Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
680 comments Add your comment
LostCause
August 5th, 2012
7:38 pm
Leave him alone and let the next crop come in! Let him go out on top!
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
7:47 pm
chipper is still the best hitter on the team and we have nothing in the system who will ever even come close to him, but there are still people who can’t wait to see him gone. how weird is that
The A Bomb
August 5th, 2012
7:51 pm
If you think about it the six-man rotation could potentially give the Braves an advantage into late September, the one-game playoff and beyond (if Gonzalez doesn’t screw it up with his keen decision-making skills)….
David O'Brien
August 5th, 2012
7:51 pm
Game story with QUOTES
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/05/braves-cap-rousing-homestand-with-6-1-win-over-astros/
cricket
August 5th, 2012
8:03 pm
nobody would listen when i brought up the idea of 6-man rotation. what does Schultz have that i don’t, other than being paid to write a column about it?
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
8:05 pm
nobody is going to pay any attention to him either on the team, no regular 6 man rotation is going to happen
cricket
August 5th, 2012
8:07 pm
no one here raked chipper on coals yet for staying back and missing a game to attend to family matter? i’ll give it max hour before onf or the usual suspects, probably using a newly minted moniker, criticizes him for that.
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
8:11 pm
oh i think some did crickert
Brave New World
August 5th, 2012
8:11 pm
Chipper is going out as a baseball great should. Our loss next year, will be the Baseball Hall of Fame’s gain in 5 years.
cricket
August 5th, 2012
8:12 pm
if Maddon came up with 6-man rotation, it would be hailed as another stroke of genius and moms’ basements would burn midnight oil coming up with statistical support for the move
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
8:13 pm
I will miss him a lot, but I am not really saying that he should stay, just that like many things it amazes me the crazy way some people think
cricket
August 5th, 2012
8:15 pm
SNEAKY PETE – they did already? glad i missed it. based on the way “fans” here react to a team with 5/6th best record in majors, they definitely have what it takes to be like passionate phillies’ fans..
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
8:16 pm
• No. 4 Mike Minor has long surpassed his career single-season high with 116 2/3 innings (he threw 82.2 last year). Another off day should be welcomed.
Minor threw 100+ innings in AAA last year, what those don’t count.
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
8:16 pm
6 man has been tossed around for years, even tried for a short time, just does not provide any real advantage, some guys do not pitch as ell with too much rest
George
August 5th, 2012
8:31 pm
Very good game to win, nice homestand, some excellent games from CHIPPER. I read post-game qoutes. FREDI finnally talking about catching WAS Aand winning division, not being satisfied with play-in game. It took him long enough. I hope he was kidding when he said CHIPPER would have to take a paycut if he should change his mind. That would not even be up to FREDI about CHIPPERS sslery.
George
August 5th, 2012
8:33 pm
Very good story on CHIPPER. Thank you DOB.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 5th, 2012
9:02 pm
English Speaking White Guy Why is McCann taking so many days off. He used to catch 4 out of 5, now its down to 3 out of 4.
Fredi could just be trying to keep him fresh for September…Or there is something wrong with his shoulder that they won’t tell us…
Veer
August 5th, 2012
9:06 pm
With the way Medlen pitched today it shows that he should stay in the rotation. Question is who is the odd man out?
Hanson? but he is a 12 game winner. Do you put a 12 game winner in the bullpen?
Maholm? Braves just acquired the guy Noway will he be demoted to the bullpen
Hudson? He is our ace with 11 wins. Noway do you demote our ace to the bullpen
Minor? He has pitched great lately maybe if he doesn’t keep his performance up then he goes to pen
Sheets? The guy has been a surprise but is this just adredlin or can he keep this pace up?
It is a tough decision but from what We have seen there is noway do you put Medlen back in the bullpen. Make him start get his arm strength back. This guy is very efficent and reminds me of Maddux the way he goes about pitching.
We have a rotation that has no 1 starter but we have 6 guys who are very capable of being number 2 starters. It means whoever is pitching we have a shot to win on any given day
DiamondbackMac
August 5th, 2012
9:17 pm
McFann
Fredi could just be trying to keep him fresh for September…Or there is something wrong with his shoulder that they won’t tell us…
I’m sure that if he has some type of minor shoulder problem, they wouldn’t advertise it if it is his throwing arm. More people would try to steal.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
9:25 pm
I think they all should start until one of them drops the ball. When Hanson comes back, if he is still injured or he keeps pitching the way he had recently, he’ll be the odd guy out. He has won some games but he has been the beneficiary of good run support.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
9:28 pm
Macs shoulder has obviously been bothering him by the way he rubs and rotates it. Hasn’t bothered his hitting and hope it doesn’t because Mac going well is huge when we are playing good teams
Ward
August 5th, 2012
9:33 pm
Hello eeryone! Nice win!!!!! Medlen should stay a starter after his last two starts. I would say Hanson is the odd man out, and think he would be traded next year. Also I think Peter Moylan will be here soon for long relief.
Ward
August 5th, 2012
9:36 pm
We need a RH Bat, because the offense is still struggling. Don’t know what you would do, but I would let Diaz go, and Jack Wilson, and trade for a bat, now that Medlen, and Minor are pitching well, and C- Mart.
keylargo
August 5th, 2012
9:37 pm
This is no denial or conformation, just something I picked up, but I noticed McCann went back to a maple bat yesterday instead of Ash. That would indicate to me he was unhappy with the Ash Bat and not a shoulder issue.
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
9:38 pm
I don’t care who starts, but I think Medlen is a better fit for the pen than any of the others and thus more valuable.
I better shut up though or that Carrot Flower jack arse will come on and attack me with lies like he did Scoots and Noles.
Ward
August 5th, 2012
9:39 pm
Wren should go get Johnny Damon now that he was released, still would be a better hitter down the stretch, than what we have.
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
9:39 pm
Yes I saw that too, but I thought he was using Ash when he started going better
Ward
August 5th, 2012
9:40 pm
Next year Wren should have money to get some one from the Free Agent Market, but still he should study the players health issues.
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
9:41 pm
Ward_
Your boy Eli’s commercial, with Deion, kind of blows.
keylargo
August 5th, 2012
9:42 pm
Ward – Diaz ($2M) + Wilson ($1M) x 35% of the season left = $1.05M
Next you want to hire some one else for another, let’s say $1M of salary.
Are you ready to pony up $2M to pay for the roster revision for spots #22, #23, #24?
Mark
August 5th, 2012
9:42 pm
We need a right handed hitter to hit between Mac and Freeman. Too many lefties hitting back to back and that’ll hurt us against good teams(Good lefty starters and pens)
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
9:44 pm
if we do not re-sign Bourn, I hope they sign a righty for center
Ward
August 5th, 2012
9:45 pm
Bat – Be prepared for the G – Men……….I love football, and to see poeple cry.
Ward
August 5th, 2012
9:47 pm
People will know the G – Men this year. Don’t know how far they will make it, but should give it a good ride….
Mark
August 5th, 2012
9:47 pm
I think Meds is our 4th or 5th best starter right now. IMO, he needs to stay there for the time being but hopefully when the playoffs start and we are in them , he’ll be a huge plus for us coming out of the pen.
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
9:48 pm
Its a new year, Fear the Falcons, Ward!
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
9:49 pm
If Meds is marginally better as a starter (debatable but possible) but the other pitcher does poorly in the pen is that really a better situation? I am not so sure it is.
Ward
August 5th, 2012
9:50 pm
Bat – I fear nothing The G – Men already won the Super Bowl 2 in 4 years. Just thought I would rub that in. little humor.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 5th, 2012
9:54 pm
DBackMac—
Hmm…you could be onto something…it is his throwing arm…
Mark—
From what I’ve been able to see, it’s seemed to bother him more on certain swings, like when he really has to reach for the ball. When he hit that opposite-field Double the other night, it was on a pitch down and away if I remember correctly, and he was really grabbing at his shoulder after that.
Yes, I hope it doesn’t turn into anything major, because he was really having a great run for a while there. His AVG has dipped again a bit of late (he is 0-August, though that’s only been 8 ABs and he’s walked 5 times…), but I think it’ll go up again against the Fillies.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
9:56 pm
I think Meds is just a good pitcher regardless of whether he starts or relieves and his flexibility makes him very valuable to this team. Great to have a guy that based on other guys performances or health you have Meds to plug in where you need him.
That said, for the long-haul or rest of the season I like him starting to give us at least a good 5 guy rotastion so Huddy isn’t pushed too much with the heel, Sheets isn’t pushed because he is still building up in my mind in his comeback, Miinor has been solid of late and I think Maholm is going to give good innings.
Short series though I definately think Meds ability to come out of the pen will help us the most there.
tiger297
August 5th, 2012
9:57 pm
fear what…
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
9:57 pm
Ward_
That’s okay man……… I’ll have the last laugh on this one.
Ward
August 5th, 2012
10:01 pm
Bat – I can coast this year, and just have fun with Football. Also would like to see the Braves make it deep into the Post season would like to sse the sail boat woud last time.
Ward
August 5th, 2012
10:02 pm
Seeing the sail boat would be a great way for chipper to end his career.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
10:03 pm
Mac steps up big in big games and against good pitchers. He’ll be fine as long as he isn’t hurting. Yeah the swings on away pitches, check swings stuff like that hurts him more but really thats the case with anyone when injured.
Sad thing is, catchers take such a beating its really tough on them to get through a year without injury. Even when they do, the little nagging things just seem to add up…
Disgusted
August 5th, 2012
10:03 pm
Johnny Damon is done, Braves would be better off to pass on the 39 yr old version of him.
Derek Lowe looks done too. Both will be looking for jobs in the real world next yr. Good careers for both.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
10:04 pm
English Speaking White Guy Why is McCann taking so many days off. He used to catch 4 out of 5, now its down to 3 out of 4.
Fredi could just be trying to keep him fresh for September…Or there is something wrong with his shoulder that they won’t tell us…
BMac is getting more days off because Ross is such a better catcher. Look at what he did today! Opposite field homer. Mac can’t do that
(sarcasm)
Seriously, I think it’s an attempt to keep Brian fresh for September/Playoffs. Doesn’t hurt to get Rossy some ABs as well… As for his arm, I’m worried about it, but if it is bothering him, they wouldn’t say anyway. Just imagine how many more steals would be attempted then.
ACE
August 5th, 2012
10:05 pm
Not much participating going on tonight.
Bama Brave
August 5th, 2012
10:05 pm
this coming off season is going to be wild!
keylargo
August 5th, 2012
10:05 pm
Washington does not need Bourn. They start Mordecai, Harper, Werth and have Lombardozzi.
Phillie is another story. We’ll just have to wait on that one. But FW with make the qualifying offer to protect the draft pick.
Ward
August 5th, 2012
10:06 pm
All, I’ll talk later, and Ellsbury is on the trading block……..Would you want Ellsbury on your team next season? Peace my friends, and talk later, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
10:07 pm
Why not, Ward. World Series, or bust.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
10:07 pm
I missed the game today but saw Uggla went 0 for 4. How did he swing the bat today though?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
10:10 pm
I missed the game today but saw Uggla went 0 for 4. How did he swing the bat today though?
He got robbed of 2 HR, a double, and a short bloop single to right.
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
10:10 pm
Huddy and Sheets are still going to pitch no matter who is in the pen, so I don’t see how Meds starting has any effect on them Mark
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
10:11 pm
Seriously, it was ugly… bad swings. He looks to be coming out of it one day, then looks horrible the next. Sigh….
ChattTownBrian
August 5th, 2012
10:11 pm
Disgusted, HA! Damon and Lowe are pretty well set. Highly doubt they’ll be receiving trucks for a discount store any time soon.
keylargo
August 5th, 2012
10:12 pm
This speaks for itself. We know who the better defensive catcher is and who throws out people of the bases. McCann better start hitting or he will be second team.
Ross… .273 .357 .455 .812
McCann ..236 .311 .447 .759
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
10:15 pm
Sample sizes, largo…. I like Ross, but it’s not completely fair to compare Ross and McCann’s batting stats.
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
10:18 pm
What was it they said about Heap, before Hanson let the Marlins run like wild men the other day, 6th, or so, in the league in caught stealing percentage?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
10:18 pm
Mike Fontenot was released by Phillies…. worth it for the Braves to pick him up? Or is there no room.
keylargo
August 5th, 2012
10:19 pm
I’ve got a feeling Ross is going to start catching up if McCann doesn’t hit and no matter whose fault it is McCann is going to have to throw out a few people on the bases – and block the plate.
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
10:20 pm
Heap is always ranked in the top 3 or 4 defensive NL catchers by Baseball America and other tools sites, no matter what the haters here say
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 5th, 2012
10:22 pm
Mark—
Yeah, that’s very true…And I’m sure the Braves’ staff knows all about it and are doing whatever they need to do…
TOBF Seriously, I think it’s an attempt to keep Brian fresh for September/Playoffs.
I think that’s a big part of it, as well…
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
10:24 pm
Yep, I seem to recall a few plays at the plate Heap has made lately, too. I still haven’t forgotten the one Ross whiffed earlier from Heyward. Perfect throw
Mark
August 5th, 2012
10:26 pm
Sneaky not sure what you mean there. Yeah those guys are there 1 and 2 for sure.
I promised my fellow bloggers I’d stop bashing Uggs after I said what I feel about his abilities the last time I bashed him so I’m not starting back now. I think hitting him 7th when Mac is in there is a recipe to contribute to his continued difficulties. He gets more junk and backwards pitching. I wish they’d move him up in the order so he’ll see more pitches to hit and fastballs early in the count. Currently he gets balls away or so far in he can’t hit them fair. Even the single yesterday when he drove in 2 was a jam job that I think broke his bat. By moving him up we could take advantage of the walks he gets and he does run the bases pretty well and the other guys can drive him in. Currently, we walks in froint of Yawnish and the pitcher and usually thats going to just leave him stranded.
Don’t throw stones and call me completely stupid but if they are insistent on him continuing to play I wish they would put him in the 2 spot for a while because the 200 average out of the 7 and 8 spot is going to kill us in front of the pitcher.
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
10:27 pm
I would say if Heap was around 6th in the league in CS% he was throwing out some guys, eh. Are maybe all those other guys really do suck.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 5th, 2012
10:29 pm
Bat M.—
And they didn’t even give Ross an error on that play. But when BMac missed a slightly worse throw that was a bit harder to handle—E2…
Maybe one of our Bloggers is the score-keeper at Turner Field…
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
10:30 pm
Mark I agree with ya…. it’s tough seeing him hit out of the 7-8 spot. He’s not getting anything to hit, and he’s trying to hit the slop. It’s bad… move him to 5 or 3. It might hurt a for a little bit, but he’s definitely not getting better hitting where he is now.
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
10:31 pm
Could be, Mcfann.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
10:31 pm
How does one get the scorekeeping job anyway?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
10:32 pm
Maybe one of our Bloggers is the score-keeper at Turner Field…
Yeah, I help score from time to time. Anytime I can screw BMac over, I do.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
10:37 pm
TOBF
I said 2 spot only because to me he isn’t a good rbi guy at all right now but his OBP isn’t as bad as his avg. because of the walks. Although, IMO, if you define a 2 hitter you can just put Prados picture there – he is good there but Uggs needs some help and hitting in front of Prado, Chipper, Jhey…is bound to help him. But yeah, you’re right, anywhere he can get some pitches.
Regardless of the spot he is going to have to get it going for the Braves to go anywhere.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 5th, 2012
10:37 pm
Bat M, TOBF—
BMac’s gotten screwed a number of times, so it wouldn’t shock me…
Mark—
Don’t know…but they sure as [heck] would never give it to me!…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 5th, 2012
10:38 pm
Anyway, that’s all for me, thanks! Sign-off time…
Night, all!
Bat Masterson
August 5th, 2012
10:45 pm
Nite, McFann
Venice Jim
August 5th, 2012
10:47 pm
I apologize for not posting, although I have been reading for quite a while – nothing has brought out my obnoxious need to be jerkily annoying – plus, listening to my Long Island homies Billy Joel and Alec Baldwin on a great podcast interview…
brian
August 5th, 2012
10:48 pm
a 6 man rotation in September is not unreasonable especially since rosters can expand and we can call up an extra bullpen piece or two
brian
August 5th, 2012
10:49 pm
once Chipper start back on Tuesday Uggla needs some days off
brian
August 5th, 2012
10:51 pm
watching Oscar Pistorius run in the semifinal and coming in last is what the Olympics is all about. a bilateral amputee making the semis, busting it, being gracious in an interview and having the winner of the heat and a favorite in the race want to exchange name plates/tags with him.
Incredible feat to make the Olympics
Venice Jim
August 5th, 2012
10:54 pm
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
He’s still really good.
Chipper tells David O’Brien he won’t reconsider his plans for retirement. He’s crazy
MiaBchBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
10:59 pm
On a POSITIVE note (from me, that’s something):
Johnson should give Bourn days off whenever possible.
Johnson should give Prado days off wherever possible.
Johnson should give Heyward days off whenever possible.
Francisco should give Chipper days off whenever possible.
Freeman needs to rake more; a couple of Hinske days off should help.
Ross needs to give McCann days off whenever possible.
Pastornicky needs to give Uggla many days off at 2B.
Simmons will be a welcome comeback… when he is ready. Janish has been a wonderful surprise!
The starters are on lock and doing very well.
The bullpen is on lock and doing very well.
The key is Chipper’s health. As Chipper goes, so goes this team, hitting-wise.
The rest of this lineup – with the September jury still out on Bourn & Prado – is NOT ready for September prime-time.
The next four weeks will be VERY telling about this 1-8 lineup. Uggla was a veritable mistake. Add that to Wren’s Ledger of Stupidity!
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 5th, 2012
11:00 pm
VJ: Does cab hate me? She doesn’t post here much anymore, esp. when I’m around.
Good night, all! Peace.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
11:00 pm
It appears to me that Chipper is enjoying himself more this year than ever before. He probably reached a point during the injury last year and promised himself that he was going to try and go out on his terms, healthy and enjoying it – Looks like he’s having a blast.
One confession from me as well = He has done much better than I ever imagined he would. Never thought at 40 he would have the year he has had or stay as healthy as he has – I’m happy for him and for the Braves its worked out so well!
DAM
August 5th, 2012
11:12 pm
I don’t know if this has been brought up on here or not, but I wonder if Hanson would find some extra MPH by shifting to the bullpen … essentially just swapping Medlen’s and Hanson’s roles.
I wouldn’t like that long-term, but it’s hard to pull Medlen out of the rotation right now.
Mark
August 5th, 2012
11:19 pm
Dam
Hanson doesn’t appear to me that he can recover well enough to be in the pen. Buy hey, if he could find some more velo in there it couldn’t do anyhting but help him.
Venice Jim
August 5th, 2012
11:24 pm
Between the Olympics and my stealing her computer when I’m home while I await a fan for my computer, she is relatively quiet…
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
11:25 pm
I wish they would put him in the 2 spot for a while because the 200 average out of the 7 and 8 spot is going to kill us in front of the pitcher.
no way, tter in the back of the line up than up front where he gets even more at bats to screw up
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
11:26 pm
only because to me he isn’t a good rbi guy at all right now but his OBP isn’t as bad as his avg. because of the walks.
he is second on the team with two out RBI and most of his last hits have driven in runs
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
11:28 pm
I bet there will be no regular 6 man rotation, perhaps a fill in here and there
Mark
August 5th, 2012
11:36 pm
Sneaky
Again, I think with his walks and baserunning ability he can help mus more getting driven in rather than having to drive them in.
The 2 out rbi thing is a stupid stat in my opinion. Just means that many times by the time he gets up there 2 outs have already been made. His approach doesn’t change with 2 outs nor does many others.
I think a much more important stat is who leaves the most runners the most number of times regardless of the outs.
Chiricahua Brave
August 5th, 2012
11:42 pm
From the quotes.
“Yeah, we’ve got to keep winning. We’ve got six more games against them, a series there and a series back here. We’ve got to keep winning, keep it there within two games, because it seems like they’re going to keep winning, and they’re pulling out games.
Someone needs to tell Freddi they are 3 games back.
MikeInFl
August 5th, 2012
11:48 pm
Evan Gattis left in the 6th tonight for Mississippi. I see he got hit by a pitch in the 5th, but did stay in to run the bases, then was pulled.
SNEAKY PETE
August 5th, 2012
11:54 pm
You could be right, Dan has almost as many at bats hitting second as he has hitting fifth
Venice Jim
August 6th, 2012
12:18 am
No offense, but I hope Fredi (and absolutely no attempt to indicate that someone complaining about the manager should have learned to spell his name by now – that would be very obnoxious) does not manage differently based on whether it’s a 2 or 3 game lead with almost 2 months left…
Venice Jim
August 6th, 2012
12:24 am
Another inmate on the loose from the asylum…
Venice Jim
August 6th, 2012
12:27 am
Chris Mortensen reporting that the NFL has proposed to halve Vilma’s suspension if he drops the lawsuit against the league…
Venice Jim
August 6th, 2012
12:29 am
Probably too tired to go on a posting binge like I did the other night – on the other hand, my activity here will be extremely limited until my computer gets off the DL since I’ll be working 8 days a week for the next 3 weeks…
Venice Jim
August 6th, 2012
12:30 am
I will say hi to uga and/or Ward if they show upon the foreseeable future..
Venice Jim
August 6th, 2012
12:31 am
and down goes Fraz… I mean, down goes Safari…