swing and was going to raise his level of play at the plate, but the opposition obviously made an adjustment, and he hasn’t dealt with it. He’s wallowing and there’s no denying it, but he hasn’t been on my s-list with his glove lately. Maybe he’s concentrating on improving the leather-work, and letting the hitting slip a bit. At least I HOPE that’s the case. My despair of him becoming the replacement for CHIPPER slowly grows season by season. But hey, he’s young, right? Any old apology in a storm…..
Frankly, JUAN FRANCISCO is making me smile quite a bit at the moment, and dispelling the gloom that thinking about SALCEDO creates.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
12:39 pm
Hudson closing on 200 total as well….not bad these days.
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
12:39 pm
efrim, berkman is a special player…if he is healthy, he hits.
tony austin
August 3rd, 2012
12:40 pm
Has Wren ever confirmed it was Delgado for Dempster? Just curious.
phil
August 3rd, 2012
12:40 pm
Everyone with sense knows that Gattis plays third next year…
Why am I even saying it?
kenhotlanta
August 3rd, 2012
12:46 pm
While everyone is talking about next year, it looks to me like we are in a full blown pennant race like we haven’t had in several years. I think we have a chance to catch the Nats, but I don’t know if the Blog can handle the stress…there will be a lot of exploding heads around here if we are neck and neck down the stretch. But it sure will be fun.
Veer
August 3rd, 2012
12:47 pm
Our main priority is pitching in the offseason even if that means using up most of our funds. Offensively we will take a big hit in losing Bourn and Chipper but they can be replaced by a Gattis a Tori Hunter/Berkman signing. Our priority should be Grienke as a free agent and a trade of Teheran or Delgado to fill one of Chipper/Bourn.
We can sign Berkman or a Tori Hunter as other replacement.
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
12:47 pm
Anyone seen ANDERS today?
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
12:47 pm
dexter fowler, shin soo choo, ryan doumit, Josh willingham are some players that may end up traded. of course, there is always nick swisher as a FA.
Veer
August 3rd, 2012
12:49 pm
Hand could have a hand in us being first place very soon.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
12:49 pm
Star Wars night at the Ted…oh boy.
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
12:50 pm
phil
August 3rd, 2012
12:39 pm
“…..Hudson closing on 200 total as well….not bad these days…..”
Especially after the back-surgery he had in the off-season [back-repair through the FRONT not his back] and the bone-spurs in his ankles and feet. The guy’s a warrior in my book, and a dedicated BRAVE.
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
12:51 pm
No ANDERS huh!
richbrave
August 3rd, 2012
12:52 pm
NO GATTIS, he’s had a 0-9 stretch. He’s a bum!
phil
August 3rd, 2012
12:53 pm
Bring back McLouth and Schaefer!! Problems solved! (magnified)
Disgusted
August 3rd, 2012
12:56 pm
No way would I want to give up either Delgado and Teheran for Headley.
Some people are infatuated by the OBP and cost control with Headley, but face is he is a .260 something hitter with not alot of HRS and RBI’s
I’d rather have Marteen over Headley anyday. Maybe the Braves cannot afford to sign Bourn but they betterr lock it up with both Prado and Mc Cann.
Headley is an average player. You can find a .267 hitter with average power anyday.
UKUGA
August 3rd, 2012
12:56 pm
tony austin, I can’t imagine Wren ever confirming the details of a trade that was never consummated.
Sort of team policy.
In 1993, when the Braves agreed to send Brian Hunter (and someone else) to Montreal for Dennis Martinez, only to have Martinez veto the trade, John Schuerholz refused comment because the trade didn’t go down.
UKUGA
August 3rd, 2012
12:58 pm
Star Wars night with the Astros in town. Fitting.
Better sweep. Go Braves!
unbelievable
August 3rd, 2012
12:59 pm
•#Braves bullpen has pitched 19 innings in the past five games, giving up only one earned run (and one unearned) 14 hours ago
First of all, great job by the bullpen. Second, this is a misleading line. Medlen was pulled after 5IP with only 57 pitches being thrown. Last night was a rained shortened outing. Minor, Sheets, and Huddy have been getting the job done.
Disgusted
August 3rd, 2012
1:01 pm
In fairness to Headley he is having bis best yr this yr and this time around he might get in the high teens in HRS and 80 RBI. This woould be the 1st yr he would be an .800 plus OPS guy.
If he can produce like that, he might be good for LF, but sill hesitate giving Delgado and Teheran for hm.
Might offer Gilmartin and another prospect. I don’t know what SD would want. They need alot.
MikeInFl
August 3rd, 2012
1:04 pm
Some people are infatuated by the OBP and cost control with Headley, but face is he is a .260 something hitter with not alot of HRS and RBI’s
This is a case where it’s really helpful to look at OPS+, which incorporates park factor. Headley’s .803 OPS would only be 4th among Braves’ regulars, but his 126 OPS+ would be second, better than Heyward and behind only Chipper.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
1:10 pm
MikeInFl Didn’t you hear, sabermetric stats are overrated or useless.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
Dan Uggla has as many RBIs in his last five games (5) as he did in his previous 38 games before that. I think he’ll be a big part of the Braves’ success in these last two months.
DAM
August 3rd, 2012
1:27 pm
I could get on board with a Hanson for Headley trade.
Brave New World
August 3rd, 2012
1:27 pm
And so the Phils division championship run ends at a paltry 5 straight years. GO BRAVES!
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
disgusted Some people are infatuated by the OBP and cost control with Headley, but face is he is a .260 something hitter with not alot of HRS and RBI’s
probably not a way you could be more shallow or short sighted about a player.
headly is a switch hitter who has shown very good OBP skills, and decent power numbers playing his home games in a cavernous stadium, where it is very difficult to hit homers. RBIs? his team stinks. its not his fault he hasnt knocked in 100.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Martin Prado, Michael Bourn, and Jason Heyward are all on pace for at least 260 total bases this season.
The Royals had three outfielders reach that mark last year (Francoeur, Melky, Alex Gordon), but overall it’s not a very common feat. Only ten teams in the last 20 years have had three outfielders reach 260 total bases. One of them was the 2003 Braves (Sheffield, Jones, Jones).
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
1:32 pm
I could get on board with a Hanson for Headley trade.
I’m sure Frank Wren would love that. The Padres…not so much.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
1:35 pm
Comment From JT
Have you had a chance to see Alex Wood yet? Does he project to be a starter or reliever at the mlb level?
Mike Newman: I saw him last weekend actually. I liked the fastball quite a bit, but am not sure how the breaking stuff is going to play at the upper levels. He’s like the Anti-Sean Gilmartin.
tony austin
August 3rd, 2012
1:35 pm
With Hanson’s propensity in giving up the long-ball, Petco might just be the place for him.
DAM
August 3rd, 2012
1:37 pm
Brian from SC — I’m sure you’re right. I meant a trade based around Hanson/Headley.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
1:37 pm
Comment From Lane
Who do you take? Vizcaino or Delgado?
Mike Newman: Delgado. I’ve been very out front that I’ve never thought Vizcaino was a viable SP in the end.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
1:39 pm
If I’m the Padres, I’m trading Headley for prospects or a pitcher like Jake Arrieta + prospects who has less service time than Hanson.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
Exactly, Efrim. They would want someone in return they could control for more than 3 years (Hanson).
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
jnorris427: Left labrum surgery for Mason Williams. Done for season. #Yankees”
Wow. Not good. He’s a Top 50 guy.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
Wow, it’s already four years to the day that Skip Caray passed away. Doesn’t seem like that long ago.
Veer
August 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
Hanson knows how to win games. Noway should he be traded for a not so good Headly. Guy was on pace to 18 games this yr before his injury
Veer
August 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
Mason Williams? Never heard of him
brian
August 3rd, 2012
1:55 pm
if Mason is a lefty say goodbye to pitching career unless he sidearms it.
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
Hanson knows how to win games.
He isn’t the same guy as the one that came up three years ago. Down velocity near 4mph and less command overall.
Shaun
August 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
No way would I want to give up either Delgado and Teheran for Headley.
Disgusted, did anyone say that they would do that?
I do think ideally the Braves should put Prado at third and find a leftfielder rather than spend resources on a thirdbaseman. I think Prado will have the more value at third than at other positions, going forward.
But Chase Headley is a very good player. Check out Headley’s career number away from Petco.
Also, batting average is secondary to getting on base and total bases. We are way past the point where batting average should be looked at over those other things. And a hitter’s RBI totals depend on all sorts of factors that don’t directly relate to whether he’s actually a good hitter. Again, we are way past the point where anyone should look at RBI on anything other than a team level. Which players rack up RBI for a team don’t tell you which players are the best hitters. Just like a pitcher who pitches 3 2/3 innings and allows no runs might not get a win while a pitcher that goes 3 innings and allows a run in the same game gets the win. You can’t just look at stats. You need to look at what the stats are measuring and what they mean.
kenhotlanta
August 3rd, 2012
2:05 pm
Mason Williams had a huge Grammy winning instrumental hit in 1968, Classical Gas. I always wondered what happened to him…N Y Yankees, huh.
ACE
August 3rd, 2012
2:12 pm
Looks like there could be more rain tonight.
ACE
August 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
bring your light saber.
CrαZy
August 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
Mike Newman: Delgado. I’ve been very out front that I’ve never thought Vizcaino was a viable SP in the end.
Guess injuries cause a wide range of opinions when your talking about prospects!
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
No way would I want to give up either Delgado and Teheran for Headley.
read the whole comment. CraZy was just making a point (that he doesn’t want to see JuanFran as 3B starter next year) using hyperbole.
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
Hanson knows how to win games.
so do i. doesnt mean i can execute that knowledge.
Shaun
August 3rd, 2012
2:27 pm
I would be mildly shocked if Martin Prado wasn’t the Braves’ thirdbaseman next year.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Juan Francisco back as a left-handed pinch-hitting option and a backup at third and first.
Lemke's Knuckler
August 3rd, 2012
2:31 pm
I was at the G-Braves game that Gilmartin pitched. I actually bumped into Randall Delgado in the bathroom. He was in street clothes sitting behind home plate with another guy from the team. Must have been on pitch tracking duty.
Thought about saying something to him, but the always funny “what you got there” at the urinals probably would have been a little awkward.
I didn’t think Gilmartin was throwing particularly hard. But he was mixing it up pretty well and only gave up a few solid hits. Made a couple of bad pitches with runners on, otherwise, he looked pretty good for his first AAA start.
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
2:33 pm
no one suggested signing Ludwick in off season yet?
ncbravesfan90
August 3rd, 2012
2:40 pm
Per Rotoworld:
Nationals acquired C Kurt Suzuki and cash considerations from the Athletics in exchange for C David Freitas.
CB
August 3rd, 2012
2:40 pm
Nationals trade for Kurt Suzuki.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
2:41 pm
Nats just got a new catcher…Suzuki from A’s.
Brian from SC
August 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
Suzuki became spare parts when the A’s acquired Kottaras at the deadline. He’s having a terrible year, but the Nats hope a change of scenery will help him. I remember him being a great player at Fullerton when the Gamecocks played them in the College World Series.
abeeewright
August 3rd, 2012
2:46 pm
Catchers for the Nats are a little bit like drummers for Spinal Tap.
jeffrey d
August 3rd, 2012
2:46 pm
I hear the Nats got Suzuki
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
2:46 pm
suzuki….not bad.
Veer
August 3rd, 2012
2:51 pm
HAND WILL HAND NATIONALS A LOSS TODAY AND WILL PLAY A BIG HAND IN US BEING IN FIRST PLACE.
jeffrey d
August 3rd, 2012
2:56 pm
HULK SMASH!!!!!
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 3rd, 2012
3:01 pm
Slow afternoon…
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
3:10 pm
slow and very hot afternoon in FL
B_F 54
August 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
The Bravos came trough the Gantlett that is July pretty dog gone good
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Hot as all get out here, too…
Bravefaninok
August 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Today
Sunny
High112°
Low76°
Tomorrow
Sunny
High112°
Low73°
Sunday
Mostly Sunny
High105°
Low73°
Monday
Partly Cloudy
High102°
Low75°
Tuesday
Mostly Sunny
High104°
Low73°
Today: Abundant sunshine. Record high temperatures expected. High 112F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight: Mainly clear skies. Low 76F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
Bravefaninok
August 3rd, 2012
3:18 pm
Hot Hot Hot!!!!! nice forecast huh?
B_F 54
August 3rd, 2012
3:20 pm
BF in OK
I remember summer football practice in Altus in the 70’s Brutal even in a dry heat
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 3rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Hot as all get out here, too…
Not where I live…. been on and off sunshine, though with waaay more clouds than sun, and it’s only 83 outside.
DAP
August 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
Braves have the 6th best record in baseball, at 60-45. 60 wins is only 1 W behind NYY and TEX, who lead the AL. we are in a pretty good position. id like to see us step on the gas even harder.
Bravefaninok
August 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
B_F 54 Altus is the hottest place around here usually,I lived and worked in Altus till 07,We are 60 miles east now in Lawton
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
Baseball America Prospect Not-so-Hot Sheet
Edward Salcedo, 3b, Braves: Salcedo was a league-average performer in the first half, batting .262/.306/.413 in the high Class A Carolina League, but the second half has not been kind to the 20-year-old. This week he struck out in more than half of his at-bats, including six straight. He mustered just three hits, though two were doubles, to sink his second half line to .224/.302/.353.
Murph
August 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
The Nats are starting to feel the pressure from the Braves…
Murph
August 3rd, 2012
3:26 pm
Salcedo is the new Andy Marte. Blech!
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
3:30 pm
fans not only ones with crazy trade ideas -
“Most of the time we waste is with the ridiculous proposals we make with ourselves,” Amaro chuckled. “We talk about that openly with other GMs. The biggest joke is we make more trades with ourselves than anybody else. Hundreds of them. ‘I can’t believe they don’t want this guy! Why wouldn’t they want this guy?’”
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120802&content_id=36008770&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
3:34 pm
1. Bourn 8 2. Prado 7 3. Heyward 9 4. Jones 5 5. Freeman 3 6. McCann 2 7. Uggla 4 8.Janish 6 9. Hudson
Jeff R
August 3rd, 2012
3:35 pm
So far, Salcedo’s nearly a bust, given the hype that surrounded him early on.
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:36 pm
Just when you thought he was going good after the first half of July – he goes right back to awful and produces a .138/.154/.184 line in 40 plate appearances. @Efrim
for some reason I have the impression that he tails off the second half of most years?
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:38 pm
Some people are infatuated by the OBP and cost control with Headley, but face is he is a .260 something hitter with not alot of HRS and RBI’s @Disgusted
probably because OBP has a higher correlation with team runs scored than homers do, and also because he is in Petco, but away from there he is hitting almost 900, better than anybody on the Braves except Chipper
Trader Jack
August 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
Murph
August 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
The Nats are starting to feel the pressure from the Braves…
Not only that there is some building internal strife, caused by a cancer they need to get rid of.
PDOG
August 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
I would not be trading Delgado or Tehran, if anybody should be traded its Hanson. I would bring back Sheets and would not trade for LF. Give Cuningham and Gattis a chance during the spring. The Braves have had pretty good luck the last three years bringing up position players. Heyward, Freeman and Simmons. The other trade bait should be the Terd there is no room at First for him with the big club and he can’t play third or outfield.
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
3:44 pm
who’s nats’ cancer?
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:47 pm
Guess injuries cause a wide range of opinions when your talking about prospects! @CraZy
as does the fact that he only has two good pitches
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
3:49 pm
http://www.csnphilly.com/08/03/12/Can-the-Phillies-afford-to-sign-Michael-/nbcsportsphillies.html?blockID=750837&feedID=693
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Tonight’s lineup vs. HOU (7:35, PTV/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Prado 7 Heyward 9 Jones 5 Freeman 3 McCann 2 Uggla 4 Janish 6 Hudson 1
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:54 pm
I was thinking 6 years at 14 million, which I think is higher than the Braves will go. If he could continue the next 5 seasons as good as the first half of this one he would be worth it, but I think that is highly unlikely.
TennesseePaul
August 3rd, 2012
3:54 pm
New “blog”
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/03/prado-back-in-braves-lineup/
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:55 pm
was I right about Salcedo’s late season fades Efrim, or don’t you know?
Efrim
August 3rd, 2012
3:56 pm
cricket, they will be a player for him I think. Nationals, Phillies, Giants, Rangers, Yankees, White Sox, etc. I think a lot of teams will have interest in him as it’s a less-than-spectacular free agent class.
SNEAKY PETE
August 3rd, 2012
3:57 pm
I was thinking 6 years at 14 million for Bourn, which I think is higher than the Braves will go. If he could continue the next 5 seasons as good as the first half of this one he would be worth it, but I think that is highly unlikely.
cricket
August 3rd, 2012
4:10 pm
Efrim – yes lots of team will be interested in Bourn and not much competition to him. i vote for Nats as the team that ends up overpaying for his services. some in DC consider Rizzo is Boras’s bi**h anyway.
DS1
August 3rd, 2012
6:17 pm
Pirates vs Reds. Talk about a statement series!!
DS1
August 3rd, 2012
6:40 pm
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August 19th, 2012
2:34 am
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